quatenus post hujus soecuti caliginosa discrimina ad lucem indeficientem pervenire mereamur Qui vivis regnas Deus in saecula saeculorum Amen OREMUS DOmine Jesus Christe splendor gloriae figura substantiae Patris virginalis uteri fructus Qui per temporalem Nativitatem tuam divinae Filiationis imaginem per gratiam hominibus contulisti illosque fratres vocare dignatus es Auge in nobis famulis tuis in Confraternitate virginis Matris tuae gloriantibus Spiritum gratiae quem dedisti has candelas quas in honorem Nominis ejus suscipimus ita Bene †dicere sancti †ficare digneris ut quicunque cas in manibus accensas tenuerit ab omnibus liberetur tentationibus in hora mortis suae remisnem omnium peccatorum percipiat demum ad Te qui verum lumen es ipsa dirigente perveniat Qui vivis regnas in saecula saeculorum Amen Then he sprinkles the Candles with holy Water saying †In nomine Patris Filii Spiritus Sancti Amen THE GENERALL ABSOLUTION OR Plenary Indulgence To be applyed to the Brethren and Sisters of the Rosary at the hour of their Death The sick Person or some other for him having said the Confiteor the Priest standing up says Misereatur tui omnipotens Deus dimissis peccatis tuis perducat te ad vitam aeternam Indulgentiam absolutionem Remissionem peccatorum tuorum tribuat tibi omnipotens misericors Dominus Then holding his right hand over his head he proceeds DOminus noster Jesus Christus Filius Dei vivi qui Beato Petro Apostolo suo dedit potestatem ligandi atque solvendi per piissimam suam misericordiam te absolvat Et authoritate ipsius Beatorum Apostolorum ejus Petri Pauli authoritate Apostolica Absolvo te a vinculo Excommunicationis majoris minoris suspensionis interdicti in quantum possum tu indiges Restituo te Sacramentis Ecclesiae Communioni unitati fidelium †In nomine Pa †tris Fi †lii Spiritus †Sancti Amen Item Apostolica authoritate mihi commissa tibi concessa Absolvo te ab omnibus peccatis tuis quaecumque toto decursu vitae tuae quomodocumque commisisti de quibus corde contritus ore confessus es quorum memoriam non habes nec recordaris usque in praesentem diem de quibus confiteri minimè recordatus fuisti Et Restituo te illi Innocentiae in qua eras quando Baptizatus fuisti ac paritati eidem in quantum claves sanctae Matris Ecclesiae se extendunt Et per Indulgentiam plenariam a summis Pontificibus Innocentio octavo Pio quinto confratribus Sanctissimi Rosarii in articulo mortis constitutis concessam liberet te Misericordissimus Deus a praesentis futurae vitae poenis dignetur Purgatorii cruciatus remittere portas Inferni claudere Paradisi januam aperire teque gaudia sempiterna per sacratissima suae vitae passionis glorificationis Mysteria sanctissimo Rosario comprehensa perducere Et hoc si de qua agrotas Infirmitate decedas si non ex misericordia Dei salva sit tibi plenaria haec Indulgentia donec fueris in mortis articulo constitutus In nomine Patris Filii spiritus †Sancti Amen Another shorter form of Generall Absolution out of Antonius 1ª parte tit 10. cap 3. § 5. AUthoritate Apostolica mihi pro nunc commissa concedo tibi plenam omnium peccatorum tuorum Indulgentiam Remissionem In Nomine Patris Fi †lii Spiritus †Sancti Amen §. 16. Of the pious use of Processions WHereby the devout Rosarists Religiously honour God and the sacred Virgin Mary upon the first Sundays of the months and upon the seven feasts of our Blessed Lady to wit The Purification Annunciation Visitation Assumption Nativity Presentation and Conception and upon the Saturdays and other Festivall days of the fifteen Mysteries 1. The word Procession signifies literally a passing forward from one place to another Allegorically a progresse from vertu to vertu Tropologically our Peregrination upon earth Anagogically our tendencie towards heaven 2. Processions had their beginning in the Age of the old Patriarks in which the Ark of the Testament was reverently carryed to and fro by the Priests of the Tribe of Levi who were peculiarly set apart for that sacred purpose and performed that office with great pompe and solemnitie As also when David brought the Ark into the Tabernacle and Salomon into the Temple with Hymns Canticles and all sorts of musicall instruments and plac'd it under the wings of the there prepared Cherubins 3. Our solemn Processions seem in all things to imitate the Egression of the Israelites out of Egypt For 1 That people was freed by Moyses out of the hands of Pharao We by Christ out of the Clutches of the Devill 2. Ensignes were carryed before their Troops And before us Crosses and Banners 3. A pillar of Fire went before them Burning Candles are born before us 4. There the Levites carryed the Tabernacle of the Covenant and the Ark of the Testament Here the Priests carry the Statua's of Saints the Reliques of the Martyrs or the Pix with the sacred Eucharist 5. Aaron the High Priest follow'd them in his Pontificall habits and our Chief Priest follows us in his Cope and Church Ornaments 6. There was Moyses with his Rod Here is a Prelate with his Crosier a Prefect with his Officiall staffe 7. The people there march'd in compleat armour the Clergie-men are here cover'd with sacred vestments 8. they were besprinkled with Blood we with holy water 9. they had a Josuah for their conductor and conqueror we have a Jesus 10. they came at last into the Land of Promise and we come up to the holy Altar in hope to arrive one day at Heaven our promis'd home and happy countrey 4. Our Processions are the Memorialls of our Redeemers mercies minding us of the Piocessions he made from his eternall Fathers bosom into the womb of the blessed Virgin from her womb into the Manger from the Manger to Jerusalem from Jerusalem to the Mount Olivet from Mount Olivet back to his heavenly Father All which we gratefully commemorating move after his sacred Standard the Cross and make to him our humble supplications that we may pass after him from this our Pilgrimage to his Paradise from the Church Militant to the Triumphant 5. Our Processions especially those of the pious Rosarists are also Commemorations and Imitations of the blessed Virgin-Mothers journeys upon Earth when she 1. carryed or 2. accompany'd or 3. follow'd her beloved Son Jesus 1. when she carryed him in her sacred womb into the Mountains to the house of Zacharie and Elizabeth and into the Bethleem stable and when she carryed him in her sacred armes into the Temple and into Egypt 2. when she accompany'd him being twelve years old to Jerusalem
the Court of Heaven And O admirable prodigy of the divin mercy O clear testimony of holy Maryes Power there immediately follow'd a full and happy delivery from that dire disease and mortalitie And is not this onely miracle wrought in the open view of the world done in the head-Citie of the Universe acted as to that part of it which is cavill'd at by the Churches chief Pastor and Christs vice-gerent upon earth and registred by so many undeniable and authentick authors able to confound you O Heretiques and Image-haters capable to convert you O half-Catholiques and dishonourers of holy Mary sufficient to comfort you O devout children of the sacred Rosary yet cast an eye upon some others of like nature in the succeedding ages St. Stephen the third making a Procession on his bare feet together with the Roman Clergie and people and carrying a holy Image on his own shoulders to the same Church of St. Marie at the Manger implor'd and obtain'd the like heavenly assistance Sergius the Patriarch of Constantinople carryed the sacred Virgins Image in procession about the Citie-walls and receiv'd a present and miraculous remedie against Caganus and the rest of the Scithians his besieging enemies The same was done under Heraclius the Emperour in his Persian expedition who thereupon obtain'd a compleat victory over his enemies destroying with the loss only of fifty of his own Souldiers the two vast Armies of Duke Razates whose golden Armour he afterwards hung up as a trophe to the victorious Virgin And when the same Citie of Constantinople was again straightned by the cruell Saracens the distressed Inhabitants making their accustomed addresses to their Powerfull Patroness and carrying her sacred Effigies as formerly about their besieged walls saw their Enemies suddenly perishing before their faces some with fire from Heaven the rest with famin pestilence shipwrack and such like severe punishments In memorie of which miraculous delivery the gratefull Citizens celebrated an annuall Festivity in her honour by whose help they obtain'd it Many more examples might be here multiply'd in Constantin the last Eastern Emperour Emmanuel the Conquerour of Pannonia Joannes Ximisca the Overcomer of the Russians Joannes Commenius the Triumpher over the Persians c. But these few are more than sufficient to vindicate this our pious custom not only from Innovation but from all other aspersions whatsoever The fourth Ceremonie in these our Processions is the carryage of wax-Candles or Torches in imitation of the Churches ancient custom observ'd upon the day of the blessed Virgins Purification of which our St Bede said long since This good custom speading it self abroad was kept also in the other Festivities of the sacred Mother and Virgin Mary The fifth and last Ceremonie is the singing or reciting of the Litanies of our blessed Lady of the Rosary which Litanies are sung in the Church called our Lady of Minerva in Rome and in many other Churches throughout all Italie upon every Saturday by the approbation and authoritie of Pope Gregorie the thirteenth in his Brief bearing date Aprill the fifteenth 1580. which Litaâ—ies are as follow 's after this Elevation §. 17. An Elevation for the Procession of the Rosary O Sacred Virgin-Mother Conduct my foot-steps my thoughts and my prayers 1. That I may honour your Excellencies Greatnesses and Glories 2. That I may submit to the Soveraign power you have over me 3. That I may implore and obtain your favour and mercy which are the three Ends and Intentions I propose to my self in accompanying this sacred Procession which is now made in your honour by your faithfull children and servants I intend also hereby to honour all your sacred courses and journey's The first which in your tender age you made to the Temple to present and consecrate your self entirely to the divin Majesty dedicating to him your body by a vow of perpetuall Virginitie your soul by a resolution of future affection and all your Actions by a Sacrifice of your whol life to his service The Second which being declared Gods Mother you made into the Mountains to visite your Cousin Elizabeth to sanctify St John Baptist to bless that whol Family The third which being big with the divin Word Incarnate you made from Nazareth to Bethleem to shew your loyall Obedience to an Earthly Princes Edict but more to profess your prompt subjection to the Heavenly Kings Providence The fourth which bearing your Blessed Babe in your arms you made from Bethleem to the Temple to offer up to the Eternall Father the highest and holyest Oblation that ever was or shall be offered to his divin Majesty An Offering which was the full accomplishment of all the ancient Figures and Sacrifices The Fifth which to avoid Herods cruelty you made with your tender son Jesus and your dear Husband St. Joseph into Egypt The sixth which having lost your beloved Jesus you made to Jerusalem carefully seeking him The seventh which during his three last years preaching you made throughout Judea and Palestin painfully following him The eighth which in the time of his Passion you made to Mount Calvary dolefully accompanying him The ninth which having compleated your happy Pilgrimage upon earth you made to Paradise to remain there the glorious Empress of Heaven for evermore In the honour of these your journeys O sacred Virgin Star of the Sea and Guide of my life I will take my stepps in this present Procession humbly desiring to run after the odours of your sweet perfumes that is to imitate the examples of your heroique vertues that so I may be found worthy to accompany you in Celestiall glory and there with you to bless praise and honour the Father Son and Holy Ghost for all Eternity Amen THE LITANIES OF OUR BLESSED LADY OF THE ROSARY Antiphona Sub tuum Praesidium confugimus Sancta Dei Genitrix nostras deprecationes ne despicias in necessitatibus nostris sed a periculis cunctis libera nos semper Virgo gloriosa benedicta Domina nostra Mediatrix nostra Advocata nostra tuo filio nos reconcilia tuo Filio nos commenda tuo Filio nos representa nunc in hora mortis nostrae KYrie Eleyson Christe Eleyson Kyrie Eleyson Sancta Trinitas unus Deus miserere nobis Virgo Audi nos Virgo Exaudi nos Sancta Maria Sancta Dei Genitrix Ora pro nobis Sancta Virgo Virginum Mater Pietatis Mater Veritaetis Mater Charitatis Virgo Potentissima Virgo Prudentissima Virgo Clementissima Ancilla Domini mitis Ancilla Christi humilis Ancilla Dei fidelis Sponsa aeterni Patris Filia summi Regis Templum Spiritus sancti Domus Dei Sanctuarium Christi Sacrarium Paracleti Speculum Justitiae Sedes Sapientiae Fons Misericordiae Salus Infirmorum Refugium Miserorum Advocata Peccatorum Stella rutilantior Luna pulchrior Sole splendidior Scala Coeli Porta Paradisi Domina Mundi Cedrus Fragrans Myrrha Conservans Balsamum Distillans Flos Virginitatis Lilium Castitatis
