thee that wast whipped Glory to thee that wast spitte vpon Glory to thee that wast mocked Glory to thee that wast crucified Glory to thee that wast buried Glory to thee that didest arise from the dead Glory to thee that art preached Glory to thee in whom we beleeue Glory to thee that wast assumpted into heauen Glory to thee who with great glory sittest on the right hand of the Father and againe shal come in the glory of the Father the holy Angels to iudge euery soule that haith despised thee and thy holy passions in that fearful and dreadful hour when the powers of the heauens shal Math. 24. Luc. 21. be moued when also the Angels Archangels Cherubim and Seraphim shal come with feare and trembling in sight of thy glory when agaiâ—e the foundations of the earth shal tremble and euery liuing thing shal be affraid for the incomparable glory of thy great Maiestye I besech thee that in that hour thy grace may hide me vnder thy winges and my soule may be deliuered froÌ„ that horrible fyre gnashing of teeth external darknesse and euerlasting weping that I may say blessing and thankesgeuing to thee Glory be to thee o Lord who according to the multitude of the mercies of thy great piety hast vouchsaifed to saue me a sinner who with the Father and holy Ghost liuest and reignest world without ende Amen S. Athanasins l. Meditat. At the Sixt Hour end thy praiers with psalmes weping and teares because at this Hour the Sonne of God did hang on the Crosse for thee Meditations and praiers for the Ninth hour THere was darknesse vpon the Luc. 23. whole earth vntil the ninth hour the sunne was darkned and the vaile of the temple was rent in the midest And Iesus crying with a loud voice said Father into thy handes I commend my spirit saying this he gaue vp the gost Peter and Iohn went vp into the temple Act. 3. at the ninth hour of prayer He saw manifestly in a vision as it Act. 10. were the ninth hour of the day the Angel of god comming in to him and said vnto him thy prayers almes haue ascended in memory in the sight of god Make your prayers at the ninth hour Clem. Const Aopst l. 8. c. 40. Athanas l. de meditat because al thinges were troubled when our lord was crucified At the Ninth hour thou shalt be in Himnes and glorifications with teares confession of thy sinnes praying to god because at this hour our lord hanging on the crosse gaue vp the ghost The Ninth hour is deliuered by the Apostles them selues in the Actes to be Basil l. q. diff q. 37. necessary for prayer where it is tould that Peter and Iohn went vp into the Temple at the ninth hour of prayer Act. 3. S. Denis the Areopagite S. Paules scholer epist ad S. Policarp DEmaund of him what he thinketh He meaneth Apoliphanes the philosopher of the Eclips of the SuÌ„ne which hapned when our Sauiour was crucified for we were then both together and stoode at Heliopolis did sodanly see when the Moone obiected it selfe to the Sunne not being the time of their coniunction and againe when the same opposed it selfe aboue the order of nature to the midle lyne of the sunne from the ninth hour to the evening And recal further some other thing to his memory for he knoweth also how that interposition was seene of vs to begin froÌ„ the rysing of the sunne and come to the last point of it and after to vanish away and againe that the interposition and recession did not chance from the same part of the sunne but froÌ„ that which so to speake was diametrically contrary These are the wonderful thinges of that time which Christ the author of al thinges is onely able to performe who maketh great and Iob. 5. mereulous thinges of which there is noe number If it be lawful for thee and if thou canst o Apoliphanes refute The testimony of gentile Philosophers for Christ these thinges against me who was then both present with thee did behould and examine al thinges with greatest admiration And I cannot devise wherevpon Apoliphanes then began conferring with me the thinges that were done said thus O Dionisius these are the changing of diuine matters An other Meditation how al creatures seemed to lament at the death of Christ out of S. Leo ser 2. pas Dom. WHen Christ yelded vp the Ghost al the elementes did tremble The brightnesse of the sunne couered with thick darknesse did extraordinarily subiect the day to night The earth weakned with deepe quakinges did not retaiâ—e it stability And the firme rockes their streÌ„gth being broken fel into peeces The veile of the Temple with which the misteries of former thinges were now noe longer to be shadowed was cutte asunder And the bodies of many Sainctes being raised vp to prepare the faith of the Resurrection their graues lay open Therefore o Iewes against you heauen and earth haue geuen sentence The sunne haith withdrawne his seruice and the day from you al the orders of the elementes haue denied to serue you and the ministery of the creature departing from his lawes your blindnesse your confusion was was signified For you saying His Math. 27. bloud be vpon vs and vpon our children this is worthily repayed vnto you that what the wicked portion of your stocke hath lost that the beleeuing fulnesse of the gentiles should obtaine Therefore most beloued let vs to whom our lord Iesus Christ crucified is not a scandal nor 1. Cor. 1. foolishnesse but the power of god and wisdom of god let vs I say the spiritual seede of Abraham not begotteÌ„ of the Issue of seruitude but regenerated in the family of freedome for whom brought forth with a strong hand mightie arme from vnder the oppressioÌ„ of the rule of Egipt the true and immaculate lambe Christ is 1. Cor. 5. offered let vs embrace the meruealous mistery of his sauing pasouer and be reformed to the image of him that was conformed to our deformity let vs be lifted vp to him that made the dust of our baise condition to be the body of his glory and that we may deserue to be partakers of his resurrection let vs in al thinges become agreable to his humility and patience We haue vndertaken the warfare of a great name the discipline of a great profession It is not lawful for the folowers of Christ to depart from the kinges way but worthy it is that they wich tend vnto eternal thinges be not occupied in thinges temporal and because we are redemed with the pretious bloud of Christ let vs glorify and beare gâ—d in our body that we 1. Cor. 6. may deserue to come to those thinges that are prepared for the faithful by Christ our Lord. Amen A prayer vpon Christs passion out of S. Gregory Nazianzen orat in S. Pascha in fine GOd
pray enter into thy chamber and the doare being shut pray thy Father in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret wil rewarde thee And when you pray speake not much as the heathens doe for they think to be heard in their much speaking therefore be not likned to them for your Father knoweth what you need before you aske him Therefore so you shal pray OVr Father which art in heaueÌ„ Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen Geue The grecke Acton epionsion Supersubstantial Bread vs this day our daily bread And forgeue vs our trespasses as we forgeue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euil Amen S. Ambrosius lib. 3. de virginitate Repeate often in thy chamber psalmes with our Lordes praier either when thou awakest or before thou goest to sleepe A deuout Meditation or exposition vpon this our Lordes praier out of S. Chromatius Bishop of Aquileia in cap. 5. Mathei O How faithful blessed a praier is this vnto vs whose order was instituted by the Doctor of life and heauenly maister And how blessed may we also be if we obserue not onely with duty of mouth but with most faithful deede of coÌ„uersation these wordes of our Lordes praier Therefore our Lord ordained this forme of praying for his Disciples for the hope of mannes saluation saying Our Father which art in heauen How great is the loue of our Lord toward vs how exceeding his mercy and piety who haith bestowed a guift of such grace vpon vs that him which is our Lord and god we which are but seruants may lawfully cal our Father By which name he doth not onely demonstrate vs now to be the seruants but also the sonnes of God Therefore because we haue obtained the grace of so great a guift that we are made not onely seruants but sonnes also we ought to do and behaue our selues as the children of god that by spiritual doing we may prooue our selues to be that which we are called according to that of Iohn He that is borne of God committeth 1. Io. 3. not sinne because his natiuity of god doth keepe him and the deuil toucheth him not But he that committeth sinne is not of God but of the deuil because the deuil sinneth from the beginning And therefore keping the sacrament of our heauenly natiuity we ought to be free from al sinne that we may deserue truly to be called or be the sonnes of god And the holy prophets knew the grace of this diuine mercy in which it is permitted