A pensive man's practice Very profitable for all persons, wherein are contained very devout and necessary prayers for sundry godly purposes. With requisite persuasions before every prayer. Written by john Norden. Psalm. 55. In the evening and morning, and at noon day, I will call upon the name of the Lord, and that instantly, and he will hear me. james. 5. 13. If any be afflicted let him pray. AT LONDON. Printed by Hugh Singleton. 1584. To the Reader. GEntle Reader, for as much as I know the Calendar to be a thing for divers respects & purposes very necessary, and in nothing hurtful to be annexed unto this Book, I have requested the Printer to extend so much the more his pains for thy profit, to collect some principal Rules, and most necessary for thy use, to be thereunto added, as hereafter may appear. A necessary Almanac, for 16. years. The year of our Lord. Dominical Letter. Leap year. Golden number Easter day. The first day of Lent. Whit sunday. 1584. D E 8 19 April. 3. March. 7. june. 1585. C 9 11. April. 24. February 30. Ma. 1586 B 10 3. April. 26. February 22. May. 1587. A 11 16. April. 1. Mar. 4. june. 1588. F G 12 7. April. 21. Feb. 26. Ma. 1589 E 13 30. Mar. 12. Feb. 18 May. 1590. D 14 19 April 4. March. 7. june. 1591. C 15 4. April. 17. February. 23. May. 1592. A B 16 26. March. 9 February. 14, May. 1593. G 17 15. April. 28. February. 3. june. 1594 F 18 31. March. 13. February. 19 May. 1595 E 19 20. April. 5. March. 8. june. 1596 C D 1 11. April. 25. February 30. May. 1597 B 2 27. Ma. 9 February. 15. May. 1598. A 3 16. April. 1. March. 4. june. 1599 G 4 8. April. 21. February. 27. May. Note that the Golden number and Dominical letter, do change the first of january. Note also that the year of our Lord beginneth the 25. day of March: which day is thought to be the day upon which the world was created, and the day wherein Christ was conceived in the womb of the Virgin Mary. A Rule to know how many days be contained in every month in the year. Thirty days hath November, April, june, and September, The rest have thirty and one, Except it be February alone. Which always hath 28. mere, When it is no Bissextile or leap year. A note of the Months, weeks, days, and hours, throughout the whole year. The year containeth. Months 12. Weeks 52. Days 365. Hours. 8766. Day Natural. hath 24. hours. Day Artificial. hath 12. hours. january hath xxxj▪ days. Sun riseth at seven. xlviii. minutes. Setteth at iiii. and two. minutes. 1 A Circum. The first day of this month, Christ was circumcised. Luk. 2▪ 21. The tops of the mountains appeared unto Noah. Gen. 8. 5. The Jsraelites put away their wives. Ezra. 10. 16. 2 b 3 c 4 d 5 e 6 f Epipha. 7 g The 5. of this month, word was brought unto Ezechiel the Prophet, that the City Jerusalem was sinitten. Eze 33. 21. 8 A 9 b 10 c 11 d 12 e The sixth of this month, Christ was worshipped of the wise men. Mat. 2. 1, etc. baptised Mat. 3. 15. turned water into Wine, joh. 2. 1. etc. as testifieth Epiphanius. 13 f 14 g 15 A 16 b 17 c 18 d The 10. of this month, Nebuccadnezzar King of Babel, moved thereunto by the rebellion of Zedechiah, besieged jerusalem most fiercely, as may appears 2. King. 25. etc. jerem. 52. 4. Also Ezechiel was willed to utter his parable. Eze. 24. 1. etc. 19 e 20 f 21 g 22 A 23 b 24 c 25 d 26 e Paul called and converted, the 25, of this month. Act. 9 3. 27 f 28 g 29 A 30 b 31 c February hath xxviii. days. Sun riseth at seven. and xi. munites. Setteth at iiii. and xlix. minutes. 1 d The first of this month Moses repeated the Law unto the children of Israel. Deut. 1. 3, 2 e Purification of Mary. 3 f 4 g 5 A The 2. of this month our Saviour was presented to the Lord, and Marie purified, Luk. 2, 22, 6 b 7 c 8 d 9 e The ninth of this month, Noah, 40 days after he had seen the tops of the Mountains, sent out of the Ark a Raven, and afterward a Dove, which returned. Gen. 8, 6, etc. 10 f 11 g 12 A 13 b 14 c 15 d The 15, of this month, the Jews spend merrily together, for that the spring of the year doth enter then as they think. 16 e 17 f 18 g 19 A 20 b The 16, of this month, Noah, the second time sent out a Dove, which returned with an Olive branch in her bill, Gen, 8, 10. 21 c 22 d 23 e 24 f Mathias 25 g apo. The 24. of this month, Zachariah was commanded to Prophesy, Zach. 1, 7, Mathias was elected into the number of the Apostles. Act, 1, 26, 26 A 27 b 28 c 29 d March hath xxxi. days. Sun riseth at vi. and nineteen. minutes. Setteth at v. and xli. munutes. 1 e The temple of Jerusalem was finished the third day of this month. Ezra. 6, 15, in the 1 of Esdr. 7, 5, it is said to be the 23, of this month. 2 f 3 g 4 A 5 b The tenth of this month, Christ was advertised that Lazarus was sick joh. 11. 3, 6 c 7 d 8 e A feast was celebrated among the Jews for the overthrow of Nicanor, the 13. of this month, 2, Mac, 15. 37. also upon the same day, all the Jews under Ashuerosh, were commanded to be put to death, Esther. 3. 13▪ upon the same day, the Jews had a privilege given them to stay all their enemies. Esther. 8. 12, this day the Jews also solemnised for their joyful deliverance, Esther. 8. 17, 9 f 10 g 11 A 12 b 13 c 14 d 15 e 16 f 17 g 18 A 19 b The 14. day of this month, was called of the Jews Mardocheus day, 2, Mac, 15, 37. also Purim, as may appear, Esther. 9, 21. 26. 20 c 21 d 22 e 23 f The 15. also is another day of Purim. Esther, 9, 21. 24 g 25 A The anunciation of Mary. The 16. of this month, Lazarus was raised from the dead. joh. 11. 43. 26 b 27 c 28 d 29 e 30 f 31 g April hath thirty. days. Sun riseth at v. and xvii. minutes. Setteth at. vi. and xliii. minutes 1 A The first of this month Noah uncovered the Ark, and saw earth, Gen. 8. 13. Moses reared the tabernacle. Exo. 40. 2. 17. the Temple began to be sanctified. 2. Chro. 29 17. 2 b 3 c 4 d 5 e 6 f The 10. of this month, the children of Israel passed through the river Iorden on dry foot, joshua. 4. 19 the Paschal Lamb was chosen. Exo. 12 3. 7 g 8 A 9 b 10 c The 13. of this month, the edict of King Ahashuerosh came out for the murdering of the jews. Esther. ●. 12. 11 d 12 e 13 f The 14. of this month, the Passover was kept, Exo. 12. 6. levit. 23. 5. joshua. 5. 10. 14 g 15 A 16 b The 15. of this month, the Israelits departed out of Egypt. Num. 33. 5 17 c 18 d The 16. of this month, Hezekiah made an end of sanctifying & purging the Temple. 2. Chro. ●9. 17. 19 e 20 f 21 g The 18. of this month, the Children of Israel walked on dry land through the midst of the Red sea. Exo. 14. 19 22 A 23 b 24 c The 24. Daniel saw his vision. Dan, 10. 14. 25 d S. Mark. 26 e 27 f 28 g 29 A 30 b May hath xxxj. days. Sun riseth at iiii. and xxiii. minutes. Setteth at seven. and xxxviii. minute's 1 c Philip & jacob. The first of this month, Moses was commanded to number the children of Israel. Num. 1. 1. etc. 2 d 3 e 4 f The fift of this month, Christ is thought to have ascended up into heaven. Mar. 16. 19 Luk. 24. 51. 5 g 6 A 7 b They which could not keep the passover at the day appointed by the Lord, were willed to celebrate the same the 14. of this month. Num. 19 10. 11. so did the Israelites, at the commandment of King Hezechiah. 2. Chron. 30. 15. 8 c 9 d 10 e 11 f 12 g 13 A 14 b The 16. day Manna rained from heaven. Exo. 16. 14. 15 c 16 d The 17. day Noah entered the Ark, and the flood began. Gen. 7. 11. 13. 17 e 18 f The 22. fire from heaven consumed such as murmured against the Lord. Num. 11. 1. 19 g 20 A 21 b The 23. the Israelites with great joy, triumphingly entered into the castle of jerusalem. 1. Mac. 13. 51. Noah the 27. the waters being dried up, came forth of the Ark. Gen. 8. 14. 22 c 23 d 24 e 25 f 26 g 27 A 28 b 29 c 30 d 31 e june hath thirty. days. Sun riseth at three and xliiii. minutes. Setteth at viii. and xvi. minutes. 1 f The first coming of the children of Israel unto Mount Sinai was the first of this month, where they abode eleven months, and 20, days in which time all those things were done, recorded in Exo. 19, 1, etc., 2 g 3 A 4 b 5 c 6 d 7 e 8 f The first of this month, Alexander that mighty Monarch of the world was borne, of whom, Dan. 11. 3. doth prophesy. Also on this day the famous temple of Diana in Ephesus, numbered among the seven wonders of the world, was set on fire by Herostratus. The jews likewise kept their feast of Penticoste on this day. 9 g 10 A 11 b 12 c 13 d 14 e 15 f 16 g 17 A 18 b 19 c The 23, of this month, the first edict came out for the safety of God's people the jews against Haman, and the rest of their enemies. Esther. 8. 9, 20 d 21 e 22 f 23 g 24 A S. john Baptist. The 29, of this month, the Ark of Noah, through the increase of waters, was lifted up from the earth. Gen. 7, 17, 25 b 26 c 27 d 28 e 29 f S. Peter. 30 g july hath xxxi. days. Sun riseth at iiii. and lii. minutes. Setteth at viii. and viii. minutes. 1 A 2 b The 5, of this month, Ezekiel saw his vision, Eze, 1, 1, 3 c 4 d 5 e The 6, of this month, the Capitol of Room, counted one of the 7, wonders of the world, was burned: and the mirror of Christian Princes King Edward the 6. died the sixth of this month Anno. 1553, 6 f 7 g 8 A 9 b 10 c 11 d 12 e The 9, of this month, jerusalem after it had a long while been besieged by Nebuccadnezzer, was taken. jerem 39, 2, 13 f 14 g 15 A 16 b 17 c The 12, of this month, julius Caesar the first Roman Emperor, was born. Of him is this month called julie, 18 d 19 e 20 f 21 g The 18, of this month, the Egyptians begin their year, Plin. li. 8, cap. 47 22 A 23 b 24 c 25 d james. ap. 26 e 27 f 28 g 29 A 30 b 31 c August hath xxxj. days. Sun riseth at iiii. and xliiii. minutes. Setteth at seven. and xvii. minutes. 1 d The first of this month, Aron. 40. years after the children of Israel were come out of Egypt, died on Mount Hor, Num. 33. 38. Also on this day Ezra with his company came out of Babel, unto Jerusalem. Ezra 7. 9 2 e 3 f 4 g 5 A 6 b 7 c 8 d The 7. of this month, Nebuccadnezzer burned the house of the Lord, and all Jerusalem. 2. Kin. 25. 8. 9 9 e 10 f 11 g 12 A The 10 of this month some think Jerusalem to have been burnt by the babylonians, jerom. 52. 12. josephus. (lib. 6. cap. 26.) said it was burned afterward by the Romans the same day. Therefore do the Jews on this day observe a most straight fast, and go bare footed, and sitting on the ground read twice over the Lamentations of Jeremy 13 b 14 c 15 d 16 e 17 f 18 g 19 A 20 b 21 c 22 d 23 e 24 f S. Bartho. 25 g 26 A 27 b 28 c 29 d 30 e 31 f September hath thirty. days. Sun riseth at vi. and xxxvi. minutes. Setteth at vi. and xxiiii. minutes. 1 g The first of this month Haggei the Prophet began to prophesy. Hag. 1. 2. 2 A 3 b 4 c 5 d The ●ixt of this month, Ezechiel saw another vision. Eze. 8. 1. 6 e 7 f 8 g 9 A 10 b The 7. of this month our most noble Queen Elizabeth was born at Gréenwich, Anno. 1533. 11 c 12 d 13 e 14 f 15 g The 8. of this month Ann. 73. Jerusalem was utterly with fire & sword destroyed by Titus the Emperor. joseph. lib. 7. cap. 26. 16 A 17 b 18 c 19 d S. Math. 20 e 21 f 22 g 23 A The 25. of this month Nehemiah finished the walls of Jerusalem. Nehem. 6. 15. 24 b 25 c 26 d 27 e S. Micha. 28 f 29 g 30 A b October hath xxxi. days. Snune riseth at vi. and xxxvii. minutes. Setteth at v. and xxiii. minutes. 1 b The first of this month, the Jews celebrated the feast of trumpets, levit. 23, 24, The latter Jews call this day the beginning of the new year. 2 c 3 d 4 e 5 f Jerusalem after it had been possessed of Christien Princes 88, years, through mortal dissension, came into the hands of the Saracins, Anno, 1187, 6 g 7 A 8 b 9 c The third of this month, some think the Jews fasted for the death of Gedaliah, whereby occosion was offered to bring them again into the miserable servitude of the Egyptians, 2, Kin. 25, 25, Ier, 41, 1, 2, etc., 10 d 11 e 12 f 13 g 14 A 15 b The tenth of this month, the feast of reconciliation was kept, Leu. 23, 27, so did the year of jubilee every fifty year begin as on the same day, Leuit. 25, 9, 16 c 17 d 18 e Luke Euangel. 19 f 20 g The 15, of this month, the Jews observed the feast of Tabernacle, seven days together, in memory of the Lords protecting them in the desert, Leu. 23, 34, 21 A 22 b 23 c 24 d 25 e 26 f 27 g 28 A Simon & ●ude. 29 b 30 c 31 d November hath thirty. days. Sun riseth at seven. and xxxvi. minutes. Setteth at iiii. and xxiiii. minutes. 1 e All Saints The third of this month, Constantius the Emperor son to Constantius the great, departed out of this world Anno, 364, Hist. tripart in the end of the 5, book. 2 f 3 g 4 A 5 b 6 c 7 d The tenth of this month Ann. 1483, D. Martin Luther was born in Islebia. 8 e 9 f 10 g The 15, of this month, was made a new holy day by jeroboam without the commandment of God, where, upon he committed most wicked Idolatry in Dan and Bethel, but he remained not long unpunished, nor his people unplagued for the same, as may appear, 1. King. 12. 32, 33, 1, Kin. 13. 1, 2. etc. 11 A 12 b 13 c 14 d 15 e 16 f 17 g 18 A 19 b Queen Elizabeth began luckily to reign, for the advancement of the Gospel of our Saviour Christ, the 17. of this month. 20 c 21 d 22 e 23 f 24 g The 18 of this month, Titus the Emperor, most cruelly executed to death, a great number of the Jews. josep. lib. 7. cap. 20 25 A 26 b 27 c 28 d 29 e 30 f Andrew apostle. December hath xxxi, days. Sun riseth at viii. and x. munites. Setteth at three and xlviii. munites. 1 A The 15. of this month, Antiochus placed an abominable Idol upon the Altar of the Lord, 1. Mac. 1. 57 2 b 3 c 4 d 5 e The 20. of this month, Esdras exhorted the Israelites to put away their strange Wives, 1. Esd, 9 5, 6, etc. 6 f 7 g 8 A The foundation of the second Temple was laid the 24. of this month. Hag. 2▪ 11. 19 9 b 10 c 11 d 12 e The 25. of this month, our Saviour Christ was borne of the Virgin, the year after the world's creation, 4018. On which day also, Antiochus Epiphanes entered into Jerusalem with a mighty Army and spoiled the same. jose. li. 32. cap. 6, On this day he profaned the Altar of the Lord. 1. Macc. 1. 62. which day also the Jews kept holy, because thereon the Temple was purged from Jdolatry. 1. Mac. 4. 59 13 f 14 g 15 A 16 b 17 c 18 d 19 e 20 f 21 g S. Thomas apo▪ 22 A 23 b 24 c The 28. of this month, Herod caused the poor Innocents to be murdered, thinking thereby to have slain Christ, Mat. 2. 16. etc. 25 d Christin. S. Steven S. john. Innocen 26 e 27 f 28 g 29 A ●0 b ●1 To the right Worshipful Sir Henry Knivet Knight, and Lady Elizabeth his wife: Their humble servant john Norden, wisheth happiness here, and after this life eternal felicity. THales a wise Philosopher, being demanded what was the hardest thing in the world, answered, for a man to know himself, being then demanded what was the easiest thing, he answered for a man to give good counsel unto another. Both which his resolutions, to the said demands, I may be thought rightly to verify, by this mine enterprise, being of so slender judgement, and young of experience, taking upon me to describe unto the learned and wise, a form for their better instruction, wherein many may condemn myself, in neglecting the principles of the same. But (right worshipful, notwithstanding my weakness) my good meaning, is not herein altogether to be condemned, who of myself am nothing, and can do nothing, Sed Deus bene facientes adiwat, God is ever ready to further the good attempts of every man, his hand is ready to guide the pen of all that endeavour to glorify his name by their doings, from whom if I should not acknowledge all godly desires to proceed, and attribute the benefit of every man's godly travail unto his provident care of our welfare I should not but think myself an enemy unto his divinity. Whereby incurring his heavy displeasure, my travail should turn to mine own trouble, and my desired praise unto my deserved pains: But for as much as Lex domini imaculata est, convertans animas, testimonium eius fidele sapientiam prestaus paruulis. The Law of the Lord being undefiled converting the soul, his testimony faithful and giving wisdom even to the babes and little ones, mine hope is that his hand was the director of my pen, and his grace the governor of my heart in my proceeding: and as myself have had, no small comfort and sweetness, in the exercise thereof already. And so much as I persuade myself it can not be, but likewise beneficial to such as in ●eale shall vouchsafe to bestow some time in the faithful practice thereof. Notwithstanding, some will say there is prayer books enough (in my judgement) not too many, so that they be consonant and agreeable to that form of prayer which Christ himself set down and prescribed, wherein is contained six petitions or requests unto God, whereof the three first are for the setting forth of the glory of God, the three last pertain only to our own commodities, as for all things necessary for our bodies for remission of sins, and to be preserved from temptations which concern the soul, in which six petitions, is contained the some of all prayers whatsoever. And as it hath been lawful for the zealous & godly for their own godly practice, heretofore to writ, & the same for the benefit of others allowed to be published, I presume, (acknowledging my travail altogether inferior to those) to commit this my practice to the Print, not deemeing it of myself worthy, but by the judgement of others, learned, persuaded to consent thereunto, the rather willing for that my purpose in writing, and intent in publishing rightly weighed, and the matter duly considered, none (or rather the less) by reason of your good countenance will seem to vomit out their contemptuous terms of the work or reproaches of the poor paintaker, as against the best book, and most zealous Author that ever wrote, the envious have done, but for mine own part, I hold me rather worthy rebuke then reward, for wading so far into that that belongeth unto the zealous, learned, and men of most sound judgement to set forth, and I (being as it were ignorant) should put before the eyes of such as have both knowledge and wisdom, a glass or spectacle for their better light and furtherance when as (in deed) I should rather repair unto them, as blind, for their aid to direct myself. But (right worshipful) acknowledging my fault herein (upon hope of your taking it in good part) I presume to present this my simple travail unto you, taking it in hand with no less good meaning unto the highness (my light, & guide) with no less good will to you, than he who hath deserved far better for his travail, I have entitled it A pensive man's practice: and I think (not unfitly) who in my too much liberty in the service of the right worshipful, Lady Ann Knyvet, your late diseased mother, and my good Lady and Mistress, spending many days in idleness and void of good (but in frivolous) exercises, among many inclining to their own pleasant devices, considering that S. jerom saith that Per publicam viam non ambulemus we should not walk after the most: And weighing the sentence of Terence, who saith (truly) that Omnes deteriores sumus licentia, All men are the worse for too much liberty. I withdrew me from their so familiar society, insomuch, as I was thought of some sulleyne, of some proud, of some foolish, and none passed with out his verdict of my solitariness, whereunto upon these considerations, I had drawn mine untoward desires, in so much, as by sundry sudden passions, and griefs of heart, for things passed and to come, I was often perplexed, the grace of God (only of his mercy) more prevailing with me, than an infinite troup of carnal persuasions I betook me to often & sundry prayers unto almighty God in all my perplixities, and troubles, with earnest desire to the reading of that, that most might stir my dulled and untoward mind to the desire thereunto, whereby by little and little, feeling a certain inward sweetness and comfort, to grow in mine heart, by the practice thereof, (the flesh being always repugnant) it began to be of such force, & to my comfort in my necessities, as I thought it a fit practise in allpensivenes, a practice in all perplexities most precious, in all distresses most delectable ye in all things, in all places, at all times most requisite and comfortable, which (although some will condemn my circumstance) moved me to give it the title of A pensive man's practice, which (I speak not to mine own glory) I would that every one in all extreamityes would use the same (I mean prayer) he should find comfort therein, yea he should find (as I know by experience) pleasure in perplexity, for no thing moveth sooner desire of invocation upon God than bodily necessities, for the pleasure of the body taketh away the good desire of the soul, we ought to pray for the gift of the spirit of God, and then shall not our desires depart empty away, a zealous and faithful inward desire, without motion of the tongue in our distress, sendeth up even to the throne of God so sweet a savour. That even the holy ghost, in our greatest pensiveness, will be most ready to give assistance to our good desires, and will bring the same to most wished perfection. But corruption aboundeth in all men, all men are prone to do evil even by nature, and none there is that doth good, no not one. The spirit is often willing, but the flesh is always weak, we must therefore pray continually, and when we are so dull as that the outward show doth argue insufficient fervency, in us having (yet) a longing desire. Let us then in hart▪ faithfully say: Oh Lord increase our faith, and let us be occupied in continual contemplation of heavenly things, and no doubt but dullness will soon vanish, and the spirit have his effect: for it is not the tongue only or lips, that maketh the sacrifice of prayer, sweet and acceptable to God, but an humbled mind, a contrite and sorrowful spirit, declining from sin, and inclining to God: wherefore it behoveth us under the burden of our sins, with David to groan in heart, saying, we have sinned, we have done amiss, we have dealt wickedly, and in the name of that second Adam, let us pray for power to tread the fruits of the first Adam under our feet, for of ourselves we are weak, we are of no force to remove that is evil, or to embrace and follow that which is good, but all what good is cometh from God, to whom we ought at all times to bend our repentant hearts, and pray him for his sweet and well-beloved son jesus Christ's sake to show us and guide us, by the working and direction of his holy spirit, the right path unto the kingdom of heaven, that all things▪ as well ghostly as bodily, may be ministered unto us. It were superfluous to make any great collection of proofs, of the singular effect of this most excellent practice, of earnest & faithful prayer, for praying in the name of Christ, he shall obtain whatsoever he knoweth needful for us, examples whereof are infinite, wherefore, omitting further discourse, I have set before every particular prayer, certain godly motions unto the prayer following, the rather to induce and stir up the godly minded to the use thereof: hoping by his assistance, by (whose these small fruits have proceeded,) to perform the execution of my small Tallant, to a further benefit of others hereafter: It resteth now (right worshipful) to pray your favourable pardon, for presuming to publish the same under your good acceptance, not standing in deed, long in suspense, to whose hands first to commit my travail. But your wonted clemency, wisdom, and zeal, soon stirred my willing mind to present it unto yourselves, dismayed at nothing, but at the simpleness of the painetaker only, who being in all respects poor, presenteth this day a poor gift, praying pardon for his boldness, and lawful favour at your hands for his reward. And though many be the precious gifts, that this day pass from one to another, and they tend (but as the smallest and simplest) to the remembrance of the new year, I most humbly beseech your worships willingly to accept this handful of cold water, flowing from the fountain of the well of life, which gift as it is not mine: so I crave but contentation at your hands & willing entertainment of the simple messenger, the presenter hereof, & with him to give thanks to the heavenly giver. In whom as all wisdom consisteth, so I humbly pray him to instill into our hearts, that water of heavenly life, his holy spirit to direct us all, to perfect perfection in heavenvly things for his son's sake, in whose name I heartily wish you as a whole & happy new year, & many hereafter to his will, so new joys here, and in the end eternal joys of eternal bliss. Westminster. 22. December. Your worships bound and obedient Servant. john Norden. Meditationes sive sententiae piae de huius vite fragilitate et de vita eterna, secundum ordinem Alphabetarij in nomen Henrici Knyuet militis. H HEC est voluntas Domini ut omnes qui videt filium eius & credit in eum habeat vitam eternam. joh 6. E Estote parati quia filius hominis veniet in hora qua non putatis. Luk. 18. N Nolumus nos ignorari fratres de dormientib▪ ut non contristemini, sicut et ceteri qui spem non habent. 1 Thes. 4. R Recordatus est dominus quia pulvis sumus, homo sicut foenum, dies eius tanquam flos agri, sic efflorebit. Psal. 102. I In imagine pertransit homo, sed et frustra conturbatur, Thezaurizat, et ignorat cui congregabit ea. Psal. 38. C Cuncti dies nostri dilabuntur: Annos nostros finimus dicto citius. Psal. 89. V universa vanitas, omnis homo vivens. Psa. 83 S Statutum est ominbus hominibus, semel mori post illud autem iuditium. Heb. 7. K Kahos hulus mundi in principio formavit Deus, et statuit iterum semel perire cum omnibus in eo continentibus. Gen, 1. N Nihil intulimus in mundum nec offerre quicquid possumus. 1. Tim. 6. I Illi servi beati quos cum venerit dominus inuenirit vigilantes Luk. 18. V Vita nostra quid est? vapor est ad modicum patens & deinceps exterminabitur. jam. 4. E Eccemensurabiles posuit dies nostros dominus. et substantia nostra tanquam, nihilum ante illum. Psal. 38. T Traditus est Christus propter dilicta nostra, et resurrexit propter justificationem nostram. Rom. 4. Certain godly precepts, Alphabetically set down, upon the name of the right worshipful the Lady Elizabeth Knivit. E Endure temptations patiently. L Live as thou mayst live eternally. I Embracing truth unfeignedly. Z Zealously and freely. A Ask God mercy heartily. B Beware of evil warily. E Endure all crosses willingly. T Trust in GOD faithfully. H Hear his word attentively. K Know him thy maker rightly. N None helps but he effectually, Y Yield him praises daily. V Use his gifts reverently. E Embrace them thankfully. T Take all things of him joyfully. A godly motion to awaken the hearts of such as sleep in security, by the Lady Anne Kneuet. A Arise Oh sinful soul in haste, lie not in slumber still: N Now time begins to fly full fast, to make his final will. N Now come the days of woeful sights, or now the days of bliss E Eternal joys the lost shall see, feel pains who do amiss. K Knock now or never at thy breast, thou soul that liest secure, N Neglect not time, for tune doth passed, though time for aye endure, E Each 〈◊〉 that hopes to have good hap that happy life hath led. V V 〈…〉 shall hap the same when cleiesh corpse are dead. E Exchange thy choice of worldly weal, for heavenly harbour here, T Too late to turn when Trumpet sounds & final flames appear The Printer to the godly Reader. I Crave thy favourable pardon (Gentle Reader) for sundry faults passed in the impression, and thine own willing amendment of them in reading, as they are heereunder corrected; The cause of so many committed, was, that the Author could not have the examination of the proofs thereof: But at the next impression, more care and diligence shallbe given, by the grace of GOD, whose grace I wish to direct thee. Amen Leaf. Page. Line. Fault. Correction. 4 2 25 thy business my business. eodem eodem 26 my blessing. thy blessing. 9 1 18 to the sanctity the sanctity. 10 eodem 27 where were. 25 eodem 24. disease diseased. 26 2 4 as white be as white. 32 eodem 6 learn teach. 