them we may celebrate a fâ—â—â—â—uity with voice of exultation aâ—d sounde of confâ—ssiâ—n and may geue thankes for victory obtained against the wicked deuils vnto Christ one god with whom glory is due to the Father and holy Ghost now and euer and world without end Amen A Meditation vpon Christs being brought before Caiphas out of S. Leo ser 6. de pas Domini IEsus being brought to Caiphas cheife of the Preistes whether the Scribes and al the preistly order were assembled false testimonies are sought against our Lord and Caiphas to exâ—ggerate the enuy of the speach which he heard râ—nâ— his garmentes not knowing what he signified by this maâ—nesse depriued him self of preistly â—onour O Caiphas where is the Rationale of thy brest Where is thy Girdle of continency Where is thy Superhumerale of vertues Thou spoilâ—st thy selfe of that mistical and consecrated attyre and with thine owne handes pullest into Peeces thy Pontifical vestiments forgeating that precept which thou hadst red of the cheife Preist He Leuit. 22. shal not lay of the Cidaris from his head and shal not breake in sunder his garments But thou from whom this dignity was now alienated thou thy self to thy self art executioner of reproach And to manifest the end of the old Testament belongeth the same rending in peeces of the preisthood Meditations and Praiers for the 3. Isodor l. 1 eccl offic c. 19. Hour or midle space betwene Sunne rising Noone Direction out of Scripture PIlate againe answearing said vnto Marc. 15. them what wil you then that I do to the King of the Iewes But they againe cryed crucify him c. And it was the Third Hour Sodainly there was made a sound from Act. 2. heauen and there appeared to them parted tongues as it were of fire and it sate vpon euery one of them and they were al replenished with the holy Ghost v. 15. c. It is the third Hour of the day Direction out of the Fathers Ignatius Epist ad Trallian At the Third Hour Christ by his Fathers permission receaued sentence of Pilate At the Sixt Hour he was crucified And at the Ninth Hour yelded vp the Ghost And before the Sunne setting was taken from the Crosse and buried in a new Sepulchre We finde that in making praiers the Ciprian de orat domin see S. Hieronim epist 122. c. 16. ad Eustochium three childreÌ„ with Daniel obserued the Third Hour Sixt Hour and Ninth Hour doubtlesse in mistery of the Trinity which was to be manifested in the last times it was after made manifest that they were misteries in old times that before the iust men praied in that maner For the holy Ghost descended vpon the Disciples at the Third Hour who fulfilled the grace of our Lordes promise Make your praiers early in the morning S. Clem. Coâ—st S. Apost l. 8. c. 4. at the Third Hour c. At the 3. Hour because at that hour our Lord had sentence of Pilate A Meditation out of S. Basile l. q. diffus explicat q. 37. ABout the Third Hour let vs arise to praier remembring the guift of the spirit which was geuen to the Apostles about the Third Act. 2. Hour Let vs pray al with one minde that we also may be made worthy to recâ—aue sanctification asking of him direction and instruction to that which is profitable according to him that said O god create in me a new heart and renew Ps 50. a right spirit in my bowels Cast me not away from thy face and take not thy holy Spirit from me Restoare vnto me the gladnesse of thy saluation and confirme me with thy principal Spirit And in an other place Thy good Spirit wil lead me into the Ps 142. right land A Meditation of Christes bearing his Crosse out of S. Leo. ser 8. pass Domini OVr Lord deliuered ouer to the wil of raging men to the scorne of his Kingly dignity was commaunded to be the bearer of his owne punishment that it might be fulfilled which Esay the Prophet had foreseene saying Behold a Child is borne Is 9. a sonne is geuen vnto vs whose rule is vpon his shoulders Therefore when our Lord bore the tree of his Ctosse which he would turne into the scepter of his power this surely was a great scorne among the eyes of the vngodly but it was shewed for a great mistery to true beleuers because the most glorious câ—Ì„querour of the deuil the most mighty subduer of the enemies strengthes in a bewtiful shew did carrie the Trophee of his triumphe and bore vpâ—n his shoulders of inuincible patience the signe of saluation to be adored of al Kingdomes as though euen thâ—n he would with the Image it self of his worke confirme al his followers and say He that doth not take his Crosse and Math. 10. follow me is not worthy of me A prayer out of S. Basile de Ieiunio concione 1. OVr Lord that haith brought vs vnto this instaÌ„t of tyme vouchsaife to giue vnto vs as to men in cumbate that to these cumbates we may shew firmnes and strength of constancie and come to the appointed day of crouning now of the remembrance of his sauing passion and in the world to come of retribution according to our life in the iust iudgment of Christ him selfe To him be glory for euer Amen An other out of the same Father l. exercitam ser 6. HE that cometh vnto god ought to embrace pouerty and in al thinges to be perced through with the feare of god according to him that said Perce my flesh with thy feare I haue feared for thy iudgmentes Our Lord graunt vnto vs that with al perfection we may receaue those thinges that are referred to the glory of god and shew forth frutes worthy of the spirit according to the wil of god and cooperation of our Lord Iesus Christ Amen A prayer for graces of the holy Ghost out of the masse attributed to S. Marke the Euangelist O Ruler our lord Iesu Christ the eternal word of the Father without beginning who for our saluation didest become like vnto vs in al thinges excepting sinne who sent thy holy Disciples and Apostles to preach and teach thy gospel and to cure al sicknesse and infirmities in the people now also o Lord send forth thy light truth and illuminate the eyes of our minde that we may vnderstand thy diuine wordes graunt that we be fitte hearers of them not onely hearers but that we may be made doers of thy word that we may encreace and bring forth good frutes from thirtie to an hundred that we may be accompted worthy of the kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ And let thy mercies soone lay hould on vs for thou art our Euangelisme or message of good Sauiour keeper of our soules and bodies o Lord god and we offer vnto thee glory and thankes-giuing thrice holy himne to the Father and the Sonne and holy Ghost
