Certain Prayers and Graces, newly added, to be used of Scholars, both before and after noon.
NOw that the day star doth appear,
to God devoutly let us call,
That in the déeds of day-light clear,
he kéeps us from misfortunes all.
Let him temper our tatling tongues,
by bridling them after his will,
Lest horrour vile break us among,
with words of strife, that sound full ill.
Let him cover our sight also,
féeding it as he knows best,
Lest we delight in vain things tho,
and so draw them into our breast.
Let all the secrets of our hearts
be pure and clean from filthiness;
Let slothful sluggishness depart
from us that study do profess.
Let mean dyet of drink and meat
beat down pride of filthy flesh,
Lest raging in that filthy heat,
we lose of youth the flowers fresh.
These things we crave that when the day
by course of kind away shall pass,
And night shall come, then sing we may
in praise of him, to our solace.
And that we may still bear in mind,
in what works we the day shall spend,
Let us record what words we find
in Books that were made to that end.
In Exodus, and other moe,
that written were by God's Elect,
We find Gods Precepts written so
as after follows in effect.
When Jacob's Séed in Wilderness
could not abide Gods voice to hear,
Then Moses did himself address,
for them before God to appear.
And at the Lords Commandement
he took to him his Servant true:
Vp to Mount Horeb then they went,
to learn this Law which doth ensue.
Which Law God writ in Tables twain.
of stone so hard which might last long,
And would the same should still remain
among his folks both old and young.
And first, to make their mind attend,
he said (O Israel give ear)
I am the Lord omnipotent,
whom thou must serve, obey and fear.
For I thée brought from careful thrall,
wherein thou wast in Egypt long,
And there could find no ease at all,
but wert inforc'd to suffer wrong.
Thou shalt have therefore in my sight
none other Gods but only me:
For I alone have power and might,
And all the rest vain Idols be.
Thou shalt not cast out, paint or draw,
for thée, the Form of any thing
In heaven or earth, or stand in awe,
of ought that is of mans making.
For why? I am a jealous God,
and will my honour to no one give:
I beat the Children with sharp Rod,
that like their wicked Parents live:
And that to thrée or four discents,
in such of them as do hate me,
And kéep not my Commandements,
but in their doings wicked be.
But such as love even as they should
me and my Laws, and them observe,
I shew mercy a thousand fold,
and them from evil I preserve.
Take not in vain Gods holy Name,
but use it with all reverence:
For why? the Lord doth all such blame
as herein doth commit offence.
Remember that thou holy keep
the day of rest, as God doth will.
Six days thou shalt apply thy work,
and do all things that be not ill.
But the seventh day is the Lords rest,
wherein no vile work may be done,
By thee, thy Child, thy slave or beast,
or stranger that with thee doth woon.
For in six days the Lord did frame
the heaven, the earth, the creatures all.
The seventh he ceast, and blest the same,
as time for his on him to call.
All these Precepts the Lord did write
on the first Table made of stone,
And would they should in him delight,
that for his love, serve him alone.
The second Table follows then,
wherein the Lord instructeth us,
How to behave us towards all men,
and in the same is written thus.
Vnto thy Parents honour give
as Gods Commandements will thée,
That thou long days and good maist live
on earth where thine abode shall be.
Murder no man by word or déed,
with tongue or sword or other thing:
Do nought from whence hate may procéed,
for Murder out of hate doth spring.
Avoid all foul Adultery,
and all things that thereto belong,
All filthy thoughts and lusts of eye,
and all unchaste talk of the tongue.
Take not by fraud nor by rapine
the things that others do possess:
For so to take what is not thine,
before God is great wickedness.
Against no man false witness be,
but testifie the truth alway:
For God thy secret thoughts doth sée,
and will thée judg at the last day.
Thou shalt not in thy heart desire
thy Neighbours Wife at will to have:
His house nor field don't thou require,
no nor his servant, nor his slave.
Be not desirous to receive
his Ox, or Ass, or any Beast,
That he is not willing to leave,
nor ought that by him is possest.
These be the Laws that God did give
to Jacobs séed in Wilderness,
And would that they therein should live,
that will an endless life possess.
But such that will this Law neglect,
and walk after fleshly desire,
The Lord at last will them reject,
to dwell in everlasting fire.
