things for our vse in time conuenient as by the placing the stars in heauen with the son mone their course orderly motiōs the hearbs of the field and due manner of their spring fading withering agayne The sea so inuironed compassed notwithstāding the rage force thereof kept within his limmits appointed boūds with the fishes so infinit therein both smal great the ebbing flowing therof which all serueth only for the vse seruice of man yea with out the which man coulde not continue yet especially aboue al things so great was his loue that he spared not for our sakes to giue his only son euen to dye most vndeseruedly vpon the crosse for our redemption which loue of the father therin as it moueth or shold moue a great desire of thanksgiving in vs so doth the obedience of the son giue vs a greater occasion of thankes giuinge then the tongue of any mortall man can expresse by whose acceptance of the pangs of death came the remission of al our sins as witnesseth the holy ghost the water of life which beeing sprinckled in our harts procureth vnfeyned looue whereby wee haue accesse to Christ our onely mediator to God the father Prayse God the father who made vs prayse God the sonne who redeemed vs and is our continuall aduocate to his heauenly father prayse God the holye Ghoste who hath sanctified gods electe and gyueth light vnto the hearts of all such as serue the Lord vnfeynedly OH almighty God maker and creator of all thinges conseruer of all that thou hast made and protector of all that loue thee who in the beginning madest all thinges of nothing which al rest in thine hādes haue their continuaunce beeing without whose prouidence they shold cōuert againe to nothing we yeeld vnto thee al lawd praise and glory vnto thee ascrib al power maiesty dominion who rulest all things workest al things disposest all things after thy wil to thine owne glory to our vnspeakable vndeserued cōfort who are as Pilgrims and strangers without the same thy continuall protection as creatures forsaken castawaies Lorde thine hād guideth al thinges preserueth al thinges guiueth all thinges for our vse most disobediēt stifnecked childrē who not withstanding thou through thy meere mercy loue vouchsafed in the beginning to place in the garden of happines where we shold haue cōtinued had not our firste parent by transgression made forfeiture therof so highly displeased thee that thou repēting of the makīg of vs didst drown the whole world for our sins sake yet so tender was thy loue so soone was thine anger conuerted into a desire of our saluation that thou vouchsafedst to sende into thys world Iesus Christ to redeeme vs into thy fauor again a surpassing loue where the offended shold seek attonemēt wyth the offendour for which thy singuler loue mercy in finit we can not sufficiēly thanke thee god of our cōfort nor thee sweetsaui our Iesus christ for thine obediēce for thine vndeserued humility and ardent desire of our reconciliation and eternall saluation Lorde increase my faith sende mee thy grace and endue me with thine holy spirite that I may hartely render and continually yeelde all possible thankes vnto thee not onely for creating keeping and preseruing vs hethervnto but also for reaching vnto vs thine hande of loue againe after our so greate and long disobedience I thanke thee Oh sauiour Iesus Christe redeemer and sauiour of our soules who refusedst not but most wilingly acceptedst for our sakes for our redemptiō from hell and eternall death beeing then thine enemies the approbrious death of the crosse among notorious offenders beeing often spightfully intreated buffeted spette at reuiled and most iuiuriously handled not for thine owne sweete Iesus but for our offences for our sinnes yea to purchace that by thine obedience which we lost by willfull rebellion against thyne heauenly fathers precept and will Oh good Iesu we thanke thee that it hath pleased thee to leaue the sacred mansion of thy Fathers right hand thy celestiall beeing and to put on the base attyre of a seruaunt to walke in the troublesome pathes of this miserable world and yet thinking it no robbery to be equall with God though leauing his heauenly habitation for a time according to his prouidence and heauenly knowledge to suffer heer in this vale of misery in this desert of sinne moste cruell and most shamefull abuses onely for our sins which were so odious and vile in the sight of our good God that no sacrifice or oblation coulde appeaze his wrath and deserued displeasure towardes vs for the same but thy death onely and sacrifice of thy precious and vndefiled body vpon the Aulter of the crosse who willingly sufferedst the same for our sakes notwithstanding they were so greeuous so in tollerable and odius that by reason of the extremitie and anguish rhereof thou werte constrained to sweat water and bloode Oh surpassing loue Oh loue without the which the hatred of thine omnipotent father had not been appeazed nor remooued from vs. Oh loue without the which we had beene barred of all accesse vnto the seate of mercy and woonted fauour of almightye God and continued in his heauy displeasure for euer to our vtter distruction death and damnation Oh sweete Iesus Oh healthfull comforter and giuer of health and restorer of life howe can wee but prayse thee how can we but loue thee howe can wee but magnifie and extoll thine holy name for euer who haue receiued at thy mercifull handes so vnspeakable a benefitt yea and who so tenderly louedst vs that by thy meanes without our deserts we are restored from death to life frō the deserued displeasure of our creator to his vnspeakable loue and fauour without which we had perished both body soule we haue attonement now with him that before we had so greatly offended euen God our maker without whose fauoure wee fall and without whose helpe wee perishe and passe to naught Oh sweete Iesus thou haste also taken vppon thee not onely to dye for our redemption and rise againe for our Iustification and to place vs in the sweete mansion of thine heauenly knowledge But haste also promised to continue our mediatour to thine heauenly father for euer while wee mortall men liue sinners on earth making continuall intercession for vs that he will vouchsafe neuer to withdrawe his louing countenaunce from vs his poore creatures but to be our Castell staye and strong refuge vnto the ende Oh Lord Iesus Christ we giue thee thankes not onely for that thou haste beene for a time heer present with vs on earth to manifest thy selfe vnto vs by the visible showe of thine humanity but in making the cause of thy comming certainly known vnto vs which was indeed in that thou wast verie God to call vs from blindnes error wherein we walked according to the will of sathā to take
