morning and saluation in tyme of trouble S. Athanasius l. de virginitate siue meditatione Whether thou rysest or sittest or doest any worke or eatest or goest to bed to sleepe or rysest from bed let not the praise of god be absent from thy lippes S. Ephrem de Panoplia Defend thy selfe with the signe of the crosse signing therewith thy sitting downe and rysing vp thy bed whatsoeuer thinges thou passest by first signe them in the name of the father and of the sonne and of the holy ghost S. Ambros l. 3. virgin Repeate often in thy chaÌ„ber our lordes prayer either when thou awakest or before thou goest to sleepe Our father which art in heauen halowed be thy name thy kingdome come thy c. S. Ephrem ser de laudib sanctiss virg Mariae O Lady o ful of grace moue my tongue and my lippes to sing praises vnto thee and especially that angelical soÌ„ge which the Angel Gabriel did sing vnto thee Haile Mary ful of grace our lord is with thee blessed art thou amoÌ„g women c. S. Ambros sup l. 3. virginit We ought daily to rehearse the Crede in the houres before day I beleue in god the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth and in Iesus Christ his onely sonne our lord c. S. August l. mediat cap. 40. O Lord god omnipotent I commend to thee this day and euer my soule my body my seing hearing tast smelling touching my thoughtes affections speach deedes and al my both external and internal thinges sense and vnderstanding memory my faith and beleefe perseuerance into the hand of thy power that thou vouchsaife to keepe them dayes and nightes houres momeÌ„ts O holy Trinity heare me and preserue me from al euil from al scandal from al mortal sinne from al deceiptes and infestations of deuils and enemies visible and inuisible by the praiers of the Patriarkes by the merits of the Prophets by the intercession of the Apostles by the constancy of Martyrs by the faith of Confessors by the chastity of Virgins and by the supplication of al thy Sainctes that haue pleased thee from the beginning of the world S. Ambrosius in hymn O holy Father now that we haue refreshed our body with sleepe we arise and besech thee to be present with vs praying vnto thee Let our tongue cheifly praise thee and the feruour of our minde seeke after thee to be the beginning of our works Let darknesse geue place to light and the night to day that al offence which the night haith brought may sodainly fal downe We humbly besech thee to cut of al occasion of sinnes that we may praise thee for euer S. Ambros hym ad laud. fer 2. O Brightnesse of the Fathers glory light of light and fountaine of light the day that doth lighten the day and true â—unne come downe into vs shyning with eueâ—lasting brightnesse and infuse into our senses the beame of the holy Spirit With our praiers we cal vpon thee Father Father of eternal glory Father of effectual grace to abaÌ„don our pronesse to sinne informe our diligent actions blunt the teeth of the enemy prosper our aduersities geue vs grace to do our dutie gouerne and rule our minde Aurelius Prudentius in Cathemerin hymn Matâ—tin O Night darknesse confused misty cloudes of the world depart away the skye is bright Christ doth come this hour is profitable for al mâ—â— for euery one to do his businesse that he affecteth souldier Citizen Mariner workman plowman Marchant But we that know thee alone o Christ do learne to pray vnto thee with a pure and single mind thee we besech weping vpon our knees we liue by this art we begin these duties now the Sunne is risen and shyneth Haue a care of our senses and reguard to al our life let so many thinges obscured with darknesse be purged with thy light Commaund that al vncleanes being taken away we continew such as we were made in baptisme Whatsoeuer the night of this world haith infected vs with the dark cloudes thereof Thou the light of the sunne vouchsaife to illuminate with thy cheaâ—ful countenance Let that darknesse now cease which hitherto haith drawne vs headlong with vnhappy steps in wandring errour Let this light bestow clearnes vpon vs make vs cleane that we speak no subtilty and think of nothing that is of darknesse Let the whole day be so spent that neither our tongue nor hand nor eyes commit any sinne nor any offence defyle our body For he that behouldeth al thinges from aboue is present that continually seeth our actions from the beginning of morning to the euening He is witnesse he is arbitrator he behouldeth whatsoeuer mannes minde conceaueth he is the Iudge whom no man can deceaue Missa S. Iacobi Apost receaued Concil Constantinop 6. general Can. 32. LEt vs pray to our Lord to forgeue vs our sinnes and graunt pardon to our offences and deliuer vs from al tribulation anger dauÌ„ger necessity That we may spende al our daies in perfection peace and without sinne Let vs al aske of our Lord the Angel of pâ—ace the faithful guide keper of our soules and bodies Let vs aske of our Lord pardon remission of our sinnes offences Let vs aske of our Lord thinges that are good and profitable to our soules bodies that he wil geue peace to the world Let vs aske of our Lord that we may finish the rest of our life in peace and health Let vs aske of our Lord that we may perseuer in Christian and sincere faith to the end without sorow greif or infamy and a good defence before that fearful and dreadful Tribunal of Christ Let vs aske of Christ for thou art that good Annunciation Illumination Sauiour keeper of our soules and bodies God and thy onely begotten Sonne and thy most holy spirit now and euer and world without end Amen Miss Mozarab The grace of God the Father almighty the loue of our Lord Iesus Christ the communication of the holy Ghost be with vs for euer Meditations and prayers for the morning I Loue them that loue me and they Pro 8. that watch to me in the morning shal finde me In the morning I wil watch vnto Is thee I haue cryed to thee o Lord and Ps 87. in the morning my prayer shal come before thee It is good to confesse vnto our lord Ps 91. sing vnto thy namâ— o most highest to shew forth thy mercy in the morning The people did offer their prayers Exod. â—6 Ps 62. daily in the morning In the morning I wil meditate on thee because thou hast bene my helper The kingdoÌ„ of heaueÌ„ is like an househoulder Mat. 20. that went forth earely in the morning to hyre workemen into his vineyard S. Clem. Roman constitut 55. Apostol l. 2. c. 63. Exhort the people dayly to frequeÌ„t the church in the morning euening and neuer at al to be absent S. Clem.
