timebo Dominus Protector Vitae me à quo trepidabo The Lord is my light and my saluation whome then shall I feare the Lord is the strength of my life of whome then shall I be afraide Amen A ALL thy delight being in equitie and Iustice incline thine heart to me cy then shall thy light breake forth as the morning spring and thy health florish thy righteousnesse shall preserue thee and the glorie of the Lord shall imbrace thee ASsist me oh God with thy grace and enrich me with thy Spirit illuminate my mind with thy vnderstanding be vnto me a sure saluation and whome should I feare Trulie neither will I feare any bodilie or ghostlie enimie thou being the strength of my life Though innumerable hostes doe rise against me my Spirite shall trust in thee and in my heart will I neuer bee affraide Arme mee with strength of warre oh GOD and teach my hands to wage battaile And I shall laye flat the enemies of thy truth and ioyfullie resist all those that rise against me My life shall euer declare thy sauing health and my soule shall not cease to sing thy praise Thou haste deliuered mee from the chaines of Hell and when I haue beene wrapped in the dangers of death thou hast cleared my pathes of all stumbling blocks and made thy rich mercie my Candle Lord if I haue beene vnthankefull a broken minde shall bee thy sacrifice my heart shall euer dwell in the house of thanksgiuing and my sptrit still mourne for her vnkindnesse Saue mee Lord I beseech thee in the day of my distresse for thou art the Horne of my health the shield of my glorie and bearest vp mine infirmitie Let them bee consumed in their deuises that shall worke against mee and faile of their force in the houre of their pretence Powre vpon them the Viall of thy wrath let them sinke by themselues and saue thy Seruauntes that trust in thy mercie I will honour thée for my sauiour and praise thée for a God aboue all Gods Amen D DOubtles God is gracious and mercifull he forgiueth sinnes in time of trouble and is a defender of them that seeke him with heartie prayer and wholie put their trust in his mercie and truth DIrect my feete oh Lord in the waies of peace and keepe my hands cleane from innocent blood Lord giue me grace to performe the trauailes of this Pilgrimage before thée with a pure mind and cleare conscience that when thou shalt shew thy selfe towards euerie creature according to their déedes I may be rich in thy mercie and not dread thy presence To thy mercie I appeale I flie vnto thee I depend on thée fearing thee and reuerencing thee louing thee and trusting in thee If thy wrath waxe hot against mee I cannot withstand If thou punish me according to my deserts I cannot beare deale mercifullie therefore with mee heale my sores and pardon my sinnes Whilest I tread this wearie Laborinth leaue mee not Lord to my selfe but graunt mee thy continuall grace for my staffe I am not of might in my selfe to doe any thing that is good my righteousnesse and glorie stand in thy hand Therefore oh Lord I appeale to thy mercie and pray thy grace that I may in mind be made strong with thy holie Armour which I desire may bee thy righteousnesse for my Brest-plate firme faith for my Target hope of mercie for my Helmette and true knowledge of thy woord for my Banner so that I may stand here strong and perfect against thine enemies and in a newe life participate thy ioyes I will blow thy wonderous name through thy people and will praise thee amongst all the faithfull My praises shall haue being vnto the farthest part of thy congregation and my vowes will I performe in the sight of all them that feare thee I will endeauour that the endes of the World shall remember themselues and will do my best to turne them vnto thee Giue me therefore ioyfulnesse of heart rest of conscience continuall comfort in thy word and truth and that I may with a thankefull mind aduance thy name for euer y YEa in the feare of God who so liueth shall gather his Fruites in a pleasant Garden of blessinges it giueth thee true Honour Glory Triumph and ioyfull Crowne YEa in the multitude of all my sorrowes that euer I haue had in my heart Thy comforts oh Lord haue euer refreshed me Such is thy louing kindnesse and aboue all thy mercie that if I should straie farther in my vnthankefulnesse mine owne thoughtes would accuse me Therefore I doe come vnto thee to bee taught thy Testimonies that I may make thy Lawes my delight Truelie hoping of thy grace for my assistance I do meane to make thy cōmandements an Alley of my pleasure to walke in and the Trueth of thy woords will I weare on as an Armour against mine enemies Guide my fleshlie eies oh Lord least they behold vanities and my heart in thy righteousnesse Plucke my féete into the pathes of thy Precepts when they would wander print the remembrance of thy goodnesse alwaies in the table of my heart and let my power faile to offend thée Heape my hands with sure hope of my saluation satisfie my faith in the forgiuenesse of my sinns that my fraile flesh wauer not in thy mercie Temper my tongue oh Lord that it alwaies teach thy Testimonies locke vppe my lips that out of my mouth doe not procéede neither blasphemie of thy name Hazard to my soule nor hinderance to any creature Bowe downe thine eares oh Lord and strengthen me in these requestes For behold I bowe the knées of a contrite heart and with assured mind do hope them for the truth-sake which I will euerlastinglie praise To thée bee glory for euer and euer Amen E EXercise mercie and set thy bread and Drinke vppon the table of the poore and hungry couer the Naked with thy clothes and these shall deliuer thee from Sin and Death and not suffer thy Soule to come in darkenesse EZechiell the Prophet saith When the wicked turneth from his vngodlines hee hath done he shall saue his Soule With thy Seruant Esay therefore I say oh Lord thou art a great and feareful God Thou kéepest couenant and mercie with them which loue thée and kéepe thy commaundements And with thy Apostle Barnabie I acknowledge I haue sinned I haue offended I haue beene disobedient and gone backe yea I haue departed from all thy pathes and Iudgements Lord to thée belongeth righteousnesse and Mercie to me shame and destruction for my Iniquitie Yet Lord enter not into iudgement with thy seruant for no flesh is righteous in thy sight neither correct mee in thy wrath for then I shall not abide it Haue mercie vpon me oh Father from the depth of thy mercie take pittie vppon mee forgiue Lord heare my Praier and blot out mine offence Let thy louing face shine ouer the worke of thy handes that lieth waste Lord for thy owne sake doe it Encline
thought much lesse to do well in déed Assist me therefore with thy grace that I may doe as thou hast commanded And let me comfort my selfe with thy swéet wordes by thy Prophet which are That as the house of Iuda and Israel were accurst amongst the heathen so thou doost promise to make them a blessing Am not I an Ofspringe of that séede O Lord to whome thou diddest promise this blessing Or were not these things written to put mee in mind of thée and cause me turne from my wickednesse and trust by thy mercy to obtaine fauour againe Remember then O Lord in thy Mercy Turne me and I shall be turned say to my Soule I am come vnto thée thy health and thy saluation A A Double tongued mā is to be abhorred and he that beareth hatred can nether pray rightly nor speake truly of whom beware for the malicious double tongued hath ouerthrowē high Palaices laid wast strong Cities who so harkeneth to thē shall neuer find rest nor dwell in safety neare the Prince they are more perilous then a Fistula in the breast to the health of Man AVenge not thy cause on me thou God of al Iustice forgiue mee my contempts of thy Commaundements and omission of prayer If thou giue me equall pay of my Merites I perish Forget my wickednesse I beséech thée and clothe mee with the comfort of thy compassion Purifie my Soule and Bodie wash away my wickednesse with the bloud breaking from the Woundes of my Sauiour Christ and I shall no more be vnkind Giue mee Wisdome to knowe all thy preceptes and pleasure graunt thy mercy euer to kéepe me and thy grace to guide me It yrketh mee that euer I did forsake so sweete a Lord and Sauiour my sorrowe wasteth me and my sighes ouer-whelme my heart Haue mee in remembrance therefore for I tremble and quake were not thy mercie knowen I should vtterly despaire Turne away the stroke of thy vengeance from me bring my mind out of trouble into rest Fetch now againe thou most precious Prince of all power that which thy puissant might hath shapen Restore Sonne of the Father Almighty that which thou hast so well guided and bought with terrible torments Take againe into the Sacred seate of thy blessed custodie Lord God Holy Ghost my Bodie and Soule that haue wandred Thou hast pittifully preserued them long from the violence and vtter destruction of the wicked Serpent and throwes of worldly chance Most mighty God sith thou hast aduanced thy Glory by such compassion continue in me hearty Prayer put about me the girdle of thy grace and lincke my loue in the lore of thy lawes and my heart shall be thankefull Day and night will I say blessed is the Lord. And will praise thy Name and magnifie thy mercy for euer and euer B BE ashamed of sins and vnrighteousnes be ashamed to turne thy face away frō thy friend in his need be ashamed to obbraide thy friend with thy gifts be ashamed to take not to giue but be not ashamed of the truth of god his Couenant but do thy best to fulfill it and thou shalt liue BE my comforter in al counselles and dangers oh God make cleare my vnderstanding and heape my Forte with new effects and Spirituall motions Renew my Body and spirit that all sinne fly from me and grant that I liue to righteousnesse Powre vpon me the Spirit of thy grace lead me with the True knowledge of thy worde Hold my heart alwayes in thy feare build a true faith and hope of thy promises and mercie in the Bowels of my breast The heauenly Father of our Lord Iesus Christ hath promised it vnto me for his sons sake I séeke it and for that thou mayest ouercome when thou art Iudged denye mee not Though there belong nothing to me but confusion and shame yet Lord correct mee not in thy dreadfull displeasure but with the louing fauour of thy face looke vpon my festured wounds Heale them good Lord from the bottome let them be healed Mingle thy mercy and precepts and sow the séed of them so déepe in my heart that no burning blasts of persecution make ashes thereof neither any thorny cares of this life do choke it but that it may bring forth as thou hast appointed like good ground thirty sixe and an hundred folde The fruites of my haruest Lord shall bee the flowers of thy glory my tongue shall alwaies speake of thy maruailous workes and my heart shall kéepe thy Lawes I will not denie thée my God for the power of any wicked but wil séek thy grace hope of thy mercy and saye The mightie God of Israel is to be loued feared and obayed world without end Amen E EVill seedes see thou sow not in the Purrowes of vnrighteousnesse so shalt thou not reape thee seuenfoulde labour sue not vnto man for any Lordship neither vnto the King for the Seat of Honour EStablish my heart oh Heauenly Father in league and loue with thy lawes print thy Precepts in the bowels of my breast and sequester my mind from all thoughts studies and labours that may draw mee from thée My soule consumeth in care to be with thée and my bodily eyes tremble to behold thée onely because thou hatest sin and abhorrest iniquity Alas there is nothing in me but vnrighteousnesse and the examples be dreadfull which declare how grieuously thou hast punished sinne Thou diddest drowne the world for sin Thou didst send fire vpon Sodome Gomorrha Thou didst cast foorth Adam and his off-spring out of Paradice for sin Thou didst grieuouslye punish thy seruant Dauid notwithstanding his hartie repentance Yea thou persecutedst Salomon in himselfe and his Posterity with many other to our example and all for shamefull sin Lord sith these examples are true and mine iniquity equall with theirs what should become of my Soule if I had not amediatour Christ whose bloudy Passion then appeased thy wrath when nothing else could By his Death I am once redéemed oh God therefore let me not now be consumed bearing thy Image but graunt the paines of his pittifull Passion may put out all mine offences With my voice I will spread thy mercies ouer all Nations my Life shall glorifie thy name and all that thou giuest mee I will acknowledge to be thine with euerlasting praise Amen T THe greater thou art the more humble thy selfe in all things and thou shalt find fauour in the sight of God for great power belongeth onelie vnto God and he is honoured of the lowly TVrne awaye thy face from mine vnrighteousnesse Lord no Creature is cleare in thy sight If thou shouldest call thine Angelles to the Barre they might not abide the Sentence of thy iust Iudgement I come vnto thée for succour Lord vnder the wings of thy mercie receiue me Thou delightest not in any Sacrifice or burnt Offerings but thy accustomed condition hath béene euer to accept a sorrowfull Spirit and a broken heart Lord if thy louing
