me O euerlasting lighte and shine in my hart that I may reioyse in thee come vnto me O my lyfe moste noble and most sweete that through thee I maye lyue in thee and with thee in thy kindome for euer heare me O Lorde God to the glory of thy name and the felicity and blisse of my soule Amen A prayer to be sayd after the receiuing of the Blessed Sacrament By Sir Thomas Moore I Adore and worshippe thee and gyue my humble and heartie thankes vnto thee moste mercifull Lorde Iesu Christe whiche haste vouchsafed to admit me moste vile sinner vnto the noble and liuely feast of thy moste holy table Alas poore wretch that I am For I haue receyued this moste venerable Sacrament to-to vnworthily Lorde haue mercy on me Lord forgyue me I commēd that which I haue done vnto thy Diuine hart there to be amended to be made perfect Receyue I beseeche thee Lorde these moste holy mysteries of thy blessed Body whiche I haue receyued to the euerlasting glorie of thy holy name to the honour of thy most swete Mother the Virgin Marie to the honour of thy blessed Saint N. Here name the Sainte of that daye to the honour of all thy blessed holy Saints and Angels of heauen for my soule healthe and for the soule health of all Christen people quicke and dead Receyue good Lorde this moste excellent Sacrament in full amendment purgatiō and satisfaction for all my sinnes negligences and for the sinnes of all the worlde Restore by it and make vp againe all my ghostly ruines and decayes and supplie my needy pouertie Mortifie by it in me what soeuer doth displease thee and make me one accordinge to thy heartes desire By it make my spirite my soule and my body conformable to the spirite soule and body of thy holy Humanitie and lighten me altogyther with the light of thy Diuinitie Graunt by it that I may be stablished in thee that I perfytly with perseuerance loue thee that I may be incorporate vnto thee most nerely vnited vnto thee and that I maye be chaunged all whole into thee to the laude of thy blessed name Amen COnuert Lorde miserable sinners call againe heretikes and schismatikes Lighten the infidels that knowe not thee helpe all that be in anye necessitye and trouble helpe all them that haue commended them selues or desired to be cōmended vnto my prayers Haue mercy vpon my parentes benefactours Haue mercy vpon all thē for whome I am bound to praye that thou wouldest be intreated for Haue mercy on this place and companie Graunte that here bee alwaye humilitie peace charitie chastie and puritie Graunt that we all may worthily amend and correct our selues that we may feare the and serue thee faithfully that we may loue thee and please thee I commend vnto thy mercy all our businesses and all our necessities Lorde be mercifull vnto all people for whome thou hast shedde thy precious bloude Graunt vnto the quicke forgyuenes and grace vnto the faithfull departed reast and lyfe euerlasting Amen Another Prayer after receyuing of the Sacrament By Sir Thomas Moore THankes be vnto thee O holy Father God almightie that thou diddest vouchesafe of thy greatpitie to sende thy only Sōne from thy high Throne into this vale of wo miserie here to take our nature and shape in the same to suffer moste sharp paines bitter death to bring our soules to thy kingdome and to leaue that precious Body here to be our strēgth and comfort I thanke thee moste mercifull Lorde Iesu with all the mighte and strength that thou hast gyuen me I offer to thee thankes that thou this daye haste fed me with thine owne precious Body by whiche I hope to haue healthe of soule and euerlasting lyfe with ioye when I depart hence O holy Ghost come good Lorde and enflame my hart with thy brenninge beames of loue and make me with vertuous swetenes continually to yolde acceptable thankes to the holy and glorious Trinitie O ye three Persons one God glorie laude and honor with all reuerence be offered to you of all creatures without ende Amen The ende of the seuenth Chapter THE EIGHT CHAPTER CONTEYNING LAVDES PRAIses and thankes-gyuing for the benefites that God hathe bestowed vpon vs. A psalme in vvhich a sinner yeldeth thankes to God that his enemyes haue not preuayled agaynste him nor gotten the vpper-hand of him I VVill magnifie praise thee O Lord God for thou haste exalted me and sette me vp mine ennemies haue not gotten the ouer hand of me O Lorde of hoastes I haue cried vnto thee and thou haste saued me Thou haste broughte my soule out of hell thou haste holden me vp from fallynge into thee deepe lake from whence no man retourneth Thou haste not closed me vp in the handes of myne ennemies but thou haste sette my feete in a place both wyde and broade I haue sought thee and thou hast hearde me thou haste brought me into libertie oute of great distresse Thou haste turned my sorowe into gladnes thou haste ceased my mourning compassed me round aboute with myrth Thou haste declared thy great magnificence in helpinge thy seruaunt Thou haste done meruaylouslie with me in my miseries Thou haste regarded the paine of the poore thou haste turned awaye thy face from me I will be synging and speakyng of thy mercyes and I will publishe to other thy fidelitie and truthe so long as I shall lyue My mouthe shall neuer cease to speake of thy rytghteousnes of thy benefites which be so manye that I can not number them But I will gyue thee thankes tyll death take me awaye I wyll syng in the prayse of thee so longe as I shall continue I will triumphe and reioyce in thy mercy for thou haste looked vpon my necessityes and regarded my soule in great dystresse Thou haste bene my sure refuge and the strength of my truste and hope I thanke thee Lorde for thy goodnes alwaye and for thy excedinge mercie Thou haste bene my comfort in the time of my trouble thou hast bene mercifull vnto me O Lorde and haste reuenged the wronges that myne enemyes haue done to me Accordinge to the multitude of the heauy thoughtes that I had in my minde thy cōfortes haue cheared and lyghtned my hart Thou hast sente me nowe ioyes for the dayes wherein I was in sorowe and for the yeares in whiche I suffred many a painfull storme Thou haste called to remembraunce the rebuke that thy seruaunt hathe bene put to and howe furiously myne enemies haue persecuted me O Lorde God of hostes who may be compared vnto thee thou arte great greatly to be praysed Thou arte hyghe vpon all the earth thou art exalted farre aboue all goddes Glory and honour before thy face holynes and magnificence in thy sanctuary VVith iustice and iudgement thy royall throne is stablished mercye and truthe go before thy face Blessed arte thou O Lorde which haste not
