crucified for me I goe into my bedde let him blesse me †gouerne me and defende me and bringe me into lyfe euerlastinge Amen A prayer to be sayed as thou seitleste thy selfe to sleepe L. Viues in precibus general O Iesu Christ our safegarde receaue me into thy protection and graunt that when my body is a sleepe my soule may watch to thee and that it may ioyfullye and gladlye beholde that blessed moste ioyfull and heauenly lyfe where thou art gouernour together with the Father and the holy Ghost and where the Angels with the blessed soules are citizens for euer and euer Amen An exhortation to watche taken out of holy Scripture The day of our Lorde shall come as a theefe in the night Thes 1. v. 5. VVatche ye therefore because ye knovve not the day nor the houre Math. 25. v. 13. And that vvhich I say to you I say to all vvatche Marc. 13. v. 37. The ende of the first Chapter Moste holesome meditations vvhich vve ought day and night to haue before our eyes and alvvayes to haue in remembraunce VVe onght continually to remēber these three things that is to saye Tyme Paste That vve haue vnprofitably spent That good vvhich vve haue left vndonne That euill vvhich vve haue committed Tyme Present Of the shortnes of mans lyfe Of the difficultie to be saued Of the small number that shall be saued Tyme To come Of death moste miserable Of the last Indgement most horrible Of the paynes of hell intollerable THE SECONDE CHAPTER CONTEYNINGE GOODly deuout prayers to be sayed before at after the holy Sacrifice of the Masse A prayer vvhen thou doest enter into the churche Ex hortulo animae OH take from me moste mercifull Lorde all mine iniquityes to the ende I may with a pure and contrite harte enter into the holy of holyes O Sauiour of the worlde which lyuest and reignest with the father and the holy ghost A prayer to styrre vp the minde to deuotion before Masse Io. Fab. ex Aug. 33. medit ALmightye and moste mercifull Father vnto thee all the heauenly companie of the celestiall citie all the blessed orders of saued spirites doe incessantly with due reuerēce sing continuall glory and euerlasting prayse Thee O Lord all saintes and soules of holy men doe laude and magnifie with moste worthie and condigne honour as to whome all prayse honour and glorie is most iustly due Nor there is any creature be he neuer so worthy that can sufficiently accordinge to thy worthynes geue vnto thee worthye and sufficiente prayse For thou arte that vnspeakeable vncomprehensible and euerlastinge goodnes Thou good Lorde hast made me thou haste through the merites of the bitter passion of thy moste blessed Sonne which he vouchesafed to suffer for man-kind restored me to the state of saluation To thee onely is due all laude and honour if anye good thinge be found in me Oh good Lord I miserable wretche a creature of thy makinge a poore woorme of the earth haue good will to laude and magnifie thee with all my minde whole intent but without thy speciall grace I finde my selfe fainte and wonderfull weake wherfore I come to thee my God my lyfe my strength my hope and onelye comforte to craue thy mercie and grace to geue mee power to praise thee Graunte of thy vnspeakeable mercy that I may worthelie prayse honour thee and that what I doe therin may be pleasing acceptable to thee Graunt me the light of thy grace that my mouth maye speake my harte studie thy glorie my tounge may be occupied only in the song of laude praise But because all praise in a sinners mouthe is vyle and I must of force confesse my selfe manifoldelie to haue offēded with my lippes clēse thou o good Lorde my harte from all filthe and sinne Sanctifie me moste mightie Sauioure bothe inwardlie and outwardlie and make mee worthy to magnifie thee receyue of thy infinite goodnes the sacrifice of my lippes and make it acceptable in thy sighte lett the sauour therof be plesaunte well smelling vnto thee Let thy holie swetenes possesse wholie my mind and feade my soule with the fulnes of inuisible thinges lett my soule good Lorde bee quite cutte from visible things all whollie geuen to the studie of inuisible thinges cleane seperat from earthlie things and wholie addicted to heauenlie meditations make my soule see the wonderfull sight of thy Maiestie O almightie God enspire thou my harte that I maye continuallie geue thankes vnto the and honour thee for euer Graunt mee the grace that in my pilgrimage and vale of miserie I may so praise thee that through thy mercie grace I may bee associat to their holie fellowshippe whiche see the euerlastinglie singe prayse to thee worlde without ende Amen A deuoute prayer necessary to be sayed euery Sunday Cornel. Donters in his contemplations of the Passion MY most louing God and Lord and my creatour I miserable sinner doe presente my selfe this day before