Fruits and all other things then the fabrication of so many pure Celestiall Soules so that who durst bee bold to affirme had not the Prophet manifestly spoken it that the mercy of God doth excell the glory of his handie workes Holy Scripture sometime tearmeth the mercie of God great sometime too great sometime it amplifieth the force thereof by the name of multitude or number The Kingly Prophet David in one selfe place comprehendeth both the greatnesse and multitude of Heauenly mercy saying Haue mercy on me O God after thy great goodnesse and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Where great iniquity is there néedeth much compassion If thou doe but weigh how haynous the offence of David was thou wilt acknowledge the greatnesse of Gods goodnesse If thou consider how oft he offended in that sinne thou shalt sée the multitude of his mercies That GOD which is our King our Father our Master our Spouse prescribeth no determinate number of offences but as oft as through true Repentance we returne to him he forgetteth and forgiueth the punishment which he threatneth to vs he entertaineth vs amongst his Familie leadeth vs into the Chamber of his Loue and receyueth not vs onely but forgetteth our offences Hee bringeth the lost shéepe vpon his shoulders to the staules and biddeth the Congregation of the Chosen to his reioysing He goeth to méete the Prodigall Sonne returning from his long and loathsome iorney and putteth a Robe a King vpon him and commaundeth the fattest Calfe to be killed for him What other thing doth this signifie but the Immense or as I may say the ouermuch mercy of God It is no maruaile though his mercy excéede which loueth vs so excéedingly Paule feareth not to write thus to the Ephesians We are saeth he by Nature become the Children of wrath But God which is rich in mercy for his tender loue wherewith he loved vs when wee were lead to sinne hath raysed and reconciled vs againe to Christ Saint Iohn in his Gospell more plainely expresseth the maruailous Loue of God our Father towards vs saying So God loved the world that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that who so beleeveth in him should not perish but haue everlasting life Wherevnto Paul aptly agréeth He that spared not his only Son but gaue him for vs all hath hee not given vs all things together with him This so great loue this so great kindnesse doth it not worthily appeare vnmeasurable because we haue nothing which wee haue not freely receyued of God Whatsoeuer wee doe whatsoeuer we possesse it commeth by the mercy of God Yea it is the mercy of God that made the Angels and created the world If he had wrought it to himselfe his power and policie might haue béen praised but sith to our vse hée hath framed all these things shall we not acknowledge his mercy to be maruailous For whome haue the Celestiall Ayres their course to whom lendeth the Sun his beames by day the Moone with the Starres their brightnesse by Night but for Man For whose vse made hee these things of nothing For whose sake but for mans onely doe the hanging clouds giue their shade and bedew the pleasant fields Why blow the winds why flow the Riuers why spread the Springes why encrease the Seas but for the vse of man Who reapeth the cōmodities of the fertile earth which engendreth so many liuing thinges such wealthy store but man There is nothing that God hath not made Subiect to man onely he would that man should be obedient vnto him Manie times our merciful God sendeth aduersity either to cleare vs of our transgressions or to deterre vs from sinne or to minister occasion of well-doing Thus was Abraham tried so was Iob prooued with many miseries thus is euery one which liueth in Iesus Christ tryed in this world with sundry afflictions as the Golde with the fire Where are those that murmure against GOD when eyther infirmity of health or death and losse of wife and Children or decay of worldly wealth happeneth to them no thing knowing that these are the manifest signes of a mercifull GOD. Let vs giue ear to the coūsel of Salomon My Son saith he Despise not the word of God nor forsake his correction For whom the Lord loveth hee chasteneth and delighteth in him as a Father in his Sonne The Apostle Paul hath the like saying to the Hebrues Whome the Lord loveth he correcteth and rebuketh every Childe that he receyveth Then by Paules Counsel when any storme of aduersity ariseth let vs stand fast in the Truth knowing that hee offereth himselfe to vs as to his Children like a mercifull God If the loue of God lend vs prosperity let vs giue him thanks and bee carefull that we abuse not his bounty If misery oppresse vs let vs neuerthelesse giue thankes to him and commit our selus to his iudgement To obtaine health thou giuest thy selfe vp to the Phisition thou yéeldest thy selfe to the Coard Saw and Searing of the Chirurgion And to enioy euerlasting health fearest thou to trust thy Creator thy Master thy Father and onely Sauiour Thou darest not say to the Physition thus thus cure me And wilt thou prescribe to God the means of thy sauing health Let euery one of vs descend into the depth of his conscience let vs consider how oft and how grieuouslie we haue offended God how his benefites are defiled with our iniquities and so we shall sée how much wee are indebted to his infinit mercy which hath borne with our frailety so gently which by so many meanes calleth vs to repentance which so wllingly pardoneth the penitent and conuert Truely he is greatly to bee lamented which refuseth the fountaine of euerlasting life and neuer by repentance returneth whence he departed The Prodigal Child straied farre left and forsooke his Fathers House yet returned Peter was far gone when he denied his Master thrice but yet remēbring the wordes which Iesus spake to him he recanted and wept bitterlie How gently doth the Lord in Hieremie vnder the person of the wife which hauing forsaken her husband gaue herselfe to euery man Call his people to repentance Returne my Children and be converted saith hee because I am your husband But oh wretched is the mā that stoppeth his eares at this voyce of the Lords To day saith the Psalme If you hear my voyce harden not your hearts This is our day as long as we liue in which the Lord ceaseth not to call bpon vs to repentance offering vs prepared pardon God himselfe in Ezechiel doth not onelie promise remission to him that forsaketh his euill but voweth obliuion of all his former offences For after he had reckoned all the errours which man fell into he added If the wicked man will be sorry for his sins keep my commaundements do the thing that is right he shal liue and not die and I will not remember ought that he hath done Haue I pleasure
THE POESIE OF Floured Prayers Containing sundrie Meditations and Prayers gathered out of the sacred letters and vertuous Writers disposed in forme of the Alphabet of the most vertuous Lady the Lady Elizabeths name Set forth by Sir IOHN CONVVAY Multae tribulationes Iustorum de omnibus liberabit eos Dominus Psal 34. AT LONDON ¶ Printed for Va. Sims and are to be sold by Ed White An. 1611. TO THE MOST Gracious Ladie the Ladie ELIZABETH eldest daughter to our Soveraigne Lord the KING I MAY NOT doubt most gracious Ladie but certainly belieue that as you are religiously devoted so you are sufficiently stoared with Meditations Prayers and Supplications of Saintes best befitting your Royall Estate So that by reprinting of these ancient Prayers and causing them to be disposed to your Graces Name I may seeme to offer a needlesse Supply Nevertheles presuming vppon your wel-knowē Princely and gracious acceptance of all that which proceedeth frō well-meaning mindes I have adventured in all humilitie to offer them vnto your most Royall Service to bee respected or reiected at your pleasure for whose most happy cōtinuance in this world and participation of perfect ioye in the world to come I also will not cease to pray to almighty God Your Graces most humbly VALENTINE SIMS HONI · SOIT · QVI · MAL · Y · PENSE Prou. 31. BEautie and favour are things deceitful vaine but the heart of a woman that feareth the Lord her body is a rich portion and she is worthy to be honoured for shee openeth her mouth with wisdome in her tongue is the Law of grace Prou. 16. COnfesse thy workes vnto the LORD and looke what thou deuisest it shall prosper Esay 58. THy light shall spring out in the darknesse and thy darkenesse shall bee as the noone day Pro. 28. HE that hydeth his sinnes shall not prosper but who so acknowledgeth them and forsaketh them shall haue Mercie A Morning Prayer O LORD Iesus Christ which hast redéemed all mankind from sinne Death and Hell thou which hast sayd I am the waye truth and life A way in doctrine commandements and examples Truth in promises Life in reward I come vnto thée early now this morning I pray thée by thine ineffamable loue wherewith thou hast vouchsafed wholy to bestowe thy selfe for our security that thou wilt not suffer me euer to straye from thée because thou art the way nor at any time distrust