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 prayer for a woman with childe.

THou art wonderfull (O Lord) in al thy workes, and what so e∣uer thy good pleasure is, y^t doest thou easily bring to passe, neither is there any thing vnpossible with thee that thou wilt haue done. And albeit this thy almightie power sheweth it selfe aboundantly in al thy works, yet in conceiuing, forming, and brin∣ging foorth of man, it shineth most e∣uidently.

At the beginning O (Father) when thou madest man and woman, thou commandedst them to increase, multiplie, and replenish the earth. If through the subtill inticementes of Sathan they had not transgressed thy commaundement by eating the forbidden fruite, the woman whome thou hast appoynted to be the instru∣ment and vessell to conceiue, nourish and bring foorth man through thy wonderful workmanship, had with∣out

any labour, paine or trauel brou∣ght foorth her frutie.

But that which thy goodnes made easie, sin and disobedience hath made harde, painefull, daungerous, and without thy speciall helpe and suc∣cour, impossible to bee brought to passe: so that nowe all women bring foorth their childrē in great sorowes, paines, and troubles. Notwithstan∣ding, that which through their owne imperfection and feeblenes, they are not able of thēselues to passe, thou through thine vnspeakable power makest easie in them, and bringest vnto a ioyfull end.

We therefore being fully persua∣ded of thy fauour and goodnesse, of thy present helpe, and of thy sweete comforte in all miseries and necessi∣ties, knowing also by the testimo∣nies of thy holy word how great and intollerable the paines of women

are that trauell of childe, if through thy tender mercie they bee not miti∣gated and eased: most humbly pray thee for Iesus Christes sake thy son our Lorde, to helpe and assist this thy seruaunt nowe in trauell and la∣bour, that by thy almightie power shee may safely bringe foorth that which by thy goodnes she hath con∣ceiued, and that thy louing kindnes may make that easie and tollerable vnto her, which sinne hath made hard and painefull.

Ease (O Lord) the paines which thou most righteously hast put vpon her and all women, for the sinne and disobedience of our graundmother Eue, in whom al we haue sinned. Be present with her in her trouble, ac∣cordinge to thy mercifull promise: Giue her strength, and make perfect that which thou hast so gratiously begun. Let thy power be shewed no

lesse in the safe bringing foorth, then in the wonderfull forming and fashi∣oning of that she beareth. Make her a glad and a ioyfull mother, that she through thy goodnesse, being safely deliuered and restored to health a∣gaine, may liue and praise thy blessed name for euer.