The Lord God for his mercies sake
guide us in his most perfect way,
That we may scape the fiery Lake
and live with him in Bliss for aye.
That these things may be granted us,
at this time henceforth alway.
In the name of our Lord Iesus,
to God the Father let us pray.
OVR Father which in Heaven art,
and dost raign over all,
Thy holy Name be sanctified
amongst both great and small.
Thy Kingdom come, wherein we may
no wicked thing abide,
Nor ought that doth set up it self,
or is puft up with pride.
Thy will be done upon the carth,
like as in Heaven above;
Where all the Creatures work thy will,
because they do thée love.
Give us this day, our daily Bread,
which néed doth make us crave:
For why? our souls and bodies both
of thée their food must have.
To ask forgiveness of our sins,
dear Father we are bold,
As we forgive wrongs as are done
among us manifold.
Do thou not us to tryal bring,
for we are weak indéed:
But when that sin shall us assault,
deliver us with spéed.
For why? the Kingdom, and the power,
and glory every whit,
Is thine, and shall be evermore:
all Souls say, So be it.
† O Lord, preserve our King and Quéen
with all his Royal Train:
But chiefly such as zealous be
the Gospel to maintain:
Which grant, O God, till day of Doom,
in Brittain may remain.
Prayers for Mid-day.
NOw that we have the morning spent
in Learning honest exercise,
Lest Natures Bow being over bent,
our bodies let us not despise:
Let us therefore take at God's hand
such nourishment as he doth give
To féed his folk by Sea and Land,
without the which we cannot live.
And that we may avoid excess,
to him for grace now let us call:
For surfeit doth the wit oppress,
and drowneth good things natural:
And more besides, the gift of God
if we abuse, unto our shame,
We worthy are to féel the Rod,
for such dishonour to his Name.
[Page] That we therefore may hold the mean,
to him that made us let us pray:
And to his promise let us lean,
that will'd us in his name to say.
Our Father which art, &c.
Prayer for Evening.
BEfore the clear light of the day,
by course of kind draws to an end,
To God devoutly let us pray,
that he will keep and us defend:
And that all dreams filthy and vain,
with fantasies that night doth bring,
May fly far from our heavy Brain,
while we by fléep seek refreshing.
And that he will our foes suppress,
who still do séek us to beguile,
So that no manner of wickedness
have power our bodies to defile.
And more besides, that when we sleep,
he will vouchsafe us wished ease:
So shall we when the day doth péep,
his Majesty with praises please.
Now that the Father of all might
will grant this for his dear Sons sake,
Let's now be humble in his sight,
as he hath taught, our Prayers make:
Saying, Our Father, as before.
Grace before Meat.
THe Lord that did all things create,
for man to serve him at his néed,
Bless all that we do drink or eat,
And give it strength our flesh to féed.
For whatsoever shall nourish indéed,
Whether it be good for man or beast,
Must by his great power be blest.
And sith we have an inward man,
That must with in ward food be fed,
Which by no means obtain we can,
But by him that is heavenly bread,
And of all spiritual things the head,
Let us still féed on him in mind,
That gave us flesh to féed mankind.
Thus doing we shall run our race
Without the want of any food;
And at the last come to the place
That proms'd was to Abraham's brood,
And by faith washt in Christ his Blood,
Where evermore we shall him sée,
That is one God in Persons Three.
O Lord preserve in health and peace
King Charles, our most gracious King,
Thy holy Spirit in him increase,
That he may be as he hath been,
A Sword to cut off Popery clean,
That he and we may hold that truth
Which he hath loved from his youth.
Amen.
Grace after Meat.
NOw that you have your bodies fed,
with food that féeble flesh must have,
Remember that you break your bread,
To such as need compels to crave:
For God that to us good gifts gave,
Would that you should therewith refresh
Such as do lack, and are your flesh.
You are not Lords of that you have,
But must account of each thing make
To him that giveth, when you ask
Abundance for his mercies sake,
And would not you should see them lack.
Be diligent alway therefore,
To help the needy with your store:
And if you doubt what sort they be
That should relief find at your hand,
Among all men look whom you see
That of your help in need doth stand,
To be relieved and loosed from band.
Them must you know to be that sort
That at your hands must have comfort.
But chiefly such as do profess
The name of Christ unfeignedly,
For in them Christ is in distress,
And craveth help in misery,
And will repay with usury
All that to him you give or lend,
And that in life which shall not end.