the suffering of our substance but by alteration of al the world For our Lord hanging in his tormente euery creature did groane with him and al the elementes together did feele the nailes of the Crosse nothing was free from that punishment that drew both earth and heauen to communicate with it that brake the rockes opened the graues vnlocked hel and hid the beames of the Sunne with horrour of grosse darcknesse The world did owe this testimony to his Authour that in the ending of their maker al thinges would haâ—e an end Therefore being deliuered from the power of darcknesse loosed from the bandes of our old capâ—iâ—ity with so great a price so great a Sacrament doe your endeuour o most beloued that by no cunning the deuil corrupt the integrity of your mindes Let al that are regenerated by water the holy Ghost remember whom they haue renounced and by what profession they haue cast of from them selues the yoke of tirannical ouerruling Let them neither in prosâ—erity nor aduersity runne to the deadly help of the deuil If god be for vs Who is against vs Rom. 8. Who spared not his owne Sonne but gaue him for vs al how haith he not also with him geuen vs al thinges who liueth and reigneth world without end Amen A Meditation vpon Christes Pas in Mount Caluary out of S. Athanasius in passion Saluat THey cast lottes for his coate Math. 27. Ps 21. Ps 15. that Christ might be our lotte as the psalmist writeth Our Loâ—de is the portion â—f mine inheritance my cuppe Wherefore he suffereth 4 To this coÌ„sent Tertul. l. 2. cont Marc Basil in c. 5. leuit Epiph. haeres 46. Chrisost ho. 84. in Ioan Ambros l. 5. ep 9. August de temp ser 71. et q. 161. ingen and others not in any other place nor in any other Region but in the place of Caluary 4 which the Maisters of the Hebrewes say was the graue of Adam for they affirme that he was buried there after the curse And if it be so I can not but wonder at the peculiar conueniency fitnesse of his passion for it behoued that our Lord desireous to make a renouation should first renew Adam that his sinne being loosed he might quite take away sinne from mankind And forasmuch as Adam heard spoken vnto him Thou art earth into earth Gen. 3. thou shalt returne So now againe he might heare Be thou raised that sleepest Is 60. arise from the deade and Christ wil lighten thee Aâ—d againe Arise follow Ib. me that thou treâ—â—e not the earth any longer but maiest ascend to heauen For it is needeful that our Sauiour being raised Adam and al descending of him should be also raised with him And as when Adam died we were al dead so also our Lordes body being raised of necessity al must be raised with him For this is the minde of the wordes of Paule writing to the Corinthians Euen as in Adam al men dye so in Christ al shal be 1. Cor. 15. quikned A Direction or Meditation out of S. Bafilâ— q. diffus q. 37. WE iudg praier to be necessary at the Sixt Hour for imitation of the Sainctes that say In the euening and morning Ps 54. Noone-time I wil declare shew and he wil heare my voice And that I may be deliuered from incursion and Noonâ—-time dâ—uil let the 90 psalme be said HE that dwelleth in the aide of This psalme is cited in the prayers for eâ—eniâ—g â—lso by the same S Basile his Direction the highest shal abide in the protection of the god of heauen He wil say to our Lord thou art he that receaueth me and my refuge my god I will ope in him Because he haith deliuered me from the sâ—aâ—e of hâ—ntâ—â—s and from câ—â—el spâ—ach With his shoulders he wil shâ—dow thee and vnder his winges tâ—â—u shalt trust His tâ—uâ—h shal compasse thee about with a shâ—â—ld thou shalt not be affraid of the feare of the night Of the arrow flying in the day of the worke walking in darknesse of incursion and noone-time deuil A thousand shal fal from thy side ten thousandes on thy right hand but he shal not approach to thee But thou shalt behould with thyne eyes and see the rewarde of sinners Because o Lord thou art my hope thou hast appointed the most high for my refuge Euil shal not come to thee and scourge shal not draw neare to thy Tabernacle Because he haith geuen charge to his Angels ouer thee that they keepe thee in al thy waies They shal cary thee in their handes lest peraduenture thou maist hitte thy foote at a stone Thou shalt walke vpon the Aspis Basiliske and treade vnder thy foote the Lyon and Dragon Because he haith trusted in me I wil deliuer him I wil protect him because he haith knowne my name He haith cryed vnto me and I wil heare him with him I am in tribulation I wil deliuer him and I wil glorify â—im I wil replenish him with length of daies and I wil shew vnto him my saluation Glory be to the Father c. A praier vpon the Pâ—ssion out of S. Athanasius in Euang. of the pasion Crosse of Christ WHat must we doe here Nothing els but that we beleue in Christ and liue according vnto him as paule saith Be folowers of me as I also am of Iesus Christ Philip. 3. Let vs stick vnto the Crosse and liue worthy of it and say the same wordes with Paul God forbid I should glory but in the Crosse of our Lord Iesus Christ Gal. 6. For when we shal so haue liued and beleued in our Lord we shal know his assumption into heauen and his sitting at the right hand of maiesty behould the subiection of the Angels vnto him and his comming againe with glory whom the Angels foreshew the Saincctes doe singe vnto and al seeing reioice and are glad in Christ Iesus by whom to the Father be glory and rule for euer Amen An other out of S. Ephrem S. de passione Domini O Lord I worship thee O diuine I blesse and praise thee O holy I besech thee O god louer of men I fal downe vnto thee and glorify thee o Christ that thou the onely begotten Lord of al thinges alone without sinne art for me a most vnworthy sinner deliuered vnto death death of the Crosse that thou mightest deliuer the soule of a sinner from the bondes of sinnes And what shal I render to thee for al these thinges o Lord O most bountiful glory to thee Glory to thee o most merciful Glory to thee o most patient Glory to thee that remittest the sinnes of al. Glory to thee that didest descend to saue our soules Glory to thee that wast incarnate in the Virgins wombe Glory to thee that wast borne for vs. Glory to thee that wast held for our cause Glory to thee that wast bound Glory to
