QVERELA SIVE, DIALOGVS Animae & Corporis Damnati.
Quem aiunt S. Bernardum ex nocturna Visione composuisse.
Ex vetusto Codice discripta.
Per GVLIEL. CRASH.
LONDINI, Ex Officina Georgij Eld, sumptibus Leonardi Becket.
1622.
THE COMPLAINT OR DIALOGVE, BETVVIXT The Soule and the Bodie of a damned man.
Each laying the fault vpon the other.
Supposed to be written by S. BERNARD from a nightly vision of his; and now published out of an ancient Manuscript Copie.
By WILLIAM CRASHAW.
LONDON, Printed by G. E. for Leonard Becket, and are to be sold at his shop in the Temple neere the Church. 1622.
To the VVorshipful, my worthy beloued friends, Hugh Hare, Richard Brownlow, George Crok, and Iohn Walter Esquires, Benchers of the honourable society of the inner TEMPLE.
THe end, and highest happinesse of a Christian man, is to honour God in this life, and to dye well: the way to die well is to liue well; and no better prouocation to good life, nor preparatiue to a good death, then a continuall and serious meditation of the mortality of this life, the certainty of our end, the vncertainty when and how, the terriblenesse of the last iudgement, and the account that each one must make then, who haue not made it here before, & crossed the debt-book of their sins [Page] by the Lambe of God. This made an ancient Father crye out: When I thinke of that day, I feare and tremble, for whether I eate or drinke, or what euer I doe, I thinke I heare that terrible Trumpet sounding in mine eares: Arise yee dead and come to iudgement. And to this end, the holy men of elder times willingly entertained all occasions that might helpe them in these holy cogitations.
One euidence thereof is this short and sweet Dialogue, which (as a fore-runner of others that may follow) being diuulged, and desired by many to bee englished, I am therefore induced to make it common: This being an age that needs all helps to holinesse, and inticements to deuotion: And this the rather in as much, as though it was made in the mist of Popery, euen not long after the Diuell was let loose; yet is it not tainted with Popish corruption, nor scarce smels of any superstition, whereas it is stuft with godly truthes, and wholsome instructions. My thoughts intended and dedicated it to your selues, and that worthy, vertuous, and religious Gentleman, now with God, (the brother to one of you in nature, and to you all in faithfull Christian loue.) But seeing he needs it not, God hauing prouided better things for him and his soule now feeding on finer foode in Gods glorious [Page] presence, and blessed vision of the Deity: take you it therefore, and that part of profite that might heereby haue falne to him and that part of my loue which heerein I shewed, him diuide among you: and as hee hath left behinde him to this Society, and all that knew him, the sweete smell of a good name, for his many religious and morall vertues: so let me leaue behinde me this little Monument of the much loue my heart owes you, and shall bee willing to testifie by my best seruice, as to this whole and honorable Society in generall, so to your selues in particular. To whom (without wrong to any other, I speake it) I haue beene peculiarly beholden, and by whom my studies haue beene much aduanced.
Now the God of Grace and Mercy, so guide you in the wayes of holinesse and good workes, that at your ends your body may not blame your soule, nor the soule the body; but both soule and body may haue cause to glorifie God their Creatour, Redeemer and Sanctifier, in whose loue I leaue you, and rest yours in all Christian duety.
De Deo Patre, pia, & orthodoxa Confessio.
De Iesu Christo Deo & homine Confessio Orthodoxa.
De codem.
De fancto Spiritu Confessio Orthodoxa.
Conclusio cum deuotissima Precatione.
Amen.
Meditatio piissima, de hominis miseria, & Dei misericordia, vna cum deuota precatione.
Amen.
A MANVALL for true Catholicks.
OR A HANDFVLL: OR Rather a heartfull of holy meditations and prayers.
GATHERED Out of certaine ancient Manuscripts, written 300. yeares agoe, or more.
By WILLIAM CRASHAW.
LONDON, Printed by G. E. for Leonard Becket, and are to be sold at his shop in the Temple neere the Church. 1622.
The Contents.
- 1. A Holy and orthodoxall confession of the Trinitie: The Father, the Sonne, and the Holy Ghost.
- 2. A godly confession of sins, and prayer for pardon, and for eternall life.
- 3. A godly meditation of mans miserie, and Gods mercy, together with a deuout prayer.
- 4. The manner of preparing sicke persons to death in the ancient times, euen in Popery.
An Orthodoxall Confession of God the Father.
A holy and orthodoxall Confession of God the Sonne, Iesus Christ the Sauiour of Mankind.
Of Christ againe.
A True and Orthodoxall Confession of the Holy Ghost.
