THE HAVEN OF HOPE: Containing godly Prayers and meditations for divers purposes. Gathered by R. A. Mark. 13, 35. Watch and pray, for ye know not when the time is. Imprinted at London, for Yarath james. 1585. To the Worshipful, and my very good Master, M. JOHN DARCIE, Esquire, grace, mercy, and peace from God the father through our Lord jesus Christ be multiplied. CAlling unto my remembrance (worshipful Sir) the straight account that our Saviour Christ shall take of his servants, on whom he hath bestowed his talents, and seeing the reward that the good and profitable servant shall have for well bestowing & imploieng the same. And also setting before mine eyes, the punishment prepared for the wicked and unprofitable servant, I (weighing the reward of the one, and the punishment of the other) thought it to be very necessary & my bounden duty, (according to the talon, which almighty GOD in mercy hath bestowed upon me) to write this little book, two especial causes moving me thereunto: the first & principal cause is, to discharge my duty towards almighty GOD (of whom I have received and do receive every good gift whatsoever it be) as near as he will give me grace: for as the Scripture saith; Every good gift, and every perfect gift cometh from above, (the Lord make us thankful for them) for when we have done whatsoever we can of ourselves (which is nothing) yea, when we think that we have done the best service that can be done, yet must we understand and know that we are but unprofitable servants, and have not done so much as is our duty to do. This is the first and principal cause that moved me to the writing of this little Treatise. Then when I had finished this small piece of work, being undetermined whom I might make my patron, at length it came into my mind to present the same unto your worship's view, as to one, of whom (among men) I have received the greatest benefits. Therefore the second cause that moved me to the writing of this little volume, was, somewhat to gratify your worship's goodwill, which hath at all times been so great towards me. But peradventure your worship may think it a great presumption in me, to present such a rude piece of work to you, but I crave pardon for my boldness, and I trust that your Worship will accept it according to my good meaning, and I hope in the almighty Lord, (that although it be not furnished with Ciceronical eloquence) you shall find in it such matter, as shall tend both to the glory of GOD, and the health of your soul, and that is my greatest desire. Thus being loath to use superfluity of words, I end, desiring almighty God to prosper your Worship in all your affairs, that you may so walk before him in this vale of misery, that when this our sinful course is ended; you and we may all reign together with him in that place, which he (in mercy) hath prepared for all his elect children: to the which place, bring us the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, Amen. Your Worship's most humble to command: Ralph ALLIN. To the godly and Christian Reader, R. A. wisheth the direction of God's holy spirit. THOU hast here (good Christian Reader) the first fruits of a barren field, which, although it be not replenished with pleasant herbs delightful to the fleshly fancy of thy mind, yet if thou put away from thee the delights of this world, and put on Christ jesus, I do not doubt, but by the assistance of God's holy spirit, they shall be pleasant to thy spiritual appetite. And herein I desire thee not to be rash in condemning without consideration, but rather if thou see a fault by any means to be escaped, I earnestly desire thee to correct it, that if hereafter occasion do serve me to set forth the like again (seeing thy good will towards me) I may be emboldened the more to persevere in the like enterprise. And because that prayer (if it come from a heart and mind that is stirred unto godliness) is a thing most precious in the sight of almighty God, I thought it good therefore to write this small Manuel of prayers, entitled, The HAVEN of HOPE, which although the volume be but small, yet if thou well peruse and mark the same, I trust in the Lord jesus Christ, that thou shalt find such matter in it, as (if thou pray by faith) shall (no doubt) bring consolation both to thy soul and body. And if I do find, or can any way learn, that this little Treatise doth bring any comfort unto thy soul, I do mean (as God shall make me able) in time to augment the same. Thus being very loath to trouble thee with many words and little matter, I leave thee to the defence of almighty God, unto whom I pray, that it will please him to guide thee with his holy spirit, that thereby thou mayst do whatsoever shall be pleasant in his sight, to his honour, and the health of thine own soul, through our only Saviour jesus Christ: to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost, be all honour, praise, glory, dominion and thanks giving, now and evermore: So be it. Thine in the Lord, R. A. An introduction to prayer. BEFORE thou beginnest to pray (good christian Reader) there are three things of thee principally to be noted; which are these that follow. 1 The first is to bewail thy sins, and to be heartily sorry for them, promising never to commit the like again. For at what time soever a sinner doth repent him of his sin from the bottom of his heart, I will put all his wickedness out of my remembrance, saith the Lord. 2 The second is this, that thou must be persuaded in thy faith and conscience, that the Lord doth hear & regard whatsoever thou dost pray for: or else thy prayers are made altogether in vain; For whatsoever proceedeth not of faith, is sin. 3 And the third and last is this, that thou must go with an upright & a clear conscience before the Lord thy God, not bearing malice or envy to any thy brethren or sisters in the Lord: for as Saint john saith; How canst thou love the Lord thy God, whom thou hast not seen, when thou hatest thy brother whom thou seest daily. Thus good Reader, if thou dost diligently mark and consider these three points, and follow them; there is no doubt but that the Lord thy GOD will hear what soever thou prayest, and also grant thee thy request. For how canst thou pray to the Lord, to direct thee with his holy spirit, when thou dost not bewail and lament for thy offences which be passed? And how dost thou think to obtain thy request at the Lords hand, when thou dost not pray by faith, and with a clear conscience? And how canst thou pray with a clear conscience, when thou bearest malice and envy to thy brethren or sisters, which are all members of one mystical body with thee, jesus Christ being the head? Thus briefly have I set down the order how thou oughtest to behave thyself when thou goest to prayer. And now in the name of God we will begin with prayer. A prayer to be said in the Morning. ALMIGHTY, most merciful, and everliving God, who art the comforter and defender of all those which assuredly do put their whole trust and confidence in thy mercy, as thou hast showed unto me a manifest token of good will, in defending me this night from the snares of Satan that ancient enemy of all mankind, who rageth now most cruelly, knowing that his time is but very short, and therefore is he the more eager in seeking of his prey, devising how he might get a multitude of the souls of thy children to be entrapped in his net of perdition, therefore I beseech thee (good father) even for thy Son our Saviour jesus Christ's sake, that like as thou hast this night preserved me from the snare of this wicked hunter, and from his noisome pestilence: even so good Father, I heartily beseech thee, so to enlighten the eyes of my mind this day, that I may see how to avoid the wicked engines, which he layeth to snare us withal: for as he is a spiritual enemy: even so, O Lord, had we need of thy spiritual help to avoid him: grant this, O Father, for jesus Christ's sake our Saviour, Amen. Another prayer to be said in the morning. Almighty and most loving Father, like as thou hast this night mercifully, and of thine infinite goodness and mercy graciously preserved me from the subtility and tyranny of sathan, & hast given me sweet sleep and quiet rest? Even so, good Lord, I beseech thee for jesus Christ his sake to keep and defend me this day from all evil that may happen unto me, and that I may bestow it wholly in thy service, and that I may do nothing, but that which may be pleasing unto thee, through jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. A prayer to be said at night. O Good Lord, I beseech thee to bless, preserve, and keep me this night from the wily ways and subtle suggestions of the devil, who being the ancient enemy of all mankind, goeth about like a roaring lion continually seeking whom he may devour, but keep me, O good Lord, by thy merciful providence, that I may rest quietly, & sleep sweetly, that waking I may give thee thanks for thy merciful protection and defence, through Christ our Lord, Amen. A prayer to be said when the day is light. Almighty GOD, which hast ordained the light of the sun to lighten the day, and the moon to lighten the night; I beseech thee for thy great mercy sake, so to enlighten my mind with thy holy spirit, that I may truly perceive and understand the heavenly mysteries of thy holy word, that thereby I may be guided to the land of everlasting blessedness, there to reign with thee world without end, Amen. A prayer to be delivered from the