A form OF Common Prayer, Together with An order of Fasting: For The auerting of Gods heavy Visitation vpon many places of this kingdom, and for the obtaining of his blessings vpon vs. The Prayers are to be red every Wednesday during this Visitation. Set forth by his majesties Authority. ¶ Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the Kings most Excellent majesty: And by the assigns of John Bill. 1636. THE PREFACE. WEe be taught by many and sundry examples of holy Scriptures, that vpon occasion of particular punishments, afflictions and perils, which God of his most just iudgement hath sometimes sent among his people, to show his wrath against sin, and to call them to repentance, and to the redress of their lives, all men ought to bee provoked and stirred up to more fervency and diligence in Prayer, Fasting and almsdeeds, to a more deep consideration of their consciences, to ponder their vnthankefulnesse and forgetfulness of Gods merciful benefits towards them, with craving of pardon for the time past, and to ask his assistance for the time to come, to live more godly, and so to be defended and delivered from all further perils and dangers. 2. Sam. 24.14. So King David in the time of Plague and Pestilence which ensued upon his vain numbering of the people, prayed unto God with wonderful fervency, confessing his fault, desiring God to spare the people, and rather to turn his ire to himward, who had chiefly offended in that transgression. The like was done by the virtuous Kings, 2. Chr. 20.5 2. Reg. 19.1. jonah 3. josaphat and Ezechias, in their distress of warres and foreign invasions. So did the King and people of nineve, and Hester, easter 14.13 Dan. 9.4. fall to humble prayers in like perils of their people. So did Daniel in his captivity, and many other more in their troubles. Now therefore calling to mind, that God hath been provoked by us to visit us at this present with the Plague and other grievous diseases: It hath been thought meet to excite and stir up all godly people within this realm, to pray earnestly and hearty to God to forgive us our sins, and consequently to turn away his deserved wrath from us, and to restore us to his gracious favour, and to our bodily health. And although it is every Christian mans duty, of his own devotion to pray at all times: yet for that the corrupt nature of man is so slothful and negligent herein, he hath need by often and sundry means to be stirred up and put in remembrance of his duty. For the effectual accomplishment whereof, it is thought meet that this order of Prayer following should at this time bee published, being such as shall be used by the Minister in the Church, and may by every man in his private family. A form of Common Prayer, prescribed for this time of Visitation, and other necessities. LEt all Pastours and Curates exhort their Parishioners to come to the Church, with so many of their families as may be spared from their necessary business( having yet a provident respect in such assemblies to keep the sick from the whole in places where the Plague reigneth) and they to resort thither, not onely on the sundays and Holy dayes: but also on wednesdays and Fridayes during the time of these present afflictions: exhorting them to behave themselves there godly and reverently, and with penitent hearts to pray unto God to turn these Plagues from us, which we through our unthankfulness and sinful life haue deserved. The order for Morning Prayer. ¶ Let the Minister beginning service, read with a loud voice one of these sentences of Scripture. REnt your hearts and not your garments, Ioel 2. and turn to the Lord your God, because he is gentle and merciful, he is patient, and of much mercy, and such a one that is sorry for your afflictions. Dan. 9. To thee( O Lord God) belongeth mercy and forgiveness, for we haue gone away from thee, and haue not harkened to thy voice, whereby we might walk in thy laws which thou hast appointed for vs. Iere. 10. Correct us( O Lord) and yet in thy iudgement, not in thy fury, lest we should be consumed, and brought to nothing. dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us in sundry places, to aclowledge and confess our manifold sins and wickedness, and that we should not dissemble nor cloak them before the face of Almighty God our heavenly Father, but confess them with an humble, lowly, penitent, and obedient heart, to the end that wee may obtain forgiveness of the same, by his infinite goodness and mercy. And although we ought at all times humbly to aclowledge our sins before God, yet ought we most chiefly so to do, when we assemble and meet together, to render thanks for the great benefits that wee haue received at his hands, to set forth his most worthy praise, to hear his most holy Word, and to ask those things which be requisite and necessary, as well for the body as the soul. Wherefore I pray and beseech you as many as be here present, to accompany me with a pure heart and humble voice, unto the Throne of the heavenly grace, saying after me. ¶ A general confession to be said of the whole Congregation after the Minister, kneeling. almighty and most merciful Father, Wee haue erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, We haue followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, We haue offended against thy holy laws, Wee haue left undone those things which we ought to have done, And we haue done those things which we ought not to haue done, And there is no health in us: But thou, O Lord, have mercy vpon us miserable offenders; Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults; Restore thou them that be penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Iesu our Lord; And grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. ¶ The absolution or remission of sins to be pronounced by the Priest alone. almighty God, the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, and hath given power and commandment to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins: he pardoneth and absolveth all them which truly repent, and vnfainedly beleeue his holy Gospel. Wherefore we beseech him to grant us true repentance and his holy Spirit, that those things may please him which we do at this present, and that the rest of our life hereafter may bee pure and holy, so that at the last we may come to his eternal ioy through Iesus Christ our Lord. The people shall answer, Amen. ¶ Then shall the Minister begin the Lords prayer with a loud voice. our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Then likewise he shall say, O Lord open thou our lips. Answer. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. Priest. O God make speed to save us. Answer. O Lord make hast to help us. Priest. Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen. Praise ye the Lord. A psalm, Whereof one verse is to be said of the Minister, and another by the people or clerk. O Come, let us humble ourselves, Psal. 95 and fall down before the Lord, with reverence and fear. For he is the Lord our God: and wee are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hands. Come therefore, let us turn again unto our Lord, for he hath smitten us, Osee 6.2. and he shall heal vs. Let us repent, and turn from our wickedness: and our sins shall be forgiven vs. acts 3. Let us turn, and the Lord will turn from his heavy wrath, and will pardon us, jonas 3. and wee shall not perish. For we knowledge our faults: and our sins be ever before vs. Psal 51. We haue provoked thine anger, O Lord, thy wrath is waxed hote, Lamen. 3. and thy heavy displeasure is sore kindled against vs. But there is mercy with thee, that thou mayest bee feared: and thou art full of compassion. Thou hast in thine indignation strike us with grievous sickness, Esay. 64. and by and by we haue fallen as leaves beaten down with a vehement wind. Indeed wee aclowledge, that all punishments are less then our deservings: judith 8. job 11. Sap. 11 but yet of thy mercy Lord correct us to amendment, and plague us not to our destruction. For thy hand is not shortened, that thou canst not help: neither is thy goodness abated, that thou wilt not hear. Thou hast promised, O Lord, that afore we cry thou wilt hear us: Esa. 65. whilst we yet speak thou wilt haue mercy vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded: neither any that call vpon thee shall be despised. For thou art the onely Lord, who woundest; and dost heal again, tub. 3. job. 5. Ose. 6. who killest, and reuiuest, bringest even to hell, and bringest back again. Our fathers hoped in thee, they trusted in thee, and thou didst deliver them. Psal. 22. They called vpon thee, and were helped: they put their trust in thee, and were not confounded. O Lord, rebuk not us in thine indignation: Psal. 6. neither chasten us in thy heavy displeasure. O remember not the sins and offences of our youth: Psal. 25. but according to thy mercy think thou vpon us, O Lord, for thy goodness. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, for wee are weak: O Lord heal us, for our bones are vexed. And now in the vexation of our spirits, and the anguish of our souls, we remember thee, Baruc. 3. Jonas 2. and we cry unto thee: hear Lord, and have mercy. For thine own sake, and for thy holy Names sake incline thine ear, and hear, Dan. 9. O merciful Lord. For we do not power out our prayers before thy face, trusting in our own righteousness: but in thy great and manifold mercies. Wash us thoroughly from our wickedness: and cleanse us from our sins. turn thy face from our sins, and put out all our misdeeds. Make us clean hearts, O God: and renew a right spirit within us. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy Name: O deliver us, and be merciful unto our sins for thy Names sake. So we that be thy people, and sheep of thy Pasture, shall give thee thankes for ever, Psal. 79. and will always be showing forth thy praise from generation to generation. Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. Domine ne in furore. Psal. 6. O Lord rebuk me not in thine indignation: neither chasten me in thy displeasure. 2 Have mercy upon me, O Lord, for I am weak: O Lord heal me, for my bones are vexed. 3 My soul is also sore troubled: but Lord how long wilt thou punish me? 4 turn thee, O Lord, and deliver my soul: Oh save me for thy mercies sake. 5 For in death no man remembreth thee: and who will give thee thanks in the pit? 6 I am weary of my groaning, every night wash I my bed: and water my couch with my tears. 7 My beauty is gone for very trouble: and worn away because of all mine enemies. 8 Away from me all ye that work vanity: for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping. 9 The Lord hath heard my petition: the Lord will receive my prayer. 10 All mine enemies shalbe confounded and sore vexed: they shalbe turned back, and put to shane suddenly. Beati quorum. Psal. 32. BLessed is he whose unrighteousness is forgiven: and whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man unto whom the Lord imputeth no sin: and in whose spirit there is no guile. 3 For while I held my tongue: my bones consumed away through my daily complaining. 4 For thy hand is heavy upon me day and night: and my moisture is like the drought in Summer. 5 I will knowledge my sin unto thee: and mine unrighteousness haue I not hide. 6 I said, I will confess my sins unto the Lord: and so thou forgavest the wickedness of my sin. 7 For this shall every one that is godly make his prayer unto thee in a time when thou mayest be found: but in the great water floods they shall not come nigh him. 8 Thou art a place to hid me in, thou shalt preserve me from trouble: thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. 9 I will inform thee, and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go: and I will guide thee with mine eye. 10 Be ye not like to horse and mule, which haue no understanding: whose mouths must be holden with bit and bridle, lest they fall vpon thee. 11 Great plagues remain for the ungodly: but who so putteth his trust in the Lord, mercy embraceth him on every side. 12 Be glad, O ye righteous, and rejoice in the Lord: and be joyful all ye that are true of heart. Domine, ne in furore. Psal. 38. PVt me not to rebuk( O Lord) in thine anger: neither chasten me in thy heavy displeasure. 2 For thine arrows stick fast in me: and thy hand presseth me sore. 3 There is no health in my flesh, because of thy displeasure: neither is there any rest in my bones, by reason of my sin. 4 For my wickednesses are gone over my head: and are like a sore burden too heavy for me to bear. 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt: through my foolishness. 6 I am brought into so great trouble and misery: that I go mourning all the day long. 7 For my loins are filled with a sore disease: and there is no whole part in my body. 8 I am feeble and sore smitten: I haue roared for the very disquietness of my heart. 