hither for me and hast given thy self to me for my ' daily bread yea to every desirable use J would willingly receive thee even in the Sacrament but alas J dare not nor can J approach because J am afraid to offend thee by reason of my indisposition offensive to thy eye and yet J know that J cannot live without thee the true food Wherfore J most humbly beseech thee that altho J do not receive thee Sacramentally yet that thou wouldst refresh me and come down to me spiritually and impart unto me that grace which those that receive thee devoutly must feel O Good JESU despise me not and pass not by me thy unworthy servant but vouchsafe to come to me and to remain with me and work thy effects in me Amen An Exercise to be said by word or heart when you Communicate spiritually or corporally 1. WHen the Priest saith Domine non sum dignus say interiourly at the 1. time O my God J am not worthy for the multitude of my sins that the earth should beare me 2. At the 2. O my God J merit not to lift up my eyes to behold the heavens 3. At the 3. O my God J am she who for my iniquities merit no other then hell but notwithstanding O infinit goodnes leave not to visit me A devout Prayer to be said in time of Communion O Bone JESU dilecte mi charissime mi amor meus dulcedo cordis mei vita animae meae O aeternum bonum meum melliflue JESU miserere mei uni me tibi intimè ad gloriam nominis tui Amen O good JESU my beloved my dearest my love the sweetness of my heart the life of my soule O my Eternall good mellifluous JESU have pitty on me unite me to thy self most intimately to the glory of thy name Amen Another O Light increated illuminate my darkness illuminate my understanding with pure knowledge replenish my memory with holy remembrance and chast thoughts set my will on fire with a holy and enflamed love quicken my soule and make that J may tast the vertue of your holy presence and by the same ever remain in me and let me remain in you Amen A Thanksgiving after you Communicated spiritually or Corporally GRatias tibi ago Domine JESU CHRISTE qui me tantis Sacramentis spiritualibus refecisti indulge Domine obsecro reverentiam mane mecum per gratiam fac me hodie semper tuis obedire mandatis ut effectus virtutes hujus Sacramenti sentiam Amen J give thee thanks O Lord JESU CHRIST who hast refresht me with such great spirituall Sacraments grant me J beseech you reverence stay with me by your grace and make me this day alwayes obedient to your commands that J may feel the effects and vertues of this Sacrament Amen When the Priest sayes Agnus Dei. COnsider how your sweet saviour is rhe lamb of God who hath offered himself for all the sins of the world and is now at the right hand of his Father to be the Advocate and Judge of sinners Pray him humbly to pardon you your offences and make you worthy spiritually to receive him which indeavour to do with the Priest in the devoutest manner you can and with the greatest affection you are able When the Priest saith the last Collect or Prayer GIve thanks unto the holy Trinity for having granted you so great a benefit as to be present and prataker of so worthy a Mystery At the last Dominus Vobiscum IMagin as if you heard the sound of the Angels trumpet wherwith our Lord at the end of the world will call to Judgment and beseech him to give you grace to be ready and prepared against that day When the Priest saith Ite Missa est COnsider that at the last day of Judgment the wicked shall be condemned to everlasting pain and torment and perpetually deprived of the presence of Almighty God At the last Benediction COnsider the Benediction which Almighty God will give to all the Elect and will lead them unto everlasting rest wherfore beseech him so to bless you and all creatures both in this life and in the next as you and all other may perpetually bless his holy Name Amen At the End of Mass say the Prayer following SWeet JESUS I offer unto thee the sacrifice of this holy Mass and of all the Masses which shall be said throughout the whole world by means whereof I beseech you to give me knowledge of my sins and miseries as also to restore the ruins and defects of my poor soule and to supply my wants and unworthiness mortify in me whatsoever is displeasing unto your divine Majesty and make me one according to your own heart conform my spirit soul and body to that of your sacred humanity and alwayes illuminate and direct me by the sight of your incomprehensible Divinitie Amen Having said this Prayer under the Ghospell Examin how you have behaved your self in this holy Mystery and if you find your self to have failed humbly crave pardon of Almighty God purposing by his holy grace to amend be more diligent the next day DEO GRATIAS Certain intentions or Meditations which we ought to have when we Communicate out of S. Bonav 1. FIrst to unite our selves more more to Almighty God 2. To gain therby some vertue or grace 3. To acknowledge his benefits which we cannot do in any thing which is more pleasing and agreable to him then by worthily frequenting this holy Sacrament 4. The desire of the praise of Almighty God and his goodness the same being a Sacrifice of praise 5. To receive the spirit of Christ Jesus to live in humility charity Obedience Poverty of spirit mortification of body and contempt of the world that thy Redeemer may live in thee who is thy finall end 6. To renew the memory of the Passion of Christ Jesus Considerations before Communion taken out of the same Saint 1. WE are to meditate vhat we are about to do which is to receive Christ Jesus true God and true man who died upon the Cross for us 2. That we are to receive the Holy of Holies for which cause it behoveth that we approach thereunto without sin purging our selves by true Contrition 3. Consider the divine Excellency and our own misery how great this Lord is and how meane the servant Ponder that his goodness is much more then our offences or vertues 4. Stirr up in your self a most fervent desire to harbour in your heart such a loving Lord The holy Doctour saith it is a very strange thing that man receiving into his soule Almighty God in the most B. Sacrament his heart does not even faint yea even burst through vehemency of love Fooure considerations of S. Mathildis before Communion 1. THe great love of God who had remembrance of her from all Eternity 2. That he created her Knowing how ungratefull shee would be unto his divine Majesty 3. That he would dy for her upon
