RIGHT GODLY RULE; How all faithful Christians ought to occupy and exercise themselves in their daily prayers. Luke. 22. Matth 26. Christ teacheth us in his Gospel 〈◊〉 Watch and pray, lest ye f●●● into temptation. Imprinted at London by F. Kingston. 1602 GODLY PRAYERS. For Monday. Morning Prayer. O Most loving God and gracious father in Christ, we thank thee for that sweet sleep and comfortable rest, that thou hast given us this night: and forasmuch as thou ha●t commanded us by thy 〈◊〉 w●rd, that no man s● be idle, but always oc●pied in virtuous exercises, every man according to his calling: we most humbly beseech thee, that thine eyes may attend us daily, and defend us, and in sorrow succour, cherish, and comfort us. And so govern (good Lord) all our counsels, studies, and labours, that we may spend this day according to thy most blessed ●●ll, without hurting of our ●●●●hbour, yea that 〈…〉 diligently and warily eschew and avoid all things that should displease thee, set thee always before our eyes, and live in thy fear, and ever work thou so in us, that we may be found continent, pure of living, temperate, and acceptable before thy divine Majesty, unto the praise of thy most holy & blessed name, through jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. For Tuesday. Morning Prayer. SEeing that thou (oh heavenly Father) art that one and alone Almighty God, which art in every place, & beholdest the counsels, devices and works, yea the very thoughts of all men, and givest to every one ●●cording to their deeds: we humbly beseech thee for Christ jesus his sake, to give us this grace, that forasmuch as thou hast graciously preserved us this night past, we may not spend this day present, nor any other day of our lives, after our own minds and pleasure, which is alway evil and wicked, but more earnestly look upon and diligently follow thy fatherly will, thy everlasting counsel, thy faithful word and pleasure, which is always good, perfit and holy, and perform the same with cheerfulness, that thy divine name may alway be sanctified both now and evermore of us miserable sinners, through thy dearly beloved Son jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. For Wednesday. A Morning prayer. O Lord jesus Christ, which art the bright Sun of the world, ever rising, never falling, which with thy wholesome look, preservest, nourishest, and makest joyful all things that are in heaven and earth: shine favourably, I beseech thee, into my spirit, that the night of sins, and mists of errors, being driven away by thy inward light, I may walk this day, and all the days of my life without stumbling or offence: comely as in the day time, being pure from the works of darkness. Grant this (O Lord) which livest & reignest with God the Father in unity of the holy Ghost, world without end. Amen. For Thursday. Morning Prayer. O Lord jesus Christ, to whom & before whom all things are manifest and plain, which also sufferest not a Sparrow to light on the ground without thy providence: and which in times past, by thy holy Spirit didst guide our forefathers Abraham, Isaac and jacob, in thy paths and ways, & in a strange country didst appoint the same thy blessed Spirit and messenger to be their guide: Grant me this day most wretched sinner (whom by thy word thou dost encourage to call upon thee in all time of need & necessities) that I may have the same thy holy Spirit to direct my paths and ways this day, that I may walk according to thy godly will and pleasure, to the profit of my neighbour, and glory of thy name, which livest and reignest world without end, Amen. For Friday. A Morning prayer. O Merciful Lord God & heavenly Father, I render most high land, praise and thanks unto thee, for that thou hast preserved me both this night and all the time and days of my life hitherto under thy defence, & hast suffered me to live unto this present hour: I beseech thee heartily that thou wilt vouchsafe to receive me this day, and the residue of my whole life from henceforth into thy tuition, ruling and governing me with thy holy Spirit, that so all manner of darkness, of misbelief, infidelity, carnal lusts, and affections, may be utterly choosed & driven out of my heart, and that I may be justified and saved both body & soul, through a right and steadfast faith, and so walk in the light of thy most godly truth, to thy glory & praise, and to the profit and furtherance of my neighbour, through jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. Amen. For Saturday. Morning Prayer. O Heavenly Father, which like a diligent watchman, attendest always upon thy faithful people, whether they wake or sleep, and mightily defendest them, not only from Satan that old enemy of mankind, but also from all their adversaries; so that through thy godly power they be preserved harmless: I humbly thank thee, for that it hath pleased thy goodness so to take care for me thy unprofitable servant, this night past, that thou hast both safely kept me from all mine enemies, and also given me sweet sleep, unto the great comfort of my body. I farther entirely beseech thee most merciful and sweet father, to show the like kindness towards me this day in preserving my body & For Sunday, or the Sabbath. Morning Prayer. O Gracious Lord God, and heavenly Father, I humbly beseech thee in Christ so to sanctify me throughout in body, soul, and spirit, that I may religiously keep and sanctify this Sabbath unto thee, according to thy holy word, not thinking therein mine own thoughts, nor speaking mine own words, nor doing mine own works, but thinking, speaking and doing that which is agreeable to thy blessed will: Give me grace, carefully to frequent the public assemblies of thy Saints, and diligently to profit by all holy exercises there. Grant me a religious heart to consent to the prayers of the Church, and an attentive mind, to hear and understand the good things of truth and life, that shallbe delivered to me out of thy word. And assist me so further, that when I shall departed from thy people, I may call mine own heart to account in the things I have heard, and may confer christianly with others, for the strengthening of our faith in our hearts, and for a glorious confession of the same with our mouths, to the everlasting praise of thy glorious name, and the eternal salvation of our souls, through jesus Christ thy dear son, & our only mediator and advocate. So be it. A general Morning prayer. O Almighty God and our most merciful father in jesus Christ, I confess and acknowledge that I am a miserable & a wretched sinner, and have manifold ways most grievously transgressed thy most godly and blessed commandments, through wicked thoughts, ungodly lusts, sinful words and deeds, all my whole life. In sin was I conceived and borne, and there is no goodness in me, insomuch that if thou shouldest enter into thy narrow judgement with me, judging me according unto the same, I were not able to suffer or abide it, but must needs perish, and be damned for ever. So little help, comfort, or succour is there either in me, or in any other creature whatsoever. Only this is my comfort, O heavenly father, the thou didst not spare thy only & dearly beloved Son, but didst give him up unto the most bitter & most vile and slanderous death of the Cross for me, that so he might in his obedience pay the ransom for my sins, satisfy thy judgement, still and pacify thy wrath, reconcile me unto thee again, & purchase me thy grace and favour, and everlansting life. Wherefore through the merits of his most bitter death and passion, & through his innocent bloodshedding, I beseech thee, O heavenly Father, that thou wilt vouchsafe to be gracious & merciful unto me, to forgive and pardon me all my sins, to lighten my heart with thy holy Spirit, to renew, confirm and strengthen me with a right and steadfast faith, and to inflame me in love towards thee and my neighbour for thy sake, that I may henceforth with a willing and a glad heart walk as it becometh me, in the obedience of thy most godly and most blessed Commandments, and so glorify and praise thee everlastingly, and also that I may with a free conscience, & a quiet spirit in all manner of temptations, afflictions and necessities, and even in the very pangs of death, boldly & faithfully say: I believe in God the Father almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, which was conceived by the holy Ghost, borne of the virgin Mary. Suffered under Ponce Pilate. Was crucified, dead, and buried. He descended into hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended into Heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty, from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the holy Ghost. The holy Catholic Church. The communion of Saints. The forgiveness of sins. The resurrection of the body. And the life everlasting. Amen. But (O Lord) heavenly Father, to comfort myself in afflictions & temptations, with the assured feeling of these Articles of the Christian faith it is not in my power: for faith is thy gift. And therefore forasmuch as thou wilt be prayed unto, and called upon for it, I come unto thee to pray and beseech thee, both for that & for all my other necessities, bodily and spiritual, even as thy dearly beloved son our Saviour Christ jesus himself hath taught us, and from the very bottom of my heart, I cry and say unto thee. 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 evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen. unto the lap of thy pity. For lo thou art my hope and trust, in whom I only repose myself, having in thee full confidence and faith, so that now I may say with a very faithful heart, trusting in thy mercy: I believe in thee, O God the Father, in thee O God the Son, and in thee O God the holy Ghost, three persons and one true, and also very God, besides whom I acknowledge none other God in heaven above, nor in earth beneath: And yet I poor sinner cannot but accuse myself unto thee (dear Father) that I have sore and grievously offended thy almighty goodness and Majesty, in the committing of mine exceeding grievous and manifold sins and wickedness. For I have not kept the least of thy most godly and blessed commandments, like as thy righteousness may require & indeed doth demand the same of me, I have not (I say) honoured thee like my God, dread thee like my Lord, loved thee like my father, nor trusted in thee like my creator & my saviour. Thy holy and dreadful name, unto which all glory & honour belongeth, have I used in vain. I have not sanctified the Sabbath day with works which be acceptable to thee, nor instructed my neighbour in virtue accordingly. I have not honoured my parents, nor been obedient unto them, through whom (as by an instrument) thou hast wrought my coming into this world. The high powers and rulers, which receive authority of thee, I have not willingly obeyed. I have not kept my heart pure and clean from malice and manslaughter: yea, had not thy grace and mercy defended me the better, I should have committed the very deed also. I likewise am not pure from theft, nor from adultery, nor from false witness bearing, but have in my heart and mind wished and desired my neighbours goods and things: I have followed the great Prince of this World Satan, which hath been a liar from the beginning, in concupiscence of the flesh, in pride of living, in deceitfulness, in lechery, in hatred, and also envy, in backbiting, in despair, and also misbelief. And as I have abused my will & understanding, which are faculties and powers of my soul: so my senses also, which thou hast given me to use to thy glory, and my neighbours good, and mine own lawful delight, I have misused and misspent, in hearing, seeing, smelling, tasting, and feeling also, things that I should not, or else suffering them to be too violently carried to things I might have used. But in what manner soever that I have offended and sinned against thy eternal Majesty, (for no man knoweth thoroughly his sins, as the Prophet witnesseth) whether it hath been by day or else by night, yea even from my childhood unto this day, were it in works, words, or thoughts, secretly, or openly, O my merciful God, I am sorry for it, even from the very bottom of my heart, yea my soul mourneth for very sorrow, most merciful Father, that I am not a thousand times more sorry than I am: howbeit, in token of great repentance, though all hearts be known well enough unto thee, I do knock & strike my breast, and say in bitterness of heart and soul, Lord GOD the Father, Son, and holy Ghost, have mercy. Spare me of thine infinite mercy (dear Lord) now and all the days of my life, & let me be made partakers of thine abundant grace, in such sort that I may change my sinful life, and put thou out of me the old man, with all his concupiscences and lusts: granting me grace daily to die unto the world, and that the world may be crucified unto me and I so daily go forward in newness of life. Strengthen me O Lord, in a true humble heart, in sound love, hope, and trust in thee: give my soul grace to desire, in thee only to rejoice and repose myself, & that I may utterly renounce and forsake the vain assistance of this world, so that thou mayst find me ready to meet thee in joy, and the right use of all thy gifts, with the good servant in the mid night of death which shall suddenly steal upon me like a thief, ere I beware. Be thou to me at that time of need (O Lord) a tower of strength, a place of refuge, and a God to defend me every manner of way, and namely against that face of the fiend, who like a roaring lion will be then ready to devour me, & against desperation, which then will be ready to grieve & assault me. Let them thy comfort cleave fast unto me, thy mercy keep me, and thy grace guide me. Then especially recover again Lord God the Father, that which thy puissant might hath shapen. Fetch then again Lord GOD the Son, that which thou hast so wisely governed, and bought with thy precious blood. Take again thou Lord God holy Ghost, that which thou hast kept & preserved so lovingly in this region of sin and vale of misery, three people and one very GOD, unto whom be praise and honour for ever and ever. Amen, A Psalm wherein the sinner desireth ot be heard of God. How long (O Lord) shall my mind be pressed down with painful sorrows? How long (O God) wilt thou reject my prayers which daily I power out before thee? wilt thou Lord hear me at no time, or wilt thou now cease to show mercy? Hast thou (O Lord) cast me away for ever, and wilt thou never hereafter be pleased with me? Thy hand is not weakened but it may help, and thine ears are not stopped that they should refuse to hear. I beseech thee (O my God) for jesus Christ's sake to regard the tears that fall: & let the sigh and inward desires of my heart, move & incline thee to hear me, I have been a stubborn & froward child to thee, I have not feared thee, but have been ever disobedient & stubborn against thee. I am in prison and bound in fetters of sorrow, and so shallbe till thou with thy gracious presence shalt vouchsafe to visit me, and bring me again to liberty & joy. Keep thy mercy therefore for me always, O Lord, and the covenant which thou hast made with me, oh let it be surely performed. Keep me, Lord, from sin, and so shall I dread neither death nor hell; and as thou hast been always merciful to penitent sinners, so now good Lord forgive me my sins. Keep my heart to thee, and then shall it rejoice in thy mercy, because thou hast looked on me, and hast regarded my soul in my great distress. Let me never hereafter go away from thy ways, and leave me not now in the deepness of my troubles. Lo now be the days of health and grace, now is the accepted time, for in death who remembreth thee O Lord? or in hell who shall praise thee? Lord behold therefore my weakness and frailness best known unto thee: and look down from heaven upon the sorrow and heaviness of me thy poor creature. Mollify my heart (O Lord GOD) that I may return to thee, and walk in thy ways: for I have wandered too long in the way of sinners. Make a perpetual league with me that thou wilt put thy fear into my heart, that I never serve from thee again. O Lord my prayers be ever unto thee, let thy anger be turned from me, that I may find favour in thy sight. O Lord, look thou not upon the hardness of my heart, but as thou art a merciful God, so now be merciful unto me, and forgive me that wherein I have offended thee. A Prayer. MOst righteous God, and merifull father in Christ, for thy great mercy sake hearken to these my humble prayers which I make before thee, and consider Lord, the desires and thoughts of my heart. Let my loud cry come unto thee, & let mine unfeigned prayers enter into thine ears. Hear me (O Lord) for I am destitute of thy help. Take care for my soul, save me thy servant which wholly trusteth in thee. Have mercy O Lord, have mercy upon me, for I will never cease crying unto thee for thy help and mercy. In the day time ●ll I call on thee, and in the night my cry shall not be hid from thee. O thou God of the Heavens, and maker of all creatures, hear me a most wretched sinner, calling on thee, and take away from me all my sins, and make steadfast my faith and confidence in thee, & in thy merciful promises, that I putting