vnto vs to cal god our Father as Isay saith For thou art our Father because Abraham haith not knowne vs Israel Is 63. haith not knowne vs but our Lord our Father from the beginning thy name is vpon vs. Likewise also Malachy witnessith in his booke saying For there is one Father Mal. 2. of vs al. How great is the mercy of our Lord We which before by our owne wil had chosen the deuil for our father now being borne againe by water and the holy Ghost begin to haue god our Father And therefore we ought to walk as the children of God lâ—st doing otherwise theÌ„ becometh gods children we be holden guilty vnder the vsurpation of so great a name Therefore he saith Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name not because the name of god can be hallowed of any man when he halloweth al men which saith by the prophet Be you holy as I also am holy saith our Lord. Lâ—uit â—0 But therefore we request his name to be hallowed that it may be hallowed in vs by the workes of iustice by the merit of faith by the grace of the holy Ghost which sanctification that we may receaue by such guifts the ayde of his mercy is necessary but he that is the fountaine of euerlasting holinesse needeth not any sanctification Then he saith Thy kingdome come Likewise we do not aske that he should be King who is King of euer-during worldes whose kingdome haith neither beginning nor end but that the kingdome which is celestial which he haith promised vnto vs may come But it is a signe of great confidence and sincere conscience confidently to aske that this Kingdome of our Lord may come And therefore because we alwaies pray that the Kingdome of God may come we must shew our selues such in the faith of our Lord and his commaundements that we may be worthy of his kingdome to come After this he saith Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen where also there is the like maner of vnderstanding for no man can resist or hinder god that he do not what he wil seing al thinges both in heauen and earth consist by his wil But we pray that his wil may be done in vs. And the wil of God is that beleuing in him with al our heart we fulfil those thinges which he haith commaunded to be done of which wil of god the Apostle witnesseth saying The wil of god is your sanctification that 1. Thes 4. you abstaine from carnal concupiscences Therefore when â—e say Thy wil be doâ—e in earth as it is in heauen This we pray that as the wil of god is faithfully kept of the Angels in heauen so also we must with a Religious and faithful deuotion desire the helpe of gods assistance or Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen that as in heauen that is in holy and heauenly men the wil of god is fulfilled so also in earth that is we pray that the wil of god may be done by beleefe of faith and knowledg of the truth in them which haue not yeâ— beleeued Then he saith Geue vs this day our dayly bread This saying of our Lord we vnderstand two waies first that we do not aske any thing but our daily foode For we are not commaunded to aske riches or superfluity of worldly thinges but our daily bread which to Christians that liue by faith is onely necessary for this present life as the Apostle saith Hauing foode wherewith to 1. Tim. 6. be couered with these we are content But wâ— must consâ—der that this is spiritually commaunded vnto vs that we aske our daily bread that is that heauenly and spiritual bread which we daily receaue for the curing of our soule and hope of eternal saluation of which our Lord saith in the Gospel The heauenly Io. 6. bread is my flesh which I wil geue for the life of the world And therefore we are commaunded daily to aske this bread that is that through the mercy of God bestowing it we may deserue â—aily to receaue the bread of the body of our Lord. And forgeue vs our debtes as we also forgeue our debtors This is plainely a iust and necessary saying for al men First that we acknowledge our selues to be sinners
haue sought my soule they shal enter into the lower partes of the earth they shal be geuen ouer into the handes of the sword they shal be made the portions of foxes But the King shal reioyce in God all shal be praised that sweare in him because the mouth of them which speak wicked thinges is stopped Glory be to the Father to c. As it was in the beginning c. The prayer of Manasses 2. paral vlt. O Lord omnipotent god of our Fathers Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and the iust fâ—ede of them who hast made heauen and earth with al their bewty who hast tyed the sea with the word of thy precept who hast concluded the depth and signed it with thy terrible and laudable name whom al thinges do feare and tremble before the face of thy power because the magnificence of thy glory is importable the anger of thy thretning ouer sinners vnsustentable Truly great and inuestigable is the mercy of thy promise because thou art Lord most high bountiful long suffering and much merciful and sorowful for the malices of men O Lord thou according to the multitude of thy goodnesse hast promised peace and remission vnto them that haue sinned against thee and in the multitude of thy mercies hast decreed repentaÌ„ce for sinners to saluation Therefore thou Lord god of the iust hast not appointed penance for the iust Abraham Isaac and Iacob those that haue not sinned against thee but hast appointed penance for me a sinner because I haue sinned aboue the number of the sandes of the sea o Lord mine iniquities are multiplied multiplied are mine iniquities I am not worthy to behould and looke vp to the highnesse of heauen for the manifoldnesse of mine iniquities I am crooked with a great iron chaine that I may not lift vp my head and respiration is not in me because I haue stirred vp thine anger and done euil before thee I haue not done thy wil and haue not kepte thy commaundements I haue erected abominations and multiplied offences and now do bow the knee of my heat beseching goodnesse of thee I haue sinned o Lord I haue sinned and do acknowledg mine iniquities Wherefore I aske entreating thee Forgeue me o Lord forgeue me destroy me not together with mine iniquities neither being angrye for euer reserue euil thinges for me neither condemne me vnto the lowest places of the earth because thou art God God I say of those that repent and shew al thy goodnesse towardes me because thou wilt saue me vnworthy according to thy greate mercy and I wil praise thee al the daies of my life because al the power of the heauens praise thee to thee is glory world without end Amen A Praier of King Salomon prou 30. I Haue asked two thinges of thee deny them not vnto me before I dye Set vanity and lying wordes farre from me Geue me not beggerlinesse and riches geue onely thinges necessary for my liuing lest peraduenture being filled I may be prouoked to deny thee may say who is our Lord Or compelled by want may steale forsweare the name of my God A Praier of Esdras 1. Esdr 9. O My God I am confounded I am ashamed to lift vp my face to thee because our iniquities are multiplied ouer our head and our sinnes haue growne euen vnto heauen from the daies of our fathers yea and we our selues also haue sinned greeuously vnto this day Tobias 3. O Lord be mindful of me and take not reuenge on my sinnes neither remember mine offences nor the offences of my parents Sap. 9. O God of my Fathers and Lord of mercy who hast made al thinges with thy word by thy wisdome hast ordained man to rule the creatures which thou hast made And that he might dispose the world in equity and iustice and iudge Iudgment in direction of heart graunt vnto me wisdome the assistresse of thy seates reiect me not froÌ„ thy seruants for I am thy serâ—ant and sonne of thy handmaid a â—an infirme and of smal time and too little to vnderstand thy Iudgment and Lawes Ecclesiast 36. O God of al haue mercy vpon vs and haue respect vnto vs and shew the light of thy coÌ„miserations to vs and shew thy feare vpon Nations which haue not sought thee that they may know there is no God but thou may declare thy worthy thinges Ierem. 