waxe fainte herein specially towards the faithfull for as much as thou our heauenly father art good and sufferest thy Sun to rise both on the good and euil and rainest on the iust and vniust I beséech thee let vs follow this thy liberal example that wee may shew our selues to be thy true sons that thy name be not dishonored or thy honor vioalated who liuest and raignest true and almighty God now and for euer Amen For the vnity of the Church MErcifull God who hast called vs by one and the same hope of our calling euē as there is one Lorde one faith one baptisme one God and Father of vs al or more rather as thou the Father art one God with Christ thy beloued Sonne in the holy Ghost so ought we to be one in thée I therefore do beséech thée that all that beare the name of Christian men may bee of one mind in the true catholike faith and that we may be careful to maintaine the vnitie of the Church in the bonde of peace to vnite our hearts in charitie Take from vs all carnall affection enmity hatred and swelling of mind and curiositie of foolish and vnprofitable questions that beget nothing but strife Breake the power of the diuel with the malice and deceit of men who indeuour to disseuer that band of vnity Assist vs O mercifull God that as many as haue departed frō the sound vnderstanding of the scriptures according to the interpretation of the holy Ghost whome our Sauior left to be the comforter directer of his church and of a reprobat mind haue brought in errors heresies strifes they may throughe thy grace returne to the acknowleding of thy trueth Likewise defend vs from the tumultuous spirits of errors and schisme that the church be not troubled and the harts of the ignoraunt seduced by sugered wordes So shal we of one agréement and with one mouth honour thee the God and Father of our Lord Iesus Christ. Amen For the preseruation of the Church O Father of all mercy conserue I beséeche thée thy vniuersall Church the congregation of all true faithful people against the gates of hell against all the deceiptful snares of the Diuell and against all malice and rebellious madnesse of the worlde saue thy Arke and al christians therin that it perish not in the raging sea and tossing waues I beseech thee Suffer thy Church that it may remain vnshaken vpon that foundation and firme corner stone wheron it was by thee erected O lord God of might and vertues turne towards vs looke downe from heauen and visite this thy vineyard Make that perfect which thy right hand hath planted and which thou hast chosen vnto thy selfe that the boughes branches thereof may spread increase fence it with thy shield receiue vs thy shéep in to thy protection that we bee not by any aduersary of the same taken out of thy hand Mercifully protect vs from al such as séek the ouerthrow of sound doctrine and the stablishing of Idolatrous heresie Remember not Lord our offences who in time past diddest remit thy peoples iniquity Conuert vs Lord our Sauiour and turn away thy wrath from vs. Perfourme this for the loue of thy name least the holinesse thereof bée violated and dishonoured Graunt this I beséech thee for the loue of thy most beloued Son our onely hope and Sauiour Amen Another prayer for conseruation of the church ALmightie God who gauest victorie to Gideon with a handfull of men to ouercome his enemies And thou O Christ our Sauiour as thou sauedst Peter from drowning when hee walked on the Sea and Paul the Apostle from the bottome of the Sea hauing escaped danger of shipwrack thrée times so preserue vs in this storme and tempest of our enemies here ready to swalow vs vp and strengthen vs with thy right hand that in our victory thy name may be to all men most holy and glorious A prayer at the trauaile of childe-birth OUr most mercifull and gracious father in Christ Iesu our Lorde who hast promised to our forefathers the children of Israell that if they would hearken to thy voice in obeying thy will and commaundements ther shoulde none mis-carry with their fruite or otherwise bée barren wee thy vnworthy seruants and their sinful ofspring acknowledging the wickednes of life and the calamity of our age to be such that we may iustly say with Ezechias This is a troublesome time children are at the point to be borne and the mothers wante strength to deliuer them good Lord we most humbly and deuoutly beséech thée with thy clemencie and mercifull helpe to respecte this thy handmaides wretched estate which for disobeying thy holy wil thou hast inflicted vpon the daughters gf our first parent Eue that this our sister may obtaine at thy mercifull hande the fauour of safe and spéedie deliuerance and her fruit to come vnto the new birth of baptisme and regeneration that she ouercomming by thy mercifull goodnes