ful recompence of true ioy is made Haile thou who art truly blessed Haile illuminated Haile magnificent Temple of diuine glory Haile consecrated Palace of our King Haile Bride-chamber wherein humanity was espoused to Christ Haile thou chosen of God before thou wert borne Haile gods reconciliation with men Haile treasure of incorruptible life Haile heauen the Tabernacle of the Sunne of glory Haile most ample feild of God whom none other place but thou alone is able to comprehend Haile holy virginal earth of which the new Adam by an vnspeakable framing was formed to restoare the old Adam to saluation Haile ful of grace our Lord is with thee He that said Let light be made Gen. 1. Let the firmament be made and afterwardes the other workes of his powerable creation Haile thou new Arke of glory in which the holy Ghost descending rested the Arke in which the sanctification of new glory which of his owne nature is holy meruelously inclosed him self in the virginal wombe as in a shop of nature to be incarnate Haile thou intellectual glasse of contemplatiue knowledg by which the Prophets renowmed spirits haue mistically shadowed the incredible comming downe of god vnto vs. Haile ornament of the Prophets and al Patriarkes and the most true praise of the vnsearchable oracles of god Blessed art thou among women And blessed is the fruit of thy wombe And certes thou art truly blessed for God blessed thee a Tabernacle to him self Among women blessed art thou who most freely didest embrace as it were in the saife promptuary of thy virginity that heauenly treasure in whom al other treasures of wisdome knowledg are laide vp Thou art truly blessed who alone aboue al other Mothers was worthy to be the Mother of thy maker Verily blessed art thou who alone without man didest conceaue in thy woÌ„be beare him who spreadeth the heauens and made the earth of thy virginity to be celestial Blessed art thou among women who alone hast obtained the blessing which god promised to the gentiles by Abraham Verily blessed art thou who art naâ—ed the Mother of the blessed childe Iesus Christ our Sauiour by whom the Nations do cry Blessed is he that commeth in the name of our Lord and blessed Math. 21. Psal 117. Psal 71. is the euerlasting name of his glory And the whole earth shal be filled with his Maiesty Among women blessed art thou whom al generations declare to be blessed Kinges do glorify whom Potentates adore in whose sight the richest of the people offer guiftes on whoÌ„ virgins following and going before doe attende into the Temple of the King Blessed art thou amonge women whoÌ„ Isay behoulding with his prophetical Is 8. eyes named the prophetesse and virgin Verily blessed art thou whom Ezechiel Ezechiel 43. Ezechiel 44. et 46. Daniel 2. proclamed to be the true rysing of the sunne A gaite closed opened by god alone and shut againe Thou alone art truly blessed whom Daniel that man of desyers did see to be a great mouÌ„taine And admirable Abacuc a shadowing mountaine Moreouer the mountaine of Psal 67. god a fertile mountaine Also a pleasant mountaine a mountaine in which it pleased god to dwel as thy ancestor the king endued with the spirit of god foretould Amonge women blessed art thou whom Zacharie that most heauenly Zachar. 4. man did behould as a Candlesticke adorned with seuen CaÌ„dlâ—s doubtles bright shyning with those seueÌ„ guiftes of the holy ghost Verily blessed art thou beutified with sence and vnderstanding the Gen. 2. paradise of the florishing wood of our saluation which hast within thee the husbandman him selfe of the Garden Eden I meane Christ our lord shadowed by figures in thee who by a certaine vnspeable power like vnto astreme issuing forth from thy wombe of life as it were with foure beginninges by his gospel haith wattered the face of the world Blessed art thou amonge women and blessed is the frute of thy wombe Blessed is that Io. 4. frute from which fountaines Do flow of water spriÌ„ging vp vnto life euerlasting That frute from which that liuely bread I meane our lordes body is brought forth and the cup of immortality the sauing potion is geuen vnto vs. A deuout meditation and praier concerning the second part of the Aue Maria out of S. Augustine s 2. Annun dom Tom. 10. O Blessed Marie who is able worthely to render vnto thee dutie of thankes and solemnity of praises who by thy singular assent hast succoured the world that was lost What laudes shal the frailty of mankind pay vnto thee who by thy negotiation hast fouÌ„d the meanes to recouer it again Therefore receiue such as they be very smal such as they be thankes vneqnal to thy merites And when thou hast receaued our prayers by praying excuse our faultes Admit our praiers within the Oratorie of thy audience and bring backe vnto vs a preseruatine of reconciliatioÌ„ Let that be excused which we entreate by thee Let vs obtaine that which we aske with a faithful mind Receiue that which we offer bestow a gaine vpon vs what we demaund excuse what we feare For thou art a singular