End of man CHAP. II. THE last end of man is euerlasting blysse For he was created by God to be foreuer happy in paradise And his soule being once separated froÌ„ the body so it be free from stayne of syn shall be conducted by his good Angell into heauen there for all eternity to enioy the vision of God And after the worlds consummation man shall enioy his end of beatitude wholy both in soule and body which shall be againe resuscitated and conioyned to the soule to appeare before the soueraigne Iudge and of him to receyue the reward of life euerlasting But alas many there be who neuer shall ariue to this end for which they were created because they put not in practise the meanes requisite for the sauing of their soules It is therefore good and needfull to know what these meanes be how they are to be practised Of the meanes to come to our End CHAP. III. SOME meanes there be absolutely necessary towards the attayning of our last end some againe very profitable for the same respect The necessary meanes be principally three 1. A man must haue faith and belief in God and further belieue al that which God hath reuealed vnto vs by his Holy Catholike Church because it is infallible verity he must haue knowledge of the things that concerne his saluation which are declared in the Catechisme whereby it appeareth how maynly it importeth all to know and vnderstand the principall points of Christian Doctrine comprehended in the said Catechisme As touching God he must know that he is omnipotent most wise most good most iust that he hath euer been and euer shall be that he is euery where that he seeth and knoweth all things that there is but one God in three persons the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost who be al of one and the same Nature of the same Omnipotency Wisdome Goodnes and Perfection Also that the second Person in Trinity which is the Sonne of God became man and tooke mans flesh in the wombe of the sacred Virgin Mary by the operation of the Holy Ghost that he hath redeemed vs by his most paynefull death 2. We must hope in God because he is our supreme and soueraigne good 3. We must loue him aboue all things seeing that for his soueraigne bounty and goodnes he is most worthy of our Loue. And the loue of God is demonstrated and practised in obseruation of his Commaundements and of the Commandements of the Church and in abstayning from all syn and in particular from mortall because the same is wholy opposite to him and diuerteth vs absolutly from our end And we must loue our neighbour as our selues for the loue of God Other meanes there be that may also greatly help vs toward the more easy more assured attayning of our end Such be 1. To exercise some things in the morning when we rise afterwards in the rest of the day following and at night when we go to bed 2. To examine our Conscience euery day 3. To frequent the holy Sacraments of confession Communion 4. To heare Masse euery day or as often as we find the oportunity but especially on sundays and Holidaies 5. To frequent vocall and mentall prayer 6. To be diligent in hearing of Sermons and the explication of the Christian doctrine 7. To be frequent in reading of spirituall books 8. To giue our selues to the exercise of al vertue good works c. Of the manner how to practise the aforesaid meanes well CHAP. IIII. MANY there be who know right well what they ought to do for the sauing of their soules but they haue not the knowledge how to practise the same and therefore the principall subiect of this short and spirituall Treatise shall be to specify the manner of practising those meanes well which may conduct vs to our end And for the easier orders sake we wil deuide it into two parts In the former wherof shall be declared the manner of the pactising of diuers spirituall exercises heere after mentioned And in the latter we will giue instructions how we ought to demeane and carry our selues towards God his Saints towards our neighbours and towardes our selues The former part of the Way to lyue well THE VII EXRCISE What we should do in the Morning CHAP. I. A good Christian as soone as he awaketh in the morning must blesse himselfe making the signe of the holy Crosse that therewith he may defend himselfe as a buckler against all his enemâ—es and whatsoeuer euill may befall him the day following That done let him raise his mind vp to God yealding him his first thought And being vp he must practise foure things 1. He must giue God thanks for al benefits receyued of him in generall and in particular for preseruing him that night from all euill 2. He must offer vnto God his both body and soule to serue him and consecrate vnto him all his actions with an intent and purpose to do them to his greater honour and glory 3. He must make a purpose firme resolutioÌ„ of a better life then he hath lead the dayes past and of abstayning from all syns in particular from those whereunto the findeth himselfe most inclined 4. He must make petition to God that he would please to take him into his protection and safegard and craue grace that he may be able to put his good purposes in practise and to do all his good works most acceptable to the diuine will It will be very good also to the same effect to implore the aide and assistance of the most sacred Virgin Mary of our good Angell Patrone and other Saints for as much as they can do very much with God and may easily obtayne what we demaund And this done let him say a Pater and Aue. What we are to do at Night CHAP. II. BEFORE we take our rest it profiteth very much 1. To be thankfull to God for his benefits namely for those in particular which we haue receyued that very day 2. To make an examen of our conscience in the manner which we shall set down afterwards 3. To aske of God that he will vouchsafe to preserue keepe vs that night from sicknes from sodaine death from euill dreames disquiet and from all offending him To recommend our selues also to the Blessed Virgin mother of God and to our good Angell other Saints according to our deuotion and after to say some prayer as we did in the morning 4. Then to take holy water with deuotion and compunction of hart for as much as by the prayers of the Church it hath great effect to purge and wash away veniall syns 5. Beeing laid downe in bed to endeauour to fall a sleepe with some good thought or other in our mind What it is meete for vs to do in the day tyme CHAP. III. IN the day tyme it is good to exercise foure things 4. To take heed we spend not the tyme vnprofitably
