such sort knowe beholde loue and laude thee as so many millions of Angels doo with soueraine ioy and gladnes behold thee knowing louing and lauding thee perfectly without being euer weried in doing 〈◊〉 and due obeisance vnto thee I salute thee O sauegarde of my soule eternal word of the father true sacrifice flesh viuificant entier diuinitie eternal life O most pretious Treasure replenished with al delight the harbour and resting place of pure and cleane heartes O 〈◊〉 viande O celestial and most excellent breade O eternal word of the father which art for vs made fleshe and yet remainest God in the verye selfe same person I confesse thee most vndoubtedly to be true God and true man consecrated after a miraculous maner on the Aultar Thou art the assured hope and the true saluation of sinners Thou art the 〈◊〉 Restoratiue of those that languishe Thou art the 〈◊〉 Treasure of poore distressed pilgrims Halowed be thy name therefore most sweete Sauiour Iesus Christe Al thy creatures sound forth praises and thanks-geuinges to thee for the 〈◊〉 wher-with thou tenderedst our welfare by descending downe from 〈◊〉 and offering vp thy noble 〈◊〉 and innocent bodie on the 〈◊〉 of the roode for our redemption and that after thy Resurrection and Ascension thou didst vouchsafe for our wel-fare and consolation to leaue vs with ineffable loue the selfe-same thy liuely and immortal bodie conteined in this most venerable Sacrament as a memorial of thy departure and paune of the peerlesse loue thou bearest vs. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world haue mercie vpon vs and graunt vs thy peace Refreshe also our soules with spiritual foode and comfort especially at the latter ende of our daies that neither in life nor death we depart frō thee nor be depriued at any time of thy celestial benedictions thou which liuest and reignest with God the Father and the holy ghost in al eternitie Amen A PROTESTATION to be made in time of sicknes according to the instructions of the. 27. Chapter aboue Say first the Creede and then in maner folowing I PROTEST here before Almightie God my maker and Redeemer before the blessed virgin Marye and al the whole Court of heauen namely before my Gardian Angel and al you that are here assistant about me that by Gods grace I minde to liue and dye in this faith I haue here protessted according as the holy Catholike and Romane Church vnderstandeth it and that I wil euermore by Gods grace remain in the vnion of the bodie of this Churche vnder the head our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe and his Vicar here in earth And if anie word that sounded contrary hereto should by dotage escape out of my mouth I protest here that it is not mine but onely that which I haue aboue protested A PRAYER to God and to al his blessed Saintes for al thinges necessarye for our selues and our neighbours MOST bountiful pitiful and most merciful Father haue mercie and pitie vpon me who for al mine offences and those of the whole world offer the life passion and paineful death of thine onely sonne vnto thee I present vnto thee al that he hath moste patiently abidden for my sake I offer vnto thee his most holie heart conuerted into honie through the greatnes of the loue he bare me I offer thee the merits of his most sacred mother and of al thy holie Saintes that it maie please thee for their sakes to pardon me my sinnes to take pitie vpon me and that al glory and renowme maie thereby redounde to thee euerlastingly Amen MOST SWEETE Iesus my Soueraine Lorde and Sauiour take pitie and compassion vpon me for the infinite multitude of thy mercies I thanke thee most humbly for the innumerable benefits which I haue receaued and daily doo receaue of thy most bountiful liberalitie I thanke thee for thy most sacred incarnation thy most pure natiuitie thy moste cruel passion for al the effusions of thy most sacred bloud and for thy most ignominious and doleful death I beseech thee most louing and merciful Lorde that it maie please thee to make me partaker of al thy merits that being incorporate and made one selfe same thing with thee through loue and imitation of thy most holie life I may merite to depende and be nourished of thee as a braunche of the vine seing thou art the true vine and the life of al faithful persons wherby al glorie and honour is due to thee for euermore Amen O HOLY Ghost my Comforter helpe and succour me I moste humblie beseeche thee I commend vnto thee my soule bodie and whatsoeuer I haue within or without me and resigne and yeeld vp into thy handes al the whole course and last ende of my life Graunt me Lorde that I maye perseuer thy faithful seruant euen til the last breath doing true and sincere penance for my trespasses and that I sorow and lament them moste hartely before my soule depart this miserable habitation I know right wel Lord that whiles I liue in this world I am blinde feeble and fal with great facilitie into the snares of mine affections I straye verye easily and am easily seduced and beguiled of mine enemies I present therfore and offer al vp into thy handes shrouding my selfe vnder thy most soueraine protection Defende Lorde defende this thy poore seruaunt from al euil Illuminate mine vnderstanding gouerne my soule direct and guide my bodie fortifie my courage against the disordinate dulnes of my heart and against the innumerable scruples which crosse and cruelly encounter it And graunt me grace to loue thee with al delight and sweetnes and that wholly I may be inflamed in thy loue fulfilling at al times and in al places thy moste soueraine behestes And thou be alwaies blessed and thanked for euermore Amen I ADORE reuerence and glorifie thee O most sacred Trinitie God Almightie the Father the Sonne and the holye Ghoste I prostrate and humble my selfe whollye before thy dreadful and diuine maiestie