ALthough there be diuers opinions , whether Ezra or Nehemiah wrote this booke , yet for my parte I rather beleeue , all reasons considered , that Nehemiah wrote it , as Wolphius well prooueth it . But whether so-euer the one or the other wrote it , if the authoritie of the writer may giue any strength to the writing , or mans worthines adde anything to the credit of Gods holie Scripture , it skilleth not much : for they were both the true , learned , and faithful seruants of God . Yet surelie this worthie man Nehemiah , which in English is to saie , a comforte sent from God , to comfort his people in those troublesome times , should not be robbed of his well deserued thankes , but first God should be chieslie praised , that raised vp so worthie a man , whose pedegree is vnknowne , & his fathers to , in so ill a time to do not onely so great things both in the commonwealth & Religion , in peace and warre : and then shold Nehemiah also be worthelie next commended , that so faithfullie obeied the Lord his God , so painfullie traueiled for the wealth of his countrie , also attained such learning , that he could , and was so diligent in studie among all his great affaires , that he would , to the greate glorie of God & comforte of all his Church vnto the worlds end , put these his owne doings in writing . A worthie example for all that loue religion , be seruitours in the courte , attend on the Prince , beare office in the common-wealth , or captaines in the warres , to followe . For in all these things was Nehemiah famous : in religion earnest , in great fauour with his Prince , with all vprightnesse of life towards all , in warre skilful , curragious , & painful , and with his penne so learned , that he could so clerkelie put it in writing . Gentelmen therefore and men of the world are not borne to liue in pastime and pleasure , as they list , and manie doc , no more then poore men : but first to serue the Lord , promote his word and religion earnestlie , minister iustice seuerelie , mainteine peace quietlie , defend the common-wealth stoutlie , releeue the oppressed mightilie , followe learning and studie diligentlie , that so they maieincrease in vertue and honestie , as Nehemiah did , and after all these great trauailes refresh themselues with honest pastimes measurablie . Among the heathen Princes such a one was Iulius Cesar , in the warres cunning and happie : in gouernment of the common-wealth commendable , and in learning so excellent , that no man hath written more eloquentlie . Such like were Alexander Seuerus , and Marcus Aurelius , Emperours . But I will not perswade much in Gods cause with prophane examples . And to returne to our purpose , I would not haue men thinke that the scripture taketh his authoritie & credit of the man that writeth it , but the writer is to be credited for the holie Ghosts sake , who inspired him with such heauenlie knowledg , and whose instrument he is for God to speake by . Scripture commeth not first from man , but from God , and therefore God is to be taken for the author of it , & not man . The Gospel saith : It is not you that speake , but the Spirit of your father , that speaketh in you . And. S. Petersaith , Prophesie Mat. 10. 20. 2. Pet. 1. 21. came not in old time by the will of man , but holy men of God spake as they were moued by the holie Ghoste . Augustine , saith well . The Scripture is a letter sent from God the creator vnto man his creature . Therefore when thou readest this booke or other parts of the Scripture , doe it as gladlie and reuerentlie , yea and much more to , then thou wouldst vse and read the Princes , or thy friends letters , seeing it is a letter sent to the from thy God for thy saluation . God then is the cheifest author of this booke , as he is of the rest of the Scripture , & Nehemiah the penne or writer of all these misteries . Dauid said of himselfe , my tongue is the pen of a writer that writeth swiftly : meaning Psal. 45. 2. the holy Ghost to be the writer , & his tongue the penne . So Nehemiah was the author of this booke , as Dauid of the Psalmes . And because they should know which Nehemiah he was , he saith he was the sonne of Hachalia . For there were diuers others of that name , but not his sonnes .

THe Scriptures vse not to reckon their monethes after the order of our calenders , but by the exchange of the moone : for our callenders are not of that auncientie , that the Scriptures be by many yeares . The first moneth in the yeare with them began at the next change of the moone whensoeuer it fell after the 22. daie of March : when the daies and nights be both of one length . And then was March called the first moone of the yeare , whereas we make Ianuarie our first moone . So this moone here which is called Casleu , was the 9. moneth from it , and fell in the latter end of Nouember , what daie soeuer the moone then chaunged . The 20. yeare , that he speaketh of here , was of the reigne of King Artaxerxes , as appeereth in the beginning of the 2. Chapter , of whom ye shall heare more there . Susan was the cheif Citie of all the kingdom of Persia , where the king had both his pallace , and a strong castle also of the same name , where his treasure was kept . this Citie ( as Strabo writeth ) was long , and in compasse 15. myles about .

