22. A Prayer to our blessed Sauiour and Redeemer.

PRostrate thy selfe, O my soule, before the Lord of all Maiestie and Glorie, sitting at the right hand of his Father, crowned with Mightinesse and Power, richly adorned with a gar­land of all Vertues, brightly shi­ning, in the companie of his glo­rious Angels, holy Saints, and blou­die Martyrs, honouring and seruing him without ceasing, or intermissi­on, singing Hymnes of his Good­nesse and Mercie: and hauing thus beheld him in this great Pompe and Triumph, cast thine eye vpon this blessed Sauiour, poorely lying in the Manger, hauing scarce any thing to couer his tender and deli­cate Bodie, or saue it from the in­iurie [Page 61] of the Ayre: Consider well and seriously, how he which giueth heat and motion to the Sunne, is here contented (as vnable to helpe himselfe) to take warmth and com­fort from the breath of the Beasts, whom he there disdained not to be his Chamber-fellowes. O wonder­full example of all humilitie! How darest thou from henceforth, con­temned Dust and Ashes, swell in thy Vaine-glorie; and decked with a few gay Ragges, forget thy Crea­tor, who is cloathed with Eternitie? Humble (O Lord) my high and proud thoughts, abase and bring downe my loftie and rebellious imaginations, make me abiect in my owne eyes, that walking with my poore Brethren (who wander naked and hungrie, lying vpon the bare & cold Earth) I may with them prayse and glorifie thy holy Name, who wert the first founder and be­ginner [Page 62] of this poore and contemned Order. Why shall we, from hence­forth, so highly esteeme Honour and Riches, when thou, the Lord of both, didst so contemne it; volun­tarie, for our instruction, submitting thy selfe to so great and miserable Pouertie? Happie are wee, if wee be distressed, and patiently suffer it; happie, if wee be contemned and neglected for thy sake. Teach me, O Lord, the way to despise all worldly preferment and promoti­ons, that hauing my thoughts only fixed vpon thee, I may passe forth these transitorie & short miseries, to dwell in eternall rest and felicitie in thy Kingdome, which is promised to all those which serue thee; to whom be ascribed all honor, power, and glorie, world without end. Amen.

23. Another Prayer for assistance in dangers and troubles.

COmplaynest thou, discon­tented and vngratefull Crea­ture, that thy enemies lye in wait to take thy life from thee, and thinkest thy selfe not well dealt with, to be so persecuted and affli­cted, when thou mayest behold the Creator of Heauen and Earth hauing no piece of Earth to abide with safetie in? Doest thou value thy selfe aboue thy Maker? and canst wish a share in his Glories, but to be no partner with him in his Troubles? O blessed Sauiour, is it not thy owne saying, that who will enioy thee, must take vp his Crosse, and follow thee? How strictly liued thy fore-runner? how imprisoned? how died? how [Page 64] poorely, and dangerously, thy followers glorifying thee in hun­ger, in stripes, in death? Crowne me (O Lord) in this life with Thornes, that I may hereafter re­ceiue a Crowne of Glorie: Let me be here imprisoned, scourged, and reuiled, so I may be hereafter released, acknowledged, and recei­ued: And graunt, most mercifull and louing Redeemer, that as thou didst in thy Godhead shew vs the fraileties of Man in thy Suffering, so thou wouldst in our Manhood shew vs the power of thy God­head, manfully to resist and ouer­come all feare of Dangers, nay, Death it selfe, which Satan and our weake flesh painteth out so hor­rible to vs, that cowardly flying the Combate, wee may lose the promi­sed Reward. Strengthen vs (O Lord) and be vnto vs a sure shield in the day of Battaile: Let the An­gels [Page 65] fight for vs, and shew them­selues mightie in the destruction of our enemies: Let them be scatte­red as Chaffe before the Wind, and not be able to stand in oppo­sition with thy seruants, who put their trust in thee. Let them (O Lord) be ruined and confounded, that wish euill to them that feare thee, and desire to be perfect imi­tators of thy life and doctrine, that wee remaining Conquerors, may prayse and glorifie thee, the giuer of all Victorie. Amen.

24. A Prayer against Pride.

DId Almightie God, who is iealous of his Honour, throw downe the Heauens for their Presumption? and thin­kest thou, fond Man, he will exalt base Earth for his Pride? Doth he [Page 67] pull downe the mightie and the lof­tie, and aduance the humble and meeke, and darest thou yet reare vp thy proud head in his presence? Was not the great King Nabucha­donozor turned for his arrogancie into a Beast, for that in the shape of a Man hee liued like a Beast? And did not the Wormes feede vpon Herod, vn-coffind, and aliue, be­cause he did proudly aduance him­selfe of his naturall gifts and graces? Who dare contend with the Al­mightie, which darteth Lightning; and holdeth Thunder? Or what canst thou boast of, presumptuous flesh, that is thine owne? Thy soule is heauenly, thy bodie earthly, both from God; the one inspired, the other fashioned in the Wombe, lent thee for a season, and to be re­called at his pleasure. Why doest thou therefore lay vp Honours and Preferments for many yeeres? Why [Page 66] doest thou pursue and search for glorious Armes and Titles, forget­ting thy Father Adam, because a Gardener, and deriuing thy Pedi­gree from some great and Noble Conqueror; hauing not certainely so much time here, as the Herald must necessarily require to perfect thy gawdie Coat: For this Night may God say vnto thee; O foole, thy soule shall be taken from thee? Let me not therefore, O mercifull Father, come vnprepared, like the foolish Virgins, and be shut out, hauing ouer-slept my houre: Giue me grace to repent, whilest there is time; for in Death, who acknow­ledge thee? or who findeth pardon in Hell? Graunt, that I may seriously ponder and consider thy manifold and manifest benefites, that I may with all humilitie and thankfulnesse prayse and glorifie the giuer. Lay before me the haynousnesse and [Page 68] multitude of my offences, that struc­ken downe with shame and sorrow, I may fall at thy feet, and with the abundance of my teares wash away the stayne and guilt of my aspiring soule. Let the greedinesse of my Ambition satisfie it selfe in seruing of thee, being the highest Honour the Earth can glorie of: and when it euidently perceiues, how little of his owne it is able to bring, to dis­charge those offices which are ne­cessarily required, my towring thoughts will fall, and breake their owne necke. Endue me (O Lord) with spirituall knowledge and vn­derstanding, to retyre into my selfe, and take a suruey of my owne soule, how shee is garnished, how decked, with what vertues adorned, with what heauenly gifts and graces ap­parrelled; and let me be confoun­ded and ashamed, to find her, the Mistresse and Queene of this frayle [Page 69] and corrupted bodie, naked, or worse apparrelled, and to imploy all my studie and endeuours to gar­nish and set out her seruant. Let selfe-basenesse (O Lord) attained by a certaine knowledge of my weakenesse and vnworthinesse, ba­nish away all selfe-affection, vainely gotten by a false conceit of my owne graces. Health, vigour, strength, and lustinesse of bodie thou giuest, and takest away at thy pleasure, by sicknesse, hunger, wants, and torments; Proportion, and Beautie, but thy all-making Hand, who can to the life fashion; which are spoyled and defaced by Age, the necessarie seruant of Time, and Decrepitnesse, the diligent fol­lower of Age? Be it therefore farre from me to glorie, but in the Crosse of my Sauiour Iesus Christ: Let me take pride in his Sufferings, and boast of his Wounds, whose [Page 70] precious bloud hath conquered Hell and Sinne, leading Captiuitie captiue, and redeeming the lost Sheepe, reducing them againe to their louing and carefull Shepheard; who will recall them wandering, vp­hold them sliding, and saue them e­ternally from the rauening Wolfe, which goeth about roaring, to seeke who he may deuoure.

25. A Prayer against the concupis­cence of the flesh.

WHo shall enter into thy Tabernacle, O Lord? Hee that hath vndefiled hands, and a pure heart, sanctified and vnpolluted members, as worthie Vessels to receiue the holy Ghost: The house must be cleane swept by Confession, purified and perfumed by good purposes and prayers, be­fore [Page 71] it can be made a fit habitation for our Lord and Sauiour. Those be the sweet-smelling sauors, which laid vpon the Altar of our heart, enflamed and set on fire by perfect Charitie, are acceptable Sacrifices vnto him. Were not the people (O Lord) commanded by thy Seruant and Prophet Moses, to put off their shooes, because the ground where­on they trod was holy? How shall they enter then before thee, whose feet are swift to defile their neigh­bours Bed, whose hands haue beene employed in rauishing young Vir­gins, and whose tongues haue spent all their force and Oratorie, to cor­rupt and betray honest thoughts to wicked and loose desires? Didst thou so seuerely rebuke and punish thy Seruant Dauid (a man, as the Scripture testifieth, according to thy owne heart) for one Transgres­sion, that neither his Contrition, [Page 72] Penance, Fasting, Almes-deedes, could diuert or turne away thy An­ger? And shall I, miserable and le­prous sinner, who haue all my life worne my heart in my eyes, lusting after euery obiect, hope to escape thy furie? What Woman haue I not coueted? What Complexion hath not beene the fuell of my lewd thoughts? Pardon, O mercifull Lord and Sauiour, an humble and penitent sinner, who confesseth and acknowledgeth his hainous sinnes and offences, and much sorroweth and lamenteth to haue mis-imploy­ed his time and bodie in the lasciui­ous acts and concupiscences of the flesh; infinitely desiring thee, of thy grace and fauour, to cleanse and san­ctifie my polluted and vncleane soule, knowing, that no Adulterers or Fornicators shall inherite thy Kingdome. Giue vnto me (O Lord) spotlesse and innocent Cha­stitie, [Page 73] being the Lilly among all ver­tues, whose sparkling lustre is seene a farre off. Bridle with thy holy hand, all wanton and loose desires, which runne after their owne de­struction. Let the delight of mine eyes bee thy miraculous Resurrecti­on: the obiect of mine eares, the story of thy Passion: the subiect of my thoughts, the remembrance of the Crosse: the foode of my vnder­standing, thy wonderfull and vn­conceiueable Conception. Let mee with S^t. Thomas thrust my fingers in thy wounds; that all faculties and functions of body and soule, beeing busied and employed, in and about thy workes and wonders, I may bee deliuered, and bring foorth holy thoughts, reuerent and gentle spee­ches, pure and immaculate actions, worthy the honour and glory of so pure and innocent a Lord, borne of a spotlesse and immaculate Virgin. [Page 74] Grant this, O sweet Iesus, the besto­wer of all goodnes, and vertue, that desiring to draw out this short and transitorie life, purely and honestly, wee may, after we shall be warned to giue it ouer, dwell with thee in thy euerlasting habitation, where a­bideth all purity, sanctitie, cleannesse & glory, world without end. Amen.

26. A Prayer against Sloth.

WHen thou calledst thy seruants to account, (most mercifull & gen­tle Sauiour) what reward had he, that fearing thy hardnesse and his owne weaknesse, laid vp thy talent and employed it not? was he not af­ter conuiction sentenced, and deli­uered to the Sargeant? Are wee not commaunded by thy neuer-erring Word, to worke our saluation: to [Page 75] watch and pray continually, because wee know not at what houre our Lord and Master will call vpon vs? which are no effects of Sloth and Idlenesse: For to banish sleepe and due repose, doth require a vvhole mind, not a surfetted and lazy soule, buried in flesh and bloud: and to of­fer vp with humble feruencie, and ardent deuotion, pure and earnest prayers, asketh due consideration, much trouble, and a great conquest ouer the outward man, not to be ob­tained without many assaults, and labour. The slothfull man, saith the holy Ghost, shall not eate. Can we not then attaine bodily foode, with­out dayly care, much shift, and ma­ny times hard and extraordinarie paines? and doest thou flatter thy selfe, O my soule, that either heauen will stoope to thee, or our blessed Sauiour fetch thee, without mouing or helping thy selfe thither? Imitate [Page 76] the greedy Merchant, who with vn­heard-of fauours seeketh vnknown countries, exposing himselfe to the certaine dangers of the Sea; vncer­taine sicknesses, to purchase and re­turne laden with wealth, which hee can neither keep at his pleasure, nor will vse at his pleasure. Quicken me, O Lord, with thy holy Spirit, that mounted on the wings of Cha­ritie, I may flye to thee. I will rise duely in the morning, saith the holy King, and glorifie God: I will eue­ry night wash my couch with my teares. Giue mee, O Lord, the care and respect of this holy Prophet his vigilancie, stoutnesse in labours, perseuerance in good purposes, and continuance to the end. This life, O my soule, is a warfare wherein we must not stand idle, but take vp our weapons, and fight manfully. We must preuent the day with our diligence, and out-watch the Sunne [Page 77] with our carefulnesse, lest the enemy take vs vnawares and slaughter vs: We must haue our Lamps still ligh­ted, and be euer ready, that wee may be taken in, and made partakers for our short trauels of eternal and euer­lasting rest and repose.

27. A Prayer against Couetousnesse.

SInce it is easier, O Lord, for a Cammel to enter the eye of a needle, then for a rich man to inherite the Kingdome of Heauen. Let mee (O Lord) wander naked, and hungry, cloathed with sores and botches, rather then with Diues his portion, to take possession of his punishment. For what auayleth it to gaine the whole world, and lose my owne soule? Yet if it please thee, bountifull Father, to leaue and be­queath to me a plentifull estate, and [Page 78] great riches, giue me grace so to vse and bestow them, that I come not behinde hand with thee in my ac­count: Let mee so dispose them, as thou hast by expresse words ap­pointed, that my poore Brethren put not vp a Bill against me. Set not my heart on them, O Lord, but as things without mee: when either thou pleasest by fire, water, or any other casualtie to call them from me, let mee thankefully surrender them as a Reeue, not an Owner; yeelding thee immortall and vnfained thanks that I haue had them so long, not inwardly grudging and repining that I haue lost them so soone. For who placeth al his content on them, can neither possesse them long, nor safely. Giue me, O Lord, pouertie of spirit, in the middest of all abun­dance, that I may fast, hauing all plenty, taking the delicates from my Table, and with my owne hand ser­uing [Page 79] the poore and needy, who are bought at as dear a rate as the migh­tiest, and whose soules are as preci­ous to thee as the greatest. Let me euer remember that saying of the blessed Iob: Naked came I out of my mothers wombe, and naked shall I re­turne againe; Praised bee the Lord for all: Leauing to my children the prayers of the poore, not the curses of ill-gotten riches; the praises of good men, not that heauy sentence of, Wo be vnto thee, at my depar­ture: that at that great and terrible day, when all accounts shalbe exami­ned and laid open, bringing in my Bils of cloathing the naked, feeding the hungry, and giuing drink to the thirstie, I may receiue that soule-comforting discharge of, Come yee blessed, and seat you on my right hand, for vnto you belongeth the Kingdome of Heauen.

