O Lord, which art that most high power, & of whom all power unto this end is ordained even that the public weal should be conserved, Idolatry banished, true religion maintained, good order kept, virtue advanced, ⟨image 34⟩& vice punished, give, we beseech thee, unto all civil Magistrates, head rulers and common officers thy holy spirit, which may so rule them in all their doings, that every one of them according to their vocation: may truly and faithfully do that, which appertaineth unto their office.1 Kindle in their minds a fervent desire of reading thy holy law both day and night, that they may do all things according unto that. Grave in their hearts the true knowledge of thee and of thy son Jesus christ, and an whole intent too honour and serve the according to thy blessed word all the days of their life. Make them unfeigned favourers of thy holy gospel,2 and loving nurses of thy true preachers. Give them grace to banish out of their Realms and countries all Idolatry,3 superstition, ⟨p. xix⟩hypocrisy,4 feigned religion false worshipping, with all the precepts, ordinances and inventions of men that fight with thy blessed word. Make them not only favourers, lovers and promoters of thy holy Gospel, but also followers, livers & practisers of the same unto the example of all their subjects. Work in their hearts, o Lord, such a love toward the commonweal, that their own private commodity set apart, they may employ all their endeavours to advance, beautify, enrich & make wealthy their realm and country. Make them gentle friendly, loving and beneficial to their inferiors. Make them pitiful unto the miserable,5 and liberal unto the pore. Give them that affection toward other, that they have toward them selves.6 Endue them with such loving favour ⟨image 35⟩unto their subjects, that they oppress them not with to much and unjust exactions. Expel all tyranny out of their hearts,7 and make them righteous and merciful. Grant that they may rule justly, seek judgment, deliver the oppressed, defend the fatherless▪ comfort the widow, favour good letters, maintain schools, nourish learned men, promote such as be godly and virtuous, and with out any ungodly advancing of them selves,8 live among their people, as a loving father among his natural children, seeking their quiet and wealth.
O Lord, whych art that most high power, & of whom all power vnto this end is ordeined euen that ye publique weale shuld be conserued, Idolatrye banyshed, true religyon mainteyned, good order kept, vertue auaūced, ⟨image 34⟩& vice punyshed, giue, we besech the, vnto all ciuile Magistrates, head rulers and commō officers thy holy spirit, which may so rule them in al their doings, that euery one of them according to their vocacion: may trulye and faythfullye do that, whyche appertayneth vnto their office.1 Kyndle in theyr mindes a feruent desyre of redynge thy holye lawe both day and nyghte, that they maye do al thynges accordynge vnto that. Graue in theyr heartes the true knowledge of the and of thi sōne Iesu christ, and an whole entent too honoure and serue the accordynge to thy blessed worde al the dayes of theyr lyfe. Make thē vnfained fauorers of thy holye gospel,2 and louing nurses of thi true prechers. Geue them grace to banyshe out of theyr Realmes and countryes all Idolatrye,3 supersticion, ⟨p. xix⟩hipocrisy,4 fayned religion fals worshipping, with al the preceptes, ordinaunces and inuencions of menne that fight with thi blessed word. Make them not only fauourers, louers and promoters of thy holye Gospel, but also folowers, lyuers & practisers of the same vnto the example of all theyr subiectes. Worcke in their herts, o Lord, such a loue toward the commōweale, that their own pryuate commodity sette aparte, they maye employ all their endeuours to auaunce, beautyfye, enrych & make wealthy their realm and country. Make them gentle frendly, louinge and beneficiall to their inferiours. Make them pytyfull vnto the myserable,5 and liberal vnto the pore. Geue them that affeccion toward other, that they haue towarde them selfes.6 Endue them with such louing fauoure ⟨image 35⟩vnto their subiectes, that they oppres thē not with to much and vniust exaccions. Expel al tirannye oute of theyr hertes,
- 1Psal. i. Deut, xvii. Joshua. i. P•a•m. i•. Sapi. i.vi.iiii. re. xxii. and .xxiii.Psal. i. Deut, xvii. Iosue. i. P•a•m. i•. Sapi. i.vi.iiii. re. xxii. and .xxiii.
- 2Isaiah. x•ix.Esay. x•ix.
- 3Deut. xiii.
- 4iii. re. xv.iiii. Regu. xviii. ii. pa. xvii.
- 5Deu. xvii. Prover. xx.Deu. xvii. Prouer. xx.
- 6Ecc. xxiiii.
- 7Isaiah i. I•e•. xxi. •nd .xxii. dacha. vii. Psal. lxxxi.Esaye i. I•e•. xxi. •nd .xxii. •acha. vii.
