cheeflie hauinge assured confidence in thy superabundaunt mercie doo humblie prostrate my selfe before thy mercie-seate instantlie beseeching thee to graunt mee pardon and remission of my wretched wickednes and greate offences with which I haue so greuouslie offēded thy eternal goodnes wittinglye or ignorauntlie as thou beste knoweste from the beginninge of my lyfe vntill this presente and speciallye with suche a person in such a place these manye times in this manner this suggestion mouinge me this longe continuing without repentaunce and by my euill example geuinge such and such occasion to sinne Here call to minde particulerly in what thou haste offended God VVith whom thou hast sinned VVhom thou haste iniuryed How often and how longe thou haste continued Of all whiche moste mercifull Father it maye please thee to perdon mee moste fillthie sinner and abhominable lyuer and also all other sinners whiche either I haue entised vnto sinne or gyuen exāple of sinning likewise all those whiche haue gyuen mee occasion of sinninge absoluinge and deliuering vs from the grieuous heauye bandes thereof throughe the mercifull merites of the moste bitter Passion of thy onely sonne and our redemer Iesus Christe who suffered moste cruell and vyle deathe to saue sinners For otherwise what shoulde become of mee in that moste dreadfull iudgmente daye when the booke of conscience shal be opened whē it shal be sayed of me beholde the persone and his woorkes at which time all the iniquitie that I haue committed from the first daye of my lyfe both in harte worde and woorke shal be made open to heauen and earth all those my sinnes shal be there presente to accuse mee moreouer the dyuell and conscience redye to beare wittnes therevnto allso thou my wratthfull iudge vppon their iuste accusation thy iustice enforcinge the same redy to gyue the terrible sentence of eternall death againste mee and finallie the horrible pitte of hell continuallie gaping and opening his vnsatiable mowthe desyrous to swallow mee the dredfull consideration wherof would make mee O Lord to despaire if I didde not call to minde the infinitenesse of thy mercie my moste mercifull redeemer For the sinnes of men be they neuer so manie are to be numbred but thy mercie Lorde God is infinite and without numbre and thy mercie great aboue all thy woorkes for thy excedinge great mercie throughe effusion of thy moste precious bloude and voluntarie death hath purchased pardon and forgiuenes for vs before wee were suters for it yea when wee were thyne enemies and gonne farre awaye frō thee howe muche more rather shall wee obtaine it when wee through thy grace now being reconsiled vnto thee with our vnfeined repētante hartes incessantlie doo sue and with bytter teares humblie craue it VVherefore O Lorde of mercie deale not with mee after my desertes but accordinge to thy great mercie remēbre not sweete Iesu thy seuere Iustice against the sinner but be mindfull of thy longe sufferinge goodnes towardes thy creature Remembre not thy wrathe against the offendour but be mindfull of thy mercie towardes the repentant sinner Remembre not my disobedience whiche hath prouoked the but respecte him which in great sorow and heuines of harte for his offēces calleth vpon thee For what is Iesus but a Sauioure Therefore O Iesu for thine owne sake I beseech thee rise vppe to helpe mee and say vnto my soule I am thy sauing health I presume muche of thy goodnes O merclfull Lord being there vnto imboldened forasmuch as thou thy selfe teachest mee to aske to seeke to knocke VVherfore beinge admonished through thy teachinge I aske I seeke and I knocke and thou Lorde whiche commaundest mee to aske graunte me to obteine and thou whiche counsaylest mee to seeke graunte mee to finde And thou which teachest mee to knocke open vnto mee at my knocking 's make mee beinge sicke in soule to be whole restore mee againe beinge as one forlorne and a caste-awaye Raise me vppe beinge deade throughe sinne from death and vouchsafe to gouerne and directe all my senses thoughtes woordes and actes so as they maye be pleasaunt in thy sight that frō henffourthe I maye trulie serue thee lyue to thee and cōmitte my selfe wholy vnto thee and to delight in nothinge but in thee and for thee For I knowe O Lord that forasmuche as thou hast made mee Lowe vnto thee my selfe and because thou haste redemed mee and wast made man for mee I owe vnto thee more then my selfe if I had de it by so muche as thou art more woorthie then I for whome thou being the sonne of God and