9 Lord, thou knowest all my desire: and my groaning is not hide from thee. 10 My heart panteth, my strength hath failed me: and the sight of mine eyes is gone from me. 11 My louers and my neighbours did stand looking vpon my trouble: and my kinsmen stood afar off. 12 They also that sought after my life laid snares for me: and they that went about to do me evil, talked of wickedness, and imagined deceit all the day long. 13 As for me I was like a deaf man and heard not: and as one that is dumb, which doth not open his mouth. 14 I became even as a man that heareth not: and in whose mouth are no reproofs. 15 For in thee, O Lord, haue I put my trust: thou shalt answer for me, O Lord my God. 16 I haue required that they( even mine enemies) should not triumph over me: for when my foot slipped, they reioyced greatly against me. 17 And I truly am set in the plague: and my heaviness is ever in my sight. 18 For I will confess my wickedness: and be sorry for my sin. 19 But mine enemies live, and are mighty: and they that hate me wrongfully are many in number. 20 They also that reward evil for good, are against me: because I follow the thing that good is. 21 Forsake me not, O Lord my God: be not thou far from me. 22 hast thee to help me: O Lord God of my salvation. Dixi, custodiam. Psal. 39. I Said I will take heed to my ways: that I offend not in my tongue. 2 I will keep my mouth( as it were with a bridle:) while the ungodly is in my sight. 3 I held my tongue, and spake nothing: I kept silence, yea, even from good words, but it was pain and grief to me. 4 My heart was hote within me, and while I was thus musing, the fire kindled: and at the last I spake with my tongue. 5 Lord, let me know mine end, and the number of my dayes: that I may be certified how long I haue to live. 6 Behold, thou hast made my dayes as it were a span long: and mine age is even as nothing in respect of thee, and verily every man living is altogether vanity. 7 For man walketh in a vain shadow, and disquieteth himself in vain: he heapeth up riches, and cannot tell who shall gather them. 8 And now, Lord, what is my hope: truly my hope is even in thee. 9 deliver me from all mine offences: and make me not a rebuk unto the foolish. 10 I became dumb, and opened not my mouth: for it was thy doing. 11 Take thy plague away from me: I am even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand. 12 When thou with rebukes dost chasten man for sin, thou makest his beauty to consume away like as it were a moth freting a garment: every man therefore is but vanity. 13 hear my prayer, O Lord, and with thine ears consider my calling: hold not thy peace at my tears. 14 For I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner: as all my fathers were. 15 O spare me a little, that I may recover my strength: before I go hence, and be no more seen. Miserere mei, Deus. Psal. 51. HAue mercy upon me, O God, after thy great goodness: according to the multitude of thy mercies, do away mine offences. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my wickedness: and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I aclowledge my faults: and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against thee onely haue I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified in thy saying, and clear when thou art judged. 5 Behold, I was shapen in wickedness: and in sin hath my mother conceived me. 6 But lo, thou requirest truth in the inward parts: and shalt make me to understand wisdom secretly. 7 Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter then snow. 8 Thou shalt make me hear of ioy and gladness: that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 9 turn thy face from my sins: and put out all my misdeeds. 10 Make me a clean heart, O God: and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from thy presence: and take not thy holy Spirit from me. 12 O give me the comfort of thy help again: and stablish me with thy free Spirit. 13 Then shall I teach thy ways unto the wicked: and sinners shall bee converted unto thee. 14 deliver me from blood guiltiness, God, thou that art the God of my health: and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousness. 15 Thou shalt open my lips, O Lord: and my mouth shall show thy praise. 16 For thou desirest no sacrifice, else would I give it thee: but thou delightest not in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifice of God is a troubled spirit: a broken and contrite heart, O God, shalt thou not despise. 18 O bee favourable and gracious unto Sion: build thou the walls of jerusalem. 19 Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifice of righteousness, with the burnt offerings and oblations: then shall they offer young bullocks vpon thine Altar. Domine, refugium. Psal. 90. LOrd, thou hast been our refuge: from one generation to another. 2 Before the mountaines were brought forth, or ever the earth and the world were made: thou art God from everlasting, and world without end. 3 Thou turnest man to destruction: again thou sayest, Come again ye children of men. 4 For a thousand yeeres in thy sight are but as yesterday: seeing that is past as a watch in the night. 5 assoon as thou scatterest them, they are even as a sleep: and fade away suddenly like the grass. 6 In the morning it is green, and groweth up: but in the evening it is cut down, dried up, and withered. 7 For wee consume a way in thy displeasure: and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation. 8 Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee: and our secret sins in the sight of thy countenance. 9 For when thou art angry, all our dayes are gone: wee bring our yeeres to an end, as it were a tale that is told. 10 The dayes of our age are threescore yeeres and ten, and though men bee so strong that they come to fourscore yeeres: yet is their strength then but labour and sorrow, so soon passeth it away, and we are gone. 11 But who regardeth the power of thy wrath: for even thereafter as a man feareth, so is thy displeasure. 12 O teach us to number our dayes: that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 13 turn thee again, O Lord, at the last: and be gracious unto thy seruants. 14 O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon: so shall wee rejoice and bee glad all the dayes of our life. 15 Comfort us again, now after the time that thou hast plagued us: and for the yeeres wherein we haue suffered adversity. 16 show thy seruants thy work: and their children thy glory. 17 And the glorious majesty of the Lord our God be vpon us: prosper thou the work of our hands vpon us, O prosper thou our handiworke. Qui habitat. Psal. 91. WHo so dwelleth under the defence of the most High: shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say unto the Lord, Thou art my hope, and my strong hold: my God, in him will I trust. 3 For he shall deliver thee from the snare of the Hunter: and from the noisome pestilence. 4 he shall defend thee under his wings, and thou shalt be safe under his feathers: his faithfulness and truth shalbe thy shield and buckle 5 Thou shalt not bee afraid for any terror by night: nor for the arrow that flieth by day. 6 For the Pestilence that walketh in darkness: nor for the sickness that destroyeth in the noon day. 7 A thousand shall fall beside thee, and ten thousand at thy right hand: but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Yea, with thine eyes shalt thou behold: and see the reward of the ungodly. 9 For thou Lord art my hope: thou hast set thine house of defence very high. 10 There shall no evil happen unto thee: neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his Angels charge over thee: to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shal bear thee in their hands: that thou hurt not thy foot against a ston. 13 Thou shalt go vpon the Lion and Adder: the young Lion and the Dragon shalt thou tread under thy feet. 14 Because he hath set his love vpon me, therefore shall I deliver him: I shall set him up, because he hath known my Name. 15 he shall call vpon me, and I will hear him: yea, I am with him in trouble, I will deliver him, and bring him to honour. 16 With long life will I satisfy him: and show him my salvation. Domine, exaudi. Psal. 102. hear my prayer, O Lord: and let my crying come unto thee. 2 hid not thy face from me in the time of my trouble: incline thine ears unto me when I call, O hear me and that right soon. 3 For my dayes are consumed away like smoke: and my bones are burnt up as it were a firebrand. 4 My heart is smitten down, and withered like grass: so that I forget to eat my bread. 5 For the voice of my groaning: my bones will scarce cleave to my flesh. 6 I am become like a pelican in the wilderness: and like an owl that is in the desert. 7 I haue watched, and am even as it were a sparrow: that sitteth alone vpon the house top. 8 Mine enemies revile me all the day long: and they that are mad vpon me, are sworn together against me. 9 For I haue eaten ashes as it were bread: and mingled my drink with weeping. 10 And that because of thine indignation and wrath: for thou hast taken me up, and cast me down. 11 My dayes are gone like a shadow: and I am withered like grass. 12 But thou,( O Lord) shalt endure for ever: and thy remembrance throughout all generations. 13 Thou shalt arise and haue mercy vpon Sion: for it is time that thou haue mercy vpon her, yea, the time is come. 14 And why? thy seruants think vpon her stones: and it pitieth them to see her in the dust. 15 The Heathen shall fear thy Name, O Lord: and all the Kings of the earth thy majesty. 16 When the Lord shall build up Sion: and when his glory shall appear. 17 When he turneth him unto the prayer of the poor destitute: & despiseth not their desire. 18 This shall be written for those that come after: and the people which shall bee born shall praise the Lord. 19 For he hath looked down from his Sanctuary: out of the heaven did the Lord behold the earth. 20 That he might hear the mournings of such as be in captivity: and deliver the children appointed unto death. 21 That they may declare the Name of the Lord in Sion: and his worship at jerusalem. 22 When the people are gathered together: and the kingdoms also to serve the Lord. 23 he brought down my strength in my journey: and shortened my dayes. 24 But I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of mine age: as for thy yeeres they endure throughout all generations. 25 Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth: and the heauens are the work of thy hands. 26 They shall perish, but thou shalt endure: they all shall wax old as doth a garment. 27 And as a vesture shalt thou change them, and they shalbe changed: but thou art the same, and thy yeeres shall not fail. 28 The children of thy seruants shall continue: and their seed shall stand fast in thy sight. De profundis. Psal. 130. out of the deep haue I called unto thee, O Lord: Lord hear my voice. 2 Oh let thine ears consider well: the voice of my complaint. 3 If thou Lord wilt bee extreme to mark what is done amiss: O Lord, who may abide it? 4 For there is mercy with thee: therefore shalt thou be feared. 5 I look for the Lord, my soul doth wait for him: in his word is my trust. 6 My soul fleeth unto the Lord: before the morning watch, I say, before the morning watch. 7 O Israel trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy: and with him is plenteous redemption. 8 And he shall redeem Israel: from all his sins. ¶ The psalms ended, read one of these Chapters following for the first Lesson, Deut. 28.30. 