the life to come and better it is to fal into the hands of the Lord then of men for that thy mercy is infinite O most holy father graunt vs to end our liues in the true and Catholicke faith of thy Sonne Iesus Christ who is the euerlasting reconciliation and perfecte oblation for our sinnes Amen A Dailie exercise for a Christian. LONDON Printed by Iohn Wolfe 1591. EXercitium christiani quotidianum In nomine patris filii spiritus sancti Benedicta sit sancta indiuidua Trinitas nunc semper per infinita secula seculorum A Daily exercise for euery Christian. In the name of the Father and of the Sonne and of the holy Ghost When thou hast made thée ready kneeling downe and holding vp thy hands say Blessed be the holy and vndiuided Trinity nowe and euer and world without end PAter noster qui es in coelis sanctificetur nomen tuum adueniat regnum tuum fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo in terra panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris ne nos inducas in tentationem sed libera nos a malo Amen CRedo in Deum patrem omnipotentem creatorem coeli terrae in Iesum Christum filium eius vnicum Dominum nostrum qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto natus ex virgine Maria passus sub Pontio Pilato crucifixus mortuus descendit ad inferna tertia die resurrexit a mortuis ascendit ad coelos sedetque ad dextram Dei patris omnipotentis vnde venturus est iudicare viuos mortuos Credo in Spiritum sanctum sanctam ecclesiam catholicam communionem sanctorum remissionem peccatorum vitam aeternam Amen Misereatur nostri omnipotens Deus demissis omnibus peccatis nostris perducat nos ad vitam aeternam Amen Indulgentiam absolutionem remissionem omnium peccatorum nostrorum tribuat nobis omnipotens misericors Dominus Dignare Domine die isto sine peccato nos custodire Miserere nostri Domine miserere nostri Fiat misericordia tua domine super nos quemadmodum sperauimus in te Domine exaudi orationem meam clamor meus ad te veniat Domine Deus omnipotens qui ad principium huius diei nos peruenire fecisti tua nos hodie salua virtute vt in hac die ad nullum declinemus peccatum sed semper ad tuam iustitiam faciendam nostra procedant eloquia dirigantur cogitationes opera per Christum Dominum nostrum Amen DIrigere sanctificare regere gubernare dignare Domine Deus rex coeli terrae hodie cordâ— corpora nostra sensus sermones actus nostros lege tua in operibus mandatorum tuorum vt hic in aeternum te auxiliante saluemur liberemur ab omni malo per te saluator mundi qui viuis regnas in secula seculorum Amen Veni Domine Iesu preliatâ—r fortissime princeps exercitus Domini qui diabolum vicisti seculum apprehende arma scutum exurge in adiutorium mihi Domine Deus intende orationi meae misericordia tua exaudiat desiderium meum Conforta me Domine vt â—mnia possim quae iussisti dâ—fende me ab omni malo nunc dirigens oculos meos ad te euelle precor de laqueo pedes meos protege me sub velamento alarum tuarum Illumina oculos meos ne vnquam obdormiam in morte ne quando dicat inimicus meus preualui aduersus eum Reminiscere miserationum tuarum Domine misericordiarum tuarum quae a seculo sunt Delicta iuuentutis meae ignorantias ne memineris Secundum misericordiam memento mei propter bonitatem tuam Domine In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum redemisti me Domine Deus veritatis Loquutus sum in lingua mea notum fac mihi Domine finem meum Et numerum dierum qui est vt sciam quid desit mihi Fac mecum signum in bonum vt videant qui oderunt me confundantur quoniam tu Domine adiuuisti me consolatus es me O Domine quia ego seruus tuus filius ancillae tuae Diripuisti Domine vincula mea tibi sacrisicabo hostiam laudis nomen Domini inuocabo Perijt fuga a me non est qui requirat animam meam Clamaui ad te Domine dixi tu es spes mea portio mea in terra viuentium Gloria patri filio c. OUr Father which art in heauen hallowed bee thy name thy kingdome come thy will be done in earth as it is in heauen giue vs this day our daily bread and forgiue vs our trespasses as we forgiue them that trespasse against vs and lead vs not into temptation but deliuer vs from euill So be it I Beléeue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth and in Iesus Christ his only sonne our Lorde which was conceiued by the holy Ghost borne of the virgin Mary he suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried hee descended into hell the third day he arose againe from the dead and ascended into heauen and sitteth at the right hand of God the father almighty from whence he shal come to iudge the quicke and the dead I beléeue in the holy Ghost the holy Catholike Church the communion of saints the forgiuenes of sins the resurrection of the bodie the life euerlasting Amen The Almighty God haue mercy vppon vs and vppon forgiuenesse of our sinnes bring vs to euerlasting life Amen The Almighty and mercifull Lord grant vs pardon absolution and remission of all our sinnes Amen Uouchsafe O Lorde this day to kéepe vs without sin Haue mercy on vs O Lord haue mercy on vs. Let thy mercy O Lorde be shewed vpon vs euen as we haue put our trust in thée Lord heare my prayer and let my cry vnto thee Lord God almighty who hast brought vs to the beginning of this day saue vs by thy power that this day we fall not into any sinne but that alwaies we may speake that which is true and right and that our thoughtes and works may be directed vnto the same end through Christ our Lord. Amen LOrd God king of heauen and earth vouchsafe to direct and sanctify rule and gouerne this day our hearts and bodies our senses spéech and doings in thy lawe and in the workes of thy commaundements that here and for euer by thy helpe wee may be preserued from all daungers both bodilye and ghostly c. Come Lorde Iesu strong in battel and prince of Gods army thou that hast ouercome the diuell the worlde take thy armour and shield and rise to helpe me Giue eare O Lord vnto my praier and let thy mercy hearken to my desire strengthen me to perfourme that which thy law commandeth and teacheth me to do Kéepe and defend me from