the paines and trauell which thy pleasure is she shoulde suffer she may liue and laud thy holy name and say with thy beloued seruants holpen in this case Thus hath the Lorde dealt with me at such time as he looked vppon me thou O Lorde vouchsafing to wipe her teares and to make her a glad mother Graunt this mercy vnto her we beséeche thée who hast promised to be their assured helpe and comforter that put their trust in thee A prayer for making a good end O GOD most holy thou hast appointed to man a tearme of his life which hee can not passe for he hath his prefixed time the number of his moneths is in thy hande thou hast remembred euery day of our life which passeth away so swift as if our selus did flye away all our years are but as smoke shadow all flesh is grasse which soone withereth it is as the flower of the fielde that soone perisheth Teach me therefore that I may now at length knowe and thinke vppon my ende which is so néere at hand My dais be but as a hand bredth Teache mee O Lorde to bée mindefull of death and to learne to die sith in this pilgrimage wee haue no long dwelling place O Lord let my end be foreknowen vnto me that in this world I may liue ende my life vnto thee and accept the day of my return and of our reuealing of our lord Iesus Christ thy beloued sonne by my readines in holy conuersation and godlines Suffer me to make my ende with perfect vse reason and in true confession of my sinnes with contrition Let me not speake like one that is mad nor vtter any blasphemous words against thée my good Lorde or contrarie to my saluation Uouchsafe to protect me also frō sudden death and from eternal damnation that I be not ouertaken by death before I am fully prepared in performing of true repentance And whē the same houre shall come make me strong and without feare to beare the Temporal
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
quicke dispatch of a voyage Ibid. The eternal law ordeined nothing better than in giuing vs one waie to come into the world and many waies to go out of it Resurrection 2. Mac. 7. Unlesse we hoped that they who were slain should rise againe it should séeme superfluous and vaine to intreate for the deceased Greg. in mortal Our redéemer tooke vpon him death that we might not feare to die hée shewed vs his resurrection that we might assuredly trust to rise againe Let vs consider the little séed of euerie trée that is cast into the earth how a trée therof may be brought forth and let vs comprehend if we can where so great a trée might be hidden in so small a bulke of that seede where the wood where the rinde where the green leaues and where the plentifulnesse of that fruit why should we thē maruell how God can turne that little dust that commeth of our bodie into a man when of a little séede there riseth so huge a thing as is a great trée If there be no resurrection neither is there anie God nor anie prouidence then all things are wroght conducted by Fortune We sée many righteous men to liue in penurie and to suffer wrong and contrarily sinners and vnrighteous persons to flow in all kinde of wealth and voluptuousnes what man of right mind wil thinke this to be the worke of iust iudgment or wise prouidence therefore there shall be a resurrection for God is iust and rewardeth them that put their trust in him Iudgement Iob. 9. I feared my works knowing thou wouldest not spare an offender Rom. God will reward euery man according vnto his workes Aug. de ciu Dei Then shall he come openly among the iust to iudge iustly that came priuily to bée iudged of the vniust vniustly Aug. de Symb. That Iudge is not to be preuented by fauour nor to bée bowed with pittie nor to be corrupted with mony nor to be appeased with satisfaction or penance Let the soule deale as well as shee can for her selfe while there is place for mercie for there shal be the place of iustice When our Lorde shall iudge the wofull world the most puissant kinges shall come foorth naked that foolish wise man Plato shall be brought forth with his schollers the wittie argumentes of Aristotle shall not helpe him when the sonne of the poore maide shall come for to iudge the furthest partes of the earth Greg. When I call to minde Iob on the dunghill Iohn famishing in the wildernes Peter tormented on the crosse I think how God will punish the reprobate in time to come sith hée intreateth so sharpely them whom he loueth Hier. super Mat. So often as I consider that day my whole bodie doth tremble for feare for whether I eate or drinke or do any other thing alwaies mée thinketh that fearefull blast of the trumpet soundeth in mine eares rise yée dead and come to iudgement Heauen Esdr. 8. The most highest hath made this worlde for many but the world to come for a few 