THE Ever-burning Lamps of Piety and Devotion. Kindled by many Excellent and Heavenly Prayers, Divided into the several days of the Week, and other Occasions:  
To avoid which weak Man hath continual cause to retire into himself, and humbly confer with Almighty God.  
By I. C.  
LONDON, Printed by George Purslewe for Richard Hawkins, and are to be sold at his Shop in Chancery-lane near sergeant Inn. 161●.   

TO THE HONOURABLE, EXCELLENTLY VIRTUOUS, and truly Noble, the Lady VILLIERS, Wife to the worthy, and every way accomplished Knight, Sir EDWARD VILLIERS.  
MADAM,  
I Have not chosen this Text to paint your Virtues, but cure mine own infirmities, who desperately ill of a surfeit, and given over by the best Doctor of my fortunes, found no comfort but in retiring, and ask counsel of that heavenly, and never-erring Physician, who came into the world to cure all manner of Diseases; which ever intending to publish for the good, I hope, of others, that dare take so much time, to think of their sickness, and practise a recovery: I did not long labour for a Dedication, knowing no Lady (as far be it from arrogancy, as I know it is from flattery) that deserveth trulier and realler, to be a Patron (being the subject of all virtues) than yourself; your life and manners better commending you, then can my pen, who may express my own Devotions, but cannot reach yours: Though to those who only know, or, to speak properly, have only seen you, in the colours and attire of the Time, equally graced and behaved with the best of those that affect Court most, it may appear otherwise, who never seeking Virtue, but in rough and wild places, imagine Solitariness, and Neglect surer companions of him, than State and Ceremony: Yet since the excellency of goodness, (as the Sun in foulest weather) in all Callings, maintaineth her own perfection, and that in public and great persons, singularity and niceness of Attire, would rather boast then forward Virtue, you wisely and most Religiously, follow that precept of our saviours, to wash your face, and put on your Ornaments, that in your chief austerity and retiring, you may appear not to proclaim it: For those light brains (full of faultfinding, and as faulty) who may accuse me to have given good time to so excellent Music, which soundeth well in Lady's ears, when I should have applied myself to my subject, in setting out the excellency, height and reward of prayers: I would he could understand, there be such mirrors as I hear speak of, and that your ladyships practice can better redeliver these things, than my rude precepts, having been an eye-witness, for the better part of twelve Months, of your inward and holy recollection, from which daily no business, nor other recreation had power to withdraw you, to whose holy inspirations, and wonder-working fervour, I leave your good and great fortunes, assuring myself, your virtue cannot fall so guided, nor your fortune so accompanied, but that you shall still remain a sweete-smelling sacrifice to God, and an attractive and flourishing example to men, amongst whom, though not only, I chief, at least most desirously, remain  
Your virtues honourer and Observer: I. C.   

THE EPISTLE TO THE READER.  
IT is a general complaint of all ages, and of all men, that the times are bad, they most finding fault with it, by whose corruption it declineth and waineth in goodness: But indeed, if ever virtue herself had cause to put on widowed garments, and mingle her constancy with lamentations, it is in our days to see herself thus forsaken and abandoned, being seldom entertained for her real worth, without some secondary respect of popular applause and preferment, which though she rarely attain for her own sake, yet great Ones are content in her likeness, rather to serve their own appetites, then when they appear nakedly clad in their own Deformity; which is the cause we mistaking the grounds, complain of Honours, how they altar, and (as it were) unnaturize the dispositions and manners of the people, when indeed they cunningly disguising and hiding with false seem, their cankered and malicious inclinations, steal to their aspired height, which once grown Masters of, they pull off their Visor, and armed with their greatness, fear not to please themselves with the manifesting their vices. This I think, as it moved the Printer to advise me to the publishing of these Meditations and Prayers, so above all he entreated to have a care, they were not long or tedious, lest the people (who measure it with their eye) might take a surfeit of it before it came to the stomach: Like men, willing, for their recreation, to walk a mile to disport themselves, but if necessarily enforced to any longer journey, growing weary before they set one foot abroad; I have, I think, satisfied the Printers desire, and the humour of the people, rather dieting them with what is extremely necessary, then overcharging their weakness to a satiety, till by these they shall be enabled (virtue gathering strength by practice) to feed on larger Discourses for their weal and salvation: to which to draw them more, by setting forth the excellency of prayer, there can be, I hope, nothing better, or more knowingly spoken, then that often and earnest precept of our saviours, commanding us to Watch and Pray continually, lest we enter into temptation: which joined with his own example (made precious by his unparaleld and unimitable love to us) cannot but melt the most frozen and hardened carelessness, making it apt to receive so blessed an impression. That his life was nothing but a Divine Rapture, and Heavenly Meditation of high and excellent Mysteries, is no way to be doubted; and that he did usually breath them forth in zealous and most devout prayers, the holy Scripture testifieth, how often and humbly in the accomplishing of his Miracles, how often and fervently before his Passion, and at the instant of his betraying, and taking, when the blessed Apostle and follower S. Peter, violently ravished with the extremity of love to so excellent a Lord, took out his sword, and with it cut off one of the ears of the Ministers, he rebuked him, saying, Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he will give me more than twelve Legions of Angels? ever intimating unto us, the excellency and efficacy of prayer, as the only means to obtain virtuous purposes.  
For the set times of vocal prayers (heavenly and short ejaculations being at all hours to be used) it hath been thought fit, by many learned and Religious Fathers, to be divided into Morning, Noon, and Evening, it being most fit to offer the Immortal and high Deity, our first thoughts, that seasoned with the knowledge of him, we may with the more care & attention behave ourselves the day following; recalling ourselves at Noon to desire strength for the continuance and perseverance in holy and good purposes; and closing and shutting up all actions and transitory thoughts in the Evening, with thanksgiving for the blessings of that day, and an acknowledgement of our sins and transgressions, committing ourselves to his Fatherly protection the ensuing night, that awaking in the morning, we may find a well-pleasing relish of holy thoughts timely and maturely digested.  
For the better composing ourselves at the time of prayer, we ought before, duly and earnestly to consider his Greatness and Immensity to whom we pray, the necessity and height of what we pray for, and our own unworthiness to obtain a grant & accomplishment of our petitions, that being truly humbled and cast down in ourselves, it may please the Lord of heaven and earth, to have the more pity & compassion on us.  
And if men that appear to speak before an earthly King, seriously prepare and examine themselves, calling every word to a just weight and measure, strictly taking care of the lest gesture; How ought we in the presence of so great, & above all comparisons, infinitely excelling a Lord, be solicitous and heedful, that nothing pass from us unworthy, or il-beseeming his Divinity & pureness?  
Thus praying, and behaving ourselves, we shall (no question) find to our never-dying comfort, the ever-livingnes of his promises in the accomplishment of our just petitions, being made witnesses of the dissolution of heaven and earth, & the vanishing away of all things transitory at the command of his Word, one jot or tittle whereof shall not be taken away or diminished, but remain pure and perfect, in the justification of his Elect, clothing them with eternity and immortality; to which state of happiness our blessed Saviour send us all, for his holy Names sake.   

A Table containing the several Prayers.  

A Prayer for Monday Morning. 1  
A prayer for Monday Noon. 2  
A Prayer for Monday Night. 3  
A Prayer for Tuesday Morning. 4  
A Prayer for Tuesday Noon. 5  
A Prayer for Tuesday Night. 6  
A Prayer for Wednesday Morning. 7  
A Prayer for Wednesday Noon. 8  
A Prayer for Wednesday Night. 9  
A Prayer for Thursday Morning. 10  
A Prayer for Thursday Noon. 11  
A Prayer for Thursday Night. 12  
A Prayer for Friday Morning. 13  
A Prayer for Friday Noon. 14  
A Prayer for Friday Night. 15  
A Prayer for Saturday Morning. 16  
A Prayer for Saturday Noon. 17  
A Prayer for Saturday Night. 18  
A Prayer for Sunday Morning. 19  
A Prayer for Sunday Noon. 20  
A Prayer for Sunday Night. 21  
A Prayer to our blessed Saviour for Humility. 22  
Another for assistance in dangers and troubles. 23  
A Prayer against Pride. 24  
A Prayer against the concupiscence of the Flesh. 25  
A Prayer against Sloth. 26  
A Prayer against Covetousness. 27  
An acknowledgement of sins, with promise of amendment. 28  
A Prayer in afflictions and troubles. 29  
A prayer for Remission of sins. 30  
A prayer for Chastity. 31  
A prayer to be said in a journey. 32  
A prayer against Lightning and Thunder. 33  
A prayer or Meditation concerning the benefits after creation. 34  
A prayer against vain Attire. 35  
A prayer for a Maid against temptations. 36  
Another to the same effect. 37  
A prayer for a Maid, not to be puffed up with her own perfections. 38  
A prayer for a Maid to be directed in her choice. 39  
A prayer for a Maid to be obedient to her Parents. 40  
A prayer before a journey. 41  
Another for the same. 42  
A prayer in afflictions. 43  
A prayer for a Merchant. 44  
A prayer before Study. 45  
A prayer for the Fatherless. 46  
A prayer in afflictions and troubles. 47  
A Thanksgiving. 48  
A prayer in time of Pestilence. 49  
A prayer in time of war.. 50  
A prayer for a Husbandman to receive the fruits of the earth. 51  
A prayer for a Widow. 52  
A prayer for a Wife. 53  
A prayer for Mariners. 54  
A prayer for Children. 55  
A prayer for Servants. 56  
A prayer for one that is sick. 57  
A prayer for women's deliverance. 58  
A prayer going to bed. 59  
A prayer against idle talk. 60  
A Thanksgiving. 61  
A prayer for direction in all the course of our life. 62  
A prayer for great men seated in places of Honour. 63  
A Thanksgiving for the recovery of our high and mighty Sovereign King james. April. 1619. 64  
Another Thanksgiving. 65  
A prayer against our enemies. 66  
Another prayer for deliverance from our enemies. 67  
A Thanksgiving for the overthrow of our enemies. 68  
A Prayer for present necessities. 69  
Another prayer entreating remission of sins, & constancy in good purposes. 70  
A prayer in sickness. 71  
A prayer to be said before any work we go about. 72  
A prayer for remission of sins. 73  
A prayer for perseverance. 74  
A prayer in affliction. 75  
A prayer in extremity of sickness. 76  
A prayer in the Spring time. 77  
A prayer in Summer. 78  
A payer to be said in Autumn. 79  
A prayer to be said in Winter. 80  
A prayer in adversity and affliction. 81  
A prayer to our blessed Saviour. 82  
A prayer in time of Lent. 83  
A prayer against temptation. 84  
A prayer for preparation against the Day of judgement. 85  
Certain Ejaculations of the Spirit.  
A short Meditation upon these words of Pilate; Behold the man..  
A Meditation upon the Resurrection.    

THE EVER-BURNING Lamps of Devotion and Piety.  

MONDAY MORNING.  

1. Morning Prayer.  
O ETERNAL and everliving God, what humble and hearty thanks ought I render thy divine Majesty, who hast called me from the image of Death, and safely brought me to the beholding of this day; giving me yet farther time to call upon thy holy Name, and to ask forgiveness for my sins and wickednesses. Receive, O Lord, an humble and contrite heart, and despise not the voice of a miserable and dejected sinner, who can offer thee nothing for these and all other thy innumerable benefits, but what must graciously proceed from thy own clemency and mercy; possessing no good, but from thee, and by thee, exercising nothing agreeable to thy will; but through thee, even at this instant, mercifully led by thy power and gentleness, to make my humble supplications unto thee. Season me, O Lord, with thy Spirit, endue me with thy gracious and holy gifts, that I may bestow this day to thy honour and glory, and my own comfort and eternal salvation. Defend me from the snares and subtleties of Satan, who hourly watcheth to enter and overthrow me; and unless, withstood by thy divine hand, how can so poor a Worm resist so mighty an Enemy? Save me, O Lord, from his Minister, the World, who with the glory thereof seeketh to beguile and deceive me: and let not the flesh have any power over me; which, suggested by him, layeth continual siege to me, bringing my sins, like fearful Canons, before me; my own weakness desiring to let him in, and all my senses conspiring against me. Hasten, O Lord, to my aid; come speedily, and redeem me: let not the work of thy hands (how mean soever) be a prey to thy adversary, who laboureth to win me from thee, and hateth me for thee; that being protected by thy outstretched Arm, I may go forward in goodness and virtue. Give me, O Lord, a heart full of Charity, Patience, Obedience, Humbleness, without Malice, Vainglory, envying none, and fix all my thoughts, actions, and endeavours, to recover thee, in thy Kingdom; to whom be all honour, power, and glory, world without end. Amen.   

2. A Prayer before Dinner.  
Almighty and everlasting God, which hast created all things for the good and benefit of Mankind, giving him power and dominion over all thy creatures; grant, O Lord, that I may so moderately use these blessings thou hast in thy mercy provided for me, as may stand with thy good liking and pleasure: Let me eat, to help, not pamper Nature, lest of a servant she become an enemy, and make me unfit for thy service and glory, which is the only end of our creation and being: Let Temperance, not my Appetite, oversway me, ever remembering, and with dutiful thanks acknowledging thy love and favour, who hast vouchsafed to refresh and comfort me, when many thousands of my poor brethren, whose fearful sins call not for vengeance like mine, suffer under the Tyranny of Hunger: Give me grace (O Lord) to pity them, and means to relieve them, that we may together glorify thee in thy Works, and praise thy judgements, which are unsearchable, showing mercy on whom thou pleasest, chastising thy children, that being made obedient in their punishments, they may come to thee, and be made partakers of that never-ending glory, which thou hast prepared for those that truly serve thee, even for jesus Christ his sake, our only Lord and Saviour who with thee and the holy Ghost, three persons, and one God, liveth and reigneth world without end. Amen.   

3. Evening Prayer.  
MOst merciful and loving God, Father of all Consolation, who in thy infinite wisdom and providence hast ordained the night for rest, by which our bodily senses, wearied with the days labour, might be renewed and refreshed; we praise and glorify thy holy Name, in that thou hast vouchsafed, of thy accustomed bounty and goodness, to protect us from all the bodily dangers of this day, which our Enemy, the Devil, practiseth for our destruction. How many, O pitiful and sweet Saviour, hath his snares betrayed and undone, leading them by temptation and strong persuasion, with their own hands to be their own Murderers? How many hast thou suffered to fall by fire? some, by the cruelty of their Brother, Fathers by their Children, Wives by their Husbands, suddenly, and unexpectedly, in apparent danger, without thy mercy and benediction, of eternal woe and damnation. How shall a heart, loaden and overcome with these thy benefits, express thy power and glory, with his own shame and opprobriousnesse? I acknowledge and confess (most blessed and pitiful Lord) that my sins daily increasing, nay hourly growing upon me, have deserved Hell fire, and everlasting damnation: I have known thy Commandments, and not followed them; I have harkened to thy will, and not obeyed it, pursuing with swift feet the unlawful desires and lusts of my flesh Give me grace, O merciful Lord and Father, that I may with all the power of my soul strive and endeavour to amend and reform this sinful and abominable course. Be pleased to call me unto thee, by what means soever thou shalt think my unbridled and stubborn disposition will be tamed and subdued: I refuse no punishment, without exception of greatness, or choice of quality; Poverty sent by thee, shall be my chiefest Riches; Shame and Contempt, being thy affliction, shall be the propagation of my glory; the neglect of Friends shall not trouble me; for in all things, O Lord, let thy will be done, who wisheth not the death of a sinner, but that he may repent and live with thee, in the company of Angels and Saints, who are filled with thy goodness, and continually sing thy praises, to whom only belongeth just praise and honour, world without end. Amen.    

TVESDAY.  

4. Morning Prayer.  
O Almighty and most merciful Father, which hast opened the eyes of thy servant to behold thy glorious and wondrous works, sending thy blessed and comfortable Light, to banish and put to flight the thick and black darkness which covered the face of the Earth; lighten, O Lord, my understanding, that I may see thee in thy revealed will, and not curiously wander farther. Give me grace to know what is good, and rectify my will to follow it, that in my life and conversation I may glorify thee and profit others.  
I confess, O Lord, and humbly acknowledge my sins and offences, and my transgressions are ever before me: Pardon, O merciful Father, and be pleased to put away from thy remembrance all my iniquities: Let the blood of thy dear Son, and my only Saviour, be available against thy justice, and bury my misdeeds in his Sepulchre, that they may never rise up against me.  
Bless, O mighty and only powerful God, all the labours of this day, and grant, thou wilt help us to perform what is thy pleasure we do, that every speech and action having his beginning from thee, may tend to our own comfort and salvation. Let not, O Lord (which art the comfort and secure of all distressed and afflicted) the greedy and unlawful desire of gain and increase, raise our hearts to affect falsehood and dissimulation: Set a watch, O Lord, before our lips, that we may speak truly to every man; in the uprightness and sincerity of a good conscience, we may be at peace with ourselves.  
Set over us, thou great and only Protector, thy holy Angel, to guard and defend us, that the Devil, who lieth in wait to betray us, may be put to flight and confounded: either take away, O Lord, or give us strength to overcome his subtleties and temptations, that endeavouring to spend this day according to thy holy Word, we may rest in peace, till thou again shalt call us to perform our duty; even for jesus Christ's sake, our only Lord and Saviour.   

5. A Prayer at Noon.  
I Will not cease to cry unto thee, O Lord, because thou art merciful, and regardest the complaints of thy servant; who, as in a Wilderness, encompassed with ravenous beasts, were it not for thy assisting grace, looketh instantly to be devoured. My flesh rebelleth against me, and my unbridled and lawless senses would give me up as a prey unto the enemy. Be near, O Lord, unto me, and assist me in the Conflict, lest I shamefully fall, and be confounded.  
Inspire me, O Lord, with virtuous and holy motions, unresistible and never-yeelding graces, that I may fight manfully under thy glorious Standard, following thee, my Captain and Leader, thorough all the dangerous and fearful oppositions which Satan bringeth against me. Give me, O Lord, an unwearied courage, that I may neither faint under the heat of my desires, nor be dulled and benumbed with the cold and ●●●●tie carelessness of my lazy and lukewarm devotion; but with able and lusty vigour overcoming the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, I may in spirit rejoice with thee, and sing thy praises and glory, who art the only blessed and gracious Redeemer from all temptations and troubles.   

6. Evening Prayer.  
O Most mercifully loving God, who gatherest and keepest thy beloved under thy wings, as the Hen doth her Chickens, defending them by thy mightiness from all the perils and misfortunes which their weakness and the devils suggestions might bring upon them. I give thee most humble and hearty thanks, that thou hast safely protected me this day from all bodily dangers and mischances, from the cruelty of Fire, the mercilessness of Water, the rage of the Sword, the spoil of Sickness, and the unsparing hand of Death, which hath suddenly and unexpectedly overtaken many, feasting and rioting. But now, O Lord, and above measure, am I to glorify and praise thy everlasting goodness, that with thy assisting grace thou hast blessed me from horrible sins and transgressions, crying unto thee for judgement; Incest committed with the nearest of our blood, and remotest from the blood of our Saviour; Murder of man's body, with the slaughter of our own soul; Rape of Virgins, with the deflowering of our own virtue; and many other offences, which thou (unknowingly) hast taken from us, delivering us from the occasions, which hanging over us, were (unperceived) ready to devour us.  
Continue, O Lord, thy loving kindness, and in the darkness of this Night shoot forth thy beams into our souls, that we may inwardly behold and meditate upon thy never-ending mercies: Overshadow us with a company of Angels, who may watch and guard our sleeping bodies, lest the Devil enter and unawares surprise us. Keep from us, O Lord, all wanton and lascivious dreams, vain and idle fancies, that having peaceably and quietly obtained an untroubled and unpolluted Repose, we may awake in thy fear, to remember all thy kindnesses, employing both soul and body to do him homage and service, by whose mighty and loving power we have enjoyed them safe, from the oppositions of all our enemies.    

WEDNESDAY.  

7. Morning Prayer.  
Almighty and everliving God, the first Beginner, Mover, and Creator of all things being, I render thy divine Majesty humble and hearty thanks for the quiet Repose and Rest of the passed Night; humbly entreating thee, of thy favour and goodness; by thy holy direction and assistance, to govern and command all the actions of this day, that they may bring forth a Comfort, and Repose of a good Conscience. Give, O Lord, unto me thoughts pure and undefiled, beseeming the presence of so great and holy a Majesty, before whom I continually stand; speeches sparing and modest, with the consideration of an account to be made for them, that my actions arising from these, may be a warrane to me in the peace of a settled mind, a profitable example to my weak brethren, and a never-ending glory and honour to thee, whose workmanship I am. Take from me, O blessed and careful Father, the occasions of sin, and the opportunity of committing them: Let no evil company (the Nets of Satan) ensnare my weak and frail determinations, seducing me by wantonness, or the desire of vainglory, or what other secondary cause soever, to the forgetting thee, and my own duty and salvation. Give me grace and strength, O blessed and all loving Creator, to labour in the vocation thou hast ordained for me, and bless, O Lord, the labours of my hand, that I may see the comfort and increase of them; for which, let thy holy and ever-comforting Spirit inflame me with a burning desire of thankfulness, and humble acknowledgement, that I may not lose thee, for not praising, honouring, and adoring thy holy Name; to which, be ascribed all honour and glory, world without end.   

