A BREFE COLLECTION CONcerning the Loue of God towards Mankinde, & howe wee are for diuers cauſes bound to ſerue & loue him.

THE great and incomprehenſible charitye of our Lorde towardes Mankinde, maye be cōſidred fower ſundrye wayes.

Firſt in the dignitie of our Creation. Secondly in taking our coruptible nature. Thirdly in ſuſteining for vs his B. paſſion. And fourthly in his great benefits and bountiful giftes, both ſpiritual & corporal, which may iuſtly kindle & inflame the hartes of al true Chriſtians, to render to him again that which he requireth of vs, which is nothing elſe but a loueing harte, a iuſte & vpright life.

In the dignitie of our Creation, hath he ſhewed, that he loued vs more then any other creature in the world: & that in two things. Firſt in creating & making vs acording to his owne Image & likenes: ſecondly in conſtituting vs Lords and Gouerners ouer al his other creatures.

In taking of our nature, he hath alſo ſhewed that he loued Mankind better then Angels, & that in three reſpectes. Firſt in honour, becauſe he aſſumpted our nature, & not the nature of Angels: Secondly in loue, in that he repayred Mankinde with his precious bloud, & not them. And thirdly in viſion, becauſe in heauen we ſhall poſſeſſe more ioye in Contemplation of Chriſtes Humanitie then the Angels, in that we ſhal ſee our nature, vnited to the deuine Nature.

But in ſuffring his B. Paſſion, he hath ſhewed [as we may ſay] that he loued vs better then him ſelfe, geuing for our Saluation freely his whole Body & life. And here marke, that in this B. Paſſion of our Sauiour, we may learne fiue notable thinges.

Firſt it teacheth vs to geue him hartie thanks for the glorious fruite which we haue receiued by the ſame, which gratfulnes is a thing ſo acceptable vnto-him, as S. Aug. ſaith, that nothing maybe more. This B. Lambe of God which was conceiued & borne without ſinne, wold thus ſuffer for vs, that by his painful Paſſion, he might pul vs backe from the filthy pleaſure of ſinne. He ſuffred in all his members, that with our mēbers, we might willingly ſerue him. Hee offered for vs his precious blood the price of our Redemption, that we might offer our bodies with al the force of the ſame to doe him ſeruice.

Secondly it teacheth vs to loue him, becauſe aboue all things, he loued vs.

Thirdly it teacheth vs how much we ought to deteſt & hate ſinne, for which he ſuſteined ſuch a painful & dolorous Paſſion, yea he abhorreth it ſo much, that not withſtanding his great deſire of our Saluation: he condemneth the ſinner for one deadly offence to perpetuall payne & tormente.

Fourthly it teacheth vs Fortitude, to withſtand ſtrongly any aduerſity, paine or tribulation, for the honour & loue of him, that loued vs ſo much: & alſo for our owne Saluation, becauſe tribulation in this world paciently ſuſtained is the ready way to heauen. This bleſſed Paſſion being called to remēbrāce there is nothing ſo harde, as S. Iſidore ſaith, which is not with an equal minde tolle rated. Let vs therfore as true Souldiers, diligently ſtudye to ſuffer with him: & thē no doubte we ſhall, as S. Paule ſaith, be pertakers of his cōſolatiōs & Ioyes.

Fiftly it teacheth vs Humilitie, for if Chriſt, which was the Sonne of God, abaſed & humbled him ſelfe ſo much as to deſcēd from his glorious Kingdome, into this vale of miſery, to take vppon him oure baſe Nature, & ſuffer ſuch an ignominious death: with what face can man lifte vp him ſelfe in pride, & contemne ſo louing a Redeemer? This Humility is the ground & foundation of all Vertue, & without that no vertue can be acceptable in the ſight of God which cauſed our Sauior ſo carefully in his holye Goſpell, to admoniſh vs of the ſame, ſaying. Learne of me, for I am meke & humble in hart. And S. Ambroſe ſaith, that how much more abiect a man is in this life: ſo much the more he ſhalbe exalted in the world to come. Woulde thou haue al vices, ſaith one, deſtroied within thee? Learne then to be truely humble. To which agreeth S. Aguſt. ſaying. Humilitie is the Quene of vertues, the death of vyces, the looking glaſſe of virgins, & the harboure of the holy Trinitie. It is only humilitye, ſaith S. Bernard, that exalteth: & ſhe alone leadeth to life, becauſe ſaith he, this is the way, & ther is none other. And therfore S. Gregory ſaith well, that whatſoeuer a man doth is loſt, if it be not kepte by humility. God graunt vs to imbrace this Vertue, & to imitate that ſwete Lambe, which as S. Bernard ſaith, was borne poore, liued poore, & dyed poore.

Now touching his bountiful Giftes, it driueth me into a maſe, to remember them. Firſt how he hath made vs, as is before ſaid, to his owne B. Image and likenes, geueing vs the noble giftes of Memorye, Reaſon, & Will: & hath made the Soule of man ſo noble, that nothing is able to fill or ſatiſfie it, but him ſelfe alone. It may well be occupied, as S. Bernarde ſaith, vvith all other thinges: but filled or ſatiſfied, can it not bee.

He doth inrich vs alſo vvith his grace & doth viſite comforte & ſtrength vs, vvith his good inſpirations, & motions to Vertue: And in the end, hath prepared ſuch Ioyes for vs, as paſſeth all vnderſtanding, either of man or Angels.

And for the giftes corporall, they be alſo ſuch & ſo many, as are maruelus to cōſider. He hath created for our behoofe the Elements, vvith the Sunne to geue vs light by day, & the Moone to illuminate the night. The Fyre to keepe vs frō coulde: & the Ayre to mitigate his heate, and preſerue our health. The Water to vvaſhe away our filthines. The Earth vvith his variable Fruites to ſuſteine vs, & vvith his beautiful Flowers, to recreate vs: Beſids the great diuerſity of Beaſtes, Foules, and Fiſhes, for our noriſhment & delight.

He hath geuen vnto vs our Wittes, & right Limmes, vvith Beauty, Strēgth & comlye ſhape. He hath kepte & deliuered vs from many daungers, both of fire & vvater, thunder & tempeſt, ſlanders, ſhames, & many other euels, vvith the vvhich, for our ſinns, he might iuſtlye haue puniſhed vs: & vvhē vve offended in deadly ſinne, haue caſt vs headlong into hell: & yet of his tender loue hath forborne & ſpared vs.

O vvhat ſhall vve render againe vnto God for all his Benefits? hovv infinitly are vvee bounde to loue & ſerue him, not only in reſpect of his goodnes in him ſelfe (vvhich is the cheefeſt cauſe indede) & of his tender loue towards vs: But alſo in reſpecte of the greate delight he taketh in our ſeruice, yea muche more thē he doth in the ſeruice of his Angels, & the reaſon is this becauſe man doth not only ſerue God of loue as the Angels doe: but alſo vvith laboure & paine, vvhich they doe not: For he laboreth more in ſeruing him one day, then they haue donne ſince the beginning of the vvorld: & therfore doth God ſingulerly delighte in our praiers, & other good vvorkes, & ſhal geue vs, if vve continew to the ende, a double Crowne of glorye, that is both in Bodye & Soule.

And here vnderſtand, that for diuers cauſes we are iuſtly bound to ſerue him.

Firſt for our Creatiō, becauſe vve are created only to that ende: & therfore all our members & ſtrengthe of bodye & Soule, are to be imploied & exercyſed in his holye Seruice.

Alſo vve are bounde to ſerue him in reſpect of his louing ſeruice done vnto vs, vvho ſaith by his Prophet Eſay, Seruire me fecisti in peccatis tuis, that is, thou haſt cauſed me to ſerue in thy ſinns: As vvhen he praied, faſted & preached, vvhen he vvas vvhipped & crowned vvith thorne, vvhē he caried his Croſſe, & theron ſuffered painfull death: & beſides all this, in token of his great loue, he ſerueth vs ſtill vvith his owne bleſſed Body & blood in the holy Sacramente, & therfore euery vvay are vve bound moſt louinglye to ſerue him againe.

Alſo vve are bound to ſerue him, in reſpect of our Obligatiō & Vowe, made in Baptiſme: hauing ther vovved & promiſed ſo to doe al the time of our life.

