Godly Private Prayers for Householders to Meditate Upon

A prayer containing the effect of the Householders Catechism.

A Lmightie God and most merciful Father, I see in thy blessed laws and commandments, the greatness of my sins and wickedness: yea, I see (O Lord my god) the whole course of my life to be almost nothing else, but a continual breaking of thy holy laws and commaūdements. The thoughts of my heart, either in vanity, or else open wickedness, are in number infinite, daily in the abundance of them, causing my mouth to speak, & my body to execute and do contrary to thy holy will. And again (O Lord) I see thy heavy wrath, vengeance, and judgment against sin to be intolerable, that even the least wicked thought and most secret cogitation of my heart, procureth thy heavy wrath, and everlasting curse, the tormente of hell, and everlasting fire, even although I had but once in all my life broke any of thy commandments, so much as once in thought. And I know (O Lord God) that thou art true and just, & canst not abide sin and wickedness, but wilt justly punish every sin, even with the self same torments of hell which thy justice hath appointed, even for every sin. This O Lord my God throweth me down and even amaseth me, so that I know not what to do. I look into myself, vewing mine own power, whither I am able to overcome this punishment of my sin or no: and I see that all evē the most exquisite punishment which I can devise to myself, in whipping of my body as long as I live, wearing hair cloth, pineing myself with fasting, or any other pain, I see, I see (O Lord) that all this punishment is not sufficient for one of my least sins because it deserveth even the everlasting pains of hell. I look to Heaven, I see there is no Sainte nor Angel able to abide and overcome this punishment of sin: I look to men in this world, even to the Popes treasure, that wicked man of sin, and I see y ^t neither his mass nor purgatory, pilgrimage, pardons, penance, satisfactions, nor any of such like wicked stuff, alas I see they are nothing for the satisfying for one of my least wicked thoughts, seeing the punishment is by thy just decree and sentence thine everlasting curse. Wherefore I am driven out from myself, and all that I can do, to seek this punishment discharged other where, or else to quall under the burden. I see there is no help for me in Angels, Saints, nor mortal men, but only in that perfect man Christ Jesus thy deer son, in whom I see the full punishment of my sin wholly paid, satisfied, discharged, and overcome: death vanquished, the pains of hell in victory swallowed up, the curse satisfied, and the eternity of the punishment (through his everlasting power) ouerreachead. This I see (O Lord) by the eyes of faith, being through thy holy spirit wholly assured, that all the whole punishment of sin paid by my Savior Christ, is not only paid for other men, but even also for me and my sin. This assurance of my faith, being thine only work in me, I beseech thee in mercy to strengthen & increase, for I feel it often full of wavering & doubting. Grant that I may daily more and more in my soul and conscience, feel myself knit and grafted into the body of thy son, whereby I may be assured, that whatsoever He hath done, pertaineth to me, and is fully & wholly mine: that I may through the power of his death, feel daily sin die in me, and thorough the power of his resurrection feel myself risen from sin, to have my full joy and comfort in those things which be agreeable to thy holy will, utterly detesting, hating, and abhorring from my heart althinges which be contrary to thy will and pleasure: that even in this life I may still look for this endless joy and felicity, using the things of this world, as though I used them not, till that good time that it shall please thee to call me to thine everlasting Kingdom of Glory, there to reign with my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ forever and ever. Amen.

A prayer upon the Lord's prayer.

O Moste mighty Lord and eternal God, who hast by thy deer son Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, reconciled unto thyself all things in heaven and earth, and in him haste made an everlasting bond and couenaunte with us thy faithful children, that thou wilt not only be our God, but also our moste loving and merciful Father, whereof as a pledge thou hast given us thy holy Spirit of adoption, whereby we may with boldness and full trust and confidence come to thee by hearty prayer, as unto our moste loving and merciful Father, being assured that thou wilt not deny us anything which thou knowest shall be expedient for us: grant we beseech thee (dear Father) that we being fully persuaded in our harts of this thy fatherly love and affection towards us, may be sturred up to make our petitions with such an affection, ardent desire, love and reverence to thy majesty, that our minds be not carried away with bythoughts creeping in, but without all wandering may be fully bente and attentive to the thing we ask, and fully staide upon thy merciful and just protection.

We then beseech thee (dear Father) that thou wilt strengthen our hearts with thy holy Spirit, that considering thou hast made all things for the glory of thy Name, so we may in all our doings, enterprises, counsels and purposes, chiefly above all things seek thy Glory: that we may fully acknowledge thee not only the Author of all things, but the ruler, guider and governor of all things, both in Heaven and earth: that we never diminishe thine incomprehensible Glory, by attributing unto our selves any power, strength, or ability to do, will, or think that which is good: but from our harts we may acknowledge all our goodness to come from thee, yielding for the same continually praise and thanksgiving to thy glorious Name: that we never by distrusting thy merciful providence, dishonor thy Name, but that even in our greatest distress we may put our full confidence in thee, not looking upon our weakness, but staying upon thy power and promises, by hearty prayer fleeing unto thee our only refuge: that our whole life may be so framed according to thy holy will in all points, that thy glorious Name in us may be sactified, and that we be not an occasion that thy holy Name be blasphemed through our wicked life and conversation.

Let thy Kingdom (most merciful Father) appear, and manifestly be declared in all the world, but especially amongst thy Church, and faithful flock: declare thyself Lord and King oue • them, ruling them by the scepter of thy holy word, and force of thy holy Spirit. Increase the number of faithful Pastors and Preachers amongst the people: bless their labors to the increase of this Kingdom of thy deer Son Jesus Christ, and to the destruction of the kingdom of Satan and antichrist. Suppresse the rage of the enemies, that they may know that thou, O Lord, doest reign in all ages, to the behoove of thy Church and terour of thine enemies. Grāt these mercies good lord, not only to the whole Church in general, but especially to everyone of us thy Children particularly: Graunte that we may effectually feel the force of this thy Kingedome in our hearts. Beate down in us our old corrupt Adam, with all sinful delights, thoughts, motions, and desires: and renew in us day by day our spiritual and inward man, that we may be wholly bente to delight, think, desire, and do those things which be acceptable in thy sight.

Frame our hearts (good Lord) with such humble obedience to thy holy will, that we may be heartily well content with whatsoever it pleaseth thy goodness to lay upon us: that we never cease in our miseries, but continually call upon thee by hearty prayers, although we feel no release at all, yet that still patiently we may abide, and quietly wait for thy good leisure and appointed time of deliverance, when thou knowest it shall be moste expedient for us.

Graunte us, deer Father, that all our counsels, studies, labors and endeavours, being by thy holy spirit guided and framed, we may everyone in that vocation in which thou haste placed him, so faithfully travail, to the discharging of our consciences, and edifying of thy Church, that our accompt may be found acceptable before thy throne and Judgment seat. So bless our labors and travels, that we may have sufficient for the preserving of this present life, and be content with those benefits which thou shalt bestow upon us, whether they be many or few, acknowledging them to be received of thee: not greedily to care for them or vainly to delight in them, but thankfully esteem of them, as thy benefits bestowed upon us, and as faithful Stewards moderately to use them to the relief of our brethren, and the discharge of our consciences.

Increase in us (good Lord) the gift of faith, that we may daily more and more in our souls and consciences be assured, that our sins be defaced, clean blotted out, and covered with the full, perfect, and sufficient sacrifice of thy dear Son Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior once made for us▪ that we are united, knit, and made one body with him, partakers of his righteousness, justification, and holiness, and even fellow heirs with him of everlasting life: that we may unfeignedly from the bottom of our hearts love thee for this thine unspeakable goodness and mercy: forgiueing from our hearts our brethren which do offend us, pray for them, love, cherish, and comfort them as fellow members all of one body, with perfect natural love and compassion linked together to our head Christ Jesus.

Strengthen us, good Lord, with thy holy spirit, that we be not overcome with the subtle suggestions and sinful motions of Satan the devil: hold us up with thy merciful hand that we sleep not in sin, that we be not drawn away with the wicked world, nor the enticementes of the flesh, to delight in wickedness: but so arm us with thy mighty power, that we may strongly abide all the assaults and subtle sleights of our ghostly enemy, and sincerely to walk before thy face, both in prosperity and adversity, to thy honor and glory, the health of our souls, & profit of thy Church, through Jesus Christ our only Lord and Savior. Amen.

The Lord's prayer more at large.

