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Twynes Praiers
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Genre
Prayer
Date
1580
Full Title
The Garlande of Godlie Flowers, Commonly called Twynes Praiers, carefully collected, and bewtifully adorned with the most fragrant blossoms that flourish in the comfortable Gardein of the right pure and sacred Scriptures. Yeelding foorth a verie comfortable fauour to the afflicted soule, whereby he is safely transported to the mercifull throne of God, there to gaine forgiuenes of his offences.
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STC 24409
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THE GARLAND of godlie Flowers.
N.
Not with seruice vnto the eie, asmen pleasers: but as the seruants
of Christ, do yee the will
of God from the heart, with
good will seruing the Lord, and
not men. Ephes. 6, verse. 7.
The first Flower.
NOthing thereis that casteth
mankind more
deepe into thy
displeasure, O
celestiall father,
C.j.
1
than sinne: nothing that aduancethhim so high in thy fauour, as
faithfull repentance: the bewtie
of the one is so pleasant in the
sight of thy maiestie, that it blotteth
out quite the blemishes of
the other.
2 And since I am a miserable
mortall creature, I must needes
confesse, that I haue all maner of
waies transgressed thy most diuine
commandements in the due
obseruation whereof there consisteth
life and welfare vnto my
soule, and by the breach and violation
thereof, nothing else but
the seuere sentence of finalldamnation.
3 Therefore I cannot tell, most
2
miserable wretch as I am, howI should presume to approch to
thee for mercie, I dare not shewe
my selfe before thee, but if it were
possible, I would gladly hyde my
selfe from thy sight, where thou
mightest not finde mee that by
such meanes I might escape thy
dreadfull iudgement.
4 Howbeit, O Lorde, thou art
the mightie God, to whom all
things in heauen and earth are
knowne since they were framed
onely by thy cunning fingers,
whose greatnes comprehendeth
whatsoeuer thou hast created, &
whose eies behold what is done
in the top of the highest, and in
the bottome of the deepest places
c.ij.
3
in the world.5 In thy sight Lord, the most
secrete thoughts of the hart are
open, and whatsoeuer mans imagination
can co~ceiue it lieth forth
plaine before thy most glorious
face: from thee there are no cogitations
conceiled, no pretences
suppressed, no practises withholden,
no deuises couered, nor the
smallest motions of the minde,
hidden.
6 Unto thee therefore, with
trembling and teares I returne,
appealing from the high, dread, &
terrible throne of thy iust iudgement,
remoouing my cause to the
most amiable, pleasant, and comfortable
court of thy manifolde
4
mercies: from the seueritie of theone wherof, O righteous Iudge,
I flie with feare, & to the mildenesse
of the other, O mercifull father,
I drawe neere with clasped
armes.
7 Euen there, Lord, thou hast
laid vp such abundance of graces
and plentie of pardons, and store
of forgiuenes of sinnes that they
do surmount the number of the
offences, be they neuer so grieuous,
that I poore wretch or all
mankind is able to commit to the
worldes end: and ouerspread the
greatnes of all thy most wonderfull
workes.
8 Here then it is, O my God,
that I dare to appeare before thy
c.iij.
5
diuine Maiestie, a filthy sinnerbefore a mercifull God, a very
lumpe of wickednes before the eternall
creator of al things, of inestimable
wisedome, that takest
mercie vpon our weakenes and
infirmitie, because thou wotest
well the stuffe, & substance wherof
thou hast made vs.
9 Behold, Lorde, I call vnto
mee, thy deerely beloued Sonne,
my most louing redeemer Iesus
Christ to be mine aduocate, according
vnto his owne freewil &
voluntary offering: through who~
by his most precious bloud shed
vnto thee, vpon the acceptable altar
of the Crosse, in liew of the
double death that we should all
6
haue died for our most horribleoffences, I looke for the forgiuenes
of my sinnes.
10 Pardon I beseech thee, O
God, O pardon my greeuous iniquities,
forgiue me all my wickednes,
release my negligences,
remit mine ignorances, forget my
transgressions, abandon the lothsomnes
of my sinnes, which from
my mothers wombe vnto this
present day I haue committed, or
shall doe hereafter vnto my liues
ende.
11 Then being thus clensed &
purified through thy gracious
bountie, from al contagion of sinfull
impuritie, grant that I may
obtaine a liuelie spirite, & feruent
c.iiij.
7
faith, and ardent affection at thyhandes, incessantly to cast vp my
minde vnto thee in most earnest
contemplation, & stedfastly to call
vpon thee in most hartie praier,
to the glorie of thy holy name,
& mine owne exceeding comfort.
12 Lord, in all my necessities,
aduersities, troubles, greefes, miseries,
and afflictions, confirme
my heart that I may put my
whole trust and affiance in thy
Maiestie, and seeke none other
meanes, nor take none other co~fort,
than in reading thy worthie
worde, or in recourse to thee in
most faithfull, and effectuall supplications.
13 So prone is the nature of
8
mankinde vnto euill, that almostthere is none to be found, Lorde,
that liueth in thy lawes, or sheweth
in his conuersation that he
standeth in dread of thy power.
Who is afeard to offende thee, or
who refraineth to blaspheme thy
holy name, or seeketh to make
subiect the flesh to the spirite, or
to bridle the vnreasonable lustes
of his carnall sensualitie, making
them captiuate vnto the minde?
14 If at any time, Lord, as is
the frailtie of our corruptible nature,
& the incessant suggestions
of Satan our auncient enimie,
I feele in my selfe any faintnes
or failing of feruencie, in calling
continually vpo~ thee: kindle thou
9
then within my hart the heauenlyheate of thy holie spirite that I
may burne in the zeale of thee,
and thy most holy house.
15 Graunt me the grace, to
crie with thy holy and blessed Apostle
for encrease of faith, that
being awakened & stirred vp by
thy most tender and fatherly instigation,
I may enioy the effect
of my godlie & necessarie desires
which thou hast promised to yeeld
vnto me through thy deere sonne
Iesus Christ, my onely sauiour,
for whose sake I expect all good
things at thy hands.
16 Be not wearie, O Lord, to
lend thine eare vnto my sinfull
praier, and make me that I be
10
neuer wearie to powre out mycomplaints euermore before thee.
The more I pray, the more kindle
thou my desire, and the greater
the blessings are which I receiue
at thy hands, the more stirre
thou vp my minde to admiration,
and my heart to thankfulnesse, &
all the powers of my soule to render
praise to thy Maiestie.
17 Performe, my God, that
which thou hast indented with
thy seelie seruant, who with anguish
of minde and heauines of
heart euermore seeketh after the
comfort of thy face: continue in
me the custome to call vpon thee
in praier, and all the powers of
my body shall not cease to sing
11
thy sacred praise. Amen.I.
If ye being euill, know to giueyour children good gifts: how
much more will your Father
which is in heauen, giue good
things to them that aske them?
Luk. 11, verse. 13.
The second Flower.
IN most hartiehope of thy manifolde
mercies, and
with lowly reuere~ce,
O euerlasting
God, loe, thus I draw nigh vnto
12
thee, being sore laden with the infinitenumber of my sinnes: trusting
in thy fatherlie goodnes, &
entier loue, which thou bearest
vnto mankinde, thou wilt discharge
me of mine vnrighteousnes,
and wash awaie all mine infirmities.
