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
vnited Praier is the seale of Virginity fidelity of matrimonie a sheild to trauailers a keepeâ— of the sleeping trust of the waking Praier is a conuersation and conference with God a contemplation of thinges not seene a sure confidence of thinges desired an estate of the same honoure with Angels a going forward and increase of good thinges an ouerthrowe of thinges that be euil an amendement of sinners â—he fruit of thinges present are representation of thinges to come Praier made the whale an house vnto Ionas Reduced Ezechias from the Ionas 3. 4. Reg. 20 Dan. 1. dores of death to life for the 3. children it changed the flaming fyre into a cooling wynde erected a Trophee of victory for the Israelites against the Amalacites Exo. 17. 4. Re. 29. and in one night slew with aÌ„ inuisible sworde one hundred foure scoare and fiue thousand of the Assirians And we may finde examples not to be numbred of such thinges as are already chanced by which it is manifest that among those thinges which in this life be embraced and esteemed pretious nothing is to be preferred before praier When where and how to pray out of S. Chrisostome homil contra Pseudoprophetas HEare the Apostle crying Pray ye without intermission that is â— Thes 5. at al time both night and day and euery hour both when thou art about thy worke in thy Iournay kepest thy flock tillest thy ground sleepest Expect not our Lordes day or festiual day or disterence of places For the name of God is not confined with place for in his hand are al the endes of the ps 94. earth Therefore Dauid the Prophet praying euery day and night expected not differeÌ„ce of places but weping said admonishing his soule O my soule blesse god in al place of his domination Therefore ps 10â— expect not day or hour but pray euen when thou art at home and in thy iournay when thou lyest downe and when thou rysest and in euery place pray vigilantly diligently not requesting riches not honour or glory not prosperity nor any thing els of this world transitory or vnprofitable for al these thinges are corruptible ende in corruption whether thou namest the greitest riches or preeminent humane glory or any thing els of such thinges as be on earth with which meÌ„ vse to be puffed vp But pray for thy saluation alone pray for the necessities of thy neboures and pray with humility with teares with contrition and knock coÌ„tinually or rather without ceasing and daily for euery one that asketh receaueth Math. 7. and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shal be opened Perfection and attention in praier out of S. Ephrem ser de viâ—ginitate FOllow the steps of the holy Fathers which haue bâ—ne eminent in virginal chastity and chast and religious life in praiers and fastings Loue the exercise of diuine thinges desire Praier the familiar conference with God For euery holy and pure praier conuerseth familiarly with God The praier of them that perfectly desire God with gladnes and much tâ—ust continually pearceth heauâ—n it self In it the Angels and Arch-angels râ—ioycâ— and present it before the Throne of the holy high Lord of al. For then the greatest ioy shyneth vnto them if at any time they offer before our holy Lord the praiers of iust men that loue God Therefore study in life vertues to be a follower of tâ—e holy Fathers Walke in the pathes of their way and life kepe the vertue of coÌ„tinency as they did execute it in mind execute it in spirit execute it in body execute it in habit also in meate and speach behoulding cogitation and laughter that in all thinges thou maist proue a perfect chaÌ„pion Looke to thy self lest at any time in praier thy minde wander hither and thither but when thou standest praying to god order thy self before him with feare trembling Cut out of thy heart al thoughts cares of earthly thinges be wholly in time of praier as an heauenly Angel so stâ—iue that thy praier may be holy and pure vnspotted and irreprehensible that when the heauenly gates shal see it ascend vp ward reioycing they may of their owne accorde presently be opened that the Angels and Archangels seeing it may al reioycing meete it and offer it before the holy and high throne of our immaculate lord Theâ—fore be thou alwaies in praier ioyned to God as the Cherubim Seraphim Cause god alwaies to rest in thy soule that thou maist there be found ful of coÌ„fidence in that terrible dredful hour when Christ our Lord shal come to render vnto euery one according to his Ro. 2. Apoe 22. work To whom be glory and power world without end Amen An other out of the same S. Ephrem â—er Asc de vita Rel. paren 50. AS if a man standing before a King and talking with him being called by his felow seruant should leaue the honourable glorious speach of the King and turne him self to talk with his seruant euen so a Religious man in the time of his singing that draweth his minde from god and turneth him self to fables and toyes with others Therefore let vs consider before whom we are placed For as the Angels with great feare trembling do stand before the Creatour singing himnes vnto him euen so ought we in the time of praier and singing to appeare before god with a pure heart and with reuerence and feare lest we be thought to stand before him and intende to praiers onely in body but in minde in the meane time to be occupied with earthly businesse For euen as a ship boate that is carried vp downe with waues of the sea euen so a Monk whose minde is distracted with businesse and cares of the world An other out of the same S. Ephrem de orand Deum TAke heede thou ceacest not to pray as often as thou canst kneele downe when thou can not call vpon God in thy minde both at euening morning and none-time If thou put praier before thy worke rising forth of thy bed shalt take the beginning of thy motions from praier sinne wil not enter into thy soule Praier is a conference with God equal honour with the Angels promotion of the good auersion from the wicked and amendement of sinners There is no possession in mannes life more precious then praier Neuer suffer your selues to be seperated froÌ„ this neuer depart from this but as our Lord saith let vs pray that our labour be not in vaine Mat. 6. The deuotion and attention to be vsed in praier out of S. Ciprian de orat dom WHen we are at praier we oâ—ght to attende and geue our selues with all our heart to praiers Let al carnal and worldly cogitation depart Let not the minde then think vpon any thing but that alone which it praieth Therefore the Preist before praier when he haith said the Preface prepareth the mindes
