she called her husband be dead hence forward the world shall die to me who am dead to the world What she said in words she fullfild in deeds for at that time the ouerseers of her young sonne vnable as yet to succeed in his Fathers dominions cast her out of all and banished her the court not permitting her to come neare the Prince her sonne this confusioÌ„ she willingly embraces and no way either desireing reuenge or murmuring against it she reioyced much and with the Apostles gloried in tribulation Wherein as we may be hold her glorious humility patience and other vertues so also the fickle estate of fortune Shee who heretofore had beene wont to liue in princely pallaces is now glad to creep into some poore cottage she that had beene esteemed honoured obeyed and loued as one of the greatest princesses of the world is now despised contemned and derided of all yea of those whom formerly shee had relieued she that was wont to be clad in rich attires of gold siluer and pretious iewels now walks in poore ragges and cloathes embroadered perhaps with mire she that accustomed to bestow her almes so liberally on the poore is now glad to begge her owne bread Who would not take compassion of her After she had passed the winter in these sufferances lent comming on she redoubled her deuotions wherein she found wonderfull sweetnesse which she was no way able to expresse and therein had many reuelations aswell of our Sauiour as of our B. lady I will only set downe one or two Once being in an extasie our lord appeared to her said Dost thou desire to be with me and I will be with thee Whereto she answered Let it be so my lord as thou dost wouchsafe to be with me so also I will remaine with thee and be neuer separated from thee Our B. lady appeared vnto her very frequently and did instruct her how God doth impart benefits to his beloued by many tribulations and how by his grace which he giueth them he maketh their soules more capable of greater grace whilst they out of a holy humâ—litie doe as it were become diffident of receiueing such and so great benefits which he dayly more and more bestoweth on them And thereupon she counselled her to committ her selfe to the diuine will and goodnesse and attribute more to the power of God than to her owne indignitie The same was also manifested to the saint by a very rare miracle for being one day walking with her ghostly Father called Br. Roderingus they fell into a serious discourse of the spirituall progresse that a soule might make in perfection amongst other things the holy woman said Reuerend Father amongst all my troubles and difficulties of minde there is none so nerely touches me as that I am doubt full of the beneuolence and goodnesse of my creatour towards me not that I doe not know him to be the soueraigne good and liberall in his loue towards vs but that I find my demerits to be such that I shall and ought to bee reiected although I burne with his loue Whereto the Father answered you haue no reason to feare for so great is the diuine goodnesse that without all doubt he loues againe much more than he is loued by any But she replied how then doth he suffer me to be drawne away from him by afflictions and sicknesse at any time or any moment whereas I would alwaies and in all places adhere to him Br Roderingus answered Those are rather signes of one that is beloued of God than of one forsaken by him for he doth permit them to encrease your loue to him as also your merit And in signe hereof the more to confirme you herein in the vertue of his name whome you loue I command that tree which is on the other side of the riuer to come to this side where we are which was presently done Whereupon the saint fell at the Fathers feet craueing pardon for her offence The while these things were done some of her frieÌ„ds were thinking to helpe her and to allow her some honourable meanes and also prouide for her some noble marriage But she not against her will as they thought but voluÌ„tarily both poore and solitary maÌ„fully refused all saying I am coÌ„fident in the diuine protection that what I haue vowed whilst my husband liued I shall not loose now that he is dead what soeuer authoritie presse me or friendship flatter me I will not suffer that to be taken from me by men which I haue begunne for God alone neither doe I feare any violence for it is alwayes free to me with my will to dissent from it and to make my face more deformed or euen to cut of my nose O heroicall resolution rather she wil loose her life than leaue the promise she had made to God How the holy woman tooke vpon her a religious course of life §. 