our sins and transgressions committing our selues to his Fatherly protection the ensuing night that awaking in the morning wee may finde a wel-pleasing rellish of holy thoughts timely and maturely digested For the better composing our selues at the time of prayer we ought before duely and earnestly to consider his Greatnesse and Immensitie to whom wee pray the necessitie and height of what we pray for and our own vnworthinesse to obtaine a grant accomplishment of our petitions that being truely humbled and cast down in our selues it may please the Lord of heauen and earth to haue the more pitie compassion on vs. And if men that appeare to speake before an earthly King seriously prepare and examine themselues calling euery word to a iust weight and measure strictly taking care of the lest gesture How ought we in the presence of so great aboue all comparisons infinitely excelling a Lord be sollicitous and heedfull that nothing passe from vs vnworthy or il-beseeming his Diuinitie purenesse Thus praying and behauing our selues we shall no question finde to our neuer-dying comfort the euer-liuingnes of his promises in the accomplishment of our iust petitions being made witnesses of the dissolution of heauen and earth the vanishing away of all things transitorie at the command of his Word one iot or tittle whereof shall not be taken away or diminished but remaine pure and perfect in the iustification of his Elect clothing them with eternitie and immortality to which state of happines our blessed Sauiour send vs all for his holy Names sake A Table containing the seuerall Prayers A Prayer for Munday Morning 1 A prayer for Munday Noone 2 A Prayer for Munday Night 3 A Prayer for Tuesday Morning 4 A Prayer for Tuesday Noon 5 A Prayer for Tuesday Night 6 A Prayer for Wednesday Morning 7 A Prayer for Wednesday Noone 8 A Prayer for Wednesday Night 9 A Prayer for Thursday Morning 10 A Prayer for Thursday Noone 11 A Prayer for Thursday Night 12 A Prayer for Friday Morning 13 A Prayer for Friday Noone 14 A Prayer for Friday Night 15 A Prayer for Saturday Morning 16 A Prayer for Saturday Noone 17 A Prayer for Saturday Night 18 A Prayer for Sunday Morning 19 A Prayer for Sunday Noone 20 A Prayer for Sunday Night 21 A Prayer to our blessed Sauiour for Humility 22 Another for assistance in dangers and troubles 23 A Prayer against Pride 24 A Prayer against the concupiscence of the Flesh 25 A Prayer against Sloth 26 A Prayer against Couetousnesse 27 An acknowledgement of sins with promise of amendment 28 A Prayer in afflictions and troubles 29 A prayer for Remission of sinnes 30 A prayer for Chastitie 31 A prayer to be sayd in a iourney 32 A prayer against Lightening and Thunder 33 A prayer or Meditation concerning the benefites after creation 34 A prayer against vaine Attire 35 A prayer for a Maid against temptations 36 Another to the same effect 37 A prayer for a Maid not to bee puffed vp with her owne perfections 38 A prayer for a Maid to bee directed in her choyse 39 A prayer for a Maid to bee obedient to her Parents 40 A prayer before a Iourney 41 Another for the same 42 A prayer in afflictions 43 A prayer for a Marchant 44 A prayer before Studie 45 A prayer for the Fatherlesse 46 A prayer in afflictions and troubles 47 A Thankes-giuing 48 A prayer in time of Pestilence 49 A prayer in time of War 50 A prayer for a Husbandman to receiue the fruits of the earth 51 A prayer for a Widdow 52 A prayer for a Wife 53 A prayer for Maryners 54 A prayer for Children 55 A prayer for Seruants 56 A prayer for one that is sick 57 A prayer for womens deliuerance 58 A prayer going to bed 59 A prayer against idle talke 60 A Thankes-giuing 61 A prayer for direction in all the course of our life 62 A prayer for great men seated in places of Honour 63 A Thankesgiuing for the recouery of our high and mightie Soueraigne King Iames. April 1619. 64 Another Thankes-giuing 65 A prayer against our enemies 66 Another prayer for deliuerance from our enemies 67 A Thankesgiuing for the ouerthrow of our enemies 68 A Prayer for present necessities 69 Another prayer intreating remission of sins constancie in good purposes 70 A prayer in sicknesse 71 A prayer to bee said before any work we go about 72 A prayer for remission of sinnes 73 A prayer for perseuerance 74 A prayer in affliction 75 A prayer in extremitie of sickenesse 76 A prayer in the Spring time 77 A prayer in Summer 78 A payer to bee sayd in Autumn 79 A prayer to be sayd in Winter 80 A prayer in aduersity and affliction 81 A prayer to our blessed Sauiour 82 A prayer in time of Lent 83 A prayer against temptation 84 A prayer for preparation against the Day of Iudgement 85 Certaine Eiaculations of the Spirit A short Meditation vpon these words of Pilate Behold the Man A Meditation vpon the Resurrection THE EVER-BVRNING Lamps of Deuotion and Pietie MVNDAY MORNING 1. Morning Prayer O ETERNALL and euer-liuing God what humble and heartie thankes ought I render thy diuine Maiestie who hast called me from the image of Death and safely brought me to the beholding of this day giuing me yet farther time to call vpon thy holy Name and to aske forgiuenesse for my sinnes and wickednesses Receiue O Lord an humble and contrite heart and despise not the voice of a miserable and deiected sinner who can offer thee nothing for these and all other thy innumerable benefits but what must graciously proceed from thy owne clemencie and mercie possessing no good but from thee and by thee exercising nothing agreeable to thy will but through thee euen at this instant mercifully led by thy power and gentlenesse to make my humble supplications vnto thee Season me O Lord with thy Spirit endue me with thy gracious and holy gifts that I may bestow this day to thy honour and glorie and my owne comfort and eternall saluation Defend me from the snares and subtleties of Satan who howrely watcheth to enter and ouerthrow me and vnlesse withstood by thy diuine hand how can so poore a Worme resist so mightie an Enemie Saue me O Lord from his Minister the World who with the glorie thereof seeketh to beguile and deceiue me and let not the flesh haue any power ouer me which suggested by him layeth continuall siege to me bringing my sinnes like fearefull Canons before me my owne weakenesse desiring to let him in and all my senses conspiring against me Hasten O Lord to my aide come speedily and redeeme me let not the worke of thy hands how meane soeuer be a prey to thy aduersarie who laboureth to win me from thee and hateth me for thee that being protected by thy out-stretched Arme I may goe forward in goodnesse and vertue Giue me O Lord a heart full of Charitie
liuing one in thee we may vndeuided enioy thy eternall company world without end Amen 54. A Prayer for Mariners I Haue seene and beheld thy wonderfull workes and am amazed I haue considered O Lord and meditated on thy vnheard-of mercies and am astonished Thou hast giuen vs a passage in the midst of the foming waters the raging Seas haue incompassed vs on euerie side and thou hast saued vs The Rockes haue hidden themselues awaiting our destruction and the Shelfes haue prouided a graue for vs terrible and dreadfull Tempests haue snatched away our Mast from vs the deuouring Maine hath eaten vp our Anchor Darkenesse hath ouer-shadowed the heauens and taken the guide of the Starres from vs and the confusion and imminent danger so amazed our Pilot that he hath forgotten the vse of his Loadstone and yet O mercifull and all pittying Father hast thou safely conducted and brought vs to our desired Hauen Thy mightie and out-stretched Arme hath supplyed the defect of our Mast thy Mercie stands vs in stead of our Anchor thy euer-shining goodnesse made way for vs through the midst of all darknesse and thy eternall Prouidence our neuer-fayling Load-stone mercifully directed vs in the vnknowne waies of the wilde Ocean Praise the Lord all yee waters and let all the fishes of the Sea praise the LORD and all yee that haue seene his wonders in the deepe bee confounded and astonished For my part O Lord write them I beseech thee in the Table of my heart that I may continually remember them with feare and trembling euer acknowledging with praise and thankesgiuing that thou hast taken mee from the mouth of the graue and snatcht me out of the iawes of death for which I will alwaies sing There is none like vnto our God who hath saued his people in the midst of destruction hallowed be his name for euermore Amen 55. A Prayer for Children O Lord God from whom the most aged receiue their comfort and the wisest their instruction guide I humbly entreate thee my parents in the way of saluation bee a staffe O Lord vnto their weakenesse and a guide vnto their steps renew their minds in the decay of their bodies and giue them inward eyes to behold what their dim and fading sight can neuer attaine to that they may walke in truth and righteousnesse all the dayes of their life And graunt I earnestly beseech thee louing and gentle Father that I may bee obedient to their holy and iust commandements louing and carefull in performing to my power their precepts and instructions requiting their former care of me with my dutie and humblenesse Blesse me O Lord in my tender and vnexperienced yeeres from all euill and lewd company which may accustome me to idle and vnthriftie courses invre my mind to labour for the attaining learning and knowledge and graciously O Lord bestow vpon mee as the ground-worke of all other vertues the gift of humilitie being fittest for my yeeres and most conuenient for grace to build vpon euen for Iesus Christ his sake who hath commanded all little ones to come to him Amen 56. A Prayer for Seruants O Lord God which hast bought vs all with thy precious Bloud ransoming at as deare a price the Begger that feâ—deth on Almes as Kings that clothed in gold and purple fare deliciously Giue me grace O Lord to be contented with the estate thou hast placed me in and let mee not repine at the lownesse of my place but keeping heere my station and carefully watching for the time of my freedome I may at last obtaine eternall libertie Prosper O Lord of thy accustomed bountie and goodnesse my Master and Mistresse blesse them with thy feare and endue them with thy holy Spirit that they may truely obey and honour thee Humble me O Lord before them and giue me grace faithfully to execute what they shall lawfully command Let mee neuer entertaine a thought to wrong them but deale truely and vprightly in whatsoeuer they shall commit to my charge knowing that thou art a seuere and All-seeing Iudge who wilt one day call mee to account for all my offences let me be studious and diligent to dispatch what they shall appoint mee to do not mis-imploying my time to their losse and preiudice Saue me O Lord from the companie of those who delight in wickednesse and vnder whose tongues lyeth guile and deceit Preuent me O Lord by thy neuer-erring wisedome and assist me with thy grace that I may truely serue thee and them whom thou hast appointed ouer mee that I may at length be preferred to thee in thy eternall Kingdome who liuest and raignest world without end Amen 57. A Prayer for one that is sicke WIth what face O Lord shall I approach before thee How shall I dare to lift vp my voyce vnto thee What can I say for my selfe or what shall I offer Shall I entreate health of thee who in the fulnesse of it haue dedicated it to thy enemie Shall I proffer to serue thee that am vnable to helpe my selfe Shall I request thy loue and fauour who haue euer beene thy professed enemie and now come onely to beg it when I am vnder thy wrath readie to receiue damnation for my hainous and horrid transgressions I confesse eternall and euer-liuing God that I am not worthy that a thought of thy goodnesse should enter into so polluted a mansion I acknowledge my selfe to haue deserued more punishment then hell can lay vpon me who haue daily hourely nay knowingly so grieuously offended thy Diuine Maiestie now onely offering my selfe to thee when sin can make no vse of mee Yet O mercifull Father consider I beseech thee what my substance is how mightie my enemies and how fraile my owne condition Forsake me not I beseech thee though I come ouer-late vnto thee thy mercy I know O Lord is able to forgiue more then I am able to commit By that bottomelesse welspring I beseech thee haue pittie on me and comfort me lest I despaire and dye For my sinnes are terrible vnto me and appeare before me clad in their deformitie the deuill whom I haue thus long serued now puts me in minde and representeth the horrour of hell vnto mee O sweet Iesus hasten vnto me and since thou didst vouchsafe to put on Humanity for our Redemption forsake me not now a miserable and afflicted creature lying at the feet of thy mercy who determineth neuer to rise till thou say vnto him Thy sinnes are forgiuen thee Lend me O Lord if it bee thy holy pleasure a little more respit to call vpon thy Name Lengthen my daies that I may repent mee and winne thy fauour by seeking after thee But if otherwise thou determine make me O Lord readie for thee and let my humble confession hearty and true contrition with the acknowledgement of thy infinite and boundlesse Deitie as it did the Thiefe vpon the Crosse saue me from prepared ruine and destruction sweet Iesus Amen 58. A Prayer for Womens Deliuerance
desperate and death-like estate descended from heauen to cure vs and whereas hee might if it had pleased him haue come in all pompe and glory making himselfe King of the earth and finished our Redemption with the word of his mouth yet he to make it more auaileable to vs and tye vs with a greater obligation to lay hold of that which onely for our good was intended submitted himselfe to all kinde of torments shames and disgraces in the purchasing of our Pardon that wee might then willinglier and heartilier taken with the vnbounded loue of so excellent a Lord in our humble obedience make our selues partakers of it Behold this Man O my Soule his whole life beeing a continuall Passion the stubbornnesse and rebellion of the stiffe-necked People more wounding his noble heart then the thought of his succeeding torments which hee passionately expresses in his complaint ouer Ierusalem Oh Ierusalem Ierusalem how often would I haue gathered you vnder my wings as the Hen doth her Chickens and ye would not mildly admonishing the soft-hearted women who in the way towards his death with teares lamented the ignobly barbarous vsage the regardlesse and cruell Iewes put vpon him wishing them to weepe for themselues not for him still testifying his sorrow for them aboue his owne suffering Let this O my soule be thy continuall meditation this the obiect of thy thoughts this the subiect of thy tongue Let all thy ayme and ambition be to purchase a little holy plot neere to this blessed place which thou maist sow with penitent and heart-sorrowing thoughts watering them aboundantly with vnfained and dayly teares in considering duly how the Lord of all Maiestie and glory was here mangled and torne for the sinnes and transgression of them some of whom shall at the last day be found feasting and making merry hauing no thought of that precious and vnvaluable Bloud was here mercifully shed for them A Meditation vpon the Resurrection IF the Angels reioyce more at the Conuersion of one sinner then in the holy conuersation of all the righteous and the carefull Shepheard hauing charge of many a flocke leaueth them all and with great diligence searcheth after one that is strayed returning home if he finde him bearing him on his back accounting himselfe lesse burdened through the lightnesse of his heart then when hee went empty forth What an vniuersall ioy what a height and fulnesse of comfort and consolation replenished Heauen and Earth and all the Powers of both to behold their Lord and Creator lately so mangled and cruelly torne he scarce retained the shape of Man this day rising in all brightnesse and glory from the Graue shining aboue Angels bearing the Saluation of all the world on his Immortall shoulders If the Sunne before withdrew himselfe as ashamed to be a beholder when hee could not bee a remedier of so horrible a cruelty with a mourning vaile muffling his moueable beauty is it not to bee beleeued that hee riseth early this day fresh as a Bride-groome putting on all his light and glory to meete and reioyce with his Creator and Maker from whom he borroweth his splendour and brightnesse The day of his Passion the Graues sent forth their bodies who met and frighted many in the holy Citie The day of his Resurrection the heauens sent forth their Angels who with tunes of ioy and holy acclamations gladded the hearts of all the earths Inhabitants The time of his Passion Saint Peter for feare denyed him to bee his Lord. The time of his Resurrection his guard for feare confessed him to be their Lord Insensible things at his Passion witnessed against the hardnesse of the Iewes in expressing their owne sorrow and at the time of his Resurrection the same things witnessed against the misbeliefe of the Iewes in confessing his omnipotencie This day was God glorified the Angels highly pleased and Man infinitely exalted At thy Birth the earth