discover my shame I know my sins to be many and great and withoot number Looke downe upon me with the eyes of thy mercy O Lord Jesus the eternall King God and Man and Crucifi'd for Men. Heare me graciously hoping in thee have mercy upon me full of sin and wretchednesse thou that wilt never restraine the fountaine of thy pitty to flow All hayle healthfull sacrifice offered upon the tree of the Crosse for me and for all Mankinde All hayle o noble and precious blood gushing out of the wounds of my Lord Jesus Christ crucifi'd and washing away the sins of the whole world Remember o Lord thy Creature which thou hast redeemed with thy blood It repenteth me that I have sinned I desire to amend what I have done amisse Take then away from me o most clement Father all myne iniquities and offences that purifi'd in mind and body I may deserve worthely to tast the holy of holies And grant that this holy tasting of thy precious body and blood which I most unworthy intend to receive may be the remission of my sins perfect purgation of my crymes driving away of filthy cogitations an a begetting of good thoughts and holesome efficacy of workes pleasing to thee and withall a sirme protection of soule and body against the dangerous wiles of my Ghostly enemy Amen An other payer of S. Tho. of Aquine before receiving the holy Communion ALmighty and eternall God behold I comme to the Sacrament of thy only begotten sonne our Lord Jesus Christ I repaire as one being sick unto the Phisition of life As one uncleane unto the fountaine of mercy As one poore and needy to the Lord of heaven and earth I beseech therfore the aboundance of thy infinit bounty that thou wouldest wouchsafe to cure my infirmity to wash my filth to lighten my blindnesse to enrich my poverty to cloath my nakednesse that I may receive thee the bread of Angels King of Kings Lord of Lords with so great reverence and humility with so great contrition ad dovotion with so great purity and faith with such good purpose and intent as is expediēt for the health of my soule Grant me I beseech thee not only to receive the Sacrement of our Lords body and blood but the thing and vertue therof O God most meeke grant me so to take the body of thy only begotten sonne our Lord Jesus Christ which he tooke of the Virgin Mary that I may deserve to be incorporated into his mysticall body and accompted amongst the members therof O most loving Father grant me for ever with open face to behold thy beloved sonne whom now covered in this way-fare I intend to receive Who together with thee the holy ghost three persons and one only God liveth world without end Amen A preparatory meditation disposing our soules before the holy Communion to approach with due disposition to receive not only the Sacrament but also the grace and great vertue therof Approach yee with faith with feare and with love S. Greg. Dial. li. 2. THese words were antiently pronunced in the Church with a loud voyce by the Deacon to all such as intended to communicate To which holy action for a more fitt disposition foure things are required For like as to a solemne banquet it is necessary first that our hands face and linning be pure well washt and cleane 2. that we come decently and well apparelld 3. that we bring a rigthly prepared stomack and good appetite And 4. we must not sit downe to a feast with a hart charged with anger gall or enuy for that would hinder both the content and benefitt which otherwise we should or might have received therby So in like manner our soule must come pure clean and well washt from the foule stayne of sine and as a neate vessel to receive the grace of this holy Sacrament Math. 5.3 For blessed are the clean of hart c. 2. It must come clad with the nuptiall garment of vertue and good purposes Friend wher fore entredst thou hither without a nuptiall garment Math. 22. 3. with hungar and a true desire to please God and to serve him with fidelity the best we can Matth. 5. For blessed are they who hungar and thirst after justice c. And lastly as the holy Ghost commands we must depose all enmity and ill will against our neighbour and embrace all in love and charity Math. 5.24 Leave thy offering before the Altar and goe first to be reconciled to thy brother c. And as truth convinceth all this to be most just and reasonable so ought we to practise it with due fidelity so that neither blindnesse of passion nor frailty of nature may leade us out of this true path or rightly loving serving and enjoying this our loving Lord and Saviour Grant me thy grace deare Jesu to receive thee in this divine Sacrament with firme faith of thy presence with true purity and contrition of hart with dreadfull feare of thy Majesty which makes all the celestiall spirits with reverentiall feare to tremble and to receive thee with a hart enflamed with divine and ardent love of soe mercifull and bountifull a loving Lord who in this divine Eucharist gives vs thyselfe wholy and intirely body and soule divinity humanity thy graces and merits and therefore I give thee my loving great God wholy and intirely my selfe in perfect oblation my soule and body life and death tyme and Eternity And finally I most humbly crave such necessities as I most need for thy glory and my owne souls heath Of Thankes giving after the holy Communion IT is the practise of most pious persons to make best use of the most precious tyme whilst this divivine gueste remaines with us under the consecrated species vniting there their harts and all the faculties of their soules in doing homage and adoration unto their great Lord and God craving humbly pardon for their sins force to overcome their passions and temptations grace to obtayne the vertues of humility of patience conformity charity perseverance and the like then also making good purposes and firme resolutions to amend our most habituall vices And that day in tankes-giving and for his honour to resolue and practise as occasion shall be offered that vertue which is most opposit to the vice which is in us predominant Or to exercise some worke of mercy with that prious intention This done you may continue your devotion by these flollowing prayers A Prayer after the holy Communion O My divine Recdemer I humbly beseech thy unspeakable mercy that this Sacrament of thy precious body and blood which I most unworthey have received may be to me a purging of offences a fortitude against frailties a fortititude against the perils of the world and obtayning of pardon an establishment of grace a medicin of life a memory of thy passion a nourishment against weakenesse and a happy viaticum of this my pilgrimage Let it guide me going reduce me
but thine be done Grant sweet Jesus even for thy bitter passion's sake that I may performe what by thy grace I have thus resolved humbly fervently faithfully constantly that my ghostly enemy may never have any just cause to reproach me for my infidelity therein Amen Acts to be made in tyme of affliction or of trouble either in body or minde O Father of mercy and God of all consolation it being now the houre ordayned by thy divine pleasure that I should suffer I blesse and adore thy holy name desiring to persevere in that due fidelity which I owe thee I most humbly submit my selfe to the divine order of thy holy will as well in all griefe and paine as in my consolation and joy I acknowledge and doe freely confesse that the least sin which I have committed against thee deserves farr greater punishment And therfore I most humbly thanke thee O mercifull Lord for thy so lovingly and so very favorably chastising me And notwithstanding all the repugnance nature feeles herein with a most willing hart I accept thy correction and most willingly submit to it in what manner soever it shall please thee to dispose of me and I will alwayes sincerely say with my divine Redeemer thy will be done not myne Grant me the patience O heavenly Father by the sacred merits of thy deare sonne Jesus which shall be necessary for my well suffering and then accomplish in me what shall be to thee most pleasing For to thee I doe intirely abandon my body my soule my goods my life yea all I have into the hands of thy fatherly providence to the end that both for tyme and Eternity thou dispose of me according to thy blessed will and pleasuro Acts of mildenesse and meeknesse THou O my Lord who art the true peace thou lovest to rest in a quiet mild and gentle hart Grant me I beseech thee this thy beloved vertue wherby I may truly banish from my hart all disquiet and impatience therby to enjoy true solid content of mind for the meeke shall delight in abundance of peace Vouchsafe O Lord that I may learne this lesson of thee who commandest me to be milde and humble of hart therby to find true rest unto my soule for as no quarrel can be fixt upon a pleasant countenance and cheerefull minde so also courteous language and gentle hehaviour will conque the greatest enemy the conversation of such a Man is gratfull to every company and yealds both comfort and content to all for nothing is more pleasing then is a sweet milde and peacible humour nor is there any thing more offensive and displeasing then is a froward peevish and impatient nature Acts of Mortification THou knowest right well my God that such is the corrupt inclination of Man that it incits him continually to sin and keeps him as tossed with the contrary waves of unruly passions unlesse by needfull mortification he make vertuous resistance thereunto Grant therfore to me a true mortifi'd spirit wherby to subject the flesh to the spirit my passions to reason and my reason intirely unto thee But oh how farr am I from enjoying this holy vertue who give so great scope to my unruly passions to my disordered affections as also to my proper judgment and will Grant me Lord Jesu that I may shew this vertue unto others much rather by practise then by faire promissing words and that I may put a carefull watch both over my senses affections and passions of hatred chollar feare or love c. and finally to mortify my unruly will and to submitt my judgment in all things to thy divine will and pleasure Acts of the vertue of Patience NO vertue is more necessary then holy Patience we being almost continually in occasions for the practise of it and by the helpe therof we surmount the greatest difficulties wheras an impatient Man refusing sinfully to submit to Gods decrees who is the Author of all our sufferings in as much as they cannot be resisted he is most unreasonnable and by that meanes he begins his Hell even in this present world And as that Man is of all others living the most happy who is of all others the most patient so on the contrary he is most miserable who is most impatient Thy heavenly grace therefore O loving God enable me to practise this so great a vertue and to avoyde the contrary which is so dangerous a vice Vouchsafe O gracious Lord that I may but well reslect upon thy long great patience in suffering my perverse and many sins against thee And secondly conceave how justly I have deserved to suffer farr greater evils without comparison and them too eternally And therefore what afflictions soever shall befall me I resolve by thy holy grace to suffer patiently for thy sake and in hopefull expiation for my sin Acts of Perseverance IT is upon Perseverance my God on which depends the assurance of salvation all former resolutions and good purposes whatsoever without it were but lost labour and in vaine for he only that persevers shall be crowned with victory and will save his soule which is a reward indeed sufficient to encourage us to give the present moment of an uncertaine life for so never-ending a Blisse O happy perseverance which winns such a glorious crowne and without it to small purpose it would be with Judas well to begin the holy practise of vertue unlesse by the help of mortification we shall persever to the end Yea our damnation would be much the greater for our neglect of Gods holy grace Strengthen my soule O my souveraine Redeemer with this happy vertue of perseverance in holy patience and conformity in all adversity as well as in prosperity in sicknesse as in health in poverty as in wealth in contempt and calumny as in prosperity and praise or heighest favours from Men. For our beginning well is the effect of Gods grace but our not persevering is sinfull neglect and deeply deserveth punishment O what cause of horrour and just feare have I to conceive for my so great inconstancy in persevering in so many good purposes and pious resolutions which thy great goodnesse my loving God hath vouchsafed so frequently to inspire me with I falling from luke warme to be key-cold and thence unto totall neglect of what I was bound to doe But thou my mercifull Lord although thy great mercy hath thus long expected me with much patience for my amendment yet further presumption may justly draw upon me thy wrath and my endlesse punishment which he prevent who hath payd with his most precious blood soe deare a ransome to satisfy the justice of his Eternall Father with whom and the holy Ghost three divine persons and one living God be benediction and glory and wisdome and thankes-giving honour and power and strength for ever and ever Amen A Collection of some few holy maximes pronounced by the sacred mouth of Iesus Christ wherby the vertuous soule may see how different they
are from the pernicious maximes of the world which shee ought most carefully to fly BLessed are the poore of spirit for theirs is the kingdome of Heaven Math. 5.8 Marke well how formely opposit to this divine maxime is that of the world which compts them only happy who are every way rich both in wealth and able to make most shew and glory in vaine florishing it But our divine Redeemer begun the publishing of his Ghospel by declaring to his disciples wherein the true Beatitude of this life did consist and therby to disabuse them of the false opinion amongst the people of this world who though they all doe naturally seeke for happinesse yet taking a quite contrary way for it they cannot enjoy it some spending their whole tyme and labour to pourchace vaine worldly honour or deluding pleasures others are as earnest to hurd upp sordid wealth as no lesse pensive afterwards in preserving it All which great follie proceeds from guiding themselves by the false principles of this world and neglecting the counsell of their heavenly Maister Jesus Christ For the world and its concupiscence doth so strongly possesse their harts that they become incapable to give eare to his doctrine which is only to conduct us to Beatitude And therefore it is no wonder if that which Jesus Christ proposeth here for happinesse seeme rather misery to the wordly eyes of Men whose thoughts not going beyond this present life which being but truly misery in it selfe it can no otherwise make us happy but only as it serves to help us to gaine that other of endlesse Blisse Blessed are those who mourne Math. 5. for they shall be comforted This seemes no lesse contrary to the sense of worldlings then the former But to understand how our Beatitude can consist in teares and mourning we must consider that by sin we are banisht people in this world and that all our felicity consists in the hope of our reestablishment and pardon by mourning penance and penitent teares And hence it is that mourning is the ground of our Beatitude Learne yee of me who am milde and humble of hart Matth. 11 and you shall find rest to your soules This mildnesse and humility of hart is esteemed by the vogue of this world to be but dulnesse unmanlinesse and weaknesse of hart They falsly judging that true courage and generosity must shew their Passion for the least offence or disrespect which their selfe esteeme conceives and thereupon engage themselves in great and dangerous quarrels with rest lesse disquiet of mind wheras the contrary is very happily enjoy'd by the meeke and humble of hart Blessed are they who hungar and thirst after justice Math. 5 for they shall be filled that is they who have ardent and earnest desires for the glory of God by accomplishing his Commandements and holy will But according to the maxime of the world we hungar and thirst much rather after our corrupt sensualities which bend all our thoughts and desires much rather to the transgression of his divine law wherby we can never hope to be satiated no more then was the prodigall child with empty huskes the proper food for swine Blessed are the cleane of hart for they shall see God that is Math 5 by a cleare vision in Beatitude But the maximes of the world which tye our harts to creatures by affection make them become defiled and impure and thereby obscure their spirituall sight from behoulding God Blessed are those who suffer persecution for justice for theirs is the kingdome of Heaven Math. 5 But by the maximes of the world quite contrariwise they are accompted to be most miserable and wheras by vertuous patience in suffering such persecution the godly obtayne the reward of eternall felicity the worldlings by seeking unjust revenge with indignation and wrath doe east their soules into the endlesse flames of Hell Give and there shall be given to you Luke 6 â—8 c. for with the same measure that you doe measure it shall be measured to you againe But self-interest being the great maxime of this world its practise is to take and obduratnesse of hart not permitting them to exercise this holy charity in releeving the needy and afflicted pore according to their owne measure they must expect justice without mercy because they shewed no mercy Saith S. James Woe to you that now doe laugh Luke 6.5 because you shall mourne and weepe Blessed 8. Augustin upon due reflexion on this holy maxime did often begg of God here to cutt and burne and not to spare him therby to spare him eternally But the wicked maxime of this world is to passe their dayes in present delight and jolity although in a moment they descend into Hell for ever But J say to you love your enemies doe good to them that hate you Math. 5 43. and pray for them that persecute and abuse you Our divine Redeemer Jesus both by his words and exemple hath recommended to us the practise of this holy maxime his whole life being a continuall exercise of doing good for evill But the wicked maxime of this world now contrariwise for an imaginary honour as they conceive it to revenge a wrong will put all at stake their hody and soule Gods honour and their neighbours damnation by that diabolicall practise of their duels If one strike thee on the right cheeeke turne to him also the other Math. 5.39 What herby we are taught by Christian patience to doe for gayning an enemy the world houlds it great basenesse of mind not to take full reparation by unlawfull revenge To him who will contend with thee in judgment Math. 5 40 and take away thy coates let goe also thy cloake unto him This charitable maxime though given us to avoyde disquiet contention and breach of charity yet worldlings accompt it meere follie and make small scruple to gaine an unlawfull fuite although to the great prejudice of their owne soules and totall temporall unjust ruyne of their poore neighbours livelyhood Why seest thou the mote in thy brothers eye Luke 6 41 but the beame which is in thy owne thou considerest not by this divine maxime we are advertised to looke well to the amendment of our owne faults much rather then to observe those in others But the sinful maxime of the world is to cover and conceale our owne great defects and to discover and publish much lesse in our neighbour But when thou doest an almes deed Math. 6.3 let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth This holy maxime doth teach us to hope by well doing to obtayne a recompence in Heaven but the Spirit of this world by seeking to be pay'd by the vaine glory of Men their merit can be no other but only the due punishment of their sin When thou doest fast Math. 6 16 annoint thy head and wash thy face that thou appeare not to men to fast This holy maxime gives
