¶ THE KEY of Knowledge. Containing sundry godly Prayers and Meditations, very necessary to occupy the minds of well disposed persons. ¶ EPHE. 4. unus Dominus, una Fides, unum Baptisma. Imprinted at London by William Seres. An Almanac for xvij years. Anno. dom. ¶ Easter whitson● Dom. letter day. day. 1572. F. F. 6. Apriell. 25. May. 1573. D. 22. March● 10. May. 1574. C. 11. Apriell● 30. May. 1575. B. 3. Apriell● 22. May. 1576. A. G 22. Apriell● 10. june. 1577. F. 7. Apriell. 26. May. 1578. E. 30. March. 18. May. 1579. D. 19 Apriell● 7. june. 1580. C. B 3 Apriell. 22. May. 1581. A. 16. March● 14. May. 1582. G. 15. Apriell● 3 june. ●583 F. 31. March● 19 May. 1584. E. D 19 Apriell● 7. june. 1585. C. 11. Apriell● 30. May. 1586. B. 3. Apriell. 22. May. 1587. A. 16. Apriell● 4. june. 1588. G. F 7. Apriell. 26. May. january hath xxxi. days. The day hath 8. hou. 26. min. The night hath 15. ho. 34. mi. 1 A New years day. 2 b Octa of Stephen. 3 c Octa of john. 4 d Octa of Innocents. 5 e Titus Pan. bish. 6 f Twelve day. 7 g Tran. William. 8 A Felix and jan. 9 b Lucian. 10 c Paul first hermit. 11 d Ignius martyr. 12 e Archade martyr. 13 f Hillary martyr. 14 g Felix priest. 15 A Isidore martyr. 16 b Maurice. 17 c Depo. of Anthony. 18 d Prise martyr. 19 e Wolstan bishop. 20 f Fabi●n and Sebast. 21 g Agnes virgin. 22 A Uincent martyr. 23 b Emerice. 24 c T●uothe disciple. 25 d Conversion of Paul. 26 e Policarpe martyr. 27 f Chrysostom doctor. 28 g Theodore. 19 A valery bishop 30 b Bartilde Queen. 31 c February hath xxviii days. The day hath 9 hours 33. min. The night hath 14 hou. 2●. min. 1 d Fast, 2 e Purifi. of Mary. 3 f Blaze martyr. 4 g Gilbert confessor. 5 A Agathe virgin. 6 b Amandis bishop. 7 c Dorethe virgin. 8 d Angule virgin. 9 e Paul bishop. 10 f Appoluie virgin. 11 g 12 〈◊〉 Scolastice. 13 b Eu●rage virgin. 14 c Valentine martyr. 15 d 16 e Faustine bishop. 17 f Julian virgin. 18 g Policron bishop. 19 A Simon marier. 20 b 21 c Sabine and Julian. 22 d Hildred virgin. 23 e Fast. 24 f Mathie Apostle. 25 g LXIX martyrs. 26 A Peter's chair. 27 b Augustine bishop. 28 c O●wald bishop. March hath xxxi. days. The day hath 11. hour 24. min. The night hath 12. ho. 36 min. 1 d David bishop. 2 e Chadde confessor. 3 f Martin. 4 g Adrian martyr. 5 A Phocas and Eus. 6 b Victor and victorine. 7 c Perpetue 8 d Apoline martyr. 9 e Agape virgine. 10 f Gregory bishop 11 g Aggeus prophet. 12 A Theodore martyr. 13 b Leo bishop. 14 c Peter martyr. 15 d Longin martyr. 16 e Quirin Martyr. 17 f Gertrude virgin. 18 g Edward King. 19 A joseph the hus. of Ma. 10 b Cuthbert bishop. 22 c Bevidict Abbot. 22 d Affrodose bishop. 23 e Theodr●e priest. 24 f Fast. 25 g Annune. of marry. 26 A Castor martyr 27 b Ludgar bishop. 28 c Dorothy martyr. 29 d Uictorine. 30 e Sabine virgin. 31 April hath thirty. days. The day hath 12. hours. 26 min. The night hath 11. houred. 34. mi● 1 g Theodore virgin. 2 A Mary Egyptian. 3 b Richard bishop. 4 c Ambrose bishop. 5 d Martian and mar. 6 e Sextus martyr. 7 f Ephem●e virgin. 8 g Device martyr. 9 A Perpetuus martyr. 10 b Martus martyr. 11 c Guthlake. 12 d Apolline martyr. 13 e Sotherd martyr. 14 f Tiburt martyr 15 g Osmond bishop. 16 A Isidore bishop. 17 b Amcete bishop. 18 c Eluther● bishop. 19 d Tibertus con. 20 e Hermogenes. 21 f Quintine. 22 g Elete Bishop 23 A Ge●rge martyr. 24 b wilfride confess. 25 c Mark evang. 26 d Anastace bishop. 27 e Uitalis martyr. 28 f Peter of Milan. 29 g Clete bishop. 30 A Dep●. of Erkenwald May hath xxxi. days. The day hath 15 hours 2●. min. The night hath 8 hours 46. mi● 1 b Philip. and jacob. 2 c Athanasius bishop. 3 d Inuen. of the cross. 4 e Christopher. 5 f Goddard archbish. 6 g john ante port. latin. 7 A john of Beverly. 8 b Appe. of Michael. 9 c Tran of Nicho. 10 d Gordiane. 11 e Poncrase martyr. 12 f Uictorius martyr 13 g Seruatius confess. 14 A Boniface martyr. 15 b Sophia virgin. 16 c Brandon bishop. 17 d Transla, of Barnard. 18 e Dioscor. martyr. 19 f 20 g Dunston confess. 21 A Barnardine 22 b Helen Queen. 23 c Petronell. 24 d julian virgin. 25 e Desidery martyr. 26 f Adelmer confess. 27 g Augustine confess. 28 A German bishop. 29 b Nicodeme. 30 c Corone martyr. 31 d Felix bishop. june hath thirty. days. The day hath 16. hours 30. min▪ The night hath 7. h●u. 30 min. 1 e Nicodeme. 2 f Erasmus. 3 g Basill. 4 A Mercell martyr. 5 b Petrocino confess, 6 c Boniface bishop. 7 d Medard and Bil. 8 e Transla. Edmound. 9 f ivan confess. 10 g Trans●a● wolstan. 11 A The longest day. 12 b 13 c Anthony con. 14 d Basilids con. 15 e Uitemodeste. 16 f Trans. Richard. 17 g Botolph confe. 18 A Exupirie bishop. 19 b Geruasius mar. 20 c Tran. Edward. 21 d Walburge virgin. 22 e Alban martyr. 23 f Fast. 24 g john Baptist. 25 A Tran. of Egelie. 26 b john and Paul. 27 c Creseens martyr. 28 d Fast. 29 e Peter and Paul. 30 f come. of Paul. july hath xxxi. days. The day hath 16. hours. The night hath 8 hours. 1 g Octa. john Baptist. 2 A Ui●ita. of Mary. 3 b Tran. of Tho Apost. 4 c Transt. of martyr. 5 d Octa. of Peter. 6 e ●oe virgin martyr. 7 f Depo. of Grimbal. 8 g Cirill bishop. 9 A seven. brethren martyr. 10 b Dog days begin. 11 c Nabor and Felix. 12 d Tran. of Benedict. 13 e Private martyr. 14 f Tran. of Osmond. 15 g Renelme king. 16 A Enastasij. 17 b Arnulph martyr. 18 c unfine and justine. 19 d Praxede virgin. 20 e Margaret virgin. 21 f Appolina. virgine. 22 g Mary Magdalen. 23 A Christine virgin. 24 b Fast. 25 c james Apostle. 26 d Anne more. of mary 27 e Seven sleepers. 28 f Samson bishop. 29 g Felix and his fellow 30 A Abdon. and Sen. 31 b August hath xxxi. days. The day hath 15▪ hours 11 min. The night hath 8 hours 48. mi● 1 c Laminas day. 2 d Stephen bishop. 3 e Finding of Stephen. 4 f justine priest. 5 g Festum muis. 6 A Trans. of Christ. 7 b Feast of jesus. 8 c C●●acke and his fe. 9 d Roman martyr. 10 e Laurence martyr. 11 f Tiburt martyr. 12 g Clare virgin. 13 A Ipolite virgin. 14 b Exalta crucis. 15 c Assump. of Mary. 16 d Roche martyr. 17 e Octa. Laurence. 18 f Magnus martyr. 19 g Bernard confessor. 20 A Dog days end. 21 b Lewes martyr. 22 c Octa. assump. 23 d Fast. 24 e Bartilmew Apo. 25 f Lewes King. 26 g Severine. 27 A Augustine confessor. 28 b john's beheading. 29 c Rufine martyr. 30 d Felix and Audacte 13 e September hath thirty. days. The day hath 12 hours 35. min. The night hath 11 hou. 25 min 1 f Gilis bishop. 2 g Anthony martyr. 3 A Lupe bishop. 4 b Tran. of Cuthbert. 5 c Bertine abbot. 6 d Eugine confessor. 7 e Enurcius bishop. 8 f Nativity of Mary. 9 g Silvius bishop. 10 A Gorgony martyr. 11 b Prothy and jacunt. 12 c Martinian. 13 d Amanii. 14 e Holy Rood. 15 f Lambert martyr. 16 g Edith virgin. 17 A Timotheus. 18 b Victor and Coron. 19 c january martyr. 20 d Fast. 21 e Matthew Apostle. 22 f Maur●cius. 23 g Ueela virgin. 24 ● Andochius martyr. 25 b Firmin bishop. 26 c Cipria● and just. 27 d Cosme and Damian. 28 e Exuperie bishop. 29 f Michael Archangel. 30 g Jerome priest. October hath xxxi days. The day hath 10 hours 50 min. The night hath 13 hours 10 mi 1 A Remegius bishop. 2 b Leodagere martyr. 3 c Candidie martyr. 4 d Frances martyr. 5 e Faith virgin. 6 f Gerionis. 7 g Mary and Mar●. 8 A Apolinaris martyr. 9 b Pelagie virgin. 10 c Linus confessor. 11 d Denice and his fel. 12 e Nicolaus Bishop. 13 f wilfrid bishop. 14 g Tran. Ed. King. 15 A Calixt bishop. 16 b Wolfran bishop. 17 c Michael of the more. 18 d Luke Evangelist. 19 e Etheldred virgin. 20 f Frideswide virgin. 21 g Austreburt virgin. 22 A xi. M virgins. 23 b Mary Solomon. 24 c Roman bishop. 25 d Maglore bishop. 26 e Crispin and Eris. 27 f Fast. 28 g Simon and jude. 29 A Narcissus bishop 30 b Germyne confessor. 31 c Fast. November hath thirty. days. The day hath 8. hours. 52. min. The night hath 15. hovers. 8. mi. 1 d All Saints. 2 e All souls 3 f Winfride virgin. 4 g Amatius. 5 A let priest. 6 b Leonard. 7 c wilbrode. 8 d Four crowned. 9 e Theodore 10 f Martin. 11 g Martin bishop 12 A Brief bishop. 13 b Pattern martyr. 14 c Tran. Erkenwall. 15 d Macute bishop 16 e Dep. of Edmond. 17 f Init. Regni, Elizabeth 18 g Octa. Martin 19 A Eelizabeth martyr. 20 b ●omond King 21 c Pres. of Mary 22 d Cecily virgin. 23 e Clement Martyr. 24 f Grisagon martyr. 25 g Katherine virgin. 26 A Line martyr. 27 b Uitales martyr 28 c Rufus martyr. 29 d Fast. 30 e Andrew Apostle. December hath xxxj. days. The day hath 7. hours 36. min. The night hath 16. ho. 24. min. 1 f Elegy bishop 2 g Liban martyr. 3 A Dep. of Osmond. 4 b Barbara virgin. 5 c Sabba bishop 6 d Nicholas bishop. 7 e Octa-Andrew. 8 f Con. of Mary 9 g Cyprian bishop. 10 A E●lalie virgin. 11 b Antippe 12 c Damasc. confessor 13 d The shortest day. 14 e Nicasius virgine 15 f Otholy virgin. 16 g O Sapientia 17 A Lazarus confessor 18 b Gracian bishop 19 c Uenetia virgin 20 d Fast. 21 e Thomas Apostle. 22 f thirty. martyrs. 23 g Victor virgin. 24 A Fast. 25 b Christmas day. 26 c Stephen martyr. 27 d john Euagelist. 28 e Innocents day. 29 f Thomas Becket 30 g Trans. of james 31 A Sylvester martyr. A rule to know when the terms begin & end with their returns. Hillary term beginneth the twenty-three. of january, and endeth the xii. or xiii. day of February, and hath iiii. returns. that is Oct. Hil. Qui Hil. Cra. Pur. Octa. Pu. Easter term beginneth xvij days after Easter day & endeth the monday next after the asceneion day & have five returns. that is Qui Pas. Tres Pas Qui Pas. Crae Asc. Men. Pa. Trinity Term beginneth the xii. day after whitsunday & continueth xix days and hath iiij returns. that is Cra. Tri. Octa. Tri. Qui. Tri. Tre. Tri. Michaelmas Term beginneth the ix or x. day of October & endeth the xxviij or xxix of November and hath viii returns Also that eight days before any term begin, the Exchequer openeth, except trinity term, for them it openeth but four days before. that is Octa. Mi. Qui. Mic. Tres. Mic. Mense mi. Cra. Ani. Cra. Mar. Oct. mar. Qu. mar ¶ TO THE RIGHT Honourable and virtuous Lady, the Lady Elizabeth Russell etc. T. A. wisheth increase of honour, with happy proceedings, in grace and virtue. POntanus in his 19 chapter de magnificentia, among other things maketh mention of one Aconitanus, that presented unto Alphonsus' King of Calabria, a Box of Amber, very curiously & artificialy wrought, which being opened by the King: had nothing else but a little sflye enclosed within. Surely (said Alphonsus) the reward is but small, notwithstanding a Prince that measureth it not so much by the price, as by the rareness thereof, accounts it for a most precious present. And having so said, he stood a great while amazed, bethinking himself, with what kind of reward he might worthily recompense him that gave a gift so geason: Madam I offer not unto your honour an Amber Box with a Fly, as Aconitanus did, nor my cap full of water as Synctes did, nor mine handful of leaves, as another Persian did, and yet the thing that I offer agreeth in one respect to all these three, & again in one point differeth from one of them only. It agreeth with all three in baseness: and it differeth only from the Amber Box, which preferred a glozing and beautiful show to the outward view, and yet had nothing with in it but a thing of nought: much like unto an house, which outwardly is very sumptuously adorned, yielding a port of great majesty and magnificence to the eye, but when a man is entered in to it, there is nothing to be seen but only the bore wales. Whereunto the thing that I offer is clean contrary: For it yieldeth no glorious nor glistering gloze nor any colour of delight unto the eye: notwithstanding I have so provided that the matter therein contained shall suffice to commend it without the help of any external ornaments. And having at last brought the same to perfection, I could not call to remembrance any person of estate, on whom I had greater cause to bestow it, then upon your honour. For considering, your courteous & amiable acceptation of those few ragged verses, which, about two years paste I presumed to tender unto your discreet judgement, I must needs confess that, from that time to this present day, I have been deeply indebted unto your good Ladyship. And now, somewhat what to discharge myself of that continual burden, and to make satisfaction in part, of the debt which I have so long owed: I have compiled this little book of Prayers grounded upon the divine promises contained in the sacred Scriptures, which I have adventured to publish under the patronag of your Ladyship's name, craving that as oft soever, as God shall put it in your mind to withdraw your self into your closet, there to meditate upon the heavenly promises, of our most merciful Father, (as your vexteous mind is very seldom, or never at all, otherwise inclined,) that then you would vouchsafe to take this book in hand, and turning to any title whatsoever may serve your turn, to apply the prayer following unto your present purpose. But perchance you will say that there are already extant● divers & sundry books of prayers, which have been set fourth by men of greater understanding & riper judgement than I, and therefore it was a needless and superfluous travail to wade any furthar in that matter. indeed Madame I grant that there are many prayer books published, but yet I am of this opinion that if there were ten times as many, yet there were not to many. For the common proverb is, B●num, quo ●●ōmunius, eo melius: The more common a good thing is, the better it is And therefore will I hardly be persuaded, that my labour could any way have been better employed, then in such causes as concern the advancement of God's glory, and the propagation of virtue. Well such as it is I have presumed to offer unto your honours i●dgement, with assured hope, that you will deem of it, as your noble nature hath been always inclined to judge of them that attempt the like enterprises: & that you will accept it as a sure token and testimony of his loyal affection and ready duty, that would think himself happy to be accounted but as the lest in the number of those that would be always at your ladyships commandment. Thomas Achelley. Morning Prayer. O Almighty and most merciful Father, who of thine unspeakable love, and pity, toward the disobedient, and lost children of Adam (when we were carried away through sin, and ignorance to damnation, following Satan, after the blind, and unbridled lusts of the flesh) didst reconcile us to thee by grace, and adoption in Christ jesus, the righteous and immaculate Lamb, by faith and sure confidence, grounded on the merits of his death whereby we are redeemed from the eternal prison of death and damnation, have mercy upon us, mos●e merciful & loving Father, & so quicken our dull and heavy minds, by the inspiration of thy holy spirit, that we may shake of this dead sleep, & continually watch in thee, abandoning the works of darkness, and walking in the works of light, whereby we may be worthy to walk in this holy vocation (where unto thou hast called us (and with thine elected saints, to sing praises unto thee, and at all seasons & times, to glorify thy holy name. And among all other benefits which thou of thy free mercy, dost daily and hourly, most abundantly bestow upon us, we yield thee mortal thanks, for that thou haste vouchsafed to pres●rue us both this night and all the time and days of our life, under the shadow and protection of thy wings, keeping our eyes waking in thee, without any idle dreams, or fantasies, that might disturb our minds from the meditation of thy grace, and haste safely brought me to the beginning of this day, from the drowsy grave of my bed, which manifestly, resembleth in lying down my death, and in rising up a manifest type and figure of my resurrection. Therefore sith thou of thy mercy haste raised me up from this earthly rest, wherein my mortal body, and corrupt nature hath been partly recreated from the labours & travails, which I daily sustain in this terestrial pilgrimage, vouchsafe also I beseech thee, to direct me with thy holy spirit, both this day and ever that all my doings may tend to thy glory and to the commodity of my neighbour. And grant most, merciful Father, that the residue of my whole life, from henceforth may he gided haply under thy tuition, whereby all manner of darkness, misbelief infidelity, & carnal lusts, and affections, may be utterly chased, & driven out of my heart, and that I may be justified & saved, both body and soul, through a right and perfect faith, in Christ jesus, and so walk in the light of thy most holy word & commandments, all the days of this my frail and transitory being. Arm us with thy grace, most merciful father, and strengthen us, by thine assistance, to vanquish the power of the sinful flesh, and Satan, that having victory in the end, we may joyfully triumph in thy salvation, that art the God of our strength and might. Endue our blind hearts with thy heavenly spirit, that being strong in faith, although feeble in the flesh, we may so rule the bridle of our course, both now and ever from henceforth, that we sleep not in sin (as the unbelievers do) which have no hope of resurrection in Christ jesus, but following the motion of their own common sense, are so linked and tied to the ground, that their gross capacity is not of force to look up, and to be hold the brightness of thy divinity, which art God from the beginning, & for everlasting, world without end. To whom with the son, & the holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever, & ever, Amen. A Prayer for Evening. O Almighty and most merciful Father, maker of heaven, and earth, with all that is therein, whose works are insercheable, whose mercy is in●●nite, whose power is above the Clouds of heaven, we beseech thee of thy accustomed fatherly piety, and pity, that thou wilt vouchsafe to be our watch man, this night and ever to guard us from all our enemies, both bodily or ghostly, that endeavour to disturb the external rest of our body, or to assault the infernal Closet of our Conscience, with any sinful suggestions, or devilish devices of Satan our mortal foe, and deadly adversary. We acknolege and confess most merciful Father, that of our selves, we are not worthy to lift up our eyes toward heaven, much less to presume in presenting ourselves before thy divine majesty, with confidence that thou wilt hear our prayers, or incline to our petitions, if we call to remembrance the unworthiness of our own merits and deserts, for we are nothing else but a lump of sin, conceived and borne in iniquity, following the right path of our natural imbecility, and weakness in Adam, ever more prove and apt to follow the filthy appetite of our own desire, like unbridled Colts, and rejecting the wholesome discipline, and instructions of thy most holy will and commandments. Our own consciences accuse us, and our own sinz bear witness against us, that we are nothing else but miserable wretches, subject to corruption, clothed with iniquity and not of ourselves able to think as much as one good thought, so that we are not able to abide the extremity of thy straight judgement, knowing that by the works of the flesh we are condemned to death yet quickened in the spirit and justified by grace, in Christ Jesu. We know most merciful Father that thou art a righteous judge such a one as visiteth the sinz of the Fathers, upon the Children to the third and fourth generation, and dost not justify the sinners, and them that walk in the way of iniquity, but punishest the faults of all such as transgress thy holy laws and commandments. Notwithstanding most merciful Father, seeing thou hast promised to hear us, whensoever we repent us of our sinz, from the bottom of our heart and unfeignedly do call upon thy name for help, we have presumed to appeal to thy Throne of mercy, humbly confessing our manifold sinz and offences, and craving remission of our trespasses, in the bowels of thy only begotten son jesus Christ, our intercessor and saviour. Have mercy therefore upon us O Lord, and forgive us our offences, instruct us with thy holy spirit, to enter into examination of our own selves & by a steadfast faith in Christ jesus, with works correspondent to the same, we may earnestly and heartily repent, from the very bottom of our hearts, and ever hereafter to thirst after thy law, and statutes, even as the heart desireth the brooks of water. And last of all, for as much as it hath pleased thee of thy heavenly wisdom, to prepare, and orde●●e the night for man to rest, and refresh himself after his daily travails, grant we beseech thee most merciful Father, that as our bodies do take a careless sleep, so contrarily, our souls may continually watch in thee, expectting diligently that happy time when our Lord jesus shall appear for our deliverance out of this mortal life into another more blissful and happy life, the joys whereof no man's capacity is able to conceive, much less is the tongue able worthily to express the happiness thereof. To that life we beseech the to bring us for jesus christ his sake. A Prayer for the increase of faith. O Almighty and most merciful Father the everlasting fountain, and well spring of all grace, and goodness, whose mercy is incomprehensible, and power infinite, thou the eternal jehovah, in whose hands are all the corners of the earth, & the strength of the hills is thine also, whose omnipotent power, fashioned the Sea, and prepared the dry land, have mercy upon us, miserable and wretched sinners, and incline thy fatherly ear, unto the voice of our prayers. Increase most heavenly father in our minds, the sparks of true faith, and Christianity that, being always guarded with the defence of thy holy word, we may have power and force to renounce, and resist the terrible invasions, of our mortal enemy Satan, who continually rangeth about, like a roaring Lion, seeking whom he may denoure. And sith we are chanced in these perilous times, wherein nought but iniquity reigneth, and Antichrist advanceth himself in thy temple exalting himself above all that is called God, infecting thy poor disposed ●●ock, with the poisoned drags of damnable heresy, illuminate we beseech thee most merciful father our blinded eyes, with the true light of thy heavenly grace, that being armed with the shield of thy divine inspiration, we may thereby be the more emboldened to withstand the daily and innumerable assaults of our ghostly enemy, that continually laboureth by all means possible to wrest the word of truth and understanding out of our heart's and to throw us headlong into the bottomless lake of everlasting perdition, and whereas without the inspiration of thy heavenly grace, we are not able so much as to think a good thought, and much less able to resist the sinful allurements of our corrupt flesh, the world and the Devil, therefore we crave of thee most heavenly Father, that thou wilt vouchsafe to make perfect that good work, which thou hast be gone in us, not suffering those few sparks of thy heavenly grace which thy spirit hath planted in our hearts, to be extinguished, or quenched, by means of our weakness and inconstancy, but augmenting in our minds the zeal of thy word, we may be able to tender an account at that dreadful day, of the hope and faith which we have in thee, by the merits of thy son jesus Christ, our Messiah and Saviour, whom thou hast vouchsafed to sand into the earth, here to be incarnate of the pure virgin Mary, and having received the image of our humanity, to offer himself as an acceptable sacrifice, upon the altar of the most bitter Cross and by the ●ffusion of his most precious blood, to pay the ransom of our offences unto thy divine majesty, whereby he reconciled us unto thee, our heavenly Father, whereas otherwise we had been subject to the thraldom, of everlasting damnation. To thee with the same jesus Christ, thy son, and the holy spirit, counited all three in Godhead, and distinguished in person, be all honour and glory for ever, and ever, Amen. A Prayer for grace to persever in faith. O Eternal God, and everlasting Father, the author and fountain of all goodness, the multitude of whose benedictions, and benefits, far pass and exceed, the compass of human reason and capacity, endue our frail minds with the grace of thy heavenly spirit, that mortifiing our own desires, and affections, our only joy & delight may be placed in the perpetual consideration of thy heavenly promises, and renouncing all care, and regard of worldly business, which commonly withdraws our minds from the contemplation of thine infinite mercies, we may be wholly addictted to the service of thy divine majesty, in spirit, and true humulitie of mind, rejoicing together in Psalms, Hymns, and spiritual Songs, comforting one another in thy promise of that day, wherein thou hast promised to make us fellow heirs of thine heavenly inheritance, with Abraham, Isaac, and jacob, in that celestial mansion, which thou hast ordained for thine elect, since the beginning of the world. And because by reason of our natural corruption, which we have successively received, since the fall of our great Grandfather Adam, we are all naturally bent and inclined to go astray strengthen most merciful Father our feeble spirits, with inspiration of thy heavenly grace, that being armed against all the assaults of the flesh, the world, the Devil, and antichrist, that Capital enemy of thy word, we may have our consciensces clear, from all manner temptations, and altogether vacant to the Meditation of the promises expressed in the Gospel of thy son jesus Christ, our saviour. Endue us with the divine influence of thy spirit, that we may never be carried away with the flesh, but by the operation of thy grace, in our hearts, we may be able to mortify, & subdue our carnal afections and worldly desires whereby our zeal may be the more inflamed to ensue the heavenly motions of thy holy spirit, which directeth the minds of them that fear thee, in the perfect pathway of light, and understanding. Grant this most merciful father, for thy Son Christ his sake, to whom with thee & the holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, from this time forth for evermore. A prayer for unity in Religion O Everlasting and most merciful Father the fountain of all grace, and goodness, which art the God of peace, love, unity and concord, and the just revenger of dissension, debate and confusion, thou seest, how miserably thy holy congregation is rend, torn and divided into divers sects, and contrarieties in religion, while the carnal professors of thy name, in cloak of pretended holiness set forth & maintain such beggarly traditions, as the appetite of their gross fantasy leadeth them unto, shaking of the sweet yoke of thine undefiled law wresting the letter thereof to serve the dissolute motion of their carnal cogitations, maintaining in steed of thy pure & sincere word, the fleshly ceremonies of their own devise, and invention whereby it cometh to pass that so great dissension reigneth now adays in the world, and that so many sects schisms, and heresies are daily set a broach in every place, to the unspeakable perturbation of the course of thy word, and utter subversion of divers common wealths, which ought chief to be maintained by the uniform consent and judgement, touching the word, and by the perfect band of Amity, concerning temporal causes. But now whereas men set aside the right rules, and or dinaunces of thy blessed word, planting in steed thereof, orders and traditions of their own imaginations, how can it come to pass that christian peace and unity of spirit, should devil among us. Therefore grant O most merciful Father, that we thy poor dispersed sheep which have so long been tossed and turmoiled with tempests of this tumultuous times, may at the last by the direction of thine heavenly Spirit, be reduced into one fold, acknowledging thee our most loving shepherd, and merciful Father, thy son jesus Christ, our only saviour and Mediator to thy divine majesty, the holy ghost our comforter, which by the mouth of thy son jesus Christ, thou didst promise' to sand unto us, which spirit assureth our spirits that we are partakers, inheritors, and fellow Citizens of that heavenly jerusalem, which thou promisedst to all them, that unfeignedly walk in thy statutes and trust only to be saved by the blood, and passion of thine only begotten son jesus Christ, our Messiah, the only redeemer of all mankind. Remove O most merciful Father, from our eyes, the dark shadow and veil of ignorance, that abandoning all the dregs of erroneous sects, & heretical schisms, we may be gathered all together into the unity of thy word; and confess that there is but one eternal God, and one heavenly Father, which thou art, and one Faith & one Baptis●e which we all profess, that call upon thy name. Grant also most merciful father the we whose minds, & opinions are noted most repugnant, and contrary in faith may he altogether counited into one judgement; & opinion in religion, which may be grounded only upon the foundations of thy Prophets, and Apostles jesus Christ, himself being the head corner stone. And sith there is but one faith, which directeth us into the way of salvation, grant we beseech thee, that by the operation of thy holy spirit, we may be brought to such an agreement, and uniformity in Religion, that we may glorify thee our heavenly Father, with one only spirit, and general consent of conscience whereby we may be reduced from the captivity of eternal ignorance, and be made all the sheep of thee our most merciful and bountiful shepherd, To whom with. etc. A thanks giving for restoring of the Gospel. WE tender unto thee most merciful Father, immortal thanks, for that thou hast vochsafed, to sand thine only begotten son jesus Christ, into the world to take our shape, and nature upon him and to submit himself to the bitter passion of the Cross, to redeem us wretched sinners, which before were thralls and bond slaves to the horrible sorment of everlasting damnation. O what condign thanks are we able to tender unto thee, that in the lest respect, may be able to counter poise thy fatherly kindness and love, which thou daily showest unto us, most miserable and wretched sinners. Thou hast sent thy Christ our saviour, to redeem us from the bondage of sin, death, and damnation, and that not with Gold nor Silver, but with his most precieuse blood, once offered upon the Cross to pay our general ransom The promises which thou didst make to our 'forefathers, in figures and shadows, thou hast openly performed to us in the open sight of the whole world, in sending that M●essias, to take our sins upon him, to be scourged for our offences, and to bear the burden of our iniquities▪ Again, thou hast manifested to us the perfect pathway of salvation, by the mouth of thine only begotten son jesus Christ, and that not in figures, nor shadows, but in express words, saying (Hoc fac & vives) do this and thou shalt live, which to our forefathers thou declaredst covertly, and in the dark shadows of secret mysteries, and that not by thy son jesus Christ but but by thy prophets which were men mortal as we be, and were inferior to thy son, both in divine power, and also in dignity of person. For how much the servant or bondman is inferior to the heir, so much are the Prophet's inferior to thy son, and heir, Christ jesus, whom our mortal eyes have seen of late days, personally here in the earth, and reasoned with him face to face & even at his own mouth have learned what is the will of thee our most loving Father, and most merciful creature. And moreover because it was thy good pleasure to take away the presence of thy son, from mankind as concerning the flesh, we yield thee most hearty thanks that thou wouldst vouchsafe to sand down thine heavenly spirit, into the hearts of all thy sons Apostles, which spirit informing their spirits, of thy divine will, provoked them by writing to reveal thy promises of salvation (whereof thy son preached) unto the posterity of all ages, for evermore, wherry both we that now live, and the remnant of all future years may learn to direct their steps, as with a true line, or rule, into the way of thy commandments. And sith in recompense of all these thine unspeakable benefits, thou requirest no other sacrifice, but thanks giving with contrition of heart, therefore with uncessant prayers we will magnify thy holy name, recording thine innumerable benefits, with Psalms of thanks giving in the midst of the congregation for ever, not doubting, but thou of thine infinite goodness, wilt accept the thanks which we yield to thy divine Majesty, as proceeding from the very bottom of our unfeigned hearts. To thee most merciful Father with thy son jesus Christ and the holy ghost, be all honour and glory for ever, Amen. A Prayer for abolishing of Superstition. O Eternal and most merciful Father, who by thy divine