pluck me from thy truth, but that, as I have learned the true understanding of thy blessed will, so I may remain in the same continually, come life, come death, unto the glory of thy blessed name.

Amen.

FOF A LIFE AGREEABLE TO OUR KNOWLEDGE.

As I have prayed unto thee, O heavenly Father, to be taught the true understanding of thy blessed word by thy holy Spirit, so I most entirely beseech thee to give me grace to lead a life agreeable to my knowledge. Suffer me not to be of the number of them, which profess that they know God with their mouth, but deny him with their deeds. Let me not be like unto that son which said unto his father Matt. xxi. that he would labour in his vineyard, and yet laboured nothing at all, but went abroad loitering idly. Make me rather like unto that good and fruitful land, which Matt. xiii. vieldeth again her seed with great increase, that men, seeing my good works, may Luke viii. glorify thee my heavenly Father. Amen.

FOR THE HEALTH OF THE BODY.

Mark iv.

I FEEL in myself, O merciful Saviour, how grievous a prison this my body is unto my soul, which continually wisheth to be loosened out of this vile carcase, and Phil. i. to come unto thee; seeing it hath here no rest, but is at every hour vexed with the filthy lusts of the flesh, with the wicked assaults of the devil and the world, and is never at quiet, but alway in danger to be overcome of her enemies, were it not preserved of thy goodness by the ministry and service-doing of thy holy angels. Notwithstanding, O most loving Lord, forasmuch as it is thy good pleasure that my body and soul shall still remain here together as yet in this vale of misery, I beseech thee to preserve my soul from all vice, and my body from all sickness, that I, enjoying through thy benefit the health both of body and soul, may be the more able to serve thee and my neighbour in such works as are acceptable in thy sight. Amen.

FOR A GOOD NAME.

NOTHING becometh the professor of thy name better, O heavenly Father, than so to behave himself according to his profession, that he may be well reported of them that be of the household of faith: yea, such sincerity and pureness of life ought to be in them which profess thy holy name, that the very adversaries of thy truth should be ashamed once to mutter against them. Give me grace therefore, I most entirely desire thee, so to frame my life according to the rule of thy blessed word, that I may give no man occasion to speak evil of me, but rather so live in my vocation, that I may be an example to other, to live godly and virtuously, unto the honour and praise of thy glorious name. Amen.

FOR A COMPETENT LIVING.

ALTHOUGH I doubt not of thy fatherly provision for this my poor and needy life, yet, forasmuch as thou hast both commanded and taught me, by thy dear Son, Matt. vi. to pray unto thee for things necessary for this my life, I am bold at this present to come unto thy divine Majesty, most humbly beseeching thee that, as thou hast given me life, so thou wilt give me meat and drink to sustain the same; again, as thou hast given me a body, so thou wilt give me clothes to cover it, that I, having sufficient for my living, may the more freely and with the quieter mind apply myself unto thy service and honour. Amen.

FOR A PATIENT AND THANKFUL HEART IN SICKNESS. WHOм thou lovest, O Lord, him dost thou chasten, yea, every son that thou Prov. iii. receivest thou scourgest; and in so doing thou offerest thyself unto him as a father Rev. iii.

Heb. xii.

1 Pet. v.

Gal, v.

Eph. vi.

Luke i.

Hos. xiii. 1 Cor. xv. Heb. ii.

unto his son: for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? Grant therefore, I most heartily pray thee, that whensoever thou layest thy cross on me, and visitest me with thy loving scourge of sickness, I may by no means strive against thy fatherly pleasure, but patiently and thankfully abide thy chastisement, ever being persuaded, that it is for the health both of my body and soul, and that by this means thou workest my salvation, subduest the flesh unto the Spirit, and makest me a new creature, that I may hereafter serve thee the more freely, and continue in thy fear unto my life's end. Amen.

FOR STRENGTH AGAINST THE DEVIL, THE WORLD, AND
THE FLESH.

