[The flour of godly praiers] [most worthy to be vsed in these our daies for the sauegard, health, and comforte of all degrees, and estates / newlie made by Thomas Becon].

¶ A thankesgeuynge vnto God for theyr delyueraunce.

AMong other thy benefytes, yea and those innumerable, which thou dayly bestowest vpō vs thi nedy & pore creatures, this is not the least, o most merci¦ful father, that thou of thi tender goodnes doest vouchsafe for the conseruacion of mākynde to pre∣serue the women that are wyth child, and to geue thē safe deliue∣raunce of theyr burden, by thys meanes makyng them glad and wyfull mothers. For this thy be∣nefyt and good wyl towarde vs, we so hartely thanke the, as hert canne thynke, besechinge the to worke suche thākefulnesse in the harte•• of al mothers by thy holy spyryte, that they beynge not vn∣mindeful of this high benefyt of theyr safe deliueraunce, wrought only by the the sauiour of al man kynde, maye shewe them selfes thankefull vnto the for this thy

goodnesse▪ and neuer forget that thy presēt helpe and moste swete comforte which thou mercyfully shewedst vpon thē in theyr great trauayles,* 1.1 * 1.2 labours and paynes whē thei fled vnto thy holy name for succour, as vnto a strōge bul∣warke and holy defēce. Go forth, o Lorde,* 1.3 to make them the ioyful mothers of many childrē. Endue them with lōge life,* 1.4 that thei may se then childres children. And the chyldren that thou geueste vnto thē,* 1.5 make thou as in age, so like∣wise in wisedome & in the abun∣daunce of thy holye spirite to en∣crease, that they may haue fauor bothe with the, and with all good men, vnto the glorye of thy moste blessed name. Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Psalme, l.
• * 1.2

  Pro. xviii.
• * 1.3

  Psa. cxiiii.
• * 1.4

  Ps. cxxviii
• * 1.5

  Luke. i, ii.