enioyed a secure peace in it selfe But at thy Resurrection the earth enioyed peace from Heauen not man with man but God with man not for a momentarie safety but eternall happinesse not onely for sauing vs from hostilitie but for infinite and innumerable benefites certaine and lasting on his behalfe neuer to bee broken without our faithlesnesse and treason In thy life time thou vndertookest for God with men ratifying it vnder thine owne hand confirming it with many miracles and sealing it with thy bloud At thy death thou vndertookest for man with God and at thy Resurrection gauest thy selfe a Pledge for performance what liuing soule hath so past the bounds of all modestie not to bee all ouer-fired with blushes in a thought of violating this holy league what sad issue of Cain so stony and barbarously minded hath the Diuel laid vp for mischiefe to be the Actor of so horrid a Tragedy The Serpentine and Crocodile-like act of Iudas in betraying his Masters life is not so high in wickednes as their back-sliding which breake his eternall word to be Master of which hee freely laid downe his life yet Iudas despaired brought backe the pieces and hanged himselfe What calme and deathfull securitie the fore-runner of imminent ruine as Numnesse before a dying Palsey hath so possessed the bewitched sonnes of Adam not to thinke of their desperate estate What inchanting Syren hath with her cunning diuision set an euerlasting discord in our vncertaine resolutions What voluptuous Circe hath transformed our hearts in the shapes of men making vs carry the mindes of Beasts sensible of nothing but what pleaseth the sence following onely Nature yet most vnnaturall for in her lusts we bury all our disposition to goodnesse Wherein doe we employ that admirable and excelling ornament of seeing but in searching after vanities and idle pleasures returning it home loaden with voluptuousnes and sin wherin our eares but in listning after nouelties leasings stuffing them with wandring stories and lasciuious merriments Wherein our taste but in palliating gluttony and drunkennes surfeiting it with mis-called wines and meates which ryot hastning the intentiō hath yet vnnamed Wherin our feeling but in those enormities and wickednesses which take away all feeling of God and goodnes leauing no touch of a Christian hardly of a Man When do we stay our selues vnlesse gorged and then imploy all our study and care to set a quicke edge on our dulled appetites and procure fresh and new desires In this circle we wander and weary out our daies In this Labyrinth we intangle our selues carelesse of thy grace which onely can returne vs. This is our life these our actions Thus wee runne contrarie to the end of our Creation Thus we lose the inestimable benefit of our Redemption Thus are Christs torments become our tormentors and his Passion our persecution whilest wee not looking on it die for euer For as hee hath mercifully proclaimed his Pardon and sacrificed himselfe for all those rebellious subiects that will come in and take the benefit of it yeelding homage and obedience to his heauenly Father so those obstinate and runnagate traitors who cōfident in their strength confirmed by their multitude or seduced by example stand out in that wilful refusall of offred grace shall in the Day of Tryal receiue their iustly deserued Condemnation Retire therefore into thy selfe foolish mortalitie and with great and serious aduice take a suruay of thy owne estate Let neither selfe loue flatter thee that things are not so bad as they appeare or childish feare in trēbling at thy cure make thee slight thy Disease euer remembring the sore must needs be mortall wherein the remedy is so dangerous in which a little delay is eternall death Search therefore sodainely and throughly lest onely pampering vp proud flesh thy malady fester and growe incurable when euery dressing rebounds woe vpon thy heart that thou feelest an inward compunction and pricking it is an infallible Symptome of a likely amendment thou must forbeare all inflaming drinke and high foode vnquiet and distempered thoughts idle much talke vsing spare and thrifty dyet inward and continuall meditation so to abate the strengthener and feeder of thy sicknes that hauing by good and holy meanes made a perfect and lasting cure thou mayst reioyce in Spirit FINIS
Patience Obedience Humblenesse without Malice Vaine-glory enuying none and fixe all my thoughts actions and endeuours to recouer thee in thy Kingdome to whom be all honour power and glorie world without end Amen 2. A Prayer before Dinner ALmightie and euerlasting God which hast created all things for the good and benefit of Mankind giuing him power and dominion ouer all thy creatures graunt O Lord that I may so moderately vse these blessings thou hast in thy mercie prouided for me as may stand with thy good liking and pleasure Let me eate to helpe not pamper Nature lest of a seruant she become an enemie and make me vnfit for thy seruice and glorie which is the onely end of our creation and being Let Temperance not my Appetite ouersway me euer remembring and with dutifull thankes acknowledging thy loue and fauour who hast vouchsafed to refresh and comfort me when many thousands of my poore brethren whose fearefull sinnes call not for vengeance like mine suffer vnder the Tyrannie of Hunger Giue me grace O Lord to pitie them and meanes to relieue them that we may together glorifie thee in thy Workes and prayse thy Iudgements which are vnsearchable shewing mercie on whom thou pleasest chastising thy children that being made obedient in their punishments they may come to thee and be made partakers of that neuer-ending glorie which thou hast prepared for those that truly serue thee euen for Iesus Christ his sake our onely Lord and Sauiour who with thee and the holy Ghost three persons and one God liueth and raigneth world without end Amen 3. Euening Prayer MOst mercifull and louing God Father of all Consolation who in thy infinite wisedome and prouidence hast ordained the night for rest by which our bodily sences wearied with the dayes labour might be renewed and refreshed wee prayse and glorifie thy holy Name in that thou hast vouchsafed of thy accustomed bountie and goodnesse to protect vs from all the bodily dangers of this day which our Enemie the Deuill practiseth for our destruction How many O pitifull and sweet Sauiour hath his snares betrayed and vndone leading them by temptation and strong perswasion with their owne hands to be their owne Murtherers How many hast thou suffered to fall by fire some by the crueltie of their Brother Fathers by their Children Wiues by their Husbands suddenly and vnexpectedly in apparent danger without thy mercie and benediction of eternall woe and damnation How shall a heart loaden and ouercome with these thy benefits expresse thy power and glorie with his owne shame and opprobriousnesse I acknowledge and confesse most blessed and pitifull Lord that my sinnes dayly encreasing nay howrely growing vpon me haue deserued Hell fire and euerlasting damnation I haue knowne thy Commandements and not followed them I haue hearkened to thy will and not obeyed it pursuing with swift feet the vnlawfull desires and lusts of my flesh Giue me grace O mercifull Lord and Father that I may with all the power of my soule striue and endeuour to amend and reforme this sinfull and abominable course Be pleased to call me vnto thee by what meanes soeuer thou shalt thinke my vnbridled and stubborne disposition will be tamed and subdued I refuse no punishment without exception of greatnesse or choice of qualitie Pouertie sent by thee shall be my chiefest Riches Shame and Contempt being thy affliction shall be the propagation of my glorie the neglect of Friends shall not trouble me for in all things O Lord let thy will be done who wisheth not the death of a sinner but that he may repent and liue with thee in the companie of Angels and Saints who are filled with thy goodnesse and continually sing thy prayses to whom onely belongeth iust prayse and honour world without end Amen TVESDAY 4. Morning Prayer O Almightie and most mercifull Father which hast opened the eyes of thy seruant to behold thy glorious and wonderous workes sending thy blessed and comfortable Light to banish and put to flight the thick and black darknesse which couered the face of the Earth lighten O Lord my vnderstanding that I may see thee in thy reuealed will and not curiously wander farther Giue me grace to know what is good and rectifie my will to follow it that in my life and conuersation I may glorifie thee and profit others I confesse O Lord and humbly acknowledge my sinnes and offences and my transgressions are euer before me Pardon O mercifull Father and be pleased to put away from thy remembrance all my iniquities Let the bloud of thy deare Sonne and my onely Sauiour be auaileable against thy Iustice and burie my misdeedes in his Sepulchre that they may neuer rise vp against me Blesse O mightie and only powerfull God all the labours of this day and graunt thou wilt helpe vs to performe what is thy pleasure wee doe that euerie speech and action hauing his beginning from thee may tend to our owne comfort and saluation Let not O Lord which art the comfort and succour of all distressed and afflicted the greedie and vnlawfull desire of gaine and encrease rayse our hearts to affect falsehood and dissimulation Set a watch O Lord before our lippes that wee may speake truly to euery man in the vprightnesse and sinceritie of a good conscience wee may be at peace with our selues Set ouer vs thou great and onely Protector thy holy Angell to guard and defend vs that the Deuill who lyeth in wait to betray vs may be put to flight and confounded either take away O Lord or giue vs strength to ouercome his subtleties and temptations that endeuouring to spend this day according to thy holy Word wee may rest in peace till thou againe shalt call vs to performe our dutie euen for Iesus Christs sake our onely Lord and Sauiour 5. A Prayer at Noone I Will not cease to crie vnto thee O Lord because thou art mercifull and regardest the complaints of thy seruant who as in a Wildernesse encompassed with rauenous beasts were it not for thy assisting grace looketh instantly to be deuoured My flesh rebelleth against me and my vnbridled and lawlesse sences would giue me vp as a prey vnto the enemie Be neere O Lord vnto me and assist me in the Conflict lest I shamefully fall and be confounded Inspire me O Lord with vertuous and holy motions vnresistable and neuer-yeelding graces that I may fight manfully vnder thy glorious Standard following thee my Captaine and Leader thorow all the dangerous and fearefull oppositions which Satan bringeth against me Giue me O Lord an vnwearied courage that I may neyther faint vnder the heat of my desires nor be dulled and benummed with the cold and â—â—â—â—tie carelesnesse of my lazie and luke-warme deuotion but with able and lustie vigor ouercomming the World the Flesh and the Deuill I may in spirit reioyce with thee and sing thy prayses and glorie who art the onely blessed and gracious Redeemer from all temptations and troubles 6. Euening
Prayer O Most mercifully louing God who gatherest and keepest thy beloued vnder thy wings as the Henne doth her Chickens defending them by thy mightinesse from all the perils and misfortunes which their weakenesse and the Deuils suggestions might bring vpon them I giue thee most humble and heartie thankes that thou hast safely protected me this day from all bodily dangers and mischances from the crueltie of Fire the mercilesnesse of Water the rage of the Sword the spoyle of Sicknesse and the vnsparing hand of Death which hath suddenly and vnexpectedly ouertaken many feasting and rioting But now O Lord and aboue measure am I to glorifie and prayse thy euerlasting goodnesse that with thy assisting grace thou hast blessed me from horrible sinnes and transgressions crying vnto thee for Iudgement Incest committed with the neerest of our bloud and remotest from the bloud of our Sauiour Murther of mans bodie with the slaughter of our owne soule Rape of Virgins with the deflowring of our owne vertue and many other offences which thou vnknowingly hast taken from vs deliuering vs from the occasions which hanging ouer vs were vnperceiued readie to deuoure vs. Continue O Lord thy louing kindnesse and in the darkenesse of this Night shoot forth thy beames into our soules that wee may inwardly behold and meditate vpon thy neuer-ending mercies Ouer-shadow vs with a companie of Angels who may watch and guard our sleeping bodies lest the Deuill enter and vnawares surprize vs. Keepe from vs O Lord all wanton and lasciuious dreames vaine and idle fancies that hauing peaceably and quietly obtained an vntroubled and vnpolluted Repose wee may awake in thy feare to remember all thy kindnesses employing both soule and bodie to doe him homage and seruice by whose mightie and louing power wee haue enioyed them safe from the oppositions of all our enemies WEDNESDAY 7. Morning Prayer ALmightie and euer-liuing God the first Beginner Mouer and Creator of all things being I render thy diuine Maiestie humble and heartie thanks for the quiet Repose and Rest of the passed Night humbly entreating thee of thy fauour and goodnesse by thy holy direction and assistance to gouerne and commaund all the actions of this day that they may bring forth a Comfort and Repose of a good Conscience Giue O Lord vnto me thoughts pure and vndefiled beseeming the presence of so great and holy a Maiestie before whom I continually stand speeches sparing and modest with the consideration of an account to be made for them that my actions arising from these may be a warrane to me in the peace of a settled mind a profitable example to my weake brethren and a neuer-ending glorie and honour to thee whose workemanship I am Take from me O blessed and carefull Father the occasions of sinne and the oportunitie of committing them Let no euill companie the Nets of Satan ensnare my weake and fraile determinations seducing me by wantonnesse or the desire of vaine-glorie or what other secondarie cause soeuer to the forgetting thee and my owne dutie and saluation Giue me grace and strength O blessed and all louing Creator to labour in the vocation thou hast ordained for me and blesse O Lord the labours of my hand that I may see the comfort and encrease of them for which let thy holy and euer-comforting Spirit inflame me with a burning desire of thankfulnesse and humble acknowledgement that I may not lose thee for not praysing honouring and adoring thy holy Name to vvhich bee ascribed all honour and glorie world without end NOONE. 8. A Prayer or Meditation acknowledging Gods benefits with an humble Confession of our sinnes WHat is Man O Lord that thou doest so much respect him Or the Sonne of Man that thou giuest heed vnto him Why hast thou sent thy onely Begotten who in glorie excelleth all Creatures to be a Sacrifice for him and giuen thy Angels charge ouer him Why hath thy owne hand conducted him and Miracles made way for him Is he not O Lord slime of the Earth created of nothing and without thy mercie should be happie to returne to nothing Was he able to helpe thee when he had no being in thy great Workemanship Or when it was made vvithout thee could he distinguish it Was he not last formed and all other things for his vse and seruice And in requitall of all this thy exceeding and infinite bountie did hee not leaue thee his onely God and Creator and take part with thy enemie against thee And hast thou yet gathered him to thee and by thy reuealed Will left him thine heire of all those glorious Possessions whose Title cannot be questioned Those inestimable Riches which neither Theeues nor Moths can beguile him of or take away What excellencie is there O mercifull Father in this thy handy worke to deserue such innumerable and vn-imitable benefits What can hee O Lord repay thee for these great and vnspeakable bounties What proportion can there be of a finite vncertainetie with an euerlasting and infinite Deitie With what admirable and vnconceiuable Art doest thou fashion him in the Wombe How wonderfully and strangely doest thou bring him forth How carefully after and most louingly doest thou cherish and succour him his Parents being thy Nurses in whom thou hast inspired such Nature and Loue towards him that they account and call that Trouble a Blessing How most prouidently for this despised Clay didst thou in the beginning diuide the great Time disposing the one halfe for the Rest and Repose of this thy Creature rocking him asleepe with thy all-powerfull and fauourable hand And when he comes in progresse of time to exercise and vse that Reason and Vnderstanding in which thou hast made him lord ouer all thy Creatures what O Father of all Comforts and Blessings doth he returne thee for this thy care and blessings How does he in part and to his power answere these thy exceeding great and high benefits Doth he walke in the Way which thou hast instructed him Or is his delight in seeking after thy Commaundements Doth he not leaue the knowne Path reuealed in thy Word and wander after Vanities searching for their footsteps which lead vnto destruction O all mercifull and louing God whose Charitie and Bountie doth well expresse thy Godhead and Power since it is not in Mortalitie to loue so abundantly so feruently so causelessely graunt I beseech thee euen for the bowels of thy mercie to inflame my heart with the like desires and affections that I may loue thee aboue my selfe with all my soule with all my heart all my vnderstanding despising all things in respect of thee since there is nothing great glorious and high nothing of infinite Beautie euerlasting Maiestie vnspeakable Charitie but God alone who hath filled euery thing with his Blessing with his Being with his Presence who confines all things without being confined who is was and euer shall be of endlesse power honour and glorie Amen 9. Euening Prayer LEt me neuer be vnthankfull O Lord that
