Sermons Upon all the Sunday Gospels, Prayer 1 – Prayer 3
A Prayer to be sayde before the Sermon.
FOR AS MVCHE AS we mooste louynge Lorde and sweete Sauioure CHRIST IESV) are here assembled,Math. 12. Iohn. 6. and gathered together in thy holye, blessed, and glorious name, to heare the healthfulle woordes of Euerlastynge Lyfe, conteyned in thy pure and lyuely Gospell, whych is the power of God vntounto saluation, to eueryevery one that beleueth, whiche also is able thorow the workyng of the holy Spirite to saue our soules:Rom. 1. Iac. 1. we with one heart and with one mynde approche at this present vntounto the gracious throne of thy diuine maiestie, moste humbly besechyng thee,Psal. 51. Iohn. 3. 1. Cor. 2. Ephe. 2.5 Tit. 3. Luc. 24. Iohn. 16. Math. 9. that forasmuche as we of our selues and of our owne nature are altogether corrupte, ignoraunt, blynde, and vtterly estranged from the felyng and perceauynge of thy diuine mysteries (suche is our ignorance and blyndnesse thorow olde Adam) it may please thee of thy mercyfull goodnesse by thy holy and blessed spirite, to open our senses, to leade vsus into all truthe, to purifie our heartes, and to make oure myndes mete vessels to receaue the swete wyne of thy most swete and glorious Gospell.
O open thou our eyes, that we may see the wondrous thinges of thy lawe.Psal. 119. Hyde not thy commaundementes frome vsus, but teache vsus thy statutes, and make vsus to vnderstand the way of thy commaundementes, that we may talke of thy meruailous workes. Teache vsus O Lord, the way of thy statutes, and make vsus to go in the pathe of thy commandementes. Encline our heartes vntounto thy testimonies: quicken vsus in thy wayes, and take not the worde of truthe oute of our mouthe. O geue vsus vnderstandyng acordyng to thy word, that we may learne thy commandementes, and be occupied in thy lawes. Let oure heartes be sounde in thy statutes, that we be neuer ashamed. O shewe the lyght of thy countenance vponupon vsus thy seruantes: teache vsus thy testimonies: and so order oure steppes in thy worde, that no wickednes may hauehave dominion ouer vsus. Sanctifie vsus thorowe thy truthe:Iohn. 1…. for thy woorde is the truthe.
Geue to me thy Minister and stewarde of the mysteries of God, a well learned tongue, that I may confort them whiche are troubled,1. Cor. 4. Esa. 50. Esa. 61. yea and that in due season, that I may shew good tydynges vntounto the poore, that I maye bynde vp the wounded heartes, that I may preache deliueraunce to the captiues, and open the prison to them that are bound, that I may make ioyfull all them that are in heauynesse, and thorowe thy worde geue to them that mourne, beaultie in stede of ashes, ioyefull oyntment for syghyng,Ezech. 34. and pleasant rayement for an heauye mynde: that I may hold vp the weake, that I maye heale the sycke, that I may bynd together the broken,Esa. 61. that I may bryng agayne the outcastes, and seke vp them that are loste, so that thys people may be called trees of righteousnesse, and a plantynge of the Lorde for hym to reioyce in. O geue me that mouthe, that spirite, that wisedome,Luc. 21. Act. 6. Ps…l. 68. agaynst the whyche all the aduersaries of thy truthe shall not be able to speake, nor resyst. Geue to me that preache, thy worde with great power, that I may be able to exhort by wholsome doctrine, and to improue them, that speake agaynst it.Tit. 1.
Geue me grace also, O Lorde, that I may not only be the salt of the earth, but also the lyghte of the worlde,Math. 5. namely that I may not onelyonly truly and faithfully, sincerely and purely,Math. …3. reuerently and godly bryng foorthe oute of the treasure house of thy holy worde thynges newe and olde, that is to say, the doctrine bothe of the olde and newe testamente, euen the lawe and the Gospell, but also that in my lyfe and maners I may be an ensample to the faithfull in worde, in conuersation, in louelove, in spirite, in fayth, in puritie,2. Timoth. 2. and in all pointes shew my selfe laudable vntounto God, a workeman that nedeth not to be ashamed, distributynge the woorde of truthe iustly, so that I may be to the flocke an ensample of good workes in honestie and grauitie, that he whyche withstandeth, maye be ashamed,Tit. …. hauyng no euyll thyng to speake of me, lest by any meanes it come to passe, that when I hauehave preached to other,1. Cor. 9. I my selfe should be a cast away, and so become a slaunder to the good doctrine that I professe and teache.
