A praier to be said in the Mor­ning.

ALMIGHTY, most mer­cifull, and euerliuing God, who art the cō ­forter and defender of all those which assuredly do put their whole trust and confidence in thy mer­cie, [Page 8]as thou hast shewed vnto mee a manifest to­ken of good will, in defen­ding me this night from the snares of Sathan that ancient enimie of all man­kind, who rageth now most cruelly, knowing that his time is but very short, and therefore is he the more eger in seeking of his pray, deuising how he might get a multitude of the soules of thy chil­dren to be intrapped in [Page 9]his net of perdition, ther­fore I beseech thee (good father) euen for thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christs sake, that like as thou hast this night preserued mee from the snare of this wic­ked hunter, and from his noisom pestilence: euen so good Father, I hartily be­seech thee, so to inlighten the eies of my mind this day, that I may see how to auoid the wicked engins, which he laieth to snare vs [Page 10]withall: for as he is a spiri­tuall enimie: euen so, O Lord, had we need of thy spirituall helpe to auoid him: grant this, O Father, for Iesus Christs sake our Sauiour, Amen.

Another praier to be said in the morning.

ALmightie and most louing Father, like as thou hast this night mercifully, and of thine infinit goodnes and mercie gratiously preser­ued me from the subtilitie and tyrannie of sathan, & hast giuen me sweet sleepe and quiet rest? Euen so, good Lord, I beseech thee [Page 12]for Iesus Christ his sake to keepe and defend me this day from all euil that may happen vnto me, and that I may bestow it wholy in thy seruice, and that I may doo nothing, but that which may be pleasing vn­to thee, through Ie­sus Christ our Lord, A­men.

A praier to be said at night.

O Good Lord, I be­seech thee to blesse, preserue, and keepe me this night from the wi­lie waies and subtile sug­gestions of the deuill, who being the ancient enimie of all mankind, goeth a­bout like a roaring lion continually seking whom he may deuour, but keepe [Page 14]me, O good Lord, by thy mercifull prouidence, that I may rest quietly, & sleepe sweetly, that waking I may giue thee thanks for thy merciful protection and defence, thorough Christ our Lord, A­men.

A praier to be said when the day is light.

ALmightie GOD, which hast ordai­ned the light of the sun to lighten the day, and the moone to lighten the night; I beseech thee for thy great mercie sake, so to inlighten my mind with thy holie spirit, that I may truly perceiue and vnder­stand [Page 16]the heauenlie myste­ries of thy holie word, that therby I may be guided to the land of euerlasting blessednes, there to reigne with thee world with­out end, A­men.

A praier to be deliue­red from the Pope and his detesta­ble heresies.

O Good Lord, I be­seech thee streng­then mee with thy holie spirit, and giue mee grace faithfully to remain in that obedience towards thee, which I am taught in thy holie word, so that I be not led away from thee [Page 18]by the vaine ceremonies and deuilish doctrine of Antichrist the Pope, which calleth himselfe the vicar of Christ, and is nothing lesse; for he maketh mer­chandize of mens soules, making them to worship stocks and stones, in stead of the true worshipping of thee, O God. Deliuer me, O good Lord, and all thy faithfull seruants from the tyrannie of this Romish wolfe, which seeketh con­tinually [Page 19]to deuoure the poore lambs of thy sheep­fold, and Lord, I beseech thee, if it be thy pleasure, either to turne his hart, or els confound him sudden­ly. From whose deuilish doctrine, deliuer vs the fa­ther, the Sonne, and the holie Ghost, three in per­son, one in substance: to whom be honor and glorie, now and for euer, A­men.

A praier against worldlie tri­bulation.

GRant, Lord, I be­seech thee, that I may remaine thy faithfull seruant, and serue thee in true obedience, that neither the cares of this world, nor any world­lie tribulation may with­drawe my mind from the obedience of thee, and [Page 21]grant also good Lord, that my mind be not choked with the cares of this world, but that I may cast all my care vpon thee, which liuest, and reignest for euer.

A praier for faith.

MOst mercifull and louing father, I be­seech thee for Iesus Christs sake, to increase & strengthen my faith, that I may go forward in al god­lines. And grant, O Lord, that my faith may be buil­ded vpon the rocke Christ Iesus, that I be not carried away with euerie blast of [Page 23]vain doctrine, but through faith in thee, I may be as an inuincible fortresse to my enimie the deuill: so that he may neuer preuaile against me. And also Lord, I pray thee let not my faith be an idle faith, but a wor­king faith, a faith that dai­ly proceedeth from one good worke to another, & in the end vnto euerlasting life. There to reigne with thee world without end, Amen.

A praier to be said when one entreth into the Church.

I Enter into this thy tem­ple, O mercifull father, to heare thy word prea­ched, giue mee grace, O Lord, that I may heare it with such an hūble & fer­uent zeale, that it may not be vnto me, as seed that is sowen among thorns, least the thornie cares of this [Page 25]world choke it: so that it cannot bring foorth fruit. Neither as seede that is sowen vpon stony ground, where it can take no root: nor yet as sowen by the way side, where the foules of the aire do gather it and eate it vp, but let the seede of thy word, good Lord, be sowen in me, as seede that is sowen vpon good ground, bringing foorth frute vnto life euerlasting, some thirtie, some sixtie, [Page 26]some an hundred folde: grant this, O Father, for Iesus Christs sake our on­lie mediator and aduo­cate, Amen.

A praier against the lusts of the flesh.

I Thy humble seruant (O most mercifull father) do feele in my selfe a great and maruelous bat­tell betweene the flesh and the spirit; but (gratious [Page 27]Lord) I beseech thee giue me thy grace from aboue, that I do not let the flesh haue victorie, but that I may tame and subdue it, and make it obedient vnto the spirit, least that I by gi­uing victorie vnto the flesh do heape sin vpon sin, and in the end bring vpon my selfe swift damnation, bi­cause the flesh indeed is apt and readie vnto al vice & wickednes: therefore O Lord I pray thee to streng­then [Page 28]me with thy holie spi­rit, that therby I may sub­due the flesh with the wic­ked imaginations therof, through Iesus Christ our Lord, A­men.

A praier for the dili­gent reading of the scriptures.

ETernall God & most louing father, which hast of thy vnspeaka­ble goodnes reuealed thy selfe most openly & plain­ly to the world by the gift of thy holie word, I be­seech thee (O good Lord) giue me a willing mind to the reading thereof, and [Page 30]make my soule and hart to take delight therin, as in a most pretious iewell. For euen as wine, O Lord, is pleasant vnto the taste and senses of men: euen so (good Lord) let thy word bee delectable vnto my mind and soule. For if I take pleasure in a worldlie thing that is delightfull and pleasant vnto the bo­die, being heere this day, and gone the next: how much more ought I to [Page 31]take pleasure in that vn­speakable treasure, the de­light and food of the soul, which for euer shall en­dure. And although the world be so ful of wicked­nes, that whosoeuer is a true professor of thy holie word, is accounted of the worldlings, as one that is vnwoorthie of their com­panie: yet neuertheles, O Lord, I beseech thee giue me grace, that I may suffer the rebukes of the world, [Page 32]so that I may be accoun­ted in the number of thy faithfull children: tho­rough our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Chrst, A­men.

A praier for repentance, for the amendment of our for­mer wicked liues, with a thanks giuing to God for all his grati­ous benefits bestow­ed vpon vs.

