A praier for all times against the power of Satan.

THe Diuel O Lord, like a roring Lion, runneth aboute in euerie corner, hee lurketh, and euer he gapeth to deuoure the lambes of thy pa­sture. He is an enimie not one­lie readie to deuoure vs, but al­so [Page 20] able to catch vs in the snare of iniquitie against thy diuine maiestie. For dailie do we eat the sower grape of nature, and sauor of vnseasoned & rotten Adam, in whose sinfull act we are wrapped by desert in con­demnation, and become bond slaues of Satan, vnlesse thou, O Lord do season our harts with the oile of thy grace, and wash vs in the water of thy mercie, that being clensed from sinne, and made as white as snowe with the merits of thy sonne, the diuel may lose his title, and forget his obligation that hee had against vs, & wee be quit­ted from his tyrannie. We be­seech thee therfore, ô gratious father of Heauen, with thy [Page 21] power to bridle satan, and in thy mercie to beare with vs, with thy might to maister him, and in thy grace to graffe vs in Iesus the liuelie vine of mercie, that growing in him no storme may be able to tosse and ouerturne vs we besech thee, Amen.

Another.

DAielie, O Lorde, doo wee passe the limittes of thy wil: we sinne at the least seuen times a day and pledge mother Eue in the dregs of nature. This is the frailetie of the fleshe, and this is the weakenes of al Adams issue: a miserable case, ô Lord, vnlesse in thy mercie thou wilt wrap vs & couer the nakednes of nature with the white raiment of grace, [Page 22] that we being thine maye ne­uer despaire for any brunt of storming Satan, be it neuer so perillous. LORDE saue vs, in thy mercie saue vs, haue pittie and compassion vpon vs, and marke not our steps, which are crooked, but cast the eie of thy fauour vpon thy sonne Christ, who was content to suffer the bleeding paines of the crosse to satisfie thy wrath, & to de­liuer vs from the stinge of an hellie conscience. We beseech thee therefore O louing Lord, not to obserue our iniquities, but to wash vs from the guilti­nes of sinne in the flood of thy mercies, and so to saue vs, that being dead in iniquitie, and yet saued of thine infinite pit­tie, [Page 23] we may giue all glory vnto thee, and sing with our mother the Church, that saluation on­ly belongeth to thee, Amen.

A praier for al afflicted Christians.

GReat are the trou­bles of the righte­ous, O Lorde, and many they be that arise against thee and thine an nointed, like wolues to teare them and butchering Herods to behead and dispatch them. Euen for thy sake, O Lord, are thy children brought to the slaughterhouse, for the testi­monie of thy truthe are they tied in bands, and beaten with wandes daielie. Vp Lord, arise [Page 24] and strike thine enimies vppon the cheeke bone, lifte vp thy rod of iron, and dashe the vnsauou­rie and sower vessels of iniquitie in peeces, with thy sanne scatter the chaffe, and gather thou thy corne into the garner of ioy, Let it bee beaten, but let it not bee broozed with the thresholde of this tyrannous Wolfe, that bee­ing freed from the chaffe of Na­ture, and seuered from the cocle of euill and wicked liuers, it may be found with the lost groat, and laide vppe in thy treasure of eter­nal pleasure for euer. Doo thy good wil, O gratious God beat them, beate them and buffet vs sharpelie, O Lorde, so thou saue vs of thy mercie, and plucke vs out of Daunger by the hande of [Page 25] thy mightie power, proppe vs with thy power, that wee maye magnifie thee of thy mercy, A­men.

Another.

THE mountains of this wic­ked worlde are manye and mightie, O Lorde, and little is the flocke of thy sheepe. The mountaines are euen partched with furie against thy congrega­tion, to presse with the weight of their tyrannie the babes of thy familie. Awake vp therefore O Lorde, sleepe not, slumber not, but awake and defeate their ima gined mischiefe, as thou hast pro­mised, that they that trust in thee shal be as mount Sion, which cā ­not be remooued. Suffer them to [Page 26] beat vs, y ^• we might liue godlie in thee: but so let them buffet vs, that they neuer ouermaster vs, that according to thy pro­mise, as mount Sion wee maie not be moued. Giue vs grace to trust in thee whatsoeuer be­tide vs, and neuer to start from thee, whatsoeuer smart we suf­fer that continuing to the end wee may be blessed with thee for euer. And for the moun­tains of this world, either euen them with the vally and babes of thy familie, or else pare and partch them with the beames of thy iudgement. Thy wil bee don O Lord, thy kingdome come, and saue vs we beseech thee, A­men.

A praier for the Queene.

O Louing God, wee thanke thee for the great care, which thouhast ouer thy Church. She hath bene tossed with the waues of this worlde, and the preaching of thy word did suffer shipwrack: but now O Lord, now of meere mercie thou hast repaired the broken hart of Ierusalem, and gladde­ned our harts with the wine of comfort. For thou haste ap­pointed a mother ouer Sion, to cherish and defend hir from al hir storming aduersaries: so that by hir meanes we are fre­ed from the slauerie of the Ro­mish [Page 28] Pharao, and salued from the sore of heresies, wherewith thy deere espouse was most gree uouslie troubled. O Lorde con­tinue this weede-hooke in her hande, that she may throughlie cleanse thy garden. Let thy wil and gratious plesure be hir scep­ter and target, against the frow­ning band of cloudie Saules. Al­waies erect and pitch about her the tents of thy fauour, that no e­uill betide hir, or daunger annoy her. Clippe her in thy sweete armes, and kisse her in mercie, & be not thou angrie with hir, but continue her a fauourable nursse to little Dauid, that hee maye growe in all faith and holynesse, vntill hee be a perfect manne in Christ Iesus. Lorde saue her in [Page 29] thy mercie, and deliuer her from al euil, Amen.

A praier for all Magi­strates.

CRooked is the way of al flesh, O father of heauen, and o­uer plētious would the haruest of weedie nature be, vnlesse it were lopped and minished by the weedhooke of thy maiestrates, whom thou hast appointed as gods vnder thee to keepe thy garden clene from all noisome and stinking hearbs. Clense them, O Lord, and plant a new spirite within them, that aboue all things fa­uouring thy Gospel, they may bend al their endeuours to the [Page 30] d [...]erishing of thy holy Church, and maintenance of the truth, without the which no mā shal liue and see thee. Giue them grace to labour diligentlye in thy vineyard, to mowe downe the haruest of sinne, & nei [...]er for feare or flatterie to starte backe from their dutie: but without all discouragement to vse thy will as an axe, to cutte downe the roote that withe­reth and beareth nothing but a perished stocke and barrayn branches: that the ded boughs of iniquitie beeing broken off, the branches of thy sonne Ie­sus may without let or hinde­rance spread foorth the sweete leaues of thy sauourie grace, and beare in hart the frutes of [Page 31] thankesgiuing, which is plea­sant & acceptable in thy sight, Amen.

A generall confession of sinnes.

FAther ADAM, O Lorde, gaue the first onset, & none of vs his children haue broken the arraie. The serpent counselled, Eue gaue the apple to Adam, & so both sinned against thy diuine ma­iestie. As for vs the naturall branches of this rotten stocke, one of the same stampe shall speak: We are borne in sinne, and conceiued in iniquitie, so that wee be damned by merit, before we be borne. But yet, ô [Page 32] Lorde wee con [...]e [...]e it, to our comfort and thy glorie, that thou hast concluded all vnder sinne, that thou mightest haue mercie on all, and al glorie be giuen to thee. We confes our selues lost, wee are lost grotes, and lost sheepe: but this is the sole ioy of our hearts, that thy sonne came to seeke & to saue that was loste. So that though we be lost in our selues, yet we are founde in thy sonne, who came into this worlde to s [...]ue sinners. This is thy vnde [...] [...]ued goodnes O Lord, to loue thine enimies, to saue vs that haue euen from the womb rebelled againste thy diuine Maiestie, euen before we were borne to saue vs, by the death of thine [Page 33] onelie begotten son, and to pre­pare a ioyous kingdome for vs, before the beginning of y ^e world Therefore O Lorde, what shall we crie but shame, shame vpon vs, an axe to the roote, and an axe to vs all the withered bran­ches of rotten Adam by desert. For glorie and power dominion and Maiestie, saluation and mer­cie is onelie thine, and of thee: of the which mercie saue vs we be­seeth thee, Amen.

Another.

WE are all publicans, O Lorde: open the eares of thy fauour vnto our crie, and haue mercie vppon vs, haue mercie vppon vs. We sinne dai­lie, but yet saue vs of thy pittie, [Page 34] saue vs, oh saue vs, and shewe thy compassion vppon vs. Let vs not die a Iudas death, let vs neuer tune the doleful song of Cain: but ingraue in our hart, a full & liuely faith in thee, that neuer doubting of thy bounti­ous mercie, wee may with a free conscience set Satan at defiance and all his hellyshe bande. Pittifull Iesu heare this our crie, and fense vs with thy grace against the gaping de­uil, who roreth of crueltie and lurketh in euerye Corner of malicious subtiltie, to trap and to snare, to take and to teare vs with the Clawes of his furie and mercilesse enuie. Fence vs with faith againste him, O Lord, laie the plaister of com­fort [Page 35] to our wounded conscien­ces, & couer vs with the wings of thy fauour that we may liue and die in thee and so be bles­sed, Amen.

A praier for humi [...]ie.

IT is thine owne Leslon, O Sauiour Iesus: Be humble and meek, as I am: it is thy worde also: My sheep heare my voice. But Lorde, what shall I doo? the fleshe is proude, I dailie rebell against thy holie wil, I enuie my supe­riours, I loue not mine equals, I despise mine inferiours. This is the frute of the flesh O Lord Death, death: but thou art loue [Page 36] and life, O louing Iesus. And therefore I beseech thee of thy tender loue to pitie me, to in­due me with the spirit of hum­blenes, that being poore in spi­rit, I may with the little ones of thy kingdome be blessed & liue for euer. O Lorde, for the auoidance of pride, giue mee thy grace to consider, that by it an Angell became a diuel, and man was excommunicate from the paradise of pleasure. Desire of souereigntie begate the diuell, sinne, death & dam­nation: so that out of it, as a moste filthie puddle issued a whole sea of mischeefe and miserie. Of this cup of pride father Adam dranke when by his disobedience hee loste thy [Page 37] fauour, and by the taste of an apple thought to bee thy co­mate in knowing of good and euill. Giue me thy grace not onlie to consider this, but also fully to digest it, that detesting it as a venemous viper, I may in humblenes of hart serue thee holilie and soundelie without hypocrisie, who art a patterne of lowlines, and a mirrour of humilitie, continuallie to bee looked vpon, and trulie to be followed. O life, and louer of soules, giue mee grace alwaies to heare, & hearing thy words to follow thee, Amen.

Another for charitie.

