vnited Praier is the seale of Virginity fidelity of matrimonie a sheild to trauailers a keepeâ— of the sleeping trust of the waking Praier is a conuersation and conference with God a contemplation of thinges not seene a sure confidence of thinges desired an estate of the same honoure with Angels a going forward and increase of good thinges an ouerthrowe of thinges that be euil an amendement of sinners â—he fruit of thinges present are representation of thinges to come Praier made the whale an house vnto Ionas Reduced Ezechias from the Ionas 3. 4. Reg. 20 Dan. 1. dores of death to life for the 3. children it changed the flaming fyre into a cooling wynde erected a Trophee of victory for the Israelites against the Amalacites Exo. 17. 4. Re. 29. and in one night slew with aÌ„ inuisible sworde one hundred foure scoare and fiue thousand of the Assirians And we may finde examples not to be numbred of such thinges as are already chanced by which it is manifest that among those thinges which in this life be embraced and esteemed pretious nothing is to be preferred before praier When where and how to pray out of S. Chrisostome homil contra Pseudoprophetas HEare the Apostle crying Pray ye without intermission that is â— Thes 5. at al time both night and day and euery hour both when thou art about thy worke in thy Iournay kepest thy flock tillest thy ground sleepest Expect not our Lordes day or festiual day or disterence of places For the name of God is not confined with place for in his hand are al the endes of the ps 94. earth Therefore Dauid the Prophet praying euery day and night expected not differeÌ„ce of places but weping said admonishing his soule O my soule blesse god in al place of his domination Therefore ps 10â— expect not day or hour but pray euen when thou art at home and in thy iournay when thou lyest downe and when thou rysest and in euery place pray vigilantly diligently not requesting riches not honour or glory not prosperity nor any thing els of this world transitory or vnprofitable for al these thinges are corruptible ende in corruption whether thou namest the greitest riches or preeminent humane glory or any thing els of such thinges as be on earth with which meÌ„ vse to be puffed vp But pray for thy saluation alone pray for the necessities of thy neboures and pray with humility with teares with contrition and knock coÌ„tinually or rather without ceasing and daily for euery one that asketh receaueth Math. 7. and he that seeketh findeth and to him that knocketh it shal be opened Perfection and attention in praier out of S. Ephrem ser de viâ—ginitate FOllow the steps of the holy Fathers which haue bâ—ne eminent in virginal chastity and chast and religious life in praiers and fastings Loue the exercise of diuine thinges desire Praier the familiar conference with God For euery holy and pure praier conuerseth familiarly with God The praier of them that perfectly desire God with gladnes and much tâ—ust continually pearceth heauâ—n it self In it the Angels and Arch-angels râ—ioycâ— and present it before the Throne of the holy high Lord of al. For then the greatest ioy shyneth vnto them if at any time they offer before our holy Lord the praiers of iust men that loue God Therefore study in life vertues to be a follower of tâ—e holy Fathers Walke in the pathes of their way and life kepe the vertue of coÌ„tinency as they did execute it in mind execute it in spirit execute it in body execute it in habit also in meate and speach behoulding cogitation and laughter that in all thinges thou maist proue a perfect chaÌ„pion Looke to thy self lest at any time in praier thy minde wander hither and thither but when thou standest praying to god order thy self before him with feare trembling Cut out of thy heart al thoughts cares of earthly thinges be wholly in time of praier as an heauenly Angel so stâ—iue that thy praier may be holy and pure vnspotted and irreprehensible that when the heauenly gates shal see it ascend vp ward reioycing they may of their owne accorde presently be opened that the Angels and Archangels seeing it may al reioycing meete it and offer it before the holy and high throne of our immaculate lord Theâ—fore be thou alwaies in praier ioyned to God as the Cherubim Seraphim Cause god alwaies to rest in thy soule that thou maist there be found ful of coÌ„fidence in that terrible dredful hour when Christ our Lord shal come to render vnto euery one according to his Ro. 2. Apoe 22. work To whom be glory and power world without end Amen An other out of the same S. Ephrem â—er Asc de vita Rel. paren 50. AS if a man standing before a King and talking with him being called by his felow seruant should leaue the honourable glorious speach of the King and turne him self to talk with his seruant euen so a Religious man in the time of his singing that draweth his minde from god and turneth him self to fables and toyes with others Therefore let vs consider before whom we are placed For as the Angels with great feare trembling do stand before the Creatour singing himnes vnto him euen so ought we in the time of praier and singing to appeare before god with a pure heart and with reuerence and feare lest we be thought to stand before him and intende to praiers onely in body but in minde in the meane time to be occupied with earthly businesse For euen as a ship boate that is carried vp downe with waues of the sea euen so a Monk whose minde is distracted with businesse and cares of the world An other out of the same S. Ephrem de orand Deum TAke heede thou ceacest not to pray as often as thou canst kneele downe when thou can not call vpon God in thy minde both at euening morning and none-time If thou put praier before thy worke rising forth of thy bed shalt take the beginning of thy motions from praier sinne wil not enter into thy soule Praier is a conference with God equal honour with the Angels promotion of the good auersion from the wicked and amendement of sinners There is no possession in mannes life more precious then praier Neuer suffer your selues to be seperated froÌ„ this neuer depart from this but as our Lord saith let vs pray that our labour be not in vaine Mat. 6. The deuotion and attention to be vsed in praier out of S. Ciprian de orat dom WHen we are at praier we oâ—ght to attende and geue our selues with all our heart to praiers Let al carnal and worldly cogitation depart Let not the minde then think vpon any thing but that alone which it praieth Therefore the Preist before praier when he haith said the Preface prepareth the mindes
