Endlesse spring and endlesse peace Here is musicke heauen filling Sweetnesse euermore distilling Here is neither spot nor taint No defect nor no complaint No man crooked great nor small But to Christ conformed all Blessed towne diuinely graced On a Rocke so strongly placed Seated sure from feare of warre I salute thy walles from farre Thee I see and thee I long for Thee I seeke and thee I groane for O what Ioy thy dwellers tast All in pleasure first and last What full enioying blisse diuine What Iewels on thy walles do shine Ruby Iacinth Chalcedon Knowne to them within alone In this glorious Company In these streets of Syon I With Iob Moses and Eliah Will sing the heauenly Heluiah An Euery-dayes-Sacrifice or a Morning prayer for any day in the weeke or euery day in the Weeke TO thee the God of Heauen and Earth that by thy wisdome â—ast ordained all things by thy power created all things and by thy bounty and mercy as the two breasts of thy neuer dryed goodnesse preseruest and sustainest all things all the Creatures in the world that thy hands haue fashioned both man and beast both plant and flower whatsoeuer and wheresoeuer To thee alone most mercifull Father and into thy protection do I render my soule and body and the whole gouernement thereof as an vnworthy sacrifice beseeching theâ— that it may bee acceptable vnto thée preserue me O Lord this day without sinne this weeke following and all the dayes of my life and as thou hast renued this day vnto me and brought me safely to the beginning therof so giue me grace to renue my life from my former sinnes that I may now amend whatsoeuer heretofore hath beene amisse that I may be more carefull to walke in thy wayes then euer I was carelesse to run out of them I confesse O Lord that it is thy mercy that indureth for euer and thy compassion which neuer failes that is the cause that I haue not bene long ago consumed for with thee ô Lord there is mercy plenteous redemption Psal 130. 4. In the multitude therefore of thy mercyes and confidence in thy merits I intreat thee that thou wouldest not enter into iudgement with thy seruant neither be extreme to marke what hitherto I haue done amisse for if thou doest then no flesh can be iustified in thy sight I haue beene borne in sinne and in iniquity hath my mother conceiued me and in thought word and deed I haue broken all thy Commaundements and there remaines nothing for mee but shame and confusion I haue done more against thee this weeke then I haue done for thee since I was borne following the desires of mine owne will and the lusts and concupiscences of mine owne flesh not caring to be gouerned by thy holy word and Spirit and which is worse yet haue I not resolued to amend what father but thou would suffer this contempt and bee neglected still O where is my feare O where is my loue yet when I thinke vpon thy Son all my griefe is turned into ioy because his righteousnesse for me is more then my vnrighteousnesse against my selfe settle my faith in thy beloued that I may truly meditate what hee hath done for me that that sin that launced his side may also launce my soule with such effect that I may neuer againe commit that with delight that thou hast sustained with such passion and heauinesse And here O Lord from the bottome of mine heart I render vnto thee thanks for all the blessings and benefites thou hast bestowed vpon me both in my soule and body for my election redemption sanctification and preseruation from my youth vntill this present day howre by thy most gratious loue and prouidence And so good Lord I further beseech thee protect me this day and all the dayes of my life from all euill that may hurt me and from falling into any grosse sinne that should offend thee be thou present and assistant to all my good indeuours and blesse thou my purposes and intentions and let thy good spirit so rule my heart that all that I shall doe thinke or speake may be to thy glory and the good of others and the peace of mine owne conscience And for the better successe therein into thine hands I commend my selfe my soule and body my wayes and actions and all that appertaine vnto me to thy gratious protection and direction bee fauourable vnto me therefore O Lord and vnto all them that feare thee be neere vnto all such as faithfully call vpon thy name and comfort all such as be sicke or comfortlesse or by any crosse or affliction that thou hast layd vpon them either outwardly in body or inwardly in minde and by daily and howerly presidences of death and mortality before mine eyes teach me to be mindfull of mine owne end to set it alwayes in my view to make my preparation by faith and repentance thereafter that I may be ready whensoeuer thou shalt call me out of this wretched life and that whether I liue or dye I may rest in thée to thy eternall glory my euerlasting saluation through Iesus Christ my only Sauiour Redeemer in the mediation of whose blessed name I conclude this my vnperfect praier in that forme modell of prayer which he that must heare our prayers haue mercy vpon vs or we perish euerlastingly hath prescribed in forme sanctified with his own lips saying Our father c. An Euening prayer for any day in the week or euery day in the weeke for a priuate person O Eternal God most mercifull Father the faithfull guardian both of our bodies and soules who art about my bed knowest my down-lying mine vprising and art neâ—e vnto all such that call vpon thee in truth and sincerity bee present therefore O Lord I wretchâ—d sinner do beseech thee and with thy mercy couer the multitude of my sins which like a leprosie haue run ouer my whole body and so defiled both the outward and inward man that but for thy word promise sake and the examples of thy mercy and forgiuenesse so frequent and vsuall to sinners of so high a degree in offending such as were Peter Mary Magdalen the Publicane the Prodigall childe the Thiefe on the Crosse and others thy praying for thine enemies thy torments thy crucifiers many such examples of my comfort thy compassion that else with Iudas in the bitternesse of heart and desperation of mercy I should cry out My sinnes are greater then can be forgiuen so bee vtterly discouraged from presuming to come into thy presence considering the hardnesse of mine heart and the vnrulinesse of mine affection and the vncleanesse of my conuersation by meanes whereof I haue transgressed all thy lawes and broken thy Commandements and deserued thereby thy heauy displeasure which in iustice might draw from thy hand some fearefull punishment vpon this wretched body of mine and my soule to languish the death of
branches round about his table Thy blessing vpon those yâ— feare thy name which blessing for thy blessed name sake grant thou God of al power goodnes AmeÌ„ The Prisoners prayer written by a Gentleman in passion and penitence a few dayes before his tryall O Euerliuing God most mercifull Father that art present in all places and neere vnto all such as call vpon thee haue mercy vpon mee most wretched sinner odious in the sight of God hateful in the eyes of man banished from thy fauour from the lights of the Sunne and firmament all humane comforts denyed me fettered in body and in soule with the links and chains of my sins and euen bound to destruction vnlesse thou send me succour froÌ„ aboue My life I haue abused and diuerted my course from the pathes of thy commandements by the which I haue not onely offended my brethren in the flesh the law of man by the which my body is condemned to dye hauing onely power ouer that But thee the great God of heauen and earth that madest me and induedst mee with many of thy good gifts and blessings as health strength agility of body had I had but one blessing more that was grace to haue vsed them well that art able to cast both body and soule into Hell-fire yet though by my offences against Dauids choyce I haue fallen into the hands of man from whom I expect no fauour for my life yet with thee there is mercy for the forgiuenesse of my sinnes beyond expectation which with that happy Thiefe not in his life but in his death I trust in thy goodnesse to finde so that when the day shall come that shall finish the Sentence that shall end my misery and wretchednesse in this life That day I shall be with thee in Paradise though euill haue bene my life euer since I had power to thinke or execute so farre forgetting humanity and nature as if I had sucked the Dragons in the wildernesse hauing done those things that I ought not to haue done and left vndone those that I should neuer remembring thy dreadfull name but in the abuse thereof neuer hearing thy word but with contempt neuer taking admonition but with scorne and quenching the good motions of the spirit with the whole deluge of sinne dishonouring my parents and all good men delighting in ryot drunkennesse whoredome and slouth yet neuer toutht in conscience for any nor for all so far had custome hardened me and Sathan possest me that I was sicke euen to death and felt not my ill I was at the brinke of hell and yet perceiued not my footing For the which O pardon me my God and shew thy mercy vpon mee and all prisoners and captiues teach mee that by this my restraint that my liberty and loose life neuer pointed finger vnto that it is a happy compunction in the body that makes a blessed compunction in the soule And it is not thy least fauour vnto mee that thou hast stopped my head-strong course in the middest of mine iniquities in the readiest path to destruction that the Diuill could prescribe or flesh and bloud follow ere I had filled vp the measure to the brimme are my condemnation was sealed and thy face for euer turned away from me Giue me grace O Lord to make such vse of this little time I haue to liue that what with many dayes and sins I had lost with many teares and sobbes I may recouer and that whether my life bee prolonged