as transgres thy holy lawes and commaundementes Notwithstanding most mercifull Father seing thou hast promised to here vs whensoeuer we repent vs of our sinz from the bottom of our harte and vnfainedly do call vpoÌ„ thy name for help we haue presumed to appeale to thy Throne of mercy humbly coÌ„fessing our manifold sinz and offences and crauing remission of our trespasses in the bowels of thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our intercessor and sauioure Haue mercy therefore vpon vs O Lord and forgiue vs our offences instruct vs with thy holy spirite to enter into examinatioÌ„ of our owne selues by a stedfast fayth in Christ Iesu with worckes correspondent to the same we may earnestly and hartely repeÌ„t from the very bottome of oure hartes and euer hereafter to thirst after thy law and statutes euen as the harte desireth the brookes of water And last of all for as muche as it hath pleased thée of thy heauenly wysedome to prepare and ordeâ—â—e the night for man to rest and refresh himself after his dayly trauayles grant we beséech thée most mercifull Father that as our bodies do take a careles sléepe so contrarily our soules maye continâ—allye watche in thée expectting dilligently that happy time when our Lord Iesus shal appear for our deliuerance out of this mortall life into another more blisâ—ull and happy life the ioyes wherof noe mans capacitie is able to conceaue much les is the tongue able worthily to expresse the happines thereof To that life we beséech the to bring vs for Iesus christ his sake A Prayer for the increase of fayth O Almighty and moste mercifull Father the euerlasting fountayne and well spring of al grace and goodnesse whose mercy is incomprehensible and power infinite thou the eternall Iehouah in whose handes are all the corners of the earth the strength of the hilles is thine also whose omnipotent power fashoned the Sea and prepared the dry land haue mercy vpon vs miserable and wretched sinners and encline thy fatherly eare vnto the voyce of our prayers Increase most heauenly father in our mindes the sparckes of true fayth and Christianitie that being alwayes garded with the defence of thy holy worde we may haue power and force to renounce and resiste the terrible inuasions of our mortall enimy Sathan who continualy rangeth about like a roaring Lion séeking whome he may denoure And sith wee are chaunced in these perillous tymes wherein noughte but iniquitie raigneth and Antechrist aduaunceth himselfe in thy temple exalting himself aboue all that is called God infecting thy poore disposed â—â—ock with the poysoned drâ—gges of damnable heresy illuminate we beséech thée moste merciful father our blinded eyes with the true light of thy heauenly grace that being armed with the shield of thy diuine inspiration we may therby be the more emboldned to withstand the dayly and innumerable assalts of our ghostly enemie that continually laboureth by all meanes possible to wreste the worde of trueth and vnderstaÌ„ding out of our harts and to throwe vs headlong into the bottomlesse lake of euerlasting perdition and whereas withoute the inspiration of thy heauenlye grace we are not able so much as to thincke a good thought and much les able to resist the sinfull allurements of our corrupt flesh the world and the Deuill therefore we craue of thée most heauenly Father that thou wilte vouchsafe to make perfecte that good worcke which thou hast be gonne in vs not suffering those fewe sparckes of thy heauenly grace which thy spirite hath planted in our hartes to be extinguished or quenched by meanes of our weakenes and inconstancie but augmenting in our mindes the zeale of thy word we may be able to reÌ„der an accouÌ„pt at that dreadfull day of the hope and fayth which we haue in thée by the merites of thy sonne Iesus Christe our Messias and Sauiour whome thou hast vouchsafed to send into the earth héere to be incarnate of the pure virgine Mary and hauing receaued the image of our humanitie to offer him selfe as an acceptable sacrafice vpon the alter of the most bitter Crosse and by the â—ffusion of his moste precious bloud to pay the raunsome of our offences vnto thy diuine maiestie whereby he reconciled vs vnto thée our heauenly Father whereas otherwise we had beene subiect to the thraldome of euerlastinge damnation To thée with the same Iesus Christ thy sonne and the holy spirite covnited al three in Godhead and distinguished in person be all honor and glory for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for grace to perseuer in fayth O Eternal God and euerlasting Father the author and fountayne of all goodnesse the multitude of whose benedictioÌ„s and benefites farre passe and excéede the compasse of humayne reason and capacitie indue our frayle minds with the grace of thy heauenly spirite that mortifiing our owne desires and affections our onely ioy delite may be placed in the perpetuall consideration of thy heauenly promises and renouncing all care and regard of worldly businesse which commonly withdrawes our mindes from the contemplation of thine infinite mercies we may be wholie addictted to the seruice of thy diuine maiestie in spirite and true humulitie of minde reioycing together in Psalmes Hymnes and spirituall Songes comforting one another in thy promise of that day wherin thou hast promised to make vs felow â—eyres of thine heuenly inheritaunce with Abraham Isaack and Iacob in that celestiall mansion which thou haste ordeyned for thine elect since the beginning of the world And because by reason of oure naturall corruption which we haue successiuely receued since the fall of oure great Grandfather Adam we are all naturally bente and inclined to goe astray strengthen most mercifull Father our féeble spirites with inspiration of thy heuenly grace that being armed against al the assaults of the flesh the worlde the Deuill and Antichriste that Capitall enimy of thy worde we may haue oure