1. Reg. 8.2. Sam. 24. Ioel 2. jonas 3. Te Deum laudamus. WE praise thee, O God: we knowledge thee to be the Lord. All the earth doth worship thee: the Father everlasting. To thee all Angels cry aloud: the heauens, and all the powers therein. To thee Cherubin, and Seraphin: continually do cry. Holy, holy, holy: Lord God of Sabbath. heaven and earth are full of the majesty: of thy glory. The glorious company of the Apostles: praise thee. The goodly fellowship of the Prophets: praise thee. The noble army of Martyrs: praise thee. The holy Church throughout all the world: doth knowledge thee. The Father: of an infinite majesty. Thine honourable: true, and onely son. Also the holy Ghost: the Comforter. Thou art the King of glory: O Christ. Thou art the everlasting son: of the Father. When thou tookest vpon thee to deliver man: thou didst not abhor the Virgins womb. When thou hadst overcome the sharpness of death: thou didst open the kingdom of heaven to all believers. Thou sittest at the right hand of God: in the glory of the Father. Wee beleeue that thou shalt come: to be our judge. Wee therefore pray thee help thy seruants: whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood. Make them to be numbered with thy Saints: in glory everlasting. O Lord save thy people: and bless thine heritage. govern them: and lift them up for ever. Day by day: we magnify thee. And we worship thy Name: ever world without end. Vouchsafe( O Lord:) to keep us this day without sin. O Lord haue mercy vpon us: haue mercy vpon vs. O Lord let thy mercy lighten vpon us: as our trust is in thee. O Lord in thee haue I trusted: let me never be confounded. ¶ For the second Lesson, read one of these Chapters, S. Math. 6. or 8. or 9 S. Luke 13. BLessed be the Lord God of Israel: for he hath visited and redeemed his people. And hath raised up a mighty salvation for us: in the house of his seruant david. As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets: which haue been since the world began. That wee should be saved from our enemies: and from the hands of all that hate vs. To perform the mercy promised to our forefathers: and to remember his holy covenant. To perform the oath which he swore to our forefather Abraham: that he would give vs. That we being delivered out of the hands of our enemies: might serve him without fear. In holinesse and righteousness before him: all the dayes of our life. And thou child shalt be called the Prophet of the Highest: for thou shalt go before the face of the Lord to prepare his ways. To give knowledge of salvation unto his people: for the remission of their sins. Through the tender mercy of our God: whereby the day-spring from an high hath visited vs. To give light to them that sit in darkness, and in the shadow of death: and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. ¶ Or this C. psalm. Iubilate Deo. O Bee joyful in the Lord( all ye lands:) serve the Lord with gladness, and come before his presence with a song. Be ye sure that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves, wee are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. O go your way into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his Courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and speak good of his Name. For the Lord is gracious, his mercy is everlasting: and his truth endureth from generation to generation. Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and shall be evermore world without end, Amen. ¶ Then shall be said the creed by the Minister, and the people, standing. I Beleeue in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth: and in Iesus Christ his only son our Lord, which was conceived by the holy Ghost, born of the virgin mary, suffered under Ponce Pilate, was crucified, dead and butted, he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty, from thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead. I beleeue in the holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. ¶ And after that, these prayers following, as well at evening prayer, as at Morning prayer, all devoutly kneeling, the Minister first pronouncing with a loud voice, The Lord be with you. Answer. And with thy spirit. Minister. ¶ Let us pray. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. ¶ Then the Minister, Clerkes and people, shall say the Lords prayer in English with a loud voice. our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as wee forgive them that trespass against vs. And led us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. ¶ Then the Priest standing up, shall say, O Lord show thy mercy vpon vs. answer. And grant us thy salvation. Priest. O Lord save the King. answer. And mercifully hear us when we call vpon thee. Priest. endue thy Ministers with righteousness. answer. And make thy chosen people joyful. Priest. O Lord save thy people. answer. And bless thine inheritance. Priest. give peace in our time, O Lord. answer. Because there is none other that sighteth for us, but only thou, O God. Priest. O God make clean our hearts within vs. answer. And take not thy holy Spirit from vs. ¶ The first Collect. O almighty, most just and merciful God, we here aclowledge ourselves most unworthy to lift up our eyes unto heaven: for our conscience doth accuse us, and our sins do reprove vs. Wee know also that thou, Lord, being a just judge, must needs punish the sins of them that transgress thy Law. And when wee consider and examine all our whole life, we find nothing in ourselves, that deserveth any other thing but eternal damnation. But because thou, O Lord, of thy unspeakable mercy, hast commanded us in all our necessities to call onely vpon thee, and hast also promised, that thou wilt hear our prayers, not for any our desert( which is none) but for the merits of thy son our onely saviour Iesus Christ, whom thou hast ordained to be our only mediator and intercessor. We lay away all confidence in man, and do flee to the Throne of thy onely mercy, by the intercession of thy onely son our saviour Iesu Christ. And first of all wee do most lament and bewail from the bottom of our hearts, our vnkindnesse and vnthankefulnesse towards thee our Lord, considering that besides those thy benefits which wee enjoy as thy creatures, common with all mankind, thou hast bestowed many and singular special benefits vpon us, which wee are not able in heart to conceive, much less in words worthily to express. Thou hast called us to the knowledge of thy Gospel. Thou hast released us from the hard servitude of satan. But wee most unmindful in times of prosperity, of these thy great benefits, haue neglected thy Commandements, haue abused the knowledge of thy Gospel, and haue followed our carnal liberty, and served our own lusts, and through our sinful life haue not worshipped and honoured thee as we ought to haue done. And now, O Lord, being even compelled with thy correction, we do most humbly confess that we haue sinned, and haue most grievously offended thee by many and sundry ways. And if thou. O Lord, wouldest now, being provoked with our disobedience, so deal with us as thou mightest, and as we haue deserved, there remaineth nothing else to bee looked for, but universal and continual plagues in this world, and hereafter eternal death and damnation, both of our bodies and of our souls. For if we should excuse ourselves, our own consciences would accuse us before thee, and our own disobedience and wickedness would bear witness against vs. Yea, even thy plagues and punishments which thou dost now lay open vpon us in sundry places, do teach us to aclowledge our sins. For seeing, O Lord, that thou art just, yea even Iustice itself, thou punishest no people without desert. Yea, even at this present, O Lord, we see thy hand terribly stretched out to plague us, and punish vs. But although thou shouldst punish us more grievously then thou hast done, and for one plague sand us many, if thou shouldst power vpon us all those thy testimonies of thy most just wrath, which in times past thou pouredst on thy own chosen people of Israel: yet shouldst thou do us no wrong, neither could we deny but wee had justly deserved the same. But yet, O merciful Lord, thou art our God, and we nothing but dust and ashes: Thou art our Creator, and we the work of thy hands: Thou art our Pastor, wee are thy flock: Thou art our Redeemer, and we thy people redeemed: Thou art our heavenly Father, wee are thy children. Wherefore punish us not, O Lord, in thine anger, but chasten us in thy mercy. Regard not the horror of our sins, but our unfeigned repentance perfit that work which thou hast begun in us, that the whole world may know, that thou art our God and merciful deliverer. Thy people of Israel oftentimes offended thee, and thou most justly afflictedst them: but as oft as they returned to thee, thou didst receive them to mercy. And though their sins were never so great, yet thou always turnedst away thy wrath from them, and the punishment prepared for them, and that for thy covenant sake, which thou madest with thy seruants, Abraham, Isaac, and jacob. Thou hast made the same covenant with us( O heavenly Father) or rather a covenant of more excellency and efficacy, and that namely through the mediation of thy dear son Iesus Christ our saviour, with whose most precious Blood, it pleased thee that this covenant should bee, as it were, written, sealed, and confirmed. Wherefore, O heavenly Father, we now casting away all confidence in ourselves or any other creature, do flee to this most holy covenant and Testament, wherein our Lord and saviour Iesus Christ, once offered himself a Sacrifice for us on the cross, and hath reconciled us to thee for ever. look therefore, O merciful God, not vpon the sins which wee continually commit: but vpon our mediator and Peace-maker Iesus Christ, that by his intercession thy wrath may be pacified, and wee again by thy Fatherly countenance relieved and comforted. receive us also into thy heavenly defence, and govern us by thy holy Spirit, to frame in us a newness of life, therein to laud and magnify thy blessed Name for ever, and to live every one of us according to the several state of life, whereunto thou, Lord, hast ordained us in godly fear and trembling before thee. And although wee are unworthy( O heavenly Father) by means of our former foul life, to crave any thing of thee: yet because thou hast commanded us to pray for all men, wee most humbly here vpon our knees beseech thee, save and defend thy holy Church, bee merciful, O Lord to all Common weals, countries, Princes, and Magistrates, and especially to this our realm, and to our most gracious King and governor, King Charles and queen Mary increase the number of godly Ministers, endue them with thy grace to bee found faithful and prudent in their office, defend the Kings majesties council, and all that be in authority under him, or that serve in any place by his commandement for this realm. Wee commend also to thy Fatherly mercy, all those that bee in poverty, exile, imprisonment, sickness, or any other kind of adversity, and namely those whom thy hand now hath touched with any contagious and dangerous sickness, which wee beseech thee, O Lord, of thy mercy ( when thy blessed will is) to remove from us, and in the mean time, grant us grace and true repentance, steadfast faith, and constant patience, that whether we live or die, wee may always continue thine, and ever praise thy holy Name, and by thy great mercy be partakers of grace in this life, and eternal glory in the life to come. Grant us these and all other our humble petitions( O merciful Father) for thy dear sons sake Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ The second Collect for peace. O God which art Author of peace, and lover of concord, in knowledge of whom standeth our eternal life, whose service is perfect freedom, defend us thy humble seruants in all assaults of our enemies, that wee surely trusting in thy defence, may not fear the power of any aduersaries, through the might of Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ The third Collect for grace. O Lord our heavenly Father, Almighty and everlasting God, which hast safely brought us to the beginning of this day, defend us in the same with thy mighty power, and grant that this day we fall into no sin, neither run into any kind of danger: but that all our doings may bee ordered by thy governance, to do always that is righteous in thy sight, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ Here followeth the litany. O God the Father of heaven: haue mercy vpon us miserable sinners. O God the Father of heaven: haue mercy vpon us miserable sinners. O God the son Redeemer of the world: haue mercy vpon us miserable sinners. O God the son Redeemer of the world: haue mercy vpon us miserable sinners. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the son: haue mercy vpon us miserable sinners. O God the holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the son: haue mercy vpon us miserable sinners. O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God: haue mercy vpon us miserable sinners. O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three persons and one God: haue mercy vpon us miserable sinners. 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 devill, from thy wrath, and from everlasting damnation. Good Lord deliver vs. From all blindness of heart, from pride, vain glory, and hypocrisy, from envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitableness. Good Lord deliver vs. From fornication, and all other deadly sin, and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh and the devill. Good Lord deliver vs. From lightning and tempest, from plague, pestilence, and famine, from battle and murder, and from sudden death. Good Lord deliver vs. From all sedition and privy conspiracy, from all false doctrine and heresy, from hardness of heart, and contempt of thy Word and Commandment. Good Lord deliver vs. By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation, by thy holy nativity and Circumcision, by thy baptism, Fasting, and Temptation. Good Lord deliver vs. By thine Agony and bloody Sweat, by thy cross and Passion, by thy precious Death and burial, by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension, and by the coming of the holy Ghost. Good Lord deliver vs. In all time of our tribulation, in all time of our wealth, in the hour of death, and in the day of Iudgement. Good Lord deliver vs. Wee 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 hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee, in righteousness and holinesse of life, thy seruant Charles, our most gracious King and governor. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to rule his heart in thy faith, fear, and love, and that he may evermore haue affiance in thee, and ever seek thy honour and glory. Wee beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to bee his defender and keeper, giuing him the victory over all his enemies. Wee beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to bless and preserve our gracious Queen Mary, Prince Charles, and the rest of the royal progeny. Wee beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops, Pastours and Ministers of the Church, with true knowledge and understanding of thy Word, and that both by their preaching and living, they nay set it forth, and show it accordingly. We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to due the Lords of the council, and all the Nobility, with grace, wisdom, and understanding. We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to bless and keep the Magistrates, giuing them grace to execute Iustice, and to maintain truth. We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to bless and keep all thy people. We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to give to all Nations, unity, peace, and concord. We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to give us an heart to love and dread thee, and diligently to live after thy commandements. We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to give to all thy people increase of grace, to hear meekly thy word, and to receive it with pure affection, and to bring forth the fruits of the Spirit. We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth, all such as have erred, and are deceived. We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. That it may please thee to strengthen such as do stand, and to comfort and help the weak hearted, and to raise up them that fall, and finally to beat down Satan under our feet. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to succour, help, and comfort all that be in danger, necessity, and tribulation. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to preserve all that travell by land or by water, all women labouring of child, all sick persons and young children, and to show thy pity vpon all prisoners and captives. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. 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 hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to forgive our enemies, persecutors and slanderers, and to turn their hearts. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to give and preserve to our use the kindly fruits of the earth, so as in due time we may enjoy them. We beseech thee to hear us, good Lord. That it may please thee to give us true repentance, to forgive us all our sins, negligences and ignorances, and to due us with the grace of thy holy Spirit, to amend our lives according to thy holy word. We beseech thee to hear us good Lord. son of God: we beseech thee to hear vs. son of God: we beseech thee to hear vs. 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 the world. Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christ hear vs. O Christ hear vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Our Father which art in heaven, &c. And led us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen. The Versicle. O Lord deal not with us after our sins. answer. Neither reward us after our iniquities. ¶ Let us pray. O God merciful Father, that despisest 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 adversities, whensoever they oppress us: and graciously hear us, that those evils which the craft and subtlety of the devill or man worketh against us be brought to nought, and by the providence of thy goodness they may be dispersed, that wee thy seruants, being hurt by no persecutions, may evermore give thankes unto thee in thy holy Church, through Iesus Christ our Lord. O Lord arise, help us, and deliver us for thy Names sake. O God we haue heard with our ears, and our fathers haue declared unto us, the noble works that thou didst in their dayes, and in the old time before them. O Lord arise, help us, and deliver us for thine honour. Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. From our enemies defend us, O Christ. Graciously look vpon our afflictions. Pitifully behold the sorrows of our hearts. Mercifully forgive the sins of thy people. favourably with mercy hear our prayers. O son of david have mercy vpon vs. Both now and ever vouchsafe to hear us, O Christ. Graciously hear us, O Christ. Graciously hear us, O Lord Christ. The Versicle. O Lord let thy mercy be shewed vpon vs. answer. As we do put our trust in thee. ¶ Let us pray. O eternal and everliving God, most merciful Father, which of thy great long suffering and patience, hast hitherto suffered and born with us most miserable offenders, who haue so long strayed out of the way, and broken all thy laws and commandements, and haue, neither by thy manifold benefits bestowed vpon us, unworthy and unthankful sinners, nor by the voice of thy seruants and preachers, by continual threatenings out of thy holy word, hitherto been moved, either as thy children, of love to return unto thee our most gracious Father, either for fear of thy judgements, as humble and lowly seruants to turn from our wickedness. And therefore, most righteous judge, thy patience being( as it were) overcome at the last, with our obstinate vnrepentance, thou hast most justly executed those thy terrible threats now partly vpon us, by plagueing us so( with most dreadful and deadly sickness) whereby great multitudes of us are daily afflicted and consumed. We beseech thee, O merciful Father, that in thy wrath thou wilt remember thy old great mercies, and to correct us in thy judgements, and not in thy just anger, lest we be all consumed and brought to nought. Look not so much vpon us and our deservings, O most righteous judge, to take just vengeance on our sins: but rather remember thy infinite mercies, O most merciful Father, promised to us by thy dearly beloved son our saviour Iesus Christ, for whose sake, and in whose Name, wee do earnestly and humbly crave mercy and forgiveness of our sins, and deliverance from this horrible sickness, being the just punishment and plague for the same. And as thy holy word doth testify, that thy people of all ages, being justly plagued for their sins, and yet in their distress vnfainedly turning unto thee, and suing for thy mercy, obtained the same: So likewise wee most worthily now afflicted with grievous and dreadful plagues for our iniquities, pray thee, O merciful Father, to grant us thy heavenly grace, that wee may likewise both truly and vnfainedly repent, and obtain thy mercy, and deliverance from the same, which wee beseech thee, O Father of all mercies, and God of all consolation, to grant us, for the same Iesus Christs sake, our only saviour, mediator and advocate. Amen. O Lord, we haue sinned, we haue sinned, and multiplied our abominations in thy sight, the wanton provocation of lust in our meats, the unclean pollution of whoredom like that of Israel is on our tables, and in our tents: and we haue magnified ourselves in the multitude and mightiness of our Nation, as did david, and thy wrath is incensed, & the plague is great amongst us: just art thou( O God) in thy judgements, and it is thy mercy that we are not utterly consumed. And yet( O Lord) such is the hardness of our hearts, and so great is our security in the custom of sin, as that we are not truly touched in our souls and consciences, either with that feeling apprehension of thine indignation against us, or with that fearful expectation of further calamities, as might deject and cast us down before thee with that consternation and confession as becometh such miserable and wretched sinners as we are. Notwithstanding( O Father of pity and much mercy) deal not with us according to our sins, neither reward us according to our iniquities, but sanctify unto us this thy visitation: wound our flesh with thy fear: possess our souls with an awful dread of thy power, thou which hast the hearts of all men in thy hands to prevent and prepare as it shall please thee. convert us, and we shall be converted: turn us, and wee shall be turned unto thee, take our wickedness from us, and thou shalt find none. But being pleased to bee reconciled again unto us in the Name and mediation of our onely advocate and saviour Iesus Christ, burying those great and grievous sins of our Nation in the grave of that thy son: heal us again, O Lord, thou that hast wounded us; let the voice of ioy and health be in our dwellings: so shall wee give thankes unto thee in the great Congregation, and record thy mercies for ever and ever. THou hast smitten us( O Lord) thou hast plagued us, and scattered the noisome pestilence in our chief Cities, and in our habitations round about, and we cry unto thee( O Lord) but the sore runneth and ceaseth not. Yet is not thine ear heavy that thou canst not hear: neither is thine arm shortened, that thou canst not help: but our sins haue made a separation between thee and vs. Teach us therefore( O Lord) truly to repent us of all our wickedness, that thou also mayest repent thee of the evil intended against vs. And as the loathsome savour of our sins hath ascended up into thy nostrils to provoke thy wrath and procure this plague against us: So let our humble supplications testified with our tears and sighs powred forth before thee, sanctified through faith in the intercession of our saviour, and thy son Iesus Christ, come up into thy sight( as did the Incense of Aaron when he stood between the living and the dead) to turn away thy wrathful indignation from vs. Oh let us live, and wee will praise thee, and thy judgements shall teach us, and inform us in thy fear, that wee may frame the rest of our life in all holy obedience according to thy will: and in the end of our dayes may bee received through thy mercy and compassion into thy eternal glory without end. Amen. O Lord our God most gracious and merciful, we most miserable wretches humbly beseech thee in mercy and compassion to behold our grievous afflictions; for thine indignation lieth hard vpon us, thine arrows stick fast in us, and the venom thereof doth drink up our spirits, and thy terrors do fight against vs. Wee confess( O Lord) that these thy judgements are just: for we haue multiplied our transgressions like the sand of the sea, and the cry of them hath been so great, that it hath pierced the heauens, and called for vengeance against vs. But yet we beseech thee, O Lord, forget not thou to be gracious, and shut not up thy loving kindness in displeasure: turn thee again at the last, and be gracious unto thy seruants. help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy Name: O deliver us, and bee merciful unto our sins for thy Names sake: take thy plague away from us, for wee are even consumed by the means of thy heavy hand: cause thine Angel to sheathe his sword again, and preserve thou those which are appointed to die. O satisfy us with thy mercy, and that soon; so shall wee rejoice and bee glad all the dayes of our life. Comfort us again now after the time that thou hast plagued us: So shall we that bee thy people and sheep of thy pasture, give thee thankes for ever; and wee will always be showing forth thy praise from generation to generation. Grant us( O Lord) we beseech thee, these graces, for Iesus Christ his sake thy onely Son and our onely saviour. Amen. almighty God and heavenly Father, whose iustice and iudgement is most severe and fearful against those that witting and willingly transgress thy holy Commandements, and stubbornly continue in their sins and wickedness: whose mercy again is infinite, and most ready to pardon and succour all such as in true repentance turn from their sins unto righteousness, and come unto thee in the faith and mediation of Iesus Christ: Wee thy humble seruants and miserable sinners, now visited and sore afflicted with this grievous plague and pestilence, most worthily sent amongst us for our iniquities and transgressions, in true acknowledgement of our manifold wickedness, and thy just iudgement vpon us for the same, in unfeigned repentance and hearty sorrow for our sins, with a full purpose and promise by thy gracious assistance of a better life hereafter, do now come unto thy Throne of grace, in the name and mediation of thy dear son( in whom thou art well pleased, our Lord and saviour Iesus Christ) in assured faith of atonement purchased for us by his blood, and full confidence of thy general pardon proclaimed unto us in the Gospel: most humbly beseeching thee for his sake, to pardon and forgive us all our sins past, in thought, word, and dead, any ways committed against thy divine majesty, and holy laws: to give unto us every day more earnest and unfeigned repentance for the same: to plant