kindnesse be such I heare present thée with a heauie heart a broken bodye a martyred mind and a sighing Soule These all appeale to thée O Lord for thy mercie and cry out with the Prodigall Son saying I haue sinned against Heauen and before thée wash me therefore with thy rich mercy not that any good in mee doth deserue it but because thou art God of all mercie and it declareth thy mightinesse to forgiue Thou diddest shew compassion vpon the woman of Canaan for her great Faith and from the beginning thou hast not reiected the effectuall praiers of a single heart Lord I giue glory to thy name with the highest thy mercy stretcheth aboue the Firmaments the sure hope and trust I haue in thy vnspeakeable truth and compassion is equall with the strong Faith of the Cananite woman I confesse my sinnes are manifold But Lord I know thy mercie and sauing health are infinite Lord sith thou art of power to forgiue aboue that I can offend for thy names sake release my sorrow cut the sacke of my sins and make mee strong in thée So shall I liue and all my thoughts acknowledge thy praise Amen H HAppy is the man that hath not fallen with the Woorde of his mouth and is not pricked with the conscience of sin that hath no heauinesse in his mind and is not falne from his Hope HOw mighty thou art oh God of Hoastes in thy precelling powre by Creating this world of nothing we are taught to know Thou doest gouern the same and puttest downe with thy hand the prowde and traiterous Tyrants thereof Thou destroyest their deuises kéepest the raging Sea within her bounds These and such like declare thy power ouer all The plentie of thy bountifull hand giueth not onely increase of things but also the encrease of euery kinde of thing shewe forth thy louing kindnesse Thou doest multiply yearly and daily these kindes how many séeds good Lord doest thou encrease of one séed Lord what manifolde springs commeth thereof These cannot but kéepe vs mindfull of thy excéeding Riches and Mercy Lord if to thy enemies as to the greatest number of the worlde which loue thée not thy condition be to deale thus bountifully what shall I déeme resteth with thée for thy frindes Truly such blisfull ioyes and rest as maketh me only desire of thée to bée dissolued from this earthlye and vncleane bodye when thy pleasur is I am the freshe Image of thy selfe and the worke of thine owne hands take mée therefore vnto thée burnish me a new frée my soule from the poysoned prison of sinne that it may giue equal thanks vnto so swéete a Lorde and guide Whilest I abide in this wretched body of Sinne I cannot sée thée oh Lord yea it is a heauy habitation and depresseth down sore my Spirit from the familiarity which it els should haue with thée my louing Father Lord this world and life is a Dungeon of Darknesse a Mountain of miserable Martirdomes a lewde Laborinth of lothsome Lustes a cankred course of chokinge Calamities being voyde of all vertues to gaine eternall Life Make mée therfore strong to walke vpright in this wretched wildernesse and arme mée with the guift of thy grace against the power of Sathan my Ghostly enemy Here is nothing where I am Lord but daily assaults of Temptations troubles torments carefull calamities contention for thy word horrible hatred and worldly ambition against which Lord perfect me in knowledge and strong fayth and with thy righte hand beat downe mine enemies that thou mayst be knowen to bée my God and Shield ¶ The Versicle FOR thy deare Sonnes sake O Lord heare and receaue my Prayers ¶ The Answere AND in thy truth and mercie pardon mine offences and graunt mee thy grace ¶ The Collect. O Lord Iesus Christ Sonne of the pure Virgin Marie thou art not onely the swéet spouse of my soules health but with God the Father a most meeke Mediator full of mercie and truth wash awaye my sins with the most precious blood of thy holie passion make mee rich in thy mercie and my faith so strong in thée that assisted with thy grace and holie Spirit to all dutie and workes in this life towards thée I may enioye afterwards the glorie of thy blessed kingdome with thy holy Saints in euerlasting honour and tryumph Amen L LOuing Father plant thy grace so surely in me oh Lord that from this day I neuer become enemie with thée againe but that I may onelie rest in thée Guide me with the cleare light of thy woord through the darke deserts of this wretched world Heere no miserie nor trouble lacketh Héere euerie place is full of snares of mortall enemies yea héere one trouble and temptation being ouerpassed an other ensueth and after the first enduring a new battaile suddainlie assaileth whereby I neuer haue peace and want wherewith to warre O Lord kéepe me helpe me saue mee regard me oh Lord Lord assist me with the power of thy holie Spirit and as thou hast commaunded I come vnto thée praying for the guift of all these my requests and speciallie Lord I require the Sword of my sauiour Christ true and firme Faith that established in thy Truth holding that for my defence I may be safelie armed against all mine enemies and strong to cut down the thornes which shall spring in my waye of passage vnto thée in whom sweet Sauiour aboue all honour glorie triumph swaye rule power and dignitie make me settle all my ioyes yea aboue all health riches beautie fame and felicitie to desire thée loue thée and magnifie thée which giuest all and therfore of all to bee beloued and sought art most worthy Amen A ARise O Lord I beséech thée and ease the paines I suffer and the troubles of my soule let the fountaines of thy grace ouerflow my barren bodie and the floudes of thy mercie strengthen my féeble Spirit let thy louing kindnesse couer mine infirmities and thy suffered drops of deaw vpon the Crosse drown mine iniquitie Thy woord is Truth and thou hast said thy delight is not in the death of a Sinner but wouldest he should conuert and liue Teach me therfore to number my daies in the loue of thy Lawes that I may alwaies thirst after thy kingdome and neuer forget thée but in this that I haue here begun may perseuer and increase setting at naught all worldlie pompe respect of persons and mans helpe and onelie cleaue to thy Omnipotent power mercie strength and goodnes wherein Lord make mee so rich that I neuer may haue power to swerue from thée nor want thy grace to resist all temptations neither yet thy strength to tread downe mine enemies and so my heart shall ioyfullie liue and giue thanks to thée my God of all truth mercie and victorie Amen D DEare God thou mercifull father of my redéemer Christ which hast promised to heare the petitions of them that aske in thy sons name giue downe thy feare into my hart conioyne thy
in the death of a Sinner sayth the Lord God or rather would I not his conversion from his evill wayes that he might liue And againe hee sayeth Returne and repent you of your faults and your iniquity shall not prevaile against you Cast away evill cogitations and take you a new Spirite And why wilt thou die O house of Israel I wil not the death of a sinner returne and thou shalt liue O wretch why despayrest thou sith to this end GOD sent his Sonne into the earth that thou mightest haue comfort This is the loue of God whereof David speaketh saying We haue seene thy loving kindnesse even in the middest of thy Congregation Bée earely at the church occupied in prayer abide in the Apostolicke Faith beware of Idolatry imbrace the louing kindnesse of God who cryeth vncessantly I wil not the death of a Sinner but rather he convert and liue Harke to this swéet Oracle shake off the drowsinesse of errour and rise with Christ that thou mayest liue in him Marke how liberally hee promiseth At what hower soever a Sinner shall repent I will put all his wickednesse out of my remembrance He hath no respect to the nature of thy faults he forceth not the greatnesse or nūber of thine offences repent but as thou oughtest and hee will blot thy wickednesse out of memory That our Prayer may bée more acceptable to God the Prophet O see telleth vs how we should pray Returne vnto the Lord and say to him Lord take away mine iniquitie and receiue if I haue any my goodnesse and I wil giue thee the batlinges sacrifice of my lips Let vs reuert that haue shamefuly erred to him which taketh away the sinnes of the world and let vs say Take away from vs the evill which we haue done and accept this good What good Even the sacrifice of our Lippes Wée giue thée thanks mighty God to whome wee owe all that we haue Take from vs which is ours accept of vs that which is thine owne Returne saith Ioel to your God because he is loving gratious long suffering and of much mercy and ready to pardon mischiefe Though the weight of sin astonish thee yet let the mightinesse of Gods mercy vphold thee which the Prophet doth many wayes exaggerate God saith hee is gentle which hee addeth that wee should not despaire of pardon God saith he is gratious that we should vnderstand how he not onelie helpeth vs but that he pittieth our miseries And thinking not this sufficient he adioineth Long suffring And yet art thou doubtfull sinner Hearken then what followeth And of great mercy If thy faults be many care not great is the goodnesse of God What remayneth now but that thou turne and goe to him that inuiteth thee thou wilt say the horrible threatenings of punishment feare me Giue eare and marke And hee is ready to pardon mischiefe that God which is so often stirred to anger of his own accord mooueth thee to repentance calleth thee to forgiuenesse forgetteth his threates denyeth thee the torment of Hell in steade of punishment giueth thee his blessing not onely turneth to thee that repentest but willingly goeth to méet thée embraceth thée This is it which was promised by Zacharie Turne vnto me saith the Lord of hosts and I will be converted vnto you What meaneth hee by Returne vnto mee that is acknowledge thy weakenesse and aske mercy And what is meant by this And I will be converted vnto you That this of a reuenger I will become a helper I will assist your endeauours and looke what through your owne strength you can not bring to passe thou shalt attain to buy my fauour No man can fréely hate his owne sinne vnlesse God mollifie his stony hart and giue him a fleshly hart vnles for a defiled Conscience hee make a cleane heart vnlesse for a corrupt soule hee renue a right Spirite in him Peruse and reade the conuersation and life of Christ there thou shalt finde nothing but of his euerlasting mercy towards all men He fréely healed the sicke fedde the hungry deliuered them that were in daunger cleansed the Leapers gaue sight to the Blinde restored the Lame cast out Deuils raysed the dead to life and pardoned the wicked Search againe the vniuersall discipline of GOD what other thing contayneth it then the maruailous compassion of the Almighty doth he not inculcat into our minds by parables to the intent wée should not fal by any means To that end serueth the Parable of the lost shéepe which was brought againe on the Shéepeheards shoulders the Parable of the lost and found groate of the whole man that wanted not a Physition of the Seruant to whome his debts were forgiuen of the Publicane and the Pharisie of the broken man whom the Samaritane cured of the good Steward towardes his debtors and of the crafty Steward towards his Master of the Prodigall Child taken againe into fauour As touching the bare name of the Gospell doth it not promise mercy Yes it giueth light to the blind liberty to the Captiue health to the broken and last of all a gratefull gaine to the Lord who thirsteth nothing but the Saluation of sinners Likewise the name of Iesus that is of a Sauiour what else doth it promise to the Sinner but mercy and blissefulnesse If he had come representing the Maiesty of a Iudge there had beene some cause why euerie one might haue feared but knowing him to come as a Sauiour dost thou dispayre Saluation for the surer hope of Saluation the Sonne of God suffered death and offered vp himselfe a valiant sacrifice for the sins of man And hanging on the Crosse prayeth for his persecutors and thinkest thou that hée wil deny thée forgiuenesse of thy sinnes that dost acknowledge thy wretchednesse and craue remission Trust him that is mercifull and thou shalt find compassion A sure hope obtaineth any thing at Christes hand who so mistrusteth the Phisition hindereth his own health The woman of Canaan cryed and her daughter was cured The Centurian beléeued and his Seruant was made whole againe The Father prayed and his Sonne was cleansed of the foule spirite The Apostles cryed out Helpe Lord for we perish and they were deliuered And wée sée that in diuerse he hath not respected the prayers of the mouth but only the Faith Hee did but perceyue the faith of the people and said to the sicke of the Palsie Bee of good cheare my sonne thy sins are forgiuen thee The Mother and her companions doe but wéepe and her Sonne is raysed frō death to life Martha and Mary did but mourne and Lazarus was receyued Mary the sinner bewayleth he annointeth her kisseth her and sayth Thy sinnes are forgiven thee He sufficiently asketh that confesseth his infirmity he asketh effectually that lamenteth beléeueth The woman troubled with superfluity of bloud secretlie touched the vesture of Iesus and immediatelie she felt the force of his mercy We read also of many others that
sinnes Answere Neyther reward vs after our iniquities Let vs pray O God mercifull Father that despisest not the sighing of a contrit hart nor the desire of such as be sorrowful mercifully assist our prayers that wee make before thée in all our troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they oppresse vs and gratiously heare vs that those euills which the craft and subtlety of the Deuill or man worketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnes they may bee dispersed that we thy seruantes being hurt by no persecutions may euermore giue thankes vnto thée in thy holy Church through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise helpe vs and deliver vs for thy Names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our Fathers haue declarud vnto vs the noble workes that thou diddest in their dayes and in the olde time before them O Lord arise helpe vs and deliver vs for thine honour Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne c. From our enemies defend vs O Christ Gratiously looke vpon our afflictions Pittifully behold the sorrows of our hearts Mercifully forgiue the sins of thy people Fauourably with mercy hear our Prayers O Sonne of David haue mercy vpon vs. Both now euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christ Gratiously heare vs O Christ gratiously heare vs O Lord Christ The Versicle O Lord let thy mercy bee shewed vpon vs. Answere As we doe put our trust in thée Let vs Pray VVE humbly beséeth thee O father mercifully to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glory of thy names sake turne from vs al those euils that we most righteously haue deserued graunt that in all our troubles wee may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy and euermore serue thee in holinesse and purenes of liuing to thy honour and glory through our onely mediatour and aduocate Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ¶ A Prayer for the Kinges Maiestie O Lord our heauenly Father high and mightie King of Kings Lord of Lords the onely Ruler of Princes which doest from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth most heartily wee beseech thee with thy fauour to behoid our most gratious Soueraigne Lord King Iames and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy Spirite that hee may olway encline to thy will and walke in thy way indue him plentifully with heauenly gifts grant him in health wealth long to liue strengthen him that hee may vanquish and ouercome all his enemies and finally after this life he may attaine euerlasting ioy felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer for the Queene and Prince and other the King and Queenes Children ALmighty God which hast promised to be a father of all thine Elect and of their séede we humbly beséech thée to blesse our gratious Quéene Anne Prince Henrie and all the King and Quéenes Royall Progenie endue them with thy holy Spirite enrich them with thy heauenly Grace prosper them with all happines and bring them to thine euerlasting kingdome through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ALmighty euerlasting God which onely workest great maruailes send downe vpon our Bishoppes and Curates and all Congregations cōmitted to their charge the healthfull Spirite of thy Grace and that they may truely please thée powre vpon them the continual dew of thy blessing graunt this O Lord for the honour of our Aduocate and Mediator Iesus Christ Amen A Prayer of Chrysostome ALmighty God