as that I onely liue to thee I onely loue thee I onely delight in thee that thou be my onely ioye my onely comfort my only foode wherwith my soule maye in such sort be refreshed as that al other meats seem lothsome and vnsauourie to it This onely haue I chosen this onely shal suffice me with this alone wil I liue contented satisfied and happy vntil that most desired day come when I shal feede of thee in another forme and enioye thee continually in the company of al the elect and blessed Saintes of thy celestial court where with the Father and the holye Ghost thou liuest and reignest euerlastingly Amen PRAYERS THE Translatour of this Treatise 〈◊〉 earnestly good Christian Reader to be remembred in thy praiers and that other-whiles of thy charitable deuotion which shal not be vnrewarded thou wilt offer for him to God these fewe lines in maner folowing O LORDE of infinite maiestie and mercy who desirest not the death but the deliuerance of a sinner take pitie vpō thy seruant N. and pardon his moste greeuous trespasses Graunt him grace to knowe thee and to knowe him-selfe Geue him the vertues of humilitie patience temperance chastitie and perfect resignation Deliuer him frō mortal siun during life and in the hour of death strengthen him in faith and firme hope of finding mercy So that scaping the daungers of his enemies both in his life time and in that last most dreadful houre of death he maye through thy gratious goodnes attaine to euerlasting happines there to praise thee the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost one God eternallye Graunt this O Lorde for our Mediatour and only Redeemer Iesus Christe his sake Amen Non nobis Domine non nobis sed Nomini tuo da gloriam Thy sugred name O Lorde Engraue within my brest Sith therein doth consist My weal and onely rest TO THE READER I HAVE thought good gentle Reader folowing herein the aduise of certaine vertucus and learned men to annexe in the ende of the former most excellent Treatise these few praiers that folow moued therto chiefly with this reason that such as haue not ben erst exercised in the maner of praying prescribed by the Authour might here see some practise of his preceptes touching gouernment on morninges and euenings the two especial times wheron depend the whole course of a wel-ordered life as also touching the disposition requisite both before and after confessiō with some such other prayers as I demed most necessary here to present vnto thee I hope if thou beest a Nouice and delighted with the former worke this my smale paine shal not seeme vnprofitable vnto thee which I beseech thee to vse to thine auaile whiles thou wantest better meanes And this must I say for the better credite of that which foloweth how it is not I that am the authour thereof but other famous men of the same liuery that the former is God requite al our benefactors spiritual especially and geue thee Reder such good by this whole worke as the Authours thereof doo wish thee and my poore hart affordeth thee A PRAYER 〈◊〉 be sayde in the morning before al other busines MY LORDE God and most benigne Sauiour Iesus Christe who when I was not diddest create and make me capable of thee the soueraine and only good and being made a thral and bondslaue through my fore-fathers trespasse diddest redeeme me with thy most pretious bloud and losse of thy sacred life abiding the tormentes due to my trespasses to acquit and ridd me from the same For these O Lorde and al other thine inestimable benefites namely for hauing preserued me this night past I yeelde thee moste humble zealous and obedient thankes offring my selfe whollye to thee as I am wholly thine beseeching thee also of thine infinit clemēcie to preserue me this day from any waies offending thee and to direct al my thoughtes wordes and workes to thine euerlasting glory Mine estate and calling is as thou knowest O Lorde inuironed with many difficulties here is eche one to weigh their vocation and the dangers it is subject too and through mine euil customes and wicked inclinations hardlye can I without thy special assistance passe this daye without offending in these sinnes Here must eche one cal to mind the vices he is most prone too Refreshe therfore O Lorde my concupiscence with the dewes of thy diuine grace and geue me strength to fight more manfully and to subdue al wicked suggestions Truely Lord here in humilitie and sinceritie of heart I protest neuer willingly by thy gratious fauoure to offende thy lawes and commaundementes anye more I detest al sinne and what may any wayes displease thee I desire to loue thee feare thee and serue thee this day and euermore and to direct al mine actions to thine honour and glorye Assist me Lorde with thy grace and enriche my pouertie with the plentie of thy merits Wherfore in the vnion of that charitie wherewith thou descendest from heauen into the blessed virgins wombe and afterwardes offredst vp thy selfe on the roode in sacrifice for our sinnes in the vnion of this thine incomprehensible charitie I offer vnto thee what-soeuer I shal doo thinke or speake