4. ALthings neuerthelesse being well composed and suffinent meanes giuen her to maintaine her selfe she was nothing altered thereby from her former resolution to liue after a poore manner in so much that her nobilitie condemned her esteeming her as a foole or superstitious idiot She was indeed to the wicked a derision and mocking-stocke but to the godly and iust she was in great veneration Whence Pope Gregorie the 9. hearing the fame of her vertues writ to her takeing her as his daughter vnder the protection of the Apostolicall See and commending her to Conradus a Friar as some will haue it a very holy man that he should instruct her what she was to doe where with the Saint was much strengthened and confirmed most willingly submitting her selfe to his direction Conradus then persuaded her to the contempt of the world and the following of Christ which she very willing to doe to the end she might execute it in some sure and constant course of life she made choise of this order of S. Francis to liue accordingly in holy and euangelicall pouertie which not without seeming reluctation her ghostly Father approued especially seeing her so earnestly with teares to beg it And vpon a good Friday before the altar in the Friar minors Church by a solemne profession she renounced parents children pompes and vanities of the world and her proper will to follow our Lord but being about to giue away all her meanes Conradus would not permit it Not long after for the loue of her ghostly Father that she might better enioy his good instructioÌ„s she went to Marburge where she began an hospitall which by commandement of Pope Gregory the 9. she dedicated to S. Francis The Pope at that time sent her some of the bloud that flowed froÌ„ the side of the said saint when he was marked with the holy stigmats In this hospitall she aspires to a higher kind of life and with a spirituall emulation endeauours to imitate the Friar Minors in a noble contempt of all things takeing their state of life and habit as much
and most painfully stretched forth on the Crosse euen so farre forth that one might number all his bones yea euen to the rupture of his vaines how he was crowned with thornes cloathed in mocquerie with a purpell robe and his face bained in bloud presented to the people who cryed take him away crucisie him Ioan. 19. On the other side consider what and how great he is he I say who hath suffered all these things is not he according to his divine nature equall with the eternall Father according to the Humanitie which he hath hypostatically taken and vnited vnto the eternall word more worth than all the world Let them consider the delicatenesse of his complexion in that he was conceiued in the most sacred wombe of the Virgin of most pure bloud behold his Innocencie contemplate how charitably strongly and most promptly he hath suffered all these paines Besides this they may consider that at the time of his Passion the griefe of compassion which he sustained from the vngratfull wicked Iewes was more than the corporall affliction of his Passion Moreover how great pitie and compassion he had of his most deare Mother seeing her bitternesse paine and compassion as also how greatly he did suffer in all those who stood by his devout disciples and other women Let them therfore carrie these things in their minds and at certaine houres dayly meditate and remeditate them as distinctly ordinatly and compassionatly as if he did endute them in their sight and presence According to the forme that is giuen them in the distribution of their time in the houre glasse of the Passion which they may find in my booke of the chord of S. Francis Here follow some prayers which they may vse either at their cloathing or afterward during their Noviceshipp as also some other that they may vse at their Profession Prayers O Lord Iesu Christ who art the way without whom none cometh to the Father I beseech thy most benigne clemency that thou wouldest leade me by the path of regular discipline thou also who hast vouchsafed do call sinners saying Come yee to me all that labour and are burthened and I will refresh you Grant that this voice of thy invitation may so prevaile in me that laying downe the burden of sinne and tasting how sweet thou art I may deserue to be sustained by thy refreshment thou also who hast vouchsafed to witnesse of thy sheepe saying My sheepe doe heare my voice and I know them and they know me acknowledge me amongst thy sheepe that I may also so know thee and not follow a stranger but thee nor heare the voice of strangers but thine wherby thou doest say he that ministereth vnto me let him follow me Who liuest and raignest God with God the Father in the vnitie of the holy Ghost world without end Amen O God most faithfull promiser of eternall good things and certaine performer who hast promised the coverture of saluation and the cloathes of incunditie to thy faithfull most humbly I beseech thy immense clemencie that this habit signifiyng fidelitie of heart and contempt of the world by