which hast giuen vs Grace at this time with one accorde to make our common Supplications vnto thée and doest promise that when two or thrée bée gathered together in thy Name thou wilt graunt their requests fulfill now O Lord the desires and petitions of thy seruants as may be most expedient for them graunting vs in this worlde knowledge of thy truth and in the worlde to come life euerlasting Amen THe Grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ and the Loue of GOD and the Fellowshippe of the Holy Ghost be with vs al euermore Amen For Raine if the time require O God Heauenly Father which by thy Son Iesus Christ hast promised to all them that séeke thy Kingdome and the righteousnesse thereof all thinges necessarie to their bodily sustenance sēd vs we beseech thée in this our necessity such moderate raine and showres that wee may receiue the fruites of the earth to our comfort and to thy honour through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen For faire weather O Lord god which for the sin of man didst once drown all the world except eight persons and afterward of thy great mercy diddest promise neuer to destroy it so againe we humbly beseech thee that although wee for our iniquities haue worthily deserued this plague of raine and waters yet vpon our true repentance thou wilt send vs such seasonable wether wherby wee may receiue the fruits of the earth in due season and learn both by thy punishment to amend our liues and for thy clemencie to giue thee prayse and glory through Iesus Christ our Lord Amē In the time of Dearth and Famine O God heauenly Father whose gift it is that the raine doth fall the earth is fruitfull beasts increase and fishes doe multiplie behold wee beseech thée the afflictions of thy people and grant that this scarsitie and dearth which wée doe now most iustly suffer for our iniquitie may through thy goodnesse bee mereifully turned into cheapenesse and plenty for the loue of Iesus Christ our Lord to whome with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour c. Amen In the time of warre O Almighty God King of all Kinges and Gouernour of all things whose power no Creature is able to resist to whom it belongeth iustly to punish Sinners and to bee mercifull to them that truely repent saue and deliuer vs wée humbly beséech thée from the hands of our enemies abate theyr pride asswage their malice and confound their deuises that wée being armed with thy defence may bee preserued euermore from all perils to glorifie thee which art the onelie giuer of all victorie through the merites of thy onely Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen In the time of any common plague or sickenesse O Almighty God which in thy wrath in the time of King David diddest slay with the plague of pestilence threescore and tenne thousand and yet remembring thy mercy diddest saue the rest haue pitty vppon vs miserable Sinners that now are visited with greate sickenesse and mortality that like as thou diddest then cōmaund thine Angell to cease from punishing so it may now please thee to withdraw from vs this plague and grieuous sicknesse through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen O God whose nature property is euer to haue mercy and to forgiue receiue our humble Petitions and though we be tyed and bound with the chaine of our sinnes yet let the pittifulnesse of thy great mercy loose vs through Iesus Christs sake our Mediatour and Aduocate Amen A Thankesgiuing for Raine O God our heauenly Father who
holy spirit to the felowship of my soule powre vpon me the blessed deawes of thy grace enritch me with thy high vnderstanding and send wisdome in her glory from thy Sacred seate to dwell in mée that shée may giude me vphold me and labour with me to the end that in all my trauelles enterprises proceedinges and studies I may preuail to thy glory Do this deare Father for the triumph of thy name Bow downe thine eares and mercifully heare and receiue the summe of all my requests graunt that all thinges which I aske according to my necessity I may effectually obtaine to thy glory and profit of my soule through Iesus Christ my only Lord Sauiour Amen I I Giue and commit into thy hands my Spirite yea rather I may say thy Spirite seeing thou hast giuen it mee linke it to my body for a season and séeing it is thy image and Figure made after thine owne likenesse séeinge thy deare Sonne did climbe the direfull steppes of death for redemption therof O moste fauorable Father and méeke God of all mercy and compassion I eftsoones commende this my Spirit into thy hand I am thine whatsoeuer I am receiue thine I beséeche thee preserue mee and comforte mée for no man can help mee besides thée Onlye thou art the sureste resister of all mischiefe thou art oh God the readiest helpe in all trouble thou art my hope strength In thée doo I put my trust let mee not bée confounded let mee neuer be rebuked thou art my strong rock and my Castle thou art my sauiour my portion is in thy hands Lighten thy face vppon thy Seruant and saue mee O Lord in thy mercy Amen E EVen now I sée that no brickle nor corrupt gold or Siluer hath redemed my soule O Heauenly Father but the pretious bloud issuing frō Christ as of a lambe vndefiled and without spot make mée therefore O Lorde for his sake to put on his humility patience vertue and vnspotted life rendring suche accompt of this my pligrimage as best may agrée to his merit and thy mercy Let mée not be found vnthankfull to so swéet a Lord and Sauiour what is most righteous acceptable and pleasant in thy sight let mée alwayes O God preferre in faith and workes and whatsoeuer is to approoue mée vnworthy of his tender and surmounting loue that may alter his louing kindnesse or exchang his wonted compasion towards mée Lord let mée euer fayle in strength to do it but assisted by thée I may euerlastingly be found to liue in him Amen E EVery one that sayeth Lord Lord shall not enter the Kingdom of heauen Therfore confirme my Faith strong in thée O heauenly Father and in my Sauiour Iesus Christ quiet my mind with sure hope of his promises and thy Saluation Destroy in mée the kingdome of Sinne the power of Sathan the desires of the world the delights of the flesh Guide my feete in the pathes of thy precepts bring the conflicting daies of mine enemies to an end Make me that am weak in my selfe strong in thee to cōquer the force of their armes So shal my lippes powre out continuall prayse vnto thée O god of my Saluation and magnifie thy Maiesty world without end Amen L LOoke not extremly what is done amisse in mée for no fleshe is righteous in thy sight I offer vp my selfe wholy with all my vnsauory and corrupt abuses both in will works vnto the flowing fountayn of thy mercy to be chasticed pollished and washed and made cleane euen at thine owne will and pleasure Wherefore impute not the frailty of my tender yéeres vnto my charge but that thou maist ouercom when thou art iudged Forgiue me receiue me and so arme me with thy holy Spirit that I may tread the rest of my dayes with an vpright sway a cleare conscience and a single hart to thy Glory and profite of my Soule Amen I I Liue Oh God in a most wretched Vale of mysery where continually thy creatures are stained with sinne assayled with affliction vexed with troubles choked with cares infected with ambition vexed with temptations blinded with errours ouercom with vanities of the world and miserably wrapped in all vntruth and wretchednesse wherefore O Lord arise stretch out thy hand helpe and comfort me Asswage my sorrow assist mee with thy Holy Spirit that mine owne substance ouercome mee not this glittering vaine world of infinite sorowes and fewe felicities deceaue me not that Sathan supplant me not but giue mee inuincible power to encounter them patience in suffering them in thy word constancye in perseuering to the end Amen Z ZEale anger hatred and from respect of any persons in Iudgement LORD make me free Arme me with the patience of my Sauiour Christ giue me the Breast-plate of his righteousnesse the helmet of his equitie Make mee to exercise his Mercie Truth Méekenes Faithfulnesse Temperance and Humilitie Cast out of my heart all that may offend thée and disprofit my soule Let all worldly things be vile vnto mee for thy sake let me reioyce in nothing without thée nor loue nothing but to thy glory So shall my hart kéepe thy lawes and my mouth for euer and euer speak thy praise Amen A ACcepte mée Lord in the number of thy elect behold in mée the Image of thy selfe and the worke of thine owne hands remember thou hast giuen thy deare Son to the bitter Passiō of the Crosse for my redemption Let me not be rewarded therefore according to the deepe sea of my sinnes for then I perish But for thy Truth Mercie and deare Sonnes sake correct mee strengthen mee and imbrace mee yea linck mee so surely to the loue of thy lawes that I neuer leaue thee and in the day of my trouble and houre of death Lord deliuer me so shall I liue and glorifie thee through all worlds Amen B BEhould my infirmities O Lord and consider my frailnes best known vnto thee So oft as I shall fall make me lift vp my heart agayne vnto thee seeke thee feare thee and loue thee and euer to be sorry with so stedfast a purpose of amendment that my earnest desire may rightly stire vp thy mercy and procure me the assistance of thy grace to conioyne mee to all Heauenly things and to destroy al earthly affections and temptations that dayly pluck mee backe and rebell not suffering my soule to liue in rest Against which builde thy feare in my breste true knowledg of thy word in my heart fortifie my faith with sure hope of thy Heauenly blisse enter the shining light of thy woorde so deepe in my minde that all my studies thoughts being onely occupied therein my other parts may euer want power to offend thée and my tongue and lippes euer bee singing thy laude and glory Amen E ENritch my Soule with the continual felowshippe of thy Holy Spirit whose diuine humanitie may so temper my grosse substance with trew condition that alwaies I may séeme low in mine
either haue not obeyed our will or whose life hath beene little allowable to vs neither let vs hate their good successe Giue vs this day our dayly bread THe Bread is our Lord Iesus Christ which feedeth and refresheth the soule Thou therefore heauenly father graunt vs this through thy mercie that the life words and déedes of Christ with his Passion may be euerie where truelie preached acknowledged followed kept Graunt that both his doings and sayings may be example to vs to the which wee may compare our life liue more rightly Confirme vs that in calamity and trouble his Crosse and passion may strengthen and cōfort vs. Assist vs that by his death our death may be ouercome in true faith that wee may constantlie follow him being our Captaine to eternal life Bring to passe that they which haue taken vpon them the ministerie of thy word may happilie teach and with the great profite of the hearers worke that those which heare thy word aknowledge Christ and diligentlie goe forward Let it come to passe that the strange and wicked sects who teach not Christ be throwne out of his Church Let the true vnderstanding of thy word so shine in Bishops and Pastors likewise vpon al Magistrates whether they haue care of the body or soule that being illuminated with thy grace they may rightlie teach vs and be example vnto vs as well in doctrine as in pure life Let not the weake in faith be offended through the Sinnes of the Magistrates Purge vs O Lord from all heresies and wicked faith that we may be single and daylie fed with one bread and may abide agreeable in Christes words teach vs by thy grace that we may well studie vpon Christes Passion and rightly holde that and let his imprinted steppes sticke and bée found in vs. Grant that the Ministers of the Church may treat and vse the holy Sacrament worthily and to the great profite of thy Church And furthermore that we and all Christians may in his kind worthily to his soules health receiue the Sacrament Giue vs peace and concord take from vs wars contention ambition priuie hatred bloudy harts vsurping hands and all other kind of strifes that those thinges which wée haue to the sustentation of our body we may enioy with thanks giuing Giue vnto thy seruant Iames our most gratious King and Gouernour thy equall giftes to his estate and dignity with vpright Iudgement in all things and to all Magistrates true faith and single iudgement with loiall minds to kéepe the publique peace that his ioyes and rule may long stand and multiplie Take from all Subiects Sedition and Disobedience Teach vs by thy holy Spirit to order our housholde affaires that we may instruct our Children and families to worship praise and glorifie thee Grant O good Father that our Children and Familie fall not into any sinne and wickednesse neither bee ouerthrowne in any daunger or calamitie whether it be either of body or Soule Comfort deliuer thou most louing Father the Captiue the hungry thirsty naked oppressed miserable the comfortlesse widow the orphant sicke and the sorrowfull and defend the fieldes and cattell from tempest venemous worms and wild beastes Forgiue vs our rrespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs GOD will that we patiently beare all thinges and requite not euill with euill nor reuenge iniurie done against vs but that we should returne a benefite for an iniurie after the example of our Father which suffereth his Sunne to shine as well on the euill as on the good and powreth down his rain both vpon the thankeful and vnthankfull O good Father stirre vp our conscience both now and in the end of our life which is grieuously feared with the sight of our sinnes and dread of thy iudgement make our hearts quiet and sure that with ioy wee may expect thy iudgement when thou shalt iudge for in thy sight shal not any man be found righteous teach vs to learne not to our our own good works and merites but to thy vnmeasured mercy and thereunto let vs wholy commit vs likewise suffer vs not to fal into desperation for our sinnes committed but grant that wee may perceiue and féele thy mercie to be far more ample greater and stronger then our wicked led life Bee present with all those which are eyther in danger of death or afflicted with desperation Forgiue vs and euen our sinnes comfort vs and bring vs againe into thy fauour As thou hast commaunded so render thou also good for ill vnto vs beate downe Sathan that horrible false detractor and accuser of our life both now and at the howre of death in all other anguishes of our conscience Sathan doth accuse vs our conscience likewise doth accuse vs. But thou Lord dost not iudge after their sentence heare not the voyce E ENgraue thy lawes in the depth of my hart O lord that being instructed in thy commandementes I may serue thée in feare and reioyce in thée with trembling take hold vpon thy discipline in all things Least at any time thou become angry and I perish from the right way Amen L LOrd giue me helpe from my trouble for vaine is the helpe of man in thée I haue strength and thou bringest vnto nothing those which trouble me let my soule bée subiect vnto thée for from thée procéedeth my patience for thou art my God and Sauiour my helper and I wil not depart from thée In thée is my health my Glory thou art the God of my helpe and my hope is in thée Amen I I Haue broken thy fold and wandred long as a lost shéepe let me returne againe O Lord because I haue not forgotten thy commaundements the misdéedes and ignorances of my tender yéeres remember not Lord according to thy mercy haue mind on me For thy goodnesse O Lord kéepe my soule and deliuer me let me not bee ashamed because I haue trusted in thée Turne my heauinesse into ioy cut off my sacke of sorrows and gird me with gladnesse that my Glorie may sing vnto thée and I shall not be grieued Z ZOrobabel King of Iuda in the depth of thy displeasure tasted of thy mercy receiued by the mouth of Aegeus thy Prophet swéete comfort knowledge of thy fauour and grace yea after thy determination to destroy the whole kingdome of the Heathen thy right hand did preserue him and thy incomparable mercy did choose him for a seale to thy selfe Lord this happy King in thy goodnesse was but an earthly Creature and then could hée haue no righteousnesse in him selfe to moue such thy compassion If it procéede from the multitude of thy mercies that surmount the iniquity of the whole world that thou diddest onely vouchsafe to behold in him the Image of thy selfe Bow down thine eyes Lord and behold the selfe same in mée Certifie my conscience with remission of my sinnes that my sorrowfull Soule bee at rest within mée send downe thy holy