are heauy loaden to come vnto thee I come I come sweete Lorde as one burdened with greefe receiue me and helpe me showe thy louing countenaunce extend the helpe of thine holy arme and I shall be safe mercifully heare me after thy wonted goodnes consider my distresse weigh mine afflictions looke vpon my troubles So shall my sorrowe be turned againe into ioye my pouerty shall bee releeued with sufficiency and all shall goe well with me for sweete Lord although when I consider mine estate wheÌ„ I viewe my present mysery and feele my want I be striken with greate sorrowe in minde and vexed with intollerable greefe yet when I consider the cause of my troubles with due consideration of thine intent therein Then can I not but comfortably resolue my selfe Then doth inwarde comfort asswage the extreamitye of my greefe and sorrowe remembring that thou hast sayde that whome thou louest thou punishest VVherfore I cannot but giue thee thanks sweet Lord for this thy fatherly correction in altering mine estate for better try all of my patience That by patience I may take hold of hope that so by hope of thy goodnes louing kindnes and fatherly promises which deceiuest no man that vnfeynedly dependeth vpon thee I may enioy a moste comfortable renuing of mine happie estate againe at thy good pleasure I cast all my burden vpon thee as thou willest all those that are heauy loaden to doo Refresh me most louing and mercifull God refresh me with the timely showers of thy fauour and loue That the ioy and gladnes of mine heart may growe vppe and choake the weedes of sorrow and anguish of mind Oh my surpassing comforter leaue me not distitute of thy defence and patronage vouchsafe euermore to be present with me in all my troubles that I faint not but may rather reioyce in tribulation knowing that a crowne of life is layde vppe in store for as many as beare thy yoke with patience Assist me therefore good Lord in all these vexations and temptations of mine that I may patiently looke for thy good deliueraunce which although it come not as I wish yet that staying thy leasure in thy good time I may bee satisfied of my godly desire which thou hast promised neuer to defraude vs off nor suffer vs to depart empty away There was neuer any confounded that trusted in thee nor any forsaken that called on thine holye name Thou raisest the simple out of the myre and dust Thou puttest downe the mighty from theyr high seate and exaltest such as are meeke and of a lowly minde Lord I cleaue vnto thee I trust in thee I depend onely on thee beeing poore thou rich I weake thou strong I blind thou giuing sight mine ayde is of thee my comfort in thee and all my ioye commeth from thee Graunt therefore sweete Lorde that I thinke not the continuaunce of this my hard estate to be long or burdensome vnto me but may willingly accept the same as most sweete light and wholsome for me and of a short time alwaies referring it to thy good pleasure whether thou wilt rayse me vppe or keepe me lowe Thou knowest what is most necessarie and expedient for me And therefore doo with me what thou wilt sende mee helpe when thou wilt and as thou wilt Loe heere I lye at the gate of thy goodnes and mercy still looking for thy stretched out arme to remooue that which not of mallice but of loue thou hast layde vpon me Good Lord for thy mercies sake giue mee not ouer leaue me not altogether helples take not thy fauour vtterly from me But as thou hast fatherly corrected me so vouchsafe louingly to embrace me againe sweete God for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake Amen Oh Lord increase our fayth A short praier to the like effect often to bee sayde WHen thou wilt Oh Lorde remooue this heauy burden from me renue my comfort and driue away the cares of mine heart by the hand of thy louing kindnes whom by my sinne I haue offended come againe vnto me Oh Lorde in loue and shewe me thy louing countenaunce take away these miseries which I haue deserued and as in loue thou punishest to the ende I shoulde conuert froÌ„ sinne So Lord I beeing sory for my sinnes hartelie pray thee to giue me grace and comfort againe through the same thy loue for Iesus Christes sake Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A prayer to be defended from enimies If thou take God to be thy stay Thy foes shall not thy soule dismay IF it be possible as much as in thee lyeth haue peace with all men Rom. 12. And offende none but if it fall out that the worlde hate thee take it not greeuously Ioh. 15. if thou haue not deserued it but if thou haue deserued it be sorry and seeke vnity concorde quickly least sodainly thine aduersaries entrap thee in thy wayes and soâ—â— scredite thee The most iuste men haue beene wrongfully accused haue guiltles beene condeÌ„ned in many sundry thinges as Christ himselfe the patterne of all integritie the sauior of the worlde was accused of drunkennes of working by the power of deuils such like yet prayd he for his enemies so likewise pray for thine enemies do for