Who this Chanani was , it appeereth not , but beelike some honest man of good credit , and more earnest in religion and loue to his countrie then others , because his name is put downe in writing , & the others are not . And where Nehemiah calleth him brother , it is not necessarie to thinke , that he was of the same father and mothere that Nehemiah was , but either further of in kinred , or els of the same countrie and religion . For this word brother , in the Scripture signifieth all those sorts of brotherhod , that be any waies kinsmen , or els of anie countrie and religion . S. Paul saieth , I wish to be Rom. 9. accursed from Christ for my breethren & kinsmen after the flesh , which be the Israelites . Where he calleth al the children of Israel his breethren , because they came all of one father Iacob long agoe , and now were of one country , and professed one God . What occasion these men had to come to the courte , it appeereth not : & therefore not necessary to be searched : but belike some greate sute for their countries , because they tooke so long a iourny in the winter , and so vnseasonable a time of the yeare ; which men commonlie vse not to doe for smale causes . And by this we maie learne a good lesson , that no time is so troublesome , no iournie so long , but good men will not refuse it , to serue God & their countrie . And where Nehemiah , walking abroade about the 〈◊〉 , beginneth to examin them of the estate of the Iewes , how they did , and of the Citie of Ierusalem , in what case it was , it declareth the great loue that he had to his people , countrie , and religion . O worthie example for all courtiers to follow , sometimes to walke abroad , to see what suters there be , & learne the state of the countrie from whence they came , & help to further their good causes . The contrarie is to commonlie vsed : they locke them-selues vp , & will not be spoken with , their doores must be opened with siluer keyes , many meanes and freendes must be made , and a long time of attendance , afore ye be heard , except some seruant about them haue some gentle remembrance to help you to their speach . And this is more common in the meaner sorte , then the higher . yet I saie not that all walkers abroad and talking with suters be euer good men . For Absalon walked afore the courte gate , tooke them by the hand , and imbraced them , asked what sutes they had , pitied their causes , but for an ill purpose , to bring the King his 2. 〈◊〉 . 15. father in hatred with the people , saying , there was none about him that would heare and help them , and to bring him-selfe in fauor with the people , saying , if he were King , he would do them iustice , heare their causes , and they shold not waite so long , but be quicklie dispatched . God diliuer vs from such courtiers , for by this meanes he robbed the harts of the people from their natural & leige Prince , and by flatterie wanne the people so to him-selfe , that they rebelled against their King , and set vp Absalon . We need not at these daies to complaine of all courtiers , that they be so hard to speake to , and thatmanie times the master is not at leysure , vntil the seruant be pleased with something , though the master bid the contrary . For there be too many , that when suters do come , they will learne too diligentlie , what sute they haue , out of what countrie they come : & then if they will faithfullie declare vnto them , what office is there voide in the countrie , or what good farmeholde is to be had there at the Princes hand , or rather at anie Church , they promise they will help to further his sute diligently : but when they haue learned all that they can , then they know him not , when they meete him againe the next daie , or els giue him faire wordes with strange lookes and manie delayes . By these meanes and such like they are so cunning in all corners of the realm , that they can perfectlie tell what the Prince or anie man in the countrie hath : and if it be not presentlie voide , they are content with a reuersion , though it be manie yeares to come : yea and often sue for the same thing , that the poore man came for , saying , another would haue had it , if he had not staied it : and so vnder a cloake of freindship make him paic more then he needed . We seeke what should be the cause of such needelesse dearthes as the realme is full of , & surely though manie be giuen , yet I thinke none greater then this . For when these leases be graunted , the landlord hath but his olde rent , and the tennante no more but his olde fermeholde : but the leasemonger , that is crept in betwixt the landlord and the tennant , goeth awaie with the sweet from them both . For first he racks the rent , and sacks the tennante so , that he is not so able to sell his things so reasonablie , as els he might , nor serue the Prince nor his landlord , as he should : nor the landlord paying so deere for all thinges , is able to liue as his Elders did before . This vndermining micher liueth better then they both , & taketh no paines at all for it , that they both shoulde liue on , and the one releeue the other . Haman walked afore the courte gates to see who would reuerence him , as he passed by , and who would not : poore Mardocheus , because Ester . 3. he would not , was brought in great daunger of his life , and al the Iewes with him : but God that ouerthroweth such courtiers diliuer vs from the like , and raise vs vp some godlic Nehemiah to fauour the common-wealth & religion , as he did . The miscrable end of Absalon , Haman , and such as we haue seene in our dayes , maketh wise men to take heede how they liue and behaue them selues in the courte : for none is so high , but by like offending of God , they maie haue as great a fall . As this toucheth not the honest sorte of courtiers , so the good ones will not be offended , and those that be guiltie , God graunte them to amend it .