then that we so pray our sinnes to be forgeuen of god as we our selues forgeue them that sinne against vs. Which if we do not we make our selues guilty before god by our owne wordes the scripture saying A stronge snare is to man his owne lippes Whereupon Salomon not vnworthily also not ignorant by the holy ghost of the forme of this our Lordes praier forwarned vs saying Thou shalt not lye a word in thy praier For what man can or dareth to lye vnto God in praier except peraduenture he which according to our Lordes praier asking pardon for his sinnes of god doth not forgeue them that sinne against him Moreouer he saith And leade vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euil There is a dooble reason and diuers causes of this temptation Because by sinne temptation is brought in to soÌ„me for their amendement to others for proofe of their faith to others for their glory as blessed Iames witnessith in his Epistle saying Blessed is he which Iac. 1. haith suffered temptation because being made blessed he shal receaue the crowne of life which god haith promised to al that loue him Therefore we do not pray that we be not tempted at al but â—hat we be not geuen ouer to temptation aboue that which the power of our faith doth suffer The Apostle that he might shew the same haith witnessed so saying But god is faithfull who wil not suffer you to be teÌ„pted aboue that which you are 1. Cor. iâ— able but wil make with temptation also an ouergoing that you may be able to sustaine Therefore we do not pray to haue that temptation which may be profitable vnto vs taken away but that which excedeth the measure of our infirmity And therefore fitly and necessarily in the end of the praier we pray to be deliuered from euil which doth not geue ouer daly to assault our faith with diuers temptations from which to be deliuered we iustly daily pray lest hindered by his suggestions we can not kepe the commaundements of god Therefore al The excellâ—cy of our loâ—des Praier thinges necessary to our faith saluation are contained in this short praier of our Lord while we professe the profession of the name of Father while we aske that the signification of his name be in vs while we â—treate that the kingdome of god may come while we pray that his wil be done in vs while we besech for daily foode earthly or heauenly for the hope of our saluation while we craue pardon of our sinnes while we pray to haue greauous temptation taken from vs last of al when we desire continually of our Lord to be deliuered from that euil which is authour of al sinne which thing how it was to come to passe the holy Ghost foretould long agoe by Isay saying Our lord Isay 10. wil make abreuiated word through â—l the world to whom is honour pâ—aise and glory together with the holy Ghost before al worldes and now and euer world without end Amen Meditations praiers vpon that petition giue vs this day our supersubstantial or dayly bread out of scripture and may be vsed before receauing Io. 6. I Am the liuing bread which haue descended from heauen if any man shal eate of this bread he shal liue for euer the bread which I wil geue is my flesh for the life of the world Iesus tooke bread blessed brake Mat. 26. gaue to his disciples and said take and eate this is my body c. this is my bloud of the new testament to be shed for many to remission of sinnes Take this is my body c. this is my Mar. 14. bloud of the new testament which shal be shed for many This is my body which is geuen for Luc. 22. 1. Cor. 11. you c. This is my body c. Meditations of this supersubstaÌ„tial bread out of the fathers S. Iustin Apol. 2. ad Anton. WE do not take these thinges as common meate or common drinke but euen as by the word of god Iesus Christ our preseruer being made man had both flesh and bloud for our saluation so also we haue receaued that the meate which is consecrated by the praiers of the speach which we receaued of him is both the flesh and bloud of Iesus Christ that was made man For the Apostles in their Commentaries which are called Gospels haue deliuered that Christ so coÌ„maunded them that he taking bread when he had geuen thankes said doe this in memory of me this is my body S. Ciprianus L. de caena Domini The supper being ordered among the sacramental banquets the old and new institutions met together and the lambe which the old tradition proposed being consumed the maister setteth before his disciples food inconsumbale the foode of immortalitie is geuen differing froÌ„ common meates retaining the species of corporal substance but by inuisible efficacy of the diuine power prouing the presence to be there Sacraments signified longe agoe from the time of Melchizedech come forth and to the children of Abraham doing his workes the highest Preist bringeth forth bread wyne This is saith he my body They had eateÌ„ drunk of the same bread according to the visible forme but before those wordes that common meate was onely fit to norish the body and ministred helpe to the corporal life but after it was said of our lord Do this in my commemoration This is my flesh this is my bloud So often as with these wordes and this faith the matter is haÌ„dled that supersubstantial bread and Chalice consecrated by solemne benediction doth profit to the life and saluation of the whole man both a medicine and holocaust to heale our infirmities purge iniquities The bread which our Lord gaue vnto his Disciples chaÌ„ged not in outward shew but in nature by the omnipoteÌ„cy of the word is made flesh And as in the person of Christ the humanity was seene and the diuinity lay hid So the diuine essense vnspeakably haith infused it self to the visible sacrament As the comon bread which we daily eat is the life of the body so this supersubstantial bread is the life of the soule and health of the minde S. Saluianus lib. 2. ad Eccl. SOme man perhaps wil demaund why god requireth more of christians by the gospel theÌ„ before of the Iewes by the law there is a manifest reason of these thinges we pay greater thinges now to our lord because we owe greater thinges The Iewes had the shadow of thinges we the truth the Iewes were seruantes we are addopted children the Iewes receaued the yoke we haue receaued freedome the Iewes malediction we grace the Iâ—wes receaued the killing letter we haue receaued the quickning spirit To the Iewes the seruant was sent for a maister to vs the Sonne The Iewes by the sea went into the wildernesse we by baptisine enter into the kingdome The Iewes did eate Manna we Christ The Iewes the
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
none vpon whom you shal see the signe Thou In the old characters of the Hebrewes which the Samaritanes vsâ— to this day the last letter is Than hauing the similitude of a Crosse which is made in the forheades of Christians and signed by often forming it with our hand A praier after the Creede out of S. Hilary l. 1â— Trin. in fine PReserue o Lord this Religion of my faith vnspotted and til my soule departeth from me geuâ— me this voice of conscience that I may alwaies kepe that which I haue professed in the Symbole of my Regeneration when I was baptised in the Father and the Sonne and the holy Ghost that is may worship thee our Father thy Sonne together with thce and may deserue thy holy Spirit which is of thee by thy onely begotten Sonne Because there is a fitt witnesse for my faith vnto me saying Father al my thinges are thine and thine are mine my Lord Iesus Christ remayning in thee and of thee and with thee alwaies God who is blessed for euer Amen An other inter oper sancti Cipriani de Symb. which som ascribe to S. Cip. others to Ruffinus OVr Lord vouchsaife to graunt vs that keeping the Faith which we haue receaued after our course is eÌ„ded to expect the crown of Iustice laid vp in stoare and to be found among them that rise againe to euerlasting life to be deliuered from confusion and euerduring reproach by Christ our Lord by whom to God the Father almighty with the holy Ghost be glory and rule world without end Amen Meditations and praiers vpon those wordes of the Creede Communion of Sainctes