mercie vpon me and giue me thy grace not onelie to be thankefull for this thy gratious gift but also dutifull to vse it after thy good will and pleasure It is thy wil O father of Heauen that chyldren shoulde come vnto thee yea that all men shoulde be saued and come to the knowledge of the truth Fil the cup of thy mercie O Lorde and let mee drinke of it and my children pledge me that we may together bee wrapped in the garment of Grace and at length be married vnto thee into the kingdome of glorie Take my tender babes O Lord into thy familie that as children of thy house together with me they may sit with father Abraham Isaac and Iacob at the table of ioy in ioy vnspeakeable and in pleasure inconceiueable Giue them the spirite of thy fauour that they may crie truelie vnto thee Abba Father assured in their consciences that they are thy children and coheires with our Sauiour Iesus of life eternall O father shew thy mercy for thy mercies sake Amen The Childs praier IAm borne a naturall child O father of Heauen weake in bodie blinde in soule in all parts maimed and as it were lapt in bands of myserie O Lord renew mee wholie make me a babe of thy familie that I may suck the paps of thy word which is of power to saue bodie and soule Lop the tree of nature O gratious God and restraine me within the banks of thy wil by the bri dle of thy spirite that I neuer passing the limites of thy good pleasure may of thy mercie be taken as worthy to sit with father Abraham in the restefull lande of Canaan Regenerate me O Lorde and make mee a new creature that hauing put off the olde manne I may bee transformed into thee the second Adam in newnes of life and be freed from albruntes of storming nature blowes of tyrannous Satan that I maie sleepe in the lap of thy Church in safetie for euer O sweet Iesu let no tempest of sinne or thunderboult of Satan or hys mynisters ouerturne mee thy poore Creature sayling vpon the foming seas beset and bea ten with the surges of this present worlde but gard me with thine hand and let thine holie Angels pitch their tents about me least the brickle barke of my bodie being broozed with the waues of wickednesse and the shippe of my soule shaken with the tempests of iniquitie I vtterlie come to naught and become a castaway In al dangers therefore giue me grace to crie vnto thee with a lowde voice Helpe mee thou that canst stil the roughnesse of the sea or else I perish Amen The Husbandmans praier IA pore husbandman O lord GOD doo come vnto thee for succour Iesus thou sonne of Dauid haue mercie vppon mee Thou art the true vine and GOD thy father the husbandman and a braunche ingraffed in thee by grace and nourished by the iuice of mercie O Lord when the pock of my corrupt nature breaketh out and the wild Oliue sheweth it selfe then of thy fauour lop and crop mee purge mee that I may budde in thee and beare fruite worthie repentance Giue me thy grace that I tie not my hart to this world nor locke my thoughts in the chaine of vanitie but free me from the slauerie of the diuell and vnlose the desperate knot of my sinneful conscience that sinne beeing disiointed by remission and my conscience vn linked from sinne I may serue thee in holines and righteousnesse all the daies of my life Aide mee O father of heauen when the branch of sinne will ouerwantonlie flourish old Adam passe the limits of thy holie will Doo this O father and onely good husbandman for thine owne sake Amen The Maydseruants praier AL estates O Lorde depend vpon thee Kinge and begger Magistrate Clergieman maister and scholler al come of thee And me thou hast made a poore handmaid which I do not only willinglie beare as knowing thou haste allotted mee this calling but also very many waies I haue to thank thee for it For thou hast not onely deliuered me from the slauish seruice of Satan but also dooest by this my yoke restraine the wanton reliques of stained nature preserued me from the pampering of the old man in pleasure and idlenesse Secondlie that I am not seruaunt to any Heathen Turke or Saracen but vnto a Christian in suche a place where thy Gospel is preached freely and fullie Thirdlie and speciallie because thou hast called me vnto such an estate of life as wherein I knowe I doo well please thee For who liueth after thy Gospell if not I whoe get my liuing with the sweate of my browes I doo not glory heere in vaine but to thee bee the glorie who hast turned the cursse into such a blessing O Lord giue me grace to consider this that I may bee more diligent in my calling more earnest in seruing thee than euer I haue beene heeretofore Forgiue me al that is past and guide me in thinges to come that I may neuer haulte in my vocation Giue mee a sounde and perfect faith in thy sonnes blood O father wherin he hath washed of his great mercie my poore soule that notwithstanding I serue a mortal man yet aboue him in all thinges I may serue thee to whome be all glorie both nowe and for euer Amen A praier for a woman with child IN the beginning of the world O father of heauen after thou hadst formed man of the slime of the earth and yet prince ouer all creatures it pleased thee of thy goodnes to create a woman of his side as well for his solace as for the continuance of his seede It was thy worde vnto them Increase and multiply This increase was easie but mother Eue hath made it hard by passing the bounds of thy wil to al her posteritie so that the woman conceiueth and bringeth foorth in great paine and dangerous trauel the fruit of her wombe in so greate paine O Lord in such extreme pangs that vnles thou quench the flame of her sorrowes with the water of comfort it is impossible for her to beare that into this vale of miserie which thou of thy goodnesse hast fra med she conceiued Wherfore thou GOD of woonders and Father almightie of Heauen as thou hast by the slaugh ter of thine only lambe taken awaie the sinnes of the whole worlde and condemned sinne in the fleshe so take awaie the pangs of childbirth the fruit of sinne from all womankind especially this woman that bearing ioy fullie that which shee hath conceiued fruitfullie and thou hast fashioned gratiously shee maye glorifie thee most carefully and praise thee most thankefully the onely staie of hir estate in al extremitie both now at this present and hereafter euerlastingly Amen A praier for a woman in trauell LOrde saue mee or else I perish Lord haue mercie vpon me a sinner Pitiful Iesu shew thy mercy vnto me and let the light of thy countenance shine vppon me that I be
appearance of the sunne in fulnes of comfort He desired to se the day but could not see it which is nowe paste wherin the sonne of God hath opened fully the storehouse of ioy and yet beeing wearie of the burthen of his bodie and willing to forsake it as a most stinking prison house without feare of death he crieth out Oh how long shall I lie in this prison Paule ioineth hands with father Dauid euen Paule that notable Organne of the holie Ghost who saide of himselfe It is not I that liue but Christ that liueth in mee Hee that in body saw the Lorde and knew that as a vapour his life should vanish so he in a small space should suppe with his mayster Christe in heauen after his ascension yet carriyng about himselfe this case of the soule accounteth himself wretched and therefore cryeth out Oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this body of sin As if hee shoulde haue saide I knowe that the time will come when men will faint in faithe and broch infidelitie when this life shall bee more loued than wisely lothed this bodie more esteemed than godlinesse wil suffer I knowe foolish parentes will be so be witched with the immoderate loue of their children that they wil grudge at the will of God when he calleth them and sorrowe and sighe a long time after their departures which is both sinne and follie But I tell them that they ought to reioise bicause they are rested from theyr laboures bicause they are passed from Death to life because they are blessed For wretch O wretche that I am who shal deliuer mee out of this body of sinne The bodie which you haue lost is but a bodie of sinne it is but a prison of the soule as father Dauid speaketh it is but a burthen of the soule so that by Death they are deliuered from sinne to safetie from imprisonment to libertie from a yoke of myserie to endles felicitie and therefore oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this body of sinne Paule indeed knewe that this world was an exile and Heauen his contrey that he was a pilgrim this world but an Inne heauen his home nay at a sight of his owne Countrey when hee was rapt hee saw at his owne home whence by sin hee was banished in Adam such ioyes as eie neuer sawe nor eare heard nor heart euer conceiued These are the ioyes which shal endure for euer for number vnmeasurable for durance perpetual and without end or period And therefore let euerye Christian bee readie and willing in ioy of spirit to welcome death in token thereof learne to crie out with Paule Oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this bodye of sinne Lette vs account our selues wretched as long as we carry this weede of earth aboute vs vntill our soules bee vncased and wee deliuered from this body of sinne But if examples will not bee of force to schoole vs yet let nature speake and preuaile The seconde causes whereof you are made are the foure elements which concur to the constitution of euerye mixt creature and being euer at combat doe also naturally worke the shipwracke of the same according to the common axiome rule of nature The causes of corruption are all one with the causes of gene ration and therefore vnlesse we wil denie nature and be vn thankful to God for our creation we may not in