A handful of wholesome (though homely) herbs, gathered out of the goodly garden of Gods most holy word; for the common benefit and comfortable exercise of all such as are devoutly disposed.  
Collected and Dedicated to all religious Ladies, Gentlewomen, and others; by Anne Wheathill, Gentlewoman.  
Imprinted at London by H. Denham. 1584.   

To all Ladies, Gentlewomen, and others, which love true religion and virtue, and be devoutly disposed; Grace mercy, and peace, in Christ jesus.  
FOr a testimonial to the world, how I have and do (I praise God) bestow the precious treasure of time, even now in the state of my virginity or maidenhood; lo hear I dedicate to all good Ladies, Gentlewomen, and others, who have a desire to invocate and call upon the name of the Lord, a small handful of gross herbs; which I have presumed to gather out of the garden of Gods most holy word. Not that there is any unpureness therein, but that (peradventure) my rudeness may be found to have plucked them up unreverently, and without zeal.  
Whereupon of the learned I may be judged gross and unwise; in presuming, without the counsel or help of any, to take such an enterprise in hand: nevertheless, as GOD doth know, I have done it with a good zeal, according to the weakness of my knowledge and capacity. And although they be not so pleasant in taste, as they can find out, to whom God hath given the spirit of learning: yet do I trust, this small handful of gross herbs, wholesome in operation and working, shall be no less acceptable before the majesty of almighty God than the fragrant flowers of others, gathered with more understanding.  
But without presumption I may boldly say, they have not sought them with a more willing heart and fervent mind; nor more to the advancement of God's glory, & the desire of acceptation, than I have done. Which if I may obtain, with the good judgement and liking of all my brethren and sisters in the Lord, I shall think my time most happily bestowed: for that thereby I did avoid idleness, to the pleasing of almighty God; and have gained those, whom I know not, as well strangers to me, as my acquaintance, to be my friends, that shall taste these gross herbs with me.  
The Lord jesus Christ, who moisteneth all his elect with his most precious blood, give us all a sweet taste in him: whom I humbly beseech, from the bottom of my heart, to give unto those that are virtuously bend, a desire to increase therein; and those, which have not yet reached thereunto, I pray the holy Ghost to inspire their hearts from above, that they and we may be worthy to meet together, in the blessed kingdom of our heavenly father, which his dear son our saviour jesus Christ did purchase for us; whose blessed name, with the living father, and the holy Ghost, be praised and magnified now and for ever, Amen, Amen.  
Yours in Christ, Anne Wheathill, Gent.   

A table of the prayers contained in this book, as they begin and follow one another in number; from 1. to 49.  

A Prayer for the morning. prayer. 1.  
A prayer for remission of sins, etc. prayer. 2.  
another prayer for the same. 3  
An Evening prayer. prai. 4.  
Against the temptation of the devil, etc. prayer. 5.  
A prayer for faith, and for God's help and assistance, etc. 6.  
Another for the same. prai. 7.  
A prayer of the justice of God, and of his mercy. prai. 8.  
A prayer for humility, and a confession of sins, etc. 9  
A prayer for patience in trouble, etc. prayer. 10.  
A prayer wherein the bountifulness of God is confessed and praised. prayer. 11.  
A prayer for grace and repentance. prayer. 12.  
A prayer wherein we desire the life to come. prayer. 13.  
A prayer for comfort in trouble. prayer. 14.  
A prayer for the prosperity of the church. prayer. 15.  
A prayer that we may be heard of God. prayer. 16.  
A prayer against the enemies of the church. prayer. 17.  
A prayer of the afflicted person. prayer. 18.  
A prayer of the justice of God, etc. prayer. 19  
A prayer for faith & grace. 20.  
A prayer of the creation of mankind, etc. prayer. 21.  
A prayer & thanksgiving unto God, for his manifold gifts, etc. prayer. 22.  
A prayer wherein the heart poureth out itself before God, etc. prayer. 23.  
A prayer wherein the afflicted person prayeth against his enemies, etc. prayer. 24.  
A prayer for the increase of faith, etc. prayer. 25.  
A prayer unto God the father, etc. prayer. 26.  
A prayer unto the son of God, etc. prayer. 27.  
Another to the son, etc. 28.  
A prayer unto the holy Ghost, etc. prayer. 29.  
A prayer in the remembrance of death, etc. prayer. 30.  
A prayer to hear the word of God & keep it, prayer. 31.  
A prayer wherein the word of God is praised, etc. pr. 32.  
A prayer to be said at all times, etc. prayer. 33.  
An humble confession of our sins before God, etc. 34.  
A thanksgiving unto God for the redemption of the world, etc. prayer. 35.  
another prayer of praise and thanksgiving, etc. 36.  
A brief confession, etc. 37.  
A prayer, showing that none, but God, is omnipotent. 38.  
A prayer of lamentation, etc. 39  
A prayer, wherein the fatherly love and preservation of God is set forth, etc. 40.  
A prayer, for grace, etc. 41.  
A prayer against offences. 42.  
A prayer for the good estate of the church, etc. prayer. 43.  
A prayer, that the wisdom of God is to be praised, etc. 44.  
A prayer wherein is showed, how blessed they are that trust in God, etc. prai. 45.  
A prayer of God's majesty, 46.  
A prayer, wherein is showed how blessed they are that fear the Lord. prayer. 47.  
A prayer, showing that God dwelleth in the hearts of the righteous, etc. 48.  
A prayer, showing that God is always our protection, etc. 49.   
FINIS.   


1. A prayer for the Morning.  
O Mighty maker & preserver of all things, God omnipotent, which like a diligent watchman, always attendest upon thy faithful people, so that whether they sleep or wake, live or die, thy providence never forsaketh them: look favourably upon me, O Lord, thy poor and sinful servant, which am not worthy, but through thy great mercies offered to me in Christ, once to lift up mine eyes unto thy mercy seat.  
Wherefore in the name of thy dear son my Lord and Saviour, I offer unto thee, through him, the sacrifice of praise and thanks giving; that thou hast preserved me both this night, and all the time and days of my life hitherto, until this present hour. I beseech thee of thy great mercy to illuminate my understanding, that I may lead and frame my life as thou hast taught me in thy holy word, that my light may so shine here on earth, that my heavenly father may be glorified in me, through jesus Christ our Lord and redeemer; for whose sake hear me dear father, and send thy holy Ghost to direct me in all my doings. To thee O glorious and blessed Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, be given all honour and praise, now and for ever more, Amen.   

2. A prayer for remission of sins, for victory against satan, and for the inward light of the soul.  
O Merciful Father that art the sure safeguard and defence of all that earnestly trust in thee, and desirest not the death of sinners, but their conversion and amendment of life; I acknowledge unto thy highness, all mine offences by me committed, which if I would hide from thee Lord, I could not. I consider the miserable estate, whereto through sin I am brought: for thereby I have worthily lost thy favour, and am fallen from thy grace, which while thou withdrawest from me, I can do no good thing, nor think one good thought. My sins have caused thee to put me out of thy remembrance, and to forget me, delaying to give me that which is my strength and comfort. But how long wilt thou forget me, Lord? For ever? How long wilt thou withdraw thy grace from me?  
Thou knowest my hearty contrition and sorrow; for that I have unkindly forsaken thy service, and served thine enemies, the devil and sin. But trusting assuredly in thy promise made to me, and all people, by the mouth of thy prophet Ezechiel, that is; If the sinner will turn away from all his sins, that he hath committed, and keep all thy commandments, doubtless he shall live and not die: as for all his sins that he did before, thou wilt not think upon them. I now most entirely beseech thee, that as my sins were the cause, why thou didst put me out of thy favour; so let my hearty repentance for them, cause thee to put my sins out of thy remembrance.  
Suffer me not long to remain in this perplexity of mind, and to take sorrow inwardly in my heart from day to day, continually fearing the punishment due to my sin, and looking still for thy coming into my soul by grace to deliver me. Hope hath caused me long to look for thee, that art my life and my health; thy long delay in coming hath much increased my desire; my fervent desire at length is now turned to a vehement pain. Wherefore make hast Lord, I beseech thee, to help my sick soul, and tarry not.  
Let not mine enemy the devil long triumph over me, whose property is to tread under his feet, like a cruel prince, all those that be vanquished, even to the pit of hell. He did long hold in captivity all mankind, until the coming and passion of Christ for our redemption; and since, through his crafty trains, he hath brought to utter confusion many of those that profess thy sons religion. Wherefore behold Lord, and consider my miserable estate, hear my humble petition, touching my deliverance from out of his danger.  
Lighten the eye of my heart and understanding, with the light of thy grace and comfort, thereby expelling the darkness of ignorance. Lighten also one other eye of my soul, which is the eye of the affection. The sight of this eye is so dim, that it hath no perfect and true judgement; yea it is so blinded with the vanities of this world, that one thing in appearance seemeth to be twenty; like the sight of the deceitful eyes of glass. I beseech thee save my said eye, that it be not put out by our enemy the devil; and send me the light of grace, while I have here time, & space of repentance, that at my latter end, mine enemies say not with joy, that they have the upper hand over me.  
But all my trust is in thy mercy: for though thou hide thyself in a cloud, that my prayer should not go through it unto thine ears; yet are not thy mercies clean gone, neither doth thy loving kindness cease. Thou art therefore Lord my portion, and in thy mercy still will I hope, and in none other creature; knowing for certainty, that as God thou only mayst help me, and as my loving father thou wilt help. Wherefore in thee my heart shall be joyful, and in thy saving health, which is thy son Christ our Saviour and redeemer.  
The Philistines, knowing the presence of thine ark to be in the camp of the Israelits, on the day of their battle, were sore afraid, saying; Who shall deliver us out of the hand of this mighty God? Much more will I be glad, and take sure trust, having the presence and comfort of thy lively grace. And in token of the victory which thou hast given me over mine enemies, I will not cease (as I have good cause) to sing the praises of the Lord, that hath so lovingly dealt with me, and magnify the name of the most high, all the days of my life, Amen.   

3. another prayer for the same.  
O God give me the excellent feeling of thine abundant mercy, for thou art my whole goodness. Who am I, that I dare be so bold to speak unto thee? I am thy most poor sinful servant, a vile worm, and much more poor and miserable, than I either know myself, or dare tell unto thee: for my sins stick so fast to me, that I have nothing, nor worthy any thing. Thou only art good, thou just, thou holy, and able to do all things, and dost perform all things. Thou fulfilest all things, leaving the sinful only void and empty.  
My conscience accuseth me so, that I can have no rest, till I be reconciled unto thee O God my saviour. Remember thy mercies, O Lord, and fill my soul with thy favour: for how may I continue in this life, unless thy mercy and favour do strengthen me? Give me grace to put my whole trust in thee, without grudging or doubting: for I have, and do daily wait for thy saving health.  
Turn not away thy face from me, neither withdraw thy comforts from me, lest my soul do seem in thy sight like unto the earth that is void of moisture. Lord teach me to do thy will, learn me to walk worthily and humbly before thee: for thou art my wisdom, and knowest me what I am in all respects, and understandest my thoughts long before.  
Grant me always to seek thee in singleness of heart: for the remembrance of thy favour is more sweet unto me, than all the pleasures and dainties of the world. For my chiefest comfort is in thee O Christ, and not in any worldly means, who hast said; Who so overcometh the world, to them will I grant to feed upon the tree of life. Which grant me for thy holy name sake, to whom with the father, and the holy Ghost, be praise now and for ever, Amen.   

4. An Evening prayer.  
O Everlasting light, whose brightness is never darkened; look favourably upon me thy poor and sinful servant, who hath not only this day, but all the days and times of my life hitherto, until this present hour, offended thy divine Majesty, in thought, word, and deed; whereby I have most justly provoked thy wrath and indignation against me. And now I how the knees of my heart unto thee most merciful and heavenly father, beseeching thee for jesus Christ his sake, to forgive me all my sins, negligences and ignorances. For I confess how wickedly I have misspent the talon that thou gavest me, abusing thy gifts of grace many ways, burying the same in obscure darkness, worse than the servant that hide his masters treasure, not putting it to any increase; for he delivered the principal again.  
But I most miserable creature, can show unto thy majesty no part of that which thou gavest me, to use to thine honour and glory: for the which I am most heartily sorry, and do unfeignedly repent, having no mean to help myself, but only to lift up the eyes of my faith unto thy dear son jesus Christ, beseeching him most instantly to make perfect my wants, and to renew whatsoever is lacking in me. For I commit my body and soul, this night and evermore, into his most holy hands; hoping, O Christ, thou wilt make me an acceptable sacrifice unto thy father.  
I have no place to fly unto, but to shroud me under the wings of thine almighty power, who wast so loving unto us, that thou wast contented to shed thy most precious blood, for the sins of the whole world; for the which I most humbly and heartily yield unto thee thanks, honour, praise and glory.  
O lamb of God, son of the father, hear thou me, thou that saidst; I am thy health and salvation, I am thy peace and life; cleave fast unto me, and thou shalt live. O Lord I am the wounded man, and thou art the good Samaritane: power oil into my wounds, and bind them up. Lord heal thou me, and I shall be whole: for thou art my God and Saviour.  
Hear thou therefore my supplications from heaven, and have mercy. Take from me all my sins and wickedness, and give me thy grace and holy spirit. Lighten mine eyes, that I sleep not in death: so shall I joyfully, after this sluggish sleep of sin, rise again, living in thy fear all the days of my life. Which grant me to do, O Father, Son, and holy Ghost, three persons and one true GOD, world without end, Amen.   

5. Against the temptation of the devil, and for God's favour and grace.  
O Lord preserve me, that I fall not into temptation, neither let me be as one of them that contemn thy word, falling from thee; but arm me with an invincible strength and constancy: so shall I be sure, that all the powers of the world shall not overcome me. For there is none in heaven, earth or hell, that can do any thing, but as thou givest them power. Seeing that all are thy creatures, thou must needs govern and guide them.  
Thy mercy O God almighty is also annexed to thy divine nature, for when all mankind was lost and dead in sin, than didst thou, sitting in thy celestial throne, look down to the earth upon our miserable state, and loosedst us from the bands of the devil, and sendedst down thine only begotten son, that by his death he might deliver from death, such as worthily were the children of death: for the which I praise thee, and do confess from the bottom of my heart, that our deliverance cometh only of thee O God, and not by man's power.  
Wherefore I will not come empty into thy presence, but with all humility I offer unto thee my troubled spirit for mine offences: and this sacrifice I am sure thou wilt not despise; for I confess myself ignorant, till thou hast taught me, O Lord. My heart is also variable, and separated from thee. join my soul and body to thee O God, and confirm me in thine obedience: for I desire not to live, but to serve thee as I ought, which we cannot do aright, except thou open our eyes. I respect no man, but set thee always before me, as the chief helper and judge of my doings.  
certainly we can do nothing of ourselves: but when thou O God dost inwardly instruct us by thy holy spirit, then feel we thy graces sweeter than the honey and the honey comb. There is no acception of persons with thee, but all people that fear thee, and work righteousness, thou wilt accept. If we be thine, thou Lord wilt strengthen us with all power, and bless us with all felicity. But thy indignations are most constant against the wicked, and pass all our understanding: for thou O God never forsakest any that seek unto thee. Therefore man is cause of his own destruction.  
Give me thy favour, and be merciful unto me for thine own sake: grant me thy heavenly wisdom and grace to be governed by thy holy word, which if I follow, I shall have all prosperity, corporal and spiritual, bringing forth such fruits as have life. I acknowledge that all my acts, thoughts, or any part of my life cannot be hid from thee O God, though thou seemest to be far off; so that they are evidently known to thee: for thou O GOD understandest my meaning, before I speak; and sendest the dews of thy grace upon me, which causeth me to bring forth the fruits of good works, to thine honour, and the help of my neighbour: for it is of thy power, strength, and grace, when I do any thing that is good, and not of mine own power.  
There is none good, but thou alone; thou killest and givest life; thou woundest, and makest whole: neither is there any that can speak a word, except thou give it him, nor none can save himself by his own labour, nor any worldly means. Wherefore I will rest in thee, as mine only God, through jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.   

6. A prayer for faith, and for God's help and assistance at his good pleasure.  
O Lord GOD almighty, which by thy power & wisdom hast made all the world, and doest govern the same, and all that therein is: from thy holy heavens, wherein thou dwellest, look favourably upon us, and grant that in temptation we may have faith to fight against the devil, and all his false suggestions, and to cry inwardly unto thee with groaning, always aiding us with thy holy spirit, to be humble in all afflictions, with true repentance. For when all man's help doth fail, thou O God wilt help us, even as it were by a miracle; if we call upon thee with an upright conscience.  
Lord grant us never to require more of thee, than is necessary; neither to seek to separate thy power from thy will, lest we should tempt thee: for though thy help doth not presently appear, yet hast thou sown and laid up in store for us. We will therefore be mindful of thy benefits, and only trust in thy defence: for though the wicked rage against thee O God, yet those that be thy children shall praise thy name and mighty power. For the more liberally that thou O God doest deal with thy people, the more dost thou punish them that abuse thy benefits. For thou O God hast care over thine, and doest chasten them for their health, that they should not perish for ever with the wicked. For thou wilt restore the government of good things to their use, and then the godly shall follow thee cheerfully.  
Grant us we humbly beseech thee to know thy ways, and to ascend up unto the throne of thy majesty by faith, giving thee praise and glory, for thy fatherly preservation and health towards us continually. For thou hast been a house and defence for us: thou hast chosen us to be thy people, before the foundation of the earth was laid. Wherefore we are sure that thou wilt hear us, whensoever we call and cry unto thee for mercy and grace. Bless us now and ever with all goodness, that we may lead our lives according to thy will, living in thy fear all the days of our life, that after this course is ended, we may dwell with thee, world without end, Amen.   

