MANVALE Catholicorum. A Manual FOR True Catholics. LONDON, Printed for Leonard Becket, and are to be sold at his Shop in the Temple near the Church, 1611. ENCHIRIDION PIARUM PRECUM ET Meditationum. Ex vetustiffimis Manuscript. pergamenis descripta. Ex Bibliotheca W. Crashavi. Theol Bacchal. & verbi Diu. Mnistir. apud Temp. Lond. A HANDFVL: OR Rather a Heartful of holy meditations and Prayers. Gathered out of certain ancient Manuscripts, written 300 years ago, or more. By WILLIAM CRASHAW Bachelor of Divinity, and Preacher at the Temple. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD: HENRY THE Noble Earl of NORTHHAMPTON, Lord privy Seal, Lord Warden of the Cincque Ports, and one of his majesties Honourable privy Counsel. RIGHT Honourable, our Adversaries amongst their many objections against us and our Religion, use this for one, that if we refuse their Church, and condemn their faith, we condemn to hell all our forefathers. But it followeth not: for in such fundamental points as necessarily concern salvation, as matter of merit, and means of justification, etc. our fathers in former times were not of the Romish faith, but of our Religion: excluding, disclaiming, & renouncing all their own merits, and cleaving only to God's mercy, and the merits of jesus Christ for their salvation. This was the faith of the ancient Church, etc. Saint Basillius in homel in Psal. 114. Basil saith. Eternal rest remains for them which have fought a good fight in this world, yet not for the merit of their works, but through the rich mercies of God, in whom they trust. Saint Hillary saith, our Hillarius in Psal. 51. works suffice not to merit eternal life, but our hope is in the mercy of God for ever and ever. Saint Augustine saith, Augustinus concione 1 in Psal. 70. Tua peccata sunt, merita Dei sunt: supplicium tibi debetur, et cum praemium venerit sua dona coronabit non tua merita. Sin is ours, Merit is Gods: Punishments are our due, but if rewards come, God crowns his own gifts, not our merits. Gregory moral lib. 9 ca 14. Saint Gregory (a Pope) saith, If I do well, I shall have eternal life, not by my merits but God's mercy. And long after even in Bernardus sermone. 15. in Psal. 90. the darkest times; devote Bernard saith, A man's whole merit is to put the whole affiance of his heart in him, that hath saved the whole man, and therefore in another place he concludes, My merit is the mercy of the Lord. All these Bellarmine cannot Sermone 61. in Cant. meritum meum miseratio domini. deny, and himself produceth some of them or all, but shapes such answers to them, as it would satisfy an indifferent man even to read him in that pont. And this was not the faith Bellar. to. 4. lib. 5. de lust. cap. 6. of the principal Fathers only, but by the mercy of God, it was derived even unto the inferior, and vulgar sort, not of the Clergy alone, but even of the Laity also. If the monuments of elder ages were extant & uncorrupted, it is more than marvelous how clearly this truth would shine: that our forefathers were not damned, though they believed, not as doth the present Romish Church: Nay further that they were saved by the same faith by which we are at this day, though they were misled by some errors, and nuzzled in some superstitions; for which (being sins of infirmity, or rather of ignorance) we hope the Lord was merciful unto them, knowing that even David himself cried to God to cleanse Psal. 19 him from his secret sins. But such hath been the craft and malice of Popish policy, that partly the oldest books are embezilled and extinguished, and those that remain are so altered corrupted and depraved from that they were, that there now remains not one of many of the testimonies, which the former ages yielded to this truth. Notwithstanding the providence of God hath not failed his Church: for (do what they could) yet he who said the gates of hell Math. 16. should not prevail against the true faith, hath taken order in spite of all plots to the contrary, that so many testimonies shall be preserved, as shall sufficiently witness to the world that our faith flourished in former ages. My purpose is (if the Lord will) to gather up such Antiquities though they be scattered and almost lost in these old worm eaten Manuscripts wherein they lie buried, which as God's providence hath delivered from the force and fury of the inquisitors fire, so it is all Christians duties to preserve them to posterity. I have here begun with a Handful, or rather a Hartfull of holy prayers & meditations worthy to be worn in the