anye case feare death which is mothered vpon nature our common and generall mother But if neyther example nor Nature will or can preuaile yet let the authoritye of our Heauenlie Creatour and his wisedome compell vs to welcome death and to accept willinglye the condition of our bodies Our bodies and soules God created he made them by the power of his almightie hande and hath lente them vnto vs but for a time to vse til mother earth require the bodie and he our soules For as of earth wee came so into earth wee must returne againe therefore vnles we will be vnthankfull to nature and rebellious to God wee must bee willing to paie our debts vnto him least if we doo it not he cast vs into prison til we haue paid the vttermost farthing So much for thy bodie Now consider thy soule As thy bodie is a prison so is thy soule during this pilgrimage a prisoner as it is a body of sin so is thy soule lodged in a most stinking prison as it is of earth earthy so is thy soule an exile from heauen heauenlie ther fore to feare death it is to feare the deliuery of thy soule from prison which is meere follie it is to wish a stinking lodging and a filthie cage to dwell in and euer to carie it about thee which is a very harde and extreame misery it is to wish thy continuall banishmente from the ioyefull realme of heauen thy natural countrey which is extreame madnes So that vnles you wil be counted foolish wretched carelesse and mad who are willed to be as wise as serpents you muste in no case feare death which is the best ghest that euer came to the godlie For now there is not cōdemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus but blessed are the dead that die in the Lord. The second weapon Consider thy life IT is short vncerteine and miserable It is short for man that is borne of a woman hath but a shorte time to liue the daies of man are the dayes of an hyrelinge yea winde and nothing as father Iob telleth vs. A man in his time is but grasse and flourisheth as a flower of the field For as soone as the wind goeth ouer it it is gone and the place thereof knoweth it no more as the prophet Dauid teacheth There is a time to be borne and a time to die And man is like a thing of naught his daies passe away like a shaddowe It is the proclamation of the Lorde vttered by Esay that al flesh is grasse and al the glorie of man as the flower of grasse And it is tolde vs by Paule that heere we haue no continuing cyttie but wee seeke for one to come This is it which is shaddowed vnto vs in sundrie similitudes Saynt Iames sayeth Our life is euen a vapour that appeereth for a little time and then vanisheth away Our daies on the earth also are but as a shadowe there is none abiding They are like a bubble in the water like a weauers shuttle like a smoke they are like a thought soone conceiued and soone ended Dailie experience dooth teache vs thus muche For wee see that by some storme or other the greene apple falleth before the mellowed fruite the lambe is brought to the slaughterhouse as wel as the sheepe the chicken is killed for the broath as wel and sooner than the cock yoong men passe awaie as wel as old our daies are short our life is as the shadowe Now therefore reason with me Shal we feare
death for the losse of a shadow shal wee by sighs and sobs storme againste the Lord for the losse of a vapour nay shall we not rather be glad to forgo the shadowe and by death desire to be knit more fullye to our bodie Iesus whereof wee are members in faith and hope O ye of lyttle faith crie vnto the God of hea uen Lord increase our faith Be content to leaue this vaporous life and welcome death and cry in a ful beleefe Come Lord lesu come shorten these latter daies for thine elect sake and saue vs. Saue vs O Lord saue vs haue mercie vpon vs and helpe vs helpe Lord and by a blessed death cite vs to appeare before thee For one daie in thy court is better than a thousand elsewhere Amen Secondly consider that thy life is vncerteine For death is like a theefe that commeth at vncertaine houres he is like a thundercracke that soundeth on a sudden yea this life is so vncerteine that death may ask his due in the swathcloth and none be able to resist him He is alwaies a prince hee ruleth not only in the haruest but also in the spring time and summer Yoong menne and babes olde men and maydes greene and ripe al are one death excepteth no persons hee neuer regardeth our yeares but with his sharpe syth on a sudden he cutteth al downe So y â— our life is like a ruinous house alwaies readie to fal like a thin thred alwaies readie to rotte like a running cloud wherof we are vncerteine where and when it falleth This cloud sometimes melteth in the cradle somtims in the chaire Death is like the sunne whensoeuer it shineth it melteth our cloudie life bee the cloud thereof neuer so thin or thicke in yeres Our life nowe being as vncerteine as the weathercocke which turneth at euery blast or like the waue which mounteth at euery storme or lyke the reede which boweth at euery whisteling winde whye shoulde we loue it and not rather loath it in comparison of the euerduring life of the heauenlie citizens wherevnto by death we passe in mercie Oh that al Christians woulde ingraue in their harts the wauering dayes of this vncerteine life and consider and looke for in a ful faith the certaintie of that ioyfull life wherevnto death dooth bring vs For then woulde wee that sayle as pilgrimes on the waters of this world and are tossed dangerouslie by diuers pyrates the flesh sinne and the diuell desire with hartie praier craue of the Lorde that in the barke of a liuely faith by his mariner death he woulde carrie vs to the certeine and blessed life of his saints If we were thus godly wise to consider the vncerteintie of this momentanie life or so happie as to ponder the eternall felicitie of Ierusalem and restful Cannaan we would rather ioy and be merrie when sicknes and death shal visit vs than mourne and sorrowe for it For they are the Lords ambassadours which are sent to bring vs tidinges that dynner and supper is readye and the banket of glorie to bee minystred and that we must come without tarrieng to marrie him and to enioy him face to face euen as he is and 〈…〉 fore with willing mind tâ—â—aie our debted bodies to mother earth whereof wee borrowed them and to him our soules that hee may marrie them in the couenant of his Eternall mercies We are borne into this world naked our heritage is sin and myserie our life is labour and sorrowe we our selues are but tenaunts vnder mother earth concerning our bodies and vnder GOD concerning our soules which God our God of ioy and father of comforte by his owne sonne hath bought vs an inheritance immortall and vndefiled for euer vnto the which by sicknes death as the messengers of his wil he calleth vs. Is all this so and shall wee feare death no for shame let vs bid adieu to this shorte and vncertaine lyfe and receyue death in ioy of spirite as an accomplishment of the obligation of his couenant wherewith he bound himselfe of his meere mercie beyond any merite of ours that wee shoulde neuer see death but haue euerlasting life Vnlesse therefore you will mourne against death bicause by it you passe from an vncerteine to a certeine life from these sorrowing and wauering daies to an euerlasting and incorruptible inheritance and so shew your selues rather willing to haue the fleshepots 〈◊〉 Aegypt for euer than to passe to heauen and to eate of comfortable manna not in the wildernes but in new Ierusalem see that ye feare not death but loue it and welcome it whensoeuer the Lorde will sende it vnto you Thirdlye consider thy life is miserable It is not only short but also miserable yea I may well tearme it a kingdome of miserie New borne babes do what they can to persuade vs of the truth of this matter For they beginne not this life with smiling countenance but with weeping eies By their crie what else dooth nature sing or signifie vnto vs but that thorough our sinnes our life is become a continual warfare and the world our enimie euen 〈◊〉 vale of miserie besette with thornes to pricke vs on euerie side Righteous Abell founde in his life time a thorn of his own blood to trouble molest him euen Caine his own brother to bache his blade in his bloud villanouslie to murther him Iohn Baptist the bright dayestar and forerunner of Christ the sunne of righteousnesse he found a thornie Herode to behead him and holie Stephan stonie Iewes to dispatche him Yea what is this life but a fardle of miserie wherein Christ our blessed sauior tasted of nothinge but of the sower grape of persecution For no sooner was this lambe of God come into the world but Herod by the decree of his hellishe conuocation was ready to deuo 〈…〉 him this was a miserie to mother Marie And maruelouslie doth it paint out the mysery of this life that the hony babe Iesus the very lambe of God and light of this world is so welcomen into the world which intended mischiefe And where hee by the prouidence of his heauenly father escaped the snare of the rauenous fowler yet for his sake doo the children and sucklings of Bethleem and the coastes thereof as many as were twoe yeeres old and vnder preache vnto vs the miserie of this our life The voice that was heard in Ramah moorning weping and great lamentation Rachell 〈…〉 eeping for hir children with out all comforte because they were not teacheth vs and crieth out vpon the miserable life of man If al careles Epicures would aske the iudgement of Father Iob in this case he would expounde the mysticall cries of tender sucklinges that man which is borne of a woman hath not onely a short time to liue but also a miserable life to lead that his life is a warfare continual labour and sorrow This iudgement of Iob without all doubte was rooted in him and his brother Ieremie And
