waxe fainte herein specially towards the faithfull for as much as thou our heauenly father art good and sufferest thy Sun to rise both on the good and euil and rainest on the iust and vniust I beséech thee let vs follow this thy liberal example that wee may shew our selues to be thy true sons that thy name be not dishonored or thy honor vioalated who liuest and raignest true and almighty God now and for euer Amen For the vnity of the Church MErcifull God who hast called vs by one and the same hope of our calling euē as there is one Lorde one faith one baptisme one God and Father of vs al or more rather as thou the Father art one God with Christ thy beloued Sonne in the holy Ghost so ought we to be one in thée I therefore do beséech thée that all that beare the name of Christian men may bee of one mind in the true catholike faith and that we may be careful to maintaine the vnitie of the Church in the bonde of peace to vnite our hearts in charitie Take from vs all carnall affection enmity hatred and swelling of mind and curiositie of foolish and vnprofitable questions that beget nothing but strife Breake the power of the diuel with the malice and deceit of men who indeuour to disseuer that band of vnity Assist vs O mercifull God that as many as haue departed frō the sound vnderstanding of the scriptures according to the interpretation of the holy Ghost whome our Sauior left to be the comforter directer of his church and of a reprobat mind haue brought in errors heresies strifes they may throughe thy grace returne to the acknowleding of thy trueth Likewise defend vs from the tumultuous spirits of errors and schisme that the church be not troubled and the harts of the ignoraunt seduced by sugered wordes So shal we of one agréement and with one mouth honour thee the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen For the preseruation of the Church O Father of all mercy conserue I beséeche thée thy vniuersall Church the congregation of all true faithful people against the gates of hell against all the deceiptful snares of the Diuell and against all malice and rebellious madnesse of the worlde saue thy Arke and al christians therin that it perish not in the raging sea and tossing waues I beseech thee Suffer thy Church that it may remain vnshaken vpon that foundation and firme corner stone wheron it was by thee erected O lord God of might and vertues turne towards vs looke downe from heauen and visite this thy vineyard Make that perfect which thy right hand hath planted and which thou hast chosen vnto thy selfe that the boughes branches thereof may spread increase fence it with thy shield receiue vs thy shéep in to thy protection that we bee not by any aduersary of the same taken out of thy hand Mercifully protect vs from al such as séek the ouerthrow of sound doctrine and the stablishing of Idolatrous heresie Remember not Lord our offences who in time past diddest remit thy peoples iniquity Conuert vs Lord our Sauiour and turn away thy wrath from vs. Perfourme this for the loue of thy name least the holinesse thereof bée violated and dishonoured Graunt this I beséech thee for the loue of thy most beloued Son our onely hope and Sauiour Amen Another prayer for conseruation of the church ALmightie God who gauest victorie to Gideon with a handfull of men to ouercome his enemies And thou O Christ our Sauiour as thou sauedst Peter from drowning when hee walked on the Sea and Paul the Apostle from the bottome of the Sea hauing escaped danger of shipwrack thrée times so preserue vs in this storme and tempest of our enemies here ready to swalow vs vp and strengthen vs with thy right hand that in our victory thy name may be to all men most holy and glorious A prayer at the trauaile of childe-birth OUr most mercifull and gracious father in Christ Iesu our Lorde who hast promised to our forefathers the children of Israell that if they would hearken to thy voice in obeying thy will and commaundements ther shoulde none mis-carry with their fruite or otherwise bée barren wee thy vnworthy seruants and their sinful ofspring acknowledging the wickednes of life and the calamity of our age to be such that we may iustly say with Ezechias This is a troublesome time children are at the point to be borne and the mothers wante strength to deliuer them good Lord we most humbly and deuoutly beséech thée with thy clemencie and mercifull helpe to respecte this thy handmaides wretched estate which for disobeying thy holy wil thou hast inflicted vpon the daughters gf our first parent Eue that this our sister may obtaine at thy mercifull hande the fauour of safe and spéedie deliuerance and her fruit to come vnto the new birth of baptisme and regeneration that she ouercomming by thy mercifull goodnes the paines and trauell which thy pleasure is she shoulde suffer she may liue and laud thy holy name and say with thy beloued seruants holpen in this case Thus hath the Lorde dealt with me at such time as he looked vppon me thou O Lorde vouchsafing to wipe her teares and to make her a glad mother Graunt this mercy vnto her we beséeche thée who hast promised to be their assured helpe and comforter that put their trust in thee A prayer for making a good end O GOD most holy thou hast appointed to man a tearme of his life which hee can not passe for he hath his prefixed time the number of his moneths is in thy hande thou hast remembred euery day of our life which passeth away so swift as if our selus did flye away all our years are but as smoke shadow all flesh is grasse which soone withereth it is as the flower of the fielde that soone perisheth Teach me therefore that I may now at length knowe and thinke vppon my ende which is so néere at hand My dais be but as a hand bredth Teache mee O Lorde to bée mindefull of death and to learne to die sith in this pilgrimage wee haue no long dwelling place O Lord let my end be foreknowen vnto me that in this world I may liue ende my life vnto thee and accept the day of my return and of our reuealing of our lord Iesus Christ thy beloued sonne by my readines in holy conuersation and godlines Suffer me to make my ende with perfect vse reason and in true confession of my sinnes with contrition Let me not speake like one that is mad nor vtter any blasphemous words against thée my good Lorde or contrarie to my saluation Uouchsafe to protect me also frō sudden death and from eternal damnation that I be not ouertaken by death before I am fully prepared in performing of true repentance And whē the same houre shall come make me strong and without feare to beare the Temporal