Pope and his detestable heresies. O Good Lord, I beseech thee strengthen me with thy holy spirit, and give me grace faithfully to remain in that obedience towards thee, which I am taught in thy holy word, so that I be not led away from thee by the vain ceremonies and devilish doctrine of Antichrist the Pope, which calleth himself the vicar of Christ, and is nothing less; for he maketh merchandise of men's souls, making them to worship stocks and stones, in stead of the true worshipping of thee, O God. Deliver me, O good Lord, and all thy faithful servants from the tyranny of this Romish wolf, which seeketh continually to devour the poor lambs of thy sheepfold, and Lord, I beseech thee, if it be thy pleasure, either to turn his heart, or else confound him suddenly. From whose devilish doctrine, deliver us the father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, three in person, one in substance: to whom be honour and glory, now and for ever, Amen. A prayer against worldly tribulation. GRant, Lord, I beseech thee, that I may remain thy faithful servant, and serve thee in true obedience, that neither the cares of this world, nor any worldly tribulation may withdraw my mind from the obedience of thee, and grant also good Lord, that my mind be not choked with the cares of this world, but that I may cast all my care upon thee, which livest, and reignest for ever. A prayer for faith. MOst merciful and loving father, I beseech thee for jesus Christ's sake, to increase & strengthen my faith, that I may go forward in all godliness. And grant, O Lord, that my faith may be builded upon the rock Christ jesus, that I be not carried away with every blast of vain doctrine, but through faith in thee, I may be as an invincible fortress to my enemy the devil: so that he may never prevail against me. And also Lord, I pray thee let not my faith be an idle faith, but a working faith, a faith that daily proceedeth from one good work to another, & in the end unto everlasting life. There to reign with thee world without end, Amen. A prayer to be said when one entereth into the Church. I Enter into this thy temple, O merciful father, to hear thy word preached, give me grace, O Lord, that I may hear it with such an humble & fervent zeal, that it may not be unto me, as seed that is sown among thorns, lest the thorny cares of this world choke it: so that it cannot bring forth fruit. Neither as seed that is sown upon stony ground, where it can take no root: nor yet as sown by the way side, where the fowls of the air do gather it and eat it up, but let the seed of thy word, good Lord, be sown in me, as seed that is sown upon good ground, bringing forth fruit unto life everlasting, some thirty, some sixty, some an hundred fold: grant this, O Father, for jesus Christ's sake our only mediator and advocate, Amen. A prayer against the lusts of the flesh. I Thy humble servant (O most merciful father) do feel in myself a great and marvelous battle between the flesh and the spirit; but (gracious Lord) I beseech thee give me thy grace from above, that I do not let the flesh have victory, but that I may tame and subdue it, and make it obedient unto the spirit, lest that I by giving victory unto the flesh do heap sin upon sin, and in the end bring upon myself swift damnation, because the flesh indeed is apt and ready unto all vice & wickedness: therefore O Lord I pray thee to strengthen me with thy holy spirit, that thereby I may subdue the flesh with the wicked imaginations thereof, through jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. A prayer for the diligent reading of the scriptures. Eternal God & most loving father, which hast of thy unspeakable goodness revealed thyself most openly & plainly to the world by the gift of thy holy word, I beseech thee (O good Lord) give me a willing mind to the reading thereof, and make my soul and heart to take delight therein, as in a most precious jewel. For even as wine, O Lord, is pleasant unto the taste and senses of men: even so (good Lord) let thy word be delectable unto my mind and soul. For if I take pleasure in a worldly thing that is delightful and pleasant unto the body, being here this day, and gone the next: how much more ought I to take pleasure in that unspeakable treasure, the delight and food of the soul, which for ever shall endure. And although the world be so full of wickedness, that whosoever is a true professor of thy holy word, is accounted of the worldlings, as one that is unworthy of their company: yet nevertheless, O Lord, I beseech thee give me grace, that I may suffer the rebukes of the world, so that I may be accounted in the number of thy faithful children: through our Lord and Saviour jesus christ, Amen. A prayer for repentance, for the amendment of our former wicked lives, with a thanks giving to God for all his gracious benefits bestowed upon us. MOst merciful and everliving father, I a most wicked and damnable sinner, which have many ways and most grievously transgressed thy laws, and offended thy divine majesty, in leaving the use and study of thy divine and heavenly word, the ready pathway to my salvation, and following the wicked desires & filthy lusts of the flesh, whereby I have been driven to be altogether careless of thee, the everliving God, and also of all godly living, the cause whereof hath been mine own negligence, which the frowardness of the flesh, whereby I am fallen into such a grievous sin (that were not thy great mercy, oh Lord) I should be accounted among the number of them which go down into destruction. But (oh most merciful and loving father) in the name of thy decree son our only Saviour, advocate, and mediator, I appeal to the high throne of thy mercy, beseeching thee for his sake, and for thine own mercy sake to blot out of thy remembrance, all my former sins and offences, whereby I have most grievously offended thy majesty. And furthermore, O Lord, I pray thee to blot all my secret sins out of thy remembrance: so that they may never be seen, nor stand in judgement against me. And also, Lord, I beseech thee give me the grace of thy holy spirit, and so enlighten me with the same, that henceforth I may live according to the precise rule of thy holy word, and do those things, which may be pleasing unto thy divine majesty. And Lord, I beseech thee, give unto me the light of thy holy spirit, that I may praise thy name for all the benefits, which thou of thine abundant goodness hast so mercifully bestowed upon me: especially, O Lord, for the great graces and benefits of my creation, redemption, and sanctification. For my creation, in that it hath pleased thee to create and make me a living soul, and also in similitude like unto thine own person, whereas if it had pleased thy majesty, thou mightest have made me a beast, a foul, a toad, a serpent, etc. For my redemption, (in that it pleased thy majesty) after that through the transgression of my first parents (Adam and Eve) I was become like as one that was sold unto sin, and indeed was in bondage unto the devil, then when all hope of recovery was past, thou (oh most merciful and loving father) didst send thine only begotten son to take our nature upon him, and to make satisfaction for our sins, and to suffer a most shameful death (even the death of the cross) that we by his great patience might be redeemed, justified, saved, and delivered from sin, death, and hell, and that so many as do by faith lay hold upon the sweet promises of thy dearly beloved son our saviour, should surely have everlasting life, and reign with him in that place of rest, which thou hast appointed for all thy faithful children, etc. For my sanctification, for that after I was by thy heavenly wisdom and divine power created, and made a living creature: and after that being fallen from thee by the concupiscence of the flesh, and then redeemed by the precious death and bloodshedding of thy dear son (our saviour and redeemer) Christ jesus. Then after my creation and redemption, thou again of thine exceeding love and favour, didst send thy holy spirit upon me, to give me understanding and knowledge of thy holy word, that thereby through faith in thy promises I might have everlasting life: thus (oh Lord) is thy gracious goodness showed unto me, Lord of thy great mercy make me thankful for it, for thy dear son Christ jesus sake, our only mediator & advocate, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour, praise, and glory, both now & for ever, Amen. A prayer in the affliction of conscience. Eternal and most loving father, I thy humble servant most entirely beseeching thee, of thy wonted goodness and mercy, to give unto my conscience (being fore afflicted & overladen with sin, the cares of this world, and tyranny of sathan) the sweet comfort of thy holy spirit, which is the comforter of all them that put their trust in thee, I beseech thee, O heavenly father, so to enlighten and comfort me with the grace of the same thy spirit, that I may give over all worldly cares, and betake myself wholly to the fulfilling of thy heavenly will, oh Lord, that knowest the secrets of all hearts, that seest me a most vile and wicked sinner, being borne in sin, nouzeled up in sin, and still day by day continue in sin; yea, & that which is worst of all, I do even commit the same with greediness, whereby I am fallen into such an oblivion of thy goodness, that I have (as it were) forgotten all the benefits and graces, which thou of thine abundant