it pleaseth thee to heare my prayers and assuredly wilt saue me for euer But alas howe farre am I from these lamentings and reioycings By reason whereof I deserue damnation Oh be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me and of thy goodnesse grant me thy holie spirite to reueale to me my blindenesse obliuion and contempt of thy kingdome power and glorie with the greatnesse of my doubtings that I may heartily as lament them so haue them pardoned and taken from me through the merites of Iesus Christ thy sonne Againe giue me thy holy spirit to reueale to me in such sort thy kingdom power glory and eternitie that I may always haue the same before mine eyes be moued with the admiration thereof labour effectually to set foorth the same and finally as to haue the fruition thereof after this life so to increase in an assured certaine and liuely expectation of the same that I may alwayes and in all thinges reioyce in thee through Christ and giue lauds thankes and prayses perpetually vnto thy most holy name Oh blessed Father Sonne and holy Ghost three persons and one God to whome be all honour and glorie world without end Here thinke that if the kingdome power glorie and eternitie be Gods which is our Father what our dignitie is which be his children If the power be our fathers of whome should we be afraid If the diuell be subiect to the Lordes power and kingdome as he is howe can the subiect haue power ouer vs which be sonnes and heires in that he hath not power ouer Porkets without the prouidence and permission of God Therefore full well should we pray Lead vs not into temptation rather then let vs not be lead into temptation for power is the Lords and the diuell hath none but that he hath of Gods gift No he were not able to receiue power if God did not make him able although the execution of it is rather of Gods permission Giue all thankes prayse and glorie to God our Father through Christe our Lord and Sauiour So be it Iohn Bradford PRIVATE PRAYERS for the Morning and Euening and for other times of the day When you awake out of your sleepe pray thus MOst mercifull God and father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ I most humbly thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuen me this night past beseeching thee that like as thou hast nowe awaked my bodie from sleepe so thou wouldest awake my soule from the sleepe of sinne and darkenesse of this world and that which thou hast now awaked out of sleep thou wouldest after death whereof this sleepe is but an image restore and raise againe to life euerlasting O gratious God make my bodie I heartily pray thee such a companion or rather a minister of godlinesse to my soule this day and all the time of this present life that in the life to come it may be partaker with the same of euerlasting happinesse through Christe Iesus our Lord. Awake thou that sleepest and arise from the dead and Christ shall shew light vnto thee Ephe. 5. Occasions to Meditate Here call to mind the great mirth blessednes of the euerlasting resurrection Also remember to muse vpon that most cleare light that bright morning and newe clearenesse of our bodies after the long darkenesse which they haue bene in All then shall be full of vnspeakable ioy and felicitie When you behold the day-light pray O Lord God thou most glorious true light from whence this light of the day and sunne doth spring and shine vnto vs O light which lightenest euerie man y commeth into this world O light whiche knowest no night nor euening but art alway a midday most cleare and faire without whom al is most horrible darkenesse and by whom al things are most cleare and bright O thou wisedome of the eternal father of mercies lighten my minde that I may see those thinges only which please thee and may be blinded to al other things Grant me so to walke in thy wayes by the light of thy holy worde that nothing else may be light and pleasant vnto me Lighten mine eyes Oh Lorde that I sleepe not in death least mine enimies say I haue preuailed against him Psal 30. Occasions to Meditate Muse a while how much the light and eye of the minde and soule is better then of the bodie Also howe much more we ought to care for the soule that it may see well then for the bodie Moreouer that beastes haue bodily eyes as well as men but men only haue eyes of the minde and that such as are godlie wise When you arise pray OUr first parents cast downe them selues from a most excellent high honorable state into shame miserie into the deepe sea of all wickednesse and mischiefe but oh Christ thou putting forth thy hand didst raise them vp againe Euen so we except we be raised vp by thee shall lie still for euer O good Christe our most gratious redeemer as thou doest mercifully rayse vp now this my body euen so I beseech thee raise vp my minde and heart to the true knowledge loue of thee that my conuersation may be in heauen where thou art If you be risen with Christ thinke vpon those things that be aboue Col. 3. Occasions to Meditate Thinke howe foule the fall of Adam was by reason of sinne and so of euery one of vs from the height of Gods grace Againe thinke vpon the inestimable benefite of Christe by whose helpe we daily arise againe from our fallings When you apparel your selfe pray O Christe clothe me with thine owne selfe that I may be so farre from making prouision for the flesh to fulfill the lustes therof that I may cleane put off all desires and crucifie the kingdome of the flesh in me Be thou vnto me a garment to keepe me warme and to defend me from the cold of this world If thou be absent deare Lorde all things are colde weake and deade but if thou be with me all things are warme fresh and chearefull c. Graunt therefore that as I compasse this my bodie with this garment so thou wouldest cloth me wholy but specially my soule with thine owne selfe Put vpon you as the elect of God bowels of mercie meekenesse loue peace c. Col 3. Occasions to Meditate Call to minde a little howe we are incorporate into Christ. Againe howe he doth cloth vs gouerne and nourish vs and vnder his winges protection prouidence preserueth vs. When you are made readie to begin the day withall pray O Almightie God and most mercifull father thou knowest and hast taught vs also something to know that the weakenesse of man and woman is great that without thy grace they can neither doe nor thinke any good thing Haue mercie vpon me I humbly beseech thee thy most weake fraile and vnworthie childe Lighten my minde that I may with pleasure looke vpon good things only Inflame my hart
Iuda thou coÌ„querour of hel and death euer liuing and immortall thou art nowe risen from death for vs thou art now ascended to thy father and our father and sittest at his right hand in glorie suffer vs to come neare vnto thee that wee may kisse thee yea Lorde thou louer of our soules come thou rather vnto vs and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth that we may bee glad and reioyce in thee drawe vs that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweete oyntmentes that wee may beholde thee in righteousnesse and when thy glorie shall appeare we may be satisfied for in thy presence there is fulnesse of ioy and in thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore A prayer for true repentance MOst gratious God mercifull Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christ because I haue sinned don wickedly and through thy goodnesse haue receiued a desire of repentaunce wherevnto this thy long suffering doth drawe my harde hart I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake in Christ to worke the same repentance in me and by thy spirite power and grace so to humble mortifie and feare my conscience for my sinnes to saluation that in thy good time thou maist comfort and quicken me again through Iesus Christ thy dearely beloued sonne So be it I. B. A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Merciful God and deare father of our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ in whome as thou art well pleased so hast thou commanded vs to heare him for as much as he often biddeth vs to aske of thee and also promiseth that thou wilt heare vs and grant vs that which in his name we shal aske of thee loe gratious father we are bold to begge of thy mercie through thy sonne Iesus Christ one sparkle of true faith and certaine persuasion of thy goodnesse and loue towards vs in Christ where through I being assured of the pardon of all my sinnes by the mercies of Christe thy sonne may bee thankefull to thee loue thee serue thee in holinesse and righteousnesse all the dayes of my life I. B. A prayer for the true sense and feeling of Gods â—auour and mercie in Christe OH Lord God and deare Father what shall I say that feele all things to be in maner with me as in the wicked Blind is my mind crooked is my will and peruerse concupiscence is in mee as a spring or stinking puddle O howe faint is faith in me How little is my loue to thee or to thy people How great is selfe loue Howe harde is my heart â–ª By the reason whereof I am moued to doubt of thy goodnes towardes me whether thou art my mercifull father and whether I be thy childe or no. In deede worthily might I doubt if that the hauing of these were the cause not the fruite rather of thy children The cause why thou art my father is thy mercie goodnes grace truth in Christe Iesus which can not but remain for euer In respect whereof thou hast borne me this goodwill to bring me into thy Church by baptisme and to accept me into the number of thy children that I might be holie faithfull obedient and innocent and to call me diuerse times by the ministerie of thy worde into thy kingdome besides thy innumerable other benefites alwayes hitherto powred vppon me All which thou hast done of this thy good will which thou of thine owne mercie barest to mee in Christ and for Christe before the worlde was made The which thing as thou requirest straitly that I should beleeue without doubting so wouldest thou that in all my needes I should come vnto thee as vnto a Father and make my mone without mistrust of beeing heard in thy good time as most shall make to my comfort Loe therefore to thee deere Father I come through thy sonne our Lord mediator and aduocate Iesus Christ who sitteth on thy right hand making intercession for me and pray thee of thy great goodnes and mercie in Christ to bee mercifull vnto me that I may feele in deede thy sweete mercie as thy childe The time Oh deare Father I appoint not but I pray thee that I may with hope still expect and looke for thy helpe I hope that as thou for a little while hast left mee so thou wilt come and visite me and that in thy great mercie whereof I haue need by reason of my great miserie Thou art wont for a little season in thine anger to hide thy face from them whome thou louest but surely O Redeemer in eternal mercies thou wilt shew thy coÌ„passions For when thou leauest vs O Lord thou doest not leaue vs verie long neyther doest thou leaue vs to our owne losse but to our iucre and aduauntage euen that thy holie spirite with bigger portion of thy power and vertue may lighten and cheare vs that the want of feeling of our sorrowe may be recompenced plentifully with the liuely sense of hauing thee to our eternall ioy and therefore thou swarest that in thine euerlasting mercie thou wilt haue compassion on vs Of which thing to the end we might be most assured thine oth is to bee marked for thou saiest As I haue sworne that I will neuer bring any more the waters to drown the world So haue I sworn that I wil neuer more be angry with thee nor reprooue thee The mountaines shal remoue and the hilles shal fall downe but my louing kindenesse shall not moue and the bonde of my peace shall not faile thee Thus saist thou the Lord our mercifull redeemer Deare father therefore I praye thee remember euen for thine owne truth and mercie sake this promise and euerlasting couenant which in thy good time I pray thee to write in my hart that I may know thee to be the onely true God and Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent that I may loue thee with all my heart for euer that I may loue thy people for thy sake that I may be holie in thy sight through Christ that I may alwayes not only striue against sinne but also ouercome the same daily more and more as thy children doe aboue all thinges desiring the sanctification of thy name the comming of thy kingdome the doing of thy will here on earth as it is in heauen c. through Iesus Christ our redeemer mediatour and aduocate Amen I. B. A prayer against our spirituall enemies the diuel the worlde and the flesh O Lord God the diuell goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour the flesh lusteth against the spirite the world persuadeth vnto vanities that we may forget thee our Lord God so for euer be damned Thus are we miserably on euery side beset and besieged of cruell vnrestfull enemies and like at euery moment to perish if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyrannie We therefore poore and wretched sinners despairing of our owne strength which in deede is none most hartily