Fruits and all other things then the fabrication of so many pure Celestiall Soules so that who durst bee bold to affirme had not the Prophet manifestly spoken it that the mercy of God doth excell the glory of his handie workes Holy Scripture sometime tearmeth the mercie of God great sometime too great sometime it amplifieth the force thereof by the name of multitude or number The Kingly Prophet David in one selfe place comprehendeth both the greatnesse and multitude of Heauenly mercy saying Haue mercy on me O God after thy great goodnesse and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away mine offences Where great iniquity is there néedeth much compassion If thou doe but weigh how haynous the offence of David was thou wilt acknowledge the greatnesse of Gods goodnesse If thou consider how oft he offended in that sinne thou shalt sée the multitude of his mercies That GOD which is our King our Father our Master our Spouse prescribeth no determinate number of offences but as oft as through true Repentance we returne to him he forgetteth and forgiueth the punishment which he threatneth to vs he entertaineth vs amongst his Familie leadeth vs into the Chamber of his Loue and receyueth not vs onely but forgetteth our offences Hee bringeth the lost shéepe vpon his shoulders to the staules and biddeth the Congregation of the Chosen to his reioysing He goeth to méete the Prodigall Sonne returning from his long and loathsome iorney and putteth a Robe a King vpon him and commaundeth the fattest Calfe to be killed for him What other thing doth this signifie but the Immense or as I may say the ouermuch mercy of God It is no maruaile though his mercy excéede which loueth vs so excéedingly Paule feareth not to write thus to the Ephesians We are saeth he by Nature become the Children of wrath But God which is rich in mercy for his tender loue wherewith he loved vs when wee were lead to sinne hath raysed and reconciled vs againe to Christ Saint Iohn in his Gospell more plainely expresseth the maruailous Loue of God our Father towards vs saying So God loved the world that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that who so beleeveth in him should not perish but haue everlasting life Wherevnto Paul aptly agréeth He that spared not his only Son but gaue him for vs all hath hee not given vs all things together with him This so great loue this so great kindnesse doth it not worthily appeare vnmeasurable because we haue nothing which wee haue not freely receyued of God Whatsoeuer wee doe whatsoeuer we possesse it commeth by the mercy of God Yea it is the mercy of God that made the Angels and created the world If he had wrought it to himselfe his power and policie might haue béen praised but sith to our vse hée hath framed all these things shall we not acknowledge his mercy to be maruailous For whome haue the Celestiall Ayres their course to whom lendeth the Sun his beames by day the Moone with the Starres their brightnesse by Night but for Man For whose vse made hee these things of nothing For whose sake but for mans onely doe the hanging clouds giue their shade and bedew the pleasant fields Why blow the winds why flow the Riuers why spread the Springes why encrease the Seas but for the vse of man Who reapeth the cōmodities of the fertile earth which engendreth so many liuing thinges such wealthy store but man There is nothing that God hath not made Subiect to man onely he would that man should be obedient vnto him Manie times our merciful God sendeth aduersity either to cleare vs of our transgressions or to deterre vs from sinne or to minister occasion of well-doing Thus was Abraham tried so was Iob prooued with many miseries thus is euery one which liueth in Iesus Christ tryed in this world with sundry afflictions as the Golde with the fire Where are those that murmure against GOD when eyther infirmity of health or death and losse of wife and Children or decay of worldly wealth happeneth to them no thing knowing that these are the manifest signes of a mercifull GOD. Let vs giue ear to the coūsel of Salomon My Son saith he Despise not the word of God nor forsake his correction For whom the Lord loveth hee chasteneth and delighteth in him as a Father in his Sonne The Apostle Paul hath the like saying to the Hebrues Whome the Lord loveth he correcteth and rebuketh every Childe that he receyveth Then by Paules Counsel when any storme of aduersity ariseth let vs stand fast in the Truth knowing that hee offereth himselfe to vs as to his Children like a mercifull God If the loue of God lend vs prosperity let vs giue him thanks and bee carefull that we abuse not his bounty If misery oppresse vs let vs neuerthelesse giue thankes to him and commit our selus to his iudgement To obtaine health thou giuest thy selfe vp to the Phisition thou yéeldest thy selfe to the Coard Saw and Searing of the Chirurgion And to enioy euerlasting health fearest thou to trust thy Creator thy Master thy Father and onely Sauiour Thou darest not say to the Physition thus thus cure me And wilt thou prescribe to God the means of thy sauing health Let euery one of vs descend into the depth of his conscience let vs consider how oft and how grieuouslie we haue offended God how his benefites are defiled with our iniquities and so we shall sée how much wee are indebted to his infinit mercy which hath borne with our frailety so gently which by so many meanes calleth vs to repentance which so wllingly pardoneth the penitent and conuert Truely he is greatly to bee lamented which refuseth the fountaine of euerlasting life and neuer by repentance returneth whence he departed The Prodigal Child straied farre left and forsooke his Fathers House yet returned Peter was far gone when he denied his Master thrice but yet remēbring the wordes which Iesus spake to him he recanted and wept bitterlie How gently doth the Lord in Hieremie vnder the person of the wife which hauing forsaken her husband gaue herselfe to euery man Call his people to repentance Returne my Children and be converted saith hee because I am your husband But oh wretched is the mā that stoppeth his eares at this voyce of the Lords To day saith the Psalme If you hear my voyce harden not your hearts This is our day as long as we liue in which the Lord ceaseth not to call bpon vs to repentance offering vs prepared pardon God himselfe in Ezechiel doth not onelie promise remission to him that forsaketh his euill but voweth obliuion of all his former offences For after he had reckoned all the errours which man fell into he added If the wicked man will be sorry for his sins keep my commaundements do the thing that is right he shal liue and not die and I will not remember ought that he hath done Haue I pleasure
by thy gratious prouidence dost cause the former and the later raine to descend vpon the earth that it may bring forth fruite for the vse of man We giue thee humble thankes that it hath pleased thée in our greatest necessitie to send vs at the last a ioyfull raine vpon thine inheritance and to refresh it when it was drie to the great comfort of vs thy vnworthy seruantes and to the glory of thy holy Name through thy mercies in Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thankesgiuing for faire weather O Lord God who hast iustly humbled vs by the late Plague of immoderate raine and waters and in thy mercy hast deliuered and comforted our Soules by this seasonable blessed chaunge of weather we prayse and glorifie thy holy name for this thy mercy will alwayes declare thy louing kindnesse from generation to generation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amē A Thankesgiving for Plentie O Mercifull Father which of thy gratious goodnesse hast heard the deuote prayers of thy church and turned our dearth scarsity into cheapenesse and plenty Wée giue thée humble thankes for this thy especiall bounty beseeching thée to continue this thy louing kindnes vnto vs that our land may yéelde vs her fruits of increase to thy glory and our comfort through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thankesgiving for peace and victorie O Almighty God which art a strong Tower of defence vnto thy Seruants against the face of their enemies We yéeld thée prayse and thankesgiuing for our deliuerance from those great and apparāt dangers wherewith we were compassed we acknowledge it thy goodnes that we were not deliuered ouer as a prey vnto them beséeching thée stil to continue such thy mercies towards vs that al the world may know that thou art our Sauiour mighty deliuerer through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A Thanksgiuing for deliverance from the Plague O Lord God which hast wounded vs for our sins consumed vs for our transgressions by thy late heauie and dreadfull Visitation and now in the middest of iudgement remembring mercie hast redeemed our soules frō the iawes of death wee offer vnto thy Fatherly goodnesse our selues our soules bodies which thou hast deliuered to be a liuing sacrifice vnto thée alwayes praysing and magnifying thy mercies in the middest of the Congregation through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Or thus WE humbly acknowledge before thée O most mercifull Father that all the punishmentes which are threatened in thy Law might iustly haue fallen vpon vs by reason of our manifold transgressions and hardnes of heart yet séeing it hath pleased thée of thy tender mercy vpoo our weake and vnworthy Grace after meaet GOds Name bee blessed for his benefits now and euer bestowed on vs. God send the King long life the Realme good peace the Gospell continuance increase our faith and comfort all those that be comfortlesse and giue vnto vs our friends health and prosperity peace truth in Christ Iesus our Lord Amen Grace before meat BLessed Lord that fillest with thy blessing euerie liuing thing sanctifie thy gifts which we shall receiue to the nourishment of our mortall Bodies Remoue away thy iudgementes farre from vs prepare our heartes to serue thee in all righteousnesse and holinesse Prosper vs in our lawfull affaires and grant vs life euerlasting Amen Grace after meat BLessed bee the name of God for his blessings now and euer bestowed on vs. God preserue the Church vniuersall our gratious King Iames the Quéenes Maiesty and the young Prince of Wales with all the royall issue God send vs health and holinesse in Iesus Christ our Lord Amen FINIS Sententiae Diuinae é Sacris Scripturis Patribusque collectae Deus DEus est Spiritus qui adorant eū oportet vt spiritu ac veritate eū adorant Alanus de conquestione Naturae Deus est splendor nunquam deficiens vita indefessa non moriens fons semper scà turiens seminale vitae feminarium sapientiae principale principium initiale bonitatis initium August super illud Pater Nost Deus est in seipso sicut Alpha Omega in mundo sicut Rector Auctor in Angelis sicut Sapor Decor in Ecclesia sicut paterfamilias in Domo in Anima sicut sponsus in Thalamo in Iustis sicut adiutor protector in reprobis sicut pauor horror August super Io. Ser. 29. Deus tibi totum est si esuris panis tibi est si sitis aqua tibi est si in tenebris es lumē tibi est si nudus es in mortalitate tibi vestis est Christus Io. 8. EGo sum lux mundi qui sequitur me non ambulabit in tenebris sed habebit lumen vitae Ambro. in quodam ser Omnia habemus in Christo omnia in nobis Christus Si à vulnere curari desideras medicus est si febribus aestuas fons est si graueris iniquitate Iustitia est si indiges anxilio virtus est si tenebras fugis lux est si Coelū desideras vita est Si cibum quaeris alimentum est August super Mat. 155. Ego sum via veritas vita tanquam diceret qua vis ire ego sum via quo vis ire ego sum veritas vbi vis permanere ego vita August super Ioan. Ambulare vis ego sum via falli non vis ego sum veritas mori non vis ego sum vita Homo Iob. 14. HOmo natus de Muliere brevi vivens tempore repletur multis miserijs qui quasi flos egreditur conteritur fugit velut vmbra nunquam in codem statu permanet Bernardus Video hominem prius quatuor virtutibus amictū quid huic decrat quem misericordia custodiebat veritas docebat iustitia regebat pax fouebat Aristoteles interogatus quidnam esset homo respondit imbecillitatis exemplum tēporis spolium Fortunae Lusus inconstantiae Imago reliquum verô pituita bilis Bernar. de consid vtili humanae Septem sunt de essentia hominis quae si homo consideraret jn aeternum non peccaret Scilicet materia vilis operatio turpis exitus flebilis status instabilis mors tristabilis dissolutio miserabilis damnatio detestabilis consideratio gloriae ineffabilis Peccatum Io. 1. Cap. 1. SI dixerimus peccatum non habemus ipsi nos seducimus veritas in nobis nō est Hieron lib. 1. super Amos. Primū peccatum est cogitasse quae mala sunt Secundum cogitationibus acquieuisse peruersis Tertium quod mente decreueris opere compleuisse Quartum post peccatum non facere poenitentiam in suo complacere sibi delicto Cass super Psa pro eo vt me diligerent detrahebant Tribus modis omne peccatum contrahitur Primus gradus delictorum est non reddere bona pro nobis Secundus reddere mala pro malis Tertius est tribuere mala pro bonis contra haec sunt tria laudabilia Primum