10. O Lord I know that the way of man is not his owne neither is it of maÌ„ that he may walk direct his goinges Correct me o Lord but with iudgment and not in thy fury lest thou peraduenture bring me againe to nothing Poure forth thine indignation vpon Nations that haue not knowne thee and vpon Countries that haue not called vpon thy name O Lord expectatioÌ„ of Israel al which Ier. 17. forsake thee wil be confounded they which goe backe from thee wil be written in the earth because they haue forsaken the vaine of liuing waters our lord Heale me o lord and I shal be healed saue me and I shal be saife because thou art my praise I besech thee o Lord god great and Dan. 9. terrible keeping couenant and mercy to those that loue thee and kâ—â—pe thy commandementes we haue sâ—med we haue wrought iniqiuty and â—one wickedly and gone away and dâ—parted froÌ„ thy commaundementes anâ— iudgmeÌ„tes We haue not obeyed thy seruantes the Prophets which haue spoken in thy name to our Kinges to our Princes to our Fathers and to al the people of the land O Lord iustice is to thee but to vs confusion of face o Lord confusion of face vnto vs to our kngies to our Princes Fathers who haue sinned But to thee Lord â—ur gâ—d mercy propitiatioÌ„ because we haue gone back froÌ„ thee haue not heard the voice of the Lord our god that we might walke in his law O our God heare the paier of thy seruant his petitions Ieremias in orat cap. 5. lament O Lord remember what haith chanced vnto vs and haue respect vnto our reproach Our inheritance is conuerted to aliens and our houses vnto straungers We are made pupils without fathers or mothers as widowes But o Lord thou shalt remaine for euer thy state from generation to generation Why wilt thou forgeat vs for euer Wilt thou long time forsake vs O lord conuert vs vnto thee and we shal be conuerted Baruch 2. O Lord looke downe vpon vs ftom thy holy house and incline thine eare and heare vs. Open thine eyes and see because the dead that be in hel whose spirit is taken from their bowels wil not geue honour and iustification to our Lord. But the soule which is sad for the greatnesse of euil goeth crooked weak fainting eyes and an hungry soule doth geue glory and iustice to thee our Lord. And now o Lord omnipotent Cap. 3. god of Israel a soule in distresse troubled spirit cryeth vnto thee o Lord heare
thou didest assist thine Apostles in bandes Tecla in the fyre Paul in persecutions and Peter in the waues Thou who sittest vpon the seauen Thrones at the right hand of the Father looke vpon vs and deliuer vs from the destruction of eternal death one in one the Father in the Sonne the Sonne in the Father the holy Ghost by whom and with whom is to thee in the holy Church Honour Power Glory Maiesty Authority Benedictiō Immortality both now for euer alwaies and world without end Amen A Praier to auoide damnation out of S. Andrew Archbisbop of Cesarga soone after S. Basile OVr Lord graunt that we shewing forth by liuely workes sincere and true faith in Christ may neuer heare that terrible voice of Christ Amen Amen I say vnto you I Math. 25. Luc. 13. know you not And that other Departe from me al you workers of iniquity But But may heare with open eares that blessed and euery way desireable saying Come you blessed of my Father possesse Ib. the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world By the grace clemency and mercy of him who for vs willingly did vndergoe the Crosse that is of Christ god and our Lord with whom to the Father together with the holy and vinificant Spirit be glory now and euer and world without end Amen A Praier to the blessed Trinity out of S. Augustine Medit. ca. 32. O Blessed Trinity with my lips and heart and al the power I am able I praise I blesse I worship thee and to thy clemency and goodnesse geue thankes for al thy benefites and sing an Himne of glory vnto thee holy holy holy I cal vpon thee to come in me and make me a temple worthy of thy glory I besech the Father by the Sonne I beseeh the Sonne by the Father I besech the holy Ghost by the Father and the Sonne that al vices may be driuen away from me and al holy vertues planted in me Keepe me the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and trusting onely in thy mercy Keepe me I besech thee here and euery where now and euer within with out that no place for the enemies lye open in me Thou art god omnipotent the keeper protector of al that trust in thee without whom no man is saif no man deliuered from daungers Thou art god and besides thee there is not any other god neither in heauen aboue nor in earth beneath who dost wonderful and meruelous and vnscrutable thinges without number Praise becometh thee honour be cometh thee himne becometh thee To thee al Angels to thee the heauens and al Potestates do say Himnes and sing laudes incessantly as creatures to their Creator seruantes to their Lord souldiers to their King euery creature doth magnifie euery spirit doth praise thee blessed and vndeuided Trinity An other praier to the blessed Trinity out of the same S. Aug. Meditat. cap. 33. GRaunt vnto me o Lord that so long as I am in this fraile body my heart may praise thee my tongue may praise thee and al my bones may say O Lord who is like vnto thee Thou art god omnipotent whom three in parsons and one in substance of Deity we worship and adore The Father not begotten the Sonne the onely begotten of the Father the holy Ghost proceeding from both and remaining in both the holy and indeuided Trinity one god almighty who when we were not hast mightily made vs and when by our offence we were loste by thy piety and goodnesse thou hast meruelously repaired vs. Suffer vs not I besech thee to be vngrateful for so many benefites and vnworthy so many mercies I do besech intreate and desire thee increase my faith increase my hope increase my Charity Cause vs by that I doe thy grace to be alwaies stedfast in faith and effectual in worke that by right faith and worthy workes of faith by thy mercy we may come to eternal life that there seeing thy glory as it is we may adore thy Maiesty and may say together whom thou shalt make worthy to see thy glory Glory be to the Father that haith created vs Glory to the Sōne who haith redemed vs Glory to the holy Ghost that haith sanctified vs Glory to the highest indeuided Trinity whose workes are inseperable whose rule remaineth without end Praise becommeth thee Himne becommeth thee al honour is due to thee To thee benediction and glory to thee thankes-geuing to thee our God honour power and strength for euer Amen A praier for al true beleeuers both deceased and liuing out of S. Basil in Anaphora or whosoeuer in the primatiue Church authour ther of but commonly attributed to S. Basile O Lord creatour of bodies and soules remember at thy heauenly Altar al those that are departed forth of this wretched world and refresh them in thy Tabernacle ful of al bewty Passe them ouer beyond the horrible mansions of torment and place them in thy most lightsome Tabernacles Deliuer them from the wāt of light and darknesse and take them forth of tribulation and greif and let thy countenance appeare peaceable vnto them neither enter into iudgment with them nor seuerely examine their former life but whether in word or worke they haue sinned as men in flesh forgeue abolish their errours And conuerted haue mercy on vs which yet beliuing For behould daily we moue thee to anger by our filthy and detestable maner of liuing Because there is one alone that haith not sinned and deliuereth from sinne our Lord and our Sauiour Iesus Christ by whom we al hope to obtaine mercy remission of sinnes A praier for remission of sinnes by the intercession of the B. Virgin al Sainctes out of S. Augustine Med. cap. 35. O Holy and most merciful Lord be not made vntreatable vnto me because of my sinnes but for thy goodnesse receaue the praiers of thy seruant and graunt me the effect of my petition and desire the glorious Virgin Mary thy Mother my Lady together with al thy Sainctes making intercession and praying and obtaining it Amen The vsual Hymne of the Church Te Deum We praise thee God composed first as witnesith S. Dacius Bishop of Milane lib 1. Cron. ca. 10. betwene S. Ambrose his predecessour S. Augustine when he was baptised WE praise thee God we confesse thee our lord Thee the euerlasting Father al the world doth worship To thee al Angels to thee the heauens and vniuersall powers To thee the Cherubim and Seraphim with vncessible voice do cry out Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Saboath Ful are the heauens and the earth of thy maiestie of glory Thee the glorious Queare of the Apostles Thee the laudable number of Prophets Thee the whyte cloathed army of Martyres do praise Thee the holy church throughout the world doth confesse The Father of infinite maiestie Thy venerable true onely Sonne And also the holy Ghost the comforter Thou o Christ the King of glory Thou art