The Conclusion, with a deuout and holy Prayer.
Amen.
A holy Meditation of mans misery, and Gods mercy, together with a deuout Prayer.
Amen.
HEre followeth the meanes and manner how our forefathers in the time of Popery prepared themselues and others to die, consisting first of the confession of their faith; and secondly, of the Prayers which were made by them, and for them in their last sicknesse, by which it may appeare that though they were misled by the crafty Romish Clergie, in diuers errors and superstitions; yet in the great point of the meanes of saluation, they were of our religion, and were saued by it.
Truly and verbatim englished out of the Latine, being an ancient Copie, and by any of that side vnquestioned, and heretofore in that kind published:
Questions to be expounded to sicke persons, whilst they haue the vse of reason, and power to speak, to the end that if any be not so well disposed to dye, hee may be better informed and prepared: and the questions be these, according to Anselme the Reuerend Bishop.
1. Let him be asked thus:
BRother, dost thou reioyce that thou shalt die in the faith of Christ?
A. I doe.
Q. Doest thou sorrow and grieue, for that thou hast not liued so well as thou oughtest?
A. I doe.
Q. Hast thou a hearty purpose to liue better, if God giue thee time to liue?
A. I haue.
Q. Doest thou beleeue that thou canst not be saued, but by the death of Christ?
A. I doe.
Q. Doest thou beleeue that Iesus Christ the Sonne of God dyed for thee?
A. I doe.
Q. Doest thou giue thankes to God therefore from thy whole heart?
A. I doe.
Well then, good Brother, whilst thy soule is in thy body, giue him hearty thankes, and settle all thy assurance vpon his death alone: haue no confidence in any thing else: trust thy selfe wholly to his [Page 50] passion, couer thy selfe wholly with it, fasten thy whole life on his Crosse, cast thy whole selfe into this Sea: and if the Lord God say hee will iudge thee; answere thou, Lord, I obiect the death of my Lord Iesus Christ, betwixt me and thy iudgement: otherwise I will not contend with thee.
And if GOD say to thee, Thou art a sinner; answere, Lord, it is so, but I set the death of my Lord Iesus betwixt thee and my sinnes. If hee say thou hast deserued damnation; answer, It is true, Lord, but I place the death and merits of my Lord Iesus Christ betwixt thee and my ill deseruings, and I offer vp him and the most worthy merits of his passion, for the merits [Page 51] which I should haue had, but alas, haue not.
If the Lord say further, that he is angry with thee, answer: Lord, thou hast cause, but I set the death and sufferings of my Lord Iesus Christ betwixt thy wrath and my soule, Then let him say thrice, Lord, into thy hands I commit my spirit: and if he be so weake he cannot, let the company that stand by say, Lord, into thy hands we commend his soule. And hee that doth this, is safe and sure that he shall neuer tast of eternall death.
Also in another old Booke I find this written.
THese bee the sixe signes vpon which a man may rest confident of his Saluation.
1. If hee beleeue the Articles of Christian faith, as many as are determined by the Church.
2. If hee reioyce to dye in the faith of Christ.
3. If he know that he haue grieuously offended God.
4. If he be heartily sory for it.
5. If hee resolue to forsake his sinnes, if God giue him leaue.
[Page 53] 6 If hee hope and beleeue to come to eternall saluation, not by his owne merits, but by the merits of Iesus Christ.
And Anselme saith, that these sixe questions are to bee asked of euery one at the time of his death, and saith further thus:
Then say to the sicke person, if Satan obiect any thing against thee, oppose thou the merits of Christ betwixt thee and him: and thus without all doubt he shall be saued.
This consolation of the sicke, and preparation to their death, is in ancient Copies ascribed to Anselme, who liued more then 500. yeares agoe, euen when Popery was almost growne to perfect age.
Now if any man make question, how our fathers were [Page 54] saued in these later and worse times, when Popery preuailed in a great measure; I answere, that euen almost the same preparation, and same questions were vsed long after Anselme, euen in the deepest darknesse of Popery: for in the most euil time, about the Councell of Constance, some two hundred yeares agoe, thus I find it written in an ancient Booke, and it is ascribed to Gerson.
Euery Christian, whether secular or regular, is thus to be examined and informed in his sicknesse, touching his saluation.
1 DOest thou beleeue all the principall Articles of faith, & all that is contained in the whole body of holy Scripture, according to the exposition of the Catholike and Orthodoxall Doctors of the holy Church? and doest thou detest all heresies and errors, and superstitions condemned or reproued by the Church? [Page 56] and art thou glad that thou diest in the faith of Christ, and vnitie and obedience of thy mother the Church?
