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
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
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
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
lord Amen A prayer taken out of the second Psalme WE perceiue most mercifull mightie God that not onely Antichrist but also the power and strength of the whole world coÌ„spireth against thee and against thy Christ which thinke the Gospel and â— building vp againe of thy Church to be an intollerable bondage harde yoke Wherefore they labour by all possible meanes to breake a sunder the societies and congregations of the faithfull and cast away all discipline But forasmuch as thou sittest in heauen and 〈◊〉 not ignorant what the diuell or wicked flesh goeth about laugh thou to scorne their â—aine counsels and bring their purposes to nought Let them feele thine anger to bekindled against them and make them astonished at the fiercnes of thine indignatioÌ„ so that they may not be able to destroy thy Church ouer whom thou hast apointed Iesus Christ our onely sauiour to be a gouernour that in it he might raigne by his word and spirite with inuinciblâ— might and power Wherefore grant vnto vs although vnworthie and shrinking children such faith and constancy that we may finde him and also coÌ„fesse him to be our onely king and that we may nothing doubt but that we be his nation people and heritage being most assured of this that he is of such strength and power that with his word more strong then yron he is able to destroy whom he will and breake them in peeces like earthen pots Therefore O God turne the Kings and Princes of the world vnto thee that they may be wise and vnderstand whereby they may vnfaignedly acknowledge imbrace and kisse thy sonne least when his anger shall once be kindled they perishe and be destroyed for euer And when it shall be thy good pleasure make them blessed for euermore which coÌ„mit themselues to thy gouernance and protection by Christ Iesus our Lord â–ª Amen Out of the same Psalme MOste Mightie and mercifull Lord God though the diuell rage the powers of the world daily rise vp and the flesh with al her bondslaues coÌ„spire against the kingdome of thine onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Lord yet make vs to vnderstand with constant faith to be persuaded that thou deridest contemnest al such whoÌ„ thou caust in thine anger fierce displeasure when thou wilt sodenly destroy and bring to nought In this faith seeing we are somtimes so weak that being ouercome with sundrie kindes of terrour and dread we are not so obedient to thy coÌ„maundements as we ought to be â–ª we therefore beseech thee for thy great â–ª goodnes sake to bee mercifull vnto vs and grant that we may constantly beleeue thy son our king and our redeemer to haue the highest power and dominion with thee in all thinges For seeing thou hast begotteÌ„ him thou hast also deliuered to him all nations to be ruled by his power as his own inheritaÌ„ce Graunt therfore vnto vs that yet at the length we may be wise vnderstand in such sort as we may serue thee with all due feare and worship that in the last day we be not dashed in peces as earthen vessels with the rodde of thine indignation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer which M. Iohn Bradford said a little before his death in smithfeelde MErciful God father to whom our sauiour Christ approched in his feare and neede by reasoÌ„ of death and found comfort gratious God and most bounteous Christ on whoÌ„ Stephen called in his extreme neede and receiued strength most benigne holy spirit which in the midst of all crosses and death didst comfort the Apostle S. Paul with more consolations in Christ then he felt sorrowes and terrors in the world haue mercie vpon me a most miserable vile and wretched sinner which now drawe neere the gates of death deserued both in soule and bodie eternally by reason of my manifolde horrible olde and newe transgressions â–ª which to thine eyes O Lord God are open and knowne Oh be mercifull vnto mee and forgiue mee for the bitter death and bloodsheading of thine onely sonne Iesus Christ. And though thy iustice do require in respect of my sinnes that nowe thou shouldest not heare mee contemning thy dayly callings yet let thy mercie which is aboue al thy works and wherewith the earth is filled let thy mercie I say preuaile towardes me through the merites and meditation of Christ our sauiour for whose sake it pleaseth thee to bring mee foorth nowe as one of his witnesses and a record bearer of thy veritie and trueth taught by him to giue my life therfore Of which dignitie I doe acknowledg deare God that there was neuer any so vnworthie and vnmeete no not the theefe that hanged with him on the crosse I humbly therefore praye thee that thou wouldest accordinglie ayde helpe and assist me with thy strength and heauenly grace that with Christ thy sonne I may finde comfort with Stephen I may see thy presence and gratious power with Paul and al others which for thy names sake haue suffered afflictions and death I may finde so presente with mee thy gratious consolation that I may by my death glorifie thy holye name set foorth and ratifie thy veritie comfort the hearts of the heauie confirme thy Church in thy truth conuert some that are to be conuerted and so depart out of this miserable world where I do nothing but daylie heape sinne vpon sinne and enter into the fruttion of thy blessed mercie whereof nowe giue and increase in me a liuely tast sense and feeling where through the terror of death the tormentes of fire the paines of sinne the dartes of sathan and the dolours of hell may neuer ouercome me but may be driuen away through the working of that most gratious spirit which now plentiously indue withall that through the same spirite I may offer as now I desire am readie to do in Christ and by him my selfe wholy soule and body to be a liuely sacrifice holy and acceptable in thy sight deare father whose I am and always haue beene euen from my mothers wombe yea euen before the worlde was made to whom I commend my selfe faith and name familie friends country and all the whole Church yea euen my verie enimies according to thy good pleasure beseeching thee intirely to giue once more to this Realme of England the blessing of thy word againe with godly peace to the teaching and setting forth of the same Oh deare father now giue me to com vnto thee so purge and purifie me by this fire in Christes death and passion through thy spirite that I may be a burnt offering of sweete smell in thy sight which liuest and reignest with the sonne and the holy Ghost nowe and euermore worlde without end Amen The Letanie O God the father of heauen haue mercie vppon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c. O God the sonne redeemer of the world haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the sonne redeemer
may offer therwith our obedience vnto god Hereof we haue examples of Christ when he saide father if it be possible let this câ—p passe froÌ„ me neuertheles not as I vvill but as thou vvilt With this obedience to the wil of God spake Dauid when he desired to be brought againe into his kingdome saying If I shall find fauour in the sight of the Lord he vvill bring me againe but if he shall say vnto mee thou doest not please mee I am ready let him do as it seemeth him good And Iob saith though he kill me yet vvil I put my trust in him Therefore for as much as wee do knowe that it is the lotte of Gods children to be alway vnder the crosse and therefore concerning these corporall benefites we knowe not how or what to aske as we ought wee must herein offer our obedience vnto GOD abiding his good will and pleasure so longe as it shall seeme good vnto him to exercise vs in the want therof who suffereth vs somtime to be afflicted for our chastisement and for the probation of our continuance and also that we may receiue with greater gladnesse if to his diuine wisedome it seeme expedient for vs that which with ardent desire we long looked for S. Paul saith VVhen vve are iudged vve are chastened of the Lorde because vve shoulde not be condemeed vvith the vvorld But wheÌ„ we pray for spiritual things we must aske them absolutely and without condition for therevnto doe perteine the chiefe promises of the Gospell of the which God woulde haue vs most assured Verilie verily I say vnto you saith Christe he that beleeueth in me hath euerlasting life As sure as I liue saith the Lorde I vvill not the death of a sinner but that he returne and liue To the promises of God we muste ioyne examples whereby we learne that God hath heard holpen those that call vpon him For all deliuerances whether they be of other whereof the scripture is full or of our selues whereof we haue experience are examples of Gods promises Hereby did Dauid comfort himselfe in the anguish and heauines of his heart saying I vvill remember the vvorkes of the Lorde and call to minde thy vvonders of olde time Thou hast mightily deliuered thy people euen the sonnes of Iacob and Ioseph Againe I vvil be glad and reioyce in thy mercie for thou hast seene my trouble thou hast knovvne my soule in aduersitie And thus being warned both by promises and examples let vs learne to cast our care vpon the Lorde to call vpon him and to looke for helpe at his hand So shall our faith by little and little be more firme certaine and our heart shall rest in hope expectation of Gods helpe But for as much as of our selues we are vnworthie to appeare in Gods sight whose terrible maiestie comming once into our minde it is impossible but that we shoulde flie from him as a fearefull iudge therefore he hath giuen vnto vs a mediatour euen our Lorde â—esus that he being a meane betweene GOD and vs might change the throne of dreadfull glorie into the throne of grace and that we by his merites hauing accesse vnto God might haue assured trust to finde grace in his sight If any man sinne saith S. Iohn vve haue an aduocate vvith the father Iesus Christ the iust and he is the Reconciliation for our sinnes To him saith S. Peter beare all the Prophets vvitnes that through his name all that beleeue in him shall receiue forgiuenesse of their sinnes By vvhome saith S. Paul vve haue boldnesse and entraunce in all confidence through faith in him And againe VVee haue not an high Prieste vvhich can not haue compassion on our infirmities but vvas in all pointes tempted like as vvee are sinne execpted let vs goe boldly therefore vnto the throne of his grace that vvee may receiue mercie and finde grace to help in time of neede And as we are commaunded to call vppon God and haue a promise also to bee heard euen so we are commaunded to make our prayers vnto him in the name faith and confidence of this our mediatour and wee haue no promise to be heard without him in whome are all the promises of God yea and Amen confirmed and fulfilled And no man commeth to the father but by the sonne For he is our mouth whereby wee speake to the father hee is our eye whereby wee see the father and hee is our right hande whereby wee offer our selues to the Father Whatsoeuer therefore wee aske in his name wee haue a promise to obtaine it Verily verily saith Christ I say vnto you vvhatsoeuer yee shall aske the father in my name he shall giue it you in my name that is for my sake your high byshop praying for you Hitherto ye haue not asked any thing in my name aske and ye shall receiue In that day ye shall aske in my name and vvhatsoeuer ye aske I vvill doe that the Father may be glorified in the Sonne Of prayer there be two partes Petition and