accompting me in the number of the iust and making me heire of the inaccessible glory of thy sonne God which I desire o my Lady and Mother of God may after this exile by thy godly intercession and patronage be graunted vnto me and vnto al that humbâ—y runne to thee and fasten their hope in thee by the grace mercy and bounty of thy onely begotten Sonne our Lord God and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom is due al glory honour power and adoration with the Eternal Father and holy and viuificant Spirit now and euer world without end Amen An other out of the same S. Ephrem in Lament Mar. super pas dom O Pure and immaculate and blessed Virgin Mother of thy mighty Sonne and of the God of al without offence perfect and most sacred the hope of the dispayring and guilty we praise thee we blesse thee as most ful of grace who brought forth Christ God and man We al fal down to thee al cal vpon thee and besech thy helpe Deliuer vs o Virgin holy intemerate from al necessity approaching froÌ„ al teÌ„ptations of the deuil Be thou our reconciliatrix and Aduocate in the hour of death Iudgment and deliuer vs from the vnquencheable fyre to come the outward darknesse and vouchsaife vs the glory of thy Son o Virgin and Mother most sweete and gentle For thou alone with the God of Christians art our most secure and holy hope To whom be glory honour renowne rule for euer Amen Another of S. Ephrem ser de laud. Sanstiss Dei Genitr Virg. Mar. OInuiolate perfect wholly pure and chast Virgin Mary Mother of God Queene of al our most glorious Lady higher then the inhabitantes of heauen brighter then tâ—e beames and shyninges of the sunne more honoured then the Cherubim more holy then the Seraphim and incomparably more glorious then al the other celestial Armes the hope of the Fathers glory of the Prophets praise of the Apostles honour of Martirs ioy of Sainctts light of the most accepted Abraham Isaac and Iacob The Ornaments of Aaron brightnesse Iud. 6. of Moyses and Flease of Gedeon the crowne of the company of holy Princes al Sainctes virgins brightnesse farre exceeding and splendor inaccessible the Golden Censor most cleare Lantherne most bewtiful vessel bearing the Manna of heauen the Heb. 6. Table which brought the written Law vnto mortal men the true Arke most Apoc. 8. diuine Charter most prudent and wise wise Princesse of al and illuminating Virgin most holy comfortesse and guider of al most sacred Maiden O flamming Bush vnburned and florishing Rodde of Aaron For verily thou art the Rodde and thy Sonne the Floure For from the roote of Dauid and Salomon did spring Christ our creatour god and Lord omnipotent and alone most high Thou broughtest forth god and man Thou a Virgin before birth in birth and after his birth God thy creatour putting on flesh without seed in thy virginal wombe did not take away those keyes of the oriental gate that is euer shutt and preseruing thee o most bewtiful such a one as thou was before his birth By thee we are reconciled to Christ our God thy most sweete Sonne Thou art the onely adnocatrix and helper of sinners people destitute of helpe Thou the most saife Hauen of theÌ„ that fuffer shipwrack Thou art the comfort of the world Thou art the receptacle of orphanes redemption and deliuery of captiues Thou the exultation of the sick consotion of the sadde and health of al. al. Thou art the strength of MonKes and Eremites and hope of the secular Thou art the glory crowne and ioy of virgins Thou art the gladnesse of the world O Lady Princesse Queene most excellent exceding blessed Maiden most honoured and Lady of ladies most pure and chast We flee vnder thy defence o holy Mother of God defend and keepe vs vnder the winges of thy piety and mercy Haue mercy on vs that are defyled with the filth of sin who with very manifould offences and transgressions haue offended the Creator our god Iudg of al lest the most pernicious Sathan be insolent glory against vs lest the detestable enemy arise against vs lest we see thy seruants to fal from hope of thee or lest the tongue of detractors calumniate vs. We haue none other hope then in thee o most sincere Virgin Farr from our Mothers armes o our Lady we wretches are dedicated vnto thee and called thy Clients Therfore suffer vs not by the malignant Sathan to be led to the gates of hel For thou art our hauen o Virgin immaculate and president O holy helper we are wholy vnder thy tuission and protection Therfore we flee to thee the onely woman and with often teares o most blessed Mother besech thee and fall downe vnto thee humbly crying and praying lest thy sweete Sonne our Sauiour geuer of the life of al for many sinnes which we haue committed take vs away and like a Lyon teare our wretched soules or cut vs vp as the barren figge tree But we entreat that we may come securely to Christ enter into those pallaces of the blessed where there are not teares nor mourning nor vexation not greife not calamity not death not torment not want of place THE HOLY CREDE Or Articles of our Faith deliuered to the Church by Tradition by the holy Apostles of Christ as testify these primatiue Sainctes S. Clem. Rom. Ep. 1. Amb. Ep. 81 ad Siriac ser 38. Aug. ser 181. de temp Ireu lib. 1. haer ca. 2. l. 3. c. 4. Hier. ad Pamach Ep. 61. â—a 9. Leo ser 11. de pass dom Ep. 13. ad Pulcher. Aug. ser cont Euâ—ych Max. Taur Ep. Hom. de trad Simb paschas praef lib. de Sanct. and others I Beleue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely SoÌ„ne our Lord. Which was conceaued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Maâ—y Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried Descended into hel The third day he arose againe from the dead Ascended into heauen Sitteth at the right haÌ„de of God the Father almighty FroÌ„ thence he shal come to iudge the quick and the dead I beleue in the holy Ghost The holy Catholick Church The communion of Sainctes The forgeuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the body And life euerlasting Amen Direction out of S. Ambrose lib. 3. Virgin We ought to repeate daily the Creede as the seale of our heart in the houres before day To which when we are afraide of any thing we must runne continually For when is a souldier in campe a warriar in battaile without his signe of warfare to be decerned by A Meditation or breife exposition vpon the same Creede out of S. Clem. Ep. 1. translated by Ruffinus within 400 yeares of Cirist Ruffinus in praef ad Gaudent in Reâ—ogn vasen Conc. can 6. Alexan. 1. Ep. ex Conc. Rom. Anaclet
