god Let vs begin to loue good cogitations and forthwith God will vouchsafe to deliuer vs frō those that be euil Questions and aduertisements about sin and repentance or Penitence What is sinne There are two latin words for it peccatum and delictum peccatum is the sinne when wée doe offend by disobeying the commandements of god delictum is the sin when wee leaue a good worke vndone which we ought to doe but these words are almost growen out of difference An other definition of sinne Fol. 19. Aug. cont Faust. lib. 2. cap. 22. Sinne is a frée will to retaine and obtaine that which Law and Iustice hath forbiddē From the will therefore floweth the beginning of sin and from thence the beginning of euil namely the transgressiō of the iust commandements of God or the punishment according to the iust iudgements thereof How many sortes of sins are there Thrée Sins of infirmity of ignorance and of malice sinnes of infirmity are cōtrary to power and by attribution to the father Sins of ignoraunce to wisedome and contrary to the Sonne Sins of malice to loue and by attribution are contrarye to the holy Ghost De ver fals penit There is no sinne so small that groweth not ouer strōg by negligence De conf lib. 1. cap. 7. Who shall put me in remembraunce of the sinnes of my childehoode for none are cleane from sin in thy sight no not so much as the childe of one day olde And a little after The weakenesse of infantes members is innocent before GOD but not their soules Feare therefore to commit sinne for he that loueth sin shal fal into a death where he could not fall into it if he did not delight in sin Which be the sinnes crying before God for vengeance and punishment Manslaughter sin against nature Oppression of the poore fatherles and widdowes with holding of laborers wages and debtes due to poore men Which be the sinnes that bring forth other sinnes Prouocation counsailing commending permission assisting participation consenting Which be the circumstances augmenting sin Time knowledge order age state number perseuering dignity place manner small resisting How is sin auoided By eschewing the occasion thereof which oftentimes is found to bee through company meats drinkes apparell beholding c. What remedy to put away sin committed Repentance which is an inward contrition of heart for sinne committed with amendement of life intended What effects be there of repentance It maketh Angels glad it iustifieth wicked persons it doth call againe the goodnes lost and draweth mankinde to euerlasting life Which be the parts pertayning to repentance Hope of forgiuenesse inward sorrowing or contrition of hart acknowledging of the fault and a purpose to forsake sinne How should a man beginne Repentance First in thy chamber or other secrete place be busily thinking with thy selfe how manifoldly how wickedly thou hast sinned whether in déed spéech cōsent or will and then what good déedes thou hast left vndone which to thée pertained to doe Thy sinnes particularly called to remembrance with the greatnes enormity and filthinesse of them it behooueth to aske God forgiuenes with all humility and hope to bee forgiuen wholy trusting in the merits of our only Sauiour and Redéemer the great benefite and vertue of whose merites are applied vnto the sickenes and wounds of our souls by his ghostly phisicke of Penitence and the godly actions and perfourmance therof which is like to proue the more fruitefull and effectuall if it bee ioyned with these thinges following First faith which is a firme beleeuing that God will vndoubtedly perform that that he promiseth or threatneth Secondly hope of obtayning forgiuenesse Thirdly confidence and trust had in Christs merits of his bloudsheadding and passion whereof our penitēce for sin maketh vs partakers Fourthly submission and accusing of our selues Fiftly the loue of God for which all sin is to be abhorred and all obedient seruice of our part to bee performed Meanes to kindle and stirre vp that loue are these First the knowing of our selues by considering our basens vilenes infirmity The consideration of the mightinesse and greatnes of God against whom we dared to offend The regard and dread of displeasure and terror of the last iudgement when al shal be rewarded according vnto their workes or desertes The reuoluing reckoning and remembring of our sins and wicked or filthy desires The calling to minde of Gods vndeserued benefites bestowed on vs his vnprofitable vnworthy seruantes To helpe vs the better to call our sins to mind these fewe circumstances may serue The calling to mind how long time hath passed since we performed the workes parts of penitence last before this in such sort as we ought to do The estate of our degrée and calling by reason wherof our sinne may be the more grieuous or wee the more touched or punished for the transgressions of others The vocations which we haue bestowed our time in The places wher we haue liued accompanied or béene conuersant The persons whose felowshippe or dealinges we haue medled with Why is confession of sins so needefull as prayer Because confession prepareth and maketh vs more méete to pray and more likely to be heard The holy man Dauid had euer recourse to confession and penitence Psa. Dixi confitebor c. I haue said I wil confesse mine iniquities to the accusing of my selfe Prou. 28. He that hideth his offences shal not prosper but hee that shall confesse them and forsake them shal obtaine mercy Who is like neuer to be forgiuen Hee that forgiueth not others And he that wil not to his power restore again such goodes or thinges as he hath taken or gotten into his hand wrongfully from others by stealth robbery fraude subtilty or otherwise iniuriously How proue you that The testimony of the Pater noster or Lordes praier may be brought for the first viz. Good Lord forgiue vs euen as wee forgiue others And for the other S. Augustines wordes may stande for witnesse to confirme it where he saith Non dimittitur peccatum nisi restituatur ablatum The sinne is not forgiuen vnles the thing taken away be restored How a man ought to examine his owne conscience and to confesse his sins priuatly to God First looke into your selfe your behauior and vsage and sée by how many waies and meanes you haue offended God in the sin of pride whether it be of a hie presumptuous vaine-glorious or arrogant minde or else in your apparell beauty eloquence riches great liuelyhood faire building office or other temporall or naturall gifts And according to that which you shall find your selfe an offender in to be heartily contrite and inwardly sorrowful cōfessing acknowledging and accusing your selfe thereof Most humbly crauing pardon and forgiuenes with an vnfained purpose to amend and become humble as a denier of your selfe Also how much and how diuersely you haue sinned in enuy against others because they bee better estéemed or commended then you or liue in