in the holy Ghost eternallye Amen A prayer for the soule of thy father Io. Damase in historia barl Iosa O Lorde God of insearcheable and ineffable bountye bringe my father to the place of rest and refreshing where the light of thy countenaunce dothe gloryouslye shine do not remembre his former offences but accordinge to thy great mercy blotte out cancell the obligations of his sinnes teare and rent them asunder for thou art worthy of all glorye for euer and euer Amen A prayer for the soule of thy mother B. Agustinus ca. vlti li. 9. confessionum O The God of my hart my life and my prayse I humbly desire thee to pardone the sinnes of my mother graciously heare me for his sake which is the medicyne of our woundes whiche did hange vpō the tree now sitting on thy righte hande maketh intercession for vs sinners I know that she hath delt charitably frō her hart hath forgyuen all her debtors release also vnto her all those sinnes what soeuer since her baptisme she hath fallen into Release them O Lorde release them I beseech thee and enter not into iudgemente with her let thy mercy exceede thy iudgement for thy wordes are true and thou haste promised mercy to the mercyfull For my mother when the day of her death approched did request and desire this that we wolde remember her soule at thy holye Aultar where she had serued thee wherby she did know and beleeue that the holy oblation of the body and precious bloode of our sauiour Iesus Christ was made wherby the obligation made against vs was cancelled whereby the enemie was vanquished counting our sinnes searchinge what he might obiecte against vs and finding nothinge in vs by the meanes of Iesus Christ in whom we haue victorye whoe shall render to Iesus Christe his innocent bloode who shall requite the pryce wherwith he hath bought vs that he might pull and draw vs from our enemye To the misterye of the which price thy seruaunt hath vnited and bounde her soule by the bonde of fayth let no man withdrawe her furth of thy protection let not the dragon nor lyon intrude him selfe neither by force nor deceipt neither as yet will thy hand-mayd answere that she is not in debte leste she be conuinced and possessed of that crafty accuser but she will answere that her debtes are released by him whom none cā repay that which he owinge nothinge hath payed for vs let her therefore rest in peace with her husband before whom and after whom she was neuer maried to any other whom she hath serued and broughte foorth fruite to thee with great patience to the ende she mighte gayne him to thee Inspire O my Lord God inspire thy seruauntes my brethren thy childrē my superiours whom with voyce harte penne I doe serue that who soeuer shall reade these they may remember at thy Aultar thy seruant Monica with Patricius her late husband by whose fleshe thou haste broughte me into this worlde by what meanes I knowe not how let them remember with deuoute zeale my parentes in this transitorye lyfe and my brethren vnder thee their Father in the lapp of their Catholicke Mother and my countrye-men in the eternall Ierusalem which thy people in their pilgrymage from their departure vntill their returne desire to attayne vnto that shee may attaine by the prayers of many those thinges which she requyred at my handes when she departed Amen A prayer for the soule of thy parentes O God which haste commanded vs to honour and reuerence our father and mother haue mercy I beseeche the on the soules of my father and mother and of all my other parentes forgyue them their offences and graunt that I may see them in the ioye of thy euerlasting blysse Amen A prayer for thy friend departed O God the gyuer of pardon and louer of mans saluatiō we beseeche thy clemency through the intercession of the glorious Virgin Marie and of all the holy Saints of heauen that thou wilt graunt that the brethē sisters friends departed in the vnitie of the Catholicke Church with all our benefactours maye come to the blysse of thy euerlastinge kyngdome throughe Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A prayer for the lyuing the deade ALmighty and euerlasting God Lorde of the lyuinge and the dead thou shewest mercye to all those whome by faythe and good worcks thou knowest to be thine we humbly beseech the that those for whome we haue determined to pray whom ether this presēt world yet retayneth in fleshe or the worlde to come hath alredie receyued maye through the clemencye of thy bountye intercession of all thy blessed Saints obtayne full remission of their sinnes Amē A prayer for the departed to be sayd at masse B. Ambr. praecatio 1. praepa VVE humbly beseech thee O holy father for the soules of the faythfull departed this life that the holy Sacrifice of the masse may be to them eternall saluatiō perpetuall health ioy rest euerlasting O my Lorde God lett this wounderfull and excellent mysterye of pyetie and bountie be vnto them this day full perfect ioye graunt that they maye bee replenished with thee the lyuing true bread which descēdest from heauen and gyuest lyfe to the world and with that holy and blessed flesh of thee the immaculate Lambe which takest awaye the sinnes of the world and make them to drinke of that fontaine of thy pyetie whiche by force of the souldiars lance issued from the syde of our Lorde Iesus Christ crucified that so beinge cōforted they may reioyce in thy holy laude and glorie Amen The ende of the thyrtienth Chapter FINIS Aug. in Psal 42. This is the Iustice of man in this life Fasting Almes-deedes Prayer PRAYER IS GOOD WITH FASTING AND ALMES TOB. 12 Ibidem in serm 59. He that wyll haue his prayer to flye to heauen muste make it two wynges Almes-deedes Fasting and it shall spedelye ascende and bee harde A TABLE OF PRAYERS MEDITATIONS EXHORTAtions and aduertismentes contayned in this presente Manuall of prayers The first chapter contayning quotidiane or dayly praiers accomodated and prescribed to certayne houres times both for the day and night A Briefe exhortation to prayer contynuallye extracted and taken out of S. Chrisostome folio 1. A prayer in the morning when ye awake folio 3. VVhen ye doe aryse folio 3. A morning prayer when you are rysen folio 3. A morning prayer whereby to commende thy selfe vnto God folio 3. A prayer to be sayed goinge out of the house folio 4. A prayer desiringe God to order and directe vs. folio 4. A prayer to perseuer in goodnes folio 5. An exercyse to be dayly vsed in meditatinge the passion of our Lorde and Sauiour with an exhortation contayning fiftiene meditationes with a prayer belonginge to them or to euery one of them folio 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Certayne asperations ghostly sighinges and prayers to be daylye vsed folio