my trust in them, may have, as thou hast promised, everlasting life, through Christ jesus thy Son our Lord. Amen. A Psalm that may be said. For Evening Prayer. COnsider and hear me (O Lord my God) lighten the eyes of my soul, that I sleep not in death: for if I be cast down, they that trouble me, will rejoice at it. Defend me therefore (O God) from the way of the ungodly, and out of the hands of the unrighteous and cru● man, deliver me. Even in thy fear do I worship (O Lord) toward thy holy temple: be merciful unto me, and hear the request of my heart. For happy are they whom thou hearest, and regardest in the needful time of trouble. Have mercy upon me (O God) have merce upon me: even as thou hast promised to them that love thy name. I will call on thee, O Lord my strength, I 〈◊〉 trust in thee, O thou ground of my salvation. Keep thy servant therefore (O Lord) from presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion over me: and so shall I be undefiled, & innocent from the great offence. Let I beseech thee (O Lord) the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be always acceptable in thy sight, O Lord God my strength and my redeemer. ●●t my prayers be set forth in thy sight as the incense, and let the lifting up of my hands be an evening sacrifice. O Lord grant me thy light, that I being delivered from the darkness of sin, may come to the very light which is Christ. Turn thee unto me (O Lord) and show me the light of thy countenance. Yea Lord hear my prayer also I beseech thee. And let my cry come unto thee. O Lord God, I beseech thee for Christ jesus sake to lighten my darkness, both outward and inward, & of thy great goodness to deliver me from all the dangers of this night either bodily or spiritual, that thou being my saviour in watching, and my keeper in sleeping, I may wake in Christ, and rest in peace, through thy son jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee in unity of the holy ghost world without end. Amen. O Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit, for thou hast redeemed me (O Lord) thou God of truth. A prayer of a sinner to be said daily before he goeth about any worldly business. O My celestial Father, be now merciful unto me thy repentant sinful servant, fled from mine enemies to thy help and secure. Impute not unto me my sins for Christ's sake, for I have heard thy Fatherly voice, and yet it soundeth daily in my ears out of heaven, promising me, and affirming constantly thyself to be appeased, pleased, and at one with me for thy sons sake, whom thou commandest me to hear and believe, whom I am sure is made of thee, my righteousness, my satisfaction, my reconciliation, my peace maker, my mediator & intercessor, with his prayer, my fulfiller of the law, my deliverer, & my whole holy accomplisher of all my just desires, & my Saviour Christ jesus, God & man, in whose name this day I attempt & take in hand all my just doings according to my vocation, for his glory: & my neighbour's profit, desiring thy gracious goodness most merciful Lord and father for thy dearly beloved son's sake to prosperit, & to give it happy increase, & whatsoever I take in hand according to thy will, grant me grace to finish the same. O holy father, bless all things I take in hand, with thy blessed increase, and let me not seek mine own will, but ever to pray that thy will be fulfilled in all things, now and for ever. So be it. Thou mayest, if thou wilt, after this say the Lords Prayer. And so having commended thyself to almighty God, mayest fall to some honest and virtuous exercise according to thy calling: but whatsoever thou dost, do it with pureness of heart, and with singleness of eye, yea so do it, as though God were present and looked upon thee, as undoubtedly he doth. A Prayer. Hear us O heavenly King, Father of mercy, our life, our sweetness, our hope: for unto thee do we cry even we which are the banished children of Eva, unto thee do we sigh, weeping and wailing in this vale of lamentation: come therefore our advocate, cast upon us those merciful eyes of thine, and after this our banishment, show to us the glorious light in thy heavenly kingdom. O merciful, O holy, O sweet Saviour, in all our troubles, and heaviness, O jesus our health and glory, succour us. Amen. Another Prayer. O jesus Christ the Son of God, our Redeemer, which deiectedst and humbledst thyself from that glorious state and shape of thy Godhead, to the shape of our vile servitude, because thou wouldst reconcile us (being the children of wrath and damnation) to thy father, & so make us the children of grace: we beseech thee grant us such an excellent measure of thy grace that we may ever follow even thee thyself in all blessed obedience, and may ever find and feel thee to be our present mediator before our father, for all ghostly gifts, whom we acknowledge with perfect faith to be our Saviour, which art the living God with the father and the holy Ghost, living and reigning without end. Amen. A Prayer. O Pitiful Lord God, always showing thy mercy upon me a grievous sinner, I humbly acknowledge the same, yet Lord notwithstanding I cannot but heartily pray thee to hear my prayer: though I have been a sinner, I am now through thy grace sorry therefore, and purpose by thy goodness & assistance to take no more pleasure therein, but am glad and willing to exercise the truth, and to forsake all vainglory. Wherefore therein I humbly pray thee to fortify me with thy grace, to withstand my secret enemy in all my temptations: and to assist me so, that thy most holy spirit of sapience and understanding, may have continual dwelling in me, direct me unto the obedience of thy pleasure and will, that so I may at the last inherit thine eternal rest. Another Prayer. OMnipotent and merciful God, Father eternal, which dost not despise sinners, bewailing with contrite heart the offences, which they have committed against thy high Majesty, we pray thee by thy grace to draw us near to thee and hear our prayers, and forgive us our offences, comfort us in our afflictions: and forgive Lord them that oppress us, and grant that our ghostly enemy have no power to devour us, as he desireth, but that we strongly withstanding his frauds and snares to our comfort, may die in the true Catholic faith, and rest with thee eternally our Lord jesus Christ. Amen. Sundry holy petitions to our Saviour jesus Christ. LOrd jesus have mercy on me, and forgive me my great offences, which I have done in thy sight. Grant me grace also for the love of thee, to despise all sin, and worldly vanity. Lord jesus enable me to withstand and to overcome the temptation of sin, and the malice of my Ghostly enemy, to spend my time in virtue and labour acceptable to thee. Lord jesus strengthen me in soul and body, to perform the works of godliness and virtue, to the glory and praise of thy name, and that afterwards I may come to everlasting joy and felicity. Grant me a steadfast purpose, merciful jesus, to amend my life, and recompense those years which I have misspent, to the displeasure of thee, in evil thoughts, delectations, consentings, words, works, and evil customs, and also in b●eaking thy laws: whereby I have deserved damnation. And good Lord enlighten me so with thy ghostly wisdom, that I may know thy goodness, & those things which are most acceptable to thee: and confirm me so with thy grace, that I may give good examples to all men. Make me profitable that none be hurt by me: & guide me to help those with good counsel which have offended thee: make me proceed from virtue to virtue, until I shall clearly see thee in thy Majesty. Let me not return to any of my wont sins, specially those sins which I have sorrowed for, and by confession have justly accused myself of. Let not the horrible sentence of endless death, nor the terrible judgement of damnation, nor thy wrath, ire, and indignation (merciful Lord) fall upon me. But let thy mercy and merits (my Saviour) ever be between them and me. Lord jesus grant me grace to fly evil company, and when I come among them, for thy passion I beseech thee to preserve me, that no occasion of any either mine own, or their sin overcome me, and send me ghostly comfort & strength by the true love of thy word, and power of thy spirit, shed abroad into my heart. Keep my mouth (good Lord) from slanderous speaking, lying, false witness bearing, cursing, swearing, uncharitable chidings, dissolute laughing & words of vanity, make me, blessed Lord, with childlike reverence to remember, that thou presently hearest me, which of all my words shalt judge me. Lord jesus make me to persever in the blessed service of thee, in religious exercise, & all holy and virtuous affairs. Lord keep my soul and body, make me flee sinful delectation, and patiently to suffer injuries and rebukes, as which my disobedient heart to thee have deserved more than all men can inflict or lay upon me: provide (good Lord) that state of life for me, which thou knowest shall most tend to thy honour and my eternal felicity. Lord jesus grant me grace at all times, but specially in the time of prayer to fix my mind on thee, & then also effectually to remember my wretchedness, & faithfully to call for help of thee. Yea, good Lord, give me grace to order my life, and the works of my body & soul with actual intent to please thee, that through thy merits and mercy, at the end I may obtain the reward of thy infinite joy, and eternal felicity. Let the water and blood which can from thy blessed heart, be powerful to wash my soul from sin and iniquity, and to purchase me abundance of thy grace, faithfully to serve thee. O my Lord, my might, my life, my light, lead me, feed me, and speed me in the pilgrimage of this mortality: grant me (O Lord) by the merits of thy passion, and power of thy most excellent and glorious godhead, whatsoever thy Wisdom knoweth most expedient for me, which howsoever in my miserable life I am most unworthy of, yet vouchsafe them unto me, all the time of my pilgrimage, but specially at the hour of death; when I shall be accused before thee, have mercy on me, break my froward heart, and make it obedient to thee. Preserve me also good Lord, from sudden and unprovided death, and of thy own singular grace and goodness, grant me these supplications in this prayer, which now I have made to thee according to thy will. Yea by thine own mediation, purchase for me, and bestow upon me a holy life, and blessed ending, and grant I beseech thee, after my bodily death, everlasting life with endless bliss and felicity, thorough thy merits and bitter passion: O Lord jesus, who with the Father and the holy Spirit, livest and reignest ever one God, world without end. Holy Trinity one very God, have mercy on me. Amen. A devout prayer to our Lord jesus Christ. O My sovereign Lord jesus, the very son of almighty God, and of the most clean, and glorious virgin Marie, who suffered'st bitter death for my sake, and all mankind, and didst rise again the third day: I beseech thee Lord have mercy upon me, that am a wretched sinner, but yet thy creature: and for thy precious passion save me, and keep me from all perils bodily and ghostly, and specially from all things that might turn to thy displeasure. And with all my heart I thank thee most merciful Lord, for thy great mercies that thou hast showed me in the great dangers that I have been in, as well in my soul as in my body: and that thy grace and endless mercy hath ever kept me, spared me, and saved me, from the hour of my birth to this present time. For these I say, and all other thy mercies, I humbly thank thee, Lord jesus Christ, further desiring thee that thy mercy may preserve me alway. And I cry thee mercy with all my whole heart, for my great offences, for my great unkindness, & for all my wretched and sinful life, and for this in particular, that I have not, or cannot lead myself as becometh thy servant. I thank thee also with all my heart my most gracious Lord, for the benefits and graces that thou hast given me so largely in this world afore many other of thy creatures, upon whom (if it had been so thy good pleasure) thou mightest a thousand times better have bestowed them, than upon me. But most gracious Lord, I wots and knowledge verily, that it cometh of thee: wherefore with all my heart I thank thee continually crying and saying: all honour, praise, and glory be unto thee O jesus, with the Father and the holy Ghost, for ever and ever. Amen. Another prayer for an householder. O Lord GOD almighty, most merciful and heavenly father, through Christ I freely confess, that thou art my life, my soul and my body: yea all the good which I have and all whatsoever is mine, hast thou given unto me, & that of thine own singular grace and goodness. Now sith of thee I have received it, and in me there is corruption to abuse it, make upright and order thou (O Lord God of heaven) all that is in my house. And teach me and mine to handle and guide all these outward things, after thy godly will, we being thereby more and more provoked to love thee, and in thee, and for thee, every one of us to profit another. I say unto thee, I believe, Lord help my unbelief. And yet in this weakness I cannot but entreat thee, not to forsake me, nor my wife, my children, nor any of my household. Defend us Lord from sin before thee, from shame in the world, and from sickness in ourselves, according to thy good pleasure. Send us thy holy Angel to guide and guard us, that so we may be defended in the whole course of our lives, and may be lead forth the right way, so as we may not talk, do, or think any thought against thy holy commandments and will, but thereafter to live, worshipping thee, and praising thee for evermore, through Christ jesus our Lord thy only well-beloved Son. Amen. Blessed be the Father, the Son and the holy Ghost. Let us praise him and exalt him world without end. Amen. another Prayer. Almighty GOD our heavenly Father in jesus Christ: we unfeignedly confess before thee that thy mercy and goodness towards us is infinite, and without measure. It is thy mercy and no goodness that is in us or of us which moved thee to send into the world thine only begotten and eternal Son, to take our nature upon him, and therein to work the mystery of our redemption and salvation, as thou hadst appointed, and spoken before by the mouths of all thy Prophets which were from the beginning. And likewise it was thy blessed will, thy mercy and goodness towards us, that thy heavenly Son did suffer persecution, trouble, and adversity, was betrayed of his own friend and disciple judas, traitorously taken & carried away, to be falsely accused, and unjustly condemned, to be cruelly beaten & scourged, and finally, with most scornful rebukes, to be put to the most painful & shameful death that could be devised. All this (O heavenly Father) was done through thy mercy and blessed will for our sakes, & that not only to answer and satisfy thy just wrath and anger which we had deserved, and daily do deserve, both for the offences of our first parents, & our actual transgressing of thy holy commandments, but also to restore us again to thy grace and favour, to endue us with thy heavenly gifts, that we might serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of our life: And finally to make us by the benefit of thy dearly beloved sons passion, and also through the price of his most precious blood, partners with him of his infinite, and unspeakable glory and bliss in heaven. Wherefore, O heavenly Father, we beseech thee power upon us thy holy spirit and make us in our hearts clearly to see, comfortably to feel, and most steadfastly to believe this thine infinite gracious goodness, showed and given unto us in thine own son our Saviour jesus Christ: and with this belief make us to put all our confidence and hope of salvation in him alone, whom thou hast appointed to be our only redeemer and Saviour. Make us alway ready and able to render unto thee most humble and hearty thanks, for this thine incomprehensible mercy and goodness towards us: finally, so to make us profess the death of thy dearly beloved Son, that we renounce and forsake all sin, yea, that we may always feel it in ourselves, and plainly show it forth to others, that we arise with him in newness of life, in righteousness, innocency, and all true holiness, & after this life may reign with him in everlasting glory: hear us O heavenly Father, for our Lord jesus Christ's sake. Amen. Almighty God our heavenly Father, we beseech thy gracious goodness now and at all times so to assist us, that like as thy only begotten, and dearly beloved son our Saviour jesus Christ, according to his blessed will, suffered death willingly, and bitter passion for our redemption, and salvation, having thereof foresight, & perfect knowledge: so in like manner when it shall please thee so lay any cross, and afflictions upon our backs, that we may both willingly undergo it, & patiently bear it, & powerfully overcome it, to thy everlasting glory, other men's spiritual benefit, and our own endless salvation through Christ. Hear us herein, O heavenvly father, for our Lord jesus Christ's sake. Amen. O Our Saviour and redeemer jesus Christ, which in thy last Supper with the Apostles, didst give thy blessed body & blood under