was crucified the suÌ„ne darkned and lightned againe for it behoueth creatures to compassionate with there creatour The veale was cutte water bloud flowed out of his side the earth quaked the rockes were rent the dead rysing do testify the faith of the last and common resurrection Al which thinges who is able worthily to praise But none was such as the miracle of my saluation a few droppes of bloud reforming al the world But o great and holy pasouer and expurgation of al the world O word of God and light and life and wisdome and power for I ioy at al thy names O Issue and cogitation seale of that great minde o word intelligible and man visible who bearest al thinges crowned with the word of power let vs suffer noe euil stay the tiranny which the body beareth against vs. Thou seest o Lord whom how it beareth downe except we be purged by thy suffrage or by thy self But if we shal worthily be dissolued from this desire and receaued in the celestial tabernacles peraduenture there also we shal acceptabâ—y sacrifice vnto thee on thy holy Altare o Father and worde and holy Ghost because al glory honour and power is to thee for euer Amen PRAIERS DAYLY To be vsed for the Euening The Meditation or Preparation to Praier out of S. Cesarius Bishop of Arles Hom. 31. LEt vs pray with sighing forceable crying or groaÌ„ing according to that prophetical saying I did roare for the groaning of my heart Ps 37. Let vs pray not with a sounding voice but with a conscience crying vnto our Lord. When we pray so much as we are able Let vs labour by the helpe of god that noe extrauagant cogitation creepe into vs lest peraduenture we may haue one thing in our heart and vtter an other with our mouth lest by chaunce while our tongue praieth vnto god our cogitation occupied with diuers thinges may goe away from the meaning of our praier so from thence procure sinne from whence it might haue had remedy For if before any mighty persoÌ„ thou wouldest pleade any necessary cause sodainly turning from him breaking of thy speach in the middest thou shouldest busy thy self with some scurrilities what iniury thinkest thou thou should doe vnto that person with whom thou didest speake or how shouldest thou procure his anger against thee If therfore speaking with a man we laboure with al intention of mind lest thinking on any other thing we may be thought to doe a wrong to him vnto whom we speake When we speake vnto god in praier and alledg the miseries of our sinnes before so great a Maiesty are we not ashamed do we not blush our senses being made captiues to runne about hither and thither and with many businesse to abstracte our vnhappy minde from behoulding the diuine Maiesty And therefore euery one before he kneleth downe in praier by the helpe of god let him put away al superfluous cogitations from the intention of his minde that our soule being inflamed with the feruour of the holy Ghost may consume al vice with the fyre of compunction or praier and disperse farre of al wauering and wandering cogitations that onely vâ—rtue and holy Meditations may alwaies finde place in our heartes Meditations praiers for Euening LEt euery one take a Lambe throughout their families or houses Exod. 12. And the whole multitude of Israel shal offer it in sacrifice at the Euening Let my praier be directed as incense Ps 140. in thy sight the lifting vp of my handes an euening sacrifice While it was euen he sate downe Math. 26. Marâ— 14. Luc. 22. with his twelue Disciples And whiles they were at supper Iesus tooke bread and blessed brake and he gaue to his Disciples and said Take ye eate This is my body And taking the Chalice he gaue thankes and gaue vnto them saying Drinke ye al of this for This is my bloud of the new TestameÌ„t which shal be shed for many vnto remission of sinnes When it was euening there came a Math. 27. certaine riche man of Arimathea named Ioseph who also himself was Disciple to Iesus He went to Pilaâ—e and asked the body of Iesus Then Pilate commaunded that the body should be deliuered Watch therefore for you know not Marc. 13â— when the Lord of the house may come whether late in the euening c. I haue cryed to god and our Lord Ps 54. wil saue me In the euening I wil declare shew he wil heare my voice A Meditation of S. Basile orat in S. Iulittam When the day is ended geue thaÌ„kes vnto him who haith geuen the same vnto vs to serue our daily laboures fyre to lighten night and for the rest of the necessities of life And let the night propose vnto vs other argumentes of praier When thou shalt looke vp vnto heauen and haue thine eyes fixed on the bewtie of the starres pray vnto the Lord of visible thinges and adore god the best workman of al creatures who made al thinges in wisdom when thou shalt see al nature of liuing creatures detained in sleepe Againe adore him that looseth vs though against our wil by sleepe from the continuance of laboures by a litle rest reduceth vs againe to the force of our strength S. Clem. Const Apost lib. 8. cap. 4. Make your praiers at the euening geuing thankes because our Lord haith geuen vs the night for a rest of our day laboures Daily come together in the morning l. 2. c. 63. euening singing praying in Churches in the euening saying the 140. psalme O Lord I haue cryed vnto thee Ps 140. heare me Harken vnto my voice when I shal crye vnto thee Let my praier be directed as incense in thy sight the lifting vp of my handes an euening sacrifice O Lord put a watch to my mouth and a doare of standing about to my lippes Decline not my heart into wordes of malice to excuse excuses in sinnes With men that worke iniquity and I wil not communicate with the chosen of them The iust shal correct me in mercie and rebuke me but the oyle of a sinner shal not annoint my head Because as yet also my praier in thinges of their delight their Iudges are swallowed vp ioyned to the rocke They shal heare my wordes because they were able as the thicknesse of the earth is broken out vpon the earth Our bones are scattered abroade neare to hel because to thee o Lord o Lord mine eyes in thee I haue trusted take not away my soule Keepe me from the snare which they haue laid for me and from the scandals of those that worke iniquity Sinners shal fal in his nette I am alone til I passe away Glory be to the Father c. Clem. Const Ap. l. 8. c. 41. RAise vp and saue vs o God by thy Christ lifting vp our selues let vs desire the mercies of our lord and his commiserations the
Angel of peace good and profitable thinges christiaÌ„ Princes a peaceable euening night and without sinne al the time of our life with out offence let vs mutually commend one an other to the liuing God by his Christ A thankes-giuing for the night Cap. 42. O God without beginning end creator of al thinges king of al thinges intelectual sensible who hast made the day for the workes of light and the night for the rest of our weaknesse for thine is the day and the night for thou hast ordained the light and sunne o gentle and good lord now patieÌ„tly recâ—aue this our euening thanksgeuing who leadest vs by the length of the day and bringest vs to the beginning of the night preserue vs by thy aÌ„noiÌ„nted geue vnto vs a quiet euening and night without sinne and make vs worthy of euerlasting life by thy Christ by whom to thee be glory honour and worshippe in the holy Ghost for euer Amen Cap. 43. O God of Fathers and lord of mercy who by thy wisdome hast made man a reasonable creature and among thinges in earth alone deare to god geuen authority vnto him to rule them and by thy senteÌ„ce hast appointed Princes preistes them for security of our life these for iust seruing of thee o Lord omnipotent now harken vnto vs and shew thy mercy vpon this people bending downe the neckes of their heart and blesse them by Christ by whom thou hast illightned vs with the light of knowledge renealed thy selfe â—â—to vs to whom with thee and the 〈◊〉 Ghost is due worthy adoration of al reasonable and holy nature for euer Amen A MeditatioÌ„ praier for euening out of S. Athanasius hom desemente MAny are carelesse in their praiers al the day long busie them selues about worldly affaires and contemne the holy workes of prayers To this man our Sauiour Math. 12. Marc. 3. Luc. 6. 1. Tim. 2. may say stretch forth thy hand as Paule saith I wil men to pray in al places lifting vp holy handes And let vs stretch forth our handes and not onely in the day but by night also In the night stretch Ps 133. forth your handes to the holies and blesse our Lord and let vs reach forth holy handes those that be washed among innocents Ps 25. that caling vpon the God of al thinges we may enioy his helpe by Christ Iesus our Lord by whom glory be to God together with the holy Ghost now and â—uer and world without end Amen A prayer of S. Policarpus O God Father of thy beloued Euseb eccl Hist l. 3. cap. 15. Nicephor eccl Hist l. 3. c. 35. blessed sonne Iesus Christ by whoÌ„ we haue receaued knowledge of thee God of Angels powers and of al creatures and the whole kind of iust men al which do liue before thee I blesse thee who hast vouchsaifed to bring me to this day and this hour Thou art true and without falshood o God therefore both in al thinges I praise thee and blesse thee and glorify thee by the eternal God and high Preist Iesus Christ thy welbeloued soÌ„ne by whom and with whom to thee with the holy Ghost be glory both now and for euer hereafter Amen S. Ephrem paraenes 42. I Haue sinned against heauen and before thee o Lord god omnipotent and I am no more worthy to be called thy child or lift mine eyes vpward and behould the highnesse of the heaueÌ„s because of the multitude of my sinnes nor to vtter thy glorious name with the defiled lippes of me a sinner For I haue made my selfe vnworthy both of heauen