night with thy mighty hand and bring mee to the light of the next day Renue in me a right spirite that I may receaue strength and abilitie to do thy righteous will and to stand against all the assaults of Satan that the old man which I beare about in my body may be crucified daily in me and the desire of sinne and errour of worldly vanities may bee destroyed and the life of my Sauior may alwaies appeare in me Lord grant me these and all other good graces euen for Iesus Christs sake my onely Lord and Sauiour in whose name I humbly begge them at thy hands saying as he hath taught me Our Father c. ¶ A Prayer for the Morning O Lord thou high and mightie whose Glorie and Maiesty may not be comprehended whose woord is true whose commandement is strong thou that ridest vppon the Cherubins and flyest with the winges of the wind Thou God of all mercie most woorthy to be sought before whome the Hoastes of Heauen stand with trembling whose Ordinance is dreadfull whose Lookes drieth vp the depthes whose hands ruleth the starrie Firmaments whose goodnesse onely giueth the fruits of the Earth whose wrath maketh the Mountaines to melte and consumeth the wicked whose truth beareth witnesse and mercie saueth the sorrowfull Sinner Thou thou incomprehensible Creator that neuer tookest beginning and wantest end Sith of nothing thou hast wrought me with the wonders of the world to thy most séemly shape and vouchsafest thy drery Death and passion to drowne the danger of my sinnefull deserts and hast as a carefull Captaine cherished my bodie with comfortable giftes vnto this present day Continue oh God such goodnesse towards me vnworthy which doe here with a contrite heart and bowed Knées appeale to the height of thy mercie and louing kindnesse to accept my vnequall thankes for the same humbly beséeching thy Fatherly goodnesse that thy holy hand may still renew in me thy former gifts plenteouslie powred vpon me from the prime of my birth vnto this present not remembring good Lord my vnworthines of the same nor frailty of my passed yeares that speaketh against me but altering the ministers of thy wrath into milde mercie Graunt I beséech thée that through the assistance of thy holy Spirit I may be led to correct what is amisse and that I may now this day and euer hereafter perseuer in setting ordering and performing all my trauailes councels and studies as best may accord with thy blessed will and cancell the handes of my heauye charge Assist me oh Lord of all power with thy prudent skill and heauenlie grace that I may bee truelie able to aduance Iustice and to hate wrong and so be found faithfull in all that I take in hand Plant I beséech thée by thy heauenlie grace and feare with obedience in mee and kindle in me the loue of thy holy spirit that I may perseuer in the truth of thy word without doubt or wauering to the end Graunt this oh mightie God of Hoastes for the Merites and Passion of thy deare Sonne my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ Amen ¶ A Prayer for the Euening O Most mercifull GOD and louing Father with feare and reuerence I approach to thy throne this night that stealeth on me like a thiefe I thanke thée for preseruing me this day past and I beséech thée suffer me not to fall into the horrours of the night Forgiue me the innumerable offences that I haue cōmitted this day those also which if thy Grace preuent me not I am like to fall into this night Pardon them oh Lord they are more in number then the sand in the Sea and more heauie to me then if Mountaines were layd vpon my breast But I beséech thée receaue me to mercie and giue me grace to be more carefull of the performance of thy holie will Suffer no vncleane thoughts to pollute my bodie and soule and whether I sléepe or wake giue thine Angels charge ouer me that at what houre soeuer thou callest me I may like a faithfull souldier be found ready to attend thée my Lord and God euen for Iesus Christs sake my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen ¶ In the multitude of thy mercies will I enter into thy house oh GOD and in thy feare lift vp my handes and heart towardes thy sacred seate and honour thy Holy name ¶ The Confession of a Sinner O Most blessed Father of euerlasting blisse and gracious giuer of all goodnes I say most precious Patron of all Princely power and God of all mercie I wretched sinner and vncleane Creature with so much humilitie as possible in me is and with full trust in thy goodnesse doe prostrate my selfe before thy Sacred seate confessing my grieuous huge and déepe offences wherewith I haue offended thee my most louing Father euen vntil this houre I haue not feared to commit those execrable wicked déeds which thy onely beloued Son my humble Lord and Sauiour by his bitter bloud-shedding hath washed and with so pinching panges purged I confesse also vnto thée most mercifull father my great and horrible ingratitude wherewith I vnwoorthy creature haue euer most vnthankefullie answered thée and thy Sonne in liew of all the loue goodnesse and fidelitie which thou hast bestowed on mee which now so long and many years hast spared my wickednesse and sinne and benignely suffred all iniurie and contempt offered thée through my disobedience and wilfulnesse Yea thou hast required mee to repentance with great gentlenesse that thereby thou mightest winne my heart to decke thy Habitation therin with the Boughs of thy Loue. And how often oh Lord GOD haste thou knocked at the Doore of my Conscience by thy inspiration wooed mee with thy benefites cheared mee with thy comforts and most mightilie put to flight my dreadfull daungers yet hast thou suffered repulse I haue alwaies turned ny backe to thée and thou notwithstanding haste méekely suffred it Oh how iustlie couldest thou haue throwen me to Hell yet mercifullie hast spared me Truelie it is maruaile most sweet Sauiour that my heart breaketh not through vehement sorrow when I recount these things Neither is Hell it selfe with all his paines of force to correct my malicious wickednesse I am vnworthy to bee called thy creature or one whome the Earth should sustaine or nourishmentes yéeld their naturall food Meruaile it is oh Lord that thy Creatures and Elements do not reuenge the iniurie and contempt which I haue made thée through my manifold iniquities But now most louing Father haue mercie I beséech thée on me and to me miserable and desolate sinner Turne the eyes of thy diuine fauour and with the winges of thy mercie couer my infirmitie Open vnto mee the Bowels of thy benignitie and receiuing me into thy fauour forgiue my slackenesse in turning to thée Open to me thy bosome of bountie and louing kindnesse and replenish me with the nourishment and solace of thy grace I beséech thée Lord God sith of thy mercie and for thy Sonnes
sake thou hast hitherto spared me confirme now that swiftly in me whervnto from the beginning I am ordained And woe to me vnhappie sinner that haue left so louing and mercifull a Father who euer tendered me Yet haue I denyed thée in my heart wherein thou hadst determined the Tabernacle of thy delight and haue defiled it and made thereof a vessell of iniquitie and a denne of vncleane Spirits I confesse my selfe oh Lord the most wicked of all that the world sustaineth But neuertheles I trust in thy goodnesse For as my sinnes be aboue number so is there no number of thy mercies O most louing Father if it séeme good to thée thou canst make me cleane Heale my soule I confesse I haue sinned Remember Lord those comfortable words which thou spakest by the Prophet saying Thou hast done wickedly with many yet turne to me and I will receiue thee Truelie most mercifull Father I trust assuredlie in these swéet words and with my whole heart turne mee to thée as though thou hadst spokē these words to me alone and wouldest call none other for I am the vncleane and vnfaithfull soule the prodigall and wandring Sonne who hath alienated my selfe from that Father of Light from whome all goodnesse springeth loosing and neglecting all thy large giftes which of thy bountifull liberalitie thou hast graunted I haue straied from thée like a wandering shéepe I haue forsaken thée the fountaine of Liuing Water and digged to my selfe muddie pittes séeking outwarde comforts which hold no water haue followed Temporall and transitorie delights which vanish swiftlie as smoake I haue left also the bread of Life and eate the dregs of Swine following mine owne sensuall appetite and beastlie affections I haue forsaken thée the chéefe most perfect and continuall good and haue enclined to terrestriall and transitorie things Therefore I am become Naked Poore Miserable and vncleane and as a Calfe tied doe festure through mine owne infirmities But I praie thée oh Father remember not the contempt and Iniurie thou hast receiued of me pardon the passed faults of my tender yeares let not the old soares of wandring youth in setled yeares breake out to new bléeding woundes Accept the pittifull passion of thy deare Sonne in satisfaction of my former heaped euils graunt Lord to mee sorrofull sinner the assistance of thy holie Spirit to continue this I haue begunne to the health of my Soule and quietnes of mind and my tongue and heart shal speake the Triumph of thy louing kindnesse and mercie both now and euer Amen Eccles 4. Deliuer him that suffreth wrong from the hands of the oppressour and be not faint-hearted when thou sittest in Iudgement decide Law with Equity and Iustice with mercy bee fauourable to the Fatherlesse and bee in steade of a Husband vnto their Mother so shalt thou bee blessed in sight of the Highest and he shall loue thee more then doth thy Father and Mother Eccles 9.12 Day and night let the broad Gates of thy bounty be open to the Discreete and Vertuous Set honour alwaies vppon the head of the lowlye But to the prowde and ambicious keepe thy selfe secret and straunge giue not thy bread vnto him least hee become mightier then thy selfe nor trust not thine Enemy at any time for like as Iron cankereth so doth his wickednesse though he humble himselfe greatly yet locke vp thy mind and beware of him set him not by thee nor on thy right hand least he turne get into thy place take thy roome and possesse thy Seat Pro. 16. The cherefull countenance of the King is Life his louing fauour is as the Euening deaw L Loue God aboue all A Accept the wise D Doe no man wrong I In mercie delight E Expect a reward E Encrease Knowledge L Let vertue guide I In Prayer persever Z Zelously aske A Acknowledge Sinne. B Beware of presumption E Enuie no man T Tender the Helpelesse H Hope for Heauen Holy briefe and comfortable Meditations or Prayers discifering in Alphabet forme the gracious name of the Ladie Elizabeth L LOath not the Prayer of one that is in trouble turne not away thy face from the needie despise not the selie sewter nor grieue the heart of the helpelesse for if he complaine in the bitternesse of his soule his prayer shall be heard euen hee that made him shall heare him LIghten in mee oh God the Image of thy selfe though I looked backe from thy Lawes chastice me to amendment but suffer not the woorke of thy hands to perish Thou hast created my heart and giuen me a will to order the same so Lord I most méekelie yéeld the same again into thy hands I pray thée by thy holie spirite so direct my waies counsels and woorkes that they may be of chiefe regard with thée good God the giuer of all mercie suffer not my Soule to perish through the infirmitie of my flesh For thy Sonnes sake and thine own glorie set both now and euer his death and passion betwéene thy iust Iudgement and the perill of my soule I thirst after thée oh God and sith thou seest my heartie desire is to serue thee and liue in thy rule and to die in thy Faith and fauour allowe of mee and with thy mightie hand assist me Graunt that the Celestiall kingdome of thy grace and mercie euer occupie my heart and worthilie purchase me the sweet participation of thy glorious Throne and Maiestie Deliuer mee Lord through thy grace for in all my proper woorkes and deuises can be found no sure shield of defence for me Cast not away my sorrowfull soule Remember the pittifull Passion of thy deare Sonne and suffer it not to perish Guide my féete in the shining light of thy Veritie carrie me aloft from the snares of the vngodlie and from the traitorous trappes of the malicious saue me Suffer not thou oh Prince of all power who rulest the heauens and earth that any canckred or malicious stomacke rebell or increase against me Pardon my cursed crimes release my direfull debts giue me againe thy grace wrappe vp my woefull wounds that fester in my feeble flesh graffe mee a new with the garnishing of thy grace so shall thy glorie growe and my gained gladnesse heale my groning griefes If I deserue the fulnesse of thy furie to fall vpon me yet as a louing Sauiour rule ouer the roughnesse of thy rage and let thy most meeke mercie measure my paine as thou haste donne vnto numbers Grant most gracious God of all victorie that I may euer haue thy power and right hand to be my resident Rocke of refuge Giue gracious eare to my requests bee thou my staie in euerie storme and perill for all mans staies are vnsteadie Beate downe therefore mine enemies with thine own hand and Sword which art mine onelie aide and Protectour giue me thy grace and I shall neuer cease to giue thée glorie both with my tongue and heart shal I ioyfully sing Dominus illuminatio mea salus mea quem