MOst mercifull and euerliuing father, I a most wicked and damnable sinner, which haue many waies and most greuously transgressed thy lawes, and offended thy diuine maiestie, in leauing the vse and studie of thy [Page 34]diuine and heauenly word, the readie path-way to my saluation, and following the wicked desires & fil­thie lusts of the flesh, wher­by I haue beene driuen to be altogither carelesse of thee, the euerliuing God, and also of all godlie li­uing, the cause whereof hath been mine owne neg­ligence, which the fro­wardnes of the flesh, wher­by I am fallen into such a greeuous sinne (that were [Page 35]not thy great mercie, oh Lord) I should be accoun­ted among the number of them which go downe in­to destruction. But (oh most mercifull and louing father) in the name of thy decre sonne our only Sa­uiour, aduocate, and me­diator, I appeale to the high throne of thy mer­cie, beseeching thee for his sake, and for thine owne mercie sake to blot out of thy remembrance, all my [Page 36]former sins and offences, wherby I haue most gree­uously offended thy maie­stie. And furthermore, O Lord, I pray thee to blot al my secret sins out of thy remembrance: so that they may neuer be seene, nor stand in iudgment against me. And also, Lord, I be­seech thee giue mee the grace of thy holie spirit, and so inlighten me with the same, that henceforth I may liue according to [Page 37]the precise rule of thy ho­lie word, and doo those things, which may be plea­sing vnto thy diuine maie­stie. And Lord, I beseech thee, giue vnto mee the light of thy holie spirit, that I may praise thy name for all the benefits, which thou of thine abundant goodnes hast so merciful­ly bestowed vpon me: es­pecially, O Lord, for the great graces and benefits of my creation, redempti­on, [Page 38]and sanctification. For my creation, in that it hath pleased thee to create and make me a liuing soule, and also in similitude like vnto thine owne person, whereas if it had pleased thy maiestie, thou migh­test haue made me a beast, a foule, a tode, a serpent, &c. For my redemption, (in that it pleased thy ma­iestie) after that through the transgressiō of my first parents (Adam and Eue) I [Page 39]was become like as one that was sold vnto sin, and indeede was in bondage vnto the deuill, then when all hope of recouerie was past, thou (oh most merci­ful and louing father) did­dest send thine onelie be­gotten sonne to take our nature vpon him, and to make satisfaction for our sins, and to suffer a most shamefull death (euen the death of the crosse) that we by his great patience [Page 40]might be redeemed, iusti­fied, saued, and deliuered from sin, death, and hell, and that so manie as do by faith lay hold vpon the sweete promises of thy deerly beloued sonne our sauiour, should surely haue euerlasting life, and reigne with him in that place of rest, which thou hast ap­pointed for all thy faithful children, &c. For my sanc­tification, for that after I was by thy heauenly wise­dome [Page 41]and diuine power created, and made a liuing creature: and after that being fallen from thee by the concupiscence of the flesh, and then redeemed by the pretious death and bloodshedding of thy deer sonne (our sauiour and re­deemer) Christ Iesus. Then after my creation and re­demption, thou againe of thine exceeding loue and fauour, didst send thy holie spirit vpon me, to giue me [Page 42]vnderstanding and know­ledge of thy holie word, that therby through faith in thy promises I might haue euerlasting life: thus (oh Lord) is thy gratious goodnes shewed vnto me, Lord of thy great mercie make me thankfull for it, for thy deere sonne Christ Iesus sake, our onlie medi­ator & aduocate, to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all honor, praise, and glory, both now & for euer, Amen.

A praier in the afflicti­on of consci­ence.

ETernall and most lo­uing father, I thy humble seruant most entirely beseeching thee, of thy woonted goodnes and mercie, to giue vnto my conscience (being fore afflicted & ouerloden with sin, the cares of this world, and tyranny of sathan) the [Page 44]sweet comfort of thy holy spirit, which is the com­forter of all them that put their trust in thee, I besech thee, O heauenlie father, so to inlighten and com­fort me with the grace of the same thy spirit, that I may giue ouer all worldlie cares, and betake my selfe wholy to the fulfilling of thy heauenly wil, oh Lord, that knowest the secrets of all harts, that seest me a most vile and wicked sin­ner, [Page 45]being borne in sinne, nouzeled vp in sin, and stil day by day continue in sin; yea, & that which is woorst of all, I do euen commit the same with greedines, whereby I am fallen into such an obliuion of thy goodnes, that I haue (as it were) forgotten all the be­nefits and graces, which thou of thine abundant goodnes hast so manie waies bestowed vpon me.

This mine obliuion of [Page 46]thy graces, oh Lord, togi­ther with the suggestions and entisements of sathan hath beene, and is such a terror vnto my consci­ence, that were not thy sweet promises (oh most mercifull father) promised by thine onlie sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ, I might vtterly despaire of my saluation. But as thou, oh father, art in promising most bounteous, so art thou in performance most [Page 47]true. Although (good fa­ther) my sins and ingrati­tudes haue deserued eter­nall damnation, and are a continual grudge vnto my conscience, yet, Lord, I be­seech thee of thy great mercie, to comfort my conscience, being sore af­flicted and laden with the burthen of my sins. Thou (O most sweete Sauiour Christ) hast commanded all those which labor, and are laden with the but then [Page 48]of their sins, to come vnto thee, saieng; Come vnto me all ye that labour, and are la­den, and I will refresh you. (Oh what comfortable words were these of a most sweet Sauiour.) Therefore (oh Lord & heauenlie father) I giue thee most hartie thanks for these thy sweet promises in our Sauiour Christ Iesus. To whome with thee and the holie Ghost be ascribed all ho­nor, power, praise, domi­nion, [Page 49]and thanks giuing, both now and for euer, A­men.

A praier for the ob­taining of true loue both to God, and to our neigh­bour.

O Most sweete Saui­our, which art the life of al them that beleeue in thee, the hope of all them that trust in [Page 50]thee, the comforter of all them that come to thee for succour, the helper and assister of all them which loue thy cōmandements, put into my hart (oh most mercifull Sauiour) the true loue, which thou hast cō ­manded. Oh Lord, I con­fesse that I haue been a lo­uer of my selfe, more than thee, exalting and lifting vp my selfe with pride, am­bition, and selfe-loue: con­trarie to thy commande­ment [Page 51]I haue (good Lord) loued my selfe more than my neighbor; I haue soght for my selfe worldlie pro­motion by al means possi­ble, and haue sought by all means to thrust downe in­to the mire my poore neighbor; all which was cleane contrarie to the loue which thou hast ap­pointed, whereby I haue deserued thy curse vnto e­uerlasting condemnation. But (most mercifull Saui­our) [Page 52]I appeale to thy high throne of mercie, besee­ching thee from the bot­tom of my hart, to forgiue me al the sins of my youth, and al that hitherto I haue cōmitted both ignorantly and wilfully. And further­more, oh Lord, I pray thee to giue thy grace from a­boue, that I may abandon all selfe-loue, as a thing which thou most despisest. And also let me not do as the worldlie rich yoong [Page 53]man did, which would know the means whereby he might be saued, who as soone as hee vnderstood that he must sel all that he had, and distribute it to the releefe of his poore neighbors, which stood in great necessitie, he went a­way very heauie, bicause he was maruelous rich. But giue me grace, good Lord, so to loue my neigh­bor, that I may do as Za­cheus did, who said; Behold, [Page 54]Lord, the halfe of my goodes I giue vnto the poore, if I haue done any man wrong, I will restore it foure fold a­gaine. Heer was thy grace, O Lord, heer was not selfe loue; but heere was bro­therly loue, the loue which thou hast appointed to be in euerie Christian, that seeketh for saluation in thee; put this loue into my hart, oh Lord, that I may loue thee with all my hart, and my neighbor as my [Page 55]selfe; put from me, good Lord, all rancor and ma­lice, all debate and strife. O Lord, thou hast in thy holie Gospel commanded all men, not onlie to loue their friends, by whome they reape profit; but also to loue euen their enimies by whom they haue recei­ued losse and damage: how far this loue is from me, thou, oh Lord, canst tell. Thou commandest me to loue, and I hate; thou com­mandest [Page 56]me to be fauora­ble, and I am enuious: in fine, thou commandest me to bee charitable vnto all men, and I am filled with rancor, malice, strife, de­bate, and contention, with innumerable other vices, which thou, oh Lord, hast commanded the contra­rie.