the visible elements of bread and wine, grant us grace we beseech thee, ever steadfastly to believe, and sincerely to acknowledge in this most blessed Sacrament not only thine infinite and Almighty power, but also thine incomprehensible love towards us, yea assist so, that when we come to the participation of these blessed mysteries we may alway worthily receive the same, according to thy holy ordinances in such sort, as that thereby we may always obtain strength of faith in the truth of thy promises, & increase of holiness by the uniting of the spirit with thee our head, and by thee and thy spirit, with all the company of them that be truly thine, which be thy spiritual and mystical body, and our spiritual, and Christian brethren. Herein hear us O Christ our Saviour for thy name's sake. Amen. ALmighty GOD and our most loving Father in Christ, whose holy Apostle Peter presuming of his own power & strength did miserably fall not only in the denial of his master Christ, for fear of an handmaid, but also in sorswearing, and cursing himself, if ever he knew him: grant us grace we beseech thee mercicifull Father, that we never presume of our own might & power, but that being in our own hearts humble & lowly, and acknowledging our infirmity, frailty, and weakness, we may ever in all our affairs, receive at thy hand outward & inward strength & comfort also, and may thereby be enabled unto the acceptable performance of thy holy and blessed will. Hear us O heavenly Father, for our Lord jesus Christ's sake. Amen. O Our blessed Saviour jesus Christ, which in that great heaviness of thy soul & intolerable anguish, which thou sustainedst before thy passion, didst fall down upon thy face in prayer unto thy heavenly Father, give us grace also, & the aid of thy holy spirit, that we likewise in all heaviness of mind, and troubles of this world, may run evermore by most humble and constant prayer, unto the only aid, strength and comfort of thee our heavenly father, hear us our Saviour Christ, for thy name's sake. Amen. ALmighty God eternal father, we do remember that in the condemnation of thy only and dearly beloved innocent Lamb, our Saviour jesus Christ, the judge did sit, witness was brought, Christ himself was presented and condemned, and all truth there was trodden under foot, all unrighteousness did reign, and innocency condemned. In consideration whereof we cannot but entreat thee, O most gracious Lord and Father, to grant unto our heads and rulers such a notable measure of grace and assistance even from thine own self, that they may ever in all their judgements, judge according to true justice and equity, without corruption, partiality, and wicked dissimulation, and that to the beating down of wickedness and sin, and to the maintenance of thine everlasting truth, justice, honour and glory. Hear us our heavenly Father, for our Lord jesus Christ's sake. Amen. A prayer for trust in God. O Most gracious & most wise guide, and our almighty Saviour jesus Christ, who dost lead them the right way to immortal blessedness, which truly and unfeignedly trusting in thee, commit themselves to thee, grant us grace we pray thee, not only to see this, that we be blind and feeble indeed, but also that we may so take and repute ourselves: that so we may not presume of ourselves, to see to ourselves, but may always wholly commit ourselves unto thee, to be guided by thee, and from thee may be enabled so far to see, that alway we may have thee before our eyes, to follow thee being our guide, to be ready at thy call most obediently, and to commit ourselves wholly unto thee, that thou which only knowest the way, and art alone the way indeed mayest lead us the same way to all heavenly desires. To thee with the Father and the holy Ghost, be glory for ever. Amen. A prayer of any captive, according to the form of David, when he was hid in the cave. WIth my voice I cry to thee, afore thee I open my lamentations, in thy bosom I disclose the secret words of my heart, my dolours and griefs I show unto thee, my heart is almost like to burst, so great is my discomfiture. Thou knowest all my fashions (O Lord) and thou seest well enough how the ungodly have laid their snares for me. Lo, I cast mine eyes on this side & that side, as well on my friends as kinsfolks: but all is in vain, none of them all helpeth me. And again, I cannot run away, I am so laden and overcharged with irons. O Lord my maker, and father, unto thee I cry, thou art mine only shot-anker, defence & help. Thou art my portion & heritage in all countries, yea, I have none other possession but thee only. To thee therefore I stick altogether, knowing certainly that nothing can go amiss with me, when I am under the shadow of thy wings, and thou guidest me. Consider then my lamentable complaint, behold how I am low brought by the cruel pursuers, which be much more of power than I am, defend me, deliver me from all this prison, & horrible fear of sin & death, that I may set out thy name. This once obtained, the godly folk shall flock about me, and shall not stint to give thee thanks, when they see that thou riddest me forth of these dangers to the high praise of thy name. Lord be merciful unto us, take part with us, than we shall for ever lift up and magnify thy glorious name Amen. A prayer for patience in trouble. HOw hast thou O Lord humbled and plucked me down? I dare now uneath make my prayers unto thee, for thou art angry with me, but not without my deserving. Certainly I have sinned, Lord I will confess it, I will not deny it. But O god pardon my trespasses, relese my debts, make me to feel again, and the effectually & continually also thy grace within me, stop my wounds for I am all to plagued and beaten, yet Lord this notwithstanding, I do abide patiently, and give my attendance on thee, continually waiting for help at thy hands, & that, not without some knowledge & belief of thy truth, for I have received a token of thy favour and grace towards me, I mean thy word of promise concerning Christ, who for me was offered on the Cross, for a ransom, sacrifice, and price for my sins. Wherefore according to that thy promise, defend me Lord by thy right hand, and give a gracious ear to my requests, be thou my stay in perils, for all men's stays are but vain. Beat down therefore my enemies, thine own self with thy power, which art mine only aid and protector, O Lord God almighty. Amen. The humble confession of job in his most grievous adversity, and loss of goods, children and all. job. 1. NAked I came out of my Mother's womb, and naked shall I return again: the Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away, as it hath pleased the Lord, so is it done: now blessed be the name of the Lord. Amen. In great trouble of conscience. Psal. 143. LOrd hear my prayer, receive my supplication, hearken to my plaint for thy righteousness. Try not the law with thy servants, for truly then shall no living man be found unguilty, yea, not one of the saints should escape quit at the bar, unless thou grant him thy gracious pardon, in so much as the very stars be not pure and faulties before thee, in the Angels thou foundedst sin. O Lord mine enemies grievously hunt my soul, they beat & drive it down, they thrust it into dark dungeons, where felons (convict and condemned to death) were wont to be kept, my spirit is sorrowful, my heart is heavy & sad within my breast, to thee I hold up my hands, requiring thee of mercy. For like as the dry ground longeth for a shower of rain, so my soul thinketh long till it hath thy help and succour, hear me therefore speedily: if thou do not, I am in despair, my spirit is all weary of this bondage. I have bidden my life far well. Wherefore (O God) hide not thy face that I be not likened to those that be hurled into the pit of damnation: after this night of misery overpassed, let the pleasant morning of comfort graciously shine upon me, that betimes I may hear and feel thy goodness, for in thee is all my trust: point me the way that I shall walk in, for if thou be not my guide, I must needs wander and stray out of the way. To thee (Lord) I lift up my soul, and that with all mine heart. I beseech thee take me forth of mine enemy's hands. Thou only art my succour and safeguard, teach me to work whatsoever shall be thy pleasure, for thou art my God, let thy good spirit conduct me into the land of the living, raise up my spirit within me: for thy name's sake bring me forth of all these troubles, for thy righteousness deliver me: destroy mine enemies as thou art gracious & favourable towards me. Those that will work me any sorrow or grief, pluck forth of the way, for I am thy servant, for thy sake suffer I all this hurly burly. As thou art God almighty and most merciful, so help thou me, thy unworthy servant, who stand in need of all supportation from thee. A prayer in adversity. O Lord God, without whose will and pleasure, a sparrow doth not fall on the ground, seeing it is thy will and blessed ordinance that I should be in this misery and adversity, seeing also thou dost punish me with adversity, not to destroy and cast me away, but to call me to repentance and save me: for whom thou dost love, him dost thou chasten. Furthermore, seeing affliction & adversity worketh patience, & who so patiently heareth tribulation, is made like unto our Saviour Christ our head. Finally, seeing that in all trubulation and adversity, we are in assurance of comfort at thy gracious hands, for thou commandest me to call upon thee in the time of tribulation hast promised to hear and secure me: grant me therefore (O almighty God) and merciful father, in all trouble and adversity generally, and even in this particularly to be quiet without discouragement, and patiented without distrustfulness, that so I may have grace to praise and magnify thee and to put my whole trust and confidence in thee: because thou never forsakest them that trust in thee-but workest all for the best to them that love thee, and seek the glory of thy name. To thee be glory for ever. Amen. A thanksgiving, and prayer also to be used, in the time of prosperity. I Give thanks unto thee (O God almighty) which not only hast endued me, with the gifts of nature, as reason, power and strength, but also hast plenteously given me the substance of this world. I acknowledge (O Lord) that these are thy gifts, and confess with the holy Apostle Saint james that there is no perfect nor good gift but it cometh from thee (O Father of light) which givest freely, and castest no man in the teeth: yea I further in particular acknowledge with the Prophet Aggeus, that gold and silver is thine, and to whom it pleaseth thee thou givest it, to the godly, that they may be thy disposers & distributers thereof, and to the ungodly to heap up their damnation withal. Wherefore sith I feel in mine own heart an inclination, to abuse these as other good things, I cannot but humbly beseech and desire thee most merciful God, and loving father to frame in me with thy holy spirit a faithful heart, and ready hand to distribute these thy gifts according to thy pleasure, that so I may not lay up treasure here, where thieves may rob, and moths corrupt, but may lay up treasure in thy heavenly kingdom, where neither thieves may steal, nor moths corrupt, and that only to mine own comfort, whom of thy mercy thou hast promised to reward, therefore neither yet alone to the good example of the humble and meek of thy congregation, but also to the glory of thy name, to whom be all honour and praise world without end. Amen. The prayer of Manasses King of juda. O Lord almighty, God of our father's Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, and of the just seed of them: which hast made heaven and earth, with all the ornaments thereof, which ●ast ordained the sea by the word of thy commandment, which hast shut up the deep, and hast sealed it for thy fearful and laudable name dreaded of all men, and honourable before the face of thy power, the fiery anger of thy threatening is above all measure heavy to sinners, but the mercy of thy promise is great and unsearchable, for thou art the Lord God most high above all the earth, long suffering, and exceeding merciful, and sorry for the malice of men, I have provoked thine anger, and have done evil before thee, in committing abominations, and multiplying of offences. And now I bow the knees of my heart, requiring goodness of thee: O Lord I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned, and know my wickedness, I desire thee by prayer, O Lord, forgive me, O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with mine iniquities, neither do thou always remember my evils, to punish them: but save me (which am unworthy) after thy great mercy, and I will praise thee everlastingly, all the days of my life: for all the power of heaven praiseth thee, and unto thee belongeth all glory, world without end. Amen. A prayer of jeremy. jere. 17. heal me (O Lord) and I shall be whole, save thou me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. Be not thou terrible unto me (O Lord) for thou art he in whom I hope. When I am in peril, let my persecutors be confounded, but not me. Thou shalt bring upon them the time of their plague, and shalt destroy them right soon. Amen. A prayer of Ephraim or Israel in the Prophet jeremy. jerem. 31. O Lord, thou hast chastened me, and thy chastening have I received as an untamed calf, convert thou me, and I shall be converted, for thou art my Lord God: for as soon as thou didst turn me, I repent myself: and when I understood, I smote upon my thigh, I confessed and was ashamed, because I suffered the reproach of my youth. The prayer of jesus the son of Sirach, in necessity, and for wisdom. Eccles. the last chap. I Thank thee (O Lord and King) and praise thee O God my Saviour, I will yield praises unto thy name. Thou hast delivered my body from destruction, for thou art my defender and helper, from the snare of the false tongue, and from them that are occupied in lies. Thou hast been my helper from such as rose against me, and hast delivered me according to thy great mercy, and thy holy names sake: thou hast delivered me from the roaring of them that prepared themselves to devour me, out of the hands of such as sought after my life, from the multitude of them that trouble me, and went about to set fire upon me on every side, so that I was not brent in the midst of the fire. From the deep of hell thou deliveredst me, from the unclean tongue, from lying words, from the wicked judge, and from the unrighteous tongue. My soul shall praise the Lord unto the death, for my life drew near unto hell downward, they compassed me round about on every side, and there was no man to help me: I looked about me if there were any man that would secure me, and there was none. Then thought I upon thy mercy (O Lord) and upon the acts that thou hast done of old, namely, that thou deliverest such as put their trust in thee, and riddest them out of the hands of the false paynims. Thus lifted I up my prayer from the earth, and prayed for deliverance from death, I called upon the Lord my Father, that he would not leave me without help in the day of my trouble, and in the time of the proud, I will praise thy name continually, yielding honour and thanks unto it, and so my prayer was heard. Thou savedst me from destruction and deliveredst me from the unrighteous time. Therefore will I acknowledge and praise thee, and magnify the name of the Lord. When I was but young ere ever I went astray, I desired wisdom openly in prayer. I came therefore before the temple and sought it very busily, and I will seek for it to my last hour. Then will it flourish unto me as a grape that is soon ripe. My heart rejoiced in it, than went my feat the right way: yea, from my youth up, sought I after it, I bowed down mine ear a little and received it: I found in myself much wisdom, and prospered greatly in it. Therefore will I give the glory unto him that giveth me wisdom, for I am advised to do thereafter. I will be jealous to cleave unto that that is good, so shall I not be confounded. My soul hath wrestled with it, I lifted up my hands on high, then was my soul lightened through wisdom, that I acknowledged my foolishness: I ordered my soul after it, I found her in cleanness, I had my heart in it from the beginning, and therefore shall not I be forsaken. My heart longeth after it, and therefore I got a good treasure. Through it the Lord hath given me a new tongue, wherewith I will praise him: Oh come unto me ye unlearned, and dwell in the house of discipline, withdraw not yourselves from it, but common on these things, for your souls are very thirsty. I opened my mouth and spoke, O come and buy wisdom without money, and bow down your neck under her yoke, and let your soul receive discipline, it is even at hand, and ready to be found. Behold with your eyes, how I have had but little labour, and yet have much rest. Oh receive wisdom, and you shall receive plenty of silver and gold in your possession: let your mind rejoice in her mercy, and be not ashamed of her praise, work your work betimes, and she shall give you your reward in due time. A prayer to our Lord jesus Christ. MOst merciful Lord jesus Christ, which wast sent from the most highest tower