thankesgiuing By petition wee poure foorth our desires before God requiring first those thinges that may set foorth his glorie and then such benefites as are profitable and necessarie for vs By giuing of thankes we prayse and magnifie his benefits bestowed vpon vs acknowledging that whatsoeuer good thinges we enioie we haue receiued them of his free goodnes and liberalitie Therefore Dauid ioyneth these two partes togither in one verse when he saith Call vpon me in the day of necessitie I vvill deliuer thee and thou shalte glorifie me The scripture commaundeth vs to vse both and that continually For our necessitie is so great our life is so full of troubles and calamities and so many daungers hange ouer our heades euery moment that wee haue all cause ynough yea euen the most holy with sighes and groninges continually to flye vnto God and to call vppon him in most humble wise But this wee may better perceiue in things pertaining to the soule For when shall so many great sinnes whereof wee know our selues guiltie suffer vs to bee without care and not to craue pardon of GOD for the same when will sathan giue vs reast and quietnes when wil he cease to range about seeking whome he may destroy when shall our tentations giue vstruce so that we shall not need to hasten vnto GOD for helpe Finally the desier of the kingdome and glory of God ought so to drawe vs wholy vnto it not by fits but coÌ„tinually that all times should be fit conuenient for vs to pray Wherefore not without cause we are so often commaunded to pray continually And though we be not driuen with like necessitie at al times to pray yet in this case S. Iames teacheth vs what we ought to doe Is anie man heauie or afflicted saith he Let him pray that iâ— let him craue of God helpe and comfort vvho so
and for euer that we be neuer further proued tempted then thou wilt make vs able to beare and so to helpe vs in the same as may be most to thy glorie and our saluation thorough Iesus Christe our Lorde Amen An Euening prayer O Lorde God father euerlasting and full of pitie we acknowledge and confesse that we be not worthie to lift vp our eyes to heauen much lesse to present our selues before thy diuine Maiestie with confidence that thou wilt heare our prayers and graunt our requestes if we consider our owne wretched deseruings For our consciences do accuse vs our sinnes witnes against vs we knowe that thou art an vpright Iudge which doest not iustifie the sinners and wicked men but punishest the faultes of such as transgresse thy commaundementes Yet most mercifull father since it hath pleased thee to commaund vs to call vpon thee in all our troubles and aduersities promising euen then to helpe vs when we feele our selues as it were swallowed vp of death desperation we vtterly renounce all worldly confidence and trust flee to thy souereigne goodnesse as our only stay and refuge beseeching thee not to call to remembrance our manifold sinnes and wickednesse whereby we continually prouoke thy wrath and indignation against vs neither our negligence nor our vnkindenesse which haue neither worthilie esteemed nor in our liues sufficiently expressed the sweete comfort of thy holie Gospel reuealed vnto vs but rather to accept the obedience death of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord who by offering vp his bodie in sacrifice once for all hath made a sufficient recompence for all our sinnes Haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lorde and forgiue vs our offences Teach vs by thy holy spirit that we may rightly way them and earnestly repent vs for the same and so much the rather O Lord our God because that the reprobate and such as thou hast forsaken can not praise thee nor call vpon thy name but the repenting heart the sorrowful mind the conscience oppressed hungering and thirsting for thy grace shall euer more set foorth thy praise and glorie And albeit we be but wormes dust yet thou art our creatour and we be the worke of thy handes yea thou art our father and we thy children thou art our shepheard and we thy flock thou art our redeemer and we thy people whome thou hast dearely bought thou art our God and we are thine inheritance Correct vs not therefore in thine anger O Lord our God neither according to our desertes doe thou punishe vs but mercifully chastice vs with a fatherly affection that all the worlde may knowe that at what time so euer a sinner doeth repente him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wilt put away all his wickednes out of thy remembrance as thou hast promised by thy holie Prophet Finally forasmuch as it hath pleased thee to make the night for man to rest in as thou hast ordeyned him the day to trauell graunt O deare father that we may so take our bodily rest that our soules may continually watche for the time that our Lord Iesus Christe shall apeare for our full deliuerance out of this mortal life and in the meane season that we be not ouercome by any fantasies dreames or other temptations but may fully set our mindes vppon thee loue thee feare thee and rest in thee in such sort that our verie sleepe also may be to the glorie of thy holy name Furthermore that our sleepe bee not excessiue or ouer much after the insatiable desire of the flesh but onely sufficient to content our weake nature that we may the better be disposed to liue in all godly conuersation to the glorie of thy holie name and profite of our brethren through Iesus Christe our Lorde in whose name we make our humble petitions vnto thee as he hath taught vs. Our father which c. Almightie and euerliuing God vouchsafe we beseech thee to graunt vs perfect continuance in thy liuely faith augmenting and increasing the same in vs daily vntill we growe to the full measure of our perfection in Christe whereof we make our confession saying I beleeue in God the father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lorde turne his fauourable countenance towardes vs and graunt vs his peace The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ the loue of God and the communion of the holie Ghost be with vs and remaine with vs for euer So be it 2. Cor. 13. An other Euening prayer MOst mercifull God and tender Father which besides thine inestimable mercies declared and giuen vnto vs in the making of the world for our sakes in redeeming of vs by the death of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christe in the calling of vs to the knowledge of thy blessed worde in keeping of vs hitherto in thy holie Church and in thy most gratious gouerning of vs and all things hitherto for our singular wealth and commoditie hast also most fatherly cared for vs and kept vs this day from all daungers both of soule and body giuing vs health food apparell and all other thinges necessary for the comfort and succour of this poore and miserable life which many other do want for these and all other thy good gifts and gratious benefites which thou of thine owne goodnesse only and fatherly prouidence hast hitherto powred vppon vs and doest presently powre vppon vs and many other wee most humbly thanke thee and praise thy holy name beseeching thee that as all things are now hidden by meanes of the darkenes which thou hast sent ouer the earth so thou wouldest vouchsafe to hide and burie all our sinnes which this day or at any time heretofore wee haue committed against thy holy commaundementes and as nowe wee purpose to lay our bodies to rest so graunt the garde of thy good Angels to keepe the same this night for euermore and when soeuer our last sleepe of death shall come graunt that it may be in thee good father so that our bodies may rest both temporally and eternally to thy glorie and our ioye through Iesus Christ our Lorde So be it An other Euening praier O Eternall God and most mercifull father who this day and al the time of our life hast gratiously defended nourished and preserued our soules and bodyes and made such fatherly prouision for vs poore sinners the of thy louing kindnesse we haue rich portions not only in the creatures of heauen and earth but also in that plentiful redemption which thy most deare sonne Iesus Christ hath purchased for vs graunt vnto vs O merciful father the assistance of thy grace and holie spirite that as our bodies shall nowe take their naturall rest euen so our soules and mindes at the beholding of thy goodnesse towardes vs may quiet themselues in thee and conceiue such inward
and being our head on whome we hang and hope that our poore petitions shall not be in vaine through him and for his names sake Wee beseech thee therefore of thy rich mercie wherein thou art plentifull to all thē that call vpon thee to forgiue vs our sinnes namely our vnthankfulnesse vnbeleefe selfeloue neglect of thy worde securitie hypocrisie contēpt of thy long suffering omission of prayer doubting of thy power presence mercy and good will towardes vs vnsensiblenesse of thy grace impaciencie c. and to this thy benefite of correcting vs adde thy gratious gift of repentaunce faith the spirite of prayer the contempte of this worlde and heartie desiring for euerlasting life Indue vs with thy holy spirit according to thy couenant mercie as well to assure vs of pardon and that thou doest accept vs into thy fauour as thy deare children in Christ and for his sake as to write thy lawe in our heartes and so to worke in vs that we may nowe begin and goe forwards in beleuing lyuing fearing obeying praying hoping and seruing thee as thou dost require most fatherly and most iustly of vs accepting vs as perfect in thy sight through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer of the afflicted for the profession of Gods worde O Gratious God which seekest all meanes possible howe to bring thy children into the feeling and sure sense of thy mercie and therefore when prosperitie will not serue then sendest thou aduersitie gratiously correcting them here whō thou wilt haue elswhere to liue with thee for euer wee poore wretches giue humble prayses and thankes to thee that thou hast vouched vs worthy of thy correction at this present hereby to worke that which wee in prosperitie and libertie did neglecte For the which neglecting and many other our greeuous sinns wherof we nowe accuse our selues before thee most mercifull Lord thou mightest most iustly haue giuen vs ouer and destroied vs both in soule and body But such is thy goodnes towards vs in Christ that thou seemest to forget all our offences and as though we were farre otherwise then we be in deede thou wilt that wee should suffer this crosse nowe laide vpon vs for thy truth and gospels sake and so be thy witnesses with thy Prophets Apostles Martyrs Confessours yea with thy dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ to whom thou doest now here beginne to fashion vs like that in his glory we may be like to him also O good God what are we on whō thou shouldest shew this great mercie Oh louing Lord forgiue vs our vnthankefulnesse and sinnes Oh faithfull father giue vs thine holy spirite nowe to crie in our heartes Abba deere father to assure vs of our eternall election in Christ to reueale more and more thy truth vnto vs to confirme strengthen and stablishe vs so in the same that we may liue and die in it as vessels of thy mercie to thy glorie and to the commoditie of thy Church Indue vs with the spirit of thy wisedome that with good conscience we may alwayes so aunswere the enemies in thy cause as may turne to their conuersion or confusion and our vnspeakeable cōsolatiō in Christ Iesus for whose sake wee beseech thee hencefoorth to keepe vs to giue vs patience and to will no otherwise for