seale of thy name terrible prayse-worthy for euer thou who makest the pillers of Heauen to tremble vnder thy feet thou who strikest terrour into al creatures by the vnsupportable lustre of thy Maiesty thou who sittest in the pauillion of thy glory vpoÌ„ the winges of Cherubims from thence doest measure the depth of the abysse I adore thee my God from the center of my Nothing with al the creatures of the world making into thy haÌ„des a full resignation of all that which I am and desiring to depend for the present and for all eternity vpon thy holy will SECT 6. Of Thankesgiuing which is the second act of Deuotion IT is an act very necessary considering the benefits which we continually receaue from the hand of God It is not fit we resemble the clowds which couer the Sunne after it hath raysed them vp but that we rather coÌ„forme our selues to the mirrour which reÌ„dreth the image so soone as the face is presented We ought not to suffer any benefit to passe coÌ„ming to vs from this soueraigne hand of which we represent not the liuely figure in our grateful remembraÌ„ces And if those ancient Hebrewes according to the relation of Iosephus set markes and formes sometymes on their armes otherwhiles on their gates to declare vnto all the world the benefits which God had conferred on their families is it not a matter very iust that we endeauour to acknowledge in some manner the liberalityes of the diuine maiesty This act consisteth in three thinges First in the memory which presenteth to the vnderstanding the benefits receaued and this derstanding coÌ„sidereth the hand which giueth them and to whome and how and wherefore by what meanes and in what proportion thereupon is framed in the will an affectionate acknowledgment which not being able to become idle vnfoldeth it selfe in exteriour acts to witnesse the seruour of its affections To practise it throughtly a lift must be made to your selfe of the benefits of God which are contayned in three forts â—â— goodnes and mercy The first is that by which he hath drawne this great vniuerse from Abysses and darkenes of nothing to the light of essence life for our sakes creating a world with so much greatnesse beauty vtility proportion order vicissitude continuance and preseruing it as with the perpetuall breath of his spirit affording to euery thing its ranke forme proprietie appetite inclination seituation limits and accomplishment But aboue all creating Man as a little miracle of Nature with the adornement of so many pieces so wel enchased to beare on the brow thereof the rayes of his Maiesty The second benignity is that whereby he hath determined to rayse in man totall Nature to a supernaturall condition And the third by which he hath traÌ„sferred humance Nature fallen into sinne into miseries and into the shadow of death to innocency felicity light life eternal It is the incomprehensible mistery of the Incarnation of the Word which coÌ„prehendes six other benefits to wit the benefit of the doctrine and wisedom of heauen conferred on vs the benefit of the good examples of our Sauiour the benefit of redemption the benefit of adoption into the number of the children of God the benefit of the treasure of the merits of Iesus Christ the benefit of the holy Eucharist Besides these benefits which are in the generality of Christianity there are to be represented oftentymes with much humility the particuler fauours receaued from God in birth breeding education instruction in talents of mind and body in meanes and abilityes in friends in alliance in kinred in vocation state and profession of life in continuall protection and deliuerance from so many perils in the vicissitude of aduersities and prosperityes in the mannage of degrees of age wherein euery one in his particuler may acknowledge infinit passages of the diuine Prouidence And all this falling vpon the soule with consideration of the circumstances of ech benefit draweth in the end from the will this act of gratitude which maketh it say that which the Prophet Dauid spake My God who am I what is the house of my Father that hath hitherto bred me SECT VII The manner of Thankesgiuing PVrsuing this you shall then giue thanks for al benefits in generall and ticulerly for those which you presently receaue and which are at that time proposed vnto you to the end you may season this act with some new tast The Church accommodateth vs with an excellent forme of Thankesgiuing to God in the Hymne Te Deum laudâ—mus Or you may well say with those blessed soules To thee O my God benediction light wisedome thankes honour power vertue in the reuolutioÌ„ of all ages for euer more My God the glory which thou dost merit be rendred to the throne of thy Maiesty and be thy holy peace on earth graunted to men of good will My God I laud I blesse adore thee I yield thee thankes for the greatnesse of thy glory beâ—â—fits Great God King of heauen earth eternal Father and absolute Lord of all thinges And thou also my Sauiour Iesus only Sonne of the heauenly