crucified for me I goe into my bedde let him blesse me †gouerne me and defende me and bringe me into lyfe euerlastinge Amen A prayer to be sayed as thou seitleste thy selfe to sleepe L. Viues in precibus general O Iesu Christ our safegarde receaue me into thy protection and graunt that when my body is a sleepe my soule may watch to thee and that it may ioyfullye and gladlye beholde that blessed moste ioyfull and heauenly lyfe where thou art gouernour together with the Father and the holy Ghost and where the Angels with the blessed soules are citizens for euer and euer Amen An exhortation to watche taken out of holy Scripture The day of our Lorde shall come as a theefe in the night Thes 1. v. 5. VVatche ye therefore because ye knovve not the day nor the houre Math. 25. v. 13. And that vvhich I say to you I say to all vvatche Marc. 13. v. 37. The ende of the first Chapter Moste holesome meditations vvhich vve ought day and night to haue before our eyes and alvvayes to haue in remembraunce VVe onght continually to remēber these three things that is to saye Tyme Paste That vve haue vnprofitably spent That good vvhich vve haue left vndonne That euill vvhich vve haue committed Tyme Present Of the shortnes of mans lyfe Of the difficultie to be saued Of the small number that shall be saued Tyme To come Of death moste miserable Of the last Indgement most horrible Of the paynes of hell intollerable THE SECONDE CHAPTER CONTEYNINGE GOODly deuout prayers to be sayed before at after the holy Sacrifice of the Masse A prayer vvhen thou doest enter into the churche Ex hortulo animae OH take from me moste mercifull Lorde all mine iniquityes to the ende I may with a pure and contrite harte enter into the holy of holyes O Sauiour of the worlde which lyuest and reignest with the father and the holy ghost A prayer to styrre vp the minde to deuotion before Masse Io. Fab. ex Aug. 33. medit ALmightye and moste mercifull Father vnto thee all the heauenly companie of the celestiall citie all the blessed orders of saued spirites doe incessantly with due reuerēce sing continuall glory and euerlasting prayse Thee O Lord all saintes and soules of holy men doe laude and magnifie with moste worthie and condigne honour as to whome all prayse honour and glorie is most iustly due Nor there is any creature be he neuer so worthy that can sufficiently accordinge to thy worthynes geue vnto thee worthye and sufficiente prayse For thou arte that vnspeakeable vncomprehensible and euerlastinge goodnes Thou good Lorde hast made me thou haste through the merites of the bitter passion of thy moste blessed Sonne which he vouchesafed to suffer for man-kind restored me to the state of saluation To thee onely is due all laude and honour if anye good thinge be found in me Oh good Lord I miserable wretche a creature of thy makinge a poore woorme of the earth haue good will to laude and magnifie thee with all my minde whole intent but without thy speciall grace I finde my selfe fainte and wonderfull weake wherfore I come to thee my God my lyfe my strength my hope and onelye comforte to craue thy mercie and grace to geue mee power to praise thee Graunte of thy vnspeakeable mercy that I may worthelie prayse honour thee and that what I doe therin may be pleasing acceptable to thee Graunt me the light of thy grace that my mouth maye speake my harte studie thy glorie my tounge may be occupied only in the song of laude praise But because all praise in a sinners mouthe is vyle and I must of force confesse my selfe manifoldelie to haue offēded with my lippes clēse thou o good Lorde my harte from all filthe and sinne Sanctifie me moste mightie Sauioure bothe inwardlie and outwardlie and make mee worthy to magnifie thee receyue of thy infinite goodnes the sacrifice of my lippes and make it acceptable in thy sighte lett the sauour therof be plesaunte well smelling vnto thee Let thy holie swetenes possesse wholie my mind and feade my soule with the fulnes of inuisible thinges lett my soule good Lorde bee quite cutte from visible things all whollie geuen to the studie of inuisible thinges cleane seperat from earthlie things and wholie addicted to heauenlie meditations make my soule see the wonderfull sight of thy Maiestie O almightie God enspire thou my harte that I maye continuallie geue thankes vnto the and honour thee for euer Graunt mee the grace that in my pilgrimage and vale of miserie I may so praise thee that through thy mercie grace I may bee associat to their holie fellowshippe whiche see the euerlastinglie singe prayse to thee worlde without ende Amen A deuoute prayer necessary to be sayed euery Sunday Cornel. Donters in his contemplations of the Passion MY most louing God and Lord and my creatour I miserable sinner doe presente my selfe this day before thine eyes beseeching thee humblye that through thine infinite bountye thou wouldeste vouchsafe to geue me grace that I may keepe holy this Sunday according to thy commaundement and the precept of our mother the holy Church geuing me true contrition of all my sinnes that I haue committed against thy diuine Maiestie and against my neighbour by thoughts wordes and deedes and by omission of good workes which I ought to haue done And I most humblie beseech thee most sweete Iesus that thou wouldest not consider the multitude of my sinnes but remember thine infinit mercy and vouchsafe to graunte me grace to spende this weeke folowing without mortall sinne and for the honour of thy death and passion to geue to al sinners knowledge and grace to do penaunce in this worlde and generally to haue mercy of al those that our mother the holy Churche desireth this day to pray for that with her we all may be partakers of thy sorowfull passion Amen A prayer to be vsed before confession or before Masse if time serue OH maker of heauen and earth king of kinges and Lorde of Lords which of nothing diddest make to thine image and lykenes and diddest redeme me with thine owne precious bloude whom I a sinner am not worthye to name neither to call vpon neither with my harte to thinke vpon humbly I desire thee mekely pray thee that gently thou do beholde me thy wicked seruaunte and haue mercy on me which haddest mercye of the woman of Canane and Mary Magdalene which diddest forgeue the Publicane the thefe hanging on the crosse vnto thee I confesse most holy Father my sinnes whiche if I woulde I can not hide frō thee Haue mercy on me O Christ for I wretche haue sore offended thee in pryde in couetousnesse in gluttony in lechery in vaine-glory in hatred in enuy in adultery in thefte in lyinge backebitinge in sporting in dissolute and wanton laughing in Idle wordes in hearinge in tastinge in