in our hearts by the grace of thy holy Spirit, a settled fear of thy Name, and full resolution to led the rest of our life in the careful obedience of thy holy will in our callings, and faithful hope of a better life to come: and so to remove from us speedily this heavy plague and grievous affliction( which now reigneth and rageth amongst us) lest we bee utterly consumed. Grant us good Lord of thy grace and mercy, all means needful hereunto: seasonable weather and good air, wholesome meats and medicines, and whatsoever else thou knowest profitable for us: together with a due care and conscience in ourselves, to use the same accordingly: that neither wee tempt thy majesty by presumption, in contemning of the contagion, or neglecting the means of avoiding, removing, and repressing the same: neither despair of thy goodness, or murmur against thy providence( if we be not so soon eased and delivered as wee desire:) but that we may( submitting ourselves in all things to thy good will and pleasure) seek thy merciful favour for our release and succour, by true faith and repentance: use the means for ease which thou givest us, with care and diligence: help the afflicted, and preserve the whole with compassionate pity and charity: and finally depend vpon thy providence, and wait for thy gracious deliverance, with constant hope and patience. hear us, and help us, O Lord God of mercy, and Father of compassion, in the Name and for the sake of thy dear son our most gracious mediator, and Redeemer, and most glorious Lord and saviour Iesus Christ. Amen. WE humbly beseech thee, O Father, mercifully to look vpon our infirmities, and for the glory of thy Names sake, turn from us all those evils that we most righteously haue deserved: and grant that in all our troubles wee may put our whole trust and confidence in thy mrcie, and evermore serve thee in holinesse and pureness of living, to thy honour and glory, through our onely mediator and advocate Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ A prayer for the Kings majesty. O Lord our heavenly Father, High and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the onely ruler of Princes, which dost from thy throne behold all the dwellers vpon the earth, most hearty we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious sovereign Lord King CHARLES, and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy Spirit, that he may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way, due him plenteously with heavenly gifts, grant him in health and wealth long to live, strengthen him, that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies, and finally after this life, he may attain everlasting ioy and felicity, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ A prayer for the queen, Prince CHARLES, and the rest of the royal progeny. ALmighty God, the fountain of all goodness, wee humbly beseech thee to bless our most gracious queen Mary, Prince Charles, and the rest of the royal Progeny: due them with thy holy Spirit, enrich them with thy heavenly grace, prosper them with all happiness, and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Iesus Christ our Lord. ALmighty and everlasting God, which onely workest great marueiles, sand down vpon our Bishops and Curates, and all Congregations committed to their charge, the healthful Spirit of thy grace, and that they may truly please thee, power vpon them the continual due of thy blessing. Grant this, O Lord, for the honour of our advocate and mediator Iesus Christ. Amen. A prayer of Chrysostome. ALmighty God, which hast given us grace at this time with one accord, to make our common supplications unto thee, and dost promise that when two or three bee gathered together in thy Name, thou wilt grant their requests: fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of thy seruants, as may be most expedient for them, granting us in this world knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen. 2 Corinthians 13. THe grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen. ¶ The latter service. ¶ The Priest standing at the North side of the Lords Table, shall say, our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against vs. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever, Amen. almighty God, unto whom all hearts bee open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hide: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy holy Spirit, that wee may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name, through Christ our Lord, Amen. Priest. GOD spake these words, and said, I am the Lord thy God: thou shalt haue none other gods but me. People. Lord haue mercy vpon us, and incline our hearts to keep this Law. Priest. Thou shalt not make to thyself any graven Image, nor the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or in the earth beneath, or in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down to them, nor worship them: For I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, and visit the sins of the fathers vpon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and show mercy unto thousands in them that love me and keep my Commandements. People. Lord haue mercy vpon us, and incline our hearts to keep this Law. Priest. Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain: For the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his Name in vain. People. Lord haue mercy vpon us, and incline our hearts to keep this Law. Priest. Remember that thou keep holy the Sabbath day. Sire dayes shalt thou labour, and do all that thou hast to do, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt do no maner of work, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, thy man seruant, and thy maid seruant, thy cattle, and the stranger that is within thy gates: For in six dayes the Lord made heaven and earth, the Sea and all that in them is, and restend the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the seventh day, and hallowed it. People. Lord haue mercy vpon us, and incline our hearts to keep this Law. Priest. Honour thy father and thy mother, that thy dayes may be long in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. People. Lord haue mercy vpon us, and incline our hearts to keep this Law. Priest. Thou shalt do no murder. People. Lord haue mercy vpon us, and incline our hearts to keep this Law. Priest. Thou shalt not commit adultery. People. Lord haue mercy vpon us, and incline our hearts to keep this Law. Priest. Thou shalt not steal. People. Lord haue mercy vpon us, and incline our hearts to keep this Law. Priest. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. People. Lord haue mercy vpon us, and incline our hearts to keep this Law. Priest. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house, nor his seruant, nor his maid, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is his. People. Lord haue mercy vpon us, and writ all these thy laws in our hearts, we beseech thee. ¶ Let us pray. almighty God, whose kingdom is everlasting, and power infinite, haue mercy vpon the whole Congregation, and so rule the heart of thy chosen seruant CHARLES our King and governor, that he knowing whose Minister he is, may above all things seek thy honor and glory: and that wee his Subiects, duly considering whose authority he hath, may faithfully serve, honour, and humbly obey him, in thee, and for thee, according to thy blessed word and ordinance, through Iesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the holy Ghost liveth and reigneth ever one God, world without end. Amen. The Collect. almighty and everlasting God, which hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all them that be penitent: create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we worthily lamenting our sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness, through Iesus Christ. The Epistle. Joel. 2.12. turn you unto me, with all your hearts, with fasting, weeping, and mourning: rent your hearts, and not your clothes. turn you unto the Lord your God, for he is gracious and merciful, long suffering, and of great compassion, and ready to pardon wickedness. Then( no doubt) he also shall turn and forgive: and after his chastening, he shall let your increase remain for meate and drinke-offerings unto the Lord your God. Blow out with the trumpet in Sion, proclaim a fasting, call the Congregation, and gather the people together: warn the Congregation, gather the Elders, bring the children and sucklings together. Let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet. Let the Priests serve the Lord between the Porch and the Altar, weeping, and saying, Be favourable, O Lord, bee favourable unto thy people, let not thine heritage bee brought to such confusion, lest the Heathen bee Lords thereof. Wherefore should they say among the Heathen, Where is now their God? The Gospel. WHen ye fast, be not sad, Mat. 6.16. as the hypocrites are: for they disfigure their faces, that it may appear unto men how that they fast. Verily I say unto you, they haue their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face, that it appear not unto men how that thou fastest, but unto thy Father, which is in secret, and thy Father which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for yourselves treasure vpon earth, where the rust and moth doth corrupt, and where theeues break thorough and steal, but lay up foryou treasures in heaven, where neither rust nor moth doth corrupt, and where theeues do not break thorough nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your hearts be also. I Beleeue in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible & invisible: and in one Lord Iesus Christ, the onely begotten Son of God, begotten of his Father before all worlds, God of God, Light of light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made: who for us men, and for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the holy Ghost of the Virgin Mary, and was made man, and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate, he suffered, and was butted, and the third day he rose again, according to the Scriptures, and ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of the Father. And he shall come again with glory to judge both the quick and the dead: whose kingdom shall haue no end. And I beleeue in the holy Ghost, the Lord and giver of life, who proceedeth from the Father and the son, who with the Father and the Son together is worshippet and glorified, who spake by the Prophets. And I beleeue one catholic and apostolic Church. I aclowledge one baptism for the remission of sins. And I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Matth. 5. LEt your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Let us pray for the whole state of Christs Church militant here on earth. ALmighty and everliving God, If there be no alms given unto the poor, then shall the words ( of accepting our alms) be left out vnsaid. which by thy holy Apostle hast taught us to make prayers and supplications, and to give thanks for all men: Wee humbly beseech thee most mercifully ( to accept our alms and) to receive these our prayers, which wee offer unto thy divine majesty, beseeching thee to inspire continually the universal Church with the spirit of truth, unity and concord: and grant that all they that do confess thy holy Name, may agree in the truth of thy holy Word, and live in unity and godly love. Wee beseech thee also to save and defend all Christian Kings, Princes, and Gouernours, and specially thy seruant CHARLES our King, that under him wee may bee godly and quietly governed. And grant unto his whole council, and to all that be put in authority under him, that they may truly and indifferently minister iustice, to the punishment of wickedness and 'vice, and to the maintenance of Gods true Religion and virtue. give grace( O heavenly Father) to all Bishops, Pastours, and Curates, that they may both by their life and doctrine set forth thy true and lively Word, and rightly and duly administer thy holy Sacraments. And to all thy people give thy heavenly grace, and specially to this Congregation here present, that with meek heart and due reverence, they may hear and receive thy holy word, truly serving thee in holinesse and righteousness all the dayes of their life. And we most humbly beseech thee of thy goodness( O Lord) to comfort and succour all them which in this transitory life be in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or any other adversity: Grant this, O Father, for Iesus Christs sake our onely mediator and advocate. Amen. O Most mighty God and merciful Father, which hast compassion of all men, and hatest nothing that thou hast made, which wouldest not the death of a sinner, but that he should rather turn from sin, and be saved: mercifully forgive us our trespasses, receive and comfort us, which be grieved and wearied with the burden of our sin. Thy property is to haue mercy, to thee onely it appertaineth to forgive sins. Spare us therefore, good Lord, spare thy people whom thou hast redeemed: enter not into iudgement with thy seruants, which be vile earth and miserable sinners: but so turn thine ire from us, which meekly knowledge our vileness, and truly repent us of our faults: so make hast to help us in this world, that we may ever live with thee in the world to come, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen. turn thou us, O good Lord, and so shall wee be turned: bee favourable, O Lord, bee favourable to thy people, which turn to thee in weeping, fasting, and praying: for thou art a merciful God, full of compassion, long suffering, and of great pity. Thou sparest when we deserve punishment, and in thy wrath thinkest vpon mercy. Spare thy people, good Lord, spare them, and let not thine heritage bee brought to confusion. hear us, O Lord, for thy mercy is great, and after the multitude of thy mercies look vpon vs. ASsist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy seruants toward the attainment of everlasting salvation, that among all the changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy most gracious and ready help, through Christ our Lord. Amen. ALmighty God, which hast promised to hear the petitions of them that ask in thy sons Name, we beseech thee mercifully to incline thine ears to us that haue made now our prayers and supplications unto thee, and grant that those things which wee haue faithfully asked according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, to the relief of our necessity, and to the setting forth of thy glory, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen. THe peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his son Iesus Christ our Lord, and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the son, and the holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen. ¶ THE ORDER FOR evening Prayer. AMend your lives, Matth. 