thinges committed to thy charge that I léese nothing or suffer it to perish by my sloth and negligence O Lorde kéepe mee in health and comforte my strength giue me vnderstanding wit to go forward with the worke of my Maister or Mistres and by thy gracious help for to increase their substance that by my diligence they may bee replenished with thy blessing And further that whatsoeuer I shall do at any time the same may turne to the glory of thy most holy name and to the wholesome exercise of my faith through Iesus Christ thy beloued son which liueth with thee and raigneth in the vnity of the holy Ghost worlde without end Amen The praier of one in a troubled conscience LOrde reproue mee not in thy fury thy arrowes are fixed in me and thou hast laide thy hande vppon mee There is no helth in my flesh because of thy wrath there is no quiete in my bones because of my sinnes My heart is sore troubled my strength and valour hath failed mee the light of mine eies is not with me sorrows haue compassed me without number my iniquities are gone ouer my own head they are multiplied as the haires of my head gréeuing oppressing me as a sore burden The sorrowes of death haue compassed me and the troubles of hell are come vpon mee My conscience and my heart are both against mee O Lorde deliuer me hasten to helpe me and bring my soule from the terrors of hell forgiue me my sins which my enemy the diuell heapeth vppon me like a mountaine so as the same standing before my eies I may not beholde the brightnesse of thy grace Let thy mercy therefore appeare vnto me I beseech thee and let me not be destitute of thy fauour Comfort me O God that I may haue the inioying of a quiet conscience for all this is inferiour to thy greatnesse and mercy if thou wilt Why art thou sorrowfull my soule trust in God the helth of my countenance and he shall take thée out of temptation and bring thée at liberty through the innocent death of our Lorde Iesus Christ which is the holy and vnspotted sacrifice for our sinnes Amen The prayer of a sicke person ALmighty God and heauenly Father forasmuch as thou hast commaunded vs saying Call vpon me in the day of trouble I will heare thee and thou shalt honour me therefore I doe call vpon thée in this my great distres through Iesus Christ thy beloued Son forsake me not a wretched sinner And if this my infirmity extend not vnto death help me that by thy mercy I may recouer my helth and glorify thy power and vertue which thou hast shewed vppon me But if it be thy good pleasure more expedient and méete for me to die then to remaine in this sorrowfull vale and troublesome life let thy godly will be done in Earth as it is in Heauen And giue me grace I beséeche thee that I may commit my selfe to thy will which alwaies is best Kéepe me firme in the Catholique faith to the end that I be not seuered from thee and thy vnity but receiue my soule into thy kingdome through the same thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another prayer of the sicke O Mighty and omnipotent God which art mercifull and ful of pitty and long suffering forgiue me my sinnes and put away my iniquity Uouchsafe beséech thée to comfort my soule against whatsoeuer temptation and afflictions helpe me that my faith doe not faint or wauer in thee nor my hope haue any distrust nor my charitye waxe cold nor that my frailty be ouercome with the fear of death And when the extreame houre of my life shall come then send me forth in peace I beséech thee because mine eies haue seene thy health which thou hast made ready before the face of all people as a light to lighten the Gentiles and as a renowne for all thy people of Israel In this my Sauior I beléeue in him doe I trust I beséech thée O Lord let me not be confounded sith thou art my help and my strength beholde mee with the eies of thy pitty and turne thy fatherly fauour towards mee through Iesus Christ thy sonne who by his most sacred passion and death obtained for vs eternall redemption Amen A prayer of such as be present at the extreame sicknes or death-pangs of any O Most holy and omnipotent God that preseruest our life euē at the point of death wee do beseech thee vouchsafe to cast the eies of thy mercy vppon this sicke person to reléeue him both in body and soul and to forgiue him al his sins accept we beséech thée the oblation of the most innocent death of Iesus Christ thy beloued Son in place of satisfaction for all his iniquities For in the confession of his name hee was baptized deliuer him now therefore from the pains and griefes of his body shorten his griefe and affliction conserue him against the accusation of his own conscience and against whatsoeuer temtations of the enemy that hée may striue manfully by the faith of the holy Church and ouercome him Sende vnto him thy holy Angelles that they may bring him to the felowship of al Angels and of the elect in Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen A prayer in time of plague or common mortality ALmighty God wee doe grant and acknowledge that we haue often and gréeously offended thee by our diuerse and manifold sinnes forasmuch as wee haue all swarued from thée and therwith are become vnprofitable neither we nor our fathers kéeping thy commaundements With a right sorrowfull spirite wee beseech thy infinite mercy for Iesus Christe thy beloued Sonnes sake that thou wilt not deale with vs according to our sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs according to thy great goodnesse and fauour Be mercifull to vs of thy fatherly good wil take from vs this fearefull cogitation of pestilence infectiue sicknes and suffer vs not thus to perish by thy dreadfull disease Rebuke vs not Lorde in thy fury nor consume vs with the wicked vngodly Lorde I beséech thée let thy displeasure cease leaue vs shew vnto vs thy mercy and deliuer vs bée mindfull of thy goonesse and pitty for thy names sake Thou O Lord art good and thy iudgements be right but we haue sinned and stirred vp thy displesure against vs forgiue I beséech thee the iniquity of my people and take from vs this pestilent infection for the bitter passion of thy sweet Sonne Protect vs from thy wrath from euill and sudden death and from eternal damnation But if thy good pleasure bee such that thou wilt needes visit our iniquities with this temporall punishment so fauour vs I beséech thee that bearing thy fatherly hande laide vppon vs wee dispaire not in thy chastisement For when we are iudged we are so corrected by our Lord that wee be not condemned with this worlde And more profitable it is to suffer here temporall punishment then eternall in
waxe fainte herein specially towards the faithfull for as much as thou our heauenly father art good and sufferest thy Sun to rise both on the good and euil and rainest on the iust and vniust I beséech thee let vs follow this thy liberal example that wee may shew our selues to be thy true sons that thy name be not dishonored or thy honor vioalated who liuest and raignest true and almighty God now and for euer Amen For the vnity of the Church MErcifull God who hast called vs by one and the same hope of our calling euē as there is one Lorde one faith one baptisme one God and Father of vs al or more rather as thou the Father art one God with Christ thy beloued Sonne in the holy Ghost so ought we to be one in thée I therefore do beséech thée that all that beare the name of Christian men may bee of one mind in the true catholike faith and that we may be careful to maintaine the vnitie of the Church in the bonde of peace to vnite our hearts in charitie Take from vs all carnall affection enmity hatred and swelling of mind and curiositie of foolish and vnprofitable questions that beget nothing but strife Breake the power of the diuel with the malice and deceit of men who indeuour to disseuer that band of vnity Assist vs O mercifull God that as many as haue departed frō the sound vnderstanding of the scriptures according to the interpretation of the holy Ghost whome our Sauior left to be the comforter directer of his church and of a reprobat mind haue brought in