night at hand Blesse me I beseech thee this night and take mee into thy custodie saue me waking keepe me sleeping that I may both sleep and wake in peace and safetie Prepare me O Lord for the day following the holy sabbath the hallowed day of thy rest and my great dutie and then so vnlocke the mysteryes of thy holy word vnto mee that I may therein learne the lessons of thy glorious Maiestie and mine owne mortalitie Graunt me ô Lord such grace as I may make a right vse of all things and that the hearing of thy word the good examples of thy seruants agreeing with the rule of thy word may bee both as a bridle to restraine me from sin and a spurre to set me forward to all holinesse of life and conuersation in this world O Lord grant mee these all other good things euen for Iesus Christs sake my onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer for the Morning O Lord God most mightie mercifull Father I vnworthy creature acknowledge mine owne vilenes naturall corruption and abhominable sinnes many times committed against thee I beseech thee admit mee to render thee my bounden thankes for thy manifold mercies extended towards me this night past and all other times of my life for my rest and sleep my food and rayment my health peace and liberty and the hope of a better life in the merites of thy Sonnes bitter passion Now deare Father I beseech thee to continue thy mercifull fauour vnto me this day and euer hereafter Forgiue me all mine vnthankfulnes vnkindnes and prophanenes towards thee thy word and seruice or towards my Neighbour Set all my sinnes ouer to that reckoning which thy Sonne Iesus Christ my Lord hath made vp for them vpon his Crosse neuer lay any of them to my charge but freely forgiue and forget all O Lord strike my heart with thy rod that I may alway be furnished for a true and vnfained repentance that I may not be blinded in my sinnes to delight in them or to think that thou wilt not respect my vntowardnesse but that I may be weary of them grieue for them and by all means possible striue to attaine to a true mortification of the flesh and so liue holily and iustly and soberly in this present world O good God I humbly intreat thee leaue me not to my selfe mine owne lusts and desires but assist mee with thy grace to hearken vnto thee and thy word to passe my time in feare and trembling as an obedient childe of so good a Father Blesse me Lord this day and prosper all that I shall take in hand let mee haue all my directions from thy will and the successe from thy mercifull hand Giue mee a competent stay for the maintenance of this mortall life Continue may food and rayment health peace and liberty that I may with a quite minde thankefull heart passe my time in this vale of miserie doing good to all men after mine abilitie without disgrace to my selfe or harme to any one Grant these good things most mercifull God and all other needefull graces not onely vnto me but vnto all thy deere children in the world to the good of our soules and bodies for Iesus Christs sake in whose name I further call vpon thee as he hath taught vs in his Gospell saying Our Father which art in Heauen c. A Prayer for the Euening O Eternall GOD and most mercifull Father I doe confesse against my selfe that my heart and hands are full of all filthines and sinnes whatsoeuer and I am altogether vnworthy to speake vnto thee or to come neere thy presence Neuerthelesse beeing so much bound vnto thee as this day past and all other times of my life doe witnesse I offer vnto thy holines by the hands of Iesus Christ my Mediator my humble dutie of praise and thanksgiuing for my creation election redemption vocation and sanctification with all other good graces appertaining to this life or that which is to come And namely ô Lord my tongue and lippes shall glorifie thee sitting aboue the Cherubins for preseruing me this day past from so many miseries and casualties whereinto I might iustly haue fallen if thou wouldest haue entred into iudgement with mee But Lord thou art mercifull passest by my offences to winne me by thy long sufferance I beseech thee make mee thankfull for all thy mercies O Lord pardon and forgiue mee all my sinnes graunt me euery day more and more the sight and feeling of them with heartie sorrow and vnfained repentance for the same Giue mee grace to belieue all the sweet promises that thou hast made vnto mee in Christ Iesus both for the remission thereof and the hope of a better life strengthen me from aboue with thy mighty hand to walke in euery good way without feare and to bring forth the fruits of a true liuely faith in my life and conuersation all the dayes of my life Arme me O Lord with thy grace and holy spirit against all the common corruptions of the world the temptations of the Diuell and the allurements of the flesh and settle my minde to the continuall exercise of deuout prayer with the hearing of thy sacred word watching for thy comming both publike and priuate Continue thy goodnesse towards mee in prouiding for mee such things as are necessarie for the maintenance of this present life and blesse the same vnder my hand that the little which I haue may be increased and the increase may serue as well to furnish my necessarie vses as to minister vnto the necessities of others according to mine abilitie Keepe mee Lord