deformed sinner vnto this thy diuine borde not for mine owne sake but for the merite and honour of thy deere frende and most sweete sonne Iesus Christe our Sauiour and our Father who with such griefes and tormentes did on the roode regenerate vs whose passion and most pretious death is represented eche time that this most grateful Sacrifice is offered vp vnto thee And thee againe my most louing Lorde and king Iesus Christe which art in this holy banquet both the foode it selfe and he that doth inuite vs to it I humbly begg of thee albeit most vnwoorthy that it may plese thee to ad mit me to satiate me and to make me partaker of the graces and innumerable gifts which thou art wont to bestowe vpon such thy seruantes as doo woorthely receaue thee Suffer me not to depart fasting from thee least I faint in the way like as thou sufferedst not the great multitude of people that folowed thee with so great zeale to heare thy sugred wordes in the desert whom thou moued with pitie vouchsafedst not onely spiritually but corporally also to satiate least haply they might haue fainted and miscaried in their iourney Wherefore seing this most sacred Sacrament is the food of this our pilgrimage much more am I to desire and to teceaue it to th' ende I faine not in the way but like an-other Elias may by force of this foode passe out and arriue at length to the moūt of euerlasting happines Let me in therefore O Lorde seing I knocke at the gate of thy mercy as a famished poore and feeble creature that being filled by thee enriched by thee and cured by thee I may reioyce in thee geue thankes to thee and yeeld perpetual peales of praises to thee with the Angels that here attende about thee with whom I laude and blesse thine eternal fathers infinite charitie who hath vouchsafed to graunt vs this pledge of future and euerlasting glory Amen ANOTHER praier or meditation to be made the day that one hath receaued to stirte him vp through the consideration and knowledge of so great a benefite to geue God thankes therfore and to be grateful for his goodnes BLESSE thy Lorde O my soule and al my entrals laud his most holy name Forgett not O my soule the infinite mercies and continual benefites receaued of his most liberal hande amongst the which wel maiest thou recken that which hath beene this day geuē thee that so infinite a Maiestie shoulde vouchsafe to visite thee to enter into thy homely habitation and with surpassing clemencie whollye to geue him-selfe to thee in this moste meruailous Sacrament O thou incomprehensible God no lesse pitiful then puissant what shal I say seing the depth of thy bottomlesse lesse mercies hath vouchsafed to impart it selfe to the deapth of my inspeakable miseries What thanks can I yeeld thee for so great kindnes and loue who wott right wel that if al the members and muscles of my bodye were turned into tounges yet could I not condignely thanke thee for the least of al thy benefites howe much lesse able shal I then be with one tounge to laude and thanke thee for this present gift being of so great and inestimable a value If the mother of thy for-runner S. Iohn Baptist being visited of thy most sacred virgin mother when she perceaued thy presence illuminated with the holy Ghoste was so astonished therat as she cried out aloud and said Whēce haue I this that the mother of my Lord doth come vnto me how much more iustly am I to be astonished and to cry out Whence haue I this that not the mother of my Lorde but my Lorde him-selfe and Lorde of al the Angels of heauen and earth and of al the creatures of the world hath visited me entred into me honoured me fostred me and filled me in this most woorthy Sacrament Whence haue I this that a Lord so high so puissant so woorthye of al woorshipp hath vouchsafed to come to me a moste wretched worme to me the most heinous sinner of al sinners to me that haue so many times offended him to me that with my lewdnes and abhominations haue so oft banished and expelled him out of me Woorthelye did the holy prophets Iob and Dauid wonder at thy diuine clemencie at what time they sayde What is man that thou so greatlye magnifiest him ' what is the sonne of man that thou thus visitest him but much greater reasō haue we most wretched caitiffs to say the same in these our dais What is man that thou hast thus extolled him as for man to make thy selfe man and to geue thy selfe in foode to man wherwith he may euery day be visited and refreshed And albeit al men may meruail at this thy diuine clemencie vsed towards man muche more yet maye I meruaile which of al men am the basest and vnwoorthiest If Dauid when king Saule woulde haue chosen him for his sonn in law reputed him-selfe vnwoorthy and saide What am I or what is my life or my fathers lignage that I should be a sonne in law to a king howe much more cause haue I nowe to say the same seing the king of al kinges hath admitted me to so high a dignitie what am I or what is my fathers ofspring what other am I then a vessel of corruption a sacke of donge and filth engendred of a most vile and stinking matter touching my fleshe which ere long shal yeeld foode to woorms and am concerning my soule al soiled with sinn fraught with ignorance and forgetfulnes with many mo defectes and wicked inclinations what other is my life thē a vanitie a pufle of wind a smoake and shadowe that quicklye vanisheth a confusion and disorder a continual exercise of sinne and transgressions of thy commaundements Such hath my life mine exercises and mine inclinations beene such also is my father Adams ofspring and al his auncient familie sith al that discend of him are generally born thus blemished thus bent and al like children of a traitour as he was adiudged to suffer death Wherefore O most puissant prince and dreadful King aboue al kinges thou knowing me and my life to haue been such and much worse thē I either knowe or can imagine haste vouchsafed to receaue me not for a in lawe but for thine owne sonne yea and as a yonger one right tenderlye beloued for such are fathers accustomed most of al to cherishe as now thou hast cherished and fed me with this Angels bread wherin is founde al sauor and al diuine delight S. Luke reporteth howe one of those gestes that were at table with thee in a prince of the Pharises house shoulde saye Blessed are those that shal eate the breade of life in the kingdome of heauen but much more happye am I if I can knowe it and gather fruite out of it which in this life eate the breade wherein is the selfe-same God conteined and ther-with receue a pledge to eate
moste innocent Lambe stood dombe and quiet with out mouing or making any resistance at al sith he was not so straitly fastned to the piller with hempen coardes as with heauenlye charitie and the feruent loue he bare vs which knitt his diuine heart with muche more stronger bandes then were the other FOR THE second poynt meditate howe the tirannous officers being nowe tired with beating him albeit he not so with suffring for vs they thē vnlosed him from the piller and without geuing him ani other succor or solace let him seeke his garments throwne here and there about the palace which hauing at length with much adoe found out and put vpon him they straitwaies stripp him a newe to put on that olde purple coate wherewith they openly scorne and make him their laughing stocke and anone crowne him most cruelly with a crowne of sharpe pricking thornes If thou viewe and consider al this with deuout attention it can not be but it must prouoke thee to loue that Sauiour who for thy welfare onely vouchsafed to endure so fel tormentes and make thee also to feare for thy sinnes and vtterly to abhorre thy lasciuiousnes thy plesures pompes and superfluous pamperinges of thy fleshe with the whiche thou haste so highly offended God for the which he hath in this wise so painfully satisfied For if a kinges sonne be afraide when he seeth but a contemptible bodslaue beaten in his presence howe shal not the moste abhominable boundslaue feare quake again seing the sonne of God so cruelly handled for his offences if others sinnes be paide thus derely for what paiment shal he haue that shal be punished for his owne LASTLY thou maiest meditate this day howe our Sauiour standing in this wise crowned wounded and mocked Pilate commaunded him to be brought forth for the whole assemble of people to looke vpon to trye whether he might this waies mollifie those obstinate and stonie heartes and thervpon saide Ecce homo Loe here the man Faile not thou therefore with the eyes of thy soule to take an aduised view of this most rueful spectacle beholding the hewe and ouglie shape he caried who is the brightnes of his eternal fathers glory and that to restore what thou hadst lost through thine offences Beholde howe he standeth in the middest of suche an assemblie fraight ful of shame and sorow cladd in that fooles coate so euilfauoured an attire with the crowne of thornes cnuironing his sacred head the reede in his tied handes in lieu of a sceptre that harde coarde about his tender necke his diuine visage al put vp swelled with the blowes he had receaued and abhominably disfigured with bloud filthie spittle yea from to ppe to too no one spot free from woundes neither was this inough to soften those flintie heartes sufficient though to appease his eternal fathers wrath who accepting the same for the satisfaction of our moste heinous crimes FRIDAY MEDIT ATE secondly how those vnmerciful tormentors so soone as they wer now come to the moūt of Caluari stript forthwith in cruel wise that louing Lambe tearing his skinne to his excessiue griefe being through the greene woundes festred to his garmentes and afterwardes stretche him out vpon that harde bed of the crosse which the world had prepared for him and so with out stretched armes of his aboundant charitie offered he him selfe vp to his euerlasting father in a true and liuely Sacrifice for the sinnes of the whole world And thus his handes and most holy feete being with sharpe nailes fastned to the crosse they hoiste him vp on high hanging moste pitifullye thereon Weigh here diligently what griping griefes his moste rueful virgin mother suffered hearing the strokes of the hammer wherwithal they erucified him and seing him afterwardes hoisted so vp vpon that hard crosse with such opprobrious shame and infinite paines and tormentes Now then behold a while with the eyes of thy soule this thy Sauiour thus hanging nailed vpon the crosse and gather vpon this wholsome tree the fruite of life it plentifully affordeth thee for here is alwaies forth-comming the supply for al thy nedes the salue for al thy sores the satisfaction for al thy sinnesiand herein maiest thou as in a glasse plainly perceue al thy wantes and imperfections sith this is a much more beautiful and bright glasse then those were that God commaunded to be set in the temples for the priestes to looke thē in at suche time as