28. A Prayer humbly acknowledging our sins, with promise of amendment.

I Wretched sinner, heere perso­nally appearing and standing in the presence of God euerlasting, & of al the Court of Heauen, hauing considered the exceeding mercy of his diuine goodnes toward me, most vnworthy & miserable caytife, whō he hath created of nothing, preser­ued, sustained, and deliuered from so many dangers, & endowed with so many benefits: But aboue al, conside­ring the incōprehensible sweetnes, & clemency wherwith this most good God hath so bountifully tolerated me in my iniquities, and so louingly inspired me, inuiting mee to amend­ment, and so patiently expected my repentance & conuersion, notwith­standing all my vnthankfulnesse, dis­loyalty & infidelity, whereby defer­ring [Page 81] my Cōuersion, & despising his graces, I haue so impudently offen­ded him: hauing moreouer consi­dered, that at the day of my christe­ning, I was so happy and holily vowed, and dedicated vnto my God to be his child, and that contrary to the profession, which then was made in my name, I haue so many and sundry times, so execrably and detestably profaned and violated my soule, imploying it, and opposing it against his diuine Maiestie. At length recalling my selfe, and pro­strating my selfe in heart and minde, before the Throne of his diuine iu­stice, I acknowledge, confesse, and yeeld my selfe lawfully attached, and conuicted of high Treason against his diuine Maiestie, and guilty of the death and Passion of Iesus Christ, by reason of the hainous sinnes which I haue committed, for which he dyed; and suffered the torment [Page 82] of the Crosse: so that consequent­ly I am worthy to be cast away and damned for euer. But turning my selfe towards the Throne of the infinite mercy of the selfe-same eternall God; hauing detested from the bottome of my heart, and with all my force, the iniquities of my life fore-passed, I most humbly re­quire and craue pardon, grace and mercy, with entire absolution from my cryme, through vertue of the Passion, and death of the same Sauiour and Redeemer of my soule; vpon whom relying, as vpon the onely foundation of my hope, I confirme againe, aduowe and re­new the sacred profession of loyall seruice and fidelitie, made in my name and behalfe, vnto my GOD at my baptizing; renouncing the Diuell, the Flesh, and the World; abhorring the execrable suggesti­ons, vanities, and concupiscence, [Page 83] for all the time of this present life, and for all eternitie, and conuerting my selfe vnto my most gracious and mercifull God: I desire, delibe­rate, purpose and fully resolue irre­uocably to honor him, serue him, & loue him, now and for euer: giuing him for this end, and dedicating and consecrating my spirits with all his faculties; my soule with all her functions; my heart with all his af­fections; and my body with all his sences: protesting neuer more to abuse any one part of my beeing or nature, against his diuine will, and soueraigne Maiestie: To whom I offer vp, and sacrifice my selfe in spi­rit, to be to him a loyall, obedient, and faithfull creature for euermore. Amen.

29. A Prayer to be said in Afflictions and Troubles.

O Eternall and euer-liuing God, the Father of all Consolation and Mercies, the giuer of all things good and ver­tuous, who art vnto vs as a Nurse vnto a childe, a Shepheard vnto a wandring Lambe, a Guide of our wayes, a Guardian of our persons, a Counsellour in doubts, a Comfor­ter in troubles, a Patron in our needes, and an assured Friend in all afflictions; graciously assist vs in all our tribulations and aduersities, be­ing an assured tryall of thy seruants; For whom thou louest, thou chasti­sest. Suffer me to bee tempted, O Lord, not ouercome; rebuked, not forsaken; bruised with thy rod, not broken; for my soule is heauy with­in [Page 85] me, and my enemies haue preuai­led against me; yea, my Spirit repi­neth, and my flesh grudgeth, that thy hand is so heauy on mee: I goe like one that hath lost his way, shoo­ting my eyes into the earth, as desi­ring to be buried in my misfortunes: All my friends haue left me, and my company is my owne thoughts, which are displeasing vnto me: My eyes are great with teares, my tongue laboureth with my mis-for­tunes, so that I seeme to others a piece of earth wrapped in woe and calamity. Comfort me, O Lord, and I shall be comforted; shoote thy ho­ly Spirit into me, and I shall bee dis­burdened; lighten the beames of thy mercy vpon me and I shall shine in prosperity: for it is my sinnes, O Lord, which haue confounded mee: it is the multitude of my wicked­nesses, which haue drowned the multitude of thy ioyes; it is my [Page 86] guilt which banisheth thy good­nesse. Turne backe, O Lord, and mercifully looke vpon me, as thou didst vpon thy holy Apostle, and faithfull seruant S. Peter, that I may not onely weep, but bitterly lament my misdeeds and offences, who haue denyed my onely Lord and Master all the dayes of my life, swea­ring as one that knew him not, and blaspheming, as certainely neither beleeuing, nor fearing the punish­ments which haue ouer-growne me. But if alas, through suggestion of mine enemy, or through humane frailty, I chance any time to trans­gresse in any thing whatsoeuer, giue me grace, O Lord, by the aide of the Holy Ghost, to arise againe so soone as I shall perceiue my fall, and so to returne anew to the Diuine Mercy, without any stay or delay whatsoeuer. Let it please thee, O my eternall God, Almighty and all [Page 87] good Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to confirme and strengthen mee in this resolution of my amendment, and to accept this Cordiall, and in­ward Sacrifice in the odor of sweet­nesse. O my God, thou art my God, God of my heart, God of my soule, God of my spirit; and for such doe I reuerently, thankfully, and louing­ly acknowledge, honour and adore thee, now and for euer.

30. Another Prayer for remission of sinnes.

O Benigne Iesu, the onely re­fuge of desolate and afflic­ted soules, the comfort and succour of those that are laden and oppressed, mercifully heare, and pi­tifully receiue the prayers and sup­plications of one conceiued and borne in sinne, who acknowled­geth [Page 88] and confesseth, before the Throne of thy Diuine Maiesty, that hee is too base, and altogether vn­worthy to speake, nay, looke, and much lesse to be heard and regarded in this his extremity, who in time of health hath contemned and neglec­ted his Physicion; in time of iollity and prosperity, hath neither thrifti­ly prouided, nor wisely preuented the daies of horror and desolation, who being cruelly accused by his owne conscience, of many high and detestable treason, against the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, his thoughts and senses bearing witnes against him, hath neither treasure to ransome him, nor friend to pleade for him, wealth preuaileth not with him, who is infinite in Riches: Ti­tles and Honours are momentany shadowes in his presence, who ad­uanceth and degradeth whom hee pleases. Kindred and friends dare [Page 89] not bee seene before so pure and iust a Iudge, in so foule and vniust a cause. What wilt thou then doe, O my soule, in these straights and ex­tremities? Whither wilt thou flye for succour? Heauen is his dwelling place, the earth his foot-stoole, the Mountaines hee will remoue, and his iustice diues into the bottome of the Sea: Fall then before him, and all prostrate, lift vp thy voyce, im­plore his mercy, desire his pardon, sue vnto him, kneele before him, lay hold of him, and let him not depart, O my soule, till hee hath, at least, granted thee a Reprieue for thy horrible and lewd transgressions: which obtained, whilst his wrath is a little slackened, thy teares may mollifie, and get betweene thee and his definitiue sentence. Consider duely what friends thou canst make, and due consideration will make contrition a speciall fauorite of our [Page 90] Sauiours, pleade heartily for thee, who in thy behalfe, promising a detestation of thy former offences, with an assured purpose and resolu­tion of amendment, ioyned with a continuance and progresse in good workes and holy exercises, may (for our Sauiour delights to heare him) purchase thee an absolute pardon. Grant me therefore, most sweet and amiable Lord, to imploy the rem­nant of my life in studying to be ac­quainted with these thy holy friends and fauorites. Giue, O Sauiour, a fountaine of teares vnto my eyes, that I may continually lament and bewayle my daily and haynous of­fences; breed in mee a loathing, and horrid detestation of all my sinnes, that I may flye from them, and shun the wayes and occasions which leade vnto them, being stricken with an extraordinary sorrow and com­punction for hauing dared to of­fend [Page 91] a Lord of such height and glo­ry, and ouercome with shame and ingratitude, repent the iniuries offered to so louing and carefull a Master, who hath shed his Bloud, to saue so vnprofitable a seruant; that being by feruent charity reconciled vnto him, I may in the day of ter­rour lawfully claime part of him, and being shrowded vnder his wings, escape the malice and fury of my accusers; euen for thy blessed names sake, which shall in that time of trouble, bee a sure defence to all thy Chosen.

31. A Prayer for Chastity.

O Almightie and blessed Lord and Sauiour, the glo­rie of thy Father, the brightnesse and spotlesse sinceritie of Men, who delightest and visitest [Page 92] thy cleane and vnpolluted mem­bers; sanctifie, O Lord, and puri­fie mee that I may not bee a shame and reproach to so immaculary and chaste a Head; that I may appeare a sonne, some way worthy so holy and heauenly a Father. Mortifie and kill in me the loose and powerfull desires of the flesh, which borne in me are kindled and inflamed by the diuell and my owne frailtie. Fixe my eyes, O Lord, vpon thy immor­tall, glorious, and neuer-fading beau­tie, that I may contemne and despise all earthly and transitorie paintings: Strike me in loue wlth the excellen­cie of vertue, that my heart strong­ly and wholly taken with so faire and worthily beloued a perfection, there may be no roome left for Fol­ly and Idlenesse, the wel-springs of wanton affection. Busie mee, O Lord, about the day of Iudgement, and my Account; the torments of [Page 93] hell, and their euerlastingnesse: that all my study and labour may bee how to auoide them, and blesse thee that hast not left me to the world, and corrupted tyrannie of man, but mercifully laid thy hand vpon me, and conducted me to the meanes of my saluation.

32. A Prayer in Iournying.

O Mercifully louing Lord, which gouernedst and de­fendedst thy people Israel from all the vniust oppression and mercilesse fury of their enemies, guiding them in all their wayes and trauailes; and graciously visitedst thy seruant Iacob in his way, and powredst thy blessing on him: bee neere at this time to thy vnworthy and sinfull seruant, and blesse mee, I beseech thee, in this my trauell and [Page 94] iourney, from any violence of sinne, or outward Spoylers and Robbers. Prosper, O Lord, and bring to good end, as it shall please thee, the busi­nesse I trauell and wander about, and vouchsafe to direct mee in it, that I do that which shall bee to thy glory, and my owne behoofe and profite, euen for Iesus Christ his sake. A­men.

33. A Prayer to bee vsed in any storme of Lightning and Thunder.

O Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of Sabbath, Heauen and earth are full of the Maiestie of thy glorie; the flouds lift vp their voyce and speake thy wonders, the Heauens flie before thy Anger, and the vnnaturally mo­uing Earth trembleth at thy Voyce: All which ordained for the vse of [Page 95] Man, vpon thy word prooue their scourge and punishment: The fire from aboue, at the cry of the Pro­phet, eateth vp his Scorners: the Sea rageth and deuoureth the people and Chariots of the Egyptians; yea, the earth gapeth, and buryeth men aliue at thy command: Preserue vs, gentle and infinitely louing Father, from this violent and dreadfull storme, which raised for our sins, threatneth our destruction. Put out the lightning, O Lord, and dissolue the horrid and fearefull stone, lest it pash thy people to ashes, and we be seene no more. Cast thine eye vpon the Merites and Passion of our Sauiour, and let his Bloud come betweene thy Iustice and our guilt, that we may reioyce, and lift vp our voyces with the holy Prophet Da­uid, I will not feare, though the earth bee mooued and throwne into the heart of the Sea; for the Almightie [Page 96] is our refuge and strength, and hel­peth vs in all our trouble. Praised be the name of the Lord.

34. A Prayer or Meditation, concerning the benefits after Creation.

COnsider, O my soule, with reuerence and thanksgiuing, how Almightie God placed thee heere of his owne bountie and noblenesse, not for any need hee had of thy helpe or seruice, but to be­stow vpon thee his grace, and there­fore hath hee enriched thee with vnderstanding to know him, re­membrance to be mindefull of him, will to loue him, imagination to represent his benefits vnto thy thoughts, eyes to behold the won­ders of his workes, and a tongue to praise him. Wherefore being crea­ted and set in the world for this in­tention, [Page 97] reiect and cast away all acti­ons which prooue contrary to this end. For alas! what did I busie my thoughts vpon, O my God, when I placed them not vpon thee? What was I mindefull of, when I forgot thee? What did I loue, when I did not loue thee? Aye me, I should haue fed my soule with the veritie, and I haue fil'd it with vanitie; and haue serued the world, which was not made but to serue mee. I defie you vtterly, O vaine cogitations and vnprofitable fancies. I abhorre and abiure you, O detestable and friuolous Imaginations: I renounce you, vnfaithfull and disloyall loues, miserable and lost seruices, vngrate­full gratifications, cumbersome and vnpleasing pleasures. And thou, O my God, and my Lord, thou shalt bee, for the time to come, the onely obiect of my thoughts; and I will neuer more apply my spirit to any [Page 98] cogitations which may be offensiue or disliking to thee. My memorie all the dayes of my life, shall be filled with consideration of thy excessiue goodnesse, so louingly declared in my behalfe; thou shalt be the deli­ciousnesse of my heart, & the sweet­nesse of my affections: Hence therefore from my sight, for euer, all vaine and idle pastimes, whereun­to I haue vainely applyed my mind; all gamesome and toying exercises, in which I fondly spent my dayes; and all loose and idle affections, which entangled my heart, shall henceforth bee a horrour vnto my thoughts, because thou hast made me, O Lord, for thy selfe, to enioy euerlastingly the immensitie of thy glorie. O when shall it bee, that I shall bee worthie, and when shall I praise thee according to thy desert, and my dutie▪ I offer vnto thee, O my deare Creatour, all these good [Page 99] affections and holy resolutions, with all my heart and all my soule, and beseech thee, O God, to accept these my desires and vowes, and to giue my soule thy holy blessing, that shee may faithfully accomplish them through the merites of the Bloud of thy blessed Sonne our Sauiour, shed for me vpon the Crosse.

