goods either priuily or pertly against the owners wil as also ech other vnlawful seasing or with-holding of others substance be it by stealth violence or any fraude and legerdemain or els by vsurie or some kind of other vnlawful bargaine whereby our neighbour is defrauded and suffreth some losse and hinderance It foloweth therfore that who so in their trades and traffiques vse not equitie and vpright dealing offend against this precept Such also as discharge not their Creditours hauing meanes to pay them or that find any lost thing and restore it not either to the true owner or to the poore the owner being not extant if haply such thinges were not reputed as geuen ouer and voluntarily abēdoned of the owner Finally al fraude deceipt and tretcherie whereby our neighboures goodes is damnified to whom our Sauiour and Lorde wil haue vs to beare great loue and charitie and not to doo other-wise to them then willingly we would that they should do to vs yea that we doo them the good which they maye conuenientlye require and we likewise performe towardes them Who so faileth in anye of these thinges aforesaid doth break and violate this commaundement IN THE eight precept is al such harme forbidden as through our speeche and wordes may be procured to our neighbours as might be principally in bearing false witnes against them in place of iudgement or in speaking suche wordes out of iudgement as might eyther blemishe or quite ouerthrowe our neighbours credite and good name In like maner to reueale suche imperfections and faultes as we knowe by others to them that knowe them not not wherby they are either defamed or els made lesse accompt of especially when such thinges are reuealed with wicked intent and to those that can by no meanes redresse them By this precept is like-wise forbidden al detractions murmuringes speaking euil slaundering of others al scoffing taunting and telling of lies albeit without harme or any preiudice to our neighbours Finally we must beware of speaking or saying anye thing whereby anye harme might any wayes ensue THE NINTH precept is as a declaration of the seuenth thereby to notifie vnto vs the better what charitie God wil haue vs to vse towardes our neighbours and howe farre we ought to be from doing them anye euil being not onely forbidden to take their goodes by outward means from them but also not to desire inwardly in our heartes any vnlawful vsurpation of them And like as the desire and coueting of these thinges is prohibited vs euen so are wee to witt that eche other deliberate wil and desire of any thing what-soeuer that may be preiudicial to our neighbour is vtterly forbidden vs. THE TENTH precept is as a declaration of the sixt to doo vs the better to vnderstand what puritie of heart our Lord requireth of vs wherby we ought not onely to beware of committing aduoultrie fornication or any other carnal act as was abouesaid in the sixt but also not to haue any concupiscence or desire with determinate consent which suffiseth without committing any outwarde act to soile our soules and to procure the losse of Gods diuine grace and fauour towards vs This briefe declaration of these tenne commaundementes shal geue thee some light aswel to know the better how to keepe them as also to vnderstand howe to make thy confession better when haply thou mightest haue trespassed against any of these preceptes Note moreouer that al these tenne commaundementes are according to our Sauiors doctrine reduced vnto two of charitie towardes God and towardes our neighbour sithens who so loueth God sincerely performeth duely the three preceptes of the first table perteyning to Gods honour and who so loueth his neighbor with that sinceritie he doth him-selfe wil not faile in the seuen preceptes of the second table which instruct eche one howe to gouerne thē-selues towards their neighbours OVR LORDES praver which Christ him-selfe made instructing thereby both his disciples and al vs howe we ought to pray and aske for al necessary thinges as-wel for our soules as bodies and this in seucn petitions conteined in thi prayer PATER noster qui es in coelis 1. Sanctificetur nomen tuum 2. Adueniat Regnum tuum 3. Fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo in terra 4. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie 5. Et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris 6. Et ne nos inducas in temptationem 7. Sed libera nos à malo Amen OVR Father which art in heauen 1. Hallowed be thy name 2. Thy kingdome come 3. Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen 4. Geue vs this day our dayly bread 5. And forgeue vs our trespasses as we 〈◊〉 them that trespasse against vs. 6. And leade vs not into temptation 7. But deliuer vs from euil Amen A DECLARATION of the Pater noster ¶ Cap. 32. THIS prayer is of al other the most holy and most excellent as-wel in respect of the maker Iesus Christe our Lorde and Sauior as also for that vnder so smal a compasse is taught vs howe we are to aske al that is needful for our souls and bodies and is deuided into a preface or proeme and seuen petitions THE preface is Our Father which art in heauen fitt wordes to stirre vp such attention and deuotion as is meete to say this prayer withal for hereby are we put in minde how we speake to the moste high and Omnipotent God whom we cal father for twoo causes first by creation hauing created vs as he did al other creatures next by adoption sith through Iesus Christe his onely natural sonne he hath receaued al those that beleeue in his holy name for his children adoptiue and this word Our Father doth vs to witt what honor obedience and loue we are bound to beare towardes such a father as also what charitie we ought to haue amongst our selues being al brethren and children of one self-same Father These wordes Which art in heauen warne vs to lift vp our heartes and desires to heauen where our father is and howe we must liue here not like terrestral but celestial Citizens sith our Father is resident aboue in heauen Who is saide to be there for that he appereth there glorious to his elect albeit he be in eche other place in the selfe same substance power and presence THE FIRST petition is Halowed be thy name and is a petition worthy the childrē of such a father sith good childrē the principal care they haue is to seeke and desire whatsoeuer concerneth the reuerence and honour of their Father Euen so doo we in this first petition couet and desire that God our father be halowed and sanctified in vs that is that he be knowē honoured and reuerenced of vs we by his grace performing such works wherby al those that see vs maye prayse and glorifie this our heauenly