NOONE.  
8. A Prayer, or Meditation, acknowledging Gods benefits: with an humble Confession of our sins.  
WHat is Man, O Lord, that thou dost so much respect him? Or the Son of Man, that thou givest heed unto him? Why hast thou sent thy only Begotten, who in glory excelleth all Creatures, to be a Sacrifice for him, and given thy Angels charge over him? Why hath thy own hand conducted him, and Miracles made way for him? Is he not, O Lord, slime of the Earth, created of nothing, and without thy mercy, should be happy to return to nothing? Was he able to help thee, when he had no being in thy great Workmanship? Or when it was made; without thee, could he distinguish it? Was he not last form, and all other things for his use and service? And in requital of all this thy exceeding and infinite bounty, did he not leave thee, his only God and Creator, and take part with thy enemy against thee? And hast thou yet gathered him to thee, and by thy revealed Will left him thine heir of all those glorious Possessions, whose Title cannot be questioned? Those inestimable Riches, which neither thieves nor Moths can beguile him of, or take away? What excellency is there, O merciful Father, in this thy handy work, to deserve such innumerable and un-imitable benefits? What can he, O Lord, repay thee for these great and unspeakable bounties? What proportion can there be of a finite uncertainty, with an everlasting and infinite Deity? With what admirable, and unconceivable Art, dost thou fashion him in the Womb? How wonderfully, and strangely, dost thou bring him forth? How carefully after, and most lovingly, dost thou cherish and secure him, his Parents being thy Nurses; in whom thou hast inspired such Nature and Love towards him, that they account and call that Trouble, a Blessing? How most providently, for this despised Clay, didst thou, in the beginning, divide the great Time, disposing the one half for the Rest and Repose of this thy Creature, rocking him asleep with thy all-powerful and favourable hand? And when he comes, in progress of time, to exercise and use that Reason and Understanding, in which thou hast made him lord over all thy Creatures; what, O Father of all Comforts and Blessings, doth he return thee for this thy care and blessings? How does he, in part, and to his power, answer these thy exceeding great and high benefits? Doth he walk in the Way which thou hast instructed him? Or is his delight in seeking after thy Commandments? Doth he not leave the known Path, revealed in thy Word, and wander after Vanities, searching for their footsteps, which lead unto destruction? O all merciful and loving God, whose Charity and Bounty doth well express thy Godhead and Power! since it is not in Mortality to love so abundantly, so fervently: so, causelessly, grant, I beseech thee, even for the bowels of thy mercy, to inflame my heart with the like desires and affections, that I may love thee above myself, with all my soul, with all my heart, all my understanding; despising all things, in respect of thee: since there is nothing great, glorious, and high, nothing of infinite Beauty, everlasting Majesty, unspeakable Charity, but God alone; who hath filled every thing with his Blessing, with his Being, with his Presence; who confines all things, without being confined; who is, was, and ever shall be, of endless power, honour, and glory. Amen.   

9 Evening Prayer.  
LEt me never be unthankful, O Lord, that thou hast yet continued thy favourable and commanding hand over me, in placing me before thee, reserving me, and redeeming me from the continual assaults of Satan, who awaiteth to make a prey on me: mercifully, O Lord, forgive the evil which I have committed; and the good which I have had means to lay hold of, and overslipped, be pleased not to remember against me, who am nothing but pollution and uncleanness, uncapable, without thee, of goodness, and unworthy, by my own negligence and carelessness to be called unto it. Forgive, O Lord, my customary and irreligious taking thy Name in vain, my wandering and idle speeches, pride of myself, or towards others detraction, for my own glory; Envy, or whatsoever, in thought, word, or deed, this day committed; displeaseth thy divine Majesty; that my soul, unloaded and unburdened of the deadly and condemning weights of sin, may comfortably take the refreshing of this Night, thou in thy mercy hast ordained for me, even for jesus Christ his sake, thy only and well-beloved Son, and our only Lord and Saviour. Amen.    

THURSDAY.  

10. Morning Prayer.  
AS out of my grave, O Lord, by thy mighty hand and outstretched arm, hast thou this day called me, raising me from the depth of sleep, wherein many have been unexpectedly and suddenly for ever buried, and called me to the beholding of thy glorious and all-comforting Light, and in that, the admirable work of thy hand; and more especially and graciously, taking away the dark and thick clouds of sin and wickedness, hast illumined my inward spirit with thy merciful beams, to think and meditate upon thy holy Name and never-ending kindnesses, opening with the day, my eyes, as thou didst to Hagar, that I might be comforted in beholding (desperate of help and secure) the bottomless Wellspring of thy favour and providence, wherewith thou cherishest and maintainest all things created, taking care, by thy eternal wisdom, of the poorest things in Nature. And since (O Lord) one hair cannot fall from the head, without thy foreseeing knowledge, mercifully and lovingly sustain and uphold me this day, and ever, that I slide not and fall from thee, the head and author of my being and well-being, without whom I was nothing, and should be happy to return to nothing. Plant in me, O Lord, the timely fruit of Consideration, and water it with thy heavenly dew, that seriously and carefully setting before my eyes the end of my Creation, the dreadful account I must render, in not applying myself to it, with the glorious certain promised Rewards, belonging to Goodness and Virtue, I may now and ever, in all my thoughts, words, and deeds, so carry and behave myself, that I may be thought, in the precious blood of thy only Son, worthy to be made capable of that eternal Sacrifice he hath long since offered for all sinners. Amen.   

AT NOONE.  
11. A Prayer or Meditation for Patience.  
WHither wilt thou go (O my Soul) to find a Pattern of all Virtues? Where wilt thou ensample this perfect and divine Patience, of which thou standest in need of? Get upon thy wings, and fly to Bethleem, sacred by the birth of our Saviour; thence, trace him through the whole course of his blessed and innocent life, where thou shalt behold it so rarely portrayed and set forth, so sweetly and modestly described, that thou canst not, if thou hast any feeling of Goodness, but be enamoured with her beauty. Did ever this blessed and meek Lamb, for all his despiteful and base usage, grace a frown with his Countenance? Did ever an angry word dwell upon his well-formed lips? Did he so much as rebuke those which contemned him, resist those which buffeted him? nay, gainsay those which spat in his reverend Countenance? Art thou oppressed with poverty? Consider, that the Lord of Heaven and Earth had not wherein to hide his head. Art thou wronged with slanderous and disgraceful Speeches? Was not this temperate, and all-vertuous Man, termed a Glutton and a Wine-bibber? Doth Shame and Ignominy compass thee in, on every side? See, see, my Soul, the King of Kings, and Lord of all Lords, who raised the dead to life, lying upon the Cross; and he, who by his Mightiness and Power exalted sinners to be glorious Saints, hanging between two thieves, condemned as a foul Offender. Mark his mild and lovely Countenance, his sober and demure Speeches, the modest glance of his Eyes, and the composure of his whole Body, cast in so Noble a Mould of unconquered Patience, that they sooner wanted occasions to tyrannize, than he virtue meekly to suffer them. Here fix thyself, kneel at the Root of the Cross, and with all those blessed Women, and Saints, which accompanied him, reverently say unto him: O thou eternal and most bountiful Saviour, who vouchsafedst to descend from the Throne of thy glory, and putting on our frail and weak humanity, didst for the redemption of Mankind, wander so many years hungry and naked, contemned, and despised, suffering intolerable Pains and Torments, without being moved or troubled; grant, I beseech thee, by thy precious Death and Burial, that I may willingly embrace those crosses thou pleasest to lay upon me, that I may, run to meet them, as thou didst the betraying Kiss of judas. Give me (O Lord) power and strength, most meekly and patiently to undergo and abide all Persecutions, Tribulations, Wants, Shames, Sicknesses, Hurts, Maims, without inwardly repining, or grudging, outwardly murmuring, or speaking against them; let me freely go, not violently be drawn to entertain them. Did not thy glorious Martyr and Soldier, Saint Stephen, whilst they stoned him, praise thee, and pray for them? Can he begin this Work, without thy grace, or finish it, without thy Power? No, no, my most merciful and gracious Lord, it is thy Spirit which quickeneth, for the flesh profiteth in nothing, but repineth against it. Be liberal therefore unto me (O Lord) of thy sovereign and precious Balm, which healeth and cureth all sorts of Diseases; anoint my rancorous and angry flesh (big-swollen with Malice) that the sting being drawn out, it may appear white and fair: let me drink (O Lord) a large draft of this Cordial, to confirm & strengthen me against all the poisons and infirmities of Nature. For certainly (Lord) who is perfectly patiented, obeyeth thy will, and who is obedient, humbleth himself to all disaduantagious losses, or what dishonour else the World can inflict: Which Humility bringeth us to that height and glory, which only they shall enjoy, that have patiently endured and expected this their reward to the end.   

12. Evening Prayer.  
Turn not thy face away from me (O Lord:) incline thine ear, and bow down unto me: Hear me for thy mercy's sake, and according to the multitude of thy bounties, blot out all my iniquities: for what flesh is righteous, or who dare stand up against thee? Do not the Hills fly before thee, and Mountains melt at thy indignation? Doth not the Sun lose his light, and the stars, when thou commandest them, hide their glory? Be merciful (O Lord) and gracious to thy servant, who remembering thy promise, humbly prostrates himself before thy divine Majesty, confessing all his sins, and acknowledging all his iniquities. Remember not (O Lord) our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers, neither take thou vengeance of our sins: for who dare abide thy judgements? Cast me not away from thy face, but say unto my soul, I am thy salvation. Have mercy upon me (O Lord) have mercy upon me, and let my cry come unto thee; for my sins are heavy upon me, and threaten to overthrow me; yea, they say unto my soul, Where is now thy God? Turn unto me (O Lord) and they shall be turned; speak unto me, and they shall be scattered. Be unto me a sure Rock in the time of my trouble, that I fall not under it, for I have hoped in thee: Oh forsake not thy servant. Forgive (O Lord) all the passed errors of this day; pardon my irreverence in thy company, my negligence at prayers, my faintness in good purposes; and what evil I have committed, or what good, through frailty and my own heedlessness, I have omitted, be pleased not to remember; even for thy own Names sake, who art God most mighty, one, and the same, world without end. Amen.    

FRIDAY.  

13. Morning Prayer.  
O Most mercifully loving Lord and Saviour, the glory and brightness of thy Father, who descendedst from all thy joys, taking on thee human frailty, to recall and recover the sinner, and those which were diseased with the uncurable plagues of sin and wickedness; vouchsafe, of thy infinite goodness, and unspeakable love, to be aiding and assisting to me this day, and by thy might and power, defend me from all temptations, which may overthrow my unsettled, though well-directed, resolutions. Preserve me (O Lord) from all bodily dangers, which, without thee, continually hang over me, threatening my ruin and destruction. Make good (O Lord) to me my determinations and purposes, which may be answerable to thy holy and blessed inspirations, and grant me patience (O Lord) meekly and contentedly to suffer, whatsoever I shall fail or be hindered in, referring myself with all humility and ardency of desires, to thy divine will and pleasure; which be done (O Lord) in Earth as it is in Heaven. Take away all rancour and malicious imaginations, that I may neither by reviling defame my brother, or swell and torment myself with any disgrace he shall lay upon me, but acknowledging my baseness and wickedness, as worthy of all reproaches and dishonours, calling to mind, the Servant is not above his Master, in the comfort of thy example, who above the meekness of a Lamb, underwentest all kind of pains and revilings; I may behold a timely Evening, rejoicing my anger hath not awaited the suns setting; ever endeavouring and labouring against my frail concupiscences and desires, even for thy holy Names sake; Which whosoever ardently and continually calleth on, shall not fail to obtain unspeakable happiness and felicity world without end. Amen.   

AT NOONE.  
14. A Prayer to our blessed Saviour, ask him forgiveness for our sins which crucified him.  
O Bountiful jesus, O sweet jesus, O jesus the Son of the living God; how dare I, wretched and detestable sinner, approach before thy divine Majesty? How can I, overcome with sin and shame, stay any longer in thy presence? Did ever the murderer and slaughterer of his Lord and Master presume to offend him with his sight, whilst yet the wounds were fresh and bleeding, whilst his body was cruelly mangled and torn, and his head with an unused cruelty pained and tormented? lest the smart and rage of his wounds, the shame and dishonour of his usage, should take away all hope and pity of pardon, delivering him in his fury to the judge, and he to the Executioner, to carry him where is continual weeping and gnashing of teeth. But consider (O my Soul) how this merciful and meek Saviour behaveth himself towards his bloody and tyrannous persecutors: behold him dropping with blood, buffeted by the wicked ministers, scorned of the people, forsaken of his Disciples, hoisted into the air, cruelly nailed on the Cross, not cursing, not reviling, but praying, not for himself, but those that persecuted him. Amongst whom, running with the foremost, mayest thou, in thy eternal Providence, O glorious Pattern of all Sufferings, behold me, with more cruelty laying on thee with my sins, than the stonie-hearted jews with their weapons, tearing thee, if it were possible, piece-meal with my horrible and blaspheming Oaths; my lose and lascivious thoughts wounding thy fair Head with more spite and rigour, than the sharp-pointed thorns; my Malice, Envy, Pride, Drunkenness, Concupiscence, with innumerable other sins and transgressions, flaying thy reverend Body. All this (O Lord) have I done, all this committed, knowing thee, and confessing thee to be jesus, the eternal Son of God, and only Redeemer of the World. Pray for me, most gentle and mild Lord, speak for me to thy eternal Father; without which, most abominable and wretched sinner, I shall for ever be condemned. Forsake me not now, O Lord, go not away from me, but renew in me a clean heart, and create a right spirit within me, that I may plainly see the deformity of sin, and the ugliness of my misdeeds. Give me grace earnestly to seek thee, and having found thee, ardently to love thee; overcome with which, I may employ all my actions, endeavours, and labours, wholly to serve thee: which if I faithfully and truly do, I shall at the end of my years, having so indulgent and loving a Master, be made a Freeman of Heaven; and those unconceivable joys, which no eye hath seen, ear hath heard, or tongue can tell, they only know them, that enjoy them: Which, O benign and merciful Lord, grant all thy servants to inherit, for thy holy Names sake, which shall be honoured and praised world without end.   

15. Evening Prayer.  
Grant me (O Lord) after the many and wild distractions of this day, a holy and inward recollection, that I may return into myself, with due care and examination, how I have spent and employed my faculties of soul, and functions of body, which thou hast lent me, for thy use and service; and give unto me a true compunction and sorrowful feeling for all the passed errors and transgressions of this day, that I may hearty lament and bewail my sins and wickednesses, with a full resolution and constant determination of my amendment. And grant me (O Lord) this Night, I beseech thee, by thine incomprehensible Divinity and Majesty, chastity of mind, cleanness of heart, simplicity of spirit, and most sincere purity of soul and body, that I may earnestly seek after thee, and in thee alone take my rest; since whatsoever is without thee, is only vexation and trouble of mind: that having enjoyed a comfortable and peaceable Repose both of soul and body, I may awake with much alacrity and cheerfulness of spirit, to praise and honour thee in all my works and labours, which the following day shall call me to; for his only sake, in whom we are enabled to exercise whatsoever is good and virtuous. Amen.    

SATURDAY.  

16. Morning Prayer.  
BE merciful unto me, O Lord, and let thy holy hand be over me: Let my first Meditation be of thy goodness, and my Morning thoughts employed about thy fatherly care and protection, which hath from my infancy overshadowed me, preserving me from the vile and shameful fires of Lust and Riotousness, recalling me still to a feeling and dislike of my passed sins and offences. Rectify (O Lord) my sinful will, and strengthen my frailty, that with the burning wings of filial piety and humble devotion for so many and those unspeakable gifts and graces, I may fly, by prayers and thanksgiving, to the Throne of thy Divinity, where fixing all my aims and intents, I may change my proneness and inclination to ill and wickedness, with virtuous and fervent desires of loving and honouring thee for thyself, who art only and all goodness, without the respect of my dependence or being from thee; that reverencing thy greatness, and ravished with thy goodness, I may, with a love full of awe and fear, eschew those ways which may displease thee; ever carefuller of thy anger, than my own hurt or disadvantage: to which height of Charity, grant me (O Lord) to attain, for the merits of thy only Son, who alone is able to deserve so infinite a blessing for so infinite and vile a sinner. Amen.   

AT NOONE.  
17. A Prayer against Drunkenness.  
Give to me the water of Life, (O Lord) and I shall never thirst; but say the word, and I shall be satisfied. Send down thy heavenly dew, to assuage and cool my disordered and unlimited desires, whose burning heat and raging fire runs me into sin and excess. In vain have I laboured, without thee, to stay my intemperance; in vain opposed myself against my wild and lawless senses. Strengthen (O Lord) my weakness, and confirm me against the temptations of the Devil; who finding a breach in me, hath entered and made prey, banishing all things good and virtuous, which thou hast placed to keep me, and hath peopled me with strong and sinful thoughts, mortal and well-armed Offences, who dare justify their Rapine and Extortion, Drunkenness, Whoredom, readily committing more sins, than I have names to  them in. Hasten (O Lord) and help me, for I am weary of their tyranny; cast them out of me, and plant thy grace, that they return not, and multiply. Whole Days have I pleased myself in displeasing thee, and broken many Nights to break thy Commandments; sore longing for their company, whose feet run to Iniquity; abusing thy Creature, provided by thy care and providence for the refreshing and sustentation of our natural bodies, to our ruin, and without thy great mercy, utter damnation. Did not thy servant Lot (O Lord) a just and righteous man, in his drink abuse his own Daughter? What sin hath Hell in store so horrid, that it dare not act, and glory of the deed? O most mercifully loving Lord and Father, who desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should live and repent; I request thee, by the bowels of thy Mercy, thy bitter precious Passion, thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension, thou wilt take away from me this Monster and Hellborn wickedness, which hath subtly persuaded me to offend thee, my Lord and Maker, and stealingly surprised me, and given me up to all manner of sins and transgressions, taking away all reason, blinding the senses, that being wholly in his power, he might carry me headlong to all perdition. Preserve me (O Lord) by thy might and power, from all occasions which may bring me to him, for I am fearful of him, and dare not, without thy gracious assistance and mercy, endure his sly and powerful persuasions. No age is warranted from him, he adulterateth both sexes, he unsanctifieth the most religious, and creepeth into the privatest and most retired places, bewitching all sorts with his cunning and alluring charms. Stand, O my Redeemer, at the gates of my ears, and shut out all his faire-seeming treaties, which would conclude a peace between my frailty and the Devil. Clear (O Lord) my eyes, and take away the mist from them, that I may plainly see and perceive his ugliness and deformity, wallowing in beastliness and sensuality: mercifully touch my heart with thy illumining Spirit, that I may hate and detest him, shun his friends and companions, and fly from the place of his abode and entertainment; within whose Circle, no soul is safe, no thought pure, no sense perfect. Amen.   

18. Evening Prayer.  
LAy thy blessed hands upon me (O Lord) as thou didst on thy servant Lot, delaying his own safety, and conduct me out of this sinful and everie-way polluted Sodom, that I may quickly fly from it, lest unquenchable fire and brimstone overtake me, whilst I protract and refuse thy heavenly inspirations. Let no day pass me, without some progress in goodness and virtue: and every hour, O merciful Father, grant I may determine a full amendment and detestation of my former lewdness, and misse-spent behaviour. Let me account myself an unprofitable Scholar, when I have not learned and aspired to some higher measure of understanding thee; an unthrifty and riotous worldling, when I have not gathered and laid up somewhat to maintain and defend me in the day of trouble. Touch (O Lord) my heart with thy heavenly Spirit, that I may esteem this life, in his full value, only a Pilgrimage and Thoroughfare to another Land, where I must truly live for ever; and accordingly despising all the lets and hindrances, be neither tempted with the gaudy pleasures, nor terrified with the rough passages of my journey; but in thy holy fear making way through them, I may at last arrive to thee, the promised Land, where ever-continuing and flourishing content and happiness abideth. Amen.    

SUNDAY.  