with the adjoyned Antheme and Prayer to the sacred Virgin and to Saint Joseph 2. Recite them for all such as arâ— thus associated as they all recite the same for him 3. Recite them for his own and their happy death and for the obtaining of Grace necessary for that purpose ANTHEM WE fly to your Patronage O sacred Mother of God! despise not our Prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin Our Lady our Mediatrix our Advocate Reconcile us to your Son recommend us to your Son represent us to your Son now and at the hour of our death Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ hear us O Christ graciously hear us God the Father of Heaven Have mercy upon us God the Son Redeemer of the world Have mercy on us God the Holy Ghost Have mercy on us O holy Trinity one God Have mercy on us Pray for us Holy Mary Holy Mother of God Holy Virgin of Virgins Mother of Christ Mother of Divin Grace mother most pure Mother most chast Mother undefiled Mother untouched Mother most aminable Mother most admirable Mother of our Creator Mother of our Redeemer Virgin most Prudent Virgin most Venerable Virgin most Renowned Virgin most Powerfull Virgin most Mercifull Virgin most Faithfull Mirrour of Justice Seat of Wisdom Cause of our Joy Spiritual Vessel Honourable Vessel Vessel of singular Devotion Mystical Rose Tower of David Pray for us Tower of Ivory House of Gold Ark of the Covenant Gate of Heaven Morning Star Health of the Weak Refuge of Sinners Comfort of the Afflicted Help of Christians Queen of Angels Queen of Patriarchs Queen of Prophets Queen of Apostles Queen of Martyrs Queen of Confessors Queen of Virgins Queen of all Saints Queen of the most sacred Rosary Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Spare us O Lord. Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Hear us O Lord. Lamb of God who takest away the sins of the World Have mercy on us ANTHEM WE fly to your Patronage O sacred Mother of God! Despise not our prayers in our necessities but deliver us from all dangers O ever glorious and Blessed Virgin our Lady our Mediatrix our Advocate Reconcile us to your Son Recommend us to your Son Represent us to your Son now and at the hour of our death Vers Pray for us O holy Mother of God Resp That we may become worthy of Christs promises Let us pray REmember O most compassionate Virgin Mary Mother of Power Mercy and Consolation That it was never yet heard or known that any one was by you rejected who in his grievous pressures and afflictions had recoâ—rse to your powerfull Prayers Patronage and Protection Imboldned with this confidence we your distressed Children of the holy Rosary with eyes full of tears and hearts full of sorrow make now to you O sacred Virgin Mother our most humble addresses in these our present and pressing necessities Despise not our words we beseech you O Blessed Mother of the Word Eternal and Incarnate Reject not the Petitions of your poor servants O you pious Comforter of all afflicted Souls but graciously vouchsafe to hear us to help us to protect us and to obtain for us the accomplishment of all our just and humble desires That we may have fresh occasion to admire your transcendent Mercy Charity and Compassion and to magnify and praise with eternal gratitude and thanksgiving the infinit goodness of your Divin Son our sweet Saviour Christ Jesus The Verse and Prayer of Saint Joseph Vers The just man shall flourish as a Palm-tree Resp He shall be multiplyed as the Cedar of Libanus Let us pray ASsist us O Lord we beseech thee by the merits of Saint Joseph thy sacred Mothers Bridegroom that what we are unworthy to obtain may be granted us by his intercession who livest and reignest world without end Amen §. 18. Several other Prayers Wherof one or more may be sometimes added after the Litanies of our Blessed Lady according to each ones Devotion Occasion or Necessity I. A Filial Recommendation of our selv's to the sacred Virgin-Mothers protection O Sacred and Sovereign Lady-Mother next after God the onely hope of my soul Into that singular faith commendation and custody wherby your tenderly loving Son Christ Jesus my Saviour recommended you from the Cross to his dearly beloved Disciple Saint John I do this day and all the days of my life commend and commit my body my soul my senses my honour all my hope and comfort all my anguishes miseries and afflictions all my thoughts words and actions my whol life and the final end thereof Most humbly beseeching you that I may by your powerfull intercession be preserved from all sin from all scandal from whatsoever may any way displease yours or your Son 's pure eyes provoke your anger or hazard the loss of your favour and from a sudden and unprovided death Obtain for me I beseech you O my glorious Lady-Mother that I may be truly penitent for all my past offences that I may manfully resist all present occasions of sin that I may walk more warily and innocently for the future Let me feel your prompt and powerfull assistance during the whol course of this my lives pilgrimage and in the dreadfull day of my judgement be you pleas'd O sacred Mother to become my pious Advocatrix at the Tribunal of your Son Christ Jesus To whom with the Father and the Holy Ghost be all honour and glory for evermore Amen II. A Prayer for a happy death O My dear Lord Jesu I most humbly beseech you by those most bitter pains and pangs which you suffer'd for me in your cruel passion and particularly in the hour wherein your Divin Soul pass'd forth of your Blessed Body take pity upon my poor and sinfull soul in its last agony and in its passage to Eternity And you O compassionate Virgin-Mother Mary remember how you sadly stood by your dear Son dying on the Cross and by that your excessive grief and your Sons sacred death assist my soul in its last conflict with death and conduct it to a happy Eternity And you O glorious Saints John Joseph Nicodemus Lazarus Mary Magdalen Mary of James Mary of Salome and Martha who stood by my dear Redeemer Christ Jesus expiring on the Cross assist me also in the hour of my souls departure and accompany it to a happy Eternity Amen III. A General Prayer for our selvs our Friends and the whol Church DIssolve we beseech you O Lord by your bounty the bonds of our sins and by the intercession of the sacred Virgin and all your blessed Saints preserve us our Friends our Brethren and our Benefactors in your grace and sanctity Purge O Lord from all impiety and enrich with solid virtues and perfections all such as have any relation to us by consanguinity affinity or familiarity grant us health of
Mother of God and Man and entirely a pure and unspotted Virgin O News exclaims S. Bernard never before heard of A Mother and yet a Virgin A Virgin and yet a Mother Hail Mary 3. At her bringing forth without pain O You Blessed and the only Blessed amongst women says the same Saint who alone were exempt from the generall curse of all women But what wonder if he put his Mother to no pain at his birth who was born to take away all pain from the whole world Hail Mary 4. At the Angelicall Iubilation FOr She saw the heavenly Court rejoycing at her Sons Nativity and heard the alternate Echo's of their Glory to God on high and Peace on Earth to People of good will Hail Mary 5. At the vision of the divin Essence FOr if She frequently enjoy'd this priviledge in her life-time as is the opinion of many learned Fathers She now surely enjoy'd it in a most eminent manner when she brought forth Gods Son into the world Hail Mary 6. At the many benefits bestowed on Mankind by her Son's Birth TO wit The Exaltation of human Nature The Redemption of the World The satisfaction for sin The victory over Satan The Promotion of Man to vertu Sanctity Perfection The certainty of Faith The Erection of Hope The Encrease of Charity The conferring of an Eternall Life and Kingdom Hail Mary 7. At the multitude of miracles wrought then for his manifestation to the World FOr 1. A great bright unusuall Star invites the Wise-men to Bethleem stable 2. Three Suns appear in Spain soon after joyning themselves into one Body signifying says S. Thomas that the Flesh the Soul and the Deity of the then born Infant were united in one person 3. A golden circle encompasses the Sun in the midst whereof stands a beautifull Virgin with a child in her bosom which the Sybill shews to Octavian the then Roman Emperor with many other wonders declaring to the whol world the divin Majesty and glory of her new-born Son Hail Mary 8. At the Adoration of the Wise-men WHo exteriourly summon'd by the appearing Star and interiourly instructed by the Holy Ghost came and fell down at his feet full of Faith Religion and Devotion and there brake forth into Acts of Adoration and extasies of Admiration Hail Mary 9. At their mysticall offrings WHich were Gold as to a great King Frankincense as to a true God Myrrh as to a mortall man who was to dy for the worlds Redemption Hail Mary 10. At the Vocation Conversion and Salvation of the Gentills WHereof she saw a happy beginning in these holy Kings Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Great Monarch of Heaven and Earth Is your Mercy your Compassion and your Charity to poor Mankind so excessive as that you should thus descend from your Throne of Majesty into a vale of misery for our salvation O Virgin-Mother the choyce Chamber Temple and Tabernacle of Gods Son the Queen of Heaven and Lady of the World Be you Eternally blessed who have been found worthy to bring forth the so long desired and expected of all Ages O Jesu My Lord and my Redeemer who were born of a poor Handmaid wrapp'd in poor Swathes hous'd in a poor Stable Bedded in a poor Cribb Give me true poverty of spirit and a perfect contempt of all worldly honours and greatnesses O sweet Saviour of the World who call'd the Kings to acknowledge and adore you in your Cradle and commanded them to return back by another way into their Countrey Call and compell my rebellious heart unto you by the powerfull light of your efficacious grace shining in my interiour and dispersing all darkness and indevotion in my soul that I may there find you feel you see you adore you and offer up to your divin Majesty the Myrrh of true compunction and mortification The Frankincense of fervent Prayer and devotion the Gold of ardent love and affection O grant that I may henceforth more faithfully follow your holy lights vocations and inspirations which will conduct me into the right way leading to my heavenly home out of which I have hitherto stray'd by my own wilfull malice negligence and sinfullness O my glorious new-born King Christ Jesu you were pleas'd to want a lodging upon Earth that you might lodge me in Heaven To be deprived of all worldly conveniences that you might heap on me your Celestiall comforts To embrace Poverty Humility self-contempt abnegation annihilation that you might inrich me with all the spirituall Treasures of vertu and perfection And shall I gape after temporall goods and glories seek for fleshly solaces and satisfactions place my affection upon poor and perishable trifles No my dear Redeemer I will henceforth endeavour to imitate your most perfest Example And O that I were sincerely willing to abandon all truly content to be abandon'd by all and really resolv'd to submit my self and all to your sacred will and disposition that so I might be absolutely conformable to you my All and All O holy Virgin O happy Mother how sweetly is my Soul ravish'd in the contemplation of that unspeakable joy and gladness which your dilated heart felt when you first embrac'd the long desired of all Nations in your tender folds I congratulate this your happiness O glorious Mother of my good Jesus and humbly creeping in amongst the holy crew of admiring Angells Kings and Shepheards I affectionately present you with these my meaner Canticles of conjubilation We were the poor banish'd miserable progeny of our unfortunat mother Eve we were the wretched Bond-slaves of sin and Satan we were the forlorn lost and stray'd sheep wilfully fled away from our faithfull Shepheard We were the Prodigall children carryed abroad by our own concupiscences from our loving Father and by your Sons means O Blessed and most fortunate Mother we are disingaged deliverd redeem'd from all these miseries woes and disasters O the happy change of our unhappy condition O Eternally Blessed Tree and Blessed Blossom Blessed Womb and Blessed Fruit Blessed Mary and Blessed Jesu The fourth joyfull Mystery offer'd THe Oblation and Presentation of Christ to his Eternall Father in the Temple And the Purification of his Blessed Mother Luc. 2. The Virgin 's purifi'd her dear Son warm's Old Simeons breast presented in his arms Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the carriage of her sweet Son Iesus FOr upon the fortith day after our blessed Saviours birth she cheerfully sets forth of Bethleem stable with her little Jesus in her armes and S. Joseph in her company towards Jerusalem to fulfill the Law of Moyses and to offer up her Son to his Eternall Father in the Temple And though she had just reason to dread King Herods cruelty yet she was more afraid to offend the divin Majesty The way says Ludolphus was five miles long yet she felt not the least
