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
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
them we may celebrate a fâ—â—â—â—uity with voice of exultation aâ—d sounde of confâ—ssiâ—n and may geue thankes for victory obtained against the wicked deuils vnto Christ one god with whom glory is due to the Father and holy Ghost now and euer and world without end Amen A Meditation vpon Christs being brought before Caiphas out of S. Leo ser 6. de pas Domini IEsus being brought to Caiphas cheife of the Preistes whether the Scribes and al the preistly order were assembled false testimonies are sought against our Lord and Caiphas to exâ—ggerate the enuy of the speach which he heard râ—nâ— his garmentes not knowing what he signified by this maâ—nesse depriued him self of preistly â—onour O Caiphas where is the Rationale of thy brest Where is thy Girdle of continency Where is thy Superhumerale of vertues Thou spoilâ—st thy selfe of that mistical and consecrated attyre and with thine owne handes pullest into Peeces thy Pontifical vestiments forgeating that precept which thou hadst red of the cheife Preist He Leuit. 22. shal not lay of the Cidaris from his head and shal not breake in sunder his garments But thou from whom this dignity was now alienated thou thy self to thy self art executioner of reproach And to manifest the end of the old Testament belongeth the same rending in peeces of the preisthood Meditations and Praiers for the 3. Isodor l. 1 eccl offic c. 19. Hour or midle space betwene Sunne rising Noone Direction out of Scripture PIlate againe answearing said vnto Marc. 15. them what wil you then that I do to the King of the Iewes But they againe cryed crucify him c. And it was the Third Hour Sodainly there was made a sound from Act. 2. heauen and there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire and it sate vpon euery one of them and they were al replenished with the holy Ghost v. 15. c. It is the third Hour of the day Direction out of the Fathers Ignatius Epist ad Trallian At the Third Hour Christ by his Fathers permission receaued sentence of Pilate At the Sixt Hour he was crucified And at the Ninth Hour yelded vp the Ghost And before the Sunne setting was taken from the Crosse and buried in a new Sepulchre We finde that in making praiers the Ciprian de orat domin see S. Hieronim epist 122. c. 16. ad Eustochium three childreÌ„ with Daniel obserued the Third Hour Sixt Hour and Ninth Hour doubtlesse in mistery of the Trinity which was to be manifested in the last times it was after made manifest that they were misteries in old times that before the iust men praied in that maner For the holy Ghost descended vpon the Disciples at the Third Hour who fulfilled the grace of our Lordes promise Make your praiers early in the morning S. Clem. Coâ—st S. Apost l. 8. c. 4. at the Third Hour c. At the 3. Hour because at that hour our Lord had sentence of Pilate A Meditation out of S. Basile l. q. diffus explicat q. 37. ABout the Third Hour let vs arise to praier remembring the guift of the spirit which was geuen to the Apostles about the Third Act. 2. Hour Let vs pray al with one minde that we also may be made worthy to recâ—aue sanctification asking of him direction and instruction to that which is profitable according to him that said O god create in me a new heart and renew Ps 50. a right spirit in my bowels Cast me not away from thy face and take not thy holy Spirit from me Restoare vnto me the gladnesse of thy saluation and confirme me with thy principal Spirit And in an other place Thy good Spirit wil lead me into the Ps 142. right land A Meditation of Christes bearing his Crosse out of S. Leo. ser 8. pass Domini OVr Lord deliuered ouer to the wil of raging men to the scorne of his Kingly dignity was commaunded to be the bearer of his owne punishment that it might be fulfilled which Esay the Prophet had foreseene saying Behold a Child is borne Is 9. a sonne is geuen vnto vs whose rule is vpon his shoulders Therefore when our Lord bore the tree of his Ctosse which he would turne into the scepter of his power this surely was a great scorne among the eyes of the vngodly but it was shewed for a great mistery to true beleuers because the most glorious câ—Ì„querour of the deuil the most mighty subduer of the enemies strengthes in a bewtiful shew did carrie the Trophee of his triumphe and bore vpâ—n his shoulders of inuincible patience the signe of saluation to be adored of al Kingdomes as though euen thâ—n he would with the Image it self of his worke confirme al his followers and say He that doth not take his Crosse and Math. 10. follow me is not worthy of me A prayer out of S. Basile de Ieiunio concione 1. OVr Lord that