none vpon whom you shal see the signe Thou In the old characters of the Hebrewes which the Samaritanes vsâ— to this day the last letter is Than hauing the similitude of a Crosse which is made in the forheades of Christians and signed by often forming it with our hand A praier after the Creede out of S. Hilary l. 1â— Trin. in fine PReserue o Lord this Religion of my faith vnspotted and til my soule departeth from me geuâ— me this voice of conscience that I may alwaies kepe that which I haue professed in the Symbole of my Regeneration when I was baptised in the Father and the Sonne and the holy Ghost that is may worship thee our Father thy Sonne together with thce and may deserue thy holy Spirit which is of thee by thy onely begotten Sonne Because there is a fitt witnesse for my faith vnto me saying Father al my thinges are thine and thine are mine my Lord Iesus Christ remayning in thee and of thee and with thee alwaies God who is blessed for euer Amen An other inter oper sancti Cipriani de Symb. which som ascribe to S. Cip. others to Ruffinus OVr Lord vouchsaife to graunt vs that keeping the Faith which we haue receaued after our course is eÌ„ded to expect the crown of Iustice laid vp in stoare and to be found among them that rise againe to euerlasting life to be deliuered from confusion and euerduring reproach by Christ our Lord by whom to God the Father almighty with the holy Ghost be glory and rule world without end Amen Meditations and praiers vpon those wordes of the Creede Communion of Sainctes may be vsed before Iournay or other busines Gen. 48. THe Angel which haith deliuered me froÌ„ al euils blesse these children The Angel of our Lord wil put him Ps 33. self in the compasse of them that feare him and deliuer them He haith geuen his Angels charge Psal 90 of thee that they kepe thee in al thy waies When thou didest pray with teares Tob. 12. buriedst the dead left thy dinner and hiddest the dead in the day in thy house and buriedst them in the night I did offer thy praier to our Lord. I am Raphael the Angel one of the seauen which stand before our Lord. The vision was this Onias which Mach. l. 2. c. vlt. had bene high Preist houlding out his handes to pray for al the people of Israel and after this an other man appearing meruelous for age and glory and with habit of great comlinesse about him and Onias answearing to haue said This is a louer of his brethren the people of Israel this is he that prayeth much for the people and al the holy Citie Ieremy the prophet of god The four and twenty Elders fel downe before the Lambe hauing euery Apoc. 5. one Harpes and Phials of Gold ful of sweete odores which are the praiers of Sainctes A Praier of Iudas Machabeus 2. Machab. cap. vlt. O Lord who hast sent thy Angel 4. Reg. 10. Tob. 21. vnder Ezechias king of Iuda and killed an huÌ„dred fourscore and fiue thousand of the army of Sennacherib and Eccl. 48. Is 7. 1. Mac. 7. c. now o Lord of heauens send thy good Angel before vs in feare and trembling of the greatnesse of thy strength that they which come against thy holy people may be affraid A Meditation out of S. Ciprian de mortalitate WE must consider and think with our selues that we haue renounced the world and liue here a while as strangers and pilgrimes Let vs embrace that day which appointeth euery one to his dwelling house which restoareth vs being deliuered from hence and freed from worldly snare to paradise and the heauenly kingdome What man being a pilgrime farr of would not hasten to returne to his Country Who seeking with speede to saile vnto his frendes would not wishingly desire a prosperous winde that he might quickly embrace his dearly beloued frendes We accompt Paradise to be our Country haue begonne to haue the Patriarkes for our parents Why do we noâ— make hast and runne that we may see our country and salute our parents A great number of our deare frendes expect vs there a frequent and abundant company of parents brethren children desireth vs now secure of their owne immortality and yet careful for our saluation What great and common ioy is it both to them and vs to come to their sight and embracing What pleasure is there of the heauenly Kingdomes without fear of dying with eternity of liuing How exceeding and euerlasting felicity There is the glorious company of the Apostles there the nuÌ„ber of reioycing prophets there innumerable people of Martyrs crowned for their victory of combate and suffering there Virgins triumphing which haue subdued the concupiscence of flesh and body with the force of continency there the merciful rewarded which haue done the workes of Iustice with feeding liberally rewarding the poore haue translated their earthly patrimonies to the â—elestial treasures Let vs with a greedy wishing hasten vnto these that we may desire soone to be with these and come to Christ S. Leo ser in Epiph. Dom. c. 4. Confirme your frendships with holy Angels enter into the City of god whose inhabitation is promised vnto vs and ioyne your selues in company with the patriarches Prophets Apostles and Martyrs Reioyce in such thinges as they ioy in Couet their richesse and by good emulation seeke to obtaine their suffrages S. Euseb Emiss hom de S. Stephano LEt vs enquire what neede or reason there is seeing the holy Martyrs being placed in that light of paradise neede not humane praises why they are celebrated with so great affections of men Why are their Reliques God reueling them so manifested to the world Doubtlesse for many causes First they are worshiped of careful men that they may make intercessioÌ„ for their diligent worshipers Againe that whilest they are proposed to posterity for an example of deuotion and faith they may alwaies be encreased with new merits now renowned for their vertues they may also be amplifyed by the profits of others And further that the old enemy euen before Iudgment may see the punishment of his malice by which he vnderstandeth that he haith fought for the glory of Sainctes that whom he seeth here now honoured he nedeth not doubt but there they wil be reuenged That when the whole world doth celebrate the crowne of the martired the killer of Martyrs must nedes bewaile his victory S. Augstin lib. meditat cap. 20. O House of God bright beutiful I haue loued thy comlinesse and the place of the habitation of the glory of our lord my possessor and maker Let my pilgrimage sigh vnto thee day and night Let my hart be open vnto thee Let my mind inteÌ„d thee Let my soule desire to come vnto the felowship of thy blessednes I speake vnto him that made thee that he may possesse me in thee
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