consciensces cleare from all maner temtations and altogether vacante to the Meditation of the promises expressed in the Gospell of thy sonne Iesus Christe our sauioure Endue vs with the diuine influence of thy spirite that we maye neuer be caried away with the fleshe but by the operation of thy grace in our hartes we maye be able to mortify subdue our carnal afections and wordly desires whereby our zeale may be the more enflamed to insue the heauenly motions of thy holy spirite which directeth the mindes of them that feare thée in the perfect pathway of lighte and vnderstanding Graunte this most mercifull father for thy Sonne Christe hys sake to whom with thée the holy Ghost be al honor and glory from this time forth for euermore A prayer for vnity in Religion O Euerlasting and moste mercifull Father the fountayne of all grace and goodnes which art the God of peace loue vnitie and concorde and the iuste reuenger of disceÌ„tion debate and confusion thou séeste howe miserably thy holy congregation is rent torn and deuided into diuers
sectes and contrarieties in religion while the carnall professors of thy name in cloake of preteÌ„ded holines set forth mainteine such beggerly traditions as the appetite of theire grosse phantasie leadeth them vnto shaking of the sweete yoke of thine vndefiled law wresting the letter thereof to serue the dissolute motion of their carnall cogitations mainteining in stéede of thy pure sincere word the fleshly cerimonies of their own deuise and inuention whereby it commeth to passe that so great dissention raigneth now adayes in the world and that so many sectes schismes and heresies are daylye sette a broach in euery place to the vnspekeable perturbation of the course of thy word and vtter subuersion of diuers common wealthes whiche oughte chiefly to be mainteined by the vniform consente and iudgement touching the worde and by the perfecte band of Amity concerning temporall causes But now wheras men set aside the ryght rules and or dinaunces of thy blessed worde plantinge in steed thereof orders and tradicions of their own imaginations howe can it come to passe that christian peace and vnity of spirite should dwell among vs Therefore graunt O most mercifull Father that wee thy pore dispersed shepe which haue so long ben tossed and turmoyled with tempests of this tumultuous times may at the last by the direction of thine heauenly Spirite bee reduced into one foulde acknoweleging thee our moste louing shepehearde and mercifull Father thy sonne Iesus Christe our onely sauiour and Mediatour to thy diuine maiesty the holy ghost our comforter whyche by the mouth of thy sonne Iesus Christ thou didst promise to send vnto vs which spirite assureth our spirites that we are pertakers inheritours and fellow Citizens of that heauenly Ierusalem whiche thou promysedst to all them that vnfainedly walke in thy statutes and trust onely to be saued by the blood and passion of thine onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Messias the onely redâ—emer of all mankinde Remoue O moste mercifull Father from our eyes the darcke shadow and vayle of ignoraunce that abandoning al the dregges of erronious sectes heretical schismes we may be gathered all together into the vnitie of thy word and confesse that there is but one eternall God and one heauenly Father which thou arte and one Fayth one Baptisâ—e which we all professe that call vpoÌ„ thy name Graunt also most merciful father the we whose minds opinioÌ„s are noted most repugnant and contrary in fayth may he altogether covnited into one iugement opinion in religion which maye bee grounded onely vppon the foundations of thy Prophâ—tes and Apostles Iesus Christ himselfe being the head corner stone And sith ther is but one fayth which directeth vs into the waye of saluation graunt we beséech thée that by the operation of thy holy spirite we may be brought to such an agréement and vniformity in Religion that we maye glorify thée our heauenly Father with one onely spirite and generall consente of conscience whereby wee maye be reduced from the captiuitie of eternall ignoraunce and be made al the shéepe of thee our most mercifull and bountifull shéepheard To whome with c A thankes geuing for restoring of the Gospell VVE render vnto thée most mercifull Father immortall thankes for that thou hast vochsafed to send thine onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ into the world to take our shape and nature vpoÌ„ him and to submit himselfe to the bitter passion of the Crosse to redéeme vs wretched sinners which before were thrales and bonde slaues to the horrible sormente of euerlasting damnation O what condigne thankes are we able to render vnto thée that in the least respect may be able to counter payse thy fatherly kindnes and loue which thou daily sheweâ—t vnto vs most myserable and wretched sinners Thou hast sent thy Christ our Sauioure to redeeme vs from the bondage of sinne death and damnation and that not with Gold nor Siluer but with his most preciâ—use bloode once offered vpon the Crosse to paye our generall raunsome The promises which thou diddest make to our ' forefathers in figures and shadows thou hast openly performed to vs in the open sight of the whole worlde in sending that Mâ—essias to take our sins vpon him to be scourged for our offâ—nces and to beare the burthen of our iniquities â–ª Againe thou hast manifested to vs the perfect pathwaye of saluation by the mouth of thine onely begotten son Iesus Christ and that not in figures nor shadowes but in expresse wordes saying Hoc fac viues do this and thou shalt liue which to our forefathers thou declaredst couertly and in the darke shadowes of secrete misteries and that not by thy sonne Iesus Christ but but by thy prophets which were men mortall as we be and were inferioure to thy sonne both in diuine power and also in dignity of person For how muche the seruaunt or bondman is inferiour to the heyre so