1. A praier for the Morning.

O Mightie
maker & preseruer
of all things, God
omnipotent,
which like a
diligent watchman, alwaies
attendest vpon thy faithfull
people, so that whether they
sleepe or wake, liue or die, thy
prouidence neuer forsaketh
them: looke fauourablie vpon
me, O Lord, thy poore and sinfull
seruant, which am not
woorthie, but through thy
great mercies offered to me
in Christ, once to lift vp mine

B.j.

eies vnto thy mercie seat.
Wherefore in the name of
thy deere sonne my Lord and
Sauiour, I offer vnto thee,
through him, the sacrifice of
praise and thanks giuing; that
thou hast preserued me both
this night, and all the time and
daies of my life hitherto, vntill
this present houre. I beseech
thee of thy great mercie
to illuminate my vnderstanding,
that I may lead and
frame my life as thou hast
taught me in thy holie word,
that my light may so shine
here on earth, that my heauenlie
father may be glorified in
me, through Iesus Christ our
Lord and redeemer; for whose
sake heare me deare father,
and send thy holie Ghost to
direct me in all my dooings.
To thee O glorious and blessed
Trinitie, the Father, the
Sonne, and the holie Ghost,
be giuen all honor and praise,
now and for euer more, Amen.

2. A praier for remission of sinnes, for victorie against satan, and for the inward light of the soule.

O Mercifull Father
that art the sure
safegard and defense
of all that
earnestlie trust in thee, and desirest
not the death of sinners,
but their conuersion and amendment
of life; I acknowledge

b.ij.

vnto thy highnesse, all
mine offenses by me commited,
which if I would hide from
thee Lord, I could not. I consider
the miserable estate,
whereto through sinne I am
brought: for thereby I haue
worthilie lost thy fauour, and
am fallen from thy grace,
which while thou withdrawest
from me, I can doo no good
thing, nor thinke one good
thought. My sinnes haue
caused thee to put me out of
thy remembrance, and to forget
me, delaieng to giue me
that which is my strength and
comfort. But how long wilt
thou forget me, Lord? For euer?
How long wilt thou
withdraw thy grace from me?
Thou knowest my hartie
contrition and sorowe; for
that I haue vnkindlie forsaken
thy seruice, and serued
thine enimies, the diuell and
sinne. But trusting assuredlie
in thy promise made to me,
and all people, by the mouth
of the prophet Ezechiel, that
is; If the sinner will turne awaie
from all his sinnes, that
he hath committed, and keepe
all thy commaundements,
doubtles he shall liue and not
die: as for all his sinnes that
he did before, thou wilt not
thinke vpon them. I now most
entirelie beseech thee, that as
my sinnes were the cause, why
thou diddest put me out of thy
fauour; so let my hartie repentance

b.iij.

for them, cause thee to
put my sinnes out of thy remembrance.
Suffer me not long to remaine
in this perplexitie of
mind, and to take sorrow inwardlie
in my hart from daie
to daie, continuallie fearing
the punishment due to my
sinne, and looking still for thy
comming into my soule by
grace to deliuer me. Hope
hath caused me long to looke
for thee, that art my life and
my health; thy long delaie in
comming hath much increased
my desire; my feruent desire
at length is now turned
to a vehement paine. Wherefore
make hast Lord, I beseech
thee, to helpe my sicke soule,
and tarrie not.
Let not mine enimie the diuell
long triumph ouer me,
whose propertie is to tread vnder
his feet, like a cruell prince,
all those that be vanquished,
euen to the pit of hell. He did
long hold in captiuitie all
mankind, vntill the comming
and passion of Christ for our
redemption; and since, through
his craftie traines, he hath
brought to vtter confusion
manie of those that professe
thy sonnes religion. Wherefore
behold Lord, and consider my
miserable estate, heare my
humble petition, touching my
deliuerance from out of his
danger.
Lighten the eie of my hart

b.iiij.

and vnderstanding, with the
light of thy grace and comfort,
thereby expelling the darknes
of ignorance. Lighten also
one other eie of my soule, which
is the eie of the affection. The
sight of this eie is so dimme,
that is hath no perfect and true
iudgement; yea it is so blinded
with the vanities of this
world, that one thing in appearance
seemeth to be twentie;
like the sight of the deceitfull
eies of glasse. I beseech thee
saue my said eie, that it be not
put out by our enimie the diuell;
and send me the light of
grace, while I haue here time,
& space of repentance, that at
my latter end, mine enimies
saie not with ioie, that they
haue the vpper hand ouer me.
But all my trust is in thy
mercie: for though thou hide
thy selfe in a cloud, that my
praier should not go through it
vnto thine eares; yet are not
thy mercies cleane gone, neither
dooth thy louing kindnes
cease. Thou art therefore Lord
my portion, and in thy mercie
still will I hope, and in none
other creature; knowing for
certaintie, that as God thou
onelie maist helpe me, and as
my louing father thou wilt
helpe. Wherefore in thee my
hart shall be ioifull, and in thy
sauing health, which is thy
sonne Christ our Sauiour and
redeemer.
The Philistines, knowing

b.v

the presence of thine arke to
be in the campe of the Israelits,
on the daie of their battell,
were fore afraid, saieng; Who
shall deliuer vs out of the hand
of this mightie God? Much
more will I be glad, and take
sure trust, hauing the presence
and comfort of thy liuelie
grace. And in token of the
victorie which thou hast giuen
me ouer mine enimies, I will
not cease as I haue good cause
to sing the praises of the Lord,
that hath so louinglie dealt
with me, and magnifie the
name of the most high,
all the daies of
my life, Amen.

3. An other praier for the same.

O God giue me the
excellent feeling
of thine aboundant
mercie, for
thou art my whole goodnes.
Who am I, that I dare be so
bold to speake vnto thee? I
am thy most poore sinfull seruant,
a vile worme, and much
more poore and miserable, than
I either know my selfe, or
dare tell vnto thee: for my
sinnes sticke so fast to me, that
I haue nothing, nor worthie
anie thing. Thou onelie art
good, thou iust, thou holie, and
able to doo all things, and doost
performe all things. Thou fulfillest
all things, leauing the
sinfull onelie void and emptie.
My conscience accuseth me
so, that I can haue no rest, till
I be reconciled vnto thee O
God my sauiour. Remember
thy mercies, O Lord, and fill
my soule with thy fauour: for
how may I continue in this
life, vnlesse thy mercie and fauour
doo strengthen me? Giue
me grace to put my whole
trust in thee, without grudging
or doubting: for I haue,
and doo dailie waite for thy sauing
health.
Turne not awaie thy face
from me, neither withdraw
thy comforts from me, least
my soule doo seeme in thy sight
like vnto the earth that is void
of moisture. Lord teach me to
doo thy will, learne me to
walke worthilie and humblie
before thee: for thou art my
wisedome, and knowest me
what I am in all respects, and
vnderstandest my thoughts
long before.
Grant me alwaies to seeke
thee in singlenes of heart: for
the remembrance of thy fauor
is more sweete vnto me, than
all the pleasures and deinties
of the world. For my cheefest
comfort is in thee O Christ,
and not in anie worldlie
meanes, who hast said; Who
so ouercommeth the world, to
them will I grant to feed vpon
the tree of life. Which grant
me for thy holie name sake,
to whom with the father, and
the holie Ghost, be praise now
and for euer, Amen.

