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 meditation vpon the passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christ.

OH Lord Iesus Christ, the sonne of the euerliuing God, by whom all thinges were made, and be ruled and gouerned: thou the liuely Image of the substance of the Fa∣ther, the eternall wisedome of God, the brightnes of his glorie, God of God, light of light, coequal, coeter∣nal and consubstantial with the Fa∣ther: thou which of the loue thou hadst to mankinde, when he was fallen from the fellowshippe of God into the societie of Sathan and al e∣uill, didst vouchsafe for our redemp∣tion, to become a mediator betweene God and man taking to thy godhead our nature, as concerning the sub∣stance of it, and so becamest man, al∣so the heire of all, and most mercifull

Messias, which by the power of thy Godhead and merites of thy man∣hoode, hast made purgation of our sinnes, euen by thine own selfe, whi∣lest thou was here on earth, beeing nowe set on the right hande of thy father for vs, euen concerning our nature, in maiestie, glorie, and power infinite. I pray and humbly beseech thy mercie to graunt me at this pre∣sent to rehearse some of thy passions and sufferinges for me the last night that thou wast here before thy death, that thy good spirite might therby be effectuall to worke in me faith, as well of the pardon of my sinnes by them, as mortification of mine af∣fections, comfort in my crosses, and patience in afflictions, Amen.

In the middest of thy last supper with thy deare apostles, these things could not but be before thee, name∣ly that they all would leaue thee,

the most earnest would forsweare thee, and one of the twelue should most traiterously betray thee: which were no smal crosses vnto thee. Iudas was admonished of thee to beware, but when he tooke no heede▪ but wil∣fully went out to finish his worke, contemning thy admonition & coun∣sell, he could not but vexe thy most louing heart.

After supper there was contention amongest thy Disciples, who should be greatest after thee, yet dreaming carnally of thee and thy kingdome, & hauing this affection of pride and ambition busie amongest them, not∣withstanding thy diligence in repro∣uing and teaching them.

After thy admonition to them of the crosse that would come, therby to make them more vigilant, so grosse were they, that they thought they coulde with their two swordes put

away all perils, which was no little greefe vnto thee. After thy comming to Gethsemane, heauinesse pressed thee, and therfore thou wouldest thy disciples to pray. Thou didst tell to Peter and his fellowes, that thy hart was heauie to death. Thou didest will them to pray, being carefull for them also least they should fall into tentation. After this thou wentes•• a stones cast from them, and diddest pray thy selfe, falling flat and groue∣ling vpon the earth: but (alas) thou feltest no comfort, and therefore thou camest to thy disciples (which of all others were moste sweete and deare vnto thee) but loe, to thy fur∣ther discomforte they passe neither of thy perils, nor of their owne, & there∣fore sleepe apace.

After thou hadst awaked them, thou goest againe to pray, but thou foundest no comfort at all, and ther∣fore

diddest returne againe for some comfort at thy deerest friends hands. But yet againe, (alas) they are fast a sleepe. Whereupon thou art inforced to go againe to thy heauenly father for some sparke of comforte in these thy wonderfull crosses and agonies. Nowe, here thou wast so discoraged & so comfortlesse, that euen streames of bloud came running from thine eies and eares, and other partes of thy bodie. But who is able to ex∣presse the infinitenesse of thy crosses, euen at thy being in the garden? All which thou sufferedst for my sake, as wel to satisfie thy Fathers wrath for my sinnes, as also to sanctifie all my sufferinges, the more gladly to be susteined of me.

After thy bloudie prayer thou ca∣mest and yet againe foundest thy dis∣ciples a sleepe, and before thou canst well awake them, loe, Iudas com∣meth

with a great bande of men to apprehend thee as a theefe, and so do∣eth, leading thee away bound to the high Bishops house Annas, and so from him to Caiphas. Here now to augment this thy miserie, behold thy disciples flee from thee: false witnes∣ses be brought against thee: thou art accused and condemned of blasphe∣mie: Peter euen in thy sight forswea∣reth thee: thou art vniustly stricken for answearing lawfully: thou art blindfold, stricken and buffetted all the whole night in the Bishop Cai∣phas house of their cruel seruants.

In the morning betimes thou art condemned againe of the priestes of blasphemie, and therefore they bring thee before the secular power to Pi∣late, by whom thou art openly ar∣rained as other theeues and malefac∣tors were: and when he sawe that thou wast accused of malice, yet he

did not dismisse thee, but did sende thee to Herod, where thou wast sham¦fully derided in comming and going to him and from him all the way, especially after Herod had apparel∣led thee as a foole.

Afore Pilate againe therfore thou wast brought and accused falsely: no man did take thy part, or speake a good worde for thee.

Pilate caused thee to be whipped and scourged, and to be handled most pitifully, to see if any pitie might appeare with the prelates, but no man at all pitied thee.

Barrabas was preferred before thee: all the people, heade and taile, was against thee, and cried: hang him vp. Uniustly to death wast thou iudged thou wast crowned with thorns that pearced thy braines: thou wast made a mocking stocke: thou wast reuiled, beaten & most miserably handled.

Thou wentest through Ierusalem to the place of execution, euen to the Mount of Caluarie: a great crosse to hang thee on, was laide vpon thy backe to beare and drawe, as long as thou wast able.

Thy bodie was racked to be nay∣led to the tree, thy handes were boa∣red through, and thy feete also, nailes were put through them to fasten thee thereon: thou wast hanged betweene heauen & earth, as one spued out of heauen, and vomited out of the earth, vnworthie of any place: the high Priest laughed thee to scorne: the elders blasphemed thee, and saide, God hath no care for thee: the com∣mon people laughed and cried out vpon thee, thirst oppressed thee, but vineger onely and gall was giuen thee to drinke: heauen shined not vpō thee: the sunne gaue thee no light: the earth was afraid to beare thee: sa∣thā

tempted thee and thine owne sen∣ses caused thee, to crie out: My God my God why hast thou forsaken me? Oh wonderful passions, which thou sufferedst. In them thou teachest me: in them thou comfortest mee: for by them GOD is my father: my sinnes are forgiuen. By them I should learne to feare God, to loue God, and neuer to leaue him for any tentations, but with thee to crie: Fa∣ther into thy handes I commend my spirite.