beloued of the Lorde and that thy graces may abound as the waters of the sea in the Prince and in the people in the Church and in the Common wealth from day to day till the day of our translation into the kingdō where iustice inhabiteth where we also shal inhabite and raign with thee according to thy promise for euer Grant vs these things O mercifull Father for thy deare sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we craue them at thy mercifull hande praying furthermore for them as hee hath taught vs to pray Our father which art in heauen c. A PRAYER TO be sayd in visiting of the sicke O Our good GOD Lord Father the Creator and conseruer of all thinges the fountaine of all goodnes benignitye like as among other thine infinite benefites whiche thou of thy great goodnesse and grace doest distribute ordinarilye vnto all men thou giuest them health of body to the end that they should the better know thy great liberalitye so that they might be the more readye to serue glorifye thee with the same so contrarywise when we haue ill behaued our selues in offending thy maiestye thou hast accustomed to admonishe vs and call vs vnto thee by diuers and sundry chastisementes thorough the which it hath pleased thy goodnes to subdue and tame our fraile flesh but especiallye by thy grieuous plagues of sicknesse and diseases vsing the same as a meane to awake stir vp the great dulnes and negligence that is in vs all and aduertising vs of oure euill life by such infirmities dangers especially when as they threaten the verye death which as assured messengers of the same are all to the flesh full of extreame anguishe and torments althogh they be notwithstanding to the spirit of the elect as medicines both good wholsom For by thē thou dost mooue vs to retourne vnto thee for our saluation and to cal vpon thee in our afflictions to haue thine helpe which art oure dear and louing father In consideration wherof wee most earnestlye praye vnto thee oure good God that it wold please thine infinite goodnes to haue pitty on this thy poore creature whome thou hast as it were bounde and tied to the bed by most grieuous sicknesse and brought to great extremitie by the heauinesse of thine hand O Lorde enter not into a count with him to render the rewarde due vnto his workes but through thine infinite mercye remitte all his faults for the which thou hast chastised him so gently and beholde rather the obedience which thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde hath rendred vnto thee to witte the sacrifice which it hath pleased thee to accept as a full recompence for all the iniquities of thē that receiue him for their iustice sanctificatiō yea for their onely sauiour Let it please thee O GOD to gyue him a true zeale and affection to receiue and acknowledge him for his onely redeemer to the end also that thou maist receiue this sicke person to thy mercy qualifiyng all the troubles which his sins the horror of death and dreadfull feare of the same may bring to his weake conscience neither suffer thou O Lord the assaults of the mighty aduersary to preuaile or to take from him the comfortable hope of saluation which thou giuest to thy dearely beloued children And for as much as we are all subiect to the like state condition and to bee visited with like battel when it shal please thee to call vs vn to the same we beseech thee moste humblye O Lorde with this thy poore Creature whom thou now presently chastisest that thou wilt not extende thy rigorous iudgement against him but that thou wouldest vouchsafe to shew him thy mercye for the loue of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde who hauing suffered the most shamefull and extreame death of the Crosse bare willinglye the fault of this poore patient to the end that thou mightest acknowledge him as one redemed with his precious bloud and receiued into the communion of his body to be participant of eternall felicity in the companye of thy blessed Aungels wherfore O Lord dispose moue his hart to recieu by thy grace with all meekenesse this gentle and fatherly correction which thou haste layde vpon him that he maye indure it patientlye and with willing obediēce submitting himself with heart and minde to thy blessed will and fauourable mercye wherein thou now visitest him after this sort for his profit and saluation It may please thy goodnesse O Lord to assist him in all his anguishes and troubles And although the tongue and voyce bee not able to execute their office in this behalf to set forth thy glorye that yet at the least thou wilt stirre vp his hart to aspire vnto thee only which art the onlye fountaine of goodnesse thou wilt roote and settle in his hart the sweet promises which thou hast made vnto vs in Christe Iesus thy sonne our Sauiour to the intent he may remaine constant against all the assaultes and tumult which the enemy of our saluation maye raise vp to trouble his conscience And seeyng it hath pleased thee that by the death of thy dear Son life eternall shoulde be cōmunicated vnto vs and by the shedding of his bloud the washing of our sinnes should be declared and that by his resurrediō also both iustice and immortality shoulde bee giuen vs it may please thee to apply this holy and wholsome medicine to this thy poore Creature in such extremitie taking from him all trembling dreadfull feare to giue him a stout courage in the middes of all his present aduersityes And for as much as all thinges O heauenly father be knowne vnto thee and thou canst according to thy good pleasure minister vnto him all such thinges as shall be necessarye and expedient let it please thee O Lord so to satisfie him by thy grace as may seeme most meete vnto thy diuine maiesty Receiue him Lorde into thy protection for he hath his recourse accesse to thee alone make him constant and firme in thy commaundements and promises and also pardon all his sinnes both secreat and those which are manyfest by the which hee hath moste grieuouslye prouoked thy wrath seuere iudgementes against him so as in place of death the whiche both he and al we haue iustlye merited thou wilt graunt vnto him that blessed life whiche we also attend looke for by thy grace and mercy Neuerthelesse O heauenlye Father if thy good pleasure bee that hee shall yet lyue longer in this worlde it may then please thee to augment in him thy graces so as the same maye serue vnto thy glorye yea Lord to the intent he may conforme himselfe the more diligentlye and with more carefulnes to the example of thy sonne Christ Iesus and that in renouncing him selfe he maye cleaue fullye vnto him who to gyue consolation and hope vnto all sinners to obtaine remission of all their sins