goodness hast so many ways bestowed upon me. This mine oblivion of thy graces, oh Lord, together with the suggestions and enticements of sathan hath been, and is such a terror unto my conscience, that were not thy sweet promises (oh most merciful father) promised by thine only son our Saviour jesus Christ, I might utterly despair of my salvation. But as thou, oh father, art in promising most bounteous, so art thou in performance most true. Although (good father) my sins and ingratitudes have deserved eternal damnation, and are a continual grudge unto my conscience, yet, Lord, I beseech thee of thy great mercy, to comfort my conscience, being sore afflicted and laden with the burden of my sins. Thou (O most sweet Saviour Christ) hast commanded all those which labour, and are laden with the but then of their sins, to come unto thee, saying; Come unto me all ye that labour, and are laden, and I will refresh you. (Oh what comfortable words were these of a most sweet Saviour.) Therefore (oh Lord & heavenly father) I give thee most hearty thanks for these thy sweet promises in our Saviour Christ jesus. To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be ascribed all honour, power, praise, dominion, and thanks giving, both now and for ever, Amen. A prayer for the obtaining of true love both to God, and to our neighbour. O Most sweet Saviour, which art the life of all them that believe in thee, the hope of all them that trust in thee, the comforter of all them that come to thee for succour, the helper and assister of all them which love thy commandments, put into my heart (oh most merciful Saviour) the true love, which thou hast commanded. Oh Lord, I confess that I have been a lover of myself, more than thee, exalting and lifting up myself with pride, ambition, and self-love: contrary to thy commandment I have (good Lord) loved myself more than my neighbour; I have sought for myself worldly promotion by all means possible, and have sought by all means to thrust down into the mire my poor neighbour; all which was clean contrary to the love which thou hast appointed, whereby I have deserved thy curse unto everlasting condemnation. But (most merciful Saviour) I appeal to thy high throne of mercy, beseeching thee from the bottom of my heart, to forgive me all the sins of my youth, and all that hitherto I have committed both ignorantly and wilfully. And furthermore, oh Lord, I pray thee to give thy grace from above, that I may abandon all self-love, as a thing which thou most despisest. And also let me not do as the worldly rich young man did, which would know the means whereby he might be saved, who as soon as he understood that he must sell all that he had, and distribute it to the relief of his poor neighbours, which stood in great necessity, he went away very heavy, because he was marvelous rich. But give me grace, good Lord, so to love my neighbour, that I may do as Zacheus did, who said; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give unto the poor, if I have done any man wrong, I will restore it four fold again. Here was thy grace, O Lord, here was not selfe love; but here was brotherly love, the love which thou hast appointed to be in every Christian, that seeketh for salvation in thee; put this love into my heart, oh Lord, that I may love thee with all my heart, and my neighbour as my self; put from me, good Lord, all rancour and malice, all debate and strife. O Lord, thou hast in thy holy Gospel commanded all men, not only to love their friends, by whom they reap profit; but also to love even their enemies by whom they have received loss and damage: how far this love is from me, thou, oh Lord, canst tell. Thou commandest me to love, and I hate; thou commandest me to be favourable, and I am envious: in fine, thou commandest me to be charitable unto all men, and I am filled with rancour, malice, strife, debate, and contention, with innumerable other vices, which thou, oh Lord, hast commanded the contrary. What is the cause that I should behave myself so contrary to thy commandments? Truly mine own blockish negligence, which hath so sore blinded my mortal eyes, that I am not able to look into the mysteries of thy holy word, which should be my guide and leader unto the knowledge of thy heavenly wil What is the reward of all this wickedness, which I have and do daily commit? Thy holy Apostle Paul doth make mention in these words, saying; The reward of sin is death: but what death, the death of the body? yea truly: and that which is worst, even the death and condemnation of the soul. Sithen, oh Lord, that thou of thy great mercy hast given me the grace to see and know what is sin, and what is the reward thereof, I beseech thee (oh most merciful Saviour) give me also the grace to fly from sin, and cleave unto godliness, lest that I knowing, and will not know, be accounted among those, which sin against knowledge, which is a sin against the holy Ghost, and therefore as some think irremissible. Oh Lord, I beseech thee forgive me all that is past, and guide me to turn unto thee: renew also, good Lord, a right spirit in me, that I may live in thy law, which thou hast appointed me: grant this (oh sweet Saviour) for thy death and passion sake, Amen. A prayer to be said in any kind of tribulation, desiring God to give patience unto the afflicted, that they may endure whatsoever his fatherly wisdom will lay upon them. IT is an unpossible thing for any mortal eye (O most merciful father) to see into the depth of thy wisdom, and how thou goest about to call home thy children, being gone astray. Thou first dost touch them with thy fatherly correction, as being loath to make them despair, and as the prophet David saith; Like as a father pitieth his own children, even so is the Lord merciful unto all that fear him. Thy correction, good father, is only favourably to chastise thy children, being erred from the truth, to call them hom by a little and a little unto the knowledge of thee again: and then they being once reclaimed, thou dost withdraw thy rod from them. I beseech thee, oh heavenly father, give me patience patiently to suffer whatsoever thy fatherly goodness will lay upon me, and diligently to wait the time when it shall please thee to ease me of my trouble, that with the prophet David, I may say; Oh give thanks unto the LORD, for he is gracious, and his mercy endureth for ever. Let them give thanks whom the LORD hath redeemed, and delivered out of the hand of their enemy: and gathered them out of the lands, from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the south. They went astray in the wilderness, and found no city to dwell in: so they cried unto to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distress. He led them forth by the right way, that they might go to the city where they dwelled. O that men would therefore fear the Lord, and declare the wonders that he doth for the children of men. For he satisfieth the empty soul, and filleth the hungry with goodness: such as sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death, being fast bound in misery and iron. Here (O most merciful father) dost thou show thy gracious goodness unto me; thou releevest every soul that calleth to thee faithfully in distress. O good Lord, I beseech thee give me grace to call upon thee by faith: for as the scripture saith; Whatsoever is not of faith is sin: and he that asketh not faithfully can not obtain. Grant this, O most merciful father, and whatsoever else thou knowest to be needful for me, for thy dear sons sake jesus Christ, our only mediator and advocate, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost, be all honour, power, praise and glory, both now and evermore, Amen. A prayer to be used when the lust of the flesh doth rage, wherein the gift of continency is begged. Almighty and most merciful father, I beseech thee for jesus Christ's sake to strengthen me in this great and terrible battle of conscience, which I feel between my flesh & my spirit, concerning lechery & continency. For my spirit saith; I will delight myself with the study of that which may bring salvation unto me; that is, the reading of thy holy word, with the me ditation & hearing of the same, & altogether to give myself to put far from me all worldly pleasures and earthly delights, that thereby I may (through the merits of my sweet Saviour jesus Christ) make an atonement with God the father for the innumerable multitude of my transgressions, which had almost drawn me headlong to hell; but whilst I am in these cogitations, behold, the flesh with his detestable desires doth come unto me, and by all wicked means possible doth seek to bring me (through his carnal concupiscence) into the lake of perdition. For as the spirit doth desire spiritual and heavenly things; even so the flesh as it is carnal, doth desire carnal and earthly things; for each thing desireth such as itself is. Well, seeing that I have within my conscience such a great and terrible battle between the flesh and the spirit: and that the flesh (for any strength or power that is in me) is like to have the upper hand: and if the flesh have the upper hand, what shall my reward be at the latter day, when I shall come before the tribunal seat of the almighty and everliving God? Truly my reward shall be this; I shall be cast into utter darkness, there shall be weeping, wailing, & gnashing of teeth. Well now, since it hath pleased almighty God of his great mercy, to give