thou art the God which euer hath béene and shall be the GOD almightie by whom all thinges haue their being full of mercie mindfull of thy promise Who so séeketh any other than thée O Christ in whom dooth rest onlie the saluation of our soules that creature shal find nothing but miserie and sorrow Wherfore Lord make me rich in thy fauour and grace conducting me by thy power Graft in me a full trust in thy promises for my deliuerance make me one with thée in euerlasting loue that when it shall please thée to call me out of this miserable world I may liue with thée and my Sauiour Christ who died for me and all people whose name with thée O Father and the holie Ghost be praised now and for euermore Amen 21. A praier of the creation of mankind of the true Samaritane for strength against temptation O Father of heauen of power almightie which with thine onlie word diddest create and make all the whole world and all for the profit seruice of man whom thou diddest create of all other a most noble and perfect creature giuing him power vpon earth the waters and all the fowles and birds of the aire thou madest him also after thine own similitude and likenes induing him with a reasonable soule and all the powers thereof thou also diddest put him in the pleasant garden of paradise excepting nothing from him but the eating of the onlie trée of knowledge of good and euill and further for his helpe comfort and companie of a ribbe of his side thou madest for him a woman and gauest hir to him to be his wife There had they instructions giuen them and the lawe of life for an heritage Before them was laid both life and death good and euill with a fréewill giuen them to take which liked them best But their frailtie was such that they through a small intisement chose the euill and left the good they left life chose death Thus Lord through sin breaking of thy commandements man lost the fréewill that was giuen him in his creation and purchased death to all his posteritie In the waie as he went to Ierusalem and Iericho he fell in the hands of théeues who hurting and wounding him sore departed leauing him halfe dead so that he could haue helpe of none but only of the good Samaritan who as he passed by the same waie powred wine and oile into his wounds and tooke the cure of him This onlie Samaritan was thy deare Sonne Christ which tooke vpon him all the iniquities of mankind and laid them on his backe by his death purging and clensing him not onlie from the originall sin of our father Adam but also from all our sins which we commit from time to time by the vertue of his passion and the sacrament of baptisme vpon our repentance For as by Adam death came to mankind so by Iesus Christ was mankind restored to life For this great and high benefit of thy sonnes blessed passion for our redemption we thy poore creatures praise and thanke thée most humblie acknowledging his inestimable loue towards vs in that thou vouchsafedst to die for vs being then sinners thy mortall enimies Neuerthelesse most mercifull father we are of our selues not able to do any thing that good is no not so much as to thinke a good thought without thine aid and assistance We wander here miserablie in the lowe parts of the vile earth our strength will not serue vs to clime to the high of the hilles where thou dwellest in thy mount Sion a place prepared for thine elect a chosen inheritance of thy faithfull seruant Abraham and his séed Wherefore since we being burthened with the affects of worldlie pleasures and also with other cares and troubles can by no meanes ascend to thée that art on the top of so high a mountaine so manie legions of angels attending on thy Maiestie we haue no remedie but with the prophet Dauid now to lift the eies of our harts and minds towards thée to crie for helpe to come down from thée to vs thy poore and wretched seruants We wander here below as lost shéepe hauing no shepheard we are assailed on euerie side with manifold enimies the diuell rauening and hungering séeketh whom he may deuoure the world allureth vs also to hir deceitfull vanities our flesh also which we carrie about vs is our enimie readie and prone to drawe vs vnto all vices and pleasures From this can we by no meanes be defended but by thée Lord. Send vs therfore thy helpe and holie angell to assist and strengthen vs for of thée most mercifull Father floweth all bountie and goodnes Thou O Lord God madest heauen and earth for thine honour and mans commoditie establish therefore good Lord the chosen works of thy hand with thy eternall helpe from heauen send vs downe the welspring of thy grace and thy strong angell to aide vs by his helpe that no assault of our spirituall enimies doo preuaile against vs but from all euils by thy word defend vs Lord both touching the bodie and also the soule that no temptation preuaile against vs. Thou hast béene our protectour euen from our mothers wombe and our trust is that thou wilt so continue all the daies of our life and speciallie at the houre of our death that we may ascend to the heauenlie Ierusalem where we shall reast in the bosome of our father Abraham the father of all faithfull beléeuers there to praise thée and thy louing Sonne and the holie Ghost world without end Amen 22. A praier and thankesgiuing vnto God for his manifold gifts with an acknowledgment of our sinne and pardon for the same O Praise the Lord our God for euer and let vs giue thanks vnto the name of his glorie which excéedeth all other thankesgiuings and praises for thou art our God alone thou hast made the heauen of all heauens with all the hoste of them the earth and all the creatures which liue by thée the sea and all that moue therein thou preseruest them all through thine omnipotent power For the which all the host of heauen praiseth thée and we thy poore children here on earth doo crie vnto thée Holie holie holie art thou which euer was and euer shall be O Lord God of sabaoth Thou hast made good all thy words and promises for thou art righteous and true and hast considered the miserie of our forefathers for they were stubborne against thée not regarding thy precepts and commandements neither were mindfull of thy wonderous works that thou diddest for them whose footesteps we are prone and readie to follow in all vngodlines in these our daies but thou O Lord art mercifull patient and of great goodnes and forsakest vs not whensoeuer we returne vnto thée Wherefore O Lord heare vs from heauen and forgiue vs all our vnthankfulnes and giue vs faithfull hearts to followe thy commandements which if we doo we shall liue in them For it is not
beare the name of a christian for that through mine own sin I haue defaced the beautie of the principall part of man which is my soule made to thy godlie image Neuerthelesse since thou art the reformer of all our harts and the inspiror of all grace and goodnesse I most humblie beséech thée to correct by thy power that which through my frailtie is amisse Redres by thy pitie that which I haue mard through my follie make me able to yéeld vnto thée that which thou requirest of me acknowledging mine owne vnworthines and to render vnto thée noble praises and louing thanks for thy manifold gifts of grace wherby thou hast of thy méere liberalitie indued both my soule and bodie Make me worthie to laud thée which I cannot doo vnlesse thou giue me grace to wipe awaie all mine iniquities For thy praises be not séemelie in the mouth of a sinner Yea Lord I praie thée inflame my hart with the loue of thée so that from the bottome thereof I may speake them and not to loue anie thing in this world but thée for thée Thou art the true God and sauiour and there is none but thou O Lord. Out of thy mouth commeth the word of righteousnes which no man may turne Wherefore all other gods set I asside to thée onelie will I sing praises and confesse thée onelie to be the liuing GOD which I will acknowledge before the whole congregation of the faithfull Thou knowest the inward intent of the heart for in the hearts of the beléeuing is thy seate and resting place The soules of the iust are the temples wherein thou dooest inhabit To this temple good Lord will I turne my selfe by pondering the state of mine owne soule for strength whereof I call most humblie vnto thée most mercifull God that I may be able to vanquish the illusions of the subtill serpent Performe in me that which thou hast promised for all thy waies are mercie and truth Thy mercie reacheth vnto the heauens and thy faithfulnesse vnto the clouds thy righteousnes stands like the strong mountaine When thy goodnes is considered all the rulers of the earth must néeds confes that great is thy might and thy glorie Neuerthelesse although thou dwellest aboue the heauens yet hast thou a louing respect vnto the lowlie and méeke of spirit and dooest behold them as one looketh on his friend if they trust in thée Thou drawest néere vnto them that séeke thée to heare their praiers yea thou art their shéeld and protection in all their necessities as for the proud workers of iniquitie thou séest them a far off thou beholdest them with a fearse looke to their confusion to destroie and roote out their memoriall out of the euerlasting beatitude Who so therfore will haue thy maiestie come néere vnto him must