after his beleefe O Holy Trinitie I beseech thee keepe and preserue this pure religion of my fayth and graunte that it may euer be sounding in my conscience vntill my spirit departe O almightie and mercyfull Iesu I protest before thee and before all the courte of heauen that I haue a will and desire to finishe my lyfe in this fayth wherein of necessitie euery childe obediente to our Mother the holye Church ought to dye Further my sweete Sauiour I protest to beleeue wholly and vniuersally all that which is conteined in the Catholicke fayth and that which a true faithful christiaÌ„ ought to beleeue that if it happen by the assaults of the deuil or by violence of sicknes I come to thinke say or doe any thing contrary to this purpose I doe reuoke it at this present protest that I gyue no consent to any such thought word or worke I reioyce and render thankes to my louinge creator and redeemer through the maruelouse goodnes of his bounty by the which I hope vndoubtedlye to dye in the holye Catholicke fayth and so I recommende my soule and body into his moste holy handes nowe and at the houre of my death Amen Prayers in sicknesse Dionys Cart. in dial de part iudicio animarum O Swet Iesu I desire nether lyfe nor deathe but thy most holy will Thee O Lorde I loke for be it vnto mee according to thy pleasure Yf thou wil sweete Iesu that I dye receyue my soule And albeit I come to thee euen at the verye eueninge as one of the laste yet graunt that with thee and in thee I may receyue euerlasting rest Yf thou wilt sweete Iesu that I lyue longer on earthe I purpose to amende the rest of my lyfe and offer all into a burnt sacrifice vnto thee for thy honour and glorie accordinge to thy blessed will and for the perfoorminge of this I desire the assistance of thy holy grace Another prayer Nieron in Agone mortis auctore Eusebio O Mercyfull Iesu my vertue and power my comforte and ease my receyuer and my redemer in whome I haue hoped in whome I haue belyeued and whome I haue loued my swete delight my tower of strength my hope from my youthe the guide of my lyfe call mee and I will answer thee O creator of heauen and earthe stretche foorth the power of thy mercye vnto the worke of thy haÌ„ds which thou createdst of the slyme of the earth and tiedst together with bones and synowes Commaund O Lorde staye not for it is time that dust may returne into dust and my soule maye returne to thee his Sauiour who diddest sende it downe into this worlde Open vnto me the gates of lyfe for thou diddest hange vpon the Crosse for my sake and madest mee promise to receyue mee Come my sweete Lorde lett mee embrace thee lett mee not leese thee Bring mee into thy heauenlie palace Thou arte my receyuer my glorie mine aduauncer my habitation and my benedictioÌ„ Receyue me moste mercyfull Lorde accordinge to thee multitude of thy mercies For thou dyinge on the Crosse receyuedst the theefe returninge vnto thee Another prayer Ibid. I Am sycke my lyfe is weake in this poore state and therfore to thee O Lorde I runne as to my onely phisitioÌ„ Heale mee O Lord and I shal be healed And for that I haue mine affiance reposed in thee lett mee not be confounded But what am I O most mercifull God that speake so boldly to thee I am a sinner begotteÌ„ borne brought vp in sinne I am a rotten carkas a stinckinge vessell and meate for woormes VVhat victorie O Lord shall it be yf in conflict thou ouerthrow mee who am lesse than a litle strawe before the face of the wynde Forgyue O Lord forgyue all my sinnes and lyft vpp a poore man from this durty dounghill of earthe Certes good Lord this will I saye yf it please thee thou mayest not refuse him that hathe his recourse to thee For thou arte my Lord God flesh of my flesh bones of my bones For to this intent thou not leauing the right hand of thy father diddest assumpte my humaine nature and becamst God man remayning in one person the selfe same whiche thou wast from thee beginninge And why diddest thou woorke this so hard wounderfull misterie but that I should boldlye haue recourse to thee as vnto my brother thou wouldest mercifully so couer thy diuinitie that I should not be affraid of thy heauenlie power VVherfore arise O Lorde and helpe me arise and put mee not backe for euer Another prayer Ibid. LEtt my request entre into thy sight O Lord and let thy hande bee made to make me whole Beholde I am the man that cominge downe from Hiericho was taken and wounded of theeues and left half dead Doo thou receyue mee O mercyfull Samaritan I haue sinned excessiuelie in my lyfe and wrought muche iniquitie in thy syght From the sole of my foote euen to the toppe of my head there is no sounde health in mee Verely onlesse thou dying on the Crosse hadst assisted mee my soule had bene worthy to dwell in hell I am sweete Iesu a parte of that deare price for me thou diddest shed thy precious bloud cast me not away I am the sheepe that weÌ„t a stray seeke that sheepe O good shepheard put hym in thy folde