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and from the naughty lusts and affections of the flesh. Make thy Spirit, O God, once to take such full possession and dwelling in our hearts, that not only all the actions of our life, but also all the words of our mouth, and the least thought and cogitation of our minds, may be guided and ruled thereby.

And finally, grant that all the time of our life may be so spent in thy true fear and obedience, that altogether we may end the same in the sanctification and honouring of thy blessed name, through Jesus Christ our Lord; to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, both now and for ever. Amen.

This done [the minister readeth from the Holy Scripture]; the people then sing a psalm all together, in a plain tune; which ended, the minister prayeth for the assistance of God's Holy Spirit, as the same shall move his heart, and so proceedeth to the sermon, using after the sermon this prayer following, or such like.

A PRAYER FOR THE WHOLE ESTATE OF
CHRIST'S CHURCH.

(AFTER SERMON.)

ALMIGHTY GOD and most merciful Father, we humbly submit ourselves, and fall down before thy Majesty, beseeching thee, from the bottom of our hearts, that this seed of thy word, now sown among us, may take such deep root, that neither the burning heat of persecution cause it to wither, neither the thorny cares of this life do choke it, but that, as seed sown in good ground, it may bring forth thirty, sixty, and an hundred fold, as thine heavenly wisdom hath appointed. And because we have need continually to crave many things at thine hands,

we humbly beseech thee, O heavenly Father, to grant us thine Holy Spirit to direct our petitions, that they may proceed from such a fervent mind as may be agreeable to thy most blessed will. And seeing that our infirmity is able to do nothing without thine help, and that thou art not ignorant with how many and great temptations we poor wretches are on every side enclosed and compassed, let thy strength, O Lord, sustain our weakness, that we, being defended with the force of thy grace, may be safely preserved against all assaults of Satan, who goeth about continually like a roaring lion, seeking to devour us. Increase our faith, O merciful Father, that we do not swerve at any time from thine heavenly word, but augment in us hope and love, with a careful keeping of all thy commandments, that no hardness of heart, no hypocrisy, no concupiscence of the eyes, nor enticements of the world, do draw us away from thine obedience. And seeing we live now in these most perilous times, let thy fatherly providence defend us against the violence of all our enemies, who do every where pursue us, but chiefly against the wicked rage and furious uproars of that Romish idol and enemy to thy Christ.

Furthermore, forasmuch as by thine holy apostle we are taught to make our prayers and supplications for all men, we pray not only for ourselves here present, but beseech thee also to reduce all such as yet be ignorant from the miserable captivity of blindness and error to the pure understanding of thine heavenly truth, that we all with one consent and unity of mind may worship thee our only God and Saviour; and that all pastors, shepherds, and ministers, to whom thou hast com

mitted the dispensation of thine holy word, and charge of thy chosen people, may both in their life and doctrine be found faithful, setting only before their eyes thy glory, and that by them all poor sheep which wander and go astray may be gathered and brought home to thy fold.

Moreover, because the hearts of rulers are in thine hands, we beseech thee to direct and govern the hearts of all kings, princes, and magistrates, to whom thou hast committed the sword; especially, O Lord, according to our bounden duty, we beseech thee to maintain and increase the noble estate of the Queen's Majesty, and her honourable council, with all the estate and whole body of the commonwealth. Let thy fatherly favour so preserve her, and thine Holy Spirit so govern her heart, that she may in such sort execute her office that thy religion may be purely maintained, manners reformed, and sin punished, according to the precise rule of thine holy word.

And for that we be all members of the mystical body of Christ Jesus, 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 chastisements, whether it be grief of body or unquietness of mind; that it would please thee to give them patience and constancy, till thou send them full deliverance out of all their troubles. And, finally, O Lord God, most merciful Father, we most humbly beseech thee to shew thy great mercies upon those our brethren who are persecuted, cast in prison, and daily condemned to death, 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 thine Holy Spirit, that they may boldly and cheerfully abide such trial as thy godly wisdom shall appoint, so that at length, as well by their death as by their life, the kingdom of thy Son Jesus Christ may increase and shine through all the world; in whose name we make our humble petitions unto thee, as he hath taught us, saying,

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our

daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever.

Amen.

Almighty and everlasting God, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, to grant us perfect continuance in the lively faith, augmenting the same in us daily, till we grow to the full measure of our perfection in Christ, whereof we make our confession, saying,

I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy Catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Then the people sing a psalm; which ended, the minister pronounceth one of these blessings, and so the congregation departeth.

THE Lord bless us, and save us; the Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be merciful unto us; the Lord turn his countenance towards us, and grant us his peace.

THE grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

It shall not be necessary for the minister daily to repeat all these things before mentioned, but, beginning with some manner of confession, to proceed to the sermon; which being ended, he either useth the prayer for all estates before-mentioned, or else prayeth as the Spirit of God shall move his heart, framing the same according to the time and matter which he hath intreated of. And if there shall be at any time any present plague, famine, pestilence, war, or such like, which be evident tokens of God's wrath, as it is our part to acknowledge our sins to be the occasion thereof, so are we appointed by the Scriptures to give ourselves to mourning, fasting, and prayer, as the means to turn away God's heavy displeasure. Therefore it shall be convenient that the minister at such time do not only admonish the people thereof, but also use some form of prayer according as the present necessity requireth ; to the which he may appoint, by a common consent, some several day after the sermon weekly to be observed.

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