much are the Prophets inferiour to thy sonne and heyre Christ Iesus whom our mortal eyes haue séene of late dayes personally here in the earth and reasoned with him face to face euen at his owne mouth haue learned what is the will of thée our moste louing Father and moste mercifull creatoure And moreouer because it was thy good pleasure to take awaye the presence of thy sonne from mankinde as concerning the fleshe we yeld thée moste harty thankes that thou wouldest vouchsafe to seÌ„d down thine heauenly spirite into the hartes of all thy sonnes Apostles which spirite informing their spirites of thy diuine will prouoked them by writing to reuele thy promises of saluation whereof thy sonne preached vnto the posterity of all ages for euermore wherâ—y both we that now liue and the remnaunte of all future yeres may lerne to direct their steppes as with a true line or rule into the waye of thy commaundementes And sith in recompence of all these thine vnspeakeable benefits thou requirest no other sacrafice but thankes giuing with contrition of harte therefore with vncessaunt prayers wee will magnify thy holy name recordiÌ„g thine innumerable benefites with Psalmes of thankes geuing in the midest of the congregation for euer not doubting but thou of thine infinite goodnes wilt accept the thanks which we yelde to thy dyuine Maiestie as procéeding from the very bottom of our vnfained hartes To thée most mercifull Father with thy son Iesus Christ and the holy ghoste be all honour and glory for euer Amen A Prayer for abolishing of Superstition O Eâ—ernall and moste mercifull Father who by thy diuine wisedome diddest lay the foundations of heauen and earth with the Sea and al that is therin haue mercy compassion of thy pore flock dispersed through the whole erth for the constant profession and testimony of thy heauenly worde and deliuer them at laste from the tirrany of Pharao the terrible persecutoure of thy poore members And because that in all Landes many departe into voluntary exile whose conscience cannot sustayne to sée thy true
perfect figure and remembraunce of thy bodie and the wyne of thy bloud whiche was shed vpon the Crosse for my redemptioÌ„ Geue me grace sweete Iesu to confesse my sinnes wyth the Publicane and to crye Lord be mercifull to me a sinner and that with Mary Magdeline I may washe thy feete with the teares of repentaunce geue me grace to reconcile my selfe to my brother while he is in the waye to examyne mine owne consience and if in ought I haue offended any man first of all to desire forgeuenesse at the hands of thy deuine Maiestie and next of him whome I haue trespassed I my selfe to forgeue all men whatsoeuer they haue done said or imagined agaynst mée euen as I hope to haue remission at thy Fathers handes of all myne offences by the merites of thy pretious deathe and passion Geue me grace to serch my conscience so narowly that if any one sâ—râ—ple doe stycke in my mynde I may humbly confesse it before the feete of thy mercy crauing pardon therof with grace necessary to leaue a newe lyfe That with a pâ—â—e hart and cleare coÌ„science confessing my sins from the bottome of my hart I maye this daye receaue the Sacrament of thy precious body and bloud to my soules health that thou from henceforth mayst dwell in me I in thee for euer whereby I may obtayne and attaine to that longe desired marke whereto the race of all true Christians tendeth that is euerlasting lyfe in that heauenly Ierusalem where all the elect Saintes shall liue for euermore worlde wythout end In the meane spâ—ce vntill it shall seeme good to thy Maâ—estie to abridge the course of my dayes in this lyfe I humbly desire thée moste sweete Sauiour to admit me to the coÌ„munion of thy Supper that I may be worthy to be accompted a member of thy mysticall bodie here in earth among the number of thy chosen Sayntes in thy congregation And after the receit of thy body bloud vouchsafe I besâ—che thée to illuminate the eyes of my hart with the light of thy heauenly spirit that SathaÌ„ enter not into me as he did into Iudas but graunt that the rest of my lyfe may be so ordred that sinne may be subdued in me thy glory aduaunced thy faith embraced and thy holy commaundementes studiously followed through the merites of thy passion Amen A thankes geuing after the receauing of the CoÌ„munioÌ„ I Render moste hartie and infinite thankes vnto thée swéete Iesu for thyne vnspeakable goodnesse because thou hast fed me this day with thy most pretious bodie and bloude in the Sâ—crament wherby I am iustified by an inmoueable and constante fayth in thy grace and passion being made an vndefiled member of thy church A Temple for the holy Ghost and a fellow heire or partaker in thy glorious kingdome in the bosome of Abraham where the spirites of the elect shall rest for euermore Graunt therfore sweet Iesu that this SacrameÌ„t which I haue receaued may through the operation of the holy Ghost be to mee a purgation and clensing of all my sinnes a spirituall streÌ„gthe agaynst my boâ—â—ly frailtie a preparature and preseruature against the teÌ„ptatyons of Sathan a bridle mean of restraint against the vntamed lusts of the flesh a defence against worldly troubles and aduersitie and finally a perfect medicine of lyfe and a continuall remembrauncâ— of thy blessed passion by meanes wherof I stande in assured hope of eternall saluation with frée iustification and remission of all my sinnes So that it may conduct and guyde me in the way and when I am out of the way it maye reduce me wheÌ„ I slide it may vpholde me when I fall it may rayse me vp agayne when I liue it maye bée a salue to my soule when I am weake it maye streÌ„gtheÌ„ and confirme when I am in darkenes it may illuminate me wyth the light of true fayth and vnderstanding Let the receauing thereof excuse so effectuall an operation in my hart that I neuer ioye in other comfort but in thée that I neuer féele other sweetenes but thee