deliuerance or mitigation of our miserie then may stand alwayes with thy good plesure merciful will towards vs. Graunt this deare father not only to vs in this place but also to all others else where afflicted for thy names sake through the death and merites of Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen I. B. A prayer to God the father the Sonne and the holy Ghost O Almightie and euerliuing God the eternall father of our Lorde Iesus Christ which of thy vnmesurable goodnes hast opened thy self vnto vs and with a loude voyce hast saide of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord Heare him O maker preseruer of all thinges with thy coeternall sonne our Lord Iesus Christ which reigneth with thee and was manifested in Ierusalem with thy holy spirite which was powred vppon the Apostles O wise God mercifull Iudge and mightie Lord which hast saide As truely as I liue I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert amend whiche also hast saide Call vppon me in the day of thy trouble I will deliuer thee haue mercie vpon vs for Iesus Christes sake whome thou wouldest of thy merueylous and incomprehensible counsell shoulde be made for vs a slaine sacrifice mediator reconciler and peacemaker to the end that thou mightest shewe thine exceeding great wrath against sinne and thine inestimable mercie towardes mankinde Sanctifie illuminate our heartes and soules with thy holy spirite that wee may truly beleeue in thee call vppon thee bee thankefull vnto thee and obedient to thy holy will. Defend gouerne and cherish thy Church as thou hast promised saying This is my couenāt that I haue made with them my spirit which is in thee and my worde which I haue put in thy mouth shall not departe out of thy mouthe nor out of the mouth of thy seede for euer Preserue those kingdomes and cōmon weales which giue harborough to the people and maintaine the ministerie of thy holy word and Gospell that the kingdom of thy sonne Iesus Christ may encrease and shine throughout all the worlde O Iesus Christ Sonne of the euerliuing God crucified for vs and raysed also from the deade and nowe reigning at the right hand of thy father that thou maiest giue gifts vnto mee which hast saide Come vnto mee all ye that labour and are heauie loden and I will refresh you haue mercie vpon vs praye for vs vnto thy eternall father sanctifie and gouerne vs with thy holy spirite helpe and succour vs in all our necessities as thou hast promised saying I will not leaue you comfortlesse O holie and blessed spirite together with the father and the son one true and euerliuing God full of maiestie and power which with thy heauenly inspiration quickenest the mindes of those that afore were dead in sinne makest ioyfull the heartes of the faithfull penitent bringest in to the way of trueth all such as haue erred and gone astraye comfortest the soules of such as hunger thirst after righteousnesse and plenteously inrichest those with diuerse giftes which aske them in Iesus Christes name purifie our heartes wee beseech thee and inflame them with the fire of thy loue replenishe them with thy heauenly benefites and spirituall blessinges that they may be made meete temples for thee leade vs into all trueth which art the onely fountaine of trueth and mortifie in vs whatsoeuer proceedeth not of thee Or else pray thus O Holy spirite powred vppon the Apostles which hast promised vnto vs by the sonne of God our Redeemer to kindle in vs a true knowledge and inuocation of God as it is written I will powre vppon you the spirite of grace of
lowde in thine eares though they speake neuer a worde at all Shoulde I then nowe despaire of thy fatherly mercie whiles presently I feele thee stirre vp my soule and hearte to craue helpe at thy hande Should I thinke that thou wilt absent thy selfe for euer that thou wilt be no more intreated that thy mercie is cleane gone that thy promise is come vtterly to an ende and that thou wilt nowe shut vp thy louing kindnesse in displeasure Nay Lorde for all alterations are of thy right hande and turne alway to the best to them that feare thee All this is but mine owne infirmitie for thou art euer one thy promises be infallible and thy loue towards thine euerlastingly during I will therefore in this my present tentation greuous assaulte powre out the heauinesse of my hearte before thee deare father Out of the deepe will I crie lift vp my soule vnto thee from whom I assuredly know my helpe is comming I will also for my present comfort cal to remembrance O Lorde my God thy tender mercies towards me already shewed the multitude of thy benefites the greatnes of the same the longe continuance of them euen frō my conception vntill this instant finally thy continuall luste desire to powre them vpon me And moreouer sith thy goodnesse is so great O Lord that thou dost not onely pitie miserie but also callest the heauie hearted and afflicted vnto thee promising that thou wilt ease their miserie for as much as by the motion of thy good spirit I loth and abhorre my sinnes feele the greuousnesse of them and thy heauie wrath towardes me for the same and finally what neede I haue of thy gratious ayde and succour therefore Oh Lorde in thy Sonne Christes name with sure confidence and trust in thine infallible promise in this mine anguish trouble I come vnto thee at thy mercifull calling and craue comfort at thy hand For thou hast promised that when I loath my sinnes thou wilt vterly forget them when I feele the greeuous burthen of them thy mercie swalloweth them vp when I seeke that I want thou wilte assuredly graunt it me For sith thou mouest my hearte to desire helpe how shoulde I mistrust but thou wilt for thy truth sake giue me my asking Yea where I knowe not howe or what to desire as I ought thy holy spirite gratiously working in mee maketh intercession mightily for me with groninges which can not bee expressed and therewithall certifieth my spirit that by adoption through thy great mercie and goodnesse I am become thy childe and heire Why should I not then be of good comfort and ioyfull in thee my God For if thou be on my side who can be against mee Since thou diddest not spare thine owne sonne but gauest him for mee euen when I was thine enemie howe shalt thou not with him nowe that by his death I am brought into thy fauour giue mee all thinges with him and for his sake Who shall lay any thing to the charg of thine elect It is thou Lord which iustifiest mee It is Christe that hath dyed for mee yea rather that is risen againe for mee who also is set on thy right hand hath taken possession yea and perpetually maketh there intercession for me vntill that ioyfull day be come when I shall haue full fruition of the moste glorious presence of thy diuine maiestie in that kingdome whiche thou hast prepared before the beginning of the world but in time to thy gratious goodnesse thought best made knowen to me by giuing thy holy spirite into my heart whereby when I first Lord beleeued thy holy worde which is thine owne power to saue all that beleeue I was sealed confirmed and stablished in the certaintie of that thine euerlasting kingdom and inheritāce For the which inestimable benefite of thy rich grace Oh Lorde my God I beseech thee euen for the loue thou bearest to Christe Iesus thy son thy mercie thou haddest on him when he cried on the crosse My God my God why hast thou forsaken me Help help I say inflame my heart with loue so plentifully towardes thee againe that I may be euen swalowed vp in the ioyfull feeling of the same in such sort that I may of verie thankefulnesse loue thee my GOD alone thee I say my deare GOD and nothing but thee and for thy sake O holy spirite whose work this is in mee increase this thy worke of thine infinite mercie and preserue mee that I neuer become vnthankefull vnto thee therefore Amen A prayer for the sicke O Most mercifull God which according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those which truly repēt that thou remembrest them no more open thy eyes of mercie and looke vpon this thy sicke seruant who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiuenesse Renue in him most louing father whatsoeuer hath beene decayed by the fraude and malice of the diuell or by his owne carnall will and frailtie Preserue and continue this sicke member in the vnitie of thy Church Consider his contrition ▪ accept his teares assuage his paine as shall bee seene to thee most expedient for him And for as much as he putteth his full trust onely in thy mercie impute not vnto him his former sinnes but take him vnto thy fauour through the merits of thy most dearly beloued sonne Iesus Christ. A prayer to be saide at the houre of death O Lord Iesus Christ which art the onely health of all men liuing and the euerlasting life of them that die in thee I wretched sinner do submit my selfe wholy vnto thy most blessed will and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is cōmitted vnto thy mercie willingly now I leaue this fraile and sinnfull fleshe in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to mee againe at the last day in the resurrection of the iust I beseech thee most mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ that thou wilt by thy grace make stronge my soule against all tentations and defende mee with the buckler of thy mercie against all the assaults of the diuell I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no helpe of saluation but al my confidence hope and trust is in thy rich mercie and goodnesse I haue no merites or good workes which I may alledge before thee of sinnes and euill workes alas I see a great heape but yet through thy mercie I trust to be in the number of them to whome thou wilt not impute their sinnes but wilt accept and take mee for righteous and iust and to be an inheritour of euerlastinge life Thou mercifull Lord wast borne for my sake thou diddest suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake thou diddest teach pray and fast for my sake all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake thou sufferedst most greeuous paines and tormentes for my sake finally thou gauest thy most precious bodie and bloode to be