desperation noe I wil not For the sunne of mercie can disperse the thick myst and great cloude of mine iniquitie the parching beame of thy sunne O Lord is not onlie able to calme but also to drie vp the angrie floud of sinne and so to dash the ship of Satan that diuelish pirat against the sands So that no storme of the Diuel shal ouerturne mee no raging blaste of sinne shall dismaie me no thundercracke of biting conscience shal sinke the little barke of my weake faith which is grounded vpon a rocke and ouercommeth the world Indeed if I were left to my selfe then were there noe waie but sinkinge and shipwracke but thanks be to thee O gratious god for it thou hast not left me to my self to wade in the Gulfe of desperation but thou hast spred foorth the beames of thy mercie and by the heate of thy charitie dryed the gulfe and kept mee from danger to thee therefore bee al glorie Amen The 4. Morning praier THe glorious facc of the sunne which sheweth it selfe casteth his beames ouer the whole world I take it for an argument and earnest penie of thy good wil towarde thy children in the number of whome I account my selfe though cheefe of sinners and not worthie to lose the latchet of thy sonnes shâ—â—e For if we enioye suche a benefite in this strange countrie togither with thine enimies then what ioyous sightes what store of thy goodnes shall wee reape in our natural countrie the blissefull land of Canaan where we shal not behold this worldly sunne and eie of the world but thee euen thee good Lord face to face the sunne of glorye and onelie starre of maiestie Such ioyes O Lord shal we haue in the beholding of thee as neyther eie hath seene nor eare hath heard nor hart euer conceiued Such ioys I say as passe the reach not onelie of man but also of Aungels and archaungels to esteeme of Blessed are the doore keepers of this house of ioye where thou O Lorde the sunne of righteousnes doost most clearely spread foorth the beames of thy diuine maiestie Ah! how long shal I liue in prison how long shall I iournie in this bodie of sinne before I see thee Lord let thy kingdome come Come Lord Iesus come I beseech thee Amen The 1. Euening praier O Lorde it is of mercie without merite that I am a branch of the vyne Iesus that I am thy house and temple of the holie Ghost It is of iustice that thou haste appointed thine house to be a place of praier and of dutie therefore that we should pray vnto thee For thus O Lord I thank thee that thou hast made mee thy childe to lodge thee and I acknowledge that of dutie I am bounde to serue thee But giue me O Lorde the grace of thy spirite to conduct mee in the waie of thy wil clense or create a new hart within me that I may be a fit lodging for thee and yeelde vp the sauourie sacrifice vnto thee which thou requirest of euerye Christian I meane the sacrifice of prayer the sacrifice of the heart which sauoureth sweetelie vnto thee And at this time in hope of the assistance of thy spirit 〈…〉 thee that as thou 〈…〉 cie couered me this day vnder thy winges of safetie so thou wilt defend and keepe me this night from storming Sathan who is woont not onlie by day but also and that especially by nighte to vndermine man when his senses are fettered in bandes of rest But I doo hope good Lorde that as I am then most vnable to withstande the buffets of Satan so thou wilte be most readie to succour me partlye bicause thereby thou shalte vnlocke the rich chest of thine infinite mercie and partlye because thou louest euerye thinge which thy handes haue made I will laye me downe therefore in hope of thy protection to whom be al glorie Amen The 2. Eueuing praier O Moste mightie and wise God powr into me aboundantlie the oile of thy grace vnfetter my stammering toong that I may vtter and vnrippe the strings of my blind want hart that I may sufficrentlie conceiue the infinitenes of thy fauour vnto me But what shoulde I saie of thine infinite goodnesse which thou haste shewed vppon mee where shall I beginne or where shall I ende to discourse of thy mercie I was nothing and what did mooue thee to make â—â—e a manne endued with reason and whie not a tree a frog a beast I am brought to a nonplus O Lorde what shall I saie I did disgrace thy goodnes and doo deface by my dailie sinnes the image of innocencie so that I was not onely borne wrapped in damnable estate but also daily incur the danger of dam nation and yet doost thou vnderprop mee in the promised seede in that blessed seede of Abraham euen thine own and one only beloued sonne Iesus Christ by whom thou hast redeemed mee My bodie and soule were maruelously eclipsed for want of grace and are dailie filthied in the puddle of iniquitie the reward whereof was death But what mooued thee I being a cast a way euen thine vtter enimie to wash and bathe me in the streame of thy sonnes pretious bloud I cannot tell good Lorde it was thy mercy to thee therefore bee the glorie both now and euer Amen The 3. Euening praier O Good GOD the sun is gon downe the web of this day is spun almost and night is at hand After day suc cedeth night after light darknes after faire weather a 〈…〉 die firmament and frowning element There is a myst 〈…〉 locked in this good God for thereby thou doest lesson vs of our mortalitie Our birth and life is like the daie our Death is like the night as the day perisheth so dooth our life vannishe with the vapour and as night succeedeth the daie so death followeth life the tearme and period of these our daies ô sweet Iesus of thy mercie beat this lesson into my head and roote it firmelie into my heart and take away the vaile from my minde that I may not onelie know and acknowledge but hourelye remember that I am mortall For it would bee a bridle to restraine and keepe me from raunging licentiouslie and a spurre to incite mee to liue holilie all the continuance of this my pilgrimage Thy spirit hath spoken it saiyng Remember thine end and thou shalt neuer perish Giue mee therefore thy grace that I may remember faithfully the night of this my bodye when I shall sleepe in the bosome of the earth til y e trumpet shall sound cal me to iudgement Help mee Lorde before this night Lord saue me or else I perishe Amen The 4. Euening praier O Louing Lorde of labouring and laden heartes looke downe with the eâ—e of thy pittie see the altar of the crosse where thy sonne thine onelie 〈…〉 is slaughtered 〈…〉 ther of heauen his 〈…〉 bored his head crowned with thornes his thirst quenched with vineger his side wounded and streaming bloud attend
deere father the crie of his bloudie sweat his long fasting his great patience his bodie racked and crucified all crie vnto thee for mercie for mercie father O father fauour and pardon him This is the trumpetor of ioy this is he that bloweth the blast of comfort and soules solace heare him heare O Lord attend not my life mark not my steps for my life is vnsauorie and my steps are crooked let the crie of thy bleeding babe mooue thee to mercie and put thee in minde of thy couenant that in him all the nations of the world shuld be blessed Blesse me O Lord better me with the dew of thy blessings and let the drops of thy sonnes bloud by a liuelye faith distill into my heart and fructifie it with workes woorthy repentance I beseech thee Amen A praier for all times against the power of Satan THe Diuel O Lord like a roring Lion runneth aboute in euerie corner hee lurketh and euer he gapeth to deuoure the lambes of thy pasture He is an enimie not onelie readie to deuoure vs but also able to catch vs in the snare of iniquitie against thy diuine maiestie For dailie do we eat the sower grape of nature and sauor of vnseasoned rotten Adam in whose sinfull act we are wrapped by desert in condemnation and become bond slaues of Satan vnlesse thou O Lord do season our harts with the oile of thy grace and wash vs in the water of thy mercie that being clensed from sinne and made as white as snowe with the merits of thy sonne the diuel may lose his title and forget his obligation that hee had against vs wee be quitted from his tyrannie We beseech thee therfore ô gratious father of Heauen with thy power to bridle satan and in thy mercie to beare with vs with thy might to maister him and in thy grace to graffe vs in Iesus the liuelie vine of mercie that growing in him no storme may be able to tosse and ouerturne vs we besech thee Amen Another DAielie O Lorde doo wee passe the limittes of thy wil we sinne at the least seuen times a day and pledge mother Eue in the dregs of nature This is the frailetie of the fleshe and this is the weakenes of al Adams issue a miserable case ô Lord vnlesse in thy mercie thou wilt wrap vs couer the nakednes of nature with the white raiment of grace that we being thine maye neuer despaire for any brunt of storming Satan be it neuer so perillous LORDE saue vs in thy mercie saue vs haue pittie and compassion vpon vs and marke not our steps which are crooked but cast the eie of thy fauour vpon thy sonne Christ who was content to suffer the bleeding paines of the crosse to satisfie thy wrath to deliuer vs from the stinge of an hellie conscience We beseech thee therefore O louing Lord not to obserue our iniquities but to wash vs from the guiltines of sinne in the flood of thy mercies and so to saue vs that being dead in iniquitie and yet saued of thine infinite pittie we may giue all glory vnto thee and sing with our mother the Church that saluation only belongeth to thee Amen A praier for al afflicted Christians GReat are the troubles of the righteous O Lorde and many they be that arise against thee and thine an nointed like wolues to teare them and butchering Herods to behead and dispatch them Euen for