4. An Euening praier.

O Euerlasting light,
whose brightnesse
is neuer darkned;
looke fauourablie
vpon me thy poore and sinfull
seruant, who hath not onelie
this daie, but all the daies and
times of my life hitherto, vntill
this present houre, offended
thy diuine Maiestie, in
thought, word, and deed; wherby
I haue most iustlie prouoked
thy wrath and indignation
against me. And now I
bow the knees of my hart vnto
thee most mercifull and heauenlie
father, beseeching thee
for Iesus Christ his sake, to
forgiue me all my sinnes, negligences
and ignorances. For
I confesse how wickedlie I
haue mispent the talent that
thou gauest me, abusing thy
gifts of grace manie waies,
burieng the same in obscure
darknesse, woorse than the seruant
that hid his maisters
treasure, not putting it to anie
increase; for he deliuered the
principall againe.
But I most miserable creature,
can shew vnto thy maiestie
no part of that which
thou gauest me, to vse to thine
honor and glorie: for the which
I am most hartilie sorie, and
doo vnfeinedlie repent, hauing
no meane to helpe my
selfe, but onelie to lift vp the
eies of my faith vnto thy deare
sonne Iesus Christ, beseeching
him most instantlie to make
perfect my wants, and to renue
whatsoeuer is lacking in
me. For I commit my bodie
and soule, this night and euermore,
into his most holie
hands; hoping, O Christ, thou
wilt make me an acceptable
sacrifice vnto thy father.
I haue no place to flie vnto,
but to shrowd me vnder the
wings of thine almightie
power, who wast so louing vnto
vs, that thou wast contented
to shed thy most pretious
bloud, for the sinnes of the
whole world; for the which I
most humblie and hartilie
yeeld vnto thee thanks, honor,
praise and glorie.
O lambe of God, sonne of
the father, heare thou me,
thou that saiedst; I am thy
health and saluation, I am thy
peace and life; cleaue fast vnto
me, and thou shalt liue. O
Lord I am the woonded man,
and thou art the good Samaritane:
powre oile into my
wounds, and bind them vp.
Lord heale thou me, and I
shall be whole: for thou art my
God and Sauiour.
Heare thou therefore my
supplications from heauen,
and haue mercie. Take from
me all my sinnes and wickednesse,
and giue me thy grace
and holie spirit. Lighten mine
eies, that I sleepe not in death:
so shall I ioiefullie, after this
sluggish sleepe of sinne, rise againe,
liuing in thy feare all
the daies of my life. Which
grant me to doo, O Father,
Sonne, and holie ghost, three
persons and one true GOD,
world without end, Amen.

5. Against the temptation of the diuell, and for Gods fauour and grace.

O Lord preserue me,
that I fall not into
temptation, neither
let me be as
one of them that contemne
thy word, falling from thee; but
arme me with an inuincible
strength and constancie: so
shall I be sure, that all the
powers of the world shall not
ouercome me. For there is
none in heauen, earth or hell,
that can doo anie thing, but as
thou giuest them power. Seeing
that all are thy creatures,
thou must needs gouerne and
guide them.
Thy mercie O God almightie
is also annexed to thy diuine
nature, for when all mankind
was lost and dead in
sinne, then diddest thou, sitting
in thy celestiall throne, looke
downe to the earth vpon our
miserable state, and loosedst vs
from the bands of the diuell,
and sendedst downe thine onlie
begotten sonne, that by his
death he might deliuer from
death, such as worthilie were
the children of death: for the
which I praise thee, and doo
confesse from the bottome of
my hart, that our deliuerance
commeth onlie of thee O God,
and not by mans power.
Wherefore I will not come
emptie into thy presence, but
with all humilitie I offer vnto
the my troubled spirit for
mine offenses: and this sacrifice
I am sure thou wilt not
despise; for I confesse my selfe
ignorant, till thou hast taught
me, O Lord. My heart is also
variable, and separated from
thee. Ioine my soule and bodie
to thee O God, and confirme
me in thine obedience: for I
desire not to liue, but to serue
thee as I ought, which we cannot
doo aright, except thou open
our eies. I respect no
man, but set thee alwaies before
me, as the cheefe helper
and iudge of my dooings.
Certeinlie we can doo nothing
of our selues: but when
thou O God doost inwardlie
instruct vs by thy holie spirit,
then feele we thy graces sweeter
than the honie and the honie
combe. There is no acception
of persons with thee, but
all people that feare thee, and
worke righteousnesse, thou
wilt accept. If we be thine,
thou Lord wilt strengthen vs
with all power, and blesse vs
with all felicitie. But thy indignations
are most constant
against the wicked, and passe
all our vnderstanding: for
thou O God neuer forsakest
anie that seeke vnto thee. Therfore
man is cause of his owne
destruction.
Giue me thy fauour, and be
mercifull vnto me for thine
owne sake: grant me thy heauenlie
wisedome and grace
to be gouerned by thy holie
word, which if I follow, I shall
haue all prosperitie, corporall
and spirituall, bringing foorth
such fruits as haue life. I acknowledge
that all my acts,
thoughts, or anie part of my
life cannot be hid from thee O
God, though thou seemest to be
farre off; so that they are euidentlie
knowne to thee: for
thou O GOD vnderstandest
my meaning, before I speake;
and sendest the dewes of thy
grace vpon me, which causeth
me to bring foorth the fruits of
good works, to thine honour,
and the helpe of my neighbor:
for it is of thy power, strength,
and grace, when I doo anie
thing that is good, and not of
mine owne power.
There is none good, but thou
alone; thou killest and giuest
life; thou woundest, and makest
whole: neither is there anie
that can speake a word, except
thou giue it him, nor none
can saue himselfe by his owne
labour, nor anie worldlie
meanes. Wherfore I will rest
in thee, as mine onelie God,
through Iesus Christ our Lord
and Sauiour, Amen.

6. A praier for faith, and for Gods helpe and assistance at his good pleasure.

O Lord GOD almightie,
which by
thy power & wisedome
hast made
all the world, and dooest gouerne
the same, and all that
therein is: from thy holie heauens,
wherein thou dwellest,
looke fauorablie vpon vs, and
grant that in temptation we
may haue faith to fight against
the diuell, and all his false suggestions,
and to crie inwardlie
vnto thee with groning, alwaies
aiding vs with thy holie
spirit, to be humble in all afflictions,
with true repentance.
For when all mans
helpe dooth faile, thou O God
wilt helpe vs, euen as it were
by a miracle; if we call vpon
thee with an vpright conscience.
Lord grant vs neuer to require
more of thee, than is necessarie;
neither to seeke to separate
thy power from thy
will, least we should tempt
thee: for though thy helpe dooth
not presentlie appeare, yet hast
thou sowen and laid vp in store
for vs. We will therefore be

C.j.

mindfull of thy benefits, and
onelie trust in thy defense: for
thought the wicked rage against
thee O God, yet those
that be thy children shall praise
thy name and mightie power.
For the more liberallie that
thou O God dooest deale with
thy people, the more doost thou
punish them that abuse thy benefits.
For thou O God hast
care ouer thine, and dooest chasten
them for their health, that
they should not perish for euer
with the wicked. For thou
wilt restore the gouernement
of good things to their vse, and
then the godlie shall follow
thee cheerefullie.
Grant vs we humblie beseech
thee to know thy waies,
and to ascend vp vnto the
throne of thy maiestie by faith,
giuing thee praise and glorie,
for thy fatherlie preseruation
and health towards vs continuallie.
For thou hast beene a
house and defense for vs: thou
hast chosen vs to be thy people,
before the foundation of the
earth was laid. Wherefore we
are sure that thou wilt heare
vs, whensoeuer we call and
crie vnto thee for mercie and
grace. Blesse vs now and euer
with all goodnes, that we
may lead ouer liues according
to thy will, liuing in thy feare
all the daies of our life, that
after this course is ended, we
may dwell with thee, world
without end, Amen.

c.ij.