hope of sinners by thee we hope for pardon of offences and in thee o most blessed woman is the expectation of our rewardes O Holy Mary succour those that be in misery assist the weake hearted comfort those that weepe pray for the people entreat for the cleargie make intercession for the deuout woman sexe let al perceaue thy helpe that celebrat thy name Be ready to assist the prayers of them that aske thee and yeld to al their desired effect Haâ—e a care dâ—aâ—y to pray for the people of god tâ—ou o blessâ—d who didest deseâ—ue to bâ—are the Redeemer of the world who lâ—uetâ— and reigneth for euer Amen An other deuout Meditation and praier concerning the sâ—me out of S. Athaâ—asius Paâ—riâ—rcke of Aleâ—aâ—dria seâ— de Sacâ—iss deipara THe holy ghost came vpon her Luc. 1. sanctified her as the spirit saith in the psalmes The most high ps 45. haith sanctified his Tabernacle and the power of the highest strengthning oueâ— shadowed her Luc. 1. He is a King that was borne of the Virgin the same our Lord and God Therefore also his Mother which brought him forth is properly truly thought to be our Queene and Lady and Mother of God and it wil be lawful for vs so agreably to speake while we haue respect vnto â—er and him that was borne of her her son that beareth flesh Wherefore as wheÌ„ we looke vnto him we cal him our King Lord and God so also when we cast our eyes to her we behould her to be our Queene Lady and Gods Mother and that by contemplation of our intellectual eye The Queene is present ps 44. on thy right hand compassed about with her guilded garment garnished And now truly o Daughter of Dauid and Abraham harken and incline thine eare
morning and saluation in tyme of trouble S. Athanasius l. de virginitate siue meditatione Whether thou rysest or sittest or doest any worke or eatest or goest to bed to sleepe or rysest from bed let not the praise of god be absent from thy lippes S. Ephrem de Panoplia Defend thy selfe with the signe of the crosse signing therewith thy sitting downe and rysing vp thy bed whatsoeuer thinges thou passest by first signe them in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost S. Ambros l. 3. virgin Repeate often in thy chaÌ„ber our lordes prayer either when thou awakest or before thou goest to sleepe Our father which art in heauen halowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy c. S. Ephrem ser de laudib sanctiss virg Mariae O Lady o ful of grace moue my tongue and my lippes to sing praises vnto thee and especially that angelical soÌ„ge which the Angel Gabriel did sing vnto thee Haile Mary ful of grace our lord is with thee blessed art thou amoÌ„g women c. S. Ambros sup l. 3. virginit We ought daily to rehearse the Crede in the houres before day I beleue in god the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth and in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our lord c. S. August l. mediat cap. 40. O Lord god omnipotent I commend to thee this day and euer my soule my body my seing hearing tast smelling touching my thoughtes affections speach deedes and al my both external and internal thinges sense and vnderstanding memory my faith and beleefe perseuerance into the hand of thy power that thou vouchsaife to keepe them dayes and nightes houres momeÌ„ts O holy Trinity heare me and preserue me from al euil from al scandal from al mortal sinne from al deceiptes and infestations of deuils and enemies visible and inuisible by the praiers of the Patriarkes by the merits of the Prophets by the intercession of the Apostles by the constancy of Martyrs by the faith of Confessors by the chastity of Virgins and by the supplication of al thy Sainctes that haue pleased thee from the beginning of the world S. Ambrosius in hymn O holy Father now that we haue refreshed our body with sleepe we arise and besech thee to be present with vs praying vnto thee Let our tongue cheifly praise thee and the feruour of our minde seeke after thee to be the beginning of our works Let darknesse geue place to light and the night to day that al offence which the night haith brought may sodainly fal downe We humbly besech thee to cut of al occasion of sinnes that we may praise thee for euer S. Ambros hym ad laud. fer 2. O Brightnesse of the Fathers glory light of light and fountaine of light the day that doth lighten the day and true â—unne come downe into vs shyning with eueâ—lasting brightnesse and infuse into our senses the beame of the holy Spirit With our praiers we cal vpon thee Father Father of eternal glory Father of effectual grace to abaÌ„don our pronesse to sinne informe our diligent actions blunt the teeth of the enemy prosper our aduersities geue vs grace to do our dutie gouerne and rule our minde Aurelius Prudentius in Cathemerin hymn Matâ—tin O Night darknesse confused misty cloudes of the world depart away the skye is bright Christ doth come this hour is profitable for al mâ—â— for euery one to do his businesse that he affecteth souldier Citizen Mariner workman plowman Marchant But we that know thee alone o Christ do learne to pray vnto thee with a pure and single mind thee we besech weping vpon our knees we liue by this art we begin these duties now the Sunne is risen and shyneth Haue a care of our senses and reguard to al our life let so many thinges obscured with darknesse be purged with thy light Commaund that al vncleanes being taken away we continew such as we were made in baptisme Whatsoeuer the night of this world haith infected vs with the dark cloudes thereof Thou the light of the sunne vouchsaife to illuminate with thy cheaâ—ful countenance Let that darknesse now cease which hitherto haith drawne vs headlong with vnhappy steps in wandring errour Let this light bestow clearnes vpon vs