and abandon my selfe for euer vnto thy most holy wil. Expel Lorde and banish quite out of me and of al faithful persons what-soeuer offendeth thee and geue vs that which is grateful and acceptable to thy most soueraine eyes Bring to passe O Lorde that we maye be euen such as thou wouldest haue vs I commend vnto thy sacred protection al this whole familie and al the cause and affaires of euery one be thei spiritual or temporal I commend vnto thee al my parentes brethren kinsfolkes benefactours frendes and acquaintance as also al those whom I am bounde to praye for and that either haue done or presentlye doo commende them selues to my poore deuotions Procure Lorde that al obey thee serue thee and that al in perfect vnitie doo loue thee Reduce the wandrers to the right way extinguish al heresies and schismes conuert to thy faith al those that yet are ignoraunt of thy holye name Graunt vs peace and mainteine vs therin as thou
doth sende them for thy benefite the enriching of thy crown knowing that it is impossible to come by so great a reward as we look for without great paines and trauail And truelye great reason is it that Christians like good souldiers should folow their 〈◊〉 Christe tracing his steps and walking the same waye he went before and entred into his glorye REMEDIES against the sinne and tentations of Enuye ¶ Cap. 25. IT NOWE remaineth to set thee downe some remedies against the temptations of enuie or malice wherewith the fiende is in like maner wont to assault tempt vs For as holy writt doth witnes Through the malice of the deuil death first entred into the world This made the Iewes to seeke our Lorde and Sauiour his death and by this vice haue manye murders and innumerable wicked actes been committed in the world This is also that moste cruel beast which Iacob said had deuoured his sonne Ioseph And therefore must thou carefully foresee that this venemous vipre beginne not at any time to nourishe her-selfe in thy soul but forth-with at the very first brunt to kil and cast her out vsing for that purpose these instructions and aduises folowing FIRST consider howe this sinne of malice or enuie which is according to S. Austin a griefe and sorowe at others felicitie is more hurtful and vnprofitable then any of the other for albeit other sinnes doo hurt the soul yet afforde they I knowe not what kinde of miserable taste and pleasure to the fleshe but this vrle vice doth both hurt the soule and afflict the fleshe sith it sealdeth the heart pineth the body withereth the face appaleth the countenauce and comelye sanguine hewe briefly it tormenteth ouerthroweth the whole mā being like to the worme that consumeth the wood whereof she commeth And thē is it that the enuious mā findeth him-self in worst case most wretched whē th' other whō he maliceth is best at case and happiest SECONDLY consider howe by shaking off this so fretting and fruitlesse a vice and by being in the sta'e of Gods good grace thou art a partaker of al such good things as others doo possesse sith charitie doth make them thine and therefore oughtest thou to be ioyful that others enioye goodes and liue so happilye rather then to be sorowful or any whitt greeued therat For by reioysing with charitie thou art made happye in their happines and by malitiouslye repining therat thou losest thy part and they remaine stil with their prosperitie which albeit they lost yet shouldest not thou recouer it THIRDLY what-soeuer helpeth against pride doth like-wise helpe against Enuie as proceeding for the most part out of the other fithens the proude man bearing impatientlye that any other should be his better or pheere and felowe with him he maliceth those whom in any respect he deemeth to be his betters or more happy then he is See therfore thou indeuoure thy selfe to plucke this poisoned roote out of thee and not to set thy loue vppon the temporal thinges of this world which are so miserable spare and scant that if thy neighbour haue them thou must goe without them and many times must lacke that which an-other might conueniently leaue But if on other side thou set thy minde of spiritual and heauenly things no man can bereaue or barre thee of them yea looke howe much the number of suche is greater that enioye and possesse the same goodes thou doest and so much shal thy happines increase and growe the greater And by this meanes shalt thou be so farre off frō malicing of any man as thou shalt hartilye desire that eche one might gaine the goodes which thou possessest woting wel that so should thy ri ches blisse be not a litle multiplied FOVRTHLY if the desire of thine owne excellencie make thee malice thy neighbour for being thine egall or more high in dignitie then thou art consider that in doing thus thou losest that thou so gretly seekest for sith herein thou debasest thy selfe geuest others occasiō to cōtēne thee perceuing this thy cankred vile nature which thus dishonestly thou thy selfe discouerest But if contrari-wise thou striuedst to master thy self to reioyce at thy neighbours wel-fare as at thine owne then shoulde thine estimation and credite growe muche greater sith euery good man woulde esteeme thee better and highly commend this charitie and noble minde of thine wherof by thus doing thou geuest the world an apparant and plaine testimonie Thy spiritual profite should herewith be in like maner greatly increased for either wold God geue thee the same goodes and graces thou reioysest at in thy neighbour or at least wise reward thee plentifully for the merite of thy charitie And therfore doth S. Chrisostome saye that the vertue of charitie is very great and meruailous which without spoyling any man doth rob and take al sithens by reioysing at other mens wel-fare and goodes we make them ours and winne possessiō of al that which others doo possesse FIFTLY al such meanes