J confess before thee and will acknowledge to all the world that J am the most vile and unprofitable of all creatures 5. O my God there is not on earth to be found a creature so disloyall and ungratefull as J am unto thee 6. J am not worthy to look up to heaven and much less to possesse the same 7. If the greatest sinner in the world had those inspirations and daily means of vertue which J o Lord confess to have J verily think he would not be so wretched as J am Tuesday Confidence 1. ALthough every moment deare JESUS J commit many imperfections yet J hope by thy help to attain to Christian perfection 2. My sweet Saviour if J committed all the sins and crimes which have been from the beginning of the world yet would J be confident of pardon 3. J hope most firmely O son of God my Redeemer by thy holy merits and Sacraments to enjoy eternall life 4. O infinit clemency was there ever any sinner that truly asked pardon to whom you denied it 5. My sweet Saviour if all creatures both in heaven and earth should tell me that thou hadst forsaken me and didst refuse to help me yet J would not beleeve them 6. O sweet JESU albeit the furies in Hell together with all the afflictions of this life should torment me yet would J trust in thee 7. O good JESUS thou that said'st Aske and it shall be given beleeve and you shall receive J humbly beg and unfainedly confide in thy goodnes whatsoever is necessary for me either spirituall or corporall thou wilt give me Wednsday Poverty 1. O My Lord J desire no riches ease or sensuall delights but only the love of thee 2. O that J had a thousand worlds with all the fained pleasures thereof not to possesse but willingly to leave for the love of thee 3. Most deare Lord J will possess nothing but thee and what J have only for thy sake 4. O dearest spouse all riches without thee are unto me unsupportable poverty joy sorrow ease paine consolation a consuming grief 5. O my sweet Saviour that was 't both in life and death so poor and naked of all things for thee I most willingly embrace the want of what is necessary for corporall life and health 6. My sweetest Jesu which was 't so poor and free from the posession of your will even in the repugnance of death for thee I entirely forsake my own will and sence to the consummation of my life 7. O my dearest Saviour that Wouldst not admit in all thy torments the least comfort I beseech thee make me so perfectly poore as for thy love I entertain no unnecessary consolation Thursday Gratitude 1. O my good God I render thee eternall thanks for all thy gifts both of grace and nature bestowed on me and on all creatures 2. O most liberall God thou hast don to me above all I can ask or desire 3. O my Saviour what shall J render for all those numberlesse benefits which I have and continually do receive from thee 4. O deare Saviour in gratitude for all thy mercies towards me I offer and beseech thee to accept of my heart and soule with what else thou hast bestowed on me 5. O my Creatour and deare Redeemer that I could be gratfull unto thee 6. Teach me my God to render thee such thanks as may be most acceptable unto thee 7. O would to God I had the gratitude of creatures both in heaven and earth to offer up unto thee my onely good but all being too little I beg thou wilt thy self supply these wants Friday Obedience and Resignation 1. O Most benigne Lord let me but know what you would have me to do 2. Sweete Jesus I offer my self both in time and Eternity most entirely to accomplish thy will 3. Although J should be lost yet if it be thy will for love of thee I most willingly yield to live in continuall affliction and torment 4. I offer my self with all my heart my sweete Saviour in what I may possibly in body life and soule to be disposed of by thy blessed will and pleasure 5. Behold sweet Lord for love of thee I abandon and deny my senses renounce my understanding and wholy forsake my self to prove and accomplish thy holy will 6. Most deare God for thy sake I firmly purpose rather to dy a thousand deaths then once to be disobedient to thee 7. O good Jesus when shall I see that happy houre wherein by perfect obedience and entire Resignation I shall wholy live in thee and thou in me Saturday Love of neighbour 1. MOst mercifull Lord I beseech thy infinit goodnes so to illuminate the hearts of all sinners that they may be truly penitent for their sins to seek thee with all care who art the onely God 2. I beseech thee my sweet Lord by the bowels of thy infinit mercies that all such as seek after ambition and earthly delights may turn all their affections to love thee 3. Grant sweet Jesus through the merits of thy bitter Passion that all those for whom thou hast suffered may reape the benefit thereof 4. Most mercifull Lord I humbly beseech thee to comfort all afflicted soules 5 Most sweet Saviour give such grace and vertue unto all creatures as they may be truly conformable unto thy holy will 9. Most mercifull God release for thy own sake and thy B. Mother's all those who either in Earth or Purgatory thou dost by justice punish Sunday Love of Almighty God 1. TAke form me O sweet Saviour that which separateth me so farr from thee 2. Purge my soule O Lord from all sin and imperfection by which it is defiled and made unworthy of thy Image 3. Behold O my God I hate and detest with all my heart even the least offence that ever I have committed against thy divine Majesty 4. Forgive sweet Saviour all that which justly thou mightest lay to my charge for that now I desire to be perfectly united unto thee 5. My sweetest Lord as a channell of all uncleannesse desirous to be purified I present my self unto thee 6. O Eternall God I beseech thee that I who am the least of all creatures may by perfect love of thee be elevated above all created things and my spirit only satisfied in thee 7. What shall I render thee my beloved Lord for all thou hast bestowed on me that am but dust and ashes and yet thou hast made all things for me Aspirations for every day in the Weeke upon the Passion of our blessed Saviour Munday Contrition 1. O Vile and most detestable sin by which I have so oft betrayed and sold thee my Eternall Father yea even for a momentary pleasure 2. O that I had never by ingratitude bound thy liberall hands and therby deprived my self of thee and of thy will and mercifull pleasure in me 3. O my soule unto what streights have thy sins and offences brought thy Saviour would to God I had some
