An exercise for a Christian FAMILIE Contayning a short sum of certayne poyntes of Christian religion with certaine godly Prayers psalmes thanâ—â—giuings both before and after meales ¶ Very necessary to be vsed in euery Christian Familie By R. M. AT LONDON ¶ Printed by Robert Walde-graue 1585. ¶ A short SVMME OF THE cheefe groundes of christian religion set down in fiue speciall points Sanctify the lord God in your hearts 1. Pet. 3.15 be ready alwayes to giue an answere to euery one that asketh you a reason of your fayth that with meekenesse and reuerence Keepe the true patern of the wholsome words which thou haste heard of me in faith and loue 2. Tim. 1.13 which is Iesus Christe I Beleeue and confesse first Rom. 10.10 that there is * one God onelye who * is a spirituall nature Ioh. 45.5 without any bodily or visible sharpe Ioh. 4.24 1. Tim. 6 16. Exo. 34.6 Psa 95.4 * of infinite power wisedome * goodnesse and glory creator and gouernour of heauen and earth that this one god is distinct into * three persons the father Iohn 5.7 the son and the holy ghost Secondly that the same God did in the beginning * make mankinde in an excellent state of all perfection happines Gen. 1.26 euen according to his owne * holinesse righteousnesse Eph 4.24 Thirdly that we fell afterwards through the disobedience of Adam into a cursed kind of al misery Rom. 5.12 euen * into the wrath of God and eternal damnation of body and soule Fourthly that the deliuerance and redemption from this misery is fully wrought by * Iesus Actes 4.12 Christ onely both God man who hath * suffered all the punishments of our sinns Rom. 13 4 that we might not bee damned for them 1. Ioh. 1 7 1. Pet. 2 24. * hath perfectly kept the * ten commaundements for vs which we could not do to bring vs again to the * loue of God Rom. 5.19 21 and to eternal life Fiftly that they onely are partakers of Iesus Christe and * this great worke of our redemption Math. 7.7 which do earnestly and faithfully praye for the grace of his holy * Spirite Rom. 10 11 that thorough the * preaching of the Worde Iohn 3.36 there maye bee wroughte in their heartes a * stedfast fayth Iam. 2.18 21. to be saued by his sufferings and holinesse onely and that their fayth may be shewed and iustyfied by continuall repentance and a Godly life that is Deu. 12 12. by * shunning those thinges which hee forbiddeth and dooing those thinges which he commaundeth This is lyfe eternall Iohn 17.3 to knowe thee to bee the onelye true God and him whome thou haste sente Iesus Christe Ioh. 17.3 Iesus sayd take heede and beware of the leauen of the pharisees saduces Mat. 16.6 12. which is their doctrine Cast away prophane and old wiues fables 1. Tim. 4.7 exercise thy selfe vnto godlinesse I will pray vnto God Psal 55.16 and the Lord shall saue mee euening and morning and at noone day will I pray and he will heare my voyce Prayers for the morning necessary to be vsed of all housholders in their families MATH 26.41 VVatch and pray least ye enter into temptation O moste mighty God our heauenly and mercifull father we most wretched sinners humblye confesse vnto thy maiesty that all good thinges wee haue doe come from thy onelye mercy that we are most vnworthy of them and yet altogether vnable heartily to pray for the continuaunce thereof yet seeing thy dear son Iesus Christe hathe commaunded vs in his name to pray and that with assurance to speed and to be heard wee beseeche thee for his sake to prepare oure heartes by thy holye spirite to put oute of our mindes all worldlye thinges and vayne fantasies and to stir vs vp earnestly to coÌ„sider what greate neede wee haue of thy continuall help both in our soules and bodies O Lord we haue through our manifold sinns deserued thy wrath and eternall damnation of body soul yet by the vertue of the great sufferinges of Iesus Christ and the shedding of his precious bloud forgiue and wash away al our offences wee are vnworthy of thy fauour either in this life or in the life to come yet thorough his holines receiue vs vnto mercy make vs heirs of thy blessed kingdom and so increase in oure hearts euery day vnfained repentaunce for our former wickednes in that we haue neither worshipped thy maiesty nor liued towardes others accordinge to thy worde Strengthen our faith O Lord in Iesus Christe for the forgiuenesse of our sinnes and for thy tender mercy sake powre into our hearts the grace of thy holy spirite which may stirre vp in vs a more hearty loue vnto thee and thy blessed worde that by it we may learn to worship thee aright and to liue faithfullye truelye towardes all men in our callings striuing coÌ„tinually against all sinne chiefly in our selues and then also in others so that whensoeuer it shall please thee to call any of vs out of this short sinfull life we may willingly deliuer vp our soules into thy blessed kingdome and may come with ioy as louing children to thee our heauenly and merciful Father O lord make vs thankful for all thy corrections