[Page] THE SACRIFICE OF A CONTRITE HEART: In Teares, Meditations, and Prayers.
Penned by IOHN EVANS Minister of Gods Word.
If any be afflicted, let him pray: If any be merry, let him sing Psalmes.
LONDON: Printed by A. M. for Richard Hamond, and are to be sold at his Shop at the vpper end of Fleete lane. 1630.
The Contents.
- A Consideration of mans miseries, and Gods goodnesse. pag. 1
- A Meditation for the morning. p. 10
- A morning Prayer for one alone. 14
- The confession of a sorrowfull sinner. 23
- A Prayer vnto Almighty God. 28
- A Prayer for Christian vertues. 30
- A generall confession of our sinnes. 34
- Another morning Meditation. 35
- A prayer for the morning with company. 40
- Precepts of Christian duties. 48
- Another morning prayer. 53
- A Meditation for the Euening. 56
- An Euening prayer for a priuate person. 60
- Another for the Euening. 64
- An Euening prayer for a whole Family. 74
- [Page] Another for the Euening. pag. 81
- The repentant sheweth his vnfained griefe for offending so mercifull a God. 85
- An Euening meditation. 90
- A prayer for the encrease of Faith. 93
- A prayer for the remission of sinnes. 96
- A meditation vpon the miseries of man. 101
- A prayer for the forgiuenesse of sinnes. 103
- The Repentants complaint against sin. 108
- A prayer for sanctificatiō of the Sabbath. 110
- A prayer for godly zeale. 116
- A meditation to gaine fauour from God. 119
- A prayer for Faith, Hope, and Charity. 122
- The sighes and complaint of an afflicted conscience. 124
- A prayer for sanctification. 128
- A prayer in aduersity or affiiction. 131
- Meditations vpon the passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ. 133
- What to be learned by the passion. 150
- A prayer for patience vnder the Crosse. 164
- A thanks giuing for Gods blessings. 172
- A meditation inciting vs to seeke God. 180
- [Page] A prayer before the Communion. 187
- A meditation before the Communion. 192
- Meditations vpon Gods mercies. 197
- Lachrim. 1. Wherein the distressed prayeth for constancy and patience in his time of afflictions. 205
- A thanks giuing after the Communion. 213
- Another prayer after Communion. 214
- A prayer for the Catholicke Church of God. 218
- A prayer for the Kings Maiestie. 221
- Lachrim. 2. Wherein the distressed expresseth his confidence in God. 224
- A prayer for the encrease of Christ his Kingdome. 230
- A prayer against Antichrist. 238
- Lachrim. 3. Wherein the distressed prayeth that his faith and zeale may be encreased. 246
- The complaint of an afflicted minde. 254
- Lach. 4. Wherein the distressed prayeth against the dangereus sin of dispaire. 264
- The Merchant aduenturer his prayer. 269
- [Page] A prayer for the fruits of the earth. 274
- A thanksgiuing for benefits and Benefactors. 276
- Lach. 5. Wherein the distressed sheweth his desire to hold fast the promises of God. 279
- A generall thanksgiuing. 283
- Lach. 6. The distressed craueth pardon for his sinnes. 295
- A prayer to be vsed in the time of any contagious sicknesse. 302
- The prayer called, O bountifull Iesu. 305
- The sicke mans prayer. 308
- A prayer for the sicke. 311
- Lach. 7. The distressed detesteth the world, and all worldly things. 316
- The young mans prayer for a vertuous wife. 321
- The mayds prayer for a godly husband. 326
- The prayer of a woman with childe. 332
- The 8. Lachrimae. 337
- A prayer for loue and charity. 346
- The 9. Lachrimae. 351
- Te Deum laudamus. 352
TO AL THAT desire with faith and reuerence to call vpon the name of the Lord, by the mediation of Iesus Christ: Gods most holy Spirit be giuen for their inward consolation in this life, and their eternall peace and glory in the life to come.
THe holy Prophet Dauid, in a thankfull commemoration of the in▪ numerable blessings, hee had receiued from the hands of God, said, Quid retribuam domino? what reward shall I giue vnto the Lord, for all the [Page] benefits hee hath done vnto me, and apprehending that God was not so well pleased with ceremoniall sacrifices, as thousands of oblations, or whole streames of the blood of young bullockes or goates, or with riuers of oyle; as with Psal. 51. a troubled Spirit, and a contrite and a broken heart; resolueth therefore to humble his soule with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning, to seeke the face and fauour of the Lord, to pay his vowes, to pray vnto the Lord, to cal vpon his holy name, & to praise him for euermore, assuring himselfe that the Lord would neither reiect nor despise such a sacrifice.
Good Christian Reader doe thou the like, which art [Page] as farre indebted as euer Dauid was. And seeing that Iesus Christ himselfe calleth vnto thee, saying. Come vnto mee all you that labour and are heauy laden with the burden of your sinnes, and I will refresh you: Oh [...]et thy resolution be as ready as Dauids was when the Lord called, seeke my face, hee answered, thy face O Lord will I seeke, euen with my whole heart: so let thy answere bee to the Sonne of God, I come Lord Iesus, I come, I will pay my vowes promised to thee in the presence of thy people, and confirmed vnder the Sacramentall Seale of Baptisme, thy couenant of grace and mercy; I will come and offer vnto thee my heart, I will come and praise thee for all [Page] thy benefits, I will come and hearken to thy voyce in thy most holy and blessed word, I will abandon all secure, licentious, and voluptuous liuing, and wholly delight in thy Testimonies and in thy Commandements which are not grieuous to thy children, but more pleasing then honey, or the honey combe, and more inualuable then all earthly treasure. I will come with reuerence, repentance, Charitie and Faith to receiue the cuppe of saluation at thy holy table in remembrance of thy most precious (and for my sinnes sake ignominious) death.
And forasmuch as the Math. 26 Spirit is willing, but the flesh fraile and weake, pray [Page] therefore for mortification of the flesh, and that Sanctification and strengthening of thine owne inward Spirit: oh pray for the presence and assistance of Gods most holy Spirit to 1. Cor. 14. helpe and strengthen thine infirmities: whereby the diligent sighes & inward groanes of thy heart may cheerefully ascend and pierce the heauens for a blessing: oh stirre vp thy Math. 5. Acts 10. heart and soule to pray earnestly, offer vp thyteares with watching, with almes-deedes, with abstinence and fasting, as the repentant Niniuites: as Iona. 3. Dauid, as Daniel; oh breath out powerful sighes with Hannah, oh streame out riuers of teares with penitent Mary Magdalen. As some kinde of deuils could not bee cast out [Page] but by prayer and fasting; so some sins are not eiected, nor pardon for them procured without prayer and fasting, and also bitter teares with repenting Peter.
Oh pray effectually and cheerefully, and giue thy selfe 1. Thess. 5 continually to this diuine and holy exercise, (for this is the alone meanes to haue heauenly conference with thy gracious God) oh pray without ceasing as the widow, and as the importunate woman of Canaan: pray euery where, though it be in the vppenpart of thy house with Peter, or in thy chamber alone with Eliseus; whether in the Kings Actes 10. chamber, or in the Lyons den with Daniel, or with Moses in Daniel. 6. the wildernesse: the blessed [Page] children prayed in the fiery furnace, King Hezekias in his bed, Ionahs in the whales belley, and our Sauiour Christ in the fields, in the gardens, on the mountaine; euen vpon the Crosse at the time of his victorious passion: pray with Dauid either seauen times a day, and in the night let thine eyes (like his) gush out riuers of teares, or with Daniel thrice in the day, or with Paul continually be exercised with holy sighes and sacred meditations: let not, oh let not the dulnesse of thine heart, nor the greatnesse or grieuousnesse of thy sinnes hinder thee from this holy exercise, suffer not the Spirit of God to bee quenched in thee. To thee that art heauy laden with sin, [Page] and pressed with afflictions for sinne, doth thy sweet Sauiour call, to thee doth his promise most properly appertaine, none asketh but he that wanteth, none seeketh but he that hath lost, remember that our Sauiour came to call sinners to repentance, and to heale the sicke, and to cure the wounded, to ease and refresh all such as are laden with the insupportable burthen of their sinnes! oh bee of good comfort, striue against thy dulnes, heare what is written for thy consolation; whosoeuer shall faithfully call vpon the Lord, shall be saued.
Let not thy afflictions hinder thee, but rather follow the exhortation of the Apostle; if any bee afflicted let [Page] him pray, let thine afflictions encourage thee, and enflame thine heart to call vpon thy mercifull God who promiseth by his Prophet to heare thee, and to deliuer thee. You shall seeke mee saith the Lord and finde mee, because you shall seeke mee with all your heart, and I will bee found of you & will deliuer you from captiuity; Aske therefore and you shall haue, seeke and you shall finde, knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you: oh marke & firmely beleeue the gracious promise of him that is the truth and the life, whatsoeuer you shall aske the Father in my name you shall receiue it: who was euer denied that faithfully called vpon the Lord? The Lord is true and [Page] faithfull of his promise, both able and willing to performe, and will regard the supplications, and accept the prayers of his children; did not the Lord heare the prayers of the Israelites, and did not hee with a mighty arme plague their enemies, and deliuer them out of captiuity and bondage: did not the red sea recoyle backe at the prayer of Moses; yea the waters saw thee ô Lord and were afraid, and at thy appointment made a way for the safety and deliuerance of thy people: was not the plague in the wildernesse stayed at the prayer of Moses, was not Miriam by prayer cleansed from his leprosie, was not Hanna by prayer of a barren woman made fruitfull, did not [Page] Dauid by his faithfull prayer and repentance obtaine remission and forgiuenesse for man-slaughter and adulterie, did not Elias by prayer open the windowes of heauen and brought downe plentie of raine, was it not by prayer that Sennacherib & his innumerable hoast were slaine & discomfited, by the Angel of the Lord. By prayer Susanna was deliuered frō death, the blessed children from the scorching heat of the Ouen, Queen Hester and her people were deliuered from death, Ionas out of the belley of the Whale; by prayer Leapers were cleansed, the blind were restored to sight, the Palsies were cured, many men & womē obtained health fortheir children & seruants.
[Page] By prayer the lame haue beene restored to their limbs, the deafe to hearing, the blind to their sight, and the dumbe to their speech, by prayer remission of sinnes was obtained, and the holy Ghost was sent downe vpon the Apostles.
What should I saye more, by prayer Kingdomes haue beene subdued, miracles haue beene wrought, the promises were obtained, the mouthes of Lyons were stopped, the violence of fire hath beene quenched, the heauens haue beene shut and opened, the dead hath beene raised to life, the Sunne and Moone haue beene commanded and stood still. O faithfull messenger, oh diuine prayer, thou [Page] wilt striue and preuaile euen with the Lord of heauen, and obtaine the blessing.
Wherefore good Christian and faithfull Reader, be feruent and constant in this holy exercise. Remember that when Moses hands failed, the enemies of Gods children preuailed; and that Sampson lost his strength and glory, when he lost his haire by the treachery of Dalilah: so when thou sufferest Gods Spirit to be quenched, thou art depriued of thy spirituall strength and heauenly glory, and her soule despoiled of her beauty and comelinesse, and thou exiled from the protection of the most glorious Angels, which are ready with all chearefull willingnesse to administer [Page] their aide and comfort vnto thee, and to beare thee safe from all thy enemies and dangers, while thou by faithfull prayer doest in the name of the Angel of the Couenant that doeth sweetely and acceptably incense all thy oblations, call vpon the name of the most mighty and most glorious God of all Archangels and men.
And for that experience of my long afflictions and sorrowes haue made mee apprehensiue of the hardnes of our hearts, and our dulnesse and vnaptnesse to call vpon God in the time of our troubles. I haue composed these sorrowfull sighes, prayers and meditations, which I may well call the exercises of my sad affections; [Page] to the end that if through Sathans buffets, the distemperature or weakenes of my corrupt nature, or the snares of euill men my poore heart should be ouerwhelmed; yet I might haue alwayes presented to mine eye how to make my moane vnto my God.
And intending to publicke my labour herein, I haue endeauoured by varietie of meditations and prayers to make it profitably vsefull for all men. Most humbly beseeching the God of mercy to accept and blesse my endeauoure herein: and grant that some glory to his holy name, and some benefite to his ch [...]ldren, and comfort and consolation to all that groane vnder the burden of sinne, may redound [Page] hereby, and that for the alone merits and mediation of Iesus Christ the righteous. To whom with the father and the most holy Spirit, as by the most glorious Angels in heauen, so by vs men, be rendred Halleluiah: all the glory, the praise, and the honour for euer more. Amen. Amen.
THE. CONSIDEration of our miseries, moueth sorrowfull sighes, for our enlargement from the thraledome of our sinnes.
A Morning Meditation.
A Morning Prayer for a priuate person.
ALmighty God and heauenly Father, I make my prayer vnto thee in an acceptable time: calling most faithfully and feruently vpon thee, in the name and mediation of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, thy well beloued Sonne, in whom thou art well pleased: trusting that for his sake, and for the multitude of thy mercies, thou wilt heare me, and grant my petitions may be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength, and my saluation.
Almighty, immortall, and invisible God; who inhabitest eternitie, and dwellest in light that none can attaine vnto, whom neuer man saw, neither can see (as thou art [Page 15] in thy eternall glory with this eye of flesh and liue;) vnto thee (oh Lord God) doe I prostrate and direct my selfe, most humbly confessing that I am but dust and ashes, not worthy to open my lippes to speake vnto thee, or once with my eyes to looke vp to thy heauens, to behold thy glory in thy wonderfull workes: for (oh Lord) I haue sinned against heauen, and against thee, and am not worthy to bee counted or called thy Sonne, being by nature the child of wrath, & a fire-brand of hell, altogether both in body and soule: begotten, conceiued and brought foorth in sinne, and have euer since my first originall, liued and continued therein, adding sinne vnto sinne, and heaping vp transgression, vpon transgression, and drinking in iniquitie as the beast doth water: so that (oh my Lord God) if thou shouldest but behold mee with thy pure eyes, that can abide no iniquite; [Page 16] thou mightest not onely punish and afflict me with diuers crosses, with sundry paines, sicknesse and diseases in this mortall life: but (O Lord) thou mightest, follow and pursue mee with thy secret hatred, with thy infinite and eternall displeasure: yea and for euer giue me my part & portion with the wicked reprobates, and damned spirits in infernall darkenesse. But (oh Lord) though by nature and desert, hell be my portion; yet thou hast pleased for Christ his sake, in whom alone I beleeue the pardon of all my sinnes, originall and actuall; of omission, and commission; of ignorance, and knowledge, and of presumption: in all which kindes I haue mightily offended thee, mine owne conscience (beside the testimony of thy word) bearing witnesse, which is greater then if ten thousands of witnesses should stand vp against me: But (ô Lord) for thy Christ his sake that immaculate and vnspotted [Page 17] I am be that was once sacrificed for the Redemption of the whole world▪ doe away all my sinnes and offences▪ and let them not at any time, through Sath [...]ns accusation or aggrauation, stand vp against me; neither in conscience in this world to accuse mee, or in the day of thy second comming to condemne mee; wash them away (ô Lord) in the precious blood of thy Sonne, and for his sake bee at peace with mee; Seale vp vnto my soule and conscience this day, and while I am in this life, the assured pardon of all my sinnes; of thought, word and deed. Let thy Spirit dwell in me, and testifie vnto▪ and with my Spirit this day, the assurance of my Iustification and adoption.
O Lord sanctifie and regenerate mee to thy Image, through thy holy Spirit, from whence through Adams sinne, and my owne actuall, I am fallen, & should for euer lye plunged therein, if [Page 18] thou Lord shuldest denie to reach foorth vnto mee thy mercifull hand, or thy hand full of mercy, and aboundant kindnesse in Christ.
O Lord, if when we were dead in sinnes and trespasses, and (inasmuch as in vs lay) thy most malicious enemies, when wee were without God, and without hope in the world, and sought not after thee, till thou (as to Adam in the garden) didst seeke and finde vs out. How much more beeing in Christ, and in him seeking thee, wilt thou be found of vs, and nigh vnto vs, when wee call vpon thee.
O Lord thou hast promised, that if wee aske wee shall haue, if we seeke we shall finde, if wee knocke it shall bee opened vnto vs; wherefore I beseech thee pardon my weake Faith, O Lord, encrease in me godly sorrow, for all my offences past and present, ô let mee sorrow that I cannot sorrow [Page 19] according to the heigh [...] multitude of my transgre [...] Lord make mee to know my s [...], not onely open, but secret, not [...] the highest, but euen in the lowest degree: and breed in me a perfec [...] hatred of them, not in respect of punishment temporall, or eternall, but in filiall feare and godly affection: grant for thy Christ his sake, that I may hate and detest them, and my selfe in them and for them.
And to this end (Lord) open mine eyes, that in the hearing and reading of thy word, as the linely and most effectuall meanes, I may obtaine the assurance of thy loue and fauour, and let it be that to mee, which it is in it selfe, thy strong power and mighty arme to my saluation.
Let it be vnto mee the sweete sauour of life vnto life, and not at any time through my vnworthinesse, the sauour of death vnto death; Good Lord hereby create [Page 20] in me a cleane heart, and renew a right Spirit within mee, that I may delight in thy word, aboue gold, aboue much fine gold; yea, aboue thousands of gold and siluer, let thy word bee a continuall light vnto my pathe [...], and a daily lanterne vnto my feet; ôlet me not stand at a stay in grace, nor in any measure of gift of grace, much less decline or goe backe in any grace or gift of grace: but grant that I may in the vse of all holy meanes goe on in grace, till I come vnto a perfect man in Christ [...]esus.
Lord keepe me this day, that I may not like Lots wife looke back again, or like the vnthankful Israelites, esteeme the homely fare of Egypt, (of this world of things of this life) aboue the heauenly Manna (thy word the only true food of life.) But like Abraham & the rich Marchant, leaue & sell all that this world can affoord, to attaine the Kingdome of heauen, vnto which thou hast called mee, by faith in [Page 21] Christ, at this day, and for euer.
Hauing begd these graces, I returne vnto thee humble thanks for all thy benefits that I haue receiued; not onely before, but since my being, as for my election before time, and for my vocation in time, from whence haue followed my iustification, and some measure of sanctification in this life, and my assured hope of glorification in the life to come.
For these inestimable blessings, which no minde can conceiue, nor tongue expresse, I returne vnto thee, all such possible praise and hearty thankes as my vnderstanding can conceiue: beseeching thee that I may this day, & all the dayes of my life, walke worthy of all these thy mercies. O Lord I thanke thee for these other inferiour testimonies of thy loue, which thou hast made more common with the vniust, then with the iust; I thanke thee ô Father that thou hast shared mee out so [Page 22] great a portion, euen beyond many of thy Saints & seruants; Lord grant that while thou continuest the trust of them in my hands (for they are thy talents and not mine) I may soberly vse them to thy glory, and to mine owne comfort, and the comfort of the Saints.
O Lord grant I may abound in charitie to all of all sorts, that I shall behold to stand in neede of my helpe: but especially to the houshold of Faith: and grant that I may giue no reliefe in worldly ostentation, or vaine glory, to bee seene or talked of, of men, but in an vpright heart & good conscience vnto thee. And all this I beseech thee to grant, for Iesus Christ his sake my onely Lord and Sauiour.
Last of all, I beseech thee as a seeling member of thy holy Church militant, howsoeuer, or wheresoeuer dispersed, scattered, or afflicted; for all thine that suffer any [Page 23] kinde of sorrow, neede, sicknesse, or any other aduersitie in soule, or body, by sea or land: but especially for all thine that suffer bonds, chaines or imprisonments, (with Ioseph) for righteousnesse sake, mittigate all their paines and troubles, and giue them Faith and patience in all their seueral distresses as may bee most for thine owne glory and their comforts; through Christ our Mediator and Redeemer. To thee ô Father, Sonne, and holy Ghost, the eternall and most blessed Trinitie, bee rendred all praise and glory, not onely by all men in generall, but by me in speciall, with thy holy Church, this day and for euermore,
A particular confession of a sorrowfull sinner.
Amen.
A Prayer vnto Almighty God to prepare and dispose our hearts rightly, vnto Prayer.
A Prayer for Christian vertues.
OH my Lord God, grant that with a sincere heart I may desire thee, and in desyring, seeke thee, and in seeking find thee, and when I haue found thee, grant that I may constantly loue thee: and not returne to that filthinesse of sinne, for which thou hatest me, and I become odious & loathsome in thy presence, that thou art constrained to withdraw thy gracious countenance from beholding so great impuritie. Giue me ô my Lord God a repentant heart, a contrite Spirit, eyes flowing with fountaines of penitent teares: quench in me all the concupiscense of the flesh, and kindle in me the fire of thy loue. Oh my Redeemer take from me the Spirit [Page] of pride, and most f [...]ourably enrich mee with the treasure o [...] thy humilitie, remooue from me [...] ô my Sauior, the fury, and distem▪ perance of choller, and graciously arme me with the shield of pati▪ ence. O my Creator roote out o [...] me all ranck or and malice, and en▪ due me with gentlenes and meek [...] nes, bestow vpon mee a perfec [...] faith, a right hope, and constan [...] loue.
Preserue me, ô Lord, from a [...] vanitie, inconstancy of minde, wa [...] uering of heart, scossing and con [...] temptuous speaking, reproches tauntes and slanders against m [...] neighbour, busie curiositie, hun [...] ger of riches, extortion, ambiti [...] on, vaine-glory, from the vice o [...] hypocrisie, the poyson of flatte▪ ry, contempt of the weake, op▪ pression of the poore, from gree▪ dy auarice, cankered enuy, deadly blasphemy.
Deliuer me, ô Lord, from ras [...] boldnesse, contumacy, frowardnesse, [Page 32] idlenesse, negligence, sloath, dulnesse of wit, blindnes of heart, obstinacy of minde, sauage conditions, contempt of good things, the abandoning of wholesome counsell, offence of the tongue, rapine of the poore, malicious and false accusation against the innocent, violence against the impotent, neglect of inferiours, cruelty towards my family, impietie and infidelitie towards them that repose trust in me, and from vniust and rigorous dealing with all men.
O my God, my merciful God, I beseech thee in thy beloued Sonne, blesse me with the workes of mercy and zeale of godlinesse, to suffer with the afflicted, to minister to the needy, to succour the miserable, to counsell them that go astray, to comfort the sorrowfull, to releeue the oppressed, to nourish the poore, to cherish and comfort such as mourne, to forgiue my debtors, to pardon them [Page 33] that trepasse against mee, to loue them that hate mee, to render good for euill, to despise none, but to honour them, to imitate the good, to beware of euill things, and euill vngodly societie, to eschew vice, and to embrace vertue; in aduersitie patience, humblenesse in prosperitie, to guard the doore of my mouth, to watch the enemies that compasse my lippes, to despise worldly things, and earnestly to thirst after the heauenly.