35. A Prayer against vaine Attire.

DOth it beseeme mee, most mercifull and blessed Re­deemer, to bee decked and attired in rich and sumptuous Gar­ments, when the scornefull and disdainefull Iewes apparell thee in a coate of folly, to bee laught at and contemned of the people? Doe Iewels and Fethers become my head, when I inwardly behold thee crowned with Thornes? And shall [Page 100] my wrists be guarded with precious Bracelets, where thine were bound with cords? My fingers glistring with Diamonds, and thine iewell'd with thine owne Bloud starting out, with the vnmercifull vsage of thy persecuters? O my most sweet and gentle Sauiour, let my sorrowfull and wofull thoughts, for my deadly and horrible offences, bee to my head a torment, like thy merci­lesse Thornes; my vaine and idle behauiour, more despised then that many-coloured coate; and the awe and reuerence of thy iustice (terri­ble to offenders) chaine my hands harder, and with more crueltie then the whipcord; that I may in some measure haue a feeling and vnder­standing of those vnheard of, and new-inuented Tyrannies laid vpon thee for my transgressions. Let the memorie of thy wounds pierce my heart with true compunction, so to [Page 101] haue iniured a Lord of such great­nesse and Maiestie, for my sake wil­lingly, aboue the meeknesse of a Lambe, vndergoing those base and vnworthy disgraces, the fore-run­ners of thy cruell death. Giue me, O Lord, since we must bee perfect imitators of thee, obedience to yeeld and submit my selfe to thy diuine Will and Pleasure, in all suffe­rings and torments, a noble patience to beare them manfully, and charitie inflamed like thine, to blesse my per­secuters, praying for their amend­ment and conuersion, that suffering with thee obediently, patiently and louingly, I may enioy with thee that happie reward, fore-promised to all those that take vp their Crosse and follow thee; euen for thy precious and vnvaluable bloud; which shed vpon the Crosse, is an vndenyable Sacrifice for all sinnes and offences.

36. A Prayer for a Mayd against Temptation.

GIue vnto God the first fruits, saith the Prophet. And our Sauiour commandeth vs to offer him those things that are his. Thou hast planted me here, O Lord, and opened the gates of heauen to water mee: Thou hast made me flourish, spreading like a faire Vine, and my lussious and swelling fruite haue tempted vnholy hands to steale away what belongeth to thee. Strengthen mee, O Lord, against their violence, and let their subtile perswasions come to nothing, the Pit which they haue digged for others, proue their own Sepulchre, and let their nets bee ouerthrowne and broken, that glorifying thee, I may ioyfully say, The Lord hath [Page 103] beene my deliuerer, I need not feare what men can do to me: he hath hel­ped and saued his hand-maiden out of the hands of his enemies. Blessed bee the name of the Lord, now and for euermore. Amen.

37. Another Prayer for a Maide, to the same effect.

O Almightie GOD, Crea­tor of heauen and earth, who glorifyest the Firma­ment with Starres, the Sun with a great light; the God of all beautie, all proportion, all order, holding in thy hand the motion and being of all things created: I humbly offer vp vnto thy Diuine Maiestie, whatso­euer is good and vertuous in me, whatsoeuer beautifull or proportio­nable, entreating thee, of thy infi­nite mercie, to take into thy custodie [Page 104] an innocent & vnexperienced Mai­den, to direct and gouerne me by thy neuer-erring wisedome, lest my youth, betrayed by frailtie and in­discretion, should traiterously yeeld mee vp to the lewd suggestions and temptations of the diuell, who appa­relled in flesh and bloud, waiteth hourely for my destruction, leauing no meanes vntryed to captiuate my weake soule: Suffer him not, O Lord, to haue the vpper-hand; giue me not into his power, vnlesse thou place a guard of Angels with mee, holy & vnresistable thoughts within me, that in thy name, putting on my Sauiour Christ for my Armour, ad­uancing the glorious Crosse for my Banner, I may put my enemies to flight, and triumph in the Conquest which thou hast gotten for me, to my owne, and all their eternall com­fort which put their trust in thee. Amen.

38. A Meditation, or Prayer for a May­den, not to be proud of her owne perfections.

DID not thy hand, O Lord, giue those many excellent and indistinguisht colours to the Raine-bow? Didst not thou, O Lord, giue glorie to the Sun, and apparell the earth in all her beauties? And doth not the Raine-bow at the with-drawing of the Sun, discolour it selfe, the Sunne at the interposing of the Moone, hide his glorie, and the earth, in the absence of the Sun, lose all her gay and flourishing Or­naments? O momentanie and fa­ding painting, washt away with a lit­tle sickenesse, and blowne off by the rough breath of a violent wind! Shall I for thee, abandon my Crea­tor, and to keepe thy friendship, fall [Page 106] out with Almightie God? Will the wormes forbeare thy excellency and perfections, and strucke with reue­rence, fall off and retire into their Cabins? Is sicknesse afraid of it, or dare not death venter vpon it? No, no, my soule, they will breake thorow thy Coffin, and as a daintie dish, eagerly deuoure it: the Lepro­sie will make a prey on it, and too well we know that death feareth no colours. If thē thou beest bewitched to this outward glosse and shining, seeke the waies to make it perma­nent; apply thy selfe to vertue, whose raritie and lustre strikes a far off, and all men will call thee beauti­full▪ Let modestie sit on thy cheekes, and thy blushes will out-last the Ro­ses; Truth vpon thy lips, and they will exceed the Rubies; Mildnesse in thy eyes, and they will out-shine the Diamond; Innocencie on thy brest, and thy whitnesse will surpasse [Page 107] the Lillies; thou shalt bee beloued of men, at peace with thy selfe, and acceptable to Almightie GOD. Away then all artificiall and sophisti­cate drugs, idle and besotting wa­ters: neuer more will I meddle with you. O my sweete Sauiour and Re­deemer, let nothing seeme beautifull but thy mercie; nothing louely but thy bountie: enamored on which, let me woo, intreate, sigh, zealously protest, and vse all meanes and in­dustrie to obtaine them. For all other exterior & formall beauties, the ba­bies of flesh and bloud, let me onely acknowledge them, as thy glorious workemanship; loue them, as badges of thy fauour; admire and praise thee for them, from whose euerlasting store-house they proceed, thy selfe being all beautie, all excellencie, all perfection, & more to be desired thē much gold or precious stones, in whose companie all things are fill'd [Page 108] with perfection and glorie world without end. Amen.

39. A Prayer for a Maid, to be directed in her Choyse.

SInce thou, O Lord, in thy e­uerlasting wisedome, hast or­dained Marriage honourable amongst men, as the meanes for suc­cession and propagation: Giue mee (O Lord) an vnderstanding heart, that I bee not euilly seduced to my ouerthrow. Grant that I may ayme at no other end, but the fulfilling thy commandement, not my owne lusts & wilfull desires: let me choose by the aduice of my friends, and the eyes of my Parents, lest blinded with affection, I fall into those in­conueniences, which I may too late feele, without meanes of remedying. Grant (O Lord) a pure and vnspot­ted [Page 109] loue may be the cause of our ioy­ning, and a peaceable and vndiuided amitie the effect. Let the feare of displeasing thee, make vs please one another; the obedience to thee, teach vs obedience in our selues; that wholly submitting our selues to thy will, we may labour together in this transitorie life, to come to thee the life euerlasting, with whom dwelleth vnspeakable loue, and ne­uer-ending charitie, world without end. Amen.

40. A Prayer for a Maid, to be obedi­ent to her Parents.

O My most mercifull Lord and Redeemer, subdue and bridle my head-strong and vntamed affections, who delighting in their owne wayes, repine at the direction of my Superiours. Let [Page 110] mee euer remember thy holy com­mandement: Honour thy Father and Mother, that thy dayes may be long in the land of the liuing. Giue me grace to vnderstand it truely, lest forget­ting thy precept, I be banished into that wilde and barbarous Country, where to liue is terribler then death, and dying, the onely comfort of the liuing. Let their reprehensions bee the cause of my amendment, not re­pining their iust and lawfull pre­cepts, an vndeniable practice of all my actions. Let me reuerence their age, lending them my youth to help them; pray for their imperfections, and in them remember humane weaknesse; that in my obedience, I may receiue the vertue of their bles­sing, which thou alwayes grantest to them that endeuour to fulfill the least of thy commandements.

41. A Prayer before a Iourney.

O Almightie and euerliuing God, which by the hand of thy seruāt Moses broughtst the people of Israel out of Egypt, and the crueltie of Pharaoh, and madest them walke ouer the Red-Sea, kee­ping back with a mighty winde the raging waters, who returning in their Furie, ouer-whelmed all that great Host, and after went'st before them, and conducted them thorow the vast and wilde Desert, feeding them in their extreme Famine with Manna showred from Heauen: Be pleased (O mercifull Father) at this instant to accompany mee in all my iourneyes and trauailes, and with thy louing and mightie protection defend me from all dangers of those that lye in awaite to murther and [Page 112] spoile thy Liege people. Bee vnto mee (O Lord) a guide in my going out, a safeguard and defence vpon the way, a shaddow in heat, a shelter in raine & cold, a waggon in weari­nesse, an helper in time of extremi­tie, a stay in slipperie passages, a Ha­uen in shipwracke, that vnder thy safe and sure conduct, we may march quietly and peaceably to our iourneyes end, and vnder the couer of thy wings, ioyfully and prospe­rously returne to our homes againe; for his onely sake, who was a conti­nuall Pilgrime heere vpon earth, to make all our prayers acceptable vnto thee. Amen.

42. Another short Prayer for the same.

O Almighty God, which hast made this our life, as it were a short Pilgrimage to [Page 113] visit holy places, and doe penance by thee appointed for mans first trans­gression; giuing vs as in an Inne, a space to refresh our wearied bodies, not to dwell and settle our selues: Grant mercifully, thy assistance, in these my iourneys and remouings, and with thy holy Spirit blesse and comfort me on the way, that I be not left alone to the crueltie of those that would assaile mee: but hauing thy Angell for my guide and defen­der, I may not feare the oppression of the Wicked, but happily arriue at the desired Hauen, where I vvill magnifie and praise thy holy name, for thy mightie ayde and pro­tection.

43. A Prayer in Afflictious.

WHy art thou sorrow­full, my soule, and why doest thou trouble mee? Why doest thou hang sleepe vpon mine eye-lids, and fasten heauinesse on my foot-steps? Doth not God regard the prayers of the afflicted? or doth he not from his high holy place looke downe to the earth, that he might heare the gronings of the fettered, and those that are persecu­ted and afflicted? Can thy eye see into heauen, or is thy vnderstan­ding of counsell with God, to per­ceiue how neere his holy hand is to deliuer thee? Euery instant is time enough for his Omnipotency: and impossible occasions, easie to the in­finitenes of his Deitie: Put thy trust in him, my soule, and thou shalt not [Page 115] be confounded. Say with the Pro­phet Dauid, Though a thousand fall on my right hand, and ten thousand on my left, yet I will not bee afraid, because God hath beene my helper. Bee comforted by the mercifull ex­amples which he hath shewed to his people. Did not Almighty God with a strong hand & punishments, enforce the Prophet Ionas to preach destruction to the Niniuites, limi­ting them a short time, that within three dayes their Citie should bee destroyed? and yet vpon their sub­mission, humbling themselues be­fore him with prayers, & fasting: did he not most mercifully remit their punishment, and take them into his grace and fauour? Fall therefore prostrate before him, and with per­fect resignation of thy owne will, yeeld thy selfe into his hands, to do what it please him with thee: en­treate him of his loue and fauour, [Page 116] who neuer absenteth himselfe to those that seeke him: relye vpon his mercy, who so much loued his peo­ple, that he sent his onely begotten Sonne, to dye for the Redemption of mankinde: Aske him forgiue­nesse of thy sinnes and offences, by reason of whose guilt, thou sufferest these light and temporary punish­ments, which haue in iustice deser­ued euerlasting damnation, and dis­burdened of which, the yoke will be easie, and the waight light: yea, thy miseries wil be pleasing like wounds honourably gotten in a glorious conquest: and then maist thou ioy­fully sing vnto the Lord; Mine e­nemies that troubled me, themselues are weakened and falne. One thing yet I haue asked of our Lord; this will I seeke for, that I may dwell in the house of our Lord, al the daies of my life.

44. A Prayer to be said by a Mer­chant, for the safe returne of his goods.

IN the time of my trouble who shall I flye vnto? what power can fetch me from the bottome of the Sea? or whose arme reacheth to the end of the world? O most merciful and gracious Lord, the Sea is thine, and thou madest it, and thy hands prepared the dry land: with thy Word thou calmest the raging waters, and with a beck layest the furie of the winde. Grant, of thy accustomed clemencie and good­nes, such seasonable and temperate weather, that they may safely arriue at the appointed Port. Bee vnto them, O Lord, their Pylote, lest the hidden Rocks, or vnknowne Sands deuoure them. Be their defence and [Page 118] safegard, lest their enemies make prey on them: that relying on thy fauour, aboue the vertue of their Load-stone, they may ioyfully and merrily touch the desired Land, ac­knowledging thy goodnesse and might, to whom alone that merci­lesse element obeyeth at thy com­mand, yeelding vp all her treasure. Grant this, O my sweet Lord and Sauiour, euen for thy tender mercy, which refuseth no Petitions, that are offered with a pure and vnfained zeale. Amen.

