thy grace but because my ignorance and imperfections doe carrie mee far from such wisdome and fulfilling of righteousnesse beeing a poore sinner weake in faith slowe in hope colde in charitie and polluted with many offences that make mee worthie of death and of hell I beseech thee my God in thy fatherly loue to bear with these my defects and to forgiue mee my trespasses in the name of thy Sonne our Mediator and Sauiour accepting his sacrifice as a full satisfaction for my sinnes and imputing vnto mee his righteousnesse to life euerlasting Yea and to the same end also vouchsafe to encrease in my soule the giftes of thy Spirite so as I may from better to better prosecute my life in the path of thine elect being through thy power freed from the temptations of the Diuell the worlde and my owne flesh and by thy blessing preserued from the dangers and miseries of this poore life alwayes notwithstanding content with whatsoeuer it shall please thee to bestow on me Sith thou art my Father I cannot but expect a happy end of all my estates hauing alredy receued of thy mercy the assured pledge of saluation forgiuenesse of sinnes But Lord graunt especially that this thy grace in Iesus Christ may be vnto mee a comforte and light all the dayes of my life especiallie in the darkenesse of my death to retaine and holde me fast in the hope of my saluation that with a liuelie faith at my last gaspe I may speake these words of my Sauior vpon the crosse Into thy handes O Father I commend my spirite whereby my soule also inwardly may heare the same Christ saying vnto mee as vnto the poore penitent theefe Sonne reioyce this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice so that full of peace by the effects of thy spirit I may cheerfully leaue my body to the earth assured of the resurrection and that my soule may by the angels be guided to the rest of the blessed and vouchsafe O Lord to do the like fauor to all men euen as I craue these thinges in the prayer which thy Sonne hath taught me Our father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name Thy Kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen Giue vs this daie our dayly bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as wee forgiue them that trespasse against vs. And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill For thine is the Kingdome the power and the glory world without end Amen Likewise my God encrease in me faith working euerie good worke and giue me grace constantly to perseuere and therof to make confession euen to my last gaspe saying I beleeue in God the father almightie maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his only Sonne our Lord who was conceiued by the holie Ghost borne of the Virgin Marie suffered vnder Ponce Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell the third day hee rose againe from the dead he ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almightie From thence hee shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beleeue in the Holy-Ghost the holy Catholike Church The communion of Saints the forgiuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the flesh and the life euerlasting This is my faith O Lord wherin I will liue and die as also in the obseruation of thy holy commandements comprized in these two That wee loue thee with all our hart with all our soule with all our strength and with all our thoughtes and our neighbours as our selues Thus thy grace O my God and Father be with me and thy blessing vpon all the workes of my hands So be it The two and twentieth Prayer Among the Family At noone at night in the morning will I crie vnto God and the Eternal shall deliuer me I wil make a noise and hee shall heare my voyce saide Dauid and Daniel kneeled down three times a day in his house prayed vnto and magnified his God Psal 55. 18. Dan. 6. Our help and beginning be in the name of God O LORD our GOD and our Father onelie great in glorie of infinit power It hath pleased thee so far forth to honour men poore Wormes of the Earth that they may in ful confidence in thy loue and bountie present themselues before thy face to magnifie thy name to talke of thy beneficence and to craue thy mercy Wee humblie beseech thee therfore by thy spirit to dispose of our souls our hearts and our lips to glorifie thee and so to call vppon thee that our vowes may be acceptable vnto thee and our prayers heard wee confesse our selues in thy presence to bee so great sinners that our vnworthinesse will not suffer vs to look vp vnto heauen without feare that thou shouldest in thy iust wrath thunder vpon vs neither can wee cast our eyes vpon the earth but we shall see as it were hel open for the reward of our wickednesse for we are not only as the children of Adam conceiued and borne in sinne worthy of thy curse but also by our owne faults lusts vncleanenesse bad thoughtes and wicked works whereinto throgh our corruption and frailtie wee doe daily fall which also in our consciences are so many witnesses to condemne vs and as it were heraultes that doe denounce vnto vs death and hel But O Lord thy mercies do infinitely exceede our malice and thy eternall compassions are vppon sinners that conuert and turne vnto thee Thou art that pittifull Father that gladly receiued his prodigall and vnthriftie Son That louing shepheard that carefully seeketh the lost sheepe that charitable phisition that freely commeth to the sicke to cure them Wee therefore the children of thy loue the sheepe of thy folde and the poore in spirit doe most humbly beseech thee in the name of thy welbeloued Sonne our mediator Iesus Christ to vouchsafe to take away all our calamities in pardoning our sinnes because thou hast giuen vs this great Sauiour in the worlde to the end that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting We are baptized in his name wee haue receiued his gospell and he giueth vs his body in thy church for spirituall foode that we may liue in him and of him for euer blessed Giue vs grace therefore O our God with a true and liuely faith vphelde by hope and doing euery good worke to apprehend to the glorie of thy name and the peace of our soules these great benefits that are purchased for vs in the death and passion of the same our redeemer that wee may incessantly yeelde praysings vnto thee and liue in holinesse according to thy worde For the performance hereof vouchsafe to encrease the giftes of thy spirit in our hearts whereby the desires of the flesh and vanities of the worlde may bee mortified and the pure fire of thy loue so kindled that we may loue honour and serue thee with all our soules with all our