7. Another for the same.  
I Make my humble petition in thy sight, O GOD most holy, which biddest us ask, and it shall be given; seek, and we shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto us; and believe only, and we shall receive whatsoever we desire. Lord I believe, help thou mine unbelief, and give me that faith which shallbe most acceptable in thy sight. Sow in my heart, good Lord the grain of steadfast faith, which may aspire and spring up unto the mercy seat of thine almighty majesty: for without true faith and obedience we cannot call upon thee a right.  
Give me therefore, good Lord, that most precious jewel of faith, that thou mayst thereby hear me. And give me comfort & salvation through thy merciful goodness, O God, who never doest forsake thy faithful servants, that come to thee in humbleness of heart, looking upon jesus Christ thy dear son our Lord and Saviour: for he is the tree of life, which standeth in the midst of paradise, by whom we have entrance unto thee O dear father.  
Whosoever seeketh any other way than this thy dear Son, he is a thief and a robber, and shall never be partaker of the benefits, which he of his mercy hath most lovingly bestowed upon us: which grant me Lord jesus never to forget, but evermore to show myself thankful. For it is thou O Lord that art worthy to receive all glory, honour, and praise: for thou hast created and redeemed all, and without thee we cannot do any thing that is good.  
Wherefore Lord jesus I come unto thee, craving at thy merciful hand an humble and contrite heart, a patiented mind, a quiet conscience, the gift of faith, and of the holy Ghost. O thou lover of souls, hear me poor wretch, although unworthy once to think, much less to speak unto thy majesty. But thou art the same Lord, who doest most lovingly say; Come to me all ye that are heavy laden, and I will ease you.  
Which comfortable saying of thine, O Christ, maketh me bold to come into thy presence, unloading my sinful sack of corruption, before the face of thine almighty power; not doubting but thou wilt mercifully hear me, and ease me with thy help: for I cast all my burden on thee, who art the giver of life and salvation. Wherefore I turn myself unto thee O Lord jesus Christ desiring thee by prayer to renew whatsoever is amiss in me, either by mine own frailty, or malice of the devil.  
For I acknowledge, O Lord, that I am the most wicked, the most frail of all others, the weakest to resist my ghostly enemy. But I trust, through thy mercy, to be of the number of them, for whom thou hast overcome the devil and the world: which grant me, Lord jesus, for thy bitter passions sake, that after this life I may enjoy the endless bliss and glory of heaven. To thee, with the living Father, and the holy Ghost, be given all honour and glory, all praise and thanks, for ever and ever, Amen, Amen.   

8. A prayer of the justice of God, and of his mercy.  
O GOD almighty, Lord of heaven and earth, from whom nothing can be hid or kept secret, thou art the searcher of the heart and reins, which knowest the thoughts of all men: when I remember thy just judgement, I tremble and quake for fear, considering the burden, wait, and filthiness of sin to be so great, that for one proud thought, a great number of angels fell from heaven. The earth was not able to bear the burden of Corah, Dathan and Abiram; but for the rebellion against thee and thy servant Moses, the earth opened, and swallowed them quick.  
For the sin and pride of David, who mustered his men, putting his trust in the multitude of them, rather than in thee that art the living God, thou scourgedst him with the plague of pestilence, so that there died four score thousand of his people, within the space of three days.  
Who would not then fear, seeing we sin daily with most grievous sins? Now have we no remedy to fly from thy wrath, but to shroud ourselves in the bosom of thy most dearly beloved son, our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, making him our bulwark and house of defence, between thine anger and us: most humbly beseeching thee for his sake, and for the bitter pains that he suffered for our redemption, to be merciful unto us, and rebuke us not in thine anger.  
Let not the sentence of everlasting death take place, which thou gavest against Adam, and all his posterity for his disobedience. Thou art meek, gentle, and long suffering of thyself. It is our grievous offences, heaped one upon another, that provoke thee unto anger. Therefore, acknowledging our offences, we pray thee most merciful father, to have compassion upon us: for we are not able of ourselves to arise; it is thou Lord, and thy blessed son that must heal our infirmities.  
We have no strength to withstand the temptation of our enemies, thy son Christ must reach us his hand, as he did to Peter, walking on the water, when he was in peril of drowning. His patience is our medicine and health, thy grace and his are sufficient remedies. We are all carnal, sold under sin; so that the good we would do, that do we not; but the evil that we would not, that we do. We are all evil of ourselves. Consider O God our contrite hearts, and penitent minds, and hear, heal, and amend us.  
Hope biddeth us still to cry and call upon thee for help, as the woman, of Canaan cried still upon thy son Christ for the help of her daughter, and at the last was heard to her own contentation: so we, knocking and calling still, doubt not but thou wilt grant, through our importunacy, our desires, as he that granted his neighbour three loaves.  
We do now knock, cry, and will never cease, till thou Lord turn towards us, and deliver our souls. Turn, we heartily beseech thee, from thy wrath, to pity and mercy; deliver us from the manifold troubles which we have in our consciences. Oh save us for thy mercy sake, for thy blessed Son jesus hath dearly bought us. Wherefore Lord, we thy faithful creatures, being through thy grace, and the battle of thy son upon the cross restored to thy favour; and having the house of our hearts and souls swept and made clean from all vices, which were wont to inhabit in us, we most humbly pray thee to give us strength, to keep our souls from the invasion of the wily serpent.  
Dwell in us still by thy continual grace, make us to be of thy household, that we may live and praise thee in this world, and after this life we may enjoy the blessed presence of thine eternal majesty, one God in persons three, and everlasting in unity, world without end, Amen.   

9 A prayer for humility, and a confession of sins, with a petition to have the same remitted.  
LOrd give me humility, being the beautiful flower of virtue that groweth in the garden of man's soul; one of the most pleasant, most necessary, and most acceptable, whose power was so great, that it drew the son of GOD, the second person in deity, from heaven, into the womb of the meek virgin, whom of all other he chose to be his mother, for that she was so humble and virtuous. Thou O Christ our Saviour, being Lord of all the world, walkedst all the days of thy life in humility, and therein endedst, humbling thyself unto the vile death of the cross.  
The wise humility of Abigael pacified the fury of David, when he was minded to kill all the men of the house of her husband. The humble submission of wicked Ahab, assuaged the wrath of GOD, which was the cause that the almighty preserved him all the days of his life. The great goodness of this virtue is made manifest, by opening the heinousness of the vice contrary thereto, which is pride: which appeared in the proud Pharisie, when he made boast in his prayers of his good deeds, and despised his poor neighbour, which caused his prayer not to be hard, when the poor Publican, standing a far off, with humbleness, durst not lift up his eyes to heaven, but with hearty repentance knocking his breast, said; Lord be merciful to me a sinner: which hearty confession of his sin, was cause of his justification, and that he was made righteous.  
Wherefore most gracious Lord our heavenly father, considering the power of humility, and the knowledge of our sins, with hearty repentance, to be of so great efficacy; I thy poor creature, unworthy to appear before thy majesty, do power down here, before thee, my sack that is full of sin, which I have committed even from my youth, they are great and many, without number: nevertheless, trusting of thine accustomed nature and property, which is, to be merciful to all sinners, that be sorry for their offences from the bottom of their hearts, turning to thee, knowing that thou didst send thy loving son, not to call those that seem in their own sight to be just, but to help those that confess themselves to be sinners.  
I therefore, Lord, willing by the help of thy grace, utterly to forsake sin, and to fulfil thy holy will hereafter, desire thee humbly of forgiveness, and to admit me among the number of those that are blessed, and their unrighteousness forgiven. I will not cover from thee my sins, neither yet excuse them; but I pray thee Lord hide them in the bloody wounds of thy son Christ, where they shall be put in perpetual oblivion. Blessed is the man, unto whom thou dost not impute sin, and in whose spirit there is no guile.  
Wherefore from the bottom of my heart, Lord, I am sorry for all my sins, and do ask thee forgiveness. I will acknowledge all mine offences, and accuse myself unto thee Lord. So soon as I was determined no longer to hide mine evil ways, thou Lord strait forgavest me. Thine ear was in my heart, before my voice was in my mouth. Thy mercies washed away my sins, or ever my confession was made. Thou art as ready to hear and forgive, as we to ask.  
Wherefore I will say with the prophet Daniel; It is I that have offended and sinned against thy majesty. I humbly beseech thee cure my sick soul, for I have highly sinned against thee; yet doubt I not, but thou hast and wilt forgive the wickedness of my sin. It is thou Lord that must help us; which thou wilt do, if we call upon thee, whilst we are in this life, for after death, no entreaty will be heard. It is then too late.  
Wherefore Lord keep us in the right way, and suffer us not to serve on the right hand, nor on the left. Thy eyes of protection and mercy are ever firmly fixed upon us; grant us to set the eyes of our minds upon thee. Lord call me, pluck me Lord from mine ungodliness, that I may know thee, love thee, & put my hope wholly in thee. O glorious God, my maker, saviour, & sanctifier, dwell in me and give me grace to dwell in thee, Amen.   

10. A prayer for patience in trouble, and constant expectation of God's goodness.  
O GOD almighty, grant us never to refuse thy chastening. For though thou make a wound, thou givest a plaster; though thou smite, thy hand maketh whole again. Thou shalt deliver us in six troubles, and in the seventh there shall none evil come unto us. In hunger thou shalt save us from death; and when it is war, from the power of the sword; thou shalt keep us from the evil tongue; and when trouble cometh, we shall not need to fear. In destruction and death we shall be merry: for the stones of the land shall be confederate with us, because the Lord of hosts is our defence & refuge for ever.  
Let us therefore put our whole trust in him, rejoicing with melody of thanksgiving unto his majesty, who only is true, and can help us with deliverance. Let us lift up our eyes unto GOD, who hath all power; and therefore aught to be feared. For whatsoever he be that feareth man, more than God, falleth into a snare, and is destroyed. As for all our sins and transgressions, thou requirest nothing of us, O Lord GOD, but to turn unto thee, and to obey thy holy word, following thy precepts and commandments.  
For thou sayest, O Lord, those that honour thee, thou wilt exalt; and whosoever despiseth thee, shall be despised. For thou preferrest to honour, and puttest down, according to thy blessed will. The wicked when they feel thy heavy hand, grudge at the same: but the godly humble themselves, and cry for mercy. For thou O Lord wilt not hear hypocrites, but those that pray unto thee with an unfeigned faith, and true repentance. For the prayer of the faithful is a bar to stay thine anger, that thou consume not all.  
Thy mercy is so great towards thine, that thou wilt not destroy them for their sins, but correct and chasten them, till thou have purged and pardoned them. Thy favour O God is cause of all prosperity, and thine anger of all adversity. For thy care is so much over thine, that thou wilt cause their very enemies to preserve them. It lieth in thy mighty power, to govern the hearts of all, thou O God preferrest and preservest them, which are zealous of thy glory, and have a care and love towards their brethren: as for them that forget thee in prosperity, who art the giver of all good things, they procure to themselves utter perdition. For thou dost cast them behind thy back; but thy loving countenance doth comfort the troubled, that patiently wait on thee, constantly putting their trust in thy mercy.  
In this world is continual trouble and disquietness: in heaven is perpetual rest. Yet many there be, who love this world, that could content themselves, for lack of faith, that are loath to lose things certain for things uncertain. But thy faithful know, through faith, that when in this world the day passeth away, then cometh the night & darkness: but in heaven all is there but one day eternal, a life everlasting, which endureth for ever, which the soul of the righteous shall enjoy, through thy mercies O GOD, because in this world they walked before thee; of which number make me one, for his sake that died for me; to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost, be given all honour and praise, world without end, Amen.   

11. A prayer wherein the bountifulness of God is confessed and praised.  
O God eternal, the giver of all felicity, whose love is like the evening and morning rain upon the earth, whose mercies cannot be numbered, whose wisdom and divine providence is such, that it reacheth from one end of the earth unto an other: most mightily and lovingly doest thou order all things. Thy bountifulness, Lord, to all mankind, is so manifest, that no reasonable creature can say, but that he hath tasted thereof: for what good thing hath man that he hath not received of thee?  
Thou art good to all men, but specially to those that have an upright conscience, and strait heart, a mind not bowing down to carnal and temporal things, but aspiring unto heavenly and eternal things: for it is not enough, O God almighty, to praise thee with mouth, except our whole heart agree thereunto, framing our life unto the same; for whosoever doth otherwise than thou hast commanded, doth pollute thy name. Wherefore give us grace to fear thee, and to obey thy holy word. Give us also a mind to praise thee for thy benefits past, that thereby our minds may be strengthened against all perils. When I have grace, O Lord, to take thee for my defence & trust, I shall perceive thy protection to be a most sure safeguard unto me. For though I have not altogether hither to known thy Majesty, as I ought to do; yet I most humbly thank thee Lord, that I went not from thee; but did cleave fast to thee by faith.  
Though I had almost slipped and fallen from thee, yet I did not forsake thee. And thou full mercifully knowing my good will towards thee, didst hold me up by my right hand, as thou didst Peter, when he was in iopardie of drowning; thy goodness brought me to the knowledge of mine infirmity, thy grace called me from mine error into the right way, thou savest me as thou didst Lot and his house, thou didst lead me with thy counsel, preserving my weakness in this present life. Wherefore my trust is, that thou wilt not take thy spirit from me, but wilt receive me into glory: for thy favour hath been my guide.  
Thy grace doth direct me in all my doings, by which I am that I am, and thy grace held me still through faith. Wherefore my trust is, that thou wilt not leave me, but bring me to thine everlasting rest. What wretched fool therefore was I, to desire of thee, temporal, frail, and deceitful prosperity and pleasure; knowing by faith, that thou hast prepared for me, and for all faithful that love thee, such rewards as neither eye hath seen, ear hath heard, nor heart can imagine?  
What is there then that is ordained for me? Even thou thyself Lord, and the fruition of thy perfect Godhead, wherein is included all the joy that may be devised, a treasure that is immortal, it endureth pleasant for ever. Shall I then be so mad, to desire of thee most merciful God, worldly honour, pleasure, ease, or riches, more than is requisite for this present life? Should I desire of thee that lovest me, those gifts, wherewith thou rewardest thine enemies?  
The most wicked upon the earth have these trifles of thy great goodness and liberality, but there is nothing upon the earth that I desire save only thee. The sweetness of thy goodness hath made all evil to cease in me: for thou Lord art become the strength of my heart, thou art my portion for ever, thou art my reward thine own self, wherewith my heart is sufficed. For thou art the very life itself, in whom whosoever believeth, shall live everlastingly, and shall not come into damnation.  
Wherefore it is good for me, to hold me fast by thee, to draw near unto thee by faith, from whence good works do spring towards my neighbour, and then to put my hope and trust wholly in thee, as in a sure and unmovable altar, from whence no blast of winds of temptation shall drive me. Through hope I trust to be delivered from a corruptible body, into thy heavenly glory: and this by patience I now abide and look for. Wherefore, whilst I live, I will not cease to declare and set forth all thy noble works, which thou hast wrought, to thine honour and praise, and to the profit of them that shall profess the same Christ's religion, while the world endureth. As for me, I have none other refuge but thee, in whom my conscience doth rest: for thou O God hast humbled me by affliction, that I should cry unto thee, and receive the fruit of thy promise: which grant O father, son, and holy ghost, to me and all thy church to aspire unto, Amen.   

12. A prayer for grace and repentance.  
O Lord God, we are ashamed, & dare not lift up our eyes unto thee our God; for our wickedness is gone over our head, and our trespasses are waxen so great, that they reach up unto the heavens. Since the time of our fathers, we have sinned & trespassed against thee, even unto this day: and now our God, what shall we say? Continually do we forsake thy commandments, and harden our hearts in misbelief: but thou O God open our eyes, to behold thee with a steadfast faith; & the ears of our hearts, to hear thy words, and to understand them, that we may know thee the only true God, and jesus Christ whom thou hast sent; for whose sake hear us, O dear Father, and send thy holy Ghost, to confirm this faith in us evermore. To whom, with thee O Father, & thy son our only saviour, be all honour and glory, power and dominion, now and for ever, Amen.   