giuing vs grace by them to fear thee more carefully to sorow for our sinnes more heartily Make vs also thankfull for all thy benefites namely for the sweete sleepe and quiet rest wherby thou haste this nighte refreshed vs wee beseeche thee now in like manner O gratious God for Christs sake to receiue vs this day into thy blessed keeping preserue vs froÌ„ al perils dangers froÌ„ sinn froÌ„ the wicked cares of this life and the vaine desires of the flesh shinning into our hearts by the grace of thy holy spirit and the true knowledge of Iesus Christ the true light of the worlde that wee may guid al ourthoghts words deeds according to the same and walk painfully and truly in our callings to the glorye of thy blessed name the good example of al others and the great assuraunce of our own saluation through thy deare Sonne Iesus Christe our onely sauiour in whose name we pary for these and al other graces as hee hath taught vs saying Our father c. Another Prayer for the Morning ALmighty God and moste mercifull Father Dan. 9 we do not * preseÌ„t our selues heere before thy maiesty trusting in oure owne merites or worthinesse but in thy manifolde mercies which hast promised to heare our prayers and * graunt oure requests Iohn 16. which we shall make to thee in the name of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lorde who hath also commanded vs to asseÌ„ble our selues together in his * name Math. 18. with full assurance that he will not onely bee amoÌ„g vs but also be our mediator
* aduocate towardes thy maiestie 1. Tim. 2. that we may obtain * all things which shall seem expedient to thy blessed will for our necessities 1. Ioh. 3. Therefore wee beseech thee most mercifull father to turne thy louing countenāce towards vs Psal 32. and * impute not vnto vs our manifolde sins offences whereby wee iustly deserue thy wrath sharp punishment but rather receiue vs to thy mercy for Iesus Christes sake accepting his death and passion as a iust recompence for all our offences in whom only thou art pleased through whome thou canst not bee offended with vs. And seeing that of thy great mercies wee haue quietli passed this night grant o heauēly father that wee may bestowe this day wholly in thy seruice so that all oure thoughtes wordes and deeds may redound to the glory of thy name and good example to al men who seeing our good works may glorify thee our heauēly father And forasmuch as of thy mere fauour and loue thou hast not only created vs to thine own similitude likenesse but also haste chosen vs to bee heires with thy dear sonne Iesus Christ of that immortall kingdom which thou prepa redst for vs before the begining of the world wee beseech thee to increas our faith know ledge to lighten our heartes with thine holy spirit that we may in the meane time liue in godly conuersation integrity of life knowing that * idolaters Gal. 5 adul terers couetous men contentious personnes drunkardes gluttons such like shall not inherite the kingdome of God And because thou haste commaunded vs to pray one for another we doe not onely make request O Lord for our selues and them that thou hast already called to thee true vnderstanding of thine heauenly will but for all people * natiōs of the world Actes 10. 1. tim 2. who as they knowe by thy wonderful workes that thou art God ouer all so they may be instructed by thine holie spirite to beleue in thee their onely sauiour and Redeemer But forasmuch as they can not beleeue except they * hear Rom. 10. nor cānot hear but by preaching and none can preach except they be sent therfore O lord raise vp faythfull distributers of thy misteries who setting aparte all worldly respectes may both in their life and doctrine only seeke thy glory Contrarily confounde * Sathan Rom. 16. Antichrist with all hirelings and papistes whō thou hast already cast of into a reprobate sense that they may not by sects schismes heresies and errours disquiet thy little flocke And because O Lorde wee be fallen into the latter dayes 2. tim 3. and daungerous times wherin ignorance hath gotten the vpper hand and Satan with his minysters seeke by all meanes to quench the light of thy Gospell we beseeche thee to maintaine thy cause against those * rauenous wolues Mat. 7 and strengthen all thy seruauntes whome they keepe in prison bondage Let not thy long suffering bee an occasion eyther to increase their tyranny or to discourage thy children neyther yet let oure sinnes and wickednesse bee an hynderaunce to thy mercyes but with speede O Lord consider the greate myseries and afflictions of thy poore Church which in sundry places by the rage of enimies is greeuously tormented and this we confesse O Lord to come moste iustlye for our sinnes which notwithstanding thy manifold benefites whereby thou doest dayly allure vs to loue thee and thy sharp thretnings wherby we haue occasion to feare thee and speedily to repent yet continue in our owne wickednes and feel not our hearts so touched with the displeasure