before shal be blessed now and euer Amen A prayer meditating vpon the Maiestie of God out of S. Augustine CoÌ„f. l. 1. c. 4. WHat art thou o my God what art thou I besech thee but my lord God for who is lord but our lord and who is god but our God O highest o best o most mighty most omnipoteÌ„t most merciful and most iust most secret and most preseÌ„t most beutiful most strong stabâ—e and incoÌ„preheÌ„sible immutable chauÌ„ging al thinges neuer new neuer old renuing al things bringing the proud into ould age and they are ignorant alwayes doing euer quiet gathering and not wanting bearing and filling and protecting creating and norishing and perfecting seeking when nothing is wanting vnto thee thou louest yet art not truobled thou art ieleous and art secure thou repentest and greuest not thou art angry art quiet thou chaÌ„gest thy workes yet chaungest not thy counsaile thou receauest what thou findest neuer lost thou art neuer poore yet reioycest with gaine neuer couetous and yet exactest vsery There is largely bestowed vpon thee that thou mightest be in debt yet who haith any thing that is not thyne Thou payest debtes owing nothing giuest debtes loosing nothing And what do we say my god my life my holy sweetnesse or what doth any man say when he speaketh of thee and woe to theÌ„ that speake not of thee A prayer for al people out of S. Clement Const l. 8. c. 18. WE besech thee o lord for thy holy church which is dispersed through al places which thou hast gotteÌ„ with the precious bloud of thy Christ that thou wil vouchsaif to keepe it â—uiet and in tranquillity to the end of the world And we also intreat thee for al Episcopal order rightly handling the word of truth for al preisthood for deacons the whole Cleargy that being taught of thee thou wilt replenish them with the holy Ghost Also we besech thee o Lord for our King and al that are placed in authority that by them we may peaceably liue and perseuering in quietnesse and coÌ„cord through al the time of our life may glorify thee by Iesus Christ which is our hope For Bishops Preists Deacons Subdeacons Lectors Singers Virgins Widowes Lay people for al whose names thou knowest Also we besech thee for this Citie al that dwel in it For those that be sicke that suffer cruel seruitude for banished persoÌ„s such as haue suffered forfaiture of their goodes For al that trauel by sea and vndertaking farre iournaies that thou wilt be an assister helper aider of them al. Also we besech thee for them that hate persecute vs for thy names sake for those that be forth and in errour that thou wilt bring theÌ„ to good and appease their fury Also we besech thee for the Cathecumens of the Church and such as be vexed of the aduersary and for our brethren that be penitents that thou wilt perfect these in faith deliuer the other from vexation of the euil receaue the penance of these and pardon them and vs our offences Also we pray for them that are letted by iust cause or absent that keping vs al in godlinesse thou wilt gather vs together into the Kingdome of thy Christ god of al sensitiue and intellectual nature and our King constant in good inculpable and without sinne because vnto thee is al glory worship thankes-geuing honour adoration to the Father and Sonne and the holy Ghost both now and euer world without end Amen Out of the same S. Clement Const l. 7. c. 4 7. so by him appointed A prayer for morning Athanas l. de virg When day appeareth say the Himn Gloria in excelsis c. GLory in the highest to god and in earth peace to men of good wil we praise thee we celebrate thee we blesse thee we glorify thee by the great high preist we adoare thee god vnbegotten one vnaccessible alone for thy great glory o Lord heauenly king God Father omnipoteÌ„t o Lord god Father of Christ the immaculate LaÌ„be which taketh away the sinnes of the world receaue our prayer thou that sittest vpon the Cherubim Because thou alone art holy thou alone Lord Iesus Christ of god of al created nature of our king by whom glory honour and worship is vnto thee A Praier out of S. Ciprian Tom. 3. HAgios Hagios Hagios Holy Holy Holy O holy of holies Father of our Fathers God of Abraham God of Isaac God of Iacob God of Apostles God of Prophets God of Virgins God of the wel liuing God of the faithful God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ we humble cal vpon thee and also besech thee o only begotten Sonne who was begotten of the mouth of the highest before the disposing of the world and by mistery brought forh of the wombe of Mary the holy Virgin Vouchsaif to bestow vpoÌ„ vs that pray spiritual encrease of holy desire and integrity of heart that our brest by holy baptisme renewed may perseuer saife from carnal sinnes We aske with an vnspotted faith an vncorrupted mind with a strong deuotion loue continual that thou wilt suffer vs to florish in thy holy Church because vnto thee we bend our knees and bow downe our neckes to whom Angels and Archangels thousandes of thousandes of Martyrs the queare of the Apostles and glory of Prophets â—o make ioy to whom al birdes do singe praises whom the tongues confesse of thinges celestial terrestrial and infernal Al waters in heauen and vnder heauen confesse thee the insensible thinges perceaue thee Thou art alone and besides thee and without thee there is none We besech thee o Lord Father omnipotent who art conspicable to the onely Sonne whose Angels and Archangels obey thee O Lord Father we pray to thee to geue vs a sound mind a pure innocency deuout sincerity holy coÌ„science pure sober chast walking in glorious faith against al deceipts of the world Graunt vs a brest defended against al threatninges of the deuil carnal inticements that we may cary sounde the signe of euerlasting saluation lest we be entangled with the deadly snares of the violent and cruel enemy Put away from vs al vncleannes of the world and al perswasion of the deuil let him be snared throwne downe and ouercome and put away from vs as froÌ„ Sara thy seruant Asmodeus the most Tob. 8. wicked deuil suppressed by the holy Angel Raphael And as thou wert present with Tobias so vouchsaife to be present vnto me And as thou shewed mercy vnto Dan. 3. et 14. the three children in the fornace and to Daniel so vouchsaife to deale with vs thy seruantes Thou which hast raised the dead lightâ—ed the blynd geuen hearing to the deafe speach to the duÌ„me going to the lame soundnesse vnto leepers so also geue to vs thy seruaÌ„tes who with al the power of our mynd beleeue that thou wert borne suffered art to come to iudge the quick dead Assist vs as
thou didest assist thine Apostles in bandes Tecla in the fyre Paul in persecutions and Peter in the waues Thou who sittest vpon the seauen Thrones at the right hand of the Father looke vpon vs and deliuer vs from the destruction of eternal death one in one the Father in the Sonne the Sonne in the Father the holy Ghost by whom and with whom is to thee in the holy Church Honour Power Glory Maiesty Authority Benedictiō Immortality both now for euer alwaies and world without end Amen A Praier to auoide damnation out of S. Andrew Archbisbop of Cesarga soone after S. Basile OVr Lord graunt that we shewing forth by liuely workes sincere and true faith in Christ may neuer heare that terrible voice of Christ Amen Amen I say vnto you I Math. 25. Luc. 13. know you not And that other Departe from me al you workers of iniquity But But may heare with open eares that blessed and euery way desireable saying Come you blessed of my Father possesse Ib. the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world By the grace clemency and mercy of him who for vs willingly did vndergoe the Crosse that is of Christ god and our Lord with whom to the Father together with the holy and vinificant Spirit be glory now and euer and world without end Amen A Praier to the blessed Trinity out of S. Augustine Medit. ca. 32. O Blessed Trinity with my lips and heart and al the power I am able I praise I blesse I worship thee and to thy clemency and goodnesse geue thankes for al thy benefites and sing an Himne of glory vnto thee holy holy holy I cal vpon thee to come in me and make me a temple worthy of thy glory I besech the Father by the Sonne I beseeh the Sonne by the Father I besech the holy Ghost by the Father and the Sonne that al vices may be driuen away from me and al holy vertues planted in me Keepe me the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and trusting onely in thy mercy Keepe me I besech thee here and euery where now and euer within with out that no place for the enemies lye open in me Thou art god omnipotent the keeper protector of al that trust in thee without whom no man is saif no man deliuered from daungers Thou art god and besides thee there is not any other god neither in heauen aboue nor in earth beneath who dost wonderful and meruelous and vnscrutable thinges without number Praise becometh thee honour be cometh thee himne becometh thee To thee al Angels to thee the heauens and al Potestates do say Himnes and sing laudes incessantly as creatures to their Creator seruantes to their Lord souldiers to their King euery creature doth magnifie euery spirit doth praise thee blessed and vndeuided Trinity An other praier to the blessed Trinity out of the same S. Aug. Meditat. cap. 33. GRaunt vnto me o Lord that so long as I am in this fraile body my heart may praise thee my tongue may praise thee and al my bones may say O Lord who is like vnto thee Thou art god omnipotent whom three in parsons and one in substance of Deity we worship and adore The Father not begotten the Sonne the onely begotten of the Father the holy Ghost proceeding from both and remaining in both the holy and indeuided Trinity one god almighty who when we were not hast mightily made vs and when by our offence we were loste by thy piety and goodnesse thou hast meruelously repaired vs. Suffer vs not I besech thee to be vngrateful for so many benefites and vnworthy so many mercies I do besech intreate and desire thee increase my faith increase my hope increase my Charity Cause vs by that I doe thy grace to be alwaies stedfast in faith and effectual in worke that by right faith and worthy workes of faith by thy mercy we may come to eternal life that there seeing thy glory as it is we may adore thy Maiesty and may say together whom thou shalt make worthy to see thy glory Glory be to the Father that haith created vs Glory to the Sōne who haith redemed vs Glory to the holy Ghost that haith sanctified vs Glory to the highest indeuided Trinity whose workes are inseperable whose rule remaineth without end Praise becommeth thee Himne becommeth thee al honour is due to thee To thee benediction and glory to thee thankes-geuing to thee our God honour power and strength for euer Amen A praier for al true beleeuers both deceased and liuing out of S. Basil in Anaphora or whosoeuer in the primatiue Church authour ther of but commonly attributed to S. Basile O Lord creatour of bodies and soules remember at thy heauenly Altar al those that are departed forth of this wretched world and refresh them in thy Tabernacle ful of al bewty Passe them ouer beyond the horrible mansions of torment and place them in thy most lightsome Tabernacles Deliuer them from the wāt of light and darknesse and take them forth of tribulation and greif and let thy countenance appeare peaceable vnto them neither enter into iudgment with them nor seuerely examine their former life but whether in word or worke they haue sinned as men in flesh forgeue abolish their errours And conuerted haue mercy on vs which yet beliuing For behould daily we moue thee to anger by our filthy and detestable maner of liuing Because there is one alone that haith not sinned and deliuereth from sinne our Lord and our Sauiour Iesus Christ by whom we al hope to obtaine mercy remission of sinnes A praier for remission of sinnes by the intercession of the B. Virgin al Sainctes out of S. Augustine Med. cap. 35. O Holy and most merciful Lord be not made vntreatable vnto me because of my sinnes but for thy goodnesse receaue the praiers of thy seruant and graunt me the effect of my petition and desire the glorious Virgin Mary thy Mother my Lady together with al thy Sainctes making intercession and praying and obtaining it Amen The vsual Hymne of the Church Te Deum We praise thee God composed first as witnesith S. Dacius Bishop of Milane lib 1. Cron. ca. 10. betwene S. Ambrose his predecessour S. Augustine when he was baptised WE praise thee God we confesse thee our lord Thee the euerlasting Father al the world doth worship To thee al Angels to thee the heauens and vniuersall powers To thee the Cherubim and Seraphim with vncessible voice do cry out Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Saboath Ful are the heauens and the earth of thy maiestie of glory Thee the glorious Queare of the Apostles Thee the laudable number of Prophets Thee the whyte cloathed army of Martyres do praise Thee the holy church throughout the world doth confesse The Father of infinite maiestie Thy venerable true onely Sonne And also the holy Ghost the comforter Thou o Christ the King of glory Thou art