1. Cor. 2. The eie hath not séene nor the eare heard nor hath it ascended vnto the hart of man what God hath prepared for them that loue him Aug. de poenit Hasten thether where thou maiest liue euer if thou so much louest this wretched flitting life where thou liuest with so much a doe running wrastling swearing and sighing and canst scarse prouide thy bodily necessaries how much rather oughtest thou to loue the life eternall where is no labour nor any care to be taken but rather great felicitie happy liberty happy blessednes where shall bee fulfilled that which our Lord saith in the Gospell Men shall be like Angelles the righteous shall shine c. Aug. super Psa. The poore Widdowe bought as much for two mites as Peter did by forsaking his nets or Zacheus by giuing the halte of his liuing Aug. in Epist. If riches bée loued let them bee laide vp where they cannot perish if honour bee desired let it bee sought where none hath it but the worthy if life bée liked let it be gotten where no death shall end it Barn in ser. O Lorde there be manie that would raigne with thée but they will not suffer with thée they woulde finde thée but they will not séeke thée they would come where thou art but they wil not follow thée Chrys. super Math. Great is the violence if a man born in earth catch heauen for his portion if he obtaine by vertue that which he cannot by nature The kingdome of heauen suffereth violence for that the glorie of the Lord of Israel which was due to the fathers foretold by the Prophets offered by Christ is surprised and occupied by the faith of the Gentiles whiles they by the penance which Iohn preached doe reuiue to the heauenly Countrie as it were returning to a strange place Greg. in mor. Onely to the righteous are the rewardes of the heauenly countrie due so as the humble the chast the méeke and the mercifull are they which attaine to the ioyes eternall Hell Math. 8. The children of this worlde shall be cast into vtter darkenesse where shall bée wéeping and gnashing of téeth Apoc. Looke how much a man hath glorified himselfe and béene in pleasures so much giue him of sorrowe and torment Greg. in Dialog There is but one fire of hell but the same tormenteth not all sinners after one manner for euerie one shall finde there so much paine as his sinnes require Ibid. Like as when manie men stande in the sunne all féele not a like heate for that some bée more hote than other euen so in that one fire there is not one manner of burning for as much as the diuersitie of sins causeth that there which the diuersitie of bodies worketh here Greg. super Math. They shall be cast into darknesse that they may there gnash their téeth who delighted here in eating For crying out is caused of heat gnashing of téeth is caused of cold There hel is shewed to be of two sortes to wit of extreme colde and of intollerable heate Ibid. In hell shall be intollerable colde vnquenchable heat a worme that neuer dieth a stinke intollerable extreme darknes the scourge of torments the horible sight of deuils the confused heap of sins and dispaire of all good things for vnto those wretches there shall be a death without dying because there death alwaies begins and cannot end Hugo de S. Vict. Hell is a lake without measure déepe without bottome full of incomparable burning ful of intollerable stinkes full of innumerable sorrow there is miserie there is darknes and euerlasting horrour where there is no hope of any good thing Isodor de summo bono The fire of hel shal giue light to those wretches to the encrease of their owne woe by séeing it and not to any comforte least they might sée whereof to reioyce A note touching the profession of great knowledge in the scriptures CUnning is
apostacy gluttony lechery drunkennesse false inditing of any man wrōg imprisoning striking hurting or hindering any in his body good fame or in his cattle theft robbery extortion vsurie deceite vsing of false weights or measures letting of Gods seruice or of any good doing mispēding of holy daies wasting of time haunting of vaine plaies or iests example of euill liuing bringing vp of new fashions maintaining of sinne or any false quarrell receiuing in the state of mortall sin employing viciously any bodely or ghostly gift of God not refraining the custom of sin nor the circumstances as time place or persons Sinnes of omission that is The leauing of good deeds which we ought to doe Not louing praying and thāking God oft for his gifts and benefites not giuing attention to our praiers not conforming our workes and our wil to Gods wil not dooing al our good déeds to a good intente which is to please God and so come to blis not disposing vs to receiue grace and if we receue it not vsing it as we should do not forgiuing others