that thou mayst be iustified in thy woorde For thou diddest make mee promise that at what soeuer houre a sinner did repeÌ„t him of his sinnes returne to thee he shoulde be saued I lament O Lord and moorne for my sinnes I acknowledg myne iniquities my wickednesse is in my sight I am not woorthy to be called thy sonne For I haue sinned against heauen before thee thou shalt make mee heare that whiche halbe great ioy gladnes vnto my â—eart Turne away thy face O Lord from my sinnes blotte out myne iniquities accordinge to thy great mercie Cast me not away out from thy sight Deale not with mee accordinge to my sinnes nor reward mee after the desert of myne iniquities But helpe me O Lorde my God and my Sauiour and for the glorye of thy holy name delyuer mee Deale mercifully as it femeth best to thy holy will that I maye dwell in thy howse all the dayes of my lyfe that I may prayse thee for euer more as they doe that dwell there worlde without ende Amen Prayers and suffrages to be sayd for one lyinge in death bedde LOrde haue mercie vpon vs. Christ haue mercy vpon vs. Lorde haue mercy vpon vs. Holy Marie praye for him All holy Angelles and Archangels praye for him Holy Abell praye for him All the companye of the iuste pray for him Holy Abraham praye for him Holy Iohn Baptiste praye for him All yee holye Patriarkes and prophetes praye for him Saint Peter praye for him Saint Paule praye for him Saint Andrewe praye for him Saint Iohn praye for him All yee holy Apostelles and Euangelistes praye for him All
to the lustes desirs of the fleshe and to liue to thee onely all oure life So that in the end we raigne eternallie with him where thou with the same thy sonne and the holy ghoste liuest and raignest one true and lyuing God for euer and euer Amen VVhen the Priest sayeth the Pater noster saye vvith him LEtt vs pray Being admonished by holesome preceptes and being taught by diuine institution we dare be bold to say Pater noster qui es in caelis c. Aue Maria gratia plena c. VVhen the Preist kissethe the pax O Lambe of God that takest awaye the sinnes of the world haue mercie vpon vs. O Lambe of God that c. haue mercie vpon vs. O Lambe of God that c. Gyue vs peace and quietnes Deliuer vs we beseech thee O Lord from all our euills paste presente to come and by the intercession of thy blessed and glorious mother the virgin Mary of thy holy Apostles Peter Paule of all thy saincts mercifully graunte vs peace in our dayes that we being aided by the helpe of thy mercye may continually be free from sinne and safe from all parturbation of mynde and bodye Amen VVhen you kisse the Pax. GEeue peace in our dayes O Lorde because their is no other that fighteth for vs but onely thou O Lorde God VVhen the Priest receyueth O Sacred feast wherein Christ is receyued the memorie of his passion is reuiued the minde is replenished with grace and a pledge is geuen vs of the glory to come O Mostmercifull Lord God father of mercye graunte I beseech thee that this vnbloody Sacrifice of the blessed bodye and blood of thy sonne our Lord Iesus Christ which here euery-where throughout thy holie Churche is offred to the great benefit of vs al for a coÌ„tinuall daylie memorie thankes geuing may entreat for vs at thy handes mercie remissioÌ„ of all our sinnes Amen Then blessing your selfe saye THe grace of our Lorde Iesus Christ the vertue of his moste gloriouse Passion the signe of the holye Crosse the integritie of the moste blessed Virgin Marie the blessing of all Saints the prayers of all the Elect of God be betwene me and all my ennemies visible inuisible now and in the howre of my death In nomine patris filii spiritus sancti Amen A prayer after the diuine Sacrifice of the Masse Cornelius Donters in his contemplations of the passion O Moste louinge Lorde and almighty God I beseech thee most humbly vouchsafe to receiue for acceptable the diuine seruice which I haue done this day to thy honour and glorie and to the honour of thy blessed mother and to the honour of all saintes whose feasts we celebrate in remission of our sinnes and for all our frendes and benefactours aswell those that liue as those that be departed most earnestlye requestinge that thou wouldest louinglye receyue these our deuotions in this time of thy diuine seruice and to forgyue me mercifully that which I haue done without deuotion in dedes words and thoughtes Gyue vs thy grace alwayes to walke in thy holy commaundementes and to serue thee loyally to the ende thou maist be honored glorified in vs. Amen A prayer to recommend your selfe to God In Eucholo Ecclesiast O Lorde I recommend into the hands of thy inestimable mercy my soule my body my senses my wordes and my thoughtes my counsayle my workes and all the necessities of my body and soule my entring and goinge foorth my fayth and my conuersation the course and end of my lyfe the day and houre of my departinge my death the reste and resurrection of my soule with thy saints and thine elected