beyond my expectation or ended according to my account I may neuer from this time fall from thee but take such deepe root by this thy mercy that beeing fully perswaded my sinnes are washed away in the bloud of the lambe and my transgressions doâ—e away in his satifiying I may indeauour to liue in such newnesse of life and conuersation amongst men that whom my euill life corrupted by example my better may restore againe by imitation to the praise of thy name the good of thy Chiloren and and the saluation of my soule and the magnifying of thy mercy world without end A Thanksgiuing for our redeÌ„ption purchased through the bloud of Christ and for other both corporal and spirituall blessings VVHat can man say that hee inioyes amongst the innumerability of all thy benefits and mercies that he hath not receiued from thee and for the same ought to be thankfull but especially ought thy glory to be magnified by vs for our Election Creation Iustification Sanctification who hast preserued vs from day to day and from a thousand daÌ„gers threatning both body and soule to their vtter confusion O most gratious and louing Father which art beloued for thy goodnesse honoured for thy greatnesse reioyced in for thy happinesse praised for thy merits and prayed vnto for thy mercies I acknowledge my selfe all too meane vnperfect to sound forth thy praises in such a key as I ought or thou deseruest when I thinke thereof a debility ceizeth vpon all my parts and I want words to expresse powre out my soule before thee Inlarge O Lord mine vnderstanding that I may the more fully conceiue and apprehend thy benefites that yâ— abundance thereof may teach me new language and phrase of more copious signification and content and fill my heart with ioy aboue measure in the apprehension therof By thy loue I was elected by thy goodnesse I was created by thy spirit I was called by thy merâ—y I was iustified by thy grace I was sanctified and by thy power I am preserued and by thy sufferings I shall bee saued By thy permission goodnesse I moue liue and haue my being naked came I out of my mothers wombe and thou hast cloathed mee hungry haue I come to thy gates and thou hast fed me harborlesse haue I bene exposed and thou hast taken me in well therefore may I admire thy mercies in silence but speake of them as is meet I caÌ„not for there words forsake me my tongue becommeth mute Merciful father for all these thy benefites haue I laid them to heart resisted the motions of yâ— flesh the temptations of the diuell No I haue sinned grieuosly in thy sight preferred the desires of my flesh before the precepts of thy law choosing rather a short and momentary taste of dayes in iollity and pleasure in this world which at their fullest height are euer waning and attended on by sorrow then the eternall ioyes of thy kingdome in the world to come nothing dreading the displeasure of thy Maiesty whose breath shaketh the foundations of the earth and maketh the spirits of darknesse to tremble burneth vnquenchably in the bottomlesse pit of hell whose power is so infinite yâ— in the twinckling of an eye or more sudden the the flash of the lightning is able to consume what euer his haÌ„ds haue made yet notwithstanding sinfull carelesse creature that I am haue I bin bold to do wickedly to perseuer in the same so now touched in conscience by the
and graines in confusion Let vs cast vp our dayes by Iacobs account valewâ— them not to be more not to better then he did his few and euill as he that truly considers it shall most rightly find it true for the first that they are few what age since there were creatures that liu'd and breathed died in it and howers yeares to wast and spend themselues to giue it a quantitie and quality thereof that might speake with more probabilitie and exemplarie experience hereof then ours when our yong men in our streetes in our houses oftentimes part with there health there life and all within an hower and others fall downe dead as they trauaile vpon the way and the latest yeares of our ould men accomplish not the child-hood of our fore-fathers with such daily other presidentes of death before our eyes both of vntimely youth and ould age that might moue vs to looke into our selues yet as if we tooke leases of our liues as wee do of our houses we incroach and build set vp pull downe alter repaire like earth-deluing-moles presse crush our owne bowelles and consciences to heaue vp little piles of rubbish and earth toyle our bodies and beat our braines to ioyne our possessions together dispeopling whole villages that we may be Lordes alone drawing the earth from the poore that they liue tread vpon by exactions plottes and tyrannies pulling the bread from out there handes and the food from out there mouthes calling our habitations after our owne names as if we should for euer liue or our posterities after vs succeed to the worldes end or world without end when he that sits in heauen laugheth them to scorne for he that thinkes to be rich or great without him in the prophanenes of his heart Esay 14. 15. let him know Gen. 11. 7. that the least breath of his mouth shall so batter his seat that the place thereof shall be no more found and scatter his riches as the dust before the wind or the chaffe that slies in the ayre and all there thoughtes inteÌ„tions more vaine theÌ„ vanity it selfe if we liued like Adam without any president of death before our eyes and the length of our dayes in some measure stretched out like to his it were some little securitie for presumption to build vpon but wee that haue sene our thousand three-thousand weekly such a dearth of health that the sicke haue bene more then the sound the dead more then the lyuing and death hath so layd about in our streetes and in our houses that grasse hath growne in the one and solitarinesse so taken vp the other that the sight of a man in either hath bene more pretious then the gold of Ophir sometimes come so neare vs that it hath puld away the wife from our owne bosome children from our owne loynes reueld in the darke of the night at the noone of the day disposest vs of neighbour and frend neare and distant far of spared none from the child supported by the hand for weakenesse to him that walkes with the staffe for age with such an innumerable and daily witnesse in which number our owne bowelles sometimes a part the sentence of God vpon all flesh as a forerunner and the accomplishmeÌ„t thereof with such a â—ercenesse succeeding all crying with a loud voyce and proclaming this proclamation of God Statutum est omnibus semelmori O but may the yong man or some not aged say although we must once die yet we may liue many yeares and therefore we wil take our pleasures whilst we may and when they haue forsaken vs when age shall ceaze vpon vs with her whitenesse die our lockes into another coullor then will we repent vs and thinke of our end O but who euer thou art that thinkes so deceiue not thy selfe with this vaine procrastinating folly but let Salomons experienced councell be the tutor to thy youth forget not to remembe his MemeÌ„to To remember thy creator in the dayes of thy youth before the euill dayes approach and the times wherein thou shalt say I haue no pleasure in them and beeing a reasonable creature offer not God that indignity that hath made thee both body and soule giuen thee both health and strength thy beeing thy benefites all that thou hast as to offer him the huskes and refuse of Sathan What earthly maister that but for a few temporall benefits as in sustayning our yeares of infancye although all that he could for vs were but as a grauell stone in comparison to the whole sea shore of his goodnesse that would not expect in recompence hereof the abilitye of our best seruice to his imployment which if wee should neglect him in and forsake him vnacknowledged so long vntill our youth and strengthes were spent and old age were crept vpon vs and wee disabled to helpe our selues much lesse to stand him in stead or deserue his former kindnesse yet then with blushlesse faces should offer to put our selues vpon him for a second suppertance that with the acclamation and consent of the earthly maisters in the world would not only turne his face away but vtterly reiect foreuer cast vs off from his acknowledgement Is it then iust with vs and is it not much more iust with God We are all seruants to him in a thousand duties he fashioned vs in our mothers wombe carefully tooke vs out from thence euer since protected and preserued vs vpon the finger of whose prouidence we sticke as the sun in the firmament and shall wee from him that hath done so much for vs dedicate the ioy marrow of our bones to the enemie of our God our good the welfare of all mankind to him that compasseth the earth seeking whom he may deuour shal we I say in our ripest iudgement and abilitie of largest consideration make no vse hereof but run one with the spurre of the flesh and the pricke of the deuill all the sun-shine of our dayes in obliuion and forgetfulnesse of him we should euer remember If we doe the euening will bring heauinesse vnto vs which will not indure for a night and ioy approach in the morning but a night without end of sorrow and lamentation whom no day shall euer arise to cleare and he that hath lost Christ in a large youth and run from him many yeares must not thinke that few wil vntread that path againe and recouer him but rather that a yeare may so lose him that many shall not find him againe though with Ioseph and Mary he be sought in sorrowing Presume not vpon that text of mercy to much At what time soeuer a sinner although it be an Oracle of truth truth it selfe for if thou refuse the time of grace that is offered thou knowest not whether it wil be offered thee againe whether thou shalt euer after haue a time to repent thee of thy sins from the bottome of thy hâ—rt that thine owne