haith brought vs vnto this instaÌ„t of tyme vouchsaife to giue vnto vs as to men in cumbate that to these cumbates we may shew firmnes and strength of constancie and come to the appointed day of crouning now of the remembrance of his sauing passion and in the world to come of retribution according to our life in the iust iudgment of Christ him selfe To him be glory for euer Amen An other out of the same Father l. exercitam ser 6. HE that cometh vnto god ought to embrace pouerty and in al thinges to be perced through with the feare of god according to him that said Perce my flesh with thy feare I haue feared for thy iudgmentes Our Lord graunt vnto vs that with al perfection we may receaue those thinges that are referred to the glory of god and shew forth frutes worthy of the spirit according to the wil of god and cooperation of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen A prayer for graces of the holy Ghost out of the masse attributed to S. Marke the Euangelist O Ruler our lord Iesu Christ the eternal word of the Father without beginning who for our saluation didest become like vnto vs in al thinges excepting sinne who sent thy holy Disciples and Apostles to preach and teach thy gospel and to cure al sicknesse and infirmities in the people now also o Lord send forth thy light truth and illuminate the eyes of our minde that we may vnderstand thy diuine wordes graunt that we be fitte hearers of them not onely hearers but that we may be made doers of thy word that we may encreace and bring forth good frutes from thirtie to an hundred that we may be accompted worthy of the kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ And let thy mercies soone lay hould on vs for thou art our Euangelisme or message of good Sauiour keeper of our soules and bodies o Lord god and we offer vnto thee glory and thankes-giuing thrice holy himne to the Father and the Sonne and holy Ghost
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
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
vnited Praier is the seale of Virginity fidelity of matrimonie a sheild to trauailers a keepeâ— of the sleeping trust of the waking Praier is a conuersation and conference with God a contemplation of thinges not seene a sure confidence of thinges desired an estate of the same honoure with Angels a going forward and increase of good thinges an ouerthrowe of thinges that be euil an amendement of sinners â—he fruit of thinges present are representation of thinges to come Praier made the whale an house vnto Ionas Reduced Ezechias from the Ionas 3. 4. Reg. 20 Dan. 1. dores of death to life for the 3. children it changed the flaming fyre into a cooling wynde erected a Trophee of victory for the Israelites against the Amalacites Exo. 17. 4. Re. 29. and in one night slew with aÌ„ inuisible sworde one hundred foure scoare and fiue thousand of the Assirians And we may finde examples not to be numbred of such thinges as are already chanced by which it is manifest that among those thinges which in this life be embraced and esteemed pretious nothing is to be preferred before praier When where and how to pray out of S. Chrisostome homil contra Pseudoprophetas HEare the Apostle crying Pray ye without intermission that is â— Thes 5. at al time both night and day and euery hour both when thou art about thy worke in thy Iournay kepest thy flock tillest thy ground sleepest Expect not our Lordes day or festiual day or disterence of places For the name of God is not confined with place for in his hand are al the endes of the ps 94. earth Therefore Dauid the Prophet praying euery day and night expected not differeÌ„ce of places but weping said admonishing his soule O my soule blesse god in al place of his domination Therefore ps 10â— expect not day or hour but pray euen when thou art at home and in thy iournay when thou lyest downe and when thou rysest and in euery place pray vigilantly diligently not requesting riches not honour or glory not prosperity nor any thing els of this world transitory or vnprofitable for al these thinges are corruptible ende in corruption whether thou namest the greitest riches or preeminent humane glory or any thing els of such thinges as be on earth with which meÌ„ vse to be puffed vp But pray for thy saluation alone pray for the necessities of thy neboures and pray with humility with teares with contrition and knock coÌ„tinually or rather without ceasing and daily for euery one that asketh receaueth Math. 7. and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shal be opened Perfection and attention in praier out of S. Ephrem ser de viâ—ginitate FOllow the steps of the holy Fathers which haue bâ—ne eminent in virginal chastity and chast and