3. for the kingdom of God is at hand. dearly beloved brethren, the Scripture moveth us, &c. As in Morning Prayer. ¶ A general confession to be said of the whole Congregation after the Minister, kneeling. ALmighty and most merciful Father, Wee haue erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, We haue followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts, Wee haue offended against thy holy laws, Wee haue left undone those things which wee ought to haue done, And wee haue done those things which wee ought not to haue done, And there is no health in us: But thou, O Lord, haue mercy vpon us miserable offenders; Spare thou them, O God, which confess their faults; Restore thou them that be penitent, according to thy promises declared unto mankind in Christ Iesu our Lord; And grant O most merciful Father, for his sake, that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life, to the glory of thy holy Name. Amen. ¶ The absolution or remission of sins to be pronounced by the Priest alone. ALmighty God, the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which desireth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he may turn from his wickedness and live, and hath given power and commandment to his Ministers, to declare and pronounce to his people, being penitent, the absolution and remission of their sins: he pardoneth and absolveth all them which truly repent, and vnfainedly beleeue his holy Gospel. Wherefore we beseech him to grant us true repentance, and his holy Spirit, that those things may please him which wee do at this present, and that the rest of our life hereafter may bee pure and holy so that at the last we may come to his eternal ioy through Iesus Christ our Lord. The people shall answer, Amen. ¶ Then shall the Minister begin the Lords prayer with a loud voice. our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive them that trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil: for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. Then likewise he shall say, O Lord open thou our lips. Answer. And our mouth shall show forth thy praise. Priest. O God make speed to save us. Answer. O Lord make hast to help us. Priest. Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end, Amen. Praise ye the Lord. ¶ read the psalms that were left unread at Morning prayer. ¶ For the first Lesson, read one of the Chapters appointed, and unread at Morning prayer, as in the rubric before Te Deum. Magnificat. Luke 1. MY soul doth magnify the Lord: and my spirit hath reioyced in God my saviour. For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name. And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. he hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. he remembering his mercy hath holpen his seruant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham, and his seed for ever. Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. A psalm, Whereof one verse is to be said of the Minister, and another by the people or clerk. O Come, Psal. 95. let us humble ourselves, and fall down before the Lord, with reverence and fear. For he is the Lord our God: and wee are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hands. Come therefore, Osee 6.2. let us turn again unto our Lord, for he hath smitten us, and he shall heal vs. Let us repent, and turn from our wickedness: acts 3. and our sins shall be forgiven vs. Let us turn, jonas 3. and the Lord will turn from his heavy wrath, and will pardon us, and wee shall not perish. For we knowledge our faults: Psal. 51. and our sins be ever before vs. We haue sore provoked thine anger, O Lord, Lamen. 3. thy wrath is waxed hote, and thy heavy displeasure is sore kindled against vs. But there is mercy with thee, that thou mayest bee feared: and thou art full of compassion. Thou hast in thine indignation strike us with grievous sickness, Esay. 64. and by and by we haue fallen as leaves beaten down with a vehement wind. judith 8. job 11. Sap. 11. Indeed wee aclowledge, that all punishments are less then our deservings: but yet of thy mercy, Lord, correct us to amendment, and plague us not to our destruction. For thy hand is not shortened, that thou canst not help: neither is thy goodness abated, that thou wilt not hear. Thou hast promised, O Lord, that afore we cry thou wilt hear us: Esa. 65. whilst we yet speak thou wilt haue mercy vpon vs. For none that trust in thee shall be confounded: neither any that call vpon thee shall be despised. For thou art the onely Lord, who woundest, and dost heal again, tub. 3. job 5. Ose 6. who killest, and reuiuest, bringest even to hell, and bringest back again. Our fathers hoped in thee, they trusted in thee, Psal. 22. and thou didst deliver them. They called vpon thee, and were helped: they put their trust in thee, and were not confounded. O Lord, rebuk not us in thine indignation: Psal. 6. neither chasten us in thy heavy displeasure. O remember not the sins and offences of our Psal. 25. youth: but according to thy mercy think thou vpon us, O Lord, for thy goodness. Haue mercy vpon us, O Lord, for wee are weak: O Lord, heal us, for our bones are vexed. And now in the vexation of our spirits, and the anguish of our souls, we remember thee, Baruc 3. jonas 2. and wee cry unto thee: hear, Lord, and haue mercy. For thine own sake, and for thy holy Names sake, incline thine ear, and hear, Dan. 9. O merciful Lord. For wee do not power out our prayers before thy face, trusting in our own righteousness: but in thy great and manifold mercies. Wash us thoroughly from our wickedness: and cleanse us from our sins. turn thy face from our sins: and put out all our misdeeds. Make us clean hearts, O God: and renew a right spirit within vs. Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy Name: O deliver us, and be merciful unto our sins for thy Names sake. So wee that be thy people, and sheep of thy Pasture, shall give thee thankes for ever, Psal. 79. and will always be showing forth thy praise, from generation to generation. Glory be to the Father, &c. As it was in the beginning, &c. ¶ For the second Lesson, read one of these Chapters, 1. Cor. 10. beginning at the first verse, and ending with the fifteenth verse. Or 1. Cor. 13. or 2. Cor. 9. or 1. Thess. 4. Deus misereatur. Psal. 67. GOD be merciful unto us, and bless us: and show us the light of his countenance, and be merciful unto vs. That thy way may be known vpon earth: thy saving health among all Nations. Let the people praise thee, O God: yea, let all the people praise thee. O let the Nations rejoice and be glad: for thou shalt judge the folk righteously, and govern the Nations vpon earth. Let the people praise thee, O God: let all the people praise thee. Then shall the earth bring forth her increase: and God, even our own God, shall give us his blessing. God shall bless us: and all the ends of the world shall fear him. Glory be to the Father, and to the son, and to the holy Ghost. As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen. ¶ Then shall bee said the creed by the Minister, and the people, standing. I Beleeue in God the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth: and in Iesus Christ his onely son our Lord, which was conceived by the holy Ghost, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Ponce Pilate, was crucified, dead, and butted, he descended into hell, the third day he rose again from the dead, he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty, from thence shall he come to judge the quick and the dead. I beleeue in the holy Ghost, the holy catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. The Lord be with you. answer. And with thy spirit. Minister. ¶ Let us pray. Lord haue mercy vpon us. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. ¶ Then the Minister, clerks and people, shall say the Lords prayer in English with a loud voice. our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy Name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as wee forgive them that trespass against vs. And led us not into temptation: but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. ¶ Then the Priest standing up, shall say, O Lord show thy mercy vpon vs. answer. And grant us thy salvation. Priest. O Lord save the King. answer. And mercifully hear us when wee call vpon thee. Priest. endue thy Ministers with righteousness. answer. And make thy chosen people joyful. Priest. O Lord save thy people. answer. And bless thine inheritance. Priest. give peace in our time, O Lord. answer. Because there is none other that fighteth for us, but onely thou, O God. Priest. O God make clean our hearts within vs. answer. And take not thy holy Spirit from vs. ¶ Then one of those appointed prayers which were left unread at Morning service. ¶ The second Collect. O God, from whom all holy desires, all good counsels, and all just works do proceed: give unto thy seruants that peace which the world cannot give, that both our hearts may be set to obey thy commandements, and also that by thee we being defended from the fear of our enemies, may pass our time in rest and quietness, through the merits of Iesus Christ our saviour. Amen. ¶ A prayer for the Kings majesty. O Lord our heavenly Father, High and Mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the onely ruler of Princes, which dost from thy Throne behold all the dwellers vpon earth, most hearty we beseech thee with thy favour to behold our most gracious sovereign Lord King Charles, and so replenish him with the grace of thy holy Spirit, that he may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way, due him plenteously with heavenly gifts, grant him in health & wealth long to live, strengthen him, that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies, and finally after this life, he may attain everlasting ioy and felicity, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ A prayer for the queen, Prince CHARLES, and the rest of the royal Progeny. almighty God, the fountain of all goodness, we humbly beseech thee, to bless our most gracious queen Mary, Prince Charles, and the rest of the royal Progeny: due them with thy holy Spirit, enrich them with thy heavenly grace, prosper them with all happiness, and bring them to thine everlasting kingdom, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ¶ The third Collect. LIghten our darkness, we beseech thee, O Lord, and by thy great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night, for the love of thy onely son our saviour Iesus Christ. Amen. 2. Corinthians 13. THe grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the holy Ghost, be with us all. Amen. ¶ A short Preface to be used before the Exhortation following, by the Minister who is not a Preacher. WHen the Apostles wrote their several Epistles to divers Churches, they were to be red( by the Ministers especially) in the public Congregations. As it may appear, in that S. Paul having written at large of many points of Religion to the Thessalonians, concludeth in this sort: I charge you in the Lord, that this Epistle be red unto all the brethren, the Saints. And