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A79974 Christian rvles proposed to a vertuous soule aspiring to holy perfection, vvhereby shee may regulate both her time, and actions for the obtaining of her happy end. / By her faithfull frend. VV.C. W. C. (William Clifford), d. 1670. 1659 (1659) Wing C4710; ESTC R171392 155,609 555

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assured by that infallible verity of diuine Faith of the reall and substantiall presence both of the diuinity and humanity of IESVS-CHRIST true God and man accompanied with all the diuine Attributes belonging vnto the infinit Maiesty of our heauenly eternall and Almighty God Secondly we ought there to behaue our selues with all exteriour reuerence and verie carefully to auoyde all needlesse words and lookes still keeping the eyes of our soule firmely fixed vpon the Altar and our mindes wholy busied with deuout attention vnto these most sacred Mysteries of the life and death of IESVS-CHRIST which in that dreadfull sacrifice are so verie liuely there represented vnto vs and to this verie end it was instituted by him For as often as you shall eate this bread and drink the chalice you shall shew the death of our Lord vntill he come 1. Cor. 11. A Prayer to be saide at the beginning of the Masse DEate IESVS my most mercifull Redeemer who dayly to renew in vs both the happie fruit and memory of thy most bitter death and Passion didst institute this holy sacrifice of the Masse vouchsafe I beseech thee that I may not only by my presence assist thereat but also partake of those diuine Mysteries wherein thou art the vnspotted lambe and gratefull victime offered for the sinnes of the world And grant I befeech thee that I may with a true repentant hart and attentiue reuerence so assist at this great Mystery of thy diuine power wisdome and goodnesse that I may effectually participate of the self-same gratefull sacrifice as it was offered by thee in that bloody forme vpon the Crosse for the Redemption of the world to thy Eternall Father for this is the infinit treasure wherein only I confide and the inestimable price which I offer in expiation of all my grieuous sinnes and vnder this shelter of thy sacred merits only it is that I dare presume to present my selfe before thee as a poore captiue slaue redeemed with the price of thy most precious blood who liuest and raignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost world without end Amen What we are to consider at the Priests descending to the foote of the Altar and makeing a low reuerence there A Declaration of the Mystery THe Priest being ascended to the Altar and hauing placed there the Chalice and opened the booke he immediately descends againe to the lower step to signifie that though by the happie state of our first creation we had been vnited to God in Adam by the holy vnion of his grace yet we were soone separated from him by sinne which in our verie conception we all contract and are cast downe to the lowest degree of abiection and become obiects of the wrath of God as the Priest at the lowest step of the Altar by his bowing with profound reuerence represents to vs. Here in the true spirit of humiliation make this your petition as followeth The Petition O Most infinitly good and mercifull God who to preserue thy trayterous rebellious and vngratefull seruant from eternall punishment didst condemne thy only deare sonne to a reproachfull death vpon the Crosse vouchsafe I beseech thee to interpose his most sacred death and Passion betwixt my sinfull soule and thy most dreadfull iudgement both now and in the houre of my death Amen What is signified by the Priests makeing the signe of the Crosse when he beginnes the Introibo The Declaration THe Priest erecting himselfe againe makes the signe of the holy Crosse in the name of the blessed Trinity humbly acknowledging that by the bitter death Passion of our souueraine Lord vpō the Crosse we are redeemed raised vp againe to the happie state of reconciliation and to the right of our heauenly inheritance in humble and assured hope whereof the Priest proceedes saying with the Royall Prophet I will appreach to the Altar of my God to the God who much reioyceth me c. Psal 45. Here disposing your hart to gratitude and humble confusion say The petition MY most gracious Lord IESVS how often by separating my selfe from thee by grieuous sinne had I been cast into the lowest Hell had not thy infinitt goodnesse and great mercy reserued me to rise by holy penance and to make my happie peace againe with thee Grant me the sense of true gratitude and thy holy grace so truly to detest all sinne as I may much rather choose to dye then by anie deliberate consent to offend thee greuously anie more Amen What is signified by the Confiteor The Declaration A Tributing here all good vnto God and nothing but sinne with the iust confufion and punishment thereof vnto our selues the Priest makes profound reuerence and from a contrite and humble hart he vtters the publike and generall Confession of his sinnes committed by thought word or deed which the people with like contrition accompanying the clerke are also to say Knock here your breast with the contrite and humble Publican of the Gospel saying The petition GOd be mercifull to me a most wretched sinner Grant me I beseech thee true repētāce that being purified thereby from sinne I may become more gratefull to offer vp to thee this holy sacrifice both for the liuing and dead What is signified by the following verses vntill the Priest ascends vp to the Altar and kisseth it The Declaration THis humble confession thus mutually made both by the Priest and people they now likewise encourage each other in the aboundant mercy of so great a God by these confortable ensueing verses of the Psal 86. O God thou being reconciled to me wilt giue me life and thy people will reioyce in thee Shew fourth to vs o Lord thy mercy giue vs thy saluation O Lord heare my prayer and let my crye come vnto thee c. And soe the Priest ascending to the Altar kisseth it in testimonie of our happie reconciliation with God by the Incarnation of his only sonne IESVS-CHRIST in whom we are also tobe vnited by perfect charity to our neighbour all the world The petition LOrd IESVS who in thy infinite loue didst shed thy most precious blood to reconcile vs vngratefull sinners to thy Eternall Fathers peace vouchsafe that we may liue and dye in that blessed triple peace first with thee by holy grace secondly with our selues by the enioyment of a good conscience and thirdly with our neighbour by imitation and in honour and hommage of thy diuine and infinite Charity Amen At the Introite and Kyries The Declaration THe Introite puts vs in mind of the great desires which the holy Fathers and Patriarches had of their Redeemers comming And the Kyries of their earnest cryes for his speedy approach With whome we must ioyne our harty desires to the Blessed Trinity for his speedy comming by grace into our soules whereby to be fortified against our three ghostly enemies the world the flesh and the Diuell And to this purpose say The petition COme Lord IESVS come prepare an Altar in my
