The monument of matrones conteining seuen seuerall lamps of virginitie, or distinct treatises; whereof the first fiue concerne praier and meditation: the other two last, precepts and examples, as the woorthie works partlie of men, partlie of women; compiled for the necessarie vse of both sexes out of the sacred Scriptures, and other approoued authors, by Thomas Bentley of Graies Inne student.

Christian praiers, and diuine meditations, as ge∣nerallie to be vsed at all times, so especiallie and properlie vpon all the holie Feasts and Saints daies throughout the yeere, as they fall in order, and are commonlie kept here in the Church of England and Ireland.

And first, vpon the principall Feast daies of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, that is to saie:

• On Aduent Sundaie. In me∣morial of Christ his First comming in the flesh.
• Christmas daie. In me∣morial of Christ his Natiuitie and birth.
• On New yéeres daie. In me∣morial of Christ his Circumcision.
• On Twelfe daie. In me∣morial of Christ his Apparition.
• On Ashwensday the 1. day of Lent. In me∣morial of Christ his Fasting.
• On First Sundaie in Lent. In me∣morial of Christ his Temptation.
• On Maundie Thursdaie. In me∣morial of Christ his Last Supper.
• On Good Fridaie. In me∣morial of Christ his Passion.
• On Easter daie. In me∣morial of Christ his Resurrection.
• On Ascension daie. In me∣morial of Christ his Ascension.
• On Whitsundaie. In me∣morial of Christ his Sending of the holie Ghost.
• On Trinitie Sundaie. In me∣morial of Christ his The blessed Trinitie.
• On Euerie Sundaie, holie∣day and working-day. In me∣morial of Christ his Last comming to iudg∣ment.

1. On Aduent Sundaie. Of the comming of Christ in the flesh.

The Preface.

BE of good cheere, and feare not (O you that are of a fearfull hart,) for behold your God commeth his owne selfe to take vengeance on his enimies, and will deliuer you: Hosanna to the sonne of Dauid.

O daughter Zion be glad; O daughter Ierusa∣lem reioice. For lo, the King commeth vnto thee, euen the righteous, thy Sauiour, lowlie, meeke and simple; riding vpon the fole of an asse, and bringing his recom∣pense with him: Blessed is he that commeth in the name of the Lord.

Out of Zion hath God appeared in perfect beautie: Hosanna in the highest.

Remember me, O Lord, according to thy fauor that thou bearest vnto thy people. O visit me with thy sal∣uation. Hosanna.

Shew me thy waies, O Lord, and teach mee thy path: Hosanna in the highest. Hosanna.

The praier.

THE time is now at hand, when the Church calleth into mind the bene∣fits of the sonne of GOD, which ta∣king vpon him our fraile nature, appeared to the world, and came to visit vs in great humilitie. And at the last daie and resurrection of all mankind, will come againe in his glorious Maiestie, to iudge both the quicke and the dead; and shew himselfe both to punish his enimies with euerlasting paines, and to adorne his Church and chosen people with eternall glorie. Wherefore, O Sonne of God, Lord and Sauiour Christ, which as this daie, in roiall pompe didst enter into the holie ci∣tie Ierusalem for a publike testimonie of thine appea∣ring: remooue all impediments, we praie thee, that may hinder thy comming, and make a plaine, and most easie waie for thy selfe vnto vs. Gather vs, we beseech thee, into that companie, which are prepared to re∣ceiue thee the King of all kings, and which set foorth thy glorie in spirituall songs, (not onelie this daie

through all the world, but also continuallie) and beare palmes of victorie before thee, and spred their gar∣ments in the waie for ioie of thy comming.

Assist vs, that being greatlie separated from the damned crue of diuels, and wicked persons; wee may sound and set foorth thy truth, in perfect confession, and righteousnesse all the daies and time of our life. Bee thou our King, both here in this world, and hereafter in the world to come: replenishing vs against all the wicked enterprises of thine enimies, and making vs (though babes and littleones) to extoll and magnifie thy name for euer. Keepe vs thy weake children depen∣ding vpon thee, and running vnto thy lap, euen as in∣fants vnto their parents. Make vs to followe thy words, which through thy spirit doo sound within vs, and powre thy wisedome into vs miserable men and women, that the pride and power of thine enimies may be confounded.

Grant that with gratefull minds we may publish abroad thy glorious victorie, according to our calling and abilitie; cherish thy ministers, and venter both our life & liuing for the maintenance of thy truth. Moreo∣uer, blesse vs, O thou blessed seed of Abraham, by the vertue of thy presence: number vs among thy chosen, which haue their names from thee. And finallie, giue vs grace now in the time of this mortall life, so to cast awaie from vs the works of darknes, and to put vpon vs the armour of light; that in the last daie of thy se∣cond comming in the clouds, we may rise through thee, to life immortall: and so, being adorned with that glo∣rie, which thou hast receiued from thine eternall Fa∣ther, we may perpetuallie praise and extoll thy Maie∣stie, both heere in this world, and for euermore in the world of worlds to come,

Amen.

Hosanna to thee O sonne of God in the highest. Hosanna.

2. On Christmas daie. Of the natiuitie and birth of Christ our Sauiour.

The Preface.

A Child is borne vnto vs, and a sonne is gi∣uen vnto vs. Glorie be to God on high.

Unto vs is borne this daie, in the citie of Dauid a Sauiour, which is Christ the Lord. Halleluiah.

The Lord sent a word vnto Iacob, the same is come into Israel, an euerlasting Prince of peace. Halleluiah.

Mercie and truth are met togither; righteousnesse and peace haue kissed each other: truth shall flourish out of the earth, and righteousnesse hath looked downe from heauen vpon vs, to speake peace vnto his people, and gladnesse to his Saints. Halleluiah.

Of the fruit of thy bodie will I set vpon thy throne, and in Zion shall I make the horne of Dauid to flou∣rish. Halleluiah.

The Sunne commeth foorth of (his tabernacle) the heauens, as a bridegroome out of his chamber, and re∣ioiceth as a Giant to run his course. Halleluiah.

He shall giue his Angels charge ouer thee, to keepe thee in all thy waies: they shall beare thee in their hands, that thou hurt not thy foot against a stone. Hal∣leluiah.

For thou art fairer than the children of men: full of grace are thy lips, bicause God hath blessed thee for euer: yea God, euen thine owne God hath annointed thee with the oile of gladnesse aboue thy fellowes. Hal∣leluiah.

Therefore in this daie of thy power shall the people offer the free-will offerings with an holie worship; bi∣cause the dew of thy birth is of the wombe of the mor∣ning. Halleluiah.

Glorie be vnto God on high, in earth peace, and good will towards men: Halleluiah, Halleluiah, Halleluiah.

The Praier.

NOW is the ioifull time, wherein all Saincts both in heauen and earth doo magnifie and praise al∣mightie God, for the incarnation of his onlie begotten Sonne our Sa∣uiour Iesus Christ; who as this daie was borne of the pure Uirgin Marie, the which also the holie An∣gels of the Lord did celebrate with a most heauenlie song. And no doubt, the blessed companie of the elect departed out of this world, enioieng the comfortable sight of God, replenished with eternall wisedome, light and righteousnesse, yeeld most humble thanks vn∣to the Sonne of God their Sauiour and Redeemer, for his incomprehensible goodnesse declared vnto man∣kind, in the order of their redemption, for the infinite benefits of their saluation, and for taking our fraile nature and miserable flesh (subiect vnto all calamities and destruction) vpon him, and carieng the same and vs therewith vnto eternall life.

We therefore liuing in this vaile of wretchednesse, lift vp our heads vnto thee, O notable Silo, which art the fruit of the Uirgin; and separate our selues from the detestable & damned crue of vnpure spirits; and of men powring out blasphemous outcries a∣gainst thy truth and glorie. From our harts we praie thee regenerate and make vs thy children by adoption and grace, and dailie renew vs by thy holie spirit, to glorifie thee. For of our selues we are nothing but flesh and corruption, as they that are borne of flesh, and can not become thy children, except we be begotten and borne againe by a new birth of the holie Ghost.

Therfore we beseech thee renew vs, I say, dailie by thy mightie power from aboue, that being borne of the spirit, our harts and our hands, our deeds and deui∣ses, and whatsoeuer is in vs, may be spirituall as thou art. Ioine vs to the societie of thine holie Angels, which sing glorie to thee on high; and make vs mem∣bers of that congregation, which is knit vnto thee by an indissoluble bond of euerlasting peace, with grate∣full minds to record and celebrate thy benefits.

We thanke thee for sauing mankind from eternall damnation, and for making the attonement betweene thy father and vs, through thine incarnation, For so it was expedient, according to the order of iustice, that the punishment of a guiltlesse man, should quit man∣kind guiltie; and that a sufficient satisfaction might be made, it was required that he which would be the me∣diatour, should be God. God, I saie, to abide the intol∣lerable burthen of Gods displeasure, to vanquish death, and to restore vnto man life and saluation, to en∣ter into the most holie place, and be an eternall Priest. God, to vnderstand the secret counsell of the father, to be priuie vnto the cogitations of harts, to heare the grones of all men, to be the King of his flocke, de∣fending the same against the power of sathan and his members. Finallie God, to place his Church raised from death, in the eternall kingdome of his most glo∣rious father. Now, forasmuch as the nature of man was not able to bring these things to passe, we thanke thee O our sauiour, being the word, the expresse image, and interpretor of the father, for vouchsafing to take the office of a mediatour betweene God and vs.

Begin in vs, we most humblie beseech thee, this so great a benefit. We are weake, we are fowle and fil∣thie; but as thou wast brought into this miserable world, borne a weake infant, and that in a pinching time of the yeare, swadled with wretched bands, en∣dued

with the rags of a miserable nature, and laid in a manger among the brutish kind, being notwithstan∣ding the verie wisedome of thine eternall father. So let thy wisdome appeare in vs miserable men & womē in this wofull darkenesse of ours, among the blacke clouds of this doting age, amongst these troubles and destructions of Common-weales. Kindle in vs the sparks of that wisedome, which shall be perfect in the life to come, and ioine vs to the felowship of thy Saincts. Grant that from the hart, and ioifullie we may ascribe all glorie, fame, and honor vnto thee the true God, which art wise, righteous, almightie, pure, liberall, and mercifull, according to the rule described in thy commandements, which didst send thy Sonne to bring vs to that glorie; whereof we were depriued, and to restore vs againe to our first integritie, which was lost through sinne.

O Sonne of God, confirme thou, and seale these things in our harts by thy holie spirit powred vpō vs, which may worke within vs vnfeigned righteousnesse; that by the same thy spirit shining in the nature which thou tookest vpon thee, we may be committed to thee, vpholden, quickened, & brought by thee vnto eternall life: that that league made betweene God and vs, may eternallie be confirmed, and we loued in the beloued; and the eternall Father may loue vs with that loue, wherewith he loueth thee the substantiall image of himselfe. Suppresse the diuell, that he breake not this woonderfull and profitable peace: and suffer vs not hanging on thy necke, running to thine armes, seeking thy fauour, to be plucked out of thy hands. Keepe vs, we beseech in thy lap, as a louing shepheard cherisheth and beareth about his tender lambs.

And forasmuch as the first tidings of thy natiuitie were brought by the Angel of the Lord vnto shep∣heards; grant that shepheards of the soules, that is,

the ministers and teachers may faithfullie testifie thy benefits vnto mankind, and publish abroad what they see & knowe, spreading foorth thy fame, and glorifieng God for the peace, which he hath eternallie concluded with vs; and finallie may bring thy sheepe to thy stall, that is, to the congregation of the faithfull. Open be∣fore vs thy swadling clouts, which is thy word, that in this life it may crie within vs, and we thereby may feele the sense of thy most sweet promises, which thine eternall Father hath vttered of thee; Blessed are all they, which put their trust in him.

Furthermore, our petition is, that thou wilt blesse vs and our countrie, with all Common-weales. In∣crease among vs dailie y^e number of the faithfull; pros∣per the course of the Gospell, and suffer not the light thereof, by the malice of Sathan, to be extinguished. Likewise vphold those kingdoms, which minister re∣leefe vnto thy Church. Repell from the borders of thy seruants the rabblement of Turks & Infidels, which threaten the decaie of thy Church, and destruction of kingdoms. Blesse the labours of our hands; keepe vs from the contagious diseases: and last of all make vs and ours the vessels of mercie, and profitable instru∣ments to thy Church and Common-weale,

Amen.

Glorie be to God on high.

Or thus.

ALmightie God, and most mercifull Father, who according to the pro∣phesies spoken long before, hast gi∣uen vs thine own Sonne to be con∣ceiued of the holie Ghost, and borne of the blessed virgin, that in thy na∣ture and ours he might be our ho∣lie, and true Emanuel, and Sauior, and Sanctifier of those that trust in him. Touch our

harts with thy holie spirit, that considering this so great loue of thine, to abase thy Sonne to take vpon him the forme of a seruant, to make vs sonnes and heires to thee, that our soules may magnifie thee, O Lord our Sauiour, and blesse thee the Lord GOD of Israel, for thus visiting and redeeming thy people: and grant vs also the fruit of this thy mercie, that by his holinesse our vncleannesse may be done awaie, and our corrupt nature sanctified by his holie birth and natiui∣tie; that we putting our trust in him, may by him be deliuered both from all our sins, and all our enimies, and attaine to the fruit of this his infinite loue and goodnesse, euen to serue him in holinesse and righteous∣nesse all the daies of our life, through the same thy deere sonne our Lord Iesus Christ, to whom with thee and the holie Ghost, be all praise, honour and glorie, for euer and euer,

Amen.

Glorie be to God on high.

Another Meditation of the maruellous incarnation of the word, which is Christ, by whose meanes it pleased God to helpe mankind fallen from him.

BEhold now, O almightie God, the viewer and searcher of mine hart. Like as with hart I beleeue (which is counted righteousnesse vnto me) so with mouth doo I confesse before thee (which is to my saluation) af∣ter what sort and maner thou didst vouchsafe in the end of the world to succour and aid mankind. Thou in deed onelie, O God the Father, art not read at anie time or in anie place to be sent; but of thy Sonne, the Apostle saith; When that the time was fulfilled, God sent his Sonne. In that he saith (he sent) he doth sufficientlie declare, that he being sent came into this world. When as he being thy Sonne, O our God, and a gentle and kind louer of

mankind, did take vpon him to be the seed of Abraham, not of Angels, and so taking mans nature, not An∣gels, did vouchsafe to humble himselfe to be borne a verie perfect man of blessed Marie a pure virgin; and so being made like vnto vs in all things, sinne onlie ex∣cepted, (for he was the verie lambe without spot that tooke awaie the sinnes of the world) did appeare and shew himselfe in the similitude of flesh subiect to sinne, that he might condemne sinne for sinne, and that wee might be made the righteousnesse in him.

But what is that, which he that is the chiefe of the Euangelists doth saie? He was in the world, and the world was made by him. Thither trulie was he sent by his humanitie, where he alwaies is, and alwaie hath beene by his diuinitie. The which sending or em∣bassage, I beleeue with all my hart, and confesse with my mouth, to be the consent & worke of all the whole Trinitie. I beleeue also, that his manhood being in this my nature, during his infancie, was trobled with creeping and scrallings, and was wrapt in cloths af∣ter the maner of other children, and was vexed in his youth with labours and troubles. I beleeue, I saie, that the Godhead, which was sent of them, did take vpon him mine humanitie and nature, to the intent he (the Sonne of God) being made man, might cure mine infirmitie, and redeeme the sinnes of sinfull man.

Therefore doo I blesse thy name euerlastinglie, and glorifie the same with all mine hart, O almightie and mercifull Lord, for that vnspeakable and maruellous coniunction of Godhead and manhood together, in the vnitie of a person: and not after this sort, that the one should be God, and the other man; but one and the same was both God and man, man and God. Neuer∣thelesse, although by thy maruellous will the word was made flesh; yet neither of both the natures was changed into other substance. In the mysterie of the

Trinitie there is not a fourth person added. For the substance of the word of God and of man was vnited and knit togither; but not confused and mixt, that that thing, which was taken of vs, should be turned into God; and that which neuer had been before that time, that is, his flesh and manhood, should be the same that had beene euer without anie beginning, that is, his Godhead.

Oh maruellous mysterie! Oh vnspeakeable fellow∣ship! Oh maruellous meeknesse of the heauenlie mer∣cifulnesse, which is euer woorthie marueling, and euer to be loued! We were but vile seruants; and behold, we are made the sonnes of God, yea and heires of God togither with Christ. From whence came this good∣nesse? And who brought vs to this state? But I re∣quire thee, O most mercifull Father, by thine inestima∣ble pitie, goodnesse, and charitie to make vs woorthie of these manie and great promises of the same thy sonne our Lord Iesu Christ. Send foorth thy strength, O God, and establish the thing that thou hast wrought in vs; make perfect that, which thou hast begun, that we may be able to come vnto the fulnesse and perfect∣nesse of thy pitie. Make vs through the holie Ghost to vnderstand, and through thy sonne to desire, and with due honour alwaie to worship this great mysterie of thy pitie in Christ his blessed natiuitie, so manifest in our flesh; that as thou hast giuen vs him, thine onelie begotten Sonne I meane, to take our nature vpon him, and this daie to be borne of a pure virgin: so wee being regenerate, and made thy children by adoption and grace, may dailie be renewed by thy holie spirit, to glorifie thee from our birth, through the same thy deere Sonne, our souereigne Lord, and sweet Saui∣our Iesus; to whom with thee, and the holie Ghost, be immortall praise and thanks-giuing, now and for euer,

Amen.

A meditation concerning the true knowledge of Christes incarnation.

THE knowledge of the truth is, first to knowe thy selfe, and to endeuour to be that which thou oughtest to be, and to amend that which ought to be amended. And secondlie to knowe and to loue thy maker and creator, for that is the whole hap∣pines of a christian man or woman.

See then how vnspeakable the gratious goodnesse and entire loue of God towards vs is. He hath crea∣ted vs of nothing, and giuen vs all that we haue: but alas, forasmuch as we haue loued the gift more than the giuer, and the creature more than the Creator: therefore we are fallen into the diuels snare, and be∣come his bondslaues. Neuertheles, God being moued with compassion, sent his most deere and onlie Sonne to redeeme vs slaues, and his holie spirit to make vs his sonnes and daughters againe. He hath giuen his Sonne, I saie, euen his best beloued child, to be the price of our ransome; the holie Ghost as an assurance of his loue; and to be short, he reserueth himselfe whole for vs, to be the heritage of our adoption. And so al∣mightie God, according to his exceeding gratiousnesse and mercie, hath for verie loue and good will to man∣kind, bestowed not onlie his benefits, but also himselfe vpon him to recouer him againe; not so much to him∣selfe, as to him. To the intent that man might bee borne of God, God, I saie, was first borne of them.

O then who is so hard-harted, that he will not bee softened by the tender loue of God thus preuenting wretched man, with so great, hartie, and vnspeakable good will, in that he vouchsafed to become man for mans sake? Yea, who can anie more find in his hart to

hate man or woman, whose nature and likenesse he or she so plainelie seeth in the manhood of God? Doubtles, he or she that hateth from hencefoorth a man or a wo∣man, hateth God, and so looseth all his or hir labour, whatsoeuer taken vnder pretence of Christianitie. For God (as is said) became man for mans sake, that he might be a redeemer as well as a creator; and that man might be ransomed with his owne goods, and that one man & woman might loue another the more hartilie. God, I saie, appeared in the shape of a man, to the end that both bodie and soule might be made bles∣sed, by renewing the eie of the mind in his Godhead, and the eie of the bodie in his manhood; so that whe∣ther man went in or out, he might find food in him laid vp in store by him in his humane nature. Most iniuri∣ous therefore is that man or woman to Gods diuini∣tie, that so by hating of their brethren and sisters, their owne flesh, contemne Christ, and offend his hu∣manitie.

The Thanks-giuing.

ILift vp my hart vnto thee, O God; for it is verie meet, right, and my bounden dutie, that I should at all times, & in all places, giue thanks vnto thee, O Lord, holie father, al∣mightie, and euerlasting God: be∣cause thou didst giue Iesus Christ thine onlie Sonne to be borne as this daie for me and all mankind, who by the operati∣on of the holie Ghost was made verie man of the sub∣stance of the blessed Uirgin Marie his mother, and that without all spot of sinne, to make vs cleane from all sinne. Therefore, with Angels and Archangels, and with all the holie companie of Saincts and Uir∣gins in heauen, I laud and magnifie thy glorious name: euermore praising thee, and saieng, Holie, Holie,

Holie, Lord God of hostes, heauen and earth are full of thy glorie: Glorie be to thee, O Lord, most high,

Amen.

3. On Newyeares daie. Of Christ his circumcision in the flesh.

The Preface.

CIrcumcise the foreskin of your hart, and be no more stiffenecked. Deuter. 18.

Be ye circumcised in the Lord, I saie, and cut awaie the foreskin of your hart, and e∣uill affections, all ye inhabitants of Iuda and Ierusalem. Iere. 4.

For the circumcision of the hart, which consisteth in the spirit, and not in the letter, is the true circumcisi∣on, whose praise is not of men, but of God. Rom. 4.

Yea we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and reioice in Christ Iesus, and haue no con∣fidence in the flesh. Philip. 3.

For circumcision verelie auaileth, if thou keepe the lawe; but if thou be a breaker of the ordinances of the lawe, thy circumcision is made vncircumcision, &c. Rom. 2.

Oh that my waies were made so direct, that I might keepe thy statutes, so shall I not be confounded! Order my steps in thy word, and so shall no wickednesse haue dominion ouer me.

I will keepe thy ceremonies, O forsake me not vt∣terlie. Halleluiah.

The Praier.

O Lord Iesus Christ, Sonne of the liuing God, we thanke thee, forasmuch as after thy decree concerning the redemption of mankind, from the beginning thou hast beene present with thy Church outward∣lie

by speaking vnto hir by thy ministers, and inward∣lie by kindling thy light and righteousnesse in the harts of the faithfull. Thou hast ratified thy promises by outward signes and ceremonies, whereby euerie man may applie the benefits vnto himselfe. So did thy burnt offerings and sacrifices testifie of thee, which af∣terwards should be slaine. The flames of fire, which from heauen did set on fire the offerings, did witnesse of thy presence, that as manie as should behold thy be∣nefits with a true faith, thou wouldest quicken with the sacrifice of thine holie spirit, which inflameth true knowledge and good motions within the godlie.

That life was giuen to them of thy meere mercie, the first parents did knowe full well, when it was said, that a woman shall bring foorth. And because the mediator was called that seed of the woman, and with∣all, promised to be the subduer of Sathan, they knew that he should be both God and man. The same pro∣mise was repeated vnto Abraham, the father of the faithfull. And forasmuch as restraint was made vnto a certaine nation, thou didst adde a new rite of circum∣cision, whereby not onelie the posteritie of Abraham was discerned from other nations, but also it was a testimonie admonishing of the seed to come, which was Christ, who should take our weake flesh vpon him, and beare our nature, and bring both Iewes and Gentils vnto eternall felicitie.