hand, and borne in the heart of every Christian, by which it may evidently appear that the faith and Religion of the former ages, four & five hundred years ago, was even the same by which we look to be saved at this day. Let this have leave (right Honourable) to come abroad out of the corners of obscurity, into public view, in the light & lustre of your renowned name, who are known to be a reverencer of Antiquity, a Maecenas of learning, a practiser of piety, an enemy to the idolatry, superstitions, ambitious practices, traitorous devices, and Machiavellian plots of jesuits: and a detester of such especially, who under a pretence of Religion, do cloak and convey impieties against God, and against his anointed. The God of heaven confirm that blessed work of his in your Lordship more & more, to the glory of his name, the benefit of this Realm, and to your own salvation in Christ jesus: So prayeth Your Lordship's devoted in Christ, W. CRASHAW. The Contents. 1 A Holy and orthodox Confession of the Trinity, the Father the Son and the holy Ghost. 2 A godly confession of sins and prayer for pardon, and for eternal life. 3 A godly meditation of man's misery, and God's mercy, together with a devout prayer. 4 The manner of preparing sick persons to death in the ancient times▪ even in Popery. De Deo Patre, pia, & orthodoxa Confessio. A 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, & 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Deus, Hely, Hely, Deus meus. Cuius virtus, totum posse: Cuius sensus: totum nosse. Cuius esse, summum bonum: Cuius opus, quicquid bonum. Super cuncta▪ subter cuncta: Extra cuncta, intra cuncta. Super cuncta, nec elatus, Subter cuncta, nec substratus. Extra cuncta, nec exculsus, Intra cuncta, nec inclusus. Super totus, presidendo, Subter totus, stustinendo. Extra totus complectendo, Intra totus es implendo. Super nullo sustentaris, Subter nullo fatigaris. Extra nusquam dilataris, Intra nunquam coarctaris. Mundum movens non moveris, Locum tenens non teneris. Tempus mutans, non mutaris, Vaga firmans non vagaris. Vis externa vel necesse, Non alternat tuum esse. Heri nostrum cras & pridem, Semper tibi nunc & idem. Tuum decus hodiernum, Indivisum sempiternum. Tu hoc totum providisti, Totum simul perfecisti. Ad exemplar summae mentis, Formam praebens elementis. De jesu Christo Deo & homine Confessio orthodoxa. NAte patri Coaequalis, Patri consubstantialis: Patris splendor & figura. Factor factus creatura. Carnem nostraminduisti, Causam nostram suscepisti. Sempiternus temporalis, Moriturus immortalis. Verus homo, verus Deus, Impermixtus homo Deus. Patri compar Deitate, Minor carnis veritate. Hic assumptus est in Deum; Nec consumptus propter Deum: Non conversus hîc in carnem, Nec minutus propter carnem. Deus pater tantum Dei, Virgo mater sed & Dei. In tam nova ligatura, Sic utraque stat natura conseruet quicquid erat, Facta quiddam quod non erat. Noster iste mediator, Iste noster Cogislator. Circumcitus, Baptizatus, Crucifixis, tumulatus: Obdormivit & descendit, Resurrexit & ascendit. Sic ad caelos elevatus, judicabit iudicatus. De eodem. QVem nobis voluit Divina potentia Natum, Quem natum suafecerunt, Miracula Notum. Quem notum plebeia Cruci Vult concio Fixum. Quemque crucifixum, Voluit pia turba Sepultum, Hunc Natum, Notum, fixum, Terraque sepultum. Sustulit in summum, Divina potentia Coelum. De Sancto Spiritu Confessio Orthodoxa. PAracletus increatus, Neque factus, neque natus. Patri compar filioque, Sic procedit ab utroque. Ne sit minor potestate, Vel discrotus qualitate. Quanti illi, tantus iste, Quales illi, talis iste. Ex qui illi, ex tunc iste, Quantum illi, tantum iste. Pater alter sed gignendo. Natus alter, sed nascendo, Flamen ab his pracedendo, Tres sunt unum subsistendo. Quisque trium plenus Deus, Non tres tamen Dij, sed Deus. In hoc Deo, Deo vero, Tres & unum assevero. Dans 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 unitatem, Et personis trinitatem. In personis nulla prior, Nulla maior, nulla minor. Vnaque semper ipsa, Sic est constans atque fixa. nec in se varietur, Nec in ullam transmutetur. Conclusio cum devotissima Precatione. HAec est fides orthodoxa, Non hic error sive noxa. Sicut dico. sic & credo, Nec in pravam partem cedo. Ind veni bone Deus, Ne desperem quamuis reus. Reus mortis non despero, Sed in morte vitam quaero. Quo te placeam non pretendo, Nisi fidem quam defendo. Fidem vides hac imploro, Leva fascem quo laboro. Per hoc sacrum cataplasma, Conualescat agrum plasma. Extra portem iam delatum, jamiam faetens, tumulatum. Vitta