they were to minister for that the godly soule which shal attentiuely admire it selfe in this mirrour may soone espye and easily find out al her faults and folies whatsoeuer That nakednes and extreme pouertie we see vpon the roode vtterlye ouerthroweth al our pompes superfluous decking That crown of thorns condemneth our pride and ambition The gaule and vinager which was geuen him to drinke cryeth out against our gourmandise and disordinate drinking those weeping withered eyes accuse the losenes and lacke of modestie in ours those out stretched armes readie to embrace both frendes and foes find fault with our rancour and reuenge that moste sacred body wounded al ouer from topp to toe argueth and that seuerelye the lasciuiousnes and sensual appetite of ours Thus seest thou how al the staines and sinful spots of thy whole life doo manifestly appere in this vnstained mirrour ful of al perfection THIRDLY if thou haue any spare time leste thou maiest meditate the other egregious and notable thinges which happed about our Sauiours death but chiesly those seuen speeches he vttred being vpon the crosse For in the first Father forgeue them for they knowe not what they doo is charitie towardes our foes highly commended In the second 〈◊〉 I say vnto thee this day shalt thou be with me in Paradise mercy to wardes sinners in soueraine wise 〈◊〉 out In the third Behold thy sonne behold thy mother a pietie and zeale towardes parentes In the fourth I thirst a feruent desire of our neighbours welfare In the fift My God my God why hast thou for saken me an humble praier in tribulation In the sixt It is accomplished a perseuering in obedience til th end In the seuenth Father I cōmend my spirite into thy handes a perfect and entier resignation into the handes of God which is the periode and somm of al our perfection SATERDAY ON SATERDAY meditate the percing of our Sauiours side with that cruel speare to the incomparable griefe and hart-break of his most heauie mother And pause here a while to beholde both this and other his infinite most pretious wounds sithens these are to be thy refuge thy phisike and chief consolation In the olde lawe we reade howe God commannded certaine cities to be assigned in the lande of promise whereto such as had committed any offence might securely make their refuge but nowe in the lawe of grace there is none so secure a refuge as is the harboring in
towardes thee seing he might so many times so iustly haue throwen thee downe headlong into hel as he hath done others and yet hath not done so to thee but forborn thee and preserued thee from sundry and manifold dangers especially frō the douils whose wil thou fulfilledst in sinning and both woulde and coulde haue hailed thee to hel had not his mightie hand defended thee Finally he hath geuen thee many good inspirations and inuited thee to penance besides many mo great benefites bestowed on thee which no father would haue done to a moste tenderly beloued sonne Being then stirred vp with suche like considerations and moued with compunction reputing thy selfe a moste abhominable caytiff prostrate thy selfe filled with shame and confusion at our Sauiour his feete as did that publike sinner the blessed Magdalene and with great sorowe and humblenes pray him to pardon thee those infinite sinnes and abhominations thou haste cōmitted purposing fully for the time past to do penance to lead a new life in time to come And here note that when thou vnbethinkest thee of thy former sinnes it shal not be needeful ne conuenient to stand vpon suche particularities as might procure alteratiō in thy fleshe which often happeth in carnal sins but generally to consider howe ofte thou hast cōmitted these carnalities and beastlines through thy whole life being sorowful for them in general without staying to discourse any particuler maner or circumstāce in such crimes for therby do cōmonly ensue very daungerous alterations TVESDAY 2 ON TVESDAY meditate thy present faultes and such wicked inclinations as thou nowe findest in thee which daily cause thee to commit diuers disorders and weigh withal the manifold miseries this present life is subiect to that so what by the former meditation knowing thy life past fraught ful of filth and sinne seing the sundry staines thou art now presently defiled with thereby thou maiest humble thy self and force thee to amend such faults as thou findest in thee and withal beginne to hate this life so ful of calamities and dangers wherin for the better and more orderly proceeding consider these three pointes folowing EXAMINE firste the sundry imperfections which thou presently fin dest in thee howe first thou lackest a pure and right intent in moste of thine actions doing them for the world or for some worldly interest where in deede thou oughtest to doo them purely for god Thou maiest find likewise thine inclinations to be disordred being wholly bent to the vaine and transitorie thinges of this worlde The like disorder shalt thou perceaue and finde in al thy senses thoughtes wordes and workes sith there is no true vertue to be sounde in thee which by the examination thereof thou shalt wel perceaue as first for charitie which thou wātest as also humilitie patiēce chastitie tēperance and so through al the rest about the which thou maiest discusse particulerly howe ofte thou vsest to offende in eche one falling into such vices as be opposite and contrarye to the saide vertues SECONDLY consider howe smallye thou haste profited since it pleased God to helpe thee with his grace and geue thee these good motions and purposes to amend thy life and how many times thou haste left such workes vndone as thou purposest to doo and howe often thou haste fallen in relapse of thy former folyes which thou determinest in any wise to abstein from Thinke withal how muche better others haue behaued them-selues in this time and profited more in vertue then thou haste done and here oughtest thou to purpose firmely to imitate them and to seeke newe remedies and meanes of amēdment humbly crauing grace of God to execute the same THIRDLY weigh what smal affection thou oughtest to beare toward this wicked world and present life fraught ful of suche 〈◊〉 and greuous miseries and wherin no true satietie or contentation is to be foūd yea that which is worst of al wherin are so many rocks to reele against and so infinite occasions to offende that soueraine Lorde who so woorthely deserueth to be honoured loued and moste dutifully obeyed WEDNESDAY ON WEDNESDAY thy meditation shal-be of death a thing greatlye profitable to eschewe sinne And this must thou meditate euen as though that houre were nowe arriued Imagining therefore it is so and howe thou art nowe come to that latter time of so great griefe and frighting fear discourse vpon these articles folowing FIRST howe in that houre ther is a seperation and deuorce to be made betwixt the soule and body by meanes wherof the soule shal not onely be seperate from the body but also from al other thinges it loued in this life and howe thou must needes leaue here behinde thee wife riches kinsfolkes and al thy other deere frendes with eche other thing be it neuer so wel beloued neither shalt thou carye any thing away with thee but onely the good and euil workes thou hast wrought in this world CONSIDER secondly what we suffer in this sundring of our soules and bodies the agonies temptations and sightes the visiō of deuils which in terrible and dreadful shew appere vnto vs the perils that pinch the soul on euery side the anxietie it receaueth imagining what shal become both of it selfe and of the withered and consumed body THIRDLY thinke how thy soule thus parting from the body with ineffable griefe the body shal then be buried and yeelde foode to wormes neither shal any one iote of al the riches rest with it but only that poore peece of winding-sheete it shal-be wrapped in and that smal circuit of earth wherin it is interred Nowe the soule it shal-be presented before Christe the dreadful Iudge to whō it shal yeeld a most strict and narrowe reckning of al her life and shal receue according to her desertes an euerlasting doome Weigh wel here what the soule shal feele whiles it waiteth for this doome not woting on which side it shal-be sent Out of these considerations 〈◊〉 these right profitable lessons be picked to wit how smal trust and confidence we ought to haue in this life wherein deathe may euery daye and hour assaile vs as also to riches kinsfolkes and frendes who can-not anye waies helpe vs at that time yea al abandon and forsake vs on thother fide what contentation we shoulde then receue by hauing liued wel and gained certaine faithful frendes who might in that houre helpe and greatlye succour vs See therefore thou indeuour thy selfe nowe to doo that which thou wouldest in that houre haue done and force thee to please those true frends in deede which are Jesus Christ his holy virgin mother the Saintes and blessed Angels that they may succoure thee in that houre of so apparant peril THVRSDAY ON THVRSDAY thy meditation shal-be of the last day of iudgement which we according to our beleefe doo certainly look for and shal come without faile yea perhaps in thy dayes concerning the which thou shalt meditate these three poyntes
this aunswer From that time quoth he that I was first made a monke I determined with my selfe neuer to let any anger issue out of my mouth but to mortifie and burye it within me and for this cause is it the deuils doo so greatly dreade me So maiest thou wel hope they wil doo to thee if thou indeuour thy selfe to doo the same that he did Beware also the Sunne doo neuer go downe vppon thine anger according as S Paul admonisheth that is to say that thou expel it quicklye and suffer it not longe to soiourne in thy soule for so might it turn into hatred become more daungerous and harder to be healed We reade howe the Abbot Agatho was wont to saye Neuer would I quoth he sleepe being offended with any man neither haue I suffred as much as laye in me that any other man should sleepe that was offended with me but went about forthwith to make attonement both in my selfe and others Indeuor thou to doo the like as occasion may geue thee leaue These Remedies maiest thou at such time principally put in vre whō thou perceauest thy selfe offended towardes others But if thou contrari-wise see an-other offended and angry with thee then frame thy selfe to doo one of these two things either couertly in the best maner thou canst to winde thy selfe out of his companye that is angrye vntil the wrath he hath conceaued be worne ouer or els wanting oportunitie to doo thus force thee to ouercome euil with good according to the Apostles counsaile seeking to appease him with some faire and humble speeches sith as the wise man saith A milde aunswere asswageth anger and harde speeches kindle furye and rage But if thou shouldest want meanes to doo either of