O Infinite charitie, thou sonne of God, to whom the father hath surren­dred [Page 38] all power in heauen and earth: I haue offended thee most greeuously, & indāgered my selfe desperatlie. For, chari­tie, O charity thou shalt iudge the world in equitie, & I haue not charity biding within me. I loue for gaine, I hate mine e­nimies, I pray not for thē that cursse and speake euil of me, I haue enough of thy benefites, and yet haue I spared nothing for Lazarus, and therein I haue sinned against thee, ô eternall charitie, & incurred the perill of thy iust iudgmentes. Is there no remedy O charity, but must iudgment be giuē against me? is al thy bloud spent? are al thy teares drie? hast thou none to wash mee? Correct me not, O [Page 39] charitie, in thy iudgment or fu­rie, neither chastise me in thine anger, but deale with me acor ding to thy wonted mercie. In charity, in thy loue vnmerited, O blessed Charity haue mercy vpon me, & quit me from a re­pliyng conscience, & the court of the Deuil. For else, ô charity, wil mine own life reclaime a­gainst me & craue damnation for mine vncharitable conuer­sation. Piteous God therefore, I beseech thee, for thy bloudie sweat, in thy bottomles pittie, drown my transgressions, ad­opt me thy brother, & giue me thy holie spirits testimonie, as a gage and earnest of mine ad­option, that being freed from sinne, I may serue thee with a [Page 40] free conscience in hope and an vnwauering faith in thy mer­cies, Amen.

A praier for the mortification of the flesh.

O Lorde, the king­dome of the flesh is verie strong: so strong that I am not able to withstand it. For in me, that is in my fleshe, dwel­leth no good thing: and so infe­ctious is the palsie of the fraile flesh, that vnlesse thou O Lord doe season it, there is no waie but to incur the peril of a mor­tal plague. I beseech thee ther­fore O father of heauen, in the name of thy sonne Christe, to deliuer mee of this terrible re­ward [Page 41] of sinne, to qualifie with the salt of thy grace our vnsa­uourie fleshe, and to sweeten our viperous and vile nature with the oile of thy spirit, that fighting manfullie vnder our capteine Michaell against the Dragon, wee may not onelie wage battell or subdue, but al­so crucifie the old man, hand, foot, head, hart, euen the whole kingdome of Satan the prince of vtter darkenes; that the diuel being battered downe and the olde Adam driuen out of our hartes, we may offer vppe our bodies as liuely sacrifices vnto thee, without any sent of stin­king nature. For this O Lord is acceptable in thy sight, that beeing transformed into thee [Page 42] in newnes of life, wee may bee fit temples for thy holie spirit, to dwel and abide in. Mortifie therefore the flaming fleshe, O Lorde, and appease the waues of our wanton nature, that we may be euen as thou willest: holie as thou art holy, Amen.

Another.

WHat shal I doo, O gra­tious God? for I am borne of flesh, the very affecti­on wherof is death. Shal I die? shal the frame of thy hands be destroied? no, Lorde. For thy mercies sake remember thy promise: Aske and haue. I aske, O Lord, I aske: mercy doo I aske, I desire thee in the bow els of thy Son Christ to rege­nerate me a spiritual man, that [Page 43] beeyng borne anewe, not of flesh, nor of bloud, nor of the will of man, but of thy spirite, by the power of thy worde, I may be consecrate a priest vn­to thee. O Lorde and louer of holines, guide me in the waye of thy will, that I wander not in vanitie, which thou abhor­rest and canst not abide. Thou hatest sinn and all the workers of iniquitie: and vnles wee re­pent, as father Baptist saide; we shal al for our sinnes suffer the rod of thy iustice. Giue mee therefore the sword of thy spi­rite, that I may cut off the eare of Malchus, and then bee hea­led by the playster of Grace. Apparel me with thy heauen­lie truth, and arme me with thy [Page 44] holie worde, that in time of combate I may be able to cut off the desperate assaults of the sinfull flesh: Amen, O Lord, A­men, I saie vnto the wordes: Aske and thou shalt haue. In mercie performe thy promise, O eternal veritie and giue me grace not to doubt thereof, A­men.

A praier for the obteining of grace.

O LORD, I am thy sheepe, thy hands haue facioned me: a lost sheepe I am, that haue wandered past the pasture of thy will into the brode field of vanitie. As thou hast framed mee therefore of [Page 45] thy goodnes, so recall me from straieng by the voice of thy mercie. Giue mee grace to heare thee, hearing to come vnto thee, comming to follow thee, and following thee the waie to heauen and doore of glorie, euer to beare about me the pearle of grace, and neuer to decline from the rule of thy wil. Keepe me from the pit of sinne, vnderprop me from fal­ling into the ditche of iniquity by the hand of thy fauour, and fense me with grace, the buck­ler of thy mercie, that I may defeate Satans wilinesse, and repel the blowes of frowning sinne & a cloudie conscience. O Lord, let grace through the pipe or chanell of thy mercie [Page 46] distil into the vessel of my bar­ren hart, that being moistened with the dewe of thy gratious blessinges and softened with the spirit of thy goodnes, I may lodge thee the blessed Trinitie linked in an indissoluble knot of vnitie, to the reparation of the image of grace & recoue­rie of disgraced nature, Amen.

Another.

IT is thy gratious wil, O God of mercie, that all men shuld be saued. It is not thy wil ô pi­tious Iesu, that any sheepe of thy pasture should bee deuou­ted or anie Creature perishe, which thou of thy goodnes hast framed. And therefore O louer of man, and loue it selfe, I a poore wretched sinner, that [Page 47] haue a longe time pastured in the broade way of iniquity, yet hearing thee continuallie, and that of mercie calling: Come vnto me, doo come vnto thee for grace and mercie agaynst merited cōdemnation. Grace Lord, grace is almy sute. For I am a plaine castawaie: and by thousands more wretched than the crawling Worme of the earth, vnlesse thou bedeck me with the garment of Grace, and marrie me in thy mercies promised to the house of Da­uid. Lap me therefore, O Fa­ther of Heauen in thy whyte rayment, and apparel my na­kednes with the wouen coate of thy grace, that Satan fin­ding no seame in my wedding [Page 48] garment, may not be able in anie respect to rip vp my faults before thee at the daie of thy visitation. This do O gratious Iesu, clippe mee in thy sweete armes, and bowe downe thy head to kisse mee in mercie, and be not angrie for my sins, but drowne them in thy preti­ous blood, for thine owne sake I beseech thee, Amen.

A praier for patience in affliction.

O Fountaine of com­fort, O streamie welspringe of vn­deserued mercie: beholde most gratious GOD and louing Father, I beseech thee mee thy poore creature. [Page 49] Behold Lorde, I am a worme and no man: the buls of Basan impale mee rounde about, the diuell like an hungrie Lion ro reth and gapeth to dispatch mee, and the flesh like a vene­mous viper seeketh to stinge me. Good God behold, behold mee and fortifie thy seruaunt, thine owne handie worke, a­gainst the stormie blasts of the enimie. Patience, patience O Lorde: adorne me with pati­ence, and seale vp in my heart the remission of my sinnes, by the testimonie of thy holie spi­rite, that being holden vp by the anchor of a liuelie hope in thy sufficient merits, I may be able to indure the ende of this my combat, which vnder thy [Page 50] banners I presently do sustein. Most mighty Mychael, fence thy child against the traitorous rebels of this world, which doo nothinge else but dismember the babes of thy familie, & pro phane thy pretious passion. Be thou vpon my side, that no e­nimie may preuaile againste me: Lord in thee haue I trusted let me neuer be confounded, I beseech thee for thine owne merits, Amen.

Another.

THere is no victorie with­out fighting, nor anye crowne without victorie: giue mee therefore power O Lord, that fighting valiantly, I maie bee crowned gloriouslie in heauen, with thee to liue for e­euer. [Page 51] Minister strength vnto mee that I maye ouermayster mine enimies, and giue mee the spirit of patience, that con­tinuing to the ende, I may bee found and taken as a faithfull souldiour of thy sonne Iesus, and so be blessed. Let me not faint in feare but let mee fight in a liuely faith whych ouer­matcheth the whole worlde. Plant me a naturall branch by the power of thy worde, in the vine Iesus; and make me able to indure euerie cracke. Let no canker of sinne eate me, let no worme of a burnt consci­ence gnaw me, let no blaste of the worlde ouerturne me: but staie me vp with thy mightye hand, and bee euer at mine el­bowe, [Page 52] that I may be crowned, though I be crossed, and saued though nowe sowsed in ex­treame tyrannie. In this is all my hope, for surelie of my selfe I am but a vapour, a worme: I am borne of a woman in sinne a sinfull childe by nature, and to my power wage battel with Satanne againste my selfe, to mine vtter vndooing O Lorde, vnlesse thou regenerate mee and assist me with thy spirit, to mine abilitie alwaies to resist the diuel: which doo ô gratious God I beseech thee, Amen.

A praier in time of per­secution.

O Lord, whither shall I flie? or to whom shal I goe? I am in Peters [Page 53] ship, the winds rage and blow, the seas rise and roare, the sur­ging and angrie waues dashe against the ship. Oh, what shal I doe? for thou art asleepe, O Iesus: O maister arise or else I perish, Pharao is at my heeles, the redde sea before my face: how shall I escape? whither shall I flie? O gratious Lorde, make me a waie through the sea before I perish: and drown Pharao my deadlie Saule with all his companie. Remember thy couenant O God of truth, that thou wouldst be with me, and al thy tender chickens to the end of the world, to couer and saue me & them from the roring lion, vnder the winges of thy mercie. This is the wing [Page 54] that holdeth me vp in the ayre of comfort, that I may flie lyke an Egle aloft to the carcase in time of necessitie. Lodge me, ô Lorde in the bosome of com­fort, and imbrace me between thine armes in safety, that thou being with mee, no man may preuaile against mee: no not the Dragon with his Aungels, whome thou the true Michael didst not only incounter with but also ouermatch in heauen, as a valliant Captaine: that I trusting in thee, and faithfullie fighting vnder thy banners, may not despaire of the Con­quest. Lord and gratious cap­taine, giue vnto me strength to abidè valiantlie all bruntes of this world, and neuer to shrink [Page 55] from thee with fainting Peter, Amen.

Another.

O Gratious god, look down vpon me with the eie of thy mercie. For I am paled a­bout with miserie, and com­passed with waters of persecu­tion. Assist me O Lorde, with thy holie spirit against the fu­rie of the enimie, that I neuer fearing the tosting or butche­ring of this mine earthlie Ta­bernacle, maye euer for the tearme of my daies feare and kisse thee least thou be angrie with mee, whoe art able and maiest of thy iustice, not onlie destroy this my bodie, but also cast my soule into the pitte of hel. Giue me grace that I may [Page 56] present my selfe boldly before fleering Herod: being persua­ded of thy diuine prouidence, that thou wilte neuer forsake mee but bee with mee during this my pilgrimage. I am bet­ter than a pennieworth spar­rowe O Lord, who cannot die without thy will and pleasure. Gard mee therefore with the spirit of boldnes, that being as­serteined of thy mercie; I may without feare confes thee be­fore men, and so bee confessed againe before thine Angels in heauen. Let no smart of mise­rie dismaie me, let no thornie Saule discourage mee in the race of my profession, let no sparkes of crueltie or smoke of biting tyranny, choke the con­fession [Page 57] of thee; but pitch about me the tents of thy grace, that being vnderpropped I fall not from thee: doo this O Lord for thy names sake, Amen.

A praier against the enimies of the truth.