7. Another for the same.

I Make my humble
petition in thy
sight, O GOD
most holie, which
diddest vs aske, and it shall be
giuen; seeke, and we shall find;
knocke, and it shall be opened
vnto vs; an beleeue onelie,
and we shall receiue whatsoeuer
we desire. Lord I beleeue,
helpe thou mine vnbeleefe, and
giue me that faith which shalbe
most acceptable in thy sight.
Sowe in my heart, good Lord
the graine of stedfast faith,
which may aspire and spring
vp vnto the mercie seat of
thine almightie maiestie: for
without true faith and obedience
we cannot call vpon thee
a right.
Giue me therefore, good
Lord, that most pretious iewel
of faith, that thou maist thereby
heare me. And giue me
comfort & saluation through
thy mercifull goodnesse, O
God, who neuer dooest forsake
thy faithfull seruants, that
come to thee in humblenesse of
heart, looking vpon Iesus
Christ thy deare sonne our
Lord and Sauiour: for he is
the tree of life, which standeth
in the middest of paradise, by
whom we haue entrance vnto
thee O deere father.
Whosoeuer seeketh anie other

c.iij.

waie than this thy deere
Sonne, he is a theefe and a
robber, and shall neuer be partaker
of the benefits, which he
of his mercie hath most louinglie
bestowed vpon vs:
which grant me Lord Iesu neuer
to forget, but euermore to
shew my selfe thankefull. For
it is thou O Lord that art
worthie to receiue all glorie,
honour, and praise: for thou
hast created and redeemed all,
and without thee we cannot
doo anie thing that is good.
Wherefore Lord Iesus I
come vnto thee, crauing at thy
mercifull hand an humble
and contrite heart, a patient
mind, a quiet conscience, the
gift of faith, and of the holie
Ghost. O thou louer of soules,
heare me poore wretch, although
vnworthie once to
thinke, much lesse to speake
vnto thy maiestie. But thou
art the same Lord, who dooest
most louingly saie; Come
to me all ye that are heauie loden,
and I will ease you.
Which comfortable saieng
of thine, O Christ, maketh me
bold to come into thy presence,
vnloding my sinfull sacke of
corruption, before the face of
thine almightie power; not
doubting but thou wilt mercifullie
heare me, and ease me
with thy helpe: for I cast all
my burthen on thee, who art the
giuer of life and saluation.
Wherefore I turne my selfe

c.iiij.

vnto thee O Lord Iesus Christ
desiring thee by praier to renue
whatsoeuer is amisse in me, either
by mine owne frailtie, or
malice of the diuell.
For I acknowledge, O Lord,
that I am the most wicked, the
most fraile of all others, the
weakest to resist my ghostlie
enimie. But I trust, through
thy mercie, to be of the number
of them, for whom thou
hast ouercome the diuell and
the world: which grant me,
Lord Iesus, for thy bitter passions
sake, that after this life
I may enioie the endles blisse
and glorie of heauen. To thee,
with the liuing Father, and the
holie Ghost, be giuen all honour
and glorie, all praise
and thanks, for euer and euer,
Amen, Amen.

8. A praier of the iustice of God, and of his mercie.

O GOD almightie,
Lord of heauen
and earth,
from whom nothing
can be hid or kept secret,
thou art the searcher of the hart
and reines, which knowest the
thoughts of all men: when I
remember thy iust iudgment,
I tremble and quake for feare,
considering the burthen, wait,
and filthines of sinne to be so
great, that for one proud
thought, a great number of
angels fell from heauen. The

c.v.

earth was not able to beare
the burthen of Corah, Dathan
and Abiram; but for the rebellion
against thee and thy seruant
Moses, the earth opened,
and swallowed them quicke.
For the sinne and pride of
Dauid, who mustered his
men, putting his trust in the
multitude of them, rather than
in thee that art the liuing God,
thou scourgedst him with the
plague of pestilence, so that
there died foure score thousand
of his people, within the space
of three daies.
Who would not then feare,
seeing we sinne dailie with
most greeuous sinnes? Now
haue we no remedie to flie
from thy wrath, but to shrowd
our selues in the bosome of thy
most dearelie beloued sonne,
our Lord and Sauious Iesus
Christ, making him our bulworke
and house of defense,
betweene thine anger and vs:
most humblie beseeching thee
for his sake, and for the bitter
paines that he suffered for our
redemption, to be mercifull
vnto vs, and rebuke vs not in
thine anger.
Let not the sentence of euerlasting
death take place, which
thou gauest against Adam,
and all his posteritie for his
disobedience. Thou art meeke,
gentle, and long suffering of
thy selfe. It is our greeuous
offenses, heaped one vpon another,
that prouoke thee vnto
anger. Therefore, acknowledging
our offenses, we praie thee
most mercifull father, to haue
compassion vpon vs: for we
are not able of our selues to arise;
it is thou Lord, and thy
blessed sonne that must heale
our infirmities.
We haue no strength to
withstand the temptation of
our enimies, thy sonne Christ
must reach vs his hand, as he
did to Peter, walking on the
water, when he was in perill
of drowning. His patience is
our medicine and health, thy
grace and his are sufficient remedies.
We are all carnall,
fold vnder sinne; so that the
good we would doo, that doo we
not; but the euill that we wold
not, that we doo. We are all euill
of our selues. Consider O
God our contrite hearts, and
penitent minds, and heare,
heale, and amend vs.
Hope biddeth vs still to crie
and call vpon thee for helpe, as
the woman of Canaan cried
still vpon thy sonne Christ for
the helpe of hir daughter, and
at the last was heard to hir
owne contentation: so we,
knocking and calling still,
doubt not but thou wilt grant,
through our importunacie,
our desires, as he that granted
his neighbour three loanes.
We doo now knocke, crie,
and will neuer cease, till thou
Lord turne towards vs, and
deliuer our soules. Turne, we
heartilie beseech thee, from thy
wrath, to pittie and mercie; deliuer
vs from the manifold
troubles which we haue in our
consciences. Oh saue vs for
thy mercie sake, for thy blessed
Sonne Iesus hath dearelie
bought vs. Wherefore Lord,
we thy faithfull creatures, being
through thy grace, and the
battell of thy sonne vpon the
crosse restored to thy fauour;
and hauing the house of our
hearts and soules swept and
made cleane from all vices,
which were woont to inhabite
in vs, we most humblie praie
thee to giue vs strength, to
keepe our soules from the inuasion
of the wilie serpent.
Dwell in vs still by thy continuall
grace, make vs to be
of thy houshold, that we may
liue and praise thee in this
world, and after this life we
may enioie the blessed presence
of thine eternall maiestie,
one God on persons three,
and euerlasting in vnitie,
world without end, Amen.