19 Morning Prayer.  
O My most merciful Lord and Redeemer, how shall a guilty and sinful soul appear in the presence of an innocent and unspotted Deity? or what hope of Pity, or Pardon, when he shall be my judge, who may only accuse me; bearing about him wide and ghastly wounds, which my sins have given him; by which his most glorious Passion, and admirable Resurrection, he as this day finished that great and never to be forgotten benefit of the Redemption of Mankind; which I, as much as in me lieth, by my horrid and abominable lust and desire, have sought to frustrate and annihilate? Who shall take me from his justice, or rescue me from his Omnipotency? I have sinned (O Lord) I have sinned, and am no more worthy to be called thine: I have risen with the Sun to meditate on vanities, and all the day long have I followed my own ways; at the going down of the same, I have forgotten thy Blessings, and sat in darkness, without remembering thee, the Light and Guide of those that go astray; I have forgotten thy Laws, and thy Statutes have been far from me; my thoughts have been busied in uncleanness, and my lips acquainted with leasings and vain stories. O be merciful unto me, and enter not into judgement with thy servant: for how shall Dust and Ashes stand up before thee? or the work of thy hands contend with his Creator? Have pity on me (O Lord) according to thy great goodness, and in the multitude of thy mercies, blot out all my Iniquities. Save me, and be near unto me in the day of trouble, that I may magnify thy Name, and give all honour, power, and glory to thee, who art the Father and Fountain of all comfort and consolation. Amen.   

AT NOONE.  
20. A Prayer concerning the benefit of Creation.  
I Am amazed (O Lord) to consider of thy wonderful mercy: my soul is lost in the depth of thy never-ceasing goodness; and like the wisest of Philosophers, the more I learn, the less I may truly profess to know; so bottomless and unsearchable is thy love and favour. When I was Nothing (O Lord) why thoughtst thou of me, and called'st me to be Something? which, having any subsistence of Beast, or Plant, is better than not to be at all: but thou hast created me according to thine own Image, giving me a reasonable soul, like the Angels, endued with noble faculties and powers, enabling me to reach the height of thy mystical Divinity and divine Mystery, and made me capable of everlasting and infinite glory. O Lord, before thee, and in comparison of thy Majesty, I am just Nothing; and how wast thou then mindful of me, to create me? Alas, my soul, thou wast hidden in the Abyss of Nothing, and in this Abyss of Nothing shouldst thou have remained until this present, if God had not drawn thee forth from thence: and what couldst thou have done within this Nothing? O my great and good Creator, how infinitely am I indebted unto thee; for that thou hast taken me out of this Nothing, to make me, by thy mercy, that something which I am? What shall I ever be able to do, worthily to bless and magnify thy Name, and to render thanks to thine exceeding Bounty? But alas, my Creator, in stead of uniting myself unto thee by pure love and loyal service, I have always been rebellious, by unruly affections separating and withdrawing myself from thee, to join and unite myself unto sin and iniquity; doing no more to thy Goodness, then if thou hadst not been my Creator. What wickedness hath there been (O Lord) that I have not had a thought ready to put in, a mind apt to contrive, and a hand willing to execute it? Wherein have I testified my obedience, in following thy Laws and Precepts? Wherein my truth and loyalty, in resisting thy vowed and known enemies? But, O my soul, know that our Lord is thy God, it is he that hath made thee, and not thou thyself. O God, I am the work of thy hand; I will then no more henceforth take pleasure in myself, since in myself, and of myself, I am truly Nothing. Bless thy God, O my soul, and let all thy bowels praise his holy Name; for his Bounty hath drawn me forth of the Abyss of Nothing, and his Mercy hath created me. O my God, I offer unto thee, with all my heart, the essence and being which thou of thy Bounty hast bestowed upon me, and most willingly do I dedicate and consecrate it to thee. O my God, strengthen me in these affections and resolutions, and give me perseverance to the end.   

21. Evening Prayer.  
I Humbly confess and acknowledge, O merciful Lord and Saviour, that I have not employed and bestowed the blessed Time of this hallowed Day, so devoutly and religiously as I ought and am commanded to do; I beseech thee, of thy infinite mercy▪ to forgive and pardon so weak and frail a Creature, that cannot entertain the least good thought one moment, without thee; and vouchsafe, of thy accustomed goodness and clemency, continually to visit, nay, my most blessed Saviour, to inhabit and dwell with me, that so I may do the things which please thee. Give unto me (O Lord) a kindly relenting, and remorse for the sins I have this day committed against thy divine Majesty, and against my Neighbour, by thought, word, and deed, and by omission of those things thou hast left me in charge to have done. Moderate (O Lord) my sleep, and banish from me all vain and wandering fancies, unclean and idle illusions, that I may awake in thee, and to thee offer my Morning thoughts, who art only worthy of all; that only hast created, redeemed, sanctified, and preserved me; for which, be thou ever praised and honoured world without end. Amen.    


22. A Prayer to our blessed Saviour and Redeemer.  
PRostrate thyself, O my soul, before the Lord of all Majesty and Glory, sitting at the right hand of his Father, crowned with Mightiness and Power, richly adorned with a garland of all Virtues, brightly shining, in the company of his glorious Angels, holy Saints, and bloody Martyrs, honouring and serving him without ceasing, or intermission, singing Hymns of his Goodness and Mercy: and having thus beheld him in this great Pomp and Triumph, cast thine eye upon this blessed Saviour, poorly lying in the Manger, having scarce any thing to cover his tender and delicate Body, or save it from the injury of the Air: Consider well and seriously, how he which giveth heat and motion to the Sun, is here contented (as unable to help himself) to take warmth and comfort from the breath of the Beasts, whom he there disdained not to be his Chamber-fellows. O wonderful example of all humility! How darest thou from henceforth, contemned Dust and Ashes, swell in thy Vainglory; and decked with a few gay Rags, forget thy Creator, who is clothed with Eternity? Humble (O Lord) my high and proud thoughts, abase and bring down my lofty and rebellious imaginations, make me abject in my own eyes, that walking with my poor Brethren (who wander naked and hungry, lying upon the bare & cold Earth) I may with them praise and glorify thy holy Name, who wert the first founder and beginner of this poor and contemned Order. Why shall we, from henceforth, so highly esteem Honour and Riches, when thou, the Lord of both, didst so contemn it; voluntary, for our instruction, submitting thyself to so great and miserable Poverty? Happy are we, if we be distressed, and patiently suffer it; happy, if we be contemned and neglected for thy sake. Teach me, O Lord, the way to despise all worldly preferment and promotions, that having my thoughts only fixed upon thee, I may pass forth these transitory & short miseries, to dwell in eternal rest and felicity in thy Kingdom, which is promised to all those which serve thee; to whom be ascribed all honour, power, and glory, world without end. Amen.   

23. Another Prayer for assistance in dangers and troubles.  
Complainest thou, discontented and ungrateful Creature, that thy enemies lie in wait to take thy life from thee, and thinkest thyself not well dealt with, to be so persecuted and afflicted, when thou mayest behold the Creator of Heaven and Earth having no piece of Earth to abide with safety in? Dost thou value thyself above thy Maker? and canst wish a share in his Glories, but to be no partner with him in his Troubles? O blessed Saviour, is it not thy own saying, that who will enjoy thee, must take up his Cross, and follow thee? How strictly lived thy forerunner? how imprisoned? how died? how poorly, and dangerously, thy followers glorifying thee in hunger, in stripes, in death? Crown me (O Lord) in this life with Thorns, that I may hereafter receive a Crown of Glory: Let me be here imprisoned, scourged, and reviled, so I may be hereafter released, acknowledged, and received: And grant, most merciful and loving Redeemer, that as thou didst in thy Godhead show us the frailties of Man in thy Suffering, so thou wouldst in our Manhood show us the power of thy Godhead, manfully to resist and overcome all fear of Dangers, nay, Death itself, which Satan and our weak flesh painteth out so horrible to us, that cowardly flying the Combat, we may lose the promised Reward. Strengthen us (O Lord) and be unto us a sure shield in the day of Battle: Let the Angels fight for us, and show themselves mighty in the destruction of our enemies: Let them be scattered as Chaff before the Wind, and not be able to stand in opposition with thy servants, who put their trust in thee. Let them (O Lord) be ruined and confounded, that wish evil to them that fear thee, and desire to be perfect imitators of thy life and doctrine, that we remaining Conquerors, may praise and glorify thee, the giver of all Victory. Amen.   

24. A Prayer against Pride.  
DId Almighty God, who is jealous of his Honour, throw down the Heavens for their Presumption? and thinkest thou, fond Man, he will exalt base Earth for his Pride? Doth he pull down the mighty and the lofty, and advance the humble and meek, and darest thou yet rear up thy proud head in his presence? Was not the great King Nabuchadonozor turned for his arrogancy into a Beast, for that in the shape of a Man he lived like a Beast? And did not the Worms feed upon Herod, un-coffind, and alive, because he did proudly advance himself of his natural gifts and graces? Who dare contend with the Almighty, which darteth Lightning; and holdeth Thunder? Or what canst thou boast of, presumptuous flesh, that is thine own? Thy soul is heavenly, thy body earthly, both from God; the one inspired, the other fashioned in the Womb, lent thee for a season, and to be recalled at his pleasure. Why dost thou therefore lay up Honours and Preferments for many years? Why dost thou pursue and search for glorious Arms and Titles, forgetting thy Father Adam, because a Gardener, and deriving thy Pedigree from some great and Noble Conqueror; having not certainly so much time here, as the Herald must necessarily require to perfect thy gaudy Coat: For this Night may God say unto thee; O fool, thy soul shall be taken from thee? Let me not therefore, O merciful Father, come unprepared, like the foolish Virgins, and be shut out, having over-slept my hour: Give me grace to repent, whilst there is time; for in Death, who acknowledge thee? or who findeth pardon in Hell? Grant, that I may seriously ponder and consider thy manifold and manifest benefits, that I may with all humility and thankfulness praise and glorify the giver. Lay before me the heinousness and multitude of my offences, that strucken down with shame and sorrow, I may fall at thy feet, and with the abundance of my tears wash away the stain and guilt of my aspiring soul. Let the greediness of my Ambition satisfy itself in serving of thee, being the highest Honour the Earth can glory of: and when it evidently perceives, how little of his own it is able to bring, to discharge those offices which are necessarily required, my towering thoughts will fall, and break their own neck. Endue me (O Lord) with spiritual knowledge and understanding, to retire into myself, and take a survey of my own soul, how she is garnished, how decked, with what virtues adorned, with what heavenly gifts and graces appareled; and let me be confounded and ashamed, to find her, the Mistress and Queen of this frail and corrupted body, naked, or worse appareled, and to employ all my study and endeavours to garnish and set out her servant. Let selfe-basenesse (O Lord) attained by a certain knowledge of my weakness and unworthiness, banish away all selfe-affection, vainly gotten by a false conceit of my own graces. Health, vigour, strength, and lustiness of body thou givest, and takest away at thy pleasure, by sickness, hunger, wants, and torments; Proportion, and Beauty, but thy all-making Hand, who can to the life fashion; which are spoiled and defaced by Age, the necessary servant of Time, and Decrepitness, the diligent follower of Age? Be it therefore far from me to glory, but in the Cross of my Saviour jesus Christ: Let me take pride in his Sufferings, and boast of his Wounds, whose precious blood hath conquered Hell and Sin, leading Captivity captive, and redeeming the lost Sheep, reducing them again to their loving and careful Shepherd; who will recall them wandering, uphold them sliding, and save them eternally from the ravening Wolf, which goeth about roaring, to seek who he may devour.   

25. A Prayer against the concupiscence of the flesh.  
WHo shall enter into thy Tabernacle, O Lord? He that hath undefiled hands, and a pure heart, sanctified and unpolluted members, as worthy Vessels to receive the holy Ghost: The house must be clean swept by Confession, purified and perfumed by good purposes and prayers, before it can be made a fit habitation for our Lord and Saviour. Those be the sweet-smelling savours, which laid upon the Altar of our heart, inflamed and set on fire by perfect Charity, are acceptable Sacrifices unto him. Were not the people (O Lord) commanded by thy Servant and Prophet Moses, to put off their shoes, because the ground whereon they trod was holy? How shall they enter then before thee, whose feet are swift to defile their neighbour's Bed, whose hands have been employed in ravishing young Virgins, and whose tongues have spent all their force and Oratory, to corrupt and betray honest thoughts to wicked and lose desires? Didst thou so severely rebuke and punish thy Servant David (a man, as the Scripture testifieth, according to thy own heart) for one Transgression, that neither his Contrition, Penance, Fasting, Almsdeeds, could divert or turn away thy Anger? And shall I, miserable and leprous sinner, who have all my life worn my heart in my eyes, lusting after every object, hope to escape thy fury? What Woman have I not coveted? What Complexion hath not been the fuel of my lewd thoughts? Pardon, O merciful Lord and Saviour, an humble and penitent sinner, who confesseth and acknowledgeth his heinous sins and offences, and much sorroweth and lamenteth to have misemployed his time and body in the lascivious acts and concupiscences of the flesh; infinitely desiring thee, of thy grace and favour, to cleanse and sanctify my polluted and unclean soul, knowing, that no Adulterers or Fornicators shall inherit thy Kingdom. Give unto me (O Lord) spotless and innocent Chastity, being the Lily among all virtues, whose sparkling lustre is seen a far off. Bridle with thy holy hand, all wanton and lose desires, which run after their own destruction. Let the delight of mine eyes be thy miraculous Resurrection: the object of mine ears, the story of thy Passion: the subject of my thoughts, the remembrance of the Cross: the food of my understanding, thy wonderful and unconceivable Conception. Let me with St. Thomas thrust my fingers in thy wounds; that all faculties and functions of body and soul, being busied and employed, in and about thy works and wonders, I may be delivered, and bring forth holy thoughts, reverent and gentle speeches, pure and immaculate actions, worthy the honour and glory of so pure and innocent a Lord, borne of a spotless and immaculate Virgin. Grant this, O sweet jesus, the bestower of all goodness, and virtue, that desiring to draw out this short and transitory life, purely and honestly, we may, after we shall be warned to give it over, dwell with thee in thy everlasting habitation, where abideth all purity, sanctity, cleanness & glory, world without end. Amen.   

26. A Prayer against Sloth.  
WHen thou called'st thy servants to account, (most merciful & gentle Saviour) what reward had he, that fearing thy hardness and his own weakness, laid up thy talon and employed it not? was he not after conviction sentenced, and delivered to the Sergeant? Are we not commanded by thy never-erring Word, to work our salvation: to watch and pray continually, because we know not at what hour our Lord and Master will call upon us? which are no effects of Sloth and Idleness: For to banish sleep and due repose, doth require a whole mind, not a surfeited and lazy soul, buried in flesh and blood: and to offer up with humble fervency, and ardent devotion, pure and earnest prayers, asketh due consideration, much trouble, and a great conquest over the outward man, not to be obtained without many assaults, and labour. The slothful man, saith the holy Ghost, shall not eat. Can we not then attain bodily food, without daily care, much shift, and many times hard and extraordinary pains? and dost thou flatter thyself, O my soul, that either heaven will stoop to thee, or our blessed Saviour fetch thee, without moving or helping thyself thither? Imitate the greedy Merchant, who with unheard-of favours seeketh unknown countries, exposing himself to the certain dangers of the Sea; uncertain sicknesses, to purchase and return laden with wealth, which he can neither keep at his pleasure, nor will use at his pleasure. Quicken me, O Lord, with thy holy Spirit, that mounted on the wings of Charity, I may fly to thee. I will rise duly in the morning, saith the holy King, and glorify God: I will every night wash my couch with my tears. Give me, O Lord, the care and respect of this holy Prophet his vigilancy, stoutness in labours, perseverance in good purposes, and continuance to the end. This life, O my soul, is a warfare wherein we must not stand idle, but take up our weapons, and fight manfully. We must prevent the day with our diligence, and outwatch the Sun with our carefulness, lest the enemy take us unawares and slaughter us: We must have our Lamps still lighted, and be ever ready, that we may be taken in, and made partakers for our short travels of eternal and everlasting rest and repose.   

27. A Prayer against Covetousness.  
SInce it is easier, O Lord, for a Camel to enter the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Let me (O Lord) wander naked, and hungry, clothed with sores and botches, rather than with Dives his portion, to take possession of his punishment. For what availeth it to gain the whole world, and lose my own soul? Yet if it please thee, bountiful Father, to leave and bequeath to me a plentiful estate, and great riches, give me grace so to use and bestow them, that I come not behind hand with thee in my account: Let me so dispose them, as thou hast by express words appointed, that my poor Brethren put not up a Bill against me. Set not my heart on them, O Lord, but as things without me: when either thou pleasest by fire, water, or any other casualty to call them from me, let me thankfully surrender them as a reeve, not an Owner; yielding thee immortal and unfeigned thanks that I have had them so long, not inwardly grudging and repining that I have lost them so soon. For who placeth all his content on them, can neither possess them long, nor safely. Give me, O Lord, poverty of spirit, in the midst of all abundance, that I may fast, having all plenty, taking the delicates from my Table, and with my own hand serving the poor and needy, who are bought at as dear a rate as the mightiest, and whose souls are as precious to thee as the greatest. Let me ever remember that saying of the blessed job: Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return again; Praised be the Lord for all: Leaving to my children the prayers of the poor, not the curses of ill-gotten riches; the praises of good men, not that heavy sentence of, Woe be unto thee, at my departure: that at that great and terrible day, when all accounts shallbe examined and laid open, bringing in my Bills of clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, and giving drink to the thirsty, I may receive that soule-comforting discharge of, Come ye blessed, and seat you on my right hand, for unto you belongeth the Kingdom of Heaven.   

28. A Prayer humbly acknowledging our sins, with promise of amendment.  
I Wretched sinner, here personally appearing and standing in the presence of God everlasting, & of all the Court of Heaven, having considered the exceeding mercy of his divine goodness toward me, most unworthy & miserable caitiff, whom he hath created of nothing, preserved, sustained, and delivered from so many dangers, & endowed with so many benefits: But above all, considering the incomprehensible sweetness, & clemency wherewith this most good God hath so bountifully tolerated me in my iniquities, and so lovingly inspired me, inviting me to amendment, and so patiently expected my repentance & conversion, notwithstanding all my unthankfulness, disloyalty & infidelity, whereby deferring my Conversion, & despising his graces, I have so impudently offended him: having moreover considered, that at the day of my christening, I was so happy and holily vowed, and dedicated unto my God to be his child, and that contrary to the profession, which then was made in my name, I have so many and sundry times, so execrably and detestably profaned and violated my soul, employing it, and opposing it against his divine Majesty. At length recalling myself, and prostrating myself in heart and mind, before the Throne of his divine justice, I acknowledge, confess, and yield myself lawfully attached, and convicted of high Treason against his divine Majesty, and guilty of the death and Passion of jesus Christ, by reason of the heinous sins which I have committed, for which he died; and suffered the torment of the Cross: so that consequently I am worthy to be cast away and damned for ever. But turning myself towards the Throne of the infinite mercy of the self-same eternal God; having detested from the bottom of my heart, and with all my force, the iniquities of my life forepassed, I most humbly require and crave pardon, grace and mercy, with entire absolution from my crime, through virtue of the Passion, and death of the same Saviour and Redeemer of my soul; upon whom relying, as upon the only foundation of my hope, I confirm again, avow and renew the sacred profession of loyal service and fidelity, made in my name and behalf, unto my GOD at my baptizing; renouncing the Devil, the Flesh, and the World; abhorring the execrable suggestions, vanities, and concupiscence, for all the time of this present life, and for all eternity, and converting myself unto my most gracious and merciful God: I desire, deliberate, purpose and fully resolve irrevocably to honour him, serve him, & love him, now and for ever: giving him for this end, and dedicating and consecrating my spirits with all his faculties; my soul with all her functions; my heart with all his affections; and my body with all his senses: protesting never more to abuse any one part of my being or nature, against his divine will, and sovereign Majesty: To whom I offer up, and sacrifice myself in spirit, to be to him a loyal, obedient, and faithful creature for evermore. Amen.   