these take such order at least wise as to be silent whiles thou seest him in these freatting fumes and in thy heart to praye to God for him for that as S. Gregory saith It is a great deale more glorious to shun ne wrath by silence then to subdue it by aunswering LASTLY note that if the anger or impatience whiche thou feelest in thee proceede not of any iniurie or wronge done to thee by any person but through the aduersities and tribulations that befal thee in this life then shal it be a very good Remedie to remember the examples of such perfect and holy men as haue endured with great patience farre greater tribulations and calamities thē thine be Remember that inuincible patience of Iob who with so stoute a courage susteined so many losses so many sores such infinite number of griefes corseys hart-breakes as happened to him in one instant Neither did he amongst al these millions of miseries once droope or shewe by worde or deede any signe of blame-worthy impatience as the holy scripture testifieth Thinke also of that holye man Tobias his rare patience who in his blindnes pouertie and al his other annoyes had continually a constant minde and conformable to the wil of god Consider also that mildnes and meruailous patience of the holy prophet Moises whom not al the continual troubles and murmuringes of that ingrateful people which he had brought out of Egipt could suffice to disquiet or moue to anger The like patiēce and mildnes maiest thou note in that holy king Dauid amongst al the manifolde persecutions and afflictions he suffred through the whole course perrode of his life The same constācie and patient minde shalt thou in like maner find by discoursing many other of the holy prophetes and perfect mens liues of the old Testament and much more exactly in the newe sith we reade in S. Luke touching the Apostles how they being by decree and counsail of the Pharises bett and outragiously iniured they abidd and passed ouer al with great gladnes as being thought woorthy to suffer these contemptes for the name of IESVS And not onely these but innumerable other tormentes did they suffer with like constancie cheerfulnes shedding their bloud and losing their liues for loue of the same lord And after them did in like maner manye thousande thousandes of martirs whom thou maiest also vnbethinke thee of But aboue al cal to minde and pause for the nonst to poder that meruailous and incomparable patience of the holy of al holies our Sauiour Redeemer Iesus Christe who suffered much more persecutions paines reproches villanies griefs tormentes in al his life time with farre greater constancie and meeknes then any other conformablye to that the prophete Esay foretolde that he should stand domme euen like a Lambe before the Shearer And S. Peter saith how being railed vpō and reuiled by others he gaue no cuil words at al in suffering so greeuous tormentes did not threaten those that with such barbarous crueltie tormented him yea in recompence prayed to his euerlasting father for them If thou propounde these thinges with th' other examples before thine eyes al thy tribulations aduersities and persecutions what-soeuer shal seem but very smal and easie to thee and thou be animated and encouraged to endure al very patiently THOV maiest also in this case applye an-other remedie by considering the great commoditie thou shalt reape by these tentations and tribulations which thou suffiest This cōsideration as S. Gregory affirmeth doth mittigate the force of the whip and scourge Thinke therefore that like as gold is with fire fined in the fornace so shal thy soule be purged with the fire of tribulations And that for this cause God doth send thē to thee as a father that loueth thee dearly by chastising thee as a son he doth purge purifie thee wheras if thou lackest this discipline his holy rod of correctiō thou shouldest this title and name of sonne Beleeue furthermore that the stones which are to be laide in the celeslial Icrusalem must first be hewen here with many blowes of tribulations paines and persecutions for aboue in those heauenlye boures there shal-be no noyse of hammers to witt no dolours or wailinges no toiles nor tentations at al but an endlesse ioye and happy quietnes Beleeue like-wise that if as S Paule faith thou be a companion of Christ in this life in his passions and tribulations thou shalt in the next life be a companion of his ioyes and consolations And if thou suffer with him in this worlde thou shalt afterwardes reigne with him euerlastingly in th' other world And if here thou beest a litle afflicted and grecued sith the afflicted of this short life are but short and smal thou shalt afterwardes 〈◊〉 in heuen with a glorious 〈◊〉 ioye as S. Peter promiseth thee Al these thinges if thou consider them wel as the holye Saintes aforetime haue pondered and considered them thou wilt not onely abide patientlye these thy present tribulations but yeeld moste hartie thankes to that Lorde who with so singuler loue
errour of beliefe especially touching those articles wherwith otherwhiles in life time they assailed foūd him som-what feeble To which tēptatiō thou canst not resist better then as I told thee heretofore in the. 26. Chapter to wit by despising it scorning the deuil and not regarding to solute his reasons But if of force thou must needes aunswer som-thing let it be this I beleeue firmely what our holy mother the Churche beleeueth and that which the holy Apostles Martirs and Confessours haue beleued and taught whose faith and doctrine 〈◊〉 God whom none can deceaue hath confirmed with innumerable miracles and for the confession wherof hath so much bloud of Martirs been spilt of whose holines no man can iustly doubt Sticke fast to this aunswere and care not to satisfie his other obiections demaunds which he may propound to thee about this matter and no doubt but by thus behauing thy self thou shalt remain a Conquerour and gain the goale thou striuest for Thus reade we of a seely simple man albeit in this point wise and considerate ynough who in a much like matter de meaned him-self in like maner This good man being in conflict with the fiende shaped him this aunswer touching an importunate adoo he made to know his beliefe I beleeue quoth he al that our holy mother the Churche beleeueth Why quoth the diuel And what is that your holye mother the Church beleueth She beleeueth quoth the good man that which I beleue And what beleeuest thou reiterated he the other repeting his former answer I beleue quoth he what our holye mother the Church beleeueth Neither could the diuel albeit he questioned neuer so importunatelye about this point driue him from this his first answer and so gained he the victorie and put his foe to flight and shameful ignominie In like maner maiest thou doo if thou vse the same means of resisting this tentatiō THE SECOND suggestiō wher-with the wicked spirits are wont to molest vs in this houre is of blasphemic persuading those that are nowe at point of death to beleue or think some indecent vnseemly thing of our bles sed L. God or of his holy SS With this temptation Eusebius S. Ieroms Disciple was greeuouslye infested Hereto maiest thou resist by retorting the blasphemie vpon the Diuel him-selfe that propoundeth it in this maner I am more then assured that my Lorde God is infinitely good and woorthy of al soueraine praise and lcue and that al his holy Saintes are most perfect and replenished with al vertue and thou most wicked fiende by going about to persuade me these blasphemies bewrasest plainly thy peruerse spirite pufe vp with al impietie malice falshood and deceipt and ther by most woorthy to be of eche one despised accursed and abhorred And then turning thine eyes to thy most mild sweet maker force thy selfe to powre out of thy heart right humble blessings and praises in the best wise thou canst vnto him and by howe muche the more the detestable deceauer shal infest thee with these his abhominable and beastly blasphemies by so much the more be thou diligent and attentiue to yeeld laudes and praises to his moste holy name THE THIRD temptation wherewith the deuils doo tempt such as lye a dying especially if they haue beene great offenders is dispaire For like as in time of health they litle rought of their sinnes and through the infinit number of Gods mercies and hope to doo penance at their latter ende made smal accompt therof so in that houre of death doo their sinnes seeme more greeuous and gretlye aggrauated to them by considering the rigor of diuine iustce wherto yt belongeth not to suffer any one sinne vnsifted and vnpunished and then is it the deuils persuade and make them beleeue that their contrition in that present houre is of no force and value as proceeding of seruile and slauish feare They like-wise in that houre represent al the enormous crimes a man hath committed al his life time as also the good he might haue done and by his negligence hath omitted and howe he neuer confessed many of his sinnes or at least wise imperfectlye and with lesse sorowe then he ought to haue done In this wise doo they so girde and gripe many heinous sinners as no doubt but a great number be by that meanes driuen to desperation This is one of the most terrible vexations wher-with such as haue wallowed securely in their sinnes are in this time assailed and is in very deed so violent and hard to be withstood as if the ineffable mercy of God did not geue special assistance and ayde in that houre very few could eschew and ouercome the same The remedie to releeue thee with is to humble thy selfe in the sight of God and to inuocate his diuine clemencie calling to minde the Passion of thy blessed and benigne Redeemer our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe whose moste bitter griefes torments and woundes thou must offer vp to his eternal father for al thy sinnes what-soeuer saying I knowe my Lorde and moste gratious God that albeit my sinnes be great enormous and innumerable yet is the satisfaction which thy moste obedient sonne my Sauiour Iesus Christe hath geuen thee both for these of mine and of al the whole world farre greater more pretious and more infinite I knowe like-wise that thine incomprehensible mercie and pietie doth farre surpasse al my miserie and impietie and therefore wil I not dispaire as Cain and Iudas did especially knowing howe this should be to adde a greater offence to my former trespasses sith dispaire is that which moste of al displeaseth dishonoureth and offendeth thee yea rather wil I hope in the multitude of thy mercies which thou haste vsed towardes other most vnworthy sinners and sure I am that thine eternal truth and infallible worde neither can ne wil euer deceaue whereby thou haste promised to pardon and receaue such as hope in thee calvpon thy mercy and vnfainedly turne to thee being contrite and sorowful for their sinnes as I am nowe This is the anker wher-vnto thou must cleaue fast and neuer to forsake thy holde albeit the deuils doo what they may to drowne thee as is aforesaid THE FOVRTH temptatiō is quite opposite and contrary to the former This being a rash and fond securitie and ouer-weening a man hath in his owne innocencie for that as Cassian saith when the wilye and coonning fiende can-not induce a man to that excessiue feare and pusilanimitie he thought to haue done and so to haue driuen him downe to desperation then doth he craftilye goe about to post him ouer to the other extreame by drawing him to a daungerous securitie and blind delite and pleasing of him-selfe counterfeiting falslye with him how he hath fought manfullye and wel prepared him-selfe to death and howe he is greatly bounde to God for so many his giftes moste plentifully bestowed vpon him
