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
as that I onely liue to thee I onely loue thee I onely delight in thee that thou be my onely ioye my onely comfort my only foode wherwith my soule maye in such sort be refreshed as that al other meats seem lothsome and vnsauourie to it This onely haue I chosen this onely shal suffice me with this alone wil I liue contented satisfied and happy vntil that most desired day come when I shal feede of thee in another forme and enioye thee continually in the company of al the elect and blessed Saintes of thy celestial court where with the Father and the holye Ghost thou liuest and reignest euerlastingly Amen PRAYERS THE Translatour of this Treatise 〈◊〉 earnestly good Christian Reader to be remembred in thy praiers and that other-whiles of thy charitable deuotion which shal not be vnrewarded thou wilt offer for him to God these fewe lines in maner folowing O LORDE of infinite maiestie and mercy who desirest not the death but the deliuerance of a sinner take pitie vpō thy seruant N. and pardon his moste greeuous trespasses Graunt him grace to knowe thee and to knowe him-selfe Geue him the vertues of humilitie patience temperance chastitie and perfect resignation Deliuer him frō mortal siun during life and in the hour of death strengthen him in faith and firme hope of finding mercy So that scaping the daungers of his enemies both in his life time and in that last most dreadful houre of death he maye through thy gratious goodnes attaine to euerlasting happines there to praise thee the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost one God eternallye Graunt this O Lorde for our Mediatour and only Redeemer Iesus Christe his sake Amen Non nobis Domine non nobis sed Nomini tuo da gloriam Thy sugred name O Lorde Engraue within my brest Sith therein doth consist My weal and onely rest TO THE READER I HAVE thought good gentle Reader folowing herein the aduise of certaine vertucus and learned men to annexe in the ende of the former most excellent Treatise these few praiers that folow moued therto chiefly with this reason that such as haue not ben erst exercised in the maner of praying prescribed by the Authour might here see some practise of his preceptes touching gouernment on morninges and euenings the two especial times wheron depend the whole course of a wel-ordered life as also touching the disposition requisite both before and after confessiō with some such other prayers as I demed most necessary here to present vnto thee I hope if thou beest a Nouice and delighted with the former worke this my smale paine shal not seeme vnprofitable vnto thee which I beseech thee to vse to thine auaile whiles thou wantest better meanes And this must I say for the better credite of that which foloweth how it is not I that am the authour thereof but other famous men of the same liuery that the former is God requite al our benefactors spiritual especially and geue thee Reder such good by this whole worke as the Authours thereof doo wish thee and my poore hart affordeth thee A PRAYER 〈◊〉 be sayde in the morning before al other busines MY LORDE God and most benigne Sauiour Iesus Christe who when I was not diddest create and make me capable of thee the soueraine and only good and being made a thral and bondslaue through my fore-fathers trespasse diddest redeeme me with thy most pretious bloud and losse of thy sacred life abiding the tormentes due to my trespasses to acquit and ridd me from the same For these O Lorde and al other thine inestimable benefites namely for hauing preserued me this night past I yeelde thee moste humble zealous and obedient thankes offring my selfe whollye to thee as I am wholly thine beseeching thee also of thine infinit clemēcie to preserue me this day from any waies offending thee and to direct al my thoughtes wordes and workes to thine euerlasting glory Mine estate and calling is as thou knowest O Lorde inuironed with many difficulties here is eche one to weigh their vocation and the dangers it is subject too and through mine euil customes and wicked inclinations hardlye can I without thy special assistance passe this daye without offending in these sinnes Here must eche one cal to mind the vices he is most prone too Refreshe therfore O Lorde my concupiscence with the dewes of thy diuine grace and geue me strength to fight more manfully and to subdue al wicked suggestions Truely Lord here in humilitie and sinceritie of heart I protest neuer willingly by thy gratious fauoure to offende thy lawes