The Alphabet of Prayers, very fruitefull to be exercised and vsed of euerye Christian Man. Newly collected and set forth, in the yeare of our Lorde, 1564. ¶Seene and allowed according to the order appointed in the Queenes Maiesties Iniunctions.
Euery one that asketh receiueth, and he that seketh findeth.
IMPRINTED AT LONdon by Henry Denham, dwelling in Paternoster Rowe, at the Signe of the Starre.
The Glory of the Honorable, is, to feare God.
To the Right high and Honorable, and my Singuler and very good Lorde, Lorde Robert Dudley, Earle of Lecester, Baron of Denbigh, and Knight of the moste Noble order of the Garter.
THE chiefe and Principall thing (most Noble Earle,) appertaining to euery Honorable Personage (which thing it is good to see that your Honor doth well consider) is to walke in the Garden of Humilitie, and the highe or directe Ecclesia. 11. waye to the same, is to passe by the gate of Vertue, whose foundation is ancred and linked to the feare and loue of God: for as by the one is Ecclesia. 1. couered the multitude of sinnes, so by the other is obtayned blessednesse, wisedome, and knowledge. Dauid that noble king and prophet, after Ecclesia. 25. that hee had long trauailed and had passed thorowe the gate of vertue, entred the faire and pleasaunt garden of humilitie, And hys walking and continuaunce therein, so much pleased God, that God saide of him by the mouth of his [Page] Prophet. I will set vp thy seede after thee, which 2. Kings. 7. Psalme. 89. shall proceede out of thy body. Which sentence most worthy Earle (although not spoke of your Noble parentage) in your honor may be approued, which I doubt not your honor considereth. Knowing therefore moste honorable, the great loue and effection which your honor euer hath and doth beare to Vertue and good Letters, I was thereby moued the more boldly after I had gathered togither this small handfull of floures (named the Alphabete of Prayers) to dedicate the same to your Honor, as the fruites of my labours, nothing doubting, but that it shall moste acceptablye come into your fauourable and sure protection. And for so much as Prayer is the key that openeth to Vertue, I thought good moste honorable, to set forth to the open shew of the world and to thencrease of Vertue, thys little Volume or Treatise, most humblye beseeching your Honor to accept it as my good wil, crauing your pardon if any thing haue escaped mee for want of Learning. And I according to my bounden dutie, shall call daily (with my most humble and hearty Prayers) to Almighty God to finishe that he hath begon in you, with prosperous preseruation of your health, long to liue in Honor, loye and Felicitie. Amen.
To the Reader.
IT is written (gentle Reader,) that in the beginning, in the dayes of Seth the sonne of Adam, the people first began Genesis. 4. to inuocate and call on the name of God, which is to saye, by deuout Prayer they did require and aske all things of him, praysed him, trusted in him, and gaue to him the honour and worship that belonged vnto him.
And this maner of praying, was vsed among the Fathers from Noe, vnto the comming of Christe: And they did frequent & vse the same as a special meane and way to craue of God, his mercy, hys grace and his assistance.
By Prayer also they did set forthe the glory of God, appeased hys wrathe and displeasure, and rendred hym thanckes for his benefites receyued. Christe oure Sauioure after his comming taught it Math. 6. 7. Iohn. 16. also, as a moste necessary and cōfortable doctrine, wherby we might craue of hys [Page] heauenly Father, not onely all thyngs necessary and needefull for vs (as appereth in hys Prayer taught to hys Disciples) but also forgiuenesse of sinnes, to the attainement of eternall Lyfe. And therefore maye we well saye, that as the vse thereof is worthye prayse, so is the want therof to be lamented. For where as Prayer is not frequented, there God is not called vppon for hys grace and assistance, neyther is he thancked for hys gracious benefites, the free gyfte of hys mercy is not desired, neyther is the horrible punishement of hys iustice feared.
Right well therefore may we in this our age (wherein sinne so much aboundeth, and the ordinarye vse and time and place of Prayer so muche neglected) lament the lack of the vse thereof in all degrees, wyth the loose lyfe of men, whiche is so frayle, so weake, so peruerse of nature and so prone to euill, that almoste none in manner sheweth in liuing to feare God. Who is afrayde to offende hym? or who refrayneth to blaspheme hys holye name? who seeketh to subdue [Page] the fleshe to the Spirit? yea rather who seeketh not to lay the brydle. of liberty at length, freely and without staye to followe sinne, the cause whereof is (as I haue sayd) the want of true and vnfayned calling on God in deuout Prayer: For by it is wrought in vs, the hate of sinne, and by it is driuen from vs, all other occasions that might prouoke the wrath of God vpon vs. And therefore it may be called oure speedy messanger or trusty Embassadour, which doth obtain 1. Kings. 2. for vs a gratyous audience before the Maiestie of God, presenting to him the fruites of our contrite hearts.
But who may not now trowest thou (Gentle Reader) rightlye saye to the world, as Ionas sayd to the Niniuetes: There is yet forty dayes, and the world Luke. 11 shall be destroyed.
The Niniuetes, as sone as the Prophet had proclaimed distruction to come on them for their sinne, they immediatly at the first crying of him, with trembling and feare turned to God, beleued him, feared his iustice, confessed their [Page] sinnes, and with penitent hearts craued hys mercye. But thou, O Englande, whome it hath pleased God to call, not by the mouth of one man, as he did the Niniuets, but he hath called thee by dyuers other and sundrye meanes: as first by giuing thee a moste vertuous & gracious Queene, who for hir worshipping of God and setting forth hys name and glorye, maye be compared wyth Iosiah king of Iuda: for hir vertues, pollicie, & wysedome, with Iudeth: & for the cares toward hir peopte, with humble Hester.
He hath not (as I saye) called thee, by thys hys good gifte of so mercifull and gracious a Queene, but also hath called thee by the Preachers of hys Worde, by death and famine, otherwise by fyre frō Heauen, by motion of warre, and lastly by mortallitie of Pestilence, yet nothing (O Englande) doest thou regarde hys calling: wherefore to thee it may be said, the more he seeketh thee the more thou shunnest him, the more he loueth thee the lesse thou regardest him, the more thou needest him the lesse thou thinkest [Page] on him: so that by thy great vnkindnesse God is compelled to say vnto thee, as hee sayd to the Israelites: I am ouerweried with bearing and long suffring of thy wycked and sinfull liuing. If thou therefore, doe desire to be free from the horrible plagues and threatnings of GOD, thou must lyke a true Niniuete, wyth a broken and penitent heart, call on God wyth continuall Prayer, crauing of him hys mercy, grace and assistaunce, which if thou aske wyth a sure Fayth, he wyll graunt it thee. And therefore when thou doest praye, thou muste (after the minde of the Apostle) aske with a stedfast faith, Iames. 1. not wauering nor doubtfull, and thy request shall be graunted thee. He therefore that asketh as he ought, receiueth: and hee seeketh well that seeketh wyth continuall desire: and he knocketh well which dothe prouoke Gods goodnesse to heare him, as did the Woman of Cananie, vnto whome Christe sayde, after hir peticion made: O Woman great Math. 15. is thy Fayth, be it vnto thee euen as thou hast desired. [Page] Thus (gentle Reader) if thou loue thy health, if thou long to be acceptable to God, if thou desire to be sure from the grennes of the Diuell, from the stormes of thys Worlde, from the way of thine ennimies, if thou couet to be happye at the laste, let no daye passe thee, but that thou once at the leaste doe present thy selfe to GOD by Prayer: And falling downe before hym wyth an humble affecte of deuout minde (not from the extremitie of the lippes onely, but oute of the inwardenesse of the heart,) cry with the Prophet: O Lorde, the offences of my Youthe and mine ignoraunce, remember Psalme. 25. thou not: but after thy mercye and goodnesse O Lorde remember thou me. And thus the holye spirite that prayeth for thee, and eke thine owne necessitie, shall euery houre put thee in minde what thou shalt praye for, and what you shall desire of God.
Who therefore that will persist and continue in Prayer, shall not onely bee vnto God dailye more and more gratefull and acceptable, but shall also dailye [Page] proceede further and further from vertue to vertue, and shall be made lyke vnto the heauenly and Angelicall mindes, which daily behold the presence of God. And because all the felicitie of the soule, standeth in the cleere beholding of the fruition of God, and for that our felicity shall be euerlasting wyth him, let vs reioyce and saye with the Prophet: Thou shalt (O Lorde) fyll vs full of gladnesse wyth thee, whiche is no more but that our felicitie is fulfilled in the seyng and beholding of God and our nature in Christ, sitting in heauen on the right hande of his Father, so that our rewarde is, that we may beholde God and Iesus Christ hys sonne, whome he hath sent: to the which rewarde he bring vs that sitteth there and prayeth for vs, Amen.
Certayne Sentences set forth after the order of the Alphabete, very necessary to meditate in minde.
- Aske vvith a sure Fayth.
- Be feruent in Prayer.
- Confesse thy Sinnes.
- Doe vvell to all men.
- Enuie no man.
- Forgiue them that hate thee.
- Giue almes to the Pore,
- Hurt not thy Enimye.
- In aduersitie be pacient.
- Keepe the Commaundements.
- Loue Vertue, and hate Vice.
- Mourne vvith them that mourne.
- Neuer be ashamed of vvell doing.
- Obey God and thy Prince.
- Put the feare of God before thee.
- Quicken thy selfe vvith Gods promises
- Remember the ende, ere thou begin.
- Succour the pore and needye.
- To all men be Indifferent.