the euerlasting sonne of the Father Thou about to deliuer man didest not abhorre the virgins wombe Thou hauing ouercome the sting of death hast opened for beleeuers the kingdome of heauen Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father Thou art beleeued to be the Iudge that shal come We therefore beseech thee succoure thy seruants whoÌ„ thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud Make vs with thy Sainctes to be rewarded with glory O Lord saue thy people and blesse thy inheritance And gouerne them and extoll them for euer Euery day we blesse thee And we praise thy name for euer and for euer and euer Vouchsaife o Lord this day to keepe vs without sinne Haue mercy vpon vs o Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Let thy mercy o lord be vpon vs euen as we haue hoped in thee In thee o Lord I haue hoped let me not be confounded for euer The Hymne of the Angels Luc 2. with the additioÌ„ by S. Hilarius ANd with the Angel there was a multitude of the heaueÌ„ly army praysing god and saying glory in the highest to god on earth peace to men of good wil. We praise thee we blesse thee we adore thee we glorifie thee we geue thakes vnto thee for thy great glory O Lotd god heauenly King God Father omnipotent O Lord onely begotteÌ„ sonne Iesus Christ O Lord god Lambe of god soÌ„ne of the Father who takest away the sinnes of the world haue mercy vpoÌ„ vs. Who takest away the sinnes of the world receaue our prayer who sittest at the right haÌ„d of the Father haue mercy vpon vs. Because thou alone holy thou alone lord thou alone most highest o Iesus Christ with the holy Ghost in glory of god the Father Amen A prayer desiring pardon and grace by Christes passion out of S. Isaac l. de contemptu mundi c. 29. O Lord that didest weepe ouer Lazarus and poure forth the teares of thy coÌ„passioÌ„ on him receaue the teares of my bitternesse heale my passions with thy passions cure my wounde with thy woundes cleanse my bloud with thy bloud and mingle with my body the sweete odour of thy quickning body Let that gawle which was geueÌ„ to thee to drink by thy enemies make my soule sweete from the bitternesse which the enimy aduersary haith drunke vnto me Let thy body that was stretched forth vpon the wood of the Crosse lift vp to thâ—e my mind which by the deuils is drawne downeward Thy head which thou leanedst downe on the tormentes of the Crosse lift vp my head that is buffeted of my enemies Thy most holy handes crucified with nailes raise me vp to thee from confusioÌ„ of perditioÌ„ as thy most sacred mouth haith promised Thy face which receaued buffetinges and spittinges vpon it make cleane my face defiled with cursed iniquities Thy soule which thou gauest vp first being on the Crosse bring me to thee in thy glory I haue not a sorowful heart to seeke thee I haue not repentaÌ„ce nor compunctioÌ„ that bring againe childreÌ„ to their inheritance O Lord I haue not entreating teares my mynd is darkned with worldly thinges nor can looke vnto thee with greefe and my heart is withered for multitude of temptations and can not be warmed with teares of thy sweetnesse But o Iesus Christ the treasure of good thinges geue vnto me perfect repentance a sorowful heart That thereby I may hasten with my soule to seeke thee for without that which is al goodnesse I shal be an AlieÌ„ Therefore o Iesus Christ geue me thy grace The Father which from eternity without tyme begott thee renew in me the light of thy image I haue forsakeÌ„ thee do not thou forsake me I haue gone out from thee goe thou forth to seeke bring me into thy pastures number me among the sheepe chosen in thy sight and place me with them in the portion of the riches of thy sâ—crets whose habitacle is a clensed heart in it let be seene the brightnes of thy reuelations which are the consolation and refreshing of those which haue laboured for thee in tribulations and al kinde of afflictions of which graunt we may be worthie by the grace and holinesse of our Sauiour then and in the world to come Amen Augustine l. med cap. 11. With al our heart and mouth we confesse praise and blesse thee god the Father vnbegotten thee the onely begotten Sonne thee holy Ghost comforter holy and indiuided Trinity praise be to thee world without end Amen Other meditations and praysinges of god for the morning as opportuni tie is or for varietie Direction out of scripture IN the middest of the Church I wil Ps 21. see Ps 34. 83. 112. 116. c. praise thee You that feare our Lord praise him al you seede of Iacob glorify him Al Nations praise our Lord al ye people praise him because his mercy is confirmed vpon vs and the truth of our Lord remaineth for euer Reioyce and praise together you deserts Is 52. see c. 49. et Zach. 2. of Ierusalem because our Lord haith comforted his people redemed Ierusalem Our Lord haith prepared his holy arme in the eyes of al Nations and al the endes of the earth shal see the saluation of our god Daughter of Syon praise o Israel cry Sophon 3. out for ioy and reioice in al thy heart daughter of Ierusalem our Lord haith taken away IudgmeÌ„t haith ouerthrone thine enemies the King of Israel is lord in the midst of thee thou shalt not feare euil any longer At midnight Paule and Silas praying Act. 16. did praise god Direction out of S. Basile l. quaes diffuse explicat quaest 37. WE ought to preuent the morning and rise to praier lest the day find vs sleeping and in bed according to him that saith Mine eyes haue preuented the morning Ps 118. that I might meditate thy wordes of which thinges they must at no time be negligent whose purpose is to liue agreably to the glory of god and his Christ A Meditation before praier out of S. Nilus lib. de oratione PRaier is a communication of the minde with god Therefore in what state ought the minde to be that it may be stretched forth to his Lord. If Moyses when he endeuored Exod. 3. to come to the Bush which he saw was forbiden vntil he loosed the showes of his feete how must not he that wil see and conuerse with him which excedeth al sense and cogitation cast away froÌ„ him selfe al troubled knowledg Thou caÌ„st not pray purely if thou be entangled with earthly thinges and businesse and burdened with daily cares As he which is is bound can not runne so the mind that serueth passions can not behoulde the place of spiritual praier for it is drawne hither and thither with troubled cogitations and haith no fixed setled state If thou consider thy condition thou wilt rather weepe protesting thy self a wretch by the example of Isay because Is
6. thou being vnpure and in the middest of vnpure people darest stande before the Lord of hostes Know that the holy Angels exhort vs to praier and stand with vs with ioy praying for vs. If thersore we become negligent and entertaine coÌ„trary cogitations we greatly prouoke them because they striue so much for vs and we for our selues refuse to pray to god but rather neglecting their ministery and their Lord forsaking god keepe company with vncleane deuils If thou desirest to pray transport thy self from earthly thinges to heaueÌ„ haue thy conuersatioÌ„ there not onely in wordes but in angelical action and more heauenly knowledg S. Athanasius in lib. de virginitate WHen day appeareth thou shalt recite this psalme Benedicite omnia opera c. And say the Hymne Gloria in excelsis Al you workes of our Lord blesse Canticle of the 3. ChildreÌ„ Dan. 3. in the burniÌ„g fournace you our Lord praise him and extoll him for euer Blesse our Lord ye Angels of our Lord ye heauens blesse our Lord. Al waters that be aboue the heauens blesse ye our Lord blesse our Lord al ye powers of our Lord. Sunne moone blesse ye our Lord starres of heauen blesse ye our Lord. Shoure and dew blesse ye our Lord euery spirit of God blesse ye our Lord. Fyre and heate blesse ye our Lord could sommer blesse ye our Lord. Dewes and hoare frost blesse ye our Lord frost cold blesse ye our Lord. Ice and snow blesse ye our Lord nightes daies blesse ye our Lord. Light and darknesse blesse ye our Lord lightninges and cloudes blesse ye our Lord. Let the earth blesse our Lord let it praise extol him for euer Mountaines and litle hilles blesse ye our Lord al thinges that spring in the earth blesse ye our Lord. Blesse our Lord ye fountaines seas riuers blesse ye our Lord. Whales and al that moue in the vvaters blesse ye our Lord blesse our lord al ye foules of the aire Al beasts and cattel blesse ye our Lord soÌ„nes of mâ—n blesse ye our lord Let Israâ—l blesse our Lord let it praise and extol him for euer Preistes of our Lord blesse ye our Lord seruants of our Lord blesse ye our Lord. Spirits and soules of the iust blesse ye our Lord holy and humble men of heart blesse ye our Lord. Ananias Azarias Mizael blesse ye our Lord praise and extol him for euer Because he haith deliuered vs from hel and saued vs from the hand of death preserued vs from the midle of the burning flame pulled vs forth from the middest of the fyre Confesse to our Lord because he is good because his mercy is for euer Al you that be Religious blesse our Lord god of gods praise and confesse vnto him because his mercy is for euer A Meditation vpon the same out of S. Zeno Bishop of Verona sermoutb in Dan. He was martyred vnder Galienus about the yeare 260. O Wonderful burning o verily ser 2. a spectacle worthy of god They which heare it do feare they which kindled it do burne they which were throwne into the fyre goe forth of the fournace sanctified saif by our Lord Iesus Christ Somtimes after a great punishmeÌ„t there followeth a greater glory especially in diuine thinges in which happy men with earnest deuotion rather preserue their Religion then life Vnderstand o Christian with a beleeuing ser 5. heart a thing meruelous renowmed by al example of vertues Three Hebrew children greater theÌ„ the constancy of old men stronger then the force of yong men equal to themselues defended with the mistery of the Trinity firme in one faith of the vnity