The Flower of Godly Prayers, Prayer 4 – Prayer 13
A confessiō of our synnes vntounto the Lord Iesu Christe.
THe tirrānye of satā mine old enemy,…. Peter. v, which ceaseth not daylye to assayle me with his subtile temtacions, and to woūd me with his cruel darts compelleth me at this present (O blessed redemer & mine alone sauiour Iesu Christ, the son of the true and liuing god) to f…e for succoure vntounto the pitiful bowels of thy tēder mercy, lest I be for euer swalowed vp as a praye of that dreadful Dragon.Iohn, xii, …iiiii.…v ii. Cor. iiii Ephesi, vi. O Lord I am feble and weake, but Satan is strong and mightye, the Prynce of darknes & God of this world, hauing at his commaundmēt an infinite multitude bothe of wicked spirites, and of vngodly mē, which both dayly and diligently, trauayle to sat…sfy his cruel tirā ny, and to worke my destrucciō, whome to resist I am not hable.Luke, x…. Notwithstandyng lord, thou art more valeaunt then he, stronger then all hys armye, more able to saue thē he to condēne.Io…. i.ii. Yea he is thy bond slaue. Thou rulest hym as thy good pleasure is▪ He can rage agaynst thyne elect no further▪ thē thy most godly wyl is to suffer him. Thou therfore (o lord my God) arte able to delyuer me from hys rauenynge teethe, and to kepe me safe from hys bloude thyrsty ministers.Gen. iii. For thou art ye blessed sede of the wo…ā, that tredeth down the head,…, xiii. destroieth ye power of that old serpent. Thou art that Lord,i, Cor, xv. Hebre, ii, which hathe swalowed vp hel. Thou art the king of glorye, whych by thy death destroiest him that had the power of deathe, that is ye deuil. Thou art that Michael,Apoc…, xii▪ which hast fought with the Dragon and ouercome him.Apoc, v, Yea thou art that Lion of ye trybe of Iuda, which haste vanquished al our enemies.
Moreouer not onlye Satan and his angels, but also ye world and the fleshe mooste greuously assaile me, yea and lead me away captiue as theyr pray. The world wt his vaine pleasures, deceitful riches, & transitory possessiōs, so blindeth the iyes of my harte, that I cā not louelove the (o most swete sauiour) with such purenes of mind as I oughte.Iohn. x…. Notwythstandynge this comforteth me▪ wel that thou haste ouercome the worlde, & that when soeuer it pleaseth the to endue me wyth thy holye spyryte, I may thorow thy grace subdue the worlde, and make it a bond slaue vntounto me,Roma. vii. which now so mightely reigneth, ruleth and triumpheth ouer me. The fleshe also with her subtile entisementes so wholelye occupieth me, y• I am all together fleshe, and al that nought is, and by thys meanes wholely without thy holye spyryte.Esaye. vii. Mathew. i. Luke. iiii, Iohn. i. Yet haste thou by the purenes of thy blessed flesh which thou haste vnfainedlye taken of the vndefiled mayde Mary thy mother by the wounderfull operacion of the holye ghooste, so slaine the raging lustes of our sinfull fleshe, that whēsoeuer we lamēt our cause vntounto the, confessīg our miserye and weakenes,Rom. i.i…. Gala. iii…. i. Timo. ii. Hebre i…. i. Ioh. iiii. Apoc. v. thou bothe arte able and also wylt thorow thy holy spirit quenche those ragynge lusts, mortifye those carnal affectes that so inordynatelye boil in oure inwarde mēbers, and make vsus truly spiritual. Thus seest thou (O mooste mercyful redemer) with how greate a multitude of enemeies I am beseiged & sete rownd about, which without ceassing seke my destruccyon, & hauehave all readye mooste tirantelye, spoyled me of al my garments, & most greuouslye wounded me, leauing me half dead,Luke. x. so that without