wisdom, didst lay the foundations of heaven, and earth with the Sea and all that is therein, have mercy & compassion of thy poor flock, dispersed through the whole earth for the constant profession and testimony of thy heavenly word, and deliver them at last, from the tyranny of Pharaoh, the terrible persecutor of thy poor members. And because that in all Lands many depart into voluntary exile, whose conscience cannot sustain to see thy true word corrupted with the superstitious traditions of mortal men, we beseech thee most heavenly Father to inspire the dew of thy spirit, into the hearts of all Christian Kings, and Princes, in whose hands consists the reformation as well of ecclesiastical as civil & politic causes: that by the motion of the same spirit they may be the more fervently inflamed with the zeal●, and love of thy glory and be the more circumspectly bend to plant the seeds of thy true Religion, through all their dominions, kindle most (merciful Father) in their hearts a desire, to deface all blind ceremonies, and superstitious idolatry, which in any respect, may seem prejudicial, or derogatory, to thy glory let them break down their hill altars, hue down their groves, burn their Images with ●ire, the no one monument of them be left upon the earth, and that when they are sought for, their place may not be found, so that the name & memory of them may decay, and perish with the ashes, of their consumed timber. Let their moltion Images be consumed with fire, and their graven Shrines be brought to confusion. For thou art a might●e God, & agelous God, one that cannot suffer a mate, or peer in thy Dominion. Thou wilt be worshipped in truth and righteousness of heart, and not with blockish and senseless Images, the work of men's hands, which have ears and hear not: eyes, and see not: noses, & smell not: mouths, and eat not: hands, and feel not: feet, and go not: but are carried hither and thither, upon men's shoulders, like senseless stocks as they are, in no respect, resembling any figure of divinity or Godhead. And because the use of these fantastical Idols, tendeth especially to the prejudice and profanation of thine omnipotent & divine power, (who hast commanded by express words in thy law, that we should not make to ourselves the likeness of any thing in heaven, or earth, or in the waters to bow unto) Grant, we beseech thee, thy grace, to all princes, and potentates, that bear as well the spiritual sword, as the title of temporal government, that they may be moved with thine heavenly motion, to purge thy church from all the dregs of superstition, and Idolatry, whereby thy poor flock that is now dispersed through the whole world, may be brought again into one uniform consent of Religion, serving thee in lowliness and pureness of heart, abandoning all the rabble of Roman traditions, and idolatrous ceremonies, cleaving only to the rule of thy holy gospel revealed by thy son, jesus Christ our lord & Saviour. To whom with the Father & the holy Ghost, three persons & one God, be all honour & glory world without end. Amen. A prayer for the preservation of our noble Queen Elizabeth. WE yield unto thee, (most mighty, & merciful Father) immortal thanks, for that it hath pleased thee of thy mere mercy and fatherly bounty, after the storms of so many troublesome times, to conduct us into the comfortable port of tranquillity, by the hand of thy most gracious servant, & our dear sovereign Lady, Elizabeth. When we were as sheep, wandering astray in the wilderness, thou ordainedst her Majesty, to be our shepherd, to gather us again into thy shepefould. When we had been long lossed hither & thither, with the outrage and cruel fury of tyrannical persecution, like a poor weatherbeaten Bark, that hath been continually turmoiled & tossed, on the perilous surges of the outrageous and swelling seas, finding no sure road, nor harbour wherein to rest, but continually in danger, either to sink into the san●s▪ or to be overwhelmed with waves, or violently to be dashed in pieces against the main rocks: Even then (I say) when we despaired utterly of safeguard, standing still in fear of the hazard of everlasting confusion, thou committedst the helm, to be guided by her grace's wisdom, who at last conducted us into the haven of this long desired peace and tranquillity. Therefore whereas thou hast placed her in the regal throne, to be our David, our josias, our Samuel, yea to be our shepherd and ringleader, in the way of true holiness, and sincere Religion. Inspire her mind with the manifold blessings of thy grace, that she may walk all the days of her life, in the path of thy commandments, & happily discharge her duty, in that stewardship, and dispensation, which thou hast committed to her majesties hands. Inflame her mind more & more with the love of thy holy gospel, the all her deeds, thoughts, & practices, may tend to the propagation, & planting of thy word and true Christian religion, in these her majesties Dominions. Incline the motions of her virtuous disposition, above all things to seek thine honour & glory, to sow the seeds of the Catholic faith, abundantly in all places, to cut of the brood of superstition and Idolatry, to constitute true Preachers of thy word, and establish every where thine holy gospel, and true religion. Preserve her, most merciful father, (as hitherto thou haste most miraculously done) from the devilish devices, and practices of her enemies, that she may have a long and happy reign, among us, to the advancement of thy glory, and joy and comfort of all her subjects Let her natural disposition contin●e to her mocks terrible, to her subjects amiable, to her offenders merciful, to the virtuous bountiful, indifferent to all men, and in all respects, partial in no point, neither in causes ecclesiastical, nor yet in matters concerning politic government. Assist her, mo●● merciful Father, with the might of thy heavenly Spirit, to quail the pride of the triple headed Romish Ce●berus, to banish his beggarly ceremonies, to abridge the term● of his reign, and finally to cut of and prevent the seeds, that continually strive to spring up from abominable superstition, and Idolatry. Grant her grace, most merciful Father, to run the remnant of her race, in the right path of thy commandments, declining neither to the right hand, nor to the left, but so using all times thy heavenly word, as the rule, and compass, to direct her course. Preserve her grace, (most merciful Father) in continual health of body, and quietness of mind, that she may be always able to rule the bridle of her charge, and to execute right and justice, to all sorts and degrees, to the advancement of thy glory, and the universal commodity of her▪ majesties subjects. And finally grant (O most merciful father) that when it shall please thee, to end the term of her days in this world, thou wilt make her partaker of those celestial joys, which are prepared for them that fear thee, since the foundation of the world. Grant this, most merciful father, for thy dear son our lord jesus Christ his sake. To whom with thee & the holy Ghost, three persons and one God, be all glory and honour, world without end. A Prayer for the Council and Nobility. ALmighty and most merciful Father, whose power is infinite, and works incomprehensible, vouchsafe to direct the hearts of the Nobility of this Realm, with the divine motion of thine heavenly spirit, that all their actions and endeavours, may especially tend to the advancement of thy holy word, and secondly, to the common commodity & peace, of the weal public: whereby our Country may be free from all seditious tumults, and civil commotions, that may 'cause the hindrance of thy holy gospel, or the decay of the whole state of the common wealth. Endue their minds, most merciful Father, with true humility of heart, that they may all be content with their present estate, not attempting further than their degree or calling: but always to seek thy honour and glory, carefully to show their natural duty, & allegiance to their Prince, obediently to bestow their travail, for the increase of public peace, & utility, diligently. Whereby thy name may be continually glorified, thy commandments followed, and the state of the common wealth, happily maintained. Through jesus Christ our saviour. Amen. ¶ A prayer for the spirituality. ILluminate, we beseech thee, most merciful Father, the eyes of all them, whom thou hast appointed to be the Shepherds and leaders of thy children Israel, that they may faithfully, & truly feed them with the heavenly Manna, of thy son jesus Christ his gospel, reducing thy lost sheep in the wilderness, into thy sheep sold, again binding up their former sores, & applying such wholesome medicine, and spiritual consolation, unto their diseases, whereby they may be won & reconciled unto thee, their true pasture, from whom they have so long wandered astray. give grace, most● heavenvly Father, to all those to whom thou hast distributed thy talon, that by their vigilant study, and careful diligence, they may some gain five m●e, to those five they received, some three, some two, and every man according to the portion which thou hast lent them: not hiding the same in the ground, as the unprofitable servant did, whereby no benefit▪ redounded to thee that didst le●d the same. Plant most merciful Father, in their hearts, a zeal to discharge the commandments without respect of love, or dignity of person, and that without all hypocrisy, or pretended holiness. give them grace to prosecute the sum of their message, without all manner of fear or dread, not doubting to speak before Princes, and sharply to rebuke iniquities, (as they Prophet Nathan reproved David). Let them not be mapleasers, or such as for affections sake wink at offences, and reprove not the sinners of their sins, whereby ●hey might be reclaimed from their wicked ways, to the embracing of thy holy commandments. Let them not be such, as flatter, or fawn upon Princes, for promotions sake, gaping for worldly dignity, not regarding the execution of the office whereunto they are called. Kindle, O Lord, in their hearts, a continual care, and desire, to convert sinners into the way of righteousness. Lancing their incurable sores, cutting away the buds and sprouts of sin, applying spiritual Physic to their maladies, whereby they may be brought again into the society of the Congregation, and from thenceforth learn to ensue the path of virtue▪ and understanding: even as the vinecutter useth to handle a dead●Uine, to cut away the superfluous sprroutz to water it, & to add fresh earth unto the root, whereby at last the old sap, & liquor may return into her branches again. give them grace, O Lord, to Preach they true word only, not intermeddling the traditions, or inventions of men, but the pure Gospel of thy son jesus Christ, which giveth light unto the simple, and is as sweet to the Soul, as the honey comb is to the external taste of the mouth, Let them cut of the course of all Romish superstition, and abominable Idolatry, of the whore of Babylon, let them sow the seeds of thine infallible virtue, and teach their ●locke, to serve thee in truth, and humility, with the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and contrition of heart. give them grace to express that doctrine in their living, which they have preached out of thy Book, that they may be an example to the flock, of virtuous living, temperance, humility, and lowliness of mind, that their godly life may inflame us, to imitate the same with true zeal and sincerity of heart: Whereby, at the last we may altogether arrive hahely at the celestial jerusalem, and heavenly land of promise, from the tyrannical slavery of this earthly Egypt, wherein like painful Pilgrims, we have so long time wandered, Where, with the elect, we may be made partakers of those everlasting joys, which thy son jesus Christ purchased for us: by the merits of his death & passion. To whom with thee, & the holy ghost, be all honour and glory, for ever, and ever. Amen. A prayer for the laity. Give grace, O heavenly Father, to all the Commons of this Realm, that their chiefest care and study, may be bend to seek thy honour and glory, & to walk all the days of their lives, in the way of thy commandments: Next that to have a reverent care, of the duty and allegiance, that they own to their Prince, and all the rest of her magistrates, that are put in authority under her, that every man may live quietly in his vocation, having continually the fear of thee our heaunly father, before their eyes, exercising honestly what lawful trade so ever they profess, to thy glory, and the commodity of the common wealth. give them grace, most heavenly Father, to know themselves, to submit themselves, to their superiors, to live in perfect peace, & obedience to their elders, without envy, strife, or debate, not stirrers up of any civil dissensions, or commotions, nor presuming to press, or climb higher than their degree, but refraninge themselves from all manner crimes, she wing their good will and obedience to their Prince, and Magistrates, like servants to their masters, or children to their parents. That they may 〈◊〉 altogether in the yoke of perfect unity and concord, every one to his power supplying his neighbours necessity, and cheerfully imparting his portion, to him that wanteth. Whereby we shall have a flowing common wealth, with abundance of peace in our cities, without all manner of inconvenience or misorder. Every man studiously exercising his trade with thy fear be●ore our eyes. And our duty to our Prince and country faithfully performed. Through jesus Christ our Saviour, Amen. A prayer in general for the whole body of the common wealth. Look down, we beseech thee, most merciful Father, with the eyes of thy mercy, upon thy poor congregation, militant here in earth, that being protected with the shield of thy heavenly grace, we may be able to resist the terrible assaults & invasions of sathan, with Antigona Christ his chief minister, which daily, and hourly, seek with strong temptations, to seduce us from the most comfortable meditation of thy heavenly word, and promises, and to eclipse the eyes of our hearts, with the obscure cloud of error, and ignorance, whereby we might be thrown into the bottomless lake, of everlasting death, and damnation. And had it not been for thy divine providence, and protection, (most merciful Father) the enemy had long ag●ne devoured us, yea he had so wiped, and blown us away, the scarce any remembrance of our being had remained on the earth Wherefore sith it is thy good pleasure, that the name of Israel, should not be utterly extinguished, give us grace, to 〈◊〉 our steps in the path of thy commandments that all our deeds, words & thoughts may tend to thy glory, and the commodity of the common wealth. Endue, we beseech thee, the mind of our soveragine Queen, Elizabeth, that above all things she may seek thy honour, and glory the maintenance of true religion, & the prosperous, and quiet state of her subjects. direct the minds of her majesties Counsel, and the rest of the nobility, that they may always live in thy fear, with ●rue obedience to the prince, devising such laws, and statutes, as may be most available to the conservation, and public commodity of the common wealth. Inspire the minds of such as thou hast called to be the ministers of thy word, with the spirit of truth, and understanding, that they may preach the pure doctrine, of thy heavenly word, revokeing sinners into the way of repentance, and amendment of life, to embrace the sweet yoke of thy law, whereby their souls may be saved from everlasting balneation. G●ue grace, most heavenly Father, to all the 〈◊〉 of this Realm, that above al● things they may la●our to follow thy commandments, to live in due obedience to their Prince, and Magiestr●tes, and to be ruled by the wholesome and spiritual counsel of their pastors. And 〈◊〉 thy grace in general (most merciful Father) to the whole body of the Realm, that altogether, both the Prince, Nobility, Clergy, and 〈◊〉 may chief 〈◊〉 to abvamce thy Gospel, and secondly the happy and prosporous ●ate of the common wealth. Through Christ. etc. A Prayer for patience in trouble. ALmighty and most merciful Father, which art the only stay, and comfort of all them that are afflicted with the scourge of adversity: bow down thy merciful ear unto the voice of my