in equality glorious by the victory of suffering These a barbarous King commaunded to be burned because they contemned to worship his statua who when they were cast into the fournace of burning fire the greedy fire deuoutly receaueth them the fawning flames refresh them couered with dew A meruelous thing shadow is within burning is withoâ—t within an Himne is song without lamenting is heard O great power of god the burners are burned in the burning and they that were set on fire are suruiuors in the burning triumphing go forth of the fournace our Lord Iesus Christ ser 6. performing it Reioice o Christian constantly feare god if thou wilt not feare the fire of the deuil Behold the children are not hurt with the compassing flames with the roaring fournace They confounde the barbarous king are reuâ—nged of their burners they see god death doth passe into life feare into glory who would not desire so to burne Awake o Christian and casting 8. away al sluggishnesse of secular sleepe opening the eares of thy heart learne vertue of children The Canticle of Zachary father of S. Iohn Baptist Luc. 1. ANd Zachary his father was replenished with the holy ghost and he prophesied saying Blessed be our Lord God of Israel because he haith visited and wrought the redemption of his people And haith erected the horne of saluation to vs in the house of Dauid his seruant As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that are from the beginning Saluation from our enemies from the hand of al that hate vs. To worke mercy with our fathers and to remember his holy Testament The oath which he sware to Abraham Gen. 22. our Father that he would geue to vs. That without feare being deliuered from the hand of our enemies we may serue him In holinesse and Iustice before him al our daies And thou child shalt be called the prophet Malach. 3. of the highest for thou shalt goe before the face of our Lord to prepare his waies To geue knowledg of saluation to his people vnto remission of their sinnes Through the bowels of the mercy of Zachar. 3. Malach. 4. our god in which the Orient from on high haith visited vs. To illuminate them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death to direct our feete into the way of peace Glory be to the Father c. A Praier of praise and thanks-geuing to God for his Benefites out of S. Clement Coustitut SS Apost lib. 7. cap. 38. WE geue thankes to thee o Lord omnipotent for al thy benefites because thou hast not taken thy mercies pittie away from vs but in euery generation and generation doest saue deliuer succour defend For thou hast succoured in the daies of Enos and Enoch in the daies of Moyses and Iesu in the daies of the Iudges in the daies of Samuel and Helias and the Prophets in the daies of Dauid and the Kinges in the daies of Hester and Mardocheus in the daies of Iudith in the daies of Iudas Machabeus and his brethren and in our daies thou hast releeued vs by thy great high Preist Iesus Christ thy SoÌ„ne For he haith both saued vs from the sword and by norishing deliuered vs from famine and freed vs from sicknes defended vs from a wicked
tongue For al thy gifts by Christ we geue thankes vnto thee who hast geuen vs voice framed for confession Thou hast lent vnto vs a tongue as an instrument for the Harpe and Organe Thou hast graunted vnto vs an agreable taist a conuenient touching sight to behould hearing to apprehend voices smelling to perceaue odoures handes to worke feete to walke al these thinges thou doest forme of a litle drop in the womb and after information bestowest an immortal soule and bringest forth into light man a reasonable creature whom thou hast instructed with lawes adorned with iustifications and after dissolution of his short time hast promised Resurrection Therefore what life could be sufficient or what excellency of praises would be enough that we might geue thankes vnto thee But this we are not able to performe answearably to thy deseruinges yet we ought deuoutly to performe it so much as we are abâ—e For thou hast deliuered vs from the impiety of them that worship many gods and those that killed Christ Thou hast freed vs from heresies recalled vs froÌ„ the errour of ignorance sent Christ vnto men that he might be maÌ„ which was god onely begotten hast placed vs in the comforter appointed Angels ouer vs dishonoured the deuil When we were not thou hast made vs being made thou preseruest vs thou ministrest life geuest foode hast promised penance For al these thinges glory be to thee and honour by Iesus Christ now euer for euer Amen An other praier of praise or thankes out of the same S. Clement Constit SS Apost lib. 7. ca. 35. GReat art thou o Lord almighty and great is thy strength and there is none end of thy wisdome Creatour Sauiour riche in graces patient and shewer of mercie which takest not away saluation from thy creatures For by nature thou art god sparest sinners prouoking them to penance for thy correction is ful of mercies For how should we sustaine it if we were called to sudaine Iudgment when longe time expected we hardly cast away infirmity The heauens declare thy power the earth poysed with stability the sea wauing with agreable greatnes feeding infinite multitudes of liuing creatures The sande is bridled trembling at thy commaundement and causeth al men to crye O Lord thy workes are magnified thou hast Ps 103. made al thinge in wisdome the earth is replenished with thy workes The ardent armie of Angels and the intellectual Spirits doe say one holy the Seraphim together with the Cherubims Is 6. with their sixe adorned winges singing vnto thee an Himne of victory with a neuer ceasing voice crye forth Holy Holy Holy Lord of Hostes the heauen and earth are ful of thy glory Also the other multitudes of orders Angels Thrones Dominations Principalities Potestates Powers crying forth do say Blessed be the glory of god Ezechiel 3. from his place But Israel that is the Church on earth gathered together of the gentiles imitating the heauenly powers day and night with a ful heart and willing mind do sing The Chariot Ps 67. of god with ten thousandes manifould thousandes of reioycers our lord amoÌ„g them in Sinai in the holy The heauen haith knowne him because he arched it resting vpon noe supporter and made it stable as a four-square stone who also gathered togetheâ— into one the earth and water and diffused the aire from whence life spirit should be drawne to which he ioyned the fire for warmnesse and putting away of darknesse The company of starres is amazed shewing forth him that numbreth them Ps 146. and declaring him who nameth them The liuing creatures also are astonished at him that inspireth their life and the trees at him that planteth them Al which thinges created with thy word denownce the greatnesse of thy power Wherefore euery man ought with al his heart to geue praise vnto thee by Christ for al those thinges seeing by thee he posseseth them al for thou art gracious in graunting benefites and boutiful in shewing mercy who alone art omnipotent for when thou wilt power is in thee to be able to do it For thy eternal Dan. 3. Dan. 14. Iou. 2. might cooleth the flame bridlâ—th the lyons maketh the whale geÌ„tle succourreth the sicke ouerthroweth powers destroyeth the army of enemies the proude multitude of people Thou art in heauen in earth in the sea in the vttermost bondes thy selfe circumscribed with no bond of thy greatnesse there Ps 144. is no end And o Lord not we alone say this but it is the oracle of thy seruant saying And thou shalt know with thy heart Deu. 4. that thy lord thy god is god in heauen aboue and in earth beneath and there is no other but he for there is no god but he alone There is not an holy besides thee lord god of knowledge the God of Sainctes holy aboue al that are holy For they which are made holy are vnder thy haÌ„d thou art glorious exalted inuisible by nature vnserchable in iudgmentes whose life wanteth nothing duration without chaunge and variety operatioÌ„ without labour maiesty contained with no boundes Comlinesse euerlasting a mansion place vnaccessible an habitation vntransmigrable knowledge interminable truth inuariable a worke with out midle power without deceiptes rule without succession strength without aduersary the multitude of thine army is greate For thou art the father of wisdome authour of nature by the Mediatour as cause diposer of prouidence Lawgiuer replenisher of pouerty reuenger of the impious and rewarder of those that be iust of Christ God and Father and the Lord of those that worship him whose promise is infallible iudgment incorruptible sentence not entreatable piety vnexhausted benignity eternal for whom worthy deserued adoration is due to thee of euery reasonable and holy nature Iudith 16. LEt vs singe an Himne vnto our Lord let vs sing an Himne vnto our god Adonai Lord thou art great and excellent in power and whom noe man can ouercome Let euery creature serue thee because thou hast said the word and thinges were made thou hast sent thy spirit and they were created and noe man can resist thy wil. The mountaines shal be moued from the foundations with waters the rocks shal melt as waxe before thy face but they which feare thee shal be great Ecclesiastic 51. 1. 2. with thee in al thinges O Lord our King I wil confesse vnto thee and praise thee god my Sauiour I wil confesse vnto thy name be 10. 11. cause thou art made my helper protector I looked for the help of men and it was not I remembred thy mercy o Lord for thou deliuerest those that expect thee I haue called vpon our Lord the Father of my Lord that he would not leaue me in the day of tribulation and in the time of the proude without helpe I wil praise thy name dayly and extol it 14. in confession and my prayer is heard and thou hast deliuered me from perdition
Angel of peace good and profitable thinges christiaÌ„ Princes a peaceable euening night and without sinne al the time of our life with out offence let vs mutually commend one an other to the liuing God by his Christ A thankes-giuing for the night Cap. 42. O God without beginning end creator of al thinges king of al thinges intelectual sensible who hast made the day for the workes of light and the night for the rest of our weaknesse for thine is the day and the night for thou hast ordained the light and sunne o gentle and good lord now patieÌ„tly recâ—aue this our euening thanksgeuing who leadest vs by the length of the day and bringest vs to the beginning of the night preserue vs by thy aÌ„noiÌ„nted geue vnto vs a quiet euening and night without sinne and make vs worthy of euerlasting life by thy Christ by whom to thee be glory honour and worshippe in the holy Ghost for euer Amen Cap. 43. O God of Fathers and lord of mercy who by thy wisdome hast made man a reasonable creature and among thinges in earth alone deare to god geuen authority vnto him to rule them and by thy senteÌ„ce hast appointed Princes preistes them for security of our life these for iust seruing of thee o Lord omnipotent now harken vnto vs and shew thy mercy vpon this people bending downe the neckes of their heart and blesse them by Christ by whom thou hast illightned vs with the light of knowledge renealed thy selfe â—â—to vs to whom with thee and the 〈◊〉 Ghost is due worthy adoration of al reasonable and holy nature for euer Amen A MeditatioÌ„ praier for euening out of S. Athanasius hom desemente MAny are carelesse in their praiers al the day long busie them selues about worldly affaires and contemne the holy workes of prayers To this man our Sauiour Math. 12. Marc. 3. Luc. 6. 