which I was created and be therby united with thee here by grace and by glory in Eternity Amen A prayer before the B. Sacrament or before Communion I Adore thee O true bread of Angels the God of life the eternal Fathers spendor and Heavens beauty Behould one here present before thee full both of feare and confidence I approach by thy command in true simplicity of hart and firme beleefe truly confessing that thou art both God and Man here present in this most holy sacrament to which I approach O lord as an infirme to the phisition of life as one defiled to the fountaine of mercy as one blind unto eternal light and as in great want and needs to the Monarch of heaven and earth O my hope my only health my glory and all my content vouchsafe to rejoyce the hart of thy poore servant which burnes with desire to receive thee into my poore and unworthey habitation yet please to blisse it as thou didst that of little Zachee Alas my Lord it is most unworthy as being so very uncleane yet thou comming for the salvation of sinners into this world disdaynedst not to be borne in a stable amongst brute beasts vouch safe now likewise I beseech thee and for my salvation sake dispise not the uncleane manger of my soule full of brutall and vnbridled passions returne once more to foule leapers and converse againe with Publicans as thou didst in this world or rather O my omnipotent God descend once more into Hell for so alas I ought to call my darke my miserable and tormented soule But seeing that such is thy mercy as whersoever thou vouchsafest to enter thou never failest there to leave markes of thy grace and much benediction I confide my loving Lord that thou wilst doe the like to me Enter therfore vnder this my poore roofe and render it worthy of thy presence purge it of all impurities discipate the obscurity of its darkenesse replenish it with thy divine light and adorne it with the guifts of the holy Ghost Thou knowst well deare Lord my want as one poore and naked before thee much press'd with great hungar and misery but thou being the bread of life comfort my sighing sobbs dismisse me not fasting from thy delicious table least I faint in this my pilgrimage but rather graunt that fortifi'd by thee I may with holy Elias arrive to the mountaine of eternal felicity I most humbly beseech thee my mercifull and clement God and by this thy incomparable charity wherof thou givest so great a testimony by thy loving institution of this most blessed Sacrament I beseech thee to grant me grace to receive it with true contrition and sorrow for all my sins with feare and due reverence with devotion and faith fervour love and convenient purity to so sublime a mystery and grant also I beseech thee that I may receive not only the Sacrament of this thy precious body but therewithal the grace and vertue of the Sacrament for the supporting my weakenesse for the healing my infirmities for the confirming my hope for the suppressing my passions for the fortifying my faith for the inflaming my love to enlighten my understanding to be my companie in banishment and spirituall nourishment to my soule and finally to the end that by the help of this celestiall food of my soule I may be united transformed and made all one in will and desire with thee who livest and raignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost for ever and ever Amen A prayer to obtayne a fervent love towards God our neighbour and our enemies O Mercifull and divine Redeemer Jesus who hast washt us with thy precious blood and given thy selfe to death for us thou hast been reputed with the wicked and most cruelly wounded for our iniquities breused and abused for our offences and by thy stripes hast made us whole I beseech thee O Lord for this thy ineffable mercy and charity to powre into my hart the unquenchable heate of thy heavenly grace so that the fire of thy charity may perpetually burne and worke within me and that there may alwayes grow in me such a continuall chast and nover failing affection of pitty benevolence and piety as extendeth it self to all creatures through the love and contemplation of thee Fill O Lord I beseech thee my soule my senses and desires with fervent and perpetuall charity that in all things and above all I may most hartely love thee and that according to thy good will and pleasure I may love my neighbour in thee and for thee Grant me grace I humbly beseech thee that with all my hart I may to thy glory love search and advance the salvation profit and commodity of every one Grant me O Lord to love mine enemies with sincerity both in word and truth take from me all bitternesse of mind wrath anger disdayne envie and whatsoever is against or contrary to pure and sincere charity so that in all sincere simplicity of hart I may have a good opinion of all may judge no Man rashly but love every one in thee with holy and harty affection and that I may shew them both in words and workes all sweetnesse all clemency and true love A prayer that we may receive the B. Sacrament before our death O Almighty and most merciful Lord I praise and give thee most humble thankes for having so graciously made me severall tymes partaker of that divinly great mistery of thy holy Sacrament and therby to be fortifi'd and greatly comforted with thy blessed presence O heavenly Father let every tongue blesse thee let every creature laud thee for this souveraine guift of thy divine bounty for which with them I also offer and present to thee my God all the praises of the Angels and of all the Elect which alreadie doe or ever shall enjoy thee in Eternity And I beseech the Ordeare Jesu the gracious Redeemer of my soule that at the houre of my death thou wilst vouchsafe to visit me with this thy gracious presence in this most blessed Sacrament and by thy grance prepare my soule I beseech thee by a faithfull and contrite confession wherby to make it a pleasing habitation for thee true God and Man my loving Saviour Forgive my former many trespasses by the sacred merits of thy bitter death and passion and that I may end this my mortall life in the finall perseverance of thy grace O God omnipotent have mercy on me for the love of thy deare sonne Jesus the life of all that shall be saved O Jesu equal God with the Father and the holy Ghost conserve and keepe me in thy grace suffer me not to be drawne from thee through any subtile persuasion of my ghostly enemy O Holy Ghost proceeding from the Father and the Sonne the comforter of the elect and inspirer of all good guifts replenish my hart with all charitable desires and heavenly inspirations necessary for my salvation Grant this O holy Trinity for the bitter
faithful diligence and to keep defend and protect me this day from all evil visible and invisible Amen A Prayer in sicknesse LEt my request enter into thy fight O Lord and let thy hand stretch forth to make me whole Behould I am the Man that comming downe from Jerico was forely wounded by theeves and left halfe dead Doe thou assist me O merciful Samaritan I have grievously sinned in thy sight and so full is my soule of those deadly wounds as hadst thou not died for me my soule would have dwelt in Hell I am sweet Jesus a part of that deare purchace for me tho didst shed thy precious blood cast me not away I am the sheep that went astray seeke me O good shiphard and put me in thy flock that thou maist be justified in thy word for thou didst make me a promise that at what houre soever a sinner should repent him of his sins and turne to thee he should he pardoned I repent O Lord and bewaile my sins I acknowledge my iniquities I am not worthy to be cal'd thy sonne for I have sinned against Heaven and before thee But turne away O Lord thy face from my offences blot out my iniquities according to thy great mercy cast me not away from thy sight deale not with me according to my sins nor reward me after the desert of my iniquities but help me O Lord my God and Saviour and for the glory of thy name deliver me that I may prayse thee for ever more with all thy glorious elect in thy celestial kingdome of Beatitude for all Eternit A Prayer to obtayne a blessed ending O Blessed Jesu wel-spring of pitty and fountaine of endlesse mercy I humbly beseech thee to give me grace so to spend this my transitory life in vertuous and godly exercises that when the day of my death shall come though I feele paine in my body yet I may finde comfort in my soule and with faithful hope of thy mercy in due love towards thee and charity towards all others I may through thy grace depart hence out of this vaile of misery and hasten me to that glorious country wherin thou hast bought us an inheritance for ever with thy most precious blood there to praise and glorify thee with the Father and the holy Ghost three persons and one living God world without end Amen A Prayer when we begin our actions PRevent we beseech thee O Lord our actions by thy spirit assisting us and in helping forward prosecute them that all our prayers and workes may begin alwayes from thee and begun by thee may be ended through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen An Evening Prayer ALmighty and everlasting God I yeald thee most harty thankes for that thou hast vouchafed of thy great mercy and goodnes to preserve me this day from all evil and I doe also beseech thee for thy bitter death and passion most mercifully to forgive me wretched sinner all my offences that this day I have committed by thought word and deed and hereafter to preserve and keepe me from all danger both of body and soule to the end I may rise againe in health to praise thy glorious name and joyfully to serve thee in thankes giving with a chast body and a cleane hart and so for ever after behave my selfe according to thy blessed will by casting away the workes of darknesse and putting on the armour of light which Men behoulding may be provoked to glorify thee my heavenly Father who with thy only begotten sonne our only Saviour and the Holy Ghost livest and raygnest one true and everlasting God A Prayer for the sicke O Almighty and everlasting God the eternal health of them that beleeve in thee heare us for thy sicke servant for whom we humbly crave the help of thy mercy that health being restored unto him he may yeald thankes giving to thee in thy Church through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen Prayers to obtayne the grace of the Holy Ghost O God to whom each hart is open and each will doth speake and from whom no fecret lyeth hid purify by the inspiration of the holy Ghost the agitations of our hart that we may deserve perfectly to love thee and worthily to praise thee through our Lord true God Amen To obtayne the same grace for our friends O God who hast powred the guifs of charity by the grace of the holy Ghost into the harts of thy faithfull grant unto thy servants for whom we crave thy clemency health of minde and body that they may love thee with all their strength and accomplish with all love what things are pleasing unto thee through Christ our Lord. Amen To obtayne the same grace for our enemies O God the lover and keeper of peace and charity give unto all our enemies peace and true charity and grant uto them remission of all their sins and powerfully deliver us from all their deceipts through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen A Prayer to repel wicked thoughts O Almighty and mild God mercifully regard our Prayers and deliver our harts from the temptations of evil thoughts that we may deserve to be made a worthy dwelling for the holy Ghost through the same Lord Jesus Amen A Prayer to require charity O God who maketh all things to profit them that love thee grant unto our harts an inviolable desire of thy charity that the desires conceived by thy inspirations may by no temptation be altered through the same Lord Jesus Amen A Prayer to begg Patience O God who hast broken the pride of the old enemy by the patience of thy only begotten Sonne grant unto us we beseech thee worthely to call to mind what he so meekely suffered for us and by his example quietly to endure the adverse changes falling upon us through Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer to require the suffrages of Saints WE beseech the O Lord defend us from all perils of body and mind and the glorious Virgin Mary mother of God praying for us togeather with the blessed Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul blessed S. Joseph Saint c. and all the glorious Saints and Angels thou being benigne grant unto us salvation and peace that adversities and all errours being destroyd thy Church may serve thee in secure liberty through Christ our Lord. Amen A Prayer to require continency KIndle with the fire of the holy Ghost our raines and our harts O Lord that with chast bodies we may serve thee and with pure harts please thee through our Lord and only Saviour Jesus Amen A Prayer in tyme of warre O God who dissolveth warres and by the power of thy protection dost vanquish the impugners of them that trust in thee help thy servants earnestly craving thy mercy that the cruelty of all their enemies being depressed we may praise thee with incessant thankes-giving through our Lord Jesus Amen A Prayer for peace O God from whom are all holy desires rightfull counselles and just workes give unto thy servants that peace
passions and therfore we must not rest only in our prayer as in the end of our work for perfection consists not in much consolation or sweetnesse or sensible gust in our prayer but in that perfect victory over our selfe over our passions and unruly affections as is said nor in the sublimest prayer but in that which with a pure intention doth syncerely seeke the encreace in Gods divine love our owne aduanement in vertu with true resignation to the wil of God and a perfect contempt and abnegation of our selves renouncing all curiosity of Spirit and self satisfaction by it for otherwise we seeke not God so much as our selves and our owne interest and therfore no marvaile if we doe not finde him The certaine markes and most evident signes of false and meere counterfeit prayer THe first marke If our manners and conversation be nothing amended 2. If there be great levity and vanity in our actions 3. If great remisnesse in obligations of piety 4. If our care and diligence be small to avoyde evill occasions and the causes of our most habituall sin 5. If we presume to be now arrived to a high degree of prayer or aspire to visions revelations or extaces c. Or to the like favours in the passive way 6. If passions beare sway in vs. 7. If mortification seeme harsh and vnpleasant 8. If our senses be petulant and wanton 9. If to temptations we make but a weake and carelesse resistance 10. If labour and employment be ircksome to vs. 11. If the yoake of Gods law seemes heavy and his counsels unsupportable 12. If we finde our selves lasie and listlesse to all spirituall affaires 13. If worldly puntillios of honour and temporall respects goe nearest to our hart and affection 14. If holy Crosses patience and obedience seeme bitter and unpleasing 15. If we neglect and misregard or not respect nor esteeme the advise of our superiour and ghostly Fathers 16. If finally we carry our selves carelesly and negligently in the amendment and correction of such faults as apparently are knowne to us for such These are all evident markes and most assured signes of evill counterfeit and false devotion and naughty prayer which we ought with all speed and industry resolutely to amende and change The Litany of our Lord and divine Saviour Iesus LOrd have merecy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Jesus heare us Lord Jesus graciously heare us God the Father of Heaven Have mercy upon us God the sonne Redemer of the world Have mercy c. God the holy ghost proceeding from the Father and the sonne Have Holy and glorious Trinity three persons and one God Have mercy Jesus sonne of the living God have Jesus splendor of the Father Jesus brightnesse of Eternal light Jesus king of glory Have mercy Jesus the sunne of justice Jesus sonne of the Virgin Mary Jesus whose name is called wonderfull Have mercy upon us Jesus the mighty God Jesus the Father of the world to come Have mercy upon us Jesus the Angel of the great counsel Jesus most powerfull Jesus most patient Jesus most obdient Have mercy Jesus milde and humble of hart Jesus lover of chastity Jesus our Love Jesus the God of peace Jesus the Author of life Jesus the example of vertues Jesus the zealous seeker of soules Jesus our God Have mercy upon us Jesus our Refuge Jesus the Father of the poore Jesus the Treasore of the faithfull Jesus the good shiphard Jesus the true light Jesus the Eternall wisdome Jesus all-infinite goodnesse Jesus the way the truth and the life Jesus the ioy of Angels Have c. Jesus Maister of the Apostles Jesus the teacher of the Evangelists Jesus the strength of Martyrs Jesus the light of Confessors Jesus the purity of Virgins Jesus the Crowne of all Saints Have mercy upon us Be propitious unto us Speare us Lord Jesu Be propitious unto us Spare c From all sinne Lord Jesu deliver us From thy anger From the deceipts and snaires of the Divel From the spirit of fornication From perpetuall death From all neglect of thy holy inspirations Lord Jesus deliver us By the mystery of thy most holy incarnation By thy Nativity Lord Jes deliv us By thy Infancy By thy divine life By thy labours and trauells By thy Agony and Passion By thy Crosse and dereliction By thy unspeackable paines and languishings Lord Jesus c. By thy death and buriall By thy glorious Resurrection By thy Assention into Heaven By thy incomparable joyes By thy Eternall glory Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world Spare us Lord Jesu Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world Haue mercy c. Jesu heare us Lord Jesu graciously heare us Let us pray O Lord Jesus Christ who hast said unto us aske and you shall receive seeke and you shall find knock and it shall be opned unto you grant we beseech thee upon this our most humble petition the effect of thy divine love that we may love thee with our whole hart and never cease from thy praises nor from glorifying thy holy name O most loving and our divine Redeemer Jesus worke in us the perpetuall love to geather with the feare of thy sacred Humanity which thou hast annointed and sanctifi'd by the vnion of thy Deity that we may be evermore subiect and obedient to thee since thou doest never leave those destitute of thy grace whom thou hast establisht in the solidity of thy love who with the Father and the Holy ghost liveth and rayneth God world without end Amen The Litany of our B. Lady of Loretto LOrd have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ heare us Christ graciously heare us God the Father of Heaven Have mercy upon us God the sonne Redeemer of the world Haue mercy upon us God the Holy ghost Holy Trinity one God Have mercy upon us Holy Mary Pray for us Holy Mother of God Holy Virgin of Virgins Mother of Christ Mother of Divine grace Most pure Mother Most chast Mother Undefiled Mother Untouched Mother Lovely Mother Pray Glorious Mother Mother of our Creatour Mother of our Saviour Most prudent Virgin Venerable Virgin Renowned Virgin Powerfull Virgin Mild and meeke Virgin Faithfull Virgin Pray Myrrour of Justice Seate of Wisdome Cause of our joy Spirituall vessel Honorable Vessel Vessel of devotion Pray Mysticall Rose Strong Tower of David Solid Tower of ivory Goulden habitation Arke of Covenant Gate of Heaven Morning starr Pray Health of the sick Refuge of Sinners Confortresse of the afflicted The Helpe of Christians Queene of Angels Queene of Patriarkes Queene of Prophets Queene of Apostles Queene of Martyrs pray Queene of Confessors Queene of Virgins Queene of all Saints Lambe of God who taketh away the sins of the world Spare us o Lord. Lambe of God who taketh away the sins of the world Heare us o
