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 against Despaire.

O God of mercy, for as much as many wayes I h•…•… transgressed thy

holy Precepts, contemned thée our Lord and maker, & offended thy diuine Maiestie, greatly am I grieued in minde, and stand wonderfully in feare of thine euerlasting displeasure. And although thine holy Word doth tender vnto mée pardon and remission of my sinnes freely, through thy méere grace and mercy, yet haue I not grace as yet to apprehend the same, for busie is our most cruell and crafty aduersary, and doth labour to bring vs from all hope and comfort of saluation. The only re∣medy which wee haue against this our deadly aduersary, is, that wee neuer doubt of thy grace, and readinesse to forgiue our sinnes. Comfort vs at all times, especially at the houre of death, and giue vs grace to fasten all our con∣fidence and trust on thee, and neuer to thinke my offence greater, then thou canst and wilt pardon.

O louing and euer-liuing God, the liuely Fountaine of all grace, ouer-flowing the whole World with the Ri∣uers of thy mercy: inlighten mine vn∣derstanding, increase my Faith, that I may truly know, and assuredly beléeue the Death and Merits of Christ thy Son, the least drop of whose most pre∣cious

bloud, shed for me, is of more effi∣cacy and power to saue me, then all my enormities and hainous sinnes to con∣demne me. Looke vpon me (O my Sa∣uiour) with those Eyes of pitty and fa∣therly compassion, wherewith thou diddest behold Peter, after hee denied thée, le••t otherwise I despaire, and so commit the sin against the holy Ghost.

Giue mée (Lord) the holy helpe of thy sacred Spirit, that when Satan doth accuse mée, and my Conscience beare witnesse against mée, when the cogitations of Hell and Death doe dis∣may me, when the snares of Death and horrible tentations would entrap me, when the whole World forsakes mée, and all things set themselues against mée, then strengthen mée, I beséech thée, that I forsake not thée my Saui∣our, and fall from hope of thy frée mercy.

O, comfort my heart with an inward assurance and seale of mine Adop∣tion in thy Sonne, in whom the for∣giuenesse of sinnes is promised vnto all Beléeuers. Call to memory thy holy Couenant entered into with vs, at our Baptisme, and the promise thereunto annexed, (Hee which belee∣ueth,

and is baptized, shall be saued,) and grant that wée may euermore consider the same, to our perpetuall comfort.

Amen.