seruant who remembring thy promise humbly prostrates himselfe before thy diuine Maiestie confessing all his sinnes and acknowledging all his iniquities Remember not O Lord our offences nor the offences of our fore-fathers neither take thou vengeance of our sinnes for who dare abide thy Iudgements Cast me not away from thy face but say vnto my soule I am thy saluation Haue mercie vpon me O Lord haue mercie vpon me and let my crie come vnto thee for my sinnes are heauie vpon me and threaten to ouerthrow me yea they say vnto my soule Where is now thy God Turne vnto me O Lord and they shall be turned speake vnto me and they shall be scattered Be vnto me a sure Rocke in the time of my trouble that I fall not vnder it for I have hoped in thee Oh forsake not thy seruant Forgiue O Lord all the passed errors of this day pardon my irreuerence in thy companie my negligence at prayers my faintnesse in good purposes and what euill I haue committed or what good through frailetie and my owne heedlesnesse I haue omitted be pleased not to remember euen for thy owne Names sake who art God most mightie one and the same world without end Amen FRIDAY 13. Morning Prayer O Most mercifully louing Lord and Sauiour the glorie and brightnesse of thy Father who descendedst from all thy Ioyes taking on thee humane frailetie to recall and recouer the sinner and those which were diseased with the vncurable plagues of sinne and wickednesse vouchsafe of thy infinite goodnesse and vnspeakable loue to be aiding and assisting to me this day and by thy might and power defend me from all temptations which may ouerthrow my vnsettled though well-directed resolutions Preserue me O Lord from all bodily dangers which without thee continually hang ouer me threatening my ruine and destruction Make good O Lord to me my determinations and purposes which may be answerable to thy holy and blessed inspirations and graunt me patience O Lord meekely and contentedly to suffer whatsoeuer I shall faile or be hindered in referring my selfe with all humilitie and ardencie of desires to thy diuine will and pleasure which be done O Lord in Earth as it is in Heauen Take away all rancour and malicious imaginations that I may neither by reuiling defame my brother or swell and torment my selfe with any disgracings he shall lay vpon me but acknowledging my basenesse and wickednesse as worthie of all reproches and dishonours calling to mind the Seruant is not aboue his Master in the comfort of thy example who aboue the meekenesse of a Lambe vnderwentest all kind of paines and reuilings I may behold a timely Euening reioycing my anger hath not awaited the Sunnes setting euer endeuouring and labouring against my fraile concupiscences and desires euen for thy holy Names sake Which whosoeuer ardently and continually calleth on shall not faile to obtaine vnspeakable happinesse and felicitie world without end Amen AT NOONE. 14. A Prayer to our blessed Sauiour asking him forgiuenesse for our sinnes which crucified him O Bountifull Iesu O sweet Iesu O Iesu the Sonne of the liuing God how dare I wretched and detestable sinner approch before thy diuine Maiestie How can I ouercome with sinne and shame stay any longer in thy presence Did euer the murtherer and slaughterer of his Lord and Master presume to offend him with his sight whilest yet the wounds were fresh and bleeding whilest his bodie was cruelly mangled and torne and his head with an vn-vsed crueltie pained and tormented lest the smart and rage of his wounds the shame and dishonour of his vsage should take away all hope and pitie of pardon deliuering him in his furie to the Iudge and he to the Executioner to carrie him where is continuall weeping and gnashing of teeth But consider O my Soule how this mercifull and meeke Sauiour behaueth himselfe towards his bloudie and tyrannous persecutors behold him dropping with bloud buffetted by the wicked ministers scorned of the people forsaken of his Disciples hoysted into the ayre cruelly nayled on the Crosse not cursing not reuiling but praying not for himselfe but those that persecuted him Amongst whom running with the formost mayest thou in thy eternall Prouidence O glorious Patterne of all Sufferings behold me with more crueltie laying on thee with my sinnes then the stonie-hearted Iewes vvith their weapons tearing thee if it were possible peece-meale with my horrible and blaspheming Oathes my loose and lasciuious thoughts wounding thy faire Head with more spight and rigour then the sharpe-pointed Thornes my Malice Enuie Pride Drunkennesse Concupiscence with innumerable other sinnes and transgressions flaying thy reuerend Bodie All this O Lord haue I done all this committed knowing thee and confessing thee to be Iesus the eternall Sonne of God and only Redeemer of the World Pray for me most gentle and mild Lord speake for me to thy eternall Father without which most abominable and wretched sinner I shall for euer be condemned Forsake me not now O Lord goe not away from me but renew in me a cleane heart and create a right spirit within me that I may plainely see the deformitie of sinne and the ouglinesse of my misdeedes Giue me grace earnestly to seeke thee and hauing found thee ardently to loue thee ouercome with which I may imploy all my actions endeuours and labours wholly to serue thee which if I faithfully and truly doe I shall at the end of my yeeres hauing so indulgent and louing a Master be made a Free-man of Heauen and those vnconceiuable Ioyes which no eye hath seene eare hath heard or tongue can tell they onely know them that enioy them Which O benigne and mercifull Lord graunt all thy seruants to inherite for thy holy Names sake which shall be honoured and praysed world without end 15. Euening Prayer GRaunt me O Lord after the many and wild distractions of this day a holy and inward recollection that I may returne into my selfe with due care and examination how I haue spent and imployed my faculties of soule and functions of bodie which thou hast lent me for thy vse and seruice and giue vnto me a true compunction and sorrowfull feeling for all the passed errors and transgressions of this day that I may heartily lament and bewayle my sinnes and wickednesses with a full resolution and constant determination of my amendment And graunt me O Lord this Night I beseech thee by thine incomprehensible Diuinitie and Maiestie chastitie of mind cleanenesse of heart simplicitie of spirit and most sincere puritie of soule and bodie that I may earnestly seeke after thee and in thee alone take my rest since whatsoeuer is without thee is onely vexation and trouble of mind that hauing enioyed a comfortable and peaceable Repose both of soule and bodie I may awake with much alacritie and cheerefulnesse of spirit to prayse and honour thee in all my workes and labours which the following day shall call me to for his onely sake in whom wee are
leasings and vaine stories O be mercifull vnto me and enter not into Iudgement with thy seruant for how shall Dust and Ashes stand vp before thee or the worke of thy hands contend with his Creator Haue pitie on me O Lord according to thy great goodnesse and in the multitude of thy mercies blot out all my Iniquities Saue me and be neere vnto me in the day of trouble that I may magnifie thy Name and giue all honour power and glorie to thee who art the Father and Fountaine of all comfort and consolation Amen AT NOONE. 20. A Prayer concerning the benefit of Creation I Am amazed O Lord to consider of thy wonderfull mercie my soule is lost in the depth of thy neuer-ceasing goodnesse and like the wisest of Philosophers the more I learne the lesse I may truly professe to know so bottomelesse and vnsearchable is thy loue and fauour When I was Nothing O Lord why thoughtst thou of me and calledst me to be Something which hauing any subsistence of Beast or Plant is better then not to be at all but thou hast created me according to thine owne Image giuing me a reasonable soule like the Angels endued with noble faculties and powers enabling me to reach the height of thy mysticall Diuinitie and diuine Mysterie and made me capable of euerlasting and infinite glorie O Lord before thee and in comparison of thy Maiestie I am iust Nothing and how wast thou then mindfull of me to create me Alas my soule thou wast hidden in the Abysse of Nothing and in this Abysse of Nothing shouldst thou haue remained vntill this present if God had not drawne thee forth from thence and what couldst thou haue done within this Nothing O my great and good Creator how infinitely am I indebted vnto thee for that thou hast taken me out of this Nothing to make me by thy mercie that something which I am What shall I euer be able to doe worthily to blesse and magnifie thy Name and to render thankes to thine exceeding Bountie But alas my Creator in stead of vniting my selfe vnto thee by pure loue and loyall seruice I haue alwayes beene rebellious by vnruly affections separating and withdrawing my selfe from thee to ioyne and vnite my selfe vnto sinne and iniquitie doing no more to thy Goodnesse then if thou hadst not beene my Creator What wickednesse hath there beene O Lord that I haue not had a thought readie to put in a mind apt to contriue and a hand willing to execute it Wherein haue I testified my obedience in following thy Lawes and Precepts Wherein my truth and loyaltie in resisting thy vowed and knowne enemies But O my soule know that our Lord is thy God it is he that hath made thee and not thou thy selfe O God I am the worke of thy hand I will then no more henceforth take pleasure in my selfe since in my selfe and of my selfe I am truly Nothing Blesse thy God O my soule and let all thy bowels prayse his holy Name for his Bountie hath drawne me forth of the Abysse of Nothing and his Mercie hath created me O my God I offer vnto thee with all my heart the essence and being which thou of thy Bountie hast bestowed vpon me and most willingly doe I dedicate and consecrate it to thee O my God strengthen me in these affections and resolutions and giue me perseuerance to the end 21. Euening Prayer I Humbly confesse and acknowledge O mercifull Lord and Sauiour that I haue not imployed and bestowed the blessed Time of this hallowed Day so deuoutly and religiously as I ought and am commanded to doe I beseech thee of thy infinite mercie to forgiue and pardon so weake and frayle a Creature that cannot entertaine the least good thought one moment vvithout thee and vouchsafe of thy accustomed goodnesse and clemencie continually to visit nay my most blessed Sauiour to inhabite and dwell with mee that so I may doe the things which please thee Giue vnto me O Lord a kindly relenting and remorse for the sinnes I haue this day committed against thy diuine Maiestie and against my Neighbour by thought word and deed and by omission of those things thou hast left me in charge to haue done Moderate O Lord my sleepe and banish from me all vaine and wandering fancies vncleane and idle illusions that I may awake in thee and to thee offer my Morning thoughts who art onely worthie of all that onely hast created redeemed sanctified and preserued me for which be thou euer praysed and honoured world without end Amen 22. A Prayer to our blessed Sauiour and Redeemer PRostrate thy selfe O my soule before the Lord of all Maiestie and Glorie sitting at the right hand of his Father crowned with Mightinesse and Power richly adorned with a garland of all Vertues brightly shining in the companie of his glorious Angels holy Saints and bloudie Martyrs honouring and seruing him without ceasing or intermission singing Hymnes of his Goodnesse and Mercie and hauing thus beheld him in this great Pompe and Triumph cast thine eye vpon this blessed Sauiour poorely lying in the Manger hauing scarce any thing to couer his tender and delicate Bodie or saue it from the iniurie of the Ayre Consider well and seriously how he which giueth heat and motion to the Sunne is here contented as vnable to helpe himselfe to take warmth and comfort from the breath of the Beasts whom he there disdained not to be his Chamber-fellowes O wonderfull example of all humilitie How darest thou from henceforth contemned Dust and Ashes swell in thy Vaine-glorie and decked with a few gay Ragges forget thy Creator who is cloathed with Eternitie Humble O Lord my high and proud thoughts abase and bring downe my loftie and rebellious imaginations make me abiect in my owne eyes that walking with my poore Brethren who wander naked and hungrie lying vpon the bare cold Earth I may with them prayse and glorifie thy holy Name who wert the first founder and beginner of this poore and contemned Order Why shall we from henceforth so highly esteeme Honour and Riches when thou the Lord of both didst so contemne it voluntarie for our instruction submitting thy selfe to so great and miserable Pouertie Happie are wee if wee be distressed and patiently suffer it happie if wee be contemned and neglected for thy sake Teach me O Lord the way to despise all worldly preferment and promotions that hauing my thoughts only fixed vpon thee I may passe forth these transitorie short miseries to dwell in eternall rest and felicitie in thy Kingdome which is promised to all those which serue thee to whom be ascribed all honor power and glorie world without end Amen 23. Another Prayer for assistance in dangers and troubles COmplaynest thou discontented and vngratefull Creature that thy enemies lye in wait to take thy life from thee and thinkest thy selfe not well dealt with to be so persecuted and afflicted when thou mayest behold the Creator of Heauen and Earth
hauing no piece of Earth to abide with safetie in Doest thou value thy selfe aboue thy Maker and canst wish a share in his Glories but to be no partner with him in his Troubles O blessed Sauiour is it not thy owne saying that who will enioy thee must take vp his Crosse and follow thee How strictly liued thy fore-runner how imprisoned how died how poorely and dangerously thy followers glorifying thee in hunger in stripes in death Crowne me O Lord in this life with Thornes that I may hereafter receiue a Crowne of Glorie Let me be here imprisoned scourged and reuiled so I may be hereafter released acknowledged and receiued And graunt most mercifull and louing Redeemer that as thou didst in thy Godhead shew vs the fraileties of Man in thy Suffering so thou wouldst in our Manhood shew vs the power of thy Godhead manfully to resist and ouercome all feare of Dangers nay Death it selfe which Satan and our weake flesh painteth out so horrible to vs that cowardly flying the Combate wee may lose the promised Reward Strengthen vs O Lord and be vnto vs a sure shield in the day of Battaile Let the Angels fight for vs and shew themselues mightie in the destruction of our enemies Let them be scattered as Chaffe before the Wind and not be able to stand in opposition with thy seruants who put their trust in thee Let them O Lord be ruined and confounded that wish euill to them that feare thee and desire to be perfect imitators of thy life and doctrine that wee remaining Conquerors may prayse and glorifie thee the giuer of all Victorie Amen 24. A Prayer against Pride DId Almightie God who is iealous of his Honour throw downe the Heauens for their Presumption and thinkest thou fond Man he will exalt base Earth for his Pride Doth he pull downe the mightie and the loftie and aduance the humble and meeke and darest thou yet reare vp thy proud head in his presence Was not the great King Nabuchadonozor turned for his arrogancie into a Beast for that in the shape of a Man hee liued like a Beast And did not the Wormes feede vpon Herod vn-coffind and aliue because he did proudly aduance himselfe of his naturall gifts and graces Who dare contend with the Almightie which darteth Lightning and holdeth Thunder Or what canst thou boast of presumptuous flesh that is thine owne Thy soule is heauenly thy bodie earthly both from God the one inspired the other fashioned in the Wombe lent thee for a season and to be recalled at his pleasure Why doest thou therefore lay vp Honours and Preferments for many yeeres Why doest thou pursue and search for glorious Armes and Titles forgetting thy Father Adam because a Gardener and deriuing thy Pedigree from some great and Noble Conqueror hauing not certainely so much time here as the