2 Dost thou know and confesse, that thou hast many waies and grieuously offended thy God and thy Creator?
3 Doest thou sorrow from thy whole heart, for all thy sinnes committed against Gods Maiesty, his loue and mercy? art thou truly sorrowfull for the euils that thou hast committed, and the good that thou hast omitted, and the grace that thou hast neglected? and art thou agrieued not so much for feare of death or any punishment, as for that loue that thou oughtest to beare towards God?
4 Doest thou beg pardon for all these thy sinnes, of Iesus [Page 57] Christ, desiring that by him thy heart may bee enlightned truely to see and know thy sinnes, that so thou mayest particularly, and more seriously repent of them?
5 Doest thou propound, and resolue truely to amend thy life, if so be thou liue, and neuer hereafter to sinne so againe, but rather to lose any thing how deare soeuer vnto thee, yea, euen life it selfe, then to offend thy God againe?
6 Doest thou also desire of God grace to continue in this purpose, that thou maiest not fall againe?
7 Doest thou forgiue from thy whole heart any that haue done thee any wrong in word or deede, for the loue of Christ Iesus our Lord and Sauiour, and as thou hopest for [Page 58] pardon from him? and doest thou heartily desire to bee forgiuen of all men whom thou hast any way offended?
8 Wilt thou that there bee full restitution made according to thy power, yea, though it should extend to thy whole estate, if otherwise there cannot be satisfaction made?
9 Doest thou beleeue that Christ dyed for thee, and that thou canst be saued no otherwise but by the merits of Iesus Christ? and doest thou giue God thankes for this from thy whole heart, as much as thou art able?
And whosoeuer can giue true answer to these questions affirmatiuely, out of a good conscience, and faith [Page 59] not fained: It is an euident and sufficient testimonie of saluation, and let him not doubt but if he so depart, hee is one of them that shall bee saued.
Behold heere (good Reader) our Religion practised in the most misty times of Popery: behold here the true holy Catholike and ancient way to heauen: Namely, by Christ and his merits alone. Here is no trusting on mans merits, either our owne or others: Here is no mention of Agnus dei, or woodden Crucifixes. Hee is not bid to trust in the prayers, suffrages, requiems, dirges, Masses, Trentalls, or other obsequies that shall bee said for him after his departure. Hee is sent to no Angell, no nor to the Ʋirgin Mary, for matter of Saluation: Nay all are excluded, [Page 60] and Christs death alone, euen it alone is made the meanes of his Saluation: And the makers hereof were so resolute, and zealous in this point, that they vsed such variety of words, as though they could not sufficiently expresse the excellencie and the necessity of cleauing to Christ alone in the matter of Saluation.
And if any man suspect that this is but deuised by vs, and falsly fathered vpon Antiquity, let him know, that not onely we haue the ancient Copies, whose age will speake for themselues, but Gasper Vlēbergius in lib. de Causis. Causa 14 pag: 462. editionis Colon. 1589. euen the better sort of Papists, that be learned, doe know this well enough.
A learned Papist of this age writeth, that in a Church in Colaine this very booke is extant (Manuscript) and that he hath seene it, and that this [Page 61] manner of comforting the sicke, was vsed in former ages, and confesseth that it containes the very treasure and kernell of Christian religion. And saith further, that this manner was vsed not in Germany onely, but ouer all the Christian world. Indeede to the Iesuites I confesse, this is held a ridiculous manner of comforting the sicke, (such a spirit possesseth them:) Thus doth Gretzer their Champion flout vs Lutherans (as he cals vs) for thus doing.
The Lutherans (saith he) do Iac. Gretz. in resut. Leyseri. de hist. Ord. Iesuit. thus comfort their sicke, Relickes, Crucifixes, Agnus deis, and such matters, are but dead things, & nothing worth, the Scripture hath not a word of them: it is therefore very vngodly to trust in them; but God is our hope, and God is [Page 62] our strength: trust in him, &c. On this wise fashion doe these godly comforters comfort their sicke persons.
Thus in the Iesuites iudgement it is but a silly course to trust in Gods mercy, and Christs merits in point of saluation: hereby it may bee discerned of what spirit they are. But let them mock vs, as long as with vs they mocke the Scriptures, Antiquitie, and the better sort of their owne side: for we appeale to this that hath beene said, whether this manner of comforting the sicke, were not in vse long before Luther was borne.