errors heresies strifes they may throughe thy grace returne to the acknowleding of thy trueth Likewise defend vs from the tumultuous spirits of errors and schisme that the church be not troubled and the harts of the ignoraunt seduced by sugered wordes So shal we of one agréement and with one mouth honour thee the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen For the preseruation of the Church O Father of all mercy conserue I beséeche thée thy vniuersall Church the congregation of all true faithful people against the gates of hell against all the deceiptful snares of the Diuell and against all malice and rebellious madnesse of the worlde saue thy Arke and al christians therin that it perish not in the raging sea and tossing waues I beseech thee Suffer thy Church that it may remain vnshaken vpon that foundation and firme corner stone wheron it was by thee erected O lord God of might and vertues turne towards vs looke downe from heauen and visite this thy vineyard Make that perfect which thy right hand hath planted and which thou hast chosen vnto thy selfe that the boughes branches thereof may spread increase fence it with thy shield receiue vs thy shéep in to thy protection that we bee not by any aduersary of the same taken out of thy hand Mercifully protect vs from al such as séek the ouerthrow of sound doctrine and the stablishing of Idolatrous heresie Remember not Lord our offences who in time past diddest remit thy peoples iniquity Conuert vs Lord our Sauiour and turn away thy wrath from vs. Perfourme this for the loue of thy name least the holinesse thereof bée violated and dishonoured Graunt this I beséech thee for the loue of thy most beloued Son our onely hope and Sauiour Amen Another prayer for conseruation of the church ALmightie God who gauest victorie to Gideon with a handfull of men to ouercome his enemies And thou O Christ our Sauiour as thou sauedst Peter from drowning when hee walked on the Sea and Paul the Apostle from the bottome of the Sea hauing escaped danger of shipwrack thrée times so preserue vs in this storme and tempest of our enemies here ready to swalow vs vp and strengthen vs with thy right hand that in our victory thy name may be to all men most holy and glorious A prayer at the trauaile of childe-birth OUr most mercifull and gracious father in Christ Iesu our Lorde who hast promised to our forefathers the children of Israell that if they would hearken to thy voice in obeying thy will and commaundements ther shoulde none mis-carry with their fruite or otherwise bée barren wee thy vnworthy seruants and their sinful ofspring acknowledging the wickednes of life and the calamity of our age to be such that we may iustly say with Ezechias This is a troublesome time children are at the point to be borne and the mothers wante strength to deliuer them good Lord we most humbly and deuoutly beséech thée with thy clemencie and mercifull helpe to respecte this thy handmaides wretched estate which for disobeying thy holy wil thou hast inflicted vpon the daughters gf our first parent Eue that this our sister may obtaine at thy mercifull hande the fauour of safe and spéedie deliuerance and her fruit to come vnto the new birth of baptisme and regeneration that she ouercomming by thy mercifull goodnes the paines and trauell which thy pleasure is she shoulde suffer she may liue and laud thy holy name and say with thy beloued seruants holpen in this case Thus hath the Lorde dealt with me at such time as he looked vppon me thou O Lorde vouchsafing to wipe her teares and to make her a glad mother Graunt this mercy vnto her we beséeche thée who hast promised to be their assured helpe and comforter that put their trust in thee A prayer for making a good end O GOD most holy thou hast appointed to man a tearme of his life which hee can not passe for he hath his prefixed time the number of his moneths is in thy hande thou hast remembred euery day of our life which passeth away so swift as if our selus did flye away all our years are but as smoke shadow all flesh is grasse which soone withereth it is as the flower of the fielde that soone perisheth Teach me therefore that I may now at length knowe and thinke vppon my ende which is so néere at hand My dais be but as a hand bredth Teache mee O Lorde to bée mindefull of death and to learne to die sith in this pilgrimage wee haue no long dwelling place O Lord let my end be foreknowen vnto me that in this world I may liue ende my life vnto thee and accept the day of my return and of our reuealing of our lord Iesus Christ thy beloued sonne by my readines in holy conuersation and godlines Suffer me to make my ende with perfect vse reason and in true confession of my sinnes with contrition Let me not speake like one that is mad nor vtter any blasphemous words against thée my good Lorde or contrarie to my saluation Uouchsafe to protect me also frō sudden death and from eternal damnation that I be not ouertaken by death before I am fully prepared in performing of true repentance And whē the same houre shall come make me strong and without feare to beare the Temporal
death which is nothing else but the doore to eternall life Let me thy seruant then depart in peace because mine eies haue séen my saluation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people as a reuealing light to the Gentils to the renowne of Israel thy people Giue me grace that at the last instant I may speake at the least this word which thy beloued Son vttered vpon the Crosse saying Father into thy handes I commend my spirite And when I shall not be able to speake yet vouchsafe I béeseech thee to heare my last grones through Iesus christ Amen Against desperation O Most iust and mercifull GOD seeing through my owne faulte and will I haue often transgressed thy commaundements and contemned thée my Lorde God to my greeuous burden of offences whereby my conscience is sore vexed and wounded that thereby trembling and weakenes of mind groweth vppon me I beséech thee most holy father suffer mee not to distrust thy grace and mercy at any time leaste I fal into desperation which is the most gréeuous of all sins Comfort me that euen in the middest of death I may fixe all my hope in thée which art my life without distrust of thy mercy and helpe Behold me with the eies of thy mercy as thou didst Peter after he had denied thée least dispairing like Iudas the traytor I might sin against the holy Ghost O God the holy Ghost helpe mee in my extreame necessity when Sathan shall gréeuously accuse me before thée laying open the Booke of my conscience and the sight of Hell terrifie mée when I shal be compassed about with the sorrowes and fearefull temptations of death when al the world shal forsake me and take parte against mee then I beséeche thee to comfort me that my hope fall not from me Comfort my heart with thy testimony and seale that I may firmely beléeue the remission of sinnes and that I may bée mindfull of thy most holy couenant in Baptisme and of the annexed promise He that beeleeueth and is baptized shal be saued The prayer of a Magistrate or one in authority O Almighty God Lord of heauen and earth who hast brought and set mee in the place of a ruler and giuē me power ouer others I beséech thée to giue me a wife prudent heart that I may gouern thy people according to my office and vnderstand good from euill to the performing of iustice without any feare or respecte of persons Giue me counsail strength that I may doe that which is