Herald must necessarily require to perfect thy gawdie Coat For this Night may God say vnto thee O foole thy soule shall be taken from thee Let me not therefore O mercifull Father come vnprepared like the foolish Virgins and be shut out hauing ouer-slept my houre Giue me grace to repent whilest there is time for in Death who acknowledge thee or who findeth pardon in Hell Graunt that I may seriously ponder and consider thy manifold and manifest benefites that I may with all humilitie and thankfulnesse prayse and glorifie the giuer Lay before me the haynousnesse and multitude of my offences that strucken downe with shame and sorrow I may fall at thy feet and with the abundance of my teares wash away the stayne and guilt of my aspiring soule Let the greedinesse of my Ambition satisfie it selfe in seruing of thee being the highest Honour the Earth can glorie of and when it euidently perceiues how little of his owne it is able to bring to discharge those offices which are necessarily required my towring thoughts will fall and breake their owne necke Endue me O Lord with spirituall knowledge and vnderstanding to retyre into my selfe and take a suruey of my owne soule how shee is garnished how decked with what vertues adorned with what heauenly gifts and graces apparrelled and let me be confounded and ashamed to find her the Mistresse and Queene of this frayle and corrupted bodie naked or worse apparrelled and to imploy all my studie and endeuours to garnish and set out her seruant Let selfe-basenesse O Lord attained by a certaine knowledge of my weakenesse and vnworthinesse banish away all selfe-affection vainely gotten by a false conceit of my owne graces Health vigour strength and lustinesse of bodie thou giuest and takest away at thy pleasure by sicknesse hunger wants and torments Proportion and Beautie but thy all-making Hand who can to the life fashion which are spoyled and defaced by Age the necessarie seruant of Time and Decrepitnesse the diligent follower of Age Be it therefore farre from me to glorie but in the Crosse of my Sauiour Iesus Christ Let me take pride in his Sufferings and boast of his Wounds whose precious bloud hath conquered Hell and Sinne leading Captiuitie captiue and redeeming the lost Sheepe reducing them againe to their louing and carefull Shepheard who will recall them wandering vphold them sliding and saue them eternally from the rauening Wolfe which goeth about roaring to seeke who he may deuoure 25. A Prayer against the concupiscence of the flesh WHo shall enter into thy Tabernacle O Lord Hee that hath vndefiled hands and a pure heart sanctified and vnpolluted members as worthie Vessels to receiue the holy Ghost The house must be cleane swept by Confession purified and perfumed by good purposes and prayers before it can be made a fit habitation for our Lord and Sauiour Those be the sweet-smelling sauors which laid vpon the Altar of our heart enflamed and set on fire by perfect Charitie are acceptable Sacrifices vnto him Were not the people O Lord commanded by thy Seruant and Prophet Moses to put off their shooes because the ground whereon they trod was holy How shall they enter then before thee whose feet are swift to defile their neighbours Bed whose hands haue beene employed in rauishing young Virgins and whose tongues haue spent all their force and Oratorie to corrupt and betray honest thoughts to wicked and loose desires Didst thou so seuerely rebuke and punish thy Seruant Dauid a man as the Scripture testifieth according to thy owne heart for one Transgression that neither his Contrition Penance Fasting Almes-deedes could diuert or turne away thy Anger And shall I miserable and leprous sinner who haue all my life worne my heart in my eyes lusting after euery obiect hope to escape thy furie What Woman haue I not coueted What Complexion hath not beene the fuell of my lewd thoughts Pardon O mercifull Lord and Sauiour an humble and penitent sinner who confesseth and acknowledgeth his hainous sinnes and offences and much sorroweth and lamenteth to haue mis-imployed his time and bodie in the lasciuious acts and concupiscences of the
minde before the Throne of his diuine iustice I acknowledge confesse and yeeld my selfe lawfully attached and conuicted of high Treason against his diuine Maiestie and guilty of the death and Passion of Iesus Christ by reason of the hainous sinnes which I haue committed for which he dyed and suffered the torment of the Crosse so that consequently I am worthy to be cast away and damned for euer But turning my selfe towards the Throne of the infinite mercy of the selfe-same eternall God hauing detested from the bottome of my heart and with all my force the iniquities of my life fore-passed I most humbly require and craue pardon grace and mercy with entire absolution from my cryme through vertue of the Passion and death of the same Sauiour and Redeemer of my soule vpon whom relying as vpon the onely foundation of my hope I confirme againe aduowe and renew the sacred profession of loyall seruice and fidelitie made in my name and behalfe vnto my GOD at my baptizing renouncing the Diuell the Flesh and the World abhorring the execrable suggestions vanities and concupiscence for all the time of this present life and for all eternitie and conuerting my selfe vnto my most gracious and mercifull God I desire deliberate purpose and fully resolue irreuocably to honor him serue him loue him now and for euer giuing him for this end and dedicating and consecrating my spirits with all his faculties my soule with all her functions my heart with all his affections and my body with all his sences protesting neuer more to abuse any one part of my beeing or nature against his diuine will and soueraigne Maiestie To whom I offer vp and sacrifice my selfe in spirit to be to him a loyall obedient and faithfull creature for euermore Amen 29. A Prayer to be said in Afflictions and Troubles O Eternall and euer-liuing God the Father of all Consolation and Mercies the giuer of all things good and vertuous who art vnto vs as a Nurse vnto a childe a Shepheard vnto a wandring Lambe a Guide of our wayes a Guardian of our persons a Counsellour in doubts a Comforter in troubles a Patron in our needes and an assured Friend in all afflictions graciously assist vs in all our tribulations and aduersities being an assured tryall of thy seruants For whom thou louest thou chastisest Suffer me to bee tempted O Lord not ouercome rebuked not forsaken bruised with thy rod not broken for my soule is heauy within me and my enemies haue preuailed against me yea my Spirit repineth and my flesh grudgeth that thy hand is so heauy on mee I goe like one that hath lost his way shooting my eyes into the earth as desiring to be buried in my misfortunes All my friends haue left me and my company is my owne thoughts which are displeasing vnto me My eyes are great with teares my tongue laboureth with my mis-fortunes so that I seeme to others a piece of earth wrapped in woe and calamity Comfort me O Lord and I shall be comforted shoote thy holy Spirit into me and I shall bee disburdened lighten the beames of thy mercy vpon me and I shall shine in prosperity for it is my sinnes O Lord which haue confounded mee it is the multitude of my wickednesses which haue drowned the multitude of thy ioyes it is my guilt which banisheth thy goodnesse Turne backe O Lord and mercifully looke vpon me as thou didst vpon thy holy Apostle and faithfull seruant S. Peter that I may not onely weep but bitterly lament my misdeeds and offences who haue denyed my onely Lord and Master all the dayes of my life swearing as one that knew him not and blaspheming as certainely neither beleeuing nor fearing the punishments which haue ouer-growne me But if alas through suggestion of mine enemy or through humane frailty I chance any time to transgresse in any thing whatsoeuer giue me grace O Lord by the aide of the Holy Ghost to arise againe so soone as I shall perceiue my fall and so to returne anew to the Diuine Mercy without any stay or delay whatsoeuer Let it please thee O my eternall God Almighty and all good Father Son and Holy Ghost to confirme and strengthen mee in this resolution of my amendment and to accept this Cordiall and inward Sacrifice in the odor of sweetnesse O my God thou art my God God of my heart God of my soule God of my spirit and for such doe I reuerently thankfully and louingly acknowledge honour and adore thee now and for euer 30. Another Prayer for remission of sinnes O Benigne Iesu the onely refuge of desolate and afflicted soules the comfort and succour of those that are laden and oppressed mercifully heare and pitifully receiue the prayers and supplications of one conceiued and borne in sinne who acknowledgeth and confesseth before the Throne of thy Diuine Maiesty that hee is too base and altogether vnworthy to speake nay looke and much lesse to be heard and regarded in this his extremity who in time of health hath contemned and neglected his Physicion in time of iollity and prosperity hath neither thriftily prouided nor wisely preuented the daies of horror and desolation who being cruelly accused by his owne conscience of many high and detestable treason against the King of Kings and Lord of Lords his thoughts and senses bearing witnes against him hath neither treasure to ransome him nor friend to pleade for him wealth preuaileth not with him who is infinite in Riches Titles and Honours are momentany shadowes in his presence who aduanceth and degradeth whom hee pleases Kindred and friends dare not bee seene before so pure and iust a Iudge in so foule and vniust a cause What wilt thou then doe O my soule in these straights and extremities Whither wilt thou flye for succour Heauen is his dwelling place the earth his foot-stoole the Mountaines hee will remoue and his iustice diues into the bottome of the Sea Fall then before him and all prostrate lift vp thy voyce implore his mercy desire his pardon sue vnto him kneele before him lay hold of him and let him not depart O my soule till hee hath at least granted thee a Reprieue for thy horrible and lewd transgressions which obtained whilst his wrath is a little slackened thy teares may mollifie and get betweene thee and his definitiue sentence Consider duely what friends thou canst make and due consideration will make contrition a speciall fauorite of our Sauiours pleade heartily for thee who in thy behalfe promising a detestation of thy former offences with an assured purpose and resolution of amendment ioyned with a continuance and progresse in good workes and holy exercises may for our Sauiour delights to heare him purchase thee an absolute pardon Grant me therefore most sweet and amiable Lord to imploy the remnant of my life in studying to be acquainted with these thy holy friends and fauorites Giue O Sauiour a fountaine of teares vnto my eyes that I may continually lament and bewayle
my daily and haynous offences breed in mee a loathing and horrid detestation of all my sinnes that I may flye from them and shun the wayes and occasions which leade vnto them being stricken with an extraordinary sorrow and compunction for hauing dared to offend a Lord of such height and glory and ouercome with shame and ingratitude repent the iniuries offered to so louing and carefull a Master who hath shed his Bloud to saue so vnprofitable a seruant that being by feruent charity reconciled vnto him I may in the day of terrour lawfully claime part of him and being shrowded vnder his wings escape the malice and fury of my accusers euen for thy blessed names sake which shall in that time of trouble bee a sure defence to all thy Chosen 31. A Prayer for Chastity O Almightie and blessed Lord and Sauiour the glorie of thy Father the brightnesse and spotlesse sinceritie of Men who delightest and visitest thy cleane and vnpolluted members sanctifie O Lord and purifie mee that I may not bee a shame and reproach to so immaculary and chaste a Head that I may appeare a sonne some way worthy so holy and heauenly a Father Mortifie and kill in me the loose and powerfull desires of the flesh which borne in me are kindled and inflamed by the diuell and my owne frailtie Fixe my eyes O Lord vpon thy immortall glorious and neuer-fading beautie that I may contemne and despise all earthly and transitorie paintings Strike me in loue wlth the excellencie of vertue that my heart strongly and wholly taken with so faire and worthily beloued a perfection there may be no roome left for Folly and Idlenesse the wel-springs of wanton affection Busie mee O Lord about the day of Iudgement and my Account the torments of hell and their euerlastingnesse that all my study and labour may bee how to auoide them and blesse thee that hast not left me to the world and corrupted tyrannie of man but mercifully laid thy hand vpon me and conducted me to the meanes of my saluation 32. A Prayer in Iournying O Mercifully louing Lord which gouernedst and defendedst thy people Israel from all the vniust oppression and mercilesse fury of their enemies guiding them in all their wayes and trauailes and graciously visitedst thy seruant Iacob in his way and powredst thy blessing on him bee neere at this time to thy vnworthy and sinfull seruant and blesse mee I beseech thee in this my trauell and iourney from any violence of sinne or outward Spoylers and Robbers Prosper O Lord and bring to good end as it shall please thee the businesse I trauell and wander about and vouchsafe to direct mee in it that I do that which shall bee to thy glory and my owne behoofe and profite euen for Iesus Christ his sake Amen 33. A Prayer to bee vsed in any storme of Lightning and Thunder O Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabbath Heauen and earth are full of the Maiestie of thy glorie the flouds lift vp their voyce and speake thy wonders the Heauens flie before thy Anger and the vnnaturally mouing Earth trembleth at thy Voyce All which ordained for the vse of Man vpon thy word prooue their scourge and punishment The fire from aboue at the cry of the Prophet eateth vp his Scorners the Sea rageth and deuoureth the people and Chariots of the Egyptians yea the earth gapeth and buryeth men aliue at thy command Preserue vs gentle and infinitely louing Father from this violent and dreadfull storme which raised for our sins threatneth our destruction Put out the lightning O Lord and dissolue the horrid and fearefull stone lest it pash thy people to ashes and we be seene no more Cast thine eye vpon the Merites and Passion of our Sauiour and let his Bloud come betweene thy Iustice and our guilt that we may reioyce and lift vp our voyces with the holy Prophet Dauid I will not feare though the earth bee mooued and throwne into the heart of the Sea for the Almightie is our refuge and strength and helpeth vs in all our trouble Praised be the name of the Lord. 34. A Prayer or Meditation concerning the benefits after Creation COnsider O my soule with reuerence and thanksgiuing how Almightie God placed thee heere of his owne bountie and noblenesse not for any need hee had of thy helpe or seruice but to bestow vpon thee his grace and therefore hath hee enriched thee with vnderstanding to know him remembrance to be mindefull of him will to loue him imagination to represent his benefits vnto thy thoughts eyes to behold the wonders of his workes and a tongue to praise him Wherefore being created and set in the world for this intention reiect and cast away all actions which prooue contrary to this end For alas what did I busie my thoughts vpon O my God when I placed them not vpon thee What was I mindefull of when I forgot thee What did I loue when I did not loue thee Aye me I should haue fed my soule with the veritie and I haue fil'd it with vanitie and haue serued the world which was not made but to serue mee I defie you vtterly O vaine cogitations and vnprofitable fancies I abhorre and abiure you O detestable and friuolous Imaginations I renounce you vnfaithfull and disloyall loues miserable and lost seruices vngratefull gratifications cumbersome and vnpleasing pleasures And thou O my God and my Lord thou shalt bee for the time to come the onely obiect of my thoughts and I will neuer more apply my spirit to any cogitations which may be offensiue or disliking to thee My memorie all the dayes of my life shall be filled with consideration of thy excessiue goodnesse so louingly declared in my behalfe thou shalt be the deliciousnesse of my heart the sweetnesse of my affections Hence therefore from my sight for euer all vaine and idle pastimes whereunto I haue vainely applyed my mind all gamesome and toying exercises in which I fondly spent my dayes and all loose and idle affections which entangled my heart shall henceforth bee a horrour vnto my thoughts because thou hast made me O Lord for thy selfe to enioy euerlastingly the immensitie of thy glorie O when shall it bee that I shall bee worthie and when shall I praise thee according to thy desert and my dutie I offer vnto thee O my deare Creatour all these good affections and holy resolutions with all my heart and all my soule and beseech thee O God to accept these my desires and vowes and to giue my soule thy holy blessing that shee may faithfully accomplish them through the merites of the Bloud of thy blessed Sonne our Sauiour shed for me vpon the Crosse 35. A Prayer against vaine Attire DOth it beseeme mee most mercifull and blessed Redeemer to bee decked and attired in rich and sumptuous Garments when the scornefull and disdainefull Iewes apparell thee in a coate of folly to bee laught at and contemned of the people Doe Iewels and