may be vsed before Iournay or other busines Gen. 48. THe Angel which haith deliuered me froÌ„ al euils blesse these children The Angel of our Lord wil put him Ps 33. self in the compasse of them that feare him and deliuer them He haith geuen his Angels charge Psal 90 of thee that they kepe thee in al thy waies When thou didest pray with teares Tob. 12. buriedst the dead left thy dinner and hiddest the dead in the day in thy house and buriedst them in the night I did offer thy praier to our Lord. I am Raphael the Angel one of the seauen which stand before our Lord. The vision was this Onias which Mach. l. 2. c. vlt. had bene high Preist houlding out his handes to pray for al the people of Israel and after this an other man appearing meruelous for age and glory and with habit of great comlinesse about him and Onias answearing to haue said This is a louer of his brethren the people of Israel this is he that prayeth much for the people and al the holy Citie Ieremy the prophet of god The four and twenty Elders fel downe before the Lambe hauing euery Apoc. 5. one Harpes and Phials of Gold ful of sweete odores which are the praiers of Sainctes A Praier of Iudas Machabeus 2. Machab. cap. vlt. O Lord who hast sent thy Angel 4. Reg. 10. Tob. 21. vnder Ezechias king of Iuda and killed an huÌ„dred fourscore and fiue thousand of the army of Sennacherib and Eccl. 48. Is 7. 1. Mac. 7. c. now o Lord of heauens send thy good Angel before vs in feare and trembling of the greatnesse of thy strength that they which come against thy holy people may be affraid A Meditation out of S. Ciprian de mortalitate WE must consider and think with our selues that we haue renounced the world and liue here a while as strangers and pilgrimes Let vs embrace that day which appointeth euery one to his dwelling house which restoareth vs being deliuered from hence and freed from worldly snare to paradise and the heauenly kingdome What man being a pilgrime farr of would not hasten to returne to his Country Who seeking with speede to saile vnto his frendes would not wishingly desire a prosperous winde that he might quickly embrace his dearly beloued frendes We accompt Paradise to be our Country haue begonne to haue the Patriarkes for our parents Why do we noâ— make hast and runne that we may see our country and salute our parents A great number of our deare frendes expect vs there a frequent and abundant company of parents brethren children desireth vs now secure of their owne immortality and yet careful for our saluation What great and common ioy is it both to them and vs to come to their sight and embracing What pleasure is there of the heauenly Kingdomes without fear of dying with eternity of liuing How exceeding and euerlasting felicity There is the glorious company of the Apostles there the nuÌ„ber of reioycing prophets there innumerable people of Martyrs crowned for their victory of combate and suffering there Virgins triumphing which haue subdued the concupiscence of flesh and body with the force of continency there the merciful rewarded which haue done the workes of Iustice with feeding liberally rewarding the poore haue translated their earthly patrimonies to the â—elestial treasures Let vs with a greedy wishing hasten vnto these that we may desire soone to be with these and come to Christ S. Leo ser in Epiph. Dom. c. 4. Confirme your frendships with holy Angels enter into the City of god whose inhabitation is promised vnto vs and ioyne your selues in company with the patriarches Prophets Apostles and Martyrs Reioyce in such thinges as they ioy in Couet their richesse and by good emulation seeke to obtaine their suffrages S. Euseb Emiss hom de S. Stephano LEt vs enquire what neede or reason there is seeing the holy Martyrs being placed in that light of paradise neede not humane praises why they are celebrated with so great affections of men Why are their Reliques God reueling them so manifested to the world Doubtlesse for many causes First they are worshiped of careful men that they may make intercessioÌ„ for their diligent worshipers Againe that whilest they are proposed to posterity for an example of deuotion and faith they may alwaies be encreased with new merits now renowned for their vertues they may also be amplifyed by the profits of others And further that the old enemy euen before Iudgment may see the punishment of his malice by which he vnderstandeth that he haith fought for the glory of Sainctes that whom he seeth here now honoured he nedeth not doubt but there they wil be reuenged That when the whole world doth celebrate the crowne of the martired the killer of Martyrs must nedes bewaile his victory S. Augstin lib. meditat cap. 20. O House of God bright beutiful I haue loued thy comlinesse and the place of the habitation of the glory of our lord my possessor and maker Let my pilgrimage sigh vnto thee day and night Let my hart be open vnto thee Let my mind inteÌ„d thee Let my soule desire to come vnto the felowship of thy blessednes I speake vnto him that made thee that he may possesse me in thee
because he hath made me thee And speake thou aske thou him that he make me worthie of the participation of thy glory for I do not require thy holy societie and thy admirable beutifulnes by my merit but by his bloud with which I was redeemed I do not despaire to obtaine it onely let thy merites helpe me Let thy most pure prayers which by no meanes can be vneffectual with god assist my wickednesse I haue erred I confesse as â— lost sheepe and my inhabitation is porlonged and I am cast farr from the face of our lord into this blindnesse of exile where banished from the ioyes of paradise I daily be waile with my selfe vpon the miseries of my captiuity a doleful song and great lamentations when I remeÌ„ber thee o my mother Hierusalem while my feete do stand in thy courtes o holy and beutiful syon not yet able to looke openly into thy inward thinges but I hope to be earied bâ—eâ—â—â— vnto thee vpon the shoulders of my shepard thy builder that I may reioyee with thee in that vnspeakable ioy with which they reioyce that are with thee before god him selfe and our sauiour which haith dissolued enmities in his flesh Eph. 2. with his bloud pacified al thinges that are in heauen in earth For he is our peace who haith made both one who ioyning two contrary wales together in him haith promised to geue vnto vs by the like maner and the same measure the coÌ„tinuing felicity of his happines saing They shal be equal to the Angels of god in Math. 22. Luc. 20 heauen O Hierusalem the euerlasting house of god next to the loue of Christ be thou my ioy and consolation let the sweete memorie of thy blessed name be the relife of my sorrow wearinesse A prayer out of S. Victor Vticen l. 3. pers Vand. BE present vnto me o you Angels of my god who are neuer absent constituted in your ministery for them which shal receaue the inheritance of saluation Consider behould how Syon the Citie of our god is made vile become Thren v â— as it weare vnseemely defiled among her enemies The enemie haith laid his hand vpon al her desirable thinges because she haith seene the Gentiles to inuade and enter her courtes of which thou hadest commaunded that they should not enter into thy Church Her wayes do mourne because no man doâ—h come in the festiual day Al comlinesse and delight are gone from