helpe me and to relieue me in all my necessities considering thou arte in heauen euen according as being in al places thou art as it were in no place for thou art wholie an infinite spirite and inaccessible light whose name is I am namelie of a sole true essence eternall immutable and incomprehensible and from whom all nature whether celestiall or terrestriall doeth through grace borrowe his essence and subsistence Thus arte thou aboue in such wise that being out of euery place thou art aboue all this great vniuersall world in the seate of thine own glory from whence thou doest embrace both heauen and earth and with thy prouidence sustaine them As also in some sorte thou art aboue al things because they doe all depend and beare themselues vppon thee who likewise dost by thy subtilitie pierce into them more neerly vnto euery creature then the same is to it selfe Howbeit thou art in heauen so far forth as that the exquisite workes of thy hands do the better appeare therein And thou doest in an especiall maner inhabite the high heauen for there doeth thy Maiestie shine with open countenaunce beside thou art with thy gracious presence in the soules of the righteous which do harbour thee as a Father in their heartes Hallowed be thy name FOr O Lord sith thou art my father reason requireth that aboue all things I should desire thy honour But euerlastingly for euer and euer thy name is holy the glory therof infinit My praier then bringeth nothing to thy greatnes and excellencies but yet I may heere desire that thy name both of it self and by it selfe most holy may be sanctified and exalted in me and in all men and in all places whereby my selfe do also obtaine that holines which is conuenient for the true childe of such a father vnto whome all vncleanenesse is displeasing Thy kingdome come But who can impeach thy Kingdome O eternall God who hast created al things for thy seruice Thou raignest ouer al for the heauen is thy throne and the earth thy foote-stoole Yet I beseech thee be vnto me as a father in mercy not as a Iudge in thy iustice thou raignest in thy worde which thou hast reuealed and inspired and I beseech thee euen for thy glory sake that this thy booke of life may bee opened to all people that thereby all nations may worship thee thou raignest in thy Church and I pray that the number of thy elect may be shortly fulfilled Thy kingdome is thy grace and I beseech thee to make mee as capable thereof as thou art liberall Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen MY will O Lord is altogether peruers and depraued except it bee formed by thine wherin resteth and consisteth all my good create in me this holy will and giue mee grace to fulfil it in al my thoghts workes for what can I haue but what thou giuest mee To the end that in obedience of faith I may doe that which shall bee acceptable in thy sight euen as the Angells in heauen do obey thy voyce Giue vs this day our dailie bread FOR Christ our Lord and Doctour hath so contriued the petitions which we make vnto thee that in seeking first the glorie of thy name hee will that with al we should haue experience of the riches of thy goodnesse in all things necessary for this life Thus wilt thou O merciful Father recompence with infinite benefits euen our simple cogitations of the brightnesse of thy glory and crowne thy giftes in vs with grace for grace We do therefore dayly craue our bread and thou dost also giue it vs that is to say euen all that is necessarie for our maintaynance heere beneathe yet doest thou present vs with one bread farre more excellent and profitabl euen the bread of angels and of the blessed spirits giue mee therefore O Lord Iesus Christ God and man that of him I may liue for euer that my vnderstanding may bee enlightned with his truth and my heart kindled with the fire of his loue that I perish not And forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs. OVr sinnes as debts do bind vs to death which is their rewarde and to hell which is their graue they are as a strong barre to keepe vs from comming to thee O most holy God yea which is more they are as a clowde that shadoweth thine eyes from looking fauourably vpon vs. And therefore the most conuenient preparation to prayer is with an humble and truely penitent heart to feele and confesse our sinnes for so thou wilt vouchsafe to grant vs remission of the same in the name of thy sonne our Sauior in imputing vnto vs his righteousnesse Yet herein O Lord is thy free mercy very great that thou also giuest vs power to pardon those that doe offend vs and by so dooing to obtaine thy grace for what offence can any man commit against vs poore worms of the earth considering that we do so often and so grieuously offend O King of glory and in such sorte that if euery creature should arme it self to hurt vs yet would not the least iniurie that we commit against thee be sufficiently reuenged Yet dost thou vouchsafe thus to testifie thy infinite goodnesse accepting as a sweete sacrifice the oblation of our harts reconciled and fully vnited with our neighbours like as contrarywise no part of a hateful and peruerse heart can delight thee And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill FOr as through thy mercy thou sufferest not Satan the author of all temptations to seduce thy children neither sinne to ouercome them so when thou wilt punish man in thy iustice they remaine depriued of thy protection and vnder the power of the diuell to be subiect to his tyrany and to liue in a reprobate sence hereof doe we therefore reape this singular consolation that this great aduersarie of our saluation can doe nothing against vs vnlesse thou giue him leaue and whereas sometimes thou causest vs to be tempted thou doest it as a father to chastice vs for our transgressions or to make vs more triumphant and victorious in the triall which it pleaseth thee to make of our faith and hope for thy glory and our owne good or for the edification of our neighbours For thine is the kingdome the power and the glory for euer and euer LIke as O my God and father I began my prayer by the hallowing of thy name so is it meete and iust that I should end it by the exaltation of the same as thy children who bounding their vowes with the onely care of thy honour may assure themselues to obtaine the fulfilling of the same in the sole perfection of thy glory So be it The second Prayer Vpon the Symbole or Articles of Beliefe I beleeue in God the Father Almightie c. 1. Cor. 15. Before all things I haue deliuered vnto you that which I haue receyued namely that Christ died
of thy Sonne crucified and risen againe and in his bloud shed for the washing of our soules when at his holie Table the sacred signes are by his ordinance deliuered vnto vs and that we doe receiue them as hee hath commanded expecting that aboue in heauen without any exterior meanes we may eate this bread of life and drinke this sweete drinke in the company of the Angels of all the blessed then at the ful inioying of our vnion with thee O great God and the ioy of our beatitude accomplished O most desired daie wherein we shall be fed and satisfied with this celestiall bread that we may neuer die nor thirst againe in this newe life where thou O eternall God shalt bee wholy in vs. Oh happie are wee already who already in Christ in the communion of the faithfull do taste the sweetnes of this celestiall banquet wherin we shall see thee and face to face contemplate Father Word Spirit one only and true God beeing filled with thy glory in endlesse peace To the end therfore that according to thy Commaundement O Lord I may worthily present my self to this holy banquet of sacred foode which the Angelles doe admire and honour which also thou dost not communicate but to thy flesh I beseech thee giue mee grace well to discerne the bodie of my Sauiour in trying my selfe according to his word so as my hart may be cleansed from sinne and vncleanenesse and replenished with thy loue and with euery other spirituall vertue to the end that euen this day harbouring therein this great King of heauen I may encrease in the faith and hope of my saluation by his holines and righteousnesse I haue reposed al my confidence in thy