6. thou being vnpure and in the middest of vnpure people darest stande before the Lord of hostes Know that the holy Angels exhort vs to praier and stand with vs with ioy praying for vs. If thersore we become negligent and entertaine coÌ„trary cogitations we greatly prouoke them because they striue so much for vs and we for our selues refuse to pray to god but rather neglecting their ministery and their Lord forsaking god keepe company with vncleane deuils If thou desirest to pray transport thy self from earthly thinges to heaueÌ„ haue thy conuersatioÌ„ there not onely in wordes but in angelical action and more heauenly knowledg S. Athanasius in lib. de virginitate WHen day appeareth thou shalt recite this psalme Benedicite omnia opera c. And say the Hymne Gloria in excelsis Al you workes of our Lord blesse Canticle of the 3. ChildreÌ„ Dan. 3. in the burniÌ„g fournace you our Lord praise him and extoll him for euer Blesse our Lord ye Angels of our Lord ye heauens blesse our Lord. Al waters that be aboue the heauens blesse ye our Lord blesse our Lord al ye powers of our Lord. Sunne moone blesse ye our Lord starres of heauen blesse ye our Lord. Shoure and dew blesse ye our Lord euery spirit of God blesse ye our Lord. Fyre and heate blesse ye our Lord could sommer blesse ye our Lord. Dewes and hoare frost blesse ye our Lord frost cold blesse ye our Lord. Ice and snow blesse ye our Lord nightes daies blesse ye our Lord. Light and darknesse blesse ye our Lord lightninges and cloudes blesse ye our Lord. Let the earth blesse our Lord let it praise extol him for euer Mountaines and litle hilles blesse ye our Lord al thinges that spring in the earth blesse ye our Lord. Blesse our Lord ye fountaines seas riuers blesse ye our Lord. Whales and al that moue in the vvaters blesse ye our Lord blesse our lord al ye foules of the aire Al beasts and cattel blesse ye our Lord soÌ„nes of mâ—n blesse ye our lord Let Israâ—l blesse our Lord let it praise and extol him for euer Preistes of our Lord blesse ye our Lord seruants of our Lord blesse ye our Lord. Spirits and soules of the iust blesse ye our Lord holy and humble men of heart blesse ye our Lord. Ananias Azarias Mizael blesse ye our Lord praise and extol him for euer Because he haith deliuered vs from hel and saued vs from the hand of death preserued vs from the midle of the burning flame pulled vs forth from the middest of the fyre Confesse to our Lord because he is good because his mercy is for euer Al you that be Religious blesse our Lord god of gods praise and confesse vnto him because his mercy is for euer A Meditation vpon the same out of S. Zeno Bishop of Verona sermoutb in Dan. He was martyred vnder Galienus about the yeare 260. O Wonderful burning o verily ser 2. a spectacle worthy of god They which heare it do feare they which kindled it do burne they which were throwne into the fyre goe forth of the fournace sanctified saif by our Lord Iesus Christ Somtimes after a great punishmeÌ„t there followeth a greater glory especially in diuine thinges in which happy men with earnest deuotion rather preserue their Religion then life Vnderstand o Christian with a beleeuing ser 5. heart a thing meruelous renowmed by al example of vertues Three Hebrew children greater theÌ„ the constancy of old men stronger then the force of yong men equal to themselues defended with the mistery of the Trinity firme in one faith of the vnity in equality glorious by the victory of suffering These a barbarous King commaunded to be burned because they contemned to worship his statua who when they were cast into the fournace of burning fire the greedy fire deuoutly receaueth them the fawning flames refresh them couered with dew A meruelous thing shadow is within burning is withoâ—t within an Himne is song without lamenting is heard O great power of god the burners are burned in the burning and they that were set on fire are suruiuors in the burning triumphing go forth of the fournace our Lord Iesus Christ ser 6. performing it Reioice o Christian constantly feare god if thou wilt not feare the fire of the deuil Behold the children are not hurt with the compassing flames with the roaring fournace They confounde the barbarous king are reuâ—nged of their burners they see god death doth passe into life feare into glory who would not desire so to burne Awake o Christian and casting 8. away al sluggishnesse of secular sleepe opening the eares of thy heart learne vertue of children The Canticle of Zachary father of S. Iohn Baptist Luc. 1. ANd Zachary his father was replenished with the holy ghost and he prophesied saying Blessed be our Lord God of Israel because he haith visited and wrought the redemption of his people And haith erected the horne of saluation to vs in the house of Dauid his seruant As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that are from the beginning Saluation from our enemies from the hand of al that hate vs. To worke mercy with our fathers and to remember his holy Testament The oath which he sware to Abraham Gen. 22. our Father that he would geue to vs. That without feare being deliuered from the hand of our enemies we may serue him In holinesse and Iustice before him al our daies And thou child shalt be called the prophet Malach. 