thy helpe I must nedes perishe. Helpe therfore (O most swete sauiour) & delyuer me from these mine ennemies. Heale thou me O Lord & I shalbe heled. Saue thou me, and I shalbe saued,Iere. xvii. Ah good Iesu, my sins are great and infinite. I confes, but thy mercys ar much greater and more infinit. Mi wounds are many and greuous,Psal. ii. but thou art that most louing Samaritan full of pytye and compassyon, whiche by pourynge wine and oile into my wounds are suffycyentelye able to heale them,Luke. x. although they were tenne. M. mo. I am asinner but thou art a sauiour.Math. i. I am sycke but thou arte a Phisycyon. I am blynde,Math. i…. but thou arte the lyghte of the worlde. I am Satans prisonner, but thou art a redemer.Ioh i.viii I am dead in sinne, but thou art the resurreccion and lyfe.Gala. iii. I am hongry but thou arte the lyuynge breade.Ihon. xi. I am thyrstye, but thou arte the well of lyfe. I am poore,Iohn vi. Io…n. vii. Esa…. …v. Rom. x. Psa. xxiiii Iohn. xv. Iohn. x. but thou art the lord of al wealthe. I am a barren tree, but thou art that true and frutfull vine. I am the looste shepe, but yu art that good sheperd I am that ryotous sōne, but thou art that …entle father.Luke. xv. Eyhe. …i. Math. xvi i. Pet. ii. i. Timo ii. i. Iohn. ii. Roma. vi. Roma. vii. Ose xiii. and .xiii. i. Pet. …i. I am by nature the childe of wrathe, but thou arte by nature the sonne of the lyuyng God. I am by nature sinful man, but thou arte by nature man rightuous & innocēt. I am a daili offēder, but yu art a cōtinual mediator. I am a breker of ye lawe, but thou arte a fulfiller of the same. I hauehave lost the heauēly enheritaūce thorow sin, but thou haste recouered it bi …hi death, I hauehave wrought mine own dis…ruccion, but thou bi thy precyous bloud haste wrought vntounto me saluacion. Thus all be it (O most merciful sauiour) I find in my self nothinge but sin▪ death and damnacion, yet in the finde I grace, merci, fauour, reconciliaciō forgiuenes of synnes and euerlasting life. Take awai therfore yt is mine, which is al noughte, & gyue me that is thine, which is all good Thou art called Christ, annoynte me therefore wyth thy holye spyryte. Thou art called a Phisicion,Luke. ii. accordynge therefore to thy name heale me.Mat. ix. Thou art called the son of the liuing God,Math. xvi accordyng therfore to thy power deliuer me from the deuil, the world and the fleshe. Thou art called the resurreccion,Iohn. xi. lift me vp therfore from the damnable state, wherin I most miserablye lye. Thou art called the lyfe, quicken me vp therefore oute of thys deathe,Iohn. xv. wherewyth thorowe synne I am most greuouslye detayned. Thou arte called the day, lede me therfore from the vanites of this world▪ and from the filthye pleasures of the flesh vntounto heauē lye and spirituall thynges. Thou art called the truth, suffer me not therefore to walcke in the waye of erroure,Iohn. i. but to treade the pathe of truth in al my doynges. Thou art called the lyght▪ put awaye therefore from me the workes of darknes,…phe. v. that I may walk as the child of light in al goodnes, ryghteousnes, and truth. Thou art called a Sauiour, saue me therfore from my sinnes according to thy name. Thou art Called Alpha,Math. i. and Omega, yt is, both the beginninge & ende of al goodnes,…poc. xxii. beginne thou therfore a good life in me, & finish the same vntounto the glory of thi blessed name, So shall I receyuyng these benfits at thy merciful hand prayse the, and magnify thy blessed name For euermore. Amen,
A Confession of oure sinnes vntounto the holye ghooste.