9. A praier for humilitie, and a confession of sinnes, with a petition to haue the same remitted.

LOrd giue me humilitie,
being the
beautifull flowre
of vertue that groweth
in the garden of mans
soule; one of the most pleasant,
most necessarie, and most
acceptable, whose power was
so great, that it drue the sonne
of GOD, the second person in
deitie, from heauen, into the
wombe of the meeke virgine,
whom of all other he chose to
be his mother, for that she
was so humble and vertuous.
Thou O Christ our Sauiour,
being the Lord of all the world,
walkedst all the daies of thy
life in humilitie, and therein
endedst, humbling thy self vnto
the vile death of the crosse.
The wise humilitie of Abigael
pacified the furie of Dauid,
when he was minded to
kill all men of the house of
hir husband. The humble submission
of wicked Ahab, asswaged
the wrath of GOD,
which was the cause that the
almightie preserued him all
the daies of his life. The great
goodnes of this vertue is made
manifest, by opening the heinousnes
of the vice contrarie
thereto, which is pride: which
appeared in the proud Pharisie,
when he made boast in his
praiers of his good deeds, and
despised his poore neighbour,
which caused his praier not to
be hard, when the poore Publican,
standing a farre off, with
humblenesse, durst not lift vp
his eies to heauen, but with
heartie repentance knocking
his breast, said; Lord be mercifull
to me a sinner: which hartie
confession of his sinne, was
cause of his iustification, and
that he was made righteous.
Wherefore most gratious
Lord our heauenlie father,
considering the power of humilitie,
and the knowledge of
our sinnes, with hartie repentance,
to be of so great efficacie;
I thy poore creature, vnworthie
to appeare before thy
maiestie, doo powre downe
here, before thee, my sacke
that is full of sinne, which I
haue committed euen from
my youth, they are great and
manie, without number: neuerthelesse,
trusting of thine
accustomed nature and propertie,
which is, to be mercifull
to all sinners, that be sorie for
their offenses from the bottom
of their hearts, turning to thee,
knowing that thou diddest
send thy louing sonne, not to
call those that seeme in their
owne sight to be iust, but to
helpe those that confesse themselues
to be sinners.
I therefore, Lord, willing by
the helpe of thy grace, vtterlie
to forsake sinne, and to fulfill
thy holie will hereafter, desire
thee humblie of forgiuenesse,
and to admit me among the
number of those that are blessed,
and their vnrighteousnes
forgiuen. I will not couer
from thee my sinnes, neither
yet excuse them; but I praie
thee Lord hide them in the bloodie
woonds of thy sonne Christ,
where they shall be put in perpetuall
obliuion. Blessed is
the man, vnto whom thou doost
not impute sinne, and in whose
spirit there is no guile.
Wherfore from the bottome
of my heart, Lord, I am sorie
for all my sinnes, and doo aske
thee forgiuenesse. I will acknowledge
all mine offenses,
and accuse my selfe vnto thee
Lord. So soone as I was determined
no longer to hide
mine euill waies, thou Lord
straite forgauest me. Thine
eare was in my heart, before
my voice was in my mouth.
Thy mercies washed awaie
my sinnes, or euer my confession
was made. Thou art as
readie to heare and forgiue, as
we to aske.
Wherefore I will saie with
the prophet Daniel; It is I
that haue offended and sinned
against thy maiestie. I humblie
beseech thee cure my sicke
soule, for I haue highlie sinned
against thee; yet doubt I not,
but thou hast and wilt forgiue
the wickednes of my sinne. It
is thou Lord that must helpe
vs; which thou wilt doo, if we
call vpon thee, whilst we are
in this life, for after death, no
intreatie will be heard. It is
then too late.
Wherefore Lord keepe vs in
the right waie, and suffer vs
not to swarue on the right
hand, nor on the left. Thy eies
of protection and mercie are
euer firmelie fired vpon vs;
grant vs to set the eies of our
minds vpon thee. Lord call
me, plucke me Lord from
mine vngodlines, that I may
knowe thee, loue thee, & put my
hope wholie in thee. O glorious
God, my maker, sauiour, & sanctifier,
dwell in me and giue me
grace to dwell in thee, Amen.

10. A praier for patience in trouble, and constant expectation of Gods goodnes.

O GOD almightie,
grant vs neuer to
refuse thy chastening.
For though
thou make a wound, thou giuest
a plaister; though thou
smite, thy hand maketh whole
againe. Thou shalt deliuer vs
in fixe troubles, and in the seauenth
there shall none euill
come vnto vs. In hunger thou
shalt saue vs from death; and
when it is war, from the power
of the sword; thou shalt keepe
vs from from the euill toong; and
when trouble commeth, we
shall not need to feare. In destruction
and death we shall
be merrie: for the stones of the
land shall be confederate with
vs, bicause the Lord of hosts is
our defense & refuge for euer.
Let vs therefore put our
whole trust in him, reioising
with melodie of thanksgiuing
vnto his maiestie, who onelie
is true, and can helpe vs with
deliuerance. Let vs lift vp our
eies vnto GOD, who hath all
power; and therefore ought to
be feared. For whatsoeuer he
be that feareth man, more than
God, falleth into a snare, and
is destroied. As for all our
sinnes and transgressions,
thou requirest nothing of vs,
O Lord GOD, but to turne
vnto thee, and to obeie thy holy
word, following thy precepts
and commandements.
For thou saiest, O Lord,
those that honour thee, thou
wilt exalt; and whosoeuer despiseth
thee, shall be despised.
For thou preferrest to honour,
and puttest downe, according
to thy blessed will. The wicked
when they feele thy heauie
hand, grudge at the same: but
the godlie humble themselues,
and crie for mercie. For thou
O Lord wilt not heare hypocrits,
but those that praie vnto
thee with an vnfained faith,
and true repentance. For the
praier of the faithfull is a barre
to staie thine anger, that thou
consume not all.
Thy mercie is so great towards
thine, that thou wilt not
destroie them for their sinnes,
but correct and chasten them,
till thou haue purged and pardoned
them. Thy fauour O
God is cause of all prosperitie,
and thine anger of all aduersitie.
For thy care is so much ouer
thine, that thou wilt cause
their verie enimies to preserue
them. It lieth in thy
mightie power, to gouerne

D.j.

the hearts of all, thou O God
preferrest and preseruest them,
which are zealous of thy glorie,
and haue a care and loue towards
their brethren: as for
them that forget thee in prosperitie,
who art the giuer of all
good things, they procure to
themselues vtter perdition.
For thou dost cast them behind
thy backe; but thy louing
countenance dooth comfort the
troubled, that patientlie wait
on thee, constantlie putting
their trust in thy mercie.
In this world is continuall
trouble and disquietnes: in
heauen is perpetuall rest. Yet
manie there be, who loue this
world, that could content
themselues, for lacke of faith
that are loth to loose things
certein for things vncertaine.
But thy faithfull know, throgh
faith, that when in this world
the daie passeth awaie, then
commeth the night & darknes:
but in heauen all is there but
one daie eternall, a life euerlasting,
which endureth for euer,
which the soule of the righteous
shall enioie, through thy mercies
O GOD, bicause in this
world they walked before thee;
of which number make me
one, for his sake that died for
me; to whom with the Father
and the holie Ghost,
be giuen all honour
and praise, world
without end,
Amen.

d.ij.

11. A praier wherein the bountifulnes of God is confessed and praised.

O God eternall, the
giuer of all felicitie,
whose loue is
like the euening
and morning raine vpon the
earth, whose mercies cannot
be numbered, whose wisdome
and diuine prouidence is such,
that it reacheth from one end
of the earth vnto an other:
most mightilie and louinglie
dooest thou order all things.
Thy bountifulnesse, Lord, to
all mankind, is so manfest,
that no reasonable creature
can saie, but that he hath tasted
thereof: for what good thing
hath man that he hath not receiued
of thee?
Thou art good to all men,
but speciallie to those that
haue an vpright conscience,
and straight heart, a mind not
bowing downe to carnall and
temporall things, but aspiring
vnto heauenlie and eternall
things: for it is not enough, O
God almightie, to praise thee
with mouth, except our whole
hart agree therevnto, framing
our life vnto the same; for whosoeuer
dooth otherwise than
thou hast commanded, dooth
pollute thy name. Wherefore
giue vs grace to feare thee,
and to obeie thy holie word.
Giue vs also a mind to praise

d.iij.

