thy commaundementes Ps 118. that I may be vnited to him which did not abhorte to be inuested with my flesh Wilt thou not attend o holy Father vnto the head of thy yong dearest beloued SoÌ„n hanging down his bewtiful necke resolued into most precious death Behold o most meeke Creatour the humanity of thy beloued Sonne and take mercy vpon the infirmity of thy weake creature His naked breast is white his bloudy side is redde his stretched intrales do drye his comly eyes do faint his kingly mouth is pale his longe armes be stiffe his marmour thyghes doe hange the water of his blessed bloud doth beweâ—e his pearced feete Behold o glorious Genitour the torne meÌ„bers of thy most grateful child and with bounty remember what my substance is Vew the paine of God a man and release the misery of man created Behold the punishment of the Redemer and forgeue the offence of him that is redemed This is he o my Lord whom thou hast striken Is 53. for the sinnes of thy people although he be thy welbeloued in whom thou hast wel Math. 3. pleased thy self This is that Innocent in whom deceipt was not founde and yet he was deputed among the wicked Is 53. A Praier out of S. Ciprian in his Tom. 3. praier before his Martyrdome O Lord holy Father holy God holy and holy my god For who is greater then thou art I render thankes praise to thee God of Abraham God of Isaac and God of Iacob God of our Fathers God of the Apostles and God of the Prophets and God of Martyrs who wast before the disposing of the world God of the liuing to come to iudge the quick and the dead which art the true God who sittest vpon the Cherubim Seraphim the seate of thine honour and behouldest the depthes which seest al thinges before they be brought forth who hast power to kil and restoare againe and Dan. 3. might to make the withered to florish Thou Lord ruler of al thinges deliuer me from this world and heare me praying Wo vnto my sinnes when thou shalt rise vp to crush the earth together vnder what clifter of the rockes shal I hyde my self from before thy power To what mountaine shal I say fal vpon Math. 25. me and vnto what hil couer me from before the feare of our Lord when thou shalt arise to bruse the earth I pray thee o Lord help me Iudge me not according to my doinge for I haue obeyed nothing in thy commaundementes Hear me praying as thou hardest Ionas from the bely of the whale Ion. 2. et 3. so heare me and cast me forth from death to life Blotte out al my sinnes and heare me praying as thou didest heare the three children in the fournace Dan. 3. of fire Ananias Azarias Mizael sent thine Angel with a showre of dew and Nabuchodonosor ruler of the kingdome was confounded Heare me praying as thou didest heare Daniel Dan. 14. from the Lyons denne and sent Abacuc the Prophet and he brought him diner Heare me praying as thou didest heare Tobias and Sara while they Tob. 3. prayed in the entry of their house then the Angel Raphael offered for them their prayers And so heare thou my prayers and admitte my petitions to thy holy Court and presently send thy holy Angel which may blot out al my sinnes as thou didest driue the vncleane spirit from Sara the daughter of Raguel and illighten my heart as thou diâ—â—st illuminate the eyes of Tobias Heare me praying as thou didest heare Susanna Dan. 13. amonge the handes of the Elders so deliuer me froÌ„ this world because thou art the louer of a pure conscienâ—e I besech thee o Father of Maiesty who in the end of times hast taken mercy on vs sending vnto vs Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord God Sauiour borne of the Virgin Mary by the holy Luc. 1. Ghost And I besech thee sonne of the liuing God which hast wrought so many miracles I besech thee o sonne of the liuing God for al my sinnes coÌ„mitted Thou thy self hast made a Testament for vs. Aske and you shal Math. 7. receaue knock and it shal be opened vnto you Whatsoeuer you shal aske my Father in my name I aske it of my Father that you may receaue it I aske that I may receaue I seeke that I may finde I knocke that it may be opened vnto me I aske in thy name that thou maist aske of thy Father and it may be geuen to me I am ready for thy name to shede a sacrifice of bloud and vndergoe what torment soeuer Thou art o Lord my helper and defender defend me from mine aduersary Thy Angel of light protect me because thâ—u hast said that what beleuing yâ—u shal aske bâ— praier shal be geuen vnâ—â— you Euery man is a lyer Thou art true as thou hast promised thou hast power o Lord to geue me al thy heauenly sacrament that I may be worthy to see the face of thy Sainctes Let the spirit worke in me Thy wil be done in me because I haue freely promised al the daies of my life my selfe vnto thee which sufferedst vnder Pontius Pilate a good confession who crucified did descende and didest treade vnder foote the stinge of death Death is subdued the enemy the deuil is vanquished Thou didest arise againe appeared to thine Apostles Thou sittest at the right hande of the Father which art to come to iudge the quick and the dead Thou shalt rule deliuer me from the hand of him that seeketh my soule By thy name deliuer me froÌ„ the aduersary power that thou maist geue help to bind mine enemy because thou art a potent approuer and aduocate of the praiers and petitions of our soules Day and night make intercession for my sinnes present my praier to thy Father And thou o Lord holy Father vouchsaife to haue tespect vpon my praiers as thou didest respect the guiftes of Abel Vouchsaife to deliuer me from the euerlasting fyre and punishment and from al torment which thou hast prepared for the impious by the good blessed Iesus Christ our Sauiour by whom to thee be praise honour power glory for euer Amen Other Meditations and Praiers for Euening neare Night IF I shal geue sleepe to mine eyes Ps 131. c. vntil I finde a place for our Lord. When it was Euening c. Ioseph taking Math. 27. the body wrapt it in a cleane Sâ—ndone and laid it in his owne new monument A Meditation out of S. Iohn Climacus grad 7. 28. AT time of thy prayer stande Grad 7. tremblng nor behaue thy self otherwise then one areigned before the Iudge that both by thine inwarde and outward behauiour thou maist procure to thy self the fauour of the iust Iudge To them that pray rightly praier is Grad 28. a Court and Iudgment and Tribunal of our Lord before the Tribunal seate that is to be hereafter