Grace before Meat.
AS to the sick all pleasant things
have still unsavoury taste:
So shall Gods gifts be unto us,
if vainly we them waste.
Take heed therefore, saith Christ our Lord
that surfeiting ye shun:
Let not your hearts with banqueting
be drown'd and overcome.
Receive Gods gifts with giving thanks,
and natures weakness feed:
When you have done, remember those
which want and stand in need.
So shall God bless and eke increase
your basket and your store,
And give you life in Christ our Lord,
which lives for evermore.
Grace after meat.
MAns life preserved is by food;
as God hath well decreed:
But on Gods grace and holy word
our souls must daily feed.
Through want of food material,
the body soon will pine:
So will the soul, if long it lack
the spiritual food divine.
To thee be praise (O Father dear)
which at this time hath sent
Both for our souls and bodies food,
thy Children to content. Amen.
Grace after Meat.
THanks be to God in heaven above,
for he hath fed us well:
And we beséech his gracious love
to féed our souls as well.
Repentance with the fruits thereof
that we never forget.
Tender (O Lord) thy holy Church,
good Rulers in it set,
And evermore upon England
thy heavenly grace down send,
That we may by thy word and truth
our sinfull lives amend.
And finally, all such as be
afflicted for thy word,
Comfort them by the Holy Ghost,
through Iesus Christ our Lord.
O Lord preserve in peace and wealth.
Our noble King, and send him health. Amen.
Grace before Meat.
TO eat and drink doth small avail,
the World is all but vain:
Except the Lord our hearts do guide,
our pleasures are but pain:
Grant us therefore, O Christ, that we
may all with one accord,
Not live to eat, but eat to live,
and live to praise the Lord. Amen.
Grace before Meat.
THe eyes of all things do look up and trust in thée (O Lord,) thou givest them meat in due season: thou openest thy hand, and fillest with thy blessing every living creature. Good Lord, bless us and all the gifts that we receive of thy bounteous liberality, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Grace after Meat.
THe God of all power, who hath called from death the great Pastor of his Shéep, the Lord Iesus, comfort and defend the flock which he hath redéemed by the Blood of his eternal Testament: increase the number of true Preachers: repress and mitigate the malice of obstinate Tyrants: enlighten the hearts of the ignorant: release the pains of such as be afflicted, but especially those that suffer for the Testimony of the Truth; and finally confound Satan by the power of our Lord Iesus Christ. So be it.
Grace before Meat.
CHrist which at his last Supper gave himself unto us, promising his body to be crucified, and his blood to be shed for our sins, bless us and our meat. Amen.
The God of peace and love vouchsafe always to dwell with us, and thou Lord have mercy upon us.
Grace before Meat.
GLory, Honour and Praise be given to thée, O Lord, which hath fed us from our tender age, and givest sustenance to every living thing replenish our hearts with joy and gladness, that we (always having sufficient, may be rich and plentiful in all good Works; through our Lord Iesus Christ. So be it.
Our King and Queen, O Lord defend.
And bless them both, World without end.
A Prayer.
GOD preserve our Realm, the Kings Majesty, with his Royal Ouéen, the honourable Council, and the Nobility and Commons of the same: God assist the Clergy with his Holy Spirit, in setting forth his truth: God defend the Favourers of the Gospel, and make us all faithful and zealous in the same: God change the hearts of our Enemies: The mighty power of God destroy Antichrist with his wicked Kingdom: God send the Gospel a joyful and frée passage through the whole World, that every one of us may live godly and uprightly in our vocation and calling, through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
FINIS.
BOoks Printed for George Conyers, where Country Chapmen may be furnished with all sorts of Books and Ballads.
- Ornatus and Artesia.
- Seven Champions.
- Seven Wise Masters.
- Seven Wise Mistresses.
- Long Meg.
- Mad Men of Gotam.
- Parliament of Women.
- Ball's Catechism.
- Don Quixote.
- Book of Riddles.
- Dorastus and Faunia.
- Garland of Good-will.
- Gesta Romanorum.
- Great Assize.
- David's Repentance.
- Gakers Arithmetick.
- David's Blessed Man.
- Mothers Blessing.
- Plain Mans Path-way to Heaven.
- Help to Discourse.
- York's Arithmetick.
- Garden of Spiritual Flowers.