A very short and pithie Catechisme: verie profitable for all that will come prepared to the Supper of the Lord: VVith a forme of confessyon, prayer and thanks giuing, Very necessary and comfortable for all Christian Families.
Made by Bartimeus Andrewes, Preacher of the word of God at great Yarmouth: Published at the request of the vvorshipfull and godlie Magistrates there.
6 And these words which I commaunde thee this day shall be in thy hart.
7 Thou shalt rehearse them continually vnto thy Children, and shalt talke of them when thou tarriest in thy house, and as thou walkest by the way, and when thou lyest downe, & when thou rysest vppe.
8 And thou shalt binde them for a signe vppon thine hand, and they shalbe as frontlets between thine eyes. &c.
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your harts, and be ready alwayes to giue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with méekenes and reuerence.
AT LONDON, Printed by I. Charlewood. 1586.
To the right worshipfull and my deerelye beloued in the Lord, M. Baileifes of great Yarmouth, with the residue of the worshipfull Brethren, & the whole congregation there, B. A. wysheth increase of all true ioy, and peace, with the multiplying of all spirituall graces vpon your soules, to the fulfilling of your saluation in Christ Iesus. Amen.
HAuing drawne a verye briefe and small Catechisme (worshipful M. Baileifes, and the residue of my deere Brethren) for the priuate instruction of the petites and families of this great congregation, for the better preparing of them to the reuerent vse of the holy Supper of the Lord, and being required by your godly Pastor, and diuers other, to haue it published for the more easie helpe of the simple and ignoraunt. I, your vnworthy Teacher, beeing ready to doo what duetie I can, for the furtheraunce of your saluation generally, [Page] which I wish and long for, from my verye heart roote in Christ Iesus: haue thought good to prefixe these fewe words in way of dedication of this small thing, to your worshippe, and the residue: presuming vppon your Christian allowance of my well meaning, hauing added heerevnto a certaine forme of confession, prayer, & thanksgiuing, though plaine, yet I hope necessarie, and comfortable for the vse of the Christian Families of your congregation. And sith God hath by his owne hand, sette your worships in the place of ciuill gouernment, in this your corporation, graunted by the noble progenitors of her Maiestie, and continued stil, and vpholden by her gracious bounty. Let me bee so bolde with you, as in a word to put you in minde, and the residue of your worshipfull cōpany eligible to that office, what thinges are most necessary for you to looke vnto in that charge. God hath gyuen [Page] you a benefite and priuiledge of liberty, not common to all her Maiesties people, that you might the better bee fortified with meanes to further Gods glorie in your charge: and because I perswade my selfe of the readines of you, and the residue of your Brethren, to set your hands and helpe to each lawful thing, tending to Gods glory, agreeable to his word, which you all solemnly promised at my firste entrie amongst you, and haue somewhat approued the same, by your electing both of faithfull & helpfull ministers of the word, as also of so wise and godlie a Steward among you, I resolue my selfe of the good successe of my labours, & of your willing obeisance to the Lordes wyll propounded in his word. You must know that the burthen of this people lieth vppon your shoulders, and that their eyes looke at you, as those by whose example the people either perish and fall, or are preserued and staied vp, [Page] for the fall and vprysing of manie dependeth vpon publique persons. Therefore in a Magistrate, first is required a religious minde, acquainted with Gods counsel in his word, that hee exercising himselfe therein day and night, Psal, 1 2, might growe wyse in the Lords causes: for this charge is laide vpon you from the Lorde, to applie your selues to the worde of God, for so it is saide of the Magistrate, Deu. 17.Deu. 17 19, The word shalbe with him, and he shall reade therein all the dayes of his life, that he may learne to feare the Lord his God, and to keepe all the wordes of this Lawe to doo them. &c. Iosu. 1.8, Also Ioshua is straightly charged: Let not this booke of the Lawe depart out of thy mouth, but meditate therein day and night, that thou mayst doo according to all that is written therein, then shalt thou make thy way prosperous &c. So Iethro commaundeth Moses, to chuse men fearing God. Exo. 18.Exo, 18, 21 Prouide you among all the people men of good courage, fearing [Page] God, men dealing truely, hating couetousnes, and appoint them to bee Rulers, &c. So as you see that Magistrates must be religious, and also men of courage, Iosu. 2, 7, Exo, 18 21, to execute iustice in all causes, not corrupt with gyftes, nor accepting the faces of menne, without foolish pittie, or faint-harted feare, and without crueltie or reuenging affections, but of al meeknes & lenitie. They must performe all faythfulnes and truth with equitie, as those that are members of the same bodie, appointed to see distributiue and equall iustice to bee administred to eache man accordinglie, for so Moses requireth, that they shalbe men dealing truely, Exo, 18, 21, so as they must not looke to men, but to the causes, taking heede of that caueat that Moses giueth. Exo. 23.Exo, 23 12, Thou shalt not receiue a false tale, thou shalt not follow a multitude to doo euill, neyther agree in a controuersie to decline after many, and ouerthrow the trueth, &c. Neither must such neglect the [Page] execution of iustice against the offenders, either for feare of reproche or rebuke, least they countenaunce sinne thereby, and beare the guylt of other mens fals.Eccl. 8, 11 For because sentence against an euyl worke is not executed speedely, therfore the hart of the Chyldren of men is fully sette in them to doo euill. Exo. 18 21. In all these thinges Couetousnes must be shunned, the stepmother and ouerthrower of all iustice and truth, which throweth out the harts euen of the wise to manie noisome lustes, which drowne men in perdition: 1, Tim, 6, 9, 10 verie daungerous to men of wealth or authority, and euer weighting vpō that degree of men. VVherefore I beseeche you, good my worshipfull Brethren, vouchsafe the accepting of these instructions written in hast, with a minde vnfeynedlie wishing you all good. Be you presidents in godly & sober exāple to this great people, ouersee your own housholds first, that they may be patterns & lights of godlie [Page] discipline to others. Remember Ioshua his protestation,Iosu. 2.4 I and my housholde wyll serue the Lord. Remember Nehemiah,Nehe. 5. who enforced hys owne example and his seruantes, to perswade his brethren to iustice and loue.Act. 10. Remember how Cornelius and his houshold feared God. Nowe then beloued, as you loue the Lorde, as you tender your owne soules, and your charges, as you beare naturall affection to your common safetie, and happines, I beseeche you in the bowels of Iesus Christ, indeuour to these thinges, both small and great, that you may profite in the worke of your saluation, so shall you be famous in the church of God & common weale, you shal glad the soules of vs, that labor amongst you in the word, you shal bring glory to God, & eternal happines to your selus in the day of Christ Iesus. Let Gods boke be orderlie read with reuerēce, daily in your families, let prayer be exercised in your housholdes and [Page] vouchsafe to helpe them in this small Catechisme, that they may be fitte for further instruction. Giue dilligence to harken to the word of lyfe, and to put in vre these fewe prayers in this little booke or other, with humilitie, reuerence, a liuelie sence and feeling of your miserie, faith, thankfulnes, hope, and with vnfained desire of profiting in all dueties, of fayth and loue towards God & your brethren. For I liue if you stande in the fayth: and sith God hath vouchsafed the blessed tidinges of saluation vppon you in the ministrie of hys word, embrace it with thankfulnes, and studie for all christian peace and vnitie among your selues, fearing God, furthering his holye religion, and all dueties of loue among men, that so our Towne may flourishe and prosper in all thinges, otherwise wee can hope of no blessing at the hand of God. There is great cause why care should bee hadde heerein. Your Towne bordering vppon the [Page] sea, is in perrill to forraine inuasions, and to be steyned with the corrupt manners of other Countries, to drinke in iniquitie euen as water, therefore the more care to be hadde ouer it. Christ sawe such Townes bordering on the Seas to be in most daunger sundrie wayes, and therefore frequēted them most, & vouchsafed his presence & doctrine chiefliest amongst them. This is my sute to your worshippes, this is my sute to the whole company, to the whole congregation, yea to euery soule amongst you,Phil, 2, 1, If ye euer receiued comfort in Christ, if euer you had loue to the brethren, if euer any felowship of the spirit, if any compassion & mercy, that you fulfyll my ioy, Euen in this, to be of one minde in doctrine, of one consent in a godly and christian life, to apply all dueties of Gods worship, to haue care of your families, instructing, teaching, and calling vpon them to be catechised, to reade & heare the word, bee your [Page] selues forward therein, exercisyng prayer, reading and hearing of the word, in faith & good conscience, that so by christian exercises, your faith and obedience may be increased, your families reformed, your Towne happily gouerned, that others may take example by you, God may be glorified, all spirituall blessings may be heaped vpon you, and continued to your posterity after you, vnto many generations, your selues may in the ende receiue the possession of euerlasting life, with Christ Iesus in the kingdome of God: to whose blessed tuition I commend you, and yours, praying the Lorde to multiplye all hys graces, and mercies vppon you, and the whole people, to keepe you in safetie from the daunger of enemies, to sanctify you in his trueth, to blesse you in your gouernment, the people in obeying, and to make you perfitte in all good workes, to [Page] doo his wyll, working in you that which is pleasant in his sight, thorough Iesus Christe. To whome with the Father and the holy spirit be all prayse and honor for euer and euer. Amen.