second person in Trinitie wouchsafest to suffre for my sake most grieuous tormentes and shameful deathe Yet Lo more thē my selfe I haue not to gyue neither yet I can gyue that vnto thee without thee wherefore doe thou receiue mee draw mee through thy grace vnto thee that I maye aswell bee thine by loue and imitation as I am thine by calling and creation VVhich liuest reignest for euer and euer vnto whome be all honour glorie world without ende Amen A prayer for a penitent sinner after his relapse or falling to sinne agayne Antonius Hemert in Speculo perfectionis O Lorde Iesu Christ I vnhappie sinner most vile and vnthankfull Lo now againe I have offended thee by this worde N. or by this sinne N. I haue dishonoured thy maiestie haue reiected thee which aboue all thinges ought to be to me most deare and agreable Thou knowest O Lord how muche I am yet Carnall how litle mortyfied how full of euell concupiscence how I am flootinge in externall pleasures how often enwrapped in vayne fansyes how negligent in spirituall exercises how light in laughing and dissolution how harde difficult in wepinges and cōpunction how euell aduised in speakinge how impatient in kepinge silence how much gyuen to eating and drinckinge how deafe and dull in hearinge godly admonitiōs how attētife to babling how sluggish to heare dyuine seruice how sodaynlie I am troubled and letted to doe good how manye things I purpose wherof I accomplishe none O my Lord my God I am full of Sorowe grief for that I haue sinned also for that I haue too-to litle compunction I desire with all my harte that thou wouldeste wounde my hart with the sorowe of moste perfecte contrition And for asmuch as perdition and offence proceedeth from me and grace and mercy from thee I purpose from this time forwards beinge assisted by they grace from hence foorth to keepe my selfe from all misdeedes and to auoyde all occasions of sinne Amen A moste profitable protestation to be made vvhyles vve are yet in healthe and prosperitie Cornelius Donters in his contemplations vpon the passion O Lord God almighty to whom all thinges are manifeste and knowne O eternall Sapiēce which preserueth all things I poore wretched creature in despite of mine enemy make protestation whyles I am in good health and perfecte memory wherein I stande at this present through
that is able to make it selfe equalle with the mercie and compassion of God Or can man imagine whiche waye to doo such dewtifull seruice as might iustlye requite his readie succoure prouident care continuallie hadde for man There is trewlie sweet Soone of God there is thorough this thy meruailouse dispensacion wherin manes frayltie maye in some thing do that which maye be acceptable vnto the that is to saye if thorough compunction of harte stirred vp by thy visitacion he doo crucifie his fleash with her concupiscences and vices whiche thoroughe thy grace being brought to passe then beginneth he to be a sufferer with thee for whose offences thou vouchsauedst a vile deathe to dye So by the victorie of the inwarde man throughe thee beinge his eaptaine he shal be armed vnto the outwarde victorie that after conqueste made of the spirituall enemie he shall not feare for thee likewise to dye and for thy sake to offer his bodye to be hewed in peeces by the matteriall sworde Thus the smalnes and simplicitye of mans condition and state yf it maye so please thy godlines shal be able accordinge to his litle power in some parte to be aunswerable to the greatnes of the creators goodnes This sweet Iesu is the heauenlie medicine and a preseruatiue of thy loue I beseeche thee therefore for thy noble mercies sake powre that into my festred woundes that may clense me from the corruption of the Serpentes venemouse poyson restore mee againe to my former healthe that tastinge the pleasaunte liquour of thy sweetnes it maye cause me to sett at naughte all the wanton intisements pleasaunt allurements of the worlde and for the loue of thee not to feare anye aduersities threatnede by it and that hauinge in remembrance the perpetuall blessednes I make none accōpt of the raginge stormes of this transitorie tyme. Let nothinge like me lett nothinge be preciouse in my sight but that whiche is pleasinge vnto thee Also I praye thee let all thinges besides thee seeme fylthie vnto mee and of no reputacion cause me likewise to abhorre all thinges whiche is offensiue vnto thee and my desire neuer to be satisfied in seking to do those things whiche are pleasing vnto thee Let no ioye delight mee that is without