Let it be to me the armour of faith and shielde of good wil. Let it be a cleansing of my vices and destruction of concupiscence and lust the increase of charity patience humility and obedience a sure defence against the assaults of al enemies both visible and inuisible a perfecte quieting of my motions both carnall and spirituall a sure staying on thée one true god and a happy consummating of my life and end And further I beséech thée that thou wilt vouchsafe to bring me a sinner to that vnspeable banket where thou with thy sonne and the holy Ghost art to all thy Saintes the true light and the ful sacâ—ety the euerlasting ioy and most perfect mirth and felicicity through our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen A deuout praier of the seuen last wordes of our Sauiour O Lord Iesus Christ who art noted to vtter specially seuen words or sentences whiles thou didst haÌ„g on the crosse wherby we vnderstande it was thy will wee should alwaies be mindful of the same most holy spéeches I beséech thée by the vertue of the same that thou haue mercie on me in whatsoeuer I haue sinned and offended against thée in the like nuÌ„ber of mortall sins or their branches Lorde euen as thou saidst Father forgiue my crucifiers so giue me grace that I may forgiue all them that work me any euil Lord as thou saidst to the Théefe To day shalt thou bee with mee in Paradice by thy grace let me so liue that at the houre of my death thou maiest say To day shalt thou bee with mee in Paradice Lord as thou didst say to thy mother Woman beholde thy sonne and then vnto the Disciple Beholde thy mother euen so let thy loue and charity bring me to be conuersant with thy blessed mother Lorde as thou diddest say O my God my God why hast thou lefte mee Giue me grace to say whensoeuer I am in trouble or vexation Father haue mercy on me a sinner helpe me my King and my God who hast redéemed me with thy owne bloud Lord euen as thou saiedst I doe thirste after the death of soules so let me euer thirst after thee loue thée the welspring of liuing water the fountaine of eternall light Let me runne to loue thée with all the desire of my hart Lord as thou saidst father into thy hands I commend my spirite giue me grace to liue so perfectly that at my death I may say to thée Lord into thy handes I commend my spirite receiue mee that am comming vnto thée for now is the time thou diddest appoint Lorde as thou saidst It is finished meaning that the sorrowes and labors suffred for vs miserable sinners were now at an end let me by thy help deserue to heare the swéet spéech of thine Come my beloued for I haue now determined to accomplish thy petitions Come with mee that thou maiest sit with my Angelles and Saintes feasting in my Kingdome and reioysing world without end Amen A prayer for the daily bread ALmighty God wee thy wretched children do cry vnto thée from earth as to our father in heauen vouchsafe through thy infinit mercy to giue vs that which pertaineth to the néedfull sustentation of the bodie and grant thy grace and blessing vnto all our labours honest exercises For vnles thou buildest the house they that build it labour in vaine Helpe vs that we may cast out the net of our vocation in thy name to good lucke in taking and therwithal giue vs thy grace that euery one in buying and selling may deal with a good conscience without fraude deceit Kéepe vs from ill seruantes from an vnfaithful family to deale with Giue vs that liue in pouerty patience that we murmure not agaynst thy diuine will nor of malice transgres thy commandements grant to them that be rich that they be not proud therof but rather that they may inrich themselues with good workes and so lay vp a good foundation for the world to come O Lord God two things I do aske of thée kéepe me from Idolatry in preferring any thing before the loue of thée bee it wife children friends house riches or any priuat opinion and giue me neither beggary nor riches but rather the which is néedefull for my sustentation least being ouer full I be moued to deny thee and say who is the lord or otherwise bée compelled by néed to rage and to forsweare the name of my God From these things preserue me I beséech thee through Iesus Christ thy beloued sonne Amen Against the diuels temptation O Mighty and good God the heauenly Father wée find by thy holy worde that the diuel the old serpent our aduersary lieth in waite by a thousand or infinite indeuors to kéepe our soules from saluation and to bring vs into the filthines of sin confusion and desperation He inticeth vs with riches hee woulde catch vs with pouerty voluptuousnesse the coueting of worldly honour and desire of power and authority or els by other worldly carefulnesse He laieth snares for vs by wordes by déedes by night by day which way soeuer we turne vs he assaulteth vs with his temptations whether we watch or sleepe he is at our backes and openeth his iawes to deuour vs. O lord who shal escape him Behold he wacheth without ceasing and neuer is at rest but we of the sluggishnesse of our flesh watch not carefully to resist him by thy helpe OpeÌ„ therfore our eies that we may know how puissant and subtil an enemy we haue for our wrestling is not onely against flesh and bloud but against Sathan the Prince of this world Haue mercy on vs O GOD and make vs strong comfortable in the vertue of thy power put on vs that armour that we may resist his assaultes girde our loines with the truth· put on vs the breast-plate of righteousnes and shooes of Euangelicall peace But aboue all things strengthen our harts with the target of faith wher with we may breake off the fierie dartes of the wicked féende put on vs the helmet of saluation and giue vs the sword of the spirite which is thy holy worde in true sence and vnderstanding so shall we manfully resist and ouercome our said aduersary If thou be our helper wee shall not feare him though the whole earth be in broile and the mountaines cast into the Sea thou art our force and refuge which liuest and raignest world without end For Benefactors O Most mercifull God sith it is so that all ingratitude displeaseth thée giue me grace I beseech thée to be mindful and thankeful for al thy benefites and that I be not found vnthaÌ„kful toward them that haue done me any good least I fal into thy iugemeÌ„t for it O most swéet god giue to them that good both of body and soule which they stand in néed of And giue me grace to be beneficial vnto others as I haue fouÌ„d others to me after my power Let me not for the ingratitude of others faile or
