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
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
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
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 giue vnto vs a true and liuely faith working in vs vnfained repentance and amendment of our sinnefull life Haue mercy vpon vs and forgiue vs our sinnes for thy Sonnes sake certifie our consciences of remission of the same by thy holy spirite by whose operation so mortifie in vs our olde man the whole body of sinne that we continually dying vnto sinne may walke in newnesse of life to the glorie of thy holie name through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen An other confession of sinnes O Eternal God and most merciful father we confesse and acknowledge here before thy diuine maiestie that we are miserable sinners conceiued and borne in sinne and iniquitie so that in vs there is no goodnesse for the flesh euermore rebelleth against the spirite whereby we continually transgresse thy holie precepts and commaundements and so purchase to ourselues through thy iust iudgement death and damnation Notwithstanding O heauenly father for as much as we are displeased with our selues for the sinnes we haue committed against thee and doe vnfeinedly repent vs of the same we most humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christes sake to shew thy mercy vpon vs to forgiue vs al our sinnes and to increase thy holy spirit in vs that we acknowledging from the bottome of our harts our owne vnrighteousnesse may from hencefoorth not onely mortifie our sinfull lustes and affections but also bring foorth such fruites as may be agreeable to thy most blessed wil through Iesus Christ our onely Sauiour whome thou hast already giuen an oblation and an offering for our sinnes and for whose sake we are certainly persuaded that thou wilt denye vs nothing that we shall aske in his name according to thy will. For thy spirite doth assure our consciences that thou art our mercifull father and so louest vs thy children through him that nothing is able to remoue thy heauenly grace and fauour from vs To thee therfore with the sonne and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorie world without end So be it A prayer to be said in the Morning O Eternall GOD and heauenly father seeing that by thy great mercy we haue quietly passed this night graunt we beseech thee that we may bestowe this day wholy in thy seruice so that all our thoughts wordes and deedes may redound to the glory of thy name and good example of our brethren And as it hath pleased thee to make the sunne to shine vpon the earth to giue vs bodilie light euen so vouchsafe to illuminate our vnderstanding with the brightnesse of thy spirit to direct vs in the way of righteousnesse so that what thing so euer we shall applie our selues vnto our speciall care and purpose may be to walke in thy feare and to serue and honour thee looking for all our wealth prosperitie to come from thy only blessing and that we may take nothing in hand which shall not be agreeable to thy most blessed will. Furthermore that we may in such sort trauell for our bodyes and for this present life that we may haue alwayes a further regard that is to the heauenly life which thou hast promised to thy children and in the meane season that it may please thee to preserue and defend vs both in bodie and soule to strengthen vs against al the temptations of the diuell and to deliuer vs from all perils and daungers that may happen vnto vs if we be not defended by thy godly power And for as much as to begin well and not to continue is nothing we beseech thee to receiue vs not onely this day into thy holy protection but also for the time of our whole life continuing and increasing in vs daily thy grace and good giftes therof vntill thou shalt bring vs to that happie state where we shal fully and for euer be ioyned vnto thy Sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour which is the true light of our souls shining day and night perpetually And to the end that we may obtaine such grace at thy hand vouchsafe most mercifull father to forgiue and forget all our sinnes which we haue heretofore committed against thee and for thine infinit mercies sake to pardon the same as thou hast promised to those that aske of thee with vnfeined heart for whom as for our selues we make our humble petitions vnto thee in the name of thy sonne our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ in such sort as he hath taught vs saying Our father c. An other prayer to be said in the Morning O Almightie and most gratious God we hartily thanke thee for the sweete sleepe and comfortable rest which thou hast giuē vs this night past and for as much as thou hast commaunded by thy holy word that no man should be idle but all occupied in godly and vertuous exercises euery man according to his calling we most humbly beseech thee that thine eyes may attend vpon vs daily defend vs cherish comfort gouerne vs and al our counsels studies and labors in such wise that we may spend and bestowe this day according to thy most holy will setting thee alwaies before our eyes lyuing in thy feare working that may be found acceptable before thy diuine Maiestie through Iesus Christ our lord So be it An other prayer for the Morning WE humblie and heartily giue thankes vnto thee O heauēly father through thy dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christ that to thy innumerable benefites hitherto powred vpon our soules and vpon our bodies thou hast kept vs this night past from many euills both spirituall and corporall and nowe of thy mercy doest offer giue vs time to repent and to amend our liues so that we might liue hencefoorth not as we will but as thou wilt and as our bodyes doe drawe continually nearer and nearer their end the graue I meane so our soules might approch to their end that is heauen and not hell for in one state we stand not still but either we are nearer nearer the happie state of life or else the vnhappie condition of death eternal Wherefore we beseech thee to be mercifull vnto vs good father and as of thy goodnesse thou giuest vs time to repent and liue godlie so of the same thy goodnesse in Christe we humbly beseech thee to giue vs thy gratious gift of true holie perfect perpetuall repentaunce that we may more and more lament our former sinfull life trusting vnfeignedly in thy rich mercy through the merites of Iesus Christe for the pardon of all our sinnes and that we may vnfaignedly purpose and effectually labour to amende our liues this day so long as we haue to liue in all our doings and wordes and euen in our verie thoughtes to the praise of thy holie name and good example of our brethren And for as much as thou knowest our weaknesse our ignoraunce and great vntowardnesse to carrie any great crosse or affliction we beseech thee our sweete father so to temper and order al things towards vs this day