THE LITTLE MANVEL OF THE POORE MANS DAYLY DEVOTION Collected out of severall pious and approoved Authors By W. C. Piety is profitable for all things having promisse of the life that now is and of that to come 1. ad Titum 4.8 And are to be sold at Mr GONTIERS Libraire Juré before our B. Ladyes Church dore PRINTED AT PARIS By VINCENT DV MOVTIER M.DC.LXIX THE EPISTLE DEDICATORY DEARE Catholique Brethren who by Gods order and disposition are to gayne your livelyhood by honest labour and industry to you principally is this short method of devotion addressed for although they whome the Divine Providence has placed in a heigher condition in this world are more plentifully furmisht with bookes and other helpes for their instrucction yet the goodenesse of God is so great as to accept your faithfull endevors according to your capacity and so as you love and serve him Religiously in your severall vocations here upon earth your reward will be equall with theirs in Heaven Great are the prerogatives of the poore who was poorer then Lazarus who lay at the gate of the rich Glutton full of sores and ulcers suffering hungar cold and all kind of necessity Yet his patience and conformity to the Divine will in those his afflictions obtaynd him the glory to be canoniz'd by Iesus-Christ himselfe while the same presumptuous rich Man clad in purple garments and gloriing in his abundant wealth and temporall felicity was cast downe into those horrid flames where he shall never cease to be tormented Whoever will enter in at Heaven gate must stoope very low the greatest Princes if they pretend to Eternall riches must become like you poore upon Earth at least in affection Blessed are the poore of spirit for theirs is the kingdome of Heaven Yea the richest Emperors Carry no more with them out of the world then the poorest begger When S. Iohn Baptist sent his Disciples to our Blessed Lord to informe themselves whither he were the Messias or no one of the markes he gave them wherby to proove himselfe to be truly soe was that the poore receiu'd the Ghospell which shewed that his Divine goodnesse had the poore in recommendatiō Since then by these passages and many more which are found amongst the sacred oracles of our Divine Maister Yea since by his owne life and example we are taught how gratefull the poore are to him and with what difficulty the rich enter into the kingdome of Heaven you who are poore ought to comfort your selves in your poverty and rest assured that if God had foreseene that riches would have more conduc'd to your salvation he would have given you abundance since it was as easy to his infinit power to have made you the richest Princes as the poorest artisans Blesse then Gods goodnesse in your poverty love him fervently serve him faithfully beleeve that his designe in makeing you poore was to render your salvation more easy since those who have great possessions like the young man in the Gospell forsake them with as great anxiety Farewel and in your prayers remember Your truly affectionate and dearely well wishing Countryman W. C. AN ADVERTISMENT DEARE Christian Reader you are to observe that in this little Manuel of devotion besides vocale prayer you will find intermixed severall other pious exercises for the holy employement of a vertuous soule as spirituall cogitations where upon happily to busy her minde eyther by day or night as best occasion shall be offered Spirituall advises Pious reflections as well for the embracing vertue as for flying vice and may be used also for the subject of so many profitable meditations by such as have leasure and disposition for it An Exercise also for practising the acts of the most necessary vertues Holy Maxims pronounced by Jesus Christ and how different they are from the maxims of the world Aspirations and jaculatory prayers Brieffe Meditations for each day in the weeke And finally a profitable Exercise contayning a preparation to death with the Recommendation of the soule in english all which may serve for pious entertaynement of the vertuous soule with pleasing and profitable diversity of piously employing her solitary thoughts according as time and leasure shall give occasion respectively to make use of them for the greater encreace of true piety and devotion The sum̄e of the Christian Catholick faith I Beleeve in God the Father Almighty Creatour of Heaven and earth And in Jesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord. Who was conceived by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Mary Suffered under Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried He descended into Hell the third day he rose againe from the dead He ascended into Heaven and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the deade I beleeve in the Holy Ghost The holy Catholick Church the communion of Saints The forgivenesse of sins The resurrection of the body And life everlasting Amen Our Lords Prayer OUR Father which art in Heaven hallowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven Give us this day our daily bread And forgive us our Trespasses as we forgive them that trespasse against us And leade us not into temptation But deliver us from all evill Amen The Angelical salutation HAILE Marie full of grace our Lord is with thee blessed art thou amongst woemen And blessed is the fruit of thy womb Jesus Holy Marie Mother of God pray for us sinners now and in the houre of our death Amen The ten Commandements J am the Lord thy God c. 1. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me 2. Thou shalt not take the name of God in vaine 3. Remember to keepe holy the Sabboth day 4 Honour thy Father and thy Mother 5. Thou shalt not kill 6. Thou shalt not committ Adultery 7. Thou shalt not steale 8. Thou shalt not beare false witnesse against thy neighbour 9. Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours wife 10. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours goods The seaven Sacraments 1. Baltisme Math. 28. 2. Confirmation Iohn 7. 3. Eucharist Math. 29. 4. Penance Iohn 20. 5. Extreame Unction Iames 5. 6. Holy order Math. 26. 7. Matrimony Math. 29. Three Theological vertues 1. Faith 2. Hope 3. Charity Foure Cardenal vertues 1. Prudence 2. Justice 3. Temperance 4. Fortitude Seaven guifts of the holy Ghost 1. Wisdome 2. Understanding 3. Counsel 4. Fortitude 5. Knowledge 6. Godlinesse 7. The feare of our Lord. Twelve fruits of the Holy Ghost 1. Charity 2. Joy 3. Peace 4. Patience 5. Benignity 6. Goodnesse 7. Longanimity 8. Mildnesse 9. Faith 10. Modesty 11. Continency 12. Chastity The Precepts of Charity Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with thy whole hart and with thy whole soule and with all thy strength and with all thy mind and thy neighbour as thy selfe The Commandements of the Church 1. To keepe certaine appointed dayes holy without servill works and hearing
in helping forward prosecute them that all our prayers and workes may begin alwayes from thee and begun by thee may so be ended Through Lord Jesus our mercifull Redeemer Amen Our Father c. Haile Mary c. I beleeve in God c. All as above I Confesse me to Almighty God To the blessed Virgin S. Marie To the blessed S. John Baptist To the holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and to all the Saints in Heaven that I have grievously sinned in thought Word and deed Through my fault Through my fault through my most grievous fault Therfore I Beseech the blessed Virgin Marie blessed S. Michel the Archangel blessed S. John Baptist the holy Apostles S. Peter and S. Paul and all the Saints in Heaven ro pray unto our Lord God for me Almighty God have mercy upon us and all our sinnes being forgiven he bring us to everlasting life Amen Almighty and mercifull Lord give unto us pardon absolution an remission of all our sins Amen Vouchsafe O Lord to keepe us this day without sin be mercifull unto us let thy mercy O Lord be upon us even as we have our trust in thee O Lord heare my prayer and let my cry come to thee O Father Almigthy who hast brought us to the beginning of this new day save us by thy power to the end that we fall not this day into sin but that our words our thoughts and workes may be directed to execute thy justice through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen A devout recommendation to be used every morning I Adore blesse and glorify thee O holy Trinity God Omnipotent Father Sonne and Holy Ghost Behold I offer my selfe to thy Divine Majesty Take from me I beseech thee and from all faithfull Christians what soever displeaseth thee and give unto us that which is gratefull in thy sight and grant that we may become such as we are comanded to be I recommend unto thee O Lord my soule my body my wife my children my Father and Mother my brothers and sisters my kindred and benefactors friends and enemies and all those who have recommended themselves to my prayers or for whom I am bound to pray I commend unto thee the holy Catholique Church grant O Lord that every one may know thee that all may worship honour and reverence thee all may love thee and likewise be beloved of thee Those who erre reduce and bring againe into the way Destroy all false sects and heresies convert all to the true faith grant O Lord thy peace let thy holy will de donne comfort and help all who are in tribulation and misery as well Spirituall as corporal Grant O Lord unto the living grace and to the faithfull soules departed mercy and everlasting rest A recommendation to God INto the hands of thy infinit mercy O Lord I commend my soule and body my senses my words my counsailes my thoughts my workes and all my actions with all the necessites of my body and soule my conversation my death and resurrection with thy Saints and happy elect Amen A recommendation of ourselves to the blessed Virgin Mother of God To the Angels and Saints out of S. Augustin ch 40. of his medit O Marie Mother of God our Lord and Saviour Jes Christ thou sacred and unspotted Virgin vouchsafe to make intercession for me unto him who made thee a worthy temple for himselfe to inhabit O S. Gabriel S. Raphael O holy quiers of Angels and Archangels of Patriarkes and Prophets of Apostles and Evangelists of Martyres and Levits of Monkes and Virgins and all such as have lived righteously I beseech you even for his sake by whom you have been elected and in whose contemplation you have so much delighted that you will be pleased to pray for me a poore sinner unto him our God that I may be delivered from the furious jawes of the infernal Fiend and from that death which shall never have end Amen A devout Prayer to our Lord Iesus O My divine and most mercifull Redeemer Jesus sonne of God and of the glorious Virgin Marie who dying for all mankind and me the third day didst rise againe I beseech thee deare Lord have mercy on me a vile and wretched sinner but yet thy creature and for thy bitter Passion save and keepe me from all perils bodily and ghostly and specially from all things that may turne to thy displeasure And with all my hart I thanke thee most mercifull Lord for the many mercies thou hast shewd me in the great dangers I have past both in body and soule and as thy grace and endlesse goodnesse hath alwayes kept and saved me from the houre of my birth until this day so Lord I beseech thee that thy mercy may continue my safety And for my many offences and great ingratitudes of my sinful life I humbly aske mercy And for that I cannot leade such a life as it becommeth thy servant I humbly prostrate and cry God be merciful to me a most wretched sinner And I humbly thanke thee most gracious Lord for the multitude of Divine benefits which thou hast more largely bestowed on me then upon many others who have much better deserved them then I. Wherefore most gracious Lord I humbly thanke thee rendring all honour and praise to thy holy name who livest and reygnest one God world without end Amen A Prayer to persever in goodnesse GRant O Lord Jesu that I may persever in good purposes and in thy holy service untill my death and that I may now this present day perfectly begin for it is nothing that hitherto I have done A Prayer to our Angel guardian O Angel of God who art my keeper illuminate guard rule and governe me this day by the supernal piety committed to thee Amen O Lord blesse us and defend us from all evill and bring us to eternall life And the soules of the faithful through the mercy of God rest in peace Amen A blessing THe peace of our Lord Jesus Christ the vertue of his sacred holy passion the signe of the holy crosse the integrity and great humility of the blessed Virgin Mary the blessing of the glorious Saints the keeping of the happy Angels and the suffrages of all the chosen of God be with me and between me and all myne enemies now and in the hour of my death sweet Jesu Amen The Almigthy and mercifull God the Father Sonne and Holy Ghost blesse and keepe us nowe and evermore When at morning noone and evening you heare the Ave Mary bell to ring say THe Angel of God declared unto Mary and shee conceived of the Holy Ghost Haile Mary full of grace c. Behould the hand-maide of our Lord be it unto me according to thy word Haile Mary full of grace c. And the word was made flesh and dwelt in us Haile Mary full of grace c. The Prayer VOuchsafe we beseech thee O Lord to power forth thy grace into our harts that we who know the
incarnation of Christ thy sonne the Angel declaring it may be brought by his holy Crosse and Passion unto the glory of his Resurrection through the same Christ our Lord Amen The soules of the faithfull through the mercy of God rest in peace Amen Be mindfull to say this holy devotion thrice every day In the morning in gratefull memory and adoration of that divine Mystery of the glorious Resurrection of our Redeemer Iesus Christ At midday in memory and adoration of his bitter death and Passion And at the Evening in memory and adoration of the Incarnation of the sonne of God in the wombe of the pure and immaculate ever Virgin Certaine generall advertisments much conducing to Christian perfection THinke often upon the moment of this life whereon depends Eternity Call frequently to minde that thou art placed in this world for no other end but that by serving God to save thy soule Remember that thou art alwayes in the presence of God and raise often thy hart unto him Observe not the imperfections of other persons but think rather of mending thy owne Judge rashly of no body nor give any willing care unto the detractor Let no drynesse nor barrenesse in devotion cause you to omitt any accustomed exercise of piety Doe all your actions with a pure intention for the glory of God When you heare the clock to strike stirr up sorrow for your sins beseeching God to have mercy on your soule at the dreadfull houre of death Be not singular in your exteriour devotion least some inward vanity may outwardly appeare thereby Neglect not divine inspirations which God shall give for the amendment of your most habitual and daily sins When you are assaulted with any dangerous temptation crosse your hart in token that you humbly crave Gods grace and disavow the sin which that ill thought suggests to you Be not forward to contradict others and if you be contradicted grow not angry thereat but only mildly make answere that so is your opinion Remember that there is but one Heaven which if we seeke it in this world we shall not find it in the other Vertue and true resignation to the will of God consists not in words but in real deeds and actions An Evening Exercice for Prayer before bed IT being now tyme for your repose retyre your selfe to the place of prayer and in the presence of God devoutly upon your knees there adore his divine Majesty acknowledging your owne unworthinesse render him most humble thankes for all his gracious benefits beseech him to preserve you that night from all sin And sixing the interiour sight of your soule upon Gods infinit greatnesse and Majesty and upon your owne basenesse abjection and indignity say as in the morning Exercise In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the Holy Ghost Amen Blessed be the holy and undevided Trinity now and for ever more Amen Our Father c. Halle Mary c. I beleeve in God c. I confesse me to Almigthy God c. all as in the morning prayer Almighty God have mercy upon us and all our sins being forgiven bring us to everlasting life Amen Omnipotent and mercifull Lord give unto us pardon absolution and remission of all our sins Amen I most humbly thanke thee my great God who hast created me of nothing and redeemd me with thy precious blood made me a member of the Catholick Church and graciously provided for me all necessaries both for body and soule For all which as also for thy so frequent heavenly inspirations Sacraments and sacrifices as also for so many other meanes for my salvation from the bottome of my hart and with all the powers of my soule I render thee my loving God most humble thankes beseeching all the holy Quires of Angels and all the blessed Saints in thy celestiall kingdome that they vouchsafe to supply my deficiency in praising adoring magnifying and extolling this thy great mercy and infinit goodnesse owards me Almighty and everlasting God I yeeld thee most harty thankes for that thou hast vouchsafed of thy great mercy and goodnesse to preserve me this day from all evill And I also beseech thee for thy bitter death and passion most mercifully to forgive me a wretched sinner all my offences which I have this day committed by thought word and deede and hereafter to preserve and keepe me from all danger as well of body as of soule to the end I may rise againe in health to praise thy glorious name and joyfully to serve thee in thankesgiving with a chast body and cleane hart Amen O Lord God and my heavenly Father for as much as by thy divine ordinance the night approacheth and tyme requireth that we give our selves to bodily rest I yeald unto thee most harty thankes for thy great love vouchsafing to preserve me this day from the danger of all enemies to give me my health to feede me and afford me all necessaries for the comfort of this my mortall life I most humbly beseech thee for thy blessed sonne Jesus his sake that thou wilt mercifully forgive me all that I have this day committed against thy fatherly goodnesse by thought word or by deed and that thou wilt vouchsafe to shadow me this night under the safe winges of thy Almigthy power and defend me from Sathan and all dangerous assaults that neither he not any of his ministers have power either over my body or soule But that although my body enjoyeth sleepe yet my soule may watch unto thee delight in thee and ever more praise thee that when the comfortable light of the day returneth according to thy good appointment I may rise againe with a faithfull soule and undefiled body and so afterwards behave my selfe all my life according to thy blessed will and commandment by casting away the workes of darknesse and putting on the armour of light that men seeing my good workes may be mooved to glorify thee my heavenly Father who with thy only begotten sonne our loving Saviour and the holy Ghost livest and reygnest one true and everlasting God world without end Amen A Prayer to our B. Lady and to her divine Sonne O Benigne and mercifull Virgin Mother most meeke most mild and gracious obtaine for us O B. Lady grace and strength to withstand and overcome all our enemies ghostly and bodily visible and invisible that after the course of this short life we may by thy gracious help attayne everlasting life in the kingdone of Heaven where wee may with thee O Virgin ever more dwell and with all the holy Angels Archangels Patriarcks and Prophets Apostles and Martyrs Confessors and Virgins worship glorify and magnify our divine Redeemer and thee O sacred Virgin in everlasting blisse without end Amen O Lord Jesus Christ the glory of the Father the orient beauty of eternal light and bright mirrour wihout spot or deformity I humbly beseech thee by thy sacred divinity to grant me this night chastity of minde cleanesse