ligat, lapis urget, Sed si jubes, hic resurget: jube, lapis revoluetur, jube, vitta disrumpetur. Exiturus nescit mor as, Si tu clamas, Exi for as. In hoe Salo mea Ratis, Infestatur à Pyratis. Hinc assultus, inde fluctus, Hinc & inde mors & luctus. Sed tu bone Nauta veni, Post me ventos mare leni. Fac abscedant hi pyratae, Duc ad portum salva Rate. In faecunda mea ficus, Cuius ramus, ramus siccus. Incidetur, incendetur, Si promulgas quod meretur. Sed hoc anno dimittatur, Stercoretur fodiatur. Quod sinec dum respondebit, Flens haec dico, tunc ardebit. Vetus hostis in me furit, Aquis mersat flammis urit. Ind languens & afflictus, Tibi soli sum relictus. hic hostis evanescat, infirmus convalescat. Tu virtutem ieiunandi, Des infirmo, des orandi. Per hac duo (Christo teste) Liberabor ab hoc pest. Ab hoc pest solve mentem, Fac devotum, penitentem. Da timorem quo proiecto, De salute nil coniecto: Da spem, fidem, charitatem, Da discretam pietatem, Da contemptum terrenorum, Appetitum supernorum. Totum Deus in te spero, Deus es, te totum quaero. Tu laus mea, meum bonum, Mea cuncta tuum donum. Tu solamen in labore, Medicamen in languere. Tu in luctu mea lyra, Tu lenimen es in ira. Tu in arcto liberator, Tu in lapsu relevator. Mecum perstas in labore, Spem conseruas in dolore. Si quis laedit tu rependis, Si minatur tu defendis. Quod est anceps tu dissoluis, Quod tegendum tu involuis. Tu intrare me non sinas, Infernales officinas. Vbi maeror, ubi metus, ubi faetor, ubi fletus. Vbi probra deteguntur, Vbi rei confunduntur: Vbi tortor semper caedens: Vbi vermis semper edens: Vbi totum ho perenne, Procul sit haec mors gehennae. Me reccptet Syon illa, Zion David urbs tranquilla. Cuius faber Auctor lucis, Cuius portae, lignum Crucis: Cuius claves lingua jesu, Cuius cives sine metu: Cuius muri lapis viws Cuius custos rex festiws: In hac urbe lux solemnis: Ver aeternum, pax perennis: In hac odor implens Caelos, In hac semper dulce melos: Non est ibi corruptela, Non defectus, non quaerela▪ Non minuti, non deformes, Omnes Christo sunt conformes. Vrbs caelestis, urbs beata, Supra petram collocata: Vrbs in portu satis tuto. De longinquo te saluto: Te saluto, te suspiro, Te affecto, te requiro, Quantum tui gratulentur? Quam festiue conviventur? Quis affectus eos stringat? Aut quae gemam muros pingat? Quis chalcedon, quis jacincthus? Norunt illi qui sunt intus, In plateis huius urbis, Sociatus pijs turbis. Cum job, Moses, & Elia, Pium cantem hallelujah. Amen. Meditatio pijssima, de hominis miseria, et Dei miserecordia, una cum devota precatione. jucundas, Ceruus undas, Estuans desiderat: Sic ad Deum, Fontem verum, Mens fidelis properat, Sicut civi, Fortis vivi Prebent refrigerium: Ita menti, Sitienti Deus est remedium. Quantis bonis, super bonis, eruos tuos domine: sese laedit, qui recedit A superno lumine. Vitam laetam & quietam, Qui te quaerit reperit, sed laborem & dolorem, Metit qui te deserit. Pacem donas, & coronas, His qui tecum militant: Cunctalaeta sine meta, His qui tecum habitant. Heu quam vana Mens humana, Lusione falleris? Cum te curis, Nocituris, Imprudenter ingeris. Cur non caves, Lapsus graves, Quos persuadet proditor? Nec affectas Vias rectas, Quas ostendit conditor. Resipiscas atque discas Cuius sis originis: Vbi degis, cuius legis, Cuius sis & ordinis, Ne te spenes, Sed discerns Honorio mo gemma regia: Te perpend & attend Qua sis factus gratia. Recordare, Quis, & quare Sis a deo conditus: Cuius haeres. Nunc maneres. Si fuisses subditus. O Mortalis, Quantis malis Meruisti affici Cum Auctori, & doctori Noluisti subijci. Sed maiores Sunt dolores, Infernalis carceris Quo mittendus Et torquendus, Es, si male vixeris. Cui mundus, Est iucundus, Suam perdit animam: Prore levi, Atque brevi, Vitam perdit optimam. Ergo cave, Ne tam suave jugum spernens domini: Et abiecta Legerecta, Seruias libidini. Si sint plagae, Curam age curentur citius: Ne secrescant Et putrescant, Pergas in deterius. Ne desperes, Nam cohaeres, Christi esse poteris: Si carnales, Quantum vales, Affectus excluseris. Si formidas, Ne diffidas, Sed medelam postula: Noxam plange, Corpus ange, Dilue piacula. Sivivorum, Et funclorum, Christum times judicem: Debes scire, Quod perire, Non vult suum supplicem. Preces fund, pectus tunde, Flendo cor humilia: Penitenti, Et gementi. Non negatur venia. Exorando, Et laudando, jesum Christum memora: Nam delere Potest vere, Quaecunque facinora. Et si quando, Te temptando Durus serpens laeserit: Suspiranti, Et oranti, jesus Christus aderit: Quod si forte Mortis portae, Te vicinum