his glorious soul descended into Limbo where he delivered the just all which with devotion wee may present unto God the Father for the comfort and releasement of the soules detained for the purging of their sins in Purgatory beseeching him mercifully to receive them unto his happy rest that they may eternally praise him AMEN A Prayer after the Divine Office O Good JESUS be propitious unto me a miserable sinner unto thy goodnes do J commend this my office most coldly and distractedly accomplished beseeching that through your merits it may be amended and perfected Unto you good JESU do I offer it for the good of the whole church and the salvation of my soule in union of that most perfect attention with which here on earth you did pray unto your heavenly Father Answer I beseech you Satisfy and pray for me AMEN A Direction for Mentall Prayer THose who desire to increase and go forward in a spirituall life let them go that certain way which is the interiour and mutuall communication with Almighty God performed in this holy Exercise Because in Prayer vertues are ceived obtained and augmented Prayer as the holy Apostle S. James saith availeth much ascendeth to heaven before the tribunall seat of Almighty God and bringeth unto men every good and perfect gift causeth such a league and union betwixt God and them as it maketh their soules apt to receive infinite grace from his divine Majesty Daniel by Prayer converted the fierceness of Lions into the meekness of Lambs Prayer made the fire loose its force being not able to burn the three children in the midst of the flaming furnace Prayer likewise stayed the course and altered the uniform motions of the heavens giving power to the voyce of man to stop and detain the sun for as many howers as was necessary for the obtaining the victory against his enemies Jacob through the vertue and efficacy of Prayer prevailed against the Angell Yea Prayer tyed the hands and infinit power if we may so say of the Lord of Angels for by the Prayer of Moyses Almighty God seemed to be as it were disabled to chastize the people when he said unto this faithfull servant of his Suffer me that my fury m y be angry against them as if he should have said Detain me not with thy Prayers Prayer finally obtaineth pardon for whatsoever offences the Publican getteth remission of his sins and the Prodigall child pardon and returns again into favour by Prayer Therfore it being so profitable and necessary for a spirituall life obtaining by the vertue thereof whatsoever it will in heaven or Earrh it is requisit that all Religious persons spend as much time as their state and leisure will permit them in this kind of Prayer which rather consisteth in the actions of the will then the long discourse or speculation of the understanding sensible gifts or consolations for that is not in our own hands The fruit of Prayer is that we raise from the same humility patience obedience Indifference c. This is alwaies in our power the grace of God presupposed To the end that Prayer be performed with Recollection and attention it is necessary that we do not take it in hand as a thing of small moment not rashly but advisedly not with a slow and dull heart but with a lively attention and undaunted courage for otherwise we might incurr the curse of the Prophet Jeremy who saith Cursed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently Neither is so great attention and force to be used as therby to weary and break our heads and hinder our health for so insteed of pleasant and sweet milk we should wring forth blood as the wisdom of God signifieth in Proverbs cause a feare and horrour to undertake this holy Exercise Wherfore to avoid these extreams Moderation is to be used in such sort as by over much striving therein we hurt not our selves as was aforesaid nor through too much carelesness let our mind be carried away with unprofitable matters Let not wandring thoughts trouble you but put them away sweetly for you merit more by patient resistance then in having great comfort and consolation Humble and accuse your self in the fight of Almighty God that you cannot be so long in his presence without so many earthly cogitations beseeching our B. Lady your holy Angel and all others with the Saints to pray for you and supply your wants in due praise and love of his divine Majesty For scruples and temptations which happen in Prayer the first remedy is not to hearken or give eare unto them An Instruction for mentall Prayer to which are required 5. Conditions To wit 1. Preparation 2. Meditation 3. Preambles 4. Colloquie 5. Recollection 1. PReparation hath 4. conditions The 1. which is universall to all piety Purity of heart and calmness of passions and affections and Recollection both of senses and fancies but above all things that the intention be pure and that you undertake this vertuous Exercise sincerely for the love of God to please him and reform your life and manners according to his most blessed will and not for hopes of consolations or divine lights which were an intention proper to hirelings and not fit for his children nor gratefull to our heavenly Father who desires above all things a pure intention 2. The 2. is Reading which you may accustome in this manner read those points you intend to make your Meditation on after even song before or about dinner and that which you purpose to meditate on after Mattins the night before Ruminate the matter divers times before you meditate moving your self to tast and feel those good motions and affections which you think the matter will yield you to draw forth For if in an affaire of importance which we handle with earthly creatures we seriously think and consider thereof before how much more ought we to do it in this so spirituall an Exercise and the greatest which can possibly be undertaken being we are therein to treat with Almighty God about the good and salvation of our soule The 3. condition is the Presence of God Coming to the place where you purpose to meditate consider the presence of Almighty God comparing his greatness and goodness with your own basenes and vileness and imagining our sweet Saviour calleth you to shew you what he hath don said and suffered for you Or consider your self a beggar sick and guilty to crave of your benefactour an almes of your Physitian health and of your Judge pardon beseeching your good Angel and some of your Patrons to accompany and assist you therein 4. The 4. and last condition of preparation is the Prayer preparatory wherein you crave grace affectuously in generall to perform your Meditation to Gods honour and glory and the good of your own soule remembring that sentence Omnis nostra sufficientia à Deo est All our sufficiency is from God beseeching your heavenly Father who is a sea of mercies