of all purity which so louest it in soules made to thy in owne Image that to clense them from syn thou hast washed them with thy precious bloud neuer suffer me to loose the beauty of thy grace And graunt to all synners that haue lost the same true sorrow repentance Amen Credo in Deum A Coronary or Crowne with the principall Mysteries of the life death of Iesus Christ our Sauiour A Prayer to the B. Trinity O Diuine and indiuiduall Trinity who hast manifested thy Iustice and Mercy and withall thy infinite Power wisdome and Goodnes in the Redemption of mankynd more then in all the other works which thou hast done teach me the Soueraigne mysteryes examples of the life and Passion of my Redeemer that I may worthily reuerence them and procure to imitate them for thy loue Amen 1. To the Omnipotency of the Father Aue Maria. 2. To the infinite wisdome of the Sonne Aue Maria. 3. And to the incomprehensible goodnes of the Holy Ghost Aue Maria. A prayer in honor of the Mother of God proper to the first Decade 1. O Eternal Prouidēce who didst work this so great and incomprehensible a wonder by giuing to the Diuyne word a Mother of the Children of Adam make me worthy to serue her with all humility and purity of hart Pater Noster 1. In honor of her immaculate Conception Aue Maria. 2. To her birth so much desired of mankind Aue Maria. 3. To her Presentation in the Temple Aue Maria. 4. How she cooperating carefully with the diuyne inspirations increaseth continually in vertue and grace Aue Maria. 5. By consenting with faith humility to the embassage from heauen God is incarnate and she becommeth mother remayning a Virgin Aue Maria. 6. She goeth with diligence vp to the mountaynes to congratulate with S. Elizabeth her cosen Aue Maria. 7. And with her presence and voyce S. Iohn exulteth his mother receyueth the spirit of prophesy Aue Maria. 8. The Virgin Queene in the house of Zachary imployeth her selfe in workes of Charity and humility Aue Maria. 9. S. Ioseph wondereth at that which he seeth and remayneth perplexed vntill the Angell reuealeth to him the Mystery Aue Maria 10. Such a new and incomparable worke required approbation from heauen and an Angel for witnes although the conuenience be manifest that God becomming man should be born of a Virgin mother Aue Maria. A prayer to the infancy of Christ 2. O Prince of all Eternity thy Fathers best beloued whom Legions of Angells do serue in heauen seeing thou vouchsafest to come downe to earth reason it is that all thy Creatures should go forth to meet thee and serue thee admit me o Lord for one of the meanest seruants of thy family Pater Noster 1. He that of nothing made and vpholdeth all that is created is borne poore and naked in a stable at Bethleem Aue Maria. 2. His Angells sing to him glory and peace vpon earth to men of good conscience Aue Maria. 3. The eighth day he sheadeth his bloud and taketh the shape of a synner And his Father honoreth him with the name of Iesus which signifieth a Sauiour Aue Maria. 4. Heauen proclaymeth him King Herod is troubled And heathen Princes guided by a star come from far contries to do him homage Aue Maria. 5. His Parents offer him in the Temple And where Symeon and Anne foretel his conflicts and victoryes Aue Maria. 6. With the cruell and lamentable death of the Innocents his byrth is published to all nations Aue Maria. 7. Aegypt receaueth imbraceth the King of heauen earth whome Iury persecuteth Aue Maria. 8. The Angell signifieth the death of his Persecutors And the Child returneth to Nazareth Aue Maria. 9. He discouereth his Diuine wisdome to the Doctors in the Temple and subiecteth himselfe with al obedience to his parents Aue Maria. 10. He liueth retired eighteene yeares in Nazareth to teach vs to liue vnknown when it is conuenient to expect due season for all our workes Aue Maria. A Prayer to Christ as the Guide Example of our life 3. O Soueraigne Doctor syth the tyme is come wherin thou art pleased to discouer thy Eternall secretes vnto men Make me a worthy disciple of thy heauenly doctryne Pater Noster 1. The tyme being come for him to performe his office he leaueth the comfort of his Mother his house quietnes to serue the common good Aue M. 2. He passeth alone to the riuer Iordan where S. Iohn Baptist discouereth him And they contend in acts of humility Aue Ma. 3. The heauens open themselues and the holy Ghost descendeth vpō him in a visible forme And the Eternall Father acknoledgeth him for this Sonne And commaundeth vs to heare him Aue Maria. 4. The great Maister of pennance retyreth himselfe to the desert to teach vs the same by his example and to be beginne our works with prayer And there he ouercommeth the infernall Spirit Aue Maria. 5. After he had vanquished the infernal enemy that tempted him the Angells come to adore and serue him Aue Maria. 6. He entertayneth the disciples of Saynt Iohn And with his curtesy sweetnes obligeth them to his seruice Aue Maria. 