apprehension of thy diuine goodnes Enlighten O Lord our vnderstanding and with the rayes of thy brightnesse banish away all mists and darknes by which wee are dulled and disabled Thou O Lord which raisest thy glorie out of the tongues of Infants powre into our lips eloquence and vtterance that we may reueale thy will and sing praises of thy goodnes Quicken O Lord our vnderstanding strengthen our memorie and rectifie our will that wee may truely know faithfully keepe and obediently performe thy precepts and commandements Giue vs O Lord grace in our entrance perseuerance in our progresse and humilitie at our going forth that we may alwaies acknowledge thee the giuer and bestower of what height so euer we attaine to euen for Iesus Christ his sake 46. A Prayer for the fatherlesse O Almightie God which art a Father to the Orphans mercifully assist vs poore comfortles children left as a prey to them who are left to dispose of vs. Behold O Lord how they contend for what we haue enuying one another for a share wherin they can challenge no part But thou O Lord shalt pleade our cause Thou shalt bee our Aduocate and Helper Thou shalt take the prey out of their mouthes and lay that shame vpon them which they haue laid vp for others For vnto thee O Lord we commend our soules our bodies our substance desiring to be disposed by thee and to receiue from thee what thou shalt thinke in thy wisedome will be necessary for the attaining thy loue and fauour without which in vaine wee doe heape vp for after-times in vaine doe we build and rise early bee sollicitous and take care sith who buildeth without thee pulleth downe who soweth without thee scattereth and who gathereth without thee heapeth woe vpon himselfe 47. A Prayer in Afflictions and troubles COmfort thy selfe O my soule in these Afflictions and troubles praise and glorifie thy holy Name that hee hath not giuen thee vp to thy owne affections and desires letting thee wildely runne as a beast to all sensualitie but gently chastising thee as one of his children hath recalled thee into thy selfe to know thy owne weaknesse and frailtie making thee one of the honourable Order of the Crosse whose badge all his Saints Seruants weare vpon their brest for it is better for thee that thy members here languish and suffer then thy whole body to bee cast into euerlasting fire yeeld thy selfe vp to all torments for his sake being heartily sorrie that thou art not able to vndergo more in his seruice who in his owne example hath out-gone all tyrannie for thee Triumph when thou art persecuted and glorie in the bonds of our Sauiour Blessed are they that mourne for they shall reioyce Blessed are they that are humbled with miseries and misfortunes for they shall be exalted and aduanced Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousnesse sake for to them belongeth the Kingdome of Heauen where thou shalt eternally reioyce and triumph with the glorious Saints and Martyrs who haue beene sharers with thee in this vale of teares and miserie 48. A Prayer of thanksgiuing SIng vnto the Lord a new song because hee hath done maruellous things with his owne right hand and his holy arme hath hee gotten himselfe the victory Who is like vnto our God or who dare compare with his mightinesse He hath remembred himselfe of his promise to his seruant that he would not leaue him for euer He hath not suffered my enemies vtterly to preuaile against mee nor left me in the hands of those that hate mee Hee hath onely shewed me the Rod and taken it away againe early in the morning will I recount thy praises and meditate all the day long vpon thy mercies which hast giuen me to taste of thy blessings and filled me with good things I was naked and thou hast cloathed me I was hungry and thou hast refreshed me I was thirsty thou hast grasped the Cloud and powred downe thy heauenly deaw I was weary and thou hast eased me I was loaden thou hast strengthened me I was oppressed and thou hast rescued me O what tongue is able to story thy louing kindnesses or what vnderstanding conceiueth thy wondrous works I will shew mercy saith our Lord vnto thousands of them that loue me keep my cōmandements But how aboundantly ought I to speake of thy gracious fauour who haue rebelled against thy motions spurned at thy precepts statutes and haue yet been embraced recalled home againe cloathed richly and set at thy owne Table I haue riotously consumed thou hast louingly restored I haue in lauish cups dis-honest and lasciuious company proudly vain-gloriously throwne away my saluation thou hast by stripes buffetings most tormenting and cruell death redeemed it againe I haue transgressed O Lord and thou art punished I being a low and contemned vassaile haue offended and mis-done and thou the Son of the mighty King art beaten It is not so O Lord with the sonnes of men who afflict their subiects for their mis-demeanours and make them smart for the Princes offences Who is like vnto our God whose mercie endureth from generation to generation Praise our Lord ye children Praise ye the name of our Lord. The name of our Lord be blessed from henceforth now and for euer 49. A Prayer in time of Pestilence FAmine Plague and Warre are thy scourges O Lord and thou throwest them vpon the people for their offences We haue repined mercifull Father in the aboundance of health and employed our strēgth in dishonoring thy holy Name Our members sanctified for thy vse and seruice haue beene the preyes of Harlots and officers of Satan The very breath thou gauest vs to praise and tell thy wonders hath mis-spoken and blasphemed against thee iustly therefore doth thy consuming Pestilence snatch away our health turne our strength into nothing rot all our members killing vs by the infection of the ayre taken into our bodies who haue continually breathed out of our bodies all blasphemie corruption Yet stay O mercifull Father and hold thy reuenging hand heare the cryes of thy seruants groning vnder the tyrannie of this murdering disease and be pitifull to vs. Remember O Lord that we are conceiued and borne in sinne poore and vnprofitable creatures vnable without thee to deserue the least drop of thy fauour Mercifully assist vs with thy grace and enrich vs with thy holy and spirituall vertues that our prayers may come vp before thee and bee acceptable that hauing taken away this heauy persecution and plague wee may for euer praise thy clemencie and enioying thy louing mercy feare againe to displease thee who hast had so great compassion on vs euen for thy Sonnes sake who gaue himselfe vp to all torments to keepe vs vnpunished 50. A Prayer in time of Warre O Lord God of Hosts that fightest the battels for thy seruants girding thy selfe with power strength to ouercome and put to flight the enemies of those that put
VNsearchable O Lord are iudgements and wonderful the workes of thy hand thou hast made fashioned a Lump of flesh in my wombe thou hast giuen it life to grow to feed and be nourished thou hast adorned and beautified it with limbes and senses thou hast in thy mercy inspired a liuing soule into it whereby it may hereafter be capable of thy loue and euerlasting felicitie Now the period O Lord draweth neere and the time appointed for the deliuery giuing vp this burden be neer O merciful Father vnto thy seruant strengthen me in this my sore labour and trauell comfort me O Lord in my agony that I faint not vnder the throwes and dreadfull pangs of the approaching neere-ensuing birth let no vaine feares affright me or the thoughts of what I must suffer be terrible vnto me Let me be comforted O Lord in thy promise and the blessing that must proceed from my Ioynes hearten me patiently to endure my torments hasten O Lord my deliuery and giue the fruite of my womb an easie passage that with the sight of a well-formed childe I may be made a ioyfull mother grant it O Lord right shape and keepe the life which thou hast giuen vnto it that it may be borne anew of water and the holy Spirit to be made partaker and heire of thy euerlasting Kingdome But if O Lord thou in thy eternall Wisedome hast otherwise prouided for me appointing me in the neuer-againe dying birth to be restored vnto thee mercifully assist me in this my last passage that confident in thy promises made to all I may ioyfully giue my selfe as a well-pleasing sacrifice awaiting thy diuine Pleasure and commending and committing my selfe into thy hands patiently expect the blessed houre to be deliuered from the sinfull prison of this transitory world into that euerlasting Habitation where dwelleth infinite ioy world without end Amen 59. A Prayer to bee said when you goe into your bed BLesse me O Lord preserue and keepe mee from all the dangers of this night Saue and deliuer me from the ancient enemie who through immoderate sloth negligence hopeth to betray me Visite O Lord my soule though farre too meane to entertaine so royall a Guest yet sending thine owne prouision before thee holy vertues chaste and simple thoughts thy lodging may be the better prepared for thee Settle and gouerne O Lord my phantasie that it range and forme not wilde and vnlawfull apparations stay my memorie that it search not after vaine and idle pleasures fill my vnderstanding with thy goodnesse and mercy that being wholly and inwardly busied with thee I may escape the snares and nets of Satan and wake to my owne comfort and thy glorie sweete IESVS Amen 60. A Prayer against idle Talke SEt a watch O Lord before my lips that I defile not my mouth with dishonest and vnseemely speeches betraying the hearers to sinne and vncleannesse Keepe me from their companie whose delight is in wicked talke lest I perish with them Let my tongue deliuer forth thy prayses and be the Trumpet of thy neuer-ending mercies grant me a single and vnpolluted heart that I may reuerently adore thy Mysteries and bee the honorer of thy Glorie and Maiesty Keepe my eyes from wandring after the concupiscence of my desires that I bee not ouertaken and made prisoner to sinne and death Place my thoughts vpon thy bitter Passion whose mournefull acts may put away all idle delights and pleasures and fasten mee vpon thy Crosse to weepe and lament my passed offences for that sweete Name of IESVS in whose merites all flesh must be saued 61. A Thankes-giuing O God most high most mightie Creator of heauen and earth which out of Nothing hast made and formed this beautifull All createdst the glorious Firmament fretted with Starres the euer-shining Sunne to giue light by day and firest the Moone to banish the nights darkenesse giuing life to the Fowles of the Aire the Beasts feeding on the Earth and the Fishes whose dwelling is in the waters below for the vse and seruice of man making him according to thy owne Image ennobling him with Vnderstāding Will and Memorie to conceiue and apprehend the glorious workes of thy hand Redeemed him with an vnparalell'd example preserued and kept him with an vnimitable care and prouidence How shall hee render thee condigne and worthie prayses for these thy vnspeakeable and vndeserued benefites How shall hee tender to thy diuine Maiestie thankes equall and befitting such infinite and innumerable graces How many O LORD haue dyed in the womb How many neuer attained the blessed regeneration of Baptisme How many reconciled and entred into the state of grace haue through their owne corruption frailtie and the suggestion of the diuell lost it and falne away from the faith of thy neuer-erring Word How often O Lord haue I transgressed and sinned spurned at thy secret Callings and refused to entertaine them and yet O Lord hast thou patiently expected my conuersion giuen me further time to repent me of my carelesnesse and back-sliding sending thy holy grace to enable me to call vpon thee for mercy and forgiuenes Prayse God O my soule for his louing kindnes endureth frō generation vnto generation he hath not dealt so with euery man nor so aboundantly showred his fauor to all his people I wil magnifie him from the rising of the Sun vnto the going downe of the same who hath raised me from death and not suffered mee to goe downe into the Pit who hath forgotten my wickednesse and remembred himselfe of his goodnes glorie be vnto thee on high and praise vpon earth who hath giuen charge to his Angels to keepe vs in all our wayes 62. A Prayer for direction in all our affaires GIue me grace O mercifully and truely louing Lord that I may with all singlenesse of heart ardency and earnestnesse of spirit wisely and carefully search after those things which may be pleasing vnto thee Order and so dispose of me that I may faithfully and truely performe those things which thou requirest of me and giue me knowledge O Lord to doe it as it ought and is most expedient for my owne soule Grant O Lord God that I neither grow presumptuous seated in Prosperity nor be cast downe despairing with the frownes of Aduersitie Let thy fauour be my onely delight and my discontent thy displeasure Let me endeuour to please none nor be afraid to displease any but thy selfe Let all transitorie things be base in my sight and what belongeth to thee be onely acceptable and thou O God aboue all Let the paines O Lord which are for thee be aboue any pleasure and pleasure without thee seeme tedious and vnwelcome Grant me often to desire the accomplishment of good things and in my relapse to spring vp againe with full purpose of amendment Make me O Lord God obedient without grudging poore without quailing chaste without pollution patient without murmuring humble without dissembling merry without dissolutenes sad
way to ouercome but to torment as assured to ouercome They come O Lord not to fight but ouer-runne not to giue battaile but destruction vnto thy seruants Preuent O Lord their malice and vndoe their subtill and well-laboured Stratagems Make them acknowledge thee the bestower and man with all his Engines but thy Minister to bee ordered as it pleaseth thee Let them see O Lord their Chariots ouer-turned vvith their owne guiders their Horses made a slaughter by the ill direction of their owne masters and the Souldiers in the day of Battell crushed with the weight of their owne Armour that they may not be able to lift vp their hands against those who put their whole trust and hope of victory in thee Grant this O Lord for the precious bloud of thy onely Sonne in whose name we are assured to obtaine all our iust petitions Amen 68. A Thanksgiuing for the ouerthrow of our Enemies S. SIng vnto the Lord a new Song for hee hath done maruellous things with his owne right hand and with his holy arme hath he gotten himselfe the victorie This is the day wherein the Lord redeemed vs and hath taken vs from the hands of our enemies let vs proclaime it to all generations and let the farthest Nations heare of his louing kindnesses When our Souldiers were amazed our Lord comforted them and in the multitude of their enemies was a stay and Bulwarke vnto them He guided their shot and gaue might and power vnto their armes to beat and disperse the growing Host which threatened in their fury to ouerwhelme them he discomfited them and tooke their heart from them returning them with greater feare then they marcht on with assurednes When our Captaines confounded with the danger of the fight and confused with the tumult of their Souldiers forgat their skill in leading he conducted brought them on againe ordered them giuing life and spirit to the fainting and fearefull troupes that they fell vpon their enemies as enraged Lyons scattered them and pursued them to a shamefull retyring and dis-honourable yeelding This is thy worke O Lord and it is wonderfull in our eyes and shall expresse thy goodnes in the confusion of those mis-beleeuing people that doe not acknowledge thee But giue vnto vs O Lord that haue receiued this blessing at thy hands to vs that haue mightily seene thy euerlastingnesse and power in our owne vnexpected safety and vnthought of ruine to our enemies humble and obedient hearts fired and inflamed with this thy high and vndeserued bounty that wee may neuer forget the Day of our Deliuerance but leaue it holy to all ages magnifying and extolling thee the giuer of all conquest Let no securitie take from our eyes the dreadfull and ouer-passed danger no lasting or confirmed peace the memory of this fierce and cruell battaile fought by thee and obtained by thee but hauing it fresh and eminent before vs continually praise and laud thee who hast preserued vs euen for thy owne honour and glory which bee euerlasting world without end So be it Amen 69. A Prayer for present necessities O Gracious and euer-louing Lord which out of thy bounty infinite fauour hast promised to heare the Petitions of those that aske in thy Sonnes name to whom our necessities are knowne and our wants manifest