FOr the spitefull Pharisees hearing the Apostles speaking all sorts of languages sought to undervalue the miracle by vilifying them as Drunkards but St Peter standing up in his own and his brethrens defence solidly refutes their malicious imputation to the great joy admiration and confirmation of all the Auditors and confusion of his enemies Hail Mary 7. At the sodain multiplication of the faithfull FOr St. Peters efficacious Oration was no sooner ended but three thousand Souls were presently converted to the Faith of Christ and forthwith baptizd in his name and five thousand more within few dayes after Hail Mary 8. At the fructification of Christs Passion FOr the blessed Virgin-Mother saw not only the present fruits of her Sons death and sufferings spread abroad in the Apostles and the new converted Christians but she also foresaw the future multitude of martyrs who should couragiously dy for his love besides the vast number of confessors virgins and religious Persons who should cheerfully take up their Crosses and faithfully follow him Hail Mary 9. At the great encrease of the divin honour and worship FOr Pagans Gentills Idolaters and people of all professions renouncing their ancient errors came flocking in amain to be instructed in the Faith of Christ and to follow the Evangelicall doctrin Hail Mary 10. At the accomplishment of the number of the Elect. FOr the blessed Virgin joyfully foresaw that all such souls as should depart this life in the true Faith of of her Son Jesus inform'd with charity were to be added to the number of the Saints and to be admitted to his heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These Prayers Angelical c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Glorious Creator How great is your Mercy how infinit your liberalitie How excessive your affection to undeserving and ungratefull Mankind After your only Son was so ill treated amongst us would you also send down the Holy Ghost unto us It plainly appears that we have a potent Advocate in Heaven Jesus Christ the just to plead our cause and a Powerfull Mother upon Earth Mary the Mother of Jesus to impetrate for us this extraordinary favour It is therefore the Mothers merit and the Sons Mercy and the Eternal Fathers liberalitie and the Holy Ghosts goodness that this holy Spirit descends from Heaven upon us A Spirit of life and love a Spirit of solace and sweetness a Spirit of grace and happiness a Spirit which comes in form of fiery tongues to clear our understandings with his light to inflame our wills with his heat and to govern our tongues and affections with his gracious direction A light which dazels not a fire which consumes not a tongue which threatens not accuses not condemns not O sacred and divin Spirit you are the Father of the afflicted the Distributer of graces the enlightner of hearts the comforter of Souls and alas how opposite are my actions to your properties perfections inspirations You descend to instill into me the spirit of sweetness meekness patience and I converse with such as are under my charge and with others who are perchance far better before you than my self with a spirit of choller and peevishness with a spirit of rigour and harshness with a spirit of revenge and bitterness Ah uncharitable wretch that I am shall I contristate my neighbour instead of comforting him shall I exact from others instead of conferring benefits upon them shall I under-value my brethrens actions censure their intentions obscure their reputations instead of putting a charitable construction upon all things whatsoever Change this my crooked and crabbed disposition O powerfull Spirit thâ— plentifull bestower of all perfect gifts by the efficacy of your sacred influence upon my soul purge me I beseech you from my present imperfections pardon me for my past impieties and prevent me from future fallings by implanting your spirit of true peace and charity in my interiour which may keep my heart evermore burning in the love of you and my neighbour till I come to be totally absorpt in you together with the coequall Son and Father in your blessed Eternitie Amen The fourth glorious Mysterie she dy's THe assumption of the blessed Virgin up to Heaven Allegorically understood by Maryes chosing the best part Luke 10. The Virgins sacred Corps too rich a prize For Earth is born by Angels 'bove the Skyes Our Father c. The glorious Virgin-Mothers heart was replenish'd with exceeding great joy 1. At the news of the near approaching dissolution of her soul and body FOr as the holy Doctors deliver unto us after the dispersion of the Apostles into the Worlds severall quarters to preach the Gospell the blessed Virgin retir'd her felf into a privat dwelling near adjoyning to Mount Sion that she might pass the remaining day 's of her Pilgrimage upon earth in the devout contemplation of her divin Sons actions and the frequent visitation of the holy places of his Baptism Fasting Passion Buriall Resurrection Ascention when behold at the time appointed by the eternall providence a heavenly Messenger probably the Arch-Angell Gabriel reverently saluting her in her Sons name informs her of her near approaching departure out of this life Hail Mary 2. At the securitie of heâ— Glorious and speedy Resurrection FOr as Albertus and all the Doctors agree she could not possibly doubt of her present and immediate Translation to Eternall happiness Hail Mary 3. At her dying without any dread terrour or trouble FOr how could She fear death who was so fervent in Charity as that she desired nothing more than to be dissolved and to be with Christ How could She be terrifi'd at Deaths approach who was absolutely free from all sin and impiety Or how could She be troubled at the apprehension of Gods severe Judgments who was secure of her salvation 4. At the presence of the Apostles at her departure FOr it is a generally receiv'd Tradition of the Fathers That all the Apostles were by divin instinct sodainly gather'd together from the worlds severall climats to honour her with their personall presence at this time of her earthly dissolution Hail Mary 5. At the sweet separation of her Soul aâ—… Body FOr say's S. Hierom as She was free from the corruption of the flesh so she was exempt from the calamities of Death And S. John Damascen The pain 's which she suffer'd not in childing and dying She payd at the time of Christs Passion Hail Mary 6. At the Ioyfull Re-union of her Soul and Body in her Resuscitation and Assumption into Heaven FOr according to S. Augustin There was no reason corruption should seize on her after death whose integrity was preserv'd in her life c. but 't was fit she should be always living who was the Parent of all life and that she should be always with him who for nine months space was with her in her womb c. Hail Mary 7. At Christ's meeting her accompanyed with the Heavenly
Citizens WHo can conceive say's S. Hierom how gloriously the world's Queen this day appeared with what affection the celestiall legions met her with what melodious Canticles she was conducted to her throne of glory with what an amiable and pleasing countenance her dear Son receiv'd her into his divin embraces and plac'd her above all other creatures c. Hail Mary 8. At her being exalted above all the Angelicall Orders and Hierarchies ACcording as the Church sings in her prayses You O sacred mother of God! are exalted above all the Quireâ— of Angells c. Hail Mary 9. At her being placed on her Sons right hand FOr as S. Hierom says we may piously believe that our Saviour seated her next to himself in the throne of his glorious Humanity How els had he accomplish'd what himself commanded Honour thy Father and Mother Hail Mary 10. At her being appointed the powerfull Advocatrix of mankind WE have Her to plead for us says S. Bernard who can suffer no repulse because she found grace with God Let us therefore seek Grace from the Fountain of Grace by the Finder of Grace and whatsoever we offer to the divin Majesty Let us commend it to Mary that so all may return to the Author of Grace by the same channell whereby it ran unto us Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son c. These prayers Angelicall c. Affections Elevations Petitions O Sacred Virgin-Mother your Deifi'd Soul is not forc'd out of your dying Body by the violence of pains but sweetly leaves it in an extasie of love O how welcom how amiable how desirable is death to a Soul that is well setled in the fear of God and fully confirm'd in the divin love and favour And how easily is that thing quitted without any affliction which is possess'd without overmuch affection Thrice happy he who so prudently regulates the use of life as to be always prepar'd to yeild it up to Death Happy he who patiently cheerfully resignedly endures the inconveniences of this soon-passing Pilgrimage in hope of a never-ending felicity in the heavenly Paradise Happy he who willingly deprives himself of this worlds most pleasing contentments upon confidence of laying up therby more solid pleasures in the Magazin of Eternity O glorious Virgin who have left me so perfect a Pattern of living vertuously and of dying happily Assist me I beseech you both in the one and the other I humbly acknowledg to my own great shame and sorrow that my life hath been hitherto far wide from the Imitation of your holy example But O pious Mother passing by my former indignity and pittying my present necessity take my perishing cause into your maternall consideration strengthen my Resolution of living vertuously for the future and assist me in that dreadfull hour of my deaths agony O let your Prayers patronage and protection then fortifie my Faith in its apprehension of the approaching Eternity Encourage my Hope in its consideration of the severe Judgment then near at hand and inflame my Charity in its last tendency to the long desired object of my Soul I now contemplate you great Empress seated there above in a throne of Majesty and satiated with the fulness of glory and felicity And I also consider you the still compassionate Mother the powerfull Mediatrix the pious Advocatrix of poor Mankind Wherefore I humbly begg for the love of your holy Son JESUS and by all that is dear to you in Heaven and Earth leave me not in that last hour but cast then your Eyes of mercy and favour upon me so shall I not doubt to be translated from a temporall death to an Eternall life and to remain perpetually with you in the perfect enjoyment of that fountain of life and love to which you are happily assumpted The fifth Glorious Mysterie Is Crown'd THE Coronation of the Blessed Virgin in Heaven The blest Promotress of all Chast desires Is Crowned Queen of th'Celestiall Quires Our Father c. THE Blessed Virgin Mothers Soul was fill'd with inexplicable joy 1. At her being seated upon a Royall throne in the celestiall glory WHere says S. Hierom the Immaculat Virgin-Mother was triumphantly plac'd next to her glorious Son Jesus in the celestiall Palace A Throne of Kingly glory says S. Augustin is prepar'd for you O great Queen-Mother in the Court of the heavenly Kingdom Hail Mary 2. At her being cloathed with Royall Garments ACcording to that saying of the Psalmist The Queen stood on thy right hand in a vesture of gold wrought about with divers colours Whereupon Saint Bernard extasiedly exclaims Gods Mother the