seas of teares to shed for having thus often cruelly tormented thee 4 O if it had been thy will my sweetest Jesu I wish I might have endured not only temporall but endless pains rather then have caused the least part of thy affliction 5. O Sacred wounds of my dearest Saviour in revenge of my cruelty wound my heart with ten thousand darts of true remorse 6. O sin how deformed and unjust art thou that thus has't defiled the beauty of heaven and crucifyed my Immaculate Jesus 7. O that I might with a thousand millions of lives and infinit seas of blood blot out of my soule the guilt of thy death and Passion 8. Sweet Jesus ingulfe and drown me in thy sacred wounds that there I may learn to love Tuesday Compassion 1. O That I could shed for thee my Lord so many teares as the sea contains drops of water in true compassion of thy torments 2. O who will give water to my head and a fountain of teares to my eyes to weep upon thee the love of my soule 3. O love and only comfort of my heart what consolation hadst thou in all thy torments 4. Alas my well beloved why am not J alwaies present to suffer with thee at least by compassion on thy pains 5. My sweet JESUS O that I might be crucified with thee 6. O love of my soule that I might have had the priviledge of the launce to have rested in thy heart 7. My dearest Saviour permit me the favour to remain at the foot of thy Cross to the end that I may weep continually sigh bleed cry and consume in compassion of thee 8. Give me an endless spring of teares to wash away the sacred blood of my sweetest love which still issueth as flowing rivers from thee Wensday Imitation 1. O Most sweet JESUS give me grace in imitation of thy sacred Passion most willingly to undergoe the burthen of this transitory life 2. For that thou hast suffered so many and cruell torments for my sake let me never O mercifull God fly any tribulation which thou shalt vouchsafe to send me by thy self or others 3. My Jesus to accompany thee in thy manifold afflictions I would be glad not onely to endure the wants which thou sendest me but seek others and never be satisfied in suffering with thee 4. In imitation of thy nakedness reproaches and whippings at the pillar I will endeavour to strip my self of all inordinate desires and affections 5. I will continually follow thee my dearest Saviour with the Crosse of perfect obedience and never for any difficulty leave the same till I come to dy with thee 6. O my Eternall God that wouldst for my sake be nailed to the Cross let me by true mortification be alwaies crucified with thee 7. My loving spouse I beseech thee that with a full renunciation of my self and perpetuall death of all earthly things I may irrevocably dy with thee Thursday Thanksgiving 1. WHat thanks shall I yield unto thee my Eternall life who wouldst endure unspeakeable torments to free me from the snare and fetters of death 2. All you seraphins and celestiall Spirits with whatsoever hath been created praise my Redeemer for the unspeakeable price of my Redemption 3. O my soule how can'st thou devise to render the least part of due gratitude unto thy Jesus who hath by his own humility so much exalted thee 4. O let me ever acknowledge my deare Saviour that endless bond of gratitude which thy Passion alone exacteth of me 5. Sweet JESUS that I could incessantly love thee for these inestimable treasures which thou by thy torments hast purchased unto me 6. Good IESUS since I have nothing but my self to offer in requitall of thy infinit love I beseech thee to accept in love and gratitude what by-right is thy own 7. O eternall God that I had a thousand hearts and lives to offer unto thee who by thy death hast given and bequeathed thy self to me 8. Grant sweet IESUS that thy dolorous death and Passion be ever imprinted in my heart my true thankfulness and imitation thereof Friday Admiration O My God who art thou who hast endured so many and cruell torments sweet and dearest love hast thou forgotten thy Majesty and glory 2. O light of heaven and splendour of thy Fathers glory unto what art thou now reduced 3. Alas my Saviour what art thou who art so despightfully treated 4. O love of loves that through the excess of thy love thou wouldst for me endure so bitter a death 5. O love how strong art thou which with thy force surmounted'st him that by no other means may be overcome 6. O incomprehensible God for whom dost thou suffer but for miserable sinners ungratefull creatures thy enemies children of the divell and those who contemn thee 7. O dearest love that my heart is not pierced with thy dolours 8. What were it o Lord if I had all the loves of the world to unite and offer unto thee 9. My sweet IESUS if I could reduce all thy drops of blood into teares of love what were it compared unto thy love Saturday Ioy. 1. My heart and soule rejoyce and praise the mercies of my God who out of his infinit love hath died to give thee life 2. O my delight what joy will it give to my heart to receave that life that infinit good through the merits of thy most bitter and dolorous passion 3. Sweet JESUS I praise thee with eternall joy for having in thy most cruell death so perfectly accomplished the work of our Redemption 4. It was by thee O beloved Cross that peace hath been established between God and man 5. O triumphant glory and most puissant King who by thy most sacred death hast overcome the Prince of Hell and delivered our soules out of his bondage 6. O Heaven Earth sea and all things therein yield praises in our behalf unto the saviour of our soules and let us rejoyce in the merits of his sacred passion 7. If all my members were tongues O how willingly would I employ them in the praise of thee my sweet saviour and thy health-bringing wounds 8. O all yee celestiall spirits assist me to love and praise my God by the vertue of whose Passion your ruins are repaired 9. Sweet JESUS what glory and comfort is it unto human nature to be exalted in thee unto the right hand of thy Eternall father Sunday Love 1. When shall it be my crucified JESUS that both the senses of my body and powers of my soule shall be wholy employed in thy praise 2. O my JESUS when by perfect love and imitation shall I be daily crucified and continually dy with thee 3. O my beloved JESUS when shall I love thee in such sort as that thy sacred wounds be by burning love imprinted in my heart 4. O my beloved JESUS when wilt thou bring me into the wine cellar of thy blessed side and make me wholy drunke with the most sacred wine which floweth from