acceptable vnto thée profitable for thē that be vnder me auaileable to publike peace and quietnesse Let mee not forget that I haue not my authority of my selfe but from the high God and that I am to execute the iudgement or rule not of man but of God in heauen and thou assisting me in the same beholdest all my doinges who at length wilt inquire and take accoūt of my words workes and ordinaunces that am sure to liue but a short time in mine office And because the punishment shal be sore gréeuous on them that rule not well when the mighty shall be mightely tormēted For God is the ruler of all who wil not spare the person of any nor feare his greatnesse who hath made both greate and small hauing an equall care for all Assist me therefore O mercifull and eternal god that I may by thy grace and helpe bear my selfe well in my office offring violence nor iniury to any nor suffer it to be done of others or to beare with any iniustice sith I am thy seruaunt and the sonne of thy handmayde a weake man and of short life vnable for to vnderstand thy iudgement and lawes Send therfore wisedome to be assistant vnto mee in the place which I doe occupy that it may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what is acceptable to thee which also may guide me in all my affaires and kéepe me in hir power that my doings may be to thy liking in christ Iesu our redeemer sauior The prayer of a sonne or daughter MOst mercifull God the celestiall father who hast commaunded that I shoulde honor my parents of whom I tooke this life who also acceptedst in good part that duty and obedience for Christ thy beloued Sonne and promisest to rewarde the same with long life together with sundry temporall benefites and the heauenly blessing I beseeche thee euen from the bottome of my heart that thou vouchsafe to giue vnto my most kind and louing parentes long life and prosperous yeares and also to defend them from al mischaunces hurt and domage Giue me also a heart apt to loue and obay them and that I may honour them in deedes speech and all patience that the same blessing of god may come vppon me and that I may succéede my father as well in old age as in worldly benefites And likewyse that I offende not or greeue my swéete mother that bare me in hir wombe with much griefe and brought mee vp with much car◠and busines whom I ought not to forsake or discomfort least her curse come vpon me And if before this I haue shewed my selfe disobedient to my parents or vnquiet vouchsafe mercifully to forgiue me the sinnes of my youth and my secret offences O Lord remember not but let me acknowledge my owne foolishnes and performe due repentance therefore carefully setting before mee the wholesome example of Iesus Christ who in his childhood was an admonition to his parents and an example to all children by his obedience So let me by thy help be endewed alwaies with Christian obedience Kéepe mee from the company of naughty persons and if they intice me let me not go with them but with-holde my féet from their paths Let me encrease and profit in wisedom age and fauour with GOD and men through the same thy beloued sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ. Amen The praier of a seruant O Mercifull God who by the precious passion and death of thy Sonne Iesus Christ hast made me an ouercommer of hel and death being deliuered from perpetual seruitude from the power of sin from the kingdome of darkenesse and from the horrible tiranny of the diuel I beséech thée vouchsafe vnto me by thy grace that I fall not into any wearines or disliking of that state and seruantly condition whereunto thou hast caled me according to thy good wil and pleasure nor through impatience neyther murmure against this thy ordinance or enuy the dignity and better calling of others But that I may performe this thy will with all ready willingnesse as if I serued the Lord of al and not men Helpe me most pittiful Lorde that I may with all feare and patience obey my carnal maisters be they good or euill in those things that be not contrarie to thy will not seruing to the eie as ther with to please men but from my heart for thy commaundementes sake Giue mee grace that I may be sounde faithfull in all
all euill and lifting vp my eies and addressing my praiers vnto thee Drawe my féete out of the snare and hide me vnder the couert of thy winges A prayer out of the Psalme called Saint Barnards verses Lighten mine eies least at any time I sléepe in death that mine enimy neuer say I haue preuailed against him Be mindful of thy mercies O Lorde and of thy commiserations which haue beene since the world began Remember not the follies and offences committed in my youth Be mindfull of me according to mercy and for thy goodnesse O Lord. Into thy handes I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of trueth I haue saide and spoken it openly O Lord make my end knowen vnto me And what the number of my daies is that I may knowe what is wanting vnto me Giue me a good signe that such as hate me may see thy fauour and thereat may bée confounded forasmuch as thou O Lorde hast holpen and comforted me O Lord let it be so séeing I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy handmaid Thou hast ridde me of my thraldome I will offer vnto thee the sacrifice of praise and shall call vpon the name of the Lord. They perished who fled from me and there is none to seeke after my soule I cried to the Lord saying thou art my hope my portion in the land of the liuing Glory be to the Father c. Another praier by such as be present at the perill of child-birth MOst mightie Creator mercifull God wee thy séely wretched creatures descended of Eue her ofspring most suppliantly beséech thée of thy infinite goodnes mercifully to looke on the wretched state miserie which of thy dreadful iustice in mixing alwayes sorrowes with ioyes thou hast inflicted vpon womankind for our said first parent her disobedience and namely the state sorrowful beeing of this our sister thy seruant here languishing and oppressed with the paines of womans trauaile and wretchednesse O good Lorde thy omnipotent wisedome foreséeing that some would sinne much did bridle them with infirmitie of bodie to the end that it may bee founde more profitable for them to be low brought with suffering gréeuous pains then to remaine in helth to their more hasard of sinne and damnation But séeing in all sicknes there bée thrée things that be greuous and specially to vs thy creatures of more weaknes and infirmitie by nature that is to say the feare of death the griefe of the bodie and the losse or leuing of these worldlie pleasures therefore thy mercifull goodnes hath so disposed our state condition in this life that no woman or man can be in great paine and long continue therein so as by thy iust and mercifull prouidence either he shall be able to beare our paines or els that the same shal be but short therfore it may please thée of thy great mercies that as the aire is clensed made cléer after vehement storms so after this sharpe and long showre of teares and wofull panges there may followe a calme of ease of affliction to this our sister and faire wether both of thy gratious fauour and of our mindes quietnesse that are pensiue and carefull for her For by the testimony of thy holy word thou delightest not in destruction with thy own mouth by the holy Ghost thou hast saide that thou wilt conuert the sorowing of thy seruants into reioycing Bee then our good Lord and our comforter in the day