WHen that proud Senacherib had sent to blaspheme the God of Israell , to the greate discomfort and horror of godly king Hezekias and his people : Hezekias , notwithstanding the ordinary meane of defence by the calling of his strong men together , and fortifieng the walles of Jerusalem , knowing that the strength of the Lord is farre aboue the might of man , and hee guideth euerie battell , as pleaseth himself , repaireth vnto the Lord , humbleth himselfe , proclaimeth a fast , and praieth before the Lord with a faithfull heart , and hereby hee found the shining beames of Gods mercie on himself and his people . By this example , let vs bee moued in this time of extremitie , when all our enemies conspire together against vs , to runne vnto our good God and craue the ayde of his hand to help and defend vs . For as he was to Hezekias , so to the godly now : as hee might say then , so wee say now : the Lord is our God , our rock , our defender in whom wee trust , by whome we escape death : And turning vnto him with faithfull hearts and repentance let vs pray vnto him in this maner .

O Most gratious God and merciful Sauior , we pray and beseech thee to bee mercifull to our sinnes , according to thy greate mercie , as thou hast forgeuen vs euen from our bondage in Egipt vntill now . Geue vs not ouer , O Lord , our most gratious father , leaste the heathen which despise thee , behold our miserie , and say in derision : loe where is now their God in whome they trust ? And although when a man putteth away his wife , and she goeth from him and marieth with another , then the question is : should he resort to her any more after that ? And the land is vnpure and defiled , committing fornication with many louers : yet Ier. ●1. turne vs againe ( O GOD ) and we shal be turned . And because thou art mercifull and of long suffring , louing and gentle to them that offende , not willing the death of a sinner , but rather that hee should conuerte and liue , represse the vehement heate of thy fire with godly pitie , stay thine hand from our destruction , and looke fauourably vnto our Soueraigne Princesse , Elizabeth thy seruant , as thou diddest vnto Dauid , Hezekias and Iosia , and so to the whole land . And send vs peace , yea an happie peace . Blesse vs al with thy spirite , defend vs with thy right hand , shrowd vs vnder thy wings against our enemies , that so we may serue thee in holines and righteousnes al the daies of our liues . Let it not be sayed : how long shall the land mourne , and all the herbs of the fielde perish for the wickednes of them that dwell therein : let not the creatures haue such cause for vs to desire to leaue vs : let not Time say of vs : these be they that greue me , waste mee out riotouslie , make me complaine and wish to rest and rise no more . But let it bee saied : beholde the Lorde liueth for euer worthie of praise , because hee hath bin mercifull vnto sinners , causing them to beleeue , repent , and turne vnto him and be saued . And though thou once spakest to Ier. 15. 1. Ieremie against thy owne people being disobedient vnto thee , saying : Though Moses and Samuel stoode before mee , yet haue I no heart vnto this people , driue them away , that they may goe out of my sight , some vnto death , some to the sword , some to hunger and some to captiuitie : yet we knowe ( O our good Lord ) that when Ephraim was heard lamenting & praying Ier. 31. 18. of 6. 1. Io. 2. 10. heartilie vnto them in his distresse thou thoughtest vpon mercy , as a father pitying his owne children . And though Ionas cried out , destruction destruction against Niniuie : yet seeing them to turne from their euill waies , thou didst repent , & layed not that euill vppon them . Let vs therefore presume on GOD , to call for mercie vppon repentaunce , and let vs heare that sounding in our eares , which Hezekias proclaymed in all his prouinces saieng : be not you stiffnecked like as were your fathers : but yeld your selues vnto the Lord , 2. Chro. 30 8. and enter into his holy place which hee hath sanctified for euer : & serue the Lord your God , & the fearcenesse of his wrath shal be turned away from you . Let vs not only heare this , but obey this , that we may find the comfortable commoditie thereof . Graunt vs grace ( O father ) to forsake our euill waies , & our own imaginations , Isa. 55. and turne hartilie vnto thee . Oh graunt , it that wee may put displeasure betimes Eccles. 