shed on the crosse for my sake Now most merciful Sauiour let all these thinges profite me that thou freely hast done for me which hast giuen thy selfe also for mee Let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spottes and fowlenesse of my sinnes Let thy righteousnes hide and couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merites of thy passion and bloudsheding be the satisfaction for my sinnes Giue me Lord thy grace that the faith of my saluation in thy bloude wauer not in mee but maie euer bee firme and constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that loue waxe not colde in me finally that the weakenesse of my fleshe be not ouercome with the feare of death Graunt me mercifull Sauiour that when death hath shut vp the eyes of my bodie yet the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vppon thee and when death hath taken away the vse of my tongue yet my heart may crie and say Lord into thy handes I commend my soule Lord Iesu receiue my spirite A prayer for a woman with childe THou art wonderfull O Lord in al thy workes and what so euer thy good pleasure is that doest thou easily bring to passe neither is there any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue done And albeit this thy almightie power sheweth it selfe aboundantly in al thy works yet in conceiuing forming and bringing foorth of man it shineth most euidently At the beginning O Father when thou madest man and woman thou commandedst them to increase multiplie and replenish the earth If through the subtill inticementes of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commaundement by eating the forbidden fruite the woman whome thou hast appoynted to be the instrument and vessell to conceiue nourish and bring foorth man through thy wonderful workmanship had without any labour paine or trauel brought foorth her frutie But that which thy goodnes made easie sin and disobedience hath made harde painefull daungerous and without thy speciall helpe and succour impossible to bee brought to passe so that nowe all women bring foorth their childrē in great sorowes paines and troubles Notwithstanding that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenes they are not able of thēselues to passe thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them and bringest vnto a ioyfull end We therefore being fully persuaded of thy fauour and goodnesse of thy present helpe and of thy sweete comforte in all miseries and necessities knowing also by the testimonies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the paines of women are that trauell of childe if through thy tender mercie they bee not mitigated and eased most humbly pray thee for Iesus Christes sake thy son our Lorde to helpe and assist this thy seruaunt nowe in trauell and labour that by thy almightie power shee may safely bringe foorth that which by thy goodnes she hath conceiued and that thy louing kindnes may make that easie and tollerable vnto her which sinne hath made hard and painefull Ease O Lord the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women for the sinne and disobedience of our graundmother Eue in whom al we haue sinned Be present with her in her trouble accordinge to thy mercifull promise Giue her strength and make perfect that which thou hast so gratiously begun Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing foorth then in the wonderfull forming and fashioning of that she beareth Make her a glad and a ioyfull mother that she through thy goodnesse being safely deliuered and restored to health againe may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer A psalme to be saide in the time of any common plague sicknes or other crosse and visitation of God. O Come let vs humble our selues and fall downe before the Lorde with reuerence and feare For he is the Lord our God and we are the people of his pasture and the sheepe of his handes Come therefore let vs turne againe vnto our Lorde for he hath smiten vs and he shall heale vs. Let vs repent and turne from our wickednesse and our sinnes shal be forgiuen vs. Let vs turne and the Lorde will turne from his heauie wrath and will pardon vs and we shall not perish For we acknowledg our faultes and our sinnes are euer before vs. We haue sore prouoked thine anger O Lord thy wrath is waxed hote and thy heauie displeasure is sore kindled against vs. Thou hast in thine indignatiom striken vs with greeuous sickenesse and by and by we haue fallen as leaues beaten downe with a vehement winde In deede we acknowledge that our punishmentes are lesse then our deseruinges but yet of thy mercie Lorde correct vs to amendment and plague vs not to our destruction For thy hand is not shortned that thou canst not helpe neither is thy goodnesse abated that thou wilt not heare Thou hast promised O Lord that afore we crie thou wilt heare vs whilest we yet speake thou wilte haue mercie vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded neither any that call vpon thee shal be despised For thou art the onely Lord who woundest and doest heale againe who killest reuiuest bringest euen to hell and bringest backe againe Our father 's hoped in thee they trusted in thee and thou diddest deliuer them They called vppon thee and were helped they put their trust in thee and were not confounded O Lorde rebuke vs not in thine indignation neither chasten vs in thy heauie displeasure O remember not the sinnes and offences of my youth but according to thy mercy thinke thou vpon vs O Lord for thy goodnes Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord for we are weake O Lord heale vs for our bones are vexed And nowe in the vexation of our spirits and the anguish of our soules we remember thee and we crie vnto thee heare Lord and haue mercie For thine owne sake and for thy holy names sake incline thine eare and heare O mercifull Lord. For we doe not powre out our prayers before thee trusting in our owne righteousnes but in thy great and manyfold mercies Wash vs throughly from our wickednes and cleanse vs from our sins Turne thy face from our sins and put out all our misdeedes Make vs cleane heartes O God and renne a right spirite within vs. Helpe vs O God of our saluation for the glorie of thy name O deliuer vs and be mercifull vnto our sinnes for thy names sake So we that be thy people sheepe of thy pasture shall giue thee thanks for euer and will alwaies be shewing foorth thy praise from generation to generation Glorie be to the father c. As it was in the beginning c. A psalme of thankesgiuing for deliuerance from the plague or any other kind of sicknes trouble or affliction LOrd thou art become gratious to thy lande thou hast turned away the afflictions of thy
feeding our bodies with this corporall foode do render vnto thee most heartie thanks for the same beseeching thee likewise to feede our soules with that heauenly foode which perisheth not but abideth into euerlasting life so that we being nourished by thy goodnes both in bodye and soule may be apt and readie to do all good works which thou hast prepared for vs to walke in through Iesus Christ our Lord. Vnto him that loued vs and wasshed vs from our sinnes in his bloud and made vs kinges and Priestes vnto God his father be all glorie power dominion for euermore Amen An other THe God of glorie who hath created redeemed and presently fed vs be blessed for euermore AmeÌ„ The God of all power who hath called from death the great pastour of the sheepe our Lorde Iesus comfort and defend the flocke which hee hath redeemed by the bloud of the eternall testament increase the number of true preachers represse the rage of obstinate tyrants lighten the heartes of the ignorant releeue the paines of such as be afflicted but specially of those that suffer for the testimonie of the trueth and finally confound Sathan by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ. So be it PRAYERS COMMONly called Lidleys prayers with certaine godly additions Before thou prayest forgiue if thou hast any thing against any man come not to GOD with a double heart but lift vp pure handes without wrath or doubting 1. Tim. 2. ALmightie and moste mercifull father I thy poore creature and worke of thy handes acknowledg and confesse vnto thee my manifoulde sinnes and offences which I froÌ„ my youth vp vnto this day haue committed against thee in thought word and deede beseeching thee for Iesus Christ thy deare sons sake to haue mercie vpon me and to pardon the same according to thy great mercie which hast promised that At what time so euer a sinner doth repent him of his sinne from the bottome of his heart thou wil put al his wickednesse out of thy remembrance O Lord I confesse that I was borne in sinne and conceiued in wickednesse and am by nature a Childe of wrath For in my fleshe dwelleth no good thing and of my selfe I am not able to thinke a good thought much lesse to do that thou in thy law requirest of me saying Cursed is he that continueth not in all thinges that are written in the law to do them Againe Thy law is spiritual but I am carnall fold vnder sinne Therfore O Lord I come vnto thee for grace which hast said Aske ye shal haue seeke ye shal find knock it shal be opened you to preuent draw my wil vnto all goodnes for none can come vnto thee except he be drawen and except we be borne from aboue we cannot see the kingdome of God. Therefore O Lorde renewe in mee a right spirit that I may receiue strength and ablenes to do thy righteous will. Graunt that I may euer desire will that which is most pleasing and acceptable to thy will. Thy will be my will and my wil be alwayes to followe thy will. Let there be euer in mee one will and one desire with thee and let mee neuer desire to will or not to will but as thou wilt Graunt me that aboue all thinges I may rest in thee and fully quiet and pacifie my heart in thee for thou Lord art the true peace of the heart and the perfect rest of the soule Thou knowest Lord what is most profitable expedient for mee wherfore doe with mee in all things as it shall seeme best vnto thee For it may not bee but well that thou dost which doest moste iustly blessedly dispose all thinges after thy most godly wisedome Therefore whether it be by prosperitie or aduersitie losse or gaine sickenesse or health life or death thy will be done Cast out of my heart all vnprofitable cares of worldly thinges and suffer mee not to be led with the vnstable desires of earthly vanities but giue me grace that all worldly and carnall affections may be mortified die in me Graunt vnto mee the strength of thy holy spirite to subdue this body of sinne with the whole lustes thereof that it may bee obedient both in will minde and members to doe thy holy will. Assist me with thy grace O Lord that I may be strengthened in the inwarde man and be armed with thy holy armour whiche is the brest-place of righteousnes the shielde of of faith the hope of saluation for an helmet and the sworde of the spirite which is thy holy word that I may stand perfect in all that is thy will and bee found worthie through Christ to receiue the crowne of life which thou hast promised to all them that loue thee Giue me grace that I may esteme all thinges in this world as they be transitory soone vanishing away and my self also with them drawing towardes mine ende For nothinge vnder the sunne maye longe abide but all is vanitie and affliction of spirite Oh Lorde God which art sweetenes vnspeakeable turne into bitternes vnto me al transitorie and earthly delightes which may drawe mee from the loue of eternall thinges and for all worldly comfortes giue me the sweete comfort of thy holy spirite for thou Lorde art my ioye my hope my crowne and my glorie Blessed are they that for the loue of thee set not by the pleasures of this world but crucifie the flesh and the lustes therof so that in a cleane pure conscience they may offer their prayers vnto thee and be accepted to haue companie with thee together with thy Angels heauenly spirits O euerlasting light sende downe the beames of thy brightnes lighten the inward partes of my hearte Open my hearte that I may beholde thy lawes and teache mee to walke in thy commandementes Beholde my weakenes O Lord and consider my frailenesse best knowen vnto thee Faine would I cleaâ—e fast to heauenly thinges but worldly affections and tentations plucke mee back they daily rebell and suffer not my soule to liue in rest Which although they drawe mee not away to consent yet neuerthelesse their assaults be verie grieuous vnto me Oh what a life may this be called where no trouble nor miserie lacketh where euery place is full of snares of mortall enemies For one trouble or tentation ouerpassed an other commeth by and by and the first conflict yet during a newe battell sodenly ariseth Tedious it is to me to liue in such battel but I perceiue such conflictes are not vnprofitable for me whilest I know my selfe and mine infirmities the better and am thereby compelled to seeke helpe at thy hand It is good for mee O Lord that thou hast thus exercised and humbled me that I may learne to dread thy secrete and terrible iudgements which scourgest euery childe that thou receiuest which bringest down to the gates of hel and bringest backe againe I yeeld thee thanks therefore that thou hast not
