¶ A book of prayers called the ordinary fashion of good lyurnge. Mathewe vi ¶ Seek first the kingdom of god: And than all things shall be laid before you. ¶ He that will live well (saith saint Hierome) must pray at night and in the morning at the least. ¶ CUM PRIVILEgio ad imprimendum solum. THIS little treaty●e is made for the erudition of the simple, and young babes of god. And yet not to be despised of the great clerkis, & mighty idle loubers: the live here in earth like as hogs do in woods: which goeth under the crab trees, and eat up the crabs the lie upon the ground, & never look up to the tree from whence they fell but wander on, seeking upon the ground for more, even so do these idle lobers', the devour the gifts of god, & do receive innumerable rewards & benefits at his hands: and yet never look up to give him thanks: but live here in earth idly, & wretchedly (as I may say (. This little book therefore shall. be to put them in mind of a peace of their duty. And to exhort them to use an ordinary fashion of praying because they shall not forget their duty use therefore prayer at night & in the morning all business laid a side. ¶ The exhortation to the reder. MOst christian reder I will exhort the to three things (that is) pray see god, fear god, and love god, avoid sin, and follow virtue, avoid I say all sins and the occasions of them. And specially those abominable sins which ask for vengeauns be fore god, as abominable Swearing and blasphyming the name of god: deceiving the infant, the widow and the poor man wilful perjury or procurement of any man's death wrongfully: also sin against nature called the dumb sin: or willingly to proceed and continue in sin contrary to the inspiration of god: these be to abominable to be spoken of: use therefore virtue & means to attain grace (which be these.) ☞ Repentance, prayer, restitution, reconsylement, alms and fasting, and specially to exersyce that virtue which is contrary to the sin wherein ye are most corrupted (as shallbe declared here after) but now to return to my purpose of praising god & fearing him: Let us consider the cause of our creation how that god hath created us like to his own Image and hath given us a soul wite, reason, & understanding more than he hath done to other beasts. And why hath he created man thus verily not because he should only eat and drink and sleep, and take his pleasure in this world like a swyny or a best, or that he should gather the goods of this world together: and strive with his neighbour for the gifts and benefits that god hath sent: them like as doggis doth fight for a bone which their master hath cast them: or that he should only follow, or occupy his craft & science what so ever it be (be it never so lawful) and do nothing else: nay god ordained not him therefore: but he gave him wit and reason because he should praise his lord god (as the angels do) and give him thanks for all his benefices: And therefore he gave us this commandment: Remember to keep holy thy Saboth day: as who should say thou shalt honour me: I made the therefore this is the commandment of god which if we mark well we may perceive the cause of our creation. Let us therefore praise and magnify our lord god as our duty is: and live in the fear of him, let us fear him (I say) for he is the lord of power: which utterly abhorreth sin. As it appeareth in that he banished Adam from the joys of paradise because he agreed to the sin of Eue. Also he caused almost the hole world to be drowned at Noyes flood for sine. And at another time he caused fire & brimstone to rain down from heaven upon the cities of Sodoma and Gomore for their wickedness. And so the people there were brent & the city sank into the see: yea truly god hated sin so much, that when christ being in the bosomme of his father did pray him to be favourable and to forgive the sin of the world yet he would not be entreated, but caused his only son christ to come down into the world: and to take man's shape upon him. And to suffer death (he being without fault or sin) for to redeem us wretched sinners: so straightly doth god look upon sign therefore let us fear him & love him: Let us love him (I say) because he made us and created us like to his own Image, & spared not his only son christ for our sakes, but send him down for to make us free and to redeem us: when as our sins could not be taken away by any other means: but only by him that was without sin. And let us love him also because he taketh us not away at the worst out of this present life: but suffereth us to live that we might repent. and learn to know him: it is he also the preserveth us. And daily giveth us meat and drink & all things necessary to our living: when we be sinners & do nothing deserve it, yet doth he preserve us then & holdeth his holy hand over us: or else the devil might tear us in pieces as we go, or we inyght sink into the earth for our sins (as we be well worthy) but only that god is more merciful to us than we do deserve, let us therefore praise him & love high for his great favour & mercy showed to us so many ways. As in that he hath redeemed us by his only some ne Jesus christ. And also