iustice and by his resurrection to destroye him that was authour of death and so to bring againe life to the worlde from which the whole ofspringe of Adam was most iustly exiled O Lorde wee acknowledge that no creature was able to comprehend the length and breadth the deepenes and heighte of that thy most excellent loue which moued thee to shew mercie where none was deserued to promise and giue life where death had gotten victorie to receiue vs into thy grace when we could do nothing but rebell against thy maiestie The blind dulnes of our corrupt nature will not suffer vs sufficiently to wey these thy most ample benefites Yet neuerthelesse at the commaundement of Iesus Christe our Lorde we present our selues to this thy table which he hath left to be vsed in remembrance of his death vntill his comming againe to declare and witnesse before the world that by him alone we haue receiued libertie and life that by him alone thou doest acknowedge vs to be thy children and heires that by him alone wee haue entraunce to the throne of thy grace that by him alone we are possessed in our spirituall Kingdome to eate and drinke at his table and with whome we haue our conuersation presently in heauen and by whome our bodies shall be raised vp againe from the dust shall be placed with him in that endlesse ioye which thou O Father of mercie hast prepared for thine electe before the foundation of the worlde was layd And these most inestimable benefites wee acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercie and grace by thine onely beloued sonne Iesus Christe For the which therefore we thy congregation moued by thy holy spirite doe render to thee all thankes praise and glory for euer and euer A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the Communion MOst mercifull father we render vnto thee all praise thanks honour and glorie for that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercies to graunt vnto vs miserable sinners so excellent a gift and treasure as to receiue vs into the fellowshippe and companie of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde whome thou hast deliuered to death for vs and hast giuen him vnto vs as a necessarie foode and nourishment vnto euerlasting life And now we beseech thee also O heauenly father to graunt vs this request that thou neuer suffer vs to become so vnkind as to forget so worthy benefites but rather imprint and fasten them sure in our heartes that we may growe and increase daily more and more in true faith which continually is exercised in all manner of good works and so much the rather O Lord confirme vs in these perillous dayes rages of Sathan that we may constantly stand and continue in the confession of the same to the aduancement of thy glorie which art God ouer all things blessed for euer A lamentation of a sinner afflicted in conscience for his offences IN the middes of the desperate assaultes of my soule the intollerable heauinesse of my minde hath heretofore Lorde cryed as shril in thine eares as though I had shriked and with lamentations cryed out saying helpe helpe mee my God my creatour my most prouident keper and euerlasting defender for beholde I perish On this occasion Lorde when heauinesse of minde did heretofore assault me I remembred that thou haddest many times set before mine eyes the wonderfull greatnes of thy most tender loue towardes mee by the great multitude of thy benefites powred vppon mee which benefites euerie of thy workes as they came before mine eyes gaue mee iust occasion to be mindfull of Woulde not thought I if I had in a manner any grace at all woulde not such loue bring nowe into my heart a wonderfull delectation ioy and comfort in God for the same And againe coulde such delight in Gods sweete mercie and tender loue towardes me if I were not as euill as a castaway that were none of Gods children be without lothing of my sinne and lust and desire to do Gods holy will And these thinges thought I fie vppon me vnthankefull wretch are either not at all in mee or else in deede so coldly and slenderly that they beeing truely weighed and compared to righteousnesse are more vile then a filthy cloth starched in corrupt bloud Oh thought I I am affraid I haue deceiued my selfe for thy seruauntes at all times I trowe feele otherwise then I now doe the fruites of thy spirit as loue ioy peace such like But my loue alas towards thee what is it my ioy is not once almost felt of mee for my verie soule within mee as Dauid in his heauinesse saide refuseth comfort and fareth as though it did vtterly despaire what peace can I feele then or certaintie of thy fauour and loue Iustly may I powre out this dolorous lamentatiō of Sion The Lord hath forsaken mee and my Lord hath forgotten mee Euen in the middest I say of these my former desperate assaultes mine intollerable heauines cried to thee O my God and from heauen thou heardest my groaninges and therevpon first preparedst my hearte to aske comfort of thee then thou diddest accept my prayer and gauest me plentifully my asking Oh my soule consider well that thou art neuer able to declare the exceeding goodnesse of God in this that hee hearde the verie desires of thee being afflicted who is so readie fauourably to grant the requests of the afflicted that oftentimes hee tarrieth not vntill they do cal but or euer they call vpon him hee fauourably heareth them as the Psalmist saith The desire of the afflicted thou hearest O Lorde thou preparest their heartes thine eares heareth them Oh Lorde my God meruellous thinges are these whether I consider this meruellous manner of thy hearing or else the meruellous nature and propertie of thy goodnesse Meruellous no doubt is that thy hearing whereby the verie desires of the afflicted are hearde but much more maruellous is this thy goodnesse which tarriest not vntil the afflicted doe desire thy helpe but preparest first their hearts to desire and then thou giuest them their desires Yea Lord worthie of all praise it cannot otherwise bee For howe shouldest thou do otherwise then thy nature and propertie is Art not thou verie goodnesse and mercie it selfe Howe canst thou then but pitie and helpe miserie Art not thou both the creatour and also the conseruer of all thinges in so much as the Lyons whelpes roaring after their pray do seeke their foode at thy handes and the Rauens birdes lacking meat do call vppon thee If then thy fatherly prouidence and tender care O Lord vppon all thy creatures be so great that the verie beastes and foules haue this experience of thy goodnes in their necessities that their roarings and cryings haue the strength of earnest callinges and desires howe much rather doe these sighinges groninges and desperate heauines of men but chiefly of thy children crie and call
spared my sinnes but hast punished mee with scourges of loue and hast sent afflictions and anguish within and without Of grace fauour it is O Lord that thou sufferest thy seruants to be troubled and afflicted in this world because they should not be condemned with the world Thou wouldest that they shoulde here be broken with affliction that they may after rise in a newe light be clarified and made glorious in thy kingdome Oh holy father thou hast ordeyned it so to be and it is done as thou hast appoynted Wherefore O Lord giue mee the grace to rest in thee aboue all thinges and to quiet my heart in thee aboue all creatures aboue all glorie and honour aboue all dignitie and power aboue all health and beutie aboue all riches and treasure aboue all ioy and pleasure aboue all fame and praise aboue all mirth and consolatioÌ„ that mans heart may take or feele besides thee For thou Lord art most good most wise most righteous most holy most iust most blessed most high most mightie most comfortable most beautifull most louing most glorious in whom all treasures of goodnesse most perfectly rest And therefore whatsoeuer I haue besides thee it is nothing vnto mee for my heart may not rest nor fullie be pacified but onely in theee Oh Lord Iesu â–ª who shal giue me winges of pefecte loue that I may flee vp from these worldly miseries and rest with thee Oh Christ the king of euerlasting glorie my soul crieth vnto thee with continual gronings saith how long â—arieth my Lord God to come to me Oh when shall the end come of all these miseries When shall I cleane be deliuered from the bondage of sinne When shal I Lord haue my mind onely fixed on thee and be merie in thee with perfect ioye and gladnesse When shal that blessed houre come that thou shalt visite me and make me glad with thy blessed presence when thou shalt be to me all in all When shall I come vnto thee and feele and enioy those sweete consolations which with thy blessed saintes are alwayes present When shall I haue peace without trouble peace without peace within on euery side stedfast and sure O Lord Iesu when shall I stand and beholde thee and haue full sight and contemplation of thy glorye When shall I be with thee in thy kingdome that thou hast ordeined for thine elect before the beginning Oh blessed mansion of that heauenly cittie Oh most cleare day of eternitie whome the night may neuer darken This is the day always cleere and merie alwaies sure and neuer changing This day shineth cleerely to thy saints in heaueÌ„ Oh gratious God with euerlasting brightnesse but to vs here on earth so great is the darknes of sin in vs it shineth obscurely and as it were a farre off we see but a glimmering thereof Woulde to God this day might shortly appeare and shine vnto vs and that these worldly vanities were at an end Thy heauenly Citizens know and feele how ioyfull this day is but we the Children of Eue strangers and exiles here on earth doe lament and bewaile the bitter tediousnes of this present life short and euil full of sorrowe and anguish Where man is oftentimes defiled with sinne disquieted with troubles oppressed with cares busied with vanities blinded with errors ouercharged with laboures vexed with tentations ouercome with vaine delightes and pleasures of the worlde miserably wrapped in many kindes of calamities Wherefore O Lord arise and help me comfort mine exile assuage my sorrowe destroy the power of mine enemies the kingdome of sinne Sathan the world and my wicked flesh which alway make battell against me and bring these conflicting dayes to an end So shal I sing praises vnto thee O God of my saluation and magnifie thy holy name world with out end Amen A confession of sinnes and a prayer for the remission thereof O Lord God rich in mercie and of great goodnesse who of thy tender loue towardes vs euen when we were thine enimies diddest send into the world thine own deare sonne Iesus Christ to be a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes so that whosoeuer beleeueth in him should not perish but haue life euerlasting haue mercy vpoÌ„ me according to thy great mercies and according to the multitude of thy compassions put away mine iniquities â–ª For mine iniquities are gone ouer my head and as a weightie burthen they presse me downe Against heauen and against thee haue I sinned O Lord I am not worthy to be called thy childe I am ashamed to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee for my sinnes are ascended vp into thy sight There is nothing sound in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Behold I am sold vnder sin and in my flesh ther dwelleth no good thing For the good which I would doe I doe not but the euill which I would not doe that I doe Wash me therfore O Lord froÌ„ mine iniquities clense me from my sin Purifie my heart by the sanctifying of thy holy spirite â–ª and by the sprinckling of the blood of thy deare sonne from the filth of sinne and an euill conscience Make me to heare ioy and gladnes that the bones which thou hast broken may reioyce Create in me a new heart O God and renue a right spirit within me Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy holy spirite from me Restore to me the ioy of thy saluation and stablish me with thy free spirite For thou art good to them that trust in thee and to the soule that seeketh thee Al thy wayes are mercie and truth to them that seeke out thy couenant and thy testimonies The fountaine of thy goodnes is euer full and ouerflowing thy mercy neuer decayeth Thou woundest and healest againe thou killest and reuiuest bringest euen downe to hel and bringest backe againe Thou raisest vp those that are faln thou comfortest the broken harted Thou strengthenest the wearie handes and crooked knees and out of the gulph of hell thou deliuerest the afflicted Out of darknes thou bringest light out of death life and out of damnation thou bringest saluation Heare me therefore O Lord according to thy louing kindnes turne vnto me according to the multitude of thy tender mercies Looke vpon mine affliction and my trauell and forgiue all my sinnes Remember not the offences of my youth nor my rebellioÌ„s against thee For if thou Lord shouldest marke our iniquities Lord who should be able to stande in thy sight Seeing thou hast founde iniquitie euen in thine Angels and the heaueÌ„s are not cleane in thy sight muche more is man abhominable filthy which drinketh iniquitie like water Notwithstanding thou hast said O Lord that as the righteousnes of the righteous man shall not saue him whensoeuer he offendeth so shal not the wickednesse of the wicked man hurt him whensoeuer