make vs cleane that we speak no subtilty and think of nothing that is of darknesse Let the whole day be so spent that neither our tongue nor hand nor eyes commit any sinne nor any offence defyle our body For he that behouldeth al thinges from aboue is present that continually seeth our actions from the beginning of morning to the euening He is witnesse he is arbitrator he behouldeth whatsoeuer mannes minde conceaueth he is the Iudge whom no man can deceaue Missa S. Iacobi Apost receaued Concil Constantinop 6. general Can. 32. LEt vs pray to our Lord to forgeue vs our sinnes and graunt pardon to our offences and deliuer vs from al tribulation anger dauÌ„ger necessity That we may spende al our daies in perfection peace and without sinne Let vs al aske of our Lord the Angel of pâ—ace the faithful guide keper of our soules and bodies Let vs aske of our Lord pardon remission of our sinnes offences Let vs aske of our Lord thinges that are good and profitable to our soules bodies that he wil geue peace to the world Let vs aske of our Lord that we may finish the rest of our life in peace and health Let vs aske of our Lord that we may perseuer in Christian and sincere faith to the end without sorow greif or infamy and a good defence before that fearful and dreadful Tribunal of Christ Let vs aske of Christ for thou art that good Annunciation Illumination Sauiour keeper of our soules and bodies God and thy onely begotten Sonne and thy most holy spirit now and euer and world without end Amen Miss Mozarab The grace of God the Father almighty the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ the communication of the holy Ghost be with vs for euer Meditations and prayers for the morning I Loue them that loue me and they Pro 8. that watch to me in the morning shal finde me In the morning I wil watch vnto Is thee I haue cryed to thee o Lord and Ps 87. in the morning my prayer shal come before thee It is good to confesse vnto our lord Ps 91. sing vnto thy namâ— o most highest to shew forth thy mercy in the morning The people did offer their prayers Exod. â—6 Ps 62. daily in the morning In the morning I wil meditate on thee because thou hast bene my helper The kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ is like an househoulder Mat. 20. that went forth earely in the morning to hyre workemen into his vineyard S. Clem. Roman constitut 55. Apostol l. 2. c. 63. Exhort the people dayly to frequeÌ„t the church in the morning euening and neuer at al to be absent S. Clem.
in earth Peace to men of good will Let vs not be wiser Ro. 12. then we ought to be wise but to be wise to sobriety hating euil cleeuing vnto good louing charity of fraternity one with an other Instant in praier thinking the same together If it may be as much as is in you hauing peace with al men Careful to kepe the vnity of spirit in the bonde of peace Eph. 4. Eph. 6. By al praier and obsecration praying at al time in spirit and in it watching in al instancy and obsecration for al that be holy that at length we may hope the heauenly bedewed teares of holy praiers may quench or slake at the least that raging and consuming fire which the poysened blases of polluted mouthes rotteÌ„ fuel oâ— defiled liues haue blowne kindled and mantayned to flame so longe God of his rnfinite mercy grauÌ„t that with one consent and one mouth we Ro. 1â— may honour him for which I shal euer pray and so rest Your louing best wishing CouÌ„try-man R. B. OF MEDITATIon and Praier in generall OF Meditation out of holy Scriptures Deut. 6. 11. THe wordes which I commaund vnto thee this day shall be in thy heart thou shalt meditate vpon them sitting in thy house walking on thy â—ournay sleeping and when thou risest Ios 1. Let not the volume of this law depart from thy mouth but thou shalt meditate in it daies nightes that thou may keepe and doe al thinges that are writen in it ps 1. Blessed is the maÌ„ which haith not gone in the counsel of the vngodly haith not stoode in the way of sinners nor sit in the chaire of â—estilence but his wil is in the Law of our Lord in his Law he wil meditate day night ps 118. O Lord how haue I loue dthy Law it is my meditation al the day How vpon what a ChristiaÌ„ ought to meditate out of S. Ciprian lib. de Spectacul VAine pernitious and sacrilegious spectacles are to be auoyded by Christians We must be careful to keepe our eyes and eares Quikly we accustome our selues in wickednes which we heare for the minde of man being inclined to vice what wil it doe when it haith corrupt examples That which falleth of it self how wil it doe if it be pricked forward We must haue our mind retyred from these thinges A Christian if he wil haith bettermatters to behould He haith true profitable pleasures if he recollect him self And to omit those which he can not yet perceaue he haith the bewty of this world to consider and wonder at Let him contemplate the rysing of the Sunne and againe the setting thereof in order causing the daies and nights the globe of the moone by increase and waine designing the courses of times The multitude of starres shyning from the high heauen with their speedy motion the partes of the whole yeare deuided by turne and the daies them selues with the nights digested by the spaces of houres the vast greatnesse of the earth poised with mountaines the riuers with their springes flowing from them the ayre extended in the middest geuing lyfe to al thinges somtime raine from the coÌ„densed cloudes otherwhile fairnesse of wether renewing his rarity and in al these their proper inhabitants fowle in the ayre fish in the waters men vpon earth Let these and such other workes of God be spectacles for the beleuing Christians to meditate vpon What Theater framed by the handes of man is