thy sake exercising iustice mercie and Truthe to all thy Creatures and neuer suffering me to doo that may mooue thy wrath but more and more assisted with thy grace may encrease thy loue and likinge and finally obtaine thy ioyes euerlasting Amen H HEare these my Prayers sweet Lord Iesu and for thy exceedinge Loue whiche broughte thee from the Sacred seate of thy Fathers breast into the woâ—be of the blessed virgin to bannish Death and Sinne to redeeme mans nature whereby in thy astere Passion as thou haste restoared mee and with so blessed a Shielde defended mine eternall deathe by the self same Loue call mee that haue wandred home againe to thy Folde renewe me with thy Spirite coÌ„firme mee with stronge faithe nourish in me such thi abundant loue garnish mee with thy plentifull grace lade mee with infallible hope of thy mercie finally restore all partes in mee which are decaied and quicken in mee what so is dead should liue that my spirite set at libertie from Terrestriall thinges thou maist euer dwell in mee And my Soule and body assisted with thy ritche guifte of all these may fully purely safely and strongly settle them in thee To whom be praise both nowe and euer Amen R REnder mee thy grace O Lorde that from this day I neuer becomme enimies with thee againe but that I only rest in thee Guide me with the clere light of thy woorde thorowe the dark desertes of this wretched world where no misery nor trouble lacketh wher euery place is ful of snares of mortal enimies yea wheron trouble and temptations ouerpassed and other ensueth and the first enduringe a newe battaile suddainely assayleth wherby I neuer haue peace and wante wherwith to war. wherfore with contrite hart I crie Lorde Lorde assist me with the power of thy holy Spirite and as thou hast coÌ„maunded I come vnto thee prayinge the guifte of all these my requests and specially Lord I require the swoord of my Sauâ—â—ur Christ true and firm faith that established in thy Truthe holding that for my defence may be safely armed against all mine enimies strong to cut downe the thornes which shal spring in my way of passage vnto thee in whom sweete sauiour aboue all honour glory triumphe sway rule power dignity make me settle al my ioyes yea aboue all healthe ritches bewtie fame and felicitie to desire thee loue thee and magnifie thee which geuest all and therfore of al to be beloued sought art most worthy Amen E EAse O Lorde the paines I suffer the troubles of my soule let the fountaines of thy grace ouerflow my barraine bodie and the floudes of thy mercie batten my feeble spirite let thy louing kindnesse couer mine infirmities and thy suffered drops of dewe vpon the Crosse drownde mine iniquitie Thy worde is Truthe and thou hast saide Thy delight is not in the death of a Sinner but wouldest he shoulde conuerte and liue Teache me therfore to number my dayes in the loue of thy Lawes that I alwayes thirste after thy Kingdome and neuer forgeat thee but in this that I haue here begonne may perseuer increase setting at naught all worldly pompe respect of persones and mans helpe and only cleaue to thy omnipotente power mercie strengthe and goodnesse wherin Lorde make mee so ritch as I neuer haue power to swerue from thee nor wante thy grace to resiste all temptations neither yet thy strengthe to treade downe mine enimies and so my harte shall ioyfully liue and geue thanckes to thee my God of all truth mercy and victory Amen G GOD merciful Father of my redeemer Christ which hast promised to heare the peticions of them that aske in thi Sonnes name geue downe thy feare into my harte conioyne thy holy spirite to the felowship of my soule poure vpoÌ„ me the blessed dewes of thy grace enritche mee with thy high vnderstandinge and send wisdome in her glory from thy Sacred seate to dwel in me that shee may guide mee vphold mee and labour with mee to the end that in al my trauelles enterprises proceedinges and studies I may preuaile to thy glorie Do this deare Father for the triumphe of thy name Bow downe thine eares mercifullie heare and receiue the summe of all my requests and graunt that all thinges which I aske according to my necessity I may effectually obtaine to thy glorye and profite of my soule through Iesus Christe my Lorde AmeÌ„ I I Geue and committe into thy hands deere Lorde my Spirite yea rather I may say thy Spirite seeing thou hast geuen it mee lincte it to my body for a season and seing it is thy image and Figure made after thine owne likenesse seeinge thy deere Sonne did clime the dyrefull steppes of death for redemption therof O most fauorable Father and meeke God of al mercy and compassion I eftsoones coÌ„mende this my Spirite into thy hande I am thine what so euer I am receiue thine I beseeche thee preserue mee and comforte mee for no man can help me besides thee Onely thou arte the sureste resister of all mischiefe thou arte O God the readieste help in all trouble thou arte my hope and strength In thee do I put my trust lette mee not be confounded let mee neuer be rebuked thou art my strong rock and my Castell thou art my sauioure my portion is in thy hands Lighten thy face vpon thy Seruaunt and saue mee O Lorde in thy Mercie Amen N NO brickel nor corrupt gold or Siluer hath redeemed my soule O Heauenly Father but the precious bloud issuinge from Christ as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spotte make mee therefore O Lorde for his sake to put on his humility patience vertu and vnspotted life rendring such accompt of this my Pilgrimage as beste may agree to his merite and thy mercie Let mee not be founde vnthankfull in so sweete a Lorde and sauiour what is most rightuous acceptable and pleasante in thy sight let mee alwayes O God preferre in faith works and what so euer is to approoue mee vnworthy of his tender and surmountinge loue that may alter his louing kindenesse or exchaunge his wonted compassion towards mee Lorde let me euer faile in strength to do it but assisted by thee I may euerlastingly be founde to liue in him Amen A ALmighty God which fliest with the winges of the Ayre ridest vpoÌ„ the Cherubins hast Empyre aboue the starry Firmaments Thou thou that sittest in Sacred seate most hie beholdeynge the wretchednesse of man in this lowe Earthe attending through thine own loue his deserts when with any occasion thou may offer thy mercie Bowe downe thy pitifull eies and fauour in me the Image of thy selfe as thou diddest vouchsafe in Zache when thou calledst him out of the Figge thee enritche my eares with the same voyce of Remission and Gladnesse as thou diddest his incline thine eares heare these cries oh louing redeemer for though I am but Dust Earth and Asshes yet I am bolde strengthened
vnaduisedly oppressed of sinne nether causelesse doo cease from good woorkes for so it may com to passe that wee shall labour in vaine Geue thefore vnto vs a firm faith wanting no strength which not onely may instruct vs to a better kinde of life but also in that same may happely goe forward euer emong encrease as the Prophet saithe Psal 13. Illuminate mine eies that I slepe not least whilest the Christian life but begonne wee negligently goe forward and finallie come againe into Sathans power Graunt that wee may constantly endure and thy kingdome to come may performe and consummate the rule begonne in vs Take vs from this life which is ful of sinne and daungers make vs to desire that other life and let vs beginne and continew to hate this graunt that wee do not feare death but rather wish and desire it let vs cast out of our minde the loue of this life that thou onely maist raigne in vs. Thy will be donne IF we should conferre our wil with thine it is alwaies naught but thy will is euer best whiche deserueth that wee shoulde loue and desire that Therefore haue mercy vpon vs deare Father and let not any thinge be donne after our will. Graunt if any thinge happen contrary to that wee woulde wee may patiently beare it temper so our brickle mettall beyng the woorke of thy handes that if any either speake or holde his peace doo or omitte any thinge contrary to our will that thereby we be not prouoked to anger and impatience Let vs not blaspheme complaine crie out iudge condemne or maliciously accuse others therfore but graunt that wee may quietlie geue place to those whiche worke contrary to our will and praise them geuinge thankes as to those which stirre vp thy will whiche is good againste ours which is yll And further assist vs that we may paciently beare all trouble neede pouerty sicknesse slaunder imprisonmente and all other discommodities and acknowledge al these to happen vnto vs by thy wil that our wil may be mortified let vs paciently beare iniuries and take from vs the desire of reuengement suffer vs not to encounter one euill with another nor resist force with stronge armes but graunte thy will whiche hath throwne vs into those euils may satisfie vs that with thankes geuing wee may beare aduersiries Yf any yll come contrary to that wee woulde graunt wee beseeche thee that we iudge not that calamitie to proceede either of Sathan our wicked enimie or of yll men but of thy deuine will whiche dooth Minister all thinges so that it may let our will whereby thou mightest the better raigne and beare rule in vs Graunt that wee may patiently and with ioyfull minde die leaste beinge ouercome with impatience or desperation wee seeme lesse obedient to thy will. Graunt that al members of our body eyes tongue harte hands and feete folowe not their owne delightes but ouercom and constrained may doo al thinges after thy will. Take from vs O Lorde a hardned and vntractable hart free vs from frowardnesse obstinate and stubberne minde graunte that wee may obey thy will that wee committe our selfe wholy to thy iudgement in all things whether they perteine to the body or the soule whether they be momentary or eternall take from vs these horrible vices that wee impeache not the fame of any flaunder anie rashely iudge accuse or condempne them that vice of the tongue I beseeche thee amende in vs And teache that if others committe any euill wee may retaine and hide it to thee only let vs shewe it and leaue it to thy iudgemente that wee may remit what is committed againste vs and let vs take pity vpon them teach vs to know that none can hurt vs but he shal more disprofite him selfe before thee that we may be the rather stirred to mercie then to anger in any thing let vs not reioyce if they be throwen into calamitie which either haue not obeyed our will or whose life hath been little allowable to vs neither lette vs hate their good successe Geue vs this day our daily breade THE breade is our Lord Iesus Christe whiche feedeth and refresheth the soule Thou therfore heauenly father graunt vs this through thy mercie that the life woordes and deedes of Christe with his Passion may be euery where truely preached acknowledged folowed kept Graunt that both his dooinges and sayings may be ensample to vs to the whiche wee may compare our life liue more rightlie Confirme vs that in calamities and trouble his Crosse and passion may strengthen and comfort vs Assiste vs that by his deathe our deathe may be ouercomme in true Faithe that wee may constantly folowe him being our Captaine to eternall life Bringe to passe that they whiche haue taken vpon them the ministery of thy woorde may happily teach with the greate profite of the hearers woorke that those which heare thy word acknowledge Christe and diligently goe forwarde Let it com to passe that the straunge and wicked sectes who teache not Christe be throwen out of his Churche Let the true vnderstandinge of thy woorde so shine in Bishops and Pastours and likewise vpon all Magistrates whether they haue care of the bodie or Soule that beinge illuminate with thy grace they may rightly teache vs and be exsample vnto vs as wel in Doctrine as in pure life Let not the weak in fâ—â—th be offended through the Sinnes of the Maiestrates Pourge vs O Lorde from all heresiâ—s and wicked Faith that wee may be singly and daily fed with one bread may abide agreeable in Christes woordes teach vs by thy grace tâ—at wee may well studie vpon Christes Passion and rightly holde that and let his imprinted steppes sticke and be founde in vs. Graunte that the Ministers of thy Church may treate and vse the Holy Sacrament worthely and to the greate profite of thy Churche And furthermore that wee and all Christians may in his kinde worthely and to his soule health receiue the Sacramente Geue vs peace and concorde take from vs warres contention ambition priuy hatred bloudie hartes vsurping hands and al other kinde of strifes that those thinges which wee haue to the sustentation of our body wee may enioy with thanks geuing Geue vnto thy seruant Elizabeth our most gratious Queene and Gouernoure thy equall guiftes to her estate and dignity with vprighte Iudgememente in all thinges and to all magistrates true faith and single iudgement with loyall mindes to keepe the publique peace that her ioyes and Rule may longe stande and multiply Take from al Subiectes Sedition and disobedience teache vs by thy Holy spirite to order housholde affayres that wee may instruct our Children and Families to worship praise and glorifie thee Graunt O good Father that our childreÌ„ and family fall not into any sin and wickednes neither be ouerthrowen in any daunger or calamity whether it be either of bodie or Soule Comforte and deliuer thou moste louinge Father the captiue the hungry thirstie
