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 one that pre∣pares himselfe for marriage.

House and riches are the inheritance of the fathers, but a prudent wife commeth of the Lord,

Pro. 19. 14.

Well is hee that dwelleth with a wife of vnderstanding,

Ecclus. 25. 8.

Blessed is he that hath a vertuous wife, for the number of his yeares shall be dou∣ble: an honest woman recouereth her husband, and she shall fill the yeares of his life with peace: A vertuous woman is a good portion, which shall be giuen as a gift vnto such as feare and serue the Lord,

Ecclus. 26. 1. 2. 3.

O Heauenly God, euerlasting and most powerful Father, I do pro∣strate my selfe before the throne of thy Maiesty, humbly thanking thée, in that thou hast formed mée in the wombe of my mother, and suffered mée to be borne such as I am, maintained me likewise from mine infancy to this instant, and preserued me from infinite perils: for it is through thy goodnesse

and fatherly blessing, that I haue at∣tained to the yéeres I am now in, and in that time, thou hast taught mee by thy holy word, to know Jesus Christ thy beloued Sonne, the onely ioy and comfort that a Christian can haue, be∣cause in the true knowledge of him consisteth eternall life; and therefore I cannot sufficiently yéelde thée praise, for the infinite and innumerable bene∣fits thou hast bestowed on me. Neuer∣thelesse, because thou hast commanded vs to call vpon thée in all our necessi∣ties, and most louingly hast promised to heare vs, let it now please thée gra∣ciously to helpe me.

For I haue found and proued, that in regard of mine owne natures cor∣ruption, I cannot continue chaste and blamelesse, except I vse the meanes which thou hast ordained, and by thy holy Word hast also approued the same, saying; To auoide whoredome, let eue∣ry man haue his wife, and euery woman her husband. Then I beséech thee in mercy to lend m••e thy helping bend, and so blesse mee and my Pa∣tents, that in this intended mat∣ter, wee may not be abused by any exteriour appearance, either of beauty,

riches, or deceiuing spéeches, which may fore-runne, or procéede in this businesse: but as thy Word saith, A vertuous wife is a gift which comes from thee, O Lord▪ and as it is most certain, that not onely thou gauest Eue to A∣dam, but didst likewise conioyne Abra∣ham with Sarah, Iseac with Rebecca, and Iacob with his best estéemed Rachel; e∣uen so I intreat and beséech thée, O Father of lights, not onely to be my Father, but also to appoint mée my fellow-partner, in regard thou ough∣test to be the author and actor in so honourable a businesse. Send downe the holy Angell to be my guide and leader towards her whom thou hast prepared for mée, as (in like case) thou madest them seruants to Abra∣ham and young Tobias. Then let mée méete her, inioy her, and liue with her in thy feare and fauour. O Lord Jesus, may it please thée with thy blessing to be with me at my marriage, as thou didst vouchsafe to honour that at Cana in Galilee, with thy owne pre∣sence.

And as thou art well pleased to con∣ioyne man and wife, and to make them one body, so vnite vs both vnto thée,

that we may euermore liue in thée, and thou in vs.

Amen.

O Lord increase our Faith.