meum corpus meum adhuc mundum in conspectu tuo Lord is my body and my mynde yet cleane before thee Somtimes againe by way of huÌ„ble prayer that he wold not leaue you saying with the holy Prophet Ne derelinquas me Domine Deus meus ne discesseris à me Leaue me not O my Lord o my God depart not from me Sometimes likewise you may with great ioy of spirit recite the song of the 3. childreÌ„ DaÌ„ 3. saying Benedicite omnia opera Domini Domino laudate superexaltate eum in soecula c. Benedicite Angeli Domini Domino benedicite caeli Domino c. All yee workes of our Lord blesse yee our Lord prayse and ex tolle him for euer Blesse our Lord yee Angels of our Lord ye heaueÌ„s blesse our Lord c. As in the office of our Lady Moreouer to exercise some other actes of greate deuotion you may sometimes imagin your selfe as one wounded in soule with sundry woundes and that IESVS CHRIST the true phisitian of soules cometh to cast his woundes vpon yours to the end perfectly to heale you You may likewise sometimes by imgination transforme your selfe into the forme of a little Bee mounting vpoÌ„ the tree of the Crosse flying busily from one wound to another to gather and suck into your soule the sweete honie of his most pretious blood A briefe prayer for conclusion SWeete IESVS by the vertu of this most B. SacrameÌ„t I beseeche thee to roote vp and extirpate in me all the branches and seeds of my euil passions renue me wholy into thee so that in thee I may take a new force and viguere and that in vertu of thy grace of vicious which I haue alwayes bene I may for time hereafter become vertuous of a childe of vanitie a contemner of the world of leacherous chast of gluttenous sober of slouthfull feruent and diligent of harslie cholericke and impatient sweet meeke and patient of vnpittifull charitable of proude humble of presumptuous and ill aduised discreete and modest of vaine and light graue and settled of inconâ—â—ant firme and stable finally of a sinner and enwrapped in â—iseries I may become by thy grace just and of exemplar holie conuersation Graunt this sweete Sauiour IESV for thy infinite loue and mercie sake Amen THE LITANY OF the blessed Sacrament LOrd haue mercie Christ haue mercie Lord haue mercie Christ heare vs. O Christ heare vs. O God the Father of heauen Haue mercie vpon vs. o God the Sonne redeemer of the world Haue mercie vpon vs O God the Holy Ghost Haue mercie vpon vs. O holie Trinitie one God Haue mercie vpon vs. Liuely Bread that didst descend from heauen Haue God hidden and my Sauiour Haue mercie vpon vs. Bread of the elect Haue Wine budding foorth virgins Haue mercie vpon vs Fruitfull Bread and the delight of kinges Haue Holie Sacrifice Haue Pure oblation Haue Lambe without spot Haue Table of proposition Haue mercie vpon vs. Most pure Table Haue Foode of Angels Haue Hidden Manna Haue Memoriall of the woÌ„derfull woorkes of God Haue SupersubstaÌ„tial bread Haue Woorde made flesh and dwelling in vs Haue Holy host Haue Chalice of benediction Haue mercie vpon vs. Mysterie of faithe Haue Most highe and venerable Sacrament Haue Sacrifice of all other most holy Haue mercie vpon vs. Truly propitiatorie for the quick and dead Haue HeaueÌ„ly Preseruatiue wherby we are preserued from sinne Haue Miracle aboue al others astonishing Haue Most sacred coÌ„memoration of our Lordes death Haue Gift surpassing al fulnes Ha Chiefe memoriall of diuine Loue Haue Abundance of diuine bountie Haue Holie and most majesticall mystery Haue mercy vpon vs. Medicine of immortallity Haue mercy vpon vs. Dreadful and life-giuing Sacrament Haue Bread of the Almighty word made flesh Haue Vnbloudy Sacrifice Haue Most sweet banquet whereon the ministring Angels attend Haue Sacrament of Piety Haue Bond of Charity Haue Offerer and oblation Haue Spirituall sweetnes tasted in his proper fountaine Haue Refection of holy soules Haue mercy vpon vs. Voyage food of those which dye in our Lord. Haue mercy vpon vs. Pledge of future glory Haue mercy vpon vs. Be mercifull Spare vs o Lord. Be mercifull Heare vs o Lord. From the vnworthy receiuing of thy body blood Deliuer vs o Lord. From concupiscence of the flesh Deliuer vs. From concupiscence of the eyes Deliuer vs From pride of life Deliuer From all occasion of sinne Deliuer vs o Lord. By that desire wherewith thou desieredst to eate this Passeouer with thy Disciples Deliuer vs o Lord. By thy great humility wherewith