thy heauenly wisedome inspire my hart with faith hope and charitie giue me grace to bee humble in prosperitie patiente in aduersitie obedient to my rulers in all my doinges faithfull dealing truely with all men to liue chastly in wedlock to abhorre adulterie fornication and all vncleanes to doe good after my power vnto all men to hurt no man that thy name may be glorified in mee during this present life and that I afterwarde may atteine euerlasting life through thy mercie and the merites of thy death and passion Amen A prayer for grace and remission of sinnes O Lorde God mercifull father I poore wretched sinner come vnto thee in the name of thy dearly beloued son Christ Iesus my sauiour beseeching thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me and to cast all my sinnes out of thy sight euen through the merites of his bloodie death Poure vpon me O Lord thy holy spirite of grace and wisedome to gouerne and leade my bodie and soule in thy holy worde and commaundementes Shewe thy mercy vpon me and so lighten the naturall blindenesse and darkenesse of my hart through thy grace that I may dayly be renewed by thy holy spirite Open my hard hart and grosse eares to heare and reade thy worde and heauenly voyce and to beleeue and followe it in my conuersation and euer to hold fast that blessed hope of euerlasting life Mortifie and kill all vice in me that my life may expresse my faith in thee Mercifully heare the humble supplication of thy seruaunt and graunt mee thy peace all my dayes Gratiously pardon my infirmities and defende me in all dangers both outwardly in my bodie goodes and name and inwardly in my soule against all euill tentations and subtile baits of sathan that roaring lyon seeking whome he may deuour Graunt O Lord that I and euerie member of thy Church in his vocation and calling may truly and godly serue thee Grafte in my heart the loue of thy name increase in me true religion replenishe me with all goodnesse and of thy great mercy keepe me in the same vnto the end Giue vnto me the spirite of praier true humilitie perfect patience and continuall ioye in the holy ghost I commend vnto thy protection O Father my house and all that thou hast giuen me my whole familie my wife and children ayde me that I may well holily gouerne nourish and bring them vp in thy feare and seruice And forasmuch as in this worlde I must alwayes be at warre not with one sort of enimies but with an infinite number not onely with fleshe and blood but with the diuell which is the prince of darknes grant me thy grace that being armed with thy defence I may stand in this battell with an inuincible constancie against al corruption which I am incompassed with on all sides vntill such time as I hauing ended the cōbate which during this life I must susteine in the end I may atteine to thy heauenly rest which is prepared for me through Christ my Lord and Sauiour Amen A prayer taken out of the first Psalme ALmightie and moste gratious God take away from vs al euil counsel and then our sinnes suffer vs not to runne into an vngodly and wicked life and finally keepe our mindes farre from the contempt of godlynesse and scorning of vertue and in the steade of these euills graunt that we may continually bee occupied in thy law and sacred scriptures that we be not caried about like the wicked as light duste and fruitelesse chaffe with euerie blast of affection and doctrine but rather that wee as trees planted by the water brookes indewed with the life of thy spirite and faith may also bring foorth the fruites of good workes and that what so euer we take in hande may prosper and tend to the praise and glorie of thy name and furtherance of our saluation and at the last when the wicked shall fall away in thy iudgement ▪ we may stand stedfast and be made perfect through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmighty God we are sufficiently taught that greeuous calamities and miserable plagues doe therefore dayly vexe and trouble thy Church because we haue not ceased to followe the counsel of the vngodly which being once knowne we ought to haue eschewed The way also of the wicked we haue not shunned yea we haue not ceased to walke their race by continual transgressing of thy commaundementes we haue also of long time contemned all godly correction and discipline and whatsoeuer hath beene taught vs out of thy word hath bin too little regarded ▪ yea without all shame neglected and scorned Wherefore it is no maruell if we in the steede of that happinesse and quiet peace which we alas haue too long abused be nowe compelled to suffer all heauie greeuous and most bitter plagues But now O God in humblenes of heart we flee vnto thee confessing our greeuous offences and we most humblie and hartilie beseech thee that those euils which we so foolishly and wretchedly haue committed thou wilte mercifully forgiue vs and frame our minds wholy to the obedience of thy lawe in such wise that our heartes may be occupied both day and night in nothing else but in the meditation of thy holy scriptures for so shall we giuing credite to thy wordes bringe foorth seasonable and pleasant fruite and shall not be spoyled of the graces of the Holy Ghost yea our doinges shal neuer be without happy successe Nowe we are tossed hither thither not vnlike to leaues and chaffe with the wind of aduersitie and affliction yet grant O most mercifull father that our life perish not with the wicked but that the cause of the iust may bee defended by thy singular prouidence and protection so that in iudgement and in the companie of the iust we may be able to stand and not to be confounded through Iesus Christ our lord Amen Out of the same Psalme ALmightie God for as much as we haue nowe learned that a great part of our felicitie so long as we liue here consisteth in this that we refraine from vngodly counsell and wicked manners and also auoyd the company of those that despise and deride all good thinges and that in the stead of these euils we giue our selues to the heauenly study of thy holy lawe to be occupied and exercised therein both daye and night whereby wee doe perceiue that wee haue verie much erred and strayed from this way of our saluation yea we haue in these thinges most wickedly offended therefore wee beseech thee euen for thy mercies sake that thou wilt pardon our offences and that hencefoorth by the continual studie and exercise of thy word thou wilt vouchsafe to make vs fruitfull plantes that we may not onely bring forth wholsome fruits in thy Church whiles we liue here but also may be able in the other worlde to stande in iudgemente before thee who best knowest the way of the iust through Iesus Christ our
of c. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the sonne haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O God the holy Ghost c. O holy blessed and glorious Trinitie three persons and one God haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lord our offences nor the offences of our forefathers neither take thou vengeance of our sinnes spare vs good Lord spare thy people whome thou hast redeemed with thy most precious bloode and be not angrie with vs for euer Spare vs good Lord. From all euil and mischeefe from sinne from the craftes and assaultes of the Diuelâ— from thy wrath and from euerlasting damnation Good Lord deliuer vs. From blindenesse of heart from pride vaine glorie hypocrisie from enuie hatred and malice and all vncharitablenes Good Lord deliuer vs. From all fornication and al other deadly sin and from al the deceits of the world the flesh and the Diuel Good Lord deliuer vs. From lightning and tempest from plague pestilence famine froÌ„ battel and murther and from souden death Good Lord deliuer vs. From all sedition and priuie conspiracie from all false doctrine and heresie from hardnes of hart conteÌ„pt of thy word coÌ„maundement Good Lord deliuer vs. By the mysterie of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and circumcision by thy baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lord deliuer vs. By thine agonie and bloody sweat by thy crosse and passion â–ª by thy glorious resurrection and ascension and by the comming of the holy ghost Good Lord deliuer vs. In all time of of our tribulation in all time of our welth in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement Good Lord deliuer vs. We sinners do beseech thee to heare vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy Church vniuersally in the right way We besech thee to hear vs good Lord. That it may please thee to keepe strengthen in the true worshipping of thee in righteousnes and holynes of life thy seruant Elizabeth our most gratious queene and gouernour We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please the to rule her heart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue affiance in thee and euer seeke thy honour and glorie We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to be her defender and keeper giuing her the victorie ouer all her enimies We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastours and ministers of the Church with true knowledg and vnderstanding of thy word and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth and shew it accordingly We beseech thee to heare c. That it may please thee to indue the Lordes of the counsel and all the nobilitie with grace wisedome and vnderstanding We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe the Magistrates giuing them grace to execute iustice and to mainteine trueth We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to blesse and keepe all thy people We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue to all nations vnitie peace and concord Wee beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue vs an heart to loue and dread thee and diligently to liue after thy coÌ„maundementes We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue all thy people increase of grace to heare meekely thy worde and to receiue it with pure affection to bring foorth the fruites of the spirite We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of trueth all such as haue erred and are deceiued We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand and to comfort and helpe the weake harted and to raise them vp that fall and finally to beate downe sathan vnder our feete We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to succour helpe and comfort all that be in danger necessitie and tribulation We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by lande or by water all women labouring of child all sicke persons and young children and to shewe thy pitie vpon all prisoners and captiues We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to defend and prouide for the fatherlesse children and widowes and all that be desolate and oppressed We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to haue mercie vpon all men We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to forgiue our enimies persecuters and slanderers and to turne their heartes We beseech thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindely fruites of the earth so as in due time we may inioy them Wee beseech thee to heare vs c â–ª That it may please thee to giue vs true repentanâ—e to forgiue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignorances and to indue vs with thy holy spirit to amend our liues according to thy holy worde We beseech thee to heare vs c. Sonne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sonne of God wee beseech thee c. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Graunt vs thy peace O Lamb of God that takest away the sinnes of the world Haue mercie vpon vs. O Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Lord haue mercie vpon vs. Our father which art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euill Amen The versicle O Lord deale not with vs after our sinnes The answere Neither rewarde vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull father that despisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desires of such as be sorrowfull mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in all our troubles aduersities when soeuer they oppresse vs and gratiously heare vs that those euils which the craft and subtiltie of the diuell or man worketh againste vs bee brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse they may be dispersed that we thy 〈◊〉 being hurt by no persecution 〈◊〉 euermore giue thankes vnto thee in thy holie Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs â–ª and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes that thou didest in their dayes and in the olde time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliuer vs for thine honour Glorie be to the