thy protection may keepe me vnspotted and as thou hast temporally cloathed me with the garment of thy sonnes Passiō so thou wilt make me to be cloathed with blessed immortalitie Through our Lord Iesus Christ thy sonne who liueth raigneth God with thee in the vnitie of the holy Ghost world without end Amen A prayer for perseuerance O God of peace most mercifull and clement Lord to whō all good things are pleasing with out whom no holy thing is begunne no good thing finished let the eares of thy pietie be present to my humilitie and defend me from all impediments of this world and from all secular desires and propitiously grant that I may persever in this holy purpose and hauing receiued remission of my sinnes I may deserue to come to the company of thy elect Through our Lord Iesus Christ thy Sonne who liueth raigneth God with thee in the vnitie of the holy Ghost world without end Amen A prayer for Gods Grace O God who by thy coeternall Sonne hast created all things and who hast vouchsafed by the misterie of his holy Incarnation to renew the world become old in sinnes I humbly beseech thee that by the grace of the same Iesus Christ our Lord thou wilt clemently vouchsafe to behold me thy handmaide desirous to professe the rennuntiation of the world that so renewed in spirit I may put off the old man which its actions and deserue to put on the new which is created according to God Through the same Lord Iesus Christ thy Sonne who liueth raigneth God with thee in the vnitie of the holy Ghost world without end Amen Another O Holy Ghost who hast vouchsafed to reveale thy selfe our God and Lord to mortall men I most humbly beseech the immense clemency of thy goodnesse that as thou doest breath where thou wilt so grant to me the affection of devotion that as by thy wisdome I am created and also by thy providence governed so according o thy wonted Grace let thy holy vnction in all things teach me and that by the intercession of our most blessed Father S. Francis who thou hast giuen for the principall law giuer of this holy institution and of all the Saincts whom I doe now invocate make me to be truly converted from the vanitie of this world and as thou art the remission of all sinnes so dissolue in me the obligations of impietie that depresse me and make me fervent in the observation of this holy purpose that in all tribulations and adyersities I may respire by thy neuer failing consolation and liuing soberly iustly and piously by true humilitie and obedience and grounded in fervent charitie I may with happy perseverance accomplish that which by thy grace I haue begun which thou ô Lord vouchsafe to grant who with God the Father and his only begotten Sonne liuest and raignest world without end Amen Another O God who doest inslame those who are converted from the vanitie of this world to the prize of thy supernall vocation doest prepare mansions in heauen for those who renounce the world dilate my heart with thy celestiall guifts that I may remaine in this holy cōpany with them in fraternall vnion of Charitie vnanimous constant sober simple and quiet obseruing the regular institutions of this holy order and by thy aide may come to that spirit of perfection which by thy inspiration I haue conceiued Through our Lord Iesus Christ thy Sonne who liueth raigneth God with thee in the vnitie of the holy Ghost world without end Amen Another for the same O Lord God creator of all things visible and invisible and reparer of the world who by thy power hast created and clemently redeemed me and mercifully called me to the state of euāgelicall perfection I humbly beseech thy immense clemency that thou wouldest vouchsafe to illuminate inflame and strengthen
order who knowing the true state and manner of liuing might keepe them in a vniforme manner of life and ordaine lawes fitting for such a state For practicall experience more auaileth for the aduancement of any good gouernement than speculatiue knowledge drawen from bookes without practise and yet this is the most that ordinarily those that are not of the same order haue For this reason no doubt Blessed S. Ignatius founder of the holy Societie of Iesus not lauing begunne any order of woemen because his institution was principally to preach and teach did particularly ordaine that none of his should take charge and care of Nunnes well knowing that diuersitie of spirits might cause diuersity of instructions and consequently as many if not more confusions and so he would that euery one should looke to his owne charge and the sheepe be left to their owne pastours For such and many other reasons haue Popes exempted most Religious orders from the gouernement and iurisdiction of Bishops As in particular they haue donde to our order for Honorius 3. who approued our Rule did exempt both the Franciscans and Dominicans from