through famine to plucke of the eares of corne and eate them how our Sauiour likewise fasted fortie dayes in the desert and the gaule that was geuen him in his extreme thirst to drinke being vpon the froode wherof thou oughtest euerye time thou art at meate to vnbethinke thee THE FOVRTH remedie is eftsons to remember that eternal supper of heauen wherto we are al inuited as our Sauiour by one of his parables doth signifie Consider how minding to enioye this so happye and royal a supper it behoueth to absteine in the dinner of this life that by so doing thou maiest then fil and satiate thee the better like as we see in the world he that is inuited to a sumptuous sup per vseth commonly to be moderate and spare at noone not to lose the cōmoditie and pleasure of his appetite at night THE LAST remedie that a very secure one is so much as thou maiest possibly to flye al occasions of gluttony as be the feastes and iunketings of worldly mā where there is so great abundance and varietie of viandes so many meats drinkes and delicate and plesant fruites amidst the which very hardly may any man keepe sobrietie being so many thinges to allure him to gluttony Remēber what holy writt saith of our mother Eue how she saw the tree that it was good to eate and fayre and pleasant to the eye she tooke of the fruit did eate and gaue thereof vnto her husbande and thereby was cause of so great a losse both to her-self to the whole race of miserable mankinde In like maner maiest thou fal into many miseries if thou flye not the hazarding thy selfe in such like dangers REMEDIES against the troublesome tentations of slouth and idlenes ¶ Cap. 21. THERE is yet an-other vice of the fleshe engendred of the two former spoken of in the former Chapters and is called Slouth or Idlenes which is a lothsomnes and disliking of spiritual things and a negligence or fainting to beginne anye good thing or to finishe that which is entred and begon alreadye Against which vice not a litle hurtful it is conuenient likewise to be armed sith thou shalt not be without this wearines and lothsome temptations whiles thou art harboured in this fleshly body which as the scripture saith doth aggrauate and molest the soule seing that many times through attending to our bodily necessities and the importunities of our fleshe we become slouthful distract and dul to doo any good Wherfore to th' end thou be not ouercome with this domestical enemie helpe thy selfe with these considerations and remedies that I shal now prescribe thee FIRST consider the strict accompt thou must yeelde of the time that God doth graunt thee in this life to worke wel in for that as S. Bernarde saith There is no time geuen thee in this mortal life wherof thou must not render a reckning 〈◊〉 thou hast employed it For if we be to yeeld an accompt of euery idle word as truth him-selfe doth tel vs in the holy Gospel howe much the rather are we to doo the same of time spent idely and without any fruit or goodnes The which a deuout and spiritual man marking wel euery time he heard the clocke strike saide thus in his heart Ah my Lord God loe now an-other houre of my life spent wherof I am to yeeld thee a reckning and so forced him-self withal to spend the next houre better thē he had done the former SECONDLY consider howe if thou once let slip the time vnfruitfully that is geuen thee to fructifie and doo good in it can neuer be possibly recouered againe and so must thou needes afterwardes lament the losse of so pretious a thing through thy negligence and yet want meanes to winne it any more for albeit thou haue a meaning to doo wel hereafter yet is it vncertain whether thou shalt haue time and leisure graunted thee to doo so and but if thou haue yet is the good thou shalt then doo due to that present time and so both mightest and oughtest thou haue done tofore THIRDLY consider howe long painful the toils and sweats of worldlye men be to scrape a few riches together and to purchase some temporal promotion and howe they refuse no paines to satisfie others humours and to gaine their gratious lookes fauors and thus be thou vtterly confounded that they to get vaine and transitorie things should be more diligent then thou to purchace moste pretious and euerlasting riches Be ashamed likewise that they are more diligent and careful to please men but bond-slaues of the world then thou to please God that celestial and omnipotent Monarche Thus reade we of a holye Father in the liues of Saintes who on a time hauing marked the curious attire and tricking vp of a lewde losel beganne to bedew his cheekes and say Pardon me O my Lorde and omnipotent God who see that one dayes trimming vp of this strumpet surpasseth the pains I haue al my life longe bestowed to deck and beautifie my soul. The like is al-most writtē of the Abbot Pambus who hauing seene in Alexandria a woman of no lesse curious attire thē th' other fel of weeping and being asked the cause his aunswere was that he wept as-wel for the losse of that woman as also for that