as help to excite and stirte vp Charity towards al shal likewise help greatlye to subdue and vanquishe this vice as for example to thinke howe we are al brethren as-touching our flesh descending from the same parentes Adam and Eue and as for the spirite al created of one Lord regenerated by one verrue redeemed by one price and hy the selfe same Redeemer We haue al of vs one mother the holye Catholike Churche the same faith the same Sacramentes and al of vs hope for the same blisse where eche ones good shal-be common to al and that of al to eche one Wheras therfore so many so great causes of vni tie charitie be enuy ought to beare no griefe at others good no mirth at others miserie yea rather ought we al of vs to reioyce at others their weldoinges and lament their harmes and euils as if they were our owne perfourming therby what S Paule prescribeth to reiovce with such as reioyce and to weepe with them that weepe But if haply al these causes of vnion sufficed not to make thee recken thy neighbours goodes as thine owne he seeming stil but a stranger and a forener in thine eye how he neuer did thee any good but rather harme and iniurie Remember howe thou being a greater straunger and farre more vnwoorthy Christe hath bestowed so many so gret benefits vpon thee wherof he wil haue thee to make a recompence with other benefites not done to him-selfe sith he standeth no neede of thy good turns but bestowed vpon thy neighbour seeme he neuer so vnknowen and vnwoorthye to thee for looke what good thou doest to such a one and this Lorde wil accept it as doone vnto him-selfe SIXTLY consider howe to vanquishe this venemous vice of enuie the lawe of nature common to al ought at least to moue thee
the last Sacrament of Extreme Vnction or anneling with holy oyle and this thou must indeuour thy self to receaue with great faith and deuotion and hauing once receaued it then to make a protestation of the Catholike faith if thou canst it by heart if not to let it be read vnto thee wherin thou protestest to liue and dye beeleeuing and confessing al that our holy mother the Catholike Apostolike and Roman Church confesseth and belecueth And therefore oughtest thou not to driue off the receauing of this last Sacrament vntil the very latter ende as some verye indiscretly doo to th' ende thou maiest be of sound iudgement and haue perfect vse of reason to receaue it deuoutly and to make the foresaid protestation sincerely and aduisedly THE LAST aduise which I haue to geue in this matter is that hauing alreadie performed what hath beene tolde and taught thee in this chapter thou prepare thy selfe to attend the last conflict which is yet behinde in the houre of thy departure arming thy selfe against such temptations as are wont then commonly to assaile vs And to th' ende thou maiest the more manfully resist and vanquishe them and by vanquishing attain the crowne of conquest it shal not be amisse to tel thee before-hand with what temptations the fiends doo ordinarily disquiet the soule at her departure according as we are informed by the holy Doctours that haue writtē vpon this matter See therfore thou mark wel what I shal hereof tel thee in the Chapter next ensuing OF THE tentations that are commonly felt in the houre of death and of the Remedies against the same ¶ Cap. 28. THERE be many anguishes and anieties which the soule doth commonly feele in the perillous trans hour of death this being the moste terrible thing that can happ vnto vs in this life sith at that time the soule doth suffer on euery side and which waye soeuer it turneth doth finde great cause of corsey and extreame annoye First it suffreth in respect of the body frō which it parteth with no smal pain it suffreth like-wise in parting from the temporal thinges which it leaueth here behind and looke howe much more they were in life time loued of it and so much more doo they in that houre of death torment it It suffreth through the great dreade it hath of the straite accompt which it knoweth wel must forth-with be passed to the dreadful Iudge of euerye thing it hath done in al her life time It suffreth through the horrible vision of the deuils which in that houre appere the sight wherof is an intollerable tormēt And much more doth it suffer through the grieuous and bitter assaultes wher-with in that houre they farre more fiercelye set vpon it then euer they did tofore For like as towardes the ende of the world and time of general iudgemēt the prince of darknes shal more terribly and with greater rage and furye assault mankinde as he knoweth better howe smal a time is then remayning for him to doo the same and to infest it any longer In like maner doo the deuils nowe behaue them-selues towardes suche as be at the point of death against whē they bend al their might and maine al their sleightes and subtilties whatsoeuer sith they knowe wel that if the soule in that last houre doo escape their dreadful clookes they lose what they pretended to gaine al her life time in this world for so doo the Doctors commonly saye vpon the sentence of the Apocalips That the deuil descendeth with great rage woting wel that he hath but a smal time left So that the anxietie and bitternes of that houre shal-be so great as no man by wordes can sufficientlye exaggerate And this doo we plainlye see by an example that S. Iohn Climacus reporteth to haue happed in his time to a religious man whom he both saw and knew and saith how this mā hauing liued some-what looselve in his monasterie came on a time to the very poynt of death and then was in such sort rauished in spirite as he saw the dreadful rigour and such thinges as passe in the time of judgement and doome of euery soule and afterwardes comming to him-selfe again hauing through God his diuine and special dispensation obteined a time of penance this holy man saith how