accompting me in the number of the iust and making me heire of the inaccessible glory of thy sonne God which I desire o my Lady and Mother of God may after this exile by thy godly intercession and patronage be graunted vnto me and vnto al that humbâ—y runne to thee and fasten their hope in thee by the grace mercy and bounty of thy onely begotten Sonne our Lord God and Sauiour Iesus Christ to whom is due al glory honour power and adoration with the Eternal Father and holy and viuificant Spirit now and euer world without end Amen An other out of the same S. Ephrem in Lament Mar. super pas dom O Pure and immaculate and blessed Virgin Mother of thy mighty Sonne and of the God of al without offence perfect and most sacred the hope of the dispayring and guilty we praise thee we blesse thee as most ful of grace who brought forth Christ God and man We al fal down to thee al cal vpon thee and besech thy helpe Deliuer vs o Virgin holy intemerate from al necessity approaching froÌ„ al teÌ„ptations of the deuil Be thou our reconciliatrix and Aduocate in the hour of death Iudgment and deliuer vs from the vnquencheable fyre to come the outward darknesse and vouchsaife vs the glory of thy Son o Virgin and Mother most sweete and gentle For thou alone with the God of Christians art our most secure and holy hope To whom be glory honour renowne rule for euer Amen Another of S. Ephrem ser de laud. Sanstiss Dei Genitr Virg. Mar. OInuiolate perfect wholly pure and chast Virgin Mary Mother of God Queene of al our most glorious Lady higher then the inhabitantes of heauen brighter then tâ—e beames and shyninges of the sunne more honoured then the Cherubim more holy then the Seraphim and incomparably more glorious then al the other celestial Armes the hope of the Fathers glory of the Prophets praise of the Apostles honour of Martirs ioy of Sainctts light of the most accepted Abraham Isaac and Iacob The Ornaments of Aaron brightnesse Iud. 6. of Moyses and Flease of Gedeon the crowne of the company of holy Princes al Sainctes virgins brightnesse farre exceeding and splendor inaccessible the Golden Censor most cleare Lantherne most bewtiful vessel bearing the Manna of heauen the Heb. 6. Table which brought the written Law vnto mortal men the true Arke most Apoc. 8. diuine Charter most prudent and wise wise Princesse of al and illuminating Virgin most holy comfortesse and guider of al most sacred Maiden O flamming Bush vnburned and florishing Rodde of Aaron For verily thou art the Rodde and thy Sonne the Floure For from the roote of Dauid and Salomon did spring Christ our creatour god and Lord omnipotent and alone most high Thou broughtest forth god and man Thou a Virgin before birth in birth and after his birth God thy creatour putting on flesh without seed in thy virginal wombe did not take away those keyes of the oriental gate that is euer shutt and preseruing thee o most bewtiful such a one as thou was before his birth By thee we are reconciled to Christ our God thy most sweete Sonne Thou art the onely adnocatrix and helper of sinners people destitute of helpe Thou the most saife Hauen of theÌ„ that fuffer shipwrack Thou art the comfort of the world Thou art the receptacle of orphanes redemption and deliuery of captiues Thou the exultation of the sick consotion of the sadde and health of al. al. Thou art the strength of MonKes and Eremites and hope of the secular Thou art the glory crowne and ioy of virgins Thou art the gladnesse of the world O Lady Princesse Queene most excellent exceding blessed Maiden most honoured and Lady of ladies most pure and chast We flee vnder thy defence o holy Mother of God defend and keepe vs vnder the winges of thy piety and mercy Haue mercy on vs that are defyled with the filth of sin who with very manifould offences and transgressions haue offended the Creator our god Iudg of al lest the most pernicious Sathan be insolent glory against vs lest the detestable enemy arise against vs lest we see thy seruants to fal from hope of thee or lest the tongue of detractors calumniate vs. We haue none other hope then in thee o most sincere Virgin Farr from our Mothers armes o our Lady we wretches are dedicated vnto thee and called thy Clients Therfore suffer vs not by the malignant Sathan to be led to the gates of hel For thou art our hauen o Virgin immaculate and president O holy helper we are wholy vnder thy tuission and protection Therfore we flee to thee the onely woman and with often teares o most blessed Mother besech thee and fall downe vnto thee humbly crying and praying lest thy sweete Sonne our Sauiour geuer of the life of al for many sinnes which we haue committed take vs away and like a Lyon teare our wretched soules or cut vs vp as the barren figge tree But we entreat that we may come securely to Christ enter into those pallaces of the blessed where there are not teares nor mourning nor vexation not greife not calamity not death not torment not want of place THE HOLY CREDE Or Articles of our Faith deliuered to the Church by Tradition by the holy Apostles of Christ as testify these primatiue Sainctes S. Clem. Rom. Ep. 1. Amb. Ep. 81 ad Siriac ser 38. Aug. ser 181. de temp Ireu lib. 1. haer ca. 2. l. 3. c. 4. Hier. ad Pamach Ep. 61. â—a 9. Leo ser 11. de pass dom Ep. 13. ad Pulcher. Aug. ser cont Euâ—ych Max. Taur Ep. Hom. de trad Simb paschas praef lib. de Sanct. and others I Beleue in God the Father almighty maker of heauen and earth And in Iesus Christ his onely SoÌ„ne our Lord. Which was conceaued by the holy Ghost borne of the Virgin Maâ—y Suffered vnder Pontius Pilate was crucified dead and buried Descended into hel The third day he arose againe from the dead Ascended into heauen Sitteth at the right haÌ„de of God the Father almighty FroÌ„ thence he shal come to iudge the quick and the dead I beleue in the holy Ghost The holy Catholick Church The communion of Sainctes The forgeuenesse of sinnes The resurrection of the body And life euerlasting Amen Direction out of S. Ambrose lib. 3. Virgin We ought to repeate daily the Creede as the seale of our heart in the houres before day To which when we are afraide of any thing we must runne continually For when is a souldier in campe a warriar in battaile without his signe of warfare to be decerned by A Meditation or breife exposition vpon the same Creede out of S. Clem. Ep. 1. translated by Ruffinus within 400 yeares of Cirist Ruffinus in praef ad Gaudent in Reâ—ogn vasen Conc. can 6. Alexan. 1. Ep. ex Conc. Rom. Anaclet
