Godlie priuate prayers for Housholders to meditate vpon, and to saie in their families.

MARKE. 11. 24

Whatsoeuer yee desire when ye pray, beleeue that yee shal
haue it, and it shall be done vnto you.

ROM. 10. 13.

Whatsoeuer shall call vpon the name of the Lorde
shall be saued.

A prayer contayning the effect of the Housholders Catechisme.

ALmightie God and most mercifull Father, I
see in thy blessed lawes & commaundements
the greatnesse of my sinnes and wickednes;
yea, I see O Lord my GOD the whole
course of my life to be almost nothing els, but a continuall
breaking of thy holy Lawes and commaundements.
The thoughts of my hart, either in vanitie, or els open
wickednesse, are in number infinite, daily in the aboundaunce
of them, causing my mouth to speak, and my bodie
to execute and doe contrary to the holy will. And againe
O Lord I see thy heauie wrath, vengeance, and
iudgement against sinne to be intollerable, that euen the
least wicked thought and most secrete cogitation of my
hart, procureth thy heauy wrath, and euerlasting curse,
the torments of hell, and euerlasting fire, euen although
I had but once in all my life broke any of thy commaundements,
so much as once in thought. And I knowe
O Lorde GOD that thou art true and iust, and
canst not abide sin and wickednes, but wilt iustlie punish

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euery sinne, euen with the selfe-same torments of hell,
which thy iustice hath appointed, euen for euery sinne.
This ô Lord my God throweth me downe, & euen amazeth
me, so that I know not what to do. I looke into my
selfe, viewing mine owne power, whether I am able to
ouercome this punishment of my sinne or no: and I see
that all, euen the most exquisite punishment which I can
deuise to my selfe, in whipping of my body as long as I
liue, wearing hayre-cloth, pyning my selfe with fasting,
or any other paine, I see, I see o Lord that all this punishment
is not sufficient for one of my least sinnes, because
it deserueth euen the euerlasting paines of hell. I
looke to heauen, I see there is no Saint nor Angel able to
abide and ouercome this punishment of sinne: I looke
to men in this worlde, euen to the Popes treasure, that
wicked man of sin, and I see that neither his Masse nor
purgatorie, pilgrimage, pardons, pennance, satisfactions,
nor any of such like wicked stuffe, alas I see they are nothing
for the satisfying for one of my least wicked
thoughts, seeing the punishment is by thy iust decree &
sentence thine euerlasting curse. Wherefore I am driuen
out from my selfe, and all that I can doe, to seek this
punishment discharged other where, or els to fall vnder
the burthen. I see there is no helpe for mee in Angels,
Saints, nor mortall men, but onely in that perfect man
Christ Iesus thy deere sonne, in whom I see the full punishment
of my sinne wholy payde, satisfied, discharged,
and ouer-come: death vanquished, the paines of hell in
victorie swallowed vp, the curse satisfied, and the eternitie
of the punishment through his euerlasting power
ouer-reached. This I see O Lord by the eyes of faith,
being thorough thy holy spirit wholy assured, that all
the whole punishment of sinne, payde by my Sauiour
Christ, is not onely payd for other men, but euen also
for me and my sinne. Thys assuraunce of my faith, being
thine onely worke in me, I beseech thee in mercy, to
strengthen and increase, for I feele it often full of wauering
and doubting. Graunt that I may daily more and
more in my soule and conscience, feele my selfe knit and
grafted into the body of thy sonne, whereby I may bee
assured, that whatsoeuer he hath doone, pertayneth to
me, and is fully and wholy mine: that I may through
the power of his death, feele daily sinne die in mee, and
through the power of his resurrection, feele my selfe risen
from sinne, to haue my full ioy and comfort in those
things which be agreeable and to thy holy will, vtterly detesting,
hating, and abhorring from my heart all thinges
which be contrarie to thy wil and pleasure: that euen in
thys lyfe I may still looke for this endlesse ioy and felicitie,
vsing the things of this world as though I vsed them
not, till that good time that it shall please thee to call me
to thine euerlasting kingdome of glory, there to raigne
with my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, for euer and euer.
Amen.

A prayer vpon the Lords prayer.

O Most mighty Lorde and eternall God, who hast
by thy deere sonne Christ Iesu our Lord and Sauiour,
reconciled vnto thy selfe all things in heauen
and earth, and in him hast made an euerlasting bond
and couenaunt with vs thy faithfull children, that thou
wilt not onely be ouer God, but also our most louing and
mercifull father, wherof as a pledge thou hast giue~ vs thy
holy spirit of adoption, whereby we may with boldnesse
and full trust and confidence, come to thee by hartie

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prayer, as vnto our most louing and mercifull Father, being
assured that thou wilt not denie vs any thing which
thou knowest shal be expedient for vs: graunt wee beseech
thee deer father, that we being fully perswaded in
our harts of thys thy fatherly loue and affection towards
vs, may be stirred vp to make our peticions with such an
affection, ardent desire, loue & reuerence to thy Maiestie,
that our mindes be not carryed away with by thoughts
creeping in, but without all wandering, may bee fully
bent and attentiue to the thing we aske, and fully stayde
vpon thy mercifull and iust protestation.
We then beseech thee deere father that thou wilt
strengthen our harts with thy holy Spirit, that considering
thou hast made all things for thy glory of thy name,
so we may in all our dooings, enterprises, counsels, and
purposes, chiefely aboue all things seeke thy glory: that
we may fully acknowledge thee, not onely the Authour
of all things, but the ruler, guider and gouernour of all
things, both in heauen and earth: that wee neuer diminish
thine incomprehensible glory, by attributing vnto
our selues any power, strength, or abilitie to doe, will, or
thinke that which is good: but from our harts wee may
acknowledge all our goodnes to come from thee, yeelding
for the same continuall prayse and thanksgiuing to
thy glorious Name: that wee neuer by distrusting thy
mercifull prouidence, dishonour thy Name, but that euen
in our greatest distresse wee may put our full confidence
in thee, not looking vppon our weaknesse, but
staying vppon thy power and promises: by harty prayer
flying vnto thee our onely refuge: that our whole life
may be so framed according to thy holy will in al points,
that thy most glorious Name in vs may be sanctified, and
that wee be not an occasion that thy holy Name be blasphemed
through our wicked life and conuersation.
Let thy Kingdome most mercifull Father appeare,
and manifestly be declared in all the world, but especially
amongst thy Church and faythfull flocke: declare
thy selfe Lord and King ouer them, ruling them by the
scepter of thy holy word, and force of thy holy spirit.
Increase the number of faythfull Pastors and Preachers
amongst the people: blesse their labours to the increase
of this kingdome of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ, and
to the destruction of the kingdome of sathan and Antichrist.
Suppresse the rage of the enemies, that they may
knowe that thou, O Lord, doest raigne in all ages, to
the behoofe of thy Church, and terrour of thine enemies.
Graunt these mercies good Lorde, not onely to
the whole Church in generall, but especially to euery
one of vs thy children particularly: Graunt that we may
effectually feele the force of this thy kingdome in our
harts. Beate down in vs our old corrupt Adam, with all
sinfull delights, thoughts, motions, and desires: and renew
in vs day by day our spirituall and inward man, that
we may be wholy bent to delight, think, desire, and doe
those things which be acceptable in thy sight.
Frame our harts good Lord with such humble obedience
to thy holy will that we may be hartily well content
with whatsoeuer it pleaseth thy goodnes to lay vpon
vs: that we neuer cease in our miseries, but continually
call vpon thee by hearty prayers, although we feele
no release at all, yet that still patiently wee may abide,
and quietly wayte for thy good leysure and appoynted
time of deliuerance, when thou knoweth it shall be most
expedient for vs.
Graunt vs, deare Father, that all our counsailes, studies,
labours, and endeuours , beeing by thy holy spirit

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guided and framed, we may euery one in that vocation
in which thou hast placed him, so faithfully trauaile, to
the discharging of our consciences, and edifying of thy
Church, that our account may be found acceptable before
thy throane and iudgement seate. So blesse our labours
and trauailes, that we may haue sufficient for the
preseruing of this present life, and be content with those
benefits which thou shalt bestowe vpon vs, whether
they be many or fewe, acknowledging them to be receiued
of thee: not greedily to care for them, or vainely
to delight in them, but thankfully esteeme of them, as thy
benefits bestowed vpon vs, and as faithfull stewards moderatly
to vse them, to the releese of our brethren, and
the discharge of our consciences.
Increase in vs good Lord the gift of fayth, that we
may daily more and more in our soules and consciences
be assured, that our sinnes be defaced, cleane blotte out,
and couered with the full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice
of thy deare Sonne Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour,
once made for vs: that we are vnited, knitte, and
made one body with him, partakers of his righteousnesse,
iustification, and holinesse, and euen fellow heires
with him of euerlasting life: that wee may vnfaynedlie
from the bottome of our hearts loue thee for this thine
vnspeakeable goodnesse and mercie: forgyuing from
our hearts our Brethren which doe offende vs, pray for
them, loue, cherrish, and comfort them as fellow members
all of one body, with perfect naturall loue and compassion
linked together to our head Christ Iesu.
Strengthen vs, good Lord, with thy holy spirite, that
we be not ouercome with the subtile suggestions and
sinfull motions of sathan the deuill: holde vs vp with
thy mercifull hande, that wee sleepe not in sinne, that
wee be not drawne away with the wicked world, nor
the enticements of the flesh, to delight in wickednesse:
but so arme vs with thy mightie power, that wee may
stronglie abyde all the assaultes and subtile fleightes of
our ghostlie enemie, and sincerelie to walke before
thy face, both in prosperitie and aduersitie, to thy honour
and glory, the health of our soules, and profit of
thy Church, through Iesus Christ our onely Lord and
Sauiour, Amen.

The Lords prayer more at large.

O Most mighty and eternall God, who of thine infinite
loue to mankind, hast giuen vs thine owne
eternall sonne Christ Iesu our Lord, to be made
man for vs, in the similitude of sinfull flesh, to become
flesh of our flesh, bone of our bones, in all things like vnto
vs, sinne onely excepted: who being thy true and naturall
Sonne, hath made vs with him, sonnes, children,
and heires to thee our most mercifull Father, giuing vnto
vs by grace, that which is his by nature. And by his due,
alone, once offered, sufficient sacrifice, hath payde the
raunsome of our sinnes before thy diuine Maiesty, to satisfie
thy iustice vpon sinfull flesh. Which debt being
payd for vs, he hath brought vs in fauour with thee, so
that wee may nowe with boldnesse and trust come to
thee as vnto our most mercifull and louing Father, with
full assurance, that as thy loue is so much greater and
more excellent towardes vs, then all loue of earthly parents
towardes theyr Children, als thou passest all men
in goodnesse and mercie, so thou wilt denie vs nothing
which shall be expedient for vs. So that although all
the Fathers which are in earth, hauing shaken off all

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feeling of fatherly naturalnesse, would forsake their children,
yet thou wouldest neuer forsake vs, because thou
canst not deny thy selfe: who promisest, that if earthly
Fathers beeing euill, can giue good gifts to their Children,
how much more wilt thou our heauenly Father,
being altogether goodnes it selfe, giue good things to
them that aske in thy Sonnes name? And that although
a Mother should forsake her Children, yet wilt thou not
forsake vs thy Children, whom thou hast before the beginning
of the world in thy deare Sonne Iesu Christ,
chosen to be thy children and heires with him of thine
immortall kingdome. Whereof that we in our selues
might be sure and certaine, and out of all doubt, that we
are the children and heires of euerlasting life, thou hast
giuen into our harts thy holy Spirit, as a true pledge and
earnest of our inheritance, which Spirit doeth assure our
spirits that we are thy Children, and therefore cryeth in
our harts, Abba Father.
Wee therefore as thy deare Children, raunsomed
and bought by thy deare Sonne, flee to thee our most
louing and mercifull Father, who in goodnesse art infinite,
in mercy aboundant, in substance incomprehensible,
in immortality euerlasting: who by thy mighty power
and singular prouidence rulest all things, according
to thy heauenlie wisedome: beseeching thee for thy
deare Sonne Christ Iesus his sake, that as thou hast sufficiently
sette foorth thy glorious Name in making the
whole world, heauen, earth, and all thinges therein
contayned: so wee may in beholding and viewing
thy creatures the workes of thine handes, be lyfted vp
to thee our Lord GOD the Creatour and Maker, and
in them glorifie thy holy name, acknowledging in them
thy singular goodnesse and loue towardes man, for
whose vse thou hast created all thinges, both in heauen
and earth: and that wee may for the same, euen from
the bottome of our hearts, yeeld due honour, prayse,
and thanksgiuing to thee deare Father all the dayes of
our lyfe. Graunt most mercifull Father, that we may in
heart and minde be fullie assured, that thou by thy heauenly
prouidence rulest and guidest all things in heauen
and earth, so that nothing in the whole worlde commeth
to passe but according to thine appoyntment: that
thou guidest and framest the affayres and doings of men,
that thou hast euen theyr hearts and all theyr powers in
thy mercifull hand, to turne them which way so euer
it seemeth best to thy godlie wisedome: so that whether
we be in prosperity or aduersity, we may acknowledge
both of them to be thy worke in vs, and therefore
be no lesse thankfull for sicknesse then for health: for
sorrowe, then for comfort: for troubled minde, then
for a quyet: for imprisonment and banishment, then
for libertie: especially seeing wee know that thou turnest
them all seeme thy neuer so sharpe to the comfort
and commoditie of thy Children which feare thee:
and that in all things which shall befall vnto vs, whether
they be greeuous or ioyous, prosperity or aduersity, life
or death, thy holy name may be sanctified in vs by yeelding
due and continuall prayse and thanksgiuing to thy
eternall Maiesty: that we neuer cease to put our full trust
and confidence in thy mercy, who hast promised to be
our defender, buckler, and shield, to keepe vs as the apple
of thine eye, to deliuer vs when we call vpon thee, to
open when we knock, to giue when we aske: that wee
knowing our owne weaknes, that of our selues we haue
no power or strength to do, no not so much as to will
that which is good, we may acknowledge al our strength

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comfort, ioy, faith, loue, hope, and confidence to be thine
only gift and work in vs. And for the same, & the increase
of the same, and for all thy benefits in vs, wherof we feele
our selues destitute, we may constantly flee vnto thee by
harty prayer, requiring the same at thy mercifull hand.
And hauing felt thy merciful dealing towards vs, we may
alway to the ende of our life continue thankfull to thy
blessed Name: that we neuer speake or thinke of thee o
Lord God without high reuerence and an obedient
feare vnto thy glorious Name.
And that thy kingdome O Lord may more gloriously
shine amongst men, subdue the hearts of the people
to be obedient to thy word. Lighten all nations with
thy glorious Gospell: rayse vp faithfull Ministers of thy
word, aboundantly in euery place, who with pure and
perfect zeale in true knowledge may feede the hungry
soules with the foode of life. Lighten the hearts of thy
Children, whom yet thou hast not called to the feeling
of thy mercies in thy sonne reuealed. Beate downe the
furie and rage of the kingdome of sathan and Antichrist,
with all tyrants, who shew theyr vtter mallice and furie
against thy deare and faythfull flocke. Confound
theyr deuises, suppresse theyr pride, and so strengthen
all thy true and faythfull seruants against theyr rage, that
they may haue true wisedome to confound theyr enemies,
and stedfast constancie to professe the truth of thy
glorious Gospell, euen to the death. And that euerie
one of vs may feele the force of this thy kingdome particularly
in our selues, we beseech thee kill in vs, by thy
holy spirit, all wicked delights of sinne, and vanities of
this world. Mortifie in vs our earthly and carnall affections,
and graunt that wee may haue our full delight
and pleasure in thee our heauenlie Father, and in thy
Sonne Christ Iesu our Lord and Sauiour, and reuerently
embrace thy holy word, that our soules may be comforted
therein, and our fayth thereby confirmed. Lighten
our vnderstanding, that wee may in thy holy word
learne, and in hart be fully assured that thou art our most
mercifull Father: and thy deare Sonne, our Lord and Sauiour.
Beate downe in vs all sinfull motions of the aduersarie,
which doe rebell against thy holy spirit, and
settle and frame our minds by thy holy spirit in vs, that
all rebellion in our flesh being killed, we may quietly with
stayed minds and consciences set our full ioy, comfort,
and consolation in heauenly things, walking before thee
in sincerity of minde: put our full trust and confidence
in thee, rest and quyet our selues wholy in thy mightie
protection and prouidence.
And forasmuch O Lord God as of our selues we be
nothing but stubbernesse and rebellion, we beseech thee
deare Father that as thine Angels in heauen doe willingly
obey thy will without resistance, so we thy children
in earth all stubbernesse and peruersenesse, by thy
holy spirit in vs being vtterly extinguished and quenched
wee may willingly submit our selues, resigne and
yeeld our whole affections to thee, O Lord, to be gouerned
after thy blessed and heauenly will. That wee may
feele in our selues no other motion or desire, then a
meete consent to thy holy will: that whatsoeuer affection
in vs fight against thy holy will, thou wilt vtterly
make them voyde. That we neuer will any thing of our
selues, but that thy holy spyrite in vs may gouerne our
hearts, by whom inwardlie beeing taught, wee may
learne to loue, embrace, and take comfort in those
things that please thee, and to hate those things that displease
thee: That our hearts, minds and wills, beeing
wholy subdued to thy modst blessed will, we may willinglie
be content with that estate of life, which it pleaseth
thy goodnesse to exercise vs withall in this world, whether
it be in aduersity or prosperity, in sicknes or health,
in ignominy or glory, in quietnes or trouble, in sorrow
or gladnes. Graunt vs, deare Father this willing and patient
mind, that euen in our greatest distresse we may be
content with thy good will, & not to murmur or grudge
against thy Maiesty, knowing that thou wilt lay nothing
vpon vs, but that which shal turne to our goodnes or profit.
And that we may patiently abide whatsoeuer it shall
please thee to lay vpon vs: that wee be assured in our
hearts, that thou wilt not lay more vnto vs, then thou
wilt giue vs strength to beare, and euen in our greatest afflictions,
wilt finde a way for our deliuerance, and that
thy power and strength is more fully declared, when we
feele our selues vtterly voyde of all strength, and see no
way of deliuerance: that we may in our most greeuous
assaults, conflicts and anguish of mind, submit our selues
wholy to thy blessed will, & looke for our deliuerance at
thy hand, when thou knowest it shall be most expedient
for vs, & most for thy glory, leauing the time and meane
of deliuerance to thy good will and pleasure, and that in
the meane time we neuer cease but call vpon thee, by harty
prayers continually as thou hast commaunded, vntill
such time as thou shalt heare our petitions. And althogh
after many and sundry callings vpon thee, thou seeme
not to regard vs, but rather deale more extreamely with
vs: yet notwithstanding strengthen vs so with perseuerance
in prayer, that we faint not, but still continue in
prayer being assured, that although we feele our selues
nothing released, yet we may quyet our selues heerein,
that wee as thy Children haue layde our complayntes,
griefes and sorrowes in the bosome of thee our heauenly
Father, who wilt as a louing Father, when hee seeth it
most co~uenient, helpe vs. And that although thou seeme
nothing to graunt our requests, yet wee honour thee in
calling vpon thy Name: seeing thou doest accept it as a
most chiefe honour, to be called vpon in the day of trouble.
And forasmuch deere Father as thou doost by thy
mighty power nourish, feed, sustaine, preserue, & maintaine
all liuing creatures, yea, euen the very young foules
and beastes, we beseech thee to sende vnto vs thy chyldren,
ouer whom thou hast a more speciall care all
things necessary for thys our present life: that we hauing
sufficient, may walke euery one in our calling, in sinceritie
and pure holines before thy face, acknowledging all
our benefits of riches, wealth, health, meate, drink, apparell,
and all our substance to be thy meere gifts, bestowed
vpon vs, and deliuered vnto vs from thy hands:
that wee be not drawne from thee through setting our
mindes too much vpon them, but so moderatly vse the~,
as thy benefits for a time bestowed vppon vs, knowing
that thou wilt at our hands require an account how we
haue vsed them. That we doe not carefully gape or seek
after them, but discreetly to thy glory use them, acknowledging
in them thy goodnes and liberality towards vs.
And seeing, most mercifull Father, that it is not our trauaile,
labour, paines, studie, or endeuour which is able to
get vs our liuing, but onely insomuch as it pleaseth thy
goodnes to blesse and prosper them: wee beseech thee,
that if through our great trauaile and paines, wee be yet
still in poore and meane estate, that thou wilt giue vs a
contented heart, knowing that thereby thou lettest vs
vnderstande, that it is thy good will and pleasure, so to
keepe vs vnder, that wee more effectually may giue our
selues to serue thee. Or if it be thy will and pleasure more
aboundantly to blesse vs & our trauaile, to send vs abou~dance
of all things, we beseech thee deere Father giue
vs a thankful hart to acknowledge them to be thy good
gifts, and frame our harts with such liberalitie, that wee
may be contented to distribute them according to the
necessitie of thy children, being assured that thou hast to
that end made vs Stewards ouer them, that thou maist at
his hands require much, on whom thou hast bestowed
much: so that we hauing the due estimation of thy benefites
which we ought to haue, may both reuerence
thy goodnesse in thy benefits, and supply the want of
our brethren, to the reliefe of theyr necessitie, and furtheraunce
of thy glory.
And whereas most mercifull Father thy sonne our
Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus, hath in our nature paid
the raunsome and debt of all our sinne, which we haue
from the beginning of our life committed, and doe daily
commit, wee beseech thy gracious goodnesse, that
thou wilt by thy holy spirit in our harts, assure our soules
and consciences with a liuely fayth, that by that same one
alone sufficient sacrifice, the punishment of our sinnes is
payde, thy wrath appeased, and thy iustice satis-fied,
whereby our consciences may bee quieted and sette at
peace with thee our mercifull Father and GOD. Let
vs, deere Father, feele in our soules and consciences, that
wee are vnited and knit to thy deere sonne Iesus Christ,
and made one body with him, & heire with him of euerlasting
glory, so coupled and ioyned with him, that we are
members of his body, we may be assured that it is ours:
that his righteousnesse, is our righteousnesse: his satisfaction
and holines is ours: the curse, condemnation and
death which he suffered, is the same curse, condemnation,
and death due for our sinnes: that wee knowing that
our sinnes be done away, and cleane forgotten and forgiuen
by thy mercifull loue and goodnesse declared in
offering vp thy sonne to death for vs, we may be driuen
to loue thee vnfainedly from the bottom of our harts, for
this thine vnspeakable loue. And considering that thou
hast in mercie pardoned so many our hainous offences,
we may gladly be mooued to forgiue one another theyr
offences, and put out of our hart all rancour, malice, and
hatred toward our brethren, knowing that wee are all
members of one body, Christ our Sauiour: that so surely
as we haue forgiuen all them that offend against vs, we
may be so certainly assured, that thou our merciful father
hast forgiuen vs, like as wee haue forgiuen our brethren.
And for-asmuch most heauenly Father as we of our
selues be feeble, frayle and weake, and haue a strong and
subtile aduersary sathan the deuill, who goeth about
continually like a roaring Lyon, seeking whom he may
deuour: we beseech thee strengthen vs by thy holy spyrite,
that we may withstande thy subtile suggestions and
motions: hold thou vs by thy mercifull hand, and keepe
vs alwaies in thy safegard and protection, that we be not
ouer-come in the mighty assaults of our aduersarie. And
for-asmuch as he often vseth euen our owne flesh armed
against vs, to conquer vs, we humbly beseech thee deer
Father, mortifie, subdue, & kyll in our flesh all subtile
suggestions, and sinfull motions of sathan, that we yeeld
not our selues as slaues therevnto, but continually fight
against them, and bring them into subiection of the spirite.
Graunt vnto vs most merciful Father, that wee be
not drawne through the subtile and sliely torments of
sathan, to haue our delight and pleasure in the vanities
of this present world, but by thy grace, might, & power,
may so in the prosperity of this life be vpholden, that our
minds with full ioy and comfort may be lifted vp to our
perfect consolation in our Lord and Sauiour Christ, and
in him, take our ful and perfect ioy and consolation, so
that no vaine delight of this world put vs from the same,
neither any sharpe aduersity, as pouertie, miserie, or calamitie,
through the malice of the deuill, driue vs to dispaire
of thy merciful goodnes towards vs: but alwayes
being thorough thy grace and assistance defended, wee
may be fully and perfectly armed against all the subtile
intrappings of sathan, and rest wholy in thy merciful defence
and ayde. For thou hast O Lord & eternal God
in thy gouernment, all thinges in heauen and earth, all
power and dominion ouer all creatures, Angels and deuils,
to rule them according to thy good pleasure and
will, to the profit and commoditie of thy Church, and
euery faithfull member thereof, and to thine owne incomprehensible
glory: in all things, in all ages, for euer
and euer thy glorious name may be exalted, & thy faythful
flock edified through Christ our Lord, Amen.