- Vse often and hearty Prayer.
When you begin to praye, thinke vpon the remission of Sinnes promised in Christe Iesu, and let not thys sweete Sentence spoken of oure Sauioure, be left oute of your remembraunce, which is I saye vnto you, whatsoeuer you aske the Father in my name, he will giue it you.
A Prayer for the Morning.
ALmightye and moste mercifull God, I heartily thanke thee for the sleepe and quiet rest which vnder thy protection I haue receiued this night, and for that it hath pleased thee safely to bring mee to the beginning of thys daye: I wretched Sinner most humbly beseeche thee to defende, cherishe, comforte and gouerne mee, and all my counsayles, studies and labours, in suche wyse, that I may spende and bestowe thys daye according to thy moste holy wyll, wythout the hurting of my neighbour: and that I may euermore by thy gouernance, doe [Page] that is thy will and pleasure, hate wrong and loue iustice. Also I beseech thee most mercifull GOD, strength and keepe me in the Fayth of the Catholike Church, and kindle in mee the loue and lyghte of thy holy spirite, that I may walke in the truthe of thy Worde. Graunt thys mercifull God, for thy deare Sonne Iesus Christes sake. Amen.
¶ The fyrst Psalme, wherein the penitent requireth of God to walke in hys Commaundements.
BLessed are all those that are vndefiled in the wayes of the Lorde: and blessed are they that keepe his Testimonies, and seeke him wyth their whole heart.
Cause mee thy Creature and handyworke therefore (O Lorde) diligentlye to keepe thy Commaundementes: and so direct my wayes, that I may keepe thy Statutes.
[Page]Doe so vnto thy seruaunt (O Lorde) that I may liue and keepe thy moste holy Worde.
Euer wyth my lyppes wyll I be telling of the iudgementes of thy mouth, that I maye haue delight in the waye of thy Testimonies, as in all manner of ryches.
For so shall I not be confounded, while I haue respect vnto all thy Commaundementes.
Giue mee vnderstanding I beseeche thee O Lorde) and I shall keepe thy law: yea, I shal keepe it with my whole heart.
Heare my voice (O Lorde) according to thy louing kindenesse: and quicken thou mee, according as thou art wont.
O Lorde, stablishe thy Worde in thy Seruaunt, that I may feare thee: and open thou mine eyes, that I maye see the wonderous things of thy lawe.
Glorye be to the Father, and to the Sonne, and to the holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and euer shall bee, Worlde wythoute ende. Amen.
R D
REwarde mee not O Lorde according to my deseruing, for if thou do then must I needes perish: Wherfore to thee I come moste mercifull Father, not trusting in mine owne righteousnesse, but in thy great mercy and promises made in Christe Iesu thy Sonne: For whose sake, O Heauenly Father, I humbly beseeche thee to pardon and forgiue mee all mine offences. Amen.
O God my Refuge and my strength, which art the authour of all Godlinesse, be readie to heare the deuout Prayers of thy seruant, that those thinges which I aske fayhfully, I maye obtayne effectually, thorowe Iesu Christe our Lorde. Amen.
BEholde not good Lord, that which is amisse in mee, for if thou doe, I shall no more be worthye to be called thy Sonne: yet of thy great goodnesse (O Lorde) poure downe of the crommes [Page] that fall from thy Childrens table, that I may be the least among them. Amen.
ASsist mee thy Seruaunt (O Lord) agaynst this Worlde, with all the vaine pompe, pleasure and beauty thereof, that it may be vnto mee as vile dust, fylthynesse and ashes, that I maye vse it, as though I vsed it not, and that it may serue mee, & I not it, that I may take my part therof vnto my necessity, y t I do not vse thy creatures voluptuously, but y t I may alwayes liue (in this short lyfe) righteously, soberly, & iustly. Amen.
REmember not O Lord, the number of my sinnes, but according to the multitude of thy mercies, deliuer mee from the paynes due for them. Graunt this O Father, for thy deare sonne Iesus Christs sake: Amen.
TEach me good Lord to number my dayes, that I maye applye my heart to learne thy Wysedome, and so strengthen me with thy Spirite, that I swarue not from thy lawe. Amen.
[Page] DOe not wyth me O lorde, as I haue deserued, but call to remembraunce (for thy sonne Iesus Christes sake) thy tēder mercies, which haue bene euer of olde: and cast me not from thee, in thy heauy displeasure, leaste I be consumed and brought to noughte. Amen.
VNto thee (O thou God of my comfort) I wretched Sinner doe come, crauing of thee thy mercy: Encline therefore thine Eare vnto my calling (O Lorde,) and consyder the requeste of my hearte, for Iesus Christes sake. Amen.
DEare Father, to whome it is more easie to doe all things, than for me to thincke any one good thoughte, giue power vnto thy seruaunt, that I may with a strong fayth, vanquish and subdue, whatsoeuer may cause me to rebell agaynst thy blessed wyll. Amen.
[Page] LOrde graunt vnto me thy seruaunt the strength of thy holye Spirite, to subdue the body of Sinne, with the whole lusts therof, that it may be made obedient in wyl and minde to thy lawes. Amen.
EUery one that sayth Lorde, Lorde, shall not enter the kingdome of heauen. Strengthen therfore (O Lord) thy seruant with the power of thy right hand, agaynst all the malignitie of the olde wylie serpent: replenish my heart with thy wisedome, comforte my soule with thy sweet promises made in Christ Iesu, and let thy mercies couer mine infirmities. Amen.
YN all these my Meditations (O Lorde,) let thine eares be open, that thou maist heare the prayers which I thy seruāt haue made before thee this daye. And graunt that I may alwayes aske of thee in such sorte as y u requirest, [Page] to the honor, praise & glory of thy name, to the furtherance of thy Worde, to the profit of my neighbor, and to my consolation and comfort, thorow Iesu Christe my Sauiour and Redeemer. Amen.
¶ The second Psalme, of thankes giuing after Aduersitie.
AFter that I had long looked for thee O Lorde: at the laste thou dyddest attende vnto mee, and heardest my Prayers.
Blessed art thou Lorde, which haste not holden back thy mercy from thy seruant: but hast taken mee out of the lake of miseries, and set my féete vppon a rocke, and made my steppes sure.
Conioyne thy selfe (O God) vnto my soule, & make it strong, least mine Enimies ouercome mee, and the companies of Tirannes ouerwhelme me.
Dominion, power, & glorye be thine, for thou haste made all things: and bycause [Page] thy will is so, they doe styll continue.
Euen thou (O Lorde) haste done many thinges, wonderfull and great: and there is none that can bee lyke▪ vnto thee in thy workes.
For thou helpest them, whose heartes be broken with sorrow: and bearest vp with thy hande, them that be contrite in Spirite.
Go not from me, O thou God of mercy: for thou art my sure refuge, and the strength of my hope.
Haue thou in remembraunce (O Lord) the rebuke that thy seruant hath bene put to: and how furiously my enimies haue persecuted me.
I haue tasted and felt of thy swéetenesse: truely blessed is that man that trusteth in thee.
Keepe thy mercy for mee (O Lorde) my strength and my prayse: thou haste brought downe mine Enimies, which art a Iudge from the beginning.
Lorde, there shall no good thing▪ bee lacking to them that seeke thee: and they▪ [Page] that feare thee, shall not be helplesse.
My soule therefore shall neuer ceasse to speake of thy righteousnesse & of thy benefites, which be so many that I cannot number them.
No man may helpe me O Lorde, but thou, who hast brought my soule out of Hell, and haste holpen me vp from falling into the deepe, from whence no mā retourneth.
O Lorde, thus haste thou reuenged the wrongs that mine enimies haue done to me, thus hast thou bene my cō forte in the time of my trouble, and haste bene mercifull vnto me.
Put away from me O Lorde, that which is euill, for thou arte holye, & saue thy seruant which euer hath trusted in thee.
Quicken me in thy righteousnesse, and so shal I triumph and reioyce in thy mercy, for that thou haste looked vppon my necessyties, and haste regarded my soule in my great distresse.
Remember Lorde, that thou of thy own wil & minde diddest giue strength [Page] vnto my soule: but when thou hyddest thy face from me, I was astonished.
Sende forth therefore (O Lorde) thy light and thy truth: and they shall leade me vnto thy holy Hill, and into thy holye Tabernacle.
Then shall I haue ioy for the dayes wherein I was in sorowe: and shall reioyce, that thou hast remembred the rebuke that thy seruaunt hath bene put to.
Verely, I was afrayde that thou (O Lorde) haddest caste me out of thy presēce: yet it hath pleased thee to heare my Prayers, and according to thy great mercy, haste taken me agayne vnto thy grace and fauour.
Wherefore (O Lorde) thy name be blessed, praysed, magnified, both nowe and euer: as it was in the beginning, is nowe and euer shall be, world wythout ende. Amen.
The Prayer.
I Giue thee thanks, O God almightye, which not alonely hast deliuered mee from many dangerous perilles & troubles [Page] of Enimies, but also haste endued me with the gyftes of nature, as reason, power, and strength, and with all other needefull things thou haste possest mee. I acknowledge therefore (O Lord) and confesse with the Apostle, that these are thy gyftes, and that there is no perfect and good gift, but it commeth from thee (O Father almighty) which giuest frelye, and casteth no man in the teeth. I acknowledge wyth the Prophets also, that Gold is thine, and Syluer is shyne, and thou gyuest it to whome it pleaseth thee. Wherefore my moste mercyfull God, I humbly besech and desire of thee that the encrease of these thy gyfts draw mee not from thee, but that thou wylte frame in me, with thy holy Spirite, a true and faythfull heart and ready hand to good workes, that I laye not vp treasure here, where Theeues may rob, and Mothes corrupte: but in thy Heauenly Kingdome, where neyther Theefe may steale nor Moth corrupte. Graunte this deare Father, for thy sweete Sonne Iesus Christes sake▪ Amen.