astonied and flee from God if wee doubt whether God hath respect to our prayers gronings and teares wee must set before our eyes howe that we are commanded though we be neuer so vnworthie and our sinnes neuer so many and great to pray for reconciliation Gods fauour and forgiuenesse of our sinnes For else whereas God commandeth vs to abstaine from theft murder whoredome c. we may in like sorte excuse our selues and say that we are vnworthy to obey Gods commaundementes Great is our iniquitie and manifest is our contempt and despising of God when we neglect delay to call for his help Such as flee vnto God therfore call vpoÌ„ him in their necessities obey his will find therein no small consolation knowing that thereby they do vnto him most acceptable seruice for as much as hee pronouÌ„ceth y nothing is to him more acceptable theÌ„ obedience to his wil coÌ„mandemeÌ„t As wee are commanded of God boldly and without all respect of our owne vnworthines to come vnto him as a mercifull father and one that knoweth our necessitie pittieth out miserie so hath he promised verie gratiously to heare vs and graunt our requestes And hereof riseth yet a farre more comfortable and greater consolation wherin consisteth our whole confidence and trust of obteining succour and mercie at Goods hand Wherefore he allureth vs wâ—â—h manie sweete promises to call vpon him Aske saith he and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall be opened vnto you Ye shall crie vnto me and I vvill heare you ye shall seeke me ye shall finde me Call vpon me in the day of trouble and I vvill deliuer thee The Lord is nigh to all them that call vpon him that call vpon him in trueth he doeth the vvill of them that feare him and he vvill heare their prayers He shall call vppon me and I vvill heare him I vvill be vvith him in his trouble I vvill deliuer him and glorifie him At the voyce of thy crie hee vvill â—rtainelie haue mercie on thee vvhen he heareth thee he vvill ansvvere thee He that is Lorde ouer all is rich and bountifull tovvardes them that call vppon him He vvill fulfill the desire of them that feare him he vvill heare their crie vvill saue them And God to declare his readinesse in hearing of sinners saith Before they crie I vvill ansvvere and vvhiles they are yet thinking vvhat to speake I vvill heare Among many sweete promises of GOD though these might be sufficient to prouoke vs to feruent and heartie prayer yet there be certaine other notable and most comfortable promises which we shoulde specially haue in remembrance as these If ye vvhich are euill can giue good giftes to your children hovv much more shall your heauenly father giue the holy ghost to them that desire him Consider the olde generation â–ª and marke them vvell vvas there euer any confounded that put his truste in the Lord or vvho hath continued in his feare and vvas forsaken or vvhom did he euer dispise that called vpon him And of all other that is the most notable which by the Prophet Ioel is added immediatly after the prophesie of that horrible destruction that was at hande saying vvhosoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde shal be saued HERE let vs consider the order of the promises which perteine either outwardly to the bodie or inwardlie to the soul. Which part the soule I meane because it is much more precious then the other we must first craue such thinges as properly belong to the saluation thereof But first of all confessing our sinnes vnto God with most humble and penitent heartes let vs set before vs the promises of remission of the same For this sentence is true God heareth no sinners that is such as delight and continue in sin Wherfore in all our prayers yea when we be about to aske any other thinges whatsoeuer they be let vs firste thinke of the remission of sinnes hauing alway in our sight some comfortable promises thereof as this If vve confesse and acknovvledge our sinnes he is faithfull and righteous to forgiue our offences and to cleanse vs from all iniquitie And herevnto let vs craue the light of the holy ghost to kindle confirme in vs the true knowledge of god Let vs pray for the continuance of Gods holie worde and Gospell amongest vs for the enlarging of his kingdome and the aduauncing of his glorie Let vs begge the gift of faith repentance feare patience prayer hope loue ioye peace of conscience with such other fruites of the spirite and for euerlasting life And here also we must remember that we doe not onely call our selues continually to account for our newe sinnes crauing at Gods hand mercie and forgiuenes of the same but also for those sinnes which might seeme to haue beene long ago forgotten as Dauid hauing confessed an heinous offence by that occasion returneth euen to his mothers wombe wherein he had gathered the infection heaping together the sins of his whole life Euen so in an other place when hee asketh an other thing he saith Remember not he sinnes of my youth remember mee according to thy mercie for thy goodnesse sake O Lord. Againe looke vpon mine affliction and trauell and forgiue all my sinnes When wee haue thus prayed for thinges pertaining to the soule and to the kingdome of God wee must pray also for corporall benefits as well common as priuate as peace tranquilitie of those countries which giue harborough to the true professours of the gospel godly congregations being in this life as Daniel in the midds of the lions Pray for the peace of Ierusalem saith Dauid Also for defence from misery deliuerance from trouble for happie successe in the workes of our vocation for health liuing protection of life goods name c. And although the Lord knoweth before we aske what we haue need of is ready to giue liberally yea and doth giue often times vndesired and furthermore hath promised that seeking first the kingdome of God the righteousnes thereof all other things should be giuen vs yet he commaundeth vs to aske corporall benefits that for three causes FIRST that wee should know that he is the authour and giuer thereof and therefore should not onely be thankefull for the same but also stirred up thereby to seeke loue and worship him SECONDLY that we should be well persuaded of his good prouidence towardes vs when wee vnderstand that he doth not onely promise that he will neuer faile vs but also hath his hand alwaies stretched out to helpe them that cal vpon him THIRDLY that our faith of reconciliatioÌ„ forgiuenes of sinnes should bee exercised through the asking of those corporal things And herein we must specially aboue all things seeke the glory of God therefore we must pray for these corporall thinges in such sort that we
from whom thye Sunne goeth downe giueth no light I meane thy grace which is alwaies cleare as the midday Darke night vnto them is the midday which depart from thee In thee is neuer night but alwayes day light most cleare This corporall Sunne hath his courses nowe vp nowe downe but thou deare Lord if we loue thee art alwayes one O that this blocke and veile of sinne were taken away from me that there might be alwaies cleare day in my minde Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as we are not sorrie when the Sunne goeth downe bicause we knowe it will rise againe euen so we should not sorowe for death wherthrough the soule and bodie doe part asunder for they shall eftesoones returne and come together againe in most glorious wise So long as the Sunne is vp wilde beastes keepe their dennes Foxes their burrowes Owles their holes c. but when the Sunne is downe then come they abroade so wicked men and hypocrites kepe their dennes in the time of the Gospell but it being taken away then swarme thei out of their holes like Bees as this day doth teach When the candles be light pray MOst thicke and darke cloudes do couer our mindes except thy light O Lord doe driue them away Thy sunne O most wise worker is as it were a firebrand to this worlde Thy kingdome whereby light commeth both to soule and bodie is a firebrand to the spirituall world After day when the night commeth thou hast giuen for the remedie of darkenesse a candle After sinne for the remedie of ignoraunce thou hast giuen thy doctrine which thy deare sonne hath brought vnto vs O thou that art the authour and master of all trueth and art the true light make vs so to see that the dimnesse of our mindes may be driuen cleane away Lift thou vp the light of thy countenaunce vpon vs and send ioy and gladnesse into our hearts Psal. 4. Thy word is a lanterne to my feete and a light vnto my pathes Psal. 119. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that the knowledge which God giueth vnto vs by the candlelight whereby we see those things in this night of our bodies which are expedient for vs should make vs to wish much more for this doctrine of God and spirituall light of our soules and when we get it the more to esteeme it and diligently to embrace it Againe that as all would be horrour without candlelight so there is nothing but meere confusion where Gods word taketh no place When you make your selfe vnreadie pray THis our life and weake knit bodie by reason of sinne by little little shall be dissolued so shall be restored to the earth from whence it was taken then will be an end of this vanitie which by our follie we haue wrought to ourselues O most meeke father so doe thou vntie me for thou art he that hast knit these our weake members together that I may perceiue my selfe to be losed dissolued and so may remember both of whome I was made also whither I must goe least I be had vnprouided vnto thy tribunall seate Put off the olde man with his lustes and concupiscences Col. 3. Ephe. 4. Be content with Ioseph to put off thy prison apparell that thou mayest put on newe Gen. 41. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as we do willingly put off our garments bicause we shall receiue them againe when the night is past so we should not willingly forsake our bodies when God by death shall call vs bicause we shall receiue them againe in the resurrection of the iust When you enter into your bed pray THe day nowe ended men giue them selues to rest in the night and so this life finished we shall rest in death Nothing is more like this life then euerie day nothing more like death then sleepe nothing more like to our graue then our bed O Lorde our keeper and defender graunt that I now laying me downe to rest being vnable to keepe my self may be preserued from the craftes and assaultes of the wicked enimie And grant further that wheÌ„ I haue run the â—ace of this life thou wouldest of thy mercy call me vnto thee that I may liue and watch with thee for euermore And nowe gratious God giue me to take my rest in thee and bring to passe that thy goodnesse may be euen in sleepe before my eyes that sleeping I be not absent from thee but may haue my dreames to drawe me vnto thee and so both soul and bodie may be kept pure and holie for euer I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest Psal. 4. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as this troublesome day is nowe past and night come and so rest quietnesse and pleasant sleepe which maketh most excellent Princes poore wretches alike euen so after the tumults troubles teÌ„ptations and teÌ„pestes of this life they that beleeue in Christ haue prepared for them an hauen and rest most pleasant and ioyful As you are not afraide to enter into your bed and to dispose your selfe to sleepe so be not afraide to dye but rather chearefully prepare your selfe therevnto Thinke that nowe you are nearer your end by one dayes iourney then you were in the morning When you feele sleepe to be comming pray O Lord Iesus Christ my watchman and keeper take me into thy protection Graunt that my body sleeping my minde may watch in thee and be made merrie by some sight of that celestiall and heauenly life wherein thou art the king and prince together with the father and the holie Ghost where the Angels holy soules be most happie citizens Oh purifie my soule keepe cleane my bodie that in both I may please thee sleeping and waking for euer Amen A GENERALL CONfession of sinnes with other prayers for the Morning and Euening to be vsed in families and publike assemblies O Most mercifull and louing father whose loue is infinit whose mercie endureth for euer we sinfull creatures trusting in thine vnspeakable goodnesse and loue toward vs do appeare this morning before thy diuine maiestie most humbly confessing our manifolde sinnes and innumerable transgressions of thy commaundements and fatherly will. Against thee onely against thee O Lorde haue we sinned we acknowledge our offences we accuse our selues vnto thee O mercifull Lord and will not hide our vnrighteousnesse We find in our selues nothing but ignorance of thy wil disobedience mistrust doubtfulnesse in thy goodnesse and incredulitie hatred and contempt of al spirituall things selfeloue confidence in our selues feruent lusting after earnall things of this world and this tree of our corrupt nature bringeth foorth continually in vs none other fruites but rotten and vnsauorie workes of the flesh in thoughtes wordes and doings vnto condemnation Wherefore we humbly beseech thy fatherly goodnesse euen for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake whome thou hast set foorth for a purchaser of mercy to vs through faith in his bloud make our heartes cleane take away our stonie heartes