testament which the Church receauinge of thy holy Apostles offereth through-out the whole world to thee O God the creator of all things offring vnder a hidden misterie the first fruites of thy creatures and giftes to witt bread and wyne mingled withe water streight-wayes to be consecrated into the flesh and bood of thy welbeloued sonne that by the same oblation he may represente him whoe is the lyuely bread descendinge from heauen geuing lyfe to all the worlde who by the bloode and water which flowed from his side did washe vs from our sinnes vouchsafe almighty God mercifully to accept this oblatiō which thy Catholicke Church offreth to thee by the Prieste for all thy people whom thou haste purchased with the pretiouse bloode of thy deare-beloued sonne our lord Iesus Christ Amen VVhan the Priest turninge desireth the people to pray for him OVr Lord send thee helpe from heauen and protect thee Our Lord be mindfull of this thy sacrifice and receiue it at thy handes to the laud and glorie of his name to the healthe and comfort of our soules the soules of all faithfull liuing and dead Amen O Lorde whiche Iustyfiest the wicked and gyuest life to the dead quicken and raise me o Lord gyue me compunction of hart and teares to my eyes that I maye euer bewayle the wickednesse of my hart with humilytie Let my prayer come before thy presece O Lord Yf thou be angrie with me o god what helper shall I seeke or who shall haue mercie vpō mine iniquities remēber O Lorde that thou didst call the woman of Cananea the Publicane to repētance didst receiue Peter after his teares Receiue also my praiers O God my Sauiour who liuest raignest for euer Amen VVhen the Priest saith Sursum corda O God father moste highe lyfte vp our hartes and minds I beseche the from the cogitations of earthly cares to the meditation of heauēly loyes that we may thinke and speake of thee onely and maye in all our lyfe expresse thee and after may enioy thee for euer Amen Then say vvith the Priest IT is meete and iust righte and necessarie that we alwayes and in all places geue thee thankes O holy Lord Father almighty euerlastinge God through Iesus Christ our Lorde by whome the Angells praise thy Maiestie the dominatiōs adore the the powers tremble the vertues of heauen and the heauens and the blessed Seraphin with mutual gladnesse gyue praise vnto the with whome we beseche the that thou wilt commande our prayers to be receiued sayeing with humble confession Holie Holie Holie Lord God of Sabaothe The heauens earth are full of thy glorie Glorie be to God on the highest blessed is he that commeth in the name of our Lorde O sanna in the highest Amen At the holy Canon O Moste high Priest and true Bishoppe Iesus Christ who hast offred thy selfe to God thy father vpon the alter of the Crosse a pure and immaculate Hoste for vs wretched sinners who hast left vnto vs thy flesh and bloode in a Sacrament which is made by thy diuine omnipotencie hast ordeyned this Sacrament whiche thou commaundest to be offred in remembrance of our saluatiō by the same thy almightie power I beseche thee that thou wilt graunte me poore sinner worthely to remember thy blessed Passion and to resigne and consecrate my selfe all that I haue wholly to thee who art my Lorde and redemer to be present at this heauenly sacrifice with feare reuerēce with puretie of hart plenty of teares with spirituall gladnesse and heauenly Ioye lett my minde taste the swetenesse of thy blessed presence and perceiue the troupes of thy saints and Angells which are about the. Amen SPeake with me o blessed Virgin Mary that my prayers may take effect before thy sonne our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ Entreate for me O ye Apostles make intercession for me O ye Martirs praye for me all ye Confessors and all the holye companie of heauen the prayers of such O Lord thou despisest not Inspire thē therefore to praye for me O Lord which liuest and raignest one God for euer and euer Amen Here meditate vvith your selfe till the Eleuation ANd thinke your selfe vnworthie to be present amonge so many thow sande of Angelles and saincts as are there although inuisiblie to vs tending vpō him with all reuerence whom we through our sinnes caused to die a moste bitter deathe whome through our euell lyfe we from time to time as much as in vs lyeth do crucifie Thinke how great his loue is to vs which by this dayly oblation woulde preserue vs in that estate whervnto he once brought vs. These benefittes others as time will suffer considered lett vs examine our selues our behauiour to so gracious a Lord and say with the Publicane O God be mercifull to me a sinner O Moste mercifull Lorde Iesus Christ in the remembrance of thy most blessed incarnatiō death Passion wounds sorrows greeues sighes teares and drops of thy most precious bloode and in remembrance of thy moste infinite loue to mankinde and in the vnion of this oblation and of that sacrifice by the whiche thou did offer thy selfe on the Altar of the Crosse I doe offer my selfe to thy laud and glorie humblie besechinge the to gyue to the lyuinge grace to the deceassed peace and rest and to vs all mercie and life euerlasting And I commende vnto the O Lord my soule and body all that is within me moste humblie beseching thee to haue mercy vpon me and vpon all those whome I am bounde in respect of nature or frendshippe to praye for as N. and N. c. At the Eleuation of the Host I Adore thee worshipp the O Christ with all praise benediction For by thy bitter deathe Passion thou haste redemed my soule from endlesse afflictiō Haue mercie vpon me deare Iesus and graunte that thy deathe be neuer found frustrate in me I most humblie beseche thee Amen At the Eleuation of the Chalice AL hayle moste precious and blessed blood flowinge out of the side of my Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ washinge awaye the spottes both of the olde and new offence clense sanctifie and keepe my soule I beseche thee to euerlastinge life VVE thanke the O Lord God mercifull father that thou did vouchesafe to send thine onelye begotten sonne Iesus Christ into this wretched worlde to die for vs all the most shamefull death of the Crosse to the end that he myght offer him selfe to thee through the holy ghoste a moste pure cleane holy and acceptable sacrifice for our sinnes and might so purge oure wicked conscience from all spottes of vncleanenesse By this thy exceding great loue to vs and by these moste cruell tormentes of thy sonne our Sauiour we moste humblie beseche the that thou wilt preserue in vs cōtinuallie those most noble fruites of his redemption and make vs also daylie to die with him to the worlde and to be crucified