A confession of sinnes, with faith and repentance.

O Merciful and heauenly Father, wee thy seruants
doe humbly prostrate our selues before thy Maiestie,
acknowledging heere in thy sight our haynous
offences committed against thy Maiestie, seeing &
beholding thy heauy wrath against them: we feele our
selues laden O Lord our God with a huge companie
of horrible sinnes, whereof euen the very least, beeing
but conceiued in thought, is sufficient in iudgement to
throw vs downe to the euerlasting burning Lake. Our
owne consciences, o Lord, doe beare witnes against vs,
of our manifolde transgressions of thy blessed Lawe, of
our securitie and sencelesse blindnes, running headlong
to destruction, committing sin after sinne, although not
notorious to the world, yet horrible before thine eyes.
The thoughts of our hart rise vppe in iudgement against
vs: the vanitie of our talke before thy Maiestie condemneth
vs: the wickednes of our deeds from thy sight reiecteth
vs: all our wicked thoughts, words and deedes,
with the inward corruption of our nature, doe altogether
as it were a whole lumpe & loade of sinne, lye heauie
vpon vs, and with their intollerable waight, do euen
presse vs downe to hell. We doe daily grone vnder the
burthen of them, inwardly lamenting our own folly so
greedily running into them. In heauen, earth, or hell,
we see none able to sustaine the weight of them, but euen
thy deerely beloued sonne Iesus Christ, who in mercie
infinite, and compassion endlesse, hath sustained and
ouer-come that endlesse punishment due vnto them: in
him therefore, in him, most mercifull Father, & through
him we come to thee, beeing fully assured according to
thy promise, that thou wilt accept and take that full recompence
which he thy deere sonne hath made for vs,
as a iust raunsome for all the sinnes of all those who with
a true faith take holde on him. In him therefore we see
thine anger towards vs appeased, thy wrath satisfied, &
our debts payde.
Increase in vs, good Lord, we beseech thee, this liuelie
and feeling fayth, for we feele it often-times in vs very
weake, and troubled with many doubts: increase in
vs o Lord, that we may through thy holy spirit bee assured,
that the punishment of our sinnes is fully in thy
sonne discharged. Make vs, O Lord our God, to feele

D.

this same in our soules and consciences, that Iesus Christ
is ours, and al that he hath done: that we are graffed into
his body, and made one with him, and therefore fellow
heires with him of euerlasting life. Let vs not onely
haue these wordes in our mouthes good Lorde but
through thy holy Spirit, let vs feele the comfort of them
in our hearts fully sealed and setled in vs: that we feeling
our selues inwardly before thy iudgement seate discharged,
and our consciences towardes thee appeased,
may bee swollowed vp with an vnfayned loue toward
thy heauenly Maiestie, and towardes our Brethren for
thy sake. Make sinne to dye in vs daily more and more,
that we may hate, detest, and vtterlie abhorre all sinne
and wickednesse in all men, but especially in our selues:
that wee may strongly through thy holie Spyrit set our
selues in open warre and defiance agaynst all sinne and
wickednesse: that wee please not our selues in our sins,
but straightly examining sinne by the iust rule of thy holie
lawes, wee may vtterlie from the bottome of our
hearts condemne euen the least sinne in our selues, hauing
our whole ioy, comfort, and consolation vppon
those thinges which be agreeable to thy blessed will,
alwayes being afrayde to doe any thing contrary to the
same: that we may euen from the bottome of our harts,
examine and try our thoughts, before thy presence, that
they be vpright and vnfayned, not hypocriticall in outward
shew onely and appearance, but that euen all corners
of our hearts beeing opened and disclosed before
thee, wee may euen as though it were openly before
the face of the whole world bring them in shew, knowing
that a double heart is detestable in thine eyes: and
that we may walke alwayes as before thine eyes, not onlie
before the eyes of man, being more carefull to walke
circumspectly, in this respect, that we haue thee to be a
viewer of our dooings, a thousand fold more then the
eyes of man: that thus wee may walke as becommeth
thy Children, not onely in outward shewe, but also in
sincerity of heart, abhorring euen the least sinne in our
selues, striuing, resisting, and fighting agaynst sinne, not
delighting our selues in sinne, nor nourishing the same
in our breast, but earnestlie embracing, and studiouslie
seeking after those thinges which be pleasaunt in thine
eyes: that neyther the feare of man, nor losse of goods,
lyfe, landes, possessions, or friendes, drawe vs away
from thee, to doe any least thing contrarie to thy will
and pleasure: neyther the fauour or friendship of man,
nor yet the flattering enticements of thys worlde, nor
the vaine promotions of the same doe mooue vs anie
whit from the true and endlesse ioy, delight and pleasure
which we ought to haue in those things which be
agreeable to thy will, and the constant performance of
the same: but that alwayes to the end of our life we may
continue in thy paths, growing & increasing from faith
to faith, from strength to strength, till at length we shall
come to thy euerlasting rest, Amen.

A prayer for the estate of the whole Church.

O Lord our God, and heauenly Father, for as much
as by thy holy word we are commaunded in our
prayers not onely to be mindfull of our selues,
but also of all other thy Children, yea euen of our enemies:
wee commende vnto thy Maiestie all thy whole
true and catholicke Chutch, and euery member thereof:
that as it hath pleased thy goodnesse by the bright
beams of thy holy word, to shine ouer the whole world,

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whereby thou hast expelled, driuen away, and caused
to vanish the darke and mistie clowdes of ignoraunce &
superstition, so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holie
spirit, to touch the harts of men, that they may ioyfully
embrace that thine so high a treasure sent amongst vs,
that through our vnthankfulnes wee prouoke not thy
Maiestie in anger to take it from vs. Crush, bruse and destroy
with the breath of thy mouth, the mighty power
of that man in sin, which so proudly exalteth himselfe
aboue all that is called God. Let not thy simple flocke
deere Father in whose conscience hee of long tyme
hath and yet dooth sitte as GOD, be any longer poysoned
with his sweete enticing poysons: but so lighten
their harts, that they may perceiue his iuglings, and embrace
the sweet comfortable doctrine of life euerlasting,
reuealed in thy glorious Gospell.
And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy aboue
all Nations of the earth, to powre downe the sweete
showers of thy heauenly graces vppon this our English
Nation aboundantly, in more plentifull wise watering
the same with the giftes of thy holy Spirit, in promoting
thy Gospell, and ouerthrowing idolatrie, wee beseech
thee to continue thy fauour toward the same, and vtterly
roote out all remnants, reliques, and monuments of
idolatry, that thy glorious Name may be throughly exalted,
in sincere, pure, and holy worship. And as thou
hast in mercie from amongst vs in thys thy Church, vtterly
banished all false, venemous, and poysonfull doctrine,
wherewith the soules of thy chyldren heretofore
haue been wounded to death, and in place thereof hast
placed the true and comfortable doctrine of lyfe euerlasting,
where-with the soules of thy chyldren be fedde
and nowrished to euerlasting ioy: so in like mercy and
fauour wee beseech thee, deere Father, establish in the
same thy Church, a true, perfect, and sincere regiment
thereof, according to the prescript rule of thy blessed
word, al fantasies of mans braine, & dreames of humaine
policie vtterly abolished : that thy glorious Maiesty only
may be exalted in the light of thy glorious Gospell : and
that thy Church may flourish & increase, being through
thy protection ayded, supported, maintained, and defended:
we beseech thee by thy holy Spirit, guide and
rule euery part and member thereof , especially thy seruaunt
Elizabeth, our Queene, whom thy gracious fauour
and mercifull prouidence hath appointed a chiefe
member in the same: vnder whose winges next vnto
thy protection it hath a chiefe succour and supporte.
Graunt vnto her, O Lorde, a pure and perfect zeale, aboue
all things to promote thy glorie: first and chiefly
in labouring and endeuouring of her selfe earnestly in
wiping away and purging out of thy Church all blots
and deformities, to reduce the same to a pure and sincere
forme of worship, agreeing to thy blessed word, vtterlie
to remooue all stumbling blocks, which stay and hinder
the course of thy Gospell: giue her in like manner,
O Lord GOD, the spyrite of wisedome, discretion,
and gouernement, that with equitie and iustice she may
see thys whole Realme, which thou hast committed to
her charge, peaceably and quietly gouerned: that shee
may studiously labour, that as well thorough the whole
realme vertue be exalted,& vice abandoned, as especially
in her owne house and Court, that all wicked vanities of
thys world, all licentious and inordinate life, all flattering
and dissimulation being vtterly banished, the feare
of thy glorious Maiestie may so raigne in the harts of all
within her highnes Pallace and Court, that their liues &

D 3

conuersation may be agreeable to thy blessed will, in sinceritie
and true holinesse and integritie of life, that from
them, as from the head, may shine puritie of life & conuersation,
as an example and patterne of true godlinesse
to the whole Realme. Preserue her wee beseech thee
good Lord, from all conspiracies and treasons, that if it
be thy good will shee may haue a long and quiet raigne
ouer vs , to the benefite of thy Church , and the aduauncement
of thy glory. Indue the whole Counsell,
good Lord, with true and perfect wisedome, that in all
their consultations & counsels, hauing thee present before
theyr eyes, they may consult of those things which
principally and chiefely may be for the aduauncement
of thy glory, and the commoditie of thy Church, and
next for the quiet peace & gracious gouernment of thys
Realme. So lighten all inferiour Magistrates of thys
Realme, good Lorde, with the brightnes of thy holy
Spirite, that vnderstanding thy will, they may zealouslie
defende, maintaine and further the course of the Gospell
with the sworde of iustice, cut off the wicked and
cherrish the godly.
Defend and gouerne, by thy holy Spirite, the Pastours
of thy Church, and labourers in thy vineyard, that they
may zealously, earnestly, and diligently feede thy flocke
committed vnto them, with the foode of life thy blessed
word, where-with their soules may be nourished to life
euerlasting. Increase the number of them, deere Father,
place ouer euery flock a godly, learned, and painefull Pastoure,
who may painfully & carefully trauaile euery one
in his charge, to bring thy people which nowe alas in
most parts do wander & goe astray like lost sheep to the
true knowledge of thee their Lord and God, and of thy
deere son Christ Iesus their Sauiour. And for thy mercy,
we beseech thee, to take pittie vpon thy poore and simple
flocke, roote out all rauening Wolues, which haue
craftilie crept into thy sheepefold, and do make hauock
of the soules of thy simple flocke. Cast out all hirelings,
tyme-seruers, and dumbe doggs, which to fill their bellies
onely, haue thrust themselues among thy sheep, and
do plentifully suffer the flock of Christ thy sonne, to bee
deuoured and scattered of the Wolfe. Stirre vp good
Lord, & place in their roomes faithful shepheards, which
diligently, painefully, carefully and earnestly may labour
in thy vineyard, seeke to winne the soules of thy people,
out of the tyrannie and power of sathan, to the freedome
of thy deere sonne Christ Iesu our Lord.
And that thy Church may better bee furnished with
godly and learned Pastours, we beseech thee prosper and
increase in al godly knowledge, al Schooles of learning,
especially the two Vniuersities, Cambridge & Oxford;
Graunt deer Father vnto al the students of the same, that
the chiefe end of al theyr studies, may be to the furtheraunce
of thy Church, and maintenaunce of the common
wealth. Blesse theyr studies, deere Father, that
al vaine studies sette aside, they may so fructifie and profite
in al profitable and godly sciences, that heereafter
they may become profitable members in thy Church, &
godly vp-holders of the common wealth. Graunt, good
Lord, to al the whole Commons of thys Realme, that
theyrs harts beeing touched with a sincere feare and reuerence
of thy heauenly Maiestie, acknowledging thy
mercie in placing ouer them a godly Princesse, they may
euery one in theyr callings, walke in al true and humble
obedience vnto her, in thee and for thee without resistaunce,
tumults, insurrections, conspiracies, or rebellions:
knowing, that to resist the higher Powers,

D 4

is to rebell against thy Maiestie. Finally, we beseech thy
goodnesse to guide & gouerne the harts of all the whole
Realme of euery degree, that euery one in his calling,
being by thy grace supported, may so occupie thy talent,
that thy glory in all things may be aduanced, thy church
inlarged, and thys whole Realme into sincere goodnes,
vertuously reduced.
Moreouer, we beseech thee O Lord our GOD in
mercy behold all those which suffer persecution for thy
glorious words sake, whether it be imprisonment, death,
or banishment, or whatsoeuer els; strengthen the~ good
Lord, that they hauing thee alwaies before theyr eyes,
and the glory layd vp for them in the life to come, may
continue constant in defending thy truth, without feare
of man, or vaine alurements of thys world, that whether
it come by life or death, they may glorifie thy holy
name, in continuing in the truth to the end. Preserue in
like manner we beseech thee, all others thy Children,
whom it hath pleased thee with any other kinde of
crosse to chasten for their amendement, whether by pestilence,
famine, warre, pouertie, imprisonment, sicknes
or banishment, trouble of conscience, vexation of spirit,
disquietnesse of mind, want of spirit, want of spirituall
comfort, or what kinde of affliction of body or minde
thou doost try them with: that by thy holy spirit beeing
fully assured that thou by this thy correction mindest to
call them back to a feeling of theyr sinne, and due consideration
of their life and conuersation, that they may patiently
abide thy fatherly tryall, looking for ayde, helpe
and comfort from thee, when it seemeth most conuenient
to thy godly wisedome: and beeing by thy merciful
hande once deliuered, may acknowledge thy singular
power and worke, giuing all laude and prayse to thy
glorious Name: and afterwards, all the dayes of theyr
life, studie to liue before thee in sincerity and perfect holines,
euen to their liues end, Amen.

Morning prayer for priuate houses and Families.

