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 the temp∣tations of the Diuell.

MOst mercifull God, and leuing Father, thy blessed World teach∣eth vs, that the old Dragon and subtle Serpent, our aduersary the Di∣uell, ••uns about vs like a roaring Li∣on, séeking daily to deuoure vs.

Hée vseth all his wicked sleights against our Soules, with an in finite number of diuellish Stratagems to make vs fall into sinne or despaire.

He practiseth to entrap vs by riches, by pouerty, by voluptuous and wan∣ton pleasures, by gréedy desire after honour, & worldly dignities, by coue∣ting earthly goods and possessions, by care for the belly, and prouision there∣fore, with all other vnrighteous and sinfull affections and desires.

Hée cunningly doth cast abroad his daits and snares to intangle vs, night and day, in our words and workes, so that wake we or sléepe we, he is before or behind vs to deuoure vs.

O glorious God, who can escape?

for he is continually watching, and ne∣uer at rest, and wée are weake and vn∣able of our selues to resist.

Open thou our eyes (O Lord) that we may comprehend how mighty and crafty our enemie is. Confirme our Faith, for we are not to fight against flesh and bloud, but against Sathan, the vtter enemy of the Soule, there∣fore (O faithfull Father) haue com∣passion on vs.

Make vs strong in the power of thine owne streugth, put vpon vs thy defensiue armour to resist manfully the temptations, and subtle deuices of the Diuell.

Giue vs thy weapons: gird our reynes with the Girdle of truth, put on our brests the Brest-plate of righ∣teousnes, let our féete be shod with E∣uangelical peace, and aboue all things let our hearts be defended with the shield of Faith, so shall wée be sure to quench all the fiery darts of the diuell, so that our hearts be couered with the Helmet of Saluation, and our hands hold fast the Sword of the Spirit, which is, thy most sacred, an•• neuer failing Word.

Then shall wée be able to doe any

good thing, and valiantly (through thy ••ide and succour) ouer come our aduer∣sary the Diuell, for in thy very name we shall strongly with stand him.

Be thou but our helper, and no feare can assault vs, stand thou but by vs, and though the world should be ouer-whelmed, and the Mountaines tum∣bled into the bottome of the Sea, yet shall wee be safe: for thou art our as∣sistance, that liuest and raignest world without end.

Amen.