thy promises which art Truth and performest whatsoeuer thou promisest neither let me rest in any other thing because thou art eternall life without the which there is nothing that ought to bee desired neither in Heauen nor in Earth But let me learne as thou hast exactly taught what to belieue and what to do what to hope for and in whome we ought to rest Thou which by the examples of thy life hast shewed vs the way to immortality and by thy steps hast restored to vs a plaine easie and profitable way out of an vneuen and rough way Vphold mee in thy benignity with thy sure promises that after this life I may enter into thy heauenly heritage Therefore whilest I am in this iourney bee a sure hope vnto me to bee in stéed of a staffe vnto me wherwith I am sustained O Lord that knowest the weakenesse of my flesh in the meane time with the comfort of thy Spirit so refresh my strength wherby I may runne chéerefully And as thou being made vnto me a way doest driue awaye all errour So being made Truth take awaye all distrust Finally beeing made life vnto vs I beséech thée reuiue mee dead in sinne to liue by thy spirit relieuing all things vntill in the resurrection all mortality vtterlye abolished I may always liue with thée and in thée when Christ shall be to vs all in all For eternall life is to knowe the Father the Son and the holy Ghost to be one true God whome now through Faith wée behold only in a glasse and Riddle and then séeing more felowly the glory of the Lord we shal be transformed into the same Image Therefore I beséech thée most mercifull Sauiour that thou wouldest nourish Faith in thy Seruant that I may neuer wauer in thy heauenly doctrine Encrease obedience that I neuer turne from thy Precepts Fortifie constancie that entring into thy steppes it bee not pulled backe nor through the terrour or intisementes of Sathan ouerthrowne but may perseuer in thée which art the true-waye vnto life Build my sure trust that being accustomed with thy promises I neuer waxe old in the exercise of Vertue but forgetting those things which are past I may continually striue to come to perfecter Accept my contrite heart the woonted sacrifice of thy delight and the oblation of these my Peticions graunting the summe of my requests Blot out all my offences for thine own sake defend me this day with thy mighty hand increse thy grace in me that I may in all thinges carrye vpright sway and equall iudgement liuing with thy people in the light of thy worde and feare of thy Lawes And daylie more more die to my selfe and liue and bee lead by thy Spirit fearing nothing but thée then the which nothing is greater or mightier louing nothing beside thée then whome nothing is more to be beloued glorying in nothing but in thée which art the glory of all Saints requiring nothing beside thée which art the best desiring nothing but thée which art the full and perfect felicitie with the Father and the holy Ghost aboue the Starrie Firmament to whome be prayse both now and euer Amen ¶ A discreet and wise woman is an high portion shee honoureth GOD and beautifieth the world vpon her right hand standeth Ioye and Peace and vpon her left hand Riches and Honour her body is the sweet tree of long life to him that layeth hold on her and blessed is he that keepeth her fast ¶ A Prayer for the Euening O Gracious GOD and most mercifull Father being infinitely bound vnto thée for thy manifold mercies extended towards mee I humbly giue thee thankes among the rest for thy protection of me this day And I most humbly pray thée to forgiue mee all my sinnes and naughtines whereby I am made vnwoorthy of thy further goodnes and mercie O Lord receaue the intercession of thy Sonne for all mine offences Accept this sacrifice of my soule and body which I offer to be disposed off at thy pleasure Consider the vnfeined sighes which I send from my heart for that I haue offended thée and giue eare to my prayers which I powre foorth before thée to obtaine thy pardon Giue me a true and liuely faith whereby I may laye holde vpon the merites of the death and passion of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Let his righteousnes make satisfaction to thy iustice for my vnrighteousnes and his obedience procure pardon for my disobedience and his holy perfection helpe and amend my vn-holy imperfections Protect me this
take vpon thē a shewe of thy name remooue from vs that Spirit of Pride and vayn glory and the study of prayse and glory Graunt that in all our troubles and euilles we may call vppon thy holy name yea in the feare of our conscience and euen when death assayleth let vs not be forgetfull of thy holy name Sée that in all our successe both in woordes and déedes we may praise worship thee onely and not séeke out of these ours but the glory of thy name which alone possessest all things take frō vs O Lord that most foule vice of ingratitude Plant in vs such good workes and life that others may be allured to vs not to our but vnto thy praise and glorie Lord let not other be offended through the vices or euill workes which yet remayne in vs least thy name for our sinnes should be ill spoken of or not henceforth praised Suffer vs not to aske any thing of thee either momentary or eternall which agreeth not to the glorie of thy holy name and praise if wee do aske any such thing of thée in that heare vs not graunt vs so to liue as becommeth Gods Children that we seme not vnworthy of thy holie name Thy Kindgome come IN this miserable and wretched life all kindes of sensual apetite wickednesse beare rule in vs and the euill spirit head and fountaine fo all siin hath gouernment But in thy kingdome O Lord grace and vertue guide the sway Iesus Christ thy deare sonne true patrone of all grace and vertue holdeth empire Thou therefore deare Father fauor vs with thy grace Giue vnto vs a true and constant faith in Christ fortifie vs with a firme sure hope in thy mercy where with our weake and feble conscience may be raysed vp from the feling of sins loade vs with an earnest loue both towardes thée all other thy good Creatures Take from vs distrust desperation and hatred remoue from vs the delightes of the flesh and plant in their stéede an earnest study of chastity with perfect fayth in thée which may worthely winne the rewarde of vndefiled battaile Make vs frée O Lord from discordes ambition warre and discention and let thy kingdome come let vs leade a peaceable mutuall and quiet life Graunt that neither zeale anger or other vyces with the which dissembling hatred are nourished rayne in vs but a milde simplycitie brotherly loue all kind of duties contentment and humilitie suffer vs not to bée afflicted with immoderate sorrow and heauinesse but let vs feele the pleasantnesse of thy grace and mercy and that in fine al our sinnes may be taken away and wée abounding through grace and vertue in our good workes may bee thy kingdome I say our mind our soule with all our strength which thou hast powred on vs may obay thy commaundements and beare thy gouerment neither follow themseules the world the fleshe nor the Deuill Sée Lord that this thy kingdom happely begunne in vs may so grow be increased that wée bée not vnaduisedly oppressed of sin neither causeles do cease from good woorkes for so it may come to passe that we shall labour in vaine Giue therefore vnto vs a firme faith wanting no strength which not onely may instruct vs to a better kind of life but also in that same may happely go forward and euer amongst vs encrease as the Prophet saith Psalm 13. Illuminate mine eies that I slepe not lest whilest the Christian life is but begunne wée negligently goe forward and finally come againe into Sathans power Graunt that wee may constantly endure and thy kingdome to come may performe and consummate the rule begunne in vs. Take vs from this life which is full of sinne and daungers make vs to desire that other life and let vs beginne and continew to hate this graunt that we doe not feare death but rather wish and desire it let vs cast out of our minde the loue of this life thot thou onely maist raigne in vs. Thy Will be done IF wee should conferre our wil with thine it is alwaies naught but thy will is euer best which deserueth that we should loue and desire that Therefore haue mercy vpon vs deare Father and let not any thing be done after our will Grant if any thing happen contrarie to that wee would we may patiently bear it temper so our brickle mettall being the worke of thy hands that if any either speak or hold his peace doe or omitt any thing contrary to our will that thereby wee bee not provoked to anger and impatience Let vs not blaspheme complaine crie out iudge condemne or malitiously accuse others therfore but grant that wee may quietly giue place to those which worke contrary to our will prayse them giuing thankes as to those which stirre vp thy will which is good against ours which is ill And further assist vs that we may patiently beare all trouble need pouerty sicknesse slander imprisonment and all other discommodities and acknowledge all these to happen vnto vs