pray thee to indue vs with strength from aboue that wee may bee able through thy helpe with strong faith to resist sathan with feruent prayer to mortifie the lustes of the fleshe with continuall meditation of thy holy lawe to auoide the foolish vanities and transitory plesures of this wicked worlde that through thy grace we being set at libertie from the power of these our mortall enemies may serue thee here in true holines and righteousnes and after be partakers of the euerlasting ioyes prepared for thy children which as they are greate and vnspeakeable so are there fewe that doe enioye them For straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth therevnto fewe there be that find it Notwithstāding O God thou hast a little flock to whom it is thy pleasure to giue that ioyfull kingdome whose names are written in the booke of life Make vs therefore of the number for Iesus Christs sake and place vs amongest those thy sheepe which shall stande on thy right hand to receiue the blessed inheritaunce and dwell with thee for euermore A prayer for present helpe in tentation DEare father to whom it is more easie to do all thinges then for me to thinke any one good thing Loe doe thou but speake a worde and thy deadlie sicke seruaunte my soule shal be made whole Helpe O Lord for thy great mercie sake for thy truth sake and for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ sake and let thy strength suffice against my weakenesse and thy holy spirit against my sinfull flesh and old man. Thou art faithfull O Father who hast promised that I shall not be tempted further then ▪ thou wilt make me able to beare Giue nowe therefore thy grace and strength vnto thy seruaunt that I may with a strong faith in thine infallible truth and promised mercie vanquishe and subdue what so euer rebelleth against thy most blessed wil. Preserue and keepe holy my soule and body and let them not be defiled made a dungeon of diuels wicked spirits through delectation in sinne Behold deare father the postes thereof are sprinkled with the pretious bloud of thy deare son of thy great mercie they are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy spirite Shall now alas the diuell the worlde or the fleshe plucke from thee that thing which presently crieth to thee with assured trust in thy promised helpe Nay father ▪ but graunt that I may by thy mightie power turne all their crafts deceits and raging assaultes vnto the increase of my faith that by experience of thy fatherly assistance in this my present temptation I may with assured hope trust in thy ready helpe comfort ouercome my saide enemies hereafter in like assaultes and prayse thy holy name for the victorie through Iesus Christ our Lord. My sonne if thou wilt come into the seruice of the Lorde stande fast in righteousnesse and feare and prepare thy soule to tentation Eccle. 2. Remedies against sinneful motions and tentations First remember that sinne is so heinous a thing that God by his iustice might worthily damne thee for the same and is therefore to be abhorred as a sweete poyson a flattering death and destruction of the soule which would out thee off from God thy Sauiour and make thee a bondslaue to sathan thy deadly enemie Auoide therefore euen at the first the occasions thereof and betimes quash out the braines of the children of Babylon against the harde stones whiles yet they be young and weake least when they be growen elder and stronger they dash thee to peeces And for remedie against the same flee vnto God who commandeth thee to call vpon him in thy troubles and promiseth to deliuer thee and wil not suffer thee to be further tempted then he wil make a way out whereby thou shalt escape and doubt not but hee that causeth thee to hate the sinne which thy nature is to loue will deliuer thee also from the daunger thereof and make thee to triumph ouer sathan to his confusion to Gods glorie and to thy great comfort which are causes that our tender louing father sendeth tentations vnto vs and he that is not tempted what is he Now after thou hast obteined the victorie remember two thinges first to giue most heartie thankes to God for his grace and assistance whereby thou hast ouercome and be not vnthankfull in any wise and then that he who continually goeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuour will not be long or farre away from thee but wil attempt againe the same or as euill wayes to ouercome thee Watch therefore and pray A prayer for the auoyding of Gods heauie wrath vengeance for our sinnes OH Lord God strong mightie great and fearefull which dwellest in the heauens and workest great wonders wee thy miserable children here vppon earth doe moste humbly beseech thee to be merciful vnto vs to pardon our offences and to forgiue vs all our sinnes O Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruantes for if thou doe there shall no fleshe be saued in thy fight We confesse and acknowledge O Lorde that it is our sinnes whiche hath moued thee to wrath and to shewe such fearefull tokens of thy displeasure towardes vs in these our dayes first with fire from heauen betokening thy hote burning indignation and wrathfull displeasure for sinne which aboundeth at this daye then with such horrible and monstrous shapes against nature as were neuer seene here in our dayes nor in any time before vs which do betoken to vs none other thing but thy plagues to come vpon vs for our degenerate and monstrous life and conuersation and nowe besides all this by great mortalitie plague and pestilence thou hast terribly threattened vs fatherly warned vs mercifully called vs to repentance The axe is set to the roote of the tree and if wee bee not as rotten members without all sense and feeling wee may perceaue our fearefull destruction and desolation to bee at hande vnlesse wee speedily repent and turne to thee because wee haue bene so long taught out of thy most holy and sacred word yet no fruits of repentance or Christian life will appeare Woe and alas to these our dayes that neither preaching by word most comfortable nor preaching by fire most terrible nor preaching by monsters most strange and ougly neither yet by plagues and pestilence most horrible will stirre vp our stonie heartes and awake vs from our sinnes We feare O Lorde that the Turkes with all the rest of the vnbeleeuing will condemne vs in the last day which if they had bin so long instructed by the comfortable preaching of thy word and sweet promises of thy Gospel or seene the woonders which we haue seene no doubt their righteousnesse would haue shined at this day to our great shame and confusion Thou hast no lesse warned vs O Lorde of thy fearefull displeasure heauie plagues at hand for our great wickednesse then thou