13. A prayer wherein we desire the life to come.  
O Most high & mighty prince of power, Lord of hosts, GOD and Lord of the heavenly army of angels, that are thy ministers: when I consider the greatness of thy mighty Majesty, I am so rapt with the desire thereof, that my heart and my flesh rejoiceth in nothing but in thee alone, that art the living God. All earthly tabernacles and worldly goods I nothing esteem, when I behold thine everlasting felicity, which although I see now but darkly as in a glass; I hope to see thee face to face.  
Grant me therefore O Lord, whilst I am in this tabernacle, to build upon faith, which is the altar of thee that art the Lord most mighty, my King and my God, upon which we give unto thee sacrifice, laud and praise in the unity of thy faithful Church, whereof thy Son Christ is the sure rock. The faithful build on this foundation. Blessed are they Lord therefore, that dwell in thy house, who have occasion to praise thee. They are replenished with abundance of all things that they desire, they are made like unto thee, they see thee, even as thou art; of which sight they shall never be fully satisfied: such joy and love shall they conceive of the sight of thy glorious majesty.  
But to this beatitude can we not attain, merciful God, of our own strength and power; but through the help of thy gracious assistance. Thou must engrave in our hearts thy laws, and direct us in thy ways; and when we are brought to thee by the right way, we must be continually aided by thy grace, that thou mayest stay and keep our feet from slipping. Who so trusteth to his own strength or power, or to the help of man, is much deceived, and leaneth to a rotten staff: contrariwise, he that putteth his trust in thy gracious power, wanteth never secure at need.  
Thou hast put us into this present world, to fight and to strive with our enemies, who do continually assault us; but thy grace maketh us able to repel all their invasions. Thou sufferest us not to be tempted above our strength, and for our triumph thou rewardest us with a crown of glory and immortality.  
The ungodly fall from thee, descending downward from one vice to an other: but thy faithful and elect increase daily in godliness. For of thee Lord cometh all our power and strength to do good, and of thy son Christ jesus, our master, our teacher and governor, who promiseth, that if we weep and morn hear in this vale of misery for our sins; we shall hereafter laugh and be joyful in eternal glory.  
If we sow with heaviness, we shall reap with gladness; if we persevere good & strong champions here in battle, we shall for our reward behold thy glorious face, in thy heavenly mansion; we shall see also thy son Christ, who is thy wisdom, and thy power, which who so seeth, enjoyeth all pleasures: to see that delectable sight, our hearts do much desire of thee, that art the Lord of hosts.  
For this we make humble petition to thee, that art the GOD of jacob, who wrestled with thine angel, and prevailed; whose name thou didst change, and called'st him Israel, that is, the fear or beholder of God. Even so make me a strong wrestler against mine enemies in this world, that I may after this life behold thy incomprehensible deity, to the full contentation both of my soul and body.  
We are much unworthy to obtain any thing of thee, considering our unkindness showed unto thee, and our wretched estate: wherein we remain. Nevertheless Lord, we pray thee to be our defender and protector, through thy grace; not for our merits, but for the merits of thy most entirely beloved son Christ, thine only anointed above all other, with the oil of joy and gladness. He is our head, we are the members of his body: he dwelleth in his faithful, and they in him. Who so receiveth any of his elect, receiveth him. He was incarnate for us, suffered death for us, bore our iniquities on his back, and rose again for our justification.  
Wherefore we doubt not, but that through the infusion of thy grace, thou wilt look upon him in us, and show us mercy for his sake; that we may have abundance of grace through him, and casting all the vanities of this world behind our backs, we may enter into the court of thy bright heavenly jerusalem, where one days abiding is better than a thousand in this wretched world.  
john Baptist (as witnesseth our Saviour) was the greatest and most perfect upon earth: yet (said he) the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Wherefore most mighty Lord, thy faithful doubt not, whilst they are here in this vale of misery, but that thou wilt ever assist them, guide them, and bless them that put their whole trust in thee, who art the living God, and givest to thine abundantly all things necessary to this present life; and afterwards, the fruition of thy Godhead in heaven eternally, there to dwell with thee everlastingly, Amen.   

14. A prayer for comfort in trouble.  
THe chiefest comfort that I receive in this miserable, wretched, & troublesome world, O heavenly Father, and God almighty, is, when I call to mind the truth of thy great promises, made to me in jesus Christ, for whose sake only I do acknowledge and confess, that thou art my merciful and loving Father, and so carest for me through him, that nothing is able to remove thy grace and favour from me. Wherefore I come unto thee in humbleness of heart, craving at thy bountiful hands the assistance of thy holy spirit, to suppress my wicked affections, that I may with a steadfast faith obey thy most divine Majesty, in thought, word, and deed. For thou disposest all things most wisely, and preservest thy children in their greatest dangers. Wherefore thy holy name be praised now and for evermore, through jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour, Amen.   

15. A prayer for the prosperity of the Church.  
O Most holy, glorious, and blessed trinity, three persons in one Godhead, by whose goodness all creatures have their being, whose eyes behold allthings, as well that are past, as that are to come, and are accounted as present to thy mighty Majesty: we thy poor faithful subjects of the Church here militant upon earth, show forth our lamentable prayers, beseeching thee pitifully to behold the miserable estate thereof, which never had more need of thy godly assistance than at this present it hath.  
The nature of man is so corrupt and abominable in wickedness, that none doth good upon the earth; for many there be that despise God, & oppress the poor. Wherefore, Lord, we beseech thee, to arise up for the trouble sake of the oppressed, and at the complaint of the poor, help him, and set him at rest.  
Thy Son Christ is our saving health, in whom who so trusteth, resteth in surety, and cannot be deceived. Arise up we pray thee merciful God, and cast us not away for ever; comfort thy small flock, to the confusion of thine enemies; and make us able, through thy grace, to keep thy laws, which are pure; even as the silver, which from the earth is tried and purified seven times in the fire.  
Thou art near Lord unto all, that in this life call upon thee faithfully; and thou keepest them from all dangers: for in the midst of this world, we are in many temptations and vices, and in the company of the proud and wicked people, and in many tribulations. We see the vanities of this world ready to move us, we suffer persecution; yet thou keepest us from desperation, and thy grace preserveth us, that they come not near us. Their enticements we esteem not, because we hope in thy mighty power, who art our defence in trouble.  
Thy son Christ is the strong rock, in the which all birds that build do rest out of jeopardy; to him all sinners may sly for succour and comfort, being holden by him, they may be eased. This rock the devil cannot undermine nor scale: no water of tribulation can drown those that build on this rock. Pharaoh king of Egypt, with a great host pursued the children of Israel, but he could not hurt them: thou Lord wast their defence, and didst destroy all their adversaries. Even so art thou our defence, our hope, and our comfort.  
Thou wilt compass us about with joyful deliverance. The house of our bodies is environed with enemies, but thy providence will defend us out of all dangers. Thou wilt inform us, and show us the way wherein we shall go. This life is a pilgrimage, and a journey for us to travel in. Thou art the end of our way, O God. Thou art the mark that we shoot at, when we come to our journeys' end, in thee Lord we hope to have rest. Thou givest knowledge and instruction by faith, that if we pass well through this world, we shall have joy everlastingly: to the which bring us all, thou Lord that diedst for us all, Amen.   

16. A prayer, that we may be heard of God.  
THy hand is not shortened, O Lord, that it cannot help; neither is thine ear stopped, that it will not hear: but our misdoings have separated us from thee our God, and our sins have caused thy face to be hidden from us. Our hands are defiled with unrighteousness, our lips speak leasings, our tongues do set out wickedness. No man regardeth righteousness, and none judgeth truly: every one hopeth in vain things, and imagineth deceit, conceiveth weariness, & bringeth forth evil. For our offences are many before thee, and our sins do testify against us, and we acknowledge that we have done amiss, transgressing and dissembling against thee, Lord, and fallen away from our God, using presumptuous imaginations.  
Nevertheless, thou art our God, and everlasting father, our nourisher and defender, which wouldst not the death of a sinner, but mercifully receivest all those, that with repentant hearts come unto thee. And now we set our eyes and face towards thee, lifting up our hearts unto thy mercy seat, who hast promised to unload us, whensoever we come unto thee. Hear us therefore, and forgive us all our offences, which we have committed, from the time of our birth, until this present hour. O bless us, and the works also of our hands, that we may live and praise thee, world without end, through jesus Christ our Lord and saviour, Amen.   

17. A prayer against the enemies of the church.  
THe sure ships, O Lord, fleet in the sea under their sails, and pass through the stormy tempests without drowning: so do thine elect, O God almighty, pass through the fearful perils of all their enemies in this world, by the means of thy ship the church, and the true faith thereof; of which ship our Saviour Christ is the sterneman, the guide, and the sure anchor, to be cast in all necessities, who so trusteth in him, shallbe brought to the fair haven of perfect beatitude.  
Who so keepeth him within the boards of his faithful ship, needeth not to fear the dreadful dragon, that sturdy strong Leviathan, to whose power no power on earth may be compared: for he is so mad, that he feareth nothing: he is king over all the children of pride. This is that Lucifer, that fell down from heaven; he is the serpent that deceived in paradise, and brought death to all mankind.  
Nevertheless, when thy faithful people are penitent for their offences, resist his temptations, and follow thy laws, putting their whole trust in thee and thy blessed son, then do they mock and deceive him; as Christ did with his humanity, which when he thought to devour, by tempting the jews to put jesus to death, he was tripped in his own turn, and taken into bondage by the virtue of Christ's divinity. And whensoever we that be his faithful, be caught (as this our enemy thinketh) in his danger, we turn to our head jesus Christ for refuge, and by his help do vanquish him.  
Great, good Lord, is thy mercy and goodness, that suffereth not thy faithful to be tempted above their strength; but in the midst of their temptation makest a way for them to escape out. The enemy hath no power of himself, but as thou sufferest him; he, with all other creatures, hang upon thy will & commandments: all wait on thee, that thou mayst give them meat in due season; when thou givest it them, they gather it.  
Thy works Lord are mercy and forgiveness; thou art our justice, whereby thou makest us just, which before were most wicked sinners; thou makest us thine humble creatures, to tremble for fear of thy mighty power and justice: our pride thereby is abated. We account the good deeds, which we have done, to be of thy gifts and goodness; nothing presuming of our own frail power: for we know that thy holy spirit resteth upon those that have a lowly troubled spirit, and do stand in awe of thy word.  
The proud and stiff-necked people doest thou touch with scorpions and punishments, & then they come to the knowledge of thy Majesty; then will they say as Nabucadonosor said, after his punishment; Honour and praise be unto thee O God of heaven, whose power endureth always, and thy kingdom from one generation to another. Then shall they be driven to praise thy mighty Majesty, as thou art worthy.  
Cruel Saul was touched of thy hand, and became Paul a well-beloved apostle, through the help of thy grace, and laboured more abundantly than all other of thine apostles; such is the power of thy gracious influence. This thy noble grace send me, most merciful God, whereby I shall have a loving desire to honour thee, to praise thee, my God and saviour, so long as I have any being, I will not cease to confess my sins to thee, and to lament mine iniquities: then shall my words be pleasant and acceptable to thee.  
And as I joy wholly in thee, that art my creator; and in thy son, which is my redeemer: so shalt thou also delight in me that am thy poor creature and handy work, granting me the fruit of thy sons passion, which he suffered for my redemption: to whom, with thee O Father, and the holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, all power and dominion, now and for evermore, Amen, Amen.   

18. A prayer of the afflicted person.  
O Lord God, thou art just, and all thy works and ways are mercy & truth and thou judgest truly for evermore; remember me, and look on me O Lord God, and punish me not according to my sins, or mine ignorance; but deal with me as it seemeth best unto thee. And now, O Lord, work thy will in me, and command my spirit to be received in peace, that I may be dissolved of this fowl fleshy mass, through the which I do nothing but offend thee my Lord God.  
Yet nevertheless, if it be thy blessed will, to give me longer life in this vale of misery; forgive me all my sins for Christ's sake: for thou art a merciful God, slow to conceive wrath, and most ready to forgive. Wherefore extend thy favour upon me, O Lord, which shall confirm the faith of others. Though I deserve destruction, yet let thy mercy pity my frailty: for thou art great, O Lord, for evermore, and thy kingdom is world without end.  
Thou scourgest and healest, thou leadest unto hell, and bringest back again: and there is none that may escape thy hand. O give thanks unto the Lord ye children of men, for there is none holy, but he; none almighty, but thou O Lord God. Thou hast chastined us for our misdeeds, and of thine own mercy sake thou hast saved us: wherefore thee will we fear and dread, and magnify the everlasting king in his works.  
As for me and my soul, whilst I live will I praise thy Majesty; as long as I have any being. For ever since I was borne, thou hast given me great cause to praise thee; for thou hast been the defence of my just cause. Hear now my vehement prayer, my secret complaint, and my sighs which I make before thee this day, into whose holy hands I commit my body and soul: for thou hast redeemed me, O thou God of truth, Amen.   

19 A prayer of the justice of God, and for the assistance of God's spirit, with an invocation upon the Trinity.  
O Lord I confess thou doest not punish me without my deserts, & therefore I will never accuse thee of rigour, as the wicked do: for I acknowledge that when thou layest thy hand heavy upon any, there is just cause why thou shouldest so entreat them. We are occasion of our own perdition, and can pretend no ignorance to excuse us withal: for thou O God callest us by thy word and works, to follow virtue, and fly vice; which if we bend ourselves unto, depending only upon thee, thou hast promised to be our schoolmaster and protector.  
Thy providence, O GOD, doth not only watch over thy church in general, but also over every member thereof: for thy word, O Lord, is easy to find, if we have a desire thereunto, if we be not blinded by the prince of this world. Thou most mighty haste power both of land and sea, stretch forth thy merciful hand to help them up that sink, to keep them up that stand; for thou art above all, and over all kingdoms of the earth. Thou hast made the heaven and earth.  
Lord bow down thine ear and hear, Lord open thine eyes and behold. Our true refuge and succour in all temptations and dangers is; to fly unto thee by most earnest prayer. Thou wilt not here, O Lord God, for many words sake, or often repetition, but thou dost consider our faith and fervent mind: for thou dost look upon the heart of man, and not upon the outward appearance.  
It is great grief, O Lord, unto thy children, when they see not the fruits of their prayers, which causeth them to think, that thou hearest not: yet dost thou but defer them, to cause them to pray more earnestly and often. For when there seemeth to man's judgement to be no recovery, but all things are brought to despair, than thou O GOD dost show thy mighty power, there is nothing done without thy providence and decree.  
Wherefore I will call upon thee with a steadfast faith, being assured of thy mercies; because I have found thy help at need in my most danger: for thou never forsakest them that put their trust in thee, because of nature thou art very merciful. Therefore the faithful reverence thee, and are bold to approach near thy mighty Majesty; most humbly beseeching thee, for jesus Christ his sake, that thou wilt cast all our sins behind thy back; and give us thy grace and holy spirit, to lead the rest of our lives in thy fear, doing always that is righteous in thy sight.  
For whosoever walketh in his vocation, and hath the light of God for his guide, needeth to fear no danger: thy rod and thy staff shall always hold him up. Guide me. O Lord, and give me the most precious gift of faith, which is the head spring of all good works. Baptizm me inwardly with the holy Ghost, burn and consume all vice in me, inflame my heart with the love of thee, and cast thy favour upon me, O Lord and holy father.  
So do likewise O Christ my Lord and Saviour, who wast contented to put off all thy glory, that thou wast in before the beginning of the world, to take our nature upon thee, and to suffer most bitter passion upon the cross for our redemption. Wash me with thy precious blood, and make me a chosen vessel to thyself: give me a thankful heart to praise thy name with continual thanksgiving for thy great mercies. Come holy spirit, inspire my heart with the true knowledge of the father and the son, proceeding from them both; one God in Trinity, and Trinity in unity, world without end, Amen.   

20. A prayer for faith and grace.  
LOrd give me faith and grace, that I may be wounded in heart to seek unto thee for mercy: for thou, O God, hast taught us in thy holy word to look for aid and help of thee in all perils, and that thou art the only giver of victory in all temptations of our enemies, bodily & ghostly. For when thou givest sentence against the wicked, they must needs confess thee to be just, and themselves sinners. For thou O GOD, which lovest pureness of heart, & mayest justly destroy man, who is by nature a sinner: much more wilt thou lay thine hand upon them, whom thou hast instructed in thy heavenly wisdom. Thy favour O God, is the fountain of all prosperity, for thou O Lord dost still behold us. Thee will we reverence, in what place soever we be.  
Help me therefore, O Lord God, in my good purposes, and holy worshipping, or serving of thee; and grant unto me to make a perfect entrance and beginning in thee; for I have been an unprofitable servant hitherto. O Lord give me a mind never to show myself unthankful for all thy benefits: for thou art the God, which ever hath been and shall be; the GOD almighty, by whom all things have their being; full of mercy, mindful of thy promise. Who so seeketh any other than thee, O Christ, in whom doth rest only the salvation of our souls; that creature shall find nothing but misery and sorrow. Wherefore Lord make me rich in thy favour and grace, conducting me by thy power. Graft in me a full trust in thy promises for my deliverance, make me one with thee in everlasting love, that when it shall please thee to call me out of this miserable world, I may live with thee and my Saviour Christ, who died for me and all people: whose name, with thee O Father, and the holy Ghost, be praised now and for evermore, Amen.   