plucke downe his mind and become lowe in heart For the méeke humble people be those that shall enioie the heuenlie countrie And though they walke in the middest of trouble yet shalt thou refresh and quicken them This world is a place ordeined for trouble and not for rest Here we are appointed to trauell in this place is no want of tribulation but thou euer gratiouslie comfortest the faithfull thou sufferest them not to be ouercome in any tribulation for through thée they vanquish all their enimies Wherefore Lord powre out thy mercies I beséech thée vpon thy flocke deliuer vs from all our enimies spirituall and temporall let thy right hand saue vs and lead vs through thy grace into eternall felicitie As for riches ease honor or any kind of temporall pleasure which be thy gifts also but of thy left hand we nothing estéeme Manie times thou bestowest these benefits vpon thine enimies the other thou reseruest for thine elect to receiue after manie tribulations And the same Lord I humblie beséech thée to kéepe in store for me thy poore seruant Regard not the wickednes which I dailie commit but looke vpon the merits of thy son Iesus Christ my God and my sauiour for it is he that hath paied my debt and thou Lord hast sealed the acquitance grant me to honour thée therefore as I ought to doo now and for euer Amen Amen 49. A praier wherein is shewed that God is alwaies our protection if we trust in his sonne Iesus Christ O Lord thou art my God I will praise thée and magnifie thy name and thy word aboue all things Thou bringest maruelous things to passe according to thy will and pleasure Thou art the poore mans helpe a strength for the néedfull in the time of trouble defending them against all weathers and their shadowe in the time of heate Likewise to the presumptuous thou art like a strong whirle wind that casteth downe the boasting of the vngodlie bicause they know not thée to be the euerlasting strength but the righteous Lord haue a respect vnto the waie of thy iudgements and thy name and remembrance reioiseth their hearts As for my soule it thirsteth after thée both daie and night and my mind hasteth fréelie vnto thée bicause thou art so mercifull vnto all them that séeke thée in singlenesse of heart for thou wilt be found of them that thirst after thée Thou art the well of pleasant waters whorewith whosoeuer is filled they shall neuer be a thirst for thou O lambe of GOD that dwellest in the middest of the throne wilt lead thine vnto the founteine of liuing waters and giue them euerlasting rest bicause that in this world they made themselues white in thy blood bearing thy crosses with willing minds and confessed thée before men on earth For this cause wilt thou acknowledge them before God thy father in heauen where they shall praise thée and him world without end O God most holie I acknowledge that I am none of those that haue deserued halfe such mercie at thy hands but I hope through the mercies and merits of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ my Lord and sauiour to be made as perfect before thée O heauenlie father as if I had neuer sinned For thus I stedfastlie beléeue if I come vnto him he will not refuse me and if I praie heartilie desiring his helpe he will heare me and cloath me with his righteousnes and take from me all the sinnes that euer I haue committed from my birth vntill this present houre as he hath promised in his holie word Come Lord Iesus for thou art true and iust in all thy waies and wash me with thy most pretious blood Sanctifie me with thy bitter passion pretious death and glorious resurrection Restore me to those ioies that thine elect doo find in thée powre thy holie spirit into my heart that he may draw my mind continuallie vnto thée for thou art the waie the truth and the life Blessed are they that trust in thée and with a stedfast faith make thée their onelie staie and refuge they shall be sure of all happinesse in this world and when it shall please thée to call them hence they shall enioie with thée the crowne of glorie who hast all power giuen thée both in heauen and earth for the father iudgeth no man but hath committed all vnto thée who art the verie wisedome of God Wherfore Lord Iesu make me blessed with thée like as thou art blessed for I commit my selfe both bodie and soule into thy mercifull hands who hast redéemed me O thou God of truth Thou O Lord art worthie to receiue all glorie and honour and might for thou hast created all things and for thy willes sake they were and are created O most noble creator of light shine into my hart that it may cléerlie sée the excellencie of thy maiestie and quicken my soule and spirit that they may continuallie be stirred to honour and glorifie thée as thou art worthie which by thy grace I shall not cease to do with hart soule mind and strength among thy faithfull congregation which of thy mercie Lord preserue and kéepe that we may praise thée one God in persons thrée and euerlasting in vnitie world without end Amen FINIS 1584 H D OS HOMINI SVBLIME DEDIT Imprinted at London by Henrie Denham dwelling in Pater noster Rowe at the signe of the Starre Cum priuilegio
Wherefore grant vnto me from hencefoorth to liue in thy feare all the daies of my life and to end this pilgrimage in faith and truth to the glorie of thy holie name Which grant vs O deare father for thy deare sonne Iesus Christs sake who is blessed with thée O father To whom with thée and the holie Ghost be giuen all honour praise world without end Amen 27. A praier vnto the sonne of God wherein the soule is comforted by the rehearsall of Christs manifold benefits O My soule inforce thée with all thy strength to set foorth the noble praises of the Lord thy GOD and redéemer Thou hast within thée manie goodlie gifts of nature and grace which giue thée occasion neuer to cease from giuing of thanks Forget not these beneficiall gifts which he hath giuen thée for of forgetfulnesse commeth vnvnthankefulnesse which vnkindnes maketh thée not worthie to enioie that is giuen thée Consider my soule first the miserable estate wherein thou wast brought by sinne Thou wast the enimie of God the bond-seruant of the diuell and subiect to death euerlasting From this hath thy mercifull brother Iesus Christ being both GOD and man deliuered thée making satisfaction for all thy sinnes through his death and passion What greater loue could he shewe than to die for thée whereby he driueth awaie all thine offenses If thou set before thine eies the multitude of thy sinnes then shalt thou also behold the benefits and goodnes of thy redéemer Giue him therefore the sacrifice of praise and glorifie him for therein he delighteth not for his profit but for thine not for that he is anie thing thereby aduanced but that dooing thy dutie by faith thou maist be made partaker of ioie euerlasting with him And though he send thée manie aduersities in this world thinke that he loueth thée for if he did not he would leaue thée to sinke in thine owne sinne to the vtter losse both of bodie and soule But he hath saued thy life from euerlasting destruction he hath redéemed thée with his most pretious blood he died for thy sinnes and rose againe for thy iustification Loue him therefore my soule and magnifie him all the daies of thy life Put thy whole affiance in him and feare no violence of enimies for although they assault thée yet can they not vanquish thée For he that through his mercie and louing kindnesse hath giuen thée power by him to vanquish thine enimies will not faile after thy fight and victorie to reward thée with a crowne of glorie and immortalitie When death thy last enimie shall be ouercome then shalt thou be admitted to the ioifull companie of angels and saints in heauen there to haue more ioie and comfort than hart can wish When the glorie of the Lord shall appeare then shalt thou be fullie satisfied to thy contentation His countenance shall replenish thée with all ioâ—e Wherfore my soule whilest thou art in this present life ioined with thy fraile and heauie carcase giue thanks louinglie to thy gentle redéemer for his vnspeakeable kindnesse His grace is readie at hand at thy call fight therefore manfullie and mightilie against all sinfull concupiscence and vice put off the old man and leaue all the works of darkenes put on the new man arme thée with the armor of light Beginne a new life and flie vnto Christ the strong tower and sure rocke leaue all worldlie pleasures and vanities and call for his grace and doubt not but he will make thée liue a new spirituall life and giue thée immortallitie both of soule and bodie in heauen euerlastinglie where thou shalt continuallie behold the face of God to the fulnesse of all thy ioie and contentation Stand fast in this hope and mistrust not the mercies of GOD call to remembrance the ancient goodnes of thy heauenlie father which is all one with the mercie of his sonne and the holie Ghost Behold how mercifull and beneficiall he hath euer bin to those that beléeue and trust in him For looke how high the heauen is from the earth so great is his mercie also to them that feare him How much are we bound to serue this our God in Christ by whom we haue receiued redemption He is a God of all gods mightie and terrible which accepteth no persons nor