religious life in praiers and fastings Loue the exercise of diuine thinges desire Praier the familiar conference with God For euery holy and pure praier conuerseth familiarly with God The praier of them that perfectly desire God with gladnes and much tâ—ust continually pearceth heauâ—n it self In it the Angels and Arch-angels râ—ioycâ— and present it before the Throne of the holy high Lord of al. For then the greatest ioy shyneth vnto them if at any time they offer before our holy Lord the praiers of iust men that loue God Therefore study in life vertues to be a follower of tâ—e holy Fathers Walke in the pathes of their way and life kepe the vertue of coÌ„tinency as they did execute it in mind execute it in spirit execute it in body execute it in habit also in meate and speach behoulding cogitation and laughter that in all thinges thou maist proue a perfect chaÌ„pion Looke to thy self lest at any time in praier thy minde wander hither and thither but when thou standest praying to god order thy self before him with feare trembling Cut out of thy heart al thoughts cares of earthly thinges be wholly in time of praier as an heauenly Angel so stâ—iue that thy praier may be holy and pure vnspotted and irreprehensible that when the heauenly gates shal see it ascend vp ward reioycing they may of their owne accorde presently be opened that the Angels and Archangels seeing it may al reioycing meete it and offer it before the holy and high throne of our immaculate lord Theâ—fore be thou alwaies in praier ioyned to God as the Cherubim Seraphim Cause god alwaies to rest in thy soule that thou maist there be found ful of coÌ„fidence in that terrible dredful hour when Christ our Lord shal come to render vnto euery one according to his Ro. 2. Apoe 22. work To whom be glory and power world without end Amen An other out of the same S. Ephrem â—er Asc de vita Rel. paren 50. AS if a man standing before a King and talking with him being called by his felow seruant should leaue the honourable glorious speach of the King and turne him self to talk with his seruant euen so a Religious man in the time of his singing that draweth his minde from god and turneth him self to fables and toyes with others Therefore let vs consider before whom we are placed For as the Angels with great feare trembling do stand before the Creatour singing himnes vnto him euen so ought we in the time of praier and singing to appeare before god with a pure heart and with reuerence and feare lest we be thought to stand before him and intende to praiers onely in body but in minde in the meane time to be occupied with earthly businesse For euen as a ship boate that is carried vp downe with waues of the sea euen so a Monk whose minde is distracted with businesse and cares of the world An other out of the same S. Ephrem de orand Deum TAke heede thou ceacest not to pray as often as thou canst kneele downe when thou can not call vpon God in thy minde both at euening morning and none-time If thou put praier before thy worke rising forth of thy bed shalt take the beginning of thy motions from praier sinne wil not enter into thy soule Praier is a conference with God equal honour with the Angels promotion of the good auersion from the wicked and amendement of sinners There is no possession in mannes life more precious then praier Neuer suffer your selues to be seperated froÌ„ this neuer depart from this but as our Lord saith let vs pray that our labour be not in vaine Mat. 6. The deuotion and attention to be vsed in praier out of S. Ciprian de orat dom WHen we are at praier we oâ—ght to attende and geue our selues with all our heart to praiers Let al carnal and worldly cogitation depart Let not the minde then think vpon any thing but that alone which it praieth Therefore the Preist before praier when he haith said the Preface prepareth the mindes
of Preface at Masse the brethâ—en saying Sursum corda Let our heartes be vpward that when the people answeareth Habemus ad Dominum We haue them vnto our Lord they may be admonished to think oÌ„ nothing but our Lord. Let your breast be shut against the aduersary and open to god alone Let it not suffer the enemy of god to come into it in time of praier for he often times sodainly creepeth and entreth in and craftily decâ—iuing calleth our praiers from god that we may haue one thing in heart and an other in voice when not onely the sounde of the word but the minde and sense ought to pray with pure intention vnto our Lord. And what a sluggishnesse is it to be carried away with foolish prophane cogitations when thou entreatest our Lord as though there were any thinge which thou rather shouldest think on then that thou speakest with god How doâ—st thou desire to