the said monke prayed al those that were there present with him amongest whom was the same Iohn Climacus that they would al of thē depart out of his sel wherein he afterwardes remained al alone vntil the houre of his death which was for the space of xij yeres after without going out at any time speaking worde to any man or receauing al that time any other foode then bread and water but continually sitting in this his sel like a man astonished and besides him-selse and hauing his eyes fixed stil in one place he perpetually reuolued in his mind the things which he sawe in his extasie or rauishment and with the memory therof bedewed his cheekes dayly with streames of bitter teares And in this maner did he continue til the houre of his death at what time the saide Iohn Climacus with al the other religious men that liued there-aboutes in the wildernes came to visite him who breaking downe the doore of his sel which he had walled vp and being entred in they al desired him to geue them some good word of edification before his departure to whē he replied this onely I tel you truely fathers quoth he if men wist wel howe dreadful this last transe of death and howe rigorous the sentence of diuine indgement were they durst neuer offend God nor transgresse his moste holy commaundementes Sith therfore it is so we ought eftsons to forethinke this houre and to arme and prepare our selues at al assaies for this so perillous a season Albeit wel may we hope in that most faithful God our Lorde that he wil not permitt vs as S. Paul saith to be tempted aboue our strength and that the Angels shal-be no lesse careful especially euery mans Gardian to succoure and helpe in that houre of such extreme necessitie then the deuils busie to assault and ouerthrowe vs It shal-be notwithstanding greatly profitable as I saye for eche one to fore-thinke in time the suggestions and temptations that shal in that houre be propounded them as also the remedies and wepons to defende and releeue them with that so they may more securely escape so great a peril and gaine the crowne prepared for the valiant conquerour It is therefore to be noted howe THE FIRST and principal temptation wher-with the fiends are wont in that houre to infest those that are redie to geue vp their ghost is of fayth according as S. Ambrose testifieth which is the foundation of al spiritual building that the principal foundation once failing al the whole frame may fal to ruine Their drift is therfore to intrap a man in some
deformed sinner vnto this thy diuine borde not for mine owne sake but for the merite and honour of thy deere frende and most sweete sonne Iesus Christe our Sauiour and our Father who with such griefes and tormentes did on the roode regenerate vs whose passion and most pretious death is represented eche time that this most grateful Sacrifice is offered vp vnto thee And thee againe my most louing Lorde and king Iesus Christe which art in this holy banquet both the foode it selfe and he that doth inuite vs to it I humbly begg of thee albeit most vnwoorthy that it may plese thee to ad mit me to satiate me and to make me partaker of the graces and innumerable gifts which thou art wont to bestowe vpon such thy seruantes as doo woorthely receaue thee Suffer me not to depart fasting from thee least I faint in the way like as thou sufferedst not the great multitude of people that folowed thee with so great zeale to heare thy sugred wordes in the desert whom thou moued with pitie vouchsafedst not onely spiritually but corporally also to satiate least haply they might haue fainted and miscaried in their iourney Wherefore seing this most sacred Sacrament is the food of this our pilgrimage much more am I to desire and to teceaue it to th' ende I faine not in the way but like an-other Elias may by force of this foode passe out and arriue at length to the moūt of euerlasting happines Let me in therefore O Lorde seing I knocke at the gate of thy mercy as a famished poore and feeble creature that being filled by thee enriched by thee and cured by thee I may reioyce in thee geue thankes to thee and yeeld perpetual peales of praises to thee with the Angels that here attende about thee with whom I laude and blesse thine eternal fathers infinite charitie who hath vouchsafed to graunt vs this pledge of future and euerlasting glory Amen ANOTHER praier or meditation to be made the day that one hath receaued to stirte him vp through the consideration and knowledge of so great a benefite to geue God thankes therfore and to be grateful for his goodnes BLESSE thy Lorde O my soule and al my entrals laud his most holy name Forgett not O my soule the infinite mercies and continual benefites receaued of his most liberal hande amongst the which wel maiest thou recken that which hath beene this day geuē thee that so infinite a Maiestie shoulde vouchsafe to visite thee to enter into thy homely habitation and with surpassing clemencie whollye to geue him-selfe to thee in this moste meruailous Sacrament O thou incomprehensible God no lesse pitiful then puissant what shal I say seing the depth of thy bottomlesse lesse mercies hath vouchsafed to impart it selfe to the deapth of my inspeakable miseries What thanks can I yeeld thee for so great kindnes and loue who wott right wel that if al the members and muscles of my bodye were turned into tounges yet could I not condignely thanke thee for the least of al thy benefites howe much lesse able shal I then be with one tounge to laude and thanke thee for this present gift being of so great and inestimable a value If the mother of thy for-runner S. Iohn Baptist being visited of thy most sacred virgin mother when she perceaued thy presence illuminated with the holy Ghoste was so astonished therat as she cried out aloud and said Whēce haue I this that the mother of my Lord