made vs when wee were not moulded vs from the dust of the earth an element so base and contemptible to so excellent a perfection to a creature so glorious and admirable as man is not onely the worke of thine owne hands but the Image of thine owne Person from the very iawes of Death and damnation deliuered vs if we wilfully runne not into it againe that in continuing thy blessings day by day vpon vs hast shewed thy selfe to bee our most gratious mercifull and louing Lord and hast hitherto preserued vs by thy powerfull prouidence that we haue drawne out yâ— thrid of our life vnto this time these are thy mercies our God and not our merits giuen vs freely without any desert of ours for the rayment of our backes for the foode of our bellies for the ayre that wee sucke in and breath out for the fashion of our bodyes for the motion of the members thereof for our capability reason the creation of all thy creatures in the world to the vse and subiection of man and so many thy benefites that whatsouer wee expresse the more wee remember yet for all these thou requirest nothing else of vs but that we know and acknowledge thée to be the Lord and giuer thereof what couldest thou require lesse of vs then to acknowledge thee to obey thee to feare thee loue thee and to keepe thy commandements and yâ—t doe wee scant thee of that moitye of thy due that easie taske but the sound of our lippes and yâ— consent of our hearts that so wee might become thy faithfull children and bee made true heires and partakers of thine euerlasting kingdome and reigne with thée for euer Guilty therefore O Lord in this grosse offence wee stand forth to accuse our selues of wonderfull folly and ingratitude hauing stroue as much as in vs lyeth to stoppe the streame of thy mercies that land-comfort to our soules in all our extremities yâ— they should not come néere vs we haue bene carelesse of thy word neither haue wee taken any delight to fulfill thy lawes and Commandements and therefore if thou hadst long agoe as a flower before a Sithe-man mowed vs downe as many more worthy of these blessings then we haue beene and brought vs to the Barre of thy Iudgement and from thence cast vs who are before thy face but as chaffe before the winde or as stubble before the fire into the laks of perdition who is he that could accuse thee of iniustice nay our owne consciences would acquit thee and condemne vs for seeing thou hast sought vs and wee would not bee found it is good reason we should cry vnto thee and finde no mercy But O Lord thy mercies are aboue our iniquities so thou hast spared vs many yeares and past ouer our manifold transgressions as one that were ignorant of them in silence and sorrow in witnesse wherof the heauens with their apparitions siâ—ke of disasters and euents haue bene portenders vnto vs that we might be forewarned the earth vpon her bases proppes and foundations so firmely layed hath of late bene shaken at the aspecte of thine anger and tottered to and fro like a drunken-man thy waters and the whole courses thereof that rowle with indignation vp and downe there channelles beeing tyed within boundes and limittes as the lions in there dens dash themselues with indignation against there dammes there shores stoppes to there fury fixed there by thy word Hetherto shalt thou passe and no further haue of late by thy sufferance borne downe there keepers many yeares and sweld higher then there brinkes and in there mercilesse furies prey'd vpon whole countries leauing nothing but desolation behind them and all for our sins and forwarnings besides thy threatning vs by drought famine and pestilence the fearfull denuntiation of thy word applied vnto our guilty consciences that so perceyuing thine anger we might feare and be saued euen so I Lord as thou hast bene gratious in forewarning vs by these so giue vs grace that we may be forewarned by them that in time we may repent and turne from our wicked wayes and no longer abuse thy patience but run vnto thee in repentance and humility that so we may be saued in the day of thy appearance which so worke in vs that ouercome at length with thy goodnesse patience we may no longer delaye to aske councell of thee and thy holy word what we ought to forbeare and what we ought to follow that we be not pufâ— vp with prosperity nor to much deiected in sickenesse and aduersity that we may despaire of our selues the helpe of our owne haÌ„des but may expect all things from thy goodnesse that we put not our confidence in transitory things but wholy relye vpon thee thy promises Blesse this famely O Lord and euery member thereof blesse also our parentes and frendes according to the flesh and nature and continue thy blessed word vnto vs and to our posterities after vs euen vnto the ends of the world for thy dearly beloued sonne Christ Iesus our Sauiours sake into whose handes and protection we commend our soules and our bodies this euening and the rest of our liues the were bought and redeemed with his most deare pretious bloud whose acceptance he graunt for his owne deare sake Amen Let thy mighty hand and out-stretched arme ô Lord be stil our defence thy mercy and louing kindenesse in Iesus Christ thy deare sonne our saluation thy true and holy word our instruction thy grace and holy spirit our comfort and consolation vnto the end and in the end Amen The Lord blesse vs and saue vs the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord turne his fauorable countenance towardes vs and this night and euermore vouchsafe to send vs thy euerlasting peace Amen The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ and the loue of God and the fellowship of the holy Ghost be with vs all euermore Amen A prayer to God for the forgiuenes of sins MOst holy most iust most mercifull and omnipotent God thou alone doest punish and no man can releiue thou alone doest chastice and no man can controwle thou alone doest saue and no man can condemne thou bringest to the graue and bringest backe againe pardon I beseech thee my sins more in number then the drops in the sea then the starres in the firmament and purge my corruption beyond bound without measure looke not vpon my merits for they are none at all for the purity of mankind is defiled in sinne wherefore to mee O Lord to me thy poore seruant belongeth nothing but shame and confusion but to thee is mercy and iudgement and glory inherent destroy not I humbly intreat good father of mercy the creation and frame and composition of thine owne haÌ„ds deâ—ace not the image wherein thou thy selfe art so liuely portrayed but haste to comfort me make thy corrections my instructions that in patience awhile I may heare possesse my soule and
right hand is of more puissance then the whole arme either of flesh or any spirit besides yea then the whole loines whole substances whole bodies of Angels or of Men siluer gold silke purple all other creatures so it shall walke through life and death without controulement if it find Angels Principallities powers things present things to come or any other creature in the world stopping her passage and rebuking her forwardnesse shee shall cleare her way notwithstanding and clime into the presence of her God and in his eares deliuer her message Bee we in sickenesse to him the true Phâ—sition that knowes both the cause and the cure shee comes for health bee wee in imprisonment there shee sollicites a release from him the Lord of liberty bee we opprest with pouerty or want The earth is the Lords and all that dwell therein to him shee comes for the blessing of the Lord maketh rich are we afflicted aboue measure beyond the strength of man insomuch that we doubt whether we liue or no receiuing the sentence of death within our selues so as in our opinion we comprehend no deliuery no euasion but lie open to the direct accomplishment thereof yet in this exigent and extremity wee come to God in this meanes euen almost beyond hope without expectation and by his good pleasure we are deliuered therefore heerein let vs receiue comfort hee hath hee doth and will deliuer vs not onely from the death of our bodies when wormes and rottennesse haue made their long and last prey vpon them but from the death of our mindes too when the spirit is buried vnder sorrowes there is no creature found in heauen or earth to giue it comfort Therfore be our misery bee our affliction neuer so great and though in our weake immagination wee can imagine no deliuery no release when all earthly meanes and comforts forsake vs let vs not yet forsake this refuge let vs not despaire in his helpe no more then Ionas did who in the bottome of the sea within a prison within that bottome in such an affliction so great so strange as greater nor stranger could not bee nor to humane reason more without hope yet saith hee Ionas 2. 