* aduocate towardes thy maiestie 1. Tim. 2. that we may obtain * all things which shall seem expedient to thy blessed will for our necessities 1. Ioh. 3. Therefore wee beseech thee most mercifull father to turne thy louing countenāce towards vs Psal 32. and * impute not vnto vs our manifolde sins offences whereby wee iustly deserue thy wrath sharp punishment but rather receiue vs to thy mercy for Iesus Christes sake accepting his death and passion as a iust recompence for all our offences in whom only thou art pleased through whome thou canst not bee offended with vs. And seeing that of thy great mercies wee haue quietli passed this night grant o heauēly father that wee may bestowe this day wholly in thy seruice so that all oure thoughtes wordes and deeds may redound to the glory of thy name and good example to al men who seeing our good works may glorify thee our heauēly father And forasmuch as of thy mere fauour and loue thou hast not only created vs to thine own similitude likenesse but also haste chosen vs to bee heires with thy dear sonne Iesus Christ of that immortall kingdom which thou prepa redst for vs before the begining of the world wee beseech thee to increas our faith know ledge to lighten our heartes with thine holy spirit that we may in the meane time liue in godly conuersation integrity of life knowing that * idolaters Gal. 5 adul terers couetous men contentious personnes drunkardes gluttons such like shall not inherite the kingdome of God And because thou haste commaunded vs to pray one for another we doe not onely make request O Lord for our selues and them that thou hast already called to thee true vnderstanding of thine heauenly will but for all people * natiōs of the world Actes 10. 1. tim 2. who as they knowe by thy wonderful workes that thou art God ouer all so they may be instructed by thine holie spirite to beleue in thee their onely sauiour and Redeemer But forasmuch as they can not beleeue except they * hear Rom. 10. nor cānot hear but by preaching and none can preach except they be sent therfore O lord raise vp faythfull distributers of thy misteries who setting aparte all worldly respectes may both in their life and doctrine only seeke thy glory Contrarily confounde * Sathan Rom. 16. Antichrist with all hirelings and papistes whō thou hast already cast of into a reprobate sense that they may not by sects schismes heresies and errours disquiet thy little flocke And because O Lorde wee be fallen into the latter dayes 2. tim 3. and daungerous times wherin ignorance hath gotten the vpper hand and Satan with his minysters seeke by all meanes to quench the light of thy Gospell we beseeche thee to maintaine thy cause against those * rauenous wolues Mat. 7 and strengthen all thy seruauntes whome they keepe in prison bondage Let not thy long suffering bee an occasion eyther to increase their tyranny or to discourage thy children neyther yet let oure sinnes and wickednesse bee an hynderaunce to thy mercyes but with speede O Lord consider the greate myseries and afflictions of thy poore Church which in sundry places by the rage of enimies is greeuously tormented and this we confesse O Lord to come moste iustlye for our sinnes which notwithstanding thy manifold benefites whereby thou doest dayly allure vs to loue thee and thy sharp thretnings wherby we haue occasion to feare thee and speedily to repent yet continue in our owne wickednes and feel not our hearts so touched with the displeasure of our sinnes as we ought to do Therefore O Lorde create in vs newe heartes that with feruent minds we may bewaile our manifolde sinnes earnestly repent vs for our former wickednesse and vngodly behauiour towardes thee and wheras wee can not of oure selues purchase thy pardon yet wee humblye beseeche thee for Iesus Christes sake to shewe thy mercies vppon vs and receiue vs again to thy fauour Graunt vs deare father these oure requestes and all other thinges necessary for vs and thy whole Church according to thy promise in Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we beseech thee as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name c. A GODLY PRAIER to be sayde at all times HOnour and prayse bee giuen to thee O Lord God almighty moste deare Father of heauen for all thy mercies louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath plesed thy gratious goodnesse and freely of thine own accord to elect chuse vs to saluatiō before the begining of the world euē like cōtinual thanks be giuē to thee for creating vs after thine own image for redeeming vs with the precious bloude of thy deare sonne when we were vtterlye loste for sanctifying vs with thine holye Spirite in the Reuelation and knowledge of thyne holy word for helping and succouring vs in all our needes and necessities for sauing vs from all daungers of bodye and soule for comforting vs so fatherly in all our tribulations persecutions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large a time of repentaunce These benefits O most merciful father like as wee knowledge to