hath appointed that the self same christ our merciful lord (which suffered death for us (shall be our judge at the great day of judgement (here is comfort) who can despair, or what heart will not be in flamed now to love god. And to magnify him and thank him for all his benefits. And to keep his law even for very pure love, considering his great mercy and love toward us so many ways, or who will not fear him considering the things before rehearsed: therefore if thou haste either eyes to read this, or ears to here it and understanding for to perceive it, then consider who hath given the these gifts. And who may punish y● suddenly, and take them away again consider therefore the goodness of god and cause of thy treation. And praise him continually. And follow the example of holy men, as david job. Danyell, & divers other which used customably to make their prayers unto god at divers times both in the day and in the night, because they would not forget their duty toward him. As david saith Psal. 42. My heart was troubled at midnight, and I called upon the lord, and watered my bed with the tears of mine eyes (Also he saith) Psal. 54. I will cry to god. And my lord will save me, at night and in the morning & at midday shall I pray heartily unto him that he may here my voice. Lo here david doth prescribe three solemn times when a man ought to pray: As at night when he goeth to bed, in the morning when he riseth, & at midday when he goeth to meat. Danyell also the prophet used to pray three times in the day, at whose example the church did ordain the three hours which be song or said at this present day in the church after prime. And thereof the three hours took their begynnyg with divers other examples which were to long to rehearse: but let us take an example at them for to serve god in prayer twice a day at the least, the is at evening & morning (all business laid a side) according as I have exhorted you before. And it were convenient that we should also give thanks unto him at our meal times, tor who will give a man his dinner. And will not look to be thanked of him for it, or who will give a child but anapple, and look not to have thanks for it, much more are we bound to thank and magnify our lord god that feedeth us daily, and asketh none of our goods for it, who dare therefore sit down at his table. (except he be worse than a best) and eat of the meat that god hath sent, & not give him thanks for it? or who dare rise in the morning and look upon the bright soon which god hath created for to give light unto us, & will not thank him for it? or who dare go abroad in the world amongst his enemies, and among the temptations of the devil? And will not call first upon god for help: or who dare go to bed at night (like a beast) without thanks giving to god, for such be nefytes as he hath received that day and for such dangers as he hath escaped? yea and also knoweth not, whether he shall live till the next morrow or no, let us therefore repent every hour & call upon god for mercy, & trust only in him. And let us take an example at these holy fathers to use an ordinary fashion of praying because we shall not forget our duty. And chiefly, let us follow the example of our master christ: Which prayed unto god his father divers times in the mount olyuete, and also when he made he last supper, & did institute the sacrament of his most blessed body he both prayed and gave thanks to his father in heaven. And also he commanded his disciples and apostles to pray continually lest they should be led into temptation let us therefore to low both his example & commandments, if we will be called his disciples or christian men. And let us not lead our life like beasts, but like men and remember (as I said first) the cause of our creation: and use an ordinary fashion of praying. And although that I have appointed three times in the day for prayer: as in the morning: at midday: and at night as times most convenient, and approbated by david & other holy fathers yet would I that every man should pray as oft as he is moved in sprite & not to defer it to these three times only: nor again I would not that any man should think that I would bind him of necessity to these three times a day: as to a thing which may not be left undone, upon pain of utter damnation (nay truly I would not have any man so scrupulous) but yet I would not have them leave it undone, specially at night and in the morning. And although that I ought not to teach other men: but have more need to learn myself: yet I may exhort them as one christian man should do an other: for as this ordinary fashion of praying. And such other: trusting that by my exhortation they will not do the worse: but rather amend and proceed by little and little to most perfit perfection: to which he bring us all: that liveth & reigneth world without end. Amen. ¶ In the morning bless the and say thus. BLessed be the name of the father, the sonue, & the holy ghost now & for ever more And blessed be the father of heaven that made me: & blessed be his son Jesus Chryst that redeemed me, and blessed be the holy ghost that preserveth me: to them three as to one god and one