theÌ„ what lyeth in thee as to seede theÌ„ when they bee hungry Ro. 12. giuing theÌ„ drinke when they bee thirsty clothing them harboring them Blesse them that cursse you Mat. 5. doo good to theÌ„ that hate you pray for them that hurt you so shal you haue recompence at the handes of God And in any wise seeke not to reuenge for it is the office of God Serue him he wil blesse thee will laye his â—nrsse vpon thine enemies Pro. 30. will saue thee out of theyr handes Saule could not hurt Dauid in respecte that Dauid put his trust in God although hee were his mortall enemye 1 Sam. 18. Reioyce not at thine enemyes fall nether be thou glad when hee decayeth Pro. 24. but praye for his amendment And GOD as hee hath promised will bee thy rocke thy deliuery thy shield horne of thy saluation and thy refuge from cruell enemies 2. Sam. 22. for in fearing him thine enemies shall feare thee Fyue shall chace an hundred and an hundred shall putt tenne thousande to flight Le. 26 for the Lorde hath respecte to them that loue him and keepe his couenaunt he wyll aryse and scatter theyr enemies yea as the smoak vani sheth so shall hee driue theÌ„ away Psal. 48 as waxe melteth at the fire so will he make thyne enemies to perish at his presence trust in him faithfully feare not thy foes KEEpe me Oh God from the hands of such as goe about to doo mee hurte and vndeseruedly to take away my life for manye there be that hate me seking my shame my distruction and ouerthrow in so much as without thine assistance thy protection and ayde I shall not escape theyr hands I shall not auoyde their
143 6. Lord let me heare thy louing kindnesse betimes in the morning for in thee is my trust So let vs yeelde his maiestie due prayses for his continuall louing kindnes towardes vs saying OH almightie God father of our lorde Iesus Christ who hast vouchsafed of thy thy great fauour loue euen from my childhood vnto this day to take such fatherly care of me that nothing hath destroied or hurte me but haue beene saselie preserued bothe day and night froÌ„ sodaine death and from all other perrils and dangers incident vnto mankinde haue all my life beene preserued And of thy free fauour and loue without aâ—â—e deserte or merite of mine to my great comforte enioyed the sweete benefite of sleepe and rest which is most wholesome for my poore and weake body yea and so good a nuâ—â—iture therevnto as good soile to the barraine field or thy timely showres to the dry ground or meate acceptable to the hungry stomacke Oh sweete Lord such hath beene thy fatherly care of me this night past that the sleepe which thou hast giuen me is most coÌ„fortable bothe to my bodie and soule in so much as I am the more aptly giuen to the execution of my worldlie busines and the seruice of thy diuine maiestie this morning wherein asist me sweete Lorde with the helpe of thine holie spirite comfort and defende me this day and euer with thy mercifull ayde that none affliction hurte or misfortune dismay me no tribulation or anguish of minde draw me from thee no worldlie care delight or fantasie carrie me at any time into anie wicked cogitation action or speeche for Lord I knowe that it is not thy wil that any euill shouldedwell in vs or that we shoulde at anie time offende thee but to keepe our hearts pure and vndefiled as a fitte receptacle for thy Maiestie Yet thou sufferest sometimes vnlawfull affections to haue the vpper hande to the end that we feeling our weaknes and corruption should wholie confesse all our strength all our godlie cogitations and workes to proceede from thee And for that all flesh is full of sinne and that the iust fall seauen times a day forgiue Lord my wickednes mine offences and sinne committed either this night past by foolish dreames fantasies or other temptations or at anie time since I came into this miserable worlde beeing a moste sinfull creature and that beeing pardoned by thy mercie in Iesus Christ I may proceede in the residue of my dayes gouerned by thy holie spirite voyde of all offences vsing my vocation and calling so as may be to the setting foorth of thy glorie maintenaunce of thy fauoure towardes me and getting those thinges which may be sufficient for the maintenaunce of mine estate heere and for the reliefe of such as are committed to my charge And graunt me alwaies such regarde of seruing thee as thine hande may alwaies directe mee to good and happy successe in all mine affayres Blesse thou the worke of mine handes good Lorde and graunt mee so to flye ydlenes the mother and Nurce of all euill that both this day and all my life I may by godlie care and trauaile get me a sufficient competent liuing heere that I be no burden and charge to such as are rich and welthie nor depend vpon the succor helpe and furtheraunce of others whose helpe is moste slippery and deceitfull Least that in hope thereof I giuing my selfe to ydlenes and loytering when their helpe shalbe with-holden from me I be driuen as the wise man sayth to goe in a ragged coate to want my foode But contrary wise Oh Lorde graunt that I may so imploy my selfe to laboure and dilligent execution of thy busines this day and euer that I may through my blessing luckelie prosper therein and shew my selfe so helpefull to the poore impotent and needy as the fruite of my trauaile shall extende vnto That thou maiest fulfill in me that most sweete promise of thine That who so considereth the poore and needye thou wilt deliuer him in the tyme of trouble Lord thy mercie is infinite and thy loue towardes vs vnspeakeable wherefore giue me grace alwayes to serue thee yea at all times and in all places both in laboure and rest welth and pouertie sicknes and health yea all my life and at the howre of my death that I may passe this day and all the rest of my transitorye life in the fulfilling of thy lawes and be readie at thy fauourable becke and call to come and