father and to the sonne and to the holy ghost As it was in the beginning is nowe and euer shal be world without ende Amen From our enimies defende vs O Christ. Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pitifully behold the sorrows of our heartes Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people Fauorably with mercie heare our prayers O Sonne of Dauid â–ª haue mercie vpon vs. Both now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ. Gratiously heare vs O Christ gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ. O Lord let thy mercie be shewed vpon vs As we doe put our trust in thee â–ª Let vs pray WE humbly beseech thee O father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy names sake turne from vs all those euils that we most righteously haue deserued graunt that in all our troubles we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercie and euermore serue thee in holines and purenes of liuing to thy honour and glorie through our onely Mediatour and aduocate Iesus Christ our lord Amen A prayer for the Queenes Maiestie O Lord our heauenly father high and mightie King of Kinges Lord of Lords the onely ruler of princes which doest froÌ„ thy throne beholde all the dwellers vppon the earth moste hartily we beseech thee with thy fauour to behold our most gratious soueraigne Ladie Queâ—ne Elizabeth and so replenish her with the grace of thy spirite that shee may alwayes incline to thy will and walke in thy feare indue her plentifully with heauenly giâ—es graunt her in health and welth long to liue â—â—rengthâ— her that she may vanquish and ouercome all her enimies and finally after this life she may atteine euerlasting ioy and felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord â–ª Amen A prayer for Bishops and Ministers of the Church ALmightie and euerliuing God which onely workest great maruels send downe vpon our Bishops Curates al congregations commited to their charge the healthfull spirite of thy grace and that they may truly please thee powre vpon them the continual dewe of thy blessing Graunt this O Lord for the honour of our aduocate and mediatour Iesus Christ. For rayne O God heauenly father which by thy sonne Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that seeke thy kingdome and the righteousnes thereof all things necessarie to their bodilie sustenance sende vs we beseech thee in this our necessitie such moderate raine and showers that we may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comforte and to thy honour through Iesus Christ our lord Amen For faire weather O Lord God which for the sinne of man diddest once drowne all the world except eight persons and afterwarde of thy greate mercie diddest promise neuer to destroy it so againe we humbly beseech thee that although we for our iniquities haue worthily deserued this plague of raine and waters yet thou wilte sende vs such weather whereby we may receiue the fruites of the earth in due season and learne both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemencie to giue thee prayse and glorie through Iesus Christ our lord Amen In the time of dearth and famine O Merciful God and heauenly father whose gift it is that the raine doth fall the earth is fruitfull man and beastes increase fishes do multiplie beholde wee beseech thee the afflictions of thy people graunt that the scarcitie and dearth which we do now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnes be mercifullie turned into cheapnes and plentie for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lorde to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be prayse for euer Amen In the time of Warre ALmightie God king of al kings and gouernour of all thinges â–ª whose power no creature is able to resist to whome it belongeth iustly to punishe sinners and to be mercifull to them that truly repent saue and deliuer vs we humby beseech thee from the handes of our enimies abate their pride asswage their malice and confounde their deuises that wee being armed with thy defence may be preserued from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onely giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ our lord So be it In the time of any common plague or sickenesse O Almightie God which in thy wrath in the time of king Dauid didst slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and ten thowsand and yet remembring thy mercie didest saue the rest haue pitie vpon vs miserable sinners that nowe are visited with great sicknesse and mortalitie that like as thou didest then commaunde thinâ— Angell to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdraw from vs this plague greeuous sicknes through Iesus Christ our Lord. A prayer for the strength and comfort of the holy ghost ALmightie and moste mercifull God which giueth to thine elect people thy holy spirit as a sure pledge of thy heauenly kingdome we most humblie beseech thee so to replenish our heartes with the grace of thy holy spirit that he may beare witnesse to our spirites that wee be thy children and heires of thy kingdome and that by the gratious working of this thy good spirit we may kill all â—aâ—nall-lustes vnlawâ—full pleasurs concupiscences and euil affections contrarie to thy most blessed wil through our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it For sure hope and true taste of euerlasting life O Almighty God which hast prepared euerlasting life for al those that be thy faithfull seruauntes graunt vnto vs sure hope of this life euerlasting that whiles we be here in this miserable world we may haue some taste feeling of it in our harts through the merites of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it For the true knowledge of God and his worde and a life agreeable to the same GRaunt vnto vs O mercifull God wee most heartely beseech thee knowledge and true vnderstanding of thy blessed will and worde that all ignorance beeing expelled we may know what thy will and pleasure is in all thinges and how to doe our dutie and trulie to walke in our vocation and that also we may expresse in our liuing those things that we do know that we be not onely knowers of thy will and worde good Lorde but also may be hartie and faithfull workers of the same through our Lord and sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it A prayer for the strength and increase of faith O Almightie euerlasting God which not onely giuest euerie good and perfect gift but also increasest those giftes that thou hast giuen we most humbly besâ—ech thâ—e to increase in vs the gift of faith that we may tâ—â—â—ly beleeue in thee and in thy promises made vnto vs in Christ Iesu our Lord and that neither by our negligence nor infirmitie of the fleshe nor by greeuousnes of tentations neither by the subtile crafts and assaultes of the diuel we be driuen from this faith in the bloude of our Lord Sauiour Iesus
God rule in your heartes VVhen ye shall stande and pray saith S. Marke forgiue if ye haue any thing against any maÌ„ that your father also vvhich is in heauen may forgiue you your trespasses for if ye vvill not forgiue your father vvhich is heauen vvill not pardon you your trespasses Moreouer we must haue such a feâ—ling of our owne miserie and wretchednesse as may worke in vs an earnest sorrowe and vexation of mind for the same Example whereof we may see in the deare seruauntes of God when they say that out of the deepe deepenesse and out of the middes of the iawes of death they vtter vnto the Lorde a sorrowfull voyce He that desireth mercie must haue a feeling of his owne miserie And therefore saith Dauid Heale my soule O lord for I haue sinned against thee There is no health in my flesh saith he because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones because of my sinne Thiâ— anguish and sorrowe stirreth vp in Gods children a feruent desire to obtaine comfort helpe and succour at Gods hand and therefore such as feele themselues oppressed with great calamities hauing by the helpe of man no hope of deliueraunce doe crye vnto God with afflicted heartes as Dauid did in his distresse â–ª My soule thirsteth for God euen for the liuing God. And as the Hart being vvounded brayeth for the riuers of vvater so panteth mâ— soule after thee O God. This is that godly sorrowe which S. Paul saith worketh in Gods children repentance to saluation The Lord is nigh to them saith Dauid that are of a conâ—rue heart vvill saue all such as are afflicted in spirite To him vvill I looke euen vnto him saith the Lord that is afflicted and broken hearted and trembleth at my vvordes Therefore Dauid calleth the time of trouble the fit and conuenient time for the faithfull to fly vnto God by prayer And albeit they bee not at all times in like distresse or continually groaning vnder the burdeÌ„ of present euils yet must thei needs be euer in dread of new daungers and carefully afraide of further troubles to followe As trouble and feare therefore are the verie spurs to stir them vp to heartie and feruent prayer so by occasion thereof they haue more free accesse vnto God as though he did thereby call them vnto him This godly sorrowe for sinne and feruent desire and longing for Gods louing mercie and fauour commeth not of our selues â–ª but of the speciall goodnesse of God for we are of our selues dull without all lust to pray yea so great is our imperfection that wee know not how to pray as we ought and therefore the spirite helpeth our infirmitie instructeth vs what is right and guideth our affections He maketh intercession for the Saints saith S. Paul according to the vvill of God and that vvith sighes and groninges vvhich cannot be expressed that is he stirâ—eth vp our heartes giueth vs a desire and bouldnesse to pray and causeth vs to mourne when wee are by any meanes hindered from it and feele not our selues moued therevnto with such feruent zeale affection as we shoulde be Now although we knowe that it is the onely worke of the holy Ghost thus to moue and incline our hearts to prayer notwithstanding we may not be negligent slothfull to dispose and stirre vp our selues therevnto but rather contrariewise so often as we feele our selues colde and not disposed to prayer as we ought to be we must make our supplication vnto the Lorde that