29. A Prayer to be said in Afflictions and Troubles.  
O Eternal and everliving God, the Father of all Consolation and Mercies, the giver of all things good and virtuous, who art unto us as a Nurse unto a child, a Shepherd unto a wandering Lamb, a Guide of our ways, a Guardian of our persons, a Counsellor in doubts, a Comforter in troubles, a Patron in our needs, and an assured Friend in all afflictions; graciously assist us in all our tribulations and adversities, being an assured trial of thy servants; For whom thou lovest, thou chastisest. Suffer me to be tempted, O Lord, not overcome; rebuked, not forsaken; bruised with thy rod, not broken; for my soul is heavy within me, and my enemies have prevailed against me; yea, my Spirit repineth, and my flesh grudgeth, that thy hand is so heavy on me: I go like one that hath lost his way, shooting my eyes into the earth, as desiring to be buried in my misfortunes: All my friends have left me, and my company is my own thoughts, which are displeasing unto me: My eyes are great with tears, my tongue laboureth with my misfortunes, so that I seem to others a piece of earth wrapped in woe and calamity. Comfort me, O Lord, and I shall be comforted; shoot thy holy Spirit into me, and I shall be disburdened; lighten the beams of thy mercy upon me and I shall shine in prosperity: for it is my sins, O Lord, which have confounded me: it is the multitude of my wickednesses, which have drowned the multitude of thy joys; it is my guilt which banisheth thy goodness. Turn back, O Lord, and mercifully look upon me, as thou didst upon thy holy Apostle, and faithful servant S. Peter, that I may not only weep, but bitterly lament my misdeeds and offences, who have denied my only Lord and Master all the days of my life, swearing as one that knew him not, and blaspheming, as certainly neither believing, nor fearing the punishments which have overgrown me. But if alas, through suggestion of mine enemy, or through human frailty, I chance any time to transgress in any thing whatsoever, give me grace, O Lord, by the aid of the Holy Ghost, to arise again so soon as I shall perceive my fall, and so to return anew to the Divine Mercy, without any stay or delay whatsoever. Let it please thee, O my eternal God, Almighty and all good Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to confirm and strengthen me in this resolution of my amendment, and to accept this Cordial, and inward Sacrifice in the odor of sweetness. O my God, thou art my God, God of my heart, God of my soul, God of my spirit; and for such do I reverently, thankfully, and lovingly acknowledge, honour and adore thee, now and for ever.   

30. Another Prayer for remission of sins.  
O Benign jesus, the only refuge of desolate and afflicted souls, the comfort and secure of those that are laden and oppressed, mercifully hear, and pitifully receive the prayers and supplications of one conceived and borne in sin, who acknowledgeth and confesseth, before the Throne of thy Divine Majesty, that he is too base, and altogether unworthy to speak, nay, look, and much less to be heard and regarded in this his extremity, who in time of health hath contemned and neglected his Physician; in time of jollity and prosperity, hath neither thriftily provided, nor wisely prevented the days of horror and desolation, who being cruelly accused by his own conscience, of many high and detestable treason, against the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, his thoughts and senses bearing witness against him, hath neither treasure to ransom him, nor friend to plead for him, wealth prevaileth not with him, who is infinite in Riches: Titles and Honours are momentany shadows in his presence, who advanceth and degradeth whom he pleases. Kindred and friends dare not be seen before so pure and just a judge, in so foul and unjust a cause. What wilt thou then do, O my soul, in these straits and extremities? Whither wilt thou fly for secure? Heaven is his dwelling place, the earth his footstool, the Mountains he will remove, and his justice dives into the bottom of the Sea: Fall then before him, and all prostrate, lift up thy voice, implore his mercy, desire his pardon, sue unto him, kneel before him, lay hold of him, and let him not departed, O my soul, till he hath, at least, granted thee a Reprieve for thy horrible and lewd transgressions: which obtained, whilst his wrath is a little slackened, thy tears may mollify, and get between thee and his definitive sentence. Consider duly what friends thou canst make, and due consideration will make contrition a special favourite of our saviours, plead hearty for thee, who in thy behalf, promising a detestation of thy former offences, with an assured purpose and resolution of amendment, joined with a continuance and progress in good works and holy exercises, may (for our Saviour delights to hear him) purchase thee an absolute pardon. Grant me therefore, most sweet and amiable Lord, to employ the remnant of my life in studying to be acquainted with these thy holy friends and favourites. Give, O Saviour, a fountain of tears unto my eyes, that I may continually lament and bewail my daily and heinous offences; breed in me a loathing, and horrid detestation of all my sins, that I may fly from them, and shun the ways and occasions which lead unto them, being stricken with an extraordinary sorrow and compunction for having dared to offend a Lord of such height and glory, and overcome with shame and ingratitude, repent the injuries offered to so loving and careful a Master, who hath shed his Blood, to save so unprofitable a servant; that being by fervent charity reconciled unto him, I may in the day of terror lawfully claim part of him, and being shrouded under his wings, escape the malice and fury of my accusers; even for thy blessed names sake, which shall in that time of trouble, be a sure defence to all thy Chosen.   

31. A Prayer for Chastity.  
O Almighty and blessed Lord and Saviour, the glory of thy Father, the brightness and spotless sincerity of Men, who delightest and visitest thy clean and unpolluted members; sanctify, O Lord, and purify me that I may not be a shame and reproach to so immaculary and chaste a Head; that I may appear a son, some way worthy so holy and heavenly a Father. Mortify and kill in me the lose and powerful desires of the flesh, which borne in me are kindled and inflamed by the devil and my own frailty. Fix my eyes, O Lord, upon thy immortal, glorious, and never-fading beauty, that I may contemn and despise all earthly and transitory paintings: Strike me in love wlth the excellency of virtue, that my heart strongly and wholly taken with so fair and worthily beloved a perfection, there may be no room left for Folly and Idleness, the wellsprings of wanton affection. Busy me, O Lord, about the day of judgement, and my Account; the torments of hell, and their everlastingness: that all my study and labour may be how to avoid them, and bless thee that hast not left me to the world, and corrupted tyranny of man, but mercifully laid thy hand upon me, and conducted me to the means of my salvation.   

32. A Prayer in journeying.  
O Mercifully loving Lord, which governedst and defendedst thy people Israel from all the unjust oppression and merciless fury of their enemies, guiding them in all their ways and travails; and graciously visitedst thy servant jacob in his way, and pouredst thy blessing on him: be near at this time to thy unworthy and sinful servant, and bless me, I beseech thee, in this my travel and journey, from any violence of sin, or outward Spoilers and Robbers. Prosper, O Lord, and bring to good end, as it shall please thee, the business I travel and wander about, and vouchsafe to direct me in it, that I do that which shall be to thy glory, and my own behoof and profit, even for jesus Christ his sake. Amen.   

33. A Prayer to be used in any storm of Lightning and Thunder.  
O Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabbath, Heaven and earth are full of the Majesty of thy glory; the floods lift up their voice and speak thy wonders, the Heavens fly before thy Anger, and the unnaturally moving Earth trembleth at thy Voice: All which ordained for the use of Man, upon thy word prove their scourge and punishment: The fire from above, at the cry of the Prophet, eateth up his Scorners: the Sea rageth and devoureth the people and Chariots of the Egyptians; yea, the earth gapeth, and burieth men alive at thy command: Preserve us, gentle and infinitely loving Father, from this violent and dreadful storm, which raised for our sins, threateneth our destruction. Put out the lightning, O Lord, and dissolve the horrid and fearful stone, lest it pash thy people to ashes, and we be seen no more. Cast thine eye upon the Merits and Passion of our Saviour, and let his Blood come between thy justice and our guilt, that we may rejoice, and lift up our voices with the holy Prophet David, I will not fear, though the earth be moved and thrown into the heart of the Sea; for the Almighty is our refuge and strength, and helpeth us in all our trouble. Praised be the name of the Lord.   

34. A Prayer or Meditation, concerning the benefits after Creation.  
COnsider, O my soul, with reverence and thanksgiving, how Almighty God placed thee here of his own bounty and nobleness, not for any need he had of thy help or service, but to bestow upon thee his grace, and therefore hath he enriched thee with understanding to know him, remembrance to be mindful of him, will to love him, imagination to represent his benefits unto thy thoughts, eyes to behold the wonders of his works, and a tongue to praise him. Wherefore being created and set in the world for this intention, reject and cast away all actions which prove contrary to this end. For alas! what did I busy my thoughts upon, O my God, when I placed them not upon thee? What was I mindful of, when I forgot thee? What did I love, when I did not love thee? Ay me, I should have fed my soul with the verity, and I have filled it with vanity; and have served the world, which was not made but to serve me. I defy you utterly, O vain cogitations and unprofitable fancies. I abhor and abjure you, O detestable and frivolous Imaginations: I renounce you, unfaithful and disloyal loves, miserable and lost services, ungrateful gratifications, cumbersome and unpleasing pleasures. And thou, O my God, and my Lord, thou shalt be, for the time to come, the only object of my thoughts; and I will never more apply my spirit to any cogitations which may be offensive or disliking to thee. My memory all the days of my life, shall be filled with consideration of thy excessive goodness, so lovingly declared in my behalf; thou shalt be the deliciousness of my heart, & the sweetness of my affections: Hence therefore from my sight, for ever, all vain and idle pastimes, whereunto I have vainly applied my mind; all gamesome and toying exercises, in which I fond spent my days; and all lose and idle affections, which entangled my heart, shall henceforth be a horror unto my thoughts, because thou hast made me, O Lord, for thyself, to enjoy everlastingly the immensity of thy glory. O when shall it be, that I shall be worthy, and when shall I praise thee according to thy desert, and my duty▪ I offer unto thee, O my dear Creator, all these good affections and holy resolutions, with all my heart and all my soul, and beseech thee, O God, to accept these my desires and vows, and to give my soul thy holy blessing, that she may faithfully accomplish them through the merits of the Blood of thy blessed Son our Saviour, shed for me upon the Cross.   

35. A Prayer against vain Attire.  
DOth it beseem me, most merciful and blessed Redeemer, to be decked and attired in rich and sumptuous Garments, when the scornful and disdainful Iewes apparel thee in a coat of folly, to be laughed at and contemned of the people? Do jewels and Feathers become my head, when I inwardly behold thee crowned with thorns? And shall my wrists be guarded with precious Bracelets, where thine were bound with cords? My fingers glistering with Diamonds, and thine jewelled with thine own Blood starting out, with the unmerciful usage of thy persecutors? O my most sweet and gentle Saviour, let my sorrowful and woeful thoughts, for my deadly and horrible offences, be to my head a torment, like thy merciless Thorns; my vain and idle behaviour, more despised than that many-coloured coat; and the awe and reverence of thy justice (terrible to offenders) chain my hands harder, and with more cruelty than the whipcord; that I may in some measure have a feeling and understanding of those unheard of, and new-inuented Tyrannies laid upon thee for my transgressions. Let the memory of thy wounds pierce my heart with true compunction, so to have injured a Lord of such greatness and Majesty, for my sake willingly, above the meekness of a Lamb, undergoing those base and unworthy disgraces, the forerunners of thy cruel death. Give me, O Lord, since we must be perfect imitators of thee, obedience to yield and submit myself to thy divine Will and Pleasure, in all sufferings and torments, a noble patience to bear them manfully, and charity inflamed like thine, to bless my persecutors, praying for their amendment and conversion, that suffering with thee obediently, patiently and lovingly, I may enjoy with thee that happy reward, forepromised to all those that take up their Cross and follow thee; even for thy precious and unvaluable blood; which shed upon the Cross, is an undeniable Sacrifice for all sins and offences.   

36. A Prayer for a Maid against Temptation.  
Give unto God the first fruits, saith the Prophet. And our Saviour commandeth us to offer him those things that are his. Thou hast planted me here, O Lord, and opened the gates of heaven to water me: Thou hast made me flourish, spreading like a fair Vine, and my luscious and swelling fruit have tempted unholy hands to steal away what belongeth to thee. Strengthen me, O Lord, against their violence, and let their subtle persuasions come to nothing, the Pit which they have digged for others, prove their own Sepulchre, and let their nets be overthrown and broken, that glorifying thee, I may joyfully say, The Lord hath been my deliverer, I need not fear what men can do to me: he hath helped and saved his hand-maiden out of the hands of his enemies. Blessed be the name of the Lord, now and for evermore. Amen.   

37. Another Prayer for a Maid, to the same effect.  
O Almighty GOD, Creator of heaven and earth, who glorifyest the Firmament with Stars, the Sun with a great light; the God of all beauty, all proportion, all order, holding in thy hand the motion and being of all things created: I humbly offer up unto thy Divine Majesty, whatsoever is good and virtuous in me, whatsoever beautiful or proportionable, entreating thee, of thy infinite mercy, to take into thy custody an innocent & unexperienced Maiden, to direct and govern me by thy never-erring wisdom, lest my youth, betrayed by frailty and indiscretion, should traitorously yield me up to the lewd suggestions and temptations of the devil, who appareled in flesh and blood, waiteth hourly for my destruction, leaving no means untried to captivate my weak soul: Suffer him not, O Lord, to have the upperhand; give me not into his power, unless thou place a guard of Angels with me, holy & unresistible thoughts within me, that in thy name, putting on my Saviour Christ for my Armour, advancing the glorious Cross for my Banner, I may put my enemies to flight, and triumph in the Conquest which thou hast gotten for me, to my own, and all their eternal comfort which put their trust in thee. Amen.   

38. A Meditation, or Prayer for a Maiden, not to be proud of her own perfections.  
DID not thy hand, O Lord, give those many excellent and indistinguisht colours to the Rainbow? Didst not thou, O Lord, give glory to the Sun, and apparel the earth in all her beauties? And doth not the Rainbow at the withdrawing of the Sun, discolour itself, the Sun at the interposing of the Moon, hide his glory, and the earth, in the absence of the Sun, lose all her gay and flourishing Ornaments? O momentany and fading painting, washed away with a little sickness, and blown off by the rough breath of a violent wind! Shall I for thee, abandon my Creator, and to keep thy friendship, fall out with Almighty God? Will the worms forbear thy excellency and perfections, and struck with reverence, fall off and retire into their Cabins? Is sickness afraid of it, or dare not death venture upon it? No, no, my soul, they will break thorough thy Coffin, and as a dainty dish, eagerly devour it: the Leprosy will make a prey on it, and too well we know that death feareth no colours. If then thou be'st bewitched to this outward gloss and shining, seek the ways to make it permanent; apply thyself to virtue, whose rarity and lustre strikes a far off, and all men will call thee beautiful▪ Let modesty sit on thy cheeks, and thy blushes will outlast the Roses; Truth upon thy lips, and they will exceed the Rubies; Mildness in thy eyes, and they will outshine the Diamond; innocency on thy breast, and thy whiteness will surpass the Lilies; thou shalt be beloved of men, at peace with thyself, and acceptable to Almighty God. Away then all artificial and sophisticate drugs, idle and besotting waters: never more will I meddle with you. O my sweet Saviour and Redeemer, let nothing seem beautiful but thy mercy; nothing lovely but thy bounty: enamoured on which, let me woe, entreat, sigh, zealously protest, and use all means and industry to obtain them. For all other exterior & formal beauties, the babies of flesh and blood, let me only acknowledge them, as thy glorious workmanship; love them, as badges of thy favour; admire and praise thee for them, from whose everlasting storehouse they proceed, thyself being all beauty, all excellency, all perfection, & more to be desired than much gold or precious stones, in whose company all things are filled with perfection and glory world without end. Amen.   

39 A Prayer for a Maid, to be directed in her Choice.  
SInce thou, O Lord, in thy everlasting wisdom, hast ordained Marriage honourable amongst men, as the means for succession and propagation: Give me (O Lord) an understanding heart, that I be not evilly seduced to my overthrow. Grant that I may aim at no other end, but the fulfilling thy commandment, not my own lusts & wilful desires: let me choose by the advice of my friends, and the eyes of my Parents, lest blinded with affection, I fall into those inconveniences, which I may too late feel, without means of remedying. Grant (O Lord) a pure and unspotted love may be the cause of our joining, and a peaceable and undivided amity the effect. Let the fear of displeasing thee, make us please one another; the obedience to thee, teach us obedience in ourselves; that wholly submitting ourselves to thy will, we may labour together in this transitory life, to come to thee the life everlasting, with whom dwelleth unspeakable love, and never-ending charity, world without end. Amen.   

40. A Prayer for a Maid, to be obedient to her Parents.  
O My most merciful Lord and Redeemer, subdue and bridle my headstrong and untamed affections, who delighting in their own ways, repine at the direction of my Superiors. Let me ever remember thy holy commandment: Honour thy Father and Mother, that thy days may be long in the land of the living. Give me grace to understand it truly, lest forgetting thy precept, I be banished into that wild and barbarous Country, where to live is terribler than death, and dying, the only comfort of the living. Let their reprehensions be the cause of my amendment, not repining their just and lawful precepts, an undeniable practice of all my actions. Let me reverence their age, lending them my youth to help them; pray for their imperfections, and in them remember human weakness; that in my obedience, I may receive the virtue of their blessing, which thou always grantest to them that endeavour to fulfil the least of thy commandments.   

41. A Prayer before a journey.  
O Almighty and everliving God, which by the hand of thy servant Moses brought'st the people of Israel out of Egypt, and the cruelty of Pharaoh, and madest them walk over the Red-Sea, keeping back with a mighty wind the raging waters, who returning in their Fury, overwhelmed all that great Host, and after wentest before them, and conducted them thorough the vast and wild Desert, feeding them in their extreme Famine with Manna showered from Heaven: Be pleased (O merciful Father) at this instant to accompany me in all my journeys and travails, and with thy loving and mighty protection defend me from all dangers of those that lie in await to murder and spoil thy Liege people. Be unto me (O Lord) a guide in my going out, a safeguard and defence upon the way, a shadow in heat, a shelter in rain & cold, a wagon in weariness, an helper in time of extremity, a stay in slippery passages, a Haven in shipwreck, that under thy safe and sure conduct, we may march quietly and peaceably to our journeys end, and under the cover of thy wings, joyfully and prosperously return to our homes again; for his only sake, who was a continual Pilgrim here upon earth, to make all our prayers acceptable unto thee. Amen.   

42. Another short Prayer for the same.  
O Almighty God, which hast made this our life, as it were a short Pilgrimage to visit holy places, and do penance by thee appointed for man's first transgression; giving us as in an Inn, a space to refresh our wearied bodies, not to dwell and settle ourselves: Grant mercifully, thy assistance, in these my journeys and remove, and with thy holy Spirit bless and comfort me on the way, that I be not left alone to the cruelty of those that would assail me: but having thy Angel for my guide and defender, I may not fear the oppression of the Wicked, but happily arrive at the desired Haven, where I will magnify and praise thy holy name, for thy mighty aid and protection.   

43. A Prayer in Afflictious.  
WHy art thou sorrowful, my soul, and why dost thou trouble me? Why dost thou hang sleep upon mine eyelids, and fasten heaviness on my footsteps? Doth not God regard the prayers of the afflicted? or doth he not from his high holy place look down to the earth, that he might hear the groanings of the fettered, and those that are persecuted and afflicted? Can thy eye see into heaven, or is thy understanding of counsel with God, to perceive how near his holy hand is to deliver thee? Every instant is time enough for his Omnipotency: and impossible occasions, easy to the infiniteness of his Deity: Put thy trust in him, my soul, and thou shalt not be confounded. Say with the Prophet David, Though a thousand fall on my right hand, and ten thousand on my left, yet I will not be afraid, because God hath been my helper. Be comforted by the merciful examples which he hath showed to his people. Did not Almighty God with a strong hand & punishments, enforce the Prophet jonas to preach destruction to the Ninivites, limiting them a short time, that within three days their City should be destroyed? and yet upon their submission, humbling themselves before him with prayers, & fasting: did he not most mercifully remit their punishment, and take them into his grace and favour? Fall therefore prostrate before him, and with perfect resignation of thy own will, yield thyself into his hands, to do what it please him with thee: entreat him of his love and favour, who never absenteth himself to those that seek him: rely upon his mercy, who so much loved his people, that he sent his only begotten Son, to die for the Redemption of mankind: Ask him forgiveness of thy sins and offences, by reason of whose guilt, thou sufferest these light and temporary punishments, which have in justice deserved everlasting damnation, and disburdened of which, the yoke will be easy, and the weight light: yea, thy miseries will be pleasing like wounds honourably gotten in a glorious conquest: and then mayst thou joyfully sing unto the Lord; Mine enemies that troubled me, themselves are weakened and fallen. One thing yet I have asked of our Lord; this will I seek for, that I may dwell in the house of our Lord, all the days of my life.   

44. A Prayer to be said by a Merchant, for the safe return of his goods.  
IN the time of my trouble who shall I fly unto? what power can fetch me from the bottom of the Sea? or whose arm reacheth to the end of the world? O most merciful and gracious Lord, the Sea is thine, and thou madest it, and thy hands prepared the dry land: with thy Word thou calmest the raging waters, and with a beck layest the fury of the wind. Grant, of thy accustomed clemency and goodness, such seasonable and temperate weather, that they may safely arrive at the appointed Port. Be unto them, O Lord, their Pilot, lest the hidden Rocks, or unknown Sands devour them. Be their defence and safeguard, lest their enemies make prey on them: that relying on thy favour, above the virtue of their Loadstone, they may joyfully and merrily touch the desired Land, acknowledging thy goodness and might, to whom alone that merciless element obeyeth at thy command, yielding up all her treasure. Grant this, O my sweet Lord and Saviour, even for thy tender mercy, which refuseth no Petitions, that are offered with a pure and unfeigned zeal. Amen.   