21. A prayer of the creation of mankind, of the true Samaritane, & for strength against temptation.  
O Father of heaven, of power almighty, which with thine only word didst create and make all the whole world, and all for the profit & service of man, whom thou didst create of all other a most noble and perfect creature, giving him power upon earth, the waters, and all the fowls and birds of the air; thou madest him also after thine own similitude and likeness, enduing him with a reasonable soul, and all the powers thereof, thou also didst put him in the pleasant garden of paradise, excepting nothing from him, but the eating of the only tree of knowledge of good and evil: and further, for his help, comfort, and company, of a rib of his side thou madest for him a woman, and gavest her to him to be his wife.  
There had they instructions given them, and the law of life for an heritage. Before them was laid both life and death, good and evil, with a free-will given them to take which liked them best. But their frailty was such, that they, through a small enticement, chose the evil, and left the good: they left life, & chose death. Thus Lord, through sin, & breaking of thy commandments, man lost the free-will that was given him in his creation, and purchased death to all his posterity.  
In the way as he went to jerusalem and jericho, he fell in the hands of thieves, who hurting and wounding him sore, departed, leaving him half dead; so that he could have help of none, but only of the good Samaritan, who, as he passed by the same way, powered wine and oil into his wounds, and took the cure of him.  
This only Samaritan was thy dear Son Christ, which took upon him all the iniquities of mankind, and laid them on his back by his death, purging and cleansing him, not only from the original sin of our father Adam, but also from all our sins which we commit from time to time, by the virtue of his passion, and the sacrament of baptism upon our repentance. For as by Adam, death came to mankind, so by jesus Christ was mankind restored to life.  
For this great and high benefit of thy sons blessed passion for our redemption, we thy poor creatures praise and thank thee, most humbly acknowledging his inestimable love towards us, in that thou vouchsafedst to die for us, being then sinners, & thy mortal enemies. Nevertheless, most merciful father, we are of ourselves not able to do any thing that good is, no not so much as to think a good thought, without thine aid and assistance. We wander here miserably, in the low parts of the vile earth; our strength will not serve us to climb to the high of the hills, where thou dwellest in thy mount Zion, a place prepared for thine elect, a chosen inheritance of thy faithful servant Abraham, and his seed.  
Wherefore since we, being burdened with the affects of worldly pleasures, and also with other cares and troubles, can by no means ascend to thee, that art on the top of so high a mountain, (so many legions of angels attending on thy Majesty) we have no remedy, but with the prophet David now to lift the eyes of our hearts and minds towards thee, & to cry for help to come down from thee to us thy poor and wretched servants.  
We wander here below, as lost sheep, having no shepherd; we are assailed on every side with manifold enemies; the devil ravening and hungering, seeketh whom he may devour; the world allureth us also to her deceitful vanities; our flesh also, which we carry about us, is our enemy ready and prone to draw us unto all vices and pleasures. From this can we by no means be defended, but by thee Lord.  
Send us therefore thy help and holy angel, to assist and strengthen us: for of thee most merciful Father floweth all bounty and goodness. Thou O Lord God madest heaven and earth for thine honour, and man's commodity; establish therefore good Lord the chosen works of thy hand with thy eternal help: from heaven send us down the wellspring of thy grace, and thy strong angel to aid us by his help, that no assault of our spiritual enemies do prevail against us: but from all evils by thy word defend us, Lord, both touching the body, and also the soul, that no temptation prevail against us.  
Thou hast been our protector, even from our mother's womb; and our trust is that thou wilt so continue all the days of our life, and specially at the hour of our death, that we may ascend to the heavenly jerusalem, where we shall rest in the bosom of our father Abraham, the father of all faithful believers, there to praise thee, and thy loving Son, and the holy Ghost, world without end, Amen.   

22. A prayer and thanksgiving unto God, for his manifold gifts, with an acknowledgement of our sin, and pardon for the same.  
O Praise the Lord our God for ever, and let us give thanks unto the name of his glory, which exceedeth all other thanksgivings and praises: for thou art our God alone, thou hast made the heaven of all heavens, with all the host of them; the earth, and all the creatures, which live by thee; the sea, and all that move therein: thou preservest them all through thine omnipotent power. For the which all the host of heaven praiseth thee, and we thy poor children here on earth do cry unto thee; Holy, holy, holy, art thou, which ever was, and ever shall be, O Lord God of sabaoth.  
Thou hast made good all thy words and promises, for thou art righteous and true, and hast considered the misery of our forefathers: for they were stubborn against thee, not regarding thy precepts and commandments, neither were mindful of thy wondrous works that thou didst for them, whose footsteps we are prone and ready to follow in all ungodliness, in these our days: but thou O Lord art merciful, patiented, and of great goodness, and forsakest us not whensoever we return unto thee.  
Wherefore, O Lord, hear us from heaven, and forgive us all our unthankfulness, and give us faithful hearts to follow thy commandments; which if we do, we shall live in them. For it is not in man's power to order his own ways, nor to rule his own steps or doings: therefore chasten thou us, O Lord, but with favour, not in thy wrath. Bring us not utterly to nought, for we have none other saviour, neither can we help ourselves; for by our salvation thy name shall be praised.  
Therefore Lord help us, seeing that of thy mercy thou hast made us a most dear possession unto thee, and we through our sins are worthily punished. Declare again thy love, and finish the work that thou hast begun in us; so shall we live and praise thy holy name for ever & ever, through jesus Christ our Lord and redeemer, Amen.   

23. A prayer wherein the heart poureth out itself before God, with humble submission and christian lowliness in divers considerations.  
THe most pleasant thing that I can offer unto thy majesty, O Lord, is to give thee a thankful heart for all thy benefits, and to be inwardly sorry that ever I did any thing which should offend thee; then, to mortify the concupiscence of the flesh, to put off the old Adam, and put on Christ; to leave to be carnal, and to become spiritual. Wherefore I will call on thy holy name, for thy gracious aid and assistance; to help me and strengthen me in these my good purposes, not doubting but thou wilt most graciously hear me.  
My heart and my whole body, I offer willingly unto thy service, which although it be of small value in deed; yet I do not mistrust but it shall be accepted in thy sight: as was the offering of two mites, which the poor woman threw into the treasury at jerusalem, which small sum of her poverty thou didst more esteem and praise, than all the great gifts of the rich men.  
I humbly beseech thy highness to accept this gift of my poor soul & body, which is a declaration of my loving mind towards thee; and vouchsafe Lord so to work in them by thy grace, that they may will and work that which may be acceptable in thy sight: so that I may truly perform my vows made unto thee, by keeping thy laws and commandments with my whole heart, which I and every true christian profess to keep. For whosoever he be that breaketh but one of them, is guilty of all.  
It is not in man's power to turn to thee O God, but thy work only to convert us: for we consider thy Majesty, and the weakness of our sinful flesh. Thy mercy worketh in us sorrow and repentance for our former life. All things are governed by thy providence O God; if thou bless us, all creatures shall favour us. Let thy holy spirit counsel me how to come forth of this careful and troublesome life, that I may hide myself under the shadow of thy wings, where I know I shall be defended by thy power, which shall be a sign of thy fatherly care towards me. Wherefore I will resign myself wholly unto thee, trusting in thy protection.  
Thou O God art only the true felicity, to heal me thou art able, and to raise me to life, though I were dead long ago, and turned to dust. For I acknowledge thee to be almighty, and that there is nothing done on earth without thy will and ordinance: wherefore I will not trust to any worldly help. In the days of my trouble thou keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart; and though thou correctest from time to time, yet thy help will not be far off, if we return to thee.  
Thy mercy is great to poor sinners; for thou art more ready to pardon them with long suffering, rather than to punish them. Thou showest favour towards the fatherless, which walk after thy commandments as thou art God, and creator of the soul and body, so wouldst thou have us serve thee with both, and that thy people be continually subject unto thee. For the greater gifts that we receive at thy merciful hands O Lord God, and the higher that thou doest prefer us, the more are we bound to praise thee for the same. And though we be high or low in degree, yet can we not be exempted from doing our duties.  
Thou O God art the giver of all good things: wherefore I am ready to bestow all that I have at thy commandment. Give me grace, O Lord God, that I never provoke thee to anger by my sins, that thou mayst mitigate thy punishments towards me, & strengthen me with thy holy spirit, that I may lead an upright life, with true faith and repentance, unto the glory of thy holy name, through jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   

24. A prayer wherein the afflicted person prayeth against his enemies, that God would turn upon them his judgements.  
O Lord God of our fathers, help me poor desolate creature, I beseech thee: for thou hast done all things from the beginning; and look what thine everlasting counsel hath devised, it came ever to pass: for all thy ways are prepared, and thy judgements are done in thine everlasting foreknowledge. O look thou now upon mine enemies, and bring to pass, O Lord, that the pride of them may be cut down: for thy power standeth not in the judgement of men. For there was never proud person that pleased thee; but in the prayer of the humble and meek hath thy pleasure been evermore.  
O thou God of the heavens, thou maker and Lord of all creatures, hear and help me calling upon thee, and putting my trust in thy mercy: for I have none other helper but thee O Lord God. Think upon me, and show thyself unto me, in the time of my distresses and troubles, strengthen me with patience in all adversities. Thou Lord of all power knowest all things. O thou mighty God above all, hear the voice of them that have none other hope but only thee; deliver me out of the hands of mine enemies, and make me not a scorn unto the foolish.  
Hear thou my God, for I am despised; turn their shame upon their own heads: for they are puffed up with pride, as the stomach that is choked with fat. O Lord of hosts, thou righteous searcher, which knowest the reins and the very heart; let me see them punished, if it be thy will: for unto thee do I commit my cause. For though they wickedly provoked me to do evil for evil, yet thy word kept me back: for I behaved myself uprightly towards mine enemies. Therefore I humbly beseech thee, let them know that thou art the defender of my just cause.  
Let my persecutors be confounded, but not me; thou shalt bring upon them the time of their plague, and shalt destroy them right soon. Wherefore O Lord my saviour, let the same shame and confusion light upon them, which they intended to have brought upon me, and because thou hast all things in thy hands and power, thou wilt speedily reward them after their deservings: for the depth of thy providence governeth all things, and disposeth them as it pleaseth thee.  
Good Lord make me not a mocking stock unto the wicked, nor wrap me up with the deceitful, when they are put to shame: for seeing my troubles come of thy appointment, I will with thy help endure them with patience, for I put not my trust in any worldly thing, but in thee O God my maker and defender. I will serve thee with a pure affection, and with the godly that worship thee in spirit and truth: which that I may the better fulfil, bless me with thy grace, now and for ever, Amen.   

25. A prayer for the increase of faith, wherein also the unmeasurable love of God the Father is recorded.  
O Merciful GOD, that art so good and loving a Father, make me heir of thy heavenly kingdom, with thy blessed son jesus Christ; increase my faith in thee O Lord, that I may most faith fully believe all that thou hast commanded in thy holy word: for whatsoever is not of faith, the same is sin. Faith is the sure and perfect foundation of all christian religion, whereby thy faithful hope surely, that all thy promises made unto them of thy mere goodness and liberality, shall surely, and undoubtedly be fulfilled. Heaven and earth shall perish, rather than thy word and promise shallbe unperformed.  
By faith Abraham was justified, and by faith he was ready to make sacrifice of his only begotten son Isaac. Upon those that were faithful did our Saviour work his miracles, in so much that in his country of Galilee he did not many, because of their unbelief. And by this faith, with the help of thy grace at this day, and to the end of the world, are and shall all thy chosen people be saved, and that freely, without any deserving of theirs.  
And being fully persuaded by thy holy scripture, I believe in thee my most mighty God, three persons in one essence, and in all things contained in thy holy word; and the same faith I will not let to confess before all the world. I will not do as many of the jews did, which believed on thy son, yet durst they not boldly confess him, neither make their faith known, lest they should have been expelled out of the synagogue. They more esteemed the glory of this world, than they did esteem the glory of God.  
But through the help of thy grace, Lord, I will speak nothing, but that I firmly believe, and that which I do believe; I will by no means hide, but speak boldly: for I know, that who so doth confess thee before men, him wilt thou confess before thy father which is in heaven. Faith causeth me to love thee for thine own sake, above all creatures. Love causeth me to confess thee before all the world, and for thy sake to work towards my neighbour, as thou haste commanded me. It is thy grace that maketh man virtuous and good, which grace is the nurse of all good things: it leadeth man from one virtue to another; it keepeth us from falling, lifting us up again when we are fallen. Thy loving kindness hath been from everlasting, and endureth for ever.  
What shall I give again unto thee O Lord, for thy manifold benefits, that thou hast done unto me? Great cause have I to be thankful, when I remember thy tender love, showed unto man, in his first creation, next in power, wisdom, knowledge, and understanding to the nature of angels, made also touching the soul like unto thine own image; which he through frailty did abuse: yet nevertheless, thou of thy merciful pity, being willing that this noble work of thine should not utterly be lost, didst send thine only begotten son to become man, and wiledst him to suffer death for man's redemption.  
What more love could be showed than thou hast showed? what more could be done to thy vineyard than thou hast done? thy charity was fervent to us when we were all sinners; few men would now die for their righteous friend, but thou sendedst thy son to suffer death for thine enemies, that were sinners: yea, when we daily now do fall still from thee, by committing all kind of vices; yet doest thou mercifully suffer us, and gently receive us, so oft as we do return again to thee by repentance.  
We forgive our neighbours scarcely one or twice, when they displease us: but thou Lord forgivest us, not seven times, but seventy times seven, that is, so often as we fall. Even so willest thou us to forgive one another. Wherefore, Lord, reach unto me thy helping hand, as thou didst unto Peter; and as he was thereby made able to walk upon the water, so shall I be able thereby to perform thy holy law, which my heart is desirous to do in the presence of all the congregation, that other may take example by my doings, and glorify thy Majesty for thy noble gifts.  
Strengthen me, Lord, with thy holy spirit; give me an heart and will rather to choose to suffer death, than to break any of them: for right dear in thy sight is the death of thy saints. Thy name will I call upon, and honour it all the days of my life. I will also, as I have promised, fulfil my vows that I have made unto thee. I will give up myself to thee, as an oblation; and seeing I am thy image, I will declare unto the holy congregation, how mercifully thou hast received me to thy grace. I will honour thee in thy church, whereof I am partaker, through the means of thy son Christ jesus, my only Lord and saviour, Amen.   

26. A prayer unto God the father, wherein the sinner openeth his grief of conscience.  
O GOD I am not worthy of the least of thy mercies and truth, which thou hast showed unto me thy servant: for though thou hast, O Lord assayed me with the one hand, thou hast ever holden me up with the other: for thou art ever present with us, to succour us in our troubles. And if thou O God didst not open our eyes, we could neither see, nor use the means, which thou hast set before us. As for me, when thou openedst mine eyes and heart, I was ready to obey thee, being assured, that I was written in the book of thine elect to this end: for thy providence watcheth always to direct thy children, that they slide not.  
Wherefore now, O Lord, call to remembrance the cares and griefs which we have suffered; consider and see our confusion. Our inheritance is turned unto strangers, we are become careful and fatherless; our parents, which now are gone, have sinned, and we must bear their wickedness. Alas that they and we have sinned so sore! Therefore is our heart full of heaviness, but thou O Lord that remainest evermore, and thy seat world without end, do not forget us.  
Let all the world see thy judgements, in that thou art our God, and ruler over all: which we will ever confess, because thou art so glorious; and through thy merciful aid I will remain steadfast, being upholden by thy power O GOD. For I have ever this hope of conscience, that thou wilt not impute unto me my ignorance. Wherefore grant unto me from henceforth, to live in thy fear all the days of my life, and to end this pilgrimage in faith and truth, to the glory of thy holy name. Which grant us, O dear father, for thy dear son jesus Christ's sake, who is blessed with thee O father. To whom with thee, and the holy Ghost, be given all honour & praise, world without end, Amen.   

27. A prayer unto the son of God, wherein the soul is comforted, by the rehearsal of Christ's manifold benefits.  
O My soul, enforce thee with all thy strength to set forth the noble praises of the Lord thy GOD and redeemer. Thou hast within thee many goodly gifts of nature and grace, which give thee occasion never to cease from giving of thanks. Forget not these beneficial gifts, which he hath given thee: for of forgetfulness cometh ununthankefulnesse; which unkindness maketh thee not worthy to enjoy that is given thee. Consider my soul, first, the miserable estate wherein thou wast brought by sin.  
Thou wast the enemy of God, the bondservant of the devil, and subject to death everlasting. From this hath thy merciful brother jesus Christ, being both GOD and man, delivered thee, making satisfaction for all thy sins, through his death and passion. What greater love could he show, than to die for thee, whereby he driveth away all thine offences.  
If thou set before thine eyes the multitude of thy sins, then shalt thou also behold the benefits and goodness of thy redeemer. Give him therefore the sacrifice of praise, and glorify him; for therein he delighteth: not for his profit, but for thine; not for that he is any thing thereby advanced, but that doing thy duty by faith, thou mayst be made partaker of joy everlasting with him.  
And though he send thee many adversities in this world, think that he loveth thee: for if he did not, he would leave thee to sink in thine own sin, to the utter loss both of body and soul. But he hath saved thy life from everlasting destruction, he hath redeemed thee with his most precious blood, he died for thy sins, and rose again for thy justification. Love him therefore my soul, and magnify him all the days of thy life. Put thy whole affiance in him, and fear no violence of enemies: for although they assault thee, yet can they not vanquish thee.  
For he, that through his mercy and loving kindness, hath given thee power by him to vanquish thine enemies; will not fail, after thy fight and victory, to reward thee with a crown of glory and immortality. When death thy last enemy shall be overcome, then shalt thou be admitted to the joyful company of angels and saints in heaven, there to have more joy and comfort than heart can wish. When the glory of the Lord shall appear then shalt thou be fully satisfied, to thy contentation. His countenance shall replenish thee with all io●e.  
Wherefore my soul, whilst thou art in this present life, joined with thy frail and heavy carcase, give thanks lovingly to thy gentle redeemer, for his unspeakable kindness. His grace is ready at hand at thy call, fight therefore manfully and mightily, against all sinful concupiscence and vice; put off the old man, and leave all the works of darkness; put on the new man, & arm thee with the armour of light.  
Begin a new life, and fly unto Christ the strong tower and sure rock; leave all worldly pleasures and vanities, and call for his grace, and doubt not but he will make thee live a new spiritual life, and give thee immortality both of soul and body in heaven everlastingly, where thou shalt continually behold the face of God, to the fullness of all thy joy and contentation.  
Stand fast in this hope, and mistrust not the mercies of GOD; call to remembrance the ancient goodness of thy heavenly father, which is all one with the mercy of his son and the holy Ghost. Behold how merciful and beneficial he hath ever been to those that believe and trust in him. For look how high the heaven is from the earth, so great is his mercy also to them that fear him.  
How much are we bound to serve this our God in Christ, by whom we have received redemption? He is a God of all gods, mighty and terrible, which accepteth no persons, nor taketh rewards. Thou dost right unto the fatherless, and helpest the stranger that is in distress. Come unto me most loving God and saviour, help and fight thou for me; let not mine enemies have the victory over me.  
power forth thy grace upon my corrupt nature, and I shall be purged from all wickedness. I am almost dead in sin; quicken me, and give me life again, sithence thou art God the author of life and health: for none can do it but thou alone, my God and saviour; then shall my tongue praise thy righteousness, O Lord God, without ceasing, Amen.   