O Lord my God, blessed be thy name for euer: dispose my heart, open my lippes, and guide mee by thy holy Spirit, to a true acknowledgement of all my sinnes, and an eternall detestation, renouncing and forsaking of them, that my prayers may bee heard of thee, in the name, and for the name of thy Sonne Iesus Christ. To whom with thee and the most holy Spirit, three sacred persons, one mighty and immortall God, bee [Page 34] ascribed, attributed and giuen, all praise, all thankes, all honour and glory this day and for euermore.
A generall confession of sinnes.
A Morning Meditation.
Amen.
A Morning Prayer to be said with a whole Family.
MOst Mighty God, the Creator and Father of euery liuing thing, both in heauen, and in earth, the wonderfull preseruer, and constant vpholder of all things visible, and invisible; not onely in the dayes of our forefathers, but in these our times. Wee thy poore sinfull seruants, doe this morning prostrate and deiect our selues, in soule and [Page 41] body, sorrowfully confessing vnto thee, against our selues, that wee are so loden with daily transgressions, that we know not, but with infinite shame, how to lift vp our heads and eyes towards thee, or once to open our mouths to speake vnto thee: for when wee remember how in the morning of this world, in the first beginning of mankind, thou didst make him after thine own Image, a glorious creature, and planted him in the Garden of Eden, where hee wanted nothing, but was filled with ioy and happy contentment.
But he despised thy holy Commandement, aduenturing to doe that which thou hadst forbidden: whereby thou wast so displeased with him, that immediately didst banish him and our grandmother E [...]ah, with all vs their miserable p [...]steritie: then in their loynes, and vnto this day issuing and proceeding foorth, into perpetuall [Page 42] blindnesse and ignorance of thee, and should so for euer haue remained from generation to generation, if wee did not beleeue in thy holy word and Gospell; in which is contained the happy and ioyfull tydings of thy euerlasting loue renewed vnto vs: as that in his seede all nations should bee blessed, meaning by his seede, the promised Messiah, which our first parents then beleeued in, for themselues, and so instructed vs their following posteritie for euer to doe the like.
Wherefore, ô Lord, wee beleeuing in thyword (our Messiah) who in these latter dayes, hath taken our flesh, and in that nature, by which thou wast most mightily offended, hath againe reconciled vs vnto thee, and thee vnto vs, by paying that price of our Redemption, euen his most precious death & blood; by vertue of which we first entreat thee, to par donour originall sins, and all other [Page 43] offences which in knowledge against the motions of thy holy Spirit, and checkes of our owne consciences, accusing vs for the least thing that wee haue at any time done amisse, or haue daily from the beginning of our manhood, vnto this present done against thee, euen thisweeke, this last day, this night, and this morning since wee arose; yea, euen now in this instant, while we are speaking vnto thee.
O Lord, for Christ his sake, pardon all our offences of dishonesty against our neighbours with whom wee liue, and conuerse in this life. O keepe vs this day most sweete Sauiour, from that odious and common sinne of lying, directly, or indirectly, from swearing, & chasing rashly, vainely or irreuerently, in, or against thy most holy name. And keepe vs from all manner of dishonesty, with our bodies, with our tongues, with our eyes, with our [Page 44] hands, and with our feete, vnto which wee are so exceeding prone. And that because we are thy temples, and members one of another, and of thy Sonne Christ especially.
And for our helpe herein, giue vs grace, that we may euery one, seriously apply, and diligently minde the things thou hast this day appointed vs to doe in our seuerall rankes and callings: as we are either fathers, masters, children or seruants, that we may both gouerne and obey, as becommeth thy children and seruants, which feare thy holy name; and giue vs grace that wee may this day, and all the dayes of our life, perseuere in the faith, and feare of thee, and of thy Sonne Iesus, our most louing and blessed Sauiour.
And grant most louing Father, that as we haue begunne in him; so wheresoeuer we are, at the last we may finish our mortall race in [Page 45] him, and change this life vnto his glory and our owne eternall comforts.
Now hauing continued our accustomed suites for spirituall blessings and graces, we returne vnto thee most humble and hearty thankes for all those fauours, which as assurances of all thy loue, thou hast giuen euery one of vs here present: as in our births into this present world, thou didst safely bring vs, through the straight gates of nature (which [...]ike Herod in the act of birth, [...]hreatneth nothing but present [...]eath; & in infancy, childhood and [...]outh, considering our weakenes [...]nd wildnes, might haue befallen [...]nto vs many mischances of de [...] [...] in our bodies: so since [...]e came to manhood, thou hast [...]ept vs from the same dangers, a [...]ousand manner of wayes, for [...]hich we thanke thee. O Lord [...]e thanke thee also for our daily [...]ead, and conti [...]all cloathing, [Page 46] that through thy blessing doeth daily comfort vs in this present life: for thee, and for a thousand more, of which we haue continuall experience both in body and soule, wee are bound to continue and conclude these our prayers, thankesgiuing and morning sacrifice vnto thee, for our selues, and thy holy Church, as thy Sonne our Sauiour hath taught vs, saying. Our Father which art in heauē, &c. To thee the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, bee giuen all honour and glory by vs and all thine this day, and for euermore. Amen, Amen.
Be mercifull, ô Father, of all mercies to thy Church vniuersall, dispersed throughout the whole world, and grant th [...] they that d [...]e confesse thy name, may agree in the truth of thy holy word, & liue in godly concord and vnitie. More especially good Lord, bee mercifull to all such as bee vnder persecution, for the [Page 47] testimony of a good conscience, and the profession of the Gospell of thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ.
Defend and saue, ô Lord, those silly soules, which as sheepe are appointed to the shambles and slaughter, and represse the rage and tyranny of such as are bent to blood-shed, and minde nothing but murthering thy Saints and children: be mercifull to this sinfull kingdome wherein wee liue, and be good and gracious to thine annoynted, Charles our most gracious King: blesse the honourable Counsell, the Reuerend [...]lergie, the Nobilitie, and Cominal [...]ie, of this Land; and also blesse [...]s a portion of thine inheritance, the which our Lord Iesus Christ was contented to redeeme with his most precious blood, the alone mediator of all mercies, to whom [...]ith thee and the holy Ghost bee [...] [...]l honour and glory for and euer. Amen.
Amen.
Precepts of duty.
A Morning Prayer,
O Blessed Lord God, great in power, fearefull in iudge [...]ent, and rich in mercy: which [...]indest and no man looseth, and [...]oo [...]est & no man bindeth, I yeeld [...]hee most humble and hearty [...]hankes, for that of thy fatherly goodnesse thou hast vouchsafed [...]e this last nights sleepe in peace [...]nd rest: and againe loosing the [...]onds wherewith I was tied, hast [...]iuen me power to see this mor [...]ing light. Now, ô Lord, I be [...]ech thee, powre vpon mee this [...]y the heauenly dew of thy com [...]rtable blessing, that through the [...]eration of thy gracious beames [...]hat am a poore tree, weake and [...]rren in my selfe, may bud forth [...]d beare the fruits of true faith [...] my life and conu [...]rsation. Continue [Page 54] this goodnesse and mercy towards mee, and by thy power raise me from the deepe sleepe of all vnrighteousnesse, discharge me from the workes of darken [...]sse, and cloath me with the armour of light, that I may walke honestly, as in the day; and liue soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
Grant me, ô Lord, true vnderstanding and knowledge of thy word, which is the glasse of thy will. Increase in me all godly de [...] sires, together with true contri [...] tion of heart, that I may vnfained [...] ly despise the pleasures of thi [...] world, & with hearty repentan [...] be conuerted vnto thee: send th [...] holy Angel to guide me and keep me in all my wayes, and prosp [...] the worke of my hands that I n [...] uer faile in my vocation to d [...] some good to all men, and esche [...] if it be possible all euill.
O Lord, I beseech thee, p [...] serue and keepe my senses [...]a [...] [Page 55] and soūd, that I be neither corrup ted by prosperity, nor deiected by aduersitie; nor be too fearefull of thy iudgements, or too bould on thy mercies. But grant me grace ô mercifull Lord, that I may apprehend all that comes from thee with a religious heart, and contented minde.
O blessed Lord Iesus Christ, blessed bee thy name for our redemption, great was thy loue, sore was thy passion, print in our mindes we beseech thee the continuall memory thereof, that wee may love thee which so louedst vs, and euermore praise thee that hast bought vs at so deare a price. Reiect not our prayers which we offer to bee presented to thy Fa [...]her, but mercifully helpe vs and heale all our infirmities, encrease our Faith and teach vs obedience, forgiue vs our offences, and hide vs in thy wounds from thy fa [...]hers iust wrath: make good thy [...]romises vnto vs for the world [Page 56] to come and enable vs with thy grace for the performance of all thy Commandements: prosper ô Lord, the workes of our hands, and bring vs safe to the end of this day for thy truth, and for thy names sake.
An Euening Meditation.
An Euening Prayer, for a priuate person.
O Most holy Father, and my most gracious God which giuest vnto all men, the cheerefull light of the day, that in thine assistance they may follow their honest vocations; and likewise sendest the silent nights, that then they my rest their wearied limbs, and busied mindes, and so returne their due thankes for thy goodnesse: I sinfull creature adore and praise thee for the totall summe of all thy mercies, whereof I haue beene this day partaker.
O Lord I am vile, looke not vpon mine vnworthinesse, folly, and wickednesse: but appease thy anger iustly conceiued against me, and forgiue what hath beene amisse in me this day, or at any other [Page 61] time, euen for his sake who is thy well beloued Sonne, and my deare Aduocate.
Roote vp ô Lord, the thornes of mine euill inclination, and affections, and in their places make the fruits of vertue to spring: inflame my heart with the desire of heauenly loue, that I may loue obedience to thy Gommandements with zeale as hot as fire, louing thee aboue all things, and my neighbour as my selfe.
Giue me grace ô Lord, to serue thee in true faith, feare, and holinesse, all the dayes of my life, and to ouercome my mortall enemies, the desires of the world, the pleasures of the flesh, and the suggestious of the wicked Spirit, remembring my promise made to thee in Baptisme, for the performance whereof I depend onely vpon thy holy Spirit.
O God of glorious light, let thine Angels pitch their tents round about this house, for our [Page 62] defence now in the time of this darkenesse, and grant that this nights sleepe may bee quiet vnto mee without griefe or trouble, preserue me and mine both in body and soule from all dangers, and offences, which may come either by foolish dreames, noysome spirits, or vncleannesse of corrupt nature; waken me againe, ô Lord, in due time, and let me behold the light of the next day to my comfort, prepare my heart and minde to thy seruice euery day in all trueth and sinceritie, that when I haue runne the race of this life, thou mayest please to call mee to be partaker of a better. Comfort mee, ô Lord, in all those things wherein I haue beene any wayes dismayed this day: take not thy holy spirit from me, but continue the motions thereof in my heart, that when as the tempter shal [...] come with his assaults, I may bee furnished with the shield o [...] faith to quench his fiery darts.
[Page 63] Confirme my weakenesse, and grant that this nights sleepe may be sweet and healthfull for my body, and a profitable memoriall of that sleepe which at my last end, in that great night, shall make a separation betweene my body and soule.
Let alwayes thine vnspeakeable mercies preserue mee, thy endlesse sweetnesse reioyce mee, thy heauenly trueth strengthen mee, thy knowledge embolden mee, and thy goodnesse keepe me now and for euermore from mine enemies visible and inuisible, that I may awake in the morning in perfect sense and good health, and for the same bee thankefull vnto thee, and carefully betake mee to my vocation and calling for Iesus Christs sake, my onely Sauiour.
Another for the Euening.
MOst glorious and sacred Trinitie, the most mighty God, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Spirit, which art the authour and originall of all things, both in heauen and in earth, and that hast appointed vnto euery thing his end and way in this life. The eyes of all things are towards thee to finish in their courses that obedience they owe vnto thee. The Sunne, the Moone, the Starres in most constant order extend their light & heate to the comforting, not onely of fowles and beasts, but specially to the direction of man, how to know thee and walke in thy wayes, as being the bookes and characters wherein wee may reade thy power, wisedome, and incomprehensible glory, for their sound and language (as a Harold) is gone foorth to proclaime vnto the Nations, both Pagan & Christian, [Page 65] that thou art the Lord God Almighty, and most worthy to be praised, as in the Morning, so in the Euening also.
Therefore knowing the great dependancy, that all things caelestiall and terrestriall haue on thee, I doe humbly intreate thee to take mee into thy custody this night: knowing that if a Sparrow cannot with safetie fall to the ground but by thee, that without thee so great refreshing of sleepe cannot be attained vnlesse I begge it of thee, many are the visions of the night, as idle dreames and fancies, that would interrupt my sleepe, if thou Lord by thy gracious power and presence of thy good Spirit driue them not away. And Sathan would (like Abi [...]hai [...]nto Saul) in his sleepe, with fearefull darts of despaire, strike [...] dead at once, (as Jacl did Sise [...]) vnto eternall death, in soule [...] body.
Therefore vnto thee the keeper [Page 66] of Israel, that neither slumberest nor sleepest, by night, nor by day, doe I come beseeching thee, that laying my selfe to rest in thee, I may in the acustomed time which thou hast appointed, wake again: but if thou pleasest that this night shall bee my last, and that this mortall, shall bee swallowed vppe in immortallity. O Lord grant though I die in body, yet I may awake in soule, and liue with thee for euermore; and that my body so sleeping, yet againe may awake at the resurrection of the iust, and with those that shall not sleepe, bee caught vp, with soule vnited by the same power, by which thou (ô Sauiour) didst at once rise from death to life, euen as that life which thou hadst with the father, before the world was. And as thou art one with him, so grant that after my last sleepe, I may be one with thee in the presence of the Father, and the holy Ghost for euermore.
[Page 67] But (ô Lord) if thou please to raise me vp againe, to spend more dayes in this vale of teares, grant that I may liue honestly in the workes of my vocation, which thou hast ordained me to liue in, or liue by. Grant that I may set thee before mine eyes, day and night, and behold thee alwayes in my presence; that when I am tempted to any eueill, in the work of my calling, or any other wayes: I may not bee tickled with the profit or pleasures therein obiected, and so prouoked to sinne against thee. Keepe my tongue from lying, lest thereby I become the child of Sathan, for hee is a lyer, and the Father of lyes from the beginning; keepe my tongue from swearing, and that I may not take thy name in vaine: empty my heart of couetousnesse, of pride, of vaine-glory, and let mee not respect worldly vanitie, let me not be selfe-conceited: but, ô Lord, giue mee to bee of humble, [Page 68] gentle, harmelesse and courteous disposition and behauiour, both in my words and deeds, to my superiours and inferiours.
O Lord giue me to be of a charitable nature, and of a pittifull affection, toward all men in generall, but especially towards all those that are (of the houshold of Faith, of broken and contrite hearts, which thou Lord hast promised, that thou wilt not despise. Grant ô heauenly Father, that Christ both sleeping and waking, in this life, and after this life may be to me aduantage. O let me not fall into a custome or habite of sinning, lest therewith my heart become hardened, that I cannot repent, but giue mee such a conscience of sinne, that I may neuer commit sin either great or small, but my heart may affright, terrific, and amaze m [...] (as it did Dauid) when he cut off the lap of Saule [...] garment.
And when I haue sinned, let thy [Page 69] louing countenance shine vpon me, (as it did vpon Peter, when hee had denied thee) that I may poure forth a fountaine of teares.
And in bed if I happen to awake at midnight, giue mee thy holy Spirit, that with sobs, sighes, and groanes, in the secret closet of my heart, I may cast vp loude cryes vnto thee, not onely for my sinnes past, in the darke night of my childhood and youth, while I knew not thee, but euen now, since I came to some groath and manhood in Christ, I haue broken all thy Commandements, thy Lawes, thy Statutes, thine Ordinances; not in ignorance, but in knowledge: for which I haue neede againe to pray vnto thee. Wherefore Lord forgiue mee, forgiue mee for thy Christ his sake.
O my Loue, my Doue (the blessed and powerfull Sauiour of my soule) thou knowest that I haue sought after thee, euer since I [Page 70] knew thee, by night in my bedde haue I sought thee whom my soule loueth. O my Sauiour, since thou hast first drawne mee with the cordes of thy loue, let the strength thereof hold mee so fast, that I may for euer abide constant, in the like loue to thee againe; Thou hast promised, that him thou once louedst, that thou wilt loue him vnto the end. Good God in thy loue keepe mee this night in soule and body: and not onely mee in mine owne person, but all that belong vnto mee, for the loue of thy onely Sonne Iesus, to whom with the Father, and the holy Ghost, be all honour and glory by mee and all thine, this night & for euermore, world without end.
An Inuocation to God, humbly praying for remission of sinnes.
An Euening prayer to be said with a whole Family.
O Most blessed Sauiour, b [...] whose merits alone, the [...] is graunted vnto vs this prese [...] libertie, to approach vnto the F [...] ther, and in thy name, after th [...] [Page 75] end of our labours this day accomplished: by which through thy goodnesse wee haue profited our selues, and furthered the continuāce of humane society, which by no meanes could continue, if wee did not seriously apply our selues in the workes of our vocation, in which thou hast ordained, that euery man should liue, not onely to his present necessity, but vnto the furthering of the welfare of our children and alliance, which accordingly wee haue this day done, so farre foorth as the approaching [...]ight would suffer, and as our fraile bodies, soone spent and tired with the cares and labours of this world would giue vs leaue.
And seeing thou hast ordained the night for man, by sleepe to refresh himselfe; Lord we intreate thee to giue vnto our bodies, such rest and sleepe this night, that the day following, wee may be raised strong in minde, and body, to goe [Page 76] on, in our seuerall labours, honest businesse, and employments, in moderation, wisedome, and discretion, as may bee most to thy glory, and to the honour of thy great name.
O Lord wee beseech thee, let not our sinnes, of which wee bee many wayes guilty: cause thee to remooue away our sleepe from vs, nor frustrate this dayes endeauours: let no blasting or mildewe, or any the euill that walketh in the darkenesse hurt the fruite of our labours. Let no sons of Belial, when we are in our fast sleepe, come in vpon vs, to spoyle without, nor steale within, that which thou through our honest endeauours, or the gift of our parents, hast blessed vs withall for as the beastes of the forre [...] which are of sauage nature, hunt after the prey: so wicked me [...] that aske not their bread of thee, doe in the night by violent hands, robbe and spoyle thy people.
[Page 77] O Lord, we know not, but that for the wickednesse of our hearts, hands, and liues, by which wee haue this day offended thee, iniured and oppressed others, but that thou mightest (as on Iobs children) suffer the deuill, by his instigation of wicked men, to robbe and spoyle vs, not onely of our goods and cattell, and other our personall estates, but also of our liues. But (ô our good God) wee are confident that through thy mercy and loue in Christ, no euill shall come vnto vs, for thou hast promised, that thou wilt bee a refuge and fortresse, to keepe safe all those that trust in thee: not onely from the arrow of the day, but from the terror of the night, which thou at thy will and pleasure sendest for the punishmēt and correction of our sinnes (as thou [...]iddest Shem [...]i with his rayling [...]ongue to a [...]ict Dauid. O Lord, for the w [...]rthinesse of thy Sonne our Sauiour, in whom onely wee [Page 78] lay down our bodies to rest, turne backe this night, and at all other times of our sleepe, all the euill and wicked purposes of those that intend vs any hurt in our bodies or goods; and send thy holy Angels to protect vs with their hands, as they did thee our Sauiour against the prince of darkenesse, when he had ended on thee his three temptations in the wildernesse. And as they fought against the Assirans hoaste, that proudely boasted themselues against thy seruant Hezekiah: (So ô Lord) let thine Angels fight against all our enemies, and the enemies of thy church, not of flesh, but of Spirit, which resolue our hurt, whether walking in the day, or sleeping in the night. And though our sinnes, in which wee so much abound, haue deserued that thou shouldest send those ministring Spirits, as on Egypts first borne in the night, to take away this our dying life, or life full of [Page 79] death: yet for thy mercies sake let them be our gardians, not ouely this night, but all the dayes and nights of this life, for euer to further our soules and bodies, in thy obedience; and in, and after death to conduct them to Abrahams bosome, to rest in ioy and blisse with thee for euermore; yea let thine Angels of light, that continually behold thy face in heauen, bee about our bodies night and day, and with louing and kind assistance, keeping euill from vs, and vs from euill: not onely of sinne, but of temptation, with which that worldly Gouernour, and Prince of the Ayre neuer cea [...]eth millions of wayes to withdraw vs from thee: if he cannot through couetousnesse (as Iudas,) [...]or through the world (as De [...]as and Achan,) yet through pleasure, (as into our first mother, Eue, Dauid, Solomon, Sampson) hee will a thousand to one, craftely enter, and seate himselfe in our [Page 80] hearts. O Lord, if by thy holy Spirit, we happen to be so strong as by none of these baites to bee caught, then hee laboureth by temporall crosses, and afflictions of body and minde, (as on Iob) to draw vs to distrust and dispaire in thy mercie and loue, in all which assaults let thy grace, and our faith keepe vs, that we may not bee ouercome, but as valiant souldiers in Christ, and through the Armory of God, in which by our holy calling we are girt, we may leade captiuitie captiue, and bee more then Conquerours through him that loueth vs. So that neither the feares of the day, nor the terrours of the night, of death, and hell, should separate vs from the assured guard of thee, and thy Angels, the conductors and furtherers of our saluation. This thy great helpe, and especiall assistance, wee are continually enforced to craue, not for our owne sakes: but for thy Sonne his sake, [Page 81] and that as hee himselfe hath taught vs in his most holy word, saving, Our Father which art in heauen, &c.
To the Lord of Hoastes and God of glory, our Creatour: to thee ô Christ Iesus our Mediator, thee most holy Spirit proceeding from the Father, and the Sonne, bee ascribed all praise and glory this night and for euermore.
Another for the Euening.
O Eternall God, and most mercifull Father, wee acknowledge and confesse against our selues, that our hearts and hands are full of all filthinesse and sinnes whatsoeuer, and we are altogether vnworthy to speake vnto thee, or to come neere thy presence: Neuertheles being so much boūd vnto thee, as this day past and all other times of our liues doe witnesse: [Page 82] we most humbly offer vnto thy holinesse (by the hands of Iesus Christ our Mediatour) our humble duties of praise & thanksgiuing for our Creation, Election, Redemption, Vocation, and Sanctification, with all other good graces appertaining to this life, or that which is to come.
And namely, ô Lord, our tongues, and lippes shall glorifie thee, sitting aboue the Cherubims, for preseruing vs this day past, from so many miseries, and casualties whereunto wee might iustly haue fallen, if thou wouldest haue entered into iudgement with vs: but Lord, thou art mercifull, and passest by our manifold offences, to winne vs by thy long sufferance: we beseech thee make vs thankefull for thy mercies and carefull to doethy will.