O Lord and gratious GOD, looke vp­on the face of thy Churche: Iudas doth kisse hir, and al to betray hir or rather make hauocke of hir. Behold Lorde, the teares haue almost choked thy corn, and the cockle-sower looketh for a plentious haruest. Thou seest this O Lord, thou seest it: awake therefore and take rhy fan in thy hande, to diuide thy [Page 58] corne from the chaffe. Gather thy corne into thy garner, and with a blaste of thy mouthe scatter the chaffe. Purge thy garden O Lorde, let no weede growe among thy Lillies, let no thorne hedge in thy sauou­rie rose, but fil thy church with the grace of thy spirite, least being the fairest of all women, she touch the pitch, and so be defiled. Burne vp the le [...]ned and sowre dough of iniquitie: but speciallie of heresie, which the cocle-prophetes seeke to bake, that we may not onelye eate it but also digest it, to the great eclipse of thy worde and our owne damnation. O Lord conuert them, or else restraine them with the bridle of thy [Page 59] iudgement. Father forgiue them if it bee thy will, or else mowe them downe like haye and let them wither with the grasse. If Iudas wil continue in his trecherie, or Iulyan in his apostasie, if the wandering sheep wil not heare the voice of thee hir shepheard, but still wander in the desert of wic­kednes, giue hir to the mouth of the Lyon O Lord, least tur­ning to thy little flocke, shee corrupt the rest. Grant this for thine owne name sake, Amen.

Another.

IT is thine owne lesson, O Lorde: Take heed of the lea­uen of the Pharisees, bicause it sowreth & corrupteth the ma­rowe of true religion. O Lord, [Page 60] thou knowest it, & I acknow­ledge it, that I am a sprigge of withered nature, a dead branch of the rotten stocke of Adam: what shal I say? a naturall man I am, so blinded with the mist of ignorance and ouershado­wed with the cloud of blinde­nesse, that I cannot do well, or wil wel, no not thinke wel: so vnable I am to aspire to the knowledge of thy reuealed Gospell. And howe can I then O Lord, take heede of leuened doctrine, whoe am altogether leuened and bent to the worse by force of nature? O louinge Iesus thou art the eye of the faithfull, thou art wisedome it selfe to defeate Satans wilines, the sunne of righteousnesse to [Page 61] consume the grosse vapours of ignorance, which drowneth our vnderstanding: so that thou art the onely starre which shewest vs the deep dungeons of heresies: and the only touch stone by which wee maye dis­cerne good dough and sowred leauen, that we may beware of them both. Endew me there­fore with knowledge from a­boue, that I prouing the spy­rits whereof they are, may one lie cleaue to thy holie will, O gratious God, to whome be al glorie, Amen.

A praier for the sicke.

ODeere Father, looke vpon me with the eie of thy mercifull pitie [Page 62] and pittifull mercie: behold I am thy handie worke, a poore Creature of thine, I thanke thee for my former health, and I thanke thee also for this thy visitation, which I take as a fa­therly correction. For I haue swarued from the paths of thy commandementes, and in my life renounced my vowe at baptisme made vnto thee be­fore thy Church, and therfore least as the witlesse sheepe I shoulde straye and so fall into the mouth of Satan, I take this thy visitation as thy voice, or a sermon of thy grace, whereby thou criest: Come vnto me, O gratious Iesu, this is thy woon­ted goodnesse towards the chil­dren of men. I am but dust and [Page 63] ashes, no better than a worm, a stained clout, no better than a shadowe, a vapor or bubble in the water: a verie wretch I am good Lord, borne in sinne, by nature wrapt in iniquitie, and so thine vtter enimie, wor­thie to perishe euerlastinglie. But see thine owne goodnes, sweete Lord: thine hands for­med mee beeing nothing: thy mercie hath preserued mee till this day beeing nought. And euen nowe sweete Iesu, thou hast sent thy purseuant sicknes to bid me put off the old man, & put on the garment of faith, that I being readie for the ma­riage, may come and marrie thee in the couenant of thy fa­ther, wherein al the nations of [Page 64] the world by promise are bles­sed, Amen.

Another.

LOuing Iesu, pittifull Iesu, blessed Trinitie haue mer­cie vpon mee. Beholde, I am sicke Lorde: iustlie buffeted for sinne, the mother of euerie mortal infirmitie. Yet Lorde, louing Iesu pittie me, pittie my case. Louing father purge mee with Isop, clense me from my secret sinnes, drie vp the pud­dle of iniquity with the beams of thy mercy, and clense me in the poole of thy pretious blood that this sicknes and infirmity, the iust reward and penalty of sin and iniquity may cease and finish. Beat me, O God, ô gra­tious God, O father of heauen, [Page 65] beate me in fauour, and not in iudgement: kisse me with the couenant of grace, and be not angrie with mee. O louing Ie­su, ful of pity and pitious com­passion, I would be clean: and if thou wilt, Lorde, thou canst make me cleane. Behold Lord I am sicke, the palsie of sinne shaketh euerie part, the lepro­sie of mine iniquitie hath ouer run al my soule and body: but yet good Lorde, and gratious Iesus if thou wilte, thou canst make me cleane. For thou art my father Almightie, with whome nothing is impossible. Lord I aske thy grace, giue it mee: I seeke it, let me finde it: I knocke for mercie: open O Lord the chest of thy goodnes, [Page 66] and enrich me with the iewels of grace, that I may reign with thee in glory, Amen.

A confession for the Sicke.

MY thoughtes, my words, my deedes, al crie vnto mee: Thou art a sinner. And this doo I confesse vnto thee O Lord: I cannot so much as think a good thought, much lesse can I speake, muche lesse can I doo wel. I confesse that in me that is in my fleshe, dwel­leth no good thinge: euen so vile a Creature, so wretched a caitife, that Satan might iustlie haue claimed my life in the swathecloth, beeing borne the [Page 67] childe of wrath and heire of damnation. I am a cankered branch of mother Eue that an­cient stock of sinne, whose he­ritage is nothing but iniquitie garded with an infinite sea of miserie. For out of sinne as out of a filthie puddle or stayned fountaine issued the riuers of sicknes, death and damnation, with such a streame, that they ouerranne and drowned the whole race of Adams curssed progenie. So that as I confesse my selfe a sinner, so doo I con­fesse that I am iustlie visited with this rod of sicknes, wher­with thou art woont of thy iu­stice to beate wanton Adam, that old man of sinne, when he wil not be ruled Beat me ther­fore, [Page 68] beate me O Lord, to bet­ter me: and sinite me enough, so thou saue mee, as I doo put my truste in thee. Let Satan haue no power to harme mee, nor the worlde with the baites of vanitie to snare me: but de­fend me from al euil I beseech thee, Amen.

Another.

O Bleeding Iesus, O slaugh­tered Lambe, O sweete babe of the virgin Marie, and onlie beloued darling of God: behold, heere I lie sicke in bo­die and sore in soule, whome thou hast bought with thy pre­tious blood. Helpe me, saue me from sinne, the fountaine of sicknes, O fountain of mercie. For I am a greeuous sinner by [Page 69] nature fettered with iniquitie, wherein I was conceiued and borne. O Iesu, O Christ thou sonne of Dauid, O gratious sa­maritan and piteous shepherd haue mercie vppon me: haue mercie vpon me, cal me, clense me, saue me, salue me with the merit of thy passion, againste the palsie of sinne and iniqui­tie. O lambe of God, thou hast taken awaie the sinnes of the worlde, thou hast crucified the diuell: confirme this faith in mee louing Lorde, I beseech thee: I beseech thee encrease my faythe and renew a righte spirit within mee. Remember Lorde, remember sweet Iesus thy crowne of thornes & bru­zed head, thy boared handes, [Page 70] nailed feete and crucified bo­die. Remember the pearsing speare, thy wounded side, and thy pretious blood that did spin and gush out. Remember thy bloudie teares, thy great thirst of my saluation, and gall and vineger which thou didst drink to saue me, and for thy mercie saue me, and crie to thy father; Father, father, forgiue him. O Iesu be mine aduocate: praie, praie, sweete Iesus praie for me, and bestow some drop of thy bloud to wash me, Amen.

A praier against des­peration.

O Lorde, I am a gree­uous sinner, I haue passed & broken the [Page 71] banks of thy cōmandements; from the wombe til this daie I haue with the pirat Satan sai­led in the shippe of iniquity, so that I maye saie with Paule: I am cheefe of all sinners. This must I needes confesse to thee, O god of iustice, & this worm of conscience biteth me. What then good Lord? shal y ^e worme deuoure me? shal this snake of conscience sting me to death? what, good Lord? is the stream of thy mercy stopped? are the riuers of thy grace dried vppe? is there no drop of thy bloud left to washe my seelie soule? doest thou not cal me? saiyng: Come vnto mee. Yes good Lord, and therefore despaire I wil not. It is not thy will that [Page 72] anie sinner should perish: and thou hast not onely said it, but sworneit, that thou willest not the deth of a sinner, but rather his conuersion and life.

Behold therefore deere Fa­ther, I come vnto thee being a greeuous sinner, in hope of pardon in the name of Christe thy sonne, who by his own te­stimonie came into this world to saue sinners. Hee was con­tent to blot out that obligati­on which satan hadde against me, by the flood of his pretious bloud which issued out of hys glorious side. In this poole he hath washed away the lepro­sie of sinne, were it neuer so desperate. And in token that he is ready to receiue a sinner, [Page 73] hee stretcheth foorth both his sweete armes, as ready to em­brace, and boweth downe his glorious head, as willing to kisse the prodigall childe that craueth pardon for his misse­spent daies. O Lord and grati­ous God, I haue wasted my daies in vanitie, I haue from time to time troden vnder my feete the pearles of Christyan profession, euen frō the womb haue I beene a rebellious trai­tour to thy maiestie, a friend to this world, to godlines an eni­mie: but nowe O Lorde, I crie vnto thee; forgiue me, forgiue me. Now I come vnto thee, as thou hast called me: now there fore couer me with the winges of thy mercie, and tender mee [Page 74] as the hen dooth her chickens, least Satan clawe me, and so I perish. Good Lord accept the bloud of thy sonne, the merits of his manhood for a satisfacti­on for my sinnes, drown them in the streame of thy mercie, & cast them behinde thee, good Lord I beseech thee.

O sweete Iesus lodge me in thy pretious wounds, and look vpon me with thy piteous eie, least that bee destroied which thou of thy great goodnes hast made, and Christ thy sonne of inestimable loue and infinite charitie hath redeemed, tho­rough his bitter passion. This is the totall summe of my sute vnto thee Lord: mercie, mer­cie ô father of mercie: mercie [Page 75] is the thing that I begge: haue mercie vpon me, haue mercie vpon me I beseech thee louing Lord, haue pitie vpon me. Bee thou my shepheard to defende mee, my Castell of defense to saue me against the gaping di­uel. Thou hast store of mercie for them that aske it: O Lorde therefore euen for the wounds of thy deere sonne, haue mer­cie vpon me, let not sinne sting me to death, but lay to my sore soule the salue of thy mercie, of thy mercie, one drop of thy sonnes bloud, a little dewe of thy blessing, good Lorde, I be­seech thee, Amen.

Another.