7. He sheweth compassion vpon synners And fatherly care of his subiects Aue Maria. 8. His patience in all corporall wants and incommodities Aue Maria. 9. His meeknes in the wrongs and calumniations of his enemyes Aue Maria. 10. His miraculous works for the benefit of man returning alwaies good for euil Aue Maria. A prayer to Christ in the sorrowes of his Passion 4. O Louing Maister most faythful only friend seeing thou giuest me leaue to call thee by this Name giue me also leaue and courage to accompany thee as a friend with loyalty and loue in all the passages of thy Passion Pater Noster 1. Hauing fynished the Sacrifices and ceremonyes of the old Law with the Paschall Lambe he washeth the feete of his disciples and of Iudas the Traytor Aue Maria. 2. He leaueth vs for a memoryall and pledge of his infinite loue the new and admirable Sacrament of his pretious body bloud Aue Maria. 3. He ouercometh all humane infirmities with the force of prayer And perseuereth in the same sweating bloud Aue Maria. 4. He sheweth his omnipotency before he permitteth himselfe to be taken that his enimies might see it was his will to suffer Aue Maria. 5. That night the Iewes treated him vnworthily and cruelly in the place of Iudgment and for reason of State conspired his death as they thought to saue their Commonwealth which they came to loose for this very same syn Aue Maria. 6. In the morning they accuse him before the heathen President who admiring his magnanimity patience laboureth to set him free Aue Maria. 7. He is despised of Herod and by him attyred with contempt bycause he answereth not to his curiosityes Aue Maria. 8. They teare his
heauen If your Neighbour be rich thinke that God hath worthily increased his talent for that he is a faythfull dispensour of his Maisters goods If you be poore ascribe it to Gods iust iudgment and to your owne deseruings who haue either wasted the spirituall goods that God hath bestowed vpon you or haue not holpen your poore neighbors with your substance when you were able and might or with prayers or such other like almes If your neighbour be poore thinke that God hath graunted him his desire hath bestowed a great benefit vpon him sith in pouerty he is become like vnto our Sauiour himselfe And if you shall carry your selfe thus in matters concerning your Neighbours and thinke of them and of your selfe as reason shall perswade you shal neuer want matter of confusion Neither thinke that there will be matter wanting also in Inferiours for they though inferiour in place and office are not to be contemned but are rather to be made the more reckoning of for that God layeth the greater burdens vpon them as being stronger and better able to beare them while he dealeth gently with you as with one of a weaker body who cannot such is your infirmity weaknes liue as they do sith you haue not so much courage or forces as you are able both night day to suffer much and many things And if you thinke with how great alacrity cheerefullnes of mind most of them goe through with their trauailes and paynes and with how little they content thē selues in intertayning their life finally if with their vertue and courage you compare your own coldnes and faintnes of hart you must needs haue great matter of confusion When your seruants attend vpon you let this confound you that when as your selfe haue abandoned and forsaken Christ and denyed him due respect and honour yet they follow you honorably attend you Thinke moreouer that they serue you who are created to enioy heauen and that while you are in sinne and they in Gods grace you are vnworthy your selfe to serue thē Let that example of our Sauiour confound you when he washed his disciples feet let that be an occasion of humbling you whē he sayd I came not to be serued vnto but to serue Finally let their creation confound you before all for as much as they are made to the Image and likenes of God and are so deare vnto the eternall Father as he gaue his only Sonne for them And this ought to confound you before the Infidells themselues when as they be created to the same Image and Christ dyed for them all and you ought to be more cōfounded before them for this for that they being destitute of the light of fayth of those things wherewith God is wonte to comfort his doe neuertheles endure many and great matters in fastinges ceremonies such other like things and you being a Christian and illuminated with the grace of the holy Ghost and assisted holpen with the gift of fortitude and supported with the loue of God be so wearyed and do faint in euery the least thing as you thinke not your selfe able to endure a little pennance and if you do you thinke you doe some great matter And therefore let the Infidells stir you vp to confusion and thinke with your self oftentymes this that if the vertues had beene done in Tyre and Sidon that are done in you they had long ago done pennance in haire-cloath and ashes that is if the Infidells had receaued the light of fayth that you haue how much more thankfull would they haue been to God then you are Wherefore be sorry that you are so vnprofitable and such as you ought also to be confounded before the Iewes They did indeed crucify Christ once but yet not knowing him but you haue crucifyed him so often by sinning whome you neuertheles knew to sit on the right hand of his Father in glory And if they confound you how much ought euery Christiā man thinke you confound you For if we giue honour to the image of an Angel for him whome it representeth in how great honour is it meete to haue him who carryeth in himselfe the image of Christ liuing and is God by participation as is written I sayd you are Gods and all Sonnes of the Highest And to make an end of those