wouldest mercifully looke vpon me thy naughty seruant and haue mercy vpon me that haddest mercy on the woman of Canaan and on Mary Magdalene that sparedst the Publicane and forgauest the theefe hanging vpon the crosse To thee O most holy father I confesse my sinnes which if I woulde hide from thee O Lorde I can not Spare me O Christ whome I haue much offended in thinking speaking and dooing and in euery manner wherein I fraile man and sinfull might sin by my fault by my owne faulte through my great default Therefore O Lord I beseech thy mercy that cammest downe from heauen for my saluation that liftedst vp Dauid from his fall of sinne spare me O Lord spare mee O Christ that sparedst Peter whē he denied thée Thou art my Creator and my Redéemer my Lord and my sauiour my king and my God Thou art my hope and my trust my guide and my help my comfort my strength my defence and deliuerer my life my health and my resurrection my light and my desire my assistance and my refuge I pray and beséech thée helpe me and I shal be safe gouerne me and defend me strengthen mee and comforte me confirme and make mee glad lighten mee and vifite me raise me being dead because I am of thy making and workemanship O Lord despise me not being one of thy housholde seruants although lewd vnworthy and a sinner but whatsoeuer I am good or bad I am alwais thine To whome shal I flie except I goe to thée If thou doest cast me off who shall receiue mee If thou doest despise me who shal look vpon me Uouchsafe therefore to know mee one vnworthy flying vnto thee though I be vile and vncleane seeing if I be vncleane thou canst purge me if I be blind thou canst make me to sée if I bee sicke thou canst make mee whole if I be dead and buried thou canst raise me again For thy mercy is greater then my iniquitie thy godlines is greater then my vngodlines thou canst forgiue more then I can commit and release more then I can offend Dispise me not therefore O lord neither looke on the multitude of my iniquities but according to the multitude of thy mercies haue mercy on me be fauourable vnto mee a great sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy saluation who didst say I will not the death of a sinner but rather that hee may bee conuerted and liue Turne me O Lord and bee not angry against me I pray and beséech thée O most merciful father that for thy mercies sake thou wilt bring me to a good end and to the happinesse of true repentance by due contrition and pure confession of all my sins Amen A prayer before confession to God MOst holy and mercifull Lord Iesu Christ the only hope of my souls health receiue this the confession of my sins which I will make vnto thee and giue me I beseech thee due sorrowing of heart and grace to bewaile them with the tears of mine eies and that hereafter both day and night I may mourn for my negligences offences with an humble and pure hart Let my praier approch in thy sight O Lord if thou shalt be displeased with mee whom shall I séeke to helpe me who shal pitty mine iniquities Be mindfull of mee O lord who calledst the Cananean and the Publican to repentance and receiuedst Peter when he wept O lord my God receiue my praiers the Sauior of the world good Iesu that gauest thy selfe to the death of the crosse to saue sinners respect me miserable sinner that am calling vpon thy name neither respecte thou so much my euilnes that thou forget thy own goodnes And if I haue committed that wherby thou maiest cōdemne me thou hast not lost that whereby thou mayest saue me Spare me therfore thou that art my Sauiour and haue mercy on my sinfull soule vnloose her bonds and beale her wounds Lord Iesu I desire and beséech thée shew me thy countenance I shall be safe send forth thy light and thy trueth into my soule that I may sée in this grosse body the number quality greatnes of my offences which I ought nowe to confesse to thee with answerable sorrowing bitternes of hart Grāt thou that liuest rainest god for euer euer A prayer to be sayd after the confession of our sins to God O Lord I beséeche thee let this my confession be accepted with thee which I haue nowe made before thée by calling to minde and rehearsing of my sinnes and whatsouer there is wanting in me either of due contritiō and sorowing or of pure and dutifull confession let thy godlines and mercy supply it and according thereunto vouchsafe that I may bee receiued ful and perfectly absolued in heauen who liuest and raignest world without end Amen A prayer before the holy Communion TO come to the Table of thy most sweete banket O holy Lord Iesus Christ I doe feare