didest the Israelites of that horrible destruction which came vpon them whom thou first in mercie diddest cal to repentance by the preaching of thy worde but when no warning would serue thou diddest send them monstrous and fearefull signes and tokens to declare that thy visitatiō was not farre off But they like vnto vs at this day did always interpret these things after the imagination of their owne vaine hearts promising to themselues peace when destruction was ouer their heads Which things when we do call to minde for as much as they are written for our learning example and warning it maketh vs to tremble and quake for feare of thy iust iudgements For if thou hast thus dealt with thine owne deare and chosen children in token of thy great wrath against sinne what shall wee looke for who do no lesse deserue thy fearfull scourge for of mercie it is that thou doest thus long forbeare vs and liue as though there were no God at all to be reuenged vpon our sinnes It maketh vs to feare crye inwardly in our soules Come Lorde Iesu holy true in all thy doings shorten our daies bring this our pilgrimage to an end suffer vs not to heap sinne vpon sinne vntill the day of vengeance least we be caught vp amongst the number of the wicked and reprobate which shall neuer see thy louing countenance It maketh vs to crie to thee O Lorde Let thy kingdome come and end this our sinefull life wherein we doe nothing but prouoke thee to wrath Correct vs not O Lord in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauy displeasure And though to vs belongeth nothing but shame confusion though our offences haue deserued to be visited with the rod and our sinnes with scourges yet in mercie Lorde with fatherly correctiō chasten vs and thy louing kindnesse take not away from vs. To thee we flee for succour vnder the winges of thy mercy shal be our refuge vntill thou turne thy wrathfull countenaunce from vs We know that thy mercie is aboue all thy works and euen as great as thy selfe therfore wit we say with holy Iob Though thou kill vs yet will wee put our trust in thee Thou camest to comfort pluck out of the dungeon of hell suche wretches as wee are Thou art the good Samaritan that camest to heale our deadly woundes thou art that good Physitian that camest to cure our mortall infirmities thou art the good sheepheard that camest to seeke vs wandering and lost sheepe and to bring vs to thy folde againe more then that thou art our brother flesh of our flesh and bone of our bones which hast tasted of our infirmities felt our temptations and borne the burden of our sinnes therefore at thy handes we looke for mercie against the day of vengeance And though thou punish vs yet our hope is and euer shall be that thy rodde shall no further touch vs then shal make to thy glorie our commoditie and the strengthening and increase of our faith Let this thy Preaching sundrie ways O Lord be sufficient for our warning and graunt that we may speedily from the bottome of our heartes repent endeuour to doe thy righteous and blessed will reuealed in thy worde and frame our liues according to the same that we may here liue in thy feare all the dayes of our life and after this our sinnefull course is ended may dwel with thee in thy blessed kingdome through the death merites of Iesus Christ our onely redeemer So be it Another praier for the auoiding of Gods deserued wrath hanging ouer vs for our sinnes WHen we looke backe and behold our sinful life past what a dongeon of errours vice wickednes openeth it selfe vnto vs so that there is no man but he must needes be ashamed of him selfe when he calleth to mind what he hath ben trembleth when he considereth the wickednes and sinneful course of his life to come for who shall vndertak◠that the rest of our life shall bee any better then that is past How can we thē sufficiently magnifie praise thy great mercy which hast deferred thy punishmēt so long Beholding therfore this our daungerous miserable state we come vnto thee O thou great and mightie Iudge in trembling and feare humbly beseeching thee not to heape vpon vs thy deserued vengeance but let thy tender kindnes loue thou bearest to Iesus Christ thy sonne our gratious Lord and redeemer couer our iniquites for whose sake though we deserue all extremitie thou doest pardon vs. If thou Lorde shall straitly marke our iniquities O Lord who shal be able to abide it Psal. 103. A prayer to be saide of all such as suffer any kinde of crosse ALmightie God king of al kings gouernour of al things whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punish sinners to be mercifull vnto them that truely repent wee confesse thou doest most iustly punishe vs for wee haue greeuously sinned against thee and wee acknowledge that in punishing vs thou doest declare thy selfe to be our most mercifull father as well because thou doest not punishe vs in any thing as we haue deserued as also because by punishing vs thou doest call vs and as it were draw vs to increase in repentance in faith in prayer in contemning of the world and in heartie desiring for euerlasting life and thy blessed presence Grant vs therfore gratious Lord thankefully to acknowledge thy great mercie which hast thus fauourably dealte with vs in punishing vs not to our confusion but to our amendement And seeing thou hast sworne that thou wilt not the death of a sinner but that he turne and liue haue mercie vppon vs and turne vs vnto thee for thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest shoulde bee made a slaine sacrifice for our sinnes thereby declaring thy great and vnspeakeable anger against sinne and thine infinite mercie towards vs sinfull wretches And for as much as the dulnesse blindnes corruption of our hearts is such that we are not able to arise vp vnto thee by faithfull and heartie prayer according to our great necessitie without thy singular grace and assistance graunt vnto vs gratious Lorde thy holy and sanctifying spirite to worke in vs this good work with grace to weigh and consider the neede and greatnesse of that wee doe desire and with an assured faith and trust that thou wilt grant vs our requestes because thou art good and gratious euen to younge Rauens calling vppon thee much more then to vs for whome thou hast made all things yea and hast not spared also thine owne deare sonne because thou hast commaunded vs to call vppon thee because thy throne whereto wee come is a throne of grace and mercie because thou hast giuen vs a mediator Christe to bring vs vnto thee being the way by whome wee come being the dore by whome wee enter
permanent thinges and lesse mindfull of transitorie things By reason hereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament bicause I am so earthly minded so litle desirous of my home so vnthankefull for thy prouidence and fatherly protection here on earth To reioyce bicause of my home and the great glorie thereof bicause thou doest so prouide for me here bicause thou doest so correct and chasten me c. But alas I am altogether a wretch earthly and vnthankfull not onely for these corporall benefites health riches friends fame wisedome c. for thy fatherly correction sicknesse temptation c. but also for thy heauenly benefites for Christ Iesus for the promise of thy spirite for thy Gospell c. yea euen for heauen it self and thy whole glorie as the Israelites were for the land of Canaan and therefore neuer enioyed it but perished in the wildernesse I am proud in prosperitie and forget thee waxing secure and carelesse I am impatient in the crosse and too much consider worldly discommodities Oh deare father forgiue me for thy Christes sake all mine vnthankfulnesse loue of this world contempt and obliuion of thy heauenly benefites and graunt me thy holy spirite to illuminate the eyes of my minde with the light and liuely knowledge of thy presence power wisedome goodnesse in thy creatures but specially in Christe Iesus thy sonne so by the same spirite inflame myne affections that I may desire nothing in earth but thee and to be present with thee that my conuersation may be in heauen continually from whence graunt me still to looke for the Lorde Iesus to make this my vile bodie like vnto his owne glorious and immortall bodie according to his owne power by which he is able to doe all things As thou hast giuen me to be thy childe so I pray thee giue me these things whiche be the properties of thy children giuen from thee in thy good time Hallowed be thy name THy name is that whereby thou art knowne for names serue to discerne know one thing from an other Nowe though thou art knowne by thy creatures yet in this our corrupt state they serue but to make vs excuselesse Therefore most properly liuely and comfortably thou art knowne by thy holy worde especially by thy promise of grace and freely pardoning and receiuing vs into thy fauour for Christ Iesus sake For the which goodnesse in Christe thou art praysed and magnified according to thy name that is so much as men knowe thee in Christe they magnifie thee praise thee which here thou callest hallowing or sanctifying Not that thou art the more holy in respect of thy selfe but in respect of men who the more they knowe thee the more they cannot but sanctifie thee that is thei cannot but as in them selues by true faith loue feare spirituall seruice honour thee so also in their outward behauiour and wordes they can not but liue in such sort as other seeing them may in and by their holinesse and godly conuersation be occasioned as to knowe thee so to sanctifie thy name accordingly and therefore thou settest foorth here vnto me what is the chiefe principall wish and desire of thy children and people namely that thou in Christe mightest be truely knowne and honoured both of them selues and of other inwardly and outwardly as by the contrarie a man may easily perceiue that the greatest sorrowe and griefe thy people haue is ignorance of thee false seruice or religion and wicked conuersation Against the which they pray and labour diligently after their vocations as they for the obtaining of the other both to other and to them selues doe take no small paine in prayer studie and godly exercise By reason hereof I see that I am farre from this desire and lamentation which is in thy children I see mine ignoraunce of the true knowledge of thee and thy name for else it had not needed thee so by thy word to haue reuealed thy selfe I see also mine owne ignorance of the excellencie of the same for else wouldest thou not haue tolde me that the sanctfying of thy name is the chiefest thing thou requirest of euery man. Againe I see my great want of holinesse for else thou needest not to teach me to seeke and pray for that I want not Moreouer I see my great peruersitie which would not seeke at thy handes for sanctification although I see my neede thereof For the which thou wouldest not haue commaunded me to pray if I seeing my want would haue prayed vnto thee for the same Last of all I see thy wonderfull goodnesse which wilt vndoubtedly giue vnto me sanctification and holinesse for thou wouldest not that I should aske for that thing that thou wilt not giue me So that I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause I am so farre from this desire and lamentation which thy children haue Also bicause of my ignorance pouertie peruersitie vnthankfulnes c. but most of all bicause thy holie name word and religion is so blasphemed both in doctrine in liuing of many especially in this realme To reioyce I haue great cause for thy exceeding goodnesse and mercie which wouldest so disclose thy selfe by thy workes word and Gospell which wouldest open these things thus vnto me and also giue vnto me and others sanctification in thy sight by faith and in the sight of men by purenesse of life and godly conuersation But alas I do heartily neither the one nor the other that is lament or reioyce as thou father whiche searchest my heart doest right well knowe Oh be merciful vnto me and forgiue me yea giue me of thine owne pitie thy holie spirite to reueale and open to my minde effectually my miserable estate and condition my ignorance peruersitie my carelesnesse for thy true honour and dishonour in such sort that I may heartily lament these euils and haue thē pardoned taken from me through Iesus Christ our Lord. Againe good Father giue me the same thy holie spirite to reueale to me thy name worde and Gospell that I may liuely know thee vnfainedly loue thee heartily obey thee and aboue all thinges desire and labour by all meanes lawfull that all godlinesse in doctrine and conuersation may be exercised both in me and in all others for whom thou wouldest I should pray Here thinke vpon the state of religiō and the life of the professors of the Gospell that thou maiest lament some pray for some and giue thankes for some Let thy kingdome come THY kingdome is in two sortes to be considered vniuersally and particularly Uniuersally according to thy power wherewith thou gouernest all things euery where in earth heauen hell diuels Angels men beastes foules fishes and all other creatures Of this kingdome spake Dauid when he said This kingdome ruleth ouer all Particularly thy kingdome is to be considered according to thy grace wherewith thou reignest