and earth because I haue prouoked thee most best lord to anger I besech thee o Lord I besech thee cast me not away from thy face depart not from me lest I a wretch do perish For except thy grace had defended me I had bene lost I should be as dust before the face of the wynde as though I had neuer appeared in this life For since the time I haue forsaken thy way no time haith bene ioyful vnto me For if any day by chance hath seemed more pleasant that was the most bitter of al. But I trust hereafter thy grace which comforteth me may prouide for my saluation And now suppliant I flee vnto thee and besech that thou wilt receaue me againe that haue erred from the path of iustice Poure out on me the multitude of thy mercies as thou didest long agoe vpon the prodigal sonne vnthriftely loasing the Luc. 7. Math. 9. Marc. 2. Luc. 5. Luc. 23. riches of thy grace I haue defiled my life haue mercy on me o God and remember not my life brought to extreme villannies Haue mercy on me as thou long agoe tookest mercy on the offender and publican Haue mercy on me as thou tookest mercy on the theife for he when he conuersed on earth was despised of al men as lost and desperate But thou receauedst him and made him an inhabitant of the delightes of paradise Therefore receaue the repentance of thy vnprofitable seruant for I also am contemned and reiected of al for thou didest come o Lord not to cal the iust but sinners vnto penance Glory be to thee honour and adoration is due to thee with the Father and holy Ghost now and world without end Amen A prayer vpon the passion of Christ out of S. Ambrose medit c. 6. O Holy Father behold thy most holy sonne suffering so cruel thinges for me haue respect o most merciful King who it is that suffereth and in thy bounty remember for whoÌ„ he suffereth O my Lord is not this that innocent whom to redeme a seruant thou hast deliuered thy sonne Is not this the authour of life which as a sheepe led vnto slaughter and made obedient vnto thee euen vnto death feared not to vndergoe the kind of most cruel death Remember o dispenser of our whole saluation that this is he whom although thou begottest of thy power yet thou wouldest haue him become partaker of my infirmity Verily this is thy deity which haith put on my nature That ascended the tree of the Crosse that in his assumpted nature suffered greauous punishmeÌ„t O my Lord god reduce the eyes of thy maiesty vpon the worke of vnspeakable piety Behold thy sweete sonne stretched forth in al his body Looke vpon his guiltles handes streaming with holy bloud and pacified forgeue the sinnes which my handes haue committed Consider his naked side pearced with a speare renue me with that holy fountaine which I beleue to haue flowed from thence See his immaculate feete which stoode not in the way of sinners but alwaies Ps 1. walked in thy law fastened with cursed nailes perfect my goinges in thy pathes Ps 16. and bountifully graunt that I may hate al the waies of iniquity Ps 118. O King of Sainctes I besech thee by this holy of holies by this Redemer of me make me to runne the way of
the euerlasting sonne of the Father Thou about to deliuer man didest not abhorre the virgins wombe Thou hauing ouercome the sting of death hast opened for beleeuers the kingdome of heauen Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father Thou art beleeued to be the Iudge that shal come We therefore beseech thee succoure thy seruants whoÌ„ thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud Make vs with thy Sainctes to be rewarded with glory O Lord saue thy people and blesse thy inheritance And gouerne them and extoll them for euer Euery day we blesse thee And we praise thy name for euer and for euer and euer Vouchsaife o Lord this day to keepe vs without sinne Haue mercy vpon vs o Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Let thy mercy o lord be vpon vs euen as we haue hoped in thee In thee o Lord I haue hoped let me not be confounded for euer The Hymne of the Angels Luc 2. with the additioÌ„ by S. Hilarius ANd with the Angel there was a multitude of the heaueÌ„ly army praysing god and saying glory in the highest to god on earth peace to men of good wil. We praise thee we blesse thee we adore thee we glorifie thee we geue thakes vnto thee for thy great glory O Lotd god heauenly King God Father omnipotent O Lord onely begotteÌ„ sonne Iesus Christ O Lord god Lambe of god soÌ„ne of the Father who takest away the sinnes of the world haue mercy vpoÌ„ vs. Who takest away the sinnes of the world receaue our prayer who sittest at the right haÌ„d of the Father haue mercy vpon vs. Because thou alone holy thou alone lord thou alone most highest o Iesus Christ with the holy Ghost in glory of god the Father Amen A prayer desiring pardon and grace by Christes passion out of S. Isaac l. de contemptu mundi c. 29. O Lord that didest weepe ouer Lazarus and poure forth the teares of thy coÌ„passioÌ„ on him receaue the teares of my bitternesse heale my passions with thy passions cure my wounde with thy woundes cleanse my bloud with thy bloud and mingle with my body the sweete odour of thy quickning body Let that gawle which was geueÌ„ to thee to drink by thy enemies make my soule sweete from the bitternesse which the enimy aduersary haith drunke vnto me Let thy body that was stretched forth vpon the wood of the Crosse lift vp to thâ—e my mind which by the deuils is drawne downeward Thy head which thou leanedst downe on the tormentes of the Crosse lift vp my head that is buffeted of my enemies Thy most holy handes crucified with nailes raise me vp to thee from confusioÌ„ of perditioÌ„ as thy most sacred mouth haith promised Thy face which receaued buffetinges and spittinges vpon it make cleane my face defiled with cursed iniquities Thy soule which thou gauest vp first being on the Crosse bring me to thee in thy glory I haue not a sorowful heart to seeke thee I haue not repentaÌ„ce nor compunctioÌ„ that bring againe childreÌ„ to their inheritance O Lord I haue not entreating teares my mynd is darkned with worldly thinges nor can looke vnto thee with greefe and my heart is withered for multitude of temptations and can not be warmed with teares of thy sweetnesse But o Iesus Christ the treasure of good thinges geue vnto me perfect repentance a sorowful heart That thereby I may hasten with my soule to seeke thee for without that which is al goodnesse I shal be an AlieÌ„ Therefore o Iesus Christ geue me thy grace The Father which from eternity without tyme begott thee renew in me the light of thy image I haue forsakeÌ„ thee do not thou forsake me I haue gone out from thee goe thou forth to seeke bring me into thy pastures number me among the sheepe chosen in thy sight and place me with them in the portion of the riches of thy sâ—crets whose habitacle is a clensed heart in it let be seene the brightnes of thy reuelations which are the consolation and refreshing of those which haue laboured for thee in tribulations and al kinde of afflictions of which graunt we may be worthie by the grace and holinesse of our Sauiour then and in the world to come Amen Augustine l. med cap. 11. With al our heart and mouth we confesse praise and blesse thee god the Father vnbegotten thee the onely begotten Sonne thee holy Ghost comforter holy and indiuided Trinity praise be to thee world without end Amen Other meditations and praysinges of god for the morning as opportuni tie is or for varietie Direction out of scripture IN the middest of the Church I wil Ps 21. see Ps 34. 83. 112. 116. c. praise thee You that feare our Lord praise him al you seede of Iacob glorify him Al Nations praise our Lord al ye people praise him because his mercy is confirmed vpon vs and the truth of our Lord remaineth for euer Reioyce and praise together you deserts Is 52. see c. 49. et Zach. 2. of Ierusalem because our Lord haith comforted his people redemed Ierusalem Our Lord haith prepared his holy arme in the eyes of al Nations and al the endes of the earth shal see the saluation of our god Daughter of Syon praise o Israel cry Sophon 3. out for ioy and reioice in al thy heart daughter of Ierusalem our Lord haith taken away IudgmeÌ„t haith ouerthrone thine enemies the King of Israel is lord in the midst of thee thou shalt not feare euil any longer At midnight Paule and Silas praying Act. 16. did praise god Direction out of S. Basile l. quaes diffuse explicat quaest 37. WE ought to preuent the morning and rise to praier lest the day find vs sleeping and in bed according to him that saith Mine eyes haue preuented the morning Ps 118. that I might meditate thy wordes of which thinges they must at no time be negligent whose purpose is to liue agreably to the glory of god and his Christ A Meditation before praier out of S. Nilus lib. de oratione PRaier is a communication of the minde with god Therefore in what state ought the minde to be that it may be stretched forth to his Lord. If Moyses when he endeuored Exod. 3. to come to the Bush which he saw was forbiden vntil he loosed the showes of his feete how must not he that wil see and conuerse with him which excedeth al sense and cogitation cast away froÌ„ him selfe al troubled knowledg Thou caÌ„st not pray purely if thou be entangled with earthly thinges and businesse and burdened with daily cares As he which is is bound can not runne so the mind that serueth passions can not behoulde the place of spiritual praier for it is drawne hither and thither with troubled cogitations and haith no fixed setled state If thou consider thy condition thou wilt rather weepe protesting thy self a wretch by the example of Isay because Is