to our praiers and do not forgeat thy people It becometh thee to be called Mother Regeneratrix Lady and Mistris in reguard that from thee issued our King Lord and our God Thou art present vnto him who though he be terrible vnto vs yet is sweete vnto thee and geueth al grace for which cause it came to passe that thou was called Ful of grace that is Luc. 1. who didest abound with algrace and that by the comming of the holy Ghost ps 44. vpon thee Therefore al the riche of the people do besâ—ch thy countenance being made rich with such good thinges and spiritual contemplations To thee we crye remember vs o most holy Virgin who euer after thy deliuery remainest a Virgin and geue vnto vs for this litle speach great guiftes out of the riches of thy graces thou that art ful of grace Wherefore we vse theese wordes as from the thing it self by nature laudatory cheifly for the song of thy praise if at any time hymne if at any time praise be offered vnto thee either by vs or any creature To thee I say our gratious Lady Queene Mistris Mother of God Arke of the Sanctuary Behould now at this time in the beginning of the day how the Angel coÌ„posed this Eucomion to thee as the first fruites of praise sayng Haile ful of Luc. 1 grace our Lord is with thee Al orders of Angels and terrestrial thinges pronounce thee blessed and lifting vp their Hierarchial handes blesse thee who art blessed in heauen and declared blessed on earth Blâ—ssed art thou among women and blessed is the fruit of thy wombe For with such blessinges the first sacred Order doth celebrate thee which consisteth of Thrones Cherubins Seraphins who are called Flamines or knowers of the great King that is God Blessed art thou among women and blessed is thy wombe the bearer of God thy Papps which he yet an infant sucked And the second Hierarchy which containeth Dominations Powers and Potestates as hauing learned it of the higher Hierarchy and first illuminated respecting vnto thee doth crye Blessed art thou among women anâ— blessed is thy woÌ„b which conceaued God and thy ceates which brought vp god become a child Now the third holy order of Principalities Angels and Archangels vnto twhom it was commaunded and permitted from God by sending forth one Gabriel an Archangel doth vtter the most glorious most aboundant himne in these wordes Haileful of grace our Lord is with thee Then from these we that are the earthly Hierarchies bringing the exaltations of god in our voice whether because we haue learned or haue takâ—n these wordes one from an ps 149. other exalt thee with a great lowde voice Haile gratious our Lord is with theâ— O Mistris and Lady Queene and the Mother of God make intercession for vs. Because he that was borne of thee God incarnat is our god to whom is due glory magnifying and al honour and adoration and thankes giuing with the father without beginning and with the holy good viuificant spirit both now and euer world without end Amen An other out of S. Ephrem ser de sanctiss dei genitricis virginis Mariae laudibus O Lady replenish my mouth with the grace of thy sweetnesse and illuminat my mind o ful of grace moue my tongue and lippes cherfully and with ioyful mind to sing prayses vnto thee and cheefely that angelical delightful song by farr most renowned which the angel Gabriel in Nazareth did sing to thee a virgin mother of god most vndefiled That salutation I say most conuenient and agreeable and most worthy health of the world and medicine and preseruatiue of our soules O sacred virgin vouchsafe that I thy humble seruant may praise thee and ioyfully say Haile excellent and chosen vessel of god Haile lady Mary ful of grace Haile among women most blessed virgin Haile starre most refulgent from which Christ went forth Haile light most shining mother virgin Haile who hast most admirablly brought forth the king of al. Haile by whoÌ„ the most cleare sunne of iustice haith shyned Haile Queene and lady higher then al. Haile song of the Cherubim Seraphim and sacred hymne of Angels Haile peace ioy coÌ„solatioÌ„ health of the world Haile gladnesse of mankind Haile praise of the fathers and ornament of the prophets Haile bewty of martyrs and crowne of sainctes Haile glory of the godly Haile most excellent miracle of the whole globe of the earth Haile delight of al earthly creâ—tures Hail paradise of delightes and al pleasantnesse and immortality Haile tree of life ioy and pleasure Haile mother of al. Haile fountaine of grace and al comfort Haile refuge and harbour of sinners Haile propitiatorie of them that labour Haile sanctuarie in Ierusalem Haile most glorious throne of our Creator Haile illustrious most shyning brightnesse of eternitie Haile hope of al good meÌ„ afflicted with aduersity Haile sweete comfort and defence of conuertites Haile Queene and patronesse both of men and women Haile most effectual conciliatrix of the whole world Haile glory and â—oy of al preistes Haile viâ—gin comfort of the solitary liuers Haile Queene of the heauenly Citizens and Lady of Angels Haile our comfortesse that hast appeased our sorowes and mitigated our greefes and taken away al our oppressions Haile sure trust of our soule Haile firme sauegard of al Christians recurring sincerely and truly vnto thee Haile light most bright by which the world is illumined Haile bright mother of Christ sonne of the liuing god Haile notable protection glory of vs al. Hail who hast coÌ„preheÌ„ded him in thy bosome and armes that is comprehended in no space Haile who hast brought vp Christ the giuer of life Christ I say the most merciful creator of al. our most sweete lord Iesus to whom belongeth al honour glory renowne power foreuer praise and iubilation and magnificence together with the eternal fathâ—r and holy ghost now and euer world without end Amen By thâ— pâ—aiers and merites of the most holy mother of god Mary the virgin al the heauenly armies and whole company of Angels Cherubim and Seraphim prophets and Apostles Martyrs and CoÌ„fesors and by the intercessions of al Sainctes and supplications of al the blessed o my most merciful god haue mercy on thy creature and place thy humble seruantes on thy right hâ—nd in the houer of thy dredful Iudgment Amen .. An other out of the same S. Eprem orat ad Sauctiss dei Genitricem BE present vnto me now euer o Virgin Mother of God Mother of mercy benigne gentle a feruent protectrise helper in this present course of life turning from me al hostile inuasions and placing me in the way of saluation and in the last point of life conseruing my miserablâ— soule and driuing from it the darke horrible sight of most wicked deuils in the dreedful day of Iudgment deliuering me from euerlasting damnationâ— and finally
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.