of the father almighty, into this world to relieve sinners, to gather together them that were scattered abroad, to redeem them which were punished, to lose them that were in prison, to their country again, to heal them that were sore, to comfort them that were wailing and sorrowful. Vouchsafe I beseech thee of thy singular goodness to comfort me in the punishment that I am in. And thou Lord jesus Christ, that didst restore mankind in peace and concord, to the high inheritance of Paradise, whom thou boughtest with thy precious blood, and didst make peace between God & men, vouchsafe to assure even thy singular mercy towards me, & cause me to feel reconciliation between me and mine enemies, and vouchsafe to show thy glory upon me, and to quench the anger of them all, and put away from me their hatred, and cease the malice that they bear against me, and as thou didst not only allay Esau his malice against his brother jacob, but also didst deliver jacob from the same: so assuage the rage of my enemies, and deliver me with thine almighty power, from them that own me malice, and from their laying await and desires, as thou didst deliver Abraham from the hands of the Chaldées, and joseph from the hands of his brethren: Lot, from the city of Sodom: thy servants Moses and Aaron, from the power of Pharaoh, and from the bondage of Egypt: King David from the power of Saul, and Goliath the Giant: Daniel from the den of lions: the three children from the furnace of flaming fire: Peter from hands. Even so vouchsafe to deliver me thy servant from all troubles and anguishs, in which presently I am: yea deliver me from all my sins, which have pulled down upon me all these miseries, and free me from the laying await, and from the desires of all mine enemies usible, and invisible. And thou Lord jesus Christ of thy singular goodness, didst save that which the old serpent did hurt, and destroy by suggestions and wicked council vouchsafe me such a notable measure of thy grace and defence that I may avoid from the devilish counsel which mine enemies have done & would do against me: and frustrate and avoid all their evil counsels, as thou didst overthrow the counsels of Achitophel, which gave counsel to Absalon against his father David: Amen. A fruitful meditation not to be said with the mouth lightly, but to be cried with heart, and mind, oft and mightily. O Most excellent goodness, withdraw not thou thy mercy from me, O most mighty maker, despise not me, which am the work that thine own hands have made. O most prudent redeemer, suffer not to perish that which thou hast bought with so dear a price O most holy and heavenly host and guest, both purify, save, dress, and keep thy house, and dwelling place, the which thou hast sanctified and dedicated to thyself, by thy word and spirit. When shall I love thee? when shall I be sorry and contrite for my sins? when shall I turn to thee by grace? when shall I remember thy benefits, thy meekness, thy poverty, and thy painful and bitter passion, thy patience, thy obedience, thy love and thy charity? when shall I sanctify, worship, magnify, and love thee? If thou be most dreadful, where is my dread O jesus Christ? If thou be a most loving father, where is my love? If thou be my Lord, and redeemer, where is my service? If thou be mine host, and dwell in my soul by thy grace and mercy, where is my holiness and cleanness, according to such an host? Now therefore good Lord jesus Christ, draw my heart after thee, with the sound love and feeling of thy sufferings, moisten my mind with thy most precious blood, that whithersoever I turn me, I may behold about me and feel within me the merits of thy death, that thus beholding thee, I may not with delight fix my sight in any thing but only in thee, which livest and reignest God, world without end. Amen. A godly and devout prayer. Grant me merciful Lord God to desire fervently, to search wisely, to know truly, to perform effectually all things that thou hast given me in charge, by thy holy word: and give me grace to do them simply and only, for the glory and laud of thy holy name, good Lord direct and order the state and manner of my living. And all things thou wouldst I should do, grant (I beseech thee) that I may know it, will it, and have power to do it, and give me grace to execute it, as I should do and as it is expedient for thy glory, and the comfort of my soul. My way towards thee, let it be fair, right, and well performed, not failing, nor wavering betwixt prosperity, and adversity, but guide me so good Lord that in prosperity I may continually and unfeignedly give thee thanks, and may be enabled by thee to hold patience in adversity; in all estates so carrying myself that I be not exalted in any pride, when prosperity aboundeth, neither in the days of danger and distress be depressed by any dejection or heaviness of mind above that is meet. Let me inwardly joy in nothing but in that, that serveth and promoteth unto thee: neither suffer me to be sorry for any thing but that, that leadeth and withdraweth from thee: let me covet to please no man but in thee, nor fear to displease any for thy sake, but only thee: let all transitory things be vile unto me, good Lord, for thy sake, and all things that belong to thee, let them be dainty and dear unto me, and thou good Lord God most dear of all other. Let me be weary of that joy that is without thee, and all rest and quiet that is not in thee, let it be tedious and painful unto me: grant me most to address and direct my heart to thee, and when I do amiss, give me grace to know and consider it, yea work in me for it a godly sorrow with a full purpose and intent of amendment of life. Make me now sweet Lord jesus, meek without any feigning, glad and cheerful without dissoluteness, sorry without excessive heaviness or distrust, sad and sober without hypocrisy, quiet, and merry without lightness, trusting in thee without presumption ready always to tell my neighbour his fault without neglect of mine own, and without dissimulation and fear, as in regard of him, labouring always in charity to edify him in word and deed. Make me obedient without contradiction, patiented without murmuring, content with mine own without covetousness. Give me (most loving Father and God) a waking, and a diligent heart, that no vain or unclean cogitation withwrawe it from thee: give me a noble heart that no unworthy affection pluck it downwards to earthly things, give me a firm and constant heart always labouring to break, or overcome evil: give me a free heart, yea, a heart of such liberty, that no wicked thought, or evil thing, hold it at any time in bondage or slavery. Grant to me my sweet Lord God, understanding, that I may know thee, diligence, that I may seek thee, wisdom that I may find thee, conversation, that I may please thee, long perseverance, that trustily I may abide for thee, and sure hope, that finally I may embrace thee. Grant that I be not here so afflicted with pains, and torments in the way of this life, that I should any manner of way be drawn from thee: but so Lord let me have the use of thy benefits here by grace, that also I may have fruition of thy joys and rewards in thy heavenly kingdom & everlasting glory, thorough jesus Christ. Amen. A godly prayer to desire the life to come. THis my body is the very dark and filthy prison of my soul, this world is an exile and a banishment, this life is care and misery. But where thou art O Lord, there is the very country and kingdom of liberty and everlasting blessedness: stir our minds therefore continually to remember so great felicity: power into our hearts a desire of such precious things, and of all things most to be desired. Give quickness unto our mind, and grant that even in this life we may have a good taste of everlasting joys, whereby these things of the world may seem filthy and be loathsome unto us. And howsoever we do now too earnestly and too greedily seek for them, yea account them as if it were our strong rock, yet give us grace in respect of thee and eternal blessedness to refuse and despise these bitter and filthy things, and most fervently to desire the sweetness of thy familiarity, in the which all goodness is contained. To thee be honour and glory for ever. Amen. A thanks giving, and also an intercession and prayer unto our Saviour jesus Christ. O Most merciful jesus, my sweet saviour, and most gracious Lord God, I thank thee heartily for that thou hast created and made me of nought, & for thy manifold benefits and graces that thou hast given unto me here in this world before many other, not only preserving me from vile and loathsome sickness, from shame, and many grievous dangers beside, but also giving to me most unworthy, many great and irrecompensible, yea and incomprehensible gifts also. All which gifts, most sweet jesus, I know full well, and meekly acknowledge to come of thy goodness only, and nothing of my deserving, nay, indeed without yea contrary to my deserts. Wherefore most mighty Lord God my creator, my redeemer, and most merciful Saviour jesus Christ, which when we were lost, boughtest and redéemedst us again with thy own most precious blood, have mercy on me most unworthy wretch, which have committed, and done many great sins and trespasses against thy merciful goodness, and have misspent thy gifts of grace, that thou so lovingly and bountifully didst give to me, and I for my part have so unkindly behaved myself to thee, that surely I am much unworthy to be called thy son: yet most benign jesus, thou art so bountiful of thy mercy and pity, that notwithstanding mine unkindness towards thee, yet thou wilt still have mercy, and during my life, wilt also I hope assist me to put all my whole trust and confidence in thy mercy. O Lord thou commandest (I wots) to cry and call upon thee, that thou thereby mightest have occasion to give unto us thy most gracious gifts. Wherefore most glorious jesus, which forsakest no sinner, but gladly receivest to thy mercy all them that will meekly call for it: give me ever grace in earnestness and fervency of heart to call upon thee for thy goodness. And assist me so, that I may continually dread thee, love thee, and serve thee with all my heart and mind, with all my will and reason, with all my might, power, and strength of body and soul, and grant me grace good Lord, that of all my acts and deeds done to thy will and pleasure, I may render all the honour and praise unto thee, as to whom alone of very duty it belongeth: And further I beseech thee (gracious Lord) of thine infinite mercy, that all my misspent life in times past may be forgotten before thee, which I cannot but confess that I have consumed and spent very evil, and yet I pray thee pardon and pass by it for jesus Christ sake, assisting me to walk in better courses ever hereafter: yea work in me the gift of good perseverance in virtuous living, that I may now from henceforth order my life here in this world to thy pleasure. Also (my sweet Saviour) grant me not only time and space here to repent, before I depart out of this world, but also that I may truly repent, and that so, I may be assured that I am thy servant to the comfort and salvation of my sinful soul. And (most merciful jesus) I humbly pray thee to preserve me from sudden death, and so to stand by me, at my departing, out of this transitory world, that I may not only have a stayed memory and fruitful utterance, but also may be endued with steadfast faith, very true hope, and fervent charity: and most sweet Lord jesus Christ, give me now whilst I live, thy merciful aid, and grace to pursue and follow always thy will and commandments, and so to eschew mine own frail will and wicked desires, and the devils false enticements, that in thy sight I may appear and be found to be (as I am named) thy son, and a true Christian man, and after this present life I may come to the sight of thy most glorious face in heaven. Amen. We worship thee Christ, with praise and benediction, for thou redéemest the world through thy passion. Another Prayer unto our Saviour jesus Christ. O Maker of heaven and earth, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, which of nothing in comparison didst make me to thy image and likeness, and didst redeem me with thine own precious blood, whom I a sinner, am not worthy to name, neither call upon, neither with my heart to think upon: humbly I desire thee, and meekly I pray thee, that graciously thou wouldst behold me thy wicked servant, and have mercy on me, which hadst mercy on the woman of Canaan, and Mary Magdalen, which didst forgive the Publican, and the thief hanging on the Cross, unto thee I confess (most holy father) my sins, which (if I would) I cannot hide from thee, because all things are naked before thee, with whom I have to deal: have mercy therefore on me, Lord jesus Christ, for I a wretch have sore offended thee, in pride, in covetousness, in gluttony, in lechery, in vain glory in hatred, in envy, in adultery, in theft, in lying, inbackbiting, in sporting, in dissolute and wanton laughing, in idle words, in hearing, in tasting, in touching, in thinking, in sleeping, in working, yea every manner of way, in which I (frail man and most wretched sinner) might sin. My default, my most grievous default, I unfeignedly confess before thee, and do humbly pray and beseech thee, which for my health descendedst from heaven, to have mercy upon me miserable wretch that I am. And as thou didst forgive Peter that did for sake thee. So vouchsafe graciously to pardon and pass by my grievous iniquities. Thou art my creator and my helper, my maker, my redeemer and governor, my father, my Lord, my God, and my King. Thou art my hope, my trust, my governor, my help, my strength, my defence, my redemption, my life, my health, and my resurrection, thou art my steadfastness, my refuge or succour, my light and my help. Therefore I most humbly and hertily desire and pray thee help me, defend me, make me strong and comfort me, make me steadfast, make me joyful and cheerful, give me light and visit me, revive me again which am dead: for I am thy making and thy work (O Lord) therefore despise me not, I am thy servant I confess it and thy bondman: although evil, although unworthy and a sinner. But whatsoever I am, whether I be good or bad, I am ever thine. Therefore to whom shall I flee except I flee unto thee. If thou cast me off, who shall or will receive me? If thou despise me, & turn thy face from me, who shall look upon me? therefore recognize and knowledge me, for thine own, although unworthy, coming to thee, yea although I be vile and unclean? For though I be vile & unclean, yet thou canst make me clean. Though I be sick, thou canst heal me. Though I be dead and buried, thou canst revive me. For thy mercy is much more than mine iniquity. Thou canst forgive me more than I can offend. Therefore (O Lord) do not consider nor have respect to the number of my sins and to the grievousness thereof, but according to the greatness of thy mercy, forgive me, and have mercy on me most wretched sinner. Say unto my soul, I am thy salvation, and the rather speak this again because thou hast said and always performed it, I will not the death of a sinner, but rather that he live and be converted, and turn to me. O Lord, be not angry with me, I pray thee most meek father, for thy great mercy sake: yea I most humbly beseech thee, that thou wouldst for Christ jesus sake vouchsafe to bring me to bliss that never shall cease. Amen. Another Prayer. O Bountiful jesus, O sweet jesus, O jesus, the son of the pure Virgin Mary, full of mercy and truth, after thy great mercy have pity on me. I pray thee by the same precious blood, which for us miserable sinners thou wast content to shed on the altar of the cross, that thou wilt vouchsafe clean to remove and take away all my wickedness, and not to despise me, I humbly requiring this, and that in, and for thy most holy and blessed name, O Lord jesus. This name of thine, jesus, is the name of health: what is jesus, but a Saviour? O my Saviour jesus Christ that hast created and redeemed me with thy precious blood, suffer me not to be damned, whom thou hast made of nought, and whom thou hast redeemed with a most precious ransom. Oh let not my wickedness destroy, that thy almighty goodness hath made and form. Lord jesus reknowledge, that which is thine indeed, and wipe clean away that which withdraweth or withholdeth me from thee. Now and in all time of mercy have mercy one me and confound not me in the time of thy terrible judgement. And though I wretched sinner for my most grievous offences, have by thy very justice deserved eternal pain, yet I do appeal from that exact righteousness of thine, to thy singular goodness, and steadfastly trust in thine unspeakable mercy: wherefore I pray thee, as a loving father and merciful Lord to take pity on me. Lord jesus, what profit is my blood, seeing I must descend into eternal corruption eternally? They that be dead shall not magnify thee, nor likewise all they that go to hell. O most merciful jesus, have mercy on me therefore, and deliver me, yea, be always comfortable unto me and accept me a wretched sinner into the number of them that shall be saved. And sith thou art the health of all them that trust in