Wherefore, we yeeld thee humble thanks, forasmuch as hitherto thou hast continued this sound of thy per∣son and office, notwithstanding the great raging of thine enimies: for appearing at the length in the flesh, for giuing thy selfe vnto vs for a Newyeares gift of inestimable price, for being made vnder the lawe, & a cursse to saue vs wretches from the cursse of the lawe, and to restore vs vnto innocencie lost through sinne. For which cause, thy blessed will was, as vpon

this daie to be circumcised in the flesh, and now first of all to shead thy pretious bloud for vs that are of vncir∣cumcised harts and lips, and all to shew that thou ca∣mest in deede of the verie seed of Abraham, and wast subiect to the lawe, cursse, and condemnation for vs; and that our corrupt nature, by thy holinesse might be sanctified, and haue through thee, an obedience to an∣swere the same withall.

We beseech thee therefore, grant vs the true cir∣cumcision of the spirit, that our harts & all our mem∣bers being mortified from all worldlie and carnall lusts, we may in all things obeie thy blessed will, and heere staie our selues, and put our trust in thee, that thus hast humbled thy selfe so lowe for vs, that we may be exalted by thee. And from our harts we praie thee ioine vs to that holie companie, that did wait for thy redemption before it came, and doo reioice in it now it is come and performed, and with the sacred host of An∣gels to giue all glorie & renowme vnto thee, for brin∣ging thy peace, which passeth all vnderstanding, vpon the earth, and declaring so great kindnesse and good will towards vs, as to giue thy selfe, and thereby e∣uerlasting ioie and blisse for a Newyeares gift of wor∣thie memoriall, and inestimable value, to be our owne for euer and euer.

Speake hencefoorth to our harts with thy louelie voice. Lighten the lampe of our minds with thy hea∣uenlie knowledge. Confirme vs with thy blessed Sa∣craments, which are the certaine tokens of thine vn∣doubted regeneration and quickning of vs. Oh take a∣waie the cursse, the wrath of God, damnation, the works of the flesh and the diuell. Grant me, I beseech thee, that thy grace may dailie mortifie my concupis∣cence of pleasures in things of this world, that is, of wealth, riches, glorie, libertie, fauour of men, meates, drinks, apparell, ease, yea and life it selfe: that the

horror and impatiencie of more greeuous things may be weakened, and I accustome my selfe to denie my will in more easie and pleasant things of this life, and for euer become obedient and readie in all Christian patience, to doo thy good will in all things, hartilie and willinglie to serue thee, and doo whatsoeuer may please thee.

Make me, I saie, through the effectuall power of thy grace and holie spirit working in me most mise∣rable wretch, to hate, abhor, flie, and subdue all adulte∣rie, whoredome, vncleannesse, vnnaturall lusts, euill concupiscence, inordinate desires, wantonnes, tender∣nes, delicatenes, idlenes, dronkennes, gluttonie, sloth∣fulnes, distrust, despaire, ignorance, weakenes, wilful∣nes, idolatrie, superstition, hypocrisie, heresie, error, sects, variance, strife, wrath, enuie, slanders, lieng, swearing, curssing, vaine-glorie, pride, couetousnes, theft, deceit, flatterie; and whatsoeuer else, O Lord, fighteth or rebelleth against thy holie spirit. And strengthen me so with thy might, that I may not on∣lie drawe all these mine earthlie members and hor∣rible vices before rehearsed, vnder my feet; but also fight continuallie against them, & subdue them, so that they may all turne to the best for me, as meet matter whereon I may exercise my faith, powre foorth hartie praier, and giue thee most hartie thanks for victorie. Finallie, worke in me thy blessing, with all the fruits of the spirit, righteousnes, peace, loue, ioie in the holie Ghost, long-suffering, gentlenes, goodnes, faithfulnes, meekenes, temperance, strength, patience, and such like. Grant vs the remission of our sinnes, righteous∣nes and life. Restore in our minds thy lawe, and begin such a new conformitie, this new yeare in this our life and conuersation, as may be perfect in the life to come. Be thou our sauiour by thy power and merit, that in our minds we may perceiue that thy Father is at

peace with vs through thy death, and find thee dwel∣ling within vs to eternall life and happinesse,

Amen.

Halleluiah.

4. On the Epiphanie, or twelfe daie. Of the apparition of Christ, and the three Kings, and their offerings to Christ.

The Preface.

GET thee vp beetimes, and be bright, O daughter Ierusalem. For thy light com∣meth, and the glorie of the Lord is risen vpon thee.

Lift vp thine eies, & looke round about thee. For behold the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightnesse that springeth foorth vp∣on thee.

The multitude of camels and dromedaries that bring the riches of the Gentiles shall couer thee: all they of Saba, Mada, and Epha shall come bringing gold, incense, and shewing foorth the praise of the Lord.

All these gather themselues and come to thee: thy sonnes shall come vnto thee from farre, and thy daugh∣ters shall gather themselues to thee on euerie side, frō the east, and from the west.

The isles also shall wait for me, and speciallie the ships of Tharsis, that they may bring thy sonnes and daughters from farre, and their siluer and their gold with them, vnto the name of the Lord thy God, vnto the holie one of Israel that hath glorified thee.

Strangers shall build vp thy wals, and their kings shall doo thee seruice; yea kings, princes, and the host of the Gentils shall see and arise, and worship thee. For I haue made thee the light of the Gentiles, that thou maist be my health vnto the end of the world.

Thou shalt suck the milke of the Gentils, and kings brests shall feed thee: kings, I saie, shall be thy nursing

fathers, and Queenes shall be thy nursing mothers.

And those shall come kneeling vnto thee that haue vexed thee, and all they that despise thee shall fall at thy feet before thee, with their faces flat vpon the earth, and licke vp the dust of thy feet.

Yea, euerie people and kingdome that serueth not thee shall perish, and be destroied with vtter destructi∣on, and thou shalt knowe that I am the Lord, the Sa∣uiour and Redeemer, euen the mightie one of Iacob: and that whosoeuer putteth his trust in me shall not be confounded.

They that dwell in the wildernes, I saie, shall kneele before the Kings sonne: his enimies shall licke the dust.

The king of Tharsis and of the isles, shall giue pre∣sents; the kings of Arabia & Saba shall bring gifts.

All kings shall fall downe before him: all nations shall doo him seruice.

He shall liue, and vnto him shall be giuen the gold of Arabia.

Praier shall be made euer vnto him, and dailie shall he be praised.

The Lord declared his saluation, his righteousnesse hath he openlie shewed in the sight of the heathen.

All the world shall worship thee, O God; sing of thee, and praise thy name most high.

The Lord is King, the earth may be glad thereof; yea the multitude of isles may reioice and bee glad thereof.

Bring therefore vnto the Lord, O ye mightie: bring presents and gifts vnto the Lord, O ye kindreds and nations of the world. Come, I saie, into his courts with praise, and speake good of his name.

Ascribe vnto the Lord, onelie the strength, power, kingdome and glorie: worship God, I saie, O ye gods, kings, iudges, and rulers of the earth: worship him with an holie worship, and giue him the honor due vn∣to

his name. O make his praises to be glorious in your liues and conuersation. For he it is that hath exalted you, and is himselfe exalted farre aboue all gods, and his praise and glorie is aboue heauen and earth. Hal∣leluiah.

The Praier.

OEternall God, Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which after a woon∣derfull maner reuealedst thy selfe at the baptisme of Christ standing in the water of Iordan, at such time as thou diddest testifie of thy sonne; and the holie Ghost appeared in the likenesse of a dooue: gouerne vs by thine holie spirit, that in true faith we may obeie thee; kindle in our minds a true knowledge of thy benefits; bring to passe, that approching vnto thee in our prai∣ers we may discerne thee, the true God, aboue all fei∣ned gods, & in mind turne our selues into that banke of the water, into the companie of those godlie audi∣tors and beholders, before whom this noble appea∣ring was made. Speake vnto vs by thy sonne in the holie Ghost, and turne vs vnto true obedience. And as thou broughtest godlie auditors vnto the sight of Christ, which taking our flesh vpon him became our mediatour; and thou eternall Father spakest out of the cloud, and the holie Ghost appeared in the likenes of a dooue: so bring to passe, that in this life we may de∣pend vpon the benefit of thy soone, which coupled our nature vnto his, to make an eternall couenant with vs. Cause the heauens in like maner to be opened vn∣to vs, that we may heare thy voice, and thy spirit rest vpon vs. Worke in vs the beginning of eternall life, vntill in thy visible presence we shall be hold thy diuini∣vntill in the heauens, not darklie and in a cloud; but face

to face, beeing made like thy sonne.

And as those Christian Magicians or Philosophers of Persia, some remnants of the schoole of Daniel, by the conduct and leading of a starre, came from farre to see thee, and gaue a notable testimonie of the birth of Christ Iesus our Sauiour: so mainteine euermore for thine owne glorie sake, some congregation, which may set foorth and celebrate thy benefits. Grant that that luckie starre, the light of faith, may rise vnto vs, which seeketh thee in Bethlem in a manger, in thy word reuealed in the ministerie, that we wander not from the right waie, neither seeke fained bywaies of humane opinions & seruice. Suffer not the lampe of thy light to be extinguished, either by the darkenes of hypocrites and idolaters, or by the rage of tyrants, which wage mortall battell against thee: but grant, that endued with new light from thee the true Sunne of righteousnesse, we may reioice from our whole harts, and acknowledge thee to bee our captaine, which wilt gouerne thy people in truth and equitie. Let the light of thy grace, I saie, lighten the darkenes of our conscience, O mercifull Iesu, our true & bright loade-star of the world; and by thy ioifull apparition, giue vnto vs the full knowledge both of thy selfe, and of our owne selues, that within we may see thee, and inwardlie find thee, and that there we may continual∣lie offer vnto thy holie Maiestie, the mirrh of sincere faith, and inward contrition, and the frankincense of deuout praier and inuocation, and the gold of loue, righteousnes, and patience in trouble; and so ascribing vnto thee the honour of a King, and the seruice due vn∣to God, may shew all true liberalitie with the godlie, both vnto thee, and thy poore Church, and beare suffici∣ent testimonie to the world of thy kingdome, diuinitie, priesthood, humanitie, crosse, death, and buriall, and take hold of the manifold benefits thereof, and out∣wardlie

also may in our places, office and calling, helpe to mainteine thy ministerie, to the vttermost of our power. And grant that as thou (after thou hadst re∣uealed and manifested thy selfe vnto the three wise men, by the leading of a starre) causedst them to re∣turne another waie into their owne countrie: so wee, (which by the waie of darkenes and offences haue re∣tired and gone backe from the supernall countrie of blessednes, thou, the bright daie-star of the world bee∣ing our guide) may returne vnto the same by the waie of truth and grace; and that now knowing thee by faith, when we depart out of this life, wee may bee brought into that kingdome, where thy diuinitie shall shine without mists or mysteries, and there haue the fruition of thy glorious Godhead, and woorship thee, and praise thee for euer and euer,

Amen.

Halleluiah.

5. On Ashwednesdaie, or first daie of Lent. Of Christ his fasting fortie daies.

The Preface.

LEt the Bridegroome come forth of his cham∣ber, and the Bride out of hir closet, and let all sinners weepe before the Lord, & saie: Turne thou vs, O good Lord, and so shall we be tur∣ned. Be fauorable O Lord, be fauorable to thy people, & spare vs, which rent our harts & not our garments, & turne to thee in fasting, weeping & praieng. For thou art a mercifull God, full of compassion, long suffering, and of great pitie. Thou sparest, when we deserue pu∣nishment, and in thy wrath thinkest vpon mercie. Oh spare thy people, good Lord; spare them, and let not thine heritage be brought to confusion. Heare vs, O Lord; for thy mercie is great, and after the multitude of thy mercies looke vpon vs. Haue mercie vpon vs, O God, haue mercie vpon vs miserable sinners.

¶ Heere saie the seuen penitentiall Psalmes following, and other praiers, for contrition and repentance, as you thinke good.

The Praier.

O Lord God Iesus Christ, our onlie re∣deemer, which tookest vpon thee our sinfull flesh, and liuedst therein a life most holie in all righteousnes for our example, and didst through the power of thy Godhead and diuine nature, most reuerentlie obeie in all things the will of thine heauen∣lie Father, with subduing in this flesh, with great tri∣umph, glorie and maiestie, the power of the diuell, the world, and the flesh; that onlie in thee, the spirit of sanc∣tification might myraculouslie appeere, and beare swaie with fulnesse in the sight of all flesh, during the course of this life, and for euer after to remaine with power in glorie, verie God with verie God, in the kingdome of God the Father. We beseech thee most humblie, O Lord Iesu, which hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dooest forgiue the sinnes of all them that be penitent, to haue compassion vpon vs in our weakenesse and infirmitie; that as thou hast for our safetie taken upon thee our flesh, and for our sakes didst fast fortie daies and fortie nights, and hast diuers∣lie in thine owne person felt as a man, the fraile state of our mortall nature, and how inclinable it is with∣out thy diuine power, to fall from the obedience of thy will that is heauenlie, to the suggestions of sathan the old enimie, and to the allurements of things earthlie, vaine and transitorie. So we beseech thee, O our God, to grant vnto vs thine holie spirit, that by the strength thereof in vs proceeding from thee, we may in our weakenesse haue power, that our enimie may be resi∣sted, the world defied, the flesh vanquished, and our spi∣rit quickened; whereby we may most gladlie obeie thy godlie will, and turne vnto thee with all our hearts,

both in vnfeigned repentance, in hartie contrition, and earnest confession, and also in true fasting, in compe∣tent feeding, in faithfull praieng, in charitable dealing, in chast looking, in reuerent beholding, in godlie hea∣ring, in fruitefull speaking, in holie thinking, free from flattering, void of detraction, slander, lieng, false accu∣sation, blasphemie, outfacing, idle talke, or filthie com∣munication, and to tread steadilie in all things the steps of true holines before thee, as thou hast most gra∣tiouslie lead vs, and taught vs the waie, that with all simplicitie, both outwardlie and inwardlie in bodie and soule, and in all parts and members of them, our fast this Lent and euer may not be prophane, earth∣lie, hypocritish, superstitious, or carnall, to the view of the world; but holie, heauenlie, and spirituall to thee. Giue vs grace, I saie, not so much to absteine from meates, as from ill manners; nor from flesh, as from filthie cogitations. For as thou, O God, wilt be wor∣shipped in spirit and truth; so the spirituall fast it is which pleaseth thee. Suffer vs not, gratious God, to abuse thy good creatures immoderatelie, to the hurt both of our bodies and soules, but temperatlie, the better to serue thee, and as soberlie to take our food, so carefullie to absteine from sinne. For otherwise, to ab∣steine from meate, and not to refraine from pride, co∣uetousnes, concupiscence, lewdnes, and such like vi∣ces, it shall but hurt our bodies through an hypocriti∣call abstinence, and cast awaie our soules through our exceeding impietie. Assist vs with thy secret grace therefore, we beseech thee, to vse such abstinence, that our flesh being subdued to the spirit, we may euer o∣beie thy godlie motions in righteousnes and true ho∣lines, to our reioicing with peace of conscience; and that obteining of thee the God of all mercie, perfect re∣mission and forgiuenes, with aboundance of thy grace, we may shew foorth fruitfullie thy glorie all the daies

of our liues, and after this life ended, reigne with thee for euer, in thy glorious kingdome, where all holy folke doo rest, and which by thy blessed natiuitie, holie cir∣cumcision, fasting, temptation, crosse, death & passion, thou hast alone so deerelie purchased for vs, to the per∣petuall praise of thine eternall name,

Amen.

I haue sinned, I haue sinned, haue mercie vpon me.

6. On the first Sundaie in Lent. Of Christ his temptation in the wildernesse, and most glorious conquest ouer Sathan.

The Preface.

MY sonne, if thou wilt come into the seruice of God, stand fast in righteousnesse and feare, and prepare thy soule to temptati∣on, for he that is not tempted, what is he?

Remember alwaie the Lord thy God, which lead thee fortie yeares in the wildernes for to humble thee, and to prooue thee, and to knowe what was in thine hart, whether thou wouldest keepe his commandements or no.

He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with Manna, which neither thou nor thy fa∣thers knew of, to make thee knowe that a man doth not liue by bread onlie, but by euerie word that procee∣deth out of the mouth of the Lord, doth a man liue.

To daie therefore if you will heare his voice, harden not your harts, as in the prouocation, and as in the daie of temptation in the wildernesse, when your fa∣thers tempted me, prooued me, and sawe my works.

Fortie yeares long was I greeued with this gene∣ration, and said; It is a people that doo erre in their harts, for they haue not knowne my waies: vnto whome I sware in my wrath, that they should not enter into my rest.

Examine me, O Lord, and prooue me; trie out my reines and my hart. For thy louing kindnes is euer be∣fore mine eies, and I will walke in thy truth. I haue sinned, haue mercie vpon me.

The Praier.

THE cause of thine appeering in the flesh, O Sonne of God, Lord and Sauiour Christ, was to destroie the works of sathan, which our first parents did. The diuell, through ha∣tred of thee, and of thine eternall fa∣ther, encountred in visible forme. He soaked into their minds certaine suspicions and doubtings of thy will, and pricked them on, with a desire of a more excellent nature, being themselues of all the creatures the most excellent. He tickled them with the spurre of pride and ambition, and so by his subtiltie caried them headlong with him∣selfe, being withdrawne from thee, into the bottomles pit of eternall destruction. But thou incensed against him, through the infinite and vnspeakable good will, which thou bearest to mankind, tookest vs miserable wretches out of the insatiable iawes of our mortall e∣nimie; and in thy flesh at length, when he dreaded not to assaile thee our Captaine, thou puttest him to a shamefull flight, and drauest him from thee and thine: so that at anie time, through thy small assistance, we may both repell him, and preuaile against his fierce assalts of temptations.

Unto thee, O almightie God, and victorious Cap∣taine, with godlie groanes doo we crie, requiring at thy mercifull hands to be made of the number of thy celestiall souldiers, parteners of thy glorious victorie, and enioiers of thy happines. Arme vs with thy hea∣uenlie armour, that is, with the knowledge of thy

word and spirituall consolations, whereby we may bee able to repell the firie darts of that foule feend.

Against thy Church in all ages hath this enimie of thine set himselfe, and brought these engins to their o∣uerthrowe, which he vsed against thine owne person, at such time as thou wentest from thy baptisme to preaching, knowing that thy prosperitie would be his decaie; and yet through the will of God, did not ac∣knowledge thee to be the Messias. He troubled thee, beeing in the wildernes without worldlie power, aid, wealth and riches; with horrible cogitations did he vexe thy soule, and troubled thy hart with greefe vn∣speakable. At this time thy Church lieth in the wil∣dernesse, poorelie and miserablie doth she lie oppressed with wrongfull iniuries, and mightie troubles. He laugheth thereat, derideth the Saincts standing vn∣der the crosse, he bids stones to be made bread, he con∣temneth their miserie, and casteth in their teeth the glorie and wealth of his kingdome. Assist vs, that in these temptations we may laie hold of the armour of proofe, and behold this noble answere of thine, Man li∣ueth not by bread onlie.

We knowledge thee, with the euerliuing Father and the holie Ghost, to be a true and almightie God, giuing vs the bread of life, and so ordeining, that with corporall things we are fed and susteined in this life, O eternall Father, which knowest what we need, and alone canst giue a reason, why after this manner thou wilt feed vs, and not as thou dooest the starres with∣out corporall things. Giue vnto the Church of thy wisedome such things as are necessarie for the susten∣tation of this life, wherein the ioies of the life eternall and to come doth begin. And albeit sometimes we lacke diuers things, although thine aduersarie thro∣weth stones at vs for bread; yet by thy power streng∣then vs that we faint not. Thou art our maker, wee

are thy workemanship. In thy hands is the whole frame of this world. We liue not by bread alone, or by our owne industrie, neither art thou tied with a fatall chaine of second causes, but by thy decree, by thy will doo we breath, in thee we liue, moue, and haue our bee∣ing. At thy commandement we take life, and when thou biddest, we leaue this world.

Wherefore, if so it please thee, we shall liue as doo the birds of the aire, which haue no protection, or as the child in the mothers wombe, which knoweth not how he liueth. And as he, albeit lieng in great darke∣nes, and couered in secret parts, receiueth nourish∣ment after a maruellous manner from his mother, and at length by the course of nature commeth safe and sound into this world: so we, notwithstanding our liuing in palpable darkenes of this life, and wrapped in the miseries of this world, among the packe of thine enimies, yet armed with thy word and promise, doo re∣ceiue comfort thereby, and are protected by thee after a woonderfull sort, and at length trust to be deliuered out of this bodie of sinne, and to come to a better life, which neuer shall haue end. For we are not made to liue alwaies in this world in miserie, but thou hast prepared a more glorious life for thy seruants, the sweetnes whereof beginneth in this world. Thy word is our life, O eternall Father. Thy Sonne is the word speaking to vs both inwardlie and outwardlie. Outwardlie by his ministers he vttereth from thy bo∣some thy will and commandements, and inwardlie he speaketh to our soules, raising vp godlie cogitations and manners pleasing thee; so that a double life is re∣serued for vs, to wit, a corporall and a spirituall, not through bread, not through our owne merits, but through thy will reuealed by thy Sonne.

Furthermore, forsomuch as sathan vseth another kind of weapon to the destruction of the godlie, when

thy Church enioieth quietnes and peace, by stirring of excellent & good wits, and teachers armed with pub∣like authoritie, vnto curiositie and ambition, whereby through enuie and hatred, vaine contentions are moo∣ued, famous men cast themselues from the pinacle of the Temple, and heresies doo arise: we humblie be∣seech thee in this respect also, because it is more hurt∣full than the former subtiltie of sathan, represse thine enimie which corrupteth thy word, and vseth the same for the confirmation of damnable opinions. Quench all the flames of ambition, pride and curiositie. Leade vs not into temptation, neither suffer vs to tempt thee, to contend with thee through pride, in setting our owne wisedome and subtiltie against thee, which was the ouerthrowe of our first parents. Suffer vs not to forsake thy word, neither permit that fowle and lieng spirit to falsifie the same in vs; but make vs constant∣lie to rest vpon thy promise, as to a sacred and sure anchor, setting it against all the motions of curiositie and pride.

Last of all, remoue from vs that horrible torment of idolatrie. The world at this daie is wrapped in idle seruice, yea vnwittinglie the whole world is full of idols, to the great dishonor of thy name. Fained gods are erected, superstitious inuocations are con∣firmed, idolaters swimme in wealth and rule the rost, thy glorie is defaced, thy maiestie blasphemed, the di∣uell rageth and reigneth, he giueth kingdomes, and disposeth the goods of this world, if his words be true, as he lieth shamefullie. For thou it is, and thou alone, which alterest Empires, and confirmest them at thy pleasure. If order be obserued, thou causest it, but all misorder is raised by the diuell, for the which he shall be punished of thee with paines eternall.

