A Beautifull baybush to shrowd us from the sharp shovvers of sinne containing many notable prayers and meditations, being very profitable for all true Christians that delight to laud the Lord. 1610 Approx. 223 KB of XML-encoded text transcribed from 162 1-bit group-IV TIFF page images. Text Creation Partnership, Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) : 2013-12 (EEBO-TCP Phase 2). A05792 STC 1599.7 ESTC S5176 38161531 ocm 38161531 29346

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Early English books online. (EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A05792) Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 29346) Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 1908:4) A Beautifull baybush to shrowd us from the sharp shovvers of sinne containing many notable prayers and meditations, being very profitable for all true Christians that delight to laud the Lord. Wolfe, John. [28], 144 [i.e. 288] p. Printed for Ed. White, Lodon [sic] : 1610. Dedication signed: Iohn Wolfe. Pages numbered on recto only. Includes calendar of fasts and feasts. Text enclosed in ornamental border. Signatures: A³, A²⁻⁵, B⁷, C-U⁸. Colophon reads: London, Printed by Ed. All. for Ed. White. 1610. Imperfect: stained, torn; fol. 129 (T₁) lacking. Reproduction of original in Bodleian Library.

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eng Church of England -- Prayer-books and devotions. Prayers -- Early works to 1800. Meditations -- Early works to 1800. 2020-09-21 Content of 'availability' element changed when EEBO Phase 2 texts came into the public domain 2012-04 Assigned for keying and markup 2012-04 Keyed and coded from ProQuest page images 2012-05 Sampled and proofread 2012-05 Text and markup reviewed and edited 2013-02 Batch review (QC) and XML conversion

A Beautifull Baybuſh to ſhrowd vs from the ſharpe ſhovvers of ſinne. Containing many notable prayers and meditations, being very profitable for all true Chriſtians that delight to laud the Lord.

LODON, Printed for Ed. White. 1610.

To the right honourable and vertuous Ladie the Lady Frances, Counteſſe of Hertford, his very good Lady and Miſtreſſe.

AS Chriſtian modeſtie (right vertuous Ladie) mooued a Gentleman, the firſt authour hereof, not onely to conceale his name, but alſo to ceaſe from ſetting foorth any thing in the praiſe of that, which in dutie deſerueth to be commended of euery one: So Chriſtian iuſtice and equitie, which willeth vs to giue to euery thing his due, would not ſuffer me to let that paſſe without ſome commendation, whereunto I am notable ſufficiently to giue any. But conſidering, that ſlightly to commend a thing were the next way to diſcōment it, except with all it were ſhrowded vnder the patronage of ſome great perſon, and thinking it vnmeet to let that go like an Orphan abroad, which had a father at home, I preſumed to commit vnto your honourable patronage not a bare Lawrell, which of it ſelfe for the greeneſſe (when other be withered) may ſeeme to be accepted, but the ſame decked and adorned with moſt ſpirituall and beautifull buſhes. So that as I cannot thinke if your L. were preſented with a materiall Lawrell (wherein beſides naturall greeneſſe were but this neceſſarie vſe, that it could defend you in your garden from the heat of the Sunne) but you would accept, if not of the gift yet of the good will of the giuer: So relying my ſelfe on your accuſtomed fauour and clemencie, I hope you will affoord ſome fauourable acceptation hereof: For herein is not that greeneſſe, which conſiſting of naturall qualities, muſt then wither vvhen all things haue their ending according to their nature, but the flouriſhing greene promiſes of the conuenant of God, which (as God himſelfe) laſt alwaies immutable and vnchangeable: here are not the beautifull buſhes of a materiall tree, which delight onely the outward ſight, but a moſt familiar view of God himſelfe in Chriſt euen to the delight of the ſoule, and the inward comfort of the ſpirit, which take pleaſure onely in heauenly things, withſtanding the inuaſions and ſubtile practiſes of Sathan, which daily ſtriueth againſt them, to bring them to deſtruction. To conclude, here you are not ſhrowded from the heat of the ſunne, but ſhall find moſt coole ſhade from the parching heat of ſinne, from the which, God in this life ſhield & defend you, & in the life to come graunt you euerlaſting reſt.

Your honors moſt humble and dutifull ſeruant. Iohn Wolfe.
Ianuarie hath xxx. dayes.

1 A New yeares day. New yeares day Otherwiſe calle The Circumciſion of Chriſt. 2 b Oct. of Stephen.   3 c Oct. of Iohn.   4 d Oct. of Inno.   5 e Titus Paul diſ.   6 f Twelfe day. The tvvelfe day. Otherwiſe called The Epiphanie. Faires at Briſtow, an at Salifburie. 7 g Tranſ. William.   8 A Felix and Iana   9 b Lucian.   10 c Paul firſt here.   11 d Ignius mart.   12 e Archademar. 12. The Sunne in Aquarius. 13 f Hillarie mart.   14 g Felix prieſt.   15 A Iſidorie mart.   16 b Maurice. 23. Terme begin. 17 c Dep. of Autho.   18 d Priſe martyr.   19 e Wolſtan biſhop. The xxv. day, being the conuerſion of Saint Paul. Faires at Graues end, at Briſtow, at Churchingford at Northalerton in Yorkſhire, where is kept a faire euery wedneſday, from C r ſtmaſſe vntill Iune next following. 20 f Fabian and Sc.   21 g Agnes vir.   22 A Vincent martyr.   23 b Emerice.   24 c Timoth. diſc.   25 d Conu of Paul.   26 e Policarpe mart.   27 f Chriſoſto. doctor.   28 g Theodor.   29 A Valerie biſhop.   30 b Bartilde Queene.   31 c Saturnine.  

Februarie hath xxviii. dayes.

1 d Briget. Faſt.   2 e Puri. of Mary.   3 f Blaſe martyr. The i. day a faire at Bromlie. 4 g Gilbert confeſſor   5 A Agathe virgin The ii. day faires at Maidſtone, at Bathe, at Linne, at Brickelſworth, and at Budworth. 6 b Amandus biſh.   7 c Dorothe virgin   8 d Angule virgin   9 c Paul biſhop 10. The ſunne in Piſces. 10 f Appoline virgin   11 g Scolaſtice   12 A Eufraſe virgin Terme ends. 13 b Wulfrane biſhop   14 c Valentine mart.   15 d Fauſtine biſhop   16 e Iulian virgin The xiiii. being S. Valentines day, a faire at Feuetſham. 17 f Policron biſhop.   18 g Simeon martyp   19 A Shroue Sunday Vpon Aſhwedneſday Faires at Lichfield at Ro ſten, at Dunſtable, at Exceter, t Ciceter, at Tamworth, and at Abington. 20 b Sabin & Iulian   21 c Mildred virgin   22 d Policarpe Faſt   23 e Matthie apoſtle   24 f Lxix Martyrs Matthias apoſtle. Faires at Heuley vpon Thames, at Towkeſburie, and at Baldocke. 25 g Peters chaire   26 A Auguſtine biſhop   27 b Oſwald biſhop   28 c    

March hath xxxi. dayes.

1 d Dauid biſhop.   2 e Chadde confeſſ. The iiii. Sunday in Lent at the Mount, and at Bodmin in Cornwall. 3 f Martine.   4 g Adrian martyr.   5 A Phocas and Euſ. The v. Sunday in Lent at Grantham, at Saliſburie, and at Hertford. 6 b Victor and Victs   7 c Perpetue.   8 d Apoline martyr. 11. The Sunne in Aries. 9 e Agapit virgin.   10 f Gregorie biſhop. The xii. day at Stamford, and at Cudburie. 11 g Aggens proph.   12 A Theodo e mact.   13 b Leo biſhop. The xiii. day at Wie. 14 c Peter martyr. The xx. day a faire at Durham. 15 d Longin martyr.   16 e Quintin martyr.   17 f Gertrude virg. On the Monday before our Ladie day in Lent at Wiſbich, at Kendall, at Denbigh in Wales. 18 g Edward king.   19 A Ioſeph Ma. huſ.   20 b Cuthbert biſhop.   21 c Benedict abbot.   22 d Affrodoſe biſh. The xxv. at Northampton, at Newcaſtle, at Malden, at great Chart, and all the Lady daies at Huntington. 23 e Theodore prieſt.   24 f Init. Reg. Iacob   25 g Annun. of Marie.   26 A Caſtor mart. On Midlent Sunday at Saffron Walden. 27 b Ludger biſhop.   28 c Dorothe martyr.   29 d Victorine. On Palmeſunday euen, at Pomfret. 30 e Sabrine virgin. On Palmeſunday at Worceſter. 31 g Adelme biſhop.  

Aprill hath xxx. dayes.

1 g Theodore virgin   2 A Mary Egyptian The v. day at Wallingford. 3 b Richard biſhop   4 c Ambroſe bi •• op The vii. at Darby. 5 d Marcian & Mar. The ix. day Bickleſworth, at Billinſworth. 6 e Se tus martyr.   7 f Euphemie virgin   8 g Deuyſe mart. The x. day at Eueſham in Worceſterſhire. 9 A Perpetu •• biſhop   10 b Marcus martyr.   11 c Gathelaake 10. The ſunne in Taurus. 12 d Apoline mar ty.   13 e Sother mart. On tueſday in Eaſter weeke at Nort fleet, at Rochford, at Hitchin. 14 f Tyburt martyr   15 g Oſmound biſhop   16 A Iſidore biſhop The third ſunday after Eaſter at Louth. 17 b Anicate biſhop   18 c Eleuther biſhop The xxii day at Stabford. 19 d Tyburtius con. Vpon Saint Georges day faires at Charing, at Ipſwich, at Tamworth, at Amhill, at Hinningham, at Gilford, at Saint Pombes in Cornwall. 20 e Hermogenes   21 f Quintine   22 g Clete biſhop   23 A George martyr   24 b Wilfride confeſſ. 25. S. Marke Euangeliſt. At Darbie, at Donmowe in Eſſex. 25 c Marke Euang.   26 d Anaſtace biſhop   27 e Vitalis martyr The xxvi. day at Tenderden in Ken. 28 f Peter of Milan   29 g Clete biſhop   30 A Dep. of Erken.  

May hath xxx. daies.

1 b Philip and Iacob.   2 c Athanaſius biſh. Philip and Iacob, at Rippon, at Perin i Cornewall, at Oſſeſtrie in Wales, at Lexfield in Suffolke, at Leiceſter, at Brickhill, at Stowe the old, at Reading, at Maidſtone in Rent, at Chenſeford in Eſſex, a •• Blackborne in Lancaſhire. 3 d Inn. of the croſſe.   4 e Chriſtoper.   5 f Goddardarchbiſh.   6 g Iohn port latin.   7 A Iohn of Beu r.   8 b Appe of Michel.   9 c Tr n. of Nicho.   10 d Gordaine.   11 e Pancra e martyr.   12 f Victorius martyr. The iii. day at Elſtow, at Bramyard. at Heningham. 13 g Sernaeius con.   14 A Boniface mart.   15 b Sophia virgin.   16 c Brandon biſhop. The vii. at Beuerley, at Newton, at Oxford. 17 d Tranſ. of Bard.   18 e Dioſcor. martyr. 12. The Sunne in Gemini. 19 f     20 g Dunſtone onfeſſ. On Whitſon euen, at Skipton in Crauen. 2 A Barnardine.   22 b Helene Queene. On Aſcenſion day at Newcaſtle, at S. Edes at Chappelfrith. 23 c Petronill.   24 d Iulian v rgin. Monday in Whitſon weeke at Agmundſham, at Exceſter, at Bradford, at Rigate, at Burton. 25 e Deſiderie mart.   26 f Adelme con.   27 g Auguſtine con. Tueſday in Whitſon weeke at Roch forth, and at Canterburie. 28 A Geſmaine b ſh.   29 b Nicomede. On Trinitie ſunday at Kendall, and at Rowell. 30 Corane martyr.   31 d Felix biſhop.  

Iunne hath xxx. dayes

1 e Nicodeme.   2 f Craſimus The ix. day at Maidſtone in Kent. 3 g Baſill.   4 A Mercell martyr 11. The ſunne in Cancer. 5 b Petrocius confeſ.   6 c Boniface biſhop The xi. S. Barnabie, the longeſt da in the yeere, at Okinghā, at Newboroug at Maxffeld, at Holt in Wales. 7 d Medarde & Gill   8 e Tranſ. Edmond   9 f Yuan confeſſ.   10 g Tranſ. Wolſtan The xxiii. at Shrewſburie, at Sain Albons. 11 A Barnab. apoſt.   12 b     13 c Antonie con. The xxiiii. at Horſham, at Wakefield, at Colcheſter, at Reading, at Bedford, at Barntwell, at Crambrooke, at Gloceſter, at Lincolne, at Peterborough at Windſor, at Harſlone, at Lancaſter, at Weſtcheſter, at Halliſax, at Aſhborne. 14 d Baſilides con.   15 e Vite modeſte   16 e Tranſ. Richard   17 f Botolph confeſ.   18 g Exuperie biſhop   19 A Gernaſiue martyr   20 b Tranſ. Edward   21 c Walburge virgin 24. S. Iohn Baptiſt. At Colcheſter, at Wakefield. 22 d Albane martyr   23 e Faſt. The xxvii. at Folkſtone. 24 f Iohn Baptiſt. The xxviii. at S. Pombs. 25 g Tranſ. of Elegie   26 A Iohn and Paul 29. Peter Apoſt. At Sudburie, at Peterfield, at Woodhurſt. 27 b Creſcens martyr   28 c Faſt.   29 d Peter and Paul.   30 e Comme Paul.  

Iulie hath xxxi. dayes.

1 g Oct. Iohn Bap.   2 A Viſita. of Mary. The ii. day at Congreton, at Aſhton vnderline. 3 b Tranſ. Tho. Apo.   4 c Tranſ. of Martin.   5 d Oct. of Peter. The xi. day at Partnie, a horſe faire at Lid. 6 e Zoe virg. mart.   7 f Depo. Grimbal. 12. The Sunne in Leo. 8 g Cirill biſhop. The xv. at Pinchbacke. 9 A vii. brethren mar. The xvii. at Winchcombe. 10 b Dog dayes begin.   11 c Nabor and Felix. The xx. day at Tetbury, at No thbridge in Cheſhire, at Cheſwicke, at Vxbridge, at Harlbrough, at Wincheſter, and at Colcheſter. 12 d Tranſ. of Benedi.   13 e Prinata marti.   14 f Tranſi Oſmond   15 g Kenelme king.   16 A Euſtacii.   17 b Arnulph martyr.   18 c Rufine and Iuſti. 26. Iames Apoſtle. At S. Iames beſide London, at Douer, at Briſtow, at Ipſwich at Darby, at Northampton, at Dudly in Staffordſhire, at Reading, at Malmſbury, at Chilham, at Louth, at Liuerpoole, at Chicheſter, at Aldergam. 19 d P arede virgin.   20 e Marget virgin.   21 f Apolinares virg.   22 g Mary Magdalen.   23 A Chriſtine virgin.   24 b Faſt.   25 c Iames Apoſtle.   26 d Anne mo. Mary.   27 e Seuen ſleepers. The xxvii. day at Canterbury, at Richmond in the Noth. at Horſham. 28 f Samſon biſhop.   29 g Felix and his fel.   30 A Abdon and Se n.   31 b German biſhop.  

Auguſt hath xxxi. dayes.

1 c Lammas day On Lammas day at Feuerſham, at S. Edes at Exceſter, at Dunſtable, at Bedford, at Norham Church, at Wiſbi h, at Yorke, at Romnie, at Newton in Lancaſhire. 2 d Stephen biſhop   3 e Finding of Ste.   4 f Iuſtine prieſt   5 g Feſtum niuis   6 A Tranſ. Chriſt   7 b Feaſt of Ieſus.   8 c Ciriack & his fel. The x. day at Waltham, at Blackmore, at Bedford, at Waiton, at Hungerford, at Cro ly, at new Brainford, at S. Laurence by Bodwin. 9 d Romaine martyr   10 e Laurence martyr   11 f Tiburte martyr   12 g Clare virgin   13 A Ypolite virgin   14 b Exalta crucis   15 c Aſſum. of Mary   16 d Roche martyr   17 e Octa. Laurence 13. The Sunne in Virgo. 18 f Magnus martyr   19 g Barnard confeſſ. The xv. day at Carlile at Dunmow in Eſſex, at Preſton, at Wakefield the two Lady daies. 20 A Dog daies end   21 b Lewes martyr   22 c Octa aſſump.   23 d Timothy Faſt. 20. Dog daies end. 24 e Bartholom. apoſt.   25 f Lews king 24 Bartholomevv apoſt. At London, at Teukſbury, at Nātwitch, at Beggers buſh beſides Rie, at Sudburie, at Norwich, at Northarleton, at Douer, at Rie, at Bromley. 26 g euerine   27 A Auguſt ne con.   28 b Ioh s beheading.   29 c Ruſine martyr   30 d Felix and Adacte The xxvii at Aſhford. 31 e Cathberd virgin  

September hath xxx. dayes

1 f Giles biſhop.   2 g Anthonie mart. The i. day in S. Giles in the buſh. 3 A Luper biſhop.   4 b Tranſ. of Cuthert   5 c Bertine abbot. The vii. day at Wakefield, at Sturbridge, at Southwarke, at Snide, at Reculuer, at Reugh both the Lady daies, a Giſborough, at Partnie three Lady daies, at Blackborne Giſborne in Yorkſhire, at Chalton. 6 d Eugenie confeſſ.   7 e Enurcius biſhop.   8 f Nati. of Mary.   9 g Siluius biſhop.   10 A Gorgony mart.   11 b Porthy & Iacint.   12 c Martiman.   13 d Amanti.   14 e Holy Rood.   15 f Lambert.   16 g Edith virgine.   17 A Timotheus. The xiiii. day, being Holy Roode day, at Richmond in Yorkſhire, at Rippon a horſe faire, at Waltam abbey, at Cheſterfield. 18 b Victor & Coron.   19 c Ianuarie mart.   20 d Faſt.   21 e Matthevv apoſtle.   22 f Mauricius. 14. The Sunne in Libra. 23 g Tecla virgin.   24 A Andochius mart. Matthevv apoſt. At Marlborough, at Bedford, at Croiden, at Sittingborne, at Douer, at Shrewſbury. 25 b Firmin biſhop,   26 c Cipr an and Iuſt.   27 d Coſme & Damia. 29. Michael archangel, At Canterburie, at Blackborne, at Weſtcheſter, at Cockermouth, at Leiceſter. 28 e Ecuperie biſhop.   29 f Michael Archan.   30 g Ierom prieſt.  

October hath xxxi. dayes.

1 A Remigius biſhop   2 b eodagare mart. The iiii. day at Michel. 3 c Candidie matyr The vi. day at S. Faiths beſides Norwich, at maideſtone. 4 d Francis martyr   5 e Faith virgin The viii. day at Harnord, at Herbrough, and at Biſhop Stapford. 6 f Gerionis   7 g Marcie & Mart. On S. Edward day at Graues end, at Marſhfield, at Windſor, at Coltheſter, at Charing, at Roiſton. 8 A Apolonaris mart.   9 b Pelagi virgin   10 c Linus confeſſor   11 d Deny e & his fel. 14. The Sunne in Scorpio. 12 e Nichaſins biſhop. 18. Luke Euang. At Cely, at Wrickle, at Vpan, at Thirſt at Friſwides in Oxford, at Tiſdale, at Bridgenorth, at Scanton. 13 f Wilf ide biſhop   14 g Tranſ. Ed. king   15 A Ealixt biſhop   16 b Wolfran biſhop at Burton vpon Trent, at Charlton, at Wigan in lancaſhire, at Holt in Wales. 17 c Michael of the mo   18 d Luke Euang.   19 e Etheldrede vir.   20 f Frideſwide virgi The xxi. day at Saffron Walden, at New Market, at Hertford, at Ciceter, at Stokecley. 21 g Auſtreberte vir.   22 A Xi. M. virgines   23 b Mary Salome   24 c Romaine biſhop   25 d Maglory biſhop   26 e Criſpin and Creſ.   27 f Faſt.   28 g Simon and Iude On all Saints euen at Wakefield, at Rithen. 29 A Narciſſus biſhop   30 b Germane confeſſ.   31 c Faſt.  

Nouember hath xxx. dayes.

1 d All ſaints. All Saints. 2 e All Soules.   3 f Menefriede virg. The ii. day at Blechingly, at Kingſtone, and at Maxfield. 4 g Amantius.   5 A Lete prieſt.   6 b Leonard. The vi day, being S. Leonards day, at Salforth, at Stanly, at Tregnie, at Newportpond. 7 c Wilbroade.   8 d Foure crowned.   9 e Theodore.   10 f Martine. The x. day Lenton. 11 g Martine biſhop. The xi. day at Marlborough, at Douer. 12 A Briſe biſhop.   13 b Paterne martyr. 13. The ſunne in ſagittarius. 14 c Tranſ, Orknew.   15 d Macure biſhop.   16 e Dep. of Edmond. The xiii. day at S. Edmonds burie, at Gilford. 17 f Init. regni. Elizab.   18 g Oct. Martine. The xvii. day at Low, at Hide. 19 A Elizabeth martyr.   20 b Edmond king. The xix. day at Horſham. 21 c Preſ of Mary. The xx. day being S. Edmonds day, at Hytch, at Ingerſtone. 22 d Cicely virg.   23 e Clement martyr. The xxiii. day at Sandwich. 24 f Griſogon martyr.   25 g Katherine virg.   26 A Line martyr. 30. Andrevv apoſtle. At Colingborough, at Rocheſter, at Peterfield, at Maidenhead, at Bewdly, at Bedford in Yorkſhire. 27 b Virales confeſſ.   28 c Rufus martyr.   29 d Saturnini. Faſt.   30 e Andrevv apoſtle.  

December hath xxxi daies.

1 f Elegie biſhop   2 g Libane martyr The v. day a faire at Plucklie. 3 A Dep. of Oſmond   4 b Barbara virgin The vi day at Spalding, at Arnedale, at Sinook, at Exceter, at Northwich in Cheſhire. 5 c Sabba biſhop   6 d Nicolas biſhop   7 e Octa. Andrew   8 f Conc. of Mary The vii. day at Sandhurſt. 9 g Cyprian biſhop   10 A Enlalie virgin The viii. day, being the conception of the Virgine Mary, at Clitherall in Lancaſhire and at Malpas in Cheſhire: 11 b Antippe   12 c Damaſe confeſſ:   13 d Lucie virgin   14 e Niraſius virgin   15 f Otholie virgin   16 g O Saplentia 13. The Sunne in Capricornus. 17 A Lazarus confeſſ.   18 b Gracian biſhop S. Lucie the ſhorteſt day in the yeere. 19 c Venetia virgin   20 d Faſt.   21 e Thomas apoſt.   22 f XXX. Martyrs   23 g Victor virgin   24 A Faſt.   25 b Chriſtmas day   26 c Stephan martyr   27 d Iohn Euangeliſt   28 e Innocents day   29 f   The xxix day at Canterburie, at Saliſburie. 30 g Tranſ. of Iames   31 A Silueſter mart.  