vengence of our sins The Litanies of the Saints LOrd have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Christ heare us Christ graciously heare us God the Father of Heaven Have mercy upon us God the sonne Redeemer of the world Have mercy upon us God the Holy Ghost Have mercy upon us Holy Trinity one God Have mercy upon us Holy Mary Pray for us Holy Mother of God Holy Virgin of Virgins S. Michael Pray for us S. Gabriel S. Raphael All yee holy Angels and Archangels All yee holy Orders of blessed spirits S. John Baptist All yee holy Patriarcks Prophets S. Peter S. Paul S. Andrew S. James S. Philip. S. Bartholomew Pray for us S. Mathew S. Simon S. Thadey S. Mathias S. Barnabe S. Luke S. Marke All yee holy Apostles and Evāgelists All yee holy Disciples of our Lord. All yee holy Innocents S. Stephen S. Laurence Pray for us S. Vincent S. Fabian and Sebastian S. John and Paule S. Cosme and Damian S. Geryase and Protase All yee holy Martyrs S. Sylvester S. Gregory S. Ambrose Pray for us S. Augustin S. Hierosme S. Martin S. Nicolas All yee holy Bishops and Confessors All yee holy Doctors S. Antony S. Benet S. Bernard S. Dominick S. Francis All yee holy Priests and Levits All yee holy Monkes and Eremits S. Mary Magdalen S. Agatha S. Lucy S. Agnes Pray for us S. Cicily S. Chatherine S. Anastasia All yee holy Virgins and widowes All yee Men and Woemen Saints of God Make yee intercession for us Sonne of God We beseech thee to heare us Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world Spare us O Lord. Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world Heare us O Lord. Lambe of God that taketh away the sins of the world Have mercy vpon us Christ heare us Christ graciously heare us Vouchsafe O Almighty God that we honouring the memory of thy blessed Saints thou grant us by their intercession the desired abundance of thy mercy through Christ Jesus our Lord Amen O God whose proper it is alwayes to have mercy and to spare receive our petition that the tender mercy of thy piety may mildly absolve us and all thy servants whom the chayne of sin doth binde Amen Heare we beseech thee O Lotd the prayers of thy supplicants and pardon the sins of them that confesse to thee that thou being unto us benigne maist in like manner give us pardon and peace Shew with clemency O Lord thy unspeakable mercy unto us that thou both acquit us of our sins and deliver us from the paines which for them we deserve O God who by sin art offended and by penance art pacified mercifully respect the prayers of thy people making supplication to thee and turne away the scourges of thy āger which for our sins we deserue Haue mercy on all sinners sweet Jesu I beseech thee turne their vices into vertues and make them true observers of thy law and lovers of thee bring them to blisse in everlasting glory Have mercy also on the soules in Purgatory for thy bitter passion sake I beseech thee and for thy glorious name Jesu O holy Trinity one true God have mercy on me Your prayer ended dispose your selfe in recollection of mind to bed and putting of your cloathes consider how fast the tyme is comming on and is perchaunce much neerer then you imagin when you shall be vncloathed of all but a poore winding sheet to be covered with earth which your bedcloathes covering you doe represent as also the ensving sleepe doth your death and your bed the grave where laying downe your selfe commende both your body and soule vnto God saying as did Iesus Christ upon the Crosse recommending your soule to the Eternall father in these sacred words Into thy hands O Lord I recommend my spirit In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ I laye me downe to rest he blesse me defend me and bring me to life everlasting Amen Save us good Lord wakeing and keepe us sleeping that we may watch with Christ and rest in peace Amen God the Father blesse me Jesus Christ defende me the vertue of the holy Ghost illuminate and sanctify me this night and ever more Amen O Angel of God who art my keeper me by the supernal piety committed to thy charge keepe and defend this night from all peril of body and of soule Amen And lastely with a fervent aspiration to God conclude saying O deare Jesu the everlasting repose of thyne elect when will the happy houre come that my soule may without end receiue her rest in thy eternall glory And herevpon with an act of the love of God compose your selfe to sleepe When awakeing in the night IF you awake in the night endeavour to make an elevation of your hart to God by some ejaculatory prayer as O good Iesu be to me Iesus and save me or O deare Iesu that I may know thee and that J may know my selfe vpon which words S. Augustin was wont to spend whole nights in pious contemplation As also did S. Francis in these other not unlike O who art thou my divine Lord and who am I or say O Eternal God when shall I love thee with my whole hart and soule and if I were at this very instant now to dye am J in the state to obtayne thy gracious mercy or the like And then without any further application of mind compose your selfe againe to sleepe Holy cogitations wherof some one being chosen at the end of your evening or morning prayer may serve as a subject for a vertuous employment of your minde when either you cannot sleepe or for all the day following at such tymes as best leasure shall give occasion to make some good Reflection there upon Of the true end of Man MAn is made to love and to serve God and thereby to obtayne his owne Beaitude Our very hart assures us of this certaine truth which being made for God it findes no quiet rest but only in that its proper center thou hast created us O Lord for thy selfe saith S. Augustin and our hart is unquiet untill it repose in thee Yea plaine experience makes it manifest for neither could Alexander the great be content with his glorious conquest of the world togeather with all other temporall felicity nor Salomon with all which his soule could either possesse or desire for the full content both of his body and mind all which in the end he confessed to be but vanity and affliction of spirit And Alexander did no lesse who weeped when he was tould that there were no more worlds for him to conquer the satisfaction of what he had done gave him so smale content We being therfore made only for God let us be only his and give our selves entierly to him performing what according to our end we are made for For as the suune is made to give light the fier to heate and salt to season to which end should they
the cordes which bound our Saviour's hands and armes when he was drag'd from place to place of the Manuple and from one Judge to an other It is put on the left arme which is nearest to the hart to declare with what love and affection he endured all those outrageous injuries to expiate our sin When the Priest putteth the manuple upon his arme he saith vouchsafe me Lord so to beare the Manuple of weeping and sorrow that I may receive the reward of my labour with exultation Which prayer also alludes to the antient devouter tymes which used this manuple as a linning cloath or hand kercher to wype their teares which their fervent piety made often to runn in abundance from their eyes of the Stole The Stole which the Priest pureth about his neck doth signify the yoke of obedience even unto death upon the Crosse wherunto our Lord Jesus submitted himselfe for our redemption The Priest kisseth the Crosse which is upon the middle of it when he puteth it on to shew his cheerefull willingnesse to beare the sweet yoke of Christ's Crosse with all patience in tribulation He puteth the two ends of it overthwart his breast in forme of a Crosse representing saith S. Bonaventure the passion of Jesus Christ which the Priest ought to have most seriously fixed in his hart The Stole also doth properly signify that long rope about our Saviour's neck wherby those barbarous executioners dragged him charged with the heavy crosse upon his neck and bloody shoulders The two crosses at the ends of the Stole hanging on either side of the Priest doe signify the crosses whereon the two theeves were crucifi'd by him one on the right hand and the other on the left and the crosse on the middle represents that wheron himselfe was crucifid in the middle betwixt them both The Priest in putting on the stole saith Render me o Lord the stole of immortality which I have lost by the prevarication of my first parents in transgressing thy holy law The Vestment of the vestment represents that purple garment wherwith the Jewes did cloath our Lord and Saviour after that his most tender body was all in gory blood with those cruel stripes and in scornfull mockery exposed him to the peoples view with a reede in his hand and a crowne of thornes on his head saying Ecce homo This Vestment consists of two parts which signifies the two-fould charity the one towards God which is the larger the other towards our neighbour we being commanded to love God above all things and our neighbour as our selves Deut. 6. The great crosse upon the back of the vestment is to put us in minde of our divine Redemer as he went fourth of Hierusalem carriing his heavy crosse upon his wounded shoulders Finally the Priest when he puts on the vestment saith Lord thou who assurest us that thy yoake is sweet and thy burthen light vouchsafe that I may so weare this as therby I may obtayne thy holy grace Amen The Priest comming fourth to the sacrifice thus attyred with these holy ornaments What the Priest thus attyred doth represent to us doth represent our blessed Saviour led fourth through the streets of Hierusalem to his bitter death and passion And by the Altar is signified mount Calvary upon which he was crucifi'd for our Redemption And it is worthy to be here noted that who mock and scorne both at these holy ornaments as likewise at the Priest for wearing them doe rightly resemble the spitefull jewes who most blasphemously mocked and scorned our Saviour Jesus Christ himselfe in the purple robe and thorny crowne which they had put upon him for that end The Clark carriing the booke before the Priest What is representedly the clark carrying the booke before the Priest doth represent the Angel Gabriel who brought the good tydings of our Saviour becomming incarnate for our Salvation which is a heigh office and ought to be used by the clark with all devout piety and reverence And would Christians consider but the honour and great spirituall gaines which is to be gott by those who have the happinesse to serve their souveraine Lord with due and reverent devotion in that neere approaching office they would not permit nor make it as they doe their lackies employment nor would they suffer their servant to deprive them of that honour wherof the greatest mortall Prince is farr unworthy The Clark carrieth the booke to the right end of the Altar Vvherfore the missas is layd first on the right side of the Altar ādvvherfore shutt where he layeth it downe shutt to be opned afterwards by the Priest himselfe Heerby to signify to us how the holy Gospel first was manifested to the jewes as is testifid Act. 15. To you it behooved us first to speake the word of God The booke is shutt to shew that all things were closed under darke shadowes and figures untill the comming of Jesus Christ who revealed the mysteries of our holy faith to the Apostles And so ought the Priest to preach to teach and to lay open the word of God and the holy scripture to the people as his laying there open the booke doth signify The priest in this sort adorned and accompanied with the Clark to assist him and having placed the chalice upon the Altar and opened the booke he descends to the lowest stepp Where in imitation of the humble Publican he profoundly boweth himselfe to the Crucifix saying at least in his hart God be mercifull to me a sinner And then with all fervent devotion and true reverence he beginneth the most holy sacrifice of the Masse in which Jesus Christ true God and Man is really received the memory of his death and passion is renewed his sacred merits are therby applyed in remission of our sins our soules are replenished with many heavenly benedictions and therin is given unto us the happy pledge of future and eternall glory And the faithfull Christian assisting devoutly at this holy sacrifice doth offer together with the Priest the self same victime in expiation for his sin which was offered upon the crosse for the Redemption of all the world it being the self same price and satisfaction of application upon the Altar as it was of redemption upon the Crosse And it is that cleane and pure sacrifice foretould and promisd also by the prophet Malachy to be continually Malach. cap. 1 and in all places offered in his name All which but well considered ô with what affection reverence purity and devotion ought we to assist at this divine sacrifice soe venerable unto Angels as may greatly confound our impiety and the little respect we beare to those dreadfull mysteries at which ô how usually doe carelesse Christians to their great reproach assist with lesse respect and reverence then they durst appeare in a Princes chamber A reflection to be used as you goe to the Church to assist at this holy sacrifice IT being now the
merits of Christs holy passion for the healing of his sinfull soule found therby his perfect and speedy cure let us by the gratefull sacrifice of a contrite and humble hart dispose our soules to true repentance and knock our breast as did that humble Publican with vnfeined sorrow for all our sins saying with him God be mercifull to me a wretched sinner That at the houre of our death we may happily heare pronounced by our Saviour that joyfull sentence this day thou shalst be with me in Paradise At the severall Crosses made upon the holy Host and Chalice THe frequent making of this holy signe as wel after as before the consecration doth repre sent to us the severall sorts of cruell torments which Jesus Christ endured in his bitter passion by his flagellation coronation bearing his heavy Crosse his crucifixion derisions scornes blasphemies and the like The three Crosses which the Priest makes saying Per ipsum c put us in minde of the three houres which he suffered upon the Crosse The other two which he makes saying Deo Patri omnipotenti c. represent to us the water and blood which camefourth of that sacred wound of his side And that elevation of the Host and Chalice and immediately deposing them againe upon the corporall represents the taking downe of his blessed body from the Crosse All which are strong motives to draw from us a feeling compassion of those his great sufferings for our sake and to offer to him a resigned hart with true conformity to his blessed will for what soever his heavenly providence hath desined for us living or dying for tyme or Eternity At the Pater noster WE may make here our humble supplication unto the Eternall Father with great confidence to obtayne what we shall justly and rightly demaunde by this petition taught us by his divine ad beloved sōne And there fore with much confidence we may here make our humble petition to him for that in partilar for which we principally intended to offer up that holy and impetratory sacrifice of the Masse At the division of the Host into 3. parts wherof one is put into the Chalice THis division of the holy Host signifies the separation of the body and soule of Jesus Christ And the particle put into the Chalice mingling therby together the consecrated species of bread and wyne represents to us the reunion of his body and soule at his glorious resurrection By which is also represented to us the horrour of à mortall sin which separating Gods grace from our soule doth kill the same never more to be revived but by the merits of Jesus Christ applyed by true repentance for our sins which therfore we ought carefully to fly and most hartely to detest At Agnus Dei c. WHat greater comfort can mans hart conceive then to heare this joyfull repetition that it is the lambe of God which taketh away the sins of the world for should not he be engaged for this great debt which we owe for sin our case would be desperate since that all creatures joyned together could never make satisfaction to his divine justice for the least venial sin Isalae c. 53. v 5. but the was wounded for our iniquities and with his stripes we are healed Agnus Dei is thrice repeated to put us in mind to make 3. acts of Contrition answerable to our 3. usuall sorts of sin by thought word and deed against God against our neighbour and our selves At Domine non sum dignus and the holy Communion THe Priest thus disposed and producing fervent acts of faith and love of humility and true contrition he takes the holy Communion protesting with the humble Publican his great unwor thinesse and Knocking thrice his breast at Domine non sum dignus he makes the signe of the Crosse with the holy Host as if taking Christs heavenly benediction he beseecheth him to consecrate his hart a cleane and pure sepulcher fitt to receive his most precious body and that it may never be made unpleasing to him by any grievous sin At the Ablution WE are put in mind by this Ablution which the Priest takes to purify his fingars and Chalice that we must cleanse our soules from the remainder of all vicious habits from all ill affections and disordinate passions or inclinations to sin which defile our soule that ought to be the pure and undefiled temple of God Craue here humbly such vertues as may adorne and make it a pleasing habitation for the holy Ghost At remooving the book againe to the other side of the Altar HEre adore the great goodenesse of God and his infinit patience who not withstanding the Jewes long obstinate contempt of all his graces profered them wil yet vouchsafe finally and towards the end of the world to receive thē to his mercy and heavenly blesse by their true profession of his holy faith Let us be carefull not to neglect the grace of his divine inspirations wher-upon our endlesse felicity doth soe greatly depende At the Postcommunion THe great benefit received by this holy sacrifice as likewise the innumerable other gracious favours which are so continually communicated unto us from the bountifull and loving hand of God doe justly oblidge us to this due gratefull thankfulnesse which the Priest here makes to his divine Majesty aswell in his own behalfe as for the people in saying the Postcommunion as also the ensuing prayer for the selfe same end At the next Dominus vobiscum THis Dominus vobiscum is to put us in minde of our Saviours appearing to his Disciples and conforting them with his blessed presence after his glorious resurrection But now as this apparition only was so great à comfort to the Disciples o how much more may it well be to us not only to behould him really and truly in the Masse but so frequently also to receive him personnaly into our breasts Where he remaines with us in person so long as the Sacramentall species shall continew and with his grace till he be most ungratefully expelled by mortal sin At the last Collect or prayer BY this prayer we make gratefull acknowledgment of all Gods innumerable benefits and to stirr up much sorrow for having so greatly abused them by the small amendment of our habituall vices Which may justly render us unworthy of his future graces unlesse we be more constant to our good purposes and pious resolutions Of the last Dominus vobiscum THe Priest saluting the people with this Dominus vobiscum doth represent to us our B. Saviours Ascention in the sight of all his Apostles and Disciples Drawing doubtlesse all their harts with him Upon whom both their loue thoughts and whole desires were firmely fixed Wheras our unhappy engagement to vaine worldly contents doe so depresse our soules as we are rendred uncapable of celestiall thougths and remayne euen as buried in meere humane and transitory affaires And wholly made captives to flesh and blood Of Ite Missa est and