2. I cryed in mine affliction vnto the Lord and hee heard mee out of the belly of hell cryed I and thou heardest my voyce Therefore I say againe in aduersity let vs not despaire but pray with hope In aduersity be it neuer so great let vs pray with confidence In our prosperity let vs pray in our prosperity neuer so flourishing let vs pray let vs pray continually In our health and prosperity let vs pray to continue it in our sickenesse and aduersity let vs pray to release it And if we consider our estate rightly we shall perceiue many reasons that may moue vs to this exercise daily to seeke his fauour and louing countenance without whose protection and care ouer vs wee are ready to fall into a thousand dangers to perish continually let vs therefore in time and season with wordes sutable to our purpose and intention either thankes-giuings for benefites receiued or with petitions and intreaties for necessities implored in the time of sickenesse in the time of our health in the time of our aduersity in the time of our prosperity let vs come before him suting our wordes in the habite of our occasions with such fitnesse and decency that they sal not harshly and from the purpose in the eares of the Almighty And to that end good Reader I haue heere compiled and set downe many formes and moulds of prayer fitting for seuerall persons occasions and times after the example of our Sauiour Christ the true patterne of all wisedome and goodnesse who hath giuen vs the first and best forme thereof himselfe who hath both taught vs to pray and taught vs how to pray and that will both heare our prayers and grant our requests as farre as seemes expedient to his vnsearchable wisedome that knowes our wants before hee heares our coÌ„plaints our necessities better then we our selues for because Prayer is so excellent a thing so ready so swift so powerful so vnseperated from vs that it cleaues vnto vs when all other meanes forsak vs therfore that wee should the more earnestly imbrace it more zealously imply it more deerely esteeme it there is great reason that it finds vs ofteÌ„times out coÌ„fort in greatest extremities that wheÌ„ we find our selues in misety our waies hedged vp as with thornes that wee cannot stirre to deliuer our selues there hence when wee are ouerflowne with the deluge of sinne as with a floud and iudgements inuiron vs on euery side this is the Doue that brings vnto our soules the Oliue branch of comfort yet because for the most part we kill the life therein through the coldnesse of our deuotion and carelesnesse of our deliuery and vnfit preparation thereunto and finde not the sweetenesse and successe that else we might expect and obtaine at the hands of God thereby Therefore I haue here drawne them out to life shewed both the excellency thereof and preparation thereunto befitting that these formes hereafter following and all other whatsoeuer in this kind may be the more powerfull blessed and comfortable to all that shall vse them without the which it is impossible that they should please God or any good successe follow thereupon The Embassadour betweene Heauen and Earth A morning Prayer for the Sabaoth day MOST mercifull God and eternall father what may we render vnto thee for all thy louing kindnesse for the which blessings and thankes-giuings for euermore be heaped vpon thy holy name in whom the treasures of mercy and louing kindnesse dwell bodily who of thine owne good will and pleasure hast bene pleased to communicat vnto vs so many of thy fauours so many seuerall ways without any manner of desert of ours to the which may it please thee to ad stil to the number by taking away those iniquities of ours that take away thy fauours and blessings from vs or as a stranger that knoweth them not passe by our transgressions retaine not thine anger against vs foreuer though wâ— retaine our sins the cause of thine anger but returne to vs by grace who returne not to thee by repentance and haue compassion vpon vs who haue not compassion on ouer owne soules subdue our raigning and raging vnrighteousnesse and drowne our offences in the bottome of the sea which else will drowne vs in the bottome of destruction raise vp our soules from the dead sleepe of sinne as thou hast raised vp our bodies from this night of darkenesse protect vs from all dangers from the which no minute we are secured of our selues but in thee brought vs to the begining of this thy blessed sabaoth of rest which good father so sanctifie vnto vs through thy blessed spirit that thy name may be hallowed thy power admired thy mercy magnified and thy loue manifested to thy glory and our euerlasting
comfort fill thou our hartes with such a desire and longing after thee that no earthly felicity the traines and allurements of the flesh wherewith this vaine world with her multitudes is tol'd a long take hold on vs that see me honey in the mouth but are found wornewood in the stomacke that say peace peace and all is well when destruction and death is bayted ore with them but let our delight bee in thy law and therein to exercise our selues both day and night our whoole felicity Let that treasure be our pleasure that is layd vp in heauen all other ioys are brittle and fadinge and there end is bitternesse but in this there is neyther bitternesse nor end blesse good Lord the seed of thy word that shall this day be sowen in our harts and all faithfull teachers and hearers of the same that it may fructifie and bring forth fruite to the amēdment of our liues and the saluation of our soules in that great day of ioy and sorrow and for the better furtherance thereof good father inlarge and reforme our vnderstanding keepe the watch of our tongues and the doore of our lips in such sort that no ill word be vttered by or through the same and so rule and gouerne our hartes that they thinke not our hands that they touch not our feet that they go not too our eyes that they see not our eares that they heare not our sences that they tast not our harts that they consent not to any thing but that which is to thy glory and our good that thereby thy loue may be confirmed in vs and we in it that so we may walke cherfully in our vocations wayting for that full redemption and crown of glory that remayneth for all such as perseuer in thy wayes without wearinesse to the end which graunt and whatsoeuer besides in thy wisedome thou knowest needfull and necessary for vs good father for thy deare sonne Iesus Christ his sake in whose name we further intreat thy mercy and goodnesse towards vs in that forme of prayer which he himselfe hath both commanded and taught vs saying our father c. An euening Prayer for the Sabaoth day O eternall God and most mercifull father which art the Lord of heauen and earth of Angels and men principalities and powers light darkenesse day and night in whose handes is contained that ouerflow of goodnesse that filleth all the empty and indigent creatures in the world in the ayre in the earth in the sea and on the land who ordaynest times and seasons successions and discentes ould age and childhood a beginning and an ending a rest and a labour an increase and a decrease and a perpetuall motion and change ouer all the sublunary things in this world the liuely witnesse whereof is this day which not many howers since broke out of darkenesse and cheard the world with her light and the sunne arose and came forth as a bridegrome out of his chamber and reioysing as a Gyant to runne his course and his beames are now steeped in night darkenes the true resemblance of all earthly glory and transitory pleasures and delights which haue there increase there height and there suddaine decrease againe and there is no continuance or stability in any thing vnder the sunne and by this motion and change the time is now come that thou hast apointed for rest which Lord so blesse vnto vs that as this day thou hast gratiously ministred strength vnto vs to walke in our vocations blesse our good indeauours studies and labours our hearing meditating on thy word to the comfort of our bodies and soules so we may be thankefull therefore hauing alwayes thy hand to sustayne vs to effect and finish those councels and labours which we vndertake for thy glory so good Lord blesse this night vnto vs that we may now receiue that comfort and strength which thou hast graunted to our weake nature by the which we are sustayned and daily renued and refreshed to our labours and further we beseeche thee as the night shadoweth darkeneth all things that they are vnseene so for thy deare Christs sake hide our sins from thy sight that they neuer stand vp to accuse vs vnto thee beeing buried in eternall obliuion that as our bodies shall haue the rest of sleepe this night so our minds by the hope of thy mercy may inioy the rest of a quiet conscience for euer that so beeing wholy refreshed both in body and in mind we may arise with alacrity chearfulnesse vnto thy seruice this day insuing and all the dayes of our life after succeding that when death which is the end of all flesh shall remoue vs from thence into the graue of corruption where our bodies shall dissolue to the matter they are though now they seme not from the which it is as easy for thee to rayse them vp from the smallest graine of dessolution as from our naturall sléepe for I beleeue that the time shall come when all that are in the graue shal heare the voyce of the sonne of God when he shall speake vnto the earth giue and to the sea restore my sonnes and daughters and to all the creatures in the world keepe not backe mine inheritance and to the prisoners of hope lodging a while in the chambers of the ground stand forth and shew your selues and the earth shall disclose her bloud and shal no longer hide her slain and the sea shall find no rest till her drowned be brought forth nor any creature in the world be able to steale one bone that it hath receiued but all kinds of death shall be swallowed vp in generall victory and in his name that hath wonne the feild for vs we shall ioyfully sing thanks be to God that hath giuen vs victory through our Lord Iesus Christ whence our bodies being awaked to that euerlasting day of light which shall neuer be obscured with darkenesse more where we shall be made pertakers of that vnspeakable inheritance that thy saints and holy ones enioy which is honour glory and peace a garland of righteousnesse an incorruptible crowne fruite of the tree of life sight of the face of God following the lamb fellowship with Angels and Saints and the congregation of the first borne new names white garments pleasures at the right hand of God and fulnesse of ioy in his presence for euermore whither he bring vs that hath made vs that must raise vs from both these sleepes for the glory of his blessed name Amen A further Description of this heauenly Ierusalem and blessed happinesse therein taken out of the Man Cathol of W. C. IN Syon lodge me Lord for pitty Syon Dauids Kingly Citty Built by him that 's onely good Whose gates are of the crosses wood Whose keyes are Christs vndoubted word VVhose dwellers feare none but the Lord VVhose walles are stone strong quicke and bright Whose keeper is the Lord of light Here the light doth neuer cease