EStablish my harte oh Heauenly Father in league and loue with thy lawes printe thy Precepts in the bowels of my breast sequestre my minde from all thoughtes studies and laboures that may drawe mee from thee My Soule consumeth in care to be with thee and my bodilie eyes tremble to beholde thee onely because thou hatest sinne and abhorrest iniquitie Alas there is nothing in mee but vnrightuousnesse the examples be dreadfull which declare how greeuously thou hast punnished sinne Thou diddest drowne the worlde for sinne Thou diddest sende fire vpon Sodome and Gomorrha Thou diddest cast forth Adam and his Ofspringe out of Paradice for sinne Thou diddest greeuously punnish thy seruaunte Dauid notwithstandinge his hartie repentaunce yea thou persecutedst Salomon in himself and his Posterity with many other to our example and all for shamefull sinne Lorde sith these examples are true and mine iniquity equall with theirs what should becom of my Soule if I had not a mediatour Christe whose bloudy Passion then appeased thy wrath when nothing els could By his Death I am once redeemed oh God therefore let mee now not be consumed bearing thy Image but graunt the paines of his pitiefull Passion may put out all mine offences With my voyce I will spread thy mercie ouer all Nations my Life shall glorifie thy name and all that thou geuest mee I will acknowledge to be thine with euerlasting praise Amen THe greater thou art the more humble thy selfe in all thinges and thou shalt finde fauour in the sight of God for greate povver belongeth onely vnto God and he is honoured of the lowly TVrne away thy face frō mine vnrighteousnesse Lorde no Creature is cleare in thy sighte If thou shouldest call thine Angelles to the Barre they might not abide the Sentence of thy iust Iudgement I come vnto thee for succour Lorde vnder the wynges of thy mercy receiue me Thou delightest not in any Sacrifice or burnt Offerynges but thy accustomed condition hath been euer to accepte a sorrowful spirite a broken harte Lorde if thy louinge kindenesse be suche I heare presente thee with a heauy hart a broken body a martyred minde and a sighing soule These all appeale to the◠O Lorde for thy mercye and crie out with the Prodigall Sonne saying I haue sinned againste Heauen and before thee washe me therfore with thy ritche mercie not that any good in me doth deserue it but because thou arte God of all mercy and it declareth thy mightinesse to forgeue Thou diddest shew compassion vpon the woman of Canaan for her great Faithe and from the beginning thou hast not reiected the effectuall prayers of a single hart Lorde I geue glory to thy name with the highest thy mercy stretcheth aboue the Firmamentes the sure hope and truste I haue in thy vnspeakeable truthe and compassion is equall with the stronge Faithe of the Cananite woman I confesse my sinnes manifolde But Lorde I know thy mercy and sauinge healthe are infinite Lorde sith thou arte of power to forgeue aboue that I can offende for thy names sake release my sorrowe cutte the sacke of my sinnes make mee strong in thee So shall I liue and all my thoughtes acknowledge thy praise Amen HAppy is the man that hath not fallen with the Worde of his mouthe and is not pricked with the consciēce of sinne that hath no heauinesse in his minde and is not fallen from his Hope HOw mightie thou arte oh God of Hostes in thy precellynge power by Creatynge this Worlde of nothynge wee are taught to know Thou doest gouerne the same and puttest down with thy hand the prowde and traiterous Tiraunt therof Thou destroyest theyr deuises and keepest the raging Sea within her boundes These and suche like declare thy power ouer all The plenty of thy bountifull hand geueth not only of things but also of euery kind of things shewe forth thy louinge kindenesse Thou doest multiply yearely daily these kindes How many seedes good Lorde doest thou encrease of one seede Lorde what manifolde Springes cometh therof These cannot but keepe vs mindefull of thy exceeding Ritches and Mercy Lord if to thy enemies as to the greatest number of the world which loue thee not thy condition be to deale thus bountifully what shall I deeme resteth with thee for thy freendes Truly such blisfull ioyes and rest as maketh me only desire of thee to be desolued from this earthly and vncleane body when thy pleasure is I am the fresh Image of thy selfe the woorke of thine owne handes take mee therfore vnto thee burnish me a new free my Soule from the poisoned prison of sinne that it may geue equall thankes vnto so sweete a Lorde and guide Whilest I abide in this wretched body of Sinne I cannot see thee oh Lorde yea it is a heauy habitacion and depresseth downe sore my Spirite from the familiaritie whiche it els should haue with thee my louing Father Lorde this world and life is a doungeon of Darkenesse a Mountaine of miserable Martirdomes a lewde laborenth of of lothesome Lustes a cankred course of chokinge Calamities being voyde of all vertues to gaine eternall Life Make me therfore stronge to walke vpright in this wretched wildernesse and Arme mee with the guift of thy grace against the power of Sathan my Ghostly enimy Here is nothing where I am Lorde but daily assaultes of Temptations troubles torments carefull calamities contencion for thy woorde horrible hatred and worldly ambition against which Lorde perfect me in knowledge and strong faith and with thy righte hande beat downe mine enimies that thou maist be knowen to be my God Shielde REfuse not the Prayer of one that is in trouble turne not awaye thy face from the needy despise not the sely sewter nor grieue the harte of the helpelesse for if hee complaine in the bitternesse of his soule his prayer shal be hearde euen he that made him shall heare him REgarde in mee oh God the Image of thy selfe thoughe I looked backe from thy Lawes chastice me to amendment but suffer not the work of thy hands to perishe Thou hast created my harte and geuen me a will to order the same so Lorde I most meekely yelde the same againe into thy handes I pray thee by thy holy Spirite so direct my waies counsels and woorkes that they may be of chiefe regard with thee good God the geuer of all mercy suffer not my Soule to perishe through infirmity of my Flesh For thy Sonnes sake and thine owne glory set both nowe and euer his death and Passion betweene thy iuste iudgemente and the perill of my Soule I thirste after thee my God and sith thou feest my hartie desire is to serue thee and liue in thy rule and to dye in thy Faith and fauoure allowe of me and with thy mighty hand assist me Graunte that the Celestiall kingdome of thy grace and mercie euer occupie my harte and worthely purchase me the sweet participation of thy glorious Throne and Maiestie Deliuer
deuouring Dragons with open mouth deliuer mee from their greedy gripes and free my feete from the paths of such venemous serpentes O Lord thou seest they haue stopped vp my well springes of truthe how they haue broken mee in peeces preferred their guiles and altogeather laide me waste I am made their marke to shoote at their strongest bowes haue they bente againste me out of their malicious quiuer they haue shot their sharp shaftes of eger enuie yea euen into my raines They laugh me to scorn in their dissembling hartes and yet bear me faire countenaunce No regarde is had of my truthe and vtter confusion is com vpon me thy guifts Lorde proper to my selfe are holden from mee and I perish in want hauing of mine owne The leauen of my Breade is made with cruell cares and my drink mâ—ngled with salt teares they haue ouerwhelmed mee with heaped stoanes and haue buried my innocencie in shamefull graue I am sequestred from all freedom and thou Lorde knowest I am not giltie Correcte mee not in my misdeedes towards thee Lorde but in the mildenesse of thy mercie for I acknowledge I haue don thinges vnlawfull againste thy Throne and am no more woorthy to be called thy Childe Yet Lord from the bottome of a broken harte I aske thy Pardon and my Spirite trusteth in thy mercie and requireth that mine enimies may no lenger triumph ouer mee Sweete Lorde loke downe and remedie my miserie and thraldome Remember how long I haue ben fedde with sorrowe and care how my Body wasteth and my Soule melteth away I feare Lorde thou hast forsaken mee and sette vp the horne of mine enimies that thou geuest them this longe Glory ouer mee O mercifull Father doo not so I beseech thee If my scourge be determined with thee for anie my conteÌ„ptes of thy will yet deliuer mee from the handes of the malitious I acknowledge my faultes towardes thy Celestiall Seate and say my rightuousnesse all is stained I appeale to thy mercy for thy truth and Sonnes sake But Lorde if my breast euer harboured any vniust pretence or acte againste thy Seruaunte Elizabethe my gratious Queene and Gouernoure as a ioyfull praie bestowe me emongest mine eger enimies To this day from my birthe thou knowest Lord I haue honoured her with Loyall loue and serued her with true harte and innocent handes Now Lord if such discharge of dewtie hathe euer wonne victorye ouer any her woorthy thoughtes I beseeche thee not in my deserts to thee but for my truthe to her multiplie in secret brest such thoughtes to sure encrease of firm beliefe as through thee inspired with my large truthe which might neuer boast her selfe I may be saued from the snares of the malicious and my innocencie knowen to her Wake Lorde I beseche thee and renewe on mee thy mercies and helpe as euer thou hast don of olde My Soule saith within mee thou Lorde arte her onely portion and therefore shee will hope in thee And my body hast thou alwaies deliuered in greatest perill when so euer I haue put my trust in thee Arise most mightie helper and ayde thy seruaunt who only seeketh succour of thee Sure I am in mine enimies pittes thou wilte not mine Innocencie perish neither destroy mee vtterly in mine vnrightuousnesse towardes thee for that my contrite hart appealeth to thy mercie and thy condition is not to seeke the deathe of a sinner neither to be founde vntrue in thy promisses wherin my Spirite onely trusteth Amidst