in the end of his Epistle to the Colossians: When this Epistle, saith he, is red of you: cause that it be red in the Church of the Laodiceans also: and that ye also read the Epistle written from Laodicea. The name of Homilies by a misunderstanding conceit, is not acceptable with many: and yet they are nothing else in effect, but Epistles or Declarations grounded upon the Word of God, to teach Christian men & women their duties to his Divine Majesty, how to believe, and what to practise: carefully & soundly written unto us by apostolical men, with the approbation of the Church. There is here set down, agreeable to the time, a godly Exhortation or Epistle( as it may well be termed) written unto you all here present, by such as are in authority, and do love you with an unfeigned love in Christ Jesu, who entreat you by the mercies of God, that you will be content and willing to hear, what for your good, upon mature deliberation they do writ unto you: not as of themselves, but in the blessed Name of the most glorious Trinity: to whom they cease not to commend you all in their daily prayers. ¶ An Exhortation fit for the time. IN the due consideration of the mortality and plague, wherewith God at this time hath grievously visited us, two principal things are to be looked into: First, what may be the cause of this infectious disease: then what cure, or remedy may be provided to remove, stay, or mitigate the spreading and the increase thereof. The Philosopher and physician do allege such natural causes as these: the infection of the air, the corruption of the blood, and humors in the body of man: the contagion which the sound party may receive from persons, or places already infected: and all these are true in their kind. But over and above these causes alleged, the grave and weighty authority of the Word of God must inform us of another cause, a cause not natural, but supernatural: namely, the wrath of God provoked and incensed by the sins of any Nation or people, hath often brought in the pestilence, as the sword and scourge of God to destroy them, or chasten them for their sins. The people of Israel murmured against God in the wilderness, and not regarding his loving care and providence over them,( who fed them miraculously with water out of the rock, and with Manna from heaven) waxed wanton in their desires, and required flesh also for their lust, which, though they obtained, yet notwithstanding, while the meat was in their mouths, the plague of God fell vpon them, and slay the wealthiest of them, Numb. 11. Psal. 78.30. and smote down the chosen men that were in Israel, as you may read. again, the multitude of the people of Israel taking part with those factious and seditious conspirators, Corah, Dathan, and Abiram, murmured against Moses and Aaron, and grudged against that their authority of magistracy and Priesthood wherein God himself had established them: wherefore a plague came vpon them, and there died 14700. again, Numb. 25. the same people of Israel committed whoredom with the daughters of Moab, which called them also to the sacrifice of their gods; wherefore the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and their died in that plague 24000. again, 2 Sam. 24. 1 Chro. 21.1 in the dayes of King David the wrath of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and Satan moved David to number Israel and Iuda: and the Lord sent a pestilence, and there died of the people from Dan to Beersheba 70000. The Apostle S. Paul also, signifieth in his Epistle to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 11. that for their profanation and abusing the holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper, many of them were sick and weak, and many died. Lastly, of all sin the same Apostle saith, Ephe. 5. that for such things cometh the wrath of God vpon the children of disobedience. So that from these examples wee see, that sin moveth the Lord to wrath, and the wrath of the Lord sendeth the plague, mortality, diseases, and death among men. Which being so evident a truth, confirmed by so many examples out of the holy Scriptures, it must be confessed and acknowledged that the same cause hath procured the same punishment with us: and that in these daies, these evil daies of ours, our transgressions in number more, and in degree more heinous than those of Israel, haue filled full the measure of iniquity, and caused God to fill full the cup of his wrath, and given us this deadly wine to drink. The people of Israel required meat for their lust, Numb. 11. Psal. 78. and the people of England nourish their lust for their meat, giuing over themselves to surfeiting and drunkenness, and as those that make their belly their God, and their glory their shane, are become a by-word unto neighbour Nations for gluttony, and belly-cheer. The people of Israel murmured and rebelled against Moses and Aaron, Numb. 16. their leaders: and there haue been also among us in England not onely such as haue despised government, and spoken evil of those that are in authority: 2 Tim. 3.4. but such also as S. Paul prophesied of, that there should come in the latter dayes traytors, heady, high minded, murmurers, malcontents, fault-finders, as S. judas calleth them: judas 8. The people of Israel committed whoredom with the daughters of Moab: and there are many of the daughters of England like those daughters of Moab, Num. 25. and too many like unto Zimri, whose fornications are notorious in the sight of the world, not caring to conceal their abominations; and therefore no marvel, if GOD himself stand forth to plague the land for them. add unto these, that haply with David, 2 Sam. 24. wee haue lifted up our hearts in the multitude of our people, and magnified ourselves, that wee are a mighty and populous Nation, ascribing unto ourselves, and our own strength, the honour and victory over our enemies, which God with his own right arm hath gotten unto himself for his glory. add moreover, that swearing, outrageous oaths, and cursed speakings are to bee heard out of the mouths of all estates, yea, even of very children in our streets, whereby the Name of God is very grievously profaned. add also that our trades and traffic is become the practise of deceit and theft, while wee make our gain by lying, forswearing, false measure, false weights, and false lights, which are an abomination unto the Lord. And therefore no marvel if that flying book of the curse of God against the swearer, Zach. 4.5. and the thief, haue entred into our houses, and taken hold of the ston, and timber thereof. Besides all these, the Lords day is not kept holy, but polluted: the Word of God, and the ministry thereof is not reverenced, but despised: his holy Sacraments are either neglected, or abused: generally the Name of God is evil spoken of among the aduersaries of the truth through us, and our dissolute and licentious conversation: and therefore the cause is apparent why the plague is broken in amongst us: God having threatened us in his Word as the people of Israel, that because wee will not obey the voice of the Lord our God to do all his Commandements, and his Ordinances which he commands us, he will smite us with a consumption, and with a fever, and with a burning ague, and shall cause the pestilence to cleave unto us until he hath consumed us from the land. And thus much of the cause of the pestilence. Now let us examine and see what hope of help, what cure or remedy remaineth unto us in this visitation. The remedy is to be sorted out answerable to the cause of the disease: so that if Gods anger against sin hath caused this mortality amongst us( as heretofore hath been shewed amongst other people) if wee shall remove our sins out of the sight of God, his wrath shall cease, and with his wrath our punishment. For the applying of this sovereign balm unto our present sore, there is by public order prescribed, that Fasting and Prayer, the true signs and tokens of our unfeigned repentance, and conversion unto God, should be exercised in all Congregations: especially in and about London, that all degrees and estates of people might thereby be admonished to humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, to aclowledge their sins, and by their humiliation and detestation of their former wicked life, to testify unto the world, that they desire nothing more than to bee reconciled again to their good and gracious God, that he may cause his indignation to cease, and turn away this his fearful chastisement from among vs. And as fasting and prayer are means spiritual, appointed in the Word of God, and always practised in the Church of God at such times as he afflicteth his people with any contagious diseases or plagues for sin: So are there also other natural and ordinary means not to bee neglected, but to be received and used against the natural causes of this infection. For though it bee true that all things are guided by Gods providence: and that he doth what he will do in heaven and in earth; yet he effecteth and bringeth his will to pass by order and by means that himself hath determined. The eyes of all things look up unto the Lord, and trusting in him he giveth them their meat in due season: but yet the Lord will have all men to labour, and eat the labours of their hands, for the maintenance of their life. It is the Lord that bringeth back again from the gates of death, and restoreth men that were sick to their former health: and yet hath he ordained the physician, and created many medicinable and comfortable things to procure and preserve the health of man, and hath commanded us to use them. Men must plant and water, though it be onely God that giveth the increase. If the husbandmen should give over their tillage, and pretend that they meant to depend vpon Gods providence, looking either to be fed from heaven, or that the earth should of her own accord bring forth unto them grain and corn, and all necessary fruits for their relief: were it not in respect of themselves extreme madness, and towards God a most wicked temptation? It cannot be denied, but that this grievous sickness which now reigneth amongst us, both is and shall be governed by GODS providence: But yet such as truly fear GOD, and are truly instructed out of his Word, will submit themselves unto his heavenly providence in such sort as he hath appointed them. When good King Ezechiah was sick of this disease of the plague, as divines do deliver, he prayed and wept, and used those means meet to pacify the anger of God. And when God had determined that he should not die of that sickness: though he could no doubt have healed him without means, by his word onely, yet he directeth his Prophet to signify unto him the medicinable means of his help; namely, that he should apply a plaster of figs to his sore, to ripen and heal it. So that we see, first prayer to God, and then the use of other necessary and profitable means must not be neglected. Now if any man should object or say: this visitation cometh of God, and I know not whether I may pray against it, he bewrayeth greatly his ignorance in the Scriptures of God. For in every visitation of this, or any other plague there mentioned, you shall find that the holy men of God still laboured by prayer and supplication unto God, to remove the same from themselves and their people. Num. 16. Moyses is said to have stood in the gap, to turn away the wrath of God; Psal. 106. and Aaron ran with his golden Censer, to stand between the living and the dead; and Phinees the Priest stood up and prayed, and the plague ceased; 2 Sam. 24. David seeing the Angel ready to destroy jerusalem, built an Altar, offered sacrifice, and broke forth into that his most ardent and earnest supplication for the people. again, because in this great mortality of ours, wee find by experience, that not so much any general corruption of the air, nor any distemperature in the blood, or humours of mens bodies have been the causes of the spreading and continuing of this infection, as the contagion that the disease itself hath bread, and which one man receiveth from another, the sound from those that are sick: Therefore also men are to learn, that one chief and ordinary mean of their preservation in this dangerous time is, the avoiding of the contagion that cometh by mingling disorderly the sound and the sick together. And if there bee any that being yet sound, do think they are not bound in conscience to shun and avoid the persons and places that are infected, except it bee in case of necessity: or if those that are diseased, or do keep in houses where the disease is known to bee, shall think much that they are shut up, and restrained from coming abroad, or frequenting the common and public assemblies of those that are clear, having in the mean time such things as are necessary for their sustentation; they must bee content to hear out of the word of God their error therein and ignorance. The disease of the leprosy was infectious as is the pestilence, and whensoever any were smitten