MEDITATIONS Concerning prayers to Almighty God, for the safety of ENGLAND, when the Spaniards were come into the narrow Seas, August 1588. As also other meditations concerning thanksgiving, for delivering England from the cruelty of the Spaniards, and for their marvelous confusion and overthrow. By O. pig. With a spiritual song of praises by P. Turner Doctor of physic. Psalm, 145.18. The Lord is near to all that call upon him: yea, to all that call upon him in truth. Psalm, 126.2.3. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with joy: then said they among the Heathen, the Lord hath done great things for them. The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoice. Printed at London by R. R. for Thomas man.. 1589. TO THE READER. Many are the ways, by the which our most merciful God, hath sought to bring us of England unto true repentance. Who is able to reckon up all the benefits, spiritual and temporal, that we have received at his hands? As, the light of the Gospel shining in the midst of us, and the marvelous preservation of our gracious Prince, to our special comfort, notwithstanding the manifold wretched practices of the wicked against her highness person, & the state, which he from time to time hath discovered, and brought many of the principal authors to their deserved confusion. He hath also chastised us sundry times, and in diverse manners threatened us more plagues, than as yet he hath brought upon us. Among other warnings, this aught specially to be remembered for ever, Jsa. 7.18. that this last Summer, hissing for the Spaniards, he brought them so far from their own Country, & so near unto our coasts, with resolute minds to have made havoc of us. It was not without him, as blaspheming Rabsache spoke of his master's forces coming against Jerusalem, Jsa. 36, 10. no doubt more truly than he was ware of. True it is, their purpose was not to do that which the Lord meant, but rather in the pride of their hearts to have made manifest breaches of his commandments, in seeking the suppressing of his truth here professed, and the conquest of a land, whereunto they can make no just claim or title. Howbeit, we ought to look into the Lords secret purpose overruling all, and carrying men to that which they know not, yea, clean contrary to that which they purpose, Jsa. 10.6.7. even in the self same action. Therefore whatsoever they intended, the Lord in them shook his rod over us, to draw us to repentance, that so in deed he might not strike. He put us in great fear, that so he might drive us to fly to him, where only comfort is, by earnest prayers. At that time many prayed and confessed sins: and blessed be his name, that for his own honour, heard the cries of his poor servants, so bearing witness, that it is no vain thing, in the time of distress, to humble ourselves before him. How blessed the event hitherto hath been, is generally known amongnst us, and the comfort thereof what true English heart is there, that doth not feel and rejoice therein? It remaineth that the danger then imminent being escaped, we of this Natian do not only with our mouths, continually give God praises: but that also by the rod thus shaken over us, and as it were ready to have been laid upon our shoulders, we learn to turn to him, forsaking our evil ways, lest not profiting thus, as the Lord calleth for at our hands, in the end he bring upon us deserved destruction. Against this destruction as it is my part always to pray, & by God's assistance I hope to pray: so I should have great cause to be glad, if by any means the Lord would vouchsafe to use me as his instrument, to stir up, though never so few, to such a serious consideration of these things as aught to be in all. For the which purpose I present unto thee (Christian Reader) this little treatise here following, containing certain meditations of prayers and thanksgivings. Those that be of prayers, I wrote at such time as the Spaniards were come into the narrow seas, and then there were some copies written to the use of some friends. True it is, in the confession of sins, upon some occasion there is some thing altered from that which was then written: but in the rest, I remember little otherwise than was then set down, as the copies then given forth can bear witness. Since our wonderful deliverance, I wrote the other meditations concerning thanksgiving, Both joined together in some uritten books, I have sithence presented to some of good calling, to whom I was bounden to wish all good, as well for their profession of the truth, as for special kindnesses toward me. And to more I had some purpose, that way to have made them common. Howbeit being read over by some learned and godly men of good judgement, which thought they might be profitable if they were put in print: I was content in that behalf to yield unto their judgement, and accordingly do here offer them to thy view. I hope thou mayest make some use unto thyself of either of them, if thou read them with a sanctified mind. For, although the Meditations concerning Prayers may seem unto some to no great purpose, because that occasion for that time is now removed. Yet the sins of England do still remain, with which no doubt God is highly displeased. These thou mayst there see in some sort confessed, as also how by thyself, from a feeling heart thou mayst confess both them and thine own, and humbly crave pardon. Moreover, the hatred and malice of the Spaniard and his partakers, is not yet quenched, but rather we may be assured, much more increased, so as they will but wait opportunity to set upon us again. Besides, other Churches, as those of France and of the low Countries, whose case we ought to tender, have many deadly enemies, which thirst after blood. So as still necessarily there is required an employing of our and their forces, against such common adversaries. I hope that from those meditations, thou mayst have some help, to further thee with comfort in thy prayers for the one, and against the other. The meditations for thanksgiving, I trust to every indifferent reader, will seem to be of some use. My purpose is not, to require that either of them be used, as an ordinary form of prayer or thanksgiving, but that by reading of them, and exercising thyself sometimes in them, thou shouldest help thyself, towards a serious accomplishment of those duties, though thou do it more shortly and in other words. If for these ends, this my poor travail, may any way further thee, I pray thee give the praise to God, to whom alone it is due, and remember to pray most earnestly for me, and for all the rest, whom it pleaseth him to use in any sort for thy comfort. This one thing I desire to have remembered, that many of the things specially mentioned in the prayers, have been graciously performed of the Lord, & accordingly they be acknowledged in the thanksgiving: to assure us (as was said before) that prayers specially joined with true fasting, be not in vain, but to singular purpose. And yet, I desire not to be so mistaken, as if I arrogated any thing to my poor and weak prayers, made by me in my public ministery, or private exercise. No, I do unfeignedly from my heart acknowledge mine own unworthiness, to be heard crying for myself, much more for the Church and this state. I am persuaded, that the things which I than meditated, and which the Lord directed me to write, were also thought upon, and remembered with more fervency of spirit and singleness of heart, by other the faithful servants of God, Preachers and professors, of our own Nation, and of other Countries. They stood up in the gap, they cried to the Lord, Exo. 17.11. they held up their hands, and England hath prevailed. They in deed were chariots, horsemen, and forces by sea and land, as to that purpose Elisha spoke of Elias, & joash of him. 2. Reg. 2.12. & 13.14. Their prayers made in the bitter mourning of their souls, for their own and our sins, did the Lord hear, blessing the worthy service of our valiant Countrymen employed in those affairs, and without means, doing wonderfully for us: not for any