meditate very profitable to euery Christian WAtche and Pray Part. 4. that ye enter not into temptation c. For the deuyll your aduersary goeth about lyke a roaryng lion seking whō he may deuoure Committe thy selfe and all thye doinges vnto god with feruent and faithfull praier and then doubte nothing at all of the good and profitable successe of the same Pray before thou comest into any cōpany that thou geue no offēce in worde or dede but rather mayst geue good exaumple to edyfie Pray also that thou mayst marke wel and immitate that whiche is well done and spoken and that thou maist forget and flie from that whiche is euyll doone or spoken of any one where thou shalte come Pray when thou art come alone from company with any that god wyl make them to forgette the euyll example thou hast geuen in worde or dede In euery prayer begge of god the spyrite of grace and prayer zacha 12. that thou maist haue delight in praier and talking with God aske I say continually his holy spirite with encrease of Faith Hope In euery benefite behold goddes grace and stay not the considering of the same tyll thou comest to the oryginall rote that is the grace of god in Christ before the worlde was made so shal euery benefite confirme thy Faith Speake thinke and do al thinges as in the sight of god and as vnto god Of all thy thoughtes Eccle. 7. woordes and dedes consider the ende and thou shalt neuer do amisse Trust in god whē thou felest no cause in thy selfe for that is the gretest honour thou canst geue vnto him and a sure token that thou arte his Chylde for euer When thou beholdest any of the workes of god beware thou do it not to cōprehende him for so thou loosest thy labour but loke vpon theym to beholde him to be a God of might and power in the diuersitie of theym to be exceadynge wise by the multitude of theym to be good and gracious whiche hath so done them that they ought to be had in remēbraunce of vs And when thou hast this profite by them then be thou thanckful to god who hath geuen it thee The more sure we are of our saluatiō that we be the children of god the temples of the holy ghost the inherytours of heauen the more we cannot but loue long for the dissolutions of our bodies Vse therfore to beg of god by continual praicr his spirite to cōfirme you in this certen perswasion that god loueth you In the lawe behold god to be thy god to be holy to be iust and seuere against synne and thy selfe vnholy vniust and full of contumacie therfore not mete nor worthy to be where god is but to be reiected frō him and worthy dampnation therfore feare him sinne not In the gospell beholde god to be thye father to loue the euerlastingely to for geue thee all thy synnes to geue thee eternall saluation through his sonne Iesus Christe who hath ouercome sinne death and hell for thee hath brought lyfe ymmortalitie vnto light therfore loue him as a son loue hym for he loued thee fyrst loue hym I say in and for his Christ loue his Christ loue him euer Onely beleue in him forget not to be thanckefull to hym for that he is thy god and thy father for his loue for his Christ for thy saluation for the forgiuenesse of thy synnes for thy delyueraunce from dispaire for the sure certificate of thyne election for the delyueraunce from errour into his truthe for calling the into this grace wherin thou standest and therfore reioyce in hope of the glory of God R. Coles A Complaynt of the Tiranny vsed against the sainctes of god conteyning a confession of our sinnes a praier for the deliuerance and preseruation of the Church and confusion of the enemyes ** ETernall and euerlyuinge god father of our lord Iesus Christ who hast commaunded vs to praye and promised to heare vs euē when we do call from the pyt of desperation the miseries of these our moste wycked dayes compell vs to poure forth before thee the complaintes of our wretched hartes oppressed wyth sorrowe Our eyes do beholde and our eares do heare the calamities and opressions whiche no tongue canne expresse neyther yet alas doo oure dull hartes rightly consider the same For the Heathen are entred into thine inherytance they haue poluted thy sanctuarye prophaned and abolished thy blessed instytutions moste cruelly murthered and dayly doe murther thy deare children Thou hast exalted the arme and force of our enemies thou hast set vs forth as a praye to ignomy and shame before such as persecute thy truth Their wayes do prosper they glory in mischefe speake prowdely agaynste the honoure of thy name Thou goest not forth as a captaine before our hostes The edge of our sword which somtime was most sharp is now blunt and doth returne without victorye in battaile It apereth to our ennemies O lorde that thou hast broken that league whiche of mercie goodnes thou hast made with thy churche For the libertie whiche they haue to kil thi childrē like shepe and to shed their bloudde no man resistinge doth soo blynde and puffe theim with pride that they ar not ashamed to affirme that thou regardest not our intreatinge Thy longe suffering and pacience maketh them hold from crueltie to procede to the blasphemy of thy name And in this meane season alas we do not consider the heauines of our sinnes which longe haue deserued at thye handes not onely these temporall plagues but also the tormentes prepared for the inobediēt For we knowing thy blessed will haue not applyed our dilygence to obey the same but haue folowed for the most parte the vaine conuersation of the blind world and therfore in very iustice hast thou visited our vnthanckfulnesse But O lorde if thou shalt obserue and kepe in mind for euer the iniquities of thy children then shal no fleshe abide nor be saued in thy presence And therfore cōuicted in our own consciences that most iustly we suffer as punished by thy hande do neuerthelesse cal for mercy according to thy promes And first we desire to be corrected with the rod of thy children by the whiche we maye be brought to a perfect hatred of synne and of our selues therfore that it would please thee for Christ Iesus thy sonnes sake to shewe to us thy whole church vniuersally persecuted the same fauoure and grace that some times thou diddest whē the chiefe members of the same for anguish and feare were compelled to cry why haue nations raged why hathe the people made vprores and why haue princes kings coniured against thyne anointed Christ Iesus Then diddest thou wonderfully assiste and preserue thy smale and dispersed flock then diddest thou burste vp the barres and gates of yron then dyddest thou shake the foundations of stronge prysons then dyddeste thou plague the cruell