O Lorde, my thoughtes, my wordes, mine actions [Page 76] haue taken weapons and wa­ged battell againste mee: and Satan that old rebellious tray­tour taketh part with them to ouerthrowe me thy poore and impotent souldiour. He raiseth vp the snake of my conscience to sting me, & the poison of an euil life to infect mee with the desperat plague of Cains blas­phemie: and I am but fleshe vnable to withstande the furie of this dragon. Oh what shall I doo? I am a Sinner, as Satan saieth, and my conscience tel­leth mee, and the rewarde is death as thy word dooth teach me. What then shal I doo? shal I die as Iudas, O Lord? is there no remedie? surely my Lorde and my God, I despaire in my [Page 77] selfe, and confesse my selfe the child of wrath by naturs voice: but yet O Lord, it is thy voice, it is the voice of grace, that thy mercie is aboue al thy workes: in token whereof thou camest into the world to saue sinners. This is the piller that vphol­deth mee from falling: this is the rod of iron that dasheth sa tan out of countenance, and defeateth the argumentes of my sinnefull conscience. Arme me with this buckler of faith in thy meritorious incarnation, life and passion, that I may not be giuen ouer as a prey to the dragon, but crucifie the snakie persuasions of Satan and his companie, Amen.

Another.

AVoid Satan: thou shalte not tempt the Lords ser­uant: thy works are destroied thy bandes are broken, thou shalt not take or bind mee. A­uoid sinne: for thou hast loste thy sting, thou wast condem­ned in the fleshe, nailed to the crosse, and crucified with my Lord Christ vpon the tree. A­uoid death, for thou art dead: and hel, for thou art swallowed vp in victorie. Auoid thou dra­gon and all thine angelles, for Michaell hath beaten thee, and broken thy head: he hath freed vs from sinne, and ledde awaie captiuitye captiue: euen hee Satan hath ouermastered thee, that crieth out vnto me, Feare [Page 79] not, for I haue ouercome the world: euen he that hath pro­mised to bee with mee till the ende of my pilgrimage, and crieth out: that if hee bee with mee, no man can bee agaynst me, no not hell gates to pre­uaile against me. Fight there­fore Satanne as long as thou wilte, thou shalt bee at length put to the foile: for the migh­tie lion of the tribe of Iuda tel­leth mee, that there is no con­demnation to them that be in him, that Iesus is the conque­rour of the whole worlde, and vanquisher of thee, fight and rage thou neuer so much. Ther fore auoide I saie awaie from me, for in Christ haue I passed the sea of my sinnes, thy cursed [Page 80] armie: & if thou folow to pur­sue mee, thou shalt bee drow­ned in the red sea of Christes bloud, to whome be all glorie, Amen.

A praier for the auoidance of Gods wrath.

QTender harted Io­seph, haue mercie vpon me. Great is the floud of myne iniquities, so great O God of mercie, that vnles the banks of thy grace represse it, it will o­uerrunne and so drowne my see lie soule. Drowne my s [...]s in the poole of thy mercie, cast them into the sea of thy bot­tomles pity, least the smoke of my wickednesse doo smother [Page 81] me, and the rod of thy iudge­ment breake and brooze mee like a potters vessell. For the bagge of mine iniquities is so stuffed, and the stinge of my sinnes so poisonous, and the sent of them so vnsauourye in thy nostrilles O Lorde, that if thou wilt obserue it, who may abide it? the surest piller of thy Church woulde shake, the fai­rest rose would wither, the best lamb should abide the slaugh­ter, if the beames of thy mercie shoulde not partch and burne vp the ripe and plentious har­uest of our iniquities. O Lord therfore haue mercie vpon vs, and beate vs not with the rod of thy furie, but vnder prop the shippe of our weake faith with [Page 82] the anchor of thy mercy, that beleeuing in thee, we may not perishe but haue euerlasting life. Thou hast apesed, ô sweet Iesus, the wrath of thy father againste sinne conceiued, by thy meritorious passion, that I might with the holie ones bee holie as thou art. But I haue prophaned thy passion by my dailie faults such is the frailtie of the flesh, for the which I iust ly may be refused. But yet Ie­sus one drop of fauor bestowe vppon mee and crie: For my bloudie passion father forgiue him I beseech thee, Amen.

A praier for remission of Sinnes.

O Lord, what do I dailie but wander in the field of va­nitie? [Page 83] what is my hart but a fil­thy prisō of corrupt thoughts? what is my mouth but a stin­king chanell of vaine wordes? what are my feete but chariots to bloudshed? what are my hands but battellers with cha­ritie? what is my heade but a castell of wicked deuises? and what is my life but a fardell of iniquitie? I am nothing better than a deade tree, the roote is perished, the bough withered, I am fruitles and good for no­thinge but for the furie of the flame. What then, good Lorde, shall it bee so? I am no better than a deade tree, but what? shall I burne sweete Iesu: O saue me for thy name sake, and quicken me: create a new hart [Page 84] within me, ingraffe me in the true Oliue purge mee that I may bring foorth much fruite, and for euer flourishe lyke a tree planted by the riuers side. O powre the oile of grace into my defiled heart, and season it with the salt of thy mercy, least the sume of mine iniquities as­cend vppe to thy nostrils, and prouoke thy furie against me. Powre downe some drops of thy pretious bloud from the clouds of thy mercy, to quench out the angrie flame of sinne, which I my selfe am not able to put out by the vertuous wa­ter of any merite. Purge mee therefore with Isop, O Lorde and then I shal bee cleane. O lambe of God, let me eate thy [Page 85] flesh, and drink thy bloud, that I may liue by thee, and cloath me in the wooll of thy mercie, that no winter of storming sin doo pinch my seely soule. This doo O Lorde, for thy mercies sake, Amen.

Another.

O Lord, like a witles sheep I wander in the perillous wildernes of sinne: I am lost, ô my God in the field of vanitie where Satan seeketh to trappe and deceiue me with the flat­tering baite of finfull pleasure. Good Lorde leaue thy ninetie nine, and looke for the loste sheepe till thou haue founde hir. For I am loste good Lord, and must needs perish, vnlesse thou saue me: Draw mé, vp to [Page 86] thee in the bucket of thy mer­cie, and place mee in thy safe pasture of grace, the onelye sting that ouermaistereth Sa­tan. Choose me into the col­lege of ioy, that I maye sleepe in the lap of thy word, which is thy power vnto saluation. Doo this O Lorde, for thine owne sake, that thine aungels maye haue occasion to reioyse, and to set foorth thy glorie. Look for the lost groate, O gratious God, and find it out with the candle of thy mercie, and lock it vppe in the treasure of ioye: euen me O Lord, that thou thy selfe in great ioye maiest call thine holie angels and heauen­lie companie to reioyse with thee, because thou hast founde [Page 87] me a lost groate, and strayeng sheepe. Be thou my Iesus, euen for thine owne sake, washe a­waie the leprosie of sinne, that beeing cleansed, I may returne in ioy, to found out the praises of thy holye and vndeserued dealinges with mee thine eni­mie, Amen.

Another.

BEnd downe thy piteous eie O Lord, from the palace of heauen, and looke vppon me thy poore and wretched crea­ture. Behold, I thy handiwork thine owne workmanship am disgraced, nature hath wrap­ped me in sinne, the diuell hath defaced bodie and soule, so that I am nothing better than a lumpe of iniquitie. The euill [Page 88] gardener hath planted weeds in thy garden, the euil husband hath sowne tares and cockle in thy field. O Lorde with the sword of thy mercie digge vp the weedes of sinne: and with the beames of thy pitie partch vp the cockle and tares of Sa­tan, that I may flourish like a branch of thy sonne Iesus and growe like a flower in the pa­sture of grace, by the dewe of thy blessing. Scatter awaie from thy face with the wind of thy mercie, the chaffe of ini­quitie, and gather thine owne corne into the garner of glo­rie. Let me not starue for want of grace, but feede mee with mercy, and make me a simple doue, that hauing the wings of [Page 89] a liuelie faith, and faithful con­science, I may fly vppe to the beacon of the crosse, there to eate the merite of thy Sonne Christ, my mightie Iesus. O Lorde wrap me in his passion and deathe, that no storme of sinne doo touch mee to my vt­ter condemnation, Amen.

A praier for increase of Faith.

WHat man, O God, was so fettered in the snare of sinne, that he coulde not by any meanes delyuer him­selfe, and therfore was for euer to lie bound with the chain of Satan in hell: it pleased thee ô Lord, to worke meanes of de­liuerie, [Page 90] by thine owne sonne to vnloose the shackles of sinne, that man might be set at liber­tie. For this I giue thee moste hartie thanks O gratious God and father of mercie. For what a thing is this? Man was loste through his owne follie. Iudas for mony, but Adam for an ap­ple forsooke thee, and so deser­ued not onely to bee forsaken, but also like an vtter enimie and rebellious traitor, to bee executed in iustice and iudge­ment. But behold O ye sonnes of men, where man was vna­ble and angels not sufficient to worke recouerie of grace, and deliuerie from Satans slauery, hee spared not to shedde the bloud of his sonne for the re­demption [Page 91] of man, and satisfa­ction of his iustice.

Behold and woonder: God hath but one soune, his deare sonne, his onely ioye, his owne image, his expresse substance, and yet doth he sende this one babe, like a Lambe in this euil worlde among foxes, to bee torne and cruellie butchered, that by the drops of his preti­ous bloud he might washe the filthie face of our soules, and with y ^e wooll of his passion, the merit of his slaughter, so cloth vs, that noe storme of raging sinne might dismaye vs. The streames of thy sonnes bloud, vnlesse wee bathe our selues in them, vnles we wash vs in the poole of his bloud, his passion [Page 92] O father of heauen, shall no­thing auaile vs. Giue vs there­fore good God a full and sound hand, that we may receiue the bloud of thy sonne Christe to our saluation. Increase our faith in vs, giue vs a winged faith, that wee may flie vnto Christ thy sonne and our Sa­uiour, standing on the beacon of the crosse to purchase there demption of the whole world.

But especiallie in time of ex­treamitie, when Sathan dooth seeke to choake vs with the smoothering smoke of sin, and like a wilie pyrate seeketh to sinke the shippe of our weake faith: then O Lord, when hee raketh our sinnes out of the a­shes, and calleth a parlement [Page 93] of his hellish aungels to accuse vs before thee and thine holie companie, that being conuin­ced of trecherie to thy maie­stie, wee may abide the rod of thy furie: euen then O Lorde, giue vs a feathered faith, that we may flie aboue the reache of Satan & rest in the wounds of thy decre [...] sonne in safetie, without perill of shipwracke, be the waues of sinne neuer so outragious, or the winds of in­iquitie neuer so tempestuous. Couer vs with the winges of thy fauour, garde vs with the hand of thy power, and pul vs out of the deepe mire of our secret sinnes, that being drow­ned in thy mercie, we maye in a liuely faith spring out of the [Page 94] puddle of miserie, into the sea of thy merites for our endlesse safety, Amen.

A praier for prea­chers.