Wherefore haue mercie on vs, O God, haue mer∣cie on vs; deliuer vs from the thicke mud of idolatrie;

make vs to lift vp our eies vnto thee the sonne of glo∣rie, that abhorring all feined seruice and ceremonies contrarie to thy word, wee may acknowledge, serue, and sanctifie thee the true God, Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost, which by and for thy Sonne dooest deliuer vs from the power of Sathan, and make vs heires of thine euerlasting kingdome, which alone knowest the harts and grones of all creatures, which onlie wilt be called vpon in the name of thy Sonne, and heare vs onelie for his sake. Wherefore vnto thee, O our God and Iehoua, doo we speake; thee onelie through thine; assistance will we serue, and neuer giue thy glorie to another. Take vp that impudent theefe Satan, which would steale awaie thine honour; banish him far from thy Church. But gard both our bodies & soules with the gard of thine holie Angels, which may pitch their tents about vs, and encounter with Sathan, which besetteth vs on all sides. Deliuer vs out of his hands from all miseries of this life, and last of all passing out of this world, carie our soules vnto the societie of thy Saints in life eternall,

Amen.

I haue sinned; I haue sinned; haue mercie vpon me.

Of the Diuel, and his manifold temptations.

THere wanted a tempter, and thou wert the cause that he was wan∣ting: there wanted time and place, and thou wert the cause that they wanted: the tempter was present, and there wanted neither place nor time; but thou holdest me backe that I should not consent. The tempter came full of darknesse as he is, and thou didst harden me that I might despise him. The tempter came armed and stronglie; but to the intent he should

not ouercome me, thou didst restraine him, and streng∣then me. The tempter came transformed into an An∣gel of light; and to the intent he should not deceiue me, thou diddest rebuke him; and to the intent I should knowe him, thou diddest inlighten me.

For he is that great red dragon, and that old ser∣pent, called the diuell and Sathan, which hath seuen heads, and ten horns, whom thou hast created to take his pleasure in this huge and broad sea, wherein there creepe liuing wights innumerable, and beasts great and small: that is to saie, diuers sorts of fiends, which practise nothing else daie nor night, but to go about see∣king whom they may deuoure, except thou rescue him. For it is that old dragon, which was bred in the para∣dise of pleasure, which draweth downe the third part of the starres of heauen with his taile, and casts them to the ground; which with his venem poisoneth the waters of the earth, that as manie men as drinke of them may die; which triumpheth vpon gold as if it were mire; and is of opinion, that Iordan shall runne into his mouth: and which is made of such a mould as he feareth no man.

And who shall saue vs from his chaps? Who shall plucke vs out of his mouth, sauing thou, O Lord, who hast broken the heads of the great dragon? Helpe vs, Lord: spread out thy wings ouer vs, O Lord, that we may flie vnder them from the face of this dragon that pursueth vs; and fence thou vs from his hornes with thy sheeld. For his continuall endeuour and onelie de∣sire is, to deuoure the soules which thou hast created. And therefore we crie vnto thee our God, deliuer vs from our dailie aduersarie, who whether we sleepe or wake; whether we eate or drinke; or whether wee be dooing anie thing else, presseth vpon vs by all kind of meanes; assaulting vs daie and night with traines and policies, and shooting his venemous arrowes at

vs, sometime openlie, and somtime priuilie, to slea our soules: and yet are we most lewdlie ouerseene, O Lord, in that whereas we see the dragon continuallie in a readines, to deuoure vs with open mouth: we neuer∣thelesse doo sleepe and riot in our owne slothfulnesse, as though we were out of his danger, who desireth nothing else, but to destroie vs.

Our enimie, to the intent to kill vs, watcheth conti∣nuallie, and neuer sleepeth, and yet will not we wake from sleepe to saue our selues. Behold, he hath pitched infinite snares before our feet, and filled all our waies with sundrie traps, to catch our soules. And who can escape them? He hath laid snares for vs in our riches; he hath laid snares in our pouerty; he hath laid snares in our meate, in our drinke, in our pleasures, in our sleepe, and in our waking: he hath set snares for vs in our words, and in our works, and in all our life; but Lord, deliuer vs from the net of the fowlers, and from hard words, that we may giue praise to thee, saieng: Blessed be the Lord, who hath not giuen vs vp to be torne with their teeth. Our soule is deliuered, as a spa∣rowe out of the net of the fowler; the net is broken, and we be escaped.

Against the temptation of Sathan, praie thus:

O Lord Iesu Christ, the onlie staie and fence of our mortall state; our onlie hope, our onlie saluation, our glorie, and our triumph: who in the flesh, (which thou hadst for our only cause taken vpon thee) didst suffer thy selfe to be tempted of Sathan, and who onlie and alone of all men diddest vt∣terlie ouercome and vanquish sinne, death, the world, the diuell, and all the kingdome of hell; & whatsoeuer

thou hast so ouercommed, for our behalfe it is, that thou hast ouercommed it; neither hath it been thy will to haue anie of thy seruants keepe battell and fight with anie of the foresaid euils, but of purpose to re∣ward vs with a crowne of the more glorie for it; and to the intent that thou mightest likewise ouercome sa∣than in thy members, as thou hast afore done in thine owne person. Giue thou, we beseech thee, vnto vs thy souldiers, O Lion most victorious of the tribe of Iu∣da, strength against the roring Lion, which continual∣lie wandereth to and fro, seeking whome he may de∣uour. Thou being that same Serpent, the true giuer of health and life, that was nailed on high vpon a tree, giue vnto thy little seelie ones, wilinesse against the deceiptfull awaitings of the most subtil serpent. Thou being a Lambe as white as snowe, the vanquisher of sathans tyrannie, giue vs thy little sheepe the strength and vertue of thy spirit, that being in our owne selues weake and feeble, and in thee strong and valiant, wee may withstand and ouercome all assaults of the diuell, so that our ghostlie enimie may not glorie ouer vs: but being conquerours through thee, we may giue thanks to thy mercie, which neuer leauest them desti∣tute that put their trust in thee, who liuest and reignest God for euermore, world without end,

Amen.

7. On Thursedaie next before Easter, commonlie called Maundie Thursedaie. Of Christ his last feast or institution of the Sacrament of the Supper, and of his great humilitie in washing his disciples feet afterward.

The Preface.

I (Saith Wisedome) haue killed my victu∣als, drawne my wine, and prepared my table.

Come now vnto me all ye poore in spirit, that are emptie and an hungred: come ye

fat and rich also vpon earth, that go astraie and faint for thirst.

Come, I saie, O freends, eate of my meate woorthi∣lie, and worship me: drinke of my wine purelie, and glorifie me. Make ye merrie at my table holilie, and praise me O welbeloued.

For it is I that satisfie the mouth with good things, and fill the hungrie soule with spirituall deinties.

Yea my flesh is meate in deed, and my bloud is drinke in deed, which I haue prouided for my people, and he that eateth me, euen he shall liue by me.

Happie and blessed therefore are they that are cal∣led to the Lambs supper: for they shall eate Manna, euen Angels food, in the kingdome of heauen.

Lord bid me vnto this feast, and grant that I may sup with thee, and thou with me.

Lord wash not my feet onlie, but my hands and head also: for I am altogither vncleane; and if thou wash me not, I shall remaine filthie still.

O wash me therefore throughlie from my wicked∣nes, and cleanse me from my secret faults, and purge me from my presumptuous sinnes.

For I haue sinned, I haue offended, oh forgiue me, and haue mercie on me.

The Praier.

O Blessed Sauiour, and deere Redee∣mer Iesu Christ, which in the holie mysterie of thy last Supper, with thine Apostles, didst deliuer thy bles∣sed bodie and bloud vnder the forme of bread & wine; and ordeinedst, that as thy bodie was broken, and thy bloud shead for vs, so we should thankefullie celebrate and keepe a solemne memorie of thy death, till thou come. Grant vs, we beseech thee, e∣uer

stedfastlie to beleeue, and kindlie to acknowledge thine infinite and almightie power, thine incompre∣hensible loue towards vs, and that we may alwaie worthilie receiue the same blessed Sacrament, accor∣ding to thy holie ordinance, that thereby we may ob∣taine increase of all goodnes, in vnitie of spirit with thee our head, and by thee and thy spirit, with all the companie of them that be trulie thine, which be thy spirituall and mysticall bodie, and our spirituall and Christian brethren and sisters.

Suffer vs not also, we beseech thee, to fall into anie slothfull and carelesse negligence, whereby we should vnkindlie forget so inestimable a benefit; but rather at all occasions, with minds woorthilie prepared for so holie an action, thankefullie to renew the memorie of thy so infinite loue towards vs, and to receiue the grace which thereby is offered vnto vs, to the ioining of vs continuallie neerer vnto thee, till we be ioined without anie separation vnto thee through thee.

Finallie, as in thine owne blessed person thou hast giuen an example of perfect loue, whereby in humble∣nesse and meekenesse we should serue one another, as thou being the Lord and maister of vs all, didst vouch∣safe, after thy last Supper, to wash the feet of thy dis∣ciples and seruants; grant vs that louing and meeke spirit of thine, whereby we may be far from disdaine, and despising of our brethren, and readie in all good things to be dutifull and seruiceable vnto them in thee and for thee, that as thou hast left vs in commande∣ment, we may loue one another as thou hast loued vs, and thereby be knowne to be thy disciples, especiallie O Christ, that we may be faithfull in our loue toward thee, who for our sakes wast content to be vnfaithfullie and vnfriendlie betraied of him, that had liued famili∣arlie with thee, that thou mightest thereby assure vs of thine euerlasting loue and mercie. To thee therfore,

with the Father and the holie Ghost, be all praise, ho∣nour and glorie now and for euer,

Amen.

I haue sinned, I haue sinned, haue mercie on me.

8. On Good Fridaie. Of Christ his passion and shamefull suffering for our sinnes.

Leuiti. 23, 27, &c.

THIS is the daie of reconciliation, to make an at∣tonement for you before the Lord your God: therefore shall it be an holie conuocation vnto you. And you shall humble your selues this daie in fasting and praier, and offer sacrifice made by fire vnto the Lord. And whatsoeuer soule it be that thus humbleth not himselfe this daie, euen he shall be cut off and destroied from among his people. Let this be a lawe and ordinance in your generations, and in all your dwellings for euer, saith the Lord.

The Preface.

CHrist now once in the end of the world, through the eternall spirit, offered himselfe a Lamb without spot to God; suffered for sinnes, the iust for the vniust; died for all, and was killed vpon the altar of the crosse, as perteining to the flesh, but was quickned in the spi∣rit, to put awaie sinne by the sacrifice of himselfe. Wo and alas that euer I sinned!

Christ became sinne, and a cursse for vs, to redeeme vs sinners from the cursse of the lawe, and to recon∣cile vs vnto the blessing and fauour of God his father, that we should be made the righteousnes of God in him. Wo and alas that euer I sinned!

Christ was obedient vnto the death, euen vnto the most vile and shamefull death of the crosse, to deliuer vs from death, hell, and damnation, and to translate and bring vs into the kingdome of God his father.

Wo and alas that euer I sinned!

Christ being in the forme of God, tooke on him the forme of a seruant, and made himselfe of no reputati∣on: but for the ioie that was set before him, endured such blasphemie, railing, & euill speaking against him of shamelesse sinners; and when he was reuiled, reui∣led not againe; when he suffered, threatened not: but committing the vengeance to him that iudgeth righ∣teouslie, despised the shame, and endured the crosse, and suffered for vs wretches: leauing vs an example that we should likewise followe his steps; by whose stripes we are healed. Wo and alas that euer I sinned!

Oh my soule, come therefore let vs laie awaie that that presseth downe, and the sinne that hangeth so fast on; and let vs run with patience vnto the battell that is set before vs, loking vp vnto Iesus the captaine and finisher of our faith, and onelie reioice in the crosse of Christ.

And seeing we haue redemption by his bloud, euen the forgiuenesse of our sins past, present, and to come: and for as much as we knowe how we are redeemed from our old vaine conuersation, not with corruptible things, as siluer and gold; but euen with the pretious bloud of Christ, who in his owne selfe bare our sinnes in his bodie on the tree, that we being deliuered from sinne, should liue vnto righteousnesse; who suffered al∣so for vs in the flesh, that we hencefoorth should liue, as much time as remained in the flesh; not after the lusts of men, but after the will of God; and reioice onelie in the crosse of Christ.

Let vs take heed we walke not with those that are enimies to the crosse of Christ, and crucifie him dailie afresh by blasphemie, and all maner of vngodlinesse; whose bellie is their God; whose glorie is their shame, and whose end is eternall damnation, both of bodie and soule: but rather with those that haue their con∣sciences

purged from dead works to serue the liuing God. Let vs now passe the rest of the time of this our abode here in trembling and feare: and euer reioice in the crosse of Christ. For it is sufficient for vs, that wee haue spent the time that is past of this life, after the will of the Gentiles, walking in wantonnesse, in lusts, in excesse of wines, in excesse of eating and drinking, and in excesse of riot and abhominable idolatrie.

Therefore I crie wo and alas, that euer I sinned: out vpon me wretch that thus greeuouslie haue offen∣ded. O God my God, I aske thee mercie: haue mercie vpon me, O Lord; haue mercie vpon me: wo is mee that euer I transgressed.

Oh my soule, let vs now esteeme to knowe nothing, saue Iesus Christ, and him crucified. Yea, God forbid that we should reioice in anie thing, but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified to vs, and we vnto the world, that being crucified with Christ, we may liue with God.

And hauing now libertie to enter into the holie place, in the bloud of Iesus, by the new & liuing waie which he hath prepared for vs, through the vaile of his flesh: let vs consider one another, to prouoke vnto loue and good works, and drawe nigh with a true and penitent hart, in assurance of faith, sprinkeled in our harts from an euill conscience, to meditate dailie of his mercies: and to giue him thanks continuallie for the benefits of his passion, & our eternall redempti∣on, and still to reioice in the crosse of Christ Iesu our Lord, and saie:

The Praier.

O Lord Iesu Christ, Sonne of the liuing God, both with mouth and hartie affection wee glorifie thee, and praise thy name with im∣mortall thanks; for that of thine infinite

good-will towards mankind, thou vouchsafest to be∣come an intercessor for vs vnto thine heauenlie Fa∣ther, for bearing his horrible wrath conceiued against vs through our sinnes, and for offering thy selfe to death to adorne vs with eternall glorie.

Thou wast hanged on the crosse, made a cursse for vs, ouerwhelmed with sorowes too heauie for flesh and bloud to beare. Thou sufferedst the displeasure, which is a consuming fire of GOD. Thou shedst thy bloud from thy whole bodie, at thy death thy members bee∣ing pierced. Oh Christ, oh sweet Iesu, thou shedst thy pretious bloud, I saie, sixe seuerall times from sundrie parts of thy blessed bodie, afore and in thine execution for vs miserable sinners: as namelie, first in thy Cir∣cumcision, which was the beginning of our redemp∣tion: secondlie in thy praier in the garden, which was for the earnest desire of our redemption: thirdlie, in thy whippings: and fourthlie, in thy crowning with thornes, which was for the reward of our redempti∣on, for by thy stripes were we healed: fiftlie, in thy cru∣cifieng and nailing on the crosse, when thy hands and feet were bored through to fasten thee thereon, which was the price of our redemption: sixtlie and lastlie, in the wounding and piercing of thy blessed side, yea of thy verie hart, thou hanging dead on the crosse, which was the true sacrament of our redemption, whereby we are cleansed, purified and washed from all our sinnes. Among these thy diuers torments both afore & in thy execution, thy spirits being resolued through the sense of the infinite anguishes which thou suffe∣redst and enduredst, oh Christ, thou vtteredst diuers words, partlie by reason of intollerable greefe, and partlie of thine vnspeakable goodnes. Oh teach vs by thy wisedome reuerentlie to listen vnto them, and to put them carefullie in the bottome of our minds.

At thy death mankind was seuered into two parts.

Thou the head of the pensiue Church hangedst vpon the crosse redie to yeeld vp the Ghost. Under the crosse stands thy louing mother Marie, a few godlie wo∣men, and Iohn, thy weake disciples moorning, through the rage of the Iewes hide themselues. Nichodemus, and Ioseph of Aramathie, to the great greefe of their minds, are faine to hold their tongs, and to winke at the outragious crueltie of their nation against thee. The gracelesse Iewes, the vngodlie souldiers of Pi∣late and Herode laie hold on thee, mocke thee, blindfold thee, buffet thee, pierce thee, & plaie for thy garments. The epicures and tyrants, the high Priests and their parasits, haue thee in derision, & laugh in their sleeues to see how thy death is conspired, and they may walter in all superstition and wickednesse. All this while the multitude of Ethniks in all quarters of the world ce∣lebrate their filthie and vngodlie feasts, in the great dishonour of thy name.

Thou beholdest this diuersitie of men, which seest all things both in heauen and earth, and beeing in deed humble and meeke in hart, thou powredst out a most charitable praier on this wise: Father forgiue them, for they knowe not what they doo. These be the words of thy priesthood. Thou which art the chiefest Priest, bedewed with thine owne bloud, entring into the holi∣est of holie places, touchest the brest of the Father, and searchest enen his secret counsell. Thou praiest not onlie for thy weake auditors to be strengthned, but al∣so for thy verie enimies, which put thee so shamefullie to death, if they will returne vnto repentance: yea and for all mankind thou praiedst; and namelie, for all and euerie one which should beleeue in thy name.

O most mercifull intercessor, we include our selues in these thy generall praiers, recited before thine ago∣nie, repeated on the crosse, yea vttered from the begin∣ning of the world, and standing at the right hand of thy

Father making intercession for vs, sounded continual∣lie in the eares of God. Worke so, that we be not found in the number of those, into whome sathan hath en∣tred, which blaspheame thee, despise thy benefits, and destroie themselues vtterlie. Increase our faith and knowledge of thee, that the eternall Father through thy sacrifice being pleased, may forgiue all our sinnes, and receiue vs into that companie which is glorious in thine eies.

Under the crosse standeth thy noble but sorowfull mother, hir sister, and other good women, with thy disciple Iohn, whome thou louedst. O blesse vs, and of thy goodnes ioine vs to that companie. In thy mother there shineth a notable light and strength of faith; she beholdeth in thee hir Sonne those sights, than which none could be more greeuous in this world; she sawe the rage of thine enimies, and thine intollerable tor∣ments; yet she beleeued, notwithstanding the gree∣uousnes of thy paine, the shedding of thy pretious bloud, the flight of thy disciples, the crueltie of thine e∣nimies, and the odiousnes of thy death; she beleeued, I saie (O the force of faith!) that thou wast God by na∣ture, and shouldest rise againe and reigne euerlasting∣lie, ouercome death and the diuell, and subdue all thine enimies.

O Sonne of God, kindle within vs we praie thee the like sparks of faith: giue vs grace with thine elect neuer to be ashamed to stand vnder thy crosse. And as thou, euen of an entire good will, mercifullie among thy seruants didst speake vnto, and comfort thy pensiue and moorning mother, so speake vnto vs and thy trou∣bled Church; in miserie comfort hir with thy sweet voice and presence.

Thou commendedst thy mother to thine Apostle. Make vs vnfeignedlie to loue the Church thy sweet and true mother, and grant that euerie of vs may

cherish the same louinglie, and mainteine it to the vt∣termost of our powers. Especiallie guide the Prea∣chers, that they may loue the mother; nourish the v∣nitie of pure doctrine; auoid the seed of heresies, and remooue all stumbling-blockes, all occasions of hinde∣ring of faith and praier in yoong Christians.

At thy sides hang two theeues, punished for their sinnes, according to the lawe and their deserts; where∣of one desperatelie powring out blasphemous spee∣ches, the other godlie requiring thy fauour, he ended his daies. All mankind, Lord, doo likewise hang in mi∣series for their sinnes, whereof some are so captiued in their minds, that at the point of death they scoffe, blas∣pheme, and desperatelie, to their vtter condemnati∣on finish their daies: but giue vs grace, we beseech thee, that we may imitate the example of the gratious theefe, which before his passage out of this life, moued by infallible arguments of thine almightinesse and mercie, required pardon of his offences, and obteined the same according to his request. Giue grace that we may imitate his hartie repentance, his sorowe for sin, his notable faith, his zealous confession, and other good works of his.

We beseech thee mercifull Lord be mindfull of vs. O Lord be mindfull of vs. Thou sittest in the kingdom of thy Father, we are in the miseries of the world: but be thou mindfull of vs. Begin thy kingdome in vs heere in this world, and in euerie combate of our con∣science, especiallie at the point of death pronounce to our hearts this comfortable absolution, This daie shalt thou be with me in Paradise. Shew vnto vs thy pa∣radise, that departing out of this life, we may find rest for our soules. Open to our soules the gates of Para∣dise, place them in the seates of immortalitie, and state of blisse, where thy Father, togither with the blessed companie of Angels and men, sheweth himselfe euen

as he is.

In the meane, while thy combate is not yet finished, thou criedst in most pittifull maner, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Thy diuinitie was not then separated from thy humanitie, which neuer lost that which once it tooke, neither surcessedst, nor dooest thou surcesse at anie time to be equall and one with thine eternall father; but then was the houre of thy humi∣liation, wherein after a woonderfull and vnspeakable maner, thy diuinitie hid it selfe as it were, and would haue this obedience to be showne, and thought not best to destroie the Iewes thine enimies and murthe∣rers. Yea it hid it selfe, that the streames of Gods dis∣pleasure against the sinnes of men should so fall vpon thee O Christ, that they should wrestle with extreame torments, such as for a certeine space thou perceiuedst no comfort, notwithstanding thy diuinitie confirmed thine humane nature, which was to suffer all the pas∣sions. For thy diuinitie could not suffer anie passion at all, & therefore it confirmed the same, that there might be a sufficient satisfaction for the sins of men. For they which haue endured most greeuous torments, could neuer abide these: for if God comfort vs, we may abide the punishment of men, and then it may be said:

Though bodies greefe did feele, Yet had their soules great ioie, And vertuous hope did strengthen so, That paines did naught annoie.

But intollerable is it for a creature to suffer the pu∣nishment of God, and be saued thereby.

Wherefore, O Sonne of God, in displeasure bee mindfull of thy mercie, be thou our protection, that the wrath of thine eternall father doo not destroie vs. E∣uen a little taste of Gods displesure bursteth in peeces all the bones of men like a lion. And therfore by and by after thou vtteredst the like complaint, saieng, I thirst,

thy soule languished through the greatnesse of thy paines. Thy spirits were resolued through thy woon∣derfull greefe of hart. Thy bowels dried awaie, and no moisture abode in them, and therefore trulie didst thou both inwardlie thirst and desire some vertue and com∣fort from thy Father, and outwardlie to haue thy bo∣die refreshed.