1. Tim. 2. may say stretch forth thy hand as Paule saith I wil men to pray in al places lifting vp holy handes And let vs stretch forth our handes and not onely in the day but by night also In the night stretch Ps 133. forth your handes to the holies and blesse our Lord and let vs reach forth holy handes those that be washed among innocents Ps 25. that caling vpon the God of al thinges we may enioy his helpe by Christ Iesus our Lord by whom glory be to God together with the holy Ghost now and â—uer and world without end Amen A prayer of S. Policarpus O God Father of thy beloued Euseb eccl Hist l. 3. cap. 15. Nicephor eccl Hist l. 3. c. 35. blessed sonne Iesus Christ by whoÌ„ we haue receaued knowledge of thee God of Angels powers and of al creatures and the whole kind of iust men al which do liue before thee I blesse thee who hast vouchsaifed to bring me to this day and this hour Thou art true and without falshood o God therefore both in al thinges I praise thee and blesse thee and glorify thee by the eternal God and high Preist Iesus Christ thy welbeloued soÌ„ne by whom and with whom to thee with the holy Ghost be glory both now and for euer hereafter Amen S. Ephrem paraenes 42. I Haue sinned against heauen and before thee o Lord god omnipotent and I am no more worthy to be called thy child or lift mine eyes vpward and behould the highnesse of the heaueÌ„s because of the multitude of my sinnes nor to vtter thy glorious name with the defiled lippes of me a sinner For I haue made my selfe vnworthy both of heauen and earth because I haue prouoked thee most best lord to anger I besech thee o Lord I besech thee cast me not away from thy face depart not from me lest I a wretch do perish For except thy grace had defended me I had bene lost I should be as dust before the face of the wynde as though I had neuer appeared in this life For since the time I haue forsaken thy way no time haith bene ioyful vnto me For if any day by chance hath seemed more pleasant that was the most bitter of al. But I trust hereafter thy grace which comforteth me may prouide for my saluation And now suppliant I flee vnto thee and besech that thou wilt receaue me againe that haue erred from the path of iustice Poure out on me the multitude of thy mercies as thou didest long agoe vpon the prodigal sonne vnthriftely loasing the Luc. 7. Math. 9. Marc. 2. Luc. 5. Luc. 23. riches of thy grace I haue defiled my life haue mercy on me o God and remember not my life brought to extreme villannies Haue mercy on me as thou long agoe tookest mercy on the offender and publican Haue mercy on me as thou tookest mercy on the theife for he when he conuersed on earth was despised of al men as lost and desperate But thou receauedst him and made him an inhabitant of the delightes of paradise Therefore receaue the repentance of thy vnprofitable seruant for I also am contemned and reiected of al for thou didest come o Lord not to cal the iust but sinners vnto penance Glory be to thee honour and adoration is due to thee with the Father and holy Ghost now and world without end Amen A prayer vpon the passion of Christ out of S. Ambrose medit c. 6. O Holy Father behold thy most holy sonne suffering so cruel thinges for me haue respect o most merciful King who it is that suffereth and in thy bounty remember for whoÌ„ he suffereth O my Lord is not this that innocent whom to redeme a seruant thou hast deliuered thy sonne Is not this the authour of life which as a sheepe led vnto slaughter and made obedient vnto thee euen vnto death feared not to vndergoe the kind of most cruel death Remember o dispenser of our whole saluation that this is he whom although thou begottest of thy power yet thou wouldest haue him become partaker of my infirmity Verily this is thy deity which haith put on my nature That ascended the tree of the Crosse that in his assumpted nature suffered greauous punishmeÌ„t O my Lord god reduce the eyes of thy maiesty vpon the worke of vnspeakable piety Behold thy sweete sonne stretched forth in al his body Looke vpon his guiltles handes streaming with holy bloud and pacified forgeue the sinnes which my handes haue committed Consider his naked side pearced with a speare renue me with that holy fountaine which I beleue to haue flowed from thence See his immaculate feete which stoode not in the way of sinners but alwaies Ps 1. walked in thy law fastened with cursed nailes perfect my goinges in thy pathes Ps 16. and bountifully graunt that I may hate al the waies of iniquity Ps 118. O King of Sainctes I besech thee by this holy of holies by this Redemer of me make me to runne the way of
pray enter into thy chamber and the doare being shut pray thy Father in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret wil rewarde thee And when you pray speake not much as the heathens doe for they think to be heard in their much speaking therefore be not likned to them for your Father knoweth what you need before you aske him Therefore so you shal pray OVr Father which art in heaueÌ„ Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen Geue The grecke Acton epionsion Supersubstantial Bread vs this day our daily bread And forgeue vs our trespasses as we forgeue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euil Amen S. Ambrosius lib. 3. de virginitate Repeate often in thy chamber psalmes with our Lordes praier either when thou awakest or before thou goest to sleepe A deuout Meditation or exposition vpon this our Lordes praier out of S. Chromatius Bishop of Aquileia in cap. 5. Mathei O How faithful blessed a praier is this vnto vs whose order was instituted by the Doctor of life and heauenly maister And how blessed may we also be if we obserue not onely with duty of mouth but with most faithful deede of coÌ„uersation these wordes of our Lordes praier Therefore our Lord ordained this forme of praying for his Disciples for the hope of mannes saluation saying Our Father which art in heauen How great is the loue of our Lord toward vs how exceeding his mercy and piety who haith bestowed a guift of such grace vpon vs that him which is our Lord and god we which are but seruants may lawfully cal our Father By which name he doth not onely demonstrate vs now to be the seruants but also the sonnes of God Therefore because we haue obtained the grace of so great a guift that we are made not onely seruants but sonnes also we ought to do and behaue our selues as the children of god that by spiritual doing we may prooue our selues to be that which we are called according to that of Iohn He that is borne of God committeth 1. Io. 3. not sinne because his natiuity of god doth keepe him and the deuil toucheth him not But he that committeth sinne is not of God but of the deuil because the deuil sinneth from the beginning And therefore keping the sacrament of our heauenly natiuity we ought to be free from al sinne that we may deserue truly to be called or be the sonnes of god And the holy prophets knew the grace of this diuine mercy in which it is permitted vnto vs to cal god our Father as Isay saith For thou art our Father because Abraham haith not knowne vs Israel Is 63. haith not knowne vs but our Lord our Father from the beginning thy name is vpon vs. Likewise also Malachy witnessith in his booke saying For there is one Father Mal. 2. of vs al. How great is the mercy of our Lord We which before by our owne wil had chosen the deuil for our father now being borne againe by water and the holy Ghost begin to haue god our Father And therefore we ought to walk as the children of God lâ—st doing otherwise theÌ„ becometh gods children we be holden guilty vnder the vsurpation of so great a name Therefore he saith Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name not because the name of god can be hallowed of any man when he halloweth al men which saith by the prophet Be you holy as I also am holy saith our Lord. Lâ—uit â—0 But therefore we request his name to be hallowed that it may be hallowed in vs by the workes of iustice by the merit of faith by the grace of the holy Ghost which sanctification that we may receaue by such guifts the ayde of his mercy is necessary but he that is the fountaine of euerlasting holinesse needeth not any sanctification Then he saith Thy kingdome come Likewise we do not aske that he should be King who is King of euer-during worldes whose kingdome haith neither beginning nor end but that the kingdome which is celestial which he haith promised vnto vs may come But it is a signe of great confidence and sincere conscience confidently to aske that this Kingdome of our Lord may come And therefore because we alwaies pray that the Kingdome of God may come we must shew our selues such in the faith of our Lord and his commaundements that we may be worthy of his kingdome to come After this he saith Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen where also there is the like maner of vnderstanding for no man can resist or hinder god that he do not what he wil seing al thinges both in heauen and earth consist by his wil But we pray that his wil may be done in vs. And the wil of God is that beleuing in him with al our heart we fulfil those thinges which he haith commaunded to be done of which wil of god the Apostle witnesseth saying The wil of god is your sanctification that 1. Thes 4. you abstaine from carnal concupiscences Therefore when â—e say Thy wil be doâ—e in earth as it is in heauen This we pray that as the wil of god is faithfully kept of the Angels in heauen so also we must with a Religious and faithful deuotion desire the helpe of gods assistance or Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen that as in heauen that is in holy and heauenly men the wil of god is fulfilled so also in earth that is we pray that the wil of god may be done by beleefe of faith and knowledg of the truth in them which haue not yeâ— beleeued Then he saith Geue vs this day our dayly bread This saying of our Lord we vnderstand two waies first that we do not aske any thing but our daily foode For we are not commaunded to aske riches or superfluity of worldly thinges but our daily bread which to Christians that liue by faith is onely necessary for this present life as the Apostle saith Hauing foode wherewith to 1. Tim. 6. be couered with these we are content But wâ— must consâ—der that this is spiritually commaunded vnto vs that we aske our daily bread that is that heauenly and spiritual bread which we daily receaue for the curing of our soule and hope of eternal saluation of which our Lord saith in the Gospel The heauenly Io. 6. bread is my flesh which I wil geue for the life of the world And therefore we are commaunded daily to aske this bread that is that through the mercy of God bestowing it we may deserue â—aily to receaue the bread of the body of our Lord. And forgeue vs our debtes as we also forgeue our debtors This is plainely a iust and necessary saying for al men First that we acknowledge our selues to be sinners