thee and lett mee reioyce in all troubles I suffer for thee Lett the remembraunce of thee bee my solace and thy blessed name my consolation let my teares be nourishment vnto mee both daye and night in seking after thy righteousnes Lett the lawe of thy mouth be more preciouse vnto mee then thousandes of golde or siluer lett it be delectable vnto mee to obey thee and detestable to committ ought against thy diuine pleasure I humblie beseeche thee my onely hope for all thy mercyes sake thou wilt be mercyfull vnto mee and pardonne all mine iniquitie From the bottome of my harte I desire thee to open mine eares to heare that thou commandest and suffre not my harte to decline frō thee nor through woordes of wickednes to seke excuses for my sinne Finallie I beseeche thee for thy meruailouse humilitie let no pride raigne in mee nor the power of the sinner feare mee But that I may all waye kepe my selfe vndefiled for thee which lyuest and raignest for euer and euer Amen A prayer vvherein man doth offer to God the Father the passion of his sonne our Lorde and sauiour Christ B. August cap. 6. Medit. BEholde O holye Father thy derely beloued sonne so cruelly tormented for me beholde moste mercifull king who it is that suffreth and remember for whom he suffereth Is it not O Lorde thy moste innocent sonne whom thou haste gyuen to death that he might redeeme thy feruaunt is it not the Authour of lyfe who being ledde as a sheepe to the slaughter and made obediente vnto thee euen vnto death spared not the moste cruell kynde of death Call to minde O distributor and gyuer of al goodnes that this is he whom although thou haste begotten of thy diuine powre and vertue yet notwithstanding hast made him partaker of my infirmitie and weaknes verely this is thy deytie which being clothed with my nature ascended the gybbet of the crosse vpon the which he suffered moste dolorous death O Lorde caste the eyes of thy Maiestie vpon the worke of thy ineffable bountie beholde thy most sweete sonne with his whole body stretched out beholde his innocent hands besprinkled with moste precyous blood and mercyfully pardon those faults which with my handes I haue committed looke vppon his naked side pearced with a speare and renewe me with that sacred fountayne which I beleeue did issue from thence Consider his vndefiled footesteps which neuer stood in the way of sinners but alwayes walked in thy lawe howe with sharpe and longe nayles they are fastened to the crosse guyde my stepps in thy path and make me hate the wayes of iniquitye and chuse euermore the way of trueth O Kinge of Angels and saints I beseech thee for this holy of holyes for this my redeemer to make me runne in the waye of thy commaundementes that I may be vnited and ioyned to him whoe hath not disdayned to be cladde with my fleshe O blessed Father wilte thou not behold the head of thy dere sonne with his necke as whyte as snowe resolued to dye beholde moste meeke creator the humanitye of thy beloued sonne and haue mercy vpon the frayltie of thy frayle creature his whyte breast is naked his blody side is read his stretched bowels dryed vppe his fayre and bewtiful eyes waxt dimme his roiall and princely visage is pale his marble-white leggs hange downe the streames of his precious blood doe water his feete quyte perced thorowe Beholde O glorious Father the rente and torne members of thy welbeloued sonne and benignely remember what my substance is beholde the paine of God and man and release the myseryes of man thy creature beholde the punishment of the redeemer and forgyue the offence of the redeemed this is he O my Lorde whom thou haste smytten for the sinnes of the people although he was thy beloued in whom thou waste well pleased this was that innocēt in whom their was foūd no guyle yet was he reputed amongst the wicked A deuoute prayer vvith the remembraunce of the passion of our sauiour Iesus Christ to obtayne succour and fauour of him Io. Fab. in preca Christ O Moste sweete Lorde and my redeemer whiche was by the heauenly Father sente downe into this worlde and haste willingly of thine owne accord suffered moste cruel bitter paines vpon the crosse and haste carried the same Crosse vpon thy blessed shoulders to the ende that this thy patience mighte be vnto vs saluation and a myrrour and finally thou diddest consente vpon that tree to dye and redeeme vs. I moste poore miserable and wretched sinner most humbly beseech thee for the incredible pacience which thou didst show in the course of thy whole lyfe and then especiallye when the vngracious