6. thou being vnpure and in the middest of vnpure people darest stande before the Lord of hostes Know that the holy Angels exhort vs to praier and stand with vs with ioy praying for vs. If thersore we become negligent and entertaine coÌ„trary cogitations we greatly prouoke them because they striue so much for vs and we for our selues refuse to pray to god but rather neglecting their ministery and their Lord forsaking god keepe company with vncleane deuils If thou desirest to pray transport thy self from earthly thinges to heaueÌ„ haue thy conuersatioÌ„ there not onely in wordes but in angelical action and more heauenly knowledg S. Athanasius in lib. de virginitate WHen day appeareth thou shalt recite this psalme Benedicite omnia opera c. And say the Hymne Gloria in excelsis Al you workes of our Lord blesse Canticle of the 3. ChildreÌ„ Dan. 3. in the burniÌ„g fournace you our Lord praise him and extoll him for euer Blesse our Lord ye Angels of our Lord ye heauens blesse our Lord. Al waters that be aboue the heauens blesse ye our Lord blesse our Lord al ye powers of our Lord. Sunne moone blesse ye our Lord starres of heauen blesse ye our Lord. Shoure and dew blesse ye our Lord euery spirit of God blesse ye our Lord. Fyre and heate blesse ye our Lord could sommer blesse ye our Lord. Dewes and hoare frost blesse ye our Lord frost cold blesse ye our Lord. Ice and snow blesse ye our Lord nightes daies blesse ye our Lord. Light and darknesse blesse ye our Lord lightninges and cloudes blesse ye our Lord. Let the earth blesse our Lord let it praise extol him for euer Mountaines and litle hilles blesse ye our Lord al thinges that spring in the earth blesse ye our Lord. Blesse our Lord ye fountaines seas riuers blesse ye our Lord. Whales and al that moue in the vvaters blesse ye our Lord blesse our lord al ye foules of the aire Al beasts and cattel blesse ye our Lord soÌ„nes of mâ—n blesse ye our lord Let Israâ—l blesse our Lord let it praise and extol him for euer Preistes of our Lord blesse ye our Lord seruants of our Lord blesse ye our Lord. Spirits and soules of the iust blesse ye our Lord holy and humble men of heart blesse ye our Lord. Ananias Azarias Mizael blesse ye our Lord praise and extol him for euer Because he haith deliuered vs from hel and saued vs from the hand of death preserued vs from the midle of the burning flame pulled vs forth from the middest of the fyre Confesse to our Lord because he is good because his mercy is for euer Al you that be Religious blesse our Lord god of gods praise and confesse vnto him because his mercy is for euer A Meditation vpon the same out of S. Zeno Bishop of Verona sermoutb in Dan. He was martyred vnder Galienus about the yeare 260. O Wonderful burning o verily ser 2. a spectacle worthy of god They which heare it do feare they which kindled it do burne they which were throwne into the fyre goe forth of the fournace sanctified saif by our Lord Iesus Christ Somtimes after a great punishmeÌ„t there followeth a greater glory especially in diuine thinges in which happy men with earnest deuotion rather preserue their Religion then life Vnderstand o Christian with a beleeuing ser 5. heart a thing meruelous renowmed by al example of vertues Three Hebrew children greater theÌ„ the constancy of old men stronger then the force of yong men equal to themselues defended with the mistery of the Trinity firme in one faith of the vnity in equality glorious by the victory of suffering These a barbarous King commaunded to be burned because they contemned to worship his statua who when they were cast into the fournace of burning fire the greedy fire deuoutly receaueth them the fawning flames refresh them couered with dew A meruelous thing shadow is within burning is withoâ—t within an Himne is song without lamenting is heard O great power of god the burners are burned in the burning and they that were set on fire are suruiuors in the burning triumphing go forth of the fournace our Lord Iesus Christ ser 6. performing it Reioice o Christian constantly feare god if thou wilt not feare the fire of the deuil Behold the children are not hurt with the compassing flames with the roaring fournace They confounde the barbarous king are reuâ—nged of their burners they see god death doth passe into life feare into glory who would not desire so to burne Awake o Christian and casting 8. away al sluggishnesse of secular sleepe opening the eares of thy heart learne vertue of children The Canticle of Zachary father of S. Iohn Baptist Luc. 1. ANd Zachary his father was replenished with the holy ghost and he prophesied saying Blessed be our Lord God of Israel because he haith visited and wrought the redemption of his people And haith erected the horne of saluation to vs in the house of Dauid his seruant As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that are from the beginning Saluation from our enemies from the hand of al that hate vs. To worke mercy with our fathers and to remember his holy Testament The oath which he sware to Abraham Gen. 22. our Father that he would geue to vs. That without feare being deliuered from the hand of our enemies we may serue him In holinesse and Iustice before him al our daies And thou child shalt be called the prophet Malach. 3. of the highest for thou shalt goe before the face of our Lord to prepare his waies To geue knowledg of saluation to his people vnto remission of their sinnes Through the bowels of the mercy of Zachar. 3. Malach. 4. our god in which the Orient from on high haith visited vs. To illuminate them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death to direct our feete into the way of peace Glory be to the Father c. A Praier of praise and thanks-geuing to God for his Benefites out of S. Clement Coustitut SS Apost lib. 7. cap. 38. WE geue thankes to thee o Lord omnipotent for al thy benefites because thou hast not taken thy mercies pittie away from vs but in euery generation and generation doest saue deliuer succour defend For thou hast succoured in the daies of Enos and Enoch in the daies of Moyses and Iesu in the daies of the Iudges in the daies of Samuel and Helias and the Prophets in the daies of Dauid and the Kinges in the daies of Hester and Mardocheus in the daies of Iudith in the daies of Iudas Machabeus and his brethren and in our daies thou hast releeued vs by thy great high Preist Iesus Christ thy SoÌ„ne For he haith both saued vs from the sword and by norishing deliuered vs from famine and freed vs from sicknes defended vs from a wicked
tongue For al thy gifts by Christ we geue thankes vnto thee who hast geuen vs voice framed for confession Thou hast lent vnto vs a tongue as an instrument for the Harpe and Organe Thou hast graunted vnto vs an agreable taist a conuenient touching sight to behould hearing to apprehend voices smelling to perceaue odoures handes to worke feete to walke al these thinges thou doest forme of a litle drop in the womb and after information bestowest an immortal soule and bringest forth into light man a reasonable creature whom thou hast instructed with lawes adorned with iustifications and after dissolution of his short time hast promised Resurrection Therefore what life could be sufficient or what excellency of praises would be enough that we might geue thankes vnto thee But this we are not able to performe answearably to thy deseruinges yet we ought deuoutly to performe it so much as we are abâ—e For thou hast deliuered vs from the impiety of them that worship many gods and those that killed Christ Thou hast freed vs from heresies recalled vs froÌ„ the errour of ignorance sent Christ vnto men that he might be maÌ„ which was god onely begotten hast placed vs in the comforter appointed Angels ouer vs dishonoured the deuil When we were not thou hast made vs being made thou preseruest vs thou ministrest life geuest foode hast promised penance For al these thinges glory be to thee and honour by Iesus Christ now euer for euer Amen An other praier of praise or thankes out of the same S. Clement Constit SS Apost lib. 7. ca. 35. GReat art thou o Lord almighty and great is thy strength and there is none end of thy wisdome Creatour Sauiour riche in graces patient and shewer