ful recompence of true ioy is made Haile thou who art truly blessed Haile illuminated Haile magnificent Temple of diuine glory Haile consecrated Palace of our King Haile Bride-chamber wherein humanity was espoused to Christ Haile thou chosen of God before thou wert borne Haile gods reconciliation with men Haile treasure of incorruptible life Haile heauen the Tabernacle of the Sunne of glory Haile most ample feild of God whom none other place but thou alone is able to comprehend Haile holy virginal earth of which the new Adam by an vnspeakable framing was formed to restoare the old Adam to saluation Haile ful of grace our Lord is with thee He that said Let light be made Gen. 1. Let the firmament be made and afterwardes the other workes of his powerable creation Haile thou new Arke of glory in which the holy Ghost descending rested the Arke in which the sanctification of new glory which of his owne nature is holy meruelously inclosed him self in the virginal wombe as in a shop of nature to be incarnate Haile thou intellectual glasse of contemplatiue knowledg by which the Prophets renowmed spirits haue mistically shadowed the incredible comming downe of god vnto vs. Haile ornament of the Prophets and al Patriarkes and the most true praise of the vnsearchable oracles of god Blessed art thou among women And blessed is the fruit of thy wombe And certes thou art truly blessed for God blessed thee a Tabernacle to him self Among women blessed art thou who most freely didest embrace as it were in the saife promptuary of thy virginity that heauenly treasure in whom al other treasures of wisdome knowledg are laide vp Thou art truly blessed who alone aboue al other Mothers was worthy to be the Mother of thy maker Verily blessed art thou who alone without man didest conceaue in thy woÌ„be beare him who spreadeth the heauens and made the earth of thy virginity to be celestial Blessed art thou among women who alone hast obtained the blessing which god promised to the gentiles by Abraham Verily blessed art thou who art naâ—ed the Mother of the blessed childe Iesus Christ our Sauiour by whom the Nations do cry Blessed is he that commeth in the name of our Lord and blessed Math. 21. Psal 117. Psal 71. is the euerlasting name of his glory And the whole earth shal be filled with his Maiesty Among women blessed art thou whom al generations declare to be blessed Kinges do glorify whom Potentates adore in whose sight the richest of the people offer guiftes on whoÌ„ virgins following and going before doe attende into the Temple of the King Blessed art thou amonge women whoÌ„ Isay behoulding with his prophetical Is 8. eyes named the prophetesse and virgin Verily blessed art thou whom Ezechiel Ezechiel 43. Ezechiel 44. et 46. Daniel 2. proclamed to be the true rysing of the sunne A gaite closed opened by god alone and shut againe Thou alone art truly blessed whom Daniel that man of desyers did see to be a great mouÌ„taine And admirable Abacuc a shadowing mountaine Moreouer the mountaine of Psal 67. god a fertile mountaine Also a pleasant mountaine a mountaine in which it pleased god to dwel as thy ancestor the king endued with the spirit of god foretould Amonge women blessed art thou whom Zacharie that most heauenly Zachar. 4. man did behould as a Candlesticke adorned with seuen CaÌ„dlâ—s doubtles bright shyning with those seueÌ„ guiftes of the holy ghost Verily blessed art thou beutified with sence and vnderstanding the Gen. 2. paradise of the florishing wood of our saluation which hast within thee the husbandman him selfe of the Garden Eden I meane Christ our lord shadowed by figures in thee who by a certaine vnspeable power like vnto astreme issuing forth from thy wombe of life as it were with foure beginninges by his gospel haith wattered the face of the world Blessed art thou amonge women and blessed is the frute of thy wombe Blessed is that Io. 4. frute from which fountaines Do flow of water spriÌ„ging vp vnto life euerlasting That frute from which that liuely bread I meane our lordes body is brought forth and the cup of immortality the sauing potion is geuen vnto vs. A deuout meditation and praier concerning the second part of the Aue Maria out of S. Augustine s 2. Annun dom Tom. 10. O Blessed Marie who is able worthely to render vnto thee dutie of thankes and solemnity of praises who by thy singular assent hast succoured the world that was lost What laudes shal the frailty of mankind pay vnto thee who by thy negotiation hast fouÌ„d the meanes to recouer it again Therefore receiue such as they be very smal such as they be thankes vneqnal to thy merites And when thou hast receaued our prayers by praying excuse our faultes Admit our praiers within the Oratorie of thy audience and bring backe vnto vs a preseruatine of reconciliatioÌ„ Let that be excused which we entreate by thee Let vs obtaine that which we aske with a faithful mind Receiue that which we offer bestow a gaine vpon vs what we demaund excuse what we feare For thou art a singular hope of sinners by thee we hope for pardon of offences and in thee o most blessed woman is the expectation of our rewardes O Holy Mary succour those that be in misery assist the weake hearted comfort those that weepe pray for the people entreat for the cleargie make intercession for the deuout woman sexe let al perceaue thy helpe that celebrat thy name Be ready to assist the prayers of them that aske thee and yeld to al their desired effect Haâ—e a care dâ—aâ—y to pray for the people of god tâ—ou o blessâ—d who didest deseâ—ue to bâ—are the Redeemer of the world who lâ—uetâ— and reigneth for euer Amen An other deuout Meditation and praier concerning the sâ—me out of S. Athaâ—asius Paâ—riâ—rcke of Aleâ—aâ—dria seâ— de Sacâ—iss deipara THe holy ghost came vpon her Luc. 1. sanctified her as the spirit saith in the psalmes The most high ps 45. haith sanctified his Tabernacle and the power of the highest strengthning oueâ— shadowed her Luc. 1. He is a King that was borne of the Virgin the same our Lord and God Therefore also his Mother which brought him forth is properly truly thought to be our Queene and Lady and Mother of God and it wil be lawful for vs so agreably to speake while we haue respect vnto â—er and him that was borne of her her son that beareth flesh Wherefore as wheÌ„ we looke vnto him we cal him our King Lord and God so also when we cast our eyes to her we behould her to be our Queene Lady and Gods Mother and that by contemplation of our intellectual eye The Queene is present ps 44. on thy right hand compassed about with her guilded garment garnished And now truly o Daughter of Dauid and Abraham harken and incline thine eare
because he hath made me thee And speake thou aske thou him that he make me worthie of the participation of thy glory for I do not require thy holy societie and thy admirable beutifulnes by my merit but by his bloud with which I was redeemed I do not despaire to obtaine it onely let thy merites helpe me Let thy most pure prayers which by no meanes can be vneffectual with god assist my wickednesse I haue erred I confesse as â— lost sheepe and my inhabitation is porlonged and I am cast farr from the face of our lord into this blindnesse of exile where banished from the ioyes of paradise I daily be waile with my selfe vpon the miseries of my captiuity a doleful song and great lamentations when I remeÌ„ber thee o my mother Hierusalem while my feete do stand in thy courtes o holy and beutiful syon not yet able to looke openly into thy inward thinges but I hope to be earied bâ—eâ—â—â— vnto thee vpon the shoulders of my shepard thy builder that I may reioyee with thee in that vnspeakable ioy with which they reioyce that are with thee before god him selfe and our sauiour which haith dissolued enmities in his flesh Eph. 2. with his bloud pacified al thinges that are in heauen in earth For he is our peace who haith made both one who ioyning two contrary wales together in him haith promised to geue vnto vs by the like maner and the same measure the coÌ„tinuing felicity of his happines saing They shal be equal to the Angels of god in Math. 22. Luc. 20 heauen O Hierusalem the euerlasting house of god next to the loue of Christ be thou my ioy and consolation let the sweete memorie of thy blessed name be the relife of my sorrow wearinesse A prayer out of S. Victor Vticen l. 3. pers Vand. BE present vnto me o you Angels of my god who are neuer absent constituted in your ministery for them which shal receaue the inheritance of saluation Consider behould how Syon the Citie of our god is made vile become Thren v â— as it weare vnseemely defiled among her enemies The enemie haith laid his hand vpon al her desirable thinges because she haith seene the Gentiles to inuade and enter her courtes of which thou hadest commaunded that they should not enter into thy Church Her wayes do mourne because no man doâ—h come in the festiual day Al comlinesse and delight are gone from her countenance Her virgins yong people brought vp in Monasteries haue learned to tread sharp wayes and are gone into captiuity The holy stones are scattered abrode not onely in streetes but in filthy places Pray for her you Patriarches which now is persecuted on earth O holy Prophets pray knowing that she whom before you haue tuned with a prophetical praise is now afflicted O Apostles be you spokesmen for her whom to gather together you haue runne as most swift horses through the whole world our Lord ascending vpon you cheifly thou o blessed Peter why art thou silent for the sheepe and lambes with great werinesse solicitude committed vnto thee by our common Lord Thou holy Paule Doctor of the Gentiles who from Ierusalem to Illyricum hast preached the Gospel of god and al you holy Apostles lament together with vs. Let it be said to the striking Angel It sufficeth now hold thy hand We prostrate aske that you do not despise your wretched sinners by him that promoted you lowly fishers to the highest Apostolical dignity S. August l. meditat c. 40. O Holy immaculate virgin Mary mother of god and mother of our Lord Iesus Christ vouchsaif to make intercession for me with him whose temple thou didest deserue to be O holy Michael holy Gabriel holy Raphel o holy Queares of Angels Archangels Patriarckes Prophets Apostles Euangelistes Martyrs Confessors Preistes Leuites Monkes Virgins and al the iust I presume to besech you by him who haith chosen you of whose contemplation you reioyce that you wil vouchsafe to make supplication to God for me that am sinful that I may deserue to be deliuered forth of the iawes of the deuil from euerlasting death An other out of S. Iohn Chrisostom in miss vers a Leon. Tusc O Apostles Martyrs and Prophets Preists Confessors you the iust who haue wel finished your combate and kept your faith conseruing your confidence with our Sauiour pray for vs that our soules may be saued Amen An other of S. Ephrem de laud. Mart. O Most blessed Martyrs who willingly and readily haue vndergone tormentes for our Lord our Sauiour and for his loue therfore are familiarly conioyned with our Lord we besech you to vouchsaife to make intercession to our Lord for vs wretches and sinners defiled with the filth of negligence that the grace of Christ may come vpon vs that may illustrate our heartes with the beame of holy Charity that we may loue him with al our heart O most blessed men and most glorious Martyrs of God helpe me a wretch with your praiers that I may obtaine mercy in that hour when the hidden thinges of men shal be manifest Assist before the throne of Maiesty for me a wretch that by your praiers I may deserue to be saued and enioy eternal blessednesse with you Amen Aug. lib. Med. cap. 24. O Al you happy Sainctes of god which haue now passed ouer the sea of this mortality and deserued to come to the hauen of euer-during quietnesse security and peace you are secure and quiet and alwaies pleasant and reioycing I besech you by your Charity that you which are secure for your selues wil be careful for vs you are secure of your owne neuer fading glory be you careful of our manifould misery I aske you by him that haith chosen you who haith made you such of whose bewty you are now filled by whose immortality you are made immortal of whose most blessed vision you euer reioyce be you continually mindful of vs. Succour vs wretches who as yet in the sea of this life are tossed with stormes enuyroning vs rownd about You that are the most bewtiful gates which haue risen to a great height help vs a vile pauement lying farre vnderneath Geue vs your hand and lift vs that lye downe vpon our feete that recouering our infirmity we may be made strong in battaile Make intercession and pray constantly and continually for vs wretches and very negligent sinners that by your prayers we may be ioyned to your holy company for we are very fraile dwarfes of no strength creatures of the belly and bound-slaues of flesh in whom scarsly any foot-step of vertue appeareth and yet being placed vnder the confession of Christ we are carried vpon the wood of the crosse sayling â—uer this great and spaceous sea where be litle creatures with great where the most cruel dragon is alwaies ready to deuoure where daungerous places be Scylla and Charybdis others innumerable in which meÌ„ vnwary
