CERTAIN. Brief Questions and Answers, concerning chief points of Christian religion Gathered for the use of the young people of the parish of S. Andrew's in Eastcheap: and may serve generally for all places. By N. A.  
At London printed for T. P.   

CERTAIN Brief Questions and Answers, concerning chief points of Christian Religion.  
Question.  
WHo created you?  
A. GOD the Father.  
Q. Who redeemed you?  
A. jesus Christ the Son.  
Q. Who sanctified you?  
A. God the holy Ghost.  
Q. Wherefore did he create the world?  
A. For his own glory.  
Q. Wherefore did he create man?  
A. To serve him.  
Q. In what do we serve God?  
A. In 5. things: 

1. In praying to him,  
2. Praising him.  
3. Hearing his word.  
4. Using his Sacraments  
5. Keeping his Commandments.    
Q. Which are his Commandments?  
A. Those ten which God gave.  
Q. Are there but ten Commandments for us to keep?  
A. No more, for all other Commandments, either in the old Testament, or in the new, do in their substance belong to some of these.  
Q. What is the sum or drift of these Commandments.  
A. The sum of the first four, is to love God above all. And the sum of the last six, is to love our neighbour as ourself.  
Q. Who is our neighbour?  
A. Not only our friends and acquaintance, but even strangers, and enemies; and whosoever stands in need of mercy: As Christ showeth by the example of the wounded man  
Q. Are you, or any man, able to keep this law?  
A. No, we are not able.  
Q. How know you that you are not able?  
A. 1. My Conscience doth accuse me of my sins. 2. The Scripture hath testified that all have offended, & have need of God's grace.  
Q. Is the law then impossible to be kept?  
A. It is.  
Q. How is God righteous, to give a law impossible?  
A. 1. Because it was not impossible to Adam in his first estate. 2. Because God of his mercy provided that the impossible righteousness of the Law, should be fulfilled in Christ.  
Q. How comes it then to pass, that we are not able to keep this Law?  
A. Because we all do from our Parents in our very conception, draw corruption, that makes us unable to keep the Law.  
Q. What is this corruption of nature in us?  
A. 1. Blindness in our understanding.  
2. Crookedness in our hearts, to know good and evil.  
3. Not to desire good, and hate evil.  
4. Perverseness in our imagination and memory, to remember and think of good things badly and of evil and vain things easily, and with delight. Gen. 6.  
Q. What is the punishment, of the breach of the Law?  
A. Labour and misery in our bodies, and death and everlasting damnation.  
Q What means is there to be delivered.  
A. Only by jesus Christ.  
Q. What was jesus Christ.  
A. The second person in Trinity: God and man.  
Q. Why was he man.  
A. That he might suffer such punishment as was due to man,  
Q. Why was he God?  
A. That he might overcome it, and that the punishment might be a sufficient price; which could not been, but by such a person.  
Q. How did he redeem us?  
A. By bearing the punishment of our sins, dying upon the Cross, and by performing a perfect righteousness for us.  
Q. How are these to be accepted for us?  
A. Because they were not needful, for Christ himself who never deserved any punishment, because he was without sin nor was bound to perform any Law, being God.  
Q. How shall we be partakers of this redemption?  
A. In feeling and grieving for our sins, we believe that Christ died for our sins, and rose for our justification.  
Q. How shall we come to have a feeling of our Sinn?  
A, By looking into the Commandments. By examining our lives. By considering Gods blessings and judgements,  
Q. How shall we come to Faith?  
A. Faith is the gift of GOD: but wrought in us by the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer.  
Q, How doth the Word beget Faith?  
A. The Precepts do let us see the number of our sins.  
The judgement doth make us feel them heavy, and so to seek for ease  
The Promises make us to hope: and so both Precepts and Threaten; or judgements and Promises, make us to beget Faith.  
Q. How do the Sacraments beget Faith,  
A. As Seals do serve to confirm Writings: and tokens, and pledges, between men and men, do confirm promises.  
Q. How many Sacraments are there?  
A, Two and no more: Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord,  
Q. How can the taking of a little Water or Wine, seal up my Faith?  
A. Because God is so true and powerful, and whatsoever sign he gives, it is an assurance, be the means never so simple.  
Q. What be the outward things to be seen in Baptism?  
A. Water: which signifieth the Blood of Christ.  
Q. What things are done in Baptism?  
A. Dipping into the Water, Washing, and rising out.  
Q. What do these signify & declare unto me  
A. The washing, doth betoken the washing of my sins, the putting into the Water, representes a burial, as it were into Christ's death to die to sin: and the rising out doth signify my engraffing into Christ's resurrection to rise to newness of life, as he did rise from death.  
Q. What are the outward things in the Supper?  
A. Bread and Wine.  
Q. What are the visible things done?  
A. Receiving, and eating.  
Breaking the Bread.  
Distributing both to the people,  
Q. What do these signify?  
A. the first signifieth Christ's passion.  
The distributing signifieth that it was done, that others [not himself] might have the benefit.  
The receiving and eating, betokens and assures that every one that receives, is knit to the body and blood of Christ, as he doth unite the Bread and Wine to himself.  
Q. What comfort have we by this?  
A. I am assured that all the virtue of the Bread and Wine being received, becomes mine: and so being spiritually, by faith, joined to Christ, I shall be made partaker of all the benefits of his death and resurrection.  
Q. shall every one that cometh to this Sacrament, have this comfort?  
A. None but they that come worthily: otherwise they eat their own damnation.  
Q. Can any come worthily to it?  
A. Not as deserving to come: but by faith accepted, through the merit and worthiness of jesus Christ imputed and applied.  
Q. How shall we come to it worthily?  
A. By means. First to come, to it, as a Supper made by GOD, of great price and delight. Secondly as unto a Supper wherein is presented the bitter death of Christ the Son of GOD, and our uniting to him, as to our head.  
Q. What affections do become it, as it is God's Supper?  
A. First, thankfulness to him that hath prepared so great a Supper & called us unto it.  
Secondly, a hunger and thirsting after the meat.  
Thirdly, an humility in heart in regard of our unworthiness, to take the lowest place.  
Q. What affections become it, as there is a representation of Christ's death?  
A. Four. 