What is the cause that I should behaue my selfe so contrarie to thy com­mandements? Truly mine [Page 57]owne blockish negligence, which hath so sore blinded my mortall eies, that I am not able to looke into the mysteries of thy holie word, which should be my guide and leader vnto the knowledge of thy heauen­lie wil. What is the reward of al this wickednes, which I haue and do daily com­mit? Thy holie Apostle Paule doth make mention in these words, saieng; The reward of sin is death: but [Page 58]what death, the death of the bodie? yea truly: and that which is woorst, euen the death and condemna­tion of the soule. Sithen, oh Lord, that thou of thy great mercy hast giuen me the grace to see and know what is sin, and what is the reward thereof, I beseech thee (oh most merciful Sa­uiour) giue mee also the grace to flie from sin, and cleaue vnto godlines, least that I knowing, and will [Page 59]not knowe, be accounted among those, which sinne against knowledge, which is a sinne against the holie Ghost, and therefore as some thinke irremissible. Oh Lord, I beseech thee forgiue me all that is past, and guide me to turne vn­to thee: renew also, good Lord, a right spirit in me, that I may liue in thy law, which thou hast appoin­ted me: grant this (oh sweete Sauiour) for thy [Page 60]death and passion sake, A­men.

A praier to be said in any kinde of tribulation, desiring God to giue patience vnto the afflicted, that they may endure whatsoeuer his fatherly wisedome will lay vp­on them.

IT is an vnpossible thing for any mortall eie (O most mercifull father) to see into the depth of thy wisedome, and how [Page 61]thou goest about to call home thy children, being gone astray. Thou first dost touch them with thy fa­therlie correction, as be­ing loth to make them de­spaire, and as the prophet Dauid saith; Like as a father pitieth his owne children, euen so is the Lord mercifull vnto all that feare him. Thy cor­rection, good father, is on­ly fauorably to chastise thy children, being erred from the truth, to cal them hom [Page 62]by a little and a little vnto the knowledge of thee a­gaine: and then they be­ing once reclaimed, thou doest withdrawe thy rod from them. I beseech thee, oh heauenlie father, giue me patience patiently to suffer whatsoeuer thy fa­therly goodnes wil lay vp­on me, and diligently to wait the time when it shall please thee to ease me of my trouble, that with the prophet Dauid, I may say; [Page 63]Oh giue thanks vnto the LORD, for hee is gra­tious, and his mercie en­dureth for euer. Let them giue thanks whome the LORD hath redeemed, and deliuered out of the hand of their enimie: and gathered them out of the lands, from the east, from the west, from the north, and from the south. They went astray in the wilder­nes, and found no citie to dwell in: so they cried vn­to [Page 64]to the Lord in their trou­ble, and he deliuered them out of their distresse. He led them foorth by the right way, that they might go to the citie where they dwelt. O that men would therefore feare the Lord, and declare the woonders that he doth for the chil­dren of men. For he satis­fieth the emptie soule, and filleth the hungrie with goodnes: such as sit in darknes, and in the sha­dowe [Page 65]of death, being fast bound in miserie and iron. Heer (O most merciful fa­ther) dost thou shew thy gratious goodnesse vnto me; thou releeuest euerie soule that calleth to thee faithfully in distresse. O good Lord, I beseech thee giue me grace to call vpon thee by faith: for as the scripture saith; Whatsoeuer is not of faith is sin: and he that asketh not faithfully can not obtaine. Grant [Page 66]this, O most mercifull fa­ther, and whatsoeuer else thou knowest to be need­full for me, for thy deere sons sake Iesus Christ, our onlie mediator and aduo­cate, to whom with thee and the holie Ghost, be all honor, power, praise and glorie, both now and euermore, A­men.

A praier to be vsed when the lust of the flesh doth rage, wherin the gift of continencie is begged.

ALmightie and most mercifull father, I beseech thee for Ie­sus Christs sake to streng­then me in this great and terrible battell of consci­ence, which I feel between my flesh & my spirit, con­cerning lecherie & conti­nencie. [Page 68]For my spirit saith; I will delight my selfe with the studie of that which may bring saluation vnto me; that is, the reading of thy holy word, with the me ditation & hearing of the same, & altogither to giue my selfe to put far from me all worldlie pleasures and earthlie delights, that therby I may (through the merits of my sweet Saui­our Iesus Christ) make an attonement with God the [Page 69]father for the innumera­ble multitude of my trans­gressions, which had al­most drawen me headlong to hell; but whilest I am in these cogitations, behold, the flesh with his detesta­ble desires doth come vn­to me, and by all wicked means possible doth seeke to bring me (through his carnall concupiscence) in­to the lake of perdition. For as the spirit doth de­sire spirituall and heauen­lie [Page 70]things; euen so the flesh as it is carnall, doth desire carnal and earthly things; for ech thing desireth such as it selfe is. Well, seeing that I haue within my con­science such a great and terrible battell betweene the flesh and the spirit: and that the flesh (for any strength or power that is in me) is like to haue the vpper hand: and if the flesh haue the vpper hand, what shall my reward be at [Page 71]the latter day, when I shall come before the tribunall seate of the almightie and euerliuing God? Truly my reward shall be this; I shall be cast into vtter darknes, there shal be weeping, wai­ling, & gnashing of teeth. Well now, since it hath pleased almightie God of his great mercie, to giue me knowledge what sinne is, and that the desire and lust of the flesh is altogi­ther wickednes and abho­minable [Page 72]in the sight of the Lord, and that the reward of sin is hell & euerlasting condemnation. And now since he of meere mercie hath giuen me knowledge thereof; if I do not seeke to redresse it, then I shall be accounted as one that knoweth the will of his fa­ther, and will not do it: & truly such a sonne must bee beaten with manie stripes. Seeing now that through the carnall con­cupiscence [Page 73]of the flesh, hell fire is come vpon me, what means may I vse to haue the same taken from mee againe? To haue this great worke done for me, I must put on sobrietie, imbrace humilitie, mingled with desire of a godlie life; and then must I come and ap­peale before the high throne of mercie, and aske forgiuenes of my sins, in the pretious death and bloodshedding of my Lord [Page 74]and Sauiour Christ Iesus, who hath of his great mer­cie and goodnes promised forgiuenes of sinnes to all those that with a true and liuely faith, com vnto him, humbly crauing forgiue­nes of their sins. For by his death we are made aliue, and by his strokes we are healed. Heere (oh most mercifull father) do I be­hold as it were in a glasse, the great and fatherly care which thou hast for all thy [Page 75]children, which with har­tie & vnseined repentance come vnto thee for mer­cie; for thou deniest none that cal vpon thee for mer­cie in the blood of Christ Iesus our fauiour. I beseech thee, oh Lord, to streng­then me with thy holy spi­rit, that thereby I may withstand all the furious assaults of sathan and the flesh. For the flesh being stirred vp by the subtile suggestions of sathan, do [Page 76]giue manie fierce assaults vnto my spirit: insomuch that while it is in my bo­die, it is in a darke prison, desiring (when it shall please thy maiestie) to be dissolued from this bodie of sin: and as the prophet Dauid saith; Like as the hart desireth the water brookes, e­uen so my soule longeth after thee, oh Lord. And also in another place, he saith; My soule longeth for thy sal­uation, and I haue a good hope [Page 77]bicause of thy word. My soule longeth for thy word, saieng; Oh when wilt thou comfort me. My soule cleaneth vnto the dust, oh quicken thou mee according to thy word. Oh Lord, I beseech thee to in­lighten my hart with thy holie spirit, that I may flie from and abhor the filthie and abhominable lusts of the flesh, as a thing which is most detestable in thy sight, considering that it is most odious before thee. [Page 78]And also (Lord I beseech thee) for thy deere sonne our Lord and Sauiour Ie­sus Christs sake (in this conflict & in all other such like) to giue victorie vnto the spirit, that therby thy name may bee glorified, and that it may liue as a conqueror ouer the wic­ked desires of the flesh; and that the flesh with his con­cupiscences may bee in such subiection vnto the spirit, that it dare not once [Page 77]to rebell against it. And that I may liue, so that whatsoeuer I do may bee pleasing in thy sight: and that I through the strēgth of thy holie spirit, may haue victorie ouer sinne, death, and hell, and liue according to the precise rule of thy holie word, so that whatsoeuer I do, it may bee pleasant in thy sight: through Iesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the holie Ghost, [Page 78]be all honor, praise, and glorie, both now and euer, Amen.