with that disease, it was not surely without the will or providence of God: and yet we may safely learn even of God himself, without any prejudice to his good providence, how we ought in that and other kind of infectious maladies to demean ourselves for the avoiding of the damage therof. The Leper( saith the Lord in the 13. Chapter of Leviticus,) in whom the plague is, shall have his clothes rent, and his head bare, and shall put a covering upon his lips, and shall cry, I am unclean, I am unclean. And as long as this disease shall be upon him, he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation bee. The renting of his clothes here mentioned, was a sign of his mourning and lamentation for that affliction; he dwelled alone for fear of infecting others; and if at any time he went abroad to take the air, his lips were covered, that his breath might not infect such as came near him: And besides he was to give warning, that all men might the more carefully avoid him, by crying out unto them, I am unclean, I am unclean. Furthermore, it was ordered by the Lord, that the clothes that were infected should bee burnt, the houses purged, and in some cases of more danger of infection, pulled down and utterly defaced: In which respect there was a general commandement given to the people, That they should take heed of the plague of the leprosy. All these, and divers other rules and cautions prescribed by God himself, were chiefly grounded upon this, That the disease of the leprosy was infectious. Whereby wee are to learn, that forasmuch as the disease of the plague is far more infectious, contagious, and dangerous than that was of the leprosy, we should bee so much the more careful to avoid it: and such as are infected, more charitably minded, and religiously humbled under the hand of God, than disobeying all authority, to thrust themselves into the company of others, whereby the mortality daily so increaseth. And if any man should think that the disease of the plague were not contagious and infectious, so gross a conceit is rather to bee pitied, than confuted, being contrary to the common and lamentable experience of these times, and contrary to the judgement of all learned and wise men in all ages. If therefore wee desire that Almighty God should withdraw his heavy hand from us, and deliver us from this affliction, it is not sufficient for us by fasting and prayer to humble ourselves unto his divine majesty, except wee join therewith our best endeavours and diligence, by using such other means as God hath appointed for the staying of it. Otherwise, if wee despise all good means: if wee neither regard to keep ourselves in a good estate of our bodily health, by the counsel of the learned Physician: if wee make a mock of all preservatives of Art: if wee neglect all evil and infectious savours, and refuse the benefit of the purer air: if wee run desperately and disorderly into all places, and amongst all persons, and pretend our faith and trust in Gods providence, saying, If he will save me, he will save me: and if I die, I die. This is not faith in God, but a gross, ignorant, and foole-hardie presidence and presumption, little different from that subtle temptation of satan to our Saviour Christ, to throw himself headlong from the top of the pinnacle, in hope that God would sand his Angels to hold him up: which were a wanton and dangerous tempting of God: or else with Saint Peter, to led himself into temptation, and by desiring to walk on the water, to bring his life into a needless and unnecessary hazard and peril, without any warrant of an ordinary calling, or any comfort of a good conscience therein. Moreover, if men at any time will prepare themselves to death, then should they especially when they are in the greatest danger, as they are who are already infected, or do without urgent cause resort unto them. Now in preparing ourselves to leave this world, what one thing almost is more necessary than a charitable heart towards all men, which they cannot have by any possible means, who either knowing themselves to be infected, do keep company with such as are clear; or that being whole, do enter without any necessity into places infected, and afterwards resort into all companies, as if they were sure that neither they themselves, nor their clothes were tainted. When King Azariah became a leper, because he knew the danger of his disease, and found by the Law of God the restraint of those that were so diseased, though a King, yet was he content to dwell in an house apart all the dayes of his life, and Jothan his son governed in his stead. This his obedience must needs condemn their disordered licentiousness, who though the meanest among the people, yet being infected, think scorn to keep their houses, though but for a short time; and break abroad they will whatsoever come of it, no authority, orders, laws, or proclamations can restrain them: and others there are as wilful to associate and mingle themselves with them. Wherein, how cruel the one sort are against themselves, in hazarding their own lives, & theirs that depend on them; how uncharitable the other sort are towards their brethren, by deriving their infection into them; and how injurious both sorts are to the State and Commonwealth wherein they live, by prolonging & spreading the danger, which otherwise by their better government might be sooner suppressed, all wise men of sound judgement are very sorry either to see, or hear it. Wherefore, considering all that hath been spoken tendeth to this end, To show that our sins have caused this fearful Visitation to break forth against us; and that the remedy left unto us for our hope of help herein, is our speedy repentance, with prayer and fasting, together also with the good use of ordinary means, and the wary and careful carriage of ourselves out of the danger of contagion: let us bee truly wise, and demean ourselves in this time of our trial, as those that make good use of Gods corrections: let us neither murmur nor grudge against the will of God, nor take impatiently what our sins have deserved, and God in his fatherly care hath inflicted upon us for our amendment: let us not now add sin unto sin, but forasmuch as the desperate security of those that seem neither to fear, nor to fly from this infection, is but a tempting and provoking of the judgement of God: seeing it may bee an hindrance unto the fruit of the prayers, and fasting of the Church, which, be they never so strict and zealous, shall hardly procure a release of this burden of God, if wilful and intemperate spirits will not bee kept in order: seeing such their unruly licentiousness extendeth itself to the breach of all charity, & bringeth upon their own heads no less than the guilt of wilful murder, both of themselves, their children, their families, and neighbours, which hateful cruelty against their own kind, Turks and Infidels would abhor: seeing it procureth also a public and manifest detriment to the State, and places where they dwell, by hindering their traffic, and impoverishing their neighbours in their trades and occupations: let men at the last be warned, and if there be any fear of God, any obedience to his word, any conscience of the Magistrates authority, any fruits of our faith and Christian profession, whose badge and cognizance is mutual love and charity, to further and procure the common good of all: let us not go forward to tempt God, to continue so cruel to ourselves, and so harmful to others: let us be more humble in the day of our affliction, submitting ourselves to those good and wholesome orders, and decrees already published, for preventing the further infection of this our calamity, and making account of all good means, and medicinable help, made known unto us for our better preservation; lest we may seem to mock God by prayer and fasting; to beg a mitigation of this his ireful chastisement, and yet we frame our actions contrary and opposite to the success we pray for. And among all other things yet spoken of, let this one advice be added, without offence unto any: That though it be a Christian and laudable custom, to accompany the bodies of the dead unto the grave, and commend them in decent maner unto their rest: yet, seeing the end of such assemblies as are then gathered together is, by the use of Prayer, and the Word preached rather to give comfort unto the living, than any benefit unto the dead; let men be advised, persuaded, and content, that their dead should bee butted with no more company than is needful for the interring and laying them up in the earth, because the gathering together of friends and neighbours in so common a contagion, cannot be without present danger, and hazard of their health and lives: and it is verily thought that infection by this means of meeting hath ensued unto many. The conclusion of all is this, That though there cannot be too much care taken for the preserving of those that are yet sound, and for the secluding and separating of those that are sick: yet must this warning bee therewith given, That the infected housholds may not be so shut up, as that they be also shut out from all succour and relief of necessary maintenance, very many of those families which have been, and are yet visited, being of the poorer sort. To whose affliction if you shall add affliction, and suffer them to want means of ordinary sustentation, alas, what shall become of them, seeing necessity knoweth no law, and want and hunger break ston walls? In which case of need they will break forth for the succour of their lives, though with never so much danger to themselves or others. Wherefore it shall well beseem those that are rich and able, to show their fellow-feeling of their brethrens necessity; it shall well become the misery of the time, for men to bee fruitful in good works, whereby their Christian duty may bee testified unto God and men. And it shall well agree also with the exercise of Fasting and Prayer now in hand, that in every assembly gathered together to that end, there be a collection made of the benevolence of the people, to bee faithfully and truly distributed by those that are put in trust, unto the poor shut up, and visited with this affliction. So shall your prayers, Fasting, and almsdeeds, as the incense and odours of the faithful, qualify the stench and corruption of our sins, and as sacrifices wherewith God is well pleased, being made acceptable in that sweet smelling savour of our Saviour Christ his intercession, shall mitigate the wrath of God, and turn away this his indignation from us, restoring us again to his wonted favour, and our former health and safety: Which grace God the Father of all mercy and consolation grant unto us, even for his dearly beloved Son Christ Iesus his sake, our onely Lord and Saviour. Amen. ❧ Order for the Fast. THe godly use of Fasting in time of common calamity, as war, Famine, Pestilence, and also when any weighty matter was in hand for the Church and Common-wealth, is evident in holy Scriptures: Wherefore it is necessary in so contagious time of sickness( our sins procuring justly the wrath of God) that following the godly examples of King Josaphat, and the King of Ninive, with others, Fasting with prayer be commended to the people by their Preachers. 1 LEt this Fast bee held every week upon the Wednesday. 2 All persons( children, old, weak, and sick folkes, or the like excepted) are required to eat upon that day but one competent and moderate Meal, and that towards night, after Evening Prayer: observing sobriety of diet, without superfluity of riotous fare, respecting necessity and not voluptuousness. 3 The quantity being but sufficient, it is not fit that any delicacy should be regarded. Let no public order bee contemned herein, nor dissimulation with God committed, pretending godly abstinence, but doing nothing less. 4 The wealthier sort are earnestly to be moved to bestow the price of the meal forborn, upon the poor, considering the misery and distress of a number of hungry souls, either almost starving for lack of food, or being sick with eating unwholesome meats. 5 The people are to be warned to forbear this day their bodily working, and common buying and selling( necessary occasions & labourers excepted) and to be exercised all the time in holy prayer, godly meditations, and reverend hearing of the Scriptures either red or preached. And especially they are to take heed, that they spend it not in plays, pastimes, idleness, haunting of taverns, lascivious wantonness, surfeiting and drunkenness: for which sins( the proper sins of our Nation) the heavy displeasure and wrath of God is fallen upon us. 6 Admonition is here lastly to be given, that on the said Fasting day in places where Sermons are allowed to be by the Proclamation, there bee but one Sermon at Morning Prayer, and the same not above an hour long, and not above one at Evening Prayer of the same length. God give us grace to repent, and in his mercy turn away his punishment from us. Amen. FINIS.