worthiness in themselves, or in their prayers, but for the worthiness of Christ jesus, and for the honour of his own name. It doth remain that thou thyself be careful, wisely to apply the fearful warning of the Lord, in the enemies coming against us, and his unspeakable mercy in our wonderful deliverance, to stir thee up to unfeigned conscience of pleasing him, in thyself, and such as be of thy special charge. As also to pray, that whatsoever is amiss in the land, and so displeaseth our most merciful God, may be amended. Whatsoever thou art, I exhort thee earnestly to call upon the Lord, that the controversies risen up amongst ourselves, may christianly and brotherly be compounded. That so the peace of our worthy Church being procured: we may all, whether we be Preachers or professors, proceed one way according to the truth, to bestow whatsoever gift we have, to the rooting out of all sin, and to the establishment of the kingdom of Christ jesus, in the hearts of all those, that be under any of our charges. Specially, because the harvest is great, Math. 9 and the labourers in comparison be but few, pray the Lord of the harvest, that such men whom he hath sanctified in life & learning, so as it were, separating them, Gal. 1.15. from their mother's wombs, to the work of the ministery, may be thrust out into his harvest, and continue in the same with much comfort to do their duty. As also that such as be altogether unfit for so great a burden, may have nothing to do in the most holy ministery of the Lord. Those whom these causes do any way concern, most humbly and with all reverence, upon the knees of heart, even in the bowels of Christ Jesus I do entreat, to show their zeal to his honour, which shed his most precious blood for their sins, and their compassion upon their dear brethren & Country men his members, in many places of the Realm yet wallowing in ignorance, & other sins, in doing what they can, that all the people of the land may be instructed in the everlasting truth of God, that so they may walk in the obedience of his blessed majesty, and in all duty to our gracious Prince, and all such as under her govern the state. If these causes of so great importance be not looked unto as they ought, but that iniquity be still suffered to grow and to abound, notwithstanding all that which the Lord hath said to us from his word, and wonderfully done for us; I will wish to weep in secret, and that mine eyes may drop down tears, for what else may we look for, but the captivity of the lords flock. And thus do I commend thee (Christian Reader,) to the Lord, and myself to be remembered of thee, in thy most earnest prayers. March. 7. 1588. the marvelous year, in respect of the Lord his wonderful deliverance of us, and the confusion brought upon our enemies, and the enemies of his Church, he make us always thankful, Amen. Oliver pig. Meditations concerning Prayers to almighty God, for the safety of England, when the Spaniards were come into the narrow Seas, August. 1588. O Lord God almighty, terrible, and fearful God, thou Lord of Hosts, judge of the world, which hatest sin, and visitest the transgressions of the Fathers upon the children, to the third and fourth generation of them that hate thee; We most miserable sinners do in most humble manner throw ourselves down before thy majesty: acknowledging that we are not worthy of the least of thy mercies, no, not so much as to go upon the ground, or to look up unto heaven: much more unworthy are we to have this favour, to call upon thy name, with any hope to be heard, and to find favour in thine eyes, for the obtaining of our requests, for ourselves, and the rest of thy people, for whom we are bound to pray. Psa. 50.15 Yet, because it is thy commandment, that we should call upon thee in our troubles, Psa. 145.18 and further thou hast promised to be near those that call upon thee in truth: In some measure of conscience to obey thy commandment, and trusting unto thy great mercy, we do humble ourselves before thee. Praying thee, that we may not be of the number of them, whose prayers be abominable in thy sight (according as it is with them that regard wickedness in their hearts, and turn their ears from thy law: Psa. 66.18. ) but that we may so pray unto thee in sorrow for our sins past, Pro. 28.9. in unfeigned desire to please thee for the time to come, in a true persuasion of thy favour to us in Christ, and in such a love of thy Church, that our service may be allowed of thee, and ourselves & all they for whom we are to make suit, may receive much comfort, of our performing this duty, even to the honour of thy name. And because it is our sins only, Jsa. 59.2. that make separation between thee and us, keeping away the good blessings, which thou else wouldst give, and pulling upon us the plagues, which thou art not easily drawn to power upon thy children; We do first of all in most humble manner confess, that as we were conceived in sin and brought forth in iniquity: so we have beside, yielded most cursed fruits of that our corrupt nature in rebellion against thee, and breaking thy commandments, in our thoughts, words, and deeds, in doing evil, and leaving good things undone, and doing good things very weakly and imperfectly. And that not only in the days of our youth, and in the time of our ignorance, but also since we came to more years, and have been instructed in the knowledge of thy blessed will. O we have sinned, we have sinned heinously, in neglecting thy service, and our duty to our brethren in our callings. We have sinned openly and secretly, alone and in company, yea, oftentimes wilfully and against our consciences, when we knew thy commandment was, that we should have done otherwise. Yea, we do not only thus confess our own sins, but also after the example of thy worthy servants, Dan, 9. 1●. Nehe. 1.6 & 9.34. Daniel & Nehemiah, we confess the sins of our whole land, acknowledging, that we, our forefathers, our princes, our governors, our whole Ecclesiastical state, & all the people of the Realm, have fearfully sinned against thee. If we were guilty of no other sins before thy majesty, the idolatry & bloodshed in the former times, yet not revenged, nor repent of as they ought, were sufficient to bring utter desolation upon a land, wherein such abominations were committed, as thy servant jeremy in his time, Jere. 15.4. threatened the jews for the sins of Manasse. But (O Lord) what have been the iniquities committed since our deliverance from that yoke, and thy bestowing upon us the light of thy Gospel? O, have we not all from the highest to the lowest damnably sinned against thee? yes verily. If we would deny it, our iniquities would testify against us. For, which of thy commandements have we not broken? If we look to those four of the first table, which teach us our duty towards thee, or those six of the second table, which teach us how to walk in our callings towards men: O we shall be found marvelously faulty before thy majesty. And that, not only some of the people, but even every sort, state, and condition: not in some part of the land alone, but every where, in every quarter and corner, yea, in every house and family. For (O Lord) we have loved the vain things of the world, more than thee and thy word: we have been more loath to displease men than thy majesty: we have made flesh our arm, putting our trust in man, and withdrawn our hearts from thee. Jere. 17.5. How seldom and cold have our prayers been? And how sparing our thanks to thee for the innumerable benefits bestowed upon us and our nation? What idolatry hath been committed here by Papists in corners, and by strangers of other countries? There hath wanted care to amend things thoroughly, according to the rule of thy word. Thy name hath infinitely been blasphemed: for where almost can we come, in the house or in the street, but we shall hear this most shamefully, by the greater, and by the meaner, by the elder and by the younger sort, which take thy glorious name in vain, speaking of thee rashly and unreverently, yea, swearing without