of mercie which takest not away saluation from thy creatures For by nature thou art god sparest sinners prouoking them to penance for thy correction is ful of mercies For how should we sustaine it if we were called to sudaine Iudgment when longe time expected we hardly cast away infirmity The heauens declare thy power the earth poysed with stability the sea wauing with agreable greatnes feeding infinite multitudes of liuing creatures The sande is bridled trembling at thy commaundement and causeth al men to crye O Lord thy workes are magnified thou hast Ps 103. made al thinge in wisdome the earth is replenished with thy workes The ardent armie of Angels and the intellectual Spirits doe say one holy the Seraphim together with the Cherubims Is 6. with their sixe adorned winges singing vnto thee an Himne of victory with a neuer ceasing voice crye forth Holy Holy Holy Lord of Hostes the heauen and earth are ful of thy glory Also the other multitudes of orders Angels Thrones Dominations Principalities Potestates Powers crying forth do say Blessed be the glory of god Ezechiel 3. from his place But Israel that is the Church on earth gathered together of the gentiles imitating the heauenly powers day and night with a ful heart and willing mind do sing The Chariot Ps 67. of god with ten thousandes manifould thousandes of reioycers our lord amoÌ„g them in Sinai in the holy The heauen haith knowne him because he arched it resting vpon noe supporter and made it stable as a four-square stone who also gathered togetheâ— into one the earth and water and diffused the aire from whence life spirit should be drawne to which he ioyned the fire for warmnesse and putting away of darknesse The company of starres is amazed shewing forth him that numbreth them Ps 146. and declaring him who nameth them The liuing creatures also are astonished at him that inspireth their life and the trees at him that planteth them Al which thinges created with thy word denownce the greatnesse of thy power Wherefore euery man ought with al his heart to geue praise vnto thee by Christ for al those thinges seeing by thee he posseseth them al for thou art gracious in graunting benefites and boutiful in shewing mercy who alone art omnipotent for when thou wilt power is in thee to be able to do it For thy eternal Dan. 3. Dan. 14. Iou. 2. might cooleth the flame bridlâ—th the lyons maketh the whale geÌ„tle succourreth the sicke ouerthroweth powers destroyeth the army of enemies the proude multitude of people Thou art in heauen in earth in the sea in the vttermost bondes thy selfe circumscribed with no bond of thy greatnesse there Ps 144. is no end And o Lord not we alone say this but it is the oracle of thy seruant saying And thou shalt know with thy heart Deu. 4. that thy lord thy god is god in heauen aboue and in earth beneath and there is no other but he for there is no god but he alone There is not an holy besides thee lord god of knowledge the God of Sainctes holy aboue al that are holy For they which are made holy are vnder thy haÌ„d thou art glorious exalted inuisible by nature vnserchable in iudgmentes whose life wanteth nothing duration without chaunge and variety operatioÌ„ without labour maiesty contained with no boundes Comlinesse euerlasting a mansion place vnaccessible an habitation vntransmigrable knowledge interminable truth inuariable a worke with out midle power without deceiptes rule without succession strength without aduersary the multitude of thine army is greate For thou art the father of wisdome authour of nature by the Mediatour as cause diposer of prouidence Lawgiuer replenisher of pouerty reuenger of the impious and rewarder of those that be iust of Christ God and Father and the Lord of those that worship him whose promise is infallible iudgment incorruptible sentence not entreatable piety vnexhausted benignity eternal for whom worthy deserued adoration is due to thee of euery reasonable and holy nature Iudith 16. LEt vs singe an Himne vnto our Lord let vs sing an Himne vnto our god Adonai Lord thou art great and excellent in power and whom noe man can ouercome Let euery creature serue thee because thou hast said the word and thinges were made thou hast sent thy spirit and they were created and noe man can resist thy wil. The mountaines shal be moued from the foundations with waters the rocks shal melt as waxe before thy face but they which feare thee shal be great Ecclesiastic 51. 1. 2. with thee in al thinges O Lord our King I wil confesse vnto thee and praise thee god my Sauiour I wil confesse vnto thy name be 10. 11. cause thou art made my helper protector I looked for the help of men and it was not I remembred thy mercy o Lord for thou deliuerest those that expect thee I haue called vpon our Lord the Father of my Lord that he would not leaue me in the day of tribulation and in the time of the proude without helpe I wil praise thy name dayly and extol it 14. in confession and my prayer is heard and thou hast deliuered me from perdition
thy commaundementes Ps 118. that I may be vnited to him which did not abhorte to be inuested with my flesh Wilt thou not attend o holy Father vnto the head of thy yong dearest beloued SoÌ„n hanging down his bewtiful necke resolued into most precious death Behold o most meeke Creatour the humanity of thy beloued Sonne and take mercy vpon the infirmity of thy weake creature His naked breast is white his bloudy side is redde his stretched intrales do drye his comly eyes do faint his kingly mouth is pale his longe armes be stiffe his marmour thyghes doe hange the water of his blessed bloud doth beweâ—e his pearced feete Behold o glorious Genitour the torne meÌ„bers of thy most grateful child and with bounty remember what my substance is Vew the paine of God a man and release the misery of man created Behold the punishment of the Redemer and forgeue the offence of him that is redemed This is he o my Lord whom thou hast striken Is 53. for the sinnes of thy people although he be thy welbeloued in whom thou hast wel Math. 3. pleased thy self This is that Innocent in whom deceipt was not founde and yet he was deputed among the wicked Is 53. A Praier out of S. Ciprian in his Tom. 3. praier before his Martyrdome O Lord holy Father holy God holy and holy my god For who is greater then thou art I render thankes praise to thee God of Abraham God of Isaac and God of Iacob God of our Fathers God of the Apostles and God of the Prophets and God of Martyrs who wast before the disposing of the world God of the liuing to come to iudge the quick and the dead which art the true God who sittest vpon the Cherubim Seraphim the seate of thine honour and behouldest the depthes which seest al thinges before they be brought forth who hast power to kil and restoare againe and Dan. 3. might to make the withered to florish Thou Lord ruler of al thinges deliuer me from this world and heare me praying Wo vnto my sinnes when thou shalt rise vp to crush the earth together vnder what clifter of the rockes shal I hyde my self from before thy power To what mountaine shal I say fal vpon Math. 25. me and vnto what hil couer me from before the feare of our Lord when thou shalt arise to bruse the earth I pray thee o Lord help me Iudge me not according to my doinge for I haue obeyed nothing in thy commaundementes Hear me praying as thou hardest Ionas from the bely of the whale Ion. 2. et 3. so heare me and cast me forth from death to life Blotte out al my sinnes and heare me praying as thou didest heare the three children in the fournace Dan. 3. of fire Ananias Azarias Mizael sent thine Angel with a showre of dew and Nabuchodonosor ruler of the kingdome was confounded Heare me praying as thou didest heare Daniel Dan. 14. from the Lyons denne and sent Abacuc the Prophet and he brought him diner Heare me praying as thou didest heare Tobias and Sara while they Tob. 3. prayed in the entry of their house then the Angel Raphael offered for them their prayers And so heare thou my prayers and admitte my petitions to thy holy Court and presently send thy holy Angel which may blot out al my sinnes as thou didest driue the vncleane spirit from Sara the daughter of Raguel and illighten my heart as thou diâ—â—st illuminate the eyes of Tobias Heare me praying as thou didest heare Susanna Dan. 13. amonge the handes of the Elders so deliuer me froÌ„ this world because thou art the louer of a pure conscienâ—e I besech thee o Father of Maiesty who in the end of times hast taken mercy on vs sending vnto vs Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord God Sauiour borne of the Virgin Mary by the holy Luc. 1. Ghost And I besech thee sonne of the liuing God which hast wrought so many miracles I besech thee o sonne of the liuing God for al my sinnes coÌ„mitted Thou thy self hast made a Testament for vs. Aske and you shal Math. 7. receaue knock and it shal be opened vnto you Whatsoeuer you shal aske