An order of prayer, or a preparation to the reading of the word in your families. Let vs prepare and stirre vppe our mindes by prayer, that we may reade the word of God with profite.
O Lord our God, who in thy wisedome and mercy hast appointed thy holie worde as the wholesome nourishment of our soules, that by reading, hearing, and musing thereon, we might growe vppe vnto saluation: Wee beseeche thee to pardon all our sinnes, for Iesus Christe his sake, take away the corruption of our nature, purge and sanctify our harts, that we may read thy word at all times with reuerent mindes, so as we may daily [Page] be borne againe, confyrmed in faith, reformed in our manners, furthered in knowledge and obedience, strengthened against all temptations, furnished with patience against all tryals, and fynally be made fruitfull in al good workes, resembling thy Image, and growing vppe into full holines & righteousnes in thy sight, til we are perfited in the heauens with Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen.
Let vs harken with reuerence to the holie word of the Lord our God written in such or such a Chapiter and Booke. &c.
A breefe and short Catechisme, made for the vse of housholdes, and to be learned of all those that vvill be admitted to the Lords Supper. By B. A.
Minister.
TO what ende did God make you?
Aunswere.
That I might serue him according to his worde,Lu, 1, 74 Eph, 4, 24 by dooing his wil, in righteousnes and true holines all my life.
Minister.
VVhere shall you learne what is thys wyll of God?
Answere.
In his word and Lawe.
Minister.
Rehearse that Law of God.
Aunswere.
God spake and said, Exo. 20, I am the Lord thy God. &c.
Aunswere.
VVhat cheefely doth thys lawe require [Page] of you?
Answere.
First, that I shoulde acknowledgeDeut, 6 4, one onely God, & serue him in all purenes,De. 6.5, et 10, 12 Luk, 10 27 Ma, 22, 37, with all my hart, soule, minde, strength, will, and thoughts, in all thinges according to his worde. Secondlie, that I shoulde walke inMat 22, 39 Ro. 13 8, 7, 10 loue, faithfulnes, and trueth with all men, dooing dueties of conscience in my calling, andLe. 19, 8, louing my neighbour as my selfe.
Minister.
Are you able of your selfe to doo hys wyll, and keepe this his Lawe?
Aunswer.
Nothing lesse.
Minister.
VVhy so.
Aunswere.
Because of my corrupt nature, whichRo. 5, 18 with Adam is fallen from the state of innocencie,Ro, 8, 7 and so is not obedient to the law of GOD.
Minister.
VVhat are you by nature then?
Aunswer.
TheEph, 2, 3 childe of wrath andRo, 6, 20 a sinner.
Minister.
VVhat is sinne.
Answere.
Euerie1, Ioh. 3, 4 breaking orNeh, 9, 34 Heb, 2, 3, neglecting of anie commandement of God, andNeh, 1, 7 Gal, 3.10 the not dooing of euerie duetie commanded is sin.
Minister.
VVhat is the rewarde of sinne.
Answere.
TheGal. 3, 10 curse of God,Ro. 6, 23 & death withMar, 9 48 Mat, 25 46 2, Thes. 1, 9, Eze, 18, 20 euerlasting woe and perdition, of soule and bodie.
Minister.
Then by euery breaking of the Lawe, you dayly deserue death, and procure Gods curse.
Answer.
It is verie true.
Minister.
How shall you be freed from this curse
Aunswere.
Ga, 3, 13By Iesus Christ my Sauiour and redeemer.
Minister.
VVhat did he for you.
Aunswer.
He was bothRo, 9, 5 Col, 2 9 He, 1, 3, perfit God that he might be ableHe, 2, 14, to ouercome death for me, and also he was perfectMat 1, 25, Ga, 4, 4 man, that he mightHeb 2, 11, Col, 1 22, suffer death and Gods wrath for my sinnes, and so in bothe these natures together, he fully satisfied the iustice of God for me, and purchased my saluation.
Minister
VVhat moued God thus to saue you.
Aunswer.
His owne meere loue, fauoure and mercie, without any respect of my worthines.
Minister.
How are you assured of this mercy of GOD.
Aunswere.
By a true faith in Christ.
Minister
Rehearse the summe of your fayth.
Aunswer.
I beleeue in God the father almightie. &c.
Minister.
VVhat breefely doo you gather out of these articles.
Aunswer.
My faith is assured heerein, that God the fatherIoh. 3.1 of his owne good will,Rom, 8, 3 Eph. 5, 2 Tit, 2, 14, gaue his sonne Iesus Christ, very God and man to redeeme mee from sinne by hys death and passion, &Rom. 8, 9 2, Cor, 5, 5, 1, Ioh. 4, 13, sending out his holie spirite into mee, to cause Christ hisRom, 8, 10. death & life to be effectuall to renue meet 6, 4. into a new life, he hath made me of his Church and companie of beleeuers, sanctifyed to doo hys will here, & to glorifie him in euerlasting life in the world to come.
Minister.
VVherefore dyd Christ thus suffer and dye.
Answere.
Ro. 4, 25For my sinnes.
Minister.
vvhat profite haue you by his death.
Answere.