he employed lesse care and studie to please God then she to please men THE SECOND Remedie to make thee take paines and to worke wel in this life is to thinke estsons of the glorious fruite that these thy good trauailes and labours wil one day afforde and yeelde thee for if the husband-man doo digge and delue and til his ground in frost sknow al the colde winter winds that blow and withal this hardnes goeth so lustily away in hope of summers yeeld that some-times doth deceaue him howe much more reason is it that thou shouldest trauail and take pains to serue God in this life hoping as thou doest for so plentiful a haruest in the life to come which neuer did nor can possibly deceaue vs as both our faith and al the holye scriptures doo assure vs And if the hired seruant weigh not the toil of his whole dayes trauaile for ioye of the wages he looketh to receaue at night whye doest not thou in like maner animate thy self to worke in this life remembring the aboundant and incomparable hire that shal-be paide thee at night to wit after thy death Neither can any man attaine to so great a rewarde but by great pains and trauaile as S. Gregory testifieth Cal to minde also the anguishes griefes and infinit torments that such suffer and shal do euerlastingly as in this life through slouth and negligence refused to take any pains to serue God and to fulfil his diuine commaundementes and so be deade like barreine braunches without bearing fruit Which
for so is moste expedient forsomuch as the thinges that are here intreated of sith they be the rules and remembrances which thou oughtest in spiritual life to leuel and guide thy worke by it behoueth at al times to reade them when thou purposest to practise thē For besides that the bare reading shal-be a laudable and meritorious exercise for thee and serue as a part of prayer the reiterating and frequētation of reading shal helpe thee to learne by heart what in action thou art bound to execute and so maiest thou afterwardes exercise thee in ech point with much more facilitie and lesse adoo a great deale And therfore albeit this litle labour maye profite eche one that with good and godlye intent wil vouchsafe to reade it yet was it principally intended for the simple and more ignorant sort and for that cause haue I thought good to annexe here in the end such thinges as many of them wot not and yet are bound to knowe Seing that if euerye Artisan thinke it meete to knowe such thinges as belonge vnto his Art howe much more is a true Christian bound to knowe what appertaineth to his profession an Arte aboue al Artes and to be prepared as the Apostle S. Peter saith to yeeld accompt of that he beleeueth and hopeth and what it behooueth him to doo to liue according to Gods wil and pleasure and to obteine euerlasting life withal Wherefore for such as be in this behalfe blame-woorthye negligent I haue here set downe such thinges as without daunger of their owne wel-doing they neither ought nor can be ignorant of that by reading these notes and short remembrances they may both vnderstande what they want and learne it here commodiously without further seeking of other bookes And as for the textes I haue here set them foorth both in the latine and vulgar tonge for euery one to learne them as best shal like thē not respecting so much the wordes as the substance and sapp conteined in the same SIMBOLVM APOSTOLORVM which in vulgare tonge is called the Creede 1. CREDO in Deū Patrem Omnipotentem Creatorem coeli terrae 2. Et in Iesum Christum filium eius vnicum Dominum nostrum 3. Qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto natus ex Maria virgine 4. Passus sub Pontio Pilato crucifixus mortuus sepultus 5. Descendit ad inferos tertia die resurrexit à mortuis 6. Ascendit ad coelos sedit ad dextram Dei Patris Omnipotentis 7. Inde venturus est iudicare viuos mortuos 8. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum 9. Sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam Sanctorum Communionem 10. Remissionem peccatorum 11. Carnis Resurrectionem 12. Vitam aeternam Amen 1. I beleeue in God the Father Almightie Maker of heauen and earth 2. And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord. 3. Which was conceaued by the holy Ghost born of the virgin Marye 4. Suffred vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified deade and buried 5. Descended into hel the third day he rose againe from the deade 6. Ascended into heauen sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie 7. From thence he shal come to iudge both the quicke and the deade 8. I beleeue in the holy Ghoste 9. The holy Catholike Churche the Communion of Saintes 10. The forgeuenes of sinnes 11. The Resurrection of the bodye 12. And the life euerlasting Amen A BRIEFE declaration of the. 12. Articles conteined in the Crede ¶ Cap. 30. FOR thy better remembring of these xij Articles conteined in the Creede aforesaid wherin the whole summe of our holy Catholike fayth is comprehended I haue thought good in this second impression to adioyne a briefe declaration as-wel thereof as also of such other thinges as be needful for thee to haue by hart Wherby thou maiest easily learn not onely to rehearse the bare wordes but to sucke out the sense and sapp also of that which thou beleeuest con fessest and witnessest or at least wise oughtest to doo in al thy life and actions It is therfore for declaration of this Creede or Simbole to be noted howe God being one in substance three in person al the three persons of the most sacred and souerain Trinitie are in this Creede especified and vnto eche one of them their peculier and proper Articles assigned THE FIRST Article sheweth vnto vs the first person of the Trinitie to wit the Father vnto whom is attributed the creation of heauen earth and of al things visible and inuisible al the which