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
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
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
to Christ and so be certaine of saluation at peace with God in our consciences God hath giuen his holye worde which hath two partes as now the children of God doe consist of two men the one part of Gods word being proper to the old man and the other parte of Gods worde being proper to the newe man The parte properly perteining to the olde man is the lawe the part properly perteining to the newe man is the gospell The law is a doctrine which commaundeth and forbiddeth requiring doing and auoiding Under it therefore are contained al precepts threatnings promises vpon conditions of our doing and auoiding â–ª c. The Gospel is a doctrine which alwaies offereth and giueth requiring on our behalf not as of worthinesse or as a cause but as a certificate vnto vs and therefore vnder it are contained all the free and sweete promises of God as I am the Lorde thy God c. In those that be of yeares of discretion it requireth faith not as a cause but as an instrument whereby we our selues may be certaine of our good husband Christ and of his glorie and therefore when the conscience feeleth it selfe disquieted for feare of Gods iudgement against sin she may in no wise looke vpon the doctrine perteining to the olde man but to the doctrine onely that perteineth to the newe man in it not looking for that which it requireth that is faith because we neuer beleeue as we should but onely on it which it offereth and which it giueth that is on Gods grace and eternall mercie and peace in Christe So shall she be in quiet when she looketh for it altogether out of her selfe in gods mercy in Christ Iesu in whose lap if she lay her head with S. Iohn then is she happie and shall finde quietnesse indeede When she feeleth her selfe quiet then in Gods name let her looke on the lawe and vpon such thinges as it requireth thereby to bridle and keepe downe the olde Adam to stay the Goliah from whoÌ„ she must needes keepe the sweete promises being the bedde wherein her spouse she meete lie together For as the wife will keepe her bed onely for her husband although in other things she is contented to haue fellowship with others as to speake sit eate drinke go c. so our consciences which ar Christs wiues must needs keepe the bed that is gods sweet promises al onely for our selues and our husband there to meete together to imbrace and laugh together and to be ioyfull together If sinne the law the diuell or any thing else woulde creepe into the bedde and lie there then complaine to thy husbande Christ forthwith thou shalt see him play Phinees part Thus my dearly beloued I haue giuen you in fewe wordes a summe of all the Diuinitie which a Christian conscience cannot want FINIS Rom. 10. Psal. 25. Psal. 86. 1. Pet. 2. Gal. 5. Mark. 11. Psal. 41. Psal. 38. Psal. 41. 1. Cor. 7. Psal. 34. Psal. 66. Psal. 5. 1. Iohn 5 â–ª Matth. â—â— Mark. 11. Iames. 1. Marke 9. Psal. 51. Psal. 8â— Psal. 39. Psal. 80. Lamen 3. Esai 54. Matth. 5 Esai 42. Psal. 23. Matth. 7. Psal. 40. Ephe. 6. 1. Tim. 5. Col. 4. Philip. 4. Matth. 7. Jere. 25. Psal. 50. Psal. 145. Psal. 91. Esai 65. Rom. 8. Psal. 145. Esai 6â— Luk. 11. Ecclus. 2 1. Iohn â— Psal. 51. Psal. 25. Psal. 122. Iosu. 1. 2. Reg 15 Iob â–ª 3. 1. Cor. 15 Iohn 6. Eze. 33. Psal. 77. Psal. 31. 1. Ioh. 2. Acts. 10 Ephe. 5. Heb. 4. 2. Cor. 1. Luk. 11. Iohn 16. Ioh. 14 Psal. 5 Lu. 11.18 Eccle. 35 Psal. 123. Matth. 9. Luke 11. Exod. 1. Gen. 3. Gen. 12.22.23.24.25 Exod. 13.14.15 Exod. 19.20 Heb. 1. 1. Cor. 15 Rom. 5. Matth. 1. Luk. 1. Gen. 3.12 26.28 Psal. 89.2 Reg. 7. Luk. 1. Psal. 110. Rom. 8. Matth. 24 1. Cor. 15. 1. Thes. 4.1 2. Cor. 5. Exod. 32.33 Psal. 5. Ioel 2. Psal. 15. Gen. 6. * Our hart is by nature so corrupt and vnsearchably euill that out of it springeth all wicked concupiscence so that the inclination therof is prone to euil euen from our birth vp our mind and vnderstanding is so darkned that of our selues we caÌ„not perceiue those thinges that be of god as is all the wisedom which we receiue froÌ„ Adam naturally or otherwise attaine by labour or studie before regeneration Causes to comfort our faith that God â—s our father 2. Cor. 1. Iohn 3. Ephe. 5. Phil. 3â— 1. Iohn 3. Rom. 5. Rom. 8. Rom. 5. What Baptisme is and what it requireth What is the effect or fruite that commeth of this certaine persuasion that God is our Father 〈◊〉 106. Col. 3. Philip. 3. Rom. 1. Psal. 48.138 How Gods name is hallowed The cheiâ— desire of gods chiâ—â—dren The greatest griefe of Gods people Our ignorance Our great neede Gods loue Gods kingdom in respect of his power Psal. 104. Gods kingdom in respect of his grace Gods kingdom in respect of his glorie Howe Gods kingdom is here coÌ„serued and enlarged 1. Ioh. 3. Our ignorance Our peruersitie Gods goodnes Gods omnipotent will vnknowne and vnreuealed Gods wâ—l reuealed and knowen Psal. 119. Our ignorance Our need Our disobedience Gods goodnes Bread. Giue Daily Our Psal. 127. Debtes Our Forgiuenesse Our forgiuing OccasioÌ„s to euill in two sorts What tentations are to the godly what theâ— are to the wicked Psal. 145. â—ohn 6. â—ohn 4. This is meant of the bloudie time of queene Marie Rom. 3. Psal. 14. Psal. 51. Rom. 7. Gal. 5. Rom. 2. Iere. 3. Esai 20. Col. 3. Rom. 6. Ephe. 4.5 1. Pet. 2. â—xod 2. â—sal 50. â—sal 18. Psal. 79. Heb. 9.10 Psal. 19. â—sal 58. â—sal 5. â—sal 22. â— Cor. 6. â—ere 10. â—sal 6. â—zech 18 Luke 12. Matth. 6. Luke 22. Ephe. 2. Ephe. 4. 〈◊〉 8. Rom. 3. Matth. 9. Haloweâ— be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done Giue vs this day c. Forgiue vs c. Leade vs not into temptation But deliuer vs froÌ„ euill Col. 3. 1. Iohn 3. 1. Iohn 5. Iohn 3. 1. Iohn 5. Rom. 8. Iohn 14. Iohn 12. Iohn 14 1. Iohn â— Rom. 8. Iohn 14. Col. 3. Iohn 14. Rom. 8. Iohn 12. Matth. 24 Matth. 2â— Apoc. 22 â–ª Psal. 42. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 15 Where this eternal life is Iohn 4. â— Tim. 6. Iohn 17. Acts. 7. 1. Cor. â— What knowlege may be had in this life of the life euerlasting Iob. 19. 1. Cor. 13 Heb. 11. 1 Ioh. 13. 1. Cor. 15 Psal. 16. Psal. 17. Apoc. 5. Rom. 7. Luke 2. Psal. 143. 1. Cor. 2. Apoc. 4. Apoc. 5. Psal. 84. Psal. 42. Psal. 63. Rom. â— Apoc. 22 â–ª Phil. 3. Matt. 24. Matt. 13. Apoc. 7. God worketh al in al maruellously iustly and holilie Matth â—â— Matth. â— God worketh â–ª by meanes without meanes against meanes Iohn 15. Iohn 2â— â–ª Luke 24 â–ª Cant. 1. Psal. 17. Psal. 16. Esai 54. Psal. 137. 1. Cor. 11. Apoc. 22.