this day Here may we briefly discourse wherin we are like to passe ouer the day beseeching thee through thy merciful goodnes to accept gouerne and enriche al in such sort as thy glorye may be therby procured my neighbours wel-fare occasioned and mine owne soule better fortified and prouided To thee my sweete and only Iesus Christ with the father and the holy Ghost be al glorye and praise euerlastingly Amen Pater noster Aue Maria. Credo c. A PRAYER to be saide to bed warde applied to the excellent instructions of the third Chapter aboue 1. SOVERAINE dreadful and most louing Lorde my God who neuer ceassest to shew thy mercy towardes sinners yea when they offende and trespasse against thee such is thine infinit clemencie and loue as then thou forbearest not to heape thy benefites vpon them I moste sinful and wicked wretche yeeld thee humble thankes for thine ineffable goodnes shewed towardes me in creating me to thine own likenes and making me capable of thine euerlasting glorye for the creation of so many other creatures for my behoufe and sustenance and for that inestimable worke of my redemption wherby thou deliueredst me from the slauerie of Satan and purchasedst me free entraunce into thy celestial Region These pointes may be fruitfully particularised according to eche one their skil and deuotion for hauing singled me amongst so many millions that know thee not and lye drow ned in ignorance and miserable errours to be thy seruaunt and a true Catholike Christian for al thy blessed Sacramentes especially for that sacrament aboue al sacraments wherin thou art thy selfe most really conteined for hauing preserued me so many times from hel wherin I had beene longe since plunged had not thou of thine inspeakable goodnes susteined and deliuered me
from my foes For these and al other thy benefites namely for those thou hast this day most bountifully bestowed vpō me Here are they particulerly to be though of O my soueraine Lorde I yeeld thee such sincere and dutiful thankes as my poore hart can possibly afforde thee beseeching the blessed virgin and al the Saintes of heauen to yeeld thee thankes and praises in supply of my want 2. AND NOWE mine only Redeemer and Sauiour I humbly craue the light of thy grace to know wherein I haue this day any wayes offended thee and that by mature and sounde discussion of my conscience I maye see mine owne sinnes with sorowe and thine ineffable mercy with a zelous and firme purpose of amendment 3. HERE MVST we examine our selues how we haue employed the day in word thought and deede towardes God and our neighbours 4. THOV SEEST O Lord my lewdnes and wotest my miserie muche better then I my selfe doo Sory I am with al my heart that I should stil offend so louing a Lord and wish to God my sorowes were greatly multiplied I purposed earst to doo better by thy grace which wanted not and yet haue I trāsgresled in my former trespasses Neither yet may I despaire O Lorde but wil continually trust to thy mercies in al euentes and purpose firmely as I nowe doo euery day to amend my life Deliuer me my gratious God from al mortal sinne for euer and geue me grace to persecute my venial vices with sorow during life And for the satisfaction of these and al my former sinnes together with al those of the world as also for al thine ineffable benefites bestowed vpon me and al man-kinde I offer vnto thee the merits of thy bitter passion those moste pretious droppes of bloud thou sheddest for me and that inflamed charitie wherwith thou wholly resignest thy selfe to al thy tormentes for my 〈◊〉 and in the vnion of this thine oblation on the roode I offer vp my self soul body and al I haue of thine within or without me to thine honour and euerlasting glory I retaine nothing to my selfe but geue al to thee whose it is and make that thine by my wil which is thine of iustice Geue me thy grace O my God to liue better her eafter and to confesse my sins in due time to my ghostly Father Geue me true humilitie and repentance grace to knowe thee and grace to knowe me puritie of heart in al my doinges patience chastitie and perfect charitie Geue me a good life and a good death and in the daungerous houre of my departure the assistance of thy blessed Saintes and Angels with whom I may through thy mercie in an-other world praise and glorifie thee euerlastinglye Amen Say then the Pater noster Aue Maria and the Creede with some short praier or hymne as thou liest thee downe to craue protection for the night and conuenient rest of bodie and soule And faile not to commend thee to thy Gardian Angel. A PRAYER to be 〈◊〉 before Sacramental Confession MOST Soueraine mightie and merciful Lorde who of thine infinite loue and mercie towards mankinde hast ordemed in thy Churche the Sacrament of Penance as a soueraine saulue to heale our spiritual woundes and to purge vs from the filth wher-with we maie after Baptisme any wayes haue defiled our soules I. N. thy most vile and ingrateful creature hauing offended thee many waies and most greeuouslye since my last Confession purpose through thy grace to flie