3. of the highest for thou shalt goe before the face of our Lord to prepare his waies To geue knowledg of saluation to his people vnto remission of their sinnes Through the bowels of the mercy of Zachar. 3. Malach. 4. our god in which the Orient from on high haith visited vs. To illuminate them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death to direct our feete into the way of peace Glory be to the Father c. A Praier of praise and thanks-geuing to God for his Benefites out of S. Clement Coustitut SS Apost lib. 7. cap. 38. WE geue thankes to thee o Lord omnipotent for al thy benefites because thou hast not taken thy mercies pittie away from vs but in euery generation and generation doest saue deliuer succour defend For thou hast succoured in the daies of Enos and Enoch in the daies of Moyses and Iesu in the daies of the Iudges in the daies of Samuel and Helias and the Prophets in the daies of Dauid and the Kinges in the daies of Hester and Mardocheus in the daies of Iudith in the daies of Iudas Machabeus and his brethren and in our daies thou hast releeued vs by thy great high Preist Iesus Christ thy SoÌ„ne For he haith both saued vs from the sword and by norishing deliuered vs from famine and freed vs from sicknes defended vs from a wicked
pray enter into thy chamber and the doare being shut pray thy Father in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret wil rewarde thee And when you pray speake not much as the heathens doe for they think to be heard in their much speaking therefore be not likned to them for your Father knoweth what you need before you aske him Therefore so you shal pray OVr Father which art in heaueÌ„ Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen Geue The grecke Acton epionsion Supersubstantial Bread vs this day our daily bread And forgeue vs our trespasses as we forgeue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euil Amen S. Ambrosius lib. 3. de virginitate Repeate often in thy chamber psalmes with our Lordes praier either when thou awakest or before thou goest to sleepe A deuout Meditation or exposition vpon this our Lordes praier out of S. Chromatius Bishop of Aquileia in cap. 5. Mathei O How faithful blessed a praier is this vnto vs whose order was instituted by the Doctor of life and heauenly maister And how blessed may we also be if we obserue not onely with duty of mouth but with most faithful deede of coÌ„uersation these wordes of our Lordes praier Therefore our Lord ordained this forme of praying for his Disciples for the hope of mannes saluation saying Our Father which art in heauen How great is the loue of our Lord toward vs how exceeding his mercy and piety who haith bestowed a guift of such grace vpon vs that him which is our Lord and god we which are but seruants may lawfully cal our Father By which name he doth not onely demonstrate vs now to be the seruants but also the sonnes of God Therefore because we haue obtained the grace of so great a guift that we are made not onely seruants but sonnes also we ought to do and behaue our selues as the children of god that by spiritual doing we may prooue our selues to be that which we are called according to that of Iohn He that is borne of God committeth 1. Io. 3. not sinne because his natiuity of god doth keepe him and the deuil toucheth him not But he that committeth sinne is not of God but of the deuil because the deuil sinneth from the beginning And therefore keping the sacrament of our heauenly natiuity we ought to be free from al sinne that we may deserue truly to be called or be the sonnes of god And the holy prophets knew the grace of this diuine mercy in which it is permitted vnto vs to cal god our Father as Isay saith For thou art our Father because Abraham haith not knowne vs Israel Is 63. haith not knowne vs but our Lord our Father from the beginning thy name is vpon vs. Likewise also Malachy witnessith in his booke saying For there is one Father Mal. 2. of vs al. How great is the mercy of our Lord We which before by our owne wil had chosen the deuil for our father now being borne againe by water and the holy Ghost begin to haue god our Father And therefore we ought to walk as the children of God lâ—st doing otherwise theÌ„ becometh gods children we be holden guilty vnder the vsurpation of so great a name Therefore he saith Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name not because the name of god can be hallowed of any man when he halloweth al men which saith by the prophet Be you holy as I also am holy saith our Lord. Lâ—uit â—0 But therefore we request his name to be hallowed that it may be hallowed in vs by the workes of iustice by the merit of faith by the grace of the holy Ghost which sanctification that we may receaue by such guifts the ayde of his mercy is necessary but he that is the fountaine of euerlasting holinesse needeth not any sanctification Then he saith Thy kingdome come Likewise we do not aske that he should be King who is King of euer-during worldes whose kingdome haith neither beginning nor end but that the kingdome which is celestial which he haith promised vnto vs may come But it is a signe of great confidence and sincere conscience confidently to aske