blessed soule of our Sauiour from his sacred body at his death He deuides it into three seuerall parts which signifie the three seuerall states of the Church The first represents to vs the state of the present life which he layes downe vpon the Altar The second signifies Purgatory which he retaynes in his hand From this he breakes a third little part which he puts into the chalice to repre sent to vs the Church triumphant absorpt in the sacred Diuinity as also the reunion of his blessed soule with his body againe after his glorious Resurrection Here make this or some like seruent prayer The petition PErmit not deare Lord and my sweet Sauiour IESVS that cursed sinne may euer separate me from thee but that by true repentance finall perseuerance in thy holy grace I may be vnited to thee in glory for all Eternity Amen What is meant by the three Crosses which are made with the particle of the consecrated Host The Declaration THe three Crosses made with the little part of the holy Host ouer the chalice signifie the three-fould peace which by the grace of CHRISTS sacred Passion is pourchased for all such as by faith and good life triumph ouer their three mortall enemies the world the flesh and the Diuell Craue humbly for his bitter Passions sake that this may be accomplisht in you and for that end with a feruent aspiration say The petition GRant Lord that I may find the testimonie of this most happie triple peace in my soule by the helpe of thy three diuine vertues Faith Hope and Charity accompanied with true Christian Penance and Humility Amen At pax Domini c. The Declaration AT Pax Domini c. which immediately followes we must contemplate our blessed Sauiour now risen againe from death both immortall and glorious as also his appearance to the Blessed Virgin to S. Marie Magdalen and to his Apostles saying Pax vobis Luke 24. Here we must craue true charity and peace for our soules which is the most gratefull disposition and best preparation to receiue worthily the fruits of this most holy Sacrament And therefore in the spirit of diuine loue and true gratitude say The petition O Most milde and meeke IESV in vnion honour and adoration of that infinit loue which induced thee to shed thy most precious blood for thy greatest enemies and to begg pardon for those who were the cruell executioners of thy most bitter death I freely pardon from my hart and most humbly beseech thee also to forgiue whosoeuer haue anie wayes wronged me most humbly also crauing to be pardoned by all such as I may haue anie way offended being ready and truly willing to giue all iust and reasonable satisfaction to them and this purely for thy sweet sake my deare Lord and most mercifull Redeemer At the Agnus Dei c. The Declaration THe Agnus Dei thrice repeated puts vs in minde how our blessed Sauiour that immaculate lambe of God reconciled vs to his Eternall Father and to the holy Trinity by his most sacred death pourchasing thereby for vs the meanes to make our happy peace with him for all our offenses past present to come Which blessed peace the Priest communicates to the people he hauing first by a particular prayer craued it and by kissing the Altar receiued it of IESVS-CHRIST whom the Altar represents and then giues it to the Clerke to be communicated to all the rest to recommend thereby true charity peace and concorde to all Christian people as being the Disciples of IESVS-CHRIST and true members of the self-same mysticall body whereof he is the diuine and supreame head Here stirr vp true detestation of sinne and a firme purpose to auoyde it saying The petition O Lambe of God which takest away the sinnes of the world vouchsafe I beseech thee that no wicked sinne may euer breake the happie peace betwixt my soule and thee nor hinder the fruit of thy grace which I may hope to receiue by the neare approaching and most holy communion of thy true precious body and blood that sacred feast wherein CHRIST is receiued the memory of his Passion is renewed the soule is replenished with grace a pledge is giuen vs of future glory which we expect to enioy as sheepe of the fould of this holy lambe in vnion with all his blessed saints and glorious Angels in all Eternitie Amen At Domine non sum dignus and the Communion The Declaration THe Priest thus prepared receiueth the holy Communion auowing his great vnworthinesse and in token of a contrite hart knocking his breast thrice he saith as often with the humble Centurion Domine non sum dignus c. Math. 8. And then with all reuerence he receiues this diuine refection and consummates the sacrifice representing to vs thereby the death and Passion of IESVS-CHRIST For as often as you shall eate this bread and drinke this chalice you shall shew the death of our Lord vntill he come Cor. 1.11.26 Here a great subiect is giuen vs of perpetuall gratitude seing that although our blessed Sauiour be ascended into Heauen with triumph and glory he yet remaynes with vs in this holy Sacrament powring downe vpon vs all spirituall temporall benedictions For which dispose your hart to breath fourth feruent eiaculations of loue and gratitude saying The petition O IESV my most louing Redeemer fountaine of all graces both temporall and eternall communicated to vngratefull man thy fauors to me my deare Sauiour haue been farr beyond all measure I therefore o Lord being so farr vnable to render thee due gratitude inuite all thy creatures both in Heauen and Earth with thy Eternall Father and Holy Ghost thy most sacred Virgin Mother and all the Saints and Angells to praise thee with mee and for mee in all Eternity O let my body and soule and all the powers of them both haue no other employment for euer then to praise admire and loue thee O Eternall Father of IESVS o holy spirit of IESVS o immaculate mother of IESVS o glorious Angels of IESVS o blessed Saints of IESVS o all yee creatures of IESVS blesse and thanke IESVS eternally for me and all the innumerable benefitts which I a most vngratefull sinner haue receiued from the Father and from the Sonne and from the Holy Ghost three Persons and one Eternall God to whom be all praise glory and thankesgiuing both now and for euer Amen At remoouing againe the booke to the other side of the Altar The Declaration BY this remoouing againe the booke to the other side of the Altar we are put in minde of the conuersion of the Iewes in the end of the world when both Iew and Gentil shall make but one true folde vnder one and the same Pastor IESVS-CHRIST for the encreace of whose glory say The petition WE most humbly beseech thee ô heanenly Father by the merits of thy blessed Sonne IESVS to powre downe thy heauenly grace vpon the rebellious harts of all sinners
practise of Gods diuine Presence therein TWO things are principally necessary to the workman for makeing a true and perfect building to witt his eye for the choyce of materials the Rule or square whereby to lay them in iust proportion and with right order in the worke Now Purity of Intention is the eye whereby directing our actions to the glory of God they become meritorious true materials towards the happy building of our Saluation and Gods diuine Presence serues vs as the Rule and Square whereby to keepe them right with the will of God whome behoulding we shall feare to offend and thereby aduāce that happy building in our Soules Wherefore to vse the methode most conducing to these Rules I here propose these two important Exercises before the rest because the good or ill of all our actions depēding therevpon it will be first fitt to see both wherein they consist as also how to practise the same It is therefore a maine point in Christianity to know that the Intention giues to all our actions their true valew in the sight of God for as to giue Almes for his sake is a vertue deseruing eternall recompence so likewise to giue the same for vanity and worldly praise is a sinne much blamed in the Gospel by IESVS-CHR as likewise is the fast of Hypocrits who fast praye to gaine esteeme and honour in the sight