her countenance Her virgins yong people brought vp in Monasteries haue learned to tread sharp wayes and are gone into captiuity The holy stones are scattered abrode not onely in streetes but in filthy places Pray for her you Patriarches which now is persecuted on earth O holy Prophets pray knowing that she whom before you haue tuned with a prophetical praise is now afflicted O Apostles be you spokesmen for her whom to gather together you haue runne as most swift horses through the whole world our Lord ascending vpon you cheifly thou o blessed Peter why art thou silent for the sheepe and lambes with great werinesse solicitude committed vnto thee by our common Lord Thou holy Paule Doctor of the Gentiles who from Ierusalem to Illyricum hast preached the Gospel of god and al you holy Apostles lament together with vs. Let it be said to the striking Angel It sufficeth now hold thy hand We prostrate aske that you do not despise your wretched sinners by him that promoted you lowly fishers to the highest Apostolical dignity S. August l. meditat c. 40. O Holy immaculate virgin Mary mother of god and mother of our Lord Iesus Christ vouchsaif to make intercession for me with him whose temple thou didest deserue to be O holy Michael holy Gabriel holy Raphel o holy Queares of Angels Archangels Patriarckes Prophets Apostles Euangelistes Martyrs Confessors Preistes Leuites Monkes Virgins and al the iust I presume to besech you by him who haith chosen you of whose contemplation you reioyce that you wil vouchsafe to make supplication to God for me that am sinful that I may deserue to be deliuered forth of the iawes of the deuil from euerlasting death An other out of S. Iohn Chrisostom in miss vers a Leon. Tusc O Apostles Martyrs and Prophets Preists Confessors you the iust who haue wel finished your combate and kept your faith conseruing your confidence with our Sauiour pray for vs that our soules may be saued Amen An other of S. Ephrem de laud. Mart. O Most blessed Martyrs who willingly and readily haue vndergone tormentes for our Lord our Sauiour and for his loue therfore are familiarly conioyned with our Lord we besech you to vouchsaife to make intercession to our Lord for vs wretches and sinners defiled with the filth of negligence that the grace of Christ may come vpon vs that may illustrate our heartes with the beame of holy Charity that we may loue him with al our heart O most blessed men and most glorious Martyrs of God helpe me a wretch with your praiers that I may obtaine mercy in that hour when the hidden thinges of men shal be manifest Assist before the throne of Maiesty for me a wretch that by your praiers I may deserue to be saued and enioy eternal blessednesse with you Amen Aug. lib. Med. cap. 24. O Al you happy Sainctes of god which haue now passed ouer the sea of this mortality and deserued to come to the hauen of euer-during quietnesse security and peace you are secure and quiet and alwaies pleasant and reioycing I besech you by your Charity that you which are secure for your selues wil be careful for vs you are secure of your owne neuer fading glory be you careful of our manifould misery I aske you by him that haith chosen you who haith made you such of whose bewty you are now filled by whose immortality you are made immortal of whose most blessed vision you euer reioyce be you continually mindful of vs. Succour vs wretches who as yet in the sea of this life are tossed with stormes enuyroning vs rownd about You that are the most bewtiful gates which haue risen to a great height help vs a vile pauement lying farre vnderneath Geue vs your hand and lift vs that lye downe vpon our feete that recouering our infirmity we may be made strong in battaile Make intercession and pray constantly and continually for vs wretches and very negligent sinners that by your prayers we may be ioyned to your holy company for we are very fraile dwarfes of no strength creatures of the belly and bound-slaues of flesh in whom scarsly any foot-step of vertue appeareth and yet being placed vnder the confession of Christ we are carried vpon the wood of the crosse sayling â—uer this great and spaceous sea where be litle creatures with great where the most cruel dragon is alwaies ready to deuoure where daungerous places be Scylla and Charybdis others innumerable in which meÌ„ vnwary
Rom. supr lib. 8. c. 37. Let euery faithful man or woman earery in the morning when they arise from sleepe pray before they begin any worke S. EPiphanius in Compendiar Morning Hymnes are vsed continually in the church morning prayers A meditation or preparation to prayer out of S. Basile Const Mon. c. 2. 3. THere be two maners of praying wherof the one is in glorification yelding submission of minde The other in petition to be vsed after the former Wherefore when thou art to pray do not presently fal to petition otherwaies thou art an euidence to thy wil that thou makest not thy praiers vnto god vntil by necessity thou be vrged vnto it Therfore when soeuer thou art determined to pray forsake wife children and thy self also and depart farre from thinges of the earth climbe aboue the heauen and leaue behinde thee al creatures visible and inuisible and begin with glorifiing him that created al thinges And wheÌ„ thou hast sufficiently rested on him say as foloweth I geue thankes vnto thee o Lord for thy incredible clemency and gentlenes in bearing with the offences of men who sufferest me that sinneth daily and geuest power to vs al to amend our liues For this is the cause for which thou art silent and sparest vs o Lord that we should geue thankes vnto thee who dost manadge the saluatioÌ„ of mankind somtime by threatning somtime by exhorting with lenity And first didest visit vs by thy Prophets and lastly by the coming of thy Christ For thou hast framed vs and not we our selues thou art our god And when thou hast sufficiently geuen thankes and glorified god with praises of holy Scripture then againe with humility begin and say I am not worthy o Lord to speake before thee because I am excedingly a sinner And although to thy self thou art guilty of no sinne yet it behoueth thee so to say For seing that in many Iac. 3. thinges we al offend yet we do not vnderstand the greater part of our offences Therefore the Apostle said I am 1. Cor. 4. guilty to my self in nothing but in this I am not instified Which is the same as if he had said I commit many offences wich I know not that I commit them For this cause also the Prophet said Who doth vnderstand his offences Ps 18. And when thou hast sufficiently in wordes shewed thy humility and said I I geue thankes to thee o Lord that thou hast suffered me a sinner so long time with thy patience and to this day exacted of me noe punishment of my sinnes Verily o Lord I had long since deserued infinite punishments and was worthy to be buried most farre from thy sight but thy most patient genâ—lenesse haith most mercifully borne with me a sinner I geue thankes I say vnto thee although I know my self vnable to render thankes answearable to thy clemency towardes men And so soone as thou hast satisfied these two duties that is of geuing thankes humility then at last aske what thou oughtest to aske A Meditation out of S. Leo ser 1. de Natiuitate Domini O Christian acknowledge thy Meditations and prayers for morning dignity and being made partaker