O Moost blessed And holye spirite, Equall God wyth God the Father,Iohn. xiiii xv, … xvi. i. Iohn. v and God the Sonne, I myserable sinner cōfoūded in my consciēce, & almost fallen thorow the multytude of my synnes, into the hellike pit of desperacyon, am come at thys preasente before thy deuyne maiestye, moste humbly to confesse, and from the boto…e of my hearte to lamente all those my sinnes, and wickednesses whiche from my youthe hytherto I hauehave vniustly cōmitted, in word, deade, or thoughte against thy goodnes: most entirely besechynge the mercyefullye to forgeue me all those myne offences,Psal. ii. and abhominacions, and to make in me a cleane hearte, endued wyth a newe and ryghte spirite, whiche maye from hencefourth thorowe thy godlye gouernaunce so derecte me in all my doynges, that I may onlye attēpt such enterprises, as be agreable to thy blessed wyll, profytable to my neyghboure,ii. Cor. iii. and pleasaunt to my soule, O lord my God wher thou art, there is lybertye. But I thorow the craftes of Satan the lustes of the flesh, and the plesures of the world, am in most miserable captiuity, slauery, bondage and thraldome, wherby I euidently perceiue that thou dwellest not in me, neyther ye I am thy temple, nor yet hauehave that ghostlye fredome wherwyth all be endued that hauehave the dwellyng in them. O Lorde hauehave mercye on me, and take awaye from me that heauye bondage of the flesh, wherwith I am most gre uously enclo…ed, & geue me yt swete & free liberty of the spirite, which bithe is wrought in the hartes of the faithfull, that I being deliuered from ye power of mine enemies mai serue ye in holines and righteousnes al the dais of my life:Luke. i. again that thou makīg me a new creature by mortifying old Adam in me, and by geuīg me a good spirite, mayeste delyght in me as a father in hys sonne, and continually dwell in me as in thy holy temple. O blessed spirite forgiue me my synnes, puryfye my mynde wyth thy holy inspiracion, comfort my weake hert wt thy ioiful presence, make mery my troubled cōcience with true & spiritual myrth, lede me,Iohn. xvi. which hauehave so lōg erred into all godlye truthe, geue me the knowledge of al heauenly and spiritual things, euē so much as is necessary for my saluacyon, put on me the shield of faithe,Ephe. vi. that I maye be able to quenche the fyrye dartes of the deuyl, kyndle my hart with the fire of Christē louelove, make me a frutful oliue tre in the congregaciō of the my Lord God geue me pacience in trybulation,Psal. iii. take away from me vayne glorye in prosperytie, engraf in my heart continual humilitie, make be bold to confesse the truthe of thy Gospell before the tyrauntes of thys worlde, and gyue me grace to perseuer in ye same, vntounto the end. Replenysh my brest with thy heauenlye gyfts and spirituall treasures that the deuyll, the worlde, & the flesh, wyth al their worckes, pompes and vanities from me vtterli secluded and put a part, thou maiest continuallye dwelle in me by thy godlye inspiracio ns. and I in the thorowe true and vndoubted faith, doing that alway, yt is good & plesant in thy sight vntounto the glory of thi blessed name, which liuest & reignest with god the father and God the sonne in one Maiestye, power and glory, very god worlds wythout ende. Amen.
¶A prayer to be sayed afore Dynner.
O Lorde our heauenlye father, whyche by thy dearelye beloued sonne Iesu Christe haste commāded vsus to take no thought thought for our mete,Math. vi. Luke xii. P…al▪ ….v drinke and cloth, but hast promised to giuegive vsus all thyngs necessary for thys our pore and nedy life, if we first seke thi kingdome and the righteousnes therof: we most harteli thāk y•, that it hath pleased thi fatherly goodnes accordinge to thi promise to send vsus meat at this present for the cōfort of our miserable and hōgri bodis, desiring the to blesse these thy giftes & to geue vsus grace so to tast of thē, that we may euer remember the,…phe. vi. and neuer forgette our neadi brethren: but euē as thou art merciful and liberall to vsus by geuyng vsus these thy benefits, so likwise we again may shew merci & kindnes to our pore neighbours by distrybuting to thē part of these thy gifts, that both thei & we being refreshed wt thi giftes of thy liberality, may wt one mouth glorifi, & wt one mynd praise thi holi name for euer & euer
A thank…sgeuing after Dinner
FOr thys thy bountyefull goodnesse in feadynge vsus at thys tyme, we hartelye thancke the moost mercyful father: desirynge the to fede oure soules lykewyse with that meate,Ioh…. vi whiche perisheth not, but abideth into euerlastinge lyfe, that we beynge fedde both bodye and soule, at thy mercyefull hande, may do that alway, whiche is pleasant in thy godly sight: thorow Iesu Christ our lord, Amen.
¶A prayer to be sayde before supper.
O Heauenly father and mercyfull God, whyche opennynge thy hand, replenysheste all lyuynge cretures with thy blessyng,…al. …l…v Psal. clxvi. …i.ii.xxxiii. and geueste meate to the hōgry in due seasō, we knoledge our meat and drincke to be thy giftes prepared by thy fatherly prouydence to be receyued of vsus for the comfort of our bodyes, wyth thanckes geuinge: we moost humblye beseche the to blesse vsus and our fode, and to geue vsus …race so tovse these thi benifites, that we may be thankeful to the, and liberall to oure pore neighbours thorow Iesu Christe oure Lord▪ Amen.