you shall haue time thereto and by Gods good spirit shal be prouoked Forgiue vs our debts as we forgiue them that are debters vnto vs. BY Our debtes we vnderstand not onely the thinges we haue done but the omission and leauing vndone of the good things we ought to doe By Our we vnderstand not only the particular sinnes of one but also generally the sinnes of all and euery one of the Church By Forgiuenesse we vnderstand free pardon and remission of sinnes by the merites and desertes of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ who gaue him selfe a raunsome for vs. By Our forgiuing of other mens offences to vs ward we vnderstand thy good will not onely that it pleaseth thee that we should liue in loue and amitie but also that thou wouldest haue vs to be certain of thy pardoning vs of our sinnes For as certain as we are that we pardon them that offend vs so certaine should we be that thou doest pardon vs wherof the forgiuing our trespasses is as it were a sacrament vnto vs. So that by this petitioÌ„ I am taught to see that thy children although by imputation they be pure from sinne yet they acknowledge sinne to be remaine in them and therefore doe they pray for the remission and forgiuenesse of the same Againe I am taught hereby to see howe thy children doe consider and take to heart not only the euils they doe but also the good they leaue vndone and therefore they pray thee heartily for pardon Moreouer I am here taught to see that thy children are carefull for other men and for their trespasses and therefore pray that they might be pardoned in saying Our sinnes and not My sinnes Besides this I am taught here to see howe thy children not onely forgiue all those that offend them but also pray for the pardoning of the offences of their enimies and such as offend them So farre are they from maliciousnesse pride reuengement c. Last of all I am taught to see howe mercifull thou art which wilt haue vs to aske pardon whereof thou wouldest that we should in no â—oint dout but be most assured that for Christes sake thou hearest vs that not onely for our selues but also for many others for thou doest not commaund vs to aske for any thing which thou wilt not giue vs. By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause of my miserable estate which am so farre from these affections that are in thy children which am so ignorant and carelesse of sinne not only in leauing good vndone but also in doing euill and that daily in thought word deede c. I speake not of my carelesnes for other folks sinnes as of my parentes children familie magistrats c. neither of the sinnes of them to whom I haue giuen occasion to sinne To reioyce I haue great cause bicause of thy mercy in opening to me these things in commanding me to pray for pardon in promising me pardon and commanding others to pray for me And surely I ought to be persuaded of thy mercy though my sinnes be innumerable for I see not onely in this but in euerie petition howe that euery one of the Church prayeth for me yea Christe thy sonne who sitteth on thy right hand prayeth for me c. Oh deare father be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me al my sinnes and of thy goodnesse giue me thy holie spirite to open mine eyes that I may see sinne the better to knowe it the more truely to hate it and most earnestly to striue against it and that effectually both in my selfe and others Againe graunt me the same thy holy spirite to reueale vnto me the remedie of sinne by Christ only and to worke in me faith to embrace the same by Christe and thy mercies in him that I may hencefoorth be indued with thy holie spirite to begin to obey thy good will more more and to increase in the same for euer Here call to minde the special sinnes you haue committed heretofore Remember if you haue occasioned any to sinne to pray for them by name Remember that Gods lawe should be so deare vnto vs that the breaking thereof in others should be an occasion to make vs to lament with teares c. Lead vs not into temptation BIcause of our continuall great infirmities bicause of the great diligence and subtilties of our enimies and bicause thou art wont to punish sinne with sinne which of all punishments is the greatest most to be feared in this petition thou wouldest haue thy children to haue the same in remembrance and for a remedie hereof thou hast appointed prayer so that the only cause why any are ouercome and led into temptation is for that they forget what they desire in the petition going before this which should neuer be out of their memorie to prouoke them to be more thankefull to thee and more vigilant and heedie hereafter for falling into the like perils For which to be auoyded thou doest most gratiously set foorth a remedie in commaunding vs to pray after pardon for our sinnes past for thy grace to guide vs so that we be not led into temptation but might be deliuered from euill And bicause y wouldest haue all thy children to hang wholy vpon thee to feare thee only only to loue thee thou doest not teach them to pray suffer vs not to be led but lead vs not into temptation that I say they might only feare thee and certainly knowe that sathan hath no power ouer so much as a pig but what so euer thou giuest vnto him and of thy secrete but most iust iudgement doest appoint him to vse not as he will for then we were all lost but as thou wilt which canst will nothing but that which is most iust as to giue them to the guiding of sathan which will not be guided by thy grace as thou diddest Saul c. Occasions to euil are in two sortes One by prosperitie and successe an other by aduersitie and the crosse c. The euils comming of successe commonly are vnthankfulnes pride securitie and forgetting of our selues forgetting of others forgetfulnesse of God of our mortalitie c The euils comming of aduersitie commonly are impatiencie murmuring grudging dispairing contemning of God flattering of men stealing lying with many other euils whereto tentations will entice a man that is left to him selfe where as to one that is guided with Gods spirite temptations are but trials to the glorie of GOD comfort of the tempted and edifying of thy Church But as I saide if a man be left alone tentations entice eueÌ„ to the diuell him selfe and therefore thy children pray to be deliuered from euill vnderstanding thereby Sathan him selfe the sower and supporter of all euill And this thy children do as wel for others as for them selues So that I may learne hereby many good thinges First to remember often our infirmitie and
himselfe was vtterly without sinne the victorie seemed the more easie But I to vanquishe sathan being my selfe altogether sinfull yea contrarie to my most sinfull nature to subdue sinne the diuel and mine owne fleshe it seemeth a more victory and a greater worke then the other For the which neuerthelesse I will with all submission acknowledge vnto thy diuine maiestie that the whole victorie Lorde in deede is thine and thy holy spirite the beginner and finisher both of the will and the worke Now therfore Lord Iesu strengthen mee with thy grace and might that thou maist by mee a most sinfull wretche drawe all these my earthly members and horrible vices before rehearsed vnder my feete that I may not onely fight against them but also subdue them so that they may all turne to the best for mee as meete matter whereon I may exercise my faith powre forth my hearty prayer and giue thee most heartie thankes for victorie wherby I may learne and haue experience that thou hast in mee drawne all thinges vnto thee insomuch as thou thus Lord of thy diuine power drawest both the diuel and the sinne that dwelleth in me to set foorth thine honour and glorie which thing for thy mercies sake bring to passe O God my creator preseruer euerlasting defender A meditation for the exercise of true mortification HE that will be ready in weightie matters to denie his owne will and to be obedient to the will of God the same had neede to accustome him selfe to denye his desires in matters of lesse weight and to exercise mortification of his owne will in trifles For if that our affections by this daily custome be not as it were halfe slaine surely surely wheÌ„ the plunge shall come we shall finde the more to do If we can not watch with Christ one houre as he saith to Peter we vndoubtedly can much lesse goe to death with him Wherefore that in great tentations we may be ready to say with Christ Not my will but thy will be done for as much as this coÌ„monly commeth not to passe but where the rootes of our lustes by thy grace deare father are almost rotten and rooted out by a daily deniall of that they desire I humbly beseech thee for Christes sake to helpe me herein First pardon me my cherishing and as it were watering of mine affections obeying them in their deuises and superfluous desires where through in that they haue taken deepe roote and are too liuely in me I secondly doe beseech thee to pull them vppe by the rootes out of my heart and so hencefoorth to order me that I may continually accustome my selfe to weaken the principall roote that the by rootes and branches may loose all their power Graunt me I beseech thee that thy grace may daily mortifie my concupiscence of pleasure in thinges that is of wealth riches glorie libertie fauour of men meats drinkes apparel ease yea and life it selfe that the horrour and impatiencie of more grieuous things may be weakned and I made more patient in aduersitie Wherevnto I further desire and pray thy goodnes deare father that thou wilt adde this namely that I may for euer become obedient and readie to doe thy good will in all things hartily and willingly to serue thee and do whatsoeuer may please thee For doubtles althoâ—gh wee accustome our selues in the pleasaunt thinges of this life to a mortification and deniall of our selues yet we shall finde inough to doe when more better weighty crosses come For if thy sonne our sauiour euer wonte to obay thy good will prayed so hartily and often Not my will but thy will be done whereby he declareth himselfe to be verie man how can it be but we whose nature is corrupt not onely in natiuitie but in the rest of our whole life also shall find both our handes ful in great and greeuos temptations wholy to resigne our selues vnto thee Graunt therefore deare father for thy Christes sake to mee a most miserable wretch thy grace and spirite to be effectuall in mee that daily I may accustome my selfe to deny my will in more easie and pleasant thinges of this life that when neede shall be I may com vnto thee with a resigned wil alwaies stedfastly expecting thy mercie and in the meane season continually obeying thee with readinesse and willingnes doing what so euer may most please thee through Christ our Lord who liueth with thee c. A meditation of the comming of Christ to iudgement and of the reward both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull OH Lord Iesus Christ the son of the euerliuing God by whom all thinges were made are ruled and gouerned as of thy loue for our redemption thou didst not disdaine to be our mediatour to take vpon thee our nature in the wombe of a virgin purely and without sinne by the operation of thy holie spirite that both thou mightest in thine owne person wonderfully beautifie and exalt our nature and worke the same in vs also first abolishing the guiltines of sinne by remission then sinne it selfe by death and last of all death by raising vp again these our bodies that they may be like to thine owne glorious and immortall body according to the power wherewith thou art able to subiect all thinges vnto thee as I say of thy loue for our redemption thou becamest man and that most poore and afflicted vpon earth by the space of three and thirtie yeares at the least in most humilitie and paiedst the price of our ransome by thy most bitter death and passion for the which I most heartily giue thankes to thee so of the same thy loue towardes vs in thy good time thou wilt come againe in the clouds of heauen with power and great glorie with flaming fire with thousaÌ„ds of Saintes with Angels of thy power with a mightie cry shout of an Archangel and blast of a trumpe soudenly as a lightening which shineth from the East c. when men thinke least euen as a theefe in the night when men be asleepe thou wilt so come I say thus soudenly in the twinckling of an eye all men that euer haue bene be or shall be with women and children appearing before thy tribunall seate to render an account of all thinges which they haue thought spoken and done against thy lawe openly and before all Angels Saintes and diuels and so shall their corruptible bodie put on incorruption then shall they be endued with immortalitie and glorie then shall they be with thee and goe whither thou goest then shall they heare Come blessed of my father possesse the kingdome prepared for you from the beginning c. then shall they be set on seats of maiestie iudging the whole world then shall they reigne with thee for euer then shall God be al in al with them and to them then shall they enter and inherite heauenly Ierusalem and the glorious restfull lande of Canaan where it is always day and neuer night where