appeare before thy throne of mercie in perfect hope of thy louing receiuing me into the bosome of thy sweete imbracinges not for my woorthines or dâ—serces which is but corruption but for the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christ there to rest inioying the fruites and benefit of his death and bitter passion in whose name I referre my selfe and all mine both this day and euer vnto thy Fatherlie protection humbly beseeching thee to direct almy thoughtes wordes and actions vnto my liues ende Good God Amen Oh Lorde increase my fayth A short prayer to the like purpose I Thanke thee most mercifull Father my maker and preseruer that thou hast so louinglie vouchsafed to tender my safety this night past giuing me sweete sléepe to the refreshment of my feeble and weake bodye So of thy goodnes vouchsafe to extend y e like louing fauour to wardes me this day whereby I may bée both safelie preserued from all kinde of euill and imploy my selfe dilligentlie vnto the execution of my vocation to the releefe of mee and mine and to thy glory Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer for the Queene What so thou he pray God alwayes To blesse our Queene with happy dayes Whose wisedome vnder God so long Hath kept this Realme from sorrame wrong THe vnspeakeable benefite of our long peace and gratious tranquilitie may without manie circumstaunces or manie wordes suffice to mooue thankfull mindes to praise the God of Heauen for his vnspeakable loue towardes vs in giuing vs so gratious a gouernesse vnder whom we haue not only these xxv yeeres peaceablye liued but enioyed the comfortable passage and foode of the gospell when manie other nations haue wanted the same to the famishing as it were of their poore soules wherefore considering that wee may if not the more to our shame feede thereof at ful and thereto freendlie intreated and inioyned not onelie which is generall by the word it selfe but by seuerall iniunctions sette forth for the further aunce of Gods glorie and our profit by her maiestie in England onelie And therefore as we ought for all men so especiallie we are commanded to pray for the good prosperous estate of Kings and Princes and those in authoritie 2. Tim. 2. Let vs as we haue vnspeakable cause beseeche God of his goodnesse fauourably to looke vpon our most gratious Queene Elizabeth to graunt vnto her a prosperous raigne with manie and happie dayes to the plesure of him and comfort of vs Let
which is so straunge to the dulnes of our vnderstanding that we can not but meruaile that we who are nothing but corruption nothing but an heape of sinne shold doo greater thinges then thy self sweete Iesus who are onelie God onely pure onely holynes and onelie grace and power it selfe Oh Lorde make this perfectlie known vnto me make me faithfull then I know I shal rightly vnderstaÌ„d it Lord if we that are sinful ful of frailtie giue sathan the repulse dispise the world and withstande the euill motions of the fleshe wee doo that which thou dyddest not in respecte that thou beeing pure and without sinne or will to sinne were not so soone to bee wunne as wee whose strength is weaknes whose holines is meere corruption therfore was thy victorye lesse then ours Sweete Iesus giue me thy strength thine helpe and the lighte of thy grace to obteyne the victory and to auoide his tyrannie Saue me from the detestable crue of his ministers for great are the conflictes which dayly arise in our consciences betweene thy grace and sathan betweene thy soirite and our flesh betweene thy diuine will and the wicked worlde Oh what an heauy burden is it to beare the innumerable temptations which the deuill the world and the fleshe doo ofter and especially to those that take not holde by the Anâ—or of patience and who settle not themselues within the harboure of thy seate but giue the raines of their vngodlie desires scope to runne whether the force of euery vnlawful motion of the wicked fâ—end the vaine world or the corrupt flesh shal mooue and driue them Oh sweete Iesus guide the raynes of the bridle of my desires that I runne not headlong into any vngodlie action but beeing lead by the hande of faith vnder the conduct of patience I may ouercome this capitall and archenemy of mine that hee beeing once vanquished his ministers may quaile and be discomfited their craftie wilines wexe of none effect and mine hope in thee my loue towards thee and my feare of thee daily increase That the world with the desires therof may die in me I to it that the vain dissembling showes therof draw me not out of the way of truth Strengthen me sweete Iesus in my conflictes and temper them so with patience that they may rather be Medicines then maladies to my poore soule and healthfull exercises that I neeuer thinke my selfe to be secure but alwaies subiect to try all for without exercise wee remaine vnskilfull and without an enemie we prepare not weapon neither is victorie gotten without battaile nor rewarde without victorie Yet though we ouercome the victory is not ours but thine who fightest and ouercomest for vs and yet such is thy loue that thou giuest vs the rewarde crown of victory Make me strong sweete Iesus fortefye the Castell of my soule with spirituall weapons as with fayth loue hope peace long suffering gentlenes humblenes thankfulnes meekenes strength and patience and such like that I may continually withstand the prowde attemptes of these my ghostlie enemies through thee and by thee sweete Iesus mine onely sauiour and redeemer Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A short prayer to the same effecte I â—oore and wretched sinner Oh mercifull God humbly beseeche thee to sende me from thine holy heauens strength to withsâ—and the assaultes of the wicked fiend sathan who goâ—th aboute like a roaring Lyon seeking by many meaâ—â—s to dâ—â—ourâ— me Lorde giue me like wisâ— graâ—e