A conflict between gluttonie and abstinence.

AS yet (oh my sweet Lord and God) I suffer a continuall conflict in my conscience, between the spirit and the flesh: for my spirit manie times speaketh within me, [Page 79]and saith; I will abstaine from excesse of meats and drinks, that therby I may bridle, and keep vnder the corrupt and filthie desires of the flesh, that in so do­ing, I may be the more apt and readie to the know­ledge and vnderstanding of thy holie will. No soo­ner, oh Lord, am I in this contemplation, but pre­sently the flesh with his di­uelish concupiscence offe­reth it selfe to persuade [Page 80]me to the contrarie. For where the spirit doth de­sire spirituall and heauen­lie things, and to do such things as may be pleasing vnto thy diuine maiestie: my flesh cleane contrarie vnto this, doth desire all kind of vncleannes, and to satisfie his owne carnall lusts and appetites, by ea­ting and drinking exces­siuely, and so (were not thy great mercie) it were like to bring my soule to vtter [Page 81]ruine and perdition. But, Lord, as thou knowest that sathan the ancient enimie of all mankind, is the inti­ser & stirrer vp of all these wicked imaginations of my sinful flesh, and that he is a slie and subtile aduer­sarie, I beseech thee, good Lord, giue me grace man­fully to withstand him, knowing this, that whoso­euer doth valiantly fight vnder thy spirituall ban­ner, and cōtinueth a faith­full [Page 82]soldier vnto the end, shall not lose his reward, but shall be made inheri­tour in ioy euerlasting, with thy celestiall compa­nie of angels and saints: then who would not suffer all the torments vnder heauen, to haue after all their troubles, such a ini­full resting place? But such oh Lord, is the wicked and corrupt nature of our sin­full flesh, that it setteth more by the vaine plea­sures [Page 83]of this transitorie world, which is heere to day, and gone to morrow, than it doth by that euer­lasting rest, which neuer shall decay. Good Lord, I beseech thee to giue mee the gift of abstinencie (which is a most pretious iewell in thy sight) that when my wicked flesh de­sireth to glut it selfe with superfluitie of meate and drinke, and so by glutto­nie and surfetting, offend [Page 84]thy diuine maiestie, that then, O Lord, I may by the gift of the holie spirit, bridle this wicked desire of my flesh, & so make it to become subiect vnto the spirit, that therby I may be more apt & ready to serue thee in true holines and righteousnes all the daies of my life. How excellent this gift of abstinencie is, oh Lord, is declared by thy holy apostle Peter, in these words; Deerly beloued, I be­seech [Page 85]you as strangers and pil­grims abstaine from fleshlie lusts, which fight against the soule Heer, O Lord, may we see how necessarie it is for man to abstain from flesh­ly lusts: for as this text witnesseth, they fight a­gainst the soule to bring it to destruction. And Saint Paule, writing to the Ga­lathians, faith; Walke in the spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. And writing to the Romans, he saith; [Page 86] Put yee on the Lord Iesus Christ, and take no thought for the flesh to fulfill the lusts of it. Seeing (oh most mercifull father) that the holy scrip­tures, euen frō one end to the other, do so earnestly speake against this filthie and abhominable vice of gluttonie: and all holie fa­thers do likewise in their works inueigh against the same; I beseech thee, good father, giue me grace that I may so bridle this my [Page 87]fleshlie nature, that tho­rough the grace of thy ho­lie spirit, I may be made a meet member, readle pre­pared with oile in my lampe, and a wedding gar­ment on my back; against the comming of thy deere sonne Christ Iesus mine onlie Lord and Sauior: to whom with thee and the holie Ghost be all ho­nor and glorie, for euer and euer, Amen.

A praier against pride, and for humilitie.

ETernall and most lo­uing Father, which hatest the proud, and giuest grace to the hum­ble, I beseech thee for thy great mercie sake, let not my mind be puffed vp with vaine pride and glorie of this world, which is an in­strument of sathan, a snare [Page 89]of the diuell, & as it were a hooke to catch men with, to lead them into vtter destruction. Oh Lord, giue me grace (I pray thee) to eschew and vtterly to ab­hor this abhominable and detestable vice of pride & vaine glorie, and to im­brace lowlines and humi­litie, considering what is said by the prophet Esaie; The holie Ghost said; Now crie, and the prophet answered; What shall I crie? That all [Page 90]flesh is grasse, and that all the goodlines therof is as the flow­er of the field: the grasse is wi­thered, the flower falleth away: euen so is the people as grasse when the breath of the Lord bloweth vpon them; neuerthe­les, whether the grasse wither, or the flower fade away, yet the word of the Lord endureth for euer. Heer I see, O my God, what man is, how he is compared to grasse: and all his glorie, to the flower of the field, and is not able [Page 91]for all his pride to abide one blast of thy breath, oh Lord. And also the pro­phet Dauid faith; Man shal not abide in honor, seeing hee may be compared vnto the beasts that perish. Also it is written by the prophet E­saie in another place; Shall the axe boast it selfe against him that heweth therwith? Or doth the sawe make any brag­ging against him that ruleth it? That were euen like as if the rod exalt it selfe against [Page 92]him that beareth it? Or as though the staffe should exalt it selfe, as if it were no wood. Therefore shall the Lord of hosts send among his fatlings leannes, and burne vp his glo­rie as it were with a fire. Also Salomon saith; The Lord doth, all things for his owne sake, yea, he keepeth the vn­godlie for the day of wrath. The Lord abhorreth all such as be of a proud hart, his hand is against their hand, and they shall not escape as innocents. [Page 93]And againe Dauid saith; Thou shalt bring downe the high lookes of the proud. And the prophet Ieremie saith; Behold, I speake vnto thee, oh thou proud, saith the Lord God of hosts: for thy day shall come euen the time of thy visitation. And the proud shall stumble and fall, and no man shall helpe him vp. I will burne vp his ci­ties with fire, and it shall con­sume all that is round about him. Likewise the prophet Abacuk saith; Behold, the [Page 94]vnrighteous thinketh himselfe in safegard, as in a strong hold, but the iust shall liue by his faith. Like as the wine decei­ueth the drunkard, euen so the proud shall faile, & not endure. He openeth his desire wide as the hell, and is as vnsatiable as death. All heathen gathereth he vnto him, and heapeth vnto him all people. Heer (oh most mercifull father) I see what the reward of the proud & vaine glorious man is, I see that he is abhorred of [Page 95]thee, and kept for the day of wrath: his high lookes also shal be brought down. The proud also shall stum­ble and fall, and no man shall helpe him vp: he also shall faile, and not endure. Oh Lord I beseech thee giue grace to me, and to all thy faithfull seruants, that we vtterly detest and abandon from vs al pride, presumption, and vaine glorie, and onelie to stay our selues vpon thee, in [Page 96]Christ Iesus, and to flie from all such abhomina­ble vices, and come home vnto thee our most merci­full father: for wee haue gone long astray, as it had beene sheepe without a sheapheard (Lord I pray thee strengthen me with thy holie spirit.) As I see, O Lord, the punishment of the proud and vaine glorious, so do I see also as in a glasse, the rewarde which thou hast prepared [Page 97]for the humble and low­lie. For it is written in the holie Gospel after S. Luke, that He that exalteth him­selfe shall be brought lowe, and he that humbleth himselfe shal be exalted. And Iob saith; Who so humbleth himselfe shal be set vp, and who so looketh meekly shall be healed. And also Dauid saith in the psalmes; The righteous crie, and the Lord heareth them, and deliuereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is [Page 98]nigh vnto such as be of a con­trite hart, and doth saue them that are of an humble spirit. Yea, and the Lord saith in the prophet Esaie; I dwell hie aboue, & in the sanctuarie, and with him also that is of a contrite spirit do I dwell: that I may heale a troubled mind and a contrite hart. Also Sa­lomon saith; Presumptuous­nes goeth before destruction, and after a proud stomacke there followeth a fall. Better is it to be of an humble mind [Page 99]with the lowlie, than to diuide the spoils with the proud. Now oh Lord, heer is before my eies the punishment of the proud and presumptuous, and also the reward of the humble and meeke. Heer also are the great and ma­nifold promises set down, which thou by thy pro­phets & apostles hast pro­mised to them that are of a contrite hart; thou hast promised to exalt the humble; to heal the meek; [Page 100]to be nigh vnto such as be of a contrite hart, to deli­uer them out of all their troubles, and to dwel with them that be of a contrite spirit. Thou, O Lord, hast made these promises, and thou wilt most surely per­forme whatsoeuer thou hast promised. Now (oh my sweet Sauiour) I be­seech thee giue me grace to sticke fast vnto these sweet promises, that I may through the grace of thy [Page 101]holie spirit, pull downe this proud flesh of mine, which is (were it not thy great mercy) ready to hale my soule into destruction, I may well say vnto my flesh; Why art thou so proud, O thou earth and ashes, of that which wil not endure, but is altogither wicked and abhominable in the sight of the Lord. Therefore (O my most mercifull Sauiour) I pray thee for thy pretious deth [Page 102]and passion sake, to streng­then me with the grace of thy holy spirit, that it may haue victorie of this bodie of sin, the lusts and desires of the same; that I may so liue heer on earth, that when it shall please thee to call me from this vale of miserie, I may dwell with thee in thy habitation of rest, prepared for all thy faithfull ones, A­men.