I haueEphesi, 1.7, forgiuenes of sinnes,Ro. 6, 6, the mortification of my flesh, and theCol 1, 20, appeasing of Gods wrath.
Minister.
vvhat meane you by his descending into hell.
Aunswer.
Not that Christ went into the place of torments with his soule or bodie, but that for a time heEsa. 53, 4, 5, felt his Fathers wrath, and theAct 2, 24. dolers of eternall death in hisMat 26, 38, 42 Luke 22, 43 Hebr, 5 7 soule and conscience heere on earth for vs, that hee might bee a redeemer as well of the soule as of the body.
Minister.
vvhat profit haue you by his resurrection?
Aunswer.
I haueRo. 4, 15 righteousnes a gage1, Cor, 15, 20. of my immortality, andRom, 6 4 newnes of life.
Minister.
vvhat vse make you of the article concerning the holy Ghost.
Aunswer.
I learne therein, yt it is God the holyIoh, 6, 63, et 14, 26 ghost only which maketh Christ his death and life profitable to meIoh, 3, 6 by renuing my hart to the obedience of Gods wil, and working faith in me to apply the merits of Christ to my selfe, and by the same spirite, God gathereth a Churche to himselfe in allIoh, 10.16 the world by his worde.
Minister.
How doth Gods spirite worke fayth in you?
Aunswer.
By the word of God preached.Ro, 10, 14
Minister.
vvhat are the meanes to increase, nourish, and vphold your fayth.
Answere.
Rom. 10 17The hearing of the word of God preached, the vse of the Sacraments and of prayer.
Minister.
vvyll you then bee dilligent to heare the word, to vse the Sacraments, and to frequent prayer, that your fayth may be increased.
Aunswer.
Yea by Gods grace.
Minister.
vvhat is a Sacrament?
Answere.
A Sacrament is an outwardGen 17.11, Rom, 4, 11. seale ioyned vnto ye word, which visibly representeth vnto vs spirituall thinges, and assureth our faith of Gods promises declared in his word.
Minister.
Howe many Sacraments hath God ordeyned?
Answere.
Two, Baptisme and the Supper of the Lord.
Minister.
How doth Baptisme profit your fayth?
Answere.
Fyrst, by assuring mee that I amRom, 6, 3, 5. 1, Cor, 12, 13, one with Christ, Secondlye, that I amIohn. 3, 3.5 begotten againe,Col, 2, 11 from sinne into a newe lyfe. Thirdlie, by being a pledge of (d) the forgiuenes of my sinnes,Mat, 3, 6, Act, 2, 38, for as the water clenseth the body, so our soules byHeb. 9, 12. 1. Pet. 3 22 1. Ioh. 1.7. Apo. 1.5 the bloode of Christ are purged from sinne.
Minister.
vvhat profit hath your fayth by the Lordes Supper.
Answer.
Euen this: that as outwardly I receiue the breade and wine to nourish my bodie, so1, Col. 10, 16, & 12, 13, inwardlie I receiue Christ by faith, euen as mine owne, whose bodyeCor, 1, 14.22 and bloode clenseth mee from sin, and nourisheth mee to eternall life.
Minister.
Doo you receiue the very body & blood of Christ really in the bread?
Answere.
Ioh, 6 63,Nothinglesse, but onelie spirituallie by faith.
Minister.
Howe shall you come worthely to the Lords supper?
Answere.
When I come with faith and repentance.
Minister.
How shall you knowe when you come to the communion with fayth?
Answere.
First, if I acknowledge mine owne pouertie and wants, confesse the mercies of GodPs. 103, 1, 2, 1, Cor, 11, 24 with thanksgiuing, Secondlie, when I assure my selfe of theMat, 26 28 forgiuenes of my sins, by the death and sacrifice of Christ onely.
Minister.
How shall you know when you come with repentance.
Answere.
First, if I1. Cor 11, 28 examine and proue my heart, and am truely2. Cor, 7, 10 greeued for my sinnes,Pro, 28. 13, Mat, 3, 6 confessing [Page] them before God, and forsaking them, Secondlie, if I vnfainedlie purpose to walkeMat, 3, 8 in a newe life, that is, in holines to GOD, and true loue to my neighbour,Mat, 5, 23, 24. reconciling my selfe to them that I offende, andMat, 6, 14, 15, Col, 3, 13, forgiuing others that I may be forgiuen.
Minister.
vvhat doth the bread broken signifie.
Answere.
It signifieth the bodie of Christe broken for my sinnes.
Minister.
vvhat doth the wine signifie.
Answere.
The blood of Christe shed for my sinnes.
Minister.
vvhat differeth baptisme from the Lords supper, sith they both betoken the remyssion of sinnes.
Answere.
Baptisme, grafteth vs into Christ by regeneration in hope of remission of sinnes. The Supper [Page] nourisheth vs being grafted to feele the power of death,1, Cor 22, 13 and resurrectiō of Christ, dailie strengthening our Faith into a newe life.
Minister.
vvhy receiue you Baptisme but once in all your life, and the supper of the Lord often times.
Aunswer.
Because that as we neede but once to be borne, so we neede but once to be baptised, but as wee neede often to be fedde to nourish our bodies in life,1, Cor, 11, 24 25, so must wee often receiue the Lordes supper, to confirme our faith, and to testify our thankfull remembraunce of Christes death.
Minister.
It seemeth then that you must needes haue your hart touched for your sinnes when you come to the communion & repenting your former life, and you must come with hope of forgiuenes.
Aunswer.
It is very true, els can I haue no comfort or benefite by it, therfore I pray God to touch my hart aright for my sinnes, and to pardon them, that I may come worthelie therevnto.
Minister.
Doo you take this Sacrament then as a pledge of Gods loue in forgiuing your sinnes, & doo you purpose and professe vnfeynedly amendment of life, and to liue with your brethren in christian loue?
Aunswere.
Yea indeede, and I make thys an vtter renouncing of my former life, that by Gods grace I maye heereafter lead a new life, which grace God grant me. Amen.
Minister.
So doing I (as the minister of God) receiue you to the comunity of the saints of God, and seale vnto you the mercies of God by the authority of his worde, to your euerlasting comfort in Christe Iesus.
Aunswere
The Lord giue me grace to walk woorthy of his calling in his feare all my life, yt I may bee acceptable to him in Iesus Christ. Amen.
Minister
vvyll you exercise your fayth in praying for these things daily.
Aunswer.
Yea by Gods grace.
Minister.
vvhat is prayer.
Aunswer.
It is to aske all good thinges at the hand of God, and to giue him thanks for all things receiued.
Minister.
To whom wyll you make your prayers?
Aunswere.
To God alone.
Minister.
vvho directeth your affections in prayer?
Aunswer.
Rom, 8, 27The spirite of God, which maketh (a) request according to the wyll of God in his Saints.
Minister.
Howe are your prayers acceptable. Heb, 15 15, 1, Pet, 2 5.
Aunswer.
By Iesus Christ.
Minister.
By what rule wyll you frame your prayers?
Aunswere.
By that order of Christ,Mat. 6 9. set down to his Disciples, which wee call the Lords prayer.
Minister
Repeate it.
Aunswer.
Our Father which art in heauen. &c.
Minister.
vvhat is the summe of this prayer?
Aunswere.