of diuine nature do not returne by degenerate conuersation to thine old vilenesse Forgeate not of what head and whose body thou art member Cal to minde how being deliuered from the power of darknesse thou art translated into the light king dome of god Doe not driue away froÌ„ thee with wicked deedes so worthy an inhabitant and againe subiect thy self to the slauery of the deuil because thy price is the Blood of Christ who in iustice wil iudge thee who in mercy haith reedeemed thee who with the Father and the holy Ghost reigneth for euer Amen An other Meditation out of S. Athanasius ser de sanctiss Deipara CHhrist receauing the throne of Ps 109. Dauid shal reigne among Christians for euer of his Kingdome Luc. 1. Dan. 7. there shal be none end For being borne of a Virgin and hauing consummated al thinges that belonged to the businesse of his death Crosse after his Resurrection he said vnto his Disciples Alpower is geuen to me in heauen in Math. 28. earth Behould now from thence he be gan to reigne and is declared to be the King of Christians as men in the beginning of their prayers exhorting one an other calling the company together do vse to crye Come let vs adore fal Ps 94. downe before Christ our King Psal 94. COme let vs reioyce vnto our lord let vs make ioy to god our Saviour Let vs approach to his presence in confession and in psalmes let vs make ioy vnto him Because god is a great lord and a great king aboue al gods Because in his haÌ„d are al the boundes of the earth and the heightes of the mountaines are his Because the sea is his and hee made it his handes framed the earth Come let vs adore and fal downe and weepe before our lord that made vs because he is the lord our god And we are his people and sheepe of his pasture To day if you wil heare his voice do not harden your heartes As in prouocation like as in the day of temptation in the wildernesse Where your fathers tempted me proued me saw my workes Fourtie yeres was I offended with that generation I said they alwayes erre in heart And these haue not knowne my wayes as I haue sworne in my anger if they shal enter into my rest 4 Pope Damasus ordained Gloria Patri c. to be said after euery Psalme In vita Dams con Vas c. 7. proueth it ageneral custome S. Aug. l. 9. confes c. 7. c. Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost As it was in the beginning is now euer shal be world without end Amen Direction out of S. Clement Athanas Clem. const l. 2. c. 63. Come together earely in the morning singing praying In the morning saying 62. psalme Atharisius l. de virgin In the morniÌ„g say this psalme O God my god from the light Ps 62. do I watch to thee My soule haith thirsted after thee and my flesh very many wayes In a land desert where there is no way and without water so in the holy haue I appeared vnto thee that I might see thy power and thy glory Because thy mercy is better then liues my lippes shal praise thee So wil I blesse thee in my life and in thy name wil I lift vp my handes Like as with fatte and fatnesse let my soule be filled and my mouth shal praise with lippes of ioyfulnesse So haue I bene mindful of thee vpon my bedde in the morning I wil meditate on thee because thou hast bene my helper And in the couert of thy winges I wil reioyce my soule haith cleeued after thee thy right hand haith receaued me But they in vaine
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
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
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
them we may celebrate a fâ—â—â—â—uity with voice of exultation aâ—d sounde of confâ—ssiâ—n and may geue thankes for victory obtained against the wicked deuils vnto Christ one god with whom glory is due to the Father and holy Ghost now and euer and world without end Amen A Meditation vpon Christs being brought before Caiphas out of S. Leo ser 6. de pas Domini IEsus being brought to Caiphas cheife of the Preistes whether the Scribes and al the preistly order were assembled false testimonies are sought against our Lord and Caiphas to exâ—ggerate the enuy of the speach which he heard râ—nâ— his garmentes not knowing what he signified by this maâ—nesse depriued him self of preistly â—onour O Caiphas where is the Rationale of thy brest Where is thy Girdle of continency Where is thy Superhumerale of vertues Thou spoilâ—st thy selfe of that mistical and consecrated attyre and with thine owne handes pullest into Peeces thy Pontifical vestiments forgeating that precept which thou hadst red of the cheife Preist He Leuit. 22. shal not lay of the Cidaris from his head and shal not breake in sunder his garments But thou from whom this dignity was now alienated thou thy self to thy self art executioner of reproach And to manifest the end of the old Testament belongeth the same rending in peeces of the preisthood Meditations and Praiers for the 3. Isodor l. 1 eccl offic c. 19. Hour or midle space betwene Sunne rising Noone Direction out of Scripture PIlate againe answearing said vnto Marc. 15. them what wil you then that I do to the King of the Iewes But they againe cryed crucify him c. And it was the Third Hour Sodainly there was made a sound from Act. 2. heauen and there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire and it sate vpon euery one of them and they were al replenished with the holy Ghost v. 15. c. It is the third Hour of the day Direction out of the Fathers Ignatius Epist ad Trallian At the Third Hour Christ by his Fathers permission receaued sentence of Pilate At the Sixt Hour he was crucified And at the Ninth Hour yelded vp the Ghost And before the Sunne setting was taken from the Crosse and buried in a new Sepulchre We finde that in making praiers the Ciprian de orat domin see S. Hieronim epist 122. c. 16. ad Eustochium three childreÌ„ with Daniel obserued the Third Hour Sixt Hour and Ninth Hour doubtlesse in mistery of the Trinity which was to be manifested in the last times it was after made manifest that they were misteries in old times that before the iust men praied in that maner For the holy Ghost descended vpon the Disciples at the Third Hour who fulfilled the grace of our Lordes promise Make your praiers early in the morning S. Clem. Coâ—st S. Apost l. 8. c. 4. at the Third Hour c. At the 3. Hour because at that hour our Lord had sentence of Pilate A Meditation out of S. Basile l. q. diffus explicat q. 37. ABout the Third Hour let vs arise to praier remembring the guift of the spirit which was geuen to the Apostles about the Third Act. 2. Hour Let vs pray al with one minde that we also may be made worthy to recâ—aue sanctification asking of him direction and instruction to that which is profitable according to him that said O god create in me a new heart and renew Ps 50. a right spirit in my bowels Cast me not away from thy face and take not thy holy Spirit from me Restoare vnto me the gladnesse of thy saluation and confirme me with thy principal Spirit And in an other place Thy good Spirit wil lead me into the Ps 142. right land A Meditation of Christes bearing his Crosse out of S. Leo. ser 8. pass Domini OVr Lord deliuered ouer to the wil of raging men to the scorne of his Kingly dignity was commaunded to be the bearer of his owne punishment that it might be fulfilled which Esay the Prophet had foreseene saying Behold a Child is borne Is 9. a sonne is