misteries but thou o merciful god make me worthy of thy grace that without condemnation I may be made partaker of thy holy body c. After consecration Missa Ethiopum ascribed to S. Mathew Apostle THis is the holy honoured and liuely body of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ which is geuen for remission of sinnes and obtaining eternal saluation to them that duly receaue it Amen This is the bloud of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ holy honoured viuificant which was geuen for remission of sinnes to obtaine euerlasting lyfe to them that truly receaue it Amen Verily this is the body and this is the bloud of Emanuel our God Amen I beleue I beleue Ibeleue now and euer Amen This is the body and this is the bloud of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which body which bloud he tooke of our holy and immaculate Lady Virgin Mary and vnited them to his Diuinity Amen S. Ignatius Epistol ad Ephes I desire the bread of god the heauenly bread the bread of life which is the flesh of Iesus Christ Sonne of the liuing god who was borne in the laste time of the seede of Dauid and Abraham S. Lligius Hom. 15. de vtriusque paschalis esu CHrist is offered in Sacrifice and eaten and yet remaineth one whole sure our redemer prouiding for our frailty deliuered this sacrament vnto vs That because he now cannot dye and we do daily sinne we might haue a true sacrifice by which we might be purged from our sinnes Wherefore with feare and compunction of mynd with al reuerence we ought to come to the Altar and to the table of the body and bloud of our lord and humbly say with Math. 8. the Centurion O Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe S. Ambros l. 4. de Sacrament cap. 5. It was great and venerable that to the Iewes it rayned MaÌ„na from heauen But vnderstand what is greater Manna from heauen or the body of Christ Truly the body of Christ who is Authour of heauen Thou dost not idly say Amen now in spirit confessing that thou receauest the body of Christ The Preist saith vnto thee The body of Christ and thou saiest Amen that is true Let thine affection hold what thy tongue confesseth S. S. Clem. Rom. Const Apost l. 2. c. 61. AFter the Sacrifice is ended let al in order receaue our Lordes body with shamfastnes feare as comming to the body of the King Let the women also with their heades veyled come in order Let the Bishop geue the oblation saying The body of Christ And let him that receaueth say Amen When the rest receaue let the 33. psalme be said lib. 8. cap. 20. Psalmus 33. I wil blesse our Lord in al time his praise alwaies in my mouth In our Lord my soule shal be praised let the meeke heare and let them reioyce Magnify our Lord with me and let vs exalt his name together I haue sought our Lord and he haith hard me deliuered me forth of al my tribulations Come vnto him and be illightned and let not your faces be confounded This poore one haith cryed and our Lord haith hard him and haith saued him from al his tribulations The Angel of our Lord wil put him selfe in the circuite of theÌ„ that feare him and wil deliuer them Tast and see how sweete our lord is Blessed is the man that hopeth in him Feare our lord al you his Saints for there is not waÌ„t to those that feare him The rich haue needed and haue beene hungry but they which seeke our lord shal want no good Come children and heare me I wil teach you the feare of our lord Who is the maÌ„ which wil lyfe loueth to see good dayes forbid thy tonge froÌ„ euil and thy lipps that they speake not deceipt Turne from euil and doe good seeke for peace and folow it The eyes of our lord ouer the iust his eares to theire prayers But the countenance of our lord vppon them that do euil thinges that he may destroy their memory from earth The iust haue cryed our lord haith hard them and haith deliuered them from al their tribulations Our Lord is neare to them that be of a trobled hart he wil saue the humble in spirit The tribulations of the iust are many our Lord wil deliuer them from al these Our Lord kepeth al their bones one of these shal not be broken The death of sinners the worst they which haue hated the iust shal offend Our Lord wil redeeme the soules of his seruantes and al that hope in him wil not offend S. Clem. Rom. sup l. 8. c. 20 When the psalme is ended let the Deacon say let vs giue thankes to him who haith made vs worthy to receaue his holy misteries and we aske that they be not vnto vs to iudgment but saluatioÌ„ vnto vs to the profit of our soule body for custody of piety remission of sinnes to the life of the world to come let vs be stirred vp in grace S. Chrisost l. 3. de Sacerdot When thou behouldest our Lord Sacrificed the preist occupyed in the Sacrifice and pouring forth praiers dost thou think thou doest conuerse with mortal men and to be on earth Art thou not rather forthwith transported into heauen and casting away al cogitation of the flesh with a naked mind and pure vnderstanding lookest about the thinges that be in heauen O miracle O bounty of God! He which sitteth aboue with his Father the same instant time is handled with the handes of al and he geueth him self vnto them that wil receaue him and embrace him THE SALVTATION of the Blessed Virgin commonly called the Aue Maria by whom composed and Meditations vpon it out of Scripture THe Angel Gabriel was sent of Luc. 1. God into a City of Galilee â—alled Nazareth vnto a Virgin despoused to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid the Virgins name was Mary And the Angel being entred in said vnto her Haile ful of grace our Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women As Elizabeth heard the salutation v. 41. 