thy sake O Lord are thy children brought to the slaughterhouse for the testimonie of thy truthe are they tied in bands and beaten with wandes daielie Vp Lord arise and strike thine enimies vppon the cheeke bone lifte vp thy rod of iron and dashe the vnsauourie and sower vessels of iniquitie in peeces with thy sanne scatter the chaffe and gather thou thy corne into the garner of ioy Let it bee beaten but let it not bee broozed with the thresholde of this tyrannous Wolfe that beeing freed from the chaffe of Nature and seuered from the cocle of euill and wicked liuers it may be found with the lost groat and laide vppe in thy treasure of eternal pleasure for euer Doo thy good wil O gratious God beat them beate them and buffet vs sharpelie O Lorde so thou saue vs of thy mercie and plucke vs out of Daunger by the hande of thy mightie power proppe vs with thy power that wee maye magnifie thee of thy mercy Amen Another THE mountains of this wicked worlde are manye and mightie O Lorde and little is the flocke of thy sheepe The mountaines are euen partched with furie against thy congregation to presse with the weight of their tyrannie the babes of thy familie Awake vp therefore O Lorde sleepe not slumber not but awake and defeate their ima gined mischiefe as thou hast promised that they that trust in thee shal be as mount Sion which cānot be remooued Suffer them to beat vs y ◠we might liue godlie in thee but so let them buffet vs that they neuer ouermaster vs that according to thy promise as mount Sion wee maie not be moued Giue vs grace to trust in thee whatsoeuer betide vs and neuer to start from thee whatsoeuer smart we suffer that continuing to the end wee may be blessed with thee for euer And for the mountains of this world either euen them with the vally and babes of thy familie or else pare and partch them with the beames of thy iudgement Thy wil bee don O Lord thy kingdome come and saue vs we beseech thee Amen A praier for the Queene O Louing God wee thanke thee for the great care which thouhast ouer thy Church She hath bene tossed with the waues of this worlde and the preaching of thy word did suffer shipwrack but now O Lord now of meere mercie thou hast repaired the broken hart of Ierusalem and gladdened our harts with the wine of comfort For thou haste appointed a mother ouer Sion to cherish and defend hir from al hir storming aduersaries so that by hir meanes we are freed from the slauerie of the Romish Pharao and salued from the sore of heresies wherewith thy deere espouse was most gree uouslie troubled O Lorde continue this weede-hooke in her hande that she may throughlie cleanse thy garden Let thy wil and gratious plesure be hir scepter and target against the frowning band of cloudie Saules Alwaies erect and pitch about her the tents of thy fauour that no euill betide hir or daunger annoy her Clippe her in thy sweete armes and kisse her in mercie be not thou angrie with hir but continue her a fauourable nursse to little Dauid that hee maye growe in all faith and holynesse vntill hee be a perfect manne in Christ Iesus Lorde saue her in thy mercie and deliuer her from al euil Amen A praier for all Magistrates CRooked is the way of al flesh O father of heauen and ouer plētious would the haruest of weedie nature be vnlesse it were lopped and minished by the weedhooke
mine elbowe that I may be crowned though I be crossed and saued though nowe sowsed in extreame tyrannie In this is all my hope for surelie of my selfe I am but a vapour a worme I am borne of a woman in sinne a sinfull childe by nature and to my power wage battel with Satanne againste my selfe to mine vtter vndooing O Lorde vnlesse thou regenerate mee and assist me with thy spirit to mine abilitie alwaies to resist the diuel which doo ô gratious God I beseech thee Amen A praier in time of persecution O Lord whither shall I flie or to whom shal I goe I am in Peters ship the winds rage and blow the seas rise and roare the surging and angrie waues dashe against the ship Oh what shal I doe for thou art asleepe O Iesus O maister arise or else I perish Pharao is at my heeles the redde sea before my face how shall I escape whither shall I flie O gratious Lorde make me a waie through the sea before I perish and drown Pharao my deadlie Saule with all his companie Remember thy couenant O God of truth that thou wouldst be with me and al thy tender chickens to the end of the world to couer and saue me them from the roring lion vnder the winges of thy mercie This is the wing that holdeth me vp in the ayre of comfort that I may flie lyke an Egle aloft to the carcase in time of necessitie Lodge me ô Lorde in the bosome of comfort and imbrace me between thine armes in safety that thou being with mee no man may preuaile against mee no not the Dragon with his Aungels whome thou the true Michael didst not only incounter with but also ouermatch in heauen as a valliant Captaine that I trusting in thee and faithfullie fighting vnder thy banners may not despaire of the Conquest Lord and gratious captaine giue vnto me strength to abidè valiantlie all bruntes of this world and neuer to shrink from thee with fainting Peter Amen Another O Gratious god look down vpon me with the eie of thy mercie For I am paled about with miserie and compassed with waters of persecution Assist me O Lorde with thy holie spirit against the furie of the enimie that I neuer fearing the tosting or butchering of this mine earthlie Tabernacle maye euer for the tearme of my daies feare and kisse thee least thou be angrie with mee whoe art able and maiest of thy iustice not onlie destroy this my bodie but also cast my soule into the pitte of hel Giue me grace that I may present my selfe boldly before fleering Herod being persuaded of thy diuine prouidence that thou wilte neuer forsake mee but bee with mee during this my pilgrimage I am better than a pennieworth sparrowe O Lord who cannot die without thy will and pleasure Gard mee therefore with the spirit of boldnes that being asserteined of thy mercie I may without feare confes thee before men and so bee confessed againe before thine Angels in heauen Let no smart of miserie dismaie me let no thornie Saule discourage mee in the race of my profession let no sparkes of crueltie or smoke of biting tyranny choke the confession of thee but pitch about me the tents of thy grace that being vnderpropped I fall not from thee doo this O Lord for thy names sake Amen A praier against the enimies of the truth O Lord and gratious GOD looke vpon the face of thy Churche Iudas doth kisse hir and al to betray hir or rather make hauocke of hir Behold Lorde the teares haue almost choked thy corn and the cockle-sower looketh for a plentious haruest Thou seest this O Lord thou seest it awake therefore and take rhy fan in thy hande to diuide thy corne from the chaffe Gather thy corne into thy garner and with a blaste of thy mouthe scatter the chaffe Purge thy garden O Lorde let no weede growe among thy Lillies let no thorne hedge in thy sauourie rose but fil thy church with the grace of thy spirite least being the fairest of all women she touch the pitch and so be defiled Burne vp the leâ—â—ned and sowre dough of iniquitie but speciallie of heresie which the cocle-prophetes seeke to bake that we may not onelye eate it but also digest it to the great eclipse of thy worde and our owne damnation O Lord conuert them or else restraine them with the bridle of thy iudgement Father forgiue them if it bee thy will or else mowe them downe like haye and let them wither with the grasse If Iudas wil continue in his trecherie or Iulyan in his apostasie if the wandering sheep wil not heare the voice of thee hir shepheard but still wander in the desert of wickednes giue hir to the mouth of the Lyon O Lord least turning to thy little flocke shee corrupt the rest Grant this for thine owne name sake Amen Another IT is thine owne lesson O Lorde Take heed of the leauen of the Pharisees bicause it sowreth corrupteth the marowe of true religion O Lord thou knowest it I acknowledge it that I am a sprigge of withered nature a dead branch of the rotten stocke of Adam what shal I say a naturall man I am so blinded with the mist of ignorance and ouershadowed with the cloud of blindenesse that I cannot do well or wil wel no not thinke wel so vnable I am to aspire to the knowledge of thy reuealed Gospell And howe can I then O Lord take heede of leuened doctrine whoe am altogether leuened and bent to the worse by force of nature O louinge Iesus thou art the eye of the faithfull thou art wisedome it selfe to defeate Satans wilines the sunne of righteousnesse to consume the grosse vapours of ignorance which drowneth our vnderstanding so that thou art the onely starre which shewest vs the deep dungeons of heresies and the only touch stone by which wee maye discerne good dough and sowred leauen that we may beware of them both Endew me therefore with knowledge from aboue that I prouing the spyrits whereof they are may one lie cleaue to thy holie will O gratious God to whome be al glorie Amen A praier for the sicke ODeere Father looke vpon me with the eie of thy mercifull pitie and pittifull mercie behold I am thy handie worke a poore Creature of thine I thanke thee for my former health and I thanke thee also for this thy visitation which I take as a fatherly correction For I haue swarued from the paths of thy commandementes and in my life renounced my vowe at baptisme made vnto thee before thy Church and therfore least as the witlesse sheepe I shoulde straye and so fall into the mouth of Satan I take this thy visitation as thy voice or a sermon of thy grace whereby thou criest Come vnto me O gratious Iesu this is thy woonted goodnesse towards the children of men I am but dust and ashes no better than a worm a stained clout no better than a shadowe a vapor