Amen A prayer to be sayed before a Catholicke Sermon or exhortation O Lorde Iesus Christ open the eyes and eares of my harte to the ende I may heare and vnderstand thy holy worde and to obey it according to thy holy will I am a pylgrime vpon earth keepe not hidden thy coÌ„maundements from me Open myne eyes that I may vnderstand the maruelouse things of thy lawe Gyue me wisdome to lighten my vnderstanding to purifie my hart to inflame my affection that I may loue thee and knowe thee in all and aboue all thinges Amen The ende of the second Chapter THE THIRDE CHAPTER CONTEYNINGE HOLsome prayers for remission of sinnes An humble bevvaylinge of sinnes for a sinner that hath compunction Ioan. Fab. in precat Christian O Most heauenly kinge and moste mercyfull Lorde and Sauioure Christ Iesu here do I come to thee beinge verye fainte with the infirmitie of sinne and far from the perfection which thou requirest to be in me My conscieÌ„ce doth dayely accuse me and more and more I finde the imperfection and fraveltie of my flesh I do continually offende thy Maiestie All the imaginations of my harte all my words and deedes whatsoeuer I do or leaue vndone whether I eate drincke sleepe or watche all my thoughtes all my senses are wholye bent to wickednes whether shall I turne me O Lorde Thou requirest of me integritie of life and iustice and that I shoulde walke in thy holie commaundementes wherto thou promisest mee thy gratious helpe But O Lorde I feele my owne will so peruerse ouer-thwart that I can not hartelie wishe and desire those thinges whiche be requisite to my saluatioÌ„ I haue no will to bewayle my sinnes ne yet repente my wickednes from the bottome of my harte I am so caried awaye with the vanitie of this life that I doo quite forgette the benefites of thy death and Passion whiche thou of thy bountiouse liberalitie bestowed vpon me moste vyle and abhominable wretche My offences bee so manie in number and so grieuous O most gracious God wherwith I offend thy Diuine maiestie that were not thy most mercifull pitie I had bene longe agoo drowned in the depe dongeon of euerlastinge tormente VVherfore I most humblie thaÌ„ke thy vnspeakeable goodnes mercie that I am not alredie sounkeÌ„ into the botomles pitte of hell But what shall I doo shall I despayer shall I saye with cursed Cain the murtherer of his brother my offences are greater theÌ„ can be forgyuen me No God forbyd that I shoulde haue anye suche thoughte no but this will I say my God is mercifull and full of pitie he is my comforte my strengthe consolatioÌ„ my refuge defence he will not despyse the worke of his owne hâ—â—d nâ—â— will caste from afore him me poore wretched sinner wherfore moste mercifull Sauiour I come to the openinge in thy sight the thoughtes of my harte for thou neuer fayleste me with thy graciouse helpe I coÌ„fesse most mercifull Lorde before thee my weakenes acknowledginge my owne imperfectioÌ„ and bewaylinge the multitude of my offences O euerlasting and endles swetenes o vnspeakeable mercie and moste louinge Father I haue sundrie times and manies wayes offended against heauen thee so that I am not worthie to be reputed for thy childe
make clere my mind and soule and make it syngle and lyghten it Graunte me free inturning vnto thee O my Lorde God O my very vnchāgeable goodnesse fulfyll me with thine owne selfe Leade me into the clere bottome of my soule and bringe me from thens into thee my originall Knitte me vnto thee moste nerely and chaung trāsforme me altogether into thee that thou maiest haue thy delyte in me Here me graciousely Lorde here me graciousely not at my will but at thy blessed pleasure Oh Lorde teache illumine directe and helpe me in all things that I maye doe nothing I maye speake nothinge I maye thinke nothinge nor desyre nothinge but that whiche maye be acceptable before thee Then to haue in minde our blessed ladye O Blessed MARIE O moste sweete Virgine haue pitye vpon me moste vile sinner I salute I honour thee Oh blessed ladie optaine for me of thy blessed sōne full remission of all my synnes optaine for me perfect mortification and forsakinge of my selfe Optaine for me very and true humilitie patiēce charitie refrainyng and temperance of my tong and of my sences Obtaine for me puritie simplicitie freedome of minde and that I maye bee once accordinge to the hartes desire of thy sonne Take in mynde all Saintes O All ye blessed saintes of God and blessed spirites Angelicall whome God with his melly fluous countenance and blessed presence maketh ioyfull and euerlastingely glad praye ye for me I salute and honour you I geue lauds thākes vnto our Lord which hath chosen you and hath preuented you in his benedictions Oh optayne for me forgeuenesse optayne for me grace and to be made one with God O Moste benigne moste mercifull IESV haue mercie vpon thy churche haue mercy vpon this place and congregacion Graunte that here be cotinuallie humilitie peace charitie chastitie puritie Graunt