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
haue sought my soule they shal enter into the lower partes of the earth they shal be geuen ouer into the handes of the sword they shal be made the portions of foxes But the King shal reioyce in God all shal be praised that sweare in him because the mouth of them which speak wicked thinges is stopped Glory be to the Father to c. As it was in the beginning c. The prayer of Manasses 2. paral vlt. O Lord omnipotent god of our Fathers Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and the iust fâ—ede of them who hast made heauen and earth with al their bewty who hast tyed the sea with the word of thy precept who hast concluded the depth and signed it with thy terrible and laudable name whom al thinges do feare and tremble before the face of thy power because the magnificence of thy glory is importable the anger of thy thretning ouer sinners vnsustentable Truly great and inuestigable is the mercy of thy promise because thou art Lord most high bountiful long suffering and much merciful and sorowful for the malices of men O Lord thou according to the multitude of thy goodnesse hast promised peace and remission vnto them that haue sinned against thee and in the multitude of thy mercies hast decreed repentaÌ„ce for sinners to saluation Therefore thou Lord god of the iust hast not appointed penance for the iust Abraham Isaac and Iacob those that haue not sinned against thee but hast appointed penance for me a sinner because I haue sinned aboue the number of the sandes of the sea o Lord mine iniquities are multiplied multiplied are mine iniquities I am not worthy to behould and looke vp to the highnesse of heauen for the manifoldnesse of mine iniquities I am crooked with a great iron chaine that I may not lift vp my head and respiration is not in me because I haue stirred vp thine anger and done euil before thee I haue not done thy wil and haue not kepte thy commaundements I haue erected abominations and multiplied offences and now do bow the knee of my heat beseching goodnesse of thee I haue sinned o Lord I haue sinned and do acknowledg mine iniquities Wherefore I aske entreating thee Forgeue me o Lord forgeue me destroy me not together with mine iniquities neither being angrye for euer reserue euil thinges for me neither condemne me vnto the lowest places of the earth because thou art God God I say of those that repent and shew al thy goodnesse towardes me because thou wilt saue me vnworthy according to thy greate mercy and I wil praise thee al the daies of my life because al the power of the heauens praise thee to thee is glory world without end Amen A Praier of King Salomon prou 30. I Haue asked two thinges of thee deny them not vnto me before I dye Set vanity and lying wordes farre from me Geue me not beggerlinesse and riches geue onely thinges necessary for my liuing lest peraduenture being filled I may be prouoked to deny thee may say who is our Lord Or compelled by want may steale forsweare the name of my God A Praier of Esdras 1. Esdr 9. O My God I am confounded I am ashamed to lift vp my face to thee because our iniquities are multiplied ouer our head and our sinnes haue growne euen vnto heauen from the daies of our fathers yea and we our selues also haue sinned greeuously vnto this day Tobias 3. O Lord be mindful of me and take not reuenge on my sinnes neither remember mine offences nor the offences of my parents Sap. 9. O God of my Fathers and Lord of mercy who hast made al thinges with thy word by thy wisdome hast ordained man to rule the creatures which thou hast made And that he might dispose the world in equity and iustice and iudge Iudgment in direction of heart graunt vnto me wisdome the assistresse of thy seates reiect me not froÌ„ thy seruants for I am thy serâ—ant and sonne of thy handmaid a â—an infirme and of smal time and too little to vnderstand thy Iudgment and Lawes Ecclesiast 36. O God of al haue mercy vpon vs and haue respect vnto vs and shew the light of thy coÌ„miserations to vs and shew thy feare vpon Nations which haue not sought thee that they may know there is no God but thou may declare thy worthy thinges Ierem. 10. O Lord I know that the way of man is not his owne neither is it of maÌ„ that he may walk direct his goinges Correct me o Lord but with iudgment and not in thy fury lest thou peraduenture bring me againe to nothing Poure forth thine indignation vpon Nations that haue not knowne thee and vpon Countries that haue not called vpon thy name O Lord expectatioÌ„ of Israel al which Ier. 17. forsake thee wil be confounded they which goe backe from thee wil be written in the earth because they haue forsaken the vaine of liuing waters our lord Heale me o lord and I shal be healed saue me and I shal be saife because thou art my praise I besech thee o Lord god great and Dan. 9. terrible keeping couenant and mercy to those that loue thee and kâ—â—pe thy commandementes we haue sâ—med we haue wrought iniqiuty and â—one wickedly and gone away and dâ—parted froÌ„ thy commaundementes anâ— iudgmeÌ„tes We haue not obeyed thy seruantes the Prophets which haue spoken in thy name to our Kinges to our Princes to our Fathers and to al the people of the land O Lord iustice is to thee but to vs confusion of face o Lord confusion of face vnto vs to our kngies to our Princes Fathers who haue sinned But to thee Lord â—ur gâ—d mercy propitiatioÌ„ because we haue gone back froÌ„ thee haue not heard the voice of the Lord our god that we might walke in his law O our God heare the paier of thy seruant his petitions Ieremias in orat cap. 5. lament O Lord remember what haith chanced vnto vs and haue respect vnto our reproach Our inheritance is conuerted to aliens and our houses vnto straungers We are made pupils without fathers or mothers as widowes But o Lord thou shalt remaine for euer thy state from generation to generation Why wilt thou forgeat vs for euer Wilt thou long time forsake vs O lord conuert vs vnto thee and we shal be conuerted Baruch 2. O Lord looke downe vpon vs ftom thy holy house and incline thine eare and heare vs. Open thine eyes and see because the dead that be in hel whose spirit is taken from their bowels wil not geue honour and iustification to our Lord. But the soule which is sad for the greatnesse of euil goeth crooked weak fainting eyes and an hungry soule doth geue glory and iustice to thee our Lord. And now o Lord omnipotent Cap. 3. god of Israel a soule in distresse troubled spirit cryeth vnto thee o Lord heare
thou didest assist thine Apostles in bandes Tecla in the fyre Paul in persecutions and Peter in the waues Thou who sittest vpon the seauen Thrones at the right hand of the Father looke vpon vs and deliuer vs from the destruction of eternal death one in one the Father in the Sonne the Sonne in the Father the holy Ghost by whom and with whom is to thee in the holy Church Honour Power Glory Maiesty Authority Benedictiō Immortality both now for euer alwaies and world without end Amen A Praier to auoide damnation out of S. Andrew Archbisbop of Cesarga soone after S. Basile OVr Lord graunt that we shewing forth by liuely workes sincere and true faith in Christ may neuer heare that terrible voice of Christ Amen Amen I say vnto you I Math. 25. Luc. 13. know you not And that other Departe from me al you workers of iniquity But But may heare with open eares that blessed and euery way desireable saying Come you blessed of my Father possesse Ib. the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world By the grace clemency and mercy of him who for vs willingly did vndergoe the Crosse that is of Christ god and our Lord with whom to the Father together with the holy and vinificant Spirit be glory now and euer and world without end Amen A Praier to the blessed Trinity out of S. Augustine Medit. ca. 32. O Blessed Trinity with my lips and heart and al the power I am able I praise I blesse I worship thee and to thy clemency and goodnesse geue thankes for al thy benefites and sing an Himne of glory vnto thee holy holy holy I cal vpon thee to come in me and make me a temple worthy of thy glory I besech the Father by the Sonne I beseeh the Sonne by the Father I besech the holy Ghost by the Father and the Sonne that al vices may be driuen away from me and al holy vertues planted in me Keepe me the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and trusting onely in thy mercy Keepe me I besech thee here and euery where now and euer within with out that no place for the enemies lye open in me Thou art god omnipotent the keeper protector of al that trust in thee without whom no man is saif no man deliuered from daungers Thou art god and besides thee there is not any other god neither in heauen aboue nor in earth beneath who dost wonderful and meruelous and vnscrutable thinges without number Praise becometh thee honour be cometh thee himne becometh thee To thee al Angels to thee the heauens and al Potestates do say Himnes and sing laudes incessantly as creatures to their Creator seruantes to their Lord souldiers to their King euery creature doth magnifie euery spirit doth praise thee blessed and