or bubble in the water a verie wretch I am good Lord borne in sinne by nature wrapt in iniquitie and so thine vtter enimie worthie to perishe euerlastinglie But see thine owne goodnes sweete Lord thine hands formed mee beeing nothing thy mercie hath preserued mee till this day beeing nought And euen nowe sweete Iesu thou hast sent thy purseuant sicknes to bid me put off the old man put on the garment of faith that I being readie for the mariage may come and marrie thee in the couenant of thy father wherein al the nations of the world by promise are blessed Amen Another LOuing Iesu pittifull Iesu blessed Trinitie haue mercie vpon mee Beholde I am sicke Lorde iustlie buffeted for sinne the mother of euerie mortal infirmitie Yet Lorde louing Iesu pittie me pittie my case Louing father purge mee with Isop clense me from my secret sinnes drie vp the puddle of iniquity with the beams of thy mercy and clense me in the poole of thy pretious blood that this sicknes and infirmity the iust reward and penalty of sin and iniquity may cease and finish Beat me O God ô gratious God O father of heauen beate me in fauour and not in iudgement kisse me with the couenant of grace and be not angrie with mee O louing Iesu ful of pity and pitious compassion I would be clean and if thou wilt Lorde thou canst make me cleane Behold Lord I am sicke the palsie of sinne shaketh euerie part the leprosie of mine iniquitie hath ouer run al my soule and body but yet good Lorde and gratious Iesus if thou wilte thou canst make me cleane For thou art my father Almightie with whome nothing is impossible Lord I aske thy grace giue it mee I seeke it let me finde it I knocke for mercie open O Lord the chest of thy goodnes and enrich me with the iewels of grace that I may reign with thee in glory Amen A confession for the Sicke MY thoughtes my words my deedes al crie vnto mee Thou art a sinner And this doo I confesse vnto thee O Lord I cannot so much as think a good thought much lesse can I speake muche lesse can I doo wel I confesse that in me that is in my fleshe dwelleth no good thinge euen so vile a Creature so wretched a caitife that Satan might iustlie haue claimed my life in the swathecloth beeing borne the childe of wrath and heire of damnation I am a cankered branch of mother Eue that ancient stock of sinne whose heritage is nothing but iniquitie garded with an infinite sea of miserie For out of sinne as out of a filthie puddle or stayned fountaine issued the riuers of sicknes death and damnation with such a streame that they ouerranne and drowned the whole race of Adams curssed progenie So that as I confesse my selfe a sinner so doo I confesse that I am iustlie visited with this rod of sicknes wherwith thou art woont of thy iustice to beate wanton Adam that old man of sinne when he wil not be ruled Beat me therfore beate me O Lord to better me and sinite me enough so thou saue mee as I doo put my truste in thee Let Satan haue no power to harme mee nor the worlde with the baites of vanitie to snare me but defend me from al euil I beseech thee Amen Another O Bleeding Iesus O slaughtered Lambe O sweete babe of the virgin Marie and onlie beloued darling of God behold heere I lie sicke in bodie and sore in soule whome thou hast bought with thy pretious blood Helpe me saue me from sinne the fountaine of sicknes O fountain of mercie For I am a greeuous sinner by nature fettered with iniquitie wherein I was conceiued and borne O Iesu O Christ thou sonne of Dauid O gratious samaritan and piteous shepherd haue mercie vppon me haue mercie vpon me cal me clense me saue me salue me with the merit of thy passion againste the palsie of sinne and iniquitie O lambe of God thou hast taken awaie the sinnes of the worlde thou hast crucified the diuell confirme this faith in mee louing Lorde I beseech thee I beseech thee encrease my faythe and renew a righte spirit within mee Remember Lorde remember sweet Iesus thy crowne of thornes bruzed head thy boared handes nailed feete and crucified bodie Remember the pearsing speare thy wounded side and thy pretious blood that did spin and gush out Remember thy bloudie teares thy great thirst of my saluation and gall and vineger which thou didst drink to saue me and for thy mercie saue me and crie to thy father Father father forgiue him O Iesu be mine aduocate praie praie sweete Iesus praie for me and bestow some drop of thy bloud to wash me Amen A praier against desperation O Lorde I am a greeuous sinner I haue passed broken the banks of thy cōmandements from the wombe til this daie I haue with the pirat Satan sailed in the shippe of iniquity so that I maye saie with Paule I am cheefe of all sinners This must I needes confesse to thee O god of iustice this worm of conscience biteth me What then good Lord shal y e worme deuoure me shal this snake of conscience sting me to death what good Lord is the stream of thy mercy stopped are the riuers of thy grace dried vppe is there no drop of thy bloud left to washe my seelie soule doest thou not cal me saiyng Come vnto mee Yes good Lord and therefore despaire I wil not It is not thy will that anie sinner should perish and thou hast not onely said it but sworneit that thou willest not the deth of a sinner but rather his conuersion and life Behold therefore deere Father I come vnto thee being a greeuous sinner in hope of pardon in the name of Christe thy sonne who by his own testimonie came into this world to saue sinners Hee was content to blot out that obligation which satan hadde against me by the flood of his pretious bloud which issued out of hys glorious side In this poole he hath washed away the leprosie of sinne were it neuer so desperate And in token that he is ready to receiue a sinner hee stretcheth foorth both his sweete armes as ready to embrace and boweth downe his glorious head as willing to kisse the prodigall childe that craueth pardon for his misse-spent daies O Lord and gratious God I haue wasted my daies in vanitie I haue from time to time troden vnder my feete the pearles of Christyan profession euen frō the womb haue I beene a rebellious traitour to thy maiestie a friend to this world to godlines an enimie but nowe O Lorde I crie vnto thee forgiue me forgiue me Now I come vnto thee as thou hast called me now there fore couer me with the winges of thy mercie and tender mee as the hen dooth her chickens least Satan clawe me and so I perish Good Lord accept the bloud of thy sonne the merits of his manhood for a
satisfaction for my sinnes drown them in the streame of thy mercie cast them behinde thee good Lord I beseech thee O sweete Iesus lodge me in thy pretious wounds and look vpon me with thy piteous eie least that bee destroied which thou of thy great goodnes hast made and Christ thy sonne of inestimable loue and infinite charitie hath redeemed thorough his bitter passion This is the totall summe of my sute vnto thee Lord mercie mercie ô father of mercie mercie is the thing that I begge haue mercie vpon me haue mercie vpon me I beseech thee louing Lord haue pitie vpon me Bee thou my shepheard to defende mee my Castell of defense to saue me against the gaping diuel Thou hast store of mercie for them that aske it O Lorde therefore euen for the wounds of thy deere sonne haue mercie vpon me let not sinne sting me to death but lay to my sore soule the salue of thy mercie of thy mercie one drop of thy sonnes bloud a little dewe of thy blessing good Lorde I beseech thee Amen Another O Lorde my thoughtes my wordes mine actions haue taken weapons and waged battell againste mee and Satan that old rebellious traytour taketh part with them to ouerthrowe me thy poore and impotent souldiour He raiseth vp the snake of my conscience to sting me the poison of an euil life to infect mee with the desperat plague of Cains blasphemie and I am but fleshe vnable to withstande the furie of this dragon Oh what shall I doo I am a Sinner as Satan saieth and my conscience telleth mee and the rewarde is death as thy word dooth teach me What then shal I doo shal I die as Iudas O Lord is there no remedie surely my Lorde and my God I despaire in my selfe and confesse my selfe the child of wrath by naturs voice but yet O Lord it is thy voice it is the voice of grace that thy mercie is aboue al thy workes in token whereof thou camest into the world to saue sinners This is the piller that vpholdeth mee from falling this is the rod of iron that dasheth sa tan out of countenance and defeateth the argumentes of my sinnefull conscience Arme me with this buckler of faith in thy meritorious incarnation life and passion that I may not be giuen ouer as a prey to the dragon but crucifie the snakie persuasions of Satan and his companie Amen Another AVoid Satan thou shalte not tempt the Lords seruant thy works are destroied thy bandes are broken thou shalt not take or bind mee Auoid sinne for thou hast loste thy sting thou wast condemned in the fleshe nailed to the crosse and crucified with my Lord Christ vpon the tree Auoid death for thou art dead and hel for thou art swallowed vp in victorie Auoid thou dragon and all thine angelles for Michaell hath beaten thee and broken thy head he hath freed vs from sinne and ledde awaie captiuitye captiue euen hee Satan hath ouermastered thee that crieth out vnto me Feare not for I haue ouercome the world euen he that hath promised to bee with mee till the ende of my pilgrimage and crieth out that if hee bee with mee no man can bee agaynst me no not hell gates to preuaile against me Fight therefore Satanne as long as thou wilte thou shalt bee at length put to the foile for the mightie lion of the tribe