that I neuer seke other place of refuge but thée that my mynd be enamoured vpoÌ„ no other louer but thée that I séeke for no other succoure but at thée thát I trust in none other but in thée myne onely Lorde and redemer who didest not denie to haue thy moste pretious body scourged and mangled and thy bloud to be shed most aboundantly for my sake whereby I might be brought from errour to trueth from ignoraunce to vnderstaÌ„ding froÌ„ darkenes to light from vanitie to veritie from mortalitie to immortallitie â—roÌ„ corruption to incorruption from damnatioÌ„ to iustification from eternall death to the incoÌ„prehensible ioyes of eternall lyâ—e and saluation â–ª To thee swéete Iesus wyth the Father the holy Ghost be all honour glory from thys tyme forthe for euer more worlde without ende Amen A prayer to be said wheÌ„ ye take a iourney by lande O Almighty Lord most mercifall father the wachman of them that sleepe the Physicion of them that are diseased the comfort of theÌ„ that are afflicted the garder and protector of them that are in any daunger or aduersity vouchsafe I besech thée to sende downe thyne heauenly Aungell to be my guide conductor and leader in the waye where I walke that by thy gracious protection I may be defended froÌ„ all myne enemies bothe Ghostly and bodily from all perills or daungers that by any extraordinary meanes may be fall me if I be alone without company kepe my mynde free from all maner idle phantasies and fonde cogitatioâ—s that may withdrawe me from the meditation of thy heauenly word and let al my thoughts consist in the contemplation of thy comfortable promises and coÌ„maundementes And if it so chaunce that I trauayle in the companie of others I beseche thee so to direct my tonge that no word of ribaldrie or vnhonest talke proceede out of my mouth but that al my communications thoughts and déedes may tend to the aduauncement of thy glorie and to the edification both of me and all els that shall heare it Send downe most heauenly Father thy messenger to conduct me as thou dydst yong Iobias in his iourney to Rages whiche moste mercifully defended him from the iawes of the monstrous Fishe and from the power of the euil spirit Thou hast promised that thou wylt at all tymes be readie both to heare their prayers and minister present helpe to all them that vnfaignedly call vppon thy name encline therefore thine eare vnto me moste mercifull Father whiche powre foorth my prayers before the throne of thy mercie and vouchsafe to garde me vnder the shadow of thy winges that I may safely trauaile in trade of my vocation without daunger of anye ghostly enimie that may hurt the soule or anye other humaine chaunce or casualtie that may annoye the body Direct most mercyfull Father the procâ—â—se of my businesse to a happie and prosperous ende
me into his fauour againe Therfore most merciful father séeing thou haste not denied to geue vp thine onely begotten sonne to the shameful death of the crosse to redéeme me from the bondage of death hell Inspire I beseche thée my minde with thy heaueÌ„ly spirite that I maye doe suche thinges as please thee and turne to kill sinne with all other vngodly lustes concupiscence that I maye be made a sweete smelling sacrifice to thee and the temple of the holy ghost for euer that I may liue vprightly and honestly in my calling without reproofe ensuing the right pathe of thy holy commaundementes And for as muche as it hath pleased thee to ordaine the night for men to rest in and the day to labour graunt I beseche thee most merciful Father that I may so take my bodily rest that my soule may continually watche for that happie and ioyfull tyme when Iesus Christ shal appeare for my deliueraunce out of the miseries of this transitorie lyse And in the meane season that I be not ouercome by any phaÌ„tasies dreames or other temptations but maye haue my minde alwaye fixed vppon thee to loue thee feare thee and rest in thee for euer Moreouer that my sleepe be not excessiue or ouermuche after the vnsatiable desyres of the fleshe but so much as maye suffise to content and satisfie my feeble nature wherby I may be the better disposed to lyue in al godlye conuersation to the glory of thy holy name and the commoditie of my neyghbour To thee with the sonne and the holy ghost be al honor glory for euer euer AmeÌ„ A prayer for VVednesday morning O Almightie most merciful father haue pitie and compassion vppon the weakenesse of me thy vnworthy chylde and be thou prest and redy O heauenly father to helpe me with thy heauenly spirit to assist my weake spirite againste all assaultes of the wicked worlde the fleshe and the deuyll whiche striue continually with fayre allurementes and prouocations to drawe my mynde from thy commaundementes into the hartfull and damnable way of error and iniquitie but myne only stay and coÌ„fidence is in the multitude of thy mercies with a sure and certayne hope that thou wylt so direct my steppes both this day and euer hereafter that all my thoughtes words deedes may be found acceptable in thy sight and accordyng to the godly liue and rule of thy vndefiled lawe Therefore I beseech thee heauenly father to shewe thy mercy vpon me and to prosper me in whatsoeuer I goe about in thy name so that thou geuyng me lyght I may learne to knowe what thinges are acceptable before thee and by the vertue of thy grace I may haue an earnest yeale desyre to folow the same in my life to â—ay glory the commoditie of my neighbour That thou being my guide and leader I may walke in the path of vnderstanding and righteousnesse without stumbling or wandring astray for in my selfe I haue nothing but mistrust and inabilitie to do any thing that maye please thée sauing only by the motion of thy holy spirit in my mind which spirit assureth my spirite that the meane to please thée is a constant and immoueable fayth in Christe Iesus with repentaunce of my sinnes and amendment of lyfe to ensue the steppes of