thee, and thou hast given grace in some measure to believe, have mercy on me: endue me with thy grace, wisdom, charity, chastity, and humility: yea and in all mine adversities uphold me with steadfast patience, so that I may sincerely love thee, and in thee wait and look to be glorified, and have mine only delight in thee, world without end. Amen. Another Prayer. O Glorious King, which among thy Saints art praised, and nevertheless incomparable, thou art in us Lord, and thy name hath been called upon by us. Therefore do not forsake us Lord God, and in the day of judgement vouchsafe to glorify us among thy saints and elect. O blessed King. Amen. If thou be sick, or in tribulation, say thus. LOrd God which dost punish and scourge thy people, not after their deserving, neither yet to destroy them, but to convert them mercifully to thee: and yet notwithstanding knowest, that through our frailties, we are ready in the midst of thy corrections to fall away, grant us we pray thee, and that for jesus Christ's sake, the strength and comfort of thy blessed spirit, that to the glory of thy name, other men's good, and our own consolation, we may both patiently bear, and graciously profit by, and at the last be mightily delivered from this malady, which worthily we do suffer, as the chastisement of our sin, and the time of faith. Amen. A very godly and necessary prayer to be said most specially at the hour of death. O LORD jesus Christ, which art the health of all men living, and everlasting life to them that believe in thee, and die in thy faith, I wretched sinner give over and submit myself wholly unto thy most blessed will, I being sure by the promises of thy word, and the pledge of thy spirit, that the thing cannot perish which is committed to thy mercy. In full persuasion whereof, O Lord give me grace, that willingly I may leave this frail and wretched flesh, in hope of the resurrection, which in most perfect manner shall restore it me again. And further I beseech thee most merciful Lord, that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soul against all temptations. And that thou wilt so cover and defend me with the buckler of mercy against all assaults of the Devil, that he may not any manner of way prevail upon me. I see and acknowledge, there is in myself no hope of salvation, but all my confidence, hope and trust is in thy most merciful goodness, I have no merits nor good works at all which I may any manner of way allege before thee: sins and evil works, alas I see a great, yea an innumerable and infinite heap: notwithstanding through thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sins, but take and accept me for righteous and just, and to be the inheritor of everlasting life in and by the obedience of thy son, and my Saviour, who was borne for my sake, who did suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake, who did both preach and teach for my sake, who did pray and fast for my sake, who did all good works and deeds for my sake, who suffered most grievous and painful torments for my sake, and finally, who gave his most precious body to die, and blood to be shed upon the cross for my sake. Now therefore most merciful Saviour, I humbly beseech thee, which hast given thyself for me to make all these things, and every other grace of thine, which thou hast freely given me, profitable to me, and powerful in me: Let thy blood cleanse me, and wash away the spots and foulness of my sins. Let thy righteousness hide and cover my unrighteousness, by the merits of thy passion and blood which I acknowledge to be the only price of satisfaction for my sins & offences. Strengthen me so good Lord, by thy grace, that my faith and salvation in thy blood waver not in me, but may ever be firm and constant: Lord let not the hope of thy mercy and life everlasting ever decay in me, but let it always rest and be felt pourefully in me, and that even to and in the last gasp. And grant further I pray thee, that charity ware not cold in me: finally, that the weakness of my flesh be not overcome with the fear of death, or any other temptation whatsoever. Yea grant me merciful Saviour, I humbly beseech thee, that, when death hath shut up the eyes of my body, yet that the eyes of my soul may still behold and look upon thee, and may assuredly feel thee in myself, for myself, to be the mighty conqueror of death and the devil, sin and hell, and all other enemies of mine whatsoever, so that when death hath taken away the use of my tongue and speech, yet that my heart may cry and say unto thee: O Lord, into thy hands I give and commend my spirit. Lord jesus, receive my soul unto thee. Amen. The prayer of Solomon for to obtain wisdom. 1, King. 2. THOU hast showed, Lord, unto thy servant David my Father, great mercy, when he walked in thy sight in truth, and justice, and in uprightness of heart with thee. Thou showest unto him thy great mercy, and gavest him a son, sitting upon his throne, as it is at this day. And now, Lord God, thou hast made thy servant to reign in the room of David my Father. I am a very babe, and know not how to go out and in. And thy servant is in the midst of an infinite number, which thou hast chosen, which cannot be numbered nor counted for multitude. Wherefore give to thy servant an heart apt to be taught, and full of understanding, to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge this thy mighty people. A prayer for obtaining of wisdom. Sapient. 9 GOd of our fathers, and Lord of mercy, thou hast made all things with thy word, and ordained man through thy wisdom, that he should have dominion over the creatures which thou hast made, that he should order the world according unto equity and righteousness, and execute judgement with a true heart, give me wisdom, which is ever among the children of Israel. For I thy servant, and son of thy handmaid, am a feeble person, of a short time, and too young to the understanding of thy judgements, and though a man be never so perfect among the children of men, yet if thy wisdom be not with him, he shall be nothing worth: Oh send thy wisdom out of thy holy heavens, and from the throne of thy Majesty, that she may be with me, and labour with me, that I may know what is acceptable in thy sight: for she knoweth and understandeth all things, and she shall conduct me right soberly in all my works, and preserve me in her power, so shall my works be acceptable. Amen. A prayer for a competent living. Proverb. 30. TWo things Lord I demand, that thou wilt not deny me until I die: vanity and words of leasings remove far from me, poverty or riches give me not: only give me that is necessary for my living, least being in full abundance, I might be provoked to deny thee, and say, Who is the Lord? or being compelled by necessity, I might steal and forswear the name of God. Another Prayer. GOod Lord God and sweet Saviour jesus Christ, the son of the everlasting God, grant unto me most frail sinner, and miserable wretch this grace and mercy, that I may ever have present before the eyes of my soul, thy holy life, thine example and behaviour, and that according to any measure of mercy thou hast been pleased, or shalt be pleased to bestow upon me: I may in living and manners follow the same. And cause me good Lord to profit, grow, and increase therein to such a notable measure, as may be acceptable unto thee, being thine own grace, and comfortable to myself, as coming from thee for the salvation of my soul. Lighten Lord, and make clear and bright my heart, with the glorious light of thy grace, that it ever may go before me, and follow me in all my acts, so that by thy grace and power conducting and guiding, I may accomplish and fulfil all that may please thy goodness, and utterly eschew and avoid all, that in any wise should displease the same. Vouchsafe sweet Saviour, I beseech thee, to direct and order all my cogitations and thoughts, all my speech and words, all mine acts and deeds in thy law and commandments, in thy monitions and counsels, and take me good Lord wholly so unto thee, that here in all things doing thy will, I by grace may be one of the souls that thou hast appointed to everlasting salvation through Christ jesus. Amen. A devout prayer to our Lord God. O LORD which hast vouchsafed of thy unspeakable goodness to make me, and ordain me thy creature to live in this transitory life, giving me a reasonable soul by the which enlightened with the truth of thy word, I know thee to be my Lord, my God, and my maker, which also I may in some sort well perceive by the visible sight of thy wonderful works, as by heaven, the earth, and the creatures in them contained together with the commodities & blessings that we daily receive by them at thy hand, all which declare the great love that thou haddest in our first creation, and also do express the singular care and providence, that yet still thou hast for us, and further do declare to us, thee to be the only God and Lord over all, and that there is none above thee, and that there is no wisdom, knowledge, power, or strength of value besides thee: and yet further also thou knowing our necessary need, of thy holy, of thy most loving favour, hast not disdained to say to me, and to other thy people by thine own most blessed word, to the great comfort of all our consciences: Ask, and it shall be given: seek, and ye shall find: knock, and it shall be opened to you. And yet for further declaration of thy great love toward us, hast most familiarly said, If we that be evil, can give unto our children when they ask good things: how much more than shall our heavenly Father give his holy spirit to them that earnestly desire it. What a sweet and comfortable saying is this? In confidence of this truth, O most blessed Lord, I wretched sinner, do ask at thy hands mercy and grace, confessing myself to be a most wicked and abominable sinner in thy sight, most weak of all other to stand to or in thy truth, most frail to fall, and ready to break all thy holy commandments: by the keeping of which, we are known to be thy true servants. O most merciful Lord God, I acknowledge myself daily and hourly to break the same: but where I have thus offended thy divine Majesty, I humbly for Christ jesus sake ask of thee mercy and forgiveness, minding by thy most mighty assistance never hereafter to offend in the same. And Lord, that I may be the better persuaded of the assured performance of the same, I humbly ask, and desire thy strength continually to make me stand fast in faith: thy knowledge and power from thee to work thy blessed will: thy might to resist all error and wicked imaginations: thy wisdom to know the truth. For I confess and know, O Lord, that all worldly wit, policy, knowledge and strength, is but foolishness in thy sight. Therefore I ask and continually crave, good Lord, that help, and most humbly desire that thy holy spirit may guide all the imaginations, thoughts, and desires of my heart, not only altering in me my fleshly mind, but also enabling me in body, soul, and spirit, to serve thy blessed majesty: for this I know the most perfect amongst men, lacking thy wisdom are nothing worth. And great reason, because the thoughts of mortal men are miserable, and our forecasts are uncertain. And why? Our nature surely is so vitiated, and our will so depraved, and our understanding so corrupted, that it museth most, yea altogether on vain things. Therefore good Lord, I beseech thee comfort my sick soul, that it may walk in thy laws and ways, and work thy will. And Lord like as thou knowest the secrets of my heart, and the desires of the same, and seest indeed that I would very earnestly walk in thy truth, and work the works of the same truth: so Lord I beseech thee refresh my soul according to thy merciful calling, where thou saidst, Come to me all that labour and are laden (and lowly of heart) and you shall find rest to your souls, and I shall refresh you. O Lord, I miserable sinner would gladly labour in acceptable ways, and have some care that my good will and desire might not serve from thee, but be wholly bend towards thee, and like as thou knowest the same to be unfeigned in me because it is thine own work: So Lord refresh me with thy merciful grace, that now and for ever I may be steadfast in the true faith, and that I may be always obedient unto thy laws and commandments, and that I may never serve from the holy and blessed ordinances of thy true and catholic Church, which is thy spouse, and for the most part speaketh thy words of truth and life, but that I may use them, receive them, and honour thee in them so far forth as they concern thy worship, and are according unto thy most holy will and pleasure, as in things which thou hast left to declare thy love unto us, and by them to assure our hope, and to exercise our faith, that it should not be idle nor wavering: whereunto howsoever I be prove, through the corruption of my nature, and Satan's malice against me (as I am on the other side unwilling and unable to do that which is good) yet O Lord sith all things are possible with thee, though they seem never so unpossible to us, help and reach out thy most mighty and merciful hand. O most loving father I know that by my sins, I am not worthy thy blessed comfort: nay I am most worthy to be deprived of that and all other favours: but Lord sith thou hast said, that in what hour soever a sinner doth repent him of his sins, thou wouldst no more remember them: and also thou wouldst not despise the sighing of a contrite heart, I am bold in confidence and trust of thy mercy meekly and with a lowly heart to call to thee for grace and help in this troublous time of temptation, and trying of our faith. I am as one laden, yea ouerladen with ignorance, not knowing the height of thy heavenly mysteries, nor the deceitful déepnes of the crafty and subtle arguments and persuasions of my ghostly enemies, which daily do assault my sinful soul, and so burden the same that it can find no rest. Therefore O Lord, like as thou knowest my will and hearty desire is to serve thee notwithstanding these suggestions within me and without me, and that I have a desire to live and die in thy most holy faith: so Lord I beseech thee, never suffer the subtle persuasions contrary to thy truth to take place or root in my heart. But like, Lord, as thou hast created my heart, and given me in some measure a will to order the same according to thy blessed will: so Lord I humbly yield the same again into thy hands, desiring thee by thy holy spirit so to direct my ways, words, and works, that now and always they may be accepcable in thy sight. And good Lord, suffer not my soul to perish, which thou hast bought so dearly with thy most precious blood, for the which great mercy sake, of thine heretofore showed unto me, have mercy on me continually, and make me poor in spirit, and low of heart, and content with my vocation, submitting myself wholly into thy hands, so that my desire may be to thy will, and that no desire remain in me, but only to do thy will and pleasure: And grant I beseech thee that I may have none other trust but only in thee, which art only to be trusted, and all trust itself, and none besides thee. Grant further O Lord, that my poor soul may rest in thee, yea in thee alone, for thou hast said, they shall never be confounded that put their trust in thee: which trust Lord grant me never to forsake, for any vain trust, or temptation, or tribulation that may any manner of way fall out to vex my poor soul: but grant me thy holy spirit to comfort and defend me from all things that should procure thy displeasure. As thou art in Trinity one God and Lord over all, which livest and reignest world without end. To thee be all honour, glory, and praise for ever. Amen. A prayer that we may have the fear of God before our eyes in all our doings. O Almighty, and everlasting God, thy holy word teacheth us, that thou art not only a father, but also a Lord, not only a forgiver, but also a revenger, not only a Saviour, but also a judge: and as thou being a father, a forgiver, and a Saviour, dost pardon and show mercy; so thou being a Lord, a revenger and a judge, punishest and condemnest. Neither doth thy holy scripture only set forth unto us a Gospel which comforteth us, quickeneth us, showeth us glad and joyful tidings, forgiveth our sins, and quieteth our consciences, and bringeth us unto everlasting life: but also a law which reproveth, accuseth, condemneth us, woundeth and slayeth our conscience, yea, and throweth us down headlong into the deep dungeon of hell. And as the holy Gospel lifteth us up and maketh us glad with the hope of remission, and forgiveness of our sins: so doth the law pluck us down, and almost drive us unto desperation for fear of thy plagues, and everlasting punishments: so that we not only love thee, as a father, a forgiver, a Saviour, but also fear thee as a Lord, a revenger, a judge. For as much therefore, O most gracious God, and merciful Saviour, and most righteous judge, as this doth so mightily put away sin, and make us to walk in the way of thy commandments, namely, reverently to fear thee, and to stand in awe of thy judgement and heavy displeasure: we most entirely pray thee to give us that fear which thou requirest of us thy children in thy