vndeuided Trinity An other praier to the blessed Trinity out of the same S. Aug. Meditat. cap. 33. GRaunt vnto me o Lord that so long as I am in this fraile body my heart may praise thee my tongue may praise thee and al my bones may say O Lord who is like vnto thee Thou art god omnipotent whom three in parsons and one in substance of Deity we worship and adore The Father not begotten the Sonne the onely begotten of the Father the holy Ghost proceeding from both and remaining in both the holy and indeuided Trinity one god almighty who when we were not hast mightily made vs and when by our offence we were loste by thy piety and goodnesse thou hast meruelously repaired vs. Suffer vs not I besech thee to be vngrateful for so many benefites and vnworthy so many mercies I do besech intreate and desire thee increase my faith increase my hope increase my Charity Cause vs by that I doe thy grace to be alwaies stedfast in faith and effectual in worke that by right faith and worthy workes of faith by thy mercy we may come to eternal life that there seeing thy glory as it is we may adore thy Maiesty and may say together whom thou shalt make worthy to see thy glory Glory be to the Father that haith created vs Glory to the Sōne who haith redemed vs Glory to the holy Ghost that haith sanctified vs Glory to the highest indeuided Trinity whose workes are inseperable whose rule remaineth without end Praise becommeth thee Himne becommeth thee al honour is due to thee To thee benediction and glory to thee thankes-geuing to thee our God honour power and strength for euer Amen A praier for al true beleeuers both deceased and liuing out of S. Basil in Anaphora or whosoeuer in the primatiue Church authour ther of but commonly attributed to S. Basile O Lord creatour of bodies and soules remember at thy heauenly Altar al those that are departed forth of this wretched world and refresh them in thy Tabernacle ful of al bewty Passe them ouer beyond the horrible mansions of torment and place them in thy most lightsome Tabernacles Deliuer them from the wāt of light and darknesse and take them forth of tribulation and greif and let thy countenance appeare peaceable vnto them neither enter into iudgment with them nor seuerely examine their former life but whether in word or worke they haue sinned as men in flesh forgeue abolish their errours And conuerted haue mercy on vs which yet beliuing For behould daily we moue thee to anger by our filthy and detestable maner of liuing Because there is one alone that haith not sinned and deliuereth from sinne our Lord and our Sauiour Iesus Christ by whom we al hope to obtaine mercy remission of sinnes A praier for remission of sinnes by the intercession of the B. Virgin al Sainctes out of S. Augustine Med. cap. 35. O Holy and most merciful Lord be not made vntreatable vnto me because of my sinnes but for thy goodnesse receaue the praiers of thy seruant and graunt me the effect of my petition and desire the glorious Virgin Mary thy Mother my Lady together with al thy Sainctes making intercession and praying and obtaining it Amen The vsual Hymne of the Church Te Deum We praise thee God composed first as witnesith S. Dacius Bishop of Milane lib 1. Cron. ca. 10. betwene S. Ambrose his predecessour S. Augustine when he was baptised WE praise thee God we confesse thee our lord Thee the euerlasting Father al the world doth worship To thee al Angels to thee the heauens and vniuersall powers To thee the Cherubim and Seraphim with vncessible voice do cry out Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Saboath Ful are the heauens and the earth of thy maiestie of glory Thee the glorious Queare of the Apostles Thee the laudable number of Prophets Thee the whyte cloathed army of Martyres do praise Thee the holy church throughout the world doth confesse The Father of infinite maiestie Thy venerable true onely Sonne And also the holy Ghost the comforter Thou o Christ the King of glory Thou art
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
flesh of birdes we the flesh of god The Iewes the dew of heauen we the god of heauen S. Ciril Hierosolim catech mistag 4. WHen Christ him self doth so affirme and say of bread This is my body who after dareth to doubt of it And when the same affirmeth and saith This is my bloud who would doubt and say it is not his bloud S. Chrisost hom 60. ad pop Antioch Let vs obey god in al thinges and not contradict him although that which is spoken seemeth to be otherwyse to our cogitations eyes but let his word be more worthie then our thought and sight and so let vs behaue our selues in misteries and let vs not onely haue respect to thinges put before our eyes but let vs hould his wordes for his word is infallible and our sence easie to be seduced that doth neuer faile but this doth verie oftē err Therefore because the word saith This is my body let vs obey him beleeue him and behould him with intellectual eyes He doth graunt vnto thee not onely to see him but also to eat him touch him receaue him within thee But no smal punishment is proposed to the vnworthie receauers Consider how thou art offended against him that betrayed him against those that crucified him and therefore beware lest thou also beguiltie of the body and bloud of christ they killed his most sacred body but thou after so many benefits receauest it with a polluted soule It was not enough for him to be made man to be beaten with bufets but he doth mingle him selfe with vs and not onely by faith but in very deede doth make vs his body Therfore then what ought he not to be more pure that enioyeth such a sacrifice what beame of the sonne is there that the hād which deuideth this flesh ought not to be more bright then it the mouth that is filled with spiritual fyer the tong that is embrued with that exceeding dreadful bloud Bethinke thy selfe with what honour thou art adorned what table thou dost enioy that wich the Angels seeing doe tremble at nor freely dare behould for the brightnes shyning from thēce with this we are fed to this we are vnited Primasius in cap. 10. Heb. This is one sacrifice and not many how is it one and not many whē it is offered of many in dyuers places and dyuers tymes Therefore we must most aptly consider that the diuinity of the word of god which is one and filleth al thinges is wholly every where that causeth that it be not many but one sacrifice though it be offered of many and be one body of Christ with that which he receaued in the virgins wombe not many bodyes Neither that we offer now an other great an other lesse an other to day an other to morow but alwayes the same hauing equal greatnes Therfore this is one sacrifice of Christ not diuers as the Iewes sacrifices were for if it should be otherwyse because it is offered in many places there should be many Christes which god forbid to thinke therfore he is one in al those places existing whole here and there hauing one whole body in al the places And as he that is offered euerie where is one body and not many bodies so also one sacrifice S. Casarius ep Arelaten hom 7. de pascha The heauenly authority confirmeth My flesh is truly meate my blood truly drīk Therefore let al doubt of infidelitie depart for he that is authour of the guift he also is witnesse of the truth For the inuisible preist by the power of his secret word doth chaung the visible creatures into the substance of his body and bloud Whē the creatures that are to be blessed with the celestial wordes are laid vpon the Altar before they are consecrated by inuocation of the holy name there is the substance of bread and wyne but after the wordes of Christ there is the body and bloud of Christ And what meruaile is it if those thinges which he could create with his word being created he could chaung thē with his word Yea it seemeth now lesse miracle if that which he is knowen to haue made of nothing now being made he can chaung it into a better Examine what can be difficult to him to whom it was easie by the power of his wil to make visible and inuisible thinges Prayers before receauing the B. Sacrament Math. 6. Our father which art in heauen c. giue vs this day our supersubstantial bread S. Dion Areopag l. cael hier c. 3. contem O diuine and most holy Sacrament those as it were vayles and coueringes drawen over thee by signes of obscurity being opened shew thinges clearely vnto vs and replenish the eyes of our mynd with asingular light and such as can not be couered S. Ambro. orat praeparator O Lord thou hast said with thy holy and blessed mouth The bread which I wil geue is my flesh for the life of the world I am the liuing bread which descended from heauen if any man shal eate of this bread he shal liue for euer O most sweete bread heale the taist of my heart that I may feele the sweetenesse of thy loue Cure it from sicknesse that I may perceaue no sweetenesse besides thee O most white bread hauing al delight and al taist who dost alwayes refresh vs and neuer feelest defect in thy self Let my heart eate thee let al the bowels of my soule be filled with the sweetenesse of thy taist O holy bread o liuely bread o pure bread which descendedst from heauen and geuest light vnto the world come into my heart and clense me from al infection of flesh and spirit Enter into my soule heale and clense me inwardly and without Be thou a defence continual health of my soule and body Driue from me the enemies that lye in waite for me Let them depart farre from the presence of thy power that I being both without and within defended by thee may come in the right path to thy kingdome where it is not delt in misteries as in this time but we shal see thee face to face when thou shalt deliuer the kingdome to god and the Father and god shal be al thinges in al. For then thou shalt fil me of thee with a meruelous satiety so that I shal neuer after hunger nor thirst thou who with the same god the Father and holy Ghost liuest and reignest world without end Amen S. Iacobus in Missa recept in Synod 6. general TAist and see how bountiful our Lord is who is distributed into Partes and is not diuided and geuen to the faithful and is not consumed for remission of sinnes and for life euerlasting now and euer foreuer In rhe peace of Christ let vs singe Taist see how bountiful our Lord is o Psal 33. Lord our god heauenly bread the life of al. I haue sinned against heauen and before thee and I am not worthy to be partaker of thine immaculate