in thy promise haue an assured hope to liue with thee for euer in the life to come through Iesus Christ my Lord and only Sauiour Amen A prayer to be said before the vndertaking of any iourney O Eternall wise and glorious God that foreseest the end of all things before they come to passe and blessest the indeuours of those that go forth in thy feare and direction bee present therefore O Lord and protecting in this my trauell guide thou my course and shorten thou my way by the blessed communication of thy spirit within mee giue thine holy Angels charge ouer me to keepe me in all my wayes to guide mee to and fro in this my iourney as thou diddest to Toby the yonger who by thy Angell Raphael was guyded vnto Gabaell a Citty of the Medes our whole life O Lord is as a pilgrimage and the dayes thereof are few and euill by thy appointment we soiorne vpon the face of the earth for a time and our spirit also within vs it commeth and returneth as a traueller vpon the way or bourdeth with vs as an inmate or guest or tenant at will whom we hold by no lease nor condition but thy pleasure which art the owner thereof a quarter a yeare or perhaps many yeares till thy messinger from heauen to earth knocke at our doores with a Ilinc migrate coloni slit hence my tenant and then exit de terra nostra it departeth from vs and our bodies fall downe to the earth and our pilgrimage is at an end teach mee to vse this world as in my trauayle I shall vse mine inne taking vp my rest for a night and preparing for my passage in the morning knowing there I am but a straÌ„ger and haue no abiding place for so the world is but mine inne and because it is fayre and beutious full of many goodly roomes and spatious walkes beutified with the firmament and the greater and the lesser lights thereof the Sunne the Moone and the starres yet that I seeke not to make it my habitation for euer but giue me grace to vse it as if I vsed it not prouiding me with such necessaries as may sustayne me in my trauayle not ouerburdening my conscience to clogge mee in my way euer looking vp to thee the starre of my direction whither my course is bound as the hauen from this impatient and troublesome sea where at the last I shall anker at rest whither Lord conduct me with thy right hand as in this my temporall and present iourney defended from all perils and dangers of the day I may happely accomplish my desire with thy will and all the dayes of my trauayle labour assigned ended I may there arriue where all teares shall be wipt from myne eyes and drops from my browes wearynesse from my bones sighes sobbes from my soule all dryed vp in the presence and ioy of thee and thy saintes and Angels for euermore which graunt good father for thy mercies sake Amen Another Prayer or med to be vsed before the vndertaking of any iourney or businesse eyther by sea or land GOod father the mysery and blindnesse of our nature is such and our ingratitude so great that we steale thy benifites and take them absolutely to our selues and inioy them freely to our owne vse as if they were originally the worke and labour our of our owne handes and we had them without thy knowledge and assistance that riches are the succeeders pollicy that health is eyther recouered or kept by obseruation or diet lost by disorder or abuse that successe or defect in any our proceedings sute according to our wisedome or industry in contriuing the same and so in a setled perswasion resolution hearin we goe forward in this blindfould course asking councell nor crauing successe of any but our selues or creatures of the same fâ—aylty and beeing that wee ourselues are of whereby oftentimes we faile of our purpose and know not the reason thereof Lord giue vs grace to correct this errour and giue vs light in this our blindnesse teach vs to know that we are ashamed wee are ignorant of that Except thou build the house they labour in vaine that build it For it is thou that must coÌ„mand thy blessings to be with vs in our store-houses in all that wee set our hands vnto or our labour dieth betweene our fingers like an vntimely fruit And as a sparrow falleth not to the ground without thy sufferance so there is nothing that commeth to passe without thy appoyntment and direction therefore what businesse soeuer we haue what regard soeuer we haue thereunto let vs haue so much regard thereto as to regard thee that must regard it or else all will fall to the ground let vs go out in thy name with thy assistance implored on our knees let vs loose so much time to gaine so great aduantage for it abridges the way and cuts off many tedious imperfections in whatsoeuer in thy protection let vs enter againe let vs not take our bread our daily food our sustenance without thankfulnesse to thee let vs not couch our selues in the bed of our rest but close our eyes in thy fauour and blessing for it is that that must bee vpon the building of our houses opening of our Shops and warehouses watching of our Citties tilling of our ground in feeding of our bodies in the education of our children or whatsoeuer paine industry or labour in the securest course we can deuise for without this ayd and assistance all falleth into emptinesse and vastity Lord giue vs grace to consider it and blesse this our out-going and our comming in the fruit of our bodies and the fruit of our hands our intents and purposes Bee regardfull vnto our labours whatsoeuer wee take in hand walke by vs on the land on the water as thou diddest by thy Disciples saue vs or we perish for neither the land the safer nor the sea the more dangerous can protect vs nor destroy vs till thou hast sealed thereunto thy consent nor any creature nor casualty in the world offer either violence or iniury where thy hand but takes our part and where that is opposed though all the creatures in the world the whole host of heauen and earth should ioyne with vs we goe to racke and ruine Giue vs therefore grace to be mindefull hereof and throughly perswaded herein to make our preparation therafter that we may aske and thou mayst giue thy successe and blessing vpon all that wee take in hand or enioy which grant vs Lord in this present occasion and in all occasions and times hereafter for thine owne deere sake Amen A prayer for true peace which is the peace of God in the peace of conscience and for the external peace of the body disquieted often with reuenge debate contentious going to law O Lord my God which art the author of peace and louer of concord and the hater of all those yâ— are not louers
inioyng of these that seme what they are not as we haue allready examined that make thee to desire life that thou mayst reioyce therein the forsaking whereof maketh it death vnto thee to thinke of death yet know they are all but vanity thou must die aut sero aut setius eyther soner or later for there is no preuention no resistance can hinder it therefore that which must be imbrace willingly make a vertue of necessity and though thou mightest escape it yet it were but a madnes because if we peruert not the true nature of it it is the end of all misery and sorrow and labour and trauayle the gate that opens the may vnto all true pleasure happines whereof all in this world are but counterfets and shadowes so resolue thy selfe hereof prepare thy selfe hereto that the remembrance of thy passed dayes augment not the bitternes therof at the last hower and then thy paines shall not dismay thee because thou trauellest to bring forth eternall life which for the merry-madnesse of one hower take heed that thou lose not for euer But vse thy pleasures with such moderation euer remembring they are momentary he that hath most hath not all and he that least hath some that for a moments ioy thou reap not eternity of sorrow that thou loue them not so much y◠you forget God in whose presence is fullnesse of ioy at his right hand pleasures for euermore psal 16. and who giueth vs drinke out of a whole riuer of pleasures psal 36. contemne therefore these transitory pleasures and reserue your selues for pleasures there eternally compleat where neyther enuy nor iealousy nor sickenes nor taint shall alter or distast your happinesse where your ioy shall be euer present yet you cannot be filled rather you shall be filled but cannot be satisfied or if not satisfied then there is hunger or that you may then there is a loathing I know not how to expresse it Deus habet quod exhibeat God hath somthing there to bestow which I know not but ibi beata vita in fonte there is blessednes at the head of the spring not in cisternes that thou may be sure of and could you drinke vp the pleasures of the whole world at a draught as Cleopatra drunke the valew of 5. thousand pound yet remember it is but a draught quickly downe the throat and there hath an end and therefore I say againe vse them with moderation to sweeten and allay the many anguishes that if euer perdominant would vntimely waigh vs downe to our graues and we should faint in the middest of our race euer looking vp from these to that eternall rest and peace of mind which hereafter wee shall inioy and then when death shall approach neare vnto thee his aspect shall not be fearfull which shall end all our miseries heale all our infirmities wipe away all discontents in it we shall there finde an end of sinning an end of all vncleanesse an end of all wandering thoughts and cogitations by it we be freed from this wicked and exemplary world when the soule cannot looke out at the eye as her window but a whole army of vanity is ready to sease vpon her nor vse any of her seruants whereby treason is not offered vnto her by death the soule shall bee deliuered from this thraldome and bondage and as the Apostle speaketh this corruptible body shall put on incorruption and this mortall immortality 1. Cor. 15. 