Iewes did so rage against thee with villanous spitefull words when they did mocke thee and all bespytte thy vysage when they did hoode-winke thine eyes and with their most filthy and impure hands did smyte thee vpon the most blessed face when they did moste cruelly whippe and scourge thee faste bounde to a piller when they did thruste vpon thy most sacred head a pricking crowne of thorne when with yron nayles they did pearce thy blessed armes stretched alonge vpon the crosse when thy blessed syde was thruste throughe with a speare when in thy great thirst and extreame agony they offered thee a sponge full of vinager and gall whē with thy head inclined downe thou sayed It is consummate when thou diddest commend thy spirite into the handes of God the Father and all this ended for the redemption and saluation of mankinde in thy graue thou was buried For all these paynes and passions O most meeke Lorde Iesus Christ I poore and wretched sinner doe humbly beseech thy infinite maiestie not to forsake nor suffer me to be accused and condemned in thy terrible iudgement but let thy dolorous passion so helpe and ayde me that I may be brought to euerlastinge felicitye let thy holy Angells alway be in my company and specially at the houre of death that they may protect defend keepe me so that the cruell infernall enimy may haue no powre or parte in me The ende of the sixt Chapter THE SEVENTH CHAPTER CONTAYNINGE DEuoute and holesome prayers to be sayed before and after the receyuinge of the B. Sacrament Aduertismentes for more vvorthelye receyuinge the holye Euchariste 1. Cor. cap. 11. Verse 26. FOr as often as you shall eate this breade and drincke the chalice you shall shevve the death of our Lorde vntyll he come Verse 27. Therefore vvhoe soeuer shall eate this breade and drincke the chalice of our Lorde vnvvorthily he shall be giltye of the body and bloode of our Lorde Verse 28. But lett a man proue him selfe and so let him eate of that breade and drincke of the chalice Verse 29. For he that eatethe and drinckethe vnvvorthyly eateth and drincketh iudgemente to him selfe not descerninge the body of our Lorde This probation according to the wordes of the Apostle Lett a man proue him selfe consisteth principally in fower poyntes 1. Fayth before all thinges is necessarye to him that shall receyue the blessed Sacrament of the Aultar that is to say he must firste beleeue the presence of the true body and blood of our sauiour Iesus Christe in the Sacramente of the Aultar for they that denye it doe asmuch as thy can to denye the omnipotencye of God and doe accuse God with lyinge for he hath sayed This is my body and this is my blood Also you must of necessitie beleeue that the body of Iesus christ is deliuered to death and his blood truely shedd for the remission of your sinnes 2. Penaunce or repentaunce to the ende you may acknowledge your sinnes with all your harte and haue true repentaunce for the same and truely to confesse thē to the priest your ghostly father And after you haue obtayned absolution you must firmely purpose not to commit any deadly sinne hereafter and hauinge forsaken all rancour and malice you muste be reconciled to them whom you haue offended or that haue offended you 3 Honest and decente behauiour and countenaunce apparteyning to a christian man whereby is required that none goe to this moste blessed Sacramente and greate misterie but fasting and with modestie humilitie and feruente zeale not with any dishonest or vncomely behauiour 4. Deuotion and a harte not occupied in other busines or affaires that so you may imploy your selfe wholly by meditations and deuout prayers to receyue such an excellente sacramente in considering and wonderinge at the incomprehensible humilitie of almightie God I meane hereby that he being a Lord of so greate and infinite maiestye hath bene obediente vnto his heauenly father euen vnto death to gyue vs lyfe And with all that by such deuout meditations and prayers you maye be stirred and prouoked to loue almighty god aboue al things and to gyue him most harty thanks for his so great benifites desiringe him moste humbly that the merits of his most bitter passion and death maye be applied to the comforte and profit of your soule A prayer to be sayde before the receyuinge of the Blessed Sacrament I Adore and worshippe thee and gyue thākes vnto thee my most louing Lorde Iesu Christe for thy innumerable benefites and giftes gyuen vnto me moste vnwhorthy All those I yeeld and offer vnto thee into an