1. Sorrow for sin.  
2. Persuasion of forgiveness.  
3. A purpose of a holy life.  
4. Love and charity.    
Thus being furnished, we shall come (as Christians) to receive fully Christ's benefits: GOD which grant we may.  
FINIS.   

¶ A Prayer, wherein is contained the substance of all the Catechism.  
O Most mighty God merciful and loving Father, who hast given us our life in this world for this purpose, that our greatest care above all other things might be, that our most precious souls might be saved for ever in the day of judgement and for the same end hast appointed the ministry and preaching of the word, as the only powerful means to bring us to thy everlasting kingdom of glory: we beseech thee for thine own name sake, and for jesus Christ thy dear Son's sake, give us grace with humble & careful hearts to learn and know so much out of thy blessed and holy word, as may be for the salvation of our souls from hell and condemnation, and to bring us to the joy of thy kingdom. Grant that now in time we may from the true understanding of thy blessed Law, both see & feel the greatness of all our sins, and of that punishment which we have deserved therefore, that we being laden with the heavy burden of our sins, may with broken and sad hearts seek for ease and help now in this time of our life, while ease and help may be obtained: for after this life there is no mercy, but judgement and vengeance to be looked for. And when as by thy spirit thou hast cast us down with unfeigned repentance, and hearty sorrow for all our sins past either known or unknown unto us: then we pray thee comfort and lift up our poor distressed consciences, with the strength of a lively faith grounded upon thy promise made unto us in the Gospel, which may in Christ his death persuade our hearts of the full pardon of all our sins, and of every part of that punishment which we have deserved with good assurance in his perfect obedience, wrought in our nature, in his own person for us, to come to the inheritance of everlasting life, in thy most blessed kingdom. And we heartily beseech thee, that this faith of ours may be fruitful in every part of our inward and outward behaviour to our own comfort, and the good example of all other, among whom we shall have our conversation. Grant further, that this faith may daily be underpropped and upholden against all the violent assaults of Satan, and doubting weakness of our corrupt nature, by those plain pledges and love tokens (I mean the Sacraments) which thou hast mercifully provided to put us out of doubt of thine everlasting love toward us in jesus Christ. Lastly that we may from time to time, from day to day, and from hour in hour, have good experience, and true trial of thy good will; give us grace with upright hearts to call upon thee in the name of thy Son our alone Saviour for all good graces and blessings needful for our souls and bodies for this life present, and for the life to come, both for ourselves, and for all the Church and children, that thus we may glorify thee so long as we shall live here upon the face of the earth, and may hereafter be made partakers of everlasting glory in thy kingdom, through jesus Christ our Lord Amen.   