O Iesu Christ, which art the fountaine of eternall life, giuing the water which quencheth all thirst, from whose bellie springeth the well of life, suffer vs not to taste such a greeuous thirst, as did that merciles rich glutton in hell, which neuer was quenched, but with the godlie to saie, My soule stucke vnto my iawes, I had no quietnes in my bones, Lord in thy iudgements correct me, not in thy furie, least I come vnto nothing. If thou obseruest iniquities, O Lord; Lord, who shall be able to abide? Thus doo thy Saincts crie, I saie, in their troubles. Wherefore kindle not thy wrath alto∣gither against vs. Cease not to comfort our weake na∣ture striuing against thy iudgements, with the iuice of thy word, and comfortable waterings of thy spirit.

Unto thee did thine eternall Father manifest his presence and comfort for our sakes, when some while after being better quieted thou saiedst, It is finished. Thou gauest thanks to thine eternall father, for hel∣ping thee, whereby the sacrifice of welfare to the elect for euermore was fulfilled. Oh most sacred Priest, im∣print within vs this celestiall conclusion, this notable finishing of thy sacrifice, that vndoubtedlie we may thinke, that by this sacrifice the remission of sinnes and life eternall is purchased for vs.

Afterward, being deliuered from all feares, thou criedst with a great voice, Father into thy hands I com∣mend my spirit. Grant that in our departure out of this world, we may vtter the same words. Make vs to feele the presence of thy father comforting vs, being

pleased through thee, and may know that with our bo∣dies our soules doo not perish: let vs not iest as Epi∣cures doo, saieng: O fugitiue, flattering, pale, curst na∣ked soule, whither goest thou? Thou hast prepared for vs, O Sonne of God, a large and a pleasant place: In thy Fathers house are manie resting places. We feare no torments. Thou hast deliuered vs from the paines of hell. There is no purgatorie. Thy Father embraceth our soules in his mercifull armes, laieth them in Abrahams bosome, replenisheth them with quietnesse, with light and ioie vnspeakable, till our bo∣dies also raised againe, appeare with them in his e∣uerlasting kingdome. In this faith giue vs grace to leaue this world, and to rest with thee for euer and e∣uer,

Amen, Amen.

I haue sinned, I haue sinned, my God my God haue mercie vpon me. God forbid that I should reioice but in the crosse of Christ, whereby the world is crucified to me, and I vn∣to the world.

Or thus: A fruitfull meditation vpon the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ, to be read often.

O Lord Iesus Christ, the Sonne of the euerliuing and almightie God by whome all things were made, be ruled and gouerned; thou the liuelie image of the substance of the Fa∣ther; the eternall wisedome of God; the brightnesse of his glorie; God of God; light of light; coequall, coe∣ternall and consubstantiall with the Father: thou which of the loue thou haddest to mankind, when hee was fallen from the fellowship of God, into the socie∣tie of sathan, and all euill, didst vouchsafe for our re∣demption to become a mediatour betweene God and

man, taking to thy God-head our nature as concer∣ning the substance of it, and so becamest man: also the heire of all, and most mercifull Messias, which by the power of thy God-head, and merits of thy man-hood, hast made purgation of our sins, euen by thine owne selfe, whilest thou wast heere on earth, being now set on the right hand of thy Father for vs, euen concer∣ning our nature, in maiestie, in glorie & power infinite. I pray and humblie beseech thy mercie to grant me at this present, to reherse some of thy passions and suffe∣rings for me the last night, that thou wast heere before thy death, that thy good spirit might thereby be effe∣ctuall to worke in me faith, as well for the pardon of my sinnes by them, as mortification of mine affecti∣ons, comfort in my crosses, and patience in all afflicti∣ons, Amen.

IN the middest of thy last Supper with thy deere A∣postles, these things could not but be before thee, namelie, that they all would leaue thee, the most ear∣nest would forsweare thee, & one of the twelue should most traiterouslie betraie thee, which were no small crosses vnto thee. Iudas was admonished of thee to beware; but when he tooke no heed, but went out to fi∣nish his worke, contemning thine admonition and counsell, he could not but vexe thy most louing hart.

After supper, there was contention amongst thy disciples, who should be greatest after thee, yet drea∣ming carnallie of thee and thy kingdome, and hauing this affection of pride and ambition busie amongst them, notwithstanding thy diligence in reproouing and teaching them.

After thine admonition to them of the crosse that would come, thereby to make them more vigilant, so grosse were they, that they thought they could with their two swords put awaie all perils, which was no little greefe vnto thee.

After thy comming to Gethsamane, heauinesse op∣pressed thee, and therefore thou wouldest thy disciples to praie. Thou didst tell to Peter and his fellowes, that thy hart was heauie to death. Thou didst will them to praie, being carefull for them also, least they should fall into temptation. After this, thou wentest a stones cast from them, and didst praie thy selfe, falling flat and groueling vpon the earth: but alas, thou fel∣test no comfort, and therefore thou camest to thy dis∣ciples (which of all other were most sweet and deere vnto thee) but lo, to thy further discomfort, they passe neither of thy perils, nor of their owne, and therefore sleepe apace. After thou hadst awaked them, thou go∣est againe to praie, but thou foundest no comfort at all; and therefore didst returne againe for some comfort at thy deerest freends hands, but yet againe (alas) they are fast asleepe, wherevpon thou art inforced to go a∣gaine to thy heauenlie Father for some sparkle of comfort, in these thy wonderfull crosses and agonies. Now, heere thou wast so discouraged, and so comfort∣lesse, that euen streames of bloud came running from thine eies, and eares, and other parts of thy bodie. But who is able to expresse the infinitenes of thy cros∣ses, euen at thy being in the garden? All which thou sufferedst for my sake, as well to satisfie thy Fathers wrath for my sinnes, as also to sanctifie all my suffe∣rings, the more gladlie to be susteined of me.

After thy bloudie praier thou camest, and yet againe foundest thy disciples asleepe; and before thou canst well awake them, lo, Iudas commeth with a great band of weaponed men to apprehend thee as a theefe, and so doth, leading thee awaie bound to the high Bi∣shops house Annas, & so from him to Caiphas. Heere now to augment this thy miserie, behold, thy disciples flie from thee, false witnesses be brought against thee. Thou art accused & condemned of blasphemie. Peter

euen in thy sight forsweareth thee. Thou art vniustlie striken for answering lawfullie. Thou art blindfeeld, striken and buffeted all the whole night in the Bishop Caiphas house of their cruell seruants.

In the morning betimes thou art condemned a∣gaine of the Priests of blasphemie, and therefore they bring thee before the secular power to Pilate, by whome thou art openlie arraigned as other theeues and malefactors were. And when he sawe that thou wast accused of malice, and that his wife had sent a messenger vnto him, saieng: Haue thou nothing to doo with that iust man, for I haue suffered manie things this daie in a dreame by reason of him: yet he did not dismisse thee, but did send thee to Herod, where thou wast derided shamefullie, in comming and going to him and from him all the waie wonderfullie, especial∣lie after Herod had apparelled thee as a foole.

Afore Pilate againe therefore thou wast brought and accused falslie, no man did take thy part, or speake a good word for thee.

Pilate caused thee to be whipped and scourged, and to be handled most pitifullie, to see if anie pitie might appeare with the Prelates, but no man at all pitied thee. Barrabas that notable theefe and murtherer was preferred before thee: all the people head and taile was against thee, and cried out Crucifige, hang thee vp. Uniustlie to death wast thou iudged. Thou wast crowned with sharpe thornes that pierced thy braines. Thou wast made a mocking stocke. Thou wast reuiled, beaten, scourged, spit vpon, and most mi∣serablie handled.

Thou wentest through Ierusalem to the place of execution, euen to the mount of Caluerie: a great crosse to hang thee vp was laid vpon thy backe, to beare and drawe as long as thou wast able.

Thy bodie was racked to be nailed to the tree. Thy

hands were bored through, and thy feet also. Nailes were put through them to fasten thee thereon. Thou wast hanged betweene heauen and earth as one spued out of heauen, and vomited out of the earth, vnworthie of anie place. The high Priests laughed thee to scorne. The Elders blasphemed thee, and said, God had no care for thee. The common people also laughed and cried, Out vpon thee. Thirst oppressed thee, but vineger onlie and gall was giuen thee to drinke. Heauen shined not on thee; the Sunne gaue thee no light; the earth was afraid to beare thee; sathan euen then tempted thee, and thine owne humane senses caused thee to crie out, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

Oh wonderfull passions, which thou sweet Iesus sufferedst for me and all mankind. In them thou tea∣chest me; in them thou comfortest me; for by them God is my father; my sinnes are forgiuen me. By them I should learne to feare God, to loue God, to hope in God, to hate sinne, to be patient, to call vpon God, and neuer to leaue him for anie temptations, but with thee to crie, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit,

Amen.

The praier wherein we confesse our selues to be the verie cause of all these Christ his passions.

WHat hast thou committed oh Lord, that thou shouldest bee so iudged? what hast thou offended that thou shouldest be so cruellie handled and ordered? what was thy fault? what was thine offence? what was the cause of thy death? what was the occasion of thy condemnation? I, Lord, I am the cause of thy sorowe, the fault is in me that thou wast killed; for I haue deserued thy death. I committed the offences that were aduenged vpon

thee. Oh maruellous kind of iudgement, and vnspeak∣able disposition, or ordering of mysteries! The vniust man offendeth, and the righteous is punished. The guiltie doth euill, and the innocent is beaten. The e∣uill doth trespasse, and the good is condemned. That which the euill man deserueth, the same doth the good and iust suffer. That which the seruant doth amisse, the maister maketh amends. That which man tres∣passeth, God suffereth it.

Oh thou which art the Sonne of God, how lowe did thine humilitie descend? How greatlie did thy charitie euen as it were waxe hot, and burne towards vs? How far did thy pitie exceed? Whither did thy benig∣nitie and gentlenes growe and extend? How far did thy loue stretch? How far came thy compassion? For I did wrongfullie, and thou wast punished. I committed the mischeeuous deeds, and they were aduenged vpon thee. I did the fault, and thou submittedst thy selfe to the torments. I was proud, and thou wast humble and meeke. I was swelled and puffed vp, thou wast extenuate and appaired. I was disobedient, neuerthe∣lesse thou being obedient, barest the paines and pu∣nishments of disobedience. I obeied, and was as it were a seruant to all excesse and gluttonie, and thou wast punished with scarsitie, and lacke of food. The tree did drawe me in my grandmother Eue, vnto vnlaw∣full concupiscence and desires, but perfect charitie led thee vnto punishment, and to endure the torments vp∣on the crosse. I presumed being forbidden, but thou didst smart therefore. I tooke my pleasure with deli∣catenesse, thou wast vexed with the crosse. I abound, and haue plentie of all pleasures, thou art all to torne with nailes. I doo taste the pleasant sweetnes of the apple, and thou the bitternes of gall.

Behold O king of glorie, mine iniquitie and vngod∣linesse, and thy pitie and goodnes is manifest. Behold

mine vnrighteousnes, and thy iustice is plainelie decla∣red. What thing O my God, and my King, shall I ren∣der vnto thee for all these things, which thou hast besto∣wed vpon me? For nothing can be found in the hart of man, that may worthilie recompense such rewards. Can mans wit excogitate or imagine anie thing that is woorthie to be compared vnto thy diuine mercie? Neither is it the office of a creature to go about to re∣compense fullie and iustlie the aid & helpe of a Creator.

There is trulie O Sonne of God, in this thy mar∣uellous dispensation and appointments, some what, in which my frailenesse may helpe a little; if so be that my mind once pricked and stirred by thy visitation, doo pu∣nish the flesh, with the vices also and euill concupiscen∣ces thereof. And this thing if thou wilt grant and giue me grace to doo, then shall it begin as it were to suffer and susteine sorrowes and greefes, because that thou also didst vouchsafe to die for my sinnes, and so by the victorie of the inward man, it shall be armed (thou bee∣ing a captaine) for the externall and outward victorie; forasmuch as the spirituall persecution once ouer∣come, it shall not be afraid for thy sake to be obedient vnto the materiall sword and crosse of this world; and so the slendernesse of my state and condition, if it please thy goodnes, shall be able according to the little power thereof, to answer vnto the greatnes and excellencie of my Creator.

And this is y^e heauenlie medicine O good Iesu; this is as it were a preseruatiue of thy loue; this I beseech thee, by thine accustomed & ancient mercies, to powre into my wounds, the fowle and filthie matter of the venemous contagion and infection once cast awaie, which may refresh and restore me to my former puri∣tie and cleanenesse; that when I haue tasted of the pleasant sweetnes, which is, to abide in thee, it may make me to despise, and vtterlie set naught by the en∣tisements

of this world, and to feare for thy sake none aduersities thereof, and that I remembring thine e∣uerlasting nobilitie & excellencie, may alwaies abhor and disdaine the troubles of this transitorie world.

And as thou, O Lord, wast crucified for me, so I be∣seech thee crucifie me with thee, that I may rise againe with thee to euerlasting life. Thy flesh was crucified for me, crucifie with thee, O Christ, the kingdome of the flesh, which hath dominion in me, that I may put off the old Adam, and by newnesse of life, may be transfor∣med into thee the second Adam, sinne, infidelitie, and the whole tyrannie of sathan being vanquished and o∣uercome. Bring to passe, O Lord, that by thy crosse and painefull suffering, thy yoke may be to me made light, and thy burthen easie, that willinglie and glad∣lie following thee, I may come whether thou art gone, that is, to thy father, most blessed and immortall, from whome nothing shall afterwards be able to separate vs,

Amen.

I haue sinned, I haue sinned, my God my God haue mercie vpon me.

God forbid I should reioice in anie thing, but in the crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ, whereby the world is crucified vnto me, and I vnto the world.

Galath. 6.

Another praier to Christ crucified, wherein we deuoutlie call to mind what great things he hath done for vs, and what bene∣fits we reape by the remembrance of his holie wounds.

EXceeding greatlie haue I sinned a∣gainst thy Maiestie, O Lord, and mine owne conscience findeth mee guiltie of manie offences; and yet doo I not despaire, neither will I in anie thing at all be doubtfull, be∣cause that whereas sinne hath a∣bounded, there hath thy grace O

God, ouer-abounded. He that despaireth of the for∣giuenes of his sinnes, denieth thee O God to be mer∣cifull. Yea great wrong doth he to thee, O God, which distrusteth in thy mercie. For (as much as in him lieth) he denieth thee to be louing, true and mightie, which are the things wherein my whole hope consisteth, that is to weet, in the loue of thy adoption, in the truth of thy promise, and in the power of thy redeeming.

Now let my vnwise imagination murmur as much as it listeth, and saie, Who art thou? how great is thy glorie? and by what deserts hopest thou to obtaine it? and I will answer boldlie; I knowe whome I haue credited, and that thou of thine exceeding great loue, hast adopted me to be thy child; that thou art south∣fast of promise; that thou art mightie of perseuerance, and that thou maist doo what thee listeth. I can not bee feared with the multitude of my sinnes, if I bethinke me of the death of thee my Lord, because my sinnes are not able to ouercome thee. Thy nailes and thy speare crie vnto me, that I am throughlie reconciled to thee O Christ, if I loue thee. Longius hath opened me thy side deere Iesu with his speare, and I am gone into it, and there doo I rest in safetie. He that is afraid, let him loue, for loue driueth feare out of the dores. There is no remedie so mightie and effectuall against the heate of leacherie, as is the death of thee my redeemer. Thou stretchest out thine armes vpon the crosse, and thou holdest out thy hand in a readines to imbrace vs sinners. Betweene the armes of thee my sauiour mind I to liue and die; there shall I sing safelie; there will I glorifie and exalt thee, O Lord; because thou hast ta∣ken me vp, and hast not giuen mine enimies their plea∣sure ouer me.

Thou, O our Sauiour, hast bowed downe thy head at thy death, to receiue the kisses of thy beloued, and so often doo we kisse thee, O Lord, as we be throughlie

touched with the loue of thee, who for loue to mankind, being God, camest to man, camest into man, and beca∣mest man; who for loue, being an inuisible God, beca∣inest like thy seruants, and who for verie loue, wast wounded for our sinnes; and in those wounds of thine O my Sauiour, is the safe and quiet rest of vs weake∣lings and sinners: there doo I dwell at ease, and by thy wounds haue I a waie in vnto the bowels of thy mercie. Whatsoeuer is wanting of my selfe, that doo I borowe out of the bowels of thee my Lord: for in them is aboundance of mercie, and there want no holes for it to flowe out at.

By the holes of thy blessed bodie are opened vnto me the secrets of thy hart, a great pledge of thy kindlie loue, euen the bowels of the mercie of thee our God, whereby the daie spring hath visited vs from aloft. Thy wounds, O sweet Iesu Christ are full of mercie, full of pitie, full of sweetnesse, and full of loue. They bo∣red thy hands and thy feet, and pierced thy side with a speare. By these holes may I taste how sweet and mild thou art in deed, and how mercifull thou art to all that call vpon thee in truth, to all that seeke thee, and cheeflie to all that loue thee. Plentious redemption is giuen vnto vs in thy wounds O sweet Sauiour Iesu Christ. Great aboundance of sweetnes, great plentie of grace, and great perfection of vertues is giuen vs in thy pre∣tious wounds O sweet Sauiour Iesu Christ.

O most bountifull Iesu, grant therefore I humblie beseech thee, that whensoeuer anie fowle thought as∣saulteth me, I may forthwith runne to thy wounds O Christ. When my flesh presseth me downe, I may rise vp again by remembring thy wounds O Lord. When the diuell laieth wait for me, I may flee to the bowels of thy mercie O Iesu, so shall he quicklie depart from me. Or if at anie time the heate of lecherie prouoke my members, let it be quenched I praie thee, by calling

to mind thy wounds O Sonne of God. Finallie, in all mine aduersities, let me find no remedie so effectuall as thy wounds O Christ. In them, I saie, let me sleepe without care, and rest without feare. Thou, O Christ, hast died for vs, and now is there nothing so bitter to the death, which is not swallowed vp by thy death, O sweet Iesu. All my whole hope therfore is and shall be in thy death O Lord my God. Thy death is my desart and my refuge, my welfare, life, and resurrection; and thy mercifulnesse O Lord is my merit. I am not poore of merit, so long as thou the Lord of all compassions failest not. As long as thou art manifold in mercie, so long am I also manifold of deserts. The mightier thou art to saue, the more am I without care.

Wherefore O most excellent goodnes, withdrawe not thy mercie; O most mightie maker, despise not thy worke; O most prudent redeemer, suffer not to perish the price of thy redemption: O most gentle, ghostlie, and heauenlie hoast and ghest, purifie, saue, dresse, and keepe thy house and dwelling place, the which thou de∣dicatedst and sanctifiedst to thee in the sacrament of Baptisme. O most blessed, most charitable and sweet Iesu; O most bounteous, excellent and glorious Iesu; O most innocent, mercifull, meeke, louing and deere Iesu, haue mercie vpon me, haue mercie vpon me, and forgiue me all my sinnes. When shall I loue thee? When shall I be sorie for my sinnes? When shall I loath and forsake my sinnes? When shall I detest and abhore my sinfull life, and turne vnto thee by grace? When shall I remember thy benefits, thy meekenes, thy pouertie, and bitter passion, thy patience, thy obe∣dience, thy loue, and thy charitie? When shall I sancti∣fie, worship, magnifie, and loue hartilie thee in heauen, and thy Saints on earth, and celebrate thy feasts ac∣cordinglie; that is to saie, thy incarnation, passion, re∣surrection, ascension, and such other, with due reue∣rence,

& Christian deuotion. If thou be the most dred∣full maister, where is my dread Lord Iesu? If thou be the most loued Father, where is my loue? If thou bee my Lord and my Redeemer, where is my seruice? If thou be mine hoast, and dwell in my soule by thy grace and mercie; where is my chastitie, puritie and clean∣nesse meet and according to such an hoast? If thou be the life of Saints, the fairenesse and beautie of An∣gels, where is my thanking? Now therfore good Lord Jesu Christ, wound my hart with thy most holie wounds, moist my mind with thy most pretious bloud, that whither soeuer I turne me, I may behold aboue me thee crucified, and whatsoeuer I see, it may ap∣peare to me ruddie with thy most pretious bloud, that thus be holding, I may fixe my sight in nothing but onlie in thee, which liuest and reignest one God world without end, So be it.

I haue sinned, I haue offended, my God my God haue merceie on me.

A praier, wherein through commemoration of Christes passion, we desire pardon of our sinnes, and conti∣nuance in vertue and godlinesse.

BEhold O pitifull Father, thy most pitifull Sonne, which suffered for me being so wicked. Behold O most mercifull King, who suffered; and remember as thou art louing and kind, for whom he suffered. Is not this O my Lord that innocent, whō although he were thy Sonne thou didst deliuer to redeeme and ransome a seruant? Is not this the author and beginner of life, which be∣ing led as a sheepe to be killed, and being made obedi∣ent to thee, euen vnto death, was not afraid to take vpon him the most cruell and sharp kind of death▪ Call

to remembrance, O thou distributer of all health, that this is he, whome although thou didst beget him by thy power, yet notwithstanding thou wouldest haue to be made partaker of thine infirmitie and weake∣nes. Trulie this same is thy God head, which did take vpon him thy nature, which was hanged vpon the gib∣bet of torment or crosse, which in the flesh which he had taken vpon him, did suffer sorrowfull punishment.

Turne the eies of thy Maiestie O Lord my God, to∣wards the worke of thine vnspeakable pitie. Looke on thy deere Sonne, whose whole body is stretched foorth. Marke the harmelesse hands and pure, which doo drop and distill downe innocent bloud. And I beseech thee be pacified, and pardon the wicked deeds which my hands haue committed. Consider his bare and naked side, being thrust through cruellie with a speare, and renew and wash me with the holie fountaine or well, which I beleeue did flowe from thence. Marke the vn∣spotted feet, which haue not stood in the waie of sin∣ners, but alwaies haue walked in thy lawe, how they are pierced through with sharpe nails; and make per∣fect my steps in thy paths, and make me of thy louing kindnesse to hate all waies of iniquitie. Remoue from me the waies of iniquitie, and make me of thy mercie to choose the waie of truth. I beseech thee, O King of holie men, by this holie one of all holie ones, and by this my redeemer, to make me runne the waie of thy commandements, that I may be vnited and knit vnto him in spirit, which did not disdaine to be clad in my flesh.