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
you shall haue time thereto and by Gods good spirit shal be prouoked Forgiue vs our debts as we forgiue them that are debters vnto vs. BY Our debtes we vnderstand not onely the thinges we haue done but the omission and leauing vndone of the good things we ought to doe By Our we vnderstand not only the particular sinnes of one but also generally the sinnes of all and euery one of the Church By Forgiuenesse we vnderstand free pardon and remission of sinnes by the merites and desertes of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ who gaue him selfe a raunsome for vs. By Our forgiuing of other mens offences to vs ward we vnderstand thy good will not onely that it pleaseth thee that we should liue in loue and amitie but also that thou wouldest haue vs to be certain of thy pardoning vs of our sinnes For as certain as we are that we pardon them that offend vs so certaine should we be that thou doest pardon vs wherof the forgiuing our trespasses is as it were a sacrament vnto vs. So that by this petitioÌ„ I am taught to see that thy children although by imputation they be pure from sinne yet they acknowledge sinne to be remaine in them and therefore doe they pray for the remission and forgiuenesse of the same Againe I am taught hereby to see howe thy children doe consider and take to heart not only the euils they doe but also the good they leaue vndone and therefore they pray thee heartily for pardon Moreouer I am here taught to see that thy children are carefull for other men and for their trespasses and therefore pray that they might be pardoned in saying Our sinnes and not My sinnes Besides this I am taught here to see howe thy children not onely forgiue all those that offend them but also pray for the pardoning of the offences of their enimies and such as offend them So farre are they from maliciousnesse pride reuengement c. Last of all I am taught to see howe mercifull thou art which wilt haue vs to aske pardon whereof thou wouldest that we should in no â—oint dout but be most assured that for Christes sake thou hearest vs that not onely for our selues but also for many others for thou doest not commaund vs to aske for any thing which thou wilt not giue vs. By reason whereof I haue great cause to lament and reioyce To lament bicause of my miserable estate which am so farre from these affections that are in thy children which am so ignorant and carelesse of sinne not only in leauing good vndone but also in doing euill and that daily in thought word deede c. I speake not of my carelesnes for other folks sinnes as of my parentes children familie magistrats c. neither of the sinnes of them to whom I haue giuen occasion to sinne To reioyce I haue great cause bicause of thy mercy in opening to me these things in commanding me to pray for pardon in promising me pardon and commanding others to pray for me And surely I ought to be persuaded of thy mercy though my sinnes be innumerable for I see not onely in this but in euerie petition howe that euery one of the Church prayeth for me yea Christe thy sonne who sitteth on thy right hand prayeth for me c. Oh deare father be mercifull vnto me and forgiue me al my sinnes and of thy goodnesse giue me thy holie spirite to open mine eyes that I may see sinne the better to knowe it the more truely to hate it and most earnestly to striue against it and that effectually both in my selfe and others Againe graunt me the same thy holy spirite to reueale vnto me the remedie of sinne by Christ only and to worke in me faith to embrace the same by Christe and thy mercies in him that I may hencefoorth be indued with thy holie spirite to begin to obey thy good will more more and to increase in the same for euer Here call to minde the special sinnes you haue committed heretofore Remember if you haue occasioned any to sinne to pray for them by name Remember that Gods lawe should be so deare vnto vs that the breaking thereof in others should be an occasion to make vs to lament with teares c. Lead vs not into temptation BIcause of our continuall great infirmities bicause of the great diligence and subtilties of our enimies and bicause thou art wont to punish sinne with sinne which of all punishments is the greatest most to be feared in this petition thou wouldest haue thy children to haue the same in remembrance and for a remedie hereof thou hast appointed prayer so that the only cause why any are ouercome and led into temptation is for that they forget what they desire in the petition going before this which should neuer be out of their memorie to prouoke them to be more thankefull to thee and more vigilant and heedie hereafter for falling into the like perils For which to be auoyded thou doest most gratiously set foorth a remedie in commaunding vs to pray after pardon for our sinnes past for thy grace to guide vs so that we be not led into temptation but might be deliuered from euill And bicause y wouldest haue all thy children to hang wholy vpon thee to feare thee only only to loue thee thou doest not teach them to pray suffer vs not to be led but lead vs not into temptation that I say they might only feare thee and certainly knowe that sathan hath no power ouer so much as a pig but what so euer thou giuest vnto him and of thy secrete but most iust iudgement doest appoint him to vse not as he will for then we were all lost but as thou wilt which canst will nothing but that which is most iust as to giue them to the guiding of sathan which will not be guided by thy grace as thou diddest Saul c. Occasions to euil are in two sortes One by prosperitie and successe an other by aduersitie and the crosse c. The euils comming of successe commonly are vnthankfulnes pride securitie and forgetting of our selues forgetting of others forgetfulnesse of God of our mortalitie c The euils comming of aduersitie commonly are impatiencie murmuring grudging dispairing contemning of God flattering of men stealing lying with many other euils whereto tentations will entice a man that is left to him selfe where as to one that is guided with Gods spirite temptations are but trials to the glorie of GOD comfort of the tempted and edifying of thy Church But as I saide if a man be left alone tentations entice eueÌ„ to the diuell him selfe and therefore thy children pray to be deliuered from euill vnderstanding thereby Sathan him selfe the sower and supporter of all euill And this thy children do as wel for others as for them selues So that I may learne hereby many good thinges First to remember often our infirmitie and