for charity and Gods sake not resisting strongly against temptation not appeasing them that are at debate not teaching and instructing the ignorant not correcting thē that doe amis not being faithful vnto God and our Christian brother to our power not yeelding a good déede for an other if wee may not comforting them that be in sorrow sickenesse or pouertie not amending our sinnes spéedily but lying or dwelling in them presūptuously in trust of mercy Against which presuming wée reade in Eccl. 5. Non adijcias peccatum super peccatum dicas misericordia Dei magna est Adde not one sin on heape vppon an other and say the mercy of God is greate S. Greg. hath this saying Cum miser homo c. When the wretched mā falleth into any gréeuous sin the Diuell perswadeth with him that hée should not repent nor confesse his sinnes affirming it was but a light and smal sin or but purposed in his heart hee preacheth vnto him of mercy and promiseth him long life and biddeth him goe forwardes a while longer in his sin and all is to the end that we may bring him to care but litle for God and so at length to perish through impenitence or desperation Ready and approued remedies against capitall sinnes AGainst the swelling and enflaming of pride apply vnto your selfe the practise of humility which chiefly consisteth in knowing of our selfe in obaying our superiours spiritual and temporal in not making our selfe better than our equals Neither ought we to dispise or disdain our inferiours And therefore to beat downe stoutnesse and hawtinesse of mind and wil let vs looke vpon examples of Iesus Christ his humbling to the death of the crosse and the lowly patience of his saints and martired seruāts Thus comparing our imperfections with their perfections let vs cast downe our selues and acknowledge our selfe vile voyd of any thing to be honored or praised for Against the heate and distemperaunce of wrath and desire of reuengement the very same remedy serueth that cureth pride Against the wicked repining of enuy had against the prosperity of others or other wise reioising at their harm haue recourse vnto charitie which enuieth not at all to stablish that vertue in you be feruent in praier and vnderstande well the meaning of that ordinarie petition Adueniat regnum tuum which kingdome in vs is the vse possessing of charitie whereby all our wils and mindes are subiected and referred to Gods will which ought to rule raigne in vs wherby our faith and suffering of aduersities troubles and annoyances are made effectual and fruitfull to vs and without no good worke is any thing auaileable Against the heate of lechery and gréedines of gluttony wherby they are both counted vile and beastly allay the one and moderate the other with the temperate playster of Christian fasting which subdues the flesh to the spirit and with reléeuing and assisting of the poore oppressed soule it worketh also health to the body and benefite to the common wealth Against the hated iniuriousnesse of Auarice whereby a man offendeth God as wel in keeping as in coueting set iustice against wrong doing the vertue of liberality against sparing in good purposes and mercy against a cruell and vnpittifull mind Against slouth or slownes in well dooing which is the vice of them that bee coldly affected towards God luke-warm in religion negligent in their souls health and such as be in despair or delay and defer that which they ought to doe for the loue of God or their soule encounter resist this sin armed with the vertue of hope which maketh a man to attempt thinges that be hard aboue his meanes so they pertaine to God and the fulfilling of his holy will Hope is our ankar the which holdeth vs fast to a good purpose as the shippe is staied by the materiall ankar A prayer deuout and thankfull for daily help and preseruation O My soueraigne Lord Iesu the very Sonne of Almightie God and the moste cleane and glorious virgine Mary that sufferedst bitter death for my sake and al mākinde on the Good-Friday and rose again the third day I beseech thée lord haue mercy vpon me that am a wretched sinner but yet thy creature And for thy precious passion saue me and keep me from all perilles bodely and ghostly and specially from al things that might turne vnto thy displeasure And with all the powers of heart I thanke thée most mercifull Lord for the great mercies which thou hast shewed me in the great dangers that I haue beene in as wel in my soule as in body And also for that thy grace and endles mercy hath euer kept me spared me and saued me from the houre of my birth vntill this time I beséech thee Lord that thy mercy may kéep me for thée alway And I cry thee mercy with all my whole heart for my great offences for my great vnkindnes and for my