hither for my remedie and according to thy diuine ordinance to confesse my sins vnto thy seruant hoping therby according to thy promise to receaue a ful and perfect absolution Geue me grace therefore O Lorde that like as of thy goodnes thou hast inspired into my hart a desire to apply this remedy to my ghostly griefs so I may in due reuerence contrition and sinceritie vse the same to the glory of thy name and the ful forgeuenes of my sinnes Open the secretes of my soule vnto me O Lord and make me knowe al my sinns and iniquities what-soeuer Geue me also due sorowe and contrition for the same and grace to vnfolde them to thy vicar my ghostly phisition purely plainly sorowfully and sincerely with firme and constant purpose through thy grace to amend my life hereafter Ah Lorde my gratious God and onely comfort of my soule sithens thou desirest that in al thinges I should sincerelye serue thee and I through thy grace desire nothing more then to doo the same why is it Lorde that I stil offend thee whye fal I so ofte in relapse of my former folies Thy grace is not wanting but mine vngratiousnes and inconstancie is the cause thereof whereof I moste hartily accuse me Euen nowe I mind to fight manfullye and by and by I faint and faile in my former purposes Rightly therefore am I in respect hereof to humble my selfe and to deem me to be thy most vile and abiect creature Increase in me daily thy grace and soueraine vertue of humilitie and graunt me that once I may know thee and know my selfe Thee in thy Maiestie and mercye me in mine abhominations and misery and that at length I may fight more manfully and gain the victorie ouer mine 〈◊〉 through thy gratious helpe and fauour my onely Redeemer and Sauiour Iesus Christe who with the Father and the holy Ghost reignest one God euerlastingly Amen A PRAYER to be saide after Sacramental Confession O GOD of mercie and pitie hauing nowe through thy gratious goodnes disburdened my conscience of the gilt wherwith it was oppressed and in the low liest wise I might vnfolded al the sinnes I could possibly thinke of vnto thy minister my ghostly father I most humblie beseeche thee to accept this my Confession and to forgeue me my trespasses aswel remembred as forgotten Graunt me grace O Lorde to liue more carefullie and diligentlie hereafter and to refraine from my former folies which I vtterlie detest and through thy grace doo firmely purpose neuer any more to offende in Especially O my gratious and benigne Sauior geue me grace to withstande these temptations wher-with I am most greeuously infested Here are the temptations wherwith one is most troubled to be rehearsed as also grace to eschewe al occasions of offending so much as possibly I maie The just man as Scripture telleth falleth seuen times a daie much more then shal I fal O Lorde hauing thorough mine owne most vile abhominations increased greatlye the weaknes and blindnes I receaued frō my fore-father Adam yet Lorde as I hope and purpose firmelie by thy merciful fauour to refrain from consenting to anie mortal sinne which I most humblie begg of thee to preserue me from whilest I liue so Lord wil I by thy goodnes detest and persecute my venial sins and imperfections during life Graunt me grace so to doo O merciful Lorde and that as heretofore I haue without ani remors of conscience most heinously transgressed thy commaundementes in euery sort so nowe
I may feele iust remorse and sorowe for euery sinne and imperfection what soeuer And that I may the better performe this graunt me grace my sweete Sauiour Iesus Christe that I may perseuer in discussing my conscience euery night more diligently thē other according to the good instructions it hath plesed thee by thy seruauntes to impart vnto me and that eche morning I may so happily beginne the day by offering thee the firste fruites of al mine actions as that the rest thereof may euermore be passed to thy glory As for my Penance that is enioyned me and not performed alreadie fauourably I beseeche thee to assist me both in the perfect remembring therof and in the diligent executing in good time And graunt that by thus endeuouring my self daily thorough thy grace to amende my life I may both liue and dye a true Penitent and obteine through the merits of thy blessed passion a ful forgeuenes of my sinnes in this world and in th' other the life eternal wherto thou hast created me To thee mine onely Sauiour Iesus Christ with the Father and the Holy Ghoste one God be al honour praise and glory euerlastinglye Amen A VERY fitt praier to be saide before Masse wherein we exercise very fruitfully our faith and prepare our selues to heare it with dutiful attention O MOST puissant and louing Lorde who haste of thine infinite mercy vouchsafed that thine only sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christe should before his doleful death ordeine his bodye and bloudd to be consecrated in thy Churche by vertue of thy worde in a most miraculous and dreadful misterie graunt me grace I beseech thee O Lorde that as of thy singuler loue towardes vs thou hast