thou didest assist thine Apostles in bandes Tecla in the fyre Paul in persecutions and Peter in the waues Thou who sittest vpon the seauen Thrones at the right hand of the Father looke vpon vs and deliuer vs from the destruction of eternal death one in one the Father in the Sonne the Sonne in the Father the holy Ghost by whom and with whom is to thee in the holy Church Honour Power Glory Maiesty Authority Benedictiō Immortality both now for euer alwaies and world without end Amen A Praier to auoide damnation out of S. Andrew Archbisbop of Cesarga soone after S. Basile OVr Lord graunt that we shewing forth by liuely workes sincere and true faith in Christ may neuer heare that terrible voice of Christ Amen Amen I say vnto you I Math. 25. Luc. 13. know you not And that other Departe from me al you workers of iniquity But But may heare with open eares that blessed and euery way desireable saying Come you blessed of my Father possesse Ib. the Kingdome prepared for you from the beginning of the world By the grace clemency and mercy of him who for vs willingly did vndergoe the Crosse that is of Christ god and our Lord with whom to the Father together with the holy and vinificant Spirit be glory now and euer and world without end Amen A Praier to the blessed Trinity out of S. Augustine Medit. ca. 32. O Blessed Trinity with my lips and heart and al the power I am able I praise I blesse I worship thee and to thy clemency and goodnesse geue thankes for al thy benefites and sing an Himne of glory vnto thee holy holy holy I cal vpon thee to come in me and make me a temple worthy of thy glory I besech the Father by the Sonne I beseeh the Sonne by the Father I besech the holy Ghost by the Father and the Sonne that al vices may be driuen away from me and al holy vertues planted in me Keepe me the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and trusting onely in thy mercy Keepe me I besech thee here and euery where now and euer within with out that no place for the enemies lye open in me Thou art god omnipotent the keeper protector of al that trust in thee without whom no man is saif no man deliuered from daungers Thou art god and besides thee there is not any other god neither in heauen aboue nor in earth beneath who dost wonderful and meruelous and vnscrutable thinges without number Praise becometh thee honour be cometh thee himne becometh thee To thee al Angels to thee the heauens and al Potestates do say Himnes and sing laudes incessantly as creatures to their Creator seruantes to their Lord souldiers to their King euery creature doth magnifie euery spirit doth praise thee blessed and vndeuided Trinity An other praier to the blessed Trinity out of the same S. Aug. Meditat. cap. 33. GRaunt vnto me o Lord that so long as I am in this fraile body my heart may praise thee my tongue may praise thee and al my bones may say O Lord who is like vnto thee Thou art god omnipotent whom three in parsons and one in substance of Deity we worship and adore The Father not begotten the Sonne the onely begotten of the Father the holy Ghost proceeding from both and remaining in both the holy and indeuided Trinity one god almighty who when we were not hast mightily made vs and when by our offence we were loste by thy piety and goodnesse thou hast meruelously repaired vs. Suffer vs not I besech thee to be vngrateful for so many benefites and vnworthy so many mercies I do besech intreate and desire thee increase my faith increase my hope increase my Charity Cause vs by that I doe thy grace to be alwaies stedfast in faith and effectual in worke that by right faith and worthy workes of faith by thy mercy we may come to eternal life that there seeing thy glory as it is we may adore thy Maiesty and may say together whom thou shalt make worthy to see thy glory Glory be to the Father that haith created vs Glory to the Sōne who haith redemed vs Glory to the holy Ghost that haith sanctified vs Glory to the highest indeuided Trinity whose workes are inseperable whose rule remaineth without end Praise becommeth thee Himne becommeth thee al honour is due to thee To thee benediction and glory to thee thankes-geuing to thee our God honour power and strength for euer Amen A praier for al true beleeuers both deceased and liuing out of S. Basil in Anaphora or whosoeuer in the primatiue Church authour ther of but commonly attributed to S. Basile O Lord creatour of bodies and soules remember at thy heauenly Altar al those that are departed forth of this wretched world and refresh them in thy Tabernacle ful of al bewty Passe them ouer beyond the horrible mansions of torment and place them in thy most lightsome Tabernacles Deliuer them from the wāt of light and darknesse and take them forth of tribulation and greif and let thy countenance appeare peaceable vnto them neither enter into iudgment with them nor seuerely examine their former life but whether in word or worke they haue sinned as men in flesh forgeue abolish their errours And conuerted haue mercy on vs which yet beliuing For behould daily we moue thee to anger by our filthy and detestable maner of liuing Because there is one alone that haith not sinned and deliuereth from sinne our Lord and our Sauiour Iesus Christ by whom we al hope to obtaine mercy remission of sinnes A praier for remission of sinnes by the intercession of the B. Virgin al Sainctes out of S. Augustine Med. cap. 35. O Holy and most merciful Lord be not made vntreatable vnto me because of my sinnes but for thy goodnesse receaue the praiers of thy seruant and graunt me the effect of my petition and desire the glorious Virgin Mary thy Mother my Lady together with al thy Sainctes making intercession and praying and obtaining it Amen The vsual Hymne of the Church Te Deum We praise thee God composed first as witnesith S. Dacius Bishop of Milane lib 1. Cron. ca. 10. betwene S. Ambrose his predecessour S. Augustine when he was baptised WE praise thee God we confesse thee our lord Thee the euerlasting Father al the world doth worship To thee al Angels to thee the heauens and vniuersall powers To thee the Cherubim and Seraphim with vncessible voice do cry out Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Saboath Ful are the heauens and the earth of thy maiestie of glory Thee the glorious Queare of the Apostles Thee the laudable number of Prophets Thee the whyte cloathed army of Martyres do praise Thee the holy church throughout the world doth confesse The Father of infinite maiestie Thy venerable true onely Sonne And also the holy Ghost the comforter Thou o Christ the King of glory Thou art