O Moste mighty and eternal God, who of thine infinite love to mankind, haste given us thine own eternal son Christ Jesus our Lord, to be made man for us, in the similitude of sinful flesh, to become flesh of our flesh, bone of our bones, in all things like unto us, sin only excepted:who being thy true and natural son, hath made us with him, sons, children, and heirs to thee our moste merciful Father, giving unto us by grace, that which is his by nature: And by his due, alone, once offered, sufficient sacrifice, hath paid the ransom of our sins before thy divine Majesty, to satisfy thy justice upon sinful flesh. Which debt being paid for us, he hath brought us in favor with thee, so that we may now with boldness and trust come to thee as unto our moste merciful and loving Father, with full assurance, that as thy love is so much greater and more excellent towards us, then all love of earthly Parentes towards their children, as thou passest all men in goodness and mercy, so thou wilt deny us nothing which shall be expedient for us. So that although all the fathers which are in earth, having shaken off all feeling of fatherly naturalness, would forsake their children, yet thou wouldest never forsake us, because thou canst not deny thyself: who promisest, that if earthly fathers being evil, can give good gifts to their children, how much more wilt thou our heavenly Father, being altogether goodness it self, give good things to them that ask in thy Sons name? And that although a mother should forsake her children, yet wilt thou not forsake us thy children, whom thou haste before the bginning of the world in thy deer Son Jesus Christ, chosen to be thy children and heirs with him of thine immortal Kingdom. Whereof that we in our selves might be sure and certain, and out of all doubt that we are the children and heirs of everlasting life, thou haste given into our hearts thy holy Spirit, as a true pledge and earneste of our inheritance, which Spirit doth assure our spirits that we are thy children, and therefore crieth in our harts Abba Father.

We therefore as thy deer children, raunsomed and boughte by thy deer son, flee to thee our moste loving and merciful Father, who in goodness art infinite, in mercy abundant, in substance incomprehensible, in immortality everlasting: who by thy mighty power and singular providence rulest all things, according to thy heavenly wisdom: beseeching thee for thy deer sone Christ Jesus his sake, y ^t as thou hast sufficiently set forth thy glorious Name in making the whole world, heaven, earth, and all things therein contained: so we may in beholding and viewing thy creatures the works of thine hands, be lifted up to thee our Lord God the Creator and Maker, and in them, glorify thy holy name, acknowledging in them thy singular goodness and love towards man, for whose use thou haste created all things, both in Heaven and earth: and that we may for the same, even from the bottom of our harts, yield due honor, praise and thanksgiving to thee (deer Father) all the days of our life. Graunte moste merciful Father, that we may in heart and mind be fully assured, that thou by thy heavenly providence rulest and guidest all things in heaven and earth, so that nothing in the whole world cometh to pass but according to thine appoyntmente: that thou guidest and framest the affairs and doings of men, that thou haste even their harts and all their powers in thy merciful hand, to turn them which way soever it seemeth best to thy godly wisdom: so that whither we be in prosperity or adversity, we may acknowledge both of them to be thy work in us, and therefore be no less thankful for sickness then for health: for sorrow, then for comfort: for a troubled mind, then for a quiet: for imprisonment and banishmente, then for liberty: especially seeing we know that y ^• turnest them all (seem they never so sharp) to the comfort and commodity of thy children which fear thee: and that in all things which shall befall unto us, whither they be grievous or joyous, prosperity or adversity, life or death, thy holy Name may be sanctified in us by yielding due and continual praise and thanksgiving to thy eternal Majesty: that we never cease to put our full trust and confidence in thy mer • y, who haste promised to be our defender, buckler, and shielde, to keep us as the apple of thine eye, to deliver us when we call upon thee, to open when we knock, to give when we ask: that we knowing our own weakness, that of our selves we have no power or strength to do, no not so much as to will that which is good, we may acknowledge all our strength, comfort, joy, faith, love, hope, and confidence to be thine only gift and work in us. And for the same, and the increase of the same, and for all thy benefits in us, whereof we feel our selves destitute, we may constantly flee unto thee by hearty prayer, requiring the same at thy merciful hand. And having felt thy merciful dealing towards us, we may always to the end of our life continue thankful to thy blessed Name: that we never speak or think of thee (O Lord God) without high reverence and an obedient fear unto thy Glorious Name.

And that thy kingdom (O Lord) may more gloriously shine amongst men, subdue the hearts of the people to be obedient to thy word. Lighten all nations with thy glorious Gospel: raise up faithful ministers of thy word; abundantly in every place, who with pure and perfect zeal in true knowledge may feed the hungry souls with the food of life. Lighten the harts of thy children, whom yet thou haste not called to the feeling of thy mercies in thy son revealed. Beate down the fury and rage of the kingdom of Satan and antichrist with all tyrants, who show their utter malice and fury against thy dear and faithful flock. Confounde their devises, suppress their pride, and so strengthen all thy true and faithful servants against their rage, that they may have true wisdom to confound their enemies, and steadfast constancy to profess the truth of thy glorious gospel, even to the death. And that everyone of us may feel the force of this thy kingdom particularly in our selves, we beseech thee kill in us, by thy holy spirit, all wicked delights of sin, and vanities of this world. Mortify in us our earthly and carnal affections, and grant that we may have our full delight and pleasure in thee our Heavenly Father, and in thy son Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, and reverently embrace thy holy Woord, that our souls may be comforted therein, and our faith thereby confirmed. Lighten our understanding, that we may in thy holy word learn, and in heart be fully assured that thou art our most merciful Father: and thy deer Son, our Lord and Savior. Beate down in us all sinful motions of the adversary, which do rebel against thy holy spirit, and settle and frame our minds by thy holy spirit in us, that all rebellion in our flesh being killed, we may quietly with stayed minds and consciences set our full joy, comfort, and consolation in heavenly things, walking before thee in sincerity of mind: put our full trust and confidence in thee, rest, and quiet our selves wholly in thy mighty protection and providence.

And forasmuch (O Lord God) as of our selves we be nothing but stubbornness and rebellion, we beseech thee (deer Father) that as thine Angels in heaven do willingly obey thy Will without resistance, so we thy children in earth (all stubbornness and perverseness, by thy holy spirit, in us being utterly extinguished and quenched) we may willingly submit our selves, resign and yield our whole affections to thee O Lord, to be governed after thy blessed and heavenly Will. That we may feel in our selves no other motion or desire, then a meet consent to thy holy Will: that whatsoever affections in us fright against thy holy Will, thou wilt utterly make them void. That we never will any thing of our selves, but that thy holy Sp • rite in us may govern our hearts, by whom inwardly being taught, we may learn to love, embrace, and take comfort in those things that please thee, and to hate those things that displease thee: That our hearts, minds, and willes, being wholly subdued to thy moste blessed Will, we may willingly be content with that estate of life, which it pleaseth thy goodness to excercise us withal in this world, whither it be in adversity or prosperity, in sickness or health, in ignominy or glory, in quietness or trouble, in sorrow or gladness. Graūt us, deer Father, this willing and patiente mind, that even in our greatest distress we may be content with thy good will, and not to murmur or grudge against thy Majesty, knowing that thou wilt lay nothing upon us, but that which shall turn to our goodness or profit. And that we may patiently abide whatsoever it shall please thee to lay upon us: that we be assured in our hearts, that thou wilt not lay more unto us, then thou wilt give us strength to bear, and even in our greatest afflictions, wilt find a way for our deliverance, and that thy power and strength is more fully declared, when we feel our selves utterly void of all strength, and see no way of deliverance: that we may in our most grievous assaults, conflicts, and anguish of mind, submit our selves wholly to thy blessed will, and look for our deliverance at thy hand, when thou knowest it shall be moste expedient for us, and most for thy glory, leaving the time and mean of deliverance to thy good Will and pleasure, and that in the mean time we never cease but call upon thee, by hearty prayers continually as thou haste commanded, until such time as thou shalt hear our petitions. And although after many and sundry callings upon thee, thou seem not to regard us, but rather deal more extremely with us: yet notwithstanding strengthen us so with perseverance in prayer, that we faint not, but still continue in prayer, being assured, y ^t although we feel our selves nothing released, yet we may quiet our selves herein, that we as thy children have laid our complaints, griefs and sorrows in the bosom of thee our heavenly Father, who wilt as a loving Father, whē he seeth it moste convenient, help us. And that although thou seem nothing to grant our requests, yet we honor thee in calling upon thy Name: seeing thou doeste accept it as a moste chief honor, to be called upon in the day of trouble.

And forasmuch (deer Father) as thou doeste by thy mighty power, nourish, feed, sustain, preserve, and maintain all living creatures, yea, even the very young fowls and beasts, we beseech thee to send unto us thy children, (over whom thou haste a more special care) all things necessary for this our present life: that we having sufficient, may walk everyone in our calling, in sincerity & pure holiness before thy face, acknowledging all our benefits of richesse, wealth, health, meat, drink, apparel, and all our substance to be thy mere gifts, bestowed upon us, and delivered unto us from thy hands: that we be not drawn from thee through setting our minds to much upon them, but so moderately use them, as thy benefits for a time bestowed upon us, knowing that thou wilt at our hands require an account howe we have used them. That we do not carefully gape or seek after them, but discretely to thy glory use them, acknowledging in them thy goodness & liberality towards us. And seeing (moste merciful Father) that it is not our travail, labor, pains, study, or endeavor which is able to get us our living, but only in so much as it pleaseth thy goodness to bless and prosper them: we beseech thee that if through our great travails and pains, we be yet still in poor and mean estate, that thou wilt give us a contented heart, knowing that thereby thou letteste us understand, that it is thy good will and pleasure so to keep us under, that we more effectually may give our selves to serve thee. Or if it be thy will and pleasure more abundantly to bless us and our travail, to send us abundance of all things, we beseech thee (deer Father) give us a thankful heart to acknowledge them to be thy good gifts: and frame our hearts with such liberality that we may be contented to distribute them according to the necessity of thy children, being assured that thou haste to that end made us Stewards over them, that thou mayest at his hands require much, on whom thou haste bestowed much: so that we having the due estimation of thy benefits which we ought to have, may both reverence thy goodness in thy benefits, and supply the want of our brethren, to the relief of their necessity, and furtherance of thy Glory.