as he for vs hath by his Omnipotencie created of nothing so doth he forovs through his wisdome and goodnes still mainteine and gouerne them whereby we are done to wit what great loue we are bounde to beare towarde this our so good a father who hath for vs created and kept so manye thinges What trust we may also repose in him and howe greatly we ought to dreade the offending of so omnipotent a Father THE SECOND Article declareth vnto vs the second person of the sacred Trinitie which is the Sonne who touching his diuinitie is from al eternitie ingendred of his Father of the self-same substaunce with his father and coequal to him This one only and eternal sonne of God as he tooke humane nature and fleshe vppon him is called Iesus Christe that is to saye Sauiour annointed IESVS which signifieth Saurour for that he came to saue and redeeme his people from their sinnes and CHRISTE which is as much to say as annointed for that he was annointed by the holye Ghoste ful of grace and truth He is also called MESSIAS whom God had erst promised to sende into the worlde a KING BISSHOP and LORDE for that he bought vs with his most precious bloud and thereby is geuen vs to vnderstande howe much we are bound to honour loue and reuerence him THE THIRD Article teacheth vs the incarnation and temporal natiuitre of this our Lord for that being as God eternally engendred of his father without mother he for our loue descended frō heauen and tooke humane fleshe vpon him and was as man conceaued without father or operation of man in that most sacred vessel the virginal wombe of the euermore virgin Mary and was afterwardes borne in Bethlcem of this his blessed mother she remayning euermore a virgin By this incarnation of the 〈◊〉 of God we are al of vs regenerated of carnal that we were made spiritual and the children of God in Iesus Christe THE FOVRTH Article doth informe vs of the Passion death and burial of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe who hauing preched and done many miracles for the space of three yeres the Iewes of meere spite and malice accused him to Pontius Pilate their Iudge who albeit he wist wel his innocencie and cleernes frō any crime yet did he adiudge him to suffer death vpon the Roode and so was he by that means crucified dead and buried whose holy wounds passion Crosse
and death were causes of our life and yeeld great consolation to al such as sincerely doo loue and serue him THE FIFT Article openeth to vs howe Christe our Redeemer being thus deade on the roode his most sacred soule vnited to his diuinitie discended downe to hel to fetche thence those holye Fathers that so many yeres had looked for him And afterwardes triumphing ouer death as he had alreadie done ouer the deuil and hel did rise vp the third daye by his owne power and vertue and so issued out of his Sepulchre immortal and most glorious This his example geueth hope to eche one beleeuing sinceerly in him that they shal in th' ende rise like-wise vp immortal and right glorious THE SIXT Article instructeth vs howe our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe the fortie daye after his Resurrection did with exceeding triumph ascend vp to heuen and sitteth there on the right hand of his Almightie Father that is to say in the self-same glory power and Maiestie with the Father enioying al the blisse his Father doeth and gouerning al thinges with him This glorious Ascension of Christe our head yeeldeth confidence to his true members that if they obey their head and heauenlye captaine they shal one day ascende also and reigne in heauen with him THE SEVENTH Article telleth vs of the second comming of Christe our Lorde which shal-be at the last day when he shal in humane fleshe come with great power and Maiestie accompanied with al his holye angels to iudge the vniuersal world as-wel those that be at that time liuing in erth as also al those that haue beene dead since the worlde was first created thē shal he yeeld reward to ech one according to the deedes and workes they shal haue wrought This article admonisheth vs to liue with so much more vigilant care and watchfulnes as we knowe more certainlye that al our woordes woorkes and thoughtes are to be examined and discussed of this moste dreadful Iudge before whose tribunal seate we must needes al of vs appere THE EIGHT Article sheweth vs the third person of the moste sacred Trinitie which is the holy Ghoste who proceedeth from the Father and the sonne and is with them the selfe same God eternal and omnipotent And therfore are we bound with the selfe same honour faith and dutiful obeisance to reuerence adore him This is the comforter and spirite of truth that illuminateth teacheth and sanctifieth vs and according to his diuine pleasure departeth his giftes to euery one IN THE ninth Article we confesse that there is a holye Catholike Church to wit an vniuersal congregation of the faithful which haue the very self-same faith doctrine and Sacramentes And this Church is HOLY because it is sanctified by Christ the head therof and gouerned by the holye Ghost and is CATHOLIKE that is to say vniuersal for that it embraceth al the faithful that in euerye place and time haue helde and doo holde one selfe same faith of Christe We confesse like-wise in this Article that in this holye and vniuersal Churche or congregation there is a communion of Saintes that is to say that al those that dwel in this Churche doo as in the house of God al of them communicate one with an-other such giftes as they receaue and doo one of them helpe an-other both spiritually and corporally like members al of one body THE TENTH Article propoundeth to vs the remissiō and forgeuenes of our sinnes which is obteined in this holy Catholike Church aboue saide by the vertue of Christes passion operating by meanes of such holy Sacramentes as