of Iuda telleth mee that there is no condemnation to them that be in him that Iesus is the conquerour of the whole worlde and vanquisher of thee fight and rage thou neuer so much Ther fore auoide I saie awaie from me for in Christ haue I passed the sea of my sinnes thy cursed armie if thou folow to pursue mee thou shalt bee drowned in the red sea of Christes bloud to whome be all glorie Amen A praier for the auoidance of Gods wrath QTender harted Ioseph haue mercie vpon me Great is the floud of myne iniquities so great O God of mercie that vnles the banks of thy grace represse it it will ouerrunne and so drowne my see lie soule Drowne my sâ—â—s in the poole of thy mercie cast them into the sea of thy bottomles pity least the smoke of my wickednesse doo smother me and the rod of thy iudgement breake and brooze mee like a potters vessell For the bagge of mine iniquities is so stuffed and the stinge of my sinnes so poisonous and the sent of them so vnsauourye in thy nostrilles O Lorde that if thou wilt obserue it who may abide it the surest piller of thy Church woulde shake the fairest rose would wither the best lamb should abide the slaughter if the beames of thy mercie shoulde not partch and burne vp the ripe and plentious haruest of our iniquities O Lord therfore haue mercie vpon vs and beate vs not with the rod of thy furie but vnder prop the shippe of our weake faith with the anchor of thy mercy that beleeuing in thee we may not perishe but haue euerlasting life Thou hast apesed ô sweet Iesus the wrath of thy father againste sinne conceiued by thy meritorious passion that I might with the holie ones bee holie as thou art But I haue prophaned thy passion by my dailie faults such is the frailtie of the flesh for the which I iust ly may be refused But yet Iesus one drop of fauor bestowe vppon mee and crie For my bloudie passion father forgiue him I beseech thee Amen A praier for remission of Sinnes O Lord what do I dailie but wander in the field of vanitie what is my hart but a filthy prisoÌ„ of corrupt thoughts what is my mouth but a stinking chanell of vaine wordes what are my feete but chariots to bloudshed what are my hands but battellers with charitie what is my heade but a castell of wicked deuises and what is my life but a fardell of iniquitie I am nothing better than a deade tree the roote is perished the bough withered I am fruitles and good for nothinge but for the furie of the flame What then good Lorde shall it bee so I am no better than a deade tree but what shall I burne sweete Iesu O saue me for thy name sake and quicken me create a new hart within me ingraffe me in the true Oliue purge mee that I may bring foorth much fruite and for euer flourishe lyke a tree planted by the riuers side O powre the oile of grace into my defiled heart and season it with the salt of thy mercy least the sume of mine iniquities ascend vppe to thy nostrils and prouoke thy furie against me Powre downe some drops of thy pretious bloud from the clouds of thy mercy to quench out the angrie flame of sinne which I my selfe am not able to put out by the vertuous water of any merite Purge mee therefore with Isop O Lorde and then I shal bee cleane O lambe of God let me eate thy flesh and drink thy bloud that I may liue by thee and cloath me in
the wooll of thy mercie that no winter of storming sin doo pinch my seely soule This doo O Lorde for thy mercies sake Amen Another O Lord like a witles sheep I wander in the perillous wildernes of sinne I am lost ô my God in the field of vanitie where Satan seeketh to trappe and deceiue me with the flattering baite of finfull pleasure Good Lorde leaue thy ninetie nine and looke for the loste sheepe till thou haue founde hir For I am loste good Lord and must needs perish vnlesse thou saue me Draw mé vp to thee in the bucket of thy mercie and place mee in thy safe pasture of grace the onelye sting that ouermaistereth Satan Choose me into the college of ioy that I maye sleepe in the lap of thy word which is thy power vnto saluation Doo this O Lorde for thine owne sake that thine aungels maye haue occasion to reioyse and to set foorth thy glorie Look for the lost groate O gratious God and find it out with the candle of thy mercie and lock it vppe in the treasure of ioye euen me O Lord that thou thy selfe in great ioye maiest call thine holie angels and heauenlie companie to reioyse with thee because thou hast founde me a lost groate and strayeng sheepe Be thou my Iesus euen for thine owne sake washe awaie the leprosie of sinne that beeing cleansed I may returne in ioy to found out the praises of thy holye and vndeserued dealinges with mee thine enimie Amen Another BEnd downe thy piteous eie O Lord from the palace of heauen and looke vppon me thy poore and wretched creature Behold I thy handiwork thine owne workmanship am disgraced nature hath wrapped me in sinne the diuell hath defaced bodie and soule so that I am nothing better than a lumpe of iniquitie The euill gardener hath planted weeds in thy garden the euil husband hath sowne tares and cockle in thy field O Lorde with the sword of thy mercie digge vp the weedes of sinne and with the beames of thy pitie partch vp the cockle and tares of Satan that I may flourish like a branch of thy sonne Iesus and growe like a flower in the pasture of grace by the dewe of thy blessing Scatter awaie from thy face with the wind of thy mercie the chaffe of iniquitie and gather thine owne corne into the garner of glorie Let me not starue for want of grace but feede mee with mercy and make me a simple doue that hauing the wings of a liuelie faith and faithful conscience I may fly vppe to the beacon of the crosse there to eate the merite of thy Sonne Christ my mightie Iesus O Lorde wrap me in his passion and deathe that no storme of sinne doo touch mee to my vtter condemnation Amen A praier for increase of Faith WHat man O God was so fettered in the snare of sinne that he coulde not by any meanes delyuer himselfe and therfore was for euer to lie bound with the chain of Satan in hell it pleased thee ô Lord to worke meanes of deliuerie by thine owne sonne to vnloose the shackles of sinne that man might be set at libertie For this I giue thee moste hartie thanks O gratious God and father of mercie For what a thing is this Man was loste through his owne follie Iudas for mony but Adam for an apple forsooke thee and so deserued not onely to bee forsaken but also like an vtter enimie and rebellious traitor to bee executed in iustice and iudgement But behold O ye sonnes of men where man was vnable and angels not sufficient to worke recouerie of grace and deliuerie from Satans slauery hee spared not to shedde the bloud of his sonne for the redemption of man and satisfaction of his iustice Behold and woonder God hath but one soune his deare sonne his onely ioye his owne image his expresse substance and yet doth he sende this one babe like a Lambe in this euil worlde among foxes to bee torne and cruellie butchered that by the drops of his pretious bloud he might washe the filthie face of our soules and with y e wooll of his passion the merit of his slaughter so cloth vs that noe storme of raging sinne might dismaye vs. The streames of thy sonnes bloud vnlesse wee bathe our selues in them vnles we wash vs in the poole of his bloud his passion O father of heauen shall nothing auaile vs. Giue vs therefore good God a full and sound hand that we may receiue the bloud of thy sonne Christe to our saluation Increase our faith in vs giue vs a winged faith that wee may flie vnto Christ thy sonne and our Sauiour standing on the beacon of the crosse to purchase there demption of the whole world But especiallie in time of extreamitie when Sathan dooth seeke to choake vs with the smoothering smoke of sin and like a wilie pyrate seeketh to sinke the shippe of our weake faith then O Lord when hee raketh our sinnes out of the ashes and calleth a parlement of his hellish aungels to accuse vs before thee and thine holie companie that being conuinced of trecherie to thy maiestie wee may abide the rod of thy furie euen then O Lorde giue vs a feathered faith that we may flie aboue the reache of Satan rest in the wounds of thy decre◠sonne in safetie without perill of shipwracke be the waues of sinne neuer so outragious or the winds of iniquitie neuer so tempestuous Couer vs with the winges of thy fauour garde vs with the hand of thy power and pul vs out of the deepe mire of our secret sinnes that being drowned in thy mercie we maye in a liuely faith spring out of the puddle of miserie into the sea of thy merites for our endlesse safety Amen A praier for preachers O Thou good sheepherd of our soules haue mercie vpon vs thou hast appointed vs as Vicars and Deputies vnder thee or rather for nurses for thee to traine vp the babes of thy family in the loue and feare of thee Giue vs we beseech thee the pure milke of thy Gospell to feed them but especiallie the light of honest conuersation to guide them out of this vallie of darkenesse vnto thee the true morninge starre and sunne of righteousnes Arme vs with the buckler of thy truth that wee may not onlie bicker with but also put to flight Satan that rauenous Lion O Lorde who seeketh by subtiltie to trapp and deuoure the lambs of thy pasture Wepon vs with Scriptum est It is written O Lorde which is thy power vnto saluation and the onely buckler whereby thou didste defende thy selfe in thy threefold combat with Satan Take from vs the leauen of the Pharisees the sowred dough of heresies beeyng the verie canker of Christian profession and the onely pitch that defileth the table of thy Children that wee may feede thy children onely with the worde of thy mouth This do O Iesus for thine owne sake Amen A praier for the increase of Preachers SAtan O Lord sayleth