thy loving heart 5. O when shall it be my dearest JESU that the flame of thy love shall pierce and wound my heart that I may be wholy conformable unto thee 6. Sweet JESUS let me love thee so unfainedly as that by force of thy love I neither feel see nor take comfort in any thing but accompanyng thee my afflicted Lord. 7. My sweetest Saviour when shall I have my full and wisht repose within thy crucified armes 8. O sacred wounds of my JESUS especially of his tender side and most amourous heart why do you not burn and consume my soule in the delightfull flames of his love An Oblation unto our B. Lady to say on any one of her Feasts 70. Ave Maries and then during every day 5. Ave's and these Prayers following 1. O B. Virgin Mary and Eternall Queen of Angels I offer my self unto you in all that I am or ever shall be beseeching you to receive me as your own 2. O B. Virgin Mary preserve me living and dyng from all evill for I am your own 3. O B. Virgin Mary receive me for your own ever govern and protect me as your own and have mercy on my soule when it shall part out of my body 4. O mercifull Mother through your holy departure make joyfull my departure and in the houre of my death receive my soule A Prayer to Iesus Christ ANima Christi sanctifica me Corpus Christi salva me Sanguis Christi inebria me Aqua lateris Christi lava me Passio Christi conforta me O bone IESV exaudi me Intrà tua vulnera absconde me Ne permittas me separari à te Ab hoste maligno defende me In hora mortis meae voca me Et jube me venire ad te Vt cum Sanctis tuis laudem Te In saecula saeculorum Amen In English thus SOule of Christ sanctify me Body of Christ save me Blood of Christ inebriate me Water of Christ's side wash me Passion of Christ comfort me O good JESU heare me Within thy wounds hide me Suffer me not to be separated from thee From the malignant enemy defend me In the houre of my death call me And bid me come to thee That with thy Saints I may praise thee For ever and ever Amen When you passe by the B. Sacrament DVlcissimum nomen Domini nostri Iesu Christi gloriosae Virginis Mariae Matris ejus sit in aeternum benedictum In English Let the B. Name of our Lord JESUS CHRIST and the glorious VIRGIN MARY his MOTHER be blessed for ever and ever And then offer your intention herein to get the pardon which is gained When you take Holy water Aqua benedicta sit nobis salus protectio vita Asperges me Domine hissopo c. In English May this holy water be to us health protection and life Thou shalt sprinkle me o Lord with hissope c. How we may honour the most holy and B. Name of the most glorious Virgin Mary by sayng these 5. Verses with 5. Psalmes 1. MAter amabilis Maria nomine Multò nobilior quocunque lumine Muni me miserum in tuo nomine Malignis obvians tuo juvamine Magnificat 2. Aurora rutilans lunâque pulchrior Astris fulgentior luce clarior Afflictum respice qui nimis crucior Averte jaculum hostis quo ferior Ad Dominum cum tribularer 3. Regina nobilis filia filii Rosae consimilis flori lilii Refove flebiles lacte consilii Ruentes per dies huius exilii Retribue servo tuo 4. Iesse tu congruè vocata virgula Immarcessibilis sine macula IESV jam florid o qui regit saecula Ipsa tu suggere ut solvat vincula In Convertendo 5. Ancilla Domini sumens tam nobilis Ave quod Gabriel dedit mirabilis Accipe canticum servi inutilis Adsis in omnibus mihi placabilis Ad te levavi ℣ Dignare me laudare te Virgo sacrata ℟ Da mihi virtutem contra hostes tuos OREMUS COncede nos famulos tuos quaesumus Domine Deus perpetuá mentis corporis sanitate gaudere glorio â B. Mariae Virginis intercessione à praesenti liberari tristitia aeternâ perfrui laetitiâ Per Christum Domenum nostrum Amen The 5. Verses Englished 1. O Amiable Mother ô Mary hail by name More noble then the light of natur's frame Defend me by your meanes which way so'ere J goe And by your shelt'ring help preserve me from my foe 2. Bright shining dawn fairer then the moon More sparkling then the starres and brighter then the sun Look on me wretch afflicted and tormented so As to put by those darts my foes do at me thr'o 3. O noble queen and daughter to thy son Like to the Rose and Flower-de-Luce at noone 'T is milk of your good counsel must cherish us that weep 'T is you that from all banish't ruin's must us keep 4. You are the rod of Jesse fittly nam'd You neyther wither nor with spot are sham'd Pray to our Jesus who the world doe's rule That J from bonds of sin may save my soule 5. O handmaid of our Lord who took the noble haile From wond'rous Gabriel's mouth the world 's great baile Receive the sacred Cantick your worthless servant sing's And gratious be to me sweet Mary in all things LITANIAE B. P. N. FRANCISCI KYRIE eleïson Christe eleïson Kyrie eleïson Christe audi nos Christe exaudi nos Pater de caelis Deus Miserere nobis Fili Redemptor mundi Deus Miserere nobis Spiritus sancte Deus Miserere nobis Sancta Trinitas unus Deus Miserere nobis Sancte Francisce Pater amabilis ora pro nobis Pater admirabilis Pater benigne Pater venerabilis Vexillifer Jesu Christi ORA PRO NOBIS Eques Crucifixi Imitator filii Dei Seraphim ardens Fornax Charitatis Arca Sanctitatis Cultor pacis Vas Puritatis Norma Justitiae Speculum Pudicitiae Regula Poenitentiae Magister Obedientiae Exemplar Virtutum Patriarcha Pauperum Profligator Criminum Lumen tuae Patriae Decus Morum Vivificator Mortuorum Saturator Famelicorum Obsequium Leprosorum ORA PRO NOBIS Praeco magni Regis Forma Humilitatis Consors Sublimitatis Victor Vitiorum Dux Minorum Praedicator Silvestrium Portans dona Gloriae Auriga militiae nostrae Novis utens Prodigiis Caelum caecis aperiens Gratum gerens obsequium Templum Christo consecrans Hostes malignos proterens Tenens vitae bravium Spargens virtutum munera Amplians iter ad Gloriam Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi Parce nobis Domine Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi Exaudi nos Domine Agnus Dei qui tollis peccata mundi Miserere nobis ℣ Ora pro nobis beate Pater Francisce ℟ Ut digni efficiamur promissionibus Christi OREMUS DEus qui Ecclesiā tuā B. Fraucisci meritis foetu novae prolis amplificas tribue nobis ex ejus imitatione terrena despicere caelestium donorum semper participatione gaudere Per Dominum