❧ Grace before meat.  
MOst gracious Father, who feedest all creatures which depend upon thy divine providence, we beseech thee sanctify these creatures, which thou hast ordained to us, give them virtue to nourish our bodies, in life and health, & give us grace to receive them soberly and thankfully as from thy hands: that so in the strength of these, and other thy blessings we may walk in the uprightness of our hearts, before thy face, this day and all the days of our lives, through jesus Christ our Lord and only Saviour.   

Or thus.  
Most gracious God & merciful Father, we beseech thee sanctify thy creatures to our use, make them healthful for our nourishment, and us thankful for all thy blessings, through Christ our Lord and only Saviour: Amen.   

Grace after meat.  
Blessed be thy holy name O Lord our God for these thy good benefits, wherewith thou hast so plentifully at this time refreshed our bodies, O Lord vouchsafe likewise to feed our souls, with the spiritual food of thy holy word and spirit unto life everlasting: O Lord defend and save thy whole Church, our gracious King and Queen, our noble Prince the Duke of Yoarke, and Lady Elizabeth: forgive us our sins and unthankfulness, pass by our manifold infermities, make us all mindful of our lives ends, and of the reckonings we are to mke to thee therein, and in the mean time grant unto us health, peace and truth, in jesus Christ our Lord & only Saviour. Amen.   

Or thus.  
Blessed be thy holy name O Lord for these thy good benefits wherewith thou hast refreshed us at this time: Lord forgive us all our sins and frailetyes, save thy Church, King and Queen, and royal posterity, and grant us health, peace and truth, in Christ our only Saviour Amen.   

Before meat.  
Sanctify unto us O Lord the use of these thy creatures, of which by our sins we have made ourselves unworthy, make us sober and thankful receivers of them, grant that the end of our eatings and drink, may be to be better enabled to serve thee in our several places, through jesus Christ Amen.   

Another.  
Take from us O gracious Father all gluttony and excess, all carnal feeding without fear, all minding of none but earthly things, all serving our bellies without providing for our souls, make us mindful of thy presence, and careful for to behave ourselves in receiving these creatures set before us, that all that we do, may be to thy glory, and to the comfort of our souls, through jesus Christ our Lord Amen.   

Another grace.  
Humble our souls before thee O Lord, and cause us to see the smallness of our desert even in respect of the lest of thy mercies: make us to hunger after Christ by whom only the free use of thy creatures is restored to us: & give us so to enjoy these blessings hear provided for us, with that reverence and sobriety as in thy presence, that our bodies being refreshed our souls may praise thee who art the giver of all good, and that in jesus Christ the righteous. Amen.   

Another.  
O Lord, it is not bread that we live by, but by the word that proceeded from thy mouth, lift up our hearts to look unto thee for a blessing upon our meats, and vouchsafe us the gracious assurance of thy love in Christ, that we may comfortably use thy creatures as pledges of thy favour, & be provoked by them to give up ourselves to thy glory, to serve thee insinceryty all our days, through jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.   

Another Grace before meat.  
Teach us to remember O merciful God, that it is thou, which to us and all thy Creatures givest food in due season, that so we may take heed of all unthankful and brutish using of these good things, which in thy providence thou hast ordained for us: raise up our affections to long for thy food which endureth to eternal life, which jesus hath promised to give us, who is thy only son and our only saviour Amen.   

Another Grace after meat.  
We magnify thy name O Lord for all thy mercies, for the comfortable refresh which thou hast now vouchsafed us: pardon we beseech thee our great unthankfulness, in the duties of obedience to thy blessed will: save all thy Church, protect and bless our gracious King, and his Realms, the Queen, the Prince, and all their royal progeny, grant passage to thy Gospel, comfort to thy servants, and peace of conscience to us all in jesus Christ: Amen.   