and tremble that am a sinner nothing presuming of my own merits but trusting in thy mercy and goodnesse for I haue a hart and body spotted with many crimes togither with a mind and tongue not warily kept Therfore O holy Deity and dreaded Maiesty I poore wretch attached with many causes of sorrow and griefe of mind haue recourse to thée the fountaine of mercy vnto thee I hasten to be cured I flie vnder thy protection And whom I am not able to bear as a iudge I hope to finde a Sauiour to thee O Lord I shew my wounds before thée I wipe away my shamefastnes I wote my sinnes bee many and great for which I am afraide but I hope of thy mercies which are infinite Looke vnto me with the eies of thy mercy Lord Iesus Christ King eternall God and man crucified for man heare mee hoping in thee haue mercy on mee that am ful of sins and wretchednes thou which neuer wilt cease to let runne the fountaine of thy compassion Remember O Lord thy creature which thou redéemest with thy owne blood It repenteth me that I haue sinned and I am in desire to amend the works of my life Therefore most mercifull father take from me all my iniquities and sinnes that I being purified in minde and body I may worthely taste of that which is most holy and grant that the same that I vnworthy intende to receiue may be the remisson of my sins the perfecte purging of my offences the expelling of filthie cogitations the renuing of good godly intentions and a most firme defence of my soule and body against the snares deceits of my enemies Amen A praier to be saide after the holy Communion I Giue thee thankes holie Lord almighty Father god eternal that hast vouchsafed to feed me a sinner thy vnworthy seruaunt for no merites of mine but of the vouchsafing of thy mercy And I beséeche thée that this holy Communion be not vnto me a guiltinesse vnto punishment but rather a wholsome intercession to forgiuenesse
the life to come and better it is to fal into the hands of the Lord then of men for that thy mercy is infinite O most holy father graunt vs to end our liues in the true and Catholicke faith of thy Sonne Iesus Christ who is the euerlasting reconciliation and perfecte oblation for our sinnes Amen A Dailie exercise for a Christian. LONDON Printed by Iohn Wolfe 1591. EXercitium christiani quotidianum In nomine patris filii spiritus sancti Benedicta sit sancta indiuidua Trinitas nunc semper per infinita secula seculorum A Daily exercise for euery Christian. In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost When thou hast made thée ready kneeling downe and holding vp thy hands say Blessed be the holy and vndiuided Trinity nowe and euer and world without end PAter noster qui es in coelis sanctificetur nomen tuum adueniat regnum tuum fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo in terra panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris ne nos inducas in tentationem sed libera nos a malo Amen CRedo in Deum patrem omnipotentem creatorem coeli terrae in Iesum Christum filium eius vnicum Dominum nostrum qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto natus ex virgine Maria passus sub Pontio Pilato crucifixus mortuus descendit ad inferna tertia die resurrexit a mortuis ascendit ad coelos sedetque ad dextram Dei patris omnipotentis vnde venturus est iudicare viuos mortuos Credo in Spiritum sanctum sanctam ecclesiam catholicam communionem sanctorum remissionem peccatorum vitam aeternam Amen Misereatur nostri omnipotens Deus demissis omnibus peccatis nostris perducat nos ad vitam aeternam Amen Indulgentiam absolutionem remissionem omnium peccatorum nostrorum tribuat nobis omnipotens misericors Dominus Dignare Domine die isto sine peccato nos custodire Miserere nostri Domine miserere nostri Fiat misericordia tua domine super nos quemadmodum sperauimus in te Domine exaudi orationem meam clamor meus ad te veniat Domine Deus omnipotens qui ad principium huius diei nos peruenire fecisti tua nos hodie salua virtute vt in hac die ad nullum declinemus peccatum sed semper ad tuam iustitiam faciendam nostra procedant eloquia dirigantur cogitationes opera per Christum Dominum nostrum Amen DIrigere sanctificare regere gubernare dignare Domine Deus rex coeli terrae hodie cordâ— corpora nostra sensus sermones actus nostros lege tua in operibus mandatorum tuorum vt hic in aeternum te auxiliante saluemur liberemur ab omni malo per te saluator mundi qui viuis regnas in secula seculorum Amen Veni Domine Iesu preliatâ—r fortissime princeps exercitus Domini qui diabolum vicisti seculum apprehende arma scutum exurge in adiutorium mihi Domine Deus