and commaundementes anye more I detest al sinne and what may any wayes displease thee I desire to loue thee feare thee and serue thee this day and euermore and to direct al mine actions to thine honour and glorye Assist me Lorde with thy grace and enriche my pouertie with the plentie of thy merits Wherfore in the vnion of that charitie wherewith thou descendest from heauen into the blessed virgins wombe and afterwardes offredst vp thy selfe on the roode in sacrifice for our sinnes in the vnion of this thine incomprehensible charitie I offer vnto thee what-soeuer I shal doo thinke or speake this day Here may we briefly discourse wherin we are like to passe ouer the day beseeching thee through thy merciful goodnes to accept gouerne and enriche al in such sort as thy glorye may be therby procured my neighbours wel-fare occasioned and mine owne soule better fortified and prouided To thee my sweete and only Iesus Christ with the father and the holy Ghost be al glorye and praise euerlastingly Amen Pater noster Aue Maria. Credo c. A PRAYER to be saide to bed warde applied to the excellent instructions of the third Chapter aboue 1. SOVERAINE dreadful and most louing Lorde my God who neuer ceassest to shew thy mercy towardes sinners yea when they offende and trespasse against thee such is thine infinit clemencie and loue as then thou forbearest not to heape thy benefites vpon them I moste sinful and wicked wretche yeeld thee humble thankes for thine ineffable goodnes shewed towardes me in creating me to thine own likenes and making me capable of thine euerlasting glorye for the creation of so many other creatures for my behoufe and sustenance and for that inestimable worke of my redemption wherby thou deliueredst me from the slauerie of Satan and purchasedst me free entraunce into thy celestial Region These pointes may be fruitfully particularised according to eche one their skil and deuotion for hauing singled me amongst so many millions that know thee not and lye drow ned in ignorance and miserable errours to be thy seruaunt and a true Catholike Christian for al thy blessed Sacramentes especially for that sacrament aboue al sacraments wherin thou art thy selfe most really conteined for hauing preserued me so many times from hel wherin I had beene longe since plunged had not thou of thine inspeakable goodnes susteined and deliuered me
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
both spiritually and corporally too if neede be THE FIFT aduise is that albeit thou must take for the recouerie of thy health al outward remedies and bodily phisicke that may be applied to thee yet oughtest thou to put greter confidence in the celestial phisition and in his diuine mercy prouidence then in any artificial and humane medicines least otherwise it might happ to thee as it did to king Asa who being visited with excessiue paines in his feete deserued not to recouer health yea mcurred death for that as the scripture telleth he trusted more to his phisitions skil facultie then to Gods diuine succour THE SIXT aduise is that if thorough Gods good grace thou recouer thy health againe and be cured of the infirmitie which lately greeued thee that presently thou remember to geue God the authour of al good thinges moste humble thankes for this his great benefite acknowledging and confessing freelye that it came principally by him rather then by any other helps humane remedies See therefore thou shewe thy selfe grateful euery wayes thou maiest least otherwise thou be like the nine ingrateful lepors that Christe clensed yea rather resemble thou the tenth who albeit he was a forreiner yet did he by and by after he had receaued health returne backe to thanke his benefactour whereby he deserued to be commended of the same our Lorde and Sauiour and th' other nine to be found fault withal and condemned for their ingratitude THE SEVENTH aduise is that nowe hauing receaued the health which thou earst lackedst thou be verye careful hereafter to auoyde al sort of sinne and to amend thy life hereafter assuring thy selfe that for this cause was it that thy health was thus restored to thee Thou oughtest therefore to be very diligent in executing suche good thoughtes and purposes as thou haddest or shouldest haue had in thy sicknes if God did vouchsafe mercifullye to graunt thee health againe as he nowe hath done for other-wise by forgetting the benefite receaued and returning backe again to thy vomite and wented beastlines of offending thou shouldest by this meanes deserue to haue some worse