to mortifie my erthly membres Ro. 8. Yea dere father sithe thy spirite which raised vp Christ frō death dwelleth within mee do thou who raisedst Christ frō death quickē my mortal body through thy spirite so dwellyng in me I beseche thee Iohn 14. Yea lorde Iesu according to thy promise because thou art now gone to thy father make me work this wōderful great worke the thou speakest of I meane make me Collo 3. being of my self but a lumpe of synne and a monster moste ougly as the vyces whereon the membres of my earthly body aboue declared to be compacte doo proue make me I saye yet throughe thy grace to hate abhorre flee and subdue all adultery whoredome vncleannes vnnaturall lustes euyl concupiscence vnordinate desyres wantonnes tendernes delicatenes idlenes drunkennes gluttony slouthfulnes distruste dispaire ignoraunce weakenes wilfulnes Idolatry superstition hypocrisie heresye errour sectes variaunce strife wrath enuie slaunders lyeng swearing cursyng vayne glory pride couetousenes thefte disceite flattery and what so euer elles lord feighteth or rebelleth against thy holy spirite And then lorde Father I will boast and make vaunte agaynste myne ennemie the deuyll that I haue doone greater workes then thy dere sonne Iesus dyd at what tyme he spake these wordes amōg the iewes because Iohn 14. albeit he vanquissehed Sathan yet in as muche as he hym selfe was vtterly without synne the victorie semed the wore easy But I to vanquishe sathan being my selfe altogether synful yea contrary to my most synfull nature to subdue synne the deuyll and myne owne fleshe it seemeth a more victorye and greater worke then the other For the whiche neuerthelesse I wyll with all submission acknowledge vnto thy diuyne maiestie taht the whole victory lord in deede is thine and thy holy spirit the begynner and fynisher bothe of the will and worke Nowe therfore Lorde Iesu strēthen me with thy grace myght that thou mayste by me a moste synfull wretch drawe al these my earthly membres and horrible vices before rehersed vnder my feete that I maye not onely mightely fyght againste them but also subdue them so that they may al turne to the best for me Rom. 8. Io. 12. as mete matter wheron I may exercise my fayth powre forth harty prayer and geue thee most hartye thanckes for victorie whereby I maye learne haue experience that thou haste in me drawen althinges vnto thee in so muche as thou thus lord of thy diuine power drawest bothe the deuill and the synne that dwelleth in mee to set forth thy honour and glory whiche thyng for thy mercies sake brynge to passe O God my creatoure preseruer and euerlastinge defēdour ¶ A Prayer of a christian man expressing his great anguishe heuines of minde that he had before time for his sinnes for that he felt not his hart cōforted in the ioy of gods great loue towardes him with the maner of his prayers groninges which he then made nowe powreth forth againe vnto god for his grace assistance in his new assaultes wherby the broken harted afflicted for their sinnes maye learne to stirre vp strengthen their faith and hope in like dangers and trouble of conscience 1. EVen in the myddes of the desperate assaultes of my soule the intollerable heuinesse of my minde hath heretofore Lorde cryed as shrill in thine eares as thoughe I had shryked and with lamentations cryed out saying Help helpe me my god my creatour my most prouident keper and euerlasting defender for beholde I peryshe 2 On this occasion Lorde that heauines of mynd did heretofore assault me I remembred that thou haddeste manye tymes set before myne eyes the wonderfull greatues of thy most tender loue towardes me by great multitude of thy benefites powred vpon me whiche benefytes euery of thy workes as they came before mine eyes gaue me iuste occasyon to be mindefull of 3 Wolde not thought I if I had in a maner any grace at all wolde not suthe loue brynge nowe into my harte a wonderfull delectation comforte ioye in god for the same 4 And againe coulde suche delyghte in goddes swete mercy and tender loue towardes me if I were not as euyll as a cast awaye that were none of goddes chyldren be without lothing of my syn and lust desire to do goddes holy wyl And these thinges thought I fye vpon the vnthankeful wretche are either not at all in me or elles in deede so coldelye and sclenderly that they beynge truelye waied and compared to righteousenes Esa 64. are more vile then a sylthye clothe starched in corrupte bloudde 5 Oh thought I I am aferd I haue deceyued my selfe for thy seruauntes at al times I trowe feele otherwise then I nowe do the fruites of thy spirite as Loue Ioye Peace and suche lyke But my loue alas towards thee what is it my ioye oh woe is my hart therefore is not once almost felte of me for my very soule within me as Dauid in his heuynes said refuseth comfort and fareth as though it dyd vtterly despaire Psal 77. And what peace can I feele then or certaintie of thy fauoure and loue Iustely may I powre out this dolorous lamentation of Sion the lorde hath forsaken me Esai 49. and my lorde hath forgotten mee 6 Euen in the middes I say of these my former desperate assaultes myne in tollerable heuines cryed to my god and from heauen he heard my gronynges therupon first prepared my hert to aske comfort of him then he heard my praier and gaue me plētefully my asking 7 Oh my soule consider wel that thou art neuer hable to declare the excedynge goodnes of god in this that he heard the very desires of thee being afflicted who is soo redy fauourablye to graunte the requestes of the afflicted that often tymes he taryeth not vntyll they do call but or euer they cal vpon him he fauourably heareth thē as the psalmist saith the desires of the afflicted thou heareste O lorde thou preparest theyr hartes thine care heareth fauourably Psal 10. 