misteries but thou o merciful god make me worthy of thy grace that without condemnation I may be made partaker of thy holy body c. After consecration Missa Ethiopum ascribed to S. Mathew Apostle THis is the holy honoured and liuely body of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ which is geuen for remission of sinnes and obtaining eternal saluation to them that duly receaue it Amen This is the bloud of our Lord Sauiour Iesus Christ holy honoured viuificant which was geuen for remission of sinnes to obtaine euerlasting lyfe to them that truly receaue it Amen Verily this is the body and this is the bloud of Emanuel our God Amen I beleue I beleue Ibeleue now and euer Amen This is the body and this is the bloud of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ which body which bloud he tooke of our holy and immaculate Lady Virgin Mary and vnited them to his Diuinity Amen S. Ignatius Epistol ad Ephes I desire the bread of god the heauenly bread the bread of life which is the flesh of Iesus Christ Sonne of the liuing god who was borne in the laste time of the seede of Dauid and Abraham S. Lligius Hom. 15. de vtriusque paschalis esu CHrist is offered in Sacrifice and eaten and yet remaineth one whole sure our redemer prouiding for our frailty deliuered this sacrament vnto vs That because he now cannot dye and we do daily sinne we might haue a true sacrifice by which we might be purged from our sinnes Wherefore with feare and compunction of mynd with al reuerence we ought to come to the Altar and to the table of the body and bloud of our lord and humbly say with Math. 8. the Centurion O Lord I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter vnder my roofe S. Ambros l. 4. de Sacrament cap. 5. It was great and venerable that to the Iewes it rayned MaÌ„na from heauen But vnderstand what is greater Manna from heauen or the body of Christ Truly the body of Christ who is Authour of heauen Thou dost not idly say Amen now in spirit confessing that thou receauest the body of Christ The Preist saith vnto thee The body of Christ and thou saiest Amen that is true Let thine affection hold what thy tongue confesseth S. S. Clem. Rom. Const Apost l. 2. c. 61. AFter the Sacrifice is ended let al in order receaue our Lordes body with shamfastnes feare as comming to the body of the King Let the women also with their heades veyled come in order Let the Bishop geue the oblation saying The body of Christ And let him that receaueth say Amen When the rest receaue let the 33. psalme be said lib. 8. cap. 20. Psalmus 33. I wil blesse our Lord in al time his praise alwaies in my mouth In our Lord my soule shal be praised let the meeke heare and let them reioyce Magnify our Lord with me and let vs exalt his name together I haue sought our Lord and he haith hard me deliuered me forth of al my tribulations Come vnto him and be illightned and let not your faces be confounded This poore one haith cryed and our Lord haith hard him and haith saued him from al his tribulations The Angel of our Lord wil put him selfe in the circuite of theÌ„ that feare him and wil deliuer them Tast and see how sweete our lord is Blessed is the man that hopeth in him Feare our lord al you his Saints for there is not waÌ„t to those that feare him The rich haue needed and haue beene hungry but they which seeke our lord shal want no good Come children and heare me I wil teach you the feare of our lord Who is the maÌ„ which wil lyfe loueth to see good dayes forbid thy tonge froÌ„ euil and thy lipps that they speake not deceipt Turne from euil and doe good seeke for peace and folow it The eyes of our lord ouer the iust his eares to theire prayers But the countenance of our lord vppon them that do euil thinges that he may destroy their memory from earth The iust haue cryed our lord haith hard them and haith deliuered them from al their tribulations Our Lord is neare to them that be of a trobled hart he wil saue the humble in spirit The tribulations of the iust are many our Lord wil deliuer them from al these Our Lord kepeth al their bones one of these shal not be broken The death of sinners the worst they which haue hated the iust shal offend Our Lord wil redeeme the soules of his seruantes and al that hope in him wil not offend S. Clem. Rom. sup l. 8. c. 20 When the psalme is ended let the Deacon say let vs giue thankes to him who haith made vs worthy to receaue his holy misteries and we aske that they be not vnto vs to iudgment but saluatioÌ„ vnto vs to the profit of our soule body for custody of piety remission of sinnes to the life of the world to come let vs be stirred vp in grace S. Chrisost l. 3. de Sacerdot When thou behouldest our Lord Sacrificed the preist occupyed in the Sacrifice and pouring forth praiers dost thou think thou doest conuerse with mortal men and to be on earth Art thou not rather forthwith transported into heauen and casting away al cogitation of the flesh with a naked mind and pure vnderstanding lookest about the thinges that be in heauen O miracle O bounty of God! He which sitteth aboue with his Father the same instant time is handled with the handes of al and he geueth him self vnto them that wil receaue him and embrace him THE SALVTATION of the Blessed Virgin commonly called the Aue Maria by whom composed and Meditations vpon it out of Scripture THe Angel Gabriel was sent of Luc. 1. God into a City of Galilee â—alled Nazareth vnto a Virgin despoused to a man whose name was Ioseph of the house of Dauid the Virgins name was Mary And the Angel being entred in said vnto her Haile ful of grace our Lord is with thee blessed art thou among women As Elizabeth heard the salutation v. 41. 42. of Mary the infant did leape in her wombe And Elizabeth was replenished with the holy Ghost she cryed out with a lowde voice said Blesed art thou among women and blesed is the fruiet of thy wombe The Praier added by the primatiue Church as appeareth by these Sainctes S. Aug. 5. 2. Annun Dom. Athan ser de Deip. Ephrem orat de laudib Dei Matris Greg. Naz. Trag. Chr. patiens c. O holy Mary Mother of God pray for vs sinners now in the hour of our death Amen A deuout Meditation by way of exposition vpon the first part out of S. Andreas Archbishop of Hierusa lem ser in salut Angel HAile ful of grace our Lord is with thee Haile organe of gladnesse by which the condemnation of our sinne is purged and a
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
accompting me in the number of the iust and making me heire of the inaccessible glory of thy sonne God which I desire o my Lady and Mother of God may after this exile by thy godly intercession and patronage be graunted vnto me and vnto al that humbâ—y runne to thee and fasten their hope in thee by the grace mercy and bounty of thy onely begotten Sonne our Lord God and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom is due al glory honour power and adoration with the Eternal Father and holy and viuificant Spirit now and euer world without end Amen An other out of the same S. Ephrem in Lament Mar. super pas dom O Pure and immaculate and blessed Virgin Mother of thy mighty Sonne and of the God of al without offence perfect and most sacred the hope of the dispayring and guilty we praise thee we blesse thee as most ful of grace who brought forth Christ God and man We al fal down to thee al cal vpon thee and besech thy helpe Deliuer vs o Virgin holy intemerate from al necessity approaching froÌ„ al teÌ„ptations of the deuil Be thou our reconciliatrix and Aduocate in the hour of death Iudgment and deliuer vs from the vnquencheable fyre to come the outward darknesse and vouchsaife vs the glory of thy Son o Virgin and Mother most sweete and gentle For thou alone with the God of Christians art our most secure and holy hope To whom be glory honour renowne rule for euer Amen Another of S. Ephrem ser