by thy will that our will may be mortified let vs patientlie beare iniuries and take from vs the desire of reuengement suffer vs not to encounter one euill with another nor resist force with strong armes but graunt thy will which hath throwne vs into those euils may satisfie vs and that with thanks-giuing we may beare aduersities If any ill come contrary to that wee would graunt we beseech thee that we iudge not that calamity to proceede either of Sathan our wicked enemy or of ill men but of thy diuine will which doth minister all thinges so that it may let our wil wherby thou mightest the better raigne and beare rule in vs. Graunt that wée may patiently and with ioyfull minde die least any being ouercome with impatience or desperation we séeme lesse obedient to thy will Grant that all members of our body eies tongue heart hands and feete follow not their owne delights but ouercome and constrained may doe all things after thy will Take from vs O Lord a hardened and an vntractable heart frée vs from frowardnesse obstinate and stubborne minds grant that we may obey thy will that we commit our selfe wholy to thy iudgement in all thinges whether they pertaine to the body or the soule whether they bee momentarie or eternall take from vs these horrible vices that we impeach not the fame of any slaunder any rashlie iudge accuse or condemn thē that vice of the tongue I beséech thee amend in vs and teach that if others commit anie euill we may retaine and hide it to thée only let vs shew it and leaue it to thy iudgement that wee may remitte what is committed against vs and let vs take pittie vpon them teach vs to know that none can hurt vs but hée shall more disprofite himselfe before thee that we may bée the rather stirred to mercy then to anger in any thing let vs not reioice if they bee throwne into calamitie which
either haue not obeyed our will or whose life hath beene little allowable to vs neither let vs hate their good successe Giue vs this day our dayly bread THe Bread is our Lord Iesus Christ which feedeth and refresheth the soule Thou therefore heauenly father graunt vs this through thy mercie that the life words and déedes of Christ with his Passion may be euerie where truelie preached acknowledged followed kept Graunt that both his doings and sayings may be example to vs to the which wee may compare our life liue more rightly Confirme vs that in calamity and trouble his Crosse and passion may strengthen and cōfort vs. Assist vs that by his death our death may be ouercome in true faith that wee may constantlie follow him being our Captaine to eternal life Bring to passe that they which haue taken vpon them the ministerie of thy word may happilie teach and with the great profite of the hearers worke that those which heare thy word aknowledge Christ and diligentlie goe forward Let it come to passe that the strange and wicked sects who teach not Christ be throwne out of his Church Let the true vnderstanding of thy word so shine in Bishops and Pastors likewise vpon al Magistrates whether they haue care of the body or soule that being illuminated with thy grace they may rightlie teach vs and be example vnto vs as well in doctrine as in pure life Let not the weake in faith be offended through the Sinnes of the Magistrates Purge vs O Lord from all heresies and wicked faith that we may be single and daylie fed with one bread and may abide agreeable in Christes words teach vs by thy grace that we may well studie vpon Christes Passion and rightly holde that and let his imprinted steppes sticke and bée found in vs. Grant that the Ministers of the Church may treat and vse the holy Sacrament worthily and to the great profite of thy Church And furthermore that we and all Christians may in his kind worthily to his soules health receiue the Sacrament Giue vs peace and concord take from vs wars contention ambition priuie hatred bloudy harts vsurping hands and all other kind of strifes that those thinges which wée haue to the sustentation of our body we may enioy with thanks giuing Giue vnto thy seruant Iames our most gratious King and Gouernour thy equall giftes to his estate and dignity with vpright Iudgement in all things and to all Magistrates true faith and single iudgement with loiall minds to kéepe the publique peace that his ioyes and rule may long stand and multiplie Take from all Subiects Sedition and Disobedience Teach vs by thy holy Spirit to order our housholde affaires that we may instruct our Children and families to worship praise and glorifie thee Grant O good Father that our Children and Familie fall not into any sinne and wickednesse neither bee ouerthrowne in any daunger or calamitie whether it be either of body or Soule Comfort deliuer thou most louing Father the Captiue the hungry thirsty naked oppressed miserable the comfortlesse widow the orphant sicke and the sorrowfull and defend the fieldes and cattell from tempest venemous worms and wild beastes Forgiue vs our rrespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs GOD will that we patiently beare all thinges and requite not euill with euill nor reuenge iniurie done against vs but that we should returne a benefite for an iniurie after the example of our Father which suffereth his Sunne to shine as well on the euill as on the good and powreth down his rain both vpon the thankeful and vnthankfull O good Father stirre vp our conscience both now and in the end of our life which is grieuously feared with the sight of our sinnes and dread of thy iudgement make our hearts quiet and sure that with ioy wee may expect thy iudgement when thou shalt iudge for in thy sight shal not any man be found righteous teach vs to learne not to our our own good works and merites but to thy vnmeasured mercy and thereunto let vs wholy commit vs likewise suffer vs not to fal into desperation for our sinnes committed but grant that wee may perceiue and féele thy mercie to be far more ample greater and stronger then our wicked led life Bee present with all those which are eyther in danger of death or afflicted with desperation Forgiue vs and euen our sinnes comfort vs and bring vs againe into thy fauour As thou hast commaunded so render thou also good for ill vnto vs beate downe Sathan that horrible false detractor and accuser of our life both now and at the howre of death in all other anguishes of our conscience Sathan doth accuse vs our conscience likewise doth accuse vs. But thou Lord dost not iudge after their sentence heare not the voyce E ENgraue thy lawes in the depth of my hart O lord that being instructed in thy commandementes I may serue thée in feare and reioyce in thée with trembling take hold vpon thy discipline in all things Least at any time thou become angry and I perish from the right way Amen L LOrd giue me helpe from my trouble for vaine is the helpe of man in thée I haue strength and thou bringest vnto nothing those which trouble me let my soule bée subiect vnto thée for from thée procéedeth my patience for thou art my God and Sauiour my helper and I wil not depart from thée In thée is my health my Glory thou art the God of my helpe and my hope is in thée Amen I I Haue broken thy fold and wandred long as a lost shéepe let me returne againe O Lord because I haue not forgotten thy commaundements the misdéedes and ignorances of my tender yéeres remember not Lord according to thy mercy haue mind on me For thy goodnesse O Lord kéepe my soule and deliuer me let me not bee ashamed because I haue trusted in thée Turne my heauinesse into ioy cut off my sacke of sorrows and gird me with gladnesse that my Glorie may sing vnto thée and I shall not be grieued Z ZOrobabel King of Iuda in the depth of thy displeasure tasted of thy mercy receiued by the mouth of Aegeus thy Prophet swéete comfort knowledge of thy fauour and grace yea after thy determination to destroy the whole kingdome of the Heathen thy right hand did preserue him and thy incomparable mercy did choose him for a seale to thy selfe Lord this happy King in thy goodnesse was but an earthly Creature and then could hée haue no righteousnesse in him selfe to moue such thy compassion If it procéede from the multitude of thy mercies that surmount the iniquity of the whole world that thou diddest onely vouchsafe to behold in him the Image of thy selfe Bow down thine eyes Lord and behold the selfe same in mée Certifie my conscience with remission of my sinnes that my sorrowfull Soule bee at rest within mée send downe thy holy