from whom thye Sunne goeth downe giueth no light I meane thy grace which is alwaies cleare as the midday Darke night vnto them is the midday which depart from thee In thee is neuer night but alwayes day light most cleare This corporall Sunne hath his courses nowe vp nowe downe but thou deare Lord if we loue thee art alwayes one O that this blocke and veile of sinne were taken away from me that there might be alwaies cleare day in my minde Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as we are not sorrie when the Sunne goeth downe bicause we knowe it will rise againe euen so we should not sorowe for death wherthrough the soule and bodie doe part asunder for they shall eftesoones returne and come together againe in most glorious wise So long as the Sunne is vp wilde beastes keepe their dennes Foxes their burrowes Owles their holes c. but when the Sunne is downe then come they abroade so wicked men and hypocrites kepe their dennes in the time of the Gospell but it being taken away then swarme thei out of their holes like Bees as this day doth teach When the candles be light pray MOst thicke and darke cloudes do couer our mindes except thy light O Lord doe driue them away Thy sunne O most wise worker is as it were a firebrand to this worlde Thy kingdome whereby light commeth both to soule and bodie is a firebrand to the spirituall world After day when the night commeth thou hast giuen for the remedie of darkenesse a candle After sinne for the remedie of ignoraunce thou hast giuen thy doctrine which thy deare sonne hath brought vnto vs O thou that art the authour and master of all trueth and art the true light make vs so to see that the dimnesse of our mindes may be driuen cleane away Lift thou vp the light of thy countenaunce vpon vs and send ioy and gladnesse into our hearts Psal. 4. Thy word is a lanterne to my feete and a light vnto my pathes Psal. 119. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that the knowledge which God giueth vnto vs by the candlelight whereby we see those things in this night of our bodies which are expedient for vs should make vs to wish much more for this doctrine of God and spirituall light of our soules and when we get it the more to esteeme it and diligently to embrace it Againe that as all would be horrour without candlelight so there is nothing but meere confusion where Gods word taketh no place When you make your selfe vnreadie pray THis our life and weake knit bodie by reason of sinne by little little shall be dissolued so shall be restored to the earth from whence it was taken then will be an end of this vanitie which by our follie we haue wrought to ourselues O most meeke father so doe thou vntie me for thou art he that hast knit these our weake members together that I may perceiue my selfe to be losed dissolued and so may remember both of whome I was made also whither I must goe least I be had vnprouided vnto thy tribunall seate Put off the olde man with his lustes and concupiscences Col. 3. Ephe. 4. Be content with Ioseph to put off thy prison apparell that thou mayest put on newe Gen. 41. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as we do willingly put off our garments bicause we shall receiue them againe when the night is past so we should not willingly forsake our bodies when God by death shall call vs bicause we shall receiue them againe in the resurrection of the iust When you enter into your bed pray THe day nowe ended men giue them selues to rest in the night and so this life finished we shall rest in death Nothing is more like this life then euerie day nothing more like death then sleepe nothing more like to our graue then our bed O Lorde our keeper and defender graunt that I now laying me downe to rest being vnable to keepe my self may be preserued from the craftes and assaultes of the wicked enimie And grant further that wheÌ„ I haue run the â—ace of this life thou wouldest of thy mercy call me vnto thee that I may liue and watch with thee for euermore And nowe gratious God giue me to take my rest in thee and bring to passe that thy goodnesse may be euen in sleepe before my eyes that sleeping I be not absent from thee but may haue my dreames to drawe me vnto thee and so both soul and bodie may be kept pure and holie for euer I will lay me downe in peace and take my rest Psal. 4. Occasions to Meditate Thinke that as this troublesome day is nowe past and night come and so rest quietnesse and pleasant sleepe which maketh most excellent Princes poore wretches alike euen so after the tumults troubles teÌ„ptations and teÌ„pestes of this life they that beleeue in Christ haue prepared for them an hauen and rest most pleasant and ioyful As you are not afraide to enter into your bed and to dispose your selfe to sleepe so be not afraide to dye but rather chearefully prepare your selfe therevnto Thinke that nowe you are nearer your end by one dayes iourney then you were in the morning When you feele sleepe to be comming pray O Lord Iesus Christ my watchman and keeper take me into thy protection Graunt that my body sleeping my minde may watch in thee and be made merrie by some sight of that celestiall and heauenly life wherein thou art the king and prince together with the father and the holie Ghost where the Angels holy soules be most happie citizens Oh purifie my soule keepe cleane my bodie that in both I may please thee sleeping and waking for euer Amen A GENERALL CONfession of sinnes with other prayers for the Morning and Euening to be vsed in families and publike assemblies O Most mercifull and louing father whose loue is infinit whose mercie endureth for euer we sinfull creatures trusting in thine vnspeakable goodnesse and loue toward vs do appeare this morning before thy diuine maiestie most humbly confessing our manifolde sinnes and innumerable transgressions of thy commaundements and fatherly will. Against thee onely against thee O Lorde haue we sinned we acknowledge our offences we accuse our selues vnto thee O mercifull Lord and will not hide our vnrighteousnesse We find in our selues nothing but ignorance of thy wil disobedience mistrust doubtfulnesse in thy goodnesse and incredulitie hatred and contempt of al spirituall things selfeloue confidence in our selues feruent lusting after earnall things of this world and this tree of our corrupt nature bringeth foorth continually in vs none other fruites but rotten and vnsauorie workes of the flesh in thoughtes wordes and doings vnto condemnation Wherefore we humbly beseech thy fatherly goodnesse euen for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake whome thou hast set foorth for a purchaser of mercy to vs through faith in his bloud make our heartes cleane take away our stonie heartes