thinges committed to thy charge that I léese nothing or suffer it to perish by my sloth and negligence O Lorde kéepe mee in health and comforte my strength giue me vnderstanding wit to go forward with the worke of my Maister or Mistres and by thy gracious help for to increase their substance that by my diligence they may bee replenished with thy blessing And further that whatsoeuer I shall do at any time the same may turne to the glory of thy most holy name and to the wholesome exercise of my faith through Iesus Christ thy beloued son which liueth with thee and raigneth in the vnity of the holy Ghost worlde without end Amen The praier of one in a troubled conscience LOrde reproue mee not in thy fury thy arrowes are fixed in me and thou hast laide thy hande vppon mee There is no helth in my flesh because of thy wrath there is no quiete in my bones because of my sinnes My heart is sore troubled my strength and valour hath failed mee the light of mine eies is not with me sorrows haue compassed me without number my iniquities are gone ouer my own head they are multiplied as the haires of my head gréeuing oppressing me as a sore burden The sorrowes of death haue compassed me and the troubles of hell are come vpon mee My conscience and my heart are both against mee O Lorde deliuer me hasten to helpe me and bring my soule from the terrors of hell forgiue me my sins which my enemy the diuell heapeth vppon me like a mountaine so as the same standing before my eies I may not beholde the brightnesse of thy grace Let thy mercy therefore appeare vnto me I beseech thee and let me not be destitute of thy fauour Comfort me O God that I may haue the inioying of a quiet conscience for all this is inferiour to thy greatnesse and mercy if thou wilt Why art thou sorrowfull my soule trust in God the helth of my countenance and he shall take thée out of temptation and bring thée at liberty through the innocent death of our Lorde Iesus Christ which is the holy and vnspotted sacrifice for our sinnes Amen The prayer of a sicke person ALmighty God and heauenly Father forasmuch as thou hast commaunded vs saying Call vpon me in the day of trouble I will heare thee and thou shalt honour me therefore I doe call vpon thée in this my great distres through Iesus Christ thy beloued Son forsake me not a wretched sinner And if this my infirmity extend not vnto death help me that by thy mercy I may recouer my helth and glorify thy power and vertue which thou hast shewed vppon me But if it be thy good pleasure more expedient and méete for me to die then to remaine in this sorrowfull vale and troublesome life let thy godly will be done in Earth as it is in Heauen And giue me grace I beséeche thee that I may commit my selfe to thy will which alwaies is best Kéepe me firme in the Catholique faith to the end that I be not seuered from thee and thy vnity but receiue my soule into thy kingdome through the same thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Another prayer of the sicke O Mighty and omnipotent God which art mercifull and ful of pitty and long suffering forgiue me my sinnes and put away my iniquity Uouchsafe beséech thée to comfort my soule against whatsoeuer temptation and afflictions helpe me that my faith doe not faint or wauer in thee nor my hope haue any distrust nor my charitye waxe cold nor that my frailty be ouercome with the fear of death And when the extreame houre of my life shall come then send me forth in peace I beséech thee because mine eies haue seene thy health which thou hast made ready before the face of all people as a light to lighten the Gentiles and as a renowne for all thy people of Israel In this my Sauior I beléeue in him doe I trust I beséech thée O Lord let me not be confounded sith thou art my help and my strength beholde mee with the eies of thy pitty and turne thy fatherly fauour towards mee through Iesus Christ thy sonne who by his most sacred passion and death obtained for vs eternall redemption Amen A prayer of such as be present at the extreame sicknes or death-pangs of any O Most holy and omnipotent God that preseruest our life euē at the point of death wee do beseech thee vouchsafe to cast the eies of thy mercy vppon this sicke person to reléeue him both in body and soul and to forgiue him al his sins accept we beséech thée the oblation of the most innocent death of Iesus Christ thy beloued Son in place of satisfaction for all his iniquities For in the confession of his name hee was baptized deliuer him now therefore from the pains and griefes of his body shorten his griefe and affliction conserue him against the accusation of his own conscience and against whatsoeuer temtations of the enemy that hée may striue manfully by the faith of the holy Church and ouercome him Sende vnto him thy holy Angelles that they may bring him to the felowship of al Angels and of the elect in Christ Iesus our Lord. Amen A prayer in time of plague or common mortality ALmighty God wee doe grant and acknowledge that we haue often and gréeously offended thee by our diuerse and manifold sinnes forasmuch as wee haue all swarued from thée and therwith are become vnprofitable neither we nor our fathers kéeping thy commaundements With a right sorrowfull spirite wee beseech thy infinite mercy for Iesus Christe thy beloued Sonnes sake that thou wilt not deale with vs according to our sinnes but haue mercy vpon vs according to thy great goodnesse and fauour Be mercifull to vs of thy fatherly good wil take from vs this fearefull cogitation of pestilence infectiue sicknes and suffer vs not thus to perish by thy dreadfull disease Rebuke vs not Lorde in thy fury nor consume vs with the wicked vngodly Lorde I beséech thée let thy displeasure cease leaue vs shew vnto vs thy mercy and deliuer vs bée mindfull of thy goonesse and pitty for thy names sake Thou O Lord art good and thy iudgements be right but we haue sinned and stirred vp thy displesure against vs forgiue I beséech thee the iniquity of my people and take from vs this pestilent infection for the bitter passion of thy sweet Sonne Protect vs from thy wrath from euill and sudden death and from eternal damnation But if thy good pleasure bee such that thou wilt needes visit our iniquities with this temporall punishment so fauour vs I beséech thee that bearing thy fatherly hande laide vppon vs wee dispaire not in thy chastisement For when we are iudged we are so corrected by our Lord that wee be not condemned with this worlde And more profitable it is to suffer here temporall punishment then eternall in