be heard of God when thou hearest not thy self Wilt thou haue god to remember thee when thou askest thou remembrest not tâ—y self This is not to beware of the enemy this is when thou praiest vnto god by negligence of praier to offende the maiestie of God Where and with whom we may pray out of S. ClEment Rom. IF because of misbeleuers we can not goe to the Church but the wicked occupy the place thou must flee from that place because it is prophaned by them For as the preists do sanctify holy thinges so the impious defile them If the true beleuers can not assemble together neither at home nor in the Church let euery one by them selues singe reade pray or two or three gathered together For Where there be two or three gathered together in Mat. 16. my name there am I in the middest of them Let not the godly pray neither at home with an heritike for what society is there â— Cor. 6 betwene light darknesse Times of praier out of S. Ierome ALthough the Apostle biddeth vs alwaies to pray and to those 1. Thes 5. that be holy sleepe it self is a Praier yet we ought to haue deuided houres of praying that if peraduenture we be detained with any work the time it self may admonish vs to do our dutie There is no man that is ignorant of the thirde hour sixt hour ninth hour morning also and euening Let vs not go to meate except we pray nor depart from the table before we geue thankes to our creatour We must rise twice or thrice in the night meditate such thinges as we can say by memory out of the Sctiptures When we go forth of our lodging let vs be armed with praier wheÌ„ we come forth of the streete let praier meete with vs before we sit downe Let not the body take rest before our soule be fed At euery action at euery going forward let our hand make the signe of the Crosse PRAYERS AND ME ditations in particular and first vpon our Lordes Praier The salutation of the Angel to our B. Lady the Creede of the Apostles With the Primatiue Catholick introduction to all praier before them AL whatsoeuer you do in word or work al tbinges in the name of Col. 3. our Lord Iesus Christ geuing thankes to god the Father by him God forbid that I should glory but in the Gal. 6. Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ The Crosse is made on the forhead of Ieron in c. 9. Ezech. the Christians and signed by often framing it with our hand In the name of the Father and of the Missa Ethiop ascribeâ—â—â— S. Mathew Apostle Mozar in Miss S. Iacobi S. Ephrem de panopl. Sonne and of the holy Ghost Amen Humble thy self vnder the mighty hand of God that he may exalt thee in the kingdome of heauen which our Sauiour haith promised to the humble But in stead of a sheild defend thy self with the signe of the Crosse signing therwith al thy members thy heart Signe thy affections thy going in thy going forth in al times Thy sitting downe and rysing vp thy bed and whatsoeuer thinges thou passest by First signe them in the name of the Father of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost for that armour is most forcible no man can euer hurt thee if thou shalt be defended with it For if any man carry with him the signe of aÌ„ earthly King no man dareth to hurt him how much more can or ought we that beare such a signe of the heauenly Emperour feare any man Neuer omitt to be signed and thou shalt destroy the snares which the deuil haith laide for thee S. Ephrem ser de sanct â—râ— dom The Crosse triumpheth which all nations people Tribes and tongues adore in which let vs glory with blessed Paule saying God forbid I should Gal. 6. glory but in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ by whom the world is crucified vnto me and I to the world Let vs paint and engraue on our gates forheades eyes mouth in al our partes this viuificant signe Let vs be adorned and armed with this inuincible armour of Christians For it is the vanqueresse of death hope of the world light of the endes of the whole earth Opener of Paradise profligatrix and destructresse of heresies the strength of the orthodoxal Faith a great and sauing custody perpetual glory of the right beleuers of the Church Therfore o christian omit not to beare about al daies and nightes houres and moments and in al places this armour doe nothing without it but whether thou sleepest or wakest or eatest or drinkest or trauailest or sailest or passest waters or dost any other thing euer signe arme al thy members with this sauing and quickning signe of the Crosse and thou shalt neuer be affraid of the day feare or the arrow flying in the day psal 90. or businesse walking in darknes froÌ„ ruine noone-time denil If thou shalt be assisted with this defence euil thinges shal not come vnto thee scourge shal not approch thy