wretched and sinfull life and in that I haue shewed my selfe so vnable to leade my life as thy seruant I cry thee mercy and beséech thée to forgiue me I thanke thée also moste entirely my most gracious Lord for the benefites and grace which thou hast giuen me so largely in this worlde before many other who haue better deserued then I. But most gracious Lord I confesse and acknowledge vtterly that all the same commeth of thée for the which all worship praising and thankes be to thée now and euer Non nobis Domine non nobis sed nomini tuo da gloriam A prayer to bee saide when thou preparest to make confession of thy sins to God CReator of heauen and of earth King of kinges and Lorde of Lordes who hast made me of nothing to thy Image and likenesse and hast redéemed me with thy owne blood whō I a sinner am not worthy to name or cal vpon most humbly I pray and beséech thée that thou
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
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
hath two the one is of his wealth or possessions the other of his sins the first hée laieth down at his death the other will hee or nill he hée must beare when he is dead vnlesse he be vnburdened before his death Aug. Confession is the health of soules the disperser of vices the vanquisher of diuels what more It shutteth the mouth of hell and openeth the gates of paradise He that accuseth himselfe though he be a sinner he beginneth to be righteous because he doeth not spare him selfe but confesseth the iustice of God Close woundes are worse then the open woūds where the corruption is cast foorth much ease and amendement followeth Without confession the good man is iudged vnthankfull and the sinner reputed as dead confession therfore is the life of the sinner and the renowne of the righteous Confesse thy sinnes the rather the more thou doest despaire in thy selfe because of thy iniquities for the greater is the praise of the forgeuer Quanto maior est exaggeratio peccata confitētis saith S. Augustine the more that he that confesseth his sins doth exaggerat thē August From the heart commeth true confession for if thou hast one thing in thy heart and another vpon thy tongue thou speakest but dost not confesse Aug. Tell men what thou art but to God who thou art for feare if thou doe it not he condemne in thée that hee shal sée and find in thée Wilt thou escape gods iudgment Iudge condemne thy selfe Wilt thou that he do pardon thée Confesse and acknowledge thy misdéeds that thou maist truly saie vnto him O Lord turne awaie thy face from my iniquities preuent God alwaies with an humble confession and then thou shalt not fall into eternall damnation Aug. As long as thou hidest and dost not confesse thy sins so long dost thou striue with God confes boldly thy infirmity that thou mayest come to eternitie Confesse and acknowledge the benefites of thy Shepheard and pastour and so thou shalt be sure not to followe the wolfe of error and destruction Of pouertie He onely is poore in spirit that is humble feareth God cōfesseth his sinnes boasteth not of his owne works or iustice but when he doth some good praiseth God for it and when hee committeth some euill accuseth and blameth himselfe Fiue kindes of pouertie Pouertie may be saide to be in fiue manner of waies First by aduersitie Secondly by cupiditie Thirdlie by aboundance Fourthly by counterfetting Fiftly by will The first is a beggerie the second a couetousnes the third a prodigality the fourth a painted Sepulchre the fift Christianitie The first is a scourge the second a poison the third a windie fanne the fourth a shadowe the fift a castell The first is a misery because it gréeueth the second venemous because it killeth the third windie because it puffeth vp the fourth deceitfull because it dissembleth the fifth glorious because it crowneth Iustice. Apoc. 18. Quantum quis glorificauit se in delitijs vixit tantum illi dabitur de tormento luctu Luk. 12. To whome much is giuen much shal be required of him Cyp. The iustice of the King is the peace of the people the defence of the countrie the saluing of sores the temperature of the aire it makes faire weather by sea and plentie at land it putteth awaie the murmuring of the poore and vnto himselfe is the hope of future blessednes That which thou doest to one looke to finde it of another If thou be obedient and louing thou shalt haue peace with men and warre with vice Trueth Great is the trueth and it preuaileth O ye fonde Galathians who hath bewitched you to disobey the trueth The mouth that speakes lies killeth his soule Hee erreth that beareth in hande hee knoweth the trueth and yet liueth naughtelie Chrys. Such is the condition of falsehood or error although no man withstand it yet it wil wax