to resist the raging and vnâ—aciable lustes and desires of the corrupt flesh and vanities of the worlde That beeâ—â—g through thâ—ne helpe acquitted from the force of these my mortall enemies I may serue thee in holinesse and righteousnes all the dayes of my life Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A prayer for the helpe and assistance of God in all our dooâ—ngs and that wee doo nothing but in his feare and due obedience Doo nothing but see â—â—st thou craue Ayde â—â—â—m the Lord good ende to haue So â—halt thou haue suâ—â—â—â—le alwaies As thou wâ—â—t wish and happy dayes DAuid considering the frayltye of mans nature his insufficiencye of hym selfe to doo anye thing arighte wylleth vs to committe our wayes vnto the Lord Psalm 37. and to put our truste in him assuringe vs that in so doing God will brynge our matters to good effect and blesse all our godly endeuours Our forefathers trusted in God and were not confounded Eccl 2. They continued in his feare and were not â—orsaken they called vppon him were not disâ—â—sed Symâ—on feared the Lorde Lu. 2. in all his doings and the holy ghost came vpoÌ„ him reueâ—led vnto him that he should not die before he had seene the Messias eueÌ„ Christ our sauior Corneli us with his whole houshold feared the Lord Act. 10. an Angel came to him and tolde him that his prayers almes were come before the lord yea the mercie of the Lorde is from generation to generation vppon them that feare him and walke in his wayes hee taketh great delighte in the people that stande in awe of him Den 5. Iudith feared the Lord Iudith 8. and none had the power somuch as to râ—yse vp an euill reporte of her All thinges goe well with them that feare the Lord and who so craueth faithfully the assistaunce of the Lorde shall doubtles neuer dâ—o amisse for he reuealeth hys secretes vnto them Psa. 25 which feare him and maketh theÌ„ to vnderstand his couenaunt VVherefore trusting neither thine owne wisedome thine own wealth nor helpe of man seeke the assistaunce of the Lord and that faithfullye and he will rightly directe thee for his eye Psal. 33. is alwayes vppon him that feareth him and trusteth in his helpe OH God of most excellent wisedome vnspeakable mercye tender loue towardes vs meruailous foreknowledg of all thinges who hast coÌ„manded vs at al times to direct our doinges by the rule of thy lawes I humbly beseech thee to direct al my coun sails studies labors deuises determinatioÌ„s so as they may bee alwayes measured and guided by thine almighty wisdom that I take nothing in hand disagreeable to thy wil but may alwaies faith fully craue fauourably obteine thine assistaunce helpe furtheraÌ„ce therin That whatsoeuer I do it may come to such end take such effect as may be to the glory of thy name to the health benefit of my soule proâ—ite of my neighbors That I at no time rashly or vnaduised ly leudly or loosly atteÌ„pt or determine any thinge without thine especiall feare duelie considering that thou art the author of all good thinges and bringest prosperously to passe all godlie actions attemptes and purposes And whatsoeuer is doon in secrete or in intent to hide it from thy knowledge which none work he neuer so secretely can doo although for a time it haue some sweete tast namelie a fleshly delight some sauour or likelyhoode of happy successe vet is the ende thereof
come the time wherein all mine offences and faults shall bee manifested and laid to my charge Oh then whether shall I flye thinke I whether shall I conueygh my selfe who shall hide mee from thy presence who shall saue me from thy iust iudgement Oh sweete Lord I am euen at my witts ende wishing for death and ende of my dayes And yet then the feare of the torments of hell fire so striueth in me to the contrarie that I quake at the rememberaunce thereof And when I couet to liue longer and see more daies Lord then I am striken with doubt and imagine that as my life hath beene euen from my byrth giuen and inclyned so greedelie to sinne and that the cause of my present dread I then loath and abhorre my longer continuance heere fearing least the aptnes of my corrupt flesh by the dayly rebellion thereof against the spirite heape greater plagues vpon my poore soule What shall I doo Lorde feare and dispayre thus oppressing me on all sides all hope of comfort hath left me onely greefe and sorrowe remaineth knowing not to whom to flie for succour or to whom to make my mone If to man I knowe his strength pollicie and wisedome and comfort to be vaine his nature inclined to weakenes and wickednes as mine and in him to be no helpe And seeking any woâ—ldly meane for pardon and remission of my sinne I acknowledge it altogether transitory superfiuous and to no purpose But the seeking therof to renue and increase my greefe that I shoulde leaue and giue ouer the true and onely platforme of my deliuery and seeke to a counterfeyt showe of ayde Oh God forbid that euer I shoulde but onely seeke for pardon of thy self whom most greeuously I haue offended and therefore to thee I fall prostrate euen in heart sweete Iesus the onely Phisition of all sicke soules in whose power consisteth the alone forgiuenes of sinnes be they neuer so many or great I come I come though altogether ashamed vnto thee my sauiour Iesus Christ who haste promised to be a Mediatour for the penitent vnto God the father It is thy property to call home such as wander and goe astray and to traine them vp in new wayes be theyr sinnes as redde as Scarlet thou hast sayde thou wilt make them as white as snowe and were they as purple thou canst make theÌ„ as white wooll Oh most sweete promise Oh comfortable saying Oh voyce of heauenly consolation whereby I am comforted whereby I am reuiued yea nowe is my conscience lightened now haue I founde the true onely Phisition of my long disease poore soule euen thy self sweet Iesus who