equitie and vnderstanding to cleaue to the stedfast rocke of thy heauenly worde and promises to loue my neighbour as my selfe for hereby shall it be knowen that we be thy childreÌ„ if we loue one another to geue ouer my portion to the poore to take vp my crosse and folowe thée to abounde in all maner good workes whiche are the fruites of fayth in Christe iesu Geue me grace most mercyful father to kyll the buddes of sinne in my fleshe to bridle myne owne destres to kepe my body in subiectioÌ„ wherby I maye be sanctified in thee and made an vndefiled â—â—â—ple for the holy ghost ful of the spirite of trueth and vnderstanding And sith it hath pleased thee of thy fatherly pitie to preserue me from all perils daungers both of body and soule this night and al the rest of my lyfe tyme tyll this present houre I beseeche thee also most merciful father to protect me with thy grace all this daye euer hereafter that I may safely walke in my vocatioÌ„ with thy feare before myne eyes in all things that I take in hand And vouchsafe most mercyfull father so to direct the reÌ„nant of my course which I haue yet to runne in this lyfe that at the laste I may come to dwell with thée in thy euerlasting kingdome and there to haue fruition of eternall ioye and felicitie through Iesus Christe our onely mediatour sauiour Amen A prayer for VVednesday euening O Mercyfull Lorde Iesu I beseche thée to be fauourable to me a wretched sinner that all my lyfe tyme haue folowed the lustes of myne owne minde and neuer harkened to thy voyce wherby I might liue in thy lawe that thou hast appointed for me Put away I beseeche thée all my sinnes out of thy remembrance washe me cleane with thy pretious blood sanctifie me with thy bitter passion and death clense me throughly restore me agayne to the innocencie whiche thou gauest me in baptisme that I may be truely regenerate borne a newe in thée my swéet sauiour only redeemer so that I maye acknowledge thée onely the author of my redemption and the principal cause of my iustification to shew my felâ—e a thankefull Samaritane for that thou hast vouchsafed by thy death and bloodshedding to purge me from the leprosie of sinne and al kinde of vncleannesse yeelding thée immortal thanks continually for that all other gratious benefites which thou of thy fatherly liberalitie bountie vouchsafest dayly to bestow vpon me And among all the rest geue me grace swéet Iesu to haue alwaies in remembraÌ„ce thy sincere loue fatherly affection and gratious charitie towardes me in that thou hast vouchsafed to take my nature vpon thée to be made man in all respectes lyke vnto me sinne onely excepted and for my sake to be borne in a stable and as an infant to be wrapped in clothes to be swadled laide in a maunger there to be fed with the materiall milke of thy blessed mother the virgin Marie For my sake sweet Iesu thou hast susteyned hunger colde pouertie and many other agonies didst thou susteyne for me most miserable and wretched sinner Thou hast suffered thy selfe to be betrayed to be apprehended and taken shamefully to be bounde vnworthyly to be beaten cruelly to be condemned vniustly and to be brought to that shameful death of the crosse where for my sake thy pretious bodye was rent and torne and thy moste sweete blood aboundauntly shedde where thou yéeldedst vp the ghost to God the father and descendedst agayne into the graue lyke a dead man but dyddest ryse agayne the thirde daye and ascendedst into heauen where thou sittest at
worde corrupted with the superstitious traditions of mortal men we beseech thée moste heauenly Father to inspire the dewe of thy spirite into the hartes of all Christian Kinges and Princes in whose handes consistes the reformatioÌ„ as wel of ecclesiastical as ciuil politike causes that by the motion of the same spirit they may be the more feruentlye enflamed with the zealâ— and loue of thy glory and be the more â—ircumspectly bent to plant the séedes of thy true Religion through all their dominions kindle moste mercifull Father in their harts a desire to deface all blinde cerimonies and supersticious idolatry which in any respect maye séeme preiudiciall or derogatory to thy glory let them break down their hill alters hew down their groues burne their Images with â—ire the no one monument of them be left vpon the earthe and that when they are sought for their place may not be founde so that the name memory of them may decay and perish with the asâ—hes of their consumed timber Let their moltion Images be consumed with fire and their grauen Shrines be brought to coÌ„fusion For thou art a mightâ—e God agelous God one that cannot suffer a mate or pere in thy Dominion Thou wilt be worshipped in truth and righteousnesse of hart and not with blockishe and sencelesse Images the work of mens hands which haue eares and heare not eyes and see not noses smell not mouthes and eate not handes and feele not feete and goe not but are caryed hither and thether vpon mens shoulders like sencelesse stockes as they are in no respect resembling any figure of diuinitie or God-head And bicause the vse of these phantastical Idols tendeth especially to the preiudice and prophanatioÌ„ of thine omnipotent diuine power who hast commauÌ„ded by expresse wordes in thy law that we should not make to our selues the likenesse of any thinge in heauen or earth or in the waters to bow vnto Graunt we besech thée thy grace to all princes and potentates that beare as wel the spiritual sword as the title of temporal gouernmeÌ„t that they may be moued with thyne heauenly motion to purge thy church froÌ„ all the dregs of superstition and Idolatrie wherby thy poore flock that is now dispersed through the whole worlde may be brought againe into one vniforme consent of Religion seruing thee in lowlines and purenesse of hart abâ—â—doning all the rabble of Romayne traditions and idolatrous ceremonies cleauing only to the rule of thy holy gospel reuealed by thy sonne