corruption and troubled in recounting thy sinnes to him that cannot forgiue thée Wherefore cast thy selfe on me onely and I will deliuer thee for if a thousand yeares thou wouldest search thy selfe and bee confessed of ten thousand thou shalt not be cleansed Quando enim exhauries Abissum Therefore commit thy selfe to mee onely I will make thee safe whensoeuer with all diligence thou shalt goe about to confesse thy fault let mee alone with Mercy to thee acknowledge that thou canst not cleanse thy selfe say that thou haddest need of my mercy confesse that thou canst not answere one word to a thousand thinges wherewith I might charge thee but art in euery worke vnsufficient and hast need of my Mercie Wherefore trust not to thy Confessions but in my Mercy for by it thou shalt be iustified And whilest thou art too much conuersant in the care of thy sinnes thou mightest turne vnto me and enioy my gratious presence Doest thou not note the subtlety of the enemie To this end hee suggesteth thee with the number of thy sins and thoughts of thy wickednesse that thou mightest neglect things to thée more wholesome Know thou this therfore chiefly that my delight is that thou shouldest thinke of my goodnesse séeke mée in simplenesse Thou shalt finde mée gentle godly full of compassion and chiefe in mercy trust in mée hope in mée séeke my fauour séeke my friendshippe and familiarity and for the better obtaining of these direct thy exercise in holinesse Thou shalt vndoubtedly féele a farre more beautifull fruit if thou diligentlie care how to loue please and follow me then by brusing thy selfe with scruples of thy confessions for déeming to search out and abolish doubts thou doest rather engender to thée doubtfuller things thou canst not think me too pittifull or mercifull so that thou doe not presume vpon my mercies neyther canst thou giue mee ouer much credite Wherefore accustome thy selfe to thinke well of me and belieue that I will not condemne thée For truly whosoeuer is willing to correct his life and despayreth not him will I saue I am well pleased O Daughter that thou art so sory thou hast offēded and that thou wilt not sinne hereafter Now thou art in State of saluation why fearest thou I am rich in infinite mercies Thus thinke of me for therby thou doest mee more hodour then if thou diddest imagine me cruell and hard or shouldest so much feare as though I watched onely to intrappe men in this or that doubt or circumstance they had omitted But yet when any great offence cōmeth in thy minde confesse thy fault with al humilty and sorrow of hart and desire grace to amend and after rest in peace and cast all the Diuelish doubts vpon me I desire thée I am willing to enioy thy friendshippe I require to bee loued of thee see therefore that thou answere my good will Vnderstand know and iudge thy selfe to be a sinner Say in many things thou hast offended that thou art most ingratefull a Rebell spitefull and blasphemous against thy Commandements and will And hereof so much humble thy felfe that thou dare not once lift vp thine eies before me since thou art full of loathsomnesse and abhominations There be certaine so esteeming their committed euils that they are moued with thē either to pleasure and delight or contrariwise to desperation or some such like inconuenience But thou when thou wilt thinke thy selfe a sinner and humble thy self shake off the dreams of thy sinnes and turne vnto me conferre with me touching thy sinnes and infirmities powre out thy complaints before mee reason with me accuse thy selfe to me of thy crimes committed so shall thy accusation of sinnes be conuerted into praier Wherefore when thou hast turned to mée plead thy cause in Prayer for by this means thy conscience shall bee made cleare and quiet thy affection also to me directed shall be by me inflamed But now of Satisfaction for Sinnes Imbrace this counsell That whatsoeuer thy hand is able to doe that instantly worke yet not with that mind or to that end as though therewith thou couldest make satisfaction for thy sinnes For to the accomplishing of this thou oughtest to thinke all thy workes too vnworthie and far vnable But do that thou canst euery way to please me whome thou hast offended desire me that with the merites of my passion and most holy life I will punish thine offences and satisfie my Father for them This humility this sure trust in me with which thou debasest thy selfe thy works and extollest me and my merites excelling the workes of thy satisfaction since that one droppe of my bloud is of more value to Satisfaction then al mans deserts which hath already made Satisfaction for the sins of the whole world Such humility allureth mee to thee and causeth mee to cōmunicate with thee the treasure of my merites Wherefore let this chieflie be thy study that thou neglect not my good pleasure but cōtinually to thinke on me desire me loue me and whatsoeuer I commaund and will diligently performe then if thou haddest infinit heaps of sinnes I will forgiue them all as fréely as if thou haddest but one neither is it lesse easie for me to forgiue many then few It is a maruailous thing that I will say but yet most true and certainely to bee beléeued if the whole worlde were a fierie Globe and in the middest of it were thrown a bundell of Flaxe this of his naturall effect should not so soone receiue the slame of fire as I will receiue the repentant and sorrowfull sinner to mercy for in that naturall act is required some tarriance though very little and peraduenture not to be perceyued but here is no tarriance at all betwéene the penitent and him that forgiueth betwéene the sorrowfull and him that heareth the sighes Thou therefore daughter reiect all inordinate feare desirous to please me with thy holy heart study to be holy for I am holy willingly offēd not though in neuer so little or light a thing but shunne the occasion so much as in thee lyeth wisely withdraw thy selfe from the society of mans superstitious communicatiōs and from vnprofitable and euill occupations be not solitarie bée not idle spend the time thriftily to my honour occupie thy selfe in reading the Holy Scriptures where thou shalt find my Life and Passion Plant in thy heart my trouble Crosse and persecution walke before me in Holinesse with feare and reuerence perswading thy selfe that I am neuer absent from the Godly but doe instantly hold them diligently bridle and kéepe thy senses and tongue if thou loue much babling thou canst not profite embrace sobernesse and reasonable continences shun vanity and the pomp of pride sensuality and vnlawful pleasures sée thou follow not but diligently endeauour to keep thee vndefiled fight couragiously against vices faithfully pray to mee that thou mayest breake and ouercome the wicked passions and inclinations do as much as thou art able yet trust not to
in the death of a Sinner sayth the Lord God or rather would I not his conversion from his evill wayes that he might liue And againe hee sayeth Returne and repent you of your faults and your iniquity shall not prevaile against you Cast away evill cogitations and take you a new Spirite And why wilt thou die O house of Israel I wil not the death of a sinner returne and thou shalt liue O wretch why despayrest thou sith to this end GOD sent his Sonne into the earth that thou mightest haue comfort This is the loue of God whereof David speaketh saying We haue seene thy loving kindnesse even in the middest of thy Congregation Bée earely at the church occupied in prayer abide in the Apostolicke Faith beware of Idolatry imbrace the louing kindnesse of God who cryeth vncessantly I wil not the death of a Sinner but rather he convert and liue Harke to this swéet Oracle shake off the drowsinesse of errour and rise with Christ that thou mayest liue in him Marke how liberally hee promiseth At what hower soever a Sinner shall repent I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance He hath no respect to the nature of thy faults he forceth not the greatnesse or nūber of thine offences repent but as thou oughtest and hee will blot thy wickednesse out of memory That our Prayer may bée more acceptable to God the Prophet O see telleth vs how we should pray Returne vnto the Lord and say to him Lord take away mine iniquitie and receiue if I haue any my goodnesse and I wil giue thee the batlinges sacrifice of my lips Let vs reuert that haue shamefuly erred to him which taketh away the sinnes of the world and let vs say Take away from vs the evill which we haue done and accept this good What good Even the sacrifice of our Lippes Wée giue thée thanks mighty God to whome wee owe all that we haue Take from vs which is ours accept of vs that which is thine owne Returne saith Ioel to your God because he is loving gratious long suffering and of much mercy and ready to pardon mischiefe Though the weight of sin astonish thee yet let the mightinesse of Gods mercy vphold thee which the Prophet doth many wayes exaggerate God saith hee is gentle which hee addeth that wee should not despaire of pardon God saith he is gratious that we should vnderstand how he not onelie helpeth vs but that he pittieth our miseries And thinking not this sufficient he adioineth Long suffring And yet art thou doubtfull sinner Hearken then what followeth And of great mercy If thy faults be many care not great is the goodnesse of God What remayneth now but that thou turne and goe to him that inuiteth thee thou wilt say the horrible threatenings of punishment feare me Giue eare and marke And hee is ready to pardon mischiefe that God which is so often stirred to anger of his own accord mooueth thee to