A thankesgeuyng after supper.
VUe render vntounto the (mooste mercifull father) most hartye thanckes for these thy giftes which thou so liberally haste geuē vsus in this our supper, most entirely besechyng the to fyl our minds also wyth thy heauenly and spiritual benefits, that we maye truly knowe the, beleue in the louelove the, serue the, and leade a lyfe worthy of this thy kindnes, that thou finding vsus not vnthanckful, mayste go forthe dailye more and more to encrease thy giftes in vsus, and at ye last take vsus vntounto the,Iacob. … whiche arte the fountayne of all goodnes and heade sprynge of all wealthe, and place vsus in thy ioyfull kingedome among the holy aungels & blessed saints, wher thou with thy onelye begotten sonne and the holy gost liuest & reignest onetrue and euer lasting God in al honour and glorye worldes without ende. Amen.
A prayer for the kynge.
O Almyghtye God kyng of kinges and Lord of Lords,i. Timo vi A…oc. xvii. and xix. Deu xvii. Iosu. i. i. Timo. ii Tit iii. i. Pet ii. Sapi. vi. Sapi. ix. whiche by thy deuyne ordynance hast appoynted temporall rulers to gouerne thy people accordyng to equitie and iustice, and to lyue amonge theym as a louynge father among hys naturall children vntounto the auancement of the good and punyshemente of the euyll, we most hūbli besech ye fauorably to behold Edward thi seruāt oure king & gouernor, & to breath into his hert thorow thi holi spirit, that wisdō, that is euer aboute ye trone thy Maiestye, wherby he maye be prouoked, moued and styrred, too louelove-fear and serue the, to seke thy glory, to banysh Idolatrye, supersticion and hipocrisye oute of this hys realme, and vnfaynedlye to auaunce thy holye and pure relygyon amonge vsus his subiectes vntounto the example of other forren nacyons. O Lord defend him, fromhis enemis, sēd him lōg & prosperous life amōg vsus, & giuegive him grace not only in his own persō godly & iustlie to rule, but also to appoint such magistrats, vnderunder him, as may be likewise affected both toward thy holye word & toward the common wele yt we his subiects liuīg vnderunder his dominiō in al godlynes, peace & wealth, may pas the time of this our short pilgrimage in thy fear, & seruice, vntounto ye glori of thy blessed name, whyche alone is worthy all honour for euer and euer. Amen.
A prayer for the Kynges Councell.
Prouer. ii.IT is written (o most mighti and euerlastyng king) that wher manye are that giuegive good councell, there goeth it well wyth the common people, there are all thinges conserued in a goodly and semely order, ther doth the publike weale floryshe with the aboundaunce of al good thinges: it may please the therefore,Proue. xii. O Lorde, whiche haste the hartes of al rulers in thi hand and directest their councels vntounto what ende it is thy good pleasure, mercyfully to assist all those whiche are of the kinges councel, and to geue them thy holy spiryte to be theyr presydente, ruler and gouernoure, that in all theyr assembles, they maye euer sette before theyr eyes thy mooste hyghe and Pryncelyke Maiestye, the feare of thy name, the accomplyshment of thy commaūdment, and alway remēber that they are seruaunts appoynted for the welth and comodity of thy people, that what so euer they attempt priuatlye or openly, may turne vntounto the glory of thy blessed name vntounto ye setting forthe of thy holy worde, vntounto the auauncement of y• kynges honour, vntounto the profytte of the Comons, vntounto the destrucciō of vice, and vntounto the commendacion of vertue. Geue thē grace (o mooste mercyful father) so wyth one minde to consent in al godly and righteous thinges, that they rulyng righteously, and we liuīg obediently, may al together with quiet harts & fre consents praise and magnify the our Lord God for euer and euer. Amen.
¶A prayer for the iudges.