Another praier for the morning.

O Eternall God, and most mercifull fa­ther, I a most weak and feeble creature in all goodnes & godlines what­soeuer, most hartily thank thy maiestie, for that it hath pleased thee, of thy great mercie and goodnes to preserue me this night from the crueltie and ty­rannie [Page 104]of the diuel and his angels, and to take me vn­to thine owne protection and defence. And also of thy meere mercie, not suf­fering mee to sleepe in death, but didst waken me in due time, to giue thanks and praise vnto thy maie­stie for thy most mercifull protection and defence. I beseech thee (O most mer­cifull father) giue me grace that whatsoeuer I take in hand this day may haue [Page 105]good successe; and what­soeuer I do, it may all be to the honor and praise of thy name, the profit of my neighbor, and the health of mine owne soule, tho­rough Iesus Christ our Lord, A­men.

Another praier for the euening.

MOst mercifull and euerliuing GOD, which art father of the fatherles, and hus­band of the widow, which also this day past, hast kept me safely vnder the wings of thy mercie, and hast not suffered me so to fall, but that with thy hand thou hast lifted me vp againe: [Page 107]and also hast kept me this day from the power of darknes, and defended me with thy armor of light; I beseech thee (O most mer­cifull father) that like as thou hast this day kept me vnder the couering of thy wings, from the subtile as­saults and priuie sleights of that capitall enimie of mine, sathan: euen so, I be­seech thee, to keepe and defend me this night from his cruell tyrannie, which [Page 108]in euerie place laieth baits and traps to catch mens soules, & so to bring them into vtter darknes: there shall be weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth; frō whose subtilitie, deliuer vs, the Father, the Sonne, and the holie Ghost, three in person, and one in essence, A­men.

Another praier when the light appee­reth.

O My sweet Sauiour Iesus Christ, which art the light of the world, and the light of all them that beleeue in thee, I besech thee (oh my sweet Sauiour) giue me thy grace from aboue, that I may put away the works of darknes, and put on the [Page 110]armor of light now in these perilous and dange­rous daies. And like as thou hast appointed the light of the day to lighten earthly men about their earthly affaires: so also hast thou appointed thy holie word to lighten their minds, which labor and seeke to attaine to the knowledge of thy heauen­lie will. In which lightsom exercise, I beseech thee for thy great mercies sake, [Page 111]giue me an earnest desire to attaine vnto the full knowledge thereof, and that whatsoeuer I do, it may be pleasing vnto thee, to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost, be all honor, power, praise, do­minion, and thanks giuing both now and for euer, Amen.

Another praier to be deliuered from Antichrist the Pope of Rome, and all his detestable enor­mities.

O My sweet Sauiour, which leadest all those into the path of righteousnes, which by faithfull and earnest prai­er come vnto thee for the same, I besech thee for thy death and passion sake, [Page 113]giue me grace to trust in thy sweet promises, and to exercise my selfe in the stu­die of thy holie word, and to cast away and vtterly to eschew and abhor the dir­tie traditions, the diuelish dreams, the vaine reliks, & ceremonies of that man of sin, the Pope of Rome, and al his Balaamiticall shaue­lings, which are vtter eni­mies to thy crosse, killing thy innocent lambs, con­uerting the simple ons frō [Page 114]thee my sweet Sauior (as much as in them lieth) vn­to their antichristian pow­er, teaching them to come from thy mercifull promi­ses vnto that man of sin, for monie to haue their sins forgiuen them; wheras my sweet Sauiour, none is able to forgiue sins, but onlie thou: much lesse, oh Lord, he that is so great a sinner, robbing thee of thy glorie, by taking vpon him so presumptuously with­out [Page 115]feare of thy name, to forgiue his brother his trespasses, when the holie scripture is cleane contra­rie: for Dauid saith in the psalms, that No man can de­liuer his brother from death, neither make agreement vnto God for him: for it cost more to redeeme their soules, so that that must be let alone for e­uer. Heer he may see, if he be not wilfull blind, how wickedly he taketh vpon him to do that, which on­ly [Page 116]belongeth vnto thee my sweet Sauiour. But let him repent in time, least hee bring vpon himselfe swift damnation. His doctrine, oh Lord, is cleane contra­rie to thy most pure and sincere word (which is the word of truth) teaching those that will learne of him & his priests of Baal, to looke for their saluati­on by the works of the law only, and not by faith in thee my sweet Sauiour, [Page 117]which art the only way of truth; the path of life; the giuer of euerlasting life vn­to al those that come vnto thee by saith, and not to challenge thy place of rest by any of our merits or de­seruings, which are most abhominable in thy sight: for we are able to deserue nothing but death & end­les damnation, in the fire which neuer shall be quen­ched; oh what a terror is this to the conscience of [Page 118]many, which know them­selues to be great and gre­uous offenders, and yet (as this detestable doctrine of antichrist teacheth them) must obtaine saluation by their owne merits or de­seruings. Oh what a hell haue they in their consci­ence, and except they flie speedily from that diuelish doctrine, and looke vpon thy most mercifull and sweet promises, and with a stedfast faith assuredly be­leeue [Page 119]the same, doubtles they must needs fall into the pit of desperation, and from thence to the lake of condemnation, (for no­thing els is a man able to deserue of himselfe) except he haue a stedfast faith in thy promises, and beleeue that, which thou hast spo­ken in thy holie word, which is the entrie that leadeth vs vnto saluation. I besech thee (oh my sweet Sauiour) for thy manifold [Page 120]and great mercies sake, to deliuer me (and all those that think to be saued by faith in thee) from the do­ctrine of that antichrist, that man of sin, the Pope of Rome, that I may leaue to studie of any thing sa­uing that, which may be to thy glorie and praise, the health of mine owne soul, and the profit of my bre­thren: to thee therefore with the Father, and the holie Ghost, be all honor, [Page 121]power, praise, and domi­nion, both now and euer, Amen.

A praier to be made by those that be sicke.