callest mee I come I come Lord stretch forth thine hand and receiue mee giue mee perfecte hand fast of thys moste comfortable saying of thine let mee enioy the true working of this most singuler medicine thy death and bytter passion sweete Iesus who sufferedst for our sinnes camest to take away the punishment due for our transgression and to call vs to repentaunce without which there is no hope of remission of our sinnes Thy mercy is infinite thy loue vnsearchable and wisedome incomprehensible whereby thou callest vs whereby thou louest vs and whereby thou guydest vs And euen of meere loue which thou haste to the saluation of my poore soule whom thou wouldest rather should conuert then perish thou hast stirred vp in mine heart a lothing of my sinne wherein I haue walked and imbraced the same eueÌ„ with greedines Oh that I were as ready to come as thou to call So willing to leaue and giue ouer the fulfilling of vnlawfull desires as thou art to forgiue the same So apt to serue thee as thou art to saue me Then should sinne no more dwell in me nor I in it but should enioy thy continuall fauour and rest vnder the winges of thy mercy Oh Lorde I humbly beseeche thee that as it hath pleased thee to stirre me vppe at this time to repentaunce as thou hast called me home froÌ„ the wildernes of wickednes from deepe dispayre so to place me in the pleasaunt fieldes of sinceritie trueth and godlines as thou hast pluckt me out of the clawes of sathan so vouchsafe to holde me vnder the shaddow of thy winges and to imbrace me with the armes of thy mercy that I runne no longer after the vanities of this world nor yeelde vnto the vngodly motions of the fleshe that my minde beeing free from all sinfull cogitations I may keepe my bodie an vndefiled member of thy Church vnto my liues ende And although til thine appointed time this miserable vale must be my continuing cittie And although I must be driuen to vse this worlde according to the necessitie of worldlye causes as thy prouidence hath assigned euery man to exercise his vocation yet graunt that my minde may be continually conuersant in heauenly things and though my bodie wander in earth my soule spirite may haue theyr perfect beeing and abyding by perfect faith in heauen where thou sittest raigneth for euer Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A short prayer to the like purpose OH God whose propertie is euer to haue mercye yea whose mercy is infinite and loue incomprehensible and who haste not delight in the death of a sinner looke fauourably vpon me who haue so deepely offended thine heauenlie maiestie that I confesse nothing but condemnation due vnto me for my so manifolde iniquities my conscience accuseth me and mine heart bewraieth my disobedience beeing but a cast away vnlesse it may please thee for Iesus Christes sake to turne away thine indignation and to take away the plagues which I haue iustly deserued and punishments for the same which thou hast ordeyned Lord cease to be angry and according to thy mercy not to thy iustice deale with me but according to thy most louing promise my sinnes béeing as red as Scarlet may through my fayth in the death of Iesus Christ as white as Snow And as I haue hetherto folowed euen with greedines that which I should not giue me nowe grace to followe and imbrace that which thou commaundest in thy sonne Iesus Christ vnto my liues ende Amen Oh Lord increase my fayth A prayer for a competent and necessary lyuing The God aboue vouchsafeth store To him in faith that prayes therfore ALthough thy store increase so greatly multiply that thou be sayne to enlarge thy roomes to bestowe thy fruites thinke thee not discharged of this most necessary exercise of praier but so much the more bound thervnto â—for it is not the increase of fruites the labour of thy handes or store of wealth that mainteyneth thy lyfe and feedeth thee vnlesse it be seasoned wyth the word of God which preserueth all that faythfully trust in him Matth. 24. For thou canst not liue by Breade alone which is with thinges necessarye for thy bodie but by the worde of almightye GOD And yet we are not onely licensed and permitted but most louinglye called to come
and haue a taste of eternall saluation that death bee not terrible vnto me but rather when it cōmeth I may with ioy receiue the same in the name of Jesus Christe mine onely sauiour and redeemer Amen Oh Lord increase my faith A praier vppon the Lettany or praier for all men at all times necessary Pray thou in faith for eache degree As God by Iames commandeth thee So shalt thou prosper in thy wayes And liue both many and happy daies THe Lettany beeing a moste singuler deuout praier for the estate of all men in generall and sette out for the vse of the whole congregation as it were with one mouth one voyce to be pronounced begging at the handes of God not onely pardon for such seuerall offences as are therein expressed but also crauing thinges necessary as well for them that are absent as present yea for all men a thing most commendable godly praying one for another as S. Iames willeth Iam. 5. vs to pray one for another that wee may be hearde of God for the prayer of the righteous auaileth much And because the zealous may without the so often repitition of these wordes Good Lorde deliuer vs and we beseech thee c. priuatlye vtter his godly desire of the prosperitie of his Christian bretheren without answering himselfe in those respectes I thought it not much amisse to contriue it into this prayer following the which I pray the Reader willingly to accept OH almighty God and father of all that beleeue and trust in thee Oh Lorde God sonne redeemer aduocate of all thē who faithfully serue thee Oh God holy ghoste who proceeding from the father and the sonne santifiest the elect and chosen ones Oh blessed most glorious Trinitie three personnes and yet but one God haue mercy