A Path vvay to Penitence VVith sundry deuout prayers fruiteful aduertisementes and wholesome counsailes of godly Fathers towards the amendement of life and some withdrawing of the bridle of ouer-much liberty taken Luke 1◠〈…〉 by the narrow gate 〈…〉 shall seeke to enter 〈…〉 LONDON Printed by Iohn Wolfe 1591. The end and purpose of this Booke LAy downe thy lofty lookes Thy rich and rufling ragges Sith God nor godly brookes That beggars make such bragges This wretched state you know Shall soone be laide full lowe Death puls thee by the sleeue And cals thee to account Thou woâ—st a moneth to liue To what it doth amount But least it be a weeke Prepare be not to seeke Examine by this squire And see if all be square To scape that lasting fire Flie paines nor cost nor care To helpe thy life to looke T is purpose of this Booke Of Penitence and the parts thereof PEnitence is the griefe and sorrowing of the heart for the sins and offences committed together with an earnest purpose and desire to forsake them and to be clensed of them that grace may be restored by such meanes as GOD hath lefte whereby to obtaine it To say thou art sorie for thy sins coÌ„mitted against the diuine maiesty and yet hast a liking thereof or some remnant of a will or purpose in thy hart to renew them againe it is but wicked dissumulation deriding of the holy action of Penitence without which no sinner can wel hope to attaine to saluation Let such take this for admonitioÌ„ both dreadful and often verified they are most likely to be preuented and ouertaken with the wrath of God whose merciful fauor in giuing theÌ„ sufficient space and means to repent they haue neglected and ouerpassed and so shal be disappointed both of time and the necessary means to their forgiuenesse Therefore it will be most safety readily to embrace Gods mercy when it is offered with some deuotion fear and dread of his iustice Like as it is a thing most dreadful to despaire of forgiuenes or vpon presuming of his mercy and forgiuenes and perseuere in a delight liking of the former sins and offences Penitence is thought to consist of three thinges viz. Contrition which is the inward griefe and hearty sorrowing for our sinnes committed to the impairing of that dignity and polluting of that purity whereunto wee attained by our calling in Baptisme but especially to the prouocation of GODS wrath thereby Which contrition and inward motion of grace mooueth and counsaileth to procéede to the acknowledging of our manifold sins and accusing of our selues in the court of conscience by confession there to iudge our selues least we bée iudged of the Lorde And sith the account of our life and offences committed is the waightiest cause that any mortall man can passe through and deale with in his life it is to be attempted and taken in hand rather with all care feare and diligence possible then sleightly superficially without due regard which we vtterly disalow of in the meanest of our worldly causes Then resteth the thirde parte which is restitution and amends making which some do cal satisfactioÌ„ which is not to be taken as though we are able by any workes or merits to deserue the forgiuenesse of our sinnes or to yéelde any méete recompence to God for offending and displeasing his diuine Maiesty for in that respect Christ in his most precious bloudshedding hath wrought a satisfaction for vs if wee withall perfourme our dueties thereby to bee partakers in that benefite as by his holy word and the counsaile of the holy Ghost in his Church hee hath willed vs. But the satisfaction belonging of our parts is the humbling of our hearts the brideling of our fleshly appetites the bringing forth of peniteÌ„t fruits in expres actions to the world as in almes prayer fasting abating of our pride pompe in our apparell the charitable bestowing of our superfluity to the comfort and reliefe of the needy or otherwise to the honour of God or good example in the Common-wealth Also by forgiuing others offences against vs and by restoring vnto all meÌ„ whatsoeuer we with-hold or tooke away wrongfully and that is that little which wée are able to do towards satisfaction wherewith GOD may be pleased his wrath the better appeased Reasons perswading to Penitence and the speedy performance thereof The néedfulnes thereof The profite thereby The sundry examples of men in time past Ezechiel 18. If the wicked shall bee conuerted from his wickednesse and become righteous all his iniquities which he hath done shall bee forgotten Chris. de Penit. O penitentia quid de te nunc referam c. O Penitence what shall I now say of thée thou settest free the soule that is bound and preseruest that which is vnbound By thée the théef obtained Paradice the prodigall sonne a chaine of worship the cittie of Niniuie pardon and Peter forgiuenesse when as hee had denied Christ. Philosophy saieth that euery thing is vndone by the same causes it grew The rule of law saith the thing is not forgiuen excepte the thing wrongfully taken be restored God graunt that the Penitence which is to bee performed for our sinnes and offences be not required to the last farthing If thou aske when Penitence is to be done forsooth presently it is but presumption to defer it Eccles. That which thou maiest doe doe it forthwith Gal. 6. Whiles we haue time let vs doe thinges that be good Aristot. Of all our time non habemus nisi nunc we haue but this time which we call Now. Godly cogitations inducing to Penitence and amendment of life THinke on the goodnesse of God on his diuine might and vertue Thinke how good he hath béene to thee to create thée of so noble a shape as in his owne likenesse Thinke what grace hee hath done to thee in the Sacrament of Baptisme cleansing thy soule from sinne Thinke how often and manifoldly thou hast offended him since