A beautifull Baybuſh.
A prayer for morning.

MOſt gratious God & deare Father, we yeeld vnto thee frō the bottome of our harts moſt humble thankes, in that it hath pleaſed thee not onely to defend and preſerue vs this night from all our enemies both ghoſtly and bodily: but alſo of thy fatherly pittie to giue vnto theſe our ear hly and languiſhing bodies ſuch ſufficient ſleepe and reſt, as hath ſatiſfied the earneſt deſire of our weake and feeble nature. And as thou of thy mercie haſt ſafely brought vs to the beginning of this preſent day, and ſhewed vs the light thereof: ſo wee humbly beſeech thee (O God) graunt that our ſoules may be ſpiritually lightened with the brightneſſe of thy word and ſacred miſteries, wherby we may walke in the ſteps of Chriſtianitie, & lead a life agreeable to our vocation in Chriſt Ieſus our Lord. Aſſiſt vs alſo with thy grace and holy ſpirit O God that we may neuer ſhrinke from thee for any earthly torments, but dilligently applie our ſelues to the performance of thy will, and giue our ſelues wholy therevnto, hauing a ſtrong and ſtedfaſt faith in the truth of thy promiſes. Indue vs with wiſedome from aboue, that wee may daſly increaſe in the fulneſſe of our ſauiour Chriſt. Beholde vs with the eye of thy mercy, and vouchſafe to defend vs that commit our ſelues wholly vnto thee both now and euermore. Giue vnto vs a heart alwaies affected to honor thee, a mind euer meditating of thy righteouſneſſe, and a ſpirit burning with zeale of thy worſhip, that wee may warily ſtand vpon our guard, and neuer yeéld to the trecherie of the aduerſarie: Bleſſe and proſper our enterpriſes O Lord, that whatſoeuer we take in hand, we may by thy direction bring it to good ſucceſſe, and euermore praiſe thy holy name for thy gratious aſſiſtance and ſingular goodnes: grant this O father for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake our only ſauiour and redeemer.

An Euening prayer.

GOod God the creator and maker of all mankind, ſeéing it hath pleaſed thee of thy deuine prouidence, to ordaine the night as a meane to deliuer vs from the trauailes of the day, and to miniſter eaſe and gladnes to the wearied lims of our bodies, to the great comfort and refreſhing of the ſame, by the fruition of quiet ſleep and reſt, according to humane nature, wee beſeech thee therfore O Lord of thy vnſpeakeable goodnes and mercy, to be our watchman and defender this night, that we be not ouercome by fantaſies, dreames, or other illuſions: but that through thy permiſſion, we may take ſuch quiet reſt and voluntarie ſleepe as nature requireth, and though our groſſe ſences are at ſuch times ſtopped, yet vouchſafe euer to graunt vs the aſſiſtance of thy grace and holy ſpirit, that our ſoules may reſpect the comming of thy ſonne our ſauiour Ieſus Chriſt, that at what time ſoeuer he calleth, wee may bee found watchfull, and continually ready to performe his will, that after this life ended, we may eternally reſt in glorie: and as the brightneſſe of the ſunne doth in the morning diſperſe the darke cloudes and thicke miſtes from the face of the earth, whereby the ſame was before couered with darkeneſſe: ſo wee humbly beſeech thee vouchſafe to diſperſe and burie our ſinnes (in the blend and obedience of thy deare ſonne) which doe as it were ſhadow vs from the bright beames of thy fauourable countenance, and euermore aſſiſt vs with thy gratious goodneſſe, that our ſleepe may be ſo healthfull vnto vs, that we with willing minds ariſing in the morning, may vtterly ſhake off al maner of drowſineſſe, and make haſt to exerciſe our ſelues in ſuch Chriſtian labours, as thy deuine prouidence hath ordained vs vnto, to the aduancement and renowne of thy holy name, credit of thy Church, comfort & reliefe of our Chriſtian bretheren, and our euerlaſting ſaluation. In mercy graunt this O Lord we beſeech thee for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, our onely redeemer and ſauiour, vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghoſt, be all power and dominion for euer, Amen.

Twentie and one godly and neceſſary praiers, gathered out of the Cxix. Pſalme, wherein are contained petitions, crauing aid of Gods ſpirit againſt Sathan and al wickedneſſe: complaints againſt the rage of the vngodly: thanksgiuing f r our deliuerance and conſolation in aduerſitie, for that God both can and will aſsiſt his people.

1. A Prayer for the aſſiſtance of Gods holy ſpirit for to direct our mindes after his holy lawes.

GRatious God, ſo bleſſe me I beſeech thee, thy poore ſeruant, that out of the hidden treaſures of thy word, I may gather ſuch fruitful delights that I may walk vprightly, and lead a blameleſſe life in thy ſight, in keeping thoſe precepts which thou O Lord God haſt therein appointed. Oh how bleſſed are thoſe which obſerue thy ſtatutes vnto the end, ſeeking thee with a pure heart, and carefully obeying thy eternall maieſtie: may it pleaſe thee therefore ſo to guide my waies, that I quaile not in my courſe, neither bend my ſelfe to follow after vnrighteouſneſſe, but faithfully perſeuer in that perfect path which thou haſt enclined me vnto, out of thy holy word: and thou being a righteous and euerlaſting God, doeſt not command me to followe any thing which is not lawfull in thy ſight, nor redounding to my ſaluation. Erect my heart continually to the contemplation of thy bleſſed lawes, whereby my dealings may be ordered through thy gouernance, that I may immitate and carefully keepe the ſame all the daies of my life, with zeale and obedience towards thy diuine maieſtie, then ſhall all things according o thy will, goe well with me, and I ſhall turne mine eies to beholde that thing, which is good and laudable in thy fight, yea and euermore worſhip thee with an vpright minde, in ſpirit and truth, as becommeth thy child, without all diſſimulation and hipocriſie, Lord I am fully purpoſed to keepe thy ſtatutes euen by the direction of thy ſpirit, for my truſt reſteth in thee.

2. A prayer to withſtand the frailty of fleſh, & cleaue vnto the Lord.

GOuerne and direct mee O Lord, according to thy worde, that I may order my life by the rule therof, and by the direction of thy holy ſpirit, dilligently obſerue thoſe thinges which thou haſt commanded me: I haue ſought thee O God with my whole heart, let me not therfore goe aſtray from thee. And though by frailety of my fleſh I haue vnaduiſedly heretofore fallē from thee, yet I beſeech thée of thy endleſſe mercy, ſlay me that I be not caſt downe for euer, and quicken me that I wander not any longer from thy precepts: vnite my minde to thy ſacred miſteries, that I may lay vp thine euerlaſting promiſes in my hart, leaſt through the vaine entiſements of my ghoſtly enemies, I be enforced to forget & negligently (for want thereof) to offend thy diuine maieſtie: for except thou O Lord which art altogether mercy, doſt guide and teach mee to leade my life aright, truely my weakeneſſe would not permit mee to ioy, or preuaile in that which is good: teach me therefore O Lord zealouſly to keepe thy ſtatutes, that I may boldly ſpeake to the land & praiſe of thy name, and openly ſhewe foorth thy holy word and bleſſed will, graunt that I may take more delight in the keeping of thy exhortations and commandments, then in al maner of earthly treaſures, and may meditate continually in thy precepts: endue me with heauenly wiſedome that I may vnderſtand thy lawes aright, and be euermore occupied therin vnto my liues end Amen.

3. A prayer to be guided in all puritie and godlineſſe.

GIue eare I moſt humbly beſeech thee O Lord, vnto the prayers that I offer heere vnto thy deuine maieſtie. Continue thy fauour towards me, in directing me with thy holy ſpirit, that I may ouercome that which ſauoureth of euil, and imbrace thoſe things which thou haſt commanded. Abandon from the eies of my ſoule, the vale of darkneſſe, that I may view and beholde the true light, and ſee the wonderfull ſecrets which euermore ſhine out of thy heauenly doctrine, and lead my life in quietneſſe, to thy honor and glorie. Thou knoweſt that I am a ſtranger, and vnacquainted on the earth, and that I deſire to be brought to another place, euen to thy heauenly habitation: wherfore I beſeech thée O God encline thine eare towards me, hide not from me thy ſtatutes, neither yet take thy holy ſpirit from me, that ſhould leade me to imbrace thy righteouſneſſe. I am deſirous with great care to liue acording to thy lawes and to keepe thine ordinance, both in proſperitie & aduerſity, wherfore O Lord I beſeech thee, let this zeale conſume me. Thou rebukeſt and deſtroyeſt the proud perſons and ſuch as ſtubbornely ſtriue againſt thee, and appointeſt deſtruction and bitterneſſe vnto thoſe that refuſe to keepe thy precepts. Though all men enuie me, and haue me in deſpight for the truthes ſake, yet thou in thy good time wilt remoue them far from me, becauſe I thy humble ſeruant doe put my truſt in thee, let my mind & heart be euermore occupied in meditating on thy ſtatutes, for therein is my delight.

4. A prayer in affliction.

GOod God, of thy infinite mercie, I beſeeche thee poure vpon me the oyle of thy grace, whoſe ſoule is grieuouſly tormented with daily afflictions, for I am like one without life, and faſtened to the ſepulchre, but my truſt is in thee O my good God, that thou wilt aſſiſt me in my neceſſitie, and reſtore me thy poore ſeouant vnto life againe, that I may laud and praiſe thy holy name euen in the middeſt of the congregation, for euer and euer. Quicken mee I ſay according to thy word, I will open vnto thee my complaints: giue eare therefore vnto me, and ſtill encourage me in the way of thy truth, and teach me thy ſtatutes. Enflame my heart with the loue of thy wiſedome, & raiſe me vp that am now fallen, for my ſoule melteth away for very heauineſſe. Exempt from me whatſoeuer may withdraw me from thy lawes, and graunt that I may continue in that good way which thou haſt imprinted in my heart. Giue vnto me I beſeech thee a willing and zealous mind, to cleaue faſt vnto thoſe thinges which are approoued by thy teſtimonies, and that I neuer ſhrink from thee, ſo ſhall I not be confounded: drawe me out of the ſtraights of ſin, into the euident and broad place of righteouſnes that I may finiſh the whole courſe of my life by the inſtinct & direction of thy holy ſpirit, and this life being ended, I may foreuer enioy thy eternall ſaluation, through my Lord and ſauior Chriſt Ieſus.

5. A prayer againſt the aſſaults of Sathan.

GVide me O Lord in the way of thy ſtatutes, that I may euer order my life a cording to the rule thereof by the prouident direction of thy holy ſpirit, without the which my inſufficiencie ſhall not be once able to performe the ſame in thy ſight: and euermore aſſiſt mee with the knowledge o thy word, that I may fully with vnderſtanding obſerue and keepe the ſame with my whole heart. Inſtruct me daily O God, that am now entred into the way of thy precepts, quench in my minde the deſire of filthie ſucre, couetouſnes & vſurie, which would draw me to all ſinne and iniquitie, and incline my heart to thoſe things that may pleaſe thee beſt, that I imbracing the ſame ſincerly, may fructeſie in good workes & newneſſe of life, to thy glorie. O my good God, keepe backe mine eies that they bee not deceiued with the enticing ſhewes of lewd vanities, that would withdraw me from the bright beames of thy incomparable maieſtie leade me O Lord into the true life, that I may zealouſly followe thee my guide, confirme me in thy truth as thou haſt promiſed turne away reproche and ſhame from me, becauſe I feare and loue thy iudgements, & I deſire nothing more then the encreaſe of thy grace, and the keeping of thy commaundements: ſaue me therfore O Lord, and keepe me both now and euermore, that I neuer haue occaſion to ſin againſt thee, but that I may ſtill truſt, and euermore depend vpon thy mercies to be defended from all dangers.

6. A praier for perſeuerance in the right way of godlineſſe.

GVard me on euery ſide O Lord with thy louing kindnes and omnipotent power and graunt mee thy ſaluation, wherby I may be defended from al my enemies, and be able to anſwere them in thee my ſauior, for I doe wholy depend vpon thy wordes: let me not be aſſaulted with deadly iniuries, neither let me in my afflictions be vnpatient: let not the truth of thy holy worde be taken or eſtranged from me, but let my mouth ſtill ſet forth thy glorie: quicken mee therefore in thy lawe, for I doe wait for thy iudgements vpon the vngodly, and I will keepe the doctrine which thou haſt giuen mee for euer and euer, and walke at liberty with a quiet minde, becauſe thou haſt indued me with a deſire to thy commandements, graunt that I neuer ſhrinke from thy truth, but with all boldenes of ſpirit endeuor my ſelfe to diſpute of thoſe thinges that concerne thy law, euen before the mighty princes of the earth: let my whole delight be in thy precepts O Lord, which are moſt deare vnto me, and encreaſe my zeale in thy worde for I haue loued it with my whole heart aboue all earthly felicity. I will lift vp my hands vnto thee, and before thy face will I preſent my ſelfe, beſeeching thée to endue me with thy grace and holy ſpirit, that I may walke in thy fight according to the preſcribed rule of thy precepts that thou haſt ſhewed me, and fi e my whole delight & comfort for euer in meditating vpon thy ſtatutes, O God that liueſt for euer.

7. A prayer for pacient abiding Gods good pleaſure.

GRaunt that I by experience may perceiue that thou art mindeful O God of thoſe thinges which thou haſt ſpoken vnto me thy ſeruant, and doeſt command me to truſt in: for in al my miſeries this is my ſtedfaſt comfort, that thou wilt in thy good time both helpe and ſuccour thy ſeruant that truſteth in thee, for though the prowd and vngodly perſon haue me in deriſion for thy names ſake, yet will I euer depend vpon thy holy word, for thy promiſes haue quickned mee, and when I think vpon the mercies which thou haſt ſhewed vnto me, in puniſhing them according to their deſerts, I am indued with great comfort: thou knoweſt O God what feare incloſeth me, when I heare the wicked bl ſpheme thy holy name, and forſake thy diuine precepts, being by thy ſpirit enformed of the euils that hang ouer their heads. Let thy ſtatutes Lord be my delight, that during the time of my wearie pilgrimage in this earthly tabernacle, I may neuer ceaſe to ſound thy praiſes with zealous harmonie, but ſet my whole care in the commemoration and calling vpon thy holy name, and watchfully thinke how I may behaue my ſelfe to keepe thy lawes: for at midnight haue I erected my minde vnto thee, and haue not ceaſed at all times to poure out my praiers before thee, the which thy ſpirit had motioned me vnto, becauſe I haue alwaies had an eſpeciall care to keepe the precepts which thou haſt appointed me.

8 A conſolation that God hath holpen vs, and a prayer for his grace ſo to continue.

GOod God, thou art my portion, and the expected land of my inheritance, graunt therefore that I may haue thy word to direct me, and when I poure foorth my praiers before thee, with ſpeed I beſeech thee giue eare vnto me, & vouchſafe to aſſiſt mee with thy holie ſpirit, and according to thy promiſes (vowed vnto thy ſeruants) haue mercie vpon me: let me not be enclined at any time, to forget thy goodnes, but continually quicken mee in thy truth and graunt mee O Lord God ſuch an vnderſtanding hart, that I neuer ſwarue from thy teſtimonies, but endeuour my ſelfe with all ſpeede to the keeping of thy commaundements: inſtruct me continually more and more, and defend me from the noiſome ſnares of the wicked that conſpire againſt me, and intend to ſuppreſſe in mee the good bleſſings which thou haſt lent moe. At midnight will I riſe to giue thankes vnto thee in commemoration of thy great kindneſſe ſhewed vnto me, and with true zeale will I frequent thy temple, to praiſe thee for thine aboundant graces extended vnto me, for thou of thy mercy haſt bleſſe me in all my dooings, deliuered me out of troubles and euermore defended me from mine enemies. Let me put no truſt in the vngodly, but let me ioyne with ſuch as feare thee, and haue a loue to thy ſtatutes: the earth O Lord is repleniſhed with thy endleſſe mercy, O teach me thy lawes wherein I ought to walke.

9. An acknowledgement of Gods mercy, and that by affliction man is taught true wiſedome.

GRatiouſly in mercie haſt thou dealt with me thy poore obedient ſeruant, according to thy worde, yet further I deſire thee O Lorde, that thou wouldeſt teach mee that true and ſincere knowledge ioyned with iudgement, that I may diſcerne all thinges aright, as it were by taſting a ſauorie thing: for vppon thy commaundements doe I depend. Before I was camed by the efficacie of thy rod, I wandred to and fro, but now am I quickned and haue learned therby to obey thy commaundements: be gratious vnto mee O Lord, and teach me thy ſtatutes. The vngodly haue euer practiſed miſchiefe againſt me, but haue failed, for that I endeuored myſelf to keep thy commadem rnts, and they thus neglecting their callings and being puffed vp with the vaine eſtimation of themſelues, are become dull and fooliſh, but in thy law is my whole delight, and therein wil I meditate all the day long. It was therefore for my commoditie that thou didſt chaſten me, for that I zealouſly do learne to immitate thy ſtatutes, for the doctrine and precepts that thou haſt by thine owne mouth reuealed before the face of thy people, and deliuered vnto me, is of more eſtimation then the fineſt pearle, or greateſt heapes of golde. Therefore O Lord, direct me thy poore ſeruant, with thy holy ſpirit, that this thy ſacred word may be ſo firmely and effectually grafted in my heart, that I may cleaue vnto thee for euer.

10. A prayer to be ſtrengthned in well doing.

GIue vnto mee that am the worke of thy hands, I beſeech thee, O God, ſuch vnderſtanding, and ſo continue thy fauourable mercies daily towards thy ſeruant, that I may learne thy commandements, ſo ſhall it come to paſſe, that all they which feare thee, ſhall reioyce at my ſtate, and giue due thankes vnto thee that haſt in mercie vouchſafed to preſerue me who haue alwaies truſted in thee: and by experience I finde, that thou, O Lord, doeſt nothing vniuſtly in viſiting my offences with thy ſcourges, for thy iudgements are vpright and nothing repugnant to thy truth, but let thy mercie be euer ready to comfort me according to thy promiſes: let thy endleſſe mercie be euer preſent, that my ſpirit may be reuiued, and that I neuer faint vnder thy fatherly hand, ſéeing that thy doctrine doth euermore delight me and that therein is my continuall exerciſe. Let the vngodly be aſhamed and altogether fruſtrate of their intent, who deale frowardly with thy ſeruant, and pretend the ruine of my zeale, and let me ſafely meditate on thy commaundements, that all ſuch as feare and loue thee vnfainedly, may be comforted by my example. Wherefore I humbly beſeech thee, O God, increaſe my knowledge in thy ſtatutes, that I mny keepe the ſame with a pure and vpright heart to my ſoules health: and graunt, O my good God, that I neuer be aſhamed of thy eternall truth, but that I may perſeuere therin vnto the end.

11. A lamentable petition for aid in meere diſtreſſe.

GOne is my ſtrength O Lord, and my ſoule fainteth becauſe of thy ſaluation, which I daily expect, yet will I ſtill wait for my deliuerance, becauſe of thy promiſe graunted vnto me out of thy ſacred word: yea, mine eyes do faile mee for the long looking after thoſe thinges which thou haſt ſpoken vnto me, and I doe quaile vnder my heauy burthen: I am conſtrained often times to expreſſe my miſery in theſe wordes: Alas, alas, Why doeſt thou not quickely come and comfort me? I am like a bottle dried in the ſmoake, for very heauineſſe and anguiſh of my ſoule, yet doe I not forget thy euerlaſting promiſes and ſtatutes: how long ſhall my griefe endure? And when ſhall the ſorrowfull daies of thy ſeruant ceaſe? Shall not thy puniſhments proceed againſt them that perſecute mee? The enemies of my ſoule digge pittes and lay ſnares for me, contrarie to thy law. All thy precepts O Lord, are true, though the wicked in their furie doe perſecute me, and goe about to ſéeke the decay of my zeale. Wherefore, O Lord, in thy good time helpe me that vnworthily am oppreſſed, and although they haue caſt mee downe and almoſt brought me to nought, yet haue I not forſaken thy precepts: erect and reſtore me to life, O my good God, euen for the ſingular loue that thou beareſt vnto thy ſeruants, that I may obſerue the thinges that thou haſt appointed me out of thy holy worde, and carefully keepe them for euermore. Graunt this, O Father, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake our onely Sauiour and redeemer. Amen.

12. An extolling of Gods vnſpeakeable goodneſſe, with thankſgiu ng for his mercie ſhewed.

GOod God, why ſhould I ſeeme to doubt of the certentie of thy promiſes, ſeeing thou art altogether righteouſneſſe, and thy word doth endure for euer in heauen? Yea, thy truth I know aſſuredly ſhall neuer faile in any age, for the very body of the earth doth ſo abide, as it was eſtabliſhed by the mightie hand of thy power vpon her foundation: & all other things, O Lord, do ſo continue & euidently ſtand as they were ordained with thee from the beginning, both in qualitie and eſtate, obeying theé as their Lord. Now therefore O God, giue me an vnderſtanding heart, that I may faithfully loue and obey thee, for except I had truſted in thee, and had a delight in thy law, I had been enuironed with deſtruction in my troubles being plunged in the net of calamities. Let me not therefore, O Lord, forget thy eternal precepts for in obſeruing of them, I am reſtored to life. Saue me therefore, for I am thine, and make me perfect in thy ſtatutes, ſo ſhall I ſtill meditate in thy precepts, and with zeale ſeeke and loue thy commaundements: though the wicked goe about to deſtroy my ſoule, yet doe I yeelde my minde to be occupied in thy ſtatutes, for I ſee that all thinges heere on earth, be they neuer ſo perfect and abſolute, are brought to an end: neuertheleſſe thy precepts and holy word are prolonged without meaſure, and endure for euer and euer, worlde without end. Amen.