8 Oh lorde my god marueilous thinges are these whether I consyder this marueilous maner of thy hearing orels the marueilous nature and propertye of thy goodnes Marueilous no doubt is that thy hearinge wherby the very desires of the afflicted are hearde but muche more marueilous is this thye goodnesse which taryeth not vntyl the afflicted do desire thy help but prepareth first their hartes to desyre and then thou geuest them their desires 9 Yea Lorde worthye of all praise it can not otherwise be For how shouldst thou do otherwise then thy nature and propertie is art not thou very goodnes and mercy it self how canst thou then but pitie and helpe miserie 10 Art not thou both the creatour and also the conseruer of all thinges In so much as the lyons whelpes roaryng after their pray do seeke their foode at thy handes Psa 104. Psal 147. and the rauens byrdes lackyng meate
CERTAYNE GODLY EXARCISES MEDITACIONS AND PRAYERS VERY necessary and profytable for all persons and for all times set forthe by certayne godly lerned men to be vsed dayly as you shal be godly disposed and shall feele nede thervnto And also the Letany dayly vsed in Churches annexed to the ende hereof Ephesians vi i. Timothe ii ¶ Praie alwaies euery where with all maner of praier and that in the spirite lifting vp pure hartes and handes with out wrath or doubtinge ¶ IMPRINTED London in Fletestrete at the sygne of the George neere to saincte Dunstons churche by VVyllyam Powell ¶ Vse often and hartye prayer to God knowing that it is no lesse necessary for your soule therby to liue and contynue in godlines then water is for the life of fishe or dew is for the growth of grasse and herbes but if you wyll haue youre praier accepted of god se that you accept his worde For accursed be they sayth Sallomon and their prayer that wyll not heare the worde of god If I behold with fauour any wyckednes saith Dauid in my hart god will not heare me for he heareth no such synners as retainethe styll the purpose to continewe it sinne as hee stoppethe not hys eares to heare the prayers of the pore penitents but often before they pray he graunteth them their hartes desire I B. ¶ Occations to meditate to stirre vp the harte to praier IN your praiers thinke vpon the remission of sinnes promysed by and for Chryste and let there be in your remembraunce some most euidente and playne sentence to inflame stirre vp the mind as this Aske and ye shal haue c. And verely verely I saye vnto you what soo euer you shall aske the father in my name he wyll geue it you c. Asking al spiritual gifts without condicion and all temporall vppon condicion As Christ did Father if it be thy wyl let this cuppe passe frō me c. God commaundeth vs to aske of him We breake his commandment in not askynge We do his cōmaundement in asking of hym He promiseth to vs our askinge He is debtour to vs tyll he fulfill our askinge We make god a liar if we mistrust to obteine our askynge He is glorified in his sonne by giuing vs our askynge He longeth to haue vs aske of him loketh for it at our handes If we therfore turne not oure eares from his lawe but call vpon him wyth a stronge Faythe he will moste gladly geue vs our askynge Because we are necligent in askinge he doth of his fatherly goodnesse by necessities and troubles dryue prouoke vs to aske of hym And because we are ignoraunt in askinge he teacheth vs by his holy spirite sent into our hartes and by the prayer that therfore is called the lordes praier how what we shulde aske of him Let vs therefore in our necessitie and troubles aske of god our father and he for his sonnes sake will geue vs our askinge whose very nature and propertie is to relieue suche as are in necessitie and in deede our necessities are as lowde cryinges in his merciful eares A meditation vpon the Lordes prayer QVr father which art in heauen We gloriousely formed vnto the Image of thy deuine maiestie created by thy gracyouse goodnesse vnto highest honour how be it by our own sinfulnes diffigured with vilenes deseruinge dampnation and yet by Christes death redemed and restored vnto grace to be Citizens with sainctes of the family of God Nowe altogether in Christian vnitie as members of one body we pray desyre and trust to obtayne of thee our heauenly father accordinge vnto thy gracious goodnes mighty power and faithefull promise vnto vs that aske aboundaunce of thy grace That thy name may be halowed That thy diuine power and glorious maiesty may be certainely knowne and reuerently honoured That the hartes of vs men by thy word and prayer maye be sanctified from all sinne and vanity so that we with al that we haue seruing thee in holinesse righteousenesse may so shine afore men vpon earth that they therby may be occasion to honoure thee our father which art in heauen Thy kyngdome come Thy worde be so fruitfully preached amongest vs thy peple that we may be throughly instructed taught to brydle our sensual apetites by natural reason and to submit our wyttes