28. Another prayer unto the son, wherein the miseries of this our mortal life are remembered.  
O Most loving Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, that art the very natural son of the almighty heavenly father, God of God, light of light, a God thou art without beginning, a Lord from everlasting, before the mountains were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made, whose kingdom likewise shall endure world without end. Thou Lord (I say) that art equal with thy father in power and glory, diddest not disdain to become man among men, to the intent thou wouldst by suffering painful passion, be the refuge of mankind, from one generation to another.  
The young chickens, when the kite striketh at them, have none other refuge but to run dickering under the wings of the hen: no more hath mankind any other defence against his ravening enemies, but only the covering of thy grace, and the shadow of thy most precious passion; which is unto us a strong tower, and sure shield of defence against all invasions.  
This grace, merciful Lord, we humbly beseech thee to send us, that by turning thy favourable countenance upon us, we may know our own infirmities; and leaving all pleasure in vile temporal things, we may turn to thee that art our Saviour, and redeemer, our God and our brother.  
Make us to know in what misery, in what trouble, and in how many kind of displeasures we lead our lives here continually, until the time that age or sickness cometh upon us; at which time thou wilt call us, saying; Ye children of Adam, return ye now again into the earth from whence ye came. This is the debt due unto nature. Of earth we came, in the earth we travel, of earth we live, and into earth me must return again.  
For the life of man is to be likened unto a night watchman, that when his hour is past, taketh his rest. Thus fareth it by the life of man, who first passeth away his childhood, next in youth, the third in manhood, the fourth in age, which vanisheth away like smoke that passeth away out of the chimney. For as soon as men begin to live, they begin to die; as soon as thy pleasure is, Lord, to have them, they fade away suddenly like the grass, which is in the morning green, and growing, and in the evening it is cut down and withered.  
In youth we are pleasant and merry, lusty and strong, springing up green as doth the corn: but when harvest cometh, it ripeth, and withereth, and is cut down. When age cometh, the body of man drieth away; then death overtaketh us. All this remembered, who can take any comfort? who can be merry, that remembreth the last end? for we bring our years to an end, even as a tale that is told. Wherefore teach us, merciful Christ, to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.  
Give us grace to have in remembrance the short days of our life, with the dangerous passage of our time in this world: so that having no trust or affiance in the uncertainty thereof, we may wholly apply ourselves to the contemplation of thy heavenly wisdom; that we may consider earnestly thy goodness showed unto us, who art the power and the wisdom of God thy father.  
Behold Lord our hearty repentance for our sins, we beseech thee, turn thy mercy and loving kindness unto us, be gracious to us that are thy servants: for although we fall often times from thee, through frailty of our nature; yet we forsake thee not utterly, but return to thee, as the prodigal son returned to his father after long absence, & was received & well accepted of. We are thy servants, ready to serve thee by the help of thy grace.  
Hear therefore our humble petition, which is, to crave thy mercy and grace: with the same satisfy my soul, most gracious Lord, for the which all thy faithful do sore hunger and thirst, so long as they abide in this life, but they shall be perfectly and faithfully most fully satisfied, when thy glory shall be manifest unto them in thy heavenly habitation.  
Then shall we rejoice and be glad all the days of our life. With that joyful day comfort us, good Lord, in recompense of the years wherein we have suffered much adversity. Let thy grace shine upon us, let it ever assist us, O merciful jesus, which art the bright light of God thy father. Then shall we prosper in this world, and after follow thee the lamb, wheresoever thou goest: which grant for thy mercy sake. To thee, with the Father, and the holy Ghost, be praise and glory, now and for ever, Amen.   

29. A prayer unto the holy Ghost, wherein his glory is confessed.  
O Holy Ghost, thou art my strength, power, and refuge in time of my trouble: thou didst help me in my youth, when I had more strength; help me now, good Lord, so much the more in my old age and weakness, for the depth of thy providence governeth all things. Thou art the Lord of life, whose throne is most excellent, with God the Father and the Son, which dwellest in the place of our holy rest. Thou art the comfort of thine elect, and the sevenfold disposer of the works of God. All they that forsake thee shall be confounded, and they that depart from thee shall be written in earth, because they have forsaken the Lord of life.  
Turn ye therefore all ye sinners, and do righteousness before God, and be ye sure that his holy spirit will not departed from you. For he did not refuse the prayer of Abraham, when he was entreated for the wicked Sodomites, if there could have been found ten righteous in the city: how much more wilt thou grant the prayers of the godly, when they call upon thee, either for themselves, or for the preservation of thy church? Wherefore, because thou art just, O Lord, lead me out of the danger of mine enemies: for unto thee do I make my prayer, O thou most high possessor of heaven and earth. Be not terrible unto me, O Lord: for thou art God my comforter, in whom I hope, when I am in peril. O thou finger of GOD, touch my heart, and unlose the same from all worldly vanity.  
Inspire me with thy grace, that I may confess the father and the son, with thee O holy Ghost, to be one GOD in persons three, and everlasting in unity; who guidest and governest the world, through thy omnipotency, whose mercies be praised for all thy benefits, in the world of worlds, now and for evermore, Amen.   

30. A prayer in the remembrance of death, wherein the vanity of riches is touched, and the revelation and reward of men's works is promised.  
MAke us, O Lord, to remember our end, whereunto all men by nature must come: then shall we never do amiss. Instruct our hearts in thy godly wisdom, that we may apply our time according to thy holy word and will. Defend us from the snares of our wicked enemy the devil. Let us not be entangled with the wicked mammon of this detestable world, nor boast ourselves in the multitude of our riches, for they and we shall fade and fall away, as the fresh flower that keepeth his colour and sweet savour for a short space, but the heat of the sun maketh it whither, his beauty to perish, and his flower to fall away. Even so shall it be with all such as put their trust in their riches; they shall perish together with their abundance; their goods may serve them here for a short space, but no man can with money win his brother from death, or make agreement unto God for him, for it cost more to redeem their souls, so that they must let that alone forever.  
Only thy son jesus Christ was our redemption, which price if it well not serve the wicked, for that they end in sin, our saviour will not pay for them a second death to redeem them withal, but leave them to be tormented for ever. Wherefore give us grace Lord, that we may lay up our riches in the hands of Christ, the sure treasure house, that is, in the hands of the poor; that we may be sure to find it again, with greater gain, when we depart out of this wretched world: so shall we lay up temporal things, and receive again eternal.  
For if we will be rich in good works, and ready to give and to distribute, we shall lay up for us a good foundation against the time to come: contrariwise, the wicked, which are now here in great glory; whose dwelling is in the night, their works are hid, and appear not; but at the great judgement, when Christ which is our life shall show himself, then shall the just appear with him also in glory; then shall it be clear daylight, all men's works shall appear as they be.  
The tree that in the winter showeth no freshness, shall then receive sap from the root, & appear beautiful, where the flower and herb that was in sight pleasant for a while shall whither away and fall. Then shall the strength of the wicked consume, hell shall be their dwelling in perpetual morning. Thus wilt thou destroy all the ungodly, yet have we a sure hope thou wilt deliver our souls from the power of hell, and receive us to thee by grace, here in this world; and after, when thou shalt come to the last judgement, to take us to thyself in glory; that where thou art, there may we be with thee. For we are not grieved at the ungodly, nor afraid when they be made rich, and the glory of their houses increased. We know that their honour endureth but a small season, & vanisheth away as doth the smoke; for thou regardest them not: therefore thou givest them things of small estimation.  
Abraham gave gifts to the sons of his concubines, and sent them away; but unto Isaac he gave his possessions, and all that he had: so Lord, to the wicked thou givest temporal things, but for thy faithful thou reservest thy everlasting heavenly inheritance. This is a sure and permanent reward, the other soon slippeth away; their time here is but short, and when they die, they shall carry nothing away with them, neither shall their pomp follow them. For thou O Lord wilt drive them away.  
As wax melteth at the heat of the fire, so shall the ungodly perish at thy presence; then shalt thou change their honour into shame: for while they lived, they were counted happy men, and so long as they were in prosperity, men spoke good of them; but when they follow their father's generation, they shall never see light any more. They were the children of Canaan, come of a wicked progeny, they have followed their forefather's steps, their deeds were evil, they loved darkness better than light. Wherefore they shall have everlasting darkness with torments, they shall have fire, but it shall give them no comfortable heat.  
These pains are ordained for them that were in honour, and had riches in abundance, and did forget their estate, and for lack of knowledge were led into captivity. Wherefore O good God, let us not be of the number of them; but build us upon thy blessed son jesus Christ, the head corner stone: in him whosoever is builded, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord his God. For of ourselves we have hard hearts to believe, except thou writ thy law in our hearts by thy holy spirit. Now is the acceptable time; Lord let us find grace and favour in thy sight, pardon our wickedness and sin, and take us to thine inheritance, that we may reign with thee in glory, for ever and ever, Amen, Amen.   

31. A prayer that we may hear the word of God and keep it.  
I Am thy servant, Lord, give me understanding, that I may learn thy law and decrees: incline my soul to the words of thy mouth, because thy talk floweth like unto dew. The Israelits said unto Moses; Speak thou unto us, and we will hear she, but let not the Lord speak, lest we die. Howbeit, I pray not so, O Lord, but rather with the prophet Samuel I do humbly and earnestly beseech thee thus; Speak on Lord, for thy servant doth hearken, for thou art the giver and inspirer of life, who art able without any to instruct me.  
Thy Ministers speak for thee thy secreats, but thou unlockest the understanding of the things pronounced; they rehearse to us thy commandments, but it is thy aid and help that giveth strength to walk over the same, and givest light unto the minds. Wherefore, because thou art the everlasting truth, speak thou Lord my God unto me, lest I die, and be made unfruitful: for thou hast the words of everlasting life. Speak therefore that thing, which may bring both comfort unto my soul, and amendment unto my life, and also may cause glory and immortal honour unto thee. For man doth perish, but thy truth endureth, O God, for ever.  
Blessed are they therefore, whom thou instructest and givest knowledge unto O Lord, and dost teach thy law, that thou mayst help them in time of trouble, that they perish not. Look favourably upon me, O GOD, and grant (I pray thee) that thy truth may teach me, keep me, and bring me unto a happy end. Let the same deliver me from all wicked lusts, and from inordinate love. Thou hast infinite means, and all creatures are at thy commandment; therefore good Lord show some sign, whereby I shall be delivered, and send thine holy angel before me, to keep me in thy way, and to bring me to the place which thou hast provided for me, that I may live with thee everlastingly, world without end, Amen.   

32. A prayer wherein the word of God is praised, and what things are thereby to be wrought & accomplished, his mercy and justice also is hear declared.  
GRant me, good Lord, to serve thee with a perfect heart and willing mind: for thou Lord searchest the heart, and understandest all our imaginations and thoughts. If we seek thee, thou wilt be found; but if we forsake thee, thou wilt cast us off for ever. If we depend only upon thee O God, we shall not need to be troubled with these worldly respects: for thou wilt give us at all times that which shall be necessary for body and soul; if we fear thee, and obey thy holy word, which thou wilt have found true, and also magnified for thine own honour and glory, and for our commodity.  
Upon thee therefore will I still call, trusting that thou wilt shortly hear and help me; I will also call upon the mighty name of thy son jesus Christ, in whose name the faithful have and do daily cast out devils from the possessed. They have spoken and do speak with new tongues. And though they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them. By which also they are procured to leave their wicked minds, and devilish works, in the which they before lead their lives.  
They speak thy holy word, and also set forth thy verity, leaving all lies and deceits. They do suppress the old serpent sathan, plucking out the sting of his tail, wherewith he was accustomed to wound them. And if at any time they have consented to sin, and received his poison, this name of our saviour shall keep them from all hurts; because they made invocation on his holy name, which doth purge them clean after their hearty repentance. For thou O Christ wilt deliver thine, though all worldly meanrs fail. And though we be committed by tyrants unto temporal death, yet through thee shall we vanquish all our enemies: for the death of thy saints is dear and precious in thy sight: they need not fear those that have power only to kill the body, but let us fear thy mighty hand, which hast power to slay both body & soul. This worldly death is a way to bring us from much trouble, to the haven of everlasting health, into the land of livers.  
Nevertheless Lord, of thy justice let the unjust and cruel enemies of the faithful stand in dread of thy stretched out arm, wherewith in thine anger thou wilt strike them. Of thine infinite goodness thou sufferest long, abiding their conversion; but after long forbearing thou strikest very sore, throwing both body and soul into the pit of hell, having such measure of punishment, as they gain in this world. For as thy mercies is unmeasurable, so is thy justice unremovable to those that depart this world in their wickedness.  
Make me, O Lord God, of the number of those that be thy faithful children; let me not waver nor fall from my hope, but put on me the shield of faith, that I may strongly fight against my ghostly enemy. Grant me to vanquish and overcome him, that after triumphant victory, I may live and reign with thee O Father, Son, and holy Ghost, three persons, and one true and everlasting GOD; through the merits & death of thy Son my Lord and Saviour jesus Christ, to the which most glorious Trinity, be given all honour, glory, and praise, now and for ever, Amen.   

33. A prayer to be said at all times, wherein our frailties are confessed, and request made to have them redressed.  
BLessed art thou O GOD of our fathers, and blessed is thy holy name, which is most glorious for ever. Let the heavens bless thee, and all thy creatures, thou art the Lord, strong and merciful, gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in goodness and truth, reserving mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquities, transgressions and sins, making the wicked innocent, if they will repent with all their whole hearts, and return unto thee.  
Thou visitest the sins of the fathers upon the children; unto the third and fourth generation: for as thou art merciful, even so goeth justice from thee. For thou settest so much store by man, that thou hast a regard over him, and daily carest for us, O Lord God, and makest proof and trial of him every hour, beholding those with a fatherly eye that serve thee in faith and truth.  
Thou hast used correction unto us, but we gathered thereby no repentance; thou hast corrected us, to the end we should amend, but we refused thy fatherly visitation. For those that are thine enemies, thou wilt declare thine heavy judgements against them; but thou wilt show thy favourable kindness towards thy children. For thou hast said; I will punish them that serve me otherwise than I have commanded them, not sparing the chief, that the people may fear and praise my judgements. For to the wicked and carnal man thou appearest as a flaming fire, but unto them that be drawn with thy holy spirit, thou art like a pleasant saphir to be hold.  
Holiness pertaineth unto thee O Lord GOD, and thou O GOD art most holy, and nothing unholy may appear before thee. Therefore whosoever cometh unto thee, must be washed from all sin and corruption. And seeing thou governest all things by thy providence, thou wilt put a difference between the godly and ungodly. Wherefore we humbly beseech thee O Lord GOD, lighten our hearts with thy holy spirit, that we may feel thy favour towards us, as those that be thine elect do. The right hand of thy majesty is glorious in power.  
Grant us, O God, continually to depend upon thy providence, with patience, from day to day, with full trust in thy promises for our deliverance. For though we provoke thee justly to anger, O God; yet wilt thou never forsake us. Thou art our Lord almighty, jehovah is thy name, which declarest that thou art constant, & wilt perform thy promise.  
Grant us grace therefore, that we may worship thee aright, in the place which thou hast appointed us: for thou O Lord requirest purity. We cannot be thine, except our sins be purged with the blood of jesus Christ, by whose grace we may learn to detest all sin. Which grant us all to do, O Father, for Christ's sake, whose figure we represent, on him we lay all our offences, who is able to bear the burden of them for us all. We present him to thee O Father, whom we know both can and will make us clean and perfect before thee, whose mercies we daily praise, with thee O father, and the holy Ghost, now and for ever, Amen.   