2 Thy louing kindnes hath
bene inestimable, which thou hast
borne vnto me since my simple
conception in the tender intrailes
of my mother, within whose bodie
thou didst lay forth the platforme
of my bodie, framedst so my
flesh, and gauest vnto mee the representation
of a man, thy bestbeloued
and comliest creature.
3 After this, in due maturitie
13
of time according to ye establishedand ordinarie season, assigned by
thy heauenlie wisedome much
trauell and sharpe paines going
before, according as it is expressed
in thy holie worde, thou
broughtest mee foorth into this
world: my first tune giuing proofe
of the vnhappie condition, that I
should enioy therein.
4 Lorde, thou knowest how
that so soone as I was deliuered
from my mothers wombe: euen
then from rest and quietnes I
entred first into this most wofull
vale of miserie, and so soone as I
was discharged from that close
prison, I began my life in feeblenes
and sorrow, & the first breath
14
that I fet, I bestowed it foorth inbitter criengs, and most pitifull
plaints.
5 These miserable infirmities,
O Lorde, haue I considered
within my selfe, and how I am
wrapped round about with cares,
as it were in a blanket, whereof
I cannot acquite my selfe no not
of the least: but in consideration
thereof of verie necessitie I am
enforced to flie to thy maruelous
mercie, for speedie helpe and deliuerance.
6 Helpe me therefore, my God,
& hold me vp with thy most holie
hand, for thou art mine onlie succour,
thou art the shielde of my
safetie, and the fort of my defence,
15
and the castle of my comfort, andthe rampire of my refuge, and the
wall of my welfare, & the strong
hold of my euerlasting happines:
thou art the crowne of my victorie,
and thou liftest vp my head.
7 For there is no saluation in
the power of man, riches are of
small force, the strength of our
bodie is not so much as thou hast
giuen to an horse, or an oxe, there
is no title of nobilitie or honour
that thou doest regard: and as for
the health of our bodie, it is quite
ouerthrowne with the least infirmitie
that thou sendest, besides
that our life is subiect to innumerable
casualties.
8 Arise therefore now, O my
16
soule, out of the bed of securitie,& slumber no longer in the sleepe
of sinne: put on thine armour of
faith against thy aduersarie the
Diuell, or rather cloath thy selfe
with the garment of righteousnesse
which thou hast obtained
through Christ Iesus thy Sauiour.
Humble thy selfe before
him in hartie praier, turne from
euill, and do that which is good,
seeke after peace and follow it.
9 Say vnto him: leade me
Lord in the way that may be best
liking vnto thee. Keepe my tong
from greeuous offence, my heart
from cruell hate, my minde from
fond loue and worldly concupiscence,
and generally preserue me
D.j.
17
from all vicious and vngodlie affectionsthat follow the frailtie of
the rebellious flesh, & carrie men
headlong away from God.
10 Preserue me, O most louing
Lord, from hencefoorth, I
humblie beseech thee, vnto my
liues end, euen as thou hast done
hitherto fro~ my tender age: Giue
me not ouer at anie time vnto
mine owne sinfull waies and obstinate
wilfulnes, and let me not
find thy most louing kindnes in
any point withdrawen from me
now in these my present yeeres.
11 Giue vnto me thy humble
seruant, that I may yeeld thee
most hartie thankes, for all thy
benefits plentifully powred vpon
18
me: and that hart which thou hastgiuen vnto me, fulfill it, O God,
with dutifull remembrance towards
thee, and take the spirite
of ingratitude from my minde, &
vnthankfulnes from my mouth.
12 Make all the cogitations
of my mind, and the actions of my
bodie acceptable vnto thee, and
that which may offende thy diuine
Maiestie, or is repugnant
vnto thy sacred co~mandements,
let it not once enter into my
thought: keepe mine eies from seing
it, mine eares from hearing
it, & my sense of feeling from conceauing
delight in it.
13 But cause me to take a singular
delectation in the practise
d.ij.
19
of all things that may be pleasantvnto thee: put awaie from me all
erring from thy waies, all falling
from thy feare, all hating of thy
honour, all wearines of thy will,
all lothsomnes of thy loue, and
make me to take that which thou
louest, & to hate that which thou
abhorrest.
14 Take from me all pride &
selfe liking, that I may conceiue
no good opinion of my selfe for
that which is none of mine own:
let me not thinke I am ritch in
thee when in deede I am poore,
that I see when I am blind, that
I am hid when I am naked, that
I am iust when I am vnrighteous,
that I am something when
20
I am nothing.15 As for the infinitie of my
offences, which in number surpasse
the sandes of the sea: giue
vnto me a cleere sparcle of thy
heauenlie light, O my God, that
I may behold them, a penitent
hart that I may confesse them,
plentifull teares that I may bewaile
them, a woonderfull misliking
that I may abhorre them, a
feruent zeale that praieng hartilie
for them, I may by thy mercie
be deliuered from them.
16 O Lord, is there any thing
that flesh and bloud may glorie of
in thy sight? no trulie, for their
sense is foolish and abhominable
before thee, and thou hast asked vs
d.iij.
21
what we haue which we hauenot receaued? from the fountaine
of thy fulnes we haue drawne all
that we haue enioied, and of our
selues there is not one that doth
good, no Lord, not one.
17 Create in me therefore, O
gracious Lord, a new heart, and
a new soule: turne me into thy
way that I may not sinne, confirme
me in thy faith that I may
not fall, erect me in all good works
that be acceptable in thy sight,
then cannot my mouth cease
but alwaies be shewing thy
peerelesse praises, and
milde mercies.
Amen.
22
C.
Come not in the path of the vngodly,and walke not in the way
of the wicked. Prouerb. 4, verse.
14. Cast all your care vpon
God, for he careth for you.
1. Pet. 5, 7.
The third Flower.
COme vnto meeall ye that trauell &
be heauie laden, criest
thou O my most
sweete Sauiour, &
I will refresh you. Here now I
come vnto thee, offering my selfe
d.iiij.
23
before thy heaue~ly maiestie, lowlyfalling downe vpon the knees of
my hart, holding vp the hands of
my faith, whereby I may take
most assured hope of thee, & come
vnto thee.
2 Drawe me vnto thee for else
I am not able to come, I can do
nothing thereto of my selfe, not so
much as think one good thought,
much lesse merite, or deserue to
presume vnto thee, vpon respect
of any mine owne worthines: yea
drawe thee neere vnto me, & bend
downe thy mercifull eares vnto
my pitious plaints, and hasten
thee, Lorde, to heare my humble
requestes.
3 As for my worthines, it is
24
vnworthines before thee, my sensesbe vnsauourie, my thoughts
be sinful, my deedes be damnable,
and the whole course of my life is
a poisoned puddle of lamentable
destruction: and if thou haue regarde
vnto my merites, then am
I sure to haue despaire for mine
hire, damnation for my desert, and
Hell for mine inheritance.
4 O thou Almightie, before
whom the Angels tremble at
their impuritie, the Sunne is
fowle, the Moone is filthie, the
Starres vncleane, and the Heauens
are corrupt: what can I
haue to boast of in the presence of
thy diuine Maiestie, from whom
all purenes floweth as a golden
25
streame, but onely mine owne naturallvncleanlines, and that I
am the child of perdition?