Likevviſe for his great Benefites, as is before ſaid, beſtovved vpon vs.

And laſtlye for that ineſtimable glory that he hath promiſed to al thoſe that loue, and truly ſerue him to the ende.

But becauſe no Seruice can be acceptable vnto him, which procedeth not from a cleane and pure harte: It ſhal not be here amiſſe to declare brefely, by vvhat meanes the ſame may be obtained & gotten.

Firſt he that vvould ſerue God truely in cleānes of harte & Conſcience muſte daily behould, and looke into his workes, and diligentlye conſider his whole ſtate and conuerſation, & ſee if there be any thing in the ſame reprehenſible, or contrary to the vvill of God: becauſe the knovvledge of our felfe, is the beginning of our health & Saluation.

Secondly vvhat-ſoeuer he findeth in him-ſelfe, in vvhich he hath offended God: he muſt hartely repent, & humbly aske mercy for the ſame, firmely purpoſing therof to make a cleare and perfecte confeſſion, ſo ſoone as he maye.

Thirdly he muſt vvith careful ſtudy, and deuoute prayer, continually deſire of God, to kepe & defend him frō ſinne: for as the holy Prophete ſaith, Except God kepe the city, he vvatcheth in vain that keepeth it. Therfore euery man ought to ſerue God in greate humilitie, & with cōtinual watche & warde ouer him ſelfe. The difficulty of Perſeuerance in vvell doing appeareth in the fall of Lucifer from heauē, of Adam frō Paradice, and Iudas frō the nomber of the xij Apoſtles: vvhat cauſe haue vve therfore to pray, as our Sauioure counſeleth vs continually, hauing experience of our owne vveaknes & debility in reſiſting temptations: In ſomuch that ſomtimes through one only vvorde, vve are prouoked to anger and impacience.

Therfore it behoueth vs euer to ſtand in feare for offending God, and to that ende ſaith the Scripture. Bleſſed is the man that is euer fearfull. And S. Bernard ſaith, that feare and Religion are knit together: & that the one can not remaine vvithout the other. God geue vs grace, that vve may dailye ſtudie to obtaine this moſt noble vertue, that the bleſſinge vvhich Chriſte ſpeaketh of in the Goſpel, may light on vs: vvhere he ſaith Bleſſed be the cleane in hart▪ for they ſhal ſee God, To vvhom be all honoure for Euer-more. Amen.

A Thankeſgeuing to the B. Trinitie to be Daylie vſed.

AL Honoure, thankes, and praiſe, be to thee o bleſſed Father of heauē which haſt created & made me. Glory be to thee, o B. Sonne of God vvhich with thy precious bloode haſt redeemed me. Glory be to thee, o holy Ghoſte, vvhich haſt Sanctified me. Glory be to thee, o holy, B. and Indeuided Trinitie, whoſe vvorkes are meruailous, & paſſe all vnderſtanding. I laude & praiſe thee vvith hart and mouth, and geue louing thanks vnto thee, for all thy B. Benefits Spiritual and Corporal, and ſinge vnto thee, the Hime of glory, Sanctus. Sanctus. Sanctus. Thou only art God, and beſids thee there is none at all, vvhich vvorkeſt greate, meruailous and Inſcrutable things, wherof ar no end. To thee belongeth al Laude and Iubilie. To thee all Angells the Heauens, & vniuerſall Powers, doe ſing Praiſes. To thee o glorious Trinitie be geuen all honor of euery creature both in Heauen and Earthe novv and for euer more. Amen.

Soli Deo honor & gloria.

An Inuocation to be vſed before Praier, for the attaining of Gods grace, the aſiſtāce & directiō of the holye Ghoſt. And alſo to obtaine therby, Humillity, Charity, Puritie of Intētion, Cleannes & Peace of harte: for protection, & defence, againſt the aſſaultes, tēptations, & firye dartes of the Deuil: & al inuiſible, & viſible enemies.

VVhat is to be cōſidred before Prayer, & the manner to behaue your ſelfe therin, morning & eueninge, before the office of oure Ladye, or other vſuall Praiers: with certaine Benedictiōs, which you maye vſe all or parte, at your Diſcretion.

VVhat is to be Premeditated before praier.

VVHen you intēd to offer the Sacrifice of Prayer, & Praiſes, to almighty God, & prepare you to praier.

Recale your Senſes, & gather to gether your vvittes, & vvith an humble, attentiue, & deuoute mind, lifte vp your harte to God: Reuerently ſtanding vpright, vvith your handes ioyned before your breſte, & lifted vpp.

Pauſe then a litle vvhile, & aduiſed lye conſider vvith your ſelfe vvherefore you come, vvheraboute you goe, and vvhat buſines, you novv take in hande.

Alſo, before vvhom you are preſent, the Petitions you vvill aske, and the Offerring you meane to make.

Remember you are novv, before a moſte mighty & Deuine Maieſty: The Creator, and Redeemer, of your ſelfe & all Mankinde, vvhome Infinite Numbers of Angels, & all the Caeleſtiall multitude doe continually adore & vvorſhipe, vvith feare & tremblinge.

And your ſelfe, a moſt wretched & vnworthey Creature, fraile vnſtable, falling from him: dulle, & vn-apte to call vpon him. And yet, his mercy is ſo muche, & his goodnes ſo great, that he is euer, ready to heare, & graciouſly to graunte, your lawful requeſtes, and to receiue you when you come vnto him: & alſo to forgeue you al your offences, when you are hartely ſorye, & aske mercye for them.

Likewiſe, he is one that hath, and doth, moſt bountefully beſtow vpon you, al thinges neceſſary for body and ſoule: & hath and doth, defend & kepe, feede & nouriſh, you, & al creatures.

And that before his diuine Preſence, you nowe preſume to enter, and to preſent you ſelfe: To Intreate, beſeech, & Require mercye, and forgeuenes of ſinnes, for your ſelfe & al others: & to offer the Sacrifiſe of Prayſe, & Thankesgeuinge.

Therfore, with al humility, & reuerence, proſtrate your ſelfe at the feete of his mercye: & Indeuore vvith deuotion, to accompliſh that you come for.

But before you begin your praiers, that you maye the rather, offer them vvith cleannes of harte, & geue thankes to God, not only for his Benefits, but chefely for his goodnes in him ſelfe; Make it fully knovven to your harte (as true it is vncertaine vvhether you ſhal liue to the ende of your Prayers or not: Indeuor therfore thay maye be ſuch, as if it ſhold ſo happen before you had ended them, that ſo through the mercy of God, they may be acceptable vnto him, for the ful forgeuenes of your former offences & the receiuing you to his fauoure.

And that you may the more perfectly, beginne, continevv, and ende, al your prayers, and other good actions In the Name, & to the honoure, & glorye of God, the moſte holy & bleſſed Trinitye: & haue in minde his greate goodnes tovvardes you, & Benefits beſtovved vpon you, & geue thankes for them, and alſo, that the Paſſion of our Lord, may take the more effecte, the benefit of it be Imparted, the fruite ther of Inioyed: and in al ſpiritual Practiſes remembred: You may, yf it pleaſe you, begin your Prayers, in manner as folovveth Meekly falling on your knees, your hart & ioyned hands, being Eleuated to God.

VVhat is firſt to be vſed, at the beginning of Prayer.

IN the Name of the Father. and of the Sonne. and of the Holy Ghoſt. Amē.

In the Name, and Honoure of our Lord IESVS Chriſt, Emanuel, Crucified, for our Redemption, and Saluation.

In the Honoure of God, the moſte holy, Bleſſed, Glorious, and Indeuided, Trinitye: and Eternal Maieſtie.

In the Honoure of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſtes Humanity: and In memory of his greate Charitye, towardes me, and all Mankinde.

In the vvorſhippe of oure Bleſſed Ladye, the holye Virgin S. Marye: and In minde of her Humilitye.

In the Name, and Honoure, of God the moſte holye Trinitye In Vnitie, & Vnitie In Trinitye, To whom be al glory.

And In the Honoure, and Memory, of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſtes humble Incarnation, his Chaſte Natiuitie, his life & Conuerſation, Charitable Death, & Bitter Paſſion: His glorious Reſurrection, & Aſſcenſion: & the Comming of the Holye Ghoſte.

In the Honoure, and Memorye of all the Laboures, & Vertues, of our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, & of his holy Lyfe & Conuerſation.