And whereas (moste merciful Father) thy Son, our Lord and Savior Christ Jesus hath in our nature paid the ransom and debt of all our sins, which we have from the beginning of our life committed, and do daily committee, we beseech thy gracious goodness that thou wilt by thy holy Spirit in our hearts, assure our souls, and consciences with a lively faith, that by that same one alone sufficient sacrifice, the punishment of our sins is paid, thy wrath appeased, and thy justice satisfied, whereby our consciences may be quieted and set at peace with thee our merciful Father and God. Let us, deer father, feel in our souls and consciences, that we are united and knit to thy deer Son Jesus Christ, and made one body with him, and heirs with him of everlasting glory, so coupled and joined with him, that we are members of his body, so that what so ever he hath done in his body, we may be assured that it is ours: that his righteousness, is our righteousness: his sanctification and holiness is ours: the curse, condemnation and death which he suffered, is the same curse, condemnation, and death due for our sins: that we knowing that our sins be done away, and clean forgotten and forgiven by thy merciful love & goodness declared, in offering up thy son to death for us, we may be driven to love thee unfeignedly from the bottom of our hearts for this thine unspeakable love. And considering that thou haste in mercy pardoned so many our heinous offenses, we may gladly be moved to forgive one another their offenses, and put out of our heart all rancor, malice, and hatred toward our brethren, knowing that we are all members of one body Christ our Savior: that so surely as we have forgiven all them that offend against us, we may be so certainly assured, that thou our merciful Father, haste forgiven us, like as we have forgiven our brethren.

And forasmuch (moste heavenly Father) as we of our selves be feeble, frail, and weak, and have a strong and subtle adversary Satan the devil, who goeth about continually like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may devour: we beseech thee strengthen us by thy holy spirit, that we may withstand his subtle suggestions and motions: hold thou us by thy merciful hand, and keep us always in thy safeguard and protection, that we be not overcome in the mighty assaults of our adversary. And forasmuch as he often useth even our own flesh armed against us, to conquer us, we beseech thee dear Father, mortify, subdue and kill in our flesh all subtle suggestions, and sinful motions of Satan, that we yield not our selves as slaves thereunto, but continually fight against them, and bring them into subjection of the spirit. Grant unto us, deer Father, that we be not drawn through the subtilitie and sliely torments of Satan, to have our delight and pleasure in the vanities of this present world, but by thy Grace, might and power, may so in the prosperity of this life be upholden, that our minds with full joy and comfort may be lifted up to our perfect consolation in our Lord and Savior Christ, and in him, take our full and perfect joy & consolation, so that no vain delight of this world put us from the same, neither any sharp adversity, as poverty, misery, or calamity, through the malice of the devil, drive us to despair of thy merciful goodness towards us: but always being through thy grace and assistance defended, we may be fully and perfectly armed against all the subtle intrappings of Satan, and rest wholly in thy merciful defense and aid. For thou haste (O Lord and eternal God) in thy government, all things in heaven and earth, all power and dominion over all creatures, Angels and devils, to rule them according to thy good pleasure and will, to the profit and commodity of thy church, and every faithful member thereof, and to thine own incomprehensible glory: in all things, in all ages, forever and ever thy glorious name may be exalted, and thy faithful flock edified thorough Christ our Lord. Amen.

A confession of sins with faith and repentance.

O Merciful and heavenly Father, we thy servants do humbly prostrate our selves before thy Majesty, acknowledging here in thy sight our heinous offenses committed against thy Majesty, seeing & beholding thy heavy wrath against them: we feel our selves laden (O Lord our God) with a huge company of horrible sins, whereofeuen the very lease, being but conceived in thought, is sufficient in judgment to throw us down to the everlasting burning lake. Our own consciences, O Lord, do bear witness against us, of our manifold transgressions of thy blessed law, of our security & senseless blindness running headelong to destruction, committing sin after sin, although not notorious to the world, yet horrible before thine eye. The thoughts of our hearts rise up in iudgmente against us: the vanity of our talk before thy majesty condemneth us: the wickedness of our deeds from thy sight rejecteth us: all our wicked thoughts, words and deeds, with the inward corruption of our nature, do altogether as it were a whole lump and lode of sin, lie heavy upon us, and with their intolerable weight do even press us down to hell. We do daily groan under the burden of them, inwardly lamenting our own folly so greedily running into them. In Heaven, earth, or hell, we see none able to sustain the weight of them, but even thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, who in mercy infinite, and compassion endless, hath sustained and overcome that endless punishment due unto them: in him therefore, in him, moste merciful Father, and through him we come to thee, being fully assured according to thy promise, that thou wilt accept and take that full recompense which he thy deer son hath made for us, as a just raūsome for all the sins of all those who withe a true faith take hold on him. In him therefore we see thine anger towards us appeased, thy wrath satisfied, & our debts paid.

Increase in us, good Lord, we beseech thee, this lively and feeling faith, for we feel it often times in us very weak, and troubled with many doubts: increase it in us (O Lord) that we may through thy holy spirit be assured, that the punishment of our sins is fully in thy son discharged. Make us, O Lord our God, to feel this same in our souls and consciences, that Jesus Christ is ours, and all that he hath done: that we are graffed into his body, & made one with him, and therefore fellow heirs with him of everlasting life. Lette us not only have these words in our mouths (good Lord) but through thy holy Spirit let us feel the comfort of them in our hearts fully sealed and settled in us: that we feeling our selves inwardly before thy judgment seat discharged, and our consciences towards thee appeased, may be swallowed up with an unfeigned love toward thy Heavenly Majesty, and towards our brethren for thy sake. Make sin to die in us daily more and more, that we may hate, detest, and utterly abhor all sin and wickedness in all men, but especially in our selves: that we may strongly through thy holy Spirit set our selves in open war and defiaunce against all sin and wickedness: that we please not our selves in our sins, but straitly examining sin by the just rule of thy holy Laws, we may utterly from the bottom of our hearts condemn even the least sin in our selves, having our whole joy, comfort and consolation upon those things which be agreeable to thy blessed will, always being afraid to do anything contrary to the same: that we may even from the bottom of our hearts, examine and try our thoughts, before thy presence, that they be upright and unfeigned, not hypocritical in outward show only and appearance, but that even all corners of our hearts being opened and disclosed before thee, we may even as though it were openly before the face of the whole world bring them in show, knowing that a double heart is detestable in thine eyes: and y ^t we may walk always as before thine eyes, not only before the eyes of man, being more careful to walk circumspectly, in this respect, that we have thee to be a viewer of our doings, a thousand fold more then the eyes of man: that thus we may walk as becometh thy children, not only in outward show, but also in sincerity of heart, abhorring even the lease sin in our selves, striving, resisting and fighting against sin, not delighting our selves in sin, nor nourishing the same in our breste, but earnestly embraceing, and studiously seeking after those things which be pleasante in thine eyes: y ^t neither the fear of man, nor loss of goods, life, lands possessions, or friends draw us away frō thee, to do any lease thing contrary to thy will and pleasure: neither the favor or friendship of man, nor yet the flattering enticementes of this world, nor the vain promotions of the same do move us any whitte from the true and endless joy, delight and pleasure which we ought to have in those things which be agreeable to thy will, and the constante performance of y ^e same: but that always to the end of our life we may continue in thy paths, growing and increasing from faith to faith, from strength to strength, til at length we shall come to thy everlasting rest. Amen.

A prayer for the estate of the whole Church.

O Lord our God and Heavenly Father, for as much as by thy holy word we are commanded in our prayers not only to be mindful of our selves, but also of all others thy children, yea even of our enemies: we commend unto thy Majesty all thy whole true and catholic Church, and every member thereof: that as it hath pleased thy goodness by the brighte beams of thy holy word, to shine over the whole world, whereby thou haste expelled, driven away, and caused to vanishe the dark and misty clouds of ignorance and superstition, so thou wouldest vouchsafe by thy holy spirit to touche the hearts of men, that they may joy fully embrace that thine so high a treasure sent amongst us, that through our unthankfulness we provoke not thy Majesty in anger to take it from us. Crush, bruise, and destroy with the breath of thy mouth, the mighty power of that man of sin, which so proudly exalteth himself above all that is called God. Let not thy simple flock (deer Father) in whose consciences he of long time hath and yet doth sit as GOD, be any longer poisoned with his sweet enticeing poisons: but so lighten their hearts, that they may perceive his iuglynges, and embrace the sweet and comfortable doctrine of life everlasting, revealed in thy Glorious Gospel.