was crucified the suÌ„ne darkned and lightned againe for it behoueth creatures to compassionate with there creatour The veale was cutte water bloud flowed out of his side the earth quaked the rockes were rent the dead rysing do testify the faith of the last and common resurrection Al which thinges who is able worthily to praise But none was such as the miracle of my saluation a few droppes of bloud reforming al the world But o great and holy pasouer and expurgation of al the world O word of God and light and life and wisdome and power for I ioy at al thy names O Issue and cogitation seale of that great minde o word intelligible and man visible who bearest al thinges crowned with the word of power let vs suffer noe euil stay the tiranny which the body beareth against vs. Thou seest o Lord whom how it beareth downe except we be purged by thy suffrage or by thy self But if we shal worthily be dissolued from this desire and receaued in the celestial tabernacles peraduenture there also we shal acceptabâ—y sacrifice vnto thee on thy holy Altare o Father and worde and holy Ghost because al glory honour and power is to thee for euer Amen PRAIERS DAYLY To be vsed for the Euening The Meditation or Preparation to Praier out of S. Cesarius Bishop of Arles Hom. 31. LEt vs pray with sighing forceable crying or groaÌ„ing according to that prophetical saying I did roare for the groaning of my heart Ps 37. Let vs pray not with a sounding voice but with a conscience crying vnto our Lord. When we pray so much as we are able Let vs labour by the helpe of god that noe extrauagant cogitation creepe into vs lest peraduenture we may haue one thing in our heart and vtter an other with our mouth lest by chaunce while our tongue praieth vnto god our cogitation occupied with diuers thinges may goe away from the meaning of our praier so from thence procure sinne from whence it might haue had remedy For if before any mighty persoÌ„ thou wouldest pleade any necessary cause sodainly turning from him breaking of thy speach in the middest thou shouldest busy thy self with some scurrilities what iniury thinkest thou thou should doe vnto that person with whom thou didest speake or how shouldest thou procure his anger against thee If therfore speaking with a man we laboure with al intention of mind lest thinking on any other thing we may be thought to doe a wrong to him vnto whom we speake When we speake vnto god in praier and alledg the miseries of our sinnes before so great a Maiesty are we not ashamed do we not blush our senses being made captiues to runne about hither and thither and with many businesse to abstracte our vnhappy minde from behoulding the diuine Maiesty And therefore euery one before he kneleth downe in praier by the helpe of god let him put away al superfluous cogitations from the intention of his minde that our soule being inflamed with the feruour of the holy Ghost may consume al vice with the fyre of compunction or praier and disperse farre of al wauering and wandering cogitations that onely vâ—rtue and holy Meditations may alwaies finde place in our heartes Meditations praiers for Euening LEt euery one take a Lambe throughout their families or houses Exod. 12. And the whole multitude of Israel shal offer it in sacrifice at the Euening Let my praier be directed as incense Ps 140. in thy sight the lifting vp of my handes an euening sacrifice While it was euen he sate downe Math. 26. Marâ— 14. Luc. 22. with his twelue Disciples And whiles they were at supper Iesus tooke bread and blessed brake and he gaue to his Disciples and said Take ye eate This is my body And taking the Chalice he gaue thankes and gaue vnto them saying Drinke ye al of this for This is my bloud of the new TestameÌ„t which shal be shed for many vnto remission of sinnes When it was euening there came a Math. 27. certaine riche man of Arimathea named Ioseph who also himself was Disciple to Iesus He went to Pilaâ—e and asked the body of Iesus Then Pilate commaunded that the body should be deliuered Watch therefore for you know not Marc. 13â— when the Lord of the house may come whether late in the euening c. I haue cryed to god and our Lord Ps 54. wil saue me In the euening I wil declare shew he wil heare my voice A Meditation of S. Basile orat in S. Iulittam When the day is ended geue thaÌ„kes vnto him who haith geuen the same vnto vs to serue our daily laboures fyre to lighten night and for the rest of the necessities of life And let the night propose vnto vs other argumentes of praier When thou shalt looke vp vnto heauen and haue thine eyes fixed on the bewtie of the starres pray vnto the Lord of visible thinges and adore god the best workman of al creatures who made al thinges in wisdom when thou shalt see al nature of liuing creatures detained in sleepe Againe adore him that looseth vs though against our wil by sleepe from the continuance of laboures by a litle rest reduceth vs againe to the force of our strength S. Clem. Const Apost lib. 8. cap. 4. Make your praiers at the euening geuing thankes because our Lord haith geuen vs the night for a rest of our day laboures Daily come together in the morning l. 2. c. 63. euening singing praying in Churches in the euening saying the 140. psalme O Lord I haue cryed vnto thee Ps 140. heare me Harken vnto my voice when I shal crye vnto thee Let my praier be directed as incense in thy sight the lifting vp of my handes an euening sacrifice O Lord put a watch to my mouth and a doare of standing about to my lippes Decline not my heart into wordes of malice to excuse excuses in sinnes With men that worke iniquity and I wil not communicate with the chosen of them The iust shal correct me in mercie and rebuke me but the oyle of a sinner shal not annoint my head Because as yet also my praier in thinges of their delight their Iudges are swallowed vp ioyned to the rocke They shal heare my wordes because they were able as the thicknesse of the earth is broken out vpon the earth Our bones are scattered abroade neare to hel because to thee o Lord o Lord mine eyes in thee I haue trusted take not away my soule Keepe me from the snare which they haue laid for me and from the scandals of those that worke iniquity Sinners shal fal in his nette I am alone til I passe away Glory be to the Father c. Clem. Const Ap. l. 8. c. 41. RAise vp and saue vs o God by thy Christ lifting vp our selues let vs desire the mercies of our lord and his commiserations the