In the Honoure, and Memorye, of the bitter Agonie, Blooddye Svvete, and Painfull Prayer, that our Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, made in the Mounte of Oliuet: Before his taking & B. Paſſion.

And In Honour, & Memory of al the Partes, & Paynes, of his moſte Bleſſed, bitter, & Paynfull Paſſion.

In the Honoure, and Memorye of the fiue Woundes, that vvere perſed in our Lord Ieſus Chriſtes Bleſſed Bodye and Handes, & Feete, his Side, & Harte.

And that I may vvith all Humillitie, & Reuerēce, haue in Minde, & vvorſhip aright as I ought, al the Precious droppes of Blood, that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt ſhed for my ſake & all Mankinde.

And likevviſe, that I may euer haue in minde, & obtaine the Promiſed laſte Revvard, of Saluation, Glorification, & Perpetual Fruition of the Deyitie: & eſchevve the Puniſhmēt, & Payne, of eternal damnation: I offer thes my praiers.

O God moſte holy o A Donay, in thy Name, & to thy honoure & glorye: I Begin, Continue, & end, theſe my prayers: & I offer this my dutie and laboure, vnto thy moſte Sacred Diuinitye.

O Good Lorde Ieſus Chriſte, I offer vnto thee my harte, & Soule, and I offer my ſelfe Bodye and Soule, vvith all the partes, povvers & vvorkes therof, & all my thoughts, vvordes and deeds, all my Intentions, and Actions, and all the Laboures of my hands: To doe thy vvyll in al, & accōpliſh all to thy honore & glory, novv, & all the time of my life.

And I beſeeche thee, O God Holye Ghoſte, geue me grace, and ſtrength, to doe thy vvill in all thinges: to obay, ſerue, & loue thee aright, & to offer theſe my Prayers, vvith cleannes of harte, purity of Intention, vprightnes of Action, & vvith Attention, & Deuotion, In perfect charity, vvith true humility, & in the Vnitye of thy true Church, & Faith Catholike, that they maye, aſcend into thy ſight, & be acceptable vnto thee, as a ſwete Sacrifice of Inſence.

O Bleſſed & Indeuided Trinity, I offer vnto thy deuine Omnipotēcie, theſe my Prayers, dutie, & laboures, for my health, helpe, & parfect vveale, & for al things neceſſary, for my body & ſoule & for the right direction of my vvhole Life, as it may be beſt pleaſing, and moſte acceptable vnto thee.

And likewiſe, I offer vnto thy Omnipotent Maieſty, o Holy and Glorious Trinitie, theſe my Prayers, dutie & labours, for the health, & helpe of ſoule and body, of al other perſons, that thy B. vvil and pleaſure is to haue praied for Quicke & deade, vvithin the Church & vvithout, in ſpecial & general, thoſe in ſpecial, that I am moſt behoulding to and bounde to Praye for, by Inioyned penance, blood or kinred, promiſe debt, or any other benefit receiued.

And for all other in generall, that thy bleſſed vvill & pleaſure is to haue praied for: And for vvhom, and vvhat ſoeuer elſe, thy Wyſdome knoweth neceſſarye & my frailtie can not acke.

That it may pleaſe thee to graūt vnto vs, Pacience in all temptations, & tribulations, ghoſtly & bodelye: Protection & defence, againſt all enemies viſible, & inuiſible: Conſtancie & perſeuerance in vertue & al goodnes, helpe & releefe, in all needes & neceſſities: Eaſe & deliuerie, out of al troubles & affictions that vvee are in, or may any vvaye happen vnto vs. And to liue & dye, in the Vnitie of the true Catholike Faith & Church, and come to bliſſe.

O moſte Bleſſed; Glorious, & Indeuided Trinitie, I humbly here proſtrate my ſelfe, before the Feete of thy Deuine Maieſtie, and meſurleſſe mertie: Beſeeching thee of mercy, & forgeuenes of ſinnes, for my ſelfe, and all others: and mittigation of thy Iuſtice towardes vs, nowe, & in the howre of our Death, & at our Iudgement, perticuler, & genarall. Grant this Lord Ieſus Amen.

Deuoute Praiers, & Bleſsings, to be vſed at the beginning of Praier, for obtaining Grace, & aſsiſtance of the Holy Ghoste.

IN the name of God. Amen.

In the name of the Father, & of the Sonne & of the Holye Ghoſte. Amen.

By the ſigne of the holye Croſſe, and vertue of oure Lordes Paſſion: from our enemies, viſible, & inuiſible, deliuer vs o Lorde our God.

The Grace of the Holy Ghoſt, lighten our hartes, and Senſces: and be vvith vs. Amen.

Come Holy Ghoſte, & fill the hartes or all faithful people, & kindle in them the fyre, of thy deuine Loue.

O God be our helper, in vvhoſe Name & by vvhoſe vvorde all things are done: Who hath made heauen and earth.

O Lord, in thy Name, ſhal I lift vp my handes and harte, that my Prayers may aſcend, & be acceptale vnto thee as an Euening Sacrifice.

In thy Name o Lorde, ſhal I receiue helthe, & helpe, & in thy Name, & by thy Power, ſhal I be made ſafe. And in thy Vertue, thou ſhall Iudge me.

The triumphant Croſſe, & victorious Paſſion of our Lord, and the glorious Name IESVS, honored in heauen and earth, be our defence & ſafety, ſheeld & protection, & he bleſſe & kepe vs novv, & euer. Amen.

IESVS vvho is the vviſdome of the Father, geue vs health of Body & Soule. Amen.

God Almighty, bleſſe & directe me, & be vvith me nowe, & euer, in my beginning, proceeding, & ending. Amen.

GOd be in my head, & in my being.

God be in my mind, & vnderſtanding God be in my eyes, & in my Seeing.

God be in my Eares, & in my hearing.

God be in my mouth, & in my ſpeaking.

God be in my harte, & in my thinking.

God keepe me from al euel in my vvorking touching, ſmelling, & al my other ſences God be at my ending, and my departing.

Bleſſe me o God the Father, vvho hath made me, and Created me.

Bleſſe me o God the Sonne, vvho Suffered for me, and Redeemed me.

Bleſſe me o God the Holye Ghoſte, who in Baptiſme, hath Sanctified me, & ſince, hath called, defended, & noriſhed me.

O Holye Trinitie, of thy Incomprehenſible goodnes, lighten my harte, & ſences, my minde, & vnderſtanding, my ſoule & bodie, vvith the light of thy grace, & be vvith me now & euer. Amē.

The Manner to offer your ſelfe & Prayers to God, firſt, & laſt.

O My moſte ſwete Lord Ieſus Chriſt in the Vnitie, and Vnion, of loue, that thou did praiſe, & pray, to thy Father, & take great paine & laboure for vs ſinners, duringe thy life-time here on earth: I offer vnto thee this Prayer, and Prayſe, this Laude, and labour, and my ſelfe bodye & ſoule, vvith all the partes powers & actions therof: To doe all to the honoure & glorie of thy holie name. the weale of the true Catholike Church the furtherance and increaſe of Vertue, & helping of ſouls to euerlaſting bliſſe.

O moſte deare Lorde Ieſus Chriſte. In the Vnitie, & Vnion, of Loue, that moued thee to be Incarnate, & become Man: and dye for vs ſinners.

I offer vnto thee this prayſe, this praier, this vvorke & labour, & my ſelfe bodie and ſoule, to doe thy vvil in all thinges, now, and alwayes. Amen.

O Good Lord Ieſus Chriſt, I offer vn to thy Father, for the Remiſſion of my ſinnes (and all others) the paines, bitter Paſſion, and Death, that thou did ſuffer for me, and all Mankinde.

Forget good Lord, and cleerly remit, the ſinnes, & offences, of vs & our parents, and be not reuēged on our demerits, but ſpare, & forgeue vs, thy people penitentes, vvith thy Bloode precious, from ſinne, & from tormentes boughte, & Redeemed. And euer let mercy, temper thy vvrath, againſt vs, & our follye.

As our hope is in thee our truſt & affiance, Amē to this ſay vve with hart & true cōſciēce. Graunt theſe my praiers, moſt B. Lord Ieſus. To vvhom be al praiſe & glory, now & euer bleſſed.