geuen vnto vs whose rule is vpon his shoulders Therefore when our Lord bore the tree of his Ctosse which he would turne into the scepter of his power this surely was a great scorne among the eyes of the vngodly but it was shewed for a great mistery to true beleuers because the most glorious câ—Ì„querour of the deuil the most mighty subduer of the enemies strengthes in a bewtiful shew did carrie the Trophee of his triumphe and bore vpâ—n his shoulders of inuincible patience the signe of saluation to be adored of al Kingdomes as though euen thâ—n he would with the Image it self of his worke confirme al his followers and say He that doth not take his Crosse and Math. 10. follow me is not worthy of me A prayer out of S. Basile de Ieiunio concione 1. OVr Lord that haith brought vs vnto this instaÌ„t of tyme vouchsaife to giue vnto vs as to men in cumbate that to these cumbates we may shew firmnes and strength of constancie and come to the appointed day of crouning now of the remembrance of his sauing passion and in the world to come of retribution according to our life in the iust iudgment of Christ him selfe To him be glory for euer Amen An other out of the same Father l. exercitam ser 6. HE that cometh vnto god ought to embrace pouerty and in al thinges to be perced through with the feare of god according to him that said Perce my flesh with thy feare I haue feared for thy iudgmentes Our Lord graunt vnto vs that with al perfection we may receaue those thinges that are referred to the glory of god and shew forth frutes worthy of the spirit according to the wil of god and cooperation of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen A prayer for graces of the holy Ghost out of the masse attributed to S. Marke the Euangelist O Ruler our lord Iesu Christ the eternal word of the Father without beginning who for our saluation didest become like vnto vs in al thinges excepting sinne who sent thy holy Disciples and Apostles to preach and teach thy gospel and to cure al sicknesse and infirmities in the people now also o Lord send forth thy light truth and illuminate the eyes of our minde that we may vnderstand thy diuine wordes graunt that we be fitte hearers of them not onely hearers but that we may be made doers of thy word that we may encreace and bring forth good frutes from thirtie to an hundred that we may be accompted worthy of the kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ And let thy mercies soone lay hould on vs for thou art our Euangelisme or message of good Sauiour keeper of our soules and bodies o Lord god and we offer vnto thee glory and thankes-giuing thrice holy himne to the Father and the Sonne and holy Ghost
now and euer world without end Amen A meditation and prayer to the holy Ghost out of S. Basil ser de libero arbitrio MAry haith chosen the best part Luc. 10. which shal not be taken from her O those precious teares like vnto Margarites flowing from her blessed eyes o her diuine obediâ—nt eares o manlike and wise minde o swiftnesse of spiritual loue greatly hasting to the vnpolluted brydegroÌ„e o prick of desire of a soule to god the word o indissoluble society of the spouse to the brydegrome imitate her o sonne imitate her looking after nothing els but him that said I came to cast fire and what wil I but to haue it kinled for there is an heate of the spirit stirring vp of mens heartes wherefore that immaterial and diuine fire doth illuminate soules and proueth them within as gold not counterfaite in a fornace and consumeth wickednes as stuble and thornes For our God is a consuming fyre who taketh vengeance in a flame of fyre vpon them that know him not and them that obey not his gospel This fyre wrought in the Apostles wheÌ„ Act. 2. they spake wâ—th fyâ—â—e tongues this is the fyre that shyned with glory rounde Act. 9. about Paule and illuminated his mind but darkned the sâ—nce of his sight For fleshly sight doth not receaue the force of that light This fyre was seene to Exod. 3. Moyses in the bush This fyre in the shape of a Chariot tooke away Helias Blessed Dauid seeking after the actioÌ„ of this fyre did say Proue me o lord examine Ps 25. me burne my reynes and my heart This fyre warmed the heartes of Cleophas Luc. 24. and him that trauailed with him when our Sauiour talked with them after his resurrectioÌ„ Wherevpon the Angels Ps 103. and ministring spirites are termed a burning fyre This fyre consuming the beame in the inward eye maketh the minde pure that receauing the natural strength of seeing it may continually see the miracles of god according to him that saith Reueile mine eyes I wil Ps 118. consider the meruelous thinges in thy Law Therefore this fyre driueth away deuils consumeth wickednesse it is the force of resurrection worke of immortality illumination of holy soules and confirmation of reasonable powers Let vs pray vnto this fire that it wil also come into vs that alwaies walking in the light we neuer offend at al but as lightes shyning in the world we keepe coÌ„tinually the doctrine of life that enioying God with our Lord Iesus Christ we may rest in life world without end Amen S. Ephrem post Thren WO to me to me burdeined with greatest sinnes I haue sinned aboue the number of the sandes of the sea and goe crooked 2. Par. 36. Luc. 18. with the burden of my sinnes as loaden with a great weight of iron For I dare not lift vp mine eyes and beholde the highnesse of the heauens Therefore to whom shal I flee but to thee most merciful and gentle O god haue Ps 50. mercy on me according to thy great mercy And according to the multitude of thy miserations blot out mine iniquitie Wash me more o Lord from mine iniquity and clense me from my sinne Because I acknowledg mine iniquity and my sinne is alwaies against me I haue sinned to thâ—e alone and dore euil before thâ—e I flee vnto thee for thine infinite piety I haue prâ—uoked thee to thâ—e I returne because of thine exceding clemâ—ncy To thee because of thy great beningnity and goodnesse I runne back and bâ—seeching cry out Turne thy face away from my Ps 50. sinnes and blot out al mine iniquities for thy holy name For I haue nothing which I may offer vnto thee not any good workes not cleanesse of heart But I trust in thy mercies and cast myself into them asking that thou wilt Ib. create a cleane heart in me confirme me with thy principal Spirit lest I easely fal againe into sinne but from henceforth may serue thee in holinesse and iustice al the daies of my life Because thine is the kingdome and Rule world without end Amen Meditations and prayers for the sixt hour or at noone tyme. Direction out of scripture AT Noone tyme I wil declare Ps 54. shew forth and he wil heare my voice And after they came to the place Luc. 23. Marc. 15. Math. 27. which is called Caluary there they crucified him c. And it was almost the sixt hour Peter went vp to pray in the higher Act. 10. partes about the sixt hour O tel me thou whoÌ„ my soule doth loue Cant. 1. where thou feedest where thou lyest at noone tyme lest I begin to wander after the flockes of my felowes Mâ—kâ— your prayers at the sixt hour Clem. Const l. 8. c. 40. Cip. l. de orat dom because our lord was then crucified We finde that in praying the three children with Daniel obserued the third hour sixt hour and ninth hour c. Peter at the sixt hour ascending into the higher partes was instructed