intende orationi meae misericordia tua exaudiat desiderium meum Conforta me Domine vt â—mnia possim quae iussisti dâ—fende me ab omni malo nunc dirigens oculos meos ad te euelle precor de laqueo pedes meos protege me sub velamento alarum tuarum Illumina oculos meos ne vnquam obdormiam in morte ne quando dicat inimicus meus preualui aduersus eum Reminiscere miserationum tuarum Domine misericordiarum tuarum quae a seculo sunt Delicta iuuentutis meae ignorantias ne memineris Secundum misericordiam memento mei propter bonitatem tuam Domine In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum redemisti me Domine Deus veritatis Loquutus sum in lingua mea notum fac mihi Domine finem meum Et numerum dierum qui est vt sciam quid desit mihi Fac mecum signum in bonum vt videant qui oderunt me confundantur quoniam tu Domine adiuuisti me consolatus es me O Domine quia ego seruus tuus filius ancillae tuae Diripuisti Domine vincula mea tibi sacrisicabo hostiam laudis nomen Domini inuocabo Perijt fuga a me non est qui requirat animam meam Clamaui ad te Domine dixi tu es spes mea portio mea in terra viuentium Gloria patri filio c. OUr Father which art in heauen hallowed bee thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen giue vs this day our daily bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill So be it I Beléeue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth and in Iesus Christ his only sonne our Lorde which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary he suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell the third day he arose againe from the dead and ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty from whence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beléeue in the holy Ghost the holy Catholike Church the communion of saints the forgiuenes of sins the resurrection of the bodie the life euerlasting Amen The Almighty God haue mercy vppon vs and vppon forgiuenesse of our sinnes bring vs to euerlasting life Amen The Almighty and mercifull Lord grant vs pardon absolution and remission of all our sinnes Amen Uouchsafe O Lorde this day to kéepe vs without sin Haue mercy on vs O Lord haue mercy on vs. Let thy mercy O Lorde be shewed vpon vs euen as we haue put our trust in thée Lord heare my prayer and let my cry vnto thee Lord God almighty who hast brought vs to the beginning of this day saue vs by thy power that this day we fall not into any sinne but that alwaies we may speake that which is true and right and that our thoughtes and works may be directed vnto the same end through Christ our Lord. Amen LOrd God king of heauen and earth vouchsafe to direct and sanctify rule and gouerne this day our hearts and bodies our senses spéech and doings in thy lawe and in the workes of thy commaundements that here and for euer by thy helpe wee may be preserued from all daungers both bodilye and ghostly c. Come Lorde Iesu strong in battel and prince of Gods army thou that hast ouercome the diuell the worlde take thy armour and shield and rise to helpe me Giue eare O Lord vnto my praier and let thy mercy hearken to my desire strengthen me to perfourme that which thy law commandeth and teacheth me to do Kéepe and defend me from
Let it be to me the armour of faith and shielde of good wil. Let it be a cleansing of my vices and destruction of concupiscence and lust the increase of charity patience humility and obedience a sure defence against the assaults of al enemies both visible and inuisible a perfecte quieting of my motions both carnall and spirituall a sure staying on thée one true god and a happy consummating of my life and end And further I beséech thée that thou wilt vouchsafe to bring me a sinner to that vnspeable banket where thou with thy sonne and the holy Ghost art to all thy Saintes the true light and the ful sacâ—ety the euerlasting ioy and most perfect mirth and felicicity through our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen A deuout praier of the seuen last wordes of our Sauiour O Lord Iesus Christ who art noted to vtter specially seuen words or sentences whiles thou didst haÌ„g on the crosse wherby we vnderstande it was thy will wee should alwaies be mindful of the same most holy spéeches I beséech thée by the vertue of the same that thou haue mercie on me in whatsoeuer I haue sinned and offended against thée in the like nuÌ„ber of mortall sins or their branches Lorde euen as thou saidst Father forgiue my crucifiers so giue me grace that I may forgiue all them that work me any euil Lord as thou saidst to the Théefe To day shalt thou bee