that we all maye worthily amende and correcte our selues that we feare thee and serue thee faithfully that we maye loue thee and please the. I commende vnto thy mercie all our businesse our necessities Lord haue mercie vpon all for whome thou haste shed thy moste holie blood Oh Lord conuerte turne and call agayne all miserable sinners graunt vnto the quicke forgeuenesse grace vnto the dead rest and light euerlasting Amen A prayer for schollares before they goe to schoole for obtayning vvisdome learning and knovvledge COme O holy spirit replenishe the harts of thy faythfull lightē in vs the fyer of thy loue which by diuersitie of all languages haste assembled and gathered the people in the vnitie of fayth O God which by the brightnes of the holy Ghost hast instructed the hartes of the faythfull graunte vs that in the same spirite we maye knowe that whiche is ryghte and truth and alwaies to be ioyfull in his consolation Amen Holesome Meditations vvich you may vse at night before you goe to reste 1 VVhen thou wouldest goe to bedde thou shalt yelde thankes to God for his greate mercy that he hath so preserued thee that daye wherein dyuers throughe their sinnes hane fallen headlonge into hell 2 Then after reuolue and call to minde diligently all the sinnes whereby any way thou hast offended God or thy neyghbour that daye and aske God mercye for them 3 Fynally thou shalte praye to God with thy hart that he would vouchsafe to haue care ouer thee and that he would not suffer thee to perish in workes of darcknesse and by these or other lyke prayers folowinge thou shalte call for the ayde and succour of our Lord and Sauiour An Eueninge prayer to be sayed as thou goest to bedde Ex viridario spirituali A Lmyghtye and euerlastinge God I render thee most hartye thankes for that thou haste vouchsafed of thy greate mercye and goodnes to preserue me this day frō all euil And I beseech thee more-ouer for thy bitter death and passion moste mercifully to pardone me wretched sinner all mine offences that this day I haue committed by thought worde or deede and hereafter to preserue and keepe me from all daunger as well of body as of soule to the end I may rise agayne in health to prayse the name of thy maiestie and ioyfully serue thee in thankes gyuinge with a chaste body and a cleare harte Amen Our Father c. Hayle Marye c. O Mary the mother of grace And of mercy mother also Defend me from the cruell foe And at my death my sou'e ēbrace I Beleeue in God the Father c. An other prayer for the night O Lord God and my heauenly Father forasmuch as by thy diuine ordinance the night approcheth and darknes begynneth to ouer whealme the earth and tyme requireth that we geue oure selues to bodylye reste quietnes I render vnto thee moost hartie thankes for thy louynge kyndnes whiche haste vouchsaued to preserue me this day from the daunger of mine enemies to geue me my healthe to feede mee and to sende me all thinges necessarie for the cōforte of this my poor eand nedye lyfe I moste humblie beseche thee for Iesus Christes sake that thou wilte mercyfullie forgeue me all that I haue this daye committed againste thy fatherlie goodnes eyther in worde deede or thoughte that thou wilt vouchsafe to shadow me this nyght vnder the comfortable wynges of thy almightie power defende me from Satan and from all his craftie assaultes that neither he or anye of his ministers haue power ouer eyther my bodye or my soule But that althoughe my body thorowe thy benefyte enioyeth sweete and pleasaunt slepe yet my Soule maye continuallye watche vnto thee thinke of thee delight in the and euermore praise thee that when the Ioyefull light of the daye returneth accordinge to thy godlye appointemēt I maye ryse againe with a faithfull soule and vndefiled bodye and so afterwarde behaue my selfe all my life time according to thy blessed will and commaundement by casting away the workes of darkenes and putting on the armoures of light that men seeing my good workes may therby be prouoked to glorifie thee my heauenlye Father which with thy onely begotten sonne Iesu Christ our onely sauiour and the holy Ghost that most sweete comforter lyuest and raignest one true and euerlasting God world without ende Amen A prayer to thy good Angell thy gardiane Ex hortulo animae secū vsum Leodiens I Beseech thee O holy Angell to whose protection and custodye I wreched sinner am committed continually to defende ayde and garde me from all inuasion and assaultes of the deuill where-soeuer I be both waking and sleepinge dryue away from me through the vertue of the holy Crosse †al the temptations of Satan that which through the deserts of mine owne merites I can not doe by thy praiers obtayne at the handes of the highest and dreadfull ludge that he may haue no place in me Amen A prayer as thou entrest into thy bed F. Sonnius tract 3 Cathe IN the name of our Lorde Iesus Christe that was