O Thou good sheep­herd of our soules, haue mercie vpon vs: thou hast ap­pointed vs as Vicars and De­puties vnder thee, or rather for nurses for thee, to traine vp the babes of thy family in the loue and feare of thee. Giue vs, we beseech thee, the pure milke of thy Gospell to feed them: but especiallie the light of honest conuersation, to guide them out of this vallie of darkenesse, vnto thee the true morninge [Page 95] starre, and sunne of righteous­nes. Arme vs with the buckler of thy truth, that wee may not onlie bicker with, but also put to flight Satan that rauenous Lion O Lorde, who seeketh by subtiltie to trapp and deuoure the lambs of thy pasture. We­pon vs with Scriptum est, It is written O Lorde, which is thy power vnto saluation, and the onely buckler whereby thou didste defende thy selfe in thy threefold combat with Satan. Take from vs the leauen of the Pharisees, the sowred dough of heresies, beeyng the verie canker of Christian professi­on, and the onely pitch that defileth the table of thy Chil­dren, that wee may feede thy [Page 96] children onely with the worde of thy mouth. This do O Iesus for thine owne sake, Amen.

A praier for the increase of Preachers.

SAtan, O Lord, say­leth vpon the seas of this worlde, to hynder and keepe backe the propagation of the Gospel; kiling by sword, boy­ling in fire, and choking by the darnel of his cocle gospell the babes of thy familie. So that now thy Church O Lorde, is harrowed, little is the flock of thy beloued Steeuen, we haue a great derth of preaching Ie­remies, and a verie small num­ber of crieng Esayes to con­duct [Page 97] thy children, the tender sucklinges of thy Gospel, from danger to safetie, out of the rough wildernes of this wic­ked world. O looke vpon thy little flocke, let the Foxe no more fleece them, but sende shepheards to feed them with the pure milk and sound meat of thy Gospell. Send vs no woolues to teare, but sende vs doggs to defende the sheepe of thy Pasture, against our wol­uish Pharao, that continuallie gapeth to deuoure thy beelo­ued Israel. O Lorde haue mer­cie vppon vs, and let the riuers of thy worde haue free course in euerie chanel: let no puddle of filthy doctrine, or quagmire of damnable heresie trouble [Page 98] thy little flock & sweet babes, least they tasting thereof, drink their owne destruction. But sende downe thine Angels to cleanse the poole of thy word, mingled with the water of he­resie, that wee liyng sicke at the gate of thy mercie, maye descend into it, and so be hea­led. Grant this for thine infinit mercies sake, and for the glo­ry of thine eternall Godhead, Amen.

A praier for the School­mayster.

WHere shall I begin, O Lorde, to rip the vnseamed coate of thy benefites? O that I were al hart to conceiue [Page 99] or al toong to vtter them; For where we had not onelie loste the inheritance of paradise, but also the integritie of Na­ture, through father Adams follie: thou hast set down pre­cepts, and elected gouernours ouer youth, that being ruled by tutours, and liuing well by precepts, the childrē of Adam might recouer the disgraced puritie of nature, and at length (of thy meere fauour) be exal­ted, not to an earthly paradise but to an heuenly inheritance, to enter and inherit the palace of an heauenlie Ierusalem. And whereas, O welspring of all goodnes, thou hast appoin­ted me to view and ouersee the naturall man, not only to train [Page 100] him vp in learning, but also in liuing: giue me thy grace that I may first of a wilde oliue be­come a braunch of Iesus, that awaking my selfe with the winges of thy mercie, I maye crowe the better to stumbling Peter, not onely in deliuering precepts, but also examples of godlie life and honest conuer­sation. Giue me y ^e true know­ledge of thy word, that by it as by a lanterne I may guide my selfe and them the better, from wandering in vanitie, into the waie of sanctitie. Giue me al­so grace to doo my dutie faith­fullie, and imprint in my heart the last daie when I shall ren­der an account of my calling, so that alwaies remembring [Page 101] it, I may the better fulfil it. O Lord shew thy mercie, Amen.

Another.

O Lorde, giue me grace to bee faithful in my vocati­on, to bee diligent in my cal­ling to traine vppe youth: but before al things to serue thee. Schoole me, ô gratious God, in the waie of thy wil, and teache me the waie of thy comman­dementes, that I may not only liue by thee, but in thee for euer. Plant me like a branch of grace in the gardeyn of thy gratious pleasure, that I maye growe in thee, and not in the broad way of iniquitie, or wide fielde of vanitie. Order thou my waies with the rule of thy wil, and guide my steps by this [Page 102] lanterne of life, that neither for feare or flatterie I swarue from the lessons of thy holie spirite: but euer may walke with the warrant of a good conscience in thy lawe and testimonies. For this O Lord, shal redounde to the profite of thy Churche, whereof by Baptisme I am a member: as also to the bette­ring of youth which is better schooled by examples of a godlie life, than by precepts of learning. Therefore, O Lord, that thy Church may bee vn­spotted and without wrinkle, I beseech thee in thy sonnes name to haue mercie vpon me and al my brethren, which liue in faith and feare of thee, that our good liues maye glorifie [Page 103] thee our father in heauen: and spur the babes of thy familye, to the perfourmance of their vow, by the power of thy spi­rit, Amen.

Apraier for Schol­lers.

O God, we are a cur­sed progenie, by nature lapt in the bands of sinne, and fettered in the chaine of death, the due rewarde of sinne and iniquitie: but of thy meere mercie thou hast drawne vs vnto thee out of the iawes of our spirituall Pharao, by the death of Christ thine onelye sonne, that mightie lion of the tribe of Iudah, that being deli­uered [Page 104] from the handes of our enimies, wee might serue thee in him al the daies of this our life. But because we cannot of our selues, and by our selues, aspire to the end of our redem­tion: we giue thee thankes O Lord, that it hath pleased thee to helpe vs by this meanes, to wit, by placing vs vnder tu­tors. Thou hast throughlie sif­ted our nature: thou knowest that there is continuall battell betweene the wanton fleshe and the spirit of sanctification: and therefore to represse olde Adam, and to crucifie the kingdom of the wanton flesh, thou hast put this yoke vppon vs to bee vnder tutors and go­uernours to crop the crooked [Page 105] boughes off, and to mowe downe the ripe haruest of wic­ked nature, that they might by precepts of life, with the assi­stance of thy spirite, graffe vs in the true vine Iesus, and also printe the stampe of Christian knoweledge in the tables of our harts: that beeing no base metal but pure and fine siluer, we might (and yet of grace) be weighed in the balance of thy mercie as currant coyne, to be placed in the storehouse of thy ioy for euer. To thee as onlie good, be al glorie, Amen.

The mothers praier for the good education of hir youth.

O Gratious God, in know­ledge that thou louest all [Page 106] thinges which thou hast made of thy goodnes: and that thing cannot perish, which is com­mitted to thy charge. Now I come vnto thee with my ten der children, committing them into thine hands, and desiring thee to couer them vnder the winges of thy prouident mer­cie. Hew and square the rough table of their hearts, of stonie make them fleshie, that being softened by the dewe of thy blessinges, they may beare the seale of adoption in thy sonne Christ. O Lord guide them in this darke vale of vanitie, with the light of thy fauour, that es­caping the dungeon of sinne, they may walke in newnes of life, and lodge alwaies in thine [Page 107] holie will. Imprint in theyr harts faith, hope, humility, and charitie: that following thee they may be humble & meeke as thou art. In due them with the spirite of feare, that they may kisse thee in faith and liue lie obedience, thou beeing ne­uer angrie with them, but lo­uing them, as the mother dooth her tender sucklings, Amen.

The Fathers praier.

O Father of all Fa­thers, haue mercie vpon me, and giue me thy grace, not onelie to be thankefull for this thy gratious gift, but also duti­full to vse it after thy good will and pleasure. It is thy wil O fa­ther [Page 108] of Heauen, that chyldren shoulde come vnto thee: yea, that all men shoulde be saued, and come to the knowledge of the truth. Fil the cup of thy mercie, O Lorde, and let mee drinke of it, and my children pledge me, that we may toge­ther bee wrapped in the gar­ment of Grace, and at length be married vnto thee into the kingdome of glorie. Take my tender babes O Lord, into thy familie, that as children of thy house, together with me, they may sit with father Abraham Isaac and Iacob, at the table of ioy in ioy vnspeakeable, and in pleasure inconceiueable. Giue them the spirite of thy fauour, that they may crie truelie vnto [Page 109] thee, Abba, Father, assured in their consciences, that they are thy children, and coheires with our Sauiour Iesus of life eter­nall. O father shew thy mercy for thy mercies sake, Amen.

The Childs praier.

IAm borne a natu­rall child, O father of Heauen, weake in bodie, blinde in soule, in all parts maimed, and as it were lapt in bands of my­serie. O Lord renew mee who­lie, make me a babe of thy fa­milie, that I may suck the paps of thy word, which is of power to saue bodie and soule. Lop the tree of nature, O gratious God, and restraine me within [Page 110] the banks of thy wil by the bri dle of thy spirite, that I neuer passing the limites of thy good pleasure, may of thy mercie be taken as worthy to sit with fa­ther Abraham in the restefull lande of Canaan. Regenerate me O Lorde, and make mee a new creature, that hauing put off the olde manne, I may bee transformed into thee the se­cond Adam, in newnes of life and be freed from albruntes of storming nature & blowes of tyrannous Satan, that I maie sleepe in the lap of thy Church in safetie for euer. O sweet Ie­su, let no tempest of sinne, or thunderboult of Satan or hys mynisters ouerturne mee thy poore Creature, sayling vpon [Page 111] the foming seas, beset and bea ten with the surges of this pre­sent worlde: but gard me with thine hand, and let thine holie Angels pitch their tents about me, least the brickle barke of my bodie being broozed with the waues of wickednesse, and the shippe of my soule shaken with the tempests of iniquitie, I vtterlie come to naught and become a castaway. In al dan­gers therefore, giue me grace to crie vnto thee with a lowde voice, Helpe mee, thou that canst stil the roughnesse of the sea, or else I perish, Amen.

The Husbandmans. praier.

IA pore husbandman O lord GOD doo come vnto thee [Page 112] for succour. Iesus thou sonne of Dauid haue mercie vppon mee. Thou art the true vine, and GOD thy father the hus­bandman and a braunche in­graffed in thee by grace, and nourished by the iuice of mer­cie. O Lord, when the pock of my corrupt nature breaketh out, and the wild Oliue shew­eth it selfe: then of thy fauour lop and crop mee: purge mee, that I may budde in thee, and beare fruite worthie repen­tance. Giue me thy grace, that I tie not my hart to this world nor locke my thoughts in the chaine of vanitie: but free me from the slauerie of the diuell, and vnlose the desperate knot of my sinneful conscience, that [Page 113] sinne beeing disiointed by re­mission, and my conscience vn linked from sinne, I may serue thee in holines and righteous­nesse all the daies of my life. Aide mee O father of heauen, when the branch of sinne will ouerwantonlie flourish, & old Adam passe the limits of thy holie will. Doo this, O father, and onely good husbandman, for thine owne sake, Amen.

The Maydseruants praier.