with mee in Paradice by thy grace let me so liue that at the houre of my death thou maiest say To day shalt thou bee with mee in Paradice Lord as thou didst say to thy mother Woman beholde thy sonne and then vnto the Disciple Beholde thy mother euen so let thy loue and charity bring me to be conuersant with thy blessed mother Lorde as thou diddest say O my God my God why hast thou lefte mee Giue me grace to say whensoeuer I am in trouble or vexation Father haue mercy on me a sinner helpe me my King and my God who hast redéemed me with thy owne bloud Lord euen as thou saiedst I doe thirste after the death of soules so let me euer thirst after thee loue thée the welspring of liuing water the fountaine of eternall light Let me runne to loue thée with all the desire of my hart Lord as thou saidst father into thy hands I commend my spirite giue me grace to liue so perfectly that at my death I may say to thée Lord into thy handes I commend my spirite receiue mee that am comming vnto thée for now is the time thou diddest appoint Lorde as thou saidst It is finished meaning that the sorrowes and labors suffred for vs miserable sinners were now at an end let me by thy help deserue to heare the swéet spéech of thine Come my beloued for I haue now determined to accomplish thy petitions Come with mee that thou maiest sit with my Angelles and Saintes feasting in my Kingdome and reioysing world without end Amen A prayer for the daily bread ALmighty God wee thy wretched children do cry vnto thée from earth as to our father in heauen vouchsafe through thy infinit mercy to giue vs that which pertaineth to the néedfull sustentation of the bodie and grant thy grace and blessing vnto all our labours honest exercises For vnles thou buildest the house they that build it labour in vaine Helpe vs that we may cast out the net of our vocation in thy name to good lucke in taking and therwithal giue vs thy grace that euery one in buying and selling may deal with a good conscience without fraude deceit Kéepe vs from ill seruantes from an vnfaithful family to deale with Giue vs that liue in pouerty patience that we murmure not agaynst thy diuine will nor of malice transgres thy commandements grant to them that be rich that they be not proud therof but rather that they may inrich themselues with good workes and so lay vp a good foundation for the world to come O Lord God two things I do aske of thée kéepe me from Idolatry in preferring any thing before the loue of thée bee it wife children friends house riches or any priuat opinion and giue me neither beggary nor riches but rather the which is néedefull for my sustentation least being ouer full I be moued to deny thee and say who is the lord or otherwise bée compelled by néed to rage and to forsweare the name of my God From these things preserue me I beséech thee through Iesus Christ thy beloued sonne Amen Against the diuels temptation O Mighty and good God the heauenly Father wée find by thy holy worde that the diuel the old serpent our aduersary lieth in waite by a thousand or infinite indeuors to kéepe our soules from saluation and to bring vs into the filthines of sin confusion and desperation He inticeth vs with riches hee woulde catch vs with pouerty voluptuousnesse the coueting of worldly honour and desire of power and authority or els by other worldly carefulnesse He laieth snares for vs by wordes by déedes by night by day which way soeuer we turne vs he assaulteth vs with his temptations whether we watch or sleepe he is at our backes and openeth his iawes to deuour vs. O lord who shal escape him Behold he wacheth without ceasing and neuer is at rest but we of the sluggishnesse of our flesh watch not carefully to resist him by thy helpe OpeÌ„ therfore our eies that we may know how puissant and subtil an enemy we haue for our wrestling is not onely against flesh and bloud but against Sathan the Prince of this world Haue mercy on vs O GOD and make vs strong comfortable in the vertue of thy power put on vs that armour that we may resist his assaultes girde our loines with the truth· put on vs the breast-plate of righteousnes and shooes of Euangelicall peace But aboue all things strengthen our harts with the target of faith wher with we may breake off the fierie dartes of the wicked féende put on vs the helmet of saluation and giue vs the sword of the spirite which is thy holy worde in true sence and vnderstanding so shall we manfully resist and ouercome our said aduersary If thou be our helper wee shall not feare him though the whole earth be in broile and the mountaines cast into the Sea thou art our force and refuge which liuest and raignest world without end For Benefactors O Most mercifull God sith it is so that all ingratitude displeaseth thée giue me grace I beseech thée to be mindful and thankeful for al thy benefites and that I be not found vnthaÌ„kful toward them that haue done me any good least I fal into thy iugemeÌ„t for it O most swéet god giue to them that good both of body and soule which they stand in néed of And giue me grace to be beneficial vnto others as I haue fouÌ„d others to me after my power Let me not for the ingratitude of others faile or