haue receiued them of thine onely goodnesse euen so wee beseech thee for thy dear son Iesus Christes sake to grant vs alwais thine holy spirit whereby we may continually growe in thankfulnes towards thee to bee led into all truethe and comforted in all oure aduersities O Lord strengthen our faith kindle it more in feruentnes and loue towardes thee and our neighbors for thy sake Suffer vs not most dear Father to receiue thy word any more in vain but graunt vs alwayes the assistaunce of thy grace and holy spirite that in heart word and deede we may sanctify and doe worship to thy name helpe to amplify and increase thy kingdome that whatsoeuer thou sendest we maye be hartely well content with thy good pleasure and wil. Let vs not lack the thing o father with out the which we cannot serue thee but bless thou so all the workes of our handes that we may haue sufficient and not to bee chargeable but rather helpfull vnto others Be mercifull O Lorde to our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou haste forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou oure Father oure captaine and defender in all tentations holde thou vs by thy mercifull hand that we maye bee deliuered from all inconueniences end our liues in the sanctifiing honor of thy holy name through Iesus christ our Lord only Sauioure so be it Let thy mighty hande and out-stretched arme O Lorde bee still our defence thy mercye and louing kindenesse in Iesus Christ thy dear Sonne oure saluation thy true and holy word oure instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto
And therefore we pray thee that according to the manifold troubles that thou shalt visite them with it woulde be thy good pleasure to measure out thy grace in such plentifull maner that thy children maye patiently beare ioyfullye attende for the good howre wherein thou wilt pul them out of all their troubles And specially we pray thy maiesty for our brethren that are afflicted for thy Gospell sake namely those that suffer imprisonment or otherwise in any nation for the clearer testimony of it that it woulde please thee to giue thē patience in all theire troubles wisedom and mouthes to defend thy cause against all those that rise vp againste it that thou woldst blesse their trauels and sufferings for that for which they are taken which is to giue a freer course of thy gospel into al places And therewithall wee beeseeche thee for the churches of France and Flaunders which are so miserably racked and torn in sunder and which are almost consumed with these fierie trials that it wold plese thee to locke vpon the sighings and gronings the teares that fall from their eies continually the bloud that is shed in all partes of the Lande the bodies that lye vnburied to bee meate to the foules of the ayre and Fishes of the Sea the lonenes of wiues lacking ther husbāds children their fathers euery frend his freind And for asmuch as those thynges are come vppon them for thy names sake let it be thy good pleasure to hepe them considering that they are forsaken of al their friends roūde about and therefore praye thee that thou wouldest not looke vppon our sinnes nor the sins of our forefathers wherby we deserue not onelye this correction but vtter destruction as Sodom Gomorrha but rather to look vpō thi mercies which were before them whereby thou hast sayde that although we do offende and thou doest correct vs yet thou wilt not take away thy mercyes from vs but wilt leaue a remnant which thou wilt multiply and make as the starres of the heauen and as the sandes of the Sea Looke also O Lord vpon the outragiousnes and cruelty vnfaithfulnes and blasphemy of the enemies wherewithall they blaspheme thee and prouoke thee to thy face and therefore in thine owne cause and for thine own sake take the matter into thine owne handes and pay vnto the Bosomes of thine enymies double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee Notwithstanding those amongest them that belong to thine holy election hasten their calling that afterward thy iudgement may hasten vpon the earth and the inhabitants therof may learn to knowe thee by thy iudgementes that would not vnderstand and come to thee by the louing callinge of thy Gospell Wee pray thee O Lorde for our brethren that are vp in arms in both those coūtries that thou wouldst goe before them and come behinde them and on euerye syde of them couer their heads in the daye of battell teache their handes to fyght their fingers to war giue them wisdom valiantnes and good succes in al their enterprises strike a dizinesse maze of spirite into the enimies hearts and take away from them al force and disappointall their counsels And vpō our brethren in Flāders wee beseeche thee that thou wouldest comfort them ouer al their troubles that they haue receiued and breaches that haue beene made in vpon them where there are new forces euery day gathered new sleights inuented to destroy thē it maye please thee to scatter their forces and bring their sleights to nothing Yea grant also O lord that that whiche they haue deuised against thy children may come vppon their own heades And for oure Brethren in Fraunce wee beseeche thee O Lorde what straights soeuer they be in thou wouldest deliuer them and althogh they be forsaken in the iudgement of all the world and in their own iudgementes notwithstanding thou that hast the issues of death in thine owne handes deliuer those that are appoynted to death And finally we most humbly thanke thee for that it hath pleased thee to keepe vs this daye and all the dayes and times of our liues beseeching thee that thou wouldst receiue vs this night into thy holye keeping that we may haue quiet rest not of bodyes alone but of our soules also restinge from all those thinges that are cōtrary to thy most holy will attending while thou raisest vs vp in the morning to do al those thinges