Doest thou not looke vpon and marke O pittifull Fa∣ther, the head of thy most deerelie beloued Sonne, a yong man, how it leaned vpon his shoulders when it was past the most pretious death? Behold O my most gentle creator, the humanitie and gentlenes of thy be∣loued Sonne, and haue compassion vpon the feeblenes

of thy weake and feeble handie-worke. Behold O most glorious parent, the torne and rent members of thy most kind & louing child, and remember gentlie what substance I am of. Behold the paines of him that is God and man, and release and loose man, which is thy creature, out of miserie & bondage of sinne. Behold the punishment of him that did redeeme, and pardon the of∣fences of them that be redeemed. This is he, O Lord, whome thou didst strike for the sinnes of the people, al∣though he be thy welbeloued, in whome was found no guile, and yet neuerthelesse, was he reckoned amongst them that were full of iniquitie. Looke downe there∣fore, O Lord, thou louer of labouring and laden harts, with the eies of thy pittie, see the altar of the crosse, where thy sonne, thine onlie beloued babe is slaughte∣red. Behold O father of heauen, this thy bleeding babe, whom for our sakes thou hadst made vnder the lawe a curse therof, in giuing him to the death, euen the acur∣sed & shamefull death of the crosse, that he might there∣by redeeme vs wretches that were his enimies from the lawe, and from the curse and condemnation of it. O looke vpon him, I saie, which is the sauiour of the world, and who in his sufferings, and in his life and death hath fulfilled all the prophesies; behold him, that was made a castawaie of the Iewes, and a scorne of the Gentiles, which endured treasonable hate of his friends, and deadlie terrors in his troubled soule, that we might haue peace of conscience, and be reconciled vnto thee. And let his shame and ignominie, I praie thee, be our honour and triumph; his wounds our me∣dicine, his curse our blisse, and his death our life: final∣lie, so lighten our minds, I beseech thee, with thy ho∣lie spirit, that we may be able to conceiue and vnder∣stand the height and depth, the length & breadth, and by all meanes the infinite measure of this so exceeding loue towards vs, that the sight and knowledge of so

great loue, may so inflame vs with the loue of thee a∣gaine, that all our thoughts, and deeds may wholie be set vpon thee, shewing our thankfulnesse vnto thee in all obedience vnto thy word, and glorieng in nothing but in thy Christ, and him crucified, that in the end we may inioie the full fruit of all his passions, and of this thine vnspeakable loue towards vs in our euerlasting saluation, through Iesus Christ our onelie Lord and redeemer, to whom with thee O father, and the holie Ghost, be giuen all praise, honour, and glorie, for euer and euer,

Amen.

Another godlie meditation or praier, wherin we declare vnto God the Father, that the passion of his Sonne before rehearsed, was for our reconciliation and attonement with God.

BEhold, O almightie God, Father of my Lord Iesus Christ, I beseech thee of thy benignitie and gentle∣nesse to haue mercie vpon me, be∣cause of the most pretious thing that I could find, the same I haue offered deuoutlie vnto thee; the thing of most estimation that I could imagine, I haue presented humblie vnto thee. I haue left nothing, but I haue declared it vnto thy Maiestie. There is nothing remaining that I may adde more, because I haue committed and betaken my whole hope vnto thee. I haue sent vnto thee mine ad∣uocate and spokes-man, euen thy welbeloued Sonne Iesus. I haue sent thy glorious child to be a mediator betwixt me and thee. I haue sent, I saie, an intercessor, by whome I trust to get pardon and forgiuenes of my sinnes. In a word, I haue sent the word: which word, as I haue said, was sent for my misdeeds.

And behold, I haue rehearsed vnto thee the passion of thy most holie Sonne Iesus Christ, which passion, I beleeue was suffered for me; I beleeue that the God-head which was sent of thee, did take vpon him mine humanitie and nature, in the which he thought not scorne to suffer buffets, bonds, spittings, mocks, yea, he tooke vpon him to suffer the crosse, nailes and dart. I beleeue also that his manhood, being of this my nature, during his infancie, was troubled with cree∣ping and scrallings, and was wrapt in cloathes after the manner of other children; was vexed in his youth with labours; made leane with waking and fastings; wearied with iournieng; afterward whipped and all to torne and rent with diuers kinds of punishments, reckoned among the dead, and when it was endued with the glorie of resurrection, he carried it into the ioies of heauen, and placed it vpon the right hand of thy Maiestie.

This I saie, he is my manhood, waie, and meanes of pacifieng and appeasing thee, & the waie and meanes of hauing mercie vpon mee. Mercifullie looke vpon mee, heare the wretch whom he did redeeme, and the bond-seruant whom he deliuered. Behold him a Crea∣tor, and doo not despise a creature. Receiue the shep∣heard, welcommed with a gentle and louing counte∣nance, and mercifullie looke vpon the sheepe which he hath brought home vpon his owne shoulders. This is that most faithfull shepheard, which by manie and di∣uers labours and trauels ouer steepe hils, and through head-long and deepe vallies, did search for his owne sheepe that was straied awaie, which also when he had found it faint and almost dead through long wandring, gat himselfe vnder it with great reioicing, and ma∣king it fast vnto him with a maruellous bond of chari∣tie, lifted it vp out of the deapth of confusion, and brought it home to the ninetie and nine.

Behold O King, my king and God almightie, behold a good shepheard, which rendereth to thee that which thou committedst to his charge. He tooke vpon him through thine ordinance to saue man, whom he hath deliuered vnto thee cleane and pure from all spots, through the washing in his bloud. Lo thy most deare∣lie beloued Sonne hath reconciled vnto thee thy han∣die worke, which was gone astraie far out of the waie. Lo, a gentle shepheard bringeth home againe to thy flocke, hir that the violent pirate and robber had dri∣uen awaie. He hath brought vnto thy sight the ser∣uant, whome hir owne conscience had made to run a∣waie; that she which by hir selfe had deserued punish∣ment, by thy Sonne being hir solicitor, hath deserued forgiuenes, vnto whome also for hir offences, euerla∣sting fire was due: neuerthelesse, being a subiect vnder such a prince and captaine, she doth hope to be brought home to hir owne countrie.

I was able, O holie father, by my selfe to offend thee, but I was not able of my selfe to pacifie and appease thee. Thy welbeloued Sonne, O my God, was made my helper, by taking vpon him mine humanitie, to the intent he might cure mine infirmitie, that wherof the first occasion of thy wrath did spring, of the same he might offer vp to thee a sacrifice of praise, and that he might render and make me also well-pleasing to thy goodnes, by that thing, in the which he sitting now at thy right hand, did alwaies shew and declare himselfe to be equall with my substance, and as it were fellowe with the same.

Lo, my hope, behold in whome is all my trust. If thou despise me (as it were meete) for mine iniquities, yet looke vpon me (at leastwise) mercifulle, for the charitie of thy welbeloued Sonne. Giue heed to thy Sonne, whereby thou maiest haue mercie vpon thy bond-seruant. Looke vpon the sacrament of flesh, and

pardon the offences of flesh. How often soeuer thou doest remember the wounds of thy blessed Son, so oft, I beséech thee, let mine iniquitie be hid. And bicause flesh hath stirred thee to wrath, let flesh I beseech thee mooue thee to mercie; that like as flesh hath seduced and led me to sinne, so flesh may get and obteine for me remission.

For certainly, it is much that mine iniquitie hath de∣serued, but much more it is that the goodnes of my Re∣deemer may euen of right require. Mine vnrighteous∣nes is great, but his righteousnes is bigger. For looke how much God is superiour vnto man, euen so much is my malice & euill inferiour vnto his goodnes, both in qualitie and quantitie. For what haue I sinned be∣ing a man, that the Sonne of God being made man hath not redeemed? What pride could be in me so ex∣ceeding high, but such humilitie as was in him should bring it downe? What power of death was there in me so great, but the punishment, which the Sonne of God suffered vpon the crosse, might deface it, and vt∣terlie destroie it? Trulie my God, if the sinnes of sinfull men or women should be weied in a iust and equall balance, with the loue and fauour that was in our re∣deemer towards vs, the East is not so far distant from the West, nor the innermost part of the earth so much separated from the vppermost part of the heauen, as they should be vnlike, so much lesse should mine iniqui∣tie be than is his goodnesse.

Now, O most noble Creator of light, now pardon mine offences, for the vnmeasurable trauels & paines that thy beloued Sonne did susteine. Now I beseech thee let his goodnesse be set against my wickednes, his modestie and temperance against mine vngratious frowardnes, and his meekenes against my fierce cru∣eltie. Let his humilitie recompense my pride, his pati∣ence mine impatience, his gentlenesse mine vnkind

churlishnes, his obedience my disobedience, his quiet∣nesse mine vnquietnes, his pleasant towardnes my bitter frowardnes, his sweet facilitie and gentlenes mine angrie and fretting fumes; to conclude, let his charitie make amends for my heinous and detestable crueltie,

Amen.

I haue sinned, I haue sinned, my God my God haue mercie on me. God forbid that I should reioice in anie thing, but in the crosse of Christ, whereby the world is crucified vnto me, and I vnto the world, So be it.

9. On Easter daie. Of Christ his resurrection, and the Passouer of Christians.

The Preface.

CHrist is risen againe from the dead, and now dieth no more. Halleluiah.

Death from hencefoorth hath no more power of him. Halleluiah.

Christ is risen againe, the first fruits of them that sleepe. Halleluiah.

By Christ, all men that were dead in sinne, are resto∣red to life. Halleluiah.

In thy resurrection, O Christ, both heauen & earth doo reioice and saie. Halleluiah.

Thanks be vnto God which giueth vs victorie tho∣rough our Lord Iesus Christ. Halleluiah.

Who hauing spoiled all principalities and powers, hath made a shew of them, openlie triumphing ouer them in his owne person. Halleluiah.

Awake O my Christ; awake vp my glorie, and sing Halleluiah.

For Christ our passouer is offered vp, and as this daie reuiued, rose again for our iustification. Halleluiah.

Let vs reioice therfore, I saie, O my soule, and keepe it holidaie to the Lord. Halleluiah.

Not with old leauen of maliciousnes and wicked∣nes, but with the vnleauened bread of purenesse and truth. Halleluiah.

That when we awake vp after his likenes, we may be satisfied with his presence in righteousnes and glo∣rie. Halleluiah.

And be blessed and holie with those that haue part in the first resurrection, and on whom the second death hath no power, but sing Halleluiah.

O death where is thy sting? O hell where is thy vi∣ctorie? Halleluiah.

This is the daie which the Lord hath made, we will reioice and be glad therein, and euermore sing Halleluiah, Halleluiah.

The Praier.

OF thy woonderfull victorie and re∣surrection from death, and glorious kingdome O Sonne of God, it was said, In that daie the roote of Iesse shall stand to be a signe to the peo∣ple; vnto him shall the nations flie, and his rest shall be glorie. Thou art that blessed branch of Dauid; thou tookest mans nature vpon thee, and camest of the line of Dauid: but in the time of thy humiliation thou wast but a sprig as it were in a drie ground: a notable and heauenlie plant, but oppressed with miseries. Thy soule dried awaie, being beaten with the mightie tem∣pest of Gods displeasure against our sinnes: notwith∣standing, that goodlie roote through the power of thy diuine nature was not vtterlie choaked. Thou art de∣liuered from the midst of death, and by thy diuine po∣wer thou standest victoriouslie ouer thine enimies, and

art readie to bring vs thy souldiers from all euils, and make vs partakers of thy most glorious conquest in thy kingdome, which is altogither otherwise than the triumph and glorie of this world. Death endeth all the pride, power and pompe of this world, but thy death and rest is glorious; thy kingdome and glorie begin∣neth when our life is ended.

O Christ Sonne of God, how woonderfull was thy rest? Man at the first was made to be a noble and holie Temple, wherein a perpetuall Sabboth should be ce∣lebrated, and a diuine nature should abide, filling and comforting him with plentie of heauenlie riches. But this rest was turned into vnquietnes, and this ioie into sorowe, through the hatred of sathan thine enimie which prophaned this temple and sabboth, & brought in an horrible misorder and wickednes. Wherefore it pleased thine almightie Father of his goodnes to send thee his onlie Sonne, from his owne bosome, to restore againe this Sabboth. Hence it was, that after a woonderfull manner, in the daie of the great Sabboth according to the lawe of Moses, thine humane nature (through death which separated the soule from the bodie) rested in the sepulchre, and the word (which for∣sooke not that nature, no not at the graue) reuiued that flesh the third daie, and so thou rosest againe, when the time of our redemption was expired, victo∣riouslie vnto thy kingdome, and giuest an eternall Sabboth and rest to such as flie vnto thee.

O Sonne of God, call thou sinners, euen vs mise∣rable and vncleane persons, vnto that sacred feast, which in this world through thee the cheefe Priest is begun, and shall be then made perfect, when the elect for euermore shall followe the Lambe whithersoeuer he go. Put on vs the festiuall garment, the garment of thy righteousnes and benediction, that we putting a∣waie the leauen of malice and wickednes, may cele∣brate

the feast in the sweet bread of sinceritie, & serue thee in purenes of liuing and truth.

This yeare from thine incarnation 1582. are pas∣sed 3091 yeares, since the first passouer which the Is∣raelites did celebrate going out of Egypt; so long hast thou preserued thy Church, and we beseech thee pre∣serue it euerlastinglie, notwithstanding the rage of the diuell and his ministers. And as thou defendedst thy people which eate of the Lambe; and moreouer, going through out Egypt, slaiedst in thy righteous iudge∣ments all the first borne in the land; so assist vs, that with a liuelie faith we may feed on thee the true Lamb. Keepe vs among all the miseries of this last age of the world. The carcases remaining, were cast awaie and condemned; but thy oblation is gratefull in the sight of God, it appeaseth the wrath of the eternall Father, and by the eating of thee, which art the Lamb of God taking awaie the sinnes of the world, righteousnes and life is giuen to beleeuers. The word raiseth againe and quickneth the flesh, that vnto vs ingraffed there∣vnto by faith, the like life may be giuen, and the bodie of sinne mortified in vs, and thou liue and reigne in vs for euermore, wherefore let thy glorious rest be in vs.

We are made of earth, and after sinne, our bodies were appointed to the earth; yea the vngodlie shall a∣bide for euer in the earth, and neuer appeare in thy glorious heauen. But after thou touchedst the death with thy liuelie flesh, thou madest it light, thou tookest awaie the heauinesse thereof. Through the blast of the first serpent manie times, euen mans flesh is turned into verie serpents. And in the graue of the wicked, more horrible is the filth of spirituall dragons and ser∣pents which deuour them euerlastinglie, and keepe them in perpetuall death. But thou, O Sonne of God makest the graues of thy saincts euen pleasant cham∣bers as it were. Thou driuest far awaie from thence

all filthinesse of sathan. Thou settest about them the watchmen, euen thy pure Angels, which bring their soules into paradise, commending them into the hands and bosome of thy Father, and keepe also their ashes, which both were and shall be at thy returne the house of the holie ghost.

Beautifie vs in like manner with this thy glorie of true knowledge and calling vpon thee. Be present with vs at the point of death; receiue our soules at their departure into thine hands, shew thou thy comfort & ioie, till at the resurrection of mankind thou crowne thine elect with perfect & endlesse glorie, a taste wherof might be seene in those fortie daies after thy resurre∣ction. Neuer was there so goodlie a world as that was, when thou rosest from death, and broughtest out of their graues a great companie of thy Saincts, as the Scripture plainelie (but breeflie for the vngodlie) doth testifie. Familiarlie did the holie fathers and ma∣trones remaine with thy sweet mother and Apostles. Pleasant speeches and much talke was made, no doubt of the miseries of man, of the vnspeakable bene∣fits gotten by thee, and of the glorie of eternall life.

O Lord, raise thou vp our harts, that with a true desire, we may long to come into this faire companie. Let vs turne our selues in cogitation vnto that holie assemblie. Let vs hearken vnto and learne thy wise∣dome reuealed in thy word. In this life thy Church is in darkenesse, in miseries; men are occupied in the ob∣seruation of outward ceremonies, as those godlie wo∣men; they will annoint thy bodie. Manie times thy Church seemeth to be depriued of thy sweet presence, and vttereth these sorrowfull words: They haue ta∣ken awaie my Lord, and I can not tell where they haue laid him. But O Sonne of God, amend the mor∣tall darkenesse within vs; kindle in our soule thine in∣ward seruice which pleaseth thee; manifest thy selfe

vnto vs in affliction; speake these comfortable words in our calamitie vnto vs, Weepe not; that euen in death we may thinke with our selues that thou art present, and after death rise againe to the fruition of eternall life, with thy blessed Saincts,

Amen.

Another.

ALmightie God, and most mercifull heauenlie Father, who hast raised vp thy Sonne for our iustification, as thou gauest him to death for our sinnes, grant that thy holie spirit may worke that faith in vs, where∣by we may be made partakers of that righteousnes, which hee hath for those that trust in him. And because without the blessed hope of rising againe from the dead, our faith is in vaine, and we are yet in our sinnes, therefore we beseech thee to confirme and strengthen it in vs, that as thou hast alreadie raised vp Christ our head, so we may be assured thou wilt also raise vs vp, that the bo∣die may be ioined to the head. And furthermore, as thou hast left this holie storie of thy Sonne, that we might beleeue in him, and by faith obtaine euerlasting life; so we beseech thee worke the fruit of it in vs, in con∣stant faith, to the saluation of our soules, and thy euer∣lasting glorie, to whome with the Sonne and the holie Ghost, be all honor, praise and glorie, now and for euer,

Amen.

Another.

ALmightie God, and most mercifull hea∣uenlie Father, who according to all that had beene written before in y^e lawe of Mo∣ses, and in the Prophets, that it behooued the Sauiour of the world to suffer death, and to rise againe from the dead the third daie, and

that repentance and forgiuenes of sinnes should bee preached amongst all nations in his name, and so from point to point hast fullie accomplished all these things in Christ Iesus thine onlie Sonne, whome thou didst raise from the graue, as this daie, not onlie to liue a∣gaine in this world, but euen to sit at thy right hand, and prouiding for our infirmitie, hast giuen vs a great manie of witnesses, both of holie men and women vp∣on the earth, and of Angels from heauen, to confirme the truth of this matter vnto vs, that we might haue strong assurance of saluation in him through faith. O∣pen our minds to vnderstand the holie Scriptures, and grant vs stedfastlie to beleeue this thy Gospell, that by this faith, being made one with him, we may receiue the forgiuenes of our sinnes, and the estimati∣on of righteous men in thy sight, through him. And furthermore also grant, that by this his mightie con∣quest, whereby he hath triumphed ouer the last enimie which is Death, in raising himselfe againe vnto life, we may both rise with him from the death of sinnes, to the life of grace, by leading a new conuersation, and sit with him at thy right hand in hope, hauing our life hid in him, that when he shall appeare to come to iudgment, our life also heere being led in the obedience of faith, may then be made manifest, and we receiue that which we now in faith possesse, and in a blessed hope looke and wait for at his comming, which is the saluation of our soules, to the glorie of thy name, to whome, with the Sonne, and the holie Ghost, be all praise and honour now and for euer,

Amen.

A Thanks-giuing.

WE lift vp our harts vnto thee, O Lord; for it is verie meet, right, and our bounden dutie, that we should at all times, and in all places giue thanks vnto thee O Lord, holie Father,

almightie euerlasting God: but chieflie we are bound to praise thee for the glorious resurrection of thy sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. For he is the verie paschall Lambe which was offered for vs, and hath taken a∣waie the sinnes of the world; who by his death hath destroied death, and by his rising to life againe, hath restored to vs euerlasting life. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the companie of hea∣uen, we laud and magnifie thy glorious name, euer∣more praising thee, and saieng: Holie holie holie Lord God of hoasts; heauen and earth are full of thy glorie; Glorie be to thee O Lord most high, So be it.

10. On Ascension daie. Of Christ his glorious ascending into the heauens, in the sight of his Apostles.

The Preface.

GOD is gone vp with a merrie noise, and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet, Glorie to God on high. Halleluiah.

He humbled himselfe vnto the death, wherefore God also hath highlie exalted him, and set him on his right hand in heauenlie places, far aboue all powers and dominion. Halleluiah.

God is gone vp on high, and hathled captiuitie cap∣tiue, and receiued gifts for men. Halleluiah.

He that descended first into the lowe parts of the earth, is euen the same also that ascended vp, far a∣boue all heauens, to fulfill all things. Halleluiah.

God is gone vp with a merrie noise; the Lord is as∣cended in great triumph. Halleluiah.

Lift vp your head O ye gates, and be ye lift vp ye e∣uerlasting dores, that the King of glorie may enter in. Halleluiah.

Yea, be thou exalted Lord in thine owne strength, so

will we praise thy power perpetuallie, and euermore sing, Glorie to God on high, Halleluiah.

The praier.

THou, O Christ sonne of God, fortie daies after thy resurrection, conti∣nuedst in the world to the vnspeak∣able comfort of thy Church, which being expired, thou ascendedst glo∣riouslie in the sight of thy Saints into the heauens. We yeeld thee most hartie thanks for this thy be∣nefit, beseeching thee most humblie to number vs a∣mong the saints and souldiers which wait vpon thee triumphieng. The hand-writing dependeth on the te∣stimonie of our giltie conscience, to our condemnati∣on; but by thy death, the sentence of condemnation is abolished, and thy bloud washeth vs from all our sins. The enimies of thine elect, euen the diuell and death, are lead bound, and the whole companie of the saints both in heauen and earth, is filled with ioie, & speake of thy victorie and benefits. Thy Saints in heauen visiblie doo behold thy glorious victorie. Thy Saints in earth are saued by faith, for the ornament and glo∣rie of the kings daughter is glorious within.

In the sight of manie godlie auditors of thine, and of thy holie mother the blessed virgin Marie, thou wast carried visiblie from the earth in the clouds into heauen. Thou gauest a taste of eternall life to thine A∣postles wondering at thy departure, and preachedst to them of thy returne into iudgement. Thou hast glori∣fied thine humane nature with vnspeakable glorie, and placed the same on the right hand of thy Father, vpon the throne of triumph and victorie, as hauing for our sakes, vanquished all our enimies. But thine humane nature is not onelie aboue, as be thy

Saints, but is exalted also to such a light, as cannot be attained to by anie creature. Thou reignest visible with the Father, replenishing the whole celestiall con∣gregation with righteousnes and diuine glorie. Go∣uerne thou also in this mortall life, outwardlie in thy ministerie, and inwardlie in our minds. Thou hast as∣cended on high, and lead captiuitie captiue, to bestowe thy benefits vpon man.

Before thy departure thou renewedst the instituti∣on of thy ministerie, thou gauest thy disciples a com∣mandement to preach to all nations; for which thy goodnesse, we giue thee most hartie thanks: for therby thou hast called vs to the societie of thy Saints. As∣sist vs with thy spirit, that we may beleeue the Gos∣pell, and keepe for euermore the couenant which in our baptisme we haue made with thee. Thou adornedst thine Apostles which were to carrie a new doctrine o∣uer the face of the whole earth, with singular testimo∣nies of miracles, that the Church might assuredlie knowe they erred not. Continue among vs in like sort thy ministerie, togither with the puritie of thy word. Send among vs Euangelists, pastors and teachers, which may ioine themselues to the doctrine of the A∣postles, and diligentlie spread the same abroad, and speake thou which art the head of the ministerie with∣in to our harts, and raise vp godlie motions through thy spirit.