thy grace that although it happen or come to passe that by any temptation illusion deceipte or variation comming of griefe of sicknes or by weakenes of body or by any other occasion whatsoeuer I come in daunger of my soule or preiudice to my saluation or in errour of the Catholicke fayty in the which I am regenerated in the fountayne of Baptisme there promised to resiste all temptations of the deuill and all errours of fayth and at this present I do resiste and renounce as I did then and then as now protestinge moste feruently with all my harte to lyue and dye in the fayth of our mother the holy Church thy spouse and in witnesse of this protestation and confession I offer the articles of our holy christian fayth which thy holye Apostles hath lefte vs in recommendinge vnto thee my fayth lyfe and death Amen I beleeue in God the Father c. The ende of the third chapter THE FOVRTHE CHAPTER CONTEYNINGE VERY goodly prayers for cōfort strēgth and deliuery by Gods assistance in all sorowes tribulations afflictions and aduersities VVhen thou feelest thy selfe tempted saye as folovveth Imitatio Christi li. 3. ca. 7. O Thou Satan the deuyll enemie of mankynde I adiure thee by the name of our Lorde God and by the signe of the holy crosse ✚ that thou departe and neuer hereafter enter into me O thou wicked spirit auoide from mee be thou ashamed for thou arte foule and ouglie that wouldest bringe suche thinges into my minde Goe from mee thou false deceyuer of mankinde thou shalte have noo parte in mee for my Sauiour Iesus standeth by mee as a mightie warriour and a strong champion and thou shalte flye awaye to thy confusion I had leuer suffer the moste cruell death then to consente to thy malicious stirringes be still therefore thou cursed fyende and cease thy malice for I shall neuer assente to thee though thou vexe mee never so much our Lorde is my lighte my healthe whome shall I dreade and he is the defender of my life what shall I feare Truelie though an hoste of men aryse against mee my harte shall not dread them for whie God is my helper and my redeemer Amen A prayer of any captiue accordinge to the forme of Dauid vvhen he vvas hid in the caue Psal 142. VVIth my voice I cry to thee afore thee I open my lamentations in thy bosome I disclose the secrete word of my hart my dolours and griefes I shew vnto thee my harte is almoste lyke to bruste so great is my discomfiture Thou knowest all my dealinges O Lorde and thou seest well ynough how the vngodly haue layed their snares for me Lo I caste mine eye on this side and that side aswell on my frends as kinsfolkes but all is in vaine none of them al helpeth me And againe I can not runne away I am so loadē ouer charged with irons O Lorde my maker and father now vnto thee I cry thou art mine onely Shot-anker defence helpe Thou art my porciō heritage which I possesse in al coūtries yea I haue none other possession but thee onely To thee therefore I sticke altogether knowinge certainly that nothing can goe amisse with me Consider then my lamentable complaynte beholde how I am brought low From the cruell pursuers which be much more of power than I am defend me Deliuer me from this prison and horrible feare of sinne and death that I may sette out thy name all thy sainctes as well Angells as men make sute for me desiring thee for my comfort They shall not cease vntill they obtaine their requeste I meane vntill thou forgyue me my sinnes and sende me comfort in this distres with pacience and lōg suffering This once obtayned the godly folke shal flocke aboute me shall not stynt to gyue thee thankes when they see that thou riddest me forth of these dangers to the highe prayse of thy name Lorde be mercyfull vnto vs take part with vs then we shall for euer lyfte vp and magnifie thy glorious name Amen A prayer of Iob in his moste grieuous aduersitie and losse of goodes Iob. 1. NAked I came oute of my mothers womb and naked shall I returne agayne our Lorde gaue our Lorde hath taken awaye as it hath pleased our Lord so is it done nowe blessed be the name of our Lorde Amen A prayer in trouble of conscience Psal 134. LOrde heare my prayer receyue my fupplicacion harken to my cōplaint for thy righteousnes Try not the lawe with thy seruaunt for trulye then shall no lyuynge man be founde vngyltie yea not one of thy saintes should escape quitte at thy barre vnlesse thou graunte him thy gracious pardon in somuch euen the very starres be not pure and fautles afore thee in the Angels thou foundest sin Nowe mine enemies hunte for my soule they beate dryue it downe they thruste it into darcke dungeons where felons conuicte and condempned to death were wonte to be kept my spirit is sorowfull my hart is heauie and sadd with in my breast to thee I holde vp my hādes requiring the of mercy For lyke as the dry ground lōgeth for a shower of raigne so my soule thinketh long till it hath thy helpe and succour heare me spedely if thou do not I am in dispaire my spirites is al werie of this bondage I haue bid my life fare-well VVherfore O God hide