thine eare and heare mee behold how desolate I am stretch out thy hand and helpe mee Lord I desire to come to thée and my weakenesse is such as without thy helpe I am not able to raise my selfe vnto thée Therefore Lord remember thy swéet promises tarrie not ouerlong strengthen me with thy holie Spirit heare my Praiers and wash me in thy righteousnes I cast not these peticions before thee hoping in mine owne Merites which are are none but trusting in thy great mercie and swéet promises Wherefore Lord heare me and forgiue me and I shall liue for euer L LEt Enmity passe which seeketh Death and Destruction and before thou prayest forgiue els thou heapest vengeance on thy selfe LOrd make thy waies knowen vnto me that I may walke so perfectlie that no kind of Sinne ouercome me Thou leadest straight in iudgement and giuest sight to the blind Thou art neare vnto them that call vpon thée with faithfull heart haue mercie vppon mee heare me and giue me a Heart to pray vnto thée Laye not against mee my sins past but for thine own sake forget them I vnderstand not all mine errours my sinnes haue taken hold on mee and of my selfe I am not able to return Send me therefore thy holy helpe to strengthen mine infirmitie Kéepe my mouth and lips and let the thought of my heart bee acceptable in thy sight Permitte not the woord of Truth to depart my breast suffer not Malice to dwell in my heart Deliuer me from false surmises and accusations of men rule mee after thine owne will and pleasure Remooue from me vanities and let not the foote of Pride take holde on mee so shall I be frée from the greatest sin Stay and kéepe me from euerie euill waye for in thée I trust it is thou onely that canst helpe Looke vnto mee with thy mercies and graunt me grace in thy sight Amen I IN equitie Loue and Truth gather all thy riches in the handes of the poore laye vppe thy Almes and these shall defend thee from euill fight for thee against thy enemies better then the strength of mightie men preserue thy fauour as the apple of an Eye and rise with thee in the day of Iudgement to paye thy reward on thy head IN hope of thy mercie and forgiuenesse most mightie and dreadfull God whose truth is vnspotted I am bold to come before thée My trust is good I shall be heard for that thou hast euer béene the true head of all Iustice and delightest in truth Denie thy selfe thou canst not for thou hast promised In what time soeuer a Sinner doth with a broken heart repent his wickednesse at that instant thou wilt cansell the recordes of thy remembraance and the fowlenesse of his fault shall remaine no blemish to his soule Heare mee now therefore oh Maker of Heauen and earth I acknowledge I haue sinned and done vnpleasant things in thy sight I confesse the misdéedes which rebell against my Soule with Saul saying I haue sinned I haue played the Foole and haue erred excéedingly And with like humble lowlie and faithfull heart as did King Dauid who vnfainedlie cried out his Sinne and became thy seruant So most Holie in hope of the same hire with contrite heart I sigh and say I haue broken thy Lawes and not walked in thy Commandements If I should now recite and number the Mountaines of my misdéedes which ouerwhelme my bodie and that are eager enemies to my pining Soule the day were too short Lord I néede not thy blisfull Seate is aboue the starry Firmament and thou sittest on high beholding what is done amisse in the Earth belowe My wickednes that I most secretlie haue cōmitted to th◠Celestiall eies haue béen manifest Forgiue me good Lord that my tongue may iustifie thy euerlasting Truth that others beholding in me thy manifold mercies may likewise with me be ashamed of their euill and séeke after thy mercie Woe am I that my heart hath béen so long vnacquainted with the Welspringes of thy Truth that my handes haue wrought vnrighteousnesse and heaped sinne vpon sinne Turne awaye from the sight thereof the fulnesse of thy furie Exchange the roughnesse of thy rage into méeke mildnesse before thou correct mee most louing Sauiour I am not able to abide thy heauie displeasure if thou chastice me with thy rodde of Iustice I perish I haue not one good déed to preferre mine offences beare number with the flowers and blossomes of the Spring my truth is no whitte and with vnrighteousnesse all is defiled Forgiue me oh Heauenly King forget thou that art the swéet spring of my soule Giue mee thy holy Spirite that it may be with mee and labour with me to attain thy blessed fauour for mine ignorance cannot desire that I ought neither can my féeble strength without thine ayde rayse mee vnto thy presence Thy Spirit will helpe my debility and make right intercession for all my necessities Thy Spirit will make mee praye with such humblenesse of heart and sorrowfull sighings as no tongue can tell That gift most precious will hold mee vp where flesh would fall and guide my féeble féete in the light of the Lord. The Spirit I say will purge me from all earthly affects and lift me vp to heauenly things Therefore conioyne mee oh God of all mercy to thy holye Spirit to teach mee to tread the steady steppes of thy worthy will So shall I lead my Life in the true Lawe of thy louing kindnesse and with a strong and stable mind perseuer in Prayer vnto the end Graunt mee therefore for thy Truth and Sonnes sake that I may enioye this swéet possession of thy holy Spirit which may alwayes lead my labours after thy lyking and kéepe my heart in thy feare Swéet Iesu make a couenant with mee that I neuer may become an enemie vnto thée any more nether be found vnwoorthy of thy rich mercy and bountifull benefites but that the remainder of my life imployed in thy Seruice may iustly mooue thee to forget the iniquity of my tender yeares Continue thou God of all comfort with increase by the assistance of thy grace what I haue begun So shall I liue to glorifie thy might and mercy for euer and euer Amen Z ZEale anger carefulnesse and sorow cause celeritie of old Age Iustice mercie equity and truth make glad the holy Ghost and to a merrie heart is giuen long life sweet tast ZAcharie spake from thée O Lord saying Like as I deuised to punish you what time your Fathers prouoked mee vnto wrath and spared not Euen so am I now minded to doe well vnto the house of Iuda and Hierusalem therefore feare it not Now the thinges you shall doe saith the Lord are these speake euery man the truth to his neighbour execute Iudgement truely and peaceable within your Portes none of you Imagine euill in his heart and loue no false oathes O Lord of my selfe I am so sinnefull and ignorant that I cannot speake nor thinke a good
owne sight and neither pride nor selfe loue ouertake or at any time allure me to exercise the vnséemely pleasantnes of nature but euer preferring a pure and chast life may winn the victory of all vncleanes and glorifie thée which art the heade and Patrone of al mercy truth singlenesse whose triumphe my tongue shall neuer cease to aduance Therfore most louing Sauiour leaue mée not to my selfe but stand alwaies by mée and with thy stronge hand make my waies sound and perfit confound mine enemies in theire deuises Amen T THou hast sayd most swéete redéemer Christ that the Mountaines shall remooue and the Hiles shall fal downe but thy louing kindenesse woorde mercy truth shall not moue and also that the band of thy peace shall not faile vs. Déere Father I beséech thée for thine owne truth and mercyes sake remember this thy promise Couenant graue it so déepe in the inward partes of my heart that I may neuer forget neyther fall from thée but euer acknowledge thée mine only God and Sauiour Loue thée with all my heart thy people for thy sake exercising iustice mercy and Truth to all thy Creatures and neuer suffering mee to doe that may mooue thy wrath but more and more assisted with thy grace may encrease thy loue and liking and finally obtain thy ioyes euerlasting Amen H HEare these my Prayers sweet Lord Iesu and for thy excéeding Loue which brought thée from the Sacred seate of thy Fathers breste into the wombe of the blessed vergin to banish death and Sinne to redéeme mans nature whereby in thy austere Passion as thou hast restored mée and with so blessed a Shield defended mine eternall death by the selfe same Loue call me that haue wandred home againe to thy Folde renew me with thy spirite confirme mee with strong fayth nourish in me such thy aboundance loue garnish me with thy plentiful grace lade me with infallible hope of thy mercy finally restore all parts in mee which are decaied and quicken in me what so is dead should liue that my spirit set at liberty from Terestriall thinges thou mayst euer dwel in me And my Soule and body assisted with thy ritch guift of all these may fully purely safely and strongly settle them in thée To whome be praise both now and euer Amen ¶ A Prayer ALmightie God which flyest with the winges of the Ayre rydest vpon the Cherubins and hast Empire aboue the Starrie Firmaments Thou that sittest in Sacred seate most hye beholding the wretchednes of man in this lowe Earth attending through thine owne loue his deserts when with any occasion thou maist offer thy mercy Bow downe thy pittiful eies and fauour in me the Image of thy selfe as thou diddest vouchsafe in Zache when thou calledst him out of the Figge trée enritch my eares with the same voice of Remission and Gladnesse as thou diddest his incline thine eares and heare these cries oh Lord redéemer for though I am but Dust Earth ano Ashes yet I am bould strengthened with thy truth and the merits of Christs death and passion to lay my prayers before thée requiring mercie and forgiuenesse of all my sinnes and also the assistance of thy grace to doe thy will all the dayes of my life and to obtayne all these my peticions through Iesus christ thy deare Sonne and my onely sauiour to whome with thée and the holy Ghost be all honor power dominion and glorie for euer and euer Amen A MEDITATION vpon the Lords Prayer ¶ Our Father which art in Heauen TRuelie thou O Almighty Father hast iust Cause to execute thy seuere iudgement vpon vs sinners which so often and gréeuously moue thy wrath and indignatiō against vs but sithence by thy mercy thoue doost not onely pardon but also commaundest and teachest by thy Sonne Iesus Christ that we should hould thée for a father we pray thee through him that thou wilt giue vs a full and sure trust in thy Fatherly clemencie and that we may likewise féele some taste of that securitie which thy Children haue and with ioye call thée Father acknowledge thée loue thee and in all our troubles call vpon thée defend and guide vs that wee may perpetually abide thy Children and let vs not goe out of thy protection Though we bée the Children of wickednes yet let vs not hold thée in stéed of a seuere Iudge when thou wilt that wée shall not only call thée Father but our Father and that we pray not in our owne name alone but in the name of all thy Children Giue vs therefore an vniforme and brotherly loue that in déede we may perceaue our selues to be Brothers Sisters and thée our generall Father Let vs praye for all the rest no otherwise then Fathers were wont to pray for their Children neither suffer any of vs to séeke his own and forget his brother but taking away what enuie hatred or discorde so euer raigneth among vs that as becometh Gods children we may mutually loue one another and trewly call thée not Father but our Father Of our carnall and earthly Fa ther we receue this brickle body and he is such a one as is subiect to death neither are wée sure how longe hee shall remaine a Father Furthermore if aduersity happen he can not chaunge that but thou art a heauenly Father truely farre better and more Nobler So much more right is it then that we contemne for thee our Father Countrey kindred Riches Flesh Blood yea and whatsoeuer is in this world vnder the scope of Heauen This also graunt to vs that wee may bee thy heauenly Children whome thou doost teach that we shall regarde nothing but the soules health and that heauenly Heritage least in this carnall and earthly countrey deceiued stirred vp or letted by ritches wee become heyres of sensuality but trwely let vs say our heauenly Father and that truely wee may be thy heauenly Children Halowed be thy name ALmighty GOD heauenly Father thy holy name is miserably prophaned many wayes in this world scorned taunted and blasphemed when it is applyed to those thinges in which is no glory of thy Deity yea many abuse it imploying it to sinne and truely that vnwoorthy life in a christiā man deserueth to be called a Prophanation of thy holy name graunt therefore to vs good Lord through thy mercy that wee may beware of all those thinges by which the honour and glory of thy name is diminished and purifie vs that the Arts of Magike may be abolished let people cease to enchaunt Diuels or other cretures by thy name see that all disturst and supersticion perish Heresie and wicked doctrine also which notwithstandinge they preferre thy name yet they deceiue many lette them perish be brought to nothing graunt that thy people be not deceiued throgh any outward shew onely of Truth righteousnesse or holinesse Suffer not any man to forsweare himselfe lye or deceiue others by thy name Take from vs O Lord all false aydes which
take vpon thē a shewe of thy name remooue from vs that Spirit of Pride and vayn glory and the study of prayse and glory Graunt that in all our troubles and euilles we may call vppon thy holy name yea in the feare of our conscience and euen when death assayleth let vs not be forgetfull of thy holy name Sée that in all our successe both in woordes and déedes we may praise worship thee onely and not séeke out of these ours but the glory of thy name which alone possessest all things take frō vs O Lord that most foule vice of ingratitude Plant in vs such good workes and life that others may be allured to vs not to our but vnto thy praise and glorie Lord let not other be offended through the vices or euill workes which yet remayne in vs least thy name for our sinnes should be ill spoken of or not henceforth praised Suffer vs not to aske any thing of thee either momentary or eternall which agreeth not to the glorie of thy holy name and praise if wee do aske any such thing of thée in that heare vs not graunt vs so to liue as becommeth Gods Children that we seme not vnworthy of thy holie name Thy Kindgome come IN this miserable and wretched life all kindes of sensual apetite wickednesse beare rule in vs and the euill spirit head and fountaine fo all siin hath gouernment But in thy kingdome O Lord grace and vertue guide the sway Iesus Christ thy deare sonne true patrone of all grace and vertue holdeth empire Thou therefore deare Father fauor vs with thy grace Giue vnto vs a true and constant faith in Christ fortifie vs with a firme sure hope in thy mercy where with our weake and feble conscience may be raysed vp from the feling of sins loade vs with an earnest loue both towardes thée all other thy good Creatures Take from vs distrust desperation and hatred remoue from vs the delightes of the flesh and plant in their stéede an earnest study of chastity with perfect fayth in thée which may worthely winne the rewarde of vndefiled battaile Make vs frée O Lord from discordes ambition warre and discention and let thy kingdome come let vs leade a peaceable mutuall and quiet life Graunt that neither zeale anger or other vyces with the which dissembling hatred are nourished rayne in vs but a milde simplycitie brotherly loue all kind of duties contentment and humilitie suffer vs not to bée afflicted with immoderate sorrow and heauinesse but let vs feele the pleasantnesse of thy grace and mercy and that in fine al our sinnes may be taken away and wée abounding through grace and vertue in our good workes may bee thy kingdome I say our mind our soule with all our strength which thou hast powred on vs may obay thy commaundements and beare thy gouerment neither follow themseules the world the fleshe nor the Deuill Sée Lord that this thy kingdom happely begunne in vs may so grow be increased that wée bée not vnaduisedly oppressed of sin neither causeles do cease from good woorkes for so it may come to passe that we shall labour in vaine Giue therefore vnto vs a firme faith wanting no strength which not onely may instruct vs to a better kind of life but also in that same may happely go forward and euer amongst vs encrease as the Prophet saith Psalm 13. Illuminate mine eies that I slepe not lest whilest the Christian life is but begunne wée negligently goe forward and finally come againe into Sathans power Graunt that wee may constantly endure and thy kingdome to come may performe and consummate the rule begunne