senseris, Crede tamen, Quod iwamen, Per eum receperis, Hunc require Qui lenire Solet corda tristium: Certus esto Quod est presto, Votis se precantium. Ipse multos, iam sepultos Fecit reviuiscere; Hic auersos, Et subuersos Potest Deo iungere, Ipsum ama, Ad hunc clama, Mentem tuam elevae sustentet, Et presentet. Te ad caeli gaudia. Ipsum Cole de mole Criminum te liberet: Hunc appella Ne procella Vitiorum superet. Ipsum posco, Quem cognosco, Posse prorsus omnia: evellat, Et repellat, Cuncta quae sunt noxia. Ipse donet, quod monet Eius verbum faciam: finita, Carnis vita, Laetus hunc aspiciam: Pater Deus, Fili Deus, Deus alma charitas, Per eterna, Nos guberna, Secla, Deus Trinitas. An Orthodoxal Confession of God the Father. FIrst and last one God divine, All men's God as well as mine. In thy virtue all things framing, In thy knowledge all containing. In thine essence chiefest good, Working all what e'er is good. All supporting, all excelling, Without all, yet in all dwelling. All supporting undeiected, All excelling unaffected. Without all, yet not excluded, In all, never yet included. Over all in Domination, Under all in sustentation. Comprehending all without thee, Filling all things round about thee. Nothing under thee can raise thee, Nought above thee can debase thee. Nought without gives thee dimension, Nought within gives thee extension. Moving all, thyself abiding, Placed without circumscribing. Changing time, thyself most stable, Varying all, Inuariable. Force, necessity, nor art, Altar thee in any part. Time past, present, and to come, Are one with thee, both all and some. All the glory now thou hast. Vndiminisht aye must last. Only thou art all foreseeing, Only giving all their being. As thy wisdom did foreshow, Thou framd'st the elements below. A holy and orthodoxal Confession of God the Son, jesus Christ the Saviour of Mankind. Son, thy Father's peer in all, with him Consubstantial. His figure and his splendour pure, Creator, made a creature. Thou our human flesh putst on, Thou our cause hast undergone. Temporal, yet time defying, Ever living, yet once dying. God and man without illusion, Both in one without confusion. Thy Father's like in Deity, But not in fleshly verity. God humanity assuming, The same preserving, not consuming The Godhead in this union yet, Of his Godhead lost no whit. God to God, and not toth' other▪ Was Father, but Mary to both was mother Thus both natures kept their station, In this wondrous Combination. Preserving in the Essence true What was, and thence producing new. This our Mediator is, Our leader to the land of bliss. Circumcised baptized by john, Suffered, buried, and upon, The third day: whence he had descended, He rose, and so to heaven ascended. Whence he shall come, when time doth call (though Judged himself) to judge us all. Of Christ again. HE whom Gods power for mankind would have borne, whom borne his miracles proclaimed have, Who thus proclaimed upon a cross was torn, To whom thus torn, the godly burial gave: This borne, proclaimed, torn Entombed King, God power again, to heavenly bliss did bring: A true and orthodoxal Confession of the holy Ghost. SPirit uncreated ever, Never made, begotten never. From the persons two proceeding, Full their equal, not exceeding. Not preferring them in Deity, Nor several from them in quality. In quantity all three combine, In quality alike Divine. With the Father and the Sun, Never ending nor begun. One is Father, for he begot, The Son one borne, all men wots From these the spirit proceeds alone, Thus one is three, and three are one. Each of these is God truly, Yet still but one, and not God's three But in this Deity, I assever, A Trinity united ever. In the substance is full unity, In the persons perfect Trinity: But, in these that I have reckoned, None in power is first or second. But alas one we must adore, Fixed and firm for evermore. Nor in self for ever changed, Nor from itself at all estranged. The conclusion with a devour and holy prayer. THis is Christian faith unfeigned, Orthodoxal, true, unstained: As I teach all understand; Yielding unto neither hand. And in this my soul's defence, Reject me not for mine offence: Though death's slave, yet desperation I fly, in death, to seek salvation I have no mean, thy love to gain, But this faith which I maintain This thou seest, nor will I cease, By this to beg for a release. Let this sacred salve be bound, Upon my sores to make them sound. Though man be carried forth, and lying In his grave, and putrefying: Bound and hid from mortal eyes, Yet if