my sorowful plaints and scorchinge sighes Lorde poure out the comfortable dewes of thy compassion For in no other healpe will I truste but in thine thoughe the whole earthe would assure me Mine enimies swarme as Bees to the Hieue and spreade as flowers of the Spring my freendes walke in single number and hundreds that earst professed faithe denie their sentence suche as woulde my good want the mean therto and those that beste may with Fortunes threates are beaten downe and made lame Wherfore Lorde wash the vnderstandinge of my gratious Gouernesse with the flowing springs of my truthe Cause her with speedy hande to restoare my decaied partes Guide her minde still in thy loue and feare who with such perfite wisdome true iustice and pitieful compassion shewinge whose member shee is hathe thus woorthily preserued mee Yea further Lorde guide so her course on earthe that thou maist afterwards of right equal her ioyes with thy blessed Cherubins aboue the high heauens Continewe in her thy grace which geuest euery good guifte that as shee is thy chosen vessel no vsurpinge harte nor bloudy hande may euer haue power againste her But replenished with thy holy Spirite may execute thy will and walke in thy paths neuer wanting the strength of thy right hand to beat downe her enimies But found worthy of thy ritche goodnesse wee may longe enioy so matchlesse a Heade and Gouernour Graunt this Lord I beseeche thee with exchaunge of my hard state into better euen at thine owne will and my Spirte shall neuer cease to geue praise and thanks to thy holy name Amen To the Reader MY willinge minde sundrie waies annoyed in the purpose of my Pen is forced with other laboures not onely to estrange her Royall Maiestie the finall partes of this small peece but here to offer thee courtuous Reader in supplie of voyde paper these fewe selected Sentences in bothe tongues out of Holy Scripture and other Diuine and Ancient Writers whiche for their woorthinesse thy behoofe and lesse labour if thou accepte better placed then barraine paper and graunte theire once readinge I haue my desire For after deeme I if knowledge of Vertue may allure thee or viewe of vice abashe thee often wilte thou reade and vnreade them to imbrace the good and eschewe the ill Which the heaueÌ„ly Father graunt vs al his grace to fulfill Sentences out of the holy Scripture THe fear of God is worship and triumph gladnesse and a ioyfull Crowne yea who so feareth the Lord shal be happy and when he hathe neede of comfort he shall be blessed The Seede of them whiche feare the Lorde shall be brought to Honour But the generation of the prowde disceiptefull and malitious shall perishe with the shame of their wickednesse Laboure to geate thee a good name for that shall continew by thee surer then a thousand greater treasures of Golde A good life hath a number of daies but a good name endureth for euer The vntruth of a lying tongue murdereth the Soule vpon the heade of the backbiter and blasphemour with terrour shall the Lorde sende the thunder of his wrath consume them hastily He that loueth Ritches shall not be iustified And who so foloweth corruption shal perish in the same Goulde and Siluer is the tree of falling to euery one that greedily seeketh the same blessed is the Ritch which is found without blemish Trauaile and carefulnesse for Ritches taketh away the sleepe and maketh the flesh to consume they help not in the day of iudgemente
Rightuousnesse shall crowne thee Through thy euil gotten goods shalt thou perish The ioy and cherefulnesse of the hart is the pure life of man And his cleare conscience a sure fortresse against death The Tree of the field is knowen by his fruite So are the rotten thoughtes of the dissemblinge personne by his open deedes of malice Forgeue thy neighboure the hurte that he hath done thee so shall thy sinnes be forgeuen thee when thou praiest Remember the ende and lette enmitie passe which seketh death and destruction abide in the commaundement of thy God that thou maiste reape his blessinge They that reioyce at the fall of the rightuous shall be taken in the snare anguishe of harte shall consume them before they die Wrest not thou the law nor know whose eyes veweth all vertue seekes tâ— punish al wickednesse be not in the number of suche Hester 16. My right hand shal not spare the sinners and my sword shall not cease ouer them that sheadde the innocent bloud vpon earth Esdras 15. Despise not a man that turneth himself away from Sinne and cast him not in the teethe withal but remember we be all fraile and offenders Ecclesiast 8 Three thinges there be that my Spirite fauoureth the vnitie of Brethren and the loue of Neighbours a Man wife that agree well togeather Three things thereâ—f which my Soule hateth a Ritch man Couetous a poore man proude an Olde man that is vnchaste Eccle. 25. Oppresse not thou the Lawe nor knowe any person neither take any reward for gifts blind the wise and peruert the words of the Rightuous that which is iust shall then followe that thou mayst liue Leuit. 19. See that thou know no faces in iudgemente nor doo any vnrightuousnesse in iudgement in meatte Yearde in Waighte or in Measure trewe Ballances trewe waightes a trewe Ephâ— and a trewe line shall you haue to all men Ibidem Thou shalt not fauoure the poore nor honoure the mighty but in rightuousnesse shalt thou iudge thy Neighbour Ibidem Thou shalte not aduenge thy self nor be mindeful of a wrong but shalt loue thy Neighbour euen as thy selfe Iames. 1. As the Sunne riseth is heat and the grasse withereth and his flower falleth away the bewty of the fashion of it perisheth euen so shal the malitious ritch vnrightuous and dissemblinge person perish in the wickednesse of his waies Iudge nothinge before the time which will lighten thinges that are hidden in darknesse and open the Counsels of the harts so shall euery man haue praise of god Corinth 4. See thou robbe not the poore because he is weake and oppresse not the simple in iudgement for the Lorde him selfe wil defend their cause and doo violence to them that haue vsed violence Prouerb 22. God resisteth the prowde and geueth grace vnto the lowlie Iames. 4. Dispise not thou the chastening of the Lorde neither dispaire when he geueth thee aduersity for whom the Lorde loueth him he chasteneth yea he scourgeth with affliction euery sonne that he receiueth Hebr. 12 Lette euery man be swifte to heare slowe to speake slowe to wrath for the wrath of man worketh not that which is rightuous before God wherefore lay aparte all malice and with all meekenesse of harte exercise truthe and quietnesse Iames. 1. Lay aside all maliciousnesse and all guile fainednesse and enuie all backbitinge and as new borne Babes desire ye that Milke not of the Bodie but of the Soule whiche is without disceipte that ye may grow therby vnto saluacion 2. epist. Petr. The eies of the Lorde do gouerne the Rightuous and his eares open vnto their Praiers Ibidem cap. 3. The desire of the Lowlie is acceptable and the Lorde will encrease it but the hope of the Prowde is the indignation and in the freshnes of theyr labours wil he roote them out He that casteth out his words rashly woorketh care to his life but who so through silence seasoneth his thoughtes with wisedome is the Authoure of longe rest Euery labour geueth foorthe his fruite onely lippe laboure destroyeth time bringeth forth penurie The daies of aduersity are a blessing of God a cleare conscience is a continuall feaste A malitious man kindleth strife a foole vttereth his wrath in hast but a discrete person couereth wrong The Lorde abhorreth the praier of the malitious but who so humbleth his Praier in faith and Charitie shall finde his desire The desires of the Couetous man bring vpon him confusion but who so gathereth his Ritches with loue and fauour shall prosper Through Mercie and truthe sinnes are pardoned through Rightuousnesse and Faithe are thy prayers hearde and euill eschewed Rightuous lippes are pleasaunt vnto Kinges and dissemblinge tongues ouerthrowe hie Pallaces Better it is to be of humble minde with the Lowlie then to deuide the spoyles with the prowde Presumptuousnesse goeth before destruction after a prowd stomacke followeth a foule fall Mercie and faithfulnesse preserueth the Kinge and with louing kindenesse his seate is holden vp Who so followe Rightuousnesse and Mercy shal finde both life rightuousnesse and honour Like as the Golden pillers are vpon the sockettes of Siluer so are the bewtifull partes of the body vpon a wooman that hath a constant minde The harte of the foolishe is like a Carte wheele and his thoughts runne aboute like the Axeltree The wise man tempereth his rage with patience seasoneth his woordes with wisedome Who so is Mercifull and geueth Almes that is the righte thanckes offeringe but he that stoppeth his eares at the crie of the poore shal be cast downe crie him selfe and be not hearde All that is of the Earth shall turne to the Earthe againe all Brybes and Vnrightuousnesse shall perishe but Faithfulnesse and Truthe shall endure for euer Rewardes and giftes blinde eyes of the wise and make him runne that he cannot tell menne their faultes Let not thy mouth be accustomed with swearing for in it ther be many falles The heauinesse of the hart is al the pounishment and the wickednes of a woman goeth aboue all Like as to clime vp a sandie waie is to the feete of the aged euen so is a wife ful of woordes to a still quiet man. That woman that hathe bene vnfaithfull to the Lawe of the Highest and hathe broken Couenaunt with her Husband her children shall take no roote and as for her braunches they shall beare no fruit A shamefull reporte shall she leaue behinde her and her dishonoure shall not be put out Like as the Sunne when it ariseth is an ornamente in the highe Heauen of the Lorde so is a vertuous wife the bewty of all her house Perpetuall are the foundations that be laide vpon a whole stoany Rocke so are the Commaundements of God vpon the hart of a holy woman What so euer happen vnto thee receiue it suffer iâ— heauinesse shewed vnto thee that be aboue the capacitie of men Be not ashamed of thy freend in his aduersitie and keepe not backe thy counsell when it