in vs. Take vs from this life which is full of sinne and daungers make vs to desire that other life and let vs beginne and continew to hate this graunt that we doe not feare death but rather wish and desire it let vs cast out of our minde the loue of this life thot thou onely maist raigne in vs. Thy Will be done IF wee should conferre our wil with thine it is alwaies naught but thy will is euer best which deserueth that we should loue and desire that Therefore haue mercy vpon vs deare Father and let not any thing be done after our will Grant if any thing happen contrarie to that wee would we may patiently bear it temper so our brickle mettall being the worke of thy hands that if any either speak or hold his peace doe or omitt any thing contrary to our will that thereby wee bee not provoked to anger and impatience Let vs not blaspheme complaine crie out iudge condemne or malitiously accuse others therfore but grant that wee may quietly giue place to those which worke contrary to our will prayse them giuing thankes as to those which stirre vp thy will which is good against ours which is ill And further assist vs that we may patiently beare all trouble need pouerty sicknesse slander imprisonment and all other discommodities and acknowledge all these to happen vnto vs by thy will that our will may be mortified let vs patientlie beare iniuries and take from vs the desire of reuengement suffer vs not to encounter one euill with another nor resist force with strong armes but graunt thy will which hath throwne vs into those euils may satisfie vs and that with thanks-giuing we may beare aduersities If any ill come contrary to that wee would graunt we beseech thee that we iudge not that calamity to proceede either of Sathan our wicked enemy or of ill men but of thy diuine will which doth minister all thinges so that it may let our wil wherby thou mightest the better raigne and beare rule in vs. Graunt that wée may patiently and with ioyfull minde die least any being ouercome with impatience or desperation we séeme lesse obedient to thy will Grant that all members of our body eies tongue heart hands and feete follow not their owne delights but ouercome and constrained may doe all things after thy will Take from vs O Lord a hardened and an vntractable heart frée vs from frowardnesse obstinate and stubborne minds grant that we may obey thy will that we commit our selfe wholy to thy iudgement in all thinges whether they pertaine to the body or the soule whether they bee momentarie or eternall take from vs these horrible vices that we impeach not the fame of any slaunder any rashlie iudge accuse or condemn thē that vice of the tongue I beséech thee amend in vs and teach that if others commit anie euill we may retaine and hide it to thée only let vs shew it and leaue it to thy iudgement that wee may remitte what is committed against vs and let vs take pittie vpon them teach vs to know that none can hurt vs but hée shall more disprofite himselfe before thee that we may bée the rather stirred to mercy then to anger in any thing let vs not reioice if they bee throwne into calamitie which
which may delight thee whether generally or particularly it come into thy mind Sorrow not out of measure nor suffer such imaginations and fātasies take place as though I were so angry that I would not be pleased pardon nor receiue thee againe into fauour for these are the suggestions of the wicked Serpent wherwith he endeauoureth to train thée to desperation whose custome is in the beginning of his illusions to plucke the remembrance of me from their hearts to promise my mercie to them that sinne and confirme the security boldnesse obstinacie of an vngodly wil but afterwards finding them declining and that they will forsake him if by other means hee cannot procure them to euill he setteth vpon the weak and fearefull minds with the assault of Desperation he perswadeth to vnbelief he telleth them that euill custome cannot be ouercome he feareth them with the greatnes of their sinnes committed like a lyer telleth that I will not forgiue sinne But thou my Daughter beleeue him not whatsoeuer thou feelest fall not into Desperation This Contrition sufficeth that it pittieth thee of mine anger wishing thou haddest not transgressed and determinest not to sinne any more But if thou doe erre yet rise again yea again with heartie repentance purpose to sinne no more if thou fal the third time yet rise againe if the fourth or fift time yea lastlie if thou fall seuentie times seuen times so often returne to me and I wil receiue thee Is it not better that I should receiue thee then lose thee together with all my labors and paines which for thy redemption I haue suffered Let nothing O Daughter cal thee away O Daughter let nothing keepe thee from me which art redeemed with my bloud though thou hast giuen thy selfe to the Deuill denied mee an hundred times taken my name in vaine spitt at me slaundered my holie word onelie be forie from thy hart that thou hast done this and I will forgiue thee Let no offence be so great in thine eies that it plucke away the hope of pardon no sinne so ponderous that it may be able to ouercome my mercie I make no differēce whether from few or manie sinnes I deliuer thee all haue neede of my mercie which floweth aboundantlie to euerie man faithfullie asking it Thy wickednesse cannot exceede my mercie the more thou hast sinned the more willinglie I forgiue thee being penitent for the greater the sinner is on whome I bestow my compassion so much the greater is my glorie I am not hard nor sparing but liberall and bountifull to thée my Daughter if thou only haddest committed all the offences that be and I forgaue them my mercy is no whit the lesse There is peraduenture some other thing that feareth thée yet when thou wert ouerpressed with sinne that which thou diddest then willingly cōmit now against thy wil are compelled to bear whatsoeuer vnwillingly thou sufferest shall not damne thée nor spoile thée of my grace for sinne must be so voluntarie that if it be not voluntarie it is no sinne bridell therefore thy will from consenting and then suffer the Flesh and the Diuell to rage and though by thy former life and conuersation thou hast deserued euill yet because thou truly repentest thereof and doest studie to liue better thou shalt not be guiltie of that thou sufferest so thy will consent not And if at anie time the Diuell suggest thée with blasphemous or cursed thoughtes against mee and my Omnipotency be not therefore troubled or faint hearted For so long as thou hast not voluntarily erred or performed consent thou doest rather suffer then do offence when these things bring thee rather heauinesse and affliction then delights they are no way to be feared but I suffer thée to feele them and they to molest thée that thou mightest be rather thereby defiled Therefore truely the Diuell stirreth vp those thinges that whilest thou goe about to resist them thou mightest bee hindered and letted from the taste of my loue and being so much astonied fear to come to me For he reioyceth when thou wallowest in doubts troubles but thou Daughter feare no such thing looke not toward them answere them not striue not against them nor take any héed to them but rather as one vntroubled goe forward in thy exercise passing by and contemning such chances as the barking of dogs and hissing of geese for if thou wouldest renue dispute feare and discusse them thou dost alwaies more printe them in thy mind and tangle thy selfe in greater trouble The penitent Soule after it hath taken some knowledge and taste of my goodnes considering that I am so good and so mercifull and finally that I am so slow to impute sinne that I doe not only pardon it but also receiue him into my fauour and friendship as thogh he had neuer sinned I comfort him and bestow on him gifts Thus whilest the afflicted conscience doth meditate yea euen of his fall I say hee getteth to himselfe a great occasion of feruentnesse and thankfulnes towards me a far greater occasion of hatred and displeasure towardes himselfe whilest he rigorously accuseth his owne follie for despising me a God so mercifull vnto him as whom iustlie I might both condemn and destroy I spare comfort and deale boūtifully with so that how much the more hee perceiueth my mercie to him so much the more is he moued with greater zeale of Iustice against himselfe and in a manner desireth to be reuenged on himselfe for the contempt of mee whereby it commeth to passe that hee doth not onely desire pardon and reconciliation for his sinnes but suffereth the dignity of my iustice humbleth himselfe and punisheth himself because he hath wickedly lift vp himselfe against me whereof procéedeth that how much the more he perceiueth himselfe comforted of me so much the more hee abhorreth and detesteth his own vnworthinesse and with sorrow disdaineth the enormitie of his sinnes maruailing how he could be so vngrateful to me As a droppe of water on the burning fire so are the sinnes consumed of that Soule which is come to this zeale that it no lesse loueth my iustice then mercy Therfore amongst all kindes of repentance there is not a better for man then continually to consider my great loue and fidelity towards him and contrarily his owne infidelity ingratitude and frowardnesse towards me The Diuell is so enuious to my Seruants that hee omitteth no time in tempting them and euen when they are about to repent and bewaile their sinnes he chiefly casteth in doubts causing thē againe and againe to confesse their faults that thereby they might neuer attaine to any quietnes but distrust all their confessions when they find any circumstance or offence neglected whereof they haue not made mention But beware O my Daughter thou fall not I am thy Confessour It is onely I that can ease thy burthen cure thy wounded conscience and refresh thy hungry Spirit Oh how it grieueth me to sée thee alwayes conuersant in
corruption and troubled in recounting thy sinnes to him that cannot forgiue thée Wherefore cast thy selfe on me onely and I will deliuer thee for if a thousand yeares thou wouldest search thy selfe and bee confessed of ten thousand thou shalt not be cleansed Quando enim exhauries Abissum Therefore commit thy selfe to mee onely I will make thee safe whensoeuer with all diligence thou shalt goe about to confesse thy fault let mee alone with Mercy to thee acknowledge that thou canst not cleanse thy selfe say that thou haddest need of my mercy confesse that thou canst not answere one word to a thousand thinges wherewith I might charge thee but art in euery worke vnsufficient and hast need of my Mercie Wherefore trust not to thy Confessions but in my Mercy for by it thou shalt be iustified And whilest thou art too much conuersant in the care of thy sinnes thou mightest turne vnto me and enioy my gratious presence Doest thou not note the subtlety of the enemie To this end hee suggesteth thee with the number of thy sins and thoughts of thy wickednesse that thou mightest neglect things to thée more wholesome Know thou this therfore chiefly that my delight is that thou shouldest thinke of my goodnesse séeke mée in simplenesse Thou shalt finde mée gentle godly full of compassion and chiefe in mercy trust in mée hope in mée séeke my fauour séeke my friendshippe and familiarity and for the better obtaining of these direct thy exercise in holinesse Thou shalt vndoubtedly féele a farre more beautifull fruit if thou diligentlie care how to loue please and follow me then by brusing thy selfe with scruples of thy confessions for déeming to search out and abolish doubts thou doest rather engender to thée doubtfuller things thou canst not think me too pittifull or mercifull so that thou doe not presume vpon my mercies neyther canst thou giue mee ouer much credite Wherefore accustome thy selfe to thinke well of me and belieue that I will not condemne thée For truly whosoeuer is willing to correct his life and despayreth not him will I saue I am well pleased O Daughter that thou art so sory thou hast offēded and that thou wilt not sinne hereafter Now thou art in State of saluation why fearest thou I am rich in infinite mercies Thus thinke of me for therby thou doest mee more hodour then if thou diddest imagine me cruell and hard or shouldest so much feare as though I watched onely to intrappe men in this or that doubt or circumstance they had omitted But yet when any great offence cōmeth in thy minde confesse thy fault with al humilty and sorrow of hart and desire grace to amend and after rest in peace and cast all the Diuelish doubts vpon me I desire thée I am willing to enioy thy friendshippe I require to bee loued of thee see therefore that thou answere my good will Vnderstand know and iudge thy selfe to be a sinner Say in many things thou hast offended that thou art most ingratefull a Rebell spitefull and blasphemous against thy Commandements and will And hereof so much humble thy felfe that thou dare not once lift vp thine eies before me since thou art full of loathsomnesse and abhominations There be certaine so esteeming their committed euils that they are moued with thē either to pleasure and delight or contrariwise to desperation or some such like inconuenience But thou when thou wilt thinke thy selfe a sinner and humble thy self shake off the dreams of thy sinnes and turne vnto me conferre with me touching thy sinnes and infirmities powre out thy complaints before mee reason with me accuse thy selfe to me of thy crimes committed so shall thy accusation of sinnes be conuerted into praier Wherefore when thou hast turned to mée plead thy cause in Prayer for by this means thy conscience shall bee made cleare and quiet thy affection also to me directed shall be by me inflamed But now of Satisfaction for Sinnes Imbrace this counsell That whatsoeuer thy hand is able to doe that instantly worke yet not with that mind or to that end as though therewith thou couldest make satisfaction for thy sinnes For to the accomplishing of this thou oughtest to thinke all thy workes too vnworthie and far vnable But do that thou canst euery way to please me whome thou hast offended desire me that with the merites of my passion and most holy life I will punish thine offences and satisfie my Father for them This humility this sure trust in me with which thou debasest thy selfe thy works and extollest me and my merites excelling the workes of thy satisfaction since that one droppe of my bloud is of more value to Satisfaction then al mans deserts which hath already made Satisfaction for the sins of the whole world Such humility allureth mee to thee and causeth mee to cōmunicate with thee the treasure of my merites Wherefore let this chieflie be thy study that thou neglect not my good pleasure but cōtinually to thinke on me desire me loue me and whatsoeuer I commaund and will diligently performe then if thou haddest infinit heaps of sinnes I will forgiue them all as fréely as if thou haddest but one neither is it lesse easie for me to forgiue many then few It is a maruailous thing that I will say but yet most true and certainely to bee beléeued if the whole worlde were a fierie Globe and in the middest of it were thrown a bundell of Flaxe this of his naturall effect should not so soone receiue the slame of fire as I will receiue the repentant and sorrowfull sinner to mercy for in that naturall act is required some tarriance though very little and peraduenture not to be perceyued but here is no tarriance at all betwéene the penitent and him that forgiueth betwéene the sorrowfull and him that heareth the sighes Thou therefore daughter reiect all inordinate feare desirous to please me with thy holy heart study to be holy for I am holy willingly offēd not though in neuer so little or light a thing but shunne the occasion so much as in thee lyeth wisely withdraw thy selfe from the society of mans superstitious communicatiōs and from vnprofitable and euill occupations be not solitarie bée not idle spend the time thriftily to my honour occupie thy selfe in reading the Holy Scriptures where thou shalt find my Life and Passion Plant in thy heart my trouble Crosse and persecution walke before me in Holinesse with feare and reuerence perswading thy selfe that I am neuer absent from the Godly but doe instantly hold them diligently bridle and kéepe thy senses and tongue if thou loue much babling thou canst not profite embrace sobernesse and reasonable continences shun vanity and the pomp of pride sensuality and vnlawful pleasures sée thou follow not but diligently endeauour to keep thee vndefiled fight couragiously against vices faithfully pray to mee that thou mayest breake and ouercome the wicked passions and inclinations do as much as thou art able yet trust not to