for euer Thou rewardest vs not accordinge to our sinnes nor punishest vs accordinge to our desertes Loke howe high the heauen is in cōparyson of the earth so greate is thy mercye towardes vs. How farre as the earth is distaunt from the west so farre O Lorde remoue our sinnes from vs. Like as a naturall father hath pity vpon his children euen so O Lorde God thou haste had compassion vpon vs. Thou haste not forgotten thy creature thou remembredst that we are fleshe yea all men liuinge And that the age of men is lyke vnto grasse and may be compared to the floures in the fielde VVhich as soone as the sharpe winde hathe blowen vppon them with his blastes wither away and dye so that no man can tell where they dyd growe But thy mercie O Lorde and louyng kyndenesse is alwayes vpon them that feare thee and thy ryghteousnes endureth for euer So that we kepe our promyse and conuenaunt with thee and so remember thy commaundementes that we doe them in deede O Lorde thou haste stablished thy throne in heauen and thou gouernest all thinges by thine imperyall power I will magnifie thee O Lorde and prayse thy name worlde withoute ende I will gyue thankes alwaye and make thy name glorious fo euer O Lorde thou arte puissant and greate and thy magnyficence is vnsearcheable One generation shall shewe to another thy workes and they shall declare thine auncient noble actes They shall euer prayse the magnificence of the glorie of thy holynes the memorie of thy great goodnes For thou arte good and gracious to all men and thy mercye excedeth all thy workes The eyes of all men beholde wayte vpon thee that thou shouldest gyue them their susten aunce in time conuenient Thou openest thyne hande and fillest euery lyuinge creature with necessary foode O Lorde thou art ryghtfull in al thy wayes holy in thy deedes Thou kepest all them that loue thee and the tourmente of malice shall not touche them My mouthe shall speake thy glorie and prayse and all lyuinge creatures shall honour thy holye name for euer Prayse our Lorde oh ye his Angels mightie in power whiche doe his commaundementes and obeye the voyce of his worde Prayse ye altogyther God O all ye hostes you his ministers that do his will and pleasure Prayse our Lorde as I do and let vs magnifie his name togyther Prayse our Lorde oh all ye his Saintes for his name is glorious and his prayse goeth aboute heauen and earth Prayse our Lorde togyther O all ye his workes euerye thing that liueth prayse our Lorde Amen A thanks-giuinge to God for his innumerable benefits bestovved on man from his infancie B. August can 18. Soliloq I The sonne of thy hand-mayd in these my poore confessions doe confesse to thee my redeemer with all my hart and will call to mynde all the benefites whiche thou haste bestowed vpon me all the time of my lyfe euen from mine infancye for I knowe well O Sauiour that thou art greatlye displeased withe ingratitude for it is the roote of all spirituall euill and a certaine wynd dryenge and burninge all good stopping the fountaine of thy dyuine mercy towardes man But I O Lorde will gyue thee thankes least I be ingratefull to thee my redeemer because thou hast delyuered me howe oft had that dragon swallowed me vppe if thou haddest not taken me from his mouth how oft haue I sinned and he was redy to haue deuoured me but thou my Lorde God haste defended me when I wrought wickedly agaynst thee and did breake thy commaundementes he would haue drawen me to hell if thou haddest not letted him I did offend thee and thou diddest defend me I did not feare thee and thou didest preserue me I departed from thee and offered my selfe to mine enemie but thou diddest affraye him that he durst not take me thou diddest bestowe these great benefites vpon me O my God yet I poore wretch did not know it Thou hast often times deliuered me from the iawes of the diuell thou hast takē me out of the mouth of the lyon and haste brought me many tymes from hell I not knowinge it for I wente downe to the gates of hell but thou haste stayed them that I entred not in I did hasten to the portes of death but thou diddest not suffer them to inclose me in thou haste also often deliuered me from bodyly death O my sauiour VVhen I haue bene sore vexed with sicknes and in greate danger by lande and sea by fier and sword thou haste stoode by me and mercifully deliuered me from all for thou diddest knowe O Lorde if death had then ouertaken me hell had receyued my soule and I had bene damned for euer but thy mercye and grace preuented me and deliuered me from death both of bodye and soule O my Lorde God These and many other benefites thou haste heaped vpon me but I being blind did not perceiue it vntill thou dyddest illumynate me Now therefore O the light of my soule O my Lorde God O my life by whom I lyue O the lighte of mine eyes by the which I see loe thou haste illuminated me and I know thee for by thee I lyue And I gyue thee thankes although insufficient and nothing correspondente to thy benefites yet such as my frayltie is able to afford I offer vnto thee I confesse and acknowledge thy goodnes for thou haste broughte me from the lower hell once twyse thryse yea a hundred and a thousand tymes I was euery day going downe to hell but thou diddest bringe me backe agayne and iustly thou might a thousande tymes haue condemned me if it had bene thy pleasure but thou wouldest not because thou louedst soules and dissemblest the sinnes of men expectinge their repentance O my God my sauiour in all thy wayes their is great mercy now I see and manifestly know through the light of thy grace and my soule doth faynte in the contemplation of thy greate mercy towardes me because thou haste pluckt me from the lower hell and haste brought me backe againe to lyfe It is then by thee wholy that I liue and therfore I wholy offer my whole selfe to thee my whole soule my whole harte my whole body my whole life let it liue vnto thee O my sweet lyfe for thou haste wholy delyuered me that thou mighte wholye possesse me thou hast wholy made me that thou mighte wholy haue me agayne Therefore I will loue thee O Lord which art my strēgth I will loue thee O my ineffable ioy and comforte so that my wholle life shall liue no more but for thee which lyfe was loste in my misery and nowe reuyued agayne in thy mercy for thou art a God mercyfull to thowsands that loue thy holy name Amen A prayse and thankes gyuinge to God for his great benefites Io. Roffe psal 13. lib preca MY soule doth praise thee O my God and all that is within me doth laude thy holy name my soul doth render