13. A worthy meditation and ioyfulnes for receiuing true vnderſtanding.

GReat is my loue vnto the ſacred words of thy mouth, O Lord, yea I conſume whole daies in meditating vpon the ſame, and I doe find by experience, that I haue not done this in vaine, ſeeing that by thy precepts I haue proued to be much wiſer then all my aduerſaries, yea and thou O my God, haſt giuen me an vnderſtanding heart, in feeling thy goodneſſe towards me, and euer making thy teſtimonies thy meditation, yea thou haſt quickned me and made me more ſkilfull then the graue men of vnderſtanding, becauſe I was bent to knowe thy precepts, and incitned to keepe them indeede, for I held backe my feete from euery euill way, that I might tread the path which thou haſt now alreadie declared vnto me out of the treaſures of thy eternall teſtament. Strengthen me O Lord, that I turne not from thy lawes, but that I may meditate therein night and day to my incomparable comfort, whereby through thy direction I may zealouſly perſeuere in the knowledge of thee, and euermore abide conſtant in thy truth to my eternall ſaluation: let me be occupied continually in thy worde, for I feele the ſame to be an euerlaſting comfort to my ſoule, and of more ſweetneſſe then if I had taſted of hony, and by obſeruation of thy precepts haue I gotten wiſdome, and therfore I do vtterly abhorre the entiſing ſhewes of worldly vanities, which are nothing but falſhood.

14. A prayer for Zeale and conſtancy.

GRaunt I beſeech thee, moſt mercifull God, that thy holy word opening & diſperſing the darkſome clouds of my mind, may declare ſuch light vnto my footſteps, that all my waies may be ſafely guided, according to the ſincerity of thy lawes: and let this light O Lord, ſo illuminate my heart and vnderſtanding, that I may by a ſolemne vow binde myſelfe for euer vnto thee, and obteine abilitie from thee with all humillitie and quietnes of life to performe the ſame that I haue promiſed vnto thee. Thou ſeeſt O Lord how ſore I am afflicted and vexed on euery ſide, wherefore ſaue me and quicken me according to thy eternall verity: accept the prayers and vowes of my mouth that I now offer vnto thee, and teach me thy ſtatutes more and more: and extend thy mercies, O Lord, vnto my miſeries, for my life is laid open to all troubles and danger, as though I did cary it in my hand, but let not the ſame, O God, pull backe my zeale from thy law. The wicked haue imagined deceit againſt me, yet will I not wander from thy precepts. Bleſſe me I beſeéch thee O deare Father, with thy grace, that I make no eſtimation of worldly thinges, but that I may accept thy teſtimonies as mine inheritance foreuer, for they are the ioy of my heart: inſtruct me to apply my minde for euer. euen to my laſt gaſpe, to obſerue thy ſtatutes. Amen.

15. A prayer to flie worldly vanities, and to delight in godlineſſe.

GRant I beſeech thee, O God, that I may hate the vaine inuentious of ſuch as wander from thy truth, and account thy doctrine moſt dear vnto my ſoule Be thou (moſt mercifull Lord) my refuge and ſhield whereunto in my grieuous diſtreſſe and daunger I may alwaies flie for ſuccour. Let thy word O God be my truſt vnto the end, and baniſh the wicked out of my company, that I may euermore keepe thy precepts more purely. Eſtabliſh and quicken me, O Lord, according to thy promiſe, that I may be vpholden leaſt I periſh: let me not be diſappointed of my expectation, but ſtrengthen me in thy good time, I moſt entirely beſeech thee, and holde me vp with thy mercifull hand both now and euer, that I being ſafe, may delight continually in thy eternall ſtatutes: let the crafty practiſes of them that contemne thy lawe, be brought to naught, and take away the wicked that infect the people, euen as droſſe with the pure mettall, that my zeale in thy teſtimonies may be full. Thy iudgements O Lord are of ſuch power, that they not onely teach me obedience, but cauſe me to feare, conſidering mine owne weakeneſſe, thereby enclining me to repentance and amendment of life, for the which O Lord, I thy poore ſeruant do render vnto theé moſt humble and hearty thanks, beſeeching thee ſtil to increaſe my knowledge in thy ſacred miſteries. Amen.

16. A prayer to deale vprightly and not to be put to ſhame by the vngodly.

GOod God, in thy great mercie teach me thy lawes, hat I oppreſſe no man with vnrighteous iudgement, but that I may deale iuſtly and truely with all men in thy ſight, that I be not ſlaundered of mine enemies, neither brought to open ſhame. Aſſiſt me O Lord with thy power, & ſtand on my ſide againſt the vngodly, that they triumph not ouer me, for my verie eyes do faile me in waiting for my deliuerāce, and my ſtrength quaileth in expecting thy promiſes, deale not with me thy vnworthie ſeruant according to my deſerts, but of thy endleſſe mercie teach me thy ſtatutes, for thou art my eternall Lord, and I am thy ſeruant, graunt therefore that I neuer ſwarne from thee, but that I may know thy will, and faithfully imbrace thy teſtimonies. In thy good time ariſe, O Lord, and deſtroy the wicked that goe about to bring thy lawes into vtter ruine and decay, and pretend the confuſion of my zeale, for I will loue and firmely cleaue to thy precepts, aboue all treaſure and fine gold: yea, and my whole delight ſhall be therein for euer: For I know that thy commaundements are altogether equitie and truth it ſelfe, yea and a certaine rule for me to traſt vnto, therefore do I abhore whatſoeuer diſſenteth from the hidden priuitie of thy word, beſeeching thee, O Father, ſtill to increaſe in me the deſire that I haue vnto thy ſacred myſteries.

17 A meditation on the excellencie of Gods holy word.

GRatious God, thy teſtimonies containe ſuch high myſteries, and are of ſuch excellencie, that I am mooued with admiration and reuerence, when I doe thinke thereupon, and therfore are they ſo precious vnto my ſoule, that it greatly deſireth to imbrace and keepe them aboue all earthly treaſures: for the entrance into thy holy word is ſo vnſpeakeable, that it giueth light to them that are indarknes, and inſtructeth the ſimple in the knowledge of thy will, it ſtirreth vp quietnes, and moueth peace in conſcience: therefore, O Lord graunt me vnderſtanding, and open my mouth, that I may with vnfained lippes euermore praiſe thee, and ſwallow thy precepts euen as the thirſty man doth earneſtly deſire to drinke: looke on thy ſeruant, O Lord, both now and euer, and be mercifull vnto me, as thou vſeſt to doe vnto thy elect & them that loue thy name. Direct my pathes, O God, and lead me in the way wherein I ought to walke, that If all not into the ſnares that the wicked haue laid to entrap me withall, but zealouſly perſeuer in thy commaundements, and let not afflictions aſſault me aboue my ſtrength, but deliuer and defend me from the baites of my enemies, that I may ſerue thee: ſhine on me with the euerlaſting light of thy fauourable countenance, and teach me thy ſtatutes: mine eyes guſh out with teares, when I do heare thy enemies, how contemptuouſly they ſpeake and intend to ſubuert thy law, that endureth for euer.

18. A prayer to beare the croſſe of affliction and reproch patiently.

GOod God, thou art altogether iuſt and righteous, and all thy ordinances are truth and equitie: grant that I may obſerue thy lawes dilligently as a moſt iuſt and perfect rule of thy truth and ſincere religion, for thy wordes and ſweete promiſes. O Lord are ſo ioyful vnto me that the oue therof doth conſume me, becauſe the vngodly doe deſpiſe thy precepts, yet ſhall thy truth for euermore endure and flouriſh in puritie, wherefore extend the ſame vnto me, and quicken thy ſeruant therein for euer, that I may imbrace it with vnderſtanding, and though the wicked therefore haue me in no eſtimation but account me an abiect yet will I not thereby be exempted from the ſtudie of thy commaundements, nor neglect my ſo neceſſary a calling: for thy righteouſneſſe O God, is an euerlaſting righteouſneſſe, though other ordinances and lawes which mans wiſedome hath ſet downe are ſubiect to innumerable changes, and at length come to an end and the zeale of thy word induceth ſuch comfort vnto my ſoule, that in afflictions when troubles and anguiſh oppreſſe me, I am buſily occupied in repeating the ſame in my ſongs: oh how excellent is thy ſweetneſſe vnto them that are in miſerie, yea thou haſt prepared a bleſſed and an euerlaſting fountaine in heauen, for them that loue thee. Graunt me vnderſtanding therefore, eſpecially in thy truth, that I may liue with thee for euermore.

19. A prayer for helpe in aduerſitie.

GIue eare o Lord I beſéech thee, vnto the crie and lamentable voyce of my ſorrowfull heart, for I haue called vpon thee with my whole heart day and night, graunt that I may dilligently obſerue thy ſtatutes, and in all my dangers vouchſafe to ſend mee thy aide and aſſiſtance whereby I may continually be ſtirred vp to meditate on thy teſtimonies, let my praiers preuent the early light of the morning, and in the night-watches O Lord quicken my minde with the commemoration of thy goodnes, and hearken vnto my earneſt petitions, acording to thy louing kindenes extended vnto thy children, and as thou haſt promiſed, reſtore me to the inioying of thy fauour, that am without life: thou ſeeſt how neere they aſſault me which are continually giuen to iniquitie, and earneſtly bent to deſtroy thy teſtimonies, praiſing thee with their lippes, but in hart, are farre from thee. But my truſt is onely in thee, O Lord, that thou wilt cleaue vnto thy ſeruant, and increaſe my zeale more and more. Teach mee I beſeech thee moſt mercifull God, the aſſured way of thy commaundements, for I know certainely, that by the obſeruation of thy teſtimonies I ſhal neuer be in error, neither ye fruſtrate of my hope which I haue in thy mercy. For thou haſt eſtabliſhed the ſame for euer and euer. Heare me, O Lord God I moſt humbly beſeech thee, and aſſiſt me euermore with thy grace and holy ſpirit, that I may reſt with thee eternally.

20. A prayer for to be ſtrengthned being weake.

GOod Lord I moſt humbly beſéech thée, regard me that am ſore oppreſſed: and in thy good time deliuer me which doe not forget the doctrine that thou haſt taught me. I appeale for mercie vnto thy ſoueraigne bountie, pleade thou my cauſe therefore and be my Iudge, and in thy good time preſerue and defend me: For ſaluation is farre from the vngodly, becauſe they neither feare thee nor obſerue thy ſtatutes. I expect thy mercies, O Lord, and not mine owne righteouſneſſe to helpe me. Quicken me therefore according to thy iudgements, and although they that vniuſtly perſecute me, are many in number, and mighty, yet do I incline my heart to the obſeruation of thy teſtimonies, and euermore delight in thy precepts, yea I haue had ſuch a loue to thy law, that I neuer conceiued more griefe of any thing then when I did euidently perceiue theſe men to deſpiſe thy words and neglect thy law, but let thy mercie take hold on me, that haue had my felicitie in thy commaundements, and accounted them moſt deare vnto me: increaſe my zeale O Lord, and ſaue me that I periſh not, vouchſafe to aſſiſt me with thy perpetuall graces, that I may walke vprightly before thy preſence, ſeruing thee continually with feare and reuerence, and eſteeming the wordes of thy mouth to be the ordinary meane to bring me vnto ſaluation, for they are infallible, and thou haſt ordained them to ſtand for euer: therefore are they the eternal and vnchaungeable rule of thy iuſtice world without end.

21. A ioyfull reckoning vp what ſpirituall comfort and how precious we enioy by Gods word.

GRatious God, the threatenings and iniurious perſecutions of the mightie ones of this world, could not make me once to deny thee, for my heart ſtood more in awe of thy moſt ſacred worde, then of their indignation; continue ſtill thy aſſiſtance therefore towards me thy poore ſeruant, that by the vertue of thy holy ſpirit working in my heart, I may enioy and take more delight and comfort in thy ſacred worde (which quickneth me in all troubles) then in all the kingdomes and vaine treaſures in this world, and that I may willingly reiect & abhorre all manner of deceit and wickedneſſe, euer imbracing thy moſt comfortable teſtimonies: for when I doe narrowly ſee into thy iudgements & ſacred myſteries, how excellent they are, I am often and ſundrie times enforced to land and praiſe thy holy name: the loue of thy heauenly lawe bringeth into great proſperitie all ſuch as retaine the ſame, for they doe zealouſly ſearch out the ſecrets thereof, and are in their conſciences aſſured that they pleaſe thee, therefore graunt O Lord that I may faithfully beleeue in thee, and ſtill depend vppon thy ſaluation: giue me euer patience in my troubles, and let me ſtill obſerue and keepe thy teſtimonies, and haue a continuall loue thereunto: graunt that I may haue no reſpect vnto men, but to ſet thee alwaies before my eies, as the iuſt Iudge of all my doings. Amen.

A prayer to be kept vnder the protection of the moſt higheſt.

GIue eare, I moſt humbly beſeech thee, O God, vnto the complaints of me poore ſinner, and graunte mée the true vnderſtanding of thy diuine precepts, oh let my ſupplications come before thee, and ſaue me O Lord that put my whole truſt and confidence in thée, according to thy promiſe, that I may ioyfully yéeld vnto thee vnceſſant praiſes, and obſerue thy ſtatutes, (wherein thou haſt inſtructted me) with diligence for eu r. Let nothing cauſe me to quaile, O God, but that the words of my tongue may ſet forth thy vpright iuddements and glory, for thou art my louing God, on whome I euermore depend, and my comfort conſiſteth in thy precepts: erect thy hand to helpe me poore ſinner, for I haue not neglected thy ſtatutes: let my whole life depend vpon thee for euer and let me ſeeke comfort at thine onely doctrine, let my life be prolonged and couered vnder the ſhadow of thy wings, that I being deliuered by thee, may render continual thankes vnto thee, and zealouſly imbrace thy teſtimonies: ah alas how haue I gone aſtray and wandred too and fro like a loſt ſheepe from his ſhepheard, being readie to fall into all daungers, and to be deuoured of the enemie, but of thy mercie, O Lord, thou haſt called me home vnto thy ſheepefold and reſtored me againe to the knowledge of thy heauenly doctrine: wherefore O God, ſo guide me with thy grace, and inſtruct me with thy holy ſpirit, that I may continue therein for euer.

A prayer that we may only delight in Gods lawes.

WIth thy grace and holy ſpirit aſſiſt me, O God, that I walke not in the ſteppes of the vngodly, neither followe after their wicked and licentious counſell: Let me not ſtand in the waies of impudent ſinners, neither yet ſit or kéepe company with ſuch as deride thee and blaſpheme thy holy name, but graunt, O God, that my whole delight may be fixed in the keeping of thy ſacred lawes, and that my mind may meditate therein night and day. Make me, O God, as a fruitfull tree planted by the water ſide, that being alwaies refreſhed with thy grace, I may bring forth the fruits of repentance, and daily proceed in newneſſe of life to thy honour and glory, ſo that what buſineſſe or affaires ſoeuer I take in hand, it may proſper: but ſcatter thou the vngodly like chaffe before the wind, and let them tremble at thy righteous iudgements, that they ſtand not in the aſſembly of the iuſt, for thou like a mercifull God wilt allow and maintaine the life of thy children, but the euill life of the wicked ſhall vtterly periſh in thy preſence, yea, and in the end they ſhall go to deſtruction, therfore will I truſt in thee for euermore.

A praier for boldnes and courage in ſtanding to the truth.

FAile me not, moſt mercifull God, for there are many that riſe vp againſt me vexing my ſoule continually: yea, they aſſault me with diuers temptations, ſaying, there is no helpe nor victorie for him in his God, but yet in thy good time thou wilt ſend nouriſhment and ſuccour vnto thy ſeruant, and defend me on euery ſide from them that cruelly ſeeke my deſtruction, yea thou art my glory, and thou in mercy wilt lift mee vp when I am fallen, therefore will I ſtill call vpon thée, o Lord, for I know thou wilt heare me out of thy eternall tabernacle, and ſeeing thou art my good God, I will lay me downe and reſt in peace, and ariſe again becauſe thou defendeſt me: the remembrance of thy promiſes and trial thereof haue ſo increaſed my loue and faith to thée, that though many thouſands pretend my vtter ouerthrow, yet will I not be affraid, for thou art the God of my force: come forth therefore, O Lord, and helpe me, and in thy good time beate downe my enemies, and ſtrike them vpon the iawes that ſeeke to do me euill: break thou the teeth of the vngodly, and confound all ſuch as daily go about to ſlaunder me without a cauſe: it is in thee, O Lord to free me from diſtreſſe, and to deliuer me from the ſnares of my oppreſſours, for thy bleſſing is vpon thy people, and thou wilt relieue them in their neceſſitie: wherefore extend thy mercie towards me: and defend me both now and euer, that I may yéeld continuall praiſe for euer.

A praier to be deliuered from Gods wrath.

ASſiſt me, O Lord, with thy grace and holy ſpirit, and rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chaſten me in thy diſpleaſure, but haue mercie vpon me that am vtterly deſtitute of ſtrength and reliefe: heale me O God, for my ſoule is grieuouſly vexed becauſe of my ſinne, and ſore ſhaken through mine iniquities, my heart ſigheth being now touched with the feare of thy iudgements, wherefore incline thee to helpe me, and ſaue me for thy mercies ſake, for they that are in the graue cannot praiſe thee: O Lord, in mourning I faint, and in remorſe my ſorrow increaſeth, I weare away becauſe of the lewdnes of my aduerſaries and am ſore vexed by reaſon of the miſeries wherewith I poore ſinner am oppreſſed, but away from me yee wicked, for the Lord hath heard my voice and wofull crye, yea the Lord hath heard my praier and humble ſute, and he in his great mercie will confound my enemies, and ſend me reliefe in my greateſt neceſſitie, and will put to flight all ſuch as worke my decay or ſéeke to doe me euill. Increaſe thy loue in me, O Lord, that I may render due thankes vnto thée for thy continuall aſſiſtance, and praiſe thy name becauſe of thy louing kindeneſſe ſhewed vnto me, in depending wholly vpon thy merites for euer and euer.

A prayer not to be ouercome of the wicked.

REgard, I moſt heartily beſeech thée, O God, ye humble petitions and praiers of thy ſeruant, for vnto thee alone do I lift vp my hart and ſoule, beſéeching thee to extend thy mercy and pitie towards me, that haue euermore put my truſt & confidence in thee: let not mine enemies reioice ouer me, neither ſuffer me thy ſeruant to be put to confuſion, becauſe my hope reſteth onely on thy ſaluation, but euermore retaine me in the faith of thy promiſes, that I ſwerne not on any ſide, guide my ſteps in thy truth, and inſtruct me in the rule of thy will, for thou art the God from whom I expect and looke for my deliuerance: be mindefull of thy mercies which thou haſt often ſhewed vnto thy ſeruants, and of thy manifold benefits which thou from time to time haſt declared vnto all ages. Remember not the lewdneſſe of my youth, but in thy mercies think vpon thy ſeruant, inſtruct me in thy laws, and teach me to be humble, be merciful to mine iniquities, for they are great, and by the direction of thy holy ſpirit conduct me in the right way, that my ſoule may dwell at eaſe and inherite the land which thou haſt prepared for them that ſerue thee: reueale vnto me, O God, the ſecrets of thy holy word that I may be endued with vnderſtanding: turne thy face vnto me, and extend thy mercie towards me, looke vpon my afflictions, and releaſe me of my ſinnes, and deliuer Iſrael out of all his troubles.

A praier for reliefe in ſicknes and anguiſh of ſpirit.

HEarken vnto my humble ſuit, O Lord, & in thy mercy giue eare vnto my praiers, I doe not here plead for my ſelfe, neither do I refuſe to be reprooued of thee, but beſeeching thee not to rebuke and chaſtiſe me in the heat of thy wrath, for thy hand and heauie yoake oppreſſeth me, and the ſenſe of thine ire worthily kidnled againſt me, endureth ſo grieuous vpon me, that my whole bodie conſumeth for the aboundance of my wicked offences, yea my wounded conſcience is ready to putrifie through ſin, and I dare not but with heauie countenance lift vp mine eies towards thee: my heart and reines doe burne, O Lord, with intollerable paine, and there is no part of my body free from griefe. I wholly languiſh & faint for very ſorrow of my heart, thou knoweſt my deſire, O God, and my ſighing is apparant vnto thée my heart panteth, my ſtrength decayeth, and my eyeſight now faileth me, many there be that ſéeke my deſtruction, and there is none to helpe me but thou alone, wherfore on thee will I waite and abide thy good time for my ſuccour, helpe me therefore that now calleth vpō thee, leſt I be brought into decay: and let not my ghoſtly enemies triumph ouer me, who deſire to ſee my ouerthrow. In thee O God haue I euer truſted, forſake me not therefore, but of thy gratious goodneſſe ſend me ſpeedie comfort: O mercifull Lord be not far from me in my diſtreſſe, but haſt thee to help me. Amen.

A thankſgiuing for deliuerance from ſickeneſſe and pa ne.

EXtend thy grace and holy ſpirit towards thy ſeruant, O Lord, that I may daily magnifie thee, for thou art my deliuerer and haſt not ſuffered my foes with pride to triumph ouer me. I cried vnto thee in my troubles, and thou like a mercifull God diddeſt deliuer me, thou haſt defended me from daungers of death, and renewed me alwaies with comfort: therefore ſhall I ſing praiſes vnto thy diuine maieſtie for euer, thine anger endureth but a while, but thy fauour to the end of our life: and though ſorrow abideth in the euening, yet ioy commeth in the morning, and in my proſperitie I ſaid, I ſhall neuer be moued, but ſo ſoone as thou dideſt reſtraine thy fauour from mee, I was ſtricken, then did I returne to thee, O Lord & praied, what profit is therin my blood when I am ſlaine? or ſhall my body made of duſt ſing praiſes vnto thee, or declare thy truth and faithful conſtancie in performing thy promiſes. O Lord, heare me and receiue me to thy fauour, helpe me good God I beſeech thee, and haue mercie vpon me, and loe thou haſt turned my mourning into ioy, and remooued the ſorrow of my heart to gird me with gladneſſe, yea thou haſt made thy louing kindneſſe ſo ioyfull vnto me, that I do meditate of thy goodneſſe all the day long, therfore ſhal my tongue be wholly conſecrate both now and euer to ſet foorth thy praiſes. O Lord my God, on whoſe mercie dependeth my ſaluation, I will giue thankes to thee for euer and euer.

A prayer that God according to his mercifull promiſe will deliuer him from his enemies.