pray enter into thy chamber and the doare being shut pray thy Father in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret wil rewarde thee And when you pray speake not much as the heathens doe for they think to be heard in their much speaking therefore be not likned to them for your Father knoweth what you need before you aske him Therefore so you shal pray OVr Father which art in heaueÌ„ Hallowed be thy name Thy kingdome come Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen Geue The grecke Acton epionsion Supersubstantial Bread vs this day our daily bread And forgeue vs our trespasses as we forgeue them that trespasse against vs. And lead vs not into temptation But deliuer vs from euil Amen S. Ambrosius lib. 3. de virginitate Repeate often in thy chamber psalmes with our Lordes praier either when thou awakest or before thou goest to sleepe A deuout Meditation or exposition vpon this our Lordes praier out of S. Chromatius Bishop of Aquileia in cap. 5. Mathei O How faithful blessed a praier is this vnto vs whose order was instituted by the Doctor of life and heauenly maister And how blessed may we also be if we obserue not onely with duty of mouth but with most faithful deede of coÌ„uersation these wordes of our Lordes praier Therefore our Lord ordained this forme of praying for his Disciples for the hope of mannes saluation saying Our Father which art in heauen How great is the loue of our Lord toward vs how exceeding his mercy and piety who haith bestowed a guift of such grace vpon vs that him which is our Lord and god we which are but seruants may lawfully cal our Father By which name he doth not onely demonstrate vs now to be the seruants but also the sonnes of God Therefore because we haue obtained the grace of so great a guift that we are made not onely seruants but sonnes also we ought to do and behaue our selues as the children of god that by spiritual doing we may prooue our selues to be that which we are called according to that of Iohn He that is borne of God committeth 1. Io. 3. not sinne because his natiuity of god doth keepe him and the deuil toucheth him not But he that committeth sinne is not of God but of the deuil because the deuil sinneth from the beginning And therefore keping the sacrament of our heauenly natiuity we ought to be free from al sinne that we may deserue truly to be called or be the sonnes of god And the holy prophets knew the grace of this diuine mercy in which it is permitted vnto vs to cal god our Father as Isay saith For thou art our Father because Abraham haith not knowne vs Israel Is 63. haith not knowne vs but our Lord our Father from the beginning thy name is vpon vs. Likewise also Malachy witnessith in his booke saying For there is one Father Mal. 2. of vs al. How great is the mercy of our Lord We which before by our owne wil had chosen the deuil for our father now being borne againe by water and the holy Ghost begin to haue god our Father And therefore we ought to walk as the children of God lâ—st doing otherwise theÌ„ becometh gods children we be holden guilty vnder the vsurpation of so great a name Therefore he saith Our Father which art in heauen hallowed be thy name not because the name of god can be hallowed of any man when he halloweth al men which saith by the prophet Be you holy as I also am holy saith our Lord. Lâ—uit â—0 But therefore we request his name to be hallowed that it may be hallowed in vs by the workes of iustice by the merit of faith by the grace of the holy Ghost which sanctification that we may receaue by such guifts the ayde of his mercy is necessary but he that is the fountaine of euerlasting holinesse needeth not any sanctification Then he saith Thy kingdome come Likewise we do not aske that he should be King who is King of euer-during worldes whose kingdome haith neither beginning nor end but that the kingdome which is celestial which he haith promised vnto vs may come But it is a signe of great confidence and sincere conscience confidently to aske that this Kingdome of our Lord may come And therefore because we alwaies pray that the Kingdome of God may come we must shew our selues such in the faith of our Lord and his commaundements that we may be worthy of his kingdome to come After this he saith Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen where also there is the like maner of vnderstanding for no man can resist or hinder god that he do not what he wil seing al thinges both in heauen and earth consist by his wil But we pray that his wil may be done in vs. And the wil of God is that beleuing in him with al our heart we fulfil those thinges which he haith commaunded to be done of which wil of god the Apostle witnesseth saying The wil of god is your sanctification that 1. Thes 4. you abstaine from carnal concupiscences Therefore when â—e say Thy wil be doâ—e in earth as it is in heauen This we pray that as the wil of god is faithfully kept of the Angels in heauen so also we must with a Religious and faithful deuotion desire the helpe of gods assistance or Thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen that as in heauen that is in holy and heauenly men the wil of god is fulfilled so also in earth that is we pray that the wil of god may be done by beleefe of faith and knowledg of the truth in them which haue not yeâ— beleeued Then he saith Geue vs this day our dayly bread This saying of our Lord we vnderstand two waies first that we do not aske any thing but our daily foode For we are not commaunded to aske riches or superfluity of worldly thinges but our daily bread which to Christians that liue by faith is onely necessary for this present life as the Apostle saith Hauing foode wherewith to 1. Tim. 6. be couered with these we are content But wâ— must consâ—der that this is spiritually commaunded vnto vs that we aske our daily bread that is that heauenly and spiritual bread which we daily receaue for the curing of our soule and hope of eternal saluation of which our Lord saith in the Gospel The heauenly Io. 6. bread is my flesh which I wil geue for the life of the world And therefore we are commaunded daily to aske this bread that is that through the mercy of God bestowing it we may deserue â—aily to receaue the bread of the body of our Lord. And forgeue vs our debtes as we also forgeue our debtors This is plainely a iust and necessary saying for al men First that we acknowledge our selues to be sinners