Another Grace after meat.  
As thou hast filled our bodies, O Lord, with thy good creatures, fare above our best deserving, so be pleased, we pray thee, to season our souls, and to endue us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly things, that in all our life, that yet remains, we may be means of glory to thy Name, of credit to thy Gospel, and of much comfort to thy servants: preserve thy Church, protect this whole State, and the Chiefe-head thereof, King james, his Queen, his Heir, and whole posterity, the Counsel, the Nobles, the Magistrates, the Ministers of thy word, comfort the hearts of all thy servants, establish us all in thy truth, and keep us for ever to thyself, Amen.   

Grace before meat.  
Blessed be thou, O Lord, for these, and for all thy gifts: let thy mercy to our bodies stir up thankfulness in our souls, and let our care to please thee in our lives, be a witness of the feeling we have of thy rich and abundant mercies towards us: be gracious to all thy people through the world, forget not these Realms, nor thine anointed, our Sovereign King, the Queen, the hopeful Prince, and the Royal Progeny: disappoint the enemies of thy Gospel, and make it to grow in despite of Satan, to the glory of thy Name, and to the rejoicing of the souls of all thy servants, for jesus sake, Amen.   

Another Grace before meat.  
Accept, we pray thee, (most loving Father) this our sacrifice of praise, which for these, and all thy favours, we here offer up unto thy Majesty, look upon it in the worthiness of thy Son, and for his sake enable us to a cheerful serving thee in singleness of heart, and in uprightness of conversation all our days: and look mercifully upon the whole body of thine elect, living upon this earth wheresoever, multiply thy mercies upon the several Churches united under the government of our gracious King, pour out thy graces upon him and his, continue the truth of Religion to us and our posterity, enlarge the Kingdom of grace, and hasten the Kingdom of glory, and preserve us by thy power thereunto, through jesus Christ our only Saviour, Amen.   

Grace after meat.  
We return unto thee, with the humbling of our hearts, all possible thanks O gracious God for thy love and bounty towards us thy unworthy servants, for electing us for sending thy son to die for us, for calling us to a lively hope by thy precious Gospel, for creating, for preserving, for feeding us at this present: O stir us up to give ourselves unto thee, and to consecrate our whole spirits, souls and bodies to thy glory all our days.  
O Lord, save thy Church, our King, etc.   

A prayer before meat.  
Gracious God, and merciful Father, we pray thee for jesus Christ's sake to forgive us the sins of all our life past, and present, and together with the full forgiveness thereof, bless these good creatures set before us at this time, that they may feed our bodies: and bless us with grace so to receive them before thee with reverence that we may be the better able to go forward with our business in our calling to thy glory, and our everlasting comfort in our Lord & Saviour jesus Christ.   

A Thanksgiving after meat.  
WE thank thee most merciful Father, for the good comfort and strength which thou hast given us at this time, by these thy good blessings of meat and drink: we pray thee in like manner, comfort our poor souls with the everlasting food of thy word preached unto us, that by the working of thy blessed spirit, we may practise it in the whole course of our life, to thy glory, and our salvation in jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour, Amen.   

another Prayer before meat.  
MOst loving and merciful Father, who hast given us our life and breath, with all good blessings, for our souls and bodies, grant thy good blessings to these meats and drinks now set before us, that from thee, they may receive strength to feed us, and give us such grace to receive and use them, that we may be the better able with comfort of heart to serve thee so in this life that we may have the comfort of thy kingdom, there to live for ever, by jesus Christ our Saviour.   

another Thanksgiving after meat.  
WE confess ourselves for ever bound unto thee most merciful Father, for all good blessings, and namely for these which now we have so bountifully received to our great comfort mercifully pardon we pray thee all our profaneness and unthankfulness past and present, and strengthen us for ever hereafter with greater grace to show ourselves more thankful unto thee, and more careful to serve thee in all true holiness and righteousness all the days of our life, through jesus Christ our Lord Amen.   

another Prayer before meat.  
HOly Father. we, confess ourselves most unworthy of our life, or any other blessings, which may do us good in soul or body, by reason of our sins, which are both great and grievous: we pray thee therefore in Christ his death forgive them all, and in his obedience so receive us to favour, as that for his sake these good blessings may be blessed to our good use, to feed us in our bodies, and to further us in all godliness towards heaven & everlasting life, through jesus Christ our Lord Amen.   