de laud. Sanstiss Dei Genitr Virg. Mar. OInuiolate perfect wholly pure and chast Virgin Mary Mother of God Queene of al our most glorious Lady higher then the inhabitantes of heauen brighter then tâ—e beames and shyninges of the sunne more honoured then the Cherubim more holy then the Seraphim and incomparably more glorious then al the other celestial Armes the hope of the Fathers glory of the Prophets praise of the Apostles honour of Martirs ioy of Sainctts light of the most accepted Abraham Isaac and Iacob The Ornaments of Aaron brightnesse Iud. 6. of Moyses and Flease of Gedeon the crowne of the company of holy Princes al Sainctes virgins brightnesse farre exceeding and splendor inaccessible the Golden Censor most cleare Lantherne most bewtiful vessel bearing the Manna of heauen the Heb. 6. Table which brought the written Law vnto mortal men the true Arke most Apoc. 8. diuine Charter most prudent and wise wise Princesse of al and illuminating Virgin most holy comfortesse and guider of al most sacred Maiden O flamming Bush vnburned and florishing Rodde of Aaron For verily thou art the Rodde and thy Sonne the Floure For from the roote of Dauid and Salomon did spring Christ our creatour god and Lord omnipotent and alone most high Thou broughtest forth god and man Thou a Virgin before birth in birth and after his birth God thy creatour putting on flesh without seed in thy virginal wombe did not take away those keyes of the oriental gate that is euer shutt and preseruing thee o most bewtiful such a one as thou was before his birth By thee we are reconciled to Christ our God thy most sweete Sonne Thou art the onely adnocatrix and helper of sinners people destitute of helpe Thou the most saife Hauen of theÌ„ that fuffer shipwrack Thou art the comfort of the world Thou art the receptacle of orphanes redemption and deliuery of captiues Thou the exultation of the sick consotion of the sadde and health of al. al. Thou art the strength of MonKes and Eremites and hope of the secular Thou art the glory crowne and ioy of virgins Thou art the gladnesse of the world O Lady Princesse Queene most excellent exceding blessed Maiden most honoured and Lady of ladies most pure and chast We flee vnder thy defence o holy Mother of God defend and keepe vs vnder the winges of thy piety and mercy Haue mercy on vs that are defyled with the filth of sin who with very manifould offences and transgressions haue offended the Creator our god Iudg of al lest the most pernicious Sathan be insolent glory against vs lest the detestable enemy arise against vs lest we see thy seruants to fal from hope of thee or lest the tongue of detractors calumniate vs. We haue none other hope then in thee o most sincere Virgin Farr from our Mothers armes o our Lady we wretches are dedicated vnto thee and called thy Clients Therfore suffer vs not by the malignant Sathan to be led to the gates of hel For thou art our hauen o Virgin immaculate and president O holy helper we are wholy vnder thy tuission and protection Therfore we flee to thee the onely woman and with often teares o most blessed Mother besech thee and fall downe vnto thee humbly crying and praying lest thy sweete Sonne our Sauiour geuer of the life of al for many sinnes which we haue committed take vs away and like a Lyon teare our wretched soules or cut vs vp as the barren figge tree But we entreat that we may come securely to Christ enter into those pallaces of the blessed where there are not teares nor mourning nor vexation not greife not calamity not death not torment not want of place THE HOLY CREDE Or Articles of our Faith deliuered to the Church by Tradition by the holy Apostles of Christ as testify these primatiue Sainctes S. Clem. Rom. Ep. 1. Amb. Ep. 81 ad Siriac ser 38. Aug. ser 181. de temp Ireu lib. 1. haer ca. 2. l. 3. c. 4. Hier. ad Pamach Ep. 61. â—a 9. Leo ser 11. de pass dom Ep. 13. ad Pulcher. Aug. ser cont Euâ—ych Max. Taur Ep. Hom. de trad Simb paschas praef lib. de Sanct. and others I Beleue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely SoÌ„ne our Lord. Which was conceaued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Maâ—y Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried Descended into hel The third day he arose againe from the dead Ascended into heauen Sitteth at the right haÌ„de of God the Father almighty FroÌ„ thence he shal come to iudge the quick and the dead I beleue in the holy Ghost The holy Catholick Church The communion of Sainctes The forgeuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the body And life euerlasting Amen Direction out of S. Ambrose lib. 3. Virgin We ought to repeate daily the Creede as the seale of our heart in the houres before day To which when we are afraide of any thing we must runne continually For when is a souldier in campe a warriar in battaile without his signe of warfare to be decerned by A Meditation or breife exposition vpon the same Creede out of S. Clem. Ep. 1. translated by Ruffinus within 400 yeares of Cirist Ruffinus in praef ad Gaudent in Reâ—ogn vasen Conc. can 6. Alexan. 1. Ep. ex Conc. Rom. Anaclet
none vpon whom you shal see the signe Thou In the old characters of the Hebrewes which the Samaritanes vsâ— to this day the last letter is Than hauing the similitude of a Crosse which is made in the forheades of Christians and signed by often forming it with our hand A praier after the Creede out of S. Hilary l. 1â— Trin. in fine PReserue o Lord this Religion of my faith vnspotted and til my soule departeth from me geuâ— me this voice of conscience that I may alwaies kepe that which I haue professed in the Symbole of my Regeneration when I was baptised in the Father and the Sonne and the holy Ghost that is may worship thee our Father thy Sonne together with thce and may deserue thy holy Spirit which is of thee by thy onely begotten Sonne Because there is a fitt witnesse for my faith vnto me saying Father al my thinges are thine and thine are mine my Lord Iesus Christ remayning in thee and of thee and with thee alwaies God who is blessed for euer Amen An other inter oper sancti Cipriani de Symb. which som ascribe to S. Cip. others to Ruffinus OVr Lord vouchsaife to graunt vs that keeping the Faith which we haue receaued after our course is eÌ„ded to expect the crown of Iustice laid vp in stoare and to be found among them that rise againe to euerlasting life to be deliuered from confusion and euerduring reproach by Christ our Lord by whom to God the Father almighty with the holy Ghost be glory and rule world without end Amen Meditations and praiers vpon those wordes of the Creede Communion of Sainctes may be vsed before Iournay or other busines Gen. 48. THe Angel which haith deliuered me froÌ„ al euils blesse these children The Angel of our Lord wil put him Ps 33. self in the compasse of them that feare him and deliuer them He haith geuen his Angels charge Psal 90 of thee that they kepe thee in al thy waies When thou didest pray with teares Tob. 12. buriedst the dead left thy dinner and hiddest the dead in the day in thy house and buriedst them in the night I did offer thy praier to our Lord. I am Raphael the Angel one of the seauen which stand before our Lord. The vision was this Onias which Mach. l. 2. c. vlt. had bene high Preist houlding out his handes to pray for al the people of Israel and after this an other man appearing meruelous for age and glory and with habit of great comlinesse about him and Onias answearing to haue said This is a louer of his brethren the people of Israel this is he that prayeth much for the people and al the holy Citie Ieremy the prophet of god The four and twenty Elders fel downe before the Lambe hauing euery Apoc. 5. one Harpes and Phials of Gold ful of sweete odores which are the praiers of Sainctes A Praier of Iudas Machabeus 2. Machab. cap. vlt. O Lord who hast sent thy Angel 4. Reg. 10. Tob. 21. vnder Ezechias king of Iuda and killed an huÌ„dred fourscore and fiue thousand of the army of Sennacherib and Eccl. 48. Is 7. 