lamentation, which am nothing else but a lump of sin, every hour declining from thy commandments, into the reprobate way of iniquity, that I must needs confess, that mine own merits, and deservings, have justly procured this worthy plague, wherein like a vile, and wretched 〈◊〉, I am entangled, But thou (O most merciful and loving Father, thou art always ready to show mercy, to the repentant sinner, which hast promised to put all my offences, and misdeeds, out of thy remembrance, whensoever I repent, from the bottom of my heart: have mercy upon my miseries, and velease me of this adversity, which hath worthily chanced, by reason of the innumerable multitude of my sins. And if it be thy good will, and pleasure to prove the more 〈◊〉, with temptations, or any other kind of afflection, that thou shalt lay on me, then vouchsafe, most merciful Father, to arm me with the spirit of 〈…〉 which it hath pleased thy divine Majesty to lay upon me. that I murmur not at thy works, neither blaspheme thy name, when I am in misery, but that I may always have in mind, that thou art a merciful judge, and a revenger of iniquity, to whom only it belongeth, to throw down to hell, 〈◊〉 to raise up to heaven against where, with thy son jesus Christ and the holy Ghost. etc. A prayer against temptation. O Lord jesus Christ, the only defence, and pillar of our estate, the hope & confidence of all them, that sleep in the vail of this wicked world, which by the merits of thy most precious death, & passion, didst overcome death, and triumphest over the sting thereof, in thy heavenly kingdom: give strength, unto us feeble, and impotent sinners, against the r●aringe Lion, which continually wandereth about seeking whom he may devour, ende●ouringe always with subtle awaitings & strong temptations, to withdraw our minds, from the faith which we have in thee of everlasting life, into a reprobate sense, to give ourselves up to the 〈◊〉 lust● and affections of the flesh, to uncleanness, Idolatriy, innumerable other like abominations, that are chief adversaries and enemies to the spirit of truth and understanding. Thou therefore that art the i●●aculate Lamb, the vanquisher of sin, death, and hell, give unto us thy little sheep the strength and virtue of thy spirit, that being in our own selves weak, and feeble, and in thee, strong and valiant, we may be able to withstand and subdue all the assaults of the Devil, that our ghostly enemy may not triumph over us, but being conquerors through thee, we may give thanks to thy mercy, which never leaveth them destritute of succour, whose only confidence, and a●●iance, is reposed in the sure defence, and savegerde of thy mercy Thou knowest, O Lord, that we are but earth and ashes, subject to corrupsion, & mortality, the flesh ever rebelling against the spirit, whereby we are always more prove, & apt to run the carls race of ignorance and iniquity, then to frame our steps in the narrow and straight path of virtue, and understanding. Therefore, illuminate we beseech thee, our blind eyes, with the light of thy heavenvly spirit, that abhorring the works of darkness, and prevailing against all temptations of the world, the flesh, and the Devil, we may be wholly bend to serve thy divine Majesty, in truth and understanding, saving always an assured hope of a glorious resurrection on thy right hand, where we may be partakers of that joyful sentence of life, which thou wilt pronounce to all them that shall inherit that heavenly kingdom, with thee, our only redeemer, and Saviour. To whom with the Father, and the holy Ghost. etc. A prayer for the obtaining of wisdom. O Almighty Lord, & most merciful Father, the fountain, and wellspring of all heavenly gifts, and graces, give me wisdom to know what thy will and pleasure is: for I thy servant and the son of thy hand maid, am a feeble person, engendered, and created of the frail substance of the flesh, environed round about with the dark shadow, & ●ayle of ignorance, that by means thereof the beams of my mind are so obscurely eclipsed, that I cannot once look up upon the brightness of thy divine Majesty, nor exercise myself at all in contemplation of the mysteries of thy heavenvly word, and promises, whereby I might save my soul from hell. Inspire therefore (most merciful Father) my dull and heavy mind, with the light of the true wisdom, and not with worldly wit, and policy only, which concern human affairs, but with the true understanding of thy sacred scriptures wherein thou hast made a faithful promise of eternal salvation, to all them that unfeignedly believe, that jesus Christ, is the son of God, and the only redeemer of all mankind. Thou knowest, O Lord, that my dull capacity is far to gross, to attain to the knowledge, and understanding of thy judgements, 〈◊〉 laws▪ for I am but mere corruption, and of a most frail nature. And thou how can I that am but earth, and ashes, conceive the meaning of thy divine mysteries? surely, by no means, except the motion of thy spirit direr mine unconstant, and wavering mind in the right way of truth, and understanding, whereby I may be always inflamed, to meditate upon thy promises, contained in thy holy Gospel wherein thou hast promised everlasting life, to all those that with a steadfast faith believe, that by the means of jesus Christ, his passion, they have obtained free remission, of their sins. To whom with the Father, and the holy Ghost, be all honour; and glory, now and evermore. Amen. A prayer against the adversaries of the truth. ALmighty, and most merciful Father, which art the way, the truth, and life, deliver me from the hands of them that imagine mischieffe, and think upon deceit all the day long, whose tongues are more sharp than a two edged sword, and the poison of Asps is under their lips. Behold, most merciful Father, from thy heavenly throne, thy vineyard which the Boar rooteth up, and never suffereth the tender branches to spring above the ground, but as fast as they bud fourth, he spoils them, not suffering the same to attain to their full maturity, & perfect ripeness. Arise O Lord and revenge thine own cause, how long shall thy jelozy sleep, for ever? O remember the afflictions of thy servants, that are oppressed with the tyranny of Pharaoh, and overladen with the intolerable burden of the Egyptian tasks. Thou seest our misery, and thraldom, and how we are every day, in danger to be 〈◊〉 of the enemy. And for thy sake only, do we suffer reproach all the day long. A rise therefore O Lord, like a mighty man of war and as a stout giant refreshed with wine. Look down, and behold, how thy stock is scattered abroad, by means of the outrageousness of the wolf, who continually seeketh to root out, and utterly to extingush the name of Israel. Take Arms in hand, and strike in thyn● own cause, and confound thine enemies, with the fire of thy heavy displeasure. So shall thy poor dispersed ●locke, b● reduc●● again at last into one fold, and 〈◊〉 continual praises to thee, the author of our liberty, and our avenger. To whom with the Son and the holy Ghost, be all honour and glory. etc. A thanks giving to God for his benefits. WE tender unto thee, (most merciful father) immortal thanks, for the manifold & daily benefits, which thou of thy mercy, without any desert of ours, hast most abundantly poured upon us, since the time it pleased thee to inspire into us the breath of life, framing our corrupt bodies in form of thine own likeness, placing us in thy pleasant Paradise, there to remain in most happy and fortunate estate, if through the subtle allurements of Satan, our ghostly enemy we had not transgressed thy commandments. We thank thee, also, most merciful Father, for that when we were condemned by our own transgression, in our great Grandfather Adam, thou of thy Fatherly love, and natural compassion, that thou hadst on mankind, diddest sand down, thy only begotten Son jesus Christ to take our corrupt Nature upon him, and to humble himself to the shameful death, of the Cross, thereby to redeem us wretched sinners, from the bondage of hell, whether for our disobedience, we were justly condemned: and to pay the ransom of our offences, whereby thy wrath: that was worthily inflamed against us, might be appeased, and we lost sheep at last reconciled to thee our pitiful pastor, & most merciful Father. We yield thee also immortal thanks, most merciful Father, for that it hath pleased thee to reveal thy holy Gospel unto us, by thy Son jesus Christ, whereby we might obtain remission of our sins, and through faith, might have a sure confidence that by the merits of jesus Christ his passion, we are delivered from the intolerable curse of the law, and are made partakers of that heavenly kingdom, prepared for us since the foundation of the world. For these thy most bountiful gifts, and all other thy benefits, daily and hourly powered upon us, we heartily thank thee, most loving and merciful Father. Beseeching thee that thou wilt give us grace, through the operation of thy heavenly spirit in our minds, so to order our life, and conversation, that we walk in true holiness, and sincerity of heart, behaving ourselves so circumspectly in this wretched world, that at the last day, we may be found faltles, and be received into the number of them, to whom this joyful sentence shallbe pronounced: Come ye blessed of my Father, possess the kingdom, which was prepared for you, from the beginning of the world. To which kingdom, we beseech thee, most merciful Father, for the merits of thine only son our Saviour jesus Christ, to bring us speedily out of this vale of misery, and sorrow: where with the society of the elect, we may sing praises to thee our most merciful Father, world without end: To whom with thy Son jesus Christ, our Saviour, and the holy Ghost, three in unity, and one in trinity be all honour, glory, power, dominion and might, from this time fourth for evermore. A prayer to God the Father. O Almighty, and most merciful God, the Father, eternal, which haste been from the beginning, and so shalt remain world with out end: Thou that createst all living creatures, and last of all man, breathing the breath of life into them, by a natural instinct, and disposition, every thing to follow his own kind, saving man only above all the rest, whom thou haddest formed after thine own image, and endued him with reason, more than natural, whereby he might discern the good from the evil, and learn to eschew such things as might be hurtful unto him: Even he I say above all the rest, transgressed the commandments of thy Majesty, inclining to his own lusts and affections, without any regard or fe●●e of thee, his only Lord & maker. Whereby he was expelled out of the garden of Eden, that place of pleasure where once thou haddest placed him. But (O) what thanks shall we yield unto thee, (most merciful and loving Father, that didst vouchsafe, of thy mere mercy, and Fatherly love, toward us, to send down thine only begotten son jesus Christ, to be our redeemer, and Saviour, to deliver us out of the mouth of hell, whither our own deserts had worthily condemned us? we will sing a Psalm of thanks giving, and worship toward thy holy temple. For what other reward are we able to give unto thee, that may in any respect worthily countervail the lest spark of thy Fatherly pity, and kindness? surely none. For of our own selves, we are not able so much as to think a good thought, without the motion of thy spirit, much less to do any such good deed, that might be answerable to the innumerable multitude of thy benefits always bes●owed upon us Accept therefore, (most merciful Father,) our sacrifice of thanks giving, & bow downeth neeare to our humble petitions that proceedeth from vn●●yned lips. And sith it hath pleased thy divine Majesty, to give up thy only begotten Son jesus Christ, to the death of the Cross, for our redemption, vouchsafe, O Lord, so to direct our minds, in the way of thy commandments that we may partly seem worthy of the inestimable price of so great a benefit, as the ransom of our iniquity hath cost: and keep the eyes of our minds always waking, that we fall not a sleep in sin, as they do, which have no hope of resurrection from the dead. Engender in our hearts the true zeal of thin undefiled word, and religion, that we may be alwaeis meditating upon thy promises, & not found idle, nor unprovided when the good man of the house shall come: but that we may be found waking in thee, with plenty of oil in our lamps, as the five wise Virgins had▪ O draw us near unto thee, by the operation of thy heavenly grace, & hear our prayers, forgive us our offences, comfort us in our afflic●tions, & forgive our enemies, as we hope to have forgiveness of all our sins at thy hands, by the merits of our Saviour jesus Christ, let not mine enemy's triumph over me, nor the roaring Lion devour me, but protect me always most merciful Father, under the shadow of thy wings that I may strongly & constantly withstand his invasions, by the undoubted hope, and confidence that I have reposed in thy mercy: And grant that I may die in thy true faith, and rest with thee, in thy everlasting kingdom. To whom with thy Son jesus Christ, and the holy Ghost: be all honour and glory for ever & ever. A prayer to God the Son. O Most merciful jesus, and only Saviour of all mankind, whose love to us all was so pure, and unfeigned, that thou diddest not deny to take our flesh upon thee, and to submit thyself to the death, in offering up thine own bodey, as a sweet smelling sacrifice to appease the indignation of thy father, who was worthily inflamed for the transgression, and breach of his holy commandments. O sweet jesus, the only author of our salvation, our most loving mediator to thy Father, have mercy upon me, and cast me not away whom thou with thy precious blood haste redeemed: O reject me not, for I am the price of thy passion, thou with the effusion of thy most precious blood, half paid the ransom of mine iniquity, and made a full a●d perfect satisfaction for my offences. O then look down upon my miseries, consider my distress: Behold the hell that tormenteth my conscience, as oft as I call to remembrance, my life so wickedly passed, and the innumerable multitude of my sins, which are more in number than the hears of my head, or the sands of the Sea. give me grace, to repent my wicked life, with Mary Magdelen, and to wash thy feet with the moisture of my tears and lamentation. give me grace, to be sorry for my sins and to weep with Peter, & to cry with the thief, that hanged on the right side, at the time of thy passion. Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. O give me grace to call myself to remembrance, to examine mine own conscience, to recount the number of my sins, and to cast myself flat prostrate at the feet of thy mercy, bewayllinge my sinful life, with many a river of tears, to acknowledge mine own wickedness unto thee, to crave remission of my faults, and by the continual tears of repentance, to recover thy favour again, and to die there in. give me grace to lead a new life, to put of the person of Adam, and to be regenarate and new borne in thee, my Lord and Saviour. give me grace, sweet jesus to cry Peccavi with David, and unfeignedly to lament my sins. give me grace sweet jesus to return again with the prodigal or lost Son, and to cry: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against thee and I am no more worthy to be called thy Son: make me as one of thy hired servants, O sweet jesus have mercy upon me, and forgive me my sins, renew a right spirit within me, wash me with Isope, and I shallbe made whiter then Snow: for unto thee belongeth mercy, and with thee is plentiful redemption. O think not upon the offences of my youth wherein I have ranged to much at random, like an unbridled colt, neglecting the way of understanding and loathing the path of thy commandments. I acknowledge freely, that if thou shouldest deal with me according to justice, I have deserved everlasting death, neither should I be able to abide thy sharp judgement, but should sink down into the bottomless dungeon of eternal damnation. But having a sure and certain confidence, fixed on the ancer, or hold, of immovable faith, I undoubtedly believe, that by thy merits, I am made partaker of everlasting life, being freely justified, with absolute remision of all my sins, since the first hour of my Nativity. Which faith, I ground neither on the merits of any mortal man, neither upon any Romish Pardons, or Indulgences, but only upon thee, my Lord and Saviour, who with thy most precious blodsheding, hast paid the price of my iniquity, and suffered thy glorious body to be mangled and torn for my transgression. give me grace, sweet jesus, so to order the rest of my life, as becometh a true Christian to do, walking in the light of thy holy Gospel, & eschewing the works of darkness, bejhaving myself obediently to my superiors, lovingly to my fellows, and conrtiousely to mine inferiors, bearing no grudge in my conscience, offering wrong to no man, but patiently to sufier injuries without desire of revenge: forgiving every man, whatsoever he hath done against me, as I myself would desire to be forgiven of thee my sweet Saviour, and only redeemer. give me grace sweet jesus to persever in my faith till the end, that all mine actions may be done in the name of jesus, and all my thoughts upon jesus, both at my down lying, and up rising, all the term of my life, and at the very instant of death, when I fetch the last gasp, my mind may be withdrawn with no idle or fantastical cogitations, but continually exercised in the meditation of the sweet and comfortable name of jesus, jesus. jesus. To thee, sweet jesus, with the Father, and the holy Ghost, be all honour and glory for evermore. Amen. A prayer to God the holy Ghost. O Holy, and blessed spirit, which being true, & ever lasting God, with God the Father, and God the Son, procéedest from them both coequal in deity and dignity of person, which art the only comforter of them that travail in this earthly Pilgrimage, and by thy heavenly wisdom directest them that right way, to attain to heavenly understanding of the will of God. Quicken, most holy spirit, by thy heavenly breath, the minds of them that afore were dead through sin, make merry the hearts of that faithful penitent bring into the way of truth all such as have erred, and wandered astray in the vale of error and ignorance, comfort the souls of all them that hunger & thirst, after righteousness, and suffer persecution for the Testimony of the Gospel, enrich them plentiousely with heavenly gifts which pray unto thee in the name of jesus Christ, our only mediator, & redeemer. Purify our hearts, we beseech thee, with the fire of thy love, that all that course of our frail and mortal life, may be directed by thy heavenly motion, as with an infallible rule and compass, that cannot lightly err. Mortify in us all worldly care, carnal lusts, concupiscence, covetousness, wrath, gluttony, pride, and all other sinful inclinations, that may withdraw us from the contemplation of thy glorious deity. Renew our spirits within us, that we may seem regenerate, or new borne as infants, and illuminate our minds, with thy heavenly benefits, and spiritual gifts that our bodies may be made thy temples, without spot, or blemish, at that dreadful day when every man must yield account of the works of his body. Lead us into the way of truth, and suffer us not to be carried away, with divers and strange doctrine, but always to remain in that doctrine whereof thou art the author: and vouchsafe to strengthen our minds in the same, that if an Angel of heaven should teach any other doctrine, then that which thou hast already taught, we may not believe him, but whosoever preacheth any doctrine contrary to that we have received, we may hold him accursed. Strengthen our souls, against all assaults, of our ghostly enemy Satan, and his chief minister, Antichrist, that seeketh by all means possible, to remove the foundations of our faith, and to pull the word of truth out of our hearts and to throw us, headlong, into the dungeon of error, and ignorance. Strength us against the vain allurements of the wicked woeld, and against all unclean lusts of the flesh, that we being replenished with thy holy breath, may be found pure and sanctified in thee and do those things only that may be acceptable in thy sight. To whom, with the Father, the Son and the holy Ghost: be all honour and glory, now & for ever Amen. A prayer to the blessed Trinity. O Most glorious, & blessed Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, three persons, and one God, omnipotent, and everlasting without, beginning, or ending, whom we do confess to be one in trinity, & three in unity, have mercy upon me, save me, and defend me, from all mine enemies both bodily, and ghostly, & by thy merciful goodness, and cleamency, vouchsafe so to direct my mind, in the way of thy commandments, that all my doings may be acceptable before thee, which art the God of my strength and my salvation. I beseech thee also, most blessed and glorious trinity, that those s●arkes of faith, that by thy heavenly grace are already planted in my heart, may by the operation of thy divine breath within me, every day more and more inflame, & by contival meditation of thy holy scriptures, increase mightily within me, to the suppression of vice, and advancement of virtue: whereby I may walk worthy of that profession, whereunto thou haste called me: walking in the same, with true zeal, and simplicity of heart, all the days of my life. I beseech thee also, (most blessed Trinity,) that thou of thy accustomed mercy, and love, wilt make perfect in me, that good work, which thou hast begun, and lead me in all truth, and godliness, having my mind always fixed upon thee, my most loving and merciful Father, 'cause me always to think, and speak and to do those things, that may he acceptable to thee, & restrain my tongue, from all idle and unhonest talk, because, that at that dreadful day of judgement, I am to tender an account, of every idle word, that I have spoken during the term of my former life. Keep my heart, and body, my senses, my doings, my talk, and communication in thy holy laws, & in the works of thy commandments. give me grace, to lead an upright life, without offence to my brethren, obedient to mine elders, loving to all sorts, & degrees, envious to no man, but framing my life uprightly and innocently my conversation orderly, & honestly, my doings circumspectly, & virtuously, having thy fear before mine eyes, in all my thoughts, deeds, and words, when I lie down, and when I rise up, at my last ●nd, and ever more Amen, A prayer before the receiving of the communion. O Sweet jesus, the Son of the everliving God, thou gavest thy body, to be cruelly tormented, to the death, to deliver and redeem me most miserable & wretched sinner, that by the law was dead in iniquity, & subject to the misery of eternal damnation: have mercy upon me, poor miserable wretch, whom the multitude of mine offences doth, so terrify, and drive into such mere desperation, that I dare not once look up upon the brightness of thy glory, nor presume to present myself before thy divine Majesty, in hope to obtain remission of my sins, but depending only upon a sure faith in thee, my Lord and Saviour by whose death and passion, I am assuredly informed by faith, that I am freely justified, with absolute remission of all mine offences. Wherefore I most humbly appeal unto thy Throne of mercy, crying with the Publicanne, Lord have mercy upon me, thy mercy pardon my faults, bind up my wounds, and pour in thy sweet oil, like a good Samaritan, whereby I may be purified, and purged, from those naughty tars of sin, which have ploughed me, even as a shadow, followeth the body, from the very instant of my Nativity. I come as an abject wretch, and reprobate to thee that art the mediator and intercessor, to reconcile me, to thy Father, (from whose savour I fell for transgression of his commandment, in my great Grandfather Adam:) most humbly desiring thee, to heal mine infirmity, and sickness to wash away my sin, and filthiness, to illuminate my blindness, to conduct me to the right way, that now wander in the wide dessert of error, to comfort me, destitute of all help and goodness. I confess most sweet Saviour, that I am but earth and ashes, a confused Chaos, and lump of sin and of myself not worthy to look up toward heaven, much less to presume unto thy holy table, to the communication of that most blessed Sacrament of thy body, whereof whosoever eateth worthily, with a steadfast and inmoveable faith in thee, hath everlasting life: but whosoever eateth thereof unworthily, (as judas did,) eateth his own damnation, Therefore although I come like an unclean sinner, be●●● polluted both in body & 〈◊〉, yet reposing my whole faith, and confidence in the merits of thy passion I have presumed to come to thy table, to be made partaker of that unspeakable bengate of thy death, feeding outwardly upon material bread, but inwardly by faith upon thy blessed body: the bread representing a perfect figure and remembrance, of thy body, and the wine, of thy blood, which was shed upon the Cross for my redemption. give me grace sweet jesus, to confess my sins with the Publican, and to cry, Lord be merciful to me a sinner: and that with Mary Magdeline, I may wash thy feet with the tears of repentance, give me grace, to reconcile myself to my brother, while he is in the way, to examine mine own conscience, and if in aught I have offended any man, first of all to desire forgiveness at the hands of thy divine Majesty, and next of him whom I have trespassed: I myself to forgive all men, whatsoever they have done, said, or imagined against me, even as I hope to have remission at thy Father's hands, of all mine offences, by the merits of thy precious death and passion. give me grace to search my conscience so narrowly, that if any one s●r●ple do stick in my mind, I may humbly confess it, before the feet of thy mercy, craving pardon thereof, with grace necessary to leave a new life. That with a p●●e heart, and clear conscience, confessing my sins from the bottom of my heart, I may this day, receive the Sacrament of thy precious body and blood, to my soul's health, that thou from henceforth mayst devil in me, & I in thee for ever, whereby I may obtain, and attain to that long desired mark, whereto the race of all true Christians tendeth, that is everlasting life, in that heavenly jerusalem, where all the elect Saints shall live for evermore, world without end. In the mean sp●ce, until it shall seem good to thy majesty, to abridge the course of my days in this life, I humbly desire thee, (most sweet Saviour,) to admit me to the communion of thy Supper, that I may be worthy to be accounted a member of thy mystical body here in earth, among the number of thy chosen Saints, in thy congregation. And after the receipt of thy body, & blood, vouchsafe I beseech thee, to illuminate the eyes of my heart with the light of thy heavenly spirit, that Satan enter not into me, as he did into judas, but grant that the rest of my life may be so ordered, that sin may be subdued in me, thy glory advanced, thy faith embraced, and thy holy commandments studiously followed, through the merits of thy passion. Amen. A thanks giving after the receiving of the Communion. I Tender most hearty and infinite thanks, unto thee, sweet jesus, for thine unspeakable goodness, because thou hast fed me this day with thy most precious body, and blood, in the Sacrament, whereby I am justified by an inmoveable and constant faith in thy grace and passion, being made an undefiled member of thy church. A Temple for the holy Ghost, and a fellow heir or partaker in thy glorious kingdom, in the bosom of Abraham, where the spirits of the elect shall rest for evermore. Grant therefore sweet jesus, that this Sacrament which I have received, may through the operation of the holy Ghost, be to me a purgation, and cleansing of all my sins, a spiritual strength against my bo●●ly frailty, a preparature, and preseruature against the temptations of Satan, a bridle, & mean of restraint against the untamed lusts of the flesh a defence against worldly troubles and adversity, and finally a perfect medicine of life, and a continual remembrance of thy blessed passion: by means whereof I stand in assured hope of eternal salvation, with free justification, and remission of all my sins. So that it may conduct and guide me in the way, and when I am out of the way, it may reduce me, when I slide it may uphold me, when I fall it may raise me up again: when I live, it may be a salve to my soul: when I am weak it may strengthen and confirm: when I am in darkness, it may illuminate me, with the light of true faith, and understanding. Let the receiving thereof excuse so effectual an operation in my heart, that I never joy in other comfort but in thee, that I never feel other sweetness but thee, that I never seek other place of refuge but thee, that my mind be enamoured upon no other lover but thee, that I seek for no other succour but at thee, & that I trust in none other but in thee, mine only Lord and redeemer, who diddest not deny, to have thy most precious body scourged, and mangled, and thy blood to be shed most abundantly, for my sake: whereby I might be brought from error, to truth, from ignorance, to understanding from darkness, to light, from vanity, to verity, from mortality, to immortality, ●rom corruption to incorruption, from damnation to justification, from eternal death, to the incomprehensible joys of eternal ly●e and salvation▪ To thee sweet jesus, with the Father, & the holy Ghost be all honour, & glory from this time forth for ever more, world without end. Amen. A prayer to be said when ye take a journey by land. O Almighty Lord, & most mercifall father, the wachman of them that sleep, the Physician of them that are diseased, the comfort of them that are afflicted, the guarder and protector of them that are in any danger, or adversity, vouchsafe, I beseech thee, to send down thine heavenly Angel, to be my guide, conductor, and leader, in the way where I walk that by thy gracious protection, I may be defended from all mine enemies, both Ghostly and bodily, & from all perils, or dangers, that by any extraordinary means may be fall me, if I be alone without company, keep my mind free, from all manner idle fantasies, and fond cogitatio●s, that may withdraw me from the meditation of thy heavenly word, and let all my thoughts consist in the contemplation of thy comfortable promises, and commandments. And if it so chance that I travail in the company of others, I beseech thee, so to direct my tongue, that no word of ribaldry, or unhonest talk proceed out of my mouth, but that all my communications, thoughts, and deeds, may tend to the advancement of thy glory, and to the edification both of me, and all else that shall hear it. Sand down, most heavenly Father, thy messenger to conduct me, as thou didst young jobias in his journey to Rages, which most mercifully defended him from the jaws of the monstrous Fish, and from the power of the evil spirit. Thou hast promised, that thou wilt at all times be ready both to hear their prayers, and minister present help to all them, that unfeignedly call upon thy name: incline therefore thine ear unto me, most merciful Father, which power forth my prayers, before the throne of thy mercy, and vouchsafe to guard me under the shadow of thy wings, that I may safely travail in trade of my vocation, without danger of any ghostly enemy, that may hurt the soul, or any other humane chance, or casualty, that may annoy the body. Direct, most merciful Father, the process of my business to a happy and prosperous end, & that I may return with as good and perfect health, both of body and soul, as I take my journey: so will I praise thee, in the congregation of the righteous, with a Psalm of thanks giving to thy name, for ever and ever. Amen. A prayer to be said when ye make a voyage by sea. O Almighty Lord, and most merciful Father, maker of all things, who by thine insearcheable wisdom didst created that mighty globe of the world, the heavens, earth, sea, and all things else therein contained: vouchsafe I beseech thee to be mine aid, and defence, in this dangerous voyage, which I have presumed to take, reposing mine only trust and confidence in thy mercy, to be delivered and preserved from all manner dangers, and jeopardies, that may hap either upon the sea or on the dry land. Thou knowest most merciful Father, that all those that travail by sea, are subject to the hazard of divers calamities, either to be tossed at the pleasure of the wind and waves, either to be dashed