not thy face that I be not lyke to those that be hurled into the pyt of damnatiō after this night of misery ouerpassed let the pleasaunt morninge of comfort luckyly shyne vpō me that by time I may heare and fele thy goodnes for in thee is all my trust pointe me the waye that I shall walke in for yf thou be not my guide I must nedes wander and straye out of the waye To thee Lorde I lift vp my soule and that with all mine harte I besech the take me forth of mine enemies handes Thou onely art my succour and sauegarde teache me to worke what soeuer shall be thy pleasure for thou art my God Let thy good spirite conducte me into the land of the lyuing encourage my spirite for thy names sake furth of all these troubles for thy righteousnes delyuer me cōfound mine enemies as thou art gracious fauourable towardes me Those that will worke me sorowe and griefe plucke forth of the waye for I am thy seruaunt and for thy sake suffer I all this hurlye-burlye As thou art God so helpe thou me Amen A prayer for patience De Imit Christ li. 3. cap 20. O Lorde for as muche as thou was founde paciente in thy life fulfillinge in it moste speciallie the will of thy father it is requisite that I most wretched sinner should behaue my selfe pacientelye after thy will in all thinges and as longe as thou wilt that I for myne owne health beare the burthen of this corruptible life for thoughe this lyfe be tediouse and as heauie a burthen to the soule
yet neuerthelesse it is now through thy grace made very meritoriouse and by example of thee and of thy holy Sainctes it is now made to weake persons more patient clearer and also much more comfortable then it was in the olde Lawe when the gates of heauen were shut and the way thyther warde was darke and so fewe did couet to seeke it And yet they that were then righteouse and were ordeyned to be saued before thy blessed passioÌ„ and death mighte neuer haue come thyther O what thankes am I bounde therfore to yelde to thee that so louingly haste vouchsafed to shewe to me and to all faythfull people that will folow thee the very true and straight way to thy kingdome Thy holy lyfe is our way and by thy pacience we walke to thee that arte our heade and gouernoure But that thou Lord haddest gonne before and shewed vs the waye who woulde haue endeuored him self to haue folowed O how many should haue taried behynd if they had not seene thy blessed example going before we be yet slowe and dull although we haue seene and hard thy signes and doctrines what should we then haue bene if we had seene no such light goinge before vs Truely we should haue fixed our mind and our loue wholy in worldly thinges Make therfore O Lorde that possible to me by grace which is vnpossible by nature Thou knoweste well O Christ that I can suffer little and that I am anone caste downe with a little aduersitie wherefore I beseech thee that trouble and aduersitie may hereafter for thy names sake be beloued and desired of me For truelye to suffer and to be vexed for thee is very good and profitable to the healthe of my soule A prayer agaynst the enemies of Christs trueth Psal 139. DElyuer me O Lord from the vngodly stiffe necked persones for thou seest howe in their hartes they imagyn mischiefe and haue greate pleasure to picke quarels their tonges bee more sharper then anie Adders stingge vnder their lyppes lyeth poyson of Adders but O mercifull Lorde let me not fall into their handes that they handle me not after their owne lustes Thou onely arte my God thou muste heare my piteous coÌ„plainte Lorde that rulest all together that arte the strength and power of my defence be thou as a helmet vpon my head whensoeuer the vngodly shall assaulte mee neither suffer thou not the wicked thus to prosper in their matters Suffer not their canckarde and malicious stomackes to increase and spitefullye to reuile me Looke vpoÌ„ thy poore wretches cause and ryd me out of these dayely greuaunces then shall I with an vp right hearte and pleasaunt countenaunce extoll magnifie thy holy name Amen A prayer vvherin is desired freedome of the minde and auoydance of vvorldly desires Imitat o Christ li. 3. ca. 30. I Besche thee moste meeke and mercyfull Lorde Iesu that thou keepe me from the busines and cares of the worlde and that I be not taken with the voluptuouse pleasure of the worlde nor of the fleshe and that in lykewise thou preserue me from all hindraunce of the soule that I be not broken with ouermuch heuines sorowe nor worldly dreade And by these petitions I aske not onely to be deliuered from such vanities as the world desireth but also from such miseries as grieue the soule of me thy seruaunte with the common malediction of mankinde that is with corruption of the bodelye feeling wherwith I am so grieued and letted that I may not haue libertie of spirite to beholde thee when I would O Lord God thou art sweetenesse vnspeakable turne into bitternesse to me all fleshely delightes which would drawe me from the