this night from all euils which may happen either vnto my body or my soule Extend thy goodnesse toward all those that depend vpon me or I on them Giue me quiet sleepe and rest and when I shall awake let all my thoughts and cogitations be holy meditations on thee and thy law Blesse me O Lord all the nights and dayes of my life and at the end thereof send me a blessed departure and afterward a ioyfull resurrection vnto life eternall Graunt me these good things most mercifull father and all other needfull graces for Iesus Christs sake in whose name I further call vpon thee as hee hath taught vs in his Gospell saying Our Father c. Short Prayers for Morning and Euening by I. F. 1581. A short Prayer for the Morning GOD of Light who hast preserued mee and brought mee from the darkenesse of this night shine into my heart this day and euer by thy blessed and holy spirit that I may be enlightened and ledde into all Truth that I may walke faithfully as the childe of light before thee casting away the workes of darknesse in the place that thou hast set me doing and performing diligently those things that thou hast required of me either to the praise of thy name or to the comfort of my Brethren Graunt this good Lord I humbly beseech thee for Iesus Christs
vpon our distressed brethren comfort the desolate widdowes and prouide for all fatherlesse children Gather vs together againe that by these means are dispersed continue thy mercifull worke in diminishing our dead number till wee may iustly say in confidence thanks with the Prophet Wee shall not die but liue and declare the workes of the Lord. Grant this O Lord for Iesus Christs sake our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen The ancient Prayer called O bountifull IESV O BOVNTIFVLL Iesu ô sweet Iesu ô IESV the Sonne of the Virgin Mary which art full of mercy and truth ô sweet Iesu haue pittie vpon mee according to thy great mercie O benigne Iesu by the same precious blood which thou wast content to shed vpon the Altar of the Crosse for vs miserable sinners I beseech thee vouchsafe to cast all mine iniquities out of thy sight and despise not mee who thus humbly beg of thee crying and calling vpon thy holy Name Iesus This Name Iesus is a sweet Name this Name Iesus is a Name of Saluation for what is Iesus but a Sauiour O good Iesus which hast created me and redeemed me with thine owne blood suffer not mee whom thou hast made of nought to be damned O good Iesus let not my wickednesse haue power to destroy me whom thine Almightie goodnesse hath made O good IESV reknowledge that which is thine in mee and that which is not of thee take that away from mee O good Iesus euen now while the time of mercie is haue mercie vpon me and let me not be confounded at the time of thy fearefull iudgement O good IESVS although I vile sinner by thy streight Iustice haue deserued to be punished euerlastingly for my most grieuous sins yet hauing sure confidence in the truth of thy righteousnesse I appeale to thine vnspeakeable mercy I am sure thou wilt haue mercy vpon mee like a louing Father and a mercifull Lord. O good IESVS what profit is there in my blood if I descend into the pit of eternall corruption For surely they that be dead shall not magnifie thee nor any that goe downe into the place of silence O most mercifull Iesu haue mercy vpon mee ô most sweet Iesus deliuer mee O most holy Iesus be mercifull vnto me a sinner O IESVS accept mee wretched sinner among the number of them whom thou hast elected to saluation O Iesus the health of all that hope in thee the life of all that beleeue in thee haue mercie vpon me O sweet Iesus the remission of all my sinnes O Iesus the Sonne of the Virgin Mary powre thy grace into my heart endue mee with wisedome charitie chastitie and humilitie and in all mine aduersitie grant me a holy inuiolable and stedfast patience that I may perfectly loue thee and haue my onely delight and affiance in thee world without end Amen Supplications OF SAINTS The Third Part. Dauid alone PSAL. 142. 1. 2. With my voyce vnto the Lord did I make my Supplication I powred out my complaint before him This Part containeth Prayers in the names of diuers parties of seuerall estates with a forme of generall thanskgiuing PSALME 112. 6. The righteous shall be had in euerlasting remembrance Queene Elizabeths Prayer of Thanksgiuing for the ouerthrow of the Spanish Nauy sent to inuade ENGLAND Anno 1588. MOst omnipotent Creator Redeemer and Conseruer When it seemed most fit time to thy worthy Prouidence to bestow the workmanship of this worlds Globe with thy rare iugdement thou didst diuide into foure singular parts the forme of all this Mold which after-time hath tearmed Elements all they seruing to continue in orderly Gouernment of all the masse Which all when of thy most singular bountie and neuer yerst seene care thou hast this yeere made serue for instruments to daunt our foes and to confound their malice I most humbly with bowed heart and bended knees doe render my humbliest acknowledgments and lowliest thanks And not the least for that the weakest Sexe hath been so fortified by thy strongest helpe that neither my people need finde lacke by my weaknesse nor Forreiners tryumph at my ruine Such hath beene thy vnwonted grace in my DAYES as though Sathan hath neuer made Holy-day in