he left in this same Churche Hence are sinners to gather a singuler comfort sithens if they be truely penitent for their trespasses and haue a ful purpose neuer after to offende their maker they haue then a redy means to recouer Gods grace again which by their vngratiousnes they had so lewdly lost THE ELEVENTH Article testifieth the vniuersal resurrection of al men who eche one of them iust or vniust shal rise againe in the last day of iudgement with their owne bodies and shal stand before the tribunal of Christes iudgement there to receaue doome in their bodies according to the good or euil they shal haue wrought in this life So that the elect that haue done good shal arise with bright and beautiful bodies to the resurrection of life and perpetual blisse and happines And the damned that haue done euil with moste horrible and vggly bodies to the resurrection of damnation and euerlasting tormentes both in their soules and bodies THE TWELFTH Article promiseth vs an euerlasting life which shal succeede after this transitorye life wherin the good rising vp in bodies and soules shal reigne eternally and enioye the inestimable treasures of blessed happines exempted from al miseries and toils that in this temporal life doo eftsons trouble vs And the wicked being also in body and soule resuscitate shal dwel in perpetual paines and abide more terrible tormentes then any mans tonge can tel This article geueth good Christians cōfort to abide al aduersitie with patience considering that eternal life we looke and hope for where being exempt from al euil we shal enioy al good thinges and reigne in euerlasting happines This worde Amen annexed to the end sheweth the most certain and infallible truth of the christian fayth confessiō conteined in this Creede THE DECALOGVE or tenne Commaundementes of the lawe of God 1. NON ae habebis Deos alienos coram me 2. Non assumes nomen Domini Dei in vanum 3. Memento vt diem Sabathi sanctifices 4. Honora patrem tuum matrem tuam 5. Non occides 6. Non moechaberis 7. Non furtum facies 8. Non loqueris contra proximum falsum testimonium 9. Non concupisces domum proximi tui 10. Non desiderabis vxorem eius 1. Thou shalt haue none other Gods but me 2. Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lorde God in vaine 3. Remēber that thou keep holy the Saboth day 4. Honour thy father and thy mother 5. Thou shalt not kil 6. Thou shalt not committ aduoultry 7. Thou shalt not steale 8. Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour 9. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house 10. Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours wife A DECLARATION of the Decalogue or tenn Commaundements ¶ Cap. 31. LIKE as we haue alreadie seene in the Creede what we are bound to beleeue euen so in these tenn commaundementes are we taught by our Lorde God what his wil is that we doo to gaine euerlasting life withal Wherefore the summe of his first precept is this to beleeue in one true and onely God which is the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghoste as is aforesaide in the declaration of the Articles and that to him alone we geue adoration honour and reuerence louing this our God aboue al things with al our heart with al our soule and
father THE SECOND petitiō is Thy kingdome come wherin we shewe the boyling desire we haue or should haue to abandon this exile and to come to that heauenlye and eternal inheritance which God hath prepared for those that loue him thither is it we craue by these wordes happily to be conducted And whiles this our flitting is deferred for so is it meete it should be we praye in this petition that his kingdome of grace doo come vnto vs that is that God by grace reigne in vs and no sinne soiorne in our soules to let vs from seruing this celestial king with whom we hope one day to liue and reigne eternallye THE THIRD petition is Thy wil be 〈◊〉 in earth as it is in heauen wherein we craue grace to obey Goddes behests with like obeisance and redines here in earth as the Angels and whole number of elect doo fulfil them in heauen and are continually conformable to his moste holye wil. We ought therefore to take great heede that in our workes we be not contrarye to our wordes and that we al enforce our selues to obey God perfectly and continually to conforme our selues to his diuine wil as-wel in aduersitie as in prosperitie saying alwayes in eche thing he shal send vnto vs Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen THE FOVRTH petition is Geue vs this day our dayly bread wherin we beg of our holye father like poore and needie creatures sustenaunce of body and soule such as may be necessary for vs in this our temporal life For our bodies we begge vnder the name of bred al other necessary thinges for the intertainment of this our transitory life and therewith according as they shal-be geuen vs ought we moderately to holde our selues contented For our soules we craue spiritual breade to wit his diuine word a sauourie sustenance for our soules and withal that moste blessed Sacrament of the Aultar with the other Sacramentes of the Churche which doo wonderfully feede foster and recure our soules infirmities THE FIFT petition is And forgeue vs our trespasses as we forgeue them that trespasse against vs. In this petitiō we craue the most grieuous and difficult debts of this life to be forgeuen vs to witt our trespasses and crimes committed whereby we remaine oblieged and thral to most greeuous calamities and nishmentes By annexing these wordes as we forgeue thē that trespasse against vs we are warned that if we wil haue God to acquit and forgeue our debts we must acquitt others and forgeue them that haue anye wayes offended vs Otherwise our petition shal in no wise be allowed THE SIXT petition is And leade vs not into ten 〈◊〉 whereby we craue Gods diuine succour