Geue also to the people, that are here gathered together to heare the worde of their saluation, a good spirite, that (al cloudes of ignorancie brought in by olde Adam vtterly dispelled & driuen away) they may learne to knowe thee to be theyr alone Sauiour: which knowledge is perfect righteousnesse,Sap. 15. Iohn. 17. and the roote of immortalitie, yea it is euerlastyng lyfe: and without the whyche knowledge, we all are but as moyles and horses, voyde of all goodnes and grace, walkyng in the vanities of our owne imaginations, vtterly estranged from God and all godlynesse. O moste louynge Lorde, open theyr heartes, that they may vnderstand thorough the preachyng of the word, thy holy and blessed wyll, and always doo that, not whiche carnall reason, fleshly imagination, blynd zeale, good intent, and humayne wysedome iudgeth to be good and holy, but that only, whiche thou in thy blessed lawe commaundest to be doone, all strange woorshippynges vtterly excluded and banyshed. O swete sauiour,Math. 13. make them that good earth, which receuing the healthfull sede of thy moste wholsom worde, may bryng forth fruite plentuously: some an hundred folde, some sixty folde, some thirty folde.Phil. 1. Tit. 1. Iac. 1. Geue theym grace so to lyue; and so to behaue them selues in all poyntes, as it becommeth them, that embrace thy Gospell. Lette theym not bee of the number of those, whyche wyth theyr mouth professe God, and with their deedes denye hym, but make them not onelyonly diligente hearers of thy woorde, but also feruent and earnest doers of the same.Math. 25. Let them not be lyke the fyue foolishe virgins, whiche hadde lampes and no oyle, but rather so woorke in theym by thy holy spirite, that they maye worthyly be resembled to the fyue wyse virgins, whyche had not onelyonly lampes, but also oyle in their lampes, that is to saye, they dyd not onelyonly beare the name of Chrystians, but theyr conuersation also was garnyshed wyth woorkes meete and seemely for Christians. Make them suche as no man can iustely complayne on, euen the vnfayned sonnes of God without rebuke,Phil. 2. shynynge as greate lyghtes in the worlde, euen in the myddes of a croked and peruerse nation; holdyng faste the woorde of lyfe, that they, whyche backebyte them as euyll doers, seynge theyr good workes;1. Pet. 2. may cease to speake euyll, and glorifie thee our Lord God in the day of visitation.
Fynally, graunt bothe to me the Preacher, and to these the hearers, and to so manye as vnfaynedly professe thy blessed name, grace and strength from aboue, that we maye soo handle and heare thy woorde,Iac. 1. that we beynge no forgetfull hearers, but diligent doers of the same, may thorowe Faithe in thee, obteyne that blessyng, whyche thou haste promysed to all theym that heare the worde of God,Luc. 11. and kepe it. Grant thys O moste louyng lorde and swete Sauiour for thy greate mercy and goodnes sake. Amen.
A shorter prayer before the Sermon.
O Almyghty God and moste mercyfull Father, the Authour and geuer of all wysedome, whych at the intercession of thy welbeloued sonne,Eccle. …. Iac. 1. Iohn. 14. Luc. 24. Act. 1.2. Iesus Christ our Lorde and Sauiour diddest sende downe accordyng to thy promyse, thy holy spirit to lyghten the heartes and senses of the apostles, before they could syncerely vnderstande the hygh mysteries of thy diuine wyll: we moste humbly beseche thee, that all cloudes of ignorancie and darknes dispelled and put away, we beyng here gathered together in thy name, may thorow the same thy spirite, enioye the lyghte of thy eternall veritie, and so reuerentely preache and mekely heare thy moste blessed worde at this present, that we vnderstandynge the same, and beyng enflamed with the louelove therof, may in all poyntes fashion oure lyfe, accordyng to thy holy wyll, and seriously prouide, that the light of our actes and maners maye so shyne before men, that they seyng our good workes,Math. 5. may glorifye thee our Father, which arte in heauen: to whom wyth thy derely beloued sonne Iesus Christe and the holy ghost three distinct persones in deitie, and yet one very true and perfect God in essence, bee all honoure, prayse and glory for euermore. Amen.
A thankes geuynge after the Sermon.
PRayse, honour, and glorye be vntounto thee (O heauenlye Father) whiche at this tyme haste fedde vsus wyth meate, not that perysheth,Iohn. 6. but that abydeth vntounto euerlastynge life. Graunt we moste humbly besech thee, that we hauynge the knowlege of thy word, may also practise the same in our conuersatiō that we bothe entierly louyng and vnfaynedly lyuyng, bothe heartily fauoryng and earnestly folowyng, both couragiously professynge and diligentely practisyng thy holy and heauenly worde maye after this mortall lyfe, lyue with thee in that lyfe, whyche is immortall: thorowe IESVS CHRIST our Lorde. Amen.
Geue the glorie to God alone.