were healed by touching his garment so neuer vnprouided is his goodnesse and at all times hee giueth comfort to the weake If thou bee afraide to call vpon Iesus if thou canst not come vnto him yet at the least touch the edge of his garment Reade the Scriptures follow the doctrine of the Apostles for by them he often sheweth his vertue and telleth of thy sauing health O blind vnthankefull which despise the grace of God so ready to bee obtained But O thrice wretched which despaire in that which is willingly and freely offered hee is easily pacified that is reuenged against his will What other meaning hath this Phrase but that the Lord leaueth no way vnsought for to bring vs to Saluation and we wittingly forsake the hope of Saluation And why wilt thou die O house of Israel with teares he lamented Hierusalem which heaped vengeance vnto it selfe by theyr malicious errours O Ierusalem sayth hee how often would I haue gathered thee together as the hen gathereth her Chickens and thou wouldest not Our humble Sauiour weepeth because hee may not saue vs miserable sinners and wee despaire in him as though he would not saue vs who haue deserued his fearefull iudgements for our iniquities committed against him All the House reioyced where the Son which dyed was reuiued and receyued againe that perished That good Father calleth the company of the Heauens to reioyce ouer the penitent Sinner and thou wretch despayrest enuying both thine owne safegard and the gladnesse of God Shall we beleeue that hee will not pardon malefactors who lamenteth the death of a Sinner and reioyceth at the conuersion of the Penitent He calleth all men to the mariage Feast hee would haue his house filled with strāgers maketh the Blinde and the lame to come in And why stayest thou Caitife Why forsakest thou not thy Swinish soile Why striuest thou against the mercy of God there can be no greater folly then for vaine and variable things to forsake Eternity There is no greater wisedome then for a little sufferanee to gaine immortality Great is their ignorance therefore which perseuere in their naughtines But greater is the wisedome of those that liue in newnesse of life O what cost we bestow what paines wee take in finding corruptible mettals and how little wee care for the treasure of Gods mercy which is laid open and fréely offered to vs. The Lord is rich in mercy The treasure of worldlie wealth may be wasted by profuse expence but the bounty of Gods goodnesse hath no bottome God hath assured his Faith to man and as Paule writeth he cannot denie himselfe He offereth to be challenged and reproued if hee hath not performed his promises For thus he speaketh in Esay to a wicked generation Lift vp your selues and bee cleane take away the thought of evill cease frō mischiefe learne to do good seeke iudgement helpe the oppressed iudge the innocēt defend the widdow come and reproue mee saith the Lord. Hearest thou now wretched man what else requires our gratious God of thée but amendement of life And that the enormity of thy haynous crimes may not exanimate thee attend to the ready remission If thy sinnes sayth he were as red as scarlet I will make them as whit as Snow and if you wil harken to me you shall eate the Fruits of the earth O cursed Progenie of Eue why doest thou yeelde to the deceitefull promises of the Deuill that allureth thée to destruction and art deafe at the Son of God which would associate thee with euerlasting ioy Repent sayth he for the kingdome of God is at hand The Sonne of God promiseth the Father commandeth thee the holy Ghost inuiteth thée and yet thou art scrupulous to receiue that which is offered The voyce of the Apostles is the voice of God and they cry Repent and be baptised in the Name of Iesus Christ for the remission of your sinnes and receiue the gift of the Holy Ghost Forsake your foule filthy and abhominable traditions and seeke the kingdome of Heauen There runne vnto Christ Souldiers Publicans Harlots Idolaters man-slears sorcerers bawds Incestuous persons none are exempted all haue frée course to the mercy of God their former life is not imputed to them if they repent and amend their liues Like as the ground often moistned with heauenly dew yet yéeldeth his Tiller nothing but thorns brambles is worthy to bee had in contempt and to be giuen to the fire So God many times for the contempt of his goodnesse giueth Sinners vp to their reprobate sense wherfore it is best to leaue off procrastination of amendment of life and when the Lord calleth vs to cast of the Old man with his déed and concupiscenses least God which hath been denied to be hard as the least refuse to heare our complaints Horrible is the voyce wherwith he threasneth those which wil not heare him that so graciously calleth Because saith he I haue called and you haue refused I haue stretched out my hand and there was no man that would looke because you haue despised my counsell and set at naught my admonitions I will laugh at your destruction when that shall come to passe which you feared when abortiue misery shall come vpon you the storms of destruction shall prevent you when sorrow and anger shall possesse and oppresse you then wil you cal vpō me I wil not hear they wil rise betime in the morning but they shall not find me becaus they haue hated my discipline and haue beene voide of the feare of God haue not hearkned vnto my counsel haue defiled my correction In this life there is hope of mercy Wherefore while thou liuest call for the grace of God and amend thy life The carefull God of our saluation hath suffered mightie and maruailous men to erre that wee by their example might haue comfort and not dispaire in hope of pardon In Holy Scripture who is more commended then King David who was both a King a Prophet a chosen man after the hearts delight of God out of whose stocke came the Sauiour Christ But into how many and grieuous crimes fell so mighty a man Yet hearing Nathan pronounce the grieuous threatenings of God cried out Lord I haue sinned And Nathan sayde But the Lord hath taken away thy sinnes thou shalt not die God suffered Peter to offend grieuouslie and yet when hee had lamented he obtayned mercy Whē he gaue him charge ouer the sheepe for which he shed his precious bloud was it likely that hee ment to remember the denying of him thrice no no he had so fréely forgotten it that there remayned no iote imprinted in the memory of our louing God Wee haue many examples of Sinners and not a few of the penitent the example of none ought to moue vs to sinne let vs not too much trie God if any mā bee incumbred with iniquity hee hath examples of repentance let him not despaire They doe euil which wil
not repent with them whom they haue transgressed withall After David had willingly confessed his fault and acknowledged the iust iudgement of God behold what great hope he conceyued of the mercy of God Sprinckle me O Lord saith he with I sope and I shall be cleane Wash mee and I shall bee whiter then snowe By the sprinckling of the bloud of the immaculate Lambe he promiseth to himselfe clearenesse too thogh he acknowledge his conception to be sinfull yet by this washing hee hopeth after the whitenesse of iunocency which passeth the whitenesse of the Snow And he trusteth not only in the innocency but looketh to sée his doubtful penitency turned into heauenlie ioy Thou shalt make me hear joy and gladnes saith David that the boÌ„es which thou hast broken may reioyce Giue mee the comfort of thy helpe and stablish me with thy free spirite O singular faith of a sinner what man hath at any time cried Iesu haue mercy on me but forthwith he hath obtayned grace Take pitty Lord sayeth the woman of Canaan and her daughter was was healed The blind poore man cryed out O Sonne of David haue mercy on me and he receyved sight Let vs heartily zealously constantly call on him and in the midest of our miseries say Iesu thou Sonne of David haue compassion vpon vs. And of poore impotent beggers hee will make vs fellow heyres with him of the kingdome of Heauen He hath opened the sanctuary of his holinesse and thou runnest into the dungeon of dispayre hee hath stretched out his hand to thee thou turnst away thy face he openeth the gates of Heauen and thou hastest to destruction behold the bosome of his goodnes and thou créepest into the lake of vnhappinesse The Theefe that hung on the Crosse heard him saying This day thou shalt be with me in Paradise and thou offerest thy selfe to the Deuill The mercy of God came vnto vs wheÌ„ he sent his Son into the earth Let vs therefore goe to it Let vs incline to him as he did to vs The way is first to leaue our life For first the Physitians vse to purge the body that they may minister wholesomer Medicines Forsake O thou Sinner thy wicked imaginations which fight against God leau to lust be not couetous refrain riot flie arrogancy that God may powr his blessings vpon thee He that persisteth in his wickednesse and calleth for grace is like to an enemie which being ready armed asketh peace of his Master hee that asketh receyueth he that séeketh findeth and hee that knocketh hath it opened vnto him if thou wilt desire mercy craue it truely if thou séeke it séek it indeed if thou knock at the gate of forgiuenesse knocke earnestly If thou require an example of one that faithfully craued the fauour of God Marke the Prodigall Child who leauing his Swine returned to his Father and said Father I haue sinned against Heaven and against thee make me as one of thy hired servants Marke the Publicane which for the guiltinesse of his conscience dare not lift vp his eyes to heauen dare not come to his redéemer but standing a farre off hee knocketh his breast and saith Lord bee mercifull vnto me a Sinner S. Hierome affirmeth the offence of Iudas to be greater in despayring the mercie of God theÌ„ in betraying Christ as Cain stirred God to anger more through desperation of pardon then by the slaughter of his brother Abel Manie which haue persecuted Christ being conuerted beléeuing in him haue obtained pardon are made examples to man that he ought not to distrust the remissioÌ„ of his wickednes seeing the death of our Sauior is forgiuen to the penitent Wilt thou heare saith Augustine the mercy of God leaue thy abhomination hee will forgiue thée Wilt thou see the truth of God do good thou shalt be crowned with Iustice God is not so mercifull to vse vniustice nor so iust to be vnmerciful but som man wil say meÌ„ encrease their offeÌ„ces by too much hope but how much doe they enlarge their guiltines by distrust of remission If there were no forgiuenes then thou wouldâ—t rage say I am wretched I am condeÌ„ned why is not my law why shall I not fill my selfe with sacietie if after this there bee nought but torment this would be thy saing O worse then dispayre it selfe Hee doth better therefore that correcteth thée with promise of forgetfulnesse and sayth I will not the death of a finner but that he convert and liue God by his promise would not haue sinners to presume but his will is they should not in any wise distrust and therefore he hath made them ignorant of the day of their death if thou repent present pardon is prouided no day is prefixed Wherefore to conclude if thou hast liued well till this day and still abidest in this life liue well amend thy life and beholde forgiuenesse and bee sure that what hee hath pardoned shall not bee imputed to thee againe which for his merry he grant that taketh away the Sinnes of the world Amen CONSOLATIO NVLLA maeroris magnitudo nulla angustiarum acerbitas nulla defectuum multitudo nulla scelerum enormitas te ad desperationem nimiamve pusillanimitatem adducat Quantumcunque peccaveris semper Dej misericordia in infinitum excedit tuas iniquitates Quantumcunque infirmus sis semper illius benignitas a diuvare parata est tuam fragilitatem Vult potest Deus sanare ac liberare te si ad eum verè conuerteris atque humilis factus ipsum piè inuocas speras in eo O quam homini salutaris Deo grata est spes atque confidentia illa quam Dei amor sanctaque humilitas parit quae homineÌ„ non ad negligentiaÌ„ vel incuriaÌ„ sese emendandi neque ad facilitatem peccandi pertrahit sed magis ad conatum proficiendi extimulat THE AVTHORS Prayer IN the deapth of thy mercy O Lord bow down thine eyes behold encline thine eares and heare stretch out thine Arme and helpe for I am thine vnworthy creature and haples man that thorow thy rodde of wrath haue experience of most wretched misery Mine enemies pursue mée with gaping iawes and whetted teeth saying within themselus let vs now deuoure him for the time that we looked for is come wee doe find and sée it They haue fortified round about me and haue inclosed me with tormeÌ„t and trauell My flesh and skin are made old my bones are bruised they haue hedged me that I cannot gett out haue said heauy links vpoÌ„ me Helpe Lord thy seruant whome thou neuer faylest I cry and call pittiously yet am I not heard my innocency is trodden downe and my life suddued with like surmises My mourning they dayly heare but comfort I find farre off They haue stopped vp my wayes with quartred stones and made my pathes crooked They lay wayte for me as wilde Beares and deuouring Dragons with open mouth deliuer me from their gréedy gripes