tabernacle For so soone as they see this signe presently al aduersary powers terrified depart and goe away This signe haith quashed the errour of Idoles this haith sanctifyed the whole world this haith driuen away darknesse and restoared light this haith gathered together the nations from the east and west and north and south and ioyned them together in Charity into one Charity into one Faith into one baptisme This signe is the impregnable bulwarke of true beleuers What mouth or what kinde of tongue shal be able worthily to praise this victorious armour of the great King Christ our God Of praier and espechally our Lordes praier out of holy Scripture WHen you pray you shal not Mat. 6. Luc. 11. be as hipocrites which loue to stand praying in Synagogues corners of streetes that they may be seene of men Amen I say vnto you they haue receaued their reward But when thou shalt
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
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
thee that wast whipped Glory to thee that wast spitte vpon Glory to thee that wast mocked Glory to thee that wast crucified Glory to thee that wast buried Glory to thee that didest arise from the dead Glory to thee that art preached Glory to thee in whom we beleeue Glory to thee that wast assumpted into heauen Glory to thee who with great glory sittest on the right hand of the Father and againe shal come in the glory of the Father the holy Angels to iudge euery soule that haith despised thee and thy holy passions in that fearful and dreadful hour when the powers of the heauens shal Math. 24. Luc. 21. be moued when also the Angels Archangels Cherubim and Seraphim shal come with feare and trembling in sight of thy glory when agaiâ—e the foundations of the earth shal tremble and euery liuing thing shal be affraid for the incomparable glory of thy great Maiestye I besech thee that in that hour thy grace may hide me vnder thy winges and my soule may be deliuered froÌ„ that horrible fyre gnashing of teeth external darknesse and euerlasting weping that I may say blessing and thankesgeuing to thee Glory be to thee o Lord who according to the multitude of the mercies of thy great piety hast vouchsaifed to saue me a sinner who with the Father and holy Ghost liuest and reignest world without ende Amen S. Athanasins l. Meditat. At the Sixt Hour end thy praiers with psalmes weping and teares because at this Hour the Sonne of God did hang on the Crosse for thee Meditations and praiers for the Ninth hour THere was darknesse vpon the Luc. 23. whole earth vntil the ninth hour the sunne was darkned and the vaile of the temple was rent in the midest And Iesus crying with a loud voice said Father into thy handes I commend my spirit saying this he gaue vp the gost Peter and Iohn went vp into the temple Act. 3. at the ninth hour of prayer He saw manifestly in a vision as it Act. 10. were the ninth hour of the day the Angel of god comming in to him and said vnto him thy prayers almes haue ascended in memory in the sight of god Make your prayers at the ninth hour Clem. Const Aopst l. 8. c. 40. Athanas l. de meditat because al thinges were troubled when our lord was crucified At the Ninth hour thou shalt be in Himnes and glorifications with teares confession of thy sinnes praying to god because at this hour our lord hanging on the crosse gaue vp the ghost The Ninth hour is deliuered by the Apostles them selues in the Actes to be Basil l. q. diff q. 37. necessary for prayer where it is tould that Peter and Iohn went vp into the Temple at the ninth hour of prayer Act. 3. S. Denis the Areopagite S. Paules scholer epist ad S. Policarp DEmaund of him what he thinketh He meaneth Apoliphanes the philosopher of the Eclips of the SuÌ„ne which hapned when our Sauiour was crucified for we were then both together and stoode at Heliopolis did sodanly see when the Moone obiected it selfe to the Sunne not being the time of their coniunction and againe when the same opposed it selfe aboue the order of nature to the midle lyne of the sunne from the ninth hour to the evening And recal further some other thing to his memory for he knoweth also how that interposition was seene of vs to begin froÌ„ the rysing of the sunne and come to the last point of it and after to vanish away and againe that the interposition and recession did not chance from the same part of the sunne but froÌ„ that which so to speake was diametrically contrary These are the wonderful thinges of that time which Christ the author of al thinges is onely able to performe who maketh great and Iob. 5. mereulous thinges of which there is noe number If it be lawful for thee and if thou canst o Apoliphanes refute The testimony of gentile Philosophers