thing to light vpō thee like as our Sauior him-self aduertised the man whom he had cured of his thirtie and eight yeres palsey These aduises maiest thou vse during the time of such sicknes as God wil haue thee to escape and to be recured of But if thy maladie be mortal and no remedie but this temporal life must be determined and ended by it then ouer and aboue what hath been alreadie said take these aduises folowing THE FIRST is that perceauing thy sicknes to increase and to growe more greeuous thou then awake thy selfe with more vigilant care to dispose both of thy temporal and spiritual affaires as if those wordes were then spoken to thee which were deliuered by the prophete Esaye to king Ezechias Dispose of thy house for thou 〈◊〉 dye and not liue Dispatch therfore and make perfect thy wil which euerye good Christian ought to make in the time of health when he maye with better case sounder iudgement and more mature aduise perfourme and doo the same and not to driue it til the last houre when al these commodities doo faile him sith daylye experience doth informe vs howe through the letts and encombrances of sicknes the wils that are made in that time be very rawlye performed and many times vnperfectly drawen and penned Hauing therfore thy wil in a redines by thee with thy satisfaction therin conteyned thou maiest then as shal seeme best vnto thee alter or adde thereto any thing by way of codicil But if thou hast bene heretofore negligent in this matter haddest not made it or not so exactlye as to content and satisfie thy minde withal then maiest thou make it anewe at such time as thou shouldest finde thy selfe best at ease of ripest iudgement and least letted with thy sicknes procuring to haue some trustie frend by thee to prompt thee at that time in necessary and needful remembraunces THE SECOND aduise to helpe thee in this case is that when thou haste once finished thy wil according to thy mind with a true and perfect satisfaction and disburdened thy cōscience as-wel for restitution making and debtes paying if thou owest any as also touching other discrete and godly legacies Briefly hauing disposed of al thy temporal causes force thy selfe forth-with to forget quite 〈◊〉 thinges which thou 〈◊〉 here behinde thee and wholly to occupie thy minde in heauenly matters which thou shortlye hopest to enioye that by this means the remembrance of such thinges as earst thou louedst wel and nowe must needes leaue doo not disquiet thee or cause thee to receaue death more vnwillingly then were meete thou shouldest doo And to ridd thee the better of al these encombrances and daungerous distractions let this be THE THIRD aduise to commaūd al those of thy house and require al others that come to visite and assist thee not to deale or breake with thee in any temporal matters nor to put thee in memorie of such worldlye things as earst thou bare affection to as might be riches wife children frendes with other thinges wherein thou delitedst gretly heretofore And then see that this be chieflye done when death is at the doore and the life draweth fast to an ende then I say let this aduise be moste carefully executed least the sight or hearing of such matters might then allure or draw thine affection to them and so thy minde be distracted and caried awaye from dinine and heauenlye matters wherewith thou oughtest in that time to be onely in loue and onlye to desire and thinke vpon THE FOVRTH aduise when thou seest thy selfe in these termes is to cause some deuout spiritual godly mē to be called for who in this so busie important a time may assist geue thee good counsaile and exhortations comforting thee eyther with their good speeches or by good lessons which they may reade out of some such spiritual booke as maye serue most fitly for thy purpose that by this meanes thy soule maye more easily eleuate it selfe vp to the consideration of celestial and heauenlye matters wherin but specially in the blessed passion of our Sauiour Iesus Christe thou oughtest principallye to occupie thy minde These men may like-wise doo thee great good with their zelous and feruent prayers calling vpon God for his diuine mercye towardes thee and beseeching our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe and his blessed mother with al the whole court of heauen to helpe and fauour thee in that houre of thy departure being a time so tedious and so ful of imminent peril And thus must thou pray thy selfe too in the best maner thou canst THE FIFT aduise is that when thou supposest thy life to drawe fast awaye yet before such time as thou losest the vse of reason thou then craue