the last benediction THe Ite Missa est represents that last dreadfull sentence upon the reprobate at the day of Doome goe yee cursed in to eternall flames c. As the last benediction immediatly following signifies the joyfull sentence upon the thrice happy Elect. Come yee blessed of my Father possesse yee the kingdome prepared for you from Eternity O let us therfore be diligent and carefull to make use of precious tyme whilst it is lent us that we may avoyde that endlesse misery and purchace eternall Blisse At the Gospel of S. Iohn AFTER the conclusion of all these sacred and divine Mysteries with this representation of Christs joyfull benediction upon the Elect at the end of the world the holy Church hath very properly concluded this her chiefest sacrifice with the Gospel of S. John which proposeth to us the Words eternall birth with all the deepest mysteries of Gods Divinity Therby to intimate to us that after the afore mentioned benediction those blessed Elect shall enter into the celestiall Paradise there to know to love and eternally to prayse the B. Trinity Father Sonne and holy Ghost three persons Apoc. 7.12 and one only God to whom be benediction and glory all thanks-giving honour and power for ever and ever Amen A prayer to be said after Masse I Render to thee o sacred Trinity most humble thankes for vouchsafing me the gracious favour to assist at this divine sacrifice of the Masse wherof so many are deprived who would have made much better use of it I humbly crave pardon most loving and mercifull God for all the distractions irreverences and discipation of my wandering Spirit committed in tyme thereof And for my deare Saviours sake I most humbly beseech thee that those infinit merits of his bitter passion and most precious blood shed for my Redemption and sacrific'd to thee in remission of the sins of the world may render me worthy to be made partaker of those divine and adorable holy mysteries here so truly represented in this most holy sacrifice of the Masse and that with finall repentence I may dye in thy happy grace Amen Reflexions to be used so soone as Masse is ended MASSE being ended call to minde your negligences committed therin Crave pardon of God for them and Beg hartely his grace for your amendment and more strength and courage to resist all sin Renew then also the morning oblation of all your actions for that day and confirme your good purpose to avoyde that passion sin or fratliy which puts you most in danger to offend Finally your devotion being ended retyre your hart very gently from that holy exercise to your wordly affaires retayning as long as you can the feeling and affection of your former devotion Observe also that by these declarations upon the holy mysteries of this divine sacrifice it sufficiently now appeares that the Masse puts us in minde and very lively represents to us Mans banishment from Paradise by Adam's sin and his restitution to grace by the precious blood of Jesus Christ And therfore this manner of hearing Masse is most conformable to the designe of our B. Redeemer in his instituting this holy sacrifice therby obligeing us to keep à continuall memory of that his bitter passion which he suffered for the Redemption of the world this doe in commemoration of me c. For so often as you shall eate this bread and drink this Chalice you shall shew the death of our lord untill he come Doe this in memory of me 1. Cor. 11 Luke 22. Spirituall advises of S. Theresa greatly conducing to live happily both with God and man ACcommodate your selfe to the harmelesse condition of those with whom you converse To enjoy true content and happinesse With the merry shew signes of joy With the afflicted a feeling of their griefe And finally endevour to please all to the end to gaine all In all your actions remember to be in the presence of God And direct them with à pure intention to his greater honour and glory Accustome your selfe to make many acts of the love of God and of your neighbour for they will kindle charity and make tender your hart In any spirituall desolation forsake not your accustomed practise of devotion but much rather encreace the same For therby you will soone experience Gods divine favour and comfort Lett your desire be to see God your feare to loose him Your sorrow for having offended him Your joy in doing his wil. And by this meanes yow will possesse à most blessed and happy peace Never speake any thing in your owne praise for knowledge for vertue kindred For meekenesse and humility or good actions unlesse there be good cause to hope that some great good may come therby And then also it ought to be with much humility and consideration that these are guifts which come from the meere goodnesse of God and not from you Never busy your selfe in thinking upon other mens faults but rather in mending your owne When any shall reprehend you take it both with inward and outward humility and pray to God for them who shall tell you when you doe amisse Be carefull to exercise your selfe in the feare of God which ingendreth contrition and true humility in the soule Offer up your selfe to Almighty God many tymes in the day and that in much fervour and affection Endeavour with diligence to have frequently before your eyes For Prayer and devotion your morning good resolution for that is of great profit for gayning perfection Neglect not Gods holy inspirations and put in practice the good desires which he hath given you in your prayer Never make shew of more devotion outwardly then you have truly within And what devotion you find inwardly be carefull to concele it Behould your life past and bewaile it and be confounded at your present coldnesse in devotion considering how much it wants of deserving that Beatitude which God hath promissd to all who truly love him When you are in company of many speake but little Never contend For conversation nor strive in words with any for that argues but obstinacy and selfe opinion Speake to all Persons with à pleasing sweet and gracious modesty Never reprehend any without discretion and humility Exagerate nothing but deliver your opinion and advise with moderation Offer not to give your aduise unlesse it be first demanded or that charity require the same Be merry without immoderate laughter but with à modest affable and edificative myrth Be not desirous to speake nor inquire of things which doe not concerne you In all your conversation mixe somthing of piety wherby you will avoyde much idle or worse discourse Misery it selfe is not to be desired but à will to endure with moderation of minde for the love of God when he shall please to send it Whosoever shall reade these instructions once à month or oftner and endeavour to put them in practise he will undoubtedly reape much profit
great esteeme which we make of his holy will and commande we having no other motive nor respect to draw us thereunto 2. because those small occasions being very frequent they give much practice for vertue and therby to obtayne great grace and many favours from God Let vs therfore make this good use of the least occasion to testify our love and true fidelity to him and therby to encreace his grace in our soules to which in Heaven is answerable eternall glory And who on the contrary shall be negligtfull therin will experience that the holy Ghost hath most truly fore tould us Eccl. 1◠that who contemneth small thins shall fali by little and little Reason ought to be the Rule of all our actions and affections MAns nature is to live according to reason but passion blinding us we weigh not all things by the just weight of their worth but rather by our deceiptfull affections and disorderly appetits the affection which we have for one person makeing all his actions to seeme gratefull and good and our aversion to the other but unpleasing and badd wheras he notwithstanding may wel have what is worthy of praise and the other what may deserve much blame Have not a double hart the one for your selfe and the other for your neighbour it being reason which ought to be the Rule and guide of our will Esteeme not things accordding only as they seeme pleasing to you and in appearence but according to their worth and valour Be not troubled that others seeke their owne conveniences seeing that they are not offended to let you procure yours Doe as you would be donne to and deale with others in the same manner as God dealeth with you who although he suffereth much at your hands yet he refuseth not to bestow blessings and great favours daily upon you Nor be you much troubled if men deale ungratefully with you you being so very ungratefull to God The examen of spirits according to their different feeling in the hart GUsts and interiour feelings must be examined to try whither such as are thought to be spirituall spring not from flesh and blood that devotion is not spirituall which hath its roote meerely frome sense and which is grounded on this foundation can not be solid and stable yea the greatest fervours and most violent ardor in the love of God is frequently discipated like unto watery froth That devotion as true which proceeds from the purest love of God and is best knowne by a generous resolution wherby the soule doth unite her selfe inviolably to his divine will and pleasure through the greatest difficulties and contradictions to nature not having regard neither to gaine nor losse not to sensible consolation in prayer nor to the greatest dereliction and barrenness therin but only and purely to the honour and glory of God And who build not upon this foundation will little advance in perfection but rather whil be still to begin so long as nature beares such a sway The right spirituall gusts and the true holy motions from the spirit of God are that we greatly humble our selves that we renounce our owne will conquering nature and its reluctance to suffering neglecting all interest and that we have no other ayme nor end but purely to please and to serve Almighty God How to draw profit from afflictions and painfull sufferings ARe you in painfull sufferance either by bodily affliction or by some desolation in minde comfort your selfe in that by patience your gaine will be without comparison farr greater then can be your harme For if none can shew greater charity then he who giveth his life for a frend what then may besaid of him who suffers for the love of God that which he both dreads and feares much more then he doth death it selfe I meane derelection and privation of all spirituall consolation temptations scrupules and other afflictions of soule Feare fin and not paine nor doe you abhorr what God gusteth with pleasure nor be you discontent at what is very pleasing to him It is now the very proper tyme of suffering and yet self love makes any paine to be to you extreamely troublesome Yea so weake is the love of God in you as you most unwillingly doe suffer that which even for your owne greatest good he most fatherly ordaynes for you Can he who hopes to enjoy God for alle Eternity feare to suffer one little moment for his sake Force nature but à little to beare Christs holy Crosse and therby your peine will much be lightned for nothing doth so greatly augment our sufferance as doth our owne proper will And if we doe so greatly love and reverence the Crosse of Christ for its being sanctified hy his continuing fastned three or fower houres ther upon why should we not love esteeme and honour laborious and painfull sufferings which he endured three and thirty whole yeares continuing the whole space of his life The reason wherefore all men naturally seekeing happinesse so few doe find it OUr divine Redeemer declaring to his diseiples wherin beatitude and true happinesse in this life did consist hee disabuseth them of the false opinion of worldly people who though they naturally seek happinesse and labour for that end yet they spending their labour to pourchace worldly vaine honour and deluding pleasurs or sordid wealth according to the pernicious false principle of the world they wholy neglect what their divine Maister Jesus Christ hath taught vs both by word and example wherby to leade us the way to true beatitude beatifying the poore of spirit The meeke and humble Who weepe and mourne Who hunger and thirst The mercifull The pure and cleane of hart The peace makers And finally the persecuted and afflicted persons for justice All these our divine Redeemer declares to be blessed and that the kingdome of Heaven belongs to them whom yet the deceived world according to their false maxime doe judge to be but miserable and most unhappy Nor is it a wonder that what Jesus Christ proposed here as happines seemes rather misery to the delued eyes of men whose thoughts not going beyond this present life which being but truly misery in it selfe it can no other wise make us happy but as it serves to help us to gaine that other of endlesse blisse Of sloath and idlenesse THis mother of vice is contrary to nature it being the proper nature of man to labour as for a bird to fly nor hath he à greater enemy then is sloath and idlenesse Which is a sin quite contrary to the nature of man the very institution of his first creation being properly to worke God placed Adam in Paradise Gen. 1◠that he should worke And after his fall it was appointed him in punishment of his sin it being pronounced against him and all his progeny Gen 3.19 that in the sueate of his hrowes he should eate his bread And therefore idlenesse is both unnaturall to Man and unpleasing to God Math.
25 cast out the idle servant And the barren figtree was commanded to be cut downe and cast into the fire For wherefore hath God given us a body with all its members and senses and a soule with all its noble faculties but that we should employ them as a talent lent us for his glory Let us therefore be more carefull not to loose our precious tyme which is but lent us here to labour for eternity for the night of death will suddainly surprise us in our sinfull floath and then no more tyme will be afforded us to repaire our former idlenesse and neglect of tyme. Of the sin of scandal MOst justly hath our blissed Saviour given so dreadfull a curse against this wicked sin Math. 18 which so truly represents the sin of Lucifer who by the scandal of his ambitious pride did draw with him à third part of those unhappy Angels unto the low pit of Hell Yea like to the pestiferous plague one scandalous person is capable by his ill example to communicate the infection of his sin to a whole towne and country But finally be we most certainly assured that alle such as by our scandal were brought to their endlesse perdition they at the dreadfull day of judgment will cry vengence against us and will require that wee be eternally punished for that their irreparable harme which by scandall we caused to them by our provocation to sin Of Choller and Anger THe holy Ghost disswads us from harboring anger in our breasts Eccles 7 least it place us in the ranke of fooles assuring us also that who is soone mooved to anger is much inclined to sin Prov. 25. The usuall attendants of this pernicious vice is Pride Contumely Indignation Oathes Blasphemies Quarrels Murthers and the like This vice is not only hurtfull to the Author but soe insupportable to others Prou. 22 as the holy Ghost peaswads us to fly their company who are subject unto it and well it is to be observed that whilst we strive by anger to maister our enemy we are most shamfully overcome by our selves This pernicious vice obscures reason and precipitats the will into dangerous actions sur future repentance for who is blinded with the fumes of this passion is neither capable of right reason nor counsell Wherfore seeing that it is a vice so prejudiciall to our selves so injurious to our neighbour and so greatly detested by God let us resolve to resist the first motions of this unruly passion and by craving Gods grace and imitating the mildnesse and meeknesse of Jesus Christ to over come the same Of Rash judgment THe holy Church though particularly assisted by the holy Ghost yet shee judgeth not of inward things and shall a particular ignorant Man vicious and passionate take the liberty to judge what only lyeth open to God O unsupportable pride and presumption We must therfore judge ever the best of the intention of others it being a secret which belongs only to God the true scarcher of the harts of men Yea it is a sacrilegious usurpation to trench upon that which is Gods owne due and it makes us truly to resemble those hypocrits of the Gospel who espying a moate in their brothers eye perceive not the beame which remaynes in their owne S. Bernards advise herein is singularly good exhorting us that when we perceive in an other some fault which displeaseth us amend it saith he in thy selfe but behoulding in him what is vertuous and good examenwhither thoupossessest the same and if not then labour to obtayne for thds doing thou wilt make prosit of all Of the vertue of mildnesse and meekenesse THe reason wherefore this vertue is often recommended by Jesus Christ and that they are called blessed who are gentle and milde is for that God being the God of peace he loves to rest in a mild and gentle hart factus est in pace locus eius Psal â—6 2. it makes us to enjoy true solid content of minde they shall be delighted in abundance of peace It is the motive which our Saviour gives us to practice the same learne of me who am mild c. and you shall finde rest to your soules for as no quarrel can be fixt upon a cheerefull minde and plesant countenance so also courteous and frendly language will conquer the greatest enemy The conversation of such a man is grattefull and welcome to all company nor is any more offensive and displeasing then is a froward angry and impatient person We must therefore as S. Paul doth admonish us shew mildnesse and meekenesse to all Tit. 32 which is the true meanes to gaine love both of God and and Man Eccl 3 19 Sonne doe thy workes in meeknes and thou shalt be belovod above the glory of Men. Of true humility of hart THere are two sortes of humility The one of spirit and understanding and the other of the hart and will That of the spirit makes us to know and to acknowlege that of our selves we are pure nothing nor can doe any thing but meerely from God Tat we are borne in sin and inclind to all evil All which but well considered how can we be proud or vaine glorious But this humility of spirit will little availle us without the humility of hart and of wil for the devils know well their owne great abjection and indignity but they have not humility of hart and of will which consists in being glad and willing to be despised and in flying the praise of men wherin consists true Christian humility of hart and of will For it consists not in certaine little ceremonies or composed humble termes or actions but in reall deeds acknowledging that all the good which we either enjoy or doe is from God to whom we are to render all glory and gratitude and nothing but contempt and all abjection to our selves for our great and grievious sins A 2. Reflection upon holy patience NO vertue is more necessary then this we being almost continually in occasion for the practife of it and by the helpe therof we surmount the greatest difficulties nor doth any thing more edify our neighbour or confund yea caven conquer an enemy as doth holy patience wheras impatience doth all quite to the contrary 2. the impatient man refuseth sinfully to submit to Gods decree who is the Author of all our sufferings which in that they cannot be resisted the impatient Man is most unreasonable and by that meanes he begins his Hell even in this world And as that man is of all others the most happy who is of all others the most patient so on the contrary he is most miserable who is most impatien Nowe the best meanes to obtayne this so necessary a vertue is to reflect upon Gods great patience in suffering all our perverse greate sins and most enormious offences done aginst him 2. That this life is but very short and uncertaine our peine cannot be long 3. to reflect how
justly we have deserved to suffer much more whithout comparaison and that eternally And finally we ought each morning to foresee what sufferance or vexation may that day be likely ro befall us and to offer it to God resolving patiently to suffer the same for his sake The practise of Gods divine Presence A Principall and divine fundamentall verity mainly conducing to mans salvation is to keepe in our memory the divine presence of God Gen. 17 Walke in Gods presence and bee perfect For he is more intimately present to us then is our very soule The memory of this divine presence is able to rule our disorderd passions and to onercome the strongest temptations of our ghostly enemies Chast Joseph and Susanna had no other buckler but this to defend themselves from so great assaults against their purity The frequent Acts by faith of Gods divine presence in all places in all our actions words and thougts would be a speciall preservative against all sin Who shall be faithfull to this holy practife in all his chief actions may hope by Gods grace to frustrate the dangerous snares of all his ghostly enemies Still calling the holy proverb to minde Prov. 15.3 that in all places the eyes of our lord beholdeth both the Good and badd Of true purity of intention THe greatest secret for Christian perfection is the right rectifying our intention in all we shal doe It being the intention which gives them their price and valew If it be Good the action will be meritorious if vicious the act will be nolesse give you à thousand pound in almes yet with some bad intention or out of the motive of vanity all that almes is not only lost to your soule but is also sinfull and deserving punishment from God wheras one penny given for his love will merit eternalle reward And therfore whither we eate or drinke or what else soever we doe lett us doe it with a pure intention for the glory of God This was the perfect practife of Jesus Christ Cor 101 Who had no other end nor intention in all he either did or said but purely his eternall Fathers glory And have we then not great reason to frame all our actions upon so divine a modle Of good purposes and pious Resolutions TO confesse our sins without a firme purpose to amende were but by sacrilege to abuse the Sacrament and à meere mocking of God A true good purpose wihch is pleasing to God must be with a firme resolution to practife vertue and not an in efficacious defire of a sloathfull soule described by the holy Ghost Saying that the sloathfull man will and he will not Hell is full of such fruitlesse desires which those wretched soules yet living in this world had sometymes to embrace Gods holy inspirations and wish they had been faithfull to those good purposes which by their neglect and infidelity they now well perceive with enraiged griefe to be brought to eternall misery All serving at present but as tormenting wormes to gripe and to knaw their guilty consciences and ought to be a sufficient warniing to us yet in good tyme to be more constant and faithfull to our pious resolutions reflecting what shame and great confusion it would be unto us to have so very often promissed without performance but to a mortall man as we have done by our good purposes to Almighty God without all care shame or industry to performe what we have so often promissed to his divine and dreadfull Majesty OF CONFESSION If we Confesse our sins he is faithfull and just for to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all iniquity 1. Joan. 1. Advertisments before Confession SAthan our mortall enemy useth all industry to deterre us from this holy Sacrament of Penance or at least to put such impediments as may much hinder the happy fruits thereof well knowing that by a true contrite confession he looseth what in much tyme he had labored to gaine before Conceale nothing in your Confession for God you cannot deceive but your selfe you may For one mortall sin wilfully concealed renders your confession a sin of sacrilege and your selfe incapable of absolution Conceive not your Ghostly Father to disesteeme you for your sins for confesse but with sorrow and full purpose to amend and although you approached a great sinner yet he regards you by repentance to returne a Saint Prepare your selfe to Confession as if it were to be your last and at the hower of death and endevour to put your selfe in the same condition as you would desire to be found at that last dreadfull moment by stirring up fervent acts of faith of hope of charity and true contrition for your sins Crave divine light of God to call to minde your offences and that you may now behould them as they would appeare to you at your death and with the same enormity that you may abhorr them and accuse your selfe of them with firme purpose to amende and to doe due penance and satisfaction for the same Consider how often you have deserved eternall damnation from which God hath of his meere mercy so often preserved you as you have offended him by mortall sin which is as great a mercy as to have so often reduced you from that infernall pit of endlesse misery Know also that a good Confession requires a good purpose of amendment a right good purpose requires a true intention to avoyde the occasions of our sin for to doe other wayes would be like to him who would not have the plague but would not avoyde infected houses for such a mans purposes would be but a mockery and in vaine To your good purpose of amendment adde also harty sorrow and detestation of your sin The want wherof may be the cause of your small amendment and of so frequent relapses into your former faults Our confession must be sincere and true accusing our selves freely telling the doubtfull things as doubfull and the certaine as certaine without artifice or excuse covering or diminishing our Confession being to God who allready well knowes how farr we are guilty Lastly recommende your selfe to the sacred Virgin mother of God to your good Angel and to the intercession of all Gods blessed Saints to obtaine for you a true repentant hart detesting all your sins with a firme purpose to avoyde them here after and the occasions therof Confiding in the mercy of God and in the sacred merits of Jesus Christ apply'd by the ministry of the Priest in this holy sacrament unto our soules for the remission of our sins for it is not absurd saith S. Cyril that they forgive sin who have the holy Ghost for when they remit or retayne the holy Ghost remits or retaynes in them and that they doe two wayes first in baptisme and then in Penance Cyril lib. 12. c. 56. in Joan. Let every one my brethren J beseech you confesse his sins whiles he is yet aliue whiles his Confession may be admitted whilst