the vow and profession in Baptisme Thinke howe weekely monethly or yearely he hath tarried for and expected thy returning from sinne Thinke from howe many daungers he hath preserued thee in body and soule Thinke how ill thou hast bestowed the time that hath béene giuen thee to performe true Penitence and yet perhaps thou hast not done it Thinke how many times he hath forgiueÌ„ thée in christ and howe many times thou hast fallen to sinne againe Thinke what paine and torment thou haddest beene in now and euermore if god had taken thee out of this worlde when thou wast in deadly sinne Thinke how dearely hee bought thée from the danger of the diuell suffering continuall pains in this world about the space of 32. yeares going barefoote in cold and in heate suffering hunger and thirst and many reprochfull iniuries at length sheading his precious bloud and yéelding his body to the Crosse. Cassiodorus Thinke all that time to be lost in which thou hast not thought on
Let it be to me the armour of faith and shielde of good wil. Let it be a cleansing of my vices and destruction of concupiscence and lust the increase of charity patience humility and obedience a sure defence against the assaults of al enemies both visible and inuisible a perfecte quieting of my motions both carnall and spirituall a sure staying on thée one true god and a happy consummating of my life and end And further I beséech thée that thou wilt vouchsafe to bring me a sinner to that vnspeable banket where thou with thy sonne and the holy Ghost art to all thy Saintes the true light and the ful sacâ—ety the euerlasting ioy and most perfect mirth and felicicity through our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen A deuout praier of the seuen last wordes of our Sauiour O Lord Iesus Christ who art noted to vtter specially seuen words or sentences whiles thou didst haÌ„g on the crosse wherby we vnderstande it was thy will wee should alwaies be mindful of the same most holy spéeches I beséech thée by the vertue of the same that thou haue mercie on me in whatsoeuer I haue sinned and offended against thée in the like nuÌ„ber of mortall sins or their branches Lorde euen as thou saidst Father forgiue my crucifiers so giue me grace that I may forgiue all them that work me any euil Lord as thou saidst to the Théefe To day shalt thou bee with mee in Paradice by thy grace let me so liue that at the houre of my death thou maiest say To day shalt thou bee with mee in Paradice Lord as thou didst say to thy mother Woman beholde thy sonne and then vnto the Disciple Beholde thy mother euen so let thy loue and charity bring me to be conuersant with thy blessed mother Lorde as thou diddest say O my God my God why hast thou lefte mee Giue me grace to say whensoeuer I am in trouble or vexation Father haue mercy on me a sinner helpe me my King and my God who hast redéemed me with thy owne bloud Lord euen as thou saiedst I doe thirste after the death of soules so let me euer thirst after thee loue thée the welspring of liuing water the fountaine of eternall light Let me runne to loue thée with all the desire of my hart Lord as thou saidst father into thy hands I commend my spirite giue me grace to liue so perfectly that at my death I may say to thée Lord into thy handes I commend my spirite receiue mee that am comming vnto thée for now is the time thou diddest appoint Lorde as thou saidst It is finished meaning that the sorrowes and labors suffred for vs miserable sinners were now at an end let me by thy help deserue to heare the swéet spéech of thine Come my beloued for I haue now determined to accomplish thy petitions Come with mee that thou maiest sit with my Angelles and Saintes feasting in my Kingdome and reioysing world without end Amen A prayer for the daily bread ALmighty God wee thy wretched children do cry vnto thée from earth as to our father in heauen vouchsafe through thy infinit mercy to giue vs that which pertaineth to the néedfull sustentation of the bodie and grant thy grace and blessing vnto all our labours honest exercises For vnles thou buildest the house they that build it labour in vaine Helpe vs that we may cast out the net of our vocation in thy name to good lucke in taking and therwithal giue vs thy grace that euery one in buying and selling may deal with a good conscience without fraude deceit Kéepe vs from ill seruantes from an vnfaithful family to deale with Giue vs that liue in pouerty patience that we murmure not agaynst thy diuine will nor of malice transgres thy commandements grant to them that be rich that they be not proud therof but rather that they may inrich themselues with good workes and so lay vp a good foundation for the world to come O Lord God two things I do aske of thée kéepe me from Idolatry in preferring any thing before the loue of thée bee it wife children friends house riches or any priuat opinion and giue me neither beggary nor riches but rather the which is néedefull for my sustentation least being ouer full I be moued to deny thee and say who is the lord or otherwise bée compelled by néed to rage and to forsweare the name of my God From these things preserue me I beséech thee through Iesus Christ thy beloued sonne Amen Against the diuels temptation O Mighty and good God the heauenly Father wée find by thy holy worde that the diuel the old serpent our aduersary lieth in waite by a thousand or infinite indeuors to kéepe our soules from saluation and to bring vs into the filthines of sin confusion and desperation He inticeth vs with riches hee woulde catch vs with pouerty voluptuousnesse the coueting of worldly honour and desire of power and authority or els by other worldly carefulnesse He laieth snares for vs by wordes by déedes by night by day which way soeuer we turne vs he assaulteth vs with his temptations whether we watch or sleepe he is at our backes and openeth his iawes to deuour vs. O lord who shal escape him Behold he wacheth without ceasing and neuer is at rest but we of the sluggishnesse of our flesh watch not carefully to resist him by thy helpe OpeÌ„ therfore our eies that we may know how puissant and subtil an enemy