present death I beseech thee O Lorde to succour and helpe me and iudge me not accordinge to my workes for I haue not bene obediente to thy commaundements but thou which louest repentance haue mercy vpon me which before thy face make confession of all my sinnes and as Dauid prayed O Lord for the loue of thy holy name wype awaye my sinnes so I beseech thy diuine Maiestie to blotte out all my offences Make me to abyde in thy holy Catholike Church with an vndefiled faith a pure hart firme deuotiō continuall loue and to perseuer in good workes deliuer me from the eternall fyre euerlasting payne from all torment which thou haste prepared for the wicked graunte this for our good and blessed Sauiours sake by whom to thee al laud honour power and glorye be for euer and euer Amen A prayer to God the Sonne called O bone Iesu O Bountifull Iesu O swete Iesu O Iesu the sonne of the pure Virgin Marie full of mercy and trueth O swete Iesu after thy great mercy haue pitie on me O bening Iesu I praye thee by the same precious bloude which for vs miserable finners thou wast contente to shed on the aulter of the crosse that thou wouldest vouchsafe to auoid clene all my wickednes and not to despise me hūbly asking pardō calling vpō thy most holy name Iesus This name Iesus is the name of health what is Iesus but a Sauiour O good Iesus that hast created me with thy precious bloude redemed me suffer me not to be dāned whom of nought thou hast created O good Iesu let not my wickednes destroye that which thy almightie goodnes hath made and formed in me O good Iesu reknowlege that which is thine in me wipe cleane away that which is not thine in me O good Iesu while time of mercy is haue mercy on me and cōfound me not in time of thy terrible iudgment O good Iesu if I wretched sinner for my moste grieuous offēces haue by thy verye iustice deserued eternall paine yet I appeale from thy verye righteousnes and stedfastlye trust in thine ineffable mercy so as a mylde father mercyfull Lorde oughte take pitie on me O good Iesu what profit is in my bloud since I muste discende into eternall corruption they that be dead shal not magnifie thee nor lykewyse all they that descende to hell O moste mercyfull Iesu haue mercy on me O most sweete Iesu deliuer me O moste meke Iesu be vnto me comfortable O Iesu accepte me a wretched sinner into the number of them that shal be saued O Iesu the health of all them that truste in thee haue mercy vpō me O Iesu the sweete forgyuenes of all my sinnes O Iesu the sonne of the pure Virgin Marie endue me with thy grace wisdome charitie chastitie and humilitie yea in all myne aduersities with stedfast pacience so that I maye perfectlye loue thee and in thee to be glorified and haue myne onely delight in thee worlde without ende Amen A prayer to the holy ghoste Io. Fab. cap. 9. mechta COme O holy spirite the moste sweete comforter of the sorrowfull and desolate the loue of the diuine puissance the holy communication of the almightie and omnipotent father and of his most blessed sonne descende with thy mightie power into the entralls of my harte lighten and bewtifie the darke closetts of my desolate harte with thy cleare brightnes and that which with continuall filth of my vnfruitfull lyfe is dryed vppe vifit thou and make fruitfull with the aboundant dewe of thy grace Touche and wounde my harte with the darte of thy loue inflame my dull and slouthfull harte lighten the inner partes of my soule withe the heate of thy holye fyre make me to drincke of the riuer of thy sweetnes that hereafter I may feele no taste in any worldly delyte which is venimous O holye spirite O excellente workman whomsoeuer thou doest inhabite thou buildest a lodginge for the father and the sonne come therfore O moste sweete comforter of my sorowfull soule defende me in all tribulation come O purifier of our sinnes and saluer of our deadly sores come O strength and fortitude of the weake and guide of the humble come meeke father of the fatherlesse and sweete Iudge of the widowes Come O soueraigne hope of the poore and comforter of the weake come O bright starre of faylers and sure porte of the shipp wracte come O singuler bewtie and ornament of the liuing and onelye saluation of the deade come moste holy spirite come and haue mercy vpon me make fitt and accomodate me to thee condescend benignely to me accordinge to the multitude of thy mercy that my littlenes may be agreeable to thy greatnes and my imbecillitye and weakenes to thy diuyne puissance through Iesus Christ our Sauiour Amen The ende of the tenth Chapter THE ELEVENTH CHAPTER CONTAYNINGE CHRIstian Catholicke prayers to Saintos citizens of the glorie of heauen A prayer vnto the holy virgin Mary Cuth Tunstall in lib. prec Luke 1. ALl hayle vndesiled Virgin Marye mother of the sonne of God elected and chosen aboue all other Virgins the whiche euen from the wombe of thy mother Anna a woman moste holy hast bene of the holy Ghost so fanctified illuminated and so greatly defended with the grace of God almightie that vnto the conception of oure Lord Iesus Christ thy sonne and whilest thou didest conceyue hym and vnto the tyme of his birthe whylest thou didest beare him and continuallye after his byrth thou continuedst and remaynedst a Virgin of all other that be borne moste chast most vncorrupte and of bodie and soule all thy lyfe moste immaculate and vnspotted For truely thou haste far passed all other Virgins how many soeuer haue bene hetherto syns the beginninge of the worlde or euer shal be to the later ende therof in a sincere conscience of an impolluted minde By these thy most excellent gyftes of heauenly grace infused into thee by God very singulerly O Virgin and mother Marie aboue all other women and Virgins wee praye thee which art vnto vs miferable mortal men a mercyfull patronesse that thou wilt voutchesafe to make intercession to God the Father omnipotente and to his sonne Iesus Christ begotē certenly as cōcerning his Diuinitie of the Father before all worlds borne of thee cōcerning his humanity to the holy Ghost proceding from the father and the sonne that our sinnes may be forgeuen vs and that wee throughe thy intercession maye meryte continuallye to reioyce with thee O holye Virgin and to prayse thee in the kindome of heauen without ende Amen A prayer to our Ladye the blessed virgin Mary and S. Iohn Euangelist S. Edmundus Arch. Cantuarienfis author scribitur O intemerata O Vndefiled for euer blessed singular and incōparable Virgin Marie mother of God his most pleasaunt Tēple the noble Shryne of the holy Ghost the Entree and Gate of the kyngdome of heauen by whome next after God all the