wandering receive me returning uphould me stumbling lift me up falling and persevering bring me into glory O God of all goodnesse and Majesty let the most blessed presence of thy most precious body and blood so alter the tast of my hart that besides thee at any tyme it feele no sweetnesse it love no fairenesse it seeke no unlawfull love it desire no consolation it admit no delectation at any tyme it care for no honour it feare no cruetly who livest and reighnest God with thy eternall Father in unity of the holy Ghost world without end Amen An other prayer after the holy Communion THankes be unto thee o Eternall Father that thou didst vouchsafe of thy great pitty to send thy only deare sonne from thy glorious throne into this vale of woe here to take our mortall nature and in the same to suffer sharp paines and a bitter death to bring our soules unto the glory of thy happy kingdome and to leave that precious body here to be our strength and comfort I thanke thee o most loving Lord Jesu with all the powers of my soule for that thou hast thus graciously fed me with thy most precious body by which I hope to have health of soule and eternall life with joy at my depar ture from this vale of teares and misery O holy Ghost come Lord and enflame my hart with the burning beames of thy love and make me with true humble and vertuous gratitude continually to yeald acceptable thankes to the holy and glorious Trinity three persons and one eternall God to whom be all honour glory and thankes-giving from all creatures without end Amen The soule of Christ sanctify me the body of Christ saue me the water of the side of Christ wash me o good Jesu heare me within thy wounds hide me suffer me not to be separated from thee from the malignant enemy defend me and bid me come to thee that with all the celestiall blessed spirits I may praise and glorify thee throughout all Eternity A Conclusion COnvert o Lord all wicked sinners call to true faith all hereticks and schismaticks lighten the infidels who doe not know thee help all that be in great necessity releeve all who have commended themselves unto my prayers have mercy upon all my parents friends and benefactors as also upon all those for whom I am bound to pray Let thy blessing be upon this place with humility peace charity purity and conformity to thy blessed will that we may all amend feare and faithfully serve thee love and please thee Lord be mercifull to all people for whom thou hast shed thy precious blood Grant to the liuing forgivenesse and peace and to the faithfull departed rest and everlasting life Amen Finally the devout soule the more to dilate her selfe in the praises of her mercifull and loving Lord and to render him due humble thankes for so great a benefit may here with a fervent hart inflamed with love and gratitude recite this following canticle wherin all creatures are invited to Laude and praise Almighty God The Canticle of the three children ALl the workes of our Lord blesse yee our Lord Daniel 5. praise and extol him for ever Blesse yee our Lord yee Angels of our Lord ye Heavens blesse our Lord. All waters that are above the Heavens blesse yee our Lord blesse yee our Lord yee powers of our Lord. Sun and moone blesse yee our Lord starrs of Heaven blesse yee our Lord. Shower and dew blesse yee our Lord every spirit of God blesse yee our Lord. Fire and heate blesse yee our Lord cold and summer blesse yee our Lord. Dewes and hoarie frost blesse yee our Lord frost and cold blesse yee our Lord. Ice and snow blesse you our Lord nights and dayes blesse yee our Lord Light and darknesse blesse yee our Lord lightming and clouds blesse yee our Lord. Let the earth blesse our Lord let it praise and extoll him for ever Mountaines and little hills blesse yee our Lord all things that spring in the earth blesse yee our Lord. Blesse our Lord yee fountains seas and rivers blesse yee our Lord. Whales all that move in the waters blesse yee our Lord blesse our Lord all yee foules of the aire All beasts and cattel blesse yee our Lord sonnes of men blesse yee our Lord. Let Israel blesse our Lord let it praise and extoll him forever Priests of our Lord blesse yee our Lord servants of our Lord blesse yee our Lord. Spirits and soules of the just blesse yee our Lord holy and humble of hart blesse yee our Lord. Ananias Azarias Misael blesse yee our Lord praise and extol him for ever Let us blesse the Father and the sonne with the holy Ghost let us praise and extol him for ever Blessed art thou o Lotd in the firmament of Heaven and praised and glorifid and extolled for ever This Canticle of thankes giving with the two following and the Hymne of S. Ambrose and S. Augustin in praise and thankes-giving at his conversion are proper to be used to blesse and praise God for some singular favour and benefitt The Canticle of Zacharie BLessed be our Lord God of Israel be cauese he hath visited and wrought the redemption of his people And hath erected the horne of salvation to us in the house of David his servant As he spake by the mouth of his holy Prophets that are from the beginning Salvation from our Enemies and from the hand of all who hate us To worke mercy with our Fathers and to remember his holy testament The oath which he sware to Abraham our Father thathe would give himself to us That without feare being delivered from the hand of our enemies we may serve him In holinesse and justice before him all our dayes And thou child shalst be called the Prophet of the highest for thou shalt goe before the face of our Lord to prepare his wayes To give knowledge of salvation to his people unto remission of their sins Trough the bouels of the mercy of our God in which the Orient from on high hath visited us To illuminate them that sit in darknesse and in the shadow of death to direct our fect in to the way of peace Glory be to the Fater c. The blessed Virgins Canticle of Magnificat c. MY soule doth magnify our Lord and my spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid for behould from hence fourth all gererations shall call me blessed Because he that is mighty hath done great things to me and holy is his name And his mercy from generation to generation to them that feare him He hath shewed might in his arme he hath disperced the proud in the conceit of their hart He hath deposed thy mighty from their seat and hath exalted the humble The hungry he hath filled with good things and the rich he hath sent away empty He hath receaved Israel his child being mindfull of his mercy As he spake to
our forefathers to Abraham and his seede for ever Glory be to the Father c. The himne of S. Ambrose and S. Augustin in praise and thankes giving to God at his Conversion WE praise thee God we confesse thee our Lord. Thee the everlasting Father all the earth doth worship To thee all Angels to thee the Heavens and universall powers To thee Cherubin and Seraphin doe cry out with incessant voyce Holy Holy Holy Lord God of Sabaoth Full are the Heavens and the Earth of the Majesty of thy glory Thee the glorious Quire of the Apostles Thee the laudable number of Prophets Thee the white cloathed army of Martyrs doth praise Thee the holy Church throughout the world doth confesse The Father of infinit Majesty The venerable true and only sonne Also the Holy Ghost the comforter Thou O Christ the King of Glory Thou art the everlasting sonne of the Father Thou willing to take upon thee to deliver Man didst nor abhorre the Virgins wombe The sting of death being overcome thou hast opened the kingdome of Heaven to all beleevers Thou sittest at the right hand of God in the glory of the Father Thou art beleeved to be the judge that shall come We therfore beseech thee help thy servants whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood Make us to be rewarded with thy Saints with eternall glory O Lord make safe thy people and blesse thy inheritage And governe them and extoll them even for ever Every day we doe blesse thee And we praise thy name for ever and for ever and ever Vouchsafe o Lord this day to keepe us without sin Have mercy upon us o Lord have mercy upon us Let thy mercy o Lord be upon us even as we have hoped in thee In thee o Lord have I hoped let me not be confounded for ever Psalme 148. wherein all creatures spirituall and corporall are invited to praise God their Creator and conserver PRaise yee our Lord from the Heavens praise yee him in the high places Praise yee him all his Angels praise yee him all his Hostes Praise yee him sunne and moone praise yee him all yee starres and light Praise him yee heavens of heavens and the waters that are above the heavens let them praise the name of our Lord. Because he said and they were made he commanded and they were created He establisht them for ever and for ever and ever he put the precept and it shall not passe Praise yee our Lord from the earth yee dragons and all the depthes Fyre haile snow ice spirit of stormes which doe his word Mountaines and all little hilles trees that beare fruit and all Ceders Beastes and all cattle serpents and fethered foules Kinges of the earth and people Princes and all judges of the earth Young Men and Virgins old with young let them praise the name of our Lord because his name alone is exalted The confession of him above heaven and earth and he hath exalted the horne of his people An himne to all his Saints to the children of Israel people approaching unto him Alleluya praise yee our Lord. A MEDITATION of thankes giving after the holy Communion What shall I render to our Lord for all things that he hath rendred to me Psal 15.3 IT may well be accompted an exorbitant neglect and sacrilegious irreverence having been visited by so souveraine a Majesty to use so small respect in leaving him so immediatly after his vouchsafing to visit us by turning to entertayne our selves with frivolous thoughts and needlesse businesses more slighting this our heavenly Guest therby then we would an ordinary friend whom civility would oblidge us to give much longer and more respectfull entertainement This is the cause that we reape so little spirituall profit by that divine presence And moreover it cannot chuse but give much scandall to the people to see the Communicant leave the Church almost so soone as he doth the Altar Scarce giving any sitt leasure or decency for his acknowledgment of thankes and leaving therby an ill example to others to doe the like and to conceive lesse esteeme of that divine and holy mystery A practise for this thankes giving may be after the usuall prayers of the Church for that purpose to produce some acts of severall vertues as of faith of hope of charity humility confusion adoration conformity patience and the like Others consider Gods divine attributes as his goodnesse his justice his wisdome his power his immensity his sanctity and the like and this with comparison to our contrary defects in all Let us finally conclude with humble thankes for all his benefits craving humbly his grace for the chiefe necessities of our soules and finally to consecrate to him all our actions and sufferings beseeching him that we may sooner be struck dead then to give a deliberate consent to any mortall sin This is a true Christian and profitable practise for thankes giving either after Masse or communion to preserve our soules and bodies also true to God all the day after he having vouchsafed to take possession of his habitation therein And when negligent in this holy practise they must not marvaile that after so many holy Communions they remaine with out fruit and all progresse in vertue they neither aporoaching with fitt disposition nor yet using due thanksgiving afterwards Let us therfore resolue seriously to amende this sinfull ingratitude and to entertaine our divine and souveraine Lord one good quarter of an houre at least in that so precious and very advantageous a tyme wherin to heare him speake to our harts and for us to propose to him our greatest spirituall necessities and to beg grace to overcome the temptations of all our ghostly enemies An exercise for practising the Acts of the most necessary vertues ALthough it be the holy Ghost which tells us that by walking from vertue to vertue we must obtayne everlasting life and that so many virtuous actions as the just shall practise in this life are so many stepps by which they raise themselves to mount unto Paradise yet how great is the number of Christians who faile exceedingly in this point and paradventure in all their life scarce rightly frame in their harts one act of true vertue contenting themselves to recite but vocally some certaine prayers with otheroutward religious duties which are ordinarily voyde of that inward feeling which ought to accompany the same And therfore you have here a forme for makeing Acts of the most necessary vertues to assist such persons as have most need of this instruction to forme them rightly in their harts they beinge made for the greater facility in the forme of prayer Which because in few words they expresse the acts of those excellent vertues it will not be sufficient that they only recite them with their lipps unlesse therwithall they joyne a diligent attention and that in pronouncing the words they also well conceive what they signify framing in their harts the true sense and feeling of what
us the same instruction as the former and to avoyde hypocricy by vaine dissimulation Heape not up to your selves treasures on the earth where the rust Math. 6 19 and moth doe corrupt and where tho theeves doe digg through and steale The maxime which wordlings doe so generally practice is not only quite contrary unto this holy counsell of Jesus Christ but also even to reason it selfe they spending all their paine and industry for mere temporall wealth which they well know must be left unto others to spend and themselves only also charged with a very dangerous accompt for all and for which their eternall felicity may be greatly in danger Be not carefull therfore for the morrow Math. 6 34 for the morow shall be carefull for it selfe After our humane usuall industry employd then for the rest we must wholly place our confidence in God But the wordly maxime is with restlesse solicitude to make it the whole employment of their mind which should give also place to better thoughts Seek therfore first the kingdome of God Math. 6 33 and his justice and all these things shall be giving you The wordly irreligious maxime as contrary vnto this perswads us first and principally to labour for our temporals which argues the putting much more confidence in our owne humane industry then in the divine providence of God which is sinfull and great impiety All things therfore what soever you will that men doe Math. 7 12. doe you also to them for this is to you the lawe and the Prophets By this holy maxime we are taught by Jesus Christ the Commandement of loving our neighbour as our selfes But experience makes it too manifest how greatly contrary the worldly maxime is there unto which having interest for its guide must needs be defective in this holy rule of charity Broade is the gate and large the way that leadeth to perdition maâ— 12 and many there be that enter by it How narrow is the gate and straite is the way that leadeth to life and few there be that finde it The great truth of this divine maxime is plainly confessed by all and experience makes it manifest Yet such is the besotted follie of men with the present deluding follies of this world that they neglect as well to again the eternall felicity of Heaven as also to avoyde the never ending flames of Hell Feare yee not them that kill the body and are not able to kill the soule math 10 38 but rather feare him that can destroy both soule and body in Hell This maxime is given to deterr us from sin wherby God is offended and our soule put in danger to be lost But sensuall people are so bwitched with their temporall affaires and their affection so fastned to the transitory contents of this world as they neither feare the offending of God nor the exposing their soules unto endlesse perdition therby He that taketh not up his crosse and followeth me math 10 38. is not worthey of me This holy maxime teacheth us that Heaven is not purchased but by bearing the crosse of tribulation contrary to the maxime of this world which perswads us here to seeke our paradise of pleasure and content But Paradise being only one it cannot be found both in this world and in the other The kingdome of Heaven suffers violence and the violent benre it away math 11.13 The violence ment here by this holy maxime is in curbing and ruling our passion and disordered affections to which the maxime of this world allowes full scope and liberty accompting that but an effect of magnanimity which is the guilt of sin He who seekes to exalt himselfe math 23 shall be humbled and who humbleth himselfe shall be exalted Jesus Christ hereby doth teach us that to seeke vaine glory and the praise of Men is but to loose the same and that flying and contemning it is the true meanes to obtayne it But the maxime of this world is to seeke and earnestly to runn after it and therefore we see by experience that they are like those who runn but after a shadow which as fast as we runn after it to catch it so fast it flyes from us although it followes them who fly away from it Where is your treasure math 6 there is your hart This divine maxime doth advertise us to labour for and as S. Paul exhorts us to gust and relish what is above where Christ sits at the right hand of God and not what is upon the Earth But worldly people have their harts so fast fixed upon the transitory affaires and vaine contents of this present life that their thoughts and industry are least of all upon what is eternall Many are cal'd but few are chosen math 20 1. This holy maxime is given us by our divine Redeemer to prevent our bould presumption who being cal'd unto the profession of his holy faith neglect to animate the same with the life of good workes without which faith it selfe is but dead and of no effect for our election unto beatitude as well appeares by that most dreadfull sentence at the day of doome against the reprobate who are not condemned for their want of true faith but for their not having accompanied it with good workes for which with a woefull goe yee cursed into internall fire c. they are excluded everlastingly from Beatitude He who persevers to the end math 10 shall be saved It is only perseverance which gayneth the crowne of victory and we must give this moment of our life to get it but the pernicious worldlings maxime prefers the enjoyment of this uncertaine moment in their vaine deluding pleasures and contents before the purchace of heavenly blisse which they might have gain'd at so easy a rate yea and with lesse torment both to their body and minde then they take to be condemned to the eternall flames of hell Devout prayers to be said some daily and others at convenient oportunity as each one shall best make choyce IT is most certaine that prayer is absolutely necessary for our salvation it being so that God will never bestow on us his graces requisit there unto but by the meanes of holy prayer Wherby we demande the same by this he preserves us also humble and acknowledging that of our selves we are able neither to resist our enemies nor to fly sin nor practise vertue wherby to worke our salvation but that from him must proceed all needfull succour to obtayne that Blisse No we neither are able to begin to doe well nor to persever without the speciall grace of God which is obtayn'd by holy prayer Yea like as the body cannot liue without respiration and ayre so neyther can the soule long continue in the life of Gods grace without the needfull exercise of prayer which is as necessary for the soule as is water for plants without which as they could produce no fruit soe neither can the soule