45. A Prayer before Study.  
O Unspeakable Creator, which in the Treasure of thy Wisdom hast ordained learning, as a secondary means to raise our declined souls, wrapped by the fall of Adam in sin and ignorance, to a perfected and surer apprehension of thy divine goodness: Enlighten, O Lord, our understanding, and with the rays of thy brightness, banish away all mists and darkness, by which we are dulled and disabled. Thou (O Lord) which raisest thy glory out of the tongues of Infants, power into our lips eloquence and utterance, that we may reveal thy will, and sing praises of thy goodness. Quicken (O Lord) our understanding, strengthen our memory, and rectify our will; that we may truly know, faithfully keep, and obediently perform thy precepts and commandments. Give us (O Lord) grace in our entrance, perseverance in our progress, and humility at our going forth, that we may always acknowledge thee, the giver and bestower of what height so ever we attain to, even for jesus Christ his sake.   

46. A Prayer for the fatherless.  
O Almighty God, which art a Father to the Orphans, mercifully assist us poor & comfortless children, left as a prey to them, who are left to dispose of us. Behold (O Lord) how they contend for what we have, envying one another for a share, wherein they can challenge no part. But thou (O Lord) shalt plead our cause. Thou shalt be our Advocate and Helper: Thou shalt take the prey out of their mouths, and lay that shame upon them, which they have laid up for others. For unto thee (O Lord) we commend our souls, our bodies, our substance, desiring to be disposed by thee, and to receive from thee what thou shalt think in thy wisdom will be necessary for the attaining thy love and favour, without which, in vain we do heap up for aftertimes; in vain do we build and rise early, be solicitous and take care, sith who buildeth without thee, pulleth down; who soweth without thee, scattereth; and who gathereth without thee, heapeth woe upon himself.   

47. A Prayer in Afflictions and troubles.  
COmfort thyself (O my soul) in these Afflictions and troubles, praise and glorify thy holy Name, that he hath not given thee up to thy own affections and desires, letting thee wildly run as a beast, to all sensuality: but gently chastising thee as one of his children, hath recalled thee into thyself, to know thy own weakness and frailty, making thee one of the honourable Order of the Cross, whose badge all his Saints & Servants wear upon their breast; for it is better for thee that thy members here languish and suffer, than thy whole body to be cast into everlasting fire: yield thyself up to all torments for his sake, being hearty sorry, that thou art not able to undergo more in his service, who in his own example hath outgone all tyranny for thee. Triumph when thou art persecuted, and glory in the bonds of our Saviour. Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall rejoice: Blessed are they that are humbled with miseries and misfortunes, for they shall be exalted and advanced. Blessed are they that are persecuted for righteousness sake, for to them belongeth the Kingdom of Heaven, where thou shalt eternally rejoice and triumph with the glorious Saints, and Martyrs, who have been sharers with thee in this vale of tears, and misery.   

48. A Prayer of thanksgiving.  
SIng unto the Lord a new song, because he hath done marvelous things, with his own right hand and his holy arm, hath he gotten himself the victory. Who is like unto our God? or who dare compare with his mightiness? He hath remembered himself of his promise to his servant, that he would not leave him for ever: He hath not suffered my enemies utterly to prevail against me, nor left me in the hands of those that hate me. He hath only showed me the Rod, and taken it away again: early in the morning will I recount thy praises, and meditate all the day long upon thy mercies, which hast given me to taste of thy blessings, and filled me with good things. I was naked, and thou hast clothed me: I was hungry, and thou hast refreshed me: I was thirsty, & thou hast grasped the Cloud, and powered down thy heavenly dew: I was weary, and thou hast eased me; I was loaden, & thou hast strengthened me: I was oppressed, and thou hast rescued me. O what tongue is able to story thy loving kindnesses! or what understanding conceiveth thy wondrous works! I will show mercy (saith our Lord) unto thousands of them that love me, & keep my commandments. But how abundantly ought I to speak of thy gracious favour, who have rebelled against thy motions, spurned at thy precepts & statutes; and have yet been embraced, recalled home again, clothed richly, and set at thy own Table! I have riotously consumed, & thou hast lovingly restored: I have in lavish cups, dishonest and lascivious company, proudly, & vaingloriously thrown away my salvation: & thou hast by stripes, buffet, & most tormenting and cruel death, redeemed it again. I have transgressed (O Lord) and thou art punished: I being a low, and contemned vassal, have offended and misdone; and thou the Son of the mighty King, art beaten. It is not so (O Lord) with the sons of men, who afflict their subjects for their misdemeanours, and make them smart for the Prince's offences. Who is like unto our God, whose mercy endureth from generation, to generation: Praise our Lord, ye children: Praise ye the name of our Lord. The name of our Lord be blessed, from henceforth, now and for ever.   

49. A Prayer in time of Pestilence.  
FAmine, Plague, and War, are thy scourges (O Lord) and thou throwest them upon the people for their offences: We have repined, merciful Father, in the abundance of health, and employed our strength in dishonouring thy holy Name. Our members sanctified for thy use and service, have been the preys of Harlots, and officers of Satan. The very breath thou gavest us to praise and tell thy wonders, hath mis-spoken, and blasphemed against thee; justly therefore doth thy consuming Pestilence snatch away our health, turn our strength into nothing, rot all our members, killing us by the infection of the air taken into our bodies, who have continually breathed out of our bodies all blasphemy & corruption.  
Yet stay (O merciful Father) and hold thy revenging hand, hear the cries of thy servants, groaning under the tyranny of this murdering disease, and be pitiful to us. Remember (O Lord) that we are conceived and borne in sin, poor and unprofitable creatures, unable without thee to deserve the least drop of thy favour: Mercifully assist us with thy grace, and enrich us with thy holy and spiritual virtues, that our prayers may come up before thee, and be acceptable, that having taken away this heavy persecution and plague, we may for ever praise thy clemency, and enjoying thy loving mercy, fear again to displease thee, who hast had so great compassion on us; even for thy sons sake, who gave himself up to all torments, to keep us unpunished.   

50. A Prayer in time of War.  
O Lord God of Hosts, that fightest the battles for thy servants, girding thyself with power & strength, to overcome and put to flight the enemies of those that put their trust in thee.  
Be present (O Lord) with the Armies, which are gone forth to oppose those who labour our overthrow. Lead (O Lord) their Captain, and conduct him through the midst of their enemies: Give him wisdom and discretion, warily to foresee all disadvantages; invincible courage, to oppose all dangers; and truth and loyalty, that he sell not the faith & blood of the people. Be at their counsels (O Lord) and determine for them. Bless their stratagems, that unprevented they may take effect, and so order all the state of this War, that they may return with conquest and victory.  
Give unto the soldiers (O Lord) ableness of mind & body, to be willing & strong to undergo all labours and assaults, concord and unanimity, that obediently labouring for the weal of their Country, they may be made fit instruments of the others overthrow.  
Bless the Season of the year unto them; moderate the extremity of heat & cold, that they be neither disabled by the one, nor distempered by the other. Let the Sun and the Wind (O Lord) fight for them; the advantages and inconueniency of place be on their side; that by thee, & through thee, being made conquerors of their enemies, they may triumph in thy goodness, and boast of thy loving kindnesses which endure from generation to generation. Amen.   

51. A Prayer to be said by a Husbandman, for the fruits of the earth.  
O All provident and careful Creator, which hast given charge and influence to the heavenly Powers, to apparel and adorn the earth with varified and many coloured beauties, for the ornament and glory of this great All: and hast likewise blessed her womb with a fit disposition to receive the Husbandman's seed, comforting and cherishing it with her native virtue, and the generative power of the Sun, till it redeliver it again with great increase and profit, for the refreshing and sustentation of all mankind: power down, we beseech thee, with thy heavenly and timely showers, maturity and fruitfulness into her barren and sterile womb. Give her (O Lord) a timely Conception, and let the moderate falls of heat and water, deliver her of plenty and abundance, that all nations may rejoice and be glad. Send far from us that monster Famine, the abortive issue of her untimely labour. Shut up the Lightning (O Lord) and hold back the Thunder; grasp the Clouds, that she perish not with excess of drought, and stay the waters in their fall, lest she miscarry by drinking too much. Keep from her unwholesome airs, destroying Mildews, and the devouring Caterpillars, which carried on the wings of the wind, eat up the fruits of our labour. Give us (O Lord) a timely Harvest, that we may with joy and comfort carry into our Barns what we have with much labour and expense carefully sowed. Bless (O Lord) our store like the Widows, for that giving out of our necessary provision to our poor Brethren, we may find thy blessing left behind; that neither casual fire, malice of our neighbours, nor the excess of immoderate showers destroy our Garners and Storehouses: but holding our wealth as thy gift to be recalled at thy pleasure, we may receive thy bounteous largesse here, and full harvest hereafter to those promised, that have been careful Stewards in thy Vineyard, even for jesus, etc.   

52. A Prayer for the Widows.  
HOw often, O Lord, hast thou invited me by thy holy Word to come unto thee? How often hast thou called, Come unto me, all ye that are laden and oppressed, and I will ease you? Behold me here, O Lord, a poor and desolate Widow, deprived of my Husband, under thee, given to be my only stay and comfort; shut up in my house, unvisited, uncomforted, uncounselled, left in a sea of troubles, and in a wilderness of business; unskilful how to begin, and unexperienced which way to wade thorough them, my children hungry after my goods, and my kindred gaping after their Legacies; my state uncertain and litigious, called by contentious and evil, minded persons into question of Titles and Trials, meaning by oppression and might to tear from me what belongeth not to them. In all these my troubles and afflictions, heaviness of mind, sad and continual griefs, I neither expect nor desire comfort but from thy holy Tabernacle: Look down from thy high and holy place, O Lord, upon thy careful and comfortless servant, and instruct her which way to take, in so many and confused miseries. Touch the heart, O Lord, of some honest and religious man, one who hath thy fear before his eyes, that he may help and direct me in my uncertain and doubtful businesses: and if it be my right, O Lord, that they would violently pluck from me, be near unto me, for thy mercy sake, and raise up those that are skilful in the Law, to deal faithfully with me: fasten the judge, O Lord, unto me, and open his eyes that he may see my right, and deal according unto equity.  
Bless my children, and teach them obedience to thee, and duty towards me, that I may be comforted in them; and give me grace, O Lord, to dedicate the remainder of my days to thy use and service, strength to resist and overcome all contrary motions and oppositions; that having faithfully obeyed thee in taking my husband; since thou hast pleased to take him from me, I may live only to thee, so that death nor hell be able to divorce me from so bountiful, so blessed, and all-pittying a Lord and Father. Amen.   

53. A Prayer for a Wife.  
O Lord God, most mighty, which hast instituted and ordained Marriage for the holy uniting and joining together of one soul in two bodies, which should govern and direct all their actions to one end, mutually supplying each others ear, jointly labouring through the cumbers and adversities of this transitory world, together bearing all troubles and discomforts, together partaking of all joys and solaces: Grant, I beseech thee, for the love which thou bearest thy holy Church, a type of which thou pleasest to make us, that we may together faithfully serve & obey thy commandments, love thee above ourselves, and fear thee above all things.  
Bless, O Lord, I beseech thee, my husband in all his business and undertakings, and give him grace to call upon thee for aid and counsel in all his enterprises; accept his labours, O Lord, and prosper the works of his hands, that endeavouring painfully, and honestly to earn our refresh, we may rely upon thee for the good success.  
Grant us, O Lord, a competent estate to maintain ourselves without engagements to others, and to bring up our children in thy fear; sanctify us with thy holy Spirit, that a virtuous and heavenly love may dwell betwixt us, in all sorrows and misfortunes, whatsoever it shall please thee to lay upon us, still comforting one another.  
Forgive, O Lord, and remit all our sins, and give us both grace to attend thy Divine Will and Pleasure for the perfecting and establishing of whatsoever we shall desire, that being made one by thee, and living one in thee, we may undivided enjoy thy eternal company, world without end. Amen.   

54. A Prayer for Mariners.  
I Have seen and beheld thy wonderful works, and am amazed: I have considered, O Lord, and meditated on thy unheard-of mercies, and am astonished: Thou hast given us a passage in the midst of the foaming waters, the raging Seas have encompassed us on every side, and thou hast saved us: The Rocks have hidden themselves, awaiting our destruction, and the Shelves have provided a grave for us; terrible and dreadful Tempests have snatched away our Mast from us, the devouring Main hath eaten up our Anchor; Darkness hath overshadowed the heavens, and taken the guide of the Stars from us, and the confusion and imminent danger so amazed our Pilot, that he hath forgotten the use of his Loadstone: and yet, O merciful and all pitying Father, hast thou safely conducted and brought us to our desired Haven.  
Thy mighty and outstretched Arm hath supplied the defect of our Mast; thy Mercy stands us in stead of our Anchor; thy ever-shining goodness made way for us through the midst of all darkness; and thy eternal Providence, our never-failing Loadstone, mercifully directed us in the unknown ways of the wild Ocean.  
Praise the Lord, all ye waters, and let all the fishes of the Sea praise the LORD, and all ye that have seen his wonders in the deep be confounded and astonished.  
For my part, O Lord, writ them, I beseech thee, in the Table of my heart, that I may continually remember them with fear and trembling, ever acknowledging with praise and thanksgiving, that thou hast taken me from the mouth of the grave, and snatched me out of the jaws of death; for which I will always sing, There is none like unto our God, who hath saved his people in the midst of destruction, hallowed be his name for evermore. Amen.   

55. A Prayer for Children.  
O Lord God, from whom the most aged receive their comfort, and the wisest their instruction; guide, I humbly entreat thee, my parents in the way of salvation; be a staff, O Lord, unto their weakness, and a guide unto their steps; renew their minds in the decay of their bodies, and give them inward eyes to behold what their dim and fading sight can never attain to, that they may walk in truth and righteousness all the days of their life. And grant, I earnestly beseech thee, loving and gentle Father, that I may be obedient to their holy and just commandments, loving and careful in performing, to my power, their precepts and instructions, requiting their former care of me, with my duty and humbleness.  
Bless me, O Lord, in my tender and unexperienced years, from all evil and lewd company, which may accustom me to idle and unthrifty courses, invre my mind to labour for the attaining learning and knowledge: and graciously, O Lord, bestow upon me, as the groundwork of all other virtues, the gift of humility, being fittest for my years, and most convenient for grace to build upon, even for jesus Christ his sake, who hath commanded all little ones to come to him. Amen.   

56. A Prayer for Servants.  
O Lord God, which hast bought us all with thy precious Blood, ransoming at as dear a price the Beggar that feeds on Alms, as Kings, that clothed in gold and purple, far deliciously: Give me grace, O Lord, to be contented with the estate thou hast placed me in, and let me not repine at the lowness of my place, but keeping here my station, and carefully watching for the time of my freedom, I may at last obtain eternal liberty.  
Prosper, O Lord, of thy accustomed bounty and goodness, my Master and Mistress: bless them with thy fear, and endue them with thy holy Spirit, that they may truly obey and honour thee. Humble me, O Lord, before them, and give me grace, faithfully to execute what they shall lawfully command: Let me never entertain a thought to wrong them, but deal truly and uprightly in whatsoever they shall commit to my charge, knowing that thou art a severe and All-seeing judge, who wilt one day call me to account for all my offences: let me be studious and diligent to dispatch what they shall appoint me to do, not misemploying my time to their loss and prejudice.  
Save me, O Lord, from the company of those who delight in wickedness, and under whose tongues lieth guile and deceit: Prevent me, O Lord, by thy never-erring wisdom, and assist me with thy grace, that I may truly serve thee, and them whom thou hast appointed over me, that I may at length be preferred to thee, in thy eternal Kingdom, who livest and reignest, world without end. Amen.   

57 A Prayer for one that is sick.  
WIth what face, O Lord, shall I approach before thee? How shall I dare to lift up my voice unto thee? What can I say for myself, or what shall I offer? Shall I entreat health of thee, who in the fullness of it have dedicated it to thy enemy? Shall I proffer to serve thee, that am unable to help myself? Shall I request thy love and favour, who have ever been thy professed enemy, and now come only to beg it, when I am under thy wrath, ready to receive damnation for my heinous and horrid transgressions? I confess, eternal and everliving God, that I am not worthy that a thought of thy goodness should enter into so polluted a mansion: I acknowledge myself to have deserved more punishment than hell can lay upon me, who have daily, hourly, nay knowingly, so grievously offended thy Divine Majesty, now only offering myself to thee when sin can make no use of me: Yet, O merciful Father, consider I beseech thee, what my substance is, how mighty my enemies, and how frail my own condition: Forsake me not, I beseech thee, though I come over-late unto thee; thy mercy I know, O Lord, is able to forgive more than I am able to commit: By that bottomless wellspring, I beseech thee, have pity on me, and comfort me, lest I despair and die: For my sins are terrible unto me, and appear before me clad in their deformity: the devil, whom I have thus long served, now puts me in mind, and representeth the horror of hell unto me: O sweet jesus, hasten unto me; and since thou didst vouchsafe to put on Humanity for our Redemption, forsake me not now a miserable and afflicted creature, lying at the feet of thy mercy, who determineth never to rise, till thou say unto him, Thy sins are forgiven thee. Lend me, O Lord, if it be thy holy pleasure, a little more respite to call upon thy Name: Lengthen my days that I may repent me, and win thy favour by seeking after thee: But if otherwise thou determine, make me, O Lord, ready for thee, and let my humble confession, hearty and true contrition, with the acknowledgement of thy infinite and boundless Deity, as it did the Thief upon the Cross, save me from prepared ruin and destruction, sweet jesus. Amen.   

58. A Prayer for women's Deliverance.  
Unsearchable, O Lord, are judgements, and wonderful the works of thy hand; thou hast made & fashioned a Lump of flesh in my womb, thou hast given it life to grow, to feed and be nourished; thou hast adorned and beautified it with limbs and senses; thou hast, in thy mercy, inspired a living soul into it, whereby it may hereafter be capable of thy love and everlasting felicity: Now the period, O Lord, draweth near, and the time appointed for the delivery & giving up this burden; be near, O merciful Father, unto thy servant, & strengthen me in this my sore labour and travel: comfort me, O Lord, in my agony, that I faint not under the throws and dreadful pangs of the approaching & neere-ensuing birth: let no vain fears affright me, or the thoughts of what I must suffer, be terrible unto me; Let me be comforted, O Lord, in thy promise, and the blessing that must proceed from my joins; hearten me, patiently to endure my torments: hasten, O Lord, my delivery, and give the fruit of my womb an easy passage, that with the sight of a well-formed child, I may be made a joyful mother: grant it, O Lord, right shape, and keep the life which thou hast given unto it, that it may be borne anew of water and the holy Spirit, to be made partaker and heir of thy everlasting Kingdom.  
But if, O Lord, thou in thy eternal Wisdom, hast otherwise provided for me, appointing me in the never-againe dying birth, to be restored unto thee, mercifully assist me in this my last passage, that confident in thy promises made to all, I may joyfully give myself as a wellpleasing sacrifice, awaiting thy divine Pleasure, and commending and committing myself into thy hands, patiently expect the blessed hour to be delivered from the sinful prison of this transitory world, into that everlasting Habitation, where dwelleth infinite joy, world without end. Amen.   

59 A Prayer to be said when you go into your bed.  
Bless me, O Lord, preserve and keep me, from all the dangers of this night: Save and deliver me from the ancient enemy, who through immoderate sloth & negligence hopeth to betray me: visit, O Lord, my soul, though far too mean to entertain so royal a Guest; yet sending thine own provision before thee, holy virtues, chaste and simple thoughts, thy lodging may be the better prepared for thee. Settle and govern, O Lord, my fantasy, that it range and form not wild and unlawful apparitions; stay my memory, that it search not after vain and idle pleasures; fill my understanding with thy goodness and mercy, that being wholly and inwardly busied with thee, I may escape the snares and nets of Satan, and wake to my own comfort, and thy glory, sweet JESUS. Amen.   

60. A Prayer against idle Talk.  
SEt a watch, O Lord, before my lips, that I defile not my mouth with dishonest and unseemly speeches, betraying the hearers, to sin and uncleanness: Keep me from their company whose delight is in wicked talk, lest I perish with them: Let my tongue deliver forth thy praises, and be the Trumpet of thy never-ending mercies: grant me a single and unpolluted heart, that I may reverently adore thy Mysteries, and be the honourer of thy Glory and Majesty: Keep my eyes from wandering after the concupiscence of my desires, that I be not overtaken and made prisoner to sin and death. Place my thoughts upon thy bitter Passion, whose mournful acts may put away all idle delights and pleasures, and fasten me upon thy Cross, to weep and lament my passed offences, for that sweet Name of JESUS, in whose merits all flesh must be saved.   