thou didest washe the feete of thy Disciples Deliuer vs o Lord. By thy burning Charitie wherwith thou didest ordaine this diuine Sacrament Deliuer vs. By thy most pretious blood which thou hast left vnto vs vpon the Altar Deliuer vs. By the fiue woundes of this thy most holy body which thou receiuedst for vs. Deliuer vs o Lord. We sinners Doe beseech thee to heare vs. That thou wouldst increase keepe in vs true faith reuerence and deuotion of this holy Sacrament VVe beseech thee That thou wouldst voutchsafe to bring vs to the frequeÌ„t vse of this holie Eucharist by true coÌ„fession of our sinnes VVe beseech That thou wouldest voutchsafe to deliuer vs froÌ„ all heresie infidelitie blindnes of hart VVe beseech thee That thou wouldst voutchsafe to impart vnto vs the pretious heauenly fruites of this holy Sacrament VVe beseech thee That in the hower of our death thou wouldst streÌ„gthen and defend vs with this heauenly viaticum VVe beseech thee Sonne of God VVee beseech Lambe of God which takest awaye the sinnes of the world Spare vs o Lord. Lambe of God which takest awaye the sinnes of the world Heare vs o Lond. Lambe of God which takest awaye the sinnes of the world Haue mercie THE PRAYER O God who vnder this wonderfull SacrameÌ„t hast left vnto vs the memorie of thy passion Graunt vs so to woorship the sacred mysteries of thy body and blood that we may continually feele in vs the fruit of thy redemption who liuest and raignest with God the Father in vnitie of the holy Ghost one God for euer and euer Amen This which followeth may be fitlie sayed when the benediction of the B. SacrameÌ„t is giuen or coming to adore before the Tabernacle or Altar where the same is reserued IN the name of IESVS euery knee bow of the celestials terrestrials and infernals and euery tongue confesse that our Lord IESVS CHRIST is in the glorie of God the Father Phil. 2.10 And lett all the people say Amen Amen Psal 105.47 Who shall not feare the o Lord magnifie thy name because thou only art holie because all natioÌ„s shal come adore in thy sight because thy judgments be manifest Apocalip 15.4 And lett all the people say Amen Amen The lambe that was slaine is worthie to receiue power strenght honor glorie benedictioÌ„ Apoc. 5.12 And lett all the people say Amen
Amen Thou art worthie o Lord to take the booke and to opē the seales thereof because thou wast slaine and hast redeemed vs to God in thy blood out of euery tribe tongue and people natiō Apo. 5.9 And lett all the people say Amen Amen Thou art worthie o Lord our God to receiue glorie honor and power because thou hast created al thinges and for thy wil they were haue bin created Apo. 4.11 And let all the people say Amen Amen Blessed be our Lord God of Israel world without end and let all the people say Amen Amen Praise and glorie and power is to our God Amen To the king of the worldes immortall inuisibIe only God honor glorie for euer and euer 1. Tim. 1.17 Amen To the only God our Sauiour by IESVS CHRIST our Lord be glorie and magnificence empyre and powre before all worldes and now and for al worlde 's euer more Iude 25. Amen Benediction and glorie and wisedome and thanksgiuing honor and power strength to our God for euer and euer Apocalyps 7.12 Amen Saluatiō to our God which sitteth vpō the throane and to the lambe Apoc. 7.10 To him that sitteth in the throne and to the lambe benedictiō and honor and glorie and power for euer Apoc. 5.13 Amen To thee IESV CHRIST be glorie for euer Amen Rom. 11.36 To thee IESV CHRIST be honor and glorie foreuer and euer Amē Rom. 16.17 To thee IESV CHRIST be glorie and empire for euer and euer Amen 1. Pet. 4.11 To thee IESV CHRIST be glorie for euer and euer Amen 2. Tim. 3.18 To thee IESV CHRIST be honor and empyre euerlasting Amen 1. Tim. 6.10 To thee IESV CHRIST be glorie both now and vnto the day of eternitie Amē 2. Pet. 3.18 Grace with all that loue our Lord IESVS CHRIST in incorruption Amen Ephes 6.24 FINIS CERTAINE ADVERTISMENTS TEACHING MEN HOW TO LEAD A Christian life Written in Italiā by S. CHARLES BOROMEVS Cardinall of Rome FOR IOHN HEIGHAM Anno 1624. THE PREFACE OF THE AVTHOR OVr nature being now corrupted through sin is of it selfe so bent and inclined to euill that we doe easilie forgett and leaue to doe good For this cause we haue great neede of helps and encouragements whereby to liue well and of some one that continuallie may putt vs in minde