taketh rewards Thou doost right vnto the fatherlesse and helpest the stranger that is in distresse Come vnto me most louing God and sauiour helpe and fight thou for me let not mine enimies haue the victorie ouer me Powre foorth thy grace vpon my corrupt nature and I shall be purged from all wickednesse I am almost dead in sinne quicken me and giue me life againe sithence thou art God the author of life and health for none can doo it but thou alone my God and sauiour then shall my toong praise thy righteousnesse O Lord God without ceasing Amen 28. Another praier vnto the sonne wherein the miseries of this our mortall life are remembred O Most louing Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ that art the verie naturall sonne of the almightie heauenlie father God of God light of light a God thou art without beginning a Lord from euerlasting before the mountains were brought foorth or euer the earth and the world were made whose kingdome likewise shall endure world without end Thou Lord I saie that art equall with thy father in power and glorie didest not disdaine to become man among men to the intent thou wouldest by suffering painfull passion be the refuge of mankind from one generation to another The yoong chickens when the kite striketh at them haue none other refuge but to run dickering vnder the wings of the hen no more hath mankind anie other defense against his rauening enimies but onelie the couering of thy grace and the shadowe of thy most pretious passion which is vnto vs a strong tower and sure shield of defense against all inuasions This grace mercifull Lord we humblie beséech thée to send vs that by turning thy fauourable countenance vpon vs we may knowe our owne infirmities and leauing all pleasure in vile temporall things we may turne to thée that art our Sauiour and redéemer our God and our brother Make vs to knowe in what miserie in what trouble and in how manie kind of displeasures we lead our liues here continuallie vntill the time that age or sicknesse commeth vpon vs at which time thou wilt call vs saieng Ye children of Adam returne ye now againe into the earth from whence ye came This is the debt due vnto nature Of earth we came in the earth we trauell of earth we liue and into earth me must returne againe For the life of man is to be likened vnto a night watchman that when his houre is past taketh his rest Thus fareth it by the life of man who first passeth awaie his childhood next in youth the third in manhood the fourth in age which vanisheth awaie like smoke that passeth awaie out of the chimneie For as
heart that I offend thée not through hypocrisie And though the wicked deale rigorouslie with me yet I beséech thée let me find comfort from thée for hitherto hast thou strengthened me against my outward and inward enimies so that all the world shall confesse that thou hast wonderfullie preserued me and performed thy promise For thou dooest euer guide me with thy hand that I can turne no waie but where thou appointest me Thy prouidence doth so fast hold me that I cannot by anie meanes escape from thée Thou hast made me in all parts and therfore must néeds know me Wherefore considering thy wonderfull worke in forming me I cannot but praise thée and feare thy mightie power who art the creator of all things the kéeper of iustice the louer of right the hater of malice beholding from the high throne of thy Maiestie the children of men Bow downe thine eare O mercifull Father I humblie beséech thée and heare me thy seruant whom thou hast hitherto brought vp frō my tender age and deliuered me vntill this daie from the hands of the wicked whose rage was furious vntill thou brakest their force I set my hope in thée O God and life euerlasting knowing that these earthlie things shall perish hauing a sure hope that both my soule and bodie shall inioy thy presence O God of my saluation in the last resurrection Then shall I féele thy mercies and answere when thou callest me Wherefore I set all my felicitie and ioie in that I am vnited with thée O God and shall inioie thy presence so that I reiect all other things saue that which furthereth me to attaine to thy heauenlie treasures which is sure and cannot be found in anie but in thée alone whose praise shall indure for euer world without end Amen 41. A praier wherein the sinner praieth for grace that he may make a godlie end BLessed Father of heauen fountaine of all grace and goodnes that art rich in mercie and plentifull in giuing the same to all that doo faithfullie call vpon thy holie name O good God thou hauing a sonne no lesse rich in power wisedome knowledge and mercy than thou art thine owne selfe diddest not spare to send him from thy heauenlie palace downe to the earth into the wombe of a virgine for the saluation of mankind to declare thine aboundant loue towards vs. Thou diddest for our sakes make him poore which before was rich to the intent that we which before were verie poore should by his pouertie be made rich that he which before was all one with thée in thy diuine substance might now be made one with vs that are members of the bodie whereof he is the head Hearken good Lord giue eare vnto my praier let my petition ascend vp before the sight of thy Maiestie The comming of thy mercifull son did make me thine but the vilenes of mine owne acts hath cast me downe and made me verie miserable The greatnes of mine offenses hath caused thée to turne awaie thy face from me withdrawing thy grace which was the cause of the good works I did Thou canst find no good thing in me worthie of thy fauour wherfore Lord behold the face of Christ thy deare Sonne my mediator for his sake giue me that which of my selfe I am much vnworthie to obteine of thée Looke on me with thy pitifull eie and in the time of my trouble incline thine eare and heare me My old enimie daily assalteth me and vexeth me Wherefore I will not cease to call vpon thée dailie but speciallie at the houre of my death Lord heare me defend me at which time my cruel enimie will most busilie inuade me At that instant Lord looke vpon me with the eie of thy mercie now whilest I am in this wretched world I craue not of thée aboundance of earthlie goods but as honest necessitie dooth require but the aboundance of thy grace in this life This hast thou of thy méere liberalitie promised to grant to all that in stedfast faith call vpon thée This hastie calling vpon thée dooest thou delight in for thou art as redie to answer me as I am to call vpon thée Wherefore make spéed in hearing as I am bold to call vpon thée for I confesse O Lord I haue left thy holie word and commandements which is as bread vnto the soule giuing nutriment and moisture by faith and charitie and haue eaten of the trée which thou forbadest me I haue with our father Adam followed the illusions of the serpent tasted of sin but thy blessed sonne my sauiour Iesus Christ hath shed his bloud for vs whereby we are restored vnto thy grace mercie and fauour through the sacrament of baptisme if we hartilie repent He quickneth vs which before were dead in sinne he slaieth and can raise againe he striketh and healeth as he did Paule in his persecution How much therefore are we bound to his grace that without anie deseruing on our parts willinglie offered himselfe to the death for our redemption and to thy maiestie also who didst not spare thine onelie begotten sonne but of thy pure pittie sentedst him downe to suffer the most vile death of the crosse for our sakes Wherefore I am much ashamed to lift vp my eies to heauen towards thy highnesse being so vnkind to thée againe so manie waies I haue loued the works of darkenes and therefore I fled from the light of the bright sunne of iustice for which cause doo I sigh sorrowe and bewaile my wretchednes in the bitternesse of such thoughts for feare of thine anger towards me knowing that at the time of thy comming to the dreadfull generall iudgement the storme of thine indignation shall go forth and fall downe vpon the heads of the vngodlie Thou liftest me vp of a great hight in that thou thou madest me like vnto thine image touching my reasonable soule and hast giuen me power by thy grace to inherit euerlasting ioies of heauen both bodie and soule if I liued here after thy rommandements What greater gift canst thou giue me Lord than to haue the fruition of thée But alas I beare so heauie and erthlie fraile bodie ioined to my noble soule that my heart and mind is drawne downe from the consideration of thy goodnes and from well dooing vnto all kind of vices Wherefore Lord grant me that in the shadow of this life I may haue grace to sée light and to know thée thy waies and thy holie word which giueth light and vnderstanding vnto babes for after this life there is no place nor time left of repentance And since my time is here but short continue thy grace towards me that I may liue in thy feare all the daies of my life and end my life in thy fauour who doost indure for euer and thy remembrance through all generations world without end Amen Amen 42. A praier against the offenses of this world MY hart shall praise thée O GOD for my soule is in loue with thy maiestie