another Thanksgiving.  
WE confess thy great goodness towards us most loving Father, that notwithstanding all our sins, thou hast fed us at this time more plentifully than many thousands of our brethren, who are more thankful for any blessings received, and a thousand times more careful to serve thee than we be we beseech thee call us not to account for that which is passed but strengthen us with a rich portion of thy grace to bind ourselves for ever hereafter to our better behaviour, to serve thee with better thankfulness, and more careful obedience all the days of our life, to thy glory, and our everlasting comfort in jesus Christ our Lord.  
Good Lord bless the Church, preserve our King's majesty defend this whole land, comfort the comfortless, give good success to thy Gospel against all the foes of thy truth, forgive us our sins in Christ jesus, increase our faith, grant peace to this Church and common wealth, and to every one of us in our conscience, we most humbly entreat thee good Lord.   

A Thanks giving before dinner.  
O Heavenly Father, which art the fountain, and full treasure of all goodness, we beseech thee to show thy mercies upon us thy Children, and sanctify these gifts, which we receive of thy merciful liberality, granting us grace to use them soberly, and purely according to thy blessed will: so that thereby we may acknowledge thee to be the Author and giver of all good things, and above all that we may remember continually to seek the spiritual food of thy word, wherewith our souls may be nourished everlastingly through our Saviour Christ who is the true bread of life which came down from heaven, of whom, whosoever eateth shall live for ever. So be it.   

Thanks after Dinner.  
Glory, praise and honour be unto thee most merciful, and omnipotent Father, who of thine infinite goodness hast created man to thine own Image and similtude, who also hast fed, and daily feedest of thy most bountiful hand all living creatures, grant unto us, that as thou hast nourished these our mortal bodies with corporal food, so thou wouldst replenish our souls with the perfect knowledge of the lively word of thy beloved son jesus Christ, to whom be praise, glory, and honour for ever and ever, Amen.  
God save the Church universal: GOD comfort them that be comfortless: Lord increase our faith: O Lord for Christ thy son's sake, be merciful to all the Common wealths where thy Gospel is truly preached, and harbour granted to the afflicted members of Christ's body: and illuminate according to thy good pleasure, all nations, with the brightness of thy word, So be it.   

Thanksgiving after Supper.  
Eternal and everlasting God Father of our Lord jesus Christ, who of thy most singular love, which thou bearest to menkind, & hast appointed to his sustenance, not only the fruits of the earth, but also the Fowls of the air, and Beasts, of the earth, and Fishes of the Sea, and hast commanded thy benefits to be received, as from thine hand, with thanksgiving, assuring thy children, by the mouth of thine Apostle, that to the clean, all things are clean, as the creatures which be sanctified by thy word, and by prayer: grant unto us so moderately to use these thy gifts present, that the bodies being refreshed, the souls may be more able to proceed in all good works, to the praise of thy holy name, So be it.   

Thanksgiving after supper.  
THe GOD of all power, who hath called from death, the great Pastor of the sheep, our Lord jesus, comfort and defend the flock, which he hath redeemed by the blood of the eternal Testament: increase the number of true preachers: repress the rage of obstinate tyrants: mitigate, and lighten the hearts of the ignorant: relieve the pain of such as been afflicted: but especially of those that suffer for the testimony of his truth, and finally confound Satan, by the power of our Lord jesus Christ, Amen.   

¶ A prayer before the hearing or reading of the word, or any other exercise thereof  
BLessed Lord God most merciful and heavenly Father, for as much as thou hast very straightly charged us in thy holy word, before all other things in this world, most chiefly and carefully to seek thy kingdom and the righteousness thereof, where only is true happiness, which will last for ever: Grant us grace that the care and love of this world, (whereto our earthly minds are too much wedded) being set aside, we may henceforth most diligently study how to live for ever in thy blessed kingdom. And because we have learned from thine own wisdom, that the sincere preaching of thy word is the plain path and beaten hie way which leadeth to the joy of thy kingdom: we beseech thee give us grace at all times, and upon all occasions, withal reverence and readiness of heart, to hear, read, muse, and study thereon, that our souls may daily grow rich and wealthy in the increase of true repentance, faith, holiness of life, meekness, patience, love, and every other sweet fruit, of thy holy spirit, which may prepare us to be always ready when it shall please thee to call us out of this life, to live most blessedly with thee for ever in thine everlasting Kingdom, through jesus Christ our Lord.   