that this Kingdome of our Lord may come And therefore because we alwaies pray that the Kingdome of God may come we must shew our selues such in the faith of our Lord and his commaundements that we may be worthy of his kingdome to come After this he saith Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen where also there is the like maner of vnderstanding for no man can resist or hinder god that he do not what he wil seing al thinges both in heauen and earth consist by his wil But we pray that his wil may be done in vs. And the wil of God is that beleuing in him with al our heart we fulfil those thinges which he haith commaunded to be done of which wil of god the Apostle witnesseth saying The wil of god is your sanctification that 1. Thes 4. you abstaine from carnal concupiscences Therefore when â—e say Thy wil be doâ—e in earth as it is in heauen This we pray that as the wil of god is faithfully kept of the Angels in heauen so also we must with a Religious and faithful deuotion desire the helpe of gods assistance or Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen that as in heauen that is in holy and heauenly men the wil of god is fulfilled so also in earth that is we pray that the wil of god may be done by beleefe of faith and knowledg of the truth in them which haue not yeâ— beleeued Then he saith Geue vs this day our dayly bread This saying of our Lord we vnderstand two waies first that we do not aske any thing but our daily foode For we are not commaunded to aske riches or superfluity of worldly thinges but our daily bread which to Christians that liue by faith is onely necessary for this present life as the Apostle saith Hauing foode wherewith to 1. Tim. 6. be couered with these we are content But wâ— must consâ—der that this is spiritually commaunded vnto vs that we aske our daily bread that is that heauenly and spiritual bread which we daily receaue for the curing of our soule and hope of eternal saluation of which our Lord saith in the Gospel The heauenly Io. 6. bread is my flesh which I wil geue for the life of the world And therefore we are commaunded daily to aske this bread that is that through the mercy of God bestowing it we may deserue â—aily to receaue the bread of the body of our Lord. And forgeue vs our debtes as we also forgeue our debtors This is plainely a iust and necessary saying for al men First that we acknowledge our selues to be sinners
to our praiers and do not forgeat thy people It becometh thee to be called Mother Regeneratrix Lady and Mistris in reguard that from thee issued our King Lord and our God Thou art present vnto him who though he be terrible vnto vs yet is sweete vnto thee and geueth al grace for which cause it came to passe that thou was called Ful of grace that is Luc. 1. who didest abound with algrace and that by the comming of the holy Ghost ps 44. vpon thee Therefore al the riche of the people do besâ—ch thy countenance being made rich with such good thinges and spiritual contemplations To thee we crye remember vs o most holy Virgin who euer after thy deliuery remainest a Virgin and geue vnto vs for this litle speach great guiftes out of the riches of thy graces thou that art ful of grace Wherefore we vse theese wordes as from the thing it self by nature laudatory cheifly for the song of thy praise if at any time hymne if at any time praise be offered vnto thee either by vs or any creature To thee I say our gratious Lady Queene Mistris Mother of God Arke of the Sanctuary Behould now at this time in the beginning of the day how the Angel coÌ„posed this Eucomion to thee as the first fruites of praise sayng Haile ful of Luc. 1 grace our Lord is with thee Al orders of Angels and terrestrial thinges pronounce thee blessed and lifting vp their Hierarchial handes blesse thee who art blessed in heauen and declared blessed on earth Blâ—ssed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy wombe For with such blessinges the first sacred Order doth celebrate thee which consisteth of Thrones Cherubins Seraphins who are called Flamines or knowers of the great King that is God Blessed art thou among women and blessed is thy wombe the bearer of God thy Papps which he yet an infant sucked And the second Hierarchy which containeth Dominations Powers and Potestates as hauing learned it of the higher Hierarchy and first illuminated respecting vnto thee doth crye Blessed art thou among women anâ— blessed is thy woÌ„b which conceaued God and thy ceates which brought vp god become a child Now the third holy order of Principalities Angels and Archangels vnto twhom it was commaunded and permitted from God by sending forth one Gabriel an Archangel doth vtter the most glorious most aboundant himne in these wordes Haileful of grace our Lord is with thee Then from these we that are the earthly Hierarchies bringing the exaltations of god in our voice whether because we haue learned or haue takâ—n these wordes one from an ps 149. other exalt thee with a great lowde voice Haile gratious our Lord is with theâ— O Mistris and Lady Queene and the Mother of God make intercession for vs. Because he that was borne of thee God incarnat is our god to whom is due glory magnifying and al honour and adoration and thankes