thereof To this end may serue certaine aduertisments or counsels gathered here together that by often reading them eache one as in a glasse may in some part behould the forme and rule of Christian life and therin consider as well what he doth wāt as also what he ought to doe GENERALL ADVERTISMENTS THE chiefest thinge that we must procure and to which most of al we must haue an eye is to obtaine the grace of almighty God and to keep our selues in the same seeing that it is impossible without Gods grace to liue Christianlie To this wil helpe exceedinglie that we haue alwayes in our hearts the feare of God which is the beginning of our saluation and of all good taking great care that we doe not any thing which may offend his most pure and diuine eyes Haue God therefore allwayes before thine eyes in whose sight thou dost stand and who continuallie doth behould thee Cōsider often with thy selfe the end for which thou wast created which is to attaine to the gloire of heauē and that thou must goe towords this and al other creatures further thee thereūto Thinke oftentimes vpon that which is to follow after to witt perpetuall ioy in heauen or in hell euerlasting paine Be zealous of Gods honour not onlie to obserue with all diligence his holie commandements but also that his diuine name be not blasphemed nor any irreuerence done thereunto by others Beare great respect and honour to all things that appertaine to God and to al the orders of the holy Church of thy pastor procuring to obserue them intirelie as much as lieth in thee Haue great confidence trust in our Lord that hee wil dispose alwayes that which shall be most for thy good and profit Haue still an eye the prouidēce of God esteeming that nothing doth befall vs without his holie will and pleasure and that all is to drawe some good thereby Exercise thy selfe in the knowledge of thy selfe of thine owne vilenesse basenesse and miserie flying all ambitiō selfe reputation other vanities of the world Doe thou neuer trust to much to thine owne iudgment but remitt thee easily to the iudgment of others and take counsell oftētimes of spirituall and discreete persons Procure to be thankfull to God for so many benefits as thou hast receaued at his hands acknowledging them and giuing thankes and endeuoring to liue wel therby to giue him cōtentment Take thou not so much care to please men as to please God And haue alwayes an eye to that which maketh to his greater glorie and seruice Expect the rewarde of all thy paines of God and not of the world In the busines and affaires which thou hast to doe haue an intention not to doe anie thinge which is not lawfull and to doe all that thou doest for the loue of God for in this sorte shall thy workes bee all meritorious Acknowledge and ponder with thy selfe that we haue no greater riches nor treasure nor any thinge more excellent or of more profite then to loue God that all the rest doth passe away as winde smoke and shadowe Obey willinglie readielie in all things that be vertuous to all thy Superiours euen such as be temporall beare them due reuerence and respect Endeauour what lieth in thee to maintaine peace quietnes at home in thy house as much as may be possible liuing in charitie with al sorte of people whither they be maried or in any other state Procure with Gods grace to refraine bridel thy anger in such things as daylie fall out either at home or abroad not to be at debate with any one that so thou fall not into greater inconueniences Be mindfull to support the faults of others be they domestical or external euē in such manner as thou wouldest that others should beare with thee Remember well that thou art a Christian and that for this respect thou oughtest for the loue of christ to suffer patientlie such injuries as be done vnto thee yea to forgiue them and that which more is to render good for euill and to praie for thine enimies and those that persecute thee In thy tribulations and aduersities be mindfull to flie to prayer accept of whatsoeuer scourges bee they vniuersal or particular of al things els that doe happen contrarie to thy expectatiō as coming from the hands of our Lord. Dispose thou so of the substance of this worlde as if thou wert Gods factor or steward and not absolute Lord of the same and vse what thou hast for necessitie and neede but not for pleasure procure so to passe thorough these temporall things that thou