apostacy gluttony lechery drunkennesse false inditing of any man wrōg imprisoning striking hurting or hindering any in his body good fame or in his cattle theft robbery extortion vsurie deceite vsing of false weights or measures letting of Gods seruice or of any good doing mispēding of holy daies wasting of time haunting of vaine plaies or iests example of euill liuing bringing vp of new fashions maintaining of sinne or any false quarrell receiuing in the state of mortall sin employing viciously any bodely or ghostly gift of God not refraining the custom of sin nor the circumstances as time place or persons Sinnes of omission that is The leauing of good deeds which we ought to doe Not louing praying and thāking God oft for his gifts and benefites not giuing attention to our praiers not conforming our workes and our wil to Gods wil not dooing al our good déeds to a good intente which is to please God and so come to blis not disposing vs to receiue grace and if we receue it not vsing it as we should do not forgiuing others for charity and Gods sake not resisting strongly against temptation not appeasing them that are at debate not teaching and instructing the ignorant not correcting thē that doe amis not being faithful vnto God and our Christian brother to our power not yeelding a good déede for an other if wee may not comforting them that be in sorrow sickenesse or pouertie not amending our sinnes spéedily but lying or dwelling in them presūptuously in trust of mercy Against which presuming wée reade in Eccl. 5. Non adijcias peccatum super peccatum dicas misericordia Dei magna est Adde not one sin on heape vppon an other and say the mercy of God is greate S. Greg. hath this saying Cum miser homo c. When the wretched mā falleth into any gréeuous sin the Diuell perswadeth with him that hée should not repent nor confesse his sinnes affirming it was but a light and smal sin or but purposed in his heart hee preacheth vnto him of mercy and promiseth him long life and biddeth him goe forwardes a while longer in his sin and all is to the end that we may bring him to care but litle for God and so at length to perish through impenitence or desperation Ready and approued remedies against capitall sinnes AGainst the swelling and enflaming of pride apply vnto your selfe the practise of humility which chiefly consisteth in knowing of our selfe in obaying our superiours spiritual and temporal in not making our selfe better than our equals Neither ought we to dispise or disdain our inferiours And therefore to beat downe stoutnesse and hawtinesse of mind and wil let vs looke vpon examples of Iesus Christ his humbling to the death of the crosse and the lowly patience of his saints and martired seruāts Thus comparing our imperfections with their perfections let vs cast downe our selues and acknowledge our selfe vile voyd of any thing to be honored or praised for Against the heate and distemperaunce of wrath and desire of reuengement the very same remedy serueth that cureth pride Against the wicked repining of enuy had against the prosperity of others or other wise reioising at their harm haue recourse vnto charitie which enuieth not at all to stablish that vertue in you be feruent in praier and vnderstande well the meaning of that ordinarie petition Adueniat regnum tuum which kingdome in vs is the vse possessing of charitie whereby all our wils and mindes are subiected and referred to Gods will which ought to rule raigne in vs wherby our faith and suffering of aduersities troubles and annoyances are made effectual and fruitfull to vs and without no good worke is any thing auaileable Against the heate of lechery and gréedines of gluttony wherby they are both counted vile and beastly allay the one and moderate the other with the temperate playster of Christian fasting which subdues the flesh to the spirit and with reléeuing and assisting of the poore oppressed soule it worketh also health to the body and benefite to the common wealth Against the hated iniuriousnesse of Auarice whereby a man offendeth God as wel in keeping as in coueting set iustice against wrong doing the vertue of liberality against sparing in good purposes and mercy against a cruell and vnpittifull mind Against slouth or slownes in well dooing which is the vice of them that bee coldly affected towards God luke-warm in religion negligent in their souls health and such as be in despair or delay and defer that which they ought to doe for the loue of God or their soule encounter resist this sin armed with the vertue of hope which maketh a man to attempt thinges that be hard aboue his meanes so they pertaine to God and the fulfilling of his holy will Hope is our ankar the which holdeth vs fast to a good purpose as the shippe is staied by the materiall ankar A prayer deuout and thankfull for daily help and preseruation O My soueraigne Lord Iesu the very Sonne of Almightie God and the moste cleane and glorious virgine Mary that sufferedst bitter death for my sake and al mākinde on the Good-Friday and rose again the third day I beseech thée lord haue mercy vpon me that am a wretched sinner but yet thy creature And for thy precious passion saue me and keep me from all perilles bodely and ghostly and specially from al things that might turne vnto thy displeasure And with all the powers of heart I thanke thée most mercifull Lord for the great mercies which thou hast shewed me in the great dangers that I haue beene in as wel in my soule as in body And also for that thy grace and endles mercy hath euer kept me spared me and saued me from the houre of my birth vntill this time I beséech thee Lord that thy mercy may kéep me for thée alway And I cry thee mercy with all my whole heart for my great offences for my great vnkindnes and for my wretched and sinfull life and in that I haue shewed my selfe so vnable to leade my life as thy seruant I cry thee mercy and beséech thée to forgiue me I thanke thée also moste entirely my most gracious Lord for the benefites and grace which thou hast giuen me so largely in this worlde before many other who haue better deserued then I. But most gracious Lord I confesse and acknowledge vtterly that all the same commeth of thée for the which all worship praising and thankes be to thée now and euer Non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam A prayer to bee saide when thou preparest to make confession of thy sins to God CReator of heauen and of earth King of kinges and Lorde of Lordes who hast made me of nothing to thy Image and likenesse and hast redéemed me with thy owne blood whō I a sinner am not worthy to name or cal vpon most humbly I pray and beséech thée that thou