the daily edification of those with whom you live The benefit of donation 1. FIrst the gift of nature fortune and grace as the five sences with the three interiour powers of your soul health strength c. 2. God brought you back when you were astray instructed you when you were ignorant and lifted you up when you were fallen 3. Thirdly enlightned your understanding when it was in darkness of sin and stirred up in you many good motions and desires 4. Moved your will and affections to spirituall works and exercises 5. Preserved you from many enormous sins taking from you the occasions and giving you grace to persever and resist them 6. Delivered you from divers sorts of temptations drawing you forth when you were overwhelm'd in them and given you greater force to resist them The benefit of Preservation 1. PReserved you both spiritually and corporally in a good state with increase of good desires to execute good purposes 2. From the cradle to this moment preserved you from many enemies diseases dangers c. 3. Hath hitherto furnished you with all necessaries both spiritual and corporall 4. Ordained for you succession of times as day and night winter and summer c. 5. Directed you in prosperity and adversity in sicknes and healthe and in the whole course of your life The benefit of Glorification 1. THe fruition of the divinity with the vision of God and his B. Mother 2. The company of your good Angel with the Martyrs Confessors Virgins c. 3. The dowry of the soule the glorification of the body more bright and cleare then the sun it self 4. the place of the blessed the delights of the senses the riches and abounding pleasures of the inhabitants which are innumerable inestimable and immeasurable 5. By the grace of God you shall scape the torments of Hell the miseries of this life â—… hurts and cruelties of your mortall enemies These Meditations are as it were a cord to draw you unto Almighty God Gratitude is a great part of justice and amongst all Christian exercises none is more easy if you be willing none more needfull if you regard your duty none more profitable if you desire reward then often to look over the great and manifold benefits which we have received of Almighty God The eight Beatitudes 1. BEati pauperes spiritu quoniam ipsorum est re'gnum coelorum Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven Poverty of spirit Acknowledgeth her sins Contemneth her self Despiseth none Honoureth all 2. Beati mites quoniam ipsi possidebunt terram Blessed are the meek for they shall possess the land Meeknesse Answereth sweetly Admonisheth benignly Is mild being reprehended Behaveth her self piously 3. Beati qui lugent quoniam ipsi consolabuntur Blessed are those that mourn for they shall be comforted Sorrow Excludeth all glory Abideth in misesery For the love of her neighour For her own sins 4. Beati qui esuriunt sitiunt justitiam quoniam ipsi saturabuntur Blessed are they that humger and thirst justice for they shall be satiated Hunger and thirst Hath horrour of vice A fervour of spirit Tediousnes of temporall things desire of Eternall 5. Beati mundo corde quoniam ipsi Deum videbunt Blessed are the Cleane of heart for they shall see God Purity of heart Is sincere in intention Right in works Excludeth perverse cogitations Assiduous in contemplation 6. Beati misericordes quoniam ipsi misericodiam consequentur Blessed are the mercifull becaus they shall find mercy Mercy Hath compassion in tribulation Succoureth in necessities Delighteth in liberality Is benigne with affability 7. Beati Pacifici quoniam filii Dei vocabuntur Blessed are the Peace makers for they shall he cal'd the children of God Things which work Peace Silence and solitariness Frequent and devout Prayer Fervent contemplation To admit no interiour trouble 8. Beati qui persecutionem patiuntur prvpter justitiam quoniam ipsorum est regnum coelorum Blessed are they that suffer persecution for theyr's is the kingdome of Heau'n Things which produce Patience Feare of eternall sufferance Fervent love of God Memory of the Passion of our Saviour Hope of Eternall joy A Religious person ought often to consider the benefit of his vocation by these circumstances following VNDE ES Quo Quomodo Quando Quo fine vocatus 1. FROM WHENCE God to wit hath called you From the world the gulfe of sin and evils 2. WHITHER TO holy Religion the house of God the school of vertue the gate of consolation and the pourtrait of the celestiall Ierusalem 3. HOW With what love wisdom and power he called without your own merit 4. WHEN In your youthfull or old age when you least desired or sought after such a course 5. Lastly for what END 1. To serve God perfectly and forsake all things to accomplish it 2. To do pennance beare your Cross and follow the steps of Christ Iesus 3. To work your salvation and to gain perfection 4. To help your neighbour as much as is possible according to your vocation and institution by good example and prayer S. Bernard had this sentence alwaies in his heart Bernarde ad quid venisti Bernard to what end didst thou come hither The Priviledges and benefits of a Religious person Homo vivit puriùs cadit rariùs surgit velociùs incedit cautiùs quiescit securiùs irroratur frequentiùs moritur confidentiùs purgatur citiùs remuneratur copiosiùs A Religious person 1. LIveth more purely by the observance of Poverty Chastity and Obedience 2. Falleth more rarely by flying the occasions of sin and perverse conversation 3. Riseth more quickly by consideration of holy scriptures the lives of Saints and example of those with whom we live Walketh more warily by meditating their sins past imperfections present and the joy which cometh of vertue 5. Resteth more securely by attaining the gifts of the Holy Ghost and interiour consolation 6. Receiveth more grace by bettering their disposition and becoming more familiar with God 7. Dyes more confidently by the the efficacy of Priviledges in Religion meritorious works and help of Communaulty with the imitation of their spouse CHRIST JESUS 8. Is sooner purged by the many remedies to make satisfaction by the multitude of holy inspirations and frequent exhortations 9. Is rewarded more abundantly because a Religious life is victorious over her enemies the FLESH the WORLD and the DIVELL JESUS MARIA Certain Aspirations for every day in the weeke Munday Humility 1. WHen shall it be my God that J shall be so odious execrable and insupportable to my self as J desire to be afflicted and punished of all creatures 2. O sweet Saviour when shall it be that J shall have such a true contempt of my self as with all my heart J wish to be contemned and reputed of every one most vile 3 When shall J deare JESUS for the love of you desire in such sort to be humbled as J be ever reduced to nothing 4. O most meek Lord