thou bid, he must arise: At thy will the grave will open At thy will his bounds are broken. And forth he comes, without delay; If thou but once bid come away: In this sea of dread and doubt, My poor bark is tossed about; With storms and pirates far and wide, Death and woes on every side. Come thou steeresman ever blest, Calm these winds, that me molest: Chase these ruthless Pirates hence, And show me some safe residence. My tree is fruitless, dry and dead, All the bows are withered. Down it must, and to the fire If desert have his due hire. But spare it (Lord) another year, With manuring it may bear. If it then, be dead and dry, Burn it, alas, what remedy. Mine old foe assaults me sore, With fire and water, more and more. Poor I, of all my strength bereft, Only unto thee am left. That my foe may hence be chased, And I from ruins claws released. Lord vouchsafe me every day, Strength to fast, and faith to pray. These two means thyself hast taught, To bring temptations force to nought. Lord free my soul from sins infection, By repentances direction. Be thy fear in me abiding My soul to true salvation guiding Grant me faith (Lord) hope and love Zeal of heaven and things above Tcach me prise the world at nought, On thy bliss be all my thought. All my hopes on thee I found, In whom all good things abound. Thou art all my dignity, All I have I have from thee. Thou art my comfort in distress, Thou art my cure, in heaviness Thou art my music in my sadness, Thou art my medicine in my madness Thou my freedom from my thrall, Thou my raiser from my fall. In my labour thou relieves me, Thou reforms what ever grieves me. All my wrongs thy hand revengeth, And from hurt my soul defendeth Thou my deepest doubts revealest, Thou my secret faults concealest. Oh do thou stay my feet from treading In paths to hell and horror leading: Where eternal torment dwells, With fears, & tears & loathsome smells. Where man's deepest shame is sounded, And the guilty still confounded. Where the scourge for ever beateth, And the worm that always eateth. Where all those endless do remain, Lord preserve us from this pain. In Zion lodge me (Lord) for pity Zion David's kingly City. Built by him that's only good, Whose gates are of the crosses wood. Whose keys are Christ's undoubted word, Whose dwellers fear none but the Lord. Whose walls are stone, strong, quick and bright, Whose keeper is the Lord of light. Here the light doth never cease Endless spring and endless peace Here is music, heaven filling, Sweetness evermore distilling. Here is neither spot nor taint, No defect, nor no complaint. No man crooked, great nor small, But to Christ conformed all. Blessed town, divinely graced, On a rock so strongly placed. Seated sure from fear of war: I salute thy walls from far. Thee I see, and thee I long for, Thee I seek, and thee I groan for. O what joy thy dwellers taste, All in pleasures first and last? What full enjoying bliss Divine? What jewels on thy walls do shine? Ruby, jacincth, Chalcedon, Known to them within alone. In this glorious Company In the streets of Zion, I With job, Moses, and Eliah, Will sing the heavenly hallelujah Amen. A holy meditation of man's mi sery, and God's mercy, together with a devout prayer. WIth longing cheer, The thirsty Deer. do seek the brook: In such a kind, The faithful mind, For God doth look. And as the springs, Refreshment brings, in drought and sweat, So God doth cool, The thirsty soul in all her heat. O Lord what floods of glorious goods, dost thou bestow, On those that be thine, blessed is he that well doth know Eternal bliss, His guerdon is that jesus maketh His rest, but he Reaps misery that him forsaketh. Thou makest them glorious And victorious, Who serve thee well In endless joy From all annoy with thee they dwell. But oh Humanity, With how great vanity, art thou betossed? To dote in care, On things that are, so quickly lost? Why dost thou yield, And leave the field, to sins invasions? Not well respecting, But ill rejecting, thy God's persuasions? Open thine eyes, And well advise, of whence thou art: Thy life, thy birth, Thy state, thy worth, observe each part. From carelessness Thyself still bless, O man God's jewel: How he placed thee, And graced thee observe and view well. To what intent, Hath God thee sent, observe with care: To whom (but pride Drew thee aside) thou hadst been heir. O mortal son, Affliction is thy due hire: That broke the band Of God's command, through vain desire. But oh take heed, Those pains exceed, that rule in hell: Whose fire so cruel, Hath