Grant we beseech thee most mercifull Father that we may by thy eternall prouidence be relieued and succoured miserably languishing and groning vnder the waight of our low and desperate extremities put it into the hearts of some of thy seruants to call vs to them and giue vs employment that we may by the sweat of our browes labour to maintaine and keepe our selues and children and aboue all let vs patiently endure and vndergoe what calamities shal euer fall vpon vs wel knowing they are imposed for our sinnes and farre short of their desert and due still expecting thy mercifull hand to redeem and deliuer vs from them Thou O Lord which takest care of the Flowers of the field and enrobest the Lilly aboue the ornaments of Kings wilt not I know leaue thy Children and Seruants for euer nor giue them ouer to bee an ignominie and shame to their despisers but that they shall at last reioyce and sing vnto thee Our Lord hath heard our prayers and mercifully considered the Petitions and earnest requests of his seruants he hath fulfilled his promise and graciously succoured and sustained them praised be the name of the Lord now and for euer Amen 70. Another Prayer entreating Remission of sinnes and constancie in good purposes GIue mee leaue O Lord to speake vnto thee and in thy presence to vnloade the griefe and troubles of mind which burden and disquiet mee taking away my sleepes and laying violent hands on the comfort and content I should enioy in thee Why am I O most mercifull Father forsaken and giuen vp to the wilde desires and concupiscences of my flesh Why am I left a prey to Satan and laid open to his subtill and secret temptations Why hath the multitude of sinnes as a Sea growne vpon mee and the number and dayly practice of my offences taken away almost hope of my safety and recouerie Am I O Lord markt for a vessell of dis-honour and shall thy Omnipotencie be seene in my destruction Though these things are worthy the hainousnesse of my transgressions yet are they not beseeming thy exceeding and infinite loue and mercy and though it may well accord with my rebellious and traiterous disposition daring to breake and violate thy lawes and commandements yet can they no way sute and agree with thy vnbounded and vnlimited Charitie which left'st Heauen and mingledst Humanitie with thy Deitie to saue and recall sinners and offenders In the bowels therefore of thy mercie I beseech thee by thy vnspeakable and vnexpressible bounty which gaue thee vp to death euen to the Death of the Crosse and all those fore-running spitefull and torturous agonies and abuses not to take away thy grace from me nor leaue me to my selfe who am nothing but pollution and vncleannesse vncertaine what way to take yet certaine to runne into loosenesse and deformitie without thee being O Lord taken as it were with a deadnesse or at least a forgetfulnesse of thee rather carelessely neglecting then violently drawne away from thy holy inspirations growing insensible and as it were stupid in all things which belong to thy honour and my owne saluation which of all others and is the most terrible fearefull back-sliding and Apostasie For were I carried away with other delights or onely bewitched with sensualitie I might well hope when time and sacietie had sufficiently displaied their vanity at last to retire grow weary of them but from this stupidnes cold numnes of my carelesse conscience Without thee O Lord who can reuiue me from this heauy death-like sleepinesse but thy almightie voice what can awake me To thee therefore I humbly submit my selfe and penitently prostrate my selfe before thee desiring
may not onely endeuour well purpose good things and perhaps beginne a reformation and vertuous amendment but continue O Lord and perseuer all my life long that by the practice of a holy and religious life I may bee weaned and with-drawne from the transitory and seducing pleasures which gawdinesse and custome haue made strong in mee and awaite the subuersion and rooting out of all things good and vertuous settle firme in me O Lord an vnwearied determination of a daily progresse and going forward in thy seruice since to stand still is to expect the enemie and bridle and take from me the feeds and bloomings of vice that I deceiued with their seducing yeeld not to them but perfectly and zealously labouring to follow the steps of so good and great a Maiestie may at last receiue the hire which thou hast reserued for those that diligently employ themselues in thy Vineyard 75. A Prayer in Affliction MOST gracious Redeemer which art alwaies mercifull alwaies a preseruer whether thou send vs ioy or sadnesse for great is thy mercy which by outward afflictions as by a sharpe medicine heatest the inward man and by temporary troubles preparest vs for euerlasting ioy euen as thy selfe hast opened the way for vs to true felicitie by thy owne steps Grant that I may drinke this cup patiently and obediently as giuen of thee But these troubles O blessed and meek Sauiour fall heauy on me my proud and enuious disposition grudging and repining at them Giue me O Lord in cure the happie and heart comforting spectacle of thy precious Passion that beholding thee ouer-flowed with bloud and sweate cruelty hauing vsed seuerall torments to let it forth I may account my selfe happie in so sweet a societie and my rancour and swollen desires ambitiously puffed vp with malicious and aspiring thoughts may at this sight fall low and bee asswaged the venemous and poysoning sting of the subtill serpent bee drawne and cast from me by beholding thee the example of all patience and gentlenes Endue me O Lord with an absolute contempt of all these vaine and gawdie shadowes whose pompe and outward glorie are rated at so high an estimation Let me look inwardly onely and all my care be to be richly and sumptuously attired within Let mee aime at no peace but that of a good conscience fearing onely thy rebuke and displeasure but for thy sake highly esteeme all the contempt the world can throw vpon me the scoffes disdaine and base regard they can afflict me with the reuilings slanders imputations which enuie and ill tongues can lay vpon me since promotion and high respect are no badges of thy seruants commendation and gracefull language no titles of thy followers nor security and worldly felicitie any testimonies of thy loue and fauour to which onely O glorious example of all vertue let me ambitiously aspire thorow the burning Furnaces the Lyons Den the Axe Stones or what new crueltie soeuer Tyrants witty onely in mischieuous inuentions can for the professing thee inflict vpon mee since to lose all the world and win thee is a purchase vnualuable vnspeakeable which grant for thine owne Names sake I may happily attaine Amen 76. A Prayer in extremity of sicknesse O Iesu Christ the onely hope of them that liue and eternall life of them that die I wretched sinner submit my selfe wholly to thy Diuine Will whether it pleaseth thee my soule shall longer remaine in the prison of this my bodie to serue thee or depart out of this world I am sure what is cōmitted to thy mercy can neuer perish I wil lay down this my fraile and miserable body with a willing minde namely in hope of resurrection which renders it to me againe much more happie Strengthen O truely-mercifull and all-louing Sauiour my soule with thy grace against all temptations against all the assaults of Satan Inuiron me with the shield of thy mercy by which in times past thou restoredst thy Martyrs vnconquered against grieuous torments and cruell deaths I see nothing in my selfe which can bee a help vnto me all my hope is in thy inestimable goodnesse I haue no merits or good workes to alledge to thee but alas I behold on euerie side many wicked and sinfull offences many malicious and enuious transgressions many lewde and lasciuious acts which are here readie to accuse and condemne and as much as their exclamations can further desirous to throw me to euerlasting hell and perdition What Aduocate so mercifull as thy selfe Who so powerfull And who more willing and readie Who can better deliuer what must at this time preuaile for me being a story of thy owne loue and mercy Who can shew the skars of those honourable wounds which were gotten in the redemption of mankinde but thy Almightie selfe Who the print of those lashes which all ouer skarrified thy innocent flesh for the painting and artificiall discolouring ours Who with fortie dayes Fasting expiated our riotous and superfluous Feasts but thy most mercifull selfe Wash away O Lord with thy precious Bloud the contagious spots of my hainous offences and let thy neuer-failing Iustice answere in iudgement for my presumptuous iniustice thy great and mightie merites be an acceptable propitiatorie for the multitude of my misdeeds and grant O louing and all-gracious Lord that thy grace may increase aboue my sicknesse let not my faith faile my hope faint my charity waxe cold nor humane infirmity ioyned with the feare of death cast mee into the bottomelesse gulfe of despaire but that when the eyes of my body are shut and closed vp the euer-waking eye of my minde may looke vp and bee comforted in thee and that when the vse of my tongue shall be taken from me my soule may then incessantly and continually cry vnto thee O Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit to whom bee honour and glorie world without end 77. A Prayer in the Spring time O Almightie and euer-liuing God the powerfull Creator of heauen and earth ordaining them with their seuerall Lights and Ornaments for the necessarie vse of mankinde appointing them in their distinguisht seasons to yeeld food and sustenance for the maintenance of thy People Wee giue thee humble and heartie thankes for this moderate and timely Spring refreshing the decayed earth with the kindly heate of the Sun and temperate falls of raine and water renewing in vs a comfortable expectation of our Resurrection in beholding how thy mercifull and All-able hand hath freshly apparelled the naked and barren fields beautifying them with seuerall sorts of flowers loading the Trees disroabed and withering with new buds and blossomes the earth her selfe shooting forth her seeds long time buried in her womb with the hope of a happie and plentifull increase to the great ioy and consolation of thy seruants Grant I beseech thee that wee being renewed and borne againe by holy Baptisme and hauing cast and throwne off the old man may become new creatures neuer more to returne to our old sinnes but
thou hast yet continued thy fauourable and commanding hand ouer me in placing me before thee reseruing me and redeeming me from the continuall assaults of Satan who awaiteth to make a prey on me mercifully O Lord forgiue the euill which I haue committed and the good which I haue had meanes to lay hold of and ouerslipped be pleased not to remember against me who am nothing but pollution and vncleanenesse vncapable without thee of goodnesse and vnworthie by my owne negligence and carelesnesse to be called vnto it Forgiue O Lord my customarie and irreligious taking thy Name in vaine my wandering and idle speeches pride of my selfe or towards others detraction for my owne glorie Enuie or whatsoeuer in thought word or deed this day committed displeaseth thy diuine Maiestie that my soule vnloaded and vnburdened of the deadly and condemning weights of sinne may comfortably take the refreshing of this Night thou in thy mercie hast ordained for me euen for Iesus Christ his sake thy onely and well-beloued Sonne and our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen THVRSDAY 10. Morning Prayer AS out of my graue O Lord by thy mightie hand and out-stretched arme hast thou this day called me raysing me from the depth of sleepe wherein many haue beene vnexpectedly and suddenly for euer buried and called me to the beholding of thy glorious and all-comforting Light and in that the admirable worke of thy hand and more especially and graciously taking away the darke and thicke clouds of sinne and wickednesse hast illumined my inward spirit with thy mercifull beames to thinke and meditate vpon thy holy Name and neuer-ending kindnesses opening with the day my eyes as thou didst to Hagar that I might be comforted in beholding desperate of helpe and succour the bottomelesse Well-spring of thy fauour and prouidence wherewith thou cherishest and maintainest all things created taking care by thy eternall wisedome of the poorest things in Nature And since O Lord one haire cannot fall from the head without thy fore-seeing knowledge mercifully and louingly sustaine and vphold me this day and euer that I slide not and fall from thee the head and author of my being and well-being without whom I was nothing and should be happie to returne to nothing Plant in me O Lord the timely fruit of Consideration and water it with thy heauenly dew that seriously and carefully setting before my eyes the end of my Creation the dreadfull account I must render in not applying my selfe to it with the glorious certaine promised Rewards belonging to Goodnesse and Vertue I may now and euer in all my thoughts words and deedes so carrie and behaue my selfe that I may be thought in the precious bloud of thy onely Sonne worthie to be made capable of that eternall Sacrifice hee hath long since offered for all sinners Amen AT NOONE. 11. A Prayer or Meditation for Patience WHither wilt thou goe O my Soule to find a Patterne of all Vertues Where wilt thou ensample this perfect and diuine Patience of which thou standest in need of Get vpon thy wings and flye to Bethleem sacred by the birth of our Sauiour thence trace him through the whole course of his blessed and innocent life where thou shalt behold it so rarely pourtrayed and set forth so sweetly and modestly described that thou canst not if thou hast any feeling of Goodnesse but be enamoured with her beautie Did euer this blessed and meeke Lambe for all his despightfull and base vsage grace a frowne with his Countenance Did euer an angry word dwell vpon his well-formed lippes Did hee so much as rebuke those which contemned him resist those which buffetted him nay gainesay those which spat in his reuerend Countenance Art thou oppressed with Pouertie Consider that the Lord of Heauen and Earth had not wherein to hide his head Art thou wronged with slanderous and disgracefull Speeches Was not this temperate and all-vertuous Man tearmed a Glutton and a Wine-bibber Doth Shame and Ignominie compasse thee in on euerie side See see my Soule the King of Kings and Lord of all Lords who raysed the dead to life lying vpon the Crosse and he who by his Mightinesse and Power exalted sinners to be glorious Saints hanging betweene two Theeues condemned as a foule Offendor Marke his mild and louely Countenance his sober and demure Speeches the modest glance of his Eyes and the composure of his whole Bodie cast in so Noble a Mould of vnconquered Patience that they sooner wanted occasions to tyrannize then he vertue meekely to suffer them Here fixe thy selfe kneele at the Root of the Crosse and with all those blessed Women and Saints which accompanied him reuerently say vnto him O thou eternall and most bountifull Sauior who vouchsafedst to descend from the Throne of thy glorie and putting on our fraile and weake humanitie didst for the redemption of Mankind vvander so many yeeres hungrie and naked contemned and despised suffering intolerable Paines and Torments without being moued or troubled graunt I beseech thee by thy precious Death and Buriall that I may willingly embrace those crosses thou pleasest to lay vpon me that I may run to meet them as thou didst the betraying Kisse of Iudas Giue me O Lord power and strength most meekely and patiently to vndergoe and abide all Persecutions Tribulations Wants Shames Sicknesses Hurts Maimes vvithout inwardly repining or grudging outwardly murmuring or speaking against them let me freely goe not violently be drawne to entertaine them Did not thy glorious Martyr and Souldier Saint Stephen whilest they stoned him prayse thee and pray for them Could he begin this Worke without thy grace or finish it without thy Power No no my most mercifull and gracious Lord it is thy Spirit which quickeneth for the flesh profiteth in nothing but repineth against it Be liberall therefore vnto me O Lord of thy soueraigne and precious Balme which healeth and cureth all sorts of Diseases anoint my rancorous and angrie flesh big-swolne with Malice that the sting being drawne out it may appeare white and faire let me drinke O Lord a large draught of this Cordiall to confirme strengthen me against all the poysons and infirmities of Nature For certainely Lord who is perfectly patient obeyeth thy will and who is obedient humbleth himselfe to all disaduantagious losses or what dishonour else the World can inflict Which Humilitie bringeth vs to that height and glorie which onely they shall enioy that haue patiently endured and expected this their reward to the end 12. Euening Prayer TVrne not thy face away from me O Lord incline thine eare and bow downe vnto me Heare me for thy mercies sake and according to the multitude of thy bounties blot out all my iniquities for what flesh is righteous or who dare stand vp against thee Doe not the Hills flye before thee and Mountaines melt at thy indignation Doth not the Sunne lose his light and the starres when thou commandest them hide their glorie Be mercifull O Lord and gracious to thy