First concerning our corruption and naughtinesse what a thing is it that power riches authoritie beautie goodnes â–ª liberalitie truth iustice all which thou art good Lord can not moue vs to loue thee Whatsoeuer thinges we see faire good wise mighty are but euen sparcles of that power beautie goodnesse wisedome which thou art For to the ende thou mightest declare thy riches beautie power wisedome goodnesse c. thou hast not only made but still doest conserue all creatures to bee as Dauid saith of the heauens declarers setters forth of thy glory as a book to teach vs to know thee How faire thou art the beauty of the Sunne Moone Starres light flowers riuers fieldes hills â—irdes beastes men and all creatures yea the goodly shape and forme of the whole worlde doth declare How mightie thou art wee are taught by the creation of this world euen of naught by gouerning the same by punishing the wicked mightie Giants thereof by ouerthrowing their deuises by repressing the rages of the sea within her bounds by stormes tempests fires These such like declare vnto vs thine inuisible almighty terrible power whereby thou subduest all things vnto thee Howe rich thou art this worlde thy great and infinite treasure house doth well declare What plentie is there not onely of thinges but also of euerie kinde of thinge Yea how dost thou yearly and daily multiply these kindes How many seedes dost thou make of one seede Yea what great increase dost thou bring it vnto These can not but put vs in remeÌ„braÌ„ce of the exceeding riches that thou hast For if to thine enemies which loue thee not as the moste part in this world be if to them thou giuest so plentifully thy riches here what shall we thinke that with thy selfe thou hast laid vp for thy friendes Howe good thou art all creatures generally and particularly do teach What creature is there in the world which thou hast not made for our coÌ„moditie I will not say how that thou mightest haue made vs creatures without sense or reason if thou haddest would But amongest all things none doeth so teach vs thy great loue towardes vs as doeth the death of thy most dearely beloued sonne who suffered the paines terrors thereof yea and of hell it selfe for our sakes If this thy loue had bene but a small loue it would neuer haue lasted so long nor Christ should neuer haue died I.B. A Meditation concerning the sober vsage of the bodie that it may be subiect and obedient to the soule THis our bodie which God hath made to be the Tabernacle and mansion of our soule for this life if we consider it accordingly we could not but vse it otherwise than we do that is we would vse it for the souls sake being the guest thereof and not for the bodie it selfe and so should it be serued in things to helpe but not to hinder the soule A seruant it is therfore it ought to obey to serue the soul that the soul might serue God not as the bodie will neither as the soule it selfe will but as God will whose wil we should learne to know behaue our selues thereafter The which thing to obserue is hard for vs nowe by reason of sinne which hath gotten a mansion house in our bodies and dwelleth in vs as doth the soule To the which sinne I meane we are altogether of our selues inclined because we naturally are sinners and born in sinne by reason wherof we are ready as seruants to sinne and to vse our bodies accordingly making the soule to sit at reward and pampering vp the seruant to our shame Oh therefore good Lord that it would please thee to open this geare vnto me and to giue me eyes to consider effectually this my body what it is namely a seruant lent for the soule to soiourne in and serue thee in this life yea it is by reason of sinne that hath his dwelling there become now to the soule nothing else but a prison and that most streit vile stinking filthie and therfore in danger of miseries to many in al ages times and places till death haue turned it to dust whereof it came whither it shall returne that the soule may returne to thee from whence it came vntill the day of iudgement come in the which thou wilt raise vp that body that then it may be partaker with the soule and the soule with it inseparably of weale or woe according to that is done in and by the same bodie here now in earth Oh that I could consider often and hartily these things then should I not pamper vp this bodie to obey it but bridle it that it might obey the soule then should I flie the paine it putteth my soule vnto by reason of sinne and prouocation to all euill continually desire the dissolution of it with Paul and the deliuerance from it as much as euer did prisoner his deliuerance out of prison for alonely by it the diuell hath a dore to tempt and so to hurt me in it I am kept from thy presence thou from being so conuersant with me as else thou wouldest be by it I am restrained from the sense and feeling of all the ioyes and comforts in manner which are to be taken as ioyes and comfortes in deede If it were dissolued and I out of it then could Satan no more hurt me then wouldest thou speake with me face to face then the conflicting time were at an end then sorrowe would cease and ioy would increase I should enter into inestimable rest Oh that I could consider this accordingly I.B. Another Meditation coÌ„cerning the sober vsage of the bodie and pleasures in this life THe beginning of all euill in our kinde of liuing springeth out of the deprauation and corruptnesse of our iudgement bicause our will alwaies followeth that which reason iudgeth to be followed Nowe that which euery maÌ„ taketh to be friendly and agreeing to his nature the same doth he iudge necessarily to be good for him and to be desired This is meate drinke apparell riches fauour dignitie rule knowledge and such like bicause they are thought good and agreeing either to the bodie or to the minde or to both for they helpe either to the conseruation or to the pleasure of man accounted of euerie one amongest good things Howbeit such is the weaknesse of our wit on the one part the blindnesse and too much rage of our lustes on the other part that we being left to our selues can not but in the desire of things which we iudge good and agreeing to our nature by the iudgement of our senses and reason we can not I say but ouerpasse the boundes wherby they might be profitable vnto vs and so we make them hurtfull vnto vs which of themselues are ordeined for our health What is more necessary then meat and drinke or more agreeing to nature but yet howe fewe be there which doe not hurt them selues by
them In like manner it goeth with riches estimation friends learning c. yea although we be in these most temperate yet when there wanteth the spirit our regeneratour we are so drowned in them that we vtterly neglect to lift vp our mindes to the good pleasure of God to the end we might imitate and followe God our maker by yeelding our selues ouer duly to vse his gifts to the common priuate vtilitie of our neighbors But now God only is life and eternitie and can not but demaund of vs his handie worke that we should render our selues and all we haue to the ende wherefore wee were made that is to resemble for our portion his goodnesse as they which be nothing else but witnesses and instruments of his mercie So that when wee wholy doe naturally striue against that kinde of life wherevnto he hath created vs by seeking alwais our selues what other thing ought to insue but the he should againe destroie vs and take away his notable giftes wherewith he therfore indued vs that by all kind of wel doing we should resemble his image yea what other thing may ensue but that hee should leaue vs and that eternally that we might feele and by experience proue howe bitter a thing it is to leaue the Lorde in whome is all goodnes Oh that I might therefore finde such fauour in thy sight deare father that thou wouldest worke in me by thy holie spirit a true knowledge of all good things and heartie loue to the same through Christ Iesus our Lord and onelie Sauiour Amen I. B. A Meditation of death and the commodities it bringeth WHat other thing doe we daily in this present life but heape sinne vpon sinne and hoorde vp trespasse vpon trespasse so that this day is worse alwaies thē yesterday by increasing as daies so sinnes and therefore thy indignaiion good Lord against vs but when we shall be let go out of the prison of this bodie so taken into thy blessed companie then shall we be in most safetie of immortalitie and saluation then shall come vnto vs no sicknesse no need no paine no kind of euill to soule or bodie but what so euer good we can wish that shall we haue and what so euer we loath shall be farre from vs O deere father that we had faith to behold these thinges accordingly O that our hearts were persuaded thereof and our affections inflamed with the desire of them Then should we liue in longing for that which nowe we most loath Oh helpe vs and graunt that we beeing ignorant of thinges to come and of the time of our death which to thee is certain may so liue and finish our iourney here that we may be ready and then depart when our departing may make most to thy glory and our comfort through Christ. What is this life but a smoke a vapour a shadowe a warrefare a bubble of water a worde grasse a flower That thou shalt die it is most certeine but the time no man can tell when The longer in this life thou doest remaine the more thou sinnest which will turne to thy more paine By cogitation of death our mindes be often in manner oppressed with darkenesse because wee doe but remember the night of the body forgetting the light of the mind and of the resurrection Hereto remember the good things that after this life shall insue without wauering in certeintie of faith and so shall the passage of death bee more desired It is like a failing ouer the sea to thy home and countrie it is like a medicine or purgation to the health of soule bodie it is the best Physition it is like to a womans trauell For as the childe being deliuered commeth into a more large place then the wombe wherein it did lie before so thy soule beeing deliuered out of the bodie commeth into a much more large and faire place euen into heauen I. B. A meditation vpon the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ. OH Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of the euerliuing God by whom all thinges were made and be ruled and gouerned thou the liuely Image of the substance of the Father the eternall wisedome of God the brightnes of his glorie God of God light of light coequal coeternal and consubstantial with the Father thou which of the loue thou hadst to mankinde when he was fallen from the fellowshippe of God into the societie of Sathan and al euill didst vouchsafe for our redemption to become a mediator betweene God and man taking to thy godhead our nature as concerning the substance of it and so becamest man also the heire of all and most mercifull Messias which by the power of thy Godhead and merites of thy manhoode hast made purgation of our sinnes euen by thine own selfe whilest thou was here on earth beeing nowe set on the right hande of thy father for vs euen concerning our nature in maiestie glorie and power infinite I pray and humbly beseech thy mercie to graunt me at this present to rehearse some of thy passions and sufferinges for me the last night that thou wast here before thy death that thy good spirite might therby be effectuall to worke in me faith as well of the pardon of my sinnes by them as mortification of mine affections comfort in my crosses and patience in afflictions Amen In the middest of thy last supper with thy deare apostles these things could not but be before thee namely that they all would leaue thee the most earnest would forsweare thee and one of the twelue should most traiterously betray thee which were no smal crosses vnto thee Iudas was admonished of thee to beware but when he tooke no heede ▪ but wilfully went out to finish his worke contemning thy admonition counsell he could not but vexe thy most louing heart After supper there was contention amongest thy Disciples who should be greatest after thee yet dreaming carnally of thee and thy kingdome hauing this affection of pride and ambition busie amongest them notwithstanding thy diligence in reprouing and teaching them After thy admonition to them of the crosse that would come therby to make them more vigilant so grosse were they that they thought they coulde with their two swordes put away all perils which was no little greefe vnto thee After thy comming to Gethsemane heauinesse pressed thee and therfore thou wouldest thy disciples to pray Thou didst tell to Peter and his fellowes that thy hart was heauie to death Thou didest will them to pray being carefull for them also least they should fall into tentation After this thou wentes◠a stones cast from them and diddest pray thy selfe falling flat and groueling vpon the earth but alas thou feltest no comfort and therefore thou camest to thy disciples which of all others were moste sweete and deare vnto thee but loe to thy further discomforte they passe neither of thy perils nor of their owne therefore sleepe apace After thou hadst awaked them thou goest againe