episcopall iurisdiction Innocentius 4. did it more amply with many other And that this third order is also exempted is manifest by what hath beene said in the precedent chapter for if it enioyeth all the priuiledges of the first order it must necessarily also enioy this exemption which is an especiall priuiledge much tending to the good of their order Besides diuerse Popes haue wholy submitted it and the order of the poore clares to the gouernement of the Friar Minors as may be seene in the Bulles of Pope Martin the 5. Sixtus 4. Leo 10. Clement 7. with many others as is to be seene in the Bullarie of Roderiques Yea Clement the 7. doth extend this grace to their houses monasteries Churches Prelats seruants men and woemen benefactors persons substance and goods whatsoeuer granting them to vse and enioy all and singular the exemptions priuiledges immunities prerogatiues indulgences indults fauours conseruatories graces which the Friar Minors and Preachers and sisters of S. Clare or any other whatsoeuer mendicant orders doe enioy or shall enioy in future times not only like vnto them or by way of Communication but equally and principally without any difference the Popes following as is said before still giuing them the like exemptions And Pius 5. expressely commands them to submit themselues to the order of the Friars in all things to be gouerned directed visited and serued by the Friar Minors to whō also they haue committed the care and charge ouer them THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER What were the motiues that drew Popes to grant these priuiledges and graces to this third order I Know not who can better decide this question than the Popes themselues who haue beene so liberall to this sacred order and therfore I will produce their owne words most making to our purpose omitting many others that might be set downe and are to be seene in their Bulles more at large And to beginne with Pope Gregorie the. 9. who liued in the very beginning of this order he in his Bull cum dilecti filij saith of the religious of this order that they had left the world to please our lord in the tower of contemplation and therfore he frees them from receiuing and executing publicke offices in the world Alexander the 4. doth the same because they hauing left the vanities of this world being as yet corporally on earth diligently labour in spirit and mind to dwell in celestialls and for God to deny secular desires Caelestinus in his Bulla Dignum esse credimus giues the same because that being mind full of their last end and forsaking the vanities of this world they desire with a contrite heart and humble spirit to doe pennance Leo the tenth in his Bull Dudum faelicis communicates vnto them all the Priuiledges of the poore clares because they liue in the spirit of pouerty in the lillie of Chastitie and other odours of good fame Clement the. 7. goes farther and communicates vnto them all the priuiledges of all mendicant orders in his Bull ad vberes fructus giuing this reason directing the eie of our consideration vnto the plentifull fruit which the sacred order of Pennance which the truely seraphicall fisher of men B. S. Francis illuminated by the holy Ghost hath ordayned that he might gaine all soules to their creatour hath brought hitherto into the store-house of our lord and euery day ceases not to bring in with a more fertile hand and reuoluing in the secrets of our minde that this order not only by those that are married of both sex but also by the brethren and sisters liuing in community and making the three solemne vowes hath long agoe begun to flourish and euery day doth more and more flourish c. I will omit many such like and conclude that as the religious of this third order are participant with all other orders in their essentiall vowes religious obseruances fasts mortifications austerities prayers meditation cōtemplation and other labours night and day in the quire with ought else that belongs to a religious state they ought in all reason to participate of the same graces and fauours But I feare I haue beene some what tedious in this subiect yet I hope it wil be pleasing to some who are not only desireous to satisfie their curiositie but also to know the truth Wherfore I now proceed to my intended purpose and as I haue set downe the priuiledges that haue beene granted to this order by the Church so I haue thought good briefely to shew the great graces and gifts that God hath imparted to this order to witt sanctitie and perfection both which the Popes holynesse hath mentioned in the Prologue THE FOVRTEENTH CHAPTER Of the sanctitie of this order AS the Church triumphant is peopled with saints who haue made profession of the three Rules that S. Francis hath left to his children so the Church militant hath beene and is adorned embellished