5 Supplie thou my defects, O
God, and what is wanting in
me, make it perfect through thee,
who art the summe of all goodnes,
& perfection vnto the righteous
and the accomplishment of al
that euer mans hart can require,
or his fraile estate standeth in
neede of: let me not depart destitute
from thee, for in thee is the
fulnes of all felicitie.
6 Here where I am Lorde, I
am laden sore and greeuously ouerpressed
with the burden of my
sinnes: they weigh me extreemely
downe to the grounde, I cannot
26
looke vp for them, & my crusshedbones do ake with extreeme wearines,
and there is none that can
lighten me but only thou, and my
trust is that thou wilt not defer
long to do so.
7 Come, O Lorde, O come
speedily, & set to thy helping hand,
and rise vp to deliuer him that
putteth his trust in thee only, for
there is none that saueth but
thou, none besides thee that forgiueth
offences: take from me, I
beseech thee, this weight of wickednes,
cleere me from this clog
of corruption, and seuer me from
this sinke of sinne.
8 Humble my heart, that I
may haue no vaine liking of my
27
selfe, and that my friends, neighbours,and acquaintance, finally
the world fall into no displeasure
against me therfore, but specially
I stand in feare of thy Maiesties
wrath, since the offence of selfeloue
is so greeuous that it hath
brought many to destruction both
of bodie and soule, from which let
thy mercie preserue me.
9 Fortifie my minde with the
strongest armour of pacie~ce, that
I may take in good parte all
mockes, scoffes, reproches, & persecutions
for thy truthes sake, &
when I am prooued, let mee be
found faithfull: let not the dread
of death daunt me, nor the loue of
life so leade me away, but that I
28
may valiantly leaue it for the testimonieof thy vndoubted truth.
10 Confirme me fully, O my
Creator, in thy truth & in al godlines:
let not shining of promotions,
nor thunder of threatnings,
nor windie puffes of worldly vanitie,
plucke me from that which
is right and iust, for that is the
onely thing that is acceptable before
the presence of thy heauenly
Maiestie: but grant that thy wil
may be my way, and thy lawe my
delite.
11 Driue away all dimnes fro~
mine eies, and sluggishnes from
my feete, that I may speedily behold,
and diligently fulfill to my
abilitie, the least point and iote of
29
thy precepts: whereto when Ihaue applied my selfe, yet am I to
much an vnprofitable seruant,
notwithstanding let thy tender
mercie alwaies preuent me, O
my most sweete God.
12 Thou hast lifted me vp aloft
in thy sight of thy people, and
hast indued me with great honor
aboue my peeres & equals, grant
vnto me likewise so much to excell
them in vertue and godlines:
make me a worthie minister and
steward of thy gifts, considering
that all power and authoritie co~meth
from thee, and that thou
raisest the vngodly on high to cast
him downe low, & the loftier his
seate is, the more great, and greeuous
30
is his fall.13 Engender in mee, good
Lorde, a greedie desire to do iustice,
that hauing thee alwaies
before mine eies, and printing thy
iudgements within my heart: I
may be free from all affection, and
pure from all partialitie, hauing
no respect to the persons, but vprightly
weighing the causes, that
thereby the truth may be aduanced,
and vniustice condemned.
14 Remooue from me all corruption
in iudgement, and vnrighteousnes
in dealing, keepe my
mouth from leasings, & my hands
fro~ bloud, remembring that thou
art the searcher of the heart and
reines, thou shalt come to iudge
31
the quick and the dead, repaiengvnto euery man according vnto
the workes of his owne hands.
15 Lord, I beseech thee, make
me so to liue that I may haue thy
loue, and in al mine actions guide
me with thy most speciall grace.
Tie me vnto thy holie pleasure, &
not vnto mine owne waies: make
my senses obedient to thy blessed
will, and gouerne thou mine affections
that they be not offensiue
to thy Maiestie, & vouchsafe
of thy gracious goodnes to keepe
me from all euill.
16 Whensoeuer I shalbe in
trouble, or fall into any manner
calamitie or vexatio~, listen Lord,
vnto the praier and sighes of thy
32
seruant which crieth vnto thee,and deliuer me as thou didst the
children of Israel from the greeuous
bondage of Pharao, & Daniel
from the gaping mouthes of
the greedie Lions. For thou art
the onely refuge in time of affliction,
and my hope is that thou
wilt help me at my neede.
17 Forgiue me, O my Lord,
and my God, the wickednes of
my forepassed life, remember not
mine offences, neither the offences
of my predecessours to lay the~
vnto my charge, lay forth the direct
line of thy lawe before my
feete that I may walke therein
without erring, regenerate a
new will within me to perseuere
E.j.
33
in thy way, holde me vp thereinthat I do not fall, prick me foorth
that I do not faint, & my tongue
shall talke co~tinually of thy most
glorious goodnes. Amen.
H.
Happy are those seruants, whomthe Lorde when he commeth,
shall finde waking. Verily I say
vnto you, that he shall girde
himselfe, and make them to sit
downe to meate, and will come
forth, and minister vnto them.
Luke. 12. verse. 37.
The fourth Flower.
HArken vnto the voice of theLorde thy God, O my seelie
34
soule, and heare what cheerefullpromises he hath reposed in store
for thee: namely, that whensoeuer
thou repentest thee of thy sinnes
from the bottome of thy hart, he
will blot out the remembrance
of them for euermore, so that they
shall neuer be imputed vnto thee.
2 O come then with speede, &
with all submission cast forth the
intollerable burden of thy most
lothsome lustes before the Lord,
acknowledge the multitude of
thine iniquities, call vnto him
that he would set open the gates
of his manifolde mercies vnto
thee, giue thee a perfect penitent
hart, and the spirite of constancie
to perseuere in the same.
e.ij.
35
3 Bend downe thine heauenlyeies, O Lord, from the celestiall
throne of thy glorie, and beholde
the state and condition of me that
lie here in the earth belowe, weltring
in this vale of wickednes,
drenched in this dungeo~ of darknes,
martired in millians of miseries,
couched in this cloake of
calamities, lost in this laberinth
of lustes, smoudred in this smoke
of sensualitie, greatly growing
from grace, and voide of vertue.
4 Wherefore, as thou hast at
this present time, so continue
with daily increasing in me, a
misliking of my life in reguard
of imperfections, a lothing of my
selfe in respect of sinne, a desire
36
vnto thee by meane of faithfullpraier, hartie contrition, possible
satisfaction, innouation of life,
continuation of grace, tending
vnto the preseruation both of my
bodie, and soule.
5 Send downe vnto me, Lord,
the cleere looking glasse of thy
wisedome, that I may beholde
therein the ouglesomnes and deformitie
of mine vnrighteousnes,
giue me a vial ful of the water
of vnfained repentance, that
sprinkling my selfe therewith, although
I were with sins more
red than scarlet, I may be made
more white than snow.
6 Wash awaie the filthines of
my sinnes with a branch of bitter
e.iij.