of men Mat 6. True Purity therefore of Intention is to all our actions as salt is to meate and as our verie soule to the body for without it no action can auaile vs towards Heauen It is as the Kings stamp to the coyne from whence the true valew is taken or as his seale which giues to the Patent all it's power and force For as a right Intention renders our giuing a cup of cold water meritorious of life euerlasting euen so the most glorious Act we can doe will nothing auaile our soules without it By this Purity of Intention all our actions must be regulated for their spirituall perfection And to hitt right vpō this happy marke we first must leuell as doth the Archer by a little pause to take ayme in the beginning of all we doe to direct it to the glory of God as he also winkes with his left eye to hinder the dissipatiō of his sight and aymes only with the right so Christian Perfectiō requires that we shutting our harts to all sinister vaine respects should place our whole vewe attention vpon the honour of God for the accomplishment of his holy will for what is not refer'd therevnto is but lost and in vaine whereas the least thought or deed accompanied with that holy motiue for the loue of God will haue no lesse thē Paradise for it's reward Mat. 10. And therefore with what care and diligence ought we to practise this fruitfull Exercise and to make it our first morning act thereby to consecrate all our thoughts words and deeds of that day for the glory of God to the end that if vaine glory or anie other ill suggestion shall present it selfe we may more easily repell them as comming too late and after so much better an owner hath taken his possession therein This generall habituall intention in our morning practise must be gently seconded by frequent like acts in the beginning of all our chiefe actions in the day by briefly offering them to God and humbly crauing that we no wayfe offende him thereby For all which a small tyme may suffice either by eleuation of the hart vnto God or by deuout eiaculations saying for thy sake ô Lord it is that I doe this That I make this visit That I eate That I pray That I suffer or doe this action and the like And as it was the primitiue custome so still it continues amongst vertuous people to begin their actions with the signe of the Crosse thereby to renew the purity of their intention in doing them as S. Paul commands vs for the glory of God 1. Cor. 10. This purely must be the motiue and finall end of whatsoeuer we doe and as it was the spirituall food of our Soueraigne Lord IESVS to doe the will of his heauenly Father Iohn 4. So is it to be the first course for the feast of a vertuous soule and likewise the middle seruice and the last whereon to feed This Pure Intention for the glory of God by doing his heauenly will is the marke at which both Prince and Prelate both rich and poore we all must ayme at it yea all our employments whither for gaines or pleasure whither in a secular or in a religious state of life be it Preacher student or Maister be it Magistrate in peace or be it Souldier for whatsoeuer he is to execute in warr all must be regulated with this vnerring Rule of a Pure Intention to please God by doing his blessed will This holy sauce giues a pleasing relish to the most distaistfull bitts which either Christians or religious Mortification can present to our recoyling nature this powerfull and diuine ingredience the loue of God so sweeten's all as I dare in confident humility here promise in Gods behalfe that no Lay-Brother or Sister in their most laborious employments nor yet those of the Quire by anie more painfull and Spirituall labours nor finally anie other of what calling or condition soeuer who shall but be faithfull in this holy Exercise will euer perish vnder the oppression of so blessed and happy a burden which diuine Treuth himselfe hath so faithfully promissed to make both sweet and light to all such as by auoyding sinne shall comply with his heauenly will This is the vnerring Square and certaine Rule whereby to regulate whatsoeuer we doe vnto which the meanest action which shall be found answerable will be of inestimable valew and what corresponds not to this blessed Rule is but corruption of nature and filth for the sinke of Hell By all this it now sufficiently appeares of what importance it is to prefix a Pure Intention to whatsoeuer we doe that being the forme the soule and verie essence which giues both life and valew therevnto for according to our intention it will be esteemed either good or bad in the sight of God how deceitfully soeuer it may appeare to the eyes of Men. As truly the guift of a cupp of cold water may well seeme but a very small matter to vs which yet being giuen with a true motiue of Charity it will be eternally rewarded in Heauen whereas the lofty Pharesies who cast whole handfulls of money with vanity into the trunk of the Temple was nothing in the esteeme of IFSVS-CHRIST himselfe in comparison of the poore widowes two farthings which shee gaue with a Pure Intention for the honour of God Yea most euident it is that the Act which we shall doe in grace and by the pure motiue of Charity farr surpasseth what either art witt or science are able to produce and is farr
species a holy sacrifice to God the Father and shewes it to the people to be adored putting vs in minde how our blessed Sauiour was lifted vp vpon the Crosse for our Redemption And by the eleuation of the Chalice is represented to vs the effusion of his most precious blood flowing from his sacred wounds vpon the Crosse The Eleuation of these two seuerall and separated species is a continuall memoriall of CHRISTS holy Passion and of that dolorous separation of his most sacred body and soule vpon Mount Caluary For all which we must offer vp to God the Father with firme Faith this great sacrifice and holy Passion of his onely begotten sonne in satisfaction for our owne finnes and for the sinnes of all others both liuing and dead it being after consecration one of the most essentiall partes of this diuine seruice and signifies that holy oblation wherein IESVS-CHRIST offred himselfe to his Eternall Father vpon the Altar of the Crosse in expiation of our sinnes Here salute the body of our Lord IESVS-CHRIST at the Eleuation of the holy Host saying The Petition HAile ô true body borne of the Virgin Mary which truly suffered and was really offered vpon the Crosse for man and from whose pearced side flowed water and blood Vouchsafe to be receiued by me at the houre of my death ô most mercifull IESV sonne of the liuing God haue mercy on me At the Eleuation of the Chalice The petition HAile o most precious blood flowing from the side of my Lord IESVS-CHRIST wash away the foule and sinfull staines of all my past and present offenses cleanse sanctifie and prepare my soule to thy eternall Blisse Amen Of the three Crosses made vpon the sacred Host immediately after the Eleuation THese Crosses made vpon the consecrated species immediately after the Eleuation represent to vs the manner in particular how that most sacred Host was immolated vpon the Crosse for our Redemption whereof we are put in minde by the frequent makeing of the holy Crosse At the second Memento The Declaration BY this second Memento we are aduertised that whilst the body of our B. Sauiour remayned in the graue his soule descended into Hell a place in the Earth called Lymbus Patrum to deliuer the soules of the Fathers who had long expected their happie enlargement from thence Forget not here your dearest freinds deceased And say The petition LOrd IESVS as