Certaine neceſſarie praiers, to be daily vſed, morning & euening: with others. And firſt. A thankeſgeuing to God, at your vpriſinge.

I Geue thee thankes, laude, and praiſe, o moſt holie & bleſſed Trinitie, one omnipotent, and eternal Maieſtie, who haſte this night preſerued, defended, & viſited, me thy vnworthie ſeruant, N. and haſt cauſed me thus, to come to the beginning of this daie, and for all thy other benefites, which of thy onlie goodnes thou haſte beſtowed on me.

O Father moſt merciful, I beſech thee of mercie and forgeuenes, how ſoeuer I haue this night offended thy diuine Maieſte, and graunte me grace ſo to ſpend this day, in thy holie ſeruice, faith feare, and loue: that vvith all humilitie, charitie, diſerction, deuotion, & obedeence, I may be able to doe all my deedes and ſeruices due, as they may be beſt pleaſinge and moſt acceptable vnto thee, In all my thoughtes, vvordes, and workes. and graunt me by thy grace, alvvayes to liue according to thy holie vvill. And all the dayes and time of my life, I commend vnto thee, my ſoule & bodie, my faith, my life, and my death: to be preſerued, protected, and directed, by thee novve, and for euer. Amen.

An other thenkeſgening, to be vſed euery night with a Confeſsion alſo of our ſinnes.

OMnipotent Father, & moſt worthy of all adoration, who beareſt a louing and fatherly care tovvards vs, thy vnvvorthy children: I render vnto thee moſt harty thanks, for keping & preſeruing me this day paſt, and for other thy great giftes & benefits, ſpiritual & corporal, beſtowed on me vnkind vvretch, deſeruing rather to haue bene ſharply puniſhed for my greeuous ſinne and ingratitude: and alſo for my deliuery from diuers & ſundry perils, bodely & ghoſtlye, into the vvhich many haue fallen.

I Confeſſe vnto thee, o moſt louing father with ſorowful hart, that this day I haue offended thy diuine Maieſty, in wicked thoughtes, wordes, & workes: and eſpecially in this maner, place and time (here let him examine his cōſcience and be ſorovvful for his ſinnes committed) o moſte louing & peetiful father, I hūbly beſeech thee, by the immaculate life, and painful Paſſion, of thy deare Sonne our Lorde Ieſus Chriſt, of mercie and forgeuenes hovvſoeuer I haue offended this day, ether of frailtie, ignorance, or malice: againſt thee, my neighbore, or my ſelfe. Amen.

Bleſſed Father and God of al mercy I humblie beſeech thee, to geue me the grace of true contrition, & penance that I maye vvith a ſorovvful hart bevvaile my ſinnes committed, and with firme purpoſe forſake and deteſt them, & from hence forvvard, vvalke in newnes of life, agreable to thy vvill & my vocation. Create in me o Lord a clane harte, & geue me chaſtitie of bodie & ſoule. Graunt that thy holy Angell maye keepe vs, and this houſe in peace, that ſo vve maye paſſe the night vvithout ſinne, to thine honoure, & oure ſaluation. Amen.

I commend vnto thee O Lord my bodie & ſoule, friends & enemies, ſicke & vvhole: & all Catholikes quicke & dead vvith the vniuerſal Church, that thy bleſſinge may be vpon vs, and remaine vvith vs, now & for euer-more. Amen.

The omnipotente & bleſſed Trinitie, the Father, Sonne, & holy Ghoſt: bleſſe & keepe vs, & graunte vnto vs a quiete nighte, and perfecte ende. Amen.

A confeſsion of Faithe, & deuout praier to the holy Trinitie, daylie to be vſed.

O Bleſſed Trinitie, Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt: three Perſons & one God, I Beleeue with my hart, and Confeſſe with my mouth, al that the holy Catholike Church beleeueth and houldeth of thee: and aſmuch as a good Catholike and Chriſtian man ought, to feele & beleeue of thee. And I here proteſt before thy diuiue Maieſty, that I wil (with thy gracions aſſiſtance) continue al my life, in this Faith, and dye in the ſame. And I acknowledge thee my God and Father, maker of al the world, and I thy poore creature, ſubiecte, and ſeruant, make to thee fealtie, & homage, both of my bodie and ſoule, which I houlde of thee nobly, as of my ſoueraigne Lord & God: with al the goods natural, ſpiritual, & temporal that I haue, that euer I had & that I intende to haue of thee, here in this world, or in the world to come, and with al my hart I thanke thee. And in ſigne of recogniſance, & knowledge thereof, I paye vnto thee this litle tribute, morning and euening: That is I adore & worſhipe thee, with my hart & mouth, in Faith, Hope and Charitie: with this litle Oraiſon or Praier, which al only appertaineth to thy B. Maieſtie, Signiorie and Diuinitie: & hūbly I require thee of three things.

The firſt is, mercy and forgenues, of as manny euils, ſinnes, & offences, as I haue done in time paſte, againſt thy bleſſed wil.

The ſecond, that it vvil pleaſe thee, to geue me graee, that I may ſerue thee, & accompliſhe thy Commandements, & not to runne or fal into deadly ſinne.

The thirde is, that at my death, and great neede, thou wilt ſuccour me, and geue me grace that I may haue remembrance of thy Bleſſed Paſſion, and true contrition for my ſinnes: & that I may liue and dye, in the Faith and Vnitie, of holye Churche: and finally come to thy glory eternal, With al ſaincts Amen.

An other Deuote prayer, or Proteſtation.

O Lord God Almightie, which ſeeſt and knoweſt al things, in whom is al profound wiſdome, and Sapience: I wretched ſinner, being now in good health & perfect memory (for which, as I am in dutie bounde, I thanke thee moſt hartelye) doe heare this daye (in diſſpite of al my ghoſtly enemies) make proteſtation, that if ether by enticeing, frailtie, tēptation, or deceit, of the deuil or other aduerſities comming by ſorow paine ſicknes, feeblenes of body or by other occations whatſoeuer it be, I decline or falle in perille of my Soule, or preiudice of my healthe, or in error of the holye Faithe Catholike in which I was regenerate in the holy Fonte of Baptiſme: I do vtterly diſclame in it, renounce it, & withe meeke acknowledging my faulte, doe in moſte humble manner craue pardon for it. In token whereof, I doe now ſincerly profeſſe, to liue & dye in the Faith of thy louing Spouſe, our holy mother the Catholike Church. And in witnes of this Confeſſion, and proteſtation: I offer to thee the Creede in which al veritie & truth is contained. And to thee I commend my Soule & Bodye, my Faith, my Lyfe, and Death. Amen. I Bleeue in God &c.

A Prayer or Salutation, to our Lady.

HAile Mary the hand-mayde of the holy Trinitie moſt humble. Haile Mary choſen to be the moſt high daughter of God. Haile Mary ſpouſe of the holy Ghoſt beſt beloued. Haile Mary the Mother of our Lord IESVS Chriſt moſt noble. Haile Mary the ſiſter of Angels moſt ſweete. Haile Mary promiſe of Prophets moſt deſireable. Haile Mary Queene & daughter of Patriarkes moſt glorious. Haile Mary miſtreſſe of Euangeliſts moſt faithful. Haile Mary teacher of the Apoſtles moſt wiſe. Haile Mary the comforter of Martirs moſt valiant. Haile Mary holines, fountaine, & fulnes of Confeſſors moſte benigne. Haile Mary honour & Crowne of chaſtity of Virgins moſt pure. Haile Mary the cōſo latrice of quicke & dead moſt readie. Be thou with me in al tribulatiō & anguiſh of thy motherly pitie: & in the houre of my deth, receiue my ſoule & offer it to thy ſweete Sonne Ieſus (I beſeech thee) with all thoſe that haue comitted them ſelues to my praiers. Amen.

A Bleſsing to be vſed before you goe forth.

The Imperial Maieſtie of God bleſſe me The Regall Diuinitie protecte me. The Euerlaſtinge Deytie keepe me. The Glorious Vnitie comforte me. The Incōprehenſible Trinitie defend me. The Ineſtimable Goodnes direct me. The Power of the Father Gouerne me. The Wiſedome of the Sonne quicken me. The Vertue of the Holy Ghoſt, Illuminate me and be vvith me. Amen.