power, which is my lord and god, in whom I trust be all honour and praise, world without end Amen. Our father which art in heaven. etc. ¶ And then say this prayer following. O Lord I thank the for all thy benefits: & for that thou haste preserved me alive this night and brought me forth to the beginning of this day: behold therefore lord I enter into it, all things to do according to thy will & pleasure: keep me lord and defend me, and send down thy holy sprite for to istructe me that I may live this day in thy service. ¶ An other prayer for. morning. O Lord my god most mighti and merciful have mercy on me wretched liner, lord I say which art the most highest power, to whom all power be subject both in heaven and in earth, and knoweth the secrets of our hearts, to the O lord do I call upon for help, dsyring the to strength me this day, against all the teptations and assaults of the devil and the world, and to confirm me with thy principal sprite, that I may continued this day in thy service: give me therefore lord these gifts. give me the heart that may repent: the will and desire to have knowledge of thy law and commandments, the ears that will be ready to here thee, & not the world: the eyes that shall behold rightwiseness and regard the poor man: the hands (I say) that shall work no evil, the mouth in which shallbe found no deceit, the tongue that may ever show forth thy praise, to whom be all honour and glory by the mouths of all men: world without end. Amen. ¶ Also say this prayer. Lord behold me that am thy handy work, & put forth thy helping hand unto me. ❧ And when ye have said thus, them go about your worldly business, remembering always this great and special commandment of god (which is) ☞ Thou shalt not do nor go about to do the thing to an other, which thou wouldest not have done to thyself. ❧ Remember this well, if thou desire to be saved. ¶ At night say these prayer following. AT night kneel down on thy kneys & make thy confession to god: and ask him mercy, and repent truly in thy heart. ¶ Repentance. TRue repentance is to lament & be sorry for thy sins, & utterly to forsake them, & never to use them again ☞ But to use and practise that virtue which is contrary to the vice wherein ye are most corrupted. ☞ As contrary to covetousness, make restitution again out of hand where as ye have done wrong, & dispose the residue of your goods lyberaly to the poor. ☞ Contrary to swearing, use rather scilens & learn to use soberness and patience. Contrary to malice & wrath, use patience & show love & gentleness both in word & deed & forgive, remembering that christ did forgive & suffered patiently the words of the Jews: yea he suffered death wrongfully among them. ❧ And thus in every degree of sin, use and practise that vertu which is contrary to the sin wherein ye are most corruptdd. And so by virtue ye shall overcome vice & sin: for it is the best means that can be devised to bring a man to perfit living. ¶ Here followeth a prayer to be said at night after confession made and true xepentaunce had. ❧ The prayer of the penitent O Heavenly father that creator and maker of all things to whom both heaven & earth is obedient. And to whom the algels do service & do sing with a continual voice, Holy holy, & most holy lord god of power calling the even so, for thy great power & absoluteness whose excellent majesty no thought nor tongue of men or angels can express. Now when I have sinned against thee, & do remember with myself, what a lord of power I do offend, with my great and innumerable sins: then I abhor mine own folisshenes. And also when I consider how gentle & loving a father I have forsaken. I utterly does pyse my madness, & great unkindness And when I behold & see from what & how blessed a liberty my sprite is banished from (which is the joy that I was wont to have. In the my lord god) and now in what a myserabte case & bondage of sin & the devil I have wrapped myself in: then am I all together myscontented with myself and sore troubled in my conscience. And have nothing else before mine eyes but hell, & desperation: for then my conscience trembeleth & feareth much the great Justice of god (which in dead is inevitable) and no man can escape it. But yet contrary wise on the other side: when I behold lord thy unmeasurable love & goodness toward mankind. And thy mercy wherein (as the prophet do testify) thou dost pass & excel. Which sadyst, I will not the death of a sinner: but rather that he should live & be converted. I therefore remembering thy great kindness (always showed unto us) and these thy most gentle words: do say unto myself. A wretch (that I am) why have I offended so merciful a lord: and thereat I am half atoned again & discunforte i myself. But then cometh into my mind another sweet saying of thy mouth (which saidest) That in what hour so ever the sinner doth repent: I will no more remember his unkindness. And therewith I am so much comforted again: that I am compelled even to marvel and lay with myself. O the wonderful love of god toward us for his mercy is without end. And then I say unto myself: why should I be in despair to have remyssyone of my sins at his