of our sinnes as we ought to do Therefore O Lorde create in vs newe heartes that with feruent minds we may bewaile our manifolde sinnes earnestly repent vs for our former wickednesse and vngodly behauiour towardes thee and wheras wee can not of oure selues purchase thy pardon yet wee humblye beseeche thee for Iesus Christes sake to shewe thy mercies vppon vs and receiue vs again to thy fauour Graunt vs deare father these oure requestes and all other thinges necessary for vs and thy whole Church according to thy promise in Iesus Christ our Lord in whose name we beseech thee as hee hath taught vs saying Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name c. A GODLY PRAIER to be sayde at all times HOnour and prayse bee giuen to thee O Lord God almighty moste deare Father of heauen for all thy mercies louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs in that it hath plesed thy gratious goodnesse and freely of thine own accord to elect chuse vs to saluatiō before the begining of the world euē like cōtinual thanks be giuē to thee for creating vs after thine own image for redeeming vs with the precious bloude of thy deare sonne when we were vtterlye loste for sanctifying vs with thine holye Spirite in the Reuelation and knowledge of thyne holy word for helping and succouring vs in all our needes and necessities for sauing vs from all daungers of bodye and soule for comforting vs so fatherly in all our tribulations persecutions for sparing vs so long and giuing vs so large a time of repentaunce These benefits O most merciful father like as wee knowledge to haue receiued them of thine onely goodnesse euen so wee beseech thee for thy dear son Iesus Christes sake to grant vs alwais thine holy spirit whereby we may continually growe in thankfulnes towards thee to bee led into all truethe and comforted in all oure aduersities O Lord strengthen our faith kindle it more in feruentnes and loue towardes thee and our neighbors for thy sake Suffer vs not most dear Father to receiue thy word any more in vain but graunt vs alwayes the assistaunce of thy grace and holy spirite that in heart word and deede we may sanctify and doe worship to thy name helpe to amplify and increase thy kingdome that whatsoeuer thou sendest we maye be hartely well content with thy good pleasure and wil. Let vs not lack the thing o father with out the which we cannot serue thee but bless thou so all the workes of our handes that we may haue sufficient and not to bee chargeable but rather helpfull vnto others Be mercifull O Lorde to our offences and seeing our debt is great which thou haste forgiuen vs in Iesus Christ make vs to loue thee and our neighbors so much the more Be thou oure Father oure captaine and defender in all tentations holde thou vs by thy mercifull hand that we maye bee deliuered from all inconueniences end our liues in the sanctifiing honor of thy holy name through Iesus christ our Lord only Sauioure so be it Let thy mighty hande and out-stretched arme O Lorde bee still our defence thy mercye and louing kindenesse in Iesus Christ thy dear Sonne oure saluation thy true and holy word oure instruction thy grace and holy spirite our comfort and consolation vnto
dothe come from thy heauēly maiestye they may with obedient heartes humblye obey her in thee and for thee Preserue the whole Counsayle and all the magistrates of the realm that being lightned through thy holye spirite they maye defend thy truth suppresse wickednesse and maintaine equitie Beholde all the Pastors and Preachers of the worde blesse their labors increase the number of them place ouer euery Churche a paineful watchman remoue all idle Lubbers confound the power of Antichriste and turne the heartes of the people that they maye be obediēt to thy truth Blesse the two Vniuersities Cambridge and Oxenforde and all the Studentes of the same with al Schooles of lerning Beholde all those that bee afflicted with any kinde of crosse that they may profit by thy correction in newnesse of lyfe Lastly for our selues here gathered wee render most hearty thanks to thy maiestie O Lord which hast hitherto frō our infancye preserued vs by thy mercie from all perils and daungers both of soule and body whervnto fraile man is subiect that thou haste sent vno vs all thinges necessary for this presēt life as health foode apparell and suche like which manye of thy dear children do want being notwithstanding as preciousely boughte with the precious blod of thy deare Sonne as we be yet lye in mysery and calamity oppressed with pouertye nakednesse imprisonment and banishment in which case also dear Father thou mightest haue brought vs saue onelye that thou dealest heerein more fauourably with vs then with them For the which thy louing kindnesse we giue thee harty thanks desiring thee that as thou hast hitherto thus fauourablye in mercy preserued vs by thy protection and euen presently this daye haste brought vs past al the dangers thereof so we beseeche thee