mercy I neither seeke nor hope for any good or grace but from thee my God and in thy sonne and for his sake I doe desire in my place with simplicitie to celebrate the remembrance of his death in the holy church to the glory of thy name and the peace of my soule I renounce the deadworkes of the flesh and the lusts thereof I doe put off all enmitie and malice with a good intent to embrace the liuely workes of the spirit and to dwell in loue and charitie with my neighbours I do belieue in the promises that Christ the infallible truth hath pronounced with his owne mouth That at his holy table he will truely make me partaker of his body and blood to the end I may possesse him wholy and in such sorte that being made flesh of his flesh and bone of his bone he may liue in mee aad I in him for euer Helpe O Lord the weakenesse of my faith support mee in my infirmity and in that desire which thou giuest me to profit in the sound knowledge of thy mysteries and in the practise of the pathes of thy kingdome conioyne vnto the same desire the performaunce of the deede For it is onely by the vertue of thy spirit in sinceritie of heart that I shall this day receiue from the same Iesus the effect of his word in participating truely in his new and eternall testament the couenant of grace so to perseuer in this blessed societie of his Bodie that from him I may incessantly gather strength and life and vnited with him I may also attaine to bee one with thee my Creator Grant mee therefore that in this maner I may with thy Church celebrate the most holy remembrance of our Lord and of the worke of our redemption to the end that so receuing this great sacrament of his body with a newe augmentation in all heauenlie grace with so much the greater confidence I may againe call vpon thee my God and my Father and more more glorifie my selfe in thy mercies So be it The eleuenth Prayer For thanksgiuing after the Communion And when they had sung a Psalme they went out vnto the Mount of Oliues Mat. 26. O Lorde my God my Father euen from the bottome of my heart and with all my soule I yeelde thee praise and thankes for that it hath pleased thee to enlarge so great a benefite to mee miserable sinner as to haue drawn and receiued mee into the sacred Communion of thy son Iesus Christ my sauiour The heauen of heauens are not able to comprehend him yet doth he so farre honour vs as to vouchsafe to communicate with vs yea euen to enter into vs poore wormes of the earth For such was thy good pleasure O Lord to deliuer him once to the death for the redemption of thy elect and as to euery one of them so doest thou this day giue him to mee to be my foode and spirituall sustenance that I may liue of him and in him blessed both in body soule eternally I beseech thee therefore O mercifull Father so to blesse in me this holy and mysticall action that my vnworthinesse make it not vnprofitable vnto me that the pretious bloud of thy sonne bee not in vaine shed for mee and offered me to drinke but that washed in the same and cleansed from my sinnes I may obtain that iustification and holines that beseemeth thy children who haue this most holy one to be their hoste and head thy spirit for their light Let me not be so wretched as to abuse these sacred meates which thou dost communicate to thy houshold of faith onely the prouision whereof cost thy welbeloued son Iesus so deere Rather my God grant that in true efficacie I may participate in this sacrament of his body to encrease in faith loue and all other thy gifts that I may neuer abandon thy holy couenant Alas whither should I go but to thee the fountaine of eternall life by Christ who is the fulnes thereof and by whom it runneth into vs Cast from me all carnall cogitations and delights and all these earthly baites which turne to gall and corruption because I haue in my bowels an incorruptible foode more sweeter then honny the bread of Angels the bread of heauen the bread of life which with out any sacrament wee shall feede on aboue without ende where Christ according to his promise shall with vs drinke the fruite of the new vine yeelding vppe vnto thee the kingdome O eternal God that thou maist be all in all I doe therefore resigne my self into thy hands and vnder thy conduct that I may runne my race in ioy and a good conscience before thy face and before men And that I may departe in peace when my houre is come because Christ is my life To thy name therefore O almighty Creator to thee Redeemer of the elect to thee Comforter of the faithfull who by thy secret vertue doest worke this vnspeakeable and miraculous coniunction of our soules with the body of the Lord. To thee Trinity Father Word Spirit one only and true God be all honour and glory Amen The twelfth Praier To obtaine the gift of Faith The law was our schoolmaister to bring vs to Christ that wee might bee
the Holighost whom thou hast giuen vs and thy Sonne Iesus is the mean and fulnesse according as in him doth remaine all that is beautifull delectable peaceable rich permanent and glorious aboue in Heauen which thou hast promised vs. Of which treasure of inestimable valew thou doest thus euen already graunt mee the vse by the effects of thy diuine vertues which make mee to pierce through the heauens with my imagination and to establish my soule in thy peace as if in my bosome I kept the full fruit of thy promise and did alreadie liue there aboue in like estate as the Angells For O eternall God thy mercy is vpon me as I doe trust in thee And therfore albeit I creepe here vp and downe through manie infirmities Yet will I in patience abide the appearing of thy glorie in the daie of the comming of thy Sonne to iudge the quicke and the dead as being thorowly assured through thy grace in the end of my course to obtain the diadem wherewith thou crownest thine and at the last day and euer in my flesh to behold that great Sauiour of the elect who liueth with thee and the Holyghost one god eternally Amen The fourteenth Prayer To obtaine the vertue of Loue. God is loue and he that dwelleth in loue dwelleth in God and God in him The end of the Law is loue out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith vnfained 1. Ioh. 4. 1. Tim. 1. O Eternall who art al loue and who according to the infinite vertue thereof hast loued vs before we wer as also since the time that wee were thy enemies vnthankefull sinners adiudged to death and to the paines of hell thou hast I say freely so loued vs that thou hast giuen thy onely sonne to the world to redeeme vs with the price of his blood and for vs to purchase righteousnesse and a blessed life This being so O Lord the original and fountaine of loue make it with efficacy reflection to shine into al places whither the knowledge of thy grace shall come likewise that where thou doest more neerely communicate thy selfe by making the flames of thy loue to bee more liuely felt graunt also that there by the effects of thy spirit the greater loue towardes thee may appeare I beseech thee make mee more and more to meditate and comprehend this thy admirable loue that I may accordingly frame my selfe to that loue thou requirst of thy children truely faithfull which is also the end of the whole law and precepts of the gospell So that in purenesse of heart with an vpright conscience and with a true and liuely faith I may attaine to the knowledge of thy truth and will to the end in all through al to obey thee with