me knowledge what sin is, and that the desire and lust of the flesh is altogether wickedness and abominable in the sight of the Lord, and that the reward of sin is hell & everlasting condemnation. And now since he of mere mercy hath given me knowledge thereof; if I do not seek to redress it, than I shall be accounted as one that knoweth the will of his father, and will not do it: & truly such a son must be beaten with many stripes. Seeing now that through the carnal concupiscence of the flesh, hell fire is come upon me, what means may I use to have the same taken from me again? To have this great work done for me, I must put on sobriety, embrace humility, mingled with desire of a godly life; and then must I come and appeal before the high throne of mercy, and ask forgiveness of my sins, in the precious death and bloodshedding of my Lord and Saviour Christ jesus, who hath of his great mercy and goodness promised forgiveness of sins to all those that with a true and lively faith, come unto him, humbly craving forgiveness of their sins. For by his death we are made alive, and by his strokes we are healed. Hear (oh most merciful father) do I behold as it were in a glass, the great and fatherly care which thou hast for all thy children, which with hearty & unseined repentance come unto thee for mercy; for thou deniest none that call upon thee for mercy in the blood of Christ jesus our saviour. I beseech thee, oh Lord, to strengthen me with thy holy spirit, that thereby I may withstand all the furious assaults of sathan and the flesh. For the flesh being stirred up by the subtle suggestions of sathan, do give many fierce assaults unto my spirit: insomuch that while it is in my body, it is in a dark prison, desiring (when it shall please thy majesty) to be dissolved from this body of sin: and as the prophet David saith; Like as the heart desireth the water brooks, even so my soul longeth after thee, oh Lord. And also in another place, he saith; My soul longeth for thy salvation, and I have a good hope because of thy word. My soul longeth for thy word, saying; Oh when wilt thou comfort me. My soul cleaneth unto the dust, oh quicken thou me according to thy word. Oh Lord, I beseech thee to enlighten my heart with thy holy spirit, that I may fly from and abhor the filthy and abominable lusts of the flesh, as a thing which is most detestable in thy sight, considering that it is most odious before thee. And also (Lord I beseech thee) for thy dear son our Lord and Saviour jesus Christ's sake (in this conflict & in all other such like) to give victory unto the spirit, that thereby thy name may be glorified, and that it may live as a conqueror over the wicked desires of the flesh; and that the flesh with his concupiscences may be in such subjection unto the spirit, that it dare not once to rebel against it. And that I may live, so that whatsoever I do may be pleasing in thy sight: and that I through the strength of thy holy spirit, may have victory over sin, death, and hell, and live according to the precise rule of thy holy word, so that whatsoever I do, it may be pleasant in thy sight: through jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost, be all honour, praise, and glory, both now and ever, Amen. A conflict between gluttony and abstinence. AS yet (oh my sweet Lord and God) I suffer a continual conflict in my conscience, between the spirit and the flesh: for my spirit many times speaketh within me, and saith; I will abstain from excess of meats and drinks, that thereby I may bridle, and keep under the corrupt and filthy desires of the flesh, that in so doing, I may be the more apt and ready to the knowledge and understanding of thy holy will. No sooner, oh Lord, am I in this contemplation, but presently the flesh with his devilish concupiscence offereth itself to persuade me to the contrary. For where the spirit doth desire spiritual and heavenly things, and to do such things as may be pleasing unto thy divine majesty: my flesh clean contrary unto this, doth desire all kind of uncleanness, and to satisfy his own carnal lusts and appetites, by eating and drinking excessively, and so (were not thy great mercy) it were like to bring my soul to utter ruin and perdition. But, Lord, as thou knowest that sathan the ancient enemy of all mankind, is the intiser & stirrer up of all these wicked imaginations of my sinful flesh, and that he is a sly and subtle adversary, I beseech thee, good Lord, give me grace manfully to withstand him, knowing this, that whosoever doth valiantly fight under thy spiritual banner, and continueth a faithful soldier unto the end, shall not lose his reward, but shall be made inheritor in joy everlasting, with thy celestial company of angels and saints: then who would not suffer all the torments under heaven, to have after all their troubles, such a inifull resting place? But such oh Lord, is the wicked and corrupt nature of our sinful flesh, that it setteth more by the vain pleasures of this transitory world, which is here to day, and gone to morrow, than it doth by that everlasting rest, which never shall decay. Good Lord, I beseech thee to give me the gift of abstinency (which is a most precious jewel in thy sight) that when my wicked flesh desireth to glut itself with superfluity of meat and drink, and so by gluttony and surfeiting, offend thy divine majesty, that then, O Lord, I may by the gift of the holy spirit, bridle this wicked desire of my flesh, & so make it to become subject unto the spirit, that thereby I may be more apt & ready to serve thee in true holiness and righteousness all the days of my life. How excellent this gift of abstinency is, oh Lord, is declared by thy holy apostle Peter, in these words; dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts, which fight against the soul Heer, O Lord, may we see how necessary it is for man to abstain from fleshly lusts: for as this text witnesseth, they fight against the soul to bring it to destruction. And Saint Paul, writing to the Galathians, faith; Walk in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. And writing to the Romans, he saith; Put ye on the Lord jesus Christ, and take no thought for the flesh to fulfil the lusts of it. Seeing (oh most merciful father) that the holy scriptures, even from one end to the other, do so earnestly speak against this filthy and abominable vice of gluttony: and all holy fathers do likewise in their works inveigh against the same; I beseech thee, good father, give me grace that I may so bridle this my fleshly nature, that through the grace of thy holy spirit, I may be made a meet member, readle prepared with oil in my lamp, and a wedding garment on my back; against the coming of thy dear son Christ jesus mine only Lord and Saviour: to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory, for ever and ever, Amen. A prayer against pride, and for humility. Eternal and most loving Father, which hatest the proud, and givest grace to the humble, I beseech thee for thy great mercy sake, let not my mind be puffed up with vain pride and glory of this world, which is an instrument of sathan, a snare of the devil, & as it were a hook to catch men with, to lead them into utter destruction. Oh Lord, give me grace (I pray thee) to eschew and utterly to abhor this abominable and detestable vice of pride & vain glory, and to embrace lowliness and humility, considering what is said by the prophet isaiah; The holy Ghost said; Now cry, and the prophet answered; What shall I cry? That all flesh is grass, and that all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field: the grass is withered, the flower falleth away: even so is the people as grass when the breath of the Lord bloweth upon them; nevertheless, whether the grass whither, or the flower fade away, yet the word of the Lord endureth for ever. Here I see, O my God, what man is, how he is compared to grass: and all his glory, to the flower of the field, and is not able for all his pride to abide one blast of thy breath, oh Lord. And also the prophet David faith; Man shall not abide in honour, seeing he may be compared unto the beasts that perish. Also it is written by the prophet isaiah in another place; Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? Or doth the saw make any bragging against him that ruleth it? That were even like as if the rod exalt itself against him that beareth it? Or as though the staff should exalt itself, as if it were no wood. Therefore shall the Lord of hosts send among his fatlings leanness, and burn up his glory as it were with a fire. Also Solomon saith; The Lord doth, all things for his own sake, yea, he keepeth the ungodly for the day of wrath. The Lord abhorreth all such as be of a proud heart, his hand is against their hand, and they shall not escape as innocents. And again David saith; Thou shalt bring down the high looks of the proud. And the prophet jeremy saith; Behold, I speak unto thee, oh thou proud, saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day shall come even the time of thy visitation. And the proud shall stumble and fall, and no man shall help him up. I will burn up his cities with fire, and it shall consume all that is round about him. Likewise the prophet Abacuk saith; Behold, the unrighteous thinketh himself in safeguard, as in a strong hold, but the just shall live by his faith. Like as the wine deceiveth the drunkard, even so the proud shall fail, & not endure. He openeth