¶ A Thanksgiving after any exercise. of the Word of God.  
WE thank thee most merciful Fafather, for all good blessings whatsoever, confessing ourselves altogether unworthy of any one of them from the first unto the last, and from the greatest unto the smallest: most chief we thank thee for the great blessing and precious jewel of thy holy Word, and for the sweet comfort thou bringest to our consciences by the continual hearing, reading, study, & excercise thereof. we pray the increase our zeal and love thereunto every day more and more, that the power thereof may foe work in every one of our souls, that we may daily prosper and thrive in all the ways of Godliness to thy glory, and our everlasting comfort in thy kingdom, by jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour.   

¶ A prayer for the Evening.  
Bless Lord God, most merciful and heavenly Father, all we thy servants whom thou hast joined together in this household, do altogether confess thy marvelous great mercy which thou hast showed to every one of us all the days of our life, and by name, this day, which now is at an end, We all thank thee from the very ground and bottom of our hearts, that thou hast preserved us from all the dangers of our bodies, and from every judgement of our souls. We thank thee that every way thou hast dealt so kindly and mercifully with us, showing thyself a most tender father, as well in the blessings, of this present life, as also in the most excellent graces of a fare better life. Thou hast provided for us (according to our calling) whatsoever thou in wisdom knowest needful for our bodily maintenance. As for our souls, thy love hath appeared most wonderful, because thou hast not suffered us to run headlong to hell in blindness & ignorance, with many thousands, [whom thou hast in thy fearful, yet most just judgement, appointed unto condemnation) but haste by the blessed preaching of thy word which thou hast brought amongst us, shown us the way how to escape everlasting vengeance, and to live for ever in thy kingdom. To this purpose thou hast prolonged every one of our lives unto this present hour, and this day blessed us with health & strength of our bodies to walk in our calling so that we have with good success happily ended the business of this day, and therefore now this night we may betake ourselves to comfortable rest, whereby we may with better courage and strength return again to our business the next day following. For these and all other mercies whatsoever we most humbly thank thee, praying thee most humbly to forgive and forget the sins of this day, and of all our life past, howsoever we have committed them by thought, word, or deed, wittingly or willingly through ignorance, or for want of good heed. Give us the sight and sorrow of heart for them all, with a full purpose for ever hereafter to be more watchful over all our ways & more heedful in all our behaviour, than ever heretofore we have been. To this end, vouchsafe upon us a rich portion of thy grace so to profit by the hearing of thy word preached, that we may more carefully avoid that which is evil, and more constantly follow that which is good. And now we pray thee receive, us all this night into thine own safe keeping: be a good God to every one of us. Guard us in our bodies by the defence of thy holy Angels from all outward dangers and judgements whatsoever: and above all, keep us by thy blessed spirit from every enticement of Satan, which might hurt us in our souls. Give our bodies sweet rest and comfortable sleep, and grant unto our Souls the sweet peace of conscience, which may prepare us against the coming of our Lord jesus Christ, in whose holy name we pray further for all good graces needful for the whole Church this of England our King's Majesty the Council, Magistrates, Ministers the comfortless, and all the rest of the faithful in any place of the world, saying the same prayer which himself hath taught us in his holy Gospel after this manner.  O our Father which art in heaven, etc. 
THe grace of our Lord jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the most sweet and comfortable fellowship of God the holy Ghost be with us, bless, preserve, keep, comfort, and defend every one of us here present, together with all the rest of the Faithful which in any other place belong unto jesus Christ his kingdom, both this night, and for ever hereafter to the end of the world, Amen.   