repentance calleth thee to forgiuenesse forgetteth his threates denyeth thee the torment of Hell in steade of punishment giueth thee his blessing not onely turneth to thee that repentest but willingly goeth to méet thée embraceth thée This is it which was promised by Zacharie Turne vnto me saith the Lord of hosts and I will be converted vnto you What meaneth hee by Returne vnto mee that is acknowledge thy weakenesse and aske mercy And what is meant by this And I will be converted vnto you That this of a reuenger I will become a helper I will assist your endeauours and looke what through your owne strength you can not bring to passe thou shalt attain to buy my fauour No man can fréely hate his owne sinne vnlesse God mollifie his stony hart and giue him a fleshly hart vnles for a defiled Conscience hee make a cleane heart vnlesse for a corrupt soule hee renue a right Spirite in him Peruse and reade the conuersation and life of Christ there thou shalt finde nothing but of his euerlasting mercy towards all men He fréely healed the sicke fedde the hungry deliuered them that were in daunger cleansed the Leapers gaue sight to the Blinde restored the Lame cast out Deuils raysed the dead to life and pardoned the wicked Search againe the vniuersall discipline of GOD what other thing contayneth it then the maruailous compassion of the Almighty doth he not inculcat into our minds by parables to the intent wée should not fal by any means To that end serueth the Parable of the lost shéepe which was brought againe on the Shéepeheards shoulders the Parable of the lost and found groate of the whole man that wanted not a Physition of the Seruant to whome his debts were forgiuen of the Publicane and the Pharisie of the broken man whom the Samaritane cured of the good Steward towardes his debtors and of the crafty Steward towards his Master of the Prodigall Child taken againe into fauour As touching the bare name of the Gospell doth it not promise mercy Yes it giueth light to the blind liberty to the Captiue health to the broken and last of all a gratefull gaine to the Lord who thirsteth nothing but the Saluation of sinners Likewise the name of Iesus that is of a Sauiour what else doth it promise to the Sinner but mercy and blissefulnesse If he had come representing the Maiesty of a Iudge there had beene some cause why euerie one might haue feared but knowing him to come as a Sauiour dost thou dispayre Saluation for the surer hope of Saluation the Sonne of God suffered death and offered vp himselfe a valiant sacrifice for the sins of man And hanging on the Crosse prayeth for his persecutors and thinkest thou that hée wil deny thée forgiuenesse of thy sinnes that dost acknowledge thy wretchednesse and craue remission Trust him that is mercifull and thou shalt find compassion A sure hope obtaineth any thing at Christes hand who so mistrusteth the Phisition hindereth his own health The woman of Canaan cryed and her daughter was cured The Centurian beléeued and his Seruant was made whole againe The Father prayed and his Sonne was cleansed of the foule spirite The Apostles cryed out Helpe Lord for we perish and they were deliuered And wée sée that in diuerse he hath not respected the prayers of the mouth but only the Faith Hee did but perceyue the faith of the people and said to the sicke of the Palsie Bee of good cheare my sonne thy sins are forgiuen thee The Mother and her companions doe but wéepe and her Sonne is raysed frō death to life Martha and Mary did but mourne and Lazarus was receyued Mary the sinner bewayleth he annointeth her kisseth her and sayth Thy sinnes are forgiven thee He sufficiently asketh that confesseth his infirmity he asketh effectually that lamenteth beléeueth The woman troubled with superfluity of bloud secretlie touched the vesture of Iesus and immediatelie she felt the force of his mercy We read also of many others that
were healed by touching his garment so neuer vnprouided is his goodnesse and at all times hee giueth comfort to the weake If thou bee afraide to call vpon Iesus if thou canst not come vnto him yet at the least touch the edge of his garment Reade the Scriptures follow the doctrine of the Apostles for by them he often sheweth his vertue and telleth of thy sauing health O blind vnthankefull which despise the grace of God so ready to bee obtained But O thrice wretched which despaire in that which is willingly and freely offered hee is easily pacified that is reuenged against his will What other meaning hath this Phrase but that the Lord leaueth no way vnsought for to bring vs to Saluation and we wittingly forsake the hope of Saluation And why wilt thou die O house of Israel with teares he lamented Hierusalem which heaped vengeance vnto it selfe by theyr malicious errours O Ierusalem sayth hee how often would I haue gathered thee together as the hen gathereth her Chickens and thou wouldest not Our humble Sauiour weepeth because hee may not saue vs miserable sinners and wee despaire in him as though he would not saue vs who haue deserued his fearefull iudgements for our iniquities committed against him All the House reioyced where the Son which dyed was reuiued and receyued againe that perished That good Father calleth the company of the Heauens to reioyce ouer the penitent Sinner and thou wretch despayrest enuying both thine owne safegard and the gladnesse of God Shall we beleeue that hee will not pardon malefactors who lamenteth the death of a Sinner and reioyceth at the conuersion of the Penitent He calleth all men to the mariage Feast hee would haue his house filled with strāgers maketh the Blinde and the lame to come in And why stayest thou Caitife Why forsakest thou not thy Swinish soile Why striuest thou against the mercy of God there can be no greater folly then for vaine and variable things to forsake Eternity There is no greater wisedome then for a little sufferanee to gaine immortality Great is their ignorance therefore which perseuere in their naughtines But greater is the wisedome of those that liue in newnesse of life O what cost we bestow what paines wee take in finding corruptible mettals and how little wee care for the treasure of Gods mercy which is laid open and fréely offered to vs. The Lord is rich in mercy The treasure of worldlie wealth may be wasted by profuse expence but the bounty of Gods goodnesse hath no bottome God hath assured his Faith to man and as Paule writeth he cannot denie himselfe He offereth to be challenged and reproued if hee hath not performed his promises For thus he speaketh in Esay to a wicked generation Lift vp your selues and bee cleane take away the thought of evill cease frō mischiefe learne to do good seeke iudgement helpe the oppressed iudge the innocēt defend the widdow come and reproue mee saith the Lord. Hearest thou now wretched man what else requires our gratious God of thée but amendement of life And that the enormity of thy haynous crimes may not exanimate thee attend to the ready remission If thy sinnes sayth he were as red as scarlet I will make them as whit as Snow and if you wil harken to me you shall eate the Fruits of the earth O cursed Progenie of Eue why doest thou yeelde to the deceitefull promises of the Deuill that allureth thée to destruction and art deafe at the Son of God which would associate thee with euerlasting ioy Repent sayth he for the kingdome of God is at hand The Sonne of God promiseth the Father commandeth thee the holy Ghost inuiteth thée and yet thou art scrupulous to receiue that which is offered The voyce of the Apostles is the voice of God and they cry Repent and be baptised in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of your sinnes and receiue the gift of the Holy Ghost Forsake your foule filthy and abhominable traditions and seeke the kingdome of Heauen There runne vnto Christ Souldiers Publicans Harlots Idolaters man-slears sorcerers bawds Incestuous persons none are exempted all haue frée course to the mercy of God their former life is not imputed to them if they repent and amend their liues Like as the ground often moistned with heauenly dew yet yéeldeth his Tiller nothing but thorns brambles is worthy to bee had in contempt and to be giuen to the fire So God many times for the contempt of his goodnesse giueth Sinners vp to their reprobate sense wherfore it is best to leaue off procrastination of amendment of life and when the Lord calleth vs to cast of the Old man with his déed and concupiscenses least God which hath been denied to be hard as the least refuse to heare our complaints Horrible is the voyce wherwith he threasneth those which wil not heare him that so graciously calleth Because saith he I haue called and you haue refused I haue stretched out my hand and there was no man that would looke because you haue despised my counsell and set at naught my admonitions I will laugh at your destruction when that shall come to passe which you feared when abortiue misery shall come vpon you the storms of destruction shall prevent you when sorrow and anger shall possesse and oppresse