HEarken I moſt humbly beſeech thee, O God, vnto my complaint, and incline thy eare vnto my lamētable ſighs, for my ſoule is now oppreſſed with troubles, and grieuouſly wounded through ſinne, wherefore releaſe my heauie burthen, and mitigate my tormenting paines, for there is none to helpe me but thou alone, that art the God of my might, mine eies cannot reſt, nor mine eyeliddes ſlumber, becauſe of my heauineſſe, but ſo ſoone as I record thy greate goodneſſe ſhewed vnto me of old, how is my ſoule comforted, and how quiet is my conſcience within me, deliuer me therefore according to thy wonted mercies, and let me neuer be vnmindefull of thee, but that my ſpirit may ſtill reioyce, and be indued with a ſtedfaſt hope of thy promiſes, and though the wicked ſeeke my decay, yet let my truſt be wholly fixed vpon thee: giue me vnderſtanding and knowledge from aboue, that I may faithfully obſerue thy fatherly precepts: be not long abſent from me O God, neither let thy ſweete promiſes faile me, but in thy mercy reſpect me thy ſeruant, and poure on me thy heauenly bleſſings: grant me the direction of thy grace and holy ſpirit, that with all humilitie and perfect patience, I may ſtand faſt in the day of my trouble, and after this wretched life ended, indue me O Lord, with thy eternall reſt to dwell with thee for euer.

A gratefull extolling of Gods ineſtimable benefits.

FRom the very inward part of my heart, O my ſoule, praiſe thou the Lord, and all that reſteth within me praiſe his holy name, for all his graces, mercies, and manifolde benefites that he in great mercie hath beſtowed vpon me, for he hath couered the filthineſſe of my iniquities, altered my naturall wilfulneſſe, and healed my broken heart, and the bloudie wounds of my conſcience: O my God thou haſt redeemed my life from deſtruction, and of thine infinite mercies doeſt alwaies ſatiffie me with good thinges: thou renueſt my ſoule like the youth of an Eagle, and haſt reuealed vnto mee thy way and holy word: thou art altogether mercie and full of compaſſion, ſlow to wrath, and of great kindeneſſe to all ſuch as come vnto thee, thou wilt not alwaies lowre, nor keep thine anger for euer, neither doſt thou deale with me after my ſinnes, nor reward me according to mine iniquicies: for thou in mercie wilt ſet my ſinnes ſo farre from me as the Eaſt is from the Weſt, and neuer thinke vpon them any more: thou ſheweſt thy ſelfe to be a moſt gratious father in extending thy bountiful beneuolence vnto ſuch as honour thée, for thou knoweſt that we are but duſt and like the flower of the field, alwaies ready to be carried away with light blaſtes of winde to all manner of vanities, but thy mercie (O my good God) and louing kindneſſe endureth for euer. Let thy righteouſnes hold me vp both now and euermore, that I may feare thee and keepe thy commaundements in continuall remembrance to do them, that after this life ended I may gaine the fruition of thy kingdome. which for thy elect thou haſt prepared in heauen, to ſing praiſes vnto thee with thy holy Angels, and to enioy thy preſence O Lord which raigneſt and ruleſt for euer. Amen.

A praier to be deliuered from his aduerſaries.

REgard my humble petitions and prayers, moſt gracious God, and in thy mercie giue eare vnto my requeſts, for vnto thee alone doe I come in the time of my neceſſitie, accept therefore I beſeech thee the cryes that I hee reoffe vp vnto thee, rule thou my thoughts, and guid my waies aright, that my heart be not inclined to euill, and ſo procure me to runne vnaduiſedly to doe the workes of iniquities: but let the iuſt man with diſcretion reprooue me, that I by his exhortations may diſcerne and knowe the ſnares that the wicked haue laid to entrap me withall, and not onely ſhunne them my ſelfe, but admoniſh others in like manner to eſchew the ſame, who ſeeing the vngodly with grieuous torments to be miſerably afflicted, may with humble and penitent hearts returne vnto thee O Lord, and acknowledge theé to be their onely ſtay and ſuccour in al their actions: my life, O God, is expoſed to all miſeries: neuertheleſſe I moſt earneſtly beſeech thee to be my protector, and though my ſtate be ſlipperie, yet let thy right hand ſupport me, and thy louing kindeneſſe encloſe me about, and when my hands are erected to call vpon thy name (being full of hope) graunt ſpeedie releaſe vnto me, leaſt I fall into the net that the wicked haue laid for me, that I being gouerned and directed by thy mighty power, may for euer henceforth extoll thy glorious name, whileſt the wicked are together entangled in their owne mallice: graunt this O father for thy deare ſonne our Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt.

A prayer to perceiue his owne fraile eſtate.

TEach me O Lord to ord r my ſteppes according to the rule of thy holy word, that the wicked entrap me not in my dealings, Let the number of my daies be knowne vnto me, and make me I beſeech thee more and more ſeriouſly to conſider how tranſitory this life is, that I may apply my heart continually to the contemplation of thy hidden ſecrets and deuine myſteries, for the length of my yeares is but as a ſpanne, and all earthly things are nothing but meere vanitie in thy ſight, therefore as the chaſed Hart deſireth to be refreſhed by the aid of the water brookes, ſo longeth my ſoule after thee, O God: therefore let not thy graces and holy ſpirit O God, be taken from me, but extend thy hand to deliuer me from all inconueniences, that I become not an open rebuke vnto mine enemies, take thoſe plagues and ſeuere puniſhments from me that my ſinnes do deſerue, and let thy mercie be an eternall comfort vnto mee, graunt me vnderſtanding and ſend me knowledge from aboue, that I may ſee into the cauſe of my afflictions, and neuer murmure at thy fatherly chaſtiſements: heare my praier and in thy mercy take pittie and compaſſion vpon me, aſſwage the great heate of thine anger towards me, and releaſe the troubles of my heauy heart, and grant me a ſpace of repentance before the time of thy fatherly calling, that I may reſt with thee for euer.

A prayer for iourneying.

I Commit this my iourney and corporall trauell, moſt merciful father, vnto thy heauenly direction to guide and gouerne me therein as ſhall ſeeme beſt to thy onely goodneſſe and godly wiſedome: and as this my troubleſome and weary life is nothing els but a pilgrimes paſſage, and onely a ſpan from birth to graue, ſo graunt, that I may alwaies conſider of it. And I beſeech thee O my God, that as to Iacob iourneying into the Eaſt, & praying reuerently for thy gratious protection, thou diddeſt fauourably and of thine infinite mercie miniſter all thinges neceſſary to his ſafety, ſo thou wilt now mercifully beholde me, a member of thy little Iſrael, and ſafely keepe and preſerue me in my iourney, that the ſame may tend to the honour of thy name, and to the comfort of my conſcience both now and euer, that like as Iacob ſaide thou ſhouldeſt be his God, ſo we knowing that in all thinges thou art more good and plentiful vnto vs a thouſand fold then we can deſerue, may for thy heauenly graces and continuall goodneſſe ſing laud & praiſes vnto thy holy name; o God, that for euer liueſt, one in trinitie & thrée in vnitie, Amen.

A prayer out of the Cxlv. Pſalme.

FRom the bottome of my heart, O my God, will I ertoll thy name, and render thankes vnto thee for euer and euer. I will conſecrate all the daies of my life to ſet forth thy glory, and to yéeld praiſes vnto thee continually, for thou art great O Lord, and there is no praiſe ſufficient for thee, yea the memoriall of thy name will I cauſe to endure from one generation to another, neither ſhall I alone labour to doe this my dutie, for verily there will be alwaies ſome aſſembly which will by all meanes teſtifie the remembrance of my deeds and peculiar goodnes, and openly declare thy vndoubted promiſes, remaining vnto all ages, namely that thou art moſt mercifull and gratious vnto ſuch as truſt in thee, and thy louing kindneſſe endureth for euer, neither is it manifeſt whether thou art either more ſlowe vnto wrath, or more proue to pardon, for thou, O Lord I knowe art good to all men, and thy mercies are aboue thy workes, yet is thy name, O God, extolled in thy workes, and the praiſe of thy glorie appeareth in all thy creatures: thou ſtaieſt vp euery one which els ſhould fall, and graunteſt releefe vnto ſuch as are already fallen, yea thou giueſt help continually vnto thoſe that loue thee, but deſtroieſt the wicked, and therefore by good right, O Lord, will I ſound foorth thy praiſes for euer and euer.

A prayer to be ſaid before the receiuing of the Lords Supper.

LOuing Lord and my moſt merifull father, in wonderfull mercy, I acknowledge it hath pleſed thée to purge me ſilly wretch by the death & bloody paſſion of thy ſonne, from al my ſins and iniquities, to haue adopted me thy childe, and giuen me the earneſt of my ſaluation, touching my heart with an infallible ſence and feeling of thy mercies and ſetled confidence in thy promiſes, ſo that euen now, in the commemoration of thy vnſpeakeable bleſſings my ſoule is newly entred into thy houſe, to take the holeſome cup of eternall ſaluation, and to call vpon thy holy name: aſſiſt me therfore with thy ſpirit, O Lord, & giue me a wiſe and vnderſtanding heart, that I may conceiue rightly of thy ſacred myſteries and deuine precepts, diſcerne them ſecretly, and receiue them effectually, not with raſhnes of minde, but with ſobriety, in righteouſnes and holineſſe of life, vnto the perfect conſummation and finiſhing of that happy building, which thy worthy goodneſſe in mercy hath prouidently begunne in me, yea vntill I be come to the meaſure of the eternall age and fulneſſe of my Lord and ſauiour Ieſus Chriſt Amen.

A godly prayer for ſuch things as be needefull both for ſoule and bodie.

Extend thy fauourable pitie towards me, O Lord, and in thy mercie doe away my iniquities, take from me al hardnes of heart, and indue me with thy grace and holy ſpirit, that my delight may be in thy lawes: bleſſe and proſper I beſeech thee, my bodily labours, and ſend mee ſuch neceſſarie reliefe both for my ſoule and bodie, as ſhall ſeeme moſt expedient to thy deuine wiſedome. O God keepe me vnder the ſhadowe of thy winges from all the afflictions of this wretched life, and defend me from the naughtie dealing of lying lippes and ſlandering tongues: let me not doe any thing contrary to thy will, O Lord, but keepe me in ſuch good order of life, that I be not defamed of the wicked and vngodly perſon. Confirme me in the knowledge of thy law, and ſend me ſpéedie reliefe in al my troubles: giue me good God a feeling of my ſinnes with earneſt repentance, and that I may perſeuer in newneſſe of life, to thy honor and glorie: let me auoid the company of ſuch as be euill, and let my whole delight conſiſt in the ſecrets of thy ſacred myſteries, that I may openly ſet forth thy praiſes, and yeelde vnceſſant thankes vnto thee: graunt that I may eſcape the net that the wicked haue priuily laid to intrap me, for my hope conſiſteth in thy ſaluation, and when my weary daies, O Lord, ſhall draw to an end in leauing this life and earthly pilgrimage, graunt me a ſtrong and ſtedfaſt faith with ſpeech and memorie euen to the end, that ſo departing in peace, I may reſt with thee for euer. Amen.

A prayer to be ſaide in any kinde of affliction.

ETernall God and father of all mercies, I humbly beſeech thée to bow down thine eares & hearken vnto me poore ſinner, whoſe ſtate is weake and feeble becauſe of thy heauy diſpleaſure, but I confeſſe and acknowledge, that it is a iuſt reward for my iniquities committed againſt thee, reſpect me neuertheleſſe in thy mercie, and thinke not vpon my tranſgreſſions, deliuer my ſoule, endue me with all ſpirituall graces and conſolation, and continually keepe me in true faith and humble obedience towards thee, neither let me murmure at thy chaſtiſements, but with patience endure thy correction: it is in thée to deale with me at thy pleaſure, ſince thou createdſt me of duſt and ſlime of the earth, and gaueſt me life and breath in my mothers wombe. Wherfore, O Lord, I beſeech thee, ſuffer me not to be tempted aboue my ſtrength, neither yet to be holden downe with greater afflictions then my weak nature is able to endure, but rather a cording to thy tender mercie ſupport and relieue me, that neither the fleſh, the world nor the diuell triumph in my weakenes, giue me a feeling of thy mercies, that thy graces neuer depart from me, and when it pleaſeth thee, O Lord, to bring to an end this miſerable life, graunt that I may with humble obedience towards thee, and perfect faith in thy diuine promiſes, neglect the ſtate of this wretched world, and reſt with thee O Lord my God, in that euerlaſting kingdome which thou haſt prepared for thy elect from the beginning of the world, where I ſhall continually yeild praiſes vnto thee, together with all the hoſt of heauen for euer and euer. Amen.

A prayer of thanksgiuing to God for his benefits.

COntinue thy goodneſſe ſtil towards me O Lord, that I may daily haue occaſion to extoll thy praiſes, for great cauſe doe I already retaine to land thy glorious name for euer, becauſe thou alone act my ioy and ſaluation, and the ſtrong citie whereunto I alwaies flie for ſuccour, thou haſt euer bene my rocke and tower of defence, open now therefore the gate of righteouſneſſe, that I poore ſinner may enter therin as one of thy children, ſo ſhall I be preſerued in peace. I haue alwaies put my truſt in thee, ſtregthen me therefore I beſeech thee, with thy holy ſpirit, and as thou art altogether righteous and iuſt, ſo vouchſafe to inſtruct me in the path wherein I ought to walke, for my ſoule reioyceth in thy truth, and deſireth thee in the night ſeaſon, yea and my ſpirit ſhall ſeeke thee in the morning: how mercifully doſt thou nouriſh thy people, and how glorious doeſt thou make thy elect? when I was in diſtreſſe I called vpon thee, and when thou diddeſt chaſtiſe me, I poured forth my prayers, and thou like a louing Lord diddeſt ſhew mercy on me according to thy great kindeneſſe. O deare father, my ſoule now repleniſhed with griefe, becauſe of my ſinnes, deſireth to be receiued into thy eternall reſt. I was dead & putrified through my ſinnes, and enuironed with diſpaire becauſe of my fall, but thou of thy goodneſſe diddeſt yeeld reliefe vnto me, and made me aliue againe, yea thou haſt eleuated my ſoule out of the darkneſſe of death and miniſtred light vnto me, that I might regard my footeſteps: thou haſt vpholden my life from daungers, and preferred me againſt the enuious mindes of the wicked, thou haſt defended me from ſuch as roſe vp againſt m , and ſent me reliefe in my greateſt neceſſitie, yea thou haſt plenteouſly indued me with all things and giuen me a taſt of thy goodneſſe. Wherfore O moſt merciful God, aſſiſt me with thy holy ſpirit, that I neuer be vnmindfull of thy mercies, but may extol thy glorious name for euer and euer. Amen.

A prayer to be vſed before a man doth begin to trauell or take any iourney in hand.

REſpect me thy vnworthie ſeruant, O Lord, with the eye of thy mercie, for on thee dependeth my ſaluation, and there is none but thou alone can bring ſufficient reliefe and ſuccour vnto my afflicted ſpirit. Wherfore, O God be mercifull vnto me, and rule my heart in thy faith, feare, and loue, with a carefull keeping of thy commaundements, guide thou my footeſteps, O God, and gouerne me with thy mightie hand, that I fall not into the pit of deſtruction, aſſiſt me with thy grace and holy ſpirit, that I may both diſcerne and reiect thoſe thinges that are contrary to thy law, and ſaue me O God, from the cruelty of ſuch as ſeeke to oppreſſe my ſoule: ſend me knowledge from aboue, that I may conceiue rightly of thy heauenly myſteries, and teach me O Lord ſo to order my life, that acording to the preciſe rule of thy holy word and deuine precepts I may daily proceede in newneſſe of life to the honor and glorie of thy name. Indue me with all ſpirituall graces to ſtand againſt the ſubtile aſſaults and temptatious of my ghoſtly enemies, that I may neuer quaile by his tirannie, but giue him his finall repulſe and vtter ouerthrow, be thou my protector and defender, moſt louing father, that in all my waies I may be ſafely directed by thy mighty prouidence, for thou art my refuge in all my troubles, and in thy mercie will I ſtay my ſelfe for euer, and my hope ſhall ſtill reſt in thee, O God, that liueſt for euer.

A prayer for a man that is beſet with aduerſaries.

I Call and crie to thee, O God with mourning voice, beſeeching thee to hearken vnto my groning ſighes, deliuer me from my troubles, that oppreſſe mee grieuouſly, for miſery is come vpon me, and there is none but thou alone can helpe me: guide me, O Lord in thy truth and lead me foorth in the pathes wherein I ought to walke, thou art the onely rokce whereunto I muſt cleaue, and in thy good time thou wilt vphold my ſtate againſt my enemies that enuiron me about, they haue caſt ſnares in the way to entrap me, and by crueltie haue daily ſought my decay. Wherfore I beſéech thée O God, come quickly and ſuccour me, put forth thy mightie arme, and deliuer me from them that riſe vp againſt me, pretending my vtter ouerthrow. Conduct me in thy truth, that I be not intrapped in my waies, nor holden in the earke priſon of this miſerable worlde, from the view of thy deuine maieſtie, but that I may be compaſſed with the aſſembly of thy elect to reioyce in thee O my good God, for my deliuerance, and to ſing continuall praiſes vnto thy holy name for euermore with a chéereful voice preſerue me from deſtruction; and vouchſafe, O Lord, to forgiue me all my offences, that I may ſtand ſtedfaſt in thee, and neuer be put to confuſion, but to reſt with thee eternally, Amen.

A prayer to be ſaid at all times.

I Moſt heartily beſeech thee, O thou God of al mercy & power, to make ſtrong my ſoule againſt all the troubleſome and moſt dangerous aſſaults and temptations of the world the fleſh and the deuill: confirme my beliefe and faith in thee, and make me, good Lord, one of the number of thy elect, and graunt that all my ſinnes may be cleanſed in the blood of my Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt. O deare Father, let thy graces and bleſſings be continually poured vpon me, and ſhine on me with the comfortable beautie of thy cheerefull countenance, and graunt me in this life the perpetuall direction of thy holy ſpirit, and in the life to come eternall reſt with my Lord and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt. Amen.

A charitable prayer to be vſed at any time for the benefit of ſuch as liue amiſſe.

O Lord thou haſt euer bene our ſafe hauen and habitation, and thy louing kindeneſſe hath beene plentifully ſhewed vnto vs and our elders, from one generation to another: thou art a God that raigneſt and ruleſt for euer, without beginning or ending, yea thou didſt create vs of duſt and ſlime of the earth, and we being moſt miſerable cretures ſo ſoone as thou takeſt thy ſpirit from vs, are euen then immediatly diſſolued into duſt againe, for as a watch in the night, ſo doth our life paſſe away, and as a tale that is told, ſo do we vaniſh: we grow vp like the hearb which at the riſing of the ſunne doth flouriſh, but in the euening is cut downe and withereth: graunt therefore O God that we neglecting all idle imaginations, may account the dayes of our earthly pennance how ſhort they are, that our mindes by this cogitation beeing brought from the troubleſome care and vaine hope of earthly felicitie, as alſo called away from all thoſe entiſements whereby we wander out of the right path of thy truth, may aſpire to true wiſedome, in applying our hearts wholly vnto thy eternall teſtimonies: be mercifull vnto vs, O Lord, and a e vs from all the aſſaults and temptations of our ghoſtly enemies, conduct vs with thy mighty hand, we beſéech thée, in all our dealings, that we may walke vprightly in our eſtate and vocation without fraud or deceit, grant that after ſo long and innumerable troubles as we haue ſuſt ined, thy goodneſſe may ſhine vnto vs like a moſt pleaſant light, that we being ſatiſfied with the comfortable nouriſhment thereof may enioy thy true and eternall conſolation, and like as with many miſeries thou haſt corrected vs, ſo we beſeech thee of thy eternall goodneſſe to comfort vs againe, and in the middeſt of all our troubles reſtore vs to ioy and gladneſſe, that from the bottome of our hearts we may yeeld continuall praiſes vnto thee: accept vs amongſt the number of thy hea enly armie, and let the voice of our humble petitions, O God, aſcend vp vnto thee, make vs continually thankfull for our election, and let vs neuer forget that thou haſt taken vs into thy family, to be cared for of thee, yea let this thy glory ſhine forth to our poſteritie, and let thy exceeding goodnes beautifie & adorne vs: gouerne thou our counſels from thy ſanctuary, and let our enterpriſes be acceptable in thy fight, O God, that liueſt for euer. Amen.

A prayer for the aſſiſtance of Gods power and holy ſpirit againſt our enemies, and the dangers of this world.

ETernall God, I moſt humbly beſeech thee giue eare vnto the prayers and dolefull cries which I heere poure foorth before thee: ſtrengthen me, that I may walke in thy waies, and carefully auoid the path that the oppreſſors tread. Accept the requeſts, of thy ſeruants, vouchſafe, O Lord in mercie to relieue them that truſt in thee, againſt ſuch as reſiſt thy doctrine: keepe me as the apple of thy eye, and euermore defend me from my enemies, euen vnder the ſhadow of thy winges, for they are full of enuy, and their cruelty cannot be ſatiſfied but with my death, neuertheleſſe my hope dependeth only vpon thy aſſiſtance, that thou wilt ſtand on my ſide, whereby I may vtterly vanquiſh and ouerthrow their force, for thou art my fortreſſe and ſtrength in whome is no variety, in thee will I truſt O God of my ſaluation, yea I will call vpon thee and praiſe thy name for euermore: preſerue me therefore and aſſiſt me in the day of my daunger, let not the vngodly man preuaile againſt me, but preuent their wicked deuiſes that intend my deſtruction, indue me plentifully with thy graces, that I may take delight in thoſe things that may pleaſe thee, and beſtow ſuch good gifts as thou haſt lent me, to the vſe of my Chriſtian bretheren that ſtand in need therof: let thy ſpirit ſcale the aſſurance of thy election in my heart, that I neuer decline from the true ſeruice of thee, but with all conſtancie giue my ſelfe wholly to the loue of thy law, and perſeuere therin vnto the end, for thou art my portion and the lot of mine inheritance, let me not be oppreſſed by any earthly penury, leaſt through frailety of my fleſh I be enforced to fall from thee, but teach me continually by ſecret inſpirations (the right way to attaine to the fruition of thy bleſſings) that I may at all times ſing praiſes vnto thee: be thou alwaies at my right hād, O Lord, that my courſe may be directed by thy godly aſſiſtance, and deliuer me out of all troublſome daungers, that I may reioyce both in body and ſoule for thy gratious protection: ſh w me thy fauour, O God, in all things that I take in hand, and let the ſucceſſe of my trauels fail out as my hope expecteth, to the great comfort of thine elect, and the exceeding ioy of all that put their truſt in thee, let not the cruelty of the enemy preuaile againſt me, leaſt he ſay that he hath ouercome me, and they that oppreſſe me, reioice in my fal, for my truſt is wholy in the truth of thy promiſes, neither ſhall my heart diſſent from the hope of thy mercy and defence in all my enterpriſes but being at the length deliuered by thee from the dreadfull daungers of earthly caſualties, I will not ceaſe to land and praiſe thy holy name in the mideſt of the congregation for euer and euer. Graunt this, moſt mercifull Father, I humbly beſeech thee, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, my onely Sauiour and redeemer. Amen.

