A booke of Christian prayers, collected out of the auncie[n]t writers, and best learned in our tyme, worthy to be read with an earnest mynde of all Christians, in these daungerous and troublesome dayes, that God for Christes sake will yet still be mercyfull vnto vs

A prayer to be sayd agaynst temptation.

This weak & feéble fortres of ours is assaulted cōtinually with innu¦merable enemies and engines: But yet if it please theé O sauior Christ to fortifie it but with thy onely strength, it shall abide inuincible.

Thou thy self hast bene tempted, to the intent thou shouldest haue skill to pity and relieue such as are tempted. Thou hast had experience of the darts that are thrown at vs and though thou wast not touched with y^e frailty of our sinfulnes, yet art thou not ignorant of it. Wherfore (if it may please theé) suf¦fer vs not to be assayled: Because the daunger is very great that we shall be ouerthrowen. Or if it seéme good to thy most rightfull wil, that we shall neédes come to the incounter, strengthen thou

[illustration]

Riche mans wife. Though thou haue siluer and golde: Yet art thou within my holde.

[illustration]

Young woman. Fine & prety in the wast: Come with me in hast.

[illustration]

As death in this world hath the victory: So by death we hope to enter Gods glory▪

vs from aboue, arme thou vs with thy holy spirite, incourage thou vs with thy presence, and let euery of vs feéle the effectuall working of that help w^ch thou diddest warrant to thine Apostle, when thou toldst him that thy grace suf¦ficed him, and that the mightines of thy power vttereth it selfe in our weak¦nes. We haue no strēgth of our selues, and therfore we would fayne shun that battail as much as we can, but yet in such wise, as we submitte our willes to thy will, looking to be defended alo••ly by thy power and prouidence.

Wherfore we beseéch theé goe not from the helme of this brittle ship, that is tossed in the waues of the manifolde temptations, and afflictions of this world, vntill thou haue brought it to the quyet and safe hauen of thine eter∣nall and blessed kingdome in heauen, Amen.

[illustration]

Time to liue, •• time to dy: God grant vs liue eternally

[illustration]

¶The Mayde. Fresh galant, & gay: All must with me away.

[illustration]

¶The Damosell. Fine proper & neate: And all is but wormes meate.