reasons vnto a good godly spirite and to trye our spirites by the true scriptures So that within vs may raigne the kingdome of God which is neither meate nor drink whiche is neither supersticious ceremonies voluptuous pleasures nor vayne glory but righteousnes peace comforte in the holy ghost by the which we now tasting of thy heauenly ioyes may be made frō henceforth wery of al worldly vanities continually loking prayinge for the apperance and comming of thy eternall and euerlasting kyngdom Thy wyll be done in earth as it is in heauen In heauen the angelles of reuerente loue do thy will and commaundement with comfortable courage ioyful pleasure In hel the wicked spirits through malice and enuye repininge and grudging do torment and vexe them selues what so euer they be doinge And vpon earth men being subiect vnto sinne do thinke it a labour and paine to be occupied in any thing that is good and godly Wherfore we pray that the grace of thy heauenly spirite maye so worke in our earthly bodies that we being delyuered from sinne and vanitie may frely delite and take pleasure to do thye wyll and commaundement being men vpon earth as thy glorious aungels do whiche be in heauen Geue vs this day our dayly breade We hauinge great nede not hable of our selues to deserue any thing beseche the of thy fatherly goodnes to geue frely vnto all vs in general So that none be hurt nor hindered seuerally this day when as we crye constrained by present nede not craftely crauing for vayn care against to morow our dayly bread our daily and necessarie foode reliefe both bodely and ghostly And especially so that the spiritual foode of Christes flesh and his bloud by dayely preachinge of the gospell and ministracion of the sacramentes maye replenishe our hartes mindes with continual remembrance of Christes deathe and his passion dayly to be vsed for necessary and spirituall consolation Forgeue vs oure trespasses as we forgeue them that trespas against vs. Geue vnto vs that feling and knowing oure owne synfulnesse do nede and desire thy mercifull forgeuenes of oure fautes trespasses which we haue committed against thee so that we frely forgeuing all other that haue offended vs in any thyng what so euer it be may be sure that mercy springyng in thee hathe proceded vnto vs and being graciousely offred of thee hath ben thankefully receaued of vs and beinge charitably vsed of vs towardes other shal most certainly be confirmed and enlarged of thee toward vs So that by free mercy sprynging and proceding from thee al fautes maye be freely forgeuen euen as those
which other hath committed against vs so likewise those whych we haue done a gainst thee And leade vs not into temptation Suffer not the deuyll by the abuse of thy benefites to leade vs captyues into deceitefull and dampnable temptation drawing vs by deinty meates vnto gredy glotony by money and richesse vnto vnsaciable couetousenes and by wealth and prosperity vnto pryde vayne glory and by al thy godly gracious giftes vnto euery dyuelishe abominable sinne But deliuer vs from euill Deliuer our goodes from abuse our bodies from corruption our soules from damnation Deliuer vs by Christ Iesu from the bondage of sinne vnto the lybertye of the Gospell so that from all daunger of diuelishe temptation trayning and enticing men toward damnation we maye be deliuered to serue thee in holinesse and ryghteousenesse all the daies of our life with most certaine and sure hope of euerlasting saluation thorow Christ Iesu in whom our hope and thy promise is moste certaine that is to say Amen Your time is short your daungers be great you are well warned by Goddes worde written Mar. xiij Take hede watche and praye Take hede that your hartes and mindes be not made heauy hard and dull with meates and drink vaine plesures or worldly cares Watch with dyllygence to doe youre owne dewties in desyrous lokynge for Chrystes comming Praye that ye may escape all daungers and stande in grace and fauoure afore the face of Christ at his comminge T. Leuer APOCAL. XXII Beholde I come sone ¶ A prayer to be sayde in the mornynge O Almighty and moste gracyous God we hartely thancke thee for the swete slepe comfortable rest whiche thou hast geuen vs this nighte and for as muche as thou haste commaunded by thy holy worde that no man shoulde be idle but all occupied in godly and vertuous exercises euery mā according to his calling we most humbly beseche thee that thine eies may attende vpon vs dayely defende vs cherishe comforte and gouerne vs and al our counsayles studies and labours in suche wise that we maye spend and bestowe this day accordynge to thy moste holy wyll without the hurtynge of our neighbours and that we may diligentlye and warely eschewe and auoyde all thinges that shoulde displease thee set thee alwaies before our eies liue in thy feare workyng that may be founde acceptable before thy diuyne maiestie through Iesus Christ our lord So be it ¶ A Confession of our synnes O Mercifull and most louing father whose Loue is infinite whose mercye endureth for euer we sinfull creatures trustinge in thine vnspeakeable goodnes loue towardes vs do appere this mornynge before thy dyuyne maiestie most humbly confessing our manifold sinnes and innumerable transgressions of thy commaundementes and fatherly wyll against thee only against thee O lord haue we synned we acknowledge oure offences we accuse our selues vnto the O mercifull lord and wyl not hyde our vnrighteousnesse we fynde in our selues nothinge but ingnoraunce of thye wyll and disobedience mistrust doubfulnes in thy goodnes and incredulitie hatred contempt of all spirituall thinges selfe loue confidence in our selues and feruent lustinge after carnall thinges of this worlde and this tree of our corrupt nature bryngeth forth continually