Father true God true man who takest away the sinns of the world and sittest at the right hand of the liuing God And thou holy Ghost coÌ„substantiall with the Father and with the Sonne most Holy Trinity receaue my prayers in thankesgiuing SECT VIII Of Offering or Oblation which is the third act of Deuotion REligion and Sacrifice began froÌ„ the worlds infancy and haue euer byn tyed to geather with an inseparable band God who giueth all would that we giue him and persuadeth that we take out of his coffers what cannot be found in our Nothing Obserue now I pray a matter coÌ„siderable that as in the law of Moyses there were three maÌ„ner of sacrifices to wit Immolations Libations Victimes Immolations which were made of the fruits of the earth LibatioÌ„s of liquors as oyle wine Victimes of beasts so likewise God requires that for fruits you affoard him your actions for liquors your affections and your selfe for Victime This is done by the act of Oblation or Offertory which is a way of sacrifice wherby we offer our selues and all that belongeth to vs at the altar of the diuine Maiesty That this act may be wel performed it is necessary at the first to haue a chast apprehâ—nsion of the power and dominion which God hath ouer vs Secondly a most intimate knowledge of the dependance we haue vpoÌ„ him representing vnto our selues that we not only receaued Being and all that which consequently dependeth thereon froÌ„ his goodnesse but that we also are supported perpetually by his hand as a stone should be in the ayre and that if he neuer so little remit thereof we should be dissolued into the Nothing from whence we were extracted From thence will arise an act of lustice in the promptnesse of the wil we shall haue to yield to God what appertaineth to him and as
your reading before you take a booke in hand Read little if you haue little leysure but with attenâ—ion euer stay vpon some sentence which returneth againe to your memory during the same day You shall find that good bookes only teach you that which is truth commauÌ„d nothing but good and promise nought but felicity SECT XVI Of other Acts of Deuotion and first of Masse MAsse should be heard euery day if it were possible and at a certaine hower in the manner as we haue expressed in the practise of this Exercise it is one of the principall Acts of deuotion the forme whereof ought to haue fiue conditions Consideration Feruor Comelynesse Example Vnion Consideration for the vnderstanding Feruor for the wil Comelynesse for the body and exterior gestures Example for your Neighbour Vnion for God ConsideratioÌ„ not to go thither through Custome or Complement Hypocrisy or compulsion but with reason and reuerence as to the Treasury of the sufferings and merits of Iesus Christ Feruor to pray there deuoutly purely and ardently dismissing at that time the thoughts of all other affayres Comelynesse in auoyding tattle ill postures the irreuerences of so many ill instructed persons who shall in the end find the vengeance of God in the Propitiatory Example in edifying all there present who ordinarily deriue great apprehensions of God by beholding in the Church the deuotion of persons of quality Vnion in dilating your hart and soule in the hart and soule of the Sonne of God by an inward and harty affection hauing at that time neyther eyes eares nor thoughts but for his loue according to the saying of an auncient Father who affirmed that no man behaued himselfe deuoutly inough in the Church if he thought there were any thing els in the world but God and himselfe It is muh to the purpose to haue good prayer-books where the offices be distinguished for euery day of the weeke and to say them according to your leysure with a well-rectifyed and perseuerant piety It is a familiar and well accommodated deuotion to heare Masse well which is done by conforming your action to that of this great Sacrifice Masse hath fiue principall parts The first consisting in the confession and prayse of God The second in the instruction of the Epistle the Gnospell Creed The third in Oblation The third in Oblation The fourth in Consecration The fifth in Petitions and Prayers which are especially made at the end At the Consiteor you shall implore the diuine assistance to direct this Act wel you shal coufesse your sinnes and likewise God in the Hymne of Angels which is ordinarily repeated in this place endeauouring to imitate the reuerence of those Heauenly Quires At the instruction if you vnderstand not the words of the Epistle and Ghospel which is then read Read and meditate attentiuely at that time on some senteÌ„ce of the little abridgement of the doctrine of Iesus Christ A little to tast leysurely the wordes of our Sauiour is a great spurre to perfection it oftentimes happeneth that many haue beene conuerted by a good Word which penetrated very far into their harts SECT XVII An abridgment of the Doctrine of Iesus-Christ to be vsed at Masse I Am the Way the Truth and the Life No man commeth to the Father but by me Iohn chap. 14. The time is fulfilled and the Kingdome of God is at hand Be penitent and belieue the Ghospell Marc. chap. 1. Come to me all yee that labour and are burthened and I wil refresh you Take vp my yoake vpon you learne of me because I am meeke and humble of hart and you shall find rest to your soules For my yoke is sweet and my burthen light Matth. 