drinke vnto me in memorie of the same thy death 2. O my Lord what is the cause of this thy loue what meaneth I pray thee this Wonderfull loue Seest thou not vpoÌ„ how vilde a creature thou hast cast thy loue Wilt thou desceÌ„d now once againe into hell Wilt thou put thy selfe now once again into the handes of sinners to be crucified wilt thou once againe be borne in a stable amongst bruite beastes meaning your hart o strong o pure o vnspeakable loue 3. Deare Lord hast thou perchance lack of some subject to delight thee thou that art most happy and most perfect in thy selfe that thou searchest out a little worme of so euill life and odor as I Truly it seemeth as if that thou hadst neede of thyne owne creature for thou vsest such meanes to obtaine his loue as though thou couldest not be nor liue without him O inestimable and most sweete loue who can but be inflamed of so great a loue what hart can defend it selfe that it be not melted quite consumed with this loue Aspirations expressing our loue againe vnto our Sauiour for this singular benefitt of the B. Sacrament 1. IF all the riches of the earth were proposed vnto me If all the honors and crownes of the worlde If all the pleasures and delightes which is possible to imagin with all the knowledge both of men and Angels I would repute all as dunge and as meere nothing I would make no account at al of it in comparison O Lord of this thy sweete and vnspeakable loue 2. If all the creatures in the worlde were in my power I would moue them all in thy praise for this singular benefit which hast bestowed vpoÌ„ me If the force and vertu of all men Angels were alone in me I would wholy employ them all to magnifie thee for this thy especial loue vnto me 4. Lord Lord thy loue doth draw me thy loue doth wound me thy loue doth rauishe me O that I had in me the puritie of Angels and the inflamed and burning desires of all the B. Saintes O that I had a thousand hartes to shed foorth in thy loue and to answere to this so great a loue Aspirations very feruent into which the soule bursteth forth in great admiration of the B. Sacrament O Bread of life O bread of Angels O sanctuarie of soules o secret comforter of holy mindes O heaueÌ„ly spouse O IESVS CHRIST my delectable loue O riches of the soule O solace of the afflicted O foode of the famished O my ioy O my glorie and al my beatitude 2. O meeke lambe O milde maiestie O highe charitie o lowe humilitie o great mercie o bottomles depthe of incomprehensible bountie o my Lord hâ—â— much am I bounde for the good which thou hast done me and aboue all for the maner by which thou hast done this good vnto me 3. O heauenly Lord who so much louest me o true Pellican who in thy blood dost so quicken me o good Pastor who so dost giue thy selfe in meate vnto me o faithfull Keeper who hast so woÌ„derful a care ouer such as thou hast taken in chardge vnto thee Aspirations after receauing the B. Sacrament in vtter detestation and hatred of sinne MY God my Lord and sweetest loue neuer any more neuer any more of sinne neuer any more pleasure of the flesh neuer any more of the world neuer any more of vanity I vtterly detest all sinne whatsoeuer and to thee only doe I render my selfe to thee only will I serue obey for the time to come To thee only doe I desire to liue and die only graunt that I neuer more offend thee nor that I euer be separated from thee 2. My God I haue no greater griefe in the worlde then to think that heretofore I haue so much offended thee And to thinke that sometimes againe I may come to offende thee causeth so great a feare in my soule and doth so much afflict me that I would wish to die a thousand deathes to be out of this danger that I neuer any more become thy enimie 3. O my God permit not I beseeche thee that for the time to come I euer more displease thee And if thou forseest that ether by frailty or suggestion of the diuel liuing yet longer I shall mortally offend thee shew me the grace to take me out of the worlde and that I die before I commit the sinne actually Aspirations in which the soule defiereth wholy to be withdrawne from all creatures with a perfect resignation to God altogether to be gouerned by him 1. O My souueraigne and dreadfull Lord I would wish for the time to come neuer any more to appeare amongst men but to hide me if it were possible vnder the earth that by this meanes no earthly creature may euer regayne