The Flower of Godly Prayers, Prayer 23 – Prayer 30
A prayer for the vnmaryed,
ALbeit most mercifull father, mariage is honorable amōg all personnes and the bed vndefiled,Hebr. xiii. yet for as muche as some tho…owe thyne exceadynge & aboue natural gift (for no man can hue chast,Sapi. viii. except y• geue hī ye gift) lyue free fro… the swete yocke of m… trimony, some agayne for the tē dernes of age are not apt for holy wedlock: we most hertely p…aie the, that they whyche hauehave receyued of the, the gift of continency, may so traine theyr lyfe in godlie exercises, that thou mayeste goo forthe to contynue and encrease that thy gyfte in theym,i. Cor. vii. that they may the more frely and quyetlye serue the, and care for those thinges that perteine vntounto thy glory: Again, that the other passynge ouer the tyme of theyr yong age in thy feare, in godly trauailes, and vertuous labours, may exchue al euyl, wycked, riotous, and wāton companye, that when they shall take on them the holie and honorable order of blessed wedlocke, they may brynge with them … and vndefyled bodyes, & so lyue in that godly state of matrimony auoydinge al fornicacion, whoredome, and vnclennes all distenciō, strife & debate that thou maiest blesse them,…sa. cxviii. & their mariage▪ prosper theyr godly trauels, send them good successe in al their doynges, and make them ioyful parentes in seynge theyr chylde as chyldren accordynge to thy holye promyse, whiche liuest & reigne… very God worlde wythoute ende. AMEN.
A prayer for them that be maried.
AMonge other thy creatures (O euerlastinge God) when thou hadst made man accordynge to thine owne similytude,Gene. i.v. lykenes & image,Gene. ii. thou saydest: it is not good that mā be alone: let vsus make hym a healper like vntounto him selfe, and shortlye after thou formedst a woman of the mans rib, and broughtest her vntounto Adam, whych saide: Thys nowe is bone of my bones, and fleshe of my fleshe. She shall be called a woman, for she is taken of man.… Wherfore mā shal forsake father and mother, and cleaue vntounto hys wyfe, and they shall be, ii, in one flesh, And thou blessing them gauest them commaundement,Gene. ii. saying: En…rese & multiply, & fulfyll the earth. Here learne we (o heauenly father) that thou art the author of mariage, and that so many as mary in thy feare, are coupled together of the,Math. xix. blessed and defended, and that thou hast ioyned them together to thys ende, that thei should encrese the earth and bryng forth sōs & daughters vntounto the glorie of thy name. Thy holy apostle also commaūdeth,i, Cor. vii. yt to auoyde fornicacion eueryevery man shuld hauehave his owne wife & eueryevery woman her owne husband, so that if they cā not liue single they shuld mary, for it is better to mary then to burne. Here learne we againe (O heauenly father) that thou hast ordeyned matrimonye to be as alue vntounto the infirmytye and weakenes of oure flesh and haste geuen it as a present remedy vntounto vsus agaynste the raginge lustes of olde Adam, that we takynge vponupon vsus the holye order of Matrimony, and by this means exchuing whoredome and al vnclennes,…uke▪ …. might serue the in holynes and purenes all the dayes of our life. We therfore considering how greuous an offence it is before thy diuine Maiesty for suche as be maryed dissolutely to lyue, and contrary vntounto theyr professyon to abuse them selfs, most hertelye praye the, fauourably to beholde all such as hauehave taken vponupon them the yocke of honorable wedlocke, & to geue thē grace to order theyr lyfe accordinge to thy holy word. Graunt (O mercyfull Lord) that the maried men be not bitter, that is,Colos. ii…. churlishe and vnkynde vntounto their wiues but louelove them as thy dearly beloued sōne Christ loued the faythfull congregacion,Eph…. …. prouyde for them, defend them, and cherishe them euen as they cherysh theyr owne bodyes,i. Pete. iii. agayne, dwell wyth theim according to knowledge, geuynge honoure vntounto the wyfe as vntounto the weaker vessel, and as vntounto them that are heyres also of the grace of lyfe, that eueryevery one of them auoydyng fornicacion and knowing howe to kepe his vessel in holynesse and honoure,i. Tess. iiii. and not in the lust of concupilence, as