FORASMVCHE as prayer is the veray true meane ordeyned of almightie god , and taught vs playnly in his holy word , wherby not onely we may , but also by gods holy commandement be bounden to haue a recourse and a refuge for helpe and ayde of almightie god our heauenly father , not onely in all our necessities , and tribulations of this world , but also vniuersally in all our affaires and businesses , what soeuer shal be fall vnto vs , orels what soeuer thing we shall enterprise or take in hand . And forasmuch also as our father in heauen , of his mere mercie and infinite goodnes , hath bounden him self by his owne free promise , and certified vs of the same , by his owne sonne , our onely sauiour and lorde CHRIST IESV , in his gospel , that what soeuer we shall aske of him , we shall haue it , so that we aske such thinges , and in suche sorte , as we ought to doo . For these causes good christian people , beynge thus grounded vpon the sure foundation of goddis holie & blessed word , which can not deceiue vs , We are here at this time gathered togither , to make our comon prayer to our heauenly father . But nowe good christian people that by the true vse of praier we may obteine and enioye his gratious promise of aidé , comforte and consolation , in al our affayres and necessities , two thinges , concerning prayer , are specially to be learned . The first is , to knowe , for what thynges we ought to make our request and petition in our praier . The second is , in what wise we shuld make our prayer , in suche sorte as it may be acceptably hearde , and graciously graunted of our heauenly father .

¶ As for the first , we ought instantly to aske of our heauenly father , his holy and blessid spirite , godly wisedome , faith , charitie , and to feare and dreade him , and that his holy name in al thingis , and euery where thorough al the hole world may be glorified , that his kyngedome maye come vnto vs , that is to saye , that here he may reigne in vs , by the faith of his welbeloued sonne our sauiour IESV CHRIST , and after this lyfe also to reigne in vs , and ouer vs euerlastingly in glorye .

We ought to pray , that his blessed wyl may be fulfylled here in this world emonges vs his mortall creatures , as it is of his immortall angels , and of al the holy company of the heauenly spirites . We muste pray for our dayly breade , that is , for our necessary fode and sustenance bothe of body and soule . Of body , as meate , drinke , and necessary apparaile , peace , helthe , and what soeuer god knoweth to be necessary for the behofe and conseruation of the same , that we may do to our lorde god true seruice therwith , euery man in his state and vocation , wherevnto god hath called hym . Of the soule , as the word of god , and the true knowledge of the same , the true conseruation of our heauenlye fathers holy and blessid commandementis , the liuely bread of the blessed body of our sauiour Iesu Christe , the holy and sacrate cuppe of the precious and blessed bludde , whiche was shed for vs vpon the Crosse , to purchase vs pardon and forgyuenes of our synnes . Furthermore we must pray for the forgiuenes of our synnes , that our heauenly father wyll be mercyfull vnto vs , and forgyue vs our synnes bothe many and great , wherby we offende againste his infinite goodnes , as we do forgiue the offences of them that offend vs . whiche , howe great so euer they appere vnto vs , yet in comparison of the offences that we do against god , they be bothe small and fewe . We muste pray , that oure heauenly father suffre vs not to be ledde into temptation , for without his continuall aide and protection , we are but weke and soone ouerthrowen . Our gostely ennemy is stronge , violent , fierse , subtyll , and exceding cruell . And therfore we muste continually pray , with all instance that in al his assaultes we may be deliuered by the mighty hande of our heauenly father , from al euyll . Fynally , and before all thing , as saint Paule exhorteth vs in the fyrst epistle to Timothe , Let vs make our prayers , and supplycations , rendrynge and gyuyng of thankes for all men , and namely for kynges , princis , and al other set in chief dignitie and high roumes , that by theyr godly gouernance , their true faithfull and diligent execution of iustice and equitie vnto all their subiectes , our heauenly father may be gloryfied , the common welth may be daily promoted and increased , and that we al , that are theyr subiectes , may liue in peace and quietnes , with al godlines and vertue , and our christen princis & heades in vnitie and concorde emonges them selfes , euer callyng vppon theyr heauenly father , whiche is the king of all kynges , and the lorde of all lordes , which shall iudge without respecte of persone , accordynge to euery mans doing or workes , at whose hande the weake shall take no wronge , nor the myghty may not by any power escape his iuste iudgement . That our princes I say , thus calling vppon theyr heauenly father for grace , maye euer in all their affaires be directed and gouerned by the holie spirite of god , and bothe rule , and be ruled , by his holy feare , to their owne endles ioye , comforte , and consolation , and to theyr owne euerlastyng saluation , thorough our sauiour Iesus Christ .

☞ AND here specially let vs pray for our moste dere and soueraigne lorde the Kynges maiesty , who dothe not onely study and care dayly and hourely for our prosperitie and wealth , but also spareth not , to spende his substance and treasure , yea redye at all tymes to endaunger hym self for the tender loue and fatherly zeale , that he bereth towarde this his realme , and the subiectes of the same . Who at this present tyme hath taken vpon hym the great and dangerous affayres of warre . Lette vs praye , that it may please almyghty god , lorde of hostes , in whose handes is onely wealthe and victorie , mercifully to assyst him , sending his holy angell , to be his succour , keper , & defender from all his aduersaries , and from all euyls . Let vs pray for our bretherne , that bende them selfes to batail for goddis cause and our defence , that god maye grant them prosperous successe , to our comfort , and the increase of his glory . Let vs praye for our selfes that remain at home , that almyghty god defende vs from synne , sickenes , derth , and all other aduersyties of bodye and soule .