MOst mercifull Fa­ther, which doest chastise euery child that thou receiuest, I be­seech thee for thy great mercie sake, giue me grace patiently to beare this thy [Page 122]fatherly correction, which thou dost so fauorably lay vpon me: and Lord I be­seech thee, giue me grace, that I do not (for this thy louing visitation, through the imbecillitie and weak­nes of the flesh) fall away from thee, but that I may constantly and patiently abide the same, vntill it shall please thy fatherly goodnes to send a reme­die for the same, knowing this; that whosoeuer doth [Page 123]not patiently suffer with thee the crosse of tribula­tion in this world, shall neuer reigne with thee in the world to come, in the place which thou hast pre­pared for thy elected chil­dren. And like as thou, O Lord, dost know the weak­nes of my wicked nature to be such and so great, that of my selfe I am not able to endure this thy gentle and louing chastise­ment; therefore most fa­therly [Page 124]hast thou promised that thou wilt neuer lay more correction vpon thy children than they are a­ble to beare: therefore most louing father, I be­seech thee giue me grace stedfastly to stick vnto this thy sweet promise, so that my aduersarie the diuell with his subtilitie be neuer able to withdraw my mind frō thee: but as he know­eth me to be weake of my selfe, so is he busie with all [Page 125]his might to tempt me, that I might fal away from thee my good God, and from thy sweet promises in my sauiour Iesus Christ, and so to make my soule a pray for himselfe. From whose diuelish temptati­ons, deliuer me the father, the Sonne, and the ho­lie Ghost, A­men.

A praier to be said when one traue­leth on his iournie.

ETernall and most lo­uing father, like as this world is no­thing els but a continuall pilgrimage, and that a man while he is in this world doth nothing els, but still labour and trauell to ga­ther vnto himselfe world­lie [Page 127]riches and promotion, and the more he hath, the more he still desireth, so that heer he doth neuer thinke himselfe satisfied; yea, he is euen as a bot­tomles bag, that will ne­uer be filled, be there ne­uer so much put into it: euen so good Lord, I be­seech thee giue me grace to haue such an earnest de­sire vnto thee, that I may continually all the daies of my life, trauell and la­bor [Page 128]to obtain thee, know­ing this, that whosoeuer obtaineth thee hath all things, & whosoeuer hath al the world without thee, hath nothing. For as the scripture saith; What doth it preuaile a man if he win the whole world, and in the end lose his owne soule? If a man, oh Lord, take such care and thought for these transito­rie riches, vaine pleasures, and delights, which are heer this day, and gone the [Page 129]next: how much more ought we to trauell, study, and labor, for those riches and pleasures, which ne­uer shall decay? But this is the dulnes and blockish­nes of our corrupt & wic­ked nature, which is daily readie to throwe vs into the lake of destruction: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Frō the which place of torments, deliuer vs the Father, the Sonne, & the holie Ghost, Amen.

A praier for a yoong man.

MOst mercifull fa­ther, which kee­pest and preseruest all those (of what estate, degree, or calling soeuer they be) that vnfeinedly and with a liuely faith do call vpon thee: therefore good father, I beseech thee (according to thy woon­ted mercie and goodnes) [Page 131]preserue me, which am a miserable sinner, and haue most greeuously offended thy maiestie, both in thought, word, and deed, and am altogither vnable of my selfe to make any satisfaction for mine offen­ces, but only to flie vnto thee by praier, and to call on thee in the name of thy welbeloued sonne our Sa­uior Iesus Christ, in whom only thou art well pleased, as thine Euangelist Saint [Page 132]Matthew testifieth in these words; And a voice came frō heauen, saieng; This is my welbeloued son, in whom I am well pleased, heare him. Heer­by may I see (oh most mer­cifull father) the great loue that thou bearest vnto this thy welbeloued sonne our only Sauiour & redeemer, therefore in his name I am bold to come and present my selfe before thy mercie seate, beseeching thee of thine infinite goodnes to [Page 133]blot out of thy remem­brance al my offences, and to renew a right spirit within me. And Lord I be­seech thee, giue me grace, that I being a yoong man, may so spend the residue of my daies heer vpon earth, as it may both tend to the glorie of thy holie name; and the health of my soule. And further­more I beseech thee good father, strengthen me with thy holie spirit, that I may [Page 134]remaine stedfast and vn­moouable, hoping for the reward of the faithfull martyrs, which endure and continue vnto the end, as Moises writeth of thy seruant Lot; And the angell said vnto Lot; Escape for thy life: looke not behind thee, nei­ther tarie thou in al the plaine; escape into the mountaines, least thou be destroied: wil­ling him to flie from the iudgments of God, and not to be sorie to depart [Page 135]from that fruitfull coun­trie. For such is the quali­tie of our corrupt nature, that when we are in this world, we are verie loth to depart from it, seeing the earthlie pleasures so great, esteeming them of more value than all the ioies of the life to come: oh good Lord what a wretchednes is this, that men will no better seeke for the salua­tion of their soules, but altogither for the vaine [Page 136]pleasures of this life: O Lord I beseech thee thrust this worldlie care out of my mind, and let the care of heauenlie things take such deepe roote in my hart, that it may euermore endure and continue so long as this earthlie life doth last. Another nota­ble example of continu­ance do I find in thy faith­full seruant Iob, in these words; And the Lord said vnto sathan; Hast thou not [Page 137]considered my seruant Iob, how none is like him in the earth? An vpright, a iust man, and one that feareth God, and es­cheweth euill; for yet he con­tinueth in his vprightnes, al­though thou moouedst me a­gainst him, to destroy him with out a cause. Heere, O Lord, was the grace of thy holie spirit; heer was the gift of continuance vnto the end; who although he had lost all worldlie pleasures, yet would he neuer start [Page 138]from the obedience of thy holie will; yea, although sathan that ancient enimie of all mankind, sought all the meanes that he could deuise to plague the car­case of poore Iob, yet did he remaine constant vnto the end, for all the trouble and persecutions that he abode. If it be thy will, good father, I pray thee to imprint this gratious gift of cōtinuance in my hart, that whatsoeuer crosse or [Page 139]tribulation I suffer, I may patiently abide the same: for as our Sauiour Christ saith; He that taketh not his crosse and followeth me, is not woorthie of me. And againe; He that will saue his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Oh vnhappie man that will seeke to saue his life in this world, and lose it in the life to come: and thrise happie is he that loseth his life in this world for our [Page 140]Sauiour Christ his sake: for he surely shall find it in the world to come in ioies euerlasting, which neither eie hath seene, nor eare hath heard, neither hath it entered into the hart of man: vnto the which ioies, Lord for thy mercie sake bring vs, and for thy deere sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake, to whome with thee and the holie Ghost, be all honor & glo­rie for euermore, Amen.

A praier for an old man.

ALmightie GOD, which-art the hel­per of all those that call to thee for succour, I beseech thee to come neer vnto me, and heare the voice of my crieng which haue liued long on earth, and that very wickedly, e­uen from my youth vnto this my crooked age, I [Page 142]haue still continued in blindnes and ignorance, yea and that wilfully, nei­ther seeking to attaine vn­to sight nor knowledge, whereby I might see into thy holie word, and therby perceiue mine owne wic­kednes and sin, and to get knowledge, therby to vn­derstand thy holie com­mandements, that I might through faith in thee seek to obserue the same. But now, O Lord, I come vnto [Page 143]thee, which neuer despisest the sighing of a contrite hart, nor the desire of such as be sorrowful, which ne­uer stoppest thine eare at the crie of a penitent sin­ner, nor withdrawest thy hande from helping of such as be in need; which callest sinners to repen­tance when it pleaseth thee, euen at all times and ages, some at the first how­er, some at the third, some at the ninth, and some at [Page 144]the eleuenth, of the which late number (oh Lord, tho­rough thine inestimable goodnes and mercie) I am one who haue spent the greatest part of the time of my life in sloth & wan­tonnes, and in all maner of vncleanes and wicked­nes, euen til now that I am readie to put one foot in­to the graue, that is euen till the eleuenth hower, or the verie latest time of my life. And had it not beene [Page 145]for the multitude of thy mercies, I might haue pro­ceeded forward in all kind of wickednes and sin, euen as I begun: but thou, oh mercifull father, which wilt not the death of a sin­ner, but rather that hee should repent and turne from his wickednes, and that his sin might be done away; Euen to thee, oh Lord God, belongeth mercy and for­giuenes. And thou it is, oh Lord, that wilt bring mer­cie [Page 146]and forgiuenes of sins, to as many as faithfully in thy deere son Iesus Christ do call to thee for mercie in time, before it be too late: yea, while it is said to day; To day if yee will heare my voice harden not your harts, as in the prouocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wildernes. And heerin I beseech thee good father, to forgiue me all the sins of my youth, which are as the sands of the sea in [Page 147]number: good Lord cast them into the bottome of the sea, where they neuer may be seen with eies, nor stand in iudgment against me. And also good Lord, I beseech thee to clense me from all my secret sins, and cast them from the light of thy countenance: & Lord I beseech thee direct me with thy holie spirit, that I may remaine thy faithfull seruant vnto the end, tho­rough Iesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

A praier for a maiden.