thine eyes beseeching thee humblye that through thine infinite bountye thou wouldeste vouchsafe to geue me grace that I may keepe holy this Sunday according to thy commaundement and the precept of our mother the holy Church geuing me true contrition of all my sinnes that I haue committed against thy diuine Maiestie and against my neighbour by thoughts wordes and deedes and by omission of good workes which I ought to haue done And I most humblie beseech thee most sweete Iesus that thou wouldest not consider the multitude of my sinnes but remember thine infinit mercy and vouchsafe to graunte me grace to spende this weeke folowing without mortall sinne and for the honour of thy death and passion to geue to al sinners knowledge and grace to do penaunce in this worlde and generally to haue mercy of al those that our mother the holy Churche desireth this day to pray for that with her we all may be partakers of thy sorowfull passion Amen A prayer to be vsed before confession or before Masse if time serue OH maker of heauen and earth king of kinges and Lorde of Lords which of nothing diddest make to thine image and lykenes and diddest redeme me with thine owne precious bloude whom I a sinner am not worthye to name neither to call vpon neither with my harte to thinke vpon humbly I desire thee mekely pray thee that gently thou do beholde me thy wicked seruaunte and haue mercy on me which haddest mercye of the woman of Canane and Mary Magdalene which diddest forgeue the Publicane the thefe hanging on the crosse vnto thee I confesse most holy Father my sinnes whiche if I woulde I can not hide frō thee Haue mercy on me O Christ for I wretche haue sore offended thee in pryde in couetousnesse in gluttony in lechery in vaine-glory in hatred in enuy in adultery in thefte in lyinge backebitinge in sporting in dissolute and wanton laughing in Idle wordes in hearinge in tastinge in
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
and swete woundes All hayle all haile moste pleasaunte and healthsome woundes of my Lorde All hayle moste bountifull harte of my deare louer wounded for my sake of all goodnesse of all blisse the moste pleasaunt treasure house O My Lord Iesu Christ I moste humblye thanke the for thy venerable woundes Oh Lord drowne me in them hyde me in them write and prynte them deepely in my harte that I may burne al together in thy loue and that I maye take compassion vpon thee from the harte Graunt that all fraile creatures may bee vyle and of small estimacion with me and that thou onely mayest please and bee swete and delectable vnto me Make me lyke vnto thy holy humanitie O derely-beloued derely-beloued derely-beloued O the most derely-beloued of all derely-beloued O my onely beloued O my freshe and flourishinge spouse O my mellifluous and hony-sweete spouse O the swetenesse of my harte the lyfe of my soule sette me on fier burne me make me a newe and transforme me that nothinge beside thee liue in me Oh wounde very depely my harte with the darte of thy loue Then turne thy mynde to the godhead of Christ and quyetly thincke or saye thus O My Lord God o my delectable principle and beginnynge O amiable depth bottomlesse O the clere lighte of my intrailes and bottome of my verye herte O moste sincere delectable goodnesse my very and incomparable goodnesse O my God all thing what desire I besides thee Thou arte my highe full contentacion and only ynough for me Oh when shall I luckely fynde thee when shall I ardently and mooste feruently loue thee when wilt thou rauishe me all together into thee when wilt thou consume me all wholy into thee when wilt thou moste fast and sure knytte me vnto thee Oh remoue awaye mercifully all impedimētes and make me one spirite with thee to the laude and prayse of thy name All hayle glorious shyninge and euerlastinge quiet Trinitye father sonne and holy ghoste one God Oh vouchesafe to feede my soule with thy gostly influence In lyke maner to the blessed mother of God saye thus HAyle MARIE full of grace oure Lorde is with the hayle sweete Virgin the blessed mother of God The very excellēt Quene of heauen Hayle bright shinynge starre Rose verye delectable and pleasaunt The Orient white lyllie of the Trinitye O blessed ladye take pitye vpon me moste poore banished man In lyke maner to such a Sainte of God as thou hast speciall deuotion vnto and to thy holy Angell ALhayle derebeloued of God blessed and holy saincte N. or all haile noble spouse of Christe holy and blessed saincte N. Hayle holy Angell of God my faithfull keper All hayle all ye blessed sainctes of God and all ye blessed spirits Angelical which are fulfylled perpetually with the vehemente streame of all diuine voluptuousnesse heauēly pleasure pray for me now and at the houre of my death O mercifull IESV I