all messengers welcome art thou Adue vile life farewell life sinneful life adue and welcome death the purseuant of my louing Sauiour for by thee my miserie shall end From war to peace from this stormie worlde into the calme countrie of heauen from gronings and sobbings from this vale of fighings to the pallace of ioy from earth to heauen from sinfull men wild beasts to beloued friendes by death I shall passe to life to haue the companie of holie Patriarkes and blessed Saints to haue the sight of the glorious Trinitie to haue and inherit such ioye as neither eie hath seene nor eare heard nor hart euer conceiued By death I shal haue libertie without imprisonment health without sicknesse ioye without sorrow plesure without paine in such securitie eternitie and perpetuitie as passeth all thoughtes The holie ones of GOD my father the blessed Aungels and Archangels they haue atteined it but neuer can they sufficientlie esteeme of it So that O death thou art welcome welcome sicknes for my Lord Iesus hath new sent thee to fetch me from this prison to his palace from a strange contrie to my home from this place of teares and mourning to the daie of marriage sweet Iesus to marry thee in thy mercies for euer Heare deerely beloued heare and reioyse with me Sicknes is com death is in comming as a purseuant from my louing Iesus to cite me to appeare before him that he may appoint me a man sion in his fathers house to sit with him at the table of ioy for euer O the great ioy and onlie ioy of a Christian Nowe I shall lie noe more in this prison nowe I shall haue Paules wish for I shall bee deliuered from this bodie of sinne now shal I depart in peace with Simeon to haue that peace that passeth all vnderstanding and surmounteth al thought Now now shall I see the amiable tabernacles of my Lorde nowe shall I enter the courtes of my God where one daye is better than a thousande else-where now shal I be a doorekeeper in the house of mine heauenlie father now shal I appeare before the presence of God now doth his kingdome come now Lord Iesus now thou cōmest to carrie my soule into ioy Into thy hands therefore I cōmit my spirite Beloued brethren this is my testamente which I leaue vnto you it offereth great ioye and no matter of Teares Shead therefore no teares for better is the daye of death than the daye of birth I entered my life with a crye it coste my mother payne and teares to beare mee but yet it cost my louing Iesus his bloud to saue mee you and all the world Enuy not therefore my luckines that now I shall passe from you out of this vale of teares vnto him who died that I with him mighte liue in ioye for euer If you will mourne mourne for your owne sinnes mourne for your selues that you shal not so soone sup with God my father as I shall doo mourne not for me for you shall shortly follow me and lose me but for a time when you shall see in heauen for euer For blessed are the dead that die in y e Lord whose name for euer bee glorified Amen A praier for the rich man THou art the Welspring of all good thinges O louinge Lorde thou art the riche store house and cheste of mercie for al naked Adamites O Loue inestimable Wee are born into this Vale of miserie not only wicked in soule but euen also naked in body a deserued entraunce for vs by father Adam through desire of souereigntie but an vndeserued thing it is O good GOD that notwithstanding our merited pouertie deserued nakednesse by rebellion against thy Maiestie thou shouldest thus cloath me with thy benefites with plentie against penurie with friendship against enimitie with health against sickenesse with store against needinesse This O Lord is an vnmerited benefite for the which after my bounden duty I giue thee harty thankes But what shall I say what sufficient thanks shall I render vnto thee for thou hast not onelye armed mee against pouertie 〈◊〉 but also chosen mee as a steward to vnlocke the chest of thy benefites to needye Lazarus that as thou hast loued mee so I should tender thee in him O Lord giue me thy grace that I may bee thy stewarde by clothing the naked by feeding the hungrie lodging the harbourles and defending the fatherles that I may bee able to render a faithfull accoumpt of my stewardshipp vnto thee i 〈…〉 the daie of reuelation Grau 〈…〉 this O Father for Christe his sake Amen Another O Father of Heauen and rich God of mercie Behold thy poore creature in sin riche in grace poore bestowe vppon mee some mite of thy mercie cloath mee with the merits of thy sonne Iesus and bathe my naked bodie in 〈◊〉 pretious bloud satisfie my hungrie soule with a crum of thy gratious blessings that being cloathed with the armour of his meritorious passion I neede not to feare the naked the desperate corruption or rather wages of nature Moisten my heart with the honyedew of thy great rich grace that as thou hast enriched me beyonde my desart beyng by sinne an enimie vnto thee so I maye continue riche in good workes to the profite of my neighbours to the comfort of mine owne soule and to the manifestation of thy glorious maiestie O Lorde thou art a zealous God Such a God as wishest my healthe and the safetie of thy Creatures haue therefore mercy vppon mee blesse me with faith towardes thee with loue towardes my neighbour and a godlie care towards my selfe that thou in thy selfe mayest be magnified my conscience reioise in the testimony of a good life whose reward in thy sonne Christe is life eternal Amen The Beggers praier O Mighty Lord and prouident GOD y e stewardes of thy plentious store-house are not moued to feede the hungrie to cloath the naked and lodge the poore Pylgrime at his piteous crie but notwithstanding all this their tyrannie Father forgiue them and pardon mee as I forgiue them that haue trespassed against me Rake the fire of charitie out of the dead ashes and quicken it O Lord that I may warme mee in thy familie in time of extremitie and they be ready in thy great audit to render a full account of theyr stewardshippe vnto thee But first of all doo I begge grace of thee that I may euer seek thy kingdome and so bee persuaded in hart by thy word that I shal want nothing but that all other things shal be added vnto me This doo I aske of thee O father of Heauen that euer criest Aske haue Giue mee faith to aske in certaintye that I may looke without doubt for this thy craued mercie ô Lord I beseech thee Amen Another LAue mercie vpon mee O Lorde and pardon myne offenses the rich men of this worlde will scarse looke vpon me or vouchsafe to relieue my necessitie with the crummes of
their ouer-streaming tables But yet O Lord I beseech thee forgiue them and denye mee not the crums of thy grace but looke vppon me with the pitious eie of thy louing countenance Assist mee so O Lorde with thy holy spirit that being alwaies content with my calling I may seeke to serue thee in holinesse and purenes of liuing without feare al the daies of my life Beate me with pouertie beate me O Lord strike wound doo thy good will ô louing God so thou saue mee of thy mercie wherin lieth al the ioy of my soule Giue mee thy grace neuer to misdoubte thy prouidence that neuer doubting of thy fatherly care I may with a gladsome heart endure the end of my warrefare Giue me a contented minde let thy wil be my wil and my will alwaies answerable to thy will that I neuer offende thee but doo my dutie in louing thee wishing well to all the world Amen The Widowes praier O LORD I thanke thee that thou hast scourged me with the death of myne husband He was bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh hee by the couenant of matrimonie was made one bodie with me thou gauest him vnto mee and thou haste taken him from mee blessed be thy name for euer The bandes of death haue sundered mee from him but I hope O Lorde by the power of thy holye spirite that nothing shall bee able to separate mee from thee myne onelye Iesus the onely ioye of my soule put the axe of thy mercie to the roote of wanton nature and cut it off that I doo not marrie the vanitie of this wicked worlde but put vpon mee the garment of innocencie and tie about my hart the iewel of faith that I may onelie marry thee in the couenant of thy heauenlie father louing Iesus and haue nothing to doo with the adulterer the Dyuell the father of deadly fornication This is the only bed of ioy wherein I will sleep O Lord the onlie arke of cōfort where in I wil saile till I shal see thee face to face To whome bee praise and honour both nowe and euer Amen The Tenants praier I Thanke thee O father of Heauen that thou haste made me after thin owne image Thou mightest haue made me a frog a worm a tree but thou hast not doone it O Lorde And what was in cause surelie not my merit for I was not before thou madest me it was thy mercye good Lorde the true mother of all mankind Thou hast not made me a king a ruler a lorde no Lorde but I thanke thee for it thou hast made me a tenant of men but yet in thee that euer I might acknowledge thee i◠them my cheefe Lorde in heauē Giue me grace O Lord to thankefull for this thy wil and dutifullie to walke in my voca tion and giue mee thy grace that as I am a tenant to man so I may alwaies bee a tenant to thee to doo thee seruice to paye thee yeerelie my hourely rent which is a thankfull hart for all thy benefites If man would haue mee to do wrong against right Lorde giue mee of thy grace to consider that better it is to be thy Tennant than mans If the diuel and the worlde entising mee to walke wantonly seeke my destruction giue mee grace O God to consider that al things are sub iect to thine vniuersall power and shal not they obeie how then can they or dare they assault me to hurt me fastening the