that wept and saide I beleeue Lord helpe my vnbeliefe Yea that little be it neuer so litle is thy meere gift also The which as thou begun so most mercifull Lord increase the same more and more to the peace and comfort of our conscience and the glorie of thy name through Iesus Christ. Amen A thankesgiuing to God for his great benefites HOnour and praise be giuen to thee O Lorde God almightie most deare father of heauen for all thy mercies and louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath pleased thy gratious goodnesse freely and of thine owne accorde to elect and choose vs to saluation afore the beginning of the world and euen like continuall thankes be giuen vnto thee for creating vs after thine owne image for redeeming vs with the precious bloud of thy deare Sonne when we were vtterly lost for sanctifying vs with thy holie spirite in the reuelation and knowledge of thy sacred word for helping and succouring vs in al our neede and necessitie for sauing vs from all dangers both of bodie and soule for comforting vs so fatherly in al our troubles and afflictions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large a time of repentance These benefites O most mercifull father like as we do acknowledge that we haue receiued of thy onely goodnesse euen so we beseech thee for thy deare sonne Iesus Christes sake to graunt vs alwayes thy holie spirite whereby we may continually growe in thankefulnesse towardes thee be led in all trueth and comforted in all aduersitie Strengthen our faith O Lorde kindle it more and more in feruentnesse and loue towardes thee and our neighbours for thy sake Suffer vs not most deare father to receiue thy word any more in vaine but graunt vs alwaies the assistance of thy grace and holy spirite that in heart word and deede we may sanctifie and doe worship to thy holy name that we may helpe to amplifie and increase thy kingdome and that what so euer thou sendest we may be heartily wel content with thy good will and pleasure Suffer vs not to lack the thing O father without the which we can not serue thee but blesse thou so all the workes of our hands that we may haue sufficient and not to be chargeable but rather helpefull vnto other Be mercifull O Lorde vnto our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou hast forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou O father our captaine and defender in all temptations holde thou vs by thy mercifull hande that we thereby may be deliuered from all inconueniences and end our liues in the sanctifying and honouring of thy name through Iesus Christ our lord Amen A praier for true mortification O God my creator preseruer and euerlasting defender where first in my creation I was made like vnto thine owne likenesse the diuell alas hath since by Adams fal made me ougly monstrous and like euill fauoured to him selfe For what are nowe Lord mine earthly members but as thine Apostle writeth adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence couetousnesse which is the worshipping of Idols and such other for the which thy wrath is wont to come vpon the children of vnbeliefe Neuerthelesse Lorde of thy great mercy and goodnesse against this so great a mischiefe a much greater remedie thy fatherly prouidence hath ordained for thou hast sent Iesus Christ thy deare only natural Sonne into this worlde the vale of miseries to loose the workes of the diuell and to take away my sinnes Therefore sathan hath nowe nothing to brag of for through Christ all that beleeue in thee and so become thy children do ouercome the world the flesh and the diuell And this is the victorie which ouercommeth thē all euen our faith That faith I meane which is persuaded that who so euer beleeueth in Christ shall not perish but haue euerlasting life That faith which beleeueth the testimonie to be true which thou God the father doest testifie of thy sonne so making thee no liar and this is the testimonie that thou hast giuen vs eternall life That faith which beleeueth that thou father who raisedst vp Christ from death shalt also quicken our mortall bodies through thy holie spirite dwelling in vs That faith which beleeueth it to be true which thy Sonne Christe affirmed with a double oth verily verily I say vnto you he that beleeueth in me the workes that I doe the same shall he doe and greater woorkes then these shall he doe bicause I goe to my father And finally that faith which beleeueth that nowe Christe hath bene lift vp on the crosse he shal draw al things vnto him This faith I say is the victorie which ouercommeth our enimies the diuell the world and our flesh Thou therfore deare father which hast promised to giue what so euer I shal aske in thy deare sonne Iesus name for thy great mercie and infallible truthes sake doe nowe in me the thing that he came for lose in me the workes of the diuel take away my sinnes I beseech thee make stedfast my faith and confidence in thy promised mercies and mercifull promises so that I assuredly beleeuing in thee may haue as thou promisest euerlasting life making thee deare God no liar may beleeue feele and knowe in my heart and conscience that the same euerlasting life is thy meere and free gift vnto me yea alreadie of thy great goodnesse vndoutedly giuen me being nowe translated from death to life Of a thankfulnesse wherof Lord cause me nowe daily to mortifie my earthly members yea deare father sith thy spirit which raised vp Christ from death dwelleth within me doe thou who raisedst Christ frō death quicken my mortall bodie through thy spirite so dwelling in me I beseech thee yea Lord Iesu according to thy promise bicause thou art now gone to thy father make me worke this wonderfull great worke that thou spakest of I meane make me being of my selfe but a lumpe of sinne and a monster most ougly as the vices whereon the members of my earthly bodie are aboue declared to be cōpact doe proue make me I say yet through thy grace to hate abhorre flee and subdue all adulterie whoredome vncleannesse vnnaturall lustes euill concupiscence vnordinate desires wantonnesse tendernesse delicatenesse idlenesse dronkennesse gluttonie slothfulnesse distrust despaire ignorance weakenesse wilfulnesse idolatrie superstition hypocrisie heresie error sects ▪ variance strife wrath enuie slaunders lying swearing cursing vainglorie pride couetousnesse theft deceit flatterie and what so euer else O Lorde fighteth or rebelleth against thy holy spirite and then O Father I will boast make vaunt against myne enimie the diuell that I haue done greater workes then thy deare sonne Iesus did at what time hee spake these wordes among the Iewes because albeit he vanquished Sathan yet in as much as hee
compassion make to arise in our heartes a true feare of God and a true faith and knowledge of thy mercie which the eternall father of our Lorde Iesus Christ hath promised vnto vs for his sonnes sake Be our comforter in all our counsels and daungers Illuminate our vnderstanding fill our heartes with newe affections and spirituall motions and renewe vs both in soule and bodie that we may die to sinne and liue to righteousnesse and so in true obedience may prayse the father of our Lorde Iesus Christ his sonne our redeemer and thee also our comforter euerlastingly A thankesgiuing to God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost WE render thanks vnto thee O almightie eternall GOD with thy deare sone our Lord Iesus Christ with thy holy spirit for that of thine exceeding great goodnesse thou hast made thy selfe knowne vnto vs by most assured and euident testimonies for that thou hast gathered and chosen vnto thy selfe a perpetuall Church wouldest that thy sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ shoulde suffer death to restore vs from death to life for that thou hast giuen to vs thy Gospel and