61. A Thanksgiving.  
O God, most high, most mighty Creator of heaven and earth, which out of Nothing, hast made and form this beautiful All, createdst the glorious Firmament fretted with Stars; the ever-shining Sun to give light by day, and firest the Moon to banish the night's darkness: giving life to the Fowls of the Air, the Beasts feeding on the Earth, and the Fishes whose dwelling is in the waters below, for the use and service of man, making him according to thy own Image, ennobling him with Understanding, Will, and Memory, to conceive and apprehend the glorious works of thy hand; Redeemed him with an unparalleled example; preserved and kept him with an unimitable care and providence: How shall he render thee condign and worthy praises, for these thy unspeakable and undeserved benefits? How shall he tender to thy divine Majesty, thanks equal and befitting such infinite and innumerable graces? How many, O LORD, have died in the womb! How many never attained the blessed regeneration of Baptism? How many reconciled, and entered into the state of grace, have, through their own corruption, frailty, and the suggestion of the devil, lost it, and fallen away from the faith of thy never-erring Word? How often, O Lord, have I transgressed and sinned, spurned at thy secret Callings, and refused to entertain them? and yet, O Lord, hast thou patiently expected my conversion, given me further time to repent me of my carelessness and backsliding, sending thy holy grace to enable me to call upon thee for mercy and forgiveness. Praise God, O my soul: for his loving kindness endureth from generation unto generation; he hath not dealt so with every man, nor so abundantly showered his favour to all his people. I will magnify him from the rising of the Sun, unto the going down of the same, who hath raised me from death, and not suffered me to go down into the Pit; who hath forgotten my wickedness, and remembered himself of his goodness: glory be unto thee on high, and praise upon earth, who hath given charge to his Angels to keep us in all our ways.   

62. A Prayer for direction in all our affairs.  
Give me grace (O mercifully and truly loving Lord, that I may with all singleness of heart, ardency and earnestness of spirit, wisely and carefully search after those things which may be pleasing unto thee. Order and so dispose of me, that I may faithfully and truly perform those things, which thou requirest of me, and give me knowledge (O Lord) to do it as it ought, and is most expedient for my own soul. Grant (O Lord God) that I neither grow presumptuous, seated in Prosperity, nor be cast down, despairing with the frowns of Adversity. Let thy favour be my only delight, and my discontent thy displeasure. Let me endeavour to please none, nor be afraid to displease any but thyself. Let all transitory things be base in my sight, and what belongeth to thee, be only acceptable, and thou, O God, above all. Let the pains (O Lord) which are for thee, be above any pleasure, and pleasure without thee, seem tedious, and unwelcome. Grant me often to desire the accomplishment of good things, and in my relapse, to spring up again, with full purpose of amendment. Make me (O Lord God) obedient, without grudging; poor, without quailing; chaste, without pollution; patiented, without murmuring; humble, without dissembling; merry, without dissoluteness; sad, without dejection; grave, without austerity; pleasant, without lightness; fearful, not despairing; true, not doubling; doing good, without presumption; admonishing my neighbour, without arrogancy; edifying him by word and example, without dissimulation. Give unto me (Lord God) a watchful heart, that no curious cogitation may draw me from thee: a noble one, that no unworthy affection may triumph over it: a sincere one, that no evil intention may bend it from thee: an invincible heart, that no persecution may glory in his overthrow: a generous one, that no perverse and violent passion may challenge rule over it. Bestow on me (O Lord) an understanding, knowing thee: a diligence, seeking thee: a wisdom, finding thee: a conversation, pleasing to thee: a perseverance, faithfully expecting thee: a confidence, finally embracing thee; to be pierced with thy punishments through repentance; to use thy benefits in this way far by grace, and at length by glory to enjoy thy joys in thy country, who livest & reignest, etc.   

63. A Prayer for great Personages.  
O Most mighty, high and everliving God, King of all Kings, Lord of all Lords; the only governor, Creator and advancer of mankind, which hast pleased to call me to honour and promotion, making me a Ruler and director of thy people: Teach me (O Lord) the way to be humble in mine own eyes, that I may lovingly and courteously entertain any poor brethren, as great and noble in thy sight, and bought at as dear a rate as the mightiest. Give me (O Lord) singleness of heart; cleanness of hands; truth of tongue; meekness of Spirit; that I may in all affairs and businesses of the general State, respect above all things thy glory; next, the weal of the public; and lastly, my own peace and content, which in the uprightness of a good conscience, make O Lord, firm unto me. Take from me, I earnestly beseech thee, the fire of Ambition, lest dallying with unholy flames, I return to inglorious Ashes. Quench in me (O mercifully loving Father) the longing thirst of new Titles and Dignities, acknowledging it a blessing above any desert of mine, to be thy Creature, and fearing the charge and burden already imposed upon me, endeavour with all lowliness to render thee a just account. Grant that my power may be a shelter, not oppression to the weaker: and the nobleness of my birth, a continual remembrancer how to bring forth virtues and actions, worthy and beseeming that height and superiority, that in all things squaring the line of my life, and ordering all my thoughts, actions and endeavours, by thy precepts and instructions, I may leave my example as a holy practice to others, and die in thy favour, that I may live eternally with thee, world without end.   

64. A Thanksgiving for the recovery of our High and Mighty Sovereign, King JAMES. April 1619.  
I INcline thine ear unto us (O Lord) and mercifully hear our supplications and prayers that we make before thee, for having speedily and happily delivered our most gracious King, thy humble Servant; redeeming us, in preserving him from the many troubles, and uncertain dangers, which any alteration may bring upon us. Keep him (O Lord) to thee for us, from the bloody hand of homebred Treason, which endeavoureth violently to spoil him, and save him by thy mighty power, from the ambitious desire of Foreign invasion, which unlawfully plotteth and goeth about to gripe into their hands the rule and state of this Kingdom, over which by thy ordinance and eternal providence he is made chief Lord and Ruler. Defend him (O merciful and all-loving Father) from the Tyranny of sickness, which seeketh to destroy nature, and steal away life from him, and what other infirmities the weakness of nature, want of digestion, distemperatenesse of Air, or any other natural cause may bring upon him. Be pleased (O Lord) to ease and cure him by thy all-restoring hand, who camest into the world to heal all manner of diseases, that we may perfectly enjoy him in his virtuous government, with the blessed fruits and increase of it, to thy eternal glory, his own salvation, and our comfort, peace and tranquillity, even for jesus Christ his sake, our only Lord, Mediator and Saviour. Amen.   

65. Another.  
A A Wake us (O Lord) from sin and iniquity, that we deserve not thy Scourge and Rod, in untimely depriving us of thy faithful Servant, our most gracious King, whom thou hast mercifully placed over us. Give us loyal & obedient hearts, that we may truly and humbly under thee, love, honour and obey him: constantly unite ourselves to him, and unperswadably become his followers and liege Servants. Continue (O Lord) thy care and favour to him, that he may as hitherto reciprocally tender & respect the good and weal of us his poor & under-subiects, esteeming us helping and necessary members of himself, profitable to execute and undergo what he shall in thy fear and Religion charge and command, that we striving and endeavouring to become perfect Imitators, and Types of thee and thy Church in unanimity and tranquillity, may with one consent labour the setting forth of thy honour and glory, with our own well-doing and eternal happiness. Amen.   

66. A Prayer against our Enemies.  
M MAke us (O Lord) mighty and strong, armed in the confidence of thy all-preserving and powerful Arme. Stretch it forth (O Lord) and scatter our enemies, who have conspired, and are combined against us. Behold (merciful Father, the infinite and innumerable troops they have gathered and mustered together, to spoil and ruin thy people, who have no hope nor trust, but in thy mercies. Their Armies cover the face of the Land, and their Ships have not Sea enough to wield their huge bodies: they glory in the desire and assuredness of blood and slaughter, and meditate all the day long, on Rapine and Cruelty. They have in their thoughts the murdering of Sucklings and Infants, and the deflowering of Virgins is ever before their eyes: they joy in representing to themselves the Ransacking the substance of poor men's labours, and feeding their Riots with the sweat of others brows, determining to leave no barbarousness unpractised, or un-attempted. Smite them (O Lord, in the height of their pride, and bring their mightiness and strength to nothing. Let the Sea (O Lord) which they have inhabited, overthrow their proud buildings, and destroy them: The Sun and wind (O LORD) undo and put to flight their Land-Souldiers, with tempests and heat; that we thy servants being delivered from the fear of our enemies, may serve thee all the days of our life, glorifying and magnifying thy holy name, who art the giver of all victory. Amen.   

67. Another Prayer for deliverance from our Enemies.  
E EVermore will I cry unto thee, and all my life long meditate on thy mercies, who wilt not suffer the scornful and proud to prevail against thy servants; nor the mischievously-minded to have the upper hand over them. The Enemies (O Lord) presumptuous, and overdaring in the strength of men, and Chariots, have provided whips and torments for thy people, not seeking which way to overcome; but to torment, as assured to overcome. They come (O Lord) not to fight, but overrun; not to give battle, but destruction unto thy servants. Prevent (O Lord) their malice, and undo their subtle, and well-laboured Stratagems: Make them acknowledge thee the bestower, and man with all his Engines, but thy Minister, to be ordered as it pleaseth thee. Let them see (O Lord) their Chariot's overturned with their own guiders, their Horses made a slaughter by the ill direction of their own masters, and the Soldiers in the day of Battle crushed with the weight of their own Armour, that they may not be able to lift up their hands against those, who put their whole trust and hope of victory in thee. Grant this (O Lord) for the precious blood of thy only Son; in whose name we are assured to obtain all our just petitions. Amen.   

68 A Thanksgiving for the overthrow of our Enemies.  
S. SIng unto the Lord a new Song, for he hath done marvelous things, with his own right hand, and with his holy arm, hath he gotten himself the victory. This is the day wherein the Lord redeemed us, and hath taken us from the hands of our enemies: let us proclaim it to all generations, and let the farthest Nations hear of his loving kindnesses. When our Soldiers were amazed, our Lord comforted them, and in the multitude of their enemies was a stay and Bulwark unto them: He guided their shot, and gave might and power unto their arms, to beat and disperse the growing Host, which threatened in their fury to overwhelm them: he discomfited them, and took their heart from them, returning them with greater fear, than they marched on with assuredness. When our Captains, confounded with the danger of the fight, and confused with the tumult of their Soldiers, forgot their skill in leading, he conducted & brought them on again, ordered them, giving life and spirit to the fainting and fearful troops, that they fell upon their enemies as enraged Lions, scattered them, and pursued them to a shameful retiring, and dis-honourable yielding. This is thy work (O Lord) and it is wonderful in our eyes, and shall express thy goodness in the confusion of those misbelieving people that do not acknowledge thee. But give unto us (O Lord) that have received this blessing at thy hands, to us that have mightily seen thy everlastingness and power in our own unexpected safety, and unthought of ruin to our enemies, humble and obedient hearts, fired and inflamed with this thy high and undeserved bounty, that we may never forget the Day of our Deliverance, but leave it holy to all ages, magnifying and extolling thee the giver of all conquest. Let no security take from our eyes the dreadful and overpassed danger; no lasting or confirmed peace, the memory of this fierce and cruel battle fought by thee, and obtained by thee; but having it fresh and eminent before us, continually praise and laud thee who hast preserved us, even for thy own honour and glory, which be everlasting, world without end. So be it. Amen.   

69. A Prayer for present necessities.  
O Gracious and ever-loving Lord, which out of thy bounty & infinite favour, hast promised to hear the Petitions of those that ask in thy sons name, to whom our necessities are known, and our wants manifest. Grant (we beseech thee) most merciful Father, that we may by thy eternal providence, be relieved and succoured, miserably languishing and groaning under the weight of our low and desperate extremities: put it into the hearts of some of thy servants, to call us to them, and give us employment, that we may by the sweat of our brows labour to maintain and keep ourselves and children, and above all, let us patiently endure and undergo what calamities shall ever fall upon us, well knowing they are imposed for our sins, and far short of their desert and due, still expecting thy merciful hand to redeem and deliver us from them. Thou (O Lord) which takest care of the Flowers of the field, and enrobest the Lily above the ornaments of Kings, wilt not I (know) leave thy Children and Servants for ever; nor give them over to be an ignominy and shame to their despisers, but that they shall at last rejoice and sing unto thee; Our Lord hath heard our prayers, and mercifully considered the Petitions, and earnest requests of his servants: he hath fulfilled his promise, and graciously succoured and sustained them: praised be the name of the Lord, now and for ever. Amen.   

70. Another Prayer entreating Remission of sins, and constancy in good purposes.  
Give me leave (O Lord) to speak unto thee, and in thy presence to unload the grief and troubles of mind, which burden and disquiet me, taking away my sleeps, and laying violent hands on the comfort and content I should enjoy in thee. Why am I (O most merciful Father) forsaken, and given up to the wild desires and concupiscences of my flesh? Why am I left a prey to Satan, and laid open to his subtle and secret temptations? Why hath the multitude of sins as a Sea grown upon me, and the number and daily practice of my offences taken away almost hope of my safety and recovery. Am I (O Lord) marked for a vessel of dis-honour, and shall thy Omnipotency be seen in my destruction? Though these things are worthy the heinousness of my transgressions: yet are they not beseeming thy exceeding and infinite love and mercy: and though it may well accord with my rebellious and traitorous disposition, daring to break and violate thy laws and commandments; yet can they no way suit and agree with thy unbounded and unlimited Charity, which left'st Heaven, and mingledst Humanity with thy Deity, to save and recall sinners and offenders. In the bowels therefore of thy mercy, I beseech thee, by thy unspeakable and unexpressible bounty, which gave thee up to death, even to the Death of the Cross, and all those foreruning, spiteful and torturous agonies and abuses, not to take away thy grace from me, nor leave me to myself, who am nothing but pollution and uncleanness, uncertain what way to take, yet certain to run into looseness and deformity, without thee, being, O Lord, taken as it were with a deadness, or at least a forgetfulness of thee, rather carelessly neglecting, then violently drawn away from thy holy inspirations, growing insensible, and as it were, stupid in all things which belong to thy honour, and my own salvation: which of all others and is the most terrible fearful backsliding and Apostasy: For were I carried away with other delights, or only bewitched with sensuality, I might well hope, when time, and satiety had sufficiently displayed their vanity, at last to retire & grow weary of them: but from this stupidnes & cold numbness of my careless conscience. Without thee (O Lord) who can revive me? from this heavy & deathlike sleepiness, but thy almighty voice, what can awake me? To thee (therefore) I humbly submit myself, and penitently prostrate myself before thee; desiring thee, for that eternal and all-comforting name of thy sweet Son jesus, to give me a feeling of my own desperate and dangerous estate, to take away the dead and impostume vices, which have overgrown goodness and virtue, so that I may perceive, what is wicked or sinful, made the same with me by a long custom. Grant me (O bountiful and loving Lord) constancy and perseverance in the good determinations, wherewith thou shalt inspire, lest I fall into a relapse, & perish unsuccourably; even for thy own mercy's sake, which from the beginning of the world was intended to save sinners. Amen.   

71. A Prayer in Sickness.  
NOw I am weakest (O Lord) in estate, be thou strongest, and enlighten and comfort my Soul in this darkness and torments of my Body. Satan hath encompassed me on every side, and as assured of victory, hath laid aside all his fair and eye-pleasing disguises, pulling off his beautiful visor, and in his own horrible and dreadful deformity, telleth me plainly I am his. There is no sin (my most merciful and everlasting Redeemer) which he is not in the ugliest and desperatest manner ready to lay before me, more careful now to call them to my memory, than he was before, to banish them for ever. He telleth me it is thine own Doctrine, that the wages of sin is Death, and that everlasting, world without end. But shall he (O just and righteous judge) be my accuser and witness against me? Shall he betray me to a sin, and be rewarded for revealing it? I protest before the Throne of thy divine Majesty, that he alone, joined with the world and the flesh, hath wrought upon my frailty, and subtly seduced me to all kind of sin, and enormity: that he alone hath persuaded me to offend thee my Lord and Maker, laying thy heavy displeasure, and terror of thy judgements before me; seeking either to draw me to despair, or an unwillingness to enter into the due consideration of my heinous mis-deeds. I do therefore wholly abjure and detest him, abandoning for ever his friendship and service, and relying on thy powerful and available Passion, in the preciousness and value of it, offer up myself unto thee, beseeching thee for thy own merits and goodness, to accept a forlorn and despairing sinner, who (without thy mercy) is ready to be swallowed up by the eternal gulf of hell fire. Moderate, O Lord, my sickness and pains, that I may the freelier have recourse unto thee; strengthen and confirm my fainting and decaying voice, that I may the earnestlier cry unto thee: And above all, O my most sweet and amiable Lord, comfort and aid my drooping and fearful heart, that I may continually meditate on thee; that if it be thy will and pleasure, I may escape the vengeance prepared for those that die out of thy favour; and if thou shalt please to call me forth of this mortal life, I may live with thee, & put on immortality, even for thy holy Names sake: to which be all honour & glory, world without end. Amen.   

72. A Prayer to be said, before any work we go about.  
IN vain, O Lord, rise we early, and sit up late, eating the bread of carefulness, turmoiling and tormenting ourselves with great labour and wearisomeness unless thou, O Lord, give a blessing: In vain toileth the Husbandman, ploughing and sowing, unless thou water it, and give the increase: In vain endangereth himself the Merchant, furrowing and turning up the waters, unless thou prosper and guide his Ship. Since thou fillest every thing with blessing, be pleased at this time only, Lord and Saviour, to look mercifully and favourably on the industries and labours of thy servant, and multiply them as thou didst the old woman's jar, who gave of it to the Prophet: grant that we may prosper and have, giving of our abundance to those poor brethren that want it, rather than to be driven to ask it: Yet in all, O Lord, thy will be done, to the extremest poverty, nay, death itself. Give me, O Lord, a true feeling of myself, that I may rather respect goodness, than gain; and aim rather to live honestly, then richly; affecting a mediocrity, not abundance, lest I be puffed up with the vain and gaudy show of uncertain wealth: Grant, O blessed Lord and Saviour, that I may in all my courses and enterprises have before my eyes the end whereunto they should be directed, which is, only in this warfare and pilgrimage, to provide me necessaries for my voyage to that holy Land, wherein all thy children and servants have before the beginning of the world, a portion and inheritance laid out and reserved, that I may with that providence and care so furnish and store myself, that I be neither forced with Esau, for want and indiscretion, to sell my birthright for fading and transitory relief, nor with the proud and mighty, exalted with the infiniteness of their treasure, despise and grow careless of it; but in all things making myself obedient to thy will, be found worthy to take possession of it. Grant this, O sweet jesus. Amen.   

73. A Prayer for Remission of sins.  
I Humbly confess (O Almighty and everliving Lord) that I am unworthy the bread thou in thy mercy bestowedst on me; unworthy to infect the air with my breath, who spend it to thy dishonour, and my own defamation; most unworthy the least of thy blessings which I have plentifully received of thee; and that I tremble to come into thy presence, my sins striking horror and terror to my heart, lest I be swallowed up for my offences, and wickednesses daily committed, and yet unrepented: But, O most merciful and all-loving Father, take thy Eye, I beseech thee, from them, lest thou in thy justice bring me to destruction, and fix it on the bitter Passion of thy dear Son; behold him, O Lord, scourged, buffeted, reviled, spit upon, and despitefully crucified for the heinousness of these my transgressions; and in the preciousness of this satisfaction, be pleased, (O Lord) to give ear to the humble and sorrowing lamentation of a despised and contemned sinner, who is hearty and truly sorry for these his misdeeds and trespasses; desiring thee of thy infinite bounty, to inspire him with thy grace, that he may for ever hate and detest the guilt and monstruousness of them. Strike me (O Lord) with a true fear, not only of thy mightiness and judgements, but of thy mercies and loving kindness, that I may be utterly ashamed and confounded to offend so favourable and indulgent a Father, who hath not disinherited, nor cast off so notorious and disobedient a son, but in his mercy reserved a portion for me: which (O blessed and all-loving Lord) make me worthy of, that I may ever praise, and glorify thy clemency, world without end.   

74. A Prayer for Perseverance.  
SInce, O Lord, not he that attempteth the course, but he that continueth to the end; not those Virgins who came late, but they that watched continually, have the promised and expected reward; give me abundantly of thy blessing, that I may not only endeavour well, purpose good things, and perhaps begin a reformation and virtuous amendment, but continue (O Lord) and persever all my life long, that by the practice of a holy and religious life, I may be weaned and withdrawn from the transitory and seducing pleasures which gaudiness and custom have made strong in me, and await the subversion and rooting out of all things good and virtuous: settle firm in me (O Lord) an unwearied determination of a daily progress and going forward in thy service, since to stand still, is to expect the enemy: and bridle and take from me the feeds and bloomings of vice, that I deceived with their seducing, yield not to them, but perfectly and zealously labouring to follow the steps of so good and great a Majesty, may at last receive the hire which thou hast reserved for those that diligently employ themselves in thy Vineyard.   