Alpha & Omega, God & Man: Let this Bleſſing be vnto me all health & ſafetie of body & ſoule, againſt all my enemies, viſible & inuiſible: now & for euer.

Amen.

A moſt vertuous praier for all Eſtates.

O Moſte benigne Father, O Father moſt vvorthy to be praied vnto, I moſt miſerable vvretch, doe offer vnto thee, for al my ſinns (which I confeſſe are many and vile) and for the ſinns of the whole vvorld, the bitter Paſſion & death of thy only Sonne, our Lord and Sauioure Ieſus Chriſt: I offer his labours, his faſtings: his vvearines, his vvatchings, his prayers, his teares, his humilitie,, his bountifulnes, his pacience, and his Charitie: I offer his vexations & troubles of minde, his anguiſhes his contumelies, his paines his vvhippings, and his vvoundes: I offer al the drops of his moſt precious blood: I offer the merites of thy moſt ſvveete mother and Virgin S. Mary, and of al thy holy Saincts.

O Moſt bleſſed Ieſus my Redeemer I geue thee humble thanks for thy innumerable, benefits which thou haſt granted and geuen vnto me, being moſt vnworthy & doeſt daily beſtow vpon me. For thy moſt ſacred Incarnation. chaſt Natiuitie, thy holy Life & conuerſation thy moſt bitter Paſſion, & the effuſion of thy moſt bleſſed blood: and for thy death which was moſt Ignominious. Make me, I beſeech thee pertaker of al thy merits and graunt that through the diligent immitation & folowing of thy vertues, I may be found a liuely branche in thee, who arte the true Vine.

O Holy Ghoſt my comforter, I commend to thee my Soule and Body the be ginning and ende of my life, graunt me a good entrance & beginning: Geue me grace to doe true Penance, that I maye be hartely ſory for my ſinnes, and from them (by vertue of thy holy name) I maye be perfectlye purifyed before I deparre hence from this mortal bodye. I that am corupte and blinde in my affections and deſires. & in my owne iudgment, am eaſily ouercome, eaſily I do erre, and am eaſily ſeduced and illuded: wherfore to thee (O Lord) I whollye commit, and offer my ſelfe. Defende & kepe me thy vnworthy ſeruant from al euil, teach and illuminate my minde, gouerne me both within and without, ſtrengthen my weake ſpirite againſt inordinate puſillanimitie, and ſuperfluous ſcruples of Conſcience, and humble it that it fal not into preſumption. Geue me right Faith, vnmoueable Hope, ſincere & perfect Charity, that I may ſweet lie delight in thee, I may loue thee hartelie, and euery vvhere I may fulfill thy holy vvill and pleaſure.

O Holy & bleſſed Trinitie, God omnipotet, I comment vnto thee al my buſſines both ſpiritual and corporal. I cōmend vnto thee my benefactours, my neyghbours my friends, my familiars, & al for whom I ought to pray, al thoſe which haue deſired, or doe deſire my prayers. I cōmend vnto thee, the whole Catholike Church, renew in it I beſeeche thee, purity of life, graunt that ech one may corect him ſelfe: noriſh & kepe amog them that are members of the ſame Church mutual charitie, and continually to loue thee. Such as doe erre call backe into the way of Saluation extinguiſh al hereſies, & conuert thoſe to the knowledge of thy Faith, which as yet doe not know thee. Comfort and lift vp al that are trubled in mind and conſcience & ſuch as are opreſſed with temptations and calamities.

All Hayle o holy Virgin Marye, the white Lillie of the B Trinitie, of whom the king of Heauen Ieſus Chriſt the brightnes of his Fathers glory, wolde be borne: and with they ſweet milke be fedde and noriſhed. O bleſſed mother aſſiſt my weaknes in al temptations, and neceſſities in al peril of ſinne, and in the howre of my death, that thou helping and protecting me, I may be ſafe in our Lord.

O Bleſſed Spirits Angellical pray for me, and eſpicially thou holy Angel, the keper of my ſoule and body, haue thou faithful care ouer me. O al ye holy Sainctes of God, which haue paſſed ouer the troubles and vexations of his exile, and haue atained moſt happily to come to the porte of the celeſtial countrie, I moſt humbly cal you vnto my protections: helpe with your metites and praiers, both now & in the howre of my death.

Amen.

A Praier to be vſed at the begining of worke.

O Moſt glorious and indeuided Trinitie the Father, Sonne, and holie Ghoſt, vvho art the onlie and euer laſting goodnes, & vvithout vvhom nothing may be parfecte: I beſech thee by thy almighty povver, confirme & ſtreng then my memory, by thy vviſdome, lighten mine vnderſtanding, and by thy goodnes reforme and make perfect my vvill, that this vvorke vvhich I now goe about, may begin & ende, to thine honor & glory, to the help and confort of my neighbour, and ſaluation of my ſoule: the vvhich vvorke, & my ſelfe alſo body & ſoule, I humbly offer to thee. Conuert me to thee, o heauēly Artificer driue away the olde man with al his vicious inclinations, and make me anew. Create in me o Lord a cleane harte, & an vpright intention in this & all other my vvorkes: that both in me and them, thy holy name may be glorified, and thy B. vvil fulfilled.

An other to be vſed at the ende of worke.

TO thee o God be al praiſe, which haſt permitted me to acōpliſh this vvorke. Graūt O Lord, it may be to thee acceptable to me healthfull, and to others profitable. Not vnto vs o Lord, not vnto vs but vnto thy holy name, geue golrye. Amen.

A Deuoute Meditation, to procure Contrition and kindle the fyre of Douotion and feruore in Prayer: VVritten, by the Reuerent and Deuout Richard Roule Eremite at Hampoole.

VVHen thou prepareſt thy ſelfe to Praier, & deſireſt to haue therein Deuotion: Seeke ſome connenient place, free from noiſe and trouble that thou maieſt haue ther ſome time of quiet vvithout diſturbāce: ſit or kneele, as thou thinkeſt moſte conuenient.

Then be thou Emproure, Kinge, or Prince, Lorde, or Ladye, or any other perſone of vvhat ſtate ſoeuer: Conſider vvell there is a God, that hathe made thee of nothing, to his ovvne Image and likenes, and hath beſtovved on thee my righte vvittes and Sences, my limes, & all other features of bodye, with manye greate giftes & grace ſpiritual & corporal: As memory, vnderſtanding, & wil, alſo ſtrengthe, bewtye, & comlye ſhape, with worldly eaſe & pleaſures, that diuers others vvant, vvhich liue in great diſtreſſe, and much anguiſhe of bodie & minde: All vvhich, thou maieſt daily ſee, and behoulde before thee.

Thinke alſo, hovv frayle and ſinfull thou arte, and vvithout the keeping of that good Lorde, thou ſholdeſt fall into al kind of ſinne and iniquity, through thine ovvne vvretchednes and frailtye.

And further thou maieſt thinke as of thy ſelfe, there is no more ſinfull a creature then thou art, and if thou haue any grace of good lyfe, in liuing more vprightly then ſome others: Conſider it commeth of God, & not of thy ſelfe, & by him that grace is freely geuen thee.

Call alſo to mind, how longe God hath ſuffered thee in thy ſinns, and how often he might haue puniſhed thee with perpetual payne, vvhere-as by offending him thou deſeruedſt it, yet of his great mercie and goodnes, hath he ſpared thee, for the amendment of thy lyfe, that thou myghteſt aske mercye, and loueinglie hath he abiden thee, vntil thou vvoldſt come vnto him, leaue thy ſinne, and returne vnto good life: For lothe he vvere to forſake or loſe, that by death he bought ful deere, vvith bittter paynes, and the price of his moſt precious Blood.

Alſo thou mayeſt yet further conſidder, that becauſe he vvold not loſe thee, he became Man, and vvas borne of a Virgin, he liued here in pouertie, anguiſhe, and tribulation, al his life: and after that, death he vvold ſuffer to ſaue thee by his mercye, and bye thee againe that vvas loſte by ſinne and folie. In this manner, or the like, thou mayeſt conſider of his great goodnes and benefites.

And for obtayning of more grace and deuotion in thy Prayers, and to get thee compunction: Behoulde here vvith the ghoſtlie Eye of thy Soule Chriſts pitious paynful Paſſion.