A prayer to be ſaid at all times.

WIth the eie of mercy, moſt louing father, beholde my care and inward griefe, and hearken I humbly beſeech thee to my complaint and lamentable ſute, my ſoule cryeth out to thee for mercie, extend therefore thy louing countenance and fauour vnto me that am ſore plunged in the gulph of calamities, yet do I confeſſe & acknowledge that I haue and doe deſerue moſt extreame puniſhment for ſo grieuouſly offending thee my louing Lord, but if thou ſhalt euer marke what is amiſſe in me, how am I able to abide thy frowning countenance? but with thee is alwaies mercy and redemption, yea thy ſeruants continually do, and will for thy great goodnes feare and loue thy holy name, my ſoule alſo knowing thy ſingular bountie, in that it hath euer taſted of thy incompatable ſweetenes, ſhall ſtil truſt in thee, for thou diddeſt defend and nouriſh me when I was deſtitute of helpe, therefore will I wait for thy ſaluation euen from the morning vnto the euening, and from the euening likewiſe vnto the morning againe, for there is no night-watcher that in greater deſire longeth for the dawning of the day, then dooth my ſoule expect the comming of thee my Lord and God, for great is thy pittie vnto all ſuch as with true repentance and hearty prayers doe come vnto thee: Go too then O my ſoule now reioice, & comfort thy ſelfe in the Lord for euer, ſerue him with feare and reuerence, and be readie for his comming, ſith no varietie reſteth in him, but that he is good and mercifull, and hath often redeemed and deliuered thee from the daunger of hell: haue mercy vpon me now therfore, O deare father, and forgiue me my ſinnes, caſt them from thy preſence, & thinke vpon them no more ſo ſhall my ſoule reioyce and be glad in thee for euer.

A prayer to be vſed of all men, and at all times.

NOw bewailing my ſinfull life paſt, moſt louing father, I doe here in humble wiſe deſire thy gratious fauour: haue mercy on me, poore ſinner, that cleaueth wholly vnto thee, and in the multitude of thy mercies doe away the heauy burthen of my iniquities: waſh me from my ſinnes, and clenſe me from my offences, waſh me againe and againe, O Lord, that all my ſinnes whatſoeuer lyeth hid within me, may be done away at once. O moſt merciful father, againſt thee onely haue I ſinned moſt grieuouſly and done wickedly in thy ſight, yea, and thoſe thinges are moſt iuſtly decreed of thee which thou haſt pronounced againſt me. And I muſt needes confeſſe, that nothing is faultie amongſt thy iudgements, for I was corrupt and guiltie in my mothers wombe, and repleat with ſinne, euen from my cradle: what haue I to alledge for my ſelfe (knowing O Lord, what a wretched caſe I ſtand in) or what excuſe can I make to thee, O heauenly iudge: wherefore in thy fight doe I remaine the greateſt of all ſinners, purge me with the true Iſope (which in thy mercy thou haſt ſent vnto ſinners) euen the blood of thy deare ſonne my Lord and Sauior Ieſus Chriſt, that al my filthineſſe may vaniſh cleane away: reſtore me, O Lord, vnto that vnſpeakeable ioy wherwith they are indued that are ſhrowded from the bonds of ſinne and death, and receiued into thy fauour againe, hide thy face away from my ſinnes, and race out of thy tables all the wickedneſſe that I moſt grieuouſly haue cōmitted againſt thee: let thy holy ſpirit ſo direct me, that I may from hencfoorth giue my ſelfe to thy commaundements, then ſhall I teach thy waies vnto the wicked, and ſinners ſhall be conuerted vnto thee: deliuer me from ſinne that my ſoule may praiſe thee continually: open my mouth, O Lord, that my tongue in Pſalmes and Himnes may ſet forth thy glorious name. For thou deſireſt not ſacrifice, but a ſorrowfull minde and cont ite heart, with the true feeling of ſinnes and inward repentance and vnfained turning vnto thee, which oblation, O Lord, I now offer vnto thee, humbly beſeeching thee to accept thereof, and incline thine eare thereunto for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake my only Sauiour and redéemer. Amen.

A prayer very godly and neceſſary to be vſed at all times.

LOrd graunt me the aſſiſtance of thy grace and holy ſpirit, that my ſoule vnto thee may yeeld continuall praiſes, let my whole life extoll thy great kindneſſe alwaies ſhewed vnto me, for all praiſe belongeth vnto thee, thou haſt indued my heart with ioy, and lifted my ſoule out of the mixe, wherefore I will not ſeeke to any mortall man, for their ſtate is ſlippery, and their life cōſiſteth in their breath: whereof being bereaued, they are reſolued againe into duſt, but let my truſt be in thee O God, on whoſe mercie dependeth my ſaluation, for thou O God, art exceeding good and gratious vnto all ſuch as come vnto thee, great is thy power, oh how wonderfull is thy handie worke in thy creatures, thou beareſt a great zeale vnto thy ſeruants, and keepeſt promiſe with thine elect, thou openeſt the eyes of the blinded ſoule, and gi eſt vnderſtanding to the ſimple, thou diddeſt arme my ſoule when I fainted in miſery, wherefore giue me vnderſtanding, that I may diligently ſearch to knowe thy will; thou diddeſt defend and nouriſh me when I was deſtitute of thy helpe: thou comforteſt the fatherleſſe and widdows, but in iuſtice ouerthroweſt the wicked. O Lord I ſee that all fleſh is graſſe, and the riches of this world are nothing but vanitie, but thy riches are euerlaſting: wherefore graunt that I may be plentifull in all good workes, and lead a life in this world agreeable to thy will, that the ſame being ended, I may reſt with thee for euer.

A godly prayer vnto almightie God againſt all aſſaults of Sathan.

I Humbly craue and beſeéch theé, moſt mercifull God, in fauour to behold my troubled heart, and giue eare vnto my lamentable cries, for vnto thee alone do I offer vp my prayers, deſiring thee, in mercy to reſpect thy ſeruant that now caleth for thy direction: let my pathes be guided according to thy will, for thou art a God moſt pure, and canſt abide no iniquitie at all to raign in thy fight, neither the vniuſt perſon to ſtand in thy preſence, wherefore, O Lord, endue me plentifully with thy graces, that haue no ſpark of goodneſſe, in me, ſend me knowledge from aboue, and direct me with thy ſpirit, that I be not vtterly caſt away for euer, but pardon my iniquitie, that I may draw neare vnto thee, and with reuerent feare extoll thy glorious name. Let not Sathan my mortall enemy preuail againſt me, but deliuer me frō the ſnares that he daily layeth for me, repleniſh me, O Lord, with vnderſtanding, that I may ſafely walke in thy lawes, for the enemies of thy truth, and diſturbers of my ſoule are many, they diſſemble in heart, and with their lippes they flatter daily, but my truſt is in thee O Lord, that thou wilt confound their deuiſes, ſo ſhall I reioyce in thee, becauſe thy hand hath deliuered me, and my tongue ſhall neuer ceaſe to extol thy praiſes and exceeding goodneſſe, becauſe thou haſt defended me with the ſhield of thy mercy, and redeemed my ſoule from deadly daunger. Amen.

A prayer to be ſaide in any kinde of affliction.

RElieue me G God, I moſt humbly beſeech thee from al the tyrannous inuaſions of my ghoſtly enemies, the worlde, the fleſh, and the deuill, and behold the carefull heart of him whome thou haſt ſtricken and viſited according to thy heauenly will and becauſe man in his owne nature is nothing but blindneſſe and folly before thee, and therefore cannot poſſibly conceiue rightly of the things aboue: renue therfore thy ſpirit in thy ſeruant that the ſame inſtructing my heart daiely in true wiſedome and feare of thee, I may come to the feeling of mine owne euils, and know the cauſe of thy ſcourge, that ſo my wound being apparant to mine eyes, I may with all ſpeede ſee to the cure thereof, and deſerre no time to ſeeke the ſalue to heale it. Heare the voice of thy ſeruant, O God, that crieth vnto thee, conſider my complaint, and weigh my inward woe conceiued through hate of mine owne infirmities, and for want of thy knowledge, for I flie from my ſelfe as from an vnwalled caſtle, fearing my footſteps, euen as though I walked on thornes: deale not with me in thy diſpleaſure, neither let my ſinnes ſeperate thy fauour from me, but quicken me in my afflictions, and make me ware wiſe by thy puniſhments: giue me ſuch a ſence of my infirmities, and ſo perfect a perſeuerance of my rechleſnes in ſeruing of thee, that I may diſpoſe my ſelfe to contrarie order, erecting my mind vnto thee, and thereunto ſo ioyne the increaſe of thy grace and ſtrenghtning ſpirit, as that I may be able therby to performe my race, and continue in that good way which thy goodneſſe hath mooued me to: in the times of my heauineſſe be neere vnto me, and open my eyes of faith to behold thy eternall loue, ſo that I be not too much ſhaken by the enemies aſſaults, but may be repleniſhed with abilitie, conſtancie, and patience, to giue him his finall repulſe and ouerthrow. Amen.

A prayer for our Soueraigne Lord King Iames.

MOſt mightie God of maieſtie, and heauenly father deare, vnto the humble ſutes of vs thy ſeruants poore giue eare: that call on thee ſtill to maintaine and bleſſe with thy great power, our noble King and his ofſpring, our ſtay & gouernour: whōe thou ouer thy little flock vnto our comforts great, ordained haſt to fit vpon the high and princely ſeat: from forraine force of foes vouchſafe good God to guard his grace: that all their ſubtile ſleights and ſnares he doubtleſſe may deface. Lend vnto him long life O Lrod, and eke a royall raigne, and grant that he thy graces great for euermore may gaine. Thy bleſſings bountifull beſtowe vpon him we thee pray, that his delight may be to loue thy lightſome law for aye. And earneſtly for to imbrace thy Goſpell pure at large, vnto the comfort of thy church committed to his charge. Vnder the ſhadow of thy winges Lord keepe him to the end, and from conſpiracies alſo vouchſafe him to defend. Conuert or els confound all ſuch as miſchiefe do deuiſe, againſt his grace, and to thy truth are vtter enemies, God graunt him peace in conſcience and health without annoy, that we long time and many yeares his preſence may enioy. Amen.

The confeſſion of a Sinner.

RIghteous God, thou that art the father of all mercies, and comforter of all mankind, euen of thy tender loue behold me poore ſinner that haue ſtraied from thy precepts through ignorance and frailtie of my fleſh, and moſt wickedly erred from thy holy commaundements like vnto a wandring ſheepe hauing no ſhepheard. O Lord I do confeſſe I haue followed too much the deuiſes and deſires of my vnrighteous heart, whereby I haue at ſundry times grieuouſly offended thy maieſtie in breaking and neglecting thy holy lawes which thou haſt commaunded me to keepe, and contrary to thy will, followed theſe vngodly actions which I ought not to doe, leauing vndone thoſe good thinges that thy ſacred word hath taught me, ſo that in me there is no goodnes, except thou, O Lord, do ſpeedily looke vpon me, and in thy great mercy pardon my hainous offences. Forgiue me, O deare father, and forget my iniquities, I moſt entirely beſeech thee, that here with a ſorrowfull heart confeſſe my faultes vnto thee, O God, requeſting thee of thy fauorable goodneſſe to reſtore me that am penitent, and in thy mercy ſend reliefe vnto thy ſeruant, ſatiſfie my ſoule with thy fauour againe, according to thy promiſe, which thou haſt declared vnto an ſuch as come vnto thee in the name of thy beloued ſonne Ieſus Chriſt my ſauiour: wherefore, O my God, I come vnto thee with an humble minde, beſeeching thee from the very inwards of my ſoule, to graunt me the aſſiſtance of thy grace and holy ſpirit, that I may euer hereafter in newnes of life liue as becōmeth thy ſeruant, vprightly in thy ſight, and deale faithfully with all men, to thy honour and glory and the comfort of my ſoule. Amen.

Another prayer vnto almightie God.

IN mercy, O Lord, vouchſafe to heare my prayers, and let my cries haue acceſſe vnto to thée: hide not thy face from me, I be ſeech thee, in the time of my trouble, but with ſpeed incline thine eares vnto me when I call: behold, there is no certenty in my fleſh, for my life conſumeth as the ſmoake, and my daies do waſt in ſorrow, mine enemies lie in wait for me, and they that rage againſt me, haue conſpired my death: wherefore the feeling of thy wrath and heauie diſpleaſure hath quite conſumed me, but thou, O Lord, (whoſe promiſes I know endure for euer) continueſt all one God in mercy vnto ſuch as call vpon thee, therefore do I flie vnto thee in my diſtreſſe, beſeeching thee to aſſiſt me with thy grace and holy ſpirit, that the cauſe of my mourning and piteous complaints being taken away, I may daily proceed and goe forward in newneſſe of life, to the honour and glory of thy holy name. Confirme thy good worke begunne in me, O God, and let me neuer want thy aſſiſtant aid therein, leſt it be vtterly fruſtrate Let not mine iniquities be any hinderance to thy bountiful goodneſſe, neither yet my negligences (in ſeruing of thee) mooue theé to detract the operation of thy holy ſpirit in thy ſeruant, but with ſpeede conſider my frailty, and pardon my offences for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake ſo ſhall I declare thy worthineſſe, and extell thy great kindeneſſe ſhewed vnto me at all times. Haue mercy vpon me, O God, haue mercy vpon me according to thy eternall promiſes, make me plentifull in all good workes to doe thy fatherly will, and let thy commandments be my whole delight, refreſh my hart with the fruition of thy bleſſings, and let me not at any time be vnmindful of thy goodnes, but yeeld continuall thankes vnto thee for thy great benefits extended towards me, take me not away O God, in the middeſt of my daies, but prolong my time, and conduct my footſteps, that hauing viewed at full thy graces ineſtimable kindeneſſe, I may neuer ceaſe vntill the laſt gaſp to ſing praiſes vnto thy holy name for euer and euer. Amen.

A prayer to be vſed when a man is in any kind of trouble.

COnſider, O my God. I beſeech thee, the wofull complaints and prayers that I here offer vp to thy diuine Maieſty, vnto thee alone doe I ſue for helpe, remit therefore my iniquities, for the multitude thereof doe ſpeedily craue thy aid, and in thy mercy be fauourable vnto me, as thou haſt euer beene, for though I were driuen to ſeeke the fartheſt parts of the earth, yet will I call for thy direction, yea when I am tormented with cares, I haue no other refuge to flie vnto, but onely to thee, O my God wherefore in mercy looke on me, and in thy good time take me vp into the place of ioy prepared for thy elect, where I may praiſe thee for euer, for how haſt thou in great mercy dealt with me, in being vnto me an euerlaſting tower of defence againſt mine enemies, and though by reaſon of the retchleſneſſe and frailty of my corrupt nature, I haue eftſoones ſwarued from thy holy word, yet I beſeech thee, O deare father, deale fauourably with me, and lay not my offences vnto my charge but ſhew thy ſelfe a louing and mercyfull God towards me, and pour on me thy gifts of grace, that I may be holy vnto thee, and accepted in thy fight, ſo ſhall my life be prolonged, yea & ſo happy indeed, as it ſhall neuer decay, and I ſhall reſort to thy tabernacle in peace, where I ſhall be ſatiſfied with the fruition of thy fauour, and be ſuſtained with mercy and truth for euer: direct me continually with thy holy ſpirit, and teach me, good Lord, to hate the waies of the wicked, erect my minde to the contemplation of thy heauenly myſteries, and receiue me both now and euer into thy gratious protection, for my aduocat Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, Amen.

A prayer againſt the feare of death.

O Eternall God and mercifull father, from the depth of my weake heart doe I laud and glorifie thee for all the benefits beſtowed on me from the beginning of my life vnto this preſent, eſpecially for the bleſſings of my election, redemption, vocation, iuſtification, and ſanctification in Chriſt Ieſus. Thou haſt deliuered me from the cruelty of my aduerſaries, and made me an inheritour of thy kingdome, and thy childe by adoption, yet thou haſt giuen me (notwithſtanding my vnthankfulneſſe) the earneſt penny of my ſaluation, and in mercie haſt reconciled me in Chriſt, whilſt I was yet a grieuous enemie vnto thee, thou tookeſt me out of the blinde dungeon of careleſſe ignorance to render thankes vnto thee, and to call vpon thy name, in all which thou haſt cauſed me to proceed and profit vnto this day, wherein thy pleaſure ſeemeth to incline me towards the greateſt benefit that euer I yet taſted, that is, to free me from the extremities of this life and to bring me to that heauenly liberty where ſhall be no bitterneſſe. Now therefore, O deare Father, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake erect my mind towards thee, and as at all times of my life hitherto thou haſt nouriſhed and preſerued me, ſo now in my laſt need viſit and regard me, O God, that as the enemie will now bend his force againſt me, ſo thou with thy louing protection and holy ſpirit wilt comfort me, and with thy preſence defend me, that my faith ſtill increaſing, with armed patience, I may diſpiſe the feare of this bodies death, knowing that it is the vnauoidable way that thou haſt appointed to doe away my mortalitie, and to bring my ſoule to reſt, to yelde praiſes vnto thee in ioyes euerlaſting, which thy prouidence hath ordained me vnto: ſo inſtruct me therefore to number my daies, that I may apply my heart to thy eternall wiſdome: teach me, ſweet Lord as heretofore to liue, ſo now to frame my end, that it may redound to thy glory, whereunto with a fighting heart, I humbly beſeech thee, that my vnderſtanding may alway be lightned with the feeling of my owne infirmitie, and that in all perfect humilitie I may flie from the mind of all earthly ſtay, and ſo not fainting in my farewell, but cleaning to thy promiſes, and apprehending thy ſaluation with ſure hope, I may expect the diſſolution, ſo beholding thee with the eyes of my faith, I may grow as by degrees weaker in bodie, ſo fuller and ſtronger in ſpirit, ſo that when the laſt breath is paſſed, my ſoule in the boſome of Abraham may ioyfully reſpire the triumphant odors of an endleſſe life. Amen.

A prayer for Chirurgians.

O Moſt mer ifull God and louing father we moſt earneſtly beſeech thee let the eye of thy mercie behold vs, and harken to the humble ſutes of thy poore ſeruants, that with penitent hearts doe appeale before thee, requiring pardon for our iniquities committed daily againſt thy diuine maieſtie: vouchſafe, O Lord, of thy wonted goodneſſe to extend and ſhew thy fauourable pittie and compaſſion towards vs, and lay not our ſinnes vnto our charge, but put them quite out of thy memory for Chriſt his ſake thy dearely beloued ſonne our ſauiour, and graunt that we may render vnto theé cōtinual thanks for thy manifold benefits and eternall mercies that thou of thy tender loue doſt daily beſtow vpon vs. Aſſiſt vs alſo with thy grace, that we may neuer ceaſe to ſing praiſes vnto thee for our election, creation, and redemption: we beeſech thee, O Lord, to giue vs the true knowledge of that Art whereunto thou haſt called vs, thereby to maintaine our ſelues and our families from the extremities of this ſinnefull world and momentaneous life, for we doe not onely depend vpon thy fatherly prouidence, but doe confeſſe, O Lord, that euery good and perfect gift commeth from thee: therefore be mindfull wee beſeech thee of thy ſeruants, and indue vs with thy bleſſings of wiſdome and vnderſtanding, fith that thou alone haſt elected and ordained vs as inſtruments to miniſter thoſe thy rich and plentifull gifts which thou haſt appointed for the health and reliefe of mankind, vouchſafe to giue vs the gift of heal ng, that we may frame our ſelues to doe thy will therein, and be a comfort to ſuch as lie in miſerie and cruell paine by occation of bodily ſicknes and externall caſualties, and hereunto ſo ioine the increaſe of thy grace & holy ſpirit, that all our actions may be guided according to the rule of thy deuine precepts and commaundements, that our conſciences be not ſpotted in thy ſight, but may remaine pure and holy, euen as thou, O Lord, art holy, alwaies reuoking to memorie our duties and neceſſarie vocation, whereby our hearts may be continually ſtirred vp to call for thy aſſiſtance, remooue from vs all hatefull and euill thoughts, with the couetous deſire of filthie lucre, and incite in vs a conſideration of the wofull eſtate of the poore and needie, that we may relieue their neceſſitie with ſuch good things as thy fatherly goodneſſe and vnſpeakeable prou dence in greater meaſure hath bleſſed vs withall. Reſpect vs, O Lord, in thy mercie, that thoſe things which we goe about may proſper with us, and that all our labours which we ſhall take in hand, may be bleſſed and brought to good ſucceſſe by thy aſſiſtance and fatherly protection, to the honour and glorie of thy holy name, credit of thy church, comfort of our Chriſtian brethren and our owne ſaluation: graunt vs this, O Lord, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, our only Sauiour and redeemer. Amen.

A prayer for penitent ſinners.

MOſt mightie, God and eternall king of maieſtie, how can I hide my ſelfe away from thy preſence, or with what pretence might I couer my ſhame from the piercing fight of thine eye, ſince there is nothing in me but a whole heape of ſinne, whereby I am almoſt driuen to the dore of diſpaire. Erect therefore thy mighty hand to helpe me, O Lord, for if thy wiſedome prouide not for me, I am alwaies in daunger, for vnrighteouſneſſe in this my cortuptible bodie raigneth as a king, wherefore when my enemies enuiron me, I wonder that thou doeſt not deſtroy me, conſidering the lewdneſſe of my liuing and the multitude of my grieuous offences. But thus thou vſeſt to comfort thy children, and my ſoule but for this reliefe, O God had periſhed long agoe, therefore from the bottome of my heart crie I vnto thee, take me not away I beſeech thee, O Lord, in my ſinnes, neither let me reape the portion of the wicked: thou haſt ſhewed me the daies of comfort, and often deliuered my ſoule from the Lion, and becauſe thou in great mercie haſt let mee ſee this goodneſſe, and alſo made me reioice therein, increaſing light afterdarkenes, I will neuer ceaſe to call vpon thee in my afflictions, but continually expect the good houre in my danger, increaſe my faith, ſettle me in the knowledge of thy will, and plentiouſly bleſſe me with thy grace and holy ſpirit both now and euer, for no place is free from the rage of thy aduerſaries: aſſiſt me in my infirmities, that I may euer gaine a double reioycing, and that the moſt ſubtile aſſaults of the enemies may alwaies fall out to be his fouleſt foile, through Ieſus Chriſt my onely Sauiour. Amen.