doth come vnto me how much more iustly am I to be astonished and to cry out Whence haue I this that not the mother of my Lorde but my Lorde him-selfe and Lorde of al the Angels of heauen and earth and of al the creatures of the world hath visited me entred into me honoured me fostred me and filled me in this most woorthy Sacrament Whence haue I this that a Lord so high so puissant so woorthye of al woorshipp hath vouchsafed to come to me a moste wretched worme to me the most heinous sinner of al sinners to me that haue so many times offended him to me that with my lewdnes and abhominations haue so oft banished and expelled him out of me Woorthelye did the holy prophets Iob and Dauid wonder at thy diuine clemencie at what time they sayde What is man that thou so greatlye magnifiest him ' what is the sonne of man that thou thus visitest him but much greater reasō haue we most wretched caitiffs to say the same in these our dais What is man that thou hast thus extolled him as for man to make thy selfe man and to geue thy selfe in foode to man wherwith he may euery day be visited and refreshed And albeit al men may meruail at this thy diuine clemencie vsed towards man muche more yet maye I meruaile which of al men am the basest and vnwoorthiest If Dauid when king Saule woulde haue chosen him for his sonn in law reputed him-selfe vnwoorthy and saide What am I or what is my life or my fathers lignage that I should be a sonne in law to a king howe much more cause haue I nowe to say the same seing the king of al kinges hath admitted me to so high a dignitie what am I or what is my fathers ofspring what other am I then a vessel of corruption a sacke of donge and filth engendred of a most vile and stinking matter touching my fleshe which ere long shal yeeld foode to woorms and am concerning my soule al soiled with sinn fraught with ignorance and forgetfulnes with many mo defectes and wicked inclinations what other is my life thē a vanitie a pufle of wind a smoake and shadowe that quicklye vanisheth a confusion and disorder a continual exercise of sinne and transgressions of thy commaundements Such hath my life mine exercises and mine inclinations beene such also is my father Adams ofspring and al his auncient familie sith al that discend of him are generally born thus blemished thus bent and al like children of a traitour as he was adiudged to suffer death Wherefore O most puissant prince and dreadful King aboue al kinges thou knowing me and my life to haue been such and much worse thē I either knowe or can imagine haste vouchsafed to receaue me not for a in lawe but for thine owne sonne yea and as a yonger one right tenderlye beloued for such are fathers accustomed most of al to cherishe as now thou hast cherished and fed me with this Angels bread wherin is founde al sauor and al diuine delight S. Luke reporteth howe one of those gestes that were at table with thee in a prince of the Pharises house shoulde saye Blessed are those that shal eate the breade of life in the kingdome of heauen but much more happye am I if I can knowe it and gather fruite out of it which in this life eate the breade wherein is the selfe-same God conteined and ther-with receue a pledge to eate
him afterwardes in an-other maner in his euerlasting kingdome Happy eke are al those that shal dispose them-selues to repaire to this most gratious banquet wherein is found al sweete tastes and sauours al riches and renowme and al the things that haply be to be desired yea what is it that man may long for that is not here afforded him If he desire delightes and pleasures here be the sincerest the chastest and the sweetest If he wishe for wealth beholde here the treasure that enricheth both heauen and earth If state and soueraintie be sought for beholde here the highest dignities that can be possiblye atchieued sith by meanes of this most venerable Sacrament the soule is vnited to God and resteth associated and reuerēced with quires of Angels that assist about it Wherefore Oye blinde beguiled children of Adam what other pleasure and profite doo you proule for why doo you as Esay saith spende your money and not vpon breade why employ you your trauail not in things that may satiat and content you why loose you such satietie such sweetnes and such treasure as is here conteined in this gifte Doo not thou so O my soule doo not thou so be not thou henceforth anye more blinde see thou seeke not any carnal contentations hauing meanes to be a partaker of this mere spiritual and celestial delight Take no more taste and pleasure in the foode of death wherof thou earst didst feede hauing this breade of life geuen and graunted to thee Regarde not the pompes and moste vaine vanities of this worlde seing thou maiest enioye in this Sacrament the true happines and good things which in the world can-not possibly be attained Embrace and keepe this treasure which sufficeth to make thee truely happy possesse this good which exceedeth al good Content and quiet thy selfe in this repose which may abundantlye satiate thy desire And be not ingrateful to this thy benefactour but yeeld him hartie thankes as-wel for this as al his other benefites heretofore from the beginning bestowed vpon thee Howbeit my gratious and merciful Lorde how can I yeeld thee worthy thankes the debt I owe thee being so great and my abilitie to discharge the same so smal with al my heart and with al my might and power I thanke thine infinite liberalitie for hauing created me to thine owne likenes and similitude and for hauing for my conseruation created like-wise so great varietie of other creatures and much more doo I laud and blesse thee for that with thy pretious bloud thou haste redeemed me but aboue al doo I with al my bowels and powers of bodye and soule thanke thee blesse thee and adore thee for hauing left vs this miraculous