practising for my life and state yet thy mightie hand hath ouerspread both with the shade of thy wings so that neither hath beene ouerthrowen nor receiued shame but abide with blessing to thy most glory and their greatest ignominy For which Lord of thy meere goodnesse graunt vs grace to be hourely thankfull and euer mindfull And if it may please thee to pardon my request giue vs thy continuance in my dayes of like goodnesse that my yeares neuer see change of such grace to me but especially to this my kingdome which LORD graunt for thy Sonnes sake may flourish many ages after my end Amen Queene Elizabeths Prayer for the successe of her Nauie Anno Domi. 1596. MOst omnipotent MAKER and GVIDER of all Worlds Masse that onely searchest and fadomest the bottome of all hearts-conceits and in them seest the true originall of all actions intended Thou that by thy foresight doest truely discerne how no malic of reuenge nor quittance of iniurie nor desire of bloodshed nor greedines of lucre hath bred the resolution of our now set-out Armie but a heedfull care and a wary watch that no neglect of foes nor ouersuertie of harme might breed either danger to vs or glory to them These being the grounds thou that didst inspire the mind we humbly beseech thee with bended knees prosper the worke and with the best fore-windes speed the Iourney giue the victorie and make the returne the aduancement of thy glory the trump of thy Fame and suertie of thy Realme with the least losse of English blood To these deuout petitions Lord giue thy blessed graunt Amen Queene Elizabeths Prayer for her Nauie Anno Dom. 1597. O GOD All-maker Keeper and Guider Inurement of thy rare seene vnused and seeldheard-of goodnes powred in so plentifull sort vpon vs full oft breeds now this boldnes to craue with bowed knees and hearts of humilitie thy large hand of helping-power to assist with wonder our iust cause not founded on prides motion nor begun on malice-stock but as thou best knowest to whom nought is hid grounded on iust defence from wrongs hate and bloody desire of conquest For sithens means thou hast imparted to saue that thou hast giuen by inioying of such a people as scornes their blood-shed where safetie ours is none Fortifie deare GOD such hearts in such sort as their best part may be worst that to the truest part meant worst with least losse to such a Nation as despise their liues for their Countryes good That all forraine Lands may laud and admire the omnipotencie of thy worke a fact alone for thee onely to performe So shal they name be spred for wonders wrought and the faithfull encouraged to repose in thy vnfellowed grace and we that minded nought but right be in chained in thy
regeneration hast appointed vs to receiue oft-soones the blessed Sacrament of thy Supper for confirmation of our faith haue mercy vpon mee vile wretch who for my naturall corruptions and manifolde transgressions am not worthy to approach vnto thy Table or come neere thy house Oh gracious God pardon me and disdaine not to accept mee into thy fauour but forgiue mee all my sins that I haue done said or thought in pride wrath enuy gluttony sloth couetousnesse or wantonnesse giue mee a true and liuely faith to beleeue thy word and the promise of my pardon annexed to thy Sacraments Inflame mee with loue charity towards all men to forgiue and forget to doe good to pray for them that I may follow the steps of my blessed Sauiour Open the eies of mine vnderstanding and helpe mee to examine my selfe concerning my knowledge faith and repentance Send mee the hunger and thirst after this righteousnesse satisfie me with this heauenly foode make me verily partaker of all the benefits of his Passion Oh deare Lord Iesus since thou hast suffred so many things for my sake and hast commanded mee not to dispaire nor distrust thy goodnesse graunt mee grace to eate of this bread and drinke of this Cuppe worthily that I may continually remaine in thy grace and fauour O Lord GOD the FATHER giue mee the full consolation of this misterie and commemoration that my Faith may be increased my hope confirmed my charitie inflamed my weake conscience comforted all dangers repelled and my soule assured of her saluation in the blood of Christ Let no prophanenesse enter into my heart so long as I am about this holy action but giue mee grace to receiue with puritie of heart and cleannes of soule with loue dread and stedfast Faith Haue mercy vpon mee good Lord that by vnworthy receiuing I bee not guilty of his precious body and blood who came downe from heauen liued with men swam through a red sea of blood in his agonie and passion to be my Redeemer Haue mercy vpon the whole Church and to this purpose haue mercy vpon this place and this company that they may serue and please thee in this holy seruice and all other actions of their life for Iesus Christs sake Amen ¶ Another of the same before the Communion Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of that Bread and drinke of that Cup. O Almightie God and merciful father I am a secret sinner and my heart is a bottomlesse pit of all corruptions wilfully and foolishly ignorantly obstinately haue I sinned against thee vnto whose eye all the secrets of my soule lie open but now I come vnto thee as a sicke man vnto the Physitian as an vncleane man to the well of mercie