thou vouchsafest to reioyce the long thirsting Fathers in Limbo by the diuine visit which thy most glorious soule made them there so now extend I beseech thee those infinit merits of thy most sacred Passion towards the solace also of those thy poore suffering creatures in Purgatory there crying for helpe but especially haue mercy I beseech thee vpon my dearest freinds kindred and benefactors and in particular vpon N. N. and vpon all those for whom I haue most obligation to pray transferre them speedily from those tormenting flames to thy celestiall Beatitude there to enioy loue and praise thee for all Eternity Amen At nobis quoque Peccatoribus The Declaration THe Priest somewhat raising his voyce and knocking his breast at nobis quoque peccatoribus represents to vs the repentance of these Iewes who had been accessary to the cruell death of the sonne of God together with the good Centurion who at this dolorous Passion perceiuing so many great and wonderous signes of his diuinity mooued with sorrow admiration he strucke his breast and verie boldly cryed out before all those enraged enemies truly this was the sonne of God Math. 27. Dispose now your hart to Contrition and to true compassion saying The petition O Stony and most obdurate hart so little sensible of those sharpe sufferings of my Lord Sauiour for my most wicked sinne O touch it Lord IESV with true remorse that in the sense and fealing of thy loue on the one side and of the horrour and detestation of my offending thee on the other I may in the humble spirit of that repentant Publican and from the bottome of my hart cry out to thee Lord be mercifull to me a most wretched sinner Luke 18. I haue sinned Lord and I detest my sinne as the vnhappie cause of all thy dolorous and most grieuous sufferings but thou ô IESV the sonne of Dauid haue mercy on me Amen Marke 10. The reason why the Priest makes here againe three Crosses ouer the Host and Chalice when he saith cum ipso † in ipso † per ipsum † The Declaration IT is to signifie that this sacrifice is auaileable for three seuerall sorts of persons for those in Heauen to an increase of their glory for those in Purgatory to releeue their sufferings and for those vpon Earth for an encrease of grace and remission of their sinnes At omnis honor gloria The Declaration THe Priest eleuating the Holy Host chalice together a little from the Altar at Omnis honor gloria and then immediately deposing them againe vpon the corporall and couering the chalice with the Pall represents to vs the takeing of our blessed Sauiours body from the Crosse which being most reuerently wrapped in a pure cleane linnen sheete signified by the corporall was placed in the sepulcher by those deuout persons Ioseph and Nicodemus Here crauing true purity both of hart and soule say with pious affection The petition GRant me deare IESV I beseech thee in all my thoughts and deeds true purity of hart from all sinfull affection whereby my soule may become a pleasing sepulcher to receiue thy precious body blood together with thy heauenly grace to strengten in me the vertue of true humility whereby to mortifie what euer may be displeasing to thy heauenly Maiesty Amen At the little Preface before the Pater noster The Declaration BY this short Preface the Priest in true Humility of hart acknowledges his owne great vnworthines that he would not pre sume to call God his Father were he not expresly commanded by IESVS-CHRIST in this his owne Prayer of the Pater noster which he here saith at the holy sacrifice of the Masse to put vs in minde of those deuout and feruent prayers which the blessed Virgin the Apostles and the holy wo men made during the tyme that our soueraine Redeemer remayned in the sepulcher Here we must vnite our prayers together with those of the a fore-named Saints and with the whole militant Church saying The petition LOrd grant me grace I beseech thee that I may rise from the loathsome sepulcher of my former ill custome of sinne to a new vertuous life whereby I may be led to the happie fruition of thy beatificall vision there to adore and praise thee togeather with thy heauenly Father in vnion of the Holy Ghost and with the blessed companie of all thy celestiall spirits in Eternall Beatitude Amen What is meant by the Priests deuiding the Consecrated Host The Declaration THe Priest deuides the holy Host to signifie the separation of the
heretikes that they may be speedily conuerted from there sinne frō all impiety to a true vertuous life in the profession obseruatiō of thy most holy law And here once more ô most louing powerfull God we doe earnestly implore the speedy conuersion of our owne most deplorable country IESV grāt it for thy most bitter Passiōs sake O glorious Queene of Heauen and gracious Mother of God England for its peculiar deuotion towards thee was once iustly called thy Dowrie O interpose thy powerfull intercession most sacred Virgin to obtaine that thy due right and it s long lost greatest happinesse At the Post-Communion The Declaration THe Post-Communion signifies to vs the songs of eternall ioy made by the heauenly Choristers for the glorious Tryumph of our Sauiour ouer death Here send fourth from a gratefull hart your feruent eiaculation also of ioy and with an humble desire preferr The petition GRant vs efficacious grace o Lord so to conquer sinne in this world that we may enioy a victorious crowne of euerlasting glory in the other Amen At the next Dominus vobiscum The Declaration THis Dominus vobiscum signifies to vs that though our Blessed Sauiour be corporally ascended into Heauen yet by his faithfull promisse we are assured of the continuance of his most true and reall presence with his beloued spouse the holy Church sacramentally in the blessed Eucharist euen to the end of the world Math. 28.20 For which in gratefull thankefullnes say The petition IRender thee most humble thankes ô deare Redeemer IESV for all the gracious visits which thou hast pleased of thy meere goodnesse to make to my poore sinfull soule in this diuine Sacrament of thy most precious body and blood I most humbly craue thy heauenly grace so to adorne it with Charity with Humility with Patience and with such feruent deuotion against my next Communion as that it may thereby be made a gratefull guest at thy diuine banquet Amen At the latter Collect. The Declaration AT this last prayer or collect we must giue humble and harty thankes to the glorious Trinity for the innumerable great benefitts which we haue receiued and most particularly for hauing vouchsafed to make vs partakers of this diuine sacrifice whereby are most graciously applyed vnto vs all the merits of the life death and bitter Passion of IESVS-CHRIST if by sinne or want of due disposition we our selues be not the hinderance thereof which to auoyde begg humbly his grace and say with a religious hart The petition O Almighty and mercifull Father vouchsafe me grace that in due gratitude for all thy innumerable benefitts I may neuer by deliberate consent offend thee anie more Let this propitious sacrifice of the most precious body and blood of my deare Redeemer both obtayne pardon for what is past and so strenghten me hereafter that what on my part hath been truly purposed for thy honour may be faithfully accomplished to my owne soules health through the same Lord IESVS-CHRIST thy beloued Sonne who liueth with thee in vnity of the Holy Ghost world without end Amen At the last Dominus vobiscum The Declaration THis last Dominus vobiscum puts vs in minde of the dreadfull sound of the last trumpet when our soueraine Lord shall came