and most woorthye Sacrament and for geuing me miserable wretche the grace eftsons to receaue it that eftsons I may therby be made partaker of the fruit of thy redemption And because these my thankes and praises be slender weake and vnworthy of such giftes as I haue receaued I beseeche al the Angels and holye Saintes to supply my want thy Angels vouchsafe to sound perpetual peals of praises for me the Archangels vouchsafe euerlastingly to adore thee for me the celestial potentates doo reuerence thee for me and al the whole court of heuen offer thee continual sacrifice of thanks-geuing for me And yet for that al this is finite and is not correspondent to the valew of the benefite I haue this daye receaued being infinite those moste holy and grateful thanks which thou Lorde gauest to thy father minding to graunt vs this so mestimable a gift euen those same which are infinite doo I offer both to him and thee together for verily beleeue I that for this cause diddest thou yeeld them that so incomparable a gift shoulde not be destitute of condigne graces and thanks-geuing And now doo I humbly beseeche thee of thy moste bountiful clemencie that seing it hath pleased thee to satiate and honour me with thy most worthy presence in this venerable and redoubted Sacrament thou wilt also vouchsafe to graunt me thy graces to be alwaies grateful and to answere woorthely to this most happy visitation This hath alwayes been thy wont my Sauiour and Redeemer that wher through thy goodnes thou hast vouchsafed to enter there hast thou departed of thy blessinges moste aboundauntlye heaping grace vpon grace and mercie vppon mercye Thou entredst into Mathewe the Publicane his house and from a publican thou madest him thy Disciple and an Apostle Thou entredst into Zacheus house when by and by he was changed from his old custome and health was geuen to al his housholde Thou entredst into Simon Peters house and draue away the ague from his wiues mother in lawe leauing her whole and comforted Eftsons diddest thou enter into Martha and good Mary Magdalens house and what tonge can tel the spiritual riches thou gauest to that hous and the ineffable graces thou endowedst those two sisters with Thou entredst after thy holye and doleful death into Limbo and immediatlye with thy visitation diddest illuminate and blesse those holye Fathers Finally the figure of this Sacramēt to witt the Arke of the olde Testament because it entred into Obededon his house was cause that thy bles singes were powred vpon him and al his paying plentifully for the harbour that in that house was afforded thee Wherfore O most sweete and welcome gest seing through thy goodnes thou hast vouchsafed this day to enter into my poore cotage sende downe withal thy holye blessinges thereon by meanes whereof I maye woorthely aunswere to this thine incomparable mercy Clense and fine this house Lorde from al the filth thou seest in it Repair and doo some cost on it least it decay and fal to ruine driue out the darknes in it with the glittering beames of thy light adorne and decke it vp with the vertues and graces of the holye Ghost that being thus clensed repaired adorned and illuminated it may please thee to dwel therein and neuer to depart Tary stil with me O Lorde my comforter the night draweth nigh and without thee I shal remaine in darknes and so be sore endaungered Thou hast affirmed O eternal truth howe thy whole delight is to dwel with the sonne of man and howe thou standest knocking at the dore readie to enter and suppe with such as shal open and let thee in Beholde howe I haue geuen thee free entraunce into me and thou of thy goodnes hast admitted me to the sweete supper of thy moste sacred bodye Abādon me not therfore my soueraine Lorde ne depart thou from me draw me after thee knitt and tye me to thee yea drawe me quite out of my selfe sith I am much better in thee then in me in thee I liue in me I dye in thee I remaine firme and constant in me I decay and come to nought Renew me therfore O my Sanctifier and through loue transforme me into thee and graunt me so to liue in thee
from my foes For these and al other thy benefites namely for those thou hast this day most bountifully bestowed vpō me Here are they particulerly to be though of O my soueraine Lorde I yeeld thee such sincere and dutiful thankes as my poore hart can possibly afforde thee beseeching the blessed virgin and al the Saintes of heauen to yeeld thee thankes and praises in supply of my want 2. AND NOWE mine only Redeemer and Sauiour I humbly craue the light of thy grace to know wherein I haue this day any wayes offended thee and that by mature and sounde discussion of my conscience I maye see mine owne sinnes with sorowe and thine ineffable mercy with a zelous and firme purpose of amendment 3. HERE MVST we examine our selues how we haue employed the day in word thought and deede towardes God and our neighbours 4. THOV SEEST O Lord my lewdnes and wotest my miserie muche better then I my selfe doo Sory I am with al my heart that I should stil offend so louing a Lord and wish to God my sorowes were greatly multiplied I purposed earst to doo better by thy grace which wanted not and yet haue I trāsgresled in my former trespasses Neither yet may I despaire O Lorde but wil continually trust to thy mercies in al euentes and purpose firmely as I nowe doo euery day to amend my life Deliuer me my gratious God from al mortal sinne for euer and geue me grace to persecute my venial vices with sorow during life And for the satisfaction of these and al my former sinnes together with al those of the world as also for al thine ineffable benefites bestowed vpon me and al man-kinde I offer vnto thee the merits of thy bitter passion those moste pretious droppes of bloud thou sheddest for me and that inflamed charitie wherwith thou wholly