our faith and teachest vs to forget the world and to depend on thée O father of al goodnes Thy promise neuer faileth thou gouernest by thy holie spirit as séemeth best to thy godlie wisedome for thou O God art rich in mercie and truth which féedest all things and none can iustlie complaine For as by thy presence all things haue life so if thou withdraw thy blessing we all perish Thou hast a little flocke féed them with thy spirituall foode and gouerne thy church séeing thou hast chosen them out of the world ioine it vnto thy selfe that thy faithfull may continue for euer For thou art euerlasting thou hast euer loued truth thou art veritie it selfe all thy promises are vnremooueable Thou diddest promise to Abraham to multiplie his séed as the stars of heauen and as the sands vpon the sea side which promise at the last he enioied euen so diddest thou promise Isaac and Iacob When Ezechias was sicke vnto the death thou diddest promise him life fiftéene yéeres more which thou didst performe for thy names sake Euen so Lord kéepe thy promise with vs that are thy poore shéepe so shall we praise thée and thy Sonne our sauiour Christ which is our good shéepeheard who suffered death for his flocks sake to make them triumph ouer their enimies And as he rose againe for our iustification so grant that we may rise in newnes of life and aspire vnto the same place whither our sauiour is gone before whose name be praised with thée O déere father and the holie Ghost now and foreuermore Amen 44. A praier wherein is shewed that the wisedome of God is to be praised as also how he trieth his seruants is declared THou O most mightie God art the creator maker of all things whose power is euerlasting which shal neuer be put down whose kingdome indureth incorrupt for euer and thy going out hath béene from euerlasting Great art thou high vnmeasureable thou onelie knowst the waies of wisdome none other is there that can find hir paths but thou the mightie God which hast found hir out with thy foreknowledge by the same thy godlie wisedome hast created all things according to thy noble will and pleasure This thine omnipotent power Lord I thy sinfull seruant and subiect doo honour and thy excéeding wisedome I haue in great reuerence By the one thou madest all things and by the other thou knewest what thou wouldest make long before they were made in both these hast thou declared thy selfe to be the liuing God And although our acts which be past present and to come be all open before thine eies and our thoughts manifest in the sight of thy diuine presence yet dooest thou dailie search and prooue thine elect people sometimes by aduersitie sometimes by prosperitie to cause vs thereby to be knowen to other After this sort diddest thou prooue Abraham in the oblation of his sonne to the intent his obedience might be an example to all that should come after him Thus also diddest thou prooue thy seruant Iob and he was found both faithfull constant and iust Thou knowest what men be before thou triest them But after the triall thou hearest them their praiers and allowest their good actes and intentions by such proofe Lord hast thou tried me both within and without And though through frailtie I haue erred wandering from thée yet at length haue I béene found to returne againe to thée that art the perfect waie and to beléeue faithfullie in thée as in my verie God to trust wholie in thée to loue thée as my mercifull father and all through the gift of thy grace not of mine owne strength or will For what were I sillie wretch if I were destitute of thy helpe I doo consider thy goodnes and thy godlie prouidence by which thou wast the cause of my first being and still am I much bound vnto thy Maiestie for the great loue thou barest vnto me First for my creation and also for thy meruellous protection assistance inspiration redemption and reconciliation which the eie of my soule dooth right well consider Wherefore I most humblie praie thée Lord to regard what shall redound to thy glorie for thine honour is more aduanced in sauing one poore miserable and sinfull creature through thy mercie than in the damnation of a thousand by the rigour of thy iustice For in hell none can praise thée but cursse waile moorne and lament their miserable estate Now O my GOD I most hartilie beséech thée to giue me grace to flie the companie of all such as speake vntruelie of thée and of thy holie will and word also of them that exalt themselues presumptuouslie least being conuersant in their wickednesse I might fall from that right way in the which it hath pleased thy gratious goodnes to direct me for whosoeuer is familiar with the proud shal be clothed with pride He that dooth euill is worthie of death so are all those that communicate with him that hath pleasure in euill As for such as decline from thée I will abhorre those that doo me anie wrong I cléerelie forgiue and forget whatsoeuer they doo vnto me yea I doo praie vnto thée my most mercifull father euen from the bottome of my hart to forgiue them But those Lord that maliciouslie resist thée and thy holie word I hate them euen as though they were mine enimies Neuerthelesse I doo praie thée for amendment of their liues and saluation of their soules Consider Lord the frailtie of our nature none can stand in the right waie but shall slide and fall vnlesse thou giue him the staffe of thy grace to staie himselfe thereby As for me I haue wandered from thée as a shéepe that is straied from the flocke but thy goodnes hath found me out again and brought me vnto the fold Lead me therfore out of mine owne wicked waie into thie blessed waie of truth through the merits of thy déer beloued Sonne Christ who is the very true perfect path to all beatitude by whose helpe I may so direct my steppes in the waie of this life that I may kéepe the waie vnto life euerlasting Amen 45. A praier wherin is shewed how stranglie preserued and how blessed they are that trust in God the mercie of God also toward sinners is declared O Lord almightie father of mercie God of all comfort which in the treasure of shine infinit mercies disposest all things not onlie among vs thy poore creatures vpon earth which is bountifullie replenished therewith but also among thy holy angels and blessed spirits in heauen who are all preserued by thy grace Lord God whose nature and propertie is to haue mercie vpon all those that loue thée and in faith call on thée thou saiest by thy prophet Esaie that the mountaines shall remooue and the hilles shall fall downe but thy louing kindnesse shall not mooue from those that trust in thée Thou Lord of thy mercie sauedst Noa frō the generall floud and Abraham
in his voiage Lot from sinking among the sinfull Sodomites Ioseph from the danger of his wicked ladie and mistres the Israelites from the bondage of Pharao Daniel from the lions Ionas from drowning being thrée daies thrée nights in the whales bellie the thrée yoong men from burning that were put into the flaming fornace with manie thousands more whom of thy naturall accustomed mercie and goodnesse thou dooest preserue and euer wilt doo all those that it pleaseth thée to drawe vnto thée thorough grace I most miserable and wretched sinner doo now call vpon thée for mercie and grace acknowledging my selfe gréeuouslie to haue offended the eies of thy deitie so manie waies that I am not worthie to beare the name of a christian the burthen of mine offenses is so great Wherefore discharge me of them Lord according to thine infinit mercie For small sinnes thy small mercie sufficeth but my great sinnes require thy great mercie And as my offenses are manie in number so is there of thy mercies a great multitude yea they cannot be numbred But of one thing I am sure that it lieth not in mans power so much to offend as it is in thy mercifull power to forgiue My woonds cannot be so great and noisome but thy medicines are most pretious and healthsome wherefore heale thou me and I shall be whole from my sinnes The children of Israell might not come into thy sight being once defiled with anie vncleannesse till they were sanctified and the priests also durst not come to thy presence till they were washed for feare least they should perish how much more néed I then to desire thée Lord to wash my vncleane soule For my soule hath néed of manie dews of thy grace and manie secret drawings to thée with spirituall violence or euer it can be made cleane The leprosie of Naaman of Syria could not be clensed till he had washed himselfe seauen times in the riuer of Iordan how manie waters haue I néed to be washed with or I be purged from my vncleannesse But thy mercie O Lord is as great as thy selfe Thy grace maketh a stonie heart to be a fleshie heart in a sturdie stomach it bréedeth an humble spirit of a fierse lion it maketh a méeke lambe Whie should I then despaire of thy goodnes considering that thy iustice willeth me to trust in thée Thy promise is to haue mercie on all those that be penitent for their offenses so that thou wilt no more remember them This promise no doubt shall stand fast and sure when both heauen and earth shall passe awaie Wherefore I offer now to thy maiesty a hart contrite being sorie for the wickednes by it conceiued with a bodie subiect to thée with all humilitie and sorowfull for all the sinnes by it committed I acknowledge my faults and my sinnes is euer before me I punish