wholy to honour the most glorious Virgin Mary with all the other Virgins beseeching them to obtaine grace that you may be more diligent in the observance of your vocation and also to pray for the comfort and constancy of all the Catholicks in England and the conversion of the same FroÌ„ your rising till you go to the work-house HAving said one of the foresaid sentences that befitteth the day you must rise with all speed offering your intention according to the same and immediatly being risen kneel down and Kiss the ground with an Elevation of heart unto Almighty God giving him thanks for having preserved you that night and brought you unto the beginning of the day beseeching him you may employ it in his service In dressing your self say these sentences following as they are set donn In putting on the Habit say INduat me Dominus novum hominem qui secundùm Deum creatus est in justitia sanctitate veritatis O Lord cloathe me with the new man who according to God is created in justice and sanctity of truth In putting on the cord CIngat me Dominus Iesus cingulo fortitudinis ut viriliter perseverem in Dei servitio O Lord gird me with the girdle of fortitude strength that I may persever couragiously and with alacrity in thy holy service In putting on the Scapular POnat Dominus in corde meo jugum in memoriam Passionis Sanguinis ejus Our Lord lay his yoke on my heart as a memoriall of his Passion and blood In washing your hands or face AMplius lava me Domine ab iniquitate mea à peccato meo munda me meritis Domini nostri IESV CHRISTI filii tui qui dilexit nos lavit nos à peccatis nostris in sanguine suo Wash me O Lord yet more from my iniquities and from my sin make me cleane through the merits of JESUS CHRIST thy only son who hath loved us and washed us with his precious blood In putting on the Cloake COoperiat me Dominus IESVS clamyde munditiae castitatis ut nullum praeter Iesum amatorem admittam Cover me O Lord with the mantle of cleanlines and chastity that I may admit of no other lover then my saviour JESUS In putting on the Kercher TEgat me Dominus tegumento paenitentiae contra infidias Diaboli ut non praevaleat inimicus contrà me Cover me O Lord in the shrowd of Pennance against the snares of the Divell that my enemy may not prevaile against me In putting on the veyle ACcipiam velamen sacrum quod seram usque ad Tribunal aeterni Iudicis â—ui omnia flectuntur genua recordabor meipsam mundum sprevisse penitus reliquisse ac in veritate me Domino Iesu subjecisse eique tamquà m sponso me conjunxisse Ille contrà adversa omnia me defendat secum in vitam aeternam recipiat Amen I will put on the sacred veyle which I shall appeare in before the Tribunall of the Eternall Judge to whom all knees do bow I will call to mind that I have despised forsaken both the world and my self to be subject in reall truth to my Lord JESUS-CHRIST and to joyne my self unto him as to my spouse May he defend me in all adversities and receive me to himself into life everlasting AMEN After or in saying each one of these sentences reflect either on your intention in directing your works that day Or consider how great a benefit Almighty God hath bestowed on you in giving you that day to spend in his service wherby you may glorify his divine Majesty increase your own merit and satisfy for your negligences past Call to mind what the souls in Purgatory and thousands in the world would do if they had the same means and also think that it may be the last day that shall be granted you In this life Being drest make hast unto the Quire with out forrein cogitations recollecting your self and keeping diligently your sight and at the entring into the Church after the saying Asperges me c. Thou shalt sprinkle me c. In the taking of holy water Say Domine in multitudine misericordiae tuae introibo in domum tuam adorabo ad templum sanctum tuum in timore tuo Lord in the multitude of thy mercy I will enter into thy house in thy feare will I adore thee in thy holy Temple and kneeling downe at the Perentory say Adoramus te sanctissime Domine Iesu Christe hic ad omnes Ecelesias tuas benedicimus tibi quia per sanctam Crucem tuam redemisti mundum We adore thee o most holy Lord JESUS CHRIST here and in all thy Churches and we bless thee because by thy holy Cross thou hast redeemed the world After being in your place or before the B. Sacrament imagin Almighty God present as indeed he is and adore him with the greatest reverence and humility you can representing unto your self his Majesty Power and Goodness Accustome your self to this in all your Examins especially that of the morning noon and night and as much as you can in whatsoever exercise you undertake A Morning purpose FIrst give thanks unto Almighty God for having preserved you that night and delivered you from so many misfortunes both spirituall and corporall which since your going to bed thousands have fallen into 2. ly Examin your conscience and see wherein you have offended that night and if you find any thing humbly crave pardon begin by Gods grace to amend and to spend the day wholy in his service 3. ly Offer your self in all that you are or may be able to perform by your corporall forces or spirituall powers unto Almighty God especially that which you shall do that day with the intention for which you offer your actions in union of the life death and Passion of our blessed saviour Christ Jesus the merits of his most glorious Mother beseeching his divine goodnes to dispose wholy and entirely of you as may be most to his honour and the good of your soule in confidence of which resolve and endeavour to receive all things that day from his holy hands with equall indifference beholding them as coming from his fatherly hands and providence and the love with which he sendeth them 4ly Make a renunciation of your proper will passions and wicked inclinations or what soever may hinder you in the way of perfection and true conformity to the divine will 5ly Call to mind what your Obediences ar like to be and with whom you are to converse and how you ought to carry your self for the gaining of vertue and overcoming of imperfectioÌ„ but particularly bend your spirituall forces against that vice which you find most to hinder you and that you are most apt to fall into purposing and resolving on such means as when the occasion presenteth it self you may by the grace of God overcome it calling to mind at that present your good purpose Offer these your good desires unto