Now if any obiect, that in the same bookes there is mention of the Crucifixe, and that it is appointed to be in the presence of the sicke person: I answer, it is true, but not that he should worship it, [Page 63] (as now the Iesuites teach, and Greg. de Valent. Gretzer Vasquez Chrys. à visit. &c. all the approued Romish writers) but that it may put him in minde of Christ, which though it bee a needlesse superstition, yet it is not that impietie and Idolatrie, which now at this day is practised and maintained in the Romish Church: and my purpose is not to discharge those times, nor our forefathers in those times of errours and superstitions, but of the idolatry, impietie, and blasphemie of the present Church of Rome. And the same answer is also to be giuen to another obiection, That in the same book there are prayers to the Saints and Angels. It is so, and from that errour those ages cannot be cleared: but withall let vs still obserue, that those praiers are not to help them in matters of saluation, (as are many blasphemous prayers now [Page 64] vsuall in Popery,) and that sinne in those misty times (being a sin of ignorance) no doubt was pardoned vnto them in the mercy of God, seeing that for their reconciliation with God, and eternall saluation, they beleeued to attaine it onely by the merits and passion of Iesus Christ. But let not vs feede on their infirmities, but louingly passe by them, and let this content and comfort vs, that their meanes of saluation, which they vsed and trusted vnto, is the same with ours at this day. For better testimony whereof, let vs set downe some of their prayers, being such as the best Christians may vse at this day with much comfort.
Certaine Prayers vsed by our forefathers in the darkest times of Poperie: in the time of a mans sicknesse, some to bee made for the sicke, and some by the sicke person: gathered out of the same Ancient Bookes.
When the sicke person feeles his strength to faile, then let him commend his soule to God in this prayer.
O Most high and Soueraigne GOD, whose goodnesse and mercy is infinite. [Page 66] O most glorious Trinitie, which art loue, and mercie, and goodnesse it selfe, haue mercy vpon mee most miserable sinner, for vnto thee and vnto thy hands I commend my spirit: O Lord my most louing God and Father of mercies, shew thy mercie on me thy poore creature, and forsake me not in my last need: but stand with me, and helpe my succourlesse soule, saue my poore and desolate soule, that it be not deuoured of the infernall dogs.
O most louing Lord and sweete Sauiour Iesus Christ, the Sonne of the liuing God, I beseech thee for thy honor, and by the vertue of thy most blessed passion, command that I may bee receiued into the number of thy Saints, and [Page 67] seruants, O my Sauiour and my Redeemer, I here yeeld vp my selfe wholly vnto thee: O graunt me thy grace and thy glory, vouchsafe mee pardon of my sinne, and giue mee a portion of thy glory. But ô my deare Lord, I challenge not a place in heauen for any worthinesse of mine owne merits, for I am but dust and ashes, and a most wretched sinner; but for the vertue of thy most blessed passion, by which thou diddest vouchsafe to redeeme me miserable man, and to purchase heauen for mee, euen with the price of thy precious bloud: I beseech thee therefore by the most blessed and bitter passion which thou sustainedst on the Crosse for mee, especially in that houre when thy blessed soule did [Page 68] leaue thy body, that thou wouldest haue mercy on my poore soule at the time of my departure.
Then let him lift vp his heart with ioy and thankesgiuing, and say, Lord, thou hast broken my bonds, therfore I will offer to thee the sacrifice of praise.
After, if his weakenesse grow so, that he lose the vse of his speech, let some of the by-standers say these Prayers following, ouer him, or more if he l [...]ue so long.
MErcifull God and Father, we beseech thee for the multitude of thy mercies, looke fauourably vpon this thy seruant (our deare brother) who with true and hearty confession, seekes pardon [Page 70] for all his sinnes at the hand of thy mercies: O Lord, heare vs for him, and wee beseech thee for him, most holy Father, to renue in his heart whatsoeuer is corrupted by the frailty of his flesh, and restore that grace, which the wily and malicious enemie the Diuell hath stolne out of his soule: O Lord, recall him to the vnity of thy Church, ingraft him into the body of thy Sonne: O Lord, take pittie of the sighes and sobs of his soule, and grones of his heart: O Lord, look vpon his teares, gather them into thy bottle, and be good to him, who hath no hope, com [...]ort, nor confidence, but in [...]hy mercy, seale vp the assu [...]ance of his recōciliation with [...]hee. O most holy father, we [Page 71] humbly commend the soule of this thy seruant and our brother into the hands of thy vnmeasurable mercies, humbly beseeching thee, according to the greatnesse of that loue in which the blessed soule of thy Sonne did commend it selfe into thy hands, that for the worthinesse of that infinit loue of thine, in which thou diddest receiue that holy soule vnto thy selfe, thou wouldest vouchsafe in this our brothers last houre, to receiue his poore soule also, and make it partaker of the same loue.