34. An humbly confession of our sins before God, as also a petition to have the same remitted.  
O Lord hear my hearty repentance, for I am sorrowful and grieved with the burden of my sins; the remembrance of them is intolerable. Wherefore look down upon me with thy favourable eyes of pity, and behold me which lie here prostrate before the sight of thy majesty: for I confess that I am waxed old in sin and wickedness, wherein I first was conceived, but now my most hearty desire is to be borne anew, and to be graffed in my Lord and Saviour jesus Christ.  
For thus my faith doth persuade me, that none can come too late unto thee, who forgavest the thief all his wickedness at his last hour, when he asked mercy of thee. And many other more examples I find in my most holy word, how merciful thou hast been always to those thy servants, that sought the same of thee. And shall I then despair, hearing daily thy voice cry out unto me, saying; Come all ye that are heavy laden, and I will ease you. Knock, and it is heard; ask, and it is given.  
Who can yet think that he shall miss of mercy, if he crave it in faith; seeing thou art so true and just in all thy promises? Thy creatures fail in their words and works, but thou keepest thy promise and fidelity, and thy word endureth unremovable for ever and ever. O thou God almighty, unto whom all things are known, show on me thy mercy, even in the sight of the children of men, that they may know and see how gracious and merciful thou art unto those, that give over themselves unto the hands of thy almighty Majesty.  
Thou art the helper of the forsaken and fréendles, and there is none that may be compared unto thee that art so rich in mercy, and loving kindness, that didst not spare thine only begotten Son jesus Christ, to give him a slain sacrifice for my sins, and the sins of the whole world; but also hast promised, that whosoever doth come unto thee in his name, with full assurance in his blood, death, and passion, shall not only receive remission of all their sins and iniquities that ever they have committed, but also inherit the crown of everlasting glory, which thou wilt give unto all those that be thine elect in Christ. Of which number, through thy grace, I account myself for one, making me most assured thereof, because thou hast promised the same.  
Which doth embolden me at this present, to crave thy most merciful aid, and assisstance of thy holy spirit, to strengthen me in faith, to confirm me in hope, to 'stablish me in charity, that I may be known by thy cognisance and badge, to be thy child and faithful servant; that I may use the talon which thou hast given me, to thine honour and glory, and the health of my soul.  
That when it shall please thee to take a reckoning, how I have spent the gifts of grace, which thou hast lent me, I may yield a just account, with much advantage, so that I may be worthy to hear thy voice, saying unto me; Come thou true & good servant, thou hast been faithful in a little, I will make thee ruler over much; enter thou into thy masters joy.  
O blessed and happy are they that shall be so placed of thee; they have fought a good fight, and through jesus Christ have overcome the battle, and prince of this world. Therefore shall they live and reign with the same Christ, their grand captain; because they took him for their guide, in all their doings, and fought manfully under his banner. Thy poor soldier I am, Lord, and fight daily. Lord help me for thy mercy's sake, to overcome all mine enemies.  
Give me, O Lord, a waking mind, an understanding heart, and renew in me a right spirit, which may lead me unto thee, who art the way, the truth and the life, whose mercies remain for ever, whose truth endureth from generation to generation. Glory be to the father, who so mercifully created us; and to the son, who lovingly redeemed us; and to the holy Ghost, who sanctifieth us, and maketh us blessed, three persons and one GOD, whose name be praised for evermore, Amen.   

35. A thanksgiving unto God for the redemption of the world, wherein is showed from what graces he fell, and how he was restored.  
O Most holy father of heaven, the only living God, of power inestimable, of wisdom incomprehensible: to thee be honour, and glory, and thanks, for thy noble works, in the creation of mankind, and also for our redemption out of captivity, and thraldom of the devil, by the passion of thy most dear beloved son jesus Christ. For thou madest Adam the first man, and gavest him free will to obey thy commandments; from the which he fell by the enticement of the devil, and by his own stubbornness, whereby he spoilt himself and his after comers, of those godly gifts, which thou of thy mercy hadst bestowed upon us.  
Howbeit, thou of thy fatherly goodness didst not utterly leave him, but gavest him faith to believe thy promises made unto him, and to us all, in jesus Christ, with grace and obedience to keep thy law. By faith we believe in thee, by charity we work towards our neighbour, according as thou hast commanded. No man liveth without sin, but happy and blessed are they to whom thou givest thy grace, not to abide and sleep in sin, but by penitence to come to a godly conversation.  
Lord give us faith, and a willing heart to follow thy holy word, so that we may exercise ourselves in it all the days of our life. Make us, O Lord, like unto the wise virgins, that were provided of oil in their lamps, against the coming of the bridegroom. Then wilt thou know us to be thy faithful children by election, and open the gate to us, that we may enter in, to our comforts. Which grant us Lord for thy blessed sons sake, who to save us suffered bitter passion, whose mercies be praised for his goodness, with thee O father, and the holy ghost, in the world of worlds, now and for ever, Amen.   

36. another prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the same purpose aforesaid.  
WHat living creature can give condign thanks, most gracious & heavenly father, for the manifold gifts which thou of thy infinite mercy and goodness hast given him? First for his noble creation, wherein he excelleth all other earthly creatures; & then for his redemption, through the bitter passion and resurrection of thy most loving son. For the which I, as one of thy poor creatures, most humbly give thee thanks. For had not our redemption ensued our creation, it had been much better for us that we had never been made.  
Thy love above all other was most fervent, when thou didst not spare to give thine only begotten son for us, washing away all our filthiness in the blood of that meek lamb, thine only natural son, who being GOD, was made man, to the intent that we, who naturally are the sons of men, by him (through grace) might be made the sons of God.  
And not being contented with this kindness, thou also Lord, considering our weak and frail nature, ready to sin, doest with thy grace, guide us and govern us, as the shepherd doth his sheep, suffering us not to want any thing, defending thy poor flock from the ravening wolves, that would else devour us. Thy blessed son hath put us to feed in the pleasant, green, and beautiful pasture of his holy church, making us to rest in the unity thereof, by a lively faith and hope in him.  
Which church is very plentiful, abounding with all spiritual meat of the word of God, which nourisheth and giveth life to the soul, as bread and other food feeds the body. With this food thou didst feed the prophet Ezechiel, when thou didst cause him to eat a book, wherewith his bowels were filled, and it seemed in his mouth sweeter than honey.  
In this pasture runneth also a fresh and pleasant river of running water of godly doctrine, wherewith we often do refresh our souls. In this also is a water of spiritual washing, by baptism, whereby we were wonderfully refreshed in our youth. For our souls being made foul, through the devil and sin, by baptism are repaired and made beautiful, according to the first creation, that is, to thy likeness and image: and by this water we are replenished with thy holy spirit.  
This water saw the prophet Ezechiel long ago, gushing forth of the right side of the temple, and grew to a great river, that no man could wade over; to which water whosoever we come, was made whole. Even so, in the water of our baptism, we were borne again, in the water of godly doctrine we are nourished, and without these we are but dead in sin and wickedness, and at the end shall go to everlasting death: but these waters are to us a well springing up unto everlasting life. And if at any time by our frailiie we fall into sin; yet is thy merciful son ready to receive us to his grace, and quicken our souls; if we be sorrowful and penitent.  
By which grace he maketh us also to know how to love him, and not to esteem the pleasures of this world, but to have our eyes only fixed upon him. So that with thine apostle Paul, we account all things but loss, that we may win Christ, and be found in him, not having our own righteousness, but that which springeth of the faith which is in jesus Christ. Whose grace if we have, though we walk in the vallic and shadow of death, yet we fear none evil; for thou art with us.  
This life is a shadow of death, after which we trust by faith to dwell with thee. Nevertheless, whilst we are here, thou art with us, and thy son hath also promised to be with us unto the end of the world; his rod of discipline and correction doth chasten us, when we serve at any time out of the right way: by which we judge that he doth love us; for whosoever he be that he loveth, him he doth chasten. Christ's strong shepherds staff doth stay us, when we are weak, as a sick man is by his staff.  
In Christ thy son is the fullness of grace, from whom distilleth all goodness that we have; through his holy spirit is our cup filled full of pure liquor: it causeth us, for joy of heavenly contemplation, to forget all the troubles and miseries of the world, the dregs of worldly pleasures, and carnal affections. For as thy mercy hath gone before us, plentifully giving us abundance of thy great graces: so we trust, and doubt not, but it will follow us all the days of our lives, and keep us that we fall not from faith.  
Thou Lord must help our house, or else we labour in vain; thou must be our beginning and end, and then we be sure to dwell in the house of the Lord for ever. For we know surely, that if our earthly mansion, wherein we now dwell, were dissolved, we have a building ordained of God, an habitation not made with hands, but eternally in heaven, where is perpetual joy and beatitude, world without end, Amen.   

37. A brief confession, that we receive all goodness from God.  
ARise up O Lord God, and let thine enemies be scattered before thee, and let them that hate thee be brought to confusion. Declare O Lord thy might and power, for thou art a consuming fire, and a jealous God, visiting the sins of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation. For thy government is so just, constant, and without change or repentance, that thy very enemies shall be compelled to confess the same.  
O God almighty, thou dost punish thine elect by measure, & givest them grace to bear it; but to the reprobate, it is thy just vengeance, to drive them headlong to all madness. For thy omnipotency hath all power in itself, to execute thy terrible judgement against obstinate sinners: as thou art rich in mercy to comfort them which obey thy word and love thee.  
The faithful, in all their adversities, do know that all shall go well with them: for GOD will be merciful and just, and though they want for a time, yet thou wilt send them comfort in due season. For thy Majesty is so great, that it filleth both heaven and earth, and there is no power so high that can let thee, when thou wilt deliver thine. The wicked rise up suddenly to honour, and perish as quickly; but the inheritance of the children of God continueth for ever. For thou O GOD wilt take vengeance upon the wicked, and measure them according to their dealings.  
Thus thou O God canst pluck back the bridle of tyrants, and deliver thine own out of the lion's mouth: for though the wicked swell never so much, yet we fear them not. They cannot utterly destroy us, for thou Lord hast promised to abide with thy faithful people, to the end of the world. Thy grace will not leave us, nor any that love thee and serve thee with a faithful heart. Thy favour O God resteth on thine, for thy son jesus Christ's sake, that from him we might receive thy blessings. For we deserve nothing of ourselves, but thy wrath and indignation.  
Wherefore grant us, good Lord, first to seek thy glory, and above all things reign thou over us all, and let us render to thee perfect obedience, as thine angels do, whom thou hast commanded to take charge of thy children. For the which if the wicked despise them, thou of thy mercy wilt revenge their cause: for thou wilt preserve the faithful branches of thy vineyard; but the rotten stocks wilt thou destroy, according to their hypocrisy. For there is none like unto thee in heaven above, or in the earth beneath. Thou doest bless the labour of the poor, and consumest the goods of them which are negligent, because they boast and think they have enough.  
The wicked wallow in their riches, yet are they but slaves to the godly that are true professors of the gift of God. The cup which thou gavest to the wicked to drink, is much bitter than that thou dost bestow on thine own: them thou measurest by mercy, the other by justice. And though thou suffer thy children to live under the cross, lest they should embrace wickedness; yet thou wilt not suffer it to rest upon them, that it should drive them from their hope: for all thy promises are true. Wherefore we are sure of thy helpful deliverance, seeing the earth and all creatures remain in that estate, wherein thou hast created them; much more thy truth endureth constant and unchangeable. Blessed be thou O God of truth, and blessed be the glory of thy holy name, world without end, Amen, Amen.   

38. A prayer wherein is showed, that there is none omnipotent, but God alone.  
O Lord GOD almighty, it is not in man's power or counsel to hinder that thou hast determined shall come to pass: for as the insensible heaven is not subject to any alteration and change, so shall the truth of thy promises be unchangeable, sith our infirmities cannot in any wise comprehend thee in thy majesty. There is none like thee, neither is there any God besides thee: thou killest, and givest life; thou woundest, and makest whole. Wherefore blessed are they that confess thee, and obey thy word: to them thou givest life and felicity.  
The joys that are steadfast and perdurable, are given of thy goodness, to those that are meek and humble in spirit. Thou doest grant to the faithful of thy goodness, both grace and glory; so that no good thing shall be withholden from them that live in thy fear: for thou castest away none that will seek thee in righteousness. And though thou suffer the world to hate thine elect, it is because thy children should forsake the filthiness of this world, and cleave unto thee. Wherefore grant us, O Lord, that we may always have the eyes of our faith fixed upon thee: for whatsoever thou O GOD hast promised, shall surely be performed. For as it was thy free mercy, O God, that did choose us: so is it thy free mercy that must save us. Thou dost call us by thy rod, to consider the shortness of our life: for our sins have abridged our days, which be not only short, but miserable, because we are so sinful, that we do nothing but provoke thee to wrath; so weak we are, so frail, and unable of ourselves to do that good is, inclining always to things forbidden. There is nothing so secretly done on earth, but thou O God dost see it, who doest fulfil both heaven and earth.  
Grant us, O Lord, always thy fear, which shall be a bridle to stay us from all wickedness. For as thou hast created all people, even so doest thou govern the hearts of all, joining the salvation of thine with thine own honour, so that they cannot perish, unless thy glory should be diminished. For thou art so merciful, that a sinner can no sooner humble himself, but thou receivest him to mercy, waiting as it were with patience, to call him to repentance.  
Wherefore we cry now unto thy majesty, from the depth of our hearts; most humbly beseeching thee to put all our wickedness out of thy remembrance, and give us grace to put our only trust in thee, from whom we look for our deliverance, who shalt change our bodies, and make them like to the most glorious body of thy son jesus Christ; to whom, with thee, & the holy Ghost, be given all praise, honour, and glory, now and for ever more, Amen.   

39 A prayer of lamentation, wherein the sinner lamenteth his miserable estate, and crieth for mercy.  
MY God, when I do earnestly behold mine own state, whereunto I am brought through sin, not only being naked and bare of all goodness, but also to be overwhelmed in the depth of all iniquity; I cannot but lament, mourn, and cry for help, as doth a woman, whose time draweth near to be delivered of her child; for she can take no rest, till she be discharged of her burden.  
No more can I, Lord, as long as I feel myself laden with my heavy burden of sin, the weight whereof draweth me down to the deep bottom of all misery; from whence I can by none be delivered, but only by thee, that art the guide and the eye to those that are blind through ignorance, the succour of the oppressed, the comfort of the weak, the life of those that are dead; so that they repent and turn unto thee.  
It is not the long distance of us from thy highness, which keepeth our prayers from thee; thine ears are ready in the hearts of all that are willing to cry for the help of thy grace. Who so is made far from thee, through sin, by repentance is made near unto thee. He that is in the bottom of the sea of misery, if he begin to call for thy help, he shall not be suffered to sink. From all deep dangers most merciful God deliver me.  
I cry and call piteously unto thee, which art only able to help me. Hear therefore, I most heartily pray thee, my sorrowful prayer, and let my poor petition pierce the ears of thy Godhead. And since thy son Christ died for to release us of sin, let not my sins be a stay, whereby my prayers should not be heard, but wipe them clean away, that they never more appear. For I miserable sinner do fly to the gentleness of thy favourable mercy, whose nature and property is to have pity & compassion.  
From thee floweth all mercy and grace, which was so great unto us, that it moved thee to send thine only Son to die for our redemption; whereby thy justice was satisfied, and thy mercy found that it sought. O how fervent was this thy noble charity to us vile wretches! It took root & beginning in thy mighty deity, & from thence it was derived to mankind; being an example that we thy christian people should, like loving brethren, bear one another's burden.  
Wherefore I am most willingly contented, to remit all injuries done to me; as it hath pleased thy goodness to forgive me much greater offences committed against thee. And whensoever it shall please thee to scourge and punish me, I will gladly receive thy chastisement, for that I know it proceedeth of love for my wealth and surety; trusting that after my long abiding & suffering in this life, I shall surely obtain thy reward, by thy promise, that is; If we suffer with Christ, we shall also reign with him.  
Such sure hope have I ever had in thee Lord, and by the same hope I trust to have thy favour, and live for ever. For blessed are they that trust in thee, most merciful Father; and cursed are they that trust in man. Of thy grace and mercy only cometh all goodness; thy mercy forgiveth only our sins daily and hourly, & the painful death of thy son Christ delivereth us from all the pains due for our sins. Thou boughtest us not with gold and silver, but with the precious blood of that lamb without spot, thy blessed Son, whose death had been sufficient for thousands of worlds.  
The greatness of thy love caused the plentiful payment of the price of our redemption. The charity of our Lord jesus Christ hath burnt up, and consumed, by his death, all our iniquities. Wherefore the faithful, being thus delivered from all dangers, by thine only goodness, may now give thanks unto thy mighty Majesty, resting in hope to have, after this life, everlasting joy and felicity; through jesus Christ our merciful Lord and redeemer; to whom with thee O dear Father, & the holy Ghost, be given all honour, glory, and praise, now and for ever, Amen.   