3. And they said . After that Nehemiah had of good will towards his people & countrie , so diligenlie inquired how they did , and in what case they were : Chanani and the other Iewes that came with him , declard in what miserable case the people were , in hatred & despised of all people about them , & that Ierusalem their citie , where God was cheifly worshiped , lay waste , & burned , & vnbuilt . Thus God bringeth goodmen togither one to comfort another , & things are not ruled by chance : for both Nehemiah & these Iewes lamented the miserable state of their people and countrie , and by their talke God prouided a remedy . Nehemiah was in good state to liue , & in great fauour whith the King , and needed not to trouble him selfe with the cares of his countrie , if God had not otherwise mooued his mind to pitie , with talking with his countrie men . This good then courtiers , lawiers , and great men may haue by talking with poore suters , that if there be anie sparke of grace in them they wil be mooued with the lamentable complainte of poore suters . Surely thou that art in authoritie , or hast learning , oughtest to thinke , that the poore suter commeth not to the by chaunce : but the same God , that gaue thee thy authorite and learning , hath sent this poore man to thee to be releiued by thee . Looke therfore vpon him , heare him , as Salomon teacheth , saying : the good man heaereth the cause of the poore . Hide not thy selfe from him , consider his Prouer. 29. complainte , pitie and help him , and not so much for monie , as for charities sake , for so did good Nehemiah . What can be a greater greife to an honest hart , then to haue all things that he doeth or saith , be they neuer so good , to be taken in ill parte , to be hated & ill spoken ofby all his neighbours , to be slaundered and beelied , & to haue displeasure where none is deserued . In this case were the miserable Iewes , then the beloued people of God , though now iustlie cast of , for their wicked hate to our Christ , the Sonne of the liuing God . Beside that , their Citie was burned , the gates stood open , that enemies might rush in , murther , and spoile them when they list , except they should keepe a continuall greate watch , which was to trouble some and costlie for them .

4. And it came to passe . What good commeth by hearing poore men speake , appeareth heere plainlie in them that feare God . For that pitiful state , which he vnderstood his brethren the Iewes , and that famous Citie Ierusalem to be in , by their reporte , did so mooue his hart and greiue him , that he satte downe , and wept certaine daies , was sad for them , fasted , and praied vnto the Lord of heauen for them . Hearing and seeing bee tow sences , which bring into the minde of man , to consider all things that be painefull or pleasant to others : for except we see them , or heare them , we cannot learne or vnderstand them , much lesse pitie them , or be glad of them . S. Paul saith likewise in Gods cause . Faith commeth by hearing : For when thou hearest the preacher declare the glorious maiestie Rom. 10. of God , his sharpe punishing of sinne , the wretched estate of man , that of him selfe can doe nothing but sinne , and the euerlasting paines appointed for all hardharted sinners , it maketh him to quake , to enter into him-selfe , condemne him-selfe , aske for mercie , & from thenceforth to become a new man : so when he heareth Gods great mercie declared to man in Christ , it maketh him to beleeue , loue , obeie , and follow so louing a father . This profit then commeth by hearing the poore mans complainte , that it mooueth them to pitie , to teares , to fasting , and praying the Lord to releeue the miserie of thy oppressed brother . Turne not therefore thy face from the poore , but heare them , and pitie them , as thou woldst be heard and pitied thy selfe . So in religion , if thou wilt learne to feare God aright , to know thy selfe , amend thy life , and what blessing God hath prepared for thee , run not from the Church , as many doe , some for one cause , some sor another , but none for good : but humble thy selfe in the sight of thy God and his people , heare his worde reuerentlie , beleeue it stedfastly , obey it diligentlie , praie earnestlie , and God shal heape his blessings on the plentifullie . And that we may the better vnderstand how this miserable case of his breethren & countrie did touch his hart inwardly , he sheweth it by his behauiour outwardly : for the affections of the minde declare them-selues openlie in the face and behauiour of man , when they growe great in the hart . As if we be sorie , our countenance is heauie , sad , and clowdie : if we be merry , our face hath a good culloure , & sheweth it selfe pleasantlie : when we be ashamed of ill doing , we blush : in feare we be pale , in anger high culloured and swolne in the face , &c. So this sorow for his breethren did so pinch him at the hart , that he could not stand , but sat downe , as a mans leggs in heauines are so weake , that they cannot beare him : his hart was so burdened , that he could not forbeare , but brast out into teares : for certaine daies he could not be merry , eate nor drinke , but fasted , and in the end found no other remedie , but turned him-selfe vnto the Lord , fell vnto praier , assuring him-selfe that God would heare him , and releeue them in his due time , when he thought good . By this we may learne how coldelie they praie , that cannot bend nor kneele , when they speake to the Lord or if they kneele , it is but on the one knee , & that must haue a soft quishion vnder it , and a softer vnder his elboe . Weepe he may not , for disfiguring his face : fasting is thought hipocrisie and a shame : and when his panche is full , then as priests with their drunken nowles said mattins and belked out , Eructauit cor meum verbum bonum , with good deuotion , as they thought , so he blusters out a fewe blustring words , without due consideration of them , & then he thinketh he hath praied well . O wretched man , that forgettest thy God and thy selfe . Remember what thou art , alumpe of earth , a sinke of sinne , wormes meate : and that bellie which thou carest so much for , is but a stinking dunghill . Downe proud pecocke , consider when thou praicst , that thou speakest to the Lord of heauen & earth , at whose beck the deuiles doe tremble his thunderbolts flie abroad to punish thy sinne : who in his anger drowned the whole world , except eight personnes , burned Sodom and Gomorah with fire & brimstone from heauen , to pull downe thy Gen. 7. & 19. proud hart , and teach thee to feare his maiestie . Learne of the poore Publicane , which was so ashamed of his wicked life , that he durst not looke vp vnto heauen , but condemning him selfe , cried O God be mercifull vnto me a sinner : whereas the proud Pharisie stood stoutlie , craking of his holynes , as thou doest . Learne of the Luc. 18. woman of Chanaan to be earnest in praier , goe not awaye from Mat. 15. the Lord , vntil thou feele thy conscience comforted , and mercie promised : for no doubt the Lord will heare such a praier . These out ward things , as kneeling , weeping , & fasting , are good helps & preparations vnto praier : as Sara continued three daies in fasting and praier , that the Lord wold deliuer her from that shame : and so Tob. 3. Tobie marketh a generall rule ofit , saying , praier is good , ioinedwith fasting . Ecclesiasticus saith . The praier of him that humbleth him selfe , pearceth the cloudes , & she will not be comforted , vntill she come nigh , nor Eccles. 35. goe her waie , till the highest God haue respect vntoher . God graunt vs here to learne to pitie our poore breethren , & thus to prepare our selues to praie for them , that our praier maie be heard in their need . & although I noted afore the disordred life of some leud courtiers , which make so much of their painted sheath , esteeme them-selues more then all the world doth besides , and when they thinke they deale so cunninglie , that they be not seene , manie one espieth them , & laughes full drilie in their sleeues at them : yet now in this godlie gentelman appeereth a contrarie dealing , & he may be a worthie paterne for all courtiers to follow . The court is not ill of it selfe , but a man , if he will , maie setue the Lord vprightlie , and also defend his Church , and profit the common-wealth mightelie , and good men maie liue in it honestlie . It is a daungerous place , I graunt , to liue in , and manie occasions of ill are offred dailie in it : yet not so wicked , but good men liuing in it maie take great occasions to doe much good in it . Ioseph , in Pharaos courte a godlesse king , prouided for all the countrie in the time of their great Gen. 41. dearth & scarcitie , releeued his father & breethren , then the onely knowne Church of God , in their necessitie . Moses in the same courte , though not vnder the same king , learned al the wisdome of Exo. 14. the Egiptians , and deliuered all the people from the slauerie that they liuedin . Abdias hid and fed a hundreth Prophets in caues , by 1. King . 18 : fiftie in a companie , whose liues Iesabel sought for , him selfe being in the wicked courte of Achab and Iesabel . Dassid feared the Lord in the courte of Saul , though he escaped oft not without manie great daungers . Daniel an auncient courtier , in three kings daies kept the law of God his Lord diligently , and being in great authoritie with the king , had the charge of diuers countries committed vnto him : which he ruled faithfullie , and releeued gods people mightelic . So did his three companions , Sidrach , Misach , and Abednago . Mardocheus in the courte of Assuerus saued the Ester . 