my loue from thee euer withdrawe my hart from thee or euer separate my affection from thee 2. O myne eyes what desire you more to see heere o myne eares what desire you more to hearken here o my toung what desirest thou more to tast here o my hart and all my sences shut vp shut vp your gates shut them vp I say perpetually to the end that neuer any thinge may haue accesse into my soule which may euer dissolue this streight coniunction betwixt my Sauiour and me 3. O my sweete and merciful Lord behould that from this very houre I doe wholy abandon my selfe to thy diuine prouidence and voluntarily and freely now and for euer giue present and consigne my selfe body and soule vnto thee desiring that thou worke in me as it shall please thee and al that it shal please thee and that on my part I neuer giue thee any lett or impediment Finally gouerne all my desires guide al my actions and workes so that all my workes may render thee obedience honor and glorie for euer and euer Amen Deuout iaculatorie coÌ„ceptions very proper to he vsed in the day wherin one hath receiued the B. Sacrament FIRrst you may burst foorth in to these wordes in manner of a spirit wholy replenisht and rauisht with ioy and say O my soueraigne Lord my Sauiour my Redeemer and my God I haue here the pledge of thy loue I haue heere the memoriall of thy death I haue heere the price of all the world I haue heere my Lord my God and al my good O wonderfull grace o wonderfull grace to haue myne owne Sauiour inclosed within my soule O my Lord and my God my spirit is swallowed vp and quiet transported into thee it is in a maner wholie melted in to thee by reason of thy loue and it causeth my hart euen to open it selfe at thy presence like as the rose before the sinne Thankes thankes thanks therfore o my Lord for so infinit inestimable and vnspeakable a benefit You may sometimes also by way of a diligent care that you would not offend him propose this demaÌ„d vnto your owne hart saying Domine est ne cor
exquisite and delicate dishes in multitude variety of viandes and delectable licours in violating and breaking the fasting-dayes commaunded and dayes of abstinence Wherfore giue me good Lord the vertue of temperance sobriety and Christian abstinēce both in my eating and drinking alwayes to haue a holy mean and measure both in the quantity quality wherby I may hould in subiection my body and sensualitie to the spirit reason and to be more vigilant in prayer meditation and contemplation of spiritual diuine heauēly thinges and other vertuous and profitable indeuours and to be so much more diligent and feruent deuoutlie reuerently to accomplishe thy diuine seruice to loue honor and laude thee for euer more Amen Pater noster Aue Maria. THE FIFTH EFfusion on Thursday FIFTHLY we ought to haue in minde thinke how the blessed Sonne of God being arriued at the mount of caluarie much trauailed wearied and exceeding feeble was by those fellons murderers rudelie and cruelly despoiled whereby all his former woundes were renewed began to bleed a freshe by reason that his coate cleaued fast vnto his blessed body the which was a maruellous paine and torment vnto him for in this violent extraction of his robe the blood ran downe a new frō all partes of his blessed bodie The figure hereof was shewed when Ioseph was despoiled by his bretheren and his coate dipped in the blood of a kidde To comforme himselfe to this article the deuout soule ought to say this prayer following The prayer for the fifthe Effusion I Salute the most pretious blood of my Sauiour IESVS shed forth aboundantlie on the mount of Caluarie by the rude and violent extraction of his coate which held and cleaued so fast vnto him that all his pretious woundes were renewed the blood dropped downe from his blessed bodie vpon the grounde I beseech thee most sweete IESVS for that willinglie voluntarilie thou wouldest be vncloathed and dispoiled nakedly before all the world suffering great shame and confusion for the shame and cōfusion of myne offences and to enriche me wouldest be depriued of all kind of comfortes make me to be intirelie dispoiled of all kinde of wordlie contentments so farr as they are ether cōtrarie or hurtfull to my saluation to the end that in all nakednes I may follow thee nakedlie crucified on the crosse And pardō me I beseeche thee all my sinnes excesses which I haue committed in my apparell ornaments