75. A Prayer in Affliction.  
MOST gracious Redeemer, which art always merciful, always a preserver, whether thou send us joy or sadness; for great is thy mercy which by outward afflictions, as by a sharp medicine, heatest the inward man; and by temporary troubles preparest us for everlasting joy: even as thyself hast opened the way for us to true felicity, by thy own steps: Grant that I may drink this cup patiently and obediently, as given of thee. But these troubles, O blessed and meek Saviour, fall heavy on me, my proud and envious disposition grudging and repining at them: Give me (O Lord) in cure the happy and heart comforting spectacle of thy precious Passion, that beholding thee overflowed with blood and sweat, cruelty having used several torments to let it forth, I may account myself happy in so sweet a society, and my rancour and swollen desires ambitiously puffed up with malicious and aspiring thoughts, may at this sight fall low, and be assuaged, the venomous and poisoning sting of the subtle serpent, be drawn and cast from me, by beholding thee the example of all patience and gentleness. Endue me, O Lord, with an absolute contempt of all these vain and gaudy shadows, whose pomp and outward glory are rated at so high an estimation: Let me look inwardly only, and all my care be to be richly and sumptuously attired within; Let me aim at no peace but that of a good conscience, fearing only thy rebuke and displeasure, but for thy sake highly esteem all the contempt the world can throw upon me, the scoffs, disdain and base regard they can afflict me with, the revilings, slanders, imputations, which envy and ill tongues can lay upon me; since promotion and high respect are no badges of thy servants commendation, and graceful language no titles of thy followers, nor security and worldly felicity, any testimonies of thy love and favour; to which only (O glorious example of all virtue) let me ambitiously aspire, thorough the burning Furnaces, the lions Den, the Axe, Stones, or what new cruelty soever Tyrants, witty only in mischievous inventions, can for the professing thee, inflict upon me; since to lose all the world, and win thee, is a purchase unvaluable, & unspeakable; which grant, for thine own Names sake, I may happily attain, Amen.   

76. A Prayer in extremity of sickness.  
O jesus Christ, the only hope of them that live, and eternal life of them that die, I wretched sinner, submit myself wholly to thy Divine Will, whether it pleaseth thee my soul shall longer remain in the prison of this my body to serve thee, or departed out of this world, I am sure what is committed to thy mercy, can never perish: I will lay down this my frail and miserable body, with a willing mind, namely, in hope of resurrection, which renders it to me again much more happy. Strengthen, O truely-mercifull and all-loving Saviour, my soul with thy grace, against all temptations, against all the assaults of Satan. Environ me with the shield of thy mercy, by which in times past, thou restoredst thy Martyr's unconquered, against grievous torments and cruel deaths. I see nothing in myself which can be a help unto me: all my hope is in thy inestimable goodness: I have no merits or good works to allege to thee; but alas, I behold on every side, many wicked and sinful offences, many malicious and envious transgressions, many lewd and lascivious acts, which are here ready to accuse and condemn, and as much as their exclamations can further, desirous to throw me to everlasting hell, and perdition. What Advocate so merciful as thyself? Who so powerful? And who more willing and ready? Who can better deliver what must at this time prevail for me, being a story of thy own love and mercy? Who can show the scars of those honourable wounds which were gotten in the redemption of mankind, but thy Almighty self? Who the print of those lashes which all over skarrified thy innocent flesh, for the painting and artificial discolouring ours? Who with forty days Fasting, expiated our riotous and superfluous Feasts, but thy most merciful self? Wash away (O Lord) with thy precious Blood, the contagious spots of my heinous offences, and let thy never-failing justice answer in judgement for my presumptuous injustice; thy great and mighty merits be an acceptable propitiatory for the multitude of my misdeeds: and grant (O loving and all-gracious Lord) that thy grace may increase above my sickness: let not my faith fail, my hope faint, my charity wax cold, nor human infirmity, joined with the fear of death, cast me into the bottomless gulf of despair, but that when the eyes of my body are shut and closed up, the everwaking eye of my mind may look up and be comforted in thee; and that when the use of my tongue shall be taken from me, my soul may then incessantly and continually cry unto thee, O Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit: to whom be honour and glory, world without end.   

77. A Prayer in the Spring time.  
O Almighty and everliving God, the powerful Creator of heaven and earth, ordaining them with their several Lights and Ornaments, for the necessary use of mankind, appointing them in their distinguished seasons to yield food and sustenance for the maintenance of thy People; We give thee humble and hearty thanks for this moderate and timely Spring, refreshing the decayed earth, with the kindly heat of the Sun, and temperate falls of rain and water, renewing in us a comfortable expectation of our Resurrection, in beholding how thy merciful and All-able hand hath freshly appareled the naked and barren fields, beautifying them with several sorts of flowers; loading the Trees disrobed and withering, with new buds and blossoms; the earth herself shooting forth her seeds long time buried in her womb, with the hope of a happy and plentiful increase, to the great joy and consolation of thy servants: Grant, I beseech thee, that we being renewed and borne again by holy Baptism, and having cast and thrown off the old man, may become new creatures, never more to return to our old sins, but that by the sweet assistance of thy holy Spirit, we may increase in continual innocency, and day by day, more and more be adorned with the flowers of virtue, always growing up in the knowledge of thy excellency, that we may receive a blessing at thy hand to spread and flourish, bringing forth good fruits of a quiet conscience, and sweet smelling savours of a pure zeal and charitable devotion; even for jesus Christ's sake. Amen.   

78. A Prayer in Summer.  
Ever-moving time (O merciful Father) delivereth according to thy behests, in their due seasons, the four quarters of the year, and from thy bounty we receive their timely fruits; the Spring hath already discharged and unloaded himself, bestowing with a full hand, the small store he hath been entrusted withal; leaving great hope of plenty and abundance: Prosper it (O Lord) and bring it along to maturity and ripeness; for now that blessed and great Light which thou madest to rule the day, sheddeth his influence and comfort to all things moving upon the earth: The Hills leap and are joyful, the Floods clap their hands, and all creatures grow buxom and lively, having a feeling and sense of thy blessing: Grant unto us (O Father of all goodness) that we be not more insensible than the beasts, but that we may give thee honour and glory in the acknowledgement of thy innumerable and unmatchable benefits; for whose only service the Earth is thus gaily appareled, the Trees thus plentifully enriched, and the womb of the earth great, with assured expectation of a happy delivery. Let not (O Lord) the violent burning of the Sun, joined with the locking up thy heavenly Conduits, parch it and dry it to nothing profitable; nor the remissness or slackness, joined with an over-flowe of waters, leave it raw, and unserviceable; but give every fruit (O Lord) maturity and perfection, that we may joyfully receive the blessing of it, and praise thee the bestower and giver. Amen.   

79. A Prayer to be said in Autumn.  
THou hast showered (O Lord) fullness and perfection upon the fruits of the earth, and every growing thing laboureth with a happy increase; the rank grass boweth itself to the Mower's hand, the heavy loaden Trees acknowledging homage, offer themselves to be gathered, and the fullness of the Vine yieldeth his juice without the winepress, the ripe hanging ears listen for a Sith; and all the works of thy hand, which thou hast planted here for the service of man, acknowledge thy command, and are ready to be tasted: All these (O Lord) obedient to thy will, in the course of nature, answer the ends of their creation, only we miserable creatures following our senses, and the lusts of the flesh, refuse thy holy inspirations, and seduced by Satan, oppose ourselves against thy revealed will: New mould us (O Lord) and break our stubborn and stony hearts, that the seeds of thy Gospel may take deep root in us, and bring forth the fruits of a lively faith, constant hope, and burning charity, to thy Honour, and our own salvation. Amen.   

80. A Prayer to be said in Winter.  
THE year is waxed old as a garment, and all the fresh colours, which beautified the face of the earth, are withered and decayed; the Sun withholdeth his influence, the heavens their brightness, and the day his comfort, taken from him, by the uncomfortable hand of desolate Night. The Trees have lost their Ornament, the Fields their raiment, and all beasts and cattle their vigour and livelihood; Man himself is discomforted in the poorness and barrenness: and the unprovident man, who hath not laid up, nor taken from the fruitfulness of Summer, grows desperate, certain of nothing but perishing: The Season affording no work, nor the day any continuance, the lately broad-leaved branches no shelter, nor the fields any sustenance. Grant us (O merciful Father) warned by the example of his extreme and unredeemable miseries, to labour in the Harvest, and lay up of our well-gotten store against the uncomfortable day of sickness, or latest Age, when weakness and natural infirmities give us no time, or thought to get in new provision; and our uncharitableness to ourselves, take from us the charity of others, hardening their hearts against us: Give us grace to watch and labour continually, supplying our Lamps daily with holy Oil, lest at the dead of night we be called on, and being unprovided, be left behind, or wander in the darkness astray, and coming late, be shut out for ever and ever, from all happiness and blessedness; confined to a place where there is nothing to be heard but perpetual howling and gnashing of Teeth. Amen.   

81. A Prayer in Adversity and Affliction.  
LET not my enemies, (O Lord) triumph over me, nor the hand of the oppressor prevail against me: Be near unto me in the day of trouble, and say unto my soul, I am thy helper; thou which mercifully redeemedst joseph from the hands of his brethren (who causelessly sought his life) and turnedst their hate to his glory and promotion, delivering him from the lust of his Master's wife, and her wily accusation; Thou which rescuedst thy people Israel by a mighty hand and strong arm, from the tyranny of Pharaoh, and the unequal Taxes of the hard Egyptians; Thou which gavest jacob grace in the sight of his brother Esau, boiling against him, and threatening fire and destruction; planting a sure shield before thy beloved servant David, to keep him safe from the invasion of the terrible Goliath, and a wise guard to prevent the plots of subtle Saul; proclaiming Susanna innocent, contagiously spotted by the poisonous breath of the foresworn Elders; Thou which raisedst thy glory from the three Children, condemned and thrown into the Furnace, whose fire and extreme heat came forth, and eat up the Feeders, yet spared, and (against his nature) singed not the garments of thy servants, walking, and singing everlasting and glorious Hymns of thy Deity in the midst of it: Thou which never forsakest any of thy servants in their torments and persecutions, giving them either an unconquered patience to suffer, or a glorious courage to overcome all the temptations which hell can fasten: Be pleased, Almighty, everliving, and only powerful jehovah, to be near thy servant in these his afflictions and troubles, and to stand by him in this day of his trial, lest he fall confounded, and sink under the heavy burden of his tyrannous oppressions. Want (O Lord) in the lowest degree, hath encompassed me, Shame and Ignominy in the highest degree, have set me round about; Slanders oppose themselves against me, and bear me down face to face, and ill tongues in secret, at my back, oppress me; my friends are fled, my acquaintance hath forsaken me, and my kindred (deresting my poverty) deny my Alliance. Where can I then plant my hope? Where should I else seek for refuge and harbour, then of so merciful and all-loving a Father, and who, upon sub-mission, disdaineth not his basest and most riotous son? who came into the world to be a Father to the fatherless, an eye to the blind, a staff to the lame, and a most heavenly and never-erring Physician to all that labour under any disease. Come unto me (saith our blessed Lord) all ye that are oppressed, and I will ease you. O merciful and general comfort, as certain to be done as it is spoken, I prostrate myself humbly before thee, and desire thee of thy infinite mercy, if such be thy will and pleasure, to let this transitory and bitter cup pass from me; yet not my will, but thy blessed will be done, who alone knowest what is fittest to tame my stubborn and rebellious affections, and to morrifie in me all vain and aspiring thoughts, that I may wholly desire to be dissolved and live with thee, where eternal and never-ending peace and piety have their habitation.   

82. A Prayer to our blessed Saviour.  
MOST mercifully loving Lord, Redeemer and Saviour of the world, I wretched and detestable sinner, leprous all over, and more spotted with sin, than the blessed job with sores, which no Pool can ever cure, all humble prostrate myself before thee, not desiring thee to lay thy blessed and happy-making hand upon so ulcerous a creature, nor to cast thy pitying and favourable eye upon so displeasing and hateful an object; but only (O Lord) if so poor and unworthy a worm, may aspire to request of so high and great a Deity, one word from thy heavenly lips, to make me whole: but say the word (O Lord) and I shall pass the Snow in whiteness, and cast my sick and aged imperfections, renewing myself like the strong Eagle: at thy command, whole Legions of sins, which carry me headlong to ruin and perdition, shall pass from me, and I remain praising and glorifying thy holy name: the numbness and deadness of my uncharitable hand, upon thy Word, shall stretch itself forth, and be exercised in deeds of love and mercy; upon thy Word, my wilful and natural blindness shall be taken away, and I restored to a perfect and good sight, gloriously beholding thee in thy revealed Will, and wonderfully in thy works; upon thy Word, I shall easily hear and fully understand thy Divine and heavenly Mysteries, and lay them up in my heart, for my comfort and consolation. The jews (O Lord) had ears and heard not, eyes and saw not, hands and felt not thy apparent and astonishing miracles: they saw before their eyes the blind receive their sight, the dead restored to life; they heard with their ears, the dumb speak and glorify thy holy Name; they felt thy natural and heavenly begotten Body, and yet believed not. Blessed are they which have not seen, and have believed; But say the word (O Lord) and I shall be made partaker of that heavenly benediction, acknowledging thee the Son of the everliving God, borne of the blessed Virgin, crucified under Pontius Pilate, giving over thy life, buried, and rising again on the third day, for the redemption and salvation of mankind, I shall lay hold of thy precious Passion, and bury all my misdeeds in thy life-giving wounds, to be washed away with thy unvaluable blood; for ever will I kneel for this Word, for ever remain a devout and humble Petitioner, that all these things may be done unto me, and I become a new creature, spirited anew, with thy holy Spirit, for ever praising and magnifying thy holy Name, loving it above myself, and adoring it, to the end, all generations may approve thy power, in the conquest of hell, death, and sin. Amen.   

83. A Prayer in time of Lent.  
O Benign and bountiful Saviour, our only Aid, Comforter and Redeemer, the preserver of all Mankind, the glory and hope of all mortality, who whilst thou wandredst here amongst us, putting on perfect Humanity, suffered'st thyself to be carried into the Wilderness, and tempted of the devil, gloriously overcoming him by prayer & fasting, to leave unto us the ordinary & ready means to resist all his subtle suggestions, prescribing the same means to thy Apostles for the dispossessing Satan, and hast also left us many examples in thy holy Prophets & blessed Forerunner, who lived in the Woods on Locusts and wild Honey, giving us a lively and perfect Pattern, who didst all for our example, of thy own blessed abstinence and moderation; Grant (O merciful and blessed Saviour) that we may this blessed and holy time of Lent, attend more especially the spiritual food of our souls, chastising and subduing the lusts and heat of the flesh, by temperate and thrifty diet, lest of a servant he become a Master, rebelling against the Spirit. Mortify in us (O Lord) all wild and lose desires, ranging and disordered appetites, which sow dissension betwixt me and thee, making me fearful to enter, and unworthy to stand in thy presence; and plentifully enrich me with thy grace, that I may do thy works, seriously meditate on thy Passion, and take it to heart, detesting and abandoning my sins, the only cause so great a Lord was so meanly entreated; so gentle a Saviour, so ungently used; and so merciful and loving a Redeemer, so unmercifully and hatefully tormented by his own subjects and servants, in the recovery of their inheritance and freedom. And if the children of men, after the decease of a loving father, express their grief to the world, by putting on mourning garments, confining themselves to their Chamber, and through anguish of heart, forbearing their necessary food; was ever a worthier cause, or a sorrow better beseeming the sons of Adam, or a time more convenient, then in the yearly observing and celebrating the days of their Lord and Masters torments and funerals, who died, and was persecuted for them? Grant us therefore (O Lord) we may fast and devoutly pray, bitterly lamenting our sins and misdeeds, which gave thee up to the death of the Cross.   

84. A Prayer against temptation.  
Lead us not into temptation (O Lord) but deliver us from all evil: sin lieth in wait to betray us, and Satan baiteth us with opportunity: he knoweth (O merciful Father) our affections, and by our actions, ghesseth at our thoughts; our inclinations he is cunning in, and in subtlety who can surpass him? He deceived our first parents, whom thou hadst endued with excellent and Angel-like understanding, colouring his malice with careful pretences: many of thy choicest servants he hath beguiled, and triumphed, neither is his inveterate and cankered envy mitigated, his power abated, his knowledge decayed, or his delight in wickedness, measured or lessened: He is mighty in persuasions, mighty in the means, and most cunning in applying them; He hath conquered the world, that world our flesh, and our flesh us: Who can suspect so great offers for dissimulation or mischief? And who so near and inseparable a friend which tendereth them? Thus are the wisest (O blessed Lord and Saviour) by a seeming show of what is good, circumvented; thus the strongest with their own confidence overthrown. Against so powerful an enemy, so powerfully followed, but by thy never-yeelding grace, what hope of resistance? Stay him (O Lord) in his swiftness, and bring him back, lest I fall and be confounded. Suffer him not to draw me to the encounter; for how can mortality hold out? all the glories of the earth are armed on his part, to bewitch ambitious spirits; all the vanities in the world serve under his colours, to allure the lighter fantasies. Am I a match for so infinite and puissant an Army? Lead me not into temptation (O Lord) but deliver me from all evil. I humbly confess, and hearty believe, one word of thine is able to discomfort all his Host, scatter them and make them in their hasty flight ruin one another: he flieth from thy presence and trembleth, amazedly ask, What have we to do with thee, thou everliving Son of God? comest thou before thy time to torment us? But (O Father of all mercies) how can I deserve thy aid, or overtaken with shame, request thy gracious assistance, having, from my cradle, been a follower of his, if not contemning, yet neglecting thy often and loud Callings? Can I hope, that have refused to walk with Almighty God in security and safety, that he will deign to find out me in danger and jeopardy, and rescue me from the common enemy? Thy mercy (O Lord) is infinite, and hath been infinitely expressed to ingrateful humanity; thy loving kindnesses innumerable, unable to be delivered or set down; There is no end, I well know, of thy everlasting goodness: be pleased therefore (O merciful Father) if so great a sinner may hope for favour, by the depth of all these, either to take from me the violence and rage of all forcible temptation, or else to give me grace and strength to resist and withstand them, lest I be taken prisoner by them, and cast to the bottomless dungeon, whence nothing resoundeth, but the continual acclamations and curses of damned and desperate persons, even for that holy and virtuous name of jesus, known mighty in the salvation of thy people. Amen.   

85. A Prayer for preparation against the day of judgement.  
IF the righteous (O eternal and just judge) shall scarce be saved, what shall become of sinners? And if the just shall tremble to behold the dreadful signs which shall forerun the day of judgement, in what terror and amazement shall the wicked be? How earnestly shall they cry out for the Hills to cover them, or to be hidden in the bottom of the Sea, that they may not see the angry countenance of the wrathful judge! But alas, the Sea shall yield up all her inhabitants, the graves their Tenants, and the Hills be laid plain and consumed to nothing, all shall be laid open, and every secret revealed, the closest cranny of the heart shall be searched into, and the privat'st deed be proclaimed, the intent of the best actions examined, and the foulest and most mischievous in the hearing of all that have been borne since the beginning of the world, known and brought to trial. What a terror, what a horror, what a confusion, shall the Murderer, Blasphemer, and lascivious person be in, at that day? All this we have heard, nay and believe, and yet the most cunning and subtle Serpent, having nothing to say against the truth of thy Word, with his persuasions induceth us to flatter ourselves, that there is more eternity in threescore years, the longest span of our short life, then in that Eternity of eternities, which shall follow it. But thou (O merciful and gracious Lord) which camest into the world to save sinners from the vengeance prepared at this day, desiring that we may repent and be accepted. Give unto us a lively feeling of the danger of it, call it (I beseech thee) to our consideration, as a thing certain, so present, no soul being assured of her abode one minute. Give us grace so to provide ourselves, that we may make our account here, since after death no man returneth to recall or alter whatsoever is left amiss. Let us enter into judgement of ourselves, that we be not judged, and carefully weigh every word, that we be not found to have respected none. Give us grace to begin here while there is help, lest we would help ourselves when there is no beginning: for from hell there is no returning, and after death no repenting: repine are there the fruits of an ill-led life, and curses of our follies, all the consolations of our punishment: from which, let thy mighty and all-redeeming Passion defend us, which whosoever faithfully layeth hold on, shall at that Day, with great joy and alacrity, behold thee, showing thyself a severe judge against those who would not believe, nor entertain that Peace-offering.    