cause, forswearing, cursing, and such like. O thy Sabothes, there is scarce one among many, which maketh conscience according to thy law, to dedicate them wholly unto thy service publicly & privately, but as if they were any other days, so they be bestowed: yea, many think it lawful to follow a riotous and profane course then, which upon other days they would think unfit for them. And how fearful examples hereof, have we had from the great places and personages of the land? The superiors in the common wealth, in the Church, and in the house, have not done their duty to their inferiors. The inferiors likewise have been marvelous undutiful to their Prince, and the rest which thou in thy wisdom didst set over them. The land hath abounded with murders, slaughters, quarrels, fightings and contentions, with incests, adulteries, whoredoms, drunkenness, excessive pride in apparel: filthy stage plays have been suffered even in our chiefest city, and upon the Saboths. Thefts be common, oppressions, deceits, usuries, lying, false witness bearing, and such like. O we are not able to reckon up the innumerable sins, of the which we and the whole land may justly be indicted and arraigned before thy majesty. They which have been in place to punish sin, and to maintain well doing, have dealt too too favourably with sinners, on the other side not cherishing the godly as was their duty. The ministers which should boldly have reproved these corruptions in all sorts and states, have for the most part been unable to do this, & many of them corrupt in their conversation, they have winked at disorders, daubing with untempered mortar, Ezec. 21.28 that will not hold, as if nothing had been amiss, and no danger toward, when as iniquity mightily prevailed amongst us, and thou in thy high displeasure didst threaten war. Just is the complaint of thy servant jeremy in his time against such Ministers. Lame. 2.14. They have looked out vain and foolish things for us, they have not discovered our iniquities, to turn away our captivity, but have looked out for us false prophecies and causes of banishment. True it is, we have had some desirous to do their duty, who also accordingly have laboured, but even diverse of them have been evil entreated, by wicked and ungodly men, which could not abide to hear their faults reproved. Whereas in the mean time, they have liked well of such, which seeking themselves only and their own ease, have been unable to instruct them in thy ways, by occasion whereof, many of the people of the land have been kept in ignorance of thy majesty, and suffered to go on in their other sins. And although thou (O Lord our God) in tender care of us, hast warned us of these great sins, by our Preachers in their Sermons, and some of their books, which have been gravely and dutifully written: yea, although thou hast sought to move our hard hearts by thy benefits, so as we have enjoyed thy gospel, outward peace and plenty, when as the Nations about us have been marvelously distressed, even as until this time their wounds be bleeding new, and remain uncured. And further, we have had many wonderful deliverances of our Prince, to our great comfort: and moreover thou hast threatened us by insurrection in our own land, by unseasonable times of too much drought, or too much rain, by destroying some fruits of the earth, by scarcity, by the pestilence, by signs in heaven, and by a fearful earthquake, not many years past: yet have not we of this nation profited by any of these, to bewail our sins, & to turn unto thee, as it did become us. But have despised thy Prophets, which spoke to us in thy name, and have still gone away from thee, multiplying our transgressions against thy majesty. So as now most justly there belongeth to us, to our Princes, governors, teachers, and to all the people of the land, Dan. 9.7: 8. nothing but shame and confusion of face, yea, utter destruction of our Nation and state: whereof, when we look into our great sins, we may fear, that thou hast prepared the Spaniard, and such as take his part, to be thy executioners. Wherein also we do confess, that thou shalt be most just, if thou give us and our kingdom over into their hands. Notwithstanding, because thou art a God full of mercy and infinite in compassion, Ezec. 18.23. and hast always showed thyself so to be, not delighting in the destruction of sinners, but rather desiring their repentance, that they might live and enjoy thy favour. Jere. 18.7.8 Who hast said by thy servant jeremy, that when thou speakest against a nation, threatening to root it up, and to destroy it, yet thou wilt spare it, if they turn from their wickedness, according as we see it in the example of the Ninivites. Jonah. Trusting unto these, and such other promises in thy word, that we do judge ourselves and our nation worthy of all misery, do notwithstanding pray thee, for our Lord jesus Christ his sake, to have mercy upon us, to forgive us & our land, all the sins, whereof we be guilty before thee. O pursue us not with thy judgements, as we have given thee cause, for than we must needs perish eternally. Among other plagues, from the which we pray thee to be delivered, preserve us we beseech thee from the hands of the Spaniards & other idolaters, which have conspired against our nation, to root out thy religion from hence, to place Papistry again, and to dispossess us of that part of the earth, which it seemed good unto thee to allow us to dwell in, & where also through thy goodness, we and our forefathers have inhabited now many years. We confess, that for our unworthy walking of thy Gospel, and ill behaving of ourselves in this pleasant land, it may justly spew us out, and thou mayest suffer the enemies to prevail. But remember (O Lord) that these men be not behind us in sins (for they be a most wicked generation) neither is it our sins that they do so much look unto in coming against us, as thy religion among us professed, and our renouncing the man of sin, the Bishop of Rome thine enemy, & the enemy of thy Christ. So as now whatsoever we be that do defend it, or howsoever we do defend it, the cause is thine own, therefore look unto it we desire thee for the glory of thy name, and for jesus Christ's sake. O why should such wicked men as these blaspheme thy name, Psal. 79.10. saying, where is their God, and the religion they have so long professed? As though the religion were not good, which we have received from thy word, or as if thou wouldst not defend those that profess the same. O remember thy ancient mercies showed to this Nation many years, break not off till thou hast finished them, by giving yet further helps to thy Church and religion here, for the better subduing of all the people under thy government. Deliver us (O Lord) we pray thee at this time. Try us yet once more, that our magistrates and ministers may in their callings reform whatsoever is amiss, and endeavour to bring the whole land into better order, that thou mayest delight to favour us for ever. That these thy blessings may be obtained, O drive away from our hearts the marvelous security wherein we have slept these many years, imagining that our ways did please thee, and that no plague should come near unto us, when we lived very sinfully in all sorts and states, and so provoked thee to displeasure. Grant that by these thy fearful warnings, we may at length be moved to confess our sins, to lament them, to humble ourselves before thee in fasting and prayer, to turn from our wicked ways, to enter into a new course, and to make a sure covenant, for ever hereafter in our callings to do our duties better, that thou mayest spare us, and stay thy hand from our destruction. And howsoever we have means for our defence by sea and land, Psa. 20.7. yet keep us we pray thee, from trusting in them: though others put their trust in their horses, Psal. 6.4. 