¶ The thirde Psalme, of Confidence and truste in God.
ALthough (O God) neuer so strong Enimies shall pytche their Tentes agaynst mee, my heart shall not be afrayde: for thys is certayne, that all they which truste in thee, shall not bee confounded.
Breake not therefore (good Lorde) the couenant that thou hast made wyth thy Seruaunt: and chaunge not that which hath yssued out of thy mouth.
Cause that thy holye Aungell may direct and guide me, that my soule may truste in thee: for thou arte the fountayne of Lyfe, and my recreation in aduersytie.
Deliuer mee from the snares of the hunters, and from the perilles of my persecuters: and make a shaddowe▪ for mee vnder thy shoulders, and I shall be harmelesse.
[Page]Euyl men are risen vp agaynste me, yet thy truth shall be my shield & buckler: and therefore if my enimies come agaynste me, I will not flye nor turne my backe.
For who is he that hath trusted in thee, and is confounded: or who hathe called vpon thee, and thou haste despised him?
Go not from me (O Lord,) for like as the Hart when he is chased, coueteth to the riuers of water: euen so my soule desireth to be with thee.
Howe great pleasures hast thou (O Lorde) prepared for me in heauen: that I shuld delight in no earthly thing, but in thee?
I will therefore acknowledge, that I haue all my strength of thee: for thou art my hope, my protection, my God and my Sauiour.
Keepe mee O Lorde, for in thee my health and glorye doth consist: thou arte my comfort, my strength and helper, in whome I doe trust.
Let all them O Lorde, reioyce and [Page] be glad, which seeke thee: and let them whiche loue to haue Saluation of thee, say: Magnified be the Lorde for euer. Glory be to the father. &c.
The Versycle.
O Lorde heare my Prayer,
The Aunswere
And let my cry come vnto thee.
The Prayer.
O Most gratious & moste wise guide, my Sauyour Christe, which doest leade all them that truely and vnfaynedly truste in thee, the righte way to immortall blessednesse: Graunt mee, that like as I am weake and feable, so I maye take and repute my selfe, that I presume not as of my selfe, to see my selfe, but so farre to see, that I maye alwayes trusting in thee, haue thee before my eyes, to follow thee being my guid, to be ready at thy call moste obediently, & to accompt my selfe wholly vnto thee: that thou which only knowest the way, mayst leade me in the same waye to thy heauenly ioyes, where thou raygnest God euerlastingly. Amen.
¶ The fourth Psalme, of Mercy. To be said before the receyuing of the Communion.
¶ O Mercifull Iesu,
HAue mercy vpon me, accordinge to thy great mercye: and according to the multitude of thy mercies doe away all mine offences.
O Sweete Iesu.
I Haue sinned agaynst thee, and done euill in thy sight: that thou mayst be iustified in thy saying, and mayst ouercome when thou art iudged.
O Christ the Sonne of God,
LOoke on mee with y e eyes of thy mercy, the vnknowne things of thy wisedome haste thou reuealed vnto mee: if thou therefore sprinckle me with ysope, I shall be cleansed, if thou wash mee, I shall be whiter than Snowe.
O my Sauiour,
MAke thou a pure hearte in mee, and looke no more on my synnes: but after thy mercy and great goodnesse, put out of thy sight all mine offences.
[Page] O my Redemer.
NO man can helpe mee but thou, cast me not therefore from thy presence▪ and thy holy Spirite take not from me.
O my Maker,
OUt of the bowels of thy mercy giue me comfort, and thy helpe: so shall I teache thy wayes vnto the wicked, that they may conuert vnto thee.
O King of Kings.
PUt from mee Bloudgyltynesse, thou that arte the hope of my health: and my tong shall speake of thy ryghteousnesse.
O Iesu,
QUenche the desire of Synne in mee, and open my lippes, that my mouth may set forthe the worthy prayse of thy name.
O maruellous Creator,
REmember, thou desyrest not the Sacryfice of Calues, nor delightest in whole burnt Offrings, yet haste thou pleasure in a lowly Spirite, and a contrite and humble heart, doest thou not despise.
[Page] O Holy of Holiest.
SEnde downe thy fauourable beneuolence vpon Sion thy holye habitation, and builde vp the walles and pyllers thereof: then shall the acceptable sacrifice of righteousnesse be layde vpon thine altare.
O Holy Father,
PRaise be to thee, and to the Sonne and holye ghost: as it was in the beginning is now, and euer shalbe worlde without ende. Amen.
The versicle.
O Lord Iesu haue mercye,
The Aunswere.
Which came downe & suffred for mee.
The Collect.
O Sorde Iesus Christ Sonne of the liuing God, set thy holye Passion, Crosse, and death, betweene thy iudgement and my soule, both nowe & at the houre of death. And moreouer vouchsafe to graunt vnto y e liuing mercye and grace, that after thys lyfe they may haue rest & quietnesse in thee: And [Page] to thy whole Church graunt peace and concorde, that all the members thereof may liue & ioy in thee for euer, which liuest and raignest with the Father and holy Ghost worlde without ende. Amen.
The Prayer.
O Lorde Iesus Christ the onely stay and defence of my mortall state, my onely hope, my onely saluation, my victorye, my glorye and my triumphe, who in the fleshe, (which thou haddest for my onely cause taken vppon thee) didst suffer thy selfe to be tempted of Sathan, and who onely and alone diddest vtterly ouercome and vanquish sinne, death, the worlde, the Diuel, and all the kingdome of Hell: And whatsoeuer thou haste so ouercome for my behouse, it is thou y t haste ouercomed it alone. Giue me therefore I besech thee (O Lion most victorious of y e tribe of Iuda) strength against the deceitfull waiting of the most subtil Serpent, which dailye seketh to deuour my soule. Thou beyng a Lambe as whyte as Snowe, the [Page] vanquisher of Sathans tyranny, gyue vnto mee (thy lyttle one,) the strength and vertue of thy Spirite, that being of my selfe weake and feable, but in thee strong and valiaunt, I may withstande and ouercome all assaultes of temptation, so that my ghostly Enimie the Diuel may not glory ouer me, but being a cō querour thorow thee▪ I may giue thankes to thy mercy, which neuer leaueste him destitute that putteth his truste in thee, who liuest and raignest God for euer without ende. Amen.
When thou shalt receyue the Communion, say thus.
O Lord and Sauiour Iesu Christ, who in thy laste Supper wyth thine Apostles didst giue vnto them in a Sacrament, thine owne body and Bloud, to be the foode of their soules: Graunte mee I beseech thee, euer stedfastly to beleeue, and kindelye to acknowledge thy Infinite and Almighty power, and thine incomprehensible loue [Page] towarde mee, and that I may alwayes worthily receyue the same blessed Sacrament and memoriall of thy death, according to thy holye ordinaunce, that it may worke in mee increase of all Godlinesse, in vnity of spirite, with thee oure head, and by thee and thy spirite, with al the company of them y t be truely thine, which be thy spirituall and mysticall bodye, and my spirituall and Christen brethren. Heare mee my Sauiour and my Christ, for thy names sake. Amen.
After the Communion fay thus.
O Lorde Iesu Christ, which hast vouched safe Spirituallye to giue vnto mee in these holy mysteries, thy bodye and bloud, mortifye whatsoeuer is euil in mee, and garnishe mee wyth thy merites and vertues, that thou mayst delyte to abide and dwel in mee. Renue my spirite, my soule, and my body, with thy excellent grace, that I may be made lyke vnto thy holy humanitie, frame me after thine owne hearts desyre, knit me [Page] vnto thee moste neerely, that I maye be chaunged altogither into thee. And graunt that I may doe nothing, speake nothing, nor desire nothing, but that which maye be acceptable vnto thee, which arte my God, my Sauiour, and Redemer, to whome with the Father & holy Ghost, be all honor and glorye for euer and euer. Amen.
¶ The fift Psalme, for the Remission of Sinnes.
ALmighty God, Lorde of Lordes, great and dreadfull is thy name: which by thy Worde haste made Heauen and Earth, and all things contayned in them.
All things be vnder thy dominion and rule, both man and beast, and all other liuing creatures: and thou haste mercy on whome thou wylte, and haste compassion on whome it pleaseth thee.
Against thee holye Father, against thee haue I sinned & done euill: I haue [Page] bene an offender euen from my cradell, and since I sucked my Mothers brests I haue not seased to do euill.
But what am I (Lorde) that I dare speake to thee: I am thy poore creature, and a worme most abiect.
Beholde Lorde, I haue nought, and of my selfe I am nought, thou art onely good, righteous and holye, thou orderest all things, thou giuest all things, & thou fulfillest all things with goodnesse.
Beholde I am thine (O righteous Father,) and one of them whome thy onely deare Sonne hath redemed: and of thee, which arte iudge of all men, I aske mercye.
Cast not away (O Lorde) a contrite and penitent heart, humbly calling vpon thee: but turne the eyes of thy mercy towardes me, and forgiue me the sinnes of my youth.
Cast not thy dartes at me, nor laye not thy heauy hande vpō me (O Lord,) for I haue borne thine anger a longe while, and of the Cuppe of thy displeasure haue I dronke very deepe.