hands: which in the time of my naughty living hath preserved me that I might live & learn to know him. And now of his own mere motion calleth me to repentance because he delighteth in me and would have me saved: for truly he hath great delight and comforth. In a repentant sinner that cometh unto him as he hath declared unto us, by many parables: As in the ten Chapter of Luke by the parable of the woman having ten groses which if she lose one: then she lighteth a candle and swepethe the house and seeketh diligently till she have found it. And when she hath found it she calleth in her neyhgbours and lo, verse: saying my friends rejoice with me For I have found the groat again that I lost, even so likewise more joy and rejoicing shallbe in heaven over one sinner that repenteth: then over ninety & nine just psons that have not offended. And sykewyse it is let forth in the parable of the hundredth sheep that were let upon the hill for to go to seek one sheep that was lost: with divers other parables: but it is most expressly set forth in the parable of the prodigal son whose Image I utterly recognyce & konwlege in myself for unhappily left I So loving a father buthryftely misspending his substance and gifts. And whiles I do follow still the carnal desires of my own will: utterly forgetting, lord thy pre ceptes. I do tumble myself all to gy there in the servitude of vice: And so I being blind & void of all bertu brought to extreme poverty can not see whether to i'll. But unto high again that I did forsake for he is the lord of power & father of mercy. Yes truly I am unworthy lord to be received of the. Or to lift up mine eyes unto thee: or that I should call the by the name of a father: but I most humbly beleche the to look gently towards me with the eye of thy mercy: for thy gentle look & the inspiration of thy sprite is of such strength that it reviveth a sinner being dead. And it restoreth a sick man to his health again: For truly in that I am disposed now with myself and do perceive mine own fault. I must needs refer it unto thee: for it cometh of the grace. And not of myself for I being long blind & wandering far out of the right way: thou hast vouchsafe to look towards me and to restore me my right again: that I may see now & perceive in what case I am. And what danger I have escaped: And which what myscheffes, & troubles. I was laden & cumbered withal: I therefore lord being an unthrifty servant and worthy of much punishment. Am nothing worthy to be honoured & regarded like a son, nor I will not desire it, but it shallbe sufficient for me. If it would please the of thy goodness but to admit me into thy service. And to accept me amongst the sympleste and lowest sore of thy servants: that I may attain to salvation through thy mercy: for in thy holy place there be many mention places or seats. And it shallbe sufficient for me if I may but sit at the feet of thy blessed servants: have merci therefore on me my lord and father, for I do utterly abhor mine old corrupt life. And am come now for to dwell with the. And will never forsake the again: But will continue in thy service all the days of my life. And I will forsake all the pomps and pleasures of this world & a● the desceytful ways that I have used. And will not be afshamed here in this world to live aster a poor sort: and to be acumpted a 'mongst the most abject & symplew: so that I may win everlasting honour with the to whom be all praise & glory now & forever more. Amen ¶ The prayer of Solomon. O Lord great riches: or extreme poverty give me not: but provide for me in the mean: according to thy will & pleasure for by having the one I shall forget thee, & by having the other I shallbe driven to forsake the. ¶ Prayers to be said at mess time in the beginning say thus at coufiteor. O Lord I am not worthy to enter and come into this noble house of thine which is the house of prayer: but lord behold I come as a penyent sinner I do say with the publycane Lord be merciful to me a sinner: for I have offended the many ways and am not worthy to lift up mine eyes into thee: not to live upon the earth but lord be thou merciful unto me a sinner according to the great mercy and I will confess my sins untd the which if I would I can not hide from thee: for thou art the lord of power thou knowest the secrets of our hearts: have mercy therefore on me, O Lord according to thy great mercy and let me not cast away the thing through my wretchedness: which thy almighty goodness hath created & redeemed: but forgive me lord and send thy holy sprite into me: that I may keep thy law and commandments. ¶ A prayer to be said at the sacrament of mess. BLessed & praised be the father of heaven that sent down his only son Chryst for to redeem us. And blessed be our lord Jesus christ that shed his blood for our sakes. And hath left his body here among us in form of bread & wine. As a pledge for to witness unto us: that he hath been all ready here in the world & hath shed his blood plenteously for our redemption. Therefore O father of heaven I pray the accept his death as a sufficient oblation and satystactyon for my sins. And set his passion between thy judgement