ordeined this diuine Sacrament to make vs alwaies mindful of the merits purchased vnto vs by the death of thy deere sonne our Sauiour so I maie with due reuerence and diligent remembrance of those his most bitter tormentes assist here whiles thy seruaunt celebrateth this misterie and offer vp my praiers in most obedient wise vnto thee The souerain desire thou haddest of our wel-fare O Lorde was that which moued thee to leaue vs this moste diuine sacrifice of the Masse that like as thy triumphant Churche hath her sacrifice aboue so thy militant Churche might haue her sacrifice belowe For like as in heauen thy sonne dailie offereth him-selfe vnto thee for bethouse appering before thy face in a visible and glorious maner so hast thou vouch safed that in earth he should dailie be offered to thee by the function of priestes for our sinnes in a maner inuisible and proportionable to our frailtie Yet is it al one onelie and the selfe same Iesus Christe thy sonne and al our profite and auaile is whollie deriued from the Tree of the holie Roode This misterie most mightie Lorde is farre surpassing al humane capacitie and yet right easie for those to beleeue that haue in time sucked the sweete sapp of thy most sauorie and wholesome doctrine For mine owne part Lorde I beleeue through thy gratious goodnes simply whatsoeuer thy holie Catholike Apostolike and Roman Church teacheth me either touching this or anie other of thy most diuine misteries and doctrines and confesse vndoubtedly that as thou hast said that body and bloud is conteined in this most sacred Sacrament and the same bodye to be like-wise on the right hand of thy Father in heauen so beleue I them both most assuredly and th' one as firmelye as th' other seing one is as-wel the wil and worke of the Word God and man as is the other and to be in earth in heauen and in many places at once is in thy power to doo it most easily as thou doest and is in my power through thy grace to beleeue it most constantlye as I doo Herein I vtterly renounce my sence and al mans vnderstāding and cleue only to thy diuine and inexplicable Omnipotencie who as thou madest al things of nothing so canst thou alter and dispose of al thinges at thy wil and pleasure Nowe therefore I beseeche thee most omnipotent and mightie God to driue awai al distractions and wicked thoughts out of my minde that I may attend the celebration of this heauenly misterie with feare and reuerent humilitie Sanctifie also I beseech thee his spirite who is here to present him-selfe before thee to celebrate this diuine Sacrifice to th' ende that he may woorthely doo it to thine honour and glorye his owne auaile and the benefite of al others Geue me grace that by the reuerent ceremonies which are here to be vsed I mai be put in mind of thy most painful torments which they doo represent and that I mai adore thee in thy imperial Sacrament with souerain dread and lowlines This by thy grace I purpose this by thy grace I hope to performe Accept therfore O Lorde to thine honour our welfare and the vnitie of thy Churche the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour thy sonne Iesus Christe offered thee in this Sacrifice Incline thine eares O Lorde to the praiers of thine afflicted flocke and mercifullie restore thy true religion where it is lacking Open the eies of the blind and make them know their errors Relieue the distressed the captiues and the sicke in the vertue of this sacrament Geue grace to the liuing and perpetual place of rest and quietnes to those which are departed in thy faith for the merits of our onely Sauiour thy sonne Iesus Christe to whom with thee and the holy Ghost one God be al renowme praise and soueraintie for euermore Amen ANOTHER short praier to be saide likewise before Masse O MY soueraine Lorde and Sauioure Iesus Christe O Lampe of light and truth I most miserable wretche humbly beseeche thee to stanche my wandring mind in such sort as I maie with due 〈◊〉 and attention assist and waite here in thy imperial presence whiles thou procurest this so important an affair with thy eternal father for my wel fare and of al man-kind Illuminate my soule and stirre vp my lumpish heart O sonne of true Sapience and Iustice with the bright nes of thy countenance that I maie here with a grateful and deuout memorie cal to mind that sacrifice of obedience patience and mosle inflamed charitie which thou being wrapt in extreme woes and ignominious reproches diddest offer vppon the roode with thy life and euerie dropp of thy most sacred bloud to thi celestial Father for our sins Amē AN EXCELLENT praier and adoration to be made in the presence of the blessed Sacrament I MOST wicked wretche and vnwoorthie Christian bow down before my Lorde who hath made and redeemed me who fostreth and susteineth me and euermore remaineth life and veritie O Iesus Christe very God and mē I adore thee here present and cal vppon thee not doubting any whitt at al of the verie real presence of thy flesh and bloud viuificant nor of the presence of thy pretious bodie and most sacred soule Ah Lorde that I coulde in