1. Sam. 17 45. in their ships and multitude of men. O show the light of thy countenance upon us, and grant that in thy name only, trusting to thy mercy, & in thy strength, we may come forth against these our adversaries. And as for them that thus boil in malice against thy religion, and us thy most unworthy servants: O turn their hearts if they belong to thee, open their eyes to see thy truth, that they may with us departed from that Antichrist of Room, love thy Gospel, our nation, and all the professors of thy truth. Or else (Lord) as thou hast begun (for the which we do in most humble manner give thanks unto thee) so we pray thee to go forward, to curse them in all their actions by sea and by land. Let their table be a snare before them, Psal 69.22 23 & their prosperity their ruin. Let their eyes be blinded that they may not see, and make their loins always to tremble. Strike them with such fear, that the sound of a leaf shaken may make them to quake, & that as wicked men they may fly, levit. 26.36 when no man pursueth them. Pro. 28.1. Scatter their counsels, overthrow their forces, turn their own swords one against another, and so provide by thy mighty power, that the things which they have prepared for our destruction, may be used in thy justice, for the execution of thy long deserved wrath upon themselves. And so bring them to nought, that they may not any longer trouble us and other of thy Churches, as a long time they have done, & even now do. Psal. 79.10. O let the blood of thy Saints, which they have cruelly shed, come before thee, to pull vengeance upon them. Hear the cries of the women whom they have made widows, and of the children whom they have made fatherless. Hearken to the pitiful complaints of such as they keep in prison for thy truth, and deliver such as they have appointed to death. Let them be upon the seas, Exo. 14. as was Pharaoh and his company pursuing thy Israel: let them be upon the land, Jud. cap. 4.7.8. as Sisera and jabin, as the Madianites, Oreb, Zeb, Zebah, and Zalmana, the enemies of thy people, whom thou destroyedst in the time of the judges. O make them like a wheel, Psal. 83.13 and as the stubble before the wind, as the fire burneth the forests, so persecute them with thy tempests, and make them afraid with thy storms. Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek thee (O lord) Let them be confounded and troubled for ever. Fight against them from heaven, Jud. 5.20. and render into their bosom sevenfold, all the reproaches and injuries, which they have done to thy Church, that they may know that thou art God, and that it is thy truth, which we have learned from thy word, though we have walked most unworthy of the same. Concerning ourselves, we do first of all pray thee for our sovereign Prince, that notwithstanding all the treacheries of the adversaries, she may still be preserved, to finish her course in thy fear and in peace, even to the salvation of her soul. We beseech thee so direct her, and such as under her highness govern the state, that in these evil and most dangerous times, they may see what is for thine honour and our common safety, accordingly to advise, command, and take order. Give conscience to our Ministers now to stand in the gap, Ezek. 22.30 joel. 2.17. earnestly to cry unto thee to spare this thy people, and stir them up, with all fervency to call us unto repentance. Give all the subjects in the land grace, to carry themselves dutifully and loyally to her Majesty, & the state, to be ready to do service in their persons, and by whatsoever else they have, that so they may be helping against the common adversaries. And as for our countrymen, or any other that are now employed, or hereafter to be employed in these services by sea or by land for our defence: O Lord so pass by their sins, that they may not hinder thy work, in these causes of so much importance. O so guide them with thy spirit, that repenting of their sins, and being throughlie persuaded of thy favour for a better life, they may cheerfully fight thy battles, without fearing the faces of the enemies, Be thou unto them a pillar of a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, Exo. 13.21 22. as thou wert to the Israelites in their coming from Egypt. Grant that each of them may know their several places, in the same to carry themselves faithfully without envy, or murmuring. O Lord be with them, and so go forth with our armies, that one of our fight men may chase a thousand of theirs, Deut. 31. 3● and two may put ten thousand to flight. Give them such good success by sea and by land, that we may have new occasions to praise thy name, and to fear thee more than we have done. Yea, that many other nations hearing of it, may thereupon be moved to seek after thy truth. We know, it is all one with thee, to save with many, or with no power. 2. Cro. 14.1. There were but three hundred of Israel with Gideon, against the huge army of the Madianites. Asa the King of judah, Judg. 7.6. did overcome the host of the Aethiopians, being ten hundred thousand, 2. Cro. 1.4 when as himself had not six hundred thousand. Yea, thou without any man, didst in one night destroy the mighty army of the Assyrians in the days of Ezekiah. Isa. 37.36. We know that thine arm is not shortened, but that thou art now also able to help us in like manner, if we had no means at all for our defence. And although the forces of our adversaries be come something near unto us, yet as thou didst drown Pharaoh and the Egyptians, when they were not far off from thy people Israel, Exod. 14. and overthrowedst the Aethiopians and Assyrians, 2. Cro. 14.9. & 32.1. being with their armies entered into the land of Canaan: so do we assure ourselves, that thou art still able to preserve us, and to deliver these our adversaries into our hands, although their powers were more than they are, and nearer unto us than yet they be. Psal. 79.8. Help us therefore we pray thee (O God of our salvation:) remember not against us, nor against our nation the former iniquities, but make haste, and let thy tender mercies prevent us. Suffer not thine enemies to rail upon thy truth and thy children any longer. Let it appear that thou only art God, and that the Idols whom they have served, be unable to help them. Give not over thy faithful servants of this nation, and of other Countries fled hither for thy truths sake, into the hands of these miserable men, Psa. 79.2.3 to spill their blood in the streets like water, to give their bodies to the beasts of the field, and their flesh to the fowls of heaven. Thou that promisest to spare Sodom, Gen. 18. if there might have been ten righteous found there, spare this Nation we pray thee, where there be many times ten, that unfeignedly desire to serve thee. Thou that pitiedst Niniveh having in it six score thousand young children, Jonah. 4. pity we beseech thee this populous Nation, and give it not over to be laid waist and desolate. O let not the Churches, where thy faithful servants have assembled to worship thee, by prayer, fasting, preaching, and the use of thy Sacraments, be turned into cages of unclean beasts, and synagogues of Satan, to have the mass and other damnable Idolatries in them again. For the glory of thy name, turn these great evils far from us, although we be most worthy to taste of them all. If thou wilt not be entreated to spare this sinful nation, which hath so much abused thy patience, and so often and many ways provoked thee to wrath: O correct us yet thyself, by some other of thy rods, that we may be brought unto repentance, but leave us not as a pray to these merciless & bloody men. Whatsoever shall fall out, grant (we beseech thee) that we may take all thy chastisements patiently, acknowledge thy justice therein, and never departed from thy truth, but that we may hold on in the profession of the same even to the end notwithstanding all the torments we may be brought unto. Comforting ourselves always, with the feeling of thy love in Christ, & with looking for his blessed coming to judgement, Phil. 3.21. when he shall change our vile bodies, and make them like his own glorious body, by his mighty power, whereby he is able to do all things. O Lord hear us thus calling upon thee, and for every other grace, for thy Church in the world, for this land, for all sorts and states in the same, and for all other for whom we ought to pray. Receive also (we beseech thee) our most humble thanks for all thy former benefits upon ourselves, and upon this nation, for thy Gospel, the safety and preservation of our Queen hitherto, the discovery and overthrow of treasons, and the doers of them, thy patience to our realm, our peace thus long, and plenty of outward blessings, as also for the good success against our enemies given unto us, by sea or by land, of late or before times. O we do most humbly praise thy holy name, praying thee to go forward to do us good still, and so we call upon thee as we are taught. Our Father which art in, etc. MEDITATIONS concerning thanksgiving to Almighty God, for delivering England from the cruelty of the Spaniards, and for their marvelous confusion and overthrow. 