Meditations and Praiers gathered out of the Sacred Letters and Vertu◠〈◊〉 Writâ—â—â— Disposed i◠〈…〉 â—â—bet of to 〈…〉 〈…〉 Coâ—â— out of the Lâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—â—cred Mindes Multae tribulationeâ— Iustorum de omnibus liberabit eos Dominus Psal 34. ¶ Imprinted at London by William How. An. 1571. E Elect by will of mightie loue in Royall Roumth to sitte L Liuyng in Chaste Dianas Lawe with Sacred Sabas witte I Iuno disâ—â—â—ide with stately Rule hath 〈◊〉 Heauenly Maâ—â— Z Zenobia serues â—ise Pallas sâ—â—â— fayre Venus seekes her graâ—â— A â—lso wiâ—◠〈◊〉 Heauenly doâ—◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—dome to define B Bounde 〈◊〉 she be to Natures Law or if shee be Diuine E Empiring vs vnwoorthy wightes whose gratitude may gayne T That our renowmd Elizabeth H Here Nestors yeeres may raine To the Highe puisant renoumed Princesse of al Vertue our moste redoubted Soueraigne Lady Elizabeth of Englande Fraunce and Irelande Queene Defendour of the Christian Faithe your Maiesties trewe and Loyall seruant Iohn Conwaye Prayeth all thinges beseeminge the Height of your Royall Desent Imperiall Crowne and dreadefull Dignitie TReadinge the weary March of this lothsome Laborynthe besieged with the horrible Hoste of Satan our Anciente foe wee finde moste regarded Prince to the blessed Soule no waie so sure a shielde and Fortresse as the vnspeakeable vâ—rtuâ— of daiely Praier the same deckings mans brickle Body with the perfectnesse of true Glory assistinge his decaied partes with sounde healthe nourishinge his vitall Spirites with sweete confirmed hope geuinge the furious Fend of Hell pininge pounishmente and moste bitter conflicte And beinge faithfull huÌ„mble and feruente is not onely to our Celestial Father the moste sweete Oblation and Sacrifice but to euery true Christian a moste blessed comfortable exercise wherein as wee laie abroade our yrksome transgressions by naturall defectes to the Almightie requiringe the Fortresse of his Holy Promisse to defende vs from this politike and wicked Warriour So by often conference as it were euen with the Deitie it selfe wee are trained Souldiers to the Battayle of eche affliction By Praier Dispaire is auoided and the horrible sinne of Presumption ouerthâ—owen all Impurenesse laide aparte all Rancour foregotten and rigorous Enuie dissolued to milde Loue els shall wee wante the thinges wee praie for Then if Praier doothe onely enforce vs to a reformation of our misdeedes purchasing vs a stately Mansion in the House of God free from the heauy yoke of Sinne and Deathe The Holy Augustine rightely spake these woordes Oratio est Animae Sanctae praesidium Angelo bono Solatium Diabolo SuppliciuÌ„ gratum Deo Obsequium Poenitentiae Religionis Laus tota perfecta Gloria Spes certa Sanitas incorrupta And also Cassidorus Oratio posita est per quam Ira Dei suspenditur Venie procuratur Poena refugitur Praemiorum Largitas impetratur Et nullus indè respuitur nisi qui in ea tepidus inuenitur Let vs therfore presente the Highest with this Incense of true Prayer discoueryng our mindes and confessing our vnwoorthinesse with assured hope to receiue the benefite of his sweete Promisses due to eche penitente Soule that asketh in the simplenesse of harte with teares and stedfastnesse reiectinge all tremblinge hope whiche then gaineth our true perfection therein and also confirmeth these further woordes of Augustine Si pura casta sit Oratio Coelos penetrans vacua non redibit O sweete Sentence nay ô more blessed trauaile so imploied where nothinge is founde so necessarie to the loste Childe nothing more pleasant to the afflicted man nothinge more profitable to the weake despairinge minde neither any thing so well beseeming euerye estate arminge them with able force to encounter the wicked Serpent Againste whose malignities as the Heauenly giftes of prudente skill and Learning are shrined in Royal Seate of your vnspotted Life associate with moste lowely nature â—he true Victors of Regale renowne exercisinge eche vertue in proper kinde that iustly maie procure you euerlastinge rewarde of vndefiled Battaile so vnder Bulwarke of those Angelical beauties pearsinge highest poincte of starry Firmamente and mounte I saie of Heauenly Humilities vniuersally resoundinge all Europe and makinge Englande specially blessed im imboldened to laye before your Highnes these woordes of Salomon Kinge touchinge this effect who called his housholde to Praier and commended the force thereof Because saithe he I communicate with God of good thinges I will haue Honour of the Elders I wil be founde a ready younge man in Iudgement In conspectu potentium admirabilis ero facies principuÌ„ mirabuntur me Create is the force of Prayer to a Prince that loueth it greater to him that vseth it greatest to him that needeth it The comforte whereof moste puisant Prince holdeth backe my ouer feebled spirite from her laste steppe to that vglye Hell of desperation deeming there was neuer earst infelicitie in any degree equall to mine whose foes by sinister suggestions haue not onely vsurped the rewarde of my single intent and true seruice but Zoylus hath stirred the ministers of your heauy wrathe against mee to the abandonyng of my desired libertie suppression with vtter ruine of my poore sequell and buried my halfe liuinge Carkas in the graue of deepe forgetfulnes where my voice is hoarsed with cryinges and my tongue fainted with vtteringe the griefe of my sorowfull minde No doubte a iuste scouâ—ge to the hidden faultes of my passed life but to the very case of my committing wherein I am wounded maymâ—d wronged and lost it needeth a true Confession and not a false Defense in any thinge by mee thought or donne to the preiudice of your Royall person Crowne State or Dignitie I professe before the Almighty as innocent as the Childe vnseparate his Mothers intrayles Teste seâ—pso whose wrathe I craue in IudgmeÌ„t to my thoughts of any harme to your Highnesse wherein amidst my sorrowes yet I ioye sithence my miserable matter concerns your excellencie and my punishment at your Noble pleasure continued or released whiche in weary state I attende powringe my pitiful plaintes before the Maiestie of the Highest to dissolue your woorthy harte to accustomed leuitie and to fortifie abâ—ade of these sweete woordes in your Royall breaste rendred to a sely suiter that your Highnesse woulde ioyâ— with any inferior of my Friendes in the triall of my truthe Wherin O gracious God what els dothe your Highnesse but scourge the schorchyng Phaëton that goeth too faste and wantes a slower reigne for whilest you wishe my truthe whiche hath no want I waile my vnwoorthinesse and fall into deepe Hell of Desperation Nihil enim est quod tantum me terreat nec est aliquidquod tantum me delectet QuaÌ„tum huius tuae in me bonitatis commemoratio terret inquam me indignitas propria sed me delectat haec tua virtus excellentia beinge assured my whole studie force trauell nor aduenture shal euer be able to CaÌ„cell the Recordes of your Princely thoughtes touchinge my true Loyalty whiche no Antecedent of passed life can
perswasion shall suffise so to incorporate thee in Loue Felowshippe and daily exercise as sharpely to take reuenge of thy sluggish body in whatsoeuer Daye thy vngratefull Spirite shall become negligente of thy dewetie therin Consider I pray thee the paine Passion merites and immense goodnesse of a milde louing and mercifull Sauiour Iesus Christe towarde thee forgeat not that beinge deade throughe Sinne in thy firste Father ADAM and worthily condemned to eternall dampnacion He without other mocion then his own mercy brought thee to liue againe If this so great mercie cannot bring in the bondes of thy owinge dewtie and mooue thee by daily vse of thankes geuing through harty Praier to cancel the records of such gratitude be yet reduced by considering the scorching paines prepared in guerdon of the vngrate and reprobate Accepte the troubles wretchednesse Martirdomes of this lothsom life as true Figure of his fauoure and signes of his blessing be not vnthankfull by omission of Prayer toward so naturall and more then louing a Father that he hath stauled thee on earth not onelie replenished with manie wholesom Hearbs Flowers Fruites Waters Trees Plants manie worthie Creatures to thy behoofe and Subiection but hath farther geuen thee a most comfortable and infallible promise and graunt of his holy Spirite deuine grace to arm guide and defende thee so well against the traines of thy Aunciente foe Sathan as also how to vse these his wonderful workes louing kindnesse and great mercie so that with heartie and faithfull Praier thou call to him for the same yea and hathe left thee a form of Peticion by Praier to him for all thy necessities and lastlie hath geuen thee a speciall coÌ„maundement to Praie promising to heare and graunt thy request Wherfore it is requisite to thee such as praie Firste well to consider of this promisse whereby may bee kindled in them a more Ardent desire Faithfullie to pray for without this speciall commaundemente enioyning vs to praie except also God had promised hee woulde heare vs neither thou nor anie creature could obtaine the least thinge by his praiers And here thou maist see when we obtaine any thing the graunt is not to be attributed to our praiers or worthinesse but to the vnspeakeable goodnesse of GOD which preuenteth our praiers with his promise and commaundemente wherby hee dooth mooue vs to praie that wee may learne he is carefull for vs and much more ready to graunte then we to aske or receiue And because he offreth to vs more goodnes then either wee dare or can in any wise desire let that blessed bountie of GOD so kindle and confirme thee that thou alwaies praie without doubting For speciallie in acceptable praier is required that we mistrust nothing the prouidence of the almightie by that he chieflie promiseth that he will heare vs and gaue a precept of praying onely to settell and confirme our sure beliefe that he vvould heare vs as in the .21 of Mathew and .11 of Marke is saide Whatsoeuer you aske Praying beleue you shall receiue it and it shall be geuen you Luke likevvise 11. Euery one that asketh receiueth he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shal be opened With these and like so well promises as commaundementes thy minde is to be confirmed faithfullie to praie assuring thy self thou shalt receiue all that thou doest aske But if thou doubt of the will of God in thy Praier praie rashlie thou coÌ„mittest tvvo offences First because thorowe thine owne fault thy praier is of lesse valevv and laboure in vaine For saith S. Iames If any man require ought of God lette him aske with Faith not doubtinge For hee that doubteth is like a Surge of the Sea which is tossed of the winde and caried with violence Nâ—ither let that man thincke he shall receiue any thing of his Heauenly Father because his hart is not sure quiet for Faith kepeth the harte quiet that it may receiue the guift of God. The other is that thou beleeuest in God as in a light and friuolous Person deeminge him eyther not able to perfourm his promises or that he vvill not These plucke avvay the Glory and Name from the high God which beleue he is not faithfull and true And this Sinne is so great that of a Christian it maketh a Heathen for God is not only denied in this Sinne but he is vtterly thereby lost neither is there any hope of recouery so longe as thou abidest in this infidelitie And if it happen to any that praieth vvithout sure trust that he obtaine any thing that guifte is geuen of God being angry to the destruction bothe of Body and Soule that at the least somme Honour may be done to the holy Scriptures whiche may be vttered from menne full of sin distrust and contempt of God. Furthermore they doo not iudge right vvhiche thincke to obteine in prayer by their ovvne vvorthinesse This is not to be regarded vvhether thou be vvorthy or vnvvorthy that praiest for praier consisteth not in the worthinesse vvhiche wee bring but in the infallible truthe of Goddes promise And truly if praier be grounded eyther vpon it selfe or any other it is vayn frustrate yea thoughe it seeme to proceede from the Godly affectes of the Harte and eies pouring out aboundant teares of Water or Bloud But let vs praie to be Iudged vvorthy and bee hearde because vvee perceiue oure ovvne vnvvorthynesse and are bolde through the only goodnesse of God and Faith. Although thou perceiuest thy selfe vnvvorthy in desert either to aske or receiue any thinge of thy Celestiall Father let this only be regarded that thou shalt obtain it through the honour of his name vvhich is true and let not thy vnbeleeuing Faith holde his promise for an vntruthe Neyther shall vnvvorthynesse hinder thee as also thy vvorthinesse shall nothinge further thee But Vnbeliefe onely shall damme thee and Faithe shall make thee vvorthy and saue thee Diligentely therfore bevvare that thou neuer deem thy self vvorthy to pray or receiue but euen vvhen thou feeleste thy selfe able boldely to leane to the sure and true promises of thy chiefe Creatoure of vvhose mercy thou oughtest to bee so muche the more sure because euen as hee promised thee vnvvorthy and vvithout deserte that hee vvill denie thee nothing So likevvise thoughe thou be vnvvorthy yet he vvil heare thee that he may perfourme the promises he gaue thee So that nothinge is left to thy deserts or vvorthinesse but the truth mercie of the most Highest do chalenge all thinges to themselues From vvhence al promises flovve as oute of a Fountaine that this sâ—ying might be fulfilled Psalm 25. All the wayes of thâ— Lorde are mercy and truthe for his mercy vve do se in his promises and his Truthe vvhen they are fulfilled and kept And likevvise in the Psal 32. Mercie and Truthe are in his way that is they are mette and seene ioyned togeather in any one vvorke or guift vvhiche vve obtaine in