FIrſte, Imagin in thy harte, that thou ſeeſt thy Lord taken of his enemies vvith many reproofs & diſpites, brought before a Iudge, falſly there accuſed of manie vvicked men, and anſwered right nought, but meekly ſufred their wicked and reprochful wordes. They were deſirous to haue him deade, but firſt to ſuffer paynes.

Behould then that good Lord chiuering & quaking, al his bodie naked boūd to a piller, and aboute him ſtanding wicked men voyde of al reaſon, ſore ſcourging his moſte bleſſed bodie vvith out anie pitye.

See now, how they ſeaſe not from theire furious ſtrokes, though they ſee him ſtande in his owne blood, From the toppe of his head, to the ſole of his foote, hole skin they leue none: his fleſhe they reſe to the bone, & for werines of them ſlues, they leue, him almoſte for dead.

Looke then aſide, vpon his bleſſed Mother, ſee vvhat ſorowe ſhe maketh for her deere Sonne, & haue compaſſion of her paine, vvhich lyeth there in a ſwoone. Turne then again to thy Lord and ſee hovv rudelie they vnbynde him, hovv haſtely they draw him forth, to heape vpon his tēder bodye, more painye and tormentes.

A Garlande of ſharpe thornes they thruſte vvith violence on his B. head, til the blood ran downe into his eyes, noſe, mouth, & eares. They kneele then downe vvith ſcornes, and riſe with reproofes and ſpitte in his bleſſed face. Se thē how that B. Ladye beateth her breſt, and vvringeth her hands: & I trow thou vvilte vveepe for that doleful ſighte.

Looke yet again to thy Lord, and ſee how ſpitefullie they hale him forth to an high hil, there to naile him hand and foote, to the Rood Tree. See there firſt how fearſely they pul of his clothes, how meekly he goeth then to the Croſſe, and ſpreadeth his armes abroad, and how with cordes, thoſe pitieles Tormentors dravve them forth, til his B. ſenewes & Ioyntes al to bruſte. Then vvith greate boyſterous Nayles, they make faſte to the Croſſe his precious handes. In the ſame maner thou may ſee how greeuoſly they drawe his bleſſed legges, and nayle his feete, downe to the Tree. Se then how they proffer him to drinke bitter galle and iſel, and knele again before him vvith manie deſpites.

Then harken to that good Lord how meekly he taketh his leaue of his gracious Mother, and of his deare Apoſtle, & betaketh them ether to other, as deare Mother and Sonne: & after vvith a lowd voyce he commendeth his Spirite, to his Father in Heauen, hanging downe his B. head vpon his breaſte. Se alſo how ſoone after, they pearce his harte vvith a Speare, in great fury, and how bloode and vvater guſheth forth of his B. ſide.

Then maieſt thou haue ful great pity behoulding that good Ladye, how for ſorow ſhe ſhrinketh down in her ſiſters armes. Take heede to the heuy chere of his Apoſtle S Iohn: To the teares of Magdelein, and of his other friends: & I hope among al theſe thou ſhalt haue compunction. Then is it time to ſpeake for thine owne neede, and for al others aliue and dead that truſt to thy prayers. Caſte downe thy bodie to the ground, & lifte vppe thy harte vvith doliful chere: and make thy prayer in maner as foloweth.

O Lord God Almightie, bleſſed may thou boughteſt me, thy ſufferance is great in me. Thou vvouldeſt not condemne me hauing often times iuſtly deſerued it: But thou haſt kepte and ſaued me, til I vvould forſake ſinne, and turne wholy to thee. Now Lord, with ſorowful harte I acknowledge to thy Goodnes, that I haue miſſpente vvithout profite, al my vvittes, powers, and vertues, that thou haſte geuen me, to the helpe of my ſoule

Al the time of my life, haue I vvaſted in diuers vanities, al the līmes of my bodie, in ſinne and ſuperfluities: The grace of my Chriſtendome, in pride and other vvretchednes: and trulie Lord, manie other things haue I loued, better then thee, and not vvithſtanding my great vnkindnes euer thou haſte noriſhed me, & tenderly kepte me. Of thy great ſuffrāce I had ful litle knowledge, & of thy great rightuoſnes I had but litle dreed. I tooke no hede to thāke thee for thy great goodnes, but in al my life from daye to daye, great matter of vvrath, haue I heaped vppe through mine owne vvickednes. Therfore ſweete Lord, vvhat I ſhal ſay to thee I knovv not: But only this vvorde in vvhich I truſt. God of thy great mercie, haue mercie vpō me. I acknowledge o Lord, al that I haue, commeth onlie of thee, I knowe wel vvithout thee nothing may be, but ſinne and vvretchednes, vvhich commeth of me. Wherfore Lord vvith meke hart I beſeche thy goodnes doe not to me as I haue deſerued, but after thy great mercy, & ſend me the grace of the holie Ghoſt to lighten my hart, to comfort my ſpirite, to eſtabliſh me in the right vvay, and to performe thy wil, that I may haue perſeuerance, in that I haue begun, and neuer hereafter be ſeperated from thee, by my vnſtablenes, ne by temptations to my enemie: I am vvorthy o Lord, to be chaſtiſed for my vvicked liuing, vvith vvhat rod it pleaſeth thee: vvelcome be it Pacience good Lord ſend me, gladlie to ſuffer thy correction, comfort me among of thy grace & vvhen thy vvil is, vvithdraw thy rod & take me to thy mercie. Ful bitter be the temptations & ful greuous to ſuffer, but though they be dreedful, I knovv they ſhal hereafter to my ſoule be meedful. O Lord thou knoweſt my hart is right feble much is my vnſtablenes & my knowledg ful litle: Therfore good Lord, ſtrengthen me, eſtabliſh me, and teach me: and as thou made and bought me; ſo keepe and defend me. Bodie and Soule, I commit to thee, not as I vvil, but as thou wilt Lord ſo be it.

And novv good Ieſu Gods Sonne, that knoweſt al things, helpe me in al vvicked thoughts that I diſpleſe thee not in liking or conſenting. Ful oft I haue offended thee in diuers thoughtes againſt thy vvil, & much to my liking: therfore it is thy rightuouſnes, that I be trubled with other thoughts at thy pleaſure that be greuos to me. But ſwete Ieſus vvhen thy vvil is put them from me, and take me to mercie. O Lord Ieſus Chriſt Gods Sonne, keep my mind, that I dilight not in vaine thoughts. Ieſus Chriſt Gods Sonne, vvhich ſtood ſtil before a Iudge, nothing, to him anſwering: vvith draw my tongue til I conſider hovv and vvhat I ſhal ſpeake that may be to thy vvoorſhippe.

Ieſus Chriſt Gods Sonne, vvhoſe hands vvere bound ful ſore for my loue: guide & gouerne my hands & al my other members, that my vvorkes may euer beginne to thy vvorſhip, and graciouſly end, to thy moſte honoure. Ariſe o Lorde, and helpe vs: And for thy holie names-ſake, ſaue & deliuer vs. O Lord Ieſus Chriſt, cauſe me to haue in thy loue a meane vvithout meſure, an afection vvithout meane, a longing without order: & a burning deſire vvithout ceaſſing.

O Lord I beſeche thee of mercie alſo for al thos that doe deſire my prayers & though I be a moſt vvretched ſinner. vnvvorthy to be hard, haue regard to their humilitie and deuotion, and vvhat they deſire to thy vvorſhip, graunt thē for thy goodnes. Graunt them and me, & to al other that I am behoulding to, or bound to pray for, grace to loue vvhat is moſte to thy liking, thee to loue aboue al thinges, nothing to deſire that ſhould thee diſpleſe. Al temptations mightily to withſtand, al other vanities o Lord for thy loue to diſpiſe. Thee good Lord euer to haue in minde: and in thy ſeruice to abide to our liues ende, and if thou graunt vs anie thing to doe that ſhal be to vs meedful: graūt part o Lord to the Soules departed, abidig thy mercie in the paynes of Purgatorye. Amen.

In ſuch maner thou maiest pray in the beginning, and vvhen thou art entred in deuotion, thou shalt percas haue better feeling in praier and holy meditations, then I can shew. Good brother or ſiſter pray then forme vvrit by the teching of Almighty God, haue vvhich thee theſe few vvordes, for the helpe of thy Soule, whome God of his endles mercie gouerne, to his good pleaſure, and thy ſaluation. Amen.