in the end of the world to iudge both the quick and the dead by a finall sentence for all Eternity The petition GRant me Lord IESV I beseech thee with that blessed Saint and Doctor of the Church holy S. Hierome so liuely a feare and cōtinuall a memory of this dreadfull summons to that last iudgment day as by this wholsome feare I now auoyding sinne may not then apprehend that dreadfull iudgmēt Vouchsafe me in all my actions a continuall remembrance of the fower last things whereby I auoyding to offend thee this feare is also taken away At the Ite Missa est The Declaration AFter the conclusion of all these holy Mysteries of the Eternall Sonne of God the Priest turneth towards the people and hauing saluted them with the last Dominus vobiscum he pronounceth the Ite Missa est whereby he puts vs in minde of the most dreadfull sentence which our Lord and soueraigne iudge IESVS-CHRIST shall thunder out against the damned at that last iudgment in those fearefull words of S. Mat. 24. Goe yee cursed into euerlasting fire c. Craue humbly Gods grace to preserue and exempt you from that vnhappy number and say The petition LOrd giue me grace to practise vertue and to auoy de all deadely sinne that only and most vnhappy barr against Beatitude Vouchsafe me deare IESV true finall Repentance that so I may be deliuered from all feare of that dreadfull summons to my last Doome Amen Of the last Benediction The Declaration HEre contrariwise at this last Benediction which immediately follows you must call to minde that other most ioyfull sentence to be pronounced there by the selfesame Iudge vnto all the thrice happie elect Come yee blessed of my Father possesse yee the Kingdome prepared for you from all Eternity c. Math. 24. whereof to be partaker say in the spirit of humble hope and confidence in the sole meritts of IESVS-CHRIST The petition GRant me my most mercifull Redeemer I beseech thee that by thy heauenly grace my life and preparation to this fearefull and generall iudgment may be such as by that sentence of come yee blessed c. I may be called to the right hand with those thy glorious Elect to partake with them of that Beatitude which neuer shall haue end Of S. John his Gospel The Declaration THis holy Gospel recompts to vs the eternall birth of the diuine word that second Person of the most Blessed Trinity together with the highest and most secret Mysteries of his Diuinity shewing also to vs that in consequence of that forementioned Benediction we are to enter into his heauenly Paradise there to know blesse and enioy those sacred and all beatiyfing Mysteries for euer and euer to which ardently aspiring you may say The petition O Most louing and mercifull Redeemer I finally beseech thee as well for all here present as also for all those in particular for whom I haue promissed am most obliged to pray that by the beatificall vision of thy Diuinity and by the most glorious sight of thy blessed Humanity both so plainly mentioned tovs in that aforesaid diuine Gospel of S. Iohn we may in that Celestiall Hierusalem and in the companie of all those heauenly spirits and happie Elect praise adore and glorifie that most sacred Trinity three diuine Persons and one onely God for all Eternity Amen Here ends this present Exercise vpon the holy Masse which if perchaunce it may seeme too prolix for the practise of diuers persons I shall here add a much more easy and compendious manner of assisting at this holy sacrifice and more suteable perchaunce to their deuotion then is the other way for the more learned sorte Choose therefore deare Cath.
would frustrate all our former paines And therefore to preuent the danger of so great an euill the best expedient which I can recommende to you is a carefull obseruance of these former Rules it being manifest that the most assured way to dye well is to liue well yea the one is but the Eccho of the other and much folly it would be to hope for a happy death and yet to fly a good life whereof the other depends Many will say with Balaam ô let me dye the death of the Iust and be may end like vnto theirs Numb 23. But they ought rather to say ô let me liue the life of the Iust that my end maybe like vnto theires He liueth well who spendes his life in learning to dye well who learnes not this is truly ignorant though for all the rest he be as wise as Plato or as learned as was Aristotle who vpon the point to dye cry'd out I entred into this world in pouerty I liued therein with misery and finally I dye in ignorance of that he ment which most imported him to know for he had not learn'd the art of dying well wherein the only true wisdome and knowledge doth consist This happy and most needfull Art is best learned by dying first in minde to the world before we can liue rightly to God yea we must dye verie often in minde to dye once truly well This was the practise of holy S. Augustin when he said let me dye to the end I may not dye he meanes that by often conceiuing himselfe as a dying man to make familiar by frequent practise in the tyme of health the exercises of those necessary acts which are to be vsed at the tyme of our death for who learnes not in tyme of health to practise the holy acts of vertue and to resist the temptations most incident in that dangerous extremity how shall he doe it well at his death when the battaile will be more furious and he much weaker to resist yea by paine and other impediments in tyme of sicknesse and cheefly when neere to our end we are manie wayes hindred from performing the duty which we then ought to render vnto God And therefore it greatly imports vs so to practise them in tyme of health as if we were then actually at the verie point of our death which being seriously and frequently performed it will produce a true contempt of the world and a holy disingagement from the creatures thereof and will also make the practise of those acts much more easie to vs at the tyme of our death This holy Exercise may best be made by way of these eight ensuing Meditations which you may take for the subiect of a spirituall Retreate for so manie dayes or for halfe the tyme as occasion and your spirituall Director shall best aduise you And for the methode of your Meditations you may vse the same which I formerly mentioned in B Sales Part. 2. chap. 2. in his Introduction to a deuout life The substance of this exercise I haue collected partly out of the R. F. Eude a Missionary Priest and a most pious Author the which I earnestly yet once againe recommend and verie heartely exhort you to make vse thereof once a yeare at the least And if your occasions will so permitt no tyme is more proper for it then the holy weeke The first Meditation Of submission and Conformity to Gods diuine will concerning our death The Preparation 1. Place your selfe in the Presence of God 2. Beseech him to inspire you with his grace 3. And which serues as a generall aduise for this and all the ensueing Meditations you must endeuour so to behaue your selfe therein as if they were to be your last And therefore labour to procure such interiour affections in your soule as ought to be wished were you assured to dye that present day Considerations FIrst here consider your selfe as present before your Soueraigne Iudge pronouncing that iust sentence of death against you in those words to Adam Gen. 1. and in him against all other men dust thou art and into dust thou shalt returne 2. With what infinit loue and profound humility IESVS-CHRIST that innocent and immaculate lambe did accept from wicked Pilate that cruell sentence of a reproachfull death vpon the Crosse