moste innocent Lambe stood dombe and quiet with out mouing or making any resistance at al sith he was not so straitly fastned to the piller with hempen coardes as with heauenlye charitie and the feruent loue he bare vs which knitt his diuine heart with muche more stronger bandes then were the other FOR THE second poynt meditate howe the tirannous officers being nowe tired with beating him albeit he not so with suffring for vs they thē vnlosed him from the piller and without geuing him ani other succor or solace let him seeke his garments throwne here and there about the palace which hauing at length with much adoe found out and put vpon him they straitwaies stripp him a newe to put on that olde purple coate wherewith they openly scorne and make him their laughing stocke and anone crowne him most cruelly with a crowne of sharpe pricking thornes If thou viewe and consider al this with deuout attention it can not be but it must prouoke thee to loue that Sauiour who for thy welfare onely vouchsafed to endure so fel tormentes and make thee also to feare for thy sinnes and vtterly to abhorre thy lasciuiousnes thy plesures pompes and superfluous pamperinges of thy fleshe with the whiche thou haste so highly offended God for the which he hath in this wise so painfully satisfied For if a kinges sonne be afraide when he seeth but a contemptible bodslaue beaten in his presence howe shal not the moste abhominable boundslaue feare quake again seing the sonne of God so cruelly handled for his offences if others sinnes be paide thus derely for what paiment shal he haue that shal be punished for his owne LASTLY thou maiest meditate this day howe our Sauiour standing in this wise crowned wounded and mocked Pilate commaunded him to be brought forth for the whole assemble of people to looke vpon to trye whether he might this waies mollifie those obstinate and stonie heartes and thervpon saide Ecce homo Loe here the man Faile not thou therefore with the eyes of thy soule to take an aduised view of this most rueful spectacle beholding the hewe and ouglie shape he caried who is the brightnes of his eternal fathers glory and that to restore what thou hadst lost through thine offences Beholde howe he standeth in the middest of suche an assemblie fraight ful of shame and sorow cladd in that fooles coate so euilfauoured an attire with the crowne of thornes cnuironing his sacred head the reede in his tied handes in lieu of a sceptre that harde coarde about his tender necke his diuine visage al put vp swelled with the blowes he had receaued and abhominably disfigured with bloud filthie spittle yea from to ppe to too no one spot free from woundes neither was this inough to soften those flintie heartes sufficient though to appease his eternal fathers wrath who accepting the same for the satisfaction of our moste heinous crimes FRIDAY MEDIT ATE secondly how those vnmerciful tormentors so soone as they wer now come to the moūt of Caluari stript forthwith in cruel wise that louing Lambe tearing his skinne to his excessiue griefe being through the greene woundes festred to his garmentes and afterwardes stretche him out vpon that harde bed of the crosse which the world had prepared for him and so with out stretched armes of his aboundant charitie offered he him selfe vp to his euerlasting father in a true and liuely Sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world And thus his handes and most holy feete being with sharpe nailes fastned to the crosse they hoiste him vp on high hanging moste pitifullye thereon Weigh here diligently what griping griefes his moste rueful virgin mother suffered hearing the strokes of the hammer wherwithal they erucified him and seing him afterwardes hoisted so vp vpon that hard crosse with such opprobrious shame and infinite paines and tormentes Now then behold a while with the eyes of thy soule this thy Sauiour thus hanging nailed vpon the crosse and gather vpon this wholsome tree the fruite of life it plentifully affordeth thee for here is alwaies forth-comming the supply for al thy nedes the salue for al thy sores the satisfaction for al thy sinnesiand herein maiest thou as in a glasse plainly perceue al thy wantes and imperfections sith this is a much more beautiful and bright glasse then those were that God commaunded to be set in the temples for the priestes to looke thē in at suche time as they were to minister for that the godly soule which shal attentiuely admire it selfe in this mirrour may soone espye and easily find out al her faults and folies whatsoeuer That nakednes and extreme pouertie we see vpon the roode vtterlye ouerthroweth al our pompes superfluous decking That crown of thorns condemneth our pride and ambition The gaule and vinager which was geuen him to drinke cryeth out against our gourmandise and disordinate drinking those weeping withered eyes accuse the losenes and lacke of modestie in ours those out stretched armes readie to embrace both frendes and foes find fault with our rancour and reuenge that moste sacred body wounded al ouer from