my selfe with contrition bicause thou Lord shouldst giue me grace and remission I haue it euer in remembrance and set it vp in my sight bicause thou shouldst forget it and put it out of thy sight Consider Lord I praie thée the fraile metall whereof I am made receiue me thy poore creature into thy fauour for before thée I accuse my selfe to the intent thou shouldest shew mercie as thou hast promised who hast euer béene found iust in all thy saiengs I haue long straied from thée yet now am returned to thée with all my whole heart Make me therefore vpright and so to aspire to heauenlie things that neither aduersitie nor worldlie pleasure plucke it downeward Cast awaie my sinnes behind thée but cast not me from thy mercifull countenance as thou diddest king Saule for disobedience For if I loose thy gratious presence I am then sure thou wilt also take from me thy holie spirit as thou diddest from Saule O how gratious and swéet is thy spirit in all things it passeth all other swéetenes it leadeth those that loue thée into the land of righteousnes This thy holie spirit I desire may remaine still with me to teach me all veritie to confirme me in goodnes to make intercession for me vnto thée in all my necessities and infirmities Giue me therefore againe the comfort of thy helpe and stablish me with thy principall spirit For thou onelie art mightie faithfull and constant and neuer failest them that call vpon thée in faith and truth Wherefore I offer vnto thée the sacrifice of praise and thankesgiuing for all thy mercies and benefits putting my whole trust in thée who hast neuer failed me for which cause I am bound to praise thée now and for euermore Amen 46. A praier of the maiestie of God and of his bountifull liberalitie towards mankind O Lord thou art my GOD and my King my hope and my comfort who hast by so great prouidence created and ordained all thy creatures that the beautie excellencie of them declare thy mightie magnificence to vs all which are thy reasonable creatures The power of thy maiestie to vs knowne before is by the contemplation of them made manifest causing vs to praise and magnifie thée with all our powers We acknowledge thy power thy wisedome thy honour also and thy great glorie wherewith thou art garnished Thou art the euerlasting light and thy wisedome is the brightnesse thereof which shall neuer be quenched Thou art compassed about with bright angels and with thy saints shining in clearenesse whose inheritance is to enioie light As for vs thy poore creatures on earth great cause haue we to praise thée world without end bicause thou hast so mercifullie declared thy great goodnes to mankind in this world to his most comfort that could be deuised giuing vnto vs all things to doo vs seruice All beasts thou madest subiect for his vse which to nourish and to féed thou causest the ground naturallie to bring foorth grasse and all kind of hearbes replenishing the earth with all kind of fruit to the comfort of mans heart But aboue all things Lord féed vs with thy holie word whereby our soules are made strong and comforted For in a miserable case doo they liue from whom thou takest awaie thy holie word which is the true bread which came downe from heauen which whosoeuer eateth of shall liue for euer Lord neuer take the same awaie from vs againe but euermore féed vs with this bread Thy word maketh our enimies afraid they haue no further power to hurt thy faithfull than thou permittest them Wherefore although the wicked swell neuer so high yet we feare them not they may inuade thy church and manie of the elect members of the same but they shall neuer haue power to destroie them For thou Lord hast promised to abide with thy faithfull vnto the end of the world thy grace will not leaue them that loue and serue thée Send vs good Lord this grace that we may feruentlie imbrace the spirituall food of our soules that it may cause vs to forget our wanton and idle liues that we haue hitherto
all prosperitie and thine anger of all aduersitie For thy care is so much ouer thine that thou wilt cause their verie enimies to preserue them It lieth in thy mightie power to gouerne the hearts of all thou O God preferrest and preseruest them which are zealous of thy glorie and haue a care and loue towards their brethren as for them that forget thée in prosperitie who art the giuer of all good things they procure to themselues vtter perdition For thou dost cast them behind thy backe but thy louing countenance dooth comfort the troubled that patientlie wait on thée constantlie putting their trust in thy mercie In this world is continuall trouble and disquietnes in heauen is perpetuall rest Yet manie there be who loue this world that could content themselues for lacke of faith that are loth to loose things certein for things vncertaine But thy faithfull know throgh faith that when in this world the daie passeth awaie then commeth the night darknes but in heauen all is there but one daie eternall a life euerlasting which endureth for euer which the soule of the righteous shall enioie through thy mercies O GOD bicause in this world they walked before thée of which number make me one for his sake that died for me to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost be giuen all honour and praise world without end Amen 11. A praier wherein the bountifulnes of God is confessed and praised O God eternall the giuer of all felicitie whose loue is like the euening and morning raine vpon the earth whose mercies cannot be numbered whose wisdome and diuine prouidence is such that it reacheth from one end of the earth vnto an other most mightilie and louinglie dooest thou order all things Thy bountifulnesse Lord to all mankind is so manfest that no reasonable creature can saie but that he hath tasted thereof for what good thing hath man that he hath not receiued of thee Thou art good to all men but speciallie to those that haue an vpright conscience and straight heart a mind not bowing downe to carnall and temporall things but aspiring vnto heauenlie and eternall things for it is not enough O God almightie to praise thée with mouth except our whole hart agrée therevnto framing our life vnto the same for whosoeuer dooth otherwise than thou hast commanded dooth pollute thy name Wherefore giue vs grace to feare thée and to obeie thy holie word Giue vs also a mind to praise thée for thy benefits past that thereby our minds may be strengthened against all perils When I haue grace O Lord to take thée for my defense trust I shall perceiue thy protection to be a most sure safegard vnto me For though I haue not altogither hither to known thy Maiestie as I ought to doo yet I most humblie thanke thée Lord that I went not from thée but did cleaue fast to thée by faith Though I had almost slipped and fallen from thée yet I did not forsake thée And thou full mercifullie knowing my good will towards thée didst hold me vp by my right hand as thou didst Peter when he was in iopardie of drowning thy goodnesse brought me to the knowledge of mine infirmitie thy grace called me from mine error into the right waie thou sauest me as thou didst Lot and his house thou didst lead me with thy counsel preseruing my weakenesse in this present life Wherefore my trust is that thou wilt not take thy spirit from me but wilt receiue me into glorie for thy fauor hath béen my guide Thy grace dooth direct me in all my dooings by which I am that I am and thy grace held me still through faith Wherefore my trust is that thou wilt not leaue me but bring me to thine euerlasting rest What wretched foole therefore was I to desire of thée temporall fraile and deceitfull prosperitie and pleasure knowing by faith that thou hast prepared for me and for all faithfull that loue thée such rewards as neither eie hath séene eare hath heard nor hart can imagine What is ther then that is ordained for me Euen thou thy selfe Lord and the fruition of thy perfect Godhead wherein is included all the ioie that may be deuised a treasure that is immortall it indureth pleasant for euer Shall I then be so mad to desire of thée most mercifull God worldlie honor pleasure ease or riches more than is requisite for this present life Should I desire of thée that louest me those gifts wherewith thou rewardest thine enimies The most wicked vpon the earth haue these trifles of thy great goodnes and liberalitie but there is nothing vpon the earth that I desire saue onelie thée The swéetnes of thy goodnes hath made all euill to cease in me for thou Lord art becom the strength of my hart thou art my portion for euer thou art my reward thine owne selfe wherwith my hart is sufficed For thou art the verie life it selfe in whom whosoeuer beléeueth shall liue euerlastinglie and shall not come into damnation Wherefore it is good for me to hold me fast by thée to draw néere vnto thée by faith from whence good works doo spring towards my neighbour and then to put my hope and trust wholie in thée as in a sure and vnmooueable altar from whence no blast of winds of temptation shall driue me Through hope I trust to be deliuered from a corruptible bodie into thy heauenlie glorie and this by patience I now abide and looke for Wherefore whilest I liue I will not cease to declare and set foorth all thy noble works which thou hast wrought to thine honor and praise and to the profit of them that shall professe the same Christs religion while the world indureth As for me I haue none other refuge but thée in whom my conscience dooth rest for thou O God hast humbled me by affliction that I should crie vnto thée and receiue the fruit of thy promise which grant O father sonne and holie ghost to me and all thy church to aspire vnto Amen 12. A praier for grace and repentance O Lord God we are ashamed dare not lift vp our eies vnto thée our God for our wickednesse is gone ouer our head and our trespasses are waxen so great that they reach vp vnto the heauens Since the time of our fathers we haue sinned trespassed against thée euen vnto this daie and now our God what shall we saie Continuallie doo we forsake thy commandements and harden our harts in misbeléefe but thou O God open our eies to behold thée with a stedfast faith the eares of our harts to heare thy words and to vnderstand them that we may know thée the onlie true God and Iesus Christ whome thou hast sent for whose sake heare vs O déere Father and send thy holie Ghost to confirme this faith in vs euermore To whom with thée O Father thy son our onlie sauiour be all honor and glorie power and dominion now and for euer Amen