VNto thee, oh Lord GOD, belongeth mercy and forgiue­nes of sinnes, and the gift of a godlie and vertuous life: therefore, oh Lord, I do at this time present my selfe before thy diuine ma­iestie, beseeching thee not to looke vpon me, neither harken vnto me according [Page 149]to mine owne merits or worthines, but in the me­rits of thy deer sonne, our Sauiour Iesus Christ, re­quiring thee for his sake to be mercifull vnto me, and forgiue me all my sins that are past, and giue me grace, that hence forward I may no more so gree­uously offend thy maiestie as I haue done, both in thought, word, and deed, but that I may henceforth lead a godlie and christian [Page 150]life, folowing the example of Marie Magdalen, out of whom our Sauiour Christ cast seuen diuels, who in the beginning was a great and a greeuous sinner, but in the end, confessing hir wickednes and sin, obtai­ned free remission at thy hands, and became a new woman, leading hir life in holines and righteousnes: and as the euangelist Luke witnesseth, when our Saui­our Christ entred into the [Page 151]house of one of the Phari­sies to dine with him, be­hold, a woman in the citie which was a sinner, when she knew that Iesus sate at the table in the pharisies house, she brought a boxe of ointment, and she stood at his feet behind him we­ping, & began to wash his feet with tears, & did wipe them with the haires of hir head, and kissed his feete, and annointed them with the ointment: shewing the [Page 152]great humilitie and reue­rence which she bare vnto our Sauiour. Good father, I besech thee giue me such a contrite hart, as had this Marie Magdalene, that I may so bewaile my sins, while I remaine heere on earth, that when I depart from this vale of miserie, I may remaine with thee in ioies euerlasting: to the which place bring vs the Father, the Sonne, and the holie Ghost, Amen.

A praier to be said of all true and faithfull sub­iects, desiring almightie God to blesse and keepe the Queenes most excel­lent Maiestie.

GOD, which art the author and giuer of all goodnes, & spa­rest not to bestowe plenti­fully on al those that faith­fully aske it of thee, I be­seech thee therfore, good father, giue me thy grace, [Page 154]that I may keepe my selfe vnder the obedience of thy seruant, my souereigne Queene, that I may loue hir, and obey hir lawes, as thou, oh Lord, hast com­manded euery subiect: and the Apostle Paule wri­ting to the Romans, saith; Let euerie soule be subiect vn­to the higher powers: for there is no power but of God: and the powers that be are ordeined of God. For he that resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance [Page 155]of God: and they that resist, shall receiue vnto themselues iudgement. And writing to the Hebrues, he saith; Obey them that haue the ouersight of you, and submit your selues: for they watch for your soules, as they that must giue ac­counts, that they may do it with ioy, and not with greefe: for that is vnprofitable for you. Heer I see, oh Lord, how streight commandement we haue to obey those that are magistrates ouer vs, of [Page 156]the which magistrats that are appointed to the ouer­sight of the people, vnder thy diuine maiestie, the prince is the chiefe: good father, therefore I beseech thee giue me grace, that I may not swerue from this commandement, but that I may at all times and in al places, next vnder thee my heauenlie father, giue due honor and obedience vn­to my prince, as vnto one whom thou hast appoin­ted [Page 157]ruler in thy steed, that there may be no signe of disobedience seen in me. And Lord, I beseech thee to blesse and preserue thy seruant, our most gratious Queene & gouernesse, that she may long liue to the setting foorth of thy glo­rie, the aduancement of vertue, and abolishment of vice, that thy name may be glorified, and thy people edified, to the glorie of thy name, and the health of [Page 158]their soules; Lord I pray thee prosper all hir good and godlie proceedings, as thou diddest prosper thy faithful seruant Iosua, whē he went in armes against Ierico. And Lord I beseech thee, defend hir as thou didst thy seruant Ezekiah from the cruell railings of Rabsecah the seruant of Senacherib, who railing both against him and thy holie name, was by thy mightie hand vtterly de­stroied, [Page 159]and slaine in one night, and Senacherib him selfe slaine of his owne sons, as he worshipped his idol Nesroth, euen so good father, I beseech thee, let it happen to the enimies of thy seruant Elizabeth: let, O LORD, rise a­gainst hir one way, and flie before hir seuen waies. Blesse good father I besech thee, all that she taketh in hand, that it may be seene in all lands, that thy name [Page 160]is called vpon by hir, and that shee doth spend hir daies in the setting foorth of thy glorie. And Lord I beseech thee, giue vnto hir the wisedome of Salomon, that as the Queene of Sa­ba did come from the east to heare the wisedome of Salomon; so all nations may come to heare the wisedome of this thy ser­uant, and to see hir pru­dent gouernment, & won­der at the same: and let all [Page 161]hir enimies confesse with greefe of hart, that thy hand is with hir hand, and against them that are a­gainst hir, vntill they be consumed from off the face of the earth. And fur­thermore, good father, I beseech thee, if it be thy good will and pleasure, ad vnto hir yeers as thou did­dest to the yeers of Ezeki­ah, that when the end of hir daies are come, they may be lengthened as [Page 162]were the dais of that good king Ezekiah, vnto the glorie of thy name, and the helth of hir soule. And further good Lord, I pray, that all traitors that go a­bout to hurt thine annoin­ted, may be consumed frō of the face of the earth, them and their seed for e­uermore. These things, good father I beseech thee grant, and all other neces­saries, which thou knowest to be needfull for vs; for [Page 163]thy deere sonne our Saui­our Iesus Christ his sake: to whome with thee, and the holie Ghost, be all honor and glorie world without end, Amen.

A praier for a housholder.

ALmightie GOD, which art the ma­ker and gouernor of all things, and createst rulers as it pleaseth thy maiestie, which also hast made me (thy seruant) the maister and gouernor of a houshold or familie, I be­seech thee, good father, giue me grace, that I may [Page 165]shew vnto my familie such example of life, as both they may be edified, and thy holie name glorified both in them and me. And Lord I pray thee, giue me grace, that I may be gentle vnto my seruants, and not bitter; remembering al­waies (as the holie Apostle Saint Paul saith) that I my selfe haue also a maister in heauen. And good father, I pray thee let me haue a care to see that all necessa­rie [Page 166]things belonging to my familie, may be proui­ded, that nothing may be lacking, that is pertaining to a Christian familie: for as the scripture saith; He that is without care of his houshold or familie, is woorse than an infidell: oh what a reproch is this, for a Chri­stian man to be accounted an infidell, for not hauing care of his houshold. Good father, I beseech thee for Iesus Christ his sake, that I [Page 167]may haue such a care as thou hast commanded in thy holie word, that this great reproch and infamie may not be laid vnto my charge, nor imputed vnto mee. And furthermore, good father, I pray thee, that I may be louing and friendly vnto my neigh­bors, and alwaies willing to helpe and further them with their busines and la­bors, and neuer mindfull to hinder them, but that [Page 168]in all my doings and pro­ceedings, I may shew my selfe louing vnto them, and dutifull and obedient vnto thee: to the honor and praise of thy name, and the profit of my bre­thren, through Ie­sus Christ our Lord, A­men.

Another praier for faith.