both with the signe voice of god admonishing him that he should admit al to the grace of saluation And our lord being crucified at the sixt hour at the ninth hour washed away our sinnes with his bloud A Meditation vpon the Crosse for this Hour out of S. Ciril Archb. of Ierusalem Catech 13. Illumin THe Tree of life is set into the earth that the earth which was cursed might enioy benediction and the dead might be deliuered and quickned Therefore let vs not be ashamed to confesse him that was crucified but let vs confidently impresse with our fingers the signe of the crosse on our forhead and let the Crosse be made in al thinges els in eating our bread in drinking our drinke in going forth and entring in before sleepe in lying downe in rysing in going resting Great is this saifguarde which for the poore is freely geuen without labour for the weake seeing this grace is of god the signe of the faithful and feare of â—euils for he triumphed ouer them in this signe She wit forth boldly for when they shal see the Crosse they â—â—member him that was crucifyed they fâ—aâ—e him that câ—ushed in peeces the Gen. 3. dragons head An other Meditation vpon the crucifying of Christ out of S. Leo ser 6. de pas Do. CHrist was crucified in the place called Golgatha By the tree the fall by the tree is lifted vp and by the taist of gal and vinegre the baite of sinne is blotted out Worthily had our Lord said before he was betrayed When I shal be exalted I wil draw Ioan. 12. al thâ—nges vnto me That is I wil plead al the cause of mankind and that nature which was lost I wil recal to integrity Al infirmity shal be abolished in me al woundes shal be healed in me And that Christ drew al thinges vnto him it is shewed not onely by
thee that wast whipped Glory to thee that wast spitte vpon Glory to thee that wast mocked Glory to thee that wast crucified Glory to thee that wast buried Glory to thee that didest arise from the dead Glory to thee that art preached Glory to thee in whom we beleeue Glory to thee that wast assumpted into heauen Glory to thee who with great glory sittest on the right hand of the Father and againe shal come in the glory of the Father the holy Angels to iudge euery soule that haith despised thee and thy holy passions in that fearful and dreadful hour when the powers of the heauens shal Math. 24. Luc. 21. be moued when also the Angels Archangels Cherubim and Seraphim shal come with feare and trembling in sight of thy glory when agaiâ—e the foundations of the earth shal tremble and euery liuing thing shal be affraid for the incomparable glory of thy great Maiestye I besech thee that in that hour thy grace may hide me vnder thy winges and my soule may be deliuered froÌ„ that horrible fyre gnashing of teeth external darknesse and euerlasting weping that I may say blessing and thankesgeuing to thee Glory be to thee o Lord who according to the multitude of the mercies of thy great piety hast vouchsaifed to saue me a sinner who with the Father and holy Ghost liuest and reignest world without ende Amen S. Athanasins l. Meditat. At the Sixt Hour end thy praiers with psalmes weping and teares because at this Hour the Sonne of God did hang on the Crosse for thee Meditations and praiers for the Ninth hour THere was darknesse vpon the Luc. 23. whole earth vntil the ninth hour the sunne was darkned and the vaile of the temple was rent in the midest And Iesus crying with a loud voice said Father into thy handes I commend my spirit saying this he gaue vp the gost Peter and Iohn went vp into the temple Act. 3. at the ninth hour of prayer He saw manifestly in a vision as it Act. 10. were the ninth hour of the day the Angel of god comming in to him and said vnto him thy prayers almes haue ascended in memory in the sight of god Make your prayers at the ninth hour Clem. Const Aopst l. 8. c. 40. Athanas l. de meditat because al thinges were troubled when our lord was crucified At the Ninth hour thou shalt be in Himnes and glorifications with teares confession of thy sinnes praying to god because at this hour our lord hanging on the crosse gaue vp the ghost The Ninth hour is deliuered by the Apostles them selues in the Actes to be Basil l. q. diff q. 37. necessary for prayer where it is tould that Peter and Iohn went vp into the Temple at the ninth hour of prayer Act. 3. S. Denis the Areopagite S. Paules scholer epist ad S. Policarp DEmaund of him what he thinketh He meaneth Apoliphanes the philosopher of the Eclips of the SuÌ„ne which hapned when our Sauiour was crucified for we were then both together and stoode at Heliopolis did sodanly see when the Moone obiected it selfe to the Sunne not being the time of their coniunction and againe when the same opposed it selfe aboue the order of nature to the midle lyne of the sunne from the ninth hour to the evening And recal further some other thing to his memory for he knoweth also how that interposition was seene of vs to begin froÌ„ the rysing of the sunne and come to the last point of it and after to vanish away and againe that the interposition and recession did not chance from the same part of the sunne but froÌ„ that which so to speake was diametrically contrary These are the wonderful thinges of that time which Christ the author of al thinges is onely able to performe who maketh great and Iob. 5. mereulous thinges of which there is noe number If it be lawful for thee and if thou canst o Apoliphanes refute The testimony of gentile Philosophers for Christ these thinges against me who was then both present with thee did behould and examine al thinges with greatest admiration And I cannot devise wherevpon Apoliphanes then began conferring with me the thinges that were done said thus O Dionisius these are the changing of diuine matters An other Meditation how al creatures seemed to lament at the death of Christ out of S. Leo ser 2. pas Dom. WHen Christ yelded vp the Ghost al the elementes did tremble The brightnesse of the sunne couered with thick darknesse did extraordinarily subiect the day to night The earth weakned with deepe quakinges did not retaiâ—e it stability And the firme rockes their streÌ„gth being broken fel into peeces The veile of the Temple with which the misteries of former thinges were now noe longer to be shadowed was cutte asunder And the bodies of many Sainctes being raised vp to prepare the faith of the Resurrection their graues lay open Therefore o Iewes against you heauen and earth haue geuen sentence The sunne haith withdrawne his seruice and the day from you al the orders of the elementes haue denied to serue you and the ministery of the creature departing from his lawes your blindnesse your confusion was was signified For you saying His Math. 27. bloud be vpon vs and vpon our children this is worthily repayed vnto you that what the wicked portion of your stocke hath lost that the beleeuing fulnesse of the gentiles should obtaine Therefore most beloued let vs to whom our lord Iesus Christ crucified is not a scandal nor 1. Cor. 1. foolishnesse but the power of god and wisdom of god let vs I say the spiritual seede of Abraham not begotteÌ„ of the Issue of seruitude but regenerated in the family of freedome for whom brought forth with a strong hand mightie arme from vnder the oppressioÌ„ of the rule of Egipt the true and immaculate lambe Christ is 1. Cor. 5. offered let vs embrace the meruealous mistery of his sauing pasouer and be reformed to the image of him that was conformed to our deformity let vs be lifted vp to him that made the dust of our baise condition to be the body of his glory and that we may deserue to be partakers of his resurrection let vs in al thinges become agreable to his humility and patience We haue vndertaken the warfare of a great name the discipline of a great profession It is not lawful for the folowers of Christ to depart from the kinges way but worthy it is that they wich tend vnto eternal thinges be not occupied in thinges temporal and because we are redemed with the pretious bloud of Christ let vs glorify and beare gâ—d in our body that we 1. Cor. 6. may deserue to come to those thinges that are prepared for the faithful by Christ our Lord. Amen A prayer vpon Christs passion out of S. Gregory Nazianzen orat in S. Pascha in fine GOd