O Gracious God, and louing Father, according to
thy commaundement, we doe heere present our
selues before the throne of thy mercie, acknowledging
and confessing from the bottome of our harts,
that we be miserable sinners, daily breaking thy commaundements,
both in thought, word, and deed, wherin
we iustly deserue euerlasting damnation, and be to vtterly
throwne from thy presence: yet, O Lord, wee see
thy goodnesse againe towards vs, who not suffering vs
thus to perrish in our sinnes, hast sent thine owne deere
sonne Iesus Christ, to take vpon him whatsoeuer is due,
to reconcile and make vs at one with thee againe. In him
therefore good Lord, and through him, doe wee come
vnto thee, beseeching thee for his sake, that wee feeling
the grieuousnesse of our sinnes, and groning vnder the
burthen of them, may feele the release and ease of them,
in that wee be through thy holy spirit assured, and stedfastly
beleeue, that Christ hath borne the burthen of the~
euen for vs. Graunt likewise, O most mercifull Lorde
and heauenly Father, that wee beeing assured heereof
in our consciences, may through thy holy Spirit bee renued
in the inner man, to hate, detest, and abhorre sin,
and to studie to liue according to thy blessed will during
our whole life.
Wee doe not onely pray for our selues, but also for
all thy whole Church, especially such as bee persecuted
for thy word: graunt vnto them, that whether it be

D 5

by death or life, they may glorifie thy Name to theyr
lyues end. Be merciful to this Church of Englande and
Ireland, we beseech thee good Lord, and preserue euery
part and member of the same, especially thy seruaunt Elizabeth
our Queene: graunt her al such gifts as be needful
for so high a calling, to the aduauncement of thy glorie,
and benefit of this Common-wealth, to the establishing
of a perfect gouernement of thy Church, according
to the prescript rule of thy blessed worde, to the rooting
out of al supersticion and reliques of Antichrist, to the
gouerning of her subiects in al peace and tranquilitie.
Defend her, O Lord, from al conspiracies, treasons, and
rebellions, and so worke in the harts of al her subiects,
that knowing her authority dooth come from thy heauenly
Maiesty, they may with obedient harts humbly obey
her in thee and for thee. Preserue the whole counsel
and the Magistrates of the Realme, that being lightened
through thy holy Spirit, the may defend the truth,
suppresse wickednes, and maintaine equitie. Behold al
the Pastours and Preachers of thy word, blesse theyr labours
increase the number of them, place ouer euery
Church a painful watchman, remoue al idle lubbers, &
confound the power of Antichrist, and turne the harts
of the people that they may bee obedient to thy truth.
Blesse the two famous Vniuersities, Cambridge and Oxford,
and al the studients of the same, with al Schooles
of learning. Behold al those that be afflicted with anie
kind of crosse, that they may profit by thy correction in
newnesse of life.
Lastly, for our selues heere gathered together, wee
humbly o Lorde craue at thy handes, that it would
please thee to make vs thankful vnto thy Maiestie for all
thy louing kindnesse shewed vnto vs euen from our infancie:
especially, that thou hast this present night deliuered
vs from all dangers both of body and soule, wherinto
many haue fallen, as wee into like manner should
haue done, if we had not been stayed with thy mercifull
hand: that thou hast also graunted vnto vs so sweet and
comfortable rest, and hast now presently brought vs to
the beginning of this day. For these things, good Lord,
we yield vnto thee most harty thanks, beseeching thee
to make vs more and more daily thankfull vnto thy Maiestie
for them, and pardon our vnthankfulnesse. And
as thou hast safely preserued vs vnto this present houre
from al the daungers of this life: so wee beseech thee
continue thy fauour towards vs this day, and the whole
course of our life. Defend vs, O Lord, that we now entring
into the affaires of this day, be not drawne away
with the vaine allurements of this world, to sinne and
wickednesse: that we walke not in the shadow of death,
that we be not intangled in the snares of sinne, that we
stumble not at the blocks of iniquity, that we finally fall
not into the pitte of death and destruction: being shadowed
vnder thy winges, we may cheerfully and constantlie
goe on forward to the end of our course. Graunt
vnto vs, O Lord our God, that this good time which
thou grauntest vnto vs in this life, be not idely, or vainly
of vs consumed, but that euery one of vs may be diligently
exercised in his calling this day, and all our life long,
being assured that thou wilt once call vs to yield an account
of our stewardship: indue vs, we beseech thee,
with those gifts and graces which be needfull for vs in
our calling, and that with a pure and sincere conscience
we may vse them to the benefit of our brethren, and discharge
of our own consciences before thy Maiesty. We
beseech thee, O Lorde, that in all our consultations,
words and workes this day, and the whole course of our
life, we may alwaies haue thee present before our eyes,
knowing that thou seest euen the very deep thoughts of
our harts, which alwaies may bee as a bridle to pull vs
backe, that we neither doe nor yet consent vnto any sin
or wickednes: but that alwaies we may bee so exercised
in the affaires of this life, that we looke still to the end of
our course, when it shall please thee to bring vs through
the pilgrimage of this life to our euerlasting rest with thy
deere sonne Iesus Christ our Sauiour. In whose name
for these mercies and whatsoeuer thou knowest to bee
needfull for vs, and for the whole Church, we pray vnto
thee, as he himselfe hath taught vs in his holie word,
saying: Our Father, &c. The Lord blesse vs and saue vs,
the Lord make his face to shine vpon vs, and be merciful
vnto vs, the Lorde turne his fauourable countenaunce
towards vs, and graunt vs his peace. The grace of our
Lord Iesus Christ, the loue of God the Father, and the
most comfortable fellowshyp of the holy Ghost, bee
with vs, preserue and keepe vs thys day and euermore,
Amen.

Euening prayer for priuate houses and Families.

O Gracious God & louing father, &c. As in the beginning
of the morning prayer, reading so foorth
till you come to this marke Then read thys
following for the Euening.
Lastly, for our selues heere gathered together, wee
render most harty thanks for thy maiestie, o Lord, which
hast hetherto from our infancy, preserued vs by thy mercie
fro~ all perrils & dangers both of soule & body whervnto
fraile man is subiect, that thou hast sent vnto vs all
things necessary for thy present life, as health, food apparell,
and such like, which many of thy deer chyldren
with the precious blood of thy deere sonne, as wee bee,
and yet lye in miserie and calamitie, oppressed with pouertie,
nakednesse, imprisonment and banishment, in
which case also, deere Father, thou mightest haue
brought vs, saue onely that thou dealest heerein more
fauourably with vs then with them. For the which thy
louing kindnesse we gyue thee hartie thankes, desiring
thee, that as thou hast hetherto thus fauourably in mercie
preserued vs by thy protection, and euen presentlie
thys day hast brought vs past all dangers thereof: so wee
beseech thee good Lord, in like fauour beholde vs thys
night, that we taking our naturall rest & quietnesse, may
thorow thy protection be defended, that our bodies resting,
our soules may be occupyed in beholding thy fauour
and mercy toward thy chyldren, still looking for
the comming of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ for
our full redemption. Graunt that our sleepe bee not immoderate,
according to the lust of our flesh, but as much
as is sufficient to refresh our weake nature: that beeing
thus refreshed, both the body & the mind may be more
able to doe theyr seuerall office and function, in that vocation
wherein thou hast placed vs.
Graunt that we laying our bodies downe to rest, may
be thereby put in minde of our long rest of death: that
as we doe now lay downe our bodies in bed, so we may
be thereby admonished, that hereafter they shall be layd
down in graue, to be consumed to dust, earth, and ashes,
from whence they were taken: That we hauing this before
our eyes, may be stirred vp in mind warily to walke
in this our pilgrimage, not knowing when the time shall
be of our departure, but alwayes to bee found readie
with our Lampes of pure fayth clearelie burning, that
wee may be accepted to meete the Bridegroome, when
our mortall, earthly, and corruptible bodies shalbe made
like to the glorious body of our Lord and Sauiour Christ
Iesu, there to raigne with him in perpetuall ioy and
consolation together with all the electe Childeren of
GOD, continually lauding with all the heauenly multitude
the glorious Maiestie of thee our Lord God and
heauenly Father, in our onely Lorde and Sauiour Iesus
Christ. For these and what so euer else thou knowest
to be needefull for vs and thy whole Church, wee
pray vnto thee, as hee himselfe hath taught vs. saying:
Our Father, &c.
The Lord blesse vs and saue vs, the Lord make his
face to shine vpon vs, and be mercifull vnto vs: the Lord
turne his fauourable countenance vnto vs, and graunt vs
his peace. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ, the loue
of God the Father, and the most comfortable fellowship
of the holy Ghost, be with vs, preserue and keepe vs this
night and euermore, Amen.

A prayer to be saide before the studying or reading of holy Scripture.

O Heauenly Father, what so euer I am, what so euer
I haue, whatsoeuer I know, it is only by thy free
grace. For by nature I am the child of wrath, and
I am not borne a new of flesh and blood, neyther of the
seede of man, or of the will of man. Flesh and blood can
not reueale the misteries of thy Heauenlie Kingdome
vnto mee: but by thy blessed will I am that I am, and
by the same know I that I knowe. Therefore, O Father,
doe I commit into thy handes onely, my saluation.
If my knowledge be small, yet I doubt nothing but
that I am the childe of thy euerlasting kingdome: and
therefore by thy mighty power I shall growe when it
shall be thy good will and pleasure to a more full and riper
knowledge, as of a more perfect age, wherein my
faith shal be fully able to comprehend and perceiue the
breadth, depth, height and largenes of thy great mercies
and gracious promises. But seeing, O Father, thys
power of full knowledge and perfect reuelation, passeth
all power naturall, and remaineth onely in thy power, &
the light of thy spirit: O Lord, doe thou whatsoeuer it
shall please thee, to open vnto me and all the rest of thine
elect seruaunts and children, depending vpon thee, so
much of the light of thy countenaunce, as may be most
for thy glory and our comfort, yea, and at such time as
shall seeme good to thy wisedome and fatherly mercie.
In the meane while thus resting wholy vpon thee, neyther
can I despaire, neither will I be too much carefull,
although I cannot attaine to the knowledge of manie
of thy workes, neyther to the vnderstanding of manie
places of thy Scriptures. But I will confesse vnto thee the
weakenesse of my fayth, wayting alwaies for the further
reuealing of thy glorious light to bee vttered vnto me
thy poore seruaunt, when thou shalt thinke of thy Fatherly
benouolence and goodnes meete & conuenient.
I knowing most assuredly that thou wilt pitty my weake
imbecilitie and childish infancie, and cause the same to
serue for thy glory, & my great commoditie: seeing that
I erre as a child before such a Father, which canst not put
off thy fatherly pittie and compassion, but rather as thou
hast bought mee vnto thee, to be an heyre of the kingdome
by the blood of thy naturall sonne my Sauiour Iesus
Christ; so am I sure that thou wilt lighten mee in
the end with full fruition of the bright light of thy cou~tenaunce,
that I may see thee and knowe thee, as this
thy sonne knoweth thee: yea, see thee and know thee
my Father face to face, and know thee as I am knowne.
Thus rest I onely in thy hands O my God crauing of
thee to increase my knowledge in thy holy word, wherby
I may know thy good will and pleasure. And knowing
the same, giue me, ô Lord, thy holy Spirit to conduct
and lead me in the same all the dayes of my life, that
in sinceritie of fayth, and purenesse of lyuing and conuersation,
thy glorious Maiestie may be magnified in me
for euer. Graunt this, o Father, for thy deerely beloued
Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ, to whom with thee and
the holy Ghost, be all honour, glorie, and praise, world
without ende, Amen.

Prayers and thanksgiuings to be said before and after meate.

Prayer before meate.

O Lord our God and heauenly Father, in thy beloued
Sonne Iesus Christ, work in our harts true
repentance, with increase of a true & liuely faith,
make vs thankfull vnto thy Maiestie, for all thy benefites
which wee continually receiue at thy mercifull hande:
graunt vs the grace, that wee may at this present with
thankfull harts, as from thy handes receiue meate and
drinke for the sustenaunce of our bodies, with moderation
vse them to thy glory, and through thy blessing, receiue
by them perfect nourishment: and aboue all wee
craue at thy hands, most mercifull Father, the heauenly
food of our soules, which neuer perisheth: that through
thy gracious goodnesse, wee may bee nourished and
strengthened both in soule and body to eternall life thorough
Iesus Christ our Sauiour, Amen.

Thanksgiuing after meate.

ETernall God, and most mercifull Father, we yeeld
vnto thee most harty thanks for al thy benefites so
plentifully bestowed vpon vs: especially that thou
hast at thys present fedde and nourished our mortal
bodyes with meate and drinke; we beseech thee in
like manner let our soules feele the sweet tast of thy heauenly
food, that we beeing fedde and nourished at thy
hands, both in soule and body, may in thys lyfe walke
as it becommeth thy children, and in the life to come,
be receiued to thine eternal kingdome of glory, through
Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour, Amen.

A prayer before meate.

O Merciful and heauenly Father, who giuest foode
to euery liuing creature, and without whom nothing
can liue, blesse and sanctifie our meats and
drinks, which we are nowe about to receiue, that they
may turne to the nourishment of our bodies, wherevnto
thou hast appointed them: that we acknowledging thy
gracious goodnes in prouiding so liberally for our bodies,
may with cheerful hearts bee lifted vp earnestly to
long after the food of our soules, wherby we may be fed
eternally, through Iesus Christ our Sauiour, Amen.

A thanksgiuing after meate.

O Heauenly Father, for these thy benefits wherewith
thou hast now sufficiently fed our bodyes,
we beseech thee make vs thankful; And as wee
feele the sweetnes of them pleasant to our bodies, so we

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beseech thee, good Lord, that the foode of our soules
may be as pleasant and comfortable vnto our soules, and
that we may with as carefull harts prouide for the nourishment
of our soules, as we are carefull for our bodies,
til it shal please thy Maiesty to bring vs to the place, wher
we shal neuer hunger nor thirst more, but liue eternally
through Christ our Sauiour, Amen.

A prayer before meate.

O Lord our God and heauenly Father, which hast
prouided meate and drinke for the nourishment
of our bodies, giue vs grace to vse them reuerently
as from thy hands with thankful harts. And as we doe
greatly hunger and thirst for this foode of our bodies, so
we beseech thee good Lord, that our soules may earnestly
hunger after the like foode and nourishment, that
with earnest minds we may seeke to haue our soules fed
and refreshed eternally, through our onely Lord and
Sauiour Iesus Christ. So be it.

A thanksgiuing after meate.

WOnderfull is thy prouidence, O Lord, in preseruing
all lyuing creatures. Graunt vs grace
we beseech thee, that with thankful hearts we
may acknowledge thy bountifull goodnesse, so liberally
gyuing vnto vs all things needefull: especially feeding
vs so plentifull at this present with thy manifold blessings,
whereof a great many of our brethren are destitute,
as in like manner we should be, if thou diddest not
deale more liberally with vs: graunt vs therefore, gracious
Lord, that we may be thankfull for this thy goodnesse,
and to be mindfull of them, which haue not such
aboundance to releeue them: that being all members
of one body, wee may at length raigne with our head
Christ, to whom be all honour and glory, worlde without
end. Amen.

A thanksgiuing after the receiuing of our bodily sustenance, and reading of some part of Gods holy worde our spirituall foode.

ALmighty God and most merciful Father, the onely
gyuer of all good gifts, who of thy great mercies
hast made vs partakers both of the heauenlie
gyfts of thy holy word, to feede our minds, and of thine
earthly creatures for the necessary sustenaunce of our
weake bodies: graunt wee beseech thee, that through
thy grace, these thy gifts may be made perfect vnto vs;
giue strength vnto our meate, that it may be our healthfull
nourishment, not to breed in vs any carnall desire of
our vaine life, but to enable our bodies to al good works
during the time of this present pilgrimage, that so thy
good creatures may be our good reliefe so long as thou
wilt, and so much as thou knowest to bee expedient for
vs thy seruants, to finish our daies which thou hast numbred,
in the edifying of thy Saints, and glorifying of thy
holy Name. And because O Lord we know nothing
of our selues, but our ignorant harts are ful of darknesse,
therefore we beseech thee that thys thy Word which
is thyne eternall wisedome that nowe wee haue read,
and wherein wee haue had our conference may be in
our minds a shining light of thine onely truth, and in our
harts a fruitfull seede of our newe birth, so that thine
owne Image may be happily againe restored in vs, & we
may be made before thee a holy and righteous people,
by the inward working of thy gracious Spirite, dailie

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strengthening our harts in earnest loue of thy truth, and
careful obedience of thy commaundements, through
Iesus Christ our onely Mediatour and Sauiour, who in
the Sacrifice of his owne body, hath purchased vnto vs
al thy fauour, and hath gyuen vs thys boldnesse to call
vpon thee: vnto whom O Father with thee and the
holy Ghost, be al prayse, honour, and glory, worlde
without end, Amen.
E.D.

A prayer for all times.

O Lord God Father of mercy and God of al consolation,
without whom we haue neither hope nor
comfort, wee poore wretches and miserable sinners
beseech thee of thy fatherly goodnesse to looke vppon
vs, and so make vs partakers of thy gracious goodnes
that we may stil increase in al goodnes, so that euermore
we may set foorth thine honour and glory; let our conuersation
be such, that a great many beholding our good
workes, may glorifie thee our heauenly Father: and so
direct our waies, that we may hold forth the profession
of the Gospel, as a Lanthorne to lighten the steppes of a
great many, that they may turne to thee, and prayse thy
Name in theyr visitation. Thus O Lord we beseech
to deale with vs, that indeede we may bee vessels of
honour vnto thee, nowe to sette foorth the prayse of thy
holy Name, and after thys transitorie life, to behold thy
glory, who hast immortalitie alone, and dwellest in the
light that no man hath approched vnto: remooue farre
from vs our sinnes and iniquities, that they may not separate
betweene vs and thee: blotte out of vs our offences,
for thy sonnes sake, and make our prayers righteous,
that thou maist fauourably graunt our request, looke
vpon vs with thy fauourable mercie, that thou mayest
haue pitty vpon vs, and behold vs in the righteousnesse
of thy beloued Sonne Christ Iesu, and that wee may be
presented faultlesse in thy sight: and thou accepting vs
as holy, wee may finde the grace euermore to set forth
thine honour and glorie, and to speake of thy prayses in
the middest of all thy people. Let vs loue O Lord the
thinges that are good, and hate the thinges that are euill:
let vs delight in all things that may please thee, and
let vs be greeued with whatsoeuer is displeasant in thy
sight. And to the intent wee may haue true vnderstanding
and be able to discerne betweene thinges what is
good or euill, we beseech thee let thy word dwell plentifully
in vs, which may guide our vnderstandinges so,
that wee may abound in all knowledge, and doe according
to that which is righteous. And in this estate of
true Christianity, being instructed in minde, and readie
in body to all holy obedience, wee beseech thee make
vs to grow and increase from grace to grace, from faith
to faith, vntil we come vnto the fulnesse of age to be perfect
members of the body of Christ, wayting for the blessed
hope of thine elect, & sighing in spirit vntil the time
that thy children shal be reuealed. In the meane season
let vs sigh with all those that haue receiued the first fruits
of thy Spirit, that these dayes of sinne may cease, that sathan
be troden downe vnder feete, that Antichrist may
be reuealed, yet to many thousands that be in ignorance,
that the number of thine elect may be full, the body of
thy Saints made perfect, all teares wyped from our eyes,
euen then when the Sonne shall appeare againe the second
time to iudge the quick and the dead, which time
O Lord sende quickly, according to thy good will,
and teach vs to pray with all thy Saints, Come Lord Iesu,

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come quickly: graunt this o Father for thy Sons sake,
in whose name we pray vnto thee. And although we be
but earth and ashes, yet we are bold to say vnto thee, the
God of al glory euen as he hath taught vs. Our Father
which art in heauen. &c.
E.D.

A prayer for all estates.

O Lorde God, Father of light, with whom is no
change, neyther yet shadow of change, but hast
established thine appoynted counsels, which shal
not be chaunged for euer: Thou O God hast made
among vs this diuersitie of estates and degrees, according
as euery common wealth requireth, keepe vs all,
we beseech thee, that we may walke obediently in our
calling, and follow the steps that thou hast set before vs,
euen from the highest to the lowest, let vs accomplish
that dutie vnto which thou hast appoynted vs, and with
a faythfull remembrance of thy promise made of olde to
our Father Abraham, that thou art his exceeding great
reward, we may lykewise depende on thy prouidence,
and seeke not any shamefull wayes to get our lyuing,
wandring from the righteousnesse of our vocation, into
the manifolde errours of sinne and iniquitie: looke
vpon vs O Lord and enritch vs with thy grace, make
vs obedient to our inferiours, meeke towards our enemies,
faythfull to our friends, true and iust towardes all
men, that we may dwell stedfastly rooted in the hope of
thine elect, vntill thou shalt make an ende of al our labours:
looke vpon our most excellent Queene, and
her honourable Counsel, and as thou hast called them
to the highest roome, so gyue vnto them the greatest
measures of grace, that they faythfully dispence the talents
committed vnto them: leade them with the good
King Dauid into thy Sanctuarie, that they may see thy
louing kindnesse which is better then lyfe, and say with
the Prophet: All flesh is grasse, and the glory of man
is as the flower of the fielde, and so consecrate themselues
to doe thy will, offer vp theyr bodies to be holy,
liuelie, and reasonable sacrifices vnto thee, that they may
be Nurses and Nurse-fathers vnto thy Church: looke
also wee beseech thee vpon thy Ministers whom thou
hast appoynted to the preaching of thy Gospel, make
them O God faythfull dispensers of thy mysteries,
without respect of persons to doe the worke vnto the
which thou hast appoynted them, that they may conuert
sinners, and haue theyr glory perfect in the day of
Christ: and knit vs together in peace and loue, that we
may be full of compassion one towardes an other, to
reioyce with them that reioyce, and mourne with
them that mourne, especiallie to instruct one an other
in the wayes of righteousse, that by our mutuall
helpe wee may the better withstande our enemies, and
dwell safe in hope of thyne elect, til our dayes shal be
full, and wee shal walke the wayes of al the worlde,
which time wee beseech thee bring vs happilie vnto,
euen for thy best beloued Sonnes sake, our Lorde and
Sauiour Christ Iesus, we humbly beseech thee, to whom
with thee and the holie Ghost three persons and one
euerlasting and liuing God, be all prayse, honour,
and glory, now and for euermore.
Amen, Amen.