beseche the for thy moste venerable Passiō and death graunt vnto the quicke mercy grace and vnto the deade reste and euerlasting light An other briefe exersice to be vsed dayly accordinge to the choyse of the deuoute christian as his opportunitio shall serue O Good IESV be mercyfull vnto me abhominable sinner I haue sinned I haue offended I haue done amisse before the Lord perdon me All my iniquitye my negligences and all my immortifications I put thē all into thy moste derebeloued woundes and I caste them into the bottomlesse depthe of thy mercy merites O would to God I had neuer offended thee would to God I had neuer letted thy grace in me I purpose now by thy helpe to correcte and amende my selfe Oh Lorde put awaye all my sinnes washe me cleane with thy precious bloude Make me whole with thy precious woundes Sanctifie me with thy bitter Passiō and deathe Clense me perfectlye Restore againe vnto me the innocencye whiche thou gauest me in baptisme that I maye trulye please thee I worshyp I laude glorifie thee I prayse geue thankes vnto thee my Lorde IESV CHRISTE for all thy mercies and benefites I thanke thee O sonne of the lyuing God moste highest GOD whiche for thy excedinge greate charitye that thou didste beare towarde me hast vouchesaffed to bee made mā Thou wouldeste for my sake be borne in a stable and an infant bewrapt in clothes to be layd downe in a manger to be fed with the litle milke of the mayden thy mother to suffre nedinesse and pouertye to be sore troubled thyrtie three yeres with manifolde labours and carefull paines Thou wouldest for very inwarde paine and agonie be all in a bloudy sweate to be apprehended and taken shamefully to bee bound vnworthily to bee cōdemned vniustly to bee defyled with spettle to be stricken vvith buffettes blowes to bee clothed scorned as it were a madde man in a white garment in mockage Thou wouldest bee beatē torne moste cruellye with stripes moste cruellye crowned with thornes ouerlodē with a painfull heauye crosse furiously and boysteoufly nailed vnto the crosse with sturdie nailes vnkyndely to haue offred to thee in thy thyrste eysell and gall Thou the noble clother and garnisher of the starres hangest all naked despised wounded and with innumerable sorowes afflicted vpō the crosse for my sake Thou shedst for me thy moste pure and precious bloude thou dyedst for me I embrace in the armes of my soule thy venerable crosse and for the loue honoure of thee I kysse the same Graunte that I may with whole full desire attayne vnto thee and that I maye pause reste in thee most sweetest of all Lo my Lord lo I repute and set my selfe in the lowest place vnder all creatures For I am vnworthie that the earth shoulde beare me I caste my selfe downe putt my selfe vnder the state of all men I sincerely loue all men as well as I can I forsake and leaue all corruptible thinges for thy sake I refuse what soeuer thou arte not I forsake renounce all sensuall pleasure and delite I renounce all vanitie and impuritie I forsake al the sekyng of my selfe and all immortifications I resygne and put me wholy into thy hande pleasure All my whole will ' I chaunge into thyne Thy onely will Lorde thy onely will be done in me and on me thy blessed will be doone in all times and euer lastyngly I offre me redie to suffre with the helpe of thy grace whatsoeuer it shal please thee Oh moste sweete and mercifull IESV mortifie whatsoeuer lyueth naughtillie and sensuallye in me and what soeuer is vicious and inordinate in me what soeuer displeaseth thee in me mortifye in me all propertye Garnyshe and adourne me with thy merytes and vertues Oh prepare Lorde a delectable and a pleasaunt habitacion for thy selfe in me Renewe my spirite my soule my bodie with thy excellente grace Make me like vnto thy holy humanitie Make me one vnto thy hartes desire Ridde
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
that is able to make it selfe equalle with the mercie and compassion of God Or can man imagine whiche waye to doo such dewtifull seruice as might iustlye requite his readie succoure prouident care continuallie hadde for man There is trewlie sweet Soone of God there is thorough this thy meruailouse dispensacion wherin manes frayltie maye in some thing do that which maye be acceptable vnto the that is to saye if thorough compunction of harte stirred vp by thy visitacion he doo crucifie his fleash with her concupiscences and vices whiche thoroughe thy grace being brought to passe then beginneth he to be a sufferer with thee for whose offences thou vouchsauedst a vile deathe to dye So by the victorie of the inwarde man throughe thee beinge his eaptaine he shal be armed vnto the outwarde victorie that after conqueste made of the spirituall enemie he shall not feare for thee likewise to dye