haue sought my soule they shal enter into the lower partes of the earth they shal be geuen ouer into the handes of the sword they shal be made the portions of foxes But the King shal reioyce in God all shal be praised that sweare in him because the mouth of them which speak wicked thinges is stopped Glory be to the Father to c. As it was in the beginning c. The prayer of Manasses 2. paral vlt. O Lord omnipotent god of our Fathers Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and the iust fâ—ede of them who hast made heauen and earth with al their bewty who hast tyed the sea with the word of thy precept who hast concluded the depth and signed it with thy terrible and laudable name whom al thinges do feare and tremble before the face of thy power because the magnificence of thy glory is importable the anger of thy thretning ouer sinners vnsustentable Truly great and inuestigable is the mercy of thy promise because thou art Lord most high bountiful long suffering and much merciful and sorowful for the malices of men O Lord thou according to the multitude of thy goodnesse hast promised peace and remission vnto them that haue sinned against thee and in the multitude of thy mercies hast decreed repentaÌ„ce for sinners to saluation Therefore thou Lord god of the iust hast not appointed penance for the iust Abraham Isaac and Iacob those that haue not sinned against thee but hast appointed penance for me a sinner because I haue sinned aboue the number of the sandes of the sea o Lord mine iniquities are multiplied multiplied are mine iniquities I am not worthy to behould and looke vp to the highnesse of heauen for the manifoldnesse of mine iniquities I am crooked with a great iron chaine that I may not lift vp my head and respiration is not in me because I haue stirred vp thine anger and done euil before thee I haue not done thy wil and haue not kepte thy commaundements I haue erected abominations and multiplied offences and now do bow the knee of my heat beseching goodnesse of thee I haue sinned o Lord I haue sinned and do acknowledg mine iniquities Wherefore I aske entreating thee Forgeue me o Lord forgeue me destroy me not together with mine iniquities neither being angrye for euer reserue euil thinges for me neither condemne me vnto the lowest places of the earth because thou art God God I say of those that repent and shew al thy goodnesse towardes me because thou wilt saue me vnworthy according to thy greate mercy and I wil praise thee al the daies of my life because al the power of the heauens praise thee to thee is glory world without end Amen A Praier of King Salomon prou 30. I Haue asked two thinges of thee deny them not vnto me before I dye Set vanity and lying wordes farre from me Geue me not beggerlinesse and riches geue onely thinges necessary for my liuing lest peraduenture being filled I may be prouoked to deny thee may say who is our Lord Or compelled by want may steale forsweare the name of my God A Praier of Esdras 1. Esdr 9. O My God I am confounded I am ashamed to lift vp my face to thee because our iniquities are multiplied ouer our head and our sinnes haue growne euen vnto heauen from the daies of our fathers yea and we our selues also haue sinned greeuously vnto this day Tobias 3. O Lord be mindful of me and take not reuenge on my sinnes neither remember mine offences nor the offences of my parents Sap. 9. O God of my Fathers and Lord of mercy who hast made al thinges with thy word by thy wisdome hast ordained man to rule the creatures which thou hast made And that he might dispose the world in equity and iustice and iudge Iudgment in direction of heart graunt vnto me wisdome the assistresse of thy seates reiect me not froÌ„ thy seruants for I am thy serâ—ant and sonne of thy handmaid a â—an infirme and of smal time and too little to vnderstand thy Iudgment and Lawes Ecclesiast 36. O God of al haue mercy vpon vs and haue respect vnto vs and shew the light of thy coÌ„miserations to vs and shew thy feare vpon Nations which haue not sought thee that they may know there is no God but thou may declare thy worthy thinges Ierem. 10. O Lord I know that the way of man is not his owne neither is it of maÌ„ that he may walk direct his goinges Correct me o Lord but with iudgment and not in thy fury lest thou peraduenture bring me againe to nothing Poure forth thine indignation vpon Nations that haue not knowne thee and vpon Countries that haue not called vpon thy name O Lord expectatioÌ„ of Israel al which Ier. 17. forsake thee wil be confounded they which goe backe from thee wil be written in the earth because they haue forsaken the vaine of liuing waters our lord Heale me o lord and I shal be healed saue me and I shal be saife because thou art my praise I besech thee o Lord god great and Dan. 9. terrible keeping couenant and mercy to those that loue thee and kâ—â—pe thy commandementes we haue sâ—med we haue wrought iniqiuty and â—one wickedly and gone away and dâ—parted froÌ„ thy commaundementes anâ— iudgmeÌ„tes We haue not obeyed thy seruantes the Prophets which haue spoken in thy name to our Kinges to our Princes to our Fathers and to al the people of the land O Lord iustice is to thee but to vs confusion of face o Lord confusion of face vnto vs to our kngies to our Princes Fathers who haue sinned But to thee Lord â—ur gâ—d mercy propitiatioÌ„ because we haue gone back froÌ„ thee haue not heard the voice of the Lord our god that we might walke in his law O our God heare the paier of thy seruant his petitions Ieremias in orat cap. 5. lament O Lord remember what haith chanced vnto vs and haue respect vnto our reproach Our inheritance is conuerted to aliens and our houses vnto straungers We are made pupils without fathers or mothers as widowes But o Lord thou shalt remaine for euer thy state from generation to generation Why wilt thou forgeat vs for euer Wilt thou long time forsake vs O lord conuert vs vnto thee and we shal be conuerted Baruch 2. O Lord looke downe vpon vs ftom thy holy house and incline thine eare and heare vs. Open thine eyes and see because the dead that be in hel whose spirit is taken from their bowels wil not geue honour and iustification to our Lord. But the soule which is sad for the greatnesse of euil goeth crooked weak fainting eyes and an hungry soule doth geue glory and iustice to thee our Lord. And now o Lord omnipotent Cap. 3. god of Israel a soule in distresse troubled spirit cryeth vnto thee o Lord heare
was crucified the suÌ„ne darkned and lightned againe for it behoueth creatures to compassionate with there creatour The veale was cutte water bloud flowed out of his side the earth quaked the rockes were rent the dead rysing do testify the faith of the last and common resurrection Al which thinges who is able worthily to praise But none was such as the miracle of my saluation a few droppes of bloud reforming al the world But o great and holy pasouer and expurgation of al the world O word of God and light and life and wisdome and power for I ioy at al thy names O Issue and cogitation seale of that great minde o word intelligible and man visible who bearest al thinges crowned with the word of power let vs suffer noe euil stay the tiranny which the body beareth against vs. Thou seest o Lord whom how it beareth downe except we be purged by thy suffrage or by thy self But if we shal worthily be dissolued from this desire and receaued in the celestial tabernacles peraduenture there also we shal acceptabâ—y sacrifice vnto thee on thy holy Altare o Father and worde and holy Ghost because al glory honour and power is to thee for euer Amen PRAIERS DAYLY To be vsed for the Euening The Meditation or Preparation to Praier out of S. Cesarius Bishop of Arles Hom. 31. LEt vs pray with sighing forceable crying or groaÌ„ing according to that prophetical saying I did roare for the groaning of my heart Ps 37. Let vs pray not with a sounding voice but with a conscience crying vnto our Lord. When we pray so much as we are able Let vs labour by the helpe of god that noe extrauagant cogitation creepe into vs lest peraduenture we may haue one thing in our heart and vtter an other with our mouth lest by chaunce while our tongue praieth vnto god our cogitation occupied with diuers thinges may goe away from the meaning of our praier so from thence procure sinne from whence it might haue had remedy For if before any mighty persoÌ„ thou wouldest pleade any necessary cause sodainly turning from him breaking of thy speach in the middest thou shouldest busy thy self with some scurrilities what iniury thinkest thou thou should doe vnto that person with whom thou didest speake or how shouldest thou procure his anger against thee If therfore speaking with a man we laboure with al intention of mind lest thinking on any other thing we may be thought to doe a wrong to him vnto whom we speake When we speake vnto god in praier and alledg the miseries of our sinnes before so great a Maiesty are we not ashamed do we not blush our senses being made captiues to runne about hither and thither and with many businesse to abstracte our vnhappy minde from behoulding the diuine Maiesty And therefore euery one before he kneleth downe in praier by the helpe of god let him put away al superfluous cogitations from the intention of his minde that our soule being inflamed with the feruour of the holy Ghost may consume al vice with the fyre of compunction or praier and disperse farre of al wauering and wandering cogitations that onely vâ—rtue and holy Meditations may alwaies finde place in our heartes Meditations praiers for Euening LEt euery one take a Lambe throughout their families or houses Exod. 12. And the whole multitude of Israel shal offer it in sacrifice at the Euening Let my praier be directed as incense Ps 140. in thy sight the lifting vp of my handes an euening sacrifice While it was euen he sate downe Math. 26. Marâ— 14. Luc. 22. with his twelue Disciples And whiles they were at supper Iesus tooke bread and blessed brake and he gaue to his Disciples and said Take ye eate This is my body And taking the Chalice he gaue thankes and gaue vnto them saying Drinke ye al of this for This is my bloud of the new TestameÌ„t which shal be shed for many vnto remission of sinnes When it was euening there came a Math. 27. certaine riche man of Arimathea named Ioseph who also himself was Disciple to Iesus He