And forasmuch as it hath pleased thee in mercy above all nations of the earth, to pour down the sweet showers of thy Heavenly Graces upon this our English nation abundantly, in more plentiful wise watering the same with the gifts of thy holy Spirit, in promoting thy Gospel, and overthrowing idolatry, we beseech thee continue thy favor toward the same, and utterly root out all remnantes, relics and monuments of idolatry, that thy Glorious Name may be thoroughly exalted, in sincere, pure, and holy worship. And as thou haste in mercy from amongst us in this thy Church, utterly banished all false, venomous and poisonful doctrine, wherewith the souls of thy Children heretofore have been wounded to death, and in place thereof haste placed the true and comfortable doctrine of life everlasting, wherewith the souls of thy children be fed and nourished to everlasting joy: so in like mercy and favor we beseech thee, deer Father, establish in the same thy Church, a true, perfect, and sincere regiment thereof, according to the prescripte rule of thy blessed word, all fantasies of man's brain, and dreams of human policy utterly abolished: that thy glorious Majesty only may be exalted in the light of thy glorious Gospel: & that thy Church may flourishe and increase, being through thy protection aided, supported, maintained and defended: we beseech the by thy holy spirit, guide & rule every part & member thereof, especially thy servant ELIZABETH our Queen, whom thy gracious favor and merciful providence hath appointed a chief member in the same: under whose wings next unto thy protection it hath a chief succor and supporte. Graunte unto her, O Lord, a pure and perfect Zeal, above all things to promote thy Glory: first and chiefly in laboring and endeavoring of her self earnestly in wiping away and purging out of thy Church all blots and deformities, to reduce the same to a pure and sincere form of worship, agreeing to thy blessed word, utterly to remove all stumbling blocks which stay and hinder the course of thy Gospel: give her in like manner O Lord, the spirit of wisdom, discretion, and government, that with equity and justice she may see this whole Realm, which thou hast committed to her charge, peaceably and quietly governed: that she may studiously labor, that as well thorough the whole Realm virtue be exalted, & vice abandoned: as especially in her own house and court, that all wicked vanities of this world, all licentious and inordinate life, all flattering and dissimulation being utterly banished, the fear of thy Glorious Majesty may so reign in the hearts of all within her palace and court, that their lives and conversation may be agreeable to thy blessed will, in sincerity and true holiness and integrity of life, that from them, as from the head, may shine purity of life and conversation, as an example and pattern of true Godliness to the whole Realm. Preserue her, we beseech thee good Lord, from all conspiracies and treasons, that if it be thy good will she may have a long and quiet reign over us, to the benefit of thy Church, and the advancement of thy glory. Indue the whole counsel, good Lord, with true and perfect wisdom, that in all their consultations and counsels, having thee present before their eyes, they may consulte of those things which principally and chiefly may be for the aduancemēt of thy glory, & the commodity of thy church, and next for the quiet peace and gracious government of this realm. So lighten all inferior Magistrates of this Realm, good Lord, with the brightness of thy holy Spirit, that understanding thy will, they may zealously defend, maintain and further the course of the Gospel with the sword of justice, cut off the wicked, and cherish the godly.

Defende and govern, by thy holy Spirit, the Pastors of thy Church, and laborers in thy vineyard, that they may zealously, earnestly and diligently feed thy flock committed unto them, with the food of life thy blessed word, wherewith their souls may be nourished to Life Euerlasting. Increase the number of them, deer Father, place over every flock a godly, learned & painful Pastor, who may painfully and carefully travail everyone in his charge, to bring thy people (which now alas in moste partes do wander and go astray like lost sheep) to the true knowledge of thee their Lord and God, and of thy dear son Christ Jesus their Savior. And for thy mercy, we beseech thee, to take pity upon thy poor and simple flock, root out all ravening wolves, which have craftily crept into thy sheepfold and do make havoc of the souls of thy simple flock. Cast out all hirelings, time seruers, & dumb dogs, which to fill their bellies only, have thrust themselves among thy sheep, & do pitifully suffer the flock of Christ thy son, to be deuowred and scattered of the wolf. Stir up, good Lord, and place in their rooms faithful shepherds, which diligently, painfully, carefully and earnestly may labor in thy vineyard, seek to win the souls of thy people, out of the tyranny and power of Satan, to the freedom of thy deer son Christ Jesus our Lord.

And that thy Church may better be furnished with Godly learned Pastors, we beseech thee prosper and increase in all Godly knowledge, all Schools of learning, especially the two Universities Cambridge, and Oxford: Grant deer Father, unto all the students of the same, that the chief ende of all their studies may be to the furtherance of thy Church, and maintenance of the common wealth. Bless their studies, deer Father, that all vain studies set aside, they may so fructify and profit in all profitable & godly sciences, that hereafter they may become profitable members in thy church, & godly upholders of the common wealth.

Grant, good Lord, to all the whole Commons of this Realm, that their hearts being touched with a sincere fear and reverence of thy heavenly Majesty, acknowledging thy mercy in placeing over them a Godly Princesse, they may everyone in their callings, walk in all true and humble obedience unto her, in thee and for thee without resistance, tumults, insurrections, conspiracies, or rebellions: knowing that to resist the higher powers, is to rebel against thy Majesty. Finally we beseech thy goodness so guide & govern the hearts of all y ^e whole Realm of every degree, y ^t everyone in his calling, being by thy grace supported, may so occupy his talent, that thy Glory in all things may be advanced, thy Church enlarged, and this whole Realm into sincere Godliness virtuously reduced.

Moreover we beseech thee (O Lord our God) in mercy behold all those which suffer persecution for thy glorious words sake, whither it be imprisonmente, death, or banishment, or whatsoever else: strength̄ them good Lord, y ^t they having thee always before their eyes, and the glory laid up for thē in y ^e life to come, may continue constant in defēding thy truth, without fear of man or vain allurementes of the world, y ^t whether it come by life or death, they may glorify thy Holy name in continuing in y ^e truth to the end. Preserue in like manner we beseech thee, all others thy children, whom it hath pleased thee with any other kind of cross to chasten for their amendment, whither by pestilence, famine, war, poverty, imprisonment, sickness or banishment, trouble of conscience, vexation of spirit, disquietness of mind, want of spiritual comfort, or whatsoever kind of affliction of body or minds, thou doest try them with: that by thy holy spirit being fully assured, that thou by this thy correction mindest to call them back to a feeling of their sin, and due consideration of their life and conversation, that they may patiently abide thy Fatherly trial, looking for aide, help, and comfort from thee, when it seemeth most convenient to thy godly wisdom: and being by thy merciful hand once delivered, may acknowledge thy singular power & work, giueing all laude and praise to thy glorious Name: and afterwards, all the days of their life, study to live before thee in sincerity and perfect holiness, even to their lives ende. Amen.

Morning prayer for private houses and Families.

O Gratious God, and loving Father, according to thy commandment, we do here present our selves before thy Majesty, humbly prostrating ourselves before y ^e throne of mercy, acknowledging and confessing from the bottom of our hearts that we be miserable sinners, daily breaking thy commandments, both in thought, word, and deed, wherein we justly deserve everlasting damnation, and to be utterly thrown from thy presence: yet, O Lord, we see thy goodness again towards us, who not suffering us thus to perish in our sins, hast sent thine own deer Son Jesus Christ, to take upon him whatsoever is due, to reconcile & make us at one with thee again: In him therefore, good Lord, and through him do we come unto thee, beseeching thee for his sake, that we feeling the grievousness of our sins, and groneing under the burden of them, may feel the release and ease of them, in that we be through thy holy Spirit assured, and steadfastly believe, that Christ hath borne the burden of them, even for us. Graunte, O Lord, that we being assured hereof in our consciences, may through thy holy Spirit be renewed in the inner man, to hate, deteste and abhor sin, and to study to live according to thy blessed will during our whole life.