1. Mac. 7. c. now o Lord of heauens send thy good Angel before vs in feare and trembling of the greatnesse of thy strength that they which come against thy holy people may be affraid A Meditation out of S. Ciprian de mortalitate WE must consider and think with our selues that we haue renounced the world and liue here a while as strangers and pilgrimes Let vs embrace that day which appointeth euery one to his dwelling house which restoareth vs being deliuered from hence and freed from worldly snare to paradise and the heauenly kingdome What man being a pilgrime farr of would not hasten to returne to his Country Who seeking with speede to saile vnto his frendes would not wishingly desire a prosperous winde that he might quickly embrace his dearly beloued frendes We accompt Paradise to be our Country haue begonne to haue the Patriarkes for our parents Why do we noâ— make hast and runne that we may see our country and salute our parents A great number of our deare frendes expect vs there a frequent and abundant company of parents brethren children desireth vs now secure of their owne immortality and yet careful for our saluation What great and common ioy is it both to them and vs to come to their sight and embracing What pleasure is there of the heauenly Kingdomes without fear of dying with eternity of liuing How exceeding and euerlasting felicity There is the glorious company of the Apostles there the nuÌ„ber of reioycing prophets there innumerable people of Martyrs crowned for their victory of combate and suffering there Virgins triumphing which haue subdued the concupiscence of flesh and body with the force of continency there the merciful rewarded which haue done the workes of Iustice with feeding liberally rewarding the poore haue translated their earthly patrimonies to the â—elestial treasures Let vs with a greedy wishing hasten vnto these that we may desire soone to be with these and come to Christ S. Leo ser in Epiph. Dom. c. 4. Confirme your frendships with holy Angels enter into the City of god whose inhabitation is promised vnto vs and ioyne your selues in company with the patriarches Prophets Apostles and Martyrs Reioyce in such thinges as they ioy in Couet their richesse and by good emulation seeke to obtaine their suffrages S. Euseb Emiss hom de S. Stephano LEt vs enquire what neede or reason there is seeing the holy Martyrs being placed in that light of paradise neede not humane praises why they are celebrated with so great affections of men Why are their Reliques God reueling them so manifested to the world Doubtlesse for many causes First they are worshiped of careful men that they may make intercessioÌ„ for their diligent worshipers Againe that whilest they are proposed to posterity for an example of deuotion and faith they may alwaies be encreased with new merits now renowned for their vertues they may also be amplifyed by the profits of others And further that the old enemy euen before Iudgment may see the punishment of his malice by which he vnderstandeth that he haith fought for the glory of Sainctes that whom he seeth here now honoured he nedeth not doubt but there they wil be reuenged That when the whole world doth celebrate the crowne of the martired the killer of Martyrs must nedes bewaile his victory S. Augstin lib. meditat cap. 20. O House of God bright beutiful I haue loued thy comlinesse and the place of the habitation of the glory of our lord my possessor and maker Let my pilgrimage sigh vnto thee day and night Let my hart be open vnto thee Let my mind inteÌ„d thee Let my soule desire to come vnto the felowship of thy blessednes I speake vnto him that made thee that he may possesse me in thee
morning and saluation in tyme of trouble S. Athanasius l. de virginitate siue meditatione Whether thou rysest or sittest or doest any worke or eatest or goest to bed to sleepe or rysest from bed let not the praise of god be absent from thy lippes S. Ephrem de Panoplia Defend thy selfe with the signe of the crosse signing therewith thy sitting downe and rysing vp thy bed whatsoeuer thinges thou passest by first signe them in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost S. Ambros l. 3. virgin Repeate often in thy chaÌ„ber our lordes prayer either when thou awakest or before thou goest to sleepe Our father which art in heauen halowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy c. S. Ephrem ser de laudib sanctiss virg Mariae O Lady o ful of grace moue my tongue and my lippes to sing praises vnto thee and especially that angelical soÌ„ge which the Angel Gabriel did sing vnto thee Haile Mary ful of grace our lord is with thee blessed art thou amoÌ„g women c. S. Ambros sup l. 3. virginit We ought daily to rehearse the Crede in the houres before day I beleue in god the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth and in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our lord c. S. August l. mediat cap. 40. O Lord god omnipotent I commend to thee this day and euer my soule my body my seing hearing tast smelling touching my thoughtes affections speach deedes and al my both external and internal thinges sense and vnderstanding memory my faith and beleefe perseuerance into the hand of thy power that thou vouchsaife to keepe them dayes and nightes houres momeÌ„ts O holy Trinity heare me and preserue me from al euil from al scandal from al mortal sinne from al deceiptes and infestations of deuils and enemies visible and inuisible by the praiers of the Patriarkes by the merits of the Prophets by the intercession of the Apostles by the constancy of Martyrs by the faith of Confessors by the chastity of Virgins and by the supplication of al thy Sainctes that haue pleased thee from the beginning of the world S. Ambrosius in hymn O holy Father now that we haue refreshed our body with sleepe we arise and besech thee to be present with vs praying vnto thee Let our tongue cheifly praise thee and the feruour of our minde seeke after thee to be the beginning of our works Let darknesse geue place to light and the night to day that al offence which the night haith brought may sodainly fal downe We humbly besech thee to cut of al occasion of sinnes that we may praise thee for euer S. Ambros hym ad laud. fer 2. O Brightnesse of the Fathers glory light of light and fountaine of light the day that doth lighten the day and true â—unne come downe into vs shyning with eueâ—lasting brightnesse and infuse into our senses the beame of the holy Spirit With our praiers we cal vpon thee Father Father of eternal glory Father of effectual grace to abaÌ„don our pronesse to sinne informe our diligent actions blunt the teeth of the enemy prosper our aduersities geue vs grace to do our dutie gouerne and rule our minde Aurelius Prudentius in Cathemerin hymn Matâ—tin O Night darknesse confused misty cloudes of the world depart away the skye is bright Christ doth come this hour is profitable for al mâ—â— for euery one to do his businesse that he affecteth souldier Citizen Mariner workman plowman Marchant But we that know thee alone o Christ do learne to pray vnto thee with a pure and single mind thee we besech weping vpon our knees we liue by this art we begin these duties now the Sunne is risen and shyneth Haue a care of our senses and reguard to al our life let so many thinges obscured with darknesse be purged with thy light Commaund that al vncleanes being taken away we continew such as we were made in baptisme Whatsoeuer the night of this world haith infected vs with the dark cloudes thereof Thou the light of the sunne vouchsaife to illuminate with thy cheaâ—ful countenance Let that darknesse now cease which hitherto haith drawne vs headlong with vnhappy steps in wandring errour Let this light bestow clearnes vpon vs make vs cleane that we speak no subtilty and think of nothing that is of darknesse Let the whole day be so spent that neither our tongue nor hand nor eyes commit any sinne nor any offence defyle our body For he that behouldeth al thinges from aboue is present that continually seeth our actions from the beginning of morning to the euening He is witnesse he is arbitrator he behouldeth whatsoeuer mannes minde conceaueth he is the Iudge whom no man can deceaue Missa S. Iacobi Apost receaued Concil Constantinop 6. general Can. 32. LEt vs pray to our Lord to forgeue vs our sinnes and graunt pardon to our offences and deliuer vs from al tribulation anger dauÌ„ger necessity That we may spende al our daies in perfection peace and without sinne Let vs al aske of our Lord the Angel of pâ—ace the faithful guide keper of our soules and bodies Let vs aske of our Lord pardon remission of our sinnes offences Let vs aske of our Lord thinges that are good and profitable to our soules bodies that he wil geue peace to the world Let vs aske of our Lord that we may finish the rest of our life in peace and health Let vs aske of our Lord that we may perseuer in Christian and sincere faith to the end without sorow greif or infamy and a good defence before that fearful and dreadful Tribunal of Christ Let vs aske of Christ for thou art that good Annunciation Illumination Sauiour keeper of our soules and bodies God and thy onely begotten Sonne and thy most holy spirit now and euer and world without end Amen Miss Mozarab The grace of God the Father almighty the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ the communication of the holy Ghost be with vs for euer Meditations and prayers for the morning I Loue them that loue me and they Pro 8. that watch to me in the morning shal finde me In the morning I wil watch vnto Is thee I haue cryed to thee o Lord and Ps 87. in the morning my prayer shal come before thee It is good to confesse vnto our lord Ps 91. sing vnto thy namâ— o most highest to shew forth thy mercy in the morning The people did offer their prayers Exod. â—6 Ps 62. daily in the morning In the morning I wil meditate on thee because thou hast bene my helper The kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ is like an househoulder Mat. 20. that went forth earely in the morning to hyre workemen into his vineyard S. Clem. Roman constitut 55. Apostol l. 2. c. 63. Exhort the people dayly to frequeÌ„t the church in the morning euening and neuer at al to be absent S. Clem.