it woulde please him to inflame vs with his holy spirit whereby wee maye be framed to pray with such feruencie of minde as we ought to doe When we are cast downe by the sense and feeling of our owne infirmitie sinne and miserie Yet must we pray notwithstanding in sure and stedfast hope to obteine our requestes â–ª These be thinges indeed contrarie in shew to ioyne with the feeling of the iuste vengeance of God sure affiance of fauour which things do yet very well agree in that it is the goodnesse of God onely that raiseth vs vp being oppressed with our owne euils from the which of our selues wee cannot rise For as repentance and faith are knit as coÌ„panionâ— together albeit the one driueth vs downe with feare and the other lifteth vs vp againe with comforte so in praying they must needes goe together And this agreement Dauid expresseth in few wordes I vvill saith he in the multitude of thy mercies enter into thy house and in the temple of thy holiâ—es I vvill vvorâ—hippe thee vvith feare Therefore when we are once touched with true repentance and feeling of our own miserie wee must withall haue such a persuasion of Gods fauour and mercie towardes vs in all our prayers that they shall be accepted of God so farre foorth as it shall be necessarie for vs This is the assurance saith S. Iohn that vve haue in God that if vve aske any thing according to his vvill hee heareth vs. Jf we haue not a sure trust and confidence in the mercie and promises of God it is vnpossible to make our prayer to him aright and whosoeuer doubteth whether God heareth his prayer that man obteineth nothing for to such prayers God hath made no promise But contrariewise he saith VVhat sâ—eye shall aske in prayeer if ye beleeue ye shall receiue it And againe vvhatsoeuer ye desire beleeue that ye shall obteine it and it shall be done vnto you Aske saith Saint Iames in faith and vvauer not for hee that vvauereth is like to the vvaues of the sea vvhich are tossed of the vvinde and caried avvay And why shoulde wee wauer or doubt seeing the holy scriptures testifie of God that hee is faithfull iust and true in all his wordes and promises saying The Lord is faithfull in all his vvords he vvill euer be mindefull of his couenaunt the trâ—the of the Lorde indureth for euer And although our faith be not so strong and therefore our prayer so hearty and zelous as it ought to be yea though our faith be faint and colde yet let vs hold fast this principle that our prayers are not frustrate or in vaine For our comfort herein we haue an example in the father which brought his son first to the Apostles afterwarde to Christ and saide If thou canst Lorde helpe and yet afterwardes he acknowledged the weakenes of his faith â–ª desired to be made strong I beleeue Lorde saith he helpe mine vnbeleefe Howe often doe the children of God complaine of this imperfection and imbecillitie of faith Such as are exercised in true prayer doe feele that in crauing of God the forgiuenesse of their sinnes they bring scarcely the tenth part of that sacrifice which Dauid speaketh of where he saith An acceptable sacrifice to God is a troubled spirite a broken and an humble heart O God thou vvilt not despise Many times they are driuen to wrastle with their
might haue bene of a corrupt iudgement and entangled with many errours loe thou of thy goodnesse as thou hast reformed my iudgement so doest thou keepe it nowe for the same iudgements sake doest vouchsafe somewhat by the crosse to trye me By all which things I should confirme my faith of this that thou alwayes hast bene art and wilt be for euer my deare father In respect whereof as I should be certaine of saluation of the inheritance of heauē for euer so should I be thankefull call my whole care on thee trust to thee and call on thee with comfort and certaine hope for all things that I want For in that thou hast giuen to me this benefite to be thy childe vndeserued and vndesired on my behalfe simplie and onely in respect of thine owne goodnesse and grace in Christ least at any time I should doubt of it howe should I but hope certainly that nothing profitable to me can be denyed in that thy power is infinite For as thy good will is declared in adopting me so nothing can be finally wanting in me which may make for my weal for then should not thy power be almightie therefore my beliefe requireth that I should beleeue in thee the father Almightie In consideration wherof I shuld in all thinges behaue my selfe as a child reioice in thee praise thee trust in thee fear thee serue thee loue thee call vpon thee c. But alas how heauie hearted am I How vnthankfull am I howe ful of vnbeliefe and doubting of this thy rich mercy how little do I loue thee feare thee call vpon thee c Oh be merciful vnto me forgiue me good Father for thine owne sake and graunt me the spirit of thy children to reueale thy selfe vnto me Iesus Christ thy deare Sonne our Lorde by whome we are made thy children that I may truely knowe thee heartily loue thee faithfully hang vpon thee in all my needes with good hope call vpon thee render faithfully this honor to thee that thou art my God and father and I thy deare childe through thy grace in Christ and so alwayes be indued with an assured hope of thy goodnesse and a faithfull obedient heart in all things to thy holie will. At thy handes and from thee as I must looke for all thinges so come I vnto thee pray thee to giue me these thinges which thy deare children haue and thou requirest of me that I may come and aske them of thee as nowe I doe through Iesus Christ our Lord. As by this worde Father I am taught to glory of thee and in thee and all that euer thou hast for thou art wholy mine my Lord my God my father so by this word Our I am taught to glorye of all the good that all and euerie of thy seruaunts that euer were are or shall be had haue or shall haue For nowe I am taught to beleeue that thou hast called me into the communion of thy Church and people whome hereby I perceiue thou hast commanded to be as carefull for me as for them selues and in all their prayers to be as mindful of me as of them selues Againe as by this word Father I am taught to remember and render my dutie I owe to thee wardes faith loue feare obedience c. so by this worde Our I am taught my dutie towards thy people to be careful of them and to take their sorrow pouertie affliction c. as mine own and therfore to labour to helpe them in heart and hand after my vocation and abilitie vtterly abhorring all pride selfeloue arrogancie and contempt of any By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and to reioyce To lament bicause I am so farre from consideration much more from doing my dutie to thy people in thoughtes words and deeds To reioyce bicause I am called of thee and placed in the blessed societie of thy Saintes and made a member and citizen of the heauenly Ierusalem bicause thou hast giuen in commandement to all thy Church to be as carefull for me as for them selues But alas howe farre am I herefrom As I am guiltie of vnthankfulnesse for this thy calling me into the blessed communion of thy deare sonne and Church yea of thy selfe so am I guiltie of selfeloue vnmercifulnesse pride arrogancie forgetfulnesse and contempt of thy children for else I could not but be otherwise affected and otherwise labour then I doe Oh be mercifull vnto me good father forgiue me and graunt for Christes sake that as my tongue soundeth this worde Our so I may in hart feele the true ioy of thy blessed communion and the true loue and compassion which thy children haue and feele towardes their brethren that I may reioyce in al trouble in respect of that ioyful communion that I may denye my selfe to honour thy children vpon earth and endeuour my selfe to doe them good for thy sake through Iesus Christe our Lorde I come onely to thee to giue me that which I can not nor must not elsewhere haue and thou requirest it of me that therefore I should as thy childe come and craue it to thy glorie Which art in heauen AS by these wordes Our Father I am taught to glorie reioyce for the blessed cōmunion which I am called to with thee deare Father with thy Christe and with thy holie Church so also am I here taught by these wordes Which art in heauen to reioyce in respect of the place and blessed ioyes wherevnto at the length in thy good time I shall come For nowe I may perceiue that as heauen is thy home so is it mine also being as I am thy childe through Christ although here for a time I am bodily on earth and in miserie Againe by these words which art in heauen I am admonished not only to discerne thee from earthly Fathers and to knowe howe that thou art Almightie present in all places and of most puritie to confirme thereby my faith to be prouoked the more to feare thee to reuerence thee c. But also I am admonished to iudge of thy fatherly loue by heauenly benefites and not by corporal simplie and alonely for oftentimes the wicked prosper more in the world and haue more worldly benefites then thy children So that by this I see thou wouldest pull vp my minde from earth and earthly thinges to heauen and heauenly thinges and that I should see further by corporall benefites thy heauenly prouidence for me For if thou place me thus on earth and thus blesse me as thou doest and hitherto hast done from my youth vp in that thou art nothing so carefull for my body as for my soule howe should I but thinke much of thy prouidence for it is thy home where is such glorie as the eye hath not seene c. Of which thinges these corporall benefites of thine giuen me on earth should be as it were inductions the taking of them away admonitions to be more mindfull of
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
pleasure heauenly sweetenesse in thy loue that whatsoeuer we shall from henchfoorth either thinke speake or doe it may be all to the honour of thy holie name through Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our Lord and onely Sauiour Amen Thy mightie hand and outstretched arme O Lord be stil our defence thy mercie and louing kindnesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne be our saluation thy trueth and holie word our instruction thy grace and holie spirite our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end A praier for the remission of sinnes O Almightie and euerliuing Lord God the deare Father of our Sauiour Iesus Christe which hast made heauen and earth the sea all that therein is which art the only ruler and gouernour conseruer and keeper of all thinges together with thy dearely beloued Sonne Christe Iesus our Lorde and with the holie ghost the comforter O holy righteous wise O strong terrible mightie and feareful Lord God gouernor of the whole world iudge of al men O exorable patient and most gratious father whose eyes are vpon the wayes of all men and are so cleane that they cannot abide impietie thou searchest the heartes and triest the verie thoughtes and reynes of all men thou hatest sinne and abhorrest iniquitie For sinnes sake thou hast grieuously punished mankind thy most deare creature as thou hast declared by the penaltie of death layde vppon all the children of Adam by the casting of Adam his ofspring out of Paradise by the cursing of the earth by the drowning of the world by the burning of Sodom Gomor by hardning the heart of Pharao so that no miracle coulde conuert him by the drowning of him and his people in the redde sea by the ouerthrowing of the Israelites in the wildernesse so that of sixe hundreth thousand there were but two that entred into the lande of promise by reiecting King Saul by the punishmentes vppon thy seruaunt