1588. Psal. 50.15 O Lord most merciful father, thou doest command us to call upon thee in the time of our trouble, thou promisest to hear and to deliver us, requiring that we should then glorify thee, and offer thee sacrifice of praise. How true thou art in this thy promise, as we have many examples in the Scriptures, so we of this land ought to know it in our own experience. For we were in great trouble and not without fear, when the Spaniards, a bloody and cruel nation, in their rage came forth against us, with a purpose so to root us out, that we should no more be a people. And indeed there was just cause, why we should have been much astonished. For, if we look to our sins, and the abominations of our whole nation, what could we else in thy justice have looked for, Hos. 9.7. but that the day of visitaon, and the time of recompense was come, wherein thy purpose was, to have done execution upon us for our transgressions? And, if we look upon our enemies, they were many in number, and their forces great both by sea and land, so as they thought themselves, as it were sure of the victory, as if they had been able to have swallowed us up quick, and to have run over us, as the proud and swelling waters overflow the valleys of the field. In that our perplexity, we did now and then sigh unto thee for help, we powered forth prayers, though in great weakness. Thy faithful servants in the ministery, were more earnest with thee in our behalf, humbling themselves in fasting, and calling the people thereunto, even as it became them in a matter of so great weight. So as the cries of them were many, which sued unto thy majesty to spare this Nation, and not to give over this part of thine inheritance, into the hands of the wicked. And now hast thou most graciously fulfilled thy promise. For whatsoever want was in our prayers, yet hast thou heard us in that for which we cried. For, notwithstanding the enemy approached very near, so as we might have looked for an attempt of landing in our coast: yet so miraculously and in diverse sorts, didst thou set thyself against them, blessing our means, & without means pursuing them with thine own hand, that their snare is broken, & we be escaped, Psal. 124 even as the bird out of the grin of the fouler. The sword, the sea, & famine, have devoured a great part of them, others he returned with such dishonour, as became them that would not learn to honour thee. Many of their fathers have thus lost their children, many children are made fatherless, & many of their wives are become widows. Thou hast in thy justice rendered into their bosom, a just reward of their cruelty in other countries, and hast served them, as they meant to do to us thy people. And now (O Lord) was this for our worthiness, or because we had deserved any such thing at thy hands? No verily, for we be a most sinful people, all sorts & states had corrupted their ways, & heinously trespassed. But for their unworthiness didst thou deny them the conquest over us, & for their innumerable abominations, hast thou brought upon them this deserved destruction. For the glory of thine own name, maintaining thine own cause, in defending such as professed thy true religion, although in that behalf we are far short of that we ought to be. Whatsoever we be, thou hast performed thy promise, hearing us in our fear, & doing more for us, than we could almost have hoped for. And now it remaineth, that according to thy commandment we yield unto thy Majesty, the duty of continual thanks & obedience, which thou callest for at the hands of such, whom thou deliverest so wonderfully as we have been delivered, O that we could therefore confess before thee, this thy loving kindness, & speak of all these thy wondered works before the sons of men, as it doth become us. The least benefit that we receive from thee, deserveth infinite thanks from us. For, what are we of England, that thou shouldest consider us, or who were our forefathers, that thou shouldest regard us? Surely we are exceedingly sinful, Gen. 32.10. and descended from such as had highly provoked thy displeasure. We are not worthy of the least of thy mercies, yea, it is thy mercy that long ago we were not utterly confounded. Lame. 3.22. O than such rare and singular mercies as this, wherein miraculously thou hast showed thyself for our safety, and for the confusion of our adversaries, how much should they move us to magnify thy name, and to sound forth continually thy everlasting praises, which hast vouchsafed such favour to those that be so unworthy? For the greater the unworthiness of the Nation is, whereunto thou hast done this great good, the more worthy art thou to be praised for ever. If such a benefit as this had been bestowed upon the Churches of France, Geneva, Germany, or of the low Countries, great had been our sin, if we had not offered to thee a bountiful sacrifice of the calves of our lips, Hos, 14.2 for such a mercy showed unto them. For as their miseries ought to be to us as our own, and therefore we should weep with them when they Rom. 12.15. weep. So their deliverance should have been, as if we ourselves had been delivered, in respect whereof, we ouhht to have rejoiced with them in their joy. The heavenly spirits are carried with such a zeal to thine honour, Apoc. 19.1.2.3. and inflamed with such love to that part of thy Church which is here upon the earth, that with a loud voice, they sing praises to thee, for judging the whore of Room, and revenging the blood of thy Saints, although she could not have hurt them, or in any sort have diminished their glory. How much more therefore by their example, are we bound to praise thee, because in this our deliverance, and confusion of our enemies, thou hast not only showed thy power, mercy, and justice, so getting thyself a glorious name, in defending the unworthy professors of thy truth, and the strangers here banished for the same? But also by this means we ourselves be preserved from great miseries. and all the faithful subjects of the land enjoy their sovereign Prince, to their singular comfort, and under her gracious government, we have the use of the public exercises of thy word and Sacraments, things that should be unto us more dear than our own lives: Moreover, we may each of us sit peaceably under our own vines and fig trees, enjoying our wives, our children, our friends, our liberty, & many other blessings yielded to us, in this most fruitful and pleasant land: If we do compare these benefits, with the desolation brought upon our enemies, and with the calamities that we should have tasted of in our souls and bodies, if they had prevailed: (according as we have examples of their beastly cruelty in the Indians, and others whom treacherously they have brought into their bondage.) O than our hearts must needs be more hard than flint, and we ourselves altogether without feeling, except the consideration of these things, fill our spirits with joy, our mouths with laughter, and stir us up to sing new songs of praises unto thee. Exo. 15. Moses, Miriam, and the children of Israel having passed through the red sea, and seen the destruction of their enemies, presently do acknowledge thy mercy, and sing to the honour of thy name. Deborah