worlds Lady Heavens Queen is elevated to the Eternall Fathers Throne and seated next to the sacred Trinity Where she stands on the Kings right hand in a golden garment To wit a body most pure and unspotted encompassed with variety that is a Soul enamell'd with all sorts of vertues Hail Mary 3. At her being adorn'd with Royall Iewells Ear-rings and Bracelets TO wit the Plenitud of all Prudence Science and Intelligence in her Soul and of Clarity Subtility Impassibility in her Body Hail Mary 4. At her being honor'd with a Royall Ring TO wit In her Soul which was the singular Spouse of the Eternall King a singular Joy Glory and felicity And in her Body which was singularly Instrumentall in the Eternall Words Incarnation a singular beauty Hail Mary 5. At her being grac'd with a Royall Scepter TO wit in her Soul by a speciall Power which was given her in Heaven and Earth and in her Body by a speciall prerogative of glory Hail Mary 6 At her being deck'd with a royall crown TO wit first with a generall Crown which is the substantiall and essentiall reward of Eternall glory and Beatitude consisting in the clear vision the perpetuall Fruition and the perfect possession of the Divinity This Crown corresponds to the three-fold Theologicall vertues in the Soul To Faith succeeds vision To Charity Fruition To Hope Possession Now as the sacred Virgin excells here all others in these vertues so her Crown out-shines there all others in Glory Hail Mary 7. At her being crown'd with the silver Aureola of Virgins FOr she being the Immaculat Mother of God and the unspotted Queen of all Virgins having none like her in the first nor any to parallell her in the Second is adorn'd with a Crown as far surpassing the Aureola's of other virgins as the Suns brightness excells that of the lesser Starrs Hail Mary 8. At her being crown'd with the golden Aureola of Martyrs FOr as She endured more than all Martyrs when the sword of sorrow pierc'd her heart at the time of her Sons Passion so she deserv'd a Crown above all Martyrs correspondent to her sufferings Hail Mary 9. At her being crown'd with the Starrie Aureola of Doctors FOr they who instruct others to Justice says the Prophet Daniel shall shine as Stars in perpetuall Eternity Now the sacred Virgin was the Teacher and
thought proceeds that it would much redound to the honour of Christ our Lord and Saviour and conduce to the encrease of devotion in the hearts of all pious Christians If as according to the very ancient institution and generally receiv'd custom severall godly people use to recite sixty three Angelicall Salutations with our Lords Prayer seven times interpos'd in honour of the most blessed Virgin Mary according to the number of years which she is esteem'd to have liv'd upon earth which kind of prayer is call'd the Virgins Crown so they would also inure themselv's to recite thirty three Lords Prayers interposing four Angâ—lical Salutations in the honour of our Redeemer for a commemoration of the years in which he convers'd upon earth amongst men which would be as it were our Lords Crown c. We whom it behoves to promote the honour of our Lord Jesus Christ as farr forth as he shall enable us and to add fewell to the devotion of his faithfull flock Do approve and confirm the aforesaid manner of Prayer invented by that ancient and recluded Hermit and will have it call'd the Crown of our Lord c. Given at Florence the 18 of Feb. in the year 1516. The same Rosary or Crown of our Lord was afterwards confirm'd by Pope Gregory the 13. and endow'd with more and greater Indulgences vide Augustinum Florentinum Lucam Eremitam Bucelinum in Annalibus Benedictinis c. The Crown therefore consisting of 33. Pater Nosters or Lords Prayers consonant to the number of years in which our dear Redeemer convers'd with men in his human flesh upon earth to merit for us a happy Crown of Glory in Heaven and of four Ave Maries or Angelical Salutations with one Creed added for a conclusion is divided into four parts whereof the three first parts are Decades or Tens there being in each of them a ten-times-repeated Lords Prayer and one Angelical Salutation and in the fourth part there is only a Thrice-repeated Lords Prayer with one Angelical Salutation and the Creed and may be recited as it is here distinctly set down with an additionall point of Meditation upon some of the pious Mysteries of our Saviours life and a short Aspiration which may easily be dilated with more affections and resolutions according to each ones Spirit of devotion The first Part of the Crown of our Lord. Of Christs coming into the World 1. OUr dear Redeemer descended from his royall Throne from his eternall Fathers Bosom from his happy Heaven into this vale of misery and cloath'd himself with human flesh in the holy Virgins Womb. O Jesu how excessive is your Mercy how infinit your affection how stupendious your condescendency to undeserving man Ah! that my heart were perfectly free from all that displeases you that so it might deserve perpetually to harbour you Our Father 2. HE being conceiv'd inspir'd his sacred Virgin Mother to take a journey into the Mountains of Judea there to visit salute and serve St. Elizabeth her Kinswoman O Jesu that my soul were alwaies pliable docible obedient to correspond to your sweet and sacred impulses motions and aspirations how cheerfully should I then serve your soveraign Majesty and how charitably should I assist my necessitous neighbour Our Father 3. AFter he had been carryed nine months in his Mothers chast entralls he was born in a cold Stable wrap'd in poor raggs cradled in a hard Cribb O Jesu make me in love with poverty humility and mortification which you have made so amiable by practising them in your own divin person Our Father 4. THe Angells congratulate his happy birth with their heavenly Canticles and the shepheards humbly joyfully and admiringly adore him O Jesu let my tongue incessantly sing forth your Prayses let my heart perpetually breath forth acts of gratitude for your Mercies and let my soul sweetly melt away in her reciprocall affections Our Father 5. UPon the eighth day after his Nativity he was circumcis'd and call'd Jesus O Jesu O sacred and sugred Name O Jesu be unto me a Jesus O that my tongue heart and hands with all my senses powers and faculties of body and soul were truly circumcis'd from all superfluous curious vitious inclinations passions and affections that so I might never more think speak or act any thing offensive to your divin will and liking Our Father 6. HE was diligently sought out by the Eastern Sages humbly ador'd by them and highly honoured by their royall Presents and Oblations O Iesu let me never leave seeking till I find you the only belov'd Object of all my affections and strengthen me sweet Iesu to make a totall Oblation Consecration and Resignation of my whol self to your holy will and pleasure entirely irrevocably eternally Our Father 7. HE was carryed to the Temple in his sacred Mothers arms to be presented as her first-born to his eternall Father shewing himself in all things subject to the Law O Iesu shall not I humble my self and submit to all men for your sake Our Father 8. HE to avoid Herods cruelty sustain'd a tedious banishment in his tender years O Jesu give me patience in all my persecutions temptarions and troubles and let not my grievous sins banish me from your sweet grace and presence Our Father 9. HE return'd from Egypt after his seven years sufferings O Jesu let your efficacious grace recall me from vice to vertu let me return into you my first Origin and let me repose in you my only center and security Our Father 10. HE dwelt with his Parents in t he City Nazareth O Jesu dwell in my soul here by your grace that my soul may dwell with you hereafter in your eternal glory Our Father O Sacred Virgin-Mother who having conceiv'd your divin Son without sin and brought him forth without sorrow serv'd him so diligently during the time of his minority appease him I beseech you in my behalf by your powerfull Prayers and intercession Hail Mary The second Part. Of Christs Conversation amongst men 1. OUr dear Redeemer being twelve years old went up with his Parents to Jerusalem to perform his devotions where he was lost sought and after three day's found in the Temple O Jesu replenish my heart with solid devotion that sincerely seeeking you I may happily find you and having found you I may faithfully keep you company in my interiour for evermore Our Father 2. HE return'd with his Parents to Nazareth and was subject unto them O Iesu break my rebellious will that I may promptly obey you and my Superiors according to your most perfect trample Our Father 3. HE being thirty years old was baptiz'd by St. Iohn in the river Iordan O Iesu permit not my sinfull soul to pass forth of my body till it be baptiz'd in a river of tears and restor'd to purity by the Sacrament of Penance Our Father 4. HE fasted forty dayes and nights in the Desert and was tempted by the Devill O Iesu give me courage to subdue all
patience there being no Pope since Sixtus the fourth who hath not freely opened the Churches Storehouse and added new priviledges prerogatives and benefits unto his predecessors liberalitie in so much as I find above forty authentick Bulls and Instruments issued forth of that highest spirituall Court for the approbâ—tion confirmation and ornament of this renowned Arch-Confraternity of the Rosary Fourthly I may add to this large inventory of spirituall profits That to be of this Confraternity is a probable sign of being predestinated to eternall feliâ—ity For if with the holy you shall be holy sayes the Psalmist and with the Elect elected what better sign of holiness what surer token of election can one have in this life than to be associated with so many good Souls aspiring zealously and unanimously to piety to perfection to salvation Fiftly the last profit to let pass many others is a confidence a comfort and a kind of security in the article of Death Death is commonly accompanied with three corrosives Bitterness because of the Cessation of all pleasures the pâ—ivation of all worldly riches the separation of body and Soul two ancient friends and companions Danger because of the dire conflicts and dismall temptations of the then most busy devill Dread and terrour because of the doubtfull and severe judgment immediatly ensuing Now the devout and diligent members of this sacred Confraternity are exempt from the most part of these alarm's For death seems not to them so bitter because long before expected prevented pâ—ovided for The enemies assaults and temptations are not to them so dreadfull and dangerous because the dayly use of their spirituall weapons renders them expert in these combats able to foil their adversaries and experienc'd to defend themselves The apprehension of Gods Judgments is not to them so terrible because they continually think of them and accordingly order their Life and actions discharge their consciences of sin practise works of piety and endeavour to acquire the sacred Virgins favour in hope to have her then their friend and advocate which is surely the best way to dy with safety and security The just man dy's says Saint Bernard as well as the wicked yet the just man dy's with this advantage and assurance that the ending of his life here is the entrance into a better Life hereafter and therefore he living dy's to the world that dying he may begin to live to God O Life truly holy O Death truly happy where the conscience is pure and the Soul unspotted These are some part of the spirituall profits which proceed from this renowned Society of the ROSARY It now remains that I briefly tell you how you may become capable to participate of these priviledges and prerogatives and what duty and devotion befits the faithfull servants of the sacred Virgin Mary and the true members of this most holy Society For it is not enough to have registred your names in the Rosary Catalogue to enter with the rest into her Chappell to be externally associated to this Confraternity but in the first place 1. You must resolve upon an honest honourable holy life A reformation of your manners a renouncing of all vice and vanity a pursute of all vertu piety perfection Yea you must strive to surpass in devotion and sanctity all such other worldlings as have not that honour and happyness you have to be of the blessed Virgins familie for you O devout Rosarists have dedicated your selves more particularly to God service you make a more speciall profession to honour his holy Mother than they who walk in the wide track of the World and if you surpass them not in