with many saints and holy persons whose liues and deaths haue beene miraculously confirmed by God and approued by the said Church For we find that there hath beene in S. Francis order 27. canonized saints 606. beatified of whom the diuine office is celebrated either generally in the whole order or particularly in some kingdomes Diocesses or townes and 920. martyrs besides infinite others which are not knowne as yet 1650. Confessours notable for Sanctitie of life and miracles 6. beatified saints whose canonization is dayly expected 4. whose beatification is in hand all things being finished therto required 14. who by command of the Pope haue their processe for the next generall beatificatiō 133. whos 's life and miracles are now in the last examine for to proceed for their beatification 19. whose processe is before the ordinaries the number of which encreaseth dayly Of all which saints this third order hath had no little share For in it we may
both in her life and after her death Blessed Vraca Roderiguez of Vlmes of most noble parentage and exceeding rich entring into a a Church where she heard the words of our Sauiour si vis perfectus esse vade vende omnia quae habes da pauperibus tooke them as said to her selfe and so bestowed much part of her meanes vpon religious houses builded an hospitall conuerting her owne house into a monasterie and giuing all the rest to the poore Afterward she with fiue of her neeces and three other gentlewoemen entred into this order about the yeare 1491. None was more chast than she none more vigilant She exceld all the rest in patience meekenesse mercie humilitie and dayly labours and at last replenished with merits and sanctitie died lies buried in the monasterie she had erected About the same time liued Blessed Agnes à ferro who sometime did attend on the Queene of Aragonia but afterward being weary of the world and despiseing the vaine honours thereof became religious of this third order liuing in great pouertie humilitie and sanctitie In the yeare 1500. Blessed Anne of Areualo was famous for sanctitie in the monasterie of S. Elizabeth of the third order of S. Francis where she liued for a hundred yeares in exceeding great humilitie patience abstinence prayer and charitie About the same yeare liued Blessed Clare of Fulginea famous for pietie and deuotion being very zealous of regular obseruance and often deseruing to be comforted in apparitions by the seraphicall Father S. Francis About the yeare 1515. florished Blessed Catharine Ruiz whose charitie in assisting the sicke sisters was admirable spending all that euer she could get for them yea begging for them and thereby became famous for sanctitie Blessed Anna Sanchez was one of her companions whose deuotion and continuall prayer was much to be admired yet she was of an excellent prudence for gouernement and therfore was sent to be mother or Abbesse in the Cloyster of S. Clement from whence after she had beene there 20. yeares with great labours and toiles leauing the most fragrant odour of her sweet conuersation she returned to her former place where broken and wearied with pennances fastings and continuall prayers she died with great sanctitie the cell and bed wherein she died did for sometime after shine with a great light to the great admiration of those that beheld it About the same time also liued in Placentia Blessed Baptista famous in her life for many vertues and after her death for many miracles especially for that her body remaining entire doth yeeld a most sweet and pleasing smell In the yeare 1519. liued B. Maria Pennalosa in the monasterie of S. Elizabeth in Segouia a woman of a very religious spirit in humilitie prayer and charitie hardly to be equalised who as it is commonly reported in her life time did obtaine life for a yong man that was dead for which and other things she is worshipped there with great deuotion About the same time B. Elizabeth Pontia together with her two daughters both also holy woemen began the monasterie of S. Anne in the prouince of Carthage and by their example did draw many others to Religion And as in their life they had the generall opinion of sanctitie so after their death their Reliques haue deliuered many that had beene possessed as also cured many diseases Blessed Francisca of S. Anne in the yeare 1525. was brought from the monasterie where she had made profession of the third order to the monasterie of the annuntiation at Grinion in the diocesse of Toledo that she might giue a beginning therto and instruct others that were to come in regular discipline and as she had beene abbesse of the former place so was she abbesse of this with woÌ„derfull fruit of soules for she did excell in prudence charitie pietie humilitie affabilitie modestie abstinence and monasticall obseruance B. Lucie about the yeare 