and Barach do the like, judg. 5 the self same day that thou gavest thy people that notable victory over Sisera. jehoshaphat seeing the confusion, 2. Cro. 20.26 which thou broughtest upon the Moabites, the Ammonites, & them of mount Seir, whom before he feared, after that he & his company had pursued them & the spoil three days, the fourth day they give thanks, with such fervency and zeal, that the place itself hath a name of their blessing God there, as it may appear by the history. Hester, Mordecay, & other of the jews, in token of thankfulness and joy, Heb. 9 keep a feast the next day, after the king's decree was frustrated, which Haman had procured for their destruction. Yea, they take order to have that their deliverance solemnly remembered every year. Did their deliverance from mighty and cruel enemies provoke them to this? Did the escaping of present dangers, draw from them these praises of thy name? Did the overthrow of such as rose up against them, move them thus to honour thee? O than we have cause to do the like. Our enemies which thus thought in their hearts: We will pursue, we will divide the spoil, our lust shall be satisfied upon them, we will draw out our sword, our hands shall destroy them (according as it is recorded that Pharaoh spoke in his pride: Exo. 15.9. ) even these with him are sunk in the deep seas like lead. judg. 4.21. jael a woman hath stricken a nail into sisera's head, judg. 5.28.29. even then when his mother and her wise Ladies persuaded themselves that he had gotten the victory, and was dividing the spoils. The subjects of thy servant Elizabeth, (a woman) by thy good blessing, have stricken a terror into the hearts of the mighty, yea, partly by their means, as thine instruments, & partly by thine own immediate power (the stars in their course, & the seas in their order fight against them) they have then fearfully perished, judg. 5.20. when there was not only an assured persuasion in themselves, not to be overcome (as may appear, in that they called their Navy invincible) but also a certain expectation of the victory, yea, reports given & written, as if they had prevailed. Thou turnedst the sword of such as came forth on their side as they thought, In one of their galleys. against themselves: The ship fired by one of their Gonners. And the fire which was kindled, to send their shot against us, was a mean of delivering one of their ships, and some of their company into our hands: even as thou armedst Moab, 2. Cro. 20.22 23. Ammon, and them of mount Seir one against another in Iehoshaphats time. The cursed agreement so many years ago at the council of Trent, for rooting out the professors of thy truth, (whereof this attempt of the Spaniards may seem to be intended as an execution in respect of us) is now turned to the destruction of these that favoured it: so as we may not unfitly say, that Haman and his be hanged upon the gallows, which he caused to be set up for Mordecay the Iew. That is, thou hast rewarded these proud men, that which they thought to have done to others. Thou only indeed we must say. For notwithstanding, thou goest forth with our ships, prospering them so long as they encountered, wherein sensibly it appeared to be thy work, in the great losses of the adversaries both of men and Ships, and so little of ours, as it may worthily be reckoned among thy marvelous works: yet seeing so great wracks followed them, when we had left them, how else can we think it but thine own hand? Therefore, not withstanding we have much cause to rejoice in the wise care, foresight, & provision of our Prince, the honourable counsel and the state: as also in the faithfulness of our countrymen, so willingly & courageously offering themselves, to spend their goods, and to hazard their lives by sea and land in this case: Jude. 5.2. so as we curse such, even by the sentence of thine own Angel, which were not willing to help, Chap. 5.23. as it is in the judges: Yet (O Lord our God) forasmuch as the one were gifts of thine, given to such as govern us, and the other were but thy instruments to work by: To thee, yea to thee alone, O Father, Son, and holy spirit, three persons and one God, do we ascribe all the glory, honour, praise, and thanks for ever. For thou only hast done this, Exod. 15.2. thou indeed hast showed thyself to be a man of war, that salvation is from thee, and that there is no trust in horses and chariots. Pro. 21.31. For, the horse and the rider hast thou overthrown, the Spaniards ships hast thou cast into the seas, Exo. 15.21. his chosen captains also be drowned in the sea, the depths have covered them, Exo. 15.6.7. they be sunk to the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand (O Lord) is glorious in power, thy right hand (O Lord) hath bruised the enemy. And in thy great glory, thou hast overthrown them, that rose up against thee, thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. Who can express these thy noble acts? who can show forth all thy praise? Psal. 106. ● 2. If we had the tongues of all men and Angels, we could not sufficiently do it: such praises as by thy grace we be able to offer, we pray thee in Christ to accept. O our souls praise ye the Lord, & whatsoever is within us praise ye his holy name, & see that ye never forget this his benefit, praise the Lord ye his angels, Psal. 103.12. that excel in strength, that do his commandment, in obeying the voice of his word. Praise the Lord all ye his hosts, Psal. 103.20.22.23 ye his servants that do his pleasure, praise the Lord all ye his works in all places of his dominion. Yea, we beseech thee, that not only we, but the whole land also may give thy majesty the whole glory of this, so as it may never come into any of our minds, to think that by our worthiness, or by our own strength this is come to pass. Grant that it be not only once every year, publicly and solemnly remembered, after the worthy example, of that which was appointed to be done of the jews, for their deliverance from the cruelty of Haman: Hest. 9 But that also daily and continually, we may stir up ourselves to thankfulness, and to speak of it to our children, and they to their children's children, that so the memory of this thy glorious fact, may be continued from generation to generation even for ever. But above all things be herein merciful unto us, that this marvelous benefit powered upon this nation, added to the rest of thy wonderful mercies towards us, may be an occasion to lead all sorts and states to true repentance, and to a through reformation of whatsoever is amiss: lest if we hold on in our evils, thou make a change, and give our enemies cause to rejoice over us, as we do now over them. For, notwithstanding they be marvelously weakened, yet such is thy power, that thou art able to arm wounded and famished men to our destruction, jere. 37.10 if we continue to sin against thee, as thou didst threaten the jews with the Chaldeans in jeremies' time. We were delivered that we should sin no more, john. 5.14. as our Lord jesus said to the man whom he had made whole. Our faithful ministers, when they were most earnest in suing for us with fasting and prayers, was it upon any other condition, but that being spared longer, we should yield better fruits, according as the dresser of the vineyard entreateth for the figtrée, Luk. 13.7.8. which the owner commanded to cut up? Now if speedily even this present year this be not done by us, who shall hereafter entreat any more, or what is he that crying for us is like to be heard? Nay, we may fear that thou wilt say to our most faithful prophets, jere. 7.16. as sometime thou saidst to jeremy: Pray no more for this people, neither lift up cry or prayer for them, neither entreat me, for I will not hear thee. Or as in another place thou sayedst: though Moses & Samuel stood before me, yet mine affection could not be toward this people. Cast them out of my sight, jere. 15.1. & let them departed, such as are appointed to death to death, and such as are for the sword to the sword, and such as are for the famine to the famine, & such as are for captivity to captivity. And I will appoint over them four kinds, saith the Lord: the sword to slay, the dogs to tear in pieces, the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the earth to devour and destroy. Or as it is in Ezekiel: Ezek. 14.24 though these three men, Noah, Daniel, & job, were among them, they should deliver but their own souls. For although by thy singular goodness we have gotten this victory, yet are we not passed all danger, as if carelessly we might do what we list. Nay we see, that Asa the king of judah triumphing most gloriously, over the ten hundred thousand Ethiopians that came forth against him, is notwithstanding met with by the Prophet Azariah, and by him certified from the Lord, that he might no otherwise look for the continuance of his favour, to himself, & to his people, but as they should continue to do their duty, and therefore saith unto them after this manner. 