tongue For al thy gifts by Christ we geue thankes vnto thee who hast geuen vs voice framed for confession Thou hast lent vnto vs a tongue as an instrument for the Harpe and Organe Thou hast graunted vnto vs an agreable taist a conuenient touching sight to behould hearing to apprehend voices smelling to perceaue odoures handes to worke feete to walke al these thinges thou doest forme of a litle drop in the womb and after information bestowest an immortal soule and bringest forth into light man a reasonable creature whom thou hast instructed with lawes adorned with iustifications and after dissolution of his short time hast promised Resurrection Therefore what life could be sufficient or what excellency of praises would be enough that we might geue thankes vnto thee But this we are not able to performe answearably to thy deseruinges yet we ought deuoutly to performe it so much as we are abâ—e For thou hast deliuered vs from the impiety of them that worship many gods and those that killed Christ Thou hast freed vs from heresies recalled vs froÌ„ the errour of ignorance sent Christ vnto men that he might be maÌ„ which was god onely begotten hast placed vs in the comforter appointed Angels ouer vs dishonoured the deuil When we were not thou hast made vs being made thou preseruest vs thou ministrest life geuest foode hast promised penance For al these thinges glory be to thee and honour by Iesus Christ now euer for euer Amen An other praier of praise or thankes out of the same S. Clement Constit SS Apost lib. 7. ca. 35. GReat art thou o Lord almighty and great is thy strength and there is none end of thy wisdome Creatour Sauiour riche in graces patient and shewer of mercie which takest not away saluation from thy creatures For by nature thou art god sparest sinners prouoking them to penance for thy correction is ful of mercies For how should we sustaine it if we were called to sudaine Iudgment when longe time expected we hardly cast away infirmity The heauens declare thy power the earth poysed with stability the sea wauing with agreable greatnes feeding infinite multitudes of liuing creatures The sande is bridled trembling at thy commaundement and causeth al men to crye O Lord thy workes are magnified thou hast Ps 103. made al thinge in wisdome the earth is replenished with thy workes The ardent armie of Angels and the intellectual Spirits doe say one holy the Seraphim together with the Cherubims Is 6. with their sixe adorned winges singing vnto thee an Himne of victory with a neuer ceasing voice crye forth Holy Holy Holy Lord of Hostes the heauen and earth are ful of thy glory Also the other multitudes of orders Angels Thrones Dominations Principalities Potestates Powers crying forth do say Blessed be the glory of god Ezechiel 3. from his place But Israel that is the Church on earth gathered together of the gentiles imitating the heauenly powers day and night with a ful heart and willing mind do sing The Chariot Ps 67. of god with ten thousandes manifould thousandes of reioycers our lord amoÌ„g them in Sinai in the holy The heauen haith knowne him because he arched it resting vpon noe supporter and made it stable as a four-square stone who also gathered togetheâ— into one the earth and water and diffused the aire from whence life spirit should be drawne to which he ioyned the fire for warmnesse and putting away of darknesse The company of starres is amazed shewing forth him that numbreth them Ps 146. and declaring him who nameth them The liuing creatures also are astonished at him that inspireth their life and the trees at him that planteth them Al which thinges created with thy word denownce the greatnesse of thy power Wherefore euery man ought with al his heart to geue praise vnto thee by Christ for al those thinges seeing by thee he posseseth them al for thou art gracious in graunting benefites and boutiful in shewing mercy who alone art omnipotent for when thou wilt power is in thee to be able to do it For thy eternal Dan. 3. Dan. 14. Iou. 2. might cooleth the flame bridlâ—th the lyons maketh the whale geÌ„tle succourreth the sicke ouerthroweth powers destroyeth the army of enemies the proude multitude of people Thou art in heauen in earth in the sea in the vttermost bondes thy selfe circumscribed with no bond of thy greatnesse there Ps 144. is no end And o Lord not we alone say this but it is the oracle of thy seruant saying And thou shalt know with thy heart Deu. 4. that thy lord thy god is god in heauen aboue and in earth beneath and there is no other but he for there is no god but he alone There is not an holy besides thee lord god of knowledge the God of Sainctes holy aboue al that are holy For they which are made holy are vnder thy haÌ„d thou art glorious exalted inuisible by nature vnserchable in iudgmentes whose life wanteth nothing duration without chaunge and variety operatioÌ„ without labour maiesty contained with no boundes Comlinesse euerlasting a mansion place vnaccessible an habitation vntransmigrable knowledge interminable truth inuariable a worke with out midle power without deceiptes rule without succession strength without aduersary the multitude of thine army is greate For thou art the father of wisdome authour of nature by the Mediatour as cause diposer of prouidence Lawgiuer replenisher of pouerty reuenger of the impious and rewarder of those that be iust of Christ God and Father and the Lord of those that worship him whose promise is infallible iudgment incorruptible sentence not entreatable piety vnexhausted benignity eternal for whom worthy deserued adoration is due to thee of euery reasonable and holy nature Iudith 16. LEt vs singe an Himne vnto our Lord let vs sing an Himne vnto our god Adonai Lord thou art great and excellent in power and whom noe man can ouercome Let euery creature serue thee because thou hast said the word and thinges were made thou hast sent thy spirit and they were created and noe man can resist thy wil. The mountaines shal be moued from the foundations with waters the rocks shal melt as waxe before thy face but they which feare thee shal be great Ecclesiastic 51. 1. 2. with thee in al thinges O Lord our King I wil confesse vnto thee and praise thee god my Sauiour I wil confesse vnto thy name be 10. 11. cause thou art made my helper protector I looked for the help of men and it was not I remembred thy mercy o Lord for thou deliuerest those that expect thee I haue called vpon our Lord the Father of my Lord that he would not leaue me in the day of tribulation and in the time of the proude without helpe I wil praise thy name dayly and extol it 14. in confession and my prayer is heard and thou hast deliuered me from perdition
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
the suffering of our substance but by alteration of al the world For our Lord hanging in his tormente euery creature did groane with him and al the elementes together did feele the nailes of the Crosse nothing was free from that punishment that drew both earth and heauen to communicate with it that brake the rockes opened the graues vnlocked hel and hid the beames of the Sunne with horrour of grosse darcknesse The world did owe this testimony to his Authour that in the ending of their maker al thinges would haâ—e an end Therefore being deliuered from the power of darcknesse loosed from the bandes of our old capâ—iâ—ity with so great a price so great a Sacrament doe your endeuour o most beloued that by no cunning the deuil corrupt the integrity of your mindes Let al that are regenerated by water the holy Ghost remember whom they haue renounced and by what profession they haue cast of from them selues the yoke of tirannical ouerruling Let them neither in prosâ—erity nor aduersity runne to the deadly help of the deuil If god be for vs Who is against vs Rom. 8. Who spared not his owne Sonne but gaue him for vs al how haith he not also with him geuen vs al thinges who liueth and reigneth world without end Amen A Meditation vpon Christes Pas in Mount Caluary out of S. Athanasius in passion Saluat THey cast lottes for his coate Math. 27. Ps 21. Ps 15. that Christ might be our lotte as the psalmist writeth Our Loâ—de is the portion â—f mine inheritance my cuppe Wherefore he suffereth 4 To this coÌ„sent Tertul. l. 2. cont Marc Basil in c. 5. leuit Epiph. haeres 46. Chrisost ho. 84. in Ioan Ambros l. 5. ep 9. August de temp ser 71. et q. 161. ingen and others not in any other place nor in any other Region but in the place of Caluary 4 which the Maisters of the Hebrewes say was the graue of Adam for they affirme that he was buried there after the curse And if it be so I can not but wonder at the peculiar conueniency fitnesse of his passion for it