The seconde thynge to be lerned , concernynge praier , is to know , howe we shal make true prayer , so that it may be graciousely harde , and mercyfully graunted of oure heauenly father . Fyrst of al we must , vpon consideration of our heauenly fathers mercy and goodnes towardes vs , and of his euerlastyng trueth , and free promyse made vnto vs in his owne holy worde , conceyue a full affiance hoope and trust : and that without waueryng or doubtfull mistrustyng , eyther in his trueth , his goodnes , or in his almightie power , certainely assuring our selfe , that both of his omnipotencie , he may do what soeuer shall please his goodnes , and also for his infinite goodnes , and fatherlye affection towarde vs , that he woll both here and graunt al our lauful and godly requestes , after that measure , sort , and degree , as he of his infinite and incomprehensible wisdome knoweth the thynge to be moost mete , moost conuenient , and behofeful both for his own glorye and honour , and for the profit , behoufe , and commoditie of vs his children .

Furthermore also it is necessarily requyred to that , that our prayer may be acceptable vnto our heuenly father , to haue charitie , and brotherly loue betwixt neighbour and neighbour , and towarde all our euen christen . So CHRISTE him selfe teacheth vs , sayinge , whan you stande to praye , forgyue , if you haue any dyspleasure agaynste any personne : that your father , whiche is in heauen , maye forgiue you . It is a true saying that saint Augustine sayeth : There is no good fruicte , no good deede , no good woorke , whiche springeth not out of the roote of charitie . And saincte Paule teacheth plainely , that where as charitie lacketh , nothyng can auayle vs .

And moreouer we must in our prayer , be ware of vayne glory and prayse of man , outwardly shewing a great pretence of holynes , and being vayne of true godlynes inwardly , onely to haue the commendation of men before the world . for if we so do , we shall lose the reward and benefit of our prayer , as our sauiour CHRIST saieth his owne selfe . We must take hede also , that we thincke not the vertue of prayer , to consiste in multiplying of many wordes without faythe and godly deuotion , thynckyng as the heathen doth , that for our many wordes or moche speking , we shal be herde of our heauenly father . Who so euer doth thinke so , he shall deceyue him selfe . for god doth not regarde neither the swete sound of our voice , nor the great number of our woordes , but the ernest feruentnes and true faythful deuotion of our hartes . Fynally we muste beware in our praier of that common pestilent infection , and venemefull poyson of all good prayer , that is to say , when our mouthe prayeth , and our hartes praye not . Of the whiche the prophete Esaie complayneth sore . And our sauyour in saynte Mathewes gospel rebuketh the pharisees , for the same , saying thus : O hipocrites , Esaie the prophet prophected well vppon you , when he sayde thus : This people draweth nighe me with theyr lyppes , but their hartes are farre from me , that is to saye , they speake with their tongue and lippes , the wordes of praier , but in theyr harte , they mynde no thyng lesse then they speake , as that the goodnes of the prayer stode in the outwarde speking onely of the woorde , and not in the inwarde , true and faythfull request of the harte . And to the intent therfore your hartes and lyppes maye god together in praier , it is verye conuenient , and moche acceptable to god , that you shuld vse your priuate prayer in your mother tongue , that you vnderstandyng what you aske of god , may more ernestly & feruently desyre the same your hartes & myndes agreing to your mouthe and woordes . Wherfore let vs eschewe ( good people ) in our prayers , al the afore rehersed vices , for elles we shall not obteine our petitions , and requestes , but contrarye wyse we shall hyghly displease god and greuously offende him . Therfore good Chrystian bretherne , seynge we are come togyther to praye , let vs do it accordyng to our bounden duetie , and as it ought to be done . Let vs truly praye with a faithfull harte , and a sure affiaunce of our heauenly fathers infinite mercy , grace , and goodnes ? let vs make our prayers , beyng in loue and charitie with all and euery one of our neighbours , euer hauing in our herte an ernest request and desyre of those godly benefyttes , which are appointed in goddes worde , that we shulde pray for , and yet not prescribing vnto god , either the tyme , place , measure , or degree of his gracious benefittes , but holly committing our selues to his blessed wil and pleasure , receyuyng in good woorthe , and with thankes giuinge , what so euer , and when so euer , it shall please his gracious goodnes , to bestowe his gracious gyftes vpon vs . Let vs also fournishe and beautifie this our prayer , that it may plese god the better , and delite the eares of our heauenlie father , with fasting and holsome abstinence , not onely from all delicious liuing in voluptuouse fare , and from all excesses of meate and drinke , but also to chastyse and kylle the synfull lustes of the bodye , to make it bowe and redy to obey , vnto the spirituall mocions of the holye gooste . Let vs also furnish it with almes dede , and with the woorkes of mercie and charite . For praier is good and acceptable vnto god , when it is accompanied with almose dedes , & with the workes of mercy , as the holy man Thobye sayth , with the whiche , and vsyng the vertues afore rehersed , and also eschewyng dyligently the foresayde vices , our prayers shal be of muche price and value , as was the prayers of Hely , Danyel , & Moyses , before our heauenly father , and that for our sauiour Jesus Chrystes sake , whiche hathe redemed vs with his preciouse bloude , and hathe signed & sealed vs vp to euerlasting life . To whom both now and euer , with his father and the holy goost , be glorie and honour without ende .

Let vs pray .

WE humbly beseche the , O father , mercifully to loke vpon our infirmities , & for the glorie of thy name sake tourne from vs all those euilles , that we moost rightuously haue deserued . Graunt this o lord god , for our mediatour and aduocate Jesu Christes sake . Amen .

O God , whose nature & propertie is euer to haue mercy , and to forgyue , receyue our humble petition , & though we be tied and bounde with the chaine of our synnes : yet lette the pitifulnes of thy great mercye leuse vs , for the honour of Jesus Christes sake , ourmediatour and aduocate . Amen .