thereby to satisfye the iustice of his Eternall Father for our offences In due honour and homage wherevnto we must cheerefully submit our selues to the iust sentence of death acknowledging that our greeuous sinnes most iustly deserues it Affections and Resolutions O Diuine and louing Iesv who being the source and fountaine of all true life yet didst-vouchsafe to dye so painfull a death for me in humble and gratefull acknowledgment thereof I accept from this instant with a willing heart that suffering state which thy diuine will hath ordayned me in adoration of thy sacred sufferings as also in honour and vnion of that thy naked pouerty and being so forsaken vpon the Crosse I here now render my selfe to what want or misery soeuer thy heauenly iustice and holy pleasure hast ordayned for me be it by persecution by calumny scorne confusion or by anie other iniury or sufferance from anie creature whatsoeuer all which I humbly accept in expiation of my sinne yeald my selfe most willingly to suffer all paines and infirmities by thy diuine will allotted me my agonies and death it selfe All which and what else soeuer they be I accept thereof in honour vnion and adoration of thy most dolorous death and cruell torments for which the Prophet Esa so iustly hath called thee a Man of sorrowes cap. 53. and I most entirely submit my selfe to dye in true conformity to thy holy will be it without the comfort of my friends or senses that I dye this yeare or this day this houre or moment where or in what manner thy diuine Prouidence shall ordayne vouchsafe but o Lord that my desire may euer be thy will be done and that my heart accompanie it with true contrition and perseuerance in thy grace This grant me deare IESV for thy bitter Passion sake and then let death assault me in bed or in the field by lingering paine or by suddaine accident be it naturall or violent honorable orignominious be it but thy blessed pleasure and welcome yea Father for so hath it well pleased thee Luke 10. Grant Lord IESV I beseech thee that as thou vouchsafest to dye for the loue of me so I may both liue and dye purely for the loue of thee and that neither liuing nor dying I may euer anie more offend thee But that finally I may breath fourth my soule in cheerefull conformity to that most holy obedience wherewith thou didst render thy blessed spirit vpon the Crosse into thy Fathers hands O glorious Trinity I wholy abandon my selfe vnto thy heauenly will vouchsafe to dispose of me both in tyme and Eternity to thy owne greater honour and glory The Conclusion 1. Giue God thankes for
the holy Communion Preparation 1. Place your selfe in the presence of God 2. Beseech him to inspire you 3. Endeauour by internall feruent Acts of Faith Hope Charity and of other vertues to prepare your nuptiall garment as an inuited guest to the solemne feast of the great King of Heauen and Earth Considerations THe holy Communion being a soueraigne meanes whereby we prepare our selues to a happy death it will be requisit to take one day in this Exercise to dispose our selues with all due preparation and deuotion to this holy action and that with as much care and diligence as if it were to be our last and at the dreadfull houre of death The manner of this important Exercise may be taken out of Granada his Memorial or from some other good treatise concerning the same And in particular endeauour to produce some feruent eiaculations from your heart of thanks-giuing and loue accompaniing them also with these ensuing acts or the like Acts of Oblation I Most humbly offer vnto thee deare IESV this holy Communion as if my last in thankes-giuing for all the effects of thy diuine loue and in particular for that thy great Charity in giuing thy life that I might liue eternally Secondly in satisfaction for the dishonour which hath been done by all the sinne committed from the beginning of the world which shall be till the end Thirdly I entirely resigne my selfe to thee my deare Redeemer in thankfull gratitude for hauing giuen thus thy selfe to me by this ineffable manner in the most blessed Sacrament I most humbly craue thy powerfull intercession ô immaculate Virgin mother and glorious Queene of Heauen Intercede also for me ô yee beloued Apostles of IESVS O happy Magdalen S. Mary of Egipt and all yee glorious Saints that I may pertake of your humility feruour and loue where with yee happily performed your last Communion of this celestiall food Vouchsafe good Lord that being vnited now to thee by grace I may neuer more be separated from thee by anie mortall sinne Conclusion 1. Thanke God for your good Affections 2. Craue grace to make good vse of them 3. Begg humbly pardon for all your negligence in Prayer Pater Aue. Credo The fifth Meditation Of the Sacrament of Extreme-Vnction Preparation First place your selfe in Gods diuine presence 2. Beseech him to inspire you with his grace 3. Conceiue your soule and body now vpon the point of separation and all worldly concernements at an end Consideration BEcause we are not certaine of being in capacity to apply our selues to God when this Sacrament shall be giuen vs therefore it is verie expedient here to designe one part of this exercise whereby to render him that duty which we should then be obleiged to doe And by this meanes to prepare also our selues aforehand to make good vse of this Sacrament by the practise of these following acts Affections and holy Acts of thankesgiuing and adoration O Louing IESV I adore thee as the Author and institutor of this holy Sacrament and as the liuing source of all the grace therein contayned and in all the other Sacraments which thou hast pourchased for vs by the effusion of thy owne most precious blood and thereby hast merited all the happy effects of grace receiued by vngratefull Man Grant me ô mercifull Lord the gracious fauour to receiue this needfull Sacrament at the end of my life or in case I be depriued thereof that my soule may then receiue by thy fauorable goodnesse the grace which it should haue had by this holy help of Extreame Vnction Lord IESV who a little before thy bitter death vouchsafed to receiue that gratefull vnction from holy Magdalen as also by Ioseph and Nicodemus when they lay'd thy sacred body in the Sepulcher grant that I receiuing this holy Sacrament and my last vnction in honour and vnion of those acceptable vnctions I may receiue the diuine vnction of the holy Ghost in that measure of heauenly grace as shall be needfull for my soule in the last dreadfull houre of my death Endue me deare Lord with all ●●tt dispositions for the fruitfull receiuing of this Sacrament and worke in me I beseech thee those happy effects of grace there signifi'd by the exteriour ceremonies thereof Behold me prostrate at thy feet before all thy celestiall Cittizens hūbly confessing the sinnes of my whole life and crauing pardon with a repentant heart wherewith I offer here to thee in sacrifice all my corporall senses togeather with the spirituall powers of my soule Annoint me sweet IESV with the holy and sacred oyle of thy diuine grace and mercy Accept in satisfaction I beseech thee that blessed vse which thy sacred humanity thy immaculate Mother and all thy other thrice happy Saints haue made of all their said senses and powers in stead of my ill vse of them and grant me thy grace hereafter to vse them to thy greater honour and glory Conclusion 1. Thanke God for your good Affections and Resolutions 2. Implore his grace to put them in practise 3. Craue pardon for your negligence in prayer Pater Aue. Credo The sixt Meditation Of our agonie and houre of