Thou art ascended on high to bee the head of thy Church, filling all things; finish thy worke in vs; in∣graffe vs to thy glorified bodie, and powre vpon vs from thy diuine nature a like spirit, which may inter∣mingle it selfe with our soule, and begin while we here liue, in vs an eternall life, which may create in vs a new man, fashioned accordinglie to thy similitude and likenesse. And inspire in vs such a perfection and righteousnesse, as thou shalt thinke meete and con∣uenient

for our weake and fraile nature; and let holie motions agreeing to thine heauenlie will be planted in vs. Driue awaie the darkenesse of our minds, extinguish the wicked affections of our hart, and let the new man dailie prosper and increase in perfection. Defend thy Church by thy mightie right hand, against all the power both of man and diuels. Fill our flitting soules with a tast of a new life, receiue them into thine hands, and grant that at the resur∣rection and glorification of thy Church, we maie ioi∣fullie behold thee, returning and triumphing glori∣ouslie, and so be placed in that kingdome, which thou wilt deliuer to thy Father, for their euerlasting happi∣nesse,

Amen.

Halleluiah. Glorie be to God on high.

Anotherverie deuout meditation and praier, wherein the mind is verie much mooued, and plentiouslie stirred to contemplation of heauenlie things, if it be said in quietnesse.

MOst mightie King, my verie good, gentle, & louing Lord Iesu Christ, which of thine inestimable charitie and vnspeakable pitie, taking vpon thee to be the seed of Abraham, not of Angels, didst vouchsafe not onlie willinglie to suffer for our sinnes both bonds, crosse, wounds, yea death and sepulchre, and after three daies (death being ouercome) didst rise againe for our iustification, wast seene of thy disciples, reforming their harts, and esta∣blishing them that were almost declining from thee: but also after thou hadst glorified our mortall nature with the stole of holie resurrection and immortalitie, the fortith daie after thou in the sight of thy disciples, didst with the triumph of thy glorie, gloriouslie ascend

into heauen, and cariedst it aboue the heauens, and a∣boue all the melodious companie of Angels, aboue Cherubin and Seraphin, placing it vpon the right hand of God thy Father, where the Angels doo praise that same humane nature of ours, and all the powers of heauen doo euen tremble to see a man to be God o∣uer them, and where thou O Lord sittest and liuest e∣uerlastinglie now, and reignest throughout all worlds.

Behold, I thy seelie creature, which with the weight of my frailenes am drawne euer downeward, and so not able to liue holilie, vertuouslie, and as I ought to liue, without thy continuall helpe, whervnto I thinke it necessarie for me to sticke and cleaue, most humblie beseech thee to drawe me vpward toward thee, that I may runne after thee in the sweet sauour of thine ointments. Let me runne, and not faint, when thou drawest me and leadest me running. Drawe the mouth of the soule that thirsteth after thee, vnto the high flouds and streames of thine eternall aboundance and satietie: yea drawe me wholie vnto thy selfe, which art the liuing well, to the intent I may, according to my capacitie, drinke of that whervpon I doo liue.

O my God, my life, thou didst saie with thy holie and blessed mouth; If anie man thirst, let him come vnto me, and drinke. O well of life, grant vnto my thirstie soule, alwaie to drinke of thee, that according to thy holie and true promise, waters of life may flowe out of my bellie. O well of life, replenish and fill my mind full of the riuer of thy pleasure. Make my hart to be droonken as it were in thy loue, that after the manner of them that be droonken with wine, which forget all things saue the cup, so I may forget all vaine & earth∣lie things, and continuallie haue nothing else in my remembrance, but thee onelie, according as it is writ∣ten; I remembred God and was delighted. Giue me the holie Ghost, whom those waters did signifie, which

thou didst promise to giue to them that thirsted after thee.

Grant I beseech thee, that I may assaie to go with my whole desire and all my studie toward that place, vnto the which I beleeue thou didst ascend the fortith daie after thy resurrection, that in this present miserie I may be onlie in bodie, but in thought and desire al∣waies with thee, that my hart may be there whereas thou art which art my treasure, worthie to be coueted, and much to be loued, wherewith no treasure is woor∣thie to be compared.

Bring to passe, O Lord Christ, that through thy gift I may be stirred and carried vpward: for I feruentlie desire to ascend, yea I make certaine ascensions in my hart, lifting it vpward, and sing the song of starres. With the lampe of thy loue, I saie, am I kindled and moued to go with thee thither, whereas thou my por∣tion reignest, and I beleeue to reigne; thither, where∣as thou my flesh art glorified, and I beleeue to be glo∣rified; thither, where thou my bloud rulest, and I per∣ceiue me to beare rule, that is, euen vnto the peace of Ierusalem, to Ierusalem I saie which is my countrie; to Ierusalem which is my mother, would I now go vpward. For when I remember Ierusalem, I extend and stretch foorth towards it the senses of my hart, and towards thee, O Christ, which art a King ouer hir; hir light, hir father, hir defender, hir patrone, hir gouernour, hir keeper, hir chast and strong delight, hir onlie and whole pleasure, and of whome all hir good∣nes and felicitie commeth, because thou art the cheefe good, and the true good: and I will neuer turne backe, vntill thou bring me home from this pilgrimage, in which I am deformedlie scattered abroad, vnto the place of my deerelie beloued mother, whereas be the first fruits of my spirit; and vntill thou, O God, which art my mercie, fashion me, and confirme me for euer.

Whither go we now vpward? to the peace of Ieru∣salem? Bicause I was glad & reioiced in those things which were spoken vnto me, therfore wil I go into the house of the Lord, there hath he placed vs, there wil he giue vs all good things, therfore will I will & desire no∣thing else, but to tarie & remaine there before the Lord for euer. But, oh Lord, forasmuch as whilest we be clad in this bodie, we doo as it were go astraie, & are stran∣gers vnto thee; we haue not here an abiding place for euer; but we seeke for one that is to come: our abiding place is in heauen, whither thou art ascended. There∣fore thy fauour and grace my guide, I enter into the chamber of my hart, and sing vnto thee songs of loue, my King and my GOD, mourning with maruellous sighings in this place of my peregrination, whereas thy iustices are my songs, and whereas I am tossed with stormes on euerie side. For in this great floud of this life, there is no stedfast standing, or place high inough aboue the waters; no not for the foot of a doue to rest vpon. In this life, I saie, there is no safe or qui∣et peace; no where anie sure rest; euerie-where bat∣tell and strife; euerie-where enimies and fightings without doores, and frights and feares within doores.

And for asmuch as the one part of vs is heauenlie, and the other earthlie; our bodie which is corrupt, doth loden, and is burdenous vnto the soule: therefore my mind, which is my felowe and freend, being wearie with wandering foorth of the waie, is sicke, and lieth all to torne and rent of those things, which it hath passed by. It hungreth and thirsteth greatlie after va∣nities, and I haue nothing to set afore it, bicause I am poore and a begger. Thou, O Lord my God art rich in all good things, and the most plentious giuer of the deinties of heauenlie satietie. Giue meate vnto the wearie; not such as it thirsteth after, but such as is conuenient for it. Gather togither the dispersed; re∣new

and refresh the torne. Lo, he standeth at the doore and knocketh. I beseech thee, by the bowels of thy mer∣cie, wherwith thou being the daie-spring from an high hast visited vs; open the hand of thy pitie to a wretch that knocketh, and vouchsafe mercifullie to enter into thee; and that I may rest with thee, and be refreshed of thee, which art the liuing & heauenlie bread, where∣with when I am once fed, and that my strength is come to mee againe: I may ascend vnto more high things, and be lifted vp out of this vale of miserie and teares, and with the wings of my godlie desires I may flie vp vnto thee, and the heauenlie kingdome.

Let my spirit, O Lord, I beseech thee, take wings as an Egle, and flie without fainting: let it flie vp, and come to the beautifulnesse of thine holie house, and to the place of heauen, where thy glorie dwelleth; where∣as vpon the meate-tables of thy supernall citizens, it may be fed full of thy secrets in the place of thy pasture by the most plentifull riuers sides. Let mine hart rest in thee, my God; my hart, I saie, which is as though it were a great sea swelling with waters. Thou diddest rebuke the winds and the sea, and there was made streightwaies a great calme: O come and wake vpon the fluds of mine hart, that all things which belong vnto me, may be made calme and cleere: that I may imbrace thee, which art mine onelie God, and that I may behold thee, which art the sweet light nf mine eies without anie blind darknesse of troublesome cogitati∣ons and thought. Let my mind flie, O Lord, vnder the shadowe of thy wings for meate, that it being couered with the temperatenesse of thy pleasant coolnesse, may sing ioifullie, and saie; I will laie me downe, and rest in peace. Finallie, let my memorie sleepe, O my God, I beseech thee, from all euils; make it to hate iniquitie, and to loue righteousnesse. For what can be better, or more delectable, than in the middes of the darknesse of

this life, and among the manifold and bitter miseries of the same, to desire feruentlie heauenlie sweetnesse? To couet euerlasting blessednesse? Or our mind to be held euer there, whereas we may be most sure to haue infallible and true ioies?

Oh Lord, which for thy louing kindnesse art most woorthie to be desired, and coueted of all things: when shall I see thee? When shall I appeere before thy face? When shall I be satisfied of thy glorie? When wilt thou bring me foorth of this darke prison, that I may confesse thy name, so that afterward I bee no more pricked? When shall I passe, and go to that maruel∣lous and beautifull house of thine, whereas the voice of gladnesse and reioicing doth sound in the taberna∣cles of iust men? Blessed are they that dwell in thine house, O Lord; they shall praise thee euer world with∣out end. Blessed are they, yea blessed indeed, whom thou hast chosen, and taken into that heauenlie inheritance. Behold, O Lord, thy Saints flourish before thee, like vnto lillies. For they are replenished with the plenti∣ousnesse of thine house, and thou dooest giue them to drinke of the flowing riuer of thy pleasure, bicause thou art the well of life, and in thy light and brightnes they doo see light; and that so greatlie, that they them∣selues, which are a light, and are made bright by thee, O Lord, which doost giue them light, doo shine like vn∣to the sunne in thy sight.

O how maruellous, how faire and beautifull, how acceptable are the mansions and dwelling places of thine house! O Lord of powers, my sinfull soule dooth couet to enter into them. O Lord, I haue loued the comlinesse of thine house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. I asked one petition of the Lord, and the same will I require; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life. Like as the Hart coueteth to go vnto the water brookes; euen so

dooth my soule desire to come vnto thee, O Lord. When shall I come and appeare before the face of my Lord? When shall I see God, after whom my soule longeth verie sore? When shall I see him in the land of the li∣uing? For in this land of the dead he cannot be seene with mortall eies.

What shall I doo wretch that I am, which am fet∣tered with the heauie gieues of mortalitie? What shall I doo? Whiles we continue in this bodie wee go astraie from the Lord: we haue here no abiding place for euer; but we labour for one that is to come. Our free citie is in heauen. Wo is me; me thinke I dwell among the barbarous nations and infidels, and not amongst the faithfull Israelites. I lead my life in the tents of Cedar. My soule hath dwelt too long with them that hate peace and quietnesse. Who will giue me wings as a dooue, that I may flie awaie, and rest me? There is nothing that I desire, or delight so much in, as to be in my Lords companie. It is good for me to cleaue vnto God. Oh grant me, O Lord, whilest I am in these fraile members, to sticke vnto thee, as it is written; He that cleaueth vnto the Lord, is all one spi∣rit with him. Giue me therefore, I beseech thee, the wings of contemplation, wherewith when I am ap∣parelled, I may flie vpward. And for asmuch as eue∣rie vnluckie and infortunate thing lieth beneath: doo thou, O Lord, hold vp my mind, least it fall headlong into the lowest bottoms of the darke vallie, and least the shadowe of the earth should come betweene and se∣parate it from thee, that art the bright sunne of righ∣teousnes; and least it once hid with the clouds of dark∣nesse, should not haue libertie; but be letted to looke for heauenlie things which be aboue.

Therefore I doo assaie to go vpward vnto the ioies of quietnesse and peace, and vnto the delectable and pleasant state of light. O hold mine hart with thine

hand, bicause it cannot be drawne vnto high things without thee. Thither doo I make haste, whereas most chiefe and principall peace reigneth, and continuall quietnesse shineth foorth. Hold and gouerne my spirit, and take it according to thy will, that thou being a guide vnto it, it may ascend into the region and coun∣trie of plentifulnesse, wheras thou feedest Israel euer∣lastinglie with the food of truth, to the intent, that there at the leastwise with my swift cogitation and thought, I may come nigh thy wisedome, which re∣maineth aboue all things, ouerpasseth all things, and gouerneth all things.

But alas, there be manie things, which when my soule would flie vnto thee, doo crie out vpon it. Com∣mand them all, O Lord, to hold their peace, and speake not vnto me. As for my soule it selfe, let it giue neuer a word to answer. Let it passe by all things. Let it clime aboue althings that be created, & come vnto thee. And that it may fasten the eies of faith vpon thee, which art the onlie Creator of all things. Let it couet vnto thee, and be bent towards thee. Let it thinke vpon thee by meditation and contemplation; let it laie thee be∣fore hir eies for it selfe. Let it roll and tosse thee in hir hart; thee, I saie, which art the true and chiefe good∣nesse, and the ioie that will remaine without ending.

There are surelie manie contemplations, in the which mans soule is maruellouslie fed of thee; but in none of them is my soule so much delighted, or yet hath so good rest in, as in thee, and when as it thinketh vpon thee, and hath thee onelie in contemplation. Oh how much is thy sweetnesse, O Lord! How maruellouslie dooest thou inspire the harts of them that loue thee? How delectable is thy loue, the fruition whereof they haue that loue nothing but thee; they seeke nothing else; they couet nothing else: happie are they, whose onelie hope thou art; which haue no trust, but in thee

onlie, and all their whole worke is praier. Blessed is he that sitteth solitarie alone, and holdeth his peace, and standeth vpon his ward, that he is set to keepe continuallie daie and night, that yet whilest he is in this fraile bodie, he may be able to taste somewhat thy pleasures.

I require thee by those thy wounds, which bring health vnto vs, which wounds thou sufferedst vpon the crosse for our health; out of the which thy pretious bloud (wherewith thou redeemedst vs, did distill and drop downe,) wound this my sinful soule, for the which also thou didst vouchsafe to die: wound it, I saie, with the fire and mightie dart of thy great charitie. For the word of God is liuelie and effectuous, and more pear∣cing and sharpe than anie two edged sword. Thou, O chosen dart, and most sharpe sword, which art able by thy power to pearce through the hard shield, or buck∣ler of mans hart, fasten and strike the shaft of thy loue in mine hart, that my soule may saie vnto thee; I am wounded with thy charitie, so that foorth of that same wound of thy loue, teares may flowe most plentiouslie both daie and night.

Strike, O Lord, strike I beseech thee this most in∣durated and hardened hart and mind of mine, with the sharpe dart of thy loue, and pearce it deeper & dee∣per into the innermost parts thereof, by thy mightie power, and so bring out of my head aboundance of wa∣ter, and out of mine eies a verie well of teares, conti∣nuallie running, through the great affect, and mar∣uellous desire to see thy glorie, that I may moorne daie and night, without taking anie comfort in this life, vntill in thy heauenlie wedding chamber I may see thee my welbeloued and beautifull spouse, my God and my Lord, and that there when I see thy glorious, mar∣uellous, and beautifull face full of all sweetnes, togi∣ther with them which thou hast chosen, then I saie, I

may worship humblie thy Maiestie, and there at the last being replenished with heauenlie and vnspeakable reioicing of euerlasting gladnesse, I may euer crie out with them that loue thee, saieng: Behold, that which I haue long desired, now I haue obteined, for I am ioined in heauen vnto him, whome when I was in earth, I loued with all my strength, with all my chari∣tie. I embraced him, vnto whome with all my loue I did sticke and cleaue. Him doo I praise, blesse, and woor∣ship, that liueth and reigneth God world without end,

Amen.

Another praier to Christ, ascended and reigning in glorie.

OH good Christ, our first begotten bro∣ther, and tender-harted Ioseph! Oh naturall Sonne of that father, to whome we are made children of a∣doption through thee! Oh our head, reigning on high in glorie, forget not vs thy poore members heere on earth, where-into abasing thy selfe, thou cammest downe, and sufferedst for vs most cruell death! Out of this thy throne of maiestie and glorie thou puttest vs in assured hope and confidence, that we also shall atteine to this blessed place, whither thou art gone before to take possession for vs. Oh our strong tower of defence and succour, what can hurt vs now trusting in thee? Most vnhappie are they which are ignorant of thee, and most happie are they which al∣waies behold thee. Blessed are they which haue knowne thee heere in the daies of this mortalitie: but more blessed are they which see thee in the heauens, and shall see thee reigning with thy Father in ioies in∣comparable.

Oh Lord, the onelie ioie and comfort of our soules,

shew vs thy louing countenance, embrace vs with the armes of thy mercie. Receiue vs, O good Ioseph thy yonger brethren, with the kisse of comfort. Powre into our harts thy holie spirit. Plucke vs vp from the earth and earthlie things. Open our eies, and lift them vp vnto thee. Open thy mouth, and call vs vnto thee. O∣pen our eares, that we may heare thee, so that what∣soeuer wee doo speake or thinke, it may be directed vnto thee alone our redeemer, mediator and aduocate,

Amen.

Another.

THou Lord didst put awaie Marie Magdalen from thee kissing of thy feet, because thy flesh was not yet exalted, and she knewe not yet the dignitie of thy clarified bodie, and beautified with the glorie of im∣mortalitie, but was addicted onlie to thy bodilie presence. She yet sought thee liuing among the dead; neither was it knowne to hir that thou wast equall with thy Father: wherefore thou wouldest not suffer hir so much as to kisse thy feet, because it was a thing vnworthie for thy Maiestie.

O thou mightie Lion of the tribe of Iuda; thou conqueror of hell and death, euerliuing and immortall; thou art now risen from death for vs. Thou art now ascended to thy Father and our Father, and sittest at the right hand in glorie: grant that we also in hart and mind may thither ascend, and with thee continu∣allie dwell. Suffer vs to come neere vnto thee, that we may kisse thee. Yea Lord, thou louer of our soules, come thou rather vnto vs, and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth, that we may be glad & reioice in thee. Drawe vs, that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweet ointments, that we may behold thee in righteousnes,

and when thy glorie shall appeare, we may be satis∣fied. For in thy presence there is fulnes of ioie, and on thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore, So be it, Halleluiah.

A Thanks-giuing.

WE lift vp our harts vnto thee, O Lord God: for it is verie meete, right, and our bounden dutie, that we should at all times, and in all places, giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie Father, almightie euer∣lasting God, through thy most deere beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord, who after his glorious resurrection, manifestlie appeared to all his Apostles, and in their sight ascen∣ded vp into heauen, to prepare a place for vs, that where he is, thither we might also ascend to reigne with him in glorie. Therefore, with Angels, and Arch∣angels, and with all the companie of heauen, we laud and magnifie thy glorious name, euermore praising thee, and saieng, Holie holie holie, Lord God of hoasts, heauen and earth are full of thy glorie, Glorie be to thee O God most high, So be it.

11. On Whitsundaie, or the feast of Pentecost. Of the sending of the Comforter, euen the spirit of truth.

The Preface.

THE spirit of the Lord filleth the round compasse of the world, and vpholdeth all things. Halleluiah.

The spirit of wisedome is louing, and will not absolue him that blasphemeth with his lips. Halleluiah.

The holie spirit of discipline flieth from deceipt, and

withdraweth himselfe from thoughts that are with∣out vnderstanding. Halleluiah.

This therefore is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loue darkenesse more than light. Halleluiah.

But O Father, leaue vs not comfortlesse, but come vnto vs, and giue vs the Comforter, euen the holie spi∣rit of truth, which the world can not receiue, that he may abide with vs, and dwell within vs for euer. Hal∣leluiah.

Come holie Ghost, and teach vs in all thy waies, and bring all things to our remembrance whatsoeuer God hath commanded vnto vs, that we may speake with new lips, and magnifie God, according to his will. Halleluiah.

Make me a cleane hart O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Halleluiah.

Cast me not awaie from thy presence, and take not thy holie spirit from me. Halleluiah.

O giue me the comfort of thy help againe, and sta∣blish me with thy free spirit. Halleluiah.

Then shall I teach thy waies vnto the world, and sinners shall be conuerted vnto thee. Halleluiah, Halle∣luiah.

The Praier.

IF ye loue me, keepe my commande∣ments, and I will pray the Father, and he shall giue you another Com∣forter, that he may abide with you for euer, euen the spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receiue, &c. Oh heauenlie speech to be had in perpetuall remembrance! Thou O Christ promisest such as keepe thy commandements, such as in faith and a good conscience obeie thee, to bee loued intirelie of thy Father, and their brests to be the

inhabiting place of thy diuinitie. Nothing is more la∣mentable, than to be cast from God into feare and fire vnquenchable; nothing more comfortable; than to haue thy fauour, and to be loued of God. This so excel∣lent a benefit thou doest promise to thy disciples, wher∣fore ingraffe vs to the blessed companie which thy Fa∣ther doth loue, whose sinnes are forgiuen through thy deserts, and they are receiued into mercie, and the in∣heritance of eternall life through thy death. Neither is it thy will to haue vs present in loue, and by the im∣putation of thy righteousnes onlie, but also by a natu∣rall participation and reall conformitie with God in deed.

Man deceiued by the diuell, forsooke God his gouer∣nour, & conceiued so highlie of himselfe, that he would rule himselfe without God. Let God defend thy life, the rest seeke from thy selfe, saie the wise men of this world; and they commend that man whose onlie hope dependeth vpon himselfe. But O lamentable darke∣nesse, how shamefullie doth man fall without God as∣sist! How miserablie doth he perish, whome God forsa∣keth! Wherefore taking pitie on our wretched state, thou restorest the ancient order, interrupted through sinne, and wilt that the harts of the faithfull shall a∣gaine be made y^e dwelling place, & temple of diuinitie.

The God-head in deed is euerie where, vpholding as long as hee thinketh good, the whole frame of the world, and the substance of euerie particular thing therein: and againe destroieng all when he thinketh good so to doo; notwithstanding, he abideth onlie in the soule, which receiueth Christ: into it doo the Father and the word breath of their spirit, and link it to them∣selues in like light, righteousnesse and life. In the Sonne the glorie of the Father doth shine, and filleth that humane substance, which the word, through an eternall couenant, coupleth to himselfe with the same

spirit, and powreth it into the harts of beleeuers, to make them like vnto him. For the word, through the same spirit, quickeneth both his owne and our flesh. And this is the beginning of eternall life in this mise∣rable world. This spirit imprinteth the image of God, which the word (present in our minds) doth speake in our soule, kindeling a light and knowledge conforma∣ble to the Gospell, turneth vs to the true seruice of GOD, and stirreth vp in our wils so holie motions, agreeing to the lawe of Christ, as shine in that hu∣mane nature of Christ now glorified, who cureth our infirmitie.