hither for me and hast given thy self to me for my ' daily bread yea to every desirable use J would willingly receive thee even in the Sacrament but alas J dare not nor can J approach because J am afraid to offend thee by reason of my indisposition offensive to thy eye and yet J know that J cannot live without thee the true food Wherfore J most humbly beseech thee that altho J do not receive thee Sacramentally yet that thou wouldst refresh me and come down to me spiritually and impart unto me that grace which those that receive thee devoutly must feel O Good JESU despise me not and pass not by me thy unworthy servant but vouchsafe to come to me and to remain with me and work thy effects in me Amen An Exercise to be said by word or heart when you Communicate spiritually or corporally 1. WHen the Priest saith Domine non sum dignus say interiourly at the 1. time O my God J am not worthy for the multitude of my sins that the earth should beare me 2. At the 2. O my God J merit not to lift up my eyes to behold the heavens 3. At the 3. O my God J am she who for my iniquities merit no other then hell but notwithstanding O infinit goodnes leave not to visit me A devout Prayer to be said in time of Communion O Bone JESU dilecte mi charissime mi amor meus dulcedo cordis mei vita animae meae O aeternum bonum meum melliflue JESU miserere mei uni me tibi intimè ad gloriam nominis tui Amen O good JESU my beloved my dearest my love the sweetness of my heart the life of my soule O my Eternall good mellifluous JESU have pitty on me unite me to thy self most intimately to the glory of thy name Amen Another O Light increated illuminate my darkness illuminate my understanding with pure knowledge replenish my memory with holy remembrance and chast thoughts set my will on fire with a holy and enflamed love quicken my soule and make that J may tast the vertue of your holy presence and by the same ever remain in me and let me remain in you Amen A Thanksgiving after you Communicated spiritually or Corporally GRatias tibi ago Domine JESU CHRISTE qui me tantis Sacramentis spiritualibus refecisti indulge Domine obsecro reverentiam mane mecum per gratiam fac me hodie semper tuis obedire mandatis ut effectus virtutes hujus Sacramenti sentiam Amen J give thee thanks O Lord JESU CHRIST who hast refresht me with such great spirituall Sacraments grant me J beseech you reverence stay with me by your grace and make me this day alwayes obedient to your commands that J may feel the effects and vertues of this Sacrament Amen When the Priest sayes Agnus Dei. COnsider how your sweet saviour is rhe lamb of God who hath offered himself for all the sins of the world and is now at the right hand of his Father to be the Advocate and Judge of sinners Pray him humbly to pardon you your offences and make you worthy spiritually to receive him which indeavour to do with the Priest in the devoutest manner you can and with the greatest affection you are able When the Priest saith the last Collect or Prayer GIve thanks unto the holy Trinity for having granted you so great a benefit as to be present and prataker of so worthy a Mystery At the last Dominus Vobiscum IMagin as if you heard the sound of the Angels trumpet wherwith our Lord at the end of the world will call to Judgment and beseech him to give you grace to be ready and prepared against that day When the Priest saith Ite Missa est COnsider that at the last day of Judgment the wicked shall be condemned to everlasting pain and torment and perpetually deprived of the presence of Almighty God At the last Benediction COnsider the Benediction which Almighty God will give to all the Elect and will lead them unto everlasting rest wherfore beseech him so to bless you and all creatures both in this life and in the next as you and all other may perpetually bless his holy Name Amen At the End of Mass say the Prayer following SWeet JESUS I offer unto thee the sacrifice of this holy Mass and of all the Masses which shall be said throughout the whole world by means whereof I beseech you to give me knowledge of my sins and miseries as also to restore the ruins and defects of my poor soule and to supply my wants and unworthiness mortify in me whatsoever is displeasing unto your divine Majesty and make me one according to your own heart conform my spirit soul and body to that of your sacred humanity and alwayes illuminate and direct me by the sight of your incomprehensible Divinitie Amen Having said this Prayer under the Ghospell Examin how you have behaved your self in this holy Mystery and if you find your self to have failed humbly crave pardon of Almighty God purposing by his holy grace to amend be more diligent the next day DEO GRATIAS Certain intentions or Meditations which we ought to have when we Communicate out of S. Bonav 1. FIrst to unite our selves more more to Almighty God 2. To gain therby some vertue or grace 3. To acknowledge his benefits which we cannot do in any thing which is more pleasing and agreable to him then by worthily frequenting this holy Sacrament 4. The desire of the praise of Almighty God and his goodness the same being a Sacrifice of praise 5. To receive the spirit of Christ Jesus to live in humility charity Obedience Poverty of spirit mortification of body and contempt of the world that thy Redeemer may live in thee who is thy finall end 6. To renew the memory of the Passion of Christ Jesus Considerations before Communion taken out of the same Saint 1. WE are to meditate vhat we are about to do which is to receive Christ Jesus true God and true man who died upon the Cross for us 2. That we are to receive the Holy of Holies for which cause it behoveth that we approach thereunto without sin purging our selves by true Contrition 3. Consider the divine Excellency and our own misery how great this Lord is and how meane the servant Ponder that his goodness is much more then our offences or vertues 4. Stirr up in your self a most fervent desire to harbour in your heart such a loving Lord The holy Doctour saith it is a very strange thing that man receiving into his soule Almighty God in the most B. Sacrament his heart does not even faint yea even burst through vehemency of love Fooure considerations of S. Mathildis before Communion 1. THe great love of God who had remembrance of her from all Eternity 2. That he created her Knowing how ungratefull shee would be unto his divine Majesty 3. That he would dy for her upon