The true knovvledge of afflictions and tov what end they are ſent.

THe Scriptures of God in ſundry places doe manifeſtly declare vnto vs the healthfull effect of afflictions, in calling them a cup, or drinking glaſſe: for like as the expert Phiſition giuing vnto his patient ſuch quantity of medicine as he thinketh good, the patient muſt of neceſſity yeeld the choice of his fancie to the ſkilfull prouidence of him that miniſtreth: euen ſo our good and gratious Lord, knowing farre better what is profitable and moſt expedient to cure the infirmities & maladies of our ſoules, tameth our affections with ſuch cups of afflictions as his wonderfull wiſedome in mercie foreſeeth to be moſt behooueable for vs. In like manner are they alſo called in another ſence his artillerie, his ſpeares and his ſwords, wherewith to fight and ouerthrow his enemies: and euen as theſe definitions touching their ends are not alike, but very diuers, ſo likewiſe are the afflictions of God ſent both to the godly and vngodly, but to two ſundrie ends, for by the one ſort of affliction, God exerciſeth the patience of the faithfull handling them for the moſt part more roughly than he doth the wicked The other he vſeth both to teſtifie vnto vs, that iniquitie cannot raigne vnpuniſhable, as alſo to hold them vnexcuſable, and that is the full end of all afflictions, extended to the infidell or reprobate. The cuppes therefore and afflictions of God, as they are not ſent to all men to one end, ſo do they not worke one effect, but for all them the lewd perſon remaineth ſtill vngodly, ſicke he was before he tooke the medicine, and in like manner ſicke or rather more vncurable he goeth foreward after it, he feeleth himſelfe ſmitten, but conſidereth not in truth who ſmote him, ſo exceeding farre is he from the perfect peruſing of his owne life, and oueruiweing of his former daies thereby, he imputeth his croſſe to fortune, rather than ſmelleth his owne ſinnes or intendeth to change his life, and if his croſſe endure but a little, he chafeth at God and reiecteth his corrections, he amendeth not at all but waxeth worſe and worſe: farre contrarie is the effect of thoſe afflictions which Gods elect ſuſtaine, for his children ſo ſoone as they feele his croſſe by any meanes layed vpon them, they by and by without delay bethinke themſelues of their ſinnes, remembring that the hand of God is come vpon them for the ſame in which feare with all humilitie and reuerent trembling caſting downe euery height within them, they throw themſelues flatlong at the footſtoole of Gods Maieſtie, reckoning vp all their hainous crimes to their power, acknowledging their faults, and beſeeching God in mercie to giue them a feeling of their ſinnes, that he will pierce their eares, and in ſuch wiſe open them, that their affliction may turne to the comfort of their conſciences: this caſe is cleane contrarie (as is ſaid) to the fearefull puniſhments of the reprobate, they being hardened like Pharao thereby, for lacke of his ſecond grace, which is the ſoftening of mans heart and ſoberneſſe of his nature by the holy Ghoſt, from the free goodneſſe of our eternall God. Thoſe being opened in their hearts by ſuch grace and feeling of Gods chaſtiſements, are ſpéedily taught to miſlike of themſelues for their looſe life and offences, to ſigh and grone for them, and to flie to the mercie of God for refuge. Now by theſe conferences appeareth a certaine rule or touchſtone, (not without an vnſpeakeable comfort) to Gods elect, for in as much as God puniſhed Pharao, and ſoftened not his heart withall, he intended to leaue him inexcuſable to his deſerued deſtruction, but in that he afflicted Iob, he did it to the bettering of his life, mollifying his heart to his ſaluation: and hence we gather two points of comfort to be noted and obſerued: the one is, that when God maketh vs to feele his hand, ſo that we are humbled vnder the ſame, it is a ſpeciall priuiledge and ſure token of his good will, and which he neuer ſheweth to any but to his owne children: and the other is, ſince we are puniſhed but to the amendment of our liues and drawing vs backe from our ſinfull waies, we liue therefore in happie caſe, for that it declareth vnto vs that the Lord will not be angrie with vs for euer, but doth as it were hedge in both the ſides of our race, euen becauſe he loueth vs, ſo that we haue no cauſe to doubt of Gods fauour, but rather to be fully reſolued, that when he puniſheth vs, he holdeth vs not for his enemies, but by t •• t meane procu eth our ſaluation: and thus we ſee (as S. Paule ſaith) our victorie conſiſteth in taking hold of this loue of God in Ieſus Chriſt, being euermore throughly perſwaded, that God hath adopted vs to bee his children and heires of his kingdome, which principle wee once hauing, ought not to be led aſide nor diſmayed with any affliction, for ſeeing that God beareth ſuch exceeding loue towards vs, we ſhall neuer be confounded, and ſo little in very deed ſhall our afflictions hinder our welfare, that they ſhall turne to our furtherance, and vndoubtfully prooue vnto vs, that Chriſt his yoake is ſweet and eaſie, and not onely bringeth vs to the obedience of Gods will, but to eternall happines. Thus afflictions are in truth our medicines to driue vs to God, to tame the pride of our nature, to kill our vices, to make vs know our ſelues, loath our ſinnes vnfainedly, flie from our owne waies, ſeeke ſtrength of the Lord, and ſo from vertue to vertue aſcend to the height of our ſaluation: Finally, as to the impatient reprobate they are the fearefull comets of their deſtruction, ſo to the number of Gods elect they are the infallibly pledges and ſure enſignes of their continuall victory and future triumph in Ieſus Chriſt. The life and healthfull afflictions of Iob and Dauid in aboundont manner do teſtifie the louing end of Gods afflictions, and in them may we find infinit teſtimonies, to prooue how profitable are the fatherly chaſtiſements of our good God, who by them dooth euermore ſcoure vs from the ruſt of our naturall diſpoſition, and fineth vs like pure gold in the furnace: briefely, by them he violently breaketh into the heart of old Adam, and there burſting the corrupt ends and coates of his veines, by his wonderfull operation powreth a new ſpirit into his arteries, which creeping through the ſences with a liuely moiſture, as by a certaine heauenly Analogie or proportion, doth in ſettet ſort diſpoſe vs to contemne this vile place of miſerie, and to eleuate our minds to God, that ſo framed vs, and ſo forſaking our ſinfull waies and hatefull affections, indeuour with all newneſſe to ſerue & worſhip him in righteouſneſſe and holineſſe of life, and with all patience looke for the reuelation of the elect children of God, againſt which new birth and inuincible hope before time reſerued vnto vs by the good purpoſe of the father in his ſonne Chriſt, and now vndoubtedly confirmed in our conſciences, by the badges of this fatherly handling ſhall nothing auaile vs, for all the dartes of affliction in what kind ſoeuer aſſaulting vs, ſhall be ſo farre from preuailing to ouerthrow our faith and libertie (as the enemy would) as that they ſhall flue-fold redouble the force thereof with exceeding ioy againſt them, ſo that the very ſubtileſt engines of Sathan ſhall make vs the more inuincible, and his force the more contemptible. Thus I ſay, ſhall Gods fauoureble exerciſes intermedled with his graces, worke the ſame effect in our ſoules, as our meat and drinke doth to our bodies: And like as all ſuch nouriſhment is the right and ordinarie meane whereby our bodies in this earthly tabernacle doe daily increaſe and grow in ſtrengthfull habite of health: euen ſo by the other, our ſoule is viſited, ſtrengthened, and increaſed, and we are brought by the mercifull hand of God euen as by degrees and from ſtep to ſtep, till at length we come to the fulneſſe of our redeemer Chriſt Ieſus, to appeare before the Lord in Sion.

A prayer for Saylors.

THou God, that art the Creator and maker of al things, behold vs that here proſtrate our ſelues at the footſtoole of thy maieſtie, crauing pardon for our ſinnes, gouerne vs thy people, O Lord, that by thy permiſſion do moſt daungerouſly trauell the boiſterous ſeas, according to the office and vocation whereunto thou haſt called vs, for except thy mightie hand do ſtay vs, we ſhall periſh, yea, we are alwaies in danger to be ouerwhelmed with the perillous waues of the ſ a, and to be ſwall wed vp in the deepe gulfes thereof: behold vs therefore, O Lord, in thy mercy, that in theſe ur enterpriſes we may receiue the fruition of thy bleſſings: when thou, O God, art angry with vs for ſinne, thou makeſt the ſtormes to riſe, and the ſeas to rage, in ſuch ſort, that they enforce vs to quake and tremble, and when we ceaſe from ſinne, thou cauſeſt them in like manner to ceaſe, for thou appointeſt to the ſea his courſe, and keepeſt it euer in his bounds, yea thou haſt ordained vs to trauell thereon, to ſee thy maruellous workes and excellent greatneſſe, as alſo to declare thy wonders amongſt the children of men, thou haſt oftentimes for our diſobedience and inordinate liuing cauſed vs to feele thy wrath and grieuous ſcourge, the dangers whereof haue almoſt brought vs to our wits end, but when we turne vnto thee with repentance thou wilt not onely bring vs to a ſafe harbour to eaſe our weary bodies, but alſo when our painefull daies are ſpent and ended, receiue vs into the bleſſed hauen of eternall reſt, the which, O Lord, graunt vs to come vnto for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake.

Grace before meat.

TO thee, O Lord God, we render moſt hearty thanks for theſe thy bleſſings of meat and drinke, which thou in mercy doeſt now beſtow vpon vs, beſeeching thee to graunt that we doe not abuſe them immoderately by ſurfetting or gluttony, but onely to feed thereon with ſobrietie, thereby to ſuſtaine our feeble fleſh and hungry deſire, and ſo frame our ſpeeches, O God, that thy name therein may be glorified, and our Chriſtian brethren edified: preſerue moſt louing Lord, our gratious King, with thy vniuerſall Church: graunt vs, we humbly beſeech thee, the continuance of thy glorious Goſpell to be truely and ſincerely preached amongſt vs, and make vs faithfull followers thereof in righteouſneſſe and holineſſe of life: vouchſafe, O deare father, to defend and euermore to keepe our Realme from the inuaſion of forraine enemies, and ſend vs a perpetuall peace in conſcience, through Ieſus Chriſt our Lord.

Grace after meat.

GRations God and moſt louing father, we thy poore ſeruants yeild vnto thee in humilitie of heart all praiſe and thankes, in that it hath pleaſed thee of thy ineſtimable goodneſſe at this inſtant to refreſh and relieue the appetite of our earthly bodies with this food of meat and drinke, which thy diuine prouidence. O Lord, in plentiful meaſure hath beſtowed vpon vs, and as theſe thy creatures are by thy permiſſion ordained to nouriſh our mortall bodies, euen ſo in mercy vouchſafe to graunt that our ſoules may be fed and comforted with the diuine food of thy glorious Goſpell, and that it may ſo ſhine in our hearts and ſences, that we by the direction of thy grace and holy ſpirit, may proceed in newneſſe of life, to the honour and glory of thy holy name. Call vs not, O deare Father, to account of the vaine and idle ſpeeches that we haue at this preſent, as alſo at other times of our life, vndiſcreetly vſed, but in fauour remit the ſame, and graunt that we with willing minds may remember and helpe our needy brethren, who feele the want of that which we haue had at full. In mercy, O Lord, preſerue thy Church, our King and Realme, increaſe the number of thy ſeruants, and bleſſe vs with peace of conſcience and health of body, thorow Ieſus Chriſt our Lord.

Earneſt and zealous meditations on the ſeuen petitions of the Lords prayer.

O Lord thou art the father of all mercies, and God of all conſolation, behold vs that with lowly hearts come vnto thee, euen as children doe to their naturall fathers: our onely truſt is in thy mercy, for thy goodneſſe exceedeth all earthly fathers, with reuerence therefore, and humilitie of heart, loue, obedience, and faithfull dutifulneſſe, as becommeth the children of ſo louing a father, doe we call for thy helpe and comfortable aſſiſtance, for who is like vnto thee, or can bring to effect the thing which thou canſt doe? thy ſeat is in heauen where thou raigneſt in all dignitie for euermore, thy power is in heauen and earth, and in the ſea, yea and thy regiment appeareth in all places, thou ſeeſt all things, thou heareſt all things, and by thy eternitie gouerneſt all things, and we thy poore children doe craue ſuccour of thee onely, beſeeching thee, O Lord, to raiſe our hearts from earthly things, and vnite our minds to the contemplation of heauenly things, and make vs ready at all times with ſtedfaſt hope to expect our heauenly inheritance: praiſed be thy name, O Lord, which aboue all other names ought to be had in reuerence, for thou art altogither holy, graunt therefore that we may vtterly deteſt and aboliſh the names of all faigned gods, and euermore vouchſafe to aſſiſt vs in mercie with thy grace and holy ſpirit, that we may refraine the company of ſuch euill perſons as vnreuerently blaſpheme thy name, neither ſuffer vs by retchleſnes to diſhonour thee our God in any of our actions: moreouer, graunt we moſt humbly beſeech thee, O Lord, that thy kingdome may euer remaine amongſt vs, and that thy truth and holy word neuer depart from vs, but abide in our hearts by thy inſpiration, as a fruitfull doctrine daily inſtructing vs, wherby we may with more earneſt zeale walke as Chriſtians in newneſſe of life to the honour and praiſe of thy name, that all men ſeeing the ſame, may truly turne vnto thee, in hope to attaine thy euerlaſting kingdome. O moſt gratious God, let thy bleſſed will be done in all things with vs both now and euer, and as thou art our heauenly father, ſo graunt that we may not requeſt any thing contrary to thy will, but accept whatſoeuer thou ſendeſt with reuerent minds, ſaying with chearefull heartes, Thy will be done, O Lord, for euermore here on earth, as it is in thy holy ſanctuary of heauen: quicken vs, O Lord, that we may learne more and more to be obedient vnto thy heauenly will in all things as becommeth thy deare children, and euen as thy holy Angels and bleſſed companie doe obſerue the ſame with ioy: ſo direct our inward affections, that we may wholly apply our ſelues thereunto, and that our whole felicitie in this life may be altogether imployed in meditating on thy ſacred Scriptures, which thou in mercy haſt ſent and left amongſt vs, to the comfort of our ſoules and our eternall ſaluation: and euermore in mercy, O deare Father, vouchſafe of thy prouidence to nouriſh and comfort vs continually with ſuch things as thy onely goodneſſe doth know to be moſt expedient both for our ſoules and bodies, whereby we may goe foreward with a quieter conſcience to ſerue thee ſo that we in this life may be maintained and preſerued, wherby we may be helpfull vnto our Chriſtian brethren, & not chargeable vnto them any waies, eſpecially, good Lord, graunt that we abuſe not thy bleſſings of meat and drinke, but vouchſafe that we may thankefully receiue thy fatherly benefits in ſuch modeſt ſort, that thy name may be glorified, our ſoules and bodies gratiouſly comforted, and if it ſhall pleaſe thee at any time to lay thy rodde of correction vpon vs for our diſobedience, and ſo to afflict vs with any kind of penurie, yet graunt to vs ſuch grace that we may continually with all humilitie be thankefu l vnto thee without either murmuring or grudging and with armed patience ſt ll abide thy leiſure, for thou of thy fatherly goodneſſe haſt willed vs to lay our care vpon thee, who art able in thy good time to relieue our need: but aboue all things, O mercifull God, graunt that our ſoules may be nouriſhed and ſpiritually fed with the liuely word of thy glorious Goſpell, which giueth knowledge vnto ſuch as delight therein, and leadeth to life euerlaſting: behold, O Lord, our weakeneſſe, for thou knoweſt our frailty, and the wickedneſſe of our youth is not hi from thee: we confeſſe that we were conceiued and brought forth in ſinne, ſo that through our corrupt nature we daily and hourely offend thy diuine maieſtie by Sathans interceptions in breaking thy commaundements, and neglecting our dutie towards thee, but, O our good God, we moſt humbly beſeech thee with ſighing hearts to giue vs a feeling of our infirmities, and ſtirre vs vp with all ſpeed in the times of our triall to ſeeke after thee, and to proceed in repentance and amendment of life, for thou art our mercifull Lord, more ready to forgiue than we for to aſke, and therefore we come to thee alone, for none in heauen nor in earth, Saint nor Angell, can forgiue ſinnes, but thou onely, through Ieſus Chriſt our redeemer, who hath ſuffered the paine due vnto our ſinnes: and furthermore we craue of thee, O deare father, ſo to aſſ ſt vs with thy holy ſpir t, that we may put out of our hearts all manner of mallice, debate, and thoughts of reuengement, and with Chr ſtianitie, from the very inwards of our hearts forgiue them that treſpaſſe againſt vs, that with ſtedfaſt hope we may craue at thy hands forgiueneſſe for our ſinnes: thou moſt mightie God, direct our paths and guide o r waies, ſtretch foorth thy right hand to ſuccour vs, that we may be euer armed with thy defence againſt the violent ſnares and manifold temptations of the world, the fleſh, and the diuel, ſtay vs good Lord that we periſh not through their cruell inuaſions, nor turne from thee to our owne deſtruction, for except thou doeſt ſtill continue a good father vnto vs, in protecting and defending vs thy children, and bleſſing vs with thy ſpirituall graces, we ſhall ſuddenly fall into all iniuries: wherefore our hope both now and euer ſhall wholy depend vpon thy mercies, with full aſſurance, that thou wilt in thy good time not onely deliuer vs from all euill, but alſo nouriſh and preſerue vs in our neceſſitie, and ſ ue vs from ſuch cruell and grieuous afflictions as are readie to moleſt vs either in body or mind. Thy kingdome, O deare father, we faithfully confeſſe and acknowledge is an heauenly and euerlaſting kingdome, and thy power is exceeding infinite, yea and thy glorie ſo incomprehenſible, that it paſſeth mans reaſon and the limits of his vnderſtanding to attaine to the knowledge, therefore we moſt entirely beſeech thee graunt vs theſe things that we haue faithfully aſked in humilitie of heart, according to thy wil, and giue vnto vs, O Lord, ſuch grace, that our prayers may be alwaies directed in perfect faith vnto thy diuine maieſtie, without wauering or doubting of thy aſſiſtance, remembring thy promiſes, that ſo praying vnto thee with a ſtedfaſt hope, we may expect the ſpeedie approach of thy euerlaſting comfort in Chriſt Ieſus, Amen.

A prayer or thankeſgiuing for Gods benefits beſtowed vpon vs.

COnduct and preſerue me, O Lord, for in thee alone doe I truſt, thou art my health and the portion of my inheritance, yea, thou haſt bleſſed me with increaſe, and allotted vnto me a faire heritage, graunt therefore O Lord, that with reuerence I may render vnto thee due thankes for all the bleſſings which thou haſt lent me, and may imploy the ſame to the benefit of thy children: let thy feate be euer apparant before mine eyes, that I may liue vprightly in thy ſight: ſaue me, O God, from the daungerous euents of this trou leſome and wretched life and hold thy hand continually ouer me, to defend my cauſe againſt the furie of my aduerſaries: guide me, O God in all my wayes, that my courſe may be ruled according to thy word, whereby I may faithfully perſeuere with all dutifull obedience in that neceſſarie vocation whereunto thy onely goodneſſe hath ordained me: for ſo long as thy graces haue dom nion ouer me, I am altogether ſtedfaſt and immouable, wherefore I reioyce bo h in bodie and ſoule at thy wonderfull workes eſtabliſhed within me, thou quickneſt me from the mind of earthly carefulneſſe, and makeſt me oftentimes to feele thy mercy, and relieueſt my conſcience with the reuelation of thy word, wherefore with delight ſhall I declare thy goodnes and praiſe thy name for euer and euer.

A prayer for aid in the time of afflictions.

COnſider my crie O Lord, and giue eare vnto me that am oppreſſed: helpe me, O God, and deliuer me againſt them that doe iniuriouſly reſiſt me, preſerue thy ſeruant that flieth vnto thee, and reſpect me in mercie that am continually conuerſant in calling vpon thee, refreſh my ſoule which is lifted vp vnto thee, for vnto thee alone doe I call and crie. Thou art verily good and mercifull, and vſeſt great clemencie vnto them that call on thee, giue eare Lord vnto my prayer, and hearken vnto my meditation, for in the day of my trouble I will call vnto thee, yea all nations ſhall extoll thy name, becauſe of thy wondrous workes: teach me the way of thy righteouſnes, and I will walke therein, knit my heart vnto thee, that I may feare thy holy name. I will praiſe thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart, yea I will alwaies glorifie thy name, for great is thy mercie towards me, and thou haſt deliuered my ſoule from the loweſt graue. O gratious God, the prowd are riſen againſt me, & the aſſembles and iniurious dealings of violent men haue ſought my ſoule, to deſtroy it vtterly, and haue not ſet thee before them, but thou, O Lord God, on whom onely I doe depend, art kind and mercifull, not haſtie vnto anger, but full of truth, take care now of me therefore O Lord and helpe me for thy mercy ſake, graunt finally that I may manifeſtly know and perceiue that thou loueſt me, that my enemies may be grieued and aſhamed of themſelues, when they ſee that thou doeſt yeeld comfort and help vnto me, ſo ſhall I be endued with greater ioy to ſerue thee and to yeeld vnto thee eternall praiſe and vnceſſant thankeſgiuing for euer, Amen.

A prayer crauing aid of God againſt all our enemies.

WIth ſpeed, O Lord come forth to deliuer me, make haſt to helpe and ſuccour me, my God, let them be confounded and put to ſhame that pretend to doe me euil, and let them be turned backward and put to endleſſe confuſion that deſire my death: let them turne home with ſhame as a recompence, diſappointed of their purpoſe, which haue vaunted aagainſt me, as though I had bene quite confounded, and graunt thou, O Lord, that not I alone, but all they alſo that haue a deſire to worſhip thee, may with a lowe voice aſcribe all glorie vnto thee, in reioycing, and that they may delight to giue ſolemne and euerlaſting praiſes vnto thee, who haſt in mercie deliuered thy ſeruant. In the meane ſeaſon I ſtand here all alone, oppreſſed with the approach of daily ſinnes, and deſtitute of all ſuccour, yea, and continually grieued with the troubleſome aſſaults of Sathan, which keepeth the ſoule in perpetuall bondage, wherefore make haſt and draw neere to helpe me, O mercifull God, for vpon thy gratious aid doe I onely depend, O God, my deliuerer: O Lord. I beſeech thee, delay not longer, but graunt me thy heauenly aſſiſtance, that I feeling thy great kindneſſe, may henceforth applie my ſelfe wholy to the obſeruation of thy lawes, through Ieſus Chriſt my onely Sauiour, vnto whom with thee and the holy Ghoſt be all power and dominion for euer.