13. A praier wherein wee desire the life to come O Most high mightie prince of power Lorde of hosts GOD and Lord of the heauenly armie of angels that are thy ministers when I consider the greatnes of thy mightie Maiestie I am so rapt with the desire thereof that my hart and my flesh reioiceth in nothing but in thée alone that art the liuing God All earthlie tabernacles and worldlie goods I nothing estéeme when I behold thine euerlasting felicitie which although I sée now but darkelie as in a glasse I hope to sée thée face to face Grant me therfore O Lord whilest I am in this tabernacle to build vpon faith which is the altar of thée that art the Lord most mightie my King and my God vpon which we giue vnto thée sacrifice laud and praise in the vnitie of thy faithfull Church whereof thy Sonne Christ is the sure rock The faithfull build on this foundation Blessed are they Lord therefore that dwell in thy house who haue occasion to praise thée They are replenished with aboundance of all things that they desire they are made like vnto thée they sée thée euen as thou art of which sight they shall neuer be fullie satisfied such ioie and loue shall they conceiue of the sight of thy glorious maiestie But to this beatitude can we not atteine mercifull God of our owne strength and power but through the helpe of thy gratious assistance Thou must ingraue in our harts thy lawes and direct vs in thy waies and when we are brought to thée by the right waie we must be continuallie aided by thy grace that thou maiest staie and kéepe our féet from slipping Who so trusteth to his owne strength or power or to the helpe of man is much deceiued and leaneth to a rotten staffe contrariwise he that putteth his trust in thy gratious power wanteth neuer succour at néed Thou hast put vs into this present world to fight and to striue with our enimies who doo continuallie assault vs but thy grace maketh vs able to repell all their inuasions Thou sufferest vs not to be tempted aboue our strength and for our triumph thou rewardest vs with a crowne of glorie and immortalitie The vngodlie fall from thée descending downeward from one vice to an other but thy faithfull and elect increase dailie in godlines For of thée Lord commeth all our power and strength to doo good and of thy sonne Christ Iesus our maister our teacher and gouernour who promiseth that if we wéepe and morne heare in this vale of miserie for our sinnes we shall hereafter laugh and be ioifull in eternall glorie If we sowe with heauines we shall reape with gladnes if we perseuere good strong champions héere in batell we shall for our reward behold thy glorious face in thy heauenlie mansion we shall sée also thy sonne Christ who is thy wisedome and thy power which who so séeth enioieth all pleasures to sée that delectable sight our hearts doo much desire of thée that art the Lord of hosts For this we make humble petition to thée that art the GOD of Iacob who wrestled with thine angel and preuailed whose name thou diddest change and calledst him Israel that is the feare or beholder of God Euen so make me a strong wrestler against mine enimies in this world that I may after this life behold thy incomprehensible deitie to the full contentation both of my soule and bodie We are much vnworthie to obteine anie thing of thée considering our vnkindnes shewed vnto thée and our wretched estate wherein we remaine Neuerthelesse Lord we praie thée to be our defender and protector through thy grace not for our merits but for the merits of thy most entirelie beloued sonne Christ thine onelie annointed aboue all other with the oile of ioie and gladnes He is our head we are the members of his bodie he dwelleth in his faithfull and they in him Who so receiueth anie of his elect receiueth him He was incarnate for vs suffered death for vs bare our iniquities on his backe and rose againe for our iustification Wherefore we doubt not but that through the infusion of thy grace thou wilt looke vpon him in vs and shewe vs mercie for his sake that we may haue aboundance of grace through him and casting all the vanities of this world behind our backes we may enter into the court of thy bright heauenlie Ierusalem where one daies abiding is better than a thousand in this wretched world Iohn Baptist as witnesseth our Sauiour was the greatest and most perfect vpon earth yet said he the least in the kingdome of heauen is greater than he Wherefore most mightie Lord thy faithfull doubt not whilst they are here in this vale of miserie but that thou wilt euer assist them guide them and blesse them that put their whole trust in thée who art the liuing God and giuest to thine aboundantlie all things necessarie to this present life and afterwards the fruition of thy Godhead in heauen eternallie there to dwell with thée euerlastinglie Amen 14. A praier for comfort in trouble THe chiefest comfort that I receiue in this miserable wretched troublesome world O heauenlie Father and God almightie is when I call to mind the truth of thy great promises made to me in Iesus Christ for whose sake onelie I doo acknowledge and confesse that thou art my mercifull and louing Father and so carest for me through him that nothing is able to remooue thy grace and fauour from me Wherefore I come vnto thée in humblenes of hart crauing at thy bountifull hands the assistance of thy holie spirit to suppresse my wicked affections that I may with a stedfast faith obeie thy most diuine Maiestie in thought word and déed For thou disposest all things most wiselie and preseruest thy children in their greatest dangers Wherefore thy holie name be praised now and for euermore through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen 15. A praier for the prosperitie of the Church O Most holie glorious and blessed trinitie thrée persons in one Godhead by whose goodnesse all creatures haue their being whose eies behold althings as well that are past as that are to come and are accoumpted as present to thy mightie Maiestie we thy poore faithful subiects of the Church here militant vpon earth shew foorth our lamentable praiers beséeching thée pitifullie to behold the miserable estate thereof which neuer had more néed of thy godlie assistance than at this present it hath The nature of man is so corrupt and abhominable in wickednesse that none dooth good vpon the earth for many there be that despise God oppresse the poore Wherefore Lord we beséech thée to arise vp for the trouble sake of the oppressed and at the complaint of the poore helpe him and set him at rest Thy Sonne Christ is our sauing health in whom who so trusteth resteth in suertie and cannot be deceiued Arise vp we praie thée mercifull God and cast vs not away