for Christ these thinges against me who was then both present with thee did behould and examine al thinges with greatest admiration And I cannot devise wherevpon Apoliphanes then began conferring with me the thinges that were done said thus O Dionisius these are the changing of diuine matters An other Meditation how al creatures seemed to lament at the death of Christ out of S. Leo ser 2. pas Dom. WHen Christ yelded vp the Ghost al the elementes did tremble The brightnesse of the sunne couered with thick darknesse did extraordinarily subiect the day to night The earth weakned with deepe quakinges did not retaiâ—e it stability And the firme rockes their streÌ„gth being broken fel into peeces The veile of the Temple with which the misteries of former thinges were now noe longer to be shadowed was cutte asunder And the bodies of many Sainctes being raised vp to prepare the faith of the Resurrection their graues lay open Therefore o Iewes against you heauen and earth haue geuen sentence The sunne haith withdrawne his seruice and the day from you al the orders of the elementes haue denied to serue you and the ministery of the creature departing from his lawes your blindnesse your confusion was was signified For you saying His Math. 27. bloud be vpon vs and vpon our children this is worthily repayed vnto you that what the wicked portion of your stocke hath lost that the beleeuing fulnesse of the gentiles should obtaine Therefore most beloued let vs to whom our lord Iesus Christ crucified is not a scandal nor 1. Cor. 1. foolishnesse but the power of god and wisdom of god let vs I say the spiritual seede of Abraham not begotteÌ„ of the Issue of seruitude but regenerated in the family of freedome for whom brought forth with a strong hand mightie arme from vnder the oppressioÌ„ of the rule of Egipt the true and immaculate lambe Christ is 1. Cor. 5. offered let vs embrace the meruealous mistery of his sauing pasouer and be reformed to the image of him that was conformed to our deformity let vs be lifted vp to him that made the dust of our baise condition to be the body of his glory and that we may deserue to be partakers of his resurrection let vs in al thinges become agreable to his humility and patience We haue vndertaken the warfare of a great name the discipline of a great profession It is not lawful for the folowers of Christ to depart from the kinges way but worthy it is that they wich tend vnto eternal thinges be not occupied in thinges temporal and because we are redemed with the pretious bloud of Christ let vs glorify and beare gâ—d in our body that we 1. Cor. 6. may deserue to come to those thinges that are prepared for the faithful by Christ our Lord. Amen A prayer vpon Christs passion out of S. Gregory Nazianzen orat in S. Pascha in fine GOd
none vpon whom you shal see the signe Thou In the old characters of the Hebrewes which the Samaritanes vsâ— to this day the last letter is Than hauing the similitude of a Crosse which is made in the forheades of Christians and signed by often forming it with our hand A praier after the Creede out of S. Hilary l. 1â— Trin. in fine PReserue o Lord this Religion of my faith vnspotted and til my soule departeth from me geuâ— me this voice of conscience that I may alwaies kepe that which I haue professed in the Symbole of my Regeneration when I was baptised in the Father and the Sonne and the holy Ghost that is may worship thee our Father thy Sonne together with thce and may deserue thy holy Spirit which is of thee by thy onely begotten Sonne Because there is a fitt witnesse for my faith vnto me saying Father al my thinges are thine and thine are mine my Lord Iesus Christ remayning in thee and of thee and with thee alwaies God who is blessed for euer Amen An other inter oper sancti Cipriani de Symb. which som ascribe to S. Cip. others to Ruffinus OVr Lord vouchsaife to graunt vs that keeping the Faith which we haue receaued after our course is eÌ„ded to expect the crown of Iustice laid vp in stoare and to be found among them that rise againe to euerlasting life to be deliuered from confusion and euerduring reproach by Christ our Lord by whom to God the Father almighty with the holy Ghost be glory and rule world without end Amen Meditations and praiers vpon those wordes of the Creede Communion of Sainctes may be vsed before Iournay or other busines Gen. 48. THe Angel which haith deliuered me froÌ„ al euils blesse these children The Angel of our Lord wil put him Ps 33. self in the compasse of them that feare him and deliuer them He haith geuen his Angels charge Psal 90 of thee that they kepe thee in al thy waies When thou didest pray with teares Tob. 12. buriedst the dead left thy dinner and hiddest