15. 16. 17. and taken me forth from the wicked time Therefore I wil confesse speake praise vnto thee and blesse the name of our Lord. Heu heu heu o Lord god behould Ierem. 32. thou hast made heauen and earth in thy great strength and stretched arme nothing wil be dificult to thee who shewest mercy on thousandes and payest the iniquitie of the parents into thâ— bosome of their children after them o most strong great and mighty the Lord of hostes is thy name great in couÌ„saile incomprehensible in cogitation whose eyes are open vpon al the wayes of the children of Adam that thou mayest render to euery one according to his wayes and according to the frute of his inuentions Blessed art thou o lord god of our fathers Dan. 3. and to be praised and exalted for euer And the blessed name of thy glory holy and laudable and exalted in al worldes Blessed art thou in the holy temple of thy glory and exceedingly to be praised and eminently glorious for euer Blessed art thou in the throne of thy kingdome and superlaudable and extolled for euer Blessed art thou who behouldest the depthes and sittest vpon the Cherubim and laudable extolled for euer Blessed art thou in the firmament of heauen and laudable and glorious for euer I wil ioy in our lord and reioyce in Habacue 3. god my Iesus A breefe excercise of meditations prayers for such as desire to obserue al canonical houres of prayer vsed in the primatiue church stil among the religious And first for prime or first houre of the day THe sunne is risen and man shal Ps 103 goe forth to his labour and worke vntil euening A wise man wil geue his heart early Ecclesiast 39. to watch to our lord that made him wil make his prayers in the sight of the highest The kingdome of heauen is like to a Math. 20. man that is an houshoulder which went forth in the morning to hyre workmen into his vineyard and hauing made couenant with the workmen for a penie a day he sent them into his vineyard And very earely the first of the sabothes Mare 16. they come to the monument the sunne being now risen we must preuent the sunne to blesse Sap. 16. thee and worshippe thee when the day appeareth wheÌ„ morning was come al the cheefe Maâ—h 17. Preiâ—â—es and aunâ—iâ—nts of the people consulted togâ—ther against Iesus that they might put him to death and they bring him bound and deliuered him to Pontius Pilate the presâ—dent From the holy primatiue Fathers AT these houres let vs yâ—ld thaÌ„kes S. â—enedictus in Regula S. Châ—â—sâ—st l. â— de orando Deum to our Creatour Matins Prime c. We ought in forsaking our beddes to preuent the sunne rysing with diuine worshippe Tel me with what countenance wilt thou behould the sunne except first thou hast adored him that sendeth that most sweete light to thy eyes Meditate in the holy sâ—riptures Athanasius l de virginitate haue the psalter and learne the psalmes let thâ— sunne rysing see a booke in thy handes A meditation out of S. Athanasius ser in id profecti c. inuenietis pullum alligatum c. THe scribes pharasies came together into the court of Caiphas tooke counsaile against Iesus For those most desperate men were ignorant that his death would geue vnto vs immortalitie and this descending procure vnto vs our ascending into heauen for our lord arose the third day from the deade hauing spoyled hel trodden the enemy vnder foote abolished death broken the boundes of sinnes wherewith we were holden deliuered those that were bound saying arise let vs depart hence being deliuered from the seâ—uitude of the deuil Therefore let vs acknowledge our benefactor let vs glorifie the Father with the Sonne and holy Ghost let vs confesse one deitie for so ordering our life we shal possesse the kingdome of heaueÌ„ in Christ Iesus our lord An other meditation out of S. Ciprian de orat dominica BEsides the houres which were auÌ„ciently vsed now both the spaces and Misteries are encreased For also we must pray in the morning that the resurrection of our lord may be celebrated by morning prayer If in the holy scriptures Christ be the true sunne and the true day no hour is excepted from Christians but God ought often alwayes to be adored that we which are in Christ that is in the sunne and the day apply our selues to supplicatioÌ„s and to pray al the day A meditation and prayer out of S. Andreas Bishop of Cesaraea in Capadocia c. vlt. in Apocalip SVrely our Lord is a consuming fyre warmeth the soule which chastly and quietly conuerseth with him although it be could with sinne maketh it capable of that fyre which was borne to consâ—me vncleanes Euen also as the sunne whylest it doth more forceably reflect vpon a vessel of glasse ful of water by a certaine kind of boyling and refraction draweth fyre out of it though being could Therefore this being so let vs exhibite our selues not as a filthy and earthen vessel or such as cannot receaue impression of the heauenly beames but as the Temple Cor. 6. of the holy Ghost and cleane and bright glasse to the sunne of iustice that is to Christ who would al men to be saued and 1. Tim. 2. come to the knowledge of truth and doth bestow and offer vnto al so plentifully and without offence the grace of his brightnesse although it be not equally participated of al but according to the measure of the purity of the inward eye Our merciful Lord that for our sake suffered in flesh that is Iesus Christ our God graunt that we may obtaine this pure and chaist eye of minde To whom together with the Father and holy and viuificant spirit is due al glory honour and adoration now and euer for euer Amen A praier for this hour out of S. Clement Constit S. Apost lib. 8. cap. 44. O God of spirites and al flesh in comparable wanting nothing who hast geuen the sunne to guiâ—e the day and the moone starres to rule the night Behould vs now with thy merciful eyes and receaue our morning geuinges of thankes haue mercy vpon vs for we haue not stretched forth our handes to a straung God for there is not any new god to vs but thou euerlasting and infinite who hast geuen vnto vs by Christ that we might be by him hast bestowed vpon vs that we might be wel Now by him make vs worthy of euerlasting life to whom with thee and the holy ghost be glory honour and worship for euermore Amen A Praier out of S. Andâ—eas of Cesarea super cap. 47. GOd almighty graunt that our conuersation and order of life be such that it may be cause of confusion and deiection vnto the deuils and bring occasion of gladnesse vnto the Angels that together with