42. of Mary the infant did leape in her wombe And Elizabeth was replenished with the holy Ghost she cryed out with a lowde voice said Blesed art thou among women and blesed is the fruiet of thy wombe The Praier added by the primatiue Church as appeareth by these Sainctes S. Aug. 5. 2. Annun Dom. Athan ser de Deip. Ephrem orat de laudib Dei Matris Greg. Naz. Trag. Chr. patiens c. O holy Mary Mother of God pray for vs sinners now in the hour of our death Amen A deuout Meditation by way of exposition vpon the first part out of S. Andreas Archbishop of Hierusa lem ser in salut Angel HAile ful of grace our Lord is with thee Haile organe of gladnesse by which the condemnation of our sinne is purged and a
Ep. 3. IT greatly behoueth al men that are called by the Christian name truly to beleue and acknowledg the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost one God and Lord and with al their The duty of â— Christian mind and al their heart and al their power to loue him and their neighboures as them selues and to be instructed to perfect Doctrine to accoÌ„plish these thinges For faith and Charity are â—he foundation of al Goodnesse Heb. 11. and without Faith no man can can please god Therefore Christ being risen from death ascended into heauen after the holy Ghost was sent the Apostles hauing the knowledg of tongues bestowed vpon them being yet together coÌ„posed the Symbole which the true beleuing Church now holdeth euery one of them saying what he thought That when they should depart one from an other they might preach this rule throughout al natioÌ„s Wherefore so they taught proposing a suÌ„me of the whole Catholick faith in which both the integrity of our beleefe and the equality of one god omnipotent that is the holy Trinity is declared the mistery of the Incarnation of the Sonne of god who for the saluation of mankind descending froâ— his Father in heauen vouchsaifed to be borne of a Virgin and by what meanes when he suffered death how being buried he arose and in his flesh it self ascended into heauen and sitteth on the right hand of the Father and shal come to be our Iudge and how he bestowed remission of sinnes to them that be regenerate in holy baptisme the refurrection of mankind in the same flesh for the life to come For Symbole in greeke is called in latin a Collection And this the said Apostles amonge them selues by the holy Ghost as before is said for the good of vs. It is also named a signe because by this he that truly beleueth is knowne Therfor esaluatioÌ„ of their soules euerlasting life is by good workes prepared to al that beleue the thinges contained in the fore said Symbole An other Meditation vpon the same out of S. Maximus Episc Thaur hom de tradit Symboli WHen among our Fathers as the booke of Iudges maketh mention certaine Tribâ—s of Israel fel to ciuil warres among them selues and because of the like habit of one people there could be no distinction to know the souldiers by that Tribe which had the iustest cause of war because it worthily by the help of god presumed of victory ordained to it self a signe in a secret speach that those whom one liknesse of armour coÌ„founded the mistery of their watch-word might distinguish Which example as I suppose the blessed Apostles imitating deliuered the mistery of the Symbole to the Church of God which they armed against the malice of the deuils fury that because vnder one name of Christ there would be a difference of beleuers the signe of the Symbole might make distinction betwene the true faithful and the misbeleuers And he that was a stranger from faith and enemy of the Church might appeare either as one not baptised that knew it not or as an heritik that had corrupted it A Meditation necessary for a direction to al professing Christ crucified vpon that word of our Creede Crucified Ciril Hieros Catech. 4. Illumin MAny others haue bene crucified but what other that was crucified is there whose inuocation expelleth deuils Therefore let vs not be ashamed of the Crosse of Christ But if any man doth hide it signe thou thy self openly in thy fornead with the Crosse that the deuils seeing thâ— signe of the King may with trembling fleâ— faâ—re of Make this signe when thou eatest when thou drinkest and sitting and standing and speaking and walking breifly in al thy businesse An other of S. Ephrem ser de cruce Dâ—mini DOminus regnauit a Ligno Our Lord haith â—eâ—gned from the tree The Crosse ruleth which al Nations adore Tâ—e Câ—â—sse is the hope of christians the Resurrection of the dead staffâ— of the lame comfort of the poore bridle of the riche subuersion of the proud The Crosse the triumph against deuils a father of orphanes and pupils counseler of the iust comfort ease of the afflicted kâ—eper of infantes head of men crowne of old men a light to them that sitt in darknesse magnificence of Kinges freedom offeruantes wisdom of the vnlearned