[Page]Cast me not away from thy presence, neither take thou thy holye spirite from mee: but giue me the comforte of thy helpe, and stablishe me in thy truthe.
Destroye mee not (O mercifull Father) bicause of mine iniquitie: but be thou mercifull vnto mee, for thy Sonne Iesus Christes sake.
Destroye me not vtterlye, nor leaue me in my sinnes: for thou art a God full of mercye, and verye gratious to them which trust in thee.
Dailye, sorrowe ouercommeth mee, and sadnesse possesseth my heart: I looke for a time of health, but my griefe continueth still.
Enter not Lorde into iudgement wyth thy Seruaunt: for if thou accuse me, I shall neuer be quite, and if thou marke my sinne and iniquitie, no man shall deliuer me.
Excepte thou helpe me of thy goodnesse and mercye: howe maye I which haue offended thee, be raysed vp from my sinnes.
Euen of thee therefore (O holy Father) [Page] which arte the God of mercye, I wretched sinner doe aske mercy: and for the glorye of thy name, be no longer angrye wyth mee.
For as thou arte God, so arte thou gratious and mercifull, and pacientlye sufferest sinners, and wouldest that no man shoulde perishe: but that all men should turne to penaunce.
For albeit y t no man is able to beare the punnishment, which thou dost threaten against Sinners: yet thy mercye which thou haste promised, is great and vnsearcheable.
Forgiue for thy name sake (O Lord Almightye) all my sinnes: and put oute of thy sight all mine offences
Giue me a newe heart, and take frō me al wicked desires, that I may euermore knowe, what thing is acceptable in thy sight.
Giue light (O Lorde) to mine eyes, that I sleepe not in death: and then my sinnes shall not preuayle against me.
Graunt me (holye Father) y t I may euer desire and wyll that, which is most [Page] pleasaunt and acceptable in thy sight: and that I haue no desire to will or not to wyll, but as thou wilt.
Glory be to the Father. &c. As it was in the begin. &c.
The Uersicle.
Cut Lorde my sacke of sorow in peeces,
The Aunswere.
And clothe me with gladnesse.
The Prayer.
ALmighty and most mercifull Father, I wretched sinner moste humbly beseeche thee, that thou of thy goodnesse wylte not remember the offences of my youthe, but that according to the greatnesse of thy mercye, thou wylt turne fro mee the payne, that I haue iustlye deserued for synne, and that by thy grace I maye (while I am in thys vale of miserye,) euermore be renued in the spirite of my mynde, that a pure lyfe maye alwayes appeare in me. Amen.
¶ The sixt Psalme, wherein he desireth to be hearde of God.
HOw long (O Lord) shall my minde be troubled wyth paynefull sorrowes and heauye thoughtes: howe long shall carefull cares torment my heart?
How long (O God) wylt thou reiect my prayers which dailye I poure out before thee: wylt thou Lorde heare mee at no time, or wilt thou now ceasse to shew mercy?
Haste thou (O Lorde) cast me awaye for euer, or wylte thou neuer hereafter be pleased wyth mee? Thy hande is not weakened but it maye helpe, and thine rares be not stopped, that they refuse to heare.
I beseche thee (O righteous father) for Iesus Christes sake, that y e sighings and inwarde desires of my heart, maye moue and encline thee to heare mee.
I haue ben an vntrue and frowarde childe to thee, I haue not feared thee, [Page] nor shewed due reuerence vnto thee, but haue bene euer disobedient & stubbourne against thee.
I am in prison and bound in fetters of sorrowe: tyll thou with thy gratyous presence vouchsafe to visite me, & bring me againe to liberty and ioye.
Keepe thy mercy therefore for me alwayes O Lorde: and the couenaunte which thou haste made with me, let it be surely perfourmed.
Kepe me Lord frō sinne, and I shall then dread neyther death nor Hell: and as thou alwayes hast bene mercifull to penitent sinners, so nowe good Lorde forgiue my sinnes.
Kepe my heart in thee, and then shall I reioyce in thy mercy: for that thou hast looked on me and hast regarded my soule in my great distresse.
Let me neuer hereafter goe awaye from thy wayes: nor leaue me not now in the depenesse of my troubles.
Loe, nowe be the dayes of health and grace, nowe is the accepted time: for in death who shall remēber thee (O Lord) [Page] or in Hell who shall prayse thee?
Lorde beholde therefore my weakenesse and fraylenesse, best knowen vnto thee: and looke downe from Heauen vppon the sorowe and heauinesse of me thy poore creature.
My lyfe is as it were in the middest of fierce Lions: whose teeth are like vnto speares, and the sharpenesse of them lyke vnto the sting of Scorpions.
Mollifie my hearte (O Lorde God) that I may retourne to thee and walke in all thy wayes: for I haue wandred ouerlong in the waye of sinners.
Make a perpetuall league and couenant with me, that thou wilt put thy feare into my heart: y t I neuer swarue from thée againe.
No man may so hide himselfe from thee, but that thou mayste see him: who doest fulfill both heauen and earth.
Neuerthelesse I wyll speake vnto thee, and wil not holde my peace so long as the breath is in my mouthe: but styll shall call on thee for thy mercy.
Nothing is able to resist thy power, [Page] thy mercy is aboue all thy workes: and thou art gracious and merciful to them which diligently obserue and kepe thy lawes.
O Lorde my Prayers be euer vnto thee, let thine anger be tourned frō me, that I maye fynde fauour in thy sight.
O Lorde looke thou not vppon the hardnesse of my heart: but like as thou hast many times shewed mercy, so now be mercifull and forgiue that I haue offended thee.
O Lorde my God, which tenderly louest mankinde, and arte a most rightfull Iudge, spare me I beseche thee: and shew on me y e abundance of thy mercye
Glory be to the Father. &c. As it was in the bigin. &c.
The Versicle.
Turne not thine eyes from me O Lorde.
The Aunswere.
But teache me to doe that is pleasaunt in thy sight.
[Page] The Collect.
O Mercifull God, which by thy sonne Christ hast taught vs to call on thee in our necessitye, giue me grace I beseche thee, to acknowledge mine own infirmitie and weakenesse, that I depending on thy merciful goodnesse, may (with a strong and stedfast fayth) continuallye call on thee wyth a true repentant heart, for thy grace, mercie, and pardon, that after thys corruptible lyfe I maye beholde thee in thy euerlasting glorye, where thou raignest God euerlasting. Amen.
The Prayer.
O Lorde our God, thou that broughtest thy people oute of the lande of Egipt with a mighty hande, with tokens and wonders, wyth thy great power and stretched out arme. Before thee O Lorde my God, haue I synned wyth my forefathers, & haue done wickedly, behauing my selfe vngodly in all thy righteousnesse. Turne thy wrathe [Page] from me O Lorde, and heare my Prayers and Peticions for thine owne sake; and bring me home againe which long haue bene astraye, that they that hate thy name, maye knowe that thou arte the Lorde my GOD, and that I haue called on thy name. O Lorde looke downe vpon me thy poore creature, encline thine eare and heare mee, for the dead y t be gone downe to their graues, and whose soules are oute of their bodyes, ascribe vnto thee O Lorde, neyther prayse nor righteous making, but the soule that is vexed for the multitude of hir sinnes, which goeth on heauilye and weakely, whose eyes begin to fayle, yea suche a soule (O Lorde) ascribeth prayse and righteousnesse vnto thee. I therefore O Heauenly Father require mercy in thy sight, not for any goodnesse that is in me, but for the merites of thy deare Sonne Iesus Christes sake, to whome wyth thee and the holye Ghost, be laude and prayse for euermore. Amen.
¶ The seauenth Psalme, for the obtayning of Godly Wisedome.
PReserue me O God, for in thée doe I trust: let thy Wisedome rule and guide my thoughtes, that they may alwayes prayse thee.
Put thy worde in my mouthe, and fasten thy wysedome in my heart: that other also may be conuerted vnto thee.
Plucke mee from mine heynous offences, and heale my soule which hath offended (O God:) that I maye be free from the gylt of my transgression.
Quicken me (O Lorde,) as thou art wont to doe thy chosen: and let thy hand direct my wayes, that I may walke in thy statutes.
Quicken me, that I maye liue and kepe thy wordes: that my soule maye prayse thee, and that thy iudgementes may helpe me.
Quicken me also wyth thy louing [Page] kindenesse: and so shall I keepe the testimonies of thy mouth.
Remember me O Lorde, for thy goodnesse sake: and for the great loue that thou bearest towardes me.
Remember that thou haste made me of the earth: and that I shall returne into the dust of Death.
Remoue me therefore good Lorde from the way of sinners: & strengthen me with the power of thy right hand.
Shew me the wayes O Lorde, and sende forth the hote flames of thy loue, to burne and consume the fantasies of my mynde.
Satisfye me with thy mercy, & that sone: so shall I be glad and reioyce in thee all the dayes of my lyfe.
Shewe now good Lorde, and declare thy goodnesse vnto me: sende downe from Heauen the spirite of thy Wisedome, and replenishe my heart wyth knowledge thereof.
Thou fulfillest the desires of them that feare thee: and hearest the Prayers of them that call on thee wyth their [Page] whole heart.
Thou leadest straight in thy iudgements, them that be mylde and tractable: and teachest them that be meeke, thy wordes and Testimonies.
Thou holdest vp all them which else should fall: and all that are fallen, thou lyftest vp agayne.