knowing howe we haue many foes to fight withal in this life that with their temptations and tretcheries we be not ouercome but resisting manfullye against the worlde the fleshe and the deuil we may so merite at length to be crowned like woorthy Conquerours THE SEVENTH and last petitiō is But deliuer vs from euil wherein we craue of this most bountiful and louing father that he vouchsafe to preserue vs from the perils troubles and calamities of this life and from eche other euil that maye withdrawe or hinder vs frō diuine seruice and the obteining of that which we haue in this prayer required That last worde Amen which is as muche as So be it is a confirmation of that we haue craued wherwith we shew the desire and hope we haue to obteine our former petitions THE Salutation Angelical which is that where with our blessed Ladye was greeted by the Angel Gabriel AVE Maria gratia plena Dominus tecum benedicta tu in mulieribus benedictus fructus ventris tui Iesus Sancta Maria mater Dei ora pro nobis peccatoribus nunc in hora mortis nostrae Amen HAILE Mary ful of grace our Lord is with thee blessed art thou amongst wemen and blessed is the fruit of thy wombe IESVS Holy Mary mother of God praye for vs sinners both nowe and in the houre of our death Amen AN Exposition of this Salutation ¶ Cap. 33. FIRST we must vnderstand howe this salutation is the most holy and diuine prayer that can be possibly saide next to the former of the Pater noster seing this salutatiō was formed of the holy ghost by meanes of the Angel Gabriel S. Elizabeth S. Iohn Baptists mother and the holye Church our most sacred mother We ought not therfore to make any light accompt of this our instruction and teaching in what maner we are to inuocate the blessed virgin her fauor help how we are to salute her sith her intercession is right valable to vs ward right effectual to Godward And therefore haue the holy fathers illuminated with the holy ghoste alwais obserued this maner of saluting calling vpō her which al true Chri stians haue alwaies with cōmō cōsent vsed and doo vse in these our daies THE FIRST part of this salutatiō Haile Mary ful of grace onr Lorde is with thee blessed art thou amongst women the Angel spoke when he came to announce the celestial mistery of the sonne of God his incarnation in the blessed virgin her most sacred wōbe wherof eche time we saye this salutation we ought to be mindful yeelding God most humble thankes for this diuine misterie the first beginning of our saluation By this worde Aue which counteruaileth Reioyce or God saue thee is declared the zeal which the Angel had as also that we ought to haue towardes this most holy virgin inuiting her eftsons with this worde to be ioyful and glad for this diuine misterie and expressing therby the contentation we feele through the manifolde graces that were bestowed vpon her This word MARY being the holy name of our Souerain Lady the Angel did not vtter in saluting her but is added by the holye Churche both to signifie the better vnto vs who it is we salute as also for a deuotion sake towardes this holye name of Mary which is interpreted Lady and illuminated or Illuminatrix and sea starre eche one whereof as euery man perceueth may be right fitly applied vnto her This worde ful of grace is the first speeche wherewith the Angel praysed her and that right woorthely for so much as the grace of God is the greatest good and treasure that may be possibly desired and with it doo al other giftes come ioyntlye and heaped togetherwards With this diuine grace was the blessed virgin replenished more then euer was any pure creature as being elected to a higher dignitie and prerogatiue that is to be the mother of god Our Lord is also wont to graūt continually such graces as be necessary for the state whereto he electeth eche one It foloweth Our Lord is with thee that is to say he that properlye and absolutely is Lorde which God alone is is with thee For albeit other men here in
as that I onely liue to thee I onely loue thee I onely delight in thee that thou be my onely ioye my onely comfort my only foode wherwith my soule maye in such sort be refreshed as that al other meats seem lothsome and vnsauourie to it This onely haue I chosen this onely shal suffice me with this alone wil I liue contented satisfied and happy vntil that most desired day come when I shal feede of thee in another forme and enioye thee continually in the company of al the elect and blessed Saintes of thy celestial court where with the Father and the holye Ghost thou liuest and reignest euerlastingly Amen PRAYERS THE Translatour of this Treatise 〈◊〉 earnestly good Christian Reader to be remembred in thy praiers and that other-whiles of thy charitable deuotion which shal not be vnrewarded thou wilt offer for him to God these fewe lines in maner folowing O LORDE of infinite maiestie and mercy who desirest not the death but the deliuerance of a sinner take pitie vpō thy seruant N. and pardon his moste greeuous trespasses Graunt him grace to knowe thee and to knowe him-selfe Geue him the vertues of humilitie patience temperance chastitie and perfect resignation Deliuer him frō mortal siun during life and in the hour of death strengthen him in faith and firme hope of finding mercy So that scaping the daungers of his enemies both in his life time and in that last most dreadful houre of death he maye through thy gratious goodnes attaine to euerlasting happines there to praise thee the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost one God eternallye Graunt this O Lorde for our Mediatour and only Redeemer Iesus Christe his sake Amen Non nobis Domine non nobis sed Nomini tuo da gloriam Thy sugred name O Lorde Engraue within my brest Sith therein doth consist My weal and onely rest TO THE READER I HAVE thought good gentle Reader folowing herein