those for fuel, that live not well. The man that joys In worldly toys, his soul o'erthrows: Respecting nought, What Christ hath bought full dear God knows. Then never grudge, If God thee judge, his yoke to bear: Let not lust draw, Thee from his law, But hold it dear. And soon apply His remedy, unto thy sore: Lest it increase, To worse disease, and plague thee more. Do not despair, Thou mayst be heir, with Christ in joy: By casting out, Corruptions root, thy soul's annoy. Still fear thou must, But not distrust, and beg thy cure: For errors weep, Thy body keep lowly and pure: If to thy fear, Thy judge appear with angry face: Know he will lose, Not one of those, that beg his grace. Pray without rest, And knock thy breast, humble thy mind: All that bewail, Their errors frail, have pardon signed. And do not spare, In hymme and prayer, jesus to praise: For mercy still, Is at his will, at all assays. And when the devil, The Prince of evil, attempteth thee, Then if thou pray Christ will not stay to set thee free. All be thou were, To death most near, yet still be sure: And understand That his high hand, contains thy cure. Be he thy quest, That gives all rest, from restless woes: Who so adore, And him implore, shall come to those, For many an one, Dead long agone, hath he revived: And saved more That were before of grace deprived, Be all thy love, On God above, Lift up thy spirit: That thou mayst taste The Saint's repast, through his sole merit. And honour him, That he from sin, may thee deliver, That sins increase In thee may cease, in prayer persever. On him I call, That all in all hath in his power: Against all harm, Be he mine arm my shield my tower. And this lives length Vouchsafe us strength to keep his hest: That at our end We may ascend, To endless rest. Amen. Here followeth the means and manner how our forefathers in the time of Popery prepared themselves and others to die, consisting first of the confession of their faith, and secondly of the prayers which were made by them, & for them in their last sickness, by which it may appear that though they were misled by the crafty Romish Clergy, in divers errors and superstitions, yet in the great point of the means of salvation, they were of our religion and were saved by it. INterrogationes quae fieri debent morituris dum adhuc usum rationis habent, & loquendi, ut si quis minus dispositus fuerit ad moriendum, de meliori informetur atque in eodem confortetur. Illae autem interrogationes debent fieri, fecundum Anselmum Episcopum hoc modo, Primos queratur sic. Frater 1 laetaris quod in fide Christi morieris. Ille respondet, Etiam. Frater 2 penitet te non tam bene vixisse sicut debuisses? Respondeat etiam. Frater, habes animum emendandi si spatium vivendi haberes? Respon. Etiam. Frater credis te non posse nisi per Christi mortem salvari? Resp. Etiam. Credis quod prote mortuus est Dominus jesus Christus fillius Dei? Resp. Etiam, Agis ei gratias ex toto cord de hoc. Respo. Etiam. Age ergo ei (dum superest in te anima) semper gratias, & in hac sola morte, fiduciam tuam constitue: in nulla alia re fiduciam habe, huic mortite totum commit, hac sola te totum contege: totum immisce te in hac morte, totum confige, in hac morte te totum involve. Et si dominus Deus volverit tu judicare, dic, Domine, mortem Domini mei jesu Christi obijcio inter me & judicium tuum aliter tecum non contendam. Et si tibi dixerit Deus, quia peccator es. dic, Domine mortem Domini mei jesu Christi pono inter te & peccata mea: si dixerit tibi quod meruisti damnationem, dic: Domine, mortem Domini mei jesu Christi obtendo inter te, & mala merita mea, Ipsumque, & dignissimae, passionis meritum offero pro merito quod ego debuissem habere, & (heu) hon habeo: Si dixerit deus quod tibi est iratus, die, Domine mortem Domini mei jesu Christi pono inter me & iram tuam. Deinde dicat ter, In manus tuas Domine commendo spiritum meum, et si id ipsum non potest loqui dicat conventus vel astantes, In manus tuas domine commendamus spiritum eius. Et securus moritur, nec videbit mortem in eternum. Et in alio vetusto codice. SEquntur signa sex quibus homo potest confidere de salute. 1 Si credit ea quae sunt Christianae fidei quantum ad omnia ab Ecclesia determinata. 2 Si gaudet & laetetur quod in fide Christi morietur. 3 Si cognoscat se graviter Deum offendisse. 4 Si dolet se tam graviter Deum offendisse. 5 Si proponit a peccatis abstinere si vixerit. 