vpon vs who most miserablie haue offended Remember not our offences nor the offences of our fore-fathers nor punishe vs according to the multitude of our sins Spare vs good Lorde whome thou hast redeemed and so directe all our cogitations and actions that wee giue none occasion of thine anger towardes vs for euer mercifully saue and defende vs frō sinne mischeefe from the craftes and assaults of sathan from thy displeasure and eternall damnation good Lorde for thy mercies sake deliuer vs from darknes of misbeleefe from hautines of minde from mallice enuie hatred and double dealing from euill motions of our corrupt fleshe and from all worldly vaneties Saue vs from plague pestilenee from extreame hunger and famine from sodaine death from heresie and false doctrine and graunt vs alwayes will and ablenes to fulfill all thy most godly commaundementes with a cleane and a pure heart Oh sweete Iesus deliuer vs from all euill euen by thy death and passion by thine anguish of mind by thy bloody sweate by thy glorious resurrection from the deepe of death and hell and by thine assention into thy celestiall kingdome Bee present with vs good Lorde in all our troubles vexation of minde at the howre of our departure hence And for thy meere mercies sake be thou fauourable vnto vs in the day when we must giue account for our life past that we be not rewarded according to our desertes but by thy merites may enioy eternall saluation Oh most mercifull and euerliuing God wee most miserable and most wretched sinners heere humbly prostrating our selues before thee beseeche thee to listen to our petitions and graunt vnto thine vniuersall Church godly deuout preachers of thy word and gospel that it may dayly increase in vertuous and godly gouernment dayly growing and proceeding from faith to faith truely knowing thee and vnfeynedly seruing thee Graunt vnto thy seruaunt Elizabeth our Queene true vnderstanding of thy will and vnto her counsaile knowledge and wisedome That vnder her for her and in thy name they may establish godly Lawes statutes and ordinaunces for our good and godly gouernment and vnto vs thy people grace continually to follow and fulfill the same Be thou good Lord her defendour in all aslaultes of her enemies and so rule her hearte in thy faith seare and loue that she may alwaies seeke to aduaunce thine honour and glory deface superstiton errour and false religion and euer be able to vanquish and ouercome suchas rise vp against her to seeke the contrary Lighten the hearts of all Byshops ministers and Pastours of thy church with right vnderstanding and knowledge of thy worde that they may not onely in speeche doctrine but also by their conuersation and life soundly and sincerely vtter the same to the true edification of thy people Oh Lord let not such as are put in authority to see the due execution of thy lawes be slowe negligent or ignorant therin but endued with grace wisdom vnderstanding boldnes may execute iustice maintain thy trueth without affectiō fauor or respect of persons vouchsafe to endue vs all with continuall vnfeined good will one towards another that wee may liue all the daies of our life in vnitye peace godly agreement pleasing thee by liuing according to the rule of thy blessed commandements Graunt vs Oh Lord feruent desire to be where thy word gospell is preached taught and endue vs with thy grace to heare to beare away not only to heare and beare away but to expresse the same in our life conuersation that the truth of thy gospel which is the fruit of thine holy spirit may dailye increase in vs call home all wandring soules which are carried into blindnes by the subtiltie procurements of sathan his wicked ministers following strange Gods worshipping that that cannot auaile them in their distresse and giue them Oh Lord repenting heartes conuerting the soule Shewe them thy true light that they seeing it though a farre off may by little and little attaine vnto the perfit enioying of the same Strengthen al them that haue taken holde of thee by true faith and pure religiō that they fall not from thence by any deceiuable show of any counterfeit secte comfort those that are weake lift vp those that are downe that they by thee thou in them maist beate down keepe sathan vnder their feete Vouthsafe good Lord to giue succor help cōfort to all such as are in any kind of affliction daunger necessity or tribulation preserue and keepe safe all such as labour trauaile by sea or land for the benefit of our common weale Strengthen all women with child and sende them good deliueraunce comfort all them that are sicke and giue them either patience to beare it or mittigate their greefe giue health and nourishment to al young children and graunt them grace to goe forward in nurture and knowledge of thy will Lorde we beseeche thee to showe compassion vppon all such as suffer impty sonment and giue them deliueraunce at thy good pleasure Prouide good Lord for such poore children as are fatherles or helples consider the cause of all