violently upon the main rocks, or to stick in the quick sands, or to be despoiled both of life, and goods, by the tyranny of Pirates. But yet what cross or affliction so ever happen unto me, I must acknowledge freely, that it is but a just punishment for mine offences, because from the first house of my nativity, I have been more apt and prove, to follow the filthy appetite of mine own desires, then to exercise myself in the tr●e way of thine undefiled law. Notwithstanding, what cross soever thou shalt think good to lay upon me, yea, although I were devoured of the waves, and swallowed down into the depth of the Whale's belly, yet will I not despair of thy mercy, for thou art the same God for ever, thy right hand is not shortened, neither is the greatness of thy power diminyshedde, Whē●onas lay three days and three nights in the Whale's belly, yet didst thou at last deliver him safe and sound, and sent him to preach thy name to the great city of Ninive. Thou art yet the same God, thou wast at the time, neither is thy power abridged at all. Although I were never so shaken with winds, turmoiled with tempests, tossed with the waves, yea although I were utterly devoured of the Whale, yet art thou able to deliver me from all these dangers, yea, from the very jaws of death. To thee therefore do I make my supplications, to thee do I power forth my prayers, for thou only art the castle of my comfort, my bulwark, my watchman, my keeper, my defender, the sure rock and hope of my salvation. To ●hee only it belongeth to direct my course safely into the haven, to protect and save me from the cruelty of the water, to lead me forth, to bring me in, to be my only stay & defence, whether I sleep or wake, live or die, sink or swim, upon the waters, as well as upon the land, & briefly in all places, & in all times and seasons. Thou knowest (most merciful father) that this trade is not of my devising, nor yet proceeding of any humane invention: but thou of thy mere mercy, didst reveal the mystery thereof to thy servant No, in commanding him to frame an Ark, that might fleet upon the floods, wherein he and his family only were saved, when all the world else, for the greatness of iniquity perished altogether, and were utterly confounded in the waters. Grant therefore most merciful Father, that this voyage, which I have presumed to take only upon a sure faith, & affiance in thy mercy, may turn me to no damage, or misfortune, but that I may be safely conducted, both forth and home again, by thy merciful protection, and assistance. So will I yield thee immortal praises, for thy fatherly benefits, and my tongue shall record the works of thy glory, for ever & ever. Yet, (Father) not my will, but thy will be fulfilled. To thee with thy son jesus Christ, and the holy Ghost, three persons and one God, be all honour and glory, for evermore. Amen. A prayer for Monday morning. I Tender unto thee immortal thanks, most merciful Father, for the sweet sleep, and comfortable rest that thou of thy mercy hast given me this night to recreate my weary limbs of the continual labours, and travails, which I was borne to sustain. And for as much, as thou hast commanded me by thy holy word, to redeem the time, and always to be exercised in some good work, and never to spend the time in idleness, I most humbly beseech thee, that thou wilt vouchsafe to look upon me, with the eyes of thy mercy, and by the illumination and inspiration of thy heavenly spirit, so to direct all my counsels, labours, and studies, that being replenished with thy grace, I may so spend this day according to thy most blessed will and ordinance, that I may circumspectly shun, and eschew all such ways as may provoke, or kindle thy displeasure against me, or that in any respect, may tend to my neighbour's damage. give me grace, to remove the veil of vanity out of my heart, that I may always have thy fear before mine eyes, living honestly, and uprightly in my calling, abounding in all manner good works, proceeding from a sound and uncorrupt faith, that my conversation may be found pure before thee, without either spot or blemish, my living may be temperate, & modest, with mediocrity, a●d not savouring of any incontinency, or immoderate superfluity: whereby all my doings may be acceptable before thy divine majesty, to the praise and glory of thy most blessed name. Stir up my mind continually, to have thy promises, and benefits in remembrance, that all my thoughts, and cogitations, may be exercised in the consideration of them, and not falling backward to my wonted iniquity, as the dog useth to return again to his vomit, or the sow that hath been clean washed to wallow again in the mire. give me continual quietness of mind, without any vexation or sting of conscience, that I may have some taste, and feeling of thy everlasting joys, that these dregs, & chaff of the world may seem loathsome, and filthy unto me, in comparison of those heavenly pleasures, that are prepared for the elect since the foundation of the world. To which joys we beseech thee (most merciful father) to bring us, for jesus Christ his sake: To whom, etc. A prayer for Monday evening. almighty & most merciful Father, which at the creator of all things, didst by thy heavenvly wisdom ordain the day for man to travail in, and to exercise himself in the labours pertaining to the trade of his vocation: and the night for us to re●● from our daily labours, and to refresh our frail bodies, with some sweet and natural sleep, whereby we might be the better enabled, every man to labour in his calling, and profession according to thy holy will, and commandments: Vouchsafe we beseech thee (most merciful father) that we thy poor pilgrims, that daily travail in running this our earthly race, in hope to win the crown of everlasting glory, by the merits of Christ jesus, may enjoy continual health of body, & soul this night & ever, and that we may be preserved from all temptations of Satan, who is ever ready, when we be idle, to seduce us from thee our Saviour, into the broad way of everlasting death and damnation. And whensoever our bodies take their natural rest, yet our minds may be always bend and fixed upon thee, the eyes of our understanding, may always watch in thee, that art our only Lord and most merciful defender. give us grace, whensoever we lie down, every night to examine our conscience, and enter into account of those deeds, which we have done the day before, and all the rest of our life time. And if we find, that we have done any good deed, give us grace to ascribe the same to thee, that art the only fountain and author of all goodness, and to acknowledge freely our own● imperfection, how that of ourselves, we are not able to think so much as one good thought, much less to do any good or godly action, that should seem to proceed of our own forwardness, or aptness thereunto: for we are nothing else but sin & corruption: and then how should an evil tree bring forth good fruit? Again, if we find that we have sinned against thee, either in thought, word, or deed, (as we do seventy times seven times every day:) give us grace, most merciful father, to acknowledge if before thy divine majesty, & with the tears of earnest & unfeigned repentance, to crave thy mercy with forgiveness both of that, and all other crimes and offences, which we have committed against thee since the time of our birth. Or else if we find that we have by any means endamaged our neighbour, give us grace to reconcile ourselves, and to clear our conscience, before we lie down, whereby we may sleep both sweetly, & sound, in Christ jesus, without any idle cogitations, or fantastical dreams, that may disturb our minds from the meditation of thy word: and if we dream at all, let us dream of thee our merciful Father: and such godly lessons and precepts that we have seen sleeping, to follow & prosecute the same actually, waking. Through jesus Christ our only memediatour and saviour. Amen. A prayer for Tuesday morning. I Tender unto thee, (most merciful father) immortal thanks for that thou of thy mere mercy and Fatherly bounty hast granted this night past to be prosperous and healthful unto me, without any perturbation either of body or soul. And because thou hast promised by the mouth of thy holy prophets, that thou wilt hear my voice, whnsoever I call upon thee by faith with humble supplications, and repentance of my sins: I beseech thee likewise, that thou wilt so prospero all mine actions, and endeavours this present day, that all things that I do say or think, may redeunde to thy glory, to the commodity of my neighbour, & to the damage of no man whatsoever, neither in thought, word, nor deed: but that all my doings may be directed by thy governance, to eschew sin, to do that is righteous in thy sight, & at all times, in all places, and in all respects, to have a reverent fear of thee before mine eyes, to walk circumspectly and so uprightly in my vocation, to put of the person of Adam, and to put on the new man, to order my conversation agreeable to thy will, to serve thee in spirit and truth, with the sacrifice of thanks giving, and contrition of heart, to lay sure hold on the anchor of faith, with an undoubted, and steadfast hope of resurrection to eternal life. Illuminate mine eyes most merciful Father, with the beams of thy heavenly spirit, that I walk not in darkness, as the children of unbelief do, which have no hope to arise from the dead. give me grace to abandon all worldly carefulness, to tame mine own lusts, & affections, to do the thing that is right, and diligently to walk in the light of thy commandments: For thou only art the true light, thou knowest no going down, thou art God from everlasting, & world without end. Increase most merciful father, the gift of faith, that I may truly believe in thee, & in thy promises made unto me, and that neither by my negligence, nor by my infirmity of the flesh, nor by greatness of temptation, neither by the subtle crafts, & assaults of the devil, I may be driven from faith in the blood of my saviour Christ jesus. Strengthen (most merciful Father) my feeble nature against all assaults of the world, the flesh, and the devil, that I may always have a sure confidence in thy only mercy, never to start away from thy grace to seek for help of man, but continually to cleave to the multitude of thy mercies, who art able to exalt the humble and meek, & to pull down the mighty from the throne of their pomp and glory give me grace to have thee in mind, whatsoever I do to honour thee, to fear thee, to call upon thy name, when I am in trouble, and to repose my whole trust in the greatness of thy power and mercy, with an assured hope to be preserved from all perils, both bodily, and ghostly, and at the last when I have ended my race in this transitory pilgrimage, to obtain the crown of everlasting joy, and felicity, in that celestial jerusalem, which thou haste prepared for all them that fear thy name, since the creation of the world, throuh jesus Christ our saviour, Amen. A prayer for Tuesday evening. O Almighty & most merciful father, I acknowledge and confess, that I am not worthy to lift up mine eyes toward heaven, much less to presume to present myself before thy divine majesty, I being but earth and ashes, a lump of sin and iniquity, subject to death & corruption, if I enter into examination of mine own deserts: for the infinite multitude of mine offences bear witness against me, that by mine own works I am under the dreadful curse of the law, and in extreme danger of everlasting death and damnation: for in sin was I begotten, and in sin hath my mother conceived me, I confess that there is no goodness in me, but any apt & forward inclination, to eschew the good, and to follow the evil: to range after the lusts of mine own desires, to wander astray out of the way of righteousness, and through my daily disobedience, to kindle thy wrath, & heavy displeasure against me, and contiqually to heap sin upon sin, to run a madding after the fantasies of mine own mind, and never to hearken to the voice of thy commandments. Yet this one comfort have I, that jesus Christ, by his precious death and bloodshedding, hath paid & the ransom of my iniquity, & made a full agreement, and perfect atonement between God and man, being a continual intercessor for me, and a most loving mediator betwixt his father & me, to appease his fury, and to receive me into his favour again. Therefore most merciful father, seeing thou haste not denied to give up thine only begotten son, to the shameful death of the cross, to redeem me from the bondage of death, & hell: Inspire I beseech thee my mind with thy heavenvly spirit, that I may do such things as please thee, and turn to kill sin, with all other ungodly lusts & concupiscence, that I may be made a sweet smelling sacrifice to thee, and the temple of the holy ghost for ever, & that I may live uprightly and honestly in my calling, without reproof, ensuing the right path of thy holy commandments. And for as much as it hath pleased thee to ordain the night for men to rest in, and the day to labour, grant I beseech thee most merciful Father, that I may so take my bodily rest, that my soul may continually watch for that happy and joyful time, when jesus Christ shall appear for my deliverance out of the miseries of this transitory lice. And in the mean season that I be not overcome by any fantasies, dreams or other temptations, but may have my mind, alway fixed upon thee, to love thee, fear thee, and rest in thee for ever: Moreover that my sleep be not excessive, or overmuch after the unsatiable desires of the flesh, but so much as may suffice to content and satisfy my feeble nature, whereby I may be the better disposed to live in all godly conversation, to the glory of thy holy name, and the commodity of my neighbour. To thee with the son and the holy ghost, be all honour & glory for ever & ever. Amen. A prayer for Wednesday morning. O Almighty & most merciful father, have pity, and compassion upon the weakness of me thy unworthy child, and be thou priest, and ready (O heavenly father) to help me, & with thy heavenly spirit to assist my weak spirit, against all assaults of the wicked world, the flesh, and the devil, which strive continually with fair allurements and provocations to draw my mind from thy commandments, into the hartfull and damnable way of error, and iniquity: but mine only stay and confidence is in the multitude of thy mercies, with a sure and certain hope, that thou wilt so direct my steps, both this day, and ever hereafter, that all my thoughts, words, & deeds, may be found acceptable in thy sight, and according to the godly live and rule of thy undefiled law. Therefore I beseech thee (heavenly father) to show thy mercy upon me, and to prospero me in whatsoever I go about in thy name: so that thou giving me light, I may learn to know what things are acceptable before thee, and by the virtue of thy grace, I may have an earnest yeale, & desire to follow the same in my life, to ●ay glory, & the commodity of my neighbour. That thou being my guide and leader, I may walk in the path of understanding, and righteousness without stumbling or wandering astray: for in myself I have nothing but mistrust, and inability to do any thing, that may please thee, saving only by the motion of thy holy spirit in my mind, which spirit assureth my spirit, that the mean to please thee, is a constant and immovable faith in Christ jesus, with repentance of my sins, and amendment of life, to ensue the steps of equity, and understanding: to cleave to the steadfast rock, of thy heavenly word, and promises, to love my neighbour as my self, for hereby shall it be known that we be thy children, if we love one another: to give over my portion to the poor, to take up my cross, and follow thee, to abound in all manner good works, which are the fruits of faith in Christ Jesu. give me grace, most merciful father, to kill the buds of sin in my flesh, to bridle mine own desires, to keep my body in subjection, whereby I may be sanctified in thee, and made an undefiled ●●●ple for the holy ghost, full of the spirit of truth and understanding. And sith it hath pleased thee of thy fatherly pity to preserve me from all perils & dangers, both of body and soul, this night, and all the rest of my life time, till this present hour, I beseech thee also most merciful father, to