philosophy of the barbarous The Crosse the preaching of the Prophets companion of the Apostles glorifying of Martyrs shamfastnesse of virgins ioy of Preistes The Crosse fouÌ„dation of the Church and security of the world destruction of the temples of Idols scandal of the Iewes strength of the weake medicine of the sâ—ck food of the hungry and fountain of the thirsty This it is which fastned in the midle Mat. 27. Marc. â—5 of the earth in the place of caluary presently budded forth the best branch of grapes of our life This planted in Luc 23. Io. 19. Phil. 2. Eph. 4. the midle of the earth most prudently haith comprehended the endes of the world On this Christ our God being exalted ledde agaiue captiuity captiue which was detayned by the tyrant beneath In that Christ destroyed the most deuouring belie of hel and stopped the working and wyde open gaping mouth of the deuil He being seene death did tremble and quake for feare and dismissed al free which from the first man vnto that time it had held vnder her rule and tyranny Another of S Chrisostome aduer gent. demonst c. et hom 55. in Matth. THe Crosse which was cursed which was abominable a signe of death is made a thing more noble then Diademes and Crownes For the head is not so adorned with a kingly crown as with the Crosse which is more worthy then any ornament that which in former times al so much abhorred now they so much seeke to haue the signe thereof It is now found in euery place with Princes subiects men women Virgins the maryed bound and free Al men oftentimes signe them selues therewith making it on our noblest member for it is daily figured on our forhead as vpon a piller So it shyneth on the holy Table so in the ordinations of Preists so againe with the body of Christ in the Mistical supper Meruelous is this grace no man is ashamed of it no man bluÌ„ssheth at it thinking that it haith bene the signe of a cursed death but al men are more adorned with it then with â—rownes of Diademes or many Iewels and chaines beset with precious stones Hieronimus Ep. 128 ad Fabiol Exod. 28. Thou shalt make a plate of the purest gold c fastning it on the forhead c. THat which in times past was demoÌ„strated in the golden plate is shewed in the signe of the Cross Then the signe according to the saying of Ezechiel was fastned on the forhead of them that mourned now we that beare the Crosse do say O Lord the light of thy coâ—ntenance is signed Hier. inc 9. Ezech. vpon vs. Kâ—l
and haue mercy for o god thou art merciful and haue mercy vpon vs because we haue sinned before thee Remember not the iniquities of our fathers but remember thy hand and thy name in this time because thou art lord our God and we wil praise thee o lord Eccelsiasticus 23. O Lord Father and ruler of my life forsake me not in their counsel suffer me not to fal in that reproach Who doth impose scourges in my thought and doctrine of wisdome in my heart that they spare me not in their ignorances and their offences appeare not and that mine ignorances may not increase and mine offences multiplied and my sinnes abouÌ„d and I may fal in the sight of mine aduersaries ' my enemy may reioyce O Lord Father and god of my life forsake me not in thought of them Arrogancy of mine eyes geue not vnto me al euil desire turne from me A prayer for repentant sinners out of S. Clement Constut Ap. l. 8. c. 12. ALmighty euerlasting god Lord of al Crearor and gouernour of the world who hast placed maÌ„ for the ornament thereof by Christ geuen him the law natural and written that as a reasonable creature he might haue a rule to liue according vnto it if he should sinne in any thing thou hast deliuered vnto him the foundation of penance thy goodnesse looke vpon them that bow downe the nâ—ckes of thier soule body vnto theâ— because thou desirest not the death of a sinner but Ier. 18. penance that he may returne from his euil way and liue Thou that didest admitte Ionas 3. 1. Tim. 2. the penaÌ„ce of the Niniuites who wouldest al men to be saued coÌ„e to the knowledge of truth Who receaued with fatherly affectioÌ„ Luc. 15. by penance the sonne that lasciueously had consumed his portion receaue now also the penance of them that pray vnto thee because there is none that sinneth not against thee If thou wilt obseâ—â—e Ps 129. our iniqities o Lord o Lord who shal be able to endure it Because with thee there is redemption and bring them againe into thy holy church restoring vnto theÌ„ their former dignity honour by Christ our God and Sauiour by whom glory adoratioÌ„ be vnto thee in the holy Ghost for euer Amen A prayer for deuotion and spiritual knowledg out of S. Ephrem l. de armatura spirituali cap. 8. O Lord Iesus Christ open the eares and eyes of my heart that I may heare and vnderstand thy wordes and obey thy wil. I am a pilgrim on earth keepe not hidden from me thy commauÌ„demeÌ„ts Open my eyes that I may vnderstand the thinges that are admirable in thy law A prayer stiring vp to geue thankes to god for his benefites out of S. Augustine in his booke de spiritu litera cap. 17. VNhappie and wretched maÌ„ that I am how much ought I to loue my god who made me when I was not redeemed me when I was lost I was not he made me of nothing not a stone not a tree not a bird or any other of such creatures but he would haue me to be a man He gaue me to liue to haue sense to vnderstand I was perished and he descended to mortality tooke mortality vpon him suffered his passion ouercame death and so restoared me I was perished gone away because I was sould in my sinnes he came after me that he might redeeme me and he so much loued me that for me he would pay the price of his bloud and