thee for thy benefits past, that
thereby our minds may be
strengthened against all perils.
When I haue grace, O
Lord, to take thee for my defense
& trust, I shall perceiue
thy protection to be a most
sure safegard vnto me. For
though I haue not altogither
hitherto known thy Maiestie,
as I ought to doo; yet I
most humblie thanke thee
Lord, that I went not from
thee; but did cleaue fast to thee
by faith.
Though I had almost slipped
and fallen from thee, yet I did
not forsake thee. And thou full
mercifullie knowing my good
will towards thee, didst hold
me vp by my right hand, as
thou didst Peter, when he was
in iopardie of drowning; thy
goodnesse brought me to the
knowledge of mine infirmitie,
thy grace called me from
mine errror into the right
waie, thou sauest me as thou
didst Lot and his house, thou
didst lead me with thy counsel,
preseruing my weakenesse in
this present life. Wherefore
my trust is, that thou wilt not
take thy spirit from me, but
wilt receiue me into glorie: for
thy fauor hath been my guide.
Thy grace dooth direct me in
all my dooings, but which I am
that I am, and thy grace held
me still through faith. Wherefore
my trust is, that thou wilt
not leaue me, but bring me to
thine euerlasting rest. What
wretched foole therefore was
I, to desire of thee, temporall,
fraile, and deceitfull prosperitie
and pleasure; knowing by
faith, that thou hast prepared
for me, and for all faithfull that
loue thee, such rewards as neither
eie hath seene, eare hath
heard, nor hart can imagine?
What is ther then that is ordained
for me? Euen thou thy
selfe Lord, and the fruition of
thy perfect Godhead, wherein
is included all the ioie that
may be deuised, a treasure that
is immortall, it indureth pleasant
for euer. Shall I then be
so mad, to desire of thee most
mercifull God, worldlie honor,
pleasure, ease, or riches,
more than is requisite for this
present life? Should I desire
of thee that louest me, those
gifts, wherewith thou rewardest
thine enimies?
The most wicked vpon the
earth haue these trifles of thy
great goodnes and liberalitie,
but there is nothing vpon the
earth that I desire saue onelie
thee. The sweetnes of thy goodnes
hath made all euill to
cease in me: for thou Lord art
becom the strength of my hart,
thou art my portion for euer,
thou art my reward thine
owne selfe, wherwith my hart
is sufficed. For thou art the
verie life it selfe, in whom whosoeuer
beleeueth, shall liue euerlastinglie,
and shall not

d.v.

come into damnation.
Wherefore it is good for me,
to hold me fast by thee, to draw
neere vnto thee by faith, from
whence good works doo spring
towards my neighbour, and
then to put my hope and trust
wholie in thee, as in a sure and
vnmooueable altar, from
whence no blast of winds of
temptation shall driue me.
Through hope I trust to be deliuered
from a corruptible bodie,
into thy heauenlie glorie:
and this by patience I now
abide and looke for. Wherefore,
whilest I liue, I will not
cease to declare and set foorth
all thy noble works, which thou
hast wrought, to thine honor
and praise, and to the profit of
them that shall professe the
same Christs religion, while
the world indureth. As for me,
I haue none other refuge but
thee, in whom my conscience
dooth rest: for thou O God hast
humbled me by affliction, that
I should crie vnto thee, and receiue
the fruit of thy promise:
which grant O father, sonne,
and holie ghost, to me and all
thy church to aspire vnto, Amen.

12. A praier for grace and repentance.

O Lord God, we are
ashamed, & dare
not lift vp our
eies vnto thee our
God; for our wickednesse is
gone ouer our head, and our
trespasses are waxen so great,
that they reach vp vnto the
heauens. Since the time of
our fathers, we haue sinned &
trespassed against thee, euen
vnto this daie: and now our
God, what shall we saie? Continuallie
doo we forsake thy
commandements, and harden
our harts in misbeleefe: but
thou O God open our eies, to
behold thee with a stedfast
faith; & the eares of our harts,
to heare thy words, and to vnderstand
them, that we may
know thee the onlie true God,
and Iesus Christ whome thou
hast sent; for whose sake heare
vs, O deere Father, and send
thy holie Ghost, to confirme
this faith in vs euermore. To
whom, with thee O Father,
& thy son our onlie sauiour, be
all honor and glorie, power
and dominion, now and for
euer, Amen.

13. A praier wherein wee desire the life to come.

O Most high & mightie
prince of power,
Lorde of
hosts, GOD and
Lord of the heauenly armie of
angels, that are thy ministers:
when I consider the greatnes
of thy mightie Maiestie, I am
so rapt with the desire thereof,
that my hart and my flesh
reioiceth in nothing but in
thee alone, that art the liuing
God. All earthlie tabernacles
and worldlie goods I nothing
esteeme, when I behold thine
euerlasting felicitie, which although
I see now but darkelie
as in a glasse; I hope to see
thee face to face.
Grant me therfore O Lord,
whilest I am in this tabernacle,
to built vpon faith, which
is the altar of thee that art the
Lord most mightie, my King
and my God, vpon which we
giue vnto thee sacrifice, laud
and praise in the vnitie of thy
faithfull Church, whereof thy
Sonne Christ is the sure rock.
The faithfull build on this
foundation. Blessed are they
Lord therefore, that dwell in
thy house, who haue occasion to
praise thee. They are replenished
with aboundance of all
things that they desire, they
are made like vnto thee, they
see thee, euen as thou art; of
which sight they shall neuer be
fullie satisfied: such ioie and
loue shall they conceiue of the
sight of thy glorious maiestie.
But to this beatitude can
we not atteine, mercifull God,
of our owne strength and
power; but through the helpe
of they gratious assistance.
Thou must ingraue in our
harts thy lawes, and direct vs
in thy waies; and when we are
brought to thee by the right
waie, we must be continuallie
aided by thy grace, that thou
maiest staie and keepe our feet
from slipping. Who so trusteth
to his owne strength or power,
or to the helpe of man, is
much deceiued, and leaneth to
a rotten staffe: contrariwise,
he that putteth his trust in thy
gratious power, wanteth neuer
succour at need.
Thou hast put vs into this
present world, to fight and to
striue with our enimies, who
doo continuallie assault vs; but
thy grace maketh vs able to
repell all their inuasions. Thou
sufferest vs not to be tempted
aboue our strength, and for
our triumph thou rewardest
vs with a crowne of glorie and
immortalitie.
The vngodlie fall from thee,
descending downeward from
one vice to an other: but thy
faithfull and elect increase dailie
in godlines. For of thee
Lord commeth all our power
and strength to doo good, and of
thy sonne Christ Iesus, our
maister, our teacher and gouernour,
who promiseth, that if
we weepe and morne heare in
this vale of miserie for our
sinnes; we shall hereafter
laugh and be ioifull in eternall
glorie.
If we sowe with heauines,
we shall reape with gladnes;
if we perseuere good & strong
champions heere in batell, we
shall for our reward behold thy
glorious face, in thy heauenlie
mansion; we shall see also thy
sonne Christ, who is thy wisedome,
and thy power, which
who so seeth, enioieth all pleasures:
to see that delectable
sight, our hearts doo much desire
of thee, that art the Lord of
hosts.
For this we make humble
petition of thee, that art the
GOD of Iacob, who wrestled
with thine angel, and preuailed;
whose name thou diddest
change, and calledst him Israel,
that is, the feare or beholder
of God. Euen so make me a
strong wrestler against mine
enimies in this world, that I
may after this life behold thy
incomprehensible deitie, to the
full contentation both of my
soule and bodie.
We are much vnworthie to
obteine anie thing of thee, considering
our vnkindnes shewed
vnto thee, and our wretched
estate: wherein we remaine.
Neuerthelesse Lord, we praie
thee to be our defender and
protector, through thy grace;
not for our merits, but for the
merits of thy most entirelie
beloued sonne Christ, thine
onelie annointed aboue all other,
with the oile of ioie and
gladnes. He is our head, we
are the members of his bodie:
he dwelleth in his faithfull,
and they in him. Who so receiueth
anie of his elect, receiueth
him. He was incarnate for vs,
suffered death for vs, bare our
iniquities on his backe, and
rose againe for our iustification.
Wherefore we doubt not,
but that through the infusion
of thy grace, thou wilt looke vpon
him in vs, and shewe vs
mercie for his sake; that we
may haue aboundance of
grace through him, and casting
all the vanities of this world
behind our backes, we may
enter into the court of thy
bright heauenlie Ierusalem,
where one daies abiding is
better than a thousand in this
wretched world.
Iohn Baptist as witnesseth
our Sauiour was the greatest
and most perfect vpon
earth; yet said he the least in
the kingdome of heauen is
greater than he. Wherefore
most mightie Lord, thy faithfull
doubt not, whilst they are
here in this vale of miserie,
but that thou wilt euer assist
them, guide them, and blesse
them that put their whole trust
in thee, who art the liuing God,
and giuest to thine aboundantlie
all things necessarie
to this present life; and afterwards,
the fruition of thy
Godhead in heauen
eternallie, there to
dwell with thee
euerlastinglie,
Amen.