Up Lorde, and helpe thy seruaunt, thou art my hope and refuge, thou arte my strong holde and castle: for thy names sake leade and guide me.
Uerelye if thou shewe me thy goodnesse and manifolde mercies, I shall florishe as the Oliue tree, that bringeth forth fruite in due season.
Uerely my soule hath speciall respect vnto thee (O Lord,) for that my health, my strength, and my glorye, commeth from thee.
Which hast saued my lyfe from destruction, and shewed me thy grace and mercye.
Which haste satisfied my desyre wyth good things: and shalte once restore to me my youth againe.
[Page]Wherefore to thee most louing Lord and for these thy mercies, I offer to thee the Sacrifice of laude and prayse: Giuing thee thankes nowe and euermore world without ende Amen.
Lorde haue mercy vpon mee.
Christ haue mercy vpon mee.
Lorde haue mercy vpon mee.
OUr Father whiche arte in Heauen, halowed be thy name. Thy kingdome come. Thy wyll be done in earth as it is in Heauen. Giue vs this daye our daylye breade. And forgiue vs our trespasses, as we forgeue thē that trespasse against vs. And leade vs not into temptation. But deliuer vs frō euill. For thine is the kingdome, the power, and the glory, foreuer and euer. Amen.
The Uersicle.
Destroye mee not O Lorde for my Sinnes.
The Aunswere
Neyther reserue eternall punishement for them.
The Prayer.
MOst righteous God, for thy great mercies sake, hearken to these my humble Prayers, which I make before thee: & consider mercifull Lorde the desire and thought of my heart. Let my loude cryings come vnto thee, and let my vnfayned Prayers entre into thine eares. Heart mee O Lorde, for I am destitute of thy helpe. Take care for my soule, saue me thy Seruaunt whych wholy must in thee. Haue mercye O Lorde haue mercy vpon mee, for I wyll neuer rea [...] crying to thee for thy help & mercye. In the daye time I will call on thee, and in the night my crye shall not be hydde from thee. O thou God of the Heauens, the maker of the waters, and Lorde of al Creatures, heare me a most wretched sinner calling on thee, & take [...] [...] mee all my sinnes, and make stedfast my fayth and confidence in thy mercifull promises, that I putting my trust in them, maye haue as y u hast promised, euerlasting lyfe, thorow Christe Iesus thy Sonne our Lorde. Amen.
An other Prayer.
OLorde and heauenly Father, plant in mee true obedience to thy holye lawes, and to my Soueraigne and Gracions Ladye Queene Elizabeth, whom thou hast set to raigne ouer mee. And lette not the cares of this worlde deceiue mee. Keepe me also good Lords, from all vncleane desires, and graunt mee thy grace, to walke before thee all the dayes of thys my Pilgrimage, with good conscience and pure minde, that when thou shalte appeare to rewarde euerye man according to his deedes, I may receiue at thy hand the rewarde of one that hath not bene ashamed of thee in this life. O Lorde increase my fayth, increase my loue, increase in me a sure hope of my saluation, O Lorde my Sauiour increase strength in mee to ouercome sinne, & to stande against all temptations: let thy holy Aungell alwayes keepe & conduct me, y t I may euermore be thankefull vnto thee in Christ Iesu our Lorde, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honor and glorye for euer and euer. Amen.
¶ Here followeth the Letanie with certaine other Godly Prayers.
O God the Father of Heauen, haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners.
O God the Father of Heauen, haue mercie vpon vs miserable Sinners.
O God the Sonne, Redeemer of the worlde: haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners.
O God the Sonne, redeemer of the worlde: haue mercie vpon vs iniserable Sinners.
O God the holy Ghost, proceding from the Father and the Sonne, haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners.
O God the Holye Ghost, proceding from. &c.
O Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinitie, three persones and one God, haue mercye vpon vs miserable sinners.
O Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinitie. &c.
Remember not Lorde our offences, nor the offences of our forefathers, neyther take thou vengeaunce of oure sinnes, [Page] spare vs good Lord, spare y e people whōe thou hast redemed w t thy moste precious bloud, & be not angry with vs for euer.
Spare vs good Lorde.
From al euill and mischiefe, from sinne, from the craftes and assaultes of the diuell, from thy wrath, and from euerlasting dampnation.
Good Lorde deliuer vs.
From blindenesse of heart, from pride, vainglory and hipocrisie, from enuy hatred and malice, & al vncharitablenesse.
Good Lorde deliuer vs.
From fornication, and all other deadlye sinne, and from all the deceytes of the world, the fleshe, and the Diuell.
Good Lorde deliuer vs.
From lightning & tempest, frō plague, pestilence and famine, from battaile and murther, and from sodayne death.
Good Lorde deliuer vs.
From all sediction and priuie conspiracy, from all false doctrine and heresie, from hardnesse of heart, and contempt of thy worde, and commaundement.
Good Lorde deliuer vs.
[Page]By the mystery of thy holy incarnation, by thy holye natiuitie & circumcision, by thy baptisme, fasting, and temptation.
Good Lorde deliuer vs.
By thyne agony and bloudy sweate, by thy Crosse and Passion, by thy precious death and buryall, by thy glorious resurrection and ascention, and by the comming of the holy Ghost.
Good Lorde deliuer vs.
In all time of oure tribulation, in all time of our welth, in the houre of death and in the day of iudgement.
Good Lorde deliuer vs.
We sinners doe beseech thee to heare vs (O Lorde God) and that it maye please thee to rule and gouerne thy holy church vniuersally, in the right way.
We beseeche thee to heare vs good Lorde.
That it maye please thee to keepe and strengthen in the true worshipping of thee, in righteousnesse and holinesse of lyfe, thy Seruant Elizabeth, our moste gracious Queene and gouernour.
We beseeche thee to heare vs good Lorde.
That it may please theé to rule hir heart [Page] in thy fayth, feare, and loue, and that she may eucrmore haue affyaunce in thee, & euer seeke thy honor and glory.
We beseeh thee to heare vs good Lord▪
That it may please thee to be hir defender and keper, giuing hir the victorie ouer all hir enimies.
We beseche thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to illuminate all Byshops, Pastours and ministers of the Church, wyth true knowledge & vnderstanding of thy worde, and that both by their preaching and liuing they may set it forth, and shewe it accordingly.
We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to endue y e Lordes of the Counsayle, & all the Nobility, with grace, wisedome, & vnderstanding.
We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to blesse & kepe the Magistrates, giuing them grace to execute iustice, and to maintainetruth.
We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to blesse & kepe all thy people.
We besech thee to heare vs good Lord.
[Page]That it may please thee to geue to al nations▪ vnitie, peace and concorde.
We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it maye please thee to giue vs an heart to loue & dread thee, and diligently to liue after thy commaundementes.
We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to giue to al thy people increase of grace, to heare meekely thy word, & to receiue it w t pure affection, & to bring forth y e fruites of y e spirit.
We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord
That it may please thee to bring into the way of truth, all such as haue erred and are deceyued.
We beesech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to strengthen such as doe stand, and to comfort & helpe the weake hearted, and to raise vp them that fal, and finally to beate downe Sathan vnder our feete.
We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to succour, helpe and comfort all that be in daunger, necessitie, and tribulation.
We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord.
[Page]That it may please thee to preserue all that trauayle by lande or by water, all women labouring of childe, all sick persones, and yong children, and to shewe thy pitie vpō all prisoners and captiues.
We beseche thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to defende, and prouide for the fatherlesse children & widowes, & al that be desolate & oppressed.
We beseche thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to haue mercye vpon all men.
We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to forgiue oure enimies, persecuters and sclaunderers, and to turne their heartes.
We beseech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to giue and preserue to our vse the kindely fruits of the earthe so as in due time we may enioye them.
We besech thee to heare vs good Lord.
That it may please thee to giue▪ vs true repentance, to forgeue vs al our synnes, negligences & ignorances & to endue vs with y e grace of thy holy spirite, to amend [Page] our liues according to thy holy worde.
We beseeche thee to heare vs good Lord.
Sōne of god: we besech thee to heare vs.
Sonne of God▪ we beseech thee to heare vs.
O Lambe of God, that takest away the synnes of the worlde.
Graunt vs thy peace.
O Lambe of God, that takest away the synnes of the worlde.
Haue mercy vpon vs.
O Christ heare vs.
O Christ heare vs.
Lord haue mercy vpon vs.
Lorde haue mercy vpon vs.
Christ haue mercy vpon vs.
Christ haue mercy vpon vs.
Lord haue mercy vpon vs.
Lord haue mercy vpon vs.
Our father which art in. &c.
And lead vs not into temptation.
But deliuer vs from euill.
Amen.
The Versicle
O Lorde deale not wyth vs after oure synnes.
The Aunswere.
Neither reward vs after oure iniquities.
[Page] Let vs pray
O God mercifull Father, that despiseste not the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire of such as be sorowefull, mercifully assyst our prayers that we make before thee, in all our troubles & aduersities, whensoeuer they oppresse vs, & graciously heare vs, that those euills, which the crafte and subtilty of the diuell or man worketh agaynst vs, be brought to nought, and by the prouidence of thy goodnesse, they may be dispersed, that we thy seruaunts being hurt by no persecutiōs may euermore giue thankes vnto thee in thy holy Church, thorow Iesu Christ our Lord.
O Lorde arise helpe vs and deliuer vs, for thy name sake.
O God we haue heard with oure eares, and oure fathers haue declared vnto vs the noble workes thht thou didst in their dayes, and in the olde time before them.