a quiet conscience the same being the chiefest the highest and the most perfect degree of loue that we can testifie vnto thee O our God and that which leadeth vs to the perfection of Christian life which of mortall men maketh vs as it were Angels which albeit wee liue vppon earth maketh vs Cittizens of heauen to bee briefe it is that which in the secret of our hearts giueth vs a sweet feeling of thy peace which surmounteth all the reason of our vnderstanding That also thereby I may learne that there is none that can loue thee perfectly vntill he hath bin preuented by the sweetnesse of thy vnmeasurable loue and kindled with the flame That we loue thee because thou first louedst vs like as also through thy grace thou makest thy selfe thy benefites knowne vnto vs. The more therefore that wee finde our selues disposed to loue thee the more shuld we beleeue that thou makest thy selfe to be felt in the inwarde partes of our soules to bee our God and our Father and that therefore wee haue the greater cause to confirme and comfort our selues in the loue that thou bearest vs. O Lord make me also to vnderstand that as Christian charitie doth especially regard and looke vppon thy holy deitie Father Son and Holy-ghost one onely God that we may loue thee with our whole hearts mindes and strengths so hath shee a like regard to her neighbour that in thee and for thy sake because he beareth thy image we may loue him as our selues for in these conioyned and reciprocall things also Christ teacheth vs the bond of perfection euen that wee shall indeede be his disciples if we loue one another because he so shal fullfill his loue in our hearts But being O Lord very true that the faith which thou giuest vs doth singularly vnite thy familie together graunt me the spirite of loue which leading me to doe well to all men doth teach me principally to loue the houshold of thy Church that I may with a ready will yeelde them all helpe in their necessities In asmuch also as our redeemer the perfect pattern of charitie hath loued his enemies procuring them good for euill and blessing for iniurie I beseech thee my GOD giue me grace to extend my loue to those that hate mee that without hypocrisie or vaine glory I may to my power help forward their good and saluation And so that I may beare an vpright and lowly heart to all men whereby all the faithfull may be edefied and comforted and others seeing my good works rather thine than mine may be constraind to glorifie thee O our father which art in heauen c. The fifteenth Prayer That we may well vse afflictions If any man will follow me let him forsake himselfe and take vp his crosse and follow me By manie tribulations wee must enter into the Kingdome of heauen Hee chastizeth him whom he loueth and scourgeth euerie childe that hee receiueth Mat. 16. Act. 14. Heb. 12. O Lord my GOD and my father I learne in thy worde that none be true Disciples of Iesus Christ but they that followe his steppes wherof he hath deliuered vs a sure marke in these two chief points the renouncing of our selues and the voluntarie enduring of the crosse For naturallie we are inueagled with a disorderly loue to our selues and doe presume too much of our owne persons It is therefore necessarie for vs to renounce our own nature and reason and to abandon our owne affections to suffer thee thy loue O our God to liue raigne in vs. Then must we proceede to the other point that is cheerefully to beare out the afflictions and miseries of this life wherein it pleaseth thee especially to exercise thine vpon diuerse good considerations namely to make them conformeable to the image of thy Sonne to the end that suffering with him they may also raigne in his glory For it is very true that al men by sinne doe eate the fruites of the earth in labour and bread in the sweate of their browes that they all liue in a sea tossed with many stormes crossed with many anguishes But all haue not the gift of thy spirit to learne by his doctrine that the
thee towards this great God who being pittifull doeth see and heare thee in thy sufferings who vnder his hand holdeth both the disease the cure the paine and the rest life and death to make the one as profitable and heathfull vnto thee as the other Then will I say with a contrite heart yet full of confidence I haue sinned against thee O my God I haue grieuously offended thee I deserue to be throughly chastized and the diuells that I doe endure are farre lesse then my offences which onely death and hell are able to counterprise But thy grace and compassion greater then my sinnes are eternall vpon all those whom thou hast washed fructified and iustified in thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ of which number I doe belieue I am and that in him and for his sake thou wilt make me blessed forgiue mee my debts in his name and ease me of my anguish wherein I remaine without strength I beseech thee from the botome of my thoughts in the bitternes of my hart and with the words of Dauid O eternall God heare my prayer petition let nothing hinder my crie for comming vnto thee hide not thy face from me bend downe thine eare vnto me in the day of my trouble make haste and deliuer me in the day that I call vpon thee for my dayes are vanished like smoake and my bones are dried like chaf my heart hath bin smitten and withered like the grasse that I haue forgotten to eate my bread O Lord all my desire is before thee comfort the soule of thy seruant shall any man tell of thy mercies in the sepulchre or thy faithfulnesse in the graue Thus then O mercifull God bearing my self in thy chastisements I will in all patience waite for the seasonable succour of thy hand as being well assured that while it is in comming thou wilt not suffer thy spirit of consolation to forsake mee in the middest of my tribulation that my present heauinesse shall be vnto mee the watch of some ioy at hand and that at all aduentures the last of my sorrowefull dayes shall be the first of my rest in eternall life And therefore I will againe say with the Apostle Behold I am here deale with me at thy pleasure and with thy seruant Iob Albeit God should slay me yet will I trust in him and reprooue my wayes in his presence with Saint Agustine O Lord smite here cutte here burne here so that thou doost pardon mee for euer Amen Our Father which art in heauen c. The seauen and twentieth Prayer At the visitation of the sicke Is there any among you sicke let him call the elders of the Church and let them pray for him and annoint him with oyle in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith shall saue the diseased and the Lord shall raise him vp and if hee haue committed any sinnes they shall bee forgiuen him Iames 5. O LORD our GOD who art all righteousnes goodnesse we knowe that among thy corrections wherewith thou wakenest vs to our duties it pleaseth thee many times to tame our flesh with sundry diseases for thou dost by the pains that we suffer aduertize vs of the cause of our euills which is sinne and of the punishment due to the same namely death whereof the infirmities of the body are the ordinary meanes And also thou doest withall put vs in minde of the great day of thy Iudgement which after death doeth ensue to life euerlasting full of glory and beatitude to the elect and of reproach and torments to the rebrobate But of these things the flesh so long as it feeleth it selfe at ease hath least care to