And thou most sweete Sauiour and most merciful Lord Iesus, thou that dying on the Crosse, wast so pressed with anguish and torments for vs, as made thee sound out that pitiful voyce vnto thy Father▪ [Page 72] My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken mee? we beseech thee estrange not thy selfe, and turne not away thy face from thy seruant our brother, now in the houre of his soules affliction, when his strength faileth, and his spirits are so spent, that he cannot cal vpon thee: heare vs, ô Lord, heare vs for him, and for that thy glorious victory, in which thou diddest triumph on the Crosse, and for thy precious passion and bitter death think of him the thoughts of mercy and not of iustice: shed thy mercies in his soule, and speak comfortably to his conscience, deliuer his soule out of all spirituall diseases, saue him from the torments due vnto his deseruings, and bring him for thine owne merits sake, to [Page 73] eternall rest. O Lord Iesus Christ, which didst redeeme vs with thy precious blood, write with thine owne blood in the soule, and ingraue thy wounds in the heart of this thy seruant, that in them hee may see and reade thy dolefull sufferings, and thy sweete loue: thy sufferings, that they may be effectuall to ransome him from those sorrowes, and torments, which he hath merited by his sin; thy loue, that it may vnite his heart to thee, in indiuisible and inseperable bonds, so as he may neuer bee separated from thee, nor thy Saints, for euer and euer.
And Lord Iesus Christ, we beseech thee make his soule partaker of all the merits of thy most sacred incarnation, passion, resurrection and ascension, [Page 74] make him partaker of the vertue of thy most blessed Sacraments, and all thy holy mysteries: make him partaker of all the prayers and good deeds done in thy whole Church; make him partaker of all thy blessings, graces, and comforts of all thy elect; and grant that with them all hee may liue in thy presence for euermore: O Lord, which powredst out thy prayers for vs on the Mount Oliuer, and sweatst water and blood: wee beseech thee, let that precious bloud of thine, which thou diddest so aboundantly powre out for our saluation, let it be presented and offered to thy Father, to stand against the multitude of the sinnes of this thy seruant, our brother: Lord be with him at [Page 75] his last houre, and then deliuer him from the anguish and torments which for his sinnes hee may iustly feare. Graciously receiue his soule in the houre of his departure, open the gate of heauen vnto him, and giue him a portion with thy Saints in glory for thy owne most glorious merit, O Lord Iesus Christ, who with God the Father and the holy Ghost, liuest, and raignest one God for euermore.
Amen.
And when the sicke mans strength begins to faile, and the soule is ready to depart, then let the soule be commended to God by one of the by standers, on this manner.
The commendation of the Soule, to be said at a mans death.
I Here commend thee to Almighty God, most deare Brother; and I doe commit thee to him whose creature thou art: goe forth therefore [Page 77] O Christian soule; get thee gone out of this filthy world, goe forth in the name of the Almighty Father, who created thee: In the name of Iesus Christ, who dyed for thee: In the name of the holy Ghost who hath beene powred out vpon thee. And when thou, happy soule, art deliuered out of the prison of the body, the glorious Quire of heauenly Angels meete thee, and the company of all holy Saints entertaine thee, the louing countenance and cheerefull grace of Iesus Christ shine vpon thee: a mercifull Iudge be he vnto thee, that thou maist haue sentence to sit for euer amongst his Saints, on his right hand: thy dwelling bee in peace, and thy habitation in the heauenly Ierusalem for euermore: [Page 78] farre be it from thee euer to feele or know, how horrible the darkenesse, how terrible the flame, and how intolerable the torments of hell are. Sathan and all his hellish guard, bee they confounded at thy presence: and if he dare set vpon thee, victory & triumph be on thy side; shame and trembling fall vpon him: from the presence of Gods Angels be he banished, into the blacke mists, and confused Chaos of eternall darkenesse. But let the Lord arise, and let his enemies bee scattered; as the smoake vanisheth, so let them flye away. But let the iust be exalted and reioyce in the presence of the Lord: let the infernall legions not dare to touch thee, nor [Page 79] presume to hinder thee, and hee who disdained not to dye for thee, be hee thy Sauiour and deliuerer from all spirituall vexation. Be the gates of Paradise open vnto thee, and thy Christ giue thee thy place and mansion in the same. And he that is the true Pastor and great Shepherd of the sheepe, acknowledge thee for one of his true sheepe, and receiue thee into his folde. IESVS Christ absolue thee from all thy sinnes, and place thee on his right hand amongst his elect, that there thou maiest see thy Redeemer face to face, and in the societie of blessed soules maiest enioy the comforts of heauenly contemplation, and the blessed vision of God for euer and euer.
Amen.
A Meditation of Saint Bernard, sweete and comfortable to forerun a happy end.