that thou haste appoynted vs. These thinges wee desire of thee all other things which thou knowest to be more needfull for vs thy whol church better then we our selues do know for Iesus Christs sake saying the same praier that he him self hath taught vs. Our father c. A PRAYER FOR the Euening O Lorde God Father euerlasting and full of pitty we acknowlege and confesse that we be not worthye to lift vp oure eyes to heauen muche lesse to present oure selues before thy maiesty with confidence that thou wilt heare our prayers and graunt our requestes if we consider our owne deseruinges for our cōsciences do accuse vs our sinnes do witnes against vs and we know that thou art an vpright Iudge which dost not iustifie the sinners and wicked men but punni shest the falts of al such as transgresse thy commandements yet most mercifull Father since it hath pleased thee to Commaunde vs to call vpon thee in all our troubles aduersityes promising euen then to helpe vs when we feel our selues as it were swallowed vp of death and desperation We vtterly renounce al worldlye confidence flye to thy Soueraigne bounty as our only stae and refuge beseeching thee not to call to remembraunce our manifold sinnes and wickednes whereby we continuallye prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence and vnkindnes which haue neither worthely esteemed nor in our liues sufficiently expressed the sweet cōfort of thy Gospell reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience death of thy sonne Iesus Christ who by offering vp his body in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercye therefore vppon vs O Lorde and forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holye spirte that we maye rightly weigh them and earnestly repent for the same And so much the rather O Lord because that the reprobate and suche as thou hast forsaken cannot praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting hart the sorrowfull mind the conscience oppressed hungring and thirsting for thy grace shall euer set foorth thy praise glory And albeit we be but wormes and duste yet thou art our Creator we be the worke of thy hands yea thou art our Father and we thy children thou art our she p-heard and we thy flock thou art our redeemer and we thy people whō thou hast bought thou art our God we thine inhertiance Correct vs not therfore in thine anger O lord neither according to oure deserts punish
vs but mercifullye chastice vs with a fatherly affection that all the worlde may know that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repēt him of his sinn frō the bottō of his hart thou wilt put away his wickednes out of thy remembrance Finally for as much as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to reste in as thou haste ordayned him the daye to trauaile graunt O deare Father that wee may so take our bodely rest that our soules may continuallly watch for the time that our Lord Iesus Christ shal appear for our deliuerance out of this mortall life and in the mean season that we not ouercome by any fantasies dreames or other temptations may fully set our mindes vppon thee loue thee fear thee rest in thee Furthermore that our sleep be not excessiue or ouer much after the vnsatiable desires of the fleshe but only sufficiēt to cōtent oure weake nature that we may be the better disposed in all godly cōuersation to the glory of thy holy name profite of our brethren So be it ¶ A Prayer for all times O Lord God Father of mercy and God of al consolation without whome wee haue neither hope nor comfort we pore wretches miserable sinners beseech thee of thy fatherly goodnes to look vpō vs and so make vs partakers of thy gratious goodnes that we may stil increase in all goodnesse so that euermore we may set forth thine honor glory let our conuersation bee such that a great mani beholding our good workes may glorify thee oure heauenly father so direct our ways that we may hold forth the professiō of thy gospel as a lanthorn to lighten the steps of a greate many that they may turne to thee praise thy name in their visitation Thus O Lord we beseeche thee to deale with vs that in deed we may be vessels of honour vnto thee now to set foorth the praise of thy name and after this transitory life to behold thy glory who haste immortality alone and dwellest in lighte that no man hath approched vnto remoue far from vs our sinns iniquities that they may not seperate betweene vs and thee blot out all our offences and make our prayers righteous that thou mayst fauourably grant our requests looke vpō vs with thy fauourable mercie that thou mayst haue pitty vpon vs and beholde in the righteousnesse of thy beloued Sonne Christ Iesu and that wee may bee presented faultlesse in thy sight and thou accepting vs as only we may finde the Grace euermore to set foorth thy honour and glory and to speake of thy prayses in the middes of all thy people Let vs loue O Lord the thinges that thee good and hate the things that are euill let vs delight in all things that may please thee let vs bee greeued with whatsoeuer is displeasant in thy sight And to the intent wee may haue true vnderstāding and be able to discerne betweene things what is good or euill we beseech thee let thy word dwell plentifully in vs which may guide oure vnderstandings so that we may abound in all knowledge and do according to that which is righteous And in this estate of the true Christianity being instructed in minde and ready in body to all holy obedience wee beseeche thee make vs to growe and encrease frō grace to grace frō fayth to fayth vntill we come vnto the fulnesse of age to be perfect members of the body of Christe waiting for the blessed hope of thine elect and sighing in spirite vntill that thy children shal be reuealed In the meane season let vs sigh withal those that haue receiued the first fruits of thi spirit that