sort execute their office, that thy religion may be purely maintained, manners reformed, and sin punished, according to the precise rule of thy holy word. And for that we be all members of the mystical body of Jesus Christ, we make our requests unto thee (O heavenly Father) for all such as are afflicted with any kind of cross or tribulation, as war, plague, famine, sickness, poverty, imprisonment, persecution, banishment, or any other kind of thy rods, whether it be calamity of body, or vexation of mind: that it would please thee to give them patience and constancy, till thou send them full deliverance of all their troubles. Root out from hence, O Lord, all ravening wolves, which to fill their bellies seek to destroy thy flock. And shew thy great mercies upon those our brethren in other countries, which are persecuted, cast into prison, and daily condemned for the testimony of thy truth. And though they be utterly destitute of all man's aid, yet let thy sweet comfort never depart from them; but so inflame their hearts with thy holy Spirit, that they may boldly and cheerfully abide such trial as thy godly wisdom shall appoint so that at the length, as well by their death as by their life, the kingdom of thy dear Son Jesus Christ may increase and shine through all the world. In whose name we make our humble petitions to thee as he hath taught us. Our Father, which art. &c. Another1 prayer for the Morning. O ALMIGHTY and most gracious GOD, we heartily thank thee for the sweet sleep and comfortable rest which thou hast given us this night: and forasmuch as thou hast commanded by thy holy word that no man should be idle, but all occupied in godly and virtuous exercises, every man according to his calling; we most humbly beseech thee, that thine eyes may attend upon us, daily defend us, cherish, comfort, and govern us, and all our counsels, studies, and labours, in such wise, that we may spend and bestow this day according to thy most holy will, without the hurting of our neighbours, and that we may diligently and warily eschew and avoid all things that should displease thee, set thee always before our eyes, live in [This and the next two Prayers are found appended only to the later Prayer Books of Elizabeth's reign. The present one exists, however, in the English Salisbury Primer of 1556.] thy fear, working that which may be found acceptable before thy divine majesty, through Christ our Lord. Amen. A prayer containing the duty of every true Christian. O MOST mighty God, merciful and loving Father, I wretched sinner come unto thee in the name of thy dearly beloved Son Jesus Christ, my only Saviour and Redeemer : and most humbly beseech thee for his sake to be merciful unto me, and to cast all my sins out of thy sight and remembrance, through the merits of his bloody death and passion. Pour upon me (O Lord) thy holy Spirit of wisdom and grace Govern and lead me by thy holy word, that it may be a lantern unto my feet, and a light unto my steps. Shew thy mercy upon me, and so lighten the natural blindness and darkness of my heart through thy grace, that I may daily be renewed by the same Spirit and grace: by the which (0) Lord) purge the grossness of my hearing and understanding, that I may profitably read, hear, and understand thy word and heavenly will, believe and practise the same in my life and conversation, and evermore hold fast that blessed hope of everlasting life. Mortify and kill all vice in me, that my life may express my faith in thee: mercifully hear the humble suit of thy servant, and grant me thy peace all my days. Graciously pardon mine infirmities, and defend me in all dangers of body, goods and name: but most chiefly my soul against all assaults, temptations, accusations, subtle baits and sleights of that old enemy of mankind, Satan, that roaring lion, ever sceking whom he may devour. And here (O Lord) I, prostrate with most humble mind, crave of thy divine majesty to be merciful unto the universal Church of thy Son Christ and especially, according to my bounden duty, beseech thee for his sake to bless, save, and defend the principal member thereof, thy servant our most dear and sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth: increase in her Royal heart true faith, godly zeal, and love of the same; and grant her victory over all her enemies, a long, prosperous, and honourable life upon earth, a blessed end, and life everlasting. [The prayer, of which this is an enlargement, has been reprinted by the Parker Society in Bull's Christian Prayers (p. 191): thus its date cannot really be later than 1566.] [Apocrypha.] Moreover, O Lord, grant unto her Majesty's most honourable counsellors, and every other member of this thy Church of England, that they and we in our several callings may truly and godly serve thee: Plant in our hearts true fear and honour of thy name, obedience to our Prince, and love to our neighbours: Increase in us true faith, and religion: Replenish our minds with all goodness, and of thy great mercy keep us in the same till the end of our lives: Give unto us a godly zeal in prayer, true humility in prosperity, perfect patience in adversity, and continual joy in the Holy Ghost. And lastly, I commend unto thy Fatherly protection all that thou hast given me, as wife, children and servants. Aid me, O Lord, that I may govern, nourish, and bring them up in thy fear and service. And forasmuch as in this world I must always be at war and strife, not with one sort of enemies, but with an infinite number, not only with flesh. and blood, but with the devil which is the prince of darkness, and with wicked men, executors of his most damnable will: Grant me therefore thy grace, that being armed with thy defence, I may stand in this battle with an invincible constancy against all corruption, which I am compassed with on every side, until such time as I having ended the combat, which during this life I must sustain, in the end I may attain to thy heavenly rest, which is prepared for me and all thine elect, through Christ our Lord and only Saviour. Amen. The prayer of Manasseh, King of the Jews. O LORD Almighty, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of their righteous seed, which hast made heaven and earth with all their ornament, which hast bound the sea by the word of thy commandment, which hast shut up the deep and sealed it by thy terrible and glorious name, whom all do fear, and tremble before thy power: for the majesty of thy glory can not be borne, and thine angry threatening toward sinners is importable; but thy merciful promise is unmeasurable and unsearchable. For thou art the most high Lord, of great compassion, long suffering, and most merciful, and repentest for man's miseries. Thou, O Lord, promised that according to thy great goodness hast promised" repentance shall be the and forgiveness to them that sin against thee, and for thine to return to infinite mercies hast appointed repentance unto sinners, that "Thou hast repentance way for them thee. they may be saved. Thou therefore, O Lord, that art the God of the just, hast not appointed repentance to the just, as to Abraham, and Isaac and Jacob, which have nota sinned against thee; but thou hast appointed repentance unto me that am a sinner for I have sinned above the number of the sand A He speaketh parison of this in comhimself and those holy fathers which have their my commenda tion in the to scriptures, so that in respect calleth their but attributeth unto of the sea. My transgressions, O Lord, are multiplied: transgressions are exceeding many and I am not worthy behold and see the height of the heavens for the multitude of of himself he mine unrighteousness. I am bowed down with many iron sins nothing. bands, that I cannot lift up mine head, neither have any them righte release. For I have provoked thy wrath and done evil before ousness. thee. I did not thy will, neither kept I thy commandments. I have set up abominations and have multiplied offences. Now therefore I bow the knee of mine heart, beseeching thee of grace. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I acknowledge my transgressions: but I humbly beseech thee, forgive me: O Lord, forgive me, and destroy me not with my transgressions. Be not angry with me for ever by reserving evil for me, neither condemn me into the lower parts of the earth. For thou art the God, even the God of them that repent and in me thou wilt shew all thy goodness: for thou wilt save me that am unworthy, according to thy great mercy therefore I will praise thee for ever all the days of my life. For all the power of the heavens praise thee, and thine is the glory for ever and ever. Amen. : |