O Lord, pardon and forgiue v [...] all our sinnes, and grant vs euery day more and more the sight o [...] them, true, vnfained sorrow, an [...] [Page 83] repentance for the same. Giue vs faith and grace to beleeue all the sweete promises that thou hast made to vs in Christ Iesus, both for the remission of our sins, and the hope of a better life, strengthē vs from aboue with thy mighty hand to walke in euery good way; and to bring forth the fruits of a true & liuely faith in our liues and conuersation all the daies of our pilgrimage here. Arme vs, ô Lord, with thy grace and holy Spirit against all the corruptions of the world, the temptations of the deuill, & the allurements of the flesh, and settle our mindes to the continuall exercise of deuout prayer, with the hearing of thy sacred word, watching for thy comming both publicke and priuate.
Continue thy goodnes towards vs in prouiding for vs such things as are necessary for the maintenance of this present life, & blesse the same vnder our hands, that the little which wee haue by thy [Page 84] goodnesse may be encreased, and the encrease may serue as well to furnish our necessary vses, as to minister vnto the necessitie of others, according to our abilities. Keepe vs Lord this night from all euils, which may happen either to our bodies or soules: Extend thy goodnesse towards all those that depend vpon vs, or wee on them. Giue vs quiet sleepe and rest, and when we shall awake, let all our thoughts and cogitations be holy meditations on thee and thy law. Blesse vs, ô Lord, all the nights and dayes of our liues, and at the end thereof, send vs a blessed departure, and afterward a ioyfull resurrection vnto life eternall, grant vs these good things most mercifull Father, and all other needefull graces for Iesus Christ his sake, in whose name wee further call vpon thee as our Lord and Sauiour hath taught vs in his Gospell, saying. Our Father which are in heauen, &c.
A godly Meditation, wherein the distressed sheweth his vnfained griefe and sorrow, for hauing offended so powerfull a God, and so-mercifull and gracious a Father
An Euening Meditation.
O Most deare Lord Iesus, to whose euerlasting goodnes wee are daily engaged for all the good things we haue, which hast granted the cheerefull light of the day vnto all men, both good and bad, to follow their affaires and seuerall employments in: and mercifully giuest the sweete stilnesse of the night, to refresh their wearred bodies, and to put away the cares of their mindes, and to [Page] asswage their sorrowes wee [...]seech thee that those things [...]haue done amisse this day [...]our common imbecillit [...]gence, ignorance, or [...]g [...]rash and vnaduised presumpti [...] [...]wherein we haue offended [...]cred eyes, they may be pa [...] and forgiuen for thy [...]goodnesse sake, and according [...]the innumerable multitude [...]mercies. And grant herewithall that this night may be blessed and prosperous vnto vs, safe by thy protection ouer vs, and free from the dangerous illusions of wicked spirits: so as this refreshment by quiet rest and sleepe may make both our bodies and mindes more cheerefull to morow, and we the more enabled to doe thee seruice, and faithfully to follow those employments thou hast appointed for vs, blesse vs ô Lord, and water vs with the dew of thy blessings, and let the drops of thy Sonnes blood, shed for our sinnes, and yet [Page 92] crying for mercy, distill into my heart by a liuely Faith for the comfort of our soules, and the amendment of our sinfull liues, wee beseech thee, ô Lord, take from vs all manner of darkenesse, misbeleefe, infidelitie, carnall lustes and affections, and so strengthen vs with thy grace, that the Barke, of our weake Faith sinke not through the stormes of Sathans temptations: nor our hopes be ouer whelmed through the weight of our vnworthinesse, n [...]r any of thy good graces in vs extinguished or blemished by the waues of a wicked conuersation. Enter thy Iudgements into the tables of our hearts, that wee may bee content to spare of our ordinanary sleepe, to muse of all thy Cōmand [...]ments, and that wee may bee more earnest vpon the meditation of thy sacred word, then the Kings of the Nations haue beene to turne ouer their Records in the night season.
[Page 93] Be mindfull of vs when wel appen to forget our selues, and think vpon vs, ô Lord, sleeping and waking. Keepe vs, O Lord, this night present, euen vs, and ours, that we bee neither disquieted by dreames, nor surprised by any sudden violence, nor affrighted by any terrour: but graunt vs this fredome & libertie, that wee may lye downe in peace and rest, and rise vp againe in due time, safely; to the honour and glory of thy name, and the managing of our worldly businesse in thy feare, through Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour,
Amen.
A Prayer for Faith.
O Lord our God, thou hast re [...]ea [...]ed in thy word, that the iust should liue by Faith, and that without [...]aith it is impossible to please thee, and although a [...] [Page 94] not faith, yet as many as are ordained to eternall life, by thy power and gift doe truely beleeue. O Lord, I doe beleeue, encrease my faith, and helpe my vnbeliefe; and grant that through hearing & reading of thy Word, I may grow stronge in this grace, and encrease from faith to faith. And open my heart, O Lord, as thou didst Lydias, that I may beleeue the Word to be thy Word, and thy promises therein contained, to be giuen not vnto others but vnto me: And that when thy word saith, Beleeue and yee shall be saued, my heart may presently answer thee, Command or say what thou wilt, I beleeue Lord, not historically, but sincerely from the bottome of my heart, Lord helpe my vnbe [...]eefe. And, O heauenly Father, grant for thy Sonne, my Saviours sake, that when stormes of temptations shall fall vpon me, as on Peter on the water, yet beyond his example, hauing thy Word [Page 95] to support me, I may beleeue in thee; and though with the eyes of my flesh, I see no hope, but that my faith may frustrate mee; yet like Peter I may not sinke, but seeke for further helpe from thee: and being assured that euery word of promise is most certaine, let me still, aboue hope, and beyond hope, beleeue in thee: yea, and though with holy Iob thou kill my body, yet will I trust in thee, for I know thou wilt saue my spirit and vnite them againe, in the day of the Lord.
Sweet Sauiour, whensoeuer I shall bee stung with the remembrance of my present, or passed sinnes, graunt I may like the faithfull [...]sraelites in the wildernesse, looke vnto the pillar of thy Crosse on which thou suff [...]redst death for my sinnes, and through the vertue thereof apprehended by faith (like the diseased Woman in her bloudy issue, and perishing griefe,) with one glance and [Page 96] touch of sincere and iustifying Faith, be suppled, comforted, and cured, of my troubled spirit and wounded conscience: O heauenly Father grant that the oyle of Faith in mee, may neuer thorow temptation bee weakened, much lesse vtterly decayed; but as the oyle in the widowes Cruse, through thy blessing, bee more and more encreased: this graunt for the honour of Iesus Christ my Lord and Sauiour.
Amen.
A Prayer for the Remission of sinnes,
O Lord God in greatnesse infinite, in power omnipotent, in Counsell wonderfull, and in Iudgement t [...]rrible, Although [...] miserable sinner, haue by thy iustice truely deserued everlasting damnation for my horrible sinnes, yet I bese [...]ch thee cast mee not away with th [...]m that haue not [Page 97] knowne thee, or such as forget God, or such as runne on in their wickednesse and neuer say what haue I done; for I appeale from thy rightfull iustice, to thine vnspeakable mercy, and humbly cast downe my selfe, at thy feete, and confesse my sins, bese [...]ching and begging compassion and pardon: behold, O Lord, I am a piece of that purchase that cost so great a price, as the bloud of thy deare Sonne, my body and soule are the Temples of the holy Ghost, the postes whereof are sprinkled with his most precious bloud, which cryeth for mercy: And therfore enter not into the course of iudgement with me (for there I know I shall bee ouerthrowne) but forbeare mee, forgiue mee, and acquit me vpon that satisfaction which he hath made for penitent sinners. O Lord, though the stipend of my sinne be death, and the merit of my transgression, eternal [Page 98] perdition, yet is thy mercy aboue all thy iudgements, and thou canst forgiue more then I can offend; Wherefore I pray thee set thy deare Sonnes Crosse and Passion betwixt thy iudgements and my soule: Looke vpon me with the eye of mercy and compassion, as thou didst vpon the sinnefull Woman at the banquet, and the Publican in the Temple, whole pardons are registred in thy Booke for my Comfort. O Lord bow downe the height of the Deitie, to behold my vilenesse and misery (a liuely image of the prodigall Sonne) who knew no other helpe but onely thee my most loving Father, whom I haue so highly offended; powre the oyle of mercy into my defiled and fainting heart; search it that I may not flatter my selfe to extenuate my sinne, cleanse it, and season it with the oyle of thy grace, to receive and retaine all goodnesse heereafter. Lord, I thanke thee [Page 99] for thy patience, and long suffering, that thou hast not suddenly (after my desert) taken vengeance on mee, but giuen mee a longer time of repentance: wherfore I beseech thee appease thine anger towards mee now, loose in me the workes of darkenesse, create in me a newe heart, and because thou expectest my amendement, that I may haue thy fauour; I beseech thee graunt mee thy fauour, that I may amend: giue me grace to rep [...]nt vnfainedly with fasting, weeping, and mourning, and make my faith liuely to beleeue that I am forgiuen in Iesus Christ.
Let not the faults of my Forefathers light vpon my head, who haue walked in their sinnefull steps, neither be angry with mee for their sakes; but let the weldoing of Iesus Christ, who hath shed his bloud for me, succour me and procure my pardon, for giue all my sinnes of youth and age, [Page 100] negligences and ignorances, thoughts, words, and deedes, and keepe mee from presumptuous sinnes.
O Lord, looke not vpon the Pharisie, for he dissembleth, nor vpon the Publican first, for hee sayeth little for himselfe in outward shew, nor vpon Mary Magdalen onely, for she had but seuen deuills; but looke vpon me, that of sinners am chiefe, worse then either Pharisie, Publicane, or Marie, who haue as many sinnes as haires vpon my head, and a greater clogge vpon my Conscience, then any burthen that man hath to beare, and doe therefore openly, earnestly, vnfainedly and continually call vpon thee. O Lord keepe vnder Satan that hee compell not my conscience to dispaire, quench all the euill motions of my minde, striuing against thy diuine pleasure, and restore in me the Image of thy Sonne, that I may liue in thy feare, dye [Page 101] in thy fauour, rest in thy peace, rise in thy power, and remaine in thy glory, for Iesus Christ his sake, our onely Lord and Sauiour.
Amen.
In this Meditation, the distressed humbly confesseth his sinnes, and the vanities of his former times, lewdly mispent; and resolueth (and exhorteth all others) to returne vnto God with speedy, true and vnfained repentance.
A Prayer for the forgiuenesse of Sinnes.
ETernall God and louing Sauiour, before thy Baptisme, thou didst send Iohn the Baptist to preach remission of sins, through repentance and faith in thy name: And after thou wert Baptized, and entered into thy Ministrie, thou that didst exhort all that were weary, and laden with their sinnes, to come vnto thee, saying, that thou cammest to call sinners to repentance, and that the whole had no need of the Phisitian, but the sicke. Wherefore, o Lord, being deadly sicke, with the sence of my sinnes, and with the Samaritane wounded vnto death: I entreate thee in the teares of a sorrowfull heart, to wash me, not onely my hands, feete, and head, but also my heart from sinne. O Lord powre into my wounds the oyle of mercy, that it may pacifie [Page 104] and quiet my minde in thee. O Lord wash me with the bloud of thy Sonne, as with Hysop, for I haue with the Prodigall sonne, and Lost sheepe erred in the vanitie of my minde. But, ô Lord, as Philip found Nathaniel, when hee looked not for him; So by true repentance, and hearty confession, let me be found of thee, and in thee, now seeking after thee. O Lord I thirst after thee, and for thee, wherefore send thy holy Spirit into mee, to mollifie and comfort my hard and vnrepentant heart.
O Lord, it cannot by nature, enter into my minde, that I am so wretched a sinner, but by thy word as vnto Nichodemus, thou hast made me to see, that except by true repentance I be regenerat, and so, as it were, borne againe, I cannot enter into the Kingdome of heauen; that is, possibly be saued. But, ô Lord, thou hast made me to know sinne, and how sinne [Page 105] became sinne, by the reuerent vse of thy word, for though there be sinne in vs, before the knowledge of thy Law, yet sinne without thy Law was not imputed: but thou hast giuen vs Christians, this thy law as a touchstone, to know sin, and that sinne is the transgression of the Law, for if there were no Law, there would be no transgression, wherefore thy Law which was ordained vnto me vnto life, by the search thereof, hath slaine mee vnto death, and made me immeasurably sinfull, for by the Law, thou hast made mee to know sinne, which by no other meanes I could know, or should euer haue found out, for how should I haue knowne lust to be sinne, if thou hadst not said I should not lust. Wherefore, O Lord, seeing it is so with me, that I doe the euill which I would not, and leaue vndone the good that I would, binde this strong man in mee, that though Sinne [Page 106] dwell in mee, yet hee may not raigne ouer or rule in mee, yea mortifie the wicked deeds of my flesh, by thy holy word, and mighty operation of thy spirit. O grant that by the dying of the Lord Iesus, sinne in all his kindes and force, may be subdued, and dye in me: lest that thereby I be made to come short of thy glory, which thou hast promised to all repentant sinners.
Good God grant, that I may not yeeld my members, seruants vnto sinnes, but reserue them seruants vnto thee, in true righteousnesse and holinesse, all the dayes I haue to liue in this life. O Lord, as Ammon hated his sister Tamar, after hee had abused her with himselfe, and himselfe with her, so that hee could not abide [...]ere, (nor (well might) himselfe) by reason of himselfe: giue mee grace, I may hate sinne, not onely after, but before it is committed with no lesse indignation then [Page 107] they did each other, and thou them both. O Lord let the old man that is in me, be so crucified with Christ in the power of his death, that I may henceforth be no more seruant vnto sinne, for that thou hast said, that a carnall man liuing in sinne, cannot please thee. O Lord giue me thy spirit that I may hate the things of the flesh, which are nothing but san against thee, and loue the things of thy spirit, as ioy in the holy Ghost, peace of conscience, longsuffering, patience in bearing, and forbearing wrongs, with faith and the like graces and fruits of thy most holy spirit. O Lord, seeing I haue, to the subduing of sin, desired the gift of thy holy spirit, let mee be carefull, by the vse of all holy meanes, to walke in the spirit. And seeing thou hast condemned sinne, in him that knew no sinne, for my sake, O Lord condemne it not in me againe; and as the first birth is nothing but [Page 108] sinfull Adam, Lord graunt that by this my second birth, I may be a continuall liuing spirituall man in Christ: thus hauing confessed my sinnes with hearty sorrow, I beseech thee, for my Sauiour his sake, to forgiue me my sinne, and to strengthen mee all the dayes of my life to come, that with the man in the Gospell I may follow thy heauenly counsell and sinne no more, neither in action, affection, nor intention, lest this my confession and contrition should be in vaine, which, O Lord forbid, for thy Christ his sake.
The Repentant complaineth of the grieuousnesse of his sinnes, and desireth mercie and pardon, and to be deliuered from Sinne, and the guilt and punishment thereof.
A prayer to be said on a Sunday morning, for the right sanctifying of the Sabbath.
O Lord of Sabbath, that in the beginning after the finishing of the sixe dayes workes, in which by thy most mightie word, thou didst create the heauen and the earth, and produce all [Page 111] this wonderfull variety of things which wee perceiue euery day most admirably to be made, not onely in the sensible, but also in all insensible liuing things: of all which workes, thou hast caused man, chiefely to excell, hauing in him most curiously epitomised all the glory of this earthly fabrick, and for all this thy great goodnesse, thou hast done vnto him, hast onely required of him, that he in the contemplation of these created things, not only without, but within himselfe, might finde out thee, a louing Father and Creatour; and doe vnto thee that high homage, that thou hast commanded on this day, not as slaues, and seruants, but as sonnes filled with all duty & obedience, which that wee might doe, thou hast charged vs, on the seuenth day to remember our Creatour, not onely by refraining our seruile labour, which in the sixe dayes thou hast appointed vs, but by [Page 112] leauing the wicked workes of darknesse, vnto which we are by nature, and wicked desires, so much addicted. O Lord graunt that I may sequester my selfe, this day vnto thy praise, not onely in thy holy Congregation, but in the secret cogitations of my heart. And graunt that euery word, or thing that I shall this day, heare with my eares, or see with my eyes, may be so digested in my soule, as fit subiects, out of which I may bee occasioned to magnifie thy praise and glory.
O heauenly Father, graunt that all those Sabbath dayes which haue passed in my youth and manhood, while I knew thee not, may be now recalled, by double diligence, in the deuout hearing of thy Word, receiuing of the Sacraments, and calling vpon thy name, which on this day thou hast for euer commanded to bee done vnto thee in thy Church and holy Congregation.
[Page 113] And, O Lord, let my heart depart, edified in thy most holy feare, not for the present while I am hearing, but for euer while I shall liue, and let some part of thy holy Word, which I shall heare expounded this day, abide in me, that at all times, when I shall haue occasion, or be called thereunto, I may bee fitted and furnished, to giue a full account, and reason, of the hope I haue in thee. O Lord, thy Apostles haue called this day, not now the seuenth day from the Creation, but the first day, and the Lords day, putting vs in mind of that high and admirable benefit of our Redemption, as on this day accomplished by his glorious resurrection, for the which wee can neuer rēder too much thanks, neither publick nor priuate.
O Lord, make my heart like the good ground, mentioned in the Parable, that when it had receiued good seede, it brought forth, thirty, sixty, and an hundreth [Page 114] fold: so most sweet Sauiour graunt, that I may haue thy Word so deepely rooted, by the power of thy holy spirit, this day sent downe into my heart, that I may bring it forth in an hundreth fold, thy power in my saluation. And let it abide this day and euer in my soule, the most sweet sauour of life vnto life: O Lord driue from mee all impediments, arising from the thoughts of the world, the flesh and the deuill, by which Sathan laboureth, to frustrate in me, the sauing hearing of thy Word: and make me to heare thy precious Word with all reuerence and humility, not as the word of man, but as it is indeede the word of God.
And seeing thou hast said, not the hearers of the law, but the doers of the law are iustified: O Lord make me a doer of the law. And as thou hast againe said, Blessed are yee, if ye doe these things. Wherefore Lord that I may bee [Page 115] capable of thy blessing, graunt that this day, when I haue heard, I may doe the things, and (as thy blessed Mother) pondered all thy sayings, and layd them vp in her heart, to remember them. O sweet Sauiour, helpe me this day and other dayes and times, so often as I shall heare thy word, or reade the same, that my memory may be so quicke and fresh, that I may retaine and remember all, that shal most especially concerne me: and not to be filled with idle knowledge, but with constant doing, that I may be accepted among those builders, that set their house vpon the rocke, most blessed Lord let me not be so simple, as to thinke my selfe blessed, by bare looking into thy law, by an outward conformity, in comming to thy Church to heare, lest in so doing, I become as a forgetfull hearer, that offers to thee a sacrifice of fooles, and so in sanctifying this thy Sabaoth so idely, [Page 116] thou cast mee out among the hypocrites, the chiefe profaners of the Sabbath in the burning lake, and vnquenchable fire.
O Lord, let no wicked temptation of sathan, or of my flesh, enter into my minde in the hearing of thy Word, to make it vnsauourie, or bitter vnto my soule, but let it be this day and euer, more sweet vnto my soule, then honey vnto my lips.
O Lord, let it be in some measure, my meate and drinke to doe thy will; and graunt that I may this day, learne so much thereof, that I may become wiser then my Teachers, or those that regard not to keepe thy law, graunt all these my requests, most louing Lord, both to mee and all thine, this day and for euermore.
A Prayer for godly zeale.
O Lord, knowing that zeale doth sauour our knowledge, [Page 117] sweeten our vnderstanding, confirme our faith, and make acceptable all our sacrifices and seruices vnto thee; and being a most excellent and perfect gift that commeth from thee, the Father of gifts, and how all thy seruants, Moses, Iosuah, Phineas, Sampson, Dauid, S. Paul, and Stephen, and all the rest of the Prophets and holy Martyrs, both ancient and late haue abounded herein. I doe prostrate and cast downe my selfe, before thy most high Maiestie: beseeching thee to giue mee this coale from thine Altar, that I may delight my soule to be talking, and singing thy continuall praise, and inflame my spirit, (like the men that trauailed to Emmaus) to be astonied in admiration and contemplation of thy exceeding loue. O God my Sauiour, let not my zeale be headie, preposterous, or ignorant zeale, that there with I may neither offend thee, disquiet thy Church, or afflict my selfe, as [Page 118] the Scribes and Pharisees in Ierusalem, and the Israelites in the absence of Moses, at mount Sinah: or as Saul in his Pharisaicall deuotion, giue me not knowledge without zeale, nor zeale without knowledge, and that all my vnderstanding in thy Word, may euermore bee mixed with true zeale: O let not my zeale be aboue knowledge, lest while I thinke to serue thee in the breath of charity, by the distemper thereof, I bee inforced to dishonour and blaspheme thee, as the blinde Heathen, ignorant Papists, or vndiscreete Protestants at this day doe. Graunt this, O Lord, for the honour of my Aduocate and Mediatour Iesus Christ.
Amen.
A feruent Prayer vnto God, that the repentant may finde fauour in Christ.
A Prayer for the obtaining of Faith, Hope, and Charity, and all Christian vertues.
O Lord, and Father of lights, from whom proceedeth euery good and perfect gift: I beseech thee to blesse mee with all spirituall blessings in heauenly things in Christ. Increase the little graine of my weake and feeble Faith, direct it to the true obiect, the merits of Christ Iesus, and let it not be bare and bad, but effectually working by loue. Make me strong therein, and constant to giue credit to thy Word without doubting, and protect mee among the diuers and manifold errors, sects, and heresies of this world that fight against the foundation. Lord let me not be disappointed of my hope which I haue in thee: but make good thy promises vnto mee, and so worke in [Page 123] my heart, that I may haue courage in conflict, patience in trouble, and comfort in all things. Keepe mee from insolencie and pride, and graunt mee true humility, and lowlinesse of minde, that I bee not puffed vp to contemne my brethren, but giue mee that due consideration of my owne vilenesse, and infirmities, that as dust and ashes I may tremble, and stand in awe of thy Iudgements, and as a sinfull man, esteeme better of others then my selfe. O deare Father, when Sathan shall accuse mee, my owne conscience beare witnesse against mee, the whole world forsake mee, and all things set themselues against mee for my sinnes; then strengthen mee in thy Faith, that I fall not from thee: inflame my cold heart with the vnfained affection of heauenly loue, that I may loue thee (O blessed Trinity) withall that I haue, aboue all, & my neighbour as my selfe.
[Page 124] Graunt me a compassionate and a charitable minde, to helpe and succour others to my ability, to forbeare and forgiue them though they bee mine enemies. Inflame me with loue and charity towards all men, to forgiue and forget, to doe good, to pray for them, that I may follow the steps of my Sauiour: open the eyes of my vnderstanding, and helpe me to examine my selfe, concerning my knowledge, faith, and repentance: send me the hunger and thirst after righteousnesse, and make mee verily and fully partaker of all the benefits of that bitter passion of my Lord & Sauiour Iesus Christ, To whom with thee and thy most holy Spirit, be all honour and glory, this day and for euermore.
The sighes and meditations of an afflicted conscience.