59 2 9 undeserudly deservedly. eodem eodem 27 wills wiles. ¶ A pensive man's practice. Before we pray we must forgive, if we have any thing against any man, otherwise our heavenly Father will not forgive us. Mar. 11. A prayer to Christ. O Sweet jesus, who haste taken upon thee to be our intercessor & Advocate, unto God thine heavenly Father, vouchsafe (I humbly be secche thee) to accompany me, in these my supplications and prayers, presenting them unto his heavenly majesty, in such sort as for thy sake (sweet jesus) they may be acceptable unto him, to the washing away of my sins, & obtaining things necessary for me and all men, according unto his will in all things. Amen. O Lord increase my faith. O Lord open thou my lips, that my mouth may extol thee with praise, and be thankful unto thee for thy benefits, & grant that I speak nothing but that which may be to thine honour & glory, to the relief of our necessities bodily and ghostly. Amen. O Lord make speed to send us help & succour, from the Tower of thy strength. O Lord let thine heavenly kingdom be always ready to receive us to eternal salvation. Eternal praises be unto thee oh God. So be it. A prayer for the assistance of God's holy Spirit. Ask what thou wilt and thou shalt have, If thou in Christ the same do crave: For Christ thy Mediator sees▪ When thou to him dost fall on knees. Ask and ye shall have, seek and ye shall find, knock & it shallbe opened unto you. Matt. 7. If ye that he evil, can give unto your Children good gifts, when they ask them, how much more shall our heavenly father, give his holy spirit to them that faithfully desire it. Luk. 11. We know not what to ask, nor how to pray, as we ought, but the spirit itself maketh request for us, with sighs which can not be expressed. Rom. 8. Seeing therefore our prayers be vain, and of none effect, without the grace and assistance of God's holy spirit, let us fail down unto the throne of his Majesty, praying faithfully for the same, and it shall be given us. O Almighty God & omnipotent father who comfortest such as be sorrowful, and who givest all good and perfect gifts: as thou of thy free favour and love hast willed us, in all our afflictions and necessities and as often as we find ourselves burdened with any kind of tribulation, or affliction, either of body or mind, to call for ease at thy merciful hands: So vouch safe to hear my cry, and to consider the secret groans, sighs and sorrows of my silly soul. Oh blessed and eternal God, (lo here before the throne of thy mercy, even at the gate of thy sweet promises) I thy silly creature & work of thine own hands, prostrate myself in heart, most humbly beseeching thee, to send down upon my dark understanding, the bright beams of thine holy spirit to lighten me, and to direct me in all my supplications, and prayers, and especially, at this time (Oh Lord) for that thou knowest my weakness, wickedness, and ignorance, to be such, as I am altogether unable, to frame my requests according to thy will, or to seek, that is truly for mine own soul's health, and am altogether ignorant of the right gate to knock at, without thine especial grace, directing and assisting me: Wherefore I most humbly beseech thee, to address and prepare mine heart, to the true understanding of thy will, and my tongue, and lips; to the pure and unfeigned calling on thy holy name, even for thy son jesus Christ's sake, our only Mediator, and Advocate, for whose bitter deaths sake, I humbly beseech thee, of thy mere favour, and loving kindness, to wasn me, and to make me clean, by the operation of thine holy spirit, that being sanctified▪ I may utter those things, which may be unto thee, an acceptable sacrifice, through the same thy sons mediation, and intercession; And that nothing pass the bands, of mine vnsta●ed lips, but that which may beseem a single heart, always sounding to thine honour, and setting forth of thy most worthy praise, both at this time, and at all times; Let th●ne holy spirit (Oh Lord) come unto me, let it continue with me, work and prevail effectually in me, unto the end, that I may both at this time begin, and for evermore continue, as thou willest I should, namely in faith, that I fall not in any temptations; In hope, that I may constantly look for, and faithfully attain unto perfect understanding of thy will, and ableness in all things to fulfil the same: Make me also (good Lord) fervent in charity, that I may freely and unfeignedly, even from mine heart forgive and forget, all injuries, wrongs, and evil doings, of such, as by any means have ostended me, with hearty prayer for their amendment: that I approaching unto the throne of thy mercy, in a pure and simple hart, may heartily, as well for all others as for myself, for things necessary, both for body and soul▪ say that prayer▪ which thy dearly and well beloved son jesus Christ, taught us to say▪ Oh our Father which art in heaven. etc. Oh Lord increase our faith▪ A shorter prayer to the like purpose. OH God almighty, most loving and most righteeus, who vouchsafest to instill into the hearts of thy chosen servants, grace, unfeignedly to serve thee, and to call upon thine holy name, in their necessity and distress. Vouchsafe I humbly beseech thee, ●f thy mere mercy, to expel out of mine heart, all natural dullness, misbelief, and blindness of error. And through thine holy spirit to plant in steed thereof, perfect zeal, and unfeigned desire, to prostrate myself in heart before thine heavenly Majesty, in faith unfeigned. That at this time it may please thee, so to accept these my sup supp〈…〉cations and prayers, as I may obtain at thy merciful hands, what soever thou seest necessary both for body and soul, through Jesus Christ our only Sautour and Redeemer. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A morning prayer for the working day. Before thou d●o thy work begin, Thank God: crave pardon for thy sin▪ And then thy work shall prosper so, As want shall never breed thee woe. WHat a great benefit we receive at the hands of almighty God, by our natural sleep, none is ignorant what perils we escape, in the dark & doleful night, we may easily judge. And what favome the almighty extendeth towards us, in giving us lodging, not in the fields but in houses, not upon the hard and cold ground, but upon soft pillows, warmly covered▪ experience teacheth: What thanks for this so bountiful benefits of his, we are daily bound to yield, I would we allknewe, and had will to yield them accordingly. as did David who Psal. 55 in the morning, at midday and at night, calling on the name of the Lord, with thanks said, Psal. 143▪ 6. Lord let me hear thy loving kindness betimes in the morning, for in thee is my trust. So let us yield his majesty due praises for his continual loving kindness towards us saying. OH almighty God, father of our lord jesus Christ, who hast vouchsafed (of thy thy great favour & love) even from my childhood unto this day, to take such fatherly care of me, that nothing hath destroyed, or hurt me, but have been saselie preserved both day and night, from sudden death, and from all other perils and dangers incident unto mankind, & have all my life been preserved: And of thy free favour and love (without a●●e desert or merit of mine to my great comfort) enjoyed the sweet benefit of sleep and rest, which is most wholesome, for my poor and weak body, yea and so good a nutriture thereunto, as good soil, to the barren field, or thy timely showers to the dry ground, or meat acceptable to the hungry stomach. Oh sweet Lord, such hath been thy fatherly care of me, this night past that the sleep which thou hast given me, is most comfortable, both to my body, and soul, in so much, as I am the more aptly given to the execution, of my worldly business, and the service of thy divine majesty this morning, wherein assist me (sweet Lord) with the help of thine holy spirit, comfort and defend me this day and ever, with thy merciful aid, that none affliction, hurt, or misfortune, dismay me, no tribulation or anguish of mind draw me from thee, no worldly care, delight, or fantasy, carry me at any time into any wicked cogitation, action, or speech, for (Lord) I know that it is not thy will, that any evil shouldedwell in us, or that we should at any time offend thee, but to keep our hearts pure and undefiled, as a fit receptacle for thy Majesty. Yet thou sufferest sometimes, unlawful affections to have the upper hand, to the end, that we (feeling our weakness, and corruption) should wholly confess, all our strength, all our godly cogitations, and works, to proceed from thee. And for that all flesh is full of sin, and that the just fall seven times a day, forgive (Lord) my wickedness, mine offences, and sin committed, either this night past, by foolish dreams fantasies, or other temptations, or at any time since I came into this miserable world, being a most sinful creature: and that (being pardoned by thy mercy in jesus Christ, I may proceed in the residue of my days (governed by thy holy spirit) void of all offences, using my vocation and calling so, as may be to the setting forth of thy glory, maintenance of thy favour towards me, and getting those things which may be sufficient for the maintenance of mine estate here, and for the relief of such as are committed to my charge; And grant me always, such regard of serving thee, as thine hand may always direct me to good and happy success, in all mine affairs; Bless thou the work of mine hands (good Lord) and grant me so to fly idleness, the mother and Nurse of all evil, that both this day and all my life, I may, by godly care and travail, get me a sufficient, & competent living here, that I be no burden and charge to such as are rich and wealthy, nor depend upon the succour, help▪ and furtherance of others, whose help is most slippery and deceitful Lest that in hope thereof, I giving myself to idleness, and loitering (when their help shallbe withholden from me) I be driven (as the wise man saith) to go in a ragged coat, & to want my food. But contrary wise (Oh Lord) grant that I may so employ myself, to labour, and diligent execution of thy business, this day and ever, that, I may (through my blessing) luckily prosper therein, and show myself so helpful to the poor impotent and needy, as the fruit of my travail, shall extend unto. That thou mayest fulfil in me, that most sweet promise of thine. That who so considereth the poor and needy, thou wilt deliver him in the time of trouble. Lord thy mercy is infinite, and thy love towards us unspeakable, wherefore give me grace, always to serve thee, yea at all times and in all places both in labour and rest, wealth, and poverty, sickness and health, yea all my life and at the hour of my death, that I may pass this day, and all the rest of my transitory life, in the fulfilling of thy laws, and be ready at thy favourable beck and call, to come and appear before thy throne of mercy, in perfect hope, of thy loving receiving me into the bosom of thy sweet embracings, not for my worthiness or d●serces, (which is but corruption) but for the merits of thy son jesus Christ, there to rest, enjoying the fruits and benefit of his death and bitter passion in whose name, I refer myself and all mine, both this day and ever, unto thy fatherly protection, humbly beseeching thee, to direct almy thoughts, words and actions, unto my lives end. Good God. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. I Thank thee most merciful Father, my maker and preserver, that thou hast so lovingly vouchsafed to tender my safety this night past, giving me sweet sleep, to the refreshment of my feeble and weak body. So (of thy goodness vouchsafe) to extend the like loving favour, to wards me this day, whereby I may be both safely preserved, from all kind of evil, and employ myself, diligently unto the execution of my vocation, to the relief of me and mine, and to thy glory. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer for the Queen. What so thou he, pray God always, To bless our Queen with happy days: Whose wisdom (under God) so long, Hath kept this Realm from sorrame wrong. THe unspeakable benefit of our long peace, and gracious tranquility, may (without many circumstances or many words) suffice to move thankful minds to praise the God of Heaven, for his unspeakable love, towards us, in giving us so gracious a governess, under whom we have not only these xxv. years, peaceably lived but enjoyed the comfortable passage and food of the gospel, when many other nations have wanted the same, to the famishing (as it were) of their poor souls, wherefore, considering, that we may (if not the more to our shame) feed thereof at full, and thereto friendly entreated, and enjoined, not only (which is general) by the word itself, but by several injunctions set forth for the furtherance of God's glory and our profit by her majesty, in England only: And therefore (as we ought for all men) so especially we are commanded to pray for the good & prosperous estate of Kings and Princes, and those in authority. 2. Tim. 2. Let us, as we have unspeakable cause, beseech God of his goodness, favourably to look upon our most gracious Queen Elizabeth, & to grant unto her a prosperous reign, with many and happy days, to the pleasure of him, and comfort of us, Let us not forgitt it, least God forget us. ALL possible thanks we give unto thee, Oh Lord of mercy, King of all the Kings, and kingdoms of the earth, for that thou hast vouchsafed to place over us, thy little flock of this Realm, so pure a guide of true religion, Elizabeth (by thine heavenvly providence) our Queen, under whom, enjoying the free liberty of the true service of thee, we rest in a quiet estate both of body and mind. We humbly pray thy favourable regard, to behold with merciful eyes, the same thy servant our sovereign Lady, and governs. And so fructify her heart, with the good grain of thine holy spirit, that she always inclined (by the working thereof) to the setting forth of thy word, may walk according to the truth of the same, sincerely, that we thy servants, and under thee her subjects, seeing her godly example, may be ashamed to fall from that due form, of honouring thy name, which for thy glory, she hath through thy grace, by the rule of thy word, prescribed unto us. Banish good Lord from her heart, all ignorance, and print therein perfect wisdom, and knowledge of thine heavenly will, give her an obedient mind, abounding withal humility towards thy divine majesty: Save and defend her from the tyranny of foreign power and authority, and from all such, as profesle not inwardly unfeigned zeal of thy Gospel, give her godly Counsellors, and such zealous and true hearted ministers of thy will, that she and we, according to the truth, of every our several functions, may truly serve thee, in this life, and in the end, for evermore reign with thee in thine heavenly kingdom, for jesus Christ's sake, our only Redeemer Advocate, and sweet Saviour. Amen. Oh Lord increase our faith. A prayer for the Sunday morning. Let labour pass▪ let prayer be, This day the chiefest work for thee▪ AS the Lord hath assigned unto man six days of seven for his necessary travail. So hath he expressly commanded Gen. 2. the seventh to be hallowed and kept, only for the service of him, where in (all business set apart) we should refer ourselves to prayer, to the hearing or reading of the word of the Lord, without any ungodly exercise at all: wherefore as did David, Psal. 55. 6. every day, so let us, especially this day, instantly call upon the name of the Lord and he will hear us. And with Esay. Esay. 26. Let our souls with a longing desire in the night, seek un to the Lord, and in the morning early call upon his name, so shall our doings please him, & all shall go well with us. And especially upon this day which the Lord hath reserved for the service of himself. Nu. 1●. Punishing such, even with death, who break the same, as appeareth in the book of Numbers, by him who was at the commandment of the Lord, stoned to death, for gathering sticks on the Sabaoth day: Esay. 56. Blessed is the man that keepeth the Sabaoth day undefiled, serving the Lord in prayer. Esay. 58. Not in seeking his ownewil, nor speaking a vain word. Pray that it may be honoured, and not abused & dishonoured as it is: lest God the Creator of it and us, punish our disobedience. OH almighty Father, most wholesome protector, & keeper, both of souls and bodies of the faithful. I yield the humble and hearty thanks, for defending & saving me, thy sinful creature, this night past, and all my life hitherunto, from sudden death, and from other perils & dangers, where into my silly soul and weak body are subject to fall. And wherewith I am so beset, that (had I not been preserved by thee) it could not otherwise have been, but my body had perished, and my silly soul been carried into eternal perdition. But most sweet Lord, my strong Castle & defence, my shield & buckler, my sure refuge, and succour, who hast continual regard of the safety of thy servants, that thou never sufferest them to be overcome with any kind of evil, nor to fall into any kind of danger: vouchsafe to forgive me what soever I have committed, and done against thy divine will, either sleeping or waking, this night or any time (secretly or openly) heretofore, by reason of the corruption which remaineth in me. And vouchsafe, that as I have quietly passed this night, so I may enjoy, at thy merciful hands whatsoever thy fatherly providence, shall think meet and convenient, for mine own, and for the relief, of such as thou hast committed unto my charge, and government. Establish (good Lord) within my weak & feeble body, strength, to withstand all evil motions of the flesh, all ungodly desires of the mind, & worldly vanities, that I may fervently (as I ought) continually, both in the morning and at night, and at noon day, yea and at all times, and in all places, truly serve thee, without hypocrisy, dissimulation, or malice. And for thy mercy's sake, keep me this day, and all the rest of my transitory life, from sudden and unprovided death, keep my tongue and lips, that I speak or utter nothing, which may be either uncomely to be spoken, or whereof may redound hurt, or hindrance to myself or others, but that I may endeavour (as much as in me lies) to speak and utter those things, which may be, to the setting forth of thy glory, maintenance of peace and concord, and to the reducing such into the right way, as wander and go astray; As for slandering, lying, backbiting, falsewitnes bearing, envy, and such like, (good Lord) take utterly from me. And keep mine heart and mind, from the most damnable sin of murmuring against thee, and from despair, that in all adversities, tribulations, and troubles, I may always, bear, a patiented, contented, faithful, and a thankful mind, with full persuasion, that if thou suffer, mine adversaries (being maliciousliebent against me) to revile me, persecute me, to molest or hurt me, or if thou permit either fire to consume me, or my substance, or any other casual mean to diminish mine estate, and stay of my living, or if I sustain loss of friends, sickness of body, or hurt of my limbs, it proceedeth not but by thy divine providence, yea only of thy mere love, and fatherly care, which thou hast of mine amendment: for nothing happeneth to those whom thou lovest (breed it within their weak minds never so great grief, or fall it out never so contrary, to their desires) but it bringeth with it some secret working, for their good. Wherefore in the name of thy son jesus Christ, I most humbly beseech thee, that thou wilt vouchsafe, to settle in mine heart, such perfection of patience, as what soever, either this day or hereafter shall happen or befall unto me, I may accept it as a most wholesome medicine, for my so deadly disease of security, and so in hope of thy loving kindness, and mercy to go forward this day, and all my life, in perfect love, unfeigned zeal, and continual obedience to thy will. In hearing thy word attentively, in reading the same diligently, in following it effectually, and in praying unto thee zealously, and faithfully, embracing all goodness willingly, and avoiding all evil watilie, that so spending this day, I may the better proceed to the execution of my calling, this week following, to the relief of my necessity, & furtherance of my neighbours; That so continuing unto the end, I may receive the reward of thy celestial kingdom, which thy son jesus Christ hath purchased with his blood, for all true believers in thee. In number of whom (sweet Lord) for the merits of him thy son, make me, that I with them, and they with me, may continually sing laud and praise unto the Trinity eternally, which grant for thy son jesus Christ his sake. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. ALL possible thanks, I render unto thee, most loving and most merciful Father, that it hath pleased the● to be my careful watchman, this night, preserving me from many evils, vouchsafing sleep unto mine eyes, to the unspeakable comfort of my poor bo●●e. Let it likewise please thee, I humbly beseech thee, to give me grace, according to thine heavenly will, 〈◊〉 express commandment, (as at all times) so this day especially, to employ me to the service of thee, in all godliness, and pureness of life, leaving all bodily labours and exercise, as to the sanctity which thou in the beginning guest unto the day, when thou hadst finished all thy work, doth justly deserve. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A confession of sins. Confess thy sins to God on high: Who pardons sinners when they cry. FOr as much as all men by nature are sinners, and none, (Christ excepted) ever lived without man fold offences, Let us with Dame●l ●●●esse Da. 9 that we have sinned, that we dealt wickedly, in tr●sgressing the law of the lord Pro. 28. For who so hideth his sins shall not prosper: but he that confesseth them and forsaketh them, shall find mercy. For when Adam Gen. 3. had broken the commandment of the Lord, be excused his fault, & was accursed. But David confessing his wickedness found favour The lost son Lu. 15. after long going astray, at last returned, confessing his fault and obtained pardon. john Baptist. Mat. 3, when he first preached the gospel, he baptised none, but such as confessed their sins: wherefore let us faithfully, and continually upon our knees, acknowledge our sins, and prepare ourselves to unfeigned repentance, and undoubtedly we shall obtain mercy at the hands of the Lord For if we acknowledge our sins. 1. john. 1. he is faithful to forgive them, according to his promise. Say with David. Psa. 23. I will acknowledge my sins unto the Lord, and will not hide mine iniquity from him, yea confess against thyself, and he will forgive thy sins. OH omnipotent father, and everliving God, from whose wisdom & foreknowledge, no secrets are or may be hidden: but dost plainly consider & behold the works words, and thoughts, of all creatures, I most humbly beseech thee of thine infinite mercy to have compassion upon my sins, which are so great and grievous, so many, and they so vile, and loathsome, to thine heavenly eyes, that thou canst not abide to turn thy loving countenance towards me. Oh Lord I do confess, that my conception, my birth, yea and all my life, hath been in sin, our Fathers and mother's sinful, even from the stock of our great Grandfather Adam, whose blindness should have been our light, and whose sight was turned to our blindness & darkness, by the deceitful & most vile aluring of that enemy of ours, the wily and most subtle serpent sathan, by whose ●ntisements, our forefather (being clothed with innocency and simplicity, in most pure & unspeakable happiness) was moved to the desire of the knowledge of that, that thou wouldest he should have been ignorant of: And which thou hadst utterly forbidden him. By breaking of which thy commandment, he with Eve (whom thou hadst ordained out of his own flesh, to be his companion and comfort) where with thine Angel (according to thy determinate will) driven out of Paradise, a place of joy, to a pit of sorrow, from good to evil, from ease to labour and travail, from quietness to trouble, from wealth to want, from light to darkness, from mirth to mourning, from succour to be succourless. In so much (Oh Lord) as he, our father, purchased for us his children, none other possession or inheritance, but the unhappy entrance into sin and corruption; And we his children, being by succession engrossed in this detestable stock of sin, have hitherunto (notwithstanding thy most loving, and by so sundry means, calling us by thine holy Gospel of comfort) continued therein, to our utter perdition, deserved death and destruction, confessing and acknowledging ourselves, runagates, outcasts and trewantes, and of ourselves altogether unable, to cast away and lay aside, these works of darkness, and to obtain again the Lantern of light. Yet for as much as I am most sorry from the very bottom of mine heart, that I have offended thee, wilfully, and disobediently strayed from the ways of thy Laws. And do unfeignedly condemn all my former life, to be most vile, determining in heart, (by thy grace) to forsake sin, and cleave unto godliness, and pureness of living, to decline from evil, and to do good, I most humbly (even upon the knees of mine heart) beseech, thine almighty Majesty, to listen with a most willing and attentive ear, unto my groanings, secret sighs, and unfeigned repentance, and with the eyes of thy mercy, to behold my lamenting spirit, and so vouchsafe to accept the same▪ as it may be unto thee a sufficient sacrifice for all former evils. That I being free from sin, (not by any desert or merit of mine own, but only by the death and passion, of thy Son jesus Christ, may take perfect hold of the remission thereof: and fully persuade myself, that through the death of him thy son, I am again restored to the former happiness, and blessed estate which our first parent Adam, was in the beginning placed in. And the head of that subtle Serpent sathan, (who so wylilye deceived him) by the seed of the Woman, to be altogether bruised, trodden down, and vanquished, and his power quite taken from him. So that he is not able any more, to lift himself up against the Children of Faith, as he seeketh and desireth, yea and often prevaileth against the weak and feeble ones. Vouchsafe (sweet LORD, and most loving jesus) to consider my weakness, and frailty, and mortify in me all delights of this miserable world, and the corrupt flesh. And stand between me and Satan, that he prevail no further against me, than I shall be able to resist, for we can not stand, but do continually yield, unto the deceivable shows of this world, the false motions of the flesh, and temptations of Satan, without thy continual aid and assistance, wherewith (I beseech thee) both at this time and ever, a●me me, wash me with thy blood, and purge me with thy grace, that I may now begin, and for ever continue, in living according to thine holy and heavenly commandment, to the praise of thy name; and mine eternal salvation, sweet Saviour. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith▪ A short prayer to the like purpose. OH Father of mercy, and God of all goodness, I confess unto thee, the corruption which from Adam to us remaineth in our flesh, whereby we daily rebel against thy divine Majesty, vouchsafe Oh Lord, I humbly beseech thee, for Jesus Christ's sake, to forgive my sins, and to pardon mine iniquities. And instill into my heart, unfeigned repentance, that the death of him thy Son, may take away the hea●e burden, which the fall of our first Parents laid upon us▪ Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer for the evening. When thou betakst thee to thy rest, Commit thee to tha'lmighties hest: For when thou liest down at night, Thou art not sure to see day light. ALthough that we can not at all times, duly examine ourselves as concerning our life past, yet once in the day it is most requisite to consider, how we have spent the time past: namely at night to weigh what we have done the day before, and in the morning, to consider, how we have passed the night. For although the night was ordained for rest, yet as saith Paul. 1. Thes 5. we should then watch and be sober, singing praises unto the Lord, as David did, Ps. 42 giving him thanks for the help of his presence, that is to say, for his protection, the day past, praying the same in the dark night, when all th●●●es by reason of the darkness are hidden, and when the wicked god about their evil pretended purposes, to the disturbance of the godly. Therefore, whatsoever thou do Dan. TWO, whether thou lie down or 〈…〉, be meditating the law of the Lord. OH heavenly God and eternal Father, giver of all good things, and protector of all that love thee, I yield thee most humble and hearty thanks, for thine inestimable benefits, not only for keeping and preserving me this day, but all my life, that neither mine enemies have prevailed against me, as they sought and desired, nor any other misfortune which within this world is incident unto mankind, hath overcome me, but hast like a most loving father, and careful Purvey or, given and provided for me all things necessary. In somuch as I have been well refreshed and replenished, with thy great benefit of feeding me, and with thy gracious benefit of clothing, me, so that I have not sayn●ed through want of so●de, ●●t been ●●●resie● with overmuch cold for lack of raument, as with mine eyes (to my great grief) I may and do behold a number da●●e, in divers corners of the streets, and ways as I pass, who are most grievously tormented, with hunger, cold, sores, and sickness, (lamentable to see) whom also thou hast bought m●st dearly, and yet s●sterest them to be oppreiled, and I, who have deserved no less, nay rather good Lord, a great deal more, than some of them have, by thy fatherly goodness, not only escaped those afflictions, but received at thy mercifall hands, infinite good gifts, and unspeakable benefits, for which thine inestimable love, I cannot sufficiently praise thee. Oh Lord forgive mine offences, which this day I have committed & done against thine almighty majesty, whether they be secret and unknown, or open, whether they were done in my youth, or at any time since, pardon them Oh GOD, for jesus Christ's sake, and vouchsafe me thy grace, to amend my life, and to return unfeignedly to the service of thee. And for as much as I can not continue without thy continual protection, vouchsafe to extend the same unto me thy wretched creature, this night, that I may quietly take my rest, which thou hast appointed for a refreshment of our wearied members, and hast ordained the night and darkness as a time most convenient to take the same in, being a time, wherein we should, to that end cease from our labours and daily affairs; And vouchsafe unto me thy poor creature, (who am of myself, neither of power to lie down, nor being laid, able to rise up) thine especial assistance, and help, that in thy name I may lie down, and receive at thy merciful hands, sweet and comfortable rest, not according to the greediness of my corrupt nature, but as shall be only expedient for the refreshment of my weak body. And for as much (good Lord) as thou knowest with what mortal foes, we are continually assaulted, both sleeping and waking, who endeavour by all means, to entrap us by some evil or other, which we hear or see, in this vale of vanity, to our delight, (though contrary to thy will) whereunto we often yield, and that in the day time: much more in the dark and loathsome night, wherein all things are covered and hidden▪ and when the heaviness of drowsy sleep, keepeth down our understanding; in which time of darkness, such as intend▪ to work wickedness, are most ready with diligence (abhorring the light) to put in practise their mischievous devices. Therefore I most humbly beseech thee, Oh God almighty to prevent them in their evil imaginations, that in no wise they hurt me; And to grant (though sleep to my body sufficient and not overmuch) yet to my poor soul watchful and diligent waking, that I fall into no danger, by yielding to any evil in the sleep of my body▪ vouchsafe also to guard and defend me, that nothing hurt me this night, that fire consume me not, nor any thing that belongeth unto me, nor any other danger whatsoever dismay me. Keep me also (good Lord) from sudden and unprovided death, and preserve me so by the watch of thine holy Angels, that I may take my rest in quiet, until the morning, and then give myself, unto the finishing of my duty, to the discharge of my vocation, and fulfilling of thy will, unto my lines end: for which thy favour, and for all things else necessary, for me and all other, for whom thou hast commanded us to pray: as for▪ all such as are in any kind of affliction, in body or mind, for the testimony of thy truth, that thou wilt strengthen them, and thine whole Church, in pure religion. For all such as are sick and diseased, that thou wil●, either restore them to health, give them patience, or receive them unto thyself, for the preservation of our Queen and governess, Elizabeth by thy dinine providence, far over us, that she may continue to thy pleasure, long and prosperously over us, and for this whole Realm of England, that thou wilt grant us all true repentance, for our Parents▪ Brethren, Sisters, Kinsfolks, Neighbours, and all them that thou wouldst we should commend unto thee in prayer▪ Give me grace to say that prayer, which thy son jesus Christ taught us, saying: Our Father which art in heaven▪ etc. And for as much as we cannot pray effectually without thine especial gift of faith, vouchsafe to engraff the same in mine heart, that I may both now, and ever, make unseyned confession thereof, as thine apostles have set down in these words. I believe in God. etc. Oh Lord, now vouchsafe to embrace me with the Arms, of thy mercy, vouchsafe to receive me into the bosom of thy love, shadow me with thy wings, that I may safely take my rest this night, in peace, in the name of thy son jesus Christ: in whose name I refer me wholly into thy loving protection, beseeching thee, that when my last sleep shall come, I may take mine everlasting rest with thee in thy celestial kingdom, sweet God. Amen. Oh Lord into thine hands I commend myself. Oh Lord increase my faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. OH almighty Lord God, I thank thee that this day past, thou hast of thy mere mercy vouchsafed unto me, thy poor creature, not enelie protection, against all dangers and evils: But also all things necessary. So I humbly beseec●● thee, of the same thy mercy, and for thy son Jesus Christ his sake, to 〈…〉 death like protection and favour, towards me this night, that I may enjoy at thine hands, safe and quiet rest, to the comfort and refreshment both of my body and soul, for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer for the increase of Faith▪ If thou wilt have, what thou dost crave: Pray thou in saith, the Gospel saith▪ FAith (as saith S. Paul unto the hebrews) Heb. 11 is a sure foundation of things hoped for & an evident feeling, of the manifold promises, which God the father hath made unto us, 1. Pet. 1 touching our salvation, in his son Christ our saviour: and whereby also, we already inwardly taste of the unspeakable toys where of we shallbe hereafter made full partakers Heb. 11 in Heaven: without it we can do nothing: But by it Gal. 3. we are blessed of him: and by it 1. Pet. 1 we are saved: by it Eph 6 are all the fiery darts of hell and sathan quenched. The just man Aba. 2. shall live by faith: the daughter of the woman of Canaan, Ma. 8. was healed by the faith of her mother. Elias the Thesbyte, 3 Kin. 16. 17. through faith was fed with Ravens in his distress and hunger, he prayed for rain, and through faith obtained it: by his faith was the Oil of the widow of Zarphat increased, Dan. 6. & her child raised from death to life: The three Children were delivered from the hot furnace by faith, and Daniel out of the lions den: by saith the sinful woman, Luk. 7. obtained pardon: the Apostles by saith. Act. 3. healed sundry diseases: Now wl at greater jewel can there be had at the hands of God, than faith: for have faith and all things food sent from heaven: defence from Lions: safety from fire in the whott Oven: forgiveness of sins: and whatsoever else, concerneth either body or soul: And therefore let it be a principal request unto his Majesty, that he will vouchsafe that gift. Without wavering ask it, and God will give thee it abundantly▪ Without saith Heb. 11. it is impossible to please God. Neither can we have access to Christ, Eod. without it, who is the Mediator between God the Father and us. O Halmighty God, and father of our Lord jesus Christ by whose word we are taught, that to love thee, fear thee, and serve in truth, godliness, and sincerity of life, is the only way and mean to continue thy love and favour towards us, without the which, we can not but perish. And belief and confidence in thy son jesus Christ, the only mean of our redemption, and atonement with thee, the only hold of our salvation; whereof we can not be sufficiently assured, without thine especial gift of faith, which is the anchor, whereunto the cable of our salvation is fastened. And being broken, the hope also of our salvation, decayeth & waxeth of none effect plant therefore (most merciful God) one sparcke of true faith, in mine heart, that I may certainly know thee, perfectly love thee, and duly fear thee and unfeignedly acknowledge jesus Christ to be sent into this miserabl● world to save us miserable sinners, & for us by his bitter death, to purchase thy favour and love again, which we had lost by the fall of our Father Adam. Oh Lord grant me to take such hold, of his death, passion, resurrection, and ascension, as by his death we may have pardon by his resurrection, rise to righteousness, & by his ascension, ascend with him to celestial glory, and finally attribute the cause and mean of our salvation, to proceed only by his passion. Increase this faith in us (good Lord) daily more and more, that it may grow, by the working of thine holy spirit, to full perfection, accompanied with good works and godly behaviour, without the which (I can fesse) faith cannot be, that I may both in life and conversation, fulfil thy divine will in all things, withhold not from me (good Lord) that singular gift of thine which is the stay of our happiness, & the want thereof, a most certain token of our perdition. It is the strength of the weak & feeble ones, the staff & stay that guides the blind, the only way that leads unto the unspeakable joys of eternal bliss, the mean to obtain, possess, & enjoy, the only good, which is the knowledge of thy will, the band of mutual peace, the Fort, the Castle, and comfort of a distressed mind, and the only harbour of a sorrowful soul, no good thing wanteth to him, on whom thou vouchsafest to bestow the same, to whom all things are light, in whom remaineth no darkness at all. Banish therefore (sweet Lord) all misbelief, all wavering, and doubting, out of mine heart, and plant instead thereof, unfeigned faith, that applying the same to every affliction, both of body and mind; I may vanquish and overcome sathan, with stand the delights of the world, and suppress the corruptible motions of the flesh, overcome my bodily enemies, and enjoy at thy good pleasure, health of body, soundness of mind, perfection of limbs, and all things else requisite for me, as no thing is impossible to him, that enjoyeth this thy gift estecttually indeed: a most precious jewel▪ an unspeakable good thing, for thou sayest; Who so heareth thy word, and believeth in jesus Christ whom thou haste sent, shall have everlasting life. Then Lord (on the contrary) he that believeth not, is in danger of everlasting death. Oh Lord increase my faith, where by I may believe in that thy son, and take hold of all his promises, who said: That who so believeth in him, shall want no manner of thing that is good. (Lord) I believe, help mine unbelief. Give me faith but as the grain of a mustered seed, and I shall be able to do great wonders, yea I shall be able to remove sathan, out of his desired habitation, expelling him and his ministers out of my mind, and walk no longer according to the will of the flesh, but casting away the works of darkness, enjoy the pure light of the Gospel, and persever and abide therein, enjoying thy favour & love, unto the end, without fainting, in any tribulation, or vexation of Spirit, going forward, in hope, in fear, in love, and unfeigned zeal towards thee. That I may obtain at thy merciful hands, whatsoever is necessary in this life▪ or for the obtaining of the life to come, and after this life ended, enjoy thy celestial purchased inheritance, sweet Saviour Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. I Humbly beseech thee Oh merciful God, for thy son Jesus Christ's sake, to power into mine heart, by the operation of thine holy spirit, one sparkle of true saith, whereby I may truly believe in thy Son Jesus Christ, as our only mediator and advocate, through whose death and passion, we are restored to our former happiness, wherein we were in the beginning placed, which none can believe, but through the holy ghaste. Increase therefore my faith, that working by charity, I may do that which may be acceptable unto thee, all the days of my life, Through Jesus Christ. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer against the devil, the world, and the flesh, very necessary to be often said. If thou these Captain foes wilt fly: Thou must crave aid of God on high. THe devil, who is Prince of darkness, Eph 6. and who ruleth in this world, goeth about, seeking whom he may devour, and lead headlong into destruction: by putting before our eyes the vail of the vanities of this world, that we should not see the light of the truth, but to continue in darkness; in haughtiness and pride, as bondslaves and captives to him, whose children they are 2. Tim. 2. that continue in voluntary blindness, whose end shallbe the fire everlasting. joh. 8. prepared for him and his Angels. Mat. 25. Pray that the world overcome you not. 1. joh. 5. wherein resteth nothing but wickedness and sin. The whole world, 2. Esd. 4. is full of unrighteousness and wickedness, which who so loveth, is an enemy to God. They that are in the flesh can not please God: Ro. 8. but shall die. E●de. That is, such as yield them selves to follow the lusts thereof, shall have the reward of the wicked, in eternal perdition: Pray therefore that ye enter not into temptation, but that ye may walk godly, as the servants of Christ, and not as the servants of sin. OH Christ son of the living GOD, who in the time of thy humanity, when thou walkedst here in the vail of this miserable world, in the form of a servant, in the substance of mankind, art not ignorant, of the sundry grievous assaults, and temptations wherewith sathan, that monstrous enemy to mankind, tried thee, thou being altogether clean and clear from all corruption, yea, without all desire of sin, yet hardly assaulted by sundry means, to procure thee to yield to his allurings, whereby (sweet jesus) thou hadst sufficient try all, and experience of his like assaults, unto our corruptible and weak flesh, who are by reason of the fall & wilful transgression of our great Grandfather Adam (as thou knowest) most easy to be overcome, who in all assaults, have none other refuge or defence, but only to fly unto thee, and to rest under the shadow of thy wings, which is so sure a harbour, and so strong a defence, as who so faithfully betaketh him unto the same is safe from all the raging storms of sathan, the deceits of the world, and motions of the unbridled flesh, all which are, unto our souls, most monstrous, mortal, and most cruel enemies. Oh Lord let thine holy spirit dwell in me, let it never departed from the inner part of mine heart, but decking the house of my soul, with the flowers of love, faith, and unfeigned zeal, it may please thy divine Majesty, to settle thee, and frame thyself therein to abide, that thy presence may be so terrible unto his assaults, as he approaching near unto me, seeing thee, and hearing thy name (Oh jesus) may fly away, as he did from thee, in the wilderness, as he did from thee, on the Penicle, and in all his temptations; Thou wert pure at that time, without spot of sin, I am sinful and full of corruption. He could not overcome, or prevail against thy sanctity, but I am prone to fall, & therefore easy to be overcome; strengthen me therefore, stand with me, fight for me, that he take me not captive, and make me a bondslave of sin: keep me free out of his claws (sweet jesus) let the brightness of thy grace, so shine about me, that his darkness come not near me to overshadow me, with the darkness of iniquity, Let thy savour be a wall a bulwark and strong buckler for my defence, for Lord, thou knowest that his force, is so great, his will so ready, & his doings so wily, as if thou do but pluck back thine hand, he striketh us, if thou turn thy face, he winneth us to his will, and if thou depart utterly from us, we shall run headlong into most horrible destruction. Wherefore (Oh sweet jesus) save me, sweet jesus keep me, sweet jesus embrace me, hold thine holy hand over me, conduct me, and lead me in the midst of the path of truth to celestial happiness, and let me not be drawn awry to the left hand, or to the right, but keep a middle and direct course, until I come to the place of celestial bliss, where neither sathan shall overcome me, the world deceive me, nor the flesh procure me to sin, but be in the light of thy most glorious presence, with the residue of thy saints, singing eternal praises unto thee. But Oh my most loving redeemer, my time is not yet come my journey is not yet at an end, my days (which though they be but a span long) are not yet finished. And until this body of mine shall pass to the grave, my poor soul must have and abide continual conflicts, with the devil the king and Emperor of this world, and with as many his ministers, as my tongue can not number, and principally with the world, who setteth before me instead of divine and heavenly contemplations, worldly vanities, instead of celestial and true comfort, worldly delights, instead of heavenly hope, worldly and unavailable promises, to bring (as much as in him lieth) my godly enterprises, to wicked end Lord he labours by all means to draw us into despair, by loading our minds with too much doubt of the performance of thy most comfortable promises But sweet jesus, though his power be in show great, thine is in deed greater, though he be strong, thou art stronger, though his instigations & prickings for ward to wickedness be many, thy loving and father lie callings to grace are more. Thou hast promised us thy help, and that most marvelous to our eyes, for thou hast said, that thou wilt give us power to do, not only as thou didst, but more, and greater, which is so strange to the dullness of our understanding, that we can not but marvel, that we, who are nothing but corruption, nothing but an heap of sin, should do greater things than thyself, (sweet jesus) who are only God, only pure, only holiness, and only grace and power itself. Oh Lord make this perfectly known unto me, make me faithful & then I know I shall rightly understand it. Lord if we that are sinful & full of frailty, give sathan the repulse, despise the world, and withstand the evil motions of the flesh, we do that which thou didst not, in respect that thou being pure and without sin, or will to sin, were not so soon to be won, as we whose strength is weakness, whose holiness is mere corruption, & therefore was thy victory less than ours: Sweet jesus give me thy strength, thine help, and the light of thy grace, to obtain the victory, and to avoid his tyranny. Save me from the detestable crew of his ministers, for great are the conflicts which daily arise in our consciences, between thy grace and sathan, between thy soirite, and our flesh, between thy divine will, and the wicked world. Oh what an heavy burden is it, to bear the innumerable temptations which the devil, the world and the flesh do ofter? and especially to those, that take not hold by the An●or of patience, and who settle not themselves within the harbour of thy seat, but give the rains of their ungodly desires scope to run, whether the force of every unlawful motion of the wicked f●end, the vain world, or the corrupt flesh, shall move and drive them. Oh sweet jesus, guide the reins of the bridle of my desires, that I run not headlong into any ungodly action, but being lead by the hand of faith, under the conduct of patience, I may overcome this capital, and archenemy of mine, that he being once vanquished, his ministers may quail and be discomfited, their crafty wiliness wax of none effect, and mine hope in thee, my love towards thee, and my fear of thee, daily increase. That the world with the desires thereof, may die in me & I to it, that the vain dissembling shows thereof, draw me not out of the way of truth. Strengthen me (sweet jesus) in my conflicts, and temper them so with patience▪ that they may rather be Medicines, than maladies to my poor soul, and healthful exercises that I never think myself to be secure, but always subject to try all, for without exercise we remain unskilful, and without an enemy, we prepare not weapon, neither is victory gotten without battle, nor reward without victory. Yet though we overcome, the victory is not ours, but thine who fightest and overcomest for us, and yet such is thy love, that thou givest us the reward, & crown, of victory. Make me strong (sweet jesus) fortefye the Castle of my soul, with spiritual weapons, as with faith, love, hope, peace, long suffering, gentleness, humbleness, thankfulness, meekness, strength, and patience, and such like, that I may continually withstand the proud attempts of these my ghostly enemies, through thee, and by thee, sweet jesus, mine only saviour and redeemer. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A short prayer to the same effect. I ●oore and wretched sinner (Oh merciful God) humbly beseech thee, to send me from thine holy heavens strength, to withstand the assaults of the wicked fiend sathan, who goeth about like a roaring Lion, seeking by many mea●●s to d●●our● me. Lord give me like wis● gra●e, to resist the raging and vn●aciable lusts, and desires of the corrupt flesh, and vanities of the world. That bee●●g through th●ne help acquitted, from the force of these my mortal enemies, I may serve thee in holiness and righteousness, all the days of my life. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer for the help and assistance of God in all our doings, and that we do nothing, but in his fear and due obedience. Do nothing▪ but see ●●st thou crave Aid ●●●m the Lord▪ good end to have: So ●halt thou have su●●●●le always, As thou w●●t wish: and happy days. david considering the frailty of man's nature, & his insufficiency, of himself to do any thing aright: willeth us to commit our ways unto the Lord, Psalm. 37. and to put our trust in him, assuring us, that in so doing, God will bring our matters to good effect, and bless all our godly endeavours. Our forefathers trusted in God, and were not confounded. Eccl 2. They continued in his fear, and were not forsaken: they called upon him & were not dis●●sed. Sym●on feared the Lord. Lu. 2. in all his doings, and the holy ghost came upon him & revealed unto him, that he should not die before he had seen the Messiah, even Christ our saviour. Corneli us with his whole household, feared the Lord, Act. 10. & an Angel came to him and told him, that his prayers & alms, were come before the lord, yea the mercy of the Lord, is from generation to generation, upon them that fear him, and walk in his ways, he taketh great delight in the people that stand in awe of him. Den 5. judith feared the Lord, judith 8. and none had the power somuch as to r●yse up an evil report of her: All things go well with them that fear the Lord, and who so craveth faithfully the assistance of the Lord, shall (doubtless) never d●o amiss, for he revealeth his secrets unto them Psa. 25 which fear him, and maketh them to understand his covenant. Wherefore, trusting neither thine own wisdom, thine own wealth, nor help of man, seek the assistance of the Lord, and that faithfully, and he will rightly direct thee for his eye, Psal. 33. is always upon him that feareth him, and trusteth in his help. OH God of most excellent wisdom, unspeakable mercy tender love towards us, & marvelous foreknowledge of all things, who hast commanded us at all times to direct our doings by the rule of thy laws. I humbly beseech thee to direct all my counsels, studies & labours devices & determinations so as they may be always measured and guided by thine almighty wisdom, & that I take nothing in hand, disagreeable to thy will, but may always faith fully crave & favourably obtain thine assistance help & furtherance therein That whatsoever I do, it may come to such end & take such effect as may be to the glory of thy name to the health & benefit of my soul & profit of my neighbours. That I at no time, rashly, or unadvised ly, lewdly or loosely attempt or determine any thing without thine especial fear, duly considering that thou art the author of all good things, and bringest prosperously to pass all godly actions, attempts, and purposes: And whatsoever is done in secret, or in intent to hide it from thy knowledge, which none (work he never so secretly) can do although for a time it have some sweet taste, namely a fleshly delight some savour, or likelihood of happy success: yet is the end thereof, bitter and most perilous, insomuch as it bringeth shame and confusion, to the so unadvised enterprisers of the same. Lord thou sayest that a Sparrow can not light on the ground, without thy permission, and providence, which is a creature of small value, in respect of man, whom thou hast made to thine own image and likeness, and whom thou accountest of more value than many Sparrows: in respect whereof (good Lord) and for thy mere mercy's sake, extend so thy favourable care unto me, thy frail creature, that all mine intents may have their beginning, by the working of thine holy spirit and mine actions end in the same, and not according to the motions, of mine own foolish desires. Thou like a most loving father willest us to take counsel at thee, in all our exercises, concerning either body or soul, before we proceed too far in them. Oh Lord bless me, with thine heavenly inspiration, that my mind imagine nothing but what is according to the Law of righteousness: Oh Lord bless the works of mine hands, the sight of mine eyes, bless mine ears, that they harken not but to the hearing of godly and virtuous communication, and thine holy word, my tongue & lips with decent speech, and my feet that they may keep the way of righteousness. And place within the secret corners of my heart, such due regard what I go about, or determine, as before I proceed to far in request of good & lucky success, I may understand by the secret working of thine holy spirit, whether my request be according unto thy will: And grant that I never absolutely crave thy furtherance, in accomplishing any my desires, until by the same spirit, I be truly resolved, that my desires be lawful, consonaunt, and agreeable to thy divine will, but may faithfully refer all my matters unto thee, whether they be heard or not heard, whether presently or tarrying long, not giving over, feeling in myself by thy grace, that it pleaseth thee, constantly continuing, thy good pleasure, though it come not as I wish, let me not by and by fall from my good beginning, but persevering in continual prayers, for thine assistance, and fatherly help unto the end, for thou hast promised never to deceive our godly disires, nor to send them away frustrate, mercifully hear me (Oh Lord) in time convenient. And attentively hear me, approaching unto thee, with unfeigned desire, and hope of thy help, that when any plague, any affliction, misery or vexation shall come upon me, when the want of any necessary thing oppresseth me, or accomplishing of any lawful suit moveth me, I flying unto thee, as the fountain from whence floweth all true help, all perfect assistance, all good success, and prosperous events of all godly endeavours, not seeking any other by mean, either to avoid the one or to obtain the other, than thy fatherly directions and spiritual motions, I may obtain the same, according unto my necessities, and in thy good time oh heavenly God, for thy son our Lord jesus Christ's sake, grant this, sweet God. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. COnsidering mine own blindness, ignorance, and the wilful obstinacy of my corrupt nature, which seeketh rather the fulfilling of the fantastical devices of mine own brain, than thy divine will. And to use humane aid, rather than to crave thine help, vouchsafe I humbly beseech thee, to establish godly fear in mine heart, and unfeigned obedience, to thine holy ordinances, that in all mine enterprises, which in thy name I take in hand, thou wilt vouchsafe to direct me, according to thy will, and to give me prosperous success, for thy son Jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. The sorrowful sinner, afflicted in conscience, by reason of his sins, may say thus. If thou with sin, afflicted be: Oh then (saith Christ) come thou to me. LEt us acknowledge ourselves to be wretched sinners, and with fear fall down before the mercy's seat of the highest judge. Contemning ourselves▪ to be most unrighteous, and justly deserving confusion. And then, (as S. john sayeth) 1. joh. 1. 9 we shall find God most merciful unto us: who is most faithful and just to forgive us our sins: and to cleanse us from all our unrighteousness for he desireth not the death of a sinner, but that he turn from his wickedness and live. And therefore as ezekiel saith, Ezek. 23. Turn you, turn you▪ from your wicked ways, for why sayeth he, will you die in your sins: And again joel saith. joel 2. 13. Rend your hearts and not your garments, and turn to the Lord your God. Because he is gentle and merciful, and of much mercy, and such a one as is sorry for your afflictions, wherefore if thou be afflicted in conscience by reason that thou haste been a notorious offender, remember Mary Magdalen, whose wickedness was great, upon repentance, received pardon, as also the thief and the Publicau and many other: Despair not, but in hearty prayer, and by unfeigned repentance, turn to the Lord. O Almighty god father of merci, who art more ready to give, than we to ask, more apt to pardon than we to repent, more willing to receive the contrite in heart, into thy favour and mercy again, than they to offer themselves by unfeigned repentance. Lord I come here prostrate in heart, before the throne of thine infinite mercy, & loving kindness, as one altogether ashamed, to look upon the detestable, vile, and abominable offences, which I have done against thee, being so heavy a burden for my poor soul, that the shoulders of my poor diseased conscience, begin to sink under the same, and am altogether destitute of any prop or mean, to support the same, or to ease me thereof, but only thy death and bitter passion (sweet jesus) who camest into this world to call (not the righteous but sinners to repentance) Lord I bewail mine heinous offences, and am most sorry for my sins, which are so vile, & the burden of them so intolerable, that when I turn mine eyes but to the beholding them a far off, I am by and by, stricken with so great dread that I am driven to most heavy sighs, grievous groans, and think my life an enemy unto me, wishing the beginning of my days, had been the day of my departure out of this miserable world. But (most sweet Lord) when I note them perfectly in my mind, & take as it were a strait account, what the deeds of my youth have been, (being indeed) most lewd, most evil, most vile, and sinful, what a terror do I suffer in mind? what a dungeon of dolours, doth open itself (as it were) to swallow me up? what griping griefs do torment my poor conscience▪ in so much as I am at the pits brink, of despair, wavering in mind to and fro, seeking rest, but lo (Lord) unquietness of mind, oppresseth me so sore, that considering with myself, what I have been, and what I am, a great matter vexeth me▪ But when I look into the time to come, the time wherein all mine offences, and faults shall be manifested and laid to my charge. Oh than whether shall I fly think I? whether shall I convey myself? who shall hide me from thy presence? who shall save me from thy just judgement? Oh sweet Lord I am even at my wits end, wishing for death and end of my days; And yet then the fear of the torments of hell fire, so striveth in me to the contrary, that I quake at the remembrance thereof. And when I covet to live longer, and see more days, Lord then I am stricken with doubt, and imagine, that as my life hath been (even from my birth) given and inclined, so greedily to sin, and that, the cause of my present dread▪ I then loath and abhor my longer continuance here, fearing lest the aptness of my corrupt flesh, by the daily rebellion thereof, against the spirit, heap greater plagues upon my poor soul: What shall I do Lord? fear and despair thus oppressing me on all sides, all hope of comfort hath left me, only grief and sorrow remaineth, knowing not to whom to fly for succour, or to whom to make my moan. If to man, I know his strength, policy and wisdom, and comfort to be vain▪ his nature inclined to weakness, and wickedness, as mine, and in him to be no help And seeking any worldly mean, for pardon and remission of my sin, I acknowledge it altogether transitory, superfluous and to no purpose. But the seeking thereof to renew and increase my grief, that I should leave and give over, the true and only platform of my delivery, and seek to a counterfeit show of aid. Oh God forbidden that ever I should, but only seek for pardon of thyself, whom most grievously I have offended, and therefore to thee I fall prostrate even in heart (sweet jesus) the only Physician of all sick souls, in whose power consisteth the alone forgiveness of sins▪ be they never so many or great. I come, I come, though altogether ashamed, unto thee my saviour jesus Christ, who haste promised to be a Mediator for the penitent, unto God the father. It is thy property to call home such as wander and go astray, and to train them up in new ways, be their sins as red as Scarlet, thou hast said thou wilt make them as white as snow, and were they as purple, thou canst make them as white wool. Oh most sweet promise, Oh comfortable saying, Oh voice of heavenly consolation, whereby I am comforted, whereby I am revived, yea now is my conscience lightened, now have I found the true & only Physician of my long disease poor soul, even thyself (sweet jesus) who callest me, I come, I come Lord stretch forth thine hand and receive me, give me perfect hand fast of this most comfortable saying of thine: let me enjoy the true working of this most singular medicine, thy death and bitter passion (sweet jesus) who suffered'st for our sins, & camest to take away the punishment due for our transgression, and to call us to repentance, without which there is no hope, of remission of our sins. Thy mercy is infinite, thy love unsearchable, and wisdom incomprehensible, whereby thou callest us, whereby thou lovest us, and whereby thou guydest us: And even of mere love, which thou haste to the salvation of my poor soul, whom thou wouldst rather should convert then perish, thou hast stirred up in mine heart, a loathing of my sin, wherein I have walked, and embraced the same, even with greediness: Oh that I were as ready to come, as thou to call; So willing to leave, and give over the fulfilling of unlawful desires, as thou art to forgive the same; So apt to serve thee, as thou art to save me. Then should sin no more dwell in me, nor I in it, but should enjoy thy continual favour, and rest under the wings of thy mercy. Oh Lord, I humbly beseech thee, that as it hath pleased thee, to stir me up at this time, to repentance, as thou hast called me home from the wilderness, of wickedness, from deep despair, so to place me in the pleasant fields of sincerity, truth, and godliness, as thou hast plucked me out of the claws of sathan, so vouchsafe to hold me, under the shadow of thy wings, and to embrace me with the arms of thy mercy, that I run no longer, after the vanities of this world, nor yield unto the ungodly motions of the flesh, that my mind being free, from all sinful cogitations, I may keep my body an undefiled member of thy Church unto my lives end. And although, till thine appointed time, this miserable vale, must be my continuing city. And although I must be driven to use this world according to the necessity of worldly causes, as thy providence hath assigned, every man to exercise his vocation, yet grant that my mind may be continually conversant, in heavenly things, and though my body wander in earth, my soul & spirit, may have their perfect being, and abiding, by perfect faith in heaven, where thou sittest & reigneth for ever. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. OH God whose property is ever to have mercy, yea whose mercy is infinite, and love incomprehensible, and who haste not delight in the death of a sinner, look favourably upon me, who have so deeply offended thine heavenly majesty, that I confess nothing but condemnation due unto me, for my so manifold iniquities, my conscience accuseth me, and mine heart bewrayeth my disobedience, being but a cast away, unless it may please thee, for jesus Christ's sake, to turn away thine indignation, and to take away the plagues which I have justly deserved, and punishments for the same which thou hast ordained. Lord cease to be angry, and according to thy mercy, not to thy justice, deal with me, but according to thy most loving promise, my sins being as red as Scarlet, may through my faith, in the death of jesus Christ, as white as Snow. And as I have hitherto followed, even with greediness, that which I should not, give me now grace to follow and embrace that which thou commandest, in thy son jesus Christ, unto my lives end. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer for a competent and necessary living, The God above vouchsafeth store, To him (in faith) that prays therefore. ALthough thy store increase, & so greatly multiply, that thou be sayne to enlarge thy rooms to bestow thy fruits: think thee not discharged of this most necessary exercise of prayer, but so much the more bound thereunto, afore it is not the increase of fruits the labour of thy hands or store of wealth that maintaineth thy life, and feedeth thee, unless it be seasoned with the word of God, which preserveth all that faithfully trust in him. Matth. 24. For thou canst not live by Bread alone (which is) with things necessary for thy body, but by the word of almighty GOD: And yet we are not only licenced and permitted, but most lovingly called to come unto our heavenly father, for whatsoever we want: as did jacob Gene. 28. who prayed for food and apparel, and obtained it with abundance God seethe before we ask, what we want, and yet to show our dutiful obedience & to acknowledge our help to come from him, we must prostrate our hearts be fore him in faith, ask and he will give, knocking and he will open, seeking & we shall surely find what we want. Dut. 20. For God of his mere mercy feedeth the fatherless, voucbsasing unto them all good things wherefore, whatsoever thou be, pray faithfully, use the gifts of God thankfully, and reverenly, and think not that thy friends can help thee, thy fruits satisfy thee, or labour prevail thee, without the blessing of God. Tim. 6. whereby enjoying food and apparel, be therewith content, and in any case despair not▪ for the providence of God is great, to give food and things necessary, to such as trust in him. And it is not dainty fear that feedeth so much as the trust in God can relieve with a small & simple diet, as doth appear in the 1. of Daniel, by them that were so well replenished with pulse and water? OH almighty God and loving father, who of nothing hast created all things living, whose care is, so great over them all, that thou sufferest not the most vile or simplest of them, to perish for want of food, and things requisite for them, but seeking the same at thy hands, thou givest it them, in due season: And by thine unsearchable wisdom haste appointed to every living creature, an abiding, according to his kind. But such was thine unspeakable care of man, whom thou hast created to thine own image, that he is as a king and governor over all, the rest of thy creatures, whom thou haste set & appointed under him, being so far inferior unto him, as where thou hast planted in him reason, wisdom, and government, in them brutishness, being altogether unreasonable, and where they live & have there being upon the tops of cold mountains in deserts, upon hills on high, and in valleys below, and in sundry other uncouth and unknown places, where tempest & heat, hardness and cold, and other continual dangers oppress them, thou hast given and provided for man, houses, castles, and towns to preserve them from the force of winds, tempests, and storms, and from the assaults of wild beasts of the field, in the night and darkness quietly to rest: And although born naked, thou givest him ray meant to cover and to cloth him, herbs for his use, and oil to make him a cheerful and glad heart, and joyful countenance. Besides all this of thy mere goodness, haste given him the beasts of the field, the fowls of the air, and fishes of the sea, to be his food and sustenance, yea (Lord) such is thy favour towards man, that all the rest of thy creatures, thou hast ordained for his use and service, wherefore I thy silly creature and work of thine hands, humbly prostrate myself in heart, beseeching thee favourably to look down, upon my necessity, and grant me whatso ever thou seest necessary for me, even a competent and necessary portion here, not overmuch, lest I wax proud, or disdain mine inferiors, and if it be thy will, vouchsafe unto me, not over little, least urgent necessity drive me to over much care, & over much care carry me to unlawful means, & so run headlong into thy disfavor. But fill my Baskett, & bless my store Oh Lord that I may enjoy at thy merciful hands, sufficiency for myself, & for the relief of such as thou committed unto my government: and for as much (good Lord) as all mine industry, cark, and care, & great travail, can not any thing further me, relieve or satisfy me, in my necessity, unless thou vouchsafe thereunto good success, for thy mercy's sake, bless me in all mine affairs, bless my fruits in the field, my cattle, and all other things, belonging either to myself, or any other thy servants, as by the fruits thereof, I and they may be relieved. Bless the works of mine hands, that they may prosper, bless my senses that they wax not dull, but be always capable of such things, as belong unto my vocation, effectually to execute the same, both according to thy laws, and the truth of that which I take in hand, for without thy blessing and fatherly furtherance, I can not sufficiently execute, neither can that prosper, where upon the whole state, of my living and maintenance dependeth. Wherefore (good Lord) guide mine hands, and bless mine understanding, to the prosperous execution of all things, concerning my vocation, that I may get those things, which may be sufficient, for the relief and maintenance of me and mine, to the profit of my neighbours, and glory of thy blessed name. And what so ever doth happen unto me, poverty or riches, make me (good Lord) of a patiented, contented, and thankful mind, that in adversity, I run not headlong into such means as are ungodly, neither in prosperity, wax the prouder, but weight thy good pleasure in them both, with thankfulness, & ever more live in thee, & by thee, & in the end reign with thee in heaven, where thou sittest as Author and giver of all things, grant this for thy son jesus Christ's sake, to whom with thee, and the holy ghost, be all honour for ever. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer necessary after the hearing of the word of God. Attend unto the Gospel bright, Hear it, and read, and live upright. Consider when thou hearest the word of God preached, it doth but as it were beat thine ears: and rendereth no further benefit until by the working of GOD'S holy spirit, it be inwardly revealed, unto thee. For GOD by two means speaketh unto us, namely by the Preacher whom he sendeth, to teach us. And by his holy spirit, whereby his doctrine is so settled in our hearts, that we inwardly enjoy the true benefit thereof. For without the help of the holy ghost, the voice of the preacher vanisheth, and the hearers profit nothing at all, S. john saith, That he that knoweth God, heareth his word, 1. john. 4. but he that is not of God heareth it not. whereby the spirit of truth is discerned from the spirit of error. For the word of God is lively, Heb. 4. and effectual, and pierceth more than a two edged sword, entering even into the division of the soul & the spirit. etc. wherefore pray that as the Lord sendeth his messengers to show his will. So you may both hear it, understand it, & purely live thereafter, pray for faith, For without faith Heb. 4. the hearing of the word, profiteth nothing. OH heavenly Father, who hast not only vouchsafed to make us, to thine own image, and likeness, but also to send thy son, jesus Christ into this world, for our salvation, and hast by him, not only, given us knowledge, of thy divine will, here on earth, and left it for our learning. But also freely taken away our sins, and set us down the perfect rule to direct all our▪ action's and doings by the same, which yet nevertheless continues hard and dark, to such as neither by thy grace have been enlightened, nor by the preaching of such as thou hast sent, been taught, which also is of none effect, without thine especial grace, working to the true settling thereof, within the bowels of the inner man, for (Lord) although we hear with our ears, we can not conceive it in our hearts, nor show it in conversation, without the especial working of thine holy spirit, within us. Oh Lord I thank thee that thou haste vouchsafed us to live, in the time wherein darkness and ignorance is so much defaced, and superstition suppressed. That thy truth, the word of life, the seed of our salvation, is bountifully distributed, throughout this our Country, to our unspeakable comfort, and great terror of such as hate the same: Lord I thank thee, that it hath pleased thee, to feed us at this time, with the wholesome bread of life, the heavenly Manna, the word of eternal truth, wherewith grant us, so to be replenished, and fed at full, that we may loath and abhor all things, which are not of the true table of our salvation, the gospel of thy son jesus Christ. But forasmuch (Oh merciful Lord God) as we may hear, and not perceive, and read, and not understand, without the light of thine holy spirit guiding and instructing us, I humbly beseech thee to inspire our hearts, with a true understanding of that which this day we have heard, with our outward ears, pronounced by the Messenger and Preacher of thy word, and grant that it may so work to the amendment of our lives, and the increase of our faith, fear, and love, of thee, continually abiding with us, and to our great comfort, effectually work in us unto our lives end, accepting the same, at the mouth of thy messenger, as delivered even, by thine own heavenly voice (as indeed it is) as long as it differeth not from thine holy word and gospel, giving all the praise and glory unto thine own self, for he is but a Minister to declare thy will unto us, who are the ground, and thy word the seed, which being sown in our hearts, by this thy minister may, not only take some root, but grow up effectually, to our comfortable edification and learning, being so lively and effectual, as it entereth even into the division of the soul and spirit: give us grace (Oh heavenly God, in this so pernicious a time of sects, schisms, and dangerous controversies, that we may bear constant hearts, careful and devout minds, to the truth, avoiding (with diligence) the persuasions of such as seek to set up superstition, and to maintain errors, and untrue doctrine; And as the Ninivites at the preaching of jonas, repented their sins, so give us grace, not only to repent, for a time, but earnestly to bewail our manifold offences, and wholly cleave to fulfil the truth of thy laws, to the salvation of our poor souls. Let not sathan (sweet Lord) at any time wrist thy truth sown in our hearts, neither let him, nor his ministers prevail, in sowing tars, cockle, or darnel, among the good Wheat of thy gospel, as they continually seek and desire, to mar the Harvest of our good fruits, which (though they be few, by reason of our own corruption) which we have gathered by the hearing of thy gospel, yet (sweet Lord) vouchsafe to increase them, by virtue of thine holy spirit, working within us. And let not our desire of serving thee, be either choked or snared, with the unlawful desires of this most wretched world, but rightly and truly discerning the truth, from false doctrine, may understand who are thy true ministers, with earnest attentiveness unto the utterance of thy will by them, carefully & warily avoiding the counterfeit barking of such as speak for their own benefit, having further respect to their own pleasure, profit, and commodity, then to the edifying of our poor souls, whom thou resemblest to Wolves, taking upon them (under the shadow of simplicity, and feigned show of innocency) to guide thy flock, who (indeed) are most detestable Hypocrites, and devourers of thy sheep, whom I beseech thee to cut off, from that godly and divine function, and office of preaching, that thy truth, being at all times, purely uttered by godly and devout Pastors, we thy poor flock may for evermore be truly edified, and continue within the Hardels of sincere conversation, and godly living, to the praise of thy holy name, and to the attainment of our heavenly inheritance for thy son jesus Christ's sake. Amen. O Lord increase our faith and make us evermore attentive hearers, true conceivers, and diligent fulfillers of thy will. Amen. A short prayer to the like purpose. OH Lord vouchsafe, that as of thy goodness thou hast, through thy son our Saviour, left for our learning, and to our unspeakable comfort, the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation, which none can learn unless he be sent, I humbly beseech thee to give me thy grace, that as I have heard the same, at this time by thy minister and messenger. So I may be able, perfectly to retain the same, in the inner part of mine heart, according to the truth, and that I may express the same, in my conversation and life, doing all things according to thine heavenly will, unto my lives end. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A thanks giving to God, for his benefits. Bless thou the Lord, that giveth bliss, Heblesseth him that thankful is. BE thankful unto almighty God Ephe, 5. for all things, in the name of our Lord jesus Christ, who hath left us a perfect pattern of thankfulness, Mat, 26. always lifting up his eyes unto heaven, giving thanks unto his heavenvly father. So must we bear always a thankful heart, as a testimony of our good wills, for the benefits of God toward us let us pray always, 1. Thes 5. let us always rejoice, & without ceasing give thanks, for it is the will of God the father, in his son jesus Christ, towards us, Saint Augustine briefly in this wise exhorteth us to be thankful, namely, heartily to say, God be thanked. A sweet savour (no doubt) it is in the nostrils of his heavenly Majesty, and an acceptable sacrifice. Chrisostome also willeth us to give thanks unto the Lord, and to bless him, yea although evil chances happen unto us, and then shall those evils be taken away, and on the contrary, (as it must needs follow) he says that if prosperous things happen unto us, and we continue unthankful, our prosperity shallbe turned in to adversity. So pure a balm and sweet odour, is giving of thanks, that the Lord taketh it, as a most acceptable recompense, for all his benefits, which as we can not otherwise deserve, let us continually say the name of God be praised. Although it bea term sometimes used of the wicked, who have their reward with Hypocrites, but bless the Lord in faith, and thou shalt be blessed. OH God of unspeakable mercy, & father of marvelous loving kindness, the only giver of all good and perfect gifts, who art more ready to give than we to ask, hearing before we call, and giving before we desire, things necessary for us▪ I yield thee humble thanks, for thy continual favour, and loving kindness, towards us thy creatures, for whose salvation when we were lost, thou wast contented even of thy mere love, to send thine only, delight into this world, thy son jesus Christ, taking humane nature upon him, and abiding the most bitter pangs of death upon the Cross, to redeem us again, into thy favour, which by our disobedience was lost, from darkness (whereunto our blindness had brought us) into the light of truth, from ignorance and error, to wisdom & knowledge. Oh what greater comfort, what greater joy, what a greater benefit, could thy divinity have bestowed upon silly man, then being of a castaway, to be made a saved soul, of a lost son, made the child of God: and of a poor banished wretch, to be made an inheritor of the kingdom of heaven, (Lord) if it were possible for us to yield unto thee, as many thanks and praises, as could fill even thine eats, at the full, & did yield our bodies and souls to bitter torments in hell, for thy sake, from which thou hast redeemed us, it were nothing in recompense of the least part of this thy love, in giving this sacrifice thy son, in whom, was thine only and whole delight, to pacify thine own displeasure, and to purchase thy favour and love again a thing most marvelous, that the offended, should seek tha'ttonement with the offender, and after so unspeakable a mean, and yet requiring nothing at our hands, but thankfulness & obedient hearts. Lord I yield thee all possible thanks, I yield thee thanks, even from the bottom of mine heart, from the very depth of mine understanding, who hast deserved more than we can by any means, in desire satisfy, or any way requite, not only in giving thy son for us, but in leaving unto us a continual remembrance of the same thy gospel, wherein consisteth the rule for our direction unto thee, even thy word, which (although heaven and earth pass and perish) yet shall not one jot thereof (as thou hast promised) diminish or decay, without the which we should have continued in our accustomed blindness. These thy benefits are unspeakable yet sweet Lord, the creating of us after thy likeness, & making us after thine own image, deserveth no less praise and thanks, where it lay in thy power to have fashioned us, after sundry other forms, as of worms in the earth, fishes in the sea, & beasts of the land, most owgly, and most strange, having neither the knowledge of thy will, sense, or ceiling of thy goodness (which is the sweetest comfort in the world yea without the which, is no true comfort at all) nor enjoy any quality either of body or mind, which is any thing at all comparable to the gifts which thou hast endued mankind withal, I thank thee also sweet Lord, for all other thine unspeakable mercies & benefits, as for feeding us, clothing us, & protecting us hitherto, giving us all things necessary both for our souls & bodies, & lord as of thy free favour & mere mercy, thou hast vouchsafed unto us thy creatures, all these, and many other unspeakable benefits. So vouchsafe the like love and tender care towards us always, that we may prosper in our vocations & go forward in the daily service of thee, and through the merits of thy son jesus Christ, obtain pardon for our sins past, and live in thy faith, fear, and love hereafter, enjoying all things requisite for mine own, and for the relief of those whom thou hast committed unto me, and also for all other thy servants, so that we may have sufficient, and not be chargeable, but rather helpful to others, for thy son jesus Christ's sake, grant it. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A devout prayer, or Meditation, that we may always have consideration, that we must die, which, as it is good at all times, so especially in the time of any common plague or sickness, a godly meditation. Remember as thou art a man, So must thou die, none help it can: No thing more sure, the time unsure, Wherefore take heed, live not secure. Sylenas' the Philosopher (having it but by the instinct of nature, before the publishing of the gospel) could see further into the estate of man, in those days, than we endeavour to understand (living too securely) now in the clear light of the same. For his opinion was, that if we consider, with ourselves, what we are, whereof we are, and what we shall be, we could not but lament, our miserable estate. This saying of his was marvelous then, when men lived in darkness, but much more marvelous that it is no better considered, now in the time of the light of truth. For where we should have great care to live well, we live in wicked security, and where we should have greater care to die well, we foolishly think to live for ever. But let us persuade ourselves, and not only persuade, but fully resolve ourselves, that we shall die, and let us endeavour to make a good end, for a good end excuseth a bad life passed. And even so likewise is an evil end a great argument of an evil life. For sake sin and embrace death willingly, so shalt thou seem happy in this life, and not unhappy at the hour of death. In the morning, think not to live till night: and at night, think not to live till morning. So shalt thou live so much the more cyrcumspectlye, and be always ready to die. Account thyself in this world but as a guest, that lodgeth for a night, and departeth in the morning, and as a wandering pilgrim of no certain abode, list up thy mind to God, Ecclesi. 4, having here no certain City, for if thou live ten, or an hundred or a thousand years, there is no help but the grave must be thine end. Blessed are they Reu 14. that die in the Lord. Wherefore prepare thyself to die, not in your own wisdom, for that will deceive you. But in the wisdom of GOD, that your hope may be sure, his joys yours, and his goodness your inhearitaunce. OH God the only giver of life, the maintainer, and preserver thereof, and the life after death, grant me continual due consideration, that as this body of mine, is builded, upon an earthly foundation, and framed of the substance of dust, and clay, which is not durable, the glory thereof vanishing, like the flower of the field, which is soon cut down and withered. So the same being the mansion, or rather the Prison of my poor soul, so frail, weak, and feeble, subject to so many infirmities, diseases, griefs, and maladies, yea to so many causes, that procure the dissolution of body and soul, that it often happeneth, when we think lest thereon, it cometh sodamly, as the lightning, and taketh us unwares. Wherefore grant Oh GOD of my life) that I may have such continual care, foresight, and dylligent respect unto the direction of my dealings, cogitations, and words, that I load not, my poor soul so much with the burden of scenlesse security, sin and iniquity, that the body being suddenly entangled with the snare of death, it be carried where there is no rest, no joy, no comfort, or consolation, but continual mourning weeping, and anguish of mind, as the Glutton spoken of in thine holy Gospel, who going on blindly, loosely, and carelessly, without regard, either of thee, or remem branch of his end, in most detestable covetousness, and all kind of wickedness, was suddenly taken from his muck & wealth which he had wrongfully gotten, and miserably whorded up, and yet denying poor Lazarus the croomes that fell, and were taken from his table, but was carried by the devil and his Angels into everlasting and most bitter torments, where was weeping and gnashing of teeth. Oh my sweet Lord let not mine heart be so blinded, with the vale of vanity, nor nuzzled in the delights of this world, so intangeled in the net of concupiscence, nor clad in the weeds of wilful forgetfulness of mine estate, that I be taken as the rich man, who devising within himself, to enlarge his Barns, wherein he might convey his grain, so much increasing, who standing in his evil conceit, of covetousness, (thinking himself most secure) was taken unawares from his abundance, and left his riches he knew not to whom (Oh most gracious and most loving God) a most unhappy end, wherein steed of heavenly contemplations, and godly cogitations (which thou requirest at all times of such as are thine but especially at the hour of death) there appeared a most horrible intent of covetousness, which thou utterly abhorrest, a manifest token (good Lord) of forgetfulness of his end, and an argument, that he was the child of Satan. But thou showest mercy to as many as convert and turn to thee. Oh my most loving father, lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in sin, nor wander in darkness, according to the will of the flesh, that I fall not unawares into the dungeon of destruction, death, and hell, but make me always ready and willing, to come unto thee, even with desire when it pleaseth thee to call me, by laying thy hand, by any plague or sickness upon me, let me not draw me (as it were) backward, when thou invitest me, to the sweet banquet of thine heavenly kingdom, as by the word and gospel preached, and revealed unto us, which is an especial calling us, or when I feel myself distempered, grieved, or vexed, with any kind of sickness, plague or disease, which is another of thy callings, and an especial warning that we must die, or when by course of time, in extreme age, we may imagine our end to be near, but (Lord) when I am at my daily business, and labour, when I eat or drink when I am in my best temperature & health in childhood and young years, at all times, and in all places, give me grace to think, that death standeth at mine elbow, always ready to strike me, that I sleep not in sin and security, till the time suddenly come of my departure, and so be taken unprovided, and perish without repentance, who can persuade himself, to live long and see many days, especially, in dangerous and contagious times of sickness, and seeing so many examples daily to the contrary, even in the most temperate time of health, some we see at their Mother's paps, by humane judgement likely to live, suddenly to give up the ghost, some in their youth, some in middle years, yea & when gravest experience aboundeth, to be suddenly called away, & to be no more seen. All which, notwithstanding (Oh Lord) such is the blindness of our nature, that we think this world a continual being for us, and cover (even with greediness) to see many days, where we heap sin upon sin, to the overburdening of our poor souls, seldom, or not at all thinking to die. Grant (sweet Lord) that as I desire to live, so I may have a greater desire to live well, that I may make an happy end, abandoning all fear of death, that the cogitation thereof, may dwell in peace, with in the mansion of mine heart, and when it shall approach near unto me, I fly not from it, but may go forth with joy to meet the same, considering that it is a mean, to end my cares, and to begin my joy, it is the finishing of sorrow, and entrance into bliss, which made thy servant Paul to say, That he desired to be delivered of the burden of this life, and to be with thee, where is nothing but joys unspeakable▪ and contrary, here on earth, nothing but care, and woe, which moved thy servant job, to call this life a warfare, and this world a wilderness, and vale of misery, where is nothing but conflicts, between the flesh and the spirit, daily increase of sin, and continual care, of vanities. Oh good God give us careful hearts to love thee while we live here, give us continual fear, unfeigned zeal, perfect faith, godly care▪ to do good to all men, and earnest desire to come unto thee, who art the end of all trouble and labour, and the beginning of ease, the end of strife and the beginning of peace, the end of all misery, and the beginning of all bliss, whereunto sweet (Lord) grant, that with unseyned desi●e, we may faithfully endeavour ourselves, to come, and to take possession, of that thy most glorious kingdom, where thy son is gone before, to direct us the way and where thou sittest to judge, according to every man's deserts, making all those that thou findest with the Lamp of true faith, burning in their hearts, partakers of the everlasting joys thereof. In number of whom, (Oh sweet Lord) accept me here, that I may appear among them, in the world to come, through jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name, I commend myself into thy hands▪ to live for ever in thee, sweet God. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. OH God, in whose hands, consisteth the life of all mankind, for thy Son Jesus Christ's sake, vouchsafe to give me grace, to set before mine eyes, (as a most certain mark where unto this frail body of mine must tend itself) the Image of that which is to the faithful the end of pain, and beginning of pleasure, the end of misery and beginning of bliss, but to the secure and careless, the end of their pleasures, and beginning of eternal pains. Ueuchsafe me therefore earnest desire of serving thee, and leading my life according unto thy will, that when so ever it pleaseth thee to call me, I be not through fear stricken with doubt of condemnation, but even at my last gasp, through unfeigned faith in Jesus Christ, may take and have a taste of eternal salvation, that death be not terrible unto me, but rather when it cometh, I may▪ with joy receive the same, in the name of Jesus Christ, mine only saviour and redeemer. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer upon the Lettany, or prayer for all men, at all times necessary. Pray thou in faith, for each degree. As God by james commandeth thee▪ So shalt thou prosper in thy ways, And live both many and happy days. THe Lettany being a most singular & devout prayer for the estate of all men in general and set out for the use of the whole congregation, as it were with one mouth, & one voice to be pronounced begging at the hands of God, not only pardon for such several offences as are therein expressed, but also craving things necessary, as well for them that are absent as present, yea for all men a thing most commendable & godly, praying one for another, as S. james willeth jam. 5. us to pray one for another, that we may be heard of God, for the prayer of the righteous availeth much. And because the zealous may (without the so often repetition of these words. Good Lord deliver us, and we beseech thee etc.) privately utter his godly desire of the prosperity of his Christian brethren, without answering himself in those respects, I thought it not much amiss, to contrive it into this prayer following, the which I pray the Reader willingly to accept. OH almighty God, and father of all that believe and trust in thee, Oh Lord God, son, redeemer, & advocate of all them who faithfully serve thee, Oh God holy ghost, who proceeding from the father and the son, santifiest the elect and chosen ones. Oh blessed & most glorious Trinity, three persons, and yet but one God, have mercy upon us, who most miserably have offended. Remember not our offences nor the offences of our forefathers nor punish us according to the multitude of our sins. Spare us good Lord, whom thou hast redeemed, and so direct all our cogitations, and actions, that we give none occasion of thine anger towards us, for ever, mercifully save, and defend us, from sin & mischief, from the crafts and assaults of sathan, from thy displeasure and eternal damnation, good Lord for thy mercy's sake deliver us, from darkness of misbelief, from haughtiness of mind, from malice, envy, hatred, and double dealing, from evil motions of our corrupt flesh, and from all worldly vaneties. Save us from plague pestilence, from extreme hunger, and famine, from sudden death, from heresy and false doctrine, and grant us always will, and ableness, to fulfil all thy most godly commandments, with a clean and a pure heart. Oh sweet jesus deliver us from all evil, even by thy death and passion, by thine anguish of mind, by thy bloody sweat, by thy glorious resurrection▪ from the deep of death and hell, and by thine ascension, into thy celestial kingdom; Be present with us (good Lord) in all our troubles, vexation of mind, & at the hour of our departure hence. And for thy mere mercy's sake, be thou favourable unto us, in the day, when we must give account for our life past, that we be not rewarded according to our deserts, but by thy merits may enjoy eternal salvation. Oh most merciful and everliving God, we most miserable and most wretched sinners, here humbly prostrating ourselves before thee, beseech thee to listen to our petitions, and grant unto thine universal Church, godly & devout preachers of thy word, and gospel, that it may daily increase in virtuous and godly government, daily growing and proceeding, from faith to faith, truly knowing thee, and unfeignedly serving thee. Grant unto thy servant Elizabeth, our Queen, true understanding of thy will, and unto her counsel, knowledge and wisdom. That under her, for her, and in thy name, they may establish godly Laws, statutes, and ordinances, for our good and godly government, and unto us thy people▪ grace continually, to follow, and fulfil the same. Be thou (good Lord) her defender in all aslaultes of her enemies; and so rule her heart in thy faith sear and love, that she may always seek to advance thine honour and glory, deface superstition, error, and false religion, and ever be able to vanquish and overcome suchas rise up against her, to seek the contrary. Lighten the hearts of all Bishops, ministers, and Pastors of thy church, with▪ right understanding▪ and knowledge of thy word, that they may not only in speech, & doctrine, but also by their conversation and life, sound and sincerely utter the same, to the true edification of thy people. Oh Lord let not such as are put in authority to see the due execution of thy laws, be slow, negligent or ignorant therein, but endued with grace wisdom & understanding, & boldness, may execute justice, & maintain thy truth, without affection, favour, or respect of persons, vouchsafe to endue us all with continual unfeigned good will, one towards another that we may live all the days of our life in unity, peace, & godly agreement, pleasing thee, by living according to the rule of thy blessed commandments. Grant us Oh Lord, fervent desire, to be where thy word & gospel is preached & taught, and endue us with thy grace to hear & to bear away, & not only to hear and bear away, but to express the same in our life & conversation, that the truth of thy gospel, which is the fruit of thine holy spirit, may daily increase in us: & call home all wandering souls, which are carried into blindness, by the subtlety, & procurements of sathan, & his wicked ministers, following strange Gods & worshipping that, that cannot avail them in their distress, and give them (Oh Lord) repenting hearts, converting the soul. Show them thy true light, that they seeing it (though a far off) may by little and little, attain unto the perfect enjoying of the same. Strengthen all them that have taken hold of thee by true faith, and pure religion, that they fall not from thence, by any deceivable show of any counterfeit sect, comfort those that are weak, & lift up those that are down, that they by thee, & thou in them mayst beat down, & keep sathan under their feet. Vouthsafe good Lord to give succour, help & comfort to all such as are in any kind of affliction, danger, necessity, or tribulation, preserve and keep safe, all such as labour & travail, by sea or land, for the benefit of our common weal. Strengthen all women with child, and send them good deliverance; comfort all them that are sick, and give them either patience to bear it, or mitigate their grief, give health and nourishment to all young children, and grant them grace, to go forward in nurture and knowledge of thy will. Lord we beseech thee, to show compassion, upon all such as suffer impty sonment, and give them deliverance, at thy good pleasure. Provide (good Lord) for such poor children, as are fatherless, or helpless, consider the cause of all Widows, and be helpful unto them in their distresses. Lord have mercy upon all men, forgive our enemies, and such as persecute us, and if it please thee, turn the hearts. Fructify those things on earth which thou hast appointed for our use, and so increase the same, that we may enjoy the fruits thereof, with sufficiency, for our necessities in time convenient. And vouchsafe to give us grace, to fall down upon the knees of our hearts, with unfeigned repentannce of all our sins, that we may obtain at thy merciful hands, pardon for our offences, negligences, and ignorances, and vouchsafe, to endue us with thine holy spirit, that we may go forward in daily amendment of our lives, & govern the same according to thy wil Amen. Oh son of almighty God, we beseech thee to hear us. Oh Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, grant us thy peace, and have mercy upon us. Oh Lord increase our faith. Amen. A prayer for the fulfilling of the ten Commandments. Pray that thou mayest fulfil the will, Of him whose hand defends thee still And these precepts forget thou not, Which Moses for thy safety wrote. BLessed is the man (as saith David) Psalm. 1. 2. that delighteth in the Law of the Lord, and meditateth therein day and night, he shall be blessed in his goods, in all that he taketh in hand, at his going out, and his coming in, and in all things. But contrariwise, he that declineth from his commandments and neglecteth them, shall be accursed in all his ways, and nothing shall prosper with him, although for a time it flourish in show here, the end of the same will be evil. And therefore David in all his prayers, (considering his own infirmity) besought the Lord to instruct him, in his commandments, saying make me Oh God to understand thy laws, and I will meditate upon all thine wondrous works. Yea his delight was in the commandments of God. And Saloman saith, Pro. 28. that he that turneth away his ears from hearing the law, his prayer shall be abominable. For it is the love of God that we should keep his commandments. 1. joh, 5, Pray therefore that God will stir up in you, an unfeigned zeal in all your doings and enterprises, to observe the law of the Lord. OH almighty jehovah, God of heaven & earth, who haste promised thyself, even from the beginning to be our Lord and our God, our shield and our Fortress, our buckler and defence, our Castle and refuge. And who hast brought us with a mighty and strong hand, with an outstretched Arm, out of the Land, wherein we were strangers, wherein we lived in bondage, under the yoke and tytannye of Antechriste and sathan, into the land land that floweth with the Milk and Honey of true religion, wherewith thou feedest the souls of thy faithful ones. Grant that as through thy mere mercy and love, thou vouchsafest to bring us into this world, and to frame us to thine own image and likeness, So we may account thee as our only God, worshipping none other besides thee, making unto ourselves, none image of any likeness, either of things above, or things beneath, nor bow or seek help at the hands of any (as a God) beside thee, who as by thy mighty power, thou broughtest the children of Israel out of Egypt, by the hands of Moses and Aaron, where they were in bondage, where they were continually oppressed with sundry kinds of vexations both of body and mind. So hast thou uhuchsased to bring us and to deliver us from a greater bondage, servitude, and stavery, even from the power of Satan, under whose tyranny we rested, and now escaped, not by the policy, strength, or power of any Moses, but by the blood shedding of thine only son jesus Christ, who took upon him the death of the cross for our sakes, to bring us from darkness, wherein we walked according to the will of the flesh, unto the true knowledge of thee again▪ & to redeem us out of the bondage of sin, into the land of righteousness, from blind ignorance, to the bright shining day-star, of thine heavenly will, who art not only a most loving and gentle Father, but also a most sharp punisher and revenger, who art not only desirous, that we should come unto thee, but art also most jealous over us, lest we should seek or follow any other God besides thee, yea in all our afflictions and troubles, to seek only unto thee, and being relieved, to attribute the only mean thereof unto thyself, whereby thou hast promised to be merciful unto thousands that love thee, fear thee, seek thee, and truly take hold● of thee, as their only God. And again, threatenest thy vengeance, and heavy displeasnre, to continue upon the third and fourth generation, of them that hate thee, and follow strange Gods▪ (Oh sweet God) vouchsafe that it may be far from our minds to have any desire, once to put our foot towards any strange Gods, appear their help▪ never so likely or plentiful, but that it be both now and ever in our hearts, to confess both in word and conversation, that there is none other God besides thee, who art most glorious and a most loving Father, have mercy upon us. And so vouchsafe to direct us in all our doings, cogitations and words, as we may always and in all things, fulfil thy will, never taking thine holy and most glorious name in vain, by blasphemous speeches, dishonouring the same. Keep us most loving Father, not only from the most detestable sin of perjury, whereby thine holy name is often defaced, and (as it were trodden under foot, as in making it the author of abominable falsehoods and lies, but from all frivolous and vain oaths, which (to the great grief of thy children) are most uncomely in the mouths of such as unreverently and rashly use it, even in common speeches, without any urgent cause or matter forcing, whereby they fall into the most hemous sin, of taking thy most glorious name in vain, but that we may use such a reverent manner, & godly order of using thy name for trial of any matter in lawful causes, as thou mayst always find us true hallowers of it thereby. And forasmuchas thou within six days didst finish all things in the be beginning, & in the seventh day didst rest from the same labour, commanding us likewise to observe the sanctification of the same for ever, and to rest from all labours, travails and worldly business and not only ourselves, but all other whom thou hast committed to our charge, as servants, Oxen and Asses, and such like? grant that we may not only lay aside all worldly cares, and business on the Sabaoth day, resting our wearied members, but may in all things sanctify it and keep it holy, with godly exercises, divine prayers, and heavenly meditations with careful and diligent regard, to the avoiding of all wanton pastimes, foolish and uncomely exercises, and unlawful practices, whereby (oftentimes) the affection being moved to impatience, poureth forth chollour to the dishonouring of thy name. Let our conversation be altogether modest, mortefiing our own desires, wholly appliing ourselves, not only on the Sabaoth day, but all the week, yea all our whole life, to the srevice of thee, to the honouring and glorifying of thy name, to the benefit of our souls, profit of our neighbours, and due reverence to our parents, whom thou hast commanded us to honour, love, and obey, as the instruments of our beginning, thou being the workman. Grant, Lord that we may truly and unfeignedly, reverence them as thou willest we should, that we may long continue upon the earth, not in the number of careless and disobedient Children, in whom resteth no thankfulness for so great benefits had and received at the hand of their parents, from whom thou hast said, thou wilt with hold thy blessings, and altogether deprive them of their liberty and living. But grant that we may so order ourselves, by thy grace, both to them and to other our Superiors, as we may be blessed with many good gifts, and length of days here according to thy will. And that it may please thee, so to confirm their blessings in and upon us, as that it may go well with us all the days of our lives. Take from us sweet Lord) all desire of revenge, all rancour, malice and hatred, lest the devil, (who readily stands to prick us forward to a desperate mind) procure us to slay the innocent, we beseech the Lord, let not (at any time) such evil imaginations enter into any part of our hearts, lest we (giving ourselves over thereunto) lose the reins of our natural disposition, which is so inclined to wrath, that unless the strength thereof be subdued, or the venoumous sting thereof plucked out, by virtue of thine holy spirit, it will (no doubt) provoke us to wait opportunity to wreak our malice with violence, upon such as by slight occasions, have offended us, yea and by little and little, break out into the flame of deadly hatred, and so seek to destroy the innocent most wickedly. Oh Lord forbid it, and keep us from the most pernicious sin of adultery, which being so odious in thy sight, thou causedst to fall in one day, for the same three and twenty thousand. Oh Lord endue us with thine holy spirit, that we may keep our bodies clean and undefiled members of thee, being endued with perfect chastity, may abandon all occasions, that may procure us to offend thee, retaining a godly behaviour, which thou so dearly lovest, and expel evil concupiscence which thou so much abhorrest. Oh merciful God, vouchsafe to keep us from taking any thing, by secret means, or otherwise from our neighbours, whom we ought to love as ourselves, The desire whereof (good Lord) proceedeth often by scarcity and want, by poverty and need, which (indeed) thou art able and willing to relieve without any such unlawful means. And therefore I beseech thee to grant us a sufficient & necessary portion, or else constancy and unfeigned hope in thee, to be relieved in thy good time, and utterly to dearest the horrible sin of stealing for thou hast promised neither to fail us nor forsake us, calling faithfully upon thee. And as we ought to beware of taking any thing from others by stealth, so likewise vouchsafe us grace, when any occasion serveth, or matter forceth, to bear witness of the truth, in any controversy between brethren, grant us heedful minds, to depose and testify that, which is truth, according to our knowledge, without respect either of the ability friendship, or favour of the one, or the envy, malice, or poverty of the other. And grant that we raise no false accusation or slander upon any man, considering that the same fault, whereof we wrongfully accuse another, shallbe imputed as great unto ourselves, but that we may keep our mouths, from speaking any thing hurtful unto others. And like good men muse and meditate, before hand, what we ought to speak, not letting the bridle of our lips lose, to babble out that which first cometh into our minds, and that we may content ourselves with our estates, whatsoever thou sendest, without any ungodly desire of any thing that belongeth unto our neighbours. And grant us thine especial grace, ever more truly to observe, and faithfully to fulfil all thy most godly commandments. In the name and for the sake of thy Son jesus Christ, in whose name, as well for grace to keep thy laws as also for all necessaries for body and soul, I heartily pray thee, by that prayer which he hath set down unto us in these words. Our Father which are in heaven. etc. Oh Lord increase our faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. FOr as much oh God of all wisdom, and mercy, as thou for our direction and godly living, hast by the hands of thy Prophet set down and prescribed unto us, godly institutions for us to follow, considering our corruption, and natural declination, from following thy Laws, and how we are inclined to the things forbidden by thee therein. I most humbly pray thee, to vouchsafe me not only diligent care, and daily endeavour, but especial grace to fulfil them, according to thy blessed will, in all things, through Jesus Christ. Amen. Oh Lord increase our faith. A prayer for the true ordering of worldly riches, very necessary for such as God hath endued with the wealth of this world. Even as thy wealth increaseth, so Pray that, them well thou mayst bestow. For they that have their wealth at will. Are plagued worst, (using it ill.) Our Lord & saviour jesus Christ. Ma. 19 the fountain. Mar 10. of all liberality Lu. 18. an hundred fold in this life, and life everlasting in the world to come, to all such as for his sake●, shall forsake all worldly goods to follow him. But let not (saith he again) Matth. 