Three sorts of preparation for saying the Divine Offices THe first of living well which is to be exercised in doing all pious works to restrain our selves from all vanities and daily to keep our hearts free and pure from all things that may in the least sort soyle them alwaies directing our thoughts and works whatsoever unto Almighty God and his honour The 2. is that before we begin the Divine Office we be carefull to recollect our spirits excluding all forrain thoughts or whatsoever may give us distraction in our Divine Office considering seriously what wee are going bouâ—… It behoveth us also diligently to weigh these things following That we come To worship God To thank God To intreate God First we come to worship God in three persons and one essence with the worship of Patria which is due to God alone for the benefit of justification that is the Incarnation of his only son our B. Saviour his life death Resurrection and Ascension which Mysteries we ought carefully to consider and ponder with great devotion and reverence 2. We come to thank God in praysing him for the great benefits which we have received and do momentarily receive and hope to receive herafter Therfore it is requisit that we behold and renew the same every houre and moment of our life but especially when we are so particularly employed in a worke that hath so great relation and adherence thereunto 3. We go to intreat God in beseeching his most immeasurable clemency for our own necessities and those of the whole Church but to bring all these particulars with more facility to our mind it will assist us much attentively to think that nothing is more necessary or profitable for us then God The 3. Preparation is a zealous prayer which we must make to the end we may worthily finish the task of our devotions and in imitation of the three Kings offer to his divine goodnes the gold of devotion the frankincense of attention and the Myrrhe of constant perseverance Being to begin the Office you may say I adore thee O Christ and bless thee O Lord for by thy Cross and Passion thou hast redeemed the world Thou art my God and I will exalt thee To thee be praise To thee be glory To thee be thanks giving for ever All creatures worthily worship thee praise glorify and adore the most high and undivided Trinity and the humanity of my blessed Lord Jesu who in time past was conversant with men upon earth and now sits at the right hand of his Eternall Father J beseech the Holy Virgin with the holy Angels and Saints and those whose feasts are celebrated this day throughout the whole Church that they will all help me with their aid and furtherance to the end I may finish this my office worthily to the true praise of Almighty God and the profit of my soule Amen For the Prayer before the lesser Houres take either REX CHRISTE c. or the Prayer following O Good Jesu I desire for the love and honour which I owe unto you humbly to obey you faithfully to serve you and purely to love you in union of that most perfect attention which you being here on Earth prayed and praised your heavenly Father Help me O Lord Jesu with your holy grace for being left by you I shall be able to do nothing Amen Devout Meditations at Gloria Patri GLory be to the Father who when I was not hath created me Glory be to the son who when I was lost hath redeemed me Glory be to the Holy Ghost who hath sanctified me and the elect of God Here ensue certain holy Meditations of the 7. Effusions distributed for the Canonical Houres At Matins COnsider with devotion and yield manifold thanks to our B. Saviour for the effusion of his pretious blood and suffererings in his Circumcision offering the dolours and pains of the said effusion to God the Father for all those that are in state of mortall sin that it would please his divine goodnes to give them a perfect knowledge of their offences with contrition confession satisfaction and amendment At Laudes POnder and give thanks for the dolorousness pain and effusion of blood which our Saviour CHRIST JESUS endured in the garden a little before he was apprehended and taken where with great pain and agony he sweat blood and water offering this spiritually unto God the Father for those that are in the state of grace favour and love of God and his holy name that it would please him to conserve them in that state and purity At Prime YIeld many thanks for the pain and effusion of blood which our B. saviour CHRIST JESUS suffered in his flagellation offering it up unto God the Father for all those that are in any affliction or tribulation be it spirituall or corporall beseeching his divine Majesty to conserve each one of them as he knoweth to be most to his honour and the health of their soules At Tierce IN devout contemplation give Many thanks unto God our sweet Saviour CHRIST IESUS for the effusion of his most precious blood which he endured in his crowning with thorns offering it to God the Father for our parents kinred and benefactours and all for whom wee are any wayes obliged to pray beseeching him to give them his holy grace to live in his true love and feare and at their death to possess everlasting life At Sext. YIeld manyfold thanks unto our B. Saviour IESUS for the paines and effusion of his pretious blood which issued forth of his hands and feet being nailed on the Cross offering it to God the Father for the state of our holy Mother the church that the Popes holines and all Ecclesiasticall Powers may be exalted to the increase of his honour and have grace strength and ability well to discharge what is committed to them therein At None GIve manifold thanks unto our B. Saviour for the effusion and shedding of