do the heathen that know not God, mai by theyr godly conuersaciō shew thē selues to hauehave taken vpō thē the holi order of Matrimony not at the prouocacion of ye flesh, bu… thorow the mocion of thy holy spirite. Graunte also yt the wiues b… obedient and submit them selfs vntounto their own husbandes,Ephe. v. in all honest & godly thinges,L…k…. iii, that they which beleue not the worde, may wythout the word be won by the conuersaciō of their wiues while thei behold their pure conuersacion coupled with ferae.1. Peter. iii …. Timo. ii.GiueGive thē grace also to aray them s…lfes i… comely apparel,i. Peter. iii with shamefastenes and descrete behaue ou…, not with broyded hea…e, other gold, or pearles or costly araye, but wyth such as becommeth weme… that professe the worshippinge of God thorow good workes▪ that the hid mā of the hert be vncorrupt, with a meke & quiet spirit, which spir…t is before God a thynge much set by. Againe, graunt, O Lord, that both the husbandes and the wyues may so walk in thy feare and in thy holy lawe, that thou maiste hauehave a plesure in them, blesse thē prospere theyr enterpryses, make them frutfull & ioyful parentes. Finally, the children that thou sē dest thē, giuegive thē grace so to bring vpin thy nourter & doctryne,Ephe. vi, that they liuing together many years doth ioyfully & quietly maye with one voice & with one mind gloryfy thi blessed name for euer. amē.
A prayer for women with childe.
THou, O Lord, art wonderful in al thy workes, and whatso euer thy good plesure is that doest thou easly bryng to pas,Psa. cxv. nether is ani thing impossible with the, that thou wylte hauehave done.Mathe. xix. Mark. x.And albeit thys thine almyghty-power sheweth it self abundantlye in al thi workes,Luke. xviii yet in the cō ce…nyng forming and bryngyng forthe of m…n, it shineth no…te e…ydentlye. At the begynnynge o heauenly father, when thou m… deste manne and woman, thou co…maundest them to encrease, multiply and replenish the earth. If thorow ye subt…le entisemēte… of Satā,Ge…. i.ix. they had not trāsgressed thy cōmaūdement by eatyng the forbyddē fruite, the woman, whom thou haste appoyncted the organ,…. iii. i. Tim. ii. instrument, & vessel to cō ceiue, norishe & bringe forth man thorow thy wond…rful workmā shippe, had without any la…oure, paine or trauayle brought forthe her fruite. But that whych… thy goodnesse made easye, syn & disobedience hath made hard, painful, daūgerous, & if thy helpe wer not, impossible to be broughte to passe:Gen. iii. so that now al womē bring forth their children in great sorowes, paines & troubles.Psa. xlviii. Notwithstanding y• shewest thi selfe vntounto thi creatures a father of mercy,Ecl. xlvii… ▪ & God of all consolacion. For that which thorow their own inperfeccion & fiblenesse thei are not able of them selfes to bringe to passe,…saye xiii. Ier. vi.xxx. E…ech. …xx.thou thorow thyne vnspeakable power makest easye in thē,Ose. xiii. & bringeste vntounto a fortunate ende. We therfore beinge fully perswaded of thy bente and redy goodnesse,Miche. i ii. Iohn. xvi.of thy present helpe, of thy swete co…fort in al miseryes and necessities, knowyng also by the testimonies of thy holy woorde howe greatand intollerable the paines of women are ye trauail of childe, if thorow thy tēder mercies they be not mitigated and eased, most humbly pray y• for Iesu Christes sake thy sonne and our lord, that thy louyng kyndne…se may make that easye & tollerable, which sin hath made hard and paynefull. Ease▪ o lord yu paines, which thou moste ryghteouslye haste put vponupon al women for the syn and dysobedience of our graund mother Eue,Genesi. iii. in whom al we hauehave sinned, and geue vntounto al such as hauehave cō ceiued & be wyth chylde, strength to brynge forth that, whiche thou wōderfully hast wrought in thē. Be present with thē in their trouble, helpe them and deliuer thē. Let thy power be shewed no lesse in the safe bringing forth, thē in the wonderful fashioning of the child, ye that whiche ye haste begun in them, mai come vntounto good successe. Make them glad & ioyfull mothers, yt they thorow thy goodnesse being safely delyuered, and restored to theyr old strenghthes, maye lyue and prayse thy blessed name for euer. Amen.