emptye away at the last Therefore to doo good and to distrybute forget not Heb. 13 for with such sacrifice God is pleased OH bountifull God and most merciful father naked came I into thys worlde bringing with mee not a clothe or ragge to couer this silly and weake body of mine wanting sustinaunce and foode without the which sweete Lorde life can not endure which I haue receiued at thy merciful hands and that most largely the one to couer keepe my naked members and weake bodye from parching heate in the soÌ„mer and extreame colde in winter and the other to feede and nourishe the same in so much as it hath by neither of these extremeties fainted or decayed to this day I thanke thee sweete lord that I haue not continued in nakednes wherein I was born but in warme and necessarye clothing not in hunger but in fulnes not in scarcety but in aboundaunce and sufficiency of all things not in want but in wealth not in labour but at ease not amonge the lowest but with the highest which blessings of thine Oh Lorde I confesse were not gotten by mine owne industry paines not by mine owne pollicie or wisedome nor bestowed on mee for mine owne sake or desertes who am borne in sinne but as sent from thee as thine owne free blessings farre passing the capasity of man by wisdome to comprehende by labour to gette or by pollicye to purchase but onely by thy blessed prouidence setting thine helpinge hande vnto the godly industrye of such as by their vocation and iuste trauaile shall endeuour to gather the same which is thine onely and bountifull gift as also where thou giuest and blessest the children with the inheritance of theyr parents which also is thine vnspeakable blessing graunt Lord that as all those thy giftes come altogether without our desertes so we neuer abuse the same but duely considering the mutability the â—lyperie hold and vnconstancie of worldly treasure and that the feare of the alteration thereof doth often loade and encombeâ— our mindes with so many sundry cares that we seldome rest without some doubte and perturbation of minde breeding also within vs diuers other great inconueniences as hawtines of minde contemning others of inferior conditions with a grudging disdaine of them in respect of ourselues puffing vp our hearts with arrogancie vaine glory excesse glutionie and finally leading a man to all kind of vices making him euen to forget himself thee beeing lead by the indirect rule of their owne proper nature which is altogether contrary to thy will wherefore forasmuch as these our worldly riches doo â—ende eyther to the winning or loosing of thy fauour and loue and thy loue the end of our happines Graunt me thy grace and assistaunce in bestowing ordering and occupying those terrestriall things that neither the loue of worldly commendation or prayse of men make me prodigall in spending them nor the care of coueâ—ousnes draw me to whorde and lay them vppe to canker and rust where it may be taken by theeues but as I haue plentifull so I may be liberall distributing according to the portion thereof vnto the necessity of others as the cause of their neede and mine hability shall require And as it pleaseth thee to increase my store so make me more and more thankfull and more and more ready to giue enduing me with the more humility gentlenes pittie stretching foorth mine hande with a glad heart to helpe the helples to feede the hungry to clothe the naked to comfort the comfortles that these thy bountifull giftes be not bestowed vpon me in vaine That I be not in the ende in case like the rich man spoken of in thine holy gospell turning mine eyes from the begging cryes of poore Lazarus but may willingly impart such thinges both of my table and store as it pleaseth thee to bestoweon me vnto the necessitie of the poore all my daies and take from me all hardnes of heart and extreame dealing to wardes such as by any light offence haue displeased me Graunt that I may consider of my self and way of my selfe as one of the lowest meanest and weakest and not to disdaine the simplest alwaies considering my beginning my present estate how it may please thee to alter it and what may befall vnto me before or in the ende as also to be mindfull of such as are of a lower estate and calling yea of the worste and poorest and to doo for them as I may and as occasion shall require without ouercharging any that for their releefe seeke any thing at mine hands That in the end I may be found a good and faithfull Stewarde of that tallant which thou hast put me in trust withall heere Oh Lorde make me willing to forgiue them that offende me acknowledging my selfe a thousande wayes offencible vnto thy maiestie pardon mee Oh God of thy mercy and giue me grace to amende mine euill and corrupt life And let me not by misponding and abusing thy gifts heere make forfeyture of so precious a dwelling place as thou by the blood of thy sonne Iesus Christ hast purchased for all such as showe themselues faithfull Stewardes heere Make mee to consider good Lorde the vanities of this wretched world and giue me thy grace dayly to contemplate and in faith to beholde the fayrenes beautie and certaintie of thine heauenly kingdome that I may dailie grow in hatred and contempt of this vale of misery and the vaine pleasures thereof and be readie at thy fatherly call to come vnto thee willingly bearing the burden which this this world continually chargeth me withall Oh almightie and mercifull God giuer of all good things and the takeâ— of them away againe at thy good pleasure make me in prosperity alwayes thankfull and if thou visite me with pouerty endue me with perfit patience that the delight of the one â—ull mee not and rocke me a sleepe in the Cradell of security not the heauines and greefe of the other waking mee with the daungerous dartes of dispayre Strengthen me good Lorde for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake and helpe me in this my great account which I haue to recken for at my last and finall ende and that before thee the Lord of our soules when and where there shall be no thing left vncharged but shall bee forst to account for those receytes actions which we little thinke on now and prooued euen then to be parcell of that whereof thou madest vs Stewards heere And therfore grant that I may not bestow my Tallaunt as to mine owne vse and behoofe onely but to the furtheraunce and helpe of them that stand in neede thereof That in the ende thou mayest with that comfortable saying receiue me saying Oh thou faythfull Stewarde seeing thou hast beene faithfull ouer a little I will make thee Steward of a great deale euen partaker of that place which thy sonne hath purchased In hope whereof I doo wholy yeelde and commende my selfe and al that I