45. A Prayer before Study.

O Vnspeakable Creatour, which in the Treasure of thy Wisedome hast ordai­ned learning, as a secondary meanes to raise our declined soules, wrapt [Page 119] by the fall of Adam in sinne and ig­norance, to a perfected and surer ap­prehension of thy diuine goodnes: Enlighten, O Lord, our vnderstan­ding, and with the rayes of thy brightnesse, banish away all mists and darknes, by which wee are dul­led and disabled. Thou (O Lord) which raisest thy glorie out of the tongues of Infants, powre into our lips eloquence and vtterance, that we may reueale thy will, and sing praises of thy goodnes. Quicken (O Lord) our vnderstanding, strengthen our memorie, and recti­fie our will; that wee may truely know, faithfully keepe, and obedi­ently performe thy precepts and commandements. Giue vs (O Lord) grace in our entrance, perse­uerance in our progresse, and humi­litie at our going forth, that we may alwaies acknowledge thee, the giuer and bestower of what height so [Page 120] euer we attaine to, euen for Iesus Christ his sake.

46. A Prayer for the fatherlesse.

O Almightie God, which art a Father to the Orphans, mercifully assist vs poore & comfortles children, left as a prey to them, who are left to dispose of vs. Behold (O Lord) how they contend for what we haue, enuying one another for a share, wherin they can challenge no part. But thou (O Lord) shalt pleade our cause. Thou shalt bee our Aduocate and Helper: Thou shalt take the prey out of their mouthes, and lay that shame vpon them, which they haue laid vp for others. For vnto thee (O Lord) we commend our soules, our bodies, our substance, desiring to be dispo­sed by thee, and to receiue from [Page 121] thee what thou shalt thinke in thy wisedome will be necessary for the attaining thy loue and fauour, with­out which, in vaine wee doe heape vp for after-times; in vaine doe we build and rise early, bee sollicitous and take care, sith who buildeth without thee, pulleth downe; who soweth without thee, scattereth; and who gathereth without thee, hea­peth woe vpon himselfe.

47. A Prayer in Afflictions and troubles.

COmfort thy selfe (O my soule) in these Afflictions and troubles, praise and glo­rifie thy holy Name, that hee hath not giuen thee vp to thy owne af­fections and desires, letting thee wildely runne as a beast, to all sensua­litie: but gently chastising thee as one of his children, hath recalled [Page 122] thee into thy selfe, to know thy owne weaknesse and frailtie, making thee one of the honourable Order of the Crosse, whose badge all his Saints & Seruants weare vpon their brest; for it is better for thee that thy members here languish and suf­fer, then thy whole body to bee cast into euerlasting fire: yeeld thy selfe vp to all torments for his sake, being heartily sorrie, that thou art not able to vndergo more in his seruice, who in his owne example hath out-gone all tyrannie for thee. Triumph when thou art persecuted, and glorie in the bonds of our Sauiour. Blessed are they that mourne, for they shall re­ioyce: Blessed are they that are hum­bled with miseries and misfortunes, for they shall be exalted and aduan­ced. Blessed are they that are perse­cuted for righteousnesse sake, for to them belongeth the Kingdome of Heauen, where thou shalt eternally [Page 123] reioyce and triumph with the glori­ous Saints, and Martyrs, who haue beene sharers with thee in this vale of teares, and miserie.

48. A Prayer of thanksgiuing.

SIng vnto the Lord a new song, because hee hath done mar­uellous things, with his owne right hand and his holy arme, hath hee gotten himselfe the victory. Who is like vnto our God? or who dare compare with his mightinesse? He hath remembred himselfe of his promise to his seruant, that he would not leaue him for euer: He hath not suffered my enemies vtterly to pre­uaile against mee, nor left me in the hands of those that hate mee. Hee hath onely shewed me the Rod, and taken it away againe: early in the morning will I recount thy praises, [Page 124] and meditate all the day long vpon thy mercies, which hast giuen me to taste of thy blessings, and filled me with good things. I was naked, and thou hast cloathed me: I was hun­gry, and thou hast refreshed me: I was thirsty, & thou hast grasped the Cloud, and powred downe thy hea­uenly deaw: I was weary, and thou hast eased me; I was loaden, & thou hast strengthened me: I was oppres­sed, and thou hast rescued me. O what tongue is able to story thy lo­uing kindnesses! or what vnderstan­ding conceiueth thy wondrous works! I will shew mercy (saith our Lord) vnto thousands of them that loue me, & keep my cōmandements. But how aboundantly ought I to speake of thy gracious fauour, who haue rebelled against thy motions, spurned at thy precepts & statutes; and haue yet been embraced, recalled home againe, cloathed richly, and set [Page 125] at thy owne Table! I haue riotously consumed, & thou hast louingly re­stored: I haue in lauish cups, dis-ho­nest and lasciuious company, proud­ly, & vain-gloriously throwne away my saluation: & thou hast by stripes, buffetings, & most tormenting and cruell death, redeemed it againe. I haue transgressed (O Lord) and thou art punished: I being a low, and con­temned vassaile, haue offended and mis-done; and thou the Son of the mighty King, art beaten. It is not so (O Lord) with the sonnes of men, who afflict their subiects for their mis-demeanours, and make them smart for the Princes offences. Who is like vnto our God, whose mercie endureth from generation, to gene­ration: Praise our Lord, ye children: Praise ye the name of our Lord. The name of our Lord be blessed, from henceforth, now and for euer.

49. A Prayer in time of Pestilence.

FAmine, Plague, and Warre, are thy scourges (O Lord) and thou throwest them vpon the people for their offences: We haue repined, mercifull Father, in the a­boundance of health, and employed our strēgth in dishonoring thy holy Name. Our members sanctified for thy vse and seruice, haue beene the preyes of Harlots, and officers of Satan. The very breath thou gauest vs to praise and tell thy wonders, hath mis-spoken, and blasphemed a­gainst thee; iustly therefore doth thy consuming Pestilence snatch a­way our health, turne our strength into nothing, rot all our members, killing vs by the infection of the ayre taken into our bodies, who haue continually breathed out of our [Page 127] bodies all blasphemie & corruption.

Yet stay (O mercifull Father) and hold thy reuenging hand, heare the cryes of thy seruants, groning vnder the tyrannie of this murdering dis­ease, and be pitifull to vs. Remember (O Lord) that we are conceiued and borne in sinne, poore and vnprofita­ble creatures, vnable without thee to deserue the least drop of thy fauour: Mercifully assist vs with thy grace, and enrich vs with thy holy and spi­rituall vertues, that our prayers may come vp before thee, and bee accep­table, that hauing taken away this heauy persecution and plague, wee may for euer praise thy clemencie, and enioying thy louing mercy, feare againe to displease thee, who hast had so great compassion on vs; euen for thy Sonnes sake, who gaue himselfe vp to all torments, to keepe vs vnpunished.

50. A Prayer in time of Warre.

O Lord God of Hosts, that fightest the battels for thy seruants, girding thy selfe with power & strength, to ouercome and put to flight the enemies of those that put their trust in thee.

Be present (O Lord) with the Ar­mies, which are gone foorth to op­pose those who labour our ouer­throw. Leade (O Lord) their Cap­taine, and conduct him through the midst of their enemies: Giue him wisedome and discretion, warily to foresee all disaduantages; inuincible courage, to oppose all dangers; and truth and loyalty, that he sell not the faith & bloud of the people. Be at their counsels (O Lord) and deter­mine for them. Blesse their strata­gems, that vnpreuented they may [Page 129] take effect, and so order all the state of this Warre, that they may returne with conquest and victory.

Giue vnto the souldiers (O Lord) ablenes of minde & body, to be wil­ling & strong to vndergoe al labours and assaults, concord and vnanimity, that obediently labouring for the weale of their Country, they may be made fit instruments of the others ouerthrow.

Blesse the Season of the yeere vnto them; moderate the extremitie of heate & cold, that they bee neither disabled by the one, nor distempered by the other. Let the Sunne and the Winde (O Lord) fight for them; the aduantages and inconueniency of place be on their side; that by thee, & through thee, being made cōquerors of their enemies, they may triumph in thy goodnes, and boast of thy lo­uing kindnesses which endure from generation to generation. Amen.

51. A Prayer to be said by a Hus­bandman, for the fruits of the earth.

O All prouident and care­full Creator, which hast giuen charge and influ­ence to the heauenly Powers, to apparell and adorne the earth with varified and many coloured beau­ties, for the ornament and glory of this great All: and hast likewise blessed her wombe with a fit dis­position to receiue the Husband­mans seede, comforting and che­rishing it with her natiue vertue, and the generatiue power of the Sunne, till it re-deliuer it againe with great increase and profit, for the refreshing and sustentation of all mankinde: Powre downe, wee beseech thee, with thy heauenly [Page 131] and timely showres, maturitie and fruitfulnesse into her barren and sterrill wombe. Giue her (O Lord) a timely Conception, and let the moderate fals of heate and water, deliuer her of plenty and aboun­dance, that all nations may reioyce and be glad. Send farre from vs that monster Famine, the abortiue issue of her vntimely labour. Shut vp the Lightning (O Lord) and hold backe the Thunder; graspe the Clouds, that shee perish not with excesse of drought, and stay the waters in their fall, lest shee miscarry by drinking too much. Keep from her vnwholesome ayres, destroying Mil-dewes, and the de­uouring Caterpillers, which car­ried on the wings of the vvinde, eate vp the fruits of our labour. Giue vs (O Lord) a timely Har­uest, that wee may with ioy and comfort carrie into our Barnes [Page 132] what we haue with much labour and expence carefully sowed. Blesse (O Lord) our store like the Wid­dowes, for that giuing out of our necessary prouision to our poore Brethren, we may finde thy bles­sing left behinde; that neither ca­suall fire, malice of our neighbours, nor the excesse of immoderate showres destroy our Garners and Store-houses: but holding our wealth as thy gift to bee recalled at thy pleasure, wee may receiue thy bounteous largesse here, and full haruest hereafter to those pro­mised, that haue beene carefull Stewards in thy Vineyard, euen for Iesus, &c.

52. A Prayer for the Widdowes.

HOw often, O Lord, hast thou inuited me by thy ho­ly Word to come vnto thee? How often hast thou called, Come vnto me, all yee that are laden and oppressed, and I will ease you? Behold me here, O Lord, a poore and desolate Widdow, depriued of my Husband, vnder thee, giuen to bee my onely stay and comfort; shut vp in my house, vnuisited, vn­comforted, vncounselled, left in a sea of troubles, and in a wildernesse of businesse; vnskilfull how to be­gin, and vnexperienced which way to wade thorow them, my children hungrie after my goods, and my kindred gaping after their Legacies; my state vncertaine and litigious, called by contentious and euill, [Page 134] minded persons into question of Titles and Tryals, meaning by op­pression and might to teare from mee what belongeth not to them. In all these my troubles and afflicti­ons, heauinesse of minde, sad and continuall griefes, I neither expect nor desire comfort but from thy holy Tabernacle: Looke downe from thy high and holy place, O Lord, vpon thy carefull and com­fortlesse seruant, and instruct her which way to take, in so many and confused miseries. Touch the heart, O Lord, of some honest and religi­ous man, one who hath thy feare be­fore his eyes, that hee may helpe and direct me in my vncertaine and doubtfull businesses: and if it be my right, O Lord, that they would violently pluck from mee, bee neere vnto me, for thy mercie sake, and raise vp those that are skilfull in the Law, to deale faithfully with me: [Page 135] fasten the Iudge, O Lord, vnto me, and open his eyes that hee may see my right, and deale according vnto equitie.

Blesse my children, and teach them obedience to thee, and dutie towards me, that I may be comfor­ted in them; and giue mee grace, O Lord, to dedicate the remainder of my dayes to thy vse and seruice, strength to resist and ouercome all contrarie motions and oppositions; that hauing faithfully obeyed thee in taking my husband; since thou hast pleased to take him from me, I may liue onely to thee, so that death nor hell be able to diuorce me from so bountifull, so blessed, and all-pittying a Lord and Father. Amen.

53. A Prayer for a Wife.

O Lord God, most mightie, which hast instituted and ordained Marriage for the holy vniting and ioyning together of one soule in two bodies, which should gouerne and direct all their actions to one end, mutually sup­plying each others eare, ioyntly la­bouring through the cumbers and aduersities of this transitorie world, together bearing all troubles and discomforts, together partaking of all ioyes and solaces: Grant, I be­seech thee, for the loue which thou bearest thy holy Church, a type of which thou pleasest to make vs, that we may together faithfully serue & obey thy commandements, loue thee aboue our selues, and feare thee aboue all things.

[Page 137]Blesse, O Lord, I beseech thee, my husband in all his businesse and vndertakings, and giue him grace to call vpon thee for aide and coun­sell in all his enterprises; accept his labours, O Lord, and prosper the workes of his hands, that endeuo­ring painefully, and honestly to earne our refreshings, we may re­lye vpon thee for the good successe.

Grant vs, O Lord, a competent estate to maintaine our selues with­out ingagements to others, and to bring vp our children in thy feare; sanctifie vs with thy holy Spirit, that a vertuous and heauenly loue may dwell betwixt vs, in all sorrowes and mis-fortunes, whatsoeuer it shall please thee to lay vpon vs, still com­forting one another.

Forgiue, O Lord, and remit all our sinnes, and giue vs both grace to attend thy Diuine Will and Plea­sure for the perfecting and establish­ing [Page 138] of whatsoeuer wee shall desire, that being made one by thee, and li­uing one in thee, we may vndeuided enioy thy eternall company, world without end. Amen.

54. A Prayer for Mariners.

I Haue seene and beheld thy wonderfull workes, and am ama­zed: I haue considered, O Lord, and meditated on thy vnheard-of mercies, and am astonished: Thou hast giuen vs a passage in the midst of the foming waters, the raging Seas haue incompassed vs on euerie side, and thou hast saued vs: The Rockes haue hidden themselues, awaiting our destruction, and the Shelfes haue prouided a graue for vs; terrible and dreadfull Tempests haue snatched away our Mast from vs, the deuouring Maine hath eaten [Page 139] vp our Anchor; Darkenesse hath ouer-shadowed the heauens, and ta­ken the guide of the Starres from vs, and the confusion and imminent danger so amazed our Pilot, that he hath forgotten the vse of his Load­stone: and yet, O mercifull and all pittying Father, hast thou safely conducted and brought vs to our desired Hauen.