you then wil you cal vpō me I wil not hear they wil rise betime in the morning but they shall not find me becaus they haue hated my discipline and haue beene voide of the feare of God haue not hearkned vnto my counsel haue defiled my correction In this life there is hope of mercy Wherefore while thou liuest call for the grace of God and amend thy life The carefull God of our saluation hath suffered mightie and maruailous men to erre that wee by their example might haue comfort and not dispaire in hope of pardon In Holy Scripture who is more commended then King David who was both a King a Prophet a chosen man after the hearts delight of God out of whose stocke came the Sauiour Christ But into how many and grieuous crimes fell so mighty a man Yet hearing Nathan pronounce the grieuous threatenings of God cried out Lord I haue sinned And Nathan sayde But the Lord hath taken away thy sinnes thou shalt not die God suffered Peter to offend grieuouslie and yet when hee had lamented he obtayned mercy Whē he gaue him charge ouer the sheepe for which he shed his precious bloud was it likely that hee ment to remember the denying of him thrice no no he had so fréely forgotten it that there remayned no iote imprinted in the memory of our louing God Wee haue many examples of Sinners and not a few of the penitent the example of none ought to moue vs to sinne let vs not too much trie God if any mā bee incumbred with iniquity hee hath examples of repentance let him not despaire They doe euil which wil
not repent with them whom they haue transgressed withall After David had willingly confessed his fault and acknowledged the iust iudgement of God behold what great hope he conceyued of the mercy of God Sprinckle me O Lord saith he with I sope and I shall be cleane Wash mee and I shall bee whiter then snowe By the sprinckling of the bloud of the immaculate Lambe he promiseth to himselfe clearenesse too thogh he acknowledge his conception to be sinfull yet by this washing hee hopeth after the whitenesse of iunocency which passeth the whitenesse of the Snow And he trusteth not only in the innocency but looketh to sée his doubtful penitency turned into heauenlie ioy Thou shalt make me hear joy and gladnes saith David that the boÌ„es which thou hast broken may reioyce Giue mee the comfort of thy helpe and stablish me with thy free spirite O singular faith of a sinner what man hath at any time cried Iesu haue mercy on me but forthwith he hath obtayned grace Take pitty Lord sayeth the woman of Canaan and her daughter was was healed The blind poore man cryed out O Sonne of David haue mercy on me and he receyved sight Let vs heartily zealously constantly call on him and in the midest of our miseries say Iesu thou Sonne of David haue compassion vpon vs. And of poore impotent beggers hee will make vs fellow heyres with him of the kingdome of Heauen He hath opened the sanctuary of his holinesse and thou runnest into the dungeon of dispayre hee hath stretched out his hand to thee thou turnst away thy face he openeth the gates of Heauen and thou hastest to destruction behold the bosome of his goodnes and thou créepest into the lake of vnhappinesse The Theefe that hung on the Crosse heard him saying This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise and thou offerest thy selfe to the Deuill The mercy of God came vnto vs wheÌ„ he sent his Son into the earth Let vs therefore goe to it Let vs incline to him as he did to vs The way is first to leaue our life For first the Physitians vse to purge the body that they may minister wholesomer Medicines Forsake O thou Sinner thy wicked imaginations which fight against God leau to lust be not couetous refrain riot flie arrogancy that God may powr his blessings vpon thee He that persisteth in his wickednesse and calleth for grace is like to an enemie which being ready armed asketh peace of his Master hee that asketh receyueth he that séeketh findeth and hee that knocketh hath it opened vnto him if thou wilt desire mercy craue it truely if thou séeke it séek it indeed if thou knock at the gate of forgiuenesse knocke earnestly If thou require an example of one that faithfully craued the fauour of God Marke the Prodigall Child who leauing his Swine returned to his Father and said Father I haue sinned against Heaven and against thee make me as one of thy hired servants Marke the Publicane which for the guiltinesse of his conscience dare not lift vp his eyes to heauen dare not come to his redéemer but standing a farre off hee knocketh his breast and saith Lord bee mercifull vnto me a Sinner S. Hierome affirmeth the offence of Iudas to be greater in despayring the mercie of God theÌ„ in betraying Christ as Cain stirred God to anger more through desperation of pardon then by the slaughter of his brother Abel Manie which haue persecuted Christ being conuerted beléeuing in him haue obtained pardon are made examples to man that he ought not to distrust the remissioÌ„ of his wickednes seeing the death of our Sauior is forgiuen to the penitent Wilt thou heare saith Augustine the mercy of God leaue thy abhomination hee will forgiue thée Wilt thou see the truth of God do good thou shalt be crowned with Iustice God is not so mercifull to vse vniustice nor so iust to be vnmerciful but som man wil say meÌ„ encrease their offeÌ„ces by too much hope but how much doe they enlarge their guiltines by distrust of remission If there were no forgiuenes then thou wouldâ—t rage say I am wretched I am condeÌ„ned why is not my law why shall I not fill my selfe with sacietie if after this there bee nought but torment this would be thy saing O worse then dispayre it selfe Hee doth better therefore that correcteth thée with promise of forgetfulnesse and sayth I will not the death of a finner but that he convert and liue God by his promise would not haue sinners to presume but his will is they should not in any wise distrust and therefore he hath made them ignorant of the day of their death if thou repent present pardon is prouided no day is prefixed Wherefore to conclude if thou hast liued well till this day and still abidest in this life liue well amend thy life and beholde forgiuenesse and bee sure that what hee hath pardoned shall not bee imputed to thee againe which for his merry he grant that taketh away the Sinnes of the world Amen CONSOLATIO NVLLA maeroris magnitudo nulla angustiarum acerbitas nulla defectuum multitudo nulla scelerum enormitas te ad desperationem nimiamve pusillanimitatem adducat Quantumcunque peccaveris semper Dej misericordia in infinitum excedit tuas iniquitates Quantumcunque infirmus sis semper illius benignitas a diuvare parata est tuam fragilitatem Vult potest Deus sanare ac liberare te si ad eum verè conuerteris atque humilis factus ipsum piè inuocas speras in eo O quam homini salutaris Deo grata est spes atque confidentia illa quam Dei amor sanctaque humilitas parit quae homineÌ„ non ad negligentiaÌ„ vel incuriaÌ„ sese emendandi neque ad facilitatem peccandi pertrahit sed magis ad conatum proficiendi extimulat THE AVTHORS Prayer IN the deapth of thy mercy O Lord bow down thine eyes behold encline thine eares and heare stretch out thine Arme and helpe for I am thine vnworthy creature and haples man that thorow thy rodde of wrath haue experience of most wretched misery Mine enemies pursue mée with gaping iawes and whetted teeth saying within themselus let vs now deuoure him for the time that we looked for is come wee doe find and sée it They haue fortified round about me and haue inclosed me with tormeÌ„t and trauell My flesh and skin are made old my bones are bruised they haue hedged me that I cannot gett out haue said heauy links vpoÌ„ me Helpe Lord thy seruant whome thou neuer faylest I cry and call pittiously yet am I not heard my innocency is trodden downe and my life suddued with like surmises My mourning they dayly heare but comfort I find farre off They haue stopped vp my wayes with quartred stones and made my pathes crooked They lay wayte for me as wilde Beares and deuouring Dragons with open mouth deliuer me from their gréedy gripes