as Iron cankreth so dooth his wickednesse though he humble him selfe greatlie yet locke vp thy minde and beware of him set him not by thee nor on thy right hande leaste he turne gette into thy place take thy roume and possesse thy Seate Prou. 16. The cheerefull countenaunce of the Kinge is life his louinge fauoure is as the Euening dew Duce Deo. HONI SOIT QV MAL Y PENSE E Encrese Knowledge L Let Vertue guide I In Praier perseuer Z Zelously aske A Acknowledge Sinne. B Beware of Presumption E Enuie no man. T Tender the helpelesse H Hope for Heauen R Remember thy Rule E Encline to Iustice G Graunte gyftes by Defert I In Mercy delight N No Flatterers preferre A Accepte the Wise ¶ Holy briefe and comfortable Meditations or Praiers disciferyng in Alphabet forme the Royal Name of our most Vertuous Soueraigne EXercise mercy set thy Bread and Drinke vpon the table of the poore and hungrie couer the Naked with thi Clothes and these shal deliuer thee from Sinne and Death not suffer thy Soule to com in Darkenesse Zechiel the prophet saith When the wicked tourneth from his vngodlynesse he hath donne he shall saue his Soule With thy Seruaunt Esaie therfore I say oh Lorde thou art a great and fearfull god Thou kepest couenaunt mercy with them which loue thee and keepe thy Commaundements And with thy Apostle Barnabie I acknowledge I haue sinned I haue offended I haue bin disobedient and gonne back yea I haue departed from all thy pathes and Iudgements Lorde to thee belongeth righteousnesse and Mercy to mee shame and destruction for mine Iniquity Yet Lord enter not into iudgment with thy Seruaunt for no fleash is righteous in thy sight neither correct me in thy wrath for then I shal not abide it Haue mercy vpon me oh Father from the deapth of thy mercie take pity vpon mee forgeue Lorde heare my Praier and blotte out mine offences Let thy louing face shine ouer the woorke of thy handes that lieth waste Lord for thine owne sake doo it Encline thine eare and heare me beholde how desolate I am stretch out thy hande and helpe me Lorde I desire to comme to thee and my weakenesse is such as without thy helpe I am not hable to raise my selfe vnto thee Therfore Lord remember thy swâ—â—â—e promises tarry not ouer long strengthen me with thy holie Spirite heare my Prayers wash me in thy righteousnes I cast not these peticions before thee hoping in mine owne Merites which are none but trusting in thy great mercy and sweet promises Wherefore Lorde heare mee and forgeue mee and I shall liue for euer LEt Enimitie passe which seketh Death and Destruction and before thou Praiest forgeue els thou heapest vengeaunce of thy selfe LOrde make thy wayes knowen vnto mee that I may walke so perfectly that no kinde of Sinne ouercome me Thou leadest straight in iudgement and geuest sight to the blinde Thou arte neare vnto them that call vpon thee with faithful harte haue mercie vpon mee heare me and geue me a Hart to praie vnto thee Lay not against me my sinnes past but for thine owne sake forget them I vnderstand not al mine errours my sinnes haue taken holde on mee and of my selfe I am not hable to retourne Sende me therfore thy holy helpe to strengthen mine infirmitie Keepe my mouth and lippes and let the thought of my harte be acceptable in thy sight Permit not the worde of Truthe to departe my breaste suffer not Malice to dwel in my harte Deliuer mee from false surmises and accusacions of men rule me after thine owne will and pleasure Remooue from mee vanities and let not the foote of Pride take holde on me so shall I be free from the greatest sinne Stay and kepe me from euery euill way for in thee I trust it is thou only that canst helpe Looke vnto mee with thy mercies and graunt me grace in thy sight Amen IN Equitie Loue and Truth gather all thy Ritches in the handes of the Poore lay vp thy Almes and these shal defende thy euill fight for the against thine Enemies better then the strength of mightie men preserue thy fauour as the apple of an Eie and rise with thee in the day of Iudgement to pay thy revvarde on thy head IN hope of thy Mercy and Forgeuenesse most mightie and dreadful God whose truthe is vnspotted I am bold to com before thee My truste is good I shal be heard for that thou hast euer bene the true head of all Iustice and delightest in Truthe Denie thy self thou canst not for thou hast promised In what â—â—â—e soeuer a Sinner doth with a broken harte repent his wickednesse at that instant thou wilt cansell the recordes of thy remembraunce and the fowlenesse of his faulte shall remaine no blemish to his Soule Heare mee now therfore oh Maker of Heauen and Earthe I acknowledge I haue sinned and donne vnpleasaunt thinges in thy sight I confesse the misdeedes which rebel against my Soule with Saule saying I haue sinned I haue played the Foole and haue erred exceedingly And with like humble lowley and faithfull harte as did King Dauid who vnfainedly cried out his Sinne and became thy seruaunt So moste Holy in hope of the same hire with contrite hart I sighe and say I haue broken thy Lavves and not walked in thy Commaundementes If I should now recite and number the mountaines of my misdeedes which ouerwhelme my body and that are eger enemies to my pining Soule the day were to short Lord I neede not thy blisfull Seate is aboue the starry Firmament and thou sittest on high beholding what is donne amisse in the Earth belowe My wickednesse that I most secretly haue committed to thy Celestiall eies hath bene manifest Forgeue me good Lorde that my tongue may iustifie thy euerlasting Truthe that others beholding in mee thy manifolde mercies may likewise with mee be ashamed of their euill and seke after thy mercy Woe am I that my hart hath been so long vnacquainted with the Welsprings of thy Truth that my handes haue wrought vnrighteousnesse and heaped sinne vpon sinne Turne away from the sight therof the fulnesse of thy fury Exchaunge the roughnesse of thy rage into meeke mildenesse before thou correct mee most louing Sauiour I am not able to abide thy heauy displeasure if thou chastice mee with thy rodde of Iustice I perish I haue not one good deede to preferre mine offences beare number with the flowers and blossomes of the Spring my truthe is no whit and with vnrighteousnesse all is defiled Forgeue mee oh Heauenly King Forget thou that art the sweete spring of my Soule Geue me thy holy Spirite that it may be with mee and labour with mee to attaine thy blessed fauoure for mine ignorance cannot desire that I ought neither can my feeble force without thine ayde raise me to thy presence Thy Spirite will helpe my debility and make right intercession for all my necessities Thy spirite wil
make me pray with such humblenesse of harte and sorrowfull sighinges as no tongue can tell That guift most pretious will hold me vp where fleashe would fall and guide my feeble feete in the light of thy Law. Thy Spirite I say will purge mee from all earthly effects and lift me vp to heauenly thinges Therfore conioyne mee oh God of all mercy to thy holy Spirite to teache mee to treade the steady steppes of thy worthy will. So shall I leade my Life in the true Lawe of thy louinge kindenesse and with a stronge and stable minde perseuer in Prayer vnto the ende Graunt me therefore for thy Truthe and Sonnes sake that I may enioy this sweete possession of thy holy Spirite which may alwaies leade my laboures after thy liking and keepe my harte in thy feare Sweete Iesu make a couenaunt with me that I neuer become enimy with thee any more neither be found vnworthy of thy ritche mercy and bountifull benefites but that the remainder of my life imployed in thy Seruice may iustly mooue thee to forgeat the iniquitie of my tender yeares Continue thou God of all comfort with increase by the assistaunce of thy grace what I haue heare begunne So shall I liue to glorifie thy might and mercy for euer and euer Amen ZEale anger carefulnesse and sorovve cause celetitie of olde Age Iustice mercie equitie and truthe make glad the Holy Ghoste and to a merie harte is geuen long life and svveete taste ZAcharie spake from thee O Lorde saying Like as I deuised to punnishe you what time your Fathers prouoked me vnto wrath and spared not Euen so am I nowe minded to do wel vnto the house of Iuda and Hierusalem therefore feare it not Now the things you shall do saith the Lorde are these speake euery man the truthe to his neighbour execute Iudgement truly and peaceably within your Portes none of you imagine euill in his harte and loue no false othes O Lorde of my selfe I am so sinful and ignorant that I cannot speake or thincke a good thought much lesse to doo well in deede Assist mee therefore with thy grace that I may doo as thou hast commaunded And let mee comfort my selfe with thy sweete woordes by thy Prophete which are That as the house of Iuda and Israell were accurst emongest the Heathen so thou dooest promise to make them a blessing Am not I an Ofspringe of that seede O Lorde to whome thou diddest promise this blessinge Or were not these thinges written to putte mee in minde of thee and cause mee turne from my wickednesse and truste by thy mercy to obtaine fauoure againe Remember then O Lorde in thy Mercie Turne mee and I shal be turned saye to my Soule I am come vnto thee thy health and thy saluacion A Double tongued man is to be abhorred and he that beareth hatred can neither praie rightly nor speake truelie of whome beware for the malicious and double tongued hath ouerthrowen Highe Palaices laide waste stronge Cities who so harkeneth to them shall neuer finde reste nor dwell in safetie neare the Prince they are more perilous then a Fistula in the breste to the healthe of Man. AVenge not thy cause on me thou God of all iustice forgeue mee my contemptes of thy Commaundements and omission of Prayer If thou geue me equall pay of my Merites I perish Forgette my vnkindenesse I beseeche thee and clothe mee with comfort of thy compassion Purifie my Soule and Body wash away my wickednesse with the bloude breakinge from the woundes of my Sauioure Christe and I shall no more be vnkinde Geue me wisedome to knowe all thy preceptes and pleasure graunt thy mercy euer to keepe me and thy grace to guide me It yrketh mee that euer I did forsake so sweete a Lorde Sauioure my sorrow wasteth mee and my sighes ouerwhelme my harte Haue mee in remembraunce therfore for I tremble quake were not thy mercie knowen I should vtterlie despaire Turne away the stroke of thy vengeaunce from mee bringe my minde out of trouble into rest Fetch now againe thou most pretious Prince of all power that which thy puisaunt mighte hath shapen Restoare Sonne of the Father thee Almightie that which thou hast so well guided and bought with thy terrible torments Take againe into the Sacred seat of thy blessed custody Lord God Holy Ghoste my Body and Soule that haue wandred Thou haste pitifully preserued them long from the violence and vtter destruction of the wicked Serpente and throwes of worldly chaunce Moste mighty God sith thou haste aduaunced thy Glory by such compassion continue in me hartie Prayer put about mee the girdle of thy grace and linke my loue in the lore of thy lawes and my hart shal be thankfull Day and nighte will I say blessed is the Lorde And will praise thy Name and