O Most mercifull God, which by the sending of thy Sonne [Page 125] into the world, hast brought to passe, that where sinne abounded, there grace abounded much more, I forlorne wretch disquieted in minde and afflicted in conscience, for feare of thy Iudgements vpon my sinne, doe with bended knees and teares vnfained, a most humble Suppliant, begge and craue of thee some succour and reliefe; open, open the gates of thy mercies to the greatnesse of my miseries: my abiect countenance witnesseth my distressed minde. My spirit is sorrowfull, my heart is heauie, my words are stopt with sighes, and my plants watered with teares: to thee I hold vp my hands, to thee I lift vp my heart, to thee [...] pray, requiring thee of mercie, O Lord, what shall I desire of [...]hee, that deserue nothing at thy [...]ands? What can I hope for that [...]m euen heartlesse? Lord, if thou [...]ast said, Shall not my soule be [...]uenged on such a one as this? [Page 126] remember thy promise elsewhere; I will haue mercy on him that could finde no mercy, and let it light vpon me: if Sathan prefume that GOD hath forsaken him, thinke vpon the decree for the seede of the woman, and let the power of thy sonnes passion, defeat all the deuises of the deuill against me.
O Lord heare me speedily: if thou doe not, I shall be helplesse and hopelesse, for my conscience accuseth mee, my memory giues euidence against me, and my reason condemneth me. My spirit is weary of this bondage, and I haue bid my life farewell. My conscience is clogged, when I behold the bloudy wounds of my soule the voyce of ioy and mirth [...] gone from me, I am deepely plu [...] ged in discomfort, I haue neithe [...] worth to appease thy wrath, no patience to endure thine indigna [...] tion. I pray thee therefore sen [...] the comfort of thy holy Spirit i [...] [Page 127] to my heart, and strengthen my faith, that I be not swallowed vp with ouer much heauinesse. O Lord, let thy maiestie appeare in thy mercy, forgiue my sinnes, the vnhappy ground of all this woe, and I am recouered of all mine infirmities. Try not the law with me, lest I come to Iudgement, sanctifie all those good meanes vnto me wherein I seeke reliefe, as prayer, reading, and hearing of thy holy Word: moderate and mittigate my vexation, encrease faith, establish hope, graunt patience, and keepe me from dispaire. Take away this Cup from mee if it be thy will, if not, suffer me not to be tempted aboue my strength, I haue an humbled and contri [...]e heart (O Lord) looke vpon me: I goe mourning all the day long, & am like to him that is at the point [...]o dye. O Lord comfort me, thou [...]hat wilt not breake a bruised [...]eed, spare me, thou that deligh [...]est not in the death of a sinner, reuiue [Page 128] mee, though my heart condemne me, yet good Lord acquite mee, relieue mee, release mee, say vnto my soule, I am thy saluation. Hearken Lord vnto my Prayer, and graunt my requests, for Iesus Christs sake.
The distressed prayeth to be sanctified, and to enioy the renued graces of regeneration.
A Prayer in affliction or aduersity.
MOst mercifull Redeemer, which art alwayes full of compassion, thou art alwayes our preseruer, whether thou sendest vs aduersity or prosperity, for great is thy mercy and compassion, in that thou healest the inward man by outward afflictions, as it were by bitter medicines, and preparest vs to euerlasting ioyes, by temporall troubles. And forasmuch as thou thy selfe hast traced vs out this true way to felicity by thine owne footesteps: graunt that I may patiently and obediently drink this cup, which thou reachest vnto me.
Grieuous indeede are these things vnto my nature, but yet thou hast suffered grienouser things for mee: and I haue deserued farre grieuouser things then these, for I haue deserued hell [Page 132] fire. Notwithstanding, [...]hou knowest the frailtie of mans estate; and therefore like the mercifull Samaritane, thou powrest wine into our wounds, which maketh our vices to smart, but yet thou alayest it with the oyle of thy comfort. If thou think meet to encrease our griefes, encrease thou also the gift of patience, and graunt that these afflictions may turne vs to the amendment of our sinfull deedes: or if thy fatherly louing kindnesse thinke this thy gentle chastisement to be sufficient: let this storme [...]p [...]sse, that although heauinesse endure for a night, a moment, ioy may come in the morning; graunt vnto vs in both respects a reuerent thankfulnesse, as well for amending and reforming thy vnprofitable s [...]ruant by gentlenesse; as also for that thou hast remooued the cup of affliction, or allayed the bitternesse of it, by the sweetnesse of thy mercie. To thee [Page 133] therefore bee thankes and praise for euer.
Meditations vpon the passion of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ.
VVHat man is this, whom I behold all bloudie, bowing down his head for weaknesse towards his shoulders, his body all tormented with s [...]ourges, stripes, & grieous wounds, crowned with a Garland of thornes, pricking and piercing to the braine, and thus fastned to an ignominious Crosse? What heauie or haynous crime hath hee done, to deserue this intollerable and vnspeakeable torment? What Iudge could bee so cruell to sentence him to it? or what remorcelesse or mercilesse Executioners could be found to deale so outragiously with this tender and peerelesse body. Notwithstanding [Page 134] the deformity of these bloudie wounds, yet is this matchlesse body fairer then the Sonnes of men. Surely it is Iesus Christ the Sonne of the liuing God: Oh hee is my Lord and Sauiour Iesus that is thus crucified for my sin, and for my sake. Oh, art thou he that excellest all men in beauty [...] in whose lippes was neuer fou [...] guile, and from whom proceeded such gracious words as neuer man spake? where then is that beauty of thine? where is that grace of thy lippes? Oh, I see it not, I finde it not, fleshly eyes conceiue not so great a mysterie: open thou the eyes of my minde, bring thy diuine light neerer vnto me, and bring mee powerfully and more seriously to behold thee in this thine agony and passion.
I see it is Iesus the Son of God, the vnspotted Lambe, without sinne, without fault, without offence, which tooke my wickednesse vpon him, to the intent that [Page 135] I being set free from sinne, might bee brought againe into Gods fauour, rise againe from my fall: returne home againe from banishment, and attaine the end for which I was created: that which I deserued, he suffered, and that which I could neuer attaine vnto, [...]e giueth.
O my Redeemer, deliuerer, and Sauiour, draw me to thee, that being alwaies mindfull of thy death, trusting alwayes in thy goodnes, and being alwayes thankfull for thy vnspeakeable benefits, I may bee made partaker of so great reward, and not bee seperated from thee, through mine owne vnthankfulnesse: Oh let not thy most humble inuestment of humanity bee in vaine in respect of me, nor thy vnspeakeable (and by thee alone endured) torments be in-effectuall, but valuable and all-sufficient for the eternall saluation of my soule and body: whom thou hast redeemed and sanctified [Page 136] with that thy most glorious and inestimable blood, shed at the time of Passion vpon the Crosse.
2. Oh, I behold thee, crucified for my soule: Oh that thou wouldest also crucifie mee with thee, that I might vtterly die in all carnall affections, and so liue to thee, or rather my sweet Sauiour thou in me, then should I rest perfectly assured (as by faith in thee and thy promises I doe) to liue in thee, and to arise by thee and with thee to life euerlasting: thy flesh is crucified, O Christ: crucifie thou the power of sinne that raigneth in mee: graunt I may put off the old man, and vtterly abollish the whole body of sinne, and be freed from all wickednesse, vnbeliefe, hardnesse of heart, and dominion of all manner sinne and Sathan. Let thy yoke become sweet, and thy burthen lightsome to mee, through thy most grieuous Passion.
3. O most high & mighty singular [Page 137] obedience, where-through thou diddest submit thy selfe to innumerable torments, yea euen to a most grieuous, most bitter and most reproachfull death, because thy heauenly Father (for the Redemption of mankinde) had decreed it so. O splendour and brightnesse of thy Fathers glory, O Sun of righteousnesse, alwayes shining full of grace and glory, shew vs where thou feedest in the heat of the day, and where thou shrowdest thy Sheepe from the colde, and thy little Lambes from the stormes of thy Fathers burning wrath and fearefull indignation: Oh that wee might bee transformed into that liuely and sensible Image of thy Passion, that wee might alwayes dwell in thee, and thou in our hearts by faith, rooted, and grounded in charity, so as wee might with all thy holy ones, comprehend the length, bredth, height, & [...]eepnes of thine agony & bitter passion.
[Page 138] 4. I see a wonderfull kinde of loue, thy highnesse boweth down the head, that wee might be certainely assured that thou wilt graciously heare vs and helpe vs, thou offerest the kisse of reconciliation and attonement, yea and that of thine owne accord, being the party grieued and wronged, vnto vs that haue done the wrong. Thou reachest out thine armes to embrace vs: thou stretchest out thy bored hands to giue vs all things abundantly without holding any thing back: thy side is open to thine heart to receiue vs in thither, if wee will enter in at the open dore, thy feete are fast nailed to the intent, that wee may know thou wilt neuer depart from vs, if wee depart not from thee. O Father and Lord of ours, thou seest the hardnesse of our heart, and much rather the dulnesse of it. It is not enough for vs to bee allured and called so gently, so sweetly, and [Page 139] so louingly; but thou must bee faigne euen to draw vs, pull vs, and violently hale vs vnto thee: create new and obedient hearts in vs, for this wee haue is more vngentle then the cursed Iewes, and more hard then the stones that cloue in compassion of thine innocent and yet most cruell Passion.
5. O Lord Iesus Christ, the euerlasting sweetnesse, and triumph of them that loue thee, exceeding all ioy and all longing, thou sauer and louer of repentant sinners, which doest acknowledge thy delight to be among the children of men, and therefore in the end of times becammest man for mans sake: Remember all the sorrowes which thou didst endure, euen from the instant of thy conception in thy humane nature, and from thy cradle to thy crosse. Remember the bitter sorrow which thou didst suffer and endure when thou saydest, My [Page 140] soule is heauy euen vnto death. And at the institution of the commemoration of thy death, when thou didst wash thy Disciples feete, & comforting them sweetly, toldest them of thy Passion that was at hand: Remember the sorrow, anguish, and griefe, which thou didst suffer throughout thy whole tender body, before thy suffering vpon the Crosse, at such time as after thrice praying, thou didst sweat water like to blood, was betrayed by one of thine owne Disciples, apprehended by thine owne chosen people, accused by false witnesses, condemned wrongfully by three Iudges in thy chosen Citie, at the time of the Passeouer, in the flourishing youth of thy body: and being vtterly guiltlesse, was deliuered to the cruell Iewes, bespetted, stript out of thine owne garment, cloathed with another bodies apparell, buffeted, blinde-folded, and smitten with sinfull fists, bound, [Page 141] scourged, and crowned with thornes.
6. O most sweet Iesus, I beseech thee make mee mindfull of these thy paines and sufferings which thou hast endured for my sinnes, that I might bee discharged, and set free from them, and my reconciliation and peace bee made with thy Father through thy chastisement, by whose sorrowfull stripes wee are healed: make mee to abhor all such hatefull sinne, and cursed disobedience, which could not be put away, without thy so grieuous punishments. Make me to be heartily sorrie, for my sinfulnesse, and to eschue mine offences, which draw thee to the suffering of so great torments: make mee mindfull of thy great loue to me, and to all mankinde, and let the infinitenesse thereof kindle an vnfaigned loue in me towards thee and my neighbour. Let this thy vnmeasurable goodnesse breede in me a [Page 142] willing minde, and desire to abide all things patiently for thy sake, and for the truth of thy Gospell: And let it ingender in mee, a despising of all worldly and earthly things, and an earnestly longing, and endeauour to attaine to the heauenly inheritance for the purchasing whereof vnto me, and for the bringing of mee thereunto, thou hast indured these, & al other thy most bitter, and intollerable torments, at the time of thine agony and passion.
Wherefore I beseech thee grant me true repentance, amendment of life, perseuerance in all goodnesse, a stedfast faith, and a happy death through the merits of thy sufferings, that I may a so bee made partaker of thy blessed Resurrection. Amen.
7. O Lord Iesus, the very freedome of the Angels, and the pleasure of Paradise, remember the terrour and griefe which thou didst endure at the time, when as [Page 143] all thine enemies stood round about thee like a sort of roaring Lyons, vexing thee with buffetings, spettings, scratchings, and other intollerable dealings, and martvring thee with reproachfull words, grieuous stripes, and most grieuous torments. I beseech thee, O Lord, for thine owne sake, and for thy exceeding great mercies sake, which caused thee to endure and suffer these things, for our redemption; deliuer mee from all mine enemies, visible and inuisible, and graunt that I may finde protection in this life, and endlesse felicity in the life to come. Amen. Amen.
O Lord, the Creatour and framer of the world, whom no measure can comprehend within bounds, and which holdest the earth in thine hand; call to minde thy most bitter paine which thou didst endure, when they nayled thy most holy hands to the Cross, and likewise pearced through thy [Page 144] most tender feete, making thy wounds still more and more painfull, and so drawing and stretching out thy body to the length and breadth of the crosse: I beseech thee graunt that my continuall minding of this thy most holy and bitter paines vpon the Crosse, may also cause me to stand in awe of thee, and also to loue thee with an vnquenchable loue.
8. O Iesus, the heauenly Phisitian, remember the anguish, paine, and griefe, which thou diddest suffer by the renting, crucifying, & tearing of all the parts of thy body, when thou wert lifted vp, and nayled to the Crosse: insomuch as there was not any one of them whole and vnbruised, so that there was neuer any paine found like vnto thine: for there was not any place of thee left whole, from the sole of the foote, to the crowne of the head, and yet euen then (vnmindfull of all thy paines) thou prayedst earnestly [Page 145] and mildly for thine enemies, saying: Father, forgiue them, for they know not what they doe, I beseech thee by thy louing kindnes and mercie, which caused thee to suffer these paines for my sake, let thy passion be the full satisfaction, absolution, and pardon for all my sinnes. Amen.
9. O Iesus, the mirrour of eternall brightnesse, and fountaine of vnconsumeable goodnesse, which crucifying vpō the Cross, didst thirst for the saluation of mankinde. I beseech thee kindle in vs the desire of all good works, & quench in vs the thirst and concupiscence of all fleshly lusts, and both coole and kill in vs the loue of all worldly delight. O Princely Iesus, the strength and triumph of our minds, which for our sakes didst suffer such anguish of heart, that the bitternesse of thy death, and the exclamation of the Iewes, vpbraiding and reuiling thee, made thee to cry out [Page 146] with a loude voyce: O God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? I beseech thee forsake mee not in my distresse; but bee at hand to comfort mee, and deliuer me, especially at the time of death. O Iesu, the bottomlesse sea of all mercy, I beseech thee by the deepe wounds, which pearced through thy flesh, into the marrow of thy bones, and into the very bowels of thee; pull me out of the gulph of my sinnes, and hide mee in the holes of thy wounds, from the sight of thy Fathers iust wrath, vntill his displeasure be ouer-past.
10. O Lord, the mirrour of truth, the standard of vnity, and the bond of charity, remember thine innumerable wounds wherwith thou wert torne from top to toe by the wicked Iewes, so that thou wert all on a gore blood: which torment thou didst suffer in that most holy body of thine for our sakes: O most sweet and [Page 147] milde Iesus, leauing nothing vndone on thy behalfe, that might be for our benefit. I beseech thee write the memoriall of these thy bloody wounds in my heart, with thy most pretious blood, that in them I may reade thy great loue towards mee: let the remembrance of them be layd vp continually in the closet of my heart, that the consideration of the paines and griefes which thou sufferedst for my sake in thy passion, may make mee to loue thee more and more, and neuer to giue ouer, vntill I be come vnto the treasure of all goodnesse & ioyes, which I beseech thee to graunt me for thine owne sake, O most sweet Iesus. Amen.
11. O Iesu, the onely begotten Sonne of the heauenly Father, and the brightnesse and Image of his substance, remember thy heartie commending of thy spirit into thy Fathers hands, when hauing thy body all torne, and thy heart [Page 148] full of anguish, and sorrow, and the curse of our bloody sinnes pressed thee euen to the death, and to the expiration of thy humane soule. I beseech thee for this thy pretious deaths sake, O King of Saints, giue mee strength to withstand the deuill, the world and the flesh, that being dead to the world, I may liue onely vnto thee: And whensoeuer this wayfaring and banished poore soule of mine, shall depart hence, I beseech thee receiue it home into the hands and protection of thy mercy, and graunt it may be deare and pretious in thy sight, and liue and remaine with thee in glory for euermore. Amen.
12. O Iesus, the true & fruitfull vine, remember the abundant flowing out, and shedding of thy blood, which thou didst send out of thy body most plentifully, as out of Grapes, pressed at the wine-presse, at which time as thou didst tread the wine-fatte [Page 149] alone, and begannest to vs of the cup of water and wine, which streamed forth out of thy most glorious side. I beseech thee O most sweet Iesus, by this most bitter death of thine, and by the shedding of thy most pretious blood: wound my heart with such repentance of my sinnes, and [...]oy of thy loue, as my teares may be my food, day and night. Turne [...]hou mee wholy vnto thee, that my heart may dwell with thee continually, and my conuersation be acceptable vnto thee: And let my life bee such, through thy goodnesse, as I may praise thee [...]or euer, with all thy Saints in the [...]ife to come. Amen.
O Lord Iesus Christ, the Son of the liuing God, who thirsting [...]or the full accomplishment of mans redemption, didst taste of [...]he vinegar and gall despightfully offered vnto thee, and diddest dy [...]ng vpon the Crosse, commend [...]hy spirit into the hands of thy [Page 150] heauenly Father: So doe I betake my soule into thy mercifull hands, beseeching thee both to preserue it here from all sinne, and in the end to receiue it in peace into the company of thy chosen that are departed, that I may with them praise thee euerlastingly, which liuest and raignest with the Father and the holy Spirit, coequall and coeternall, one glorious, wonderfull, and immortall God, for euer and euer.
In the pangues of death, and in all tribulations, the Remedies to be learned in the sufferings of Christ.
The cause of death.
A Prayer to beare patiently the Crosse of Christ or any affliction: And if God so please to call vs to that triall, euen to reioyce in Martyrdome.
O Almighty God, most mercifull and louing Father, that hast decrced, that through manifold tribulations and afflictions in this world, we that trust in thee, must enter into the Kingdome of [Page 165] heauen. And those that will follow thee my Sauiour, and be thy Disciples, must take vpon them by the constraint of the world, as Simon of Cyrene to beare thy Crosse, and to follow thee, and those that liue godly in thy Son, must suffer reproach and affliction. And that there is neuer a Son whom thou louest, but must like Peter drinke of thy Cup, and endure chastening. And in so doing, thou offerest thy selfe an assured louing Father, and assurest vs that wee are thy sonnes: because it is giuen vs, not onely to beleeue in thee, but also that wee should suffer for his names sake. O Lord, I am willing not onely to liue with thee, but also to dye with thee. My Spirit is willing, though my flesh bee weake. Wherefore if it bee possible, let this bitter Cup passe from me, or if thou please, and hast appointed, that I by death should glorifie thee, and with my blood seale [Page 166] and confirme thy truth: sweet Iesus giue mee strength, comfort, and patience, blessed be thy name, and thy most holy will be done.
O Lord manifest thy power in my weakenesse, and strengthen me, that I may by the same power, whereby thou raisest thy selfe from death to life, patiently beare, and willingly suffer that for thy name sake, which otherwise for flesh and blood seemeth fearefull to be endured: O Lord, when I consider the hazards that wee runne through, for the obtaining of these present profits, and delights of this life, and with what vnwearied paines wee prosecute the winning of this worlds vanities, that in the end are nothing worth, but to pamper the body, and make it vpon euery slight occasion most willing to deny thee. O Lord, when I consider the pleasure of this world, and the abundance of content I haue in this life, wanting nothing for my bodie. [Page 167] Oh what a Coward doth it make mee, that with the young man, that was most ready to follow thee; yet when thou biddest him sell all his worldly riches, and follow thee, (O simple man) hee neuer came at thee more: So me thinkes I feele Sathan to say vnto me; What a foole art thou to leaue father, or m [...]ther, wife, and children, houses, lands, & goo [...]s, a certainty for an vncertainty to follow thee. O Lord, how am I tempted by the Papists, the Enemies of the Gospell, to think this way foolishnesse, a Sect and heresie lately risen, and seperated from the Church, meaning themselues. Oh how they doe tempt mee by the examples of my [...]ore-fathers, that for many gen [...]rations, time out of minde, haue liued and died in the Romish Religion, and why should I thinke my selfe wiser then they.
O heauenly Father, see and behold these subtill instruments of [Page 168] Sathan, and keepe me that these crafty baytes of Sathan arising from the flesh and the world, preuaile not ouer me, (that like Peter in the water) or the young man I let goe my true faith, not to beleeue in lyes and errours, and so finally forsake thee, who hath so dearely loued me, and bought me. But O God my Sauiour, strengthen my faith that I be not moued, to let goe my first loue, with which I haue been so much comforted in thee. O strengthen me, that neither Sathan by himselfe, nor by his Antichristian Instruments, which hee ruleth at his pleasure, preuaile against me, either to doubt of my faith, much lesse to denie thee my Lord and Sauiour, but as thou for my sake, didst not contemne nor despise the reproach of the wicked, nor yet the cursed death of the Cross: but for the ioy that was set before thee, and which thou hadst with the Father before the world [Page 169] was, endured the same, and though thou wert reuiled, yet thou reuilest not againe, but with infinite patience committed thy cause to thy Father: So, O Lord, graunt that by my faith in thy power, I may bee no lesse assured of patience, in the greatest torment, that shall be inflicted vpon my body. For I know that although they kill my body, yet they cannot touch my soule, but that it shall liue with thee for euer. And in despight of their malice, while they thinke to destroy my soule with death, they shall extract my spirit into glorious life, with God the Father, and his Christ for euermore. Sweet Sauiour, as Sampson in his death triumphed most gloriously ouer his enemies: so graunt to me that they seeing my patience, and beholding my vnmoueable hope, may be so ashamed, and in their conscience so affrighted (that they may like Saul, at the death [Page 170] of Stephen) be conuerted, and after their change of minde, magnifie as most pretious the death of thy Saints, and by preaching the truth, strengthen the brethren, and stand fast in the Faith vnto the end. O Lord strengthen mee, that I may not faint vnder the crosse, because thou hast appointed vs thereunto, that in thy crosse, wee should be more then conquerours, and by his example, whose steps we should onely follow, account our selues most happy, that thou wilt call vs, and grace vs, to lay downe our liues for his name sake, as thou hast layd downe thy life for our sakes. O God, if the righteous scarcely be saued, (as it seemeth vnto the world, through these bitter torments, with which wee are to be scourged, and made cleane vessels to serue thee in thy Kingdome) where shall the wicked and sinners, which regard not thy crosse, appeare? O Lord, being confident [Page 171] of thy mercy, in the merits of thy Sonne, doe I submit my selfe in soule and body, to doe seruice and sacrifice vnto thee, as vnto a faithfull Creatour, knowing that a crowne of glory remaineth for mee. Father, into thy hands doe I commend my spirit, Lord Jesus after death receiue my soule, as thou hast all those braue champions, that were slaine with the sword, that wandered about in Sheepe-skins, and Goat-skins, and thought it better to liue with beasts in woods and dennes to enioy thee, then to liue among men, Gentiles, and Antichristians, and denie thee, being destitute, afflicted, and tormented, wandering in Desarts, mountaines, and dens, and holes of the earth, to auoyde the beastly and cruell enemies of thy word.