heare Sith therefore it hath pleased thee O iust and mercifull Father with thy rod to visite this poore sicke person here present afflicting him for his offences as himselfe doth with vs confesse we beseech thee that in pardoning him for the loue of thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus Christ thou wilt make this chastizement to profit him to his correction so that he may with quiet obedience beare thy visitation submitting himselfe volunrarie with all his heart to thy holy will who strikest him not as a seuere iudge but as a most merciful Father whereby he may learne to repose his whole trust assurance in thy loue as in him that art the author of his lif canst preserue him whither it be to abide below here in thy church or that thou wilt gather him into thy kingdome of heauen Thus Lord on th' one side awakning in his soule by his sickenes on th' other the feeling of humane miseries make him with the eies of his faith to behold the eternall blessings thou reseruest for him in thy Paradice to liue happy for euer so that he may with patience easly digest the bitternesse of that potion that thou hast powred foorth vnto him bending his principall desire to enioy thy presence in heauen But thou knowest O mercifull Father that the spirit of thy children is willing but their flesh is alwayes frayle and full of great mistrust especially in the bitternesse of afflictions Assist therefore this sicke person with the plentie and strength of the giftes of thy spirite that he may ouercome all the enemies of his peace and be thou his shield against the assaults terrors of death especially if his conscience do trouble and accuse him for his inward and hidden sins which are open in thy sight Then let the holy Ghost the perpetuall comforter of all faithfull soules vouchsafe to represent vnto him for his defence the passion and sacrifice of our Lorde Iesus who hath himselfe borne vpon the crosse al our iniquities that so he might absolue and discharge vs before thy iudicial throne according to the infinite merite of his righteousnesse and open the gate of thy Kingdome to all that shall beleeue and be baptized in his name Thus this poore patient being comforted in feeling through a liuely stedfast faith the fruite and vertue of that earnest penie of saluation that Christ hath left vs in his Church namely remission of sinnes for his sake also that this hope which is neuer confounded doth keepe his spirit quiet that he may call vpon thee O Lord and sanctifie thy name euen to his last gaspe neuer fearing the temptations of Sathan of death or of hel as beeing assured that Christ hath ouercome them ledde them in triumph breaking their bonds so that he may in all Christian confidence cry out with thy Apostle O death where is thy sting O hel where is thy victory In this manner O mercifull God let this sicke person be by our prayers commended vnto thee and vouchsafe if it be thy pleasure to restore him to health with encrease of thy graces that he may yet amongest vs serue to thy glory If not but that thou hast otherwise appointed to bring him into thy rest thy will bee done and accepted both by him and vs in
felicitie to finish my course in singing thy praises and so leauing this terrestriall life to ioyne my selfe altogether to the celestial with those blessed spirits in the ful contemplation of thy face to sing with them without ende this song of perfect ioy Glory be to the Father that hath created vs Glorie bee to thee Sonne that hath redeemed vs Glory be to the Holy-Ghost that hath sanctified vs Glorie bee to the most high Trinitie one onely God and Lord whose kingdome is euerlasting The fift Prayer For the obtaining of the knowledge of God in Iesus Christ The word was made flesh and dwelled among vs full of grace and truth the Image of the inuisible God which is Christ the Lord who by himselfe hauing purged our sinnes sitteth at the right hand of the Maiesty in the highest places Ioh. 1. Col. 1. Lu. 2 Heb. 1. O GOD and Father of our Lord CHRIST IESVS of all them whom in thy loue thou hast giuen to him to be his brethren it hath beene thy good pleasure to settle our true and only felicitie in the knowledge of thy holy name and the effects of thy grace But we are vnable to know thee or to feele the efficacy of thy loue towards vs but only in the same Christ who is the brightnesse of thy glory and the engrauen character of thy person God with thee and man with vs. By this thy eternall word thou hast created all the world giuing vnto vs the first testimony of the manifestation of thy wisedome and prouidence But thou giuest vnto vs a more singulare benefite in the miraculous worke of our redemption which doeth moreouer represent vnto vs both thy great goodnesse and loue and thy Iustice infinit power Thy loue in that thou hast vouchsafed freely to redeeme man who prowde and vnthankefull withdraweth himselfe from thee his Father and Benefactor to surrender himselfe vnto Sathan the ennemy to our saluation and of the honor of thy name Thy Iustice in that thou hast not spared the blood of thy innocent sonne to the end in his sufferings to iustifie thy goodnesse and mercie Thy power in that for the accomplishing of this supernatural worke thy word which from all eternitie was resident in thy bosom of one essence glory with thee was made flesh Neuerthelesse I doe very well know that the depth of these profound mysteries cannot bee discouered to our sences likewise that the treasures of thy wisedome of thy counsell of thy iudgements are a very bottomlesse gulph and thy wayes vnpossible to bee found out Also O Lord I doe not rashly enter into that place which is forbidden mee neither will I imitate my first Father Adam who coueting to knowe too much stretched forth his hand vnto the forbidden tree desiring one onely fruite was depriued of all the rest I doe onely with flexible heart embrace and carefully in my cogitation according to the measure of thy gifts meditate vpon that secret of godlinesse which I haue receiued by the preaching of thy gospell and doe in part know it attending vntil that beeing deliuered from sinne corruption I may see thee face to face and in presence behold that which now I see as it were in a very darke Glasse I beseech thee therefore my God vouchsafe by the light of thy spirit to addresse and guide mee to the faithfull knowledge of this great Sauior whom thou Father hast promised from the beginning and in the latter times reuealed in signes and wonders surpassing all miracles to the end that being instructed by his doctrine I may by him and in him know thee to be the eternall liuing God and the God of thy people that according to his word I may worship and serue thee in spirit and trueth and in his name call vpon thee only in full confidence of thy mercy accompting him the onely subiect thereof and the onely mediatour of my saluation who died for my sinnes and rose againe for my righteousnesse euen O Lord because it pleased thee in this maner to ordaine of the estate of humane nature the worke of thy hand For who was thy councellor and what haue wee that wee haue not receiued graunt me therfore in the study and meditation of so manie mysteries so high and so wholesome that I may humbly condiscend to thy diuine counsells in worshipping them with this resolution of thy Apostle that I will not knowe any thing but Christ neither possesse any thing but him sith that in him the