O Lorde arise, helpe vs, and deliuer vs for thine honour.
Glory be to the father, and to the sonne, and to the holy Ghost.
[Page]As it was in the beginning, is now, and euer shall be, world without ende. Amē.
From our enimies defend vs, O Christ.
Graciously looke vpon our afflictions.
Pitifullye beholde the sorrowes of oure heartes.
Mercifully forgiue the sinnes of thy people.
Fauourablye wyth mercye heare oure Prayers.
O Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon vs.
Both now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs, O Christ.
Graciously heare vs O Christ.
Graciously heare vs O Lorde Christ.
The Versicle
O Lord let thy mercy be shewed vpō vs.
The Aunswere.
As we doe put our trust in thee.
Let vs Praye.
WE humbly beseeche thee, O Father, mercifullye to looke vpon our infirmities and for the glorie of thy names sake, tourne from vs all those euils that we most righteously haue deserued, and graunt that in all [Page] our troubles we may put oure whole truste and confidence in thy mercye, and euermore serue thee in holinesse & purenesse of liuing, to thy honour and glory, thorowe oure onely Mediatour and Aduocate Iesus Christ our Lorde. Amen.
A Prayer for the Queene.
O Lorde Iesu Christ, most high, most mighty, God euerlasting, King of Kings, Lorde of Lordes, the onely ruler of Princes, the very sonne of God, on whose right hande sitting doest from thy throne beholde all the dwellers vpon earth: wyth most lowely heart I beseeche thee vouchsafe wyth fauourable regarde, to beholde our moste gratious soueraigne Ladye Queene Elizabeth, and so replenishe hir wyth the grace of thy holy spirite, that she alwaye may encline to thy will, and walke in thy way: kepe hir farre of from ignoraunce, & thorowe thy gift let prudence & knowledge alway abounde in hir royal heart: so instruct hir O Lorde, raygning vppon vs in earth, that hir humaine Maiestie, alwaye [Page] obey thy Diuine Maiestie in feare and dread. Indue hir plentifully wyth Heauenly gyftes. Graunt hir in health and wealth long to liue. Heape glorye and honour vpon hir. Glad hir with the ioy of thy countenaunce. So strengthen hir, that shee maye vanquishe and ouercome all hir enimies, and be dreade and feared of them: and finallye after thys lyfe, I beseech thee good Lorde, that shee may attaine euerlasting ioy and felicity where thou raignest God with the Father and the holy Ghost. Amen.
A Prayer to be sayde in the time of extreme Sicknesse.
O Lorde Iesu, which arte the onelye health of all men liuing, and the euerlasting lyfe of thē which dye in thy fayth, I wretched Sinner giue and submit my selfe wholly vnto thy blessed wyll. And I being sure that the thing cannot perishe which is committed vnto the mercye, willingly therefore beseeche thee moste mercifull Lorde Iesu Christ, that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soule agaynst all temptations, and [Page] that thou wylte couer and defende mee wyth the buckler of thy mercy, against all the assaultes of the Diuell. I see and acknowledge that there is in my selfe no hope of saluation, but all my hope, confidence & trust, is in thy mercye: I haue no merits nor good works which I may alledge before thee: of sinnes and euill workes (alas O Lorde) I see a great heape, but yet thorowe thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them that shall be saued, to whome thou wylt not impute their sinnes, but take them to euerlasting lyfe. Thou Lorde wast borne for my sake, thou diddest suffer hunger and thirst for my sake, thou diddest praye and fast for my sake, finally thou diddest all good workes and deedes for my sake, and gauest thy moste precious bodye to dye, & thy bloud to be shead on the crosse for my sake. Now therefore moste mercifull Sauiour, let all these good things profit mee, which thou freely hast giuen me, that hast giuen thy selfe for mee. Let thy bloud washe and cleanse awaye the spottes & fowlenesse of my sinnes, let thy [Page] righteousnesse hide and couer mine vnrighteousnesse, let the merits of thy passion and bloud be the satisfaction for my sinnes. Giue me O Lorde thy grace that my fayth and saluation in thy bloud wauer not in me, but euer to be firme and constant, that the hope of thy mercy neuer decay in me, that charitye waxe not colde in me, finally that the weakenesse of my fleshe be not ouercome with the feare of death. Graunt also mercifull father, that when Death hath shut vp the eyes of my body, yet that the eyes of my soule may still beholde and looke vpon thee, that when death hath taken away the vse of my tong and speache, yet that my heart may crye and saye vnto thee: O Lorde into thy handes I giue and commit my Soule, and wyth thy holye Martir Steuen beholding thee in my soule, may say: Lorde Iesu receiue my soule vnto thee, which liuest and raignest God euerlasting, with the Father and Holy Ghost. Amen.
¶ A Prayer of Chrisostome.
ALmighty God which haste giuen vs grace at this time, wyth one accorde, to make oure common supplications vnto thee, and doeste promise that when two or three be gathered togyther in thy name, thou wylte graunt their requestes, fulfyll nowe O Lorde, the desires and peticions of thy seruaunts, as may be most expedient for them, graunting vs in thys worlde knowledge of thy truth, and in the world to come, life enerlasting. Amen.
THe grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ, and the loue of God, and the fellowshippe of the holy ghost, be with vs all euermore.
Amen.
Euening Prayer.
The Antheme.
REmember not O Lorde, mine offences, nor the offences of my forefathers, neyther take thou vengeance of my sinnes, spare me good Lord, whome thou haste redemed wyth thy most precious bloud, and be not angrye wyth me for euer.
¶The fyrst Psalme at Euening Prayer.
AGainst thee (O Lorde, against thee haue I sinned, & done wyckedly before thee: and thou seest also that mine iniquitie is great.
Behold good Lorde, I am solde vnder sinne: and in my fleshe I fynde not that which is good.
Comforte therefore (O Lorde) the soule of thy seruaunt: for vnto thee doe I lift vp my heart and minde.
Do thou shew on me thy mercy (O [Page] Lorde:) and graunt vnto me thy saluation.
Earely in the morning doe I cry vnto thee: bicause of thy righteous iudgements and mercy.
For thou Lorde arte good and gracious, and of great mercy: vnto all them that call vpon thee.
Giue lyghte vnto mine eyes, (O Lorde) for I haue slept to long in death: and my sinnes haue preuayled againste mee.
He that liueth (O Lorde) he that liueth shall prayse thee: and shall make thy mercy knowen.
In thy Tabernacle (O Lorde) wyll I dwell for euer: and my defence and couering shalt be vnder thy wings.
Glory be to the Father. &c.
¶The seconde Psalme.
LOrde deliuer mee from among the wycked: that I maye gyue thankes to thy holye name, and make my boast of thy prayse.
[Page]Make all nations whome thou haste made, to reioyce and worship thee: that they may prayse and glorifie thy name.
Now teache thou me O Lorde, that I may walke in thy truth: and knit my heart vnto thee, that I maye feare thy name.
O Lorde fourne thee vnto me, and haue mercy vpon me: giue thy strength vnto me and succour mee.
Praysed be thy name O Lorde my God: for thou hast set thy glorye aboue all the Heauens.
Quicken my soule O God, and all the powers thereof: that it may cleaue fast and be ioyned to thee in ioyful gladnesse of Ghostly rauishings.
Regarde O Lorde the Prayer of thy seruant: and hyde not thy face from me, in the time of my trouble.
Shewe some good token vppon me, that they that hate me may see it and be ashamed: bycause thou Lorde hast holpen and comforted me.
Thou Lorde art good and gracious: and of great mercy, vnto all them which [Page] call vpon thee.
Vnto thee therefore O Lorde, wyll I perfourme my vowes: & I wyll giue thee thanks both nowe and euermore, worlde without ende. Amen.
The Antheme.
SAue me good Lorde waking, and keepe me sleeping, that I may wake in Christ, and rest in Peace.
The Versicle.
Blessed be the name of the Lorde
The Aunswere.
From this time forth for euermore.
The Collect.
O Lorde God I beseeche thee to lighten my darkenesse, and deliuer me from all y e daungers of this night, O mercifull Lorde, thorowe thy Sonne Iesus Christ, who liueth and raigneth with thee in vnitie of the holye Ghoste, world without ende. Amen.
The Antheme.
O Lorde graunt me thy lyght, that I being deliuered from the darkenesse of sinne, may come to the verye eeight which is Christ.
[Page] The Versicle.
Lord heare my Prayer.
The Aunswere.
And let my crye come vnto thee.
The Collect.
LIghten my darkenesse I besech thee, O Lorde, and by thy great mercye defende me from all the perils and daungers of this night, that after my sleepe I maye safely awake, to the prayse and glorye of thy name, thorowe Christe thy Sonne our Lorde & Sauiour. Amen.
The Prayer.
O Merciful God and Heauenly Father, whether I sleepe or wake, liue or die, I am alwayes thine. Wherfore I besech thee hartily that thou wylte vouchsafe to take charge and care of me & not to suffer me to perish in the works of darknesse, but to kindle y e light of thy countenaunce in my heart, y e thy Godly knowledge may dailye increase in me, thorowe a right & pure faith, and that I maye alwayes be founde to walke and lyue after thy wil and pleasure, thorow Iesu Christ our Lorde & Sauiour. Amen.
A Prayer for the Queene.