comparable to these works Though it be builded vp with great heapes of stones they are but the crusts of hilles and though their beames do glister gilded with gould yet they are inferiour to the shyning of the starres He wil neuer woÌ„nder at the workes of man whosoeuer knoweth him self to be the childe of God He casteth him selfe downe from the toppe of his nobilitie who can meruel at any thing after God Let a Christian I say attend to hâ—ly Scriptures there he shal finde thinges to behold worthy of Faith He shal find god ordeyning his world amonge the rest of liuing creatures making that admirable and excellent framâ— of man He shal vew the world in sâ—nnes rewardes for the godly and PunishmeÌ„ts for the impious seas dryed vp for the people and againe wateâ—â— geuen out of the rock for the people Haruests coming from heauen and not from the flâ—uâ—â—s Riuers brydling their violenâ—e to geue drye passage In some Faith wrastâ—ing with fire wilde beastes conqâ—ered by Religion and turned into meekenesse And he shal sce soules recalled from death it sâ—lf And amonge al these he shal beholde a greater spectacle the deuil that had triumphed ouer al the world lying vnder the feete of Christ O how bewtiful a spectacle to contemplatâ— is this how deâ—ightfull how necessary for a maÌ„ alwaies to behold his hope and open his eyes to his saluation This is a spectacle which may be seene though our eyes be lost this is a spectacle which neither Pretor nor Consul sheweth but he that is alone before al thinges eueÌ„ he from wheÌ„ce are al thinges the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ to whom be praise and honour world without end Amen Of praier of the excellency thereof out of the holy Scriptures prou 15. THe Lord is farre from the wicked and he wil heare the praiers of the iust These thinges saith our Lord my house Is 56. Mat. 21. shal be called the house of praier to al nations Aske and it shal be gâ—uen you seeke Marc. 11 Luc. 19. Math. 7. you shal finde knock it shal be opened vnto you for euery one that asketh receiueth and that seeketh fyndeth and to him that knocketh it shal be opened It behoueth alwaies to pray and not to Luc. 18 be weary Pray without intermission In al thinges geue thankâ—s for this is the 1. Thes 5. 1. Tim. 2. wil of god in Christ Iesu in al you I desire thereforâ— first of al thinges that Obsecrations Praiers Postulations Thankes geuings be made for al men for Kinges and al that are in preeminence that we may leade a quiet and peaceable life in al piety chastity for this is good and acceptable before our Sauiour god who wil al men to be saued and to come to the knowledge of truth What Praier is and the dignity thereof out of the Fathers first S. Gregory Nyssene IT behoueth alwaies to pray neuer to be weary for by praier we come to be with God But he that is with God is seperated from the aduersary Praier is the defence protection of chastity moderation of anger appeasing and suppressing of pride a rooting out of the settled remembrance of iniuries a putter to flight of enuy taking away of iniustice correction of impiety Praier is a right constitution of Iustice and lawes in a citye strength of a Kingdome victory in warre security in peace reconciliation of the disagreeing consernation of the
6. thou being vnpure and in the middest of vnpure people darest stande before the Lord of hostes Know that the holy Angels exhort vs to praier and stand with vs with ioy praying for vs. If thersore we become negligent and entertaine coÌ„trary cogitations we greatly prouoke them because they striue so much for vs and we for our selues refuse to pray to god but rather neglecting their ministery and their Lord forsaking god keepe company with vncleane deuils If thou desirest to pray transport thy self from earthly thinges to heaueÌ„ haue thy conuersatioÌ„ there not onely in wordes but in angelical action and more heauenly knowledg S. Athanasius in lib. de virginitate WHen day appeareth thou shalt recite this psalme Benedicite omnia opera c. And say the Hymne Gloria in excelsis Al you workes of our Lord blesse Canticle of the 3. ChildreÌ„ Dan. 3. in the burniÌ„g fournace you our Lord praise him and extoll him for euer Blesse our Lord ye Angels of our Lord ye heauens blesse our Lord. Al waters that be aboue the heauens blesse ye our Lord blesse our Lord al ye powers of our Lord. Sunne moone blesse ye our Lord starres of heauen blesse ye our Lord. Shoure and dew blesse ye our Lord euery spirit of God blesse ye our Lord. Fyre and heate blesse ye our Lord could sommer blesse ye our Lord. Dewes and hoare frost blesse ye our Lord frost cold blesse ye our Lord. Ice and snow blesse ye our Lord nightes daies blesse ye our Lord. Light and darknesse blesse ye our Lord lightninges and cloudes blesse ye our Lord. Let the earth blesse our Lord let it praise extol him for euer Mountaines and litle hilles blesse ye our Lord al thinges that spring in the earth blesse ye our Lord. Blesse our Lord ye fountaines seas riuers blesse ye our Lord. Whales and al that moue in the vvaters blesse ye our Lord blesse our lord al ye foules of the aire Al beasts and cattel blesse ye our Lord soÌ„nes of mâ—n blesse ye our lord Let Israâ—l blesse our Lord let it praise and extol him for euer Preistes of our Lord blesse ye our Lord seruants of our Lord blesse ye our Lord. Spirits and soules of the iust blesse ye our Lord holy and humble men of heart blesse ye our Lord. Ananias Azarias Mizael blesse ye our Lord praise and extol him for euer Because he haith deliuered vs from hel and saued vs from the hand of death preserued vs from the midle of the burning flame pulled vs forth from the middest of the fyre Confesse to our Lord because he is good because his mercy