his desire wide as the hell, and is as unsatiable as death. All heathen gathereth he unto him, and heapeth unto him all people. Here (oh most merciful father) I see what the reward of the proud & vain glorious man is, I see that he is abhorred of thee, and kept for the day of wrath: his high looks also shall be brought down. The proud also shall stumble and fall, and no man shall help him up: he also shall fail, and not endure. Oh Lord I beseech thee give grace to me, and to all thy faithful servants, that we utterly detest and abandon from us all pride, presumption, and vain glory, and only to stay ourselves upon thee, in Christ jesus, and to fly from all such abominable vices, and come home unto thee our most merciful father: for we have gone long astray, as it had been sheep without a shepherd (Lord I pray thee strengthen me with thy holy spirit.) As I see, O Lord, the punishment of the proud and vain glorious, so do I see also as in a glass, the reward which thou hast prepared for the humble and lowly. For it is written in the holy Gospel after S. Luke, that He that exalteth himself shall be brought low, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. And job saith; Who so humbleth himself shall be set up, and who so looketh meekly shall be healed. And also David saith in the psalms; The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth them, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto such as be of a contrite heart, and doth save them that are of an humble spirit. Yea, and the Lord saith in the prophet isaiah; I dwell high above, & in the sanctuary, and with him also that is of a contrite spirit do I dwell: that I may heal a troubled mind and a contrite heart. Also Solomon saith; presumptuousness goeth before destruction, and after a proud stomach there followeth a fall. Better is it to be of an humble mind with the lowly, than to divide the spoils with the proud. Now oh Lord, here is before my eyes the punishment of the proud and presumptuous, and also the reward of the humble and meek. Here also are the great and manifold promises set down, which thou by thy prophets & apostles hast promised to them that are of a contrite heart; thou hast promised to exalt the humble; to heal the meek; to be nigh unto such as be of a contrite heart, to deliver them out of all their troubles, and to dwell with them that be of a contrite spirit. Thou, O Lord, hast made these promises, and thou wilt most surely perform whatsoever thou hast promised. Now (oh my sweet Saviour) I beseech thee give me grace to stick fast unto these sweet promises, that I may through the grace of thy holy spirit, pull down this proud flesh of mine, which is (were it not thy great mercy) ready to hale my soul into destruction, I may well say unto my flesh; Why art thou so proud, O thou earth and ashes, of that which will not endure, but is altogether wicked and abominable in the sight of the Lord. Therefore (O my most merciful Saviour) I pray thee for thy precious death and passion sake, to strengthen me with the grace of thy holy spirit, that it may have victory of this body of sin, the lusts and desires of the same; that I may so live here on earth, that when it shall please thee to call me from this vale of misery, I may dwell with thee in thy habitation of rest, prepared for all thy faithful ones, Amen. Another prayer for the morning. O Eternal God, and most merciful father, I a most weak and feeble creature in all goodness & godliness whatsoever, most heartily thank thy majesty, for that it hath pleased thee, of thy great mercy and goodness to preserve me this night from the cruelty and tyranny of the devil and his angels, and to take me unto thine own protection and defence. And also of thy mere mercy, not suffering me to sleep in death, but didst waken me in due time, to give thanks and praise unto thy majesty for thy most merciful protection and defence. I beseech thee (O most merciful father) give me grace that whatsoever I take in hand this day may have good success; and whatsoever I do, it may all be to the honour and praise of thy name, the profit of my neighbour, and the health of mine own soul, through jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Another prayer for the evening. MOst merciful and everliving GOD, which art father of the fatherless, and husband of the widow, which also this day past, hast kept me safely under the wings of thy mercy, and hast not suffered me so to fall, but that with thy hand thou hast lifted me up again: and also hast kept me this day from the power of darkness, and defended me with thy armour of light; I beseech thee (O most merciful father) that like as thou hast this day kept me under the covering of thy wings, from the subtle assaults and privy sleights of that capital enemy of mine, sathan: even so, I beseech thee, to keep and defend me this night from his cruel tyranny, which in every place layeth baits and traps to catch men's souls, & so to bring them into utter darkness: there shall be weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth; from whose subtility, deliver us, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, three in person, and one in essence, Amen. Another prayer when the light appeareth. O My sweet Saviour jesus Christ, which art the light of the world, and the light of all them that believe in thee, I beseech thee (oh my sweet Saviour) give me thy grace from above, that I may put away the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light now in these perilous and dangerous days. And like as thou hast appointed the light of the day to lighten earthly men about their earthly affairs: so also hast thou appointed thy holy word to lighten their minds, which labour and seek to attain to the knowledge of thy heavenly will. In which lightsome exercise, I beseech thee for thy great mercy's sake, give me an earnest desire to attain unto the full knowledge thereof, and that whatsoever I do, it may be pleasing unto thee, to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost, be all honour, power, praise, dominion, and thanks giving both now and for ever, Amen. Another prayer to be delivered from Antichrist the Pope of Rome, and all his detestable enormities. O My sweet Saviour, which leadest all those into the path of righteousness, which by faithful and earnest prayer come unto thee for the same, I beseech thee for thy death and passion sake, give me grace to trust in thy sweet promises, and to exercise myself in the study of thy holy word, and to cast away and utterly to eschew and abhor the dirty traditions, the devilish dreams, the vain relics, & ceremonies of that man of sin, the Pope of Rome, and all his balaamitical shavelings, which are utter enemies to thy cross, killing thy innocent lambs, converting the simple on's from thee my sweet Saviour (as much as in them lieth) unto their antichristian power, teaching them to come from thy merciful promises unto that man of sin, for money to have their sins forgiven them; whereas my sweet Saviour, none is able to forgive sins, but only thou: much less, oh Lord, he that is so great a sinner, robbing thee of thy glory, by taking upon him so presumptuously without fear of thy name, to forgive his brother his trespasses, when the holy scripture is clean contrary: for David saith in the psalms, that No man can deliver his brother from death, neither make agreement unto God for him: for it cost more to redeem their souls, so that that must be let alone for ever. Here he may see, if he be not wilful blind, how wickedly he taketh upon him to do that, which only belongeth unto thee my sweet Saviour. But let him repent in time, lest he bring upon himself swift damnation. His doctrine, oh Lord, is clean contrary to thy most pure and sincere word (which is the word of truth) teaching those that will learn of him & his priests of Baal, to look for their salvation by the works of the law only, and not by faith in thee my sweet Saviour, which art the only way of truth; the path of life; the giver of everlasting life unto all those that come unto thee by saith, and not to challenge thy place of rest by any of our merits or deservings, which are most abominable in thy sight: for we are able to deserve nothing but death & endless damnation, in the fire which never shall be quenched; oh what a terror is this to the conscience of many, which know themselves to be great and grievous offenders, and yet (as this detestable doctrine of antichrist teacheth them) must obtain salvation by their own merits or deservings. Oh what a hell have they in their conscience, and except they fly speedily from that devilish doctrine, and look upon thy most merciful and sweet promises, and with a steadfast faith assuredly believe the same, doubtless they must needs fall into the pit of desperation, and from thence to the lake of condemnation, (for nothing else is a man able to deserve of himself) except he have a steadfast faith in thy promises, and believe that, which thou hast spoken in thy holy word, which is the entry that leadeth us unto salvation. I beseech thee (oh my sweet Saviour) for thy manifold and great mercy's sake, to deliver me (and all those that think to be saved by faith in thee) from the doctrine of that antichrist, that man of sin, the Pope of Rome, that I may leave to study of any thing saving that, which may be to thy glory and praise, the health of mine own soul, and the profit of my brethren: to thee