Firste, wee pray heere for all thinges that may make to the glory of God, and aduauncing of hys name, for the enlarging of his kingdome, and the performance of his wyl in all thinges. [Page] Secondly, we pray for al thinges needefull for our selues, bothe for our bodies and soules, that so by the direction of his grace and spirite, we beeing freed from sinne, may serue him freelie, in righteousnes and holines all our lyfe, which grace, God graunt me and all hys people. Amen.
❧ A forme of confessyon.
O Lord our God, moste louing, gracious, and mercifull Father, to whom belongeth righteousnes, and mercie, compassyon and forgiuenes, to vs belongeth shame and confusion of faces, because we haue transgressed, in not obeying thy voice, and in breaking all thy holy commaundementes: for wee acknowledge (O Lord) that euen in our conception we were enfolden in the gylt of condemnation, beeing conceiued in sin, and borne the children of wrath, and from thencefoorth haue wandred in vngodly pathes, and in the wayes of destruction: sin hauing [Page] entred vppon all the partes of our whole man, hath wholie corrupted both our wyll and vnderstanding: our thoughtes are prophane, our imaginations worldlie, our desyres carnall and vncleane, our iudgments corrupt, whereby wee haue beene disobedient to thy heauenlye wyll, ignoraunt, stubborne, malicious, impacient, enuious, full of selfe-loue, full of hypocrisie, finallye, fraught with all euill concupiscences, and voyde of grace, till thou dyddest touch our hartes by thy Spyrite and worde, and calledst vs to sanctification. Yea, and since thou haste called vs by the preaching of thy Gospell, O Lorde what sinnes and corruptions haue clouen vnto vs stil, so as the workes of thy grace begunne in vs, doo so scarcelie appeare, as that thou mayst iustlie withdrawe from vs those graces which thou hast trusted vs with For we confesse we haue abused thy grace receiued, neglecting the meanes [Page] of our saluation: Our zeale is colde, our fayth is weake, our hope languisheth, our repentaunce is maymed and barren, not yeelding such fruite as may plainely approue our sanctification: VVee are forgetful of thy goodnes, and vnthankfull for thy mercies.
Alas LORD all the coste that thou haste bestowed, and charge that thou haste beene at, in gyuinge thy sonne Christe Iesus to shed hys deere heart bloode for our synnes, hath not gaged our bowelles wyth godlie sorrowe vnto repentaunce, nor affected vs wyth loue of thee againe. Euen thys (Lorde) is enough to condemne vs, if wee hadde nothinge els to wytnesse againste vs, that we so slenderlie account of the death of thy Sonne, and so retchleslye and forgetfullye thinke of it.
Yf thou shouldest forget all our sinnes past, the vanities of our former daies, and frailtie of our youth, [Page] that none of these shold be thought vppon, yet our present sinnes and slippings sithens our calling, would condemne vs downe to hell. Yea, if our present sinnes should bee passed ouer, yet our readines to slide, and transgresse in time to come, would argue vs guilty of death. Yea, and more then this (Lorde) in that wee haue not rightlie sorrowed, nor repented vs vnfeynedlie of these euils, we stand guiltie before thee, as also in that the sinnes of our forefathers, wherevnto wee stand intiteled, remaine vnsorrowed for by vs, the staine whereof, hath set a purple [...]e vpon vs, so deepe as wee can neuer wash off, except thy free pardō: all these things call for iudgements not onelie vppon vs, but also vppon our posterity. Oh how haue we despised thy Lawes? howe haue wee neglected the preachinge of thy worde, the instrument of our saluation? how haue we wayted on our owne lustes, seruing as apprentices [Page] vnto sinne? Howe haue we refused thy counsell, and sette instruction at naught: we haue set more by the world then by thy word, wee haue spent as prodigall children, the strength of our young yeeres in vanitie, and haue drunke in iniquitie as water: our cares haue beene for the world, and our owne pleasures and profits, not for thy glorie, vvee haue murmured & grudged when thou hast crossed vs with any affliction or trouble, we haue forgotten thee in our prosperitie, and growen wanton and vnthankfull. Our conscience in trayning vp our families and children in thy feare, O Lorde how small hath it beene, our selues haue beene ill presidents to them, in loosenes of behauiour, in idle talkes and iestes that are not comelie. VVe haue beene impacient and vnequall in our gouernment, to austere in smaller offences against our selues, and sometime to remisse, in slender passyng ouer of greater offences [Page] concerning thy glorie, wee haue sought our selues & our own commodities, & not thee, wee haue disobeyed our parents and betters, & so haue left our selues small hope of obedience at the handes of those that are vnder vs. And as for our brethren and neighbours, to whom we should approoue our loue by all christian dueties, heere Lorde wee stand deepely charged of much guiltines, howe vnduetifull to our parents, Princes, Gouernours, Teachers, pastors, and all our betters, not carefullie praying for them, nor procuring them what honour and good that wee can in our callinges, nor carrying humble mindes toward our equalles or inferiors. We haue beene impacient, full of vnnaturall affections, malicious, contentious, yea, howe vncharitable haue we beene in iudging others, in taking vnkindnes at euery occasion, not forgiuing nor forbearing when quarrels haue rysen, but are too readie [Page] to gyue occasion and to prouoke to displeasure: we haue not laboured for peace as it became vs. Howe vnstayed, vnchaste, and intemperate haue our words & affections been, how vniust haue wee beene in our thoughtes and meaninges, not studying for trueth and equity in loue, but through couetous affections haue sometimes intruded into the commodities of others. How haue we not spared the name of our brethren, not touched with the tender regarde of their credite, sometime hearing, beleeuing, and publyshing of slaunders, and vntruethes against our neyghboures, or els by reuealing the vttermost agaynste them, haue russhed agaynst theyr good name. Yea (Lorde) we haue hurte manie by our example, and haue not doone that good which we myght haue doone to our brethren, nor made conscience of offences against them.