treasures of all wisdome doe consist and that they who lodge him in their harts haue thee O God verily present and doe enioy thee and thy benefites Make mee also to feele and confesse this necessitie common to all the children of Adam that for the cancelling of this obligation which held vs bound to eternal death the iust reward of sinne wee were forced to haue this great King of heauen holy innocent and seperate from all sinners to be our high Priest our sacrifice and oblation vppon the Altare of the crosse to the end O Lord that according to thy vnsearchable decree grounded vpon mercy iustice thy welbeloued sonne hauing to himselfe vnited our nature the bondslaue of sathan might leade it to the combate directing it how to ouercome this great aduersarie And this hath he done obtaining for vs the victory when he brake the sting of death and the bonds of hell and that hee rose out of the sepulchre carrying with him this humane nature as the earnestpeny of our hope to thy right hand into heauen Of this so singular a benefit let the remembrance be alwaies before my face that I may offer vnto thee O my God the sacrifice of thanksgiuing all the dayes of my life so that hauing my redeemer for a perpetuall obiect and sure foundation of my Faith in the knowledge of thy name I may throughly learne Christ not onely to beleeue by his word the sacred history of his conception and birth with his office of a soueraigne King great Prophet and perpetuall law-giuer of his church also his passion death resurrection and ascention but also that in ful assurance in his promises I may appropriate to my selfe the gifts and graces which he purchased for vs by fullfilling that charge that he had receiued from thee O father to th' end through him to make vs worthie of thy saluation so as I may comfort and wholy repose my selfe vpon his obedience and righteousnesse shewing forth and sealing this my hope by good workes to thy glory O eternall God and the peace of my conscience So be it The sixth Prayer For obtaining the gift of the Holy-ghost By the eternall Spirite Christ hath offered himselfe to GOD the Spirit which soundeth the profound things of God which also testifieth with our spirit that we are the children of God Heb. 9.1 Cor. 2. Rom. 8. O Lord God almightie wee doe learne in thy word the vnchangeable trueth how without confounding any thing in
the couenant of life the gospel of thy peace and the assured testimonies of thy mercies Vnto this grace of inestimable valewe doth my timerous soule direct her vowes in searching thee O great king of Heauen throughout the course of thy faithfull testimonies which minister wisedome to the ignorant the holie Scriptures I beseech thee therfore my God vouchsafe to direct and guide mee in the vnderstanding of this eternall trueth through the operation of thy spirit the true teacher of our soules that being by him instructed I may accomplish and make my selfe perfect in these foure cheefe principles of the doctrine of Saluation which are fullie taught at large The knowledge of thee the true God and the God of thy people the knowledge of faith of pietie and of righteousnesse Whereby I may obtaine the end of my being and therein euen my Soueraigne felicitie which is to know thee to glorifie thee for my GOD to beleeue thee and in thee Iesus Christ and in Iesus Christ to loue feare and serue thee according as thou doest commaund vs and in all things to obserue equity towardes all men For thus are thy children bound to learne according to the measure of the gift of thy grace thy fatherly loue in thy welbeloued sonne namelie by conioyning thereto the feare of thy name that is to say that reuerence that causeth vs in humilitie and obedience to shunne euil and do good and to embrace righteousnesse and charity Walking in this sort O Lord vnder thy conduct in the Communion of Saints I shall want nothing to my comfort or perfection in good time a depart my life beeing ended to receiue peace and perfect ioy in the eternall habitation of the blessed soules So be it The eight Prayer That we may not depart from the Church Christ hath loued the Church and giuen himselfe for her to the end hee might sanctifie her after he hath purged hir by the washing of water through the word Shee is the house of God the prop and piller of truth the gates of hel shall not preuaile against her Eph. 5.1 Tim. 3. Ma. 16. ALmighty God righteous and mercifull who in thy iustice wrath for the iniquitie and disobedience of man diddest once smite the world with the ouerflowing of waters and in thy mercie and loue diddest extend thy singular fauour vppon the Arke of thy seruant Noah sauing him and his family from the generall inundation intending in that small flocke of the faithfull to preserue and keepe thy chosen people that they might for euer serue to thy glory I learn out of thy word that thou wilt no more destroy the earth in that maner and therefore thou hast left vs the rainbow to remaine for a signe Neuerthelesse what else is our poore life languishing in the infection of sinne but a deluge of euills and running streame of miseries that falleth vpon al men indifferently leadeth them vnto death In one onelie thing therefore must my soule take comfort that as Noah was preserued from the vniversall shipwracke in his wodden Mansion by the promise that he kept in his heart so that a thousand falling on his right hand and a thousand on his left hand hee remained sound and safe vnder thy wing euen so I hold my selfe assured against the assaults of sin and in the middest of the woefull rockes of this world yea euen in the straits of the graue that thou wilt alwayes preserue from all calamities and miseries those who stand fast in the Arke of thy Church grounded vppon thy word in the gospel of reconciliation to the Lord Iesus and depart in his faith For as likewise according to thy Iustice thou diddest euen from the beginning pronounce the sentence of death against our Fathers because of their transgressions euen so it pleased thee euen then also to comforte them in thy mercie with the promise of life in this great Redeemer to come to the end that embracing him by faith they and their children holding this foundation should erect vnto thee a temple of liuing stones holy and stedfast for euer for the sanctification of thy name and the blessednesse of thy elect And these are they O Lord who first in the time of the Patriarks then vnder the law and lastly vnder the gospel beleeued thy word worshipping thee according to the same in certaine mysteries of religion in all places whither it pleased thee to call gather and sanctifie them by the remission of their sinnes in the blood of thy sonne regenerating them to euery good worke by thy holy spirit of the same grace giuing them from age to age diuerse visible signes for sacraments in thy Church so indeede she is thy house and the pallace of thy glory where thy truth is lodged which shee vpholdeth and aduaunceth by her holy ministery preseruing it also that it should not fall into decay and that the remembrance thereof should not bee lost from among men Whereof likewise proceedeth the stabilitie of the Church which the endeuours of sathan cannot shake because the foundation of her faith doctrine is grounded vpon the true and immooueable rocke euen the pure confession of the name of Christ I do therefore beseech thee my God inasmuch as thy mercy and goodnes hath brought