Verie Deuout and Godlye Prayers on the Paſsion of Chriſt. Gre. Mag.

O Lord Ieſus Chriſt, I adore & worſhip thee hanging on the Croſſe, bearing on thy head a Crown of Thorne, I pray thee, that thy holie Croſſe and death, be my defence and ſheeld; and I beſeche thee deliuer me from the Angel ſmiting. Amen. Pater noster. Aue Maria.

O Lord Ieſus Chriſt, I adore and worſhip thee vvounded vpon the Croſſe: and there drinking Gaul and Eiſel: I require thee that thy vvoundes, may euer be comfort to my Soule, and remiſſion of my ſinnes. Amen. Pater noster. Aue Maria.

O Lord Ieſus Chriſt, I honour thee, for thoſe moſte bitter paines, vvhich on the Croſſe, thou didſt ſuffer forme: ſpecially in that howre, vvhen thy moſt holye Soule departed from thy bleſſed bodie: I beſeche thee haue mercie on my Soule, vvhen it ſhal departe out of my bodye, and bring it to euerlaſting bliſſe: and Ioye in Heauen. Amen. Pater. Aue▪

O Lord Ieſus Chriſt, I adore & worſhip thee, layde in the Sepulcher, anoynted vvith Mirre and Inſcence: I beſeche thee that thy deathe, may be my lyfe, and lighte Euerlaſting. Amen. Pater. Aue.

O Lord Ieſus Chriſt, I adore & worſhip thee, deſcending into Hel, and from thence deliuering thoſe that vvere Captiue: I beſeche thee, that thou ſuffer not me thither to deſcend. Amen. P. Aue.

O Lord Ieſus Chriſt, I adore & worſhip thee, Riſing from death, Aſcending into Heauen, and ſitting at the right hand of thy Father: I beſeche thee, that thither I may folovv thee, and that I may deſerue to be preſented before thee. Amen. P. A.

O Lord Ieſus Chriſt, the good Shepheard, cōſerue and keepe the Iuſte, Iuſtifie the Sinner, haue pitie vpon al faithful People, & be merciful to me a greeuous Sinner. Amen. Pater. Aue. Credo.

I Beſeche thee o Lord Ieſus Chriſt, that thy Deathe, be my Lyfe, and ſtrength, vvith the vvhich, I may be Armed, protected, and directed. Thy Woundes be vnto me, continual foode, vvherwith I may be refreſhed and delighted. The Shedding of thy moſte precious blood, be the waſhing away of all my ſinns. Thy paſſion, and Reſurrection: be vnto me Eternal Life and Glory. In theſe thinges, be all my delihgt, and deſire, my refection, and reioycing, my health, and ſtrength, my Ioye and ſtuddies: and the whole deſire, of my hart minde, and body: now and euer. Amen.

Reaſons inducing vs to be gratful vnto God for his Benefites.

HOw much vve are bound continually to laude and praiſe God, cheifly for his goodnes in him ſelfe, and alſo to be thankful to him for his B. Benefites: we may learne of the holy Prophet Dauid, which in that reſpect ſaid, the praiſe of God vvas in his mouth: For vve ought vvithout ceſſing as S. Bernard ſaith to geue thanks vnto him, vvhich neuer ceaſſeth to beſtow his benefites vpon vs.

And how dangerous it is to be ingratful, it apeareth vvel in one of the holy Fathers ſaying, that there is nothing vvhich ſo much prouoketh the indignation of God againſt vs, as ingratitude. Therfore ſeing vve vvere created to ſerue God: Let vs begin to learne here in Earth, as S. Bernard coūſaileth vs, praiſes vve ſhal yeld to him in heauen.

A Moſte Godly and Deuoute prayſe, and Thankes-geuing to God, for his bleſſed Benefites Spiritual and Corporal: Of al true Chriſtians, daily to be vſed.

O Moſte holy B. glorious and Indeuided Trinitie, the Father the Sonne and Holye Gſtoſt, Three Perſons and one Almightie God: my Lord and God my maker and redeemer, my noriſher, my defender, my ſweetnes, my mercy my refuge, my ſtrength, my victorye, my Sauiour, my Ioy, and glory Eternal.

I Laude thee, I glorifie thee, I honor and worſhip thee, O Bleſſed Trinitie, for that thou art in thy ſelfe: for thou art the higheſt God, from whom floweth al goodnes. Thou art gracious Eternity, thou art eternall Felicitie, thou art the depth of all Wiſdome and Sapience: Thou art only God, and ther is none without thee.

I Laude and honor thee o B. Trinitie, that mightilye haſte made of nothing Heauen and Earth, Sunne and Moone, and al other creaturs, and for that thou conſerueſt and gouerneſt al things in this Worlde All worſhip, Laude, glory, and thanks, be euer geuen to thee for al thy works, and of al thy creaturs, now and euer. Amen.

Alſo I Laude, thanke, and praiſe thee, for that it pleaſed thee to make the ix. glorious Orders of Angels, to laud & honor thee eternally, and ſome of them to aſiſt vs faithfully, in this exile, and vale of miſary with houable & neceſſary councels and helpings: and alſo to declare thine Ineffable goodnes. And thou madeſt al theſe thinges for man: But man, thou madeſt with thy proper hands, to thin owne glorious Image and liknes. Thou formed in him Vnderſtanding, and adorned, & enabled him with free wil. I Laude and glorify thee, for that great gifte, in that thou ſet him in Paradiſe flowing with delights that he might haue high things in fruition, inferior things in gouernment, and to poſſeſt al things to thine honour, and to worſhip Laude and praiſe thee euerlaſtingly.

Yet thou made not thes noble creaturs, Angel and man, for any neceſſity thou had to thē, for truly al things were ſufficient in thee, to thine eternal glory: But of the feruor of charity, thou waſt moued to create them, that ſuch noble creatures ſhould be pertakers of thine inexpreſſable Ioye and glorye.

Thankes geuing to God for our Creation and other benefites ſpiritual and corporal.

ANd furthermore, I Laude honour and worſhip thee O Lord, for that it hath pleaſed thee among al thy B. workes to make me a reaſonnable man: For gracious, Lord thou mighteſt, if it had pleaſed thee, haue made me a clod of earth, a ſtone, a mine of metal, or any ſuch dead creature: Or elſe good Lord thou mighteſt haue made me an hearbe a plante, or a tree, bringing forth bloſſons and fruit, which hath life vegetiue to fructify: Or yet a more worthy creature then any of theſe, as a beaſt, bird, or fiſhe, hauing ſence, feeling, and local mouing: But thou o Lord, haſt made me none of al theſe creatures, but to my vſe, health, and helpe, haſt thou made them 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 al, to be my ſubiectes, and I to be their Soueraigne.

And to me. whom thou haſt made a creature reaſonable, thou haſt geuen power, Wiſdome, Reaſon, Vnderſtāding, and free will, and haſt formed me with al my right līms and featur of body: and thou o Lord haſt beſtowed on me, the perfection of al the forſaid creatures, hauing geuen me being, with ſtons and metales: life, with Trees and hearbes: Sence, feling, & moueing, with beaſtes: and Vnderſtanding with Angels: Hauing alſo indued me, with many other good giftes, ſpirituall, and Corporall, As the giftes of grace, giftes of nature, and the gifts of Fortune.

The giftes of Grace, as Memory, Vnderſtanding, and wil, Minde, Reaſon, Imagination, and Capacity, which are calleed the mightes of the Soule invvard.

The gifts of Nature, as beauty, comly ſhape, ſtrength, agility, and ſvviftnes: My v. wits, & corporal limms, and menbers, as hands, feete, mouth, noſe, eyes, and eares, vvhich be the mightes of the Bodye outvvard.

And vvith theſe alſo the gifts of fortune, as meate, drinke and cloth, vvorldly riches, and al other things neceſſary for Body & Soule: vvhich many a good creature that hath ſerued thee better then I haue wante: Al honour and praiſe be to thee, for al theſe thy louing kindnes, that thou o Lord haſt ſhewd to me, and I not withſtanding, haue bene ſo vnkind to the in miſpending theſe thy giftes, litle concidering thy aboundant goodnes: I humbly aſke mercy o Lor, for thes my treſpasſes: and loueingly I thāke thee, for thy greate Grace, and goodnes.