afraide of them for the Lord thy God is with thee Deu. 20. If you goe to warre against your enemies that vexe you you shall blow with the Trumpettes and you shall be remembred before the Lord your God to be saued from your enemies Num. 10. The Victory of the Battaile standeth not in the multitude of the hoast but the Strength and Triumph commeth from Heauen Macha 3. He that hath clean hands and a pure heart and that hath not lifted vp his mind to vanity nor sworn to deceiue his Neighbour he shall receiue the blessing from the Lorde and victorie of his enemies and righteousnesse from the God of his Saluation c. Psalm 24. Here followeth the Letanie to be vsed vpon Sundayes Wednesdayes and Fridayes and at other times when it shall be thought convenient O God the father of Heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable Sinners O God the Father of c. O God the Sonne redeemer of the World haue mercy vpon vs miserable Sinners O God the Sonne c. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne haue mercy vpon vs miserable Sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinity thrée persons one God haue mercy vpon vs miserable Sinners O holy blessed c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neyther take thou vengeance of our Sinnes spare vs good Lord spare thy people whome thou hast redéemed with thy most precious blood and be not angrie with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euill and mischiefe from sinne from the crafts assaults of the deuill from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From all blindesse of heart from pride vaine glory and hipocrisie from enuie hatred and malice and from all vncharitablenesse Good Lord deliver vs. From Fornication and all other deadly sinne and from al the deceits of the world the flesh and the deuill Good Lord deliver vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence and famine from battel and murther and from sodain death Good Lord deliver vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracy from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnesse of heart and contempt of thy worde and commaundement Good Lord deliver vs. By the mysterie of thy holie Incarnation by thy holy Natiuitie and circumcision by thy Baptisme Fasting and Temptation Good Lord deliver vs. By thine Agonie and bloodie sweat by thy Crosse and passion by thy pretious death buriall by thy glorious resurrection and ascension and by the comming of the Holie Ghost Good Lord deliver vs. In al time of our tribulation in all time of our wealth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliver vs. We sinners doe beséech thée to heare vs O Lord God and that it may please thée to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. That it may please thée to kéepe and strengthen in the true worshipping of thée in righteousnesse and holines of Life thy seruant Iames our most gratious King and Gouernour We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to rule his heart in thy faith feare and loue that he may euermore haue affiance in thée and euer séeke thy honour and glory We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to bee his defender and kéeper giuing him the victory ouer all his enemies We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to blesse and preserue our gracious Quéene Anne Prince Henrie and the rest of the King and Quéenes royall Issue We beeseech thee c. That it may please thée to illuminat al Bishops Pastors and Ministers of the Church with true vnderstanding and knowledge of thy word and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to indue the Lords of the Counsel and all the Nobility with grace wisedome and vnderstanding We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintaine truth We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue to all Nations vnitie peace and concord We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy Commaundements We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to giue to all thy people increase of grace to heare méekely thy word to receiue it with pure affection and to bring foorth the fruits of thy spirite We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to bring into the way of truth all such as haue erred and are deceyued We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to strengthen such as doe stand and to comfort and helpe the weake hearted and to rayse vp them that fall and finally to beat down Sathan vnder our féet We befeech thee c. That it may please thée to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessity and tribulation We beseech thee c. That it may pleafe thée to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring with Child al sicke persons and yong Children and to shew thy pitty vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that bee desolate and oppressed We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to forgiue our enemies persecutors and slanderers and to turne their hearts We beseech thee c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindly fruits of the earth so as in due time wae may enioy them We beseech thee c. That it may please thée to giue vs true repentance to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to endue vs with the Grace of thy holy Spirit to amend our liues according to thy Holie Word We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord. Sonne of God wée beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God wee beseech thee to heare vs. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Grant vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill Amen The Versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our
and frée my féet from the paths of such venemous Serpents O Lord thou séest they haue stopped vp my well-springes of truth how they haue broken mée in péeces preferred their guils altogether laid me waste I am made their mark to shoot at their strongest Bowes haue beene against me out of their malitious quiuer they haue shot their sharp shafts of eger envie yea euen into my raines They laugh me to scorne in their dissembling hearts and yet bear me faire countenance No regard is had of my Truth and vtter confusion is come vpon me thy gifts Lord proper to my selfe are holden from me and I perish in waÌ„t hauing of mine owne The leauen of my bread is made with cruell cares and my drinke mingled with salt teares they haue ouerwhelmed mée with heaped stones and haue buried my innocency in shamefull graue I am sequestred from all fréedxme and thou Lord knowest I am not guilty Correct me not in thy iustice for in my misdéedes towards thée Lord but in the mildenesse of thy mercy for I acknowledge I haue don things vnlawfull against thy throne and am no more worthy to be called thy Child Yet Lord from the bottome of a broken heart I aske thy pardon and my Spirite trusteth in thy mercy requireth that mine enemies may no longer triumph ouermee Lord looke downe and remedy my misery and thraldome Remember how long I haue been fedde with sorrow care how my body wasteth and my Soule melteth away I fear Lord thou hast forsaken me and set vp the horn of mine enemies that thou giuest theÌ„ this long Glory ouer me O mercifull Father do not so I beseech thée If my scorge be determined with thee for any my contemptes of thy will yet deliuer me from the hands of the malitious I acknowledge my faultes towardes the Celestiall Seate and say my righteousnesse al is stained I appeale to thy mercy for thy truth and sons sake But Lord if my breast euer harboured any vniust pretence or act against thy seruaant Iames my gratioua King and Gouernour as a ioyfull pray bestow mee amongst mine eager enemies To this day from my birth thou knowest Lord I haue honoured him with loyal loue serued him with true heart and innocent hands Now Lord if such discharge of duty hath euer wonne victory ouer any his woorthie thoughtes I beséech thée not in my deserts to thee but for my truth to him multiply in secret breast such thoughts to sure encrease of firme beliefe as through thée inspired with my large truth which might neuer boast her selfe I may bée saued from the snares of the malitious and my innocency knowne to him Wake Lord I beséech thée and renue on mee thy mercies and help as euer thou hast done of olde My Soule saith within me thou Lord art her onely portion and therefore she will hope in thée And my body hast thou alwayes deliuered in greatest perill whensoeuer I haue put my trust in thée Arise most mighty helper and aide thy Seruant who onely séeketh succour of thée Sure I am in mine enemies pitts thou wilt not that mine Innocency perish neyther destroy mée vtterly in mine vnrighteousnesse towardes thee for that my contrite heart appealeth to thy mercy and thy condition is not to seeke the death of a sinner neyther to be found vntrue in thy promises wherein my spirite onely trusteth Amiddest my forrowfull plaints and scorching sighes Lord powre out the comfortable dew of thy compassion for in no other helpe will I trust but in thine though the whole Earth would assure me mine enemies swarme as Bées to the Hieue and spread as flowers of the spring my friends walke in single number and hundreds that erst professed saith deny their sentence such as would me good want the meane thereto and those that best may with Fort nes threats are beaten down and made lame Wherfore Lord wash the vnderstanding of my gratious Gouernor with the flowing springes of thy Truth Cause him with spéedy hand to comfort the comfortlesse Guide his minde stil in thy loue and feare with such perfect wisedom true iustice and pittifull compassion shewing whose member hee is that hath thus worthily preserued thy people Yea further Lord guide so his course on earth that thou maist afferwardes of right equal him in ioyes with the blessed Cherubines about the hie heauens Continue in him thy grace which giuest euery good gift that as he is thy chosen vessel no vsurping heart nor bloody hand may euer haue