for so is moste expedient forsomuch as the thinges that are here intreated of sith they be the rules and remembrances which thou oughtest in spiritual life to leuel and guide thy worke by it behoueth at al times to reade them when thou purposest to practise thē For besides that the bare reading shal-be a laudable and meritorious exercise for thee and serue as a part of prayer the reiterating and frequētation of reading shal helpe thee to learne by heart what in action thou art bound to execute and so maiest thou afterwardes exercise thee in ech point with much more facilitie and lesse adoo a great deale And therfore albeit this litle labour maye profite eche one that with good and godlye intent wil vouchsafe to reade it yet was it principally intended for the simple and more ignorant sort and for that cause haue I thought good to annexe here in the end such thinges as many of them wot not and yet are bound to knowe Seing that if euerye Artisan thinke it meete to knowe such thinges as belonge vnto his Art howe much more is a true Christian bound to knowe what appertaineth to his profession an Arte aboue al Artes and to be prepared as the Apostle S. Peter saith to yeeld accompt of that he beleeueth and hopeth and what it behooueth him to doo to liue according to Gods wil and pleasure and to obteine euerlasting life withal Wherefore for such as be in this behalfe blame-woorthye negligent I haue here set downe such thinges as without daunger of their owne wel-doing they neither ought nor can be ignorant of that by reading these notes and short remembrances they may both vnderstande what they want and learne it here commodiously without further seeking of other bookes And as for the textes I haue here set them foorth both in the latine and vulgar tonge for euery one to learne them as best shal like thē not respecting so much the wordes as the substance and sapp conteined in the same SIMBOLVM APOSTOLORVM which in vulgare tonge is called the Creede 1. CREDO in Deū Patrem Omnipotentem Creatorem coeli terrae 2. Et in Iesum Christum filium eius vnicum Dominum nostrum 3. Qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto natus ex Maria virgine 4. Passus sub Pontio Pilato crucifixus mortuus sepultus 5. Descendit ad inferos tertia die resurrexit à mortuis 6. Ascendit ad coelos sedit ad dextram Dei Patris Omnipotentis 7. Inde venturus est iudicare viuos mortuos 8. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum 9. Sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam Sanctorum Communionem 10. Remissionem peccatorum 11. Carnis Resurrectionem 12. Vitam aeternam Amen 1. I beleeue in God the Father Almightie Maker of heauen and earth 2. And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord. 3. Which was conceaued by the holy Ghost born of the virgin Marye 4. Suffred vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified deade and buried 5. Descended into hel the third day he rose againe from the deade 6. Ascended into heauen sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie 7. From thence he shal come to iudge both the quicke and the deade 8. I beleeue in the holy Ghoste 9. The holy Catholike Churche the Communion of Saintes 10. The forgeuenes of sinnes 11. The Resurrection of the bodye 12. And the life euerlasting Amen A BRIEFE declaration of the. 12. Articles conteined in the Crede ¶ Cap. 30. FOR thy better remembring of these xij Articles conteined in the Creede aforesaid wherin the whole summe of our holy Catholike fayth is comprehended I haue thought good in this second impression to adioyne a briefe declaration as-wel thereof as also of such other thinges as be needful for thee to haue by hart Wherby thou maiest easily learn not onely to rehearse the bare wordes but to sucke out the sense and sapp also of that which thou beleeuest con fessest and witnessest or at least wise oughtest to doo in al thy life and actions It is therfore for declaration of this Creede or Simbole to be noted howe God being one in substance three in person al the three persons of the most sacred and souerain Trinitie are in this Creede especified and vnto eche one of them their peculier and proper Articles assigned THE FIRST Article sheweth vnto vs the first person of the Trinitie to wit the Father vnto whom is attributed the creation of heauen earth and of al things visible and inuisible al the which as he for vs hath by his Omnipotencie created of nothing so doth he forovs