my Father in my name I aske it of my Father that you may receaue it I aske that I may receaue I seeke that I may finde I knocke that it may be opened vnto me I aske in thy name that thou maist aske of thy Father and it may be geuen to me I am ready for thy name to shede a sacrifice of bloud and vndergoe what torment soeuer Thou art o Lord my helper and defender defend me from mine aduersary Thy Angel of light protect me because thâ—u hast said that what beleuing yâ—u shal aske bâ— praier shal be geuen vnâ—â— you Euery man is a lyer Thou art true as thou hast promised thou hast power o Lord to geue me al thy heauenly sacrament that I may be worthy to see the face of thy Sainctes Let the spirit worke in me Thy wil be done in me because I haue freely promised al the daies of my life my selfe vnto thee which sufferedst vnder Pontius Pilate a good confession who crucified did descende and didest treade vnder foote the stinge of death Death is subdued the enemy the deuil is vanquished Thou didest arise againe appeared to thine Apostles Thou sittest at the right hande of the Father which art to come to iudge the quick and the dead Thou shalt rule deliuer me from the hand of him that seeketh my soule By thy name deliuer me froÌ„ the aduersary power that thou maist geue help to bind mine enemy because thou art a potent approuer and aduocate of the praiers and petitions of our soules Day and night make intercession for my sinnes present my praier to thy Father And thou o Lord holy Father vouchsaife to haue tespect vpon my praiers as thou didest respect the guiftes of Abel Vouchsaife to deliuer me from the euerlasting fyre and punishment and from al torment which thou hast prepared for the impious by the good blessed Iesus Christ our Sauiour by whom to thee be praise honour power glory for euer Amen Other Meditations and Praiers for Euening neare Night IF I shal geue sleepe to mine eyes Ps 131. c. vntil I finde a place for our Lord. When it was Euening c. Ioseph taking Math. 27. the body wrapt it in a cleane Sâ—ndone and laid it in his owne new monument A Meditation out of S. Iohn Climacus grad 7. 28. AT time of thy prayer stande Grad 7. tremblng nor behaue thy self otherwise then one areigned before the Iudge that both by thine inwarde and outward behauiour thou maist procure to thy self the fauour of the iust Iudge To them that pray rightly praier is Grad 28. a Court and Iudgment and Tribunal of our Lord before the Tribunal seate that is to be hereafter
and knower of secrets forgeating al the offences that euer I committed open vnto me the doare of the immortal bride-chamber that is thy heauenly glory O immortal Bride-groame let vs heare the voice of blessing O bountiful accompt me in the number of the iust and make vs partakers of thy ioy by the praiers of thine vnspotted Mother making intercession for vs and holy Angels and Apostles and Prophets and Martyrs and al the Iust that euer were who with the Father and holy Ghost art blessed now alwaies and world without end Amen An Examination of conscience or prayers before bed IF I shal enter into the tabernacle Ps 131. of my house if I shal ascend the bed of my coche if I shal geue sleepe vnto mine eyes and slumbering vnto theire liddes and rest to the temples of my head vntil I fynd a place for our Lord. I haue laboured in my groaning I Ps 6. wil euery night wash my bed and I wil watter my coche with teares I wil sleepe and I wil rest in peace Ps 4. for thou o Lord hast singularly placed me in hope A Meditation before sleepe out of Aurel. prudent in Cathemer himn ante somnum O Worshipper of God remember that thou hast bene regenerate with the sacred water of the font of baptisme and renewed with Chrisme Looke that when being oppressed with slâ—epe thou goest to bed that thou signe â—â—y forehead and place of thy heart with the signe of the Crosse The Crosse putteth away al sinne darknesse doth flee the Crosse The soule dedicated to that signe can not wauer O you vaine phantasies of wandering dreames be you farre and farre of O thou winding serpent that by a thousand wiles and deceiptful fraudes doest trouble the quietnesse of the heart depart hence Christ is here tremble the signe which thou knowest condemneth thyne army Although my fainting body lye downe a while to rest yet in sluÌ„ber it self I wil meditate on Christ An other out of S. Basile l. q. diffus explicat q. 37. WHen the day is ended let thankes geuing be made for those thinges that in it were geuen vnto vs or happily done and a confession made of sâ—ch thinges as we haue omitted eâ—â—heâ— volunâ—aâ—ily or o-otherwise also whetheâ—â—â—e sinne was committed secâ—etly â—iâ—â—er in wordes or in deedes or in thâ— hâ—art that for al these thinges we may appease God by praiers For consideration of thinges past bringeth gâ—eat profit to this purpose that afterward we fal not into the like Wherefore Dauid saith Those Ps 4. thinges which you say in your heartes haue compunction of them in your loâ—giâ—ges The Confucor appointed by S. Damasus I Confesse to God almighty to the B. Mary euer Virgin B Miâ—haâ—l Archangel B. Iohn baptist to tâ—e holy Apostles Peter and Paule and al Sainctes that I haue greauously â—ffâ—nded in thought word and deede through my fault my fault my greatest fault Therefore I pray the B. Mary euer Virgin B. Michael Archangel B. Iohn Baptist the holy Apostles Peter Paule and al Sainctes to pray for me to our Lord God S. August lib. Medit. cap. 10. O Lord I know I know confesse that I am not worthy for thee to loue but surely thou art not vnworthy whom I should loue Truly I am vnworthy to serue thee but thou art not vnworthy of the seruice of thy creature therefore geue vnto me of that thou art worthy and I shal be worthy of that I am vnworthy Cause me as thâ—u wilt to cease from sinne that I may serue thee as I ought Graunt that I may so keepe and gouerne and end my life that I may sleepe in peace and rest in thee Graunt me such end that sleepe with rest rest with security security in eternity may receaue me Amen S. Ephrem apud Seuer Patriarch Alex. in precat Syr. GRaunt vnto me o my Lord that waking I may stand watchful in thy sight and if I shal chance to sleepe againe let my sleepe be without sinne And if in my awaking I shal commit any offence by thy grace o my Lord graunt me pardon and if in my sleepe I shal offend thy clemency forgeue me And by the Crucifix of thy humiliation geue me the sleepe of rest and deliuer me from â—uil dâ—eames and filthy imaginations and bring me al night into sleepe ful of quietnesse lest thinges that be euil and cogitations ful of peruersity haue dominion ouer me Geue me the Angel of light to keepe al my members and from cursed concupiscence deliuer me by that liuely body which I haue eaten I wil goe to bedde and sleepe and rest and thy bloud be keeper of me and of my soule which is thy Image Geue liberty to thy creature and thy right hand defend my body which thy handes haue framed and compasse me about with a wal of mercies as with an acceptable saifguard and trench that when my body shal rest and sleepe it may be kept by thy power and let my sleepe be as a perfume of sweete spices before thy Maiesty Let not the euil one come to my lodging by the intercession of her that brought thee forth and by the Sacrifice that is offered by me driue Sathan away I wil heare and execute thy wil o my Lord that heapest also the night with the quietnesse of the iustice of Iesus Christ my Râ—deemâ—r because thou art the true light and thy glory dwelleth in light and the children of light doe adore thee dwelling in light and abiding in light Iesus the word God saue to lif the deceased by thy Crosse spare for thy mercy And to thee and the Father that sent thee and to the holy Ghost in al time be praise Aurel. Prudent in Cathemer Himn ante somn O Fatther most high whom no man at any time haith seene Christ the word of the Father and holy Ghost O one power and light of this Trinity God eueâ—lasting of God God sent from them boâ—h be present with me The labour of the day is ended the hour of rest is come and sleepe doth refresh againe our weary limmâ—s Graunt that a delightful qâ—ietnesse norish our wearied bodâ—e and vaine Imaginations haue no power against vs. Ioannes Virid in Virid ALmighty euerlasting God I geue thankes that thou hast vouchsaifed by thy grace to keepâ— me this day from euil I besech thee that whatsoeuer this day I haue offended in thought word or deede thou wilt vouchsaife by thy passion and death mercifully to pardon it to me a sinner and hereafter to keepe me from al daunger of body and soule that I may in saifty arise to praise the name of thy Maiesty be able gladly to serue thee with a pure heart and a chast body with thankes geuing Amen Our Father which c. Haâ—le Mary c. O Mary Mother of grace Mother of mercy defend vs from the enemy remember vs in the hour of death I beleue in God c S. Augustinus lib.