dissimulation that I may cast downe and tread under my feet the Spirit of gluttony and lechery the spirit of slouth and dulnesse the spirit of malice and enuy the spirit of hatred and disdayne that I may never dispise nor contemne any of thy creatures nor preferre my selfe before others but ever little in my owne eyes think the best of others and deeme and judge the worst of my selfe Invest me holy Father with the wedding garment of thy beloved sonne the supernaturall vertue of heavenly charity that I may love thee my Lord God with all my hart with all my soule and with all my strength that neither life nor death prosperity nor adversity nor any thing else may separate me from thy love Grant that all inordinate affection to the transitory things of this world may daily decay and dye in me that thou alone maist be tastfull pleasant and savoury to my soule O most gracious God give unto thy servant an humble contrite and obedient hart and understanding alwayes occupied in honest vertuous cogitations a will tractable and ever prone to the better affections alwayes calme and moderate a watchfull custody of my senses that by those windowes no sin may enter into my soule a perfect government of my tongue that no corrupt or unseemely language may proceed from my lipps that I may not busy my selfe in the faults and imperfections of others but rather attend to the amending of my owne And finally so long as I am detayned in this prison of my body and exiled from my heavenly country let this be my portion and the comfort of my banishement that free from all immoderate wordly cares and pensive sollicitude of this present life wholy devoted to thy service I may attend only to thee I may cleave unto thee I may rest my soule in thee and sitting in silence I may give way and entertainement to thy heavenly doctrine to the good motions and inspirations of thy holy spirit In these sweet exercicises let me passe the solitary houres of my teadious pilgrimage with patience expecting the shutting up of my dayes and a happy end of this my miserable life And grant O thou lover of mankind my lord and my God that when this my carthly tabernacle shall be dissolved being found free from all pollution of sin as after baptisme I may be numbered amongst those blessed soules who through the merits and passion of thy deare sonne are held worthey to raigne with thee and to enjoy the glorious presence of the blessed Trinity Father Sonne and holy Ghost to whome by all creatures in Heaven and Earth be rendred praise and thankes-giving world without end Amen A prayer to the blessed Virgin as also to the holy Saints and Angels O Blessed Virgin mother of my divine Redeemer have pitty on me a most wretched sinner I devoutly salute and honour thee O glorious Queene of heaven and powerfull advocate of all distressed soules obtayne for me I beseech thee of thy deare sonne Jesus the remission of all my great offences obtayne for me perfect charity and profound humility true mortificatiō and forsaking of my selfe obtayne for me constant patience refrayning and temperance of my tongue and senses obtayne for me purity simplicity and sincerity of mind and that I may be one according to the harts desire of thy divine sonne my loving Saviour All haile O immaculate Virgin of whom Christ Jesus the brightnesse of his Fathers glory would be borne and whome with thy precious milke thou didst feed and nourish O blessed mother of true compassion assist my weakenesse in all my temptations and necessities in all my perils of sin and in the houre of my death that by thy powerfull intercession I may be protected against the dangerous assaults of my ghostly enemies and obtayne the needfull help to dye in the happy perseverance of Gods holy grace O ye Angelical blessed spirits pray for me and thou especially my holy Angel the faithfull keeper of my soule and body have thou faithfull care over me O all ye holy faints of God who have passed over the troubles and vexations of this exile and attayned most happily the secure resting port of your celestial beatitude I most humbly crave your protection help me with your powerfull intercession both now and in the houre of my death Amen An other prayer to the B. Virgin REmember O most pious Virgin Marie Mother of all consolation never yet was it kowne that any who in tribulation made their recourse for succour by the happy assistance of thy gratefull prayers and powerfull credit with thy deare sonne Jesus was ever refused or forsaken by thee Wherefore in this assured and humble confidence I a most sinfull soule make my recourse unto thee O mother of true pitty with sighs and repentant teares from a devoted hart I doe earnestly cry and humbly crave thy help Refuse not therfore with wonted compassion to behould my weeping hart and to give eare to my instant cry that by thy celestial favour I may be forgiven by thy divine sonne Jesus my mercifull and only Redeemer Amen An other prayer to the same O Glorious and incomparable Virgin most truly mother of God and Queene both of heaven and Earth although thy glory exceeds without comparison what honour soever we are able to render thee yet that excellency which most excells in thee consists in true conformity unto the will of God who is thy Father thy spouse and thy only dearest sonne from whence it proceeds that nothing is refused thee for thou demandest nothing but what is pleasing unto him whom nothing can resist Be pleased therfore O Mother of pitty and after God my only hope to make powerfull intercession for me for my friends kindred benefactors and enemies and for all sinners whatsoever to the end that we may behould thee in that celestiall habitation there with thee to praise and glorify the most sacred Trinity for all Eternity Amen An other prayer to the same O Glorious Virgin Mother of God most pleasing temple of the Divinity the sacred vestry wherin the second person of the blessed Trinity was invested by the holy Ghost with our humanity the gate of Heaven and my second hope I beseech thee O glorious Virgin that in thankes-giving for the love which God hath sheud to thee as to his Mother daughter and beloved spouse thou wilst vouchsafe to take me this day and for the whole course of my life into thy singular protection procure that my actions words and intentions be alwayes pleasing to thy divine sonne Jesus that I may live to him and dye for him Amen A prayer to the Holy Ghost O holy Ghost our heavenly comforter we humbly beseech thee by that straite union or much rather unity which is betwixt thee and the two other divine persons unite so happily by thy celestial help my will in all things most perfectly unto thine that by this happy subordination I may obtayne that blessed end for
Meditation suggests to them they become by their meditation more humble more patient and conformable to Gods blessed wil and pleasure in all which is the certaine marke of a holy and fruitfull Medication how dry or barren soever it seemed to them and deprived of all sensible or self-satisfaction or forced fervours whilst learneder persons with all high speculations producing no great affections nor resolutions for the practise of vertue all proves but vanity in their owne imagination which produceth no fruit at all But now that the lesse learned people are not uncapable to practise this prositable prayer of Meditation it may be fitly expressed by this familiar example of a pervere and wicked Meditation made by a sinner of whome King David speakes saying and they who sought me evils speakes vanities and mediate evils all the day For the revengfull man pondering and musing with him felfe of some disgrace or injury by memory he calls to mind the disgrace or wrong offered him Then with his understanding he considers the nature and weight of such an injury and therby he provokes his will to hatred to envie to malice and to secke revenge upon the party from whom he received it This now is a most wicked Meditation wholy interiour and all without one word of the mouth Even so in like manner and quite to the contrary a good Man calling to minde his sin and injuries therby which he hath offered unto God he ponders considers and examens the greatnes therof the enormity causes effects and the properties of sin whence he makes a firme resolution out of the hatred therunto to banish the like hereafter and to avoyde all future occasions and this is an interiour and a holy Meditation of sin This briefly in general Here now followes a short meditation for each day in the weeke wherby the vertuous soule may put in practise this holy exercise and it may also serve as a little methode inducing her to make more use of this profitable devotion according to leasure and other helpes for the same Matter of Meditation for ever day in the weeke Sunday of Gods benefits unto mankind FIrst place yourselfe in the presece of God with a profound adoration therof The Preparation and beseech him to inspire you with his grace Which serves as the generall preparation for all the ensuing Meditations 1. Consider the benefit of thy Creation that when thou wast nothing Considerations the Almighty created thee not a stock or a brute beast but a reasonable creature endued with understanding will memory and capable of all vertue 2. Consider the end for which thou wast created namely the service of God and that after a short tyme spent therin thou mightest be partaker of those celestiall joyes which be prepared for thee in the Kingdome of Heaven 3. Consider that all other creatures and what soever thy God hath bestowed upon thee is for the attainement of thy foresaid end and so accordingly to be employed by thee 4. Consider the benefit of thy Redemption of thy Vocation unto the catholike faith such also as concerne thine owne estate in particular For which Affections and all others as wel knowne as unknowne labour to be thankfull Admire with great confusion and be truly sorry for your great ingratitude considering Gods infinit love to so unworthey a creature abusing those his innumerable blissings Resolue to be more carrefull for the future Resolutions preparing your mind with all indifferency to possesse or to be deprived be it of health or sicknesse plenty or want esteeme or contempt so it be conformable to gods blessed will let it be welcome Munday of sin and the grieviousnesse thereof COnsider how odious sin is unto God Which may appeare by the greatness of the punishment First in the Angels Secondly in our first Parents who for eating the forbidden fruit were deprived of that happy estate wherin thy were created in Paradise yea not only they but wee and all their posterity doe beare the burden therof for so much as all the miseries of this life and the next doe spring from that bitter root Consider the malice of sin which in a sort is infinit being against the infinit goodnesse of God And therfore Jefus Christ God and Man was only found worthy and able to accomplish the worke of our Redemption whose actions being of infinit merit were answerable to infinit justice Consider the lamentable effects therof 1. of Gods grace wherof we are deprived 2. of the evils which we incurre as the wrath of God torment of conscience the servitude of sathan and the guilt of eternall damnation Astection All this considered ought not the very name of sin be more horrible to us then is Hell it selfe and yet ô how great is our senslesse carelesnesse in committing it as also Gods infinit mercy to most ungreatefull Man in suffering his wicked bouldnesse in offending so great and so good a God! Resolue therfore and crave his grace Resolutions that thou maist rather dye then offend him mortally recurt to him for mercy as a prodigall child and detest all thy former sins and resolue to fly all dangerous occasions of falling into them againe Tuesday of the miseries of this life 1. COnsider the great frailty of Mans nature subject to so many dangers as no glasse is halfe so brittle and therfore in the holy scripture it is compared to a buble in the water to flowers to grasse to a shadow c. As for the soule so many snares and ginns are laid by the world the flesh and the divel to ruyn it as S. Antony seeing them in a vision cryed out ô Lord who shall be able to avoyde all these nets 2. Consider in respect of temporall things what a misery it is that scarce any one is contented with his owne estate seeme he to others never so prosperous for that in this life we are like unto sick men who tumble and tosse in their beds not considering the cause of their discontent to be their inward infirmity of vexing in minde 3. Consider that for so much as this life is so uncertaine and so fraught with miseries there is no greater madnesse in the world then to set out harts and affections thereupon and with such diligence to cast about for the things therof and so little or not at all to labour for those which concerne our eternal felicity Adore and greatly admire the great goodnesse of God Affections who therfore hath mixed those many miseries with this present life therby to compel us to hate it and to draw us by it to aspire unto our Beatitude Resolution Resolue hereafter to withdraw your hart from such vaine and deceiptful contentments of the world and fix your mind upon what is eternall Wednesday of the houre of death I Magin thy selfe to lie upon thy death bed having a hallowed candle in thy hand a crucifix upon thy breast thy ghostly Father calling
certaine and the houre of it most uncertaine all Christian wisdome consists in a good and holy preparation for that moment to the end we neglect not a businesse which is in truth to us the businesse of businesses and the sole and only businesse we have to doe in this world since we are here only to save our soule and loosing it we loose all for what shall it prefit a Man to gaine the whole world Mar. 2. if he loose his owne soule sayes our souveraine Master Jesus Christ O God how great is the blindnesse of the most part of Men who never reflecting upon this so divine and important a truth lead only an earthly sensual and animal life and never elevating their spirit to heavenly things settle their affections so firmely upon this mortal life as to preferre it before that which is eternal Iohn 10. Whosoever loves his life saies our B. Lord shall loose it and whosoever hates it in this world shall gaine it in Eternity O my God we doe not then love our life as we ought when we adhere too close to it since this adherence to our temporal life proceeding from an inordinate love of our selves putts us in danger to loose that which is eternall Since also thou thy selfe asseurest us Luke 14 that whosoever comes to thee and hateth not his owne life can not be thy disciple Grant me such a holy hatred of this mortal life as may cause me continually to aspire and pretend to that which is eternal there to live with thee world without end 2. Point PRecious in the sight of our Lord is the death of his Saints saies the Psalmist Psal 15. If we will dye their life keeping alwayes our affections alienated from the creatures as if we were to dye every moment since there is no moment wherein we may not be surprised by death and wherein we ought not to be prepared to receive it if we will not hazard our salvation We ought to surmont the natural feare we have of it by faith and by a confidence we should have that Jesus Christ who keepes the keyes of life and death and who loves us infinitly more then we love our selves will send it us in such a tyme and manner as in his divine providence he has forseene to be most convenient for us Has he not created us for life eternal Doe we not beleeve that life to be more happy then this which is mortal if we live not in this beleefe we have no faith and consequently no hope since we cannot arrive at this happy life which he has promissed us but by the way of death But what charity can that interessed soule have who loves her owne life more then the will of God and whose feare of dying exceeds her desire of seeing and uniting herselfe to him Ioh. 4. Perfect charity sayes the holy Evangelist drives fourth feare And if we ought to testify our love to God by our hatred of sin where is the hatred we beare it since knowing that we cannot live without daily relapsing into it we have neverthelesse an extreame apprehension of death O if we truly lou'd God with what joy would we embrace death to the end we might be in a state never more to be able to offend his infinite goodnesse since the least sin as the Doctors say is more to be dreaded thendeath if selfe 3. Point IF God should leave the tyme houre and manner of our death to our choyse could we make a better then he himselfe who ordaynes it by his infinite wisedome power and goodnesse and who having made us for himselfe and redeemed us with his blood desires nothing so much as to save us and conduct us to our last end Since our faith teaches us this truth why doe we not entirely abandon the care of our life and death to him What can be more advantageous to us in Heaven in Earth in life and in death then to accomplish his most just and holy will And since we must necessarily undergoe the ordees of his divine will were it not better to doe it meritoriously by an humble submission and filial confidence in his divine goodnesse then to execute it by force like the divels and by our resistance to render this action more worthy of punishment then reward If the feare of our sins cause us to apprchand death and desire prolongation of life to the end to doe penance for them what penance can be more efficacious and acceptable to God then our perfect conformity to his holy will and our entyre submission to the sentence of our death to the end to render him the obedience due from a creature to its Creator and to testify to him that we preferre the honour of pleasing him before our owne life if the merit of our acts beare proportion with the difficulty we find in their execution what can be more difficult then to renounce our life and what better penance can we performe then to give it with a good hart to God since in makeing him this present we not only give him all we are able to give but also all which is most deare and precious to us no Man hath greater charity then he who layes downe his life sayes our divine Saviour and if a God would vouchsafe for us to dye so painfull and grievous a death and loose his life upon a crosse for our salvation shall we dare to refuse him ours shall we esteeme our life more precious or more necessary then his O my soule if we lou'd God ifwe had a true sense and acknowledgment of this soveraine benefit would we not desire to have a thousand lives to give him O my God since I am nothing but by thee I will be nothing but for thee and so as I be what thou desirest I should be it imports me very little whither I live or dye Affections and Resolutions SInce that upon the moment of my death depends my eternall salvation grant me grace O my God to keepe my selfe prepared for this last houre by a true hatred of sin by a perfect contempt of the world with its vaine honours pleasures and riches and by a perfect abnegation of my selfe suffer me not to sleepe in the forgetfulnesse of death least the lampe of chrity being extinguisht and the oyle of good workes spent thou surprise me in this state and pronounce against me as heretofore against those foolish Virgins that dreadfull word I know you not but keeping my selfe alwayes in expection of thy com̄ing grant that I may merit to enter with thee to that eternall marriage where neyther eye has seene nor care hath heard nor the hart of Man comprehended what thou hast prepared for those who love thee Give me O Lord the light of thy holy spirit to the end I suffer not my selfe to be deceived and seduced by my senses in mistaking falshood for truth nor esteeme the things of this mortall life good or evill but