for euer comfort thy small flocke to the confusion of thine enimies and make vs able through thy grace to kéepe thy lawes which are pure euen as the siluer which from the earth is tried and purified seuen times in the fire Thou art néere Lord vnto all that in this life call vpon thée faithfullie and thou kéepest them from all dangers for in the midst of this world we are in manie temptations and vices and in the companie of the proud and wicked people and in manie tribulations We sée the vanities of this world readie to mooue vs we suffer persecution yet thou kéepest vs from desperation and thy grace preserueth vs that they come not néere vs. Their entisements we estéeme not bicause we hope in thy mightie power who art our defense in trouble Thy sonne Christ is the strong rocke in the which all birds that build doo rest out of ieopardie to him all sinners maie slie for succour and comfort being holden by him they may be eased This rocke the diuell cannot vndermine nor scale no water of tribulation can drowne those that build on this rocke Pharao king of Aegypt with a great host pursued the children of Israel but he could not hurt them thou Lord wast their defense and diddest destroie all their aduersaries Euen so art thou our defense our hope and our comfort Thou wilt compasse vs about with ioifull deliuerance The house of our bodies is enuironed with enimies but thy prouidence will defend vs out of all dangers Thou wilt informe vs and shewe vs the waie wherin we shall go This life is a pilgrimage and a iorneie for vs to trauell in Thou art the end of our waie O God Thou art the marke that we shoote at when we come to our iornies end in thée Lord we hope to haue rest Thou giuest knowledge and instruction by faith that if we passe well through this world we shall haue ioie euerlastinglie to the which bring vs all thou Lord that diedst for vs all Amen 16. A praier that we may be heard of God THy hand is not shortened O Lord that it cannot help neither is thine eare stopped that it will not heare but our misdoings haue separated vs from thée our God and our sinnes haue caused thy face to be hidden from vs. Our hands are defiled with vnrighteousnesse our lippes speake leasings our toongs doo set out wickednesse No man regardeth righteousnes and none iudgeth truelie euerie one hopeth in vaine things and imagineth deceit conceiueth wearines bringeth foorth euill For our offenses are manie before thée and our sinnes doo testifie against vs and we acknowledge that we haue doone amisse transgressing and dissembling against thée Lord and fallen awaie from our God vsing presumptuous imaginations Neuerthelesse thou art our God and euerlasting father our nourisher and defender which wouldest not the death of a sinner but mercifullie receiuest all those that with repentant harts come vnto thée And now we set our eies and face towards thée lifting vp our hearts vnto thy mercie seat who hast promised to vnlode vs whensoeuer we come vnto thée Heare vs therefore and forgiue vs all our offenses which we haue committed from the time of our birth vntill this present houre O blesse vs and the works also of our hands that we may liue and praise thée world without end through Iesus Christ our Lord and sauiour Amen 17. A praier against the enimies of the church THe sure ships O Lord fléete in the sea vnder their sailes and passe through the stormie tempests without drowning so doo thine elect O God almightie passe through the fearefull perils of all their enimies in this world by the meanes of thy ship the church and the true faith thereof of which ship our Sauiour Christ is the sterneman the guide and the sure anchor to be cast in all necessities who so trusteth in him shal be brought to the faire hauen of perfect beatitude Who so kéepeth him within the boords of his faithfull ship néedeth not to feare the dreadfull dragon that sturdie strong Leuiathan to whose power no power on earth may be compared for he is so mad that he feareth nothing he is king ouer all the children of pride This is that Lucifer that fell downe from heauen he is the serpent that deceiued in paradise and brought death to all mankind Neuerthelesse when thy faithfull people are penitent for their offenses resist his temptations and followe thy lawes putting their whole trust in thée and thy blessed sonne then doo they mock and deceiue him as Christ did with his humanitie which when he thought to deuoure by tempting the Iewes to put Iesus to death he was tripped in his owne turne and taken into bondage by the vertue of Christs diuinitie And whensoeuer we that be his faithfull be caught as this our enimie thinketh in his danger we turne to our head Iesus Christ for refuge and by his helpe doo vanquish him Great good Lord is thy mercie and goodnes that suffereth not thy faithfull to be tempted aboue their strength but in the midst of their temptation makest a waie for them to escape out The enimie hath no power of himselfe but as thou sufferest him he with all other creatures hang vpon thy will commandements all wait on thée that thou maist giue them meate in due season when thou giuest it them they gather it Thy works Lord are mercie and forgiuenes thou art our iustice whereby thou makest vs iust which before were most wicked sinners thou makest vs thine humble creatures to tremble for feare of thy mightie power and iustice our pride thereby is abated We account the good déedes which we haue doone to be of thy gifts and goodnesse nothing presuming of our owne fraile power for we knowe that thy holie spirit resteth vpon those that haue a lowly troubled spirit and dooe stand in awe of thy word The proud and stifnecked people dooest thou touch with scorpions and punishments then they come to the knowledge of thy Maiestie then will they saie as Nabucadonosor said after his punishment Honour and praise be vnto thée O God of heauen whose power endureth alwais and thy kingdome from one generation to another Then shall they be driuen to praise thy mightie Maiestie as thou art worthie Cruell Saule was touched of thy hand and became Paule a welbeloued apostle through the helpe of thy grace and laboured more aboundantlie than all other of thine apostles such is the power of thy gratious influence This thy noble grace send me most mercifull God whereby I shall haue a louing desire to honour thée to praise thée my God and sauiour so long as I haue anie being I will not cease to confesse my sinnes to thée and to lament mine iniquities then shall my words be plesant and acceptable to thée And as I ioie wholie in thée that art my creator and in thy sonne which is my redéemer so shalt thou also delight in me that am
thy poore creature and handie worke granting me the fruit of thy sonnes passion which he suffered for my redemption to whom with thée O Father and the holie Ghost be all honour and glorie all power and dominion now and for euermore Amen Amen 18. A praier of the afflicted person O Lord God thou art iust and all thy works and waies are mercie truth and thou iudgest trulie for euermore remember me and looke on me O Lord God and punish me not according to my sinnes or mine ignorance but deale with me as it séemeth best vnto thée And now O Lord worke thy will in me and command my spirit to be receiued in peace that I may be dissolued of this fowle fleshie masse thorough the which I doo nothing but offend thée my Lord God Yet neuerthelesse if it be thy blessed will to giue me longer life in this vale of miserie forgiue me all my sinnes for Christs sake for thou art a mercifull God slowe to conceiue wrath and most readie to forgiue Wherefore extend thy fauour vpon me O Lord which shall confirme the faith of others Though I deserue destruction yet let thy mercie pittie my frailtie for thou art great O Lord for euermore and thy kingdome is world without end Thou scourgest and healest thou leadest vnto hell and bringest backe againe and there is none that may escape thy hand O giue thanks vnto the Lord ye children of men for there is none holie but he none almightie but thou O Lord God Thou hast chastined vs for our misdéeds and of thine owne mercie sake thou hast saued vs wherefore thée will we feare and dread and magnifie the euerlasting king in his works As for me and my soule whilest I liue will I praise thy Maiestie as long as I haue anie being For euer since I was borne thou hast giuen me great cause to praise thée for thou hast béene the defense of my iust cause Heare now my vehement praier my secret complaint and my sighes which I make before thée this daie into whose holie hands I commit my bodie and soule for thou hast redéemed me O thou God of truth Amen 19. A praier of the iustice of God and for the assistance of Gods spirit with an inuocation vpon the Trinitie O Lord I confesse thou dooest not punish me without my deserts therfore I will neuer accuse thée of rigour as the wicked doo for I acknowledge that when thou laiest thy hand heauie vpon anie there is iust cause why thou shouldest so entreat them We are occasion of our owne perdition and can pretend no ignorance to excuse vs withall for thou O God callest vs by thy word and works to follow vertue and flie vice which if we bend our selues vnto depending onelie vpon thée thou hast promised to be our schoolemaister and protectour Thy prouidence O GOD dooth not onelie watch ouer thy church in generall but also ouer euerie member thereof for thy word O Lord is easie to find if we haue a desire therevnto if we be not blinded by the prince of this world Thou most mightie hast power both of land and sea stretch foorth thy mercifull hand to helpe them vp that sinke to kéepe them vp that stand for thou art aboue all and ouer all kingdomes of the earth Thou hast made the heauen and earth Lord bow downe thine eare and heare Lord open thine eies and behold Our true refuge and succour in all temptations and dangers is to flie vnto thée by most earnest praier Thou wilt not here O Lord God for manie words sake or often repetition but thou doost consider our faith and feruent mind for thou doost looke vpon the heart of man and not vpon the outward appearance It is great gréefe O Lord vnto thy children when they sée not the fruits of their praiers which causeth them to thinke that thou hearest not yet doost thou but defer them to cause them to praie more earnestlie and often For when there séemeth to mans iudgement to be no recouerie but all things are brought to despaire then thou O GOD doost shew thy mightie power there is nothing doone without thy prouidence