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A forme of Morning prayer necessarie for this present time for godly Christians, to use in their houses and families.

WEe most humbly thanke thee O heauenly Father
for the sweete and quyet rest that wee
haue had this night, for the louing and fauourable
deliuerance out of all daungers both of body and
soule, which we iustly deserue to be throwne into for
our manifold sinnes: for that thou hast raysed vs vp this
morning, wee pray thee to goe before vs: and for as
much as thou seest our sluggishnesse and drowsinesse, it
would please thee good Lord to pul vs after thee, and
to shew vs those wayes, which thou hast appoynted vs
to walke in. And as thou renuest this morning, so renue
thy mercies: and as thou causest the Sun comfortably to
shine to our bodily eyes, so vouchsafe we pray thee to
be Sun vnto our bodies and to our soules, by the beames
of thy holy Spirit, and star of thy blessed word, shining
into the middest of our harts, to driue away all the night
and darknesse of all prophanenesse: to chase away all
want of true feare of thy good Maiestie: and in place
thereof, bring in loue towardes thy glory, zeale of thy
house, loue also towards our brethren: especially those
that thou aboue the rest commendest vnto vs, that wee
may loue them with that loue, wherewithall thou hast
first loued vs: which is pure, vncorrupt, vehement,
and euerlasting: and therefore we pray thee to ridde
our hearts of all naughty and corrupt loue, and whatsoeuer
is vnmeete to be in those vessels that are to serue
such a mighty Prince as thou art: and in those houses
wherein it pleaseth thy Maiestie by thy holy Spyrite to
dwell: and therefore on the other side good Lorde
chase away from vs all rancor and malyce, all pride, enuiousnesse,
disdainfulnesse, vncharitablenesse, vnnaturalnesse,
vnkindnesse, and what so euer is contrarie to
that loue, whereof thou hast giuen vs a liuely example
in our Sauiour Iesu Christ, vnto the which example,
graunt good Lord that we may alwayes haue our eyes
lyfted vp, and therein holden, and caused thereby to
profit, vntil such time, as wee come to that perfection,
where-vnto thou hast appoynted wee shall come.
Vouchsafe moreouer by the comming of the selfe same
Spyrite, to scatter in vs all the night and darknesse of ignorance,
and forgetfulnesse, and of all those thinges
which pertaine to the clearer and fuller knowledge of
thy truth. Take from vs all negligence, all want of iudgment
and discretion, and deliuer vs from all those things,
which thou knowest to be hinderaunces to vs, eyther
to walke in that great calling of Christianitie whereunto
thou has called vs, or in those seuerall and particular
callings wherein thou hast placed euerie one of vs:
that we may walke so good Lorde both in the one
and in the other, that thy name may be glorified in both,
Amen.

Euening prayer.

O Lord prepare our hearts to pray, bowe downe
thine eares deare Father & heare vs, open thine
eyes and looke vpon vs for thy deare Sonne Iesus
Christes sake, and receiue our humble confession that
we make to thee against our selues, which haue broken
all thy lawes, & therfore deserue to haue thy heauy iudgments
poured vpon our heads to our vtter destruction, if
thou shouldest enter into iudgment with the least of our
sinnes, wherof we haue so great and infinite thousands:

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notwithstanding, we pray thee to turne away thy face
from our sinnes, and for Iesus Christes sake to forgiue vs
all that is past, and graunt that we may haue the assurance
of the forgiuenesse of our sinnes, sealed vp by thy holy
Spirit in our consciences, whereby we knowing that we
are at one with thee, may haue our harts kindled with
thy loue so feruently, as it may wast in vs al that is against
thy holy wil. And for this cause we beseech thee, Lord,
to goe forward with the worke of our new birth, that
thou hast begun in vs, and neuer take away thy hand,
vntill such time as thou hast made an ende of it: and to
this ende wee beseech thee to slay in vs euery day more
and more, the olde man with his concupiscences, nayling
them to the crosse of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christ:
and causing vs to feele the power of his passion in our
bodies and in our soules, that wee beeing partakers
thereof, may come also to the fellowshippe of his holy
Resurrection: not onely in that we shall once appeare
before thee, hauing these our base bodies chaunged,
and made lyke vnto his glorious body, but also that we
may in the meane time ryse from the death of sinne to
all newnesse of lyfe, and that our good workes may so
shyne before men, that they seeing them, may glorifie
thee our heauenly Father: not onely they that are of
the selfe same Religion with vs, but those also that are
enemies vnto thy truth, may rather in the time of theyr
calling by the voyce of thy Gospell, yield them selues to
be one sheepefolde with vs. And wee most humblie
thanke thee O heauenly Father for all thy louing kindnesses
bestowed vpon vs from time to time, and especiallie
for that olde and auntient Loue, wherewithall thou
hast loued vs before the beginning of the world: for
that also that thou calling vs by the voyce of the holy
Gospell in that good time that thou appoyntedst for vs,
hast gyuen vs fayth, hope, and loue, and all other graces
which thou knowest to be needefull for vs: which
wee beseech thee to increase in vs with mighty increases,
according to that thou seest we haue neede of, hauing
regarde to our manifolde enemies, that wee haue
to wrestle with: and that wee haue not to striue with
flesh and blood, but against the deuils them selues. And
therefore considering theyr strength and our weakenesse,
theyr craft and our simplicity, theyr watchfulnesse
and our sluggishnesse, theyr long experience and our
rawnesse, their preperation and our nakednes, and that
we haue not onely nothing to helpe vs, but also doe carrie
about vs our owne concupiscences, ready to betray
vs into the hands of our enemies, it may please thee to
furnish vs from aboue, giuing vs the strength of thy holy
Spirit, in the inner man, reaching vnto vs the complet
harnesse of thy grace, wherewith we beeing armed on
both sides, may be prepared at all assayes against all assaults
of our enemies. And for as much as in this weakenes
we often times giue back, and somtimes runne away,
wee pray thee O Lord that with the hand of Fayth,
wee may lay holde on the victory of our Sauiour Iesus
Christ: that albeit wee be not able to ouercome in our
owne persons, yet notwithstanding we may ouercome
in his, who hath ouercommed for vs all, and so be partakers
of those promises that thou hast knit vnto that
glorious victorie. And wee most humblie thanke thee
also for those graces both of the bodie and soule which
pertayne to thys present lyfe: defyringe thee to increase
them vpon vs, and in vs, so farre foorth as thou
seest wee haue neede of to thy glorie, the commoditie
of others, and our owne comfortes: therefore we
beseech thee, Lorde, to teach vs with thy holy Spirit
the lawfull vse of them: that thou wouldest not suffer
our harts to be rooted in them, but that at all times wee
may be willing to part from them. And whensoeuer it
shall please thee to call for vs, wee may willingly goe vnto
thee, as children to their deare Fathers, straungers vnto
their owne Country, and members of the body vnto
theyr head: and so much the gladder, by how much
thou Lord art better then all the men in the world, and
the kingdome that thou hast prepared, better then all the
kingdomes thereof.

An addition to the former morning prayer, as time and leisure shall serue.

WEe pray not only for our selues O most mercifull
Father but for all those that thou hast appointed
to eternal life: beseeching thee to gather
the number of those that are to be gathered, those
that thou hast already called, thou wouldest always keep:
and to this end good Lord raise vp faithfull Ministers,
both of thy church & common weale, whose harts thou
wouldest fill with al graces of thy holy spirit, meete for
their calling, meet also for these dangerous times: roote
out from among thy church, al rauening and deuouring
beasts, which to fill their own bellies, destroy thy flock:
ease thy selfe of al hirelings and idle sheepheards, which
haue no care nor skil to feed thy flock with the holesom
foode of thy blessed word, nor to rule them with that equity
wherwithal thou wilt haue thy people to be ruled:
those Pastors that thou hast giuen, it wold please thee to
increase the number of them: those that are fallen a sleep
and carried away with the corruptions of these times,
that thou wouldest awake, letting them vnderstand the
charge that thou hast committed vnto the~, the trust that
thou hast put them in, & the account that thou wilt take
at their hands. Be gracious O Lord vnto this Land of
ours, and enter not into iudgement with the horrible
sinnes of it, namely the contempt and light esteeming of
thy holy Word, so many yeeres offered vnto vs, and we
being trusted withall, so many Nations better then wee
beeing passed by, which would haue brought forth the
fruite thereof more then we haue done: and we not only
haue brought forth no good fruite, but rotten & vnsauorie,
to prouoke thy Maiestie withall: notwithstanding
al these our sinnes, it would please thee in that loue
wherewithal thou hast first loued vs, when wee hated
thee, and in that long patience wherein thou hast hetherto
borne with vs, and doost yet beare, and tarriest
for our repentance: to graunt vs hartie and earnest repentance,
our harts being effectually touched with thy
holy Spirit, striking those rocky harts of ours, that they
may be resolued into riuers of teares for our sinnes, making
them soft and meeke to receiue the print of thy holie
Worde, and the seale of thy blessed Spirit, writing
with thy finger thine owne Lawes in them, so that thou
maiest reade thine owne hande, acknowledge thine
owne seale, and so passe by vs, when thou shalt bring thy
iudgement vppon the face of the earth, for the iniquities
thereof: whereof thou hast giuen, and still giuest,
from time to time diuers tokens, which we beseech thee
may be profitable vnto vs, whilst first of all we acknowledge
thy hande striking vs, and thy counsell calling vs
thereby to repentance, that thy heauier iudgements doe
not fall vppon vs to our destruction.
Moreouer, we humbly thank thee O Lord for that
it hath pleased thee to bee the Watch-man, and as it
were the spy of thys Church and Common-wealth, and
hast foreseene all the stormes and treasons committed against
it, and against thine annointed our Soueraigne,
whom thou in mercie hast appointed to rule ouer it, and
hast scattered them and brought them to nought, and
hast pursued certaine of thine enemies and ours vnto
death, beseeching thee to continue this watchfull and
careful eye ouer vs, stil to doe vs good, and to pursue the
rest of thyne enemies and ours vnto the graue, giuing
notwithstanding repentaunce vnto them, vnto whom
thou hast left place of repentance.
And to this end rayse vp the harts of our most gracious
Queene, and her honourable Counsell thy Magistrates,
that as they sit in thy seate, and are called by thy
Name, so they may execute thy iustice, which thou so
well approouest of, whereof also thou wilt require a
straight account at their hands. We desire thee also to
shewe these thy graces to all other Churches of thine,
namely thy Church of Scotland, that it may enioy that
peace that thou hast gyuen it: and graunt that the same
be referred to that ende wherefore thou hast gyuen it,
namely, to the full establishment of the throne of thy
deere Sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ, and to the building
of his kingdome there. Wee beseech thee also for
the Churches, which thy hand hath planted long since:
especially those, from whom wee haue receiued knowledge
in time of our ignoraunce, places of refuge in time
of persecution: that it would please thee to continue thy
louing kindnesse towards them, and therfore cause them
to continue their faith towards thee, and obedience towards
thy holy word. And whe~soeuer it shalbe thy pleasure
to try them with any kinde of affliction, it woulde
please thee to graunt vnto them, that they may put theyr
trust in thee, hauing regard to the truth of thy promises,
and to the good experience that they haue of thy helpe
in times past, and thereby conceiue comfort and hope,
O Lord, euen of life in death, and of saluation in destruction.
We pray thee also good Lord that we may haue
the feeling of the miseries of our Brethren, as members
of the same body, and those that lyue by the same spirit.
And therefore we pray thee, that according to the manifold
troubles that thou shalt visite them with, it would
be thy good pleasure, to measure out thy grace in such
plentifull manner, that thy chyldren may patiently bear,
and ioyfully attende for the good houre wherein thou
wilt pull them out of all theyr troubles. And especiallie
we pray thy Maiestie for our Brethren that are afflicted
for thy Gospell sake: namely, those that suffer imprisonment
or otherwise in any Nation, for the cleerer testimonie
of it: that it would please thee to giue them patience
in all their troubles, wisedome and mouthes to defend
their cause against all those that rise vp against it:
that thou wouldest blesse their trauels and sufferings for
that, for which they are taken: which is, to giue a freer
course of thy Gospell in al places. And there-withal wee
beseech thee for the Churches of Fraunce and Flaunders,
which are so miserably racked and torne in sunder,
and which are almost cleane consumed with these fiery
tryals; that it would please thee in mercy to looke vpon
theyr sighings and gronings, the teares that fall from
theyr eyes continually, the bloode that is shedde in all
parts of the Lande, the bodies that lye vnburied, to bee
meate to the foules of the ayre, and the fishes of the sea,
the lonenesse of Wiues wanting their husbands, children
theyr Fathers, and euery friende his friend. And
for-asmuch as those thinges are come vppon them for
thy names sake, let it be thy good pleasure to helpe them,
considering that they are forsaken of al their friendes
round about: and therefore pray thee that thou wouldest
not looke vppon our sinnes nor the sins of our forefathers,
whereby we deserue not onely this correction,
but vtter destruction, as Sodome and Gomorra; but rather
looke vpon thy mercies which were before them:
whereby thou hast said, that although we doe offende,
and thou doost correct vs, yet thou wilt not take away
thy mercies from vs, but leaue a remnant which thou
wilt multiply, and make as the starres of the heauen, and
as the sands of the sea. Looke also O Lord vpon the
outragiousnesse and cruelty, vnfaithfulnes and blasphemie
of the enemies, where-withal they blaspheme thee,
prouoke thee to thy face, and therefore in thine owne
cause, and for thine owne sake, take the matter into thine
owne hands, and pay into the bosomes of thine enemies
double and treble of that they haue giuen to thee. Notwithstanding,
those amongst them that belong to thine
holy election, hasten theyr calling, that afterwards thy
iudgement may hasten vpon the earth, and the inhabitants
thereof may learne to knowe thee by thy iudgements,
that would not vnderstand and come to thee by
the louing calling of thy Gospell. Wee pray thee O
Lord for our brethren that are vp in armes in both those
countries: that thou wouldest goe before the~, & come
behind them, and on euery side of them: couer theyr
heads in the day of battell, teach their hands to fight, &
their fingers to warre: giue them wisedome and valiantnesse,
and good successe in all their enterprises: strike
a dizinesse and amaze of spirite into the enemies harts,
and take away from them all force, and disappoint all
theyr counsels.
And vpon our Brethren in Flaunders, wee beseech thee
that thou wouldest comfort them ouer all the troubles
that they haue receiued, and breaches that haue beene
made in vpon them: and where there are new forces
euery day gathered, new sleights inuented to destroy
them, it may please thee to scatter their forces, and bring
theyr sleights to nothing. Yea graunt also O Lorde
that that which they haue deuised against thy Children,
may come vpon theyr owne heads. And for our Brethren
in Fraunce wee beseech thee O Lorde what
streights so euer they be in, thou wouldest deliuer them:
and although they be forsaken in the iudgement of all
the word, and in theyr owne iudgements, notwithstanding
thou that hast the issues of death in thine owne
hands, deliuer those that are appoynted to death. And
finally wee most humbly thanke thee, for that it hath
pleased thee to keepe vs this day, and all the dayes and
times of our liues: beseeching thee, that thou wouldest
receaue vs this night into thy holy keeping; that we
may haue quyet rest, not of bodies alone, but of our
soules also, resting from all those thinges that are contrarie
to thy most holy will, attending while thou raysest
vs vp in the morning, to doe all those thinges that
thou hast appoynted vs. These thinges wee desire of
thee, and all other thinges which thou knowest to be
more needefull for vs, and thy whole Church, better
then wee our selues doe know for Iesus Christes sake:
saying the same prayer, that he himselfe hath taught vs.
Our Father, &c.

A prayer for the Queene.

O Gratious Lorde, most mercifull Father, wee acknowledge
thee the Lord of Lords, and the King of

F.

Kings, creating at the beginning, and ruling all thinges
euermore in heauen and earth, according to thy wonderfull
wisedome and power: and our selues to bee thy
poore seruaunts, the worke of thy hands, and the sheep
of thy pasture, subiected to thy high Maiestie, and depending
vppon thy fatherly prouidence for all things.
Neuerthelesse, seeing thou in thy wisedome annoyntest
Kings and Queenes, appointing them to rule ouer thy
people, to sitte as Lieuetenants in thy fear, to minister iustice,
and most of all, as Fathers and Nurses to maintaine
and cherrish thy Church: commaunding vs not onelie
to obey and honour them, but moreouer to pray for
them, as watching ouer vs for our good: we therefore
beseech thee for thy great Names sake, and for Iesus
Christes sake, to shewe thy mercy to all Kings and Princes,
that maintaine thy glorious Gospell: but especiallie
we pray thee to blesse our gracious Queene, in all spirituall
blessings in Christ Iesus, and in all temporall blessings,
according to thy good pleasure, that in the great
measures of thy effectuall Law she may more and more
find great increases of vertue, and wisedome, & strength
in Christ Iesus, to the faithfull and happy discharge of
her dutie; that her holinesse and ioy, and zeale of thy
house may be multiplyed and euerlasting.
And seeing O mercifull Father it hath pleased thee
of thy singuler loue and mercy, to giue her thys especially
honour, first to suffer for thy glorious truth, and afterward
miraculously deliuering her out of the handes
of her enemies, to set a Crowne vpon her head, and to
make her the instrument to aduaunce thy glory and gospell,
for which she suffered, and to bring it out of darknesse
into light, out of persecution into this great and
long peace; as we giue thee most hartie thanks for thys
singuler benefite, so wee humbly beseech thee to make
her and vs euer-more thankfull for it, and in thy good
pleasure still to preserue her for the continuaunce of
these blessings towards vs, with all increase from time
to tyme, to thy glory, the benefite of the Church, and
her infinite peace in Christ Iesus, the Prince of Peace.
And furthermore we pray thee for her, and the estate,
that such as bee enemies of the Gospel, and her enemies
also, for the defence thereof, may not despise the peace
offered them to repentance, but that they may account
thy long suffering, and her peaceable and vnbloodie gouernment,
and occasion of saluation to their soules, and
vnfained loue to the truth, and their mercifull Soueraigne.
Otherwise, if they still remaine disobedient to
the truth, disobedient to her highnesse, and dangerous
to the state, then O God of our saluation as thou hast
discouered them, so discouer them stil, as thou hast preuented
them, so preuent them stil, & let theyr eyes waxe
weary with looking, and theyr harts faint with waiting
for the comming of that, which yet commeth not, neither
let it come O Lord we beseech thee, but a blessed
and a long raigne to her, and peace to Sion for euermore.
Also deere Father so blesse, so loue, so in thy holie
Spirit sanctifie and keepe her, that she may in the spirite
of counsel and fortitude so rule that other sister also,
namely this her Common-wealth, that they may flourish
together, and growe vp together as Palme trees, in
beautie, and in strength, gyuing ayde and helpe one to
another, that in the Church the glory of almighty God
may appeare, as the sunne in his brightnes, and that the
Land may flow with Milke and Hony, and true peace abound
therein, as in the tryumphant raigne of Debora.