Lord which are taught of thee and instructed by the spirite of godly wisedome and vnderstanding which by their preaching will seeke not themselues but thee because they are godly and can so do because they are wise vnderstande Giue to the preacher of thy worde here present out of the treasures of thy wisedome that which hee may powre vpon vs to our saluation and vnto vs giue thy grace holy spirit O Lord so to heare and to receiue thy worde that the good seede whiche falleth vppon vs be not choked with thornes or withered away with heate or deuoured by the foules of the aire but may growe vp in a good grounde and fructifie with great increase A prayer to be saide after the Preaching of Gods worde ALmightie God most mercifull father wee heartily beseech thee that this seed of thy worde nowe sowen amongest vs may take suche deepe root that neither the burning heate of affliction or persecution cause it to wither neither the thornie cares of this life do choake it but that as seede sowne in good ground it may bring forth thirtie sixtie and an hundreth folde as thy heauenly wisedome hath appointed And because we haue neede continually to craue many things at thy handes we humbly beseech thee O heauenly father to graunt vs thy holy spirit so to direct our petitions that they may proceed from such a feruent minde as may be agreable to thy most blessed will. And seeing that our infirmitie is such that we are able to do nothing without thy helpe and that thou art not ignorant with howe many and great tentations we poore wretches are on euerie side compassed and inclosed let thy strength O Lorde susteine our weakenesse and assist vs with thy grace that we may be safely preserued against all the assaults of Sathan who goeth about like a roaring Lyon seeking to deuoure vs Increase our faith O mercifull Father that wee doe not swarue at anie time from thy heauenly worde Augment in vs hope and loue with a carefull keeping of all thy commandements that no hardnes of hart no hypocrisie no concupiscence of the eies nor inticements of the world doe draw vs away frō thy obedience And seeing the times are dangerous wherin we liue let thy fatherly prouidence defende vs againste the violence of all our enemies and specially againste the furious rage of that Romishe idoll enemie to thy Christ. Furthermore for as much as by thy holy Apostle we bee taught to make our prayers and supplications for all men we pray not onely for ourselues here present but beseech thee also to reduce all such as be yet ignorant from the miserable captiuitie of blindnesse and errour to the pure vnderstanding of thy heauenly trueth that we all with one consent and vnitie of minde may worshippe thee our onely God and sauiour We beseech thee also most deare father for all pastors and ministers to whome thou hast committed the dispensation of thy holy worde and charge of thy chosen people that both in their life and doctrine they maye be found faithfull setting onely before their eyes thy glorie and that by them all poore sheep which wander and go astray may be sought out and brought to thy folde Againe that it would please thee to deliuer thy Church from such idle sheepeheardes wolues and hirelinges as seeke themselues and their bellies and not thy glory and the safegarde of thy flocke Moreouer because the heartes of rulers are in thy handes wee make our prayers vnto thee for all Princes and Magistrates to whome thou haste committed the administration of iustice especially O Lorde for the Queenes Maiestie that it would please thee to indue her with thy plentifull grace and principall spirite that she may with a pure faith acknowledge Iesus Christ thy onely sonne to be King of all Kinges and gouernour of all gouernours euen as thou hast giuen all power vnto him both in heauen and in earthe so work in her heart that she considering whose minister she is may hartily seeke and zealously promote thy true honour and glory carefully traueling to bring thy people committed to her charge yet remaining almoste in all partes of this realme in miserable blindnesse and darke ignorance to the true knowledge of thee ruling and guidinge them as she is taught commaunded by thy holy word Also we beseech thee to indue all such as are in any authority vnder her with thy grace and holy Spirite that they may be founde vprighte faithfull in their calling fauourers and furtherers of thy holy Gospell maintainers defenders of the true Preachers and ministers therof and such as in singlenes of heart wil seeke not themselues but thy glory and the commodity of thy people And for that we be all members of the mysticall body of Christe Iesus wee make our requestes vnto thee O heauenly father for all such as are afflicted with any kinde of crosse or tribulatiō as warre plague famine sickenes pouertie imprisonment persecution banishment or any other kinde of thy roddes whether it be griefe of body or vnquietnesse of minde that it would please thee to giue them patience and constancie till thou sende them full deliueraunce out of all their troubles Finally O Lord we most humbly beseech thee to shew thy great mercie vppon-our brethren which are persecuted cast in prison and daily condemned to death for the testimonie of thy trueth and though they be vtterly destitute of all mans aide yet let thy sweete comforte neuer depart from them but so inflame their heartes with thy holy spirite that they may boldly and cheerefully abide suche triall as thy godly wisedome shall appoint so that at length as well by their death as by their life the kingdome of thy sonne Iesus Christ may increase and shine through all the worlde In whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs saying Our father which art c. A prayer to be saide before the receiuing of the communion O Father of mercie and God of all consolation seeing all creatures do acknowledge and confesse thee to be their gouernour and Lorde it becommeth vs the workemanship of thine owne handes at all times to reuerence and magnifie thy godly maiestie Firste for that thou hast created vs to thine owne image and similitude but chiefly because thou hast deliuered vs from that euerlasting death and damnation into the which Sathan drewe mankinde by the meanes of sinne from the bondage whereof neither man nor Angell was able to make vs free but thou O Lord rich in mercie infinite in goodnes hast prouided our redemption to stande in thine onely and welbeloued sonne whom of very loue thou diddest giue to be made man like vnto vs in all thinges sinne excepted that in his bodie he might receiue the punishment of our transgression by his death to make satisfaction to thy
hee forsaketh his wickednes and turneth to thee For thou knowest thine own handie worke thou remembrest what wee are thou seest that wee are but weake and feeble flesh Looke not therefore vppon my sinnes O Lord but looke vpon the face of thine annoynted For he hath borne our iniquities he hath caried our sorrowes He was wounded for our transgressions he was broken for our iniquities the chastisemeÌ„t of our peace is layde vpon him He gaue his body to be beaten and his cheekes to be striken he bare the sinnes of many and prayed for the offenders He came to bring glad tydinges to the poore to binde vp the broken harted to preach libertie to the captiues to comfort them that mourne in Sion and to giue vnto them beautie for ashes the oyle of ioye for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirite of heauinesse that they might be called trees of righteousnesse and the planting of the Lord. For his sake therefore O Lord be mercifull vnto me and say vnto my soule behould I am come to thee thy health and thy saluation A prayer for the true knowledg and vnderstanding of the word of God. LEt my prayer come before thee O Lord and giue me vnderstanding according to thy word Blessed art thou O Lorde teach me thy statutes That with my lips I may declare all the iudgementes of thy mouth That I may delight in the way of thy testimonies aboue all riches That I may meditate in thy precepts and consider thy wayes That I may take pleasure in thy statutes and not forget thy word Be good vnto me thy seruant O Lord that I may liue keep thy word Open mine eyes that I may see the wonders which are in thy lawe I am a stranger vpon earth notwithstanding hide not from me thy commaundements For my hart languisheth with the desire that it hath to thy iudgments Thy testimonies are my delight and my counsellers I will praise thee with an vpright hart when thou hast taught mee the iudgements of thy righteousnesse Shew me thy wayes O Lorde teach me thy pathes Leade mee foorth in thy truth and teach mee for thou art my God and my saluation in thee doe I trust all the day long Make mee vnderstand the way of thy precepts and I wil consider thy wonderous workes Thy handes haue made me and fashioned me giue mee vnderstanding that I may learne thy coÌ„mandementes That they which feare thee seeing me may reioyce because I haue trusted in thy word Shew the light of thy countenance vpon thy seruaunt and teach me thy ordinances Thou art good and gratious therefore according to thy goodnesse teach mee thy statutes O Lord of whose goodnesse the earth is ful teach me thy ordinaÌ„ces O Lord I beseech thee accept the sacrifice of my lippes and teach me thy iudgementes The righteousnesse of thy testimonies is euerlasting graunt me vnderstanding and I shall liue Deale with thy seruant according to thy mercies and teach me thy statutes I am thy seruant graunt me vnderstanding that I may knowe thy testimonies My lippes shall shewe foorth thy praise when thou hast taught me thy statutes My tongue shal talke of thy word for all thy commaundementes are righteous For in thee is a wel of liâ—ing waters and euer flowing in thy light shall we see light A prayer for the leading of a Godly life I Crie vnto thee with my whole hart heare me O Lord and guide me that I may keepe thy stautes I call vpon thee saue mee that I may keepe thy testimonies Let my prayer bee directed in thy â—ight as incense and the lifting vp of my handes as an euening sacrifice I haue gone astraye like a lost sheepe seeke thy seruaunt for I doe â—â—â—â— heauen and earth and all thinges therein conteined Oh incomprehensible vnitie Oh alwayes to bee worshipped most blessed Trinitie I humbly beseech thee and pray thee by the assumption and crucified humanitie of our Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wouldest incline and bowe downe the great depth of thy deitie to the bottomlesse pit of my vilitie Driue me from al kinde of vice wickednes and sin Create in me a cleane heart and renue in me a right spirit for thy holy names sake Oh Lorde Iesu I beseech thy goodnes for the exceeding great loue which drewe thee out of thy fathers bosome into the wombe of the holy Uirgin and for the assumption of mans nature wherein it pleased thee to saue me and to deliuer me from eternall death that thou wouldest drawe me out of my selfe into thee my Lorde God and graunt that this my loue may recouer againe to mee thy grace to increase and make perfect in me that which is wanting to raise vp in me that which is falne to restore to me that which I haue lost and to quicken in me that which is dead and should liue that so I may become conformable vnto thee in all my life and conuersation thou dwelling in me and I in thee my heart being soupled with thy grace and setled in thy faith for euer Oh my God loose and set at libertie my spirit from al inferior things Gouern my soule and so worke that both in soule and body I may be holy and liue to thy glory world without end Amen I. B. A prayer necessarie to be saide at all times O BouÌ„tiful Lord Iesu O sweete sauiour O Christ the sonne of God haue pittie vpon mee mercifully heare mee and despise not my prayers Thou hast created me of nothing thou hast redeemed mee from the bondage of sinne death and hel neither with Gould nor Siluer but with thy moste precious bodie once offered vpon the crosse and thine owne blood shedde once for all for a ransome Therefore cast me not away whom thou by thy great wisedome hast made Despise me not whom thou hast redeemed with such a precious treasure nor let my wickednesse destroy that which thy goodnes hath builded Now whiles I liue O Iesu haue mercie on me for if I die out of thy fauour it will be too late afterward to call for thy mercie Whiles I haue time to repent looke vpon me with thy mercifull eyes as thou didest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle that I may bewaile my sinfull life and obteine thy fauour to liue and die therein I acknowledg that if thou shouldest deale with me according to thy iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death Therefore I appeale to thy highe throne of mercie trusting to obteine thy fauour not for my merites but for thy desertes O Iesu who hast giuen thy selfe an acceptable sacrifice to thy father to appease his wrath and to bring all sinners truly repenting and amending their euill life vnto his fauour againe Accept me O Lord among the number of them whom thou hast in Christ elected and chosen to saluation Forgiue me my sinnes giue me grace to leade a godly and innocent life graunt me