Thy mightie and out-stretched Arme hath supplyed the defect of our Mast; thy Mercie stands vs in stead of our Anchor; thy euer-shining goodnesse made way for vs through the midst of all darknesse; and thy eternall Prouidence, our neuer-fayling Load-stone, merci­fully directed vs in the vnknowne waies of the wilde Ocean.

Praise the Lord, all yee waters, and let all the fishes of the Sea praise the LORD, and all yee that haue seene his wonders in the [Page 140] deepe bee confounded and asto­nished.

For my part, O Lord, write them, I beseech thee, in the Ta­ble of my heart, that I may conti­nually remember them with feare and trembling, euer acknowled­ging with praise and thankesgiuing, that thou hast taken mee from the mouth of the graue, and snatcht me out of the iawes of death; for which I will alwaies sing, There is none like vnto our God, who hath saued his people in the midst of de­struction, hallowed be his name for euermore. Amen.

55. A Prayer for Children.

O Lord God, from whom the most aged receiue their comfort, and the wisest their instruction; guide, I humbly [Page 141] entreate thee, my parents in the way of saluation; bee a staffe, O Lord, vnto their weakenesse, and a guide vnto their steps; renew their minds in the decay of their bodies, and giue them inward eyes to behold what their dim and fading sight can neuer attaine to, that they may walke in truth and righteous­nesse all the dayes of their life. And graunt, I earnestly beseech thee, louing and gentle Father, that I may bee obedient to their holy and iust commandements, louing and carefull in performing, to my power, their precepts and in­structions, requiting their former care of me, with my dutie and hum­blenesse.

Blesse me, O Lord, in my tender and vnexperienced yeeres, from all euill and lewd company, which may accustome me to idle and vnthriftie courses, invre my mind to labour for [Page 142] the attaining learning and know­ledge: and graciously, O Lord, bestow vpon mee, as the ground­worke of all other vertues, the gift of humilitie, being fittest for my yeeres, and most conuenient for grace to build vpon, euen for Iesus Christ his sake, who hath com­manded all little ones to come to him. Amen.

56. A Prayer for Seruants.

O Lord God, which hast bought vs all with thy pre­cious Bloud, ransoming at as deare a price the Begger that fe [...] ­deth on Almes, as Kings, that clo­thed in gold and purple, fare deli­ciously: Giue me grace, O Lord, to be contented with the estate thou hast placed me in, and let mee not repine at the lownesse of my place, [Page 143] but keeping heere my station, and carefully watching for the time of my freedome, I may at last obtaine eternall libertie.

Prosper, O Lord, of thy accusto­med bountie and goodnesse, my Master and Mistresse: blesse them with thy feare, and endue them with thy holy Spirit, that they may true­ly obey and honour thee. Humble me, O Lord, before them, and giue me grace, faithfully to execute what they shall lawfully command: Let mee neuer entertaine a thought to wrong them, but deale truely and vprightly in whatsoeuer they shall commit to my charge, know­ing that thou art a seuere and All-seeing Iudge, who wilt one day call mee to account for all my offen­ces: let me be studious and diligent to dispatch what they shall appoint mee to do, not mis-imploying my time to their losse and preiudice.

[Page 144]Saue me, O Lord, from the com­panie of those who delight in wic­kednesse, and vnder whose tongues lyeth guile and deceit: Preuent me, O Lord, by thy neuer-erring wise­dome, and assist me with thy grace, that I may truely serue thee, and them whom thou hast appointed ouer mee, that I may at length be preferred to thee, in thy eternall Kingdome, who liuest and raignest, world without end. Amen.

57. A Prayer for one that is sicke.

WIth what face, O Lord, shall I approach before thee? How shall I dare to lift vp my voyce vnto thee? What can I say for my selfe, or what shall I offer? Shall I entreate health of thee, who in the fulnesse of it haue dedicated it to thy ene­mie? [Page 145] Shall I proffer to serue thee, that am vnable to helpe my selfe? Shall I request thy loue and fauour, who haue euer beene thy professed enemie, and now come onely to beg it, when I am vnder thy wrath, readie to receiue damnation for my hainous and horrid transgressions? I confesse, eternall and euer-liuing God, that I am not worthy that a thought of thy goodnesse should enter into so polluted a mansion: I acknowledge my selfe to haue deser­ued more punishment then hell can lay vpon me, who haue daily, houre­ly, nay knowingly, so grieuously offended thy Diuine Maiestie, now onely offering my selfe to thee when sin can make no vse of mee: Yet, O mercifull Father, consider I be­seech thee, what my substance is, how mightie my enemies, and how fraile my owne condition: Forsake me not, I beseech thee, [Page 146] though I come ouer-late vnto thee; thy mercy I know, O Lord, is able to forgiue more then I am able to commit: By that bottomelesse wel­spring, I beseech thee, haue pittie on me, and comfort me, lest I de­spaire and dye: For my sinnes are terrible vnto me, and appeare be­fore me clad in their deformitie: the deuill, whom I haue thus long serued, now puts me in minde, and representeth the horrour of hell vn­to mee: O sweet Iesus, hasten vn­to me; and since thou didst vouch­safe to put on Humanity for our Redemption, forsake me not now a miserable and afflicted creature, lying at the feet of thy mercy, who determineth neuer to rise, till thou say vnto him, Thy sinnes are forgi­uen thee. Lend me, O Lord, if it bee thy holy pleasure, a little more respit to call vpon thy Name: Lengthen my daies that I may re­pent [Page 147] mee, and winne thy fauour by seeking after thee: But if other­wise thou determine, make me, O Lord, readie for thee, and let my humble confession, hearty and true contrition, with the acknowledge­ment of thy infinite and boundlesse Deitie, as it did the Thiefe vpon the Crosse, saue me from prepared ruine and destruction, sweet Iesus. Amen.

58. A Prayer for Womens Deliuerance.

VNsearchable, O Lord, are iudgements, and wonderful the workes of thy hand; thou hast made & fashioned a Lump of flesh in my wombe, thou hast giuen it life to grow, to feed and be nourished; thou hast adorned and beautified it with limbes and senses; thou hast, in thy mercy, inspired a [Page 148] liuing soule into it, whereby it may hereafter be capable of thy loue and euerlasting felicitie: Now the pe­riod, O Lord, draweth neere, and the time appointed for the deliuery & giuing vp this burden; be neer, O merciful Father, vnto thy seruant, & strengthen me in this my sore labour and trauell: comfort me, O Lord, in my agony, that I faint not vnder the throwes and dreadfull pangs of the approaching & neere-ensuing birth: let no vaine feares affright me, or the thoughts of what I must suffer, be terrible vnto me; Let me be comfor­ted, O Lord, in thy promise, and the blessing that must proceed from my Ioynes; hearten me, patiently to en­dure my torments: hasten, O Lord, my deliuery, and giue the fruite of my womb an easie passage, that with the sight of a well-formed childe, I may be made a ioyfull mother: grant it, O Lord, right shape, and keepe [Page 149] the life which thou hast giuen vnto it, that it may be borne anew of wa­ter and the holy Spirit, to be made partaker and heire of thy euerla­sting Kingdome.

But if, O Lord, thou in thy eter­nall Wisedome, hast otherwise pro­uided for me, appointing me in the neuer-againe dying birth, to be re­stored vnto thee, mercifully assist me in this my last passage, that confi­dent in thy promises made to all, I may ioyfully giue my selfe as a well-pleasing sacrifice, awaiting thy di­uine Pleasure, and commending and committing my selfe into thy hands, patiently expect the blessed houre to be deliuered from the sin­full prison of this transitory world, into that euerlasting Habitation, where dwelleth infinite ioy, world without end. Amen.

59. A Prayer to bee said when you goe into your bed.

BLesse me, O Lord, preserue and keepe mee, from all the dangers of this night: Saue and deliuer me from the ancient enemie, who through immoderate sloth & negligence hopeth to betray me: Visite, O Lord, my soule, though farre too meane to enter­taine so royall a Guest; yet sending thine owne prouision before thee, holy vertues, chaste and simple thoughts, thy lodging may be the better prepared for thee. Settle and gouerne, O Lord, my phantasie, that it range and forme not wilde and vnlawfull apparations; stay my memorie, that it search not after vaine and idle pleasures; fill my vn­derstanding with thy goodnesse and [Page 151] mercy, that being wholly and in­wardly busied with thee, I may escape the snares and nets of Satan, and wake to my owne comfort, and thy glorie, sweete IESVS. Amen.

60. A Prayer against idle Talke.

SEt a watch, O Lord, before my lips, that I defile not my mouth with dishonest and vn­seemely speeches, betraying the hearers, to sinne and vncleannesse: Keepe me from their companie whose delight is in wicked talke, lest I perish with them: Let my tongue deliuer forth thy prayses, and be the Trumpet of thy neuer-ending mer­cies: grant me a single and vnpol­luted heart, that I may reuerently adore thy Mysteries, and bee the honorer of thy Glorie and [Page 152] Maiesty: Keepe my eyes from wandring after the concupiscence of my desires, that I bee not ouer­taken and made prisoner to sinne and death. Place my thoughts vp­on thy bitter Passion, whose mournefull acts may put away all idle delights and pleasures, and fasten mee vpon thy Crosse, to weepe and lament my passed offen­ces, for that sweete Name of IE­SVS, in whose merites all flesh must be saued.

61. A Thankes-giuing.

O God, most high, most mightie Creator of hea­uen and earth, which out of Nothing, hast made and formed this beautifull All, createdst the glorious Firmament fretted with Starres; the euer-shining Sunne to [Page 153] giue light by day, and firest the Moone to banish the nights darke­nesse: giuing life to the Fowles of the Aire, the Beasts feeding on the Earth, and the Fishes whose dwel­ling is in the waters below, for the vse and seruice of man, making him according to thy owne Image, ennobling him with Vnderstāding, Will, and Memorie, to conceiue and apprehend the glorious workes of thy hand; Redeemed him with an vnparalell'd example; preserued and kept him with an vnimitable care and prouidence: How shall hee render thee condigne and worthie prayses, for these thy vn­speakeable and vndeserued bene­fites? How shall hee tender to thy diuine Maiestie, thankes equall and befitting such infinite and innumerable graces? How many, O LORD, haue dyed in the womb! How many neuer attained [Page 154] the blessed regeneration of Bap­tisme? How many reconciled, and entred into the state of grace, haue, through their owne corruption, frailtie, and the suggestion of the diuell, lost it, and falne away from the faith of thy neuer-erring Word? How often, O Lord, haue I transgressed and sinned, spurned at thy secret Callings, and refused to entertaine them? and yet, O Lord, hast thou patiently expected my conuersion, giuen me further time to repent me of my carelesnesse and back-sliding, sending thy holy grace to enable me to call vpon thee for mercy and forgiuenes. Prayse God, O my soule: for his louing kindnes endureth frō generation vnto gene­ration; he hath not dealt so with eue­ry man, nor so aboundantly showred his fauor to all his people. I wil mag­nifie him from the rising of the Sun, vnto the going downe of the same, [Page 155] who hath raised me from death, and not suffered mee to goe downe into the Pit; who hath forgotten my wickednesse, and remembred himselfe of his goodnes: glorie be vnto thee on high, and praise vpon earth, who hath giuen charge to his Angels to keepe vs in all our wayes.

62. A Prayer for direction in all our affaires.

GIue me grace (O merciful­ly and truely louing Lord, that I may with all single­nesse of heart, ardency and earnest­nesse of spirit, wisely and carefully search after those things which may be pleasing vnto thee. Order and so dispose of me, that I may faithfully and truely performe those things, which thou requirest of me, and [Page 156] giue me knowledge (O Lord) to doe it as it ought, and is most expe­dient for my owne soule. Grant (O Lord God) that I neither grow presumptuous, seated in Prosperity, nor be cast downe, despairing with the frownes of Aduersitie. Let thy fauour be my onely delight, and my discontent thy displeasure. Let me endeuour to please none, nor be a­fraid to displease any but thy selfe. Let all transitorie things be base in my sight, and what belongeth to thee, be onely acceptable, and thou, O God, aboue all. Let the paines (O Lord) which are for thee, be a­boue any pleasure, and pleasure with­out thee, seeme tedious, and vn­welcome. Grant me often to desire the accomplishment of good things, and in my relapse, to spring vp a­gaine, with full purpose of amend­ment. Make me (O Lord God) obedient, without grudging; poore, [Page 157] without quailing; chaste, without pollution; patient, without murmu­ring; humble, without dissembling; merry, without dissolutenes; sad, without deiection; graue, without austeritie; pleasant, without light­nesse; fearefull, not despairing; true, not doubling; doing good, without presumption; admonishing my neighbour, without arrogancie; e­difying him by word and example, without dissimulation. Giue vnto me (Lord God) a watchfull heart, that no curious cogitation may draw me from thee: a noble one, that no vnworthy affection may triumph o­uer it: a sincere one, that no euill intention may bend it from thee: an inuincible heart, that no persecution may glory in his ouerthrow: a ge­nerous one, that no peruerse and violent passion may challenge rule ouer it. Bestow on me (O Lord) an vnderstanding, knowing thee: a [Page 158] diligence, seeking thee: a wisedome, finding thee: a conuersation, plea­sing to thee: a perseuerance, faithfully expecting thee: a confidence, finally embracing thee; to be pierced with thy punishments through repen­tance; to vse thy benefits in this way fare by grace, and at length by glory to enioy thy ioyes in thy countrey, who liuest & raignest, &c.

63. A Prayer for great Personages.

O Most mighty, high and euerliuing God, King of all Kings, Lord of all Lords; the onely gouernour, Crea­tour and aduancer of mankinde, which hast pleased to call me to ho­nour and promotion, making me a Ruler and directer of thy people: Teach me (O Lord) the way to bee [Page 159] humble in mine owne eyes, that I may louingly and courteously en­tertaine any poore brethren, as great and noble in thy sight, and bought at as deare a rate as the migh­tiest. Giue me (O Lord) singlenesse of heart; cleannesse of hands; truth of tongue; meekenes of Spirit; that I may in all affayres and businesses of the generall State, respect aboue all things thy glory; next, the weale of the publique; and lastly, my own peace and content, which in the vp­rightnes of a good conscience, make O Lord, firme vnto me. Take from me, I earnestly beseech thee, the fire of Ambition, lest dallying with vn­holy flames, I returne to in-glorious Ashes. Quench in mee (O merciful­ly louing Father) the longing thirst of new Titles and Dignities, ac­knowledging it a blessing aboue any desert of mine, to be thy Creature, and fearing the charge and burden [Page 160] already imposed vpon me, endeuour with all lowlinesse to render thee a iust account. Grant that my power may be a shelter, not oppression to the weaker: and the noblenesse of my birth, a continuall remembran­cer how to bring forth vertues and actions, worthy and beseeming that height and superioritie, that in all things squaring the line of my life, and ordering all my thoughts, actions and endeuours, by thy pre­cepts and instructions, I may leaue my example as a holy practice to o­thers, and die in thy fauour, that I may liue eternally with thee, world without end.