thinges committed to thy charge that I léese nothing or suffer it to perish by my sloth and negligence O Lorde kéepe mee in health and comforte my strength giue me vnderstanding wit to go forward with the worke of my Maister or Mistres and by thy gracious help for to increase their substance that by my diligence they may bee replenished with thy blessing And further that whatsoeuer I shall do at any time the same may turne to the glory of thy most holy name and to the wholesome exercise of my faith through Iesus Christ thy beloued son which liueth with thee and raigneth in the vnity of the holy Ghost worlde without end Amen The praier of one in a troubled conscience LOrde reproue mee not in thy fury thy arrowes are fixed in me and thou hast laide thy hande vppon mee There is no helth in my flesh because of thy wrath there is no quiete in my bones because of my sinnes My heart is sore troubled my strength and valour hath failed mee the light of mine eies is not with me sorrows haue compassed me without number my iniquities are gone ouer my own head they are multiplied as the haires of my head gréeuing oppressing me as a sore burden The sorrowes of death haue compassed me and the troubles of hell are come vpon mee My conscience and my heart are both against mee O Lorde deliuer me hasten to helpe me and bring my soule from the terrors of hell forgiue me my sins which my enemy the diuell heapeth vppon me like a mountaine so as the same standing before my eies I may not beholde the brightnesse of thy grace Let thy mercy therefore appeare vnto me I beseech thee and let me not be destitute of thy fauour Comfort me O God that I may haue the inioying of a quiet conscience for all this is inferiour to thy greatnesse and mercy if thou wilt Why art thou sorrowfull my soule trust in God the helth of my countenance and he shall take thée out of temptation and bring thée at liberty through the innocent death of our Lorde Iesus Christ which is the holy and vnspotted sacrifice for our sinnes Amen The prayer of a sicke person ALmighty God and heauenly Father forasmuch as thou hast commaunded vs saying Call vpon me in the day of trouble I will heare thee and thou shalt honour me therefore I doe call vpon thée in this my great distres through Iesus Christ thy beloued Son forsake me not a wretched sinner And if this my infirmity extend not vnto death help me that by thy mercy I may recouer my helth and glorify thy power and vertue which thou hast shewed vppon me But if it be thy good pleasure more expedient and méete for me to die then to remaine in this sorrowfull vale and troublesome life let thy godly will be done in Earth as it is in Heauen And giue me grace I beséeche thee that I may commit my selfe to thy will which alwaies is best Kéepe me firme in the Catholique faith to the end that I be not seuered from thee and thy vnity but receiue my soule into thy kingdome through the same thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another prayer of the sicke O Mighty and omnipotent God which art mercifull and ful of pitty and long suffering forgiue me my sinnes and put away my iniquity Uouchsafe beséech thée to comfort my soule against whatsoeuer temptation and afflictions helpe me that my faith doe not faint or wauer in thee nor my hope haue any distrust nor my charitye waxe cold nor that my frailty be ouercome with the fear of death And when the extreame houre of my life shall come then send me forth in peace I beséech thee because mine eies haue seene thy health which thou hast made ready before the face of all people as a light to lighten the Gentiles and as a renowne for all thy people of Israel In this my Sauior I beléeue in him doe I trust I beséech thée O Lord let me not be confounded sith thou art my help and my strength beholde mee with the eies of thy pitty and turne thy fatherly fauour towards mee through Iesus Christ thy sonne who by his most sacred passion and death obtained for vs eternall redemption Amen A prayer of such