the Altar Thou art my God and I will blesse thee thou art my God and I will exalt thee I will praise thee because thou hast heard me and art become my salvation O praise our Lord for he is good for his mercy endures for ever An abridgment of the Exercise of preparation to Death Which may be us'd every day MY hart is ready O God my hart is ready not my will but thyne be done O my Lord I resigne my selfe entirely to receive death at the tyme and in the manner it shall please thee to send it I most humbly aske pardon for all my sins com̄itted against thy soveraine goodnesse and repent me of them from the bottome of my hart 3. I firmely beleeve whatsoever the holy Catholique Church beleeves and teaches and by thy grace will dye in this beleife 4. I hope to possesse eternall life by thy infinite mercy and by the merits of my Saviour Jesus Christ 4. O my God I will love thee as my soveraigne good above all things yea even to a contempt of all things I will love my neighbour as my selfe and pardon him with all my hart 6. O my divine Jesus how ardent is my desire to receive thy sacred body and to the end to communicate spiritually I unite my selfe to all the communions which shall be made in thy holy Church even to the end of the world especially at the houre of my death 7 Grant me grace O my divine Saviour to expiate all the sins I have committed by my senses in applying to my selfe thy blessed merits the holy unction of thy precious bloud 8 Holy Virgin Mother of my God defend me from my enemies and present me to thy divine sonne 9. Glorious S. Michael my holy Angel gardian my B. Patrons interceede for me assist me in this my last dreadfull passage 10 O my God I renounce all temptations of the enemy and generally whatsoever may displease thee I adore and accept thy divine judgments upon my soule and most intirely abandon my selfe to them as most just and equitable O Jesus my divine Jesus be to me Jesus O my God hiding my selfe with an humble confidence in thy lovely wounds I render my soule into thy divine hands receive it into rhe bosome of thy mercy Amen An Appendix WHeras God almightie doth in some manner and by certaine conduits as it were descende to us so by prayer we ascend saith S. Franc. de Sales unto him prayer being properly according to S. Jo. Damascen an elevation of our minde unto God and therefore what ever it be that truly doth raise and devoutly stirr upp our harts to blesse to love and to adore Almighty God that properly is true gratefull and essentiall prayer be it but procured by a pure intention for the glory of God in whatever we doe whether by fervent ejaculations of divine love by pious considerations inducing us to the practise of vertu or to a vertuous preparation for a blessed death by holy maxims or finally by vocall prayor or mentall meditation so that we blesse and praise God in all that is the proper prayer which we are commanded to make continually and without intermission saith S. Paul which could not be performed in that crytick sense but must necessarily be understood of all the pious exercises mentioned in this Manuel conducing to raise our harts to the love and praise of God and therfore according to S. Jo Damascen they are true proper and essentiall prayer But because one may here justly demande how this true and holy prayer may best be knowne from that which is but false and counterfeit therfore I have judg'd it not unfitt to sett downe the proper markes and surest signes wherby rightly to understand and distinguish the one from the other which may serve as a true touchstone for the right tryall of true holy and profitable praye from what is but false and deceiptfull and it is principally intended for such as doe practise the more elevated prayer of meditation who if not rightly guided are more subject to illusion and deceipt then such as only use vocall prayer and the purgative way which the over speedy aspirers unto the unitive doe neglect before they have lay'd the first foundation to it in the purgative way by labouring to destroy and ruyne sin to roote out vice to correct evill habits or vnruly passions and disordered affectations the true and necessary preparation to that high prayer of holy contemplation wherby with a pure intention we must sincerely seeke the right end of true prayer without which it would be but vaine and fruitlesse Now the true and pure end of all good prayer is humbly therby to crave light from God to unsterstand his holy will and grace to performe the same with encreace in his love and advancement in vertu A touch-stone for right tryall of true and profitable prayer from what is but false and counterfait THe blessed Apostle counselleth us not to give credit to every spirit but to try if the spirit be of God often tymes the divel transformes himselfe into an Angel of light deceiving many and most dangerously of all under the pretence of sanctity be proposing to us his illusions for divine favours And therefore to prevent any danger to be deceived herein observe well these markes wherby to avoyde or to discouer them First be assured saith Molina as of a generall Rule that who will only give credit to himselfe in his spirituall affaires and will be governed by his owne judgment alone that man is utterly deceived and overthrowne be he never so seeming wise vertuous and accompagned which all the signes of goodnesse and sanctity because such a spirit not submitting his iudgment to any other man nor communicating with any for their advise may well be presumed naught and dangerous But some untimely contemplators will tell you that they have good and approved Authors for their practice I answere that the Authors which they pretend for themselves are pious and approved good but the practise which they frame thence according to their owne sense and private opinion is allowed by none of the approved and best spirituall directors of soules whose authority these over hasty contemplators ought farr to preferre before their owne For sectaries pretend many true texts of scripture for their false errours but they refusing the holy fathers and councells authority for the true understanding therof and takeing them obstinately according to their owne deceived sense and opinion they runn wilfully into errour and heresy to their endlesse perdition But they will reply to you that the effect of true prayer is to unite our soule to God wherby we are replenished with great consolation and comfort yea the very gust and tender consolation which God communicats to the vertuous thus devoutly serving him doth give both ioy and courage to love and serve him by this fervent kind of holy prayer For answere to this their reply it is to be here
Lord Lambe of God who taketh away the sins of the world Have c. Christ heare us Christ graciously heare us Lord have mercy upon us Christ have mercy upon us Lord have mercy upon us Our Father which art in Heaven c. Let us pray O God of unspekable mercy who hath vouchsafed for our sakes to me made not only Man but the sonne of Man and wouldst have a woman to be thy Mother on Earth who from all Eternity hadst God to be thy Father in Heaven Grant we may celebrate her memory most devoutly venerate her Maternity most syncerly and be most humbly subject to her most excellent dignity who hath conceived Thee of the Holy Ghost hath brought Thee fourth of her wombe remaying a pure Virgin and to whom thou hast most humbly pleased to be subject heare on Earth who art the only begotten sonne of God our Lord Jesus Christ who with the Father and the Holy Ghost liveth and rayneth world whithout end Amen DEfend we beseech Thee o Lord by the intercession of the ever Virgin Mary this thy family from all adversity and prostate before Thee with all our hartes protect us favorably from the snare of our enemies Through our Lord Jesus Christ thy only sonne who liveth with Thee in the vnity of the Holy Ghost for ever and ever Amen Finis Soli Deo Honor Gloria 10. May 1669. COurteous Reader bookes of this nature not being easily permitted to be printed at home no diligence of the corrector can avoyde the many faults which the Printer not understanding our langage must needs be very subject to committ His ignorance deserves your pardon and my paynes your prayers which I doe hartely crave Submitting intirely all the rest to the correction of the holy Cotholik Church Hopeing that if this little Manuel be used wiht the like intention whrewith it was composed the fruit will be not unanswerable to his desire who is a harty and true well wisher of the greatest happinesse to your dearest soule THE DOCTORS APPROBATION I Vnder vvitten Doctor of Divinity in the Vniversity of Paris have read ouer a little booke intitled a MANNVEL OF THE POORE MANS DEVOTION c. composed by VV.C. In vvhich I finde nothing contrary to the Catholike Apostolike and Roman faith or good manners but rather much that inciteth Christians to the true practise of solide piety and Devotion In vvittnesse vvheroff I have hereunto sett my hand this 2. day of Feb. 1669. F. GAGE Libellum Anglo idiomate scriptum à viro piissimo pariter ac Nobilissimo D. VV. C. sacerdote Anglo compositum optimis Instructionibus Meditationibus Orationibus plenum magna cum delectatione per legi in quo nihil nisi valde orthodoxum Christianae vitae ac Religiouis profectum quaerentibus maximè vero Neophytis vtilissunum deprehendi sapit porro authoris sui pietatem maximam ac viâ—ae integritatem quippe qui genetis splendorem quo maximè inter Anglos fulget virtutum suarum splendore excellere videatur Quamobrem bono Catholicorum Anglicanae diâ—ionis consulens hunc prelo dignissimum censeo ut ibi aliquos reperiat imitatores qui omnes vbique reperiet approbatores Datum Parisiis die 10. Decembris an restaurarae salutis 1669. I. MOLLONY sacrae Theologiae Facultatis Parisiensis Doctor A TABLE Of the chief contents in this Manuel A morning Exercice of holy prayer Page 3. The Angelus Domini for morning Noone and Evening pag. 14. Advertisments much conducing to Christian perfection pag. 15. An eveing Exercise for prayer before bedd pag. 17. King David his 7. Penitentiall Psalmes With the Litaniy of the Saints pag. 27. The true end of Man pag. 49. Of gratitude due to Iesus Christ p. 51. Our maine affaire is to save our soules pag. 53. Of Gods divine presence pag. 54. We ougth to distrust our selves p. 55. Against detraction and calumny p. 57. Of flying the oecasion of sin pag. 59. The small number of the Elect. p. 61. Of suffering persecution for justice sake pag. 63. Mans life subjct to innumerable miseries pag. 65. Reflection upon the word of Eternity pag. 68. The signification of Priestly Ornaments And of the other Ceremonies and divine Mysteries of the Masse pag. 71. A devout Exercise for hearing Masse with true profitt and piety p. 103. Spirituall advises of S. Theresa conducing to live happily with God and Man pag. 131. Pious Reflections for embracing vertue and flying vice which may be used as the subject of so many profitable Meditations pag. 136. Of the Sacrament of Confession p. 175. A table of sins helping the memory for a generall Confession pag. 180. An Act of Contrition pag. 196. A prayer before Confession pag. 197. A prayer exciting compunction for our sins pag. 20â— An Examen of Conscience for such as often frequent the Sacrament of Penance pag. 209. A devout prayer after Confession pag. 214. Of the Holy Communion pag. 221. Prayers before the Holy Communion pag. 230. A preparatory meditation hofore the holy Communion pag. 238. Prayers after the holy CoÌ„munion pag. 238. The Canticle of the 3. Children pag. 243. The Canticle of Zachary pag. 243. The B. Virgins Canticle of Magnificat pag. 247. The Himne of S. Ambrose and S. Augustin in thankes giving to God at his conversion pag. 248. The Psalme 148. wherein all creatures are invited to praise God pag. 251. A Meditation of thankes giving after Communion pag. 253. An Exercise for practising acts of the most necessary vertues pag. 256. Holy maxims pronounced by Iesus Christ much different from the maxims of the world pag. 293. Devout prayers to be said at convenient oportunity as each shall best make choyce p. 298. Of Aspirations and jaculatory prayers pag. 346. Of Meditation pag. 358. Matter of Meditation for each day in the weeke pag. 363. An Exercise preparatory to death With the recommendation of the soule in English pag. 379. An abridgment of the afore-said exercice which may bee used every day pag. 441. An appendix containing a touch stone of true and false prayer pag. 444. The Litany of our Saviour Iesus pag. 451. The Litany of our B. Lady p. 465. The faults escaped in printing the courteous Reader vvill easily both correct and pardon
which the world cannot give that our harts being disposed to keepe thy Commandements and the feare of enemies being taken away the tymes through thy protection may be peacible by the merits of thy deare sonne Jesus Amen A Prayer in tyme of famine and Pestilence GRant unto us we beseech thee O Lord the effect of our prayers and by thy mercie turne away from us pestilence and famine that the harts of Men may know that such scourges proceed from thy indignation and cease by thy mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer for raine O God in whom we live are mooved and have our beeing grant unto us competent raine that sufficiently releeved by thy present aide we may more confidently desire things everlasting through our Lord Jesus Amen A prayer for faire weather HEare us O Lord crying unto thee and grant unto us making humble supplications faire weather that we who justly are afflicted for our sins may by thy grace preventing find mercy through our Lord Amen A prayer in any tribulation A Lmighty God despise not thy people crying unto thee in affliction but for the glory of thy name thou being pacifi'd succour the afflicted through our Lord Amen A Prayer for forgivenes of sins O God who rejecteth none but art pacifi'd by mercifull pitty through penance even towards the greatest sinners thou being merciful respect the prayers of our humility enlighten our harts that we may be able to fulfill thy commandements through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer for such as are in a journey HArken to our supplication O Lord and dispose the way of thy safegard that among all varieties of this passage and life they may ever be protected by thy ayde through our Lord Jesus Christ Amen A Prayer to be said at the conclusion of our usvall prayers ACcept O most clement God by the prayers and merits of the blessed and ever Virgin Mary and of all thy glorious Saints the office of our service and if we have done any thing worthy of praise thou being mercifull regard it and what is donne negligently mercifully pardon it who livest and raignest one God in perfect Trinity world without end Amen A blessing to be used at the end of all our daily prayers The Imperiall Majesty of God blesse me The Regal Divinity protect me The everlasting Deity keepe me The glorious unity comfort me The incomprehensible Trinity defend me The inestimable goodnesse direct me The power of the Father governe me The wisdome of the sonne quicken me The vertue of the holy Ghost illuminate me and be with me Amen O souveraine and my most mercifull God let this blessing be unto me all health and safty both of body and soule against all myne enemies visible and invisible now and for ever more Amen Of Aspirations and jaculatory Prayers A jaculatory prayer is a briefe elevation of our mind and hart to God as meditation is the same at large They are a speciall great meanes to all spiritual progresse and vertue yea they are as the vital spirits and the very nerves of prayer and are to be used both in tyme of prayer and also very often at other tymes They are a great support a cherishing and a very powerfull invitation to the soule in the tyme of drynesse and desolation to raise her affection unto God This kind of prayer is very briefe easie and very fruitfull It is to be made with fervent affection devotion and true tendernes of hart as king David usually did practise it and by this holy exercise we may be enabled to obtayne that guift commended to us by our blessed Saviour Luke 18.1 Thest 5. it behooves continually to praye and never to give over pray without ceasing saith S. Paul These jaculatory prayers are often in the day to be repeated according to the diversity of occasions and oportunities either vocally or only mentally What fruit they bring and how efficacious they are to gaine perfection and to transport the mind from earthly cogitation unto celestial the experience of innumerable vertuous soules have made good proofe and wil better teach then words can expresse They are called jaculatory as darting prayers because in a moment they pierce the heavens and present our requests to Almighty God testifying the ardent desires and holy affections of a soule seeking and thirsting after the fountaine of all perfection goodnesse and sanctity Say with S. Austin O my Lord and God that I but knew thee and knew my selfe O grant me perseverance in thy graces and true contrition for all my offences Forgive me Lord the multitude of my sins and have mercy on me O my great and loving God o that I had never offended thee O that I could obtaine the right practise of true humility and patice Grant me O Lord the grace that I may hate nothing but sin and my selfe and love nothing but thee and my neighbour in thee and for thee O that thou my deare Lord may be the beginning the progresse and the end of all my actions Not my will O Lord but thyne be donne Thy will be done in earth as it is in Heaven Let al transitory things O Lord become vile unto me and let all things that are thine be deare unto me and thou O God above all Forsake me not O Lord my God depart not from me attend unto my help Psal 37. O Lord the God of my salvation To thee O Lord Psal 24. I have raised my soule my God in thee is all my confidence Create a cleane hart in me O God and renew a right spirit in my bowels Psal 50. The practise of Aspirations upon the affection of the imitation of our divine Redeemer Iesus Christ AMongst all sortes of Affections that above all others is most profitable which mouveth us to imitate that most perfect example of all divine vertues our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ stirring up our affection and desire to embrace and to imitate his holy vertues by the practise of these or the like holy and fervent aspirations Most mild most loving and patient Jesus the perfect example to be imitated grant me the grace to imitate thy mildnesse meekness patience and thy profound humility Ah grant me O most powerfull Lord in all things to be conformable unto thy heavenly will and pleasure O the true owner of my soule endowe me with thy love for which thou hat created me and nothing else can give it true rest and satisfaction but that alone O most profound humility correct my pride O invincible patience when shall I by thy example be truly patient bestow on me thy benignity to correct my cholerick passion and great impatience I beseech thee O my benigne and powerfull Lord when wilt thou bestow on me the grace to make me humble patient devout and conformable to thy holy will The practise of Aspirations upon the affection of admiration of our divine Redeemers love to Man O my God who art thou