in vs none other fruictes but rotten and vnsauery workes of the fleshe in thoughtes wordes and doinges vnto condempnation Wherfore we humbly beseche thy fatherly goodnes euen for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake whome thou hast set forth for a purchaser of mercye vnto vs through fayth in hys bloud make our hartes cleane take away our stony hartes and geue vnto vs a true a liuely fayth whych shal worcke continually by loue throughe Christ haue mercy vppon vs forgeue vs our sinnes for thy sonnes sake certifye our consciences of remission of the same by thy holy spirite by whose operation so mortifye in vs our olde man the whole body of sinne that we continually dyeng vnto sinne may walke in newnesse of life to the glory of thy holy name through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen ¶ Before thou prayest beleue that god is not onely almighty to helpe and to delyuer thee but also that he is gracious and faythefull to fulfill all his promises made vnto vs. Then forgeue if thou hast any thing against any man And remember that thou commest not to god with a double harte but lyfte vp pure handes with oute wrathe or doubtinge O Almighty eternal euerliuing god 1. 2. Corin. 1. and. 2. 1. the eternal father of our Lorde Iesus Chryst whych haste made 2. heauen and yearthe 2. Ictes 4. the sea and al that therin is and of thy great goodnes didst open thy selfe from heauen madest proclamatiō of Iesus christ saieng 3 this is my deare sonne heare him 3. Matth. 3. thou maker of al thinges preseruer helper 4. Philip. 2. Ebre 1. with thy 4. coeternal sonne our lord Iesus Christ raignyng with thee and manifested in Ierusalem and thy holy ghost poured on the apostles O most wise good mercifull righteous iudge and also strong which hast sayde by thy prophet 5. Ezechi 18. 5. I will not the death of a sinner but that he cōuert and liue I thy pore creature and worke of thy handes do acknowledge and confesse vnto thee my manifold synnes and offences which I from my youth vp vnto this time haue greuously committed against thee in thought worde dede am now taught moued by thy word grace to be hartely sory for the same desiring thee which hast sayd 6. Psal 50. 6. call vpon me in the day of thy trouble and I wyll heare thee and delyuer thee for the precious bloudde sheading of Iesus Christ thy sonnes sake our lord whom thou wouldest to be made a slaine 7. Eb. 9. ◠10 7. sacrifice for our sinnes to haue mercy vppon mee and forgeue me all those myne offences according to thy great mercy promise whych haste sayde 8. Eze. 18. 8. at what time so euer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottom of his hart I will put al his wickednes out of my remembraunce O lorde I acknowledge and confesse that I was borne in sinne 9. Psal 51. Ephe. 2. Rom. 7. and. 9. conceiued in wickednes and am by nature a. 9. childe of wrath for that in my 9. fleshe as saincte Paule saith dwelleth no good thing and that of my selfe I am not able to think a good 10. thought that can please thee 10.2 Corin. 3. much lesse to wishe and least of al to doe that thou in thy lawe requireste of me to be done for 11. Gala. 3. Rom. 7. 11. thou hast saide cursed is he that continuethe not in all thynges that are written in the lawe to do them againe thy lawe is 11. spiritual but I am carnall solde vnder sinne therfore o lorde I call vnto thee for grace whyche haste saide 12. Math. 7. 12. aske and ye shall haue seeke
chyldren in token of thy great wrathe against synne what shal we loke for who do no lesse deserue thy feareful scourge and of mercy it is that thou doeste thus lenge forbeare vs but liue as though there were no god at all to be reuenged vpon our sinnes It maketh vs to feare and cry inwardly in our sowles Come lord Iesu Apor 22. holy and trus in al thy doinges and shortē our dayes brynge this our pilgremage to an ende suffer vs not to heape synne vpon synne vnto the day of vengeaunce leste we be taught vp amongest the numbre of the wicked and reprobate whiche shall neuer see thy louyng countenaunce It maketh vs to crye to thee o lorde Let thy kingdome come ende this our synfull lyfe wherin we do nothing but rouoke thee to wrath Psal 6. Correcte vs not O lorde in thyne indignation neyther chasten vs in thine heauy displeasure thoughe to vs belongeth nothinge but shame and confusion though our offences haue deserued to be visyted with the rodde and our sinnes with scourges Psal 89. yet in mercy lorde and with fatherly correction chasten vs and thy louinge kindenes take not away from vs. To thee we flee for succour vnder the winges of thy mercy shall be our refuge vntill thou turne thy wrathfull countenaunce from vs. Psal 57. We knowe that thye mercy is aboue all thye workes and euen as great as thy selfe Eccle. 2. Therfore wil we say with holy Iob though thou kill vs yet wyll we put our trust in thee Thou cammest to comforte and plucke out of the dungeō of hel such wretches as wee are Luke 10. thou art the good Samaritane that cameste to heale our deadlye woundes thou art that good phisition that camest to cure our mortal infyrmities thou arte the good shepeherd that camest to seke vs wanderinge and loste sheepe Luke 15. and to bringe vs to thy folde againe and more then that thou art our brother Eph. 5. fleshe of our flesh and boane of our boanes whiche haste tasted of oure infirmities Esa 53. felte our temptations and borne the burden of our synnes Therfore at thy handes wee looke for mercy againste the daye of vengeaunce And thoughe thou punyshe vs yet our hope is and euer shall be that thy rodde shal no further touche vs then shall make to thy glory our commoditie the streng thenyng and increace of our faythe Let this thy preaching sundry wayes O lord be sufficient for our warning and graunte