old and decay contrarily such is the state of truth though many withstand and séeke to oppresse it yet it will rise and increase Chry. He is not onely a betraier of the truth who speaketh a lie for the truth but he also that pronounceth not the truth fréely which he ought to pronoūce or defendeth not the truth fréely the which he ought to defend Ibid. If it be vngodly not to speak the truth for feare of death how can it be lesse vngodly to hide the truth for liuing or vaine glories sake Sen. Rich or noble men though they haue all things yet one thing they lacke and that is some one to tell them the truth for he that will accompanie with such people must either laie truth aside or let friendship go Restitution Let not the wrong doing of the iust please thée A kingdome is translated from one nation to another for iniustice wrong dooing deceifulnes and scorning or railing If another mans goods be not restored when it may bee restored thou art not penitent but doest faine it for if penitence be not truely done the sinne shall not bée forgiuen except things taken awaie be restored If he be cast into fire that hath not giuen of his owne goods where shall he be cast that taketh awaie other mens If he burneth with the deuil that cloathed not the naked where shall hee burne that spoiled them Ful. If vnfruitfulnesse bée cast into the fire what doth robberie deserue Or what shal he receiue that taketh away other mens if he shall burne that hath not giuen of his owne If iudgement without mercie shal be to him that did not the work of mercie what iudgement shall bee to him that robbed the poore Death Iob. 30. I wot thou wilt deliuer me vnto death where there is a house appointed for euerie one that is aliue Luk. 12. Make your selues ready for ye know not what houre the Sonne of man wil come August de ciu Dei The first death driueth the soule willingly out of the body the second death doth holde the soule against her will in the bodie Aug. de cura pro mor. The rich man had a care of his friends that were aliue although he wist not how they did so we haue a care of the dead though we wot as litle what they do What is death but the leauing of the bodie and a laying downe of an heauie burthen In case the man haue no other burthē wherwith hee may bee throwen headlong into hell Well ought euerie man to dreade his ending daie for looke in what state hee shall bée then at his departing out of the world such shal he be iudged at the daie of iudgement Naked we are borne and naked we die no difference in dead bodies saue that the bodies of the rich doe stinke vilely with much pampering Make death to be of thy famylyar acquaintaunce by continuall thinking vpon him that when God appointeth it thou maiest be readie to méete with him Sen. He that dieth in his youth hath no more cause to complaine than he that hath a
not to be blamed if it be wel ordered for it is good and commeth of God but a cleane conscience and a vertuous life is much better more to bee desired O if ye could bee as busie to auoide sin and to plant vertue in our soules as we be to moue questions At the daie of iudgement it shall not bée asked of vs what we haue read but what we haue don not how well we haue sayd but how religiously we haue liued Tell mée now where be all the great Clarkes and famous Doctors who flourished while they liued Now other men occupie their promotions and dignities who thinke full little of them He is great that hath great charity and he that is litle in his owne sight and that setteth at naught great things And hée is well taught that forsaketh his owne will and followeth the will of God Behold the perfection of the life and religion of the ancient fathers and you shall sée how little it is that we do in comparison of them They serued our Lord in hunger thirst in heate cold in nakednes in labour in vigils fasting in praiers holy meditations in persecutions many reproches they refused honours and bodily pleasures that they might haue the euerlasting life how straight and abiect a life leade they in wildernesse How grieuous temptations suffered they What rigorous abstinence vsed they How great zeale feruour had they to spirituall profite How strong battel 's held they against sinne On the day they laboured on the night they praied And for the great swéetnes that they had in heauenly contemplation they forgot oft times their bodily refection all riches honor dignities they renounced for the loue of God Now a daies he is counted vertuous that is no offender and that may with patience kéep some litle sparke of that vertue and fauour which hée had first Another note concerning the paine ordained for sinne IT is better now to purge sin and to put away vice than reserue it to be purged héereafter what