magnifie thy mercie for euer and euer BE ashamed of sinnes and vnrighteousnesse be ashamed to turne thy face away from thy friende in his neede be ashamed to obbrede thy friende with thy guiftes be ashamed to take and not to geue but be not ashamed of the truthe of God and his Couenaunte but do thy best to fulfil it and thou shalt liue BE my comforter in al coūselles and daungers oh God make cleare my vnderstanding and heape my sorte with newe effects and Spiritual motions Renew my Body and Spirite that all sinne flie from mee and graunt that I liue to rightuousnesse Power vpon mee the Spirite of thy grace loade me with the Trewe knowledge of thy woorde Holde my harte alwaies in thy feare builde a true faith and hope of thy promises and mercy in the Bowels of my breast The heauenly Father of our Lorde Iesu Christe hath promised it vnto mee for his Sons sake I seeke it for that thou maist ouercome when thou arte Iudged denie me not Though there belong nothing to mee but confusion and shame yet Lorde correcte mee not in thy dreadfull displeasure but with the louing fauoure of thy face looke vpon my festured woundes Heale them good Lorde from the bottome lette them be healed Mingle thy mercy and preceptes and sowe the seede of them so deepe in my Harte that no burninge blastes of persecution make asshes therof neither any thorny cares of this life doo choke it but that it may bringe foorth as thou hast appoynted like good ground thirtie sixe and an hundred folde The fruites of my haruest Lord shal be the flowers of thy glory My tongue shal alwaies speake of thy maruaylous workes and my hart shall keepe thy Lawes I wil not deny thee my God for the power of any wicked but will seeke thy grace hope of thy mercie and say The mightie God of Israell is to be loued feared and obeyed world without ende Amen EVill seedes see thou sovv not in the Furrowes of vnrighteousnesse so shalt thou not reape thee seuenfolde labour sue not vnto Man for any Lordship neither vnto the Kynge for the Seate of Honour
perseuer in thee which art the true way vnto death Builde my sure trust that accustomed with thy promises I neuer waxe old in the exercise of Vertue but forgetting those thinges which are paste I may continually striue to come to perfiter Accept my contrite hart the woonted sacrifice of thy delight and the oblation of these my peticions grauntinge the summe of my requests Blotte out all mine offences for thine owne sake increase thy grace in mee that I may in all things carrie vpright sway and equall iudgement gouerning thy people in the light of thy worde and feare of thy Lawes And daily more and more die to my selfe and liue and be lead by thy Spirite fearinge nothinge but thee then the which nothinge is greater or mightier louing nothing beside thee thē whom nothing is more to be beloued gloriynge in nothinge but in thee which art the glory of al saincts requiring nothinge beside thee which arte the best desiring nothing but thee which art the full and perfite felicitie with the Father and the holy Ghoste aboue the starrie Firmamente to whom be praise both now euer Amen ¶ A discrete and wise woman is an high porcion she honoreth GOD and bewtifieth the worlde vpon her right hande standeth loye and Peace and vpon her left hand Ritches and Honour her Body is the sweete tree of longe life to him that laieth hold on her blessed is he that kepeth her fast EVerye one that saithe Lorde Lorde shal not enter the Kingdom of heauen Therefore confirme my Faithe stronge in thee O Heauenly Father and in my Sauiour Christe quiet my minde with sure hope of his promises and thy Saluacion Destroye in mee the Kingdom of Sinne the power of Sathan the desires of the worlde and the delightes of the Fleashe Guide my feete in the pathes of thy preceptes bringe the conflictinge daies of mine enemies to ende Make mee that am weake in my selfe strong in thee to conquere the force of theire Armes So shall my lippes poure out continuall praise vnto thee O god of my Saluacion and magnifie thy Maiesty worlde without ende Amen L LOoke not extremely what is donne amisse in mee for no fleash is rightuous in thy sight I offer vp my selfe wholy with all my vnsauery and corrupt abuses both in wil and woorkes vnto the flowinge fountaine of thy mercy to be chasticed poullished and washed and made cleane euen at thine owne will and pleasure Wherfore impute not the frailty of my tender yeeres vnto my charge but that thou maist ouercome when thou art iudged Forgeue me receiue me and so arme me with thy holie Spirite that I may treade the rest of my daies with an vpright sway a cleare conscience and a single harte to thy Glory and profite of my Soule Amen I I Liue O God in a most wretched Vale of miserie where cōtinually thy creatures are strained with sinne assayled with affliction tossed with troubles choked with cares infected with ambition vexed with temptacions blinded with erroures ouercomme with vanities of the world and miseraly wrapped in all vntruthe and wretchednesse wherfore O Lord arise stretch out thy hand helpe and comfort mee Asswage my sorrowe assist me with thy Holy Spirite that mine owne substance ouercome mee not this glitteringe vaine world of infinite sorowes and fewe felicities deceiue mee not that Sathan supplant mee not but geue me inuincible power to encounter them patience in suffering them and in thy woorde constancie in perseuering to the ende Amen Z ZEale anger hatred and frō respecte of any persones in Iudgemente Lorde make mee free Arme mee with the patience of my sauiour Christ geue me the Breastplate of his rightuousnesse and the helmet of his equitie Make mee to exercise his Mercy Truthe Meekenesse Faithfulnesse Temperance and Humility Cast out of my harte all that may offende thee and disprofite my Soule Let all worldly things be vile vnto mee for thy sake let me reioyce in nothinge without thee nor loue nothing but to thy glorie So shall my harte keepe thy lawes and my mouthe for euer and euer speake thy praise Amen A ACcepte mee Lorde in the nūber of thy elect behold in mee the Image of thy selfe the worke of thine owne hands remember thou haste geuen thy deare Sonne to the bitter Passion of the Crosse for my redemption Let me not be rewarded therfore accordinge to the deepe sea of my sinnes for then I perishe But for thy Truthe Mercie and deere Sonnes sake correcte mee strengthen mee and imbrace mee yea linke mee so surely to the loue of thy Lawes that I neuer leaue thee and in the daie of my trouble houre of deathe Lorde deliuer mee so shall I liue and glorifie thee through all worldes Amen B BEholde my infirmities O Lord and consider my frailnesse best knowen vnto thee So oft as I shall fall make me lift vp my hart again vnto thee seeke thee feare thee and loue thee and euer to be soary with so stedfast a purpose of amendement that my earnest desire may rightly stirre vp thy mercie and procure mee the assistaunce of thy grace to conioyne mee to all Heauenly thinges to destroye all earthly affections and temptacions that daily plucke mee backe and rebell not sufferinge my soule to liue in rest Against which builde thy feare in my breast true knowledge of thy woorde in my harte fortifie my faith with sure hope of thy Heauenly blisse enter the shininge light of thy woorde so deepe in my minde that all my studies thoughts onely occupied therin my other partes may euer want power to offend the my tongue and lippes euer be singinge thy laude and glory Amen E ENritche my Soule with the continual felowshippe of thy thy Holy Spirite whose deuine humanitie may so temper my grosse substance with trewe condition that alwaies I may seem low in mine owne sight and neither pride nor selfloue ouertake or at any time allure me to exercise the vnseemely pleasantnesse of nature but euer preferringe a pure and chaste life may winne the victory of al vncleanesse and glorifie thee which art the heade and Patrone of al mercy truth and singlenesse whose triumphe my tongue shall neuer cease to aduaunce Therefore most louing Sauiour leaue mee not to my selfe but stande alwaies by mee and with thy stronge hande make my waies sound and perfit and confound mine enimies in their deuises Amen T THou hast saide most sweete redemer Christe that the Mountaines shall remooue and the Hilles shall fall downe but thy louinge kindenesse woorde mercy and truthe shal not moue also that the band of thy peace shall not faile vs Dere Father I beseeche thee for thine owne Truthe and mercies sake remember this thy Promise and Couenaunt graue it so deepe in the inwarde partes of my harte that I may neuer forgeate neyther fall from thee but euer acknowledge thee mine only God and Sauiour Loue thee with all my harte and thy people for
inspyre vs with the ferueÌ„t flames of thy loue to consume the festerynge phantisses of our minde conioyne amd knytte the sences poures of our inwarde partes in thee make vs holde in hate al earthly substaunce and transitorie things by thy grace stroÌ„glye to tread down and conquere al motions occasions of sinne deliuer vs most benigne father from all rancore malyce hatred bloudsheding lying backbiting swearing and all suche horryble euils what so euer they be yea from lighteninge and tempeste from murther and battaile greuous plagues and other diseases good Lorde deliuer vs. Finally deliuer vs from all anguish troubles and mishappes emineÌ„t either bodily or ghostly and with thy mighty hand defende our Ritches from abuse our brickle body from corruptioÌ„ our Soule from dampnation euen as beste shall accorde with thy holy will and true glorie of thy Maiestie Deliuer vs Lord from the chaynes of sinne the ropes of Hell and all perill of destruction so that beinge certified in conscience our Prayers worthely of thee accepted and wee deliuered from all assaults of the diuell his wicked craftes and inticementes to damnation and by thy holy spirite assisted may perseuer in this goodnesse wherof thy mercie and kindenesse is true Aucthor to the end of our dayes in holynesse and rightuousnesse to the honour of thy Kingdome powre and glory both now and euer Amen E ENgraue thy Lawes in the deapth of my hart O Lord that beinge instructed in thy coÌ„mauÌ„dements I may serue thee in feare and reioyce in thee with trembling and take holde vpon thy discipline in all thinges Least at any time thou become angrye and I perishe from the right way Amen L LOrde geue me me help from my trouble for vaine is the helpe of Man in thee I haue strength and thou bringest vnto nothing those which trouble me let my soule be subiect vnto thee for from thee proceedeth my patience for thou art my God and Sauiour my helper I wil not depart from thee In thee is my health and my Glory thou arte the God of my healpe and my hope is in thee Amen I I Haue broken thy Folde and wandered long as a lost sheep let me return againe O Lord bicause I haue not forgotten thy commaundementes the misdeedes ignorances of my teÌ„der yeeres remember not Lorde according to thy mercy haue minde on mee For thy goodnesse O Lorde keepe my soule and deliuer mee let mee not be ashamed bicause I haue trusted in thee Turne my heauinesse into ioye cut of my sacke of sorrowes and girde mee with gladnesse that my Glory may singe vnto thee and I shall not be greeued Z ZOrobabell Kinge of Iuda in the deapthe of thy displeasure tasted of thy mercie and receiued by the mouthe of Ageus thy Prophete sweete comforte knowledge of thy fauoure and grace yea after thy determination to destroy the whole Kingdome of the Heathen thy righte hand did preserue him and thy incomparable mercie did choose him for a seale to thy selfe Lord this happy Kinge in thy goodnesse was but an earthly Creature and then coulde he haue no rightuousnesse in him selfe to mooue such thy compassion if it proceeded