topp to toe argueth and that seuerelye the lasciuiousnes and sensual appetite of ours Thus seest thou how al the staines and sinful spots of thy whole life doo manifestly appere in this vnstained mirrour ful of al perfection THIRDLY if thou haue any spare time leste thou maiest meditate the other egregious and notable thinges which happed about our Sauiours death but chiesly those seuen speeches he vttred being vpon the crosse For in the first Father forgeue them for they knowe not what they doo is charitie towardes our foes highly commended In the second 〈◊〉 I say vnto thee this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise mercy to wardes sinners in soueraine wise 〈◊〉 out In the third Behold thy sonne behold thy mother a pietie and zeale towardes parentes In the fourth I thirst a feruent desire of our neighbours welfare In the fift My God my God why hast thou for saken me an humble praier in tribulation In the sixt It is accomplished a perseuering in obedience til th end In the seuenth Father I cōmend my spirite into thy handes a perfect and entier resignation into the handes of God which is the periode and somm of al our perfection SATERDAY ON SATERDAY meditate the percing of our Sauiours side with that cruel speare to the incomparable griefe and hart-break of his most heauie mother And pause here a while to beholde both this and other his infinite most pretious wounds sithens these are to be thy refuge thy phisike and chief consolation In the olde lawe we reade howe God commannded certaine cities to be assigned in the lande of promise whereto such as had committed any offence might securely make their refuge but nowe in the lawe of grace there is none so secure a refuge as is the harboring in
errour of beliefe especially touching those articles wherwith otherwhiles in life time they assailed foūd him som-what feeble To which tēptatiō thou canst not resist better then as I told thee heretofore in the. 26. Chapter to wit by despising it scorning the deuil and not regarding to solute his reasons But if of force thou must needes aunswer som-thing let it be this I beleeue firmely what our holy mother the Churche beleeueth and that which the holy Apostles Martirs and Confessours haue beleued and taught whose faith and doctrine 〈◊〉 God whom none can deceaue hath confirmed with innumerable miracles and for the confession wherof hath so much bloud of Martirs been spilt of whose holines no man can iustly doubt Sticke fast to this aunswere and care not to satisfie his other obiections demaunds which he may propound to thee about this matter and no doubt but by thus behauing thy self thou shalt remain a Conquerour and gain the goale thou striuest for Thus reade we of a seely simple man albeit in this point wise and considerate ynough who in a much like matter de meaned him-self in like maner This good man being in conflict with the fiende shaped him this aunswer touching an importunate adoo he made to know his beliefe I beleeue quoth he al that our holy mother the Churche beleeueth Why quoth the diuel And what is that your holye mother the Church beleueth She beleeueth quoth the good man that which I beleue And what beleeuest thou reiterated he the other repeting his former answer I beleue quoth he what our holye mother the Church beleeueth Neither could the diuel albeit he questioned neuer so importunatelye about this point driue him from this his first answer and so gained he the victorie and put his foe to flight and shameful ignominie In like maner maiest thou doo if thou vse the same means of resisting this tentatiō THE SECOND suggestiō wher-with the wicked spirits are wont to molest vs in this houre is of blasphemic persuading those that are nowe at point of death to beleue or think some indecent vnseemly thing of our bles sed L. God or of his holy SS With this temptation Eusebius S. Ieroms Disciple was greeuouslye infested Hereto maiest thou resist by retorting the blasphemie vpon the Diuel him-selfe that propoundeth it in this maner I am more then assured that my Lorde God is infinitely good and woorthy of al soueraine praise and lcue and that al his holy Saintes are most perfect and replenished with al vertue and thou most wicked fiende by going about to persuade me these blasphemies bewrasest plainly thy peruerse spirite pufe vp with al impietie malice falshood and deceipt and ther by most woorthy to be of eche one despised accursed and abhorred And then turning thine eyes to thy most mild sweet maker force thy selfe to powre out of thy heart right humble blessings and praises in the best wise thou canst vnto him and by howe muche the more the detestable deceauer shal infest thee with these his abhominable and beastly blasphemies by so much the more be thou diligent and attentiue to yeeld laudes and praises to his moste holy name THE THIRD temptation wherewith the deuils doo tempt such as lye a dying especially if they haue beene great offenders is dispaire For like as in time of health they litle rought of their sinnes and through the infinit number of Gods mercies and