of our tribulation Suffer not wee beséech thée this our sister to bée tempted or oppressed with paines and calamity aboue her strength and patience to beare it but mercifully and spéedily helpe and deliuer her both from paines and perill So shal we euermore pronounce and say Blessed is God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ the Father of mercies and God of all consolation who comforteth vs in all our trouble Amen The Lords prayer briefly expounded Our Father By benefite of Creation through thy omnipotencie By priuiledge of condition through thy prouidence By pietie of adoption thorough thy charitie By reparation of blisse through thy onely begotten Which art in heauen By omnipotent power gouerning By grace lightening By mercie directing By glorie appearing Halowed be thy name Of vs by honest conuersation In vs by a cleane conscience Foorth out of vs by a good name and fame Aboue vs by Angelicall presentation Thy kingdome come That is Heauen by reuelation Holy Church by assumption The faithfull soule by iustification The holy scripture by instruction Thy will be done In simplicitie of heart by humilitie In charitie of bodie by abstinence In holinesse of prayer by frequentation In veritie of woorke by discretion Giue vs this day our daily bread Of humane necessitie Of spirituall doctrine Of the blessed sacrament Of eternall felicitie And forgiue vs our trespasses as we c. Not retaining mallice in heart Not vpbraiding in word Not doing euill for euill Not refusing to do good And let vs not be lead into temptation Sodaine which dismaieth Importune which wearieth Deceitfull which beguileth Uiolent which oppresseth But deliuer vs from euill Of worldly aduersitie which disquieteth Of mans crueltie which vexeth Of the Deuils subtletie which preuaileth Of euerlasting calamitie which tormenteth Amen that is all thus bee done By attention of heart By sinceritie of word By diligent practise By continuall desire Read and vnderstand Remember practise As thinges are prooued to be liuing by moouing by sense of sight or feeling and by liuely working so is it knowne whether the soule of any man liueth in Christ by these three tokens IF the soule be moued with the spirite of Christ that is to the holie desire of heauenly things and to the contemning of the delectable things of the world 〈◊〉 the soule haue a féeling of those thinges which pertaine vnto Christ and as it were a suffering with Christ that suffered If the soule worketh vertuous works in following of Christ. They that be lead by the spirit of God bée the sons of God Fides sine operibus mortua est These bee sixe signes of a Christian. INnocencie and cleannesse Penitence and the true performing thereof Lowlinesse and humilitie of spirite Obedience and the feare of God Pitie and brotherly loue Feruent charitie The 12. abuses of the world which are thought to bee the sinnes which deserue with the iustice of God that Antichrist the most wicked of all men should preuaile and trouble the whole world to the perill of innumerable soules OLde men and graue persons without the wisedome of true and mature patience Yong men of lesse knowledge and authoritie without reuerence and obedience Rich men without almes and mercifull works The poore giuen to proud apparell and without humilitie The Pastors or Teachers without good déedes where Christ himself wroght first and then taught hee saith Qui fecerit sic docuerit ille saluabitur The people hearing the word of God preached and yet waxe
neuer the better of an hundred hearers scarce one is conuerted to true Penitence when at one sermon of Peters or of some other Apostle fiue thousands were conuerted Men bearing the name of Christ yet voide of Christian life and sanctimonie The vulgar sort giuen to fraud in their workmanship and deceitfulnes in their dealings specially seruants Gouernors without iustice and vertue Churchmen without holines and deuotion Religious men without obseruing the rules of their profession and statutes of their order Married persons without honest and continent life Scriptures and fruitefull sayings of the Doctors to edefie in these points following Prayer I would haue men to pray lifting vp pure hands without wrath and contention I haue said I will confesse mine iniquities When yee doe praye if yee haue anie thing against others forgiue it The sounde or voyces of prayer come not vnto Gods eares except it be made with great affection of mind Prayer if it bee true if it bee chast it pierceth heauen and returneth not emptie For the daily and light sinnes without which this life is not led the daily praier of the faithfull recompenceth By fasting the passions of the bodie by prayer infections of the minde are to be cured The more we haue to doo with carnal things the more earnestly ought we to be giuen to prayer The kingdome of heauen is not gotten by taking our rest nor eternall blessednesse promised vnto the negligent Charitie Hée that loueth abideth in the light In this al men shal know that ye be my disciples if ye loue one another In Charitie a poore man is rich and without charitie euerie riche man is but poore Charity féedeth the hungry pride also féedeth but charitie dooth it to the praise and honor of God and pride for the prayse of her selfe Charitie cloatheth the naked pride clotheth also charity fasteth so doth pride Charitie is the strength of faith and faith is the fortitude of charitie where they bee not both together there both be wanting A man may haue in him the helpe and benefites of the Sacramentes and yet bee an euill man but hée cannot haue charitie and bee euill Fasting This kind of Diuels may not be cast out but by prayer and fasting My legges are weakened with fasting and my flesh is altered for want of wonted sustenance Fasting purgeth the mind reléeueth the senses subdueth the flesh to the spirite maketh the heart contrite and humble disperseth the clouds of concupiscence quencheth the burning of lustes kindleth the light of chastitie Hee that will well and truely fast let him abstayne from sinne and vice for what auayleth it to emptie the bodie of meate and to ouerlode the soule with sin What can it profit any man to be pale with fasting to consume with hatred enuie What good is it to abstaine from wine and to bée dronke with the lées poyson of anger and mallice What gaine is it to abstain from flesh made for mans vse to be eaten and to teare asunder the members of our neighbour with backbiting and slaunder It is no profite or a thing praise-worthie to abstaine from that which sometimes is lawfull and to doe that which neuer is permitted but always forbidden Let thy fasting chasten thée but glad an other and so thy sorrowes shall be fruitfull if they bring ioye to others Fast so that thou maiest bee as glad as if thou hast dined in hauing séen the néedie to eate God loueth a chéereful giuer and when the poore are fedde by thy reliefe thinke then that Christ hath dined with thy goodes crying that he hungereth himselfe in his poore God liketh that fast when thou giuest to an other that which thou doest withdrawe from thy selfe that thy néedy neighbors body may bée reléeued by that meanes wherby thine is afflicted Then thy fasting shall please the Lord God when thy soule abhorreth sinne for it is to no effect to withdraw meate from the body and to pamper and flatter it by sin Fast therefore chiefly from sinne and then thy fast shall please God For as fasting is to the humbling of the soule it will auaile thée