A prayer to be vſed of all men and at all times.

WIth the eye of mercy, O God, ſee into my ſorrowfull ſoule, and gratiouſly behold my inward cogitations: and as thou haſt oftentimes ſhewed thy ſelfe a moſt louing and mercifull Lord vnto thy ſeruants, euen ſo with humble heart I earneſtly beſeech thee O God, ſatiſfie my mind with good things, and couer my ſins in the multitude of thy mercies, change the frowardnes of my corrupt nature, & releaſe thine anger pretēded towards me, that I may worth ly praiſe thee, ſhew me thy mercy, O deare father, and grant me thy ſaluation: inſtruct me continually by thy holy ſpirit in the reuelation of thy lawes, that I may thereby perceiue thy will in all things, and ſo lead a life acceptable in thy ſight, and vouchſafe, O Lord, euermore to graunt me thy heauenly wiſdome, that I may not be enclined to follie, but knowing whereunto thou haſt created me. I may diligently roceed in that neceſſarie vocation that thy diuine prouidence hath called me vnto, ſeruing thee in righteouſneſſe and holineſſe of conuerſation all the dayes of my life. Graunt alſo, O Lord, that I may altogether imbrace thy true and a heauenly doctrine & eſchew all ſuch things as are contrarie to thy will, that ſo leading a life agreeable to my calling, I may in the end attaine to the ioyes euerlaſting.

A prayer and thankeſgiuing vnto God, to be vſed of euery man that hath been either troubled in body or mind.

TO thee O Lord, doe I render continuall thankes, for thou in mercie haſt heard my voyce, and inclined thine eare vnto the prayers and petitions of my mouth, and therefore will I call vpon thee ſo long as I liue, for when the moſt cruell ſnares of death compaſſeth me, and when the dreadfull anguiſh of the graue held me, being ouercome with the troubles of my ſorrowfull heart, then I called vpon the Lord, ſaying: O Lord, I beſeech thee, come ſpeedily and deliuer my ſoule, and thou like a mercifull father didſt ſend and and reliefe vnto me: verily thou, O God, art mercifull and righteous, full of truth and compaſſion, for I wa in miſery, and thou didddeſt ſaue me: O my ſoule enter now therefore into the place of reſt, ſeeing the Lord hath beene ſo beneficiall vnto thy ſafetie, for he hath deliuered my life from death: thou haſt ſtaied mine eyes from breaking out into teares, and thou haſt eſtabliſhed my feet in ſuch a perfect path, that I may walke now ſafe and ſound amongſt the liuing, for I haue euermore beleeued the promiſes of the Lord, and therefore did I ſpeake, euen my aith min ſtring voice and words to me, being opreſſed with ſorow, and thou didſt ouercome the dangerous attemps of my foes, quickening me for thine infinite mercies ſake: what ſhall I render vnto thee therefore for all thy benefits which thou haſt beſtowed vpon me, I will giue thee the ſacrifice of praiſe, and call vpon thy name with reuerence, yea I w ll pay my vowes vnto thee, which I haue promiſed euen in the m dſt of thy faithfull congregation for euer and euer, Amen.

A prayer vnto God, deſiring him to defend vs from the malice of our aduerſaries.

MOſt mercifull God, I beſeech thee for thy names ſake, ſaue me and deliuer me (being an innocent) by thy power, giue eare vnto the wordes of my mouth, and refuſe not my prayer that I here preſent vnto thy diuine maieſtie, defend me O Lord, from the wicked and ſuch as riſe vp againſt me, confound their deuices, and let the ſnares that they haue ſet to imtrap me, be as a ſword lighting vpon their owne heads, cut them downe according to thy promiſes which thou haſt made to thy children that I being deliuered by the extended force of thy right hand, may willingly performe my vow and ſolemne promiſe vnto thee, and celebrate thy praiſes, ſeeing there is nothing more bountifull nor more excellent than the worthineſſe of the power, namely in that thou haſt ſaued me from all diſtreſſe, and graunted me my deſire on my enemies: graunt this, O father, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake our onely redeemer, Amen.

A prayer for ſuch as intend to enter into the eſtate of matrimonie, made at the requeſt of M Ed. Fenton.

MOſt mightie God and heauenly father, from the bottome of my heart I yeeld all honour, land, praiſe, and thankeſgiuing vnto thy diuine maieſtie, for thoſe thy riches, bleſſings, and benefits which thou in mercy haſt beſtowed vpon me: O Lord, that by thy incomprehenſible power madeſt Adam out of the duſt and ſlime of the earth, and createdſt him to thine own image, behold me thy ſeruant whom thy good pleaſure hath called to the honourable ſtate of matrimony, and as by thy moſt excellent prouidence thou diddeſt giue vnto Adam, Eua to be his helper, and immutably ordaineſt them to become one fleſh, from whom proceeded all mankind, ſo, O my good God, in thy mercy graunt that this woman whom thou haſt giuen me, may be vnto me a helper, and that we may be a comfort one towards another, euen as Abraham vnto Sara, and Iſaac to Rebecca, and not to fulfill our vngodly affections, nor the corrupt and filthie deſire of our fleſhly appetites, but to loue and liue together withall humble obedience and reuerent feare towards thee as becommeth thy ſeruants, without ſtrife or debate, and for the procreation of children, to the increaſe of thy kingdome: which if it pleaſe thee to bleſſe vs withall, grant that we may bring them vp in thy feare and true religion: Lord behold vs, that with one heart and voi e doe moſt humbly beſeech thee ſo to endue, direct, and ſanctifie vs with thy holy ſpirit, that all our actions may ſtand with thy honour and glory, credit of thy Church, and our euerlaſting ſaluation: and graunt that we with all modeſty may liue together with continuall peace of conſcience and health of body, vntill we become aged, that we may ſee our childrens children, and thy name eternally aduanced in the Church and congregation, and when thy goodnes, hath finiſhed our dayes in this life, conduct our ſoules in ſafetie vnto that ſpirituall kingdome which thou haſt ordained for thine elect, to reſt with thee for euer. Graunt, O moſt mercifull father, that thoſe things which we haue faithfully aſked, according to thy will, may effectually be obtained, that we thy lowly and obedient children obtaining the perpetuall fruition of thy fauour, may for thy gratious aſſiſtance and ineſtimable treaſures yeeld vnto thee eternall praiſe, power, and dominion, with vnceſſant thankſgiuing both now and euer, thorough our onely mediatour and aduocate Ieſus Chriſt, Amen.

A prayer for a vvoman that is barren, and deſireth the fruit of her bodie.

O Lord my God, moſt gratious and louing father in Ieſus Chriſt, behold me, poore wretch, whom thy hand hath hitherto humbled as it were in the ſight of all the world, at the length take away my reproch, I acknowledge thy hand to be vpon me: for none in heauen or earth, ſaue thy maieſtie only, is able to withſtand the particular effect of that thy generell commaundement, Bring foorth fruit and multiply Thou onely (deare father) canſt doe it, becauſe of thy almightineſſe: and thou alſo doeſt it euen in thy children, according to the moſt holy decree of thy vnſearchable wiſdome: now, becauſe when thou v ſiteſt thy children with any wants of outward comforts and bleſſings, thou doeſt it not (deare father) for any lacke of loue to them, or as though the bleſſings alſo of this life pertained not to them, for in Chriſt Ieſus, who is Lord of all, they are likewiſe our right, the vngodly being meere vſurpers of them, but thou doeſt it to draw them by ſome temporal want and ſhort reſtraint of their deſires to, ſeeke at thy hand ſome eternall bleſſings, which they ſtand more in need of, that thereby in the end thou mighteſt be ſeene to multiply thy rich mercies towards them euery way. Of which thy wiſdome thou haſt left vs a leagible euidence in the ſtory of thy ſeruant Iob: who (after thou baddeſt taught him more humilitie) thou enrichedſt alſo, as his heart could deſire. Now becauſe thy waies are all iuſt, O Lord, and thou walkeſt euer like thy ſelfe, haue mercie on me thy ſeruant, I beſeech thee giue me to vnderſtand that which thou wouldeſt haue me to ſee in this my affliction, and ſith through the darkeneſſe of my mind, it is hard for me (O Lord) to eſpit out the deformities and wants that are in me, may it pleaſe thee to vouchſafe me the eſpeciall guiding of thy holy ſpirit herein: ſo as by it I may make a through viſitation of my ſelfe both for my outward deeds and for my inward affections, vntill I ſhall find out the thing that may pleaſe thee, and may alſo be yet further bleſſed of thee, euen in this thing which my heart defireth, ſo ſhall this thy louing returne wipe away my reproch, thy bounteous dealings with thy ſeruant, be ioyfully praiſed among thy Saints, and as for me, whoſe head thou haſt thus lifted vp, I will neuer ceaſe talking of thy goodneſſe, and informing thoſe who ſhall in like caſe of thy liberall kindneſſe towards all that wait on thee, and thy moſt wiſe and righteous iudgements which thou exerciſeſt amongſt thoſe alſo that feare thy holy name, Amen.

A prayer for iourneying.

O Moſt louing and tender Father, I commit this my iourney and corporall trauell vnto thy heauenly direction, to guide and gouerne me as ſhall ſeeme moſt expedient to thy godly wiſdome: and as this my troubleſome and wearie life is but a pilgrims paſſage, and a ſpanne from birth to graue, ſo graunt that I may alwaies conſider of it, and I beſeech thee, O my God, that as to Iacob iourneying into the Eaſt, & praying for thy gratious protection, thou didſt miniſter all things neceſſarie to his ſafetie, ſo thou wilt mercifully behold me, a member of thy little Iſraell, and proſper me ſo in my iourney, that all things according to thy heauēly wil may go well with me, to the honor and aduancement of thy holy name, that like as Iacob ſaid thou ſhouldeſt be his God, ſo we knowing that in all things thou art more rich and plentiful vnto vs (a thouſand fold) thā we can deſerue, may for thy continuall goodneſſe ſing land and praiſe vnto thy holy name, O God that for euer liueſt one in trinitie, and three in vnitie, Amen.

A godly prayer to be vſed at all times.

O Moſt mercifull father, from thy holy ſanctuarie looke downe, I beſeech thee, vpon me, and behold me, poore wretch that am oppreſſed with the burthen of daily ſinne, and be wrapped in the bonds of mortall miſery, priſoned in the fetters of originall wickedneſſe, and hauing in mine owne body the traiterous affections of concupiſcence, alway conſpiring to betray my ſoule into the hands of the aduerſarie: behold me (I ſay) in the bright beames of thy louing countenance with thy eye of mercy, ſee into the troubles of my ſpirit, and lay thine eare vnto the mournefull grones of the ſame, my ſoule howleth out vnto thee euen from the gulph of deepe calamities, preſſed with the prouiſion of temporall things, vrged with the ſpightfull watching of the hatefull, pricked with the preſumptuous pride of worldly benefites, and wounded with the venomous dart of Adams tranſgreſſion: my battailes are full of difficulties, my victories compaſſed with treaſon, and my dwellings in the dores of death. O my God, what felicitie can the poore ſeruant find in this irkeſome life? Or what comfort can bring ſufficient reliefe to the afflicted ſpirit, but the true platforme of our pathes, and the ſweete ſcope of our pilgrimage, euen Ieſus Chriſt thy dearely beloued ſonne our ſauiour. Wherfore I poore ſinner humbly beſeech thee not to carry long, or deferre my deliuerance from this wearie iourney. Let not my ſoule alway be clad with mourning, and my bones witherwith anguiſh, thou Lord haſt created me of nothing, and thou gaueſt me life in my mothers wombe. Thou haſt choſen me to be of thine, and thou haſt giuen me thy holy ſpirit the teſtimony: O deare father, let not thy graces be in me in vaine, let me not be ouerwhelmed with the iniquities of this troubleſome world: but preuent me with the extended force of thy right hand, and ſaue my ſoule, O God, my rocke of ſtrength: Behold not that which is amiſſe in me, neither let my ſinnes and infirmities make ſeparation betweene thy mercy and me: driue out, or at the leaſt wiſe hold downe in me the cruell ſting of raging concupiſcence, by the increaſing might of thy holy ſpirit impreſſe in my heart a feare of thy lawes, and inſtruct me ſo to number my daies, that I may applie my ſelfe wholly to thy ſtatutes. Alſo (O moſt mercifull father) as the dore of thy mercy is alwaies open, and as thou wilt neuer refuſe humble ſutes of thy ſeruants: heare me, O Lord, in my earneſt petition, for thy little Church of England let me neuer ſee it gouerned againe with the miſtie cloud of deepe ignorance, ſuffer me neuer to ſee thy holy temple and ſanctuary defiled with the beaſtily ſuperſtition and blaſphemous idolatrie of Antichriſt: ſtrike not the lampe out of our hands in thy wrath, and ſo make vs go groping in palpable darkeneſſe: I muſt needs confeſſe (O deare father) that the multitude of our ſinnes (which are growne in ſuch ripeneſſe) due worthily deſerue thy grieuous plagues: euen from the higheſt to the loweſt we haue all gone aſtray, and prowdly breaking our allegiance, haue diſol eyed thy precepts. But yet (O mightie Iehouah, who admitteſt duſt and aſhes to ſpeake vnto thee) heare thy poore ſeruant, I beſeech thee, euen with the teares of a ſorrowfull heart, appeaſe thine anger, hold thy heauie rod, ſhed not the violl of wrath vpon vs in thy ſurie, let not thy ſpirit be mooued with man becauſe he is but fleſh, correct vs not in thine anger, leaſt we be conſumed and brought to nothing, but conuert vs, O Lord, and we ſhall be conuerted, change vs, and we ſhall be changed, for thine elects ſake, O father, ſpare this Realme of England. Deferre the day of reuenge, and ſo much more plenteouſly poure thy pretious ſpirit into the hearts of thy children, which now alreadie feele thy fatherly calling, that they with all ſpeede making haſt into thy vineyard, may painefully ſweate in dunging, earthing and priming the trees, to the increaſe of thy vintage, to the glory of thy holy name. Lord heare me I beſeech theé, and ſo kindle in the hearts of thy children the loue of thy law, and zeale of true profeſſion, that we may walke together in all brotherly admonition and Chriſtian exhortation that we all ſtriue to goe before others in godly zeale, and flouriſh in the fruits of perfect faith: That we vſe not our liberty to the infirming of the weake, but euery one burne in deſire to winne a ſoule vnto thee. Finally, that our ſtedfaſt going forward and continuall increaſe may be to the ſtrengthening of the weake and comfort of the ſtrong, to the ſifting out of Wolues, & defence of the Lambs, to the ſhining credite of thy Church, and finall confuſion of Antechriſt, that ſo turning from vs thy heauy diſpleaſure, and vnbending the bowe of thy wrath, thou maieſt imbrace vs in thy armes of mercie, where gaining the fruition of thy fauour, in all patience and thankſgiuing we may expect the day of our liberty, which we ſhall one day obtaine by the diſſolution of this life, and entrance into that vnſpeakable reſt, that Chriſt our ſauiour hath purchaſed and entred into by his pretious blood, to whom with the father and the holy ſpirit be all praiſe and thankeſgiuing for euer, Amen.

Godly meditations to be vſed at all times.

O Eternall God and heauenly father, whoſe wiſdome and power is infinit, and yet whoſe mercie ſurmounteth all, in whome all creatures haue their being, and from whom all goodneſſe floweth as from a fountaine: I humbly beſeech thee giue eare vnto the groning requeſts of my ſpirit, and pittie the ſalt ſtreames that (for the ſight and ſence of mine owne infirmities) flow from the inwards of my conſuming heart. And alſo I aſke nothing but that which ſoundeth to the glory of thy holy name, and to the credit of thy Church: ſhew thy ſelfe, O father, as willing as able, that my ſpirit being refreſhed, and my heart receiuing comfort, I may boldfaſt the reioyſing of my hope, with a ſound and ſetled conſcience to the end.

Againſt temptation.

O Thou maker of heauen and earth, deliuer me from the continuall and moſt dangerous aſſaults of Sathan, who priuily layeth baites, and ſecretly diggeth pittes for my ſoule, leauing nothing vnattempted that might worke my deſtruction, and I feeling my ſelfe nothing but a maſſe of infirmities, and ready to decline at euery ſtroke that he giueth, cannot but miſtruſt my ſelfe altogether, and wholly flying vnto the ſea of thy mercie, power and wiſedome, doe beſeech the vnceſſant ſupplie of thy gifts, in the continuall acceſſe of thy holy ſpirit, that in the throng of temptations I may be deliuered and ſtand victorer in Ieſus Chriſt.

For patience.

O Moſt louing Lord ſuffer me not to be tempted aboue my might: neither by affliction of bodie or ſoule, neither by whatſoeuer earthly penurie the enemie would preſſe me with, but euen in the middeſt graunt me patience to ſuffer thy fatherly tryals thankefully and without all grudging, as worthily may beſeeme the childe of ſo louing and mercifull a father.

For increaſe of faith.

O God, thou creator of al mā kind, increaſe my faith, and purge me of vnbeliefe, that I alway calling to mind thy wonderfull louing worke of our redemption, may with all boldneſſe of ſpirit in the blood of Ieſus Chriſt ſo apply thy comfortable promiſes to the ſaluing of my ſores as that in vſing of the ſame pretious oyle of thy grace, I may alwayes feare to make waſt thereof.

For ſanctification.

O Thou mightie God of Iſraell, graunt me ſuch an vnderſtanding heart, and ſo inſtruct my ſences to be ſtudious and capable of thy heauenly myſteries, that according to the right rul and perfect platforme of thy prouident direction. I may loue in all ſingleneſſe and humilitie of heart, as a feeling member of Chriſt Ieſus, ſuffer in him mutually and fructifie in all aboundance of godly life to thy honor.

For temporall benefits.

O Father of all mercies ſo moderate thy mercifull hand in bleſſing me with the benefits of this temporall maintenance that neither through aboundance old Adam may ſet vp his feather, nor yet thy vertues be in me through ſcarcity obſcured.

For thankfulneſſe.

O Thou comforter of the comfortleſſe, rend out of my heart all fleſhly thornes and impediments, that would at any time incline me to forget thy goodneſſe, or neglect to ſerue thee, and giue me a heart alwaies affected to honour thee, a minde euer meditating vpon thy mercy, and a ſpirit burning with zeale of thy worſhip, that daily I may pay my vowes vnto thee, and ſpeake to thy praiſe in the midſt of the congregation.

For mortification and reſolution.

O Moſt bounteous God, ſo mortifie old Adam in my members, and redouble the ſtrength of the inner man, that deſpiſing this momentanous life, I may not ſticke in the ioy of any earthly pleaſure, or yeeld my ſelfe to the delight of this preſent life, but alway refuſing to endeuour my ſelfe in an vncertaine hoſpidge, and knowing that I am here but as a pilgrim. I may ſhun my acquaintance with all things of fickle ſtay, and fixe my heart, my ſolace and delight, vpon the hope of beholding the maieſtie and beautie of thy glorie euen as it is, where my ioy ſhall be full, and nothing wanting for euer: which ioyes, as my ſpirit groneth to ſee, ſo, O Lord I beſeech thee with expedition finiſh thy good workes in me, and ſhortly bring to an end my ſorrowfull daies, that my ſoule as a doue may once take her flight from this earthly tabernacle, and being receiued in to the boſome of thy deare ſonne, may be placed in that moſt happy reſt which he hath purchaſed for the ſame, with the price of his moſt pretious blood, to whom with thee, O father, and the euerlaſting comforter be all praiſe, dominion and power euermore aſcribed, Amen.

A prayer againſt the feare of death.

O Eternall God, my moſt louing and mercifull father, I praiſe and glorifie thee euen from the depth of my infirme heart, for all the benefites and riches of thy goodneſſe beſtowed vpon me, from the beginning of my life vnto this preſent time: but eſpecially for the bleſſings of my election, redemption, vocation, iuſtification and ſanctification in Ieſus Chriſt, in all which thou haſt in part taken me out of this world, and giuen me the pledge of thy holy ſpirit, which witneſſeth vnto my ſpirit that I am thy childe, thou haſt (I ſay) giuen me the earneſt peny of my ſaluation, and whileſt I was yet thine enemie, haſt reconciled me in Chriſt: yea, thou tookeſt me out of the blinde dungeon of careleſſe ignorance, to ſerue thee in ſimplicity, to feare thee in loue, and to call vpon thee in ſpirit and truth, and in all theſe (moſt louing father) haſt then made me proceed and profit vnto this preſent day, wherein happily thy good pleaſure ſeemeth to incline me towards the greateſt benefi that I euer yet taſted, that is, wholly to free me from all the miſeries of this preſent life, and to bring me to that heauenly liberty where my ioy ſhall be full, and no t ſt of mixture with bitterneſſe. Now therefore deare father, for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, I beſeech thee, reſpect me thy vnworthy ſeruant, & as all times of my life thou haſt fatherly fedde, nouriſhed, preſerued, and defended me, ſo now in my laſt need viſit and regard me: that as the enemy will now with all rage bend his force ag inſt me, ſo thou with thy fatherly and mighty protection by thy holy ſpirit wilt comfort me and with the comfortable preſence of thy maieſtie ſtrengthen me, that my ••• th ſtill increaſin with armed patience I may deſpiſe the fe re of this bodies death, knowing that it is the vnauoidable way that thy good pleaſure hath appointed to doe away our mortalitie, and to bring vs thoſe ioyes, which thy vnſpeakable prouidence hath ordeined vs vnto, without all deſeruing on our parts: teach me new therefore ſo to number my daies, that I may apply my heart vnto thy wiſdome: teach me (ſweet Lord) as heretofore to liue, ſo now to frame to die to thy glory, whereunto I, poore wretch, doe with a ſighing heart beſeech thee neuer o forſake me with thy holy ſpirit, but that mine vnderſtanding may alway be lightened with the feeling of mine owne infirmities, ſo that in all perfect humilitie I may flie from the mind of all earthly ſtay, and cleauing inſeparably to thy promiſes, and apprehending my ſaluation with ſure hope, I may expect the diſſolution: ſo beholding thy maieſtie with the cleare eyes of my faith, I may grow, as by degrees weaker in body, ſo fuller and ſtronger in the ſpirituall body or inner man: ſo that when the laſt breath hath paſſed, my ſoule may ioyfully reſpire the triumphant odours of an endleſſe life, in the boſome of Abraham withall thy ſaints: whereto haſten me, O deare louing father, euen for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake our ſauiour, to whome with thee and the holy Ghoſt be all power, glory, and dominion, now and for euer. Amen.