that we maye spedely and from the bottome of our hartes repent endeuour to do thy righteouse and blessed wyll reueled in thy word and frame our lyues accordinge to the same that we maye here liue in thye feare all the dayes of our lyfe and after this our sin ful course is ended may dwel with-thee in thy blessed kyngedome throughe the death and merites of Iesus Christe our onely redemer So be it When thy wrathe is kendeled O Lorde blessed are all they that put their trust in thee Psal 2. ¶ A prayer for fayre weather O God and mercifull father we acknowledge that we through our manifolde sinnes haue deserued to be sharpely rebuked and corrected of thee But if thou shuldest deale with vs after our synnes we are not hable to abyde thy wrath heuy hand Wherfore deale mercifully with vs O Lorde after the greatnes of thy goodnes and the multitude of thy mercies that we rather may reioyce and be thankeful vnto thee for the aboundance of thy great mercies and louing kindenes then be caste downe and discouraged by the heauy waight of thy hande In thy handes O lord are both heaven and earth So gouerne them therfore we besech thee for thy names sake that we maye haue seasonable weather to receaue the fruites of the earth Stay the immoderate plentie of rayne and vnseasonable weather and powre rather vpon vs the plentyfull dewe of thy spytite that we may daily grow to the perfection of christen menne Take awaye from vs our stony hartes geue vnto vs in the stede therof hartes of fleshe that we may cease at the length thus to prouoke thy wrathe to brynge vpon vs eyther this so great a plague as the losse of the fruites of the earthe eyther elles other plagues of thy iuste iudgement Graunte that we maye so repente vs of our former euils that hereafter the worthy fruites of true repentaunce may continually appere therin and soo to passe ouer and to ende this our mortall lyfe that at the last we may attaine vnto the blessed resurrection and lyfe euerlasting through Iesus Christ our lorde Amen ¶ A Prayer to be said before the receauing of the communion O Father of mercy and god of all consolation seinge all creatures doe knoweledge and confesse thee to be theyr gouernoure and lorde Apoc. 5. it becommeth vs the workmanship of thine owne handes at all times to reuerence and magnifie thy godly maiestie Fyrste Gent. 1. for that thou hast created vs to thine own ymage and similitude but chiefly because thou hast delyuered vs frō that euerlasting deathe and dampnation Ephe. 2. Gal. 1. Gene. 3. into the whiche Sathan drewe mankinde by the meanes of synne frō the bondage wherof neyther man nor Angell was hable to make vs free Act. 4. Hebre. 1. Apoc. 5. but thou o lorde ryche in mercye and infinite in goodnes haste prouyded our redemption to stande in thine onely and welbeloued sonne whome of verye loue thou diddeste geue to be made man lyke vnto vs in al thinges Iohn 3. Hebre. 8. Hebre. 4. 1. Pet. 2. Es 43.53 Mat 3.17 Iere. 31. Heb. 8. Rom. 5. Heb. 2. Iohn 6. Gene. 3. Rom. 5. Ephe. 3. synne excepted that in his body he mighte receyue the punishement of our transgressiō by his death to make satisfaction to thy iustice and by his resurrection to destroye him that was authour of deathe and so to bringe againe lyfe to the worlde frō which the whole ofspring of Adam was most iustely exiled O lord we acknowledge that no creture was able to comprehende the lēgth and breadth the depenes and heighte of that thy most excellent loue whiche moued thee to shew mercy where none was deserued Ephe. 2. Io. 6.17 Ephe. 2. Gene. 6. Rom. 3. Esai 64. Psal 5.12 Rom. 7. Mat. 10. 1. Cor. 2 Luke 11. Mar. 10. Math 26. Luke 22. 1. Cor. 11. to promise and geue life wher deathe had gotten victory to receiue vs into thy grace whē we could do nothing but rebell against thy maiestie O lorde the blinde dulnes of our corrupt nature wyll not suffer vs sufficiently to weigh these thy most ample benefites yet neuerthelesse at the commaundemente of Iesus Christ our lorde we presente our selues to this his table whiche he hath lefte to be vsed in remembraunce of his deathe vntyll his comminge againe to declare and witnesse before the worlde that by hym alone we haue receiued lybertie
DEare father to whome it is more easie to do all thinges then for me to thyncke anye one good thing Lo do thou but speake a worde and thy deadly sicke seruaunte my soule shall be made whole Helpe O Lord let thy strength suffise against my weakenesse and thy holy spirite againste my synfull fleshe and olde man Thou art true and faithfull O Father who hast promysed that I shall not bee tempted further then thou wile make me able to beare 1. Cor. 10. Geue therefore thy power vnto thy seruaunt that I may with a stronge fayth in thyne infallible truthe and promysed mercy vanquishe subdue what so ouer rebelleth against thy most blessed wills Do this O Father for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake our deare Lorde and gracious redemer Amen ¶ A Prayer to God the Father for the true knowledge of the mystery of our redēption in Christ O Almyghty God and father of our lorde Iesus Christ and by hym also our father the father of all mercy and god of all consolation haue mercye vppon vs and heare our prayers We most humbly beseche thee for thy deere sonne Iesus Chrystes sake his merites and cruel death whiche he suffered to delyuer vs from eternall deathe and the power of darkenes geue into our harts the spirite of truth to worke in vs a true liuely and stedfaste faithe that the cleare lyghte and brightenesse of thy gospell the glorye of Christ may shyne vnto vs and lyghten our myndes that we may learne vnderstande the wonderfull and vnspeakeable rychesse of the misteric of our redēption in Christ and by Chryst O father of glory geue vnto vs the spirite of wisedome