2. Cr●. 15.2. O Asa and all judah and Benjamin hear ye me. The Lord is with you while you be with him, & if you seek him, he will be found of you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. The same people of Israel, for whom thou wroughtest so many great works in Egypt, and after leddest through the red sea, destroying their enemies which assayed to follow them, were afterward fearfully destroyed in the wilderness for their sins. Exo. 12.37 Nu. 14.30 So as of six hundred thousand that were numbered, only two persons Caleb & josua entered into the promised Canaan. Thy servant Jude putteth us in remembrance of this in these words: For as much (saith he) as ye once knew this, Vers. 5. how that the Lord after that he had delivered the people out of Egypt, destroyed them that believed not. And the same nation of the jews, though oftentimes thou didst marvelously fight for them and deliver them, so as among the heathen it might be justly said: God hath done great things for them, & they on the other side had just cause to answer them, as with an echo: He hath done great things for us, whereof we rejoice, as it is in the Psalm. Even these notwithstanding when they neglected their duty, Psal. 126 2.3. were most sharply punished, and given over as a pray unto their enemies, as may appear in the history of their judges and Kings. And at length when nothing would reclaim them, but that they continued in their disobedience, mocking and ill entreating the faithful prophets which called them to repentance: then thou broughtest upon them the Chaldeans, who wasted their land, took their chief city even Jerusalem and their king, put out his eyes, slew his children & nobles before his face, jer. 39.6.7. and dishonourably led him captive unto Babylon, leaving that fruitful and populous country, as it were a desolate & forsaken wilderness, and bringing scorn, reproach, confusion & shame upon that city & nation, which sometimes were (as a Queen above all others) admired for their prosperity, as if they had been the only praise of the world. 1. Cor. 10.6.7.8. Their example dost thou set before our eyes, as a glass to look into, whereby we may see, what remaineth for such people, as be like them in thy blessings, and not unlike them in their sins. We therefore of this nation, whom thou hast thus marvelously preserved, and defended in peace, prosperity, plenty, and with the use of thy holy religion, under the reign of our sovereign prince now these whole thirty years, and for whom of late thou hast done these great things: what else may we look for but the like destruction with the jews, except with all speed we do turn to thee, and reform ourselves according to thy word? Therefore (O Lord our God) we do most humbly crave of thee, pardon for all our sins past, committed by us, & by our whole land, either before this our deliverance, or since we were delivered: beseeching thee in the blood and obedience of Christ jesus and for the honour of thy name, not to bring upon us the destruction, which for our unthankfulness for this thy great mercy, and for other our transgressions we have most justly deserved. And grant, that for all the time to come, all sorts and states, civil and ecclesiastical, from the highest to the lowest may be careful in all things to seek thy will, and to have the same obeyed, as well in matters for the Church, as the commonweal, and each of them for the direction of their several families, and particular conversations. That they may all join together in their callings as one man, for the reformation of the ministery, that so the preaching of the Gospel may be established, and settled in all the quarters of the land, whereby all the subjects may be subdued unto thee, and taught holy obedience to her Majesty, and the rest that under her govern the state. That godliness and godly men, may more and more be cherished and maintained, and idolatry, papistry, blasphemy, profanation of the holy Saboths, and all other wickedness and wicked men, may be punished and suppressed. O teach us to know and believe, that in these things standeth the blessedness & safety of our state, and realm, that that nation is only happy, Psa. 144.15 whose God is the Lord, and that thou art a God and saviour to such only as walk in thy ways, and with all their hearts, seek to do thy commandments. If this course be thought upon, & yielded unto by us, than we may assure ourselves of thy protection, for ever: Then we shall still to our comfort enjoy our gracious Prince, and her highness the comfort of the dutiful service, and obedience of us her subjects. Our wise counsellors shall be able to give advise for our good, & our worthy valiant countrymen with honour to execute that, which is appointed for our safety. Thy Gospel shall shine among us yet in more excellent beauty, we shall have our peace and our plenty still, we shall prosper in our affairs by sea and by land, we shall see our desire upon our bloody enemies, Deut. 26.7. they shall come forth against us one way, and shall fly seven ways. levit. 26.8. One of us shall chase an hundred of them, and an hundred of us, shall put ten thousand to flight. Psal. 144.12.13 The voice of mirth and gladness shall be heard in our streets, our sons shall be as plants growing up in their youth, and our daughters as the corner stones, graven after the similitude of a palace. Our corners shall be full and abounding with divers sorts, our sheep shall bring forth thousands, even ten thousands in our streets. Our oxen shall be strong to labour, there shall be no invasion or going out, nor crying in our Cities: the murrain of beasts and the pestilence devouring men shall not come near us. Thus shall we then be blessed, Psa. 144.15 for so is the people blessed, whose God is the Lord. O Lord let our nation be thus blessed for ever, we do pray thee even for the honour of thine own name. So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture shall praise thee for ever, Psal. 79.13. & from generation to generation we will set forth thy praise. And, for as much as this work of thine is such, that it should not only move us, to whom the comfort thereof doth specially appertain, but even they also should be touched with it, that dissent from us in religion, and desired to have seen our ruin (as well the Papists of our own nation, as those that be in foreign countries:) because, besides the other miracles recorded in thy word, wrought by thy son jesus Christ, and his holy Apostles, for the confirmation of thy truth, thou hast also by this our wonderful deliverance, and confusion of our enemies, sealed this to be thy truth, which we have learned from the same word, and whereof we make profession. We beseech thee even for these, that so many of them as belong to thee, may by this occasion the rather be brought to see, how detestable a thing in thy sight, Romish and superstitious religion is, & how thou settest thyself against such as would uphold the same: that so they may not stand a far off, gazing upon this thy great work, Apoc. 18.9.10.11. Apoc. 18, 4. & 19.20. and bewailing this fall of the whore, but that indeed they may come