6 Si credit & sperat venire ad salutem aeternam non proprijs meritis, sed jesu Christi. Et dicit Anselmus quod hae sex questiones proponi debent homini costituto in mortis articulo, & addit. Deinde dicatur infirmo: si Sathan tibi obijciat aliquid, opponas merita Christi inter te & ipsum, & his peractis sine dubio saluabitur. Ista consolatio & preparatio ad mortem, in vetustis codicibus ascribitur Anselmo, qui vixit ante annos 500, in ipsa adulta fere aetate Papismi. Si vero dubitaret quis, quomodo patres nostri in hisce posterioribus, multoque peioribus temporibus salutem aeternam possent adipisci, grassante Papismo & vigente potestate tenebrarum. Respondeo eandem fere preparationem, & intterrogationes fuisse in usu & aestimatione, In densissimis Papismi tenebris: pessimo nimirum illo tempore Concilij Constantiensis ante annos nimirum 200. sic enim reperio scriptum in alio vetusto codice, multis abhinc annis descripto. Omnis Christianus sive secularis, five regularis modo subsequenti de sua salute inquirendus et informandus est. 1 CRedis omnes principales articulos fidei, & insuper toti sacrae Scripturae per omnia, secundum sanctorum Catholicorum & orthodoxorum, sanctae Ecclesiae doctorum expositionem & detestatis omnes hereses & errores atque superstitiones, ab Ecclesia reprobatas: ac laetaris insuper quod in fide Christi, ac unitate matris Eccelsiae, ac obedientia morieris? 2 Cognoscis te Creatorem tuum saepe & multipliciter, atque graviter offendisse. 3 Doles ex toto cord de omnibus peccatis contra Dei maiestatem amorem & benignitatem, de malis commissis & bonis omissis, & gratias neglectis, non solum timore mortis conturbatus, vel paenae cuiuscumque sed magis ex amore Dei? 4 Petis frater omnibus istis veniam a jesu Christo, optans per illum cor tuum illuminari ad cognitionem obliquorum, ut de illis valeas specialiter paenitere? 5 Proponis te vereaciter velle emendare si supervixeris, et nunquam plus mortaliter peccare scienter, sed potius omnia quanticunque chara dimittere imo etiam vitam carnalem perdere antequam Deum plus velles offendere. 6 Rogas insuper Deum ut det tibi gratiam hoc propositum continuandi & non recidivandi. 7 Indulges, ex toto cord, omnibus qui unquam aliquid nocumentum verbo, vel facto tibi intulerunt, vel aliquo modo offenderunt, ob amorem & venerationem Domini tui jesu Christi, a quo & tu veniam speras▪ Petis etiam fideliter indulgeri & remitti tibi ab ijs quos tu offendisti quovis modo? 8 Vis ablata restitui integraliter in quantum teneris juxta tuarum facultatum valorem etiam usque ad omnium bonorum tuorum c●ssionem inclusive, ubi alias, satisfactio fieri non valeret? 9 Credis quod part mortuus sit Christus & quod aliter salvari non potes, nisi per meritum passionis Domini nostri jesu Christi: & agis etiam de hoc Deo gratias ex cord, quantum valeas. Quicunque autem ad praedictas interrogationes ex conscientia bona, & fide non ficta, vere poterit affirmative respondere, satis evidens argumentum salutis habet, si sic decesserit, quod de numero saluandorum erit. questions to be propounded to sick persons, whilst they have the use of reason, and power to speak, to the end that if any be not so well disposed to die, he may be better informed and prepared. And the questions be these, according to Anselme the reverend Bishop. 1 Let him be asked thus, Brother dost thou rejoice that thou shalt die in the faith of Christ? Ans. I do. 2 Brother, dost thou sorrow and grieve, for that thou hast not lived so well as thou oughtest? The answer, I do Brother: hast thou a hearty purpose to live better, if God give thee time to live? Ans. I have. Brother dost thou believe that thou cannot be saved, but by the death of Christ? Ans. I do. Dost thou believe that jesus Christ the Son of God died for thee? Ans. I do. Dost thou give thanks to God therefore from thy whole heart? Ans. I do. Well then good brother, whilst thy soul is yet in thy body give him hearty thanks▪ and settle all thy assurance upon his death alone: have no confidence in any thing else: trust thyself wholly to his passion: cover thyself wholly with it, fasten thy whole self on his cross: cast thy whole self into this sea. And if thy Lord God say he will judge thee; answer thou, Lord I object the death of my Lord jesus Christ betwixt me & thy judgement, otherwise I will not contend with thee. And if God say to thee thou art a sinner, answer: Lord it is so, but I set the death of my Lord jesus Christ betwixt thee & my sins: If he say that thou hast deserved damnation, answer. It is true Lord, but I place the death and merits of my Lord jesus Christ betwixt thee and my ill deservings: and I offer up him & the most worthy merits of his passion, for the merits which I should have had, but (alas) have not. If the Lord say further that he is angry with thee, answer him, Lord thou hast cause, but I set the death and sufferings of my Lord jesus Christ, betwixt thy wrath and my soul. Then let him say thrice: Lord into thy hands I commend my spirit. And if he be so weak he cannot, then let the company who stand by say, Lord into thy hands we commend his soul. He that doth thus is safe and secure, for, he shall never taste of eternal death. Also in another old book I find this written. THese be the six signs upon which a man may rest confident of his salvation. 