your fidelity And if it please him not to speak to you no otherwise then if he saw you not or if you were not in his presence you must not for all that go away discontented or discomforted but continue still with patience and a devout behaviour in the presence of his soverain goodnes and without doubt your service will be acceptable to him and at last he will take notice of your constancy and diligence Colloquies or speeches part in Meditation and part in Prayer Praising Almighty Gods Excellency goodness holiness worthiness c. TO THE SOULE EXhorting it to some vertuous action somtimes reprehending her vices and faults little zeal imperfections c. PURPOSES Purposing to Gods honour Obedience Humility Resignation Mortification c. AFFECTIONS More affections towards God increase of his honour augmentation of the Church c. SUPPLICATION Make supplication unto God as a son does to his father a beggar to his benefactour a sick man to his Physitian a schollar to his Master and a spouse to her bridegroome TO OUR B. LADY Alleadging that shee is our mother Mistris Queen and Advocate and therfore ought and doth love us defend protect and pray for us TO OUR GOOD ANGEL Alleadging his office charge and power to help us his honour to defend us TO THE SAINTS Especially those to whom you are most devoted alleadging their affinity to our nature their tryalls of our necessities their security in glory and their ability and willingnes to help us CAUSES OF DISTRACTIONS 1. First from the Divell who doth still endeavour to hinder from the fruit of Prayer 2. It proceedeth from our own imagination which is free untamed and ill governed 3. From some affections unmortified which draw our thoughts after them for where the treasure is there is the heart 4. From cares which sting and divide the heart into a thousand parts 5. From coldnes in enforcing our selves to this so noble an Exercise 6. From ignorance not knowing how to discourse or meditate or searche into hidden verities and ponder them in such sort as may move the will and stirr up affections of devotion This ignorance by the grace of God will be remedied by this form and method following The meanes to resist distractions of heart and tediousnes of spirit are principally foure 1. FIrst profound humility acknowledging our weakness and misery being ashamed to stand before God with such distractions accusing our selves of our offences both past and present 2. The second fortitude of mind resolving not to admit any distraction although it administer matter of content of seem of much importance for nothing behoveth us so much as to tend to Prayer and to God before whom we are Wherfore if a thousand times we should be diverted we must turn again as many times more without loosing courage 3. The thrid remedy Prayer it self beseeching our saviour to recollect our thoughts and wandring affections that wee may use attention and devotion craving the help and intercession of his glorious Mother with the holy Angels and Saints who are willing to assist all those that pray saying somtimes with David My heart hath forsaken me may it please you Lord to deliver me from the violence which I suffer and have respect to help Other times with the Prophet My soule is as earth without water Again with the blind man in the Ghospell O son of David have mercy on me Or with the Psalmist Depart from me o yee malignants and I will search the Commandements of my God 4. The fourth is Confidence in Almighty God persuading our selves that being he commandeth us to pray he will give us grace wherby we may resist the divell bridle our imaginations restrain our passions moderate our cares cast from us our coldness But with this confidence wee must adjoyn diligence as Cassian saith removing before Prayer whatsoever you think may distract you therein imitating in this the subtilty of our adversary who as S. Nilus Abbot saith ordaineth all his temptations wherwith he tempteth sp rituall persons to hinder them from Prayer the fruit thereof tempting them with impatience to disquiet them curiosity to distract them multitude of busines to disturb them pride and ingratitude to make them barren and dry c. By this we may learn to be no less provident and carefull of our good then the divell is of our harm ever governing our selves in such sort as may most forward our Prayer remembring the words of our sweet saviour in S. Luke It behoveth us alwaies to pray and never to be weary The chiefest effects of prayer ARe particular lights affections and resolutions And whatsoever else is needfull for a large Examin after Meditation is set down in the end of the book of the practice of Meditation 1. Consolation is an inward motion unto the more perfect love of God and withdraweth our affections from all earthly creatures 2. Teares springing of love or sorrow rightly ordained to the honour of God 3. Increase of hope and Charity 4. Joy and devotion which incites the soul unto greater perfection 5. Illuminations of the understanding wherby it understandeth some things anew or better and more perfectly then before 1. Desolation is that which vaileth the eyes of the soul that it may not behold that which appertaineth to the glory of God and the perfection of the soule 2. That which troubleth and moveth us to earthly and outward things 3. That which draweth us to the distrust of obtaining perfection or what may help us 4. That which driveth away Hope and charity 5. That which bringeth the soule to a certain tepidity heavines and tediousnes of mind S. Bernard speaking of the devout Meditation upō the Passion of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ saith thus If thou desirest perfectly to be purified from all thy sins and vices if thou wouldst be nobly enriched with vertues illuminated in holy Scripture if thou would'st gloriously triumph over thy enemies if abundantly be conforted in adversities if often to have compunction and shed teares of devotion if to obtain the burning fervour os spirit in Meditation if to be replenished with spirituall joy if to persever in well doing if in the end well and blessedly to dy and to reign in heaven eternally and finally to be beloved and crowned by our Saviour Iesus everlastingly exercise thy self in the holy Meditation of the blessed life and Passion of Iesus and often reduce the same unto thy heart and memory Things to be considered in Meditating the Passion of our Saviour 1. Who it is that suffereth 2 What it is he suffereth 3. How he suffereth 4. For whom 5. To what end he suffered Severall Affections to be draw'n from the consideration of the same Passion 1. To have compassion on the greatnes of his pains 2. Contrition for the sins which were the cause of his sufferance 3. Imitation in folowing his examples 4. Gratitude for the largeness of our Redemption 5. Hope he dyed to save us 6.