64. A Thanksgiuing for the recouerie of our High and Mighty Soue­raigne, King IAMES. April 1619.

I INcline thine eare vnto vs (O Lord) and mercifully heare our supplications and prayers that we make before thee, for ha­uing speedily and happily deliuered our most gracious King, thy hum­ble Seruant; redeeming vs, in pre­seruing him from the many trou­bles, and vncertaine dangers, which any alteration may bring vpon vs. Keepe him (O Lord) to thee for vs, from the bloudy hand of home-bred Treason, which endeuoureth vio­lently to spoile him, and saue him by thy mighty power, from the am­bitious desire of Forraine inuasion, which vnlawfully plotteth and go­eth about to gripe into their hands [Page 162] the rule and state of this Kingdome, ouer which by thy ordinance and eternall prouidence he is made chiefe Lord and Ruler. Defend him (O merciful and all-louing Father) from the Tyrannie of sicknes, which see­keth to destroy nature, and steale a­way life from him, and what o­ther infirmities the weakenesse of nature, want of digestion, distem­peratenesse of Ayre, or any o­ther naturall cause may bring vpon him. Be pleased (O Lord) to ease and cure him by thy all-restoring hand, who camest into the world to heale all maner of diseases, that wee may perfectly enjoy him in his ver­tuous gouernment, with the blessed fruits and increase of it, to thy eter­nall glory, his owne saluation, and our comfort, peace and tranquillitie, euen for Iesus Christ his sake, our onely Lord, Mediator and Sauiour. Amen.

65. Another.

A A Wake vs (O Lord) from sinne and iniquity, that we deserue not thy Scourge and Rod, in vntimely de­priuing vs of thy faithfull Seruant, our most gracious King, whom thou hast mercifully placed ouer vs. Giue vs loyall & obedient hearts, that we may truely and humbly vnder thee, loue, honour and obey him: con­stantly vnite our selues to him, and vnperswadably become his fol­lowers and liege Seruants. Conti­nue (O Lord) thy care and fauour to him, that he may as hitherto reci­procally tender & respect the good and weale of vs his poore & vnder-Subiects, esteeming vs helping and necessarie members of himselfe, pro­fitable to execute and vndergo what [Page 164] he shall in thy feare and Religion charge and command, that we stri­uing and endeuouring to become perfect Imitators, and Types of thee and thy Church in vnanimitie and tranquillitie, may with one consent labour the setting forth of thy honour and glory, with our owne well-doing and eternall happinesse. Amen.

66. A Prayer against our Enemies.

M MAke vs (O Lord) mighty and strong, armed in the confi­dence of thy all-preseruing and powerfull Arme. Stretch it foorth (O Lord) and scatter our enemies, who haue conspired, and are combi­ned against vs. Behold (mercifull Father, the infinite and innumerable troupes they haue gathered and mu­stered [Page 165] together, to spoile and ruine thy people, who haue no hope nor trust, but in thy mercies. Their Ar­mies couer the face of the Land, and their Ships haue not Sea enough to weild their huge bodies: they glo­ry in the desire and assurednesse of bloud and slaughter, and meditate all the day long, on Rapine and Cru­eltie. They haue in their thoughts the murdering of Sucklings and In­fants, and the deflowring of Vir­gins is euer before their eyes: they ioy in representing to them­selues the Ransacking the substance of poore mens labours, and feeding their Ryots with the sweat of o­thers browes, determining to leaue no barbarousnes vnpractised, or vn-attempted. Smite them (O Lord, in the height of their pride, and bring their mightinesse and strength to nothing. Let the Sea (O Lord) which they haue inhabited, [Page 166] ouerthrow their proud buildings, and destroy them: The Sunne and winde (O LORD) vndoe and put to flight their Land-Souldiers, with tempests and heate; that wee thy seruants being deliuered from the feare of our enemies, may serue thee all the dayes of our life, glo­rifying and magnifying thy holy name, who art the giuer of all victo­rie. Amen.

67. Another Prayer for deliuerance from our Enemies.

E EVermore will I cry vnto thee, and all my life long meditate on thy mercies, who wilt not suffer the scornefull and proud to preuaile against thy seruants; nor the mischieuously-min­ded to haue the vpper hand ouer them. The Enemies (O Lord) pre­sumptuous, [Page 167] and ouer-daring in the strength of men, and Chariots, haue prouided whips and torments for thy people, not seeking vvhich way to ouercome; but to torment, as assured to ouercome. They come (O Lord) not to fight, but ouer-runne; not to giue battaile, but de­struction vnto thy seruants. Pre­uent (O Lord) their malice, and vndoe their subtill, and well-labou­red Stratagems: Make them ac­knowledge thee the bestower, and man with all his Engines, but thy Minister, to bee ordered as it plea­seth thee. Let them see (O Lord) their Chariots ouer-turned vvith their owne guiders, their Horses made a slaughter by the ill directi­on of their owne masters, and the Souldiers in the day of Battell crush­ed with the weight of their owne Armour, that they may not be able to lift vp their hands against those, [Page 168] who put their whole trust and hope of victory in thee. Grant this (O Lord) for the precious bloud of thy onely Sonne; in whose name we are assured to obtaine all our iust petitions. Amen.

68. A Thanksgiuing for the ouerthrow of our Enemies.

S. SIng vnto the Lord a new Song, for hee hath done maruellous things, with his owne right hand, and with his holy arme, hath he gotten himselfe the victorie. This is the day where­in the Lord redeemed vs, and hath taken vs from the hands of our ene­mies: let vs proclaime it to all gene­rations, and let the farthest Nations heare of his louing kindnesses. When our Souldiers were amazed, our Lord comforted them, and in the [Page 169] multitude of their enemies was a stay and Bulwarke vnto them: He guided their shot, and gaue might and power vnto their armes, to beat and disperse the growing Host, which threatened in their fury to ouerwhelme them: he discomfited them, and tooke their heart from them, returning them with greater feare, then they marcht on with as­surednes. When our Captaines, confounded with the danger of the fight, and confused with the tumult of their Souldiers, forgat their skill in leading, he conducted & brought them on againe, ordered them, gi­uing life and spirit to the fainting and fearefull troupes, that they fell vpon their enemies as enraged Ly­ons, scattered them, and pursued them to a shamefull retyring, and dis-honourable yeelding. This is thy worke (O Lord) and it is won­derfull in our eyes, and shall ex­presse [Page 170] thy goodnes in the confusi­on of those mis-beleeuing people that doe not acknowledge thee. But giue vnto vs (O Lord) that haue receiued this blessing at thy hands, to vs that haue mightily seene thy euerlastingnesse and power in our owne vnexpected safety, and vn­thought of ruine to our enemies, humble and obedient hearts, fired and inflamed with this thy high and vndeserued bounty, that wee may neuer forget the Day of our Deliuerance, but leaue it holy to all ages, magnifying and extolling thee the giuer of all conquest. Let no se­curitie take from our eyes the dread­full and ouer-passed danger; no last­ing or confirmed peace, the memo­ry of this fierce and cruell battaile fought by thee, and obtained by thee; but hauing it fresh and emi­nent before vs, continually praise and laud thee who hast preserued vs, [Page 171] euen for thy owne honour and glo­ry, which bee euerlasting, world without end. So be it. Amen.

69. A Prayer for present necessities.

O Gracious and euer-louing Lord, which out of thy bounty & infinite fauour, hast promised to heare the Petitions of those that aske in thy Sonnes name, to whom our necessities are knowne, and our wants manifest. Grant (we beseech thee) most merci­full Father, that we may by thy eter­nall prouidence, be relieued and suc­coured, miserably languishing and groning vnder the waight of our low and desperate extremities: put it into the hearts of some of thy ser­uants, to call vs to them, and giue vs employment, that we may by the sweat of our browes labour to main­taine [Page 172] and keepe our selues and chil­dren, and aboue all, let vs patiently endure and vndergoe what calami­ties shal euer fall vpon vs, wel know­ing they are imposed for our sinnes, and farre short of their desert and due, still expecting thy mercifull hand to redeem and deliuer vs from them. Thou (O Lord) which takest care of the Flowers of the field, and enrobest the Lilly aboue the or­naments of Kings, wilt not I (know) leaue thy Children and Seruants for euer; nor giue them ouer to bee an ignominie and shame to their despi­sers, but that they shall at last reioyce and sing vnto thee; Our Lord hath heard our prayers, and mercifully considered the Petitions, and earnest requests of his seruants: he hath ful­filled his promise, and graciously succoured and sustained them: prai­sed be the name of the Lord, now and for euer. Amen.

70. Another Prayer entreating Remis­sion of sinnes, and constancie in good purposes.

GIue mee leaue (O Lord) to speake vnto thee, and in thy presence to vnloade the griefe and troubles of mind, which burden and disquiet mee, taking away my sleepes, and laying vio­lent hands on the comfort and con­tent I should enioy in thee. Why am I (O most mercifull Father) for­saken, and giuen vp to the wilde de­sires and concupiscences of my flesh? Why am I left a prey to Satan, and laid open to his subtill and secret temptations? Why hath the multi­tude of sinnes as a Sea growne vpon mee, and the number and dayly practice of my offences taken away almost hope of my safety and re­couerie. [Page 174] Am I (O Lord) markt for a vessell of dis-honour, and shall thy Omnipotencie be seene in my de­struction? Though these things are worthy the hainousnesse of my transgressions: yet are they not be­seeming thy exceeding and infinite loue and mercy: and though it may well accord with my rebellious and traiterous disposition, daring to breake and violate thy lawes and commandements; yet can they no way sute and agree with thy vn­bounded and vnlimited Charitie, which left'st Heauen, and mingledst Humanitie with thy Deitie, to saue and recall sinners and offenders. In the bowels therefore of thy mercie, I beseech thee, by thy vnspeakable and vnexpressible bounty, which gaue thee vp to death, euen to the Death of the Crosse, and all those fore-running, spitefull and torturous agonies and abuses, not to take a­way [Page 175] thy grace from me, nor leaue me to my selfe, who am nothing but pollution and vncleannesse, vn­certaine what way to take, yet cer­taine to runne into loosenesse and deformitie, without thee, being, O Lord, taken as it were with a dead­nesse, or at least a forgetfulnesse of thee, rather carelessely neglecting, then violently drawne away from thy holy inspirations, growing in­sensible, and as it were, stupid in all things which belong to thy honour, and my owne saluation: which of all others and is the most terrible fearefull back-sliding and Aposta­sie: For were I carried away with other delights, or onely bewitched with sensualitie, I might well hope, when time, and sacietie had suffici­ently displaied their vanity, at last to retire & grow weary of them: but from this stupidnes & cold numnes of my carelesse conscience. Without [Page 176] thee (O Lord) who can reuiue me? from this heauy & death-like sleepi­nesse, but thy almightie voice, what can awake me? To thee (therefore) I humbly submit my selfe, and peni­tently prostrate my selfe before thee; desiring thee, for that eternal and all-comforting name of thy sweet Son Iesus, to giue mee a feeling of my owne desperate and dangerous e­state, to take away the dead and im­postume vices, which haue ouer-growne goodnes and vertue, so that I may perceiue, what is wicked or sinfull, made the same with me by a long custome. Grant me (O boun­tifull and louing Lord) constancie and perseuerance in the good deter­minations, wherewith thou shalt in­spire, lest I fal into a relapse, & perish vnsuccourably; euen for thy owne mercies sake, which from the begin­ning of the world was intended to saue sinners. Amen.

71. A Prayer in Sicknes.

NOw I am weakest (O Lord) in estate, be thou strongest, and inlighten and comfort my Soule in this darknes and tor­ments of my Body. Satan hath in­compassed me on euery side, and as assured of victory, hath laid aside all his faire and eye-pleasing disguises, pulling off his beautifull visor, and in his owne horrible and dreadfull deformitie, telleth me plainely I am his. There is no sinne (my most mer­cifull and euerlasting Redeemer) which hee is not in the vgliest and desperatest manner ready to lay be­fore me, more carefull now to call them to my memory, then he was before, to banish them for euer. He telleth me it is thine own Doctrine, that the wages of sinne is Death, and [Page 178] that euerlasting, world without end. But shall hee (O iust and righteous Iudge) be my accuser and witnes a­gainst mee? Shall he betray me to a sinne, and be rewarded for reuealing it? I protest before the Throne of thy diuine Maiestie, that he alone, ioyned with the world and the flesh, hath wrought vpon my frailtie, and subtilly seduced mee to all kinde of sinne, and enormitie: that he alone hath perswaded mee to offend thee my Lord and Maker, laying thy heauy displeasure, and terrour of thy iudgements before me; see­king either to draw me to despaire, or an vnwillingnes to enter into the due consideration of my hainous mis-deeds. I doe therefore wholly abiure and detest him, abandoning for euer his friendship and seruice, and relying on thy powerfull and a­uailable Passion, in the preciousnesse and value of it, offer vp my selfe vnto [Page 179] thee, beseeching thee for thy owne merits and goodnes, to accept a for­lorne and despayring sinner, who (without thy mercy) is readie to bee swallowed vp by the eternall gulfe of hell fire. Moderate, O Lord, my sicknesse and paines, that I may the freelier haue recourse vn­to thee; strengthen and confirme my fainting and decaying voyce, that I may the earnestlier cry vnto thee: And aboue all, O my most sweete and amiable Lord, comfort and aide my drooping and fearefull heart, that I may continually medi­tate on thee; that if it bee thy will and pleasure, I may escape the ven­geance prepared for those that dye out of thy fauour; and if thou shalt please to call mee forth of this mor­tall life, I may liue with thee, & put on immortality, euen for thy holy Names sake: to which be all honour & glory, world without end. Amen.