O LORD God, the devil goeth about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. The flesh lusteth against the Spirit. The world persuadeth' unto vanities, that we may forget thee our Lord God, and so for ever be damned. Thus are we miserably on every side besieged of cruel and unrestful enemies, and like at every moment to perish, if we be not defended with thy godly power against their tyranny. I therefore, poor and wretched sinner, despairing of mine own strengths, which indeed are none, most heartily pray thee to endue me with strength from above, that I may be able, through thy help, with strong faith to resist Satan, with fervent prayer to mortify the raging lusts of the flesh, with continual meditation of thy holy law to avoid the foolish vanities and transitory pleasures of this wicked world; that I, through thy grace being set at liberty from the power of mine enemies, may live and serve thee in holiness and righteousness all the days of my life. Amen.

FOR THE HELP OF GOD'S HOLY ANGELS.

AN infinite number of wicked angels are there, O Lord Christ, which without ceasing seek my destruction. Against this exceeding great multitude of evil spirits Psal. xxxiv. send thou me thy blessed and heavenly angels, which may pitch their tents round about me, and so deliver me from their tyranny. Thou, O Lord, hast devoured hell, and overcome the prince of darkness with all his ministers, yea, and that not for thyself, but for them that believe in thee. Suffer me not therefore to be overcome of Satan and of his servants, but rather let me triumph over them; that I, through strong faith and the help of the blessed angel, having the victory of the hellish army, may with a joyful heart say, Death, where is thy sting? hell, where is thy victory? and so for ever and ever magnify thy holy name. Amen.

1 Cor. xv.

1 Cor. ii.

Matt. vii.
Luke xiii.

Luke xii.

John x.

Eph. i.

Matt. xxv.
Luke x.

Matt. xxv.

FOR THE GLORY OF HEAVEN.

THE joys, O Lord, which thou hast prepared for them that love thee, no eye hath seen, no ear bath heard, neither is any heart able to think. But as the joys are great and unspeakable, so are there few that do enjoy them. For strait is the gate and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life; and few there be that find it. Notwithstanding, O heavenly Father, thou hast a little flock, to whom it is thy pleasure to give the glorious kingdom of heaven. There is a certain number of sheep that hear thy voice, whom no man is able to pluck out of thy hand, which shall never perish, to whom also thou shalt give eternal life. Make me therefore, O Lord, of that number whom thou from everlasting hast predestinate to be saved, whose names also are written in the book of life. Pluck me out of the company of the stinking goats, which shall stand on thy left hand and be damned, and place me among those thy sheep, which shall stand on his right hand and be saved. Grant me this, O merciful Father, for thy dear Son's sake Jesu Christ our Lord. So shall I, enjoying this singular

[ Folio, persuaded.]

benefit at thy hand, and being placed in thy glorious kingdom, sing perpetual praises to thy godly Majesty, which livest and reignest with thy dearly-beloved Son and the Holy Ghost, one true and everlasting God, &c.

A THANKSGIVING UNTO GOD FOR ALL HIS BENEFITS.

THY benefits toward me, O most loving Father, are so great and infinite, whether I have respect unto my body or unto my soul, that I find not in myself how to recompense any part of thine unspeakable goodness toward me. But thou, which needest none of my goods, knowing our beggary, yea, our nothing, requirest of us Psal. xvi. for a recompence of thy kindness only the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. O Lord and merciful Father, what worthy thanks am I, poor and wretched sinner, able to give thee? Notwithstanding, trusting on thy mercy and favourable kindness, I offer unto thee, in the name of Christ, the sacrifice of praise, ever thanking thee most heartily for all thy benefits, which thou hast bestowed upon me, thine unprofitable servant, from the beginning of my life unto this present hour; most humbly beseeching thee to continue thy loving-kindness toward me, and to give me grace so to walk Rom. vi worthy of this thy fatherly goodness, that, when thou shalt call me out of this careful life, I may enjoy that thy most singular and last benefit, which is everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost be all honour and praise for ever and ever. Amen.

Give the glory to God alone.

THE

SICK MAN'S SALVE,

BY

THOMAS BECON.