53. O blessed thrise blessed bee that death that ends in the Lord which deliuers vs out of so euill a world and freeth vs from such corruption and bondage Why then should we feare that wee would not escape because our chiefest happinesse is behinde where wee cannot come but we must passe through this doore of death and if euery houre of our life we should dye a death were too little to keepe vs from thence And but that our portion and felicity is behinde and when this our shadow of life ends our true life begins and the graue shall not euer inclose vs in her wombe which if it should then woe were man aboue any other creature liuing when sencelesse and irrationall creatures as the Stagge the Rauen and the Daw Rockes and Trees and such like haue an ages date beyond man for whose vse they were all created and made but that he hath an euerlasting inheritance in heauen with that great God that created made both him and them when so we shall raine euerlastingly whil'st they vpon earth in distance of time shall moulder and rot and drop downe to nothing O let vs not then dote so much vpon these vnprofitable and fading vanities vpon our wodden cottages our tottering buildings of painted clay such as our bodies are which are but y◠tents of vngodlinesse and habitation of sinners but let vs looke and long after this heauenly Citty whose builder and maker is God whither that we may the sooner come let vs with the Apostle desire to bee dissolued and to be with Christ The Sicke-mans Prayer O Gracious God look down from heauen with y◠eyes of mercy vpon me a most miserable wretched sinner grieuously afflicted in body and in minde a worme no man if a man such a one that neuer any with more need lifted vp eyes nor heart to the throane of thy mercy from whence all comfort commeth looke vpon mee O Lord with y◠eyes of thy mercy giue me patience to endure this my affliction tryall and giue mee grace O Lord to make such vse thereof that it may bee to thy glory and my good put into my minde all the precepts comforts instructions I haue heard or read of al my life before as strōg meditations to comfort mee in this my extremity Be not farre from me O Lord lest Sathan preuaile ouer me make thou my bed and I shall rest in peace visite me O Lord as thou didest visite Peters wiues mother and the Captaines seruant for vnto thee belongeth health and saluation thou bringest to the doore of death and to the brinke of the graue and yet if thy good will pleasure be thou restorest to health and perfection againe And gracious and louing father seale in my heart by thy holy spirit the forgiuenesse of all my sins throughout the whole course of my life that what I haue done or said amisse may bee buried in the wounds of thy sonne so that they be neuer layd vnto my charge nor imputed against me in his bloud purge my body and soule from all their corruptions and if this my visitation bee not vnto the death may it please thee to helpe me vpon the bed of my sorrowes speake but the word and it shall bee done renue my former health vnto me that I may take vp my bed and walk and by a happy transmutation turne my whole heap of sorrow into a bundle of ioy Heale me and I shall be whole saue me
a thousand daggers at our hartes to launch and let forth that putrified corruption that returned such muddy chanâ—elles to thee the fountaine of liuing waters that but with so a high a price and deare expence could not be purified but now beeing thus purged and made cleane let vs be wary we pollute them not againe hauing receiued so pure a guest let vs not harbour with him the vncleane least to our euerlasting losse he take his flight and forsake vs when then our vncleane thoughts and cogitations which his presence expelled and kept a loofe of from vs retire themselues euery one accompanied with seauen worse then themselues and our end be worse then our beginning and so that become vnto vs the sauour of death vnto death which otherwayes had bene the sauour of life vnto life wherefore O Lord blesse vs at this time and this thy holy institution that by our vnworthinesse we turne not that to euill which was ordayned for our good make it O Lord the plaster to heale all our wounds the garment to couer our nakednes the spirituall and corporal bread to the stay of our bodies and soules let it be the cocke to remember our sins and the rocke to stay our soules vppon that we neuer fall from thée againe to that end so blesse vs most gratious God yâ— this thy sacrament now receyued may be to our euerlasting good and wellfare so conducting vs through this vale of misery with so godly a direction guide enuy contention and malice layed a side forgiuing the offences of our bretheren towards vs as we expect forgiuenesse at thy handes that so in a godly society in this world we may liue together in peace vntill we shall raigne with thee in glory which art the end of peace where we shall then behold thee with our bodily eyes as wee behold thee now with faith by the eye of the Spirit and see that body that was broken and bruised for our sinnes those hands that haue made vs and fed vs that head that was crowned now all glorified neuer to bee debaced more To which blessed vision fruition he bring vs that hath so ransomed vs for the glory of his sacred Name Amen A Thanksgiuing vnto God the Father vsed by the reuerend and learned W. Musc and fit to bee vsed of all good Christians LET all true Christians say and acknowledge with one heart and mouth say also with them O my Soule say in this mortall body without this mortall body Glory Honour and Praise bee vnto thee most mercifull God throughout all ages and Generations of the world which hast not spared thine onely Sonne but offered him vp a bleeding Sacrifice for the sins of thy people giuen him to death euen to the death of the Crosse for most wretched mankind to that end that through him we might be saued and deliuered from distruction and brought into the liberty of euerlasting life graunt vnto vs by thy spirit that we may perfect and continue in this thy grace for euer and euer Amen Mart. Luthers Prayers COnferme in vs O God that which thou hast wrought and finish the worke thou hast begunne in vs to the glory of thy name and the sauing of our soules at the dreadfull day of thy Visitation for thy mercies sake Amen Saint Aust O Deus omnium miserationum pater Abyssus misericordiae tuae absorbeat abyssum peccatorum meorum O Father of all goodnesse and mercy let the depth of thy mercy drye vp the depth of my sinnes A Prayer for a Woman with childe or in trauaile to bee said by those present with her O God most wise most iust the blessed Father of our blessed Lord and sauiour Christ Iesus creator preseruer and gouernor of all things next vnder thee vnder the subiection of man so largely intituled by thy loue extended by thy fauour created with so goodly and beautifull a perfection in the estate of Innocency that hee was the modell and figure liuely Image of thee the fountaine of all perfection and happinesse but through sinne is our image defaced our beauty and perfection darkened our whole disposition and purpose altered the earth made barren and cursed for our sake and we cursed in the curse by the sterility labour and manuring thereof that now denies the increase that before shee brought forth without the sweat and sorrow of the heart and browes of man And for yâ— woman a party in the sinne a party in the curse In paine and sorrow shalt thou bring forth And to the Serpent vpon thy belly shalt thou creepe and dust shalt thou eate all the dayes of thy life Yet to this woman O Lord as her present necessity requireth bee propitious neere vnto her let thy birth sweeten her sorrow that broke the head of the Serpent that was the cause of the breach of thy Commandement that hath sweetened the sorrowes of all mankinde Heare her O Lord and answere her fauourably and be not angry with thy seruant for presuming to cry vnto thee for the vncessant beating thine eares with her clamouâ—s for griefe compelleth her to speake and the misery shee indureth inforceth her to cry vnto thee haue mercy vpon her O fountaine of mercy and hearken to her agony that cryeth for thy helpe To her and all women with childe or in trauaile bee mercifull and giue them grace with patience to vndergoe and suffer the decree and pleasure of thy holy will let them neuer striue against thee through impatience but in true faith and inuocation of thy name suffer thy crosse contentedly which their owne originall sinne and wickednesse drew froÌ„ thy hands vnwillingly O Lord if her heauinesse induce for a night let her comfort come in yâ— morning for ioy that a child is borne into the world and to that end blessed God bee thou present and powerfull in the exigent and straite of her greatest extremity for as all thy works are wonderfull and past finding out as our soules know right well so are they not manifested in a shallow measure in the connexion creation and nourishment and preseruation of the infant in the wombe of the mother in the birth and bringing forth of their little limbes into the world all whole and perfect to the which if thy ayd and hand bee absent though all helpe beside in the world bee present they perish vndoubtedly both the one and the other Wherfore thou God of wonders and Father Almighty of heauen and earth as thou hast by the death of thine onely Sonne taken away the sinnes of the whole world and condemned sinne in the flesh so take away the anguish of Childe-birth brought forth by sin to all woman-kinde especially to this woman now in thy hands that shee may ioyfully bring forth that which by thy blessing shee hath happely conceiued that shee may bee to her Husbands and her owne comfort as the fruitfull viâ—e on the walles of his house and his children like the Oliue