grace offered in the precious bloodshedding of Iesus Christ and represented vnto my soule in this blessed Sacrament Haue mercie vpon mee O Lord haue mercie vpon me and forgiue me all the euill that I am guiltie of Giue me grace that I may discerne the Lords body and so reeciue ie in this Sacrament with such chastitie of body humblenes of minde thankfulnesse of soule hearty contrition dread and reuerence as is meet for so high a mystery O Lord Iesus it is truely said of thee that thou didst receiue sinners and eate with them and I verily belieue that thou art the same still full of goodnesse and mercie wherefore I beseech thee leaue me not to my selfe reiect mee not from thy table Come into my heart and purge me from all filthinesse of the flesh and Spirit Enter into my soule seale and sanctifie mee both within and without O Lord be not angry with mee a barren and dry tree a creature with a face of brasse and heart of flint I haue not so many teares as are sufficient to wash thy feete with Mary Magdalen but thou hast shed as much of thine own blood as sufficeth to wash away all the sinnes of mee and all the world then be not angry with me ô Lord but let thy grace supply my wants let thy mercy pardon my sins let thy holy spirit prepare my soule thy merits inrich my pouertie and thy most precious blood wash away all the spots of my life that I may worthily receiue this heauenly Sacrament so that I may be strengthened therby and throughly filled with the heauenly food of thy body and blood for the mortification of the olde man the confirmation of my faith and the finall saluation of my soule O Lord heare my prayers and grant my requests I beseech thee Amen A Prayer after the receiuing of the holy Communion Purge out therefore the old Leauen that yee may be a new Lumpe as yee are vnleauened for euen Chrst our Passeouer is sacrificed for vs. O Iesus the Sonne of GOD my Lord and Sauiour with all humble and hearty thanks I prayse thee for suffering death vpon the Crosse for my sins and admitting me a miserable sinner to the participation of this blessed Sacrament the memoriall of my redemption Let me ô Lord finde and feele in my heart the inuisible power of thy heauenly grace effectually working the transformation of mee into thee the wonderfull vnion of me with thee and thy Spirituall habitation and abode in me Apply all thy merites and good things vnto my soule Let me neuer doubt the forgiuenesse of my sins but euer open the doore of this Sanctuary vnto mee that I may runne thither in my greatest need and apprehend thy gracious pardon ratified by this Seale of thy couenant Quicken mee O Lord in this life reuiue renew mee that I may disclaime my old conuersation and beâ—ome a new man Keepe me 〈◊〉 I slippe not out of this building nor become as a branch cut off good for nothing but as thou hast seuered mee from the wicked in calling me to the knowledge of thee so keep mee from all their corruptions Giue mee a perfect loue towards thee that I may not delight in any thing but in thee nor seeke any other honour but thine O Lord Iesus I meekely beseech thee let thy holy spirit strengthen me against my frailtie thy power and strength defend me against worldly troubles aduersities thy merites purchase my needfull pardon and thy blood bee the Medicine for all my sores euen for thy truth and for thy Names sake Amen ¶ Another of the same after the Communion Greater loue hath no man then this that a man laie downe his life for his friends O Iesu CHRIST the Lambe of GOD which hast so loued MANKINDE that thou hast beene contented to become One with him meate vnto him and to die for him vpon the Crosse to take away the sinnes of mee and many grant that this my receiuing of this blessed sacrament may be a true testimonie vnto my conscience that I haue through faith in thee receiued full remission of all that is past am become as it were a new creature in thy sight
O sweete Iesus which hast vouchsafed mee this honour to come to thy Table and feed vpon thee graunt me grace I beseech thee so to performe fulfill my duty as this honour which thou hast done mee requireth lincâ—e mee vnto thee giue me power and strength to beleeue thy promises without distrust and to shew my religion by my good life and conuersation Assist me with thy grace that I may walke worthy this blessed Sacrament to loue thee and thy Law vnfeinedly and vtterly to forsake all vanitie Idolatry carnall desires and all the workes of the deuill O Lord God so moderate and order all mine affections that I may be ioyned with the brethren together in loue the bond of peace and truely fastned vnto thee my head for euer Stirre vp my minde that I may alwaies consider the bitternes of thy death the greatnes of thy loue and neuer forget to bee thankefull vnto thee O blessed Lord preserue and maintaine this ordinance amongst vs that it may be alwayes a note and badge of our publique profession and giue vs all one heart and one minde in the vnitie of the Spirit for the reuerent and worthy receiuing of the same whensoeuer we shall come to thy holy Table againe Amen A Prayer for the Fruites of the earth and other nourishments of this mortall life All waite vpon thee O Lord that thou mayest giue them their meate in due season O Eternall GOD ' which feedest with thy blessing euery liuing thing