DƲlcissime Iesu Christe, sit vltimum verbum tuum in cruce, vltimum verbum meum in hac luce, & amplius fari non possum, exaudi finale cordis desyderium.
In English.
SWeete Iesus Christ, let thy last wordes vpon thy Crosse, bee my last vpon my Couch, and when I can speake no more, Lord, heare the vtmost desire of my heart.
To the Reader.
SEe, Christian brother, how in the worst times they were prepared to die, & commended to God: if the Ancient Books did not proclaime this truth, some would not beleeue but that they had beene made in this latter time. But seeing the truth cannot be denyed. I desire thee with me to obserue these few collections, arising out of due consideration of the premisses.
[Page 83] 1 Here is answer to that great question, how our forefathers were saued, euen by the same faith as we are at this day.
2 How truly Christ performed his promise: namely, that the gates of hell should not preuaile against the true faith, for so we see that in the vilest times this faith hath beene preserued.
3 Obserue how here is no touch, nor once mention of Purgatory, nor of any thing to be done for their good after this life.
4 Here is no relation to any pardons or indulgences from the Pope.
5 Here is no necessity laid downe of sending for a Priest to bring his hoste, and his Pix, and his Holy-Water, and [Page 84] his Taper: These matters, it seemes, are rather commanded & pressed vpon the people, by the Romish Cleargy, then much regarded by the wiser and god her sort of our forefathers: neyther are they commanded to stay till the Priest come, but (saith the booke) let these prayers bee said, and the commendation of his soule, by one of the bystanders.
Lastly, let it bee obserued, that in all these prayers, and commendations, and questions (and these saith the booke are all that be of necessity to be said) here is not one smack of Popish Idolatry or superstition.
In these respects I haue thought it no needlesse labour to communicate these [Page 86] to thee (deare brother,) I know there be store of godly Prayers and meditations already extant. But these are of a speciall vse more then others, and are venerable for their antiquity, and are to be the more welcome, because God preserued them in the hands of our very enemies. And though they were mingled with other things not so good; yet let vs know as S. Hierome tels vs, that it is no small point of wisedome, to seeke out gold out of mire and clay. Make vse of these, and helpe mee with thy prayers, and thou shalt shortly, if God permit, be partaker of more.
At thy vprising, thus, or in like manner commend thy selfe to God, saying.
GRant, O good Father, that of thy mercy hast brought me to the beginning of this day, that in this same I may rise, and so walke in my calling, that thy name may be glorified, my conscience discharged, thy seruant comforted, and all good men incouraged by my example, for thy deare Sonnes sake, Amen.
Before thy going out, thus meditate.
Morning Meditation.
1 THat many haue gone out of their houses abl [...] and well, that haue neuer returned backe aliue, as fo [...] ought thou knowest may befall thee.
2 Remember that thy conscience shall bee the quiet [...] in the night, when thou sh [...] call to minde thou hast beg [...] in the Lord, and so careful [...] discharged thy duty in t [...] day.
3 That to goe forth in [...] [Page 88] the world, is to encounter with many troubles, to passe some dangers, and to performe many duties, and therefore rush not forth into such an vndertaking, before thou hast thus, or in like manner prayed to God to assist thee, without whose blessings and fauour towards thee, thou vndertakest in vaine, for thy labour will not prosper.
That done, thou maist thus further call vpon God in thy Morning Prayer.
MOst gracious God, & mercifull Father, wee render vnto thee most humble and hearty thankes for all thy benefits thou hast from time to time bestowed vpon vs, as for the quiet rest and repose thou hast this night giuen vs, to the refreshing & strengthning of our wearied bodies, & mindes; so wee beseech thee likewise being thus renewed, and taken vp from that image of death, that laid vs in our [Page 100] beds, the representation of our graues, to consider the waste of time, our owne liues, and decay of all sublunarie things, how with their easie lengths, their spannes and fadomes, since the commandement was first giuen, Let there bee day, and night, and times, and seasons: they haue brought age and maturity, the sithes & sickles that haue reaped downe whole haruests of flesh, and laid generations in the dust. Teach vs, O Lord, with this remembrance to weigh our mortalitie, and so to frame our liues and actions thereafter, that whensoeuer thy good will and pleasure is to binde vp our bones in peace and rest, wee may yeelde vp our soules and bodies into thy hands [Page 91] with full confidence and assurance that our sinnes are washed away in the bloud of that pure and immaculate Lambe, Christ Iesus, and shall not condemne vs. And to that end prosper vs wee pray thee, in all our actions, and giue good successe to our true endeuours, and then wee shall not attempt in vaine: and grant that this day, and all the daies of our life hereafter, may bee so accomplished by thy counsell, fauour, and direction, that we may so beare our selues throughout this vale of misery, that at the last we may raigne with thee in glory.