his sacred blood when nayled to the Cross his most holy side was pierced with a lance offering it to God the Father for the Conversion of all Hereticks particularly for England that it would please him to enlighten them with his holy grace to know and embrace the truth that they with all others may in union and perfect charity love praise and magnify him everlastingly At Evensong CAll to mind the dolorous Mystery of our B. Saviours taking from the Cross and lying in the lapp of his Mother offering it to God the Father for all religious persons who are especially dedicated unto his holy service beseeching his divine goodnes to give each one of them grace perfectly to perforn his holy will even unto death to live vertuously in the observance of their institutes and persever therein untill the end At Compline COnsider how our B. Saviour being dead and his holy body taken down from the Cross it was by our B. Lady S. Mary Magdalen and other holy persons laid in the sepulcher whilest
the daily edification of those with whom you live The benefit of donation 1. FIrst the gift of nature fortune and grace as the five sences with the three interiour powers of your soul health strength c. 2. God brought you back when you were astray instructed you when you were ignorant and lifted you up when you were fallen 3. Thirdly enlightned your understanding when it was in darkness of sin and stirred up in you many good motions and desires 4. Moved your will and affections to spirituall works and exercises 5. Preserved you from many enormous sins taking from you the occasions and giving you grace to persever and resist them 6. Delivered you from divers sorts of temptations drawing you forth when you were overwhelm'd in them and given you greater force to resist them The benefit of Preservation 1. PReserved you both spiritually and corporally in a good state with increase of good desires to execute good purposes 2. From the cradle to this moment preserved you from many enemies diseases dangers c. 3. Hath hitherto furnished you with all necessaries both spiritual and corporall 4. Ordained for you succession of times as day and night winter and summer c. 5. Directed you in prosperity and adversity in sicknes and healthe and in the whole course of your life The benefit of Glorification 1. THe fruition of the divinity with the vision of God and his B. Mother 2. The company of your good Angel with the Martyrs Confessors Virgins c. 3. The dowry of the soule the glorification of the body more bright and cleare then the sun it self 4. the place of the blessed the delights of the senses the riches and abounding pleasures of the inhabitants which are innumerable inestimable and immeasurable 5. By the grace of God you shall scape the torments of Hell the miseries of this life â—… hurts and cruelties of your mortall enemies These Meditations are as it were a cord to draw you unto Almighty God Gratitude is a great part of justice and amongst all Christian exercises none is more easy if you be willing none more needfull if you regard your duty none more profitable if you desire reward then often to look over the great and manifold benefits which we have received of Almighty God The eight Beatitudes 1. BEati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est re'gnum coelorum Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven Poverty of spirit Acknowledgeth her sins Contemneth her self Despiseth none Honoureth all 2. Beati mites quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram Blessed are the meek for they shall possess the land Meeknesse Answereth sweetly Admonisheth benignly Is mild being reprehended Behaveth her self piously 3. Beati qui lugent quoniam ipsi consolabuntur Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted Sorrow Excludeth all glory Abideth in misesery For the love of her neighour For her own sins 4. Beati qui esuriunt sitiunt justitiam quoniam ipsi saturabuntur Blessed are they that humger and thirst justice for they shall be satiated Hunger and thirst Hath horrour of vice A fervour of spirit Tediousnes of temporall things desire of Eternall 5. Beati mundo corde quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt Blessed are the Cleane of heart for they shall see God Purity of heart Is sincere in intention Right in works Excludeth perverse cogitations Assiduous in contemplation 6. Beati misericordes quoniam ipsi misericodiam consequentur Blessed are the mercifull becaus they shall find mercy Mercy Hath compassion in tribulation Succoureth in necessities Delighteth in liberality Is benigne with affability 7. Beati Pacifici quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur Blessed are the Peace makers for they shall he cal'd the children of God Things which work Peace Silence and solitariness Frequent and devout Prayer Fervent contemplation To admit no interiour trouble 8. Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur prvpter justitiam quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum Blessed are they that suffer persecution for theyr's is the kingdome of Heau'n Things which produce Patience Feare of eternall sufferance Fervent love of God Memory of the Passion of our Saviour Hope of Eternall joy A Religious person ought often to consider the benefit of his vocation by these circumstances following VNDE ES Quo Quomodo Quando Quo fine vocatus 1. FROM WHENCE God to wit hath called you From the world the gulfe of sin and evils 2. WHITHER TO holy Religion the house of God the school of vertue the gate of consolation and the pourtrait of the celestiall Ierusalem 3. HOW With what love wisdom and power he called without your own merit 4. WHEN In your youthfull or old age when you least desired or sought after such a course 5. Lastly for what END 1. To serve God perfectly and forsake all things to accomplish it 2. To do pennance beare your Cross and follow the steps of Christ Iesus 3. To work your salvation and to gain perfection 4. To help your neighbour as much as is possible according to your vocation and institution by good example and prayer S. Bernard had this sentence alwaies in his heart Bernarde ad quid venisti Bernard to what end didst thou come hither The Priviledges and benefits of a Religious person Homo vivit puriùs cadit rariùs surgit velociùs incedit cautiùs quiescit securiùs irroratur