A prayer for the Morning.  
WC thy humble servants thank thee most merciful Father, that thou hast kept so good and careful a watch over every one of us this last night past, that thou hast so mercifully delivered us from the darkness and dangers thereof, and hast freed us from every judgement which might not only have seized upon us in our bodies, but swollowed us up both in our bodies and souls. Our bed wherein we have taken so good rest and comfortable sleep, might have been our grave to have stopped our breath that we should never again have seen the light of this day if thou hadst not been our good God, mercifully to watch over us by thy special providence. We therefore in the humbleness of our souls most unfeignedly thank thee for this thy defence, and for all the rest of thy kindness, either this night, or any time heretofore. And now we further pray thee that as thou hast rescued us from the dangers of this night, and renewed the light of this present day: even so it would please thee to renew the light of thy favourable and loving countenance toward every one of us, in the face and favour of jesus Christ, to bless us with thy spirit, whereby we may be guided in all our actions, dealings, and business, as thy blessed name may be glorified, thy Church and children profited, and our own consciences comforted in the assured hope of everlasting life. Prosper the works of our hands, and make thy fear so to prosper in our hearts, that in every part of our behaviour, we may set thee before us, and make thee judge, not only of our outward doings, but of our inward and secret thoughts, that the same may be upright in thy presence, to set thee before us in every thing we take in hand, calling upon thee in all our business, that thy blessing may give us good success. Grant, we beseech thee, that the words of our mouths, the works of our hands, and all the thoughts of our hearts, may be acceptable unto thee, both this day and for ever, through jesus Christ our Saviour, in whose name we pray further unto thee for these and all other good graces, which thou knowest to be most needful for us and for thy whole Church, saying as he hath taught us in his blessed Gospel:  O our Father, etc.  

A prayer to be strengthened against fear which oppresseth the conscience.  
O Lord, heavenly Father, I thine unworthy servant, and a poor wretched sinner, overwhelmed with great fear, by reason of my manifold & grievous sins whereby I have offended thee, my most loving and merciful Father, do here bow the knees of my heart unto thee, beseeching thee most humbly to forgive all those my sins and heinous trensgressions which make my conscience so sore afraid, that I neither can feel such comfort in mine own soul, as may bring peace unto mine own conscience, neither am I able to be comfortable unto such as thou hast humbled by affliction, for the exercise of their faith and patience to thy great glory, and their special comfort in the end, though for a time thou seemest to turn thy loving countenance from them. Good Lord, I confess my want of zeal, and love to thee and thy word, I acknowledge my profaneness, and overgreat looseness of life, I keep not back my slackness in hearing, reading, praying, and practising such duties, as by thy blessed word I am bound to perform. Now in the riches of thy mercy work in my heart unfeigned repentance, for these and all the rest of my sins past and present: and of thy goodness, pour such plenty of thy gracious spirit into my sinful soul, that my manners being amended, and my behaviour both outward and inward being changed, I may both have comfort in mine own conscience, and also, without fear, with grace and good courage of heart speak comfortably to such as are in any kind of distress, especially in any trouble of mind, so as they may receive some special comfort by those gracious words which shall proceed from me: Grant this, most merciful Father, for thy dear Son's sake, jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.   

