A poore mans rest founded vpon motiues, meditations, and prayers. Expressing to the inward man, true consolation. In all kindes and times of afflication. By Io. Norden.

A Prayer for the Euening.

MY God and Father, louing and al-sufficient, I yéeld thée praise and thankes for thy mercies, in that thou hast this day past strongly guarded mée with thy hand, louingly refreshed mée with thy fauours, and now safely brought mée to the end of this day, night and darkenesse being at hand, wherein all thy creatures draw to their rest. And I wretched creature, finding mine owne infirmity and im∣becillity, run now vnto thy heauenly fauour, who hast made me of that brit∣tle and grosse matter, as cannot conti∣nue without rest after labour, without sléepe after waking, and without comfort after sorrow and griefe: I doe therefore beséech thée, as thou art the Fountaine of all rest, and succour, and health, and helpe, so thou wil•• consider mée in my weakenesse, and giue mée strength, sée and behold my miseries, and be mercifull vnto me. And sith the time now is come, wherein I co∣uet rest and sléepe, receiue me into thy protection, and yéelde me thy helping

hand, that when this my corrupt lumpe of flesh shall (through the hea∣uinesse and dulnesse of sléepe) be de∣priued of mouing and sense, and a∣blenesse to helpe it selfe, I may be kept safe, and securely preserued by thée, for it is thy selfe (Lord) onely that ma∣kest mée dwell and abide in safety. Thou art my Watch-man when I slumber: thou art my Defender when I am in danger: thou art my Castle, my Rocke, my Sword, my Buckler and my Refuge: thou art to me and for me all in all: without thée what am I, but a beast that know nothing? but a blocke that féele nothing? but a wretch that can doe nothing rightly? And therefore, deare Father, stretch out thy louing fauour ouer the house wherein I rest: let thy Angels com∣passe the bed whereon I rest, and thy holy Spirit kéepe my soule and spirit in peace when I rest, that I may rest in peace: that I may rise in peace, and liue in peace: that the troubles of the world dismay me not, that the sleights of sinne deceiue mée not, and that the deuices of the wicked ouertake me not; but as I am weake of my selfe, I may be made strong by

thy strength; as I am poore of my self, I may be made able by thy riches; and as I am ignorant of my selfe, I may be made wise in thée: so shall my lying downe be acceptable, my sléepe comfortable, and my rising vp profi∣table. In hope of this thy free boun∣tie, louing fauour, and high proui∣dence, I will lay me downe and take my rest: let it be in peace, and (Lord) let it be vnto me and all thine (when they rest) swéet and comfortable in thée, who makest all thine to rest, and rise vp in safety.

Amen.

O Lord increase our Faith.