resignest thy selfe to al thy tormentes for my 〈◊〉 and in the vnion of this thine oblation on the roode I offer vp my self soul body and al I haue of thine within or without me to thine honour and euerlasting glory I retaine nothing to my selfe but geue al to thee whose it is and make that thine by my wil which is thine of iustice Geue me thy grace O my God to liue better her eafter and to confesse my sins in due time to my ghostly Father Geue me true humilitie and repentance grace to knowe thee and grace to knowe me puritie of heart in al my doinges patience chastitie and perfect charitie Geue me a good life and a good death and in the daungerous houre of my departure the assistance of thy blessed Saintes and Angels with whom I may through thy mercie in an-other world praise and glorifie thee euerlastinglye Amen Say then the Pater noster Aue Maria and the Creede with some short praier or hymne as thou liest thee downe to craue protection for the night and conuenient rest of bodie and soule And faile not to commend thee to thy Gardian Angel. A PRAYER to be 〈◊〉 before Sacramental Confession MOST Soueraine mightie and merciful Lorde who of thine infinite loue and mercie towards mankinde hast ordemed in thy Churche the Sacrament of Penance as a soueraine saulue to heale our spiritual woundes and to purge vs from the filth wher-with we maie after Baptisme any wayes haue defiled our soules I. N. thy most vile and ingrateful creature hauing offended thee many waies and most greeuouslye since my last Confession purpose through thy grace to flie hither for my remedie and according to thy diuine ordinance to confesse my sins vnto thy seruant hoping therby according to thy promise to receaue a ful and perfect absolution Geue me grace therefore O Lorde that like as of thy goodnes thou hast inspired into my hart a desire to apply this remedy to my ghostly griefs so I may in due reuerence contrition and sinceritie vse the same to the glory of thy name and the ful forgeuenes of my sinnes Open the secretes of my soule vnto me O Lord and make me knowe al my sinns and iniquities what-soeuer Geue me also due sorowe and contrition for the same and grace to vnfolde them to thy vicar my ghostly phisition purely plainly sorowfully and sincerely with firme and constant purpose through thy grace to amend my life hereafter Ah Lorde my gratious God and onely comfort of my soule sithens thou desirest that in al thinges I should sincerelye serue thee and I through thy grace desire nothing more then to doo the same why is it Lorde that I stil offend thee whye fal I so ofte in relapse of my former folies Thy grace is not wanting but mine vngratiousnes and inconstancie is the cause thereof whereof I moste hartily accuse me Euen nowe I mind to fight manfullye and by and by I faint and faile in my former purposes Rightly therefore am I in respect hereof to humble my selfe and to deem me to be thy most vile and abiect creature Increase in me daily thy grace and soueraine vertue of humilitie and graunt me that once I may know thee and know my selfe Thee in thy Maiestie and mercye me in mine abhominations and misery and that at length I may fight more manfully and gain the victorie ouer mine 〈◊〉 through thy gratious helpe and fauour my onely Redeemer and Sauiour Iesus Christe who with the Father and the holy Ghost reignest one God euerlastingly Amen A PRAYER to be saide after Sacramental Confession O GOD of mercie and pitie hauing nowe through thy gratious goodnes disburdened my conscience of the gilt wherwith it was oppressed and in the low liest wise I might vnfolded al the sinnes I could possibly thinke of vnto thy minister my ghostly father I most humblie beseeche thee to accept this my Confession and to forgeue me my trespasses aswel remembred as forgotten Graunt me grace O Lorde to liue more carefullie and diligentlie hereafter and to refraine from my former folies which I vtterlie detest and through thy grace doo firmely purpose neuer any more to offende in Especially O my gratious and benigne Sauior geue me grace to withstande these temptations wher-with I am most greeuously infested Here are the temptations wherwith one is most troubled to be rehearsed as also grace to eschewe al occasions of offending so much as possibly I maie The just man as Scripture telleth falleth seuen times a daie much more then shal I fal O Lorde hauing thorough mine owne most vile abhominations increased greatlye the weaknes and blindnes I receaued frō my fore-father Adam yet Lorde as I hope and purpose firmelie by thy merciful fauour to refrain from consenting to anie mortal sinne which I most humblie begg of thee to preserue me from whilest I liue so Lord wil I by thy goodnes detest and persecute my venial sins and imperfections during life Graunt me grace so to doo O merciful Lorde and that as heretofore I haue without ani remors of conscience most heinously transgressed thy commaundementes in euery sort so nowe
shalt thinke it best and most expedient for our wel-fare Comfort the comfortlesse and ease al those that liue in paine tentation disgrace and spiritual or corporal affliction Finallye I commende al thy creatures to thy most fauourable protection that it may please thee to geue grace to the liuing and perpetual rest and quietnes to the deade I SALVTE thee O most beautiful and glittering lillie of the gratious and pleasant spring-time moste sacred virgin Mary I salute thee O odoriferous floure of diuine suauitie I salute thee O louely Rose of celestial delightes whereon our Sauiour Iesus Christe the brightnes of his fathers glorie and figure of his substance vouchsafed to be borne and nourished Obteine me gratious Ladie of thy louing sonne what thou seest most needful for my soul. Help most pitiful mother helpe the weaknes and debilitie of my spirite in al my tentations and