Christian praiers and holie medtations as wel for priuate as publique exercise: gathered out of the most godly learned in our time, by Henrie Bull. Wherevnto are added the praiers, commonly called Lidleys praiers.

A praier for true mortification.

O God my creator, preseruer and euerlasting defender, where first in my creation I was made like vnto thine owne likenesse, the diuell (alas) hath since by Adams fal made me ougly, monstrous, and like euill fauoured to him selfe. For what are nowe,* 1.1 Lord, mine earthly members, but (as thine Apostle writeth) adul∣terie, whoredome, vncleannesse, vn∣naturall lustes, euill concupiscence, couetousnesse (which is the worship∣ping of Idols) and such other, for the which thy wrath is wont to come vpon the children of vnbeliefe? Ne∣uerthelesse, Lorde, of thy great mercy and goodnesse, against this so great a mischiefe, a much greater remedie thy fatherly prouidence hath ordai∣ned: for thou hast sent Iesus Christ thy deare & only natural Sonne into this worlde, the vale of miseries, to

loose the workes of the diuell,* 1.2 and to take away my sinnes.

* 1.3Therefore sathan hath nowe no∣thing to brag of, for through Christ, all that beleeue in thee and so become thy children, do ouercome the world, the flesh,* 1.4 and the diuell. And this is the victorie which ouercommeth thē all, euen our faith. That faith I meane, which is persuaded that who so euer beleeueth in Christ, shall not perish,* 1.5 but haue euerlasting life.

That faith which beleeueth y^e te∣stimonie to be true which thou God the father doest testifie of thy sonne, so making thee no liar: and this is y^e testimonie, that thou hast giuen vs eternall life.* 1.6 That faith which belee∣ueth that thou father, who raisedst vp Christ from death, shalt also quic∣ken our mortall bodies through thy holie spirite dwelling in vs. That faith which beleeueth it to be true

which thy Sonne Christe affirmed with a double oth,* 1.7 verily, ve∣rily I say vnto you, he that beleeueth in me, the workes that I doe, the same shall he doe, and greater woorkes then these shall he doe, bicause I goe to my father. And finally, that faith which beleeueth that nowe Christe hath bene lift vp on the crosse,* 1.8 he shal draw al things vnto him. This faith (I say) is the victorie which ouer∣commeth our enimies, the diuell, the world, and our flesh.

Thou therfore, deare father, which hast promised to giue what so euer I shal aske in thy deare sonne Iesus name,* 1.9 for thy great mercie and in∣fallible truthes sake, doe nowe in me the thing that he came for: lose in me the workes of the diuel, & take away my sinnes,* 1.10 I beseech thee: make sted∣fast my faith and confidence in thy promised mercies and mercifull pro∣mises:

so that I assuredly beleeuing in thee, may haue (as thou promisest) euerlasting life, & making thee (deare God) no liar, may beleeue, feele, and knowe in my heart and conscience, that the same euerlasting life is thy meere and free gift vnto me, yea, al∣readie of thy great goodnesse, vndou∣tedly giuen me, being nowe transla∣ted from death to life.

Of a thankfulnesse wherof, Lord, cause me nowe daily to mortifie my earthly members:* 1.11 yea, deare father, sith thy spirit which raised vp Christ from death, dwelleth within me, doe thou (who raisedst Christ frō death) quicken my mortall bodie through thy spirite so dwelling in me, I be∣seech thee: yea Lord Iesu, according to thy promise (bicause thou art now gone to thy father) make me worke this wonderfull great worke y^t thou spakest of,* 1.12 I meane, make me being

of my selfe but a lumpe of sinne, and a monster most ougly, (as the vices whereon the members of my earth∣ly bodie are aboue declared to be cō∣pact,* 1.13 doe proue) make me, I say, yet through thy grace, to hate, abhorre, flee, and subdue all adulterie, whore∣dome, vncleannesse, vnnaturall lu∣stes, euill concupiscence, vnordinate desires, wantonnesse, tendernesse, de∣licatenesse, idlenesse, dronkennesse, gluttonie, slothfulnesse, distrust, des∣paire, ignorance, weakenesse, wilful∣nesse, idolatrie, superstition, hypocri∣sie, heresie, error, sects▪ variance, strife, wrath, enuie, slaunders, lying, swea∣ring, cursing, vainglorie, pride, coue∣tousnesse, theft, deceit, flatterie, and what so euer else, O Lorde, fighteth or rebelleth against thy holy spirite: and then (O Father) I will boast & make vaunt against myne enimie the diuell, that I haue done greater

workes then thy deare sonne Iesus did,* 1.14 at what time hee spake these wordes among the Iewes, because albeit he vanquished Sathan, yet in as much as hee himselfe was vtterly without sinne, the victorie seemed the more easie. But I to vanquishe sathan, being my selfe altogether sin∣full, yea, contrarie to my most sinfull nature to subdue sinne, the diuel, and mine owne fleshe, it seemeth a more victory and a greater worke then the other. For the which neuerthelesse, I will with all submission acknow∣ledge vnto thy diuine maiestie, that the whole victorie, Lorde, in deede, is thine, and thy holy spirite the be∣ginner and finisher both of the will and the worke.

Now therfore (Lord Iesu) streng∣then mee with thy grace and might, that thou maist by mee a most sinfull wretche, drawe all these my earthly

members and horrible vices before rehearsed, vnder my feete, that I may not onely fight against them, but also subdue them,* 1.15 so that they may all turne to the best for mee, as meete matter whereon I may exer∣cise my faith, powre forth my hearty prayer, and giue thee most heartie thankes for victorie: wherby I may learne and haue experience that thou hast in mee drawne all thinges vnto thee, insomuch as thou thus (Lord) of thy diuine power drawest both the diuel and the sinne that dwelleth in me, to set foorth thine honour and glorie, which thing for thy mercies sake bring to passe, O God my crea∣tor, preseruer & euerlasting defender.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Col. 3.
• * 1.2

  1. Iohn 3.
• * 1.3

  1. Iohn 5.
• * 1.4

  Iohn 3.
• * 1.5

  1. Iohn 5.
• * 1.6

  Rom. 8.
• * 1.7

  Iohn 14.
• * 1.8

  Iohn 12.
• * 1.9

  Iohn 14
• * 1.10

  1. Iohn ••
• * 1.11

  Rom. 8.
• * 1.12

  Iohn 14.
• * 1.13

  Col. 3.
• * 1.14

  Iohn 14.
• * 1.15

  Rom. 8. Iohn 12.