we haue for our wrestling is not onely against flesh and bloud but against Sathan the Prince of this world Haue mercy on vs O GOD and make vs strong comfortable in the vertue of thy power put on vs that armour that we may resist his assaultes girde our loines with the truth· put on vs the breast-plate of righteousnes and shooes of Euangelicall peace But aboue all things strengthen our harts with the target of faith wher with we may breake off the fierie dartes of the wicked féende put on vs the helmet of saluation and giue vs the sword of the spirite which is thy holy worde in true sence and vnderstanding so shall we manfully resist and ouercome our said aduersary If thou be our helper wee shall not feare him though the whole earth be in broile and the mountaines cast into the Sea thou art our force and refuge which liuest and raignest world without end For Benefactors O Most mercifull God sith it is so that all ingratitude displeaseth thée giue me grace I beseech thée to be mindful and thankeful for al thy benefites and that I be not found vnthaÌ„kful toward them that haue done me any good least I fal into thy iugemeÌ„t for it O most swéet god giue to them that good both of body and soule which they stand in néed of And giue me grace to be beneficial vnto others as I haue fouÌ„d others to me after my power Let me not for the ingratitude of others faile or
death which is nothing else but the doore to eternall life Let me thy seruant then depart in peace because mine eies haue séen my saluation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people as a reuealing light to the Gentils to the renowne of Israel thy people Giue me grace that at the last instant I may speake at the least this word which thy beloued Son vttered vpon the Crosse saying Father into thy handes I commend my spirite And when I shall not be able to speake yet vouchsafe I béeseech thee to heare my last grones through Iesus christ Amen Against desperation O Most iust and mercifull GOD seeing through my owne faulte and will I haue often transgressed thy commaundements and contemned thée my Lorde God to my greeuous burden of offences whereby my conscience is sore vexed and wounded that thereby trembling and weakenes of mind groweth vppon me I beséech thee most holy father suffer mee not to distrust thy grace and mercy at any time leaste I fal into desperation which is the most gréeuous of all sins Comfort me that euen in the middest of death I may fixe all my hope in thée which art my life without distrust of thy mercy and helpe Behold me with the eies of thy mercy as thou didst Peter after he had denied thée least dispairing like Iudas the traytor I might sin against the holy Ghost O God the holy Ghost helpe mee in my extreame necessity when Sathan shall gréeuously accuse me before thée laying open the Booke of my conscience and the sight of Hell terrifie mée when I shal be compassed about with the sorrowes and fearefull temptations of death when al the world shal forsake me and take parte against mee then I beséeche thee to comfort me that my hope fall not from me Comfort my heart with thy testimony and seale that I may firmely beléeue the remission of sinnes and that I may bée mindfull of thy most holy couenant in Baptisme and of the annexed promise He that beeleeueth and is baptized shal be saued The prayer of a Magistrate or one in authority O Almighty God Lord of heauen and earth who hast brought and set mee in the place of a ruler and giuē me power ouer others I beséech thée to giue me a wife prudent heart that I may gouern thy people according to my office and vnderstand good from euill to the performing of iustice without any feare or respecte of persons Giue me counsail strength that I may doe that which is acceptable vnto thée profitable for thē that be vnder me auaileable to publike peace and quietnesse Let mee not forget that I haue not my authority of my selfe but from the high God and that I am to execute the iudgement or rule not of man but of God in heauen and thou assisting me in the same beholdest all my doinges who at length wilt inquire and take accoūt of my words workes and ordinaunces that am sure to liue but a short time in mine office And because the punishment shal be sore gréeuous on them that rule not well when the mighty shall be mightely tormēted For God is the ruler of all who wil not spare the person of any nor feare his greatnesse who hath made both greate and small hauing an equall care for all Assist me therefore O mercifull and eternal god that I may by thy grace and helpe bear my selfe well in my office offring violence nor iniury to any nor suffer it to be done of others or to beare with any iniustice sith I am thy seruaunt and the sonne of thy handmayde a weake man and of short life vnable for to vnderstand thy iudgement and lawes Send therfore wisedome to be assistant vnto mee in the place which I doe occupy that it may be with me and labour with me that I may knowe what is acceptable to thee which also may guide me in all my affaires and kéepe me in hir power that my doings may be to thy liking in christ Iesu our redeemer sauior The prayer of a sonne or daughter MOst mercifull God the celestiall father who hast commaunded that I shoulde honor my parents of whom I tooke this life who also acceptedst in good part that duty and obedience for Christ thy beloued Sonne and promisest to rewarde the same with long life together with sundry temporall benefites and the heauenly blessing I beseeche thee euen from the bottome of my heart that thou vouchsafe to giue vnto my most kind and louing parentes long life and prosperous yeares and also to defend them from al mischaunces hurt and domage Giue me also a heart apt to loue and obay them and that I may honour them in deedes speech and all patience that the same blessing of god may come vppon me and that I may succéede my father as well in old age as in worldly benefites And likewyse that I offende not or greeue my swéete mother that bare me in hir wombe with much griefe and brought mee vp with much car◠and busines whom I ought not to forsake or discomfort least her curse come