protect me with thy grace, all this day, & ever hereafter, that I may safely walk in my vocation, with thy fear before mine eyes, in all things that I take in hand. And vouchsafe most merciful father, so to direct the rennant of my course, which I have yet to run in this life, that at the last I may come to devil with thee, in thy everlasting kingdom, and there to have fruition of eternal joy and felicity: through jesus Christ, our only mediator & saviour. Amen. A prayer for Wednesday evening. O Merciful Lord jesus, I beseech thee to be favourable to me, a wretched sinner, that all my life time, have followed the lusts of mine own mind, and never hearkened to thy voice, whereby I might live in thy law, that thou hast appointed for me. Put away I beseech thee, all my sins out of thy remembrance, wash me clean with thy precious blood, sanctify me with thy bitter passion and death, cleanse me thoroughly, restore me again to the innocency, which thou gavest me in baptism, that I may be truly regenerate, & borne a new in thee my sweet saviour & only redeemer, so that I may acknowledge thee only the author of my redemption, and the principal cause of my justification: & to show my fel●e a thankful Samaritane, for that thou hast vouchsafed, by thy death and bloodshedding, to purge me from the leprosy of sin, and all kind of uncleanness: yielding thee immortal thanks continually, for that & all other gracious benefits, which thou of thy fatherly liberality, & bounty, vouchsafest daily to bestow upon me. And among all the rest give me grace, sweet jesus, to have always in remembrance thy sincere love, fatherly affection, and gracious charity towards me, in that thou hast vouchsafed to take my nature upon thee, to be made man in all respects like unto me, (sin only excepted) and for my sake to be borne in a stable, and as an infant to be wrapped in clotheses, to be swaddled, & laid in a manger, there to be fed with the material milk of thy blessed mother, the virgin Marie. For my sake sweet jesus, thou hast sustained hunger, cold, poverty, and many other agonies didst thou sustain for me, most miserable and wretched sinner. Thou hast suffered thyself to be betrayed, to be apprehended, and taken shamefully, to be bound unworthily, to be beaten cruelly, to be condemned unjustly, and to be brought to that shameful death of the cross, where for my sake thy precious body was rend, and torn, and thy most sweet blood abundantly shed, where thou yéeldedst up the ghost to God the father, and descendedst again into the grave, like a dead man, but didst rise again the third day, and ascendedst into heaven, where thou sittest at the right hand of God the father, from whence we look for thy coming again, to judge the quick and the dead, at what time we stand in assured hope, to be made jointly possessors & fellow heirs in thy kingdom, in eternal joy for ever. Therefore sweet jesus, seeing thou haste not spared thy own precious body, but gavest it up as a sweet smelling sacrifice on the altar of the cross, thereby so redeem me from death, and to make a full satisfaction for my offences: direct, I beseech thee, my 〈◊〉 so in this life, that I may be worthy of that v●cation whereunto thou hast called me, to have an especial ●are, and regard of thy commandments, and to follow them as nearly as I can, in all truth & singleness of heart, to yield du● obedience to my betters, to labour painfully, and at times convenient in my trade, and at night when I lie down to recreate my body after my daily labours, give me grace to confess my sins unto thee, to implore thy mercy, with the tears of unfeigned repentance. And though my limbs take their natural rest, yet let my mind continually watch in thee, expecting that joyful day, when I shallbe made partaker of thy celestial joys, which shall never end, To thee sweet jesus, with the father, and the holy ghost, be all honour. etc. A prayer for Thursday morning. O Almighty, & most merciful father, I heartily beseech thee, vouchsafe to look down, with the eyes of thy mercy upon me, a most vile and miserable sinner, which lie here prostrate before the feet of thy mercy, craving remission of my manifold sins and wickedness, from the very bottom of my heart, acknowledging freely, that I am no more worthy to be called thy son, the multitude of mine offences is so great & infinite. Yet for as much as thou art the god and Father of all comfort which desirest not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should turn from his wickedness and live: and like a true pitiful Samaritan art sorry to see mely thus wounded with the sting of sin and iniquity, make me I pray thee, by infusion of thy comfortable oil into my wounds, to run repentantly with the lost Son, and unfeignedly to bewail mine offences at the feet of thy mercy, crying, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and against thee, I am no more worthy to be called thy Son, make me as one of thy hired servants. give me grace, always to repent my sins with a contrite heart before thy divine Majesty, without either dissembling, or cloaking of them, for thou art the god of light, thou seest whatsoever is done in darkness, and from thy eyes there can be nothing concealed: have mercy therefore (most merciful Father) upon me, forgive me my trespasses, as I forgive them that have trespassed against me: forgive me my debt, and have compassion upon mine infirmity, for thou Lord art a merciful God, full of pity & compassion such a one, as is sorry for my afflictions, with thee is abundance of comfort, & plenty, of redemption, thou only art the god of my health and salvation: besides thee I knowledge none other god, neither in heaven above, nor i● the earth beneath, neither in the water under the earth, thou only art almighty, thou only from the beginning art everlasting, world without end. O bow down thine ears (most merciful Father) to the voice of my lamentation, for against thee only have I sinned, thee only have I offended, and justly for my disobedience provoked thy wrath, and indignotion against me, yet I poor sinner do accuse myself unto thee, dear Father that I have sore & grievously offended thy goodness & Majesty, in committing of divers & manifold heinous offences against thee, for I have not kept the lest of thy most holy and godly commaundemenntes, but have wandered astray from my youth, following mine own unbridled affections, declining from the sacred precepts of thy holy law, and starting aside like a broken bow I have not honoured thee like my god, I have not obai●d thee like my Father, I have not served thee like my creator, but have all my life time spurned at the way of righteousness, and understanding, offending thy divine Majesty ever both in thoughts, words, and deeds, which continually I commit against thee, O my merciful God and loving Saviour, I am sorry for my sins, even from the bottom of my heart, yea my soul mourneth most merciful Father, to the death, for the innumerable multitude of my sins. The only hope I have of obtaining thy mercy, is in the merits of thy Son jesus Christ, my Saviour. Thou hast divers and sundry times by the mouth of thy holy Prophets, pronounced forgiveness of sins, if I repent from the bottom of my heart, vouchsafe therefore most merciful Father, to look upon my misery, & as thou sparest thy plague from the great City of Ninive, when they repented: even so most merciful father withdraw thy rod from me, that lie prostrate at the feet of thy mercy, bewailing my sins with the unfeigned lamentation of hearty repentance. forgive me my offences, most merciful Father, and renew a right spirit within me, conduct me by the virtue of thy grace, to run the rest of this earthly course which yet remaineth that my footsteps never slide: but that I may so spend this day, (to the beginning whereof thou haste safely brought me) and the rennant of my life in this world that all my thoughts, words, and works, may tend to thy glory, and to the commodity of my neighbour, so that I may have a joyful resurrection at what time thy Son jesus Christ my saviour, shall come to judge both the quick and the dead. To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever and ever. A prayer for Thursday evening. etc. O Lord, which only art god, true gracious & merciful, which commandest them that love thy name to cast all their fear and care upon thee, promising most mercifully, thyself to be their protector from their enemies, their refuge in danger, their governor in the day, their watchman in the night, who keepest Israel, & dost neither slumber nor sleep, but hast thine eyes continevallie bend upon them as the eagle on her youngeons protecting them under the shadow of thy power, as the hen gathereth her chickens to gather, covering them under the shadow of her wings: I beseech thee of thy bountiful goodness O Lord, to forgive me my sins wherein I have offended thee this day, and heretofore in my life time, and to receive me under thy protection this night and ever, that I may rest in perfect quietness both of body & soul. Grant most merciful Father, that the external eyes of my body may take their sound and natural sleep, but let the inward eyes of my heart and mind continually watch unto thee that the weakness of the flesh 'cause me not to offend thy divine Majesty. Let my mind at all times have an inward feeling of thy goodness towards me, that the memory of thy manifold benefits never slide out of my remembrance, but that at all times I may be stirred up to praise thy name, & to yield thee thanks for the innumerable gifts that thou of thy mere mercy and Fatherly liberality, without any desert of mine haste freely bestowed upon me, since the first hour of my nativity. Let thy praise sound in my mouth, late & early, at midday and midnight, in all places, at all times and seasons. Plant in my heart most merciful Father, a true desire & perfect zeal to thank thee, for all the benefit●s that I have daily received at thy hands, that I may turn back with the Samaritan, & praise thee, and not to departed as the other ix. Lepiers did, who feeling themselves cleansed of their filthiness, yet returned not at all to give God thanks Instruct me I beseech thee in thy divine judgements that when I have safely passed this night under thy protection, I may spend the next day, I all my life following in holiness and purity of conversation, crying continually, come Lord jesus, come, for thine elects sake, come quickly, Amen. That at the last I may happily arrive at the port of that everlasting rest, which by thy mercy thou hast promised to all them that unfeignedly love the name of jesus: To whom with the Father, and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory for ever. Amen. A prayer for Fridaye morning. ALmighty and most merciful Father, I beseech thee for thy Son jesus Christ his sake, to grant me thy heavenly grace that with immovable zeal I may seek after those things that may please thee, & circomspectly shun all kind of ways that may move or provake thy wrath against me. And when I have once known perfectly what thy will & pleasure is, give me grace to seek the same carefully, to fulfil it perfectly, and to walk in the same vigelantly, to the honour and glory of thy most holy name Order my living so that I may do those things which thou requirest of me, & that with unfeigned devotion without all Pharisaical pretended holiness. give me grace that I may know it, & have will and power to do thereafter, lest if I know my master his will and due it not, I be beaten with many stripes. Above all things give me grace to seek thy honour and glory, with all things else which he most convenient for my salvation in Christ Jesu. Make my wa●es I beseech thee most merciful Father, sure and strait before, that if wealth abound I fall not unto pride and presumption, or if I fall into adversity I be not driven into desperation, as to lose the faith which I have in my Lord and Saviour, or to blaspheme thy most holy mame with words of reproach as they do, whose heart Satan hath possessed, and rooted the seeds of virtue & understanding out of their hearts. Only give me a necessary living, sufficient to maintain myself honestly, with mediocrity, and without superfluity or idle excess. give me not to much, jest I wax proud & so forget thee, that art the author of my wealth and mine only upholder: neither too little jest I be forced to attempt, unhonest and extraordinary shifts, without any care or respect either thy heavenly laws and commandments, or the decrees of my prince and country. give me grace ever to rejoice in thee, and that I may never be sorrowful for any thing, but that may draw me from thy law, or wherein I have sinned against thy divine Majesty. be thou mine only comfort above all other, to recreate me when I am in perplexity, to protect me both at my down liing and uprising, let me not be merry with the joy that is without thee, neither let me delight in any thing but in thee, and the cross of Christ jesus: make me to lift up mine heart continually to thee, when I am either in prosperity or fallen into adversaty. Make me humble without hypocrisy, merry without lightness, sad without mistrust, sober without dullness, true without doubleness, fearing thee without desperation, trusting in thee without presumption, teling my neighbour his faults without dissimulation, giving other a good example of perfect and godly living, that they which behold it may be the more inflamed to trend the like trace and to glorifiy god in all his gifts. And finally grant most merciful Father that seeing (I have taken sufficient rest this night past, and that the day is come) wherein thou hast appointed me to do all such godly and necessary business, as may be to thy glory, the profit of my neighbour and health of my soul: I may so pass the same in thy fear, that I be in danger of no trouble or perturbatiō●ther of body or mind but evermore constant in faith by the blood of Christ jesus my Saviour and redeemer. To whom with thee & the holy ghost be all honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. A prayer for Friday evening. I Tender unto thee, (most merciful Father, all possible thanks and praises, for that thou of thy mere mercy and Fatherly pity, hast guarded me all this day, and the rest of my life time under the wings of thy heavenly protection: desiring thee with the tears of my lamentation to put all my wickedness out of thy mind which I have committed against thy divine Majesty sith the time of my conception Thou haste promised by the mouth of thy holy Prophet that at what time soever a sinner doth repent him of his sins from the bottom of his heart, thou wilt put all his wickedness out of thy remembrance: forgive me therefore most merciful Father, and with the eyes of thy mercy look down upon me as thou didst look upon Peter thine Apostle when he lamented his sin & was sorry for his offences, let me be regenerate in spirit, and learn from henceforth to walk in thy laws all the days of my life. Make me to lift mine heart often times unto thee, and when I fall make me to think upon thee and be sorry for mine iniquity with steadfast purpose of amendment & grace of thee, to perform the same. Grant me understanding to know thy will to follow such conversation as may please thee, to repose my whole trust and confidence in the multitude of thy mercies, whereby I may walk without blame in my calling, doing right to every man, and injury to no man, but after the example of thy Son jesus Christ to suffer wrong patiently without desire of revenge, to pray for mine enemies, & to love them that persecute my life, Grant grace in all kind of humility to follow the steps of thy son jesus Christ, that pure and immaculate Lamb. And when my body hath taken his natural rest give me a desire to shake of all slothfulness and drowsiness, that my limbs may be strong to sustain my labours, that pertain to my present, vocation, and that all mine actions may be done in thy name, and referred to thy glory, to the commodity of the common wealth. Through jesus Christ our Saviour Amen. A prayer for Saturday morning. O Almighty Lord & most merciful Father, whose power reacheth above the clouds, & thy glory through all the world, who only beholdest the counsels, devices and works, yea the very thoughts of all men, that searchest the inward cogitations, yea the very heart and