37
Isop, wherein is figured thevnpleasant taste of afflictions,
troubles, and persecutions sent
vnto vs by thy hande, most righteous
God, in liew of our offences,
and then I shall become passing
pure: turne me vnto thee &
I shalbe turned, and correct me
and I shalbe corrected, and lay
thy fatherly chastisement vpon
me thy wretched childe.
7 For why, I knowe, that
whom thou louest thou correctest,
and euerie one whom thou
receiuest thou exercisest first in
the sharpe schoole of thy wholesome
discipline: this hope therefore
I haue reposed in my hart
that I am and shalbe thine, as
38
thou hast taught me to call theemine, I thy sonne, and thee my
father, I a most wretched sinner,
and thee a most mercifull God.
8 Neuertheles ouercharge
me not, O sweete Lorde, I beseech
thee, nor lay not more vpon
my backe than I am able to carrie:
nor let me not be tempted aboue
my simple power, nor thrust
at in such sort that I cannot possiblie
stande, for thou knowest
best the infirmitie of my fraile
fleshe, and the weakenes of our
kinde, since we all be thine, & the
worke of thy most holie handes.
9 O my God, what is there in
this worlde that men should bee
so greedie to continue therin, and
e.jiij.
39
so loth to forgo the fruitio~ of thistransitorie life? while we remain
here we are all touched with
troubles, those that haue wealth
at will are checked with calamities,
yea Princes themselues are
not alwaies at ease, besides that,
wee heape vp dailie the desert of
thy iudgement.
10 Whilest my daies be prolonged
within this dark denne of
mortalitie, lighten the Lanterne
of thy diuine worde before my
feete that I stumble not against
the heap of my hainous offences,
and staie vp my steppes with the
sauing assistance of thy holie spirite,
the comforter of al mankind,
that I fall not downe headlong
40
into the deepe dungeon of desperation.11 Likewise, pluck from mee
the fonde feathers of fancie presumption,
least that taking an
hautie conceite in my selfe to bee
that which alas I am not thou
conceiue displeasure against my
pride, and so reueale my filthines,
and condemne mine arrogant insolencie,
and therefore cast mee
downe thither where there is no
redemption.
12 Gratiously grant vnto me,
O my Lorde, and King, that I
may neuer take my selfe to bee other
than indeede I am, make me
to be such an one as I ought, and
let mee be he that I would, then
41
shall I neuer dwell in errour, thyfauor shall neuer faile me, & hereafter
which notwithstanding I
hope I shall bee an inheritour of
thy heauenly kingdome.
13 Lorde, I beseech thee, keepe
me that I neuer fall into reprobate
sense, and suffer me not to be
seduced by anie false doctrine: let
the lines of thy lawe be printed in
the bowels of my bellie, lighten,
inflame, and confirme the hearts
of thy chosen people, that they
may haue one minde, one will, all
alike seeke thee, finde thee, see thee,
and magnifie thy glorious name.
14 Preuent all my dooings
with thy most fauourable kindnes,
O father of mercies, and so
42
direct my waies in thy faith, andfeare of thy Maiestie, that I may
commit no wickednes, nor consent
thereto: let there be found no
guilt in my handes, nor guile in
my hart, preserue my lippes from
lies, from inco~tinencie mine eies,
my flesh from filth, my soule from
sinne, and the whole course of my
life from offence, & transgression.
15 O Lord, heare my praiers,
lette mine earnest crie come into
thy presence and enter into thine
eares, which I yeelde here vnto
thee from the verie deapth of my
hart, with a wounded conscience,
and a bleeding soule, with broken
sighes, and weeping eies, bended
knees, and stretched handes: but
43
which most is, with ardent affection,and feruent faith.
16 According to thy promise,
poure vpon me the spirit of grace
and meekenes, in my praier euermore
with vnspekable gronings
to make intercession vnto thee for
my sinnes, not with the labour of
my lippes alone, but with the feruent
affection of my heart also,
that both my mouth and minde,
tongue & truth may alwaies go
togither, as it becommeth the vnfained
worshippers of thee.
17 Bende downe thy selfe, O
bende downe vnto my pyteous
plaintes, thou God of our Fathers,
and according as thou hast
spoken, let it be done vnto thy
44
seruant. Great is thy grace, Ogrant me thy grace: manifold are
thy mercies, O shewe mee thy
mercie: puisant is thy power, O
sende me thy power, that I may
turne from sinne & turne to thee,
leaue my old life and leade a new,
that I may alwaies bee thy
seruant, and thou likewise
eternally be mine
eternall God.
Amen.
45
O.
O thou Earth, Earth, Earth,heare the worde of the Lorde.
Ierem. 22. verse. 29. Of a truth
God hath no regarde of persons,
but in euery nation, he
that feareth him, and worketh
righteousnes, is accepted with
him. Actes. 10, 34 and 35.
The fift Flower.
O Euerlasting God,and most louing father,
maker of all
the worlde, King of
blisse, Lorde of life,
giuer of peace, and continuer of
46
concorde, looke downe into thebottome and deapth of my conscience,
and consider the perpetuall
afflictions which daily I sustain
therein, to the dangerous distres,
and wonderfull wounding of the
same.
2 Strengthen me, O Lorde,
against the furious inuasions of
three my most mortall foes, the
Flesh, the World, and the Deuill,
which to the intent they might
suppresse me, cease not continually
withal their force, to assaile the
seelie spirite which thou hast lent
vnto me, the worke of thy wisedome,
and the image of thy substance.
3 My most sweete God, keepe
47
me with the winges of thy vertue,assist me with thy holy ghost,
that I may heedefully withholde
my feete from all snares, and
trappes, which may anie waie intangle
mee, and withdrawe me
from due obedience towards thee
& thy will, staieng me from walking
forwarde in thy heauenlie
heastes that leade to life.
4 For Satan mine ancient enimie,
seeketh out a thousande
meanes to beguile mee, he excelleth
in subteltie, he aboundeth in
crafts, he passeth in wilinesse, in
so much that he transformeth his
lothsome shape into the likenesse
of an Angell of light, thereby to
supplant thine elect, but defende
48
thou mee from him, O my mostmightie God.
5 Ponder the nature and disposition
of my fraile and corrupt
flesh, how it is nothing else but
the graue of my ghost, a farthell
of infirmities, a lumpe of lothsomnes,
a prison of perdition, a
masse of miseries, a sinke of sin,
a laberinth of licentiousnes, and
a frame of froward moulde, contrarie
to that which is good, and
alwaies promptly prest to the
woorse.
6 As for this worlde, it is the
vale of wilfulnesse, the way of
wicked conuersation, a iournie
fraught with ieoperdie, a pilgrimage
fully pight with pitious
F.j.
49
pinings, a deepe dungeon of destruction,an infectious soile with
sinfulnesse, a lake of vnlawfull
lustes, and a tree of traiterous
fruites, repugnant, O God, to
thy most sacred will.
7 The Deuill is the dearling
of da~nation, the Prince of dreadfull
darckenes, the King of calamities,
the wicked worker of
woes, the Fende of finall destruction,
the greedie gaper for mans
procured perdition, the poisoned
puddle of lies, the sneaking snake
of sinne, the serpent of troublesome
temptations, the minger of
all mischiefes, & the ouerthrower
of vertues.