and habits of superfluitie and in my garments and in all other thinges exceeding myne estate that I may say with Saint Paule I haue made all thinges as detriment and doe esteeme them as doung that I may gayne Christ. And lett me not appeare naked of al vertues merittes and good workes before thee at the houre of my death and dreadfull day of iudgment And by the vertue and Effusion of thy most noble pretious blood vouchsafe to blot out all my sinnes cōmitted by auarice and disordinate loue towards temporal goodes Which greedy auarice hath made me fall from thy grace and depriued me of the participation of thy heauenly kingdome for as the holy scripture sayth Neither the couetous nor extorsioners shall possesse the kingdom of God And our Sauiour also sayth in the ghospell I say vnto you it is a hard thing for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heauen it is more easy for a Camell to goe through the eye of a needel then for a rich man to enter into heauen O my blessed Redeemer IESVS the louer of holy pouerty who hast through all thy life from thy first entrāce into this world vnto thy death beene a true and perfect obseruer of this holy precept giue me thy grace to be poore in spirit and illuminate my vnderstanding to know and contemne for the loue of thee the vilenes abusion deception of temporal riches and of all honour glorie pompe worldly dignity and to place all my harte care and cogitation in the obtayning of spirituall riches wherby I may possesse the euerlasting and eternall treasures and to be of the number of them of whom thou speakest in the ghospel saying Blessed are the poore in spirit for theirs is the kingdome of heauen THE SIXTHE EFfusion on Friday SIXTHLY the deuout soule ought to thinke meditate and cōtemplate how our Sauiour and Redeemer Iesvs all the time they were preparing the crosse sett himselfe vpon the earth on both his knees praying to God his Father that he wold receiue his oblation and sacrifice to witt his most ignominious and bitter death for the reconciliation of all poore sinners and for the remission of their sinnes And how afterwards those inhumane murderers tooke him and furiouslie threw him vpon the crosse wheron he spread his sacred armes of his owne accorde and how his blessed handes and feete were streightly and violētlie stretched vnto the holes and hardlie fastned with boisterous nayles which put him vnto maruellous paine and intollerable torment The figure hereof was the Serpent of Bras which Moyses caused to be made and set it vp for a signe so that all those which were smitten with any disease looking thereon were healed likewise our Lord and Sauiour being lifted vp and hanging on the crosse his pretious blood ranne forth aboundantly on the earth as if it had beene forthe of foure fountaines or riuers Behould here the signe eleuated whereof the Prophet foretould saying Our Lord God shall lift vp a glorious signe amonge all nations And now cōtemplate how in all his paines and excessiue dolours as a meeke lambe he is silent and saieth nothing vnles it be to pray vnto his blessed Father for his enimies for their conuersion and saluation Wherfore the deuout soule ought here to rest him selfe and depeelie to weighe and consider the exceeding ardour of loue and charitie which the blessed sonne of God hath expressed and shewed vnto him hanging vpon the Crosse and pronouncing those seauen sacred wordes and holie sentences And with how great patience he gaue and resigned vp his holie life And how much and how many lamentations teares sighes bitter groanes was then to be heard of his dolorous mother for then was performed the prophecie of holie Simeon who sayed that the sworde of sorrow should pierce hir soule of his other frendes behoulding him in such pittiful paine and so cruellie fastned on the crosse pierced wounded for the satisfaction of our sinnes And then ought he to say with a hart contrit dolorous and replenished with compassion and teares of true loue this deuout petition following The prayer for the sixt Effusiō I Salute the noble blood of my amourous louer rūing aboundantlie as foure riuers out of his pretious body for my redemption and for the satisfaction of my manifold offences O good IESV for this maruellous charitie bountie and mercie which issued out of thy bountifull hart and for that thou wast stretched for vs vpon thy crosse with such extremitie and