1530. did found the monasterie of S. Clare vnder the rule of the third order and was very famous for perfection of life and miracles Her body is had in great estimation with the faithfull in those parts About this time liued Blessed S. Ioane of the holy Crosse whose admirable life is set forth in out vulgar language and therefore here omitted B. Francis liued in the same time of whom Gonzaga thus writes This most vertuous and religious sister Francis was a child of the third order of saint Francis who declining from the innumerable deceits of the fiend did get a glorious victorie ouer sathan and therefore was much feared by him B. Aldonza about the yeare 1566. was famous for sanctitie and after hauing beene abbesse when the sisters were to remoue she prayed that she might die in the same place which she obtained and six yeares after her death her body was found whole and entire yeelding a fragrant odour wherefore she was held in great veneration Blessed Marie Gonsalue in the yeare 1577. died with great opinioÌ„ of sanctitie after she had fouÌ„ded a monasterie of this third order wherein she lead a life of great perfection aswell in seruing the poore as in compassionating their miseries and wants she did alwayes sleep without any bed vnder her exactly obseruing the fasts of the whole yeare with rigorous and bloudy disciplines Blessed Olalia Grinesia was famous for sanctitie about the yeare 1583. For entring into this order and therein desiring the height of pennance she was not contented with the ordinary austerities of her order but inuented new fastings all the lents and vigils in bread and water and three times in the weeke did take bloudy disciplines being much addicted to pouertie and humilitie she would willingly serue all and continually did meditate on our lords Passion and not without teares Lastly falling into a dropsy now fourscore yeares old she died most blessedly The sisters by her reliques did cure very many diseases About the same time liued B. Clare Martineira whost abstinences fastings watchings teares haircloaths rigorous disciplines humble exercises feruent prayers mortificatioÌ„s pious workes most great temptations deuout actâ—oÌ„s celestiall visions diuine fauours frequent miracles both in her life and after her death are set downe by Daza And least I be ouer tedious in rehearsing so many holy persons to omitte many others which may be seene in the martyrologe amounting to two hundred vpwards I will conclude this chapter with Blessed Innocentia who liued in these our times and died in the yeare 1624. This Blessed virgin of noble parents in Cicilie from her infancy gaue her selfe to pietie vertue and temperance obseruing the fasts very strictly and despiseing the pompe and vanitie of this world out of her great desire of perfection entred into this third order giuing very good example of humilitie pouertie chastitie and obedience And by her continuall meditation she was so enflamed with the fire of diuine loue especially when she communicated that she was often rapt into extasie Her body remaines as yet whole and
me that aided by thy most benigne pietie I may devoutly and constantly perseuer to the end in this holy Order which by thy inspiration I haue vndertaken that after the end of this life adorned with all ornaments of vertues and jewels of spirituall guifts I may deserue to come to thee my most clement Father Through our Lord Iesus Chris◠thy Sonne who liueth and raigneth God with thee in the v-vnitie of the holy Ghost world without end Amen Prayers after Profession O God who dost inflame those who are converted from the vanitie of this world to the prize of thy supernall vocation come vnto me propitiously purifying my breast and infuse thy grace wherby I may persever in thee and armed with the helpe of thy protection may be able to performe what I haue promised and made a fullfiller of this my Profession I may happily attaine to those things which thou hast vouchsafed to promise those who persever in thee Through our Lord Iesus Christ thy Sonne who liueth raigneth God with thee in the vnitie of the holy Ghost world without end Amen Another ALmightie and euerlasting God benigne inhabitatour of chast minds who by thy word by which all things were made hast so repared humane nature vitiated by diabolicall deceit in our first parents that thou hast not only recalled it to the Innocency of its first beginning but also hast brought it to the knowledge of some things which are to be had in the world to come and carried it as yet bound in the condition of mortalitie to the similitude of Angels behold me thy handmaid who placing my confidence in thee doe offer vp my devotion and grant that by the guift of the holy Ghost there may be in me prudent modestie wise benignitie graue lenitie chast libertie that I may be fervent