and for thy sake to offer his bodye to be hewed in peeces by the matteriall sworde Thus the smalnes and simplicitye of mans condition and state yf it maye so please thy godlines shal be able accordinge to his litle power in some parte to be aunswerable to the greatnes of the creators goodnes This sweet Iesu is the heauenlie medicine and a preseruatiue of thy loue I beseeche thee therefore for thy noble mercies sake powre that into my festred woundes that may clense me from the corruption of the Serpentes venemouse poyson restore mee againe to my former healthe that tastinge the pleasaunte liquour of thy sweetnes it maye cause me to sett at naughte all the wanton intisements pleasaunt allurements of the worlde and for the loue of thee not to feare anye aduersities threatnede by it and that hauinge in remembrance the perpetuall blessednes I make none accōpt of the raginge stormes of this transitorie tyme. Let nothinge like me lett nothinge be preciouse in my sight but that whiche is pleasinge vnto thee Also I praye thee let all thinges besides thee seeme fylthie vnto mee and of no reputacion cause me likewise to abhorre all thinges whiche is offensiue vnto thee and my desire neuer to be satisfied in seking to do those things whiche are pleasing vnto thee Let no ioye delight mee that is without thee and lett mee reioyce in all troubles I suffer for thee Lett the remembraunce of thee bee my solace and thy blessed name my consolation let my teares be nourishment vnto mee both daye and night in seking after thy righteousnes Lett the lawe of thy mouth be more preciouse vnto mee then thousandes of golde or siluer lett it be delectable vnto mee to obey thee and detestable to committ ought against thy diuine pleasure I humblie beseeche thee my onely hope for all thy mercyes sake thou wilt be mercyfull vnto mee and pardonne all mine iniquitie From the bottome of my harte I desire thee to open mine eares to heare that thou commandest and suffre not my harte to decline frō thee nor through woordes of wickednes to seke excuses for my sinne Finallie I beseeche thee for thy meruailouse humilitie let no pride raigne in mee nor the power of the sinner feare mee But that I may all waye kepe my selfe vndefiled for thee which lyuest and raignest for euer and euer Amen A prayer vvherein man doth offer to God the Father the passion of his sonne our Lorde and sauiour Christ B. August cap. 6. Medit. BEholde O holye Father thy derely beloued sonne so cruelly tormented for me beholde moste mercifull king who it is that suffreth and remember for whom he suffereth Is it not O Lorde thy moste innocent sonne whom thou haste gyuen to death that he might redeeme thy feruaunt is it not the Authour of lyfe who being ledde as a sheepe to the slaughter and made obediente vnto thee euen vnto death spared not the moste cruell kynde of death Call to minde O distributor and gyuer of al goodnes that this is he whom although thou haste begotten of thy diuine powre and vertue yet notwithstanding hast made him partaker of my infirmitie and weaknes verely this is thy deytie which being clothed with my nature ascended the gybbet of the crosse vpon the which he suffered moste dolorous death O Lorde caste the eyes of thy Maiestie vpon the worke of thy ineffable bountie beholde thy most sweete sonne with his whole body stretched out beholde his innocent hands besprinkled with moste precyous blood and mercyfully pardon those faults which with my handes I haue committed looke vppon his naked side pearced with a speare and renewe me with that sacred fountayne which I beleeue did issue from thence Consider his vndefiled footesteps which neuer stood in the way of sinners but alwayes walked in thy lawe howe with sharpe and longe nayles they are fastened to the crosse guyde my stepps in thy path and make me hate the wayes of iniquitye and chuse euermore the way of trueth O Kinge of Angels and saints I beseech thee for this holy of holyes for this my redeemer to make me runne in the waye of thy commaundementes that I may be vnited and ioyned to him whoe hath not disdayned to be cladde with my fleshe O blessed Father wilte thou not behold the head of thy dere sonne with his necke as whyte as snowe resolued to dye beholde moste meeke creator the humanitye of thy beloued sonne and haue mercy vpon the frayltie of thy frayle creature his whyte breast is naked his blody side is read his stretched bowels dryed vppe his fayre and bewtiful eyes waxt dimme his roiall and princely visage is pale his marble-white leggs hange downe the streames of his precious blood doe water his feete quyte perced thorowe Beholde O glorious Father the rente and torne members of thy welbeloued sonne and benignely remember what my substance is beholde the paine of God and man and