Love in seeing the greatness of his love 7. Admiration in beholding his unspeakable bounty and goodnes It is written of him dixit multa fecit mira pertulit dura Considerations of the knowledge of ones self 1. Consider what you have been what you are and what you shall be 2. Ponder what you are by nature by fault what you have deserved and what you may do by grace 3. The effectuall cause of your Being is God 4. The matter of which you are made is Earth agreeing with the nature of beasts 5. Our soules to the image of God 6. Our end to serve him and live eternally with him Considerations of sin 1. How much it displeaseth Almighty God and hurteth man 2. How contrary to his justice displeasing and disedifying to our neighbour 3. God's severe punishment of it and what we loose therby 4. The disgust that followeth sin and dishonour that accompanieth it 5. The grief of God his Angels and Saints with the joy of the Divell 6. The difformity of sin and the disagreement between men and it according to the nobleness of the soul How to consider Death 1. That all must necessarily dy and then be deprived of all things 2. Onely accompanied with grief and sicknes of the body with temptations and feares of the soule 3. And nothing will confort you at that houre but only good works 4. Death ought not to be feared contemned or desired Of the Pains of the damned There are many waies to meditate of this as in that which followeth of glory only changing the good for the evill To contemplate Heaven 1. Consider the dowries of the soule which are the vision possession and enjoying of God 2. The dowries and perfections of the body Impassibility Brightnes Agility Subtility 3. The place most excellent most large most beautifull and most rich 4. The company of the Angels and Saints with the Blessed Mother of God which shall endure for all Eternity How to consider vertue 1. In what vertue consisteth 2. What examples and doctrine my sweet Saviour hath given you thereof 3. How beautifull excellent necessary and profitable it is how pleasing unto God and maketh man agreable to him 4. How much it edifieth and profiteth your neighbour 5. The spirituall joy it bringeth with many benefits 6. The victory we gain therby over our selves 7. How farr we are from the perfection thereof and what you ought to do hereafter 8. The power we gain therby in presenting our Prayers to God How to consider the Feasts of Saints 1. In what place they are now and with what glory they are crowned 2. How much they may help us by their Prayers and merits 3. By what works Prayers and vertues they have attained such glory 4. If you will come where they are do as they have don To meditate on the Perfections of Almighty God 1. His infinit Essence 2. His Power 3. His Wisdome 4. His Bounty 5. His Goodnes 6. His Love 7. His Mercy 8. His Justice 9. His Providence 10. His Omnipotency concerning which weigh this sentence of holy scripture or what himself hath don in testimony thereof Caelum terram ego impleo In ipso vivimus movemur sumus I fill heaven and Earth In him we live move and are For his power Dixit facta sunt He said and they were made Considerations of the creatures of Almighty God first in generall 1. BY the largeness of the world consider the greatnes of Almighty God 2. The multitude and variety of things with the infinit perfections of God 3. His bounty in the profit they bring unto us 4. His beauty by the beauty of the creatures 5. His wisdom in the well ordering of all things 6. His Eternity in the roundness which hath neither beginning nor end 7. The unity of the world shewing that God is only one The creatures in particular their beginnings and continuance which is of God 1. The end thereof to wit his honour and the service of creatures 2. Of what and how they were made by his only word and power 3. The qualities and effects of these creatures the reverence they use unto God and his perfections The benefits in brief of Almighty God 1. Who hath don you the benefit 2. Who hath moved him to do it 3. Wherfore he hath don it unto you 4. How great the benefit is 5. How much you are obliged therby 6. How ungratefull you have been What you ought to do in the time to come with the benefits of Almighty God in particular 1. First how God hath predestinated us in perpetuall love before the world was 2. How he hath made man like to himself 3. Given you a body of most seemly features void of all defformity 4. Made your soul immortall and adorned it with three powers 5. Appointed an Angell to keep and defend you 6. Made you to be born of Christian parents and members of the Church The benefit of our Redemption 1. First sent us his well beloved son to be our Redeemer and example 2. By Baptisme purged you from orignal sin and restored you the vesture of originall justice 3. Fortified you with the Sacrament of Confirmation wherby he hath armed you against your enemies 4. Made you a Christian and therby the child of God and coheire of his Kingdome 5. Hath given the holy Ghost in token of adoption of love communicating unto you his benefits inspirations and fruits 6. Lastly the Sacraments of Confession and Communion as a refuge in all Spirituall relapses and necessities The benefit of vocation 1. First the patience of Almighty God with you you falling so often after so many great benefits received long expecting your return and not letting you dy in an evill state 2. Sought to recall you by inward inspirations admonitions and exhortations 3. Mollified your heart giving you a good will to vertue and