14. A praier for comfort in trouble.

THe chiefest comfort
that I receiue
in this miserable,
wretched, & troublesome
world, O heauenlie
Father, and God almightie,
is, when I call to mind the
truth of thy great promises,
made to me in Iesus Christ,
for whose sake onelie I doo acknowledge
and confesse, that
thou art my mercifull and louing
Father, and so carest for
me through him, that nothing
is able to remooue thy grace
and fauour from me. Wherefore
I come vnto thee in humblenes
of hart, crauing at thy
bountifull hands the assistance
of thy holie spirit, to suppresse
my wicked affections, that I
may with a stedfast faith obeie
thy most diuine Maiestie, in
thought, word, and deed. For
thou disposest all things most
wiselie, and preseruest thy children
in their greatest dangers.
Wherefore thy holie
name be praised now and for
euermore, through Iesus
Christ our Lord and Sauiour,
Amen.

15. A praier for the prosperitie of the Church.

O Most holie, glorious,
and blessed
trinitie, three persons
in one Godhead,
by whose goodnesse all
creatures haue their being,
whose eies behold al things, as
well that are past, as that are
to come, and are accoumpted
as present to thy mightie Maiestie:
we thy poore faithful subiects
of the Church here militant
vpon earth, shew foorth
our lamentable praiers, beseeching
thee pitifullie to behold
the miserable estate thereof,
which neuer had more need of
thy godlie assistance than at
this present it hath.
The nature of man is so corrupt
and abhominable in wickednesse,
that none dooth good
vpon the earth; for many there
be that despise God, & oppresse
the poore. Wherefore, Lord, we
beseech thee, to arise vp for the
trouble sake of the oppressed,
and at the complaint of the
poore, helpe him, and set him
at rest.
Thy Sonne Christ is our
sauing health, in whom who so
trusteth, resteth in suertie, and
cannot be deceiued. Arise vp
we praise thee mercifull God,
and cast vs not away for euer;
comfort thy small flocke, to the
confusion of thine enimies;
and make vs able, through thy
grace, to keepe thy lawes,
which are pure; euen as the
siluer, which from the earth is
tried and purified seuen times
in the fire.
Thou art neere Lord vnto
all, that is this life call vpon

E.j

thee faithfullie; and thou keepest
them from all dangers: for
in the midst of this world, we
are in manie temptations
and vices, and in the companie
of the proud and wicked
people, and in manie tribulations.
We see the vanities of
this world readie to mooue vs,
we suffer persecution; yet
thou keepest vs from desperation,
and thy grace preserueth
vs, that they come not neere
vs. Their entisements we esteeme
not, bicause we hope in
thy mightie power, who art
our defense in trouble.
Thy sonne Christ is the
strong rocke, in the which all
birds that build doo rest out of
ieopardie; to him all sinners
maie flie for succour and comfort,
being holden by him, they
may be eased. This rocke the
diuell cannot vndermine nor
scale: no water of tribulation
can drowne those that build
on this rocke. Pharao king of
Aegypt, with a great host pursued
the children of Israel, but
he could not hurt them: thou
Lord wast their defense, and
diddest destroie all their aduersaries.
Euen so art thou
our defense, our hope, and our
comfort.
Thou wilt compasse vs about
with ioifull deliuerance.
The house of our bodies is enuironed
with enimies, but thy
prouidence will defend vs out
of all dangers. Thou wilt informe

E.j

forme vs, and shewe vs the
waie wherin we shall go. This
life is a pilgrimage, and a
iorneie for vs to trauell in.
Thou art the end of our waie,
O God. Thou art the marke
that we shoote at, when we
come to our iornies end, in
thee Lord we hope to haue rest.
Thou giuest knowledge and
instruction by faith, that if we
passe well through this world,
we shall haue ioie euerlastinglie:
to the which
bring vs all, thou
Lord that diedst
for vs all, Amen.

16. A praier, that we may be heard of God.

THy hand is not
shortened, O Lord,
that it cannot help;
neither is thine
eare stopped, that it will not
heare: but our misdoings haue
separated vs from thee our
God, and our sinners haue caused
thy face to be hidden from
vs. Our hards are defiled with
vnrighteousnesse, our lippes
speake leasings, our toongs
doo set out wickednesse. No
man regardeth righteousnes,
and none iudgeth truelie: euerie
one hopeth in vaine
things, and imagineth deceit

e.iij.

conceiueth wearines, & bringeth
foorth euill. For our offences
are manie before thee, and
our sinnes doo testifie against
vs, and we acknowledge that
we haue doone amisse, transgressing
and dissembling against
thee, Lord, and fallen awaie
from our God, vsing presumptuous
imaginations.
Neuerthelesse, thou art our
God, and euerlasting father,
our nourisher and defender,
which wouldest not the death
of a sinner, but mercifullie receiuest
all those, that with repentant
harts come vnto thee.
And now we set our eies and
face towards thee, lifting vp
our hearts vnto thy mercie
seat, who hast promised to vnlode
vs, whensoeuer we come
vnto thee. Heare vs therefore,
and forgiue vs all our offenses,
which we haue committed,
from the time of our birth, vntill
this present houre. O blesse
vs, and the works also of our
hands, that we may liue and
praise thee, world without end,
through Iesus Christ our Lord
and sauiour, Amen.

17. A praier against the enimies of the church.

THe sure ships, O
Lord, fleete in the
sea vnder their
sailes, and passe
through the stormie tempests
without drowning: so doo thine

e.iiij.

elect, O God almightie, passe
through the fearefull perils of
all their enimies in this world,
by the meanes of thy ship the
church, and the true faith thereof;
of which ship our Sauiour
Christ is the sterneman, the
guide, and the sure anchor, to
be cast in all necessities, who so
trusteth in him, shalbe brought
to the faire hauen of perfect
beatitude.
Who so keepeth him within
the boords of his faithfull
ship, needeth not to feare the
dreadfull dragon, that sturdie
strong Leuiathan, to whose
power no power on earth may
be compared: for he is so mad,
that he feareth nothing: he is
king ouer all the children of
pride. This is yt Lucifer, that
fell downe from heauen; he is
the serpent that deceiued in
paradise, and brought death to
all mankind.
Neuerthelesse, when thy
faithfull people are penitent
for their offenses, resist his
temptations, and followe thy
lawes, putting their whole
trust in thee and thy blessed
sonne, then doo they mock and
deceiue him; as Christ did
with his humanitie, which
when he thought to deuoure, by
tempting the Iewes to put
Iesus to death, he was tripped
in his owne turne, and taken
into bondage by the vertue of
Christs diuinitie. And whensoeuer
we that be his faithfull,

c.v.