as be present at the extreame sicknes or death-pangs of any O Most holy and omnipotent God that preseruest our life euē at the point of death wee do beseech thee vouchsafe to cast the eies of thy mercy vppon this sicke person to reléeue him both in body and soul and to forgiue him al his sins accept we beséech thée the oblation of the most innocent death of Iesus Christ thy beloued Son in place of satisfaction for all his iniquities For in the confession of his name hee was baptized deliuer him now therefore from the pains and griefes of his body shorten his griefe and affliction conserue him against the accusation of his own conscience and against whatsoeuer temtations of the enemy that hée may striue manfully by the faith of the holy Church and ouercome him Sende vnto him thy holy Angelles that they may bring him to the felowship of al Angels and of the elect in Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen A prayer in time of plague or common mortality ALmighty God wee doe grant and acknowledge that we haue often and gréeously offended thee by our diuerse and manifold sinnes forasmuch as wee haue all swarued from thée and therwith are become vnprofitable neither we nor our fathers kéeping thy commaundements With a right sorrowfull spirite wee beseech thy infinite mercy for Iesus Christe thy beloued Sonnes sake that thou wilt not deale with vs according to our sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs according to thy great goodnesse and fauour Be mercifull to vs of thy fatherly good wil take from vs this fearefull cogitation of pestilence infectiue sicknes and suffer vs not thus to perish by thy dreadfull disease Rebuke vs not Lorde in thy fury nor consume vs with the wicked vngodly Lorde I beséech thée let thy displeasure cease leaue vs shew vnto vs thy mercy and deliuer vs bée mindfull of thy goonesse and pitty for thy names sake Thou O Lord art good and thy iudgements be right but we haue sinned and stirred vp thy displesure against vs forgiue I beséech thee the iniquity of my people and take from vs this pestilent infection for the bitter passion of thy sweet Sonne Protect vs from thy wrath from euill and sudden death and from eternal damnation But if thy good pleasure bee such that thou wilt needes visit our iniquities with this temporall punishment so fauour vs I beséech thee that bearing thy fatherly hande laide vppon vs wee dispaire not in thy chastisement For when we are iudged we are so corrected by our Lord that wee be not condemned with this worlde And more profitable it is to suffer here temporall punishment then eternall in
quicke dispatch of a voyage Ibid. The eternal law ordeined nothing better than in giuing vs one waie to come into the world and many waies to go out of it Resurrection 2. Mac. 7. Unlesse we hoped that they who were slain should rise againe it should séeme superfluous and vaine to intreate for the deceased Greg. in mortal Our redéemer tooke vpon him death that we might not feare to die hée shewed vs his resurrection that we might assuredly trust to rise againe Let vs consider the little séed of euerie trée that is cast into the earth how a trée therof may be brought forth and let vs comprehend if we can where so great a trée might be hidden in so small a bulke of that seede where the wood where the rinde where the green leaues and where the plentifulnesse of that fruit why should we thē maruell how God can turne that little dust that commeth of our bodie into a man when of a little séede there riseth so huge a thing as is a great trée If there be no resurrection neither is there anie God nor anie prouidence then all things are wroght conducted by Fortune We sée many righteous men to liue in penurie and to suffer wrong and contrarily sinners and vnrighteous persons to flow in all kinde of wealth and voluptuousnes what man of right mind wil thinke this to be the worke of iust iudgment or wise prouidence therefore there shall be a resurrection for God is iust and rewardeth them that put their trust in him Iudgement Iob. 9. I feared my works knowing thou wouldest not spare an offender Rom. God will reward euery man according vnto his workes Aug. de ciu Dei Then shall he come openly among the iust to iudge iustly that came priuily to bée iudged of the vniust vniustly Aug. de Symb. That Iudge is not to be preuented by fauour nor to bée bowed with pittie nor to be corrupted with mony nor to be appeased with satisfaction or penance Let the soule deale as well as shee can for her selfe while there is place for mercie for there shal be the place of iustice