giuing with the father without beginning and with the holy good viuificant spirit both now and euer world without end Amen An other out of S. Ephrem ser de sanctiss dei genitricis virginis Mariae laudibus O Lady replenish my mouth with the grace of thy sweetnesse and illuminat my mind o ful of grace moue my tongue and lippes cherfully and with ioyful mind to sing prayses vnto thee and cheefely that angelical delightful song by farr most renowned which the angel Gabriel in Nazareth did sing to thee a virgin mother of god most vndefiled That salutation I say most conuenient and agreeable and most worthy health of the world and medicine and preseruatiue of our soules O sacred virgin vouchsafe that I thy humble seruant may praise thee and ioyfully say Haile excellent and chosen vessel of god Haile lady Mary ful of grace Haile among women most blessed virgin Haile starre most refulgent from which Christ went forth Haile light most shining mother virgin Haile who hast most admirablly brought forth the king of al. Haile by whoÌ„ the most cleare sunne of iustice haith shyned Haile Queene and lady higher then al. Haile song of the Cherubim Seraphim and sacred hymne of Angels Haile peace ioy coÌ„solatioÌ„ health of the world Haile gladnesse of mankind Haile praise of the fathers and ornament of the prophets Haile bewty of martyrs and crowne of sainctes Haile glory of the godly Haile most excellent miracle of the whole globe of the earth Haile delight of al earthly creâ—tures Hail paradise of delightes and al pleasantnesse and immortality Haile tree of life ioy and pleasure Haile mother of al. Haile fountaine of grace and al comfort Haile refuge and harbour of sinners Haile propitiatorie of them that labour Haile sanctuarie in Ierusalem Haile most glorious throne of our Creator Haile illustrious most shyning brightnesse of eternitie Haile hope of al good meÌ„ afflicted with aduersity Haile sweete comfort and defence of conuertites Haile Queene and patronesse both of men and women Haile most effectual conciliatrix of the whole world Haile glory and â—oy of al preistes Haile viâ—gin comfort of the solitary liuers Haile Queene of the heauenly Citizens and Lady of Angels Haile our comfortesse that hast appeased our sorowes and mitigated our greefes and taken away al our oppressions Haile sure trust of our soule Haile firme sauegard of al Christians recurring sincerely and truly vnto thee Haile light most bright by which the world is illumined Haile bright mother of Christ sonne of the liuing god Haile notable protection glory of vs al. Hail who hast coÌ„preheÌ„ded him in thy bosome and armes that is comprehended in no space Haile who hast brought vp Christ the giuer of life Christ I say the most merciful creator of al. our most sweete lord Iesus to whom belongeth al honour glory renowne power foreuer praise and iubilation and magnificence together with the eternal fathâ—r and holy ghost now and euer world without end Amen By thâ— pâ—aiers and merites of the most holy mother of god Mary the virgin al the heauenly armies and whole company of Angels Cherubim and Seraphim prophets and Apostles Martyrs and CoÌ„fesors and by the intercessions of al Sainctes and supplications of al the blessed o my most merciful god haue mercy on thy creature and place thy humble seruantes on thy right hâ—nd in the houer of thy dredful Iudgment Amen .. An other out of the same S. Eprem orat ad Sauctiss dei Genitricem BE present vnto me now euer o Virgin Mother of God Mother of mercy benigne gentle a feruent protectrise helper in this present course of life turning from me al hostile inuasions and placing me in the way of saluation and in the last point of life conseruing my miserablâ— soule and driuing from it the darke horrible sight of most wicked deuils in the dreedful day of Iudgment deliuering me from euerlasting damnationâ— and finally
15. 16. 17. and taken me forth from the wicked time Therefore I wil confesse speake praise vnto thee and blesse the name of our Lord. Heu heu heu o Lord god behould Ierem. 32. thou hast made heauen and earth in thy great strength and stretched arme nothing wil be dificult to thee who shewest mercy on thousandes and payest the iniquitie of the parents into thâ— bosome of their children after them o most strong great and mighty the Lord of hostes is thy name great in couÌ„saile incomprehensible in cogitation whose eyes are open vpon al the wayes of the children of Adam that thou mayest render to euery one according to his wayes and according to the frute of his inuentions Blessed art thou o lord god of our fathers Dan. 3. and to be praised and exalted for euer And the blessed name of thy glory holy and laudable and exalted in al worldes Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory and exceedingly to be praised and eminently glorious for euer Blessed art thou in the throne of thy kingdome and superlaudable and extolled for euer Blessed art thou who behouldest the depthes and sittest vpon the Cherubim and laudable extolled for euer Blessed art thou in the firmament of heauen and laudable and glorious for euer I wil ioy in our lord and reioyce in Habacue 3. god my Iesus A breefe excercise of meditations prayers for such as desire