frequentiùs moritur confidentiùs purgatur citiùs remuneratur copiosiùs A Religious person 1. LIveth more purely by the observance of Poverty Chastity and Obedience 2. Falleth more rarely by flying the occasions of sin and perverse conversation 3. Riseth more quickly by consideration of holy scriptures the lives of Saints and example of those with whom we live Walketh more warily by meditating their sins past imperfections present and the joy which cometh of vertue 5. Resteth more securely by attaining the gifts of the Holy Ghost and interiour consolation 6. Receiveth more grace by bettering their disposition and becoming more familiar with God 7. Dyes more confidently by the the efficacy of Priviledges in Religion meritorious works and help of Communaulty with the imitation of their spouse CHRIST JESUS 8. Is sooner purged by the many remedies to make satisfaction by the multitude of holy inspirations and frequent exhortations 9. Is rewarded more abundantly because a Religious life is victorious over her enemies the FLESH the WORLD and the DIVELL JESUS MARIA Certain Aspirations for every day in the weeke Munday Humility 1. WHen shall it be my God that J shall be so odious execrable and insupportable to my self as J desire to be afflicted and punished of all creatures 2. O sweet Saviour when shall it be that J shall have such a true contempt of my self as with all my heart J wish to be contemned and reputed of every one most vile 3 When shall J deare JESUS for the love of you desire in such sort to be humbled as J be ever reduced to nothing 4. O most meek Lord
J confess before thee and will acknowledge to all the world that J am the most vile and unprofitable of all creatures 5. O my God there is not on earth to be found a creature so disloyall and ungratefull as J am unto thee 6. J am not worthy to look up to heaven and much less to possesse the same 7. If the greatest sinner in the world had those inspirations and daily means of vertue which J o Lord confess to have J verily think he would not be so wretched as J am Tuesday Confidence 1. ALthough every moment deare JESUS J commit many imperfections yet J hope by thy help to attain to Christian perfection 2. My sweet Saviour if J committed all the sins and crimes which have been from the beginning of the world yet would J be confident of pardon 3. J hope most firmely O son of God my Redeemer by thy holy merits and Sacraments to enjoy eternall life 4. O infinit clemency was there ever any sinner that truly asked pardon to whom you denied it 5. My sweet Saviour if all creatures both in heaven and earth should tell me that thou hadst forsaken me and didst refuse to help me yet J would not beleeve them 6. O sweet JESU albeit the furies in Hell together with all the afflictions of this life should torment me yet would J trust in thee 7. O good JESUS thou that said'st Aske and it shall be given beleeve and you shall receive J humbly beg and unfainedly confide in thy goodnes whatsoever is necessary for me either spirituall or corporall thou wilt give me Wednsday Poverty 1. O My Lord J desire no riches ease or sensuall delights but only the love of thee 2. O that J had a thousand worlds with all the fained pleasures thereof not to possesse but willingly to leave for the love of thee 3. Most deare Lord J will possess nothing but thee and what J have only for thy sake 4. O dearest spouse all riches without thee are unto me unsupportable poverty joy sorrow ease paine consolation a consuming grief 5. O my sweet Saviour that was 't both in life and death so poor and naked of all things for thee I most willingly embrace the want of what is necessary for corporall life and health 6. My sweetest Jesu which was 't so poor and free from the posession of your will even in the repugnance of death for thee I entirely forsake my own will and sence to the consummation of my life 7. O my dearest Saviour that Wouldst not admit in all thy torments the least comfort I beseech thee make me so perfectly poore as for thy love I entertain no unnecessary consolation Thursday Gratitude 1. O my good God I render thee eternall thanks for all thy gifts both of grace and nature bestowed on me and on all creatures 2. O most liberall God thou hast don to me above all I can ask or desire 3. O my Saviour what shall J render for all those numberlesse benefits which I have and continually do receive from thee 4. O deare Saviour in gratitude for all thy mercies towards me I offer and beseech thee to accept of my heart and soule with what else thou hast bestowed on me 5. O my Creatour and deare Redeemer that I could be gratfull unto thee 6. Teach me my God to render thee such thanks as may be most acceptable unto thee 7. O would to God I had the gratitude of creatures both in heaven and earth to offer up unto thee my onely good but all being too little I beg thou wilt thy self supply these wants Friday Obedience and Resignation 1. O Most benigne Lord let me but know what you would have me to do 2. Sweete Jesus I offer my self both in time and Eternity most entirely to accomplish thy will 3. Although J should be lost yet if it be thy will for love of thee I most willingly yield to live in continuall affliction and torment 4. I offer my self with all my heart my sweete Saviour in what I may possibly in body life and soule to be disposed of by thy blessed will and pleasure 5. Behold sweet Lord for love of thee I abandon and deny my senses renounce my understanding and wholy forsake my self to prove and accomplish thy holy will 6. Most deare God for thy sake I firmly purpose rather to dy a thousand deaths then once to be disobedient to thee 7. O good Jesus when shall I see that happy houre wherein by perfect obedience and entire Resignation I shall wholy live in thee and thou in me Saturday Love of neighbour 1. MOst mercifull Lord I beseech thy infinit goodnes so to illuminate the hearts of all sinners that they may be truly penitent for their sins to seek thee with all care who art the onely God 2. I beseech thee my sweet Lord by the bowels of thy infinit mercies that all such as seek after ambition and earthly delights may turn all their affections to love thee 3. Grant sweet Jesus through the merits of thy bitter Passion that all those for whom thou hast suffered may reape the benefit thereof 4. Most mercifull Lord I