perfection how deserve you the title of her particular servants If you make not appear in your lives and actions more Modestie Humilitie Patience Piety Devotion and all sorts of vertues than others how are you worthy to be her speciall friends and favourite Finally if you pretend to be truly her children and domesticks she expects from you cleaness of heart purity of conscience sanctity of life and conversation 2. And in order to obtain this mundicity purity and sacntity you must have a high esteem and make frequent use of the Sacrament of Penance as being the main Pillar of a spirituall life the soveraign Medicin to recover our Souls decayed health the first and fundamentall step to all perfection Yes every Christian who hath any Zeal for his own salvation much more we who make a profession of somewhat more than ordinary devotion must presently upon his lapse into mortall sin dispose his Soul to Contrition his mouth to Confession his hands to Satisfaction his body to Penance which is the true Dâ—ttany curing these bitings the wholsom Mithridat expelling these poysons the clear Fountain cleansing us from these filths and impurities O how important is the observation of this point to all pretenders to piety and perfection and how prejudiciall the neglect of it For first a Soul faln into one mortall sin hath set the dore open to let in a second and that makes way for many followers Such is the weight of sin says St. Gregory that it bears dow the Soul under it and sways the inclination to commit more and more on Abyssus calling on another Secondly a Soul in mortall sin looses all her good works all merit all hope of Heaven all title to eternall happyness no alms avail her no prayers profit her no austerities help her no good actions can open to her the gates of Paradise without the key of an intire confession or a true Contrition Thirdly sin as it gains time gets strength becoms insensibly master of the Soul shutts up the dores against the divin mercy and at length leaves her in despair of pardon and makes her give over all hopes of favour and petitioning for grace Ah! what comfort what confidence what means of salvation is left to a miserable Soul that wilfully persevers in her impiety The longer she stays in it the deeper she sinks into it the lesse she deserves favour the more highly she provokes Heavens anger and revenge Fourthly and which is yet worse a Soul wounded with mortall sin and uncured by Confession or Contrition is continually worried with a worm of remorse and if she be grown so insensible as not to feel now its gnawings she shall surely resent its dismall bitings at the approaching hour of death and much more piercingly after her departure when this worm that devours her shall never dy where the fire that burns her shall never be extinguished Behold the inevitable ruins the irreparable losses the unexplicable miseries which are by them incurred who after their fall delay to do Penance Let it be therefore your chief care O devout Rosarists to arise speedily to present your selves presently to the Tribunall of confession to announce your frailty renounce your impiety that so you may obtain grace to walk afterwards more warily For as a spot or stain is sooner rubbed off at first than
and being thirty years old throughout Judea and Galile in his preachings 3. when she follow'd him laden with his Cross to Mount Calvary And surely if all the journeys and pilgrimages from place to place of Jesus and Mary upon Earth may not properly be call'd Processions yet they may fitly be styl'd the exemplary Pattern of our Processions which are made to their likeness and in their memory and imitation 6. There are four chief and solemn Processions celebrated yearly and universally by the Catholique Church 1. in the Purification of the blessed Virgin Mary 2. upon Palm-Sunday 3. upon Easter day 4. upon Ascension day in memory and representation of that last Procession wherein the Disciples waited upon our Redeemer to Mount Olivet to see him assumpted into Heaven where it is to be noted that in the Primitive Church there were made two weekly Processions one upon Sunday in memoâ—y of the Resurrection and another upon Thursday in memory of the Ascention Whence sprung up that common Proverb of Thursdayes being neere a kin to Sunday But when afterwards the Festivities of Saints became multiplied the Solemnity and Procession of Thursday was abrogated by Pope Agapitus and transfer'd also to that of Sunday which is therefore still observ'd in the joint memorie of the Resurrection and Ascention in all cathedrall and conventuall Churches 7. To these four Processions may be added those of the greater and less Litanies which are also yearly and generally celebrated the Procession of the great Litanies upon St. Marks day instituted by Pope Gregorie the great to implore the divin assistance against the then raging Pestâ—lence the Procession of the less Litanies upon the three day's before the Ascention begun by St. Mamertus Bishop of Vienna to implore a remedie against the many miseries wherewith France was then afflicted Both which customs were afterwards confirm'd by the Church and commanded to be kept by all her faithfull children 8. Having prefated thus much of Processions in generall let us briefly consider them of the sacred Rosary in particular which as aforesaid are made upon each first Sunday of the month and the blessed Virgins Festivities 1. The first Ceremonie in these as in all other Processions is the carriage of the Cross 1. because it is the ancient and perpetuall custom of the Catholique Church to carry the Cross before in all her supplications 2. because the Cross is the common signe mark and cognisance of all Christians 3. to shew that the pious Rosarists ground all the hope and confidence of their prayers and supplications chiefly upon the merits of Christs passion 4. because the Devill being once fully conquered by the Cross is again foyl'd defeated and put to flight by these Processions 2. The second is the reliques of Saints 1. to profess the Communion of the Saints of both Churches Triumphant and Militant 2. to declare that we beg the Saints intercessions 3. to honour God in them 3. The third is the Statua of the blessed Virgin 1. this is the custom of the Church and the tradition of our Ancestors 2. it is a confusion to Heretiques and Image-haters and a motive to us at the sight of her sacred Representative to pray unto her for their conversion who is entitled by the Church the confoundress of all Heresies throughout the whole World This praying for the conversion of Heretiques being one of the principall causes of these our Processions 3. it is a practice which Heaven hath frequently approv'd of by many signall miracles Let us insist a little upon this point and prove this carriage of our blessed Ladies Image or Statua in Processions to have been the continuall practice of the Catholique Church by producing some few but most famous examples amongst the multitude which might be cited out of authentick writers in order to confute not onely such flat Hereticks as fondly affirm these manner of Processions to be no other than modern and monkish inventions but also such ignorant and criticall Catholiques as scruple to render this sort of honour to her who can never be sufficiently honoured by any human industry Poor deceiv d and undevout wretches deserving rather to be pittied for your ignorance than to be satisfi'd by arguments in a subject of so clear evidence we will stick stedfastly to our well-taken up Tenents continue cheerfully in our rightly intended devotions and pray perseverantly for yâ—ur illumination in our sacred Processions hoping at last to conquer your peevishness by our piety and charity and by her power and intercession in whose name for whose love and to whose honour we the children of Mary are gathered together as brethren in one heart soul and mind to march under the Banner of the sacred Rosary We therefore returning to our intended purpose confidently affirm that the Examples of our pious Ancestors and the miracles wrought by the carriage of our blessed Mothers Images in Procession are sufficient warrants and motives to induce us to the same devout practice Examples and miracles which may abundantly be read throughout the whol body of the Ecclesiasticall histories from whence we will borrow these few following instances And to begin with our great St Gregorie who sate in the Roman chair in the year of Christ 601. at which time the Inhabitants of that Citie dyed sodainly lying in their beds sitting in their houses walking the fields standing in the streets so violently raging was the pestilentiall contagion he ind cting a three day's supplication let us say's he O my afflicted children meet together in the Church of blessed Mary the perpetuall Virgin and holy Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ and there w th sighs tears and prayers implore the divin mercy for the remission of our sins and the remedie of our miseries The people being gathered together accordingly He in his own person takes the sacred Virgins Picture drawn by St. Lukes pensill which picture is carefully kept and highly honoured even till this day in the same Church of St. Marie ad Praesepe or of the manger in a sumptuous chappell built by Paulus quintus for that purpose and carryes it along the street in Procession when behold the celestiall Spirits are heard ecchoing forth the blessed Virgins prayses in answer to their pious hymnes and Litanies the ayre is fill'd with the melodious harmonie of angelicall Choristers in toning sweet Athems to her honour and saluting her with these sacred words used ever since by the Church in the paschall Office Regina coeli laetare c. O Queen of Heaven rejoyce Alleluja for he whom you deserv'd to bear Alleluja Is risen from death as he foretold Alleluja To which the holy Pope by divin inspiration added of his own Pray unto God for us Alleluja and an Angell is seen upon the top of the Adrian Towr putting up a Sword into its scabbard The astonish'd St. Gregorie inferring from that action a mitigation of the divine indignation denounces to the no less ravish'd people a Quietus est from
and in them all Christians how they should pray and what they should beg daily of the divin Majestie It is the prime Exemplar of all Prayers the Abridgment of the Gospell the Summary of all our just and fitting petitions and the absolute Form of imploring all such good things as we can expect and desire and of deprecating all such bad things as we are to shun and avoid Finally It is to be by so much the more zealously frequented prized and reverenced before all other prayers whatsoever by how much it excels them all in all sorts of prerogatives First in Authority and dignity as being prescribed by Christ Jesus the Wâ—sdom it self the Truth it self the Divinity it self 2. In Brevity and facility as embracing in few easy and intelligible words all that can rightly be demanded of the Divin Majesty 3. In vertu and efficacie For how should our heavenly Father refuse to hear our petitions which are humbly presented to his Throne of Mercy in the express terms and in obedience to the precept of his dearly beloved Son Christ Jesus Affections contained in our Lords Prayer 1. OF a poor Pilgrim and Prodigall child sighing after his Countrey kindred and Fathers house Our Father which art in Heaven 2. Of a Faithfull servant forgetting himself to procure his Masters honour Hallowed be thy name 3. Of a loving Spouse desiring the sweet presence embraces and enjoyment of her beloved Bridegroom Thy Kingdom come 4. Of a dutifull Son conforming himself absolutely to his Fathers sacred will and pleasure Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven 5. Of a needy Beggar asking an Almes at the dore of the Divin Mercy Give us this day our daily bread 6. Of a guilty Prisoner deeply indebted ready to be condemned and petitioning for pardon and remission And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that Trespass against us 7. Of a Blind and weak Traveller imploring light and strength that he erre not fall not faint not in his journey And lead us not into temptation 8. Of a soul Weary of all things which hinder her desired perfection and craving to be freed from them But deliver us from evill A larger Explication of our Lords Prayer It contains a Preface and seven Petitions THE PREFACE Our Father which art in Heaven THese words put us in mind at the beginning of our prayers of the severall parts of our duty 1. Our being a form of plurall signification declares that we are to draw into the