vpon me And if before this I haue shewed my selfe disobedient to my parents or vnquiet vouchsafe mercifully to forgiue me the sinnes of my youth and my secret offences O Lord remember not but let me acknowledge my owne foolishnes and performe due repentance therefore carefully setting before mee the wholesome example of Iesus Christ who in his childhood was an admonition to his parents and an example to all children by his obedience So let me by thy help be endewed alwaies with Christian obedience Kéepe mee from the company of naughty persons and if they intice me let me not go with them but with-holde my féet from their paths Let me encrease and profit in wisedom age and fauour with GOD and men through the same thy beloued sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ. Amen The praier of a seruant O Mercifull God who by the precious passion and death of thy Sonne Iesus Christ hast made me an ouercommer of hel and death being deliuered from perpetual seruitude from the power of sin from the kingdome of darkenesse and from the horrible tiranny of the diuel I beséech thée vouchsafe vnto me by thy grace that I fall not into any wearines or disliking of that state and seruantly condition whereunto thou hast caled me according to thy good wil and pleasure nor through impatience neyther murmure against this thy ordinance or enuy the dignity and better calling of others But that I may performe this thy will with all ready willingnesse as if I serued the Lord of al and not men Helpe me most pittiful Lorde that I may with all feare and patience obey my carnal maisters be they good or euill in those things that be not contrarie to thy will not seruing to the eie as ther with to please men but from my heart for thy commaundementes sake Giue mee grace that I may be sounde faithfull in all
all euill and lifting vp my eies and addressing my praiers vnto thee Drawe my féete out of the snare and hide me vnder the couert of thy winges A prayer out of the Psalme called Saint Barnards verses Lighten mine eies least at any time I sléepe in death that mine enimy neuer say I haue preuailed against him Be mindful of thy mercies O Lorde and of thy commiserations which haue beene since the world began Remember not the follies and offences committed in my youth Be mindfull of me according to mercy and for thy goodnesse O Lord. Into thy handes I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me O Lord God of trueth I haue saide and spoken it openly O Lord make my end knowen vnto me And what the number of my daies is that I may knowe what is wanting vnto me Giue me a good signe that such as hate me may see thy fauour and thereat may bée confounded forasmuch as thou O Lorde hast holpen and comforted me O Lord let it be so séeing I am thy seruant and the sonne of thy handmaid Thou hast ridde me of my thraldome I will offer vnto thee the sacrifice of praise and shall call vpon the name of the Lord. They perished who fled from me and there is none to seeke after my soule I cried to the Lord saying thou art my hope my portion in the land of the liuing Glory be to the Father c. Another praier by such as be present at the perill of child-birth MOst mightie Creator mercifull God wee thy séely wretched creatures descended of Eue her ofspring most suppliantly beséech thée of thy infinite goodnes mercifully to looke on the wretched state miserie which of thy dreadful iustice in mixing alwayes sorrowes with ioyes thou hast inflicted vpon womankind for our said first parent her disobedience and namely the state sorrowful beeing of this our sister thy seruant here languishing and oppressed with the paines of womans trauaile and wretchednesse O good Lorde thy omnipotent wisedome foreséeing that some would sinne much did bridle them with infirmitie of bodie to the end that it may bee founde more profitable for them to be low brought with suffering gréeuous pains then to remaine in helth to their more hasard of sinne and damnation But séeing in all sicknes there bée thrée things that be greuous and specially to vs thy creatures of more weaknes and infirmitie by nature that is to say the feare of death the griefe of the bodie and the losse or leuing of these worldlie pleasures therefore thy mercifull goodnes hath so disposed our state condition in this life that no woman or man can be in great paine and long continue therein so as by thy iust and mercifull prouidence either he shall be able to beare our paines or els that the same shal be but short therfore it may please thée of thy great mercies that as the aire is clensed made cléer after vehement storms so after this sharpe and long showre of teares and wofull panges there may followe a calme of ease of affliction to this our sister and faire wether both of thy gratious fauour and of our mindes quietnesse that are pensiue and carefull for her For by the testimony of thy holy word thou delightest not in destruction with thy own mouth by the holy Ghost thou hast saide that thou wilt conuert the sorowing of thy seruants into reioycing Bee then our good Lord and our comforter in the day of our tribulation Suffer not wee beséech thée this our sister to bée tempted or oppressed with paines and calamity aboue her strength and patience to beare it but mercifully and spéedily helpe and deliuer her both from paines and perill So shal we euermore pronounce and say Blessed is God the Father of our Lorde Iesus Christ the Father of mercies and God of all consolation who comforteth vs in all our trouble Amen The Lords prayer briefly expounded Our Father By benefite of Creation through thy omnipotencie By priuiledge of condition through thy prouidence By pietie of adoption thorough thy charitie By reparation of blisse through thy onely begotten Which art in heauen By omnipotent power gouerning By grace lightening By mercie directing By glorie appearing Halowed be thy name Of vs by honest conuersation In vs by a cleane conscience Foorth out of vs by a good name and fame Aboue vs by Angelicall presentation Thy kingdome come That is Heauen by reuelation Holy Church by assumption The faithfull soule by iustification The