nothing in humbling it by abstinence of meat and to puffe it vp by sinne Almes Hee that doeth the woorke of mercie offereth a sacrifice Acts. 14. It is a more blessed thing to giue thā to take Aug. Almes cleanseth sins intreateth for vs to Christ for whatsoeuer wee giue vnto the poore we shall be sure to possesse it Aug. If thou wilt be a good merchant and a great gainer giue that which thou canst not kéep that thou maist receiue that which thou canst not leese geue of thy temporal substance that thou maist receiue eternall inheritance To denie that which sustaineth life is to kill a man take heed lest amongst your chests or store ye lock vp the sauing of poore folks liues and as it were in toombes burying them It is a part of sacriledge to bestowe the goods of the poore otherwise then vpon the poore Geue your almes of that which is rightfully gotten geue not of that which is ill gotten to the faithful vnto whom Christs body is giuen in the sacrament The renowne of the Bishoppe is to prouide for the welfare of the poore it is a shame to all Priests to make themselues rich The almes of the proude riche man can doe him no good if hee haue robbed the poore for that will not suffer his almes to ascend come before the eies of God Penitence Luke 13. Except yée repent yée shall all likewise perish Eccl. My son if thou hast sinned adde not other sinnes to the former but praie rather that thy former may be forgotten Prou. 5. Euerie man is bound with the cordes of his sinnes Aug. de Penit. Paenitere est paenam tenere vt semper puniat in se quod commisit peccando Aug. Better is a little bitternesse in thy mouth than eternall torment in thine intrailes Au. He that wipes away his sins by penitence is become in fellowship with Angels Dauid sinned as Princes doe but he did penance with bewailing of his life the which princes or great men are not wont to doe Not to be sorie for thy sinnes makes God more angrie then the sinne which thou didst committe Contrition Bee sorowfull for your sinnes in your chamber Whome shall I regarde saith the Lord but the poore and contrite in spirit Contrition is a sorowing of the minde with teares rising of the remembrance of sinne of the feare of iudgement Let him know himself to be hard harted and too blame that doth bewaile the corporall death of his friende and weepeth not for the death of his owne soule Confession Esay 14. I will reckon vnto thée O Lord in the bitternes of my soule how I haue spent all my yeares Prou. 28. Hée that hideth his offences shall not bee directed but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtaine mercie Barnard The camell hath but one burden the rich man
hath two the one is of his wealth or possessions the other of his sins the first hée laieth down at his death the other will hee or nill he hée must beare when he is dead vnlesse he be vnburdened before his death Aug. Confession is the health of soules the disperser of vices the vanquisher of diuels what more It shutteth the mouth of hell and openeth the gates of paradise He that accuseth himselfe though he be a sinner he beginneth to be righteous because he doeth not spare him selfe but confesseth the iustice of God Close woundes are worse then the open woūds where the corruption is cast foorth much ease and amendement followeth Without confession the good man is iudged vnthankfull and the sinner reputed as dead confession therfore is the life of the sinner and the renowne of the righteous Confesse thy sinnes the rather the more thou doest despaire in thy selfe because of thy iniquities for the greater is the praise of the forgeuer Quanto maior est exaggeratio peccata confitētis saith S. Augustine the more that he that confesseth his sins doth exaggerat thē August From the heart commeth true confession for if thou hast one thing in thy heart and another vpon thy tongue thou speakest but dost not confesse Aug. Tell men what thou art but to God who thou art for feare if thou doe it not he condemne in thée that hee shal sée and find in thée Wilt thou escape gods iudgment Iudge condemne thy selfe Wilt thou that he do pardon thée Confesse and acknowledge thy misdéeds that thou maist truly saie vnto him O Lord turne awaie thy face from my iniquities preuent God alwaies with an humble confession and then thou shalt not fall into eternall damnation Aug. As long as thou hidest and dost not confesse thy sins so long dost thou striue with God confes boldly thy infirmity that thou mayest come to eternitie Confesse and acknowledge the benefites of thy Shepheard and pastour and so thou shalt be sure not to followe the wolfe of error and destruction Of pouertie He onely is poore in spirit that is humble feareth God cōfesseth his sinnes boasteth not of his owne works or iustice but when he doth some good praiseth God for it and when hee committeth some euill accuseth and blameth himselfe Fiue kindes of pouertie Pouertie may be saide to be in fiue manner of waies First by aduersitie Secondly by cupiditie Thirdlie by aboundance Fourthly by counterfetting Fiftly by will The first is a beggerie the second a couetousnes the third a prodigality the fourth a painted Sepulchre the fift Christianitie The first is a scourge the second a poison the third a windie fanne the fourth a shadowe the fift a castell The first is a misery because it gréeueth the second venemous because it killeth the third windie because it puffeth vp the fourth deceitfull because it dissembleth the fifth glorious because it crowneth Iustice. Apoc. 18. Quantum quis glorificauit se in delitijs vixit tantum illi dabitur de tormento luctu Luk. 12. To whome much is giuen much shal be required of him Cyp. The iustice of the King is the peace of the people the defence of the countrie the saluing of sores the temperature of the aire it makes faire weather by sea and plentie at land it putteth awaie the murmuring of the poore and vnto himselfe is the hope of future blessednes That which thou doest to one looke to finde it of another If thou be obedient and louing thou shalt haue peace with men and warre with vice Trueth Great is the trueth and it preuaileth O ye fonde Galathians who hath bewitched you to disobey the trueth The mouth that speakes lies killeth his soule Hee erreth that beareth in hande hee knoweth the trueth and yet liueth naughtelie Chrys. Such is the condition of falsehood or error although no man withstand it yet it wil wax old and decay contrarily such is the state of truth though many withstand and séeke to oppresse it yet it will rise and increase Chry. He is not onely a betraier of the truth who speaketh a lie for the truth but he also that pronounceth not the truth fréely which he ought to pronoūce or defendeth not the truth fréely the which he ought to defend Ibid. If it be vngodly not to speak the truth for feare of death how can it be lesse vngodly to hide the truth for liuing or vaine glories sake Sen. Rich or noble men though they haue all things yet one thing they lacke and that is some one to tell them the truth for he that will accompanie with such people must either laie truth aside or let friendship go Restitution Let not the wrong doing of the iust please thée A kingdome is translated from one nation to another for iniustice wrong dooing deceifulnes and scorning or railing If another mans goods be not restored when it may bee restored thou art not penitent but doest faine it for if penitence be not truely done the sinne shall not bée forgiuen except things taken awaie be