euerlastinge laude and prayse I gyue vnto thee thankes for all the goodnes that euer thou diddest shew or euer wilt shew vnto any reasonable creature I gyue thee thāks for al the mercies of thy moste swete goodnes I gyue thee thankes for thy holy Incarnation Natiuitie Infancie Childhod Manstate labours sorowfull cares Passion Death Resurrection thine Ascension I moste humbly thanke thee that thou haste vouchsafed to admitte me most vile sinner to the noble and liuelie feaste of this thy holy table O gracious Iesu I beseche thee for that loue that in maner constreigned thee to be incarnated to suffre and to die for me that thou wilt make me fully cleane from all sinne and make me to please thee in all thing Adorne and garnish my beggarlye and poore soule with thy mercies vertues Graunte mercifull Iesu that I may with moste humble reuerēce with burninge desire and chaste affection receiue the moste venerable Sacrament of thy blessed Bodie in memorie of all those things that thou haste vouchsafed to doe to speake and to suffre for my saluation Graunt good Lorde that I maye performe this thinge moste purely to the euerlasting glorie of thy name to the honour of thy moste sweet Mother and Virgin Marie and to the honour of thy blessed Saint N. Here name the Sainte of that daye to the honour of all thy blessed Saintes and Angells of heauen to the soule health of me and N. and to the soules health of all Christen people quicke and dead Haue mercy good Lord haue mercy vppon thy Churche haue mercy good Lord vpon this place and this compagnie Graunte that here be alwaye humilitye peace charitye chastitye and cleanesse Graunt that we all maye worthily amende and correct our selues and that we feare thee and serue thee faithfullye and that we maye loue thee and please thee I commend vnto thy mercy all our busines and all our necessities be mercifull vnto all those for whome thou haste shed thy precious blood Graunte vnto the quicke forgyuenesse and grace graunt vnto the faithfull departed rest and light euerlastinge Another Prayer before the receyuinge of the holy Sacrament By Sir Thomas Moore O Benigne Iesu that wouldest suffer so many greuous paines yea death it selfe for the loue of mankind greate and meruailous is thy charitie O good God for that thy charitie and that
the pleasures of the worlde and in true fayth to passe all perrils of soul and body and exercyse our selues daily more and more in thy seruice in such sorte that with them afterwards we may haue the fruition of ioye and solace eternall Amen A prayer to any of the holy Sayntes Ex tabella quadam Coloniae in templo S. Vrsul O Holy and blessed S. N. I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt haue me poore and wretched sinner in remembraunce before the face of my God and sauiour that by thy merites and intercessions I may be preserued from all daungers bodyly and ghostly that I may dayly more and more increase in vertue and good workes and at the houre of my death and departure out of this worlde vouchsafe to succour and defend me against the assaultes and deceites of mine ennemies and bring my soule deliuered and made free from all tribulatiō to the ioyes of the heauenly paradyse Amen Pray for vs O holy S. N. that we maye be made worthye of the promisses of Christ VVe humblye beseech thee O Lorde God father omnipotente to receiue the prayers of thy seruants that we worshipping the memorye of thy blessed S. N. by his merites and intercessions may be delyuered from al bodyly aduersities and that our hartes may be clensed from all euill and idle thoughtes through Iesus Christe our sauiour Amen A prayer to all the blyssed Saintes in heauen Ex herae B. M. ad vsum Sarum O All yee holy electe of God vnto whome almightie God hathe prepared his eternall kingedome from the beginninge I beseech you through the charitie by the which God dyd loue you that you doe sucker mee moste miserable sinner before death doe take mee awaye oute of this wretched world and reconcile mee vnto my creator before that hell deuoure mee O blessed Marie mother of God the mediatrix for sinners vnto Christ heare mee kepe mee saue mee O thou sweete Lady obtaine to mee righte faithe firme hope perfecte charitie true humylitie chastitie and sobrietie after the course of this lyfe the felow shippe of the euerlasting blyssednes Thou also holye Michaell with all the thousandes of Angells praye for mee that thou mayest take keepe mee from the power of my aduersaries helpe mee obtaine for mee the loue of God purenes of hart strength