wouldest mercifully looke vpon me thy naughty seruant and haue mercy vpon me that haddest mercy on the woman of Canaan and on Mary Magdalene that sparedst the Publicane and forgauest the theefe hanging vpon the crosse To thee O most holy father I confesse my sinnes which if I woulde hide from thee O Lorde I can not Spare me O Christ whome I haue much offended in thinking speaking and dooing and in euery manner wherein I fraile man and sinfull might sin by my fault by my owne faulte through my great default Therefore O Lord I beseech thy mercy that cammest downe from heauen for my saluation that liftedst vp Dauid from his fall of sinne spare me O Lord spare mee O Christ that sparedst Peter whē he denied thée Thou art my Creator and my Redéemer my Lord and my sauiour my king and my God Thou art my hope and my trust my guide and my help my comfort my strength my defence and deliuerer my life my health and my resurrection my light and my desire my assistance and my refuge I pray and beséech thée helpe me and I shal be safe gouerne me and defend me strengthen mee and comforte me confirme and make mee glad lighten mee and vifite me raise me being dead because I am of thy making and workemanship O Lord despise me not being one of thy housholde seruants although lewd vnworthy and a sinner but whatsoeuer I am good or bad I am alwais thine To whome shal I flie except I goe to thée If thou doest cast me off who shall receiue mee If thou doest despise me who shal look vpon me Uouchsafe therefore to know mee one vnworthy flying vnto thee though I be vile and vncleane seeing if I be vncleane thou canst purge me if I be blind thou canst make me to sée if I bee sicke thou canst make mee whole if I be dead and buried thou canst raise me again For thy mercy is greater then my iniquitie thy godlines is greater then my vngodlines thou canst forgiue more then I can commit and release more then I can offend Dispise me not therefore O lord neither looke on the multitude of my iniquities but according to the multitude of thy mercies haue mercy on me be fauourable vnto mee a great sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy saluation who didst say I will not the death of a sinner but rather that hee may bee conuerted and liue Turne me O Lord and bee not angry against me I pray and beséech thée O most merciful father that for thy mercies sake thou wilt bring me to a good end and to the happinesse of true repentance by due contrition and pure confession of all my sins Amen A prayer before confession to God MOst holy and mercifull Lord Iesu Christ the only hope of my souls health receiue this the confession of my sins which I will make vnto thee and giue me I beseech thee due sorrowing of heart and grace to bewaile them with the tears of mine eies and that hereafter both day and night I may mourn for my negligences offences with an humble and pure hart Let my praier approch in thy sight O Lord if thou shalt be displeased with mee whom shall I séeke to helpe me who shal pitty mine iniquities Be mindfull of mee O lord who calledst the Cananean and the Publican to repentance and receiuedst Peter when he wept O lord my God receiue my praiers the Sauior of the world good Iesu that gauest thy selfe to the death of the crosse to saue sinners respect me miserable sinner that am calling vpon thy name neither respecte thou so much my euilnes that thou forget thy own goodnes And if I haue committed that wherby thou maiest cōdemne me thou hast not lost that whereby thou mayest saue me Spare me therfore thou that art my Sauiour and haue mercy on my sinfull soule vnloose her bonds and beale her wounds Lord Iesu I desire and beséech thée shew me thy countenance I shall be safe send forth thy light and thy trueth into my soule that I may sée in this grosse body the number quality greatnes of my offences which I ought nowe to confesse to thee with answerable sorrowing bitternes of hart Grāt thou that liuest rainest god for euer euer A prayer to be sayd after the confession of our sins to God O Lord I beséeche thee let this my confession be accepted with thee which I haue nowe made before thée by calling to minde and rehearsing of my sinnes and whatsouer there is wanting in me either of due contritiō and sorowing or of pure and dutifull confession let thy godlines and mercy supply it and according thereunto vouchsafe that I may bee receiued ful and perfectly absolued in heauen who liuest and raignest world without end Amen A prayer before the holy Communion TO come to the Table of thy most sweete banket O holy Lord Iesus Christ I doe feare and tremble that am a sinner nothing presuming of my own merits but trusting in thy mercy and goodnesse for I haue a hart and body spotted with many crimes togither with a mind and tongue not warily kept Therfore O holy Deity and dreaded Maiesty I poore wretch attached with many causes of sorrow and griefe of mind haue recourse to thée the fountaine of mercy vnto thee I hasten to be cured I flie vnder thy protection And whom I am not able to bear as a iudge I hope to finde a Sauiour to thee O Lord I shew my wounds before thée I wipe away my shamefastnes I wote my sinnes bee many and great for which I am afraide but I hope of thy mercies which are infinite Looke vnto me with the eies of thy mercy Lord Iesus Christ King eternall God and man crucified for man heare mee hoping in thee haue mercy on mee that am ful of sins and wretchednes thou which neuer wilt cease to let runne the fountaine of thy compassion Remember O Lord thy creature which thou redéemest with thy owne blood It repenteth me that I haue sinned and I am in desire to amend the works of my life Therefore most mercifull father take from me all my iniquities and sinnes that I being purified in minde and body I may worthely taste of that which is most holy and grant that the same that I vnworthy intende to receiue may be the remisson of my sins the perfecte purging of my offences the expelling of filthie cogitations the renuing of good godly intentions and a most firme defence of my soule and body against the snares deceits of my enemies Amen A praier to be saide after the holy Communion I Giue thee thankes holie Lord almighty Father god eternal that hast vouchsafed to feed me a sinner thy vnworthy seruaunt for no merites of mine but of the vouchsafing of thy mercy And I beséeche thée that this holy Communion be not vnto me a guiltinesse vnto punishment but rather a wholsome intercession to forgiuenesse