Dauid notwithstāding his heartie repentaunce by greeuously afflicting Solomon in himselfe and his posteritie by the captiuitie of the tenne tribes and by the thraldome of the Iewes wherein vntil this present day they continue a notable spectacle of thy wrath to the world against and for sinne But of all spectacles of thy anger against sinne the greatest and moste notable is the death and bloudy passion of thy dearely beloued sonne Iesu Christ. Great was thine anger against sinn when in heauen earth nothing could be found which might appease thy wrath saue the bloudshedding of thine only most dearly beloued sonne in whom was and is all thy delight Great was the sore of sinne that needed such a salue mightie was the maladie that needed such a medicine If in Christ in whom was no sinne thy wrath was so fiarce of our sins that he was constrained to cry My God my god why hast thou forsakē mee Howe great importable then is thine anger against vs which are nothing but sinfull They that are thy children through the contemplation of thine anger against sinne set foorth most euidently in the death of Christe doe tremble and are afraide lamenting them selues vpon him and heartily crying for mercie whereas the wicked are altogether carelesse and contemptuous nothing lamenting their iniquities or crying to thee heartily for mercie and pardon Amongest whom we are rather to be placed thē amongst thy children for that we are so shamelesse for our sinnes and carelesse for thy wrath heaping daily sinne vpon sinne so that the measure hath ouerflowed and ascended vp to heauen and brought thy heauie plagues vpon vs which are but earnest for greater to ensue therefore to vs pertaineth shame and nothing else is due but confusion What shall we doe what shall we say who can giue vs penitent heartes who can open our lips that our mouthes might make acceptable confession vnto thee Alas of our selues we cannot thinke any good much lesse wish it and least of all do it As for Angels or any other creatures they haue nothing but that which they haue receiued and thei are made to minister vnto vs So that where it passeth the power of the master the minister must needes want Alas then what shall we doe Thou art holie and we vnholie thou art good and we nothing but euill thou art pure and we altogether impure thou art light and we most darke darkenesse howe then can there be any agreement betwixt vs O what now may we do Dispaire No for thou art God and therefore good thou art mercifull and therefore thou forgiuest sinnes with thee is mercie and propiciation and therefore thou art worshipped when Adam had sinned thou gauest him mercie before he desired it and wilt thou denie vs mercie which nowe desire the same Adam excused his fault and accused thee but wee accuse our selues and excuse thee and shall wee be sent emptie away Noe found fauour when thy wrath abounned and shall we seeking grace be frustrate Abrahā was pulled out of Idolatrie when the world was drowned therein and art thou his God onely Israell in captiuitie in Egypt was gratiously visited deliuered deare God the same good Lord shal we alwaies be forgotten How often in the wildernes didst thou defer and spare thy plagues at the requests of Moses when the people them selues made no petition to thee and seeing wee not onely nowe make our petitions vnto thee thrugh thy goodnesse but also haue a mediatour for vs farre aboue Moses euen Iesus Christ shall we I say deare Lorde departe ashamed So soone as Dauid saide I haue sinned thou diddest foorthwith answere him that he should not dye thou haddest taken away his sinnes and gratious God euen the selfe same God shall not we which nowe with Dauid gladly confesse that we haue sinned shall we I say not heare by thy good spirit that our sinnes be pardoned O graunt that with Manasses we may finde fauour and mercy Remember that thou hast not spared thine owne onely deare Sonne Iesus Christ but giuen him to dye for our sinnes to rise for our righteousnesse to ascend for our possession taking in heauen and to appeare before thee for vs for euer a high priest after the order of Melchizedech that through him we might haue free accesse to come to thy throne nowe rather of grace then of iustice Remēber that thou by him hast biddē vs aske and promised that we should receiue saying Aske and ye shall haue seeke and ye shall finde knocke and it shall be opened vnto you ▪ O deare GOD and most meeke and mercifull father we heartily beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs for this thy Christes sake for his deaths sake for thy promise trueth and mercies sake Haue mercie vpon vs pardon and forgiue vs al our sinnes iniquities and trespasses what so euer we haue committed against thee in thought word or deede euer or at any time hitherto by any meanes Deare father haue mercie vpon vs Though we be poore yet our Christ
is riche though we be sinners yet he is righteous though we be fooles yet he is wise though we be impure yet is he pure and holie for his sake therefore be mercifull vnto vs. Call to minde how thou hast promised that thou wilt powre out of thy cleane waters and wash vs from our filth and cleanse vs from our euills Forget not that thou hast promised to take from vs our stonie heartes and to giue vs soft heartes new hearts and to put into the middest of vs right spirites Remember thy couenant namely that thou wilt be our God and we shall be thy people that thou wilt put out of thy memorie for euer all our vnrighteousnesse and hast promised to write in our mindes and heartes thy lawe and testimonies Remember that thou dost straitly charge vs to haue none other Gods but thee saying that thou art the Lord our god O then declare the same to vs all we heartily nowe beseech thee Forgiue vs our sinnes forget our iniquities cleanse vs from our filthinesse wash vs from our wickednesse powre out thy holie spirite vpon vs Take from vs our hard heartes our stonie heartes our impenitent heartes our distrusting and doubtfull heartes our carnall our secure our idle heartes our impure malicious arrogant enuious wrathfull impatient couetous hypocriticall and epicurical harts and in place therof giue vs new harts soft harts faithfull hearts mercifull hearts louing obedient chast pure holy righteous true simple lowly and patient hearts to feare thee to loue thee to trust in thee for euer Write thy lawe in our harts graue it in our mindes we heartily beseech thee Giue vs the spirite of prayer make vs diligent and happie in the workes of our vocation take into thy custodie and gouernaunce for euer our soules and bodies our liues and all that euer we haue Tempt vs neuer further theÌ„ thou wilt make vs able to beare and what so euer thou knowest we haue neede of in soule or bodie deare God and gratious father vouchsafe to giue vs the same in thy good time and alwayes as thy children guide vs so that our life may please thee and our death praise thee through Iesu Christ our Lorde for whose sake we heartily pray thee to graunt these thinges thus asked and al other thinges necessarie for soule and body not onely to vs but to al others also for whom thou wouldest that we should pray specially for thy children that be in thraldome in exile in prison miserie heauinesse pouertie sicknesse c. Be mercifull to the whole realme of England and graunt vs all true repentance and turne from vs the euils that we so wickedly haue deserued Pardon our enimies persecutors and slaunderers and if it be thy pleasure turne their hearts Be mercifull vnto our parents brethren and sisters friendes kinsefolkes and familiars neighbours and such as by any meanes thou hast coupled and lincked to vs by loue or otherwise and vnto vs poore sinners here gathered together in thy holie name graunt thy blessing and holie spirite to sanctifie vs and dwel in vs as thy deare children to keepe vs this day and for euer from all euill to thy eternall glorie and our euerlasting comfort the profite of thy Church which mercifully maintaine cherish and comfort strengthening them that stand so that they neuer fall lifting vp them that be fallen and keepe vs from falling from thy truth through the merites of thy dearely beloued sonne Iesu Christ our onely Sauiour which liueth and reigneth with thee and the holâ—e Ghost to whome be all praise and honour both nowe and for euer Amen I. B. A prayer for the true knowledge of the mysterie of our redemption in Christ. O Almightie God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ and by him also our father the father of all mercy God of all consolation haue mercie vpon vs and heare our prayers We most humbly beseech thee for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake for his merites and cruell death which he suffered to deliuer vs from eternall death and the power of darknesse send into our heartes thy spirit of truth to worke in vs a true liuely stedfast faith that the cleare light and brightnesse of thy Gospell the glorie of Christ may shine vnto vs and lighten our mindes that we may learne and vnderstand the wonderfull and vnspeakable riches of the misterie of our redemption in Christ and by Christ. O Father of glorie giue vnto vs the spirite of wisedome and bring vs into the true knowledge of this thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christe and the knowledge of thy selfe Open and lighten the eyes of our mindes and vnderstanding that we may knowe what the hope is wherevnto thou hast called vs and howe rich the glorie of thine inheritance is vpon thy Saints and the exceeding greatnesse of thy power towardes vs that by true faith by vnderstanding knowledge of thine eternall wisedome which is Iesus Christe we may be in deede as we are called true Christians and vnfeigned professors of thy holy name to worship thee in spirite and trueth and to set forth the glory of thy grace giuen vnto vs in Christe Iesu our lord Amen O deare Father write in our heartes loue of thy lawe hate to all sinne thankfulnes of heart and continuall heate of thy holie spirite for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake To whome with thee and thy holie spirite be all honour maiestie glorie thankes rule empire and dominion for euermore Amen A forme of thankesgiuing for our redemption and prayer for the strength increase of faith Lord increase our faith Luk 17. ETernall prayse and thankes be giuen vnto thee deare God and father of our Lord Iesus Christ which hast blessed vs with all spirituall blessing in heauenly things by Christ in that thou hast chosen vs in him before the foundation of the world was laide that we should be without blame before thee through him by whome we haue redemption through his bloud euen the forgiuenesse of our sinnes in whome after we heard the word of truth the gospell of our saluation wherein we beleeued we are sealed with the holie spirite of promise which is the earnest of our inheritance which spirite hath and doth beare witnesse vnto our spirits that we are thy children and therefore cryeth in our heartes Abba Father And thus most gratious father when thou hast once giuen the earnest pennie of our saluation into our heartes thou doest not repent of thy gift and calling neither wilt thou at any time breake thy couenant of grace and mercie in Christ thy Sonnes merites confirmed in vs by that seale and loue token For what though we be weake in our beliefe shall our vnbeliefe make thy promise of no effect No thou wilt alway be found true but all men are liars And yet Lord thou doest most gratiously beholde and accept be it neuer so little a sparke of faith We say therefore and cry vnto thee with one