¶ The wensdaye after the seconde sondaye in lent. the epistle.
IN the dayes of hester / Merdocheus prayed the lorde / beynge myndfull of* 1.1 all his workes & sayde lorde / lorde kyn∣ge allmyghtie: for in thy power all thynges a¦re put / nether is there anye that can resist thy wyll / if thou have determyned to save Israel. Thou madest heaven and erth / and whatsoe∣uer is contayned within the compasse of hea∣uen: thou art lorde of all / nether is there anye that can resist thy maiestie. Thou knowest all thyng{is} / & wottest yt it was not of pryde or of spyte / or anye desyer of glorie yt I dyd not wor¦ship moost proude Amon: for I wolde have been readye / and that gladlye (for the sauynge of Israel) to have kyst even the steppes of his fete. But I feared least I shuld tourne y• glo∣rye of my God vnto a man / and feared to wor¦shyp anye man saue my God. And now lorde kynge and God of Abraham have mercie on thy people for oure enemyes are mynded to de¦stroye vs & to brynge thyne inheritaunce vt∣terly to naught. Despice not y• porcion which thou delyueredest for thy selfe oute of Egipt. Heare my prayer & be mercifull vnto the parte and inheritaunce / and tourne oure sorow into Ioye: that we maye lyve and prayse thy name