hope to doo penance at their latter ende made smal accompt therof so in that houre of death doo their sinnes seeme more greeuous and gretlye aggrauated to them by considering the rigor of diuine iustce wherto yt belongeth not to suffer any one sinne vnsifted and vnpunished and then is it the deuils persuade and make them beleeue that their contrition in that present houre is of no force and value as proceeding of seruile and slauish feare They like-wise in that houre represent al the enormous crimes a man hath committed al his life time as also the good he might haue done and by his negligence hath omitted and howe he neuer confessed many of his sinnes or at least wise imperfectlye and with lesse sorowe then he ought to haue done In this wise doo they so girde and gripe many heinous sinners as no doubt but a great number be by that meanes driuen to desperation This is one of the most terrible vexations wher-with such as haue wallowed securely in their sinnes are in this time assailed and is in very deed so violent and hard to be withstood as if the ineffable mercy of God did not geue special assistance and ayde in that houre very few could eschew and ouercome the same The remedie to releeue thee with is to humble thy selfe in the sight of God and to inuocate his diuine clemencie calling to minde the Passion of thy blessed and benigne Redeemer our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe whose moste bitter griefes torments and woundes thou must offer vp to his eternal father for al thy sinnes what-soeuer saying I knowe my Lorde and moste gratious God that albeit my sinnes be great enormous and innumerable yet is the satisfaction which thy moste obedient sonne my Sauiour Iesus Christe hath geuen thee both for these of mine and of al the whole world farre greater more pretious and more infinite I knowe like-wise that thine incomprehensible mercie and pietie doth farre surpasse al my miserie and impietie and therefore wil I not dispaire as Cain and Iudas did especially knowing howe this should be to adde a greater offence to my former trespasses sith dispaire is that which moste of al displeaseth dishonoureth and offendeth thee yea rather wil I hope in the multitude of thy mercies which thou haste vsed towardes other most vnworthy sinners and sure I am that thine eternal truth and infallible worde neither can ne wil euer deceaue whereby thou haste promised to pardon and receaue such as hope in thee calvpon thy mercy and vnfainedly turne to thee being contrite and sorowful for their sinnes as I am nowe This is the anker wher-vnto thou must cleaue fast and neuer to forsake thy holde albeit the deuils doo what they may to drowne thee as is aforesaid THE FOVRTH temptatiō is quite opposite and contrary to the former This being a rash and fond securitie and ouer-weening a man hath in his owne innocencie for that as Cassian saith when the wilye and coonning fiende can-not induce a man to that excessiue feare and pusilanimitie he thought to haue done and so to haue driuen him downe to desperation then doth he craftilye goe about to post him ouer to the other extreame by drawing him to a daungerous securitie and blind delite and pleasing of him-selfe counterfeiting falslye with him how he hath fought manfullye and wel prepared him-selfe to death and howe he is greatly bounde to God for so many his giftes moste plentifully bestowed vpon him
earth are called lordes as hauing a certaine superioritie geuen them and rule ouer some men yet are they but seruauntes and the creatures of this one onely Lorde who hath of himselfe al soueraintie and absolute authoritie ouer al menn This Lorde was therefore with our blessed Lady sith he deliteth to dwel in the soule ful of grace as hers was And therefore who so desire to haue this Lorde harbour with them let them first procure to haue his grace without the which he wil neuer enter or soiourne in their soules It foloweth Blessed art thou amongst wemen or aboue al other wemen By which speeche the Angel shewed how much our Lady passed al other wemen in the giftes and priuiledges that were bestowed vppon her Blessed amongst wemen or amongst al wemen for that she was both a virgin and a mother together which prerogatiue neither euer hath beene nor shal-be graunted to anye other woman Blessed also amongst women sith she was exempted from the commō curse and malediction laide vpon al women to bring forth their children with dolour and paine where the blessed virgin contrari-wise as she conceaued her childe without corruption or any detriment at al to her most pure virginitie so did she bring forth her childe without anye paine or griefe at al yea with inspeakable ioye seing her selfe the mother of such a sonne and withal before birth in birth and after birth a moste pure and immaculate virgin Blessed againe is she amongst al women because of al wemen and men she hath beene hitherto in al ages continuallye blessed and shal-be of al generations exalted euerlastinglye THE SECOND part of this salutation is Blessed is the fruit of thy wombe which wordes