Lyons R. Amen Deliuer O Lorde the soule of thy seruaunt as thou deliueredst the three Children out from the fiery fournace and from the hands of the cruell vnmercyfull Kyng R. Amen Deliuer O Lorde the soule of thy seruaunt as thou deliueredst Susanna frō the crime with which she was falsely charged R. Amen Deliuer O Lorde the soule of thy seruaunt as thou deliueredst Dauid from the handes of kinge Saul and Golias R. Amen Deliuer O Lorde the soule of thy seruaunt as thou deliueredst S. Peter and Paule out of pryson R. Amen And as thou deliueredst that blessed Virgin and Martyr Tecla from her moste cruell torments so vouchesafe to deliuer the soule of this thy seruant and make him partaker of the euerlastinge ioyes in heauen with thee R. Amen Lett vs praye VVE commend vnto thee O Lord the soule of thy seruant beseeche thee sweete Lord lefu Christ Sauiour of the worlde that thou doe not refuse to place hym in the bosome of thy Patriarches for whom thou descēdedst mercifully into the earth Acknowledg O Lord thy creature created not of any straung gods but of thee alone the true and lyuinge God for there is no other God but thou O Lorde and there is none according to thy woorkes O Lord make his soule reioyse in thy sight and remembre not his olde iniquitie and drunckenesse whiche inordinate concupiscence and raginge lustes dyd rayse in hym Albeit he sinned yet he denied not the father the sonne and the holy Ghost but belyeued stedfastly in them and he had the zeale of God in his harte and adored the God that created all of nought R. Amen Lett vs praye REmembre not we beseech the O Lorde the sinnes and ignoraunces of his wylfull youth but according to thy great mercie bee myndefull of him in the glorye of thy eternall deytie Let the heauens bee opened vnto hym Lett thy Angels reioyse of hym O Lorde receyue thy seruant into thy kyngdome Lett holy Michaell the high messenger of God that hath deserued to bee the chiefe all the holye cōpany of Angels receiue him Let all the holy Angels of God come forth and meete him conducte him into the heauēlie Citie Hierusalē Lett blessed Peter the Apostle who had the keyes of the kyndom of God delyuered vnto hym receyue hym Lett the holy Apostle S. Paule who was woorthy to bee a chosen vessell receyue hym Lett S. Iohn the elect Apostle of God to whome the heauenly secret mysteries were reuealed receyue him Lett all the holy Apostles who receyued of Christ power to loose and bynd praye for hym Lett all holye Saincts who haue sustained tormentes for the name of Christ pray for him that after he is loosed out of the pryson of this mortall flesh he may be founde woorthy to come to the glorie of the heauenly kyngdome by the assistance of our Lord Iesus Christ who with the father and the holy Ghost lyueth and raigneth worlde without ende Amen Into thy handes O Lorde we cōmen his soule O Lorde God of truth thou haste redeemed hym Lett that sweete voyce of thyne O Lorde Iesu sounde in his eares This daye thou shalt bee vvith me in Paradise Amen The ende of the tvvelfth Chapter THE THYRTIENTH CHAPTER CONTAYNING DEVOVT praiers healthfull for the departed soules An exhortation by the vvhich vve are shevved and admonyshed to praye for soules departed in the Catholicque Church Clemens I. Ponti Max. Ca. 47. lib. 8. constit Apostol MY brethren lett vs praye for our brother that resteth in Iesu Christ to the ende that our good God which hath recieued his soule may forgyue him all his sinnes willingly or vnwillingly committed and that he obteining forgyuenes may be receyued into the kingdome of the blessed in the bosome of Abraham Isaac and Iacobe with all those that from the begining haue pleased God and haue done his will from whom all sorow griefe and payne is secluded Commendations of the soule that is lately departed Albertus Castella Sacer. Rom. part 1. O Lorde we commend the soule of thy seruant that being latelye departed this lyfe he may lyue in thee and according to thy mercye pardone him his sinnes which he hath committed throughe humayne frayeltie VVe commende O Lorde the soule of this thy seruante into the handes of the holy and moste gloriouse virgin Mary the mother of mercye and clemency Also into the handes of all the holy Archangels Angels and celestiall courte of heauen into the handes of the holy Patriarches and prophets into the handes of the blessed Apostles Euangelistes and disciples into the handes of the martyrs and confessors into the handes of the virgins widowes and all votaryes who-soeuer And finally we commend the soule of this thy seruaunt into the hands of all such thy blessed saynts and seruaunts as haue pleased thee from the first creatiō of the world that by their intercession and succour he may be deliuered from the prince of darknes and from all dreadfull torments graunt this O God almightye omnipotente and full of mercy through the bitter passion of thy sweet sonne our sauiour Iesu to whom with thee and the holy Ghost be all honour and glorye for euer and euer Amen A prayer for the faythfull soule departed Precat Ecclesi in Missa O Eternall and almightye God to whom we neuer pray without hope of mercy Haue mercy of the soule of thy seruaunt N. and make him to bee vnyted to that companye of Saintes which is deceased from this life in the confession of thy name through Iesus Christe our Lorde Amen Another prayer Pontifical Rom. part 3. O God by whom all thinges lyueth and through whom our bodies diminisheth not in dyeng but are chaunged into better we moste humblye beseech thee to commaunde the soule of thy seruant to be receyued by the handes of thy holy Angels to bring him vnto the bosome of thy friend the Patriarch Abraham to ryse againe at the laste greate iudgement day pardonning him mercyfully all his sinnes which he hath committed throughe the false deceiptes and suggestion of the deuill through Iesus Christe our Lorde Amen Another prayer Clemens Aposto discip lib. 8. cap. 47. constit Apostol O God of Abraham God of Isaac God of Iacob which art God of the liuinge and not of the deade for as much as all soules of the righteouse lyueth with thee and are in thy handes they shall not be touched with any payne or torment Looke bountifully vpon this thy seruaunt which thou haste receyued into another lyfe pardone him that which he hath committed through the frayeltye of his will Appoynt him thy louing Angels to carye him into the bosomes of Patriarches Prophetes and Apostles and of all those that hath pleased thee from the begining of the worlde where is neither sorowe griefe nor horrour but an assemblye of Saintes whiche are reioysing in the countrye of the happye and iuste seeing the glory of thy Christ through whom be to thee glory honour seruice and adoration