things that concerne our neighbours one thing is to be obserued which I thinke greatly helpeth to the conseruation of confusion and this is that the Diuell doth on all handes and by al the wayes that he can opugne this Exercise and so mightily as a man needeth to vse much diligence who meaneth not to receaue any hurt from him And therfore it behooueth vs to haue gotten such an habit as whensoeuer we haue any thing to do or deale in with our Neighbours we haue and carry that respect to euery one as though they were all either our betters or maisters and heare them speake with that attention as if God himselfe did speake by them our speciall care must be that we beware to prefer our owne iudgment before theirs And herein we are wonte to offend for two causes The one is for that none is a competent and fit Iudge in his owne cause the other is for that sometymes out of flatering our selues and often out of ignorance we esteeme not of matters as we ought and should do in so much as thereupon the subtill and crafty are recommended for wise and such as scoffe at all thinges are reputed prudent and discreet whereas we are notwithstanding to deeme the contrary of them Wherefore the securest and safest way in the priuiledges both of grace and of nature is to feare least we be deceaued and also to giue the glory to God in all things that we shal see in others and euer to interprete all in the best manner And if they should happen to do any thing that may not seeme aright we must not censure them sith we may not be any others iudge but our owne but we must either excuse the fact or by turning our mind from that matter consider their good deedes and compare our owne vices with their vertues that we may not ouerslippe in doing otherwise any degree of confusion in our selues And therefore if we shall see any to sinne mortally let vs thinke that he either did it of ignorance or is already returned into Gods grace by pennance repentance and that that sinne will be vnto him an occasion of doing greater pennance heere withall of more perfect glory in heauen And that no occasion of confounding our selues may be lost we are to obserue in conuersation where greater daungers are wont to be that if any speake of meeknes he call to mind his own passions of anger if mention be made of beautifull things he remember the fowlenes of his owne sinnes if speach be had touching the power and might of great personages he consider how he is himselfe nothing and how
any should in this place obiect vnto me that there is not found matter of confusion in good workes but in the bad onely I would stand in denyall thereof for as much as I am of opinion that we ought to be confounded in our good works also for this for that we be so weake to good again so prone ready to yll as it is more to be wondred that any good could proceede out of so corrupted a nature then a Rose to grow out of a rose-bush For it is naturall for a rose-bush to bring forth roses but mans nature alone cannot of it selfe produce a good or perfect worke for as much as nothing can be pleasing to God without his grace Wherefore he that meruaileth at a Rose growing amongst thorns ought to wonder much more that any good is done of himselfe and to be so much the more confounded for that he seeth that God as in a barraine soile and such as wâ—re worthy to be destroyed with salt for the most great sins coÌ„mited against God worketh wonderfull matters and perseuereth continueth to manure and husband it And therefore we may and ought to be confounded not onely of our bad works but of our good also For if we do any good God hath begun prosecuted and accomplished the same in vs and it is our part as a thing peculiar proper to vs alone to confound and humble our selues more and more who haue so often resisted God and haue through his clemency and mercy escaped that punishment which we haue so many wayes most worthily deserued THE V. EXERCISE Wherein is deliuered how we may be confounded by the Contemplation of Celestial things I Scarce know how to speake of matters of Heauen who haue byn so far from deliuering what was fit to be sayd touching earthly things in which there is ministred vnto vs so great and abundant matter of confusion There is indeed euen in the only contemplation of the motions of the Heauens great matter of confusion if we compare the disorder of our owne actions with so admirable an order For what should I say of the Planets which we know euer both to receaue a vertue from their superiors and to communicate that againe which they haue receiued continually to their inferiors And of all things it is man alone who is an impediment vnto himselfe that he receiueth not the benefit of the influences from aboue when he receiueth them he neglecteth to impart the same vnto others And whereas all the Heauens the stars receaue light from the Sunne man alone refuseth to cloath himselfe with the light of iustice and as it is written loueth darkenes more then light And if we contemplate the Angells how much I pray you will their purity and innocency confound vs how great a confusion ought this to strike into vs that we neglect their so necessary counsails giuen vs with so great wisdome and charity Words will indeed fayle me in my desire and willingnes to expresse our confusion as were requisite whether we compare our tepidity to the loue of the Seraphims or our ignorance with the knowledg of the Cherubims And if any may peraduenture thinke the Angells ouer high to compare our dust and ashes with them let vs come lower to the Saints who somtymes consisted of flesh and blood as we do neyther was humane fraylty vnto them as being men an impediment but that they wrought many great and wonderfull works for