11. Al whatsoeuer you will that men do to you do you also to them For this is the law the Prophets Math. 7. This is my precâ—pt that you loue one another as I loued you Greater loue then this no man hath that a man yield his life for his friendes you are my friendes if you do what I commaund you Iohn 5. Loue your enemyes do good to theÌ„ that hate you pray for theÌ„ that persecute you that you may be the children of your Father in Heauen who maketh his Sun to rise vpon the good bad raineth vpon iust and vniust Math. 5. Be merciful as your heauenly Father is mercifull ludge no man and you shal not be iudged Condâ—mne no man you shall not be condemned Forgiue and you shal be forgiuen Giue and there shal be giuen to you Luc. 6. See and beware of all auarice For not in any maÌ„s aboundance doth his life consist of those things that he possesseth Luc. 12. Enter by the narrow gate because broad is the gate and large is the way that leadeth to perdition many there are that enter by it How narrow is the gate straite is the way that leadeth to life few there are that find it Math. 7. He that taketh not vp his Crosse followes me is not worthy of me Math. 10. You shall be afflicted in this world but take courage I haue vanquished the world Iohn 19. Behold I am with you all the dayes euen to the end of the world Math. 28. Watch pray that you may not fall into tentation The spirit is prompt but the flesh is frayle Math. 26. Let your loynes be girded and candles burning in your hands and you like to men expecting their Lord when he shall returne from the wedding that when he doth come and knocke forthwith they may open vnto him Luc. 12. Looke well to your selues â—east perhaps your harts be ouercharged with surfetting and drunknesse with the cares of this life Luc. 21. Behold the houre wheÌ„ all those that are in their graues shall heare the voice of the Sonne of God and such as haue done well shal come to the resurrection of life but those who haue done ill to the resurrection of iudgement SECT XVIII VVhat is to be done at the Offertory in Masse and other ensuing Acts. AT the Offertory you shal endeauour to stir vp in your selfe a great reuerence of this incomparable Maiesty who commeth to replenish this sacrifice with his presence and you shall say My God dispose me to offer vnto thee the merits of the life and Passion of thy wel beloued Sonne At this present in the vnion thereof I make oblation vnto thee of my vnderstanding my wil my memory my thoughts my words my workes my sufferings my consolations my good my life all that I haue al that I can euer pretend vnto and I offer it vnto thee as by the hand of the glorious Virgin Mary and the holy Angells who are present at this sacrifice to present vnto thee the prayers of all this faithfull company Afterward at the Preface when the Priest inuiteth all the world to lift their harts vp to God or wheÌ„ the Angelical Hymne is pronounced which is called by
the Auncients Tâ—isagion these words may be sayd drawne from the Liturgy of S. Iames S. Chrysostome To thee the Creatour of all Creatures visible inuisible To thee the Treasure of eâ—ernal blessingâ— To thee the fountaine of life immortality To thee the absolute Mayster of the whole world be the praise honour and worship yielded which thou deseruest Let the Sunne the Moone the Quire of Starres the Ayre the Earth the Sea all that is in the Celestiall Elementary world blesse thee Let thy Hierusalem thy Church from the first birth therof already enrolled in heauen glorify thee Let so many chosen soules of Apostles Martyrs and Prophets Let Angels Archangels Thrones Dominations Principalityes Powers and Vertues Let the dreadfull Cherubins Seraphins perpetually sing the hymne of thy triumphs Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Hoasts Heauen and Earth are filled with the glory Saue vs thou who doest inhabite Heauen which is the Pallace of thy Maiesty After Consecration at the Adoration of the Hoast Saint Thomas sayd MY Lord Iesus thou art the Sonne of the Eternall Father It is thou who to redeeme the world hast cloathed thy selfe with our flesh in the wombe of a Virgin It is thou who hauing ouercome the Agonies of death openedst heauen to vs. It is thou who sittest at the right hand of the Eternal Father who shalt iudge the liuing and the dead My God help thy seruants whome thou hast Redeemed with thy most precious bloud Hauing adored the Hoast say this Prayer of S. Bernard in his Meditations vpon the Passion O HeaueÌ„ly Father Behold from thy Sanctuary and Throne of thy glory this venerable Hoast which is offered to thee by our Bishop lesus thy most innocent