good Lord in like fauour behold vs this night that we taking our naturall rest and quietnesse may thorough thy protection bee defended that our bodyes resting our souls may be occupied in beholding thy fauor and mercy toward thy children stil looking for the comming of Lorde and Sauioure hs IESYS CHRIST for oure full redemption Grant that our sleepe bee not immoderate according to the lust of our fleshe but as much as is sufficient to refreshe oure weake nature that being thus refreshed both the body and the mind maye bee more able to do their seuerall office and function in that vocation wherein thou hast placed vs. Graunt that we laying our bodies downe to rest maye bee thereby put in mind of oure long rest of death that as we do now lai down our bodies in bedde so wee maye bee thereby admonished that hereafter they shall bee laid downe in graue to bee consumed to Duste Earth and Ashes from whence they were taken That wee hauing this before oure eyes maye bee styrred vpp in minde warelye to walke in this our pilgrymage not knoweing when the time shal be of our departure but alwayes to bee founde ready with our lampes of our pure faith clearely burning that we may bee accepted to meete the Bridegrome when our mortal earthly and corruptible bodies shal be made like to the glorious body of our lord and sauiour Christ Iesu there to raigne with him in perpetuall ioye and consolation togeather with all the elect children of God continually lauding with all the heauenly multitude the glorious maiesty of thee our Lord God heauenly Father in our Lorde and sauiour Iesu Christ For these and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be needfull for vs and thy whole Church we praye vnto thee as he him self hath taught vs saying Our Father c. The Lorde blesse vs and saue vs the Lorde make his face to shine vpon vs and be mercifull vnto vs the Lord tourne his fauourable countenaunce vnto vs and grant vs his peace The grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ the loue of God the Father the moste comfortable fellowshippe of the holye Ghoste be with vs preserue and keepe vs this day and euermore Amen A forme of euening prayer necessary to be vsed of all christians in their houses and families O Lorde prepare our hartes to pray bow down thine eares deare Father and heare vs open thine eyes looke vppon vs for thy deare Son Iesus Christes sake and receiue our humble confessiō that we make to thee againste our selues which haue broken all thy lawes and therefore deserue to hauethy heauy iudgments powred vpon our heades to our vtter destruction if thou shouldest enter into iudgement with the leaste of oure sinnes whereof wee haue so great and infinite thousands notwithstanding we praye thee to turne away thy face from our sinnes and for IESVS CHRISTES sake to forgiue vs all that is past and graunt that we may haue the assurance of the forgiuenes of our sinnes sealed vp by thy holy spirite in our consciences whereby we knowing that we are at one with thee maye haue our harts kindled with thy loue so feruently as it maye waste in vs all that is againste thy holy will And for this cause we beseech thee good Lord to go forward with the work of our new byrth that thou haste begunne in vs and neuer take away thy hande vntill such time as thou hast made an end of it and to this end we beseech thee to slaye in vs euerye daye more and more the old man with his concupiscences nailing them to the crosse of thy deare sonne Iesus Christ and causing vs to feele the power of his passion in our bodies and in oure soules that we beeing partakers thereof maye come also to the felowship of thy holye resurrection not onelye in that we shall once appeare before thee hauing these our base bodies chaunged and made like vnto his glorious bodye but also that wee maye in the mean time rise from the death of sin to all newnesse of life and that our good works may so shine before men that they seeing them may glorify thee our heauēly father not only they that are of the self same Religion with vs but but those also that are enimies vnto thy truth may rather in the time of their calling by the voyce of thy Gospell yeeld themselues to be one sheepfold with vs. And we moste humbly thank thee O Heauenly father for all thy louing kyndenesses bestowed vppon vs from time to time and especially for that olde and ancient Loue wherewithall thou hast loued vs before the beginng of the worlde for that also that thou calling vs by the voyce of thy Holye Gospell in that good tyme that thou appoyntedst for vs hast giuen vs faith hope and loue and all other graces which thou knowest to bee needfull for vs which we beseeche thee to increase in vs with mighty increases according to that thou seest we haue neede of hauing regarde to oure manifold enemies that wee haue to wrestle with and that we haue not to striue with fleshe and bloud but againste the Diuels themselues And therefore considering their strength and our weakenesse