72. A Prayer to be said, before any worke wee goe about.

IN vaine, O Lord, rise wee earely, and sit vp late, eating the bread of carefulnesse, turmoy­ling and tormenting our selues with great labour and wearisomnesse vnlesse thou, O Lord, giue a bles­sing: In vaine toyleth the Husband­man, plowing and sowing, vnlesse thou water it, and giue the increase: In vaine endangereth himselfe the Marchant, furrowing and turning vp the waters, vnlesse thou prosper and guide his Ship. Since thou fil­lest euery thing with blessing, be pleased at this time onely, Lord and Sauiour, to looke mercifully and fa­uourably on the industries and la­bours of thy seruant, and multi­ply them as thou didst the old wo­mans [Page 181] Iar, who gaue of it to the Pro­phet: grant that wee may prosper and haue, giuing of our abundance to those poore brethren that want it, rather then to bee driuen to aske it: Yet in all, O Lord, thy will bee done, to the extremest pouertie, nay, death it selfe. Giue me, O Lord, a true feeling of my selfe, that I may rather respect goodnesse, then gaine; and aime rather to liue honestly, then richly; affecting a mediocritie, not aboundance, lest I be puffed vp with the vaine and gawdy shew of vncertaine wealth: Grant, O bles­sed Lord and Sauiour, that I may in all my courses and enterprises haue before my eyes the end whereunto they should be directed, which is, onely in this warfare and pilgri­mage, to prouide me necessaries for my voyage to that holy Land, wherein al thy children and seruants haue before the beginning of the [Page 182] world, a portion and inheritance laid out and reserued, that I may with that prouidence and care so furnish and store my selfe, that I be neither forced with Esau, for want and indiscretion, to sell my birth-right for fading and transitory re­liefe, nor with the proud and migh­ty, exalted with the infinitenesse of their treasure, despise and grow carelesse of it; but in all things ma­king my selfe obedient to thy will, be found worthy to take possession of it. Grant this, O sweete Iesus. Amen.

73. A Prayer for Remission of sinnes.

I Humbly confesse (O Almigh­tie and euer-liuing Lord) that I am vnworthy the bread thou in thy mercie bestowedst on me; vn­worthy [Page 183] to infect the ayre with my breath, who spend it to thy disho­nour, and my owne defamation; most vnworthy the least of thy blessings which I haue plentifully receiued of thee; and that I trem­ble to come into thy presence, my sinnes striking horrour and terrour to my heart, lest I be swallowed vp for my offences, and wickednesses daily committed, and yet vnrepen­ted: But, O most mercifull and all-louing Father, take thy Eye, I be­seech thee, from them, lest thou in thy iustice bring me to destruction, and fixe it on the bitter Passion of thy deare Sonne; behold him, O Lord, scourged, buffeted, reuiled, spet vpon, and despitefully crucify­ed for the hainousnesse of these my transgressions; and in the precious­nesse of this satisfaction, be pleased, (O Lord) to giue eare to the hum­ble and sorrowing lamentation of a [Page 184] despised and contemned sinner, who is heartily and truely sorry for these his misdeeds and trespasses; desiring thee of thy infinite boun­ty, to inspire him with thy grace, that hee may for euer hate and de­test the guilt and monstrousnesse of them. Strike mee (O Lord) with a true feare, not onely of thy migh­tinesse and iudgements, but of thy mercies and louing kindnesse, that I may bee vtterly ashamed and con­founded to offend so fauourable and indulgent a Father, who hath not dis-inherited, nor cast off so noto­rious and disobedient a sonne, but in his mercy reserued a portion for mee: which (O blessed and all-louing Lord) make me worthy of, that I may euer praise, and glorifie thy clemencie, world without end.

74. A Prayer for Perseuerance.

SInce, O Lord, not hee that attempteth the course, but he that continueth to the end; not those Virgins who came late, but they that watched continually, haue the promised and expected re­ward; giue me aboundantly of thy blessing, that I may not onely ende­uour well, purpose good things, and perhaps beginne a reformation and vertuous amendment, but con­tinue (O Lord) and perseuer all my life long, that by the practice of a holy and religious life, I may bee weaned and with-drawne from the transitory and seducing pleasures which gawdinesse and custome haue made strong in mee, and awaite the subuersion and rooting out of all things good and vertuous: settle [Page 186] firme in me (O Lord) an vnwea­ried determination of a daily pro­gresse and going forward in thy seruice, since to stand still, is to ex­pect the enemie: and bridle and take from me the feeds and bloomings of vice, that I deceiued with their se­ducing, yeeld not to them, but perfectly and zealously labouring to follow the steps of so good and great a Maiestie, may at last receiue the hire which thou hast reserued for those that diligently employ themselues in thy Vineyard.

75. A Prayer in Affliction.

MOST gracious Redee­mer, which art alwaies mercifull, alwaies a preser­uer, whether thou send vs ioy or sadnesse; for great is thy mercy which by outward afflictions, as by [Page 187] a sharpe medicine, heatest the inward man; and by temporary troubles preparest vs for euerlasting ioy: euen as thy selfe hast opened the way for vs to true felicitie, by thy owne steps: Grant that I may drinke this cup patiently and obediently, as gi­uen of thee. But these troubles, O blessed and meek Sauiour, fall heauy on me, my proud and enuious dis­position grudging and repining at them: Giue me (O Lord) in cure the happie and heart comforting spectacle of thy precious Passion, that beholding thee ouer-flowed with bloud and sweate, cruelty ha­uing vsed seuerall torments to let it forth, I may account my selfe hap­pie in so sweet a societie, and my rancour and swollen desires ambiti­ously puffed vp with malicious and aspiring thoughts, may at this sight fall low, and bee asswaged, the vene­mous and poysoning sting of the [Page 188] subtill serpent, bee drawne and cast from me, by beholding thee the ex­ample of all patience and gentlenes. Endue me, O Lord, with an absolute contempt of all these vaine and gawdie shadowes, whose pompe and outward glorie are rated at so high an estimation: Let me look in­wardly onely, and all my care be to be richly and sumptuously attired within; Let mee aime at no peace but that of a good conscience, fea­ring onely thy rebuke and displea­sure, but for thy sake highly esteeme all the contempt the world can throw vpon me, the scoffes, dis­daine and base regard they can af­flict me with, the reuilings, slan­ders, imputations, which enuie and ill tongues can lay vpon me; since promotion and high respect are no badges of thy seruants commenda­tion, and gracefull language no ti­tles of thy followers, nor security [Page 189] and worldly felicitie, any testimo­nies of thy loue and fauour; to which onely (O glorious example of all vertue) let me ambitiously a­spire, thorow the burning Furnaces, the Lyons Den, the Axe, Stones, or what new crueltie soeuer Tyrants, witty onely in mischieuous inuen­tions, can for the professing thee, inflict vpon mee; since to lose all the world, and win thee, is a pur­chase vnualuable, & vnspeakeable; which grant, for thine owne Names sake, I may happily attaine, Amen.

76. A Prayer in extremity of sicknesse.

O Iesu Christ, the onely hope of them that liue, and eternall life of them that die, I wretched sinner, submit my selfe wholly to thy Diuine Will, [Page 190] whether it pleaseth thee my soule shall longer remaine in the prison of this my bodie to serue thee, or de­part out of this world, I am sure what is cōmitted to thy mercy, can neuer perish: I wil lay down this my fraile and miserable body, with a willing minde, namely, in hope of resurrection, which renders it to me againe much more happie. Strengthen, O truely-mercifull and all-louing Sauiour, my soule with thy grace, against all temptations, against all the assaults of Satan. Inuiron me with the shield of thy mercy, by which in times past, thou restoredst thy Martyrs vnconque­red, against grieuous torments and cruell deaths. I see nothing in my selfe which can bee a help vnto me: all my hope is in thy inestimable goodnesse: I haue no merits or good workes to alledge to thee; but alas, I behold on euerie side, many wic­ked [Page 191] and sinfull offences, many mali­cious and enuious transgressions, many lewde and lasciuious acts, which are here readie to accuse and condemne, and as much as their exclamations can further, desirous to throw me to euerlasting hell, and perdition. What Aduocate so mer­cifull as thy selfe? Who so power­full? And who more willing and readie? Who can better deliuer what must at this time preuaile for me, being a story of thy owne loue and mercy? Who can shew the skars of those honourable wounds which were gotten in the redemption of mankinde, but thy Almightie selfe? Who the print of those lashes which all ouer skarrified thy inno­cent flesh, for the painting and ar­tificiall discolouring ours? Who with fortie dayes Fasting, expiated our riotous and superfluous Feasts, but thy most mercifull selfe? Wash [Page 192] away (O Lord) with thy preci­ous Bloud, the contagious spots of my hainous offences, and let thy neuer-failing Iustice answere in iudgement for my presumptuous iniustice; thy great and mightie merites be an acceptable propitiato­rie for the multitude of my mis­deeds: and grant (O louing and all-gracious Lord) that thy grace may increase aboue my sicknesse: let not my faith faile, my hope faint, my charity waxe cold, nor humane infirmity, ioyned with the feare of death, cast mee into the bottome­lesse gulfe of despaire, but that when the eyes of my body are shut and closed vp, the euer-waking eye of my minde may looke vp and bee comforted in thee; and that when the vse of my tongue shall be taken from me, my soule may then inces­santly and continually cry vnto thee, O Lord, into thy hands I com­mend [Page 193] my spirit: to whom bee ho­nour and glorie, world without end.

77. A Prayer in the Spring time.

O Almightie and euer-liuing God, the powerfull Crea­tor of heauen and earth, ordaining them with their seuerall Lights and Ornaments, for the ne­cessarie vse of mankinde, appoin­ting them in their distinguisht sea­sons to yeeld food and sustenance for the maintenance of thy People; Wee giue thee humble and heartie thankes for this moderate and time­ly Spring, refreshing the decayed earth, with the kindly heate of the Sun, and temperate falls of raine and water, renewing in vs a com­fortable expectation of our Resur­rection, in beholding how thy mercifull and All-able hand hath [Page 194] freshly apparelled the naked and barren fields, beautifying them with seuerall sorts of flowers; loading the Trees disroabed and withering, with new buds and blossomes; the earth her selfe shooting forth her seeds long time buried in her womb, with the hope of a happie and plen­tifull increase, to the great ioy and consolation of thy seruants: Grant, I beseech thee, that wee being re­newed and borne againe by holy Baptisme, and hauing cast and throwne off the old man, may be­come new creatures, neuer more to returne to our old sinnes, but that by the sweet assistance of thy holy Spirit, wee may increase in conti­nuall innocencie, and day by day, more and more bee adorned with the flowers of vertue, alwaies grow­ing vp in the knowledge of thy ex­cellencie, that wee may receiue a blessing at thy hand to spread and [Page 195] flourish, bringing forth good fruits of a quiet conscience, and sweete smelling sauours of a pure zeale and charitable deuotion; euen for Iesus Christs sake. Amen.

78. A Prayer in Summer.

EVer-mouing time (O merci­full Father) deliuereth accor­ding to thy behests, in their due seasons, the foure quarters of the yeare, and from thy bountie we receiue their timely fruits; the Spring hath alreadie discharged and vnloaded himselfe, bestowing with a full hand, the small store he hath beene entrusted withall; leauing great hope of plentie and aboun­dance: Prosper it (O Lord) and bring it along to maturitie and ripe­nesse; for now that blessed and great Light which thou madest to rule [Page 196] the day, sheadeth his influence and comfort to all things mouing vpon the earth: The Hills leape and are ioyfull, the Flouds clap their hands, and all creatures growe buxome and liuely, hauing a feeling and sense of thy blessing: Grant vnto vs (O Fa­ther of all goodnesse) that we bee not more insensible then the beasts, but that wee may giue thee honour and glorie in the acknowledge­ment of thy innumerable and vn­matchable benefits; for whose one­ly seruice the Earth is thus gayly ap­parelled, the Trees thus plentifully enriched, and the wombe of the earth great, with assured expecta­tion of a happie deliuerie. Let not (O Lord) the violent burning of the Sunne, ioyned with the locking vp thy heauenly Conduits, parch it and dry it to nothing profitable; nor the remisnesse or slackenesse, ioyned with an ouer-flowe of wa­ters, [Page 197] leaue it raw, and vnseruiceable; but giue euerie fruit (O Lord) ma­turity and perfection, that we may ioyfully receiue the blessing of it, and prayse thee the bestower and gi­uer. Amen.

79. A Prayer to bee sayd in Autumne.

THou hast showred (O Lord) fulnesse and per­fection vpon the fruites of the earth, and euerie growing thing laboureth with a happie increase; the rancke grasse boweth itselfe to the Mowers hand, the heauie loaden Trees acknowledging homage, offer themselues to be gathered, and the fulnesse of the Vine yeeldeth his iuice without the wine-presse, the ripe hanging eares listen for a Sythe; and all the works of thy hand, which [Page 198] thou hast planted heere for the ser­uice of man, acknowledge thy command, and are readie to bee tasted: All these (O Lord) obedi­ent to thy will, in the course of na­ture, answere the ends of their crea­tion, onely wee miserable creatures following our sences, and the lusts of the flesh, refuse thy holy inspi­rations, and seduced by Satan, op­pose our selues against thy reuealed will: New mould vs (O Lord) and breake our stubborne and stony hearts, that the seeds of thy Gos­pell may take deepe roote in vs, and bring forth the fruits of a liuely faith, constant hope, and burning charitie, to thy Honour, and our owne saluation. Amen.