power against him But replenished with thy holy Spirite may execute thy will and walke in thy pathes neuer wanting the strength of thy right hand to beat downe his enemies But found worthy of thy rich goodnesse wee may long enioy so matchlesse a head and Gouernour grant this Lord I beséech thée with exchange of my hard state into better euen at thine owne will and my Spirite shall neuer cease to giue prayse and thankes to holy Name Amen To the Reader MY willing minde sundry wayes aâ—oied in the purpose of my penn is forced here to offer thee courteous Reader in supply of void paper these few selected Sentences out of Holy Scripture and other divine ancient writers which for their worthinesse thy behoofe and lesse labour if thou accept better placed theÌ„ barren paper and grant their once reding I haue my desire after I deeme that if knowledge of Vertue may allure thee or view of vice abash thee thou wilt often read and vnread them to embrace the good and eschew the evill which the heavenly Father graunt vs all his grace to fulfill Sentences out of the Holy Scripture THe feare of God is worshippe triumph gladnesse and a ioyful crown yea who so feareth the Lord shall be happy and when hee hath need of comfort he shall be blessed The Séede of them which feare the Lord shal be brought to honour but the generation of the proud deceitful and malitious shal perish with the shame of their wickednesse Labour to gett thée a good Name for that shall continue by thee surer then a thousand greater treasurs of gold A good life hath a number of dayes but a good name endureth for euer The vntruth of a lying tongue murdereth the Soule vpon the head of the backbiter blasphemer with terrour shall the Lord send the thunder of his wrath and consume them hastily He that loueth Riches shall not be iustified who so followeth corruption shal perish in the same Gold and Siluer is the trée of falling to euery one that gréedily séeketh the same blessed is the Rich which is found without blemish Trauaile and carefulnesse for riches taketh away the sléepe and maketh the flesh to consume they helpe not in the day of iudgement Righteousnesse shall crowne thee Through thy euil gotteÌ„ goods shalt thou perish The ioy and chearefulnes of the hart is the pure life of man And his cleare conscience a fure fortresse against death The tree
of the field is known by his fruit So are the rotten thoughtes of the dissembling person by his open déeds of malice Forgiue thy Neighbor the hurt that hée hath done thée so shall thy sinnes bee forgiuen thee when thou prayest Remember the end and let enmity passe which séeketh death and destruction abide in the commaundement of thy God that thou mayest reape his blessing They that reioyce at the fal of the righteous shal be taken in the snare anguish of heart shall consume thē before they die Wrest not thou the Law nor know any person neither take any reward for giftes blind the wise and peruert the wordes of the righteous that which is iust follow that thou mayst liue Hee that leadeth a godlie life and speaketh the truth hée that abhorreth gaine won by violence and deceit hee that kéepeth his hand that hee touch no reward which stoppeth his eares that he hear no counsell against the innocent bloud which holdeth down his eyes that hee sée no euill he it is that shall dwell in hie whose sauegard shall be on a Bulwarke of rockes and his ioyes incomprehensible Esa 33. The Congregation of dissēbling Hipocrites shall be desolate and vnfruitfull and the fire shal cōsume the houses of such as are greedy to receiue gifts the dissembling person conceiueth crauell and beareth vanity and their bodie bringeth forth deceite Iob. 15. There bee many that for their sundry friendshipps and benefites which are diuerslie giuen vnto them bee euer the more proud and hie minded and vndertake not onely to harm the benefactors but are vnthankefull for theyr receyued goodnesse goe about to escape the iudgement of God whose eyes vieweth all vertue séekes to punish all wickednes be not in the number of such Hester 16. My right hand shall not spare the sinners my sword shall not cease ouer them that shed the innocent bloud vpon earth Esdras 15. Despise not a man that turneth himselfe away from sin and cast him not in the téeth withall but remember we bee all fraile and offenders Eccle. 8. Thrée things there be that my Spirite fauoureth the vnity of Brethren the loue of Neighbours and a man and wise that agrée well together Thrée things there be which my soule hateth a rich man couetous a poore man proud and an old man that is vnchast Eccle. 25. Oppresse not thou the law nor know any person neither take any reward for giftes blinde the wise and peruert the wordes of the righteous that which is iust shalt thou follow that thou maiest liue Levit. 19. Sée that thou know no faces in iudgement nor doe any vnrighteousnesse in iudgement in meat yard in weight or in measure true Ballances true waights a true Epha and a true line shall you haue to all men Ibidem Thou shalt not fauour the poore nor honour the mighty but in righteousnesse shalt thou iudge thy neighbour Ibidem Thou shalt not auenge thy selfe nor bee mindfull of a wrong but shalt loue thy Neighbour euen as thy selfe Iames. 21. As the Sun riseth is heat and the Grasse withereth his flower falleth away and the beauty of the fashion of it perisheth euen so shall the malitious rich vnrighteous and dissembling person perish in the wickednesse of his wayes Iudge nothing before the time which wil lightē thinges that are hidden in darknesse and open the counsels of the hearts so shall euery man haue prayse of GOD. Cor. 4 Sée thou robb not the poore because he is weake and oppresse not the simple in iudgement for the Lord himself wil defend their cause and do violence to them that haue vsed violence Pro 22. God resisteth the proud giueth grace vnto the lowly Iames 4. Despise not thou the chastening of the Lord neyther dispayre when he giueth thee aduersity for whome the Lord loueth him hee chasteneth yea he scourgeth with affliction euery Sonne that he receyueth Heb. 12. Let euery man be swift to heare slow to speake slow to wrath for the wrath of man worketh not that which is righteous before God wherfore lay apart all malice and with all meeknesse of heart exercise truth and quietnesse Iames. 1. Lay aside all malitiousnesse and all guile faynednesse and enuie all backbiting and as new born babes desire ye that milke not of the Body but of the soule which is without deceit that ye may grow thereby vnto Saluatiō 2. Ep. Peter The eyes of the Lord doe gouerne the Righteous his eares open vnto their Prayers Ibid. Cap. 3. The desire of the Lowly is acceptable and the Lord will encrease it but the hope of the Proude is the Indignation and in the freshnesse of their Labours hee will roote them out He that casteth out his words rashly worketh care to his life but who so through silence seasoneth his thoughts with wisedome is the Author of long rest Euery labour giueth foorth his fruit onely lippe labour destroyeth time and bringeth forth penury The dayes of aduersity are a blessing of God and a clear conscience is a continuall Feast A malitious man kindleth strife A Foole vttereth his wrath in hast but a discréet person couereth wrong The Lord abhorreth the Prayer of the malitious but who so humbleth his Prayer in faith and Charity shall find his desire The desires of the Couetous man bring vppon him confusion but who so gathereth his riches with loue and fauour shall prosper Through Mercy and Truth sinnes are pardoned and through Righteousnesse and Faith are thy Prayers heard and euill eschewed Righteous lippes are pleasant vnto Kings and dissembling tongues ouerthrow hie Pallaces Better it is to be of humble mind with the lowly then to deuide the spoiles with the proude Presumptuousnesse goeth before destruction and after a proude stomacke followeth a foule fall Mercy faithfulnesse preserueth the King and with louing kindnesse his seat is holden vp Who so followeth Righteousnesse and Mercy shall finde both life righteousnesse and honour Like as the golden pillars are vpon the Sockets of siluer so are the beautiful parts of the Body vpon a woman that hath a constant mind The heart of the foolish is like a Cart whéele and his thoughtes runne about like the Axiltree The wiseman tempereth his rage with Patience and seasoneth his wordes with wisedome Who so is mercifull and giueth Almes that is the right thanks offering but he that stoppeth his eares at the cry of the poore shall be cast downe crie himself and not be heard All that is of the eath shall turne to the earth againe all brides and vnrighteousnesse shall perish but Faithfulnes and Truth shall endure for euer Rewards and gifts blinde the eyes of the wise and make him runne that he cannot tell men their faults Let not thy mouth bee accustomed with swearing for in it there be many faults The heauinesse of the hart is all the punishment and the wickednesse of a woman goeth aboue all Like as to clime vp a sandy way is to the féet of