Angel of peace good and profitable thinges christiaÌ„ Princes a peaceable euening night and without sinne al the time of our life with out offence let vs mutually commend one an other to the liuing God by his Christ A thankes-giuing for the night Cap. 42. O God without beginning end creator of al thinges king of al thinges intelectual sensible who hast made the day for the workes of light and the night for the rest of our weaknesse for thine is the day and the night for thou hast ordained the light and sunne o gentle and good lord now patieÌ„tly recâ—aue this our euening thanksgeuing who leadest vs by the length of the day and bringest vs to the beginning of the night preserue vs by thy aÌ„noiÌ„nted geue vnto vs a quiet euening and night without sinne and make vs worthy of euerlasting life by thy Christ by whom to thee be glory honour and worshippe in the holy Ghost for euer Amen Cap. 43. O God of Fathers and lord of mercy who by thy wisdome hast made man a reasonable creature and among thinges in earth alone deare to god geuen authority vnto him to rule them and by thy senteÌ„ce hast appointed Princes preistes them for security of our life these for iust seruing of thee o Lord omnipotent now harken vnto vs and shew thy mercy vpon this people bending downe the neckes of their heart and blesse them by Christ by whom thou hast illightned vs with the light of knowledge renealed thy selfe â—â—to vs to whom with thee and the 〈◊〉 Ghost is due worthy adoration of al reasonable and holy nature for euer Amen A MeditatioÌ„ praier for euening out of S. Athanasius hom desemente MAny are carelesse in their praiers al the day long busie them selues about worldly affaires and contemne the holy workes of prayers To this man our Sauiour Math. 12. Marc. 3. Luc. 6. 1. Tim. 2. may say stretch forth thy hand as Paule saith I wil men to pray in al places lifting vp holy handes And let vs stretch forth our handes and not onely in the day but by night also In the night stretch Ps 133. forth your handes to the holies and blesse our Lord and let vs reach forth holy handes those that be washed among innocents Ps 25. that caling vpon the God of al thinges we may enioy his helpe by Christ Iesus our Lord by whom glory be to God together with the holy Ghost now and â—uer and world without end Amen A prayer of S. Policarpus O God Father of thy beloued Euseb eccl Hist l. 3. cap. 15. Nicephor eccl Hist l. 3. c. 35. blessed sonne Iesus Christ by whoÌ„ we haue receaued knowledge of thee God of Angels powers and of al creatures and the whole kind of iust men al which do liue before thee I blesse thee who hast vouchsaifed to bring me to this day and this hour Thou art true and without falshood o God therefore both in al thinges I praise thee and blesse thee and glorify thee by the eternal God and high Preist Iesus Christ thy welbeloued soÌ„ne by whom and with whom to thee with the holy Ghost be glory both now and for euer hereafter Amen S. Ephrem paraenes 42. I Haue sinned against heauen and before thee o Lord god omnipotent and I am no more worthy to be called thy child or lift mine eyes vpward and behould the highnesse of the heaueÌ„s because of the multitude of my sinnes nor to vtter thy glorious name with the defiled lippes of me a sinner For I haue made my selfe vnworthy both of heauen and earth because I haue prouoked thee most best lord to anger I besech thee o Lord I besech thee cast me not away from thy face depart not from me lest I a wretch do perish For except thy grace had defended me I had bene lost I should be as dust before the face of the wynde as though I had neuer appeared in this life For since the time I haue forsaken thy way no time haith bene ioyful vnto me For if any day by chance hath seemed more pleasant that was the most bitter of al. But I trust hereafter thy grace which comforteth me may prouide for my saluation And now suppliant I flee vnto thee and besech that thou wilt receaue me againe that haue erred from the path of iustice Poure out on me the multitude of thy mercies as thou didest long agoe vpon the prodigal sonne vnthriftely loasing the Luc. 7. Math. 9. Marc. 2. Luc. 5. Luc. 23. riches of thy grace I haue defiled my life haue mercy on me o God and remember not my life brought to extreme villannies Haue mercy on me as thou long agoe tookest mercy on the offender and publican Haue mercy on me as thou tookest mercy on the theife for he when he conuersed on earth was despised of al men as lost and desperate But thou receauedst him and made him an inhabitant of the delightes of paradise Therefore receaue the repentance of thy vnprofitable seruant for I also am contemned and reiected of al for thou didest come o Lord not to cal the iust but sinners vnto penance Glory be to thee honour and adoration is due to thee with the Father and holy Ghost now and world without end Amen A prayer vpon the passion of Christ out of S. Ambrose medit c. 6. O Holy Father behold thy most holy sonne suffering so cruel thinges for me haue respect o most merciful King who it is that suffereth and in thy bounty remember for whoÌ„ he suffereth O my Lord is not this that innocent whom to redeme a seruant thou hast deliuered thy sonne Is not this the authour of life which as a sheepe led vnto slaughter and made obedient vnto thee euen vnto death feared not to vndergoe the kind of most cruel death Remember o dispenser of our whole saluation that this is he whom although thou begottest of thy power yet thou wouldest haue him become partaker of my infirmity Verily this is thy deity which haith put on my nature That ascended the tree of the Crosse that in his assumpted nature suffered greauous punishmeÌ„t O my Lord god reduce the eyes of thy maiesty vpon the worke of vnspeakable piety Behold thy sweete sonne stretched forth in al his body Looke vpon his guiltles handes streaming with holy bloud and pacified forgeue the sinnes which my handes haue committed Consider his naked side pearced with a speare renue me with that holy fountaine which I beleue to haue flowed from thence See his immaculate feete which stoode not in the way of sinners but alwaies Ps 1. walked in thy law fastened with cursed nailes perfect my goinges in thy pathes Ps 16. and bountifully graunt that I may hate al the waies of iniquity Ps 118. O King of Sainctes I besech thee by this holy of holies by this Redemer of me make me to runne the way of