O Lord, as thou hast made thy wrath smoke against the Heathens, the Assirians, the Egyptians, the Moabites, the Ammonites, [Page 172] that first trampled vnder foote the blood of thy Saints, by labouring an vtter consuming of them: So, O Lord, either graunt the conuersion, or else let thine indignation appeare in these our dayes, against the Turkes, Heretikes, Athiests, and all Antichristian enemies, that like Herod and Iulian, obstinately persecute and scorne thy name.
And this, though a most vnworthy Suppliant, I beseech thee to graunt, and that for the honour of thy great name, in which thy true Church doth onely trust.
A thanksgiuing for Gods temporall and spirituall blessings.
O Most bountifull and kinde Creatour, vnto thee in Christ Iesus doe I come, and returne most humble and heartie thankes, not onely for the generall [Page 173] goodnesse, which thou hast extended vnto all mankinde, but for that especiall part, which thou hadst diuided vnto mee in more speciall manner. O Lord, I giue thee most humble thankes and praise, for that portion of thy blessings, set forth vnto mee to my present vse and comfort in this life: as for thy daily preseruations of mee, not onely in the wombe of my parents: but for my safety in my birth, that I was not mishapen in breeding, nor in comming forth into this world, and that after my birth, in the time of my swadling bands, infancie, childhood, and youth, no mishap, nor mishape befell me, to the defacing of that perfect shape, in which at first thou broughtest me forth. O Lord, how many children and youth, haue beene maymed at nurse, and through the carelesnesse of those vnto whom they haue beene committed vnto trust, how many haue fallen into [Page 174] the fire, and beene burned no [...] onely in some part, but in th [...] whole body vnto death, and by other chances, whereof thi [...] world is full, as drowned, bruised broken in the body, armes, backe legges, thighes, feet, in the eyes nose, and face.
O Lord, how innumerable ar [...] the perils and dangers of this life vnto which euery man is subiect and doth continually run throug [...] in euery state and degree of thi [...] present age and life, and yet re ceiue no dammage. O Lord, fo [...] these deliuerances from dangers through which I haue passed an [...] receiued no hurt, and for whic [...] I haue neuer giuen thee thanks, [...] now returne humble and hearty thanks. O Lord, diddest thou no wonderfully in this life, protec [...] vs of thy selfe, and with thy holy Angels, it were not possible, fo [...] any man to liue one day in health or life. O God, I thanke thee fo [...] the continuall blessings which [...] [Page 175] haue receiued euery day & night of this present life, and for thy liberality in giuing me such plenty of foode and rayment, not onely for my necessity, but for my plenteous and free liuing, not onely in health, but in sicknesse: And I thanke thee that thou hast giuen me such plenty, that I may be able to lend, and do good vnto others, and that thou hast made my Cup to ouerflowe, and hast giuen mee discretion to vse them soberly, thankfully, and honestly, and that thou hast giuen me a heart, to take my part of them, and kept mee from prodigall, vaine, and wastfull spending of them: so that my family haue not wanted in due season, that portion that hath bin fit for them to haue, and mee to giue them. O Lord I thank thee, that since I came to mans estate, thou hast kept me from vaine and idle courses of liuing, and that I haue not diminished thy blessings, but encreased them; for it [Page 176] is thou, O Lord, that giuest meanes and power, not onely to keepe the patrimony of our Fathers, but to encrease it. Yea, it is thou that giuest power vnto our hands, to get goods, thou makest wise, thou makest simple, thou makest rich and poore, thou makest noble and ignoble, wee liue, moue, and haue our Being all in thee, and from thee, and what soeuer we are in this life, wee are at thy will and pleasure, and thine especiall appointment: for though we rise early, and goe to bed late, yet without thy blessing wee labour in vaine, and haue but paine and sorrow the reward of our desires. Wherefore (O Lord) I thanke thee againe and againe for thine vnspeakeable loue which thou hast manifested vnto mee, not onely in blessing mee with an honest vocation and meanes, in this world to liue, and maintaine my charge, at home and abroad, in honest profits and recreations, [Page 177] whereby thou hast made my life pleasant, and comfortable vnto me: but aboue all, I thanke thee for thy mercy in Christ Iesus, wherewith thou louest mee both before, and since my being, and that thou hast so especially cared for my soule, while I knew thee not, neither cared for to know thee; for I was so dead and hardned in the custome of sinning, so that I could not, nor did care to call vpon thee, but followed the concupiscence of my owne carnall and fleshly desires, sauouring nothing, but that which did altogether offend and displease thee, hating thy word not onely in it selfe: but also the Ministers thereof, and professours thereof, because of it whom otherwise I should haue loued: vntill it pleased thee, by the power thereof, to illuminate my blinde vnderstanding, and made mee to see the wretchednesse wherein I lay, for want of thy grace. O Lord, such [Page 178] was and is thy loue, that when with the sight of my wretchednesse, I began to dispaire, thou didst reueale thy Sonne vnto me, and promised mee, that though my sinnes were as red as scarlet, yet if I did beleeue in thy promises, confesse my sinnes and forsake them, they should bee forgiuen: which I did, and euer since through thy grace haue done, and will doe: hereby hast thou iustified mee, and sanctified me, and giuen me an assured hope of my glorification. And thus of the member of Sathan, hast thou made mee, of thine owne free adoption, a member of Christ.
Wherefore (most louing Creatour) support mee, by the assistance of thy holy spirit, that I may stand fast, and perseuere in these Graces and gifts of grace, the seales of my adoption, vnto my liues end: And may abound in all fruits of righteousnesse, sanctification, and holinesse, vnto a perfect [Page 179] man in Christ Iesus. This is that mercy of mercies, surpassing all others, which onely maketh mee happy, in whatsoeuer outward wants, or condition I shall be in this life, and though thou gauest mee all my desire, which this world can afford, yet without it I should still remaine most miserable, though in neuer so great an estate, or esteeme of the men of this world.
Therefore for this blessing, whereby thou hast pleased to saue me by faith and repentance, I doe praise and thanke thee, not with the tongue and lippes onely, but with the whole man. Let all that is within mee praise, praise thee; O Lord, while I haue breath, I will praise thee, for thou onely art worthy to bee praised: yea, my soule praise thou the Lord: To thee most glorious Trinity, be giuen all possible praise, might, and maiestie, in heauen and in earth, by thine elect Angels, and [Page 180] vs men, in our bodies and spirits for euermore,
This Meditation inciteth vs to repaire vnto God, in Prayers, in silent sighes, and in inward desires and groanes.
A Prayer for the worthy receiuing of the Lords Supper.
OMost louing Sauiour, how great and wonderfull is thy loue to thy Church, that before thou didst leaue this world in thy humanity, didst not onely send vp loud cries and teares vnto thy Father (for them which did, and which after thy departure, should beleeue in thee) but didst also ordaine a perpetuall commemoration of thy death and passion, [Page 188] through the institution of the Sacramentall signes of Bread and Wine, at the last Supper of the Passeouer, in the same night thou wast betrayed, charging, in thy Apostles, thy whole Church vnto the worlds end, to doe it in remembrance of thee, assuring vs that as often as wee did eate that bread, and drinke that wine, according to thy appointment, that thereby wee should shew thy death vntill thou didst come, and so keepe a perpetuall remembrance of thee, not onely in our hearts, but in our eyes, as if wee sawe thee crucified vpon the Crosse.
O Lord, examining my selfe, of my faith, my repentance, and loue, I finde that my faith is weake, my repentance slacke and dull, and my loue colde, or but luke-warme; so that of my selfe (O most mercifull Lord) I durst not presume to come vnto thy table: but O Lord, for this I iudge [Page 189] my selfe, that I may not be iudged of thee, the worst and vnworthiest of all those that come vnto thy table: For vnto this present, through the multitude of my sinnes, with which I am laden, I haue (like Iudas) done nothing but betrayed thee, and pricke thy head, and pierced thy side more cruelly, then the thorns or speare wherewith thou wast crowned and pearced, and so in as much as in mee lieth, I am guilty of the blood shedding, and death of my Lord.
But (most heauenly Father) as the Israelites stung with the fiery Serpents, looked vnto the Serpent, Moses set vp: so, O Lord, smarting in soule with the anguish of my sinnes, by which I am continually guiltie of thy death, and so againe (like Iudas) worthy of eternall death, much more violently to be inflicted after the taking of the sop. Yet doe I looke vnto thy Crosse, on which [Page 190] thou sufferest for me, humbly beseeching thee, for that obedience by which thou hast satisfied Gods wrath and iustice, to doe away my sinnes (as Dauids after his adultery and murther) that I may become a worthy partaker of the body & blood of my Lord, and the Sacramentall Bread and Wine, after which I haue so earnestly thirsted, may not (like the Israelites Quailes, sticking in their teeth) become neither my bodily nor spirituall death, nor (like the vnworthy Corinthians) for my carelesse and negligent receiuing by the suddaine hand of sicknesse, be struck vnto death, but as the faithfull Iewes in their constant and conscionable celebration of their feast of Passeouer by them kept, a perpetuall remembrance of their Egyptian deliuerrnce from Pharaohs bondage, were exceedingly edified, & confirmed in the promises of thy loue, that thou wouldest be their [Page 191] God, and they should be thy people, which they sawe fulfilled in their Fathers, and still continued vnto themselues, through the hope of the Messiah, by whom they expected their greatest safety and deliuerance. Graunt vnto mee, O heauenly Father, that as the Minister of thy Word and Sacraments, setteth a part the Bread and Wine, so I may remember the eternall loue, by which in the beginning thou diddest set a part thy Sonne, through faith in him to be my saluation, promising that whosoeuer beleeueth in him, should not perish, but haue euerlasting life. And as I see the Wine powred out, and the Bread broken: so I may remember thy patient enduring the breaking of thy body, and shedding of thy blood, whereby thou hast payed the price, and satisfied the punishment that was due vnto me, and as the Bread & Wine doe presently comfort and refresh [Page 192] my body: so most sweet Sauiour, let me feele my soule so comforted and edified this day, and so often as I shall thinke of thee, and thy mercies hereby promised and assured; yea, graunt that being made one with thee by spirituall vnion, I may liue in thee, and thou in me, in the encrease of a godly life, to the honour of thee my Sauiour. To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost, be giuen by me and all thine, both present and eternall praise.
Another godly Meditation before the receiuing of the holy Communion.
O Almighty God and mercifull Father, I am a secret sinner, and my heart is a bottomlesse pit of all corruptions: wilfully and foolishly; ignorantly and obstinately haue I sinned against thee, vnto whose eye all the secrets [Page 193] of my soule lye open, but now I come vnto thee as the sick man vnto the Physitian, as an vncleane man vnto the Well of mercy and grace, offered in the pretious blood-shedding of Iesus Christ, and represented to my soule in this blessed Sacrament. Haue mercy vpon mee (O Lord) haue mercy vpon mee, and forgiue mee all the euills that I am guilty of. Giue mee grace that I may discerne the Lords body, and so receiue it in this Sacrament, with such chastity of body, humblenesse of minde, thankfulnesse of soule, hearty contrition, dread and reuerence, as is meete for such a mysterie.
O Lord Iesus, it is truly said of thee, that thou didst receiue sinners, and eate with them, and I verily beleeue that thou art the same still, full of goodnesse and mercy: wherefore I beseech thee leaue me not to my selfe, reiect me not from thy Table, come [Page 194] into my heart, and purge me from all filthinesse of the flesh and of the spirit. Enter into my soule, seale and sanctifie me, both within and without.
Inflame me with loue and charity towards all men, to forgiue and forget: to doe good, to pray for them, that I may follow the steps of my blessed Sauiour. Open the eyes of my vnderstanding, and helpe mee to examine my selfe, concerning my knowledge, faith, and repentance. Send mee the hunger and thirst after this righteousnesse: satisfie me with this heauenly foode, make mee verily partaker of all the benefits of his Passion. Oh deare Lord Iesus, since thou hast suffered so many things for my sake, and hast commanded mee not to dispaire, nor distrust thy goodnesse, graunt me grace to eate of this bread, and to drinke of this Cup worthily, that I may continually remaine in thy grace and fauour. O Lord God [Page 195] the Father, giue mee the full consolation of this mysterie and commemoration, that my faith may be encreased, my hope confirmed, my charity enflamed, my weake conscience comforted, all dangers repelled, and my soule assured of her saluation in the blood of Christ, let no profanenesse enter into my heart, so long as I am about this holy action; but giue mee grace to receiue with purity of heart, and cleanenesse of soule, with loue, dread, and stedfast faith; haue mercy vpon me good Lord, that by vnworthy receiuing, I be not guilty of his pretious body and blood, who came downe from heauen, liued with men, and swamme through a red sea of blood in his agony and passion to bee my Redeemer. Haue mercy vpon the whole Church, and to this purpose, haue mercy vpon this place, and this companie, that they may serue and please thee in this holy seruice, [Page 196] and all other actions of their life. O Lord, be not angry with mee a barren and dry tree, a creature with a face of brasse, and heart of flint: I haue not so many teares as are sufficient to wash thy feete with Mary Magdalen: but thou hast shed as much of thine owne blood, as surficeth to wash away all the sinnes of mee, and all the world: then be not angry with mee, O Lord: but let thy grace supply my wants: let thy mercy pardon my sinnes: let thy holy spirit prepare my soule, thy merits enrich my pouerty, and thy most pretious blood wash away all the spots of my life, that I may worthily receiue this heauenly Sacrament: so that I may bee strengthened thereby, & throughly filled with the heauenly foode of thy body and blood: for the mortification of the old man, the confirmation of my faith, and the finall saluation of my soule. O Lord heare my prayers, & graunt [Page 197] my requests I beseech thee.
Amen.
Godly Meditations vpon the loue and mercy of God in bestowing (together with his Sonne) these holy Mysteries vpon vs: the commemoration whereof may moue vs to an awefull reuerence in the participation of the same.
O Father of mercy, and God of all consolation, seeing all creatures doe confesse thee to bee their Gouernour and Lord, it becommeth vs the workmanship of thine owne hands, to reuerence and magnifie thy godly Maiestie. First for that thou hast created vs to thine owne image and similitude: but chiefely because thou [...]ast deliuered vs from that euerlasting death and damnation, into which Sathan drew mankinde by the meanes of sinne, from the [...]ondage whereof, neither man, [Page 198] nor Angell, was able to make vs free. But thou, O Lord, rich in mercy, and infinite in goodnesse, hast prouided our redemption to stand in thine onely and welbeleued Sonne, whom of very loue thou didst giue to bee made man (perfect in all things, freely exempted and excepted from sinne) that in his body he might receiue the punishment of our transgression, by his death to make satisfaction to thy Iustice, and by his resurrection, to destroy him that was the Author of death, and so bring againe life vnto the world from which the whole off-spring of Adam was most iustly exiled.
O Lord, we acknowledge that no creature was able to comprehend the length and breadth, the deepenesse and height, of that thy most excellent loue, which moued thee to shew mercy where none was deserued: to promise and giue life, where death had gotten victory: to receiue vs into [Page 199] thy grace when wee could doe not hing but rebell against thy maiestie. O Lord, the blinde dulnesse of our corrupt nature, will not suffer vs sufficiently to weigh these thy most ample benefits: Yet neuerthelesse, at the commandement of Iesus Christ our Lord, wee present our selues to this his Table, which hee hath left to be vsed in remembrance of his death, vntill his comming againe, to declare and witnesse before the world, that by him alone we haue receiued liberty and life: [...]hat by him alone thou doest acknowledge vs to be thy children and heires: that by him alone we haue entrance to the Throne of thy grace; that by him alone wee are possessed in our spirituall Kingdome, to eate and drinke at his Table, with whom wee haue our conuersation presently in heauen, and by whom our bodies shall be raised vp ag [...]ine from the dust, and shall be placed with him [Page 200] in that endlesse ioy, which thou O Father of mercy hast prepared for thine Elect, before the foundation of the world was layd.
And these most inestimable benefits wee acknowledge and confesse to haue receiued of thy free mercy and grace, by thine onely beloued Sonne Iesus Christ: for th [...] which we therefore thy congregation, mooued by thy holy Spirit, render vnto thee all thanks, praise, and glory for euer.
What tongue, or what heart, can worthily giue thee thankes, O Lord Iesu, for thine vnspeake [...] able loue towards vs? who to th [...] intent to redeeme mankinde forl [...]rne, didst vouchsafe to become man, and to take all the miseries of our estates vpon thee, insomuch that in the end, thou being a pure and vnspotted Lambe, wast contented to bee made a sacrifice for vs vpon the Altar of the Crosse, and to abide the punishment due for our sinnes, that thou [Page 201] mightest reconcile vs to thy Father, yea and both in life and death thou didst spend, giue, and bestow thy selfe wholy vpon vs, and for vs. And thy gracious goodnesse was not so contented, but also lest we might at any time perchance forget so great a benefit, or at least our trust in thee might at any time quaile, euen now raigning in heauen, thou refreshest our soules from time to time with the foode of thy body, and chearest them vp with the holy Cup of thy blood.
Wherefore I beseech thee, let thy spirit cleanse my heart, that I may not come vnworthily to that heauenly feast, and to the table, whereat euen the very Angels doe tremble: but that by thy shedding thy selfe into my b [...] wels, I may growe manly in thee, and become the liuelier by spirituall encreasements, so as I may continue vnto the end, in the blessed fellowship of thy mysticall [Page 202] body, whom it is thy will to haue all one with thee, in such wise as thou art all one with the Father, by the knitting of the holy Ghost, to whom be praise and thanks for euermore. Amen.
I yeeld thee hearty thankes, O Lord Iesus Christ, for thine vnutterable loue, in vouchsafing to redeeme mankinde by thine own death: And I beseech thee suffer not thy most holy blood to haue beene shed in vaine for mee, but that I growing vp in thee by continuall encrease of heauenly strength, may become a fit member of thy mysticall body, which is the Church, and neuer swarne from that most holy couenant, which thou madest with thy chosen Disciples in thy last Supper, by distributing the bread vnto them, and by reaching them the Cup: and by them to all those that by a liuely faith apprehend the merits of thy most pretious death and passion.
[Page 203] My Lord Iesus Christ, what am I that thou shouldest vouchsafe to come vnder my roofe? Can a sinfull man deserue such grace? O Lord my God, I am certainly altogether vnworthy. Am I better then all my Fathers were, thou wouldest not shew thy selfe to Moses one twinkling of an eye, and how happeneth it that thou humblest thy selfe so much, as to come to a man that is both a Publican and a sinner? And thou vouchsafest not onely to eate with him, but also to giue thy selfe to be eaten of him.
Haile O bread of life, which cammest downe from heauen, and which giuest life to as many as receiue thee worthily. Surely whosoeuer receiueth thee w [...]rthily, although his soule be seuered from his body by temporall death, yet shal he not die for euer, because that the separation is not a death, but a passing from death to life: by reason whereof, hee that [Page 204] eateth thee worthyly, beginneth to liue with thee for euer when he dieth in this world: thou art the bread of the Angels: the very sight of thee doth solace and glorifie the Angels: thou art the food of the soule, the glory of heauen, the solace of all Angels & Saints. (O most holy food) by the eating whereof by a liuely faith, is set free from all euill, is filled with all goodnesse, and is vndoubtedly made immortall, O sacred foode of our pilgrimage, by the strength whereof wee passe out of this naughty world, to the glorious company in heauen. Goe on therfore, O beleeuing and faithfull soule, be merry, and reioyce in God thy Sauiour: take thy fill of this feast wherein the body of thy Sauiour is set before thee to feede on: man fell from God by eating the fruit of the forbidden tree, but by this foode hee is redeemed againe to endlesse glory.
These [...]achrymae following, containe godly and de [...]out Prayers for constanc [...]e in aff [...]ictions, and to beare malicious slanders pati [...]tly.
A thanksgiuing after the receiuing of the Lords Supper.
O Heauenly Father, I thanke thee that thou hast made me this day to sit downe with thee, at thy heauenly Table, and hast giuen me the bread of God, that came downe from heauen, not as▪ the Mannah, which being eaten, afterward did perish, and the eaters too, and hast made this Sacramentall body and bloud of thy Sonne, to be meate indeede, and drinke indeede, farre surpassing the olde carnall Mannah, which extended but vnto the body, but this spirituall foode which thou hast giuen mee with thi [...]e owne hand, hath in it a quickning life for the present, and an assurance of an eternall life, in the life to come. Wherefore hauing fed on thee this day, by faith in my heart, let the sweet comfort thereof so cheare my soule, that I may more [Page 214] and more thirst after thee, and by godly liuing expresse my dwelling in thee, and so be more and more assured that thou art that Christ, and Sonne of the liuing God, my Sauiour and Redeemer in life and death, and for euermore after death: for vnto this end O God the Father, thou hast sealed thy Sonne, to be my Sauiour, in thee will I for euer trust, in this life to be pardoned my sinne, & through thee in the life to come, eternally to be saued.
Another Prayer after the receiuing of the holy Communion.
O Iesus, the Sonne of God, my Lord and Sauiour, with all humble and hearty thanks I praise thee, for suffering death vpon the Crosse for my sinnes, and admitting me a miserable sinner, to the participation of this blessed Sacrament, the memoriall of my [Page 215] Redemption. Let mee, O Lord, finde and feele in my heart, the inuisible power of thy heauenly grace, effectually working the transformation of mee into thee, the wonderfull vnion of me with thee, and the spirituall habitation and aboade in me. Apply all thy merits and good things vnto my soule, let me neuer doubt the forgiuenesse of my sinnes: but euer open the doore of this Sanctuarie vnto me, that I may runne thither in my greatest neede, and apprehend thy gracious pardon, ratified by this scale of thy couenant. Quicken me, O Lord, in this life, r [...]ue and renue mee, that I may disclaime my olde conuersation, and become a new man: keepe mee that I slippe not cut of this building, nor become as a branch cut off, and good for nothing, but as thou hast seuered mee from the wicked, in calling mee to the knowledge of thee, so keepe mee from all their corruptions: giue [Page 216] me a perfect loue towards thee, that I may not delight in any thing but in thee, nor seeke any other honour but thine. O Lord Iesus, I meekely beseech thee, let thy holy Spirit strengthen mee against my frailty, thy power and strength defend me against worldly troubles and aduersities, thy merits purchase my needefull pardon, and thy blood be the medicine for all my sores, euen for thy truth, and for thy names sake. Amen.
O Iesus Christ, the Lambe of God, which hast so loued mankinde, that thou hast beene contented, not on ly to become one with him, but also mea [...]e vnto him, and to dye for him vpon the Cr [...]sse; graunt I bese [...]ch thee, that this my receiuing of this Sacrament, may be a true testimony vnto my conscience that I hau [...], through faith in thee receiued full remission of all that is past, and am become (as it were) a [Page 217] new creature in thy sight.