¶ A Prayer made at the first assembly of the Church, when the confession of our faith, and whole orders were there read, and approved.  
OH Lord God Almighty, and Father most merciful, there is none like thee in heaven nor in earth, which workest all things for the glory of thy Name, and the comfort of thine elect. Thou didst once make Man ruler over all thy creatures, and placed him in the Garden of all pleasures, but how soon (alas) did he in his felicity forget thy goodness? Thy people Israel also in their wealth, did evermore run affray, abusing thy manifold mercies, like as all flesh continually rageth when it hath gotten liberty and external prosperity. But such is thy wisdom, adjoined to thy mercies (dear Father) that thou seekest all means possible to bring thy children to the true sense and lively feeling of thy fatherly favour. And therefore, when prosperity will not serve, than sendest thou adversity, graciously correctting all thy children whom thou receivest into thine household: Wherefore, we wretched and miserable sinners, render unto thee most humble and hearty thankes, that it hath pleased thee to call us home to thy fold, by thy fatherly correction at this present, whereas in our prosperity and liberty, we did neglect thy graces offered unto us: For the which negligence, and many other grievous sins, whereof we now accuse ourselves before thee, thou mightest most justly have given us up to reprobate minds, and induration of our hearts, as thou hast done other. Oh Lord God, what are we, upon whom thou shouldest show this great mercy? O most loving Lord, forgive us our unthankfulness, and all our sins, for jesus Christ's sake. O heavenly Father, increase thine holy Spirit in us, to teach our hearts to cry, Abba, dear Father, to assure us of our eternal election in Christ, to reveal thy will more and more towards us, to confirm us so in thy truth, that we may live and dye therein: and that by the power of the same spirit, we may boldly give accounts of our faith to all men, with humbleness and meekness, that whereas they backbite & slander us as evil doers, they may be ashamed, & once stop their mouths, seeing our good conversation. Be merciful good Lord, unto thy Church universal, scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth: send help and comfort to all our brethren wheresoever, which are in need, affliction, or misery: beat down the fury and rage of Antichrist and his Kingdom, and daily more and more increase the number of thy faithful flock.  
And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy, above all other Nations of the earth, to power down the sweet stream of thy blessings upon this little Island in which we live, by provoking of thy Gospel, and overthrowing of Idolatry, we beseech thee to continue towards the same, and to establish in this thy Church a pure perfect, and sincere regiment thereot, that in the same thy glorious Majesty may be exalted in sincere, pure, and holy worship; and that this thy Church may flourish and increase, being through thy safe protection aided supported, & miraculously defended, guide and rule, we beseech thee, with thy holy spirit every part and member thereof, especially thy gracious servant, our dear Sovereign Lord and King, grant unto him [O Lord] a pure and perfect zeal, above all things, to promote thy glory, give unto him the spirit of wisdom, discreation, and government, that with equity & justice he may see this whole Realm peaceably and quietly governed. Deliver him, O Lord, as hitherto, most wonderfully, thou hast done, from all foreign and homebred Traitors, and grant unto him (if it be thy will) a long and quiet reign over us, to the benefit of thy Church, and the advancement of thy glory: bless also, we beseech thee, with abundance of blessings, both Spiritual and Temporal, the Queen's Majesty, the young Prince with the rest of the King and Queen's Royal Issue, and make them worthy Instruments of thy glory, when time and occasion shall serve thee unto: bless, O Lord, the Nobility, the Gentry, the Commonalty, and all the Estates of this Land: comfort all them that be comfortless, and remove thy heavy judgements from those places on which they are fall'n: lastly, for ourselves we become humble petitioners unto thy divine Majesty: bless us [O Lord] with thy grace and peace, make us thankful for all thy blessings from time to time bestowed upon us, forgive us the sins which we have committed, watch our souls, good Lord, and keep them from all sin and uncleanensse, from all evil motions and idle fantasies, and prepare us more and more against the coming of thy Son, Christ jesus. And more. O Lord, we have commended ourselves unto thee, our understanding is weak, our memory is frail, and we are not worthy to pray unto thee, more unworthy to receive the things we pray for; and therefore we commend ourselves and our prayers unto thee, in the name and mediation of thy Son and Saviour, humbly begging and craving both these our former petitions, and all things else needful for us in that form of prayer which he hath taught us, saying: Our Father which art in heaven, etc.   

A prayer for true repentance.  
MOst gracious God. and merciful Father, of our Saviour jesus Christ, because I have sinned and done wickedly, and through thy goodness have received a desire of repentance, whereunto this thy long suffering doth draw my hard heart, I beseech thee, for thy great mercy's sake, in Christ, to work the same repentance in me, and by thy spirit, power and grace, so to humble, mortify and fear my conscience for my sins, to salvation, that in thy good time thou mayst comfort and quicken me again, through jesus Christ thy dear beloved Son, So be it.   

A prayer for the strength and increase of faith.  
O Merciful God, and dear Father of our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ (in whom, as thou art well pleased, so hast thou commanded us to hear him) for as much as he often biddeth us to ask of thee, and also promiseth that thou wilt hear us and grant us that which in his name we shall ask of thee: lo, gracious Father, we are bold to beg of thy mercy, through thy Son jesus Christ, one sparkle of true faith and certain persuasion of thy goodness and love towards us in Christ, where through, I being assured of the pardon of all my sins by the great mercies of Christ thy Son, may be thankful to thee, love thee, and serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life, Amen.  
FINIS.