and satiffiest the lawfull desires of thy seruants with good things we beseech thee make vs to couet those things that be pleasing to thee let vs finde them easilie search them wisely know them truelie and exercise them effectually to thy glory and our saluation And we pray thee heare vs fauourably praying earnestly for the fruites of the earth the nourishments of this life that wee may though vnworthy be partakers of thy comforts therein Giue vs O Lord this day our daily bread prepare our ground and prosper our corne Blesse the seed time with the first and latter raine meete temperature of ayre Keepe our fruits while they be in the earth from haile thunder from excessiue droughts and ouermuch raine from Mildewes and all noisome wormes Send vs a ioyfull haruest and blesse that which wee shall reape that for our vnthankefulnesse it waste not away without our releefe Increase our cattell with all other our prouision which wee shall carefully labour for Blesse our Basket and our store that we may haue wherewith as to furnish our selues so to giue some releefe to others Protect our seruants and workemen that they may be strong to labour wise to forecast and faithfull in their businesse Keepe our Garners barnes and store-houses from fiery meteors boysterous winds theeues and sudden invndations Prosper our workes and trauels whether by sea or land and blesse and prosper all them that any way labor for any of those things that we shall haue occasion to vse Send remedie ô Lord for all hardnesse and miserie turne our dearth into cheapnesse and our scarcitie into plentie Open the hearts of rich-men to whom thou hast giuen much that they may haue a charitable respect of the poore at all times Helpe vs ô Lord and giue vs such things as wee stand in need of yet neither of pouertie nor riches too much but a competent store and the lawfull vse of things necessary for this life through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen ⧠A Prayer for Friends and Benefactors Charitie shall couer the multitude of sinnes O LORD which hast said that Hee that giueth vnto the poore lendeth vnto the Lord and looke what hee layeth out it shall be payd him againe wee beseech thee to be gracious and mercifull to all those for whom wee are bound to pray by Nature by desert or any other duetie whatsoeuer Of thy speciall fauour remember all our benefactors and friends aliue euen all those our parents kinsfolks and others which haue brought vs vp taught promoted or any way releeued vs. Blesse them with all blessings that haue done good either to our bodies with temporall benefits or our soules with profitable instructions Blesse their estates that in their godly disposition they may haue alwayes wherewith to relieue comfort others in their discretion Giue them the consolation of the holy Ghost to the keeping of Faith a good conscience And as they haue shewed mercie vnto vs and comforted vs so Lord helpe and comfort them in their greatest needs that both they and their Families may both haue comfort in their estate and condition here and finde mercy with thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus at the latter day Lord let their almesdeeds and prayers be alwayes in thy sight as those of Cornelius that as they haue beene vnto vs an odour that smelleth sweete whereby wee haue receiued plentie beene filled so they may be as Sacrifices acceptable and pleasant vnto thee Vouchsafe vs this grace ô Lord that wee be not guilty of any ingratitude towards them but rather ready according to our abilities to recompence them if neede require Let not that which they haue bestowed vpon vs be cast away but make it fruitfull and vs worthy of it Graunt this O thou GOD which doest good both to the iust and vniust for Iesus Christs sake our onely Lord and Sauiour Amen A Prayer in time of Warre Remember this that the enimie hath reproached O Lord and that the foolish people haue blasphemed thy Name O God mighty in battel wee beseech thee beare not in mind our vile deserts but of thy mercy pitty thy poore afflicted endangered persecuted Church Consider and beholde how they which hate thy Sanctuary are now vp in armes to root vs out for our profession Therefore ô Lord wee pray thee maintaine thine owne cause Blesse our forces by Sea and by Land and grant to the people one heart one minde and one strength Giue vnto the Counsellors and Captaines wisedome and courage wisely to foresee and valiantly to defeate the deuises of their enemies Keepe all the souldiers from treason and treachery the leaders from wrong plots the people from tumults and all of them from the sinnes and enormities that follow the campe Strengthen ô Lord and hold vp the hands of Moses and the weapons of the Church Preces lachrymas that our fasting and prayer may be heard and Israel may haue the victorie Put Sisera to flight in thy good time and rather then he returne to doe mischiefe bring him to his end by an hand vnlooked for Turne the weapons of him and his followers into their owne bosomes scatter breake and sincke their ships destroy their armies and confound their forces Consider ô Lord the end of our enterprises how wee fight for thy Truth and either reconcile vs and our enemies by thy Spirit to worship one God and hold one Truth or else abate their pride and confound their malice to