O sweet Iesus, which hast vouchsafed mee such fauour and honour, as to come to thy Table and feede vpon thee, graunt mee grace I humbly entre [...]te thee, so to performe, and fulfill my duty as this honour which thou hast done mee requireth: Linke mee vnto thee, and giue mee power and strength to beleeue thy promises without distrust, and to shew my religion, by my good life and conuersation. Ass [...]st mee with thy grace, that I may walke worthy this blessed Sacrament, to loue thee and thy children vnfai [...]dly, and vtterly to forsake all va [...]ity, idolatry, carnall desires, and all the workes of the deuill.
O Lord God, so moderate and ord [...]r all my affections, that I may be ioyned with the brethren together in holy loue, which is the bend of peace, and truly fastned vnto thee my Head for euer. Stirre vp my minde, that I may [Page 218] alwayes consider the bitternesse of thy death, the greatnesse of thy loue, & neuer forget to be thankfull vnto thee. O blessed Lord, preserue and maintaine this ordinance amongst vs, that it may be alwayes a note and a badge of our publique profession: and giue vs all one heart, and one minde in the vnity of the Spirit, for the reuerent and worthy receiuing of the same, whensoeuer we shall come to thy holy Table againe.
Amen.
A Prayer for the Catholique Church, and all the estates thereof.
O Most glorious, euer liuing, and euer louing Lord God, the iust Master of the Vineyard, and louing Head of the Church send thy holy Spirit into the hearts of all them that teach o [...] professe thy most holy truth, al [...] men, religious or secular: Yea▪ [Page 219] men and women, Princes and subiects, rich and poore, euen all the people beleeuing in thy name, and depending vpon thy grace and mercy. Giue vnto them all, O Lord, one law, one baptisme, one hope, one spirit, that there may be but one voyce among all that professe the Catholique faith: Keepe backe the famine of thy word, and send such labourers into thy haruest, as be sound in doctrine, faithfull in their worke, and godly in their conuersation, that they may be in number many, and in power wonderfull. Open, we beseech thee, the hearts and eares of the people, for the receiuing of thy Word, that it may dwell in them plentifully in all wisedome, and bring forth fruit against all the cares, crosses, and courses of this wr [...]tched world.
O Lord, thou hast found iniquity in thy Saints, and the heauens are not cleare in thy sight: [Page 220] Oh then correct vs in thy iudgement, not in thy fury, lest wee should be consumed, and brought to nothing. Purge the garden of the Church, and let no weedes ouergrowe the flowers: suffer neither sinne nor superstition, to choake the good growth of faith or manners in thy people, bu [...] keepe them from all heresies phanaticall opinions, se [...]ucing spirits, & deadly contentions. Keep [...] our neckes from the grieuou [...] yoke of Antichristian bondage [...] whose Religion is rebelli [...]n [...] whose faith is faction, and whos [...] practise is the murthering o [...] soules and bodies: good Lord re▪ presse the fur [...]ousnesse of all Tyrants, which labour nothing bu [...] the spoile of the Church, and th [...] abolishment of true doctrine prayer, and true Religion. O Lor [...] Iesus, amend all that is amisse, an [...] graunt vs thy grace all the daye [...] of our life, euen for thy truth, an [...] for thy names sake.
Amen.
A Prayer for the Kings Maiestie.
O Almighty God, King of all Kings, the fountaine, rule, [...]nd stay of all soueraignty: wee most humbly thanke thee, that [...]hou hast not left vs vnto our [...]elues, to doe what seemeth best [...]nto vs in our owne eyes: but [...]ast set ouer vs a noble, wise, and [...]racious-King thy seruant Charles, [...]ame head next vnder [...]hee. Lord make all thy good to [...]oe before him day and night, [...]phold his Crowne, maintaine [...]is estate, giue him continuall [...]eace, long life, and much happi [...]esse. Endue him with such wis [...]ome and vnderstanding, to doe [...]ch things both in the Church [...]d C [...]mmon-wealth, as may be [...]ceptable in thy sight, profitable [...] his Subiects, and hurtfull to [...]one that loue thy truth: merci [...]ly heare him in all his petitions, [Page 222] and effectually work for him in all dangers in the day of battell in his greatest consultations: in the time of his recreations, from all plots of Treason, and in phe houre of death. Make vs thankfull for all thy preseruations of him, both [...]t home and abroad in this Kingdome and else-where: Blesse, preserue, and keepe his Royall Consort Queene Mary [...] Frederick, the Prince Elector Pa [...]atine, the Lady Elizabeth his wife, with all their Prin [...] Let our noble King still embrace the truth, and manfully maintaine it, against all treacherous plot [...] and [...] perswasions, distasti [...] as he hath alwayes done, both alteration of true Religion, and to▪ leration of any other. Let thy po▪ wer alwayes goe forth with hi [...] Armies, and giue them gloriou [...] victories: banish from his Cou [...] all priuie foes, forraigue and do▪ mesticall; graunt that hee ma [...] with vprightnesse and true since [Page 223] rity, both with heart and minde obserue and keepe thy lawes, and that his Highnesse and all his subordinate Magistrates may indifferently and faithfully minister iudgement and iustice to all his people.
Wee bese [...]ch thee (O Lord) preserue his body in health, his minde in quietnesse, and both, in [...]ll sincerity and godlinesse: that [...]y his good example, hee may both stop the mouthes of his ad [...]ersaries, and winne the hearts [...]f all those that beleeue. Make his [...]ayes, O Lord, as the dayes of [...]eauen, that he may raigne many [...]cares ouer vs, and wee his Sub [...]ts may long liue a peaceable [...]nd qui [...]t life, in all godlinesse and [...]onesty vnder his happy gouern [...]nt. Graunt vnto him wife, and [...]ithfull Coun [...]ellours, louing and [...]bedient Subiects, dutifull and [...]ue seruants. Deliuer him, O [...]ord, from all conspiraci [...]s, trea [...]s, and other dangers, & graunt [Page 224] him alwayes a glorious victory ouer all his enemies: pardon and forgiue him all his sinnes: make him walke all the dayes of his life in the way of thy commandements, that hee may liue in thy feare, and dye in thy fauour, and that in the resurrection of all flesh he may receiue a crowne of righteousnesse, through the merits and mercy of Iesus Christ our onely Lord and Sauiour.
LACHRIM. 2.
Herein the distressed expresseth his hope and confidence to be in God alone, and not in man, nor in any other externall meanes.
A Prayer for the calling of the Iewes, and the continuall encrease of Christs Kingdome among all Nations.
ALmighty & euerliuing God, who after the floud, didst preserue Noah, and our Fathers, Sem, Iapheth, Terah, Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, from the perishing waters, and from the continued deluge of sinne, which remained in the families of Ham and Canan, his wicked posterity: and of thy abundant mercies, pittied the blind ignorance, in which they had plunged themselues through Idolatrous superstition, and didst seperate our Father Abraham, and made of him a peculiar people, a royall Nation, and chosen generation, that for euermore should serue thee. And that they might neuer forget thy great goodnesse, it pleased thee to bring them into Egypt, that after [Page 231] the fauour of Pharaoh was expired, they should suffer hard and cruell bondage the space of foure hundred yeeres, and then in the power of God, with a mighty hand and out-stretched arme, in the sight of King Pharaoh, thou wouldest bring them to their Fathers promised inheritance, through the red Sea, and waste Wildernesse, to the mount Syon, the hill of God, where thou diddest appeare vnto them in a glorious manner, to renue and continue the couenant made vnto their Father Abraham, that thou wouldest be their God, and the God of their seede for euermore. Wherefore thou diddest out of the midst of the flames of fire so speake vnto them, that they might liue, and know that thou louedst them, as thou hadst done their Fathers, that first came into Egypt, that thou wert the same Lord, and that there was no other God besides thee, in heauen or in [Page 232] earth. Yet for all this great loue, of which the like was neuer heard, thou didst onely require them to keepe thy statutes, thy lawes, and thy commandements, promising it should goe well with them for euermore: but they started aside like a broken bowe, and cast thy promises, and law behind their backes, and forsooke thee the guide of their youth, and in their olde age, euen when they were growne fat, and full fed, with the abundance of thy blessings, they still spurned & kicked against thee, and though thou didst early and late (in the time of the Iudges and Kings which they so much desired) send them Prophets: yet they cast thee off, and forgot the Lord that made them, and serued other gods of the Heathen, whom their Fathers neuer knew. Yet at last when they had killed thy Prophets and stoned thy seruants, thou in infinite loue, sent thy Sonne, saying, [Page 233] that they would honour him. But O Lord, how much more cruelly did they behaue themselues towards thee, calling thee a sinner, and friend of Publicans and sinners, and the Prince of the deuils, and would haue throwne thee the Lord of life (as Sathan did the Heard of Swine) from the Rock into the Sea. And at last, when nothing tooke effect, according to their malicious minds, they came out against thee, as against a malefactour with clubbs, and staues, and tooke thee, and carried their expected Messiah, before Herod and Pontius Pilate, and brought false witnesse against thee, and preferred a murtherer before thee, and though indeede thou wert their King, yet in mockage they put vpon thee a purple roabe, and in thy hand a Scepter of reede, & on thy head a crowne of thornes, then buffetted they thee, and spet vpon thy face, contemning both thy princely, priestly, [Page 234] and propheticall offices, in which thou wast their perfect Sauiour. Then disroabed they thee, and carried thee without the gates of the Citie, and after an ignominious manner, with two theeues, vnto Golgotha the place of common execution, and nayled thee to a woodden Crosse in the middest of them. And after they had wounded thee in sundry places, yet againe in their malicious and cowardly fury, they pierced thy side with a speare, euen when thou sighedst, groanedst, prayedst vnto thy Father to forgiue them their sinnes, and to accept thy sacrifice. Yea, all this while they mocked thee, and bid thee come downe from the Crosse, to saue thy life as thou sauest others: and wrote a title ouer thy head vnto all Nations in contempt of thee; and when in the pangues of thy passion thou didst thirst for their pardon, then they ranne and flapped in thy mouth (not to comfort [Page 235] thee, but to prolong thy sorrowes) an hysope spunge dipt in vinegar: and after thy death (to make them sport) they cast lots for thy garments. O sweet Sauiour, being thus abused by thy once peculiar people, thou hast most righteously, according to their wish, brought vpon them and their children, the reward of thy innocent blood, and done iustly in forsaking the house of thine honour, and put it into the possession of the Gentiles, to bee battered downe, that there might not bee left one stone vpon another, and to scatter them into perpetuall captiuity, as at this day we doe behold.
But O heauenly Father, thou hast made knowne vnto vs Gentiles, that beleeue in thee according to thy Word, that they did no more, then what they hand and counsell had determined long before to be done. And had they knowne that they had crucified [Page 236] thy Sonne, the Lord of glory, no doubt they would not haue done it, for in ignorance (as did their Fathers, they haue done it) wherfore, O God, for the respect thou bearest to Abraham, Isaac, and Iacob, and for thy seruant Dauids sake, as thou hast promised (that a remnant should be saued) euen as many as thou wilt call, and the first fruits being holy, the branches descending thereof should be holy, haue respect vnto them, that with the fulnesse of vs Gentiles, they may come againe into the folde of Christ. O Lord our Sauiour, open their eyes, that they may beleeue the Scriptures, and so come againe, and be grafted into their owne Oliue stocke, for thou, O God, art able to graffe them in againe, for thy gifts and calling are without repentance. Wherefore take from them their vnbeliefe, that wee both Iewes & Gentiles may be saued through thy mercy. O sweet Sauiour, [Page 237] haue mercy on them, & call them home againe, that wee and they may make one sheepe-fold, and like good sheep, know thy voice, and follow thee our louing Shepheard, in the sincere obedience of thy Gospell. Heauenly Father, blesse thy Church vniuersall, that it may stand fast in the obedience and faith of Christ: giue thy Gospell a free passage in it, & among all people, that yet know not thee.
O thou which art the Lord of the haruest, send forth diligent and painefull labourers into thy haruest. Blesse all the reformed Churches in these westerne parts, but especially this church of England, that it bee an ensample of sound doctrine, and godly life, vnto all other Churches. And graunt that the Kings, Nobles, and Senators, may remaine, and succeede nursing Fathers in it for euermore. O Lord, let not the wilde Boares of the Forrest, the Turke, nor Antichrist, supplant the faith [Page 238] established among vs, nor roote vp the vine, that thine own right hand hath planted, but continue the light among vs which now liue, or hereafter shall liue, euen as long as the Sun or the Moone shall endure.
O God, as thou hast promised for thy Elect sake, finish these dayes of sinne, and hasten thy comming vnto glory. And as by all thy workes in generall, so by vs men in speciall, yea by me with the residue of thy holy Church be especially giuen, both now, and for euermore, all honour and glory world without end.
A Prayer for the discouerie and desolation of Antichrist.
O God of Hoasts, the omnipotent, inuisible, and incomprehensible, the Father, the Son, and the holy Ghost, the eternall [Page 239] Creator, and most mighty vpholder of all things in heauen, and in earth, and by whom Kings ruie, and Princes raigne, heare me a poore sinfull subiect of thy great dominions, grieued and distressed in soule, to behold how the enemies of thy trueth doe bandy themselues against thee, and thy Christ, the Annoynted of the Lord, and the only King of Kings, the wonderfull Counsellour, the mighty God, the euerlasting Father, the Prince of peace. Looke downe, and discouer the haters of thy Word, those that haue cast thy lawes behinde their backes, and scorne to be ruled by the sincere trueth of the same: yet shame not to take thy lawes in their mouthes, though they hate to be reformed thereby. O God we haue heard with our eares, and our Fathers haue tolde vs, that in the last dayes shall bee perilous times, in which men shall be louers of themselues, couetous, [Page 240] proud, boasters, blasphemers, disobedient vnto superiours, vnthankfull, vnholy, without naturall affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good; traytours, heady, high minded, louers of pleasure more then of thee, hauing a forme of godlinesse (a great shew of righteousnesse) wanting the power thereof, being in trueth, nothing but scoffers, and walkers after their lust: forbidding meates, drinkes, & marriages, which with thanksgiuing thou hast made holy and honourable, being indeede giuen to adulterie, fornication, lasciniousnesse, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, strifes, wrath, seditions, heresies, murthers, drunkennesse, reuilings, and infinite the like, whereby it is come to passe, that there is none righteous no not one, none that vnderstandeth, none that seeketh after GOD aright, but haue [Page 241] stumbled at noone-day, euen against that rocke of life, & thereby haue vsed their tongues to deceit, and opened their mouthes full of cursing and bitternesse, and haue runne as Caine with their feete to shed innocent blood, yea most watchfull to shed the blood of the righteous: destruction and misery are in their wayes, and the way of peace they doe not know. For the feare of God is not before their eyes, euery one deuiseth to worke mischiefe, putting farre away the euill day, professing themselues wise, till they became fooles. O Lord, thou hast iustly done to the men of this world, in these our dayes, as vnto the ancient Philosophers, who mightily boasted themselues of their wisedome & generall knowledge, and yet were ignorant of thee, euen as the Antichristian enemies doe at this day boast themselues to be the onely true Church. Yet because they knew thee in word and [Page 242] not in deede; therefore thou gauest them vp, vnto their owne hearts lusts, to worship and serue the creature in steed of the Creator, adoring the bread in the Sacrament for Christ himselfe, and honouring the Pope a mere man, as God himselfe, saying hee is God, euen as the heathen Gentiles vnto their wooden Gods sometime said: thus, O Lord, because the Antichristian enemies haue agreed with the heathen to contemne thy Word; thou hast iustly done to giue them vp vnto a reprobate minde, to worke all manuer of vnrighteousnesse, as at this day wee see, the Romish Bishop, Prelates, Clergie, and Professours to be, the man and men of sinne that should sit in the Temple of God, and in doctrine speake blasphemies and wicked vntrueths. O God, in thy Word thou hast euidently marked him out, shewing that hee should pretend chastity in heart and body, [Page 243] but indeede haue nothing lesse: to claime all spirituall power, to open and shut the gates of thy Kingdome at his owne will and pleasure, and against whom hee lust, to bee vniuersall Bishop through the whole world, and supreame head of the Church, and Kings and Princes to be his vassalls, and at his making and deposing. O Lord, hee thrusteth out of the Church as heretickes all that speake against his blasphemies, denouncing damnation to all that will not beleeue his exposition of thy Word, saying, that hee hath alwayes the holy Ghost in his breast, and that hee cannot erre. He hath forbidden the publique reading of thy Word, as hereticall and dangerous, especially for simple people, and ordained thy seruice in an vnknowne tongue, that the people might offer vnto thee the Sacrifice of fools: & in stead of the Sacrament, which wee should often receiue, [Page 244] he hath brought into the Church a superstitious sacrifice of the Masse, in which they pretend to offer thee (O Christ) againe for the sinnes of the people, and the Priests eating is sufficient for all the rest of the Church, be they neuer so many; or if they receiue it in one kinde, it is enough for them, saying, that the body is no [...] without the blood, quite gaine, saying thy commandements, drink yee all of this. Hee teacheth for sound Doctrine, that wee must be cleansed in Purgatory, in which he can giue indulgence to release whom he will, and that wee are saued by our good workes; that wee may keepe perfectly all the commandements, and so deserue our saluations by our owne merites, and that in Prayer we should call on the virgin Mary, as Queen of heauen, to command her Sonne to heare vs: teaching vs, that she is our Aduocate, that pleadeth for vs. He teacheth Pilgrimages, [Page 245] worshipping Images, keeping Reliques, and that euery man hath [...]is peculiar Saint in heauen, to whom he liketh best to commend his sutes by: saying, that it is presumption to approach to thee on [...]y in thy Sonne, though thou hast [...]id, There is no name in heauen, [...]r in earth, whereby wee should [...]e saued but onely by the name of [...]esus, to whom thou hast ordai [...]ed euery knee to bow, and onely [...]or to come.
By these, and infinite of Romish forgeries and blasphemies [...]ath this strumpet of Babylon, [...]de drunke the Kings and Prin [...]s of the earth, by those abomi [...]ble and lying wonders, and mi [...]cles, hath hee blinded the eyes [...] Christian Kingdomes and Na [...]ons, that they doe not know [...]w to serue thee the Lord.
Wherefore (O Christ and most [...]ly Lambe of GOD) against [...]m he hath so long time war [...]d, as it were drunke with the [Page 246] bloud of the Saints. Yea (O Lord with the brightnesse of thy comming, let the violls of thy wrat [...] be powred out vpon her, to he [...] vtter desolation: that the soule [...] of iust and righteous men, tog [...] ther with the Angels, in the vnit [...] of the spirit, may sing a song [...] Halleluiah; saying, saluation, gl [...] ry, honour, and power, be to th [...] Lord our God, to the Lambe, a [...] holy Spirit for euermore, Ame [...] Come Lord Iesus, come quickl [...]
Amen.
LACHRIM. 3.
Wherein the distressed prayeth for faith zeale, and strength, in vndergoing Gods corrections.
A Prayer of an afflicted minde.
O Lambe of GOD which takest away the sinnes of the world, haue mercy vpon mee, a most vile and wretched sinner, wounded euen vnto death eternall; if thou Lord in whom all fulnesse of mercy and compassion doth dwell, doe not relieue and comfort mee. O Lord how am I assaulted by the crafty and subtill temptations of Sathan, that cunning serpent, that seeth all my weaknesses, both of soule and body, and neuer ceaseth night nor day, sleeping, waking, eating, drinking, hearing, and reading, mourning and laughing, but alwayes followeth & doggeth me, with fearefull temptations, telling mee that I am but an hypocrite, and that all my repentance hath beene but in words, and not in heart, in outward shew, but not [Page 255] in trueth: and that my sinnes are greater then God can or will forgiue, that I am none of his Elect, that I haue no true faith, saying, That those that truely beleeue, neuer doubt, that I doe not vnderstand Gods word aright, and that it doth nothing appertaine vnto mee, no more than vnto Iudas (who for all hee was an Apostle) yet was reprobated and cast away; and how knowest thou, but that thy faith is presumption, seeing neuer any man but St. Paul, had such assurance of faith. Yea, thou doest not delight in Gods word, nor so loue his Ministers as thou shouldest, thou doest not abound in good workes, all thy righteousnes is pharisaicall, thou art a louer of the world more then of God: doest thou not see how thou art continually punished, plagued, and smitten of God, neuer without one crosse or other, on thy selfe, thy wife, children, and seruants: on thy cattell, [Page 256] goods, and aduentures, at home and abroad, and in other businesses: Yea, in euery thing thou puttest thine hand vnto, thou seest how God is against thee, and cannot abide thee: yea, euen in thy Prayers thou mayest feele how the spirit of God hath left thee: therefore deceiue not thy selfe, thou art none of his; if it were otherwise, thou shouldest not be so afflicted in euery thing as thou art. Deceiue not thy selfe, God doth not loue thee, if he did, hee would neuer haue suffered thee to commit so many sinnes, as thou hast done, by lying, by swearing, by drunkennesse, by whoring, by fornication, by adulterie, by murther, and the like, and to haue liued so long in them as thou hast done: Yea, what a prophaner of the Sabbath day hast thou beene? what filthy & vncleane thoughts, what scurrilous Songs, and vnsauourie speeches haue issued out of thy heart and mouth, and how [Page 257] hast thou beene swallowed vp in pleasure and pride, all the dayes of thy youth. And how many of Gods good creatures hast thou prophaned in thy belly, on thy backe, on thy neck, to pranke thy Iezabels face, thinking nothing good enough, and fine enough to pamper thy earthly carcasse: And doest thou thinke that God will now in thine olde age, accept thy blinde seruice. Thy repentance comes too late, God will not regard thy sacrifice, but as thou regardest not him, when hee called in thy youth; so now he will not regard thee in thine olde age, though thou make many cries vnto him; yea, there is no sacrifice can cleanse thee from thy sinnes, thou hast cast Gods law behinde thy backe, and committed the sinne against the holy Ghost, so that it is in vaine for thee to hope for mercy, thou canst not be forgiuen, though with Esau thou sh [...]d neuer so many teares. Thou [Page 258] art a reprobate by Gods decree, and what knowest thou, but that thou art in hell already, so that do what thou wilt, thou canst not be saued. And therefore drowne, or hang thy selfe, or cut thy throat: O Coward, kill thy selfe, and so shalt thou rid thy selfe out of this present paine.