with such a couenant reduced me from banishment and redeemed me from slauery Also he called me by his owne name that his memorial might alwaies be vpon me he annoynted me with oile of gladnes with which â—e him self was annointed that of him that is annointed I might be annointed and of Christ might be called a Christian So his grace and mercy haue alwaies preuented me for my deliuerer haith often deliuered me from many daungers When I did erre he reduced me wheÌ„ I was ignorant he taught me when I sinned he corrâ—cted me when I was sad he comforted me wheÌ„ I fainted in hope he strengthned me when I sel he lifted me vp when I stoode he susteined me when I came he receaued me These and many other thinges god haith done for me of which it is a pleasant thing to me alwaies to speake alwaies to thinke al waies to geue thankes that for al his benefites I may alwaies praise loue him A praier to God the holy Ghost for grace sanctification out of S. Ciprian l. de Spir. s COme holy Ghost from heauen enter into those that expect thy consolation Sanctify the temple of our body and conserate it for thy habitatioÌ„ make the soules that desire thee glad with thy presence make the house worthy of such an inâ—abitant as thou art adorne thy bride chamber and compasse about the staying place of thy rest with varieties of vertues strew the pauements with change of coloures let thy mansion shine with flaming carbuncles and brightnesse of precâ—ous stones and the sweete odoures of al graces send out their sauour within Let the liquour of balsamâ—m aboundantly perfume thy lodging with his sweetnesse and driuing from thence whatsoeuer is corrupted whatsoeuer is the seminary of corruption Make this our ioy stable and euerlasting and confirme the renewing of thy creation with incorruptible bewty for euer A Praier out of S. Gregory Nyssene l. de S. bap in fine O Lord thou truly art the pure and euerlasting Fountaine of goodnesse who iustly forsaking vs hast mercifully taken pitie vpon vs hatedst vs and art reconciled hast cursed and hast blessed vs banished vs out of paradise called vs back againe put of from vs figge leaues that vndecent couâ—ring and cloathed vs with a most preceous cloake hast opened the prison and let the coÌ„demned forth hast sprinkled vs with pure water and clensed vs from filthinesse If hereafter Adam be called vnto thee he wil not be ashamed nor his conscience reprouing him for shame hide him self vnder the groue of paradise neither will the fyrie sword compasse it about denying entrance to them that come to it and making the place vnaccessible But al thinges to vs that were heires of sinne are changed into ioy Paradise and heauen it self lyeth open for man Al creatures both of this the world aboue beforetimes at variance are made frendes reconciled and men with Angels reuerencing their diuine learning are at concord and agreed Therefore for al these thinges let vs sing vnto god the hymne of ioy which the mouth endued with the spirit long since prophetically pronounced with a lowde voice Let my soule reioyce in our Lord for he haith put vpon me a sauing cloake and compassed me about with a coate of gladnesse as to a spouse he haith fitted a myter to me and adorned me as a bride The adorner of the spouse is Christ who is and was
6. thou being vnpure and in the middest of vnpure people darest stande before the Lord of hostes Know that the holy Angels exhort vs to praier and stand with vs with ioy praying for vs. If thersore we become negligent and entertaine coÌ„trary cogitations we greatly prouoke them because they striue so much for vs and we for our selues refuse to pray to god but rather neglecting their ministery and their Lord forsaking god keepe company with vncleane deuils If thou desirest to pray transport thy self from earthly thinges to heaueÌ„ haue thy conuersatioÌ„ there not onely in wordes but in angelical action and more heauenly knowledg S. Athanasius in lib. de virginitate WHen day appeareth thou shalt recite this psalme Benedicite omnia opera c. And say the Hymne Gloria in excelsis Al you workes of our Lord blesse Canticle of the 3. ChildreÌ„ Dan. 3. in the burniÌ„g fournace you our Lord praise him and extoll him for euer Blesse our Lord ye Angels of our Lord ye heauens blesse our Lord. Al waters that be aboue the heauens blesse ye our Lord blesse our Lord al ye powers of our Lord. Sunne moone blesse ye our Lord starres of heauen blesse ye our Lord. Shoure and dew blesse ye our Lord euery spirit of God blesse ye our Lord. Fyre and heate blesse ye our Lord could sommer blesse ye our Lord. Dewes and hoare frost blesse ye our Lord frost cold blesse ye our Lord. Ice and snow blesse ye our Lord nightes daies blesse ye our Lord. Light and darknesse blesse ye our Lord lightninges and cloudes blesse ye our Lord. Let the earth blesse our Lord let it praise extol him for euer Mountaines and litle hilles blesse ye our Lord al thinges that spring in the earth blesse ye our Lord. Blesse our Lord ye fountaines seas riuers blesse ye our Lord. Whales and al that moue in the vvaters blesse ye our Lord blesse our lord al ye foules of the aire Al beasts and cattel blesse ye our Lord soÌ„nes of mâ—n blesse ye our lord Let Israâ—l blesse our Lord let it praise and extol him for euer Preistes of our Lord blesse ye our Lord seruants of our Lord blesse ye our Lord. Spirits and soules of the iust blesse ye our Lord holy and humble men of heart blesse ye our Lord. Ananias Azarias Mizael blesse ye our Lord praise and extol him for euer Because he haith deliuered vs from hel and saued vs from the hand of death preserued vs from the midle of the burning flame pulled vs