holy scripture by instruction Thy will be done In simplicitie of heart by humilitie In charitie of bodie by abstinence In holinesse of prayer by frequentation In veritie of woorke by discretion Giue vs this day our daily bread Of humane necessitie Of spirituall doctrine Of the blessed sacrament Of eternall felicitie And forgiue vs our trespasses as we c. Not retaining mallice in heart Not vpbraiding in word Not doing euill for euill Not refusing to do good And let vs not be lead into temptation Sodaine which dismaieth Importune which wearieth Deceitfull which beguileth Uiolent which oppresseth But deliuer vs from euill Of worldly aduersitie which disquieteth Of mans crueltie which vexeth Of the Deuils subtletie which preuaileth Of euerlasting calamitie which tormenteth Amen that is all thus bee done By attention of heart By sinceritie of word By diligent practise By continuall desire Read and vnderstand Remember practise As thinges are prooued to be liuing by moouing by sense of sight or feeling and by liuely working so is it knowne whether the soule of any man liueth in Christ by these three tokens IF the soule be moued with the spirite of Christ that is to the holie desire of heauenly things and to the contemning of the delectable things of the world 〈◊〉 the soule haue a féeling of those thinges which pertaine vnto Christ and as it were a suffering with Christ that suffered If the soule worketh vertuous works in following of Christ. They that be lead by the spirit of God bée the sons of God Fides sine operibus mortua est These bee sixe signes of a Christian. INnocencie and cleannesse Penitence and the true performing thereof Lowlinesse and humilitie of spirite Obedience and the feare of God Pitie and brotherly loue Feruent charitie The 12. abuses of the world which are thought to bee the sinnes which deserue with the iustice of God that Antichrist the most wicked of all men should preuaile and trouble the whole world to the perill of innumerable soules OLde men and graue persons without the wisedome of true and mature patience Yong men of lesse knowledge and authoritie without reuerence and obedience Rich men without almes and mercifull works The poore giuen to proud apparell and without humilitie The Pastors or Teachers without good déedes where Christ himself wroght first and then taught hee saith Qui fecerit sic docuerit ille saluabitur The people hearing the word of God preached and yet waxe
reasonings For faith and loue in his holy and most excellent sacrament surmoūt worke high in secret manner aboue al reason O the eternall God and Lord of infinit power doth great things in Heauen and in Earth that may not be searched For if the works of God were such that they might be lightly vnderstanded by mans reason they were not so marueilous so inestimable as they bée A tripled reason shortly and particularly yeelded of some decay of Christian duty obserued in xii sundry states or degrees of persons First why be there many children not truely obedient to their parents One cause may bee for that the parents themselues be not only not giuen to obey the wil of God and the counsaile of the holy Ghost in his Church who is the spirituall Parent and Nurse of the faithfull but are rather enclined to follow their owne fancy fleshly delight which are the nurs and wel-spring of the greatest diobedience Secondly because they bée negligent in giuing sound godly instruction with needfull example of kindly loue Thirdly because it is the iust iudgement of God that men many times be annoied or punished in the same manner that themselues offēded Why be there so few parents that tender the soules health of their children before worldly wealth First neglecting the bond of nature which ought to bée of more force than the law of friendship they fall too short of the duety of common christiā charity so as that which they should seeke and vouchsafe to any christian brother be he neuer so much a stranger they omit euen to their owne children at home An other cause is for that they who haue so much delighted in fleshly and earthly things haue so litle taste and sauouring of ghostly spirirituall thinges that they are more ready for to séeke anye worldly commodity then to procure them purged and stripped of vice much lesse to be clad inriched with vertue and goods of grace Thirdly for that they consider not the dignity of the soule and but superficially or negligently regard the iustice of God in rewarding of vertue and punishing of vice And this through want of faith Then how happeneth it that there are so fewe Christians found faithfull in the truth sith the faith of Iesus Christ is most holye and true This may come of presumption and blindnesse of minde wrought by the spirit of errour as when some presume ouer much that because god hath created vs to saluation therefore we can not be damned and because he hath redeemed vs with his precious bloud therefore we can not but be saued Likewise some do presume of their good workes and others of onely faith An other cause is for that they do not duely regard the wholesome precepts counsailes of our Sauiour in his word Also want of deuotion in the sacraments which our Sauiour left vnto his people for their Spirituall health comfort and remedy when they delight in base and vile things refusing that which is excellent and eternall VVhy be ther so few conuerted to godly life by true penance or repentance The greatnesse and ouermuch heaping of their sinnes is the cause that they doe not féel the waight and gréeuousnesse of them no more then he that is oppressed with sicknes wotteth where hée hath most neede to be cured Moreouer an euil custome wil hardly be lefte vile and filthy delectatiōs which haue beene so long sweet wil not yet become sower without crosse and affliction Obstinacy of minde and a purpose to perseuere in the former delighted sinnes wil not be expressed or remoued by threatninges preaching nor good counsaile VVhy doth there follow so litle fruit of preaching Because of some imperfections in Preachers some preaching for vain-glory to shew their eloquence get praise of men some to spread their singular