We do not only pray for our selves, but also for all thy whole Church, especially such as be persecuted for thy word: grant unto them, that whither it be by death or life, they may glorify thy Name to their lives ende. Be merciful to this Church of England and Ireland, we beseech thee good Lord, and preserve every part and member of the same, especially thy Seruaunte Elizabeth our Queen: grant her all such gifts as be needful for so high a calling, to the advancement of thy Glory, and benefit of this common wealth, to the establishing of a perfect government of thy Church, according to the prescript rule of thy blessed word, to the rooting out of all superstition and relics of antichriste, to the governing of her Subiectes in all peace and tranquility. Defende her, O Lord, from all conspiracies, treasons, and rebellions, and so work in the hearts of all her Subjects, that knowing her authority doth come from thy Heavenly Majesty, they may with obedient hearts humbly obey her in thee and for thee. Preserue the whole Counsel and the Magistrates of the Realm, that being lightened through thy holy Spirit, they may defend thy truth, suppress wickedness, and maintain equity. Behold all the Pastors and Preachers of the word, bless their labors, increase y ^e number of them, place over every Church a painful watchman, remove all idle Lubbers, and confound the power of antichriste, and turn the hearts of the people that they may be obedient to thy truth. Bless the two Universities, Cambridge and Oxford, and all the Studients of the same, with all Schools of learning. Behold all those that be afflicted with any kind of cross, that they may profit by thy correction in newness of life. ‡*‡

Lastly, for our selves here gathered together, we heartily crave at thy hands, that it would please thee to make us thankful unto thy Majesty, for all thy loueing kindness shown unto us even from our infancy: especially, that thou haste this present night delivered us from all dangers both of body and soul, whereinto many have fallen, as we into like manner should have done, if we had not been stayed with thy merciful hand: that thou haste also granted unto us so sweet and comfortable rest, and haste now presently brought us to the beginning of this day. For these things, good Lord, we yield unto thee most hearty thanks, beseeching thee to make us more and more daily thankful unto thy Majesty for them, and pardon our unthankfulness. And as thou hast safely preserved us unto this present hour from all the dangers of this life: so we beseech thee continue thy favor towards us this day, and the whole course of our life. Defend us, O Lord, that we now entering into the affairs of this day, be not drawn away with the vain allurementes of this world, to sin and wickedness: that we walk not in the shadow of death, that we be not entangled in the snares of sin, that we stumble not at the blocks of iniquity, that we finally fall not into the pit of death, and destruction: but being shadowed under thy wings, we may cheerfully and constantly go on forward to the end of our course. Grant unto us, O Lord our God, that this good time which thou grauntest unto us in this life, be not idly, or vainly of us consumed, but that everyone of us may be diligently exercised in his calling this day, and all our life long, being assured that thou wilt once call us to yield an account of our stewardshippe: indue us we beseech thee, with those gifts and graces which be needful for us in our calling, & that with a pure and sincere conscience we may use them to the benefit of our brethren, and discharge of our own consciences, before thy Majesty. We beseech thee, O Lord, that in all our consultations, words and works this day, and the whole course of our life, we may always have thee present before our eyes, knowing that thou seest even the very deep thoughts of our hearts, which always may be as a bridle to pull us back, that we neither do, nor yet consent unto any sin or wickedness: but that always we may be so exercised in the affairs of this life, that we look still to the end of our course, whē it shall please thee to bring us through y ^e pilgrimage of this life to our everlasting rest with thy deer Son Jesus Christ our Savior. In whose name for these mercies and whatsoever thou knowest to be needful for us, and for the whole Church, we pray unto thee, as he himself hath taught us in his holy word, saying: Our Father which art. &c.

The Lord bless us and save us, the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be merciful unto us, the Lord turn his favorable countenance toward us, and grant us his peace. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, & the moste comfortable fellowship of the holy Ghost be with us, preserve and keep us this day and evermore. Amen.

Euening prayer for private houses and Families.

O Gratious God & loving Father. &c. As in the beginning of the morning prayer, reding so forth, til ye come to this mark. ‡*‡. Then read this following for the Euening.

Lastly, for our selves here gathered, we render most hearty thanks to thy majesty, O Lord, which hast hitherto from our infancy, preserved us by thy mercy from all perils and dangers both of soul & body, whereunto frail man is subject, that thou hast sent unto us all things necessary for this present life, as health, food, apparel, and such like, which many of thy deer children do want, being notwithstanding as preciously bought with the precious blood of thy deer son, as we be, and yet lie in misery and calamity, oppressed with poverty, nakedness, imprisonement and bannishment, in which case also, deer Father, thou mightest have brought us, save only that thou dealest herein more favorably with us, then with them. For the which thy loving kindness we give thee hearty thanks, desiring thee, that as thou hast hitherto thus favorably in mercy preserved us by thy protection, and even presently this day hast brought us past all the dangers thereof: so we beseech thee good Lord, in like favor behold us this night, that we taking our natural rest and quietness may through thy protection be defended, that our bodies resting, our souls may be occupied in beholding thy favor and mercy toward thy children, still looking for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for our full redemption. Grant that our sleep be not immoderate, according to the lust of our flesh, but as much as is sufficient to refresh our weak nature: that being thus refreshed, both the body and the mind may be more able to do their several office and function, in that vocation wherein thou haste placed us.

Grant that we laying our bodies down to rest, may be thereby put in mind of our long rest of death: that as we do now lay down our bodies in bed, so we may be thereby admonished, that hereafter they shall be laid down in grave, to be consumed to dust, earth, and ashes, from whence they were taken: That we having this before our eyes, may be stirred up in mind warely to walk in this our pilgrimage, not knowing when the time shall be of our departure, but always to be found ready with our lamps of pure faith clearly burning, that we may be accepted to meet the Bridegroom, when our mortal, earthly, and corruptible bodies shall be made like to the glorious body of our Lord and savior Christ Jesus, there to reign with him in perpetual joy & cōsolatiō together with all the elect children of God, continually lauding with all the heavenly multitude the glorious Majesty of thee our Lord God and heavenly Father, in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For these and whatsoever else thou knowest to be needful for us and thy whole Church, we pray unto thee, as he himself hath taught us, saying: Our Father. &c.

The Lord bless us and save us, the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be merciful unto us: the Lord turn his favorable countenance unto us, and grant us his peace. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the moste comfortable fellowship of the Holy Ghost, be with us, preserve and keep us this night and evermore. Amen.

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

O Heavenly Father, whatsoever I am, what so ever I have, whatsoever I know, it is only by thy free grace. For by nature I am the child of wrath, and I am not borne a new of flesh and blood, neither of the seed of man, or of the will of man. Fleshe and blood cannot reveal the mysteries of thy Heavenly Kingdom unto me: but by thy blessed will I am that I am, and by the same know I that I know. Therefore, O Father, do I commit into thy hands only, my salvation. If my knowledge be small, yet I doubt nothing but that I am the child of thy everlasting kingdom: and therefore by thy mighty power I shall grow (when it shall be thy good will and pleasure) to a more full and riper knowledge, as of a more perfect age, wherein my faith shall be fully able to comprehend and perceive the breadth, depth, height and largeness of thy great mercies and gracious promises. But seeing, O Father, this power of full knowledge and perfect revelation, passeth all power natural, and remaineth only in thy power, and the light of thy spirit: O Lord do thou whatsoever it shall please thee, to open unto me and all the rest of thine elect servants and children, depending upon thee, so much of the light of thy countenance as may be moste for thy Glory and our comfort, yea, and at such time as shall seem good to thy wisdom & fatherly mercy. In the mean while thus resting wholly vpō thee, neither can I despair, neither will I be to much careful, although I cannot attain to the knowledge of many of thy works, neither to the understanding of many places of thy scriptures. But I will confess unto thee the weakness of my faith, waiting always for the further revealing of thy glorious light to be uttered unto me thy poor servant, when thou shalt think (of thy fatherly benevolence and goodness) meet and convenient. I knowing moste assuredly that thou wilt pity my weak imbecility and childish infancy, and cause the same to serve for thy glory, and my great commodity: seeing that I err as a child before such a Father, which canst not put off thy fatherly pity and compassion, but rather as thou haste bought me unto thee, to be an heir of the kingdom by the blood of thy natural son my Savior Jesus Christ: so am I sure that thou wilt lighten me in the end with full fruition of the brighte light of thy countenance, that I may see thee and know thee as this thy son knoweth thee: yea, see thee and know thee my Father face to face, and know as I am known. Thus rest I only in thy hands (O my God) craving of thee to increase my knowledge in thy holy word, whereby I may know thy good will and pleasure. And knowing the same, give me, O Lord thy holy Spirit to conduct & lead me in the same all the days of my life, that in sincerity of faith, and pureness of living and conversation, thy glorious Majesty may be magnified in me forever. Grant this, O Father, for thy dearly beeloued Son our savior Jesus Christ, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honor, glory and praise, world without ende. Amen.

Prayers and thankesgiuinges to be said before and after meat. Prayer before meat.

O Lord our God and Heauenlie Father, in thy beeloued Son Jesus Christ, work in our hearts true repentance, with increase of a true and lively faith: make us thankful unto thy Majesty for all thy benefits which we continually receive at thy merciful hand: grant us the grace, that we may at this present with thankful hearts as from thy hands receive meat and drink for the sustenance of our bodies, with moderatiō use them to thy Glory, and through thy blessing, receive by them perfect nourishment: and above all we crave at thy hands, good Lord, the heavenly food of our souls, which never perisheth: that through thy gracious goodness, we may be nourished & strēgthened both in soul and body to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Savior. Amen.