forth of Babylon, utterly renouncing the worship of the beast and his image, abhorring to carry the least of his marks in their hands or foreheads, Apoc, 17.2. and no longer to be drunk, with the cup of her spiritual fornications. Yea, we beseech thee that having the mists and darkness of their minds chased away, they may at length, see the clear light of thy gospel, so to join with us in one holy profession grounded upon thy word, that together we may be glad of this fall of Babylon, and join all forces as it were into one, to give her according as she hath done to thy Saints. Apoc. 18.6. That in the end, the may have the judgement of an harlot executed upon her, even to be rooted out for ever. That to their further condemnation, they be not subject to the reproof, which thy spirit giveth to such as they be, that amended not by the vengeance powered upon others, according as it is said in the apocalypse, Apoc. 9.20.21. The remnant of the men which were not killed by these plagues, repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, & Idols of gold and silver, and of brass, and of stone, & of wood, which neither can see, neither can hear, nor go. Also they repented not of their murders and their sorceries, neither of their fornication, nor of their theft. For their obstinacy shall be greater, and their sin the more heinous in thy sight, if so sensible a judgement as this is, provoke them not to give thee glory and to seek after thy truth. If there be any of them so desperately hardened, that in steed of repenting, they shall presume more & more, to set themselves against thy holy ones, and to blaspheme thy name, Apoc. 16.9. which hast power over these plagues: We beseech thee go forward with this thy excellent work persecute them so continually, that they may know themselves to be but men, and the Idols whom they serve, not to be God. Turn all their devices upon their own heads, and bring them to such miseble confusion, that they may for sorrow gnash their teeth, and at last be enforced to acknowledge thy power and justice in their ruin, to whom they will not now stoop, to serve thee according to thy word, that they might be saved. Yea, we beseech thee, that all the nations of the heathen, to whom the reports of these thy great acts shall come, may by this means be moved to inquire after thee, and to seek to know thee, and thy good pleasure in Christ jesus, whom thou hast sent to their salvation, if they believe. That so departing from their superstitions and Idolatries, wherein they do dishonour thee, they may honour thy name in the knowledge of thy truth. That we ourselves beholding these things, and the utter confusion of all such as rise up against thee, and thy Christ, Apoc. 20.10 may be assured that that time approacheth apace, when the devil by whom they are led, the beast whom his favourers have worshipped, and the false Prophets, by whom they have been seduced, not being able to hurt any more, because their time is expired, shall be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, Apoc. 10.10.15. where also they shall be tormented day and night world without end, and with them every one not found in the book of life. When likewise the Church being freed from all their tyranny, shall come forth as a bride prepared for her husband, Apoc. 21.2. to be joined with the lamb jesus Christ for ever: Where she shall hunger, thirst, nor sorrow any more, but having all tears wiped from her eyes, Apoc. 7.16. she shall enjoy perfect blessedness, in that heavenly city whose gates be of pearl, Apoc. 21.2. Apoc. 21.18 whose walls be precious stones, and the city itself, with the street thereof pure gold, like clear or shining glass. Apoc. 22.1.2 Wherein there is a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the lamb, having of either side the tree of life, bearing twelve manner of fruits, and giving fruit every month, Apoc. 22.20 whose leaves are saving medicines for the heathen. O Lord jesus which so long ago saidst I come quickly, even so Lord jesus come, Amen. Amen. TO THE READER. THou hast (Christian Reader) which thou hadst not in the first impression, a godly hymn or song of thanksgiving, concerning our deliverance, penned by my reverend and good friend in Christ M. Doctor Turner, who understanding of my poor travail in this argument, wished thou hadst also been partaker of that his labour with mine, and hath been since content, that I should publish it for thy profit. The benefit of our safety is such, and so wonderful, that it deserveth an often and most serious remembrance. If my meditations seem too long or not such as content thee, I pray thee, use the help of this song, shorter, and commended unto thee, in respect of the writer, and the sweet manner of delivering that taste, the remembrance whereof should every way be most pleasant to thee. Forget not the goodness of God helping thee so many ways, and offering thee one dish of meat diversly dressed, that if it like thee not the one way, it may please thine appetite the other. If thou and thy family learn to sing it (which I pray thee may be oftentimes done) I hope thou wilt find it comfortable to thy soul. And so I pray thee to give God praise, and help such with thy prayers, that desire to help thee. A spiritual song to the praise of Almighty God, for delivering ENGLAND from the Spaniards. By P. Turner Doctor of Physic. Hadst thou not watched (o lord) our coasts to keep, And hadst not thou well warded all our bounds, Our cruel foes had caught us all a sleep, And sunk our ships & sacked our haven towns. All laud therefore, from heart we yield to thee, That hidest not thy face from thine at need, But dost still stand by them as now we see, When bloody foes do think them out to weed. Hadst thou not been our Queen had been no more, And slavish yoke had all our necks oppressed, None should have taught, or followed thy lore, Hadst thou not been who could have this redressed. All laud therefore that heart can think or yield. Be unto thee O Father dear for aye, That wast to us so strong a fence and shield, And of thy goodness kept us from decay. Hadst thou not been, then had the man of sin, Set up himself, thy Church to overthrow, And then what case had all thy saints been in? But thou O Lord wouldst not let it be so. O all the powers both of our soul and mind, Sing laud and praise both now and evermore, To our good God that was and is so kind, And hath repelled the Lion from our door. Hadst thou not made thy winds for us to fight, Hadst thou not stretched forth for us thy hand, Hadst thou not put our proud foes all to flight, O what should then have come to this our land. All praise therefore to thee O Lord our God, That lettest thus thy mercies great appear, In saving us from cruel foreign rod, The Spanish Fleet and force that was so near. Hadst thou not overwhelmed our foes with floods, Hadst thou not caused the seas to be their graves, Then had our streets been died with our bloods, And all our babes been marked for their slaves. Most humble thanks therefore unto thy grace, With one accord we give O God above, Who thus hast kept us from the Spanish race, And let us taste thy mercies and thy love. And hadst not thou us saved from our fears, And heard the cries that strangers made to thee, In steed of Psalms we had now offered tears, And slain at once had been both they and we. For saving us therefore from all these wrongs, All laud to thee O our most holy King, Who thus didst turn our fastings into songs, With all our hearts we all unto thee sing. From high to low we must and do confess, If thou hadst let those plagues on us to light, Such are our sins, and such our wickedness, Thou hadst done well, and we had had but right. But Lord what thanks can sinful man devise, (whose thoughts & deeds can stand him in no steed) To offer thee, but thou mayst them despise? None none O God as of ourselves indeed. But therefore Lord, as at thy sons request, Thou hast us kept, and saved from all woe, So for his sake whom thou acceptest best, Accept the thanks which we do yield also. FINIS.