6. kings life , whom his Chamberlaines wold haue murthered , and deliuered al the Iewes , which were appointed al by Haman on one daie to be slaine . Ierome in his epistle commendeth one Nebridius , who living in the courte , and being Nephew to the Empresse , behaued him selfe so vertuouslie , that all his sutes were for the Reliefe of the poore . Tom. 1. Ep. 6. The place therefore maketh no man ill , but his illnes commeth of his owne wicked and crooked mind . The daungerous life of courtiers , if they will rebuke sinne , and not sing Placebo , the example of Iohn Baptist , who lost his head for telling the trueth , maie suffise to teach . But let not good men be afraid : for God hath the hart of Mat. 14. Princes in his hand , to turne as pleaseth him . Doe thou thy duetie in the feare of God , and he will defend the , as he thinketh best .

AS a man that is earnestly bent to praier , hath commonly these outward things ioined with all , that were spoken of afore , as sitting , or kneeling , weeping , a greeued minde , sad countenance , fasting and abstinence : so necessarilie he muste haue a charitable minde and pitiful towards his breethren , and an earnest and liuelie faith towards God : which bothe appeare in Nehemiah : for without these tow his praier cannnot be heard . His louing mind towards his breethren appeareth , in that he leauing all other pastimes , so diligentlie inquireth of their estate , and their countrie , and disdaineth not to heare them : but it is seene more euidently , when he weepeth and mourneth , fasteth and forbeareth dainties , as though he were in miserie with them : but speciallie , when he taketh so great paines and trauaile to doe them good , as appeareth hereafter throughout this booke . His earnest faith appeareth , in that he praieth , and that onelie to the GOD of heauen , and with such vehement and meete words , as doe declare his full minde , that he doubted not , but God both could , and would help them . In trouble no man asketh help but ofhim , whom he thinketh will doe him good : And because there is none so merciful to heare , and so willing to help , as god him-selfe is , in al our greifes we must turne vnto the Lord of heauen alone : for other saynte there is none that Heb. 11. wil help , or can help . The Apostle saith , that he which wil come to the Lord , must not onely beleeue that there is a God , but also , that he is a rewarder of them that seake him . This faith therefore let vs bring with vs when we praie . This faith did continue in Nehemiah , though he had liued so manie yeares amongst the vnbeleeuing Persians : which was a special gift of God to him in such troublesome times . In praier let vs aske onely such thinges , as may stand with Gods good pleasure . For where many times folishly we aske things to our owne hurt , God of his wisdome and fatherly goodnes doth not graunt them , as S. Iames teacheth vs , saying : Ye aske , and receiue not , because ye aske euilly , to spend it vppon your lusts . I am afraid to enter into the opening of this praier , because it is so parfect of it selfe , that it cannot be amended : yet for the helpe of the vnlearned , for whose cause onely I take these paines , I shal in fewe words open it more plainlie . O thou Lord God of heauen & earth which of thy meere loue towards man madestheauen & earth , the sea , with al the furniture in them , as the Sonne , Moone , and Starres , fish , fowle , hearbs , trees , corne , fruit , and cattel , and appointed them to serue him , that he might serue , honour , and obeie thee : which not onlie rulest , feedest , gouernest & guidest them all according to thy good pleasure , but hast made heauen thy seat , and the earth thy footstole , that from hence out of this vale of miserie , we should looke vp vnto thee our onelie God : where thou reignest in thy Maiestie aboue all the heauens , & from whence we should looke for our deliuerance out of all troubles . O thou greate & feareful God , whose creatures passe all powres of Princes , against whom to striue is meere follie , and with whom to wrastle is extreame madnesse : whose might , wisdom , & iustice is infinit , whose mercie , goodnesse and pitie hath no end : which art so great , that thou fillest all places , & not concluded in anie , but art present euerie where , & seest all things : whose maiestie surmounteth all creatures so farre , that it cannot be conteined or ruled of any : Thou great & fearful God , which in thy anger threwest thy angelsthat offended the out of thy glorious presence in heauen , into euerlasting darknes ofhell : who in thy rage drownedst all the world except eight persons , which burnedst vp Sodom and Gomorah Gen. 19. 