restored If he be cast into fire that hath not giuen of his owne goods where shall he be cast that taketh awaie other mens If he burneth with the deuil that cloathed not the naked where shall hee burne that spoiled them Ful. If vnfruitfulnesse bée cast into the fire what doth robberie deserue Or what shal he receiue that taketh away other mens if he shall burne that hath not giuen of his owne If iudgement without mercie shal be to him that did not the work of mercie what iudgement shall bee to him that robbed the poore Death Iob. 30. I wot thou wilt deliuer me vnto death where there is a house appointed for euerie one that is aliue Luk. 12. Make your selues ready for ye know not what houre the Sonne of man wil come August de ciu Dei The first death driueth the soule willingly out of the body the second death doth holde the soule against her will in the bodie Aug. de cura pro mor. The rich man had a care of his friends that were aliue although he wist not how they did so we haue a care of the dead though we wot as litle what they do What is death but the leauing of the bodie and a laying downe of an heauie burthen In case the man haue no other burthē wherwith hee may bee throwen headlong into hell Well ought euerie man to dreade his ending daie for looke in what state hee shall bée then at his departing out of the world such shal he be iudged at the daie of iudgement Naked we are borne and naked we die no difference in dead bodies saue that the bodies of the rich doe stinke vilely with much pampering Make death to be of thy famylyar acquaintaunce by continuall thinking vpon him that when God appointeth it thou maiest be readie to méete with him Sen. He that dieth in his youth hath no more cause to complaine than he that hath a
quicke dispatch of a voyage Ibid. The eternal law ordeined nothing better than in giuing vs one waie to come into the world and many waies to go out of it Resurrection 2. Mac. 7. Unlesse we hoped that they who were slain should rise againe it should séeme superfluous and vaine to intreate for the deceased Greg. in mortal Our redéemer tooke vpon him death that we might not feare to die hée shewed vs his resurrection that we might assuredly trust to rise againe Let vs consider the little séed of euerie trée that is cast into the earth how a trée therof may be brought forth and let vs comprehend if we can where so great a trée might be hidden in so small a bulke of that seede where the wood where the rinde where the green leaues and where the plentifulnesse of that fruit why should we thē maruell how God can turne that little dust that commeth of our bodie into a man when of a little séede there riseth so huge a thing as is a great trée If there be no resurrection neither is there anie God nor anie prouidence then all things are wroght conducted by Fortune We sée many righteous men to liue in penurie and to suffer wrong and contrarily sinners and vnrighteous persons to flow in all kinde of wealth and voluptuousnes what man of right mind wil thinke this to be the worke of iust iudgment or wise prouidence therefore there shall be a resurrection for God is iust and rewardeth them that put their trust in him Iudgement Iob. 9. I feared my works knowing thou wouldest not spare an offender Rom. God will reward euery man according vnto his workes Aug. de ciu Dei Then shall he come openly among the iust to iudge iustly that came priuily to bée iudged of the vniust vniustly Aug. de Symb. That Iudge is not to be preuented by fauour nor to bée bowed with pittie nor to be corrupted with mony nor to be appeased with satisfaction or penance Let the soule deale as well as shee can for her selfe while there is place for mercie for there shal be the place of iustice When our Lorde shall iudge the wofull world the most puissant kinges shall come foorth naked that foolish wise man Plato shall be brought forth with his schollers the wittie argumentes of Aristotle shall not helpe him when the sonne of the poore maide shall come for to iudge the furthest partes of the earth Greg. When I call to minde Iob on the dunghill Iohn famishing in the wildernes Peter tormented on the crosse I think how God will punish the reprobate in time to come sith hée intreateth so sharpely them whom he loueth Hier. super Mat. So often as I consider that day my whole bodie doth tremble for feare for whether I eate or drinke or do any other thing alwaies mée thinketh that fearefull blast of the trumpet soundeth in mine eares rise yée dead and come to iudgement Heauen Esdr. 8. The most highest hath made this worlde for many but the world to come for a few 1. Cor. 2. The eie hath not séene nor the eare heard nor hath it ascended vnto the hart of man what God hath prepared for them that loue him Aug. de poenit Hasten thether where thou maiest liue euer if thou so much louest this wretched flitting life where thou liuest with so much a doe running wrastling swearing and sighing and canst scarse prouide thy bodily necessaries how much rather oughtest thou to loue the life eternall where is no labour nor any care to be taken but rather great felicitie happy liberty happy blessednes where shall bee fulfilled that which our Lord saith in the Gospell Men shall be like Angelles the righteous shall shine c. Aug. super Psa. The poore Widdowe bought as much for two mites as Peter did by forsaking his nets or Zacheus by giuing the halte of his liuing Aug. in Epist. If riches bée loued let them bee laide vp where they cannot perish if honour bee desired let it bee sought where none hath it but the worthy if life bée liked let it be gotten where no death shall end it Barn in ser. O Lorde there be manie that would raigne with thée but they will not suffer with thée they woulde finde thée but they will not séeke thée they would come where thou art but they wil not follow thée Chrys. super Math. Great is the violence if a man born in earth catch heauen for his portion if he obtaine by vertue that which he cannot by nature The kingdome of heauen suffereth violence for that the glorie of the Lord of Israel which was due to the fathers foretold by the Prophets offered by Christ is surprised and occupied by the faith of the Gentiles whiles they by the penance which Iohn preached doe reuiue to the heauenly Countrie as it were returning to a strange place Greg. in mor. Onely to the righteous are the rewardes of the heauenly countrie due so as the humble the chast the méeke and the mercifull are they which attaine to the ioyes eternall Hell Math. 8. The children of this worlde shall be cast into vtter darkenesse where shall bée wéeping and gnashing of téeth Apoc. Looke how much a man hath glorified himselfe and béene in pleasures so much giue him of sorrowe and torment Greg. in Dialog There is but one fire of hell but the same tormenteth not all sinners after one manner for euerie one shall finde there so much paine as his sinnes require Ibid. Like as when manie men stande in the sunne all féele not a like heate for that some bée more hote than other euen so in that one fire there is not one manner of burning for as much as the diuersitie of sins causeth that there which the diuersitie of bodies worketh here Greg. super Math. They shall be cast into darknesse that they may there gnash their téeth who delighted here in eating For crying out is caused of heat gnashing of téeth is caused of cold There hel is shewed to be of two sortes to wit of extreme colde and of intollerable heate Ibid. In hell shall be intollerable colde vnquenchable heat a worme that neuer dieth a stinke intollerable extreme darknes the scourge of torments the horible sight of deuils the confused heap of sins and dispaire of all good things for vnto those wretches there shall be a death without dying because there death alwaies begins and cannot end Hugo de S. Vict. Hell is a lake without measure déepe without bottome full of incomparable burning ful of intollerable stinkes full of innumerable sorrow there is miserie there is darknes and euerlasting horrour where there is no hope of any good thing Isodor de summo bono The fire of hel shal giue light to those wretches to the encrease of their owne woe by séeing it and not to any comforte least they might sée whereof to reioyce A note touching the profession of great knowledge in the scriptures CUnning is