these days of sinne may cease that satan be trodē down vnder feet that Antichrist may be reuealed yet to many thousandes that be in ignoraunce that the number of thine elect may be full the body of thy saintes made perfect all teares wiped from oure eyes euen then when thy sonne shal appear again the second time to iudge the quicke and the deade which time O Lorde send quickly according to thy good will and teache vs to pray with all thy Sayntes Come Lord Iesu come quickly graunt this O Father for thy Sonnes sake in whose name we pray vnto thee And although wee bee but Earth and Ashes yet are we bolde to say vnto thee the GOD of all glory euen as hee hath taught vs. Our Father whiche art in Heauen hallowed bee thy name c. A Prayer for the estate of the whole church O Lorde our God heauenlye Father forasmuche as by thy holy word we are commaunded in our prayprayers not only to be mindfull of our selues but also of al others thy children yea euen of our enimies wee commend vnto thy Maiesty all thy whole true and Catholique Church euery member thereof that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the bright beams of thy holy worde to shine ouer the whol world wherbi thou hast expelled driuen away caused to vanish the dark misty clouds of ignorance superstitiō so thou woldest vouchesafe by thy holy spirit to touch the hearts of men that thei may ioyfullye embrace that thine so high treasure sent amongest vs that thorough our vnthākfulnes we prouoke not thy maiesty in anger to take it from vs. Crush bruse destroy with the breath of thy mouth the mighty power of that man of sin which so proudly exalteth him selfe aboue all that is called God Let not thy simple flocke deare father in whose consciences he of long time hath and yet doth sit as God be any longer poisoned with his sweet enticing poisons but so lightē their harts that they may perceiue his iuglinges and embrace the sweet comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting reuealed in thy glorious Gospell And for asmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue all natiōs in the earth to powre down the sweet showers of thy Heauenlye Graces vppon this our English nation aboundantlie in more plentifull wise watering the same with the giftes of the holy spirite in promoting thy Gospell ouerthrowing Idolatri we besech thee cōtinue thy fauour toward the same vtterly root out al remnants reliques Monumentes of Idolatry that thy glorious name may be throughlye exalted in sincere pure and holy worship And as thou haste in mercy from amongst vs in this thy Church vtterly banished all false venemous and poysonfull doctrine wherwith the soules of thy Children heeretofore haue bene woūded to death and in place therof hast placed the true comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting wherewith the soules of thy Children be fedde and nourished to euerlastinge ioy so in like mercy fauour we beseech thee deere father establishe in the same thy church a true perfect and sincere regiment thereof according to the prescript rule of thy blessed worde all fantasies of mans brayne and Dreames of humane policy vtterlye abolished that thy glorious Maiestye onelye maye bee exalted in
teares for oure synnes making them soft and meeke to receiue the print of thy holy word and seale of thy blessed spirire writing with thy fynger thine own laws in thē so that thou maist read thine owne hande acknowledge thine owne seale so passe by vs when thou shalt bring thy iudgement vppon the face of the earth for the iniquities thereof whereof thou haste giuen and still giuest frō time to time diuers tokens which we beseech thee may be profitable vnto vs whilste first of al we acknowledge thy hande striking vs and thy counsayle callinge vs thereby torepentaunce that thy heauier iudgementes doe not fall vpon vs to our vtter destruction Moreouer we thank thee O Lorde for that it hath pleased thee to be the watch-mā and as it were the spie of this Church and common wealth and haste foreseene all the stormes treasons comming againste it and againste thine annoynted oure Souaraigne whōe thou in mercye hast appoynted to rule ouer it and hast scattered them and brought thē to naught and haste pursued certaine of thine enemyes and ours vnto death be seeching thee to continue this watchfull and carefull eye ouer vs still to doe vs good and to pursue the rest of thine enemies and ours vnto the graue giuing notwithstanding repentāce vnto them vnto whom thou haste left place of repentaunce And to this ende raise vp the harts of our most gratious QVEENE her honourable Counsell thy Magistrates that as they sit in thy seate and are called by thy name so they maye execute thy iustice which thou so well approouest of whereof also thou wilt require a straighte accompt at their hands Wee desire thee also to shewe these thy graces to all other Churches of thine namely thy Church of Englande that it may enioye that peace that thou hast giuen it and graunt that the same be referred to that end wherfore thou hast giuen it namelye to the ful establishment of the throne of thy dear sonn our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST to the building of his Kingdome there Wee besech thee also for the churches which thi hād hath plāted long since especiallye those from whō we haue receiued knowledge in time of our ignorāce places of refuge in time of persecution that it woulde please thee to continue thy louing kindnes towards them and therefore cause them to continue their faith toward thee obedience towards thy holy worde And whensoeuer it shal bee thy pleasure to try them with any kinde of affliction it woulde please thee to graunt vnto them that they maye put their truste in thee hauing regarde to the truth of thy promises and to the good experience that they haue of thy helpe in times past and thereby conceiue