thy commaundementes Ps 118. that I may be vnited to him which did not abhorte to be inuested with my flesh Wilt thou not attend o holy Father vnto the head of thy yong dearest beloued SoÌ„n hanging down his bewtiful necke resolued into most precious death Behold o most meeke Creatour the humanity of thy beloued Sonne and take mercy vpon the infirmity of thy weake creature His naked breast is white his bloudy side is redde his stretched intrales do drye his comly eyes do faint his kingly mouth is pale his longe armes be stiffe his marmour thyghes doe hange the water of his blessed bloud doth beweâ—e his pearced feete Behold o glorious Genitour the torne meÌ„bers of thy most grateful child and with bounty remember what my substance is Vew the paine of God a man and release the misery of man created Behold the punishment of the Redemer and forgeue the offence of him that is redemed This is he o my Lord whom thou hast striken Is 53. for the sinnes of thy people although he be thy welbeloued in whom thou hast wel Math. 3. pleased thy self This is that Innocent in whom deceipt was not founde and yet he was deputed among the wicked Is 53. A Praier out of S. Ciprian in his Tom. 3. praier before his Martyrdome O Lord holy Father holy God holy and holy my god For who is greater then thou art I render thankes praise to thee God of Abraham God of Isaac and God of Iacob God of our Fathers God of the Apostles and God of the Prophets and God of Martyrs who wast before the disposing of the world God of the liuing to come to iudge the quick and the dead which art the true God who sittest vpon the Cherubim Seraphim the seate of thine honour and behouldest the depthes which seest al thinges before they be brought forth who hast power to kil and restoare againe and Dan. 3. might to make the withered to florish Thou Lord ruler of al thinges deliuer me from this world and heare me praying Wo vnto my sinnes when thou shalt rise vp to crush the earth together vnder what clifter of the rockes shal I hyde my self from before thy power To what mountaine shal I say fal vpon Math. 25. me and vnto what hil couer me from before the feare of our Lord when thou shalt arise to bruse the earth I pray thee o Lord help me Iudge me not according to my doinge for I haue obeyed nothing in thy commaundementes Hear me praying as thou hardest Ionas from the bely of the whale Ion. 2. et 3. so heare me and cast me forth from death to life Blotte out al my sinnes and heare me praying as thou didest heare the three children in the fournace Dan. 3. of fire Ananias Azarias Mizael sent thine Angel with a showre of dew and Nabuchodonosor ruler of the kingdome was confounded Heare me praying as thou didest heare Daniel Dan. 14. from the Lyons denne and sent Abacuc the Prophet and he brought him diner Heare me praying as thou didest heare Tobias and Sara while they Tob. 3. prayed in the entry of their house then the Angel Raphael offered for them their prayers And so heare thou my prayers and admitte my petitions to thy holy Court and presently send thy holy Angel which may blot out al my sinnes as thou didest driue the vncleane spirit from Sara the daughter of Raguel and illighten my heart as thou diâ—â—st illuminate the eyes of Tobias Heare me praying as thou didest heare Susanna Dan. 13. amonge the handes of the Elders so deliuer me froÌ„ this world because thou art the louer of a pure conscienâ—e I besech thee o Father of Maiesty who in the end of times hast taken mercy on vs sending vnto vs Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord God Sauiour borne of the Virgin Mary by the holy Luc. 1. Ghost And I besech thee sonne of the liuing God which hast wrought so many miracles I besech thee o sonne of the liuing God for al my sinnes coÌ„mitted Thou thy self hast made a Testament for vs. Aske and you shal Math. 7. receaue knock and it shal be opened vnto you Whatsoeuer you shal aske my Father in my name I aske it of my Father that you may receaue it I aske that I may receaue I seeke that I may finde I knocke that it may be opened vnto me I aske in thy name that thou maist aske of thy Father and it may be geuen to me I am ready for thy name to shede a sacrifice of bloud and vndergoe what torment soeuer Thou art o Lord my helper and defender defend me from mine aduersary Thy Angel of light protect me because thâ—u hast said that what beleuing yâ—u shal aske bâ— praier shal be geuen vnâ—â— you Euery man is a lyer Thou art true as thou hast promised thou hast power o Lord to geue me al thy heauenly sacrament that I may be worthy to see the face of thy Sainctes Let the spirit worke in me Thy wil be done in me because I haue freely promised al the daies of my life my selfe vnto thee which sufferedst vnder Pontius Pilate a good confession who crucified did descende and didest treade vnder foote the stinge of death Death is subdued the enemy the deuil is vanquished Thou didest arise againe appeared to thine Apostles Thou sittest at the right hande of the Father which art to come to iudge the quick and the dead Thou shalt rule deliuer me from the hand of him that seeketh my soule By thy name deliuer me froÌ„ the aduersary power that thou maist geue help to bind mine enemy because thou art a potent approuer and aduocate of the praiers and petitions of our soules Day and night make intercession for my sinnes present my praier to thy Father And thou o Lord holy Father vouchsaife to haue tespect vpon my praiers as thou didest respect the guiftes of Abel Vouchsaife to deliuer me from the euerlasting fyre and punishment and from al torment which thou hast prepared for the impious by the good blessed Iesus Christ our Sauiour by whom to thee be praise honour power glory for euer Amen Other Meditations and Praiers for Euening neare Night IF I shal geue sleepe to mine eyes Ps 131. c. vntil I finde a place for our Lord. When it was Euening c. Ioseph taking Math. 27. the body wrapt it in a cleane Sâ—ndone and laid it in his owne new monument A Meditation out of S. Iohn Climacus grad 7. 28. AT time of thy prayer stande Grad 7. tremblng nor behaue thy self otherwise then one areigned before the Iudge that both by thine inwarde and outward behauiour thou maist procure to thy self the fauour of the iust Iudge To them that pray rightly praier is Grad 28. a Court and Iudgment and Tribunal of our Lord before the Tribunal seate that is to be hereafter
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