release the myseryes of man thy creature beholde the punishment of the redeemer and forgyue the offence of the redeemed this is he O my Lorde whom thou haste smytten for the sinnes of the people although he was thy beloued in whom thou waste well pleased this was that innocēt in whom their was foūd no guyle yet was he reputed amongst the wicked A deuoute prayer vvith the remembraunce of the passion of our sauiour Iesus Christ to obtayne succour and fauour of him Io. Fab. in preca Christ O Moste sweete Lorde and my redeemer whiche was by the heauenly Father sente downe into this worlde and haste willingly of thine owne accord suffered moste cruel bitter paines vpon the crosse and haste carried the same Crosse vpon thy blessed shoulders to the ende that this thy patience mighte be vnto vs saluation and a myrrour and finally thou diddest consente vpon that tree to dye and redeeme vs. I moste poore miserable and wretched sinner most humbly beseech thee for the incredible pacience which thou didst show in the course of thy whole lyfe and then especiallye when the vngracious
for euer Thou rewardest vs not accordinge to our sinnes nor punishest vs accordinge to our desertes Loke howe high the heauen is in cōparyson of the earth so greate is thy mercye towardes vs. How farre as the earth is distaunt from the west so farre O Lorde remoue our sinnes from vs. Like as a naturall father hath pity vpon his children euen so O Lorde God thou haste had compassion vpon vs. Thou haste not forgotten thy creature thou remembredst that we are fleshe yea all men liuinge And that the age of men is lyke vnto grasse and may be compared to the floures in the fielde VVhich as soone as the sharpe winde hathe blowen vppon them with his blastes wither away and dye so that no man can tell where they dyd growe But thy mercie O Lorde and louyng kyndenesse is alwayes vpon them that feare thee and thy ryghteousnes endureth for euer So that we kepe our promyse and conuenaunt with thee and so remember thy commaundementes that we doe them in deede O Lorde thou haste stablished thy throne in heauen and thou gouernest all thinges by thine imperyall power I will magnifie thee O Lorde and prayse thy name worlde withoute ende I will gyue thankes alwaye and make thy name glorious fo euer O Lorde thou arte puissant and greate and thy magnyficence is vnsearcheable One generation shall shewe to another thy workes and they shall declare thine auncient noble actes They shall euer prayse the magnificence of the glorie of thy holynes the memorie of thy great goodnes For thou arte good and gracious to all men and thy mercye excedeth all thy workes The eyes of all men beholde wayte vpon thee that thou shouldest gyue them their susten aunce in time conuenient Thou openest thyne hande and fillest euery lyuinge creature with necessary foode O Lorde thou art ryghtfull in al thy wayes holy in thy deedes Thou kepest all them that loue thee and the tourmente of malice shall not touche them My mouthe shall speake thy glorie and prayse and all lyuinge creatures shall honour thy holye name for euer Prayse our Lorde oh ye his Angels mightie in power whiche doe his commaundementes and obeye the voyce of his worde Prayse ye altogyther God O all ye hostes you his ministers that do his will and pleasure Prayse our Lorde as I do and let vs magnifie his name togyther Prayse our Lorde oh all ye his Saintes for his name is glorious and his prayse goeth aboute heauen and earth Prayse our Lorde togyther O all ye his workes euerye thing that liueth prayse our Lorde Amen A thanks-giuinge to God for his innumerable benefits bestovved on man from his infancie B. August can 18. Soliloq I The sonne of thy hand-mayd in these my poore confessions doe confesse to thee my redeemer with all my hart and will call to mynde all the benefites whiche thou haste bestowed vpon me all the time of my lyfe euen from mine infancye for I knowe well O Sauiour that thou art greatlye displeased withe ingratitude for it is the roote of all spirituall euill and a certaine wynd dryenge and burninge all good stopping the fountaine of thy dyuine mercy towardes man But I O Lorde will gyue thee thankes least I be ingratefull to thee my redeemer because thou hast delyuered me howe oft had that dragon swallowed me vppe if thou haddest not taken me from his mouth how oft haue I sinned and he was redy to haue deuoured me but thou my Lorde God haste defended me when I wrought wickedly agaynst thee and did breake thy commaundementes he would haue drawen me to hell if thou haddest not letted him I did offend thee and thou diddest defend me I did not feare thee and thou didest preserue me I departed from thee and offered my selfe to mine enemie but thou diddest affraye him that he durst not take me thou diddest