A godlie exposition vpon certeine chapters of Nehemiah, written by that worthie byshop and faithfull pastor of the Church of Durham Master James Pilkington. And now newly published. In the latter end, because the author could not finish that treatise of oppression which he had begonne, there is added that for a supplie, which of late was published by Robert Some, D. in Diuinitie

A PRAIER.

AS thou O Lord of thy infinit and vndeserued goodnesse stirredst vp thy faithfull seruant Nehemiah, to pitie the lamentable state of Ierusalem, and gauest him such fauour in the sight of King Artaxerxes, procuredst licence and liberty, great rewards & liberalitie to all them that would repaire the broken walles of the Citie, mouedst his heart to leaue the wanton pleasures of the Court, aud madest him willing to toile at thy worke, & not onelie prosperedst their doings, but defendedst them from their mortal enemies manie and sundrie times, being cruellie assaulted both by inward hypocrites and outward force; so we beseech thee most mercifull father for thine owne mercies sake, looke pitifullie at thy ragged and torne church, the contēned spouse of thy deerely beloued son Christ Iesus, raise vp

some faithful seruants in euerie countrie that may obteyne such fauour in the sight of Chistian Princes, that with freedome of conscience and quiet∣nesse of the countrie, the Kingdome of thy sonne and our sauiour may be truelie preached, obedientlie receiued, faithfullie beleeued, and diligentlie followed, to the ouerthrow of Antechrist and all his members, and the end∣lesse comfort of thy poore afflicted people. Confound, O gratious God, San∣ballat, Tobias, and all their partakers, which laugh to scorne the simplicitie of the Gospell and builders of the Church, make them to be scorned that the world may see, what foolish wickednes it is, to rebell against thy holie will, and how litle all such shall preuaile in the end. Turne awaie all open violence, that shall be deuised against vs outwardlie: Keepe vs from ci∣uill warre and sedition inwardlie: Confound all wicked counsells, and con∣spiracies of Ahitophell with his fellowes, and ouerthrow the subtill practi∣ses of Iudas, and such hypocrits: Encourage the people, that they feare not their braggs nor bigge lookes, but manfullie may stand in defence of thy trueth, and boldlie confesse thee in all dangers, knowing thee to be the one∣lie Lord and giuer of all victorie, & that none shalbe ashamed nor left suc∣courles, that flie vnto thee in their great necessitie. Giue vs grace to pray and put our trust in thee, as this people haue done afore vs, that we may finde the like grace, fauour and deliuer aunce, that they did. Giue vs, we most humblie beseech thee, O gratious God, such guids and Rulers in the common-wealth, as will worke with the one hand, and fight with the other, keepe watch and ward night and day, to driue awaie the outward enemie, and will defend thy poore sheepe from the Rebellious practises of Sathan among our selues: Thurst forth such faithfull preachers for the adaunce∣ment of thy glory only, which without any worldly respect of profit or plea∣sure, may purely teach thy holy will declared in thy blessed word, roote out all errours in doctrine and deformities in life, and may by the powre of thy holie spirit bring home all those that be runne astray, confirme and stren∣gthen those that doe stand, and raise vp those that be fallen, that in vnity of minde, brotherlie loue and Christian faith, we may be liuelie stones in the spirituall building of thy house, may acknowledge thee our onelie God, and thou of thy accustomed goodnes and free mercy maist take vs to thy chil∣dren, and defend vs as our Lord: Teach vs as a Schoolemaster, feed vs as a Shepherd, make vs partakers of thy glorious Conquest of sinne, death, hell, the world, & the slesh, that afterward we may reign with thee in thy blessed Kingdome which thou hast so deerely purchased for vs, by the death of thy Christ our sauiour, thy sonne, our Lord, to whom with thee and thee holie Ghost be all honour and glorie for euer,

Amen.