for so is moste expedient forsomuch as the thinges that are here intreated of sith they be the rules and remembrances which thou oughtest in spiritual life to leuel and guide thy worke by it behoueth at al times to reade them when thou purposest to practise thē For besides that the bare reading shal-be a laudable and meritorious exercise for thee and serue as a part of prayer the reiterating and frequētation of reading shal helpe thee to learne by heart what in action thou art bound to execute and so maiest thou afterwardes exercise thee in ech point with much more facilitie and lesse adoo a great deale And therfore albeit this litle labour maye profite eche one that with good and godlye intent wil vouchsafe to reade it yet was it principally intended for the simple and more ignorant sort and for that cause haue I thought good to annexe here in the end such thinges as many of them wot not and yet are bound to knowe Seing that if euerye Artisan thinke it meete to knowe such thinges as belonge vnto his Art howe much more is a true Christian bound to knowe what appertaineth to his profession an Arte aboue al Artes and to be prepared as the Apostle S. Peter saith to yeeld accompt of that he beleeueth and hopeth and what it behooueth him to doo to liue according to Gods wil and pleasure and to obteine euerlasting life withal Wherefore for such as be in this behalfe blame-woorthye negligent I haue here set downe such thinges as without daunger of their owne wel-doing they neither ought nor can be ignorant of that by reading these notes and short remembrances they may both vnderstande what they want and learne it here commodiously without further seeking of other bookes And as for the textes I haue here set them foorth both in the latine and vulgar tonge for euery one to learne them as best shal like thē not respecting so much the wordes as the substance and sapp conteined in the same SIMBOLVM APOSTOLORVM which in vulgare tonge is called the Creede 1. CREDO in Deū Patrem Omnipotentem Creatorem coeli terrae 2. Et in Iesum Christum filium eius vnicum Dominum nostrum 3. Qui conceptus est de Spiritu Sancto natus ex Maria virgine 4. Passus sub Pontio Pilato crucifixus mortuus sepultus 5. Descendit ad inferos tertia die resurrexit à mortuis 6. Ascendit ad coelos sedit ad dextram Dei Patris Omnipotentis 7. Inde venturus est iudicare viuos mortuos 8. Credo in Spiritum Sanctum 9. Sanctam Ecclesiam Catholicam Sanctorum Communionem 10. Remissionem peccatorum 11. Carnis Resurrectionem 12. Vitam aeternam Amen 1. I beleeue in God the Father Almightie Maker of heauen and earth 2. And in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our Lord. 3. Which was conceaued by the holy Ghost born of the virgin Marye 4. Suffred vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified deade and buried 5. Descended into hel the third day he rose againe from the deade 6. Ascended into heauen sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almightie 7. From thence he shal come to iudge both the quicke and the deade 8. I beleeue in the holy Ghoste 9. The holy Catholike Churche the Communion of Saintes 10. The forgeuenes of sinnes 11. The Resurrection of the bodye 12. And the life euerlasting Amen A BRIEFE declaration of the. 12. Articles conteined in the Crede ¶ Cap. 30. FOR thy better remembring of these xij Articles conteined in the Creede aforesaid wherin the whole summe of our holy Catholike fayth is comprehended I haue thought good in this second impression to adioyne a briefe declaration as-wel thereof as also of such other thinges as be needful for thee to haue by hart Wherby thou maiest easily learn not onely to rehearse the bare wordes but to sucke out the sense and sapp also of that which thou beleeuest con fessest and witnessest or at least wise oughtest to doo in al thy life and actions It is therfore for declaration of this Creede or Simbole to be noted howe God being one in substance three in person al the three persons of the most sacred and souerain Trinitie are in this Creede especified and vnto eche one of them their peculier and proper Articles assigned THE FIRST Article sheweth vnto vs the first person of the Trinitie to wit the Father vnto whom is attributed the creation of heauen earth and of al things visible and inuisible al the which as he for vs hath by his Omnipotencie created of nothing so doth he forovs through his wisdome and goodnes still mainteine and gouerne them whereby we are done to wit what great loue we are bounde to beare towarde this our so good a father who hath for vs created and kept so manye thinges What trust we may also repose in him and howe greatly we ought to dreade the offending of so omnipotent a Father THE SECOND Article declareth vnto vs the second person of the sacred Trinitie which is the Sonne who touching his diuinitie is from al eternitie ingendred of his Father of the self-same substaunce with his father and coequal to him This one only and eternal sonne of God as he tooke humane nature and fleshe vppon him is called Iesus Christe that is to saye Sauiour annointed IESVS which signifieth Saurour for that he came to saue and redeeme his people from their sinnes and CHRISTE which is as much to say as annointed for that he was annointed by the holye Ghoste ful of grace and truth He is also called MESSIAS whom God had erst promised to sende into the worlde a KING BISSHOP and LORDE for that he bought vs with his most precious bloud and thereby is geuen vs to vnderstande howe much we are bound to honour loue and reuerence him THE THIRD Article teacheth vs the incarnation and temporal natiuitre of this our Lord for that being as God eternally engendred of his father without mother he for our loue descended frō heauen and tooke humane fleshe vpon him and was as man conceaued without father or operation of man in that most sacred vessel the virginal wombe of the euermore virgin Mary and was afterwardes borne in Bethlcem of this his blessed mother she remayning euermore a virgin By this incarnation of the 〈◊〉 of God we are al of vs regenerated of carnal that we were made spiritual and the children of God in Iesus Christe THE FOVRTH Article doth informe vs of the Passion death and burial of our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe who hauing preched and done many miracles for the space of three yeres the Iewes of meere spite and malice accused him to Pontius Pilate their Iudge who albeit he wist wel his innocencie and cleernes frō any crime yet did he adiudge him to suffer death vpon the Roode and so was he by that means crucified dead and buried whose holy wounds passion Crosse
and death were causes of our life and yeeld great consolation to al such as sincerely doo loue and serue him THE FIFT Article openeth to vs howe Christe our Redeemer being thus deade on the roode his most sacred soule vnited to his diuinitie discended downe to hel to fetche thence those holye Fathers that so many yeres had looked for him And afterwardes triumphing ouer death as he had alreadie done ouer the deuil and hel did rise vp the third daye by his owne power and vertue and so issued out of his Sepulchre immortal and most glorious This his example geueth hope to eche one beleeuing sinceerly in him that they shal in th' ende rise like-wise vp immortal and right glorious THE SIXT Article instructeth vs howe our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christe the fortie daye after his Resurrection did with exceeding triumph ascend vp to heuen and sitteth there on the right hand of his Almightie Father that is to say in the self-same glory power and Maiestie with the Father enioying al the blisse his Father doeth and gouerning al thinges with him This glorious Ascension of Christe our head yeeldeth confidence to his true members that if they obey their head and heauenlye captaine they shal one day ascende also and reigne in heauen with him THE SEVENTH Article telleth vs of the second comming of Christe our Lorde which shal-be at the last day when he shal in humane fleshe come with great power and Maiestie accompanied with al his holye angels to iudge the vniuersal world as-wel those that be at that time liuing in erth as also al those that haue beene dead since the worlde was first created thē shal he yeeld reward to ech one according to the deedes and workes they shal haue wrought This article admonisheth vs to liue with so much more vigilant care and watchfulnes as we knowe more certainlye that al our woordes woorkes and thoughtes are to be examined and discussed of this moste dreadful Iudge before whose tribunal seate we must needes al of vs appere THE EIGHT Article sheweth vs the third person of the moste sacred Trinitie which is the holy Ghoste who proceedeth from the Father and the sonne and is with them the selfe same God eternal and omnipotent And therfore are we bound with the selfe same honour faith and dutiful obeisance to reuerence adore him This is the comforter and spirite of truth that illuminateth teacheth and sanctifieth vs and according to his diuine pleasure departeth his giftes to euery one IN THE ninth Article we confesse that there is a holye Catholike Church to wit an vniuersal congregation of the faithful which haue the very self-same faith doctrine and Sacramentes And this Church is HOLY because it is sanctified by Christ the head therof and gouerned by the holye Ghost and is CATHOLIKE that is to say vniuersal for that it embraceth al the faithful that in euerye place and time haue helde and doo holde one selfe same faith of Christe We confesse like-wise in this Article that in this holye and vniuersal Churche or congregation there is a communion of Saintes that is to say that al those that dwel in this Churche doo as in the house of God al of them communicate one with an-other such giftes as they receaue and doo one of them helpe an-other both spiritually and corporally like members al of one body THE TENTH Article propoundeth to vs the remissiō and forgeuenes of our sinnes which is obteined in this holy Catholike Church aboue saide by the vertue of Christes passion