He commeth from the Father sent by the Sonne to renew vs according to the image of Christ. He retur∣neth to the Sonne and Father to couple vs vnto God; to make intercession for vs with grones vnspeakable, and to mooue the hart of eternall God vnto mercie and compassion towards vs. Such is our nature, that through Gods spirit we reason christianlie, and thinke godlie: then how can it be, but that the spirit must raise godlie cogitations & good motions in our minds, which is by nature a God, and therefore substantiallie doth he mingle himselfe with our spirits, springing in our nature, but regenerated by him to imprint in vs another light and newnesse, than is naturall wisdome and righteousnesse; and therefore manie sighes doo we fetch, euen these deepe sighes.

And thou word dwelling in our minds, be thou pre∣sent, and kindle our harts by thy blast. Conuert vs, Lord, and we shall be conuerted. Turne vs to the ac∣knowledging of our sinnes; erect vs by the preaching of the Gospell, and grant that through faith we may receiue the promise of the spirit. Strengthen vs, that we may retaine so excellent a gift, and at no time be intangled in the snares of Sathan, neither yet forgo so noble a ghest, for our wickednes, Make vs to walke

circumspectlie, not as fooles following our vaine con∣cupiscence; to shun all occasions of falling, & euermore to craue at thine hands, that this pretious gift may from time to time continue with vs, and increase.

And as vpon this daie thou hast taught the harts of thy people, by the sending to them the light of thine holie spirit; so grant vs by the same spirit, to haue a right iudgment in all things, and euermore to reioice in his holie comfort. Let the same spirit bring into our memorie, that which thou hast said; make it firmelie to retaine the foundation of sound doctrine, vttered from the bosome of the Father, and at no time to seeke new reuelations, as doo the Enthusian heretikes, both without and beside the warrant of thy word. Let vs neuer inuent fained gods, and false worshippings; but followe onelie and sincerelie that, which thou hast said and taught.

The world followeth vaine pleasure, seeketh prospe∣ritie, and hunteth after wealth and worship, especiallie the last age of this world doth so: it altogither doteth, and is become secure; but fill thou our harts with true peace, wherewith we may staie our selues in the combate of conscience, fighting before the iudgment of God. And in our agonies, when a separation shall be made both of soule and bodie; then giue vs grace to be mindfull of this thy saieng; Let not your harts be gree∣ued; I go, and come againe vnto you.

Let not thy comfortable presence depart from our soule: thou wilt certainlie come againe, euen to raise vs from the dead, to place vs in thy kingdome. Wher∣fore we reioice at thy departure vnto thy Father. For the Father is greater than thou. Thou hast prepared a place, and blessed mansion in the house of thy Father, exalted to the right hand of the Father, and hast re∣spect of the person sent euen till the consummation of the world. Cease not to applie the merits of thy sacri∣fice

vnto vs, make continuall intercession for vs. Thou abidest our King and Priest, vntill thou deliuerest the kingdome to thy Father. And therefore as a Media∣tor thou doost verelie obtaine those good things, which thou hast promised to all beleeuers.

Thou valiantlie didst conquer Sathan, to make vs parteners of thy victorie. Thou willinglie gauest thy life, that it might satisfie for manie. Thou wast obedi∣ent to thine eternall Father, in the race of thine humi∣liation, that by thy death we might liue. Wherefore, seale within vs this faith and righteousnesse; grant that continuallie we may retaine thy saiengs in our minds; that we may enioie thy peace, and keepe a place for thy diuinitie in our harts, while we liue in this world, through our first fruits, and so hereafter in the life to come, we shall attaine the tenths, and be made like vnto thee, beholding God face to face: So be it.

Another meditation and thanks-giuing, for the good effects that the holie Ghost worketh in vs by his comming.

AL possible praise and thanks I yeeld vnto thee, O God heauenlie Father, and vnto thy deere Sonne Iesus Christ my Sauiour, for sending downe thy spirit of truth our com∣forter, sanctifier, and regenerator, the holie Ghost into this world. The which thing verelie I beleeue thou didst for this onelie end and purpose, that bicause the grape of thy sonne our Sauiour Christs flesh was ca∣ried to the wine-presse of the Crosse, and there being pressed, yeelded foorth the sweet wine of his Godhead: it pleased thee therefore of thy great mercie to send the same thy holie Ghost, to make readie the vessels of mens harts, that the new wine might be put into new

vessels: first to season their harts from marring of the wine that should be put into them, and afterward to hoope them well for leaking, when the wine was pow∣red into them: that is to saie; to clense them from de∣lighting in sinne, and to bind them from delighting in vanitie. For that which is good, could not come in, till that which is euill, was first rid out.

Oh woonderfull worke! Oh vnspeakable benefit of thy surpassing goodnesse and mercie, most woorthie of all praise, that man on earth, or Angels in heauen may giue or render! The holie name of thy sacred Maiestie be therefore blessed, magnified, and extolled, for euer and euer, Amen. And now, O gratious God, and good Father, I most humblie and intirelie beseech thee, that for as much as delighting in wickednesse (which is to loue sinne) doth defile vs, and make our vessels fowle; yea leadeth to death: and that the delighting in vani∣tie (which is to be in loue with transitorie things of this world) sheddeth out, and maketh the vessell of our bodies full of crannies and rifts, yea intiseth and de∣ceiueth vs to our destruction; it may please thee there∣fore of thine ancient and accustomed mercie and good∣nesse, to giue me grace to cast out the thing that is euill in me, that I may be fit to take in and receiue the thing that is good in thee, and so to powre out all sow∣ernesse of sinne and wickednesse, that I may be filled with the sweetnesse of all vertue and godlinesse.

Yea, doo thou thy selfe, O gratious Father (euen with the same thy blessed finger, and mightie power, wherewith in times past by thy sonne Christ Jesus thou didst rebuke and throwe the diuels and vncleane spirits foorth of those that were possessed,) vouchsafe also I beseech thee, of the same thy singular loue and pitie, to cast out of me the fowle spirit of the diuell, which worketh delight in wickednesse, and is the occa∣sion of faults: yea so, and in such sort to abandon him,

that he, nor anie of his, may euer returne into my ves∣sell anie more to dwell therein. I beseech thee further∣more, to expell foorth of my vessell, the spirit of this world, which worketh delight in vanitie, and is a fault of it selfe; that I be neuer intised, nor deceiued anie more therewith hereafter. Finallie, I humblie praie thee to throwe out of me all other euill and vncleane spirits whatsoeuer, which are noisome enimies to my soule and saluation: and grant that thy spirit, O God, euen the holie Ghost, I meane, with all the fruits, gifts, vertues, and graces thereof, may vouchsafe to come and enter into the tabernacle of mine hart and mind, to worke in me good delights, & good loue, where∣by the loue of the world, and the loue of sinne, may bee vtterlie driuen awaie from me for euer: and my mind be continuallie inlightened; my conscience still clensed; mine hart euer gladded; and thou thy selfe, my GOD, my Sanctifier and Sauiour, be more and more she∣wed, and made manifest vnto me,

Amen.

A Thanks-giuing vnto God for our regeneration and sanctification, not vnproper to be vsed also at publike Baptisme.

O God the holie Ghost, which procee∣dest from the Father & the Sonne, and with them art woorshipped and glorified in the vnitie of the true and eternall Deitie, and art also the substantiall amitie betweene the Father and the Sonne, we worship thee, we praise and glorifie thee, and with our whole hart we thanke thee for all thy bene∣fits, especiallie for calling vs by the voice of thy Gos∣pell, vnto the Christian congregation, for illuminating vs with thy gifts; for sanctifieng vs with a stedfast faith; and for keeping vs hitherto in the same. For by

the fount of the wholesome lauour, that is, by the wa∣ter of holie Baptisme, being powred into vs, thou dooest continuallie worke in vs regeneration and re∣newing of the inward man. Harken, we beseech thee, vnto our supplication, and teach vs miserable women, which by the proper strength of our onlie reason, can by no meanes trust in, or approch to Christ our Lord and Sauiour: teach vs, O our God, what thy plea∣sure is, and leade vs into all truth. For without thine assistance, none can saie that Iesus is the Lord.

O blessed Lampe of light, fill the inward parts of the faithfull with the holie oile of thy manifold hea∣uenlie gifts and graces, without the which nothing is light and pleasant in man, but euerie thing darke, obscure, and hurtfull. Wash thou that is filthie; wa∣ter that is drie; heale that is wounded; bow the ob∣stinate; cherish the frosen; and reclaime them which wander. Giue to the faithfull trusting in thee, the re∣ward of wel-doing, the entrance into happines and e∣uerlasting comfort. Thou in thy gifts seauen-fold, which art the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisedome and vnderstanding, the spirit of counsell and strength, the spirit of knowledge, and of the feare of the Lord; inspire into vs through the preaching of the Gospell, thine heauenlie wisedome about thine essence and di∣nine pleasure, which is hid from the world. Grant that we may knowe the Father and the Sonne by thee, and may alwaies beleeue that thou art the spirit of them both, & so worship one God in Trinitie, and the Trinitie in vnitie, whose will is, that not one should perish, but be conuerted & liue; and that as manie as beleeue in the Sonne, should haue euerlasting life. For the Father sent the Sonne, not to condemne the world, but that the world through him might be saued.

O lightener of the mind, powre vpon vs thy new light, and purge the horrible darkenes of our minds,

so that we may see & knowe our chiefe Father, whome pure eies onlie doo behold. O thou heauenlie comfor∣ter, giue vnto vs a testimonie, and grant vnto our minds a token of the certaintie of our beleefe, so that we doubt not, neither wauer about thy diuine goodnes towards vs. Make our harts quiet and secure, that with a full trust and confidence we may approch to the throne of thy heauenlie grace, receiuing by adoption the right of children; and inflamed with spirituall ioie in all boldnesse and libertie, may crie Abba, Father.

Thou most faithfull aduocate, strengthen vs against all the assaults and temptations of sathan, so that we may neuer doubt of thy diuine prouidence and prede∣stination, whereby we are chosen and called in Christ vnto euerlasting life; and neuer being stroken with a seruile feare, and oppressed with dreadfull doubtings, may in a rage flee and forsake our God. O surpassing comforter, leaue vs not destitute of thine aid and pa∣tronage; but vouchsafe euermore to be present with vs in our crosses & troubles, least otherwise we faint: but rather make vs to reioice in tribulations, kno∣wing that a crowne of life is laid vp for such as loue him. O thou teacher of men, instruct vs how, and what we ought to praie for, according to thy will, that we may be heard; and make thou intercession for vs with sighes that can not be expressed.

O thou cleanser of the heart, giue vs the simplicitie of mind without gall and bitternes, which descendedst in Iordan vpon our Lord and Sauiour Christ in the likenes of a dooue, that we may be void of bitter enuie and contention in our harts, and haue no roote among vs, that bringeth foorth gall and woormewood. O thou substantiall flame, proceeding from the breast of the Father, and his eternall Sonne, lighten our harts with the fire of chaste and burning loue. Thou which appearedst as vpon this daie at the feast of Pentecost

vnto the Apostles in clouen tongs like fire, see our cold∣nesse, and comfort vs with thy quickening heate and breathings, that we may receiue thy chrisme and an∣nointment. O thou ghest of the soule, make thee a man∣sion place within the secret parts of our hearts, that we may be an house for thy diuinitie, which may dwell perpetuallie in our members, and neuer depart from vs, through our Lord & Sauiour Iesus Christ,

Amen.

A thanks-giuing.

WE lift vp our harts vnto thee, O Lord GOD. For it is verie meet, right, and our bounden dutie, that we should at all times, and in all places giue thanks vnto thee, O Lord holie Father, the almightie, euerlasting GOD, through Iesus Christ our Lord; according to whose most true promise, the holie Ghost came downe this daie from heauen, with a sudden great sound, as it had beene a mightie wind; in the likenes of fierie tongues, lighting vpon the Apostles, to teach them, and lead them to all truth, giuing them both the gift of diuers languages, and also boldnesse, with feruent zeale con∣stantlie to preach thy Gospell vnto all nations, where∣by we are brought out of darknesse and errour into the cleere light and true knowledge of thee, and of thy Sonne Iesus Christ. Therefore with Angels, and Archangels, & with all the blessed cōpanie of heauen, we laud and magnifie thy glorious name, euermore praising thee, and saieng, Holie holie holie Lord God of hosts: heauen and earth are full of thy glorie. Glorie be to thee, O Lord most high: So be it.

12. On Trinitie Sundaie. An acknowledgement of the almightie Trinitie, and his vndiuided God-head, essence, power and maiestie.

The Preface.

WHen Iesus was baptised in the water; lo, the heauens opened, and the spirit of God descended like a dooue, and lighted vpon him: and behold, there came a voice from heauen, saieng; This is my deerlie beloued Sonne, in whom I am well pleased.

Holie, holie, holie; Lord God almightie. Halleluiah.

There are three, which beare record in heauen; the Father, the Word, and the holie Ghost, and these three are one.

Holie, holie, holie; Lord God of Saboth. Halleluiah.

The Praier.

O Most high Trinitie, one onlie po∣wer, and vndefiled maiestie, our God, God almightie, the beholder and searcher of mine hart, I the abiect and hindmost of all thy ser∣uants, confesse and acknowledge thee, and being the least member of thy Church, I woorship thee with a due sacrifice of praise, for so much as I am able and can, according to that which thou hast vouchsafed to endue me withall. And forasmuch as I am destitute of outward gifts to offer vnto thee, those vowes of praise which I haue of the gift of thy mercie, behold willing∣lie and gladlie I offer them vnto thee, which be an vn∣feigned faith, and a pure conscience.

I beleeue therefore with all my hart, O king of hea∣uen, and Lord of the earth, and with my mouth doo I

confesse thee, the Father, the Sonne, and the holie Ghost, to be three persons, and one in substance; the true and verie God almightie, of one simple, incorpo∣rall, and inuisible nature, incomprehensible, and of such a nature, as is not in a place as other natures be, and that thou hast nothing superiour or aboue thy selfe, or lower, or anie thing bigger than thy selfe, but in all manner of meanes perfect, without all spot of deformi∣tie. And that thou art great without quantitie; good without qualitie; euerlasting without time; life without death; strong without infirmitie or weake∣nesse; true without lieng; present in euerie place without anie situation, or being placed in anie place, to be all euerie where without place; fulfilling all things without stretching foorth thy hand; going eue∣rie where without anie contradiction or gaine-saieng; passing ouer all things without mouing; abiding in all things without anie kind of proportion; making all things, hauing need of nothing; gouerning all things without labour; giuing all things their be∣ginning, hauing no beginning thy selfe; making all things mutable and variable, thy selfe being without all kind of mutabilitie and variablenesse.

I confesse thee to be in greatnesse without measure; in power almightie; in goodnes the cheefe and best; in wisedome inestimable; in counselles, intents, and pur∣poses terrible and fearefull; in iudgements most vp∣right and iust; in cogitations and thoughts most se∣cret; in words true; in works holie; in mercies a∣boundant and plentifull; toward offenders most pa∣tient; towards the penitent, and those that be harti∣lie sorie for their sinnes most gentle & louing; alwaies the same, euerlasting, and continuallie continuing, im∣mortall, and incommutable, impossible to be changed or altered.

Whome neither the amplitude or largenes of pla∣ces

doth make bigger, nor the shortnesse or littlenesse of places make lesser, nor anie places or corners can conteine or presse togither. Neither doth thy will or in∣tent varie or alter, nor familiaritie or acquaintance corrupt thee, nor sorrowfull things trouble or amaze thee, nor glad things make thee pleasant or frolike as a man would saie. For from thee can forgetfulnes take nothing, nor mindfulnes or remembrance giue anie thing. Neither are things passed vnto vs, passed also vnto thee; nor things which to vs are to come, to come towards thee. For neither beginning doth giue anie beginning to thee, nor time anie increase, nor yet chance giueth thee anie end; but before all worlds, and in all worlds, and by worlds into euerlasting thou doo∣est liue, and thou hast continuall praise and perpetuall glorie; most high power, and singular honor; euerla∣sting kingdome, and rule, and empire without end, through the infinite, and vnwearie, and immortall world of worlds.

Another meditation of the right beleefe in the vnitie of persons and pluralitie in God.

THese, and much mo things haue I learned of the holie mother the Church, whereof through thy grace I am made a member. Of hir haue learned how thou the alone and true God, both hast no bodie, and al∣so art vnsubiect to passions, & how nothing of thy substance or nature is anie waie violable, or changeable, or compounded, or created: and therefore certaine it is, how thou canst neither be perceiued by anie bodilie eies, nor could e∣uer be seene in the proper nature of anie mortall man. For hence it may euidentlie be gathered, that where Angels doo now behold thee, there we also after this

life shall see thee, naie, the verie Angels neither are able to see thee as thou art in thy selfe, naïe to conclude, the almightie Trinitie is knowne to none but onlie to thy selfe, O blessed Trinitie.

And thou, an vnitie of the God-head, through the pluralitie of persons manifold, art in number infinite, and therefore measurablie vnmeasurable, and waigh∣tily vnwaiable. For we knowledge no beginning of the souereigne goodnesse, the which thou art, of whome, through whome, in whom are all things, but through participation thereof we saie all good things are. For thy diuine essence hath alwaies been, and yet is with∣out matter, although it lacke no forme, to wit, infor∣med, the forme of formes, the most welformed forme, the which while thou imprintest as a seale to euerie particular thing, thou makest them doubtlesse to dif∣fer from thy selfe, without any either of your augmen∣ting, or diminishing, but whatsoeuer is in the world it is thy creature.

O simple Trinitie, and triple vnitie, God, whose al∣mightinesse both possesseth, and ruleth, and repleni∣sheth all things which thou hast created. Neither in saieng how thou fillest all things, meane we that they conteine thee, but rather that thou conteinest them; neither by parts fillest thou all things, nor yet may it be thought, that euerie thing, according to the great∣nesse of the portion it hath, receiueth thee, that is, the greatest thing more, and the smallest thing lesse, thou rather being in all things, or more trulie, all things in thee, whose omnipotencie includeth all things. Nei∣ther can any man find a waie to escape thy power. For whosoeuer hath not thy fauour, can by no meanes a∣uoid thy displesure, as it is written, Neither from the East, nor from the West, nor from the South, but God is the iudge. And againe, Whither shall I go frō thy spirit? Or whither shall I go from thy presence?

The immensitie of thy diuine greatnesse is this, that we knowe thee to be within all things, not as inclu∣ded; and without all things, yet not as excluded. And therefore thou art within, that thou maist containe all; and therfore without, that all things may be com∣prehended within the immensitie of thine vncircum∣scribed greatnesse. So then by that thou art within, thou art knowne to be a Creator; by that thou art without, we perceiue how thou art the gouernour of all things. And least all things, which are created might be without thee, thou art within and without, that all things may be included of thee, not by locall greatnesse, but by thy mightie presence, who art eue∣rie-where present, and all things present before thee: although some vnderstand these things, yet some doo not.

The vnitie then of thine inseparable nature, can not haue separable persons; bicause, as thou art a Trinitie in vnitie, and an vnitie in Trinitie; so can you not haue a separation of persons. Sometimes indeed, those persons are particularlie named; but so thou wouldest, O God the Trinitie, declare thy selfe insepa∣rable in persons; that there is no name in anie one person, but may be referred vnto another, according to the rule of relation: as the Father vnto the Sonne, & the Sonne vnto the Father; so hath the holie Ghost true relation both vnto the Father & the Sonne. Al∣so, those names, which signifie either your substance, O GOD, or person, or power, or essence, or else what, which properlie is called God, doo equalliie agree to all the persons: as great God, almightie, eternall, and generallie all things, which naturalle are spoken of God. So that there is no name of nature, which so maie agree vnto thee, God the Father, but the same also may fitlie be referred vnto the Sonne, and holie Ghost.

We saie how thou the Father art naturallie God; so is the Sonne naturallie God, and the holie Ghost naturallie: and yet not three Gods; but one God na∣turallie, the Father, the Sonne, and the holie Ghost. And therefore, O God holie Trinitie, in persons thou art inseparable; in sense are they to be vnderstood, though in sound you haue separable names. For you receiue no plurall number in the nature. For hereby it is declared, how the persons in the holie Trinitie, which is one verie God, can not be diuided: for that the name of euerie person, respecteth alwaie another person. If I say the Father, I point vnto the Sonne; if I name the Sonne, I presuppose a Father; if I mention the holie Spirit, I must necessarilie vnder∣stand of whom he is the Spirit; namelie, of the Fa∣ther, and of the Sonne. For this is the true faith, pro∣ceeding from sound doctrine: this vndoubtedlie is the catholike and right faith, which God of his goodnesse hath taught me in the bosome of the mother Church.

The faith or beleefe of a true Christian, concer∣ning the blessed Trinitie, most nota∣blie described.

O My light, I praise thee for inlighte∣ning mee, whereby I knowe thee; but how do I knowe thee? I knowe thee to be God alone, a liuing God, a true God, my Creator. I knowe thee to be the maker both of heauen and earth, of all things visible and inuisible, a verie GOD, almightie, immortall, inuisible, vncompassable, vnlimitable, euer∣lasting, to whom none can approch vnto, nor compre∣hend, nor find out; who art vnchangable, vnmeasura∣ble, infinite, the beginning of all creatures, be they vi∣sible or inuisible, by whom all things were created;

through whom all the elements doo consist: whose ma∣iestie, as it neuer had beginning; so it shall neuer haue end.

I knowe thee to be one God alone, the true God; namelie, the eternall Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost; three persons indeed, but one simple substance, and vn∣parted nature; the Father made of none; the Sonne of the Father alone; the holie Ghost of the Father and of the Sonne; alwaies without either beginning or end. A Trinitie, yet but one onlie, and verie God, om∣nipotent; the onelie beginning of all things, maker of all creatures, both visible and inuisible, spirituall and temporall, which by thine almightie power at the be∣ginning diddest of nothing make togither, both crea∣tures, spirituall & corporall, that is to saie, Angelicall and worldlie, and after the humane, as a middle na∣ture consisting of bodie and spirit.

I knowe and confesse thee GOD the Father, to be vnbegotten; thee God the Sonne, to be begotten of the Father; thee God the holie Ghost the comforter, to be neither made, nor begotten. With mine hart I beleeue vnto righteousnesse, and with my mouth I confesse vnto saluation, this holie and single Trinitie, in the three coequall, consubstantiall, and coeternall persons, to be a Trinitie in vnitie, and an vnitie in Trinitie.

I knowe thee Iesus Christ our Lord, to be a true God, the onlie begotten Sonne of God, and the Crea∣tor, Sauiour, and Redeemer, not of me onelie, but also of all mankind: whom I acknowledge to be begotten of the Father before all worlds, God of GOD, light of light, verie God of verie God, begotten, not made, be∣ing of one substance, and coeternall with the Father and the holie Ghost, by whom all things at the begin∣ning were made: stedfastlie beleeuing, and trulie con∣fessing, that thou Iesus Christ, the onelie begotten

Sonne of God, for our saluation, by the consent of the whole Trinitie tookest flesh; and wert conceiued by the holie Ghost, of the virgin Marie, and wert made verie man, of a reasonable soule, and humane flesh sub∣sisting.

