A godly meditation composedA godlye medytacyon composed

Consequently O lord thou that hast said that thou wilt not break the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax: Be merciful we beseech thee unto all those that through fear and weakness have denied the by dissimulation and hypocrisy. That it may please the to strengthen their weak knees (thou that art the strength of them that standeth) and lift up their feeble hands, that their little smoke may increase into a great flame and their bruised reed into a mighty oak, able to abide all the ⟨image 28⟩blustering blasts & stormy tempests of adversity, to the end that the ungodly do no longer triumph over their faith, which (as they think) they have utterly quenched & subdued. Stir up thy strength in them O lord and behold them with that merciful eye, where with thou beheldest Peter, that they rising by repentance, may become the constant confessors of thy word, and the sanctified members of thy church. To the end that when as by thy providence thou purposest to lay thy cross upon them, they do no more seek unlawful means to avoid the same, but most willingly to be contented with patience to take it up & follow thee, in what sort so ever it shall please the to lay the same upon their shoulders. Either by death, imprisonment or exile. ⟨image 28⟩And that it will please thee, not to tempt them about their powers, but give them grace utterly to despair of their own strength, and wholly to depend upon thy mercy.

Consequently O lord thou that hast sayd that thou wilt not breke the brused reide, nor quenche the smokynge flaxe: Be mercyfull we beseche thee vnto all those that through feare and wecknes haue denied the by dissimulation and ypocresie. That it may please the to strenghten theyr wecke knees (thou that art the strenght of thē that standethe) and lyfte vp theyr feible handes, that theire lytell smoke maye increase into a great flame and their brused reid into a myghtye oke, able to abyde al the ⟨image 28⟩bolstringe blastes & stormye tempestes of aduersyte, to thend that the vngodly do no longer triūphe ouer theyre faight, which (as they thincke) they haue vtterly quenched & subdewed. Stirre vp thy strenght in them O lorde and behold them with that merciful eye, where with thou beheldes Peter, that they risynge by repentaunce, maye become the constant confessors of thy worde, and the sanctified members of thy churche. To the end that when as by thy prouidence thou purposeste to lay thy crosse vpon them, they do no more seke vnlawful meanes to auoyde the same, but most willingly to be contented with patience to take it vp & follow the, in what sort so euer it shall please the to laye the same vpō their shoulders. Eyther by death, imprisonment or exile.