80. A Prayer to bee said in Winter.

THE yeere is waxen old as a garment, and all the fresh colours, which beautified the face of the earth, are withered and decayed; the Sun with-holdeth his influence, the heauens their brightnes, and the day his comfort, taken from him, by the vncomfor­table hand of desolate Night. The Trees haue lost their Ornament, the Fields their rayment, and all beasts and cattell their vigour and liueli­hood; Man himselfe is discomfor­ted in the poorenesse and barren­nesse: and the vnprouident man, who hath not laid vp, nor taken from the fruitfulnesse of Summer, growes desperate, certaine of no­thing but perishing: The Season [Page 200] affoording no worke, nor the day any continuance, the lately broad-leaued branches no shelter, nor the fields any sustenance. Grant vs (O mercifull Father) warned by the ex­ample of his extreme and vnredeem­able miseries, to labour in the Har­uest, and lay vp of our well-gotten store against the vncomfortable day of sicknesse, or latest Age, when weakenesse and naturall infirmities giue vs no time, or thought to get in new prouision; and our vnchari­tablenesse to our selues, take from vs the charitie of others, hardening their hearts against vs: Giue vs grace to watch and labour continually, supplying our Lamps daily with holy Oyle, lest at the dead of night we be called on, and being vnpro­uided, be left behind, or wander in the darkenesse astray, and comming late, be shut out for euer and euer, from all happinesse and blessednesse; [Page 201] confined to a place where there is nothing to be heard but perpetuall howling and gnashing of Teeth. Amen.

81. A Prayer in Aduersitie and Affliction.

LET not my enemies, (O Lord) triumph ouer mee, nor the hand of the oppres­sor preuaile against mee: Bee neere vnto me in the day of trouble, and say vnto my soule, I am thy helper; thou which mercifully redeemedst Ioseph from the hands of his bre­thren (who causelesly sought his life) and turnedst their hate to his glorie and promotion, deliuering him from the lust of his Masters wife, and her wilye accusation; Thou which rescuedst thy people Israel by a mightie hand and strong [Page 202] arme, from the tyrannie of Pha­raoh, and the vnequall Taxes of the hard Egyptians; Thou which ga­uest Iacob grace in the sight of his brother Esau, boyling against him, and threatning fire and destruction; planting a sure shield before thy be­loued seruant Dauid, to keepe him safe from the inuasion of the terri­ble Goliah, and a wise guard to pre­uent the plots of subtill Saul; pro­claiming Susanna innocent, conta­giously spotted by the poysonous breath of the fore-sworne Elders; Thou which raisedst thy glory from the three Children, condemned and throwne into the Furnace, whose fire and extreme heate came forth, and eate vp the Feeders, yet spared, and (against his nature) sindged not the garments of thy seruants, wal­king, and singing euerlasting and glorious Hymnes of thy Deitie in the midst of it: Thou which neuer [Page 203] forsakest any of thy seruants in their torments and persecutions, giuing them either an vnconquered pati­ence to suffer, or a glorious cou­rage to ouercome all the temptations which hell can fasten: Bee pleased, Almighty, euer-liuing, and onely powerfull Iehouah, to be neere thy seruant in these his afflictions and troubles, and to stand by him in this day of his tryal, lest he fall confoun­ded, and sinke vnder the heauy bur­den of his tyrannous oppressions. Want (O Lord) in the lowest de­gree, hath incompassed me, Shame and Ignominy in the highest de­gree, haue set me round about; Slanders oppose themselues against me, and beare me downe face to face, and ill tongues in secret, at my back, oppresse me; my friends are fled, my acquaintance hath forsa­ken me, and my kindred (deresting my pouerty) deny my Allyance. [Page 204] Where can I then plant my hope? Where should I else seeke for re­fuge and harbour, then of so mer­cifull and all-louing a Father, and who, vpon sub-mission, disdaineth not his basest and most riotous son? who came into the world to bee a Father to the fatherlesse, an eye to the blinde, a staffe to the lame, and a most heauenly and neuer-erring Physician to all that labour vnder a­ny disease. Come vnto mee (saith our blessed Lord) all yee that are oppressed, and I will ease you. O mer­cifull and generall comfort, as cer­taine to be done as it is spoken, I prostrate my selfe humbly before thee, and desire thee of thy infinite mercy, if such be thy will and plea­sure, to let this transitorie and bitter cup passe from me; yet not my will, but thy blessed will bee done, who alone knowest what is fittest to tame my stubborne and rebellious affecti­ons, [Page 205] and to morrifie in me all vaine and aspiring thoughts, that I may wholly desire to bee dissolued and liue with thee, where eternall and neuer-ending peace and piety haue their habitation.

82. A Prayer to our blessed Sauiour.

MOST mercifully louing Lord, Redeemer and Sa­uiour of the world, I wretched and detestable sinner, le­prous all ouer, and more spotted with sinne, then the blessed Iob with sores, which no Poole can euer cure, all humble prostrate my selfe before thee, not desiring thee to lay thy blessed and happy-making hand vpon so vlcerous a creature, nor to cast thy pittying and fauourable eye vpon so displea­sing [Page 206] and hatefull an obiect; but one­ly (O Lord) if so poore and vn­worthy a worme, may aspire to re­quest of so high and great a Deitie, one word from thy heauenly lips, to make me whole: but say the word (O Lord) and I shall passe the Snow in whitenesse, and cast my sicke and aged imperfections, renewing my selfe like the strong Eagle: at thy command, whole Le­gions of sinnes, which carry mee head-long to ruine and perdition, shall passe from mee, and I remaine praysing and gloryfying thy holy name: the numnesse and deadnesse of my vncharitable hand, vpon thy Word, shall stretch it selfe forth, and bee exercised in deeds of loue and mercy; vpon thy Word, my wilfull and naturall blindnesse shall bee taken away, and I restored to a perfect and good sight, gloriously beholding thee in thy reuealed Wil, [Page 207] and wonderfully in thy workes; vpon thy Word, I shall easily heare and fully vnderstand thy Diuine and heauenly Mysteries, and lay them vp in my heart, for my com­fort and consolation. The Iewes (O Lord) had eares and heard not, eyes and saw not, hands and felt not thy apparant and astonishing miracles: they saw before their eyes the blind receiue their sight, the dead restored to life; they heard with their eares, the dumbe speake and glorifie thy holy Name; they felt thy naturall and heauenly begot­ten Bodie, and yet beleeued not. Blessed are they which haue not seene, and haue beleeued; But say the word (O Lord) and I shall be made partaker of that heauenly be­nediction, acknowledging thee the Son of the euer-liuing God, borne of the blessed Virgin, crucified vn­der Pontius Pilate, giuing ouer thy [Page 208] life, buried, and rising againe on the third day, for the redemption and saluation of mankinde, I shall lay hold of thy precious Passion, and bury all my misdeeds in thy life-giuing wounds, to bee washt away with thy vnualuable bloud; for euer will I kneele for this Word, for euer remaine a deuout and humble Petiti­oner, that all these things may bee done vnto mee, and I become a new creature, spirited anew, with thy holy Spirit, for euer praysing and magnifying thy holy Name, louing it aboue my selfe, and adoring it, to the end, all generations may ap­prooue thy power, in the conquest of hell, death, and sinne. Amen.

83. A Prayer in time of Lent.

O Benigne and bountifull Sa­uiour, our onely Aide, Comforter and Redeemer, the preseruer of all Mankinde, the glorie and hope of all mortality, who whilst thou wandredst here amongst vs, putting on perfect Humanity, sufferedst thy selfe to be carryed into the Wildernesse, and tempted of the deuil, gloriously ouercomming him by prayer & fasting, to leaue vnto vs the ordinary & ready meanes to re­sist all his subtill suggestions, prescri­bing the same meanes to thy Apos­tles for the dispossessing Satan, and hast also left vs many examples in thy holy Prophets & blessed Fore-runner, who liued in the Woods on Locusts and wilde Hony, giuing vs a liuely and perfect Patterne, [Page 210] who didst all for our example, of thy owne blessed abstinence and mode­ration; Grant (O mercifull and bles­sed Sauiour) that wee may this blessed and holy time of Lent, at­tend more especially the spirituall food of our soules, chastising and subduing the lusts and heate of the flesh, by temperate and thrifty dy­et, lest of a seruant hee become a Master, rebelling against the Spirit. Mortifie in vs (O Lord) all wilde and loose desires, ranging and dis­ordered appetites, which sowe dis­sention betwixt me and thee, ma­king me fearefull to enter, and vn­worthy to stand in thy presence; and plentifully enrich mee with thy grace, that I may do thy workes, seriously meditate on thy Passion, and take it to heart, detesting and abandoning my sinnes, the onely cause so great a Lord was so meane­ly intreated; so gentle a Sauiour, so [Page 211] vngently vsed; and so mercifull and louing a Redeemer, so vnmercifully and hatefully tormented by his owne subiects and seruants, in the recouerie of their inheritance and freedome. And if the children of men, after the decease of a louing father, expresse their griefe to the world, by putting on mourning garments, confining themselues to their Chamber, and through an­guish of heart, forbearing their ne­cessarie food; was euer a worthier cause, or a sorrow better beseeming the sonnes of Adam, or a time more conuenient, then in the yeerely ob­seruing and celebrating the dayes of their Lord and Masters torments and funeralls, who dyed, and was persecuted for them? Grant vs there­fore (O Lord) we may fast and de­uoutly pray, bitterly lamenting our sins and misdeeds, which gaue thee vp to the death of the Crosse.

84. A Prayer against temptation.

LEade vs not into temptation (O Lord) but deliuer vs from all euill: sinne lyeth in waite to betray vs, and Satan baiteth vs with opportunity: he knoweth (O mercifull Father) our affections, and by our actions, ghesseth at our thoughts; our inclinations he is cun­ning in, and in subtilty who can surpasse him? He deceiued our first parents, whom thou hadst endued with excellent and Angell-like vn­derstanding, colouring his malice with carefull pretences: many of thy choysest seruants he hath beguiled, and triumphed, neither is his inue­terate and cankred enuy mitigated, his power abated, his knowledge decayed, or his delight in wicked­nesse, measured or lessened: He is [Page 213] mighty in perswasions, mighty in the meanes, and most cun­ning in applying them; He hath conquered the world, that world our flesh, and our flesh vs: Who can suspect so great offers for dissi­mulation or mischiefe? And who so neere and inseparable a friend which tendreth them? Thus are the wisest (O blessed Lord and Sa­uiour) by a seeming shew of what is good, circumuented; thus the strongest with their owne confidence ouerthrowne. Against so powerfull an enemie, so power­fully followed, but by thy neuer-yeelding grace, what hope of resis­tance? Stay him (O Lord) in his swiftnesse, and bring him back, lest I fall and be confounded. Suffer him not to draw me to the incounter; for how can mortality hold out? all the glories of the earth are armed on his part, to bewitch ambitious spirits; [Page 214] all the vanities in the world serue vnder his colours, to allure the ligh­ter phantasies. Am I a match for so infinite and puissant an Army? Leade me not into temptation (O Lord) but deliuer me from all euill. I hum­bly confesse, and heartily beleeue, one word of thine is able to discom­fort all his Hoast, scatter them and make them in their hastie flight ruin one another: he flyeth from thy presence and trembleth, amazedly asking, What haue we to doe with thee, thou euer-liuing Son of God? com'st thou before thy time to tor­ment vs? But (O Father of all mer­cies) how can I deserue thy aide, or ouertaken with shame, request thy gracious assistance, hauing, from my cradle, beene a follower of his, if not contemning, yet neglecting thy often and lowde Callings? Can I hope, that haue refused to walke with Almightie God in securitie [Page 215] and safety, that hee will daigne to find out me in danger and ieopardy, and reskue me from the common enemie? Thy mercie (O Lord) is infinite, and hath beene infinite­ly exprest to ingratefull humanitie; thy louing kindnesses innumerable, vnable to be deliuered or set down; There is no end, I well know, of thy euerlasting goodnesse: bee plea­sed therefore (O mercifull Father) if so great a sinner may hope for fauour, by the depth of all these, either to take from me the violence and rage of all forcible temptation, or else to giue me grace and strength to resist and withstand them, lest I be taken prisoner by them, and cast to the bottomelesse dungeon, whence nothing resoundeth, but the continuall acclamations and curses of damned and desperate persons, euen for that holy and vertuous name of Iesus, knowne mighty [Page 216] in the saluation of thy people. A­men.

85. A Prayer for preparation against the day of Iudgement.

IF the righteous (O eternall and iust Iudge) shall scarse be saued, what shall become of sinners? And if the iust shall tremble to be­hold the dreadfull signes which shall fore-run the day of Iudgement, in what terrour and amazement shall the wicked be? How earnestly shall they cry out for the Hils to couer them, or to be hidden in the bot­tome of the Sea, that they may not see the angry countenance of the wrathfull Iudge! But alas, the Sea shall yeeld vp all her inhabitants, the graues their Tenants, and the Hils be laid plaine and consumed to no­thing, all shall be laid open, and eue­rie [Page 217] secret reuealed, the closest cran­nie of the heart shall be searcht into, and the priuatst deed be proclaimed, the intent of the best actions exa­mined, and the foulest and most mischieuous in the hearing of all that haue beene borne since the be­ginning of the world, knowne and brought to tryall. What a terrour, what a horrour, what a confusion, shall the Murtherer, Blasphemer, and lasciuious person be in, at that day? All this we haue heard, nay and beleeue, and yet the most cunning and subtill Serpent, hauing nothing to say against the truth of thy Word, with his perswasions indu­ceth vs to flatter our selues, that there is more eternitie in three-score yeeres, the longest span of our short life, then in that Eternity of eternities, which shall follow it. But thou (O mercifull and graci­ous Lord) which camest into the [Page 218] world to saue sinners from the ven­geance prepared at this day, desi­ring that wee may repent and be ac­cepted. Giue vnto vs a liuely feeling of the danger of it, call it (I be­seech thee) to our consideration, as a thing certaine, so present, no soule being assured of her abode one mi­nute. Giue vs grace so to prouide our selues, that wee may make our account here, since after death no man returneth to recall or alter whatsoeuer is left amisse. Let vs enter into iudgement of our selues, that we be not iudged, and care­fully weigh euery word, that wee be not found to haue respected none. Giue vs grace to begin heere while there is helpe, lest we would helpe our selues when there is no beginning: for from hell there is no returning, and after death no re­penting: repinings are there the fruits of an ill-led life, and curses of [Page 219] our follies, all the consolations of our punishment: from which, let thy mightie and all-redeeming Pas­sion defend vs, which whosoeuer faithfully layeth hold on, shall at that Day, with great ioy and alacri­ty, behold thee, shewing thy selfe a seuere Iudge against those who would not beleeue, nor entertaine that Peace-offering.