not to be blamed if it be wel ordered for it is good and commeth of God but a cleane conscience and a vertuous life is much better more to bee desired O if ye could bee as busie to auoide sin and to plant vertue in our soules as we be to moue questions At the daie of iudgement it shall not bée asked of vs what we haue read but what we haue don not how well we haue sayd but how religiously we haue liued Tell mée now where be all the great Clarkes and famous Doctors who flourished while they liued Now other men occupie their promotions and dignities who thinke full little of them He is great that hath great charity and he that is litle in his owne sight and that setteth at naught great things And hée is well taught that forsaketh his owne will and followeth the will of God Behold the perfection of the life and religion of the ancient fathers and you shall sée how little it is that we do in comparison of them They serued our Lord in hunger thirst in heate cold in nakednes in labour in vigils fasting in praiers holy meditations in persecutions many reproches they refused honours and bodily pleasures that they might haue the euerlasting life how straight and abiect a life leade they in wildernesse How grieuous temptations suffered they What rigorous abstinence vsed they How great zeale feruour had they to spirituall profite How strong battel 's held they against sinne On the day they laboured on the night they praied And for the great swéetnes that they had in heauenly contemplation they forgot oft times their bodily refection all riches honor dignities they renounced for the loue of God Now a daies he is counted vertuous that is no offender and that may with patience kéep some litle sparke of that vertue and fauour which hée had first Another note concerning the paine ordained for sinne IT is better now to purge sin and to put away vice than reserue it to be purged héereafter what shal the fire or torment deuoure but thy sin Truly nothing Therefore the more thou sparest thy selfe now and the more thou followest thy fleshly liking the more grieuously shalt thou waile hereafter In such things as a man most hath offended shall he be most punished The slouthful persons shall bée there pricked with burning prickes of yron and gluttons shall bée tormented with great hunger thirst the lecherous and louers of voluptuous pleasures shal be filled with burning pitch and the enuious shall waile and houle as doe madde dogges there shall no sinne be without his proper torment the proud man shall bee filled full with all shame confusion the couetous shall bée pined with all penurie néede one houre there in paine shall bée more grieuous than here an hundred yeres in the sharpest penance then shall hée stand as a iudge that here submitted himselfe méekly vnto the iudgement of man then shall the méeke poore man haue great confidence and trust in God and the obstinate proud man shall quake and dreade thē euerie deuout person shal be ioyfull glad and then irreligious persons shall waile and dread then shall the vile habit shine cléere in the sight of God the precious garments shall wax foule lothsome to behold then the despising of worldly goods shall bée more of value than all worldly riches and treasure then shalt thou haue more comfort for thy deuout praying than for all thy delicate féeding then shall it please more a strait life and hard penance here than all worldly delectation pleasure Learn therefore now to suffer the small tribulations in this world that thou maist then be deliuered from the greater ordained for sin First proue here what thou maist suffer héereafter and if thou maist not now suffer so little paine how shalt thou thē suffer the euerlasting torments thou maist not haue two heauens that is to saie to haue ioy delectation here after with Christ. Moreouer if thou hadst liued alwaies in honor or in temporal felicitie what should it profite thée dying now He that loueth God dreadeth neither tormēt nor death a perfect loue maketh a sure passage to God But if a man yet delight in sinne it is no merualle if hée dreade death and hell A third fruitfull note concerning curious searching in matters of faith specially about the holy Eucharist THou must beware of a curious and an vnprofifitable searching of this most profound sacrament if thou wilt not bee drowned in the great depth of doubtfulnes for he that is the searcher of Gods maiestie shal be thrust out of glorie God is of power to worke much more than man may vnderstand neuertheles a méek humble searching of the truth readie alway to be taught to walke after the teachings of holy fathers is sufrable Blessed is the simplicitie that doth leaue the waie of hard questions goeth in the plaine and stedfast way of the commandements of God many haue lost their deuotion because they would search higher things than pertaine to them Faith and a good life is asked of thée and not the highnes of vnderstanding nor the déepnes of the mysteries of God If thou may not vnderstand nor take such things as be within thée how maist thou then comprehend those things that bée aboue thée Submit thy selfe therfore méekly to God and submit also thy reason vnto faith and the light of knowledge true vnderstanding shal be giuen thée as shall bée most profitable necessarie for there be some that be griuously tempted of the Faith and of this Sacrament but that is not to be imputed to them but rather to the enemie Therefore care not for him nor dispute not with thoughts nor answer to the doubts which thine enimie shall laie to thée but beléeue the wordes of God and beléeue the Saintes and Prophets the wicked enimie shall anone flie awaie from thée And it is oft times much profitable that the seruants of God should féele sustaine such doubtes for their more proofe and commonly the enemy tempteth not vnfaithful people and sinners whom he hath sure possession of but he tempteth vexeth in diuers manners the faithfull deuout persons Goe therefore with a pure and vndouted faith and with an humble reuerence procéed to this sacrament and whatsoeuer thou canst not vnderstand commit it faithfully to God for God wil not deceiue thée but he shall be deceiued that trusteth ouer-much to himselfe God walketh with the simple persons hée openeth himselfe and sheweth him to méeke persons he giueth vnderstanding vnto them which are poore in spirit he openeth his will vnto pure and cleane mindes and hideth his grace from them that bée curious and proude Mans reason is féeble and weak and soone he may be deceiued but faith is stable and true cannot bée deceiued Therefore all reason and all natural working must followe Faith without further