bestowe these great benefites vpon me O my God yet I poore wretch did not know it Thou hast often times deliuered me from the iawes of the diuell thou hast takē me out of the mouth of the lyon and haste brought me many tymes from hell I not knowinge it for I wente downe to the gates of hell but thou haste stayed them that I entred not in I did hasten to the portes of death but thou diddest not suffer them to inclose me in thou haste also often deliuered me from bodyly death O my sauiour VVhen I haue bene sore vexed with sicknes and in greate danger by lande and sea by fier and sword thou haste stoode by me and mercifully deliuered me from all for thou diddest knowe O Lorde if death had then ouertaken me hell had receyued my soule and I had bene damned for euer but thy mercye and grace preuented me and deliuered me from death both of bodye and soule O my Lorde God These and many other benefites thou haste heaped vpon me but I being blind did not perceiue it vntill thou dyddest illumynate me Now therefore O the light of my soule O my Lorde God O my life by whom I lyue O the lighte of mine eyes by the which I see loe thou haste illuminated me and I know thee for by thee I lyue And I gyue thee thankes although insufficient and nothing correspondente to thy benefites yet such as my frayltie is able to afford I offer vnto thee I confesse and acknowledge thy goodnes for thou haste broughte me from the lower hell once twyse thryse yea a hundred and a thousand tymes I was euery day going downe to hell but thou diddest bringe me backe agayne and iustly thou might a thousande tymes haue condemned me if it had bene thy pleasure but thou wouldest not because thou louedst soules and dissemblest the sinnes of men expectinge their repentance O my God my sauiour in all thy wayes their is great mercy now I see and manifestly know through the light of thy grace and my soule doth faynte in the contemplation of thy greate mercy towardes me because thou haste pluckt me from the lower hell and haste brought me backe againe to lyfe It is then by thee wholy that I liue and therfore I wholy offer my whole selfe to thee my whole soule my whole harte my whole body my whole life let it liue vnto thee O my sweet lyfe for thou haste wholy delyuered me that thou mighte wholye possesse me thou hast wholy made me that thou mighte wholy haue me agayne Therefore I will loue thee O Lord which art my strēgth I will loue thee O my ineffable ioy and comforte so that my wholle life shall liue no more but for thee which lyfe was loste in my misery and nowe reuyued agayne in thy mercy for thou art a God mercyfull to thowsands that loue thy holy name Amen A prayse and thankes gyuinge to God for his great benefites Io. Roffe psal 13. lib preca MY soule doth praise thee O my God and all that is within me doth laude thy holy name my soul doth render
in the holy Ghost eternallye Amen A prayer for the soule of thy father Io. Damase in historia barl Iosa O Lorde God of insearcheable and ineffable bountye bringe my father to the place of rest and refreshing where the light of thy countenaunce dothe gloryouslye shine do not remembre his former offences but accordinge to thy great mercy blotte out cancell the obligations of his sinnes teare and rent them asunder for thou art worthy of all glorye for euer and euer Amen A prayer for the soule of thy mother B. Agustinus ca. vlti li. 9. confessionum O The God of my hart my life and my prayse I humbly desire thee to pardone the sinnes of my mother graciously heare me for his sake which is the medicyne of our woundes whiche did hange vpō the tree now sitting on thy righte hande maketh intercession for vs sinners I know that she hath delt charitably frō her hart hath forgyuen all her debtors release also vnto her all those sinnes what soeuer since her baptisme she hath fallen into Release them O Lorde release them I beseech thee and enter not into iudgemente with her let thy mercy exceede thy iudgement for thy wordes are true and thou haste promised mercy to the mercyfull For my mother when the day of her death approched did request and desire this that we wolde remember her soule at thy holye Aultar where she had serued thee wherby she did know and beleeue that the holy oblation of the body and precious bloode of our sauiour Iesus Christ was made wherby the obligation made against vs was cancelled whereby the enemie was vanquished counting our sinnes searchinge what he might obiecte against vs and finding nothinge in vs by the meanes of Iesus Christ in whom we haue victorye whoe shall render to Iesus Christe his innocent bloode who shall requite the pryce wherwith he hath bought vs that he might pull and draw vs from our enemye To the misterye of the which price thy seruaunt hath vnited and bounde her