the dead in the day in thy house and buriedst them in the night I did offer thy praier to our Lord. I am Raphael the Angel one of the seauen which stand before our Lord. The vision was this Onias which Mach. l. 2. c. vlt. had bene high Preist houlding out his handes to pray for al the people of Israel and after this an other man appearing meruelous for age and glory and with habit of great comlinesse about him and Onias answearing to haue said This is a louer of his brethren the people of Israel this is he that prayeth much for the people and al the holy Citie Ieremy the prophet of god The four and twenty Elders fel downe before the Lambe hauing euery Apoc. 5. one Harpes and Phials of Gold ful of sweete odores which are the praiers of Sainctes A Praier of Iudas Machabeus 2. Machab. cap. vlt. O Lord who hast sent thy Angel 4. Reg. 10. Tob. 21. vnder Ezechias king of Iuda and killed an huÌ„dred fourscore and fiue thousand of the army of Sennacherib and Eccl. 48. Is 7. 1. Mac. 7. c. now o Lord of heauens send thy good Angel before vs in feare and trembling of the greatnesse of thy strength that they which come against thy holy people may be affraid A Meditation out of S. Ciprian de mortalitate WE must consider and think with our selues that we haue renounced the world and liue here a while as strangers and pilgrimes Let vs embrace that day which appointeth euery one to his dwelling house which restoareth vs being deliuered from hence and freed from worldly snare to paradise and the heauenly kingdome What man being a pilgrime farr of would not hasten to returne to his Country Who seeking with speede to saile vnto his frendes would not wishingly desire a prosperous winde that he might quickly embrace his dearly beloued frendes We accompt Paradise to be our Country haue begonne to haue the Patriarkes for our parents Why do we noâ— make hast and runne that we may see our country and salute our parents A great number of our deare frendes expect vs there a frequent and abundant company of parents brethren children desireth vs now secure of their owne immortality and yet careful for our saluation What great and common ioy is it both to them and vs to come to their sight and embracing What pleasure is there of the heauenly Kingdomes without fear of dying with eternity of liuing How exceeding and euerlasting felicity There is the glorious company of the Apostles there the nuÌ„ber of reioycing prophets there innumerable people of Martyrs crowned for their victory of combate and suffering there Virgins triumphing which haue subdued the concupiscence of flesh and body with the force of continency there the merciful rewarded which haue done the workes of Iustice with feeding liberally rewarding the poore haue translated their earthly patrimonies to the â—elestial treasures Let vs with a greedy wishing hasten vnto these that we may desire soone to be with these and come to Christ S. Leo ser in Epiph. Dom. c. 4. Confirme your frendships with holy Angels enter into the City of god whose inhabitation is promised vnto vs and ioyne your selues in company with the patriarches Prophets Apostles and Martyrs Reioyce in such thinges as they ioy in Couet their richesse and by good emulation seeke to obtaine their suffrages S. Euseb Emiss hom de S. Stephano LEt vs enquire what neede or reason there is seeing the holy Martyrs being placed in that light of paradise neede not humane praises why they are celebrated with so great affections of men Why are their Reliques God reueling them so manifested to the world Doubtlesse for many causes First they are worshiped of careful men that they may make intercessioÌ„ for their diligent worshipers Againe that whilest they are proposed to posterity for an example of deuotion and faith they may alwaies be encreased with new merits now renowned for their vertues they may also be amplifyed by the profits of others And further that the old enemy euen before Iudgment may see the punishment of his malice by which he vnderstandeth that he haith fought for the glory of Sainctes that whom he seeth here now honoured he nedeth not doubt but there they wil be reuenged That when the whole world doth celebrate the crowne of the martired the killer of Martyrs must nedes bewaile his victory S. Augstin lib. meditat cap. 20. O House of God bright beutiful I haue loued thy comlinesse and the place of the habitation of the glory of our lord my possessor and maker Let my pilgrimage sigh vnto thee day and night Let my hart be open vnto thee Let my mind inteÌ„d thee Let my soule desire to come vnto the felowship of thy blessednes I speake vnto him that made thee that he may possesse me in thee
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