humbly beseech thee to comfort all afflicted soules 5 Most sweet Saviour give such grace and vertue unto all creatures as they may be truly conformable unto thy holy will 9. Most mercifull God release for thy own sake and thy B. Mother's all those who either in Earth or Purgatory thou dost by justice punish Sunday Love of Almighty God 1. TAke form me O sweet Saviour that which separateth me so farr from thee 2. Purge my soule O Lord from all sin and imperfection by which it is defiled and made unworthy of thy Image 3. Behold O my God I hate and detest with all my heart even the least offence that ever I have committed against thy divine Majesty 4. Forgive sweet Saviour all that which justly thou mightest lay to my charge for that now I desire to be perfectly united unto thee 5. My sweetest Lord as a channell of all uncleannesse desirous to be purified I present my self unto thee 6. O Eternall God I beseech thee that I who am the least of all creatures may by perfect love of thee be elevated above all created things and my spirit only satisfied in thee 7. What shall I render thee my beloved Lord for all thou hast bestowed on me that am but dust and ashes and yet thou hast made all things for me Aspirations for every day in the Weeke upon the Passion of our blessed Saviour Munday Contrition 1. O Vile and most detestable sin by which I have so oft betrayed and sold thee my Eternall Father yea even for a momentary pleasure 2. O that I had never by ingratitude bound thy liberall hands and therby deprived my self of thee and of thy will and mercifull pleasure in me 3. O my soule unto what streights have thy sins and offences brought thy Saviour would to God I had some
seas of teares to shed for having thus often cruelly tormented thee 4 O if it had been thy will my sweetest Jesu I wish I might have endured not only temporall but endless pains rather then have caused the least part of thy affliction 5. O Sacred wounds of my dearest Saviour in revenge of my cruelty wound my heart with ten thousand darts of true remorse 6. O sin how deformed and unjust art thou that thus has't defiled the beauty of heaven and crucifyed my Immaculate Jesus 7. O that I might with a thousand millions of lives and infinit seas of blood blot out of my soule the guilt of thy death and Passion 8. Sweet Jesus ingulfe and drown me in thy sacred wounds that there I may learn to love Tuesday Compassion 1. O That I could shed for thee my Lord so many teares as the sea contains drops of water in true compassion of thy torments 2. O who will give water to my head and a fountain of teares to my eyes to weep upon thee the love of my soule 3. O love and only comfort of my heart what consolation hadst thou in all thy torments 4. Alas my well beloved why am not J alwaies present to suffer with thee at least by compassion on thy pains 5. My sweet JESUS O that I might be crucified with thee 6. O love of my soule that I might have had the priviledge of the launce to have rested in thy heart 7. My dearest Saviour permit me the favour to remain at the foot of thy Cross to the end that I may weep continually sigh bleed cry and consume in compassion of thee 8. Give me an endless spring of teares to wash away the sacred blood of my sweetest love which still issueth as flowing rivers from thee Wensday Imitation 1. O Most sweet JESUS give me grace in imitation of thy sacred Passion most willingly to undergoe the burthen of this transitory life 2. For that thou hast suffered so many and cruell torments for my sake let me never O mercifull God fly any tribulation which thou shalt vouchsafe to send me by thy self or others 3. My Jesus to accompany thee in thy manifold afflictions I would be glad not onely to endure the wants which thou sendest me but seek others and never be satisfied in suffering with thee 4. In imitation of thy nakedness reproaches and whippings at the pillar I will endeavour to strip my self of all inordinate desires and affections 5. I will continually follow thee my dearest Saviour with the Crosse of perfect obedience and never for any difficulty leave the same till I come to dy with thee 6. O my Eternall God that wouldst for my sake be nailed to the Cross let me by true mortification be alwaies crucified with thee 7. My loving spouse I beseech thee that with a full renunciation of my self and perpetuall death of all earthly things I may irrevocably dy with thee Thursday Thanksgiving 1. WHat thanks shall I yield unto thee my Eternall life who wouldst endure unspeakeable torments to free me from the snare and fetters of death 2. All you seraphins and celestiall Spirits with whatsoever hath been created praise my Redeemer for the unspeakeable price of my Redemption 3. O my soule how can'st thou devise to render the least part of due gratitude unto thy Jesus who hath by his own humility so much exalted thee 4. O let me ever acknowledge my deare Saviour that endless bond of gratitude which thy Passion alone exacteth of me 5. Sweet JESUS that I could incessantly love thee for these inestimable treasures which thou by thy torments hast purchased unto me 6. Good IESUS since I have nothing but my self to offer in requitall of thy infinit love I beseech thee to accept in love and gratitude what by-right is thy own 7. O eternall God that I had a thousand hearts and lives to offer unto thee who by thy death hast given and bequeathed thy self to me 8. Grant sweet IESUS that thy dolorous death and Passion be ever imprinted in my heart my true thankfulness and imitation thereof Friday Admiration O My God who art thou who hast endured so many and cruell torments sweet and dearest love hast thou forgotten thy Majesty and glory 2. O light of heaven and splendour of thy Fathers glory unto what art thou now reduced 3. Alas my Saviour what art thou who art so despightfully treated 4. O love of loves that through the excess of thy love thou wouldst for me endure so bitter a death 5. O love how strong art thou which with thy force surmounted'st him that by no other means may be overcome 6. O incomprehensible God for whom dost thou suffer but for miserable sinners ungratefull creatures thy enemies children of the divell and those who contemn thee 7. O dearest love that my heart is not pierced with thy dolours 8. What were it o Lord if I had all the loves of the world to unite and