is for euer Al you that be Religious blesse our Lord god of gods praise and confesse vnto him because his mercy is for euer A Meditation vpon the same out of S. Zeno Bishop of Verona sermoutb in Dan. He was martyred vnder Galienus about the yeare 260. O Wonderful burning o verily ser 2. a spectacle worthy of god They which heare it do feare they which kindled it do burne they which were throwne into the fyre goe forth of the fournace sanctified saif by our Lord Iesus Christ Somtimes after a great punishmeÌ„t there followeth a greater glory especially in diuine thinges in which happy men with earnest deuotion rather preserue their Religion then life Vnderstand o Christian with a beleeuing ser 5. heart a thing meruelous renowmed by al example of vertues Three Hebrew children greater theÌ„ the constancy of old men stronger then the force of yong men equal to themselues defended with the mistery of the Trinity firme in one faith of the vnity in equality glorious by the victory of suffering These a barbarous King commaunded to be burned because they contemned to worship his statua who when they were cast into the fournace of burning fire the greedy fire deuoutly receaueth them the fawning flames refresh them couered with dew A meruelous thing shadow is within burning is withoâ—t within an Himne is song without lamenting is heard O great power of god the burners are burned in the burning and they that were set on fire are suruiuors in the burning triumphing go forth of the fournace our Lord Iesus Christ ser 6. performing it Reioice o Christian constantly feare god if thou wilt not feare the fire of the deuil Behold the children are not hurt with the compassing flames with the roaring fournace They confounde the barbarous king are reuâ—nged of their burners they see god death doth passe into life feare into glory who would not desire so to burne Awake o Christian and casting 8. away al sluggishnesse of secular sleepe opening the eares of thy heart learne vertue of children The Canticle of Zachary father of S. Iohn Baptist Luc. 1. ANd Zachary his father was replenished with the holy ghost and he prophesied saying Blessed be our Lord God of Israel because he haith visited and wrought the redemption of his people And haith erected the horne of saluation to vs in the house of Dauid his seruant As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets that are from the beginning Saluation from our enemies from the hand of al that hate vs. To worke mercy with our fathers and to remember his holy Testament The oath which he sware to Abraham Gen. 22. our Father that he would geue to vs. That without feare being deliuered from the hand of our enemies we may serue him In holinesse and Iustice before him al our daies And thou child shalt be called the prophet Malach. 3. of the highest for thou shalt goe before the face of our Lord to prepare his waies To geue knowledg of saluation to his people vnto remission of their sinnes Through the bowels of the mercy of Zachar. 3. Malach. 4. our god in which the Orient from on high haith visited vs. To illuminate them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death to direct our feete into the way of peace Glory be to the Father c. A Praier of praise and thanks-geuing to God for his Benefites out of S. Clement Coustitut SS Apost lib. 7. cap. 38. WE geue thankes to thee o Lord omnipotent for al thy benefites because thou hast not taken thy mercies pittie away from vs but in euery generation and generation doest saue deliuer succour defend For thou hast succoured in the daies of Enos and Enoch in the daies of Moyses and Iesu in the daies of the Iudges in the daies of Samuel and Helias and the Prophets in the daies of Dauid and the Kinges in the daies of Hester and Mardocheus in the daies of Iudith in the daies of Iudas Machabeus and his brethren and in our daies thou hast releeued vs by thy great high Preist Iesus Christ thy SoÌ„ne For he haith both saued vs from the sword and by norishing deliuered vs from famine and freed vs from sicknes defended vs from a wicked
tongue For al thy gifts by Christ we geue thankes vnto thee who hast geuen vs voice framed for confession Thou hast lent vnto vs a tongue as an instrument for the Harpe and Organe Thou hast graunted vnto vs an agreable taist a conuenient touching sight to behould hearing to apprehend voices smelling to perceaue odoures handes to worke feete to walke al these thinges thou doest forme of a litle drop in the womb and after information bestowest an immortal soule and bringest forth into light man a reasonable creature whom thou hast instructed with lawes adorned with iustifications and after dissolution of his short time hast promised Resurrection Therefore what life could be sufficient or what excellency of praises would be enough that we might geue thankes vnto thee But this we are not able to performe answearably to thy deseruinges yet we ought deuoutly to performe it so much as we are abâ—e For thou hast deliuered vs from the impiety of them that worship many gods and those that killed Christ Thou hast freed vs from heresies recalled vs froÌ„ the errour of ignorance sent Christ vnto men that he might be maÌ„ which was god onely begotten hast placed vs in the comforter appointed Angels ouer vs dishonoured the deuil When we were not thou hast made vs being made thou preseruest vs thou ministrest life geuest foode hast promised penance For al these thinges glory be to thee and honour by Iesus Christ now euer for euer Amen An other praier of praise or thankes out of the same S. Clement Constit SS Apost lib. 7. ca. 35. GReat art thou o Lord almighty and great is thy strength and there is none end of thy wisdome Creatour Sauiour riche in graces patient and