therefore with the Father, and the holy Ghost, be all honour, power, praise, and dominion, both now and ever, Amen. A prayer to be made by those that be sick. MOst merciful Father, which dost chastise every child that thou receivest, I beseech thee for thy great mercy sake, give me grace patiently to bear this thy fatherly correction, which thou dost so favourably lay upon me: and Lord I beseech thee, give me grace, that I do not (for this thy loving visitation, through the imbecility and weakness of the flesh) fall away from thee, but that I may constantly and patiently abide the same, until it shall please thy fatherly goodness to send a remedy for the same, knowing this; that whosoever doth not patiently suffer with thee the cross of tribulation in this world, shall never reign with thee in the world to come, in the place which thou hast prepared for thy elected children. And like as thou, O Lord, dost know the weakness of my wicked nature to be such and so great, that of myself I am not able to endure this thy gentle and loving chastisement; therefore most fatherly hast thou promised that thou wilt never lay more correction upon thy children than they are able to bear: therefore most loving father, I beseech thee give me grace steadfastly to stick unto this thy sweet promise, so that my adversary the devil with his subtility be never able to withdraw my mind from thee: but as he knoweth me to be weak of myself, so is he busy with all his might to tempt me, that I might fall away from thee my good God, and from thy sweet promises in my saviour jesus Christ, and so to make my soul a prey for himself. From whose devilish temptations, deliver me the father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, Amen. A prayer to be said when one traveleth on his journey. Eternal and most loving father, like as this world is nothing else but a continual pilgrimage, and that a man while he is in this world doth nothing else, but still labour and travel to gather unto himself worldly riches and promotion, and the more he hath, the more he still desireth, so that here he doth never think himself satisfied; yea, he is even as a bottomless bag, that will never be filled, be there never so much put into it: even so good Lord, I beseech thee give me grace to have such an earnest desire unto thee, that I may continually all the days of my life, travel and labour to obtain thee, knowing this, that whosoever obtaineth thee hath all things, & whosoever hath all the world without thee, hath nothing. For as the scripture saith; What doth it prevail a man if he win the whole world, and in the end lose his own soul? If a man, oh Lord, take such care and thought for these transitory riches, vain pleasures, and delights, which are here this day, and gone the next: how much more ought we to travel, study, and labour, for those riches and pleasures, which never shall decay? But this is the dullness and blockishness of our corrupt & wicked nature, which is daily ready to throw us into the lake of destruction: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. From the which place of torments, deliver us the Father, the Son, & the holy Ghost, Amen. A prayer for a young man. MOst merciful father, which keepest and preservest all those (of what estate, degree, or calling soever they be) that unfeignedly and with a lively faith do call upon thee: therefore good father, I beseech thee (according to thy wonted mercy and goodness) preserve me, which am a miserable sinner, and have most grievously offended thy majesty, both in thought, word, and deed, and am altogether unable of myself to make any satisfaction for mine offences, but only to fly unto thee by prayer, and to call on thee in the name of thy well-beloved son our Saviour jesus Christ, in whom only thou art well pleased, as thine Evangelist Saint Matthew testifieth in these words; And a voice came from heaven, saying; This is my well-beloved son, in whom I am well pleased, hear him. Hereby may I see (oh most merciful father) the great love that thou bearest unto this thy well-beloved son our only Saviour & redeemer, therefore in his name I am bold to come and present myself before thy mercy seat, beseeching thee of thine infinite goodness to blot out of thy remembrance all my offences, and to renew a right spirit within me. And Lord I beseech thee, give me grace, that I being a young man, may so spend the residue of my days here upon earth, as it may both tend to the glory of thy holy name; and the health of my soul. And furthermore I beseech thee good father, strengthen me with thy holy spirit, that I may remain steadfast and unmovable, hoping for the reward of the faithful martyrs, which endure and continue unto the end, as Moses writeth of thy servant Lot; And the angel said unto Lot; Escape for thy life: look not behind thee, neither tarry thou in all the plain; escape into the mountains, lest thou be destroyed: willing him to fly from the judgements of God, and not to be sorry to departed from that fruitful country. For such is the quality of our corrupt nature, that when we are in this world, we are very loath to departed from it, seeing the earthly pleasures so great, esteeming them of more value than all the joys of the life to come: oh good Lord what a wretchedness is this, that men will no better seek for the salvation of their souls, but altogether for the vain pleasures of this life: O Lord I beseech thee thrust this worldly care out of my mind, and let the care of heavenly things take such deep root in my heart, that it may evermore endure and continue so long as this earthly life doth last. Another notable example of continuance do I find in thy faithful servant job, in these words; And the Lord said unto sathan; Hast thou not considered my servant job, how none is like him in the earth? An upright, a just man, and one that feareth God, and escheweth evil; for yet he continueth in his uprightness, although thou moovedst me against him, to destroy him with out a cause. Hear, O Lord, was the grace of thy holy spirit; here was the gift of continuance unto the end; who although he had lost all worldly pleasures, yet would he never start from the obedience of thy holy will; yea, although sathan that ancient enemy of all mankind, sought all the means that he could devise to plague the carcase of poor job, yet did he remain constant unto the end, for all the trouble and persecutions that he abode. If it be thy will, good father, I pray thee to imprint this gracious gift of continuance in my heart, that whatsoever cross or tribulation I suffer, I may patiently abide the same: for as our Saviour Christ saith; He that taketh not his cross and followeth me, is not worthy of me. And again; He that will save his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Oh unhappy man that will seek to save his life in this world, and lose it in the life to come: and thrice happy is he that loseth his life in this world for our Saviour Christ his sake: for he surely shall find it in the world to come in joys everlasting, which neither eye hath seen, nor ear hath heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man: unto the which joys, Lord for thy mercy sake bring us, and for thy dear son our Saviour jesus Christ his sake, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost, be all honour & glory for evermore, Amen. A prayer for an old man. Almighty GOD, which-art the helper of all those that call to thee for succour, I beseech thee to come near unto me, and hear the voice of my crying which have lived long on earth, and that very wickedly, even from my youth unto this my crooked age, I have still continued in blindness and ignorance, yea and that wilfully, neither seeking to attain unto sight nor knowledge, whereby I might see into thy holy word, and thereby perceive mine own wickedness and sin, and to get knowledge, thereby to understand thy holy commandments, that I might through faith in thee seek to observe the same. But now, O Lord, I come unto thee, which never despisest the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as be sorrowful, which never stoppest thine ear at the cry of a penitent sinner, nor withdrawest thy hand from helping of such as be in need; which callest sinners to repentance when it pleaseth thee, even at all times and ages, some at the first hour, some at the third, some at the ninth, and some at the eleventh, of the which late number (oh Lord, through thine inestimable goodness and mercy) I am one who have spent the greatest part of the time of my life in sloth & wantonness, and in all manner of uncleanness and wickedness, even till now that I am ready to put one foot into the grave, that is even till the eleventh hour, or the very latest time of my life. And had it not been for the multitude of thy mercies, I might have proceeded forward in all kind of wickedness and sin, even as I begun: but thou, oh merciful father, which wilt not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should repent and turn from his wickedness, and that his sin might be done away; Even to thee, oh Lord God, belongeth mercy and forgiveness. And thou it is, oh Lord, that wilt bring mercy and forgiveness of sins, to as many as faithfully in thy dear son jesus Christ do call to thee for mercy in time, before it be too late: yea, while it is said to day; To day if ye will hear my voice harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness. And herein I beseech