O Heauenly Father, God almighty, whose Kingdome is euerlasting & power infinite, which of thy good, nesse haste vouchsaued to restore vnto vs of the Englishe nation the lyght of thy holye Gospell, by thy chosen seruant and Minister Elizabeth our moste gracious soueraigne Lady. I beseech thee O good Lorde so to rule hir heart, that she knowing thy will, may alwayes incline to doe the same effectually. And graunt that we hir Subiects, duely considering hir Regall auctoritye and power, which thou hast giuen hir, maye truely and faythfully serue, honoure, and humbly obey hir, in thee, and for thee, according as thou haste commaunded vs in thy blessed and holy Worde, thorowe Iesus Christ oure Lorde, to whom wyth thee and the Holy Ghost be all honor and glory, for euer and euer Amen.
¶ A Psalme and Prayer against the Enimies of the Catholike Church.
ARise O Lorde, and stretch forth thine hande, the Heathen are fallen into thine heritage: thy holy Temple haue they defyled, wherin thou haste put thy name, and made of it and heape of stones,
Beholde the dead bodyes of thy seruants haue they giuen to the Foules of the ayre, to be deuoured: and the bones of thy Sainctes haue they consumed with fyre.
Cruellye haue they (on euery syde) shead like water the bloud of thy Faithfull: and haue despised to bury them.
Deceytfullye haue they crept into thine habitation: and wyth scorne and derision, haue they (O Lorde) spoken against thee.
Euen in the middest of thy Temple haue they (O Lorde) blasphemed thy name: and haue not ceassed to doe [Page] wickedly.
Forget not I beseche thee (O Lord) howe cruelly thys wycked people haue deuoured Iacob thy chosen: and layde waste thy dwelling place.
Giue glorye therefore to thy name (O God euerlasting) and let the vengeaunce of thy seruants bloud which is shead, be openly shewed vpon the wycked in our sight, that we thy people and sheepe of thy pasture may ioyfully saye: blessed be our God Iehoua, for euer and euer. Amen.
The Uersicle.
Lorde vtterly destroy thine enimye.
The Aunswere.
Which hath polluted thy Sanctuarye.
The Prayer.
DEliuer thou vs O Lorde, frō these vngodly and stiffenecked persons, for thou seest, that in their heartes they ymagine mischiefe, and haue pleasure to eate vp and deuour thy chosen. Their tongues be more sharp than the [Page] sting of Adders, and vnder their lyppes, lurketh poyson. But O mercifull Lord, let vs not fal into their hands least they handle vs after their owne luste. Looke downe from Heauen thy habitatiō we beseche thee, on thy dispearsed sheepe, and strengthen our weakenesse against their furious rages: Abate their pride, asswage their malice, confounde their deuises, wherewith they lyft vp themselues against Christ Iesus thy Sonne our Lorde.
We be not able of our selues to stand against their assaultes, except thy vndeserued grace and mighty arme defende and deliuer vs. Performe therefore thy promises made to Iacob thy Seruaunt, and stop the mouthes of thy cursed Enimies. Call to repētance thy seely sheepe, and forgiue all those that wilfully & obstinately rebell not against thy holye Worde. Looke also we beseche thee vpon thy poore dispersed, which for thy truth sake are compelled to wander frō place to place, and ridde them oute of their daily greuances, that we may all [Page] with one voice and vpright heart, and pleasant countenance, extolle and magnifie thy holy name. Amen.
An other Psalme for the Church, vnder the borowed speache or name, of a Uineyarde.
HEare O thou Shepeherde of Israell, thou that leadest Iacob lyke a flocke of sheepe: howe long wylte thou be angrye ouer the Prayers of thy people.
In Egipt thou haddest a Uineyard, which thou broughtest among the Heathen, thou plantedst it there, and it tooke roote: so that the whole lande was couered withall.
Lo the hilles were couered with the shaddowe of it: and so were the strong Cedre trees wyth the bowes therof.
Maruellous was the increase of it, after it had taken roote: and so was the name of it, among all nations.
Neuerthelesse thou haste suffred the [Page] hedge thereof to be broken downe, so that the wylde Bore oute of the wood hath rowted it vp: and the beasts of the fielde haue deuoured y e Grapes therof.
O Lorde, thou God of hostes, let them perishe in thy wrathe, that thus haue destroyed and layde waste this thy pleasant vine: whose braunches spreade from see to see.
Preuent we beseeche the O Lorde, the malicious enimies of this thy vine: and so shall wee wyth voyce and heart, laude and praise thy holy name. Amen.
The Uersicle.
Turne thee O God, looke downe from Heauen.
The Aunswere.
And beholde the Uineyarde whiche thy right hande hath planted.
The Prayer.
A Rise O Lorde, looke on thy vineyarde, that it be not deuoured of the wicked haters thereof. Let thine enimies be scattered, the righteous (O Lorde) make thou pleasant and mery, [Page] let them blow abrode thy Magnificence let them sing prayses & pleasant songes vnto thee, let them most highly aduance thy Maiestye, let thy glory grow, let the Kingdome of Christ from Heauen among the chosen be enlarged: be thou (O Holy Father) the Protector of them, namely, whom the world forsaketh and pursueth for Christes sake. Howe drye O Lorde is the flock of thine heritage? poure downe largely we praye thee therfore, the showers of thy grace, that the Churche thy Spouse may deale large spoiles of the conquered Sathan. In thy house O Lorde, let vs dwell in peace & concorde: giue vs all one heart, one minde, and one true interpretation of thy worde, that al that beleue in thee by Christ our Lorde, might lifte thee vp w t praises. And giue to thy people cunning and power to withstande sinne, and to obey thy worde in al things. Graunt it so to be most mercifull Lorde, for thy Sonne Iesus Christes sake. Amen.
Here followeth certaine Prayers very profytable to be exercised.
¶ A Prayer to God the Father for the obtayning of mercy for his Sonne Christes sake.
O Holy Father, remember not the offences of my youth, but thinke vpon thy great mercies and couenant made vnto mee in Christ Iesus thy Sonne my only Aduocate and Mediator. He it is (O holy Father) whom thou diddest sende to be the obtainer of mercye for my sinnes. Hee was made weake to make me strong. Hee was wounded for mine offences. He gaue his body to be beaten and his Cheekes to be stricken. He turned not away hys face from them that scorned him & spyt vpon him. He gaue himself to death for them which were offenders. Thorowe hys loue and mercye, he hath redemed them that were loste, and by his bloudsheading on the Crosse he hath pacifyed all things in Heauen and in Earth. [Page] Behold holy Father therfore, who it is that thus hath suffered, and forgiue the sinne of him that is redeemed. O Heauenly Father, for thys thy Sonne Iesus Christes sake, write in my heart, loue to thy lawe, and hate to all sinne, y t I may be worthy thorow the merites of his death and passion, to dwell wyth him and thee euerlastingly, to whome with thee and the Holy ghost, be all honor prayse, and glory. Amen.
¶ A Prayer for the obtayning of a good Lyfe.
O Heauenly Father, God Almightye, maker of Heauen and Earth and all things contayned in them. I beseche thee, that thou wilt vouchsafe of thy goodnesse, to directe, sanctifye and keepe my heart and bodye, my senses, my doings, my talke and cōmunication in thy holy lawes, and in the workes of thy Commaundements: and that thy holy Angell may be with mee, to direct my feete into the way of peace, truthe, [Page] and health, that I maye deserue to be whole, safe, and free, in thee and by thee, bothe here and in the worlde to come. Thou y t art the Sauiour of the worlde, and king of glory, heare me & saue mee, which liuest and raignest God in perfect vnitie worlde wythout ende. Amen.
A Prayer to the Father, wherein we desire to doe those thyngs that may please him.
O Heauenly Father, haue thou pitie and compassion vppon the weakenesse of me thy vnworthy Childe, be thou prest and redy (O holy Father) to helpe me, alwayes shewing thy mercye vppon mee, and prosper thou me in whatsoeuer I Godly go aboute, so that thou giuing me lyght, I may see what things are to be accepted before thee, and thou encoraging me, I may haue an earnest desire to doe the same, and thou being my guide I may come where to obtayne them: for I hauing nothing [Page] but mistrust in my selfe, doe yelde and commit my selfe full and wholye vnto thee alone, which workest all things in all creatures to thy honor and glory. Amen.
¶ A Prayer to Christ the Sonne of God.
O Bountifull Iesu, O sweete Sauiour, O Christ the Sonne of God haue pitie vppon mee, mercifullye heare me and despise not my Prayers. Thou hast created me of nothing, thou hast redemed me from the bondage of sinne, death and Hel, neither with gold nor syluer, but wyth thy precious bloud, which thou offeredst vpō the Crosse for all mankinde. Caste me not awaye O Lorde, whome thou by thy great wysedome hast made, nor let y e wickednesse of my youth, destroy y t which thy goodnesse hath builded. Whilest I am here (O Iesu) haue thou mercy on mee, and whilest I haue tyme, giue me thy grace [Page] to repent. Looke vpon mee, O Lorde, wyth thy mercifull eyes, as thou diddest vouchsafe to looke vpon Peter thine Apostle, that after his example I may bewayle my sinnefull lyfe, that obtayning thy fauoure, I may dye therein. I acknowledge that of my selfe, I haue deserued euerlasting death, but yet I appeale to the highe throne of thy mercye, not doubting but that thou wylte haue mercy on mee: Thou hast O Lorde Iesu giuen thy selfe an acceptable Sacrifice to thy Father to appease hys wrath and to bring al sinners truely repenting vnto hys fauour. Accept mee therefore sweete Iesus, truly repēting my sinnes▪ among the number of them which shall be saued, and that I may leade a Godly and innocent lyfe, so that after thys lyfe I may attayne lyfe euerlasting thorow the merits of thy death & Passion. Amen.