communication of our devotions all such as are confederated with us in the common relation of sons to the same Father 2. Father If God be our Father we surely owe unto him a filiall Love Fear Reverence Obedience For if we are Refractory Irreligious Rebellious how can we presume to call him Fatheâ— But if we are dutifull children pliable to Will and obed ent to his precepts we may confidently expect from him childrens portions and inheritances 3. Which art in Heaven This tells us where our Treasure is and consequently where our hopes and hearts should be fixed and whither all our desires petitions affections are to be directed 4. In Heaven We are Prodigall children and therefore sigh after our Parents house We are poor Pilgrims and therefore stear our course towards our happy Countrey We are wretched Exiles and therefore yearn after our heavenly home The first Petition Hallowed be thy Name 1. Whereby we desire to forget and forgo our selves and all things whatsoever to promote and procure the honour and glorie of our loving Father 2. We desire that his holy Name his divin Essence his glorious Attributes may be honoured by all creatures Believed by Faith loved by Charity and celebrated with continuall prayses throughout the whol Universe 3. It is a direct and formall Act of Adoration For Gods Name being the Representative of God himself we here Petition that he may be truly honored worshipped adored by all in all above all 4. It is also an Act of Thanksgiving for all our received Benefits and Blessings and a returning of all that we have are and can to God as to their Origin and Fountain to whose only Goodness we ascribe all that is Good in us and in all creatures The second Petition Thy Kingdom come 1. Whereby we desire that God may reign by his grace and Justice in us in his Church in the hearts of all men and every where subdue all his Enemyes 2. We desire that he will be pleas'd to exercise his absolute Dominion in our spirits and fully rule in all our faculties in our understanding by Faith in our wills by Charity in our Memories by Hope in our members by Mortification in our whol Interiour and exteriour Man by totally possessing all entirely Commanding all and being truly All in all 3. We desire that his spirituall Kingdom to wit the propagation of his faith and Gospell and the perfection of Souls may yet make more and more progress in he world Extending that where it is not and Intending this where it is And that his Kingdom may not only be amongst us in Name and Form but in Effect in efficacie in Power 4. We lastly desire not only his Kingdom of Grace in this world but also of Glory in the next The third Petition Thy will be done in Earth as it is in Heaven 1. Whereby we desire the sweet presence and fruition of our beloved Lord in our Souls and beg for a prefect union and conformity to his blessed will 2. We desire that the dispensation of his divin Providence may be the absolutely directing Guide of the whol world and the entire measure of all our wills and wishes 3. We desire that in all our prayses and proceedings we may be evermore pliable to his holy will pleasure Resigned in all accidents Patient in all sufferings unchangeable in al good purposes submissive upon all occasions and that we may perform all our duties of devotion obedience perfection cheerfully promptly perseverantly 4. We finally desire that as the holy Angells and Saints in heaven serve our dread Soveraign with perfect Harmony unity tranquillity agreeing all together sweetly lovingly peaceably to prayse and glorify his divin Majesty so all our hearts and Soul's here upon Earth cancelling all crooked and sinister intentions may live and love together in an Angelicall Conformity and jointly please and prayse our Soveraign Creatour with a Saint-like Peace purity and Charity fervently incessantly Eternally The fourth Petition Give us this day our daily Bread Whereby acknowledging our own Poverty necessity indigency we humbly crave an almes from him who is the Author and Fountain of all Mercy First we beg the Bread of Pilgrims for the support of our lives and for the supply of our bodyes necessities that is a daily Portion of all such things as we daily want we are prohibited to be solicitous for to morrow and therefore we petition only for the present We must not be covetous to
have all at once but content to receive it as we need it and as the Divin Giver pleases to dispense it with a constant relying upon his continued providence which therefore feeds us with extemporarie provisions that being always needie we may always be begging and being daily supplyed we may be daily gratefull for the past joyfull for the present and confident for the future 2. We beg the Bread of sinners Contrition Tears Repentance 3. We beg the Bread of Children Love Devotion Obedience Resignation 4. We beg the Bread of Angells the nourishment of our souls Contemplation Communion Union The fifth Petition For give us our trepasses as we forgive them that trespass against us 1. Whereby we confess our selvs to be deeply indebted fearfull to be condemn'd carefull to be releas'd and therefore humbly sue for Mercy Compassion Remission 2. We here petition for a Pardon not only of our sins of frailty ignorance and sudden surprisall but those of deliberation of election of express malice 3. We petition for a Pardon not only of our Sins of Om ssion but of Commission not only of our Carnall sins but of our Spirituall not only of our known sins but of our secret ones not only of sins don directly against the divin Majesty but also against our Neighbour and our selvs not only of mortall sins but of veniall 4. Forgive us as we forgive By which condition we tacitly oblige our selvs to forgive all such as have any way injur'd and offended us even from our hearts not entertaining so much as a thought of Revenge but truly loving all them that have wrong'd us for so only and not otherwise we desire our Creators Pardon for our own committed crimes and impieties The sixth Petition And lead us not into Temptation 1. Where by we desire light that we fall not help that we fail nor strength that we saint not a guide that we erre not comfort that we perish not 2. St. Cyprian out of an old latin copie reads Suffer us not to be led into Temptation that is permit us not to be overcome by Temptation nor to give our assents to sinfull suggestions 3. Since our life upon Earth is a perpetuall warfare and no one can be Crown'd unless he couragiously resist the World the Flesh and the Devill his swoâ—n Enemies therefore we instantly implore the divin assistance against them that we may be able to resist the Devill chastise our Flesh despise the World and so finally obtain a Crown of Glory after our Victory 4. Finally we here acknowledge our own weakness frailty nothing and that all our sufficiencie is from our Creators grace mercy and bounty which we therefore beg and implore not to abandon us in our necessities afflictions temptation The seventh Petition But deliver us from Evill Whereby as weary of all things which hinder our desired union and conjunction with our beloved Lord and the only Spouse of our Souls and the finall End of our Life and Pilgrimage upon Earth we beg to be delivered First not only from all temporall and corporall Evâ—lls as Famine Pestilence Wars 2. But also from all spirituall Evills as impatience pusâ—illanimity distrust of the divin succour in our tribulations sufferings persecutions 3. From this World which allures us to sin and from these bodyes which imprison our Spirits 4 Finally from all that displeases the divin Majesty under whose sacred wings we desire to shelter our selvs from the violence of all our adversaries that so no Temptation may weaken our Faith discomfort our Hope distroy our Charity daunt our Courage alter our Resolutions hinder our Perseverance or overthrow our Glories An Exercise upon our Lords Prayer Dialated with Acts and Affections 1. Our Father which art in Heaven Adoration and Acknowledgement O Heavenly Father I no sooner had a Being but I see the Effects of your paternall Bountie inflowing upon me all things necessary for my preservation even to this present Instant in which I appear before your dread Majesty to adore you prayse you and to implore your Mercy I humbly acknowledg my own Ingratitude Rebellion Disobedience all which notwithstanding you have still continued the affection of a tender Father towards me in cherishing me comforting me correcting me pardoning me protecting me and treating me not as a Traytor a Prodigall a Slave but as one of your dearly beloved Children Wherefore I adore you as my Soveraign Lord God and I honour you as my heavenly Father and I prayse you as my powerfull Creator and I love you as my mercifull Preserver and I promise for the future to obey you more punctually to serve you more faithfully to prayse you more fervently and to procure the dilatation of your divin honour and glory more zealously upon all occasions with a syncere filiall and cordiall affection Hallowed be thy Name A desire of true Light O what a Father How full of pity patience compassion to have so long endured the undutifullness irreverence insolencie of an â—ll behaved uncivill unnaturall child who instead of procuring the sanctification of your sacred Name in all your creatures and the exaltation of your honour in all his actions hath still continued to dishonour your Majesty to disedify his Neighbour to misuse your gifts graces and mercyes and to defile his heart and soul with all sorts of sins and impieties Grant O Father of Light and Love that I may have a clear sight and lively apprehension of your affection and my obligation that truly considering youâ— mercy and my own misery I may rely confidently upon that and rise speedily out of this so recovering your favour and friendship and eternally sanctifying praysing and magnifying your sacred Name and Majesty 3. Thy Kingdom come Sorrow for our Sins and sighing for Heaven I freely confess O Father of Mercy anâ— King of Majesty that my own willfulâ— blindâ—ess and disobedience hath moâ—… justly deâ—riv'd me of a Childs title anâ— quality Permit me therefore to presenâ— my self before you as a poor Bond-slave or at least as the Prodigall Child with tears in my eyes sighs in my heart and this humble petition in my mouth Father I have offended against Heaven and before you I have dissipated all the graces you so lovingly and liberally gave me and forfeiting my whol freedom am become the absolute slave of sensuality vanity impietie which now over-rule me raign within me and render me a rebell against your divin Majesty Mercy O most compassionate Father Destroy this Kingdom of Sin and Satan and Establish yours in my soul Live Lord Jesu in my heart I will have no other King but him Deprive me not Dear Father of that happy inheritance which your Son my Saviour hath purchased for me with the price of his precious blood But mercifully grant that your glorious Kingdom may come to be my lot and portion at my departure out of this place of banishment that I may there contemplate praise and love you for