shal the fire or torment deuoure but thy sin Truly nothing Therefore the more thou sparest thy selfe now and the more thou followest thy fleshly liking the more grieuously shalt thou waile hereafter In such things as a man most hath offended shall he be most punished The slouthful persons shall bée there pricked with burning prickes of yron and gluttons shall bée tormented with great hunger thirst the lecherous and louers of voluptuous pleasures shal be filled with burning pitch and the enuious shall waile and houle as doe madde dogges there shall no sinne be without his proper torment the proud man shall bee filled full with all shame confusion the couetous shall bée pined with all penurie néede one houre there in paine shall bée more grieuous than here an hundred yeres in the sharpest penance then shall hée stand as a iudge that here submitted himselfe méekly vnto the iudgement of man then shall the méeke poore man haue great confidence and trust in God and the obstinate proud man shall quake and dreade thē euerie deuout person shal be ioyfull glad and then irreligious persons shall waile and dread then shall the vile habit shine cléere in the sight of God the precious garments shall wax foule lothsome to behold then the despising of worldly goods shall bée more of value than all worldly riches and treasure then shalt thou haue more comfort for thy deuout praying than for all thy delicate féeding then shall it please more a strait life and hard penance here than all worldly delectation pleasure Learn therefore now to suffer the small tribulations in this world that thou maist then be deliuered from the greater ordained for sin First proue here what thou maist suffer héereafter and if thou maist not now suffer so little paine how shalt thou thē suffer the euerlasting torments thou maist not haue two heauens that is to saie to haue ioy delectation here after with Christ. Moreouer if thou hadst liued alwaies in honor or in temporal felicitie what should it profite thée dying now He that loueth God dreadeth neither tormēt nor death a perfect loue maketh a sure passage to God But if a man yet delight in sinne it is no merualle if hée dreade death and hell A third fruitfull note concerning curious searching in matters of faith specially about the holy Eucharist THou must beware of a curious and an vnprofifitable searching of this most profound sacrament if thou wilt not bee drowned in the great depth of doubtfulnes for he that is the searcher of Gods maiestie shal be thrust out of glorie God is of power to worke much more than man may vnderstand neuertheles a méek humble searching of the truth readie alway to be taught to walke after the teachings of holy fathers is sufrable Blessed is the simplicitie that doth leaue the waie of hard questions goeth in the plaine and stedfast way of the commandements of God many haue lost their deuotion because they would search higher things than pertaine to them Faith and a good life is asked of thée and not the highnes of vnderstanding nor the déepnes of the mysteries of God If thou may not vnderstand nor take such things as be within thée how maist thou then comprehend those things that bée aboue thée Submit thy selfe therfore méekly to God and submit also thy reason vnto faith and the light of knowledge true vnderstanding shal be giuen thée as shall bée most profitable necessarie for there be some that be griuously tempted of the Faith and of this Sacrament but that is not to be imputed to them but rather to the enemie Therefore care not for him nor dispute not with thoughts nor answer to the doubts which thine enimie shall laie to thée but beléeue the wordes of God and beléeue the Saintes and Prophets the wicked enimie shall anone flie awaie from thée And it is oft times much profitable that the seruants of God should féele sustaine such doubtes for their more proofe and commonly the enemy tempteth not vnfaithful people and sinners whom he hath sure possession of but he tempteth vexeth in diuers manners the faithfull deuout persons Goe therefore with a pure and vndouted faith and with an humble reuerence procéed to this sacrament and whatsoeuer thou canst not vnderstand commit it faithfully to God for God wil not deceiue thée but he shall be deceiued that trusteth ouer-much to himselfe God walketh with the simple persons hée openeth himselfe and sheweth him to méeke persons he giueth vnderstanding vnto them which are poore in spirit he openeth his will vnto pure and cleane mindes and hideth his grace from them that bée curious and proude Mans reason is féeble and weak and soone he may be deceiued but faith is stable and true cannot bée deceiued Therefore all reason and all natural working must followe Faith without further