7 thy left hand know what thy right hand giveth▪ Give, Luk. 6. and it shall be given thee, and minister unto the holy ones of God. Ro. 12. and it shall be rewarded thee. Break thy bread unto the hungry, Esa. 58. give drink unto the thirsty. etc. And take heed, that when thou dost intend to give 1. Cor 7. let it be for God's sake, who hath given thee store, to the end that thou shouldest extend thy liberality to the relief of the necessity of his Saints, neither grudgingly nor by compulsion, nor for praise or vain glory, but with modesty & zeal, concealing thy good deeds, and thine heavenly father shall reward thee, Covet not to be rich, least thou fall into temptations, snares, and into many foolish and noisome lusts, which drown men in perdition and destruction, for the desire of money, is the root of all evil, and causeth men to fall from faith, to pierce themselves with many sorrows. Trust not in uncertain riches, but in the living God whose hands preserveth the poor aswell as the rich, ye● respecteth the cause of the needy that trust in him, and sendeth the secure rich men empty away at the last. Therefore to do good and to distribute forget not. Heb. 13 for with such sacrifice God is pleased. OH bountiful God, and most merciful father, naked came I into this world, bringing with me not a cloth or rag to cover this silly and weak body of mine, wanting sustenance and food, without the which (sweet Lord) life can not endure, which I have received at thy merciful hands and that most largely the one to cover & keep my naked members, and weak body from parching heat in the summer, and extreme cold in winter, and the other to feed and nourish the same, in so much as it hath by neither of these extremities, fainted or decayed to this day. I thank thee (sweet lord) that I have not continued in nakedness, wherein I was born, but in warm and necessary clothing, not in hunger, but in fullness, not in scarcity but in abundance, and sufficiency of all things, not in want but in wealth, not in labour but at ease, not among the lowest, but with the highest, which blessings of thine (Oh Lord) I confess were not gotten by mine own industry & pains, not by mine own policy or wisdom, nor bestowed on me for mine own sake or deserts▪ who am borne in sin, but as sent from thee, as thine own free blessings far passing the capasity of man, by wisdom to comprehend, by labour to get, or by policy to purchase, but only by thy blessed providence, setting thine helping hand unto the godly industry of such as by their vocation and just travail shall endeavour to gather the same, which is thine only and bountiful gift, as also where thou givest and blessest the children with the inheritance of their parents, which also is thine unspeakable blessing; grant Lord, that as all those thy gifts, come altogether without our deserts, so we never abuse the same, but duly considering, the mutability, the ●lyperie hold, and unconstancy of worldly treasure, and that the fear of the alteration thereof, doth often load and encumber our minds, with so many & sundry cares, that we seldom rest without some doubt and perturbation of mind, breeding also within us divers other great inconveniences, as hawtines of mind, contemning others of inferior conditions, with a grudging disdain of them, in respect of ourselves, puffing up our hearts with arrogancy, vain glory, excess, glutionie, and finally, leading a man to all kind of vices, making him even to forget himself & thee, being lead by the indirect rule, of their own proper nature, which is altogether, contrary to thy will, wherefore, forasmuch as these our worldly riches, do ●ende either to the winning or losing of thy favour and love, and thy love, the end of our happiness. Grant me thy grace and assistance, in bestowing, ordering and occupying, those terrestrial things, that neither the love of worldly commendation or praise of men, make me prodigal in spending them; nor the care of covetousness, draw me to whored and lay them up, to canker and rust, & where it may be taken by thieves, but as I have plentiful, so I may be liberal, distributing according to the portion thereof, unto the necessity of others, as the cause of their need, and mine ability shall require; And as it pleaseth thee to increase my store, so make me more and more thankful, and more and more ready to give, enduing me with the more humility, gentleness, & pity, stretching forth mine hand with a glad heart, to help the helpless, to feed the hungry, to cloth the naked, to comfort the comfortless, that these thy bountiful gifts, be not bestowed upon me in vain That I be not in the end, in case like the rich man spoken of in thine holy gospel, turning mine eyes from the begging cries of poor Lazarus, but may willingly impart, such things, both of my table and store, as it pleaseth thee to bestoweon me, unto the necessity of the poor all my days: and take from me all hardness of heart, and extreme dealing to wards such, as by any light offence have displeased me. Grant that I may consider of myself, and way of myself, as one of the lowest, meanest, and weakest, and not to disdain the simplest, always considering my beginning, my present estate, how it may please thee to alter it, and what may befall unto me, before or in the end, as also to be mindful of such as are of a lower estate and calling, yea of the worst and poorest, and to do for them as I may, and as occasion shall require, without overcharging any that for their relief seek any thing at mine hands. That in the end I may be found a good and faithful Steward of that tallant which thou hast put me in trust withal here. Oh Lord make me willing to forgive them that offend me, acknowledging myself a thousand ways offencible unto thy majesty, pardon me Oh God of thy mercy, and give me grace to amend mine evil and corrupt life; And let me not by misponding and abusing thy gifts here, make forfeiture of so precious a dwelling place, as thou by the blood of thy son jesus Christ, hast purchased for all such, as show themselves faithful Stewards here. Make me to consider (good Lord) the vanities of this wretched world, and give me thy grace daily to contemplate and in faith to behold, the fairness, beauty, and certainty of thine heavenly kingdom, that I may daily grow in hatred and contempt of this vale of misery, and the vain pleasures thereof, and be ready at thy fatherly call to come unto thee, willingly▪ bearing the burden, which this this world continually chargeth me withal. Oh almighty and merciful God, giver of all good things and the take● of them away again at thy good pleasure, make me in prosperity always thankful: and if thou visit me with poverty, endue me with perfect patience, that the delight of the one ●ull me not and rock me a sleep, in the Cradle of security, not the heaviness and grief of the other, waking me with the dangerous darts of despair; Strengthen me (good Lord) for thy son jesus Christ's sake, and help me in this my great account, which I have to reckon for, at my last and final end, and that before thee, the Lord of our souls, when and where there shall be no thing left uncharged, but shall be forced to account for those receits, & actions which we little think on now, and proved even then to be parcel of that whereof thou madest us Stewards here. And therefore grant that I may not bestow my Tallaunt, as to mine own use and behoof only but to the furtherance and help of them that stand in need thereof. That in the end thou mayest with that comfortable saying, receive me (saying) Oh thou faithful Steward, seeing thou hast been faithful over a little, I will make thee Steward of a great deal, even partaker of that place which thy son hath purchased. In hope whereof, I do wholly yield and commend myself and all that I have unto thine hands, praying thee to direct me, by thy grace & wisdom, to the bestowing it according unto thy will. In the name of thy son jesus Christ, to whom with thee and the holy ghost, be continual laud and praise, for ever and evermore Amen. Oh Lord increase our faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. OH God almighty, the giver of all good things, the only stay of mankind, their guide and comfort, give grace unto me thy servant, that as thou hast blessed my store, and increased my wealth, in somuch as I have not only that which may suffice▪ mine own necessary want, but have also sufficient to relieve others in need. drive from mine heart, all natural desire of more, and give me a will to distribute, and according to the abundance of my wealth, to feed the hungry, cloth the naked, and to do all things else which thou requirest of them, on whom thou bestowest thy blessings, to the furtherance of godliness, and not to live to myself, and for myself only, but to the help of all that want my furtherance. That laying up a good foundation in the end, I may leave the world willingly, and purchase through Jesus Christ, thy kingdom eternally. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer to be said of a woman with child. As Eve thy Grandam caused thy thrall, Pray to the Lord, case it he shall. For as by Eve thy thraldom came▪ Christ jesus (since) to ●ase the same. PRay that GOD may mitigate the pains of your travail which by reason of the transgression of your Grandmother Eve, God hath pronounced to be great, saying unto her and in her, unto you all, in sorrow Gene. 3. shall you bring forth Child. And you daily see that th'extremity thereof, doth often end the days of many a sister of yours: (before that hour healthful and strong.) And therefore I think it a part of great wisdom to prepare & address yourselves against that hour even to give up the ghost, for without the merciful help and favour of almighty God, you can not escape death: wherefore I wish, as many as are in that case, to betake them humbly on their knees unto him, in hearty prayer, without whose outstretched arm no woman's help can be available in that behalf: pray therefore pray, that God of his tender mercy, will vouchsafe you an hour, wherein you may be happily delivered. OH merciful God and omnipotent father maker and Creator of all things, who in the beginning hadst placed mankind, in most unspeakable happiness, where they should have continued had not our first parents brokenthy precept and will, whereby they procured thine heavy indignation against themselves, & their posterity for ever, so that the earth for their sakes was accursed denying things necessary for their use with out their great labour, industry pains, and sweat of body. And unto us the daughters of Eve for her▪ transgression thou haste appointed most grievous pains and torments of body, in the travail of childbirth, saying that in sorrow and great pains we shall bring forth child. Oh sweet Lord, for as much as thou art almighty and bringest all things to pass, according unto thy good pleasure, and showest thyself in no thing more omnipotent, then in the conceiving, forming and bringing mankind into the world, which (although it were in the beginning ordained most easy) by the subtlety of our continual enemy sathan, in causing our first parents to transgress thy commandment, and to break thy will, by tasting the forbidden fruit) it is now most painful, grievous and perilous. In so much (Oh sweet Lord) as without thine especial grace, favour and mercy, it is altogether impossible to be brought to pas●e, our imperfection and feebleness is such that of ourselves we are not able to endure the least of all the pangs and sorrows that doth accompany this kind of travail. Wherefore (sweet Lord) mine humble and most hearty desire unto thy majesty, is that thou wouldst vouchsafe to extend unto me, and to all women in this my like case thy mercy and loving favour to mitigate the pains thereof, that we may be able, patiently to endure and continue the pangs of the same, at the hour appointed. Make that easy and light unto us, which our deserts have made burdensome and heavy, that the burden wherewith I am now laden, may fortunately be delivered, from the shoulders of my weak body. Send us all (good Lord) happy deliverance, that we may be made joyful mothers. And vouchsafe unto me, and to all that have conceived, and be with Child, strength to bring forth, that which thine omnipotency hath so wonderfully wrought in us. Be present with us in our travails Oh Lord help us most merciful God, and mightily deliver us. Let thy power, might and love, be no less manifested, in the delivery, then in the forming of thy creature, that being through thy goodness, made glad and joyful mothers, we may obtain our perfect strength again, and live to praise and please thee for evermore. Amen. Oh Lord increase our faith. A short and most necessary prayer, always to be said of one with child. OH Lord, whose goodness we have offended, and deserved infinite plagues, look upon me and pardon me, lay aside thy justice, and show thy mercy, let me have the benefit of thine helping hand, and not feel the wright of thine heavy hand. Favourably lighten me of this burden, in thy good and gracious time, and in the hour and instance of my delivery, be present with me (Lord) and tender my safety, through Jesus Christ Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A thanks giving to God after the delivery. As God hath now delivered thee, So, well thy praise deserveth he: For if he had not stood thy friend, These pangs of thine, had wrought thine end FOr as much as it hath pleased almighty God, of his great goodness to give thee good deliverance and to rid thee from the great pains & peril where with thou were even now afflicted. Fall down, humble and prostrate thyself in heart, with the rest that are present, giving no less unfeigned thanks unto his omnipotent majesty, for his holy help in saving thee then thou didst or oughtest to pray for his aid, happily to deliver thee, and let not the joy or glad tidings of a son or a daughter born into the world or the departure of them so much possess thine heart, but that it may be always ready to give praise: o God for thy safe delivery, as did Hannah, who being delivered of a son, give hearty thanks to God. And think not that (the extreme plunges of the very birth being passed) thou art presently acquitted of all danger, for the weakness frailty & rawness of your health, is many days after great. And therefore what soever thou be, tendringe thine own safety, praise God continually, praying for strength, and he will give it thee: for unthankfulness is a mean to purchase (in stee●e of God's favour his indignation, to punish a new. OH almighty and merciful God the only aid stay & comfort of all those that trust in thee? the principal help, of them that fear thee, we give thee most humble hearty and v● fe●●ed thanks, for that thou haste vouchsafed to deliver this w●●●ā M. thy servant, from the great pains and travail of childbirth, which are so great, so grievous and so dangerous, that e●en by thine own words they are said to be most grievous: In so much (sweet Lord▪ as whensoever thou settest forth in thine holy scripture any gr●at pain or danger thou resemblest it always to a Woman's pain in travail Therefore we confess & acknowledge that we in the behalf of this our Sister, are so much the more bound unto thee, so far extending thy furtherance and help to her delivery from such extremity and anguish, we fall down even upon the knees of our hearts, with unfeigned thanks for this most merciful work of thine, but most loving and merciful God, thou knowest that although she be delivered of this heavy burden, yet the pains some thing continue, which without thy most sweet mitugation thereof, will drive her to further grief and sorrow. We humbly beseech thee therefore to consider of the estate of this thy poor servant by thy goodness, thus delivered, that thou wouldst vouchsafe to mitugate and assuage her pains and grief, that she may be able to bear the same with perfect patience, and continual thank, for her happy deliverance. a 〈…〉 te the rest 〈…〉 Child be de 〈…〉 ying the 〈…〉 prayer. and 〈…〉 at the ●ude 〈…〉 prayer. And forasmuch (sweet Lord) as the tenderness & misery of mankind is such, that they can not of long time after their birth, attain to any mean to help themselves, but wanting the 〈…〉 aid and attendance of the mother and 〈…〉 they soon perish. We beseech thee to 〈…〉 gthen this little infant, and tender babe, now 〈…〉 e into this vale of misery, and if it be thy good pleasure, to vouchsafe it life and longer abiding here, grant it ableness and strength▪ to receive such food, and nourishment, as thy providence hath assigned, for such little infants and sucklings. And so increase within the paps of the mother or Nurse such nutriture, as may be sufficient for the maintenance of the life and health thereof, working with such effect within the bowels of the tender infant, as it may thereby grow more and more, to the estate of man, according to thy good pleasure, and strengthen both the mother and the infant, that they may both grow▪ to such perfect health and ableness, as the one may give, the other take, sufficient sustenance for the preservation of life, and increase of strength, through the mighty power and working of thee. For which (sweet Lord) and for all things else necessary, for them and for all other in their like case, we pray unto thee, as thy son jesus Christ hath himself taught us, saying, Our Father etc. Oh Lord increase our faith. And receive this woman thy servant, and ever more mightily defend her. Oh Lord bless this little babe, and receive it into the number of thy children. Oh Lord guide it evermore to the full obtaining of thy favour & mercy, & to the perfect fulfilling of thy will, all his days. Amen. To thee be all praise for evermore Amen. A prayer for wisdom. As worldly wisdom seeketh nought, (In time of need,) availing aught, So heavenly wisdom worketh still, The things that please gods heavenly wil Wisdom (as saith S. Augustine) is the knowledge how to choose those things that are good, and to avoid those things that are evil. And Aristotle defineth it to be a virtue of the mind whereby these graces are obtained, which tend to the felicity of this life and the life to come. Thomas Aqu●nus saith, that wisdom is the mean whereby we are reconciled unto God. If so, then what a precious jewel is this▪ what more excellent gift can we crave at the hands of God, then that whereby we may do that only which is good, & such things as are tending to eternal felicity, and which reconcile us to God our maker, through Christ our redeemer and Saviour? the beginning whereof is the fear of the Lord, whose love towards us is so great, that he willeth him that wanteth wisdom I am, 1, to ask at his hands, and he will give the same most abundantly, (ask it in faith) as he gave it unto Solomon. 1 Kin 3 so plentifully and in such sort, as they came from the farthest parts of the world to hear the same. Pray therefore that thou mayst obtain it, it is better than gold or precious stones. Pro. 16, and more sweeter than honey or the honey comb. OH almighty and everliving GOD, whose gift it is that babes sucklings and men of base degree, have the knowledge & understanding of thy will, and men of profound learning, deep study, and worldly experience often want the same. Oh God which expellest darkness & givest light, which takest away ignorance & plantest knowledge & wisdom, denying the same to none that unfeignedly asketh it at thine hands, without the which nothing can be obtained which good is, nothing avoided, which is evil, nothing continue safe, be it never so durable, nor any enterprise either rightly begun or happily ended without the same, which Solomon considering (having promise at thine hands, that whatsoever he asked he should obtain) above all things, above wealth or riches, worldly praise, renown or glory, beauty or strength, yea above possessions or kingdoms he only requested wisdom, which thou so abundantly bestowedst on him, that they repaired and came from far to hear the same, which is none other thing (sweet Lord) but the knowledge of thy divine will & heavenvly mysteries, it is the knowledge how to choose the good & avoid the evil, it proceedeth only from thee, and with thee it hath been from the beginning. Send it down from heaven, where it attendeth about thy seat, replenish mine hart with the knowledge thereof. Give me a new heart, and a right spirit, for man's understanding faileth in many things, but thy wisdom instructeth the simple, & maketh the tongues of infants eloquent, directing the steps of the blind. Wherefore Oh Lord, I most humbly beseech thee, to establish the same in my spirit, and write thy Laws in mine heart, that I walk not in the way of error, but may abstain from sin, cleave unto righteousness, and walk in innocency, all the days of my life. Oh sweet Lord grant me this thine especial gift of heavenly wisdom, that I may perfectly know, what thy divine will and pleasure is, that I may always direct my ways, according unto the same, loving thee in all things, and above all things, continuing most thankful, for all thy fatherly benefits, bestowed and conferred upon me. And that prosperity overcome me not, nor in adversity be foolishly moved, to seek remedy or relief else where, but at thine hands only▪ who a●t my God and my saviour, and who hast promised, to give wisdom to all them that faithfully ask it. Oh Lord hear my prayer, and let my cry come unto thee Give me perfect wisdom, whereby I may truly discern the difference between thine heavenly revelations, (which is wisdom from above) and vain cogitations of worldly wits, considering that the one in all things, as well in adversity as prosperity, in sickness as in health, in anguish of mind, trouble or grief of body, as in wished estate and pleasure, continueth most constant, stable, patiented and firm, with due consideration, that it can not be but good, whatsoever thou sufferest to light upon us; But contrariwise (sweet Lord) the other seeketh with more diligence, to avoid afflictions, troubles, and worldly calamities, the cross sweet Lord which thou layest upon thy children, then wisely to avoid thy heavy displeasure. And that by worldly devised means, as by riches, friendship, policy, and strength, with this deceivable and fond conceit, that Fortune where she favours, there is plenty and peace, but where she frowns there is continual want and trouble. But my most sweet Lord and heavenly comforter, grant that it may be far from mine heart to think, that any thing cometh to pass, otherwise then by thine almighty providence, who willest nothing, nor dost any thing but what is most expedient and necessary, for the use both of ourbodies and souls, which we can not rightly conceive▪ without this especial gift of thine, wherewith for thy son jesus Christ's sake, endue me, that I be not lead by fond conceit, or deceive myself with worldly experience, but governing my life according unto thy will, measuring all mine actions, words and thoughts, by the right rule of knowledge, and weighing them in the balance of perfect wisdom, in the end, I may be found in the number of those discreet Virgins, who had their Lamps continually ready, and not in the number of those that were taken unprovided. That the coming of thy son jesus Christ be not terrible unto me as to the loitering servant, for want either of the light of a pure life, or gains by my tallant, but most acceptable and joyful, having the Lamp of love, & the candle of a true faith, continually burning, with in the secret Closet of mine heart, That in the end I may have free entrance with thine elect, into that most glorious kingdom which thy son jesus Christ purchased with his blood, for me and all believers. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. AS long as we bear about us this frail body, imprisoning the soul, our natures seek by all means, that which is contrary to the spirit, accounting that wisdom which is mere foolishness, where fore (good Lord) vouchsafe to send down that wisdom which waiteth about thy throne. And plant the same in mine heart, that measuring all my doings, and devices, by the rule thereof, may always do and intend, that which liketh thee, and shun the contrary, through Jesus Christ our only Saviour and redeemer. Amen. Oh Lord increase our faith. A prayer in misery and trouble, Though thraldom thou do here abide, Be patiented, God will soon provide, To ease thee, or to end thy days. Bear thou his cross, and give him praise. LIke as the furnace trieth and seasoneth the Potter's vessel, Eccl. 27. and as the fire purifieth the Silver from the dross. So doth adversity season & purify the hearts of christians, from the dross of security. For by crosses and many troubles▪ Ro, 5. cometh patience, and by patience hope, through trial, and therefore should we think it an exceeding joy when troubles assault and pennurye pricketh us, jea. 1. according to the will of God, whereby we are stirred up, to commit our souls to God's protection and will, by well doing, manfully bearing all afflictions all extreametyes of this world, and keep (as it were) secret the sorrows which calamity bringeth unto us, 3. Esd 10. and that with patience, whereby thou shalt appear an happy man, & receive a crown of life, which God thy faithful Creator, hath promised to all those that bear his Cross with patience. And think not that want of relief in poverty. Lack of comfort in sickness, vexation of enemies, slanders misreports, contempts, or any other kind of trouble, either of body or mind, happeneth unto thee by Fortune (as it is among such as have not the feeling of the truth (commonly termed) But by the providence of God, and that for thy good, if with wisdom thou weigh the same by patience, accepting it, as a fatherly loving correction, putting thee in mind of thine offences, and uncertenty of worldly vanities: and be not dismayed, but turn from thy wicked ways, cleaving and referring thee by hearty prayer, unto God (whose will it is for thy better profit, that such things should light upon thee) without irksome taking it, or with greater desire to die, than had S. Paul, when he prayed to be loosed and to be with Christ. Stand fast, stand faithful, and take patiently all crosses, all afflictions, all temptations and calamities here, being a ready way to patience, and pray for the aid of almighty GOD, whose hand is always ready to help such as are afflicted here for his Christ's sake. By many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of heaven. Call upon God, Psa 7. in the day of trouble and he will deliver thee. The Lord heareth the cries of the righteous Psal 34. and delivereth them out of all their troubles. But if thou cry, and be not heard (I mean) presently relieved, think not much at it, it is for the best, wherefore accept it willingly and make of necessity a virtue, which is, take patiently that which of thyself thou canst not avoid. MY God my God, vouchsafe to turn thy loving and favourable countenance towards me, thy poor creature, who am brought very low, and mine enemies, laugh & rejoice at my fall. I am like an Owl in the desert, that the birds, of the airegaze & wonder at, mine estate is altered, my store is turned into scarcity, and my wealth into want, my plenty into poverty, and joy into sorrow & sadness. Oh sweet Lord, my prosperity is turned into adversity, my friends have forsaken me. And where they have often promised to help me, they do not only, not perform the same, but they disdain my company, they loath and abhor my presence. I am utterly refused of all mine acquaintance, and they that were before my familiars, are now my deadly foes. Sweet Lord thou seest how I am clapped up in cares, how I am environed with a thousand causes, that procure intolerable grief, both in body & mind. Oh Lord I have no refuge, I have no place of defence. I have no mean to help myself, I am so bewrapped in calamity, that I can not enjoy any liberty either of body or mind, but most sweet Lord, most loving and most favourable, most able and most ready to help, such as come to thee laden with distress, lo here I lie at the gate of thy mercy, knocking for ease, humbly craving thine assistance, who hast willed such as are heavy loaden to come unto thee, I come, I come, sweet Lord, as one burdened with grief, receive me and help me, show thy loving countenance, & extend the help of thine holy arm, and I shall be safe, mercifully hear me after thy wont goodness, consider my distress weigh mine afflictions, & look upon my troubles. So shall my sorrow be turned again into joy, my poverty shall be relieved, with sufficiency, and all shall go well with me, for (sweet Lord) although when I consider mine estate▪ when I view my present misery and feel my want I be stricken with great sorrow in mind, and vexed with intolerable grief: yet when I consider, the cause of my troubles, with due consideration of thine intent therein. Then can I not but comfortably resolve myself, Then doth inward comfort assuage the extremity of my grief and sorrow, remembering that thou hast said, that whom thou lovest, thou punishest. Wherefore I cannot but give thee thanks (sweet Lord) for this thy fatherly correction, in altering mine estate, for better try all of my patience. That by patience I may take hold of hope, that so by hope of thy goodness, loving kindness, and fatherly promises, which deceivest no man, that unfeignedly dependeth upon thee) I may enjoy a most comfortable renewing of mine happy estate again, at thy good pleasure. I cast all my burden upon thee, as thou willest all those that are heavy loaden to do. Refresh me most loving and merciful God refresh me with the timely showers of thy favour and love. That the joy and gladness of mine heart, may grow up and choke the weeds of sorrow, and anguish of mind. Oh my surpassing comforter, leave me not destitute of thy defence, and patronage, vouchsafe evermore to be present with me, in all my troubles, that I faint not, but may rather rejoice in tribulation, knowing, that a crown of life, is laid up in store, for as many as bear thy yoke with patience. Assist me therefore (good Lord) in all these vexations and temptations of mine, that I may patiently look for thy good deliverance, which although it come not as I wish, yet that (staying thy leisure) in thy good time, I may be satisfied of my godly desire, which thou hast promised never to defraud us off, nor suffer us to departed empty away. There was never any confounded that trusted in thee, nor any forsaken that called on thine holy name. Thou raisest the simple out of the mire and dust. Thou puttest down the mighty from their high seat, and exaltest such as are meek and of a lowly mind. Lord I cleave unto thee, I trust in thee, I depend only on thee, being poor, thou rich, I weak, thou strong, I blind, thou giving sight, mine aid is of thee, my comfort in thee, and all my joy cometh from thee; Grant therefore sweet Lord, that I think not the continuance of this my hard estate to be long, or burdensome unto me, but may willingly accept the same, as most sweet light and wholesome for me, and of a short time, always referring it, to thy good pleasure, whether thou wilt raise me up or keep me low. Thou knowest what is most necessary and expedient for me: And therefore do with me what thou wilt, send me help when thou wilt and as thou wilt. Lo here I lie at the gate of thy goodness and mercy, still looking for thy stretched out arm, to remove that, which not of malice, but of love, thou hast laid upon me. Good Lord for thy mercy's sake, give me not over, leave me not altogether helpless, take not thy favour utterly from me. But as thou hast fatherly corrected me, so vouchsafe lovingly to embrace me again, sweet God for thy son jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Oh Lord increase our faith. A short prayer to the like effect often to be said. WHen thou wilt Oh Lord remove this heavy burden from me, renew my comfort and drive away the cares of mine heart, by the hand of thy loving kindness, whom by my sin I have offended, come again unto me Oh Lord in love, and show me thy loving countenance, take away these miseries which I have deserved, and as in love thou punishest, to the end I should convert from sin. So Lord I being sorry for my sins, heartily pray thee to give me grace, and comfort again, through the same thy love, for jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer to be defended from enemies. If thou take God to be thy stay, Thy foes shall not thy soul dismay. IF it be possible (as much as in thee lieth) have peace with all men. Rom. 12. And offend none but if it fall out that the world hate thee, take it not grievously, joh. 15. (if thou have not deserved it) but if thou have deserved it, be sorry and seek unity & concord quickly, least suddenly thine adversaries entrap thee in thy ways, and so●● scredite thee. The most just men have been wrongfully accused & have (guiltless) been condemned, in many & sundry things as Christ himself, the pattern of all integrity, the saviour of the world was accused of drunkenness of working by the power of devils, & such like yet prayed he for his enemies, so likewise pray for thine enemies, & do for them what lieth in thee, as to seed them when they be hungry Ro. 12. giving them drink when they be thirsty, clothing them & harboring them. Bless them that curse you Mat. 5. do good to them that hate you, & pray for them that hurt you, so shall you have recompense at the hands of God. And in any wise seek not to revenge, for it is the office of God. Serve him & he will bless thee & will lay his ●nrsse upon thine enemies, Pro. 30. & will save thee out of their hands. Saul could not hurt David in respect that David put his trust in God, although he were his mortal enemy. 1, Sam. 18. Rejoice not at thine enemies fall, neither be thou glad when he decayeth. Pro. 24. but pray for his amendment. And GOD as he hath promised will be thy rock, thy delivery, thy shield & horn of thy salvation, and thy refuge from cruel enemies. 2. Sam. 22. for in fearing him, thine enemies shall fear thee. five shall chase an hundred, and an hundred shall put ten thousand to flight, Le. 26 for the Lord hath respect to them that love him and keep his covenant▪ he will arise and scatter their enemies, yea as the smoke vani sheath, so shall he drive them away, Psal. 48 & as wax melteth at the fire, so will he make thine enemies to perish at his presence, trust in him faithfully, & fear not thy foes. Keep me Oh God from the hands of such as go about to do me hurt and undeservedly to take away my life, for many there be, that hate me, seeking my shame, my destruction, and overthrow, in so much as without thine assistance, thy protection and aid, I shall not escape their hands, I shall not avoid their tyranny but that they will obtain their desires, and accomplish their devices, to mine utter undoing▪ they are good Lord many and more than I can number that seek to do me evil yea my neighbours & familiars, & not the least of them but is of power and ableness to destroy me, yea as it were to eat me up, unless thou take part with me against the furiousness of mine enemies. But Lord why should I fear? why should I say in mine heart, they are so many & so mighty that I can not resist them? so furious that I can not escape ●hem? So politic that I can not prevent them? my trust is in thee, and unto thee I fly, in all their assaults, who art a Castle and fortress so strong, that there is none, be he never so victorious, that can prevail against the least that trusteth in thee, and resteth under the shadow of thy wings, wherefore Lord for thy son jesus Christ's sake receive me, who come unto thee as the strength of my being, humbly beseeching thee to look upon my cause, to consider my troubles & to weigh the sorrows of mine heart, lift up thyself against the furiousness of mine enemies, drive back and con found mine adversaries, adversaries thine own self fight thou against them, that fight against me. Turn their devices and wicked imaginations from me to their own hindrance, let the weapons, which they lift up to hurt me withal, pierce themselves, and the malicious words which they utter to my reproach redounded to their own shame, let such as seek to persecute me without a cause, be discomforted, & driven backward, & give me patience to bear their cruelties considering, that there was never any (no not the most righteous) but were subject to the evil devices, slanderous words, & wicked practices of the wicked, whose tongues were full of guile, and the poison of Asps was under their lips, who were not ashamed to speak most approbriously of thine own self, sweet jesus, who wast void of all offence, yet slew they thee▪ & thine Apostles, I cannot therefore (Oh merciful God) but take these extreme dealings of mine enemies with the greater patience, with greater humility and more hearty thanks, for accepting me as worthy to be of the number of such as the wicked do hate & grudge at. But most (sweet Lord) as thou sufferest for a time such railings, backbitings, menacing words evil opinions, and evil dealings, to prevail against me, for the better enuring my frail nature to bear greater burdens. So vouchsafe to preserve me from all such envious hearts and malicious tongues, and defend me from all blood thirsty men, and from the hands of such as go about to hurt me. And in steed of them (if it so please thee) vouchsafe to choose out and appoint for me, such as may be faithful, godly, virtuous, religious, loving and friendly, that both in the fear of the one, & love of the other. I may bear myself, by thine example and grace, so upright in all my doings, as mine adversaries take none advantage against me, but that seeing the sincerity of my life, and soundness of my conversation, mine enemies may be altogether ashamed, so much as to mutter any thing against me, much less to devise any thing to hurt me withal, or to overthrow my doings: and the godly glad and rejoice at my well doing. Oh Lord strengthen my saith, and arm me with continual hope in thee, whereby I may be able to withstand all the cruelties of mine adversaries, in such sort as they may know it to be thyself, who fightest for me and defendest my cause against their fury. Behold (Oh Lord) my trust is in thee, thy rod comfort me, and thy staff stay me up that I fall not into their hands, by trust in mine strength, which is as a broken Reed in mine own policy or wisdom which is foolishness before thee▪ or in the help or friendship of man, which is vain & fallable. But lead thou me and guide me in all my doings, cogitations and words, lest I erring from thy commandments, inclining mine heart, to vaneties, and vice, mine enemies take just occasion to say, ah ha, we saw it with our eyes, & bring up an evil report of me, and that undeservedly: Oh Lord guide me in all truth, establish in mine heart, true desire to walk uprightly in all my ways, in humbleness of mind, not in pride, lest they say he is so haughty he knoweth not himself, preserve me from drunkenness, lest they say he is now out of the way of discretion, he is beside himself, we have now sit opportunity to work our wills on him, and so set on me to hurt me, vouchsafe also to keep me from the dangerous desire of fleshly lust, from haunting the places suspected, or polluted with uncleanness, lest they (taking just occasion by my lewd behaviour) speak that which indeed may redound to my shame, and deserved infamy. Finally Oh lord keep me from all evil, that although, by reason of my corruption, I be naturally inclined to wantonness and excess, thou wilt give me sobriety, lowliness love, (even to mine enemies,) chastity, wisdom, and discreet understanding, both of their wills, and mine own weakness, that through thy grace framing my doings according to thine heavenly will in all things, leading the whole course of my life in cinserety and godly behaviour, the righteous may be glad and rejoice thereat, magnifying thine holy name, who, so regardest the prosperity of thy servant, that thou sufferest him not, to fall into the hands of such as would eat him up: (And let not the adversaries of thy truth (Oh Lord) unjustly rejoice over me, tauntingly, and contemptuously mocking me. But Lord I am in thine hands, & do confess it to be great and good reason, that thou shouldest do with me, what best seemeth to thy f 〈…〉 early will, accounting this thy trial of my patience, to proceed even of thy mere love, And therefore (if thou wilt that they set upon, or follow, to kill me, to persecute me, to laugh and scorn at me, to frame approbrious speeches, and devices against me) vouchsafe to continue my defence, my strong Castle and (as it were) the pillar of a cloud standing between me and them, as thou stoodst in the wilderness, between the Tents of the Egyptians, and the Tents of the children of Israel, so that the Egyptians, could not prevail against them. Lord (if thou wilt) thou canst turn their hearts, thou canst molisye the hardness thereof, thou canst turn their hatred into love, and their malice into good will, and give them in steed of hearts to work wickedness, merciful and godly minds, I refer it to thine heavenly providence, and wholly commit myself into thine hands, humbly praying thee for thy son jesus Christ's sake, to deal with me and them according to thy mercy, and loving kindness, & not after our deserts: be thou merciful unto me, and evermore mightily defend me, unto my lives end, conducting me uprightly in all my ways, for jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Oh Lord increase our faith. A short prayer to the like purpose. LOrd I am a sinful creature, and have deserved thine indignation against me, yea I confess that I have deserved many and great punishments, yet Lord for thy mercy's sake, turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me, let not mine enemies prevail in their mischievous devices against me. I am in thine hand, and they are within the compass of thy power, stay their fury, let them not take effect in their devices against me, but for thy son Jesus sake stand between me and them and put them back, and as I have offended thee, by natural blindness, so by the working of thine holy spirit I shall rise to thee, and live in thee again, through Jesus Christ our Lord, which vouchsafe to grant, that they may not only, not prevail but be ashamed, and fly, swéets God Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer when a man taketh a journey. Before thou take thy journey pray, That God, by Christ, will guide thy way FOr as much, as the earth is replenished with many perils and sudden dangers, have diligent regard, that when thou takest thy journey, to desire instantly the almighty God, to conduct thee, as he vouchsafed to conduct Tobye, by the hand of his Angel raphael, in his journey to Rages, Toby. 5, defending him from many dangers, and especially from the fish, which was like to have devoured him. So shall he likewise send his Angels to take charge of thee that no kind of danger shall prevail against thee, if thou heartily pray his aid, behaving thyself godly and virtuously, not provoking his anger, by enterprising that which is either uncomely or unlawful, but be doing good, as S, Paul in all his journeys saying faithfully and often, the right hand of the Lord mightily defend me. Act. 1 almighty God, & most merciful father, who guidest and defendest all those that in thy name walk & travail in this world, vouchsafe to stretch forth thine hand over me, thy poor creature, lead me and conduct me, in this my journey, which urgent occasion forceth, & considering (good Lord) that the paths, (yea every corner of this wretched vale of misery) is replenished with innume rabble perils and dangers both of body and soul, whereinto without thine assistance, protection & aid, without the help of thy mighty hand, and out stretched arm, we can not but fall and perish, walking and wandering, in the troublesome and dangerous coasts of the earth, where robbers, thieves, and evil affected persons, in great number, secretly lurk, violently to take, not only our proper substance and goods, which by the great labour and sweat of our bodies, we have gotten, or otherwise by thy providence, given us, but out lives, also if we be not prevented, and by thy good and fatherly providence defended. Wherefore I humbly beseech thee. Oh God almighty, if any such lie in wait in my way at this time, grant me foreknowledge thereof, that of thy mere mercy▪ I may happily avoid their pretended evil, either by betaking me another way, or may be defended under the shadow of thy wings, and so encounter with them, that by the force of thy right hand, I may overcome them, being of mine own self, of no force, neither lieth it in the strength of our own hands, to put back or overcome such, as in this wicked intent, arise up against us. It is not the sword (good lord I confess) the spear, nor strength of the Horse, but thine own power that overcometh for us. Vouchsafe therefore (Oh Lord) thine holy Angel to go with me, let him go before me, to direct me, to save me preventing me from all dangers, as he did thy servant Toby, going into a strange Country. Conduct me safely (sweet God) in the name of thy son jesus Christ, that my business may take good success, and I make a safe and prosperous return, without hurt either by the merciless and great waters, by wild Beasts of the field, save me from the stroke of Thunder, from lightning and tempest, preserve and keep me, as the apple of thine eye, under the shadow of thy wings, from the ways of the wicked that accomplishing the end of my journey, I may effectually finish, and with happy success end my business, and by thine omnipotent conduction, prosperously return again, according to thy will (sweet God. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A thanks giving, after return. At thy return give God the praise. Who still conducts thee in thy ways. COnsider what dangers thou hast escaped, in passing the pirrilous places of this world (no place or time being without his danger) And therefore at thy return, either unto thine own home, or to any other place of rest: Be not unmindful to give God, hearty and unfeigned thanks for his gracious protection, and fatherly conduction. So shall he, our heavenly protector, evermore be mindful to direct thee in all thy ways. I Thank thee Oh most loving and most merciful God, that it hath pleased thee to give me prosperous and happy return, from this my journey, escaping divers and sundry dangers. which do abound in all corners of the earth, and hast given me such success, in my business, as (I trust) shallbe for my best, and hast of thy goodness & mere mercy, brought me again unto mine own home, and dwelling place, to recreate my wearied members. Also I thank thee (Oh merciful God) for protecting and saving me, thy silly creature, from all pirrills, as from drowning by water, from the stroke of thunder, and blasts of lightning, from the claws and jaws of wild beasts of the field, and for defending me from thieves, robbers, and men of bloody conditions, which (and sundry other) mishaps, I have (in this my journey) escaped, and whereby I have both seen and heard of divers other to have perished, acknowledging it thine only goodness, thine unspeakable love, and mere mercy, not able sufficiently to praise thee for the same, nor to yield sufficient thanks for thy favour therein. To thee (sweet Lord) be all honour, pray see, dominion and glory, for ever and evermore. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A thanks giving to God the Father, God the Son, and God the holy ghost, worthy to be often said. Give thanks to God who did us make, And to his son so dear: Who did our ransom undertake, With tho'ly Ghost so clear. ALthough we can not sufficiently praise God, our heavenly father, for his exceeding love in making & creating us in the beginning to, his own image & likeness (and that when we were not) let us (yet) humble ourselves with dutiful obedience, as good children to a loving father praying for grace to set forth (as much as in us lies) his praises with David who said. Psam 145. great is the lord & marvelous worthy to be praised, who made heaven & earth the sea & all that is therein who keepeth his covenant & fidelity for ever, giving us, for his son jesus Christ's sake all things for our use in time convenient, as by the placing the stars in heaven with the son & moan, their course & orderly motions, the herbs of the field and due manner of their spring fading & withering again. The sea so environed, compassed, & notwithstanding, the rage & force thereof, kept within his limits & appointed bounds with the fishes so infinite therein both small & great, & the ebbing & flowing thereof which all serveth only for the use & service of man, yea & with out the which man could not continue, yet especially & above all things, so great was his love that he spared not for our sakes, to give his only son even to die most undeservedly upon the cross for our redemption, which love of the father therein, as it moveth (or should move) a great desire of thanksgiving in us, so doth the obedience of the son, give us a greater occasion of thanks giving then the tongue of any mortal man can express, by whose acceptance of the pangs of death came the remission of all our sins as witnesseth the holy ghost the water of life▪ which being sprinkled in our hearts procureth unfeigned love, whereby we have access to Christ our only mediator, to God the father. Praise God the father, who made us, praise God the son, who redeemed us, and is our continual advocate to his heavenly father, praise God the holy Ghost, who hath sanctified gods elect, and giveth light unto the hearts of all such, as serve the Lord unfeignedly. OH almighty God, maker and creator of all things, conserver of all that thou hast made, and protector of all that love thee, who in the beginning, madest all things of nothing which all rest in thine hands, have their continuance, & being, & without whose providence, they should convert again to nothing, we yield unto thee all lawd, praise and glory, & unto thee ascrib all power majesty, & dominion, who rulest all things, workest all things, & disposest all things after thy will, to thine own glory, & to our unspeakable & undeserved comfort, who are as Pilgrims and strangers, & without the same thy continual protection as creatures forsaken, & castaways, Lord thine hand guideth all things, preserveth all things & guiveth all things for our use, most disobedient, & stiff-necked children who not withstanding thou through thy mere mercy & love vouchsafed, in the beginning to place in the garden of happiness where we should have continued, had not our first parent, by transgression made forfeiture thereof, & so highly displeased thee, that thou (repenting of the making of us) didst drown the whole world, for our sins sake, & yet so tender was thy love, so soon was thine anger converted into a desire of our salvation, that thou vouchsafedst to send into this world, jesus Christ, to redeem us into thy favour again, (a surpassing love where the offended, should seek atonement with the offender) for which thy singular love, & mercy in finite, we can not sufficienly thank thee, (god of our comfort) nor thee sweetsavi our jesus christ, for thine obedience, for thine undeserved humility, and ardent desire of our reconciliation, and eternal salvation▪ Lord increase my faith, send me thy grace, and endue me with thine holy spirit, that I may heartily render, and continually yield; all possible thanks unto thee, not only for creating keeping and preserving us hitherunto, but also for reaching unto us thine hand of love again, after our so great and long disobedience) I thank thee (Oh saviour jesus Christ) redeemer and saviour of our souls, who refusedst not, but most willingly acceptedst (for our sakes) for our redemption, from hell and eternal death, being then thine enemies) the approbrious death of the cross, among notorious offenders, being often spitefully entreated, buffeted, spette at, reviled, and most iviuriously handled, not for thine own (sweet jesus) but for our offences, for our sins (yea) to purchase that by thine obedience, which we lost by wilful rebellion against thine heavenly father's precept and will. Oh good jesus, we thank thee, that it hath pleased thee, to leave the sacred mansion of thy Father's right hand, thy celestial being, and to put on the base attire of a servant, to walk in the troublesome paths of this miserable world, and yet thinking it no robbery to be equal with God, though leaving his heavenly habitation for a time, (according to his providence and heavenly knowledge) to suffer here in this vale of misery, in this desert of sin, most cruel and most shameful abuses, only for our sins, which were so odious and vile, in the sight of our good God, that no sacrifice or oblation could appease his wrath, and deserved displeasure▪ towards us for the same, but thy death only, and sacrifice of thy precious and undefiled body upon the Altar of the cross, who willingly suffered'st the same for our sakes, notwithstanding they were so grievous, so in tolerable, and odious, that by reason of the extremity and anguish rhereof, thou wert constrained, to sweat water and blood. Oh surpassing love, Oh love without the which, the hatred of thine omnipotent father, had not been appeazed, nor removed from us. Oh love, without the which we had been barred of all access unto the seat of mercy and wonted favour of almighty God, and continued in his heavy displeasure for ever to our utter destruction, death and damnation. Oh sweet jesus, Oh healthful comforter, and giver of health and restorer of life, how can we but praise thee? how can we but love thee? how can we but magnify and extol thine holy name for ever? who have received at thy merciful hands so unspeakable a benefit, yea and who so tenderly lovedst us, that by thy means, (without our deserts) we are restored from death to life, from the deserved displeasure of our creator, to his unspeakable love and favour without which we had perished both body & soul, we have atonement now with him, that before we had so greatly offended, even God our maker, without whose favour we fall, and without whose help we perish, and pass to nought. Oh sweet jesus thou haste also taken upon thee, not only to die for our redemption, and rise again for our justification, and to place us in the sweet mansion of thine heavenly knowledge. But haste also promised, to continue our mediator to thine heavenly father for ever, while we mortal men live sinners on earth, making continual intercession for us, that he will vouchsafe never, to withdraw his loving countenance from us, his poor creatures, but to be our Castle, stay, and strong refuge unto the end. Oh Lord jesus Christ we give thee thanks, not only for that thou haste been for a time here present with us on earth, to manifest thyself unto us, by the visible show of thine humanity▪ but in making the cause of thy coming certainly known unto us, which was (indeed) in that thou wast very God) to call us from blindness & error (wherein we walked according to the will of sathan) to take hold of thy miracles, & wonders, which thou so apparently didst work, to declare and manifest thyself, to be our redeemer and advocate, and to confirm the same in our hearts by faith, as thou didst in the hearts of thy Disciples, who (notwithstanding there being present with thee, continued yet nevertheless in darkness and misbelief, without the working of thine holy spirit in them, whereby they confessed thee to be very Christ, son of the living God, and only saviour of the world; Among all which thy great benefits (Oh good jesus,) we yield thee all possible thanks, for that it hath pleased thee, to leave unto us after thy departure unto the right hand of thy father, the Lantern of light, the Gospel of comfort, the word of truth, the food whereon our souls may continually feed at full, without the which we had been left unto our former darkness, walking in error, & in our wont ignorance. And for that thou knowest us from the beginning to be carried into blindness and error, wrongfully interpreting the parrables, & dark sentences of thy gospel, through the same thy love, hast left us a continual comforter, even thine holy Ghost, proceeding from thy father & thee, who in the likeness of a Dove descended from heaven upon thee, showing himself upon the apostles in fiery tongues; Oh holy ghost our comforter, we yield thee most humble thanks that through the gift of thy grace we have our hearts prepared our understanding lightened, & mouths opened, to conceive rightly thy word, to declare abroad the wonderful things of thy law, and to manifest the secret mysteries of the kingdom of God. Thou ●rt the true light, and the light of truth, without the which, it is impossible to please God the father, nor have access to God the Son, who, together with thee (Oh holy ghost) are but one God in essence though three in person. Make our hearts pure, make us clean, sanctify us, and seal us among the number of the elect and chosen, that when we shall approach unto the seat of judgement, we may receive (through the merits of jesus Christ) not only the stipend of servants, but the reward of obedient children, even the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven. There to rest with thee Oh Father, our maker, with thee (sweet jesus) our Saviour▪ and with thee Oh holy ghost our comforter, and sanctifier, for ever and ever. To whom be all praise and eternal glory, world without end. Amen. Oh Lord increase our faith. A prayer to be said before the receiving of the Communion. THere is said sufficient in a certain exhortation set down in the book of common prayer, to stir up the minds of all well disposed persons, willingly and zealously to come to this holy table, where unto before we come, we ought to address and prepare our hearts, to put of all rancour malice, wickedness, and all kind of vice, with the fruits of the old man, which is disobedience and sin, and to put on the new man, which is righteousness, coming thereunto in a pure & clean hart, abounding with love, peace faith, & charity that we may receive it to our comfort: Read the 11. chap. of the first Cor. from the 20. verse unto the 29. and there shall you find, not only the manner of the institution and celebration thereof, but also how to receive it with heavenly profit, the danger in the unreverent and unfaithful receiving of the same: (to the cosort of the Godly, & shame of the wicked.) Sweet jesus, son of the everliving and omnipotent GOD, vouchsafe I humbly pray, and beseech thee even for thy death sake, to instill into mine hart, the gift of thy grace, whereby approaching unto the sweet banquet of thine holy body & blood which thou vouchfafest to give, for the redemption of us miserable sinners, I may by faith, eat and drink the same, and be made a fit and faithful member of thy mystical body, laying aside the darkness of old Adam, embracing the light of thine obedience, love, and patience, that, that most preacious body of thine, be not given not thy blood shed for me in vain, but may direct the whole course of the residue of my life, by thine holy spirit according to thine heavenly will, in all things, that after this life ended, I may appear before the tribunal seat of his high and heavenly majesty, as a faithful member of thine, and enjoy that heavenly enhearitaunce, which thou our head and guide hast purchased for all true believers in thee. Amen▪ Oh Lord increase my faith. At the receiving of the bread, say thus. Vouchsafe (oh sweet jesus) that as thou hast given thy flesh to be the bread of our eternal salvation. So vouchsafe to work in me by a lively faith, that I receiving the same, may be, and evermore continue one in thee, and thou in me Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. At the receiving of the cup, say thus. Oh lord vouchsafe that as thy blood was shed for me a sinner, So grant that it may through a lively faith, wash me from the filth of sin, and renew in me the fruits of righteousness, that I may become a fit member of thee, live and die in thee, for evermore. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A prayer after the receiving of the Communion. Use not the manner of many who in the day wherein they repair unto the holy table of the Lord, do not only lightly esteem the weightiness of the matter, but lewdly give themselves to wanton companies, gadding here & there to banquets, taverns, & loosely (above other days) give themselves to wanton behaviour but remember thy promise that thou hast made to god to become a new man, to 〈…〉 all wantonness, and cleave unto godliness of life. Be not like the dog that 〈…〉 ●o his vomit, or the ●●w to her wanted wallowing in the dirt of sin, 〈…〉 ●e holy, as your heavenvly 〈…〉 o is holy. Seek the 〈…〉 me of God, and the 〈…〉 thereof, and all things shall be given ●●u, and as the true members of Christ, in the end r●igne with him in eternal glory. OH omnipotent & most merciful father, I thy silly creature praise thee, not able to yield thee thanks sufficiently for thine unspeakable favour, and loving kindness, in feeding me at this time with the spiritual food of the body & blood of thy son our saviour jesus Christ, whom thou vouchsafest to send for our redemption into this miserable world and to give him even to the death, in remembrance whereof, until his second coming, he hath willed us to eat his body and to drink his blood, to th'end by saith we should be united and knit unto his body and being washed from all our sins, to lead a new life, vouchsafe I humbly beseech thee, for his sake to endue me with thine holy spirit, whereby hereafter, casting aside the works of darkness, I may from henceforth walk in the light of thy Gospel, in the number of thy chosen, waiting faithfully when he shall come again for our deliverance out of this mortal life. And whilst I live here, vouchsafe me an unfeigned desire to be partaker of that his holy institution, and through thine holy spirit, to lead my life according unto thine heavenly will in all things, keeping my body undefiled, as a fit receptacle for so heavenly food, that my soul may enjoy the benefit of the mystery thereof by saith, according to thine heavenly providence, through jesus Christ our saviour and redeemer. Amen. Oh Lord increase my faith. A devout meditation or confession of our sins, with humble request unto almighty God, that he will vouchsafe, to establish true repentance in our hearts, and of his mercy, turn away his plagues which we justly have deserved for our manifold iniquities. Let us fall down with weeping eyes, With one consent (from heart) on knees: Our sins have so deserved th●all, Nothing so sure as sudden fall. LEt us set as a glass before the eyes of our hearts, the cause of the first flood (which was falling from God, & working iniquity) where in the whole world (Noah with a small number of persons only excepted) perished. Gen. 6. Let us likewise call unto our remembrance the sudden destruction of Sodom & Gomorra with sue and brimstone from heaven, for disobeying the voice of the lord▪ pronounced by Lot for their repentance, wherein we may as it were behold before hand what will become of us without our speedy repentance, neglecting (as we do) the words & message of the Lord revealed unto us by his prophets & preachers threatening plagues to follow our wilful rebellion, let us not be like unto the deaf Adder, stopping our ears from hearing of our iniquiry which we embrace with such greediness, but like relenting hearted Ninivites, put on the sackcloth of unfeigned repentance, mourning for our many thousand sins, with fasting & earnest prayer, from the lowest to the high est, & after the good example of David & job prostrate ourselves in heart, with lamenting spirits unto the mercy's seat of our good god, who as he is not hasty in plaguing (expecting our repentance) so will his punishment be the greater without our hearty & speedy conversion, let us not therefore be slow to turn unto him, let us not defer from day to day, for suddenly will the wrath of god come, when we think not of it, & in his vengeance will be destroy us unawares. Pa●●. 7. yet so loving is he & merciful, that if we call upon his name, making our prayers unto him unfeignedly repenting us of our sins from the bottom of our hearts, he will hear us from his holy heavens & receive us again, unto his mercy Esd 10. according to his promise unto Israel, let us remember the wicked king Achab who humbling himself, and clothing himself in Sackcloth, & sleeping in heirecloth, obtained pardon for his sins. The mercy of the Lord is so great towards them that repent, that the examples thereof are infinite in the scriptures. Wherefore let us speedily for sake our sins, and more and more grow in hatred thereof, Eccl 17. unfeignedly cleaving unto righteousness, and holiness of truth. Eph. 4. Repent repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand. Mat. 3. OH Lord vouchsafe to pour thine holy spirit into our hearts, whereby we may sigh, lament, weep and even rend our hearts, at the consideration of the wicked and abominable estate of this world, which is so far gone with the child of self love, that without thine unspeakable mercy, it is even at the point to be delivered into the pit of eternal perdition, wherefore give us grace (we humbly beseech thee) from the high est to the lowest, from the greatest to the least, to repent us of our sins and hearty to turn unto thee, whose high displeasure we have deserved, through our manifold transgressions whom thou hast (in respect of our disobedience) pronounced rebels, bastards, & children of the bondwoman, & without repentance, barred, from the inheritance which thy son jesus Christ hath purchased for all true believers; Lord what shall become of us, we have so much yielded ourselves to the desire of sin, & walked according to the conversation of the old man which is corruption, so far degenerating from thy laws & divine institutions fellowing so much the will of sathan the lusts of the flesh & the vile allurings of the wicked world, that thou hast cast us off as none of thy children in so much as when we consider, the heavy & intolerable burden, which by our unrighteousness we have deservedly heaped upon ourselves in losing the favour of so loving and bountiful a father, and so sweet a saviour, it drives us into a great fear and terror, procuring a great dislike and lo thing of ourselves, for the time; but our nature being nothing but corruption, falleth into a present forgetfulness of our end, and turneth forthwith unto his vomit again. But most loving God & everliving, when the deserved punishments which hangeth over our heads, shall light and fall upon us for the same, what shall we do? It is prepared, and it is coming, we can not (by any deserts of ours) but only by the intercession mediation and deserts of jesus Christ (which neither availeth without our true repentance) avoid it. Mollify therefore our hard and stony hearts, (Oh Lord) for the same thy son jesus Christ's sake, give us lamenting spirits, endue us with unfeigned sorrow for our sins, and make us willing and ready to return unto thee; our nature being so vile, and our blindness so great, that we are most apt, even with great obedience, care and diligence, to serve, to please, and to obey, men of Authority here, in this world, (by whose disfavour there can arise but some small (or no) hurt or punishment at all; And never give ourselves, (or very seldom) to the fulfilling of our duties to thee, by executing those things which thou commandest us whereby we break and forfeit that band, which thy son jesus Christ sealed with his preacious blood, upon the cross, thereby confirming for evermore a league, and peace between thee, and such as forsake sin, and cleave unto righteousness and truth. Oh unhappy creatures that we are, who being in the very bosom of so loving and so merciful a God, should by yielding unto the desires of the flesh, the vanities of the world, and the will of sathan, be thrust out of thy presence, wherein consisteth all peace, all love, all hope, quietness of mind, patience, long suffering, meekness, and all good whatsoever. But wandering and going astray, after our own corrupt desires, what remaineth in us, but strife, hatred, misbelief, despair, covetousness, adultery, witchcraft, contempt of thy Laws, and all kind of evil? and rest as accursed. Lord we acknowledge that sin & iniquity hath gotten the highest room, it sitteth, and ruleth in all corners of the earth, and righteous dealing, simplicity, and innocency, is condemned of many. Root out therefore (good Lord) root out of our hearts, all haughtiness, deceit, wrongful dealings, and evil imaginations, and plant in steed thereof, humility, ius●●ce, and ●●leyned good will, and help one towards another. Let not sathan rule, let not the flesh p●●●ai●e against the spirit, let not the world beguile us, who are our enemies, our mortal enemies, most strong, 〈…〉 ost weak, in so much as they are not so ready to encounter with us, as we are ready to yield, they are most politic, we most ignorant, forgive us Lord, forgive us, for thy son jesus Christ's sake, strengthen us (good Lord) strengthen us with thy grace, we have erred, we have done amiss, we have followed too much the will of sathan we have yielded too much to the motions of the flesh, and too much embraced the pleasures of this world: whereby we have lost the most sweet comfort of thy celestial promises, who hast said, that who so obeyeth thy voice, in keeping and fulfilling thy Laws, shall be most blessed, yea in all his ways, in his going forth and coming in, and in all things which he taketh in hand. Oh sweet Lord, how can we therefore, but lament our estates, how can we but sigh and sorrow, that we have made forfeiture, of so many and so sweet blessings, and incurred the penalty of infinite curses of thine, by disobeying thy will, and precepts, which thou mjoinedst us, in all things to fulfil and observe: Vouchsafe (good Lord) vouchsafe of thy mercy for jesus Christ's sake, to turn away thine heavy displeasure, and punishment which we have deserved, that they light not upon us, for our misdeeds: Blot out all our iniquities, lay not our unrighteousness, our unthankfulness, and wilful rebellion against thee, to our charge, for if thou shouldest, (Lord) what should become of us? what might we look for ●as our ●●●st reward but death and damnation. Oh Lord we do confess, that for so sundry and bountiful bevefits, received at thine hands (such is our corruption) that we do not only take them without thanks, use them without fear, but most foolishly, and wrongfully, attribute the gift thereof, to some creature, and cast the praise upon him, or else we receive them as given, by fortune, and take not only the due honour from thee, but make the creature the Author of that, that cometh only from thee, the only creator, and giver of all things Oh most sweet Lord, such is our ignorance, such is our blindness, and such is the error that resteth and remaineth in us, (from Adam) through our voluntary blindness, which (though we embrace) thou offerest light, we refuse the same, we are ignorant thou givest wisdom, & we neglect the same, we go astray, thou callest us, but we refuse to come: Lord we are like the untamed Heyser, which resuseth the yoke, we are like the deaf Adder, which resuseth to hear the voice of the Charmer, charm he never so wisely we harden our hearts as the Adamant, we will not receive thy gentle callings, thy fatherly admonitions, and loving corrections. Thou commandest us to cast away the darkness of ignorance, and to put on the light of thy Gospel, but we stop our ears, we refuse to hear, opening our ears to pleasures, and fixing our eyes upon vanity, erring, in the paths of ungodliness, drinking the puddelles of iniquity. and despising the sweet water of life. Our hearts are always ready to embrace delights and fantasies, utterly despising nurture, correction and knowledge: we remember the time present, the time past, for which we have to answer, & the time to come, in which we must answer. (Good Lord) we think not on, we consider not that our time is like the flower of the field, to day fresh and fair, & to morrow cut down, dried up and withered, we conceive not, that we pass as doth the shadow, and vanish as the bubble of water, as the smoke, and waves of the sea. (Oh Lord) notwithstanding all this, we foolishly defer thamendment of our lives, upon hope of thy long sufferance, and consider not that thy wrath cometh suddenly, we consider not the sudden death of sundry, being now most lusty, gay, and strong, and by and by dead, and laid with the substance of their own flesh, even the earth, where the worms possess that, that they so daintily fed with sundry fine delicates, & clothed with nice, monstrous and gorgeous suits of apparel, sumptuous attire, broidered heir, and settled themselves in stately high houses, even to the skies, their souls departing with the glutton, where is not water to cool the heat of thy displeasure against them. Oh Lord, thou laughest at our vanity; yet most sorry to see us so led by the direction and hand leading of sathan, whose desire is to devour (if he could) even thy chosen ones. Thou wouldst not that we should perish, thou desirest rather that we should convert & live, thou rejoicest not at the death of a sinner, but there is great joy in heaven of his repentance, where unto though lovingly thou call us, we go still in our wickedness. Thou givest us knowledge of thy will by preaching, and thine omnipotency thou manifestest by thy creatures, both in the firmament above and in the earth and Sea below. But we understand it not, we bear it not away, we consider it not. The good which we should do, we do not, but the evil which we should not, that we greedily follow, notwithstanding all which our corruption, our disobedience, and wilful wickedness, thou (of thy mercy abundant) so entirely lovest us, that thou gavest thine only begotten son, to suffer the most shame full death of the cross, for us, and hast set him as equal with thyself, even at thine own right hand, to the end he might make continual intercession for us, unto thee, and that through him we might have atonement with thee, and access unto thee for ever. Wretched sinners that we are, if we by our wickedness, rebellion, and looseness of life, lose so great a benefit, which he so dearly purchased for us, even thy wonted mercy and loving favour, and make of none effect his dying for us, what remaineth for us, but the most fearful sentence of judgement, in the day when all secrets shall be opened, and every man receive according to his deserts? to whom thou wilt say: Go ye cursed into the flames of eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his Angels, which never shall be quenched▪ where shall be continual weeping, wailing, anguish, and gnashing of teeth. when we shallbe, neither ourselves able to plead to the contrary, nor have any advocate to gain say thee in thy justice. Then shall we be sorry, then shall we lament (but too late) Then shall we hear the most comfortable entertainment of the godly, when thou shalt say: Come ye blessed, possess ye the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning, where shallbe nothing but joy, without ceasing, continual gladness comfort, and unspeakable consolations, even for such as clothed thee, fed thee, lodged thee and visited thee, being in prison. Them shalt thou embrace, them shalt thou meet in the clouds, with most sweet words of comfort, but such as have seen thee (even the poor and little ones) to be sick and comfortless, and have denied them help, relief and aid, or hungry, and have withheld food, thirsty, and have not given drink, naked and have not clothed them. Such (sweet Lord) shall suffer hunger, cold, nakedness, and thirst, with unspeakable grief of conscience, which shall never have end. Oh that it would please thee therefore (Oh merciful God) of thy great goodness, favour and loving kindness, to consider of these latter days, and perilous times, wherein we live, wherein eniquitie hath gotten the upper hand, charity waxing cold, and love banished from amongst brethren, and thyself (sweet Lord) even thy poor and little ones, the Orphans and Widows, not only, not relieved, not comforted, not defended, but trodden under feet, neglected, and forgotten, even of such as have abundance. Vouchsafe, vouchsafe good Lord, (according to thy promise) to shorten these days, lest also thine elect, be seduced, with vanity, and forsake thee their only comfort. It is come to pass which thou hast said. That as towards the Summer, trees and plants of the earth do bud, so before thy coming (to make us so much the more prepared) thou hast promised to send us foreknowledge, by sundry signs and tokens, both in the earth below, which (hath by thy passing (as it were) by us) quaked already at thy presence, as also by the Sun and moon, & other thy creatures, apparently showing thy rod of vengeance, to be over our heads, ready to strike. Oh Lord we cannot but look for utter destruction, according to the weight and abundance of our sins, and iniquities, unless it may please thee to show thy mercy for jesus sake in converting us▪ we have sinned, we have gone astray, we have wrought wickedness, in yielding to the will of the flesh, but most sweet Lord, let thy light so shine into our hearts, that we may now begin, to seek only thy kingdom, & leave the darkness of sin grow to all goodness, and be mortified as touching the old man, which is corruption, die to the world And remove sathan, that with godly desires we may attain unto the perfect feeling of thy grace, that having obtained the pure understanding of thy word, we may guide our lives by the rule thereof, that after the finishing of this our pilgrimage, we may thorough the merits of thy son jesus Christ) enter into thy kingdom of eternal glory, there for ever and ever to reign, enjoying the sight of thee, and to thy name, with the rest of thy saintsses, sing laud and praise eternally. Oh Lord increase our faith, and give us grace unfeignedly to repent us of our sins. Amen. A prayer necessary to be said, after and at the end of all our prayers. VOuchsafe Oh Lord and merciful Father, in whose hands resteth the hearts of all men, who knowest what we want before we pray, what we will ask before we speak, & what we do in all things; Vouchsafe to forgive mine ignorance, dullness, and slack coming unto thee, the fountain of all health and help, increase my faith daily more and more, and kindle in me the perfect gift of prayer, that I may at all times serve thee in truth, and whatsoever I have asked, according unto thy will, at this time, give me, and what I have omitted unrequested for myself, or any for whom thou wouldst we should pray for, for thy son jesus Christ's sake graciously grant, for which and for all things else, necessary for me and then, for body or soul, I pray thee as thy son taught us, saying: Our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from all evil. Amen. Oh Lord increase our faith, and continue the same effectually in me & all men unto the end. Amen. Great plagues remain for the ungodly: but who so putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side. Psal. 32. Paul before he would presume to eat gave thanks, Act. 27, 35, Christ likewise, before he gave the bread and fishes to them that were with him in the wilderness (yea although he were Lord of all) looking up to heaven, from whence cometh all goodness, blessed it and gave thanks, and broke it unto them, Mat 14. the store being small, replenished many thousands, and left many Baskets full: wherefore take the blessings of God with thanks. A prayer before meat. OH bountiful GOD, vouchsafe to look down with thy favourable eyes of pity upon our weakness, and want, and give us at this time those things which may be to our comfort, sanctify these thy gifts, that our bodies being replenished, we may be thankful, and enjoy at thy merciful hands, the bread of eternal life, to the relief of our poor souls, through jesus Christ our only Saviour Amen. God save and still increase thy flock, Keep us within thy fold: Vouchsafe to hear when we do knock, Oh Lord our strongest hold. Preserve our Queen, be thou her stay, This Realm of thine defend: Endue us with thy grace for ay, On thee we all depend. Oh Lord increase our faith. WHen God hath fed your poor bodies, be not therewith puffed up with forgetfulness, what he requireth at our hands, for his blessings, but in a reverent and devout manner give thanks that he may continue his loving kindness to your comfort unto the end. A thanks giving after meat. WE thank thee most bountiful Lord, for this thy fatherly feeding our hungry bodies, so vouchsafe to feed our silly souls with the bread of eternal life. That after this life ended, we may ascend where Christ is gone before. Amen▪ Sith God hath fed our bodies poor, Which else would soon decay: Remember such as lie at door, Say not their cryings nay. God save his Church, our Queen defend, this Realm preserve for aye: And grant us all a godly end, And joyful rising day. Oh Lord increase our faith. FINIS. A Table to find out the principal Prayers, contained in this book. A Prayer to Christ. Folio. 1. A prayer for the assistance of God's holy spirit. fol. eodem. A short prayer to the like purpose. fo. 3 A morning prayer for the working day. fol. eodem. A short prayer to the like purpose. fol. 5, A prayer for the Queen. eodem. A prayer for the Sunday morning. fol. 7 A short prayer to the like purpose. fol, 9 A confession of sins. eodem. A short prayer to the like purpose. fol. 11 A prayer for the evening. fol. 12 A short prayer to the like purpose. fol. 14. A prayer for the increase of faith- eodem. A short prayer to the like purpose. fol, 17. A prayer against the devil, the world, and the flesh very necessary to be often said. eodem. A short prayer to the same effect. fol. 20. A prayer for the help and assistance of God in all our doings, and that we do nothing, but in his fear, and due obedience. eodem A short prayer to the like purpose. folio. 23. The sorrowful sinner, afflicted in conscience by reason of his sins, may say thus. eodem. A short prayer to the like purpose. fol. 26. A prayer for a competent & necessary living. fo. eod A prayer necessary after the hearing of the word of God. folio. 29 A short prayer to the like purpose. folio. 31 A thanks giving to God for his benefits. eodem A devout prayer, or meditation, that we may always have consideration, that we must die, which, as it is good at all times, so especially in the time of any common plague or sickness, a godly meditation. folio. 33. A short prayer to the like purpose. fol. 37 A prayer upon the Lettany, or prayer for all men, at all times necessary. eodem A prayer for the fulfilling of the ten commandments. fol. 40 A short prayer to the like purpose. foli. 44. A prayer for the true ordering of worldly titches, very necessary for such as God hath endued with the wealth of this world. eodem. A short prayer to the like purpose. foli. 47 A prayer to be said of a woman with child, fol. 48 A short and most necessary prayer, always to be said of one with child. folio, 49 A thanks giving to God after the delivery. fol. eod A prayer for wisdom. folio. 51. A short prayer to the like purpose. foli. 53 A prayer in misery and trouble. fol, 54 A short prayer to the like effect often to be said. folio. 57 A payer to be defended from enemies. eodem. A short prayer to the like purpose. folio. 60 A prayer when a man taketh a journey. folio. 61. A thanks giving after return. folio. 62 A thanks giving to God the father, God the son and God the holy ghost, worthy to be often said. folio. 63 A prayer to be said before the receiving of the Communion. fol. 67 A prayer after the receiving of the communion. fol. 68 A devout meditation or confession of our sins, with humble request unto almighty God, etc. folio. 69 A prayer necessary to be said, after and at the end of all our prayers. fol. 74. A prayer before meat. folio. 75, A thanks giving after meat, fol. 76, FJNIS. god ·IS· ·MY· HELPER printer's or publisher's device