thinges committed to thy charge that I léese nothing or suffer it to perish by my sloth and negligence O Lorde kéepe mee in health and comforte my strength giue me vnderstanding wit to go forward with the worke of my Maister or Mistres and by thy gracious help for to increase their substance that by my diligence they may bee replenished with thy blessing And further that whatsoeuer I shall do at any time the same may turne to the glory of thy most holy name and to the wholesome exercise of my faith through Iesus Christ thy beloued son which liueth with thee and raigneth in the vnity of the holy Ghost worlde without end Amen The praier of one in a troubled conscience LOrde reproue mee not in thy fury thy arrowes are fixed in me and thou hast laide thy hande vppon mee There is no helth in my flesh because of thy wrath there is no quiete in my bones because of my sinnes My heart is sore troubled my strength and valour hath failed mee the light of mine eies is not with me sorrows haue compassed me without number my iniquities are gone ouer my own head they are multiplied as the haires of my head gréeuing oppressing me as a sore burden The sorrowes of death haue compassed me and the troubles of hell are come vpon mee My conscience and my heart are both against mee O Lorde deliuer me hasten to helpe me and bring my soule from the terrors of hell forgiue me my sins which my enemy the diuell heapeth vppon me like a mountaine so as the same standing before my eies I may not beholde the brightnesse of thy grace Let thy mercy therefore appeare vnto me I beseech thee and let me not be destitute of thy fauour Comfort me O God that I may haue the inioying of a quiet conscience for all this is inferiour to thy greatnesse and mercy if thou wilt Why art thou sorrowfull my soule trust in God the helth of my countenance and he shall take thée out of temptation and bring thée at liberty through the innocent death of our Lorde Iesus Christ which is the holy and vnspotted sacrifice for our sinnes Amen The prayer of a sicke person ALmighty God and heauenly Father forasmuch as thou hast commaunded vs saying Call vpon me in the day of trouble I will heare thee and thou shalt honour me therefore I doe call vpon thée in this my great distres through Iesus Christ thy beloued Son forsake me not a wretched sinner And if this my infirmity extend not vnto death help me that by thy mercy I may recouer my helth and glorify thy power and vertue which thou hast shewed vppon me But if it be thy good pleasure more expedient and méete for me to die then to remaine in this sorrowfull vale and troublesome life let thy godly will be done in Earth as it is in Heauen And giue me grace I beséeche thee that I may commit my selfe to thy will which alwaies is best Kéepe me firme in the Catholique faith to the end that I be not seuered from thee and thy vnity but receiue my soule into thy kingdome through the same thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another prayer of the sicke O Mighty and omnipotent God which art mercifull and ful of pitty and long suffering forgiue me my sinnes and put away my iniquity Uouchsafe beséech thée to comfort my soule against whatsoeuer temptation and afflictions helpe me that my faith doe not faint or wauer in thee nor my hope haue any distrust nor my charitye waxe cold nor that my frailty be ouercome with the fear of death And when the extreame houre of my life shall come then send me forth in peace I beséech thee because mine eies haue seene thy health which thou hast made ready before the face of all people as a light to lighten the Gentiles and as a renowne for all thy people of Israel In this my Sauior I beléeue in him doe I trust I beséech thée O Lord let me not be confounded sith thou art my help and my strength beholde mee with the eies of thy pitty and turne thy fatherly fauour towards mee through Iesus Christ thy sonne who by his most sacred passion and death obtained for vs eternall redemption Amen A prayer of such as be present at the extreame sicknes or death-pangs of any O Most holy and omnipotent God that preseruest our life euē at the point of death wee do beseech thee vouchsafe to cast the eies of thy mercy vppon this sicke person to reléeue him both in body and soul and to forgiue him al his sins accept we beséech thée the oblation of the most innocent death of Iesus Christ thy beloued Son in place of satisfaction for all his iniquities For in the confession of his name hee was baptized deliuer him now therefore from the pains and griefes of his body shorten his griefe and affliction conserue him against the accusation of his own conscience and against whatsoeuer temtations of the enemy that hée may striue manfully by the faith of the holy Church and ouercome him Sende vnto him thy holy Angelles that they may bring him to the felowship of al Angels and of the elect in Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen A prayer in time of plague or common mortality ALmighty God wee doe grant and acknowledge that we haue often and gréeously offended thee by our diuerse and manifold sinnes forasmuch as wee haue all swarued from thée and therwith are become vnprofitable neither we nor our fathers kéeping thy commaundements With a right sorrowfull spirite wee beseech thy infinite mercy for Iesus Christe thy beloued Sonnes sake that thou wilt not deale with vs according to our sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs according to thy great goodnesse and fauour Be mercifull to vs of thy fatherly good wil take from vs this fearefull cogitation of pestilence infectiue sicknes and suffer vs not thus to perish by thy dreadfull disease Rebuke vs not Lorde in thy fury nor consume vs with the wicked vngodly Lorde I beséech thée let thy displeasure cease leaue vs shew vnto vs thy mercy and deliuer vs bée mindfull of thy goonesse and pitty for thy names sake Thou O Lord art good and thy iudgements be right but we haue sinned and stirred vp thy displesure against vs forgiue I beséech thee the iniquity of my people and take from vs this pestilent infection for the bitter passion of thy sweet Sonne Protect vs from thy wrath from euill and sudden death and from eternal damnation But if thy good pleasure bee such that thou wilt needes visit our iniquities with this temporall punishment so fauour vs I beséech thee that bearing thy fatherly hande laide vppon vs wee dispaire not in thy chastisement For when we are iudged we are so corrected by our Lord that wee be not condemned with this worlde And more profitable it is to suffer here temporall punishment then eternall in