thee good father, to forgive me all the sins of my youth, which are as the sands of the sea in number: good Lord cast them into the bottom of the sea, where they never may be seen with eyes, nor stand in judgement against me. And also good Lord, I beseech thee to cleanse me from all my secret sins, and cast them from the light of thy countenance: & Lord I beseech thee direct me with thy holy spirit, that I may remain thy faithful servant unto the end, through jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. A prayer for a maiden. Unto thee, oh Lord GOD, belongeth mercy and forgiveness of sins, and the gift of a godly and virtuous life: therefore, oh Lord, I do at this time present myself before thy divine majesty, beseeching thee not to look upon me, neither hearken unto me according to mine own merits or worthiness, but in the merits of thy dear son, our Saviour jesus Christ, requiring thee for his sake to be merciful unto me, and forgive me all my sins that are past, and give me grace, that hence forward I may no more so grievously offend thy majesty as I have done, both in thought, word, and deed, but that I may henceforth lead a godly and christian life, following the example of Marie Magdalen, out of whom our Saviour Christ cast seven devils, who in the beginning was a great and a grievous sinner, but in the end, confessing her wickedness and sin, obtained free remission at thy hands, and became a new woman, leading her life in holiness and righteousness: and as the evangelist Luke witnesseth, when our Saviour Christ entered into the house of one of the pharisees to dine with him, behold, a woman in the city which was a sinner, when she knew that jesus sat at the table in the pharisees house, she brought a box of ointment, and she stood at his feet behind him weeping, & began to wash his feet with tears, & did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment: showing the great humility and reverence which she bore unto our Saviour. Good father, I beseech thee give me such a contrite heart, as had this Marie Magdalene, that I may so bewail my sins, while I remain here on earth, that when I depart from this vale of misery, I may remain with thee in joys everlasting: to the which place bring us the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, Amen. A prayer to be said of all true and faithful subjects, desiring almighty God to bless and keep the Queen's most excellent Majesty. GOD, which art the author and giver of all goodness, & sparest not to bestow plentifully on all those that faithfully ask it of thee, I beseech thee therefore, good father, give me thy grace, that I may keep myself under the obedience of thy servant, my sovereign Queen, that I may love her, and obey her laws, as thou, oh Lord, hast commanded every subject: and the Apostle Paul writing to the Romans, saith; Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers: for there is no power but of God: and the powers that be are ordained of God. For he that resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receive unto themselves judgement. And writing to the hebrews, he saith; Obey them that have the oversight of you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give accounts, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. Here I see, oh Lord, how straight commandment we have to obey those that are magistrates over us, of the which magistrates that are appointed to the oversight of the people, under thy divine majesty, the prince is the chief: good father, therefore I beseech thee give me grace, that I may not swerver from this commandment, but that I may at all times and in all places, next under thee my heavenly father, give due honour and obedience unto my prince, as unto one whom thou hast appointed ruler in thy steed, that there may be no sign of disobedience seen in me. And Lord, I beseech thee to bless and preserve thy servant, our most gracious Queen & governess, that she may long live to the setting forth of thy glory, the advancement of virtue, and abolishment of vice, that thy name may be glorified, and thy people edified, to the glory of thy name, and the health of their souls; Lord I pray thee prosper all her good and godly proceed, as thou didst prosper thy faithful servant josua, when he went in arms against jerico. And Lord I beseech thee, defend her as thou didst thy servant Ezekiah from the cruel railings of Rabsecah the servant of Senacherib, who railing both against him and thy holy name, was by thy mighty hand utterly destroyed, and slain in one night, and Senacherib himself slain of his own sons, as he worshipped his idol Nesroth, even so good father, I beseech thee, let it happen to the enemies of thy servant Elizabeth: let, O LORD, rise against her one way, and fly before her seven ways. Bless good father I beseech thee, all that she taketh in hand, that it may be seen in all lands, that thy name is called upon by her, and that she doth spend her days in the setting forth of thy glory. And Lord I beseech thee, give unto her the wisdom of Solomon, that as the Queen of Saba did come from the east to hear the wisdom of Solomon; so all nations may come to hear the wisdom of this thy servant, and to see her prudent government, & wonder at the same: and let all her enemies confess with grief of heart, that thy hand is with her hand, and against them that are against her, until they be consumed from off the face of the earth. And furthermore, good father, I beseech thee, if it be thy good will and pleasure, ad unto her years as thou didst to the years of Ezekiah, that when the end of her days are come, they may be lengthened as were the days of that good king Ezekiah, unto the glory of thy name, and the health of her soul. And further good Lord, I pray, that all traitors that go about to hurt thine anointed, may be consumed from of the face of the earth, them and their seed for evermore. These things, good father I beseech thee grant, and all other necessaries, which thou knowest to be needful for us; for thy dear son our Saviour jesus Christ his sake: to whom with thee, and the holy Ghost, be all honour and glory world without end, Amen. A prayer for a householder. Almighty GOD, which art the maker and governor of all things, and createst rulers as it pleaseth thy majesty, which also hast made me (thy servant) the master and governor of a household or family, I beseech thee, good father, give me grace, that I may show unto my family such example of life, as both they may be edified, and thy holy name glorified both in them and me. And Lord I pray thee, give me grace, that I may be gentle unto my servants, and not bitter; remembering always (as the holy Apostle Saint Paul saith) that I myself have also a master in heaven. And good father, I pray thee let me have a care to see that all necessary things belonging to my family, may be provided, that nothing may be lacking, that is pertaining to a Christian family: for as the scripture saith; He that is without care of his household or family, is worse than an infidel: oh what a reproach is this, for a Christian man to be accounted an infidel, for not having care of his household. Good father, I beseech thee for jesus Christ his sake, that I may have such a care as thou hast commanded in thy holy word, that this great reproach and infamy may not be laid unto my charge, nor imputed unto me. And furthermore, good father, I pray thee, that I may be loving and friendly unto my neighbours, and always willing to help and further them with their business and labours, and never mindful to hinder them, but that in all my doings and proceed, I may show myself loving unto them, and dutiful and obedient unto thee: to the honour and praise of thy name, and the profit of my brethren, through jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Another prayer for faith. Almighty and most merciful Father, which grantest the request and petition of as many as call upon thee faithfully, and without faith whosoever asketh is sure not to obtain: for as the Apostle witnesseth; Without faith it is unpossible to please God. And in another place; Whatsoever is not of faith, is sin. Therefore good father, I beseech thee, for thy dear son jesus Christ his sake, grant unto me this great and excellent gift of faith, which is the gift that thou bestowest upon all thy servants. And seeing that without this, it is unpossible to please thee, and without pleasing thee it is unpossible to obtain everlasting life, for these causes (most dear father) I come unto thee, beseeching thee in the bowels of thy dear son our Saviour his sake, to engraff into me a true and lively faith in this my Saviour, that whatsoever I ask in his name faithfully, may be obtained effectually, to the relief of my necessity, and to the setting forth and spreading abroad of thy glory and praise, through jesus Christ our only Saviour and redeemer, Amen. A prayer for a labouring man to be said, when he is about to begin his labour. Eternal GOD, and most loving father, which hatest nothing that thou hast made, neither despisest any thing that thou hast created, which also commandest all men to labour and take pains in this world, thereby to sustain our bodies with necessary things thereto belonging: for this cause dear father, I beseech thee to bless and prosper all my labours, that hence forward I take in hand. And as thou, O Lord, hast commanded unto man in the time that he had