enabled to exercise whatsoeuer is good and vertuous Amen SATVRDAY 16. Morning Prayer BE mercifull vnto me O Lord and let thy holy hand be ouer me Let my first Meditation be of thy goodnesse and my Morning thoughts imployed about thy fatherly care and protection which hath from my infancie ouershadowed me preseruing me from the vile and shamefull fires of Lust and Riotousnesse recalling me still to a feeling and dislike of my passed sinnes and offences Rectifie O Lord my sinfull will and strengthen my frailetie that with the burning wings of filiall pietie and humble deuotion for so many and those vnspeakable gifts and graces I may flye by prayers and thanks-giuing to the Throne of thy Diuinitie where fixing all my aymes and intents I may change my pronenesse and inclination to ill and wickednesse with vertuous and feruent desires of louing and honouring thee for thy selfe who art onely and all goodnesse without the respect of my dependance or being from thee that reuerencing thy greatnesse and rauished with thy goodnesse I may with a loue full of awe and feare eschew those wayes which may displease thee euer carefuller of thy anger then my owne hurt or disaduantage to which height of Charitie graunt me O Lord to attaine for the merits of thy onely Sonne who alone is able to deserue so infinite a blessing for so infinite and vile a sinner Amen AT NOONE. 17. A Prayer against Drunkennesse GIue to me the water of Life O Lord and I shall neuer thirst but say the word and I shall be satisfied Send downe thy heauenly dew to asswage and coole my disordered and vnlimitted desires whose burning heat and raging fire runnes me into sinne and excesse In vaine haue I laboured without thee to stay my intemperance in vaine opposed my selfe against my wild and lawlesse sences Strengthen O Lord my weakenesse and confirme me against the temptations of the Deuill who finding a breach in me hath entred and made prey banishing all things good and vertuous which thou hast placed to keepe me and hath peopled me with strong and sinfull thoughts mortall and well-armed Offences who dare iustifie their Rapine and Extortion Drunkennesse Whoredome readily committing more sinnes then I haue names to cloath them in Hasten O Lord and helpe me for I am wearie of their tyrannie cast them out of me and plant thy grace that they returne not and multiplie Whole Dayes haue I pleased my selfe in displeasing thee and broken many Nights to breake thy Commaundements sore longing for their companie whose feet run to Iniquitie abusing thy Creature prouided by thy care and prouidence for the refreshing and sustentation of our naturall bodies to our ruine and without thy great mercie vtter damnation Did not thy seruant Lot O Lord a iust and righteous man in his drinke abuse his owne Daughter What sinne hath Hell in store so horrid that it dare not act and glorie of the deed O most mercifully louing Lord and Father who desirest not the death of a sinner but rather that he should liue and repent I request thee by the bowels of thy Mercie thy bitter precious Passion thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension thou wilt take away from me this Monster and Hell-borne wickednesse which hath subtilly perswaded me to offend thee my Lord and Maker and stealingly surprized me and giuen me vp to all manner of sinnes and transgressions taking away all reason blinding the sences that being wholly in his power he might carrie me headlong to all perdition Preserue me O Lord by thy might and power from all occasions which may bring me to him for I am fearefull of him and dare not without thy gracious assistance and mercie endure his slye and powerfull perswasions No age is warranted from him hee adulterateth both sexes he vnsanctifieth the most religious and creepeth into the priuatest and most retired places bewitching all sorts with his cunning and alluring charmes Stand O my Redeemer at the gates of my eares and shut out all his faire-seeming treaties which would conclude a peace betweene my frailetie and the Deuill Cleare O Lord my eyes and take away the myst from them that I may plainely see and perceiue his ouglinesse and deformitie wallowing in beastlinesse and sensualitie mercifully touch my heart with thy illumining Spirit that I may hate and detest him shun his friends and companions and flye from the place of his abode and entertainement within whose Circle no soule is safe no thought pure no sence perfect Amen 18. Euening Prayer LAy thy blessed hands vpon me O Lord as thou didst on thy seruant Lot delaying his owne safetie and conduct me out of this sinfull and euerie-way polluted Sodome that I may quickly flye from it lest vnquenchable fire and brimstone ouertake me whilest I protract and refuse thy heauenly inspirations Let no day passe me without some progresse in goodnesse and vertue and euerie houre O mercifull Father graunt I may determine a full amendment and detestation of my former lewdnesse and misse-spent behauiour Let me account my selfe an vnprofitable Scholler when I haue not learnt and aspired to some higher measure of vnderstanding thee an vnthriftie and riotous worldling when I haue not gathered and laid vp somewhat to maintaine and defend me in the day of trouble Touch O Lord my heart with thy heauenly Spirit that I may esteeme this life in his full value onely a Pilgrimage and Thorow-fare to another Land where I must truly liue for euer and accordingly despising all the lets and hinderances be neither tempted with the gawdie pleasures nor terrified with the rough passages of my Iourney but in thy holy feare making way through them I may at last arriue to thee the promised Land where euer-continuing and flourishing content and happinesse abideth Amen SVNDAY 19. Morning Prayer O My most mercifull Lord and Redeemer how shall a guiltie and sinfull soule appeare in the presence of an innocent and vnspotted Deitie or what hope of Pitie or Pardon when he shall be my Iudge who may onely accuse me bearing about him wide and gastly wounds which my sinnes haue giuen him by which his most glorious Passion and admirable Resurrection he as this day finished that great and neuer to be forgotten benefit of the Redemption of Mankind which I as much as in me lyeth by my horrid and abominable lust and desire haue sought to frustrate and annihilate Who shall take me from his Iustice or rescue me from his Omnipotencie I haue sinned O Lord I haue sinned and am no more worthie to be called thine I haue risen with the Sunne to meditate on vanities and all the day long haue I followed my owne wayes at the going downe of the same I haue forgotten thy Blessings and sate in darkenesse without remembring thee the Light and Guide of those that goe astray I haue forgotten thy Lawes and thy Statutes haue beene farre from me my thoughts haue beene busied in vncleanenesse and my lippes acquainted with
one another the obedience to thee teach vs obedience in our selues that wholly submitting our selues to thy will we may labour together in this transitorie life to come to thee the life euerlasting with whom dwelleth vnspeakable loue and neuer-ending charitie world without end Amen 40. A Prayer for a Maid to be obedient to her Parents O My most mercifull Lord and Redeemer subdue and bridle my head-strong and vntamed affections who delighting in their owne wayes repine at the direction of my Superiours Let mee euer remember thy holy commandement Honour thy Father and Mother that thy dayes may be long in the land of the liuing Giue me grace to vnderstand it truely lest forgetting thy precept I be banished into that wilde and barbarous Country where to liue is terribler then death and dying the onely comfort of the liuing Let their reprehensions bee the cause of my amendment not repining their iust and lawfull precepts an vndeniable practice of all my actions Let me reuerence their age lending them my youth to help them pray for their imperfections and in them remember humane weaknesse that in my obedience I may receiue the vertue of their blessing which thou alwayes grantest to them that endeuour to fulfill the least of thy commandements 41. A Prayer before a Iourney O Almightie and euerliuing God which by the hand of thy seruāt Moses broughtst the people of Israel out of Egypt and the crueltie of Pharaoh and madest them walke ouer the Red-Sea keeping back with a mighty winde the raging waters who returning in their Furie ouer-whelmed all that great Host and after went'st before them and conducted them thorow the vast and wilde Desert feeding them in their extreme Famine with Manna showred from Heauen Be pleased O mercifull Father at this instant to accompany mee in all my iourneyes and trauailes and with thy louing and mightie protection defend me from all dangers of those that lye in awaite to murther and spoile thy Liege people Bee vnto mee O Lord a guide in my going out a safeguard and defence vpon the way a shaddow in heat a shelter in raine cold a waggon in wearinesse an helper in time of extremitie a stay in slipperie passages a Hauen in shipwracke that vnder thy safe and sure conduct we may march quietly and peaceably to our iourneyes end and vnder the couer of thy wings ioyfully and prosperously returne to our homes againe for his onely sake who was a continuall Pilgrime heere vpon earth to make all our prayers acceptable vnto thee Amen 42. Another short Prayer for the same O Almighty God which hast made this our life as it were a short Pilgrimage to visit holy places and doe penance by thee appointed for mans first transgression giuing vs as in an Inne a space to refresh our wearied bodies not to dwell and settle our selues Grant mercifully thy assistance in these my iourneys and remouings and with thy holy Spirit blesse and comfort me on the way that I be not left alone to the crueltie of those that would assaile mee but hauing thy Angell for my guide and defender I may not feare the oppression of the Wicked but happily arriue at the desired Hauen where I vvill magnifie and praise thy holy name for thy mightie ayde and protection 43. A Prayer in Afflictious WHy art thou sorrowfull my soule and why doest thou trouble mee Why doest thou hang sleepe vpon mine eye-lids and fasten heauinesse on my foot-steps Doth not God regard the prayers of the afflicted or doth he not from his high holy place looke downe to the earth that he might heare the gronings of the fettered and those that are persecuted and afflicted Can thy eye see into heauen or is thy vnderstanding of counsell with God to perceiue how neere his holy hand is to deliuer thee Euery instant is time enough for his Omnipotency and impossible occasions easie to the infinitenes of his Deitie Put thy trust in him my soule and thou shalt not be confounded Say with the Prophet Dauid Though a thousand fall on my right hand and ten thousand on my left yet I will not bee afraid because God hath beene my helper Bee comforted by the mercifull examples which he hath shewed to his people Did not Almighty God with a strong hand punishments enforce the Prophet Ionas to preach destruction to the Niniuites limiting them a short time that within three dayes their Citie should bee destroyed and yet vpon their submission humbling themselues before him with prayers fasting did he not most mercifully remit their punishment and take them into his grace and fauour Fall therefore prostrate before him and with perfect resignation of thy owne will yeeld thy selfe into his hands to do what it please him with thee entreate him of his loue and fauour who neuer absenteth himselfe to those that seeke him relye vpon his mercy who so much loued his people that he sent his onely begotten Sonne to dye for the Redemption of mankinde Aske him forgiuenesse of thy sinnes and offences by reason of whose guilt thou sufferest these light and temporary punishments which haue in iustice deserued euerlasting damnation and disburdened of which the yoke will be easie and the waight light yea thy miseries wil be pleasing like wounds honourably gotten in a glorious conquest and then maist thou ioyfully sing vnto the Lord Mine enemies that troubled me themselues are weakened and falne One thing yet I haue asked of our Lord this will I seeke for that I may dwell in the house of our Lord al the daies of my life 44. A Prayer to be said by a Merchant for the safe returne of his goods IN the time of my trouble who shall I flye vnto what power can fetch me from the bottome of the Sea or whose arme reacheth to the end of the world O most merciful and gracious Lord the Sea is thine and thou madest it and thy hands prepared the dry land with thy Word thou calmest the raging waters and with a beck layest the furie of the winde Grant of thy accustomed clemencie and goodnes such seasonable and temperate weather that they may safely arriue at the appointed Port. Bee vnto them O Lord their Pylote lest the hidden Rocks or vnknowne Sands deuoure them Be their defence and safegard lest their enemies make prey on them that relying on thy fauour aboue the vertue of their Load-stone they may ioyfully and merrily touch the desired Land acknowledging thy goodnesse and might to whom alone that mercilesse element obeyeth at thy command yeelding vp all her treasure Grant this O my sweet Lord and Sauiour euen for thy tender mercy which refuseth no Petitions that are offered with a pure and vnfained zeale Amen 45. A Prayer before Study O Vnspeakable Creatour which in the Treasure of thy Wisedome hast ordained learning as a secondary meanes to raise our declined soules wrapt by the fall of Adam in sinne and ignorance to a perfected and surer
thee for that eternal and all-comforting name of thy sweet Son Iesus to giue mee a feeling of my owne desperate and dangerous estate to take away the dead and impostume vices which haue ouer-growne goodnes and vertue so that I may perceiue what is wicked or sinfull made the same with me by a long custome Grant me O bountifull and louing Lord constancie and perseuerance in the good determinations wherewith thou shalt inspire lest I fal into a relapse perish vnsuccourably euen for thy owne mercies sake which from the beginning of the world was intended to saue sinners Amen 71. A Prayer in Sicknes NOw I am weakest O Lord in estate be thou strongest and inlighten and comfort my Soule in this darknes and torments of my Body Satan hath incompassed me on euery side and as assured of victory hath laid aside all his faire and eye-pleasing disguises pulling off his beautifull visor and in his owne horrible and dreadfull deformitie telleth me plainely I am his There is no sinne my most mercifull and euerlasting Redeemer which hee is not in the vgliest and desperatest manner ready to lay before me more carefull now to call them to my memory then he was before to banish them for euer He telleth me it is thine own Doctrine that the wages of sinne is Death and that euerlasting world without end But shall hee O iust and righteous Iudge be my accuser and witnes against mee Shall he betray me to a sinne and be rewarded for reuealing it I protest before the Throne of thy diuine Maiestie that he alone ioyned with the world and the flesh hath wrought vpon my frailtie and subtilly seduced mee to all kinde of sinne and enormitie that he alone hath perswaded mee to offend thee my Lord and Maker laying thy heauy displeasure and terrour of thy iudgements before me seeking either to draw me to despaire or an vnwillingnes to enter into the due consideration of my hainous mis-deeds I doe therefore wholly abiure and detest him abandoning for euer his friendship and seruice and relying on thy powerfull and auailable Passion in the preciousnesse and value of it offer vp my selfe vnto thee beseeching thee for thy owne merits and goodnes to accept a forlorne and despayring sinner who without thy mercy is readie to bee swallowed vp by the eternall gulfe of hell fire Moderate O Lord my sicknesse and paines that I may the freelier haue recourse vnto thee strengthen and confirme my fainting and decaying voyce that I may the earnestlier cry vnto thee And aboue all O my most sweete and amiable Lord comfort and aide my drooping and fearefull heart that I may continually meditate on thee that if it bee thy will and pleasure I may escape the vengeance prepared for those that dye out of thy fauour and if thou shalt please to call mee forth of this mortall life I may liue with thee put on immortality euen for thy holy Names sake to which be all honour glory world without end Amen 72. A Prayer to be said before any worke wee goe about IN vaine O Lord rise wee earely and sit vp late eating the bread of carefulnesse turmoyling and tormenting our selues with great labour and wearisomnesse vnlesse thou O Lord giue a blessing In vaine toyleth the Husbandman plowing and sowing vnlesse thou water it and giue the increase In vaine endangereth himselfe the Marchant furrowing and turning vp the waters vnlesse thou prosper