AL estates O Lorde, depend vpon thee, Kinge and begger: Magistrate & Cler­gieman, maister and scholler: [Page 114] al come of thee. And me thou hast made a poore handmaid, which I do not only willinglie beare, as knowing thou haste allotted mee this calling: but also very many waies I haue to thank thee for it. For thou hast not onely deliuered me from the slauish seruice of Satan, but also dooest (by this my yoke) restraine the wanton reliques of stained nature, preserued me from the pampering of the old man in pleasure and idlenesse. Secondlie, that I am not ser­uaunt to any Heathen, Turke, or Saracen: but vnto a Chri­stian, in suche a place, where thy Gospel is preached freely, and fullie. Thirdlie and speci­allie, because thou hast called [Page 115] me vnto such an estate of life, as wherein I knowe I doo well please thee. For who liueth af­ter thy Gospell, if not I, whoe get my liuing with the sweate of my browes? I doo not glory heere in vaine, but to thee bee the glorie, who hast turned the cursse into such a blessing. O Lord giue me grace to consi­der this, that I may bee more diligent in my calling, more earnest in seruing thee than e­uer I haue beene heeretofore. Forgiue me al that is past, and guide me in thinges to come, that I may neuer haulte in my vocation. Giue mee a sounde and perfect faith in thy sonnes blood O father, wherin he hath washed (of his great mercie) [Page 116] my poore soule, that notwith­standing I serue a mortal man, yet aboue him in all thinges, I may serue thee, to whome be all glorie both nowe and for e­uer, Amen.

A praier for a woman with child.

IN the beginning of the world, O fa­ther of heauen, af­ter thou hadst for­med man of the slime of the earth, and yet prince ouer all creatures; it pleased thee of thy goodnes to create a woman of his side, as well for his solace, as for the continuance of his seede. It was thy worde vnto them, Increase and multiply. [Page 117] This increase was easie, but mother Eue hath made it hard (by passing the bounds of thy wil) to al her posteritie: so that the woman conceiueth and bringeth foorth in great paine, and dangerous trauel the fruit of her wombe: in so greate paine O Lord, in such extreme pangs, that vnles thou quench the flame of her sorrowes with the water of comfort, it is im­possible for her to beare that into this vale of miserie which thou of thy goodnesse hast fra med, & she conceiued. Wher­fore thou GOD of woonders, and Father almightie of Hea­uen, as thou hast by the slaugh ter of thine only lambe, taken awaie the sinnes of the whole [Page 118] worlde, and condemned sinne in the fleshe: so take awaie the pangs of childbirth, the fruit of sinne from all womankind, es­pecially this woman, that bea­ring ioy fullie, that which shee hath conceiued fruitfullie, and thou hast fashioned gratiously shee maye glorifie thee most carefully, and praise thee most thankefully, the onely staie of hir estate in al extremitie, both now at this present, and here­after euerlastingly, Amen.

A praier for a woman in trauell.

LOrde saue mee, or else I perish. Lord haue mercie vpon me a sinner. Pitiful [Page 119] Iesu shew thy mercy vnto me, and let the light of thy counte­nance shine vppon me, that I be not swallowed vp in griefe and sorrowe. Lorde, sweete Lord, thou sendest thy seruants to cal me to the marriage: thy fatlinges and oxen are killed, and Dinner is readie: Lorde giue mee grace to come vnto thee, that beeing freed from sinne, and eased of sorrow, the fruit of sinne, I may mary thee in the couenant of thy mercie, and banquet with thee face to face at the table of ioye, in thy heauenlie Ierusalem. Lord, lo­uing Lorde and gratious God, blesse the fruite of my wombe, and take it into thy famylie. For I beleeue Lorde, that thou [Page 120] becamest of God the sonne of man, to make it and all other, whome thy father hath giuen thee, the Children of God thy heauenlie Father. According to my faith therefore O Lord, be it vnto me. Open the doore of thy mercie and lodge my child in the vertue of thy coue­nant, that being my God and the God of my seede, I maie glorifie thee both now and e­uer, and offer vp the sacrifice of praise, the fruites of a ioyfull spirit vnto thee. Lord and Fa­ther of heauen, it is thy wil that al men should be saued: thy wil be doone, and saue mee by thy mercie I beseech thee, Amen.

A praier for the prisoner.

O Liuing GOD and louinge Father of Heauen, I haue stood in the waie of sinners, and wasted my days in iniquitie, for the which I am iustlie tied in bands, and shall suffer the shippewrack of this fraile and fading life. O Lorde comfort me with thy holy spi­rit against the terror of death: and so roote in mee the hope of saluation, that I may looke in stedfast saith after the night of my passion, to suppe and to be with thee in heauenly para­dise. Euill hath beene my life, euen from the wombe haue I [Page 122] warred with euill nature a­gainst thee, and to my power sought to destroy my selfe, and to crucify my Iesus again most villanouslie. But yet O. Lorde and father of mercie, I beleeue verilie that al thy sonnes bloud is not dried vppe. I am persua ded that there are some drops of grace reserued for all laden and labouring publicans, and therefore comming vnto thee I crie and cal: Lorde haue mer­cie vpon me a sinner: Lorde, O Ie­su thou sonne of Dauid haue mer­cy vpon me. Remember thy bloo die passion, and with the testi­monie of most thy holy spirite seale vp in my heart my salua­tion, that I may die in thee, and so liue with thee for euer, Amē.

A praier to be said at the houre of death.

FAther of heauen in­to thy handes I doo commend my soule Lorde increase my faith, strengthen my weaknes, fortifie my soule with the Te­stimonie of thy fauour, against the feare of death, which is dreadfull vnto me. O gratious God, looke not vppon my me­rits, for they are none: nor vp­on my life, for it hath been ve­ry naught and abhominable, but looke vpon Christ thy deer sonne and my louinge Iesus: who beeing slaughtered vpon the altar of the Crosse, crieth vnto thee for me and my bre­thren: [Page 124] Father forgiue thē. Thy sonne O Lorde, died to deliuer vs, was bound to lose vs out of hellish Aegypt, that being fre­ed by him, wee might alwaies and solie serue him. But mercie Lorde, mercie is all my sute: for I haue prophaned his pre­tious passion by my euill con­uersation, and done what laie in my power to crucifie him againe: but notwithstanding Lord, thou art alwaies merci­full and of great pittie: and I beleeue verely, that thy sonnes mercie is not abated, who cri­ed for the butchering Iewes, Father forgiue them. Louing God therefore burie mine ini­quities, and accept thy sonnes crie as a satisfaction for my [Page 125] sinne Lord haue mercie vpon me a sinner, Amen.

A praier for the truth.

HEresie, O Lorde, is the spurre of dung­hil cocks and hire­linges, which faint and will not fight in thy quar­rell against the wolfe, for the sheepe of thy pasture. Let not this spur blind the eies of chri­stians, let it not shut vppe the windowe of thy will. Thy truth defende O Gratious God, and with the whippe of thy iudge­ment scourge al penie gospel­lers, and scowre thy fathers house, which must be a house of praier, that thy worde may [Page 126] be truly preached, which is thy power vnto saluation. Grant vnto vs the pure bread of life, let it not bee sowred with the leuen of vnseasoned Rabbins, least thy truth being eclipsed with euill doctrine, be vtterly buried, and so thy Lambes for hunger starued. The babes of thy familie do hunger & gape for meat: they dailie crie vnto thee, Father of heauen deliuer vs from euil: Come Lorde Ie­sus, come: for thou art truth, and the onely teacher of truth. Roote vppe out of thy garden the weedes of heresie, and hin­der the blaste of slaundering Trumpetters, whoe dooe no­thing else but barke againste thy truth, and bite the good [Page 127] names of others, and al to the defacing of thy Gospel, Amen

A praier for the plough­man.

IT is thy iuste re­ward, O GOD, to man for his treche­rie and disobedi­ence against thy maiestie, that he should get his liuing by the sweat of his browes. I confesse therefore O thou iust God and louing father, that I haue me­rited this bondage, that thou maiest be iustified when thou art iudged. Giue me thy grace O Lord, that I may be diligent and faithful in my vocation, to doo my dutie, not so much for feare as for conscience. Giue [Page 128] me thy grace, that I may serue with a willing minde, and a free conscience, that beeing subiect to a Christian in body, yet I may beare rule ouer sinn and Satan in a stedfast fayth, and feare of thee. Gard & de­fend mee with thy grace, and fense me with thy fauour. Vp­hold my feet frō slipping, staie mee that I fall not, and if I fal, raise me vp that I may not lie in the mire of desperation, when sinne shall assault mee. Plow my hart with the threats of thy pearsing lawe, and har­rowe it with a greeuous me­morial of my omitied duetie: but so O Lord, that thou in the end doo so we in it the seede of thy Gospell, the bread of im­mortalitie, [Page 129] that I may liue in thee and by thee, now and for euer, Amen.

A praier for the blessing of his labour.

SVch was the fall of Adam, O gratious God, so great was his rebelliō against thy diuine maiestie, that of de­sert thou maiest forsake him, and staie the hand of thy boun teous liberalitie. Notwith­standing Lorde, because that thou hast commanded all men to aske, and allured them to craue things necessarie by thy promise, that hee that asketh shal haue: therefore, O Lorde, in hope of thy wonted and of­fered [Page 130] mercie, I come vnto thee in the names of Christ thy be­loued sonne and my louinge husband: desiring thee, in the streames of thy bloodie teares, to wash me from my sinnes, to burie them in the bottome of the sea, and to scatter them as chaffe before the winde, that I being taken into thy fauour, & reconciled to thee in the blood of the immaculate lambe, may looke in assurance for thy fa­therlie prouidence. Blesse, O Lord, the curssed earth: so fru­ctifie the barren earth with the deawe of heauen, that we may haue great cause to glorifie thy name, and sufficient for nature againste extremitie, to releeue vs with thy store in [Page 131] time of necessity, Amen.

A praier for peace.

AP pease, O gratious God, the surging waues of this pre­sent euill worlde: cut downe the angrie make­bates, and graunt vnto vs the peace of thy spirit: that liuing in one minde, and bearing a­bout vs one wil grounded vp­on thy gratious pleasure, wee maye, bee gathered into one sheepefolde, and liue in bro­therlie loue and vnfained vni­tie. O louing maker and God of peace, it is a pitious thing to see the malice of the world: it is a myserie to behold how thy members disioint themselues [Page 132] in ceremonies and beggerlie elements: it is a hell to consi­der how mightie Saule rageth against little Dauid: to see the beastlie crueltie and tiger like tyrannie of the Pharaos of this world, who not tendring their owne case, not regarding the end of thy passion, or full and sole redemption, do racke and rent the babes of thy Church, thy beloued wife. Redresse all this gratious God: eyther cut off our enimies or else conuert them, that wee may together wage battell against the diuell our archaduersarie. Season the harts of our brethren, that wil for a trifling ceremonie, re­nounce thy veritie, and breake the bandes of Christian vnity. [Page 133] Continue the weake nouices of thy schoole in the libertie of thy Gospel, that all offense be­ing taken away, we may serue thee the God of peace, euen charitie it selfe, in Charitie, A­men.

A praier in time of Warre.