offer unto thee 9. My sweet IESUS if I could reduce all thy drops of blood into teares of love what were it compared unto thy love Saturday Ioy. 1. My heart and soule rejoyce and praise the mercies of my God who out of his infinit love hath died to give thee life 2. O my delight what joy will it give to my heart to receave that life that infinit good through the merits of thy most bitter and dolorous passion 3. Sweet JESUS I praise thee with eternall joy for having in thy most cruell death so perfectly accomplished the work of our Redemption 4. It was by thee O beloved Cross that peace hath been established between God and man 5. O triumphant glory and most puissant King who by thy most sacred death hast overcome the Prince of Hell and delivered our soules out of his bondage 6. O Heaven Earth sea and all things therein yield praises in our behalf unto the saviour of our soules and let us rejoyce in the merits of his sacred passion 7. If all my members were tongues O how willingly would I employ them in the praise of thee my sweet saviour and thy health-bringing wounds 8. O all yee celestiall spirits assist me to love and praise my God by the vertue of whose Passion your ruins are repaired 9. Sweet JESUS what glory and comfort is it unto human nature to be exalted in thee unto the right hand of thy Eternall father Sunday Love 1. When shall it be my crucified JESUS that both the senses of my body and powers of my soule shall be wholy employed in thy praise 2. O my JESUS when by perfect love and imitation shall I be daily crucified and continually dy with thee 3. O my beloved JESUS when shall I love thee in such sort as that thy sacred wounds be by burning love imprinted in my heart 4. O my beloved JESUS when wilt thou bring me into the wine cellar of thy blessed side and make me wholy drunke with the most sacred wine which floweth from
3. How JESUS thus adorned is led forth by Pilate shown to the Jewes with Behold à Man O sad Spectacle Yet still they cry Crucify Him Oh! the heavy weight of my sins Affect Oh my JESU that I could obey Thee even to loss of life Resolve To practise Obedience shun Sloath c. FRYDAY Carrying the Cross CONS 1. How JESUS thus derided whipped crowned goes forth carrying the Cross whereon he is to be sacrifized for thy Sins 2. What shouts of joy the Jewes make after Him through the streets of Jerusalem thus is Innocency despised 3. How the devout woemen meet bewaile Him thy hard heart sheds not one Teare amidst these his sorows or for thy own sins Affect Oh my JESU that I could abandon all sensuall satisfactions for the Love of Thee Resolve To practise Temperance shun Gluttony c. SATURDAY Crucifying of Iesus CONS 1. How JESUS with much pain shame arrived to Mount Calvary is again uncloath'd thus all his soares are renewed My Sins not blotted out by Repentance shall one day be disclosed to the whole World 2. How they streatch thy JESUS upon the Cross fastning him with nayles therunto then raise him up where he hangs between two theeves Oh what ignominy 3. How He there hangs for the space of three houres reviled by Jews Gentiles forsaken by his Disciples drenched with gall vineger peirced to the heart with a speare yet He prays for his Enemies Enter make thy aboade in that love-wounded-Heart Affect Oh my JESU that I could imitate Thee in the purity of thy Life Doctrine Resolve To practise Modesty shun All contrary Therunto c. A Method for Meditation 1. PReparation hath 3. parts Presence of God Choyce of matter and Invocation 2. Meditation it self hath 3. parts Consideration Affection and resolution 3. Conclusion hath 3. parts Thanks-Giving Oblation and Prayer A Prayer before Meditation O my God my Sovereign my Creatour and my All I here most humbly prostrate my self with the profoundest adoration J am possibly capable of before your devine Majesty earnestly imploring à continuance of your blessings vpon me your poor needy Creature and that you would be pleased out of your infinite bounty by meanes of your holy spirite so to illuminate my vnderstanding inflame my will recollect from distractions and strengthen in good resolutions all the powers of my soule as that J may worthily attentively and devoutly performe this sublime exercise of mentall prayer J am now vndertaking to your honour and glory the comfort of my own distressed soule the joy of the Saints in heaven and the edification of men on earth thro' your mercyes the meritts of my Blessed Saviour and the inspirations of your Coelestiall Paraclet Amen A Prayer after Meditation BEhold O my God Behold o my most patient and merciful Lord how J have passed over this time of Meditation and treating with thee with how much negligence sloth coldnes and distraction and with how litle feeling of thy good motions within me but thou O Lord knowest all my infirmities and Miseries and therfore J crave of thee pardon for them J thank thee also most heartily and humbly for all the good thoughts and suggestions which have presented themselves to my mind in time of this my meditation as most holy Embassadours sent from thy heavenly Throne to deale with me for the gaining of thy kingdome whos blessed voices and most profitable speeches J beseech thy divine goodnes to give me grace to imprint in my heart and seeke to put in execution in the cours of my life to come to the end that my judgment and Damnation be not the more grievous in respect of thes thy Benefits but rather that my life being mended therby and my soul stirr'd up to more zeale of thy service J may be finally made partaker with thy true Children of that eternall blïss which thou hast prepared for such os love feare and serve thee and yeeld obedience to those holy inspirations which thou sendest them for their eternal happines Amen A Table of dayly Patrons Meditations Vertues vices and Intentions Day Patron Meditation Vertue Vice Intentions Sund. H. Angels washing feet Charity Envie For the H. church Mund. Apostles Prayer in the Garden Humility Pride For Vnion of Christian Princes Tuesd Martyrs Mocking Self denyall Self love For benefactors Wednesd Bishops Whipping Patience Anger For Religious orders Thursd Doctors Crowning Obedience Sloath. For conversion of Infidells Frid. Confessors Carrying the Cross Temperāce Gluttony For soules departed Saturd Virgins Crucifying Modestie Impurity For distressed persōs