reins. I most humbly beseech thee, that for as much as thou hast graciously preserved me this night, I may not spend this day after my own mind and pleasure which is always evil and wicked, but earnestly look upon and diligently follow thy fatherly will, thy everlasting counsel, thy healthful word & pleasure which is always good, perfect and holy, and that I may fulfil the same with all possible care and diligence, that thy divine name may be always sanctified doth now and evermore of me miserable sinner. Inspire my mind with thy heavenly spirit, that my ways may be directed according to thy Godly will and commandments, that my feet slide not out of the paths of righteousness, that my mind imagine not upon wickedness, that my tongue speak no blasphemies against thee, but that all my thoughts, words & works, may be to guided by thy the grace I never provoke thy wrath nor displeasure against me, as for my sins and offences of my youth, I beseech thee to put them out of thy remembrance for thy great mercies sake and never think upon them hereafter. For I confess and acknowledge that I am a miserable and wretched sinner, I have wandered out of the way of virtue since my youth, and have followed the brutish inclination of my corrupt nature, like the senseless beasts of the earth, whose eyes are still fatsened on the ground, considering no further than the time present, without any knowledge or fore sight of the time to come. Thou knowest O Lord that I am but hay & grass, that flourisheth this day, and to morrow is cut down and cast into the fornice: so little hold or stay is there in the life of man, that he cannot assure himself of one hour longer than thy good pleasure shall permit him. Ten times happy therefore is he that can spend this little time of being, which thou hast granted him according to the rules and precepts of thy holy commandments. Wherefore sith I am but mortal, made of earth and ashes, and always prove to fall from thy statutes, illuminate I beseech thee, the eclipsed eyes of my gross understanding, with the light of thy heavenly spirit, that I may spend this day, and all the rest of my life hereafter in such wise as my doings may be acceptable in thy sight, and commodious to the common wealth through our only Lord and Saviour jesus Christ. Amem. A prayer for Saturday evening. O Merciful God and heavenly Father, whether I sleep or wake, live or die I am always thine, wherefore I beseech thee heartily that thou wilt vouchsafe to take care and charge of me, and not to suffer me to perish in the works of darkness, but to kindle the light of thy countenance in my heart, that thy godly konwledge may daily increase in me through a right and a pure faith, and that I may always be found to live & walk after thy will & pleasure, to have my mind and cogitations bend upon thee, whether I sleep or wake or what thing else so ever I do that I may stick fast to thee, by a pure & unspotted faith, in my saviour Christ jesus. Be thou (O merciful father) my watch man and my keeper, from the terrible assaults of Satan, and his wicked ministers, keep my heart from the imaginations of iniquity, that I may be pure in thee, and an unspotted spouse to thy Son Christ jesus. When I lay down myself, to recreate my limbs with sleep, which thou hast appointed for the satisfaction of my trail body, let me not be troubled or assailed with any unclean cogitations, but keep my mind still waking in thee, to repose my trust in thy mercy, that the external eyes of my heart may be evermore exercised in meditation of the comfortable promise. To whom with the Father, the Son and the holy ghost be all honour and glory now and ever more. Amen. A prayer for Sunday morning. O Almighty god and most merciful Father, whom the tables of thy commandments, delivered to the hands of thy servant Mayses upon the Mount Sina: among other precepts didst give charge unto thy chosen children of Israel, that in six days they should do all such works and labours, as they had to do, and rest from labour the seventh day: grant we beseech thee, that since we have happily passed over this whole week under thy gracious protection, we may not only rest this day from our daily travails but that we may abstain also from the works of sin and iniquity, and sanctify this day to thee, with prayers and thanks giving, abounding in all works of love and charity, as thou hast commanded in thy holy word, that we may be found pure without spot or blemish at that day when thy Son jesus Christ shall come to judge the world with righteousness and equity. And forasmuch as thou hast ordained this day among the rest wherein we should meet altogether with brotherly love and affection, to yield thee praises for the innumerable benefits we have received at thy hand, to acknowledge thy fatherly love and pity towards us from time to time, and to give thee thanks in general for all and universal thy benefits hitherto bestowed upon us, we humbly beseech thee to grant us thy holy spirit that we may be the more zelousely inflamed to serve thee in true holiness and integrity of life: & by the operation of that spirit we may kill all carnal lusts, unlawful pleasures, occupiscence, and all other spots of uncleanness, whereby we may be made thy child by adoption and grace, and our bodies the temple of the holy ghost, being thoroughly purged and purified from the dregs of iniquity and abhominotion. give us grace most merciful Father, to spend this day to thy pleasure in all good works and charity, proceeding from an undefiled faith in Christ jesus, that we fall not into no kind of danger, but that all our doings may be ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight, through jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A prayer for Sunday Evening. WE tender unto thee everlasting praises (most merciful Father) for that of thy gracious favour and love towards us, thou hast vouchsafed to preserve me all this day and the rest of my life hitherto, under the shadow of thy most merciful protection: beseeching thee also to take me to thy tuition this present night & ever, that we be not tempted with any suggestion of Satan, but being thoroughly armed with the holy ghost, we may have power & force to resist his assaults by a sure faith and confidence in the blood of thy blessed son, our Lord & Saviour Christ jesus. give us grace to repent us of our sins unfeignedly, to crave remission of them uncessantly, to embrace thy holy word and commandments sincerely, & to express them in our living effectually: whereby we may walk uprightly in our conversation, with sure and certain hope of resurrection to eternal life by the merits of Christ jesus, that we may be found waking and watching for his coming, when he shall come to judge the world with equity, and to reward every man according to the works of his body. Grant us grace most merciful father, to behave ourselves so uprightly in this life, that then we may be made partakers of thy kingdom with thy elect: there to live in eternal joy and felicity world without end. Amen. FINIS. The Litany. O God the father of heaven: have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O God the father. etc. O God the Son redeemer of the world: have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O God the Son. etc. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Son have mercy upon us miserable sinners. O God the holy ghost. etc. O holy blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God, have mercy upon us miserable sinners O holy, blessed & glori etc. Remember not Lord our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers, neither take thou vengeance of our sins, spare us good Lord, spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy most precious blood, and be not angry with us for ever. Spare us good Lord From all evil and mischief from sin, from the crafts and assaults of the Devil, from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation. Good Lord deliver us. From blindness of heart, from pride, vain glory, & hypocrisy, from envy, hatred and malice, and all uncharitableness. God Lord deliver us. From fornication, and all other deadly sin, and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh & the Devil. Good Lord deliver us. From lightning & tempest, from plague pestilence & famine, from battle & murder, & from sudden death. Good Lord deliver us. From all sedition and privy conspiracy, from all false doctrine and heresy, from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy word & commandment. God Lord deliver us. By the mystery of thy holy incarnation, by thy holy nativity and circumcision, by thy baptism, fasting & temptation. Good Lord deliver us. By thine agony & bloody sweat, by thy Cross & Passion, by thy precious death and burial, by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension, and by the coming of the goly Ghost. Good Lord deliver us. In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our wealth, in the hour of death and in the day of judgement. Good Lord deliver us. We sinners do beseech thee, to hear us O lord God and that it may please thee to rule and govern thy holy Church universally in the right way. We beseech thee to etc. That it may please thee to keep & strengthen in the true worshipping of thee, in righteousness and holiness of life, thy servant Elizabeth our most gracious Queen and governor. We beseech thee to etc. That it may please thee to rule her heart in thy faith, fear, and love, and that she may evermore have affiance in thee, and ever seek thy hoor and glory. We beseech thee to etc. That it may please the to be her defender & keeper, giving her the victory over all her enemies. We beseech the to. &. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Pastors, and Ministers of thy Church, with true knowledge and understanding of thy word, and that both by their preaching and living they may set it forth & show it accordingly. We beseech thee to. &. That it may please thee to endue the Lords of the counsel, and all the Nobility with grace wisdom and understanding. We beseech thee to. etc. That it may please thee to bless and keep the Magistrates, giving them g●ace to excetute justice, and to maintain truth We beseech thee to. etc. That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people. We beseech thee to. etc. That it may please thee to give to all nations unity peace and concord. We beseech thee to. etc. That it may please thee to give us an heart to love & dread thee, and diligently to live after thy commandments We beseech thee to etc. That it may please thee to give all thy people increase of grace, to hear meekly thy word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruitis of thy spirit. we beseech thee to. etc. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth all such as have erred & are dceaved. We beseech thee to etc. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand, and to comfort and help the weak hearted, and to raise them up that fall, and finally to beat down Satan under our feet. We beseech thee to etc. That it may please thee to secure help and comfort, all that be in danger necessity and tribulation. We beseech thee to. etc. That it may please thee to soccour help, and comfort, all that be in danger necessitte and tribulation. we beseech thee to. etc. That it may please thee to preserve all that travail by land or by water, all women labouring of child, all sick persons & young children, and to show thy pity upon all prisoners & captives. we beseech thee to. etc. That it may please thee to defend and provide for the fatherless Children and widows, and all that be desolate and oppressed. we beseech thee to etc. That it may please thee to have mercy upon all men we beseech thee to. etc. That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors and flaunderers, and to turn their hearts. we beseech thee to. etc. That it may please thee to give & preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so as in due time we may enjoy them. we beseech thee to, etc. That it may please thee to give us true repentance to forgive us all our sins, negligences and ignorances and to endue us with the grace of thy holy spirit, toamend our lives according to thy holy word. we beseech thee to. etc. Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. Son of God, we be etc. O lamb of God that takest away the sins of the world. Grant us thy peace. O lamb of God that takest away the sins of that world. Have mercy upon us. O Christ hear us. O Christ hear us. Lord have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us. Our father which art in etc. And lead us not into. etc. But deliver us from evil. The versicle. O Lord deal not with us after our sins. The Answer. Neither reward us after our iniquities. Let us pray. O God merciful Father, that dispisest not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as be sorrowful, mercifully assist our prayers, that we make before thee in all our troubles and advarsities, whensoever they oppress us, and graciously hear us, that those evils which the craft & subtlety of the Devil or man worketh against us be brought to nought, and by the providence of thy goodness they may be dispersed, that we thy servants being hurt by no persecution, may evermore give thanks unto thee in thy holy Church through jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. O Lord arise, help us, and deliver us for thy name sake O God we have hard with our ears and our Fathers have declared unto us, the noble works that thou didst in their days and in the old tune before them. O lord arise help us and deliver us for thy thine honour. Glory be to the father. etc. As it was in the be etc. From our enemies defend us O Christ. Graciously look upon our afflictions. Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts. Mercifully forgive the sins of the people. Favourably with mercy hear our prayers. O Son of David have mercy upon us. Both now and ever vonchsafe to hear us O Christ. Graciously hear us, oh christ graciously hear us O Lord Christ The versicle. O Lord let thy mercy be showed upon us. The Answer. As we do put our trust in thee. Let us pray. WE humbly beseech thee (O father) mercifully to look upon our infirmities, and for the glory of thy names sake, turn from us all those evils that we most righteously have deserved, and grant that in all our troubles, we may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, & evermore serve thee in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honour & glory: through our only mediator & advocate jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A prayer for the Queen's majesty. O Lord our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the only ruler of Princes, which dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers upon the earth, most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious soucraigne Lady Queen Elizabeth, and so replenish her with the grace of thy holy spirit, that she may always incline to thy will and walk in thy way Endue her plentifully with heavenly gifts: grant her in health & wealth long to live, strengthen her that she may vanquish and overcome all her enemies. And finally after this life she may attain everlasting joy and felicity: Through jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. A prayer for Pastors and Ministers of the Church. Almighty and everlasting God, which only workest great marvels, send down upon our Pastors, and Ministers, and all congregations committed to their charge the healthful spirit of thy grace, and that they may truly please thee. Pour upon them the continual due of thy blessing: Grant this (O Lord) for the honour of our advocate and mediator jesus Christ. O God heavenly Father, which by thy Son jesus Christ hast promised to all them that seek thy kingdom, and the righteousness thereof, all things necessary to their bodily sustenance: Sand us we beseech thee, in this our necessity. such moderate rain and showers, that we may receive the fruits of the earth to our comfort, and to thy honour: through jesus Christ our Lord Amen The blessing. THe peace of God which passeth 〈◊〉 understanding keep our hurts and minds in the knowledge & love of God & of his Son jesus Christ our Lord. And the blessing of God almighty, the father the son & the holy Ghost, be among us & remain with us always. Amen. FINIS.