short Pilgrimage I may dwell with him for ever in his eternall Paradise The Second joyfull Mysterie She visits The visitation which the blessed Virgin made to her cousin St. Elizabeth Luke 1. She visits St. Eliza. to rejoyce With her for what was told by th'Angells voyce Our Father c. The blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the consideration of Gods wonderfull works Which were now made known unto her by his heavenly Messenger for pondring all his words after his departure from her she admiringly compares her own meaness with Gods Immensity She ravishtly extolls his mercy his goodness his compassion towards poor mankind She gratefully acknowledges her own unworthiness to have such wonders wrought in and by her Hail Mary 2. At the Inhabitation of God within her O the joy of her heart O the jubily of her soul to contain him in her womb whom the Heaven of Heavens cannot comprehend Hail Mary 3. At her perfect Sanctification For she knew her self to be consummated in the fullness of Grace adorn'd with the gifts of the Holy Ghost confirm'd in all vertues absolutely impeccable and secure of her finall perseverance Hail Mary 4. At her singular Illustration For by the Inhabitation of the Eternall word within her she became enlightned both in soul and body In Soul so as to know secrets to understand sciences to foresee things to come as appears by her Propheticall Magnificat In body insomuch as her externall beauty and comliness attested Gods inward presence and we may piously believe with St. Bernard that no one no not her husband St. Joseph could fixedly behold the beames of her shining countenance and so the Gloss understands that passage of St. Matthews Gospell Joseph knew her not till she had brought forth Hail Mary 5. At her journey into the Mountains of Judea For reflecting upon the Angells last Speech Behold thy Kinswoman Elizabeth hath also conceiv'd a Son in her old age She speedily cheerfully and joyfully undertakes this long journey of thirty four miles says Ludolphus and on foot in order to visit her congratulate her assist her Hail Mary 6. At the carriage of Christ in her womb For though the way was long and mountainous though she a tender Virgin and with child yet neither was the journey irksome nor her burden cumbersom nor her travail wearysom because she carried him who supported encourag'd and enabled her Hail Mary 7. At the blessing of Elizabeth Who at her approach runs ravishtly into her embraces and affectionately exclaims Blessed art thou amongst all women and blessed is the fruit which thou bear'st in thy womb Blessed is the Tree together with the fruit the Stemm with the Flower the Mother with the Son Hail Mary 8. At her conjoyn'd Virginity and Maternity For she joyfully perceiv'd that Propheticall saying compleated in her own Person Behold a Virgin shall conceive and bring forth a Son and she as joyfully knew her self to be the Mother of God according to St. Elizabeths expression How deserve I this honour that the Mother of my Lord should vouchsafe to visit me Hail Mary 9. At the overflowing of her Grace into others For at her voyce and visitation St. John St. Elizabeth and St. Zacharieâ— were fill'd with the Holy Ghost Hail Mary 10. At the many miracles accompanying and following this Visitation 1. In Elizabeth replenish'd with Gods holy Spirit 2. In St. John clean's from originall Sin sanctify'd in the womb confirm'd in grace 3. In Zacharies illumination c. Hail Mary Glory be to the Father c. These prayers Angelical with bended knee c. Affections Elevations Petitions O what a confluence of joyes were found at this blessed meeting of these two Mothers of two great Princes whereof one was the greatest that was born of women and the other was his Lord and these made Mothers by two miracles Surely never but in Heaven was a greater extasie of Iubilation The word Incarnate rejoycingly begins to bestow his blessings on the World before he is born into it Elizabeth rejoycingly admires Gods goodness and mercy and his Mothers charity and humility St. John rejoycingly dances in the womb after the harmonious musick of their mutuall Salutations whil'st the holy Virgin her self sweetly in tones her Creators prayses who is the true Author and Origin of all these wonders singing with heart and mouth My ravish't Soul extolls his name Who rules the Worlds admired frame My Spirit with exalted voyce In God my Saviour shall rejoyce Who hath his glorious beams displayd Upon a poor and humble Maid Me all succeeding Ages shall The blessed Virgin-Mother call O the ardent charity of my Saviour Christ and of his sacred Mother He is no sooner conceiv'd in her womb but be carryes her and she him into the mountains of Judea to give the life of grace to the young Baptist O Jesu the powerfull Sanctifier of all souls vouchsafe to give mine also a gracious visite and to inflame it with the fire of your love that I may henceforth more readily correspond to your holy motions more carefully lay hold upon all occasions conducing to vertu piety perfection and more charitably assist my necessitous neighbour And you O most lovely most loving and most beloved Virgin bestow a visit on this poor house and heart of mine Here I live in a vale of teares temptations miseries I sojourn amongst continuall dangers I dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and my being in this world is like that of a child in his Mothers belly expecting with fear and hope to be born into the bright-light of a Blessed Eternity O let your comfortable visitation and your Sons grace-bringing presence disperse my inward darkness qualify my fearfullness fortify my hope and confidence and give me a sweet Antipast of my future happiness Come then O most charitable and most compassionate Virgin My good Mother my gracious mediatrix my only Hope next to your holy Son Jesus Come and cast an Eye of Pity upon your poor servant Let your harmonious voyce resound in my souls eares and obtain for me a tast of your Sons goodness that I may henceforth relish nothing but himself and according to your most perfect example rejoyce in nothing but God my Saviour The third joyfull Mystery He is Born The Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ Luc. 2. THe Son of God born of a sacred Mayd Between two beasts is in a manger laid Our Father c. The Blessed Virgin exceedingly rejoyced 1. At the first sight of the new-born Iesus O The Jubily of her ravish'd heart To see him safely brought into the world whom she carefully carryed nine months in her womb To swathe and suckle him who is the Son of the most high To kiss him who was comely above all the children of men To embrace him whose beauty the Sun and Moon admire and whose countenance the Angells desire to contemplate Hail Mary 2. At her preserv'd Virginity FOr she now found her self compleatly a
Soveraign Lady Queen of Heaven and Earth that you thus vouchsafe to give a visit to your unworthy Bondslave Bestow on me your Blessing O my Lady and permit me not to go into darkness whom you have been graciously pleas'd to visit with the light of your glorious presence Then turning towards the by-standers The Queen of the World was here says he the Mother of the Eternall Monark was present She hath shew'd me the gladness of her countenance given me her holy blessing and is hence returned into heaven And soon after his departing Soul followed his sacred Mistress leaving a most lively and memorable example to excite posteritie to the like pietie and devotion 3. Whereupon this Devotion of the Bondage is grounded THis Devotion of Bondage is chiefly grounded upon that most heroique Act of Humilitie which the sacred Virgin produc'd at the time of our Saviours Incarnation when being declar'd Gods Mother by the Angelicall Messenger she answer'd Behold the Handmaid of ovr Lord Luk 1. 38. Wherby she depressing her self into the center of her own nothing chose undoubtedly the meanest degree of servitude and Bondage to the divin Majestie upon contemplation that his Infinit Greatness should so humble it self as to become Man in her womb for the worlds Redemption And surely if we will only put together the severall sentences of sacred Writ which expresly concern her we shall find that she made up the Chain of her Bondage with the links of twelve most excellent vertues 1. Virginall MODESTY She was troubled at the Angells words Luk 1.29 2. Mature PRUDENCE She cast in her mind what manner of Salutation this should be Luk 1.29 3. BASHFULL TIMEROUSNES Fear not MARY for thou hast found grace with God Luk 1.30 4. Immaculate CHASTITY How shall this be seeing I know not man Luk 1.34 5. Profound HUMILITIE Behold the Handmaid of our Lord. Luk 1.38 6. Perfect OBEDIENCE Be it don to me according to thy word Luk 1.38 7. Firm FAITH Blessed art thou who hast believed Luk 1.45 8. Gratefull THANKSGIVING My Soul doth Magnify our Lord. Luk 1.46 9. True POVERTY She wrapp'd the Infant in swadling cloaths and layd him in a manger Luk 2.7 10. Invincible PATIENCE Thy Father and I grieving have sought thee Luk 1.48 11. Charitable PIETIE Son they have no Wine John 2.3 12. Perseverant CONSTANCY Near to the Cross of Jesus stood his Mother John 19.25 In imitation therfore of these her holy vertues and especially of that high Act of Humility as is aforesaid by which she rendring her self Gods Bondslave was rais'd to be his Mother for no sooner had She finish'd that humble speech Behold the Handmaid of our Lord be it unto me according to thy saying but the Word was made Flesh and dwelt in her sacred bowells As also in consideration of the Soveraign Dominion which God hath given her in Heaven over the Angells The Queen stood at thy right hand Psal 44. on Earth over men Kings reign by me c. Prov. 18. And thou alone hast overcome all heresies in the whol world sings the Church And over Hell and the Devill She shall bruise thy head Gen. 3. And Lastly in remembrance that Christ Jesus our Redeemer was himself subject and obedient unto her Luc. 3.51 In Imitation Consideration and Memorie of these things I say this holy manner of honouring the most sacred Virgin was as you have briefly heard invented above six hundred years since by divin inspiration as we may piously believe and is much practis'd amongst the devouter sort of Christians throughout the world even at this day 4. The Rules of this Devotion of the Bondage 1. IN sign of the Invisible and spirituall Chain which links our sincere affection to the sacred Virgin and moves us to become her servants and Bondslaves we must wear some little materiall Chain or manacle of Iron about our middle neck or armes 2. We are to have the Chain we intend to wear bless'd by some Priest in this following manner The Blessing of the Chaines Vers ADjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini Resp Qui fecit coelum terram Vers Sit Nomen Domini Benedictum Resp Ex hoc nunc usque in saeculum Vers Domine exaudi orationem meamâ— Resp Et clamor meus ad te veniat Vers Dominus vobisâ—um Resp Et cum Spiritu tuo OREMUS OMnipotens sempiterne Deus qui vincula peccatorum nostrorum disrumpis ut libertate Filiorum gaudere valeamus qui ad vincula salutis hominem advocas dicens Injice pedem tuum in compedes illius ne acedier is vinculis ejus Haec vincula quae in signum perpetuae servitutis ad honorem Beatae Virginis servi ejus deferre intendunt Bene †dicere Sancti †ficare digneris Et concede eis sic devotè illa gerere ut vivendo candore castitatis illustrentur ac moriendo a vinculis peccatorum absoluti intercessione ejusdem sanctissimae Matris Mariae tecum cum illa in regno gloriae congaudere valeant sine fine Qui vivis regnas in saecula saeculorum Amen Then he sprinkles the chains with holy water saying †In nomine Patris Filii †Spiritus Sancti Amen 3. We may do well to make choyce of some day dedicated to the Virgins honour for the entring into this Bondage and putting on of this Chain to make our Profession more memorable and solemn Note that the most proper and principall Feasts of this Bondage are the Annunciation and the Assumption The first being the Origin thereof grounded upon those words of the sacred Virgin to the Angell Behold the Handmaid of our Lord And the second being her taking possession of that soveraign Dominion next after God whereupon the whol duty of this devout servitude depends In these days therfore we are more particularly and zealously to offer up our devotions in thanksgiving to the Divin Majâ—stie for the supream excellencies bestow'd upon the glorious Virgin and to renew the profession of our Bondage by the recitall of the Prayer and Oblation made at our first entrance into it as it shall be hereafter set down 4. We should also prepare our selv's before hand by some particular Devotion as Fasting Mortification Meditation Almes-deeds Confession Communion to render the Profession of our Bondage more efficacious and meritorious 5. Then at the time appointed we are to kneel down reverently before some Altar or Image of our Blessed Lady and make an Oblation of our selv's unto her in mannner following The Prayer and Oblation of our selv's in Bondage to the Blessed Virgin O Blessed Mary Mother of God Queen of Heaven and Empress of the whol universe Behold I N. N. a most unworthy wretch humbly prostrate before the Throne of your Mercy and Goodness heartily Congratulating your glory greatness and faithfully acknowledging your soveraign Power Dominion next after God over my self and all Creatures Do here make a voluntarie absolute and irrevocable