the honour of God And therefore let the deeds of the men of Heauen confound the works of the men on earth let the constancy and courage of the martyrs in their torments confound our inconstancy in good purposes and our infirmity and faintnes of hart Let the penance of Confessors and their austerity of life confound our pleasures delicacy and ease let the Virginâ— purity and especially that of our Sauiour and his immaculate Mother coÌ„found our turpitude And this aboue the rest for that where we be most obliged to the most sacred Virgin for the education and bringing vp of her sonne who was to be offred for vs to the eternall Father vpon the Crosse we neuer can in the least requite so great a benefit but are withal vngratefull in so much as we should not dare for very shame to craue any mercy at his hands But who can be sufficiently confounded in the coÌ„sideration of Christ or what depth of confusion may serue the turne here when a man considereth Christ whom he hath for his only remedy refuge so to haue been con … d by himselfe as our Sauiour might worthily say I am cast from the face of thin eyes For thy tepidity slouth drowsynes hath wounded his feete thy inobedience hath opened his syde thy works haue nayled his hands fast thy tongue hath giuen him gall to drinke finally thy pride hath crowned him with thornes And to speake in one word there is not any thing in Christ which when thou seest ought not worthily to confound thee And therefore it is written Let the proud be confounded for that they haue done iniquity against me And what shall we now say of the confusion which the contemplations of the most sacred Trinity causeth Or how great shal the confusion be before God if it was so great before the Diuells With what eyes shall you dare to looke vpon the Eternall Father who haue not only not receyued his only sonne by him sent to recouer the inheritance that you haue prodigally wasted and spent but also forced him to dye the death of the Crosse What accompt will you make for the inheritance where with you were put in trust And what will you answere for those both temporall and spirituall goods which you haue had and receyued of him Againe what can you haue to say to the Sonne of God who suffered all for you He may indeed worthily say to men Let them be confounded for that when as I God came down from heauen into earth for their sake and vouchsafed to become man for the sauing of their soules yet they will not leaue their filth of sinne Be thou confounded O man sith I loued thee first before thou louedst me and seeing I serued thee before thou seruedst me O hard and yron harts of meÌ„ who though they see me bound to the piller scourged wounded for loue had yet rather be bound to syn then to cleaue to me and to preferre the loue of me before that of the world neyther do they vnderstand how cruelly and vnmercyfully they are scourged of the Diuel whiles they be fettered in the bands of syn I gaue vnto man my very bowells whieh he might imbrace and cleaue fast vnto as to a most firme and stable piller yet he maketh no accompt of me and followeth those things that worthily condemne him before me O ingratitude of men o senseles minds of men the bruit beasts do me seruice the trees plants praise me and of al
for there is nothing in this world so precious as the tyme that God hath giuen vs as S. Bernard sayth for foure respects to wit to obtayne pardon for our transgressions to do penance and satisfy the payn that is due to our syns to procure and increase Gods grace and to merit eternal glory 2. When we are to begin any worke that we offer it to God adressing it to his honour and crauing his grace to begin it well 3. Oftentimes to renewe the good purposes we made in the morning sith such renewing thereof causeth vs to stand more vpon our guard and to be more present to our selues And if we find that we haue fayled in the execution thereof to be sory therfore and craue new help of God that we may do better for the rest of the day to come 4. Oftentymes also to lift vp our mindes to God and consider that he is euer present with vs beholding and obseruing all our thoughts desires intentions words and actions And this recollection may be practised euery tyme we heare the clocke strike And then also it would be good to blesse our selues for so doing we do three things 1. We inuoke Gods assistance in all things which we intend to do the making of the signe of the Crosse is a prayer 2. We deuote our selues to God and we offer him our works for that this signe is an act of oblation 3 We arme our selues against the assaults of our capitall enemy for this signe of the Crosse is a kind of exorcisme against the Diuell himselfe and whatsoeuer other euill also How we may be present with deuotion at Masse CHAP. IIII. IT is a thing both most commendable and profitable to heare masse euery day synce the fruits that we reape thereby be many and great for as much as by that oblation the merits of our Sauiours passion be applied vnto vs. Thereby also we receiue the remission of our veniall syns pardon of part of the paynes that we haue deserued for them We obtayne many graces fauours and great strength for the resisting of tentations and good successe in our affaires and actions both spirituall and temporall when it is expedient and for our good And more then this we are oftentymes preserued frō daungers and misshaps that might haue befallen vs if we had not heard masse that day Wherefore for the obtayning of these so excellent fruits we must seeke to put these foure things in practise 1. We must exercise fayth by considering that in Masse is represented as in a Theater the life passion of our Sauiour beleeuing assuredly the same to be a true