and sacred Son for the sinnes of his Brethren and mollify thy hart vpon the multitude of our offences and miseryes Behold the voice of the bloud of this most innocent LaÌ„be which cryeth out to thee and himselfe all crowned with glory and honour standeth before thee at the right hand of thy Maiesty Looke O my God on the face of thy Messias who hath been obedient to thee euen to death and let not his sacred wounds be euer farre distant froÌ„ thine eyes no more then the remembrance of the satisfaction he presented to thee for the remedy of our crimes O Let all tongues prayse blesse thee in remembrance of the super-aboundance of thy bounty thou who hast deliuered thine only Sonne ouer to death vpon earth to make him our most faithfull Aduocate in Heauen FOR PETITION At our Lords prayer when you haue sayd it repeate these words of the Liturgy heere before alleadged MY God be mindfull of all Pastours and faithfull People who reside in all Regions of the habitable world in vnion of the Catholicke Faith preserue them in thy holy peace Good God saue our most Gracious King and his whole Kingdome lift vp the prayers which we offer to thy liuing Image vpon thine Altars My God Eternall remember those who trauell by Sea or Land and are exposed to so many dreadfull daungers Remember so many poore Pilgrimes Prisoners Exiles who sigh vnder the miseries of the world My God remember the sicke and al those who are in any discomfort of mind Remember so many poore soules toyled out with acerbities who implore thyne assistance Remember also the conuersion of so many Heretiques Sinners and Infidels whome thou hast created to thyne owne image My God remember our friends benefactors take this great sacrifice for the liuing and the dead and so do that all may tast the effect of thy mercyes dissipate scandals warres and Heresies and affoard vs thy peace and Charity And at the end of Masse MY God powre downe thy graces vpon vs direct our steps in thy paths fortify vs in thy freare confirme vs in thy friendship and in the end giue vs the inheritance of thy children It is also very expedient to haue your deuotions ordered for euery day of the weeke SECT XIX Deuotions directed for the dayes of the weeke IF you desire this distinction of dayes I tell you that some dedicate Sunday to the most holy Trinity Munday to the comfort of faythfull soules which are departed into the other world Tuesday to the memory of Angels Wednesday to that of the Apostles of al Saints Thursday to the veneration of the Sacrament of the Altar Friday to the mystery of the passion and Saturday to the honour of our Blessed Lady Others employ their remembrance to be particuler for euery day as for SuÌ„day the glory of Paradise Munday the iudgmeÌ„t-day Tuesday the blessinges of God Wednesday death Thursday the paynes of Hell Friday the passion Saturday the vertues of our Lady as heeretofore It is the Counsell of S. Bonauenture in his lesser workes We deriue also a singular practise of deuotion for euery day of the weeke froÌ„ the Hymnes of S. Ambrose which the Church for euer makes vse of For from thence we learne to thank God for euery worke of creation and to make the greater world correspond with the lesse Sunday which is the day wherin the light was created we should render thanks to God that he hath produced this temporall light which is the smiling of heauen the ioy of the world distending it as a piece of cloath of gold ouer the face of the ayre earth enkindling it as a torch to behold his workes by From thence penetrating further we will giue him thankes that he hath afforded vs his sonne called by the holy Fathers the Day-bringer to communicate vnto vs this great light of sayth which is as sayth Saint Bernard A copy of the Eternity we will humbly beseech him this light may neuer be Eclypsed in our vnderstandings but may daily replenish vs with more more knowledge of his holy will And for this purpose we must heare the word of God and be present at diuine Seruice with all feruor and purity Carefully preserue your selfe froÌ„ pollution through any disorder on the day which God hath reserued to himselfe and from giuing to DagoÌ„ the first fruits of the weeke which you should offer vp at the feet of the Arke of Couenant Monday which is the day wherein the Firmament was created to separate the waters the Celestiall from the inferior and terrestriall waters we shal represent vnto our selues that God hath giuen reason vnto vs as a firmament to separate diuine cogitations from animal and we will pray vnto him to mortify in vs anger and concupiscence and grant vs a perfect maistery ouer all the passions which oppose the law Eternall Tuesday the day wherin the waters which before couered the whole element of the Earth were ranked in their places the earth appeared to become the mansion nurse tombe of man we shall figure vnto our selues the great worke of the iustification of the world made by the Word Incarnate when it had raysed vp a huge masse of obstacles as well