All these thinges (O deere Father) argue vs guiltie, and presse vs, by increasing the euidence of our accusation: but if we should (O lord) stand to rippe vpp our wants in thy seruice, we should not know where to beginne, nor where to ende, they are so infinite. In a word (Lord) we haue broken the holie league of our obedience, neglected thy worship, not fearing, louing, nor trusting in thee as we ought: wee haue not soughte to thee in our needes, nor harkened to thy word in the ministrie therof, we haue dishallowed thy name, transgressed al thy lawes, and made hauocke of thy heauenly statuts, all our life hath beene a dishonour vnto thee: and nowe O Lord euen our God, what remayneth for vs in thy iustice, if thou shouldest measure vs by our selues, but euen thy fearefull curse, and banishment from thy presence, so as thou mightest throwe vs downe to hell, and shewe the power of thy [Page] wrath vpon vs, by heaping on vs all thy fearefull plagues and curses, writtē in the law against transgressors. If wee shoulde looke to the heauens, they can not helpe vs, yf wee looked downe to the earth, no comfort can be founde: if we seeke for men to be our aduocates, they all stand condemned with the sons of Adam: if wee sue to Angels, it booteth not, for thou hast founde follie in them: if we shoulde pleade Lawe with thee, loe, the sentence of death alreadie is passed against vs, if wee resort to thy diuine maiestie, there terror dismayeth vs, thou art iust and canst not away with iniquitie, and we Lorde, what are wee to stand in thy sight, whether then shal we flie from thy presence, and wher shal we be reskued from the terrour and guilt of our sinnes, and the feare of thy iudgments: Beholde Lorde thy deere sonne Christe Iesus, that immaculate Lambe, he is our redeemer and sauiour, our iustifier, our [Page] aduocate, who as a louing Samaritane hath salued our woundes, satisfyed thy Lawe, borne thy curse for vs, and stepping out betweene vs & thee, hath payd the raunsome of all our trespasses: in him wee knowe thou canst not bee displeased with vs. O Lord heauenlie father, wee therefore most humblie pray thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto vs, in pardoning all our sinnes, and turning all these iudgements from vs, which we confesse wee haue deserued to be executed vpon our soules and bodies, for wee acknowledge thou mightest iustlie plague vs, for that we haue not vsed the faculties and powers of our soules & mindes to thy glory, our wits and wisedome haue warred against thee, and wee haue spent our counsels in vayne thinges, so as thou mightest depriue vs of our wittes, and possesse vs with follie and madnes, or throw vs vppe to errors and stronge illusions, because wee haue not beleeued [Page] thy trueth, thou mightest also with drawe from vs the vse of our members, which wee haue too long lette out to Satan and vncleanenes, and haue not serued thee in our sences and members as wee ought. And whereas thou hast heaped benefites infinitelie vpon vs, haste trusted vs with life, health, wealth, prosperitie and peace, wee haue beene vnthankfull for them, & abused them, so as thou mightest Lord turne our life into death, our wealth into woe, our health into dangerous sicknes, and diseases, our prosperitie into aduersitie, our peace into warre, our plenty into scarcitie & dearth, & so punish the earth for our sins as thou hast by some pettie iudgements begun oft to call vs to repentance, but we haue not regarded, neither bene fittes nor scourges can mooue vs to humble and tame vs, except thou O Lord put to thine hand.
O deere Father, suffer vs not to sinne in hardnesse of hart, and in vnkindnes [Page] towards thy maiestie, or against the meanes & offers of grace but touch vs, we pray thee with a true remorse of conscience for our sinnes, which we heere vnfaynedlie cōfesse before thee, frame our harts to true repentaunce, accept this Sacrifice of our confessyon & sorrow for our iniquities, pardon all our sinnes, burie them in the graue of thy Sonne, forget and forgiue them and cause vs to turne vnto thee, for we are ashamed of our selues, and abhorre our selues, repenting vs of all our sinnes from our harts: wherfore (Lord) heare, O Lord forgiue, O Lord consider and shew mercy, & receiue vs vnto fauour, for wyth thee onelie is mercy and compassyon: thou onelie forgiuest sinnes, we renounce our selues wholie, and all our owne worthines, wee appeale from all others to thee alone, therfore accept of vs in thy beloued son Christ Iesus, renue vs by thy spirit, guyde vs in thy wayes, sanctifie vs [Page] in thy trueth, keepe vs in awe, that we may spende all our time in thy seruice, doing dueties to thee & our brethren in our callings, all our life, that so we feeling of thy grace, working in vs vnto sanctification, and a newe life, may gather assuraunce of the full forgiuenes of all our sinnes, and so with comfort and ioy, finish our christian course, giuing good example to our brethren, and glorifying thy name vppon the earth, and finallie may praise thee in the heauens, without all corruption, in perfect holines, and so be glorified with all thy saintes, through Iesus Christ our Lorde. Amen.
A forme of prayer.
O Lorde our moste gracious, good, and mercifull Father, we thy seruants, & the work manshyp of thy handes, fall downe before thy high maiestie, humblye acknowledging our manifolde and heynous sinnes, whereby wee haue broken thy holie Lawes, and iustly deserued euen eternall death & condemnation at thy handes. VVe doo heere most instantly vpon the knees of our harts, sue vnto thy fatherlye clemencie, for pardon and forgiuenes of all our sinnes whatsoeuer, & for the remoouing & keeping backe of all thy iudgements frō vs, which we by our sins haue iustlie deserued and accept of vs and our prayers, wherewith we present thy maiestie, in the name and mediation of thy [Page] sonne Christe Iesus, preparing our harts with reuerence & faith to call vpon thee. And whereas wee were borne in sinne and iniquitie, whereby we are altogether corrupt, & are more rightlie intituled to death and condemnation then to life, we pray thee (most merciful father) to renue vs by thy holie spirite, and to roote out of vs all those euil rootes of our concupiscence, clensing vs from all that which sauoureth of our selues, and of vncleanenes. Purge our euyl thoughtes, our prophane imaginations, and carnall lustes. Yea Lorde, wee humblye pray thee, scoure our harts from all hypocrisie, from all contempt of thee and of thy holye word, from all ignoraunce of thee, false worship, incredulity & distrust of thy fatherlie prouidence, & from murmuring at thy hand in afflictiō. Let vs not prophane thy most holy name, eyther in worde, deede, or thought, nor dishallow thy Sabbaothes, but cleaue to al thy ordināces
Throwe out of vs (O Lorde) all selfe-loue, contempt against others, pride, wrath, impaciencie, vncharitablenes, all vnnaturall affections, vnmercifulnes, desire of reuenge, hatred and enuie, all fornications, vnorderly and wanton lustes, intemperancie and vnchaste behauiour, al worldlie mindednes, couetousnes, deceite and iniurie, all slaunderous wordes and surmises against our brethren. All these thinges wee pray thee to remooue out of vs, and to sanctifie our harts, to the obedience of all thy holie commaundements, that we may dailie be reformed to thy Image, in true holines and righteousnes, expressing dueties to thee & our brethren, with a carefull conscience. Take vppe our thoughtes and affections (O lord) that they may affect and long after thee day and night, and that the counsels of our harts may muse on thee and thy holie wyll: and dwell thou wholie in our soules and bodies, [Page] directing our wyls, our iudgments and vnderstanding, our speeches and all our actions, that in our whole manne wee may serue thee. Good Lord plant in vs, wee praye thee, the true loue and feare of thy name, increase the knowledg of thy word in vs, with faith, zeale, and iudgment, that we may reuerence & obey it in our soules, studying to shewe the fruite therof in our liues. VVorke and increase a true & liuelie faith in vs, whereby wee may cleaue to thee, and thine euerlasting promises in Christ Iesus, and may depend vpon thy prouidence in all estates of thys mortall lyfe, without murmuring or repyning at thy hand, in sicknes, pouerty, imprisonment, persecution, or in any affliction eyther of bodie or minde, patientlie bearing all crosses, knowing that thereby thou correctest our sinnes, as a father, seeking our amēdment. On the otherside, let vs not be remisse, carelesse and forgetful in [Page] our prosperitye, but may in wealth & woe acknowledge thy hand with thankfulnes and reuerence, reioycing that howsoeuer thou dealest with vs in outward things, yet thou art so our father in Christe, that thou canst not deny vs anie thing, that may bee to the benefite of our soules, or to our safetie in the life to come, sith that we haue interest euen vnto thy self in Christ our sauiour. And sith thou hast trusted vs wyth thine owne name and glorie, which in thy gospell shineth vnto vs. O giue vs grace to seeke the enlarging of thy kingdome, by furthering thy Gospell in the ministrie thereof, to our power, being ielious ouer thy name, that our speeches, thoughtes, or dooings, may not sauour of contempt against thee, nor suffer thee to be dishonoured of others, if wee may anie way hinder it: neyther let our life be so loose, as occasion should be taken there from by men to blaspheme thy name. But Lorde [Page] guyde vs so by thy grace, that our godlie and sober life amongste men, may be a comelines, a glorie, and an honour vnto thee, to bring credite to our professyon.