8 But, O thou most glorious
50
God, as thou hast lightned myvnderstanding and perseuerance
in these to discerne what is hurtfull
to me, and displeasant to thee:
dispose euen so the heart of thy
seruant with the daily influence
of thy grace, that I may be acquit
from all such sharpe assaults
as may winne me from thee, but
co~firme me in all godlines, truth,
and faithfulnes.
9 Make my hart the vndefiled
instrument of pure and perfect
thoughts, and my tongue the
trump of thine eternall praise, my
bodie the habitation of the holie
Ghost, mine eies the windowes
to beholde the worthie way that
leadeth vnto thee, my legges the
f.ij.
51
supporters of my bodie and soule,towardes the attainement of thy
heauenly kingdome.
10 Incline mine eares, that I
may giue diligent attenda~ce vnto
thy most blessed will and commandements
expressed in thy
most sacred worde, mollifie the
hardnes of my heart that it may
easily enter in, and firmely take
roote, to the increase of semblant
seedes of vertue and godlines in
me, grant this, O Lorde, for my
delight is in thy seruice.
11 Knock hard, O Lord God,
O knock harde at the doore of my
conscience, with the ringle of thy
most holie will, awake me out of
the snorking sleepe of securitie in
52
sinning, whereout many do neuerrise againe but vtterly perish, put
me in minde of my dutie towards
thy diuine Maiestie, let me haue
the wisdome to know my selfe,
and that thou onely art my good
Lorde and God.
12 I confesse with greeuous
groning of hart, that I haue manifoldly
transgressed thy commandements,
in seeking thee I
haue embraced that whiche I
should haue refused, I haue strangled
long whilest I should haue
walked in thy waies, and trode
in thy pathes, I haue gone back
when I should haue pursued thy
pleasure, & haue trained my selfe
in the trauerse of thy teachings.
f.iij.
53
13 Leade me, O Lord, withthy heauenly hande and I shalbe
truelie lead, direct mee with the
spirite of vnderstanding and I
shalbe safely directed, lette the
bright burning lamp of thy wonderfull
worde still shine before
mine eies, & pierce into my hart,
so shall I be sure not to treade
one step amisse, be thou alwaies
my most merciful God, and make
me continually thy most obedient
childe.
14 Blot the beadroule of my
misdeedes out of thy reme~brance,
O thou King of mercie, and indorse
the recordes of my transgressions
with a discharge of thy
great compassion, sette thy holy
54
hande vpon my hart in token thatI am thy childe, and write the
wordes of thy pleasure in my
brest, make me assured that I am
one whom thou hast predestinated
vnto life.
15 At all times, Lorde, euen
now and euerie day I commend
my soule and bodie into thy holie
hands, for thou hast redeemed me
O GOD of truth. Be thou my
strong defence against mine enimies,
fight against them that go
about to defame, hurt, ouerthrow,
cast downe, kill, and vtterly destroie
me. Bridle the force of my
ghostlie enimie Satan, that notwithstanding
all his craftie
traines, hee may not haue the
f.iiij.
55
power to doe me any euill.16 Giue thine holie Angels
charge ouer mee, that they may
protect and defende me in all my
waies that I hit not my foote against
a stone, nor be annoied by
any greeuous thing that may
hurt me in bodie, or harme me in
soule, or make me so to misdemeane
my selfe that I become
more vile in thy sight, and so being
offended with me, thou be the
lesse readie to deliuer mee in my
greatest perils.
17 Glorifie thy selfe in mee,
Lorde, for I am thy worke, and
let me be glorified in thee, for thou
art my God, my strength, my saluation,
& glorie: purifie my soule
56
that thou maiest dwell in me, andgrant I may be made worthie to
dwell in thee, for thou art in all
things, and all things are in thee,
to thee therefore be praise and honour
for euer and euer. Amen.
L.
Learne to do well, applie yourselues to equitie, deliuer the
oppressed, helpe the fatherles
to his right, let the widowes
complaint come before you.
Esai. 1, 17.
The sixt Flower.
LOrde, in thy moste louingmercies, haue I alwaies put
57
my whole trust and confidence,wherefore thou hast assured mee
that I shall come to no reproch
nor shame, there shall no ignominie
nor confusion take holde vpon
me, & although there should rise
whole thousands of wicked conspiratours
against me, yet should
they not preuaile, for thou art the
portion of my hope.
2 According vnto which most
sweete couenants of thine, so let
thy kindnes more than fatherlie
compas me alwaies, like the garment
wherewith I am couered:
lette thy mercies be vnto mee a
shield of defence, and a buckler of
assured protection, that I may
neuer dread the furie of any foe,
58
striue he to ouerthrowe my bodieor soule.
3 O turne the hartes of those
that hate me without a cause, or
be offended with me for thy blessings
sake wherewith thou hast
blessed mee, either bicause thou
hast increased me with wealth, or
aduanced me to honour, or lifted
me into the fauour of my gracious
Soueraigne, wherein I
yeelde thy Maiestie most hartie
thankes.
4 Make me, O Lorde, a meete
member for the vocation wherevnto
thou hast called me, grant
me the gift of godlines, as thou
hast planted me in preheminence
of place, let vertue flourish & vice
59
be suppressed, the righteous causeof the Orphane, widow, and such
as are destitute preuaile, and the
oppressour receiue his deserued
foile.
5 Bring it thou to effect, O
almightie God, from whom proceedeth
the motion of all good
thoughts, that as thou hast made
thine onely Sonne, our sauiour
Christ, the sole sheapheard of thy
faithfull flock: so we may al loue
his presence, know his voice,
and followe him in sinceritie of
life, and puritie of doctrine, all
the daies of this our woful pilgrimage.
6 I hartily beseech thee, Lord,
that in consideration of mine vnrighteousnes,
59
thou giue mee notouer into the hands of mine enimies,
and such as faine would see
my fal, and reioice at my final destruction,
& especially deliuer me
from false prophets, & preachers
which seeke onely their owne co~moditie,
and not the replenishing
of thy hungrie peoples soules.
7 Graunt euermore, O God,
vnto thy sacred Church such
sinceritie in the Byshops & ministers,
that they may prooue the
vessels of thy mercie, and profitable
instruments in thy congregation:
make them so sounde in
doctrine, so pure in life, so diligent
in teaching, that we may beecome
a chosen and deerely beloued people
60
vnto thee, and they neuer forsaketheir calling either through
persecution of Tyrantes, or ingratitude
of the world.
8 Cause mee to take a most
singular delight in the reading,
and hearing of thy holie Gospell,
to frame my life according vnto
the sacred institutions of thy
worthie worde: without which,
all other doctrine concerning the
worshipping of thee, is diuelish
and vngodlie, & that by al meanes
I may seeke the setting foorth of
the same.
9 Let the enimies of thy truth
be enimies vnto me also, that embrasing
their persons with laudable
charitie, I may notwithstanding
61
persecute their offencesvnto ye amendment of their liues
and conuersation, and that they
may vnderstande at length, that
thou art a most sharpe reuenger,
and a ielous God, and wilt not
giue thine honour to another.
10 O most mightie King, and
giuer of all gratious goodnesse,
conuert the hearts of all such as
persecute thy Christ in his me~bers
thine elect, open their eies I
beseech thee, that they may behold
their errours, and repent them of
their misdeedes, and confirme the
hearts of the afflicted, that they
may persist in confessing thy
name.