death Preparation 1. Place your selfe in the presence of God 2. Beseech him to inspire you with his grace 3. Conceiue your selfe now speechlesse ready to expire and vpon the very point of separation from all worldly designes possessions and frends for euer immediately to appeare at Gods dreadfull Iudgment to giue a most exact accompt of all the thoughts words and deeds of your whole life And therevpon to receiue your finall doome to an endlesse Blisse or misery Considerations 1. COnsider how different are the thoughts of a dying Mā from those which he hath vsually in tyme of health and make a firme resolution to begin thence forward to doe that presently which certainly you shall then wish to haue done 2. Consider this day as if the last of your life and therefore labour to behaue your selfe with diligence and deuotion to negotiate therein your eternall saluation And for this effect you ought to apply all your thoughts and endeauours of this day to contemplate and adore IESVS-CHRIT as if in the last day of his life in this world and to doe all your actions therein with the like disposition and intention the best you can wherewith he accomplish't his last actions whilst he remayned here vpon Earth Beseech him to endue you with some proportion of the affections and dispositions required to dye in that spirit of diuine loue of Patience Charity Humility and Conformity wherewith he rendred vp his blessed soule into the hands of his heauenly Father vpon the Crosse Affections and Resolutions LOrd IESV I adore there in that verie article of thy bitter death and agonie in vnion whereof togeather with that holy agonie of thy deare Virgin Mother and of all thy blessed Saints I here offer to thee my last expiring breath most humbly beseeching thee that the article of my death
may be blest and sanctifi'd by this my true desire and good intention of vnion vnto thyne and theirs and that my life be sacrificed in those sacred flames of diuine loue wherein they haue so happily ended theirs O immaculate Virgin Mother O thou beloued disciple of our Lord and thou o happy and repentant Magdalen yee who had that speciall honour to accompanie my Lord IESVS at his dolorous death and there to assist at the foot of the Crosse whilst therevpon he pay'd the deare ransome of our Redemption vouchsafe yee also to assist me by your powerfull intercession in that last passadge to my Eternity It would be also verie expedient this day to reade the Passion of IESVS-CHRIST and the 17. chapter of S. Iohn which contaynes the last words and the prayers of IESVS-CHRIST before he came to the Crosse as also to reade the prayers of the Church for an agonizing soule for they are verie pious and efficacious Nor doe we know whether at the day of our death we shall be able to make vse of anie such preparation let vs therefore so reade them now as we ought to reade them then and with the selfsame dispositions and affections as if in that last article of our death Lord Iesv for thy great mercy sake grant me this happy grace to consecrate the finall instant of my mortall life to the honour of that sanctifi'd moment wherein thou did'st expire vpon the Crosse and that my last breath may yeald fourth a feruent act of diuine and pure loue of thee which may perseuere with my soule eternally This is sweet Iesv my true harty desire and firme resolution confirme and so strengthen it I beseech thee in holy grace as that by finall perseuerance I may performe it to thy glory and my owne eternall felicity Conclusion 1. Thanke God for your good affections and Resolutions 2. Craue grace to put them in execution Beseech him to pardon your negligence in prayer Pater Aue. Credo The seauenth Meditation Of our particular iudgment at the houre of death Preparation 1. Place your selfe in the presence of God 2. Beseech him to inspire you with his grace 3. Reflect vpon that ioyfull sentence come yee blessed c. And vpon the excessiue horrour of that other Goe yee cursed c. and prepare your selfe in tyme by a good life to auoyde the same Considerations 1. We must consider our selues now as at the point of death and Iesvs-CHRIST as if appearing to vs in quality of our soueraigne Iudge come to pronounce our finall sentence to an eternall life or death without all further appeale Lett vs yeald to him in quality thereof all honour and homage laboring by true loue repentance to renderhim propitious tovs against that dreadfull houre that houre after which no moment more of tyme will euer be giuen vs that deciding houre which will determin vs to ioy or misery for all Eternity O lett vs therefore entertayne our most serious thoughts affections and resolutions herevpon whilst that both tyme and mercy is afforded for the same 2. Consider the immaculate lambe the Saint of Saints and essentiall sanctity it selfe IESVS-CHRIST infinitly farr frō all blemish of sinne yet layde prostrate in a bloody agonie before his heauenly Father in the garden soone after at Pilats feet there charged withall the sinnes of the world becomme the voluntary suerty and the accepted caution for all sinners whatsoeuer And therefore it was that the eternall Father did so seuerely exercise his diuine and rigid iustice vpon that sacred Humanity and made it to vndergoe the iudgment which was due to wicked Man permitting his most innocent and beloued sonne to be condemned to that reproachfull death vpon the Crosse Which iudgment he accepted with most perfect submission to his heauenly Father and ardent loue to Man In honour vnion and adoration whereof here prostrate your selfe as at the feet of IESVS-CHRIST and there acknowledge adore him as the soueraigne Iudge both of Men and Angells without appeale Raise vp your soule to true loue and gratitude by these ensueing Affections or the like Affections and Resolutions O Diuine IESV I honour thee in this thy particular comming to iudge me at the article of my death And I here adore what thy eternall decree shall there dispose of me Enlighten me I beseech thee that I may so discouer the enormity of my sinnes as I may behold them now in the self-same manner as they would appeare to me at the houre of my death to the end I may by true repentance and satisfaction make here my happy peace before I fall into the finall zeale of thy dreadfull iustice when all tyme will be past for anie fauour or mercy I therefore now detest from my very hart and renounce for euer all my finfull offences and at the sacred feet of thy diuine mercy I resolue most willingly to accept what punishment soeuer thy iustice shall ordayne me nor can I hope for anie other meanes whereby to expiate my grieuous sinne but meerely by thy mercy and merits of thy most precious blood O mercifull Redeemer who did'st for my sake permit thy selfe to be ledd bound and in all disgracefull manner to that prophane tribunall of Pilate and there with all malice and scorne to be presented and iudged before him thou being thy selfe the supreame and soueraigne iudge both of the liuing dead Grant I beseech thee that all those indignities suffered for the loue of man obtayning pardon for my sinnes may graciously preserue me from that vnhappy number who shall neither loue nor praise thee during their cursed Eternity And though most vnworthy I be of this blessed effect of thy great mercy yet behold ô God our Protectour and looke vpon the face of thy Christ Psal 83. thy diuine and only begotten Sonne ● eternall Father being adiuged to that dolorous death for my offence may begg my pardon and therevpon is grounded all my hope and humble confidence O Mother of mercy and faithfull aduocate of all who craue thy powerfull intercession sacred Virgin and Mother of God O all yee blessed Angells and Saints of Paradise vouchsafe yee to intercede for me vnto the most glorious Trinity and offer vp I beseech yee your holy sufferings for his sake in part of satisfaction for my sinne pray yee for me that he dealenot with me according to the rigour of his iustice but rather answerably to the multitude of his infinit mercy to the end that I may loue and praise him with you all world without end Conclusion 1. Thanke God for your good Affections and Resolutions 2. Craue grace to put them in execution 3. Beseech him to pardon your negligences in prayer Pater Aue. Credo The eight Meditation Of the state of our death and buriall Preparation 1. Place your selfe in the presence of God 2. Beseech him to inspire you with his grace 3. Conceiue now your soule and body separated The first to appeare