operating by meanes of such holy Sacramentes as he left in this same Churche Hence are sinners to gather a singuler comfort sithens if they be truely penitent for their trespasses and haue a ful purpose neuer after to offende their maker they haue then a redy means to recouer Gods grace again which by their vngratiousnes they had so lewdly lost THE ELEVENTH Article testifieth the vniuersal resurrection of al men who eche one of them iust or vniust shal rise againe in the last day of iudgement with their owne bodies and shal stand before the tribunal of Christes iudgement there to receaue doome in their bodies according to the good or euil they shal haue wrought in this life So that the elect that haue done good shal arise with bright and beautiful bodies to the resurrection of life and perpetual blisse and happines And the damned that haue done euil with moste horrible and vggly bodies to the resurrection of damnation and euerlasting tormentes both in their soules and bodies THE TWELFTH Article promiseth vs an euerlasting life which shal succeede after this transitorye life wherin the good rising vp in bodies and soules shal reigne eternally and enioye the inestimable treasures of blessed happines exempted from al miseries and toils that in this temporal life doo eftsons trouble vs And the wicked being also in body and soule resuscitate shal dwel in perpetual paines and abide more terrible tormentes then any mans tonge can tel This article geueth good Christians cōfort to abide al aduersitie with patience considering that eternal life we looke and hope for where being exempt from al euil we shal enioy al good thinges and reigne in euerlasting happines This worde Amen annexed to the end sheweth the most certain and infallible truth of the christian fayth confessiō conteined in this Creede THE DECALOGVE or tenne Commaundementes of the lawe of God 1. NON ae habebis Deos alienos coram me 2. Non assumes nomen Domini Dei in vanum 3. Memento vt diem Sabathi sanctifices 4. Honora patrem tuum matrem tuam 5. Non occides 6. Non moechaberis 7. Non furtum facies 8. Non loqueris contra proximum falsum testimonium 9. Non concupisces domum proximi tui 10. Non desiderabis vxorem eius 1. Thou shalt haue none other Gods but me 2. Thou shalt not take the name of thy Lorde God in vaine 3. Remēber that thou keep holy the Saboth day 4. Honour thy father and thy mother 5. Thou shalt not kil 6. Thou shalt not committ aduoultry 7. Thou shalt not steale 8. Thou shalt not beare false witnes against thy neighbour 9. Thou shalt not couet thy neighbours house 10. Thou shalt not desire thy neighbours wife A DECLARATION of the Decalogue or tenn Commaundements ¶ Cap. 31. LIKE as we haue alreadie seene in the Creede what we are bound to beleeue euen so in these tenn commaundementes are we taught by our Lorde God what his wil is that we doo to gaine euerlasting life withal Wherefore the summe of his first precept is this to beleeue in one true and onely God which is the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghoste as is aforesaide in the declaration of the Articles and that to him alone we geue adoration honour and reuerence louing this our God aboue al things with al our heart with al our soule and
goods either priuily or pertly against the owners wil as also ech other vnlawful seasing or with-holding of others substance be it by stealth violence or any fraude and legerdemain or els by vsurie or some kind of other vnlawful bargaine whereby our neighbour is defrauded and suffreth some losse and hinderance It foloweth therfore that who so in their trades and traffiques vse not equitie and vpright dealing offend against this precept Such also as discharge not their Creditours hauing meanes to pay them or that find any lost thing and restore it not either to the true owner or to the poore the owner being not extant if haply such thinges were not reputed as geuen ouer and voluntarily abēdoned of the owner Finally al fraude deceipt and tretcherie whereby our neighboures goodes is damnified to whom our Sauiour and Lorde wil haue vs to beare great loue and charitie and not to doo other-wise to them then willingly we would that they should do to vs yea that we doo them the good which they maye conuenientlye require and we likewise performe towardes them Who so faileth in anye of these thinges aforesaid doth break and violate this commaundement IN THE eight precept is al such harme forbidden as through our speeche and wordes may be procured to our neighbours as might be principally in bearing false witnes against them in place of iudgement or in speaking suche wordes out of iudgement as might eyther blemishe or quite ouerthrowe our neighbours credite and good name In like maner to reueale suche imperfections and faultes as we knowe by others to them that knowe them not not wherby they are either defamed or els made lesse accompt of especially when such thinges are reuealed with wicked intent and to those that can by no meanes redresse them By this precept is like-wise forbidden al detractions murmuringes speaking euil slaundering of others al scoffing taunting and telling of lies albeit without harme or any preiudice to our neighbours Finally we must beware of speaking or saying anye thing whereby anye harme might any wayes ensue THE NINTH precept is as a declaration of the seuenth thereby to notifie vnto vs the better what charitie God wil haue vs to vse towardes our neighbours and howe farre we ought to be from doing them anye euil being not onely forbidden to take their goodes by outward means from them but also not to desire inwardly in our heartes any vnlawful vsurpation of them And like as the desire and coueting of these thinges is prohibited vs euen so are wee to witt that eche other deliberate wil and desire of any thing what-soeuer that may be preiudicial to our neighbour is vtterly forbidden vs. THE TENTH precept is as a declaration of the sixt to doo vs the better to vnderstand what puritie of heart our Lord requireth of vs wherby we ought not onely to beware of committing aduoultrie fornication or any other carnal act as was abouesaid in the sixt but also not to haue any concupiscence or desire with determinate consent which suffiseth without committing any outwarde act to soile our soules and to procure the losse of Gods diuine grace and fauour towards vs This briefe declaration of these tenne commaundementes shal geue thee some light aswel to know the better how to keepe them as also to vnderstand howe to make thy confession better when haply thou mightest haue trespassed against any of these preceptes Note moreouer that al these tenne commaundementes are according to our Sauiors doctrine reduced vnto two of charitie towardes God and towardes our neighbour sithens who so loueth God sincerely performeth duely the three preceptes of the first table perteyning to Gods honour and who so loueth his neighbor with that sinceritie he doth him-selfe wil not faile in the seuen preceptes of the second table which instruct eche one howe to gouerne thē-selues towards their neighbours OVR LORDES praver which Christ him-selfe made instructing thereby both his disciples and al vs howe we ought to pray and aske for al necessary thinges as-wel for our soules as bodies and this in seucn petitions conteined in thi prayer PATER noster qui es in coelis 1. Sanctificetur nomen tuum 2. Adueniat Regnum tuum 3. Fiat voluntas tua sicut in coelo in terra 4. Panem nostrum quotidianum da nobis hodie 5. Et dimitte nobis debita nostra sicut nos dimittimus debitoribus nostris 6. Et ne nos inducas in temptationem 7. Sed libera nos à malo Amen OVR Father which art in heauen 1. Hallowed be thy name 2. Thy kingdome come 3. Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen 4. Geue vs this day our dayly bread 5. And forgeue vs our trespasses as we 〈◊〉 them that trespasse against vs. 6. And leade vs not into temptation 7. But deliuer vs from euil Amen A DECLARATION of the Pater noster ¶ Cap. 32. THIS prayer is of al other the most holy and most excellent as-wel in respect of the maker Iesus Christe our Lorde and Sauior as also for that vnder so smal a compasse is taught vs howe we are to aske al that is needful for our souls and bodies and is deuided into a preface or proeme and seuen petitions THE preface is Our Father which art in heauen fitt wordes to stirre vp such attention and deuotion as is meete to say this prayer withal for hereby are we put in minde how we speake to the moste high and Omnipotent God whom we cal father for twoo causes first by creation hauing created vs as he did al other creatures next by adoption sith through Iesus Christe his onely natural sonne he hath receaued al those that beleeue in his holy name for his children adoptiue and this word Our Father doth vs to witt what honor obedience and loue we are bound to beare towardes such a father as also what charitie we ought to haue amongst our selues being al brethren and children of one self-same Father These wordes Which art in heauen warne vs to lift vp our heartes and desires to heauen where our father is and howe we must liue here not like terrestral but celestial Citizens sith our Father is resident aboue in heauen Who is saide to be there for that he appereth there glorious to his elect albeit he be in eche other place in the selfe same substance power and presence THE FIRST petition is Halowed be thy name and is a petition worthy the childrē of such a father sith good childrē the principal care they haue is to seeke and desire whatsoeuer concerneth the reuerence and honour of their Father Euen so doo we in this first petition couet and desire that God our father be halowed and sanctified in vs that is that he be knowē honoured and reuerenced of vs we by his grace performing such works wherby al those that see vs maye prayse and glorifie this our heauenly