11 [M*ly] call me backe,
62
for I acknowledge that for myparte, I haue walked wrong,
thou hast giuen mee vnderstanding
to perceiue mine owne imperfections,
the multitude of the~
lieth heaped before mine eies, and
my heart is sore greeued therewith:
O comfort me, good Lord,
and quicken me eftsoones in thee,
that I faint not for feare, nor
despaire not for dread.
12 I haue bin continually more
readie to offend thy maiestie, than
to execute thy heauenly wil, there
is no maner of meanes wherein
a man may displease thee that I
am guiltlesse, take mercie vpon
me and forgiue me therfore for I
am determined neuer againe to
63
commit the like, strengthen meewith thy spirit that I neuer sin
hereafter.
13 Most louing Father, and
mercifull God, I hartily require
thee, for my Lord Iesus Christs
sake, grant me that I may couet
with a prude~t mind those things
that be pleasant and acceptable
vnto thee, that I may finde them
easily, search them wisely, knowe
them truely, and exercise them
effectually, to the worthy praise
of thy glorious name.
14 Dispose the whole course
of my life in such order, that it
may accomplish that which thy
godly pleasure requireth at my
handes: that I may perfectly
G.i.
64
know it, haue a willing minde todoe it, and power from thee to fulfill
it, whereby I may obtaine
those things, that be most conuenient
for my necessities, and appertaining
to my saluation.
15 Cheere vp my heart, O my
most deere God, with the hope of
thy plenteous promises, & make
me alwaies as merrie as it becommeth
a Christian, & one that
feareth God: giue me grace euer
to reioice in thee and thy godly
will, and that I may be sory for
nothing, but only for doing those
things that draw me away from
thee, to euill.
16 Thou that art the onely
rampire of mans securitie, defend
65
me I beseech thee in all seasons,that in the day time I fall into no
danger through the force of foes,
or allurement of vaine delites, or
any manner casualties: and that
I may passe the night without
dreadfull dreames, or fonde fantasies,
or leude illusions, which
Satan inuenteth to driue mee
from my dutie, and to disturbe my
rest which I desire to take in
thee.
17 O Lorde God of infinite
wisedome, inspire my heart, and
direct my voice that I may not
thinke, nor vtter any thing before
thee, but that which thou knowest
to be expedient for mee to
aske, & glorious for thee to giue:
g.ij.
66
turne not my praier into perdition,nor my sute into sinne, for
thou art my God, on whome I
whollie depende, saue mee for
thy mercies sake, O saue me, according
as I haue alwaies reposed
my confidence in thee. Amen.
A.
A mans almes is as a pursewith him, and shall keepe a
mans fauour as the apple of
an eie: and afterwarde shall it
arise, and pay euerie man his
reward vpon his head. Eccl. 17,
verse. 20.
67
The seauenth Flower.
ACcording vntothe incomprehensible
numbre of thy
manifolde mercies,
O Lord, take pitie
and compassion vpon mee, discharge
mee of the importable
fraught of mine infirmities, for
thou art he that losest and none
can bind, and that bindest & none
can lose: lose me therefore I beseech
thee, from the lothsome burden
of my sinne, and bind me that
I may not depart from thy statutes.
2 O thou God of my power
g.iij.
68
make my heart to resemble thedriest towe, and let the most feruent
loue of thy lawes, kindle, as
it were a flaming fire within my
breast, that I may so bee consumed
with a greedie zeale in fulfilling
thy heastes: let no coole of
conscience in anywise extinguish
this burning, nor yet lukewarmnesse
aswage this heate.
3 Let others see this in me,
that they may take example therat
and be confirmed in godlines,
for I am priuily greeued that I
haue ben vnacquainted with thy
welsprings of truth, and haue
ensued the puddles of iniquitie,
augmenting mine offence, & heaping
sinne vpon sinne, wherby I
69
haue growen in more danger ofthy iudgement.
4 Surely, Lord, I am a most
greeuous offender, but thou hast
saide, that thou seekest not the
death of a sinner, but rather that
he turne from his wickednesse
and liue: turne me then and I
shall surely be turned, say thou
the worde and doubtlesse I shall
liue, for in that thou art almighty
thou canst conuert, and bicause
thou art mercifull thou canst
saue.
5 Remember, O most iust, holie,
and louing God, that thou art
both my maker, & redeemer: and
as thou didst create me of singular
loue, and redeemedst mee of
g.iiij.
70
merueilous mercie, so extend thyfauour alwaies towardes mee,
calling to minde that I am still
the same, both thy woonderous
worke, and thy seely seruant.
6 Thinke not any longer,
sweete God, vpon thy iustice in
respect of me that am a most miserable
transgressour, but rather
weigh thy singular co~passion towards
thy afflicted creature: for
my conscience beareth me record
I haue deserued thy wrath, and
without thee, I can not sufficiently
repent mee for mine offences.
7 Howbeit, most certaine it is,
that thy mercies doe surmount
the deapth of the most deadlyest
71
sinnes, thy medicins are greaterthan the griefe of my sicknes is
greuous, & thy power surpasseth
all the infirmities of humaine
kind, and far exceedeth the excesses
of my fraile flesh, that I am
not able to offende so much, but
thou art of might to pardon me
more.
8 Spare me therfore, O God
of my strength, for in thee is my
health, and as for the confusion of
a sinner thou doest not desire it,
but rather seekest his conuersion
from sinne to thee: be mercifull
at the sute of a sinfull soule that
standeth in dreade of thy dririe
iudgement looking for deliuerance,
and running for refuge to
72
the redoubted rampire of thy mildmercies.
9 Pardon me, Lord, if at any
time I haue sought the aide of
any creature, neglecting thee that
art the Creator of all thinges,
without whom there is no helth
nor saluation, if I haue drunken
of the loathsome lakes, and refused
thee that art the Fountaine
of life, if I haue fully fead on
wicked weedes, and passed by the
holesome herbes of diuine doctrine.
10 I haue erred, Lorde, and
gone astray like a wilfull sheepe,
and harkened vnto the voice of
fained shepheardes that had no
part with thee, I haue bin lost in
73
the wildernesse of wicked superstitionand Idolatrie, and torne
in the briars of such as sought
my fleece and cared not for my
soule but to destroy it, I haue tasted
of the deadly dewe, and the
rotte is entred into my veines.
11 I am extreeme sick that I
cannot stande vpon my legges, I
am not able to lift vp my voice
for my lungues are infected, my
throte is hoarse with crying, I
am vexed with cough, and the
terrible stitch assaulteth mee so
sore within my ribbes, that I am
nothing but a carcas fraught
with care, and a wretch wrapped
in sinfull sicknesses.
12 O come, thou God of my
74
saluation come visite thy pooreseruant, bring mee home which
am lost, and direct me that haue
gone astray, teach me to knowe
the liuelie sounde of thy most holie
word, that I may wholy harken
thereto, and to the voice of
none other that shall happen to
call vnto mee, saying, lo, here is
Christ, or there is Christ.