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These graces O Lord are great, and we miserable
sinners, vnworthy of the least of them: therefore looke
not to vs but to thy selfe, not to our iniquities but to thy
great mercies, accepting the death and passion of thy
Sonne, as a full raunsome for all our offences: throwing
them into the bottome of the Sea, and making his crosse
and resurrection effectuall in vs to al obedience and godlines
as becommeth thy Saints, that to all other thy good
blessings toward our gracious Soueraigne, this may be
added, that she gouerneth blessedly, ouer a blessed people,
a people blessed of the Lorde, and beloued of the
Lord, and that thy grace may abound as the waues of
the Sea, in the Prince and in the people, in the Church
and in the common wealth, from day to day, till the day
of our translation into the kingdome, where iustice inhabiteth,
where we also shall inhabite and raigne with
thee, according to thy promise, for euer. Graunt vs these
things O mercifull Father for thy deere Son our Lord
Iesus Christ his sake, in whose name we craue
them at thy mercifull hand, praying
furthermore for them, as he
hath taught vs to
praye.
Our Father &c.

A prayer for mortification and holines.

O Lord our God, most gracious and most mercifull,
I doe acknowledge vnto thee, that I am vnworthy
to appeare before thy high Maiestie, to offer
vppe vnto thee a sacrifice of prayer, beeing full of sinne,
and corruption, naturally glad of euill, and vnprofitable
to good. Yea, beeing so miserable, yet I see not my miserie,
I feele it not, I bewaile it not, as I ought to doe, but
multiply myne iniquities, prouoking thy iust iudgement
against me. My zeale is cold, my loue feeble, my exercises
of Religion faint and fewe, and I take no way but that
which leadeth from euill to worse, and finally, woulde
leade me from sin, to the reward of sinne. All this is true,
deer Father, yet my hart is not moued with feare: al this
is true, yet I doe not sorrow for it, but walke with ioy,
where I must if I continue reape affliction: therefore
be merciful vnto me and blesse me, be merciful vnto me,
and in Christ Iesus, wash away all my iniquities, be merciful
vnto me, and create in me a newe hart, and prepare
it to prayer, and to thy holy seruice; For thou alone, O
Lord art my hope, and the mighty God of my saluation.
Thou hast giuen mee a desire to serue thee, O teach mee
that I may doe it: and the good worke which thou hast
begunne, make it perfect in me, that I may no more loue
wickednes, and follow vanitie, but that my good desires
in thee may be increased, and all of them accomplished;
so shall I prayse thee & magnifie thee for euer. For there
is no honour but thy honour, no glory but thy glory, O
Lord, it is in vaine to trust in Princes, but truely to trust
in the Lord bringeth plentifull saluation. From age to
age it hath appeared, that thou O Lorde God art merciful,
and that in thy Courts there is nothing but truth &

F 3

holinesse. This world is ful of vanitie, ful of pryde, ful
of rebellion, and the flesh also. The worlde hath many
baites of destruction, and the flesh doth delight in them;
they are sworne together to betray vs to sathan, yea, we
betray our selues, therefore deer Father, by the Crosse of
Christ, mortifie in vs the deedes of the flesh, & crucifie in
vs the deeds of the flesh, & crucifie both vs to the world,
and the world to vs, that our soules may liue. In our general
calling make vs obedient to serue thee in holinesse
an in righteousnes al the dayes of our life: in our particuler
callings, also make vs faithful, that wee may neither
put away a good conscience, nor make shipwracke of
faith. I beleeue, o Lord help my vnbeliefe: in the day of
peace an prosperitie make vs sober, in the day of trouble
and aduersitie make vs looke vp, and cheerfullie to
waite and trust in thee for our deliuerance, that our enemies
mouthes may be stopped by our godly conuersation,
and their harts pricked with zeale to turne vnto thee.
Neither do I pray o Lord for my selfe alone, but for the
whole body into the which I am grafted by Christ Iesus:
that is for thy Church o God, for thine inheritance,
that thou wouldest increase it fro~ one end of the world
to another, that all Nations may worshippe before thy
footstoole. Especially, O Lord, I pray for them that professe
thy Gospel, as for thys our Nation, that thou wouldest
be merciful vnto it, turning our harts to thee: for our
gracious soueraigne the Queene, and for all our Counsell,
that thou wouldest poure the graces vpon them to
discharge of theyr dutie and our peace: for all the holie
Teachers in the Church, that thou wouldesse blesse the~
and theyr labours: for the peace and ful beautie of thys
Church, for the peace and wealth of the co~mon-weale.
Wee pray thee also for to blesse all the meanes to bring
thys to passe. Also we pray thee for our Parents, for all
others to whom wee owe speciall loue or seruice: but
principally we beseech thee to shew thy compassion vpon
all that are in persecution for thy Gospel: O Lord increase
and reneue their strength, giue them victory and
turne theyr aduersaries harts, if they pertaine to thy holy
election; otherwise, O Lord, bring vpon them the confusion
that thou wouldest bring vpon others, and into
the pit that they haue digged, let them fall and neuer rise
vp againe. O Lord, heare vs in these sutes: pardon our
dull spirits in prayer, and giue vs these and all other graces
needful for vs, and the Church, to thy glory, for our
Lord Iesus Christ, in whose name wee pray as hee hath
taught vs, saying : Our Father. &c.

A short prayer for the Morning.

WE giue thee thankes O Lord our God, in the
name of Iesus Christ, for the quiet rest & sleep,
which thou hast bestowed vpon vs thys night
past, for the preseruation of our bodies. Also we thanke
thee for those greater graces of our creation, and of our
redemption, of our calling in the Gospell, and for thy
great patience in tarrying so long till for our repentance,
beseeching thee to gyue vs thys grace also among the
rest, that we may vse all other graces to thy glory & our
saluation.
And now o Lord, seeing thou hast reneued the light of
the day vpon vs, renue also, we pray thee, the light of thy
countenaunce toward vs, to open our eyes, that we may
haue sences exercised in putting a difference betweene
light and darknes, betweene earthly things and heauenly
thinges, betweene true obedience and hypocrisie, that

F 4

hauing of thee this wisedom, we may by thy power eschew
the euill, and follow the good constantly and patiently.
For which cause, stretch forth thy hand, O God, and
lead and keep vs this day in thy wayes, that we may do al
things in a holy zeale of thy glory, and in godly loue to
our brethren. And as this day addeth somewhat to our
age, so let thy holy spirit adde therein somewhat to our
knowledge and faith, that so growing in the measures of
his grace, we may serue thee in holinesse and righteousnes
this day, and al the dayes of our life. Graunt these
things O deer Father for Iesus Christ his sake, in whose
name we pray furthermore, saying. Our Father which
art in heauen, &c.

A Prayer before sleepe.

O Lord God most gracious and most holy, wee thy
poore seruaunts beseech thee for Iesus Christ, to
accept thys our poore euening sacrifice of prayer
and thanksgiuing: which now wee offer vp vnto thee,
giuing thee most harty thanks, for thy loue towards vs,
this day past, in keeping vs from the punishment in our
sinnes, that might iustly haue been layd vpon vs, and in
feeding our bodies with sweet food, and our harts with
gladnes, shewing thy selfe not onely the Author, but also
the cherrisher and maintainer of our life, we beeing vnworthy
of the least of al thy benefits. But pardon our vnworthinesse,
O Lord, throw al our sinnes into the bottome
of the Sea, which we this day, or at any other time
haue committed against thee, and continue thy loue towards
vs euermore, and namely thys night; wherein although
bodily darknes be fallen vpon vs, yet keep vs fro~
the spirituall darknes of sin and ignoraunce: & though
we craue quiet sleep for our bodies, yet we beseech thee
that our mindes neuer rest nor sleep, but that they waite
and watch to thee continually. Keepe them in good meditations,
free from all vaine dreames, and other offences,
that waking and sleeping wee may be thine, made
and imployed to the setting foorth of thy honour and
glory, in all holy obedience, through Iesus Christ our
Lord, in whose name we pray further, as he hath taught
vs, saying: Our Father, &c.

A prayer against the secrete venim, and great danger of prosperitie.

O Lorde, prepare my hart to wisedome, prepare it
to prayer, and teach my soule to feele all the dangers
wherwith it is beset on euery side: & graunt
good Father, that I may not pray in words or in sounde
of speech, but in spirite and faith, I acknowledge to thee
O Lord, thy great mercies toward mee at this time, for
beside the vnspeakeable graces of my redemption, and of
my holy calling in the Gospell, which are euer-more
good thou hast giuen mee a large measure of earthly
blessings, my table is richly and daintily furnished, my
Cup ouer-floweth, mine enemies are chased away, and I
feele no want, no affliction, no sorrow: My prosperitie
leadeth me, as by the hand, from one delight to another,
and from one pleasure to another. In the morning, peace
is at my right hand, and at night quietnes at my left. O
Lord are not these thy blessings? Hast not thou opened
thy mercifull hande, and filled mee with all these comforts?
True it is, O Lord, that they came all from thee,
and for them I am indebted vnto thee, & giue thee hartie
thanks. But alas, Lord, I find by experience that prosperity
such is our infirmitie carrieth vs too farre away,

F 5

it feedeth vs from day to day, and from time to
time, with new delights, it ingendereth also secretly such
peace and confidence in these things, which are but as a
reede to leane vpon, that we are carried away, we forget
not thee onely but our selues also. But the day of
aduersity, the day of sicknesse, the day of trouble, that
layeth open our weakenes, it causeth much care to be
released, it prouoketh many prayers for releese. Oh it
is a happy day, a day of returning to the Lord, a day of
repentance, as in Sackcloth and Ashes. Oh how may
my soule prayse the day of affliction, wherein I called
vpon the name of the Lord, and hee heard mee, and I
found that his rod comforted me. Neuerthelesse, o good
Lord consider and helpe: two dayes of health, take away
the fruite of many dayes of sicknesse, we are as men
Sea-sicke, that comming on the shore, presently returne
to ioy and mirth, and forget both dangers on the Sea,
and dangers on the Land. So came it to passe from age
to age in thy people of Israel, beeing tyed fast in miserie
and yron, they called vpon thee and receiued mercy, being
deliuered they soone turned backe like a bow, and
became drunken with prosperity. Then thy face was against
them, thy anger was kindled and they cast into affliction
againe, but in theyr miseries they renued theyr
prayers, and thou diddest renewe thy grace: but newe
prosperity brought new rebellion, and new rebellion
new punishments, and new punishments new conuersation.
The house of mirth was to them, and is to all
a bayte to wantonnesse: but in the house of sorrow a
prouocation of humility and prayer, prosperity is as a
Cup of wine mingled with poyson, as a bed of securitie,
and a way of destruction. Therfore Oh Lord with
the fulnesse of earthly things, giue me also the fulnesse
of spirituall thinges, that I forget thee not in vanity of
lyfe, or in the false delights of sinfull flesh. O keepe my
hart that it be not made drunken with prosperity: but
graunt me in sobernesse to vse thy blessings to thy glory,
and to the releese of my brethren: and when I reioyce
not to reioyce in these base things for that reioycing is
euill but to reioyce in thee, turning my mirth from
wanton Daunces, from vaine Songs, from other carnall
delights, to exercises of Religion, to helpes of knowledge,
and singing of Psalmes with melodie to thee in
my heart.
Finally, O Lord, seeing that in this earthly prosperity
there is so great abuse and so present daunger for want
of grace to vse them. Oh Lord teach me the true vse of
them, that I may not set my hart thereon, but in thee, giuing
thee thanks for them: and labouring with all diligence
through thy grace in Iesus Christ, that they be
not through my wickednesse turned into curses. As Salomon
teacheth wisedome, to take heede of an Harlot,
so teach me to take heede of vaine pleasures in worldlie
matters, that I be not bewitched with prosperitie, and
forget thee, bathing my selfe in pleasures, and neuer setting
thee before mine eyes. O mercifull Father worke
this in me that I may be rich in good works: that I may
haue, as not hauing, that I may vse the world, as not abusing
it, but vsing it to thy glory in Christ Iesus, who
with thee and the holy Ghost be blessed for euer. Amen.

A Prayer before Child-birth.

ALl thy wayes are iust, oh deere Father, and thy
iudgements are true altogether. For worthily doth
man liue in the sweate of his face, and the woman
bring forth children with much paine and trauaile, and
with great danger. Yea, O mercifull Father, this paine is
not a sufficient punishment for the grieuous transgressions
wherewith we and our fore-fathers haue transgressed
thy most holy will. The punishment is in respect of
our demerits too small, but in respect of our weakenes,
too great for vs, without thee to endure. Wherefore as
I acknowledge O merciful Father, thys trauaile in childbyrth,
which now approcheth, to be a iust reward of
my manifolde sinnes, so I acknowledge also thy readie
arme of defence, stretched out ouer mee, and ouer all
them that call vppon thee in fayth. Graunt therefore,
O deere Father, that I may in fayth, pray and waite for
that time of my trauaile patiently, that I may endure it,
when it shall bee present, constantly and thankfully:
knowing, that although I then feele some tast of the reward
of sinne, yet I feele not all, and that little which I
then feele, thou doost prensently reward with comfort &
gladnesse, when a chylde is borne into the world. The
which comfortable and glad issue graunt me, O Lorde
if it be thy good pleasure, & hauing receiued such fruite
of my body, graunt me more-ouer wisedom & strength
to bring it vp in thy feare, and to trauaile as it were againe
with it, till it be borne againe into a heauenly lyfe,
to the glory of thy holy Name, and my greater ioy: that
so it may finally in Christ Iesus be partaker of those blessings,
which thou doost plentifully raine downe vppon
the faithful, and theyr seede for euer. And because I am
not woorthy to present thys my sute to thy heauenly
Maiestie of my selfe, a most wretched and sinfull Woman,
I offer it in the Name, in the righteousnesse, and in
the strength of my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, praying
furthermore as he taught vs to pray. Our Father. &c
Awake thou that sleepest, and stand vp from the dead,
and Christ shall giue thee light.
Let our light so shine before men, that they may see
our good works, & glorifie our father which is in heaue~.
Wee will sing of thy power, and will prayse thy louing
kindnesse betimes in the morning, for thou hast
beene euer our strength, our refuge, our defence, and
our most mercifull Lord.

A Prayer for the morning.

WEe yield vnto thee, our most harty thankes, O
heauenly Father, for that thou hast deliuered
vs from all perrils and dangers of this night, and
brought vs safe to the beginning of this day: we beseech
thee that thou wilt in the same, and euer heereafter receaue
vs into thy defence and protection: and as thou
hast remoued the darknes of the night, restored the light
of the Sun, and raysed vs from sleepe: so thou wouldest
vouchsafe also to remoue from vs, the inward darknesse
of ignorance, to rayse vs from the sleepe of sinne, and to
lighten our minds with the heauenly beames of thy most
holy spirit, and with the knowledge of thy deere Sonne
our Sauiour Iesu Christ, the true light of the world, that
we eschewing the works of darknes, may guide the steps
of our liues after the light of thy holy word, walking
comly as the children of light, in holines and righteousnes,
as in the day, and in thy sight: and in the end may
come vnto that most blessed eternall light which thou
doost inhabite, the same thy Sonne our Sauiour Iesu
Christ beeing our guide there-vnto. To whom with
thee and the holy Ghost, one God of most glorious Maiestie,
bee all honour and glory world without ende,
Amen.
O God, who commaundeth the light to shine out of
darknes, shine in our harts, and giue vs the light of the
knowledge of thy glory, in the face of Iesus Christ.
Open our eyes, that we may be turned from darknes
to light, and from the power of sathan, vnto thee our
GOD.
That we may receiue forgiuenes of sinnes, and inhearitaunce
among them which are sanctified by faith, that is,
toward thy sonne Iesus Christ.

Another Euening prayer.

ALmighty God, who as thou hast made the day for
labour and trauaile, so hast thou created the night
for the rest and refreshing of our wearied bodies
and mindes, we most humbly beseech thee, that as the
night darkneth and shadoweth all things: so thou wouldest
for thy deere sonne Iesus Christes sake, hide our
sinnes, remoouing them from thy sight, putting away
the memory of them by eternall obliuion, that as our
bodies shall haue the rest of sleepe, so also our mindes by
hope of thy mercy, may enioy the rest of a quiet conscience,
and so being wholy refreshed, we may awake and
arise vnto thy seruice the next day, and all the dayes of
our life: and when death it selfe shall come, from the
which it is as easie for thee to raise vs, as from bodily
sleepe wee may rest in hope of that most ioyfull resurrection,
wherein our bodies shall awake vnto the euerlasting
day, which shal neuer bee interrupted with anie
darknesse, when we shal be made partakers of the inheritance
of the Saints in light, into that most blessed Cittie,
the heauenly Ierusalem: where shalbe no need of Candle,
neither of the Sunne, nor of the Moone, to lighten
it, and thy sonne the Lambe shalbe our eternall light.
Vnto the which most glorious light, and kingdome of
thy deere sonne, wee beseech thee bring vs, for the same
our Sauiour Iesus Christes sake, vnto whom with thee
and the holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, now and
for euer. Amen.

A Prayer.

ALmighty God, sith thou of thyne infinite mercie,
hast not onely admitted vs, but also taught, yea,
and commaunded by thy onely and deere Sonne
our Lord Iesus Christ, that we trusting in his merrits &
protection, he being our intercessor should beleeue that
thou art a louing Father vnto vs, and that we should also
call thee Father. Giue vs we beseech thee that wee may
bring in our harts sure trust without feare of thy fatherly
loue, and that we may with glad mindes, call thee
Father, knowledge, loue, and cry on thee in all ieopardies,
giue vnto vs an agreeing & brotherly loue, so that
we may perceiue euery one of vs, that we are truly brothers
and sisters, and may pray to thee, as to our common
and most mercifull Father, euery one for other, euen as
kinde children intreate their Father one for another.
Graunt that none of vs seeke that which is his owne,
or else forget other in thy sight: but that auoyding all
hate, enuie, and discention, as it becommeth the true
children of God we may loue together with due fauor.
Teach vs to regarde none other thing then our soules
health, and the euerlasting heritage, so that this temporal
Country and worldly heritage, which compasseth and
noyeth vs, labouring to make vs earthly and like vnto it
selfe deceiue vs not, so that wee say trulie, and with a
faythfull hart. O our heauenly Father, giue vs thy grace
that wee may bee thy heauenlie Chyldren, and graunt
vs that in all perrils we may call vpon thy name without
ceasing: graunt that by our sinnes no man may take occasion
to slaunder thy name, giue vs before all thinges
true and constant fayth in Christ, hope without feare in
thy mercy, against all infirmities of our weake conscience,
and pure loue towards thee, and all men, keepe vs
from infidelity, desperation, and malice, so that wrath
or any other bitternesse, haue not his kingdome in vs,
lighten mine eyes, least I sleepe, or be weary in the good
life once begunne: graunt that thy kingdome which
shal come, may finish and performe this kingdome which
is begun by thee. Make vs desire the other life to come,
giue vs grace not to feare death: but rather desire it, and
to be with Christ. Endue vs with thy grace that wee
may gladly suffer all diseases, pouerty, despisings, persecutions,
crosse, and aduersities, knowledging that it is
thy will to crucifie our will. Make vs that we quite not
euill for euill, neither to auoyd violence by violence, and
that we impute it not to the deuill or euill men, when any
aduersity commeth, but vnto thy godly will, without
whom a Sparrow falleth not on the ground. Make that
all our members, eyes, tongue, heart, hands, and feete,
be not suffered to follow their desires, neyther that we
be at any time subdued vnder them. Teach vs to vnderstand,
that no man may hurt vs, except he doo himselfe
much more hurt in thy sight, so that we may be moued
rather to weepe for his blindnesse, than to thinke of aduengement:
giue vs grace that we reioyce not in theyr
trouble, which haue resisted our will or hurt vs, and also
that we be not sorry when they prosper and haue welfare.
O heauenly Father giue vs this grace, that the life
of Christ his word, works, and passions, may be preached
known, and holden, both of vs and of all the world.
Giue vs grace, good Lord wee beseech thee, that in
our passions and aduersities, we may comfort our selues
by his passion and Crosse, and that we may with a stable
fayth ouer-come our death by his death, and followe
without feare thys noble Captaine into another life.
Teach vs by thy grace to thinke and haue in mind trulie
and as we ought to doe the passion of Christ, and to
ioyne it happily with our life, so that we may come and
attaine some thing, though it be but the shadowe of it.
Finally, giue vs our daily bread, that Christ is in vs, and we
in Christ, may dwell perpetually, and may woorthilie
beare thys name, sith of Christ wee are called Christians.
Giue vs peace into our hearts, that we reioycing, may
looke for thy iudgement, and glorious comming of Iesus
Christ in the clowdes, to whom is giuen all iudgement
in heauen, and in earth. Teach vs, deere Father,
not to stick or be comforted in our good workes or deseruings,
but to submit our selues faithfully to thine incomparable
mercy.
Againe, make that we despaire not for this our guilty
and sinful lyfe, but that we may iudge thy mercy more
mighty and stronger then our life, howe soeuer we haue
ordered it, so that we, refreshed by the sure trust & confidence
of thy mercy in the bottom of our hart, may liue,
die, suffer, and take all things patiently. Make that we resist
and fight against this superfluitie of meate, drinke,
sleepe, sloth, and idlenesse. Make that we may bring our
old Adam into bondage & subiection, with fasting temperate
diet, clothing, sleepe, rest, watch, and labour, so
that he may be meet and apt to good works. Make that
when we heare any glad or pleasant thing, or feele anie
sweete thing, that we seeke not therein our delight and
pleasure, but thy prayse and glory.