iniquities howe may I present my selfe before thee what can I hope for at thy handes but the tormentes due vnto my trespasses What shal it be other to receaue thee then with mine impudencie more hemously to offēd thee what other to eate thee then to eate a iudgement and condemnation for my soule Neuerthelesse Lord albeit my sins astonish me although the greatnes of thy maiestie appal me yet doth thine incomparable mercy which surpasseth al thy workes cause me to haue confidence thine ineffable bountie maketh me to hope and trust in thee thy most benigne clemencie emboldeneth me to appere and present my self before thee for looke how much my miserie and vnwoorthines is greter and so much thy mercy shal shine forth brighter vouchsafing to admitt him to the foode of angels feast who acknowledgeth him-self of al men to be the most vile and wretchedst I remember me O my Comforter of those most sugred wordes which thou spakest wandring vp downe in this worldly pilgrimage and comforting the poore and feeble the wretched and sinne-ful such as I my selfe am the which wordes O Lorde doo in like maner greatly comfort me and geue me courage to creepe and come vnto thee sith this is my fixed fayth that what thou didst thē say thou like-wise sayest nowe and what then thou diddest thou art readie now to doo Thou sayedst Come to me al ye that trauaile and are loden and I wil refresh you Beholde me toiled and troubled with my trespasses who stand great neede and require thy refresshing Thou saiedst that the soun de haue no neede of the phisition but the sicke and feeble and how thou camest not to cal righteous men but sinners and therefore was it publikely spoken of thee howe thou receauedst sinners and diddest eate and drinke with them Al this maketh wel for me and geueth me cause of great trust and consolation sith I knowe my selfe to be sick sinful and more miserable then any man Beholde me therfore ô heauenly phisi tion I offer and exhibite my self here vnto thee to be eured and healed of thee Behold howe I come slarued to thy table desiring to eate of this strong and delicate foode which may geue me true and euerlasting life for hitherto haue I not through soly fed of other then of leekes and garlike and such like grosse meates of Egipt which were my bane and caused my death and ouerthrowe Remember my God remember thy mercies of old time and impart some part therof vnto me for so requireth my great miserie and most lamentable infirmitie The whole multitude as the Gospel telleth desired to touche thee for that such a meruailous vertue as healed al men issued out of thee The blind came and thou gauest them sight the lepers and thou clensedst them from their leprie the possessed with deuils and thou deliueredst them and finally al that were feeble and annoied thou didst cure remedy and comfort with this meruailous vertue that issued out of thee Wherfore seing thy bountiful clemencie is no deale lessened from that it euer was nor the vertue proceeding from thy fleshe which is geuen vs in this holy Sacrament of lesse efficacie thē aforetime no lesse cure and comfort am I nowe to hope for then they did earst receaue Thou lackest nothing my Lorde requisite for my redresse and wel-fare neither art thou scanted of might sith thou art almightie nor of pitie and clemencie being pitiful without stint and measure nor of loue sith thy charitie is infinite Through loue thou vouchsafedst to be borne for vs through loue thou suffredst most cruel torments for vs through loue thou diedst on the roode for vs and through loue thou haste in this most sweete and sauourie Sacrament vouchsafed to geue thy selfe for foode vnto vs Wel may I therfore hope in thee seing I finde thee suche as I could possiblye wishe thee wel may I expect for cure and comfort of thee seing thou art he who can so easily afford it and redresse my greeuous miserie Wherefore my God my sole delight my tresure and whole wel-fare of my soule abandon me not I beseeche thee but vouchsafe with like charitie and clemencie to receaue me nowe as thou receauedst earst those annoyed and feeble folkes that came for redresse vnto thee Be not angrye Lorde that I so vile and wicked a wretche dare presume to come to thee to touche thee and to receaue thee in this most woorthy Sacramēt no more then that the poore woman that suffered the fluxe shoulde touch thee whom thou comfortedst madest ioyful and gratiouslye gauest her the health which shee desired The flux which I suffer through my sinnes is no deal lesse yea much 〈◊〉 daungerous then hers was and therefore haue I more neede to touch thee thou being he alone who canst afford me my desired health and wel-fare If my manisold and grecuous sinns make me vnwoorthy to appere before thee and thine euerlasting fathers face I crye alowde and craue on thee with thy holy prophete saying Looke not vppon me but vppon the face of thine annointed Christe O most merciful father and so wilt thou receaue me and be fauourable vnto me If my detestable pride and hawtines displease thee and that right woorthely looke vpon Christes most reuerend head perced rounde about with pricking thornes for me If my dishonestie and lasciuiousnes haue offended thee beholde that virginal and most holy flesh of Christe al too torne with moste cruel scourges for me If my wicked workes and disordered step deserue correction looke vpō thy Christ his hāds most holy feete fastned with most spiteful nails to the roode for me If the hardnes of my heart prouoke thee to wrath let Christs most tender and louing hart perced with that cruel launce moue thee to take compassion of me Beholde then euerlasting father beholde thy Christ behold that glittering and bright face whereon the Angels couet to fixe their eyes appaled and bespitted on the roode for me regard that vndistained mirrour distained with strokes and filthie fleame for me beholde those eyes fart passing the sunnie beames in beautie and brightnes ecclipsed and darkned with the shadow of death for me Wherfore O Father of mercies and God of al comfort if heretofore the horror of my monstrous crimes haue prouoked thee to punishment let this most woorthy spectacle of thy Christ moue thee to compassion let the loue thou bearest him be of greater force to pardon and forgeue me then the hatred thou bearest towards my sinnes to correct and punish me We reade of king Dauid accomplished with vertues according to thy heartes desire howe he disdained not to cal a deformed criple to his borde for that he was his deere frende Ionathas sonne meaning therby to honour the sonne not for his owne sake but for the merite and woorthines of his father Disdain not thou then O most merciful Father to admitt me a more vnworthy and
as that I onely liue to thee I onely loue thee I onely delight in thee that thou be my onely ioye my onely comfort my only foode wherwith my soule maye in such sort be refreshed as that al other meats seem lothsome and vnsauourie to it This onely haue I chosen this onely shal suffice me with this alone wil I liue contented satisfied and happy vntil that most desired day come when I shal feede of thee in another forme and enioye thee continually in the company of al the elect and blessed Saintes of thy celestial court where with the Father and the holye Ghost thou liuest and reignest euerlastingly Amen PRAYERS THE Translatour of this Treatise 〈◊〉 earnestly good Christian Reader to be remembred in thy praiers and that other-whiles of thy charitable deuotion which shal not be vnrewarded thou wilt offer for him to God these fewe lines in maner folowing O LORDE of infinite maiestie and mercy who desirest not the death but the deliuerance of a sinner take pitie vpō thy seruant N. and pardon his moste greeuous trespasses Graunt him grace to knowe thee and to knowe him-selfe Geue him the vertues of humilitie patience temperance chastitie and perfect resignation Deliuer him frō mortal siun during life and in the hour of death strengthen him in faith and firme hope of finding mercy So that scaping the daungers of his enemies both in his life time and in that last most dreadful houre of death he maye through thy gratious goodnes attaine to euerlasting happines there to praise thee the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost one God eternallye Graunt this O Lorde for our Mediatour and only Redeemer Iesus Christe his sake Amen Non nobis Domine non nobis sed Nomini tuo da gloriam Thy sugred name O Lorde Engraue within my brest Sith therein doth consist My weal and onely rest TO THE READER I HAVE thought good gentle Reader folowing herein the aduise of certaine vertucus and learned men to annexe in the ende of the former most excellent Treatise these few praiers that folow moued therto chiefly with this reason that such as haue not ben erst exercised in the maner of praying prescribed by the Authour might here see some practise of his preceptes touching gouernment on morninges and euenings the two especial times wheron depend the whole course of a wel-ordered life as also touching the disposition requisite both before and after confessiō with some such other prayers as I demed most necessary here to present vnto thee I hope if thou beest a Nouice and delighted with the former worke this my smale paine shal not seeme vnprofitable vnto thee which I beseech thee to vse to thine auaile whiles thou wantest better meanes And this must I say for the better credite of that which foloweth how it is not I that am the authour thereof but other famous men of the same liuery that the former is God requite al our benefactors spiritual especially and geue thee Reder such good by this whole worke as the Authours thereof doo wish thee and my poore hart affordeth thee A PRAYER 〈◊〉 be sayde in the morning before al other busines MY LORDE God and most benigne Sauiour Iesus Christe who when I was not diddest create and make me capable of thee the soueraine and only good and being made a thral and bondslaue through my fore-fathers trespasse diddest redeeme me with thy most pretious bloud and losse of thy sacred life abiding the tormentes due to my trespasses to acquit and ridd me from the same For these O Lorde and al other thine inestimable benefites namely for hauing preserued me this night past I yeelde thee moste humble zealous and obedient thankes offring my selfe whollye to thee as I am wholly thine beseeching thee also of thine infinit clemēcie to preserue me this day from any waies offending thee and to direct al my thoughtes wordes and workes to thine euerlasting glory Mine estate and calling is as thou knowest O Lorde inuironed with many difficulties here is eche one to weigh their vocation and the dangers it is subject too and through mine euil customes and wicked inclinations hardlye can I without thy special assistance passe this daye without offending in these sinnes Here must eche one cal to mind the vices he is most prone too Refreshe therfore O Lorde my concupiscence with the dewes of thy diuine grace and geue me strength to fight more manfully and to subdue al wicked suggestions Truely Lord here in humilitie and sinceritie of heart I protest neuer willingly by thy gratious fauoure to offende thy lawes and commaundementes anye more I detest al sinne and what may any wayes displease thee I desire to loue thee feare thee and serue thee this day and euermore and to direct al mine actions to thine honour and glorye Assist me Lorde with thy grace and enriche my pouertie with the plentie of thy merits Wherfore in the vnion of that charitie wherewith thou descendest from heauen into the blessed virgins wombe and afterwardes offredst vp thy selfe on the roode in sacrifice for our sinnes in the vnion of this thine incomprehensible charitie I offer vnto thee what-soeuer I shal doo thinke or speake this day Here may we briefly discourse wherin we are like to passe ouer the day beseeching thee through thy merciful goodnes to accept gouerne and enriche al in such sort as thy glorye may be therby procured my neighbours wel-fare occasioned and mine owne soule better fortified and prouided To thee my sweete and only Iesus Christ with the father and the holy Ghost be al glorye and praise euerlastingly Amen Pater noster Aue Maria. Credo c. A PRAYER to be saide to bed warde applied to the excellent instructions of the third Chapter aboue 1. SOVERAINE dreadful and most louing Lorde my God who neuer ceassest to shew thy mercy towardes sinners yea when they offende and trespasse against thee such is thine infinit clemencie and loue as then thou forbearest not to heape thy benefites vpon them I moste sinful and wicked wretche yeeld thee humble thankes for thine ineffable goodnes shewed towardes me in creating me to thine own likenes and making me capable of thine euerlasting glorye for the creation of so many other creatures for my behoufe and sustenance and for that inestimable worke of my redemption wherby thou deliueredst me from the slauerie of Satan and purchasedst me free entraunce into thy celestial Region These pointes may be fruitfully particularised according to eche one their skil and deuotion for hauing singled me amongst so many millions that know thee not and lye drow ned in ignorance and miserable errours to be thy seruaunt and a true Catholike Christian for al thy blessed Sacramentes especially for that sacrament aboue al sacraments wherin thou art thy selfe most really conteined for hauing preserued me so many times from hel wherin I had beene longe since plunged had not thou of thine inspeakable goodnes susteined and deliuered me