behoued that our Lord desireous to make a renouation should first renew Adam that his sinne being loosed he might quite take away sinne from mankind And forasmuch as Adam heard spoken vnto him Thou art earth into earth Gen. 3. thou shalt returne So now againe he might heare Be thou raised that sleepest Is 60. arise from the deade and Christ wil lighten thee Aâ—d againe Arise follow Ib. me that thou treâ—â—e not the earth any longer but maiest ascend to heauen For it is needeful that our Sauiour being raised Adam and al descending of him should be also raised with him And as when Adam died we were al dead so also our Lordes body being raised of necessity al must be raised with him For this is the minde of the wordes of Paule writing to the Corinthians Euen as in Adam al men dye so in Christ al shal be 1. Cor. 15. quikned A Direction or Meditation out of S. Bafilâ— q. diffus q. 37. WE iudg praier to be necessary at the Sixt Hour for imitation of the Sainctes that say In the euening and morning Ps 54. Noone-time I wil declare shew and he wil heare my voice And that I may be deliuered from incursion and Noonâ—-time dâ—uil let the 90 psalme be said HE that dwelleth in the aide of This psalme is cited in the prayers for eâ—eniâ—g â—lso by the same S Basile his Direction the highest shal abide in the protection of the god of heauen He wil say to our Lord thou art he that receaueth me and my refuge my god I will ope in him Because he haith deliuered me from the sâ—aâ—e of hâ—ntâ—â—s and from câ—â—el spâ—ach With his shoulders he wil shâ—dow thee and vnder his winges tâ—â—u shalt trust His tâ—uâ—h shal compasse thee about with a shâ—â—ld thou shalt not be affraid of the feare of the night Of the arrow flying in the day of the worke walking in darknesse of incursion and noone-time deuil A thousand shal fal from thy side ten thousandes on thy right hand but he shal not approach to thee But thou shalt behould with thyne eyes and see the rewarde of sinners Because o Lord thou art my hope thou hast appointed the most high for my refuge Euil shal not come to thee and scourge shal not draw neare to thy Tabernacle Because he haith geuen charge to his Angels ouer thee that they keepe thee in al thy waies They shal cary thee in their handes lest peraduenture thou maist hitte thy foote at a stone Thou shalt walke vpon the Aspis Basiliske and treade vnder thy foote the Lyon and Dragon Because he haith trusted in me I wil deliuer him I wil protect him because he haith knowne my name He haith cryed vnto me and I wil heare him with him I am in tribulation I wil deliuer him and I wil glorify â—im I wil replenish him with length of daies and I wil shew vnto him my saluation Glory be to the Father c. A praier vpon the Pâ—ssion out of S. Athanasius in Euang. of the pasion Crosse of Christ WHat must we doe here Nothing els but that we beleue in Christ and liue according vnto him as paule saith Be folowers of me as I also am of Iesus Christ Philip. 3. Let vs stick vnto the Crosse and liue worthy of it and say the same wordes with Paul God forbid I should glory but in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ Gal. 6. For when we shal so haue liued and beleued in our Lord we shal know his assumption into heauen and his sitting at the right hand of maiesty behould the subiection of the Angels vnto him and his comming againe with glory whom the Angels foreshew the Saincctes doe singe vnto and al seeing reioice and are glad in Christ Iesus by whom to the Father be glory and rule for euer Amen An other out of S. Ephrem S. de passione Domini O Lord I worship thee O diuine I blesse and praise thee O holy I besech thee O god louer of men I fal downe vnto thee and glorify thee o Christ that thou the onely begotten Lord of al thinges alone without sinne art for me a most vnworthy sinner deliuered vnto death death of the Crosse that thou mightest deliuer the soule of a sinner from the bondes of sinnes And what shal I render to thee for al these thinges o Lord O most bountiful glory to thee Glory to thee o most merciful Glory to thee o most patient Glory to thee that remittest the sinnes of al. Glory to thee that didest descend to saue our soules Glory to thee that wast incarnate in the Virgins wombe Glory to thee that wast borne for vs. Glory to thee that wast held for our cause Glory to thee that wast bound Glory to
was crucified the suÌ„ne darkned and lightned againe for it behoueth creatures to compassionate with there creatour The veale was cutte water bloud flowed out of his side the earth quaked the rockes were rent the dead rysing do testify the faith of the last and common resurrection Al which thinges who is able worthily to praise But none was such as the miracle of my saluation a few droppes of bloud reforming al the world But o great and holy pasouer and expurgation of al the world O word of God and light and life and wisdome and power for I ioy at al thy names O Issue and cogitation seale of that great minde o word intelligible and man visible who bearest al thinges crowned with the word of power let vs suffer noe euil stay the tiranny which the body beareth against vs. Thou seest o Lord whom how it beareth downe except we be purged by thy suffrage or by thy self But if we shal worthily be dissolued from this desire and receaued in the celestial tabernacles peraduenture there also we shal acceptabâ—y sacrifice vnto thee on thy holy Altare o Father and worde and holy Ghost because al glory honour and power is to thee for euer Amen PRAIERS DAYLY To be vsed for the Euening The Meditation or Preparation to Praier out of S. Cesarius Bishop of Arles Hom. 31. LEt vs pray with sighing forceable crying or groaÌ„ing according to that prophetical saying I did roare for the groaning of my heart Ps 37. Let vs pray not with a sounding voice but with a conscience crying vnto our Lord. When we pray so much as we are able Let vs labour by the helpe of god that noe extrauagant cogitation creepe into vs lest peraduenture we may haue one thing in our heart and vtter an other with our mouth lest by chaunce while our tongue praieth vnto god our cogitation occupied with diuers thinges may goe away from the meaning of our praier so from thence procure sinne from whence it might haue had remedy For if before any mighty persoÌ„ thou wouldest pleade any necessary cause sodainly turning from him breaking of thy speach in the middest thou shouldest busy thy self with some scurrilities what iniury thinkest thou thou should doe vnto that person with whom thou didest speake or how shouldest thou procure his anger against thee If therfore speaking with a man we laboure with al intention of mind lest thinking on any other thing we may be thought to doe a wrong to him vnto whom we speake When we speake vnto god in praier and alledg the miseries of our sinnes before so great a Maiesty are we not ashamed do we not blush our senses being made captiues to runne about hither and thither and with many businesse to abstracte our vnhappy minde from behoulding the diuine Maiesty And therefore euery one before he kneleth downe in praier by the helpe of god let him put away al superfluous cogitations from the intention of his minde that our soule being inflamed with the feruour of the holy Ghost may consume al vice with the fyre of compunction or praier and disperse farre of al wauering and wandering cogitations that onely vâ—rtue and holy Meditations may alwaies finde place in our heartes Meditations praiers for Euening LEt euery one take a Lambe throughout their families or houses Exod. 12. And the whole multitude of Israel shal offer it in sacrifice at the Euening Let my praier be directed as incense Ps 140. in thy sight the lifting vp of my handes an euening sacrifice While it was euen he sate downe Math. 26. Marâ— 14. Luc. 22. with his twelue Disciples And whiles they were at supper Iesus tooke bread and blessed brake and he gaue to his Disciples and said Take ye eate This is my body And taking the Chalice he gaue thankes and gaue vnto them saying Drinke ye al of this for This is my bloud of the new TestameÌ„t which shal be shed for many vnto remission of sinnes When it was euening there came a Math. 27. certaine riche man of Arimathea named Ioseph who also himself was Disciple to Iesus He went to Pilaâ—e and asked the body of Iesus Then Pilate commaunded that the body should be deliuered Watch therefore for you know not Marc. 13â— when the Lord of the house may come whether late in the euening c. I haue cryed to god and our Lord Ps 54. wil saue me In the euening I wil declare shew he wil heare my voice A Meditation of S. Basile orat in S. Iulittam When the day is ended geue thaÌ„kes vnto him who haith geuen the same