¶ A thankesgeuynge vntounto God for theyr delyueraunce.
AMong other thy benefytes, yea and those innumerable, which thou dayly bestowest vpō vsus thi nedy & pore creatures, this is not the least, o most merciful father, that thou of thi tender goodnes doest vouchsafe for the conseruacion of mākynde to preserue the women that are wyth child, and to geue thē safe deliueraunce of theyr burden, by thys meanes makyng them glad and wyfull mothers. For this thy benefyt and good wyl towarde vsus, we so hartely thanke the, as hert canne thynke, besechinge the to worke suche thākefulnesse in the harte… of al mothers by thy holy spyryte, that they beynge not vnmindeful of this high benefyt of theyr safe deliueraunce, wrought only by the the sauiour of al man kynde, maye shewe them selfes thankefull vntounto the for this thy goodnesse▪ and neuer forget that thy presēt helpe and moste swete comforte which thou mercyfully shewedst vponupon thē in theyr great trauayles,Psalme, l. Pro. xviii.labours and paynes whē thei fled vntounto thy holy name for succour, as vntounto a strōge bulwarke and holy defēce. Go forth, o Lorde,Psa. cxiiii. to make them the ioyful mothers of many childrē. Endue them with lōge life,Ps. cxxviii that thei may se then childres children. And the chyldren that thou geueste vntounto thē,Luke. i, ii. make thou as in age, so likewise in wisedome & in the abundaunce of thy holye spirite to encrease, that they may hauehave fauor bothe with the, and with all good men, vntounto the glorye of thy moste blessed name. Amen.
A prayer for Fathers and Mothers.
FOR asmuche O heauenlye father,Ps…. xviii. as thou haste dealte wyth the chyldren of menne more nobly then with brute beastes and with other thi creatures by geuing them not only, an amiable body▪ but also a mynde, whiche is immortall and neuer shall dy,Gene. i. Sapi. ii. and for the garnyshyng of the same, that it mai be made like vntounto the similitude, like nes and Image of the, hast in thy holy law commaūded all fathers and mothers,Deu. iiii.xi Eccle vii.… xxx.xl.ii. Ephe. vi. Tit▪ ii. whome thou haste blessed with the gifte of chyldren to take diligēt care for the vertuous bringyng vp of theyr sōnes & doughters, that they maye learne euen from theyr very cradels to know the theyr Lorde God, to beleue in the, to feare and louelove thee, to call vponupon thi blessed name, to be thākfull vntounto the, and to walke in thy holye commaundementes al the daies of their life: We knowing how frowarde euil disposed▪ and vntoward the harte,Gene. viii. wyt and disposicion of manne is euen frome his very youth, if it be not restrained with the byt of thy most blessed lawe, hertely pray the to geue al fathers and mothers grace after the example of Abraham,Gene. xviii. ii. Reg. ii. Tob. i.…iii. i. Math. ii. Dani. …iii. Actes. xxi. ii. Tim iii. Dauid, Tobi, Mathathias, the parē tes of Susan, Philip the Euāgelist, and suche other, to brynge vp theyr chyldren, euen frō theyr very infāci, in thi feare, in thi nourture, and in the knowledge of thy most healthful word, that they sekyng no lesse the garnishinge of their childrēs myndes with learning & vertue, thē the preseruīg of their bodies with fode and raiment, may shew them selues profitable members of the chrysten publique weale, and faythful seruauntes to the their Lorde God, whyche alone art worthye all honoure, and glorye. Amen.