before Gods dreadfull Tribunall to render him a most rigid accompt The second now lay'd in the graue to be food for wormes and being reduced to most loathsome putrifaction must there returne to it's first extraction earth and ashes Consideration COnsider that as our blessed Sauiour IESVS hath pleased to passe through all the seuerall states of humaine mortality thereby to honour his eternall Father in them all and to sanctifie them particularly for our greater good so likewise we ought to honour this our most louing Redeemer in all the states wherein wee haue been or shall hereafter be And therefore hauing now adored him as in the last instant of our life by dedicating it as a sacrifice to his honour glory it now followes that we honour adore him also in the state of our death wherein he himselfe remayned for three dayes space all which may be done as followeth by these Affections and Resolutions O IESV eternall life and the originall source from whom all life doth spring from whence proceeds it that I thus behold thee brought vnder the darke shadow of death by that dolorous separation of thy diuine body and soule and thereby also separated from thy most sacred mother from thy deare Apostles Disciples and all thy beloued frends and this on their parts also with the greatest most sensible griefe to be imagined O diuine and deare Lord I adore praise and glorifie thee herein I offer to thee all the honour which in this state hath been rendred to thee by thy blessed Mother by the penitent Magdalen by all thy holy Apostles Saints Angells and by all which thy whole Church both militant and triumphant doth and shall euer render to thee for this thy infinitt loue and most profound humility In vnion of which blessed companie and in true honour and homage to thy said sorrowfull separation I likewise offer most louing IESV to thee that state whereby one day I must by death be also separated both from frends and kindred from all that which in this world can aniewise be deare to me O IESV in adoration of thy sacred death separatiō of thy body soule I make thee now a most willing sacrifice of myne I offer also vnto thee my buriall in honour of thy three dayes lying buried in the monument in due adoration whereof I here most cheerefully bequeath my body to the earth there to giue wormes their due it being reduced into dust I desire that each seuerall graine thereof may be as a tongue and voyce to prayse glorifie continually thy holy buriall with all the other blessed Mysteries of our Redemption that so with thy kingly Prophet I might perpetually sing all my bones shall say Lord who is like to thee Psal 34. Most mercifull and louing Lord destroy vtterly in me I beseech thee that cursed life of the ould Man all wicked sinne Make me to dye perfectly to the world to my selfe and to all whatsoeuer is not thee Mortifie so my eyes my eares my tongue my hands my feet my hart and all the powers both of my body soule that I may no more see nor vnderstand nor speake nor doe nor loue nor thinke nor will nor vse anie other faculty corporall or spirituall of my body or soule but according to thy holy will Grant I may so dye to my selfe as that my life may be hid with CHRIST in God Colos 3. O hide and bury my tepidity and indeuotion in the feruour of thy diuine loue and all my other vices and imperfections in thy perfections and vertues that as the earth consumeth the corruption of the body so may the sinfull imperfections of my soule be consumed by the operations of thy heauenly grace in me O most pure Virgin and beloued Mother of my Lord IESVS-CHRIST vouchsafe me thy powerfull intercession I beseech thee that by my death and buriall I may render due honour and homage to that his dolourous death which did so deeply pierce thy tender hart and also to that dolefull state in the graue which kept both thee and all his dearest frends in three sadd mourning dayes for his bewailed absence O holy Angell my faithfull Guardian Blessed S. Ioseph S.N. and all yee glorious Saints and Angells of Heauen pray yee to God for me that I be strenghtned by his holy grace to comply with all my present good purposes and desires of doing well Obtayne yee for me by your powerfull intercession that I may so serue loue and obey him in this life as that I may enioy praise and glorifie him with you for all Eternity in the other Conclusion 1. Thanke God for your affections and Resolutions 2. Craue grace to put them in execution 3. Beseech him to pardon your negligence in prayer Pater Aue. Credo You haue seene now the order of this needfull preparation in health whereby to dispose your soule to a happy death The reasons alleaged conuince it's much conducing to that maine point whereon depends Eternity The profit of which anticipating Exercise was experienced by S. Gertrude who testifies to vs that shee hauing once practis'd it our blessed Sauiour himselfe assured her that her deuotion therein was so verie pleasing vnto him as he euen then did presently accept thereof for the houre of her death as shee desired It therefore now only remaines Christian and deare Cath. reader that I conclude exhorting you to make good vse of this important Exercise as also of all the former Rules which though I doubt not but by your deuout perusall will produce verie pious affections and laudable resolutions in your soule yet you must be verie carefull not to rest only in them they being but meerly helpes and dispositions vnto the true end and fruit of holy prayer which is the accomplishment of the will of God by mortifiing for his sake our vnruly passions and disordered affections whereby our stubborne Will is made plyable to vertue And as the yron first softned by fyre becomes so yealding to the workmans hammer as it may easily be fashioned to what forme he desires so I doe much confide that this little treatise will prooue a furnace of holy deuotion so to inflame your hart with the feruour of true piety as you will finde it verie plyable to put in execution those holy Affections and good purposes of your former deuotion wherein consists the verie perfection of all good prayer And to the end that you may reape in much more abundance this the happiest treasure of true Christian sanctity I cannot omit here finally to exhort you that when you desire and fitt oportunity shall inuite you to make a spirituall exercise vpon these Meditations of a preparation to death that then after your deuotions vpon each seuerall Meditation you also write downe your Resolutions and best affections which mooued you to such resolutions as you conceiue most fitting to be obserued for your future life and Conuersation And hauing done the like in euery