soule by the bonde of fayth let no man withdrawe her furth of thy protection let not the dragon nor lyon intrude him selfe neither by force nor deceipt neither as yet will thy hand-mayd answere that she is not in debte leste she be conuinced and possessed of that crafty accuser but she will answere that her debtes are released by him whom none cā repay that which he owinge nothinge hath payed for vs let her therefore rest in peace with her husband before whom and after whom she was neuer maried to any other whom she hath serued and broughte foorth fruite to thee with great patience to the ende she mighte gayne him to thee Inspire O my Lord God inspire thy seruauntes my brethren thy childrē my superiours whom with voyce harte penne I doe serue that who soeuer shall reade these they may remember at thy Aultar thy seruant Monica with Patricius her late husband by whose fleshe thou haste broughte me into this worlde by what meanes I knowe not how let them remember with deuoute zeale my parentes in this transitorye lyfe and my brethren vnder thee their Father in the lapp of their Catholicke Mother and my countrye-men in the eternall Ierusalem which thy people in their pilgrymage from their departure vntill their returne desire to attayne vnto that shee may attaine by the prayers of many those thinges which she requyred at my handes when she departed Amen A prayer for the soule of thy parentes O God which haste commanded vs to honour and reuerence our father and mother haue mercy I beseeche the on the soules of my father and mother and of all my other parentes forgyue them their offences and graunt that I may see them in the ioye of thy euerlasting blysse Amen A prayer for thy friend departed O God the gyuer of pardon and louer of mans saluatiō we beseeche thy clemency through the intercession of the glorious Virgin Marie and of all the holy Saints of heauen that thou wilt graunt that the brethē sisters friends departed in the vnitie of the Catholicke Church with all our benefactours maye come to the blysse of thy euerlastinge kyngdome throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A prayer for the lyuing the deade ALmighty and euerlasting God Lorde of the lyuinge and the dead thou shewest mercye to all those whome by faythe and good worcks thou knowest to be thine we humbly beseech the that those for whome we haue determined to pray whom ether this presēt world yet retayneth in fleshe or the worlde to come hath alredie receyued maye through the clemencye of thy bountye intercession of all thy blessed Saints obtayne full remission of their sinnes Amē A prayer for the departed to be sayd at masse B. Ambr. praecatio 1. praepa VVE humbly beseech thee O holy father for the soules of the faythfull departed this life that the holy Sacrifice of the masse may be to them eternall saluatiō perpetuall health ioy rest euerlasting O my Lorde God lett this wounderfull and excellent mysterye of pyetie and bountie be vnto them this day full perfect ioye graunt that they maye bee replenished with thee the lyuing true bread which descēdest from heauen and gyuest lyfe to the world and with that holy and blessed flesh of thee the immaculate Lambe which takest awaye the sinnes of the world and make them to drinke of that fontaine of thy pyetie whiche by force of the souldiars lance issued from the syde of our Lorde Iesus Christ crucified that so beinge cōforted they may reioyce in thy holy laude and glorie Amen The ende of the thyrtienth Chapter FINIS Aug. in Psal 42. This is the Iustice of man in this life Fasting Almes-deedes Prayer PRAYER IS GOOD WITH FASTING AND ALMES TOB. 12 Ibidem in serm 59. He that wyll haue his prayer to flye to heauen muste make it two wynges Almes-deedes Fasting and it shall spedelye ascende and bee harde A TABLE OF PRAYERS MEDITATIONS EXHORTAtions and aduertismentes contayned in this presente Manuall of prayers The first chapter contayning quotidiane or dayly praiers accomodated and prescribed to certayne houres times both for the day and night A Briefe exhortation to prayer contynuallye extracted and taken out of S. Chrisostome folio 1. A prayer in the morning when ye awake folio 3. VVhen ye doe aryse folio 3. A morning prayer when you are rysen folio 3. A morning prayer whereby to commende thy selfe vnto God folio 3. A prayer to be sayed goinge out of the house folio 4. A prayer desiringe God to order and directe vs. folio 4. A prayer to perseuer in goodnes folio 5. An exercyse to be dayly vsed in meditatinge the passion of our Lorde and Sauiour with an exhortation contayning fiftiene meditationes with a prayer belonginge to them or to euery one of them folio 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Certayne asperations ghostly sighinges and prayers to be daylye vsed folio