brynge vs vnto the true knowledge of this thy beloued sonne Iesus Christe and the knowledge of thy selfe Open and lyghten the eyes of our mindes and vnderstandinge Ephe. 1. that we maye knowe what the hope is wherunto thou hast called vs and howe ryche the glory of thine inheritaunce is vppon thy sainctes and the excedinge greatnes of thy power towardes vs that by trewe fayth vnderstanding and knowledge of thine eternall wisedome whiche is Iesus Christe we may be in deede as wee are called true christians and vnfained professours of thye holy name to worshippe thee in spirite and truthe and to sette forthe the glory of thy grace geuen vnto vs in Christ Iesus our lord Amen O dere father write in our hartes loue to thy lawe hate to all synne thankefulnesse of heart and continual heate of thy holy spirite for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake To whom with thee and thy holy spirite be all honour maiestie glory thankes rule empire and dominion for euer more ¶ A prayer to be vsed of all sortes of men and at all times O Lord God for thy great mercies sake graūt vnto me these my petycions whych I shall make vnto the in Iesus Christes name and endue me with thy grace that I maye aske of thee in such sorte as thou requirest to the honour glory and prayse of thy holy name to the furtheraunce of thy worde the profitte of thy people and to my consolation and comforte throughe Iesus Christe our onely sauiour and readeuter So be it O Lord thou great and terryble god thou that kepest couenant merry with theym that loue thee and doe thy commaundementes let thyne eares be open that thou mayst heare the praiers of thy seruaunte which I make before thee at this time haue mercy vpon me thy pore creature worke of thine handes for I haue sinned done wickedly and haue offended thy maiesty greuously in that I haue gone backe departed from all thy preceptes and iudgementes haue not folowed thy seruaūtes the prophets the spake vnto me in thy name but haue from day to day prouoked thy iust wrath and indignation agaynst me O Lorde I knowledge and confesse my manifolde sinnes and wyckednesse the whiche I haue vnrighteousely committed against thee in thought worde dede fro my youth vp vntill this day for the which I am hartely sory and do vnfainedly repent purposing euermore through the assistaunce of thy grace to walke in a newe life Remember not lord the numbre of my misdedes I besech the but accordinge to thy great mercyes thinke vpon me Call to remembraunce for Christes sake thy louing kindnes and thy tender mercy the which hath euer bene of olde Hyde not thou thy face from me nor cast not of thy seruaunte in thy displeasure for I confesse my sinnes vnto thee and hide not mine vnrighteousnesse For thy mercies sake deliuer me from al my sinnes and make me not a scorne vnto the folyshe Tourne not away thy mercy frō me but let thy most louing kindnes truth alwaies preserue me Helpe me for thy names sake and deliuer me in thy strength Heare my prayer O lord and consider the wordes of my mouth for my misdedes preuayle agaynst me O be thou mercifull vnto my sinnes Let the sorowfull sighyng of thy prysoner come before thee and according to the power of thyne arme preserue those the be appoynted to dye for thy iust cause O Lord comforte the soule of thy seruant for vnto thee do I flee for succour Teache me to number my dayes that I may apply my hart vnto wisdome Satisfie me with thy mercy and that sone so shall I reioyce and be gladde in thee all the dayes of my lyfe Looke not extremely what is done amysse in me for I haue sinned againste heauen and before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy sonne yet lorde of thy great goodnes powre down some of the cromes that fall frō thy childrens table and make me as one of the least of them Rewarde me not accordyng to my deseruings for then I must nedes perishe for vnto me perteyneth nothinge but open shame confusion and damnation but with thee ther is mercy forgeuenes and saluacion O Lorde therefore doe I come vnto thee not hopyng in myne owne righteousnes but trusting onely in thy greate mercies and promises made vnto me in Chryst Iesu my lorde for whose sake I beseth thee to clense me from al my sinnes and do away all mine iniquities For thy tender mercy sake lay not my sinnes to my charge but forgeue that is paste and geue me grace to amende my lyfe to declyne from sinne and incline to vertue that I may walke in a perfect harte a cleue comience and single eye before thee this daye or nyght and euermore Remember not forde myne offences nor the offences of my forefathers neyther take thou beingeance of my sinnes spare me good Lorde spare me whome thou hast redemed with thy most precyous blonde and be not angrye with me for euer spare me good lord spare me Put me not frō thy presence oh thou god of al comfort but incline thine eare vnto my callyng Strengthen thy Seruaunte with the power of thy right hande and helpe the Sonne of thy handmayden Replenyshe my hart with grace wisedome