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
thee that wast whipped Glory to thee that wast spitte vpon Glory to thee that wast mocked Glory to thee that wast crucified Glory to thee that wast buried Glory to thee that didest arise from the dead Glory to thee that art preached Glory to thee in whom we beleeue Glory to thee that wast assumpted into heauen Glory to thee who with great glory sittest on the right hand of the Father and againe shal come in the glory of the Father the holy Angels to iudge euery soule that haith despised thee and thy holy passions in that fearful and dreadful hour when the powers of the heauens shal Math. 24. Luc. 21. be moued when also the Angels Archangels Cherubim and Seraphim shal come with feare and trembling in sight of thy glory when agaiâ—e the foundations of the earth shal tremble and euery liuing thing shal be affraid for the incomparable glory of thy great Maiestye I besech thee that in that hour thy grace may hide me vnder thy winges and my soule may be deliuered froÌ„ that horrible fyre gnashing of teeth external darknesse and euerlasting weping that I may say blessing and thankesgeuing to thee Glory be to thee o Lord who according to the multitude of the mercies of thy great piety hast vouchsaifed to saue me a sinner who with the Father and holy Ghost liuest and reignest world without ende Amen S. Athanasins l. Meditat. At the Sixt Hour end thy praiers with psalmes weping and teares because at this Hour the Sonne of God did hang on the Crosse for thee Meditations and praiers for the Ninth hour THere was darknesse vpon the Luc. 23. whole earth vntil the ninth hour the sunne was darkned and the vaile of the temple was rent in the midest And Iesus crying with a loud voice said Father into thy handes I commend my spirit saying this he gaue vp the gost Peter and Iohn went vp into the temple Act. 3. at the ninth hour of prayer He saw manifestly in a vision as it Act. 10. were the ninth hour of the day the Angel of god comming in to him and said vnto him thy prayers almes haue ascended in memory in the sight of god Make your prayers at the ninth hour Clem. Const Aopst l. 8. c. 40. Athanas l. de meditat because al thinges were troubled when our lord was crucified At the Ninth hour thou shalt be in Himnes and glorifications with teares confession of thy sinnes praying to god because at this hour our lord hanging on the crosse gaue vp the ghost The Ninth hour is deliuered by the Apostles them selues in the Actes to be Basil l. q. diff q. 37. necessary for prayer where it is tould that Peter and Iohn went vp into the Temple at the ninth hour of prayer Act. 3. S. Denis the Areopagite S. Paules scholer epist ad S. Policarp DEmaund of him what he thinketh He meaneth Apoliphanes the philosopher of the Eclips of the SuÌ„ne which hapned when our Sauiour was crucified for we were then both together and stoode at Heliopolis did sodanly see when the Moone obiected it selfe to the Sunne not being the time of their coniunction and againe when the same opposed it selfe aboue the order of nature to the midle lyne of the sunne from the ninth hour to the evening And recal further some other thing to his memory for he knoweth also how that interposition was seene of vs to begin froÌ„ the rysing of the sunne and come to the last point of it and after to vanish away and againe that the interposition and recession did not chance from the same part of the sunne but froÌ„ that which so to speake was diametrically contrary These are the wonderful thinges of that time which Christ the author of al thinges is onely able to performe who maketh great and Iob. 5. mereulous thinges of which there is noe number If it be lawful for thee and if thou canst o Apoliphanes refute The testimony of gentile Philosophers for Christ these thinges against me who was then both present with thee did behould and examine al thinges with greatest admiration And I cannot devise wherevpon Apoliphanes then began conferring with me the thinges that were done said thus O Dionisius these are the changing of diuine matters An other Meditation how al creatures seemed to lament at the death of Christ out of S. Leo ser 2. pas Dom. WHen Christ yelded vp the Ghost al the elementes did tremble The brightnesse of the sunne couered with thick darknesse did extraordinarily subiect the day to night The earth weakned with deepe quakinges did not retaiâ—e it stability And the firme rockes their streÌ„gth being broken fel into peeces The veile of the Temple with which the misteries of former thinges were now noe longer to be shadowed was cutte asunder And the bodies of many Sainctes being raised vp to prepare the faith of the Resurrection their graues lay open Therefore o Iewes against you heauen and earth haue geuen sentence The sunne haith withdrawne his seruice and the day from you al the orders of the elementes haue denied to serue you and the ministery of the creature departing from his lawes your blindnesse your confusion was was signified For you saying His Math. 27. bloud be vpon vs and vpon our children this is worthily repayed vnto you that what the wicked portion of your stocke hath lost that the beleeuing fulnesse of the gentiles should obtaine Therefore most beloued let vs to whom our lord Iesus Christ crucified is not a scandal nor 1. Cor. 1. foolishnesse but the power of god and wisdom of god let vs I say the spiritual seede of Abraham not begotteÌ„ of the Issue of seruitude but regenerated in the family of freedome for whom brought forth with a strong hand mightie arme from vnder the oppressioÌ„ of the rule of Egipt the true and immaculate lambe Christ is 1. Cor. 5. offered let vs embrace the meruealous mistery of his sauing pasouer and be reformed to the image of him that was conformed to our deformity let vs be lifted vp to him that made the dust of our baise condition to be the body of his glory and that we may deserue to be partakers of his resurrection let vs in al thinges become agreable to his humility and patience We haue vndertaken the warfare of a great name the discipline of a great profession It is not lawful for the folowers of Christ to depart from the kinges way but worthy it is that they wich tend vnto eternal thinges be not occupied in thinges temporal and because we are redemed with the pretious bloud of Christ let vs glorify and beare gâ—d in our body that we 1. Cor. 6. may deserue to come to those thinges that are prepared for the faithful by Christ our Lord. Amen A prayer vpon Christs passion out of S. Gregory Nazianzen orat in S. Pascha in fine GOd