A prayer for children.
AS thou (O mercyful father) hast geuen commaundemēt vntounto al fathers▪ & mothers to br…nge vp theyr children in thy feare, nourtour and doctryne▪ so likewyse thy good pleasure is, yt children shuld honor & reuerence their parentes,E…odu. ix. Deute. v. Mathe. xix. Mar x. E…he. …i. Collo. iii. Eccl iii.vi… Tobi. iiii. Eccle. iii. Proue. xix. Proue. xxx. Deu. xxvii. diligentlye geue ear vntounto their v…rtuous enstruccions, and faythfully obey them. And as thou hast promised helth, honour, glory, rych…s, long life, & all that good is vntounto thē that honour, reuerence, and hūbly obeye their fathers & mothers, so haste thou threatned vnt o dysobedyēt chyldren, ignominie, euyll fame, contēpt, shame, dishonour pouertie, sickenes, short life, and suche other plagues. Yea in thy holye lawe thou doest not onelye pronounce them accurssed that dyshonor theyr fathers & mothers, but thou also commaundest, that if anye chylde be stubberne & disobediēt and wil not heare, but rather despise the commaundemēt of his father and mother▪ Deute. xxi.ye same shuld be stoned vntounto death without mercy, so greatly doste thou abhorre disobediēce and rebelliō agaynst all persons, but specially agaynst parentes.Deute. iiii. Heb. xiii. We therefore hartely wishyng, that the plages of thy fearce wrathe (for thou O God art a consum…ng fyre) maye be far from vsus▪ most hūbly besech the to graue in ye harts of all children of what…oeuer age kynd, estat or degre thei be true honour, harti reuerēce▪ and vnfained obedyence toward theyr p…rentes. GiueGive them grace, o good Lorde, that as they profes thi son Christ in name, so they may truly represent his maners in their life and conuersacion,Luke. ii. whiche willinglye was obediēt vntounto his mother mary and vntounto her husband Ioseph geuyng example to al children of the like subieccion and obedyēce tow…rd theyr parents. Engraffe in them such a louelove toward theyr fathers & mothers, that they mai both reuerēce thē with outwarde honour, and also for their power helpe them, socoure thē, prouyde for them, comfort anb cherish thē in their nede, euē as their parēts nourished and comforted thē in their infancy & tender age.Esay. xliii. But aboue all thynges geue thē grace truly to honour the, whyche art ye heauenly father, yea oure father & our redemer, whiche hast made vsus, & dayly cherishest vsus euen as a father or mother cherishe their mooste deare and naturall chyldren. So shall …t come to passe,Esaye. xlix. that they faythfully honourynge the, shal also in order, hartely honour and vnfainedly obey theyr carnal parētes in thi feare, vntounto y• glory of thy most blessed name, which is most worthi to be honored worldes without ende. Amē.
A prayer for Masters.