Thou, for so much as in respect of thy God-head, be∣ing the onlie begotten Sonne of God, thou couldest neither suffer, nor die, through thine exceeding loue, wherewith thou hast loued vs. Thou, the verie same Sonne of God, for all that, becamest subiect to suffe∣rings, and mortalitie, in respect of thy manhood: and, O onlie Sonne of God, for the saluation of mankind didst suffer death vpon the wood of the Crosse, to saue vs from euerlasting death. Thou, the author of light, de∣scendedst into hell, and like a glorious conqueror, rosest againe the third daie, taking to thee againe thy sacred bodie, which for our sinnes had lien in the sepulchre; and quickening it according to the scripture the third daie, that thou mightest place the same at the right hand of the Father.

For thou, the verie Sonne of God, taking againe vnto thy selfe the substance of our flesh, that is to saie, the soule and humane bodie, which thou tookest of the glorious virgin, art ascended vp aboue all the hea∣uens, and mounted aboue the orders of Angels, where thou sittest at the right hand of God the Father, and whereas the fountaine of life is; the light which none can attaine vnto: and the peace of God, which passeth all vnderstanding. There we doo worship thee; there we doo beleeue thee to be the verie God, and verie man; confessing God to be thy Father, and from thence wee looke, that thou wilt come a Iudge in the end of the world, to iudge both the quicke and the dead, and to render to all men, good and bad, according to their deeds, which they haue done in this life, either reward or punishment, according as euerie one is woorthie,

rest or torment. For all men, euen as manie as haue receiued soules in their humane flesh, which they had in this world, shall rise at that daie, through the sound of thy power: that whole man may receiue either the glorie of heauen, or the paine of hell, according to his deserts. Thou art our resurrection, and the life it selfe, whom we looke for; euen the Lord Iesus Christ our Sauiour, who shail change our vile bodie, that it may be fashioned like vnto his glorious bodie.

I knowe thee the holie Spirit, both of the Father and of the Sonne, to be one God, and a verie GOD, proceeding alike from them both, of one substance, and coeternall with the Father and the Sonne, our com∣forter, and aduocate: which camest downe in the like∣nesse of a dooue vpon the same God, and our Lord Ie∣sus Christ, and shewedst thy selfe vpon thine Apostles in fierie tongues: which also euen from the begin∣ning hast instructed, with the gift of thy grace, all the Saints and chosen of God; and opened the mouthes of the Prophets, that they might declare abroad the woonderfull mysteries of the kingdome of God; who also togither with the Father and the Sonne, of all the Saints of God art worshipped and glorified. A∣mong whom I thine handmaid doo glorifie thy name, bicause thou hast inlightened me. For thou art the ve∣rie light; the true light; the fire of God; the maister of spirits, which by thine ointment teachest vs all truth, the Spirit of truth, without which it is impossible to please God. For thou thy selfe art God of God, and light of light, vnspeakablie proceeding from the Fa∣ther of lights, and from his Sonne our Lord Iesu Christ, with whom thou reignest and art glorified most singularlie, being of one substance, coequall, and coe∣ternall with them in the essence of one and the same Trinitie.

I knowe thee Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost, to be

one, a liuing, and a verie God: three I confesse in per∣sons, yet but one in essence; whom I acknowledge, worship, and glorifie with mine whole hart, being the true God, the onlie God, holie, immortall, inuisible, vn∣changable, whom no man can either attaine vnto, or find out. This God I acknowledge to be one light, one sunne, one bread, one life, one happinesse, one begin∣ning, one end, one Creator both of heauen and earth, by whom all things doo liue; by whom all things sub∣sist; by whom all things are gouerned, ruled, and quic∣kened, both the things in heauen, and the things in earth, & things vnder the earth: besides whom there is no God, neither in heauen, nor in earth.

Thus knowe I thee, O blessed Trinitie, my Lord God, who knowest me. Thus knowe I thee, through the faith, which thou hast inspired to me. I knowe thee O my light, the sight of mine eies, O Lord my GOD, the hope of all the ends of the earth: the ioie reioicing my youth, and the good susteining mine age. For in thee, O Lord, all my bones reioice, saieng; O Lord, who is like to thee? Among the gods, who is like to thee? Not that whom the hands of men haue made; but thou who hast made the hands of men. The idols of the na∣tions are siluer and gold, euen the works of mens hands: so is not he which made man. All the gods of the people are idols; but the Lord made the heauens. Let those gods, which made not the heauens, and the earth, perish from the earth, and from vnder these hea∣uens; but let both heauen and earth praise him, which created both earth and heauen,

Amen.

A zealous praier vnto the blessed Trinitie.

WHerefore, O Lord, my faith, which thou hast giuen me to my saluation, calleth vnto thee. For the faithfull soule liueth by faith; he en∣ioieth in hope, which one daie he shall behold

in thee. O my God, vnto thee crieth my pure consci∣ence, and the sweet loue of my faith, which the darke∣nes of ignorance being driuen away, thou hast brought vnto the knowledge of the truth: which also thou hast plucked from the foolish bitternes of this world, and made comfortable and pleasant to me through thy sweet loue.

Unto thee, O blessed Trinitie, doth the cleere voice and sincere loue of my faith call, the which nourishing the same from the cradle, thou hast inlightned alwaie by the light of thy grace, & confirmed mightilie in me through the instructions of our mother the Church. Unto thee doo I call, O happie, blessed, glorious, and single Trinitie, Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost; God, Lord, and Comforter; loue, grace, and communion; the begetter, the begotten, the renewer; the verie light of the verie light, the verie illumination, the spring, the floud, and the watering: of one, all; through one, all; in one, all things: of whome, through whome, and in whome are all things. The liuing life, the life from the liuing, the quickener of such as liue. One of himselfe; one of one; one of two. A being of himselfe; a being of a∣nother; a being from both. The Father is true, the Sonne truth, and the holie Ghost truth: so that the Father, the Word, & the Comforter, are one essence, one power, one goodnes, and one blessednes; of whom, through whome, and in whome, all things be blessed, whatsoeuer things are blessed. I beseech thee there∣fore, that as thou hast giuen me grace, by the confessi∣on of a true faith, to acknowledge the glorie of the e∣ternall Trinitie, and in the power of the diuine maie∣stie, to worship the vnitie: so grant, that through the stedfastnesse of this faith, I may euermore be preser∣ued, comforted & defended in all my troubles & aduer∣sities; which liuest and reignest, three persons and one God, blessed for euer,

Amen.

Another deuout praier to the holie Trinitie.

WIth all my hart and mouth doo I confesse, praise, & blesse thee O God the Father vnbegotten, and thee O God the Sonne onlie begotten, also thee O holie Ghost & Comforter; to thee be glorie in the world of worlds, Amen.

O blessed Trinitie, thou three coe∣quall and coeternall persons, and one verie God, the Father, Sonne, and holie Ghost, who dwellest alone in euerlastingnes, and in vnapprochable light, which hast founded the earth by thy mightie power, and ru∣lest the whole world by thy wisedome. Holie holie holie Lord God of hoasts, dreadfull, strong, righteous, mer∣cifull, maruellous, praise-woorthie, to be beloued, one God, three persons, one being, power, wisedome, good∣nes, and one vnspeakable Trinitie: I crie vnto thee. Open me the gates of righteousnes, and when I am come in, I will praise thee O Lord. Behold, I poore begger knocke at thy doore; O souereigne housholder, command the gates to be opened at my knocking, ac∣cording as thou hast said; Knocke yee, and it shall be opened.

For trulie, O most mercifull Father, the desires of my groning hart, and the cries of my weeping eies, doo knocke at thy doore. All my desire is before thee, and my groning is not hid from thee. Lord turne not thy face anie more awaie from me, neither fling thou awaie from thy seruant in a fume. O Father of mercies, heare the howling out of thy Ward, and reach hir thy singular good helping hand, that it may drawe me out of the deepe waters, and out of the lake of miserie, and out of the mire of filthines, that I perish not; thy piti∣full eies seeing it, and the bowels of thy mercie behol∣ding

it, but that I may wade out vnto thee my Lord God, so as I may see the riches of thy kingdome, and alwaies behold thy face, and sing praises to thy holie name, O Lord, which workest woonders, which chee∣rest my hart with remembring thee, and which inligh∣tenest my youth: despise not mine old age, but make my bones to reioice, and my hoarie heares to waxe fresh againe as the Eagle.

A Thanks-giuing.

WE lift vp our harts vnto thee O Lord, for it is verie meet, right, and our bounden duties, that we should at all times and in all places giue thanks to thee O God almightie, and euerlasting God, which art one God, one Lord; not one onelie per∣son, but three persons in one sub∣stance. For that which we beleeue of the glorie of the Father, the same we beleeue of the Sonne, and of the holie Ghost, without anie difference, or inequalitie. Therefore with Angels and Archangels, and with all the companie of heauen, we laud and magnifie thy glorious name, euermore praising thee, and saieng, Ho∣lie holie holie Lord God of hoasts; heauen and earth are full of thy glorie. Glorie be to thee O Lord most high, and in earth peace, good will towards men. We praise thee, we blesse thee, we woorship thee, we glorifie thee, we giue thanks to thee for thy great glorie, O Lord God heauenlie King, God the Father almightie, O Lord the onlie begotten Sonne Iesu Christ. O Lord God, Lambe of God, Sonne of the Father, that takest awaie the sinnes of the world, haue merrie vp∣on vs. Thou that takest awaie the sinnes of the world, haue mercie vpon vs. Thou that takest awaie the sinnes of the world, receiue our praiers. Thou that

sittest at the right hand of God the Father, haue mer∣cie vpon vs. For thou onlie art holie, thou onlie art the Lord, thou onlie O Christ, with the holie Ghost, art most high in the glorie of God the Father; to whome be all kingdome, power, honor and glorie world with∣out end,

Amen.

13. On euerie Sundaie, holidaie, or weekedaie. Of Christ his second and last comming to iudgement.

The Preface.

THE kingdome of heauen is neere at hand, euen at the doores. Take heed, watch and praie.

The sonne of man shall come as a theefe in the night suddenlie and vnwares, at an houre that ye knowe not. Take heed, watch and praie.

Euen Iesus, which was taken vp from vs into hea∣uen, shall so come againe to gather vs vnto him, as he was seene to haue gone into heauen. Come Lord Iesu.

Behold, he commeth with clowdes, and euerie eie shall see him, yea euen they which pierced him through, and all kindreds of the earth shall vaile before him. Come Lord Iesu.

Our God shall come, and shall not keepe silence: there shall go before him a consuming fire, and burne vp his enimies on euerie side: the hilles shall melt like waxe at the presence of the Lord, & a mightie tempest shall be stirred vp round about him. Come Lord Iesu.

He commeth, he commeth to iudge the earth, and with righteousnesse to iudge the world, and the people with equitie and truth. Come Lord Iesu.

Therefore yet a verie little while O my soule, take heed, watch & praie; and he that shall come, will come, and will not tarrie. Come Lord Iesu.

Surelie I come shortlie saith Christ, and my reward is with me, to giue to euerie one according as his works shall be, either good or bad. For I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that watch; and keepe my com∣mandements vnto the end. Come Lord Iesu.

Euen so saith the spirit and the bride. Come Lord Iesu, come quicklie:

Amen, Amen.

Halleluiah.

The praier to haue Christs sudden comming, euen in our remembrance, and that we may be in a readinesse a∣gainst his most glorious appearing. The Preface, Vt supra Iesus. The Praier.

BEholding, O heauenlie Father, the daie of accompts ouer all flesh to be euen now at hand, namelie the last daie, the daie of iudgement, the great and notable daie of the Lord, wherein the whole generation of mankind, from the beginning of the world, shall rise againe, & shall ap∣peare both in bodie and soule, before the presence of the most iust iudge thine eternall Sonne, and our righte∣ous God, to receiue their owne doome for weale or wo, for life or death, for ioie or paine, and that eternallie with the saincts in heauen, or for euer with the diuels in hell: we beseech thee most humblie, O gratious God, to haue mercie vpon all thine inheritance disper∣sed in these our euill and dangerous daies, in the midst of this wicked, most sinfull, and vntoward genera∣tion, vpon the face of the earth, amongst whome we are most miserablie entangled, contemned, cruellie dealt withall, and stirred to all abhominations.

O heauenlie Father, we acknowledge before thee, in

our selues the greatnesse of our owne frailtie, our cor∣rupted lust to lewdnesse, the fulnesse in our selues of our owne iniquitie, and our accustomed inclination at all times to wickednesse. O Father of mercies, tender vs in our weakenes; haue compassion vpon our in∣firmities, pardon our sinfulnesse, and grant vnto vs thine holie spirit, to worke speedie mortification in vs, to keepe lowe the pride of our flesh, to humble our soules in thy sight, to strengthen vs in righteousnesse, to feare alwaies thy iudgements, to thinke vpon thy wrathfull indignation, and vpon the houre of the ven∣geance to come, when thou for our wickednesse shalt turne awaie thy face from vs.

Haue mercie vpon vs, O Lord, haue mercie vpon vs, for Christ Iesus thy Sonne sake; and so prepare all our harts, soules, and bodies, to the necessitie of the time, that we may haue therein good regard to our selues, that our harts be not ouercharged with ex∣cesse of eating, surfeting, and dronkennesse, or other∣wise vexed with the cares of this wretched world, to hinder vs, and to drawe vs backe from our carefull at∣tendance, or diligent waiting for the Lords sudden comming to iudgement; but that we may continuallie attend, wait, watch and praie for the speedie appee∣rance of his glorious Maiestie, that when he shall at the rising againe of all flesh, by the sound of the last trumpet, come to iudge both the quicke and the dead, we may be then in a readinesse to meet him aboue in the heauens, and there to stand before his presence, to behold the glorie of his most gratious countenance, to see how in mercie he shall separate vs from the wic∣ked, as sheepe from the goates, to set vs also on his right hand, to giue the sentence of blessing vpon vs, and to commend vs vnto the kingdome of thee his heauenlie Father, which he himselfe hath prepared, and so pretiouslie purchased with the price of his own

bloud, there with him, with thee, O Father, and with the holie Ghost, to liue in euerlasting ioie and felicitie. Grant this, O heauenlie Father, euen for the onelie merits sake of that thy deere Sonne, and our Saui∣our Iesus Christ,

Amen.

Another meditation of the signes, which shall appeare before the end of the world.

IT is thy saieng, O Sonne of God, that in the last and doting age of the world, both greater, and more greeuous miseries and confusions among men should bee, than euer were; and also for all that, that thou which art the defender of thy Church, in the midst of such calami∣ties and crueltie of thine enimies, wilt preserue some remnant of the faithfull, that thy seruice be not vtter∣lie extinguished before the end of this world. Where∣fore being oppressed, through the intollerable burden of miseries, heaped therefore vpon vs, bicause the sins of this withering world, are most greeuous and la∣mentable: but especiallie for that Sathan thine eni∣mie seeth the daie of iudgement to be verie nigh at hand, wherein his abhomination shall openlie be laid before all thy chosen creatures, and he be cast hedlong into eternall torments; which makes him extreame∣lie to rage against thy chosen flocke, and to seeke by all meanes that possiblie he can, to withdrawe vs from thee, and to make vs blaspheme thy sacred Maiestie. Wee, as it standeth vs vpon, flie vnto thee with all humblenesse of mind in these our extremities. The whole frame of this world groaneth also with thine elect, and earnestlie desireth to be renewed.

Therefore, according to thy gratious admonition,

we call into mind the signes, which shall come before the finall destruction of this world, and thanke thee for thy goodnesse in foretelling vs of them. We lift vp our heads vnto thee, which art aloft on the right hand of the eternall Father, and in faith and praier looke for that ioifull daie, when thou wilt appeare most glori∣ouslie in the clouds, for the deliuerance of thy people out of these calamities. Gouerne vs by thy word and spirit, O most mightie protector, that wee may bee watchfull, and shun the cares of this transitorie world, which withdrawe the mind from the exercise of godli∣nesse, and choke all vertuous motions raised by thine holie spirit; and flie from wantonnesse, bellie-cheere, and vnlawfull pleasures, which both cause thy spirit to forsake our minds, and make our bodies the recep∣tacles of vnpure spirits, whereby we are caried, being secure, vnto abhominable wickednes, and from thence vnto euerlasting destruction.

Finallie, purge thou our harts by thy spirit, and let thy knowledge appeare in vs, which may both expell our grosse darknesse, and inflame in vs godlie moti∣ons, that all the daies of our life we may continue in the true and sincere confession of thy name. And for so much as thou hast promised to defend vs, and to mi∣tigate our paines, grant that wee may both escape euils to come, and stand ioifullie before thee at thy re∣turne,

Amen.

Another.

ALmightie God, and most mercifull heauenlie Father, as in the destru∣ction of Ierusalem thou hast left a fearefull example of thy horible iudgements against the contempt of the Gospell, and the wickednesse of men; & threatenest such plagues to come for like wickednesse vpon

the world, as shall cause men to die for feare of them before they come: grant vs so to read thy truth, and to be obedient vnto it, that when the signes of these things shall come, which shall astonish the wicked, wee may hold vp our heads with comfort, waiting for our redemption so neere at hand; watch with continuall praier, that we may escape all these things which shall come vpon the world in that daie, and that wee may stand before thy Sonne, when he shall come to iudge∣ment, and be receiued of him to euerlasting glorie; to whom with thee, and the holie Ghost, be all honour, glorie, and praise, for euer and euer,

Amen.

A godlie meditation of the comming of Christ to iudgement, and of the reward both of the faithfull and vnfaithfull.

O Lord Iesu Christ, the Sonne of the euerliuing God, by whom althings were made, are ruled, and gouer∣ned; as of thy loue for our redemp∣tion thou diddest not disdaine to bee our mediator, and to take vpon thee our nature in the wombe of a vir∣gin, purelie and without sinne, by the operation of the holie Ghost, that both thou migh∣test in thine owne person woonderfullie beautifie and exalt our nature, and worke the same in vs also: first abolishing the guiltinesse of sinne by remission, then sinne it selfe by death; and last of all death, by raising againe these our bodies, that they may be like vnto thine owne glorious and immortall bodie, according to the power wherewith thou art able to subiect all things vnto thee. As, I saie, of thy loue for our redem∣ption thou becamest man, and that most poore and af∣flicted vpon earth, by the space of three & thirtie yeeres at the least, in most humilitie, and paiedst the price of

our ransome, by thy most bitter death and passion; for the which I most hartilie giue thanks to thee: so of the same thy loue towards vs, in thy good time, thou wilt come againe in the clouds of heauen, with power and great glorie, with flaming fire, with thousands of Saints, with Angels of thy power, with a mightie crie, showt of an Archangell, and blast of a trumpet suddenlie as a lightening, which shineth from the east, &c. When we thinke least, euen as a theefe in the night, when men be a sleepe: thou wilt so come, I saie; thus suddenlie in the twinkeling of an eie; all men that euer haue beene, be, and shall be, with women and chil∣dren, appearing before thy Tribunall iudgment seate, to render an account of all things, which they haue thought, spoken, and done against thy lawe, openlie, and before all Angels, Saints, and diuels: and so to receiue the iust reward of thy vengeance, if they haue not repented, and obeied thy Gospell, and so depart from thee to the diuell, and his angels: and all the wic∣ked, which euer haue beene, be, or shall be, into hell fire, which is vnquenchable, and of paines intollerable, endlesse, hopelesse; euen from the face of thy glorious Maiestie, and mightie power.

But if they haue repented, and beleeued thy Gospell; if they be found watching like wise virgins, with their lamps and oile in their hands; if they be found readie apparelled with the wedding garment of innocencie; if they haue not hardened their harts, and hourded vp the treasure of thy vengeauce, in the daie of wrath to be reuealed: but haue vsed the time of grace, the ac∣ceptable time, the time of saluation; that is, the time of this life, in the which thou stretchest out thy hand, and spreadest thine armes, calling and crieng vnto vs, to come vnto thee, which art meeke in hart, and lowlie. For thou wilt ease all that labour, and are heauie la∣den. If they haue visited the sicke and prisoners; com∣forted

the comfortlesse; fed the hungrie; cloathed the naked; lodged the harbourlesse: if they haue not loden their harts with gluttonie, and surfetting, and care∣fulnesse of this life: if they haue not digged, and hid their talent in the ground, dooing no good therewith: but haue been faithfull to occupie thy gifts to thy glo∣rie, and haue washed their garments in thy bloud by hartie repentance; then shall the Angels gather them togither, not as the wicked, which shall be collected as fagots, and cast into the fire; but as the good wheate that is gathered into thy barne.

Then shall they be caught vp to meete thee in the clouds; then shall their corruptible bodie put on incor∣ruption; then shall they be indued with immortalitie and glorie; then shall they be with thee, and go whi∣ther thou goest, then shall they heare these ioifull words: Come ye blessed of my Father, possesse the king∣dome prepared for you from the beginning, &c. Then shall they be set on seates of Maiestie, iudging the whole world; then shall they reigne with thee for euer; then shall God be all in all with them, and to them; then shall they enter, and inherit heauenlie Ierusa∣lem, and the glorious restfull land of Chanaan, where it is alwaies daie, and neuer night; where is no ma∣ner of weeping, teares, infirmitie, hunger, cold, sicke∣nesse, enuie, malice, nor sinne: but alwaies ioie with∣out sorowe, mirth without measure; pleasure without paine; heauenlie harmonie; most pleasant melodie; saieng, and singing; Holie, holie, holie; Lord GOD of hosts, &c. Finallie, the eie hath not seene; the eare hath not heard; neither hath it entered into the hart of man, that they shall then inherit, and most surelie enioie; although heere they bee tormented, prisoned, burned, solicited of Sathan, tempted of the flesh, and intangled with the world, wherethrough they are in∣forced to crie; Thy kingdome come. Come Lord Iesu &c.

How amiable are thy tabernacles? Like as the hart desireth the water brookes, so longeth my soule after thee O God. Now Lord let thy seruant depart in peace. I desire to be dissolued, and to be with Christ. We moorne in our soules, waiting for the deliuerance of our bodies, &c.

Oh gratious Lord, when shall I find such mercie with thee, that I may repent, beleeue, hope, and looke for these things, with the full fruition of those heauenlie ioies, which thou hast promised and prepared for all them that feare and loue thee, and so rest with thee for euer∣more?

Amen.

2. Peter 3, 10, 11, 12.

The daie of the Lord will come as a theefe in the night, in the which the heauens shall passe awaie with a noise, and the element shall melt with heate, and the earth with the works that are therein shall be burnt vp.

Seeing therefore that all these things must be dissol∣ued, what manner persons ought yee to be in holie con∣uersation and good liues, looking for the hastning vnto the comming of God, by the which the heauens beeing on fire, shall be dissolued, and the elements shall melt with heate!

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