anchor of my faith vpon so sure and firme a rocke if the fleshe make warre against the spirit to make me seruiceable to sinne minister strength vnto me O Lorde that being thy tenant and a child of thy familie I may winne the field and fighting valiauntlye may bee crowned eternallie with thy sonne Iesus my blessed Sauior Amen The fatherlesse childes praier O Lorde so narrowe is the mouthe of charitie so consumed is the firebrand of Christian loue that although the foxes haue their holes birds their neastes yet haue wee no place to reste our heads on As Pilgrimes wee wander from place to place and are driuen with the winds of pinching pouertie vpon the seas of this worlde to seeke reliefe but alas and woe to the world for it The rich man deuoureth all superfluitie or else hourdeth vppe to fill hys Garners niggardlie so that Lazarus may not onely walke amid the streetes naked but also lie begging at the gates full sore and yet go without the crums which fall from the Table to ease the tune of his necessitie O Lord therfore do I flie vnto thee haue thou mercie vpon me for it is onely thou which fillest with thy blessing euerie liuing thing I am better than a farthing sparrowe O Lorde thou knowest it and I acknowledge it to my comfort Feede my soule with the fleshe of thy sonne and set me drinke of his bloud that seeking firste thy kingdome I may in the end be crowned with glorie and sit at the table of ioy in heauen with thee O Lord grant this I beseech thee Amen A Sword against the feare of death Wherein is liuelie declared with what weapons a Christian souldiour should fight to hold and keepe his own made by the said E. H. The first weapon Consider thy selfe MAN dooth consist of twoe partes an earthly bodie and soule spiritual Thy bodie what is it It is a case of thy soule such a case as is a prison and therefore Dauyd desirous of life eternall and the sight of his master Christ cried out Oh howe long shall I lie in this prison Yea this case of the soule is such a cage of filth as a man of God hath said that no Bocardo noe dungeon no sinke no puddle no pitte is in any respect so euil a prison for this bodie as the body is of the soule For it is suche a case as stinketh in the sight of God a bodye of sinne is this cage of the soule and therefore cried Paule out oh wretch that I am who shal deliuer me from this bodie of sinne Beholde deere Chrystians such an heauie burden was the bodie to the soule that Paule was willing to giue this world a farewel with father Simeon hee wished that hee might depart in peace Oh that we had this courage of Paule or were as godlie wise as Dauid to locke that vpp in the closet of our heartes which they had fullie digested For then wee shoulde haue a wished famine of mourning Christians on rather vnchristian Painims who dooe weepe and waile for the dissolution of this earthie and fraile tabernacle which Dauid longed for and Paule with father Simeon desired Dauid that father of the faith ful and mouth of the holie spirite he was a man after GOD his owne hart whom God had spiced with grace and made of his mercie a vessel of honor He was a piller of mother Sion he liued in the childhood of the Churche when the cloud of the lawe did yet ouershaddowe the
in the kingdome of glory Fourthly let all couetous persons looke vpon mee and amend their euill liues For as I came naked into this world so did they and as I carrye nothinge with mee but my winding sheete euen so shall they Their riches the pelfe of this world shall they leaue behind them which they haue gathered in paine and hourded vp with greedie minds Oh you hungrie lions you are alwaies gaping for y e prey you are euer hungrie and neuer satisfied get you neuer so much by hooke or by crook by violent iniurie or biting vsurie But looke you vpon me For an eln of earth now shall serue mee and so must it serue you whom nothing may suffice in this world Sorrowe therefore and amende in time For you were not borne to gather worldelye substance but to serue poore Iesus who of God made himselfe poore to enrich you You were not borne to continue in this world No you haue no continuing citie heere but you must looke for another euen Heauen whence you are nowe exiled and therefore you must seeke the things that be aboue Your conuersation must be in Heauen You must not tie your harts to the earth and hourd vp the pelfe of this world lest the verie moths and rust of your tresure cry for a plague vpon and against you in the daie of vengeance For die you muste one day and be as I am and so rest in the bellye of mother earth vntil the day of accoūts when God shal rewarde euerie man according to his deserts Fifthlie let all enuious persons and euil willers beholde my hart let all bloodshedders looke vpon my feete all backbiters slanderers and curssers marke my toong all robbers and Vsurers view my handes all couetous persons note my winding sheete all selfelouers and proud men gaze vpon my face and hollowe eies let all men looke vpon me amende their liues for as I am euen so shall they be Sixtly let al Christians look vpon me courtiers and countrey men highe and lowe rich and poore yoong and old noble and vnnoble all let them looke vpon mee and remember their end Die they shal al this 〈…〉 l remember that they may neuer sinne Let all swearing belly gods al selfelouers men or women that monstrously disguise chast nature and paint their bodies which are stinking toombes of their seelie soules with intollerable vanities let al that care for beawties hewe looke vpon mee and iudge of theyr owne vanitie and condemne themselues least they be iudged of the Lord. For their broydered hayre their faced and defaced apparell theyr superfluous lasings their sumptuous Veluetes and silks their golden caules their wrought clothes their ringed fingers and their costlie fare in this worlde which Lazarus wanteth they are all vanitie neither shal they redeem them but to earth they shall and vanish with the vapour They shal al sleepe with me and they shall be one daye no better than I am worms meat stinking carcases duste and ashes they shall be whatsoeuer they doo appeare to the foolish world Kinges and princes magistrates and subiects schollers and maisters rich and poore al may looke vpon me For I am able to teache them a lesson which they forget dailie That earth they are and vnto earth they must with mee one daie and noe man knoweth howe soone Disdaine not to learne this at me for I teach you the truth which one day you your selues shal approue to be very true Seuenthly let all mourning mothers sorrowing friends lette them giue ouer weeping and vnchrystian wailinge For that cannot helpe them because it grudgeth and complai neth againste the will of God but rather let them bee merrie and reioise For behold this life is a warfare euen a continual warfare as Iob calleth it and death is a sleepe a sweete sleepe so that by it I rest from my labours I am deliuered from daunger to safetye from labour to ioye from trauel to rest from paine to pleasure and lie in the earth as it were in a bed till I must rise to iudgement This is the lucky estate of them that are dead in the lord And therfore did father Simeon desire to departe in peace and Paule counted hymselfe a wretch because hee was not deliuered from this bodye of sinne So that you haue no cause to mourne for your friends whoe by deathe are passed beyonde death euen to life to liue with GOD and to see him face to face euen as hee is But rather you haue cause to reioyse because by death they are taken into ioye to be where Christe Iesus is The dead man is but a sleepe hee is not dead but for a time and at length he shall awake euen by the sounde of a trumpet and crie of an Archangell to see his redeemer in heauen where he with thee and thou with him and the Heauenlye armie of Angels saints mailiue for euer Looke vpon me and remember this al you that mourne for the death of your friendes For blessed am I and thrise blessed This worlde is an exile Heauen my naturall countrey and so by death I am deliuered frō exile and heerein I am verie happie This present worlde is euill in heauen are ioyes that passe sense and conceit And so by death in the Lorde I am freed from euil and placed in ioye and heerin I am happie This world is no continuing citie but another that is heauen which when I liued in faith I looked for so that by death I am set in a permanent place and heerein am I happy This life is a pilgrimage hea uen my home and so by death of a pilgrim I am made a citizen and heerein I am happy To conclude by death from earth to heauen from men to Angels from warre to peace from paine to pleasure from griefe to euerlasting gladnes from vanitie miserie to perpetuall felicitie I haue passed in peace herin I am happie So that death is not to bee feared nor yet to bee lamented but rather welcome in ioye of spirit whensoeuer it commeth And for this are al Christians bound to render hartie thanks vnto the Lorde that hath turned the cursse into a blessinge and by his pretious death vpon the crosse made death no deth but an entrie to life a passage to ioy a deliuery from miserie For this blessing blessed be the name of the Lorde and let al people say Amen Imprint these few lessons in your memoryes and engraue them in the tables of your harts And thus farwel A Lodge for Lazarus Wherein the poore and friendlesse are exceedinglie comforted in spirit against all kinde of calamities incident to this temporall and miserable life made by the sayd E. H. THere are two sorts of pilgrimes in the worlde some are rich and some are pore Though the earth be the Lordes and the riches thereof his owne possessions though al men be his subiects haue deserued the like condition of life yet to blase his