world lyueth Bowe downe thyne eares O mother of pitye and mercy vnto my poore prayers and be to me wretched sinner a pitiouse helper in all thinge O most Blessed Ihon Euangelist the farnyliar frend of Christ which of the same Iesu Christ our Lorde was a chosen Virgin amonge all others muche beloued and aboue all others instructed and learned in heauenly Secrettes and mysteries thou was made his Apostle and Euangelist moste excellent therefore I call vpon the and Marie the mother of the same Lorde Iesu Christ our Saniour that thou and shee would vouchsaf to help me O ye two heauēly Gemmes Marie and Ihon. O two diuine Lampes euer shyninge before God dryue away with your blessed bearnes the darke cloudes of my sinnes for ye are the two in whom the onely begotten sonne of God for the merit of pure virginitie confirmed the priuilege of his singuler loue while he was hanging on the crosse saying thus to the one of you VVoman beholde thy sonne and after to the other Beholde thy mother Therefore in this sweetenes of such sacred loue wherin ye were then conioyned by the mouth of our Lorde as Mother and Sonne to you two I moste wretched sinner commend this day my body and soule that in euery houre and momente inwardly and outwardly ye woulde vouchsafe to be my suer keepers and pitifull intercessors to God for me Aske I beseech you health of body and soule for me Helpe I praye you helpe with your gloriouse prayers that the holy Ghost the noble gyuer of graces woulde wouchsafe to visite adorne and inhabite my harte to purge me from all filthe of sinne to bewtifye me with all holy vertues and make me stand perfectly and perseuer in the loue of God and my neyghbour And after the course of this lyfe I may be ledde to the ioyes of the elect by the same holy Ghost who with the father and the sonne eternally lyueth and raigneth one God almightye worlde without ende Amen A prayer to all the holy Angelles Victor Vticensis libr. de persecutione Vandalica HEare vs O holy Angells of our God whose ayde neuer faileth for you are constituted in your seruice for them that shal be heires of euerlasting saluation watch and take heede and behold howe Sion the Citie of our God is become of litle estimation and as it were polluted with infection amongest her enemyes the enemy hathe abused and wastfully occupyed all her pleasaunt beautyfull ornamētes for he hathe seene infidelles and vnworthy persones assaile enter within the gates whoe our Lorde had commaunded should not enter into his Churche Saye vnto God our protector euen as those whiche haue a sure trust to obteyne that whiche you require that his Church is afflicted trauelled her wombe sore troubled with her outcries for she is set amongest infidels doth find no rest not any to comfort her She hathe soughte who woulde mourne with her but coulde finde none she hath sought who woulde gyue her comforte but no person was to be founde euen when shee dyd eate Gaule in her meate and in her thirst tooke vynager for her drincke folowinge the Passion of her spouse and Lorde who suffred for hyr to the end that shee might followe his steppes A prayer to S. Iohn Baptist Ludo. carthusianus li. de vita Christi O Moste blessed Iohn the forerunner of Christe the crier of the Iudg frend of the spouse voice of the diuine word which haste deserued to declare fortell the ioy and comfort of our redemption obtaine for me poore and miserable sinner of the same Lord Iesus by thy most holy prayers that my harte being clensed from vice and adorned with vertues I may according to thy hoolsome admonitiōs prepare the way of our Lord and make streyght his pathes in suche sort as in the laste and finall Iudgemēt when he shall clense the floore of his Church shall seperate the good corne from the chaffe I may deserue to be found amongest the wheate his elect with thē may be layde vpp in the barne of his heauenly mansion Amen A prayer to any of the Apostles O Lord God which amongest al and aboue al thy other saintes haste moste maruelouslye chosen thy moste blessed Apostles to be the firste pillers and foundation of thy Church and before all other haste firste sent them to preach thy Ghospel through the whole world confirminge and establishing their doctryne by maruelous workes wounders and miracles and thou more-ouer by the same Apostles haste sought allured and inuited vs Gentyles to the knowledge and prayse of thy holy name VVe humblye beseech thee O Lorde mercyfully to graunte that we beinge by thee founded vpon the rocke of the Apostolicke confession and in the vnion of the same fayth are chosen and called to obeye prayse thee perpetually be neuer seperated from thee through any errour or temptation make vs pertakers of the intercession of S. N. and of the twelue Apostles in the strength and fortification of a true fayth amendment of our lyfe and auoyding and eschueing of all euil through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A prayer to any of the holy Martyres Hora B. virgi secund vs ord D. Bene. O God which haste so strenghthned in thy fayth and loue thy blessed Martyr S. N. as no fleshlye delites no threatninges of tyrantes no sworde or torture of tormentors could withdraw him from the worshipping of thee graunte vnto vs miserable sinners by his worthy merites and intercessions helpe in tribulation comforte in persecution that we may manfully fighte against all the deceites of the deuill despise the worlde and all that is in it that we may feare no aduersitie but may obtaine that which by thy holye inspiration we doe desire through Christ our Lorde Amen A prayer to any Confessor Petrus Canisius li catho prec ALmightye and euerlasting God which art the wounderful light of thy beloued saintes and principally thou haste appoynted for vs blessed bishopps pastors doctors and confessors as burninge lightes in thy house and by their doctrine exhortations writinges and testimonies recallest and reducest sinners from euill to good VVe humbly beseech thee that thou wilte vndoe lose the bonds of our sinnes and although we be vnworthie yet make vs partakers of that intercessiō of blessed S.N. all thy holy confessors that we forsakinge our sinnes and walking in true fayth and charitie folowinge them in good workes may at laste enioy their companie in the eternal beatitude through Iesus Christ our Lorde Amen A prayer to any holy Virgin Idem in eodem lib. O God which amongest the other miracles of thy power and might doest gyue and graunte in a fraile sex to all virgins wydowes matrones the victorie of martyrdome and immaculate chastitiye mercyfully graunte that we which amongest thy other holye virgins and widowes do celebrate the memory of thy blessed sainte N. may by her example and intercession despise the allurements of the flesh