O God thou mooste righteous iudge, whych commaundest by thy holy worde such to be chosen iudges ouer thy people as be of approued cōuersacion,Deut. i. Exo. xviii. wyse, & learned in thi holy lawes, & feare the their lorde God, and suche as bothe are true them selfes, & also louelove truth, and hate couetousnes we besech y• to send vsus such Iudges as thy sacred scriptures doo paint, and set forthe vntounto vsus, & so to rule theyr harts wyth thy holy spirite, that in theyr iudgements they admit no false accusacions, hauehave no respect of personnes, nether to be desirus of gifts,Exod. xxiii. Deut. xvi. Ecc…. x. Psal. xv. which make wise mē blynd and corrupt the causes of the ryghteouse, nor yet geue sentēce with ye vngodly for bribes, and so condemne ye innocēt and shed righteous bloud, but yt they hauing thy fere alway before theyr iyes, and knoweyng that they execute ye iudgment not of man,ii. par. xvi. but of the theyr lord God may here īdifferētly all matters, iudge according vntounto equity and iustice, deliuer the oppressed from the power of the violent,Esay. i. Ier. xxi. and .xxii. zacha. vii. Psa. cxxxi. Sapi. i.vi. Psalm, ii▪ be fauorabli to the straunger, defend the fatherles & widow, plead ye cause of the righteous, helpe the pore, auaunce vertue, suppres vice, and in al both theyr wordes & workes so behaue them selfs, as though they shuld streightwayes appere before ye righteous throne of thy maiesty, and render accompts of theyr doings. Graūt this o moste merciful father for thy deare sōs sake Iesu Christ our lord. Amen
¶A general praier for all Magistrates.
O Lord, whych art that most high power, & of whom all power vntounto this end is ordeined euen that ye publique weale shuld be conserued, Idolatrye banyshed, true religyon mainteyned, good order kept, vertue auaūced, & vice punyshed, giuegive, we besech the, vntounto all ciuile Magistrates, head rulers and commō officers thy holy spirit, which may so rule them in al their doings, that eueryevery one of them according to their vocacion: may trulye and faythfullye do that, whyche appertayneth vntounto their office.Psal. i. Deut, xvii. Iosue. i. P…a…m. i…. Sapi. i.vi.iiii. re. xxii. and .xxiii. Kyndle in theyr mindes a feruent desyre of redynge thy holye lawe both day and nyghte, that they maye do al thynges accordynge vntounto that. Graue in theyr heartes the true knowledge of the and of thi sōne Iesu christ, and an whole entent too honoure and serue the accordynge to thy blessed worde al the dayes of theyr lyfe. Make thē vnfained fauorers of thy holye gospel,Esay. x…ix. and louing nurses of thi true prechers. Geue them grace to banyshe out of theyr Realmes and countryes all Idolatrye,Deut. xiii. supersticion, hipocrisy,iii. re. xv.iiii. Regu. xviii. ii. pa. xvii. fayned religion fals worshipping, with al the preceptes, ordinaunces and inuencions of menne that fight with thi blessed word. Make them not only fauourers, louers and promoters of thy holye Gospel, but also folowers, lyuers & practisers of the same vntounto the example of all theyr subiectes. Worcke in their herts, o Lord, such a louelove toward the commōweale, that their own pryuate commodity sette aparte, they maye employ all their endeuours to auaunce, beautyfye, enrych & make wealthy their realm and country. Make them gentle frendly, louinge and beneficiall to their inferiours. Make them pytyfull vntounto the myserable,Deu. xvii. Prouer. xx. and liberal vntounto the pore. Geue them that affeccion toward other, that they hauehave towarde them selfes.Ecc. xxiiii. Endue them with such louing fauoure vntounto their subiectes, that they oppres thē not with to much and vniust exaccions. Expel al tirannye oute of theyr hertes,Esaye i. I…e…. xxi. …nd .xxii. …acha. vii. Psal. lxxxi. and make them righteous and mercifull. Graunt that they maye rule iustly, seke iudgment, deliuer the oppressed, defende the fatherles▪ comfort the widow, fauour good letters, maynteyne scoles, norish learned menne, promote such as be godly and vertuous, and with oute anye vngodlye auauncinge of them selfes,Ecle. xxxii. Deut, xvii. lyue among theyr people, as a louyng father amōg his natural children, seking their quiet and wealth. Fynallye gyue them grace so to behaue thē selfs all the tyme of theyr rule and gouernement, that thei may appere bothe before the and in the l yght of all good menne worthy Offycers in a common weale, and ministers mete to occupye the place in temporal regiment of the our Lord God that moste hyghe and worthy Magistrate, which lyuest and reignest wyth thy only begotten sonne and the holy ghost one true and euerlastynge God, in al honoure and glorye worlds with out ende. Amen.