shewer of mercie which takest not away saluation from thy creatures For by nature thou art god sparest sinners prouoking them to penance for thy correction is ful of mercies For how should we sustaine it if we were called to sudaine Iudgment when longe time expected we hardly cast away infirmity The heauens declare thy power the earth poysed with stability the sea wauing with agreable greatnes feeding infinite multitudes of liuing creatures The sande is bridled trembling at thy commaundement and causeth al men to crye O Lord thy workes are magnified thou hast Ps 103. made al thinge in wisdome the earth is replenished with thy workes The ardent armie of Angels and the intellectual Spirits doe say one holy the Seraphim together with the Cherubims Is 6. with their sixe adorned winges singing vnto thee an Himne of victory with a neuer ceasing voice crye forth Holy Holy Holy Lord of Hostes the heauen and earth are ful of thy glory Also the other multitudes of orders Angels Thrones Dominations Principalities Potestates Powers crying forth do say Blessed be the glory of god Ezechiel 3. from his place But Israel that is the Church on earth gathered together of the gentiles imitating the heauenly powers day and night with a ful heart and willing mind do sing The Chariot Ps 67. of god with ten thousandes manifould thousandes of reioycers our lord amoÌ„g them in Sinai in the holy The heauen haith knowne him because he arched it resting vpon noe supporter and made it stable as a four-square stone who also gathered togetheâ— into one the earth and water and diffused the aire from whence life spirit should be drawne to which he ioyned the fire for warmnesse and putting away of darknesse The company of starres is amazed shewing forth him that numbreth them Ps 146. and declaring him who nameth them The liuing creatures also are astonished at him that inspireth their life and the trees at him that planteth them Al which thinges created with thy word denownce the greatnesse of thy power Wherefore euery man ought with al his heart to geue praise vnto thee by Christ for al those thinges seeing by thee he posseseth them al for thou art gracious in graunting benefites and boutiful in shewing mercy who alone art omnipotent for when thou wilt power is in thee to be able to do it For thy eternal Dan. 3. Dan. 14. Iou. 2. might cooleth the flame bridlâ—th the lyons maketh the whale geÌ„tle succourreth the sicke ouerthroweth powers destroyeth the army of enemies the proude multitude of people Thou art in heauen in earth in the sea in the vttermost bondes thy selfe circumscribed with no bond of thy greatnesse there Ps 144. is no end And o Lord not we alone say this but it is the oracle of thy seruant saying And thou shalt know with thy heart Deu. 4. that thy lord thy god is god in heauen aboue and in earth beneath and there is no other but he for there is no god but he alone There is not an holy besides thee lord god of knowledge the God of Sainctes holy aboue al that are holy For they which are made holy are vnder thy haÌ„d thou art glorious exalted inuisible by nature vnserchable in iudgmentes whose life wanteth nothing duration without chaunge and variety operatioÌ„ without labour maiesty contained with no boundes Comlinesse euerlasting a mansion place vnaccessible an habitation vntransmigrable knowledge interminable truth inuariable a worke with out midle power without deceiptes rule without succession strength without aduersary the multitude of thine army is greate For thou art the father of wisdome authour of nature by the Mediatour as cause diposer of prouidence Lawgiuer replenisher of pouerty reuenger of the impious and rewarder of those that be iust of Christ God and Father and the Lord of those that worship him whose promise is infallible iudgment incorruptible sentence not entreatable piety vnexhausted benignity eternal for whom worthy deserued adoration is due to thee of euery reasonable and holy nature Iudith 16. LEt vs singe an Himne vnto our Lord let vs sing an Himne vnto our god Adonai Lord thou art great and excellent in power and whom noe man can ouercome Let euery creature serue thee because thou hast said the word and thinges were made thou hast sent thy spirit and they were created and noe man can resist thy wil. The mountaines shal be moued from the foundations with waters the rocks shal melt as waxe before thy face but they which feare thee shal be great Ecclesiastic 51. 1. 2. with thee in al thinges O Lord our King I wil confesse vnto thee and praise thee god my Sauiour I wil confesse vnto thy name be 10. 11. cause thou art made my helper protector I looked for the help of men and it was not I remembred thy mercy o Lord for thou deliuerest those that expect thee I haue called vpon our Lord the Father of my Lord that he would not leaue me in the day of tribulation and in the time of the proude without helpe I wil praise thy name dayly and extol it 14. in confession and my prayer is heard and thou hast deliuered me from perdition