of faith and the pleasure of heauenlie glorie Also yee holy Patriarkes and Prophetes procure for mee of God pardon penaunce continencie and godlye perseuerance and also lyfe euerlastinge O yee blessed Apost'es of God vnlose mee from my sinnes defende mee from the paynes of hell and take mee from the power of darkenes bringe me vnto the euerlastinge kyngdome I beseche you also yee holy Martyrs of God that perfecte charitie syncere loue a pure minde a chaste lyfe and remission of my sinnes be gyuen of almightie God vnto mee O yee glorious Confessours of God praye for mee that through you the desire of heauenly thinges and reuerence of maners washinge away of my misdeedes bee of God graunted vnto mee Likewise I praye you all holy Virgines of God that you doe ayde mee to thintent I may haue a good minde and health of bodie and soule humilitie chastitie after the course of this my miserable lyfe fellowshipe of the perpetuall blessednes O all yee Saints of God I do pray and also do make humble supplication that you will woutchsafe to helpe mee and haue compassion vpon me most pytyfully and pray for mee instātly that through your intercession a pure conscience bee ingrafted within mee with compunction of harte for my sinnes and laudable endinge of my lyfe so that through your merites I maye bee able to come vnto the countrye of eternall blessednes almyghtie God graunte it Amen The end of the eleuenth Chapter THE TVVELFTH CHAPTER CONTEYNING ADVERtisments consolations with prayers and suffrages for the sicke An aduertisment for the sicke diligently to prepare him selfe to dye vvell Lud. Blosius cap. 1. posterioris li. Ench. paruulorum VVhoe soeuer doethe loue God dutifullye being at anye time ouertaken with sicknes whereby deathe is feared to be at hand let good heede be taken that with diligēce thou prepare thy selfe to end well discharge thy harte of the cares troubles of this world receiue deuoutly the Sacramentes of the Church to the ende thou maiest purchasse succour strēgth to passe through thy iourney and wholly recommende thy soule to God Remember the passion of our sweete Sauiour and redeemer embrace in thy hart his holsome crosse kisse his ruddy woundes and thrust thy selfe with all thy power into them that beinge hidden in them thou maiest be safe and happely escape from all the snares and entysmentes of the deuill humblye beseech our Sauiour Iesus Christ that he would wouchsafe to washe thee with his precious blood and that he woulde whollye abandonne all thy sinnes And for wante of meritoriouse good workes offer to God the father the merites of Iesus Christ offer him his moste holy and sacred conuersation death and passion offer him the merites of his moste sweete mother the wirgin Mary of all Saintes for so it shall come to passe that thou which art poore naked and miserable of thy selfe shalt appeare maruelously adorned with spirituall ornaments recommende thy selfe also to our blessed Ladye the glorious virgin and mother of God and to the other Cytizens of heauen and principally to that saint which thou haste accustomed most to pray vnto hoping and beleeuing certainly that they heare thy prayers and that if thou call vpon the blesse virgin with all thy hart and turne moste humbly and assuredly thy selfe to her she will without doubt make thy entraunce into the kingdome of heauen where otherwise it may be through the diuine iustice of God that thou canst not enter because of thine iniquitie for she is the mother of mercy and the Porte of of heauen Then folovveth this protestation or such lyke very profitable to be made by the sicke Lud. Blofius cap. 3. lib. sup I wicked sinner moste vnworthy redeemed with the preciouse bloode of our Lorde Iesus Christ doe confesse openlye that with an entyer and pure harte I forgyue all those that haue at any time euer offended me or done me iniurye in what maner soeuer desiring moste humblye all and euerye one that I haue offended iniuried grieued or any way angred whyther they be present or absent that they would vouchsafe also to forgyue me Here let the sicke call to minde his sinnes in particular and aske God forgynenes purposing firmely by God his grace neuer to commit sinne agayne and though his sinnes be neuer so many and the maner of his offences neuer so horrible and grieuouse yet he is to trust in the omnipotency of God whose mercyes are innumerable and to take hope and comfort in the passion of Christe our redeemer Sayeng I beleue in God the father almighty c. A prayer for the sicke person to saye