Iesus Christe oure lord Sauiour To whom with the Father the holy Ghost thrée persons one God be all honour glory world without ende Amen A prayer for the preseruation of our noble Queene Elizabeth WE yelde vnto thée most mightie mercifull Father immortall thanckes for that it hathe pleased thée of thy méere mercie and fatherly bountye after the stormes of so many troublesome tymes to conduct vs into the comfortable port of traÌ„quilitie by the hand of thy most gracious seruaunt our déere soueraigne Lady Elizabeth When we were as shéepe wandring astray in the wildernes thou ordainedst hir Maiestie to be our Shepeheard to gather vs againe into thy shepefould When we had bene long lossed hither thether with the outrage and cruel fury of tiraÌ„nicall persecution like a poore weatherbeateÌ„ Bark that hath bene continually turmoyled tossed on the perillous surgâ—s of the outragious and swelling seas findinge no sure roade nor harber wherein to rest but continually in daunger eyther to sinck into the sanâ—s â–ª or to be ouerwhelmed with waues or violently to be dashed in peces against the mayne rockes Euen then I say when we dispayred vtterly of sauegarde standing still in feare of the hazard of euerlasting confusion thou committedst the helme to be guyded by hir graces wisedome who at laste conducted vs into the hauen of this longe desired peace and tranquilitie Therefore whereas thou hast placed hir in the regal throne to be our Dauid our Iosias our Samuel yea to be our Shéepeheard and ring-lâ—ader in the way of true holinesse and sincere Religion Inspire hir mynde with the manifold blessinges of thy grace that she may walke all the dayes of hir lyfe in the path of thy commaundementes happely discharge hir dutie in that stewardship and dispensation which thou hast coÌ„mitted to hir Maiesties hands Inflame hir minde more more with the loue of thy holy gospel the all hir déedes thoughtes practises may tend to the propagation planting of thy worde and true Christian religion in these hir Maiesties Dominions Eâ—cline the motioÌ„s of hir vertuous disposition aboue all thinges to seeke thine honor glory to sow the seedes of the Catholike fayth abundantly in all places to cut of the broode of superstition and Idolatry to constitute true Preachers of thy worde and establish euery wher thine holy gospel and true religion Preserue hir moste mercifull father as hitherto thou haste moste myraculously done from the deuilish deuises and practises of hir enimies that she may haue a longe and happy raigne among vs to the aâ—â—auncement of thy glory and ioy and comfort of all hir subiectes Let hir naturall disposition coÌ„tinâ—e to hir â—ocs terrible to hir subiectes amiâ—ble to hir offeÌ„ders merciful to the vertuous bountiful indifferent to al men and in all respectes partial in no point neither in causes ecclesiastical nor yet in matters concerninge politike gouernement Assist hir moâ—â— merciful Father with the might of thy heauenly Spirit to quayle the pryde of the triple headed Romish Ceâ—berus to banishe his beggarly ceremonies to abridge the termâ— of his raigne and finally to cut of and preuent the séedes that continually striue to spring vp from abhominable superstition and Idolatrie GrauÌ„t hir grace most merciful Father to runne the remnant of hir race in the right path of thy commauÌ„dements declining neither to the right hand nor to the left but so vsinge all times thy heauenly word as the rule and compasse to direct hir course Preserue hir grace most mercifull Father in continuall healthe of body and quietnesse of mynde that she may be alwayes able to rule the bridle of hir charge and to execute right and Iustice to all sorts and degrees to the aduauncemeÌ„t of thy glory and the vniuersall commoditie of hir â–ª Maiesties subiectes And finally graunt O most mercifull father that when it shall please thée to end the terme of hir dayes in this worlde thou wilt make hir partaker of those celestial ioyes which are prepared for them that feare thée since the foundation of the world Graunt this most mercifull father for thy déere sonne our lord Iesus Christ his sake To whom with thee the holy Ghost three persons and one God be all glory and honor world without end A Prayer for the Councell and Nobilitie ALmighty and most merciful Father whose power is infinit and workes incompreheÌ„sible vouchsafe to direct the hartes of the Nobilitie of this Realme with the diuine motion of thine heauenly spirit that
thankes geuing bowe downeth neeare to our huÌ„ble petitâ—ons that procedeth from vnâ—â—yned lippes And sith it hath pleased thy diuine Maiestie to giue vp thy onely begotten Sonne Iesus Christ to the deathe of the Crosse for our redeÌ„ption vouchsafe O Lord so to direct our myndes in the way of thy coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts that we may partly seeme worthy of the inestimable price of so great a benefite as the raunsome of our iniquitie hath cost and kepe the eyes of our mynds alwaies waking that we fall not a sléepe in sinne as they doe which haue no hope of resurrection from the dead Engender in our hartes the true zeale of thin vndefiled word and religion that we maye bee alwaeis meditatinge vpon thy promises not founde idle nor vnprouided when the good man of the house shall come but that we may be found wakinge in thée with plenty of oyle in our lampes as the fyue wise Uirgins had â–ª O drawe vs neere vnto thee by the operation of thy heauenly grace heare our prayers forgeue vs our offences coÌ„fort vs in our afflicâ—tions forgeue our enemies as we hope to haue forgeuenes of all our sinns at thy haÌ„ds by the meriâ—es of our Sauiour Iesus Christ let not myne enemies triumph ouer me nor the roaring Lyon deuour me but protect me alwayes most mercifull Father vnder the shadow of thy winges that I may strongly constantly withstand his inuasions by the vndoubted hope and confidence that I haue reposed in thy mercy And