haue sought my soule they shal enter into the lower partes of the earth they shal be geuen ouer into the handes of the sword they shal be made the portions of foxes But the King shal reioyce in God all shal be praised that sweare in him because the mouth of them which speak wicked thinges is stopped Glory be to the Father to c. As it was in the beginning c. The prayer of Manasses 2. paral vlt. O Lord omnipotent god of our Fathers Abraham and Isaac and Iacob and the iust fâ—ede of them who hast made heauen and earth with al their bewty who hast tyed the sea with the word of thy precept who hast concluded the depth and signed it with thy terrible and laudable name whom al thinges do feare and tremble before the face of thy power because the magnificence of thy glory is importable the anger of thy thretning ouer sinners vnsustentable Truly great and inuestigable is the mercy of thy promise because thou art Lord most high bountiful long suffering and much merciful and sorowful for the malices of men O Lord thou according to the multitude of thy goodnesse hast promised peace and remission vnto them that haue sinned against thee and in the multitude of thy mercies hast decreed repentaÌ„ce for sinners to saluation Therefore thou Lord god of the iust hast not appointed penance for the iust Abraham Isaac and Iacob those that haue not sinned against thee but hast appointed penance for me a sinner because I haue sinned aboue the number of the sandes of the sea o Lord mine iniquities are multiplied multiplied are mine iniquities I am not worthy to behould and looke vp to the highnesse of heauen for the manifoldnesse of mine iniquities I am crooked with a great iron chaine that I may not lift vp my head and respiration is not in me because I haue stirred vp thine anger and done euil before thee I haue not done thy wil and haue not kepte thy commaundements I haue erected abominations and multiplied offences and now do bow the knee of my heat beseching goodnesse of thee I haue sinned o Lord I haue sinned and do acknowledg mine iniquities Wherefore I aske entreating thee Forgeue me o Lord forgeue me destroy me not together with mine iniquities neither being angrye for euer reserue euil thinges for me neither condemne me vnto the lowest places of the earth because thou art God God I say of those that repent and shew al thy goodnesse towardes me because thou wilt saue me vnworthy according to thy greate mercy and I wil praise thee al the daies of my life because al the power of the heauens praise thee to thee is glory world without end Amen A Praier of King Salomon prou 30. I Haue asked two thinges of thee deny them not vnto me before I dye Set vanity and lying wordes farre from me Geue me not beggerlinesse and riches geue onely thinges necessary for my liuing lest peraduenture being filled I may be prouoked to deny thee may say who is our Lord Or compelled by want may steale forsweare the name of my God A Praier of Esdras 1. Esdr 9. O My God I am confounded I am ashamed to lift vp my face to thee because our iniquities are multiplied ouer our head and our sinnes haue growne euen vnto heauen from the daies of our fathers yea and we our selues also haue sinned greeuously vnto this day Tobias 3. O Lord be mindful of me and take not reuenge on my sinnes neither remember mine offences nor the offences of my parents Sap. 9. O God of my Fathers and Lord of mercy who hast made al thinges with thy word by thy wisdome hast ordained man to rule the creatures which thou hast made And that he might dispose the world in equity and iustice and iudge Iudgment in direction of heart graunt vnto me wisdome the assistresse of thy seates reiect me not froÌ„ thy seruants for I am thy serâ—ant and sonne of thy handmaid a â—an infirme and of smal time and too little to vnderstand thy Iudgment and Lawes Ecclesiast 36. O God of al haue mercy vpon vs and haue respect vnto vs and shew the light of thy coÌ„miserations to vs and shew thy feare vpon Nations which haue not sought thee that they may know there is no God but thou may declare thy worthy thinges Ierem. 10. O Lord I know that the way of man is not his owne neither is it of maÌ„ that he may walk direct his goinges Correct me o Lord but with iudgment and not in thy fury lest thou peraduenture bring me againe to nothing Poure forth thine indignation vpon Nations that haue not knowne thee and vpon Countries that haue not called vpon thy name O Lord expectatioÌ„ of Israel al which Ier. 17. forsake thee wil be confounded they which goe backe from thee wil be written in the earth because they haue forsaken the vaine of liuing waters our lord Heale me o lord and I shal be healed saue me and I shal be saife because thou art my praise I besech thee o Lord god great and Dan. 9. terrible keeping couenant and mercy to those that loue thee and kâ—â—pe thy commandementes we haue sâ—med we haue wrought iniqiuty and â—one wickedly and gone away and dâ—parted froÌ„ thy commaundementes anâ— iudgmeÌ„tes We haue not obeyed thy seruantes the Prophets which haue spoken in thy name to our Kinges to our Princes to our Fathers and to al the people of the land O Lord iustice is to thee but to vs confusion of face o Lord confusion of face vnto vs to our kngies to our Princes Fathers who haue sinned But to thee Lord â—ur gâ—d mercy propitiatioÌ„ because we haue gone back froÌ„ thee haue not heard the voice of the Lord our god that we might walke in his law O our God heare the paier of thy seruant his petitions Ieremias in orat cap. 5. lament O Lord remember what haith chanced vnto vs and haue respect vnto our reproach Our inheritance is conuerted to aliens and our houses vnto straungers We are made pupils without fathers or mothers as widowes But o Lord thou shalt remaine for euer thy state from generation to generation Why wilt thou forgeat vs for euer Wilt thou long time forsake vs O lord conuert vs vnto thee and we shal be conuerted Baruch 2. O Lord looke downe vpon vs ftom thy holy house and incline thine eare and heare vs. Open thine eyes and see because the dead that be in hel whose spirit is taken from their bowels wil not geue honour and iustification to our Lord. But the soule which is sad for the greatnesse of euil goeth crooked weak fainting eyes and an hungry soule doth geue glory and iustice to thee our Lord. And now o Lord omnipotent Cap. 3. god of Israel a soule in distresse troubled spirit cryeth vnto thee o Lord heare