(For alas Lord) heerein we haue beene traitors vnto thee, to betray thy glorie into the reprochefull tongues of godlesse men for want of watchfulnes and guidaunce in our wayes. Direct vs therefore O Lorde, in thy whole worshyppe, in spirite and trueth, and stirre vs vp, that we may approue our fayth by carefull and continuall hearing, reading, and musing of thy worde, by exercising prayer, both publiquelie with the assemblie of people, and priuatelie by our selues and with our families, that we may acknowledge thee to be our God, in seeking vnto thee for all thinges, and returning thankes vnto thee, as from whom commeth euery good thing.
Gyue vs fayth and repentaunce in the vse of thy Sacramentes, [Page] that we rightlie frequenting all holie exercises of thy worshippe, may sanctifie thy Sabbaothes, and increase our faith, feare, and loue towardes thee. Furthermore we pray thee O LORD, teach vs to put on al affections of loue towards our brethren, being indued with meeknes, humblenes of minde, patience, forbearing and forgiuing one another, when there are quarrels, euen as Christ hath forgiuen vs, so as we may liue in all christian manner amongst men, without warres, & contentions, in all courteous, true, and iust dealing, in our affayres and busines, not vsing any vnlawfull artes or practises, for the increase of our commodities & pleasures, but faith fully labouring in our callings, may depende vpon thy promises, approuing our faith. Let the name and credite of our brethren & neighbors be precious vnto vs, that by no mutteringes, surmisings, reports, or light credence, wee impayre their good [Page] name, and when we meete with slā ders or reproches, giue vs grace to beare our selues lowly & hūble, seeking redresse without bitternes of spirit, knowing howe Christ in the like cases hath suffered. And because wee can not alwaies enioye peace and libertye, vnder the profession of thy Gospell. O Lorde our God, wee pray thee let vs not onelie nowe in these dayes of our safetye, allowe and cleaue vnto thy trueth, whilest others doo accompanye vs in professyon, whilst Princes beare vs out, freendes doo countenaunce vs, whilst our wiues, children, landes and possessyon abide by vs, and all thinges smyle vpon vs: but O deere Father, if euer our sinnes should procure persecution for thy trueth, so as companions shoulde leaue vs, freendes fayle vs, the cruel lookes of Princes, and their bloodye handes should be turned vppon vs, when mercilesse imprisonment, the glittering sword, the shaking speare, or [Page] fierie flame should with terror threaten death, when banishment & exile shalbe for natiue soile, when our deere wiues and tender babes, with woeful cryes & wringing of hands, on the one side shall mooue the bowels of pittie, the raging fire or other fearefull tortures of death on the otherside, shall mooue terror & dyscouragement, Oh, euen then Lord, we poore wretches and wormes vnable of our selues to abide the heeresaie of death, doo beseeche thee to fortifie our faith, giuing vs patience, confidence and hope vnto the ende, that as thou haste giuen vs a desire to holde out, which is a pledge of our continuaunce, so thou maist stil vphold vs with the tast of the ioyes to come, that in Christ we may abide vnto the ende, so as nothing may seperate vs from the loue of God which is in Christe Iesus our Lord.
O Lorde therefore giue vs grace in our prosperitie, to mortifie our [Page] affections bothe from sinne and the world, that it make vs not vnfitt for the yoke, and vnrulie. Thou knowest Lord the desire of our soules, O performe these thinges vnto vs for Iesus Christ his sake. VVe further pray thee (O Lorde) to be president and gouernour of vs and our families, directing vs sincerelie in all thy wayes, that we giue not euill example either in worde or deede, not raging in our affections, ruling by them; but moderate thou our affections and speeches in all our domesticall gouernment, that wee may rule ouer them in thy name, beeing neyther too seuere nor too remisse, that so man and wife, with theyr families, may liue togeather religiously, soberlie, and peaceably, wyth freer vse of prayer, and other holy exercises.
O LORDE, blesse our Seruauntes & chyldren wyth obedient and duetifull hearts to thy maiestie, and vnto vs for thee, beeing without [Page] murmuring, vnfaithfulnes, replying or stubborne answeres, but peaceable, lowlie, and tractable, Bannish from them all swearing, lying, pryde, cursed speaking, slaundering, ryot, and all intemperancie. And though by our sinnes thou mightest take aduauntage to throwe out our children to thy curse, and to with holde thy grace frō them, yet pardon thou our sinnes for thy mercies sake, and continue thy graces to vs, and to our posterity after vs, to many generations. O Lorde, because also nothing can prosper without thy blessinge (though wee care and toyle) blesse thou therefore and prosper all the affayres of our lawfull callinges, this day and euer heereafter, that we may see daylie a comfortable issue of our labours, for we resigne vp all our affayres, and the successe thereof vnto thee, labouring in them vnder thy prouidence. And now Lorde, we praye thee for our neighbours rounde about [Page] vs, and for the congregation, where we enioy the felowshippe of this life, with other ritch graces of thine, O Lord blesse them all, and eache familie and person, both olde and young, husbands and wyues, parents and chyldren, masters and seruauntes, gouernors and people, that eache of these in their callinges being furnished with meete graces from thee, may discharge a good conscience therin in thy feare. Blesse O LORDE the Magistrates of our towne, endue them with wisedom, courage, faithfulnes, & the feare of thy name, and all graces necessarie, that they executing iudgment and iustice, thy glorie may bee aduaunced, the people may of conscience obey, sinne may bee supplanted, and godlines with trueth may happilye flourish among vs. Blesse (O lord) wee pray thee, our ministers of thy word, that they may abound with al necessary graces, fitte for that waighty calling: let vs imbrace them in [Page] our hartes, as messengers sent by thee for our saluation. Gyue vnto them strength, faithfulnes, grauitie, wisedome, iudgment, patience, and courage in dooing thy wyll, that they may wade comfortablie, and with a good conscience, through all daungers: make their labours fruitfull, in the hearts of the people, conuert or confounde all that rise vp against wholesome doctrine, reforme the disobedient, keepe them in thy trueth that are called, increasinge their faith and obedience, and gather home daielie some soules into thy folde, that the people being turned vnto thee, thou maiest haue praise. Preserue O Lorde, this our Towne from inward perrills of the soule, and outward of the body, bee thou our watchman, and tower of defence frō al enimies, that our sins betray not our peace: kepe vs by sea & by land in blessed safety, & let vs not forget to praise thee for it: cōtinue thine holy ordinance of teaching [Page] ô Lord among vs euermore, let vs neuer want that blessed & soueraine meanes of our saluation, and giue vs grace hartily, reuerently, & faithfully to regarde thy seruants & thy heauēly doctrin brought by thē so as both they & we may in our lyues expres the fruit of thy word, feeling effectually the power therof cō uerted into our soules, to the thorow reforming of the whole mā that we may stand assured of thy mercy & pardon of our sins through faith, may be multiplied with al spiritual graces, directed, kept & cōtinued to the ende in al happy waies, so as our own soules may reape perfit cōfort, others may be edified, & turned vnto thee, thy self maist receiue glory, honor & eternal praise in Christ Iesus: and now lord, we most earnestly intreate thee for our whole lande, & principallye, for our moste gracious Queene Elizabeth, ô lord giue her a long, a prosperous, a godly, & a happy raign ouer vs, cōfounding all her enemies, [Page] safegarding her royall person, enritching her soule with all heauenlye graces vnto saluation, that she gouerning happilie on earth, may raigne euerlastingly in heauen with thee. Blesse her right honourable Counsellers, and all inferiour Magistrates, directing their counsels, consultations and gouernments, to the aduauncing of thy glory, and the good of thy Church. Blesse all the Ministers of thy holie worde, that they may sincerely discharg a good conscience in their places, to the edifying of thy church through loue. Yea we pray thee for all our whole land, and people of all degrees, pardon their sinnes, leade them in thy trueth, that they may in peace and godlines serue thee all their lyfe. Finallie, Lord we pray thee for all nations, kindreds, and tongues, where thy name is professed, for all christian Magistrates and Rulers, that thou wylt blesse and defende them, and keepe them in thy trueth [Page] from all their ennimies, cause the light of thy holie Gospell to shyne to all nations, that they being turned to thee, thou mayst haue praise, comfort the comfortles, helpe the helples, bee a father to the fatherles, and a husbande to the wyddowes, ende the miserie of the afflicted, confound al enimies of thy church, and giue to thy people euerlastyng peace in Christ Iesus. These graces with all other els necessarie for vs, and thy whole Church, we humbly craue at thy maiesties hand, in such manner as hee hath taught vs, saying: Our Father which art in Heauen. &c.