grace to do thy wyll all the dayes of my lyfe and to obteyne all these my peticions through Iesus Christ thy dere sonne my onely sauiour To whom be all honour and glory nowe and euer Amen Iohn Lydley ¶ A Godly Prayer for all Christen men O Almighty euer liuynge god thou God of all power before whose eyes all thinges lye naked and bare haue regarde vnto me moste miserable synner shews me the light of thy mercies let my praiers ascende vp before thy presence and be accepted in thy sight for Iesus Christes sake Geue thy holy spirite into my heart Oh Lord and lighten my vnderstanding that I maye dwell in the feare of thy name al the dayes of my life that I maye knowe thee the onely true god and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sente For I come vnto thee Oh Lorde thou louer of our soules not hoping in mine owne righteousenes but trusting onely vpon the multitude of thy great mercies whiche thou hast layde forthe before the eyes of all people offering saluation to the whole worlde and haste promysed that who so euer he be of the whole generation of man that wyll obey to thy grace Repent and tourne vnfaynedly from his synnes he shall haue free remission and forgeuenes through Iesus Christ our lord whiche is our onely aduocate and mediatour in whom our saluation lyeth of whom thou hast sayde This is my deere sonne in whom I am well pleased well pacifyed For this thy sonnes sake by whom I am bold to come vnto thee whiche appereth nowe inthy syght making continuall intercession for vs Haue mercy vpon me O thou mightye God and forgeue mee all my synnes which I haue vnrighteousely committed against thee in thoughte worde dede Oh let me feele thy mercies towardes mee for I do confesse my synnes vnto thee Oh lord and hide not mine vnrighteousenes I doo acknowledge mine offences and accuse my selfe before thee of all my misdeedes Helpe me O God my sauioure for the glorye of thy name O delyuer and forgeue me my synnes for thy riche mercies sake Remember not the offences of my youth O Lorde but thinke vppon thy great mercies and couenaunt made vnto me in Christ Iesus O most merciful father consider mine infirmities which are many and great and beare myne imperfection for thy sonne my Sauiour Iesus Christes sake which had good erperience of our infirmitie that he might be merciful vnto al them that are tempted consider how the ennemye hath gotten an open way into my fleshe wherein I confesse that there dwelleth nothynge but synne wretchednes and miserie Therefore I come vnto thee O Lord my God desiringe thee for Christes sake to renewe in mee a right spirite that I may receaue strength and hablenes to do thy wyll and to stande againste all the assaultes of the deuill that they maye haue no place in me but that the olde man which I bear about in my body may be crucified and dayly dye in me that the lustes of synne maye vtterly be destroyed that I maye euermore be renewed in the spyrite of my minde that the lyfe of Christ may alwayes appeare in me Good lord deliuer me from all kyndes of euyll as fornycation couetousenes malyciousnes enuy murder debate deceyte from whisperynge backbitinge contempt of the my neyghbour good lord deliuer me from euyll ielosie from doinge of wronge pride boasting from adultery vaine glory hipocrisie wantonnes ydolatry witchecrafte hatred variaunce zeale wrath strife seditiō sectes enuying drunkennes gluttony and other suche lyke Good lord for thy great mercies sake deliuer me and graunt me grace to haue thee alwaies before myne eyes that I may also haue a respect vnto thy iudgementes that whatsoeuer I say thincke or do may be agreable to thy holy word that I be not mynded as the vngodlye wycked men are Let me haue no pleasure in such thinges as please thē make me lowe in mine owne sighte O lorde that pryde selfe loue ouertake me not Let not the hand of the vngodly cast me downe but bowe my harte alwaies vnto thee that I may serue thee withoute feare all the daies of my lyfe in such holinesse and righteousenesse as is acceptable before thee Remoue frō me al vanities and lies take fro me the iustes of the bodye let not the desires of vnclennes take holde vppon me and geue me not ouer vnto an vnshamefast or obstynate minde but holde me alwayes vnder thy nurture and correction Of thy fatherly mercy leaue me not to my self but stand thou alwaies by me for I am to weake of myne owne power to do any thinge that is good but my ryghteousenesse strength lyeth onely in thee Therfore O lord I come vnto thee requirynge mercy in thy sight and the assistance of thy grace that I may be strengthened with power in the inwarde mā be armed with thy holy armour whiche is the brestplate of ryghteousenes the shylde of Fayth the hope of saluation for an helmet and the sworde of the spirite whiche is thy holy worde that I may stand parfecte in al that is thy wil and be founde worthy through Chryst to receyue a crowne of lyfe whiche thou hast promised to all them that loue thee in purenesse of mynde O Lord plant in me true obedience to thy holy lawe let not the cares of this world choke thi word in me Kepe me al so from all desceitefulnes of richesse and vncleane desyres that all vertues maye be planted in me Good Lorde geue me grace to walke before thee all the dayes of thys my Pilgrimage with good conscience and pure minde that when thou shalt appeare to rewarde euery man according to hys dedes I may reioyce and not be ashamed of the at thy comming Increase my faith O Lorde my sauyour in thee and in thy Christ Increase my loue O my Redemer to thee and to thy ryghteous people Increase a sure hope in me of my saluation O my Iustifier Increase strength in me to ouercome synne and to stande agaynste all euil temptaciōs that they haue no place in me Encrease in me true vnderstanding and pure iudgement in thy worde that I be not deceaued and caryed away in the errour of the wicked But graūte O lord that I may grow in thy grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ Let thy kingdome come vnto me whiche is righteousnes peace and ioye in thy holy ghost longe sufferyng gentlenes goodnes faithfulnes mekenes temperaunce strength pacience with all suche like vertues as ar prescribed vnto me in thy holy word that in prosperous thinges I may geue thee thankes and in aduersitie be pacient that I be not lifted vp with the one nor oppressed with the other Oh let al worldly things be vile vnto me for thee Let me not be mery with the ioy that is without thee and let me desire nothing beside thee Make me to lift vp my hart oftentimes to thee