Thanksgiving after meat.

ETernall God, and merciful Father, we yield unto thee moste hearty thanks for all thy benefits so plentifully bestowed upon us: especially that thou haste at this present fed and nourished our mortal bodies with meat and drink: we beseech thee in like manner let our souls feel the sweet taste of thy heavenly food, that we being fed and nourished at thy hands, both in soul and body, may in this life walk as it becometh thy children, & in the life to come, be received to thine eternal Kingdom of glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.

A Prayer before meat.

O Merciful and Heavenly Father, who givest food to every liueing creature, and without whom nothing can live, bless and sanctify our meats and drinks, which we are now about to receive, that they may turn to the nourishmente of our bodies, whereunto thou haste appointed them: that we acknowledging thy gracious goodness in providing so liberally for our bodies, may with cheereful hearts be lifted up earnestly to long after the food of our souls, whereby we may be fed eternally, through Jesus Christ our savior. Amen.

A thanksgiving after meat,

O Heavenly Father, for these thy benefits wherewith thou haste now sufficiently fed our bodies, we beseech thee make us thankful: And as we feel the sweetness of them pleasant to our bodies: so we beseech thee, good Lord, that the food of our souls may be as pleasante and comfortable unto our souls, and that we may with as careful harts provide for the nourishment of our souls, as we are careful for our bodies, til it shall please thy Majesty to bring us to the place, where we shall never hunger nor thirste more, but live eternally through Christ our Savior. Amen.

A Prayer before meat.

O Lord our God & heavenly Father, which haste provided meat and drink for the nourishment of our bodies, give us grace to use them reverently as from thy hands with thankful hearts. And as we do greatly hunger and thirste for this food of our bodies, so we beseech thee, good Lord, that our souls may earnestly hunger after the like food and nourishment, that with earnest minds we may seek to have our souls fedd and refreshed eternally, through our only Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. So be it.

A Thanksgiving after meat.

Wonderful is thy providence, O Lord, in preserving all liueing creatures. Graunte us grace we beseech thee, that with thankful harts we may acknowledge thy bountiful goodness, so liberally giving unto us all things needful: especially feeding us so plentifully at this present with thy manifold blessings whereof a great many of our brethren are destitute, as in like manner we should be, if thou diddest not deal more liberally with us: grant us therefore, gracious Lord, that we may be thankful for this thy goodness, and to be mindful of them, which have not such abundance to relieve them: that being all members of one body, we may at length reign with our head Christ, to whom be all honor and glory world without ende. Amen.

A thanksgiving after the receiving of our bodily sustenance, & reading of some part of God's holy word our spiritual food.

O Lord our God the only giver of all good gifts, who of thy great mercies hast made us partakers both of the Heavenly gifts of thy holy word, to feed our minds, and of thine earthly creatures for the necessary sustenance of our weak bodies: grant we beseech thee that through thy grace, these thy gifts may be madeperfect unto us: give strength unto our meat, that it may be our healthful nourishment, not to breed in us any carnal desire of our vain life, but to enable our bodies to all good works during the time of this present pilgrimage, that so thy good creatures may be our good relief, so long as thou wilt, and so much as thou knowest to be expedient for us thy servants, to finish our days which thou hast numbered, in the edifying of thy saints, and glorifying of thy Holy Name. And because (O Lord) we know nothing of our selves, but our ignorant hearts are full of darkness, therefore we beseech thee that this thy Word (which is thine eternal wisdom) that now we have read, (& wherein we have had our conference) may be in our minds a shining light of thine only truth, and in our hearts a fruitful seed of our new birth, so that thine own Image may be happily again restaured in us, and we may be made before thee a holy and righteous people, by the inward working of thy gracious spirit, daily strengthening our hearts in earnest love of thy truth, and careful obedience of thy commandments, through Jesus Christ our only Mediator, who in the sacrifice of his own body, hath purchased unto us all thy favor, and hath given us this boldness to call upon thee: unto whom (O Father) with thee and the holy Ghost, be all honor and glory world without end. Amen.

A prayer for all times.

O Lord God Father of mercy and God of all consolation, without whom we have neither hope nor comfort, we poor wretches and miserable sinners beseech thee of thy fatherly goodness to look upon us, and so make us partakers of thy gracious goodness, that we may still increase in all goodness, so that evermore we may set forth thine honor and glory: let our conversation be such, that a great many beholding our good works, may glorify thee our heavenly Father: and so direct our ways, that we may hold forth the profession of thy Gospel as a lantern to lighten the steps of a great many, that they may turn to thee, and praise thy name in their visitation. Thus (O Lord) we beseech thee to deal with us, that in deed we may be vessels of honor unto thee, now to set forth y ^e praise of thy name, & after this transitory life, to behold thy Glory, who hast immortality alone, & dwellest in light y ^t no man hath approached unto: remove far frō us our sins & iniquities, that they may not separate between us and thee: blot out of us our offenses, and make our prayers righteous, that thou maiste favorably grant our requests: look upon us with thy favorable mercy, that thou mayst have pity upon us, and behold us in the righteousness of thy beloved son Christ Jesus, & y ^t we may be presented faultless in thy sight: and thou accepting us as holy, we may find the grace evermore to set forth thine honor and glory, and to speak of thy praises in the middes of all thy people. Let us love (O Lord) the things that are good, and hate the things that are evil: let us delight in all things that may please thee, and let us be grieved with whatsoever is displeasant in thy sight. And to the intent we may have true understanding & be able to discern between things, what is good or evil, we beseech thee let thy word dwell plentifully in us, which may guide our vnderstandinges so, y ^t we may abound in all knowledge, and do according to that which is righteous. And in this estate of true Christianity, being instructed in mind, & ready in body to all holy obedience, we beseech thee make us to grow & increase from grace to grace, from faith to faith, until we come unto the fullness of age to be perfect members of the body of Christ, waiting for the blessed hope of thine elect, and sighing in spirit until the time that thy children shall be revealed. In the mean season let us sighe with all those that have received the first fruits of thy Spirit, that these days of sin may cease, that Satan be trodden down under feet, that antichrist may be revealed, yet to many thou sandes that be in ignorance, that the number of thine elect may be full, the body of thy Saints made perfect, all tears wiped from our eyes, even than when the Son shall appear again the second time to judge the quick and the dead, which time (O Lord) send quickly, according to thy good will, and teache us to pray with all thy Saints, Come Lord Jesus, come quickly: grant this (O Father) for thy Sons sake, in whose name we pray unto thee. And although we be but earth and ashes, yet we are bold to say unto thee, (the God of all Glory) even as he hath taught us. Our Father which art in Heaven. &c.

A prayer for all estates.

O Lord God Father of light, with whom is no change, neither yet shadow of change, but hast established thine appointed counsels, which shall not be changed forever: thou (O God) hast made among us this diversity of estates & degrees, according as every common wealth requireth, keep us all, we beseech thee, that we may walk obediently in our calling, and follow the steppes that thou haste set before us, even from the highest to the lowest, let us accomplish that duty unto which thou haste appointed us, and with a faithful remembrance of thy promise made of old to our Father Abraham, that thou art his exceeding great reward, we may likewise depend on thy providence, & seek not any shameful ways to get our living, wandering from y ^e righteousness of our vocation, into the manifold errors of sin & iniquity: look upon us (O Lord) & enrich us with thy grace, make us obedient to our inferiors, meek towards our enemies, faithful to our friends, true and just towards all men, that we may dwell steadfastly rooted in the hope of thine elect, until thou shalt make an ende of all our labors: look upon our moste excellent Queen, and her Honorable Counsel, and as thou hast called them to the highest room, so give unto them the greatest measures of grace, that they faithfully dispence the talentes committed unto them: lead them with the good king David into thy Sanctuary that they may see thy loving kindness which is better then life, and say with the Prophet: Al flesh is grass, and the glory of man is as the flower of the field, and so consecrate themselves to do thy will, offer up their bodies to be holy, lively, and reasonable sacrifices unto thee, that they may be nurses and noursfathers unto thy Church: look also we beseech thee upon thy ministers whom thou haste appointed to the preaching of thy Gospel, make them (O God) faithful dispensers of thy mysteries, without respect of persons to do the work unto the which thou hast appointed them, that they may convert sinners, and have their glory perfect in the day of Christ: and knit us together in peace and love, that we may be full of compassion one towards another, to rejoice with thē that rejoice, and mourn with them that mourn, especially to instruct one another in the ways of righteousness, that by our mutual help we may the better withstand our enemy, and dwell, safe in hope of thine elect, till our days shall be full, and we shall walk the ways of all the world, which time we beseech thee bring us happily unto, even for thy Sons sake we beseech thee, to whom with thee and the holy Ghost three persons & one God, be all honor and glory now and for evermore. Amen, Amen.