O Lorde and onelye peacemaker, linke vs in vnitie that are deuided, ioyne vs in loue that haue sundered our selues, and so transgressed thy holie will. If our cause bee euill, good Lord amend vs and reconcile vs with the peace of thy spirit: if it be good, defende vs O Lorde, and turne vnto vs, [Page 134] or else confound our enimies Gratious Iesus, thou knotte of peace, which hast ioyned God thy father and man, not onelie in fauour as friendes: but also coupled vs in one brotherhood with thee, as his children: we beseech thee to sow the seede of concord in vs, that we maie liue in thee as fruitful branches now and for euer. O Lord giue vs thy grace that wee purchase no enuie, nor be the fathers of sedition, of warr, or any insur­rection: but imprinte in our hearts thus much, that thou art loue, who shalt come to iudge the quicke and the dead. Cha­ritie shall iudge the world, and confound al bruers of tumults. Ingraue this lesson, O Lord, in [Page 135] the tables of our harts, and for giue vs al that is past, & guide vs in that which is to come, that we fall not but stande fast in the way of thy will, Amen.

A praier for the Cap­taine.

DEfend the righte­ous cause of thy seruant: assist mee with strength a­gainst mine enimies, with the wisedome of thy spirit against the policie of man, that beeing wholie guided by thee, I may fight manfullie in thy quarrel, to the building of thy Church, and vtter rebuke of her aduer­saries. Without thee, ô foun­taine of goodnesse, and God of [Page 136] mine estate I can doo nothing. Arme mee therefore with thy grace, with the buckler of thy word, that I may bee able not onely to war with, but also to ouermatch Satan my deadlye foe, and al his hellish band, set­ting themselues against thee and thine annointed. Enriche me with thy mercie, that I may bee able to put vpon mee the white raiment offaith, and be­ing clothed with it, may stande sure against the foming miny­sters of the diuel, that no storm may ouerturne or dismay me. O Lord kepe me from al wrest ling affections, from inordi­nate motions defende mee, O Lord. Let al discord be remoo­ued, whereby thy pellican chil­dren [Page 137] may be disseuered. But nourishe O God of loue, thy babes with the spirite of pati­ence, that I and they beeing of one minde, may doo our ende­uoures, and bende our whole strength to the reedifieng of mother Sion, which traueleth with sorrowes, and sinketh in the mist of heresies, vnles thou pul hir out by the hande of thy mercie: which doo O gratious God, I beseech thee, Amen.

A praier for the soul­diour.

THis worlde is no­thing else but a sea of trouble, heere the diuel stormeth, there the worlde frowneth, on [Page 138] euerie side the flesh assaulteth vs, so that our life may well be tearmed a warrefare, and our daies a treasure of dangers. O Lorde, with the anchor of thy mercie vphold vs, that we sink not in the sea of this troublous time: but guide vs with thy holie spirit, that our liues may please thee, and wee in our death praise thee, through Ie­sus Christ our Lord. Plant the tree of peace among vs, lette it flourishe to the gladdening of our harts; that al dissention cut off, wee may be linked in one knot of Christian vnitie, ga­thered into one sheepfold, and guided by thee our onelie and one sheepheard. Let nothing sunder the members of thy [Page 139] bodie, but cherish and nourish them with a full persuasion of brotherhood, in the vnitie of our Sauiour, and thee our one and onlie father, Amen.

A praier in time of dearth.

O Mightie God and maker of al things: thou art iuste, and in iustice hast thou scourged vs: we confesse it, O Lord. Our liues haue deserued thy whip, the excessiue riot of sinne hath merited the famine and want of thy gratious be­nefites: but not withstanding louing Lord, burie our iniqui­ties in the multitude of thy wonted goodnes, and blesse vs [Page 140] with the store of thy mercie, that as wee may nowe declare thy iustice reuealed agaynste sinne: so likewise wee maye preach and blase abroad to the worlde, the bottomlesse pit of thine infinit pittie. O gratious Lord, thou gauest thine onely sonne our Iesus to the death, euen to the death of the crosse by his bitter passion to pur­chase our redemption. As thou hast giuen him: so good Lord giue vs all thy benefites with him, that as thou hast by him redeemed vs, so wee in him may bee sustained, during this transitorie life, with fulnesse of thy grace, tyll the daie of his great visitation, when meting him in the clouds, we shall be [Page 141] set on his right hande, to liue with him in sulnesse of ioye for euer. Desend vs, O Lord, from extreme needines, and correct vs not in thine anger; but store vs with sufficient in thy mer­cie. Foode and raiment, good Lord wee aske no more. Giue vs and grant vs this our petiti­on, and giue vs grace therwith to be content, Amen.

A praier against the feare of death.

THy handes haue ramed me O lord. And whereas to the ble [...]she of all his posteritie, father Adam made himselfe thorough follie worse than nothing, a curssed [Page 142] caitife, euen thine vtter eni­mie: it pleased thee of vnme­rited goodnes, to leaue the col­ledge of thy Saints: the nine­tie nine iust sheepe, the bande of thy blessed angels, to seeke the straieng sheepe, the groate that lost that royall stamp of a pure nature, to the vtter dis­gracing of all his progenie.

Man, this loste sheepe thou soughtest O Iesus, thou foun­dest sweet Iesus, by death thou foundest her, by bleeding paines thou foundest her, by nailed hands and bored feete thou foundest her, by a sharpe & thornie crowne, which pear ced thy glorious head, by she­ding of thine owne bloud, by drinking of veneger in thine [Page 143] extreme thirst, by suffering the most violent death of y ^e crosse thou foundest her: and so fo un­dest thy lost sheepe, man, loste man, sinfull man, the childe of wrath O Iesus.

O louing Iesus & tender har­ted Samaritan, that of a sicke hast salued, of a sore sinner hast saued him, of a wicked Crea­ture washed him cleane in the streame of thine inestimable mercie. O Iesu, O gratious Ie­su, thou hast sought loste man, and founde lost man, by con­demning sinne, by breaking the bands of the diuel, by con­quering hell, sinne, death and diuel, in the flesh.

Sith therefore thouhaste, O louing Iesu, pitiful Iesu, of thy [Page 144] mercy, shed thy bloud, not on­lie for my firste father Adam, but also for mee, euen for the whole worlde, that as sinne o­uerran al men to condemnati­on by one man: so in thee al the nations of the worlde might bee blessed. And sith thou hast not onelie made a ful purgati­on for my sinnes, beeing the slaughtered Lambe that haste taken awaie the sinnes of the worlde: but also soong a con­quest ouer sinne, which hath lost his sting, death which was dead, & hel which had lost the victorie, and the dragon which thou ouercammest in heauen, by preaching libertie to Cap­tiues, and leading captiuitie captiue, there is no cause whie [Page 145] I should faint and feare death.

Arme mee therfore, O Lord, with this faith, that thou hast dashed Death in peeces with the rod of thy merits, & drow­ned the diuell in the riuers of thy pretious blood, that no tor­ment or biting paine of the fleshe sunder mee from thee most louing Iesu: but imprint in my heart thy grace, that in greatest anguishe I may be so farre from the feare of it, as ra­ther to crie with thy Sayntes Come Lord Iesu, Come: and desire to bee dissolued with Paule, and to be with thee my louing husband, than by anie panges of death to refuse thee. O Lord doo thy good will, A­men.

Another.

OVr Father which arte in heauen, thou art life; how shal I come vnto thee? there is no waie O Lord, but thy selfe: no man commeth vnto thee but by thee. There is no reme­dy but this vessel of earth must bee broken, before I shall see thee face to face euen as thou art in fulnes of glorie. Dust to duste, ashes to ashes, claie to claie, earth muste returne to earth, to pay this borrowed ta­bernacle to earth where of it came. Grasse must wither, the flower must fade, the vapour vanish, I must be dissolued be­fore I shall be ioyned fullie to thee my head and onelie vine, wherein I liue. Thy purseuant [Page 147] sicknes must visit this body of sinne, and death muste rowe me ouer the seas of this world, vnto thee in the barke of faith, by the anchor of thy couenāts made to the house of Dauid. O Lord therefore giue me grace to welcome death, by which I must passe to life, that dieng in thee I may be blessed, and liue in the storehouse of thy ioyes for euer, Amen.

Another.

O Louing husbande, mine onely Iesus, sleepe not, slumber not: but awake my ioye, awake my comfort, and lose the bandes of my miserie. Death, death O Lord, thou hast nailed to the tree, by the preti­ous [Page 148] passion, and drowned Sa­tan the prince of darkenesse in the streamie floud of thy bles­sed bloud. Sweet Iesus, louing Lord, and husband mine, lock vp the faith of this thy merit in my heart, and clip mee in the sweete armes of thy woonted comfort. Kisse me, kisse mee, pitious Iesu, pittie mee, and be not angrie with mee. Diuorce me not O mercifull Iesus: but marrie me in mercie, and call me in thy fauor to the mariage of grace, that beeing thine by the testimonie of thy spirite, I may singe with a brasen face: sinne, where is thy sting? hel where is thy victorie? Mercie O Lorde, mercie, loue, louing God, loue is thy nam [...] mercie is my sute, [Page 149] O bottomlesse pitie: thy loue I labor and crie for; Lord, Lord, Iesus thou sonn of Dauid haue mercie vpon mee, and spread foorth the banners of thy com­fort, that I may knowe that I am thine, and knowing it, may neuer distrust thine inestima­ble mercie, Amen.

Another in forme of a confession.