comfort hope O Lorde euen of life in death and of saluation in destruction We praye thee also good lord that we may haue the feeling of the miseries of our brethren as members of the same body those that liue by the same spirite And therefore we pray thee that according to the manyfold troubles that thou shalt visite them with it woulde bee thy good pleasure to measure out rhy grace in such plentifull maner that thy children maye patiently beare and ioy fullye attende for the good howre wherein thou wilt pul them out of all their troubles And especially we pray thy maiesty for our brethren that are afflicted for thy Gospell sake namelye those that suffer imprisonment or otherwise in any nation for the clearer testimony of it that it woulde please thee to giue thē patience in all theire troubles wisedom and mouthes to defend thy cause against all those that rise vp againste it that thou woldst blesse their trauels and sufferings for that for which they are taken which is to giue a freer course of thy gospel into al places And therewithall wee beeseeche thee for the churches of France and Flaunders which are so miserably racked and torn in sunder and which are almost consumed with these fierie trials that it wold plese thee to looke vpon the sighings and gronings the teares that fall from their eies continually the bloud that is shed in all the partes of the Lande the bodies that lye vnburied to bee meate to the foules of the ayre and Fishes of the Sea the lonenes of wiues lacking ther husbāds children their fathers euery frend his freind And for asmuch as those thynges are come vppon them for thy names sake let it be thy good pleasure to helpe them considering that they are forsaken of all their friends roūd about and therefore praye thee that thou wouldest not looke vppon our sinnes nor the sins of our forefathers wherby we deserue not onelye this correction but vtter destruction as Sodom Gomorrha but rather to looke vpthy mercies which were before them whereby thou hast sayde that although we doe offend and thou doest correct vs yet thou wilt not take awaye thy mercies from vs but wilt leaue a remnant which thou wilt multiply and make as the starres of the heauen and as the sandes of the sea Looke also O lord vpon the outragiousnes and cruelty vnfaithfulnes and blasphemy of the enemies wherewithal they blaspheme thee and prouoke thee to thy face and therefore in thine owne cause and for thine own sake take the matter into thine owne handes and pay into the Bosomes of thine enymies double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee Notwithstanding those amongest them that belong to thine holy election hasten their calling that afterward thy iudgement may hasten vpon the earth and the inhabitants therof may learn to knowe thee by thy iudgementes that would not vnderstand and come to thee by the louing callinge of thy Gospell Wee pray thee O Lorde for our brethren that are vp in arms in both those coūtries that thou wouldst goe before them and come behinde them and on euerye syde of them couer their heads in the daye of battell teache their handes to fyght their fingers to war giue them wisdom valiantnes and good succes in al their enterprises strike a dizinesse maze of spirite into the enimies hearts and take away from them al force and disappoint all their counsels And vpō our brethren in Flāders we beseeche thee that thou wouldest comfort them ouer all thy troubles that they haue receiued and breaches that haue beene made in vpon them where there are new forces euery day gathered new sleights inuented to destroy thē it maye please thee to scatter their forces and bring their sleights to nothing Yea grant also O lord that that which they haue deuised against thy children may come vppon their own heades And for oure Brethren in Fraunce wee beseeche thee O Lorde what straights so euer thei be in thou wouldest deliuer them and althogh they be forsaken in the iudgement of all the world and in their own iudgementes notwithdanding thou that hast the issues of death in thine owne handes deliuer those that are appoynted to
chaunge but haste established thine appoynted counsels which shall not bee changed for euer thou O God haste made among vs this diuersitie of estates and degrees according as euerye cōmon wealth requyreth keepe vs all we beseech thee that we may walke obedientlye in our calling and followe the steppes that thou haste set before vs euen from the highest to the lowest let vs accomplishe that duety vnto which thou hast appointed vs and with a faithfull remembrance of thy promise made of old to our father ABRAHAM that thou art his exceeding great rewarde we maye likewyse depend on thy prouidence and seeke not any shameful waies to get our liuing wandringe from the righteousnesse of our vocation into the manifold errors of sinne and iniquity looke vppon vs O Lord and inrich vs with thy grace make vs obedient to our inferiours meeke towardes our enemies faithfull to our friendes true iust towardes all men that we may dwell stedfastly rooted in the hope of thine elect vntill thou shalt make an end of all our labors looke vpon oure moste Excellent Queene and her honorable Counsell and as thou haste called them to the highest roome so giue vnto thē the greatest measures of grace that they faithfully dispence the talents committed vnto them lead them with the good King DAVID into thy sanctuary that they may see thy louing kindnes which is better thē life and saye with the Prophet All flesh is grasse and the glory of man is as the flower of the field and so consecrate them selues to doe thy will offer vp their bodies to be holy liuely reasonable sacrifices vnto thee that they maye be Nurses and nurs-fathers vnto the Church looke also wee beseech thee vpon thy ministers whome thou haste appoynted to the preaching of thy Gospell make thē O God