13 Mercifull Lord, take from
among the Congregation of
Christians all manner wordes &
terines that import any diuision
among brethren and professours
of thy name. Let not one holde of
Paule, and another of Apollos,
but let all be Christs. And grant
that through pride & singularitie
75
none contemne others, but letvs humbly & louingly like brethren
one pray for another, that
we may all walke in thy truth,
and be saued.
14 I praise thee, I magnifie
thee, I glorifie thee, I extoll
thine holy name, O my most glorious
Sauiour Christ, for that
it hath pleased thee alwaies to
assist mee with thy mighty hand,
and to hold me vp with thy stretched
out arme, so that my foes
could neuer preuaile against me,
nor the childe of wickednesse
bring me to destruction. Banish
from me, I beseech thee, all priuie
enimies, and preserue me euermore
from dissembling friendes.
76
15 Saue me, Lorde, from thevnsauerie smell of pharisaicall
superstition, that my hart neuer
be defiled therewith, and for thy
mercie sake, assist me most gratiously
that I fall not into any dotage
of deuilish Idolatrie, for
thou art a ielous God, and wilt
not suffer thine honour to bee
giuen to other, and besides thee
there is none that can helpe.
16 I haue fead, O Lord, too
much at full vpon the sugred delightes
of this wicked worlde,
which indeede are sauced with
most bitter worme wood, the taste
of them is pleasant, but the tayle
is abominable tarte, I haue chawed
them with pleasure, but they
77
haue choaked mee with cares,they seemed vnto mee as toothsome
Triacles, but I haue
founde them pestilent poisons.
17 Deliuer me gratious God,
through thy great goodnesse, and
be mercifull vnto mee for thy
name sake: say vnto me I will
be thy comfort, & vnto my soule
I wil be thy Phisition, then shal
there no danger daunt my hart,
nor ghostly griefe procure mine
annoy, but that I may alwaies
cheerefully sing
foorth thy noble
praise for euer.
Amen.
78
S.
Say not vnto thy neigboor, gothy way and come againe, tomorowe
I wil giue thee, wheras
thou hast now to giue him.
Prouerbs. 3, verse. 28.
The eight Flower.
SAluation, immortalitie,and vnspeakable
pleasures, O
God, are prepared
bountifully to embrace
those that put their trust
in thee, and without all doublenesse
of hart, or contagion of sin,
79
leade foorth the lingring steppesof their loathsom life, in ye waies
of truth and obedience towardes
thy commandements.
2 Thy waies most sweete
Lorde, are the waies of wealth,
and thy commandements conduct
vnto heauenly honour, thou
hast laide foorth a streight path
vnto those that haue grace to
walke therein, and set them a
light that they shal not go amisse,
and thou hast promised most singular
rewardes vnto such as
obey thy most woorthy will.
3 As for thy will, it is the
welspring of welfare, the path of
peace, the sea of securitie, the port
of perfection, and the fountaine of
H.j.
80
all felicitie. Wherefore I wouldefaine bee clensed, that I might
treade foorth the time of this
daungerous pilgrimage, in accomplyshyng
thy Heauenlye
heastes, and fulfilling thy statutes
that are so full of consolation.
4 O thou, that art the God
of all truth, which in puritie dost
passe the Angels, and exceedest
the saints in perfection, in respect
of whose holinesse, all things are
vile and sinfull: my poore panting
ghost sore longeth after thee, for
that thou art the consummation
of all goodnesse, and in the sight of
thy glory, I am ashamed of mine
owne vnrighteousnesse.
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5 Lorde, faine woulde I intreatthy maiestie, and I do most
heartily request the same, that
thou wouldest beholde the wofull
afflictions, griefes, miseries,
stripes, sores, & woundes, which
my soule sustaineth through the
continuall surprise of my cancred
sinnes, and in the large abundance
of thy milde mercies, heale
them with thy holy hande.
6 Wo am I, my God, that I
appeere before thee thus couered
quight in a sacke of sinne, my filthinesse
maketh me stand in feare
of thee, and horrour of my selfe, I
tremble to thinke what one thou
seest of me, it possibly thou maiest
see me for the number of my sins
h.ij.
82
that exceede the flowers of thespring, or leaues of the trees.
7 Howbeit, these sinnes of
mine, O God of all mercies, doe
much desire to be knowne vnto
thee, that thou mightest clense
them: but loth are they to bee
seene, least thou shouldest detest
them: and healed they cannot be
without humble confession, and
recited they cannot be without
great confusion: if thy bee hid
they cannot be cured, and if they
be vttered, they must needes bee
abhorred.
8 O, they kill me with care,
they daunt mee with dread, they
co~sume me with sorow, they pine
me with paine, they eate me with
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griefe, they ouerthrow mee withbignesse, they presse mee with
weight, they ouerlay mee with
loade, they squize me with multitude,
through them I am hurt,
maymed, vndone, lost, & brought
vnto an vtter destruction.
9 O come, sweete God, O
come with all speede to helpe me,
for hepes of heauines, as waues
of waters haue entred into my
soule to drench it: I am choaked
with mortall cares, and stifled in
the stinking streames of ghostly
aduersitie, and there is none but
thou, Lord, that can set hande to
helpe me foorth, or is of abilitie to
procure me succour.
10 For thou art the God of
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84
all Gods, the most potent of allpuisants, the king of glorie, of
strength, of power, of vertue, of
truth, of righteousnes, of perfection,
of comfort, of gladnesse, of
saluation, and eternitie, in whom
compassion groweth as in a field,
and from whom there floweth
mercie, as it were continuall
streames of most plentifull running
water.
11 Refraine not, I beseech
thee, to extende so milde mercie,
wheras thou beholdest so vrgent
miserie, and if I be dismaide in
reguarde of thy celestiall puritie,
to acknowledge my sinfulnesse
before thy Maiestie, yet be not
thou slack good Lord, in consideration
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of thine accustomed graciousnes,to extende thy fatherly
pitie, and forgiuenes.
12 Turne not away from
me, poore wretch, thy wonted benignitie,
forasmuch as I confesse
my daily iniquitie, and although
my sinnes be mo in number
than is for me meete and fitting:
yet lette thy mercie be no
lesse then it is decent for so gentle
and pitifull a God, O thou that
art assuredly the onely God of
loue, compassion, mercie, and of al
fauourablenes.
13 How much the more abhominable
my sinnes are in thy
sight, yeelding foorth a lothsome
smell of displeasure in thy presence
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86
O God: so much the moredo they stand in neede of holsome
cure, which of necessitie proceedeth
from thee and none other to
requite the same with such integritie
& newnesse of life, as may
be acceptable vnto thee.
14 And therfore do I lift vp
my soule vnto thy throne, & with
my bodie do I approch vnto thy
sacred place, and thus vpon the
knees of my heart doo I humbly
pray vnto thy Maiestie: Lord,
lay not the horrible confusion of
mine vncleannesse before thine
eies, but turne thy face from my
offences, and looke vpon the infirmitie
of my nature, and the
trouble of my spirit, and the dolour
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of my minde, and forgiue allmy sinnes.
15 So great are the mountaines
of my misdeedes, that in
consideration of them there is no
rest in my boanes, so infinite are
mine iniquities that they are
growen ouer my head, pressing
me down as an heauy burden, O
Lord, aswage thy iust anger, and
coole thy conceiued displeasure against
me, and remit not only my
trespasses, but also the seuere
punishment that is due vnto me
for them.