24. with fire & brimstone from heauen : which didst cast Adam and vs all out of Paradice for eating the forbidden Apple : who causedst the man to be stoned to death for gathering a few sticks on the Sabbath daie : which man would iudge to be but small faultes , Num. 15. 36. yet were great , because they were contrarie to thy commaundements : who killed Vzzah for vpholding the Arke being readie to fall , which plauged Pharao with froges , flies & hailestones , which made Nabuchadnezer of a mightie king a vile beast to eate grasse , & made Herod to be wiried with lice : O thou great and feareful God , at whose beck the deuils do tremble , the earth doth quake , & the heauens shoote out hotte fierie thunderbolts , the clouds powre out great stormes and tempests , to destroie thine enimies : O thou God of heauen , thou great and feareful God , I thy poore wretch , vile worme and miserable creature , voide of all goodnes , and ful of all wretchednes , I forsaking my selfe , and trusting on thy goodnes , am bold to creepe in at a corner , and present my felfe before thy throne of mercie , quaking & trembling at thy feareful iudgements , & sharpe iustice against sinne , I offer vnto thee this poore soule & carkesse , the worke of thy owne hands , made glorious by thee , but foulie defaced by me . I Lord , I God do most humbly with a heauie hart and troubled mind beseech thee , I most earnestlie with bitter teares beg & craue of thee , to cast me not away out of thy sight , but gratiouslie to heare my praier . For although thou dwellest in thy highe and holie place in heauen , yet thou lookest downe into the earth , to heare the sighing of the poore , and deliuer the oppressed : and though thou be greate and feareful in all thy workes , yet I know thou art great in mercie and rich in goodnes . For although thou hast punished sharplie , yet thou sauest more mercifully . Adam was cast out of Paradice in iustice , & yet had mercy offered vnto him in great plenty . The entising of a woman made him to offend thee , & the blessed seed of the same woman hath bruised the serpents poisonful head , & deliuered vs . Thou therefore that art a God oftrueth , & keepest promise and shewest mercie to them that loue thee & keepe thy commaundements , looke pitifully on vs , which forsaking our selues , hang vpon thee : and though we see thy deserued rod , yet we fly to thy promised mercie : though we haue not kept our promise made vnto thee in our Baptisme , that we should forsake the Deuil , world , and flesh , serue , honour , and faithfully obey thee , our onely Lord & God , with al our hart , strength , powre & soule , yet art thou a true God in keeping thy promise , and not casting vs of . When we run from thee , thou callest vs againe , and not destroying vs sodenly , tariest for our amendement . When we hate thee , and become thy open enemies , thou remembring thy promise made to Abraham , Dauid , and our fathers , seekest by all meanes to bring vs home againe to thee : though we be vnfaithful , thou art true : though we forget thee , thou remembrest vs . Though we deserue to be cast away from thee without al hope of redemption , yet when thou fatherlie correctest vs , in the midst of thine anger thou rememberest thy mercie , and receiuest vs againe to thee . We graunt , O Lord , that we doe not loue thee , nor keepe thy commaundements as we ought , yet Lord thou that art loue and charitie it selfe , and louest all things that thou hast made , and in thy deare sonne Christ Iesus doest imbrace vs , not looking at our deserts , but at his worthines , who hath fulfilled the lawe for vs , and made vs partakers of thy rightcousnes : Lord God heare vs , and haue pitie on vs . O thou Lord God of all mercie , which neuer didst cast anie awaie that fled vnto thee , open they eares , & heare the praiers of me thy humble suter : shal I be the first whom thou wilt not heare ? Is thy mercie all spent , & none left in store for vs ? Open thy eies O god of our saluation , & behold the miserable state of thy poore people . Our citie lieth waste , the walles vnbuilt , our enemies rush in on euerie side , and we are a laughing stocke vnto them : thou heardst the crying of Agar being cast out of her house , thou lookedst at the oppression of Egipt , thou pitiedst the woful sighing of Anna : & when thy people were oppressed of any enemies round about them , thou raisedst vp one Iudge or other to deliuer them . Consider , O Lord , I beseech thee , our