faithful dispensers of thy misteries without respect of persons to doe the worke vnto the which thou haste appointed them that they maye conuert Sinners and haue their glorye perfect in the day of christ and knitte vs togeather in peace and loue that wee maye bee full of cōpassion one towards an other to reioyce with them that reioyce and mourne with them that mourne especiallye to instruct one an other in the wayes of righteousnesse that by our mutuall helpe wee maye the better withstande our enemye and dwell safe in hope of thine electe till oure dayes shall be full and wee shall walke the wayes of all the world which time we beseech thee bring vs happelye vnto euen for thy Sons sake wee beseeche thee to whome with thee and the holye Ghoste three persons and one God be all honour and glory now and for euermore Amen Amen A PRAYER FOR the Queene O Gratious Lorde most mercifull Father wee acknowledge thee the Lord of lords and the King of Kings creating at the beginning ruling al things euermore in heauen in earth according to thy wonderfull wisdom and power and our selues to be thy poore seruauntes the worke of thy hands the sheepe of thy pasture subiected to thy high maiesty and depending vpon thy fatherly prouidence for al thinges Neuertheles seeing thou in thy wisedome annoyntest kings and Queenes appoynting them to rule ouer thy people to sitte as Lieuetenauntes in thy seat to minister iustice and moste of all as Fathers and Nurses to maintaine and cherishe thy Church commanding vs not onely to obey and honour them but moreouer to praie for them as watching ouer vs for our good wee therefore beseeche thee for thy gret names sake and for IESVS CHRISTS sake to shew thy mercy to all Kinges and Princes that mayntaine thy glorious gospell but especiallye we praye thee to blesse our gratious Queene in all spirituall blessinges in Christe Iesus and in all tēporal blessings according to thy good pleasure that in the great measures of thy effectual loue shee may more and more find great increases of verttue and wisdom and strength in Christ Iesus to the faithful happye discharge of her duty that her holines ioy and zeal of thy house may be multiplied and enerlasting And seeing it hath pleased thee of thy singular mercy to giue her this especiall honour first to suffer for thy glorious truth and afterwarde miraculousli deliuering her out of the hands of all Her ennemyes and to set vp a crowne vpon her heade and to make her the instrumente to aduaunce thy glory and gospell for which shee suffered and to bring it out of darknesse into light out of persecution into this great and long peace as we giue thee most harty thankes for this singular benefit so we besech thee to make her vs euermore thāk full for it in thy good pleasure still to preserue her for the continuāce of these blessinges towardes vs with all increase frō time to time to thy glory the benefit of thy Church and her infinite peace in Christ Iesus the Prince of peace And furthermore we pray thee for her the estate that such as be enemies of the Gospell and her enemies also for the defence therof may not despise the peace offered them to repentaunce but that they maye account thy long suffering and her peaceable vnblouddy gouernement an occasion of saluation to their soules and vnfayned loue to the truth their merciful souerain Otherwise if they still remaine disobedient to the truth disobedient to her hihgnesse and dangerous to the state then O God of our saluation as thou hast discouered them so discouer them still as thou hast preuented them so preuent them still and let their eies waxe weary with looking their harts faint with waiting for the comminge of that which yet commeth not neither let it come O Lorde wee beseeche thee but a blessed and a longe raigne to her and peace to SION for euermore Also deare Father so blesse so loue so in thy spirite sanctify and keepe her that shee maye in the spirite of counsel and fortitude so rule that other Sister also namelye this her common wealth that they maye flourishe togeather and growe vp togeather as Palme trees in beautie and in strength giuing ayde and helpe one to an other that in the Church the glorye of God maye appeare as the sunne in his brightnesse and that the land may flow with milke hony and true peace abound therin as in the tryumphant raigne of DEBORA These graces O lord are great and we miserable sinners vnworthy of the leaste of them therfore looke not to vs but to thy selfe not to oure iniquityes but to thy great mercies accepting the death and passion of thy sonne as a full ransome for all our offences throwing thē into the bottome of the sea making his crosse and resurrection effectuall in vs to all obedience and godlinesse as becommeth thy saints that to all other thy good blessings towards our gratious soueraign this may be added that she gouerneth blessedlye ouer a blessed people a people blassed of the Lorde and
and offences hath carryed with him into the Heauens the Theefe whiche was crucified with him vppon the crosse But if the tyme by thee appoynted bee come that hee shall depart from vs vnto thee make him to feele in his conscience O Lord the fruite and strength of thy grace that thereby he may haue a new tast of thy Fatherly care ouer him from the beginning of his lyfe vnto the end of the same for the loue of thy dear sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Giue him thy grace that with a good heart and full assuraunce of faith he maye receiue to his consolation so great excellent a treasure to wit the remission of his sinnes in CHRIST IESVS thy Sonne who now presenteth him to this pore personne in distresse by the vertue of thy promises reuealed vnto him by thy woorde which he hath exercised with vs in thy Church and congregation and also in vsing the sacramentes which thou hast established for confirmation of al