sacrifice wherein the body bloud of our Blessed Sauiour is cōsecrated immolated to God the Father that it is the sacrifice which Iesus Christ made of himselfe vpon the tree of the Crosse but yet with this difference that vpon the Crosse it was bloudy in it own forme and in masse it is vnbloudy vnder the kindes of bread and wyne 2. We must heare Masse with great reuerence and deuotion both inward and outward obseruing what is said and done both by the words and actions for in masse be represented sundry mysteryes of our fayth 3. We must together with the Priest offer vnto God the holy sacrifice of the masse for the very same intention which he offered it to the diuine maiesty As namely 1. For the due honouring of God 2. For the rendring him thanks 3. For the cancelling of our syns 4. For the obtayning of graces benefits of God And euery tyme that we present vnto him this oblation we merit much and it is of singular effect And we present him also with a thing most acceptable to his diuine maiesty for as much as he who is offred and sacrificed to God the Father is the person of Iesus Christ his only Sonne We must also communicate spiritually at what tyme the priest receyueth sacramentally The manner to do it is this We must meditate some thing or other touching the Blessed Sacrament of the Altar before the Priest be to communicate and make petition to our Lord that he would please to graunt spirituall refection vnto our soule and to make it partaker of the wonderfull effects of this holy Sacrament We must also put on a great desire of vniting our selues with God by that spirituall communion and we must stir vp the very same affections that we would do when we receyue it sacramentally and really How to pray well CHAP. V. TO pray well and deuoutly we must practise somthings before we begin to pray somthings also in tyme of prayer Before we begin to pray it is good first to blesse our selues for by so doing we inuoke Gods help we offer vnto him our prayers we arme our selues against distractions and against the assaults of the enemy 2. We are to consider for whome and for what cause we haue a desire to pray which must be both good and conforme to the will of God 3. We must stir vp a desire to pray both attentiuely and deuoutly 4. We must craue grace to pray well and recommend our selues to our Angell Guardian Whiles our prayer continueth we must endeauour to pray 1. With a true fayth belieuing in God that he will help vs and that he heareth and vnderstandeth our prayers 2. With hope trusting that we shall be heard if we pray as we should 3. With charity and being in the grace of God or at least with true sorrow repentance for our syns 4. With humility and reuerence as being in the presence of God with whome we treate 5. With attention banishing from our mynds all extrauagant and wandring thoughts And our attention may be directed to one of these foure things eyther to the words of our prayer or to the sense and meaning signified by the words or to him to whome we addresse our prayers or to the thing we craue for our selues or for another 6. With feruour and a deuout affection shaking off all drowsines of mind To this feruour and deuotion the consideration of the fruites that redound of prayer being accompanyed with the qualityes aforesaid may incite vs. And there be foure principal that are drawn from such prayer For by meanes of it we merit 1. an increase of diuine graces and vertues 2. we satisfy and pay a part of the debt we owe for our syns 3 we obtayne of God that which we aske 4. we receyue spirituall comfort Remedyes against distractions CHAP. VI. BECAVSE distractions much trouble vs in tyme of prayer and do very often depriue vs of al the fruits aforesaid it is to good purpose to vnderstand the remedyes for the diuerting therof and putting them away Therfore that distraction may haue no place in vs the first remedy is that we diligently prepare our selues to prayer according to that we mentioned in the fift Chapter before The second is to thinke in whose presence we are and with whome we
obtayning the habit and vse of vertues we must make election but of one at once as of Charity Humility Patience or some other that we thinke most necessary for vs and therein imploy all our chiefest study and care for the getting therof and after some tyme take an other Vertue and so consequently the rest The meanes to get it is this 1. To aske it of God incessantly by feruent and deuout prayers 2. To put on a great and earnest desire to get it And this desire is increased very much by meditating and pondering the beauty and excellency of the vertue how pleasing it is to God and how necessary and profitable for vs. 3. To lay before our eyes the examples of the Saints and holy men in whome such a vertue hath shined especially the example of our Sauiour and of our Blessed Lady 4. To practise it often and to exercise our selues in it by inward actions proceeding from such a vertue 5. To auoyd the very least faults that haue repugnance with that vertue and in general all veniall syns which greatly hinder our profit in vertue 6. Euery day to make a particular examen how we haue carryed our selues in the exercise of such a vertue and wherein we haue fayled The second Part of the Way to lyue well THE VIII EXERCISE What we are to do in behalfe of God CHAP. I. IN discharge of our duty towards Gods we must First loue him aboue all things and not for any other end then for himselfe and this for that he is Goodnes it selfe and the only authour source and beginning of all good And we may know whether we haue the loue of God if we be ready rather to abandone all the goods of this world yea and our owne life also then to offend him mortally in any thing 