and guide his Ship Since thou fillest euery thing with blessing be pleased at this time onely Lord and Sauiour to looke mercifully and fauourably on the industries and labours of thy seruant and multiply them as thou didst the old womans Iar who gaue of it to the Prophet grant that wee may prosper and haue giuing of our abundance to those poore brethren that want it rather then to bee driuen to aske it Yet in all O Lord thy will bee done to the extremest pouertie nay death it selfe Giue me O Lord a true feeling of my selfe that I may rather respect goodnesse then gaine and aime rather to liue honestly then richly affecting a mediocritie not aboundance lest I be puffed vp with the vaine and gawdy shew of vncertaine wealth Grant O blessed Lord and Sauiour that I may in all my courses and enterprises haue before my eyes the end whereunto they should be directed which is onely in this warfare and pilgrimage to prouide me necessaries for my voyage to that holy Land wherein al thy children and seruants haue before the beginning of the world a portion and inheritance laid out and reserued that I may with that prouidence and care so furnish and store my selfe that I be neither forced with Esau for want and indiscretion to sell my birth-right for fading and transitory reliefe nor with the proud and mighty exalted with the infinitenesse of their treasure despise and grow carelesse of it but in all things making my selfe obedient to thy will be found worthy to take possession of it Grant this O sweete Iesus Amen 73. A Prayer for Remission of sinnes I Humbly confesse O Almightie and euer-liuing Lord that I am vnworthy the bread thou in thy mercie bestowedst on me vnworthy to infect the ayre with my breath who spend it to thy dishonour and my owne defamation most vnworthy the least of thy blessings which I haue plentifully receiued of thee and that I tremble to come into thy presence my sinnes striking horrour and terrour to my heart lest I be swallowed vp for my offences and wickednesses daily committed and yet vnrepented But O most mercifull and all-louing Father take thy Eye I beseech thee from them lest thou in thy iustice bring me to destruction and fixe it on the bitter Passion of thy deare Sonne behold him O Lord scourged buffeted reuiled spet vpon and despitefully crucifyed for the hainousnesse of these my transgressions and in the preciousnesse of this satisfaction be pleased O Lord to giue eare to the humble and sorrowing lamentation of a despised and contemned sinner who is heartily and truely sorry for these his misdeeds and trespasses desiring thee of thy infinite bounty to inspire him with thy grace that hee may for euer hate and detest the guilt and monstrousnesse of them Strike mee O Lord with a true feare not onely of thy mightinesse and iudgements but of thy mercies and louing kindnesse that I may bee vtterly ashamed and confounded to offend so fauourable and indulgent a Father who hath not dis-inherited nor cast off so notorious and disobedient a sonne but in his mercy reserued a portion for mee which O blessed and all-louing Lord make me worthy of that I may euer praise and glorifie thy clemencie world without end 74. A Prayer for Perseuerance SInce O Lord not hee that attempteth the course but he that continueth to the end not those Virgins who came late but they that watched continually haue the promised and expected reward giue me aboundantly of thy blessing that I
that by the sweet assistance of thy holy Spirit wee may increase in continuall innocencie and day by day more and more bee adorned with the flowers of vertue alwaies growing vp in the knowledge of thy excellencie that wee may receiue a blessing at thy hand to spread and flourish bringing forth good fruits of a quiet conscience and sweete smelling sauours of a pure zeale and charitable deuotion euen for Iesus Christs sake Amen 78. A Prayer in Summer EVer-mouing time O mercifull Father deliuereth according to thy behests in their due seasons the foure quarters of the yeare and from thy bountie we receiue their timely fruits the Spring hath alreadie discharged and vnloaded himselfe bestowing with a full hand the small store he hath beene entrusted withall leauing great hope of plentie and aboundance Prosper it O Lord and bring it along to maturitie and ripenesse for now that blessed and great Light which thou madest to rule the day sheadeth his influence and comfort to all things mouing vpon the earth The Hills leape and are ioyfull the Flouds clap their hands and all creatures growe buxome and liuely hauing a feeling and sense of thy blessing Grant vnto vs O Father of all goodnesse that we bee not more insensible then the beasts but that wee may giue thee honour and glorie in the acknowledgement of thy innumerable and vnmatchable benefits for whose onely seruice the Earth is thus gayly apparelled the Trees thus plentifully enriched and the wombe of the earth great with assured expectation of a happie deliuerie Let not O Lord the violent burning of the Sunne ioyned with the locking vp thy heauenly Conduits parch it and dry it to nothing profitable nor the remisnesse or slackenesse ioyned with an ouer-flowe of waters leaue it raw and vnseruiceable but giue euerie fruit O Lord maturity and perfection that we may ioyfully receiue the blessing of it and prayse thee the bestower and giuer Amen 79. A Prayer to bee sayd in Autumne THou hast showred O Lord fulnesse and perfection vpon the fruites of the earth and euerie growing thing laboureth with a happie increase the rancke grasse boweth itselfe to the Mowers hand the heauie loaden Trees acknowledging homage offer themselues to be gathered and the fulnesse of the Vine yeeldeth his iuice without the wine-presse the ripe hanging eares listen for a Sythe and all the works of thy hand which thou hast planted heere for the seruice of man acknowledge thy command and are readie to bee tasted All these O Lord obedient to thy will in the course of nature answere the ends of their creation onely wee miserable creatures following our sences and the lusts of the flesh refuse thy holy inspirations and seduced by Satan oppose our selues against thy reuealed will New mould vs O Lord and breake our stubborne and stony hearts that the seeds of thy Gospell may take deepe roote in vs and bring forth the fruits of a liuely faith constant hope and burning charitie to thy Honour and our owne saluation Amen 80. A Prayer to bee said in Winter THE yeere is waxen old as a garment and all the fresh colours which beautified the face of the earth are withered and decayed the Sun with-holdeth his influence the heauens their brightnes and the day his comfort taken from him by the vncomfortable hand of desolate Night The Trees haue lost their Ornament the Fields their rayment and all beasts and cattell their vigour and liuelihood Man himselfe is discomforted in the poorenesse and barrennesse and the vnprouident man who hath not laid vp nor taken from the fruitfulnesse of Summer growes desperate certaine of nothing but perishing The Season affoording no worke nor the day any continuance the lately broad-leaued branches no shelter nor the fields any sustenance Grant vs O mercifull Father warned by the example of his extreme and vnredeemable miseries to labour in the Haruest and lay vp of our well-gotten store against the vncomfortable day of sicknesse or latest Age when weakenesse and naturall infirmities giue vs no time or thought to get in new prouision and our vncharitablenesse to our selues take from vs the charitie of others hardening their hearts against vs Giue vs grace to watch and labour continually supplying our Lamps daily with holy Oyle lest at the dead of night we be called on and being vnprouided be left behind or wander in the darkenesse astray and comming late be shut out for euer and euer from all happinesse and blessednesse confined to a place where there is nothing to be heard but perpetuall howling and gnashing of Teeth Amen 81. A Prayer in Aduersitie and Affliction LET not my enemies O Lord triumph ouer mee nor the hand of the oppressor preuaile against mee Bee neere vnto me in the day of trouble and say vnto my soule I am thy helper thou which mercifully redeemedst Ioseph from the hands of his brethren who causelesly sought his life and turnedst their hate to his glorie and promotion deliuering him from the lust of his Masters wife and her wilye accusation Thou which rescuedst thy people Israel by a mightie hand and strong arme from the tyrannie of Pharaoh and the vnequall Taxes of the hard Egyptians Thou which gauest Iacob grace in the sight of his brother Esau boyling against him and threatning fire and destruction planting a sure shield before thy beloued seruant Dauid to keepe him safe from the inuasion of the terrible Goliah and a wise guard to preuent the plots of subtill Saul proclaiming Susanna innocent contagiously spotted by the poysonous breath of the fore-sworne Elders Thou which raisedst thy glory from the three Children condemned and throwne into the Furnace whose fire and extreme heate came forth and eate vp the Feeders yet spared and against his nature sindged not the garments of thy seruants walking and singing euerlasting and glorious Hymnes of thy Deitie in the midst of it Thou which neuer forsakest any of thy seruants in their torments and persecutions giuing them either an vnconquered patience to suffer or a glorious courage to ouercome all the temptations which hell can fasten Bee pleased Almighty euer-liuing and onely powerfull Iehouah to be neere thy seruant in these his afflictions and troubles and to stand by him in this day of his tryal lest he fall confounded and sinke vnder the heauy burden of his tyrannous oppressions Want O Lord in the lowest degree hath incompassed me Shame and Ignominy in the highest degree haue set me round about Slanders oppose themselues against me and beare me downe face to face and ill tongues in secret at my back oppresse me my friends are fled my acquaintance hath forsaken me and my kindred deresting my pouerty deny my Allyance Where can I then plant my hope Where should I else seeke for refuge and harbour then of so mercifull and all-louing a Father and who vpon sub-mission disdaineth not his basest and most riotous son who came into the world to bee a Father to the fatherlesse an eye
to the blinde a staffe to the lame and a most heauenly and neuer-erring Physician to all that labour vnder any disease Come vnto mee saith our blessed Lord all yee that are oppressed and I will ease you O mercifull and generall comfort as certaine to be done as it is spoken I prostrate my selfe humbly before thee and desire thee of thy infinite mercy if such be thy will and pleasure to let this transitorie and bitter cup passe from me yet not my will but thy blessed will bee done who alone knowest what is fittest to tame my stubborne and rebellious affections and to morrifie in me all vaine and aspiring thoughts that I may wholly desire to bee dissolued and liue with thee where eternall and neuer-ending peace and piety haue their habitation 82. A Prayer to our blessed Sauiour MOST mercifully louing Lord Redeemer and Sauiour of the world I wretched and detestable sinner leprous all ouer and more spotted with sinne then the blessed Iob with sores which no Poole can euer cure all humble prostrate my selfe before thee not desiring thee to lay thy blessed and happy-making hand vpon so vlcerous a creature nor to cast thy pittying and fauourable eye vpon so displeasing and hatefull an obiect but onely O Lord if so poore and vnworthy a worme may aspire to request of so high and great a Deitie one word from thy heauenly lips to make me whole but say the word O Lord and I shall passe the Snow in whitenesse and cast my sicke and aged imperfections renewing my selfe like the strong Eagle at thy command whole Legions of sinnes which carry mee head-long to ruine and perdition shall passe from mee and I remaine praysing and gloryfying thy holy name the numnesse and deadnesse of my vncharitable hand vpon thy Word shall stretch it selfe forth and bee exercised in deeds of loue and mercy vpon thy Word my wilfull and naturall blindnesse shall bee taken away and I restored to a perfect and good sight gloriously beholding thee in thy reuealed Wil and wonderfully in thy workes vpon thy Word I shall easily heare and fully vnderstand thy Diuine and heauenly Mysteries and lay them vp in my heart for my comfort and consolation The Iewes O Lord had eares and heard not eyes and saw not hands and felt not thy apparant and astonishing miracles they saw before their eyes the blind receiue their sight the dead restored to life they heard with their eares the dumbe speake and glorifie thy holy Name they felt thy naturall and heauenly begotten Bodie and yet beleeued not Blessed are they which haue not seene and haue beleeued But say the word O Lord and I shall be made partaker of that heauenly benediction acknowledging thee the Son of the euer-liuing God borne of the blessed Virgin crucified vnder Pontius Pilate giuing ouer thy life buried and rising againe on the third day for the redemption and saluation of mankinde I shall lay hold of thy precious Passion and bury all my misdeeds in thy life-giuing wounds to bee washt away with thy vnualuable bloud for euer will I kneele for this Word for euer remaine a deuout and humble Petitioner that all these things may bee done vnto mee and I become a new creature spirited anew with thy holy Spirit for euer praysing and magnifying thy holy Name louing it aboue my selfe and adoring it to the end all generations may approoue thy power in the conquest of hell death and sinne Amen 83. A Prayer in time of Lent O Benigne and bountifull Sauiour our onely Aide Comforter and Redeemer the preseruer of all Mankinde the glorie and hope of all mortality who whilst thou wandredst here amongst vs putting on perfect Humanity sufferedst thy selfe to be carryed into the Wildernesse and tempted of the deuil gloriously ouercomming him by prayer fasting to leaue vnto vs the ordinary ready meanes to resist all his subtill suggestions prescribing the same meanes to thy Apostles for the dispossessing Satan and hast also left vs many examples in thy holy Prophets blessed Fore-runner who liued in the Woods on Locusts and wilde Hony giuing vs a liuely and perfect Patterne who didst all for our example of thy owne blessed abstinence and moderation Grant O mercifull and blessed Sauiour that wee may this blessed and holy time of Lent attend more especially the spirituall food of our soules chastising and subduing the lusts and heate of the flesh by temperate and thrifty dyet lest of a seruant hee become a Master rebelling against the Spirit Mortifie in vs O Lord all wilde and loose desires ranging and disordered appetites which sowe dissention betwixt me and thee making me fearefull to enter and vnworthy to stand in thy presence and plentifully enrich mee with thy grace that I may do thy workes seriously meditate on thy Passion and take it to heart detesting and abandoning my sinnes the onely cause so great a Lord was so meanely intreated so gentle a Sauiour so vngently vsed and so mercifull and louing a Redeemer so vnmercifully and hatefully tormented by his owne subiects and seruants in the recouerie of their inheritance and freedome And if the children of men after the decease of a louing father expresse their griefe to the world by putting on mourning garments confining themselues to their Chamber and through anguish of heart forbearing their necessarie food was euer a worthier cause or a sorrow better beseeming the sonnes of Adam or a time more conuenient then in the yeerely obseruing and celebrating the dayes of their Lord and Masters torments and funeralls who dyed and was persecuted for them Grant vs therefore O Lord we may fast and deuoutly pray bitterly lamenting our sins and misdeeds which gaue thee vp to the death of the Crosse 84. A Prayer against temptation LEade vs not into temptation O Lord but deliuer vs from all euill sinne lyeth in waite to betray vs and Satan baiteth vs with opportunity he knoweth O mercifull Father our affections and by our actions ghesseth at our thoughts our inclinations he is cunning in and in subtilty who can surpasse him He deceiued our first parents whom thou hadst endued with excellent and Angell-like vnderstanding colouring his malice with carefull pretences many of thy choysest seruants he hath beguiled and triumphed neither is his inueterate and cankred enuy mitigated his power abated his knowledge decayed or his delight in wickednesse measured or lessened He is mighty in perswasions mighty in the meanes and most cunning in applying them He hath conquered the world that world our flesh and our flesh vs Who can suspect so great offers for dissimulation or mischiefe And who so neere and inseparable a friend which tendreth them Thus are the wisest O blessed Lord and Sauiour by a seeming shew of what is good circumuented thus the strongest with their owne confidence ouerthrowne Against so powerfull an enemie so powerfully followed but by thy neuer-yeelding grace what hope of resistance Stay him O Lord in his swiftnesse and bring