¶ A Prayer to Christ our Sauiour.
O My Sauiour Christ Iesu, which diddest saye: I will not the death of a synner, but that he liue and conuerte. Vouchsafe I: beseeche thee to looke vppon me moste wretched synner with those mercifull eyes, wyth which thou once diddest beholde and looke vpon Peter bytterly weeping in the court of Pilate, wherewith also thou diddest looke vppon Mary Magdalene the penitente, at the feast of Simon, lykewyse vppon the Theefe hanging on the crosse: and cause me thorowe thy greate goodnesse, that I maye worthylye bewayle my synnes, and weepe wyth Peter, and with Mary to loue, thee wyth a pure and perfecte loue, and with the Theefe that I may beholde and see thee, which wyth God the Father and the holy Ghost raygneste GOD, worlde wythout ende. Amen.
¶ A Prayer to Christ our daily to be saide.
O Mercyfull Lorde Iesu, I beseeche thee to bee mercifull vnto mee a wretched synner: as for all my iniquitie and my negligences, and all my immortifications, I put them all into thy most precious woundes. O Lorde putte awaye all my sinnes, washe mee cleane wyth thy precious bloud, sanctify me with thy bitter passion and death, clense me perfectly, restore againe vnto me the innocency which thou (O Lord) gauest me in baptisme, that I may truly please thee. I worship, and lande, and glorifye thee, I prayse and giue thankes vnto thee my Lorde Iesu Christe, for all thy mercies and benefits which y u dayly bestowest on me. I thank thee O sonne of the liuing God, which for y e exceding great charity that thou diddest beare toward me, haste vouchsaued to be made man. Thou wouldest for my sake be borne in a stable, and as an Infante be [Page] wrapped in clothes, to be swadled and layde in a manger, to be fedde wyth the lyttle mylke of the Mayden and Virgin thy blessed Mother. Thou diddest for my sake suffer needynesse and pouertie, and many other agonies dyddest thou suffer (O Lorde) for my sake: as to be apprehended and taken shamefully, and to be bounde vnworthily, and to be condemned vniustlye: thus wyth innumerable sorrowes, wast thou brought, to y • shamefull death of the Crosse, wherevpon for my sake thou diddest shead thy most precious bloud. Graunt me therefore moste mercifull Christ, alway to acknowledge thy great loue and kindenesse towarde me, which hast suffred for mee, that I may after thys lyfe liue wyth thee euerlastingly. Amen.
¶ A Prayer to the blessed Trinitie.
O Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinitie, the Father, the Sonne, and the holy Ghost, three persons and one God, haue mercy vppon me. Lorde omnipotent and euerlasting God, without beginning or ending, whom we doe confesse one in Trinitie and thre in vnitie, I prayse thee I worship thee, I glorifie thee, and giue thankes vnto thee, for thy mercifull goodnesse and clemencye, whiche wouldest that I being in the darkenesse of all error and ignoraunce, shoulde be made partaker of thy grace & mercy. I beseche thee also moste blessed and glorious Trinitie, bring to passe the woorke of thy mercifull goodnesse begonne in mee, and leade me in all pietie and Godlinesse, and cause me alwayes to thinke, speake, and doe those things which shall be acceptable in thy syght, y t after this lyfe I may haue the fruition of thy deitie, which liuest and raignest God in perfect vnitie, world w tout end.
¶ A Prayer vpon the Peticions of the Lordes Prayer.
O Almighty and Eternall God, whiche vouchsauest that we, as it were thy heauenly children, should euery one of vs, call thee oure Heauenlye Father: graunte that among vs by purenesse & example of liuing, thy most holy name may be sanctified, that all other nacions, beholding our vertuous deedes that thou workest in vs, may be stirred to blesse and gloryfie thee.
Graunt O Lorde, that the Kingdome of thy grace and mercy may raigne continually in our heartes, so that we may be partakers of the Realme of thy glory and Maiestie.
Graunt that vnto the very death wee refuse not to followe thy Diuine will, and that we (according to the example [Page] of the Celestial Citizens, agreeing together quietly) vnited in spirite, al controuersie in opinions layde aparte, the lusts of the flesh being subdued, and all flattering assaults of the worlde and the Diuel ouercome, neuer wrastle against thy most holy wyll.
Graunt (O Lord) for our body needefull sustenaunce, that we may the more freely serue thee. Giue vs we besech thee (O mercifull Father,) that Heauenlye bread, the body of thy sonne Iesu Christ the very foode and health of our soules. Giue vs the breade of thy Diuine preceptes, that we may truely walke and liue in them. Giue vs the breade of thy heauenly word, which is the strong fortresse & sure defence of our soules, that we being well fed and fylled wyth thys foode, maye worthyly come to the celestiall feast, where as is no hunger.
Graunt (O Lorde) that we paciently beare and suffer our Enimies and suche as hurte vs, and wyllingly forgiue the offences committed agaynste vs, that so we may fynde thee (O Lorde), mylde [Page] and mercifull in forgiuing vs oure trespasses.
Graunt O Lorde, that we be not vtterly led into temptation, that thereby we should be loste: but in all perilles of temptation, and in the middste of the stormy tempestes of tribulations, let vs thy children perceyue and feele thy Fatherly succoure readye to helpe vs, least that we (ouercome wyth the naughtye craftes and deceytes of the tempters,) shoulde be drawen into euerlasting destruction: but when we be well assayd, approued, and pourged wyth the fyre of temptation, then let vs finishe oure course, and so well and valiantly fyght, that wee maye for euermore lyue wyth thee in that heauenly Citie, where and agaynst the which, no manner of temptation can preuayle.
Finally graunt (most mercifull Father) that we thorow thy benigne goodnesse, may be deliuered from all euilles present and to come, bothe of body and soule: and that at the last the yoke of the fowle fiende being shaken of, wee may [Page] possesse the herytage of thy Heauenlye Kingdome, which thy Sonne wyth hys precious bloud, bought for vs thy Children: and there for euer to haue fruition of Celestiall delectations, accompanied wyth Angels and blessed Saincts, thorowe the help, benignity and grace of our Sauior Iesus Christ, to whome and to thee our Father, & the holy Ghost, be glory and honor now and euer. Amen.
¶ A comfortable Meditation of the reconcilation and atonement made by Christ, to God the Father,
OAlmighty God, father of my lorde: behold, the most high and precious thing y t I can fynde, the same haue I offered vnto thee, the thing of moste estimation that I could fynde, haue I humbly presented vnto thee, which is thy deare sōne Christ. I haue left nothing, but in him I haue declared it, to thy Diuine Maiestie. There is nothing remayning that I may adde more, bycause I haue committed & betaken my whole hope vnto him. I haue I say (O holy Father) sente vnto thee my aduocate and spokesman, euen thy welbeloued sonne. I haue sent thy glorious childe to be a mediator for me: I haue sēt him as an intercessor, by whome I trust to get pardon & forgiuenesse of my synnes. I haue sent (O mercifull Father) word vnto word, that is, [Page] God vnto God, according to the saying of thine Apostle: In the beginning was the word & the worde was with God. &c. which worde I beleue was sent downe from thee for my mysdeedes, and dyd take vpon him my humanitie & nature, in the which he thoughte not scorne to suffer buffettes, bondes, spittings, and mockes. Yea, he toke vpon him to suffer the cruell paynes of the Crosse, nayles, and darte, & after diuers punishments, gaue vp his moste holy spirite, and was reckened among the deade. Looke mercifull Father here vppon thy Sonne, whome thou diddeste beget, and bonde seruant whōe he redemed. Behold here a Creator, & doe not refuse a Creature. Receyue the shephearde welcomed with a gentle and louing countenaunce, and mercyfully looke vppon the sheepe which he hath brought home to the ninety and nine. Beholde (O Lorde) my King and my God, which like a good shepherde, rendreth to thee that which thou diddest committe to his charge. I was able (O holy father) by my selfe to offend thee, [Page] but I was not able of my self to appease and pacifie thee. If thou therefore despyse me (as it were right) for mine iniquitie, yet at the least wyse, mercifullye looke vppon mee, for the charitie of thy welbeloued Sonne. Looke (O Holye Father vppon the Sacrifice of fleshe, and pardon the offences of fleshe: and bycause fleshe hath stirred thee to anger, let fleshe (I beseeche thee) moue thee to mercy, that lyke as fleshe hath seduced and led mee to sinne, so fleshe may gette and obtayne for me, remission for sinne. For certayne it is, muche that mine iniquity hath deserued, but yet much more it is, that the goodnesse of my redeemer may euen of ryght require. Mine vnrighteousnesse is great, but yet holye Father, hys righteousnesse is greater: wherefore most noble Creator of lyght, pardon mine offences, for the miserable trauayles and paynes that thy beloued Sonne did sustayne. Now I besech thee (O mercifull Father) let hys goodnesse be set against my wickednesse, hys modestye and temperance, agaynst my vngracious [Page] naughtinesse, and hys meekenesse against my fierce crueltie. Let hys humilitie recompence my pride, hys patience, mine impacience, his gentlenesse mine vnkindenesse, hys obedience, my disobedience, hys quietnesse, mine vnquietnesse, hys pleasaunt towardenesse, my bytter frowardnesse, his sweete facilitle and gentlenesse, mine anger and fretting fumes. To conclude, O holy Father, let his charitie make amendes for mine vnmercyfulnesse.
To whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glory, both nowe and euer, worlde wythout ende. Amen.