graunt that I maye die in thy true fayth and rest with thee in thy euerlasting kingdome To whome with thy Sonne Iesus Christ and the holy Ghoste be all honour and glory for euer euer A prayer to God the Sonne O Most mercifull Iesu and onely Sauiour of all maÌ„kynde whose loue to vs all was so pure and vnfayned that thou didest not denie to take our flesh vpon thee and to submit thy selfe to the death in offeringe vp thyne owne bodey as a swéete smelling sacrifize to appease the indignatioÌ„ of thy father who was worthyly inflamed for the transgression and breach of his holy coÌ„maundements O swéete Iesu the onely author of our saluation our most louing mediatour to thy Father haue mercy vpon me and cast me not away whome thou with thy pressious bloud haste â—edéemed O reiect me not for I am the price of thy passion thou with the effusion of thy most pretiouâ— bloud halfe payd the raunsome of mine iniquitie and made a full aâ—d perfect satisfaction for my offences O then looke downe vpon my miseries consider my distresse Behold the hell that tormeÌ„teth my conscience as ofte as I call to remembrance my lyfe so wickedly past and the innumerable multitude of my sinnes which are moe in number theÌ„ the heares of my head or the sandes of the Sea. Geue me grace to repent my wicked lyfe with Mary Magdelen and to wash thy feete wyth the moysture of my teares and lamentation Geue me grace to be sory for my sins and to wéepe with Peter to crye with the thefe that hanged on the right side at the time of thy passion Lorde remember me when thou coÌ„mest into thy kingedome O geue me grace to call my selfe to remembraunce to examine mine owne conscience to recount the number of my sinnes and to cast my selfe flat prostrate at the féete of thy mercy bewayllinge my sinfull lyfe with many a riuer of teares to acknowledge mine own wickednes vnto thée to craue remissioÌ„ of my faultes and by the continuall teares of repentaunce to recouer thy fauour againe and to die ther in Geue me grace to leade a new lyfe to put of the person of Adam and to bée regenarate and new borne in thée my Lord and Sauiour Geue me grace swéet Iesu to cry Peccaui with Dauid and vnfaynedly to lament my sinnes Geue me grace swéet Iesu to returne againe with the prodigall or lost Sonne and to crye Father I haue sinned agaynst heauen and against thée and I am no more worthy to be called thy Sonne make me as one of thy hyred seruaÌ„ts O swéete Iesu haue mercy vpoÌ„ me and forgeue me my sinnes renew a right spirit within me wash me wyth Isope and I shal be made whyter then Snowe for vnto thée belongeth mercy and with thée is plentifull redemption O thinke not vpon the offences of my youth wherein I haue raunged to much at randon lyke an vnbrideled coult neglecting the way of vnderstandinge and loathing the path of thy coÌ„maundemeÌ„ts I acknowledge fréely that if thou sholdest deale with me according to iustice I haue deserued euerlasting death neyther should I be able to abide thy sharpe iudgemeÌ„t but should sinke downe into the bottoÌ„les dungeoÌ„ of eternall damnation But hauinge a sure and certayue confidence fixed on the ancer or hould of immoueable fayth I vndoubtedly beléeue that by thy merites I am made partaker of euerlasting lyfe being fréely iustified with absolute remision of all my sinnes synce the first houre of my Natiuitie Which fayth I ground neyther on the merites of any mortall man neyther vpon any Romish Pardons or Indulgences but onely vpoÌ„ thée my Lord and Sauiour who with thy most precious blodsheding hast payde the price of my iniquitie and suffered thy glorious body to be mangled and torne for my transgression Geue me grace swéete Iesu so to order the reste of my lyfe as becoÌ„meth a true Christian to doe walkyng in the light of thy holy Gospell eschewing the workes of darkenes behauinge my selfe obediently to my superiors louingely to my felowes and conrtiousely to myne inferiors bearinge no grudge in my conscieÌ„ce offering wronge to no man but paciently to sufier iniuries without desire of reuenge forgeueinge euery man whatsoeuer hée hathe donne against me as I my selfe would desire to be forgeuen of thée my swéet Sauiour and onely redéemer Geue me grace swéete Iesu to perseuer in my faith till the end that all myne actions may be donne in the name of Iesu and all my thoughts vpon Iesu both at my down lying and vp rysinge all the terme of my lyfe and at the very instant of death when I fetche the laste gaspe my mynd may be withdrawen with no idle or phantastical cogitations but continually excercised in the meditation of the sweete and comfortable name of Iesu iesu iesu To thee swéete Iesu with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory for euermore Amen A prayer to God the holy Ghost O Holy and blessed spirite which being true euer lastinge God wyth God the Father and God the Sonne procéedest from theÌ„ both coequall in deytie and dignitie of person which art the onely comforter of them that trauayle in this earthly Pilgrimage and by thy heauenly wisdome directest them that right way to attaine to heauenly vnderstandinge of the will of god Quicken most holy sprite by thy heauenly breath the myndes of them that afore were dead through sinne make mery the