and haue mercy for o god thou art merciful and haue mercy vpon vs because we haue sinned before thee Remember not the iniquities of our fathers but remember thy hand and thy name in this time because thou art lord our God and we wil praise thee o lord Eccelsiasticus 23. O Lord Father and ruler of my life forsake me not in their counsel suffer me not to fal in that reproach Who doth impose scourges in my thought and doctrine of wisdome in my heart that they spare me not in their ignorances and their offences appeare not and that mine ignorances may not increase and mine offences multiplied and my sinnes abouÌ„d and I may fal in the sight of mine aduersaries ' my enemy may reioyce O Lord Father and god of my life forsake me not in thought of them Arrogancy of mine eyes geue not vnto me al euil desire turne from me A prayer for repentant sinners out of S. Clement Constut Ap. l. 8. c. 12. ALmighty euerlasting god Lord of al Crearor and gouernour of the world who hast placed maÌ„ for the ornament thereof by Christ geuen him the law natural and written that as a reasonable creature he might haue a rule to liue according vnto it if he should sinne in any thing thou hast deliuered vnto him the foundation of penance thy goodnesse looke vpon them that bow downe the nâ—ckes of thier soule body vnto theâ— because thou desirest not the death of a sinner but Ier. 18. penance that he may returne from his euil way and liue Thou that didest admitte Ionas 3. 1. Tim. 2. the penaÌ„ce of the Niniuites who wouldest al men to be saued coÌ„e to the knowledge of truth Who receaued with fatherly affectioÌ„ Luc. 15. by penance the sonne that lasciueously had consumed his portion receaue now also the penance of them that pray vnto thee because there is none that sinneth not against thee If thou wilt obseâ—â—e Ps 129. our iniqities o Lord o Lord who shal be able to endure it Because with thee there is redemption and bring them againe into thy holy church restoring vnto theÌ„ their former dignity honour by Christ our God and Sauiour by whom glory adoratioÌ„ be vnto thee in the holy Ghost for euer Amen A prayer for deuotion and spiritual knowledg out of S. Ephrem l. de armatura spirituali cap. 8. O Lord Iesus Christ open the eares and eyes of my heart that I may heare and vnderstand thy wordes and obey thy wil. I am a pilgrim on earth keepe not hidden from me thy commauÌ„demeÌ„ts Open my eyes that I may vnderstand the thinges that are admirable in thy law A prayer stiring vp to geue thankes to god for his benefites out of S. Augustine in his booke de spiritu litera cap. 17. VNhappie and wretched maÌ„ that I am how much ought I to loue my god who made me when I was not redeemed me when I was lost I was not he made me of nothing not a stone not a tree not a bird or any other of such creatures but he would haue me to be a man He gaue me to liue to haue sense to vnderstand I was perished and he descended to mortality tooke mortality vpon him suffered his passion ouercame death and so restoared me I was perished gone away because I was sould in my sinnes he came after me that he might redeeme me and he so much loued me that for me he would pay the price of his bloud and with such a couenant reduced me from banishment and redeemed me from slauery Also he called me by his owne name that his memorial might alwaies be vpon me he annoynted me with oile of gladnes with which â—e him self was annointed that of him that is annointed I might be annointed and of Christ might be called a Christian So his grace and mercy haue alwaies preuented me for my deliuerer haith often deliuered me from many daungers When I did erre he reduced me wheÌ„ I was ignorant he taught me when I sinned he corrâ—cted me when I was sad he comforted me wheÌ„ I fainted in hope he strengthned me when I sel he lifted me vp when I stoode he susteined me when I came he receaued me These and many other thinges god haith done for me of which it is a pleasant thing to me alwaies to speake alwaies to thinke al waies to geue thankes that for al his benefites I may alwaies praise loue him A praier to God the holy Ghost for grace sanctification out of S. Ciprian l. de Spir. s COme holy Ghost from heauen enter into those that expect thy consolation Sanctify the temple of our body and conserate it for thy habitatioÌ„ make the soules that desire thee glad with thy presence make the house worthy of such an inâ—abitant as thou art adorne thy bride chamber and compasse about the staying place of thy rest with varieties of vertues strew the pauements with change of coloures let thy mansion shine with flaming carbuncles and brightnesse of precâ—ous stones and the sweete odoures of al graces send out their sauour within Let the liquour of balsamâ—m aboundantly perfume thy lodging with his sweetnesse and driuing from thence whatsoeuer is corrupted whatsoeuer is the seminary of corruption Make this our ioy stable and euerlasting and confirme the renewing of thy creation with incorruptible bewty for euer A Praier out of S. Gregory Nyssene l. de S. bap in fine O Lord thou truly art the pure and euerlasting Fountaine of goodnesse who iustly forsaking vs hast mercifully taken pitie vpon vs hatedst vs and art reconciled hast cursed and hast blessed vs banished vs out of paradise called vs back againe put of from vs figge leaues that vndecent couâ—ring and cloathed vs with a most preceous cloake hast opened the prison and let the coÌ„demned forth hast sprinkled vs with pure water and clensed vs from filthinesse If hereafter Adam be called vnto thee he wil not be ashamed nor his conscience reprouing him for shame hide him self vnder the groue of paradise neither will the fyrie sword compasse it about denying entrance to them that come to it and making the place vnaccessible But al thinges to vs that were heires of sinne are changed into ioy Paradise and heauen it self lyeth open for man Al creatures both of this the world aboue beforetimes at variance are made frendes reconciled and men with Angels reuerencing their diuine learning are at concord and agreed Therefore for al these thinges let vs sing vnto god the hymne of ioy which the mouth endued with the spirit long since prophetically pronounced with a lowde voice Let my soule reioyce in our Lord for he haith put vpon me a sauing cloake and compassed me about with a coate of gladnesse as to a spouse he haith fitted a myter to me and adorned me as a bride The adorner of the spouse is Christ who is and was