the holy Ghost for that thou forgiuest vs our sinnes deliuerest vs from the power of the diuell and from eternall death and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life finally for that thou hast visited vs with many great benefites giuing vs life foode doctrine peace in such places as we haue liued in hast diminished the paines which we haue iustly deserued We giue thankes vnto thee O Lorde Iesus Christ sonne of the liuing God crucified for vs and risen againe because thou hast coupled vnto thee our humane nature and of thy inestimable loue diddest giue thy selfe to death for vs turning vpon thee the great wrath of God thy father conceiued against vs to recoÌ„cile vs vnto him and to purchase vs eternall redemption because thou hast brought vs to this grace wherein wee stande and reioyce in hope of the glorie of GOD because thou doest preserue cherishe and defende thy Church against the Diuell and all thine enemies because thou giuest renewest often the light of thy Gospell and mayntainest the ministerie of thy worde because thou doest forgiue vs our sinnes and giuest vnto vs euerlasting life because thou art our Mediatour and makest continuall intercession for vs finally because thou doest succour and preserue vs in all our necessities daungers and afflictions We giue thankes also vnto thee Oh holy spirit the giuer of life whiche wast powred vpon the Apostles because thou kindlest thy light in our hearts because thou rulest instructest admonishest and helpest vs because thou gouernest and guidest the labours and workes of our vocation and sanctiâ—iest vs to eternall life A prayer to God for his helpe protection against the obstinate enemies of the trueth MOst righteous Iudge God of all mercie and comfort which by thy secrete iudgement and wisedome doest suffer the wicked to triumph and increase for a time for trial of the faith of thy welbeloued litle flock and the mortifying of their lustes but at length to the vtter confusion of thy enemies and ioyfull deliuerance of thy people looke downe wee beseeche thee on thy dispersed sheep out of thy holy habitation in heauen and strengthen our weakenes against their furious rages abate their pride asswage their malice confounde their deuises wherwith they lift vp themselues against Christ Iesus thy sonne our Lord sauiour to deface his glory and to set vp Antichrist We be not able of our selues to thinke a good thought much lesse to stande against their assaults except thine vndeserued grace and mightie arme defende and deliuer vs Performe thy promises made to Iacob and stoppe the mouthes of the cursed Edomites Call them to repentaunce whome thou hast appointed to saluation bring home them that runne astray lighten the blind and teach the ignorant forgiue all those that wilfully and obstinatly rebell not against thy holy will. Let thy fearefull threatnings pearce our stonie heartes and make vs tremble at thy iudgementes Make the examples of them whome thou hast ouerthrowne in their owne deuises as Cain Cham Nimrod Esau Pharao Saul Achitophel Iudas and such other to be a warning for vs that we set not vp our selues against thy holye will. Graunt free passage to thy holie worde that it may worke effectually in vs the worke of life and blessed hope of our saluatioÌ„ to the eternall praise of thy maiestie through our mediator Christe Iâ—sus to whom with thee the holy Ghost three persons and one God be praise and thankesgiuing in all congregations world without end So be it A prayer for the afflicted and persecuted vnder the tyrannie of Antichrist O Mercifull Father who neuer doest forsake sucâ— as put their trust in thee stretch foorth thy mightie arme to the defence of our brethren by the rage of enemies persecuted and greeuously tormented in sundrie places for the true profession of thy holy Gospel who in their extrem necessities crie for comforte vnto thee Let not thy long suffering O Lord be an occasioÌ„ either to increase the tyranny of thy enemies or to discourage thy children but with speed O Lorde consider their great miseries and afflictions Preuent the cruell deuise of Haman stay the rage of Holophernes breake off the counsell of Achitophell Let not the wicked say Where is nowe their God. Let thy afflicted flocke feele present aide and releefe from thee O Lord looke downe vppon them with thy pitifull eye from thy holy habitation send terrour and trembling among their enemies make an ende of their outragious tyrannie beate backe their boldenesse in suppressing thy truth in destroying thy true seruantes in defacing thy glorie and in setting vp Antichrist Let them not thus proudly aduaunce themselues against thee and thy Christ but let them vnderstand and feele that against thee they fight Preserue and defende the Uine which thy right hande hath planted and let all Nations see the glory of thine anointed Amen A prayer to be saide before the preaching of Gods word ALmightie God and most mercifull father whose word is a lanterne to our feete and a light vnto our stepes wee most humbly beseech thee to illuminate our minds that we may vnderstand the mysteries conteined in thy holy lawe and into the selfe same thing that we godly vnderstand wee may bee vertuously transformed so that of no parte we offende thy diuine maiestie through Iesus Christe our Lorde An other IN this great darkenes of our souls O Lord thou shinest diuers ways vnto vs by the light of thy grace but in nothing so effectually as in the preaching of thy worde Great is the Haruest as thou thy selfe hast saide and the workmen are few The greatest part of men are ignorant wrapped in miserable blindnes and fewe there be that teach thy worde truely and as they ought We beseech thee therefore to sende foorth workemen into thy haruest Sende teachers O
Psal. 6. Psal. 89. Psal. 57. Eccle. 2. Iob. 13. Luk. 15. Ephe. 5. Esai 53. Heb. 9.10 Esai 59. A prayer to God the sonne Iohn 14. A prayer to the holy ghost Zach. 12. A thanksgiuing to the sonne A thanksgiuing to the holy Ghost 1. Pet. 5. Num. 29. Deu. 9. Ios. 7. Matth. 13 Luke 11. Rom. 8. Iames. 5. 1. Iohn 5. Rom. 12. WisdoÌ„ 9 â–ª 2. Cor. 3. Iohn 19. Philip. 2 Psal. 40. 1. Pet. 1. 1. pet 5. Luke 17. Psal. 95. Heb. 3.15 1. Iohn 2 1. Tim. 2. Rom. 15. 1. Cor. 1. Ephe. 4. Ioh. 21. Math. 28. 2. Iohn 9. Mark. 6. Pro. 21. Rom. 17. Ioh. 16. Rom. 13. Iohn 16. Iohn 16. 2. Cor. 2. Rom. 12. Iacob 5. 2. Cor. 1. Heb. 13. Heb. 13. Rom. 8. Psal. 41. Iohn 1. 1. Pete 1. Actes 2. Math. 10. Luk. 21. Gene. 1. Ephe. 2. Galat. 1 Gen. 3. Actes 4. Heb. 9. Apoc. 5 Iohn 3. Heb. 8. Heb. 4. 1. Pet. 1. Esa. 43.53 Matth. 3.17 Iere. 31. Heb. 8. Rom. 5. Heb. 2. Iohn 6. Gen. 3. Rom. 5 Ephe. 3. Ephe. 2. Ioh. 6.17 Gene. 6. Rom. 3. Esai 64. Psal. 5.12 Rom. 7. Math. 16. 1. Cor. 2. Luk. 11. Mark. 10. Matth. 16 Luk. 22. 1. Cor. 11. Iohn 8. Galat. 5. Rom. 8. 1. Pet. 1. Ephe. 5. Ephe. 2. Heb. 4. Rom. 3. Math. 25. Philip. 3. Ephe. 1. Ephe. 2. Apoc. 13. Rom. 3. Ephe. 2. Titus 3. Rom. 8. 1. Cor. 10 Rom. 4. Iohn 6. Luk. 25. Galat. 5. 1. Tim. 4. Ephe. 5. 2. Pet. 3. Matth. 5. 