me in and hetherto held me vp in this mansion house of thy graces that thou wilt vouchsafe more more to illuminate my hart minde to make me see and meditate vpon the spirituall magnificence of this thy habitation to the end that the sacred porches thereof may bee all my loue and the only delight of my eyes her canticles the sole harmony of my eares and that I may so affectionate my selfe to her celestiall beauty and riches that I may hold one day in thy Church more deere then a thousand elsewhere That this so sweet company I say of thee O our Father of thy Sonne our redeemer of the holy-ghost our comforter of so many thousands of Angels of elect which liuedhere beneath in the visible kingdome of thy glory and by infinite wonders in the Communion of saints may be my whole desire and the sole subiect of my delights that I may neuer depart therfrom notwithstanding whatsoeuer assaults and temptations I am to endure according to the condition of the militant Church and vnder this her gallant poesie To beleeue to doe well and to suffer affliction sith that namely there is not any such mishap or so much to be feared as to be out of this holie Temple wherein onely abideth all light truth saluation and life and in all other places darkenesse lying shipwracke and death haue their dwelling For so through thy grace O my God praying and meditating I shall spend my dayes in ioy expecting in peace my last hower to participate in the triumph of the same Church aboue and to liue eternally in thy rest Amen The ninth Prayer For the obtaining of the efficacie of holy Baptisme Iesus comming to his
Disciples spake vnto them saying All power is giuen vnto me both in heauen in earth Goe yee therefore and teach all nations Baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy-ghost and teaching them to obserue all that I haue commaunded you Mat. 28. O Eternall God only good wise thou hast vouchsafed by thy Sonne that great prophet to teach vs that whosoeuer is not borne of water and the spirite cannot enter into thy kingdome and that flesh and blood are not capable of the sight of thy glorie Thou O Lord art essentially holinesse and righteousnes How then can vncleanenesse and iniustice approach neere vnto thee So it is that wee are by our nature corrupted and by sinne polluted wherby the Sentence of death both first and second hath ouertaken all men howbeit of thy infinite mercy thou hast vouchsafed to saue from a gulph of miseries those that in thy vnsearchable counsaile are predestinate to life redeeming them from hell and making them to bee borne againe in Iesus Christ thy eternall woorde by the which thou haddest first giuen them beeing And these are they that are borne of water and the spirit into thy church through the efficacie of the sacred mysteries of thy grace specially of holie Baptisme that being clothed anew in the nature and righteousnes of Christ their Sauiour they may become new creatures pure and pretious before thee Nowe through thy great mercy O my God I haue in thy holy Temple receiued this sacred pledge of thy couenant and of our new birth in thy name and in the name of thy Sonne and of the Holy-ghost according to thy ordinance as it hath pleased thee in the renewing of thy Church by the preaching of the Gospel to manifest thy selfe farre more cleerely in three persons of thy deitie then vnder the figures and shadowes of the Law For in Christ replenished with grace and trueth thou hast made thy selfe visible who hath reuealed himselfe and the Holy Ghost also by plentifully spreading the beames of his glory vpon vs through the brightnesse of his works altogether diuine and miraculous Wee cannot so much as apprehend the vertue and efficacy of the sacrament of baptisme vnlesse wee begin by the meditation of thy free mercie in thy Sonne and so doe proceede in the contemplation of him performing his office euen so farre forth as to die for vs and with him wee doe conioyne the Holy-Ghost through whome Christ dooth wash vs in his blood regenerateth vs and maketh vs partakers of all his benefits This O Lord I knowe by thy word that like as the sacrament of baptisme is vnto mee a certaine earnest penie of my saluation so must it in my own conscience and before men be vnto mee a perpetuall testimonie of my faith and of my hope So onely dooth this sacrament obtaine his perfection and fulnes namely when that shadowed in the washing of my body with the signe of water is effectually wrought within my soule throughout the whole course of my life For in like manner was the shadow of the couenant fulfilled in cutting awaie the fore-skinne from the Children of Israel when by the circumcision of their harts they became carefull to walke in the statutes of Gods Lawe I beseech thee therefore O my God as I carrie in my forehead the holy marke of Christians so vouchsafe with thy finger to graue in my hart this diuine Character to the ende that I may euermore beare and bring forth such fruite and effects as may be acceptable in thy sight and profitable to my selfe that as my Lord Iesus by his spirite working in mee washeth away my sinnes and regenerateth my soule so I may likewise by the efficacie of his owne vertue and receiuing from him grace perseuere in the faith of my Baptisme readie to euery good worke And that as I was baptised into his death so likewise to be buried with him by being dead vnto sin so that I may bee grafted with him to the similitude of his resurrection in glory liuing no longer to sinne but to righteousnes whereby thy name O eternall God may be sanctified and I crowned in my latter day with the crowne of immortalitie amongest the company of thy blessed ones So be it The tenth Prayer ¶ For the Communion in the holy Eucharist Iesus tooke bread and when he had giuen thanks he brake it and gaue it to his disciples and said Take eate this is my body Then taking the cup and giuing thankes hee gaue it them saying Drinke yee all for this is my blood the blood of the Newe Testament which is shed for many to the remission of sinnes Ma. 26. ALmightie euerlasting god according to thy loue and infinite goodnesse it hath plesaed thee that not onely to redeeme vs from sinne from death and from hell and in all points to make vs blessed thy onely sonne the brightnesse and fulnesse of thy glory should take vpon him humane flesh and after hee had taught vs the way to heauen should die vppon the crosse for the accomplishment of his office but also that this great benefite might still bee present to our perpetuall comfort and for the encrease and support of our faith that his body risen againe in glory for our righteousnesse and perfection ascended into heauen and sitting at thy right hand should also bee communicated vnto vs here beneath in thy Church in the mystery of the Eucharist to bee our foode and nourishment vnto holy and eternall life Thus is there sealed in our hearts that promise that hee hath made vnto vs in the gospel that hee will at all times make vs partakers of his flesh and of his blood and in this Communion giue vnto vs the true and sound foode of our soules that in him who is the liuing bread discended from heauen wee may obtaine our peace and felicitie O mightie prouidence of the Lord who called vs to communicate in his body before his death to the end to shew vs that by death he should not be destroyed and that he would neuer leaue his Church O what a refreshing is this in this our earthly pilgrimage and what a delicious banquet in the bread and wine consecrated by the word of Christ to eate his glorious flesh and to drinke his precious blood when by faith in his promises and by the vertue of his holy spirit hauing our hearts cleansed and lifted vp on high his life together with all his graces and blessings is made ours O infinite blessed is that flocke that hath so liberal a shepheard that will norish it with his bloud to the end it may liue in him and of him free from all languishing and miserie O what a comfort is it in this vally of teares to finde meanes to feede vpon such food as will not perish but reioyce all our sences and make vs to liue eternally For so and with such efficacie O Lord doe wee communicate in the bodie