and of your being her Son and likewise in the honour of this that she is the only one amongst all Creatures who hath this admirable estate and this singular relation to you and I humbly beg of you that in this quality you will vouchsafe me a share in your eternall way 's and mercyes AMEN A concluding Prayer to the sacred Virgin-Mother upon the same subject O Holy Virgin Mother of God! Queen of Men and Angels Mervail of Heaven and Earth I reverence you in all â—he ways that I can according to God that I should according to your own Greatness and according as your divin Son Christ Jesus our Lord would have you reverenc'd upon Earth and in Heaven I make to you an Oblation of my soul and my life and will belong to you for evermore and I will render you some particular Homage and Dependencie in all future time and Eternity O Mother of grace and mercy I make choyce of you for the Mother of my soul in honour of that choyce which God himself made of you for the Mother of his Son O Queen of Men and Angels I accept and acknowledg you for my Soveraign Mother in honour of that Dependency which my Saviour and my God had on you as upon his Mother And in this Quality I bequeath unto you all power over my soul and over my life as much as according to God I can bequeath it O sacred Virgin Mother look upon me as upon your own thing and in your goodness use me as the Subject of your power and as the Object of your pity O Source of Life Fountain of Grace Refuge of Sinners I have recourse unto you hoping therby to be freed from sin furnish'd with Grace and preserv'd from eternall Death O take me into your tuition let me have a part in your priviledges and obtain for me by your greatnesses and by this right of my appertaining to you that which I deserve not to obtain by reason of my offences and let the last hour of my Life that hour which is to decide my Eternity be in your hands in honour of that happy Moment of the Incarnation wherein God became Man and you were made Gods Mother O Virgin and O Mother both together O sacred Temple of the soveraign Deity O Mervail of Heaven and of Earth O glorious Mother of my God! I am yours by the generall Title of your greatness but I will be also yours by the particular Title of my own choyce and by this act of my own Free-will Wherefore I give my self wholly to you and to your only Son Christ Jesus my Lord and Saviour and I resolve to let pass no day without rendring to him and to you some particular homage and some speciall testification of this my dependency and servitude in which my desire is to dy and live for Evermore THE THIRD APPENDIX JOSEPH OR Devotions to S. Joseph the Glorious Husband of the Virgin Mary and reputed Father of Christ Jesus With Elevations unto him THE many Excellencies Priviledges and Prerogatives of Saint Joseph are largely deduced by severall Learned Writers Out of Whom these few following are selected wherupon to ground our Devotion to this great Saint and to lay a foundation for the ensuing affective Acts and Elevations 1. Saint Joseph was sanctifi'd in his Mothers womb Which favour seems in some sort due to him who was to have so neer a relation to the Word Incarnate the Source and Origin of all sanctity and who was design'd from all Eternity in the Conclave of the Adorable Trinity to be the President of Gods great Councill of State upon Earth the Angell Guardian of the Queen of Angells the reputed Father and the reall Fosterer Nurser Conductor and Governor of JESVS the worlds Messias and the Head of his holy Family Now since Gods Family consisted only of two Persons Jesus and Mary who were of more worth and dignity than all the rest of Heavenly and Earthly Creatures together it was convenient that He who was to govern them should also resemble them in Greatness Dignity and Sanctity and consequently that he should possess in some measure by an anticipated pardon of his Originall sin and by an advanced favour of sanctifying Grace that Puritie which the Son possessed by Nature and the Mother by Priviledge 2. He was the next after the sacred Virgin who made an express Vow and promise to God of Perpetuall virginity And this Resolution Intention and Promise both of Her and Him was reveal'd to each other respectively and renewed by them jointly before they were contracted together by formall Matrimony For how els could Blessed Mary who had oblig'd her self to virginall Integrity have consented either in Prudence or Justice to give the Power over her body to a person of whose Chastity she might be ignorant or doubtfull of his Constancie Surely the known Purity of her Chast Bridegroom gave her the confidence to treat and converse with him as securely as she did with the holy Seraphins 3. He no sooner perceiv'd his Blessed Spouse to be bigg with child but he cast about how he might handsomly retreat from her company not as harbouring the least doubt or distrust of her Innocency being more certain of her Invisible Chastity than of her visible appearing to be with child and knowing that it was more easy for a Virgin to conceive than for Mary to deceive him or distain her own honour But out of a deep and humble sense of his due respect towards her Son and her self as judging himself altogether unworthy to contemplate with his eyes and carry in his arms the Divin Word Incarnate and to converse intimately and familiarly with the glorious Mother of this God Man who was shorthly after to be born into the World 4. He govern'd Gods Family for above thirty years space As the Divin Providence hath establish'd three Orders in the World That of Nature that of Grace and that of Hypostaticall Vnion So he hath chosen and appointed three sorts of servants for the conduct and government of these Orders The Angells serve him in the order of Nature the Apostles in the order of Grace but he chose S. Joseph alone after the sacred Virgin to serve him in the third Order which is that of Jesus in the ineffable Mysterie of his Incarnation O the Excellency the Eminencie the Greatness of Saint Joseph O his honour and happyness to enjoy so long the Innocent embraces of Jesus in his Childhood The holy Entertainments of Jesus in his riper years The divin actions examples and instructions of Jesus in his perfect age And to live so long in company and conversation with the most holy and accomplish'd Princess that ever was 5. He together with his sacred Spouse circumcis'd Jesus in the Stable of Bethleem eight day 's after his Birth into the world and according to the divin Order and command which was signifi'd unto him by an Angelicall Messenger impos'd upon him that glorious
name of JESUS 6. He nourish'd fed and maintain'd Him with the sweat of his brows and labour of his hands who affords food and sustenance to all living Creatures And cloathed him who furnished the Lillyes Roses and flowers of the Field with all their beautifull Robes and Ornaments 7. He was in some sort the saver of his Saviour by sheltring little Jesus from Herods rage and crueltie and stepping aside with him into Egypt whilst the Innocents bought the palm of Martyrdom with the price of their blood 8. He commanded him who commands all earthly Princes and Monarchs and had him obedient to the beck of his hand to the nod of his head to the twinkle of his eye and to the sound of his voyce before whom the Powers of Heaven fall down and tremble O the admirable power of S. Joseph O the adorable subjection of Jesus O the sublimâ—tie of Joseph to command Jesus O the Humility of Jesus to obey Joseph 9. He possessed and practis'd all vertues in their perfection especially Humility as being to passe the remainder of his days in her company who being the greatest was the most humble of all pure creatures And in his companie who being the Son of the most high made himself the least and lowest amongst the Sons of men Nor can S. Josephs vertues perfections and Greatnesses be comprehended and measur'd by any better means than by the greatnesses of Jesus and Mary to whom he was so strictly allied For he wâ—… Mary's true Husband and consequently the true and legall though not the carnall and naturall Father oâ— Jesus O what Communications oâ— affections what extasies of spirit what unions of hearts was there amongst these Three JESUS MARIA JOSEPH Now since God give grace proportionable to each one place vocation and office surely a S. Joseph's Office was exceeding great so was his grace vertu and perfection great excellent and heroique 10. He was as the Fathers pioufly and probably believe elevated to Heaven both in Body and Soul upon the day of his glorious Sons triumphanâ— Ascension and remains there inthron'd next to the Humanity of Jesus and the Virgin Mary in the Celestiall Kingdom as he was neerest and dearest unto them during the time oâ— their earthly Pilgrimage 11. He is the faithfull powerfull and charitable Protector and Advocate of his devout children and clients in the Court of Heaven as having so great credit with his Son King Jesus and his Spouse Queen Mary that his demands may seem in some sort to be commands and his Petitions being presented to the Throne of Mercy with a Fathers confidence and authority will not easily be rejected by Jesus in Heaven who was so obedient to Joseph upon Earth 12. He is the chief Patron of all Contemplatives and the Great Master Guide and Director of the Interiour hidden and Spirituall life S. Teresa happily experienc'd this verity and frequently expressed it saying They that cannot meet with a Master to instruct them in the manner of their Prayer Let them take the Glorious Saint Joseph for their Teacher and Tutor and they shall infallibly find the safe and secure way to solid Sanctity and perfection A SHORT ROSARY IN THE HONOR OF S. JOSEPH CONTAINING The principall Mysteries of his Life drawn out of the precedent Excellencies and distinguished into Five Tens or Decades Begin also this Rosary with the sign of the Cross and the Creed The first Decade Of his Election SAint JOSEPH was chosen in the Councill of Gods Eternall Wisdom and Providence to be the worthy Bridegroom of Mary and the â—…puted Father of JESUS Our Father c. 1. He was the highest and holiest of the Patriarchs Hail Mary 2. He descended from the Royall Progenie of David Hail Mary 3. He was particuarly prefigur'd by Joseph the deliverer of Egypt Hail Mary 4. He was sanctifi'd in his Mothers â—omb Hail Mary 5. He was confirm'd in Grace and Vertu Hail Mary 6. He was a Just man by the testimony of the Holy Gospell Hail Mary 7. He was instructed from Heaven in the Mystery of Incarnation Hail Mary 8. He was indu'd with the plenty of all spirituall blessings Hail Mary 9. He was enriched with gifts and qualities both naturall and supernaturall sutable to the sacred charge for which he was design'd Hail Mary 10. He was the first after the Virgin-Mother who by Vow consecrated his Virginity to the Divin Majesty Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. As in the Great Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary The Second Decade Of his place office and dignity SAint Joseph was appointed the Head Governour and Steward of Gods Family upon Earth Our Father c. 1. He was espoused to the sacred Virgin Mary Hail Mary 2. He was the Guardian and witness of her Virginity and allotted by Divin Providence to be her Counsellor Comforter and Companion upon all occations Hail Mary 3. He was her faithfull Assistant in her journey to Bethleem Hail Mary 4. He found out the Stable for her harbour when the Innes refused to entertain her Hail Mary 5. He was present at our Redeemer's happy Birth into the world Hail Mary 6. He help'd the holy Virgin-Mother to swath him cloath him and cradle him in the Maâ—ger Hail Mary 7. He was the first who with the extasi'd Mother had the honour to adore the New-born Man-God Hail Mary 8. He concurr'd with the sacred Virgin to Christs Circumcision and together with her impos'd upon him the sweet Name of JESUS Hail Mary 9. He was reverenc'd by the Eastern Kings when they offer'd their Royall Presents to his reputed Son JESUS Hail Mary 10. He with his Virgin-Spouse presented JESUS to his Eternall Father in the Temple Hail Mary Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Ghost c. These Prayers Angelicall c. The third Decade Of his Flight into Egypt SAint JOSEPH took the yong Child and Mary his Mother and departed into Egypt so preserving Jesus from Herods cruelty who sought to oppress him in his Infancy Our Father c. 1. He readily resignedly and in the night season obey'd the Angells admonition Hail Mary 2. He cheerfully undertook a long tedious and troublesom journey into an unknown Countrey Hail Mary 3. He patiently endur'd with Jesus and Mary a seven years banishment Hail Mary 4. He provided food for him with the sweat of his brows and labour of his hands who affoards food to all living Creatures Hail Mary 5. He cloath'd him who cloathes the flowers of the field Hail Mary 6. He next to the sacred Virgin was the most ardent of all Jesus's lovers serving him in his Exile with more than Seraphicall affection Hail Mary 7. He lov'd the sacred Virgin with a naturall affection in respect of her eminent perfections with an acquired affection in respect of her reciprocall favours with a supernaturall affection in respect of her celestiall