to obserue al canonical houres of prayer vsed in the primatiue church stil among the religious And first for prime or first houre of the day THe sunne is risen and man shal Ps 103 goe forth to his labour and worke vntil euening A wise man wil geue his heart early Ecclesiast 39. to watch to our lord that made him wil make his prayers in the sight of the highest The kingdome of heauen is like to a Math. 20. man that is an houshoulder which went forth in the morning to hyre workmen into his vineyard and hauing made couenant with the workmen for a penie a day he sent them into his vineyard And very earely the first of the sabothes Mare 16. they come to the monument the sunne being now risen we must preuent the sunne to blesse Sap. 16. thee and worshippe thee when the day appeareth wheÌ„ morning was come al the cheefe Maâ—h 17. Preiâ—â—es and aunâ—iâ—nts of the people consulted togâ—ther against Iesus that they might put him to death and they bring him bound and deliuered him to Pontius Pilate the presâ—dent From the holy primatiue Fathers AT these houres let vs yâ—ld thaÌ„kes S. â—enedictus in Regula S. Châ—â—sâ—st l. â— de orando Deum to our Creatour Matins Prime c. We ought in forsaking our beddes to preuent the sunne rysing with diuine worshippe Tel me with what countenance wilt thou behould the sunne except first thou hast adored him that sendeth that most sweete light to thy eyes Meditate in the holy sâ—riptures Athanasius l de virginitate haue the psalter and learne the psalmes let thâ— sunne rysing see a booke in thy handes A meditation out of S. Athanasius ser in id profecti c. inuenietis pullum alligatum c. THe scribes pharasies came together into the court of Caiphas tooke counsaile against Iesus For those most desperate men were ignorant that his death would geue vnto vs immortalitie and this descending procure vnto vs our ascending into heauen for our lord arose the third day from the deade hauing spoyled hel trodden the enemy vnder foote abolished death broken the boundes of sinnes wherewith we were holden deliuered those that were bound saying arise let vs depart hence being deliuered from the seâ—uitude of the deuil Therefore let vs acknowledge our benefactor let vs glorifie the Father with the Sonne and holy Ghost let vs confesse one deitie for so ordering our life we shal possesse the kingdome of heaueÌ„ in Christ Iesus our lord An other meditation out of S. Ciprian de orat dominica BEsides the houres which were auÌ„ciently vsed now both the spaces and Misteries are encreased For also we must pray in the morning that the resurrection of our lord may be celebrated by morning prayer If in the holy scriptures Christ be the true sunne and the true day no hour is excepted from Christians but God ought often alwayes to be adored that we which are in Christ that is in the sunne and the day apply our selues to supplicatioÌ„s and to pray al the day A meditation and prayer out of S. Andreas Bishop of Cesaraea in Capadocia c. vlt. in Apocalip SVrely our Lord is a consuming fyre warmeth the soule which chastly and quietly conuerseth with him although it be could with sinne maketh it capable of that fyre which was borne to consâ—me vncleanes Euen also as the sunne whylest it doth more forceably reflect vpon a vessel of glasse ful of water by a certaine kind of boyling and refraction draweth fyre out of it though being could Therefore this being so let vs exhibite our selues not as a filthy and earthen vessel or such as cannot receaue impression of the heauenly beames but as the Temple Cor. 6. of the holy Ghost and cleane and bright glasse to the sunne of iustice that is to Christ who would al men to be saued and 1. Tim. 2. come to the knowledge of truth and doth bestow and offer vnto al so plentifully and without offence the grace of his brightnesse although it be not equally participated of al but according to the measure of the purity of the inward eye Our merciful Lord that for our sake suffered in flesh that is Iesus Christ our God graunt that we may obtaine this pure and chaist eye of minde To whom together with the Father and holy and viuificant spirit is due al glory honour and adoration now and euer for euer Amen A praier for this hour out of S. Clement Constit S. Apost lib. 8. cap. 44. O God of spirites and al flesh in comparable wanting nothing who hast geuen the sunne to guiâ—e the day and the moone starres to rule the night Behould vs now with thy merciful eyes and receaue our morning geuinges of thankes haue mercy vpon vs for we haue not stretched forth our handes to a straung God for there is not any new god to vs but thou euerlasting and infinite who hast geuen vnto vs by Christ that we might be by him hast bestowed vpon vs that we might be wel Now by him make vs worthy of euerlasting life to whom with thee and the holy ghost be glory honour and worship for euermore Amen A Praier out of S. Andâ—eas of Cesarea super cap. 47. GOd almighty graunt that our conuersation and order of life be such that it may be cause of confusion and deiection vnto the deuils and bring occasion of gladnesse vnto the Angels that together with
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
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