G.

Keepe vs that the false subtiltie of this worlde, the
counterfeite brightnesse and enticements of the same,
perswade vs not to follow it. Graunt vs by thy grace to
possesse our soules with patience in all our afflictions.
Finally, fulfill vs all with thy grace, that in this miserable
and perrillous lyfe, which is compassed with so many
continuall enemies that neuer cease, we may fight boldly
with stable and constant fayth, and obtaine the euerlasting
crowne. O Father, deliuer vs from suddaine,
death, keepe vs from hunger, dearth, and warre, keepe
vs from all euill and perils of the body, to thy glory and
our saluation. Graunt vs good Lord that all these prayers
may be obtayned of vs without any doubt, neyther
suffer that wee mistrust any thing, but that in all these
things we shall be heard: yea, be heard already. And let
all these things be sure and without any doubt, so may
we with glad harts say, Amen. That is to say, stable, constant,
true and sure.

Of Fayth.

FIrst deere Brethren, ye ought to giue diligent heede
that you may purely vnderstand what faith is, and
what fruites proceede out of her, and to conclude
the summe in few words: Faith is a sure perswasion and
full knowledge, that God for his truth and righteousnes
sake, will fulfill such promises as he hath made vnto vs, of
his mercy and fauour, in his holy Testament, which sure
perswasion must be giuen from God. 1, Cor. 12. For it
cannot be gotten but by Gods power neyther yet retayned.
Therefore with feare and trembling performe
that health which is begun in you, for it is GOD that
worketh in you both the will, and also the deede, euen
at his owne pleasure, and see that with all meekenesse ye
submit your selues vnto the vocation of God not seeking
the liberty of the flesh, neither yet despising good works,
and the spirit of God which resteth in a faythfull man
helpeth our infirmity, and fighteth without intermission
against sinne, the deuill, and the world.

The power of Fayth.

THE power of Fayth is to iustifie vs, that is to dispoyle
from all our vices, and lay them on Christes
backe which hath pacified the Fathers wrath
towards vs and to endue vs with an others righteousnesse,
that is Christes, so that I and all my sins are Christes
and Christ with all his vertues are mine: For he was
borne for vs, and giuen vnto vs. Esa 9, Ro. 8. To obtayne
this righteousnes, God the Father requireth nothing of
vs, but that we beleeue on him, and make him no lyar.
He that beleeueth that God of his mercy hath made vs
these promises, and that for his truth sake, he will fulfill
them, he setteth to his seale that God is true, but he that
beleeueth not, or doubteth of this as much as in him is
he maketh God a lyar, 1, Joh. 5. For why shouldest thou
doubt in him, except thou thoughtest that he were a lyar,
and would not keepe his promise which hee made.
Now if thou count God which is the very truth to be
a lyar, art not thou worthy of a thousand damnations.

The worke of Fayth.

FAith worketh by charity, for when my raging conscience
which feeleth her sinne, is pacified and set at
one with God through faith: then remembring the
feruent loue of GOD towardes mee, I can not but
loue neighbour agayne. For there is no man that
hartily loueth the Father, and can hate the Sonne, and although

G 2

the sonne be naught and vnthriftie, yet for his
Fathers sake, he will helpe to better him, and euen lament
and be sorry for the sonnes wickednes. Likewise, if
we hartily loue God, for his infinite benefits done vnto
vs: then can we not hate that creature, which hee hath
made after his owne likenes, whom God the Father loueth
so tenderly, that hee gaue his owne Sonne vnto the
death to redeeme him: yea, and whom he hath adopted
through Christ, to be his sonne and heyre. Nowe
albeit we see no kindnes in this man, for which we shold
loue him, yet hath God shewed vs kindnesse enough, for
the which we ought to loue & soccour him at all times.
Let vs therefore loue him, for the loue that God the
Creator hath shewed vs, and beare his infirmitie; if hee
fall, let vs lift him vp againe, and endue him with our
wisedome, and all our works, euen as Christ hath done
with vs. And thys is an euident token that thou louest
GOD, when thou louest thy Brother. 1 John. 14. And
seekest all meanes to helpe him. These are the good
works that follow faith, and are euident tokens that thy
fayth is right & pure. Thus seest thou how good works
flow out of fayth through charitie, and charitie or loue
to be the fulfilling of the whole Law. Rom. 13.

Good workes

AMong good workes, the chiefe are to be obedient
in all things, vnto Kings, Princes, Iudges, and such
other Officers, as farre as they commaunde ciuill
things, that is to say, such things as are indifferent, and
not contrary to the commaundements of God. For then
must wee rather obey God then men. Acts, 5. Although
we should loose both our substance and life thereto. To
honour Rulers, to promote peace, to pray for the Communaltie,
and to apply all our studies to profit them.
The next are to be obedient to Father and Mother, to
prouide for houshold, both nourishing our Family with
bodily sustenaunce, and also to instruct them with the
word of God, and to be theyr gouernour carnal & spirituall.
Then must we looke how we ought to behaue
our selues towards our neighbours, knowledging that
all the gifts that are giuen vs of God, are not giuen for
our owne selfe, but for the edyfying of the Congregation.
1. Cor. 12. And if we bestow them not on that maner,
we shall surely giue a reckoning for them before
the Lord.
Among these, ought wee to haue respect vnto the
Preachers and Ministers of the word, that they may bee
had in honour, and well prouided for. And aboue all
things, good bretheren addresse your selues, vnto that
necessary worke, Prayer. Remember to pray for all estates,
for that is a worke that Christ and his Apostles ful
diligently exhorted all men vnto, promising them, that
they should obtaine their peticions. John 16. 1. John. 4. If they be according to the will of God and for his glorie.
Wheresoeuer is true faith, there is also repentance
with it, there is hate of sin, there is true feare, and againe
there is comfortablenes of hart, kindled by the holie
Ghost, a desire to further Gods glory among men. The
duties of Charitie or to comprehend all in one worde
true holines which the flesh fighteth against. This holinesse
is not made perfect at one instant, but groweth al
the tyme of a mans life. Labour for a liuely sight & sence
of heauenly things, & so shall no sight or sence of earthly
thinges trouble your affections, further then you shal
be able enough, with ease & pleasure to relinquish and
forsake them whensoueuer Gods glory shall require.

G 3

Now this sight and sence of heauenly things, is not
otherwise than by fayth, or rather maketh an ende.
Therefore in all matters of Religion, and concerning
saluation, leaue reason with Abraham as hee did, and
leaue your corporall sences with his seruants in the valley,
to be occupied in ciuill thinges: If that you will
clime vp with Isaack into the hill of heauen, whether
God our Father bring vs for his mercy sake. Amen.

A Prayer.

ETernall God the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, I
giue to thee most harty thanks, for that of thine aboundant
mercy, thou hast begotten me againe in
to a liuely hope, by the resurrection of Iesus Christ from
death, to an inheritance immortall and vndefiled, and
that perisheth not, reserued in heauen for me whom
thou hast taken to be thy Childe of adoption by Iesus
Christ, keepe me I beseech thee by thy power, through
faith vnto saluation, which saluation is prepared alreadie,
to be shewed in the last time. Wherein cause me
O Lord, to reioyce, though now for a season I am in
heauines, through manifold temptations, that the tryall
of my fayth being much more precious than the tryall
of gold that perisheth, and yet is tryed with fire may
be found to be laude, glory, and honour, at the appearing
of Iesus Christ, whom though I haue not seene,
worke by thy holy spirit I pray thee, that notwithstanding
I may loue constantly, in whom euen now, though
I see him not, yet settle my beleefe that I may reioyce
with ioy vnspeakeable and glorious, patiently abiding
to receaue the ende of my fayth: to wit, the saluation
of my soule. Gird vp also, Lord, the loynes of my mind,
that I being sober and watchfull, may trust perfectly on
the grace that is brought vnto me now. When Iesus
Christ is manifestly preached vnto mee, that I doo not
as becommeth a disobedient Childe fashion my selfe
to obey the lustes of the flesh, where-with I was carried
heeretofore, through ignorance of Christ, but that
hauing my conuersation in the feare of GOD, I bestow
the remnant of mine abode heere in newnesse of
lyfe: especially, for that I know, that I was not redeemed
with corruptible thinges, as siluer and gold, from
my vaine conuersation, but with the precious blood
of Christ, as of a Lambe vndefiled and without spot.
And euen as thou hadst ordayned thy Christ to be my
Sauiour, before this world was made, but didst make
him knowne manifestly in these latter times, for our
sakes, which through faith beleeue in thee, O most mercifull
Father. Euen so I beseech thee worke in mee by
the selfe same thy Sonne, that I may purifie my soule by
the holy Ghost in obeying the truth, that with brotherlie
loue, voide of all fayning in a pure heart, I may loue
my neighbour feruently. And that I beeing borne anew,
not of a mortall seede, but of immortall by the
word of GOD, which liueth and lasteth for euer,
may offer vp spyrituall Sacrifices, through the holie
Ghost, and acceptable to thee my onely God, through
Iesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

An other Prayer.

ETernal God which hast highly exalted thy Son Iesus
Christ, & hast giuen him a name, which is aboue
euery name, that in the name of Iesus euery knee
shold bow of things in heaue~ & things in earth, & things
vnder ye earth. I bow my knees vnto thee o father of our

G 4

Lorde Iesus Christ, of whom all the familie in Heauen
and earth is named, that thou wouldest graunt me, according
to the riches of thy glory, to bee strengthened
with might by thy holy Spirit in the inner man, that
Christ may dwell in my hart by faith, that I may be rooted
and grounded in loue, that I may bee able to comprehend
with all Saints, what is the breadth, length,
depth, and height, of the knowledge of Christes loue
towards vs, which excelleth all knowledge, and that I
may be filled with all fulnesse of God, vnto thee that art
able to doe exceeding aboundantly aboue all that I aske
or thinke, according to the power that worketh in mee,
be glory in the Church by Christ Iesus throughout all
ages, world without end, Amen.
O God, most merciful Father, which in time past, at
sundry times, and in diuers manners spakest vnto the Fathers
in the Prophets, and hast in these dayes spoken vnto
vs in thy Sonne, whom thou hast appointed heyre of
all things, by whom also thou madest the worlds, who
beeing the brightnes of thy glory, and the very Image
of thy substance, vpholding all things with the word of
his power, hauing by himselfe purged our sinnes, fate
on the right hande of the Maiestie on high: to whom
thou saydst, thou art my Sonne, thys day haue I begotten
thee. Heb. 1. Thys day beget mee againe, I beseech
thee, instructing mee from aboue by that same grace,
which appeared healthfull to all men, that denying vngodlines
& filthy lusts, I may liue soberly, godly, & iustly,
in this present world, looking for that blessed hope,
and appearance of the glory of the great God, and our
Sauiour Iesus Christ, who liueth & raigneth with thee,
in the vnity of the holy Ghost, for euer and euer. Amen.
O Lord my heauenly Father, almighty and euerlasting
God, which hast safely brought vs to the beginning of
thys day, defend me in the same with thy mighty power,
and grant that thys day I fall into no sinne, neyther
runne into any kind of danger, but that all my dooings
may bee ordered by thy gouernaunce, to doe alwayes
that is righteous in thy sight, through Iesus Christ our
Lord. Amen. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend Elizabeth
our Queene, all her faithful Counsellors, namely
N. N. my selfe wholy, my wife, chyldren, & whole
Familie, and the vniuersall Church, for thou hast redeemed
vs, O Lord our God.
O God of our Lord Iesus Christ, the Father of glory,
gyue mee the Spirit of wisedome and reuelation by the
knowledge of thee, and lighten the eyes of my minde,
that I may know the hope where-unto thou hast called
mee, how rich the glory of thine inheritance is in thy
Saints, and what is the exceeding greatnes of thy power
to vs warde, which belieue according to thy mightie
power, which thou wroughtest in Christ, when thou
raisedst him from the deade, and didst sette him on thy
right hand in heauenlinesse. Quicken mee also beeing
dead by sinne, and raise me vp with him, and cause mee
to sitte in heauenlinesse, with Christ Iesus, by whom
most bountiful Father, al honour and praise bee to thee
and the holy Ghost, now and euer, Amen.
Almighty God and most merciful Father, seeing wee
haue liberty to enter into thy holy places in the bloode
of Iesus, by the new and liuing way, which hee hath
prepared for vs, through the vaile, that is to say, his flesh:
worke I beseech thee by thy holy Spirit, that I drawne
nigh vnto a true hart in assurance of faith: that I beeing
sprinckled in my hart from an euil conscience, & washed
in body with a pure water, may holde the profession of
my hope without wauering, for hee is faithful that promised:
and that I may consider my brethren, prouoking
them vnto loue and good works, not forsaking the assembling
of our selues together, but exhorting one another,
and so much the more, for that I see the day approching:
suffer me not therefore to cast away my confidence,
which hath great recompence of reward:
For I haue great neede of patience, that after I haue
doone the wil of GOD, I may receiue the promise.
Wherefore all things layd away that presse me downe,
especially sinne that hangeth so fast vpon me cause me
O God, to run with patience in the race that is sette before
me, looking vnto Iesus the beginner and finisher of
my fayth; Which for the ioy that was set before him,
endured the Crosse, despised the shame, and set himselfe
downe at the right hand of the throne of God, where
he maketh intercession for mee, to whom with thee, O
Father, and the holy Ghost, be prayse nowe and euer.
Amen.

A prayer.

O Lord God and heauenly Father, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaack, the God of Iacob,
which diddest promise vnto Abraham, that thou
wouldest be the God of his seede for euer. Which hast
promised also to subdue Moab and Esau: that is to say,
all Heathen Miscreants, and Idolatrous Papists, to thy
chosen Israel, and to gather vnder one Shepheard, thy
seruaunt Dauid, Christ and Sauiour, all thy scattered
Sheepe, both of the Iewes and Gentiles. That there
might be one Shepheard and one folde. Mercifully behold
thy flocke amongst them, both despearsed & scattered:
erring, wandring, and going astray, with peruerse
mindes and erronious opinions, farre from thy fold, not
knowing as yet, nor regarding the voyce of thy sonne,
the onely good Shepheard, which did giue his soule for
his sheep. And draw them we beseech thee home again
to the fold of thy sonne Iesus Christ, without whom
there is no saluation, no comfort, no health, no hope,
no stay of conscience, but miserably wandering from
error to error, and in the end vtter desperation: haue
mercy therefore on thy miserable stray sheepe, for theyr
Sheepheards sake, & for the glory of thine owne name,
for the amplyfying and enlarging the kingdome of thy
Son Christ, who is declared already in the flesh, by his
manifest miracles, iustified in spirit, seene of the Angels,
preached among the people, belieued vpo~ in the world,
receiued vp in glory, and shortly shall come in the same
glory to make his enemies his foot-stoole. So be it.

A thanks-giuing when a woman is deliuered.

O Eternall and almighty God, thy power & might
is to be praised magnified for euer. For in the
greatest weakenes of man, thy power is seene, in
his greatest dangers, thy saluation is knowne, therefore
we praise thy name, and giue thee thanks for thy great
mercies and wonderfull works. Namely, Lord we giue
thee thankes for thy mercy shewed to our sister at this
time, in bringing her through many and great dangers
of child-birth, and in giuing her the fruite of her body.
It was thy hand o lord, that hath done it, for it is a work
greater then all the wisedom and power of man. Deere
father, wee beseech thee euer heereafter to deliuer the
Mother & the Child out of al dangers, as may best make
for thy glory and their saluation. Touching vs, we thank
thee for blessing our work, and humbly beseech thee to
co~tinue thy fauour towards vs, for Iesus Christ his sake,
our Lord and onely Sauiour. Amen.

A prayer to be confirmed in the true knowledge of Gods word, for the reading, hearing, and studying of the same.

O Most mighty and eternall GOD, although thy
goodnesse, mercy, and truth to mankind, in all
thy workes aboundantly doth appeare, yet herein
chiefely thou declarest thy selfe to bee most fauourable,
merciful, and gracious, that not suffering vs to walk
in darknes, ignoraunce, and blindnes, thou hast gyuen
vs thy most holy and blessed word, to be a Lanterne vnto
our feet, to lighten our steps in the path-way to euerlasting
life, least wee shoulde walke in the shadowe of
death, in which thy most blessed and sacred word, thou
hast fully and perfectly set forth vnto mankind, so much
of thy glorious Maiestie as was expedient for vs to
knowe, and not onely that, but hast therein also fully,
wholly, and perfectly expressed thy most holy & blessed
will, what soeuer is necessary for the saluation of mankinde
to bee knowne, to bring him to life euerlasting.
Gyue me grace, most merciful Father, that for so hie a
treasure left among vs, I may be thankful, reuerenly embrace,
accept, and esteeme of the same, as the most precious
Iewel on earth, be therein confirmed most strongly,
that all thinges therein contained, bee most certatnly
and vndoubtedly true, not by any mortall man, but by
thy most holy Spirit in man, penned and written to the
comfort and behooue of man, that I may most humbly,
lowlie, and with most high reuerence, submit my selfe
there-vnto, as becommeth thy eternal Maiestie, and the
Worde proceeding out of thy blessed mouth: that I
may reuerently with humblenesse and obedience, read,
heare, and occupy my selfe in the same, to the comfort of
my soule, and encrease of thy glory.
Lighten my vnderstanding, most deere Father, with
thy holy Spirit, that I may learne, cleerly conceiue, and
vnderstand the things therin contained, which no mortall
man can conceiue, saue those who haue learned of
thee, and whom thou by thy holy Spirit doost lighten
and instruct, guide mee deere Father with thy holy Spirit,
that hauing the true vnderstanding of the misteries
therein contained, I may be fully established, and confirmed
in the true knowledge of thee my deere Father,
and of thy beloued sonne Christ Iesu, my Lord and Sauiour,
throughly in conscience perswaded, that I haue
my ful and perfect saluation and life euerlasting in him,
and through his attonement made through his death &
passion: that I doe not vainely abuse the knowledge of
thy most sacred word, to satis-fie vaine curiositie or brag
of knowledge, but onely to the relieuing of my hungry
and wounded conscience, to the loosing of my fettered
soule, and the appeasing of my sorowfull hart, that I may
to the end of my life, walke in sinceritie before thee, my
heauenly Father, in the comforts of thy deere Sonne my
Sauiour, vpholden stil by the mercifull power of the holy
Ghost, to thine euerlasting prayse and glory, worlde
without end. Amen.

Another before the reading, hearing, or studying of the word of God.

ALmightie and most mercifull Father, which hast in
thy blessed word reuealed thy most holy wil, what
soeuer was expedient for vs to know, concerning
thy Maiestie & our saluation, giue me grace good Lord,
that I may haue a harty desire, & a willing mind, diligently
and with my whole endeuour, to read, hear, and study
thy holy scriptures with humble obedience, submitting
my iudgement to thy holy and infinite wisedome therein
contayned, and that I may fruitfully trauaile therein:
graunt me heauenly Father, thy holy Spirit, to lighten
my vnderstanding, to touch my hart, that I may through
lie vnderstand the misteries therein contained to the co~fort
of my soule, so that my whole life and conuersation,
may be thereafter directed, to the honour and glorie of
thy Name, and the peace of my conscience, thorough
Iesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

A prayer to be confirmed in the knowledge of God.