and decrée Wherefore I will call vpon thée with a stedfast faith being assured of thy mercies bicause I haue found thy helpe at néed in my most danger for thou neuer forsakest them that put their trust in thée bicause of nature thou art verie mercifull Therefore the faithfull reuerence thée and are bold to approch néere thy mightie Maiestie most humblie beséeching thée for Iesus Christ his sake that thou wilt cast all our sinnes behind thy backe and giue vs thy grace and holie spirit to lead the rest of our liues in thy feare dooing alwaies that is righteous in thy sight For whosoeuer walketh in his vocation and hath the light of God for his guide néedeth to feare no danger thy rodde and thy staffe shall alwaies hold him vp Guide me O Lord and giue me the most pretious gift of faith which is the head spring of all good works Baptise me inwardlie with the holie Ghost burne and consume all vice in me inflame my hart with the loue of thée and cast thy fauour vpon me O Lord and holie father So doo likewise O Christ my Lord and Sauiour who wast contented to put off all thy glorie that thou wast in before the beginning of the world to take our nature vpon thée and to suffer most bitter passion vpon the crosse for our redemption Wash me with thy pretious bloud and make me a chosen vessell to thy selfe giue me a thankefull hart to praise thy name with continuall thankesgiuing for thy great mercies Come holie spirit inspire my hart with the true knowledge of the father and the sonne procéeding from them both one God in Trinitie and Trinitie in vnitie world without end Amen 20. A praier for faith and grace LOrd giue me faith and grace that I may be wounded in hart to séeke vnto thée for mercie for thou O God hast taught vs in thy holie word to looke for aide and helpe of thee in all perils and that thou art the onlie giuer of victorie in all temptations of our enimies bodilie gostlie For when thou giuest sentence against the wicked they must néeds confesse thée to be iust and themselues sinners For thou O GOD which louest purenes of hart maiest iustlie destroie man who is by nature a sinner much more wilt thou laie thine hand vpon them whom thou hast instructed in thy heauenlie wisdome Thy fauour O God is the fountaine of all prosperitie for thou O Lord doost still behold vs. Thée will we reuerence in what place soeuer we be Helpe me therefore O Lord God in my good purposes and holie worshipping or seruing of thée and grant vnto me to make a perfect enterance and beginning in thée for I haue bin an vnprofitable seruant hitherto O Lord giue me a mind neuer to shew my selfe vnthankful for all thy benefits for
when we swarue at anie time out of the right waie by which we iudge that he dooth loue vs for whosoeuer he be that he loueth him he dooth chasten Christs strong shéepheards staffe dooth staie vs when we are weake as a sicke man is by his staffe In Christ thy sonne is the fulnes of grace from whom distilleth all goodnesse that we haue through his holie spirit is our cup filled full of pure liquor it causeth vs for ioie of heauenlie contemplation to forget all the troubles and miseries of the world the dregs of worldlie pleasures and carnall affections For as thy mercie hath gone before vs plentifullie giuing vs aboundance of thy great graces so we trust and doubt not but it will followe vs all the daies of our liues and kéepe vs that we fall not from faith Thou Lord must helpe our house or else we labour in vaine thou must be our beginning and end and then we be sure to dwell in the house of the Lord for euer For we know surelie that if our earthlie mansion wherein we now dwell were dissolued we haue a building ordeined of God an habitation not made with hands but eternallie in heauen where is perpetuall ioie and beatitude world without end Amen 37. A breefe confession that we receiue all goodnes from God ARise vp O Lord God and let thine enimies be scattered before thée and let them that hate thée be brought to confusion Declare O Lord thy might and power for thou art a consuming fire and a gelous God visiting the sinnes of the fathers vpon the children vnto the third and fourth generation For thy gouernement is so iust constant and without change or repentance that thy verie enimies shall be compelled to confesse the same O God almightie thou doost punish thine elect by measure giuest them grace to beare it but to the reprobate it is thy iust vengeance to driue them headlong to all madnesse For thy omnipotencie hath all power in it selfe to execute thy terrible iudgment against obstinate sinners as thou art rich in mercy to comfort them which obeie thy word and loue thée The faithfull in all their aduersities doo knowe that all shall go well with them for GOD will be mercifull and iust and though they want for a time yet thou wilt send them comfort in due season For thy Maiestie is so great that it filleth both heauen and earth and there is no power so high that can let thée when thou wilt deliuer thine The wicked rise vp suddenlie to honour and perish as quicklie but the inheritance of the children of God continueth for euer For thou O GOD wilt take vengance vpon the wicked and measure them according to their dealings Thus thou O God canst plucke backe the bridle of tyrants and deliuer thine owne out of the lions mouth for though the wicked swell neuer so much yet we feare them not They cannot vtterlie destroie vs for thou Lord hast promised to abide with thy faithfull people to the end of the world Thy grace will not leaue vs nor anie that loue thée and serue thée with a faithfull heart Thy fauour O God resteth on thine for thy sonne Iesus Christs sake that from him we might receiue thy blessings For we deserue nothing of our selues but thy wrath and indignation Wherefore grant vs good Lord first to séeke thy glorie and aboue all things reigne thou ouer vs al and let vs render to thée perfect obedience as thine angels doo whom thou hast commanded to take charge of thy children For the which if the wicked despise them thou of thy mercie wilt reuenge their cause for thou wilt preserue the faithful branches of thy vineyard but the rotten stocks wilt thou destroie according to their hypocrisie For there is none like vnto thée in heauen aboue or in the earth beneath Thou dooest blesse the labour of the poore and consumest the goods of them which are negligent bicause they boast and thinke they haue enough The wicked wallow in their riches yet are they but slaues to the godlie that are true professors of the gift of God The cup which thou gauest to the wicked to drinke is much bitter than that thou doost bestow on thine own them thou measurest by mercie the other by iustice And though thou suffer thy children to liue vnder the crosse least they should imbrace wickednesse yet thou wilt not suffer it to rest vpon them that it should driue them from their hope for all thy promises are true Wherefore we are sure of thy helpfull deliuerance séeing the earth and all creatures remaine in that estate wherein thou hast created them much more thy truth indureth constant and vnchangeable Blessed be thou O God of truth and blessed be the glorie of thy holie name world without end Amen Amen 38. A praier wherein is shewed that there is none omnipotent but God alone O Lord GOD almightie it is not in mans power or counsell to hinder that thou hast determined shall come to passe for as the insensible heauen is not subiect to anie alteration and change so shall the truth of thy promises be vnchangeable sith our infirmities cannot in any wise comprehend thée in thy maiestie There is none like thée neither is there anie God besides thée thou killest and giuest life thou woundest and makest whole Wherefore blessed are they that confesse thée and obeie thy word to them thou giuest life and felicitie The ioies that are stedfast and perdurable are giuen of thy goodnesse to those that are méeke and humble in spirit Thou dooest grant to the faithfull of thy goodnesse both grace and glorie so that no good thing shall be withholden from them that liue in thy feare for thou castest awaie none that will séeke thée in righteousnes And though thou suffer the world to hate thine elect it is bicause thy children should forsake the filthines of this world and cleaue vnto thée Wherefore grant vs O Lord that we may alwaies haue the eies of our faith fixed vpon thée for whatsoeuer thou O GOD hast promised shall surelie be performed For as it was thy frée mercie O God that did choose vs so is it thy frée mercie that must saue vs. Thou doost call vs by thy rod to consider the shortnes of our life for our sinnes haue abridged our daies which be not onlie short but miserable bicause we are so sinfull that we doo nothing but prouoke thée to wrath so weake we are so fraile and vnable of our selues to doo that good is inclining alwaies to things forbidden There is nothing so secreatlie doone on earth but thou O God doost sée it who dooest fulfill both heauen and earth Grant vs O Lord alwaies thy feare which shall be a bridle to staie vs from all wickednesse For as thou hast created all people euen so dooest thou gouerne the hearts of all ioining the saluation of thine with thine owne honour so that they cannot perish vnlesse thy glorie should