ALthoughe (O Christe thou most hyghest Lorde) al power both in heuen and in erth,M…t xxviii be geuē vntounto the of thy heauenly father, and albeit thou hast geuē vsus a commaundement, that wee shuld not desire to be called master,Mat. xxiii. for we hauehave but one mayster, whyche yu art, & al we are brethren hauing one father which is in heauen, yet forasmuch as thou accordyng to thy blessed will hast appoīted some superiours, some inferioures, some masters, some seruaunts, some to commaunde some to obey, some to rule, some to searue, and by thys meanes suche as be in superiorytye hauehave obteyned by thy holye worde, the name of maisters, or Lordes, because they hauehave seruauntes vnderunder them, and rule vnderunder the accordynge to thy good pleasure, & godlie appointment, whyche art the mooste supreame power, and mooste excellente maiesty Kinge of kinges, and Lord of Lordes,i. Timo. vi. Apoc. …vii. and .xix. to whom all thinges both in heauen, and in earth, and vnderunder the earthe do bowe their knees, and geue reuerēce, & honoure,Philip. ii. whose praise also eueryevery nacion and language doth auance and set forth, cōfessing that thou art the Lorde Iesu Christe, vntounto the glorye of God the father: We moste humblye praye thee, whyche arte the greatest master, and moste hyghest Lorde, to sende thy holye spiryte vppon all suche as are called masters here in earthe, and hauehave superioritie ouer other, that they remembrynge them selues to be thy seruaunts,Ephesi. vi. Collo. iiii. and that thei also hauehave a master in heauē, with whō ther is no respect of persons may put awaye all threatninges, al cruelty, al vnrightousnes, and do that vntounto their seruaūts, whiche is iust & equall.Eccle. vii. Graunte that they entreate not euyll theyr seruauntes whiche worke truly, nor the hyreling that is faithful vntounto thē.Eccle. iiii. Eccle. vii. Graūt that they be not as lions in theyr houses, destroyinge their houshold folks, and oppressing such as are vnderunder them, but rather that they cherysh and louelove their faithfull & discrete seruaū tes, euen as their owne soul, and by no meanes suffer thē to be vnrewarded for their paines takīg, nor yet at the laste to be driuen to beggary for their true seruice doyng, but that they liberally rewarding them according to their desertes, may shew thē selues to be thy true seruaūtes, which leauest no mā vnrewarded,Math. xvi. but geuest to eueri mā according to his dedes,Roma. ii. to them that do wel, and continue in wel doing, glory, honour, peace immortality, and euerlastīg life, to them that do euill, and cōtinue in the same, indignacion, wrath, displesure, trouble, sorow, and eternal damnaciō. Graūt therfore (O Lorde) that all temporall masters may in all their doyngs resemble the, which art the heauēly and euerlasting master, and so be hauehave thē selfs both toward theyr seruaūts and all other accordnig to thy blessed wyl, that at the laste daye they maye be founde in the nūber of thē to whom thou shalt say: Come ye blessed of mi father possesse the kingdom which was prepared for you from the beginninge of the world:Math. xxv. Lord let it so come to passe. Amen.
A prayer for seruauntes.
O Christ my lord and sauiour, which being the son of the liuing God, yea God him self from euerlastynge, didst not disdaine at the wil of thine heuenly father to make thy selfe of no reputation, to become man, to take vponupon the the shape of a seruaunt, & to obey thi fathers commaūdement to the deathe,Philip. ii. yea euen the death of ye crosse for our saluaciō, refusīg no seruice, no trauail, no labour, no payne, yt mighte make vntounto the comforte of mankynde: we mooste humbly beseche the to geue al seruaūts grace to practise thy humility and obedyence, that as thou moost wyllyngly diddest serue, and obey thy heauenly fathers good plesure, so they in like manner may wyth moste hartye affecciō serue & obey their bodely masters in al thynges,Ephesi. vi. that fight not wyth thy blessed word, not wt eye seruice as men pleasers, but in singlenes of hearte, fearynge God, that what so euer they doo,Coloss. iiii. they may do it hartely euē as vntounto the lord & not vntounto men, forasmuche as they are sure, that they shal receiue the reward of the heuenly enherytaunc… of the o lord Christ, whō also they serue, while trulye and faithfullye they serue theyr bodely masters. Graūt that so manye as are vnderunder the yoke, may count theyr masters worthy of all honoure, that the name of god & his doctrine be not euil spokē of, and obey thē with all feare,Tit ii. not onli if they be good and courteous,i. Peter. ii. but also though thei be froward, & please thē in al thīgs, not answering thē again,Tit. ii. nor pickīg ought from thē, but shew al good faythfulnesse, that in all thynges they maye do worshyppe vntounto the doctrine of the our god and saueout, to whome with the holy gost be al honoure▪ prayse and glorye, for euer. Amen.