through his wisdome and goodnes still mainteine and gouerne them whereby we are done to wit what great loue we are bounde to beare towarde this our so good a father who hath for vs created and kept so manye thinges What trust we may also repose in him and howe greatly we ought to dreade the offending of so omnipotent a Father THE SECOND Article declareth vnto vs the second person of the sacred Trinitie which is the Sonne who touching his diuinitie is from al eternitie ingendred of his Father of the self-same substaunce with his father and coequal to him This one only and eternal sonne of God as he tooke humane nature and fleshe vppon him is called Iesus Christe that is to saye Sauiour annointed IESVS which signifieth Saurour for that he came to saue and redeeme his people from their sinnes and CHRISTE which is as much to say as annointed for that he was annointed by the holye Ghoste ful of grace and truth He is also called MESSIAS whom God had erst promised to sende into the worlde a KING BISSHOP and LORDE for that he bought vs with his most precious bloud and thereby is geuen vs to vnderstande howe much we are bound to honour loue and reuerence him THE THIRD Article teacheth vs the incarnation and temporal natiuitre of this our Lord for that being as God eternally engendred of his father without mother he for our loue descended frō heauen and tooke humane fleshe vpon him and was as man conceaued without father or operation of man in that most sacred vessel the virginal wombe of the euermore virgin Mary and was afterwardes borne in Bethlcem of this his blessed mother she remayning euermore a virgin By this incarnation of the 〈◊〉 of God we are al of vs regenerated of carnal that we were made spiritual and the children of God in Iesus Christe THE FOVRTH Article doth informe vs of the Passion death and burial of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe who hauing preched and done many miracles for the space of three yeres the Iewes of meere spite and malice accused him to Pontius Pilate their Iudge who albeit he wist wel his innocencie and cleernes frō any crime yet did he adiudge him to suffer death vpon the Roode and so was he by that means crucified dead and buried whose holy wounds passion Crosse
I may feele iust remorse and sorowe for euery sinne and imperfection what soeuer And that I may the better performe this graunt me grace my sweete Sauiour Iesus Christe that I may perseuer in discussing my conscience euery night more diligently thē other according to the good instructions it hath plesed thee by thy seruauntes to impart vnto me and that eche morning I may so happily beginne the day by offering thee the firste fruites of al mine actions as that the rest thereof may euermore be passed to thy glory As for my Penance that is enioyned me and not performed alreadie fauourably I beseeche thee to assist me both in the perfect remembring therof and in the diligent executing in good time And graunt that by thus endeuouring my self daily thorough thy grace to amende my life I may both liue and dye a true Penitent and obteine through the merits of thy blessed passion a ful forgeuenes of my sinnes in this world and in th' other the life eternal wherto thou hast created me To thee mine onely Sauiour Iesus Christ with the Father and the Holy Ghoste one God be al honour praise and glory euerlastinglye Amen A VERY fitt praier to be saide before Masse wherein we exercise very fruitfully our faith and prepare our selues to heare it with dutiful attention O MOST puissant and louing Lorde who haste of thine infinite mercy vouchsafed that thine only sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christe should before his doleful death ordeine his bodye and bloudd to be consecrated in thy Churche by vertue of thy worde in a most miraculous and dreadful misterie graunt me grace I beseech thee O Lorde that as of thy singuler loue towardes vs thou hast ordeined this diuine Sacrament to make vs alwaies mindful of the merits purchased vnto vs by the death of thy deere sonne our Sauiour so I maie with due reuerence and diligent remembrance of those his most bitter tormentes assist here whiles thy seruaunt celebrateth this misterie and offer vp my praiers in most obedient wise vnto thee The souerain desire thou haddest of our wel-fare O Lorde was that which moued thee to leaue vs this moste diuine sacrifice of the Masse that like as thy triumphant Churche hath her sacrifice aboue so thy militant Churche might haue her sacrifice belowe For like as in