finger of thy good spirit I am bold to speake beeing but dust ashes prostrated before the throne of thy maiesty hartely to beseech and humbly intreate thee that thou wilt not deale with mee according to my deserts for then O Lord where should I stand to plead my case fire and brimstone should bee my portion to drinke that haue drunke downe sinnne as Behemoth drinketh downe water but thou art gracious compassionate therfore vnder the shadow of thy wings will I seeke for refuge desiring thee to naile all my sinnes to thy crosse that through thy sufferings I may obtaine remission thereof I am a sinner yet redeemed by thy pretious bloud a sinner I am remember thou camest into the world to saue sinners wherof I am chiefe lost in a wildernesse of errours wandring from thy presence helpe me O Lord or else who can deliuer me saue mee O Lord or else I perish for there is no redemption no saluation without thee heare him O Lord that coÌ„demneth himselfe caleth vpon thee O Sauiour whom wilt thou saue if yâ— sinner shall descend to perdition that dispaireth of himselfe and trusteth in thee O blessed Sauiour and Redeemer of the world aswage my griefe heale my diseases thou hast called me when I like the deafe Adder would not heare thy voyce wilt thou then turne away thy face when my cryes come vnto thee wilt thou suffer that to bee lost which thou purchasest at so deere a prise No Lord for thy mercies sake for thine owne sake sweet Iesus Of the danger of deferring our repentance with a praier suddenly to conceiue it and soone to practise it MErciful God and most louing father what may I render vnto thee for all thy benefits more in number then the moaths in the sunne or the sands by the sea-shore that hast made to be when I was not predestinated mee from yâ— beginning of the world to be in due time and season protected me in my mothers wombe carefully taken me out from thence euer since been my guardian to these years of my youth for all these thou requirest nought but thankfulnesse towards thee and remembrance of thee in my yonger yeares capacities and shall I neglect and deferre then to giue thee the gifts of thine owne giuing shall I giue the first of my life and best of mine yeares the strength and marrow of my dayes to the seruice of Sathan and think that thou wilt receiue me in my hoary age when sinne leaues me and I not it Good Lord wipe all such ingratitude out of my mind that I may with a present ioy felicity in thee imbrace thee in due time in some measure which hast done suffered so many things for my soule and body put farre from me O Lord the thoughts and imaginations of wicked men that vpon thy long suffering patience passe ouer their daies in mirth and iollity and thinke their latest yeares or last gaspes sufficient satisfaction for a lewd and long mis-spended life Thy father thy mother in the dayes of thy humanity loosing thee in the temple went but one dayes Iourney without thee but sought thee 3. dayes sorrowing before they found thee Hee yâ— hath lost thee many years must haue many yeares to finde thee againe and late and constrained repentance is seldome true repentance our time is not when wee our selues will but when God doth call heare wee must when he speaketh open we must when he knocketh else wee shall powre out our petitioÌ„s in vaine for when wee pray hee will not heare vs the first and best is his due more then we can giue or he expects and the last worst is not sufficient and hee iustly may and will reiect it Grant therefore mercifull Father that thy word may worke in vs so free and voluntary obedience to thy will that thou mayst accept it which in vs is willing subiection not by thy iudgements which is constrained obedience for feare of distruction which thou litle regardest O Lord take from me that common and dangerous sin of presumption presumption of thy mercies that thou desirest not the damnation of sinners that our yeares youth obseruation of diet curiosity of our health will carry vs to the lâ—st yeares of our expectation and when we draw neere to our end that then safely enough we may begin to thinke vpon thee all in due season And thus make presumption the rocke whereupon we shipwracke our soules and by the which many millions haue perished it drowned the old world it threw the rich glutton into hell Lord make my sence vnderstanding as a bulwark to beat back all the policies and assaults that Sathan can deuise to beat against with that engine that to day I may heare thy voice lest thou harden my heart And if I will deferre vpon hope and example make me that I rather feare the portion of the bad Thiefe then the successe of the good and let me not reâ—use thy grace in my health wheÌ„ thou offerest it lest when I shall craue it in my sicknesse thou refuse to giue it mee Touch mee O Lord with a consideration of the danger thereof that in time I may haue grace to call for thy grace to preuent it that I may now amend and not deferre till hereafter to the end to my death when there is no remedy but either I must to heauen or to hell to God or to the deuill and when that comfort is seldome found which presumptuously was imagined when the memory presentes fantasies and dreames the harte akes the handes tremblâ— the tongue faltereth the eyes wax dim checkes pale lips blacke feet weake and the whole body and soule possessed with anguish and griefe and terrour what repentance shall we then make when our sinnes are so great they ouer-presse vs our comfort so small that we haue noe feeling of it our time so short that we cannot thinke of them our friends weeping that they put vs out of them amasement distraction peeping wildly throughout all our sences miserable is that man in this case whose end and repentance comes so neare together-therefore Lord whatsoeuer at the time of my death I would wish to haue done grant that in this time of my health I may doe it and Lord make me vnderstaÌ„ding capable so wise in my generation so gratious in thy grace that foreknowing these things I may preuent them that with the wise virgines I may euer haue the oyle in my lampe that is bee in readinesse to goe with thee whensoeuer it please thee that now I heare thy voice when thou speakest vnto me be acquainted with thee that thou bee no stranger vnto me but a friend and a friend indeed as at all times so especially at this exigent last extremity which how long it may be I will not presume nor how short it may be dispaire but prepare my selfe against it my readinesse being my resolution that whensoeuer it
the feild and we â—eed not only our selues but our oxen in our meadowes and stalles to feed our vnprofitable carcasses our horses in the stable to beare our vnprofitable carkasses when the poore in our streetes at our gates feed vpoÌ„ empty aire for lacke of sustenance we remeÌ„ber not theÌ„ not Christ in them the hungereth and Christ the must feed vs which is the aduocate for the poore yâ— iudge of the rich in this obliuion and height of our sins what is become of humility of repentance we are all begotten in sin and to misery are we brought forth coÌ„cupiscence hath bene the nurse whose milke wee haue sucked from time to time as we haue growne in yeares so hath corruptioÌ„ growne vp with vs as part of our owne nature what remayneth theÌ„ O Lord for vs but humility repeÌ„taÌ„ce to prostrate our selues vpon the knees of our harts and say Lord haue mercy vpoÌ„ sinners with the poore publican not with yâ— proud Pharise to say I am not like this maÌ„ or other my brethren for I doe thus and so let vs not be so mad as to forget nature so much all our imperfections the substance and mettall whereof wee are made and that we must suddenly turne to the earth vpon which now we trample with such contempt and scorne and must become chamberers and fellowes with wormes and rotlennesse and what cause haue wee then to be proud Nay what cause haue wee not to bee humble when of all the large possessions and inheritances wee possesse wee haue no more truely our own then the length and bredth of our Carkasses And againe let vs humble our selues that Christ may exalt vs and not exalt our selues lest hee throw vs downe as hee scattereth the proud in the imagination of their hearts Let vs learne of him to bee humble and meeke which although the King of heauen and earth hauing all power and preheminence and proud in subiection vnder his feet yet was not touched with this vice himselfe that chose poore Fisher-men to bee his Disciples payd tribute to his inferiours rode vpon an asse praied for his Persecutors imbraced yong children cured the halt and the lame and the blinde and regarded the low estate of his Handmaid and will regard vs if wee regard this vertue which hee so regarded if wee be imitators of his steps and examples which hee grant that hath thus led the way the God the King the Prince of humility for his own deere sake Amen The liuing words in effect of a dying man closed vp in this vertue I Vnto thy hands O Lord I commend my soule and body prostrate in all humility and obedience to thy good will and pleasure Lord Iesus haue mercy vpon thy humble and prostrate seruant The summe of the Prayer of the Lady G. at the time of her execution VVIllingly and ioyfully O Lord come I hither into thy hands to resigne my soule and body in whose protection I trust they shall bee safer and better then in this life although in the best measure they euer were giue vnto me my God thy poore and weake seruant and vessell patience constancy and strength to vndergo this my sentence of death strengthen the frailty of my sex in the act of this my suffering and though I dye for that I neuer of my selfe desired yet howsoeuer lest any sinne in the least consent or thought hath defiled my purity therein for it pardon me my God