13. On Saint Iohn Baptists daie. I giue mine owne selfe the blame, and take repentance in dust and ashes.
O Eternall Father of our Lord Iesu Christ, wee yeeld thee most hartie thanks for gathering to thy selfe, for and through thy Sonne, an ho∣lie companie, praising and celebra∣ting thy goodnesse for euermore. Also for sending from time to time tea∣chers adorned with excellent gifts and warrants from heauen, to spread foorth and pub∣lish the truth to mankinde, among whome, we knowe right well, that the famous fore-runnner of thy Sonne, euen the holie and reuerent Saint Iohn the Baptist excelled. He by thy prouidence was woonder∣fullie borne, and sent to prepare the way of thy Sonne our Sauiour, by preaching repentance. He was the first publisher of the new Testament; the first purger of the Gospell from the grosse errours of the supersti∣tious Pharises; the spreader abroade of the articles of our faith, and the imprinter of Iesus Christ the Sonne of God in the harts of men.
We humblie beseech thee, gather from among vs an eternall Church. Teach our harts by thine heauenlie spirit, that vnfeignedlie we may listen to, and loue the doctrine which Iohn soundeth to the world. Make vs so to followe his doctrine and holie life, I saie, that we may trulie repent according to his preaching, and af∣ter his example constantlie speake the truth, boldlie rebuke vice, and patientlie suffer for the truth sake, as