1 and. 12. out of our hearts , and in season remoue euill from our bodies , that we may not any longer delight in Childhood and youth , which are vanities : that we may fruitfully remember thee in these our tender yeres , while we haue libertie to goe where wee list , before the Time of trouble come , and the dayes approach wherein wee shall crie out : oh these daies be euill : they doe not delight vs . Graunt ( O good Lord ) that thy grace may guide vs , that we may not contemne , but most gratefullie entertaine our faithfull Iacob : if for nothing els , yet in regard of these our present commodities , whereof his departure wil shortlie depriue vs , if we continue vnthankfull . That wee may reteine him as good Abraham and Lot did the Angels , as Rahab did the Spies of Iosuah , as the widows did the prophets , Elias & Elizeus as Zacheus and Martha did our sauiour Christ , and as Lidia did the Apostles : that so wee may obtaine thy mercy , enioy thy fauour , abound with blessings , bee encreased in our treasures , defended in thy faith : and preserued from our enemies , whome , wee beseeche thee , either to conuert and bring home to thee , or else to cast downe before vs : that wee being in peace vnder our vines , and 1 King ● . 25. 2. 2. King . 17. figge trees may freelie serue thee to thy glorie . Graunt wee pray thee ( O good Lord ) that though the ramping Lyons of Samaria seeke to spoile vs , wee may not haue any iust cause to feare , because by faith in thee we shall sodainly resist them : thy feare ( O father ) shall shield vs and their treacheries and deuelish pretences shall fall on their owne heads . Though the flies Isa. 7. 8. that swarme about the water of Egipt , and the Bees that be in the Assyrians land flie together , and light in al the desolate valleyes , in the hoales of the stones , and vpon all thorny and bushye places : yet we may not then feare , nor bee discouraged , because they haue conspired wickedlie against vs thy people : against our gratious Soueraigne Ladie , thine anoynted , yea against thee our GOD , whom we serue , whom we honour , on whom we depend for whose cause we bee persecuted , vnder whose banner wee fight , and through whom we stand : which in mercie to vs , & in iustice to them , haste promised vppon our repentance , and hope in thee , and thou wilt surelie performe ( if our sinnes hinder it not , and prouoke thee to wrath against vs ) that it shall not so goe forth & come to passe , as they haue imagined . And so long as thou art pleased with vs , wee shall not bee deliuered into the hand of bragging Holofernes . Though the great red Dragon Iud 2. 5. Reu. 12 and 20. 2. with seauen heads and tenne hornes bend his force against vs , though with his taile he draw downe the third part of the starres of heauen , though he persecute the woman and her child ; though the kings of Psal 2. 2 and. 99. the Earth and the mightie Potentats of the world rise vp and take counsell together against thee , and thine annoynted : though the people tremble , the Earth bee moued , the heauens bend , the Sea do rage , and all the Creatures looke sower , and cry for deliuerance : yet shal we not be dismaid we shal not tremble , nor be shaken , as long as we trust in thee , leane vnto thee , and rest vpon thee and the Rock of thy trueth : for thou art our God for euer , mighty , strong , terrible and glorious , which sittest betweene the Cherubins : thou art greate in the middest of Sion , & high aboue all the Nations of the earth : thou hearest them , thou rulest them , thou sendest them forth and restraynest the furie of Leuiathan in Iob 40. 1 and 41. 1 the Sea , and of Behemoth in the wildernesse : Be thou with vs continually , hold vs by thy right hand strongly ; guide vs by thy counsell wiselie , and receiue vs into glorie victoriouslie . And if thou be with vs , who dare bee against vs ▪ For thou arte stronger then al they that be in the world . Therefore with a true faith , and heartie repentance we come vnto thee . Blesse vs ( O father ) both without and within . Be thou our gard : thy word our guide , thy spirite our comfort , thy Sonne our Sauiour , and thy seruant our Soueraigne Lady Elizabeth our louing Mother in Israel . Giue vs grace ( O heauenlie King ) to accompte the Time of grace pretiouse , to redeeme the Time , because the dayes are euil : to vse the Creatures gratefully , to entertayne faithe hope and charitie , and grant , that we may no longer by meanes of our transgressions constraine Iacob to departe , Ieremie t●●ment , Ioseph to be aflicted , the Creatures to grone , & the peereles Time to sighe and crie for perpetuall rest . But rather that we our selues may bewaile our sinnes & the miseries of this life , with the godly , with the Creatures , with Time , and to crie out vnto thee Lord in heartie and humble desires : O come good Lorde , come Lord Iesus , Reu. 22. 20. how long shall the vngodlie triumph ? The iust be afflicted ? the creatures groane for deliuerance ? Finish soone these sinfull dayes : cast downe the Dragon , the old serpent , Antichrist and all thine enemies into the bottomles pit of euerlasting torment , & receiue thine holy elected Saintes into thy sweet bosome , with this comfortable call : come yee blessed , receiue the kingdome Mat. 25. 34. prepared for you from the beginning of the world . Into the which Kingdome we beseech thee , O louing father to receiue vs , for the sake of thy deare sonne Iesus , to whom with thee and the holie ghost , three distinct persons , and one eternall God , bee all honour , glorie power and dominion , now & for euermore Amen .