conceit and opinion and few that preach simply for the honor of God and true health of soules sealing their words with example of their owne good workes Secondarily through default of the hearers who either are indurate by light regarde and lacke of grace or else distracted by diuersity or contrariety of doctrine Thirdly for the electes sake that hereby they may know themselues aduanced vnto the height of grace and glorie when they sée others cast off by their fault or neggligence Why bee there so fewe counted good and virtuous men among them that bee learned First because of a corrupt and false intent which they haue in their study which is not to the end of vertue but for liuing and worldly worships sake Also because of pride and swelling of minde or otherwise because of a naughtie affection which many haue in earthly fleshly things whereby they are not giuen to deuout praier and seruice of God bt rather becom vnmindefull of the ende of learning and true wisedome VVherefore in time past were not the greatest part of Cleargye-men counted good and vertuous seeing they were hired vnto vertue as others be to their labour For that perhaps they tooke not their order of a pure intention and with due preparation to receiue the gifts of the holy Ghost Secondly because some attended more to the cares and affairs of the world and following the appetites of the flesh then to the charge and dignity of their sacred vocation Thirdly for that percase there did want in them the true loue of GOD and their neighbour and ouer that an earnest purpose to fast and pray to saue soules of their owne charge which Christe hath redeemed to be saued Howe commeth it that there were so fewe wealthy and great men found to be vertuous or of worthy valure One cause was for that they thought themselues enobled and made worthy of honour or great worship by the vertue and valure of their olde anccestors Also for that it was not duly considered that Nobility was ordained chiefly for the honour of God and common vtility of his people whome they ought not to gréeue or oppresse with hard rents and fines or other cruel and vngentle dealing Also because of taking ouer-much pleasure in voluptuousnes and other vices wanton vanities wherein their great riches was most bestowed which many times they might haue better employed for the health of their soules the benefite of their common wealth and reléeuing of their néedy neighbor Why bee there so fewe true labourers crafts-men and seruants One cause is for that they séek not the kingdom of heauen but rather which waye they may make to themselues best wages at the wéeke or yeares end Also for that they consider not the dignity of the soule nor dread the iustice of God Thirdly because they sée and perceiue in a maner all other degrées faulty in their calling so as they being of the most inferior degrée can deriue litle good example from their better and superiors to draw and encourage them vnto the iust performing of their duety Or else because of a certain liberty taken of conscience when all accounts be so long deferred which maketh almost that all Maisters Mistresses Magistrates doe at this hour find their own feathers in their own wounds VVhy bee there so fewe good men of Marchaunts Because in their trade and trafficke they feare not to offend God by lying deceitfulnes and breaking the holines of the Sabaoth Also if good conscience be once wrecked or laide aside sinne is made but a light and ordinary matter Lastly for that their mind and loue is not vppon God nor care they for these spiritual things but rather to bée satisfied in carnality sensuality and couetousnes of gain VVhy bee there so fewe widowes that be chaste and vertuous women For that whiles they were married they liued carnally without any deuout mind or ghostly care Secondarily because they loued serued and obeyed the will and liking of their husbandes better then God Thirdly for that they giue not themselues to the obseruing and performing of widdowes duty in fasting praier almes sole or sober conuersation litle remembring or considering their sorrows past in the wretchednesse and miserie of Eue. VVhy bee there so fewe maydes that seeke and desire to continue in their virginity One cause is for that they litle know nor are of capacity to consider the dignity of that state Then for that they doe not giue themselues to resist carnall desires nor doe helpe or fortify their weakenes with fasting praier inuocation Also for that they doe not marke by what causes they may be comforted and incouraged therein sith they are honoured by nature and by the worthiest amongst men they are honored in scripture and preferred in grace and glory Wherefore in sundry parts of Christendome the maide of knowen honest and vertuous life when she dieth shée hath for her a hearse of blacke placed in the Quire with a guilt coronet set thervpon as an honour vnto the state encouragement to the followers and a signe of the hundred-folde fruite worthy of a Crowne The Conclusion TO conclude that thou hast perhaps these many yeares neglected the due account and sorrowing for thy sinnes here hast found proofe of thy great fault and testimony of thy folly The obstinate sinner perseuering in his custome may read here the description and calender of his conscience he that by his office or vocation hath pleadged the price of his owne bloud for the safety and conduct of others may perceiue hereby if he be not too much blinded with worldly respect how busie a toil pertayneth to the discharge clearing of himselfe O subtiltie vnsound that deceueth in thy selfe thine owne soule O folly most filthy that fighteth against thy proper health and happines No dallying with holy or ghostly thinges God will not bee mocked If heauen might be had with continuall following the desires of the flesh then the wisedom and carefull regard of the holy fathers was méere folly their straightnes of life vain and like lost labour Sero sapiunt Phryges but let vs remember our selues in time proclayming and practising with the conuerted Niniuites Sackcloth dust and ashes FINIS I. N. LONDON Printed by Iohn VVolfe 1591.