the aduise of certaine vertucus and learned men to annexe in the ende of the former most excellent Treatise these few praiers that folow moued therto chiefly with this reason that such as haue not ben erst exercised in the maner of praying prescribed by the Authour might here see some practise of his preceptes touching gouernment on morninges and euenings the two especial times wheron depend the whole course of a wel-ordered life as also touching the disposition requisite both before and after confessiō with some such other prayers as I demed most necessary here to present vnto thee I hope if thou beest a Nouice and delighted with the former worke this my smale paine shal not seeme vnprofitable vnto thee which I beseech thee to vse to thine auaile whiles thou wantest better meanes And this must I say for the better credite of that which foloweth how it is not I that am the authour thereof but other famous men of the same liuery that the former is God requite al our benefactors spiritual especially and geue thee Reder such good by this whole worke as the Authours thereof doo wish thee and my poore hart affordeth thee A PRAYER 〈◊〉 be sayde in the morning before al other busines MY LORDE God and most benigne Sauiour Iesus Christe who when I was not diddest create and make me capable of thee the soueraine and only good and being made a thral and bondslaue through my fore-fathers trespasse diddest redeeme me with thy most pretious bloud and losse of thy sacred life abiding the tormentes due to my trespasses to acquit and ridd me from the same For these O Lorde and al other thine inestimable benefites namely for hauing preserued me this night past I yeelde thee moste humble zealous and obedient thankes offring my selfe whollye to thee as I am wholly thine beseeching thee also of thine infinit clemēcie to preserue me this day from any waies offending thee and to direct al my thoughtes wordes and workes to thine euerlasting glory Mine estate and calling is as thou knowest O Lorde inuironed with many difficulties here is eche one to weigh their vocation and the dangers it is subject too and through mine euil customes and wicked inclinations hardlye can I without thy special assistance passe this daye without offending in these sinnes Here must eche one cal to mind the vices he is most prone too Refreshe therfore O Lorde my concupiscence with the dewes of thy diuine grace and geue me strength to fight more manfully and to subdue al wicked suggestions Truely Lord here in humilitie and sinceritie of heart I protest neuer willingly by thy gratious fauoure to offende thy lawes and commaundementes anye more I detest al sinne and what may any wayes displease thee I desire to loue thee feare thee and serue thee this day and euermore and to direct al mine actions to thine honour and glorye Assist me Lorde with thy grace and enriche my pouertie with the plentie of thy merits Wherfore in the vnion of that charitie wherewith thou descendest from heauen into the blessed virgins wombe and afterwardes offredst vp thy selfe on the roode in sacrifice for our sinnes in the vnion of this thine incomprehensible charitie I offer vnto thee what-soeuer I shal doo thinke or speake this day Here may we briefly discourse wherin we are like to passe ouer the day beseeching thee through thy merciful goodnes to accept gouerne and enriche al in such sort as thy glorye may be therby procured my neighbours wel-fare occasioned and mine owne soule better fortified and prouided To thee my sweete and only Iesus Christ with the father and the holy Ghost be al glorye and praise euerlastingly Amen Pater noster Aue Maria. Credo c. A PRAYER to be saide to bed warde applied to the excellent instructions of the third Chapter aboue 1. SOVERAINE dreadful and most louing Lorde my God who neuer ceassest to shew thy mercy towardes sinners yea when they offende and trespasse against thee such is thine infinit clemencie and loue as then thou forbearest not to heape thy benefites vpon them I moste sinful and wicked wretche yeeld thee humble thankes for thine ineffable goodnes shewed towardes me in creating me to thine own likenes and making me capable of thine euerlasting glorye for the creation of so many other creatures for my behoufe and sustenance and for that inestimable worke of my redemption wherby thou deliueredst me from the slauerie of Satan and purchasedst me free entraunce into thy celestial Region These pointes may be fruitfully particularised according to eche one their skil and deuotion for hauing singled me amongst so many millions that know thee not and lye drow ned in ignorance and miserable errours to be thy seruaunt and a true Catholike Christian for al thy blessed Sacramentes especially for that sacrament aboue al sacraments wherin thou art thy selfe most really conteined for hauing preserued me so many times from hel wherin I had beene longe since plunged had not thou of thine inspeakable goodnes susteined and deliuered me