ALmightie and most mercifull Father, which grantest the request and petition of as many as call vpon thee faithfully, and without faith whosoeuer asketh is sure not to obtaine: for as the Apostle witnesseth; Without faith it is vnpossible to please God. And in ano­ther [Page 170]place; Whatsoeuer is not of faith, is sin. Therefore good father, I beseech thee, for thy deere son Iesus Christ his sake, grant vnto mee this great and excellent gift of faith, which is the gift that thou bestowest vpon all thy seruants. And seeing that without this, it is vnpossible to plese thee, and without pleasing thee it is vnpossible to obtaine euerlasting life, for these causes (most deere father) [Page 171]I come vnto thee, besee­ching thee in the bowels of thy deere sonne our Sa­uiour his sake, to ingraffe into me a true and liuely faith in this my Sauiour, that whatsoeuer I aske in his name faithfully, may be obtained effectually, to the releefe of my necessi­tie, and to the setting forth and spreading abroad of thy glorie and praise, tho­rough Iesus Christ our on­ly Sauiour and redeemer, Amen.

A praier for a labo­ring man to be said, when he is about to begin his labor.

ETernall GOD, and most louing father, which hatest nothing that thou hast made, nei­ther despisest any thing that thou hast created, which also commandest al men to labor and take [Page 173]paines in this world, ther­by to sustaine our bodies with necessarie thinges therto belonging: for this cause deere father, I be­seech thee to blesse and prosper all my labors, that hence forward I take in hand. And as thou, O Lord, hast commaunded vnto man in the time that he had transgressed, sai­eng; In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eate thy meate, vn­till the time that thou returne [Page 174]to earth againe: for dust thou art, and vnto dust shalt thou returne: euen so, good fa­ther, I besech thee to blesse and prosper whatsoeuer I take in hand, so that it may be to the glorie of thy name, and the profit of my brethren, through Iesus Christ our only Sa­uiour and re­deemer, Amen.

A praier to be said in the time of per­secution.

MOst deere and lo­uing father, which of thy owne good­nes didst so loue the world that it pleased thee of thy free mercie, to send thine only sonne into the world to take our nature vpon him, therby to deliuer the world from sin, death, and [Page 176]hell: and promising, that whosoeuer did call vpon him faithfully; beleeue in him stedfastly; and perse­uere vnto the ende con­stantly; should receiue of him (after this life) a crown of euerlasting glorie: then who will not endeuour to call vpon him faithfully? Who is such an infidell, as (knowing this) wil not be­leeue stedfastly? Or who so vnconstant or wauering minded, as will not suffer [Page 177]all the torments vnder heauen, to obtaine this vn­speakeable reward? But forsomuch, good father, as all these things are thy good gifts, and without thy gratious fauour it is vnpossible for me to do a­ny of all these things; ther­fore, good father, I beseech thee for thy deere sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ his sake, to put into my hart, grace to call vpon him faithfully; faith to be­leeue [Page 178]in him stedfastly; and constancie to remaine vn­to the end vnmoouably, that I may obtaine this re­ward: the greatnes and goodnes whereof, no eie hath seene, no eare hath heard, neither hath it en­tred into the hart of man. And although the cruell and malicious tyrants of the world do go about by all the means they can de­uise to draw me from thee, by their crueltie and mis­cheefe: [Page 179]yet in this great ex­tremitie, O good father, I pray thee giue mee thy comfortable aide, that as I haue begun in thee to a­bide their cruell rackings, and other persecutions, (wherewith they vexe and torment thy children) so I may continue vnto the end, knowing as our Saui­our Christ saith; Whosoeuer doth endure vnto the end, shall be saued. And in another place he saith; he that doth [Page 180]put his hand vnto the plough, and looketh backe, is vnwoor­thie of the kingdome of hea­uen. But for that the frail­tie of mans nature is such, as of himselfe he is not a­ble to endure the least touch of persecutiō with­out thy fatherly aid and comfort, I beseech thee therefore, good Father, strengthen mee with thy holie spirit, that (for all the troubles and torments of this wicked world) I may [Page 181]not once looke backe, but perseuere vnto the end in that good worke, which thou, O Lord, hast begun in mee. And forsomuch, good father, as there are many things in this world that doth hinder man ve­ry much from following of Christ, as the loue of worldlie riches, of father and mother, wife and chil­dren, of brethren and sis­ters, and such like: there­fore our Sauiour Christ [Page 182]saith plainly; He that loueth father or mother more than me, is not woorthie of me: and he that loueth sonne or daugh­ter more than me, is not woor­thie of me. And he that taketh not his crosse and followeth af­ter me, is not woorthie of me. He that will saue his life, shall lose it: and he that will lose his life for my sake, shall find it. Thus may all men see, oh most merciful father, what a great commoditie there is to be had in the world [Page 183]to come, by losing life in this world for Christ his sake. Therefore, good fa­ther, I beseech thee giue me grace patiently to suf­fer whatsoeuer persecuti­on the wicked tyrants of the world wil lay vpon me, and not to looke backe or shrinke from the same, knowing, that for euerie moment of sorrowes that I suffer for Christs sake in this world; I shall haue a million of ioies in the [Page 184]world to come: vnto the which place, God for his sonne Iesus Christ his sake bring vs; to whom with the Father and the holie Ghost, be all honor & glorie, world without end, Amen.

A praier for a competent li­uing.

ALmightie GOD, which mercifully bestowest thy gifts and graces vpon all thy faithfull seruants, and gi­uest vnto euerie man suffi­cient, according to thy good will and pleasure, I beseech thee, good father, grant vnto me a sufficient [Page 186]and competent liuing, that I neither haue too much riches, nor extreme need; but euen liuing wherwith I may sustaine my selfe, and helpe my poore neighbor: for as the wise man Salo­mon saith; Two things haue I required of thee, denie me them not before I die: remoue far from me vanitie and lies; giue me not pouertie nor ri­ches: feed me with food con­uenient for me; least I be full, and denie thee, and say; Who [Page 187]is the Lord? Or least I be poore and steale, and so take the name of my God in vaine. Therefore, good father, I beseech thee giue vnto me sufficient to serue my need and no more; for heere I see the discommoditie of them both: grant this, good father, I besech thee for Iesus Christ his sake, my only Sauiour & redeemer, Amen.

A praier for a ma­gistrate.

ETernall GOD and most mercifull fa­ther, which hast fra­med all men out of the clay of the earth, & hatest nothing that thou hast created; which also hast appointed euery man in his vocation and calling, to do his dutie faithfully, and to walke in the way [Page 189]which thou hast appoin­ted for them: and hast ap­pointed magistrates & ru­lers for the ouersight of thy people, among whom it hath pleased thee to ap­point me thy seruant to be one, I beseech thee there­fore, good father, giue me grace so to vse my selfe in my vocation, as it may be both to the glorie of thy name, and the profit of thy people, which thou hastappointed to the vnder [Page 190]me. And also, good father, I pray thee giue me grace, that I may be louing and gentle vnto them, and not spitefull and rigorous, so that I may win them vnto thee rather by gentlenes, than by tyrannie. And fur­thermore, good father, I besech thee giue me grace, that I may so liue my selfe, as my liuing may be an ex­ample vnto them of good life, so that vice may be pu­nished, and vertue aduan­ced, [Page 191]and that euerie man may liue according to his vocation, so that thy name may be glorified, and their soules edified, through Iesus Christ our Lord, A­men.

A praier for a con­clusion of this lit­tle booke.

O Lord, from whom all good things do come, and without whom nothing neither is good, neither can any way be made good, I be­seech thee to blesse this la­bor, and to prosper it, and grant that some fruit may [Page 193]arise by it. And forsomuch as faithfull praier is an ac­ceptable sacrifice in thy sight, grant therfore, good father, that euerie one when they pray may pray by faith, that in so doing they may obtaine that, which they pray for. And Lord, I pray thee put away all impediments that hin­der godlie praier, as too much care of worldlie goods, pride, vaine glorie, and other like: all which [Page 194]things are lets and impe­diments that hinder prai­er; grant therefore, good father, that when I pray, I may put away all thoughts and imaginations of vaine worldly pleasure, that thy holie word may take deep root in my hart to the glo­rie of thy name, the com­fort of my soule, and the strengthening of my bre­thren, thorough Iesus Christ our Lord: to whom with thee and the holie [Page 195]Ghost, be al honor, glorie, power, praise, dominion, and thanks giuing, both now and euermore, Amen.

All glorie to God alone.