I may feele iust remorse and sorowe for euery sinne and imperfection what soeuer And that I may the better performe this graunt me grace my sweete Sauiour Iesus Christe that I may perseuer in discussing my conscience euery night more diligently thē other according to the good instructions it hath plesed thee by thy seruauntes to impart vnto me and that eche morning I may so happily beginne the day by offering thee the firste fruites of al mine actions as that the rest thereof may euermore be passed to thy glory As for my Penance that is enioyned me and not performed alreadie fauourably I beseeche thee to assist me both in the perfect remembring therof and in the diligent executing in good time And graunt that by thus endeuouring my self daily thorough thy grace to amende my life I may both liue and dye a true Penitent and obteine through the merits of thy blessed passion a ful forgeuenes of my sinnes in this world and in th' other the life eternal wherto thou hast created me To thee mine onely Sauiour Iesus Christ with the Father and the Holy Ghoste one God be al honour praise and glory euerlastinglye Amen A VERY fitt praier to be saide before Masse wherein we exercise very fruitfully our faith and prepare our selues to heare it with dutiful attention O MOST puissant and louing Lorde who haste of thine infinite mercy vouchsafed that thine only sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christe should before his doleful death ordeine his bodye and bloudd to be consecrated in thy Churche by vertue of thy worde in a most miraculous and dreadful misterie graunt me grace I beseech thee O Lorde that as of thy singuler loue towardes vs thou hast ordeined this diuine Sacrament to make vs alwaies mindful of the merits purchased vnto vs by the death of thy deere sonne our Sauiour so I maie with due reuerence and diligent remembrance of those his most bitter tormentes assist here whiles thy seruaunt celebrateth this misterie and offer vp my praiers in most obedient wise vnto thee The souerain desire thou haddest of our wel-fare O Lorde was that which moued thee to leaue vs this moste diuine sacrifice of the Masse that like as thy triumphant Churche hath her sacrifice aboue so thy militant Churche might haue her sacrifice belowe For like as in heauen thy sonne dailie offereth him-selfe vnto thee for bethouse appering before thy face in a visible and glorious maner so hast thou vouch safed that in earth he should dailie be offered to thee by the function of priestes for our sinnes in a maner inuisible and proportionable to our frailtie Yet is it al one onelie and the selfe same Iesus Christe thy sonne and al our profite and auaile is whollie deriued from the Tree of the holie Roode This misterie most mightie Lorde is farre surpassing al humane capacitie and yet right easie for those to beleeue that haue in time sucked the sweete sapp of thy most sauorie and wholesome doctrine For mine owne part Lorde I beleeue through thy gratious goodnes simply whatsoeuer thy holie Catholike Apostolike and Roman Church teacheth me either touching this or anie other of thy most diuine misteries and doctrines and confesse vndoubtedly that as thou hast said that body and bloud is conteined in this most sacred Sacrament and the same bodye to be like-wise on the right hand of thy Father in heauen so beleue I them both most assuredly and th' one as firmelye as th' other seing one is as-wel the wil and worke of the Word God and man as is the other and to be in earth in heauen and in many places at once is in thy power to doo it most easily as thou doest and is in my power through thy grace to beleeue it most constantlye as I doo Herein I vtterly renounce my sence and al mans vnderstāding and cleue only to thy diuine and inexplicable Omnipotencie who as thou madest al things of nothing so canst thou alter and dispose of al thinges at thy wil and pleasure Nowe therefore I beseeche thee most omnipotent and mightie God to driue awai al distractions and wicked thoughts out of my minde that I may attend the celebration of this heauenly misterie with feare and reuerent humilitie Sanctifie also I beseech thee his spirite who is here to present him-selfe before thee to celebrate this diuine Sacrifice to th' ende that he may woorthely doo it to thine honour and glorye his owne auaile and the benefite of al others Geue me grace that by the reuerent ceremonies which are here to be vsed I mai be put in mind of thy most painful torments which they doo represent and that I mai adore thee in thy imperial Sacrament with souerain dread and lowlines This by thy grace I purpose this by thy grace I hope to performe Accept therfore O Lorde to thine honour our welfare and the vnitie of thy Churche the bodie and bloud of our Sauiour thy sonne Iesus Christe offered thee in this Sacrifice Incline thine eares O Lorde to the praiers of thine afflicted flocke and mercifullie restore thy true religion where it is lacking Open the eies of the blind and make them know their errors Relieue the distressed the captiues and the sicke in the vertue of this sacrament Geue grace to the liuing and perpetual place of rest and quietnes to those which are departed in thy faith for the merits of our onely Sauiour thy sonne Iesus Christe to whom with thee and the holy Ghost one God be al renowme praise and soueraintie for euermore Amen ANOTHER short praier to be saide likewise before Masse O MY soueraine Lorde and Sauioure Iesus Christe O Lampe of light and truth I most miserable wretche humbly beseeche thee to stanche my wandring mind in such sort as I maie with due 〈◊〉 and attention assist and waite here in thy imperial presence whiles thou procurest this so important an affair with thy eternal father for my wel fare and of al man-kind Illuminate my soule and stirre vp my lumpish heart O sonne of true Sapience and Iustice with the bright nes of thy countenance that I maie here with a grateful and deuout memorie cal to mind that sacrifice of obedience patience and mosle inflamed charitie which thou being wrapt in extreme woes and ignominious reproches diddest offer vppon the roode with thy life and euerie dropp of thy most sacred bloud to thi celestial Father for our sins Amē AN EXCELLENT praier and adoration to be made in the presence of the blessed Sacrament I MOST wicked wretche and vnwoorthie Christian bow down before my Lorde who hath made and redeemed me who fostreth and susteineth me and euermore remaineth life and veritie O Iesus Christe very God and mē I adore thee here present and cal vppon thee not doubting any whitt at al of the verie real presence of thy flesh and bloud viuificant nor of the presence of thy pretious bodie and most sacred soule Ah Lorde that I coulde in
such sort knowe beholde loue and laude thee as so many millions of Angels doo with soueraine ioy and gladnes behold thee knowing louing and lauding thee perfectly without being euer weried in doing 〈◊〉 and due obeisance vnto thee I salute thee O sauegarde of my soule eternal word of the father true sacrifice flesh viuificant entier diuinitie eternal life O most pretious Treasure replenished with al delight the harbour and resting place of pure and cleane heartes O 〈◊〉 viande O celestial and most excellent breade O eternal word of the father which art for vs made fleshe and yet remainest God in the verye selfe same person I confesse thee most vndoubtedly to be true God and true man consecrated after a miraculous maner on the Aultar Thou art the assured hope and the true saluation of sinners Thou art the 〈◊〉 Restoratiue of those that languishe Thou art the 〈◊〉 Treasure of poore distressed pilgrims Halowed be thy name therefore most sweete Sauiour Iesus Christe Al thy creatures sound forth praises and thanks-geuinges to thee for the 〈◊〉 wher-with thou tenderedst our welfare by descending downe from 〈◊〉 and offering vp thy noble 〈◊〉 and innocent bodie on the 〈◊〉 of the roode for our redemption and that after thy Resurrection and Ascension thou didst vouchsafe for our wel-fare and consolation to leaue vs with ineffable loue the selfe-same thy liuely and immortal bodie conteined in this most venerable Sacrament as a memorial of thy departure and paune of the peerlesse loue thou bearest vs. O Lambe of God that takest away the sinnes of the world haue mercie vpon vs and graunt vs thy peace Refreshe also our soules with spiritual foode and comfort especially at the latter ende of our daies that neither in life nor death we depart frō thee nor be depriued at any time of thy celestial benedictions thou which liuest and reignest with God the Father and the holy ghost in al eternitie Amen A PROTESTATION to be made in time of sicknes according to the instructions of the. 27. Chapter aboue Say first the Creede and then in maner folowing I PROTEST here before Almightie God my maker and Redeemer before the blessed virgin Marye and al the whole Court of heauen namely before my Gardian Angel and al you that are here assistant about me that by Gods grace I minde to liue and dye in this faith I haue here protessted according as the holy Catholike and Romane Church vnderstandeth it and that I wil euermore by Gods grace remain in the vnion of the bodie of this Churche vnder the head our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christe and his Vicar