When our Lorde shall iudge the wofull world the most puissant kinges shall come foorth naked that foolish wise man Plato shall be brought forth with his schollers the wittie argumentes of Aristotle shall not helpe him when the sonne of the poore maide shall come for to iudge the furthest partes of the earth Greg. When I call to minde Iob on the dunghill Iohn famishing in the wildernes Peter tormented on the crosse I think how God will punish the reprobate in time to come sith hée intreateth so sharpely them whom he loueth Hier. super Mat. So often as I consider that day my whole bodie doth tremble for feare for whether I eate or drinke or do any other thing alwaies mée thinketh that fearefull blast of the trumpet soundeth in mine eares rise yée dead and come to iudgement Heauen Esdr. 8. The most highest hath made this worlde for many but the world to come for a few 1. Cor. 2. The eie hath not séene nor the eare heard nor hath it ascended vnto the hart of man what God hath prepared for them that loue him Aug. de poenit Hasten thether where thou maiest liue euer if thou so much louest this wretched flitting life where thou liuest with so much a doe running wrastling swearing and sighing and canst scarse prouide thy bodily necessaries how much rather oughtest thou to loue the life eternall where is no labour nor any care to be taken but rather great felicitie happy liberty happy blessednes where shall bee fulfilled that which our Lord saith in the Gospell Men shall be like Angelles the righteous shall shine c. Aug. super Psa. The poore Widdowe bought as much for two mites as Peter did by forsaking his nets or Zacheus by giuing the halte of his liuing Aug. in Epist. If riches bée loued let them bee laide vp where they cannot perish if honour bee desired let it bee sought where none hath it but the worthy if life bée liked let it be gotten where no death shall end it Barn in ser. O Lorde there be manie that would raigne with thée but they will not suffer with thée they woulde finde thée but they will not séeke thée they would come where thou art but they wil not follow thée Chrys. super Math. Great is the violence if a man born in earth catch heauen for his portion if he obtaine by vertue that which he cannot by nature The kingdome of heauen suffereth violence for that the glorie of the Lord of Israel which was due to the fathers foretold by the Prophets offered by Christ is surprised and occupied by the faith of the Gentiles whiles they by the penance which Iohn preached doe reuiue to the heauenly Countrie as it were returning to a strange place Greg. in mor. Onely to the righteous are the rewardes of the heauenly countrie due so as the humble the chast the méeke and the mercifull are they which attaine to the ioyes eternall Hell Math. 8. The children of this worlde shall be cast into vtter darkenesse where shall bée wéeping and gnashing of téeth Apoc. Looke how much a man hath glorified himselfe and béene in pleasures so much giue him of sorrowe and torment Greg. in Dialog There is but one fire of hell but the same tormenteth not all sinners after one manner for euerie one shall finde there so much paine as his sinnes require Ibid. Like as when manie men stande in the sunne all féele not a like heate for that some bée more hote than other euen so in that one fire there is not one manner of burning for as much as the diuersitie of sins causeth that there which the diuersitie of bodies worketh here Greg. super Math. They shall be cast into darknesse that they may there gnash their téeth who delighted here in eating For crying out is caused of heat gnashing of téeth is caused of cold There hel is shewed to be of two sortes to wit of extreme colde and of intollerable heate Ibid. In hell shall be intollerable colde vnquenchable heat a worme that neuer dieth a stinke intollerable extreme darknes the scourge of torments the horible sight of deuils the confused heap of sins and dispaire of all good things for vnto those wretches there shall be a death without dying because there death alwaies begins and cannot end Hugo de S. Vict. Hell is a lake without measure déepe without bottome full of incomparable burning ful of intollerable stinkes full of innumerable sorrow there is miserie there is darknes and euerlasting horrour where there is no hope of any good thing Isodor de summo bono The fire of hel shal giue light to those wretches to the encrease of their owne woe by séeing it and not to any comforte least they might sée whereof to reioyce A note touching the profession of great knowledge in the scriptures CUnning is