O Most mighty and eternall God, thou by the creation
of the world, the Sunne, the Moone, and
starres, the earth, the sea, and all that therein is,
hast sufficiently declared thy selfe to be the euerlasting
and almighty God, for that these things doe farre passe
the reach of mans wisedome. And not heerein onelie
hast thou declared thy selfe to bee God, but in that also
that thou doost continually guide and gouerne al things
of thee created; It is thou therefore that thundrest fro~
heauen, that with lightnings and tempests, and of waters
and winds, shewest thy terrible vengeance vpon sinfull
flesh; It is thou, o God, which lettest vs feele sinsiblie in
our selues, thy mighty power and working, not onely in
that, that thou hast made our bodies and soules, but especially,
that thou makest vs euen of force to confesse
thy eternal Spirit in vs, who so mightily fighteth against
the assaults of the enemy, that of force we are driuen to
acknowledge that it is thy working in vs, and not we our
selues. Seeing therfore, o father, that we haue both in thy
creature, and also in our selues, so manifest testimonies
that thou onely art the eternal God, which raignest in all
thy creatures, guiding the~ by thy heauenly prouidence,
graunt wee beseech thee, that our harts may be heereof
ful assured, to acknowledge thee not onely to be God eternal,
who hast created al things, but also, that we may
in hart be fully perswaded, that thou O Lord God, dost
gouerne al things according to thy most blessed will, so
that nothing can be doone in the worlde without thine
appointment, and that thou hast such a singuler care ouer
thine elected people, so that not so much as an hayre
of their head shal fal without thy prouidence, that thou
so guidest al theyr dooings, that all things shal turne to
theyr commoditie and thy glory. Graunt O Lord God,
that heereof wee may be fully assured in our harts and
soules, that we may in all our dooings set thee before our
eyes, acknowledging thee to be our onely Lord and Father,
and by the working of the holy spirit in vs, may be
confirmed in fayth, comforted in soule, and lightened in
vnderstanding, that alwayes heere vpon earth, wee may
glorifie thy holy Name, and after the dissolution of thys
body, we may attaine to the euerlasting ioy, through our
Lord and Sauiour Christ Iesus. Amen.

A prayer for patience in tribulation, and that God may be glorified thereby.

O Eternal and most mercifull Father, who hast from
time to time, in all ages exercised euen in thy deer
Chyldren, with greeuous afflictions and sharpe
corrections, to draw theyr mindes from too much loue
of worldly pleasures, to be delighted in heauenly ioyes,
and spiritual comforts of the soule: graunt good Lord, I
humbly beseech thee, that I, euen from my hart, may acknowledge
thys affliction, which doth now grieuously
pierce my soule, to be thy fatherly correction, & scourge
of thy meere mercy and loue layd vpon me, to put me in
minde of my dutie towards thee, least els, with too much
quietnes, I should haue been drawne through the flattering
pleasures of this vaine world, fro~ the remembrance
& delight of my spiritual ioy in heauenly things, to haue
had my ful delight in this vaine worlde, and so shoulde
haue runne headlong to euerlasting damnation with the
world: but that thou O Father hast called me back by
thys thy Fatherly rod, whereby thou mindest to let mee
see, that of my selfe I haue no strength vnto goodnesse;
but that it was thou, who by thy aboundant mercie, haddest
before time replenished my heart with ioy, that I
tooke great pleasure and comfort in reading and hearing
thy holy word, and receiuing other thy benefits, which
spirituall comfort and quietnes of minde, because I doe
not fully acknowledge to be thy good gift in mee, thou
hast now taken from me for a time: that I may effectually
perceiue and learne by the lack of it that it was thy
worke in me, and when thou restorest the same to mee
againe, I may more aboundantly glorifie thee in the manifold
mercies. But while it shal be thy good wil & pleasure,
o Lord, to exercise me with this thy louing correction,
giue me grace that I may patiently abide whatsoeuer
it shal please thee to lay vpon mee for myne amendement,
strengthen me o Lord that I doe not faint vnder
the burthen of affliction: but beeing vpholden by the
strength of thy holy Spirit in mee, I may neuer cease calling
vpon thy Name, with full assuraunce that thou wilt
at thy time appointed, sende mee full assuraunce, to my
singular comfort, and thy eternall glory. And when it
shall please thee, O Lord, fully to deliuer mee, I beseech
thee so worke in my hart, that I may acknowledge the
same to come from thee, to be thy onely worke, that I may
so worke in my hart, that I may acknowledge the same
to come from thee, to be thy onely worke, that I may be
thankful for thy so great mercies al the dayes of my lyfe,
that I neuer forget thy louing and fatherly dealings towards
me, but so to the end of my life I may liue in thy
feare and loue, that thy holy Name in my life may bee
glorified, and after death, I may be receiued to that full
ioy, which thou hast prepared for thine elect Children,
through our onely Lord & Sauiour Iesu Christ. Amen.

A prayer to feele in hart spirituall comforts from fayth.

O Lord God, and most merciful Father, now I fully
perceiue and know, that the hart of man is not
in his owne hand, for thou hast taught me, by diminishing
thy spirit of comfort in my hart, that it is thou
onely which makest ioyful the hart of man, and which
diminishest the same ioy according to thy good pleasure
and will; for if it had been in mine owne power to haue
receiued comfort in thy word, or to haue belieued thy
promises from my hart, I would long since haue enioyed
comfort, and been confirmed in fayth, but I cannot,
O Lord, it is thy meere worke. I looke therefore, o deer
Father, for thy blessed comfort and strength of Fayth,
which I beseech thee, O mercifull Father, send into my
hart, to fill the same with spirituall ioy, that by the working
of thy holy Spirit in me, the comfortable promises
of thy merciful protection, may be sealed in my hart, and
sinck deep into my soule, that I may be fully assured that
thou art my strong Rocke, and house of defence, that
thou dost keep me as the apple of thine eye, as thou hast
promised in thy blessed worde, that thou wilt not lay

H.

more vpon mee, then thou wilt giue mee strength to abide,
and that thou wilt assuredly at thine appointed
time renue my hart, and the whole powers of my mind,
that I may fully glorifie thy holy Name. But in the mean
time O Lord alas, my hart is cleane voyde of spirituall
ioy, yea, euen as hard as a stone, so that the louing promises
of thy holie Word, although I knowe them to be
true, yet they cannot sinck into my hard and stony hart,
vntil such time, as thou by increasing thy holy Spirit in
me, shalt molifie and make tender my harde hart, that it
may be meete to receiue the sweet comfort of thy spirit.
Thy holy spirit O Lord in me, which is the assurance
of my saluation, doth continually send forth vnspeakeable
sighes and longings, for thy ful and ioyful presence.
I beseech thee therefore, deere Father, for thy beloued
sonne Christ Iesus sake, harken vnto my prayers, and
graunt my requests, make tender my hard & stony hart,
by thy holy Spirit, that I may from the bottome of my
hart, acknowledge thee to be my most merciful God and
Father, and all things in thy holy Word contained, to
be most true: reuerently embrace, take comfort, and
continue the same, and in my soule take ioy of the same:
that I may deere Father euen vnto my liues end, walke
before thy face in sinceritie of hart, beeing assured of my
saluation, through that one alone sufficient sacrifice for
my sinnes, made by thy best beloued Sonne, Christ Iesus
my Lord and onely Sauiour. To whom with thee
with thee and the holy Ghost, be all honour
and glory, world without end.
Amen.

A prayer after benefits obtained, to acknowledge them onely to come from God.

O Lorde God, I feele in my selfe howe mercifullie
thou hast dealt with mee, grieuously I was troubled,
and nowe by thy goodnesse partly released,
how dangerously I was assaulted, and now by thy mercie
partly deliuered; thys reliefe, although I must needes
confesse by infallible arguments, to be thy onelie worke
in mee, yet such is the pride of my rebellious flesh, that it
wil not suffice me, to ascribe fully the same to proceede
from thee, and thine onely goodnes, but seeketh out other
fained causes, according to the vaine deuises of my
minde: therefore I beseech thee most gracious Father,
that thou wilt so frame my hart, that I may with whole
hart and minde, and with the powers of my soule, acknowledge
this my comfort and ayde, to be thine onely
worke, wrought in me by thy holy Spirit, and that I may
be thankful for the same all the daies of my life.
O Lord, thou hast sworne by thy holinesse, that thou
wilt not giue thine honour to any other: seeing then
deere Father, that thou hast sent mee this strength, let
mee be perswaded fully in hart, deere Father, that it co~meth
from thee, that to thee I may render due honour,
praise, and thanksgiuing for the same, and the rest of my
life, that I may be assured in hart of thy merciful defence,
in mine extreame dangers, as thou hast many times heretofore
wonderfully deliuered me, that thou wilt according
to thy promise so co~tinue thy merciful aide, whereby
thy Name in me may be glorified, my soule in mercy
preserued, and thy whole Church edified, now and for
euer. Amen.

H 2

A prayer for constant perseuerance in prayer, when wee are dull to prayer.

O Lord God most merciful Father, according to thy
commaundement in mine afflictions and necessities,
I seeke to thee for succour by continual prayer,
and calling vpon thy Name, I call vppon thee in the
day time, and in the night season doe I poure out my
prayers vnto thee, and yet for all that I feele me nothing
released, but oftentimes worse and worse, which maketh
me oftentimes deer father almost to doubt of thy
goodnes, that thou doost reiect my prayers, and giuest
no heede vnto them, whereby I doe almost thinke, that
it is no boote for me to pray, seeing I feele no release;
but O Lord this is my weakenes in me, and the frailtie
of my flesh, which wil not willingly be subdued vnto
the spirit; which my frailtie, I beseech thee, O Lord
forgiue mee. For thou doost O Lord God see my conflicts,
and lookest vpon my continuall sighes and peticions,
but thou doost deferre and prolong thine helpe the
longer, and doost not at the first helpe mee, to this end,
that I may see fully mine owne weakenes, learne by little
and little, to subdue my rebellious will, to thy good wil,
who knowest better what is meet for me than my selfe.
Therefore O most deere Father strengthen mee by
thy holy Spirit, that I may still perseuer and continue in
prayer, and with longing desires patiently waite for thee
O Lord, being assured, that although it appeare not, yet
art thou alwaies present with me, and hearest my sighes
and complaints, and wilt when thou seest thy time, declare
thy selfe manifestly, in renewing my hart with spiritual
ioy. Stir vp O Lord, my dul and sluggish nature, to
call vpon thee continually, appointing thee neither time
nor the meanes of my deliueraunce, but leauing all to
thy good will and pleasure, I may in the meane time neuer
cease by continuall prayer, to call for thy mercifull
helpe, vntil such time as it shal please thy goodnes to send
me ful deliuerance. I feele my selfe, O Lord, oftentimes
verie vnwilling to pray, for that I doe not fuly perceiue
my prayers to bee hearde, but doe goe on still languishing
in my sorrowes, as though thou haddest no care
of mee. But this my dulnesse I beseech thee, O merciful
Father, pardon in me, and graunt that I may be raised vp
to pray for ayde and reliefe of thee continually, although
I should see no signe of fauour, yet that I may continue
stil with the faithfull woman of Canaan, and neuer cease
in hart, minde, and mouth, til thou graunt my requests
at thine appointed time, when thou knowest it shall be
most for thy behoue and for thy glory. And that when
thou shalt mercifully looke vpon mee, to deliuer mee, I
may then fully with my whole hart, acknowledge thy
goodnes towards me, and let it neuer flip out of my hart,
but continue thankfull for the same all the dayes of my
life, whereby thy glorie in me may be declared, and my
soule relieued, through Christ my Lorde and Sauiour.
Amen.

A thanksgiuing when thou hast receiued some comfort, but yet not fully deliuered.

O Most louing and mercifull Father, nowe I feele
thy sweet mercies and louing kindnesse shewed
vpon me poore wretch, whom thou hast out of
grieuous assaults deliuered from paineful sorrow, to ioyful
comforts restored.
Now I know, O Lord, that my many and sundry prayers
that I made to thee, in the anguish and bitternesse

H 3

of my soule were not voyde, although for a time thou
seemedst to reiect the~, now I know that although thou
seemedst to be angry, yet thy fatherly affection still remained
surely fixed vpon thy Children, so that nothing
can remoue thy loue from thy deere Children, but who~
thou louest, thou louest vnto the end, euen when thou
doost scourge and correct the~ most sharply, thou woundest
and healest againe, thou throwest downe to hel, and
raisest vp againe. For whereas my hart was so dull, that
no spirituall comfort could enter therein, now I feele, O
Lord God, that thou hast begun so to frame it anewe,
that I beginne to take more comfort and ioy in thee, and
thy holy Word: now I feele my hart partlie lightened
by thy onely worke, from that great dulnes where-with
thou hast smitten me downe, for the which thy mercifull
worke in mee, I hartily thanke thee O Lord God,
beseeching thee most deere Father, for thy best beloued
sonne Christ Iesus sake, as thou hast begunne to settle
my hart in peace and quietnesse, and partly wrought in
the same some comfort and ioy: so thou wilt in mercie
encrease the same in me, more and more, that I may from
day to day, acknowledge thy manifold benefits towards
mee, and for the same yeeld due honour and prayse vnto
thy holy Name; that I may through this thy worke
in mee, be throughly confirmed of thy goodnesse towardes
mee, that as thou hast begunne in mee a good
worke, so thou wilt fulfill the same, vntill the comming
of our Lord and Sauiour Christ, and when he shal fully
deliuer his Chyldren, and bring them to that ful and perfect
ioy, for euer to raigne with thee, in thy kingdome
of euerlasting glorie, world without end, Amen.

A Thanksgiuing after deliuerance from affliction.

THy mercy, O Lord my God, endureth for euer,
and thy louing kindnesse towards thy children is
not able to bee vttered, the truth of thy promises
neuer faileth thine Elect. O how wonderfull deere Father
is thy working amongst thy Children; the sorrows
of death tooke hold vpon me, and the snares of hell almost
entangled mee, the daungerous waues of distrust
had euen ouerwhelmed my soule; I was as one entangled
in a Nette, and fast caught, not knowing how to be
loosed. Thou hadst O Lorde God, so terrified my soule
and minde, that I became vtterly astonied, and in extreame
feare, throwne downe prostrate to the ground,
my hart failed within me, and all the powers of my mind
were discomfited: the cogitation of my minde dyd so
fight within me, that I was wholy disquieted in soule &
conscience, I could not consider O Lord God of thee
my Sauiour aright, nor take holde of thy mercifull and
louing promises, I could not bee perswaded of thee my
deere Father and God, nor of thy fatherly loue towards
thy children, scarce coulde I finde within my selfe anie
little sparke of fayth, to confirme mee in the knowledge
of thy good wil towards mee, reuealed in thy blessed
Word. For thou good Lorde hadst for a time withdrawne
from me thine hand, where-with thou haddest
before time staied and vpholden mee from falling, that I
might more cleerelie see mine owne weakenes, & more
effectually consider thy power towards me.
In thys distresse good Lorde and anguish of minde,
I poured out my plaints before thee, and cryed vnto
thee day and night, with continuall sighes and groanes,

H 4

till at length thou in mercy haddest respect vnto me, and
considerest my request and sent me some releefe, whereas
I might take a tast of thy mercifull dealing with thy
Children, and thereby be strengthened more and more,
and confirmed of thy good will towards me. And now
deere Father, I feele thy louing mercies towards me aboundantly,
who hast deliuered mee from my dangerous
feare, & set my troubled mind at quietnes, thou hast
made calme the troubled waues of wauering thoughts,
which ouerwhelmed my soule, and hast brought me
to the quyet Hauen of thy mercifull protection and defence,
and hast deliuered my eyes from teares, and my
feete from falling, and my heart from distrust. O Lord
God, my most louing and mercifull Father, let this thy
grace, mercy, and louing kindnesse shewed vpon mee,
neuer depart out of my heart, but that I may be thereof
continually mindfull all the dayes of my lyfe. And
for these thyne vnspeakeable mercies towardes mee:
graunt me good Lord, that I may haue a thankfull hart
to render due honour, prayse, and thanksgiuing vnto
thy Maiestie, acknowledging from the bottome of my
heart, thy wonderfull workes in me: and that hauing
felt so effectually thy present helpe in my necessitie, I
may be more strengthened to put my full trust and confidence
in thee, in my more greeuous and daungerous
assaults, although I see no way of deliuerance, looking
still for the lyke helpe, which I haue before time tryed of
thy goodnesse: knowing that thou hast taken me into
thy protection and keeping. And that I may heereof be
more assured I beseech thee good Lorde, that as thou
hast begunne to deliuer mee, so let mee feele more and
more daily, thy good will and tender mercy towards me.
Encrease in mee true vnderstanding of thy heauenlie
will in thy blessed worde. Strengthen my fayth in thy
louing promises, that I may be assured of thy protection,
and mine election and saluation. Make mee daylie
more and more to loue my deere Father and GOD vnfaynedly,
for all thy goodnesse shewed vnto me, to haue
my full delight and ioy in thee, to walke before thee
in sincerity of lyfe and godly conuersation, that I may
heere in earth glorifie thy holy name, and after thys
lyfe with thy faythfull flocke, possesse that euerlasting
inheritaunce, which thy Sonne hath purchased, Christ
Iesu our Lord, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost,
be all honour and glory, now and for euer, Amen.

A thanksgiuing for the word of God embraced, and a Prayer for increase and continuance in the same.

O Eternall and most mercifull Father, I yeeld vnto
thee most harty thankes, for all thy benefits bestowed
vpon me, especially, for that it hath pleased
thy heauenly goodnes to shine into my hart, through
the light of thine holy spirit, in the misteries of thy holy
word, and that thou hast framed my heart and minde to
take such vnspeakeable ioy and comfort, in thy most
blessed and holy word, and in the embracing of my saluation,
therein offered vnto me. For this thine vnspeakeable
mercies, I beseech thee O Lorde, make me thankfull,
that I may acknowledge the great benefite thereof,
and esteeme of so inestimable a treasure, aboue all
earthly possessions or treasures. And O Lord, my God,
for so much as I wander in this present lyfe, among manie
and infinite daungers, whereby I am euery moment

H 5

in perrill of slyding backe, and falling from this feruent
zeale of thy euerlasting truth, which thou hast kindled
in my breast: if otherwise thou doo not stay me by thy
mercifull hand: and for so much as I learne out of thy
most blessed and holy word, that it is not sufficient to
haue begunne well, vnlesse I continue to the ende, not
sufficient to holde my hand to the Plough, and looke
backe, I craue at thy hand in the name of thy beloued
Sonne, my Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, that this thy
worke which thou hast begunne in mee, thou wilt in
mercy increase in me more and more, and continue it euen
vnto the ende of my life, that I doo not waxe colde,
secure, dull, or faynt, but continually increasing in true
zeale, I may still more and more be delighted with reading,
hearing, and meditating of thy holy word: I may
thereby also daily increase in true knowledge of thy blessed
will, from fayth to fayth, that I may euen from the
bottome of my heart, so sincerely professe thy true Religion,
that all hipocrisie, vaine glory, and fained holinesse,
vtterly through thy holy Spirit rooted out of my
heart, I may onely hold my selfe contened, that I may
haue the eyes of thy Maiestie beholding my inward hart
and minde, whereby I onely studying to be allowed before
thy Maiestie, may vtterly reiect all the vaine prayse
of men, which might puffe vp, or the scoffing iestes,
taunts, or reproches of the vngodly, which might else
driue me downe.
To this ende, O Lorde my God, that I may increase,
and daylie more and more bee confirmed in thy mercies
begunne in mee: I beseech thee stirre vp true and
sincere Preachers, and Messengers, who daily may stirre
vp my minde and heart otherwise of nature dull to
the ioyfull embracing of the glad tydinges of peace.
Leaue mee neuer destitute, O Lorde my God, of the
meanes which thou hast appoynted for the increase of
a liuely fayth, and true zeale, which meane is onely the
Ministerie of thy blessed and holie worde, but make
me alwayes carefull for the seeking of it: and so prouide,
O Lord my GOD, that I may alwayes haue it,
comfortable receaue it, and sweetely digest it. Keepe
me by thy holy Spirit, O Lord, that I neuer be seduced
by erronious doctrine, but that onely I may giue eare
vnto thy voyce, that cleauing onely vnto thee: I may
in this present lyfe which thou hast giuen me, so occupie
my selfe, and vse this good time which thou hast giuen
me, that I may still looke for the comming of thy
deere Sonne, to receaue me into the euerlasting rest, prepared
for all the elect and chosen, where I shall for euer
remayne, together with my Lord & Sauiour Iesu Christ,
to whom with thee and the holy Ghost, be al honor and
glory, world without end, Amen.