heauen thy sonne dailie offereth him-selfe vnto thee for bethouse appering before thy face in a visible and glorious maner so hast thou vouch safed that in earth he should dailie be offered to thee by the function of priestes for our sinnes in a maner inuisible and proportionable to our frailtie Yet is it al one onelie and the selfe same Iesus Christe thy sonne and al our profite and auaile is whollie deriued from the Tree of the holie Roode This misterie most mightie Lorde is farre surpassing al humane capacitie and yet right easie for those to beleeue that haue in time sucked the sweete sapp of thy most sauorie and wholesome doctrine For mine owne part Lorde I beleeue through thy gratious goodnes simply whatsoeuer thy holie Catholike Apostolike and Roman Church teacheth me either touching this or anie other of thy most diuine misteries and doctrines and confesse vndoubtedly that as thou hast said that body and bloud is conteined in this most sacred Sacrament and the same bodye to be like-wise on the right hand of thy Father in heauen so beleue I them both most assuredly and th' one as firmelye as th' other seing one is as-wel the wil and worke of the Word God and man as is the other and to be in earth in heauen and in many places at once is in thy power to doo it most easily as thou doest and is in my power through thy grace to beleeue it most constantlye as I doo Herein I vtterly renounce my sence and al mans vnderstāding and cleue only to thy diuine and inexplicable Omnipotencie who as thou madest al things of nothing so canst thou alter and dispose of al thinges at thy wil and pleasure Nowe therefore I beseeche thee most omnipotent and mightie God to driue awai al distractions and wicked thoughts out of my minde that I may attend the celebration of this heauenly misterie with feare and reuerent humilitie Sanctifie also I beseech thee his spirite who is here to present him-selfe before thee to celebrate this diuine Sacrifice to th' ende that he may woorthely doo it to thine honour and glorye his owne auaile and the benefite of al others Geue me grace that by the reuerent ceremonies which are here to be vsed I mai be put in mind of thy most painful torments which they doo represent and that I mai adore thee in thy imperial Sacrament with souerain dread and lowlines This by thy grace I purpose this by thy grace I hope to performe Accept therfore O Lorde to thine honour our welfare and the vnitie of thy Churche the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour thy sonne Iesus Christe offered thee in this Sacrifice Incline thine eares O Lorde to the praiers of thine afflicted flocke and mercifullie restore thy true religion where it is lacking Open the eies of the blind and make them know their errors Relieue the distressed the captiues and the sicke in the vertue of this sacrament Geue grace to the liuing and perpetual place of rest and quietnes to those which are departed in thy faith for the merits of our onely Sauiour thy sonne Iesus Christe to whom with thee and the holy Ghost one God be al renowme praise and soueraintie for euermore Amen ANOTHER short praier to be saide likewise before Masse O MY soueraine Lorde and Sauioure Iesus Christe O Lampe of light and truth I most miserable wretche humbly beseeche thee to stanche my wandring mind in such sort as I maie with due 〈◊〉 and attention assist and waite here in thy imperial presence whiles thou procurest this so important an affair with thy eternal father for my wel fare and of al man-kind Illuminate my soule and stirre vp my lumpish heart O sonne of true Sapience and Iustice with the bright nes of thy countenance that I maie here with a grateful and deuout memorie cal to mind that sacrifice of obedience patience and mosle inflamed charitie which thou being wrapt in extreme woes and ignominious reproches diddest offer vppon the roode with thy life and euerie dropp of thy most sacred bloud to thi celestial Father for our sins Amē AN EXCELLENT praier and adoration to be made in the presence of the blessed Sacrament I MOST wicked wretche and vnwoorthie Christian bow down before my Lorde who hath made and redeemed me who fostreth and susteineth me and euermore remaineth life and veritie O Iesus Christe very God and mē I adore thee here present and cal vppon thee not doubting any whitt at al of the verie real presence of thy flesh and bloud viuificant nor of the presence of thy pretious bodie and most sacred soule Ah Lorde that I coulde in
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