feelynge of thy goodnesse towards me that the memory of thy manyfold benefites neuer slyde out of my remembraunce but that at all tymes I may be styrred vp to prayse thy name to yeld thee thankes for the innumerable gyftes that thou of thy méere mercy and Fatherly liberalitie without any desart of mine hast fréely bestowed vpon me since the first houre of my natiuitie Let thy praise sound in my mouth late earely at midday and midnight in all places at all tymes and seasons Plant in my hart most mercyfull Father a true desire perfect zeale to thanke thee for all the benefitâ—s that I haue daylie receaued at thy haÌ„ds that I may tourne backe with the Samaritan prayse thee and not to depart as the other ix Lepiers did who feeling themselues clensed of their filthynesse yet returned not at all to geue God thankes Instruct me I besech thée in thy diuine iudgements that when I haue safely passed this nighte vnder thy protection I may spend the next day I all my lyfe folowing in holynesse and puritie of conuersation crying coÌ„tinually come Lord Iesu come for thyne electes sake come quickly Amen That at the last I maye happilie ariue at the port of that euerlastinge rest whiche by thy mercy thou hast promised to all theÌ„ that vnfaynedly loue the name of Iesu To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be all honor and glory for euer Amen A prayer for Fridaye morning ALmighty and most mercifull Father I besech thée for thy Sonne Iesus Christe his sake to graunt me thy heauenly grace that with immoueable zeale I may séeke after those things that may please thée circomspectly shunne all kinde of wayes that maye moue or prouake thy wrathe against me And when I haue once knoweÌ„ perfectly what thy will pleasure is geue me grace to séeke the same carefully to fulfill it perfectly and to walke in the same vigelantly to the honor and glory of thy most holy name Order my lyuinge so that I may doe those things which thou requirest of me that with vnfained deuotioÌ„ wythout all pharisicall preteÌ„ded holynesse Geue me grace that I maye know it haue will and power to doo thereafter least if I knowe my maister his will and due it not I be beaten with many stripes Aboue all thinges geue me grace to seeke thy honour and glory wyth all thinges else which he moste conuenient for my saluatioÌ„ in Christe iesu Make my waâ—es I beseche thee moste mercyfull Father sure and straight before that if welth abound I fall not vnto pride and presumption or if I fall into aduersitie I be not driuen into desperation as to loase the fayth whiche I haue in my Lord and Sauiour or to blaspheme thy most holy mame with words of reproch as they doo whose hart Sathan hath possessed and rooted the séedes of vertue vnderstandinge out of their harts Onely geue me a necessary liuinge sufficient to maintayne my selfe honestly wyth mediocritie and without superfluitie or idle excesse Geue mée not to much lest I wax proude so forget thée that art the author of my welth and mine onely vpholder neyther to littell lest I bée forced to attempt vnhonest and extraordinary shiftes without any care or respect eyther thy heauenly lawes and commaundemeÌ„ts or the decrées of my prince and countrie Geue me grace euer to reioyce in thée and that I may neuer be sorowfull for any thinge but that may drawe me from thy lawe or wherin I haue sinned against thy diuine Maiestie Bée thou myne onely comforte aboue all other to recreate me wheÌ„ I am in perplexitie to protect me both at my down liinge and vprysinge let mee not be mery with the ioye that is without thee neyther let me delite in any thinge but in thee and the crosse of Christ Iesu make me to lift vp myne harte continually to thee when I am eyther in prosperitie or fallen into aduersatie Make me humble without ipocrisie mery without lightnesse sad without mistrust sober without dulnesse true without dou blenesse fearinge thee without desperation trusting in thée wythout presumption teling my neybour his falts without dissimulation geuing other a good example of perfect and godly lyuinge that they which behold it may be the more enflamed to trend the like trace and to glorifiy god in all his gyftes And finallie graunt most mercyfull Father that séeinge I haue taken sufficient reste this night past and that the day is come wherein thou hast appoynted me to doe all suche godly and necessarie businesse as may be to thy glory the profit of my neyghbour and health of my soule I maye so passe the same in thy feare that I be in daunger of no trouble or perturbatioÌ„â—ther of body or minde but euermore constante in fayth by the bloud of Christ Iesus my Sauiour and redeemer To whome with thée the holy ghost be all honor and glory for euer and euer Amen A prayer for Friday euening I Render vnto thée moste mercifull Father all possible thankes and prayses for that thou of thy méere mercy and Fatherly pitie hast garded me all this day and the rest of my life time vnder the winges of thy heauenly protection desyringe thée with the teares of my lamentation to put all my wickednes out of thy minde which I haue committed agaynst thy diuine Maiestie sith the tyme of my conception Thou haste promysed by the mouth of thy holye Prophet that at what time soeuer a sinner doth repente him of his sinnes from the bottome of his harte thou wilt put all his wickednesse out of thy remembraunce forgeue me therefore moste mercyfull Father and with the eyes of thy mercy looke down vpon me as thou diddest loke vpon Peter thyne Apostle when hée lamented his sinne was sory for his offences let me be regenerate in spirit and learne froÌ„ henceforth to walke in thy lawes all the dayes of my lyfe Make me to lifte mine hart often tymes vnto thée and when I fall make me to thinke vpon thee and be sory for mine iniquity with stedfast purpose of amendmeÌ„t grace of thée to performe the same Graunte me vnderstandinge to knowe thy will to folowe suche conuersation as may please thee to repose my whole trust and confidence in the multitude of thy mercies whereby I may walke without blame in my calling doing right to euery man and iniury to no man but after the example of thy Son Iesus Christ to suffer wronge patiently without desire of reuenge to pray for mine enimies to loue them that persecute my lyfe Graunte grace in all kynde of humilitie to folowe the steppes of thy sonne Iesus Christ that pure and immaculate Lambe And when my body hath taken his naturall rest geue me a desire to shake of all slouthfulnesse and drousinesse that my lims may be stronge to sustayne my laboures that pertayne to my present vocation and that all mine accions maye bee done in