A Prayer for the feeling of the sinne of hypopocrisie, that wee may direct our lyfe according to the prescript rule of the word.

O Lord God and heauenly Father, which art a iust
Iudge, to punish all them, that doo continue to
offend thee, as thou art a Father most pittifull to
receaue to mercy all those, which giue ouer themselues
to please thee: shew me thy grace and fauour, so that I
may be truely touched with inward displeasure of my
sinnes, and that in the place of flattering my selfe, to
sleepe in sinne: I may be so cast downe in heart, that the
rather I may truly with mouth confesse, most humblie
to giue thee the honour, glorie, and praise, due vnto thy
holy Name, and that as thou of thy great mercy dost instruct
there-vnto by thy holy word, so for thy Names
sake make that the same may so lighten and cleere our
conscience, that in due examination of our life, we may
trulie learne to be angry and displeased, with all our former
& corrupt liuing. O that it may please thee to draw
neere vnto vs, in addressing and guiding our footstepps
in the true and perfect way of obedience, to thy holie
Lawes and commaundements. Send thy holy Angel to
pitch his Tents round about vs, that sathan and his infernal
Armie neuer preuaile against vs, but that alwayes
with strong fayth, we may through Iesus Christ, withstand
al his craftie Engines & snares, knowing vndoubtedlie,
that thou neuer forsakest them that put theyr
trust in thee.
O let vs not be ledde by the infirmitie of our outward
flesh, but strengthen vs by the vertue of thy holy Spirit.
Suffer vs not to lye vnder thy heauie wrath, and vengeaunce
through hypocrisie, but rather touch vs so inwardlie,
that we may without ceasing sigh and groane
vnto thee, by true and vnfained repentance. And although
wee be not alwaies so well disposed to aske and
pray as wee ought to doe, yet good Lord, for thy glorious
Names sake stretch out thy mighty hande, that
by the gracious working of thy holy Spirit, our mindes
and harts may be drawne from all earthlie and corruptible
thinges, so that our prayers vnto thee, may proceede
of an inward, earnest, vehement affection, so that wee
neuer presume to come before the throne of thy Maiestie
with a double heart, knowing, that whosoeuer asketh
and prayeth for any thing of thee, not asking in
fayth, cannot obtaine.
Increase therefore, sweet Lorde, our faith, that wee
presently may liuely feele the benefite of remission, and
pardon all our sinnes, through the merrits and death of
Christ Iesus our Sauiour: and so work in vs for euer
heereafter to liue in thy feare, and to stand in awe of thy
displeasure, that thou maist continue our mercifull Father,
world without end. Amen.
Oh Sheepheard of sheepe, seek out me thy wandring
sheepe. And beeing founde, lay mee vppon thy blessed
shoulders, and bring mee home to the very folde of thy
flock, heale my sicke soule, feede my hungry soule: yea,
almost dying through hunger, watch ouer the same Oh
sweet Lord least the rauening Wolfe doe inuade my
soule, and so sley it to vtter destruction. Wherefore, O
most deere GOD, be mercifull to me a most wretched
sinner, and graunt pardon to him that repenteth, gyue
not foorth the voyce of thy sentence according to my
demerits, but like as thy mercy before hath doone in the
beginning of my life, so let it conclude the end thereof,
to remaine with thee world without end. Amen deere
God, Amen.
Forasmuch as in thys life, holy Scripture dooth promise
troubles, pennuries oppressions, increase of griefe,
and aboundance of tempations, vouchsafe O most louing
Lorde GOD to prepare my hart to all possible
patience, least I doe faynt in thy foote-path: compell
my sweet Lorde thys stubborne and rebellious fleshe
of mine, to be subiect to thy holy Spirit, beyond all expectation,
so that I may possesse my soule in patience, &
keepe the same continually in thy euerlasting seruice, to
the which purpose thou of thine infinite goodnesse and
mercy hast created the same. Wherefore, O Lorde
GOD shewe thine almightie power vnto mee most
wretched sinner, that so long as I fight in this wretched
life, I may obtaine victorie against mine enemies, thou
being my defence for there is none other that fighteth
for me, but onely thou oh God. Now I say, represse the
violence of mine enemies, and vouchsafe with great effect
to bring into bondage, my miserable flesh, that tormenteth
my soule. So that obtaining victory, I may giue
praise to thee my onely deliuerer, in perpetuall eternitie.
Amen.

A prayer to be saide in trouble.

O Most gentle Redeemer, which art alwaies merciful,
alwaies a Sauiour, whether thou sendest vs
prosperitie or aduersitie: this is a token of great
mercy and louing kindnes, while by external afflictions,
as by bitter plaisters or salues, thou dost heale the inward
man, and by temporall paines prepare vs to euerlasting
ioyes. Forasmuch therefore as thou hast euen by thine
owne steps declared, that this is the way vnto true felicitie,
graunt I most humbly beseech thee, that I may patiently
and obediently drinke of this Cup most willinglie,
which thou hast so mercifully reached vnto me. Verilie,
these thinges are vnto fraile nature very grieuous,
but yet hast thou suffered more grieuous things for me,
and I haue deserued farre more grieuous things, which
haue so often deserued hell. Notwithstanding, thou
knowest the frailtie of mans condition; and therefore
euen as that kinde and mercifull Samaritane, thou pourest
into my woundes, Wine, that is to say, affliction
and troubles, which fretteth and sharplie biteth out abhominable
vices: but in the meane time thou puttest to
it also the precious Oyle, that is, of grace, into thys our
wounded and troubled hart, through the which grace,
if thou doo giue according to my want, then shall I
with great quietnesse suffer these intollerable greefes.
But if it be thy pleasure to increase my greefe, giue mee
then I most instantly beseech thee, the gift of patience,
and graunt that these afflictions which thou hast of thy
Fatherly loue sent vnto mee may by thy grace turne to
the assurance, that I am thy Child. Or of thy Fatherly
pitty, be contented with this gentle chastisement, wherwith
thou doost now nurture mee from lying stinking
in my corruptions then let me by thy free grace and
mercy receaue at thy mercifull hand, ease and quietnesse
againe, that I may by thy grace giue thee thankes
for both: that is, because thou hast most louingly in
mercy chastned me, thine vnprofitable Seruant, and also
take away the bitternes of my affliction, with the sweetnesse
of thy comfort, which is thy free grace, the Oyle
of all consolation, which I beseech thee poure into my
heart, that I may sensibly feele the aboundant riches of
thy goodnesse poured vpon me vndeserued, and most
vnworthy wretch that I may be the more strengthened
thereby, and in the greatest conflict may hope against
hope, that whatsoeuer my outward sences doo imagine,
yet the inward feeling of thy mercy may superabound,
to the increase of my more than weake faith, but especially
for thy honour and glory sake: so that finally I
may say with Saint Paule, that neyther death nor lyfe,
nor anguish, nor persecution, nor things present,
nor to come, may remoue me from thy loue
in Iesus Christ: In whose name I pray,
as he hath taught. Our Father
which art in heauen,
&c.

A forme of prayer daily to be vsed of all faithfull Christians.

ALmighty God and most mercifull Father, through
Iesus Christ our Lorde, in whom, and by whom
we trust that thou art our God and Father, wee
most humbly heer prostrate our selues before the throne
of thy Maiestie, beseeching thee first good Father and
God, to pardon, and forgiue vs all our sinnes, which we
confesse and acknowledge against our selues, beseeching
thy gracious Spirit to worke in vs the knowledge of
them daily more and more: that thereby wee may come
to true repentance for them: and together there-with,
vnto the knowledge of the height, breadth, deapth, and
fulnesse in all sorts of thy grace and mercy, whereby
through Iesus Christ thou hast forgotten them, and remooued
them as farre from vs as the East is from the
West. And although we know by them, too wel alas
good Lord, that we haue as much as in vs lay and lyeth
laboured to prouoke thy wrath & anger against vs, heaping
sinne vpon sinne, and multiplying of offences and
transgressions against thy high grace and Maiestie, breaking
thy holy word and commaundements, yet thou o
Lord hast not beene as a man, nor thy affections as the
affections of the sonnes of men, but hast continued gracious
and mercifull, and bountiful vnto vs, in pardoning
our sinnes and daily renewing in vs with the morning,
thy graces diuers and manifold. Therefore wee beseech
thee most mercifull Father, to gyue vs thy holy Spirit,
that we prouoke thee no more, that thou rise not vp in
thy wrath against vs, to destroy vs, as we haue iustly deserued;
for we O Lord haue beene and are dry as stubble,
and yet thou hast not disperced and consumed vs;
wee haue beene vnfruitefull, and thou hast not cut vs
downe: yea Lord, we haue brought forth wild and
sower fruite, corrupt and detestable, and yet thou lettest
thy raine to fall, and Sunne to shine vpon vs.
Make vs therefore we beseech thee sorry as it becommeth
thy Children, for that we haue disobeyed thee, so
mercifull and louing a Father, and frame vs daily, and
fashion vs to the likenes of thy well beloued Sonne Iesus
Christ our Lord: that in knowledge and true holines,
we may glorifie thee before the world, and by the fruits
of godlines and righteousnes, be assured and made certaine
of thy spirit, and of the loue wherwith thou louest
vs. Make vs thankfull, deere Father, for the infinite and
vnspeakeable benefits of our election to life and euerlasting
glory before all time, and for our creation and redemption,
and sanctification, in time to bring thy glorious
counsell to passe.
Worke in vs certaine faith, and assured hope in thy
promises, the true feare of thy Maiesty, a perfect hate and
detestation of al disordered and sinful affections. Work
in vs eternal loue of thy truth and Gospel, sincere affection
and loue towards thy children, & amongst our selues
patience, knowledge, vertue, loue, compassion, with al
graces of thy kingdome, that in all our behauiour, thou
O God mayest be glorified by vs. Also we beseech thee
most mercifull Father, for the benefits of this lyfe. That
as thou art not onely the God of our spirits and soules,
but also of our bodies: so it would please thee, notwithstanding
our sinnes, to graunt vs thy blessings of health,
peace, and maintenance, of which by thy gracious prouidence
some of vs doo feele the want, and some of vs
haue for long time enioyed and vsed the same, that together
with them, we may haue thy Spirit to instruct vs, as

I.

well in the wants, as in the true and lawfull vse of them:
that we may more earnestly and seriously study and labour
in these vocations wherin thou hast set vs, through
thy great mercy, to the promoting and increasing of thy
Kingdome, to the benefit and comfort of thy children.
And me pray not only for our selues, but beseech thee to
make vs earnest and feruent in prayer vnto thy Maiestie,
euen for others also, yea, for all men: that as thou art the
Creator of all, so thou wouldest mercifully regard them,
and continue thy gracious goodnes, and mercy, in administring
and ordering the world, so that by no Tyrants
nor wicked men, that order which thou hast established
be ouerthrowne, but the spring and haruest, the raine
and fruitefull times, and the ioy which thou shewest and
giuest by them, may prouoke al men continually to feare
and loue thee, yea, to seeke thee and finde thee. That
not in those outward blessings alone, but much more in
thy spirit, they whom thou hast there-vnto ordayned,
may reioyce in thy fatherly goodnes by Iesus Christ. And
that to this ende, it may please thee to poure out thy graces
vpon men, that they may be instructed and framed
meete instruments for the calling of all such as thou hast
appoynted to be of thy Church.
That these builders may be cunning and expert. That
these Gardiners may be wise to plant and water, with
iudgement and discretion, that these Stewardes of thy
misteries may so behaue them selues in thy Church, that
they knowing how and wherewith to feede thy house,
the glory and beauty thereof may appeare in the eyes
of all the world, which thou hast before so long promised,
and which to see the eyes dazell and faynt with looking
for. And although wee know well, O Lord, and
the causes of all miserable disorders, deformities, and
breaches now a dayes, is in our selues, which shutte vp
thine hand, and as it were bind thine armes from reaching
them out vnto vs, for our saluation and comfort,
yet the Lord arise and be merciful vnto Sion, and haue
pitty on the ruines thereof. For the time is come, our
owne Country and people are before our eyes continually,
whose sinne and disorder, whose ignorance and
stubbernesse, whose negligence and contempt of thy
word, thou hast now long time punished, withdrawing
thy hand from dooing them good. For by thy iust iudgment
now many yeares thou hast plagued them, and vs
with idle, prophane, vnlearned & vnskilful Pastors: guiders
thou hast giuen them but to their ruine: Feeders, but
of themselues, not of thy flock. Teachers and Doctors,
who haue mouthes but speake not, eyes but see not, neither
the iudgements vpon thy people, nor how to goe
out and in before them? and that which is most fearefull,
thy good hand is not with those Prophets which are amongst
them, who doo sow in deed, but the earth giueth
not her increase. They water, but thy plants rise not in
any number. They feede, but thy flock is poore, not fat
nor beautifull. Oh let the Lord forget the sinnes of his
people. Why hath he bound them vpon his hand to
looke vpon them for euer? Why hath he set them day
and night in the sight of his countenance? wee confesse
and acknowledge against our selues, O Lord, al our sins,
we iudge & condemne our selues, yea, we testifie against
our selues, that we haue deserued that euen those sparks
of thy fire & heauenly light which are amongst vs, shold
be quenched and put out, that the smoake of thy glory,
which is yet stil in thy Church amongst vs, should rise vp
& vanish away fro~ amongst vs as the dew of the morning,
that the same building which as yet standeth, were to be

I 2

throwne downe, that the Lord should mount vpon his
chariot, and flee from vs. But shall the Lord deale with
his people by waight and measure? shall hee vse iudgement
and not mercy? shal our Father forget his children,
although we prouoke him? shall not the sighs & grones
of them that bewayle Syon, come before him and enter
into his eares? O Lord let the iudgement and seuerity
which wee haue deserued, be stayed: let Chariots and
Horses be vnloosed, let the Armies of the Lord be discharged,
and let the Lord vngird him selfe, and forget
his counsell, and turne and be gracious and mercifull vnto
them that knowledge and confesse theyr sinnes. Let
the Angels that be the destroyers, goe from before thy
face, to ouerthrow and cast downe all that standeth to
hinder thy glory, and to maintayne sinne and ignorance,
pride, and vanity. That thy good Angels may follow
to meete out and describe all things that pertayne to the
building of thy Temple. Let them lay to it the square
and plummet, and let all thy people stand and showte
and sing glory, at the laying of this foundation: let thy
spirit guide all those good Lord, that in feare and reuerence
before thee, walke in their vocation. In the Vniuersities
and in all parts of the Realme, yea, of the earth,
looking and labouring for this worke, and increase the
little number, as the thousands of Ephraim, and the ten
thousands of Manasses, and those that laugh at, and hinder,
and draw backe this worke, let them be ashamed
and confounded, and all thy meruailous blessinges be
shewed in the successe thereof. But let them haue no
force nor strength to hinder it: so shall Iacob reioyce
in thy mercy, and Israell in thine euerlasting truth. So
shall our eyes see thy glory, O Lord, and we sing perpetually
to thy prayse. So shall Iesus Christ delight in the
beauty of his Church, and his people be a people meete
to serue him, decked and adorned with his gyfts, labouring
and studying to please him, that in them his loue
may rest. To this ende, good Lord, shew mercy vpon
all Princes and Magistrates of the earth, that belong to
thy election: turning the hearts of all those that hitherto
haue not knowne thy truth, but lent their power and
might to sathan and Antichrist to persecute thy people,
to the great dishonour of thy name. That yet now at
the last, they may be brought home into thy sheepefold,
and in steade of persecutors, become Nurse-fathers, and
Nurse-mothers to thy Church. But especially we most
humbly beseech thee for al such Princes and Magistrates
as haue receaued thy truth. And namely, for our deere
Soueraigne Lady, the Queenes Maiestie, whom thou
hast placed ouer vs in this Realme, and for her most honourable
Counsell, and all Magistrates therein, that thou
wouldest augment the graces of thy holy spirit in her,
and in them: especially, the spirit of wisedome, counsell,
and power: that she and they may goe forward in
the worke of the building vp of thy Church, in all obedience
to thy will, speedily, constantly, and perseuerantly,
that thy people the Sheepe of thy pasture, whom
thou hast committed vnto her and theyr gouernment,
may godly and peaceably liue and dye to thee, and with
them and for them, glorifie thy most holy name for euer
and euer. We beseech thee also good Lord our God,
for all our brethren wheresoeuer, that those which are
in thy Church in peace and safety, may prosper and goe
forward, and stand in thy truth for euer, that thy goodnes
may be assured vnto them, that thou wouldest keepe
that place, and maintayne their cause against all that labour
to trouble them, and for such as doo yet labour

I 3

vnder tyrannie and affliction, whose sufferings thou
knowest, O Lord, better then wee can declare: It may
please thee to breake the rodde of their oppressours, to
quench the fire of their aduersaries, and to lighten or rather
cleane take away that burthen which thou doost so
presse, that they together with vs, may ioyne in thy congregation,
and feede safely. So that there may be none to
scare vs. Let thy Spirit of comfort possesse our harts, that
all trouble may seeme lesse then thy truth and glory, and
so lighten our eyes, that in our darknes wee may haue
such sight of thy glory, and of Iesus Christ, who is in
that high Mountaine where he is nowe so glorious that
our griefes may be swallowed vp.

An addition in the Morning.

LAst of all, most louing Father, wee render humble
and special prayse vnto thy Maiestie, that it pleased
thee amongst the rest of thine infinite benefits, graces,
and mercies bestowed vpon vs, to take care of vs fro~
our conception, and hauing drawne vs out of our Mothers
wombes, to preserue vs from all dangers both of
body and soule, where-vnto we are subiect, and namely
thys night passed, so to keepe vs and defend vs, vnder the
shadow of thy wings, that we are come vnto this present
day, according to thy good pleasure and ordinaunce:
beseeching thee to giue vs all such graces, as we may employ
it wholy in thy seruice. And for the dooing heerof,
good Father, reforme our vnderstanding, keepe the
watch of our tongues, and the doores of our lyps in such
sort, that no ill word be vttered by, or through the same.
Rule and gouerne our harts, that they thinke not, our
hands that they touch not, our feet that they goe not to,
our eyes that they see not, our eares that they heare not,
any thing but that which is to thy glory. That thereby
wee may be confirmed in thy infinite and fatherlie loue
towards vs, and walke cheerfully in our vocations, and
waiting for that ful redemption, and that crowne of glorie
which remaineth for al such as hold this course to the
end. These things we craue, and all other which thou
knowest needfull for vs, and thy whole Church, for thy
deere Sonne, Iesus Christ his sake, as hee hath taught
vs, saying, Our Father, &c.

An addition in the Euening.

LAst of all, we beseech thee most merciful and louing
Father, that as thys day thou hast graciously ministred
strength vnto vs, to walke in our vocations,
and blessed our studies & labours: so we may be thankful
therefore, and haue alwaies thy good hand with vs,
to bring to fruite and effect, those counsels which wee
follow for thy glory. And we pray thee to keepe vs this
night in thy tuition and safe-garde, that wee may rest in
thy protection: and receiue that comfort and strength
of thy blessing, which thou hast graunted to our weake
nature, through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour. In
whose name we pray as hee hath taught vs, saying. Our
Father which art in heauen. &c.
FINIS.