in charitie and loue nothing besides thee may liue laudably and not desire to be praised that I may glorifie thee in sanctitie of body and puritie of minde may feare thee by loue and by loue serue thee Be thou my ioy my will in mourning be thou my comfort in doubts my counsell in iniurie defense in tribulation Patience in Povertie abundance in hūger food in infirmitie medicine let me haue all thīgs in thee whom I desire to loue aboue all things by thee let me keepe what I haue professed chastice my flesh by mortificatiō overcome the world with its pride that so adorned with flowers of vertues and with the oyle of preparatiō I may expect the celestiall bridegroome my lāpe being lighted with the prudent virgins I may enter into thy regall court remaine without end in the euerlasting company of the lambe Christ Iesus to whom with the Father and holy Ghost be all honour and Glorie for ever more Amen A prayer to our holy Father S. Francis O Seraphicall and most Blessed Father S. Francis Imitatour standard bearer of sweet Iesus crucified who hath adorned thee amongst other Saincts with a speciall priviledge of loue and honour for he hath replenished thy soule with the light and splendour of loue and hath renewed his sacred wounds in thy body I beseech thee for the loue of the same benigne mercifull Iesu that thou be alwayes and at all times vnto me a helper Father and keeper and an advocate for me vnto the same Lord both in this life and at the houre of my death O beloued of God I also humbly and earnestly beseech thee to obtaine for me of our Lord Iesus Christ compunction and remission of my sinnes pray for me to our benigne Lord that through his mercy and piety he would grant me the grace to know my selfe and to loue and desire him aboue all things and that he make me to serue him faithfully all the time of my life O Father most glorious Confessour of God obtaine for me that our Lord by his mercy charitie may make me thy true daughter and disciple and that he replenish my soule with those guifts where with he replenished thine and that he make me a true observer of my Rule and Profession lastly that he keepe both me and my Sisters with all thy children in good and regular observance and in good example that we may be a light and patterne to the whole world O most louing Father I beseech thee for the loue of the blessed virgin Marie Mother of God to whom thou all wayes haddest great devotion obtaine for me that I may alwayes reuerence her and haue speciall devotion to her I also humbly begge of thee that by the said devotiō of thine towards her thou be vnto me an aider and helper when my soule shall depart from my body and that thou vouchsafe to pray for me that our Lord through his mercy and by the merits of his most bitter Passion the loue and merits of his most holy Mother and by the merits of all the Saincts of thy Order and of all other Saincts he may bring my soule to Paradise and grant me to remaine with him and thee together with his holy Saincts and Angels for euer in his Glorie Amen Instructions for those who are professed FIrst let them consider the greatnesse of this benefit of their vocation for God hath not done so to all but to them he hath declared not only his iudgements but also his counsells He hath done great things to them by taking them not only for his servants but also hath chosen them for his deare Friends for he saith Ioan. 15. Now I call you not servants but I haue called you friends He hath also adopted them for his children whence he saith 2. Cor 6. I wil be a Father to you and you shal be my daughters Moreover he hath taken them for his Spouses for the soules of euery one are Spouses of Iesus Christ saith S. Bernard Let your soule be espoused to him whose beauty is admired by the sunne moone Iesus Christ hath made them companions of his table companions of his nuptiall bedde and hath espoused them with the ring of his loue and charitie Hearken therfore ye daughters and see consider the great bountie of God vnto you and forget your people and the house of your Fathers forsake all carnall affections vnaccustome yourselues of all secular comportment forget the hurtfull habits of vice 2. Let them consider the dignitie of a Religious state for the Monasterie is nothing else but a schoole or citie of vertue a place of freedome where devout soules who haue happily fled frō the arke of the enemie fearing they should be surprised in his nets haue assembled themselues It is also a terrestriall heauen wherein celestiall women or terrestriall Angels who in spirit converse in heauen doe keepe their residence Night and day According to the saying of S. Bernard to celebrate the praises of God Blessed S. Laurence Iustinian calleth it a Garden enclosed Paradise of delights Schoole of vertue Tabernacle of Alliance Parlour of the