40. A prayer, wherein the fatherly love and preservation of God is set forth, and a request that we may continue faithful and constant unto the end.  
GRant us, O Lord that we may constantly believe in thee; that being certified by thy justice, taught by thy wisdom, governed by thy power, we may steadfastly persevere even unto the end, in hope of that joy that is set before our eyes, framing our lives continually in christian exercises, that we may show ourselves thankful to thee our God, with dutifulness to our neighbour. For thy judgements appear manifest in this world, against those that suppress thy word, and persecute thy servants. For thou doest disappoint the lot and expectation of the wicked, turning their joy into sorrow, and the tears of the godly into gladness, dwelling in the hearts of thy faithful by thy holy spirit, who are called thy glory, because thy image, and the token of thy grace shineth in them.  
Thou art a light to comfort thy people, and a fire to consume thine enemies. Thou art he, O Christ, that touchest the hearts of all thy servants, mortifying their concupiscence: but to the wicked thou art the savour of death. Wherefore the faithful desire of thee to be delivered, that thou by them mayst be glorified: for thou hast promised to be true and just unto all that trust in thee. Wherefore we will take thee for our defence against all our enemies, what danger soever we fall into.  
Thy word giveth life unto man, causing him to see and try the secrets of his dark heart. For thou showest thyself most liberal to thine, when they seem to be most destitute, keeping them under thy protection, that they may be safe against all dangers, and free from the cruelties of their enemies. For as to the elect all things turn to their profit; so to the reprobate, even those things that are good, turn to their damnation.  
As for me, I will never boast of mine own virtues, O God; but confess that thou of thy free goodness, hast ever been merciful unto me, and given me power against mine enemies, as to one of thine household. Wherefore grant me always to make my prayer unto thee, from the fountain of my heart, that I offend thee not through hypocrisy.  
And though the wicked deal rigorously with me, yet I beseech thee let me find comfort from thee; for hitherto hast thou strengthened me against my outward and inward enemies, so that all the world shall confess, that thou hast wonderfully preserved me, and performed thy promise. For thou doest ever guide me with thy hand, that I can turn no way but where thou appointest me. Thy providence doth so fast hold me, that I cannot by any means escape from thee. Thou hast made me in all parts, and therefore must needs know me. Wherefore, considering thy wonderful work in forming me, I cannot but praise thee, and fear thy mighty power, who art the creator of all things, the keeper of justice, the lover of right, the hater of malice; beholding from the high throne of thy Majesty the children of men.  
Bow down thine ear, O merciful Father, I humbly beseech thee, and hear me thy servant, whom thou hast hitherto brought up from my tender age, and delivered me until this day from the hands of the wicked, whose rage was furious, until thou brakest their force. I set my hope in thee O God, and life everlasting, knowing that these earthly things shall perish, having a sure hope, that both my soul and body shall enjoy thy presence, O God of my salvation, in the last resurrection. Then shall I feel thy mercies, and answer when thou callest me.  
Wherefore I set all my felicity and joy in that I am united with thee O God, and shall enjoy thy presence; so that I reject all other things save that which furthereth me to attain to thy heavenly treasures, which is sure, and cannot be found in any but in thee alone, whose praise shall endure for ever, world without end Amen.   

41. A prayer, wherein the sinner prayeth for grace, that he may make a godly end.  
BLessed Father of heaven, fountain of all grace and goodness, that art rich in mercy, and plentiful in giving the same to all that do faithfully call upon thy holy name. O good God, thou having a son no less rich in power, wisdom, knowledge, and mercy, than thou art thine own self, didst not spare to send him from thy heavenly palace, down to the earth, into the womb of a virgin, for the salvation of mankind, to declare thine abundant love towards us.  
Thou didst for our sakes make him poor, which before was rich; to the intent that we, which before were very poor, should by his poverty be made rich; that he which before was all one with thee, in thy divine substance, might now be made one with us, that are members of the body, whereof he is the head. Harken good Lord, give ear unto my prayer, let my petition ascend up before the sight of thy Majesty. The coming of thy merciful son did make me thine, but the vileness of mine own acts hath cast me down, and made me very miserable. The greatness of mine offences hath caused thee to turn away thy face from me, withdrawing thy grace, which was the cause of the good works I did.  
Thou canst find no good thing in me, worthy of thy favour; wherefore, Lord, behold the face of Christ thy dear Son, my mediator; for his sake give me that which of myself I am much unworthy to obtain of thee. Look on me with thy pitiful eye, and in the time of my trouble incline thine ear and hear me. My old enemy daily assaulteth me and vexeth me. Wherefore I will not cease to call upon thee daily: but specially at the hour of my death Lord hear me & defend me, at which time my cruel enemy will most busily invade me. At that instant Lord look upon me with the eye of thy mercy, now whilst I am in this wretched world.  
I crave not of thee abundance of earthly goods, but as honest necessity doth require, but the abundance of thy grace in this life. This hast thou of thy mere liberality promised to grant, to all that in steadfast faith call upon thee. This hasty calling upon thee doest thou delight in, for thou art as ready to answer me, as I am to call upon thee. Wherefore make speed in hearing, as I am bold to call upon thee for I confess O Lord I have left thy holy word and commandments, which is as bread unto the soul, giving nutriment and moisture by faith and charity, and have eaten of the tree which thou forbadest me.  
I have, with our father Adam, followed the illusions of the serpent, & tasted of sin; but thy blessed son my saviour jesus Christ hath shed his blood for us, whereby we are restored unto thy grace, mercy, and favour, through the sacrament of baptism, if we heartily repent. He quickeneth us, which before were dead in sin; he slayeth, and can raise again; he striketh and healeth: as he did Paul in his persecution.  
How much therefore are we bound to his grace, that without any deserving on our parts, willingly offered himself to the death for our redemption: and to thy majesty also, who didst not spare thine only begotten son, but of thy pure pity, sentedst him down to suffer the most vile death of the cross for our sakes.  
Wherefore I am much ashamed to lift up my eyes to heaven towards thy highness, being so unkind to thee again so many ways. I have loved the works of darkness, and therefore I fled from the light of the bright sun of justice: for which cause do I sigh, sorrow, and bewail my wretchedness, in the bitterness of such thoughts for fear of thine anger towards me; knowing that at the time of thy coming to the dreadful general judgement, the storm of thine indignation shall go forth, and fall down upon the heads of the ungodly.  
Thou liftest me up of a great height, in that thou thou madest me like unto thine image, touching my reasonable soul, and hast given me power, by thy grace, to inherit everlasting joys of heaven, both body and soul, if I lived here after thy rommandements. What greater gift canst thou give me, Lord, than to have the fruition of thee? But alas I bear so heavy and earthly frail body, joined to my noble soul, that my heart and mind is drawn down from the consideration of thy goodness, and from well doing, unto all kind of vices.  
Wherefore, Lord, grant me, that in the shadow of this life, I may have grace to see light, and to know thee, thy ways, and thy holy word, which giveth light and understanding unto babes: for after this life, there is no place nor time left of repentance. And since my time is here but short, continue thy grace towards me, that I may live in thy fear all the days of my life, and end my life in thy favour, who dost endure for ever, and thy remembrance through all generations, world without end, Amen, Amen.   

42. A prayer against the offences of this world.  
MY heart shall praise thee O GOD, for my soul is in love with thy majesty, for the which I despise all earthly things, in respect of of thee the everlasting GOD, without measure, who feedeth all things. Thou art the comfort of the soul, and the true joy of the heart. Wherefore Lord continue thy graces towards us, and help our present necessities: for we are far unworthy of thy great benefits, which thou bestowest upon us and all people, who appointest the earth to bring forth to man's use. Thou art a most nourishing father, providing for all creatures their daily food; for none is able to do any thing, but as thou appointest them, sith they are but instruments to do thy work, though intentions be divers.  
Thou O God art the sender of peace and war, prosperity and adversity, punishing whole nations for their sins. How can we then so foolishly persuade ourselves, that we shall escape unpunished for our offences? Seeing thou hearest and seest all things, who hast in all ages plagued all such as maliciously and contemptuously departed from thy truth. For who so forsaketh thee O God, shall be punished, and made weary of his sins, wherein he delighteth. As for me, I hate them, O Lord, that presumptuously dare attribute unto themselves, that they can guide their own hearts; seeing it lieth in thy omnipotency to give the will, and further the work. For there is none able to speak a word, except thou give it him; neither is any able to think a good thought, without thee: much less may any do the thing that good is, without the assistance of thy holy spirit.  
Wherefore regenerate me, O Lord God, by the same spirit, and restore me to thine image, giving me grace, and an assured faith, to think & do that which is righteous in thy sight. For I desire to live but only to please thee, as thy servant Moses did, who was brought up with the daughter of Pharaoh, and taken as her son; where he might have lived still in much wealth, if he would. But when he was great through faith, he refused to be called her son, & chose rather to suffer adversity with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasure of sin for a while; and all for that he had respect to the reward to come in thy heavenly house.  
Which grant me to aspire unto, for thy mercy sake, whatsoever vexation or trouble my body bide. For what should all the world gain me, if I lose my soul? Better I were in this world to feed upon the bread of tears, and to wash my cup with morning, than to live in all prosperity, wallowing in worldly wealth, and forget thee my God, as the rich glutton did. For assuredly it is thy plague, when the rich man hath not a liberal heart to use his riches, to thine honour and glory. For there is no power so high or mighty, but thou O God canst visit him with thy rod; neither is there any mountain or hill so strong or mighty, that it can preserve the wicked from thy wrath, O most mighty, when thou wilt strike; for thine office is to take vengeance on the wicked, and to reward them according to their wickedness and deserving. Bless me, O GOD, and make me of that number, which regard not the pleasures of this world, with the temporal commodities thereof: but make me strong against my spiritual enemy, that I may be thy well beloved child and servant: for I have no other refuge but thee O Lord, in whom my conscience is at rest. Thou art named merciful, gracious, and long suffering: Lord show thyself so unto me thy poor creature, who is most weak and frail of all other.  
Lord I have confessed all mine offences and imperfections unto thy Majesty: and now I depend wholly on thee, resting still on thy most holy word; beseeching thee to strengthen my poor soul, which sigheth and groaneth unto thee, with griefs that cannot be expressed, until thou have mercy upon me. Which grant me for thy dear son jesus Christ our Lord and saviour, Amen, So be it.   

43. A prayer for the good estate of the church and congregation of God.  
ARise O LORD GOD, and have mercy upon thy church and faithful congregation. Give us that be of the household of faith, joy and consolation. Thou diddest ever show mercy unto thy servants; for ever since the fall of angels, unto the end of the world, thy mercy hath ever been, and shall be abundantly showed to all mankind: but chiefly it was showed when thy son was sent into this world, to suffer death, whereby the gate of heaven was opened, which before was shut, that no man might enter. This time was the beginning of grace, and was certainly appointed, when the fullness of time was come, which was before sin, by the everlasting wisdom of thy deity, whereby thou doest all things in most perfect order. This time of grace, we trust, shall continue for ever, to those that are penitent.  
Wherefore we pray thee without ceasing, to have mercy upon thy church: for we faithfully build upon a sure rock, thy son jesus Christ is our foundation. Wherefore most loving father, turn thee unto the prayers of us that are poor & destitute of any help; but only of thy help, through thy mercy. Despise not, we humbly beseech thee, our humble desire. Behold our petitions with thy fatherly eye, wherewith thou didst look upon the oblation of Abel, and receive it thankfully, wherewith also thou beheldest the the prayer of the Israelties, being in bitter bondage in Egypt, and deliveredst them: with those same merciful eyes vouchsafe to look upon us, and our prayers, whereby the noble fame and praise of thy mercy shall be written for those that come after, which shall be borne in faith by baptism, and may praise thee. For those that be thy children, shall have a power above nature, & in their age shall they bring forth most sweet and pleasant fruit.  
Thou wilt ever declare thyself the preserver of the church in destroying thine enemies, as thou didst in thy red sea. Thou O God art merciful, and wilt not forsake us, neither destroy us: nor forget the appointment of our Fathers, which thou swarest unto them. And forsomuch as thou O God hast appointed that thy church in this world shall be under the cross, both because we should learn, not to put our trust in any worldly thing, and also feel thy comfort when all other help faileth. Therefore we humbly beseech thee O Lord, gather thy church which is dispersed, and give us constancy under the manifold crosses which we suffer, that we may with one consent all together praise thee for ever. For thou hast promised, by the mouth of thy sweet son jesus Christ, that thy power, and thine assistance shall be with her unto the end of the world.  
Strengthen us therefore with thy grace and holy spirit, that we may sow the seed of good works in this world, that they may declare us to be thy faithful servants, and that they may be acceptable fruit in thy sight: for thou doest try our faith, and teachest us to forget the world, and to depend on thee O father of all goodness. Thy promise never faileth, thou governest, by thy holy spirit, as seemeth best to thy godly wisdom: for thou O God art rich in mercy and truth, which feedest all things, and none can justly complain. For as by thy presence all things have life; so if thou withdraw thy blessing, we all perish.  
Thou hast a little flock, feed them with thy spiritual food, and govern thy church, seeing thou hast chosen them out of the world: join it unto thyself, that thy faithful may continue for ever. For thou art everlasting, thou hast ever loved truth, thou art verity itself, all thy promises are unremovable. Thou didst promise to Abraham to multiply his seed, as the stars of heaven, and as the sands upon the sea side; which promise at the last he enjoyed: even so didst thou promise Isaac and jacob. When Ezechias was sick unto the death, thou didst promise him life fifteen years more, which thou didst perform for thy name's sake.  
Even so Lord keep thy promise with us, that are thy poor sheep, so shall we praise thee, and thy Son our saviour Christ, which is our good shepherd; who suffered death for his flocks sake, to make them triumph over their enemies. And as he rose again for our justification, so grant that we may rise in newness of life, and aspire unto the same place whither our saviour is gone before; whose name be praised, with thee O dear father, and the holy Ghost, now and forevermore, Amen.   

44. A prayer, wherein is showed, that the wisdom of God is to be praised; as also how he trieth his servants is declared.  
THou, O most mighty God art the creator & maker of all things, whose power is everlasting, which shall never be put down; whose kingdom endureth incorrupt for ever, and thy going out hath been from everlasting. Great art thou, high & unmeasurable; thou only know'st the ways of wisdom none other is there that can find her paths, but thou the mighty God, which hast found her out with thy foreknowledge; & by the same thy godly wisdom hast created all things, according to thy noble will and pleasure. This thine omnipotent power, Lord, I thy sinful servant and subject do honour, and thy exceeding wisdom I have in great reverence. By the one thou madest all things, and by the other thou knewest what thou wouldst make, long before they were made; in both these hast thou declared thyself to be the living God.  
And although our acts, which be past, present, and to come, be all open before thine eyes, and our thoughts manifest in the sight of thy divine presence; yet doest thou daily search and prove thine elect people, sometimes by adversity, sometimes by prosperity, to cause us thereby to be known to other. After this sort didst thou prove Abraham, in the oblation of his son, to the intent his obedience might be an example to all that should come after him. Thus also didst thou prove thy servant job, and he was found both faithful, constant, and just. Thou knowest what men be, before thou triest them. But after the trial, thou hearest them & their prayers, and allowest their good acts and intentions: by such proof, Lord, hast thou tried me both within and without.  
And though through frailty I have erred, wandering from thee; yet at length have I been found to return again to thee, that art the perfect way, and to believe faithfully in thee, as in my very God, to trust wholly in thee, & to love thee as my merciful father: and all through the gift of thy grace, not of mine own strength or will. For what were I silly wretch, if I were destitute of thy help? I do consider thy goodness, and thy godly providence, by which thou wast the cause of my first being; and still am I much bound unto thy Majesty, for the great love thou barest unto me. First for my creation, and also for thy marvelous protection, assistance, inspiration, redemption, and reconciliation, which the eye of my soul doth right well consider.  
Wherefore I most humbly pray thee Lord, to regard what shall redound to thy glory: for thine honour is more advanced in saving one poor miserable and sinful creature, through thy mercy, than in the damnation of a thousand, by the rigour of thy justice. For in hell none can praise thee, but curse, wail, mourn and lament their miserable estate. Now, O my GOD, I most heartily beseech thee, to give me grace to fly the company of all such as speak untruly of thee, and of thy holy will and word; & also of them that exalt themselves presumptuously, least being conversant in their wickedness, I might fall from that right way, in the which it hath pleased thy gracious goodness to direct me: for whosoever is familiar with the proud, shall be clothed with pride.  
He that doth evil, is worthy of death; so are all those that communicate with him that hath pleasure in evil. As for such as decline from thee, I will abhor: those that do me any wrong, I clearly forgive and forget whatsoever they do unto me; yea I do pray unto thee my most merciful father, even from the bottom of my heart, to forgive them. But those, Lord, that maliciously resist thee, and thy holy word, I hate them, even as though they were mine enemies. Nevertheless, I do pray thee for amendment of their lives, and salvation of their souls.  
Consider Lord the frailty of our nature, none can stand in the right way, but shall slide and fall, unless thou give him the staff of thy grace, to stay himself thereby. As for me, I have wandered from thee, as a sheep that is strayed from the flock: but thy goodness hath found me out again, and brought me unto the fold. Led me therefore, out of mine own wicked way, into thy blessed way of truth, through the merits of thy dear beloved Son Christ, who is the very true perfect path to all beatitude, by whose help I may so direct my steps, in the way of this life, that I may keep the way unto life everlasting, Amen.   

