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flesh and old man. Thou art faithful, O Father, who hast promised that I shall not be tempted further than thou wilt make me able to bear. Give now therefore thy grace and strength unto thy servant, that I may, with a strong faith in thine infallible truth and promised mercy, vanquish and subdue whatsoever rebelleth against thy most blessed will. Preserve and keep holy my soul and body, and let them not be by thine enemies defiled, spoiled, nor made a dungeon of devils and wicked spirits through delectation in sin. Behold, dear Father, the posts thereof are sprinkled with the precious blood of thy dear Son, and of thy great mercy they are made the temple and tabernacle of thy holy Spirit. Shall now (alas!) the devil, the world, or the flesh pluck from thee that thing which presently crieth to thee with a sure trust in thy promised help? Nay, Lord, Father, but grant that I may by thy mighty power turn all their crafts, deceits, and raging assaults unto the increase of my faith, and that by experience of thy fatherly assistance in this my present temptation I may, with assured hope and trust in thy ready help and comfort, overcome my said enemies hereafter in like assaults, and praise thy holy name for the victory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

My son, if thou wilt come into the service of the Lord, stand fast in righteousness and fear, and prepare thy soul to temptation1.

1 Ecclus. ii.

REMEDIES AGAINST SINFUL MOTIONS AND TEMPTATIONS.

FIRST, remember that sin is so heinous a thing, that God by his justice might worthily damn thee for the same, and is therefore to be abhorred as a sweet poison, a flattering death and destruction of thy soul, which would cut thee off from God thy Saviour, and make thee bondslave to Satan thy deadly enemy.

2. Avoid therefore, even at the first, the occasions thereof, and betimes quash out the brains of the children of Babylon against the hard stones, whiles they be yet young and weak, lest when they be grown elder and stronger, they dash thee to pieces.

3. And for remedy against the same flee unto God, who commandeth thee to call upon him in thy troubles, and promiseth to deliver thee, and will not suffer thee to be further tempted than he will make a way out whereby thou shalt escape3; and doubt not but he that causeth thee to hate the sin which thy nature is to love, will deliver thee also from the danger thereof, and make thee to triumph over Satan, to his confusion, to God's glory, and to thy great comfort, which are the causes that our tender loving Father sendeth temptations unto us: and he that is not tempted, what is he?

4. Now, after thou hast obtained the victory, remember two things; first, to give most hearty thanks to God for his grace and assistance, whereby thou hast overcome, and be not unthankful in

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anywise; and then, that he who continually goeth about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, will not be long or far away from thee, but will attempt again the same, or as evil, ways to overcome thee. Watch therefore and pray.

A PRAYER FOR THE AVOIDING OF GOD'S DESERVED WRATH AND VENGEANCE FOR OUR SINS.

WHEN we look back and behold our sinful

life past, what a dungeon of errors, vice, and wickedness, openeth itself unto us! so that there is no man but he must needs be ashamed of himself when he calleth to mind what he hath been, and tremble when he considereth the wickedness and sinful course of his life to come. For who shall undertake that the rest of our life shall be any better than that is past? How can we then sufficiently magnify and praise thy great mercy, which hast deferred thy punishment so long? Beholding, therefore, this our dangerous and miserable state, we come unto thee, O thou great and mighty Judge, in trembling and fear, humbly beseeching thee not to heap upon us thy deserved vengeance, but let thy tender kindness and love thou bearest to Jesus Christ thy dear Son, our gracious Lord and Redeemer, cover our iniquities; for whose sake (though we deserve all extremity) thou dost pardon us.

If thou, Lord, shalt straitly mark our iniquities, O Lord, who shall be able to abide it1?

1 Ps. cxxx.

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A PRAYER FOR THE SICK.

MOST merciful God, which according to the multitude of thy mercies dost so put away the sins of those which truly repent, that thou rememberest them no more; open thy eyes of mercy, and look upon this thy sick servant, who most earnestly desireth pardon and forgiveness. Renew in him, most loving Father, whatsoever hath been decayed by the fraud and malice of the devil, or by his own carnal will and frailty. Preserve and continue this sick member in the unity of thy church. Consider his contrition; accept his tears; asswage his pain, as shall be seen to thee most expedient for him. And forasmuch as he putteth his full trust only in thy mercy, impute not unto him his former sins, but take him unto thy favour, through the merits of thy most dearlybeloved Son Jesus Christ.

A PRAYER TO BE SAID AT THE HOUR OF DEATH.

LORD Jesus Christ, which art the only health of all men living, and the everlasting life of them that die in thee: I, wretched sinner, do submit myself wholly unto thy most blessed will; and being sure that the thing cannot perish which is committed unto thy mercy, willingly now I leave this frail and wicked flesh in sure hope that thou wilt in better wise restore it to me again at the last day in the resurrection of the just. I beseech thee, most merciful Lord Jesus Christ, that thou wilt by thy grace make strong my soul against all temptations, and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against all the assaults of the devil. I see and knowledge that there is in

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myself no help of salvation; but all my confidence, hope, and trust, is in thy rich mercy and goodness. I have no merits or good works which I may allege before thee. Of sins and evil works (alas!) I see a great heap; but yet through thy mercy trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sins, but wilt accept and take me for righteous and just, and to be the inheritor of everlasting life. Thou, merciful Lord, wast born for my sake: thou didst suffer both hunger and thirst for my sake: thou didst teach, pray, and fast for my sake: all thy holy actions and works thou wroughtest for my sake: thou sufferedst most grievous pains and torments for my sake: finally, thou gavest thy most precious body and thy blood to be shed on the cross for my sake. Now, most merciful Saviour, let all these things profit me that thou freely hast done for me, which hast given thyself also for me. Let thy blood cleanse and wash away the spots and foulness of my sins. Let thy righteousness hide and cover my unrighteousness. Let the merits of thy passion and bloodshedding be the satisfaction for my sins. Give me, Lord, thy grace, that the faith of my salvation in thy blood waver not in me, but may ever be firm and constant; that the hope of thy mercy and life everlasting never decay in me; that love wax not cold in me; finally, that the weakness of my flesh be not overcome with the fear of death. Grant me, merciful Saviour, that when death hath shut up the eyes of my body, yet the eyes of my soul may still behold and look upon thee; and when death hath taken away the use of my tongue, yet my heart may cry and say unto thee, Lord, into thy hands I commend my soul; Lord Jesu, receive my spirit.

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