15. 16. 17. and taken me forth from the wicked time Therefore I wil confesse speake praise vnto thee and blesse the name of our Lord. Heu heu heu o Lord god behould Ierem. 32. thou hast made heauen and earth in thy great strength and stretched arme nothing wil be dificult to thee who shewest mercy on thousandes and payest the iniquitie of the parents into thâ— bosome of their children after them o most strong great and mighty the Lord of hostes is thy name great in couÌ„saile incomprehensible in cogitation whose eyes are open vpon al the wayes of the children of Adam that thou mayest render to euery one according to his wayes and according to the frute of his inuentions Blessed art thou o lord god of our fathers Dan. 3. and to be praised and exalted for euer And the blessed name of thy glory holy and laudable and exalted in al worldes Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory and exceedingly to be praised and eminently glorious for euer Blessed art thou in the throne of thy kingdome and superlaudable and extolled for euer Blessed art thou who behouldest the depthes and sittest vpon the Cherubim and laudable extolled for euer Blessed art thou in the firmament of heauen and laudable and glorious for euer I wil ioy in our lord and reioyce in Habacue 3. god my Iesus A breefe excercise of meditations prayers for such as desire to obserue al canonical houres of prayer vsed in the primatiue church stil among the religious And first for prime or first houre of the day THe sunne is risen and man shal Ps 103 goe forth to his labour and worke vntil euening A wise man wil geue his heart early Ecclesiast 39. to watch to our lord that made him wil make his prayers in the sight of the highest The kingdome of heauen is like to a Math. 20. man that is an houshoulder which went forth in the morning to hyre workmen into his vineyard and hauing made couenant with the workmen for a penie a day he sent them into his vineyard And very earely the first of the sabothes Mare 16. they come to the monument the sunne being now risen we must preuent the sunne to blesse Sap. 16. thee and worshippe thee when the day appeareth wheÌ„ morning was come al the cheefe Maâ—h 17. Preiâ—â—es and aunâ—iâ—nts of the people consulted togâ—ther against Iesus that they might put him to death and they bring him bound and deliuered him to Pontius Pilate the presâ—dent From the holy primatiue Fathers AT these houres let vs yâ—ld thaÌ„kes S. â—enedictus in Regula S. Châ—â—sâ—st l. â— de orando Deum to our Creatour Matins Prime c. We ought in forsaking our beddes to preuent the sunne rysing with diuine worshippe Tel me with what countenance wilt thou behould the sunne except first thou hast adored him that sendeth that most sweete light to thy eyes Meditate in the holy sâ—riptures Athanasius l de virginitate haue the psalter and learne the psalmes let thâ— sunne rysing see a booke in thy handes A meditation out of S. Athanasius ser in id profecti c. inuenietis pullum alligatum c. THe scribes pharasies came together into the court of Caiphas tooke counsaile against Iesus For those most desperate men were ignorant that his death would geue vnto vs immortalitie and this descending procure vnto vs our ascending into heauen for our lord arose the third day from the deade hauing spoyled hel trodden the enemy vnder foote abolished death broken the boundes of sinnes wherewith we were holden deliuered those that were bound saying arise let vs depart hence being deliuered from the seâ—uitude of the deuil Therefore let vs acknowledge our benefactor let vs glorifie the Father with the Sonne and holy Ghost let vs confesse one deitie for so ordering our life we shal possesse the kingdome of heaueÌ„ in Christ Iesus our lord An other meditation out of S. Ciprian de orat dominica BEsides the houres which were auÌ„ciently vsed now both the spaces and Misteries are encreased For also we must pray in the morning that the resurrection of our lord may be celebrated by morning prayer If in the holy scriptures Christ be the true sunne and the true day no hour is excepted from Christians but God ought often alwayes to be adored that we which are in Christ that is in the sunne and the day apply our selues to supplicatioÌ„s and to pray al the day A meditation and prayer out of S. Andreas Bishop of Cesaraea in Capadocia c. vlt. in Apocalip SVrely our Lord is a consuming fyre warmeth the soule which chastly and quietly conuerseth with him although it be could with sinne maketh it capable of that fyre which was borne to consâ—me vncleanes Euen also as the sunne whylest it doth more forceably reflect vpon a vessel of glasse ful of water by a certaine kind of boyling and refraction draweth fyre out of it though being could Therefore this being so let vs exhibite our selues not as a filthy and earthen vessel or such as cannot receaue impression of the heauenly beames but as the Temple Cor. 6. of the holy Ghost and cleane and bright glasse to the sunne of iustice that is to Christ who would al men to be saued and 1. Tim. 2. come to the knowledge of truth and doth bestow and offer vnto al so plentifully and without offence the grace of his brightnesse although it be not equally participated of al but according to the measure of the purity of the inward eye Our merciful Lord that for our sake suffered in flesh that is Iesus Christ our God graunt that we may obtaine this pure and chaist eye of minde To whom together with the Father and holy and viuificant spirit is due al glory honour and adoration now and euer for euer Amen A praier for this hour out of S. Clement Constit S. Apost lib. 8. cap. 44. O God of spirites and al flesh in comparable wanting nothing who hast geuen the sunne to guiâ—e the day and the moone starres to rule the night Behould vs now with thy merciful eyes and receaue our morning geuinges of thankes haue mercy vpon vs for we haue not stretched forth our handes to a straung God for there is not any new god to vs but thou euerlasting and infinite who hast geuen vnto vs by Christ that we might be by him hast bestowed vpon vs that we might be wel Now by him make vs worthy of euerlasting life to whom with thee and the holy ghost be glory honour and worship for euermore Amen A Praier out of S. Andâ—eas of Cesarea super cap. 47. GOd almighty graunt that our conuersation and order of life be such that it may be cause of confusion and deiection vnto the deuils and bring occasion of gladnesse vnto the Angels that together with