be caught as this our enimie
thinketh in his danger, we
turne to our head Iesus Christ
for refuge, and by his helpe doo
vanquish him.
Great, good Lord, is thy
mercie and goodnes, that suffereth
not thy faithfull to be
tempted aboue their strength;
but in the midst of their temptation
makest a waie for them
to escape out. The enimie hath
no power of himselfe, but as
thou sufferest him; he, with all
other creatures, hang vpon
thy will & commandements:
all wait on thee, that thou
maist giue them meate in due
season; when thou giuest it
them, they gather it.
Thy works Lord are mercie
and forgiuenes; thou art our
iustice, whereby thou makest
vs iust, which before were most
wicked sinners; thou makest
vs thine humble creatures, to
tremble for feare of thy mightie
power and iustice: our
pride thereby is abated. We
account the good deedes, which
we haue doone, to be of thy
gifts and goodnesse; nothing
presuming of our owne fraile
power: for we knowe that thy
holie spirit resteth vpon those
that haue a lowly troubled spirit,
and dooe stand in awe of
thy word.
The proud and stifnecked
people dooest thou touch with
scorpions and punishments,
& then they come to the knowledge
of thy Maiestie; then
will they saie as Nabucadonosor
said, after his punishment;
Honour and praise be
vnto thee O God of heauen,
whose power endureth alwais,
and thy kingdome from
one generation to another.
Then shall they be driuen to
praise thy mightie Maiestie,
as thou art worthie.
Cruell Saule was touched
of thy hand, and became Paule
a welbeloued apostle, through
the helpe of thy grace, and laboured
more aboundantlie
than all other of thine apostles;
such is the power of thy gratious
influence. This thy noble
grace send me, most mercifull
God, whereby I shall haue a
louing desire to honour thee, to
praise thee, my God and sauiour,
so long as I haue anie
being, I will not cease to confesse
my sinnes to thee, and to
lament mine iniquities: then
shall my words be plesant and
acceptable to thee.
And as I ioie wholie in thee,
that art my creator; and in
thy sonne, which is my redeemer:
so shalt thou also delight
in me that am thy poore creature
and handie worke, granting
me the fruit of thy sonnes
passion, which he suffered for
my redemption: to whom,
with thee O Father, and the
holie Ghost, be all honour and
glorie, all power and dominion,
now and for euermore, Amen,
Amen.

18. A praier of the afflicted person.

O Lord God, thou
art iust, and all thy
works and waies
are mercie & truth
and thou iudgest trulie for euermore;
remember me, and
looke on me O Lord God, and
punish me not according to
my sinnes, or mine ignorance;
but deale with me as it seemeth
best vnto thee. And now,
O Lord, worke thy will in
me, and command my spirit
to be receiued in peace, that I
may be dissolued of this fowle
fleshie masse, thorough the
which I doo nothing but offend
thee my Lord God.
Yet neuerthelesse, if it be thy
blessed will, to giue me longer
life in this vale of miserie;
forgiue me all my sinnes for
Christs sake: for thou art a
mercifull God, slowe to conceiue
wrath, and most readie
to forgiue. Wherefore extend
thy fauour vpon me, O Lord,
which shall confirme the faith
of others. Though I deserue
destruction, yet let thy mercie
pittie my frailtie: for thou art
great, O Lord, for euermore,
and thy kingdome is world
without end.
Thou scourgest and healest,
thou leadest vnto hell, and
bringest backe againe: and
there is none that may escape
thy hand. O giue thanks vnto
the Lord ye children of men,
for there is none holie, but he;
none almightie, but thou O
Lord God. Thou hast chastined
vs for our misdeeds, and of
thine owne mercie sake thou
hast saued vs: wherefore thee
will we feare and dread, and
magnifie the euerlasting king
in his works.
As for me and my soule,
whilest I liue will I praise thy
Maiestie; as long as I haue
anie being. For euer since I
was borne, thou hast giuen
me great cause to praise thee;
for thou hast beene the defense
of my iust cause. Heare now
my vehement praier, my secret
complaint, and my sighes
which I make before thee this
daie, into whose holie hands I
commit my bodie and soule:
for thou hast redeemed me, O
thou God of truth, Amen.

19. A praier of the iustice of God, and for the assistance of Gods spirit, with an inuocation vpon the Trinitie.

O Lord I confesse
thou dooest not punish
me without
my deserts, & therfore
I will neuer accuse thee of
rigour, as the wicked doo: for
I acknowledge that when
thou laiest thy hand heauie vpon
anie, there is iust cause why
thou shouldest so entreat them.
We are occasion of our owne
perdition, and can pretend no
ignorance to excuse vs withall:
for thou O God callest vs
by thy word and works, to follow
vertue, and flie vice; which
if we bend our selues vnto, depending
onelie vpon thee, thou
hast promised to be our schoolemaister
and protectour.
Thy prouidence, O GOD,
dooth not onelie watch ouer
thy church in generall, but also
ouer euerie member thereof:
for thy word, O Lord, is easie
to find, if we haue a desire
therevnto, if we be not blinded
by the prince of this world.
Thou most mightie hast power
both of land and sea, stretch
foorth thy mercifull hand to
helpe them vp that sinke, to
keepe them vp that stand; for
thou art aboue all, and ouer all
kingdomes of the earth. Thou
hast made the heauen and
earth.
Lord bow downe thine eare
and heare, Lord open thine
eies and behold. Our true refuge
and succour in all temptations
and dangers is; to flie
vnto thee by most earnest praier.
Thou wilt not here, O Lord
God, for manie words sake, or
often repetition, but thou doost
consider our faith and seruent
mind: for thou doost looke vpon
the heart of man, and not
vpon the outward appearance.
It is great greefe, O Lord,
vnto thy children, when they
see not the fruits of their praiers,
which causeth them to
thinke, that thou hearest not:
yet doost thou but defer them,
to cause them to praie more
earnestlie and often. For
when there seemeth to mans
iudgement to be no recouerie,
but all things are brought to
despaire, then thou O GOD
doost shew thy mightie power,
there is nothing doone without
thy prouidence and decree.
Wherefore I will call vpon
thee with a stedfast faith, being
assured of thy mercies; bicause
I haue found thy helpe at need
in my most danger: for thou
neuer forsakest them that put
their trust in thee, bicause of
nature thou art verie mercifull.
Therefore the faithfull reuerence
thee, and are bold to
approch neere thy mightie Maiestie;
most humblie beseeching
thee, for Iesus Christ his sake,
that thou wilt cast all our
sinnes behind thy backe; and
giue vs thy grace and holie
spirit, to lead the rest of our
liues in thy feare, dooing alwaies
that is righteous in thy
sight.
For whosoeuer walketh in
his vocation, and hath the
light of God for his guide, needeth
to feare no danger: thy
rodde and thy staffe shall alwaies
hold him vp. Guide me.
O Lord, and giue me the most
pretious gift of faith, which is
the head spring of all good
works. Baptise me inwardlie
with the holie Ghost, burne
and consume all vice in me,
inflame my hart with the loue
of thee, and cast thy fauour vpon
me, O Lord and holie father.
So doo likewise O Christ
my Lord and Sauiour, who
wast contented to put off all
thy glorie, that thou wast in
before the beginning of the
world, to take our nature vpon
thee, and to suffer most bitter
passion vpon the crosse for
our redemption. Wash me
with thy pretious bloud, and
make me a chosen vessell to
thy selfe: giue me a thankefull
hart to praise thy name with
continuall thankesgiuing for
thy great mercies. Come holie
spirit, inspire my hart with
the true knowledge of the father
and the sonne, proceeding
from them both; one God in
Trinitie, and Trinitie in vnitie,
world without end, Amen.