to Christ and so be certaine of saluation at peace with God in our consciences God hath giuen his holye worde which hath two partes as now the children of God doe consist of two men the one part of Gods word being proper to the old man and the other parte of Gods worde being proper to the newe man The parte properly perteining to the olde man is the lawe the part properly perteining to the newe man is the gospell The law is a doctrine which commaundeth and forbiddeth requiring doing and auoiding Under it therefore are contained al precepts threatnings promises vpon conditions of our doing and auoiding â–ª c. The Gospel is a doctrine which alwaies offereth and giueth requiring on our behalf not as of worthinesse or as a cause but as a certificate vnto vs and therefore vnder it are contained all the free and sweete promises of God as I am the Lorde thy God c. In those that be of yeares of discretion it requireth faith not as a cause but as an instrument whereby we our selues may be certaine of our good husband Christ and of his glorie and therefore when the conscience feeleth it selfe disquieted for feare of Gods iudgement against sin she may in no wise looke vpon the doctrine perteining to the olde man but to the doctrine onely that perteineth to the newe man in it not looking for that which it requireth that is faith because we neuer beleeue as we should but onely on it which it offereth and which it giueth that is on Gods grace and eternall mercie and peace in Christe So shall she be in quiet when she looketh for it altogether out of her selfe in gods mercy in Christ Iesu in whose lap if she lay her head with S. Iohn then is she happie and shall finde quietnesse indeede When she feeleth her selfe quiet then in Gods name let her looke on the lawe and vpon such thinges as it requireth thereby to bridle and keepe downe the olde Adam to stay the Goliah from whoÌ„ she must needes keepe the sweete promises being the bedde wherein her spouse she meete lie together For as the wife will keepe her bed onely for her husband although in other things she is contented to haue fellowship with others as to speake sit eate drinke go c. so our consciences which ar Christs wiues must needs keepe the bed that is gods sweet promises al onely for our selues and our husband there to meete together to imbrace and laugh together and to be ioyfull together If sinne the law the diuell or any thing else woulde creepe into the bedde and lie there then complaine to thy husbande Christ forthwith thou shalt see him play Phinees part Thus my dearly beloued I haue giuen you in fewe wordes a summe of all the Diuinitie which a Christian conscience cannot want FINIS Rom. 10. Psal. 25. Psal. 86. 1. Pet. 2. Gal. 5. Mark. 11. Psal. 41. Psal. 38. Psal. 41. 1. Cor. 7. Psal. 34. Psal. 66. Psal. 5. 1. Iohn 5 â–ª Matth. â—â— Mark. 11. Iames. 1. Marke 9. Psal. 51. Psal. 8â— Psal. 39. Psal. 80. Lamen 3. Esai 54. Matth. 5 Esai 42. Psal. 23. Matth. 7. Psal. 40. Ephe. 6. 1. Tim. 5. Col. 4. Philip. 4. Matth. 7. Jere. 25. Psal. 50. Psal. 145. Psal. 91. Esai 65. Rom. 8. Psal. 145. Esai 6â— Luk. 11. Ecclus. 2 1. Iohn â— Psal. 51. Psal. 25. Psal. 122. Iosu. 1. 2. Reg 15 Iob â–ª 3. 1. Cor. 15 Iohn 6. Eze. 33. Psal. 77. Psal. 31. 1. Ioh. 2. Acts. 10 Ephe. 5. Heb. 4. 2. Cor. 1. Luk. 11. Iohn 16. Ioh. 14 Psal. 5 Lu. 11.18 Eccle. 35 Psal. 123. Matth. 9. Luke 11. Exod. 1. Gen. 3. Gen. 12.22.23.24.25 Exod. 13.14.15 Exod. 19.20 Heb. 1. 1. Cor. 15 Rom. 5. Matth. 1. Luk. 1. Gen. 3.12 26.28 Psal. 89.2 Reg. 7. Luk. 1. Psal. 110. Rom. 8. Matth. 24 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thes. 4.1 2. Cor. 5. Exod. 32.33 Psal. 5. Ioel 2. Psal. 15. Gen. 6. * Our hart is by nature so corrupt and vnsearchably euill that out of it springeth all wicked concupiscence so that the inclination therof is prone to euil euen from our birth vp our mind and vnderstanding is so darkned that of our selues we caÌ„not perceiue those thinges that be of god as is all the wisedom which we receiue froÌ„ Adam naturally or otherwise attaine by labour or studie before regeneration Causes to comfort our faith that God â—s our father 2. Cor. 1. Iohn 3. Ephe. 5. Phil. 3â— 1. Iohn 3. Rom. 5. Rom. 8. Rom. 5. What Baptisme is and what it requireth What is the effect or fruite that commeth of this certaine persuasion that God is our Father 〈◊〉 106. Col. 3. Philip. 3. Rom. 1. Psal. 48.138 How Gods name is hallowed The cheiâ— desire of gods chiâ—â—dren The greatest griefe of Gods people Our ignorance Our great neede Gods loue Gods kingdom in respect of his power Psal. 104. Gods kingdom in respect of his grace Gods kingdom in respect of his glorie Howe Gods kingdom is here coÌ„serued and enlarged 1. Ioh. 3. Our ignorance Our peruersitie Gods goodnes Gods omnipotent will vnknowne and vnreuealed Gods wâ—l reuealed and knowen Psal. 119. Our ignorance Our need Our disobedience Gods goodnes Bread. Giue Daily Our Psal. 127. Debtes Our Forgiuenesse Our forgiuing OccasioÌ„s to euill in two sorts What tentations are to the godly what theâ— are to the wicked Psal. 145. â—ohn 6. â—ohn 4. This is meant of the bloudie time of queene Marie Rom. 3. Psal. 14. Psal. 51. Rom. 7. Gal. 5. Rom. 2. Iere. 3. Esai 20. Col. 3. Rom. 6. Ephe. 4.5 1. Pet. 2. â—xod 2. â—sal 50. â—sal 18. Psal. 79. Heb. 9.10 Psal. 19. â—sal 58. â—sal 5. â—sal 22. â— Cor. 6. â—ere 10. â—sal 6. â—zech 18 Luke 12. Matth. 6. Luke 22. Ephe. 2. Ephe. 4. 〈◊〉 8. Rom. 3. Matth. 9. Haloweâ— be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done Giue vs this day c. Forgiue vs c. Leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs froÌ„ euill Col. 3. 1. Iohn 3. 1. Iohn 5. Iohn 3. 1. Iohn 5. Rom. 8. Iohn 14. Iohn 12. Iohn 14 1. Iohn â— Rom. 8. Iohn 14. Col. 3. Iohn 14. Rom. 8. Iohn 12. Matth. 24 Matth. 2â— Apoc. 22 â–ª Psal. 42. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 15 Where this eternal life is Iohn 4. â— Tim. 6. Iohn 17. Acts. 7. 1. Cor. â— What knowlege may be had in this life of the life euerlasting Iob. 19. 1. Cor. 13 Heb. 11. 1 Ioh. 13. 1. Cor. 15 Psal. 16. Psal. 17. Apoc. 5. Rom. 7. Luke 2. Psal. 143. 1. Cor. 2. Apoc. 4. Apoc. 5. Psal. 84. Psal. 42. Psal. 63. Rom. â— Apoc. 22 â–ª Phil. 3. Matt. 24. Matt. 13. Apoc. 7. God worketh al in al maruellously iustly and holilie Matth â—â— Matth. â— God worketh â–ª by meanes without meanes against meanes Iohn 15. Iohn 2â— â–ª Luke 24 â–ª Cant. 1. Psal. 17. Psal. 16. Esai 54. Psal. 137. 1. Cor. 11. Apoc. 22.
with the loue therof that I may carefully couet them and at the last by thy gratious conducting may happily attaine them through Iesus Christ our Lorde I distrusting altogether mine owne weakenesse commend and offer my selfe both soul and body into thy handes Thy louing spirite lead me foorth into the land of righteousnes Psal. 143. Cogitations meete to begin the day withall Thinke first that man consisteth of soule and body and that the soule is from heauen heauenly firme and immortall but the bodie is from the earth earthly fraile and mortal Againe thinke that though by reason of sinne wherein you are conceiued and borne the partes of the soule which doe vnderstande and desire be so corrupt that without speciall grace to both partes you can neither knowe nor loue any good thing in Gods sight much lesse then doe that is good yet this notwithstanding thinke that you are regenerate by CHRISTES resurrection which your Baptisme requireth you to beleeue and therefore haue both those partes something reformed both to knowe and to loue and therefore to do also some good in the sight of God through Christe for whose sake our poore doings are accepted for good the euill and infirmitie cleauing thervnto not beeing imputed through faith Thinke that by faith which is Gods seede for they which beleeue are borne of God and made Gods children giuen to those that be ordained to eternall life thinke I say that by faith you receiue more and more the spirite of sanctification through the vse of Gods word and sacramentes and earnest prayer to illuminate your mindes vnderstanding iudgement and reason and to bowe forme frame and inflame your affections with loue and power to doe that which is good and therefore vse you the meanes aforesaid accordingly Thinke that by this spirite you are through faith coupled to Christe as a liuely member and so to God and as it were made one with him and by loue which springeth out of this faith you are made one also with all that be of God and so you haue felowship with God and all good men that euer were or shall be in all the good that God and all his Saintes haue or shall haue Thinke that as by faith and loue through the spirite of God you are nowe entred into this communion the blessednesse whereof no tongue can expresse so after this life you shal first in soule and in the last day in bodie also enioy for euer the same societie most perfectly which nowe is but begunne in you Thinke then of your negligence that doe so little care for this your happie estate Thinke vpon your ingratitude to God for making you redeeming you calling you and so louingly adopting you Think vpon your folly in fantasing so much earthly bodily pleasures Thinke vpon your deafnesse and blindnesse which heare not God not see him he calling you so diligently by his workes word and sacraments Thinke vpō your frowardnes which will not be led of God and his spirit Thinke vpon your forgetfulnes in consideration of your heauenly estate how your body is the temple of the holy Ghost your members are the members of Christ the whole world and all things therein are your owne Therefore say vnto your soule O my soul arise follow God contemne this world purpose wel and pursue it long for the Lords comming be readie and watch that he come not vpon thee vnwares And for so much as you must liue to Gods pleasure see the vocation and state of your life wherevnto God hath called you and pray to God for grace knowledge and abilitie to take the most profitable thinges in hand well to begin better to goe on and best of all to end the same to Gods glorie and to the profit of your brethren and thinke that time lost wherein you speake not or doe not or at the least thinke not some thing to Gods glorie and the commoditie of your brethren When you go foorth of the doores pray NOwe must I walke among the snares of death stretched out of sathan and of his mischieuous ministers in the world carying with me a friende to them both and a foe to my selfe euen this body of sinne and sinnefull flesh Oh graund captaine Christ lead me and guide me I beseech thee Defend me from the plagues subtilties whereof I am in danger Graunt that I may take all things that happen as I should doe and setting mine eyes vpon thee onely I may so goe on forward in thy wayes as by nothing I be hindred but rather furthered so that all my doings may tend to thy glorie Shewe me thy wayes O Lord and teach me thy pathes Psal. 25. Occasions to Meditate Consider howe vainely the most part of men are occupied how many wayes they trouble and cumber themselues thereby much alienating their mindes from the knowledge and cogitation of that which they should most esteeme and so become a lette and an offence to others As in going abroad you will see that your apparell be seemely in the sight of men so see howe seemely you appeare in the sight of God. When you are going any iourney pray THis our life is a pilgrimage From the Lord we came and to the Lord we make our iourney howbeit through dangerous and perillous wayes which our cruell enimies haue and do prepare for vs being nowe more then starke blinde by reason of sinne O Christ which art a most true loades-man and guide and also most expert faithfull and friendly put thou out thine hande open mine eyes make thy high way knowne vnto me which thou diddest first enter into out of this corruptible life and hast prepared the same for vs to immortalitie Thou art the way leade vs vnto the father by thy selfe that all we may be one with him as thou and he together be one Shewe me the way that I should walke in for I lift vp my soule vnto thee Psal. 124. Or pray thus MErcifull father thou art wont to send to thy seruaunts men of simple hearts thine Angels to be their keepers as it were guides as elder brethren to watch vpon thy weake children So diddest thou to young Tobias to Iacob to Abrahams seruant to Iosua c. O gratious God though we be much vnlike vnto them so many are our sinnes yet for thine owne goodnesse sake send thine holie Angels to pitch their tents about vs to hide vs and defend vs from Sathan his slaues to carrie vs in their handes that we come not into further daunger then thou wilt deliuer vs out of for thine owne sake His Angels are ministers for them that are heires of saluation Heb. 1. Sathan sleepeth not but seeketh alwayes to destroy vs. 1. Pet. 5. Occasions to Meditate Thinke something howe wee are straungers from our countrie from our home from our original I meane from god Againe thinke vpon our madnesse that doe linger and loyter so gladly in this our iourney and pilgrimage Also