A form of Morning prayer necessary for this present time for Godly Christians, to use in their houses and families.

WE moste humbly thank thee (O Heavenly Father) for the sweet and quiet rest that we have had this night, for the loving and favorable deliverance out of all dangers both of body and soul, which we justly deserve to be thrown into for our manifold sins: for that thou hast raised us up this morning, we pray thee to go before us: and for as much as thou seest our sluggishness and drowsiness, it would please thee (good Lord) to pull us after thee, and to show us those ways, which thou hast appointed us to walk in. And as thou renuest this morning, so renew thy mercies: and as thou causest the Sun comfortably to shine to our bodily eyes, so vouchsafe (we pray thee) to be Sun unto our bodies and to our souls, by the beams of thy holy Spirit, and Starr of thy blessed Word, shining into the middes of our hearts, to drive away all the night and darkness of all profaneness: to chace away all want of true fear of thy good Majesty: and in place thereof, bring in love towards thy Glory, zeal of thy House, love also towards our brethren: especially those that thou above the rest commendest unto us, that we may love them with that love, wherewithal thou haste first loved us: which is pure, uncorrupt, vehement, and everlasting: and therefore we pray thee to rid our hearts of all naughty and corrupt love, and whatsoever is unmeet to be in those vessels that are to serve such a mighty Prince as thou art: and in those houses wherein it pleaseth thy Majesty by thy holy Spirit to dwell: and therefore on the other side (good Lord) chace away from us all rancor and malice, all pride, enuiousnesse, disdainefulnesse, uncharitableness, unnaturalness, unkindness, and whatsoever is contrary to that love, whereof thou hast given us a lively example in our savior Jesus Christ: unto y ^e which example, grant (good Lord) that we may always have our eyes lifted up, and therein holden, and caused thereby to profit, until such time as we come to that perfection, whereunto thou haste appointed we shall come. Vouchsafe moreover by the coming of the self same Spirit, to scatter in us all the night & darkness of ignorance, and forgetfulness, and of all those things which pertain to the clearer and fuller knowledge of thy truth. Take from us all negligence, all want of judgment and discretion, and deliver us from all those things, which thou knowest to be hinderaunces to us, either to walk in that great calling of Christianity whereunto thou hast called us, or in those several and particular callings wherein thou hast placed everyone of us: that we may walk so (good Lord) both in the one and in the other, that thy Name may be glorified in both. Amen.

Euening prayer.

O Lord prepare our hearts to pray, bow down thine ears (deer Father) and hear us, open thine eyes and look upon us for thy deer Son Jesus Christ's sake, and receive our humble confession that we make to the against our selves, which have broken all thy laws, and therefore deserve to have thy heavy judgments poured upon our heads to our utter destruction, if thou shouldest enter into judgment with the least of our sins, whereof we have so great and infinite thousands: notwithstanding, we pray thee to turn away thy face from our sins, and for Jesus Christ's sake to forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may have the assurance of the forgiveness of our sins, sealed up by thy Holy Spirit in our consciences, whereby we knowing that we are at one with thee, may have our hearts kindled with thy love so fervently, as it may waste in us all that is against thy holy Will. And for this cause we beseech thee, Lord, to go forward with the work of our new birth, that thou hast begun in us, and never take away thy hand, until such time as thou hast made an end of it: and to this ende, we beseech thee to slay in us every day, more and more, the old man with his concupiscences, nailing them to the cross of thy deer Son Jesus Christ: and causing us to feel the power of his Passion in our bodies and in our souls, that we being partakers thereof, may come also to the felowshippe of his holy Resurrection: not only in that we shall once appear before thee, having these our base bodies changed, and made like unto his Glorious body, but also that we may in the mean time rise from the death of sin to all newness of life, and that our good works may so shine before men, that they seeing them may glorify thee our Heavenly Father: not only they that are of the self same religion with us, but those also that are enemies unto thy truth, may rather in the time of their calling by the voice of thy Gospel, yield themselves to be one sheepfold with us. And we most humbly thank thee (O Heavenly Father) for all thy loving kindnesses bestowed upon us from time to time, and especially for that old and ancient Love, wherewithal thou haste loved us before the beginning of the world: for that also that thou calling us by the voice of thy holy Gospel in that good time that thou appointedst for us, hast given us faith, hope▪ & love, and all other graces which thou knowest to be needful for us: which we beseech thee to increase in us with mighty increases, according to that thou seest we have need of, having regard to our manifold enemies, that we have to wrestle with: and that we have not to strive with flesh and blood, but against the devils themselves. And therefore considering their strength and our weakness, their craft and our simplicity, their watchfulness and our sluggishness, their long experience & our rawnesse, their preparation and our nakedness, & that we have not only nothing to help us, but also do carry about us our own cōcupiscences, ready to betray us into the hands of our enemies, it may please thee to furnishe us from above, giving us the strength of thy holy Spirit, in the inner man, reaching unto us the complete harness of thy Grace, wherewith we being armed on both sides, may be prepared at all assays against all assaults of our enemies. And for as much as in this weakness we oftentimes give back, and sometimes run away, we pray thee (O Lord) that with the hand of Faith, we may lay hold on the victory of our Savior Jesus Christ: that albeit we be not able to overcome in our own persons, yet notwithstanding we may overcome in His, who hath ouercommed for us all, and so be partakers of those promises that thou hast knit unto that glorious victory. And we moste humbly thank thee also for those graces both of the body & soul which pertain to this present life: desiring thee to increase them upon us, and in us, so far forth as thou seest we have need of to thy Glory, the commodity of others, and our own comforts: therefore we beseech thee, Lord, to teache us with thy holy Spirit the lawful use of them: that thou wouldest not suffer our hearts to be rooted in them, but that at all times we may be willing to parte from them. And whensoever it shall please thee to cal for us, we may willingly go unto thee, as children to their deer Fathers, strangers unto their own Country, and members of the body unto their Heade: and so much the gladder, by howe much thou Lord art better then all the men in the world, and the Kingdom that thou haste prepared, better then all the Kingdoms thereof.

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

WE pray not only for our selves (O moste merciful Father) but for all those that thou haste appointed to eternal life: beseeching thee to gather the number of those that are to be gathered, those that thou haste already called, thou wouldst always keep: and to this end (good Lord) raise up faithful Ministers both of thy Church and common weal, whose hearts thou wouldest fill with all Graces of thy holy Spirit meet for their callings, meet also for these dangerous times: root out from among thy Church, all ravening and devouring Beasts, which to fill their own bellies, destroy thy flock: ease thyself of all hirelings and idle shepherds, which have no care nor skill to feed thy flock with the wholesome food of thy blessed word, nor to rule them with that equity wherewithal thou wilt have thy people to be ruled: those Pastors that thou haste given, it would please thee to increase the number of them: those that are fallen a sleep and carried away with the corruptions of these times, that thou wouldest awake, letting them understand the charge that thou haste committed unto them, the trust that thou haste put them in, and the accompt that thou wilt take at their hands. Be gracious (O Lord) unto this Lande of ours, and enter not into judgment with the horrible sins of it, namely, the contempt and light esteeming of thy holy Woorde, so many years offered unto us, and we being trusted withal, so many Nations better then we being passed by, which would have brought forth the fruit thereof more then we have done: and we not only have brought forth no good fruit, but rotten and unsavory, to provoke thy Majesty withal: not withstanding all these our sins, it would please thee in that love, wherewithal thou haste first loved us, when we hated thee, and in that long patience wherein thou haste hitherto borne with us, and doest yet bear, and tarriest for our repentance: to grant us hearty and earnest repentance, our hearts being effectually touched with thy holy Spirit, striking these rocky hearts of ours, that they may be resolved into rivers of tears for our sins, making them soft and meek to receive the print of thy holy Woord, and seal of thy blessed Spirit, writing with thy finger thine own laws in them, so, that thou mayest read thine own hand, acknowledge thine own seal, and so pass by us, when thou shalt bring thy iudgmente upon the face of the Earthe, for the iniquities thereof: whereof thou haste given, and still givest, from time to time diverse tokens, which we beseech thee may be profitable unto us, whilst first of all we acknowledge thy hand striking us, and thy counsel calling us thereby to repentance, that thy heavier judgments do not fall upon us to our utter destruction.