woful state : we are spoiled on euerie side : marke and hearken to the praier , which I thy poore seruante make vnto thee , which seest al secrets this day , continually crying night & daie with a simple & vnfeined hart , not for mine owne selfe , whom thou hast so well placed in the courte , with plentie of all things , but for my breethren the children of Israel thy seruants , the ofspring of thy deerbeloued Iacob , which be in great heauines . While they be in miserie , I cannot be merrie . Their greife is my sorow , and their welfare is my reioysing . I graunt O Lord we haue gricuouslie offended thee : yet haue we not cast thee of , nor forsaken thee to be our Lord : we be thy seruants , though vnthristy , vnthankful , & miserable , & thou art a God rich in mercie , to all that turne vnto thee . I confesse , O gratious God , that the children of Israell haue sinned against thee , yea not onely they , O Lord , but I & my fathers house haue haynouslie broken thy commaundements , and yet we dispaire not to obtaine thy fauour againe , as children that haue offended their louing father . There is none of vs free , we plead mercie and not iustice , we stand not in defence of our doings , but yeald your selues into thy merciful hands . While thou giuest vs a hart to praie , we continually beleeue thou wiit heare vs in the end . O Lord correct thou vs after thine owne good will and pleasure , but giue vs not vp to the lust of thy enemies , which blaspheme thee , saying ; their God hath forsaken them , their God cannot nor will not help them : they hate vs , not so much for our owne sinnes , as for that we be called thy seruants . O Lord let not thy holie name be ill spoken of through our wickednes , rise and defend thine owne cause , cast not awaie thy seruants in thy heauie displeasure . What vantage canst thou haue in giuing vs ouer to thy foes ? they shall laugh when we shall weepe , they will slaunder thy goodnes for our forgetfulnes of thee . Thou promisedst O Lord by Ezech. 18. the mouth of thy Prophet , that in what howre so-ever the sinner did repent , thou wodlst no more remember his wickednes , nor laie it to his charge . We weepe , we confesse and acknowledge our manisold wickednes wherewith we & our fathers haue offended thee , we cal for mercy , we praie night and daie , not doubting but thou wilt keepe thy promise in deliuering & hearing vs in thy duetime . Though we haue broken our promise in disobeying thee , yet if it please thee thus to try our faith & exercise our patience , by laying on vs thy heauie hand and sharp correction , thy good will be done : giue vs strength to beare that thy wisdome will laie vpon vs , & laie on vs what thou wilt . Thou gauest vs thy lawe to be a bridle to rule our wicked desires , & keepe vs within the compasse of them : but we like mad men , or rather wilde and vntamed beasts , that cannot be tyed in cheines , nor holden in anie bands , haue outragiouslie broken all thy commaundements . No lawes could rule vs , no saying compell , nor correction could staie vs , but wilfullie we followed our owne phantasies . There is nothing , o Lord , that thou canst laie to our charge , but we willinglie and franklie confesse our selues guiltie thereof : for we haue neither kept thy commaundements , which thou gauest vs by Moses thy seruant , wherein priuatlie we might learne how to direct our liues , both towardes the our God , and also toward all men : Nor the ceremonies , Sacraments & sacrifices , which thou appointedst vs to keepe in thy Religion , and in them to worship the , we haue not duelie regarded and kept , but cast them awaie , and followed the fashions of the heathen people about vs , and such as we deuised our selues : Our Priestes and Prophets haue taught vs lies and deuises of their owne heades , yet haue we beene more readie to heare , beleeue , and follow them , then thy holie will and word , declared vnto vs in thy Booke oflife . The Ciuill lawes by which thou appointedst thy common wealth to be ruled , we haue broken & disobeied , liuing at our owne luste & pleasure . Our Iudges , Rulers and lawyers haue sought their owne gaine more then Iustice to their people , oppressing them wrongfullie : There is no goodnesse in no sorte of vs : Prince , Priest , People , Iudge , Ruler , and all sortes from the highest to the lowest , we haue all run astraie , we denie it not , but with many tears& greiuous heart we fal before thy throne of mercie , earnestlie crauing , & faithfully beleeuing to find mercie grace and pardon at thy hands . With these and such like words he powred out his greife before the Lord . For no doubt he spake much more then is here written , but these maie suffice to teach vs the like .