holy scriptures, and whereunto thou hast promised, so many large and bounteous blessings: that we may not only love thee as a Saviour, honour thee as a father, but also reverence thee as a Lord, and fear thee as a judge. But yet with that fear and reverence good Lord, that belongeth to children, and not to slaves, otherwise it will do us small good. O Lord, all things are open to thy eyes, neither is any thing hid from thee, which seest the very secrets and most inward thoughts of our hearts. Give us therefore grace, that in all our enterprises, we may ever set thee, and thy fear before our eyes, and so stand in awe of thee and of thy righteous judgement, that we attempt nothing whereby we should provoke thy heavy displeasure against us, but so walk in thy fear, and thy holy ordinances, that we may at all times love thee as a most gracious Saviour, honour thee as a most loving father, reverence thee as a sovereign Lord, and fear thee as an upright, yet most merciful judge. So shall it come to pass, that we reverently fearing thee, as a child doth his father, shall not only avoid all such evils, as might make thee our heavy Lord and fierce judge: but also embrace those virtues, which shall both evidently declare our faithful love, true honour, unfeigned reverence, and humble fear towards thee, and also cause thee that art our loving Father, and most merciful Saviour, through jesus Christ our Lord, to acknowledge thine own grace in us, and to crown it at the length with everlasting glory, through Christ jesus. Amen. A prayer against the enemies of Christ's truth. Psal. 140. Deliver me, O Lord from the ungodly, and stiff-necked persons, for thou seest how in their hearts they imagine mischief, and have great pleasure to pick quarrels: their tongues be sharper than any adders sting, and under their lips lieth poison of adders: but O merciful Lord, let me not fall into their hands, lest they handle me after their own lusts. Thou only art my God, that must hear my piteous plaints, Lord, that rulest altogether, that art the strength and power of my defence, be thou as a helmet upon my head, wheresoever the ungodly shall assault me, and suffer thou not the wicked thus to prosper in their matters. Suffer not their cankered and malicious stomachs to increase and spitefully to revile me. Look upon thy poor wretch's cause, and rid me out of these daily grievances: then shall I with an upright heart, and pleasant countenance, extol and magnify thy holy name. Amen. A prayer to keep the tongue and to eschew the affection of the world. Psal. 141. TO thee I cry, O Lord, hear me speedily: let my prayer be as a sweet taste and savour in thy presence, and the lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice. Lord set a watch before my mouth, keep my lips, and my tongue also that they speak nothing amiss, as doth the ungodly, who can speak nothing save evil; but that they call purely and hearty upon thee, and report thy worthy praises. Bow not my heart to last after evil, nor to follow the fashion of the wicked, and abominable sinners, lest I happen to cloak my wickedness with other sins, as hypocrites do. Let me not live as they would have me to do, but rather as it shall best please thee. Let me not approve their counsels, nor their deeds, though they carry never so goodly a show, and fair face to the world. Let me not hearken to the enticing and sweet baits of the ungodly, which counsel me to filthy and unclean things, but rather let me give good ear to the righteous and godly man, though he sharply correct and chide me. Let me always have a ready eye towards thee, only in thee to trust alway and to apply myself unto thee continually. Cast not away my soul, neither suffer it to perish: keep me, that I be not tangled with the snares of the ungodly: and from the privy traps of malicious persons save me: deliver me, O Lord, through thy grace, for in all our own devices and works, can nothing be found sure for us to trust upon. A Prayer of the Church against sin. Sapi. 1● THou, O our God, art sweet, long suffering, and true, and with mercy orderest thou all things, for if we sin, yet are we thine, because though sin in it one nature separate between thee and us, yet doth thy goodness surmount all iniquity: so excellent I know thy greatness to be. And if we sin not in so high a measure (for otherwise who liveth and sinneth not?) yet are we sure that with thee we are allowed, for to know thee, is perfect righteousness, and power is the root of immortality. In the time of wars, a prayer of King Asa. 2. Paral. 14. LOrd, it is all one with thee, to help them that have need, with few, or with many: help us, O Lord our God, for we trust in thee, and in thy name we be come against this multitude, thou art the Lord our God, let no man prevail against thee. A Prayer for keeping of a good name. THAT wise man which was privy of thy secrets, O heavenly Father, taught us, that an honest name is a treasure right precious when he saith: better it is to have a good name, than precious ointments. But this so excellent and good thing, we neither can get, but by thy goodness; nor keep, but by thy grace, aid and help. Now surely the well and fountain of a good name, is a faultless life: this therefore in especial, we demand and crave of thee, O Lord almighty, and that for jesus Christ's sake. Yet nevertheless, for as much as oftentimes, innocency and faultless living is not enough, neither yet a sure buckler, and defence, namely against such as under their lips bear the poison of serpents: yea and oftentimes, it happeneth that when we suppose to be among our trusty friends, we dwell as Ezechiell did amongst scorpions and venomous serpents, we cry with thy holy prophet, O Lord deliver my soul from wicked lips, and a guileful tongue. But if nevertheless it seem good to thee, to exercise us thy servants also in this affliction, to the intent they may be better brought to godliness before thee, and be bettered in this world, then grant we pray thee, that with Paul thy most valiant champion, we may by reproach & glory, by infamy and good name, abide still in thy commandments, through jesus Christ, which also himself (when he walked here on earth) was reviled, slandered, evil spoken of, and called to his face a Samaritane, a wine drinker, a deceiver of the people, and one that had a devil, and yet the same now reigneth with thee in glory, whither also we beseech thee, in good time to bring us, and that together with the rest, whom thou hast put apart to everlasting blessedness through Christ jesus. Amen. A Prayer against worldly carefulness. O Most dear and tender father, our defender and nourisher, endue us with thy grace, that we may cast off the great blindness of our minds, and carefulness of worldly things, and may employ our whole study and care in keeping of thy holy laws: and yet that we may travail and labour, for our necessities in this life, like the birds of the air, and the lilies of the field, without carefulness: for thou hast promised to be careful for us, and hast commanded that upon thee, we should cast all our care, which livest and reignest world without end. Amen. A Prayer against the devil. IEsu Christ our Lord, which by the mouth of thy holy Apostle S. Peter didst say, that our adversary the devil goeth about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, we know the truth of this by our own experience, and feel that he is busy and fierce and breaketh in upon us: so that if thou help not, he will soon deceive us with his craft, overturn us with his might and with his cruelty tear us in pieces. But if thou which hast vanquished him wilt appear, but as it were a far off, thou wilt make him afraid, and with thy only look, put him to slight. Vouchsafe (O Lord) to receive us into thy tuition, being but infants, weak, feeble, and unskilful, lest the ●●●rce and cruel beast all to tear us: yea, give us grace always, not only to bear before us the sword of the spirit in our sight, and to tarry it in our hands, but also courageously to use it, as from thee, that so our enemies may well, know that we do our business by thy counsel, aid, and strength and in thy power may be put to flight, to thy glory, and our everlasting comfort through Christ. Amen. A thanksgiving unto God for all his benefits. WE very humbly in Christ thank thee, O heavenly Father, for thy manifold and inestimable benefits, which thou hast given to us, both for our souls and bodies, yea and that freely of thine own goodness not only without, but contrary to our deserving. We thank thee, that it hath pleased thee of thy great mercy, first, to create and make us according to thine own image and likeness, and to place us in joyful Paradise, where we should have continually remained in a blessed and quiet state, if through the subtle and deceitful suggestions of Satan, our old enemy, we had not transgressed thy holy commandments. We thank thee also, O most gentle Father, for thy loving kindness, which thou showedst to us, when we were all perished and lost through the sin of our first parents Adam and Heva. For when thou mightest justly have condemned us, and cast us into perpetual damnation, thou like a father of singular great love hadst pity on us, and savedst us by the death and passion of thy well-beloved son our Lord and saviour jesus Christ, who gave himself a ransom for all our sins, and paid a sufficient price by his precious blood, for all the wickedness that we at any time heretofore have committed, or hereafter shall commit through our frailty and weakness, so that we believe thy promises, and repent and amend our lives. Neither wast thou thus contented, that he only should die for our sins, but also didst raise him up again for our justification, and to make us righteous in thy sight. Moreover after that he had showed himself unfeignedly to live to his Apostles, by manifest and evident tokens certainly through the power of his Godhead he ascended up into heaven, perfect God and perfect man, where he now sitteth on thy right hand, and maketh intercession for us, being our alone mediator and advocate: from thence we look for him to come again at the day of judgement, not as a fearful judge to condemn and cast us away, but as a most loving Lord and gentle Saviour, to carry us with him into everlasting glory, there world without end to remain in such joys, as eye hath not seen, nor ear hath not heard, nor yet any heart is able to think. For these thy most bounteous gifts, and for all other thy benefits which thou daily givest to us of thy great mercy, both for our body and soul, we humbly thank thee, most merciful Father, beseeching thee to give us grace through thy holy spirit, not to be either unmind full of them, or unthankful for them, but to walk worthy of this thy kindness, and so behave ourselves all our life time in this wretched world, according to thy holy will, that at the last day we may be found in the number of them, to whom thy only begotten soon shall say, Come ye blessed of my father, possess the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of this world. Lord let it so come to pass even for Christ jesus sake. Amen. A devout Prayer to be daily said. O Almighty and eternal God which vouchsafedst that we (as it were) heavenly children, should every one of us call thee our heavenly father. Grant that among us by pureness and example of innocent life, thy most holy name may be sanctified, that all other nations beholding our goodness, and virtuous living that thou workest in us, may be stirred to hollow and glorify thee. Grant (O Lord) that the kingdom of thy grace and mercy in this life may so rule and reign continually in our hearts, that we may be by thee accepted and accounted, as worthy in Christ to be partakers of thy kingdom of glory and majesty, in the life to come. Grant that unto the very death, yea and in death it self also, we refuse not to follow thy divine will, but that we according to the example of the celestial citizens, agreeing together quietly, united in spirit, all controversy in opinions contrary to thy holy truth, being laid apart, and the lust of the flesh being subdued, and the flattering assaults of the world and the devil overcome, we may willingly, faithfully, and constantly, obey thy blessed will in all things. Grant O Lord, for our body such a measure of necessary and needful sustenance, that thereby we may be the better enabled, more freely and hearefully to serve thee, and abound in all good works, towards thy saints and servants here upon earth, knowing that our goodness reacheth not to thee, but to the excellent that are in the world, whom we beseech thee make us more and more to delight in, and to love for thy sake. Give me grace, O Lord, not only patiently to bear and suffer our enemies, and such as hate us, together with the injuries, which they do lay upon us, making good use of them, for thy glory and our instruction, but also unfeignedly to forget and forgive, whatsoever they have devised, said or done against us even as we ourselves would gladly obtain at thy merciful hands, and feel in ourselves the free pardon and full forgiveness of all our transgressions. And for such temptations to evil, as from the corruption of our nature arise up in our hearts, give us grace first clearly to discern and discover them; then courageously to stand up against them, and sound to loathe and leave them, that we be not in the strength of them, as it were in the midst of a violent tempest, carried headlong into sin, and by means thereof into everlasting destruction. Especially strengthen us (good Lord) against the suggestions of Satan, whose marvelous malice, wily subtleties and very great power against us, we are not ignorant of: as not unacquainted neither with our own weakness and disability to withstand: What say we? more with our proneness and readiness to yield: and therefore cannot but in both these respects, again and again entreat thee, that art the God of our strength to cause thy grace to be sufficient for us and in us, and to make thy power perfect through our infirmity, that so having fought valiantly, and mightily overcome through thy strength, we may through thy goodness and mercy, for evermore live with thee, in that heavenly city, where and against which, as also against such citizens of thine, as are gathered into it, no manner of temptation shall assail, much less be able to prevail, and there for ever have the full fruition of celestial delectation, not only accompanied with Angels and blessed Saints, but enjoying the most comfortable sight of thy glorious countenance, in whose presence is the fullness of joy, and at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore, which vouchsafe unto us, for jesus Christ's sake thy dear son, and our all and only sufficient Saviour. Amen. Another Prayer to our Lord God. O Heavenly Father, God almighty, I pray and beseech thee in mercy, graciously to behold me thy unworthy servant, that I may, by the gifts of thy holy spirit, fervently desire thy kingdom, and by the light of thy word, may sound know thy will, and faithfully work and walk thereafter. Give me, O Lord, wisdom, even the wisdom that is from above. Make me constant in thy truth, patiented in tribulation, and strong in thee unto the end. Keep me Lord, from the slighty invasion of the old wily serpent. Defend me from the counsels and cursings of evil tongues. Let thy mighty arm be my continual shield against all the malignity and mischief of this wicked world: Remember not Lord my offences: instruct and prepare me to repent, and teach me to be truly sorrowful for my sins. Make me to love justice and hate wrong, to do good, and abstain from all evils, that so the fruits of my faith, may pledge up to my conscience, that thou hast graciously called me to be thy child. To thee therefore be glory and honour for ever and ever. Amen. A devout Prayer. HEarken Lord to my words, consider the thoughts of my heart. Behold how loud I cry to thee, Let my just prayer enter into thine ears, which unfeignedly cometh from my heart. Hear me Lord, for I am poor and destitute of man's help. Take care for my soul. Save me thy servant which wholly trust in thee. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I will never cease crying to thee for help, for thou art mild and more merciful, than my tongue is able to express, yea than my heart is able to think. As often as adversity assaileth me, I will cry and call for help unto thee: I will call upon thee in the day time, and in the night my cry shall not be hid from thee; O thou God of the heavens, maker of the waters, and Lord of all creatures, hear me a poor sinner calling upon thee, and putting my whole trust in thy mercy, have mercy upon me, O Lord God, have mercy upon me, and for thy manifold mercy's sake forgive me all my offences. Amen. A prayer for meekness and chastity. O Lord, thou father and God of my life, let me not have a proud look, but turn away all voluptuousness from me. Take from me the lusts of the body, let not the desires of uncleanness take hold upon me, and give me not over into an unshamefast and obstinate mind. Amen. A prayer of Esay in the 6. and 64. Chap. LOrd look down from heaven, and behold from thy holy habitations, and from the seat of thy glory: where is thy strength? where is the plenteous rich multitude of thy mercies? are all these hardened against us? verily thou art our Father: Abraham now knoweth us not, nor Israel knoweth us not, but thou Lord art our father, thou art our redeemer, thy name is from the beginning. Wherefore hast thou made us Lord to err from thy ways? hast thou hardened our hearts lest we should fear thee? Turn thee to thy promise made to thy servants, for the tribes of thy heritage: for few of thy people have enjoyed the possession of their land, and that but a little while. Our enemies have spoiled thy holy place, and trodden it under feet. And we were regarded so vile, as if thou hadst never been Lord over us, as though thy glorious name had never been called upon by us, and showed over us. I would that thou wouldst all too break the heavens and come down once, that these hills might melt away at thy presence, like as at a hot fire, and that the malicious might boil away, as doth the water upon the fire, that thy name might be known to thy enemies, and these ungodly might be shamed and troubled at thy presence. When thou wroughtest for us marvelous things, than we looked not for them: thou camest down, and the hills wasted away with trembling before thy face, and from the beginning heard they not, nor perceived with their ears, neither with any eye was there seen any besides thee, that wrought such marvelous things, and that to men, which waited not for thee: sometime thou meetest with them that gladly did righteousness, and thought upon thee in thy ways. But now Lord, thou art angry, because we are sinners, and ever have been in sin, although we were delivered from perils. And all we are wrapped in filthy uncleanness, yea all our righteousness is spotted like the clothes of a menstruous woman, and all we are taken away like leaves, and our iniquities have carried us away like a whirlwind, and there is none left that will call for help in thy name, and not one that will rise up and hold thee with prayer, for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast dried us up in the hand of our iniquity. But now Lord thou art our Father, we are but, clay, and thou art our potter, and all we are the works of thy hands, be not angry, O Lord, for ever, and remember not all our wickedness. Lo, behold we beseech thee, all we are thy people, the cities of thy holy places are forsaken, Zion is turned into a desert, jerusalem is desolate, the house of holiness and prayer and of our glory, in which our father's praises thee, is turned into an he●●e of fire and all things that we delighted in, into a wilderness. Wilt thou, Lord, be avenged of these things? Wilt thou hold thy peace, and scourge us ever so grievously? Before the receiving of the Sacrament, say thus. LOrd, although I be not worthy to receive thee into the house of my soul, for mine innumerable offences and sins done against thy great goodness, yet trusting in thy great pity, and infinite mercy, I come to receive thy blessed body, not grossly and carnally as the blind suppose, but spiritually and by faith, together with all the fruits and effects of thy sufferings, yea as a sick creature to thee, that art the health of life: unclean to thee, that art the well of mercy and holiness: blind by ignorance to thee, that art the light everlasting: needy of grace and power, yea of will to any good thing to thee, that art the King of heaven and earth and workest therein whatsoever pleaseth thee: naked of good works, to thee, that art the author of all grace. I come as a wretch to thee my Lord and maker, all desolate and comfortless, to thee my refuge and succour, for besides thee there is no consolation. I come as a sinner to thee, that art the mediator between God and man. I come as a caitiff to thee my most merciful Saviour. I come all sinful to thee, granter of remission and pardon: I that am dead by sin, come to thee, the restorer of life, evil to thee, that art all goodness: hard hearted, to be relieved by the infusion of thy superabundant grace: desiring thee to heal mine infirmity and sickness, to wash away my sin and filthiness, to lighten my blindness, to reduce me to the right way, when I am out thereof, to comfort me desolate of goodness. Have mercy on my wretchedness, pardon my sinfulness, give me the light of grace thus buried in sin, that I may receive thee to be the spiritual food and nourishment of my soul: and that with such chastity of body, with such pureness and cleanness of soul, with such contrition of heart, and abundance of weeping tears, with such spiritual joy and gladness, with such dread and reverence, with such strong faith, steadfast hope and unfeigned charity, with such obedience and humility, with such love, devotion, faithfulness, and thankfulness, as it is beseeming for such a Lord to be entertained and received withal, and that to the comfort of my conscience in this life, and my endless salvation at the last. And be not displeased good Lord, that I a sinner, with an unclean heart, and polluted mind, (or sure I am not so sanctified outwardly and inwardly, as were fit) come hither this day to receive the blessed sacrament of thy precious body and blood, by a lively faith: but remember merciful Lord, that thou refusedst not the sinful Magdalene being penitent, from the kissing of thy most blessed feet. And in likewise despise me not, ne put thou me away as unworthy, from this blessed Sacrament, for my sins and unkindness, though I confess thou mayst justly do so, and do me no injury: but grant thou me godly sorrow of heart, plenty of unfeigned tears, to testify unto my heart, the washing away of my sins and wickedness: so that with a pure heart, and clean conscience, I may this day come to, and be partaker of the holy Communion, to thy glory and the comfort of my soul and conscience, whilst I receive therein an effectual pledge of everlasting life, with all holy saints in heavens glory, and of the fellowship of thy people in this present life, these things being wrought in me, by thy holy spirit inwardly, as well as offered unto me by the outward and visible elements. Grant me blessed jesus, so reverently and religiously to receive the Sacrament of thy flesh and blood, that thereby I may assuredly feel myself incorporated into thy Church, as a sound member of thy body here on earth: and though as yet I be not meet or fit, by reason of my filthiness, to be numbered among the simplest and lowest of thy servants, but rather to be reject for my sinfulness: yet good Lord, of thine infinite power I know thou canst, and of thy singular goodness I hope thou wilt, and therefore am also the more bold humbly to entreat thee, to make me equal, and like to thine elect and chosen servants. Come thou father of the fatheries, come comfort of the comfortless, come I beseech thee, and cleanse my soul from contagiousness of sin: for it is not convenient, and according, that there should be any uncleanness, where thou then, the fountain of all true holiness, yea holiness itself, shouldest come in and dwell. Come therefore good Lord, and apparel my soul and body both with such ornaments of virtue and grace, that it may delight thee therein to abide. And as thou disdainedst not to touch the sore Lepers with thy holy hands: so good Lord vouchsafe to anoint my sinful soul with the ointment of remission and pardon of sins, and so to replenish it with strength and power against sin, and to fill it with ability to do good duties, that in this life, by steadfast hope, firm faith, and unfeigned charity, I may so increase in virtue from day to day, that I may attain to the glorious fruition of thy Godhead in the kingdom of heaven, where I may see thee face to face, world without end. Amen. After the receiving of the Sacrament, say thus. I Thank thee, good Lord, of thine infinite goodness for that this day thou hast vouchsafed to feed me with thy blessed body in this holy Sacrament of thine, and that by a lively faith, thou hast made me a fruitful partaker thereof, humbly desiring thee, further to grant, that this thy blessed Sacrament, which I have received, may be powerful in me, to lessen in me, and purge from me the power of my particular iniquities, and to fit me to all good works of blessed obedience, yea make it in me a fortitude, and a spiritual strength against my frailty, a sure defence against worldly troubles and adversity, a sure seal of grace and pardon: a medicine of life, and a continual remembrance in my mind and heart of thy blessed passion, so that in the way it may conduct and guide me, and when I am out of the way, it may reduce me: when I stumble, it may uphold me, and when I am falling, it may raise me: so that by this and other gracious helps that thou hast ordained, and by good continuance, and daily growth in the obedience of thy will I may be brought to everlasting glory. And during my life upon earth, vouchsafe so to order the tallage and taste of my heart, that I never feel other sweetens but thee, that I never seek other but thee, that I care not for any other delight but thee, neither that I regard any other honour but thine. And give me such a sound love towards thee, and in thee, and for thee, towards my brethren, that in it, I may continually and comfortably feel, that I am translated out of darkness into light, and be well assured, that thou wilt graciously deliver me from all tribulations of body and soul, captivity, anguish, and perils, together with all the elect and chosen. Amen. A devout Prayer O My Lord jesus, with all my mind, with all my might I do laud thee, and praise thee for thine innumerable benefits which thou hast showed unto me heretofore, and showest daily: but alas, good Lord, sure I am of this, that I cannot praise thee as I would, and as my duty requireth: wherefore I meekly beseech thee, both to accept this my bounden duty and service, and also to supply and fulfil mine insufficiency, so that thy absolute righteousness and obedience may for me be acceptable before thy father, and may to me, and in me, be comfortable to my soul. O sweet jesus, I love thee as my God, my maker, and my redeemer: what though I love thee not so fervently, as I ought to do? yet I humbly beseech thee, to accept me according to that I have, and not according to that I have not, and the rather, because that I have, is thine, which I pray thee so to acknowledge and daily more and more increase, that my peace in he, and love towards thee, may more and more abound. O sweet Saviour hear me here●●: even so be it. The complaint of a penitent sinner, which is sore troubled and overcome with sins. O Lord God merciful and patiented, and of much mercifulness and truth, which of thy abundant charity, and according to thy great mercy, hast taken us out from the power of darkness, and hast saved us by the fountain of regeneration, and new birth, and the renewing of the holy Ghost: whom thou hast shed upon us abundantly by jesus Christ our Saviour. If I have found grace and favour in thy sight, suffer me to speak a word unto thee, and be not displeased with me. Why dost thou ever forget me and leavest me in the midst of my troubles and evils? Where is become thy zeal and strength? where is the multitude of thy tender affections, and of thy mercies? O Lord, may not he which is fallen, rise up again? Or may not he which hath gone away from thee, return unto thee again? Shall my sorrow ●●er endure? shall my ●ound be uncurable and never healed? How cometh it to pass, that I still turn away from thee, surely Satan's malice and mine own corruption carry me violently. But stay me O Lord, and turn me, yea cause me to turn, for of myself I cannot return. In as much as it is not given to man to direct his 〈…〉 ways, neither to 〈◊〉 perfect his own proceed. For in thy hand is the life of every living thing: and the spirit also of every man. Thou showest thy mercy to whom thou wilt, and thou art gracious to them, whom thou favourest. Thou dost kill, and thou dost quicken, thou leadest down to Hell gate, and bringest up again. Thy eyes behold the ways of every man, and thou searchest the hearts of men. There is no place so secret or dark, wherein sins may hide themselves from thee. Nor any man may so lurk and hide themself in Caves, but thou shalt see him, which dost fulfil both heaven and earth in every pa●t. Why hast thou cast me away from thy presence, and ●●est me for thine enemy? Why hast thou laid upon my head the heavy weight of my sins, seeing no man is able to bear thy displeasure? What meaneth it that thou showest thy power against a wretch? why destroyest thou me for the sins of my youth? If I have sinned, what shall I do to thee? and if my sins be increased what shall I do? If I do justly, what shall I give to thee? or what shalt thou receive a● my hand? My wickedness shall hurt myself, and my righteousness shall not profit me. The life of man is a temptation upon the earth, and if I have sinned (as all m●● ha●e) what may I 〈◊〉? ●hall 〈◊〉 man be found 〈…〉 without sin 〈…〉 or shall any man 〈◊〉 without fault in his deeds? How may a mortal m●● be pure of sin in thy sight? or how may he which is borne of a woman, be righteous? Remember, O Lord, I beseech thee, that thou hast made me of the earth, and that thou shalt bring me again into the ●ust of death. My days pa●● and vanish away like 〈…〉 waste daily, there is no tarrying. My life flieth, as the wind, and considereth not that which is good. I was but lately borne in this world, and shortly I shall be taken away hence by death, I never continue still in one state. The days of my life be few, and short, thou hast appointed an end, which I shall not pass. Naked and bare I came out of my mother's womb, and naked and bare I shall return again, truly all men living are but vanity. Have pity O Lord, on them that are in misery, and despise not the works of thy hands. Though we sin, yet are we under thee, for we know thy power and strength: and if we sin not, then are we sure that thou regardest us. Cease thy indignation, O Lord, and turn it from me: and cast all my ●●nes behind thy back. Take away thy plagues from me: for thy punishment hath made me both feeble and faint. For when thou chastisest a man for his sins, thou causest him by and by to consume and pine away. Whatsoever is delectable in him, perisheth like unto the cloth that is eaten with moths. Would God I had one 〈◊〉 defend me a while, until thy anger were turned away, or that thou wouldst remember me. I am clean cast away from thy presence: shall I never hereafter see thy face again? Behold I have opened the griefs of my soul, the day of my sorrows have taken me. The floods of tribulation compass me round about, and the streams of thy fury run over me. And I cry unto thee, O Lord God, but thou hearest me not: I ask mercy, but thou rejectest my prayers. Why thrustest thou down a poor wretch from thy presence? or why forsakest thou me so long time? Why takest thou not away mine iniquity? and why puttest th●● not away the wickedness of my heart? Arise and tarry no longer, O Lord, arise, and reject me not for ever. Have me in remembrance I beseech thee, for I throughlie tremble and shake for fear. Yet will I not hold my tongue, but cry still unto thee with a mourning and an heavy hear●. Turn away the stroke of thy vengeance from me and bring my 〈◊〉 out of troubles into rest. I am here no long continuer, but a pilgrim and a stranger, as all other mortal men be. And what is man that thou shouldest be angry with him? or what is mankind, that thou shouldest be so heavy Lord unto us? What, wilt thou bring sorrow upon sorrow? I pant for pain, and find no rest. My sorrow grieveth me, when I should eat, and sudden sighs overwhelm my heart. I am as if my bones were all to broken, when I hear my enemies rail upon me, and say to me day by day where is thy God? Why turnest thou thy face from these things, O Lord, why hast thou no regard of my trouble? I earnestly make my prayers daily in thy sight, and the heaviness of my heart I do show unto thee. My spirit is careful and troubled within me: and desperation hath entered into my heart. Is it thy pleasure, O Lord God, to cast away thine own handy works? Deliver my soul from corruption, and my life from everlasting darkness. What availeth it me, that ever I was borne, if thou cast me strait into damnation: seeing that the dead shall not praise thee, nor any of them which go down to hell? I have sinned, what shall I do to thee? why hast thou put me to be contrary to thee? I am weary of mine own self. Why searchest thou out my sins so narrowly? when there is no man that can escape out of thy hands? If I would say that I were righteous and without sin, than thou mightest worthily condemn me to the fire prepared for the devil and his angels. But I confess that I am a sinner, and do humble myself here in thy sight. Surely if a man would ●●and with thee in judgement, he shall not be able to answer one word to a thousand things wherewith thou mightest charge him. This maketh me to fear all my deeds, knowing that thou sparest not him that offendeth. If I look upon thy power, O how mighty and strong art thou? If I shall call for judgement, who shall defend my matter, or speak for me? To thee O Lord, I call and cry, to