16 Heale, I beseech thee, O
moste singular good Lorde, my
greeuous infirmitie, and so shalt
thou ridde me of that which offendeth
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thee my wofull deformitie:acquite me from my contagious
sicknes, & thou shalt smell
no more my most horrible lothsomnesse,
pardon within me this
bitter calamitie, and nothing shal
lenger offend thy sinceritie.
17 Create in me, O Lorde
God, a most godly zeale and feruent
desire to perseuere alwaies
within the compasse of thy heauenly
will, and neuer to commit
any thing that is repugnant vnto
the same: assisting me also with
thy holy spirite, that I faile not
in this most godly purpose, but
stedfastly pursue it vnto the last
day of my life, so shall I be assuredly
safe from sin, and my tonge
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shall alwaies be telling thy peerelessepraises. Amen.
A.
A gratious woman getteth honour,an huswifely woman is a
crowne vnto hir husband: but
she that behaueth hir selfe vnhonestly,
is a corruption in his
bones, Prou. 12, verse. 4.
The ninth Flower.
AS a childe thathath transgressed ye
commandement of
his maister, standeth
in awe of the
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rodde: euen so, O Lord, am I ingreat drad of thy iudgement, for
that is the hire of such as obserue
not thy heastes, because I
haue not walked after thy will,
nor harckned vnto the voyce of
thy word, but runne foorth on the
reigne of mine owne sensualitie.
2 But thou hast made a couenant
with me, that whensoeuer
I conuert my selfe vnto thee,
thou wilt fauourably turne thy
self vnto me, and if I repent, thou
wilt forgiue, if I be sorie, thou
wilt remember mine offences no
longer: see then Lord, for I bring
with me now the branch of sorrowe,
and here I hold it vp vnto
thee for a monument of thy remembrance.
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3 Saue me, good Lorde, ashitherto thou hast done, deliuer
me in the day of distresse, for thou
art the horne of my health, and
the shielde of my saluation, & the
gaine of my glory, and the crown
of my felicitie: I haue no power
at all but it proceedeth from
thee, and thou bearest vp the feeblenes
of mine infirmitie, and thy
mercy is my staffe to leane vpon.
4 From the gaping of the
graue, and from the dangers of
death, and from the snares of
Satan, and from the cheines of
Hell, and when I was swallowed
vp, thou didst deliuer my
soule from destruction: I was
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wrapped in woe, but I am set atlibertie euen as a bird that was
fallen into the fowlers lune, and
at length is losed by some good
bodie.
5 What man is he, Lord, that
casting vp his eies vnto ye skies,
and there beholding the beauty
of the heauens, the glory of the
Sunne and Moone, and the exceilencie
of the Starres: & from
thence considering the varietie of
the creatures vpon the earth, and
especially the workmanship of
his owne feature, is not wonderfully
rauished to weigh thy power,
and straingly affected to
thinke on thy wisedome?
6 Euerliuing God, I giue
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thee most hartie thankes for thatthou erectest my minde vnto thee
by this most comfortable co~templation,
and also for thy exceeding
goodnesse in creating the vniuersall
worlde, and all the creatures
that liue and mooue in the same:
whome by thy holie spirite thou
vpholdest and cherishest, as well
man himselfe, as all things else
that thou hast made seruing to
his necessarie vse, & godlie pleasure.
7 For these thy bountifull
benefits, O God, take from mee
the vice of vnthankefulnesse that
I may thinke and thanke thee
therefore, and gratiously dispose
the waies of thy seruant, that I
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may continue in thy pleasure: butif thou wouldest so direct me that
I might offende thee no more
hereafter, there shoulde no ioy be
comparable vnto mine.
8 They are hated of thee that
doe turne thy plentifull blessings
into scarsitie, and they are partakers
of their wickednesse that
are in authoritie seeing it, and doe
not redresse it: open their eies,
sweete God, that they may see it,
and endeuour their hearts to amende
it, that thy people perish
not through the iniquitie of a
few, that haue heaped vp a great
sinne.
9 I haue praied vnto thee with
an earnest hart for all my imperfections,
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to be deliuered of them,& now I humblie sue, good Lord,
that thou wouldest vouchsafe to
preserue me from the deede that
may prouoke the bitternes of any
mans soule against me, for I am
assured that the same is such an
offence as thou wilt repaie with
bitter vengeance.
10 There be some that haue
laid waite to entrap me, and they
would be exceeding glad of my
fall, but my trust is in thee, that
thou wilt not giue me ouer as a
pray to mine enimies: make their
desires voide, and ouerthrowe
their craftie deuises, let them bee
confounded in their owne drifts,
and faile of their purpose, that
I.j.
96
they wickedly haue inuented11 Pardon mee, O God, in
all my presumptions, forgiue
them that persecute me, make me
loue them that hate me, & hartily
to pray for them that with my finall
destruction: howbeit, I beseech
thee, Lord, to saue me from
their hands, lest if thou shouldest
forsake me, I fall into their power,
and there be none to defende
me from their malice.
12 Truely Lord, I am fully
determined to make thy precepts
a garden of pleasure, & thy
lawes an alley of delight, and thy
heastes an hearbour of comfort
to take my recreation therin during
the daies of my flesh: onely
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I request thee of thy goodnesse togrant mee thy grace, with the
continuance of this good worke
which thou hast begun in me.
13 Since thou lothest, Lord,
an vngodly and sinfull life, giue
me power, I pray thee, to flie the
foule workes of the flesh which
thou doesthate, and to embrace
the bright deedes of righteousnesse
which thou doest loue, and
in them to seeke thy glory: incline
my mind alwaies to meditate on
thy lawe, and to cast all the cares
of my hart vpon thee.
14 The passion, death and buriall,
the resurrection, apparition
and ascention of thee, my sweete
sauiour Christ, I humbly adore,
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98
and giue hartie thanks for them:for in them there riseth vnto me
a fauor of life, through the quickning
smell of all these, raise vp my
soule, I praie thee, good Lorde,
from the dreadfull death of sinne,
and damnation.
15 O dust and ashes, why
doest thou walke, with a prowde
hart, and stretched out neck, and
whie art thou mooued with impatience
against euerie trifling
aduersitie? Behold the meekenesse
and humilitie of thy redeemer,
and learne to be humble of
heart, and lowe of courage, bee
ashamed of pride, and blush for
want of patience.
16 Lord, if I could giue vnto
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thee Heauen and Earth, and allthe glorie thereof for hier, from
the toppe of my rewarde, I could
not sufficientlie recompence the
deapth of thy desert: yet giue me
that grace, that so far as mine
abilitie extendeth, I maie requite
thy bountie with thanks, & shew
how much I am bettered by thy
heauenlie liberalitie.
17 Giue me thy peace which
the world cannot giue, grant me
the ioie which thine elect do possesse,
sustaine me with the comfort
that neuer shall be void, erect
me with the hope yt shall alwaies
persist, instruct mee with thy
word that euer shall endure, aduance
me to thy kingdome that
i.iij.
100
neuer shall haue ende, and thyglory shall still liue in mee, for I
shall neuer die. Amen.