Amen.
Euening Meditations before thy going to bed.
1 REmember that many goe to bed, and neuer rise againe, till they bee awaked by the sound of the last Trumpet; and therefore presume not to close thine eyes, till thou hast committed thy selfe into the hands of God by Prayer.
2 At the putting off of thy cloathes, thinke that the day is comming, when thou must be as barely vnstript of al thou hast, as thou dost now thy [Page 93] selfe of thy cloathes.
3 Fixing thine eyes vpon thy bed, let it put thee in mind of thy graue; thy bed-clothes, of the mold of the earth, that must couer thee; the sheetes, of thy winding sheete; thy sleepe thy death; thy waking, thy resurrection.
Then at thy lying downe, thou maist thus addresse thy selfe vp to God, saying:
Into thy hands, most mercifull Father, I commend my soule and body this night and euermore: be mercifull, gracious and good vnto me, bless [...] me, saue me, preserue and keepe me for thy deare mercy sake.
Amen.
Or thus further with Dauid thou maist pray.
I Will lay mee downe and rest in peace in thy mercy for it is thou Lord onely that makest me dwell in safety.
Euening Prayer to be said either before or after thy going into bed.
O Eternall God, and omnipotent Father, which art the Lord of heauen and earth, of Angels and men, principalities, and powers, light and darknesse, day and night, in whose hands i [...] contained that ouerflow o [...] goodnesse, that filleth al [...] the empty and indigent creatures in the world, who ordainest times and seasons▪ successions and descents, old age and childhood, a beginning and an ending, a rest and [Page 96] labour, a perpetuall motion and change ouer all things in the world: the liuely witnesse whereof is this day, which not many houres since broke out of darknesse, and cleared the world with her light, and the Sunne arose as a Bridegrome out of his Chamber, and reioycing as a Gyant to runne his course, whose beames are now steeped in darknesse, the true resemblance of all earthly glory, and transitorie pleasures and delights, which haue their increase, their height and sudden decrease againe, being no continuance in any thing vnder the Sunne: and by this motion and change, the time is now come that thou hast appointed for rest, which, O Lord, so giue vnto vs, wee pray thee, [Page 97] that thereby we may bee inabled to walke more carefully in those duties and callings thou hast appointed vs. And further we beseech thee, that as the night darkneth and shadoweth al things, that they are vnseene: so for thy deare Christs sake, thou wilt hide all our sinnes from thy sight, that they neuer be brought to iudgement with vs; euer so remembring vs, that we neuer forget that fearfull and finall account that must bee rendered vnto thee, at the day of thy appearing: that as our bodies hauing the rest of sleepe this night, so our mindes, through thy mercy in Iesus Christ, may inioy the rest of a quiet conscience for euer: and to that end let thy mercy and prouidence, so watch [Page 98] ouer vs, that as our actions in the day, so our thoughts, nor our imaginations, neither watching, nor sleeping this night, may be such as may displease thee; but that all may tend to the good of our soules and bodies, and the honour and glory of thy great name, and that for Christ Iesus sake, Amen. In whose most blessed name we conclude this our imperfect Prayer, in that absolute forme of Prayer that thy blessed Son hath taught vs to honour thee, saying: Our Father, &c.
A godly Prayer to bee said at all times.
O Lord my God, what may I render vnto thee as an acceptable sacrifice, for all the benefits thou hast bestowed vpon mee? for my Election, Redemption, Sanctification, and Preseruation from my youth vnto this present day, and houre; that thou hast indued mee with health, strength, knowledge, continency, when so many more worthy then I, in mine owne eyes, are denied of these thy good fauours: for [Page 100] all which I can giue no reason for, but thy good pleasure▪ and if thou shouldest take all backe againe, I haue nothing to say, but that thou art iust: yet▪ O Lord, to these many I entreate thee adde this more, that I may keepe a heart that may truly acknowledge them, and a tongue that may thankfully praise thee for them all the dayes of my life: and to that end I beseech thee, protect mee from all euill that may hurt mee, from all sinne that may offend thee: be thou assistant to all my good in deuors, purposes, & intentions, and let thy good Spirit so rule my heart, that all that I shall doe, thinke or speake, may be to thy glory, and the good of all men: giue me, O Lord, a charitable [Page 101] heart to relieue thee in thy members, a compassionate heart, to make other mens infirmities mine owne; a beleeuing heart, that thy promises are yea, and Amen. And so blinde me not, O Lord, with the carnall man, that though I beleeue thou wilt one day raise my body from the bed of darknesse, when thou shalt say to the sea, Giue; and to the earth, Restore my sons and daughters; when no creature shall bee able to keepe backe one bone that it hath receiued, that I should despaire in thee for a crust of bread in temporall maintenance, and endeuour. Bee neere, O Lord, vnto all such as faithfully call vpon: thy name, comfort all such as be sicke, or comfortlesse, and by [Page 102] daily and hourely presidents of death, and mortalitie before mine eyes; teach mee to bee mindfull of mine owne end, and to make my preparation by faith, and repentance thereafter; that whether I liue, or die, I may rest with thee in thy eternall glory, through Iesus Christ, my onely Sauiour and Redeemer.