Meditat. cap. 33. GLory to the Father which created vs glory to the Sonne who redemed vs glory to the holy Ghost who haith sanctified vs glory to the highest indeuided Trinity whose workes are inseperable whose rule remaineth without ende Praise becometh thee Himne becometh thee al honour is due to thee blessing and brightnesse to thee thanks geuing to thee honour to thee power and strength to our God world without end Amen Meditations prayers before meate WHen thou shalt eate and Deut. 8. shalt be fâ—lâ—ed blesse thy Lord thy God c. â— They shal eate and praâ—â—e our Lord. Is 62. Math. 14. He blessed and brake and gaue the loues to his diâ—ciples Whether you eate or drinke c. 1. Cor. 10. do al thinges to the glory of God S. Chrisost hom 79. ad popul Antioch de orat ante med IT is needful for vs both comming vnto and going from table to geue thankes to god For a man prepared to this wil neuer fal into druÌ„kennes or insolency wil neuer be broken with surfet but hauing expectatioÌ„ of prayer imposed for a brâ—dle vpon his senses wil with due modesty take of al thinges set before him and fil his soule and body with much blessing For a table taking beginning from prayer wil neuer faile but more plentifully then a fouâ—taine wil bring vs al good thinges Therefore let vs not pretermit so great a profit for it is absurd that our SeruaÌ„ts should geue thankes vnto vs and goe away with blessing if they receaue from vs any part of those thinges that be set before vs and we which enioy so many good thinges not to render so much honour to god S. Athanasius l. de virginit siue meditat EAte thy bread geuing thankes to god in this maner Blessed be god who norisheth me from my youth who geueth foode to al flesh fil our heart with ioy and gladnesse that in al thinges hauing sufficient we may abound in euery good worke in Christ Iesus our Lord with whom to thee be glory honour rule to gether with the holy Ghost world without end Amen When thou shalt sit at table and begin to breake bread signing it three tymes geue thankes in these wordes We geue thankes to thee o Father for thy holy resurrectioÌ„ by Iesus Christ whom thou hast made knowne vnto vs that as this bread was somtyme dispersed in many cornes now gathered together is made but one so thou wilt vouchsaife to gather together thy church from the endes of the world into thy kingdome because thyne is power and glory world with out end Amen S. Clem. Rom. lib. 7. Constitut Apost cap. 48. et S. Chris in cap. 16. Mat. idem hab Precat Syr. apud Seuer Patriar Alex. de eisdem GLory be to the Father and to the SoÌ„ne to the holy Ghost O Lord god graunt this thy nurishment and fulnesse and plenty vpon this Table which thou hast prepared for thy seruantes and worshipers and multiply it in thy blessinges and goodnesse which doe not passe away nor faile because thou art good merciful ouer euery creature which thy holy handes haue framed o Father and Sonne and holy Ghost world without ende Amen Aurelius Prudent Cathomer in Himn ante cibum O Good Christ Crosse bearer maker of light omnipotent holy word begotten borne of the Virgin but before mighty in thy Father before the starres earth Sea were made I besech thee with a fauourable aspect bow downe thy sauing face with a chearful countenance and shyne vpon vs that vnder the honour of thy diuine power we may receaue this foode Praiers and Thankes after meat S. Athanas lib. de virginitate supra WHen thou shalt rise from table againe geuing thankes three times thou maist say Our gentle and merciful Lord haith geuen meate to those that feare him Glory be to the Father and to the Sonne and to the holy Ghost And againe after the glorification ended finish thy praiers with these wordes God omnipoteut and our Lord Iesus Christ a name that is aboue al name we geue thankes vnto thee and praise thee because thou hast vouchsaifed to make vs partakers of thy good thinges thy earthly good thinges We aske thee and cal vpon thee o Lord that thou wilt geue vs heauenly meate graunt that we reuerene and feare thy venerable and precious name that we breake not thy commaundements Place thy name iustifications in our heartes sanctify our spirit and soule by thy beloued Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ with whom to thee be glory rule world without end Amen Precat Syriac apud Seuerum Patriarch Alexand. in precat GLory be to god for his goodnesse glory to god for his blessinges glory to god who haith fed vs glory to god that haith filled vs glory to our merciful god who haith taken mercy on vs al by the intercession of the Mother of god Mary and al Sainctes world witâ—out end Amen Prudentius supr himn post cibum NOw we haue fed our bodies and receaued foode which the weakenesse of our body requireth let vs geue praise to god the Father the Father that holdeth and ruleth the Cherubim his sacred seate and his Seraphim leaning vpon his highest Throne S. Chrisostom in cap. 16. Math. GLory to thee o Lord glory to thee o holy glory to thee o King because thou hast geuen vs meate in gladnesse fil vs with the holy Ghost that we may be found without shame in thy sight when thou shalt render to euery one according to their workes Amen A priayer before receauing the B. sacrament out of S. Hierome apud Eusebium Cremon de morte Hieron sic Trithem l. de scriptor Verep l. prec et alii O Holy Iesus thou whose magnificence Euseb Cremon scholler to S. Hierom l. de morte Hieronim Tom. 4. oper S. Hieronim Basil impress An. 1565. is so great that no creature can expresse it whom the heauens sea and al thinges which are contained in their circuite cannot receaue thou at thy pleasure ruling preseruing al thinges art contained vnder so smal a portion of bread not by peeces but wholly and perfectly inseparably O vnspeakable admiratioÌ„ o nouelty of al nouelties eyes behold whytnes taist perceaueth sauour smelling sent touching findeth subtilty but hearing presenteth to the heart that those accidentes are not in thee but exist alone without subiect for thou art not bread as seemeth to humane sence but whole Iesus Christ as thou sittest god and man at the right hand of the Father in heauen Haile bread of life who deceâ—dedst from heauen geuing life to those that worthely receaue thee surely hee that worthely receaueth thee although his soule be seperated from his body by temporal death he shal not die eternally For that seperation is not death but a passage from death to life O great vnsearchable mistery The accideÌ„tes of bread are broken by peeces and yet thou remanest whole perfect Christ in euery parcâ—l as thou wast before O noble banquet in which vnder the forme of bread wine whole Christ God and man is receaued and so whole in the forme of bread and eâ—ery parcel therof and in the forme of wine and euery drop thereof as in the forme of the whole bread and wine together For al perfect and whole Christ remaineth vnder the forme of bread euery least parcel thereof the same in the forme of wine and euery drop thereof Missa Rom. D. Petro Apost asscripta And vsed in the primatiue church O Lord Iesus Christ let not the receauing of thy body which I vnworthy presume to take come to me to Iudgment and condemnation but by thy piety let it profit me for defeÌ„ce of soul body receauing cure who liuest and reignest with God the Father in vnity of the holy Ghost God world without end Amen Laus Deo