here in earth And if anie word that sounded contrary hereto should by dotage escape out of my mouth I protest here that it is not mine but onely that which I haue aboue protested A PRAYER to God and to al his blessed Saintes for al thinges necessarye for our selues and our neighbours MOST bountiful pitiful and most merciful Father haue mercie and pitie vpon me who for al mine offences and those of the whole world offer the life passion and paineful death of thine onely sonne vnto thee I present vnto thee al that he hath moste patiently abidden for my sake I offer vnto thee his most holie heart conuerted into honie through the greatnes of the loue he bare me I offer thee the merits of his most sacred mother and of al thy holie Saintes that it maie please thee for their sakes to pardon me my sinnes to take pitie vpon me and that al glory and renowme maie thereby redounde to thee euerlastingly Amen MOST SWEETE Iesus my Soueraine Lorde and Sauiour take pitie and compassion vpon me for the infinite multitude of thy mercies I thanke thee most humbly for the innumerable benefits which I haue receaued and daily doo receaue of thy most bountiful liberalitie I thanke thee for thy most sacred incarnation thy most pure natiuitie thy moste cruel passion for al the effusions of thy most sacred bloud and for thy most ignominious and doleful death I beseech thee most louing and merciful Lorde that it maie please thee to make me partaker of al thy merits that being incorporate and made one selfe same thing with thee through loue and imitation of thy most holie life I may merite to depende and be nourished of thee as a braunche of the vine seing thou art the true vine and the life of al faithful persons wherby al glorie and honour is due to thee for euermore Amen O HOLY Ghost my Comforter helpe and succour me I moste humblie beseeche thee I commend vnto thee my soule bodie and whatsoeuer I haue within or without me and resigne and yeeld vp into thy handes al the whole course and last ende of my life Graunt me Lorde that I maye perseuer thy faithful seruant euen til the last breath doing true and sincere penance for my trespasses and that I sorow and lament them moste hartely before my soule depart this miserable habitation I know right wel Lord that whiles I liue in this world I am blinde feeble and fal with great facilitie into the snares of mine affections I straye verye easily and am easily seduced and beguiled of mine enemies I present therfore and offer al vp into thy handes shrouding my selfe vnder thy most soueraine protection Defende Lorde defende this thy poore seruaunt from al euil Illuminate mine vnderstanding gouerne my soule direct and guide my bodie fortifie my courage against the disordinate dulnes of my heart and against the innumerable scruples which crosse and cruelly encounter it And graunt me grace to loue thee with al delight and sweetnes and that wholly I may be inflamed in thy loue fulfilling at al times and in al places thy moste soueraine behestes And thou be alwaies blessed and thanked for euermore Amen I ADORE reuerence and glorifie thee O most sacred Trinitie God Almightie the Father the Sonne and the holye Ghoste I prostrate and humble my selfe whollye before thy dreadful and diuine maiestie and abandon my selfe for euer vnto thy most holy wil. Expel Lorde and banish quite out of me and of al faithful persons what-soeuer offendeth thee and geue vs that which is grateful and acceptable to thy most soueraine eyes Bring to passe O Lorde that we maye be euen such as thou wouldest haue vs I commend vnto thy sacred protection al this whole familie and al the cause and affaires of euery one be thei spiritual or temporal I commend vnto thee al my parentes brethren kinsfolkes benefactours frendes and acquaintance as also al those whom I am bounde to praye for and that either haue done or presentlye doo commende them selues to my poore deuotions Procure Lorde that al obey thee serue thee and that al in perfect vnitie doo loue thee Reduce the wandrers to the right way extinguish al heresies and schismes conuert to thy faith al those that yet are ignoraunt of thy holye name Graunt vs peace and mainteine vs therin as thou
shalt thinke it best and most expedient for our wel-fare Comfort the comfortlesse and ease al those that liue in paine tentation disgrace and spiritual or corporal affliction Finallye I commende al thy creatures to thy most fauourable protection that it may please thee to geue grace to the liuing and perpetual rest and quietnes to the deade I SALVTE thee O most beautiful and glittering lillie of the gratious and pleasant spring-time moste sacred virgin Mary I salute thee O odoriferous floure of diuine suauitie I salute thee O louely Rose of celestial delightes whereon our Sauiour Iesus Christe the brightnes of his fathers glorie and figure of his substance vouchsafed to be borne and nourished Obteine me gratious Ladie of thy louing sonne what thou seest most needful for my soul. Help most pitiful mother helpe the weaknes and debilitie of my spirite in al my tentations and necessities and vouchsafe to succour me in the hour of death that through thy gratious fauour and helpe I may be assured in so perillous and extreme a daunger O most happie Angelical spirites who with one voice doo with pleasaunt and wel-tuned melodie glorifie our common Lorde and enioye perpetually the taste of his delights take pitie vpon me poore miserable wretche namely thou O holy Angel the gardian of my soule to whom I am especially committed haue thou continually a diligent and careful eye vpon me And yee O Saints of al sortes which are after the nauigation of these rough and stormie seas happily deliuered of this exile and arriued to the harbour of celestial abode be I humblye beseeche you al mine Aduocates and Intercessours praying to our Lorde for me that I maye in fauor of your merites and praiers be not onely fauored of him at this instant but euen to the very last daie and end of this my temporal life Amen A MOST straunge and excellent monument prouing apparantly the Reuerend antiquitie of our Catholike Religion found at Rome in Iuly last past in the yere of our Lorde 1578. and is of al wise men beleeued to be the blessed virgin S. Priscilla her Church-yarde VITHOVT the gate called Salaria about two miles distant from the Citie of Rome it happed that in digging in the vineyard of a certain Spaniard for a blacke sande to build withal which they there cal Puteolana there was as God would haue it discouered by digging some-what deepe a holowe waye vnder earth to the great admiration of al men wherin diuers monumentes and signes of Christian Religion being espied Cardinals Prelates religious persons and al of al sortes as wel Antiquaries as other beganne to repaire thither al affirmig with one voice that it was the blessed virgin S. Priscilla her Churche-yarde which had thus remained vnknowen euen from the time of the inuasions of the Gothes and wherein this moste holie woman as Lady and owner of that grounde with other godly men had before the Christian faith was publikely receaued in those partes buried the bodies of Saints Martirs especially and other faithful Christians and wherin such Christians as were most of al suspected and hated of the Ethnikes were wont to lye hidden and secrete from their enemies In this Church-yard there is one principal and chiefe waie of breadth and height sufficient in the wals whereof are on either side sepulchres cutt out one aboue an-other like to cophins and litle chestes in the fronts wherof were stones that had inscriptions grauen in them both in the Latine and greeke tongues How-beit the moste part of these stones are either taken away hewed out or broken as of the bones there are likewise very many missing Yet for al that are there some forth-comming and extant and of toumbes there are alreadie founde aboue two thousand Out of this maine way there are so many lower and straighter wayes so manye windinges deriued that it seemeth an vnder-earth Citie of deade men and is by reson of the turninges and crooked wayes very intricate euen like a Laberinth the circuit whereof is supposed to be a mile So that none dare rashly hazard thē selues to searche out the place without manye clewes of corde torches and meanes to strike fire with if the lightes they carye in with them might haply be put out There is in an inner roumth a Chappel with a litle Aultar found where the picture of the Crucifix is to to be seene painted with the Images of two Saintes on th one side and of a Matrone on thother side the which is supposed to be the Image of S. Priscilla There is also a Sheppard carying a sheepe on his shoulders to be seene painted in diuers places of this Church-yarde and many times withal S. Ignatius amidst twoo Lions the Sacrifice of Abraham in like maner and a woman holding a sponge in her hand which is demed to be the picture of S. Praxedes whose bodie as also that of her sister Potentiana were ther interred as sacred Stories testifie Ther are also the signs of other Images to be seene which cannot be knowen what they represent through their great oldnes And the place is by reason of the Antiquitie reuerence and Sanctitie so dreadful and of so great a Maiestie as al that enter therein and weigh the matter aduisedly are appalled with a feare and forced to let fal teares By this most woorthie monument we may easily gather howe great the persecutions and miseries as also the pietie of those godly persons were in the primitiue Churche Here may euery man see to the singuler confirmation of our vndoubted and Catholike Religion and of the Catholike rites and obseruances the religion care and diligence which those good frendes of God vsed in the burying of the dead Here maie we witnes apparantly with our eyes howe when those holie and deuout frendes of God could not in the Ethnikes and Idolatours daies paint and reuerence pictures in open place and publike shewe yet did they paint and reuerence them in caues and secrete corners But now O intolerable blind nes of our daies there want not amongst Christians them-selues which dare with rash attempt presume to deface and throw them out of holy Temples Howbeit touching this Church-yarde it is nowe closed vp with gates neither may eche one at their 〈◊〉 enter therein The Lordes also of the vine-yarde and others are commaunded vpon certaine penalties to deliuer the bones and stones that are taken thence to the most Reuerend Vicar of the Citie In the meane time there is consideration had whether a Church is to be erected there or no. FINIS Sit decus immortale Patri Natoq perennis Gloria Spiritus non periturus honor AMEN a 1. Cor. 3. c. 1. Cor. 6. d. 2. Cor. 6. d. b Sap. 1. a. a Psa. 33. b Psal. 33. c Isai. 1. d. 1. Pet. 3. b. 〈◊〉 38. c. a Psal. 31. b Psal. 37. d. b Psa. 50. d c Isai. 38. d. a Psa. 31. b b Psa. 141. a Psal. 31. b a 2. Cor. 112 b 〈◊〉 c Eccl.