Moreover, we thank thee (O Lord) for that it hath pleased thee to be the watch man, and as it were the spy of this Church & common wealth, and haste foreseen all the storms, and treasons coming against it, and against thine annoincted our Souereigne whome thou in mercy hast appointed to rule over it, and haste scattered them and brought them to nought, and haste pursued certain of thine enemies and ours unto death, beseeching thee to continue this watchful and careful eye over us, still to do us good, and to pursue the rest of thine enemies and ours unto the grave giving notwithstanding repentance unto them, unto whom thou haste left place of repentance. And to this ende, raise up the hearts of our moste Gratious Queen and her honorable Counsel thy Magistrates, that as they sit in thy seat, and are called by thy Name, so they may execute thy justice, which thou so well approuest of, whereof also thou wilt require a streighte account at their hands. We desire thee also to show these thy Graces to all other Churches of thine, namely thy Church of Scotland, that it may enjoy that peace that thou haste given it: and grant that the same be referred to that end wherefore thou haste given it: namely, to the full establishmente of the throne of thy deer Son our Savior Jesus Christ, and to the building of his Kingdom there. We beseech thee also for the Churches, which thy hand hath planted long since: especially those, from whom we have received knowledge in time of our ignorance, places of refuge in time of persecution: that it would please thee to continue thy loving kindness towards them, and therefore cause them to continue their faith towards thee, and obedience towards thy holy Word. And whensoever it shall be thy pleasure, to try them with any kind of affliction, it would please the to grant unto them, that they may put their trust in thee, having regard to the truth of thy promises, and to the good experience that they have of thy help in times past, and thereby conceive comfort & hope (O Lord) even of life in death, and of Salvation in destruction. We pray the also (good Lord) that we may have the feeling of the miseries of our Brethren, as members of the same body, and those that live by the same Spirit. And therefore we pray thee, that according to the manifold troubles that thou shalt visit them with, it would be thy good pleasure, to measure out thy grace in such plentiful manner, that thy children may patiently bear, & joyfully attend, for the good hour wherein thou wilt pull them out of all their troubles. And especially we pray thy Majesty for our Brethren that are afflicted for thy Gospel sake: namely, those that suffer imprisonment or otherwise in any nation, for the clearer testimony of it: that it would please thee to give them patience in all their troubles, wisdom and mouths to defend thy cause, against all those that rise up against it: that thou wouldest bless their travels and sufferings for that, for which they are taken: which is, to give a freer course of thy Gospel into all places. And therewithal we beseech thee for the churches of France and Flaunders, which are so miserably racked and torn in sunder, and which are almost consumed with these fiery trials: that it would please thee to look upon their sighings and groneings, the tears that fall from their eyes continually, the blood that is shed in all parts of the land, y ^e bodies that lie unburied, to be meat to the fowls of the air, and Fishes of the Sea, the lonenesse of wives lacking their husbands, children their Fathers, and every freend his friend. And for as much as those things are come upon them for thy Names sake, let it be thy good pleasure to help them, considering that they are forsaken of all their friends round about: and therefore pray thee that thou wouldest not look upon our sins, nor the sins of our forefathers, whereby we deserve not only this correction, but utter destruction, as Sodom and Gomorrah: but rather to look upon thy mercies which were before them: whereby thou hast said, that although we do offend, and thou doest correct us, yet thou wilt not take away thy mercies from us, but wilt leave a remnant which thou wilt multiply, and make as the Stars of the Heaven, and as the sandes of the Sea. Look also (O Lord) upon the outrageousnesse and cruelty, unfaithfulness, and blasphemy of the enemies, wherewithal they blaspheme thee, and provoke thee to thy face, and therefore in thine own cause, and for thine own sake, take the matter into thine own hands, and pay into the bosoms of thine enemies double and treble of that they have given to thee. Notwithstanding, those amongst them, that belong to thine holy election, hasten their calling, that afterwards thy judgment may hasten upon the earth, and the inhabitants thereof may learn to know thee by thy judgments, that would not understand and come to thee, by the loving calling of thy Gospel. We pray thee (O Lord) for our brethren that are up in arms in both those countries: that thou wouldest go before them, and come behind them, and on every side of them: cover their heads in the day of battle, teache their hands to fight, and their fingers to war: give them wisdom and valiantness, and good success in all their enterprises: strike a dizinesse & maaze of spirit into the enemies harts, and take away from them all force, and disappoint all their counsels. And upon our brethren in Flaunders, we beseech thee that thou wouldest comfort them over all the troubles that they have received, and breaches that have been made in upon them: and where there are new forces every day gathered, new sleights invented to destroy them, it may please thee, to scatter their forces, and bring their sleights to nothing. Yea, grant also (O Lord) that that which they have devised against thy children, may come upon their own heads. And for our Brethren in France we beseech thee (O Lord) what straits so ever they be in, thou wouldest deliver them: and although they be forsaken in the judgment of all the world, and in their own judgments, notwithstanding thou that haste the issues of death in thine own hands, deliver those that are appointed to death. And finally we most humbly thank thee, for that it hath pleased thee to keep us this day, and all the days and times of our lives: beseeching thee, that thou wouldest receive us this night into thy holy keeping, that we may have quiet rest, not of bodies alone, but of our souls also, resting from all those things that are contrary to thy moste holy will, attending while thou raisest us up in the morning, to do all those things that thou haste appointed us. These things we desire of thee, and all other things (which thou knowest to be more needful for us, and thy whole Church, better then we ourselves do know) for Jesus Christ's sake: saying the same prayer, that he himself hath taught us. Our Father. &c.

A prayer for the Queen.

O Gratious Lord, and moste merciful father, we acknowledge thee the Lord of Lord's, and the Kinge of Kings, creating at the beginning, and ruling all things evermore in heaven and earth, according to thy wonderful wisdom and power: and our selves to be thy poor servants, the work of thy hands, & the sheep of thy pasture, subjected to thy high Majesty, and depending upon thy fatherly providence for all things. Nevertheless, seeing thou in thy wisdom annoyntest Kings and Queens, appoyntinge them to rule over thy people, to sit as Lieuetenantes in thy seat, to minister justice, and most of all, as Fathers and Nurses to maintain & cherish thy Church: commaundinge us not only to obey and honor them, but moreover to pray for thē, as watching over us for our good: we therefore beseech thee for thy great names sake, & for Jesus Christ's sake, to show thy mercy to all Kings and Princes, that maintain thy glorious Gospel: but especially we pray thee to bless our gracious Queen, in all spiritual blessings in Christ Jesus, and in all temporal blessings, according to thy good pleasure, that in the great measures of thy effectual Law she may more and more find great increases of virtue, and wisdom, and strength in Christ Jesus to the faithful and happy discharge of her duty: that her holiness, and joy, and zeal of thy house may be multiplied and everlasting.

And, seeing it hath pleased thee of thy singular mercy, to give her this especial honor, first to suffer for thy Glorious truth, and afterward miraculously delivering her out of the hands of her enemies, to set a Crown upon her head, and to make her the instrument to advance thy Glory and Gospel, for which she suffered, and to bring it out of darkness into light, out of persecution into this great and long peace: as we give thee most hearty thanks for this singular benefit, so we beseech thee to make her and us evermore thankful for it, and in thy good pleasure still to preserve her for the continuance of these blessings towards us, with all increase from time to time, to thy Glory, the benefit of the Church, and her infinite peace in Christ Jesus, the Prince of Peace. And furthermore we pray thee for her, and the estate, that such as be enemies of the Gospel, and her enemies also, for the defense thereof, may not despise the peace offered them to repentance, but that they may account thy long suffering, and her peaceable and vnblouddie government an occasion of salvation to their souls, and unfeigned love to the truth, & their merciful sovereign. Otherwise if they still remain disobedient to the truth, disobedient to her highness, and dangerous to the state, then (O GOD of our Salvation) as thou haste discovered them, so discover them still, as thou haste prevented them, so prevent them still, and let their eyes wax weary with looking, and their harts faint with waiting for the coming of that, which yet cometh not, neither let it come (O Lord) we beseech the, but a blessed, and a long reign to her, and peace to Zion for evermore.

Also (deer Father) so bless, so love, so in thy Spirit sanctify and keep her, that she may in the Spirit of counsel and fortitude so rule that other sister also, namely this her Common wealth, that they may flourish together, and grow up together as Palme trees, in beauty, and in strength, giueing aid and help one to another, that in the Church the Glory of God may appear, as the Sun in his brightness, and that the lande may flowe with milk, and honey, and true peace abound therein as in the triumphant reign of Deborah.

These graces (O Lord) are great, and we miserable sinners, unworthy of the least of them: therefore look not to us but to thyself, not to our iniquities but to thy great mercies, acceptinge the death and passion of thy son, as a full ransom for all our offenses: throwing thē into the bothome of the sea, and making his cross and resurrection effectual in us to all obedience and godliness as becometh thy Saints, that to all other thy good blessings toward our gracious Souereigne, this may be added, that she governeth blessedly, over a blessed people, a people blessed of the Lord, and beloved of the Lord, and that thy graces may abound as the waves of the sea, in the Prince and in the people, in the Church and in the common wealth, frō day today, til the day of our translatiō into y ^e kingdom, where justice inhabiteth, where we also shall inhabit and reign with thee, according to thy promise, forever. Graunte us these things (O merciful father) for thy dear son our Lord Jesus Christ his sake, in whose name we crave them at thy merciful hand, praying furthermore for them, as he hath taught us to pray.

Our father which art. &c.