Amen.
Agurs prayer for content.
O Lord, giue mee neither [...]erty, nor riches; feed me with food conuenient, lest I be too full, and deny thee; and say, who is the Lord? or lest I be poore and steale, and so take the name of my God in vaine; and if I aske any thing which is euill, deny my ignorance; if I aske any thing which is good, remember thy promise.
English.
BE mercifull vnto me, O God, doing vnworthily vnto thee; and yet receiuing that from thee, that more worthy then I are denied at thy hands; O Lord continue this mercy, and let not my ilnesse weary out thy goodnesse, for thy tender patient mercies sake.
Amen.
A Thanksgiuing vnto God the Father.
LEt all true Christians say, and acknowledge with one heart, and mouth: say also with them, O my soule, say in this mortall body, without this mortall body, Glory, honour and praise bee vnto thee, most mercifull God, throughout all ages and generations of the world, which hast not spared thine onelie Sonne, but offered him vp a bleeding sacrifice, for the sins of thy people, giuen him to death, euen to the death of the Crosse, for most wretched mankinde, to that end that [Page 106] through him, we might bee saued, and deliuered from destruction, and brought into the liberty of euerlasting life: grant vnto vs, by thy Spirit that we may perfect, and continue in this thy grace and fauour, for euer and euer. Amen.
Another short eiaculatory praier English and Latine.
ODeus omnium miserationum, Pater, te praecor vt abissus misericordiae tuae absorbeat abissum peccatorū meorum.
O Father of goodnesse and mercy, I humbly intreat thee, that the depth of thy mercy may swallow vp the depth of my sinnes.
Martin Luthers Prayer.
COnfirme in vs, O God, that which thou hast wrought, and finish the worke thou hast begun in vs, to the glory of thy name, and the sauing of our soules at the dreadfull day of thy visitation, for thy deare mercies sake. Amen.
A few short remembrances, or most materiall rules of good life, for the practice of euery true Christian, here inserted.
1. FEare God: for not to feare him, is to feare euery thing.
2. Loue thy brother: for if thou loue not him whom [Page 108] thou hast seene, how shalt thou loue him whom thou hast not seene?
3. Bee charitable to the poore, which is to relieue Christ in his members, and be not greatly curious, so thou knowest them no notorious ill liuers; for if Lot, had beene so in the entertainment of his strangers, he had not receiued Angels in stead of men: and withall, because it is better to giue many counterfeits, then that one truly needy should depart vnreliued.
4. Sweare not, but what thou truly knowest: as to manifest a doubtfull truth, and that vpon vrgent occasion; for by an oath may God be greatly honoured, or dishonored. Honoured, as when we shall bring him to testifie a truth, [Page 109] which is himselfe the God of truth: dishonor, whē we bring him to witnesse a falshood, which whosoeuer doth, the Lord will not hold him guiltlesse. And to auoid this, make conscience of thy word, and it shall be to thee as a oath: for it is the man that giues credit to the oath, more then the oath to the man.
5 Perswade thy selfe, rather then thy friend, to keepe thy counsell: and whatsoeuer discord shall arise betwixt thee and him; as thou tenderest the reputation of an honest heart, neuer let malice in hatred make thee to reueale, that which loue & friendship before boūd thee to conceale.
6 Hate no man, no not thy enemy, lest God loue him; for to hate where he loues, is a [Page 110] fearefull opposition.
7 Whatsoeuer is deare vnto thy body, forbeare it, being any way preiudiciall to thy soule.
8 Desire in any thing, rather to bee in substance without shew, then in shew without substance.
9 Desire to liue godly: though poorely in this world, for hee that vngodlily dies rich, shall haue many mourners to his graue, but few comforters at his iudgement.
10 Thinke of God with wonder, speake to God with reuerence, serue him in loue, obey him in feare, and doe nothing, but as in his presence and sight, & thou shalt liue the life of the godly, & go the way of the blessed, liue in his feare, and die in his fauour.