20. A praier for faith and grace.

LOrd giue me faith
and grace, that I
may be wounded
in
hart to seeke vnto
thee for mercie: for thou, O
God, hast taught vs in thy holie
word to looke for aide and
helpe of thee in all perils, and
that thou art the onlie giuer of
victorie in all temptations of
our enimies, bodilie & gostlie.
For when thou giuest sentence
against the wicked, they must
needs confesse thee to be iust,
and themselues sinners. For
thou O GOD, which louest
purenes of hart, & maiest iustlie
destroie man, who is by nature
a sinner: much more wilt
thou laie thine hand vpon
them, whom thou hast instructed
in thy heauenlie wisdome.
Thy fauour O God, is the
fountaine of all prosperitie, for
thou O Lord doost still behold
vs. Thee will we reuerence,
in what place soeuer we be.
Helpe me therefore, O Lord
God, in my good purposes,
and holie worshipping, or seruing
of thee; and grant vnto
me to make a perfect enterance
and beginning in thee;
for I haue bin an vnprofitable
seruant hitherto. O Lord
giue me a mind neuer to shew
my selfe vnthankful for all thy
benefits: for thou art the God,
which euer hath beene and shall
be; the GOD almightie, by
whom all thinges haue their
being; full of mercie, mindfull
of thy promise. Who so
seeketh any other than thee, O
Christ, in whom dooth rest onlie
the saluation of our soules;
that creature shal find nothing
but miserie and sorrow. Wherfore
Lord make me rich in thy

F.j.

fauour and grace, conducting
me by thy power. Graft in
me a full trust in thy promises
for my deliuerance, make me
one with thee in euerlasting
loue, that when it shall please
thee to call me out of this miserable
world, I may liue with
thee and my Sauiour Christ,
who died for me and all people:
whose name, with thee
O Father, and the holie
Ghost, be praised
now and for euermore,
Amen.

21. A praier of the creation of mankind, of the true Samaritane, & for strength against temptation.

O Father of heauen,
of power almightie,
which with
thine onlie word
diddest create and make all
the whole world, and all for the
profit & seruice of man, whom
thou diddest create of all other
a most noble and perfect creature,
giuing him power vpon
earth, the waters, and all the
fowles and birds of the aire;
thou madest him also after
thine own similitude and likenes,
induing him with a

f.ij.

reasonable soule, and all the
powers thereof, thou also diddest
put him in the pleasant
garden of paradise, excepting
nothing from him, but the eating
of the onlie tree of knowledge
of good and euill: and
further, for his helpe, comfort,
and companie, of a ribbe of his
side thou madest for him a woman,
and gauest hir to him to
be his wife.
There had they instructions
giuen them, and the lawe of
life for an heritage. Before
them was laid both life and
death, good and euill, with a
freewill giuen them to take
which liked them best. But
their frailtie was such, that
they, through a small intisement,
chose the euill, and left
the good: they left life, & chose
death. Thus Lord, through sin,
& breaking of thy commandements,
man lost the freewill
that was giuen him in his
creation, and purchased death
to all his posteritie.
In the waie as he went to
Ierusalem and Iericho, he fell
in the hands of theeues, who
hurting and wounding him
sore, departed, leauing him
halfe dead; so that he could
haue helpe of none, but only of
the good Samaritan, who, as
he passed by the same waie,
powred wine and oile into his
wounds, and tooke the cure of
him.
This onlie Samaritan was

f.iij.

thy deare Sonne Christ, which
tooke vpon him all the iniquities
of mankind, and laid them
on his backe by his death, purging
and clensing him, not onlie
from the originall sin of our
father Adam, but also from
all our sins which we commit
from time to time, by the vertue
of his passion, and the sacrament
of baptisme vpon
our repentance. For as by
Adam, death came to mankind,
so by Iesus Christ was
mankind restored to life.
For this great and high benefit
of thy sonnes blessed passion
for our redemption, we
thy poore creatures praise and
thanke thee, most humblie acknowledging
his inestimable
loue towards vs, in that thou
vouchsafedst to die for vs, being
then sinners, & thy mortall
enimies. Neuerthelesse, most
mercifull father, we are of our
selues not able to do any thing
that good is, no not so much as
to thinke a good thought, without
thine aid and assistance.
We wander here miserablie,
in the lowe parts of the vile
earth; our strength will no
serue vs to clime to the high of
the hilles, where thou dwellest
in thy mount Sion, a place
prepared for thine elect, a chosen
inheritance of thy faithfull
seruant Abraham, and his seed.
Wherefore since we, being
burthened with the affects of

f.iiij.

worldlie pleasures, and also
with other cares and troubles,
can by no meanes ascend to
thee, that art on the top of so
high a mountaine, so manie
legions of angels attending
on thy Maiestie we haue no
remedie, but with the prophet
Dauid now to lift the eies of
our harts and minds towards
thee, & to crie for helpe to come
down from thee to vs thy poore
and wretched seruants.
We wander here below, as
lost sheepe, hauing no shepheard;
we are assailed on euerie
side with manifold enimies;
the diuell rauening and
hungering, seeketh whom he
may deuoure; the world allureth
vs also to hir deceitfull vanities;
our flesh also, which we
carrie about vs, is our enimie
readie and prone to drawe vs
vnto all vices and pleasures.
From this can we by no
means be defended, but by
thee Lord.
Send vs therfore thy helpe
and holie angell, to assist and
strengthen vs: for of thee most
mercifull Father floweth all
bountie and goodness. Thou O
Lord God madest heauen and
earth for thine honour, and
mans commoditie; establish
therefore good Lord the chosen
works of thy hand with thy eternall
helpe: from heauen
send vs downe the welspring
of thy grace, and thy strong
angell to aide vs by his helpe,

f.v.

that no assault of our spirituall
enimies doo preuaile against
vs: but from all euils by thy
word defend vs, Lord, both
touching the bodie, and also the
soule, that no temptation preuaile
against vs.
Thou hast beene our protectour,
euen from our mothers
wombe; and our trust is that
thou wilt so continue all the
daies of our life, and speciallie
at the houre of our death, that
we may ascend to the heauenlie
Ierusalem, where we shall
reast in the bosome of our father
Abraham, the father of all
faithfull beleeuers, there to
praise thee, and thy louing
Sonne, and the holie Ghost,
world without end, Amen.

22. A praier and thankesgiuing vnto God, for his manifold gifts, with an acknowledgment of our sinne, and pardon for the same.

O Praise the Lord
our God for euer,
and let vs giue
thanks vnto the
name of his glorie, which exceedeth
all other thankesgiuings
and praises: for thou art our
God alone, thou hast made the
heauen of all heauens, with
all the hoste of them; the earth,
and all the creatures, which
liue by thee; the sea, and all
that moue therein: thou preseruest
them all through thine
omnipotent power. For the
which all the host of heauen
praiseth thee, and we thy poore
children here on earth doo crie
vnto thee; Holie, holie, holie,
art thou, which euer was, and
euer shall be, O Lord God of
sabaoth.
Thou hast made good all thy
words and promises, for thou
art righteous and true, and
hast considered the miserie of
our forefathers: for they were
stubborne against thee, not regarding
thy precepts and
commandements, neither
were mindfull of thy wonderous
works that thou diddest
for them, whose footesteps we
are prone and readie to follow
in all vngodlines, in these our
daies: but thou O Lord art
mercifull, patient, and of
great goodnes, and forsakest
vs not
whensoeuer we returne
vnto thee.
Wherefore, O Lord, heare
vs from heauen, and forgiue
vs all our vnthankfulnes, and
giue vs faithfull hearts to followe
thy commandements;
which if we doo, we shall liue in
them. For it is not in mans
power to order his owne
waies, nor to rule his owne
steps or goings: therefore chasten
thou vs, O Lord, but with
fauor, not in thy wrath. Bring
vs not vtterlie to naught, for
we haue none other sauiour,
neither can we helpe our
selues; for by our saluation
thy name shall be praised.
Therefore Lord helpe vs, seeing
that of thy mercie thou
hast made vs a most deare posession
vnto thee, and we
through our sinnes are worthilie
punished. Declare againe
thy loue, and finish the
worke that thou hast begunne
in vs; so shall we liue and
praise thy holie name for
euer & euer, through
Iesus Christ our
Lord and redeemer,
Amen.