forth from the middest of the fyre Confesse to our Lord because he is good because his mercy is for euer Al you that be Religious blesse our Lord god of gods praise and confesse vnto him because his mercy is for euer A Meditation vpon the same out of S. Zeno Bishop of Verona sermoutb in Dan. He was martyred vnder Galienus about the yeare 260. O Wonderful burning o verily ser 2. a spectacle worthy of god They which heare it do feare they which kindled it do burne they which were throwne into the fyre goe forth of the fournace sanctified saif by our Lord Iesus Christ Somtimes after a great punishmeÌ„t there followeth a greater glory especially in diuine thinges in which happy men with earnest deuotion rather preserue their Religion then life Vnderstand o Christian with a beleeuing ser 5. heart a thing meruelous renowmed by al example of vertues Three Hebrew children greater theÌ„ the constancy of old men stronger then the force of yong men equal to themselues defended with the mistery of the Trinity firme in one faith of the vnity in equality glorious by the victory of suffering These a barbarous King commaunded to be burned because they contemned to worship his statua who when they were cast into the fournace of burning fire the greedy fire deuoutly receaueth them the fawning flames refresh them couered with dew A meruelous thing shadow is within burning is withoâ—t within an Himne is song without lamenting is heard O great power of god the burners are burned in the burning and they that were set on fire are suruiuors in the burning triumphing go forth of the fournace our Lord Iesus Christ ser 6. performing it Reioice o Christian constantly feare god if thou wilt not feare the fire of the deuil Behold the children are not hurt with the compassing flames with the roaring fournace They confounde the barbarous king are reuâ—nged of their burners they see god death doth passe into life feare into glory who would not desire so to burne Awake o Christian and casting 8. away al sluggishnesse of secular sleepe opening the eares of thy heart learne vertue of children The Canticle of Zachary father of S. Iohn Baptist Luc. 1. ANd Zachary his father was replenished with the holy ghost and he prophesied saying Blessed be our Lord God of Israel because he haith visited and wrought the redemption of his people And haith erected the horne of saluation to vs in the house of Dauid his seruant As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that are from the beginning Saluation from our enemies from the hand of al that hate vs. To worke mercy with our fathers and to remember his holy Testament The oath which he sware to Abraham Gen. 22. our Father that he would geue to vs. That without feare being deliuered from the hand of our enemies we may serue him In holinesse and Iustice before him al our daies And thou child shalt be called the prophet Malach. 3. of the highest for thou shalt goe before the face of our Lord to prepare his waies To geue knowledg of saluation to his people vnto remission of their sinnes Through the bowels of the mercy of Zachar. 3. Malach. 4. our god in which the Orient from on high haith visited vs. To illuminate them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death to direct our feete into the way of peace Glory be to the Father c. A Praier of praise and thanks-geuing to God for his Benefites out of S. Clement Coustitut SS Apost lib. 7. cap. 38. WE geue thankes to thee o Lord omnipotent for al thy benefites because thou hast not taken thy mercies pittie away from vs but in euery generation and generation doest saue deliuer succour defend For thou hast succoured in the daies of Enos and Enoch in the daies of Moyses and Iesu in the daies of the Iudges in the daies of Samuel and Helias and the Prophets in the daies of Dauid and the Kinges in the daies of Hester and Mardocheus in the daies of Iudith in the daies of Iudas Machabeus and his brethren and in our daies thou hast releeued vs by thy great high Preist Iesus Christ thy SoÌ„ne For he haith both saued vs from the sword and by norishing deliuered vs from famine and freed vs from sicknes defended vs from a wicked
15. 16. 17. and taken me forth from the wicked time Therefore I wil confesse speake praise vnto thee and blesse the name of our Lord. Heu heu heu o Lord god behould Ierem. 32. thou hast made heauen and earth in thy great strength and stretched arme nothing wil be dificult to thee who shewest mercy on thousandes and payest the iniquitie of the parents into thâ— bosome of their children after them o most strong great and mighty the Lord of hostes is thy name great in couÌ„saile incomprehensible in cogitation whose eyes are open vpon al the wayes of the children of Adam that thou mayest render to euery one according to his wayes and according to the frute of his inuentions Blessed art thou o lord god of our fathers Dan. 3. and to be praised and exalted for euer And the blessed name of thy glory holy and laudable and exalted in al worldes Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory and exceedingly to be praised and eminently glorious for euer Blessed art thou in the throne of thy kingdome and superlaudable and extolled for euer Blessed art thou who behouldest the depthes and sittest vpon the Cherubim and laudable extolled for euer Blessed art thou in the firmament of heauen and laudable and glorious for euer I wil ioy in our lord and reioyce in Habacue 3. god my Iesus A breefe excercise of meditations prayers for such as desire to obserue al canonical houres of prayer vsed in the primatiue church stil among the religious And first for prime or first houre of the day THe