A forme of thanksgiuinge.
WE render most humble and hartie thankes in Iesus Christ vnto thy diuine maiestie, ô lord our God, for thy great mercies and auncient louing kindnes towards vs & thy whole church alwayes expressed, namely lord for thy inestimable & euerlasting loue, whereby thou hast chosen vs freelie in Christ Iesus vnto saluation, before the foundations of the worlde w [...]e layde, as also for thy goodnes whereby thou hast created vs to the likenes of thine owne Image, and whereas wee and the whole race of [Page] mankind, through sinne and transgression were fallen from thee, into a desperate and hellish condition of condemnation, thou hast againe redeemed vs by the precious death and bloodshedding of thy Sonne, freed vs from bondage, pardoned all our sinnes, and restored vs into fauour, euen with thy selfe, inuested vs into all thy ritches, and heauenly treasures, hast called vs by the ministrie of thy worde into a newe life, iustified vs freelie through fayth, sanctifyed vs by thy grace and holie spirit, and so made vs of vile and myserable cayteifes and bondmen of Satan, chayned vnto euerlasting darknes and iudgment, the freemen of Christ Iesus, sette at liberty vnto euerlasting life, & hast giuen vs the earnest of our saluation & thy spirite, whereby thou hast in some measure furnished vs with fayth, knowledge and zeale, working in vs vnto repentaunce and a nevve life.
O Lord, thou mightest haue left vs in darknes, and in the shadowe of death, in error & ignorance with other natiōs that know the not, thou myghtest haue deteyned thy grace from vs, & giuen vs vp to our own hartes lust, into a reprobate mynde, with the vngodly of the world, that shall neuer taste of thy goodnes, that we might fill vppe the cuppe of thy wrath, thou mightest haue broken in vppon vs with thy plagues and punishmentes, as thou hast doone vppon some who haue not exeeded the measure of our iniquities, and mightest haue executed fearefull iudgments against vs, in the midest of the dayes of our ignoraunce and contempt against thee, when wee euer without remorse of conscience, not knowing like poore wretches our desperate estate, but yet Lorde blessed be thy name, who hath spared vs hetherto, and touched our hartes vnto some measure of repentaunce, hast opened our eyes to see [Page] thy trueth, hast freed vs from darknes and death, caused vs to taste of thy word, made sinne lothsome vnto vs, ioyed our hearts with the tydinges of our saluation, renued our harts, giuen vs hope of a better life, and framed our hearts to some loue of thy children, and to some measure of holines in thy sight.
O Lord, what mooued thee to al this but thine owne free mercie? for which we rēder all praise vnto thee, graunt vs grace to walke worthy of these thy mercies, with thankfull harts all our life. VVee blesse thy name ô Lord our God, for thy fatherlie care and diuine prouidence, whereby thou haste alwayes watched ouer vs, and protected vs graciously from our cradle, deliuering vs from manie plagues, punishments, and daungers, which our sins had iustly deserued to haue brought vpon vs, and heaping many vndeserued benefites vpon vs, thou haste trusted vs with health, wealth, liberty, [Page] prosperity, freendship and peace, which all we haue abused, yet haste thou spared vs. Thou hast set vs in a calling amongst men, haste blessed our affayres, prospered the workes of our hands, nothing hath wanted vnto vs that might expresse thy loue, eyther appartayning to our soules or our bodies, the graces of thy spirite thou haste in some measure shed vppon vs, the soueraigne meanes of our saluation, thy word, and Sacraments, thou hast ritchly offred vnto vs, hast giuen vs interest into al thy riches & treasures, yea, euen into thy self, so as we may with boldnes resort vnto thee in al necessities in the name of thy son. O lord this is a happy benefitt, that we may confer with thy maiestie by prayer, in all our distresses and affaires, and may powre out our cōplaints into thy bosome & be regarded, oh stirre vp our faith Lord, to put in vre thys comfortable exercise of our fayth, euen prayer in all pure manner.
VVe praise thy high maiesty O Lorde for all meanes of our saluation, for the comfortable ministry of thy seruauntes the Preachers, and for thy graces vppon them, praying thee to encrease bothe the number of them, and thy graces & gyftes in them, that theyr labours beeing blessed, thy Church may flourish.