necessities and vouchsafe to succour me in the hour of death that through thy gratious fauour and helpe I may be assured in so perillous and extreme a daunger O most happie Angelical spirites who with one voice doo with pleasaunt and wel-tuned melodie glorifie our common Lorde and enioye perpetually the taste of his delights take pitie vpon me poore miserable wretche namely thou O holy Angel the gardian of my soule to whom I am especially committed haue thou continually a diligent and careful eye vpon me And yee O Saints of al sortes which are after the nauigation of these rough and stormie seas happily deliuered of this exile and arriued to the harbour of celestial abode be I humblye beseeche you al mine Aduocates and Intercessours praying to our Lorde for me that I maye in fauor of your merites and praiers be not onely fauored of him at this instant but euen to the very last daie and end of this my temporal life Amen A MOST straunge and excellent monument prouing apparantly the Reuerend antiquitie of our Catholike Religion found at Rome in Iuly last past in the yere of our Lorde 1578. and is of al wise men beleeued to be the blessed virgin S. Priscilla her Church-yarde VITHOVT the gate called Salaria about two miles distant from the Citie of Rome it happed that in digging in the vineyard of a certain Spaniard for a blacke sande to build withal which they there cal Puteolana there was as God would haue it discouered by digging some-what deepe a holowe waye vnder earth to the great admiration of al men wherin diuers monumentes and signes of Christian Religion being espied Cardinals Prelates religious persons and al of al sortes as wel Antiquaries as other beganne to repaire thither al affirmig with one voice that it was the blessed virgin S. Priscilla her Churche-yarde which had thus remained vnknowen euen from the time of the inuasions of the Gothes and wherein this moste holie woman as Lady and owner of that grounde with other godly men had before the Christian faith was publikely receaued in those partes buried the bodies of Saints Martirs especially and other faithful Christians and wherin such Christians as were most of al suspected and hated of the Ethnikes were wont to lye hidden and secrete from their enemies In this Church-yard there is one principal and chiefe waie of breadth and height sufficient in the wals whereof are on either side sepulchres cutt out one aboue an-other like to cophins and litle chestes in the fronts wherof were stones that had inscriptions grauen in them both in the Latine and greeke tongues How-beit the moste part of these stones are either taken away hewed out or broken as of the bones there are likewise very many missing Yet for al that are there some forth-comming and extant and of toumbes there are alreadie founde aboue two thousand Out of this maine way there are so many lower and straighter wayes so manye windinges deriued that it seemeth an vnder-earth Citie of deade men and is by reson of the turninges and crooked wayes very intricate euen like a Laberinth the circuit whereof is supposed to be a mile So that none dare rashly hazard thē selues to searche out the place without manye clewes of corde torches and meanes to strike fire with if the lightes they carye in with them might haply be put out There is in an inner roumth a Chappel with a litle Aultar found where the picture of the Crucifix is to to be seene painted with the Images of two Saintes on th one side and of a Matrone on thother side the which is supposed to be the Image of S. Priscilla There is also a Sheppard carying a sheepe on his shoulders to be seene painted in diuers places of this Church-yarde and many times withal S. Ignatius amidst twoo Lions the Sacrifice of Abraham in like maner and a woman holding a sponge in her hand which is demed to be the picture of S. Praxedes whose bodie as also that of her sister Potentiana were ther interred as sacred Stories testifie Ther are also the signs of other Images to be seene which cannot be knowen what they represent through their great oldnes And the place is by reason of the Antiquitie reuerence and Sanctitie so dreadful and of so great a Maiestie as al that enter therein and weigh the matter aduisedly are appalled with a feare and forced to let fal teares By this most woorthie monument we may easily gather howe great the persecutions and miseries as also the pietie of those godly persons were in the primitiue Churche Here may euery man see to the singuler confirmation of our vndoubted and Catholike Religion and of the Catholike rites and obseruances the religion care and diligence which those good frendes of God vsed in the burying of the dead Here maie we witnes apparantly with our eyes howe when those holie and deuout frendes of God could not in the Ethnikes and Idolatours daies paint and reuerence pictures in open place and publike shewe yet did they paint and reuerence them in caues and secrete corners But now O intolerable blind nes of our daies there want not amongst Christians them-selues which dare with rash attempt presume to deface and throw them out of holy Temples Howbeit touching this Church-yarde it is nowe closed vp with gates neither may eche one at their 〈◊〉 enter therein The Lordes also of the vine-yarde and others are commaunded vpon certaine penalties to deliuer the bones and stones that are taken thence to the most Reuerend Vicar of the Citie In the meane time there is consideration had whether a Church is to be erected there or no. FINIS Sit decus immortale Patri Natoq perennis Gloria Spiritus non periturus honor AMEN a 1. Cor. 3. c. 1. Cor. 6. d. 2. Cor. 6. d. b Sap. 1. a. a Psa. 33. b Psal. 33. c Isai. 1. d. 1. Pet. 3. b. 〈◊〉 38. c. a Psal. 31. b Psal. 37. d. b Psa. 50. d c Isai. 38. d. a Psa. 31. b b Psa. 141. a Psal. 31. b a 2. Cor. 112 b 〈◊〉 c Eccl.