66 "O Lord of lords, God Almighty, great and dread"ful, which by thy word hast made heaven, earth, the sea, and all things contained in them! nothing is "able to resist thy power: thy mercy is over all thy "works: all things be under thy dominion and rule, "both man and beast, and all living creatures: thou "art merciful to whom thou wilt, and hast compas"sion on whom it pleaseth thee," &c. The second Psalm also was "for remission of sins," beginning, 66 "O most mighty God of angels and men, whose judgments be unsearchable, and whose wis"dom is profound and deep; 66 "Hear the prayers of thy servant, and cast not away the humble suit of thy poor creature and "handy-work," &c. The third Psalm was " for remission of sins" also. The fourth, "A complaint of a penitent sinner which is sore troubled, and overcome with sins." The fifth," For obtaining of godly wisdom." The sixth, "A Christian man prayeth that he may be healed of God." The seventh, "For an order and direction of good living." The eighth, " A Christian prayeth that he may be delivered from his enemies." The ninth, Against enemies." The tenth, "When enemies be so cruel that a Christian cannot suffer them." The eleventh, "Of confidence and trust in God." The twelfth," If God defer to help long time." The thirteenth, "In which a Christian gives thanks to God that his enemies have not gotten the over-hand of him." The fourteenth, "In which the goodness of God is praised." The fifteenth, " Of the benefits of God, with thanks for the same.' To which were subjoined the twenty-second Psalm, entitled, "The complaint of Christ on the cross," and "A Psalm of Thanksgiving. Then followed the book of prayer, entitled, "Prayers or Meditations," wherein the mind is stirred up patiently to suffer all afflictions here, and to set at nought the vain prosperity of this world, and alway to long for everlasting felicity, collected out of holy works, &c. These prayers were all digested, as were the psalms aforesaid, into verses and sentences, and contain a great spirit of true piety and devotion, sense of God, and dependence upon him; and many of them were excellently suited to her condition. Then follow two prayers for the king, and for men to say on entering battle; the latter of which the queen very probably composed upon the king's expedition into France with a great army, when she was left regent at home. In this prayer she has this truly pious petition: "Our cause being now just, and being enforced "into war and battle, we most humbly beseech thee, "O Lord God of Hosts! so to turn the hearts of our “enemies to the desire of peace, that no Christian "blood be spilt; or else grant, O Lord! that with "small effusion of blood, and to the little hurt and damage of innocents, we may to thy glory obtain "victory; and that the wars being soon ended, we may all, with one heart and mind knit together in "concord and unity, laud and praise thee." The next is a devout prayer to be daily said, together with one or two besides. There was also printed another piece of the devout studies of this good queen, entitled, "A goodly Exposition of the fifty-first Psalm, which Hierom of Ferrary made at the latter end of his days." This work begins: "Wretch that I am, comfortless and "forsaken of all men, which have offended both "heaven and earth," &c. Then follow in conclusion other things, as " Of Faith-The power of FaithThe Work of Faith-Good Works--The Prayer of the Prophet Daniel." Before we proceed any further in the memoirs of this truly excellent person, we shall present our readers with a pious prayer of hers, composed in short ejaculations, suited to her condition, which may serve as a specimen of the devout exercises of her soul. "Most benign Lord Jesu, grant me thy grace, that "it may alway work in me, and persevere with me "unto the end! "Grant me that I may ever desire and will that "which is most pleasant and acceptable unto thee! Thy will be my will; and my will, to follow "always thy will! "Let there be alway in me one will, and one "desire with thee, and that I have no desire to will or not to will, but as thou wilt! "Lord, Thou knowest what thing is most profitable, and most expedient for me : "Give me, therefore, what thou wilt, as much as "thou wilt, and when thou wilt! 66 Do with me what thou wilt, as it shall please "thee, and as shall be most to thine honour! "Put me where thou wilt, and freely do with me "in all things after thy will! "Thy creature 1 am, and in thy hands: lead me, "and turn me where thou wilt! "Lo! I am thy servant, ready to do all things "that thou commandest; for I desire not to live to "myself, but to thee. "Lord Jesu! I pray thee grant me thy grace, that "I never set my heart on the things of this world, but that all carnal and worldly affections may "utterly die, and be mortified in me! 66 "Grant me, above all things, that I may rest in thee, and fully pacify and quiet my heart in thee! For thou, Lord, art the very true peace of heart " and the perfect rest of the soul, and without thee all things be grievous and unquiet. "My Lord Jesu, I beseech thee, be with me in every place, and at all times; and let it be to me a special solace gladly for to love to lack all "worldly solace! " CATHARINE PARR WAS born about the beginning of the reign of King Henry the Eighth, who succeeded to the throne of England April 22, 1509. She was the eldest of the two daughters of Sir Thomas Parr, of Kendal, by Dame Maud his wife, who bestowed on her a learned education, as the most valuable addition he could make to her other accomplishments. Her progress in literature fully answered her father's culture and expectations, so that she soon became celebrated, not only for her good sense, but her learning, and made a most excellent use of her abilities in the employment of them for the best purposes in every stage of her future life. She was first married to John Neville, Lord Latymer; and after his decease, her perfections both in body and mind so powerfully attracted the affections of King Henry, that she was married to him at Hampton Court, July 12, 1543. She always took great delight in conversing with the sacred writings, and the investigation of divine truths, which soon dissipated the clouds of ignorance, and set before her in a true light the nature of the gospel. She seems, indeed, to have had a religious tincture from her infancy; but the religious duties she so carefully practised in early life were according to the blind devotion of that age. These errors she not only afterwards retracted, but forwarded the Reformation, and advanced and encouraged the Protestant cause. She pursued these good designs as far as the mutable and perverse disposition of an arbitrary prince, and the iniquity of the times, would admit, and even further than she could go without exposing herself to the utmost danger; for, though her laudable attempts were |