sunne is risen and man shal Ps 103 goe forth to his labour and worke vntil euening A wise man wil geue his heart early Ecclesiast 39. to watch to our lord that made him wil make his prayers in the sight of the highest The kingdome of heauen is like to a Math. 20. man that is an houshoulder which went forth in the morning to hyre workmen into his vineyard and hauing made couenant with the workmen for a penie a day he sent them into his vineyard And very earely the first of the sabothes Mare 16. they come to the monument the sunne being now risen we must preuent the sunne to blesse Sap. 16. thee and worshippe thee when the day appeareth wheÌ„ morning was come al the cheefe Maâ—h 17. Preiâ—â—es and aunâ—iâ—nts of the people consulted togâ—ther against Iesus that they might put him to death and they bring him bound and deliuered him to Pontius Pilate the presâ—dent From the holy primatiue Fathers AT these houres let vs yâ—ld thaÌ„kes S. â—enedictus in Regula S. Châ—â—sâ—st l. â— de orando Deum to our Creatour Matins Prime c. We ought in forsaking our beddes to preuent the sunne rysing with diuine worshippe Tel me with what countenance wilt thou behould the sunne except first thou hast adored him that sendeth that most sweete light to thy eyes Meditate in the holy sâ—riptures Athanasius l de virginitate haue the psalter and learne the psalmes let thâ— sunne rysing see a booke in thy handes A meditation out of S. Athanasius ser in id profecti c. inuenietis pullum alligatum c. THe scribes pharasies came together into the court of Caiphas tooke counsaile against Iesus For those most desperate men were ignorant that his death would geue vnto vs immortalitie and this descending procure vnto vs our ascending into heauen for our lord arose the third day from the deade hauing spoyled hel trodden the enemy vnder foote abolished death broken the boundes of sinnes wherewith we were holden deliuered those that were bound saying arise let vs depart hence being deliuered from the seâ—uitude of the deuil Therefore let vs acknowledge our benefactor let vs glorifie the Father with the Sonne and holy Ghost let vs confesse one deitie for so ordering our life we shal possesse the kingdome of heaueÌ„ in Christ Iesus our lord An other meditation out of S. Ciprian de orat dominica BEsides the houres which were auÌ„ciently vsed now both the spaces and Misteries are encreased For also we must pray in the morning that the resurrection of our lord may be celebrated by morning prayer If in the holy scriptures Christ be the true sunne and the true day no hour is excepted from Christians but God ought often alwayes to be adored that we which are in Christ that is in the sunne and the day apply our selues to supplicatioÌ„s and to pray al the day A meditation and prayer out of S. Andreas Bishop of Cesaraea in Capadocia c. vlt. in Apocalip SVrely our Lord is a consuming fyre warmeth the soule which chastly and quietly conuerseth with him although it be could with sinne maketh it capable of that fyre which was borne to consâ—me vncleanes Euen also as the sunne whylest it doth more forceably reflect vpon a vessel of glasse ful of water by a certaine kind of boyling and refraction draweth fyre out of it though being could Therefore this being so let vs exhibite our selues not as a filthy and earthen vessel or such as cannot receaue impression of the heauenly beames but as the Temple Cor. 6. of the holy Ghost and cleane and bright glasse to the sunne of iustice that is to Christ who would al men to be saued and 1. Tim. 2. come to the knowledge of truth and doth bestow and offer vnto al so plentifully and without offence the grace of his brightnesse although it be not equally participated of al but according to the measure of the purity of the inward eye Our merciful Lord that for our sake suffered in flesh that is Iesus Christ our God graunt that we may obtaine this pure and chaist eye of minde To whom together with the Father and holy and viuificant spirit is due al glory honour and adoration now and euer for euer Amen A praier for this hour out of S. Clement Constit S. Apost lib. 8. cap. 44. O God of spirites and al flesh in comparable wanting nothing who hast geuen the sunne to guiâ—e the day and the moone starres to rule the night Behould vs now with thy merciful eyes and receaue our morning geuinges of thankes haue mercy vpon vs for we haue not stretched forth our handes to a straung God for there is not any new god to vs but thou euerlasting and infinite who hast geuen vnto vs by Christ that we might be by him hast bestowed vpon vs that we might be wel Now by him make vs worthy of euerlasting life to whom with thee and the holy ghost be glory honour and worship for euermore Amen A Praier out of S. Andâ—eas of Cesarea super cap. 47. GOd almighty graunt that our conuersation and order of life be such that it may be cause of confusion and deiection vnto the deuils and bring occasion of gladnesse vnto the Angels that together with