O heauenly Father, look down vpon this my wounded spirit: and (O Lord) driue away Sathan, that he preuaile not in these temptations against my soule. O Lord, so strong and violent are his temptations, that I know not how to resist them, but by the strength of thy holy Spirit, which I beseech thee, O Lord, may powerfully and comfortably ayde & assist me now and for euermore. Lord for thy Christ his sake, in whom I onely trust to obtaine thy mercy, doe away my sinnes, and speake peace vnto my soule, against this lying serpent, that thou art and wilt be my saluation: O Lord. [Page 259] create in me a cleane heart, and renue in me a right spirit, that I may learne to feare thee according to thy word: deale bountifully with me thy seruant, that I may escape these temptations, and in spight of Sathan, liue to keepe thy word: let not such contempt & reproach come vpon me, but saue mee out of the iawes of hell, and from the power of Sathan, for thy names sake, and for thy mercy sake, and for thy Sonne his sake, O Lord I beseech thee. And though my soule through these temptations, cleaue vnto the dust, yet quicken thou mee according to thy word, and though the sorrowes of death hereby compasse mee in on euery side, and the terrours of hell haue now caught hold on mee, yet O Lord I beseech thee to deliuer my soule. And though Sathan hath compassed me with the multitude of his temptations, yet in thy Name, O Lord, I am confident, that I shall ouercome them. And [Page 260] though thou hast suffered Sathan for a time to buffet me; yet I beseech thee as thy Sonne Iesus my Sauiour hath taught mee, in this last petition of his holy Prayer; let me be neither further led, nor come into temptation, but as in the wildernesse, after Sathans three-fold temptation of thee, thou by faith in the Word of thy Father, didst resist him, that in the end hee left thee, so that thy Angels ministred comfort to thee: so most sweet Sauiour help me, so by the same skill of thy holy Word, that I may resist Sathan, and after the battell be comforted and confirmed in obedience, by the most sweet comfort of thy holy spirit.
O Lord my Sauiour, how did he tempt thee, to make away thy selfe, but could not preuaile? So (O Lord) strengthen mee by the same power of thy Godhead, and a true liuely faith, by which I am ingrafted into thee, that I may neuer [Page 261] by Sathans power, be forced against, nor with my will, to commit the wickednesses wherewith hee tempteth mee. O Lord, hee could not enter into the Heard of Swine, vntill thou gauest him leaue: wherefore by thy vnlimitted power, curbe and restraine him, that hee enter not into mee, much lesse worke his will of mee, as he did of them. He faine would haue killed thy seruant Iob, as hee had done his children, seruants, and cattell, but thou wouldst not giue him leaue: So (O Lord) he hath striuen to doe with me, but thou hast kept mee, and resisted, and rebuked him in my behalfe: he striueth like a roaring Lyon, to make mee his prey, and beateth hard to enter into my heart, which thou hast swept and garnished, to be a receptacle for thy selfe; wherefore (O Lord) let that stronger man, euen thy holy Spirit, keepe sure my soule vnto thee, that I be not ouercome with [Page 262] his furious assaults, and temptations, to let goe my hope in thy mercies: thou delightest not in the death of a sinner, but rather to shew mercy, that hee may be saued: Lord for thy mercy sake, saue mee, and helpe mee, for thy Sonnes sake keepe mee, from the rage and fury of this my great oppressour. O God, he would fame play the lying spirit vnto my soule, that he might plunge me in thy great displeasure: but (O Iesus I beseech thee) saue mee, and driue Sathan away from me, that hee neuer come at mee more. O God, he continually striueth with mee for my soule, as hee did with thine Angell, for the body of Moses, but as then thou didst defend it, and thine Angell, and in the end rebuked Sathan; So (O Lord) defend me, & rebuke Sathan, that he preuaile not against me, neither in health, in sicknesse, nor yet at the point of death; but send thine Elect Angel of the couenant (Christ [Page 263] Iesus) my annointed Sauiour, and his innumerable heauenly Souldiers, here to keepe me, and at my end to conduct my soule, to that place of rest, where this champion of hell, shall not once dare to defie it, or cast forth any wicked accusation against mee: and that for the merits of thy dearest Son, and sprinkling of his bloud, vnder which I expect my safety and saluation, both heere in the Church militant, and for euer in thy Church triumphant, therefore to thee most holy Trinity, and Lord God of Sabbaths, be giuen by me, and all thine, both present, and eternall praise.
Amen.
LACHRIM. 4.
Wherein the distressed prayeth GOD to keepe him from despaire, howsoeuer men goe about to ruine him or his estate: not regarding (so God in his mercie and protection be with him) who or how many rise vp against him.
[...] Prayer for a Merchant, that God would blesse his Sea aduentures.
O Almighty God, the Creator of heauen and earth, and that [...]ath made the round world, and [...] that is therein, that stretcheth [...]t the North ouer the empty [...]aces, and hangeth the earth vp [...] nothing, that hath set the Sea [...]s bounds, vntill night and day [...]me to an end; that diuideth [...]e Sea, and bindeth the floods [...]om ouerflowing: that looketh [...] the ends of the earth, and seeth [...]e whole fabrick of heauen, and [...]e earth, and all things therein: [...]t maketh the waight for the [Page 270] windes, and knoweth the measures of the waters, that hath since the dayes of Noah, shut vp the Sea, with barres and dores, saying, hitherto shalt thou come, and no further, and heere shall thy proud waues be stayed; yet fo [...] the families of Jacob, at their departure from Egypt and Pharaoh Court; thou didst once againe interrupt the boundes of the Seas and made them to stand on heaps that Israel might escape from their cruell and bloody pursuer [...] The waters saw thee (O God) th [...] waters saw thee, & were afraid a [...] the presence of the Lord God A [...] mighty: vnto thee most might Jehouah doe I come, beseechin [...] thee to prosper my aduentures a [...] the Sea: thou art the same Lor [...] that didst prosper the ancient a [...] uentures that thy seruant Salomo made to Opher in the land of Hau [...] lah toward the East. O Lord, beseech thee, that when the wi [...] shall arise, the Seas roare, t [...] [Page 271] flouds raise them vp into heauen, and cast them downe againe into the bottome of the deepe, threatning nothing but death and destruction: keepe them that they perish not in the proud waues thereof, by falling into sands, nor by running against the hard rock: Keepe them safe in their persons [...]nd goods, as thou didst Salomons Marriners, and the rich treasures [...] their vessels. O Lord, let no [...]obbers, nor Pirates at Sea, attach [...]heir persons or goods, but pro [...]ect them safe out of their hands, [...]hat I and they being made well [...] liue, may returne thankes, and [...]sse thee all our dayes, both pri [...]ately and publiquely in thy holy [...]ongregation; for they that goe [...]to the deepe, see the wonders [...] the Lord, & thereby are taught [...]w to praise thee.
Sweet Sauiour, as thy Disci [...]s with thee in the Shippe, in [...]eir extreamities called vpon [...]ee to helpe them, that they [Page 272] might not perish: So, O Lord, I [...] cail vpō thee, beseeching thee to heare me for them, and them for, themselues, and say vnto the Seas peace, and be still: for they are at thy command to obay thee, and therefore subiect at thy rebuke to be still. O Lord, as thou didst reach forth thy hand vnto thy Disciples, and to Peter at midnight, when they were in distresse, in the raging waues, and by calling vnto thee were comforted: So, O Lord, put into their hearts such a reuerend feare of thee, that in any danger or extreamity by sea or land, they may call vpon thee and be comforted O Lord, though they bee compassed about with death on euery side, yet there is assured safety in thee; wherefore keepe firm [...] their tacklings, that they deceiu [...] them not in the raging windes nor mountaine billowes that bea [...] against their sides, that their Ship in which they are, be not broken [Page 273] O Lord, if thou force them to cast out their goods for safety, yet will it not auaile, vnlesse therewith they cast forth by vnfained repentance their loades of sinnes, through which bodies and goods are made to sinke. And let them be in safety, as the Marriners that were trauailing from Ioppa to Tarsus, when they had cast forth rebellious Ionas.
O Lord of hoasts, and God of heauen, send thy Angels with them, to guide them forth, and conduct them safe in their return, & be with them in their greatest necessities, as thou wast with thine Apostle S. Paul, in his dangerous voyage to Rome. This temporall blessing, and all others that are needfull, and that thou knowest better to giue, then I to aske; (though a chiefe of sinners, and therefore most vnworthy) yet I begge & aske it, if it be thy good pleasure, for thy Sonne Iesus sake, my only Lord and Sauiour.
Amen.
A Prayer for the fruits of the earth, and other nourishments of this mortall life.
O Eternall God, which feedest with thy blessing euery liuing thing: and satisfiest the desires of thy seruants, with thy bountifull goodnesse, wee wretched sinners, vnworthy of the least of thy blessings and benefits, doe most humbly beseech thee to be pleased, to blesse all the fruits of the earth, that wee and all thy seruants may be partakers of thy comforts therein, for the nourishment of this life. Giue vs, O Lord, this day our daily bread, prepare our ground, and prosper our corne. Blesse the seede time with the first and latter raine, and meete temperature of ayre. Keepe our fruits while they bee in the earth, from haile and thunder, from excessiue droughts, and immoderate raines, from mildewes, [Page 275] and all noysome wormes. Send vs a ioyfull Haruest, and giue a blessing to that which wee shall reape, that for our vnthankfulnes it waste not away without our reliefe. Increase our cattell, with all other our prouision, which we shall carefully labour for. Replenish our basket, and blesse our store, that wee may haue wherewith, as to furnish our selues, so to giue some reliefe vnto others. Protect our seruants and workefolkes, that they may be strong to labour, wise to forecast, and faithfull in their businesse. Keepe our Garners, Barnes, and Storehouses, from fire, and boysterous windes, Theeues, and suddaine inundations. Prosper our workes and trauels, whether by sea or land, and blesse and prosper all them that any way labour for any of those things that we shall haue occasion to vse.
Send remedy, O Lord, for all hardnesse and misery, turne our [Page 276] dearth into cheapenesse, and our scarcity into plenty. Open the hearts of rich men, to whom thou hast giuen much, that they may haue a charitable respect of the poore at all times. Helpe vs (O Lord) and giue vs such things as we stand in neede of, and make vs to desire such things onely as may bee pleasing vnto thee, to search them wisely, and to finde them easily. Oppresse vs not with too much pouerty, neither puffe vs vp with too much plenty; but giue vs a competent store of things necessary for this life, and grace to vse them soberly to thy glory, and our comfort, through Iesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
A thanksgiuing for our Benefactours.
O Lord, which hast said, that hee that giueth vnto the poore, lendeth vnto the Lord, and [Page 277] looke what he layeth out, it shall be payd him againe: wee beseech thee to be gracious and mercifull to all those, for whom wee are bound to pray by nature, by desert, or any other duty whatsoeuer. Of thy especiall fauour remember all our Benefactours and friends aliue, euen all those our Parents, kinsfolkes, and others, which haue brought vs vp, taught, promoted, or any way relieued vs. Blesse them with all blessings, that haue done good, either to our bodies with temporall benefits, or our soules with profitable instructions. Bless their estates, that in their godly dispositions they may haue alwayes wherewith to relieue and comfort others in their discretion: giue them the consolation of the holy Ghost, to the keeping of faith and a good conscience: And as they haue shewed mercy vnto vs, and comforted vs: so Lord, helpe and comfort them in their [Page 278] greatest needes, that both they and their families may both haue comfort in their estate and condition heere, and finde mercy with thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus at the latter day. Lord let all their almes-deedes, and prayers, be alwayes in thy sight, as those of Cornelius; that as they haue been vnto vs an odour that smelleth sweet, whereby we haue receiued plenty, and beene filled, so they may bee as sacrifices acceptable and pleasant vnto thee. Vouchsafe vs this grace, O Lord, that wee be not guilty of any ingratitude towards them, but rather ready according to our abilities, to recompence them, if neede require.
Let not that which they haue bestowed vpon vs bee cast away, but make it fruitfull & vs worthy of it. Graunt this, O thou God, which doest good both to the just and vniust, for Iesus Christs sake, our only Lord & Sauiour.
Amen.
LACHRIM. 5.
Wherein the distressed sheweth his desire to hold more fast the promises of God.
Amen.
A conuenient Prayer for all times, either for a priuate person, or a whole family.
MOst mighty God, & Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, most louing Sauiour and Redeemer, and most blessed Spirit, proceeding from the Father and the Sonne, the eternall, most glorious Trinity, which in the beginning didst create the heauen and the earth, with all the hoasts of them, and from time to time, vnto this present moment of their being, vpheld and preserued them, and all creatures, that thou diddest then make, haue euer sithence obayed thy first institution, man onely (for whom thou madest all things) excepted, which when we doe consider (O Lord) we cannot, but be much deiected in our selues, to thinke that wee whom thou hast adorned with thine owne Image, should bee fallen backe in our obedience, and become [Page 284] worse then the worst of thy creatures: thou gauest vs disposition to obay thee, but wee haue despised thee, and cast away from vs the yoke of obedience, yet so great is thy mercy, that though we haue reiected thee, yet thou hast not reiected vs, but hast continued all thy couenants in full force vnto vs, as in the beginning vnto our fore-fathers.
O Lord, from the wombe of our Parents are we risen a rebellious seede, and like the prodigall sonne, haue in the vaine imaginations of our hearts wandered from thee, so that thou canst take no pleasure nor delight in vs, or in any thing we doe: but (O Lord) wee cast downe our selues in thy sight, and presence, earnestly be [...]eeching thee (as on the poore Publican) to haue mercy vpon vs, and pardon all our sinnes which wee from time to time haue done against thee. O Lord pardon our sinnes of ignorance, of omission [Page 285] and commission, in the duties commanded & forbidden, which wee haue neglected and not done. O Lord pardon our sins of knowledge, by which wee haue often grieued thy good spirit, that would haue hindered and detained vs from them, if wee out of the loue to them, had not too much delighted in them, & stopped our eares against his holy motions and directions. O Lord, pardon our sinnes of presumption, by which wee haue most mightily offended thee: and so hardned our hearts, as wee could take no delight in the exercise of thy worship or seruice, as by the contempt of thy most holy Word and Sacraments, in our owne conscience, and in the sight of thy holy Church, vnto whom we are knowne, is most mani [...]est: yet (O our most good God) doe away all our transgressions, at what time or place so euer they haue beene committed or done. (O [Page 286] Lord) seperate them as farre from thee, as the East is from the West, binde them in a bundle, and drowne them from thy sight, as thou diddest the sinnes of the old world: O Lord drowne them in the huge sea of thy mercy, so as they may be cleane forgotten, for wee confesse, that if thou shouldest call vs to a reckoning and account for them, there is not the least of them, but like millstones tyed about our neckes, in the midst of the sea, would drown vs in eternall death, & cōdemnation of body & soule for euermore.
But (O Lord) we beseech thee to naile our sinnes vnto the Crosse of thy deare Sonne Iesus our Sauiour, and Redeemer, and for his sake, we onely entreate thee to be at peace with vs, and thy whole Church, throughout the world. Wash our sinnes away in his most holy bloud which he shed for his Churches sake, in his agony on the mount before, and in his death [Page 287] on the Crosse, for hee is the Lord our righteousnesse, who in thy secret counsell was slaine, from the beginning of the world, that wee which trust in him, by his stripes and wounds, might of our sinnes bee healed. O Lord, I beseech thee, heare these our petitions; which much like forlorne beggers, wee put vp vnto thee in thy Sonnes name, being imboldened, and encouraged this to dee, from that promise of thine, which in thy holy Gospell, thou hast giuen vs, saying: Aske and yee shall haue, seeke and yee shall finde, knocke and it shall be opened vnto you. Yea, thou hast encouraged vs heere vnto, saying; Can you that are euill, giue good gifts to your children, when they aske; and shall not I giue the holy Ghost to my children when they aske of me? And thou hast said, that hauing giuen thy Sonne vnto vs, that thou wilt with him giue vs all things else, and for his sake [Page 288] deny vnto vs nothing: in conscience of the truth of this thy holy word, wee pray thee to heare vs, and to settle our hearts & mindes in the knowledge, loue, and obedience of thy word and commandements to the end, and in the end of this our fraile and weake life. O Lord, considering our weakenesse, and how vnable wee are to stand in temptation: and considering how many and how great our temptations are, both in things spirituall, and things temporall; and how the deuill as a wandring and raging Lyon, raigneth throughout the world, and in the Church especially: seeking whom hee may deuoure, and considering how subtilly hee vseth, and offereth this world vnto vs, (as hee did vnto thee in the beginning of thy Ministerie, which thy Father had appointed thee in his Church) euen so by the profits and pleasures which he profereth vs, would hee cunningly [Page 289] steale our hearts from thee, and thy worship vnto himselfe, which we abhorre as most wicked and vngodly: And considering how hee stirreth our vncleane hearts, and wicked corruptions, as a stinking puddle to breath forth many noysome and loathsome cogitations, and euill actions, whereby he would brand our consciences, not only to doubt of our redemption by Christ, but also of thy mercy, which is so exceeding comfortable. For all these considerations wee entreate thee to heare vs, helpe vs, and strengthen vs, in all these seuerall temptations; and as in these, so in all other, of what nature or kinde so euer they are, or shall be in this world: and that not onely in prosperity, but in aduersity, and in the strength of Sathans temptations, especially when thou shalt haue cast vs vpon the bed of sicknesse, and bring vs vnto the point of death, when we are most weake, [Page 290] and Sathan in his greatest insolencie. Wherefore, O Lord, giue vs grace, that in the time of this life, we may not be negligent, but most carefull in the vse of all good meanes, whereby wee may finish our saluation in feare and trembling, for of our selues we cannot moue one foot forward vnto thy Kingdome, without thy helpe to stirre vs, inwardly by the motions of thy spirit, and outwardly by the hearing and reading of thy word, with conference, meditation, and prayer. Let not thy grace be absent at such times, but goe on with vs in blessing, helping, and guiding vs, till wee haue obtained full assurance, euen the testimony of thy holy Spirit, in our hearts witnessing vnto vs, and with vs, that thou art our God, and wee thine adopted sonnes and children (in Christ Iesus our Lord) and so may bee enabled to stand fast in loue and charity, as to all men in generall, so especially [Page 291] to thy Church, which are onely the houshold of faith: O make me mercifull to the fatherlesse, to widowes indeede, to captiues, bondslaues, and all sorts that suffer aduersity in soule or body. Hauing prayed for our selues, and such things as concerne this present life, as feeling members of the misticall body of thy Church militant dispersed, and scattered throughout the whole world, we entreate thee to haue mercy vpon it, and blesse it by strengthening those that thou hast called, that we may stand fast in the profession of thy Name, and not bee ashamed of that inseparable yokefellow, thy crosse, vnder which thou hast caused vs as spirituall souldiers alwayes to warre. And graunt that by no temptations inward or outward, wee be forced to faint; but enable vs, that fighting against our most subtill aduersaries, flesh or spirit, our corrupt nature, men, or the deuill, being [Page 292] Lords of the whole world, that i [...] wicked, carnall, and vnregenerate men, that are wholly led of Sathan, and the power of darknesse [...] Heauenly Father, I beseech thee▪ more particularly to looke downe vpon the reformed Churches▪ and among them more especially vpon the Churches of England▪ Scotland, and Ireland, and all othe [...] our owne and neighbouring Nations, that we may enioy the promises of the Gospell, as long as the Sunne and Moone endure [...] And graunt that out of those Churches may be spread farre and wide among the Iewes and Heathen that are called, the amiabi [...] tidings of the Gospel, that thereby the Kingdome of thy Sonne may be more and more enlarged To this end, blesse all Christian Kings, Princes, and Potentates▪ but especially thy seruant Charle [...] our King, that by thine appointment, at this present doth rule and gouerne vs; encrease in him▪ [Page 293] [...]nd them, religious, zealous, and [...]incere hearts: so as hee and they [...]ay goe before all other Kings [...]nd Princes, in m [...]st holy, wise, & Christian life, ministring iudgement, and iustice, without respect [...]f persons. O Lord make our King, and all other Kings strong [...]aintainers and defenders of thy [...]ue, ancient, Catholicke, and Christian faith, now established [...] these his Dominions; that no [...]olicie of man, nor subtilty of Sa [...]han, may preuaile against it, but [...]hat his Maiestie by the tempo [...]all sword, and the Ministers of [...]e Word by the spirituall sword, [...]e preaching of the Word, (as [...]ttle Dauid) may preuaile against [...]l the enemies thereof, secret or [...]pen, abroad or at home, within [...]ese his owne Dominions. Hea [...]enly Father, send him wee be [...]ech thee, (if it be thy will) No [...]e and Royall issue, that after him [...] euery Age, they may sit vpon [...]e Throne of this Kingdome, [Page 294] r [...]le, and gou [...]rne it vnto the comming of thy deare Sonne our Sauiour vnto iudgement. O Lord settle about him and them, i [...] euery age and generation, a god▪ ly, learned, religious, truly noble and wise Counsell: And graun [...] that both hee and they may truly loue and aduance, vnto, and in gouenrnment, a learned and religious Ministerie, and Magistrac [...] within thy Church of great Brittaine especially. And most migh [...] ty God, I pray thee perpetually to looke downe vpon all men, bu [...] especially vpon our owne Country men, that are in any aduersity by sea, or land, and in their seuerall trialls and crosses of this life [...] giue them patience to beare, [...] deliuerance, in, or out of them, [...] may be best vnto thy godly wise dome, as may make most to th [...] glory, and their comforts. [...] these and all other blessings spirituall and temporall, beyond th [...] wee are able to aske and thinke [Page] we pray thee to hear [...] vs, [...] [...] onely and alone, [...] [...] Son [...]e our Sauiours sa [...]e [...] [...]hom with thee, and thy [...]t holy Spirit, be [...] ho [...] and glory, from this [...] [...] and for euermore.
Amen.
LACHRIM. 6.
In which the distressed craueth pardon for his sinnes, the cause of all his miseries.
A Prayer in the time of plague, or other extraordinarie sicknesse.
O Lord our GOD, in whose name standeth our helpe, and who (amongst other euills) hast promised vs to deliuer thy people from the [...] of the Hunter, and the noysome Pestilence, wee beseech thee take this thy Plague away from vs: And as the stench of our sinnès hath ascended vp into thy nosthrills, to prouoke thy wrath against vs: so let our humble supplications come before thee, to procure our happy and speedie release from it.
Lord call backe thine Angell, and cause him to sheath the sword [Page 303] againe. We are thy children, the worke of thy hand, we are sorrie for our sinnes, which are the cause of all this: and wee purpose amendment: wee are but men, dust and ashes, not able to beare long; therefore Lord haue mercy vpon vs, and that soone, send vs comfort, and suffer vs not to perish after so miserable a sort. We thanke thee, O Lord, that thou hast not left vs altogether comfortlesse, without hope, but hast somewhat withdrawne thine hand, and spared many hundred of vs, in comparison of those whom thou slewest before: and now wee reioyce at this abatement, yet stand in awe, we presume vpon this thy fauour, but with feare and trembling: wee trust it shall be euery day better, yet we are carefull to winne it by pleasing thee. Wherefore, O Lord, wee beseech thee blesse vs, and all those that depend vpon [Page 304] vs; set thy sauing marke vpon our houses, as thou didst for the Israelites, and giue or er to the destroyer that hee hurt vs not. Put thy strength to our medicines: guard our regard which wee haue of our selues: let thy good blessings make the preseruatiues of the Physitians, and our shifting places for more security, profitable vnto vs, and let vs not trust too much to outward means, but chiesely in thy mercy, and blessing vpon them. Keepe vs downe-lying and vp-rising, and protect vs walking in our vocations: haue pittie vpon our distressed brethren, comfort the desolate widowes, prouide for all fatherlesse children. Gather vs together againe, that by these meanes are dispersed, and continue thy mercifull worke in deminishing our dead numbers, till wee may iustly say in confidence and thankes with the Prophet, [Page 305] we shall not die but liue, and declare the workes of the Lord.