removed such impediments as might withdraw you from him 4. Lovingly received you at your return as the Father did his prodigall child putting on you the stole of innocency which you had lost by sin 5. Hath called you from the vanities and miseries of the world as he did Lot from Sodom 6. What great plenty of means he hath given you in Religion wherby you may satisfy for your sins increase your crown and merit The benefit of justification 1. First how God hath changed your will and moved you to do pennance made bitter things sweet and that which was unsupportable to be easy unto you 2. Secondly he hath given unto you perseverance in his feare and love many beginning well have failed in the end to their condemnation 3. Thirdly he hath given to you the Evangelicall vertues of hope and grace to persever in your good purposes to avoid vice and labour for vertue 4. Fourthly hath left the holy scriptures and devout books wherein as in a glass you may behold your defects and imperfections 5. Fiftly the examples of Martyrs Confessours Virgins and
3. How JESUS thus adorned is led forth by Pilate shown to the Jewes with Behold à Man O sad Spectacle Yet still they cry Crucify Him Oh! the heavy weight of my sins Affect Oh my JESU that I could obey Thee even to loss of life Resolve To practise Obedience shun Sloath c. FRYDAY Carrying the Cross CONS 1. How JESUS thus derided whipped crowned goes forth carrying the Cross whereon he is to be sacrifized for thy Sins 2. What shouts of joy the Jewes make after Him through the streets of Jerusalem thus is Innocency despised 3. How the devout woemen meet bewaile Him thy hard heart sheds not one Teare amidst these his sorows or for thy own sins Affect Oh my JESU that I could abandon all sensuall satisfactions for the Love of Thee Resolve To practise Temperance shun Gluttony c. SATURDAY Crucifying of Iesus CONS 1. How JESUS with much pain shame arrived to Mount Calvary is again uncloath'd thus all his soares are renewed My Sins not blotted out by Repentance shall one day be disclosed to the whole World 2. How they streatch thy JESUS upon the Cross fastning him with nayles therunto then raise him up where he hangs between two theeves Oh what ignominy 3. How He there hangs for the space of three houres reviled by Jews Gentiles forsaken by his Disciples drenched with gall vineger peirced to the heart with a speare yet He prays for his Enemies Enter make thy aboade in that love-wounded-Heart Affect Oh my JESU that I could imitate Thee in the purity of thy Life Doctrine Resolve To practise Modesty shun All contrary Therunto c. A Method for Meditation 1. PReparation hath 3. parts Presence of God Choyce of matter and Invocation 2. Meditation it self hath 3. parts Consideration Affection and resolution 3. Conclusion hath 3. parts Thanks-Giving Oblation and Prayer A Prayer before Meditation O my God my Sovereign my Creatour and my All I here most humbly prostrate my self with the profoundest adoration J am possibly capable of before your devine Majesty earnestly imploring à continuance of your blessings vpon me your poor needy Creature and that you would be pleased out of your infinite bounty by meanes of your holy spirite so to illuminate my vnderstanding inflame my will recollect from distractions and strengthen in good resolutions all the powers of my soule as that J may worthily attentively and devoutly performe this sublime exercise of mentall prayer J am now vndertaking to your honour and glory the comfort of my own distressed soule the joy of the Saints in heaven and the edification of men on earth thro' your mercyes the meritts of my Blessed Saviour and the inspirations of your Coelestiall Paraclet Amen A Prayer after Meditation BEhold O my God Behold o my most patient and merciful Lord how J have passed over this time of Meditation and treating with thee with how much negligence sloth coldnes and distraction and with how litle feeling of thy good motions within me but thou O Lord knowest all my infirmities and Miseries and therfore J crave of thee pardon for them J thank thee also most heartily and humbly for all the good thoughts and suggestions which have presented themselves to my mind in time of this my meditation as most holy Embassadours sent from thy heavenly Throne to deale with me for the gaining of thy kingdome whos blessed voices and most profitable speeches J beseech thy divine goodnes to give me grace to imprint in my heart and seeke to put in execution in the cours of my life to come to the end that my judgment and Damnation be not the more grievous in respect of thes thy Benefits but rather that my life being mended therby and my soul stirr'd up to more zeale of thy service J may be finally made partaker with thy true Children of that eternall blïss which thou hast prepared for such os love feare and serve thee and yeeld obedience to those holy inspirations which thou sendest them for their eternal happines Amen A Table of dayly Patrons Meditations Vertues vices and Intentions Day Patron Meditation Vertue Vice Intentions Sund. H. Angels washing feet Charity Envie For the H. church Mund. Apostles Prayer in the Garden Humility Pride For Vnion of Christian Princes Tuesd Martyrs Mocking Self denyall Self love For benefactors Wednesd Bishops Whipping Patience Anger For Religious orders Thursd Doctors Crowning Obedience Sloath. For conversion of Infidells Frid. Confessors Carrying the Cross Temperāce Gluttony For soules departed Saturd Virgins Crucifying Modestie Impurity For distressed persōs