Praiſes to God for his gracious viſitation Inſpiration and Preſeruation.

AL honour and Prayſe be to thee o Lord for thy manifolde mercies in hauing ſo often viſyted my harte, vvith thy Graces, ſpiritual motions and good Inſpirations: And alſo haſt kepte defended, and deliuered me, this day & night, and al the daies and times of my life vnto this howre, from many perils and dangers of body and ſoule, As from fire and vvater, lightning, thunder, and tempeſte from ſlanders, ſhames, and rebukes of this vvorld and many other miſchiefes, into vvhich for my ſinnes, I might iuſtly haue fallen, thou o Lord, hauinge ſuffred many a vvorthier perſon then I, both in ſtrength, beauty, & cunning, ſodainly to be puniſhed for their defaultes: But merciful Lord, me thou haſt ſpared and forborne, & haſt ſuffred me in al my great and greuos treſpaſſes, vvhich I haue don againſt thee, more then they, paciently abiding alway for my conuerſion and amēdment, vvhen rightfully thou might haue ſlaine me and damned me alſo perpetuallye.

Others Lord, thou haſt puniſhed by great troubles many vvaies, as by impriſonment, hunger, thirſt, could and heate, blindnes, and madnes, by bakbiting and open infamy: and me vnkinde vvretch thou caledſt by friendly chaſtiſings, as by bodily ſicknes, by death of frendes, or loſſe of vvorldly goods: And ſomtime thou admoniſhed me, calling me againe vvith ful benigne and tender loue, by exāple of others, that haue ben drowned, ſlaine, or dead ſodainly in my company: and I ſpared and ſaued, vvhich if I had then finiſhed my life as they did, I had ben vnready to thee, & dyed in my ſinne.

Thus then haſt thou ſaued me, both ſoule and body, from many perils and dangers diuerſly for the which I geue thee moſt harty and louing thankes. For the multitude of al theſe thy mercies: forgeue me I beſeeche thee o Lord my great offences, and remember not my ſinnes and Iniquities, but of thy goodnes 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 pardone me, & geue me grace cōtinuallye, to yelde acceptable thankes vnto thee for al thy B. Benefites.

Laude & Praiſe for our Sanctification & Vocation, to the Vnitie of the Catholike Churche.

ABoue al theſe thy mercies, haſt thou o Lorde, of thy eſpecial grace and goodnes, knit me to thee, by calling me to the knowledge of thy ſelfe, and making me a member of thy Church catholike: wheras many thouſand Iewes, Turkes, & Infidels, that haue bene borne ſince I was, haue died in their iniquities, and many hundred thouſand alſo, ſince the beginning of the world vntil this time, more worthy and noble then I: & if it had pleſed thee o Lord, thou mighteſt haue made me one of them, and ſo to haue liued and died as they did: But of thy eſpecial mercy and tender loue, haſt thou choſen me, among ſo many thousāds, to be one of thy darlings, borne now in the time of grace, among Chriſtian people, and vnder the Keyes & ſuffrages of holy Church, for the which, al honour be to thee for euermore. Amen.

Thankes and praiſe to our Sauiour Ieſus for the Benefices of Redemption, Glorification, and fruition.

O Bleſſed Ieſus, I Laude and honoure thee vvhich for my ſake vvas borne of the B. Virgin, and ſuffred here, for the ſpace of xxxiij. yeres, hunger, thirſt, cold and heate: and after al, diſpite, and painfull death. And by that thy death, and bitter Paſſion, thou bought vs out of the thraldome of the fiende, the third daye, thy Soule and body, being knit again together, by thy glorious Reſurrection. And in thy Aſcention, haſt thou abled be, to be a Prince, or Princes, in the high Bliſſe of Heauen, not ten or xx. yeares, as earthly Princes liue here in this life, But euer to liue, vvorld vvithout end, in al Ioye, Bliſſe, & endles Felicitye.

Great is the revvarde o Lord, thou haſt prepared for me if I leue my ſinne, & continue in thy ſeruice to my liues end That is three dovvries in my ſoule, and fiue in my bodye.

The three of my ſoule be theſe, perfect loue and Charity in thy Diuine Maieſtie. Clere Inſpection, of thy B. Godhead. And true knitting, and perpetual vnion to thee, vvithout diſſolution, or departing from thee.

And the bodie, ſhalbe indued vvith v. ſpecial giftes, As brightnes, ſvviftnes, & ſubtilnes, able to pearſe euery thing as the Sunne pearſeth the Glaſſe: impaſſibilitie, neuer to ſuffer paine of hunger, or thirſt, could, or heate, ſorovv, ne ſicknes, trouble or heauines: and Imortality euer to liue in, Ioy, and al felicitie, and neuer die.

Al vvhich, vvhen I concider & perceiue and that thou o Lord might haue made me a ſtone, ſtub, or anie other deade creature, and haſte not ſo done: But of thy eſpecial great mercye, haſt aduanced me ſo worthilye, hauing made and abled me, to be an heyre, and to Inherite the high bliſſe of heauen, in the companies of Angels and al Sainctes, there with them thee to praiſe, thee to loue, and in thee to Ioye, world without end: I cannot but with ſorowful harte, lament my great Ingratitude towards thee. O merciful Lord, for thy great mercye, forgeue me al my ſinnes I beſeech thee: & according to the multitude of thy compaſſions take pitie vppon me: And geue me grace daile to goe forward, in thy holy ſeruice, Faith, Feare, and Lone: and in the ſame to continue, to my liues end.

A Praier for mercy and forgeuenes of ſinnes and for Grace to geue God thankes for his Benefites.

HAue mercy on me o God and of thy eſpecial Grace, graūt me that I may with al my wits, bodily & ghoſtly thanke thee entirly for al thy benefits, calling 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 〈1 page duplicate〉 to my helpe, our Bleſſed Ladie, with al the number of Electe, to Praye and beſeche thee Lord of thy great goodnes to graunt the ſame, and to haue mercie on me, and forgeue me my ſinnes: That we together may thanke praiſe, & laud, thee, nowe and euerlaſting. Amen.

O Lord, for the gifts of Fortune we Laude and praiſe thee, ſaying Laudamus te: And for the giftes of Nature, wee Bleſſe thee, ſaying Benedicimus te: For thy giftes of Grace, we Adore and worſhip thee, ſaying Adoramus te: And for thy merciful keeping, guiding, and gouerning vs in this life, we glorify thee ſayinge. Glorificamus te: And for thy great mercy, and metit, of our laſt reward: Gratias agimus tibi propter Magnam gloriam tuam. Amen.

Praiſe to God for his long ſuffrance, and calling, and receauing, ſinners, to his Mercy.

O Lord God almighty, I Laud & glorifie thee, for al thy mercies, which thou haſt alwaies ſhewed to ſinners, paciently abiding for them, mercifully Calling them, benignely Receiuing them, aboundantly geuing grace to them, and to ſuch familiarity admitting them, as though they had neuer ſinned. O merciful Lord, and pacient God, what ſhal I ſay to thee, for al theſe thy benefits? What lauds and thankings, ſhal I yeld to thee? For if al my ſinnes were auoided from me, yet were I not worthy for the leaſt of them to geue condigne thankes vnto thee, but as a wretched ſinner may, with al my harte I Laude, thee, I Thanke thee, I Honoure and worſhippe thee: And al Laude and Prayſe be euer geuen vnto thee, worlde without ende. Amen.

The Concluſion.

O Holy Trinitie in Vnitie, & Vnitie, in Trinite, three in one, and one in Three: merciful and pitiful in al thy workes, gracious in thy giftes, and God of al bounty: vouchſafe to heare benignely me thy wretched and ſinful ſeruant, and with me, al the Sainctes of thy Heauenlye Courte, beſeeching thee of mercye and forgeunes for my great ingratitude towards thee. This Praiſe and thankes geuing o Lord, which I preſume to offer and yelde vnto thy Diuine Maiſtie: Be it, through the merits of our Sauiour Ieſus Chriſt the prayers and, of al thy Elect, accepted and alowed, in the Eares of thy mercy and pitie. Raiſe me vp o Lord, and mercifully releeue me. Graunt pardon of al my ſinnes paſte, forgeue my gilte preſent: & defend me from al to come. Amen. Pater Aue. Credo Te deum.