from the multitude of thy mercies that surmounte the iniquity of the whole world and that thou diddest only vouchsafe to beholde in him the Image of thy selfe Bowe downe thine eies Lorde and beholde the selfe same in mee Certifie my conscience with remission of my sinnes that my sorrowfull Soule be at rest within mee send downe thy holy spirite to remaine with me that I may become with that good Kinge thy chosen seale and seruaunt And so gouerne thy people that I may with them and they with me neuer deserue further then to taste of thy Rod of fauorable correction but that all my labours and studies may euer bend to the performance of thy holy will and discharge of my dutie Amen A ARise illuminate my minde moste benigne Sauioure that I sleape not at any time in deathe leaste mine enimies say they haue preeuailed againste mee They whiche trouble mee will be glad if I be cast downe but I haue fixed my hope in thy mercy Enter not into iudgement with thy Seruaunt for no liuing Creature shal be iustified in thy sighte I will euer looke vpon the Lorde for he shal be on my righte hande that I be not mooued for this my harte is glad and my tongue reioyceth yea moreouer my flâ—ash shall rest in hope Amen B BE thou vnto mee O Lorde in the day time a defendour and in the nighte season a place of refuge that thou maiste saue mee for thou art my strengthe and vnto thee I flie Lord God deliuer me from the hand of sinners and from the Lawebreaker and the wicked dooer for thou Lord art my patience thou art my hope euen froÌ„ my youth in thee I am confirmed euen from my Mothers wombe thou art my protectour in thee shall be my songe for euer and euer Amen E EVer my tongue shall be tellinge of thy ritche mercy and woonderous works O Lorde for thou hast caused mee to passe through fire and water and hast leadde mee into a freashe place thou haste geuen my soule life and hast not suffered my feete to fall According to the multitude of my sorrowes thy comfortes haue made my Soule merye My Soule is like a Sparrow taken out of the foulers snare Thou hast deliuered my life froÌ„ death and my hands from bloud that I may please thee O Lorde in the light of the liuing Amen T THou art iust O Lorde and all thy Commaundementes be true and al thy waies mercy truth and iudgement And now Lorde be mindefull of mee take not reuengemente of my sinnes remember not mine offences neither the offences of my Fathers because wee haue not obeyed thy precepts Geue mee an hart of vnderstandinge and set thy feare alway before mine eyes that I may be obediente in woorde deede and thought to all that is thy will. Lorde geue vnto mee the power of thy Holy Spirite to rule and gouerne thy people commited to my charge in al godly feare and knowledge of thy woorde and that I may be vnto them an ensample in al godlinesse anâ— vertue to the prayse of thy Holy name Amen H HEale me Lord and I shall be healed saue mee and I shal be saued My life cleaueth vnto the Earthe Quicken mee accordinge to thy worde accordinge to thy mercie releeue mee and I wil keepe the testimonies of thy lippes helpe mee Lord so shall I be safe and I will from henceforthe study thy rightuousnesse thy mercies are many O Lorde according to thy woorde restore my health Amen R REgarde my Prayers O thou God of my life leaue me not in the thoughts of euill Deliuer mee from the wicked man let not the foote of pride com vpon mee and to vaine glorie geue mee not take from mee all sinfull lustes lette no desire of vncleannesse take hold vpon mee geue mee
not ouer to an vnshamefast obstinate minde but correct mee in thy mercie for into thy handes I committe me Amen E ENter thy Iudgementes in the tables of my harte destroy my affections with thi loue send thy wisdome from the holy Heauens and from the seate of thy maiesty that she may be with mee and labour with mee that I may knowe what thing is acceptable before thee and may Iudge thy people rightuously and deserue betweene good and euill G GRatious Lorde thou that arte the most hie God aboue al the yearth long suffering and of muche mercie sorowinge the sinnes of man and of thy greate goodnesse haste promised to the penitent remission of sinnes Lorde I haue sinned my iniquity is multiplied aboue the sandes of the Sea and there is no hope of life in mee bicause I haue sturred the to anger in multiplying offeÌ„ces before thee And now Lorde trustinge in thy mercy I bowe the knees of my hart beseching of thee goodnesse distroye mee not together with mine iniquity for the dead whose Soules are out of theyr bodies can neither prayse nor thanke thee but the sorowfull hart and the thirstye Soule ascribe praise vnto thee O Lorde I powre my Prayers before thee and require mercie in thy sight saue me which am vnworthy and reserue not eternall punishment for me for thine owne sake I aske it and will prayse thee al the daies of my life AmeÌ„ I ILluminate my hart O Lord with the lighte of thy woorde leade mee Lord in thy way and I shall enter into thy Truthe printe thy feare in my hart that I may reioyce in thee lette thy woorde be a Lanterne vnto my feete and a light vnto my paths So shall I not erre from the right way but walk with an vpright harte a cleane conscience and single eye before thee this day and euermore Amen N NEuer will I cease to call vpon thee moste mâ—ghtye God of Hostes whiche fittest vpon the Cherubins and haste dominion ouer al the kingdoms on the earth Thou which madest the Heauens and all things comprehended in them bowe downe thine eare and heare open thine eyes and behold saue mee from the hande of mine aduersaries suffer no euill to happen vnto mee that al the people may know that thou alone arte my god Amen A ASsist me O Lord my God with thy Heauenly grace and renew in mee a righte Spirite that I may receiue strength and ablenesse to doo thy rightuous will and to stand against al the assaultes of wilie Sathan that they may haue no place in me but that the Old man which I beare about in my body may be crucified and daily die in me that the desire of sinne erroure of worldly vanities may vtterly be destroyed that I may euermore be renewed in the Spirite of my minde that the life of my Sauiour Christe may alwayes appeare in mee To whome with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honoure triumphe and glory for euer and euer Amen IOAN I. SI confiteamur Peccata nostra Deus fidelis est iustus vt remittat nobis Peccata nostra emundet nos ab omni Iniquitate Si dixerimus quoniam non peccauimus Mendacem facimus cum Verbum eius non est in nobis IOSVE Fili mi da GloriaÌ„ Deo Israël confitere atque indica mihi quid feceris ne abscondas AGVSTINVS Confessio est salus animarum dissipatrix Vitorum restauratrix Virtutum expugnatrix Daemonum Quid plura Obstauit Os Inferni Paradisi Portas aperit Cassidorus super Psalm 77. O beata Confessio quae aeternum tollit opprobrium Nam quicquid Reatum inuenerit Poenitentia perpetuis Seculis reddit Absolutum An inward speache vvherevvith Christ dooth comfort the Soule of the sinner desiringe to liue better Gathered out of the works of sundry holy Writers I Loue them saith Christe that seeke mee and my delight is emonge the children of meÌ„ Sic dilexi Mundum vt in mortem datem animam meam vt non periat sed habeat vitam aeternum quicunque in me crediderit I haue so loued the worlde that I gaue my selfe vnto death that who so euer beleeued in mee should not perish but haue euerlasing life O thou Soule O Daughter I haue laboured hungred thirsted I haue bene despised and suffred persecution for thy sake I am wounded for thine iniquitie I am weried through thy wickednes I am dead for thine offences and risen again for thy iustification the loue whiche I beare to thee hath forced mee to doo and suffer all these thinges and to make choyse of thee for my childe Wherefore amende thou and returne to mee washe thee in the bloud of my wounds and deck thee with vertues and merites of my life All these thinges I willingly geue thee nay rather as a most louing father offeringe these thinges I runne to imbrace thee and receiue thee with imbracinge and kissing alluring thee to loue me againe return Daughter and be cleane Praebe cor tuum mihi quia praeter hoc aliud abs te non desidero Be sory that thou hast sinned bicause thou hast offended mee or at the leaste sorrowe because thou canst not perceiue thy selfe pensiue for oft it cometh to passe that it better pleaseth mee and is more profitable to man to haue a wil to be contrite and deuout then to perceiue contrition or deuocion Because this contrarye desire of willing and vnwillinge engendreth affliction of minde Therfore be sory and angry with thy selfe yee iudge thy selfe woorthy to be damned bicause thou hast sinned and art not sory as thou oughtest This contrition although it be not sensible yet it is such though thou suffer persecution as will bring thee to health eternall for I knowe your miserye your weaknesse and necessitie so that in no wise a willing mind ought to dispaire what soeuer oldenes or coldenesse of conscience he feele But you wil say I haue coÌ„mitted innumerable offences how shall I perticulerly sorrow euery one of them O my daughter needest thou comfort let only truthe comfort thee if thou hast many sinnes haue also one generall contrition in the whiche thou wilte include all and euery offence so that there be no sinne whiche althoughe it came vnto thy minde wouldest exempte froÌ„ thy penitencie and whiche thou wouldest not eschewe forsake For this generall contrition extendeth it selfe to all and euery offence yea vnto those whiche thou haste forgotten and canste not remember neither doo I require that you should necessarily haue for euery offence seuerall contritions accordinge to the number maÌ„ner of your sinnes for thus I haue spoken of Mary Magdalaine I haue forgeuen her many offences for that she loued much I saide not bicause shee loued oftentimes neither coulde this Magdalaine in so suddaine a compunction be otherwise sory then for all togeather Thou likewise so be sory for all that there be no sinne which may delight thee whether generally or