The ancient Prayer, called, O bountifull Iesus.
O Bountifull Iesu, O sweet Iesu▪ O Iesu the Sonne of the Virgine Mary, which art full of mercy and truth: O sweet Iesus haue pittie vpon mee, according to thy great mercy. O benigne Iesu, by the same pretious blood which thou wast contented to shed vpon the Altar of the Crosse for vs miserable sinners: I beseech thee vouchsafe to cast all mine iniquities out of thy sight, and despise not mee that thus humbly begge of thee, crying and calling▪ vpon thy holy name IESVS: This name IESVS is a sweet name, this name IESVS is a name of saluation, for what is IESVS but a Sauiour.
[Page 306] O good IESVS, which hast created mee, and redeemed mee with thine owne blood, suffer not mee whom thou hast made of nought to be damned; O good IESVS, let not my wickednesse haue power to destroy me whom thine Almighty goodnesse hath made. O good IESVS, reknowledge that which is thine in mee, and that which is not of thee, take that away from me, O good IESVS, euen now while the time of mercy is, haue mercy vpon me, and let mee not be con [...]ounded at the day of thy fearefull iudgement.
O good IESVS, although I vile sinner, by thy straite [...]ustice, haue deserued to bee punished euerlastingly, for my most grieuous sinnes, yet hauing sure confidence in the trueth of thy righteousnesse, I appeale to thine vnspeakable mercy: I am sure thou wilt haue mercy vpon mee like a [Page 307] louing Father, and a mercifull Lord.
O good IESVS, what profit is there in my blood, if I descend into the pit of eternall corruption? for surely they that be dead, shall not magnifie thee, or any that goe downe into the place of silence. O most mercifull IESVS, haue mercy vpon mee, O most sweet IESVS deliuer m [...] O most holy IESVS be mercifull to me a sinner. O IESVS accept me wretched sinner, among the number of them whom thou hast elected to saluation. O IESVS the health of all that hope in thee, the life of all that beleeue in thee, haue mercy vpon mee. O sweet IESVS, the remission of all my sinnes. O IESVS, the Sonne of the virgine Mary, powre thy grace into my heart, endue mee with wisedome, charity, chastity, and humility, and in all mine adversity, graunt me holy, inuiolable, [Page 308] and stedfast patience, that I may perfectly loue thee, and haue my onely delight and a [...]iance in thee, world without end,
Amen.
The Sicke-mans Prayer.
O Louing Lord, and most holy Father, I poore wretch thy seruant, feeling in this sicknesse which thou hast layd vpon me, the punishment of that corruption and transgression that is in me, and all flesh, doe most willingly submit my selfe to thine holy ordinance, to beare this crosse, and taste of this bitter cup which I haue deserued, and much more, so that I may follow thee whither thou art gone. Therefore, O Lord, since thou hast not yet called mee to the barre of death, but sent thy Heraulds to summon me to a triall: I beseech [Page 309] thee looke on me with thine eye of mercifull pittie, and helpe me in this day of visitation: powre out thine oyle of grace into my wounded conscience, purge my defiled soule, forgiue mee all my sinnes, and giue mee competent comfort and consolation in this distresse: let me not dye ere I begin to liue; giue mee time to repent, and occasion to amend: but if thou wilt needes put any more of thy wine of correction into my festered sores; lay no more (O Lord) lay no more vpon me, then I shall bee able to beare: Make good vnto mee that goodnesse, which thou hast graunted me vnder the great seale of thy promise: Supply my want, pardon my sinnes, and ayde me against all temptations, and I am recouered of all mine infirmities: I offer here vnto thee (O Lord) a penitent heart for the time past, and promise through thy grace amendment, [Page 310] if it shall please thee to draw out the threed of my life any longer: yet I neither desire the continuance of this mortality, nor a more speedy deliuerance, otherwise then as thou wilt: Lord looke not vpon my merits, for they are either none or not good; nor vpon my life, for it hath been naught; but looke vpon Christ thy deere Sonne, who from the Altar of the crosse, cried vnto thee on my behalfe, and accept his satisfaction for my sinnes.
Arme mee with patience to take vp my crosse & follow thee, euen to beare my visitation willingly; and giue mee strength by faith, to resist the Aduersary in the brunt of temptations.
With my sorrow and paine encrease thy grace, that when I am in greatest agony, I may find comfort, beleeuing and saying with the holy Prophet, My flesh faileth, and my heart also, but God [Page 311] is the strength of my heart, and my portion for euer. O Lord, if thy decree be gone forth, as it was to H [...]z [...]kiah, that I shall dye and not liue, giue me grace to put in order my things of this world, that I may depart in more peace; and when the pangues of death haue shut vp the eyes of my body, and taken away the vse of my tongue, I beseech thee let the eyes of my soule still behold and looke vpon thee, so that when I shall leaue my earth to earth, and my body to the graue, thine Angels may carry vp my soule vnto thee, and be par [...]aker of a ioyfull resurrection, through Ies [...] Christ our Lord.
A Prayer for the sicke.
O God most high, mighty, and i [...]uisible; I thy vnworthy seruant, not worthy for my selfe [Page 312] to be heard in any request vnto thee, for I am a sinner. Yet Lord being confident of the pardon of my sinnes in Christ, in whose power is onely to forgiue sins, I am bold to come vnto thee, to begge the pardon of my sins, & as of my sinnes, so of the sinnes of this thy weake and sicke seruant, that lyes pained and diseased, not onely in the outward members, but in the inward parts of the body: And though thou hast depriued him of experience in naturall Physicke, whereby his skill to doe himselfe good: yet good Lord be thou his Physitian, and let thy helpe and assistance neuer faile in this his weakenesse to doe him good, and strengthen him. And if it be thy will, O Lord, restore him againe vnto that health, which her [...]tofore to the comfort of himselfe, and many others, hee hath enioyed: O Lord, thou art able not onely with meanes▪ (as vnto [Page 313] Hezekia [...]) but without meanes as vnto Malchus eare, and blinde Bartimaeus, but euen against meanes, as vnto the widdowes sonne going vnto his Graue, and the Sunamites sonne, at the Prayer of Elisha. O Lord, thou didst beyond all hope, and expectation, raise Lazarus stinking in the graue, and Peters wiues mother of a burning beauer, and the woman of her bloudie issue, and the man that was irrecouerable of the dead Palsie, onely by thy vertue and power. O Lord, now when all meanes seeme to faile, that wee know not whither to goe but vnto thee, I beseech thee if it be thy will, let thy secret and hidden power, in which there is more ver [...]ue, then in all mineralls & plants, be extended forth to his comfort & reliefe, that he again may come into thy house, and magnifie thy mercy for his renewed strength.
O Lord, as hee hath abounded [Page 314] with charity, and compassion vnto others, in their extreamities of sicknesse: so likewise (as thou hast promised) let this thy mercifull seruant, in his languishing paines, obtaine mercy from thee, that art most mercifull, and as hee hath heard the lamenting cries of others: so Lord doe thou heare his mournefull and lamenting sighes vnto thee, for thou art very pittifull, and of tender mercy. O Lord, he humbleth himselfe in thy sight, wherefore I beseech thee to raise him vp againe, if any man be sicke, thou hast willed vs that be well, to pray one for another, assuring vs that the Prayer of the righteous, if it be seruent, auaileth much; In confidence and full assurance, that thou wilt make good thy word: O Lord, I earnestly beseech thee, to restore my sicke and weake friend (N) vnto his perfect health (if it may bee thy good pleasure) and this I aske [Page 315] as one not without hope, for I beleeue, that as Iesus died and rose againe, euen so by his power shall this my sicke friend doe at the last day. Yet, O Lord, for the perfecting of that which is wanting in his faith, repentance, and good works; I earnestly beseech thee to adde some more vnto the number of his dayes, haue mercy vpon him, and restore him againe to strength, & his former health.
But most mercifull Father, if thou please through this his sicknesse, to finish his dayes: graunt that he may in quiet minde, and stedfast faith, commend to thee, the care of all his worldly charge, because thou hast promised to be a Father vnto the widdowe, and the fatherlesse. And it is thy wil, that wee should cast our care on thee, not onely in life, but in death especially. O Lord, when death that cruell tyrant, sinne, the graue, the deuill, and all the fries of [Page 316] darknesse, shall assault his body, and affright his soule with distrust in thee, and of his part in the glorious resurrection; then strengthen him, by the power of thy Sonne my Sauiour, that hee may no lesse triumph ouer all the terrours and feares of the graue, of hell, and death, as all the Saints in like case haue done, and then I my selfe may doe, in the same houre of my departure; which I beseech thee to graunt, through him that hath loued vs, euen Iesus Christ my most absolute and perfect Sauiour.
LACHRIM. 7.
Wherein the distressed detesteth the world and wouldly things, and desireth heauen and heauenly things.
The young mans Prayer for a vertuous wife.
O God the euerliuing, and only wise, the Author, and giuer of euery good and perfect gift, looke downe vpon mee, a [...] thou didst vpon Abimelech Abrahams seruant, when he prayed vnto thee, to guide and prosper him, in the great trust, that was committed vnto him, in the [Page 322] choise of his Masters sonnes wife: as thou wast pleased to heare him, for his Masters sonne (O Lord I beseech thee) to heare me for my selfe. Thou hast taught in thy Word, that he that cannot abstaine, let him marrie, and that he that marrieth sinneth not, that it is better to marrie then to burne (in vnchast and vnbrideled lust) and for auoyding of fornication, let euery man haue his owne wife, yea and that it is not good for man to be alone; and woe to him that is alone. In the beginning thou madest both male and female, and didstordaine, that for this cause man and woman should leaue father and mother, and become one flesh: and that hee that hath not the gift to abstaine, should haue a care, that he be not vnequally yoked: but that he marrie in the Lord, and thus to liue is a bed vndefiled, and most honourable vnto all. Wherefore, O [Page 323] Lord, I beseech thee, to guide me vnto a wife, and a vertuous woman, for thou hast said, that a vertuous woman is a crowne vnto her husband; And though she bee comely and beautifull, and therefore of many much desired: yet (O Lord) guide mine eyes, that I may not thus onely looke vpon a woman; for thou hast said, if shee haue not discretion, she is but like a iewell in a swines snout, not to be regarded. But a wise woman buildeth her husbands house, not onely with children, but with her prouident care and discretion, in the right gaining, and a right vsing of the things of this world. Vnto such a family (O Lord) direct my footsteps, and keepe mee from the strange woman, a contentious and angry woman, the woman of brawling lips, with whom there is no comfort, nor content in this life to dwell, neither for ciuill [Page 324] nor religious respects. Heauenly Father, if it be thy will (for thou knowest what is better for mee then I doe my selfe) graunt that the woman that I shall chuse, and by thy prouidence thinke fit to take to wife, may bee chast not onely of body, but of spirit, and adorned with the hidden man of the heart, a meeke and quiet spirit, and one who trusteth in God, and delighteth in thee, well reported of for good workes, and loueth children, one who in her wisedome affecteth modesty in all things; as in her apparell, and behauiour, and is in her countenance sober and shamefast, and one who delighteth in her home, and loueth the affaires of her house; and with watchfull eyes will be carefull for her children and seruants. This (O Lord) though no way worthy, I beseech thee to graunt vnto me: houses, lands, or other portions of thy blessings, thou [Page 325] hast appointed our parents to bestowe on vs, but (this blessing) a wise, chast, sober, and religious woman, thou hast kept, as a most speciall gift, from thy selfe vnto vs, and not in our parents or friends, but thou bestowest it on him whom thou louest, as a choise and most speciall fauour. O Lord, this is she that Salomon among many women, could hardly finde; yet graunt that I may finde her, and being vnited in holy band, may loue her both in sicknesse and in health. O Lord graunt that I may walke with her, as a man of knowledge, readie in all things to teach and instruct her in thy commaundements, as being heires together of the grace of life, and make mee as truely to loue her, as thou doest thy Church: this great gift and chiefe blessing of this life, I beseech thee (if it bee thy will) for the honour [Page 326] of thy Sonne to bestow vpon me.
The Uirgine or the Widdowes Prayer for a godly Husband.
ALmighty GOD the eternall Creatour of heauen & earth, the giuer & disposer of all things, that are done heere on earth: Looke downe on mee thy sinfull Handmayd, not worthy of any fauour spirituall, or blessing temporall: Yet (O Lord) I beseech thee, to giue vnto mee thy seruant, such wisedome, that in all things I may be aduised by them whom thou hast appointed to haue care of my welfare, and in nothing to bee so headstrong and aduerse, as to follow my owne foolish and sinfull appetite: and aboue all, make me most dutifull, in referring my selfe vnto the [Page 327] louing and carefull choise, that my parents or guardians shall make, in giuing me to an husband.
Heauenly Father, graunt that they may not like of any without mee, nor that I may choose any without them. Direct them that they may chuse one in the Lord, and that I may like him that is so chosen of them: Let not my minde be so wanton, as onely to like or dislike for want of beauty or comelinesse of person: but if the feare of the Lord, the beginning of wisedome, appeare vnto mee, graunt that I may perswade my selfe, that hee is the man, that thou hast appointed me. O Lord, I haue neither wit nor skill how to discerne, or make an assured godly choise. And thou knowest how cunning and subtill men are, to entice and abuse my simple heart, and how easily we are ouercome, with their vaine complements, and flattering words, in [Page 328] which they promise much comfort and contentment: but when their vnchast desires are satisfied, how doe they cast off, and scornfully and sinfully reiect those whom they haue abused and allured to folly, so they leaue them to perish, not onely in worldly misery through outward necessities, but for want of teaching and instruction in the Lord, Sathan falleth vpon them, and through their weakenesse maketh them a prey vnto wickednesse. But (O Lord) though their foule hearts are so deceiptfull, that both I and my friends may be deceiued; yet thou, O Lord, canst not be deceiued, for thou art the searcher of the hearts, and thou knowest what is in man; therefore in this weighty worke, in which consisteth my worldly weale or wee, I doe onely (O Lord) cast my selfe on thee: beseeching thee as thou gauest Euah vnto Adam, a man [Page 329] then of innocencie and righteousnesse: so thou wilt giue me an honest hearted man, and one that truly loueth and feareth thee: O Lord, if thou haue appointed, as is my desire, that I shall marrie, then I beseech thee send vnto mee a man of good behauiour, of good report, no extortioner, no couetous person, no chollericke, no quarelsome person, no drunkard, not couetous of filthy and dishonest gaine, no prodigall or vaine person, no proud man, no adulterer, fornicatour, whoremaster, no swearer or blaspheamer, no kinde of inordinate liuer, no Papist nor Infidell, no Hereticke, Schismaticke, no traytour vnto his Prince or Countrey, no louer of the pleasures of this world, either aboue or more than thee; no hypocrite, vnnaturall, falsehearted person vnto mee, his parents, or friend: heauenly Father, for my Sauiours sake, heare me in [Page 330] these my requests, and graunt that if I shall marrie, and beare children, that my husband may be wise, graue, and sober, and one that knoweth how to gouerne, and rule his houshold, children, and seruants, in faith and good conscience.
O Lord, let him be one that is stedfast in the faith of Christ, following righteousnesse, loue, faith, patience, and meekenesse, and one delighted in good workes and hospitality, courteous vnto all men: O Lord, make him a louer of good men, and make him iust, holy, and in all things temperate, euer walking in grace, & abounding in the fruits of the Spirit: O good God send mee such a yokefellow, that knoweth how to loue me, not onely by the guide of carnall affection, as for beauty, comelinesse of person, money & goods which thou hast giuen me, or for that I haue good friends and kindred, [Page 331] whereby he hopeth of this worlds preferment and ability; for if all these faile, for the which he onely loueth, then will his pretended loue be gone, and I shall be exposed to the necessity of this world, and for want of meanes be tempted to dishonest courses: but most sweet Father, as thou hast promised to be a Father vnto the fatherlesse, vnto the Widdowes and Orphanes: So be a Father vnto mee, thy silly Handmayd, whose trust is alwayes in thee. And send mee such an one, as knoweth how to loue mee in thee, and for conscience sake: yea, that will striue to loue me as Christ hath, doeth, and euer will doe his Church, to loue me as his owne body, This fie [...]h, yea, as himselfe. And keepe mee that I may doe nothing to hinder this his loue, or to make him bitter vnto mee; but that I may obay him, [...]care him, and loue him in [Page 332] all things, that are comely in the Lord, and according as thou hast commanded mee in thy holy word, and that for Christ Iesus sake, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost, bee giuen by mee all praise & glory, both now and for euermore.
The Prayer of a Woman with child, that defireth safe deliuerance.
O Almighty God, that after the floud, didst command Noah, and his posterity, liuing in chast matrimony, to replenish and fill the earth; I thy poore and most weake seruant, haue as thou didst ordaine, by the will of my parents, embraced the holy and honourable estate of married life, and now by thy blessing, am made a mother of the liuing, through that hopefull [...]ruit, which after [Page 333] much sorrow and paine in breeding, thou hast caused to spring in my wombe, by which I am assured it is a liuing soule, for which worke of thine, I giue thee most hearty thanks, still beseeching thee, that as thou hast begun this good worke in mee, that thou wilt goe on and finish it, vnto a perfect birth, in all right shape and comelinesse, not onely in the outward feature of the body, but in the inward parts of the minde, that it may growe on vnto such a perfect man, as may occasion, honour and praise vnto thy great name, so long as it shall please thee, to giue it life and being. And seeing (O Lord) thou hast for our first sinne in Paradise, so wofully afflicted vs with many sorrowes in conception, and with farre greater in bringing forth of our posterity in this life: I beseech thee for Christ his sake to pardon my sinnes, and to asswage [Page 334] those violent and raging paines, that they neither deface, deforme, destroy mee, nor yet that which is in my wombe. O Lord, let the power of the most high, euen thy holy Spirit enter into me, to strengthen and to vphold me, that I faint not in my paines, nor in my faith, but that if I dye in this my child-bearing, yet thy goodnesse supporting me in faith, charity, and sobriety, I may as thou hast promised bee assured of my saluation. O Lord, if thou please to spare the tree, and take the fruit, which I beleeue by faith in Christ that thou hast made holy: yet I will giue thee thankes, because by reason of my sinnes, thou mightest most iustly curse mee, and my fruit (as thou didst the figge tree) to perpetual death.
But most high & heauenly Father, I thanke thee that thou hast made thy promise so stable, that not onely we of ripe yeares, that [Page 335] doe beleeue, but euen our children, as they are our seede, are included in the couenant of grace; that if they dye, yet being borne of holy parents, who are ingraffed through faith into the body of Christ, they are saued, not onely as being a part of vs in Christ, but as true and reall members of Christ, vnto whō through faith, into which they are baptized with vs, & made one with Christ, that with his comming, they may bee raised at the last day. Yet (O Lord) notwithstanding this assurance, I entreate thee to graunt me ioy and comfort of them, that trayning them vp, in their youth in thy feare, they may bee as a staffe in olde age, in this life to comfort me, an [...] their Father, as the children of Noah and Iacob did; yea (Lord) if it be thy will, I desire to liue, to bee a fruitfull vine, on thy house side (thy Church, to breede, to beare, and [Page 336] bring forth children, to multiply and accomplish thy glorious Kingdome, visible and inuisible, in earth and in heauen for euermore.
O Lord, hauing taken away from mee, the reproach of a barren wombe, so much lamented by holy women: graunt that after my dissolution, my children may continue like oliue plants, and flourish a seede mighty on earth, not as the Giants in the olde world, strong in sinne, but valiant and bold in the profession, and confession, and practise of righteousnesse, and good conuersation, yea, let them be a generation of vpright men and women, and such as may remaine an heritage of the Lord, as (Isaac to Rebecka) a blessed fruit of my wombe. O Lord, thou art my God, heare the voyce of thine handmayd, in thee is my trust, heare my supplications, and let not my soule faile of [Page 337] these her desires, and that for Iesus Christes sake, which was borne of the virgine Mary for my saluation.
LACHRIM. 8.
The penitent acknowledgeth mans vildnesse, and Gods mercies; by faith and example of Gods prouidence, relieth on his goodnes.
A Prayer for loue and charity.
O Almighty God, the Author and giuer of all things, of grace especially, vnto thee, a most vile & wretched sinner, and chiefe of sinners, doe I prostrate my selfe, and confesse, that my heart is so hardned in euill custome of sinne, that when it commeth vpon me, by the motion of thy spirit to desire to doe good, I finde no meanes in my selfe, to doe any thing that is good, neither for the vertue it selfe, nor as it is thy commandement; so that thou mightest most worthily cast mee off, as thou didst that vnmercifull seruant, into bonds of death, and imprisonment of hell for euermore. [Page 347] But, O Lord, it is thy property alwayes to haue mercy. Wherefore I beseech thee to bestowe this gift of loue on me, that through thy acceptation, it may couer in mee the multitude of my sinnes, for vnto whom thou forgiuest much, much is returned to thee againe: wherefore (O Lord) let this gift of loue, bee mighty and strong in me, that I may loue thee againe, as thou hast loued me, and expresse my loue, by being ready to forgiue all wrongs and offences of my brother and neighbour, and not vnto seauen times, but vnto seauenty times seauen. O let mee loue thee and my neighbour out of a sincere faith, and loue vnfained, and at all times as thou hast forgiuen mee, my debts, offences, and trespasses: So (O Lord) make me ioyfull and willing to forgiue, as I desire of thee to be forgiuen. And seeing it is the end of thy Commandements, [Page 348] and the fulfilling of the law (O heauenly Father) let this gift of loue, through the operation of thy spirit, bee neuer wanting, or absent in this life, nor in the life to come. O Lord graunt that this marke of Adoption, and stampe of Regeneration, may encrease in mee, not onely to my friends in affinity, and consanguinity, and acquaintance, but vnto all men in generall, as my owne flesh, and thy image, by which bonds thou hast commanded mee to doe good, vnto all of all sorts, that shall stand in neede of my helpe, saying, Be you mercifull, as your heauenly Father is mercifull, who doeth good vnto all, in outward things of this world, causing his raine to raine, and his Sunne to shine vpon the vniust as vpon the iust. And in the endeauour of doing this generall good, (O Lord) let mee not forget, to doe most good vnto the Saints, [...] [Page 351] and dye in loue to all men in thee, and for thee: and that through the loue of thee, and my onely Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, and the holy Ghost for euermore.
LACHRIM. 9.
The poore and distressed soule being loaden with the burthen of his sinnes, [...]eruently prayeth vnto God for his remission thereof.