from my foes For these and al other thy benefites namely for those thou hast this day most bountifully bestowed vpō me Here are they particulerly to be though of O my soueraine Lorde I yeeld thee such sincere and dutiful thankes as my poore hart can possibly afforde thee beseeching the blessed virgin and al the Saintes of heauen to yeeld thee thankes and praises in supply of my want 2. AND NOWE mine only Redeemer and Sauiour I humbly craue the light of thy grace to know wherein I haue this day any wayes offended thee and that by mature and sounde discussion of my conscience I maye see mine owne sinnes with sorowe and thine ineffable mercy with a zelous and firme purpose of amendment 3. HERE MVST we examine our selues how we haue employed the day in word thought and deede towardes God and our neighbours 4. THOV SEEST O Lord my lewdnes and wotest my miserie muche better then I my selfe doo Sory I am with al my heart that I should stil offend so louing a Lord and wish to God my sorowes were greatly multiplied I purposed earst to doo better by thy grace which wanted not and yet haue I trāsgresled in my former trespasses Neither yet may I despaire O Lorde but wil continually trust to thy mercies in al euentes and purpose firmely as I nowe doo euery day to amend my life Deliuer me my gratious God from al mortal sinne for euer and geue me grace to persecute my venial vices with sorow during life And for the satisfaction of these and al my former sinnes together with al those of the world as also for al thine ineffable benefites bestowed vpon me and al man-kinde I offer vnto thee the merits of thy bitter passion those moste pretious droppes of bloud thou sheddest for me and that inflamed charitie wherwith thou wholly resignest thy selfe to al thy tormentes for my 〈◊〉 and in the vnion of this thine oblation on the roode I offer vp my self soul body and al I haue of thine within or without me to thine honour and euerlasting glory I retaine nothing to my selfe but geue al to thee whose it is and make that thine by my wil which is thine of iustice Geue me thy grace O my God to liue better her eafter and to confesse my sins in due time to my ghostly Father Geue me true humilitie and repentance grace to knowe thee and grace to knowe me puritie of heart in al my doinges patience chastitie and perfect charitie Geue me a good life and a good death and in the daungerous houre of my departure the assistance of thy blessed Saintes and Angels with whom I may through thy mercie in an-other world praise and glorifie thee euerlastinglye Amen Say then the Pater noster Aue Maria and the Creede with some short praier or hymne as thou liest thee downe to craue protection for the night and conuenient rest of bodie and soule And faile not to commend thee to thy Gardian Angel. A PRAYER to be 〈◊〉 before Sacramental Confession MOST Soueraine mightie and merciful Lorde who of thine infinite loue and mercie towards mankinde hast ordemed in thy Churche the Sacrament of Penance as a soueraine saulue to heale our spiritual woundes and to purge vs from the filth wher-with we maie after Baptisme any wayes haue defiled our soules I. N. thy most vile and ingrateful creature hauing offended thee many waies and most greeuouslye since my last Confession purpose through thy grace to flie hither for my remedie and according to thy diuine ordinance to confesse my sins vnto thy seruant hoping therby according to thy promise to receaue a ful and perfect absolution Geue me grace therefore O Lorde that like as of thy goodnes thou hast inspired into my hart a desire to apply this remedy to my ghostly griefs so I may in due reuerence contrition and sinceritie vse the same to the glory of thy name and the ful forgeuenes of my sinnes Open the secretes of my soule vnto me O Lord and make me knowe al my sinns and iniquities what-soeuer Geue me also due sorowe and contrition for the same and grace to vnfolde them to thy vicar my ghostly phisition purely plainly sorowfully and sincerely with firme and constant purpose through thy grace to amend my life hereafter Ah Lorde my gratious God and onely comfort of my soule sithens thou desirest that in al thinges I should sincerelye serue thee and I through thy grace desire nothing more then to doo the same why is it Lorde that I stil offend thee whye fal I so ofte in relapse of my former folies Thy grace is not wanting but mine vngratiousnes and inconstancie is the cause thereof whereof I moste hartily accuse me Euen nowe I mind to fight manfullye and by and by I faint and faile in my former purposes Rightly therefore am I in respect hereof to humble my selfe and to deem me to be thy most vile and abiect creature Increase in me daily thy grace and soueraine vertue of humilitie and graunt me that once I may know thee and know my selfe Thee in thy Maiestie and mercye me in mine abhominations and misery and that at length I may fight more manfully and gain the victorie ouer mine 〈◊〉 through thy gratious helpe and fauour my onely Redeemer and Sauiour Iesus Christe who with the Father and the holy Ghost reignest one God euerlastingly Amen A PRAYER to be saide after Sacramental Confession O GOD of mercie and pitie hauing nowe through thy gratious goodnes disburdened my conscience of the gilt wherwith it was oppressed and in the low liest wise I might vnfolded al the sinnes I could possibly thinke of vnto thy minister my ghostly father I most humblie beseeche thee to accept this my Confession and to forgeue me my trespasses aswel remembred as forgotten Graunt me grace O Lorde to liue more carefullie and diligentlie hereafter and to refraine from my former folies which I vtterlie detest and through thy grace doo firmely purpose neuer any more to offende in Especially O my gratious and benigne Sauior geue me grace to withstande these temptations wher-with I am most greeuously infested Here are the temptations wherwith one is most troubled to be rehearsed as also grace to eschewe al occasions of offending so much as possibly I maie The just man as Scripture telleth falleth seuen times a daie much more then shal I fal O Lorde hauing thorough mine owne most vile abhominations increased greatlye the weaknes and blindnes I receaued frō my fore-father Adam yet Lorde as I hope and purpose firmelie by thy merciful fauour to refrain from consenting to anie mortal sinne which I most humblie begg of thee to preserue me from whilest I liue so Lord wil I by thy goodnes detest and persecute my venial sins and imperfections during life Graunt me grace so to doo O merciful Lorde and that as heretofore I haue without ani remors of conscience most heinously transgressed thy commaundementes in euery sort so nowe