Certain Ejaculations of the Spirit.  
O My most gentle and sweet Saviour, grant me (I beseech thee) pure thoughts, undefiled actions, and a respect to thy glory in all my proceed.  
Let me always (O blessed jesus) remember that thou art in presence, that I may with fear and reverence take account of my speeches, settle my behaviour and all my actions, as it beseemeth a Lord of such height and Majesty.  
Be thou (O eternal and most meek Lamb) the object of mine eyes, the Music of mine ears, the food of my understanding, and the content and solace of all my senses, that putting wholly on my Saviour jesus, I may be armed against all temptations and assaults of the devil.  
jesus, Lord of my life, Patron of my substance, Reconciler of my friends, Inspirer of my soul, Preserver of my renown, and Master of my liberty, I commend them all to thy holy protection, dispose of them to thy honour and glory.  
What part of me (O Lord) can challenge, or show evidence for mine? My Soul is Heavens, my Body Earth's; both thy blessing: Take me (O Lord) as thy due, nourish me as thy charge, and love me as thy child.  
O God the giver of all victory, stand on my side in all temptations, power of thine own Blood into my emptied veins; raise me, as thou didst thy servant Lazarus, to a new and better life, when I am dead to righteousness: turn not away from me, if I fly, and let me not be confounded for ever, whose trust hath been always in thee.  
Give me (O Lord) a noble sufferance in afflictions; lowliness of Spirit in the height of honours; an unmoved resolution in all conflicts; and conquest over all my spiritual adversaries.  
Give me (merciful Father) a virtuous shamefastness, that I may blush, and shun the company of wickedness; an unaffected carriage, slow and deliberate speeches, uncorrupted thoughts, and holy endeavours.  
Let thy Word (O Lord) be the light of mine eyes, the repast of my soul, the repose of my senses, the apparel of my body, and my defence in all extremities.  
Lay thy holy hands (O Lord) over mine eyes, that I behold not vanity: stand at the gates of my ears, and turn aside all evil and unclean speeches: Set a watch before my lips, lest I wander in unlawful discourses: touch with thy holy hand all my senses, to stay them from riot and intemperance.  
Let my will, O Lord, resign itself to thy pleasure, and be governed by thy providence, accounting whatsoever thou pleasest to lay upon me, as a portion left for me by a careful and loving Father.  
jesus make me willing to do good to mine enemies, sorry to displease the worst, mild in speeches, modest in my behaviour, constant to my friends, and charitable to all.  
Give me (O Lord) a hearty and true sorrow for my sins, a firm resolution of amendment, a constant intent to renew my good purposes, a perseverance to continue them ever, and an ardent desire to begin afresh in thy service.  
Grant me (O sweet jesus) an unfeigned and humble repentance for my former transgressions, a hearty and zealous thankfulness for thy present kindnesses, a terror of thy justice, a doting on thy favours, and an ever-mindfulnesse of thy glorious presence.  
Bless (O Lord) with thy eternal providence, my going forth, and with thy holy assistance guide my coming in, that I may walk in thy ways, and return to thy honour and service.  
Let us praise the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, who hath not forgotten his servants, but given them taste of good things, recalled them wandering, stayed them sliding, and with unspeakable love brought them to his everlasting Kingdom.    

A Short Meditation upon these words of PILATE, ECCE HOMO; Behold the man..  
Look up, O my soul, and if thine eye lids be not pressed down with the two weights of shame and sorrow, Behold the Lord of all Majesty and glory, abased with the disgracefullest behaviour the scorn of the jews could lay upon him: Behold that reverent and beautiful countenance which the Angels adored, and God himself was well pleased in, violently defaced with the unmerciful strokes of his cruel persecutors; his modest Eyes in labour with the blood which from the rivulets of his head, overflowed all his face, joining with a Sea of blood, which issued in every place from his tender and delicate body. What unused torments were these (O my soul?) What new invented tyrannies? Was ever Innocence so rewarded, Virtue so glorified, and Goodness so exalted? But alas, as if they would outgo themselves in tyranny, and study for unheard off cruelty, they couple with these pains, the basest and unmanliest shames and disgraces, that ever stories have left unto us. Where is the sacred Balm they apply to thy wounded Body? The precious ointment they provided wherewith to anoint thy bruised face▪ Is that coat of folly and rob of ignominy, the medicinable Cerecloth they wrap thy torn flesh in? Is their irreverent and defiled spittle (which they contemptuously throw in thy face) the only remedy they can afford it? With the hem of thy garment, (O Lord) thou stayedst an issue of blood; and with disroabing thee, they open a Floodgate of thine. With thy holy & wonder-working spittle, thou gavest eyes to the blind; and they, profane and unhallowed Rebels! with theirs, would take away thy sight. Was ever King so entreated by his subjects? Was ever Master so abused by his servants? Was ever Father so tormented by his own children? O wicked Subjects, disobedient servants, and undutiful Children! What mercy can you expect? What freedom require; what portion hope for? Come hither, all ye Kings and Princes of the earth, which account the enlarging of your Dominions, the only propagation of your glory; the fear and trembling of your subjects, the testimony of your Greatness; and your uncontrolled and unlimited command, a royalty only worthy the Majesty of a King: Look down from your stately and gorgeous Thrones, and Behold the Man, borne a King, whose Power and Title so amated Herod, inflamed with the ambition of government, that only to avoid his right, he gave command for the cruel slaughter of many thousand Innocents': To whom newly brought into the world, Kings came to offer & bow down; on whom the Stars awaited, and the Angels of the great and high God attended, like servants: Consider well what Crown environeth his sacred Head; what rob adorneth his Body, and what Sceptre he beareth in his royal Hand. Mark the obedience of his Subjects, and survey the largeness of his Territories.  
Worry to this place, ye noble and honourable Personages; spare no treasure, but purchase a standing, to Behold the man.. You that dwell upon such nice and respective terms of honour, who rate a Lie at the price of a Life, and a Stroke above the value of your Soul; carefullier to be accounted valiant, then honest; and fashionable, then Religious; who purchase virtues only to sell away your vices, rather forsaking God then your Mistress: Mark well, and meditate on the behaviour of this only honourable, and all noble Lord: See him buffeted by slaves and vassall-ministers, spit on by the rascal company; lashed, and scourged by inferior and Under-officers, patiently, and with all humility, undergoing and submitting himself to all kind of scorns and reproaches, and esteem not the servant of more worth than the Lord, who hath done all these things both for your redemption and example.  
Thrust in among the jews, ye common and under-people, here is a sight worth gaping after, to follow, and Behold the Man; you that groan under the Tyranny of Poverty, the exactions and cruel oppressions of biting Usurers, and hard Landlords; you, who in the shade of your fortunes are left comfortless, and whom the night of darkness and desolation hath suddenly overtaken; Behold the Son of the everliving God, displaying the beams of joy and consolation: and if ever fellowship in misery assawage the rancour of it, or company be a comfort; glory of so noble and unmatched a partner, who covered with sweat and dust, disguised with blood and torments, clothed with shame and contempt, is here made a laughing stock to the people: and since God himself so unworthily submitted himself for man's offences; Let us glory and be proud to become his fellow, and bear a share with him in all troubles for righteousness sake.  
O my Redeemer, was the wisdom of thy lips, which in thy infancy falling as the melting honey from the Combs, astonishing all the great Doctors and Rabbins, instructing them in the high and hidden Mysteries of heaven, now in thy firmer age, thought folly, and vain eloquence? Was that modest and beautiful countenance, striking fear and reverence in the beholders, one look whereof raised sinners to be glorious Saints, now buffeted and spit upon?  
Were thy innocent and spotless hands, whose mightiness and virtue loosed the chains of hell, leading captivity captive, become prisoners to bondage, and fettered with base and servile cords?  
What part of thee was unfruitful, and yielded not comfort and blessings to this ungrateful people? Flowed not from thy tongue, the rivers of peace and everlasting happiness? Did not thy eye direct them in the way of salvation? Were not thy hands continually held up, and in labour for their pardon and penitency? Who followed thy footsteps, could he ever go astray? Nay, walked they not safe in the shadow of thy body, from infirmities? And did not thy outward garments recover them of long and dangerous diseases?  
Did not the Powers of heaven and earth acknowledge thee, and God himself by crowning thee with the Holy Ghost, confirm thee for his Well-beloved? Did not the great Goddess Nature, go back and alter at thy command? Did not the water turn into wine upon thy word? The wind banish itself and appear no more, and the fury and rage of the waves lie still and grumbled not? When thou wast in presence, was not hell affrighted, and the devils themselves astonished, crying out on thy Omnipotency, and desiring leave and sufferance? Was not the frame of the world shaked, the Sun muffled in clouds, the Temple divided, the graves of the dead, of themselves opened and yielded up their bodies, which in divers apparitions were seen wandering in the Streets, to Behold their Lord and Master, their Creator and Mover, thus in himself divided; by his afflictions shaked, muffled with sorrow, and his heart opened, yielding all joy and comfort; and yet miserable man unmoved, knowing and seeing; more stony than the Temple, and senseless as the graves, understood not pitied not, felt not the pangs and torments which our Saviour here suffered. Can not all thy benefits (O dear and only favourable Lord) bind their savage hearts, nor all thy miracles mollify their malice, nor thy well-ordered and innocent life save thee from a shameful and inglorious Death▪ Consider (O my soul) that the stones wept, whilst the jews rejoiced; the Sun of heaven put out his eye, whilst the sons of men constantly stared upon his dreadful massacre, and for certainty acknowledge, that the misbelief and persecution of sinners more terrified this blessed Lord, than all his torments and unspeakable sufferings. Art thou moved with pity, and taken with compassion at the story of a weak and old father, undone by his riotous son, having his lands extended, his goods seized on, himself thrown forth of doors, and exposed poor and comfortless to the mercy of the Street, and favour of the open Air, having no annuity left but the charity of well-devoted people? And is not thy understanding cracked, thy memory lost, thy will broken, overwhelmed with desperate grief, and raging sorrow, to Behold this Man, the only begotten Son of the everliving GOD, buffeted for thy wildness, spit upon for thy blasphemies, reviled for thy barbarousness, abased for thy pride, laughed at and contemned for thy folly, scourged for thy lasciviousness, rifled and turned out of all, for thy riot and dissolution? not circumvented and drawn in by subtlety, but carefully and most lovingly, not enduring the hard imprisonment, cruel handling, and everlasting bondage of his beloved children, came from his Palace enriched with all pleasures and plenty, left his honour, and laid aside his glory, and offered himself up into the hands of his cruel and unmerciful enemies, for the delivery and redemption of his altogether unworthy, miserable, condemned, and forsaken people. O unspeakable charity, and love without example, unimitable, unmatchable! Man unable to requite it, unworthy to deserve it, and without his voluntary and free proffer, unequal to have requested it.  
Dare a low and contemned Vassal, for whoredom and perjury, run into the contempt and censure of the Laws, approach the Majesty of his King, entreating him to be branded and scourged for him? It were mercy unexpected to pardon him: but if he should descend from his glittering Throne, disrobing himself of all his royal and glorious ornaments, and in his own person satisfy the rigour and justice of the Law, for his poor and miserable subject; would not his goodness and bounty fly faster than the Sun? And further, would not all men admire, and be enamoured with his virtue, in love with his compassion, and ravished with his great charity: but how would this poor man be inflamed towards him? With what fire of devotion would he praise him? With what longing desires would he serve him? With what humility and joy would he obey him?  
Behold the Man (O my soul) that hath outdone this similitude, bettered the example of this supposition, for thee dust and ashes, poor worm and slime of the earth; who wast nothing but by him, art nothing without him, and shouldst be happy to return to nothing but for him.  
And yet behold a sight of more wonder and astonishment, then to see the glory of heaven thus abased, the purity of Angels thus defiled, unpitying man taken with a deadness all over of goodness, hath no feeling of his own desperate extremity, or his Lords infinite mercy and means, undertaken for his recovery.  
The blessed Apostle and follower of our Lord, S. Peter, who first of all confessed his Omnipotency and greatness, and first of all in his frailty, denied to have known any such Man, hearing him speak of these things which should happen to him, took him aside, and (as the Scripture saith) rebuked him, saying, Thou shalt not suffer these things to be done unto thee.  
If the report of the Tragedy were so terrible; how killing was the Spectacle? And if the Story that he should suffer these torments, prevailed so with S. Peter, overcome with an affectionate pity, that he rebuked his Lord; how much aught the certain knowledge move us, that he hath suffered these cruel tyrannies for our redemption and the satisfaction of justice!  
It is a symptom in Physic generally disliked, when the sick party feels not his own weakness; and a danger, almost unavoidable, when he findeth not that it is dangerous; a lightning little before death, or a nimbleness and agility of a woman great, the night before her travel; their estates being indeed almost uncurable, that maimed they have no need of curing: Sin easily getting to a height when he is not perceived to grow.  
The sly and subtle Serpent, letting words of cheerful love fall off his tongue, when poison lies under it tempting love, guilded over his persuasive pill, with the apparency of her own excellency and profit, forcing a belief that she should be as God; and coming to pilate's wife in an apparition, the night before the Lamb was sentenced and given up to slaughter, prevailed with her to move her Husband to have nothing to do with that Just man.  
Beware, O frail and foolish mortality, of this Hypocrite and deceiver; who laying beautiful colours over his mischievous intentions, persuadeth thee to have nothing to do with the Just Man; and rather not to believe that such things were suffered, then to have that horror in thy conscience, that they were suffered for thy sins and offences.  
This infection was from him thrown on our first Parents, which killed all their joy of life, degraded them from their excellency and understanding, and banished them their earthly Paradise, and from thence hereditary to us, taking from us the purity and innocency of our Birth, and so, that unless we be regenerated and borne anew of water and the holy Ghost, we cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven.  
Thus languishing, and labouring for eternal life, our most blessed and mercifulliest Lord pitying our desperate and deathlike estate, descended from heaven to cure us, and whereas he might, if it had pleased him, have come in all pomp and glory, making himself King of the earth, and finished our Redemption with the word of his mouth; yet he to make it more available to us, and tie us with a greater obligation, to lay hold of that which only for our good was intended, submitted himself to all kind of torments, shames and disgraces, in the purchasing of our Pardon, that we might then willinglier and heartilier taken with the unbounded love of so excellent a Lord, in our humble obedience make ourselves partakers of it.  
Behold this Man, O my Soul: his whole life being a continual Passion, the stubbornness and rebellion of the stiffnecked People, more wounding his noble heart, than the thought of his succeeding torments, which he passionately expresses in his complaint over jerusalem, Oh, jerusalem, jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you under my wings, as the Hen doth her Chickens, and ye would not! mildly admonishing the soft-hearted women, who in the way towards his death, with tears lamented the ignobly barbarous usage, the regardless and cruel jews put upon him, wishing them to weep for themselves, not for him; still testifying his sorrow for them, above his own suffering.  
Let this, O my soul, be thy continual meditation: this the object of thy thoughts: this the subject of thy tongue. Let all thy aim and ambition be, to purchase a little holy plot, near to this blessed place, which thou mayst sow with penitent and heart-sorrowing thoughts, watering them abundantly, with unfeigned and daily tears, in considering duly, how the Lord of all Majesty and glory was here mangled and torn for the sins and transgression of them, some of whom shall at the last day be found feasting and making merry, having no thought of that precious and unvaluable Blood was here mercifully shed for them.  

A Meditation upon the Resurrection.  
IF the Angels rejoice more at the Conversion of one sinner, then in the holy conversation of all the righteous, and the careful Shepherd, having charge of many a flock, leaveth them all, and with great diligence searcheth after one that is strayed, returning home if he find him, bearing him on his back, accounting himself less burdened through the lightness of his heart, then when he went empty forth: What an universal joy? what a height and fullness of comfort and consolation replenished Heaven and Earth, and all the Powers of both, to behold their Lord and Creator lately so mangled, and cruelly torn? he scarce retained the shape of Man, this day, rising in all brightness and glory from the Grave, shining above Angels, bearing the Salvation of all the world on his Immortal shoulders. If the Sun before withdrew himself, as ashamed to be a beholder, when he could not be a remedier of so horrible a cruelty with a mourning vail; muffling his movable beauty, is it not to be believed, that he riseth early this day fresh as a Bridegroom, putting on all his light and glory, to meet and rejoice with his Creator and Maker, from whom he borroweth his splendour and brightness. The day of his Passion, the Graves sent forth their bodies, who met and frighted many in the holy City. The day of his Resurrection, the heavens sent forth their Angels, who with tunes of joy and holy acclamations gladded the hearts of all the earth's Inhabitants. The time of his Passion, Saint Peter for fear denied him to be his Lord. The time of his Resurrection, his guard for fear confessed him to be their Lord Insensible things at his Passion, witnessed against the hardness of the jews, in expressing their own sorrow; and at the time of his Resurrection, the same things witnessed against the misbelief of the jews, in confessing his omnipotency. This day was God glorified: the Angels highly pleased: and Man infinitely exalted. At thy Birth the earth enjoyed a secure peace in itself. But at thy Resurrection, the earth enjoyed peace from Heaven; not man with man, but God with man: not for a momentary safety, but eternal happiness: not only for saving us from hostility, but for infinite and innumerable benefits certain, and lasting, on his behalf never to be broken, without our faithlessness, and treason. In thy life time thou undertookest for God, with men, ratifying it under thine own hand, confirming it with many miracles, and sealing it with thy blood. At thy death, thou undertookest for man with God, and at thy Resurrection gavest thyself a Pledge for performance: what living soul hath so past the bounds of all modesty, not to be all over-fired with blushes, in a thought of violating this holy league? what sad issue of Cain so stony and barbarously minded hath the Devil laid up for mischief, to be the Actor of so horrid a Tragedy? The Serpentine and Crocodile-like act of judas, in betraying his Master's life, is not so high in wickedness, as their backsliding, which break his eternal word, to be Master of which, he freely laid down his life; yet judas despaired, brought back the pieces, and hanged himself. What calm and deathful security, the forerunner of imminent ruin, as Numbness before a dying Palsy, hath so possessed the bewitched sons of Adam, not to think of their desperate estate? What enchanting Siren hath with her cunning division, set an everlasting discord in our uncertain resolutions? What voluptuous Circe hath transformed our hearts in the shapes of men, making us carry the minds of Beasts, sensible of nothing but what pleaseth the sense; following only Nature, yet most unnatural, for in her lusts we bury all our disposition to goodness? Wherein do we employ that admirable and excelling ornament of seeing, but in searching after vanities and idle pleasures, returning it home loaden with voluptuousness and sin? wherein our ears but in listening after novelties & leasings, stuffing them with wandering stories and lascivious merriments? Wherein our taste, but in palliating gluttony and drunkenness, surfeiting it with miscalled wines and meats, which riot hastening the intention, hath yet unnamed? Wherein our feeling, but in those enormities and wickednesses, which take away all feeling of God and goodness, leaving no touch of a Christian, hardly of a Man? When do we stay ourselves, unless gorged? and then employ all our study and care, to set a quick edge on our dulled appetites, and procure fresh and new desires. In this circle we wander and weary out our days. In this Labyrinth we entangle ourselves, careless of thy grace, which only can return us. This is our life, these our actions. Thus we run contrary to the end of our Creation. Thus we lose the inestimable benefit of our Redemption. Thus are Christ's torments become our tormentors, and his Passion our persecution, whilst we not looking on it, die for ever. For as he hath mercifully proclaimed his Pardon, and sacrificed himself for all those rebellious subjects that will come in, and take the benefit of it, yielding homage and obedience to his heavenly Father: so those obstinate and runagate traitors, who confident in their strength, confirmed by their multitude, or seduced by example, stand out in that wilful refusal of offered grace, shall in the Day of Trial receive their justly deserved Condemnation. Retire therefore into thyself, foolish mortality, and with great and serious advice, take a survey of thy own estate. Let neither self love flatter thee, that things are not so bad as they appear, or childish fear, in trembling at thy cure, make thee slight thy Disease, ever remembering the sore must needs be mortal, wherein the remedy is so dangerous, in which a little delay is eternal death. Search therefore suddenly, and thoroughly, lest only pampering up proud flesh, thy malady fester and grow incurable, when every dressing rebounds woe upon thy heart, & that thou feelest an inward compunction and pricking, it is an infallible Symptom of a likely amendment: thou must forbear all inflaming drink, and high food, unquiet and distempered thoughts, idle & much talk, using spare and thrifty diet, inward and continual meditation, so to abate the strengthener and feeder of thy sickness; that having by good and holy means made a perfect and lasting cure, thou mayst rejoice in Spirit.   
FINIS.