loue of eternall thinges to the loue of a shorte and a vile delectable pleasure Lette not flesh and bloud ouercome me nor the worlde with his shorte glorie deceyue me nor the fiende with his thousand-foulde craftes supplante me but gyue me ghostly strength in resistinge pacience in suffering and constancie in perseuering Gyue me also for al worldly consolations the moste sweete consolation of the holy Ghoste and for all fleshly loue sende into my soule the loue of thy holye name Loe meate and drinke clothinge and all other necessaries for the bodye are paynefull and troublesome to a feruent spirite which if it mighte would alwayes rest in God and in ghostly things graunte me therefore grace to vse such bodely necessaries temporally and that I be not deceyued with ouermuch desire to them To forsake all thinges it is not lawfull for the bodely kinde must be preserued and to seeke superfluous thinges more for pleasure than for necessitye thy holy lawe prohibiteth for so the flesh would rebell against the spirite wherfore Lord I beseech thee that thy hande of grace maye so gouerne me and teach me that I exceede not by any maner of superfluitie A prayer before vve take in hande any Iourney By Arnould Sobin O Good God whom it pleased to direct Abraham Iacob and young Tobias in their peregrinations and brought theÌ„ in health safety into their country Graunt I besech thee to be my direct our in this Iourney which I would in no respect vndertake much lesse followe and finishe if I knew it any waye contrarye to thy holy will Therefore O Lord gyue me Raphael for my conductor to whose custodye I may be deliuered and thereby be broughte with happy successe to the accomplishinge of that worke whereunto I prepare and dispose my selfe Directe my vnderstandinge O Lorde to the ende that my feete no where straye from the obseruations of thy holye commaundementes In the name of thy welbeloued sonne Iesus Christe our redeemer whoe with thee in vnitie of the holy Ghost lyueth reigneth eternally Amen Here folovveth for the vse of those that are desirous to rede latine prayers certayne verses collected by Sir Thomas Moore foorth of Dauids psalter in the time of his trouble and persecution for the Catholicke faith conteining an inuocation to God for his helpe against temptation vvith an insultatioÌ„ against vvicked spirites vpon hope and confidence in God IMPLORATIO DIVINI AVXILII contra â—entaâ—â—onem cum insultatione eontra Daemones exspe fiducia in Deum DOmine quid multiplicati sunt qui tribulaÌ„t me multi insurgunt aduersum me Multi dicunt animae meae non est salus ipsi in deo eius Tu autem domine susceptor meus es gloria mea exaltans caput meum Ego dormiui soporatus sum exurrexi quia dominus suscepit me Non timebo millia populi circundantis me exurge domine saluum me fac deus meus Psa 5. Domine deduc me in iustitia tua propter inimicos meos dirige in coÌ„spectu tuo viam meam Quoniam non est in ore eorum veritas cor eorum vanum est Sepulchrum patens est guttur eorum linguis suis dolose agebant iudica illos deus Decidant a cogitationibus suis secunduÌ„ multitudineÌ„ impietatum eorum
Iewes did so rage against thee with villanous spitefull words when they did mocke thee and all bespytte thy vysage when they did hoode-winke thine eyes and with their most filthy and impure hands did smyte thee vpon the most blessed face when they did moste cruelly whippe and scourge thee faste bounde to a piller when they did thruste vpon thy most sacred head a pricking crowne of thorne when with yron nayles they did pearce thy blessed armes stretched alonge vpon the crosse when thy blessed syde was thruste throughe with a speare when in thy great thirst and extreame agony they offered thee a sponge full of vinager and gall whē with thy head inclined downe thou sayed It is consummate when thou diddest commend thy spirite into the handes of God the Father and all this ended for the redemption and saluation of mankinde in thy graue thou was buried For all these paynes and passions O most meeke Lorde Iesus Christ I poore and wretched sinner doe humbly beseech thy infinite maiestie not to forsake nor suffer me to be accused and condemned in thy terrible iudgement but let thy dolorous passion so helpe and ayde me that I may be brought to euerlastinge felicitye let thy holy Angells alway be in my company and specially at the houre of death that they may protect defend keepe me so that the cruell infernall enimy may haue no powre or parte in me The ende of the sixt Chapter THE SEVENTH CHAPTER CONTAYNINGE DEuoute and holesome prayers to be sayed before and after the receyuinge of the B. Sacrament Aduertismentes for more vvorthelye receyuinge the holye Euchariste 1. Cor. cap. 11. Verse 26. FOr as often as you shall eate this breade and drincke the chalice you shall shevve the death of our Lorde vntyll he come Verse 27. Therefore vvhoe soeuer shall eate this breade and drincke the chalice of our Lorde vnvvorthily he shall