vnto vs to serue our daily laboures fyre to lighten night and for the rest of the necessities of life And let the night propose vnto vs other argumentes of praier When thou shalt looke vp vnto heauen and haue thine eyes fixed on the bewtie of the starres pray vnto the Lord of visible thinges and adore god the best workman of al creatures who made al thinges in wisdom when thou shalt see al nature of liuing creatures detained in sleepe Againe adore him that looseth vs though against our wil by sleepe from the continuance of laboures by a litle rest reduceth vs againe to the force of our strength S. Clem. Const Apost lib. 8. cap. 4. Make your praiers at the euening geuing thankes because our Lord haith geuen vs the night for a rest of our day laboures Daily come together in the morning l. 2. c. 63. euening singing praying in Churches in the euening saying the 140. psalme O Lord I haue cryed vnto thee Ps 140. heare me Harken vnto my voice when I shal crye vnto thee Let my praier be directed as incense in thy sight the lifting vp of my handes an euening sacrifice O Lord put a watch to my mouth and a doare of standing about to my lippes Decline not my heart into wordes of malice to excuse excuses in sinnes With men that worke iniquity and I wil not communicate with the chosen of them The iust shal correct me in mercie and rebuke me but the oyle of a sinner shal not annoint my head Because as yet also my praier in thinges of their delight their Iudges are swallowed vp ioyned to the rocke They shal heare my wordes because they were able as the thicknesse of the earth is broken out vpon the earth Our bones are scattered abroade neare to hel because to thee o Lord o Lord mine eyes in thee I haue trusted take not away my soule Keepe me from the snare which they haue laid for me and from the scandals of those that worke iniquity Sinners shal fal in his nette I am alone til I passe away Glory be to the Father c. Clem. Const Ap. l. 8. c. 41. RAise vp and saue vs o God by thy Christ lifting vp our selues let vs desire the mercies of our lord and his commiserations the
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
Whosoeuer of vs goe to stand before and speake with our King let vs not take this course vnprepared lest peraduenture he seing vs farre of without armour and not hauing on a stoale worthy the Kinges sight he commaunde his attendantes and seruantes to cast vs bound farre from his face into exile they vpbraid vnto our face our negligent and interrupted prayers A Meditation out of S. Basile l q. diffus explicat q. 37. WHen the night beginneth let petition be made that the rest which we are to take may be without offence and free from al imaginations for which intent also at this hour it is necessary to say the 90. psalme HE that dwelleth in the help of Ps 90. the highest shal abide in the protectioâ— of the God of heauen He shal say to our Lord thou art he that receaueth me and my refuge my god I wil hope in him Because he haith deliuered me from the snare of hunters and from cruel speach With his shoulders he wil shadow thee and vnder his winges thou shalt trust His truth shal compasse thee about with a sheild thou shalt not be affraid of the feare of the night Of the arrow flying in the day of the work walking in darknesse of incursion and midday deuil A thousand shal fal from thy side ten thousandes on thy right hande but he shal not approach to thee But thou shalt behold with thine eyes and shalt see the reward of sinners Because o Lord thou art my hope thou hast appointed the most high for my refuge Euil shal not com to thee scourge shal not draw neare to thy Tabernacle Because he haith geuen charge to his Angels ouer thee that they keepe thee in all thy waies They shal beare thee in their handes lest peraduenture thou hitte thy foote at a stone Thou shalt walke vpon the Aspis Basiliske and treade vnder thy foote the Lyon and Dragon Because he haith trusted in me I wil deliuer him I wil protect him because he haith knowne my name He haith cryed vnto me and I wil heare him with him I am in tribulation I wil deliuer him and I wil glorify him I wil replenish him with length of daies and I wil shew vnto him my saluation Glory be to the Father c. A Meditation out of S. Athanasius l. de virginitate IT is good to poure out teares before our Lord and to be mindful of the twelfth hour because at that our lord descended into hel which beholding him quaked for feare saying who is this that is come downe with authority and great power Who is this that descending from heauen was crucified by me when I am death it self is not subdued Who is it that haith broken the brasen gaites of hel sheuered in peeces the Adamant barres Who is it that haith loosed the bands of them which by me were detained â—aptiues Who is this that by his death haith throwne me downe into death Therefore at that hour we ought to be more attentiue in the night time to cal vpon our Lord with teares A praier for Euening appointed so by Clemens lib. 7. Constit Apostol cap 28. O Children praise our Lord praise the name of our Lord. We praise thee we celebrate thee we blesse thee for thy great glory King of our Lord thine annointed the immaculate Lambe that taketh away the sinnes of the world Praise becommeth thee Hymne becoÌ„meth thee Glory becommeth thee God Father by thy Sonne in the holy Ghost for euer Amen Canticle of S. Sim. Luc. 2. NOw thou doest dismisse thy seruant o Lord according to thy word in peace Because mine eyes haith seene thy saluation Which thou hast prepared before the face of al people A Light to the reuelation of the gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel Glory be to the Father c. A Praier being as it were an abbrâ—uiate somme of mannes faith and salnatioÌ„ out of S. Sophronius Arch Bishop of Constantinople lib. de Angelorum excell O Lord Sauiour God word who rulest aboue without beginning coÌ„taining al things who in exceding strength excellest bringest life to al feare to al who by thine onely beck hast made the heauens and earth and al thinges contained within their compasse who first in thy minde didest conceaue the Angels and thy conceipt was thy worke for what thou didest conceaue in thy minde that with thy onely word thou hast effected and brought to passe By and by with like art and facility of the dust of the earth thou framedst man according to thine Image and similitude and being made a litle meaner then Angels and adorned with free wil thou hast appointed him King and Lord of al created thinges that he might enioy those good thinges which thou hadst prepared for him in paradise which he also so long enioyed vntil snared seduced by the serpent wife he broke thy diuine commaundements in eating the apple of the deadly tree Wherefore he presently fel from his kingly dignity and shutte forth of paradise incurred punishment worthy his deedes that is into weping and seruile behauiour into sweat labour and greife into sadnesse and sorow and which is truly the most bitter of al punishments at last into iustly deserued death and dissolution into earth from which he was first taken and produced But thou o Lord truly gentle and merciful didest not despise that substance which aboue al deare vnto thee the deuils tyranny had oppressed But being to effecte that dreadful mistery which before al worldes thou had decreed thou didest exinanite thy self that art the wisdome mind word and Character and bound and Image and Seale and Sonne expresse forme of the Father For by the holy Ghost thou didest both dwel in the chast Virgin receaued from her a birth which is aboue al reason For thou didest not at al loose her Virginal clausures but as when thou haddest not flesh thou didest enter into her by such meanes as thou knowest so hauing receaued flesh thou didest goe forth of her againe leauing the doare of her wombe shut as it was before Soone after thou didest vndergoe thy Crosse drinking gaule and vinegre mingled together and pearced through with a speare thrust into thy side At the length freely suffering death hast destroyed death it self and rewarded the whole world with immortality and restoared perfectly the deformed Image and that old malediction which by the tree was brought vpon men thou hast bâ—otted out Therefore o thou King and maker of al thinges who alone art the framer of so great and admirable matters and hast made al thinges that continually are extant for the common profit of mortal men and art accustomed not without Fatherly affection to punish those which haue deserued punishment when sitting at thy Tribunal seat thou shalt bring al men to iudgment Vouchsaife me with al that I remember in my minde to stand on thy right hand O beholder of al thinges