1. Pet. 2. Esai 64. Psal. 77. Esai 49. Psal. 10. â—sal 104. â—sal 147. Psal. 77. Psal. 77. Matth. 11 Rom. 8. Rom. 8. Ephe. 1. Rom. 8. Matt. 27. Psal. 9 5. Osee. 6. Actes 1. Ionas 3. Psal. 51. Lamen 3 Esai 64. Iudeth 8 Iob. 11. Sapi. 124 Esa. 65. Tobias 3 Iob. 5. Oseas 6. Sapie 22 Psal. 6. Psal. 25. Baruc. 3. Ionas 2. Danie 9. Psal. 70. Pal. 85. Psalm 94 â–ª Psal. 62 â–ª Psalm 50 Psal. 40 Psal. 17. Pal. 33. Psal. 27. Psa. 106. Psal. 86. Psa. 103. Psal. 57. Psa. 108. Psal. 103 Psam 71. Psalm 68 Psal. 47. Psal. 145. Psal. 72. Psa. 104. 1. Tim. 4. Tim. 2 Iohn 6. 1. Cor. 10 Ephe. 9. Psal. 38. Luke 15. Psal. 38. Rom. 7. Psal. 51. Psa. 51. Psal. 9. Psal. 25. Psalm 2â— Psal. 63. Psal. 130 Iob. 15. Psal. 83. Esai 52 Esai 61. â—sal 119 Psal. 25. Psal. 119. Psalm 36 Psal. 119 Psal. 141. Psa. 119. Mat. 27. Actes 7. The olde man. The new man. Why the olde man is stroÌ„ger then the new In what respect one maÌ„ is both an old man also a new maÌ„ How one man may be called alwaies sinnefull alwais iust Why the olde man oftentimes preuaileth against the new maÌ„ The olde man so mightily preuaileth somtimes against the new man in the children of God that the spirit and seede of God seemeth to be vtterly taken froÌ„ them whereas in deede it is not so as afterward to their great coÌ„fort they finde and feele 2. Pet. 1. The law pertaineth to the olde man and the Gospel to the new man. What the lawe is What the Gospel is The conscience feared beaten downe with the terror of Gods iudgmeÌ„t against sin may not look vpon the lawe but fle to the Gospel for relief coÌ„fort Iohn 13. WheÌ„ the conscience is quiet at peace with God the law serueth only to kepe downe the olde man Num. 25. The Table AN introduction to prayer fol. 17. A meditatioÌ„ concerning prayer 49. A meditation vpon the Lords prayer 68. Priuate prayers for the morning euening other times of the day 132 VVhen you avvake out of your sleepe eod VVhen you beholde the day light 134 VVhen you arise 135. VVhen you apparell your selfe 136. VVhen you are made readie to beginne the day vvithall 138. Cogitations meet to begin the day vvithal 139 VVhen you goe foorth of the dores 143 VVhen you are going ann iourney 145 VVhen you are about to receiue your meat 148 In the meale time 150 After your meat 152 VVhen you come homâ— againe 155 At the Sunne going dovvne 156 VVhen the candles be light 158 VVhen you make your selfe vnready 160 VVhen you enter into your bed 161 VVhen you feele sleepe to be comming 163 A general confession of sins vvith other prayers for the morning and euâ—ning to be vsed in families and publike assemblies 165 An other confession of sinnes 167 A prayer to be said in the morning 169 An other 172 An other 173 An euening prayer 176 An other 181 An other 183 A prayer for remission of sinnes 185 A prayer for the true knovvledge of the mysterie of our redemption in Christ. 197 A forme of thankesgiuing for our redemption and a prayer for the strength and increase of faith 200 A thankesgiuing to God for his greate benefites 202 A prayer for true mortification 205 A meditation for the exercise of true mortification 211 A meditation of the coÌ„ming of Christ to iudgment and of the revvard both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull 215 A meditation of the life euerlasting the place vvhere it is the incoÌ„parable ioyes therof 222 An other meditation of the blessed state felicitie of the life to come â–ª 231 A meditation of the presence of God. 238 A meditation of the prouidence of God. 240 A meditation of Gods povver beautie goodnes c. 245 A meditation concerning the sober vsag of the body that it may be subiect and obedient to the soule 249 An other meditation concerning the sober vsag of the body and pleasures in this life 252 A meditation of death and the commodities it bringeth 256 A meditation vppon the passioÌ„ of our sauiour Iesu Christ. 259 A prayer to Christe crucified 267 A Prayer to Christ ascended and reining in glorie 268 A prayer for true repentance 272 A praier for the strength increase of faith 273 A prayer for the true sense and feeling of Gods fauour and mercie in Christ. 274 A prayer against our spirituall enimies the diuell the vvorlde and the flesh 279 A praier for the present helpe in tentation 281 Remedies against sinfull motions and tentations 284 A prayer for the auoyding of Gods heauie vvrath and vengeance for our sinnes 286 An other 263 A prayer to be said of such as suffer any kind of crosse 595 A prayer of the afflicted for the profession of gods vvord 299 A prayer to God the father â–ª the sonne and the holy ghost 302 A thankesgiuing to God the father the sonne the holy ghost 307 A prayer to God for his heple and protection against the obstinat enemies of the truth 310 A prayer for the afflicted and persecuted vnder the tirannie of Antichrist 312 A prayer to be said before the preaching of gods vvord 314 A prayer to be saide after the preaching of gods vvord 316 A prayer to be said before the receiuing of the communion 323 A thankesgiuing after the receiuing of the communion 326 A lamentation of a sinner afflicted in conscience for his offeÌ„ces 327 A prayer for the sicke 338 A prayer to be said at the houre of death 339 A prayer for a vvomaÌ„ vvith child 343 A psalm to be said in the time of any common plague sicknesse or other crosse and visitation of God. 346 A Psalme of thankesgiuing for deliueraÌ„ce froÌ„ the plague or any other kinde of sicknesse or affliction 350 Prayers to be saide before meales after 354 An other prayer to be said before meales 455 An other 356 A thankesgiuing after meales 357 An other thankesgiuing after meales 359 An other 360 An other 361 Prayers commonly called Lidleys Prayers with certaine godly additions A ConfessioÌ„ of sins 362 A confession of sins and a prayer for the remission thereof 374 A prayer for the true knovvledge and vnderstanding of the vvord of God. 380 A prayer for the leading of a godly life 383 A prayer for the deliuerance from sin to be restored to Gods grace fauour againe 387 A prayer necessarie to be said at all times 489 A prayer for grace and remissâ—on of sinnes 392 Prayers taken out of the first Psalme 395 Prayers taken out of the second Psalme 400 A prayer vvhich M. Iohn Bradford said a little before his death in Smithfield 404 The Letanie 409 For the Queenes maiestie 420 For Bishops and ministers of the Church 421 For raine 421 For faire vvether 422 In the time of dearth famine 423 In the time of vvarre 423 In the time of any coÌ„moÌ„ plage or sicknes 424 For the strength and comfort of the holy ghost 425 For sure hope and trâ—â— taste of euerlasting life 426 For the true knovveledg of god his vvord a life agreeable to the same ibid. For the strength increase of faith 427 For a godlie life 428 For the true perseuerance and assured hope of eternall life 429 A prayer for the obteining of our petitioÌ„s 429 A godly instruction conteining the summe of all the Diuinitie necessarie for a Christian conscience 431 FINIS Imprinted at London by Henrie Middleton dwelling in Fleetestreate at the signe of the Faulcon