be giltye of the body and bloode of our Lorde Verse 28. But lett a man proue him selfe and so let him eate of that breade and drincke of the chalice Verse 29. For he that eatethe and drinckethe vnvvorthyly eateth and drincketh iudgemente to him selfe not descerninge the body of our Lorde This probation according to the wordes of the Apostle Lett a man proue him selfe consisteth principally in fower poyntes 1. Fayth before all thinges is necessarye to him that shall receyue the blessed Sacrament of the Aultar that is to say he must firste beleeue the presence of the true body and blood of our sauiour Iesus Christe in the Sacramente of the Aultar for they that denye it doe asmuch as thy can to denye the omnipotencye of God and doe accuse God with lyinge for he hath sayed This is my body and this is my blood Also you must of necessitie beleeue that the body of Iesus christ is deliuered to death and his blood truely shedd for the remission of your sinnes 2. Penaunce or repentaunce to the ende you may acknowledge your sinnes with all your harte and haue true repentaunce for the same and truely to confesse thē to the priest your ghostly father And after you haue obtayned absolution you must firmely purpose not to commit any deadly sinne hereafter and hauinge forsaken all rancour and malice you muste be reconciled to them whom you haue offended or that haue offended you 3 Honest and decente behauiour and countenaunce apparteyning to a christian man whereby is required that none goe to this moste blessed Sacramente and greate misterie but fasting and with modestie humilitie and feruente zeale not with any dishonest or vncomely behauiour 4. Deuotion and a harte not occupied in other busines or affaires that so you may imploy your selfe wholly by meditations and deuout prayers to receyue such an excellente sacramente in considering and wonderinge at the incomprehensible humilitie of almightie God I meane hereby that he being a Lord of so greate and infinite maiestye hath bene obediente vnto his heauenly father euen vnto death to gyue vs lyfe And with all that by such deuout meditations and prayers you maye be stirred and prouoked to loue almighty god aboue al things and to gyue him most harty thanks for his so great benifites desiringe him moste humbly that the merits of his most bitter passion and death maye be applied to the comforte and profit of your soule A prayer to be sayde before the receyuinge of the Blessed Sacrament I Adore and worshippe thee and gyue thākes vnto thee my most louing Lorde Iesu Christe for thy innumerable benefites and giftes gyuen vnto me moste vnwhorthy All those I yeeld and offer vnto thee into an euerlastinge laude and prayse I gyue vnto thee thankes for all the goodnes that euer thou diddest shew or euer wilt shew vnto any reasonable creature I gyue thee thāks for al the mercies of thy moste swete goodnes I gyue thee thankes for thy holy Incarnation Natiuitie Infancie Childhod Manstate labours sorowfull cares Passion Death Resurrection thine Ascension I moste humbly thanke thee that thou haste vouchsafed to admitte me most vile sinner to the noble and liuelie feaste of this thy holy table O gracious Iesu I beseche thee for that loue that in maner constreigned thee to be incarnated to suffre and to die for me that thou wilt make me fully cleane from all sinne and make me to please thee in all thing Adorne and garnish my beggarlye and poore soule with thy mercies vertues Graunte mercifull Iesu that I may with moste humble reuerēce with burninge desire and chaste affection receiue the moste venerable Sacrament of thy blessed Bodie in memorie of all those things that thou haste vouchsafed to doe to speake and to suffre for my saluation Graunt good Lorde that I maye performe this thinge moste purely to the euerlasting glorie of thy name to the honour of thy moste sweet Mother and Virgin Marie and to the honour of thy blessed Saint N. Here name the Sainte of that daye to the honour of all thy blessed Saintes and Angells of heauen to the soule health of me and N. and to the soules health of all Christen people quicke and dead Haue mercy good Lord haue mercy vppon thy Churche haue mercy good Lord vpon this place and this compagnie Graunte that here be alwaye humilitye peace charitye chastitye and cleanesse Graunt that we all maye worthily amende and correct our selues and that we feare thee and serue thee faithfullye and that we maye loue thee and please thee I commend vnto thy mercy all our busines and all our necessities be mercifull vnto all those for whome thou haste shed thy precious blood Graunte vnto the quicke forgyuenesse and grace graunt vnto the faithfull departed rest and light euerlastinge Another Prayer before the receyuinge of the holy Sacrament By Sir Thomas Moore O Benigne Iesu that wouldest suffer so many greuous paines yea death it selfe for the loue of mankind greate and meruailous is thy charitie O good God for that thy charitie and that