and blot it out of the booke of thy remembrance and not onely that but the whole course thereof throughout my whole life that my soule with the wings of faith in thy mercy may cheerefully ascend to thy blessed kingdome And so preparing her selfe to dye with these words rendred her life Lord Iesus receiue my Spirit A generall Thankesgiuing to God for all his benefites and mercies to man O Eternall God in Christ Iesus most gracious and mercifull for all thy blessings both temporall and spirituall bestowed vpon me the least of thy seruants and most vnworthy to cast vp mine eyes to thy heauenly Tabernacle where thou reignest in glory doe I yeild all possible hearty thanks vnto thy diuine Maiesty for all thy blessings and mercies bestowed vpon me especially for the singular benefite of my Iustification and the admirable gift of eternall saluation purchased by the righteousnesse and deerest life of thy beloued Son Christ Iesus my Sauiour My lot is fallen in a pleasant place well is me and yet woe is mee because it is and I vnderstand it not hast thou beene fauourable vnto all thy creatures in the world or hast thou neglected others and beene mindfull of me Good Lord why shouldest thou bestow thy health thy wealth thy rest and liberty aduancements friends possessions Children like the Oliue Oliue branches and their trees for me them to repose securely vnder Why shouldest thou I say bestow these blessings vpon me more then vpon others I can giue no reason for it but stand wondring and admiring thy mercy which is the cause of it and if thou shouldest take a suruey of my worthinesse to enioy all these at thy hands and finding mee so vnworthy as I am of the least shouldest withdraw them all backe againe what could I say but commend thy iustice Haue I deserued liberty and Ioseph thy seruant deserued bonds Haue I deserued rest and thy Dauid to bee tost to and fro vpon his watery couch day and night to haue the sonne of his owne loynes and the loynes of his owne body rebelling against him Hath thy Lazarus deserued to lye at the gates afflicted in body minde crauing but crums wherewithall to be refreshed and I like the rich man whose dogges more merciful theÌ„ their maister came and licked his sores sitting at my table furnished with abundance like his Haue I deserued health and thy Iob to lye full of botches and biles vpon the dung-hill Are these thy blessed seruants tried in the furnace of affliction layd in the throat of hell and am I wrapt vp into Abrahams bosome haue I their portion and do they stand at reward or sent empty Why my soule is it so well with thee mercy aboundance of mercy and why art thou so ill my soule O mercy yet most wretched sinner that I am haue I not in a Christian loue and godly nature beene moued to serue thee in a larger measure considering these thy benefites vpon mee so largely multiplyed then the poore and persecuted Children that neuer tasted thy mercy but in imitation of their misery Continue O Lord this thy goodnesse vnto me and the more to perswade thee thereunto lift my heart and spirit out of this dull and earthly Center wherein it moueth to the meditation of thée and these thy mercies with a thankfull retribution of all my thoughts and affections to thée from whence they come that I may euer serue thee from this hower with those dutyes which the world the flesh and
the Diuell would haue me deser vntill the point of death and good father grant that I may loue righteousnesse and pitty with as great good will as euer I loued wickednesse and vanity and that I may go before other in thankfulnesse towards thee as farre as thou goest in mercy to mee before them O teach mee to seeke thee in all things and all things in thee euen for thy name sake for thy promise sake for thy Sonnes sake our Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus A Thankesgiuing before meate TO thee O Lord the giuer of al good gifts vpon whose bounty and mercy depend all the creatures in the world which openest thy hand and fillest vs with thy blessings or wee goe empty away and perish Thy bounty and goodnesse it is O Lord that furnisheth our backs and feedeth our bellyes and spreadeth our tables blesseth preserueth and vpholdeth all that we haue our basket and our store the oyle in our cruses prouision in our presses the sheep in our foldes in our stables the children in the wombe at our tables the corne in our fields in our floores and garners and all that wee haue or is in the ayre in the earth in the sea or wheresoeuer else the least of which thy good gifts and blessings let vs not at this time nor no time else presume to touch make vse or enioy without an awfull reuerence and respect to thee the author and owner thereof Sanctifie therefore we beséech thée at this time them vnto vs and vs in them so that thy name may bee glorified and our bodies comforted through Iesus Christ Amen Thanksgiuing after meate DEere Father wee render mâ—st humble and hearty thankes vnto thee as is most meet requisite for all thy former benefits good creatures ordained giuen to our vse sacrificed ready to be sacrificed euery day for our pleasures so now at this time for the large competent satisfaction thou hast bestowed vpon vs to the refreshing of our weake fainting bodyes So good Lord as thou hast beene gracious vnto vs in breaking this thy corporall and materiall bread vnto vs at this time to the food of our bodies so likewise giue thy Spirituall bread vnto our soules in that abundant measure that the more they eate and drinke thereof the more they may hunger thirst after thee to fulfill thy precepts to walke in thy commandements and to do the workes of charity and mercy towards others to whom thy bounty hath in some measure bene restrained which grant most mercifull Father for thy mercies sake Amen Before Meate TO thee the Author of our beeing Before the world our time fore-seeing The time approach't thou hadst decreed That thought did cease effect succced Into the world poore naked bare We were brought forth nurst by thy care Of whom ere since we begge and craue For food for rayment all we haue Blesse these thy gifts wee shall receiue Shall feed shall taste of by thy leaue And all things else what ere it bee That thou shalt send that come from thee Blesse soule and body basket store Our health our wealth our rich poore What ere we doe so blesse the same That stil our mouths may praise thy name Thy Church king God saue blesse And grace from heauen so send That we may liue a happy life And make a godâ—y end After Meate OVr bodyes thus refresh't and fed Whom thou do'st daily fill So let our liues be spent and led According to thy will And as thou break'st thy earthly bread Vnto our mortall hands So breake that bread vnto our soules Whereon our well-fare stands For as the body doth decay Doth languish and complaine From food and nourishment debar'd That doth her state maintaine So will the soule and all her powers Dry wither parch and perâ—sh If that thy grace which is her life Refresh not feed and chorish Lord therefore stretch thy mighty hand And let thy loue appeare In feeding this in filling that In holding both so deare That when we leaue this wicked world Whose pleasure is but paine In peace and rest in heauen with thee We euermore may raigne Amen Certaine Rules and Precepts for the good ordering and gouernment of a mans life 1 IN the morning wheÌ„ thou first awakest blesse God giue him thankes for his carefull protection and watching ouer thee for the quyet rest and sleepe hee hath bestowed vpon thee to the refreshing of thy body and the renuing of thy minde but be sure that he haue the first place in thy heart 2 Call to minde all thy businesse for the day following and to thy selfe propose to the effecting thereof a good order method euer thinke of the end before thou vndertake any thing and to all thy honest intents indeuours craue the direction of God and his assistance otherwise thou toylest in vaine and thy labours will not prosper 3 As for the successe and effecting of thy businesse so before thou setst thy foot out of doores put God againe in minde of thy person implore his assistance protection ouer thee knowing that many a one hath gone out of his house neuer come in againe and that so it may befall thee if he preuent it not 4 At the euening when thou retirest thy selfe call to minde what thou hast effected what thou hast neglected what euill thou hast healed that day what vice thou hast stood against in what part thou art bettered and as thou went iâ— out in his feare so returne in his fauour giuing him thankes for the ability and motion of thy body in the accomplishment of thy affaires for of our selues we are not able to lift our hands to head food to our mouths therfore by his goodnesse sufferance we haue all and enioy all that we haue 5 If thou hast neglected any duty wherein thou mayst haue pleasured thy brother not indaÌ„gered thy selfe any coÌ„mon curtesie that by the law of nature one man is bound vnto another Cor. 11. 13. If thou hast offended any man by deed or by word by instigation or procurment call them to mind condemne thy selfe therein be sorry therfore and before thou seek to giue thy body any rest rest not till thou hast sought a pardon at the hands of God which will neuer be granted but vpon this condition That thou be hartely sorry for the same and purpose in thine heart neuer to offend in that kinde againe 6 When thou preparest thy selfe to bed likewise prepare thy selfe as for thy graue remembring that many go to bed neuer rise againe till they be raised w e the sound of the last trumâ—et and for ought thou knowest the thing so often resembled therby may now be ready for thée For vt somnus mortis sic lectus Imago sepulcri the number of thy dayes expired thou must passe from the land of the liuing in yâ— moment or howsouer there is one of thy number spent and yâ— art