all euill and lifting vp my eies and addressing my praiers vnto thee Drawe my féete out of the snare and hide me vnder the couert of thy winges A prayer out of the Psalme called Saint Barnards verses Lighten mine eies least at any time I sléepe in death that mine enimy neuer say I haue preuailed against him Be mindful of thy mercies O Lorde and of thy commiserations which haue beene since the world began Remember not the follies and offences committed in my youth Be mindfull of me according to mercy and for thy goodnesse O Lord. Into thy handes I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of trueth I haue saide and spoken it openly O Lord make my end knowen vnto me And what the number of my daies is that I may knowe what is wanting vnto me Giue me a good signe that such as hate me may see thy fauour and thereat may bée confounded forasmuch as thou O Lorde hast holpen and comforted me O Lord let it be so séeing I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy handmaid Thou hast ridde me of my thraldome I will offer vnto thee the sacrifice of praise and shall call vpon the name of the Lord. They perished who fled from me and there is none to seeke after my soule I cried to the Lord saying thou art my hope my portion in the land of the liuing Glory be to the Father c. Another praier by such as be present at the perill of child-birth MOst mightie Creator mercifull God wee thy séely wretched creatures descended of Eue her ofspring most suppliantly beséech thée of thy infinite goodnes mercifully to looke on the wretched state miserie which of thy dreadful iustice in mixing alwayes sorrowes with ioyes thou hast inflicted vpon womankind for our said first parent her disobedience and namely the state sorrowful beeing of this our sister thy seruant here languishing and oppressed with the paines of womans trauaile and wretchednesse O good Lorde thy omnipotent wisedome foreséeing that some would sinne much did bridle them with infirmitie of bodie to the end that it may bee founde more profitable for them to be low brought with suffering gréeuous pains then to remaine in helth to their more hasard of sinne and damnation But séeing in all sicknes there bée thrée things that be greuous and specially to vs thy creatures of more weaknes and infirmitie by nature that is to say the feare of death the griefe of the bodie and the losse or leuing of these worldlie pleasures therefore thy mercifull goodnes hath so disposed our state condition in this life that no woman or man can be in great paine and long continue therein so as by thy iust and mercifull prouidence either he shall be able to beare our paines or els that the same shal be but short therfore it may please thée of thy great mercies that as the aire is clensed made cléer after vehement storms so after this sharpe and long showre of teares and wofull panges there may followe a calme of ease of affliction to this our sister and faire wether both of thy gratious fauour and of our mindes quietnesse that are pensiue and carefull for her For by the testimony of thy holy word thou delightest not in destruction with thy own mouth by the holy Ghost thou hast saide that thou wilt conuert the sorowing of thy seruants into reioycing Bee then our good Lord and our comforter in the day of our tribulation Suffer not wee beséech thée this our sister to bée tempted or oppressed with paines and calamity aboue her strength and patience to beare it but mercifully and spéedily helpe and deliuer her both from paines and perill So shal we euermore pronounce and say Blessed is God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ the Father of mercies and God of all consolation who comforteth vs in all our trouble Amen The Lords prayer briefly expounded Our Father By benefite of Creation through thy omnipotencie By priuiledge of condition through thy prouidence By pietie of adoption thorough thy charitie By reparation of blisse through thy onely begotten Which art in heauen By omnipotent power gouerning By grace lightening By mercie directing By glorie appearing Halowed be thy name Of vs by honest conuersation In vs by a cleane conscience Foorth out of vs by a good name and fame Aboue vs by Angelicall presentation Thy kingdome come That is Heauen by reuelation Holy Church by assumption The faithfull soule by iustification The holy scripture by instruction Thy will be done In simplicitie of heart by humilitie In charitie of bodie by abstinence In holinesse of prayer by frequentation In veritie of woorke by discretion Giue vs this day our daily bread Of humane necessitie Of spirituall doctrine Of the blessed sacrament Of eternall felicitie And forgiue vs our trespasses as we c. Not retaining mallice in heart Not vpbraiding in word Not doing euill for euill Not refusing to do good And let vs not be lead into temptation Sodaine which dismaieth Importune which wearieth Deceitfull which beguileth Uiolent which oppresseth But deliuer vs from euill Of worldly aduersitie which disquieteth Of mans crueltie which vexeth Of the Deuils subtletie which preuaileth Of euerlasting calamitie which tormenteth Amen that is all thus bee done By attention of heart By sinceritie of word By diligent practise By continuall desire Read and vnderstand Remember practise As thinges are prooued to be liuing by moouing by sense of sight or feeling and by liuely working so is it knowne whether the soule of any man liueth in Christ by these three tokens IF the soule be moued with the spirite of Christ that is to the holie desire of heauenly things and to the contemning of the delectable things of the world 〈◊〉 the soule haue a féeling of those thinges which pertaine vnto Christ and as it were a suffering with Christ that suffered If the soule worketh vertuous works in following of Christ. They that be lead by the spirit of God bée the sons of God Fides sine operibus mortua est These bee sixe signes of a Christian. INnocencie and cleannesse Penitence and the true performing thereof Lowlinesse and humilitie of spirite Obedience and the feare of God Pitie and brotherly loue Feruent charitie The 12. abuses of the world which are thought to bee the sinnes which deserue with the iustice of God that Antichrist the most wicked of all men should preuaile and trouble the whole world to the perill of innumerable soules OLde men and graue persons without the wisedome of true and mature patience Yong men of lesse knowledge and authoritie without reuerence and obedience Rich men without almes and mercifull works The poore giuen to proud apparell and without humilitie The Pastors or Teachers without good déedes where Christ himself wroght first and then taught hee saith Qui fecerit sic docuerit ille saluabitur The people hearing the word of God preached and yet waxe