thee my God I make my humble suit. Turn away thine anger from me, that I may know that thou art more merciful to me than my sins deserve. What is my strength that I may endure? or what is the end of my trouble, that my soul may patiently abide it? My strength is not a stony strength, and my flesh is not made of brass. There is no help in myself, and also my strength flieth away from me. Although thou hide these things in my heart, yet I know that thou wilt remember me at length. For thou art true and just, O Lord God, thou dost not condemn unjustly, which rewardest man according to his deserts. All this is come unto me because I have forgotten thee, and not used myself truly in thy testimonies. My heart hath turned backward, and I have followed the desires of my flesh. And thou hast surely known this thing, which knowest the secrets of the heart. Lay not against me, O Lord, the sins of my youth: nor have in remembrance my old injuries done against thee. Daily sorrow becometh me, and sadness possesseth my heart. I look after peace, but I cannot have it: I look for a time of health, but my grief continueth still. When the time of thine anger is past, let mercy come, yet am I unhappy more and more. Woe and alas that ever I sinned: my heart therefore mourneth and is sad, all mirth and joy is vanished from me. How am I wasted? how miserably am I confounded, because I have forsaken and cast away thy law. Death hath ascended by the windows, piercing the inward parts of my heart W●●● I daily one while must secretly with myself: another while with loud voice cry out and complain, the mean time my life draweth near to the pit. Who shall give me a place to rest in, from all my griefts and troubles? And I will forsake all men and get away from them. Who shall give me water to my head, and a fountain of tears to mine eyes, that I may bewail my sins both night and day? And I will look for him which may save me, and deliver me from the wrath to come. I have no trust neither in life nor death, but I fear thy judgement, O Lord, and the pains prepared for sinners. The fear of my sin maketh me careful: and the burden of my conscience oppresseth me sore. O God which tenderly lovest mankind, and art a most righteous judge, s●are me now I beseech me, and show me some favour while time is. Forgive that which I fear, put away that which I dread, before I depart hence and shall not return again. My sins do vex and trouble me sore, they be so great that none can be greater. Alas my fall, alas my misery, alas the grief of my plague, and stroke: certainly my sin is the cause of all this, and so I will take it, and suffer it. A Psalm in which he giveth thanks to God, that his enemies have not gotten the upper hand of him. I Will magnify and praise thee, O Lord God, for thou hast exalted me and set me up, and mine enemies have not gotten the upper hand of me. O Lord of ho●● I have cried unto thee and thou hast saved me. Th●●●ast brought my soul out of hell: thou hast holden me up from falling into the deep Lake, from whence no man returneth. Thou hast not closed me up in the hands of mine enemies: but thou hast set my feet in a place both wide and broad. I have sought thee, and thou hast heard me, thou hast brought me into liberty out of great distress. Thou ha●●●urned my sorrow into 〈…〉 hast ceased my mourning, and compassed me round about with mirth. Thou hast declared thy great magnificence in helping thy servant. Thou hast ●●ne marvelously with me in my miseries. Thou hast regarded the ●●ne of the poor: thou hast not turned away thy face from me. I will be singing and speaking of thy mercies: and I will publish to other thy fidelity and truth, so long as I shall live. My mouth shall never cease to speak of thy righteousness, and of thy benefits: which be so many, that I cannot number them. But I will give thee thanks till death take me away, I will sing in the praise of thee, so long as I shall continue. I will triumph and rejoice in thy mercy, for thou hast looked upon my necessities, and regarded my soul in distress. Thou hast been my sure refuge, and the strength of my trust and hope. I thank thee Lord of thy goodness alway: and for thy exceeding mercy. Thou hast been my com●or●●n the time of my trouble, thou hast been merciful unto me, O Lord, and hast revenged the wrongs that mine enemies have done to me. According to the multitude of the heavy thoughts that I had in my mind, thy comforts have cheered and lightened my heart. Thou hast sent me now joys, for the days wherein I was in sorrow, and for the years in which I suffered many a painful storm. Thou hast called to remembrance the rebuke that thy servant hath been put to, and how furiously mine enemies have persecuted me. O Lord God of hosts, who may be compared unto thee? thou art great, and greatly to be praised. Thou art high upon all 〈◊〉 earth, thou art exalted fa● 〈◊〉 all gods. ●●orie and honour is 〈◊〉 thy face: holiness, and magnificence is in thy Sanctuary. With justice and judgement thy royal throne is established, mercy and truth go before thy face. Blessed art thou, O Lord, which hast not holden back thy mercy from thy servant. After that I had long looked for thee, O Lord 〈◊〉 the last thou didst attend upon me, and hearof 〈◊〉 ●rye. Thou hast taken me out of the Lake of misery, & set my feet upon a rock, and made my steps sure? Thou hast given me my desire, I have seen thy joyful countenance. Thou hast stricken all my adversaries, and hast abated their strength. Thou hast rebuked the tablement of them that vexed me, and hast plucked me forth of their hands. ●hou hast cast them h●●●●●ng into their own 〈◊〉, their feet be wrapped in the net which they laid privily for me. Mine enemies are recoiled back, they are fallen down and destroyed from thy sight. Thou hast been the poor man's defence, and his helper in tribulation, when most need was. Thou hast executed judgement for me: thou hast defended my cause against mine accusers. And although thou were very angry with me a little, yet now I live through thy mercy and goodness. Verily I supposed with myself that I was clean cast out of thy favour. But thou hast heard my prayers and according to thy great mercy hast taken me again into thy ●●●our. O Lord of th●● own 〈…〉 hast 〈…〉 strength 〈…〉 when the● 〈…〉 from me, O Lord how greatly astonished was I? When I was in adversity, than I cried unto thee, and thou didst answer me: When my soul was in great anguish and trouble then O Lord, I remembered thee. I have tasted and seen how s●eet thou art: truly blessed i●●he man that trust● in th● 〈◊〉 ●●rding to thy 〈…〉 thy commen● 〈◊〉 and praise, but thy counsels touching us, be without example, and greater than with words can be expresse● Dominion, power and glory he thine, for thou hast made all things, and because thy w●ll is so, they do still ●ontin●●● Thy name 〈◊〉 blessed, praised, and magnified both 〈…〉 wo●ld with● 〈…〉 ●men. A Psalm of the benefits of God with thanks for the same. MY soul praiseth thee, O Lord, and all that is within me, praiseth thy holy name. My soul giveth thee humble thanks, and thy benefits ● will never forget. Wh●● for 〈…〉 sins 〈◊〉 heal●●● 〈…〉 infirmties. Which hast saved my life from destruction, and showed in me thy grace and mercy. Which hast satisfied my de●●e with good things, and shall once restore my youth again. Thou hast entreated me mercifully at all times, and hast revenged me of my enemies. Thou ha●●●éen a defence to m● O Lord, and a sure foundation of my wealth. Thou hast guided me with thy counsel, and taken me unto thee through thy mercy. Thou hast many ways declared in me thy great might and power, and after thy anger hath been past, thou hast turned again, and comforted me. Thou hast sent me many grievous troubles, but at the length thou hast brought me out of the bottoms héepenes. Thou hast made me privy to thy ways, & hast not hid thy counsels from me. Thou art full of mercy and grace O Lord, slow to wrath & ready to goodness. Thy displeasure lasteth not alway, and thou keepest not back thy mercies in thine anger for ever. Thou rewardest us not after our sins, nor punishest us according 〈◊〉 our deserts. Look how high the heaven is in comparison of the earth, so great is thy mercy toward us. How far as the East is distant from the West: so far, O Lord, remove our sins from us. Like as a natural father hath pity upon his children, even so, O Lord God, thou hast had compassion upon us. Thou hast not forgotten thy creature, thou remember'st that we are flesh, yea all men living are vanity. And that the age of man is like unto grass, and may be compared to the flowers of the field, which as soon as the sharp wind hath blown upon them with his blasts, whither away, and die: so that no man can tell where thy did grow. But thy mercy O Lord, and loving kindness is always upon the 〈◊〉 that fear thee, and thy righteousness endureth for ever. So that we keep our promise, and covenant with thee, and so remember thy commandments that we do them indeed. O Lord thou hast established thy throne in heaven, thou governest all things by thy imperial power. I will magnify thee, O Lord, and land thy name world without end. I will give thanks alway, & make thy name glorious for ever. O Lord thou art puissant and great, and thy magnificence is unsearchable. One generation shall show to another thy works, and they shall declare thine ancient noble acts. They shall ever praise the magnificence of the glory of thy holiness, and the memory of thy great goodness. For thou art good ●●d gracious to all men, & thy mercy exceedeth all thy works. The e●●● of all things behold 〈◊〉 fruit upon thee, that thou shouldst give them their sustenance in time convenient. Thou openest thy hand, and sillest every living creature with food necessary. O Lord thou art rightful in all thy ways, and holy in all thy deeds. Thou keepest all them that lo●● thee, and the torment of malice shall not touch them. My mou●h shall sprake thy glory and praise, and all living creatures shall honour thy holy name for ever. Praise our Lord, O ye his angels mighty in power which do his commandments, and obey the voice of his word. Praise ye altogether God, O all ye hosts, you his ministers that due his will and pleasure. Praise our Lord as I do, and let us signify his name together. Pr●●● our Lord, O ye all his saints, for his name is glorious, and his praise above heaven and earth. Praise our Lord together, O ye all his works, every thing that liveth, praise our Lord. Amen. The complaint of a sinner. MY God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? it seemeth that I shall not obtain deliverance, though I seek it with loud cries. My God, I will; cry all the day long, but thou wilt not answer, and all the night long, without taking any rest. The mean time, thou most holiest, seemest to sit still, not caring for the things that I suffer, which so oft hath helped me heretofore, and hast given to thy people Israel sufficient arguments and matter to praise thee with songs wherewith they have 〈◊〉 thanks to thee for thy benefits. Our forefathers were wont to put their trust in thee, and as often as they did so, thou didst deliver them. As oft as they cried for help to thee, they were delivered, as oft as they committed themselves to thee, they were not put to shame. But as for me●, I seem rather to be a worm than a man, the dunghill of Adam, the outcast of the vulgar people. As many as have seen me have laughed me to scorn, and reviled me, and shaking their heads in derision at me, have cast me in the teeth saying: He is wont to boast and glory that he is great in favour with God, wherefore let God now deliver him, if he love him so well. By thy procurement, O Lord, I came out of my mother's womb and thou gavest me good comfort, even when I sucked my mother's breasts. Through thy means I came into this world, and as soon as I was borne, I was left to thy tuition, yea thou wast my God when I was yet in my mother's womb. Wherefore go not far away from me: for danger is even now at hand, & I see no man that will help me. Many b●lles have closed me in, both strong and fat, they have compassed me round about. They have opened their mouths against me, like unto a lion that gapeth upon his pray, and roareth for hunger. I am poured out like water, and all my limbs loosed one from another: and my heart is melted within me as it were wax. Al my strength is gone & dried up like to a tilestone, my tongue cleaveth to the roof of my mouth: & at the last, I shall be buried in the earth, as the dead be wont. For dogs have compassed me round about, and the most wicked have conspired against me, they have made holes through my hands and my feet. I was so ungently entreated of them, that I might easily number all my bones: and after all the pain and torment that they did to me with grievous countenance, they stared & looked upon me. They divided my clothes among them, and cast lots for my coat. Wherefore Lord I beseech thee, go not far from me, but for as much as thou art my power and strength, make haste to help me. Deliver my soul from danger of the sword, and keep my life destitute of all man's help, from the violence of the dog. Save me from the mouth of the L●●● and take me from the horns of the Unicorns. I will show unto my brethren the majesty of thy name, and when the people be most assembled together, I will praise & set forth thy most worthy acts & deeds. And all that worship our Lord, praise him, all the posterity of jacob magnify him, all ye that be of the stock of Israel with reverence serve and honour him. For he hath not despised and set at nought the poor man, because of his misery, neither hath he disdainfully turned away his face from him; but rather as soon as the poor man cried to him for help, he heard him by and by. I will praise thee with songs openly in the multitude of thy people, and will perform my vows in the sight of them that honour thee. The po●●● shall eat and be satisfi●●, ●hey shall praise our Lord that study to please, and as many of you as continue still such, your hearts shall live. All the ends of the world shall consider these things and be turned to our Lord, and all heathen nations shall submit themselves, and do homage unto thee. For our Lord hath a power royal, and an imperial dominion over the heathen. The most mighty and greatest of all them that dwell on the earth have eaten, and after that they have tasted the spiritual gifts of our Lord, they have submitted themselves, and made humble suit unto him: yea and all the dead which are buried in the earth, shall kneel and make reverence in his honour, because he hath not disdained to spend his own life for them. They that shall come after us, shall honour & serve him. These ●hings shall be written of our Lord: that our posterity may know and understand them. That they also may come and show these things to the people that shall be borne of them, that our Lord hath done these things which be so marvelous. A Psalm of thanksgiving. Rejoice and sing in the honour of God, all ye that live on the earth. Worship and serve our Lord with gladness, come unto his sight and presence with joy and mirth. Acknowledge you, and confess that our Lord is that God which hath created and made us: for truly we made not ourselves, but we be his people and his flock, which he nourisheth and feedeth continually. Go ye through his gates to give him thanks for the innumerable benefits which ye have received of him, and to sing through his courts his worthy acts and deeds, praise him, and highly commend his name. For our Lord is both good and gracious, and his mercy is infinite: he is most constant in keeping of promises, not to one generation only, but even to all. A Prayer for the night. O Lord God and my heavenly father, for as much as by thy divine ordinance, the night approacheth and darkness beginneth to overwhelm the earth, and time requireth that we give ourselves to bodily rest and quietness: I render unto thee most hearty thanks for thy loving kindness, which hast vouchsafed to preserve me this day from the danger of mine enemies to give me my health, to feed me and to send me all things necessary for the comfort of this my poor and needy l●fe, I most humbly beseech thee for jesus Christ's sake, that thou wilt mercifully forgive me all that I have this day committed against thy fatherly goodness, either in word, deed, or thought, and that thou wilt vouchsafe, to shadow me this night under the comfortable wings of thy almighty power, and defend me from Satan, and from all his crafty assaults, that neither he nor any of his ministers have pe●●● over either my body or my soul: but that although my body through thy benefit enjoyeth sweet and pleasant sleep, yet my soul may continually watch unto thee, think of thee, delight in thee, and evermore praise thee: that when the joyful light of the day returneth according to thy godly appointment, I may rise again with a faithful soul, and undefiled body and so afterward behave myself all my life time, according to thy blessed will and commandment, by casting away 〈…〉 sée● 〈…〉 there● 〈…〉 ●rifie thee 〈…〉 ●ther, which 〈…〉 begotten Son, I 〈…〉 our only Sau● 〈…〉 sweet comforter, liue● 〈◊〉 reignest one true and everlasting God, world without end. Amen. FINIS.