S. Elizabeth greeted our Lady with at such time as being conceaued with the sonne of God she came to visite her The which speech right woorthely apperteineth to our blessed Lady for that of suche a tree expedient was it that suche fruit should proceede Blessed is the mother but much more the sonne who was cause of his mothers blessednes Blessed is the tree that brought vs forth the fruit of life but much more blessed is the fruit of life wherby at such time as we eate it woorthelye we are made blessed and receaue the true and perfect life And to make vs vnderstande the better what this blessed fruit of the virgins wombe is the Churche addeth this worde Iesus our Sauiours moste holy name which is a moste sweete hony-combe in the mouth of him that pro nounceth it a most melodious musike in the eares of him that heareth it a soueraine ioye and inestimable consolation in his heart that deuoutlye doth contemplate it The holy Church addeth a thirde part to this salutation Holye Mary mother of God pray for vs sinners nowe and in the houre of our death These wordes are a short praier and petition wherby we recommend our selues to this moste sacred Lady her protection agnising and confessing the efficacie and puissaunce of her prayers to God-warde and how we being wicked wretches stand great neede of her prayers being innocent and pure from al spott of sinne whom if in our distresses we inuocate with faith feruēt deuotiō wel may we hope how greatly soeuer we haue offēded to find relief and succour at this mother of mercies handes as al sinners haue euermore by trial proued true that in their necessities made their recourse vnto her The last word Amen may be vnderstood as is afore-saide in th' ende of the Creede or Pater noster These thinges thus explaned as thou seest be the pointes which at least euery good Christian is bounde to haue by hart to th' ende he know what he ought to beleeue and doo and in what maner to make his praiers to gaine Gods fauour and diuine grace therby afterwardes to obteine euerlasting glory and celestial blisse HERE foloweth a prayer or Meditation wherby the soule is stirred vp to 〈◊〉 reuerence and loue of the blessed Sacrament before a man receaueth it MOST high and dreadful most sweete and bountiful Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ who art really conteined in this most miraculous Sacrament which I both desire purpose to receaue beholde howe I come fraight with feare and hope vnto thee to be visited fedde and comforted of thee I feare considering the incomprehensible highnes of thy most infinite Maiestie and the inspeakable basenes of my moste wretched miserie I thinke Lorde what thou art and what I am Thee I acknowledge to be my maker maker of al things omnipotent eternal infinite ful of al wisdome vertue incomprehensible holines Thou art he before whose face al the pillers and celestial potentates doo quake againe and whom al the Angelical quires yeeld adoration and due reuerence to I contrari-wise knowe my selfe to be a most vile and filthy creature a contemptible caterpiller a wretched worme a vessel of corruption one ful of al miseries conceued and borne in sinne vnable to doo any good inclined to al wickednes Howe may then so abiect and abhominable a caitiff present him-selfe before so great a king What hath mire and filth to doo with celestial puritie darknes with light the sinner of al sinners with of al holies the holiest If that holy man S. Iohn Baptist one sanctified in his mothers wombe durst not touch thy most sacred head when thon camest to be baptised of him howe shal I presume not onely to touche but to receaue thee in this holy Sacrament fraight with filth and wallowing in al wickednes euen from my very infancie The faith which that deuout Cōturion had in thee made him repute him-selfe vnwoorthy for thee to enter into his house howe then shal I with much more feeble faith and deuotion receaue thee into my vnclean and vnwoorthy habitation If so great puritie and holines wer required for the eating of the shewbreades of the old lawe which were but a shadow of this most souerame Sacrament how shal I eate the bread of Angels being so impure and estraunged from al holines how may so heynous an offendour as I am presume to approche hearing the prince and chiefe of al the Apostles cry out Goe further from me Lorde for I am a sinful creature I languishe Lord and tremble whē I consider thy highnes thy dignitie and what thy holy Saintes haue saide and done vnto thee but muche more am I confounded calling to mind my malice and ingratitude al my yeres consumed in sinne blindnes iniuries and crimes committed against thy diuine Maiestie without any feare of thy threates and punishmentes anye regard or thankfulnes for thine infinite benefites yea rather renewing in most impudent wise not once but eftsons thy cruel tormentes and most painful passion crucifying that Lord a-freshe with so manye greeuous abhominations who with so great charitie vouchsafed earst to be crucified for my redemption Wherefore moste righteous Lorde if thou looke vpon mine