their faith that truste in thee vnfaynedly Let true faith O lord be vnto him as a moste sure buckler thereby to auoyde the assaultes of death and more boldly walke for the aduancement of eternall life to the end that he hauing a most liuely apprehension therof may reioyce with thee in the heauens eternally Let him be vnder thy protection and gouernāce O heauēly father and althogh he be sick yet canst thou heale him he is cast downe but thou canst lift him vp he is sore troubled but thou canst sende redres he is weak thou canst sende strength he acknowledgeth his vncleanes his spots his filthines iniquityes but thou canst wash him make him cleane he is woūded but thou canst minister moste souerain salues he is fearefull trembling but thou canst gyue him good courage and boldnesse To be short hee is as it were vtterly lost and as a strayed sheepe but thou canste call him hoame to thee againe Wherfore O Lord seeing that this poore creature thine own workmanship resigneth him wholly into thine hāds receiue him into thy merciful protection Also we poore miserable creatures which are as it were in the field ready to fight til thou with draw vs from the same vouchsafe so to strengthen vs by thine holye spirite that we maye obtayne the victory in thy name against oure deadly and mortal enemye And furthermore that the affliction and combat of this thy pore creature in moste greeuous tormentes maye moue vs to humble our selues with all reuerent feare and trembling vnder thy mighty hande knowing that we muste appear before thy iugement seat when it shal please thee to appoint But O lord the coruption of our fraile nature is such that wee are vtterlye destitute of anye mean to appeare before thee except it pease the to make vs such as thou thy selfe requirest vs to be further that thou gyue vs the spirite of meeknesse and humility to rest and stay wholye on those thinges which thou only commaundest But for as much as we be all togeather vnworthy to inioye such benefites wee beseech thee to receiue vs in the name of thy deare Son our Lorde maister in whose death sanctification standeth wholly the hope of our saluatiō It may also please thee O Father of comfort consolation to strengthen with thy grace those which imploye theire trauell and diligence to the ayding of this sick persō that they faint not by ouermuch and continuall labour but rather to go heartily and cheerefully forward in doing their indeuours towards him if thou take him frō them thē of thy goodnesse to comfort them so as they may paciently bear such departing and prayse thy name in all things Also O heauenly father vouchsafe to haue pition al other sick persons and such as bee by anye wayes or meanes afflicted also on those who as yet are ignorant of thy trueth appertaine neuertheles vnto thy kingdom In like manner on those that suffer persecution tormented in prisons or otherwise troubled by the enemies of thy veritye for bearing Testimonye to the same finally on all the necessityes of thy people and vpon al the ruins or decayes which satan hath brought vpō thy church O father of mercy spread forth thy goodnes vpon all those that bee thine that we forsaking oure selues may be the more inflamed and confirmed to rest onely vpon thee alone Graunt these our requestes O our deare Father for the loue of thy deare sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ who liueth raigneth with thee in vnity of the holy Ghost true God for euermore PRAYERS AND thankesgiuinges to be said before and after meat A Prayer before meate O Lorde our God and heauenly Father in thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ worke in our harts true repentaunce with increase of a true and liuelye faith make vs thankefull vnto thy Maiestye for all thy benefites whiche wee continually do receiue at thy mercifull hande Graunt vs the grace that we may at this present with thankful harts as from thy handes receiue meat and drincke for the sustenaunce of our bodies with moderation vse them to thy glory and through thy blessing receiue by thē perfect nourishment aboue all wee craue at thy hands good Lord the heauenlye foode of our soules which neuer perisheth that through thy gratious goodnes we maye be nourished and strengthened both in soule and body to eternall life through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen A THANKESGIVING after meat ETernall God and mercifull father we yeelde vnto thee moste harty thankes for al thy benefites so plentifully bestowed vppon vs especially that thou hast at this present fed and nourished oure mortall bodyes with meate and drinck we beseech thee in like manner let oure soules feele the sweete taste of thy heauenlye food that we being fed and nourished at thy handes both in soule body maye in this lyfe walke as it becommeth thy children and in the life to come be receiued to thine eternall kingdome of glory through Iesus Christ our Lorde and sauiour Amen A PRAYER BEfore meat O Mercifull and heauenlye Father who giuest food to euery liuing creature and with out whom nothing can liue blesse and sanctifie our meates drinckes whiche wee are now about to receiue that they maye turne to the nourishment of our bodies wherevnto thou hast appointed thē that we acknowledging thy gratious goodnes in prouiding so liberallye for our bodyes maye with cheerful harts be lifted vp earnestly to long after the food of our souls wherby we may be fed eternally through Iesus Christ our sauior Amē A THANKESGIVING after meate O Heauenly Father for these thy benefites wherewith thou haste nowe sufficiently fedde our bodies wee beseeche thee make vs thankful as we feele the sweetnesse of them pleasant to our bodies so wee beseeche thee good Lorde that the food of our soules may be as pleasant cōfortable vnto our soules that wee maye with as carefull hearts prouide for the nourishment of our souls