the suffering of our substance but by alteration of al the world For our Lord hanging in his tormente euery creature did groane with him and al the elementes together did feele the nailes of the Crosse nothing was free from that punishment that drew both earth and heauen to communicate with it that brake the rockes opened the graues vnlocked hel and hid the beames of the Sunne with horrour of grosse darcknesse The world did owe this testimony to his Authour that in the ending of their maker al thinges would haâ—e an end Therefore being deliuered from the power of darcknesse loosed from the bandes of our old capâ—iâ—ity with so great a price so great a Sacrament doe your endeuour o most beloued that by no cunning the deuil corrupt the integrity of your mindes Let al that are regenerated by water the holy Ghost remember whom they haue renounced and by what profession they haue cast of from them selues the yoke of tirannical ouerruling Let them neither in prosâ—erity nor aduersity runne to the deadly help of the deuil If god be for vs Who is against vs Rom. 8. Who spared not his owne Sonne but gaue him for vs al how haith he not also with him geuen vs al thinges who liueth and reigneth world without end Amen A Meditation vpon Christes Pas in Mount Caluary out of S. Athanasius in passion Saluat THey cast lottes for his coate Math. 27. Ps 21. Ps 15. that Christ might be our lotte as the psalmist writeth Our Loâ—de is the portion â—f mine inheritance my cuppe Wherefore he suffereth 4 To this coÌ„sent Tertul. l. 2. cont Marc Basil in c. 5. leuit Epiph. haeres 46. Chrisost ho. 84. in Ioan Ambros l. 5. ep 9. August de temp ser 71. et q. 161. ingen and others not in any other place nor in any other Region but in the place of Caluary 4 which the Maisters of the Hebrewes say was the graue of Adam for they affirme that he was buried there after the curse And if it be so I can not but wonder at the peculiar conueniency fitnesse of his passion for it behoued that our Lord desireous to make a renouation should first renew Adam that his sinne being loosed he might quite take away sinne from mankind And forasmuch as Adam heard spoken vnto him Thou art earth into earth Gen. 3. thou shalt returne So now againe he might heare Be thou raised that sleepest Is 60. arise from the deade and Christ wil lighten thee Aâ—d againe Arise follow Ib. me that thou treâ—â—e not the earth any longer but maiest ascend to heauen For it is needeful that our Sauiour being raised Adam and al descending of him should be also raised with him And as when Adam died we were al dead so also our Lordes body being raised of necessity al must be raised with him For this is the minde of the wordes of Paule writing to the Corinthians Euen as in Adam al men dye so in Christ al shal be 1. Cor. 15. quikned A Direction or Meditation out of S. Bafilâ— q. diffus q. 37. WE iudg praier to be necessary at the Sixt Hour for imitation of the Sainctes that say In the euening and morning Ps 54. Noone-time I wil declare shew and he wil heare my voice And that I may be deliuered from incursion and Noonâ—-time dâ—uil let the 90 psalme be said HE that dwelleth in the aide of This psalme is cited in the prayers for eâ—eniâ—g â—lso by the same S Basile his Direction the highest shal abide in the protection of the god of heauen He wil say to our Lord thou art he that receaueth me and my refuge my god I will ope in him Because he haith deliuered me from the sâ—aâ—e of hâ—ntâ—â—s and from câ—â—el spâ—ach With his shoulders he wil shâ—dow thee and vnder his winges tâ—â—u shalt trust His tâ—uâ—h shal compasse thee about with a shâ—â—ld thou shalt not be affraid of the feare of the night Of the arrow flying in the day of the worke walking in darknesse of incursion and noone-time deuil A thousand shal fal from thy side ten thousandes on thy right hand but he shal not approach to thee But thou shalt behould with thyne eyes and see the rewarde of sinners Because o Lord thou art my hope thou hast appointed the most high for my refuge Euil shal not come to thee and scourge shal not draw neare to thy Tabernacle Because he haith geuen charge to his Angels ouer thee that they keepe thee in al thy waies They shal cary thee in their handes lest peraduenture thou maist hitte thy foote at a stone Thou shalt walke vpon the Aspis Basiliske and treade vnder thy foote the Lyon and Dragon Because he haith trusted in me I wil deliuer him I wil protect him because he haith knowne my name He haith cryed vnto me and I wil heare him with him I am in tribulation I wil deliuer him and I wil glorify â—im I wil replenish him with length of daies and I wil shew vnto him my saluation Glory be to the Father c. A praier vpon the Pâ—ssion out of S. Athanasius in Euang. of the pasion Crosse of Christ WHat must we doe here Nothing els but that we beleue in Christ and liue according vnto him as paule saith Be folowers of me as I also am of Iesus Christ Philip. 3. Let vs stick vnto the Crosse and liue worthy of it and say the same wordes with Paul God forbid I should glory but in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ Gal. 6. For when we shal so haue liued and beleued in our Lord we shal know his assumption into heauen and his sitting at the right hand of maiesty behould the subiection of the Angels vnto him and his comming againe with glory whom the Angels foreshew the Saincctes doe singe vnto and al seeing reioice and are glad in Christ Iesus by whom to the Father be glory and rule for euer Amen An other out of S. Ephrem S. de passione Domini O Lord I worship thee O diuine I blesse and praise thee O holy I besech thee O god louer of men I fal downe vnto thee and glorify thee o Christ that thou the onely begotten Lord of al thinges alone without sinne art for me a most vnworthy sinner deliuered vnto death death of the Crosse that thou mightest deliuer the soule of a sinner from the bondes of sinnes And what shal I render to thee for al these thinges o Lord O most bountiful glory to thee Glory to thee o most merciful Glory to thee o most patient Glory to thee that remittest the sinnes of al. Glory to thee that didest descend to saue our soules Glory to thee that wast incarnate in the Virgins wombe Glory to thee that wast borne for vs. Glory to thee that wast held for our cause Glory to thee that wast bound Glory to