went to Pilaâ—e and asked the body of Iesus Then Pilate commaunded that the body should be deliuered Watch therefore for you know not Marc. 13â— when the Lord of the house may come whether late in the euening c. I haue cryed to god and our Lord Ps 54. wil saue me In the euening I wil declare shew he wil heare my voice A Meditation of S. Basile orat in S. Iulittam When the day is ended geue thaÌ„kes vnto him who haith geuen the same vnto vs to serue our daily laboures fyre to lighten night and for the rest of the necessities of life And let the night propose vnto vs other argumentes of praier When thou shalt looke vp vnto heauen and haue thine eyes fixed on the bewtie of the starres pray vnto the Lord of visible thinges and adore god the best workman of al creatures who made al thinges in wisdom when thou shalt see al nature of liuing creatures detained in sleepe Againe adore him that looseth vs though against our wil by sleepe from the continuance of laboures by a litle rest reduceth vs againe to the force of our strength S. Clem. Const Apost lib. 8. cap. 4. Make your praiers at the euening geuing thankes because our Lord haith geuen vs the night for a rest of our day laboures Daily come together in the morning l. 2. c. 63. euening singing praying in Churches in the euening saying the 140. psalme O Lord I haue cryed vnto thee Ps 140. heare me Harken vnto my voice when I shal crye vnto thee Let my praier be directed as incense in thy sight the lifting vp of my handes an euening sacrifice O Lord put a watch to my mouth and a doare of standing about to my lippes Decline not my heart into wordes of malice to excuse excuses in sinnes With men that worke iniquity and I wil not communicate with the chosen of them The iust shal correct me in mercie and rebuke me but the oyle of a sinner shal not annoint my head Because as yet also my praier in thinges of their delight their Iudges are swallowed vp ioyned to the rocke They shal heare my wordes because they were able as the thicknesse of the earth is broken out vpon the earth Our bones are scattered abroade neare to hel because to thee o Lord o Lord mine eyes in thee I haue trusted take not away my soule Keepe me from the snare which they haue laid for me and from the scandals of those that worke iniquity Sinners shal fal in his nette I am alone til I passe away Glory be to the Father c. Clem. Const Ap. l. 8. c. 41. RAise vp and saue vs o God by thy Christ lifting vp our selues let vs desire the mercies of our lord and his commiserations the
Meditat. cap. 33. GLory to the Father which created vs glory to the Sonne who redemed vs glory to the holy Ghost who haith sanctified vs glory to the highest indeuided Trinity whose workes are inseperable whose rule remaineth without ende Praise becometh thee Himne becometh thee al honour is due to thee blessing and brightnesse to thee thanks geuing to thee honour to thee power and strength to our God world without end Amen Meditations prayers before meate WHen thou shalt eate and Deut. 8. shalt be fâ—lâ—ed blesse thy Lord thy God c. â— They shal eate and praâ—â—e our Lord. Is 62. Math. 14. He blessed and brake and gaue the loues to his diâ—ciples Whether you eate or drinke c. 1. Cor. 10. do al thinges to the glory of God S. Chrisost hom 79. ad popul Antioch de orat ante med IT is needful for vs both comming vnto and going from table to geue thankes to god For a man prepared to this wil neuer fal into druÌ„kennes or insolency wil neuer be broken with surfet but hauing expectatioÌ„ of prayer imposed for a brâ—dle vpon his senses wil with due modesty take of al thinges set before him and fil his soule and body with much blessing For a table taking beginning from prayer wil neuer faile but more plentifully then a fouâ—taine wil bring vs al good thinges Therefore let vs not pretermit so great a profit for it is absurd that our SeruaÌ„ts should geue thankes vnto vs and goe away with blessing if they receaue from vs any part of those thinges that be set before vs and we which enioy so many good thinges not to render so much honour to god S. Athanasius l. de virginit siue meditat EAte thy bread geuing thankes to god in this maner Blessed be god who norisheth me from my youth who geueth foode to al flesh fil our heart with ioy and gladnesse that in al thinges hauing sufficient we may abound in euery good worke in Christ Iesus our Lord with whom to thee be glory honour rule to gether with the holy Ghost world without end Amen When thou shalt sit at table and begin to breake bread signing it three tymes geue thankes in these wordes We geue thankes to thee o Father for thy holy resurrectioÌ„ by Iesus Christ whom thou hast made knowne vnto vs that as this bread was somtyme dispersed in many cornes now gathered together is made but one so thou wilt vouchsaife to gather together thy church from the endes of the world into thy kingdome because thyne is power and glory world with out end Amen S. Clem. Rom. lib. 7. Constitut Apost cap. 48. et S. Chris in cap. 16. Mat. idem hab Precat Syr. apud Seuer Patriar Alex. de eisdem GLory be to the Father and to the SoÌ„ne to the holy Ghost O Lord god graunt this thy nurishment and fulnesse and plenty vpon this Table which thou hast prepared for thy seruantes and worshipers and multiply it in thy blessinges and goodnesse which doe not passe away nor faile because thou art good merciful ouer euery creature which thy holy handes haue framed o Father and Sonne and holy Ghost world without ende Amen Aurelius Prudent Cathomer in Himn ante cibum O Good Christ Crosse bearer maker of light omnipotent holy word begotten borne of the Virgin but before mighty in thy Father before the starres earth Sea were made I besech thee with a fauourable aspect bow downe thy sauing face with a chearful countenance and shyne vpon vs that vnder the honour of thy diuine power we may receaue this foode Praiers and Thankes after meat S. Athanas lib. de virginitate supra WHen thou shalt rise from table againe geuing thankes three times thou maist say Our gentle and merciful Lord haith geuen meate to those that feare him Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost And againe after the glorification ended finish thy praiers with these wordes God omnipoteut and our Lord Iesus Christ a name that is aboue al name we geue thankes vnto thee and praise thee because thou hast vouchsaifed to make vs partakers of thy good thinges thy earthly good thinges We aske thee and cal vpon thee o Lord that thou wilt geue vs heauenly meate graunt that we reuerene and feare thy venerable and precious name that we breake not thy commaundements Place thy name iustifications in our heartes sanctify our spirit and soule by thy beloued Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ with whom to thee be glory rule world without end Amen Precat Syriac apud Seuerum Patriarch Alexand. in precat GLory be to god for his goodnesse glory to god for his blessinges glory to god who haith fed vs glory to god that haith filled vs glory to our merciful god who haith taken mercy on vs al by the intercession of the Mother of god Mary and al Sainctes world witâ—out end Amen Prudentius supr himn post cibum NOw we haue fed our bodies and receaued foode which the weakenesse of our body requireth let vs geue praise to god the Father the Father that holdeth and ruleth the Cherubim his sacred seate and his Seraphim leaning vpon his highest Throne S. Chrisostom in cap. 16. Math. GLory to thee o Lord glory to thee o holy glory to thee o King because thou hast geuen vs meate in gladnesse fil vs with the holy Ghost that we may be found without shame in thy sight when thou shalt render to euery one according to their workes Amen A priayer before receauing the B. sacrament out of S. Hierome apud Eusebium Cremon de morte Hieron sic Trithem l. de scriptor Verep l. prec et alii O Holy Iesus thou whose magnificence Euseb Cremon scholler to S. Hierom l. de morte Hieronim Tom. 4. oper S. Hieronim Basil impress An. 1565. is so great that no creature can expresse it whom the heauens sea and al thinges which are contained in their circuite cannot receaue thou at thy pleasure ruling preseruing al thinges art contained vnder so smal a portion of bread not by peeces but wholly and perfectly inseparably O vnspeakable admiratioÌ„ o nouelty of al nouelties eyes behold whytnes taist perceaueth sauour smelling sent touching findeth subtilty but hearing presenteth to the heart that those accidentes are not in thee but exist alone without subiect for thou art not bread as seemeth to humane sence but whole Iesus Christ as thou sittest god and man at the right hand of the Father in heauen Haile bread of life who deceâ—dedst from heauen geuing life to those that worthely receaue thee surely hee that worthely receaueth thee although his soule be seperated from his body by temporal death he shal not die eternally For that seperation is not death but a passage from death to life O great vnsearchable mistery The accideÌ„tes of bread are broken by peeces and yet thou remanest whole perfect Christ in euery parcâ—l as thou wast before O noble banquet in which vnder the forme of bread wine whole Christ God and man is receaued and so whole in the forme of bread and eâ—ery parcel therof and in the forme of wine and euery drop thereof as in the forme of the whole bread and wine together For al perfect and whole Christ remaineth vnder the forme of bread euery least parcel thereof the same in the forme of wine and euery drop thereof Missa Rom. D. Petro Apost asscripta And vsed in the primatiue church O Lord Iesus Christ let not the receauing of thy body which I vnworthy presume to take come to me to Iudgment and condemnation but by thy piety let it profit me for defeÌ„ce of soul body receauing cure who liuest and reignest with God the Father in vnity of the holy Ghost God world without end Amen Laus Deo