Like thankes, praise, and honour be giuen vnto thee for all Christian Princes & Magistrates, whom thou hast stirred vp in any place, to haue a care of thy church & Gospell, and for thy mercie, to all countries that haue imbraced thy word, that blessed messuage of health and saluation, and in this aboue all other, wee thinke our selues beholding to thee ô Lorde, that thou haste beene gratious to our Land, to place vs there where thy Gospell flourisheth, and for that thou hast suffred vs to lyue in this age, & in such a place wherin we see thy goodnes & trueth in thy word, [Page] when other nations, yea some other places of this our owne land perrish in ignoraunce. We can not forget O lorde thy louing kindnes shewed to vs, in bestowing vpon vs so gracious a Princesse as our soueraigne Ladie, Queene Elizabeth, as also such christian, wise, graue and honorable counsellers, nobles and magistrates, louing thy trueth & gospel, for preseruing & protecting so miraculouslie her royall personne, our countrie and all estates watching ouer vs, reuealing & confounding the conspiracies and treasons bothe of forraine and domesticall ennimies from time to time, hauing heeretofore deliuered vs from the captiuity and thraldome of the man of sinne, euen the Pope, restored to vs, peace, liberty, true religion, christian gouernment, the preaching of thy gospell, the safetie of our life, finally all blessings, necessarie for soule & body, thou hast richlie bestowed vpon vs, for which we can neuer sufficientlie [Page] praise thee. VVe thank thee O Lord for the safety of thys our towne and corporation where vvee dwell, in preseruing vs from all forraine inuasion, and incursion of enemies, as also for our selues, our families, and charges in prouiding for vs, who hast continuallie beene mercifull vnto vs, haste preserued vs in the day time, and watched ouer vs in the night season, for all these thinges O God, and whatsoeuer els that we haue receiued at thy hands, eyther for our soules or bodies, and for all thy graces, vppon thy whole Church, and vppon all nations, wee offer vppe vnto thee thys our poore Sacrifice of thanksgiuing & praise, most hūbly praying the, in the name and mediation of thy sonne Christ Iesus, to pardon al our sinnes, & the imperfections of our prayers and thanksgiuings, & to accept of them for his sake, in whose name onely we are bold to present thy maiestye with our suites. Lastly, wee most [Page] entirelie beseech thee to stirre vs vp effectuallie vnto all thankfulnes & obedience in the whole course of our life, quickning our faith, inflaming our loue, that we may with al cheerefulnes doo dueties to thee & our brethren in our callinges, that we & all thy seruāts whatsoeuer, being furthered & holden out by thy grace, may growe vp vnto full holines in thy feare, tyll we all are fully perfited in the heauens, to receiue the full measure of our saluation, in that blessed inheritaunce of the Saints with Christ Iesus, in the day of his glorious appearaunce, to whō with thee and the holie spirit, be all praise, honour, glorye, power, might and dominion, for euer-more. Amen.
A prayer for the Marriners, to be vsed at the Sea.
O Lord, thou most mightie God of all power & soueraigntie, who hast made the heauens and the earth, the sea & all deepe places, we thy poore seruants doo humbly throwe downe our selues before thy high maiesty, acknowledging all our manifolde and heynous sins, crauing entirely pardon and forgiuenes of them all for thy sonne Christe Iesus his sake, & namelie, our vnpreparednesse to thys so holie a duetye of Prayer: [Page] intreating thy good Maiesty to behold vs in thy fauour, and to receiue vs into thy blessed protection, that sith wee are by thee assigned our labours in the mightie deepes, that in the sweat of our browes, with danger of our liues, we should therin trauell for our lawfull maintenaunce, it may please thy good maiestie to prosper the worke of our handes, & to guide vs in all our actions, to defende vs from all dangers, eyther of ennemies seeking our life or goods, or of the merciles songs and swallowing sandes, or of stormie wyndes, and raging tempestes, or of any other distresse whatsoeuer, that betydeth such as trauell therein. Thou mightest ô Lord we confesse, take aduauntage to make our voyages & fishings vnprosperous, to spoile our goods, to betray vs vnto enemies, to swallow vs vppe in the bottomlesse Gulfe of the Seas, because wee haue not feared thee with reuerence, haue not obeyed thy worde, haue beene [Page] carelesse of thy seruice, vnthankfull for our former deliueraunces & successe, distrustfull of thy prouidence, repyning at thy hand in our losses, forgetfull of thy great and maruailous workes, we haue gathered iniquity, and haue beene stayned with the corrupt manners of other natyons, haue blasphemed thy name, passed our daies in ryotte, forgotten thee vpon the shoare, though lately come out of feareful daungers, wee haue beene wanton, stubborne, and vnruly, so as we haue freighted our Vessels more with sinne, vanity, & vngodlines, then with goods or lading, so as it is maruaile wee haue not suncken in the rolling seas, and descended down to hel, but that thy mercie hath kept vs. But ô Lorde euen our God, thou that tamest Leuiathan, and smitest the heads of the dragons of the deepe, smite our stony hearts with the liuely sense of our sinnes, humble vs vnto repentaunce, turne thy displeasure from [Page] vs, deal not with vs according to our transgressions, but according to thy mercies, we appeale to the throne of thy grace, wash vs in the bloode of thy sonne from all our sinnes, renue our harts dailie to thy will, & to the obedience of thy word, that we may make conscience to heare it with reuerence when we may, for ó Lorde in this one thing, thou hast abridged those that farre trauaile on the Seas, & into diuers countries, of the dailie vse of the ministrye of thy word and sacraments, which other enioye tarrying at home, which is some pettie iudgmēt of thine, to hū ble vs, & make vs more carefull. O lord stir vs vp therefore to the reading of thy word in our trauelling, & to such other exercises carefullie and faithfullie, that we may be zealous of thy glorie, thankfull for thy mercies & daily benefits, confident to trust in thy prouidence in all estates, patient in troubles, without murmuring, watchful ouer our selus that we be not defiled with the corruptions [Page] of other places, yea Lord, teach vs to auoid all swearing, dronkennes, ryot, exces, fornication idolatry, contēpt, iniury, deceit, lying, quarrelling, and all vncleanes, that both when we are on the seas & on the shoare we may feare, glorifie, & praise thy most holy name, gouerne vs ó lord in our deedes, words & in our gouernment, as also our cōpany that they may obey & be subiect to al christian discipline, that so thou mightest prosper vs in al our affairs increasing the fruit of our labors, defending vs frō our enemies, frō robberies, losses & al daūgers, & finally bring vs safely to the port & Hauen of our desire: ó lord make vs truely thankfull vnto thee for our former deliuerances & benefits, and if euer thou shalt crosse vs by any los, hindrance or afflictiō for our sins, hūble vs therin, let vs acknowledg thy hād therin with thankfulnes & patience, that we may therby be spurred forward to the reforming of our liues. Bee thou with vs on the boystrous [Page] ô Lord in thy name wee hoyse our sayles, and launche foorth into the depe, be present with vs in our troubles and dangers, heare vs & deliuer vs when we call vpon thee, for great are the daungers that we sayle in euerie way, but thou art our God, we trust in thee, oh saue vs, guide vs, protect vs, deliuer vs, that wee may still liue to prayse thee. VVe commit Lord our selues, our shyps, our goods and liues into thy hand, both this day or night, and euer heereafter to bee preserued at thy pleasure, and let vs neuer forget all thy maruailous works. O Lord wee praye thee blesse all our freendes and kyndred on the land, our wyues, parents children, masters, families, or whomsoeuer, that are tyed to vs by anye band of freendship or nature in the Lord. Finally, Lord wee pray thee frame our soules to all duties of holines towards thy maiesty, increasing all true fayth, feare and loue in vs towardes thee, inflaming our [Page] hartes with all christian loue to our brethren for thy sake. These things if thou shalt performe vnto vs O Lord our God, wee shall neuer forget to praise and magnifie thy holy name therefore. These things ô lord with all other graces necessarye for vs, for thy whole church, for all nations, people, and for all our brethrē, and for all degrees, wee hūbly craue the same at thy maiesties hande, in the name & mediation of thy son Christe Iesus, saying as hee hath taught vs. Our father which art in heauen, hallowed he thy name. &c.
O Lord increase our fayth and obedience toward thee and thy worde. Amen.