IN thy name, O Lord, Amen. I ac­knowledge to the publishing of God his glorie, and the comfort of my soule, that I am God his owne childe, that he hath crea­ted me of nothing, redeemed me being lost, & preserued me [Page 150] from the wombe till this time. In him haue I onely trusted, & neuer shal be confounded. Be­loued friendes in the Lord, for your comfort and mine owne duetie, heare my confession, which euery christian is boūd to make. I acknowledge ther fore in the face of GOD Al­mightie, before you all, that whether I liue or die, I am his. He hath suffered death to saue mee from death, he was crow­ned with thornes to crowne me with glorie: he was bored and nailed to the tree, to nayle and to crucifie the sinnes of the whole world. He was con­tent to be pearced and goared with a speare, yea so pearsed, that the blood gushed out, and [Page 151] for nothing else but to washe me cleane from the sore of sin, in the streames of his mercie. For this with one consent lett vs crie, Our soules doo magni­fie the Lord, and our spirits rc­ioise in God our Sauiour. Sc­condlie I confesse, that though Christe in his pretious bloud hath clensed me from the filth of sinne, that notwithstanding I doo nothing in this present life, but heape sinne vppon sin, and hourde vp trespasse vpon trespasse, so that this daie is worse alwaies than yesterdaie, by increasing as daies, so sins: and therefore the indignation of God against mee. But yet those of hel shal not be able to preuaile against me. For there [Page 152] is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Iesus my Sa­uiour. Thirdlie I confes that as my life is sinful, so it is shorte; like a smoke, like a shaddowe, like a warrefare, like a flower that fadeth, grasse that withe­reth, a word that soon passeth, it is like a bubble in the water, a weauers shuttle: it is a span long and no moe. Againe it is not onelie short but also mise­rable. For it is an exile, a vale of miserie, it is a wildernesse, it is stuffed with sorrowes, a cage of enimies, a sea of myseries, a dungeon of gronings & gree­uous sobbings: it is a storme, a tempest that wonderfullie tro­bleth the people of our hea­uenlie father: beleeue me, it is [Page 153] no better than a womans tra­uell, and that is extremelie mi­serable: and therefore, as not onelie short but also wretched I am willing to forsake it. Yea death, welcome death; sicknes, sicknes of all messengers wel­come art thou. Adue vile life, farewell life, sinneful life adue, and welcome death the purse­uant of my louing Sauiour: for by thee my miserie shall end. From war to peace, from this stormie worlde into the calme countrie of heauen: from gro­nings and sobbings, from this vale of fighings, to the pallace of ioy: from earth to heauen, from sinfull men & wild beasts to beloued friendes, by death I shall passe to life, to haue the [Page 154] companie of holie Patriarkes, and blessed Saints, to haue the sight of the glorious Trinitie, to haue and inherit such ioye, as neither eie hath seene, nor eare heard, nor hart euer con­ceiued. By death I shal haue li­bertie without imprisonment, health without sicknesse, ioye without sorrow, plesure with­out paine, in such securitie, e­ternitie and perpetuitie as pas­seth all thoughtes. The holie ones of GOD my father, the blessed Aungels and Archan­gels they haue atteined it, but neuer can they sufficientlie e­steeme of it. So that O death, thou art welcome: welcome sicknes for my Lord Iesus hath new sent thee to fetch me from [Page 155] this prison to his palace, from a strange contrie to my home, from this place of teares and mourning to the daie of marri­age, sweet Iesus to marry thee in thy mercies for euer. Heare deerely beloued, heare and re­ioyse with me. Sicknes is com, death is in comming as a pur­seuant from my louing Iesus, to cite me to appeare before him, that he may appoint me a man sion in his fathers house, to sit with him at the table of ioy for euer. O the great ioy and on­lie ioy of a Christian; Nowe I shall lie noe more in this pri­son: nowe I shall haue Paules wish: for I shall bee deliuered from this bodie of sinne: now shal I depart in peace with Si­meon [Page 156] to haue that peace that passeth all vnderstanding, and surmounteth al thought. Now now shall I see the amiable ta­bernacles of my Lorde: nowe shall I enter the courtes of my God, where one daye is better than a thousande else-where: now shal I be a doorekeeper in the house of mine heauenlie father, now shal I appeare be­fore the presence of God, now doth his kingdome come, now Lord Iesus, now thou cōmest to carrie my soule into ioy, In­to thy hands therefore I cōmit my spirite. Beloued brethren this is my testamente, which I leaue vnto you, it offereth great ioye, and no matter of Teares. Shead therefore no [Page 157] teares, for better is the daye of death than the daye of birth. I entered my life with a crye, it coste my mother payne and teares to beare mee, but yet it cost my louing Iesus his bloud to saue mee, you, and all the world. Enuy not therefore my luckines, that now I shall passe from you out of this vale of teares, vnto him who died that I with him mighte liue in ioye for euer.

If you will mourne, mourne for your owne sinnes, mourne for your selues, that you shal not so soone sup with God my father as I shall doo: & mourne not for me, for you shall short­ly follow me, and lose me but for a time, when you shall see [Page 158] in heauen for euer. For blessed are the dead that die in y ^e Lord, whose name for euer bee glo­rified, Amen.

A praier for the rich man.

THou art the Wel­spring of all good thinges, O louinge Lorde: thou art the riche store house and cheste of mercie for al naked Adamites O Loue inestimable; Wee are born into this Vale of miserie not only wicked in soule, but euen also naked in body: a de­serued entraunce for vs by fa­ther Adam, through desire of souereigntie: but an vndeser­ued thing it is, O good GOD [Page 159] that notwithstanding our me­rited pouertie & deserued na­kednesse, by rebellion against thy Maiestie, thou shouldest thus cloath me with thy bene­fites: with plentie against pe­nurie, with friendship against enimitie, with health against sickenesse, with store against needinesse. This O Lord, is an vnmerited benefite, for the which after my bounden duty, I giue thee harty thankes. But what shall I say? what suffici­ent thanks shall I render vnto thee? for thou hast not onelye armed mee against pouertie [...] but also chosen mee as a stew­ard to vnlocke the chest of thy benefites to needye Lazarus, that as thou hast loued mee, so [Page 160] I should tender thee in him. O Lord giue me thy grace, that I may bee thy stewarde, by clo­thing the naked, by feeding the hungrie, lodging the har­bourles, and defending the fa­therles: that I may bee able to render a faithfull accoumpt of my stewardshipp vnto thee i [...] the daie of reuelation. Grau [...] this O Father, for Christe his sake, Amen.

Another.

O Father of Heauen, and rich God of mercie. Be­hold thy poore creature, in sin riche, in grace poore: bestowe vppon mee some mite of thy mercie, cloath mee with the merits of thy sonne Iesus, and bathe my naked bodie in [...] [Page 161] pretious bloud: satisfie my hungrie soule with a crum of thy gratious blessings, that be­ing cloathed with the armour of his meritorious passion, I neede not to feare the naked, the desperate corruption, or rather wages of nature. Moi­sten my heart with the honye­dew of thy great & rich grace, that as thou hast enriched me beyonde my desart, beyng by sinne an enimie vnto thee: so I maye continue riche in good workes, to the profite of my neighbours, to the comfort of mine owne soule, and to the manifestation of thy glorious maiestie. O Lorde, thou art a zealous God, Such a God as wishest my healthe, and the [Page 162] safetie of thy Creatures, haue therefore mercy vppon mee, blesse me with faith towardes thee, with loue towardes my neighbour, and a godlie care towards my selfe, that thou in thy selfe mayest be magnified, & my conscience reioise in the testimony of a good life, whose reward in thy sonne Christe is life eternal, Amen.

The Beggers praier.

O Mighty Lord, and prouident GOD, y ^e stewardes of thy plentious store­house are not moued to feede the hungrie, to cloath the na­ked, and lodge the poore Pyl­grime at his piteous crie, but [Page 163] notwithstanding all this their tyrannie, Father forgiue them, and pardon mee, as I forgiue them that haue trespassed a­gainst me. Rake the fire of cha­ritie out of the dead ashes, and quicken it O Lord, that I may warme mee in thy familie, in time of extremitie: and they be ready in thy great audit to render a full account of theyr stewardshippe vnto thee. But first of all doo I begge grace of thee, that I may euer seek thy kingdome, and so bee persua­ded in hart by thy word, that I shal want nothing, but that all other things shal be added vn­to me. This doo I aske of thee, O father of Heauen, that euer criest, Aske & haue. Giue mee [Page 164] faith to aske in certaintye, that I may looke without doubt for this thy craued mercie, ô Lord I beseech thee, Amen.

Another.

LAue mercie vpon mee: O Lorde, and pardon myne offenses, the rich men of this worlde will scarse looke vpon me, or vouchsafe to relieue my necessitie with the crummes of their ouer-streaming tables. But yet O Lord, I beseech thee forgiue them, and denye mee not the crums of thy grace: but looke vppon me with the piti­ous eie of thy louing counte­nance. Assist mee so O Lorde, with thy holy spirit, that being alwaies content with my cal­ling, I may seeke to serue thee [Page 165] in holinesse and purenes of li­uing without feare al the daies of my life. Beate me with po­uertie, beate me O Lord, strike wound, doo thy good will, ô lo­uing God: so thou saue mee of thy mercie, wherin lieth al the ioy of my soule. Giue mee thy grace, neuer to misdoubte thy prouidence, that neuer doub­ting of thy fatherly care, I may with a gladsome heart endure the end of my warrefare. Giue me a contented minde, let thy wil be my wil, and my will al­waies answerable to thy will, that I neuer offende thee, but doo my dutie in louing thee, & wishing well to all the world, Amen.

The Widowes praier.

O LORD, I thanke thee that thou hast scourged me with the death of myne husband. He was bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: hee by the couenant of matri­monie was made one bodie with me: thou gauest him vn­to mee, and thou haste taken him from mee: blessed be thy name for euer. The bandes of death haue sundered mee from him: but I hope O Lorde, by the power of thy holye spirite, that nothing shall bee able to separate mee from thee myne onelye Iesus, the onely ioye of my soule, put the axe of thy [Page 167] mercie to the roote of wanton nature, and cut it off: that I doo not marrie the vanitie of this wicked worlde: but put vpon mee the garment of innocen­cie, and tie about my hart the iewel of faith, that I may one­lie marry thee in the couenant of thy heauenlie father, louing Iesus, and haue nothing to doo with the adulterer the Dyuell, the father of deadly fornicati­on. This is the only bed of ioy wherein I will sleep O Lord, & the onlie arke of cōfort, where in I wil saile, till I shal see thee face to face. To whome bee praise and honour both nowe and euer, Amen.

The Tenants praier.

I Thanke thee, O fa­ther of Heauen, that thou haste made me after thin owne image. Thou mightest haue made me a frog, a worm, a tree, but thou hast not doone it, O Lorde? And what was in cause? surelie not my merit, for I was not before thou madest me: it was thy mercye, good Lorde, the true mother of all mankind. Thou hast not made me a king, a ruler, a lorde: no Lorde, but I thanke thee for it thou hast made me a tenant of men, but yet in thee, that euer I might acknowledge thee i [...] them my cheefe Lorde in hea­uē. [Page 169] Giue me grace O Lord, to thankefull for this thy wil, and dutifullie to walke in my voca tion, and giue mee thy grace, that as I am a tenant to man, so I may alwaies bee a tenant to thee, to doo thee seruice, to paye thee yeerelie my hourely rent, which is a thankfull hart for all thy benefites. If man would haue mee to do wrong against right, Lorde giue mee of thy grace to consider, that better it is to be thy Tennant than mans. If the diuel and the worlde entising mee to walke wantonly seeke my destructi­on: giue mee grace O God, to consider, that al things are sub iect to thine vniuersall power: and shal not they obeie? how [Page 170] then can they or dare they as­sault me to hurt me, fastening the anchor of my faith vpon so sure and firme a rocke? if the fleshe make warre against the spirit, to make me seruiceable to sinne, minister strength vn­to me O Lorde, that being thy tenant and a child of thy fami­lie, I may winne the field, and fighting valiauntlye, may bee crowned eternallie with thy sonne Iesus my blessed Sauior, Amen.

The fatherlesse childes praier.

O Lorde, so narrowe is the mouthe of charitie, so consu­med is the fire­brand [Page 171] of Christian loue, that although the foxes haue their holes, & birds their neastes, yet haue wee no place to reste our heads on. As Pilgrimes wee wander from place to place, and are driuen with the winds of pinching pouertie vpon the seas of this worlde to seeke re­liefe: but alas and woe to the world for it. The rich man de­uoureth all superfluitie, or else hourdeth vppe to fill hys Gar­ners niggardlie: so that Laza­rus may not onely walke amid the streetes naked, but also lie begging at the gates full sore, and yet go without the crums which fall from the Table, to ease the tune of his necessitie. O Lord therfore do I flie vnto [Page 172] thee: haue thou mercie vpon me, for it is onely thou which fillest with thy blessing euerie liuing thing. I am better than a farthing sparrowe O Lorde: thou knowest it and I acknow­ledge it to my comfort. Feede my soule with the fleshe of thy sonne, and set me drinke of his bloud, that seeking firste thy kingdome, I may in the end be crowned with glorie, and sit at the table of ioy in hea­uen with thee. O Lord grant this, I be­seech thee, Amen.