2. We must haue a great desire and zeale to promote and aduaunce his honour and seruice 3. We must haue a right intention in all things addresse all our actions to his greater glory without intermixing any lesse-rectified or vicious intention 4. We must endeauour seeke to please him in all things and fly all that which we know to be displeasing vnto him 5. We must fasten the anker of our hope wholy in him and in all our necessityes make recourse to him for help and succour 6. We must daily giue him thanks for the benefitts he hath bestowed and continually doth bestow vpon vs. 7. We must oftentymes treat familiarly with him by thought and eleuation of mind and by iaculatory prayers that is by short sodaine effectuous petitions which may be done in all places and at all tymes What we are to do in behalfe of the Saints and namely of the Blessed Virgin CHAP. II. IF we desire to be pleasing to God we must be deuout towards his Saints who are his great friends and especially towards the Blessed Virgin his glorious Mother To do this we must first loue and honour her as most worthy of our loue and of all regard and reuerence because she is our heauenly mother full of mercy and loue and replenished with all manner of grace and shineth with rare sanctity and incomparable vertue 2. We must dayly recommend our selues vnto her humbly intreating her intercession for vs and her protection of vs wherein she may much steed vs and easily obtayne that which we deserue not to obtayne by our selues because she is a most holy Virgin and most accepted to God and is the mother of our Lord and Queene of heauen 3. We must often contemplate this beautyfull mirrour Looking-glasse without any stayne of syn shining in all manner of vertues and we must endeuour to order our lyfe conformably to hers and imitate her holy and vertuous actions and so doing we shall do her seruice that pleaseth and contenteth her most of all How we are to cary our selues towards our good Angell CHAP. III. BECAVSE God by the testimory of S. Hierome and of other holy Fathers sendeth vs our good Angell presently after our comming into the world to assist and attend serue protect conduct and direct vs in all our actions reason teacheth that we ought First to cary a singular loue towards him as to a most particular benefactour of ours For we are more bound â—o him then to any other nâ—xt after God and our Blessed Lady 2. We must thanke him huÌ„bly and affectuously for all the good offices that â—e dayly doth vs. 3. We must make our often recourse vnto him by crauing his help in all occurrents and affaires of ours for he is deputed of God to that end and most ready to assist vs out of the zeale and desire he hath of our saluation 4. We must giue eare to his good counsayles motions and inspirations that he putteth into our minds 5. We must dayly consider that we are continually in the presence of our good Angell and that euery where he considereth obseâ—â—eth our comportment demeanour and cariage And this consideration will serue vs for a bridle against syn What our Good Angell doth towards vs. CHAP. IIII. THE office of our Guardian Angell towards euery one of vs is first to make incessant prayer and petition for vs and to present vnto God our prayers and good works 2. To excite and stir vs vp to lyue well and to withdraw and diuert vs fron doing euill 3. To preserue and keep our bodyes from manyfold aduerse accidents and daungers that might very often befall vs if we were not in his proâ—ection and safegard 4. To guard and defend our soule against all treacheries and tentations of the malignant spirit For if we belieue S. Gregory Nyssen Tertullian Cassian Venerable Bede and other ancyent Fathers we haue euer about vs two spirits one whereof is our good Angell who wholy attendeth our soules good the other a Diuell deputed and appointed by his Prince Lucifer to imploy and busy himselfe wholy for the solliciting and tempting of vs to syn thereby to procure our vtter perdition eternall damnation How we ought to carry our selues towards our selues CHAP. V. EVERY one of vs ought to keepe an euen hand ouer himselfe in gouerning his body in eating and drinking in repose and in sleepe in his demeanour and carriage in his functions offices trauayles and especially he must haue a most singular care of his soule because it is the excellentest and noblest part of man and therfore of the felicity or infelicity of it dependeth the good or euill of the body for all Eternity Wherfore to tender our soule as we ought we must first desire procure practise with al diligence care what may be most for the profiting sauing therof 2. We must carefully detest fly what is domageable vnto it such as is syn and all occasion and daunger of offending God 3 We must bridle and restrayne our ouer much liberty of speaking and saying what is noâ— conuenient as also our ouer much curiosity to see heare and