after follow them into heauen whereby I shall therefore bee the rather mooued to giue thee thankes for the time that thy goodnesse hath giuen mee to enioy their presence to the comfort of my life and not as it were by a certaine kinde of ingratitude towards both thee and them mourne for their ioy and felicitie In all other forrowes and griefes that should lesse trouble vs giue me grace my Lord that I be not mooued to bitternesse or anger but that with a quiet minde I may beare al and tread vnder feete the thornes of my life as being assured in the end to finde both the costs and reward To the same end also touch my heart earnestly with the feeling of thy benefits namely of those which thou hast liberally granted vs for the necessities of this life lest as an ingrateful wretch I should forget them after the maner of carnall men that are neuer content with thy benefites but doe enioy them without any acknowledgement and which is more are ready to complain if they haue not all their vanities at a wish yea which is worst of all when they haue often eaten at the table of thy Sonne doe lift vp their heele against him wherein they are worse then beasts that doe acknowledge those that feede and dresse them and doe humble themselues in their presence O most mightie GOD deliuer mee from the counsell of these wicked ones and hypocrites and let mee not sit vpon the seate of these scorners with whom godlinesse is folly and the equitie of thy law but a sporte But whether I walke or stand stil whether I do or suffer grant O Lord that I may alwaies walke as in thy presence to the glory of thy holy name and that my soule may take counsaile and be satisfied in thy righteousnesse whilst in all patience I waite for my deliuerance from all paine and the perfection of my felicity at my departure from this carnall habitation when according to thy promise I shall be receiued into thy kingdome in the company of the Angels Saints there to behold thy glory eternally So be it The seuenteenth Praier For the good vsage of mans life Thus sayeth the Lord let not the wiseman boast of his wisedome neither the strong man of his strength neither the rich man of his riches but let him that boasteth doe it because hee hath vnderstanding and knoweth me that I am the Lorde who shewe mercie iudgement and iustice vpon the earth Ieremie 9. O Lord great wonderfull in thy works thou in thy wisedome hast made and ordained them all wherevpon the heauens without speaking do declare thy glory and the earth is full of thy riches But especially vppon man hast thou powred forth thy most aboundaunt treasures in that thou hast created him to thy likenesse excellent in all good things and established him the possesser of the world Lord of all other creatures the mirror of thy wisedome the beames of thy light the pattern of thy goodnes and the most noble instrument of the sanctification of thy name therfore hast thou endued man with an immortal spirit capable of reason to the end I say that in beholding here beneath the exquisite workes of thy handes and vsing them without interruption hee might knowe loue feare and honour thee as his father and benefactor Yea cleaue vnto thee for euer vsing his lif according to the principall end thereof True it is that by originall sinne wee are all fallen from the most singular qualities necessarie for the holding of our right course to so great felicitie Yet haue we not so put them off as to rest altogether naked for all that is re-established in vs and in a farre better condition by thy grace in our Lord Iesus Christ who cloatheth vs anewe with the newe man in a quickening spirite and furnisheth vs with his light to the end that in the serious meditation of thy visible workes in the right vse of the benefites which wee taste therin we might apprehend the celestial inuisible things and acknowledge thee the authour and persection of all that is That is how the heauens appearing to our eyes and the greatnesse and the beautie and the motions therof in so many sorts so wel ordered so profitable do make vs with our inteligence to penetrate euen vnto thee the admirable creator of all things and in the excellencie of the same to meditate vpon the height and depth of thy excellency to the end to sing vnto thee Psalms of thanksgiuing and in the selfe same to finde rest and comforte for our souls Also wheras the sunne lighteth and warmeth vs the day reioyceth vs the aire quikneth vs the earth feedeth vs the water moysteth vs and the night ministers to vs rest from our labours and which is more O Father of all the world whereas thou maintainest orders and gouernments that thou pullest down the prowd and exaltest the humble that thou extendest thy punishments vppon the earth and the inhabitants thereof that thou visitest them with mercy exercising thy iudgements vpon small families as well as vpon great Monarchies according as there is nothing in nature that taketh place more or lesse in respect of thy infinite glory surely in all these things O inuisible GOD thou makest thy selfe to bee seene and giuest vs cause to sing to thy name with a most excellent inducement to passe ouer our life soberly But if wee turne vnto our selues to consider our owne nature especially the faculties of the soule and the reason thereof which directeth the body and giueth diuerse vertues to all the senses and that we represent to our selues the admirable coniunction of the immortall essence with the mortall Indeed ruminating these workes of thy hands and vnable to comprehend the causes and secrets of the same wee yeeld our selues ouercome that we may preach forth the victory of thy soueraigne wisedome and say with the Prophet Thy knowledge is too maruelous for vs and so high that we cannot approch thereto But if proceeding beyond this Booke of Nature wee come to reade in the Booke of the Lambe slaine for our ransome and to see and meditate vpon the husbandrie of thy sheepefold and the aboundance of celestiall blessings in the same O Lord what height and depth of wisedome of charitie of mercy of iustice is in the same O the greatnesse of ioy and peace to the illuminate hearts that can penetrate into all these diuine mysteries when we come to thy church to learne thy law to heare the gospel to worship and call vpon thee and to sound forth thy praise wee are as it were in the sanctuary of thy kingdome and before thy face among the Angels to contemplate and celebrate thy glory Also when wee doe communicate in the sacred signes of thy couenant we see wee touch we taste with our eyes with our hands with the pallat of our soules the water of washing regeneration and the bread of life the foode