neuer the better of an hundred hearers scarce one is conuerted to true Penitence when at one sermon of Peters or of some other Apostle fiue thousands were conuerted Men bearing the name of Christ yet voide of Christian life and sanctimonie The vulgar sort giuen to fraud in their workmanship and deceitfulnes in their dealings specially seruants Gouernors without iustice and vertue Churchmen without holines and deuotion Religious men without obseruing the rules of their profession and statutes of their order Married persons without honest and continent life Scriptures and fruitefull sayings of the Doctors to edefie in these points following Prayer I would haue men to pray lifting vp pure hands without wrath and contention I haue said I will confesse mine iniquities When yee doe praye if yee haue anie thing against others forgiue it The sounde or voyces of prayer come not vnto Gods eares except it be made with great affection of mind Prayer if it bee true if it bee chast it pierceth heauen and returneth not emptie For the daily and light sinnes without which this life is not led the daily praier of the faithfull recompenceth By fasting the passions of the bodie by prayer infections of the minde are to be cured The more we haue to doo with carnal things the more earnestly ought we to be giuen to prayer The kingdome of heauen is not gotten by taking our rest nor eternall blessednesse promised vnto the negligent Charitie Hée that loueth abideth in the light In this al men shal know that ye be my disciples if ye loue one another In Charitie a poore man is rich and without charitie euerie riche man is but poore Charity féedeth the hungry pride also féedeth but charitie dooth it to the praise and honor of God and pride for the prayse of her selfe Charitie cloatheth the naked pride clotheth also charity fasteth so doth pride Charitie is the strength of faith and faith is the fortitude of charitie where they bee not both together there both be wanting A man may haue in him the helpe and benefites of the Sacramentes and yet bee an euill man but hée cannot haue charitie and bee euill Fasting This kind of Diuels may not be cast out but by prayer and fasting My legges are weakened with fasting and my flesh is altered for want of wonted sustenance Fasting purgeth the mind reléeueth the senses subdueth the flesh to the spirite maketh the heart contrite and humble disperseth the clouds of concupiscence quencheth the burning of lustes kindleth the light of chastitie Hee that will well and truely fast let him abstayne from sinne and vice for what auayleth it to emptie the bodie of meate and to ouerlode the soule with sin What can it profit any man to be pale with fasting to consume with hatred enuie What good is it to abstaine from wine and to bée dronke with the lées poyson of anger and mallice What gaine is it to abstain from flesh made for mans vse to be eaten and to teare asunder the members of our neighbour with backbiting and slaunder It is no profite or a thing praise-worthie to abstaine from that which sometimes is lawfull and to doe that which neuer is permitted but always forbidden Let thy fasting chasten thée but glad an other and so thy sorrowes shall be fruitfull if they bring ioye to others Fast so that thou maiest bee as glad as if thou hast dined in hauing séen the néedie to eate God loueth a chéereful giuer and when the poore are fedde by thy reliefe thinke then that Christ hath dined with thy goodes crying that he hungereth himselfe in his poore God liketh that fast when thou giuest to an other that which thou doest withdrawe from thy selfe that thy néedy neighbors body may bée reléeued by that meanes wherby thine is afflicted Then thy fasting shall please the Lord God when thy soule abhorreth sinne for it is to no effect to withdraw meate from the body and to pamper and flatter it by sin Fast therefore chiefly from sinne and then thy fast shall please God For as fasting is to the humbling of the soule it will auaile thée nothing in humbling it by abstinence of meat and to puffe it vp by sinne Almes Hee that doeth the woorke of mercie offereth a sacrifice Acts. 14. It is a more blessed thing to giue thā to take Aug. Almes cleanseth sins intreateth for vs to Christ for whatsoeuer wee giue vnto the poore we shall be sure to possesse it Aug. If thou wilt be a good merchant and a great gainer giue that which thou canst not kéep that thou maist receiue that which thou canst not leese geue of thy temporal substance that thou maist receiue eternall inheritance To denie that which sustaineth life is to kill a man take heed lest amongst your chests or store ye lock vp the sauing of poore folks liues and as it were in toombes burying them It is a part of sacriledge to bestowe the goods of the poore otherwise then vpon the poore Geue your almes of that which is rightfully gotten geue not of that which is ill gotten to the faithful vnto whom Christs body is giuen in the sacrament The renowne of the Bishoppe is to prouide for the welfare of the poore it is a shame to all Priests to make themselues rich The almes of the proude riche man can doe him no good if hee haue robbed the poore for that will not suffer his almes to ascend come before the eies of God Penitence Luke 13. Except yée repent yée shall all likewise perish Eccl. My son if thou hast sinned adde not other sinnes to the former but praie rather that thy former may be forgotten Prou. 5. Euerie man is bound with the cordes of his sinnes Aug. de Penit. Paenitere est paenam tenere vt semper puniat in se quod commisit peccando Aug. Better is a little bitternesse in thy mouth than eternall torment in thine intrailes Au. He that wipes away his sins by penitence is become in fellowship with Angels Dauid sinned as Princes doe but he did penance with bewailing of his life the which princes or great men are not wont to doe Not to be sorie for thy sinnes makes God more angrie then the sinne which thou didst committe Contrition Bee sorowfull for your sinnes in your chamber Whome shall I regarde saith the Lord but the poore and contrite in spirit Contrition is a sorowing of the minde with teares rising of the remembrance of sinne of the feare of iudgement Let him know himself to be hard harted and too blame that doth bewaile the corporall death of his friende and weepeth not for the death of his owne soule Confession Esay 14. I will reckon vnto thée O Lord in the bitternes of my soule how I haue spent all my yeares Prou. 28. Hée that hideth his offences shall not bee directed but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall obtaine mercie Barnard The camell hath but one burden the rich man