yet truste not to thy endeuour but to the healpe of my grace for if thou trust to thy selfe to thine owne industery thou shalte easily fall thy well dooing neuer ascribe to thy selfe nor vsurpe any thinge vpon my guiftes for of thy selfe thou canst not but offende of thy self thou hast nothing but sinne whiche proper is to thy selfe desire not vainely to please any mortall man wisshe rather to be knowne of fewe then many to be despised rather then praysed neuer esteeme thy self any thing woorth nor thinke thy worthinesse of any value but with out faining accōpt thy selfe vngraceful vnwoorthy and vilest creature aliue Humble and imbase thy selfe beneathe all menne for my sake loue all menne with a pure loue yea those also which persecute thee wishe the prosperity of thy Brother despise none dispaire not at the well dooinge of any slaunder none iudge no man what thou seest and hearest of others interprete it to the best with al studie mortifie thine owne apetite and singulerly imbrace my will gladly and willingly obeye mee in all thinges and men in those which be lawfull leaue thine owne will and denie thy selfe commit and yeeld thee wholy to my prouidence with firme truste in mee in all temptation perill and necessitie for I haue care of thee and diligently attend thee as if thou only liuedst Daughter learne to receyue euery aduersitie and affliction no otherwise then as from my hand sent only and patiently beare it to the end for my sake for trouble is the cup of blessing whereon I haue made all my chosen drinke There hathe not ben any of mine which outwardly or inwardly hathe nor suffred some trouble Wherefore reiectinge all weakenesse what so euer commeth to thee take it in good part and beleeue it to be sent to thee for thy health for the great loue I beare thee Suffer aduersity it is the kingly way which leadeth to heauenlie Heritage walke therfore in it reioysing geue me thankes that I haue so regarded thee that I woulde geue thee somewhat that thou shouldest suffer when any doo moleste thee and woorke thee iniury or spighte thinke him sent by mee to proue thee Be not agrieued with him geue him not sharpe and bitter woordes neither thinke of reuengement marke not the man whiche is my instrumente and scourge but attende on mee which suffer suche thinges to be done by man O Daughter in euery trouble and sorow be patient resigning thy selfe to mee for I purge thee by afflictions and make thee apt and woorthy to be maried to mee But if of thy humaine infirmity or other defect thou fall to impatience be not discouraged neither wauer dispairinge in thy good indeuoures but foorthwith arise turne to mee and call vpon mee with a sure hope of pardone I know the generall weaknesse of man I knowe also thy peculiar frailetie truste to mee thy hope and ful trust cannot be too assured in me if thy life be good and repentante Wherefore hastily flie vnto mee I will take thee vp heale and defende thee what doest thou feare yet O Daughter why doest thou not euen now desire deathe for what euill can death bringe thee Truely after thou haste bequeathed thy Carkas to the ground thou shalt no more offende mee Thou shalte no more be defiled with sinne if thou loue nothing in this world deathe can take nothinge from thee if thou loue any worldly thinge wilte thou stande to the daunger nay rather thou louest thine owne perilles Therfore before thou die cease to loue worldly and transitory thinges if thou feare not to much to die yea if thou loue me alone in this life be gladde thou shalte die for but by death thou canst not gette what thou louest But I know what thou fearest truly nothing in this worlde thou louest nothinge thou doost possesse that either thou carest to enioye or wouldest sorowe the losse but trembling and feare vexeth thee bicause thou knoweste not whether thou be worthy loue or hatred Thou knowest not howe thou shalt be receiued of mee either to reste or paine None of these shalt thou know O daughter neither is it expedient truly Though thou feare yet abide in hope and sure trust in mee whether thou liue or die of thy selfe thou canste neither liue nor die well both thou haste of mee if I geue thee to liue well shall not I also graunt thee wel happilie to die seeing therof thou hast all of me seeing thou lookest for all thinges at my hande how is it thē that thou hopest one thing and dispairest another Truste then and caste all thy thoughtes and care vpon mee as liuinge thou art able to resiste no temptacion nor auoyde any sinne so neither dyinge arte thou able if faithfully I preuent temptations and moderate them in thy life the same will I doo in thy deathe Neuer enter battaile with thine own force and armes but leaue it vnto mee leaninge to mee I will fight for thee and I fightinge for thee and defending thee what cause haste thou of feare neither doubte thou of the condition or kinde of deathe Nullum est genus mortis quod nocere potest iusto No kinde of deathe is able to annoye a iuste man for the iust with what deathe so euer he be besette is in safegarde Therefore be nothinge carefull whether at home or abrode in bedde or in fielde thou shalt die neither feare whether thy death be naturall or violent But as the Apostle counselleth study to liue soberly iustly and godly that thou may well and happily die An euil death dooth not folow a good and iust life but the deathe of the iuste is precious in my sight how so euer they ende this life whether in the water in the fire or in bedde they die ¶ A sweete and comfortable Consolation for al weake mindes to confirm strengthen them against Desperation WHosoeuer refusinge the hope of pardon rūneth headlonge into the goulfe of desperation doth not only distrust the omnipotencie of God perswadinge him self that there is som crime whiche he is not able to extinguish but also maketh him a lier By the mouthe of his Prophete he hathe promised free remision of sinne so soone as the offender bewaileth but frowardely doothe the posterity of Caine say Suche is mine iniquitie as I shall neuer obteine remission What sayest thou caitif If God be not able to pardone bicause of the greatnesse of thy sin thou robbest him of his Omnipotencie If he will not do that which he can doo he is a Liar and too lighte not to perfourme the thing whiche so oft he hathe promised by the mouthe of his holy Prophetes It is saide of the Psalmiste God is gratious and mercifull long sufferinge and of great goodnesse The Lorde is louing to all menne and his mercie is ouer all his woorkes Is there any thing then more admirable then the creation of the heauens with so many shininge bodies then the makinge of the Earthe
with such singuler varietie of liuing Creatures Trees plants Fruites and all other thinges then the fabrication of so many pure Celestiall Soules So that who durste be bolde to affirme had not the Prophet manifestly spoken it that the mercies of God doo excell the glorie of his handiwoorkes Holy Scripture somtime termeth the mercie of God greate somtime to great and sometime it amplifieth the force therof by the name of multitude or number The Kingly Prophet Dauid in one selfe place comprehendeth both the greatnesse and multitude of heauenly mercie saying Haue mercie on mee O God after thy great goodnesse accordinge to the multitude of thy mercies doo away mine offences Wheare great iniquity is there needeth muche compassion If thou but weighe howe heynous the offence of Dauid was thou wilt acknowledge the greatnesse of Goddes goodnesse If thou consider how ofte he offended in that sinne thou shalt se the multitude of his mercies That God whiche is our Kinge our Father our Maister our spouse prescribeth no determinate nuÌ„ber of offences but as oft as throughe true repentaunce wee return to him he forgetteth and forgeueth the punishment whâ—ch he threatneth to vs he enterteineth vs emongest his Familie leadeth vs into the chaumber of his loue and receiueth not vs onely but forgetteth our offences He bringeth the lost sheepe vpoÌ„ his shoulders to the staules and biddeth the Congregation of the chosen to his reioysinge He goeth to meete the Prodigal Sonne returning froÌ„ his longe and lothsom iorney and putteth a Robe and a Ringe vpon him and commaundeth the fatteste Caulfe to be killed for him What other thinge doothe this signifie but the immense or as I may say the ouermuch mercie of God It is no meruaile though his mercie excede which loueth vs so exceedingly Paule feareth not to write thus to the Ephesians We are saith he by nature becom the Children of wrath But God which is ritche in mercie for his tender loue wherewith he loued vs when wee were deade to sinne hath raised and reconciled vs againe to Christe S. Iohn in his Gospel more plainely expresseth the maruailous loue of God our Father towardes vs saying So God loued the worlde that he gaue his onely begotten Sonne that who so beleeueth in him shoulde not perishe but haue euerlasting life Wherunto Paule aptly agreeth He that spared not his onely Sonne but gaue him for vs all hath he not geuen vs al thinges togeather with him This so great loue this so great kindnesse doth it not worthily appeare vnmeasurable because wee haue nothinge whiche wee haue not freely receiued of god What so euer wee doo what so euer we possesse it commeth by the mercie of God Yea it is the mercy of god that made the Angelles and created the worlde If he had wroughte it to himselfe his power and policie might haue ben praised but sith to our vse he hath framed al these thinges shall wee not acknowledge his mercy to be maruailous For whome haue the Celestiall Ayres their course to whome lendeth the sunne his beames by day the Moone with the Starres their brightnesse by nighte but for Man For whose vse made he these thinges of nothing For whose sake but for mannes onely doo the hanging Cloudes geue their shade and bedewe the pleasant fieldes Why blowe the windes why flowe the Riuers why spreade the Springes why encrese the Seas but for the vse of manne Who reapeth the commodities of the fertle earth which engendreth so many liuinge thinges suche wealthy store but manne Ther is nothing that God hath not made subiect to man onely he woulde that man should be obedient vnto him Many times our mercifull God sendeth aduersity either to cleare vs of our transgressions or to deterre vs from sinne or to minister occasion of weldooing Thus was Abraham tried so was Iob prooued with many miseries thus is euery one whiche liueth in Iesu Christe tried in this world with sundry afflictions as the Gould with the fire where are those that murmure againste God when either infirmity of health or deathe and losse of wife and children or decay of worldely wealthe happeneth to them nothinge knowinge that these are the manifeste signes of a mercifull god Let vs geue eare to the counsel of Salomon My sonne saith he despise not the woorde of God nor forsake his correction For whome the Lorde loueth he chasteneth and delighteth in him as a Father in his sonne The Apostle Paule hath the like saying to the Hebrewes Whom the Lord loueth he correcteth and rebuketh euery Childe that he receiueth Then by Paules counsell when any storme of aduersity ariseth let vs stand fast in the Truthe knowinge that he offereth him selfe to vs as to his children like a mercifull god If the loue of God lend vs prosperity let vs geue him thankes and be carefull that wee abuse not his bountie It miserie oppresse vs let vs neuerthelesse geue thanks to him and commit our selues to his Iudgemente To obtaine healthe thou geuest thy selfe vp to the Phisicion thou yeeldest thy selfe to the Coarde Sawe and searing of the Chirurgion And to enioy euerlasting health feareste thou to trust thy Creatoure thy Maister thy Father and onely Sauiour Thou darest not say to the phisition thus and thus cure mee And wilt thou prescribe to God the meanes of thy sauinge health Let euery one of vs descend into the deapthâ— of his conscience let vs consider how oft and how greeuously we haue offended God how his benefites are defiled with our iniquities and so wee shall see how much wee are indetted to his infinite mercy which hathe borne with our frailty so gently which by so many meanes calleth vs to repentaunce whiche so wâ—â—lingly pardoneth the penitente and conuert Truly he is greatly to be lamented which refuseth the fountain of euerlasting life and neuer by repentance returneth whence he departed The Prodigall childe straied farre leaft and forsooke his Fathers house and yet returned Peter was farre gone when he denied his Maister thrise but yet remembringe the woordes whiche Iesus spake to him he recaÌ„ted and wepte bitterly How gently dooth the Lorde in Hieremie vnder the person of the wife which hauing forsaken her Husbande gaue her selfe to euery man call his people to repentance Return my children be conuerted saith he because I am your husbande But oh wretched is the man that stoppeth his eares at this voyce of the Lordes To daie saith the Psalme if you heare my voyce hardeÌ„ not your hartes This is our daie as longe as wee liue in which the Lorde ceaseth not to call vpon vs to repentaunce offering vs prepared pardon God him selfe in Ezechiell dooth not onely promise remission to him that forsaketh his euill but voweth obliuion of all his former offences For after he had reckened all the erroures which man fell into he added If the wicked man will be soary for his sinnes keep my commaundements and doo the thing that is right he shall liue and not die