transgressed, saying; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat thy meat, until the time that thou return to earth again: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return: even so, good father, I beseech thee to bless and prosper whatsoever I take in hand, so that it may be to the glory of thy name, and the profit of my brethren, through jesus Christ our only Saviour and redeemer, Amen. A prayer to be said in the time of persecution. MOst dear and loving father, which of thy own goodness didst so love the world that it pleased thee of thy free mercy, to send thine only son into the world to take our nature upon him, thereby to deliver the world from sin, death, and hell: and promising, that whosoever did call upon him faithfully; believe in him steadfastly; and persevere unto the end constantly; should receive of him (after this life) a crown of everlasting glory: then who will not endeavour to call upon him faithfully? Who is such an infidel, as (knowing this) will not believe steadfastly? Or who so unconstant or wavering minded, as will not suffer all the torments under heaven, to obtain this unspeakable reward? But forsomuch, good father, as all these things are thy good gifts, and without thy gracious favour it is unpossible for me to do any of all these things; therefore, good father, I beseech thee for thy dear son our Saviour jesus Christ his sake, to put into my heart, grace to call upon him faithfully; faith to believe in him steadfastly; and constancy to remain unto the end unmoovably, that I may obtain this reward: the greatness and goodness whereof, no eye hath seen, no ear hath heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man. And although the cruel and malicious tyrants of the world do go about by all the means they can devise to draw me from thee, by their cruelty and mischief: yet in this great extremity, O good father, I pray thee give me thy comfortable aid, that as I have begun in thee to abide their cruel rackings, and other persecutions, (wherewith they vex and torment thy children) so I may continue unto the end, knowing as our Saviour Christ saith; Whosoever doth endure unto the end, shall be saved. And in another place he saith; he that doth put his hand unto the plough, and looketh back, is unworthy of the kingdom of heaven. But for that the frailty of man's nature is such, as of himself he is not able to endure the least touch of persecution without thy fatherly aid and comfort, I beseech thee therefore, good Father, strengthen me with thy holy spirit, that (for all the troubles and torments of this wicked world) I may not once look back, but persevere unto the end in that good work, which thou, O Lord, hast begun in me. And forsomuch, good father, as there are many things in this world that doth hinder man very much from following of Christ, as the love of worldly riches, of father and mother, wife and children, of brethren and sisters, and such like: therefore our Saviour Christ saith plainly; He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that will lose his life for my sake, shall find it. Thus may all men see, oh most merciful father, what a great commodity there is to be had in the world to come, by losing life in this world for Christ his sake. Therefore, good father, I beseech thee give me grace patiently to suffer whatsoever persecution the wicked tyrants of the world will lay upon me, and not to look back or shrink from the same, knowing, that for every moment of sorrows that I suffer for Christ's sake in this world; I shall have a million of joys in the world to come: unto the which place, God for his son jesus Christ his sake bring us; to whom with the Father and the holy Ghost, be all honour & glory, world without end, Amen. A prayer for a competent living. Almighty GOD, which mercifully bestowest thy gifts and graces upon all thy faithful servants, and givest unto every man sufficient, according to thy good will and pleasure, I beseech thee, good father, grant unto me a sufficient and competent living, that I neither have too much riches, nor extreme need; but even living wherewith I may sustain myself, and help my poor neighbour: for as the wise man Solomon saith; Two things have I required of thee, deny me them not before I die: remove far from me vanity and lies; give me not poverty nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me; lest I be full, and deny thee, and say; Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and so take the name of my God in vain. Therefore, good father, I beseech thee give unto me sufficient to serve my need and no more; for here I see the discommodity of them both: grant this, good father, I beseech thee for jesus Christ his sake, my only Saviour & redeemer, Amen. A prayer for a magistrate. Eternal GOD and most merciful father, which hast framed all men out of the clay of the earth, & hatest nothing that thou hast created; which also hast appointed every man in his vocation and calling, to do his duty faithfully, and to walk in the way which thou hast appointed for them: and hast appointed magistrates & rulers for the oversight of thy people, among whom it hath pleased thee to appoint me thy servant to be one, I beseech thee therefore, good father, give me grace so to use myself in my vocation, as it may be both to the glory of thy name, and the profit of thy people, which thou hastappointed to the under me. And also, good father, I pray thee give me grace, that I may be loving and gentle unto them, and not spiteful and rigorous, so that I may win them unto thee rather by gentleness, than by tyranny. And furthermore, good father, I beseech thee give me grace, that I may so live myself, as my living may be an example unto them of good life, so that vice may be punished, and virtue advanced, and that every man may live according to his vocation, so that thy name may be glorified, and their souls edified, through jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. A prayer for a conclusion of this little book. O Lord, from whom all good things do come, and without whom nothing neither is good, neither can any way be made good, I beseech thee to bless this labour, and to prosper it, and grant that some fruit may arise by it. And forsomuch as faithful prayer is an acceptable sacrifice in thy sight, grant therefore, good father, that every one when they pray may pray by faith, that in so doing they may obtain that, which they pray for. And Lord, I pray thee put away all impediments that hinder godly prayer, as too much care of worldly goods, pride, vain glory, and other like: all which things are lets and impediments that hinder prayer; grant therefore, good father, that when I pray, I may put away all thoughts and imaginations of vain worldly pleasure, that thy holy word may take deep root in my heart to the glory of thy name, the comfort of my soul, and the strengthening of my brethren, through jesus Christ our Lord: to whom with thee and the holy Ghost, be all honour, glory, power, praise, dominion, and thanks giving, both now and evermore, Amen. All glory to God alone. FINIS. A Table expressing the prayers comprised in this book. AN introduction to prayer, page 1 A prayer to be said in the morning, 7 Another prayer to be said in the morning, 11 A prayer to be said at night, pag. 13 A prayer to be said when the day is light, 15 A prayer to be delivered from the Pope, and his detestable heresies, 17 A prayer against worldly tribulation, 20 A prayer for faith, 22 A prayer to be said when one entereth into the Church, pag. 24 A prayer against the lusts of the flesh, 26 A prayer for the diligent reading of the scriptures, 29 A prayer for repentance, for the amendment of our former wicked lives, with a thanks giving to God for all his gracious benefits bestowed upon us, 33 A prayer in the affliction of conscience, 43 A prayer for the obtaining of true love both to God, and to our neighbour, 49 A prayer to be said in any kind of tribulation, desiring God to give patience unto the afflicted, that they may endure whatsoever his fatherly wisdom will lay upon them, 60 A prayer to be used when the lust of the flesh doth rage, wherein the gift of continency is begged, 67 A conflict between gluttony and abstinence, 78 A prayer against pride, and for humility, 88 Another prayer for the morning, 103 Another prayer for the evening, 106 Another prayer when the light appeareth, 109 Another prayer to be delivered from Antichrist the Pope of Rome, and all his detestable enormities, 112 A prayer to be made by those that be sick, 121 A prayer to be said when one traveleth on his journey, pag. 126 A prayer for a young man, pag. 130 A prayer for an old man, pag. 141 A prayer for a maiden, pag. 148 A prayer to be said of all true and faithful subjects, desiring almighty God to bless and keep the Queen's most excellent majesty, 153 A prayer for a householder, pag. 164 Another prayer for faith, pag. 169 A prayer for a labouring man, to be said when he is about to begin his labour, 172 A prayer to be said in the time of persecution, 175 A prayer for a competent living, 185 A prayer for a magistrate, pag. 188 A prayer for a conclusion of this little book, pag, 192. FINIS. 1585. printer's device: McKerrow 239? "Framed device of Abraham and Isaac with Deus providebit. Gene. Cha. 22." DEUS PROVIDEBIT Gene Cha 22. Imprinted at London, by Arnold Hatfield and Ninian Newton, for Yarath james, dwelling in Newgate market, over against Christ-church gate.