quicke dispatch of a voyage Ibid. The eternal law ordeined nothing better than in giuing vs one waie to come into the world and many waies to go out of it Resurrection 2. Mac. 7. Unlesse we hoped that they who were slain should rise againe it should séeme superfluous and vaine to intreate for the deceased Greg. in mortal Our redéemer tooke vpon him death that we might not feare to die hée shewed vs his resurrection that we might assuredly trust to rise againe Let vs consider the little séed of euerie trée that is cast into the earth how a trée therof may be brought forth and let vs comprehend if we can where so great a trée might be hidden in so small a bulke of that seede where the wood where the rinde where the green leaues and where the plentifulnesse of that fruit why should we thē maruell how God can turne that little dust that commeth of our bodie into a man when of a little séede there riseth so huge a thing as is a great trée If there be no resurrection neither is there anie God nor anie prouidence then all things are wroght conducted by Fortune We sée many righteous men to liue in penurie and to suffer wrong and contrarily sinners and vnrighteous persons to flow in all kinde of wealth and voluptuousnes what man of right mind wil thinke this to be the worke of iust iudgment or wise prouidence therefore there shall be a resurrection for God is iust and rewardeth them that put their trust in him Iudgement Iob. 9. I feared my works knowing thou wouldest not spare an offender Rom. God will reward euery man according vnto his workes Aug. de ciu Dei Then shall he come openly among the iust to iudge iustly that came priuily to bée iudged of the vniust vniustly Aug. de Symb. That Iudge is not to be preuented by fauour nor to bée bowed with pittie nor to be corrupted with mony nor to be appeased with satisfaction or penance Let the soule deale as well as shee can for her selfe while there is place for mercie for there shal be the place of iustice When our Lorde shall iudge the wofull world the most puissant kinges shall come foorth naked that foolish wise man Plato shall be brought forth with his schollers the wittie argumentes of Aristotle shall not helpe him when the sonne of the poore maide shall come for to iudge the furthest partes of the earth Greg. When I call to minde Iob on the dunghill Iohn famishing in the wildernes Peter tormented on the crosse I think how God will punish the reprobate in time to come sith hée intreateth so sharpely them whom he loueth Hier. super Mat. So often as I consider that day my whole bodie doth tremble for feare for whether I eate or drinke or do any other thing alwaies mée thinketh that fearefull blast of the trumpet soundeth in mine eares rise yée dead and come to iudgement Heauen Esdr. 8. The most highest hath made this worlde for many but the world to come for a few 1. Cor. 2. The eie hath not séene nor the eare heard nor hath it ascended vnto the hart of man what God hath prepared for them that loue him Aug. de poenit Hasten thether where thou maiest liue euer if thou so much louest this wretched flitting life where thou liuest with so much a doe running wrastling swearing and sighing and canst scarse prouide thy bodily necessaries how much rather oughtest thou to loue the life eternall where is no labour nor any care to be taken but rather great felicitie happy liberty happy blessednes where shall bee fulfilled that which our Lord saith in the Gospell Men shall be like Angelles the righteous shall shine c. Aug. super Psa. The poore Widdowe bought as much for two mites as Peter did by forsaking his nets or Zacheus by giuing the halte of his liuing Aug. in Epist. If riches bée loued let them bee laide vp where they cannot perish if honour bee desired let it bee sought where none hath it but the worthy if life bée liked let it be gotten where no death shall end it Barn in ser. O Lorde there be manie that would raigne with thée but they will not suffer with thée they woulde finde thée but they will not séeke thée they would come where thou art but they wil not follow thée Chrys. super Math. Great is the violence if a man born in earth catch heauen for his portion if he obtaine by vertue that which he cannot by nature The kingdome of heauen suffereth violence for that the glorie of the Lord of Israel which was due to the fathers foretold by the Prophets offered by Christ is surprised and occupied by the faith of the Gentiles whiles they by the penance which Iohn preached doe reuiue to the heauenly Countrie as it were returning to a strange place Greg. in mor. Onely to the righteous are the rewardes of the heauenly countrie due so as the humble the chast the méeke and the mercifull are they which attaine to the ioyes eternall Hell Math. 8. The children of this worlde shall be cast into vtter darkenesse where shall bée wéeping and gnashing of téeth Apoc. Looke how much a man hath glorified himselfe and béene in pleasures so much giue him of sorrowe and torment Greg. in Dialog There is but one fire of hell but the same tormenteth not all sinners after one manner for euerie one shall finde there so much paine as his sinnes require Ibid. Like as when manie men stande in the sunne all féele not a like heate for that some bée more hote than other euen so in that one fire there is not one manner of burning for as much as the diuersitie of sins causeth that there which the diuersitie of bodies worketh here Greg. super Math. They shall be cast into darknesse that they may there gnash their téeth who delighted here in eating For crying out is caused of heat gnashing of téeth is caused of cold There hel is shewed to be of two sortes to wit of extreme colde and of intollerable heate Ibid. In hell shall be intollerable colde vnquenchable heat a worme that neuer dieth a stinke intollerable extreme darknes the scourge of torments the horible sight of deuils the confused heap of sins and dispaire of all good things for vnto those wretches there shall be a death without dying because there death alwaies begins and cannot end Hugo de S. Vict. Hell is a lake without measure déepe without bottome full of incomparable burning ful of intollerable stinkes full of innumerable sorrow there is miserie there is darknes and euerlasting horrour where there is no hope of any good thing Isodor de summo bono The fire of hel shal giue light to those wretches to the encrease of their owne woe by séeing it and not to any comforte least they might sée whereof to reioyce A note touching the profession of great knowledge in the scriptures CUnning is