A NEW MANVAL OF OLD CHRIstian Catholick Meditations praiers faithfully collected translated without any word altered or added except in tytles of Chapters citations of places some few merginal annotations for the most part taken forth of holy Scriptures or the holy Fathers within the first four huÌ„dred yeares of Christ And not any one in probable opinion after the first sixe hundred yeares nor forth of any Authour but such as are by al english Christians accompted Sainctes and to be in heauen that none professing Christ can except against them or any of them Is 35. 8. This shal be vnto you the direct way so that fooles can not erre by it 1617. TO ALL ENGLISHE Christians of all degrees My dearest beloued AS you professe your selues in Religion to be Christians so I am most assured none of you wil be so prophane and impious as willingly to be deemed people without Religion or to haue the most odious and impious name of irreligion or atheisme ascribed vnto you Al that be Doctors Preachers Rabines in Religion among you do teach that euery christian at least must vndoubtedly hold all pointes of faith which they call fundamental substantial namely those articles Creede which the Apostles of Christ deliuered vnto Christians Then the first principal of them which are I beleue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen earth And in Iesus Christ his onely Sonne our Lord are principally to be embraced Denyal of the first denieth god affirming prouing such denyers atheists Doubting or denyal of the second condemneth al beleefe in Christ and the some of christianity and taketh away al articles of christian Religion substantial or not substantial if any such can be in a true Religion which I may not now dispute but onely demonstrate this If there be a God almighâ—y maker of heauen earth both you and I and all thinges els are his worke and creatures we haue receaued our essence being al of him In al thinges we depende of him he of none but independant and we owe and must pay and render vnto him al diuinâ— worshippe praiers supplications â—oueraigne dutie and Adoration If Iesus Christ be his Sonne our Lord came to redeeme the world he tauhgt true Religion vnto it And that Religion could not dyâ— with him whose death was death to death but foundatioÌ„ and life of religiâ—n and life redemption to vs and al to thâ— end that shal be saâ—ed The scriptures say He shal reigne for euer and of his Kingdome there sbal be Luc. 1. 28 Dan 7. 14 17. noe ende Al people Tribes tongues shal serue him His Father haith geuen him Mich. 4. 7 Dan. 3. 100. Dan. 4. 31. Ps 2. 7. the nations his Inheritance his possession the eudes of the earth The law of the Gospel teacheth and al good Christians doe and must beleueâ— that the law of Moyses was but teÌ„porary a pedagoge to Christ and in him euacuated and ended That Christ was the Messias taught an euerlasting Law no other to succeede it the world shoulde neuer want a true Religion the eternal King and Bryde-grome must haue subiects a Spouse for euer The Iewes and Thalmud acknowledg that the Law of the Messias was to succeede that of Moyses when it had reigned two thousand yeares and this of the Messias to endure for euer Mahumet that monster such a preteÌ„ded reformer as in these dayes haue prouâ—d many freely confesseth the truth longe continuance of the Religion of Iesus Christ and was vnborne when it had ruled aboue sixe hundred yeares Your english protestant Doctors and ruleâ—s in Religion are farre deuided froÌ„ the Romane Church yet they freely and generally graunt It was pure and immaculate sixe hundred yeares neare that seducers time For my purpose your good and contentment at this time I aske noe more but this to which al but atheists haue geuen allowance That we are bound to pray and the doctrine praiers vsed in the primatiue Church within the first sixe hundred yeares are holy to be vsed and frequented except you will not allow his warrant that said It behoueth alwaies to pray and not to be weary 1. Thes â— Pray without intermission or any of you shaâ— be so desperate to equal or preferr your selues in pride to Lucifer to think therâ— is any time thought word oâ— dâ—ede wherein you neede not the helpe of God or are not dependant of him Therfore to make alsecure in these vnfortunate dayes of dissention in Religion and take all euasion away froÌ„ all euen those that seeke to excuse excuses in sinne I haue collected this manual of psal 104 old Catholick deuotions such to be breefe as the title thereof enformeth you And such as by the best testimony of God him self his holy Primatiue Church and best learned Saincts thereof together with your owne conscience and al preseÌ„t consent neither wil nor can deceaue you Yet I haue not in this Treatise but slenderly in respect handled any controdersies of this time but propose vnto deuotion Meditations and Praiers dayly necessarily to be vsed of al priuate and vnlearned persons which may pretend daunger to besâ—duced in so great variety of doctrines The contentes wil appeare either in a particuler Table or if that be omitted in the titles of the Chapters and spiritual Exercises If any desire better to enforme their vnderstanding of the cheifest questions in Religion handled in these dayes by this Religious maner methode of disputing by the praiers them selues of the primatiue Church Sainctes thereof although they may câ—â—iâ—ctâ—râ— by â—he great wordes brags of many desiring to be called learned that none of the Romane Church wherof â—amâ—â—â—eâ—st vnworthy â—an performe it for that religion or châ—ife points therof I remit them to my late booke dedicated to our present Queene and her Ladies of that order in disputing and subiect where they shal find the doctrine of the external sacrifising Preisthood external Sacrifice Transubstantiation real presence of Christes blessed body bloud there Inuocation and patronage of the blessed Virgin Mary al holy Angels and Sainctes both in general and particular Purgatory Praier for the dead inuincibly I confidently affirme it wil mantaine it and demonstratly proued by the prayers them selues of the primatiue Church holy Fathers within the first fiue hundred yeares of Christ The serious consideration of these two workes I commend to your equal Iudgments and best deuotions to geue sentence how you haue bene led or nusled vsed or abused in this so vrgent and important businesse And I make euen the vnlearned and enemies to be Iudges in this cause whether the mouth of â—hose that speak vniust things be stopped or noe that at least we of one ps 62. nation kingdom and kinred with one faith and minde may singe that holy songe with the heauenly Angels Glory in the highest to God
in earth Peace to men of good will Let vs not be wiser Ro. 12. then we ought to be wise but to be wise to sobriety hating euil cleeuing vnto good louing charity of fraternity one with an other Instant in praier thinking the same together If it may be as much as is in you hauing peace with al men Careful to kepe the vnity of spirit in the bonde of peace Eph. 4. Eph. 6. By al praier and obsecration praying at al time in spirit and in it watching in al instancy and obsecration for al that be holy that at length we may hope the heauenly bedewed teares of holy praiers may quench or slake at the least that raging and consuming fire which the poysened blases of polluted mouthes rotteÌ„ fuel oâ— defiled liues haue blowne kindled and mantayned to flame so longe God of his rnfinite mercy grauÌ„t that with one consent and one mouth we Ro. 1â— may honour him for which I shal euer pray and so rest Your louing best wishing CouÌ„try-man R. B. OF MEDITATIon and Praier in generall OF Meditation out of holy Scriptures Deut. 6. 11. THe wordes which I commaund vnto thee this day shall be in thy heart thou shalt meditate vpon them sitting in thy house walking on thy â—ournay sleeping and when thou risest Ios 1. Let not the volume of this law depart from thy mouth but thou shalt meditate in it daies nightes that thou may keepe and doe al thinges that are writen in it ps 1. Blessed is the maÌ„ which haith not gone in the counsel of the vngodly haith not stoode in the way of sinners nor sit in the chaire of â—estilence but his wil is in the Law of our Lord in his Law he wil meditate day night ps 118. O Lord how haue I loue dthy Law it is my meditation al the day How vpon what a ChristiaÌ„ ought to meditate out of S. Ciprian lib. de Spectacul VAine pernitious and sacrilegious spectacles are to be auoyded by Christians We must be careful to keepe our eyes and eares Quikly we accustome our selues in wickednes which we heare for the minde of man being inclined to vice what wil it doe when it haith corrupt examples That which falleth of it self how wil it doe if it be pricked forward We must haue our mind retyred from these thinges A Christian if he wil haith bettermatters to behould He haith true profitable pleasures if he recollect him self And to omit those which he can not yet perceaue he haith the bewty of this world to consider and wonder at Let him contemplate the rysing of the Sunne and againe the setting thereof in order causing the daies and nights the globe of the moone by increase and waine designing the courses of times The multitude of starres shyning from the high heauen with their speedy motion the partes of the whole yeare deuided by turne and the daies them selues with the nights digested by the spaces of houres the vast greatnesse of the earth poised with mountaines the riuers with their springes flowing from them the ayre extended in the middest geuing lyfe to al thinges somtime raine from the coÌ„densed cloudes otherwhile fairnesse of wether renewing his rarity and in al these their proper inhabitants fowle in the ayre fish in the waters men vpon earth Let these and such other workes of God be spectacles for the beleuing Christians to meditate vpon What Theater framed by the handes of man is comparable to these works Though it be builded vp with great heapes of stones they are but the crusts of hilles and though their beames do glister gilded with gould yet they are inferiour to the shyning of the starres He wil neuer woÌ„nder at the workes of man whosoeuer knoweth him self to be the childe of God He casteth him selfe downe from the toppe of his nobilitie who can meruel at any thing after God Let a Christian I say attend to hâ—ly Scriptures there he shal finde thinges to behold worthy of Faith He shal find god ordeyning his world amonge the rest of liuing creatures making that admirable and excellent framâ— of man He shal vew the world in sâ—nnes rewardes for the godly and PunishmeÌ„ts for the impious seas dryed vp for the people and againe wateâ—â— geuen out of the rock for the people Haruests coming from heauen and not from the flâ—uâ—â—s Riuers brydling their violenâ—e to geue drye passage In some Faith wrastâ—ing with fire wilde beastes conqâ—ered by Religion and turned into meekenesse And he shal sce soules recalled from death it sâ—lf And amonge al these he shal beholde a greater spectacle the deuil that had triumphed ouer al the world lying vnder the feete of Christ O how bewtiful a spectacle to contemplatâ— is this how deâ—ightfull how necessary for a maÌ„ alwaies to behold his hope and open his eyes to his saluation This is a spectacle which may be seene though our eyes be lost this is a spectacle which neither Pretor nor Consul sheweth but he that is alone before al thinges eueÌ„ he from wheÌ„ce are al thinges the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom be praise and honour world without end Amen Of praier of the excellency thereof out of the holy Scriptures prou 15. THe Lord is farre from the wicked and he wil heare the praiers of the iust These thinges saith our Lord my house Is 56. Mat. 21. shal be called the house of praier to al nations Aske and it shal be gâ—uen you seeke Marc. 11 Luc. 19. Math. 7. you shal finde knock it shal be opened vnto you for euery one that asketh receiueth and that seeketh fyndeth and to him that knocketh it shal be opened It behoueth alwaies to pray and not to Luc. 18 be weary Pray without intermission In al thinges geue thankâ—s for this is the 1. Thes 5. 1. Tim. 2. wil of god in Christ Iesu in al you I desire thereforâ— first of al thinges that Obsecrations Praiers Postulations Thankes geuings be made for al men for Kinges and al that are in preeminence that we may leade a quiet and peaceable life in al piety chastity for this is good and acceptable before our Sauiour god who wil al men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of truth What Praier is and the dignity thereof out of the Fathers first S. Gregory Nyssene IT behoueth alwaies to pray neuer to be weary for by praier we come to be with God But he that is with God is seperated from the aduersary Praier is the defence protection of chastity moderation of anger appeasing and suppressing of pride a rooting out of the settled remembrance of iniuries a putter to flight of enuy taking away of iniustice correction of impiety Praier is a right constitution of Iustice and lawes in a citye strength of a Kingdome victory in warre security in peace reconciliation of the disagreeing consernation of the