and my soul. And look not upon my sins: but have mercy on me for his sake, and send thy holy spirit into me: that I may keep thy laws & commandments. Amen. ¶ When ye do kiss the pax say thus to yourself O Lord give me grace to forgive mine adverlaryes freely for thy sake: that I may kiss worthily together which my neighbours in the holy kiss of charity according to thy commandment. ¶ When ye take holy bread say thus to yourself. Like as there be many grains of corn in this breed: even so be we all membres of one body in our lord Jesus christ: in whom there was never malice nor contraversyfound: let us therefore agree together as the members of one body. And so take breed lovingly together. Amen. ¶ When ye take holy water say thus. BLessed and praised be our lord Jesus christ which hath washed away our sins in his blood: And is merciful to us for ever. ❧ The holy water also is a token of our baptism. ¶ Grace to be said be fore meat. LEt us eat in the name of the lord and satisfy our body temporaly with such meat as he hath sent. ¶ The answer. ANd let us desire him like we se to satisfy our soul with the gift of good living that we may be ever as ready to all good works: as we be now to our meat. Grace to be said after meat. thanks be to our lord god: that hath sent us thus. ☞ The answer. ANd let us praise him that causeth both fishes to swim in the water. And beasts to live on the earth for our sustenance: to him be praise and glory for evermore. Amen ❧ A prayer to be said of a sick man at the point. 〈◊〉 ●●ath O Lord I thank thee: for that thou hast preserved me from all sudden death. And hast given me now this sickness and knowledge of my death & end: that I might repent & believe and trust in the my lord god: which art merciful and dost all things for the best: for I know that thou lovest them: whom thou dost chastise. And I thanked the that thou hast given me know league and faith in thy son jesus christ by whom I know that I shall be saved even aswell as the thief was, or Mary Magedelyne: or any other creature which were sinners aswell as I am. I will therefore lord sing forth thy praise: come forth now all people & say with me: let us rejoice in the lord our saving health: and let us praise him in psalms and canticles. ☞ For he is the great lord: And is above all gods and will not cast away his people. ❀ For he hath looked from his height holy place above: yea he hath looked from heaven into earth. ⚜ That he myhht here the grievous sighs of the penitent: and that he might save and deliver the children of them that were lost. ¶ Let us therefore praise the lord: And say that he is good unto us: for his mercy is without end. ❀ He hath not done unto us according to our sins: nor he hath not rewarded us according to our wickedness: but as the father should have mercy over his children: even so hath the lord taken mercy upon us that love him and hear him. ☞ For look how far distance there is between the East & the west. And so far hath the lord set our sins from us ❧ Let us therefore praise him continual lie: that was borne of the virgin Mary. ⚜ And suffered death for us so mercy fully: and ascended up into heaven so glorously. ¶ To prepare a way for us and to be our mediator: continually before god the father. ❧ And will be our judge at the great day of Judgement: to judge us in mercy is his intent. ❧ Into his hands therefore I commit my soul: trusting only in the father the son and the holy ghost: to whom be all praise and glory now and for ever more. Amen. ¶ Here after followeth rules of wisdom & virtue twenty i number. MAke thy prayer to god, twice in a day at the least. 2 ¶ Avoid idleness, & be always occupied in some honest business or study. 3 ☞ Be obedient to kings & princes: and to their officers. 4 ❧ Here much but be not rash thyself in speaking. 5 ❀ Use sobrenes & humility, and thou shalt be called wise. 6 ⚜ Rebuke light & wanton persons and specially swearers. 7 ❧ Show good example of virtuous living to the people, 8 ❀ Order thy household quietly, & instruct them in god's words. 9 ⚜ If thou be called to promotion minister justice: without bribes or false dissimulation. 10 ☞ give fair language to all people: and specially to poor folks. 11 ❧ Be not percial for favour or lucre: nor agree not to wrong doers. 12 ¶ Get thy goods truly: and spend them according to thy degree measurably. 13 ¶ In prosperity beware of pride remember thy old estate: and live in the fear of god. 14 ☞ Desire some friend of thine to tell the of thy faults, and so shalt thou live surely. 15 ⚜ Here thy friend in wisdom and mistrust ever thine own judgement. 16 ¶ In matters of weight: be not hasty in answering: but take respite. 17 ☞ For of hasty answering peradventure repentance might follow but in process of time cometh wisdom and knowledge. 18 ❀ In adversity forgive and be patient and trust to god's help. 19 ⚜ Study always how to be stowe thy time here: in this world to god's pleasure. 20 ❧ Remember well thy last day: and think often upon death. ❧ FINIS. ¶ Imprinted at London in Fleetstreet at the sign of the George next to saint Dunston's church by William Myddylton. printer's or publisher's device