A prayer to be ſaid in affliction.

O Thou onely wiſe God, and moſt louing and mercifull father, I thy vnworthy ſeruant doe humbly beſeech thee to look down from heauen, and beholde the wounded heart of him whome thou haſt ſtricken and viſited, according to the good pleaſure of thy will, and becauſe man in his owne nature is nothing but blindneſſe and folly before thee, and therefore cannot poſſ bly conceiue rightly of the thinges that are aboue, it may therefore pleaſe thee according to thy wonted mercy towards me, to renew and refreſh thy ſpirit in thy ſeruant, that the ſame inſtructing my heart in true wiſdome, and feare of thee, whereby I may willingly and obediently ſtudie thy commaundements, and exreciſe my ſelfe in thy Statutes, I may come to the vnderſtanding of mine owne euils, and feele the cauſe of thy ſcourge, that ſo my wound being laid open to mine eyes, I may deferre no time to ſeeke the ſalue to heale it: My good God heare the voice of thy ſeruant that crieth vnto thee, conſider my complaints, and weigh mine inward wo conceiued through hate of mine owne infirmities, for I flie from my ſelfe as from an vnwalled caſtle, and I feare all my footings as though I walked on thornes. O Lord therefore deale not with me in thy diſpleaſure, neither let my ſinnes ſeparate thy fauour from me, but quicken me in my afflictions, and make me waxe wiſer by thy puniſhments, giue me ſuch a feeling of my infirmities, and ſo perfect a perſeuerance of my great negligences in ſeruing of thee, as that I may wholly diſpoſe my ſelfe to a contrary order, and thereunto ſo ioyne the encreaſe of thy grace and ſtrengthning ſpirit, as I may be able thereby to perfourme my race in that good way, which thy goodneſſe hath mooued me to. And that I may not be a vaine beholder of thy workes, a momentaneous iewer of thy graces, but diligently noting the effectuall working of thy wiſdome, and making due obſeruations of thy profitable exerciſes in thy children, I may locke them in the cloſet of my heart, and make ſtore of them for mine owne vſes in the time of my triall: in which times alſo, O mercifull father be neere vnto me with thy ioyfull countenance, and open my eies of faith to behold thy loue, ſo that I be not too much ſhaken by the enemies aſſaults, but may be furniſhed from thee, both with abilitie, conſtancie, and patience, to giue him both his daily and finall repulſe and ouerthrow, which that I may doe to the greater credit of thy Church, and increaſe of thy kingdome: make, O ſweete Lord (now and the rather for that I haue had triall of my enemy his ſleights already) me thy ſeruant to ariſe out of all the fathers of ſloth, and neuer to truſt hereafter to the the trecherie of the enemy, but to ſtand warily vpon my guard, and neuer to diſcend from the watch tower of my health, but there night and day to vſe the counſell of thy ſpirit, and to exerciſe my ſelfe in the ſpirituall weapons of my ſaluation, that when I haue ſpent my youthfull daies in the vigilant watch of my charge, as thy mercy and louing kindnes ſhall inable me, when thy ſonne our Generall ſhall come to take account, I may be indued with the daies of reſt, which he hath purchaſed for me with the price of his moſt pretious blood, & receiue at his hands the priuiledged rod of liberty for euer. The loue of our good God that created vs, the grace of our Lord Ieſus who hath redeemed vs, and the aſſiſtant fellowſhip of the Holy Ghoſt, who hath ſanctified vs, gouerne and continue with vs euen all thy Iſrael for euer.

Before we receiue the Lords ſupper, it ſhall be profitable thus to meditate.

ALl the righteouſneſſe that may riſe vnto man, or can be in vs, we haue it neither from the Eaſt, nor from the Weſt, but from the body of Chriſt, neither is therein the world any other ſanctification, ſo that all we that be here this day, and all people els of the world, except we know perfect manhood, and our owne nature to be really vnited to the perſon of the ſonne of God, who hath ſanctified himſe fe for vs, there is no ſanctification for vs vnder heauē. Euen as our hands and armes and other members are not nouriſhed but onely by the meat receiued by the head, ſo our ſpirituall meate of righteouſneſſe and life is not giuen vs but from our head Ieſus Chriſt. And as the veines are meanes by which nouriſhment is conueighed to euery part, ſo faith is the meanes by which we reteine from Chriſt all that is healthfull vnto vs. And as by ioynts and ſinewes our members are really knit and made a body vnto the head, ſo really, truly, and indeede, by one ſpirit we be knit vnto Chriſt, as perfectly and ſubſtantially made one with him, as our members are one with our head.

A praier before the receiuing of the Lords ſupper.

O Almighty God and my moſt mercifull father, in wonderfull mercy (I acknowledge) it hath pleaſed thee to purge me vnworthy wretch by the bloody paſſion of thy ſonne from all my ſinnes, to haue adopted me thy child, and g uen me the earneſt of my ſaluation, touching my heart with an infallible feeling of thy mercies, and ſetled confidence in thy promiſes: in the ioyfull commemoration of which thy vnſpeakeable bleſſings, my ſoule is now thirſtingly entred into thine houſe, to take the wholeſome cup of ſaluation, and to call vpon thy holy name, giue me now therefore, O Lord, a wiſe and vnderſtanding heart, that I may cō ceiue rightly of thy ſacred myſteries, diſcerne them ſecretly, & receiue them effectually, to the perfect conſummation and finiſhing of that happy building which thy worthy goodnes ha h begun in me, yea vntill I become to the meaſure of the age and fulneſſe of my Lo d and Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt, vnto whom, with thee, O father, and the Holy Ghoſt, be all power and do inion for euer, Amen.

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of my health in this life. (O ſweete Lord) I take no care, ſo that thy good pleaſure be therein fulfilled, for if thou wilt I liue and recouer of this my bodely infirmitie, I haue iuſt cauſe to be thankefull vnto thee therefore: and if thy wiſdome hath now determined to finiſh in me theſe daies of ſinne, I haue double cauſe to poure forth the teares of a melting heart for ioy, not becauſe I would leaue theſe daies of paine and ſorrow (which my ſinne ten thouſand times double deſerueth) but that I would ceaſe to diſpleaſe ſo deare a Lord, and louing a father, and that being tranſported into that heauenly life of thy immortall children, I may praiſe and ſerue thee in that ſweet ſocietie of Angels, where the burthen of this fleſh ſhall find no place to encumber me for euer. Thither therefore, O Father, if thy wiſdome haue ſo determined, ſpeedily conduct me: in the meane time make, that this my bodily affliction may conduce to thy glory on earth, and my ſaluation in heauen, by the conduct of thy holy ſpirit, through Ieſus Chriſt my onely aduocate and mediatour, Amen.

Godly petitions to be vſed of euery Chriſtian.

O My God, accept thy moſt vnworthie ſeruant here humbly falling downe before thee, I acknowledge thy great mercies, and (in ſundry ſort) thy extended goodneſſe towards me, yet in feare of mine owne frailety, I eftſoones preſent my ſelfe before thy maieſtie, to looke fauourably on me alwaies, and to open mine eyes more clearely to ſee thy maieſtie, for the little taſt that thou haſt giuen me, hath perſwaded me alreadie that thou art ſweet, yea and the more that I diſcerne thy ſweetneſſe, the more I ſee alſo my vncleanneſſe: the knowledge of thee therefore (I confeſſe) is the leader to ſaluation, for the conſideration of thy greatneſſe, maketh me deſpiſe my baſeneſſe, and thy puritie my filthineſſe, and thy wonderfull goodneſſe my monſtrous vnworthineſſe. Forgiue me then, O Lord, my ſinnes, and let them not hold backe thy bounteous hand, now begunne to be opened towards mee, (I ſay begun, my Lord, becauſe my ſelfe hath but now begun to ſee it:) giue me a wiſe vnderſtanding heart, and ſend me knowledge from aboue: driue from my mind the miſtes of fleſhly darkeneſſe, and make me capable of thy heauenly riches, fill my mouth with good things, for I will open it to receiue of thy bleſſings. Let me not die, but liue and declare the praiſes of my Lord. Why haſt thou made me, but to glorifie thee? Why haſt thou enlightned me, but to loue thee? yea, why haſt thou redeemed me, but to ſaue me? And for what cauſe haſt thou ſanctified my heart but to make me fit for thoſe good things that thou purpoſeſt to beſtow vpon me? O ſweete Father, thy loue is not to be expreſſed: Now therefore goe forward, and ceaſe not with thy poore ſeruant, performe that good building which thy ſpirit hath begun in me, thou haſt made me thirſt for thy righteouſneſſe, repleniſh now therefore my heart with gladneſſe, make my fleſh to vaniſh, and the new Adam to riſe vp in ſtrength, tha I may be diſcreet in my waies, and ſtand in the continuall ſearch of thy iudgements. And when thy mercie thus ha h enlarged me, as a full cloud, ſo ſhall I declare thy kindneſſe, and as the ſauour of Myrrhe, ſo ſhall my lippes ſend vp thy praiſes. Bleſſed be the Lord who ha h hiddē theſe things from the wiſe of the world, and reuealed the way of righteouſneſſe vnto the ſimple, Lord I thy handmaid or ſonne of thy handmaid will attend vpon thy will, and repoſe myſelfe vnder the ſhadow of thy wings both day and night. Thou art my wiſdome, my power, my beautie, my ſtrength, my riches, my glory, my king, my God, and my ſaluation. The grace of God the Father, the peace of Chriſt Ieſus our ſauiour, through the comfortable fellowſhip of the holy Spirit, be with me, preſerue & keepe me this day, this night, and euermore, Amen.

A godly prayer to be ſaid at all times.

O Eternall God and moſt mightie King of maieſtie how can I hide my ſelfe frō thy preſence, or with what cloake or pretence might I couer my ſhame from the piercing fight of thine eye, ſince I haue nothing, O Lord, but a guiltie conſcience, intollerably oppreſſed with the heauie but then of ſinne, by which I am almoſt driuen to the dore of deſpaire, if thy mightie hand ſtay me not, I fall, and if thy wiſdome prouide not for me, I am alwaies in daunger. The ſorrowes of my heart are enlarged, for my daies conſume in ſinne, and the graue gapeth to receiue me, before I gaine the gift of loue: Vnrighteouſneſſe raigneth as a king in this my corruptible body, and concupiſcence deceiueth my ſight till I be entraped: verily when I come to fight, I wonder that thou diddeſt not deſtroy me, ſaying, O Lord, who is able to number his ſinnes, or what ſoule is righteous in thy ſight? ſhall man ſtriue with God? who can ſay I will be ſaued, fith thou art iuſt? Why diddeſt not thou cut my thred whileſt I prouoked thee? why diddeſt not thou ſend me to the inheritance of the wicked, but thus thou vſeſt to comfort thy children in their great neceſſitie, and my ſoule had periſhed but for this reliefe long agoe, therefore crie I vnto thee from the depth of my heart: take me not away, O God, in my ſinnes, neither let me reape the portion of the wicked: thou haſt ſhewed me the dayes of comfort, and often deliuered my ſoule from the Lion. And becauſe thou in thy great mercie haſt let me ſee this goodneſſe, and alſo made me to reioyce therin, increaſing light after a darkeneſſe, and doubling ioy to my paine I will neuer ceaſe O deare father to call vpon thee in my afflictions, and to looke for the good houre in my daunger, increaſe my faith, and ſettle me in the knowledge of thy will: Plenteouſly bleſſe me with thy grace, and let thy ſpirit be my protectour: for miſery O Lord, is threatened vnto thy children, and ruine to the faith of the younglings, no place is ſafe from the rage of thy aduerſaries, but thou art the God of might, and haſt power to preſerue our peace. Oh if I might aſke the death of this old Adam, ſo that all concupiſcence might vaniſh as a ſmoake, then ſure (ſay I) I would wholly be exerciſed in the law of my God, and at all times would I ſing praiſes vnto his name, but I will not preſume about thy ſeruant Paul, whom thy wiſdome thus anſwered, My grace is ſufficient for thee: thus will I beſeech thee whi e I liue, that this balme of thy grace may alwaies be poured freſh into my wounds, that euen in my infirmities I may euer gaine a double reioycing, and that the moſt ſubtill aſſaults of the aduerſarie may alwaies fall out to be his ſouleſt faile, and my weakeneſſe my wiſedome by the renuing of thy grace and enlightning my ſpirit with the ſweete balme of thy lou ng countenance, through thy moſt tender mercie in the purchaſe of thy beloued ſonne our deare Sauiour Chriſt Ieſu, vnto whom with thee and the holy ſpirit be all power and dominion for euermore, Amen.

A prayer for women with child.

O Eternall God, and moſt mercifull father, who notwithſtanding my manifold and grieuous offences haſt of thy gratious goodneſſe in marriage made me fruitfull, which I take as thy great bleſſings and benefits beſtowed vpon me, beſeeching thee now moſt humbly to helpe me thy poore handmaiden in theſe grieuous paines of trauaile and childbirth. Thou haſt willed vs to call vpon thee in all our needs and neceſſities, and haſt promiſed in thy great mercies neuer to faile them that call vpon thee: helpe me now, wretched ſinner, in theſe intollerable pains, that I may ouercome them with patience, and euermore praiſe thy maieſtie. Comfort me with thy holy ſpirit, that I ſinke not vnder this heauie burthen. And as gratiouſly thou haſt bleſſed me hitherto from time to time in giuing me children, ſo mercifully ſanctifie them to thy vſe, and increaſe of thy congregation. And as hereby I feele thy heauie iudgements vpon me for ſinne, in feeling thoſe grieuous paines, and am put in minde of the old diſobedience of our parents Adam and Eue, (the very cauſe of theſe puniſhments) lighting iuſtly vpon me, being a braunch of that poyſoned ſtocke. So O deare father, let me feele againe thy mer y, who through thy beloued Sonne haſt wrought my deliverance from the puniſhment of that diſobedience to wit, from ſinne death and damnation, ſo that now my tranſgreſſions are remooued from me, the damnable ſinne of my filthie concupiſcence by nature is turned into a ſanctified bleſſing, and we both made heires of euerlaſting glorie, helpe me therefore, O God of comfort, and giue me ſafe deliuerance, that I may dedicate that which thou haſt giuen me wholly to thy ſeruice. I know Lord that as many as thou haſt tak n to thy ſelfe, to them thou haſt giuen this honour, that they be made thy children and beleeuers of thy name, which are not begotten of blood, nor of the luſt of the fleſh, nor of the deſire of man, but of thy ſelfe. whom thou faſhioneſt according to thy will. Thou therefore which haſt promiſed not onely to be my God, but the God of my ſeede, ſeale this aſſurance of thy election in this feuit of my wombe, to the glory of thy name, mine owne comfort and the benefite of thy church. Grant theſe things, O father for Ieſus Chriſt his ſake, to whom with thee and the holy Ghoſt be all honour and glorie, Amen.

A prayer made for the Church and all the eſtates thereof. I. F.

LOrd Ieſus Chriſt ſonne of the l uing God, who was crucified for our ſins, and did riſe againe for our iuſtification, and aſcending vp to heauen, raigneſt now at the right hand of thy father, with full power and authority ruling and diſpoſing all things according to their owne gratious and glorious purpoſe, we ſinfull creatures, and yet ſeruants and members of thy church, doe proſtrate our ſelues, and our prayers before thy imperiall maieſtie, hauing no other patron nor aduocate to ſpeed our ſutes, or to reſort vnto, but thee alone, beſeeching thy goodneſſe to be good to thy poore church militant here in this wretched earth, ſometimes a rich church, a large church, an vniuerſall church, ſpread farre and wide through the whole compaſſe of the earth, now driuen into a narrow corner of the world, and hath much need of thy gratious helpe. Firſt the Turke with his ſword, what lande, nations and countries, what emp •• es, kingdomes and prouinces, with cities innumerable, hath be woon, not from vs, but from thee: where thy name was woont to be inuocated, the word preached, thy ſacraments adminiſtred: there now raigneth barbarous Mahomet, with his filthie Alcoran. The flouriſhing churches in Aſia, the learned churches of Grecia, the manifold churches in Africa, which were woont to ſerue thee, now are gone from thee. The ſeauen churches of Aſia, with their candleſtickes (whom thou diddeſt ſo well forewarne) are now remooued. All the churches where thy diligent Apoſtle Saint Paule, thy Apoſtle Peter, and Iohn and other Apoſtles ſo laboriouſly trauelled, preaching and writing to plant thy Goſpell, are now gone from the goſpell. In the kingdome of Oyria, Paleſtina, Arabia, Perſia, in all Armenia, and the Empire of Capadocia, through the whole compaſſe of Aſia, with Egypt and Africa alſo vnleſſe amongſt the far Ethiopians ſome old ſteps of Chriſtianitie peraduenture yet doe remaine) either elſe all Aſia, and Africa thy church hath not one foot of free land, but all is turned either to infidelitie or to captiuitie, whatſoeuer pertaineth to thee. And if Aſia and Africa only decaied, the decay were great, but yet the defection were not ſo vniuerſall. Now in Europe a great part alſo is ſhrunke from thy Church. All Th acia with the Empire of Conſtantinople, al Grecia, Epirus, Illyricum and now of late al the kingdomes almoſt of Hungaria, with much of Auſtria, with lamentable ſlaughter of Chriſtian blood, is waſted and all become Turkes.

Only a little angle of the Weſt pa tes yet remaineth in ſome profeſſion of thy name. But there alacke commeth another miſchiefe as great or greater than the other. For the Turke with his ſword is not ſo cruell, but the Biſhop of Rome on the other ſide is more fiecce & bitter againſt vs, ſt r i g vp his Biſhops to burne vs, his confederates to conſpireour deſtruction, ſetting kings againſt their ſubiects, and ſubiects diſloyally to rebell againſt their Princes, and all for thy name. Such diſſention and hoſt lity Sathan hath ſet amongſt vs, that Turkes be not more enemies to Chriſtians, than Chriſtians to Chriſtians & Papiſts to proteſtants: yea proteſtants w th proteſtants doe not agree, but fall out for trifles. So that the poore little flocke of thy church, diſtreſſed on euery ſide, hath neither reſt without nor peace within, no place almoſt in the world where to abide, but many crie now from the earth, euen as thine owne reuerence cried once from the croſſe: My God, why haſt thou forſaken me?

Amongſt vs Engliſhmen here in England, after ſo great ſtorms of perſecution, and cruell murther of ſo many Martyrs, it hath pleaſed thy grace to giue vs theſe Aſcion daies, which yet we enioy, and beſeech thy mercifull goodneſſe ſt il they may continue. But here alſo alacke what ſhould we ſay? So many enemies we haue that enuie at this reſt and tranquilitie, and doe what they can to diſturbe it. They which be friends, and louers of the biſhop of Rome, although they eate the fat of the land, and haue the beſt preferments and offices, and liue moſt at eaſe and alle nothing: yet are they not therewith content. They grudge, they mutter and murmure, they conſpire and take on againſt vs. It fretteth them that we liue by them or with them, and cannot abide that we ſhould draw the bare breathing of the aire, when they haue all the moſt libertie of the land. And albeit thy ſingular goodneſſe hath giuen them a King, ſo calme, ſo patient, ſo mercifull, more like a naturall father than a Prince to gouerne ouer them, ſuch as neither they nor their anceſtors euer read of in the ſtories of this land before: yet all this will not calme them, their vnquiet ſpirit is not yet content, they repine and rebell, and needes would haue with the frogs of Eſope a Cicema, an Italian ſtranger, the Biſhop of Rome, to play Rex ouer them, and care not if all the world were ſet on fire, ſo they with their Italian Lord might raigne alone. So fond are we Engliſhmen of ſtrange & forraine things: ſo vnaturall to our ſelues: ſo greedie of newfangled nouelties, neuer contented with any ſtate long to continue, be it neuer ſo good: and furthermore ſo cruell one to another, that we thinke our life vnquiet, vnleſſe it be ſeaſoned with the blood of other. For that is their hope, that is their golden day, their day of Iubiley which they thirſt for ſo much not to haue the Lord to come in the clouds, but to haue our bloud and to ſpill our liues.

That, that is it which they would haue, and long ſince would haue had their wils vpon vs, had not thy gratious pittie and mercie raiſed vp to vs this our mercifull King, thy ſeruant Iames, ſomewhat to ſtay their furie. For whom as me moſt condignly giue thee moſt heartie thankes, ſo likewiſe we beſeech thy heauenly Maieſtie, that as thou haſt giuen him vnto vs, and haſt from many daungers preſerued him to the comfort of thy ſeruants: ſo now in his royall eſtate he may continually be preſerued not onely from their hands but from all malignant deuiſes, wrought attempted, or conceiued of the enemies, both ghoſtly and bodily againſt him. In this his gouernment be his gouernour we beſeech thee: So ſhall his Maieſtie well gouerne vs, if firſt he be gouerned by thee. Multiplie his raigne with many daies, and his yeares with much felicitie, with aboundance of peace, and life ghoſtly: that he with his Braunthes may flouriſh in this land, vntill the conſummation of the world.

And becauſe no gouernment can long ſtand without good counſell, neither can any counſell be good, except it be proſpered by thee, bleſſe therefore, we beſeech thee, both his maieſtie, and his honourable counſell, that both they rightly may vnderſtand what is to be done, and he accordingly may accompliſh that they doe counſell, to thy glory and furtherance of thy Goſpell, and publicke wealth of this realme.

In generall, giue to all the people and the whole ſtate of this Realme ſuch brotherly vnitie in knowledge of thy truth, and ſuch obedience to their ſuperiours, as they neither prouoke the ſcourge of God againſt them, nor the Princesſword to be drawne againſt his will out of the ſcabard of long ſufferance, where it hath beene long hid, eſpecially giue thy goſpell long continuance amongſt vs. And if our ſinnes haue deſerued the contrarie, graunt we beſeech thee with an earneſt repentance of that which is paſt, to ioine a heartie purpoſe of amendment to come.

FINIS.

LONDON, Printed by Ed. All, for Ed. White. 1610.