45. A prayer wherein is showed how strangely preserved, and how blessed they are, that trust in God: the mercy of God also toward sinners is declared.  
O Lord almighty, father of mercy, & God of all comfort, which in the treasure of shine infinite mercies, disposest all things, not only among us thy poor creatures upon earth, which is bountifully replenished therewith; but also among thy holy angels, and blessed spirits in heaven, who are all preserved by thy grace. Lord God, whose nature and property is to have mercy upon all those that love thee, and in faith call on thee; thou sayest by thy prophet isaiah, that the mountains shall remove, and the hills shall fall down, but thy loving kindness shall not move from those that trust in thee.  
Thou Lord, of thy mercy, savedst Noa from the general flood; and Abraham in his voyage; Lot, from sinking among the sinful Sodomites; joseph, from the danger of his wicked lady and mistress; the Israelites, from the bondage of Pharaoh; Daniel, from the lions; jonas, from drowning, being three days & three nights in the whales belly; the three young men, from burning, that were put into the flaming furnace; with many thousands more, whom of thy natural accustomed mercy and goodness, thou doest preserve, and ever wilt do, all those that it pleaseth thee to draw unto thee, through grace.  
I most miserable and wretched sinner do now call upon thee for mercy and grace, acknowledging myself grievously to have offended the eyes of thy deity, so many ways, that I am not worthy to bear the name of a christian; the burden of mine offences is so great. Wherefore discharge me of them, Lord, according to thine infinite mercy. For small sins, thy small mercy sufficeth; but my great sins require thy great mercy. And as my offences are many in number, so is there of thy mercies a great multitude: yea they cannot be numbered. But of one thing I am sure, that it lieth not in man's power so much to offend, as it is in thy merciful power to forgive. My wounds cannot be so great and noisome, but thy medicines are most precious and healthsome: wherefore heal thou me, and I shall be whole from my sins.  
The children of Israel might not come into thy sight, being once defiled with any uncleanness, till they were sanctified; and the priests also durst not come to thy presence, till they were washed, for fear lest they should perish: how much more need I then to desire thee Lord to wash my unclean soul? For my soul hath need of many dews of thy grace, and many secret drawings to thee with spiritual violence, or ever it can be made clean. The leprosy of Naaman of Syria could not be cleansed, till he had washed himself seven times in the river of jordan: how many waters have I need to be washed with, or I be purged from my uncleanness? But thy mercy, O Lord, is as great as thyself. Thy grace maketh a stony heart to be a fleshy heart; in a sturdy stomach, it breedeth an humble spirit; of a fierce lion, it maketh a meek lamb. Why should I then despair of thy goodness, considering that thy justice willeth me to trust in thee?  
Thy promise is to have mercy on all those that be penitent for their offences, so that thou wilt no more remember them. This promise no doubt, shall stand fast and sure, when both heaven and earth shall pass away. Wherefore I offer now to thy majesty a heart contrite, being sorry for the wickedness by it conceived, with a body subject to thee with all humility, and sorrowful for all the sins by it committed. I acknowledge my faults, and my sins is ever before me; I punish myself with contrition, because thou Lord shouldst give me grace and remission. I have it ever in remembrance, and set it up in my sight, because thou shouldst forget it, and put it out of thy sight. Consider Lord (I pray thee) the frail metal whereof I am made, receive me thy poor creature into thy favour: for before thee I accuse myself, to the intent thou shouldest show mercy, as thou hast promised, who hast ever been found just in all thy sayings.  
I have long strayed from thee, yet now am returned to thee, with all my whole heart. Make me therefore upright. and so to aspire to heavenly things, that neither adversity, nor worldly pleasure pluck it downward. Cast away my sins behind thee, but cast not me from thy merciful countenance, as thou didst king Saul for disobedience. For if I lose thy gracious presence, I am then sure thou wilt also take from me thy holy spirit, as thou didst from Saul. O how gracious and sweet is thy spirit in all things, it passeth all other sweetness, it leadeth those that love thee, into the land of righteousness.  
This thy holy spirit I desire may remain still with me, to teach me all verity, to confirm me in goodness, to make intercession for me unto thee in all my necessities and infirmities. Give me therefore again the comfort of thy help, and 'stablish me with thy principal spirit. For thou only art mighty, faithful, and constant, and never failest them that call upon thee in faith and truth. Wherefore I offer unto thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, for all thy mercies and benefits, putting my whole trust in thee, who haste never failed me; for which cause I am bound to praise thee, now and for evermore, Amen.   

46. A prayer of the majesty of God, and of his bountiful liberality towards mankind.  
O Lord, thou art my GOD, and my King, my hope and my comfort, who hast by so great providence created and ordained all thy creatures, that the beauty & excellency of them declare thy mighty magnificence, to us all which are thy reasonable creatures. The power of thy majesty to us known before, is by the contemplation of them made manifest, causing us to praise and magnify thee with all our powers. We acknowledge thy power, thy wisdom, thy honour also, and thy great glory, wherewith thou art garnished. Thou art the everlasting light, and thy wisdom is the brightness thereof, which shall never be quenched. Thou art compassed about with bright angels, and with thy saints shining in clearness, whose inheritance is to enjoy light.  
As for us thy poor creatures on earth, great cause have we to praise thee world without end; because thou hast so mercifully declared thy great goodness to mankind, in this world, to his most comfort that could be devised, giving unto us all things to do us service. All beasts thou madest subject for his use; which to nourish and to feed, thou causest the ground naturally to bring forth grass, and all kind of herbs, replenishing the earth with all kind of fruit, to the comfort of man's heart.  
But above all things, Lord, feed us with thy holy word, whereby our souls are made strong and comforted. For in a miserable case do they live, from whom thou takest away thy holy word, which is the true bread, which came down from heaven: which whosoever eateth of, shall live for ever. Lord never take the same away from us again, but evermore feed us with this bread. Thy word maketh our enemies afraid, they have no further power to hurt thy faithful, than thou permittest them. Wherefore, although the wicked swell never so high, yet we fear them not; they may invade thy church, and many of the elect members of the same, but they shall never have power to destroy them. For thou Lord hast promised to abide with thy faithful, unto the end of the world; thy grace will not leave them that love and serve thee.  
Send us, good Lord, this grace, that we may fervently embrace the spiritual food of our souls, that it may cause us to forget our wanton and idle lives, that we have hitherto lead, and now begin to frame a new, spiritual, godly life, building the house of our souls on the sure rock, which is thy son jesus Christ, resting in him as a sure habitation. For it is he, Lord, that thou hast anointed above all other, to be our mediator and mercy seat, who is so gentle, merciful, and loving, that he is most ready to receive us, whensoever we come unto him. O glorious God, how excellent art thou? How noble and manifest be thy works, passing far the capacity of all thy creatures to comprehend?  
But thou full wisely hast wrought all things, by the same wisdom that hath been with thee before any thing was created, and before all times, by the which thou hast numbered the sands of the sea, the drops of rain, the days of time. By it hast thou measured the height of heaven, the breadth of the earth, and the deepness of the sea. This wisdom is thy very son, our Lord and Saviour, the second person in Trinity, he is the power, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. By him hast thou wrought the work of our redemption, and delivered us from eternal damnation.  
And although thou be sometimes angry with us for our wickedness; yet nevertheless, if we call upon thee in thy son's name, thou wilt show us mercy: for it is thy nature and his to be merciful. Lord keep our enemy far from us, let him not devour those, for whose redemption and salvation thou vouchsafedst to send thy most entirely beloved son, to suffer death and passion. Bring them also (we humbly beseech thee) into the true faith of thy holy church, that they may know thee, and him whom thou hast sent for the salvation of the world; that there may be on both sorts one shepherd, and one flock. Send us all, most merciful father, thy gracious favour, and open thy liberal hand, and fill us all with thy goodness, hide not thy face from us for our offences.  
O send forth, good Lord, thy sweet breath upon us, make us new again, that we may leave our old naughtiness, and become new creatures. We acknowledge ourselves to be dust and ashes, send therefore thine holy spirit to renew our souls, making it conformable to thine image, according as thou didst first create it; which through sin we have made very fowl and deformed. Then shall we give glory unto thy majesty, which endureth for ever, and thy kingdom from one generation to another, world without end, Amen.   

47. A prayer, wherein is showed how blessed they are that fear the Lord.  
O Lord Lord, thou art a great God, mighty in power whom no man may overcome. Let all thy creatures praise thee, for thou spakest the word, and they were made; thou sentest thy spirit, and they were created, and there is none that may withstand thy voice. The mountains shall remove from the foundations, and the waters shall melt like wax; but they that fear thee, shall be great with thee in allthings. For thou doest abhor the sacrifice of the ungodly, but the prayer of the righteous is acceptable unto thee: and whosoever followeth righteousness, him thou doest love.  
The fear of thee O Lord God, is a well of life, and the right way to avoid the snares of death: for thou preservest the welfare of the godly, and defendest them that walk innocently, and keepest them in the right path, preserving still the way of thy saints, and never suffering their souls to feel hunger, but giving them long life. As for the ungodly, thou puttest him from his desires, shortening his years with grief.  
Lord grant me therefore to put my trust in thee, with all my heart, that I never lean unto mine own understanding; but in all my ways to have respect unto thee: so wilt thou order my doings. For it is thou O Lord, that givest wisdom, & out of thy mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. O God my father, thou art he that hast brought me up, and lead me from my youth; therefore of thy mercy have regard unto me, and keep me steadfast in the fear of thee, in mine age, until I depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes do daily see thy salvation which thou hast prepared for all thy people, which is thy dear son jesus Christ.  
He is my merciful mediator, advocate, and intercessor, by whom I hope to have pardon of all my sins: in him I live, move, and have my being; and after I am dissolved of this my corruptible body, I believe, through his mercy, to rise again an incorruptible body: for that I know my redeemer liveth, by whom I shall live, and shall see him face to face, not with other eyes, but with the same eyes which I do now, O God my saviour, lift up with a sorrowful and repentant heart, for my most grievous sins and iniquities, unto the seat of thy majesty.  
Beseeching thee, O my most sweet Lord jesus, to wash me clean, with thy most precious blood, and make me one with thee, as thou and thy heavenly father art one; and as thou overcamest, so grant me to overcome all the temptations of the devil, that I may be a pillar in the temple of my God, and sit with thee on thy seat, as thou hast promised to all that overcome the world, and die in the faith of thee. Thou art the way, the truth, and the life. No creature cometh to the father, but by thee; and none can trust in thee, except the father draw him.  
O dear father, which art the good husbandman, graft me in the true vine thy son. O Lord jesus Christ, nourish me a true branch in thee, that I may abide everlastingly, and bring forth much fruit. O holy ghost, water me with the dew of thy grace, that I may be green, and grow in the love and favour of my father and redeemer. O thou, which art the finger of God's hand, touch my heart, and unlose the same from all blindness and hardness, that I may hear the voice of God's heavenly word, and bring forth much fruit, until I be come unto my full perfection, that I may be worthy to be placed among thy chosen and elect people: through the precious death and blood shedding of jesus Christ, my only Lord and saviour; to whom, with thee, and the father, be all honour and glory, now and for ever, Amen.   

48. A prayer, wherein is showed, that God dwelleth in the hearts of the righteous, though his seat be in heaven.  
THe mighty power of thy divine majesty, O Lord of Lords, and God of all gods, with the plentiful abundance of thy goodness daily declared unto mankind, enforceth me to consider mine own weakness, and insufficiency, in yielding to thee any recompense. Thou Lord art omnipotent, and madest all things of nought: I am thy simple creature, made with thy hand, and without thy help I am able to do no good thing. Thou art the GOD eternal, besides whom there is no god; I am a worm of the vile earth, not worthy to bear the name of a christian, for that through mine own sin, I have defaced the beauty of the principal part of man, which is my soul, made to thy godly image.  
Nevertheless, since thou art the reformer of all our hearts, and the inspiror of all grace and goodness, I most humbly beseech thee, to correct by thy power, that which through my frailty is amiss. Redress by thy pity that which I have marred through my folly; make me able to yield unto thee, that which thou requirest of me, acknowledging mine own unworthiness; and to render unto thee noble praises, and loving thanks for thy manifold gifts of grace, whereby thou hast, of thy mere liberality, endued both my soul and body. Make me worthy to laud thee, which I cannot do unless thou give me grace, to wipe away all mine iniquities. For thy praises be not seemly in the mouth of a sinner.  
Yea Lord, I pray thee inflame my heart with the love of thee, so that from the bottom thereof, I may speak them, and not to love any thing in this world but thee, & for thee. Thou art the true God and saviour, and there is none but thou O Lord. Out of thy mouth cometh the word of righteousness, which no man may turn. Wherefore, all other gods set I aside, to thee only will I sing praises, and confess thee only to be the living GOD, which I will acknowledge before the whole congregation of the faithful.  
Thou knowest the inward intent of the heart, for in the hearts of the believing is thy seat, and resting place. The souls of the just are the temples, wherein thou doest inhabit. To this temple, good Lord, will I turn myself, by pondering the state of mine own soul; for strength whereof I call most humbly unto thee, most merciful God, that I may be able to vanquish the illusions of the subtle serpent.  
Perform in me, that which thou hast promised; for all thy ways are mercy and truth. Thy mercy reacheth unto the heavens, and thy faithfulness unto the clouds: & thy righteousness stands like the strong mountain. When thy goodness is considered, all the rulers of the earth must needs confess, that great is thy might and thy glory. Nevertheless, although thou dwellest above the heavens, yet hast thou a loving respect unto the lowly and meek of spirit, and doest behold them, as one looketh on his friend, if they trust in thee.  
Thou drawest near unto them that seek thee, to hear their prayers; yea thou art their shield and protection, in all their necessities: as for the proud workers of iniquity, thou seest them a far off, thou beholdest them with a fierce look, to their confusion, to destroy and root out their memorial out of the everlasting beatitude. Who so therefore will have thy majesty come near unto him, must pluck down his mind, and become low in heart. For the meek & humble people be those that shall enjoy the heavenly country. And though they walk in the midst of trouble, yet shalt thou refresh and quicken them.  
This world is a place ordained for trouble, and not for rest. Here we are appointed to travel, in this place is no want of tribulation: but thou ever graciously comfortest the faithful, thou sufferest them not to be overcome in any tribulation; for through thee they vanquish all their enemies. Wherefore, Lord, power out thy mercies (I beseech thee) upon thy flock; deliver us from all our enemies, spiritual and temporal; let thy right hand save us, and lead us through thy grace, into eternal felicity. As for riches, ease, honour, or any kind of temporal pleasure, which be thy gifts also, but of thy left hand, we nothing esteem.  
Many times thou bestowest these benefits upon thine enemies, the other thou reservest for thine elect, to receive after many tribulations. And the same, Lord, I humbly beseech thee, to keep in store for me, thy poor servant. Regard not the wickedness which I daily commit, but look upon the merits of thy son jesus Christ, my God and my saviour: for it is he that hath paid my debt, and thou Lord hast sealed the acquittance: grant me to honour thee therefore, as I ought to do, now and for ever, Amen, Amen.   

49. A prayer, wherein is showed, that God is always our protection, if we trust in his son jesus Christ.  
O Lord, thou art my God; I will praise thee and magnify thy name, and thy word above all things. Thou bringest marvelous things to pass, according to thy will and pleasure. Thou art the poor man's help, & a strength for the needful in the time of trouble, defending them against all weathers, and their shadow in the time of heat. Likewise to the presumptuous, thou art like a strong whirl wind, that casteth down the boasting of the ungodly, because they know not thee to be the everlasting strength: but the righteous Lord, have a respect unto the way of thy judgements, and thy name and remembrance rejoiceth their hearts. As for my soul, it thirsteth after thee, both day and night; and my mind hasteth freely unto thee, because thou art so merciful unto all them that seek thee in singleness of heart: for thou wilt be found of them that thirst after thee.  
Thou art the well of pleasant waters, wherewith whosoever is filled, they shall never be a thirst: for thou O lamb of GOD, that dwellest in the midst of the throne, wilt lead thine unto the fountain of living waters, and give them everlasting rest; because that in this world they made themselves white in thy blood, bearing thy crosses with willing minds, and confessed thee before men on earth. For this cause wilt thou acknowledge them before God thy father in heaven, where they shall praise thee and him, world without end. O God most holy, I acknowledge that I am none of those that have deserved half such mercy at thy hands: but I hope, through the mercies and merits of thy dear son jesus Christ my Lord and saviour, to be made as perfect before thee, O heavenly father, as if I had never sinned.  
For thus I steadfastly believe; if I come unto him, he will not refuse me; and if I pray heartily, desiring his help, he will hear me, and  me with his righteousness, and take from me all the sins that ever I have committed, from my birth until this present hour, as he hath promised in his holy word. Come Lord jesus, for thou art true and just in all thy ways, and wash me with thy most precious blood. Sanctify me with thy bitter passion, precious death, and glorious resurrection. Restore me to those joys, that thine elect do find in thee, & power thy holy spirit into my heart, that he may draw my mind continually unto thee: for thou art the way, the truth, and the life. Blessed are they that trust in thee, and with a steadfast faith make thee their only stay and refuge; they shall be sure of all happiness in this world: and when it shall please thee to call them hence, they shall enjoy with thee, the crown of glory, who hast all power given thee, both in heaven and earth: for the father judgeth no man, but hath committed all unto thee, who art the very wisdom of God.  
Wherefore, Lord jesus, make me blessed with thee, like as thou art blessed; for I commit myself, both body and soul, into thy merciful hands, who hast redeemed me, O thou God of truth. Thou O Lord, art worthy to receive all glory, and honour, and might: for thou hast created all things, and for thy wills sake they were and are created. O most noble creator of light, shine into my heart, that it may clearly see the excellency of thy majesty; and quicken my soul and spirit, that they may continually be stirred to honour and glorify thee, as thou art worthy, which by thy grace I shall not cease to do, with heart soul, mind, and strength, among thy faithful congregation, which of thy mercy, Lord preserve and keep, that we may praise thee, one God in persons three, and everlasting in unity, world without end, Amen.   
FINIS.   

1584.   printer's device of Henrie Denham 
H D  OS HOMINI SVBLIME DEDIT 
Imprinted at London, by Henry Denham, dwelling in Pater noster row, at the sign of the Star.  
Cum privilegio.