sacred body with most cruell stripes And deryde the King of glory with a Crowne of Thornes Aue Maria. 9. His vnbeleeuing and vngratefull people rebell against him demaund that he should be crucified And a malefactour set at liberty in his place Aue Ma. 10. The ambitious Iudge ouercome with feare and flattery condemneth him to be crucified though he know him to be innocent Aue Maria. A Prayer to Christ in the agony of his death 5. O Author of life syth thou wilt dy◠and my synnes are cause of thy death let me dye with thee or graunt me a liuely feeling of thy torments Pater Noster 1. He imbraceth his desyred Crosse with ioy and cheerfulnes of hart and carrieth it vpon his shoulderrs to the place of execution Aue Maria. 2. His body beeing weakned with the losse of much bloud he fainteth vnder the grieuous burden And the torturers ease him least he should dye vncrucified Aue Maria. 3. He forbiddeth the deuout women to weepe for him but for their owne synnes and their childrens And foretelleth the ruyne of that miserable perfidious Citty Aue Maria. 4. Vpon the Mount Caluary they stripping him of his clothes renew his wounds And he offereth his sacred hands and feete to to be nayled to the Crosse Aue M. 5. They lift vp his virginall body naked and nayled And he suffereth this temporall paine confusion to deliuer vs from the eternall Aue Maria. 6. From the Crosse he asketh pardon of his Father for his enemyes Aue Maria. 7. He recommendeth his beloued disciple in him al vs to his mother Aue Maria. 8. He promiseth pardon and glory to the penitēt Thiefe And tasteth gall and vinagre Aue Ma. 9. The prophesies and figures of his passion being fulfilled he giueth vp his most holy pure Spirit into the hands of his Father Aue Maria. 10. Heauē earth are astonished that God immortall should dye But dying he killeth sinne and death looseth the chaines of Hel reconcileth the world to his Father and restoreth man to eternall life Aue Maria. A prayer to Christ reuiued and triumphant 6. O Glorious Conqueror who art risen from death enriched with spoyles hast al power in heauen earth Let synne dye in me without which there is no death And giue me a new life which may please thee serue thee for euer Pater Noster 1. He sheweth himselfe aliue and glorious vnto his Blessed Mother disciples And changeth their sorrow into vnspeakable ioy Aue Maria. 2. After forty dayes he ascendeth with triumph into heauen to take possession of his Kingdome placed our humane nature on the right hand of God his Father Aue Maria. 3. His disciples in company of his holy mother retyred in prayer expect from heauen the Comforter promised Aue Maria. 4. The time being fullfilled the holy Ghost descendeth visibly vpon them in forme of fiery tongues And they publish the diuyne Christian misteryes of faith in diuers languages Aue Maria. 5. The playne vnpolished words of the Apostles receauing force from this Spirit take possession in the harts of men And thousands are conuerted togeather Aue Maria. 6. By the death and prayers of of S. Stephen Paul of a persecutor becometh an Apostle The fayth increaseth with the persecution and with the same spread into other Countreys Aue Maria. 7. The Apostles meete in Councell ordeyne the gouernment of the Church and deuide among themselues the Prouinces of the whole world which is conuerted as we see to Christ by twelue Fishermen so great is the force of this holy Spirit Aue Maria. 8. S. Iohn remayneth in Hierusalem with the Mother of God for her comfort And their admirable life and example authorizeth the fayth Aue Maria. 9. The Apostles miraculously come togeather at the death of the B. Virgin Aue Maria. 10. And her Soule departeth without payne out of the prison of her body Aue Maria. A Prayer in the exequies of our B. Lady with the Apostles 7. O Lord what happines had it byn to be with thy disciples at those Funeralls to haue celebrated thy wonderfull greatnes and prayses for the benefits receyued by this holy Virgin Pater Noster 1. Her soule the third day was reunited to her glorious body And assumpted into heauen with such solemnity as no mortall man can comprehend Aue M. 2. The most humble of all creatures is exalted aboue them all And crowned Queene of heauen and earth Aue Maria. 3. Amongst other prerogatiues which the Blessed Virgin enioyeth and wherin especially she delighteth is to be the Aduocate of sinners with Christ our Sauiour Aue Maria. The Conclusion with thankesgiuing LET Heauen and earth ioyne together with ioy and the Quiers of Angells with the voices of men to singe eternall prayses vnto God in Trinity and vnity for the mercyes receaued in this admirable work of our redemptiō Amen Credo in Deum c. A Coronary or Crowne for the obtayning of Christian Perfection The Prayer O My Lord Iesu Christ splendour of the Father and Eternall wisdome graunt me true knowledge continuall memory and a cordiall desire of the most noble and most precious end wherunto thou hast created me and a right choyce of the meanes which thou gast giuen me to obtaine it Amen 1. My principall end for which I was created is to loue obay and please Almighty God And the secondary or lesse principall is to saue my soule Aue M. 2. The meanes for this end are all other creatures the knowledge good vse of them Aue M. 3. This vse consisteth in adding or diminishing taking or leauing them by waight number measure as they may serue this end The disposition necessary to vse them aright is to be indifferent to all And in the execution that we preferre allwaies the more conuenient for this end before the lesse and the better before the worse Aue Ma. 1. O my Lord Iesu Christ c. Pater Noster 1. Make me vnderstand o Lord that for thy only goodnes thou louedst me from all eternity And hauing no need of me thou hast created me to thy Image likenes in the tyme most conuenient for my good Aue Ma. 2. And how thou hast placed me as a King in his Kingdome with iustice peace and inward ioy of my soule Aue Maria. 3. That thou hast made me a companion of the Angells and capable of all thy riches and aboue all of thy grace and friendship Aue Maria. 4. That I knowing thy infinite goodnes by experience and thy selfe by familiar conuersation might delight in thee and loue thee aboue all things with pure and disinteressed loue Aue Maria. 5. That I may serue thee for thy selfe with all the powers of my body and soule bycause thou deseruest to be serued and loued aboue all Aue Maria. 6 That in all things I may procure thy greater glory and the perfect accomplishment of thy diuine will Aue Maria.