1 If he believe the Articles of Christian faith, as many as are determined by the Church. 2 If he rejoice to die in the faith of Christ. 3 If he know that he hath grievously offended God. 4 If he be hearty sorry for it. 5 If he resolve to forsake his sins, if God give him life. 6 If he hope and believe to come to eternal salvation, not by his own merits, but by the merits of jesus Christ. And Anselme saith that these six questions are to be asked of every one at the time of his death, and saith further thus. Then say to the sick person: if Satan object any thing against thee, oppose thou the merits of Christ betwixt thee and him: and thus without all doubt he shall be saved. This consolation of the sick and preparation to their death is in ancient Copies ascribed to Anselme, who lived more than 500 years ago, even when Popery was almost grown to perfect age: Now if any man make question how our fathers were saved in these later and worse times, when Popery prevailed in a greater measure; I answer that even almost the same preparation, and same questions, were used long after Anselme, even in the deepest darkness of Popery: For in the most evil time about the Council of Constance, some two hundred years ago, Thus I find it written in ancient Book, and it is ascribed to Gerson. Every Christian whether secular or regular is thus to be examined and informed in his sickness touching his salvation. 1 Dost thou believe all the principal articles of faith, and all that is contained in the whole body of holy Scripture, according to the exposition of the Catholic and orthodoxal Doctors of the holy Church: and dost thou detest all heresies and errors and superstitions, condemned or reproved by the Church: and art thou glad that thou diest in the faith of Christ, and unity and obedience of thy Mother the Church. 2 Dost thou know and confess that thou hast many ways and grievously offended thy God and Creator. 3 Dost thou sorrow from thy whole heart for all thy sins committed against God's Majesty his love and mercy, art thou truly sorrowful for the evils that thou hast committed, and the good that thou hast omitted, and the grace thou hast neglected, and art thou aggrieved, not so much for fear of death, or any punishment, as for that love which thou oughtest to bear towards God? 4 Dost thou beg pardon for all these thy sins of jesus Christ, desiring that by him thy heart may be enlightened, truly to see and know thy sins, that so thou mayst particularly and more seriously repent of them? 5 Dost thou propound and resolve truly to amend thy life (if so be thou live) and never hereafter to sin so again, but rather to lose any thing how dear soever unto thee, yea even life itself, then to offend thy God again? 6 Dost thou also desire of God, grace to continue in this purpose, that thou mayst not fall again? 7 Dost thou forgive from thy whole heart all that have done thee any wrong in word or deed, for the love of Christ jesus thy Lord and Saviour, and as thou hopest for pardon from him: and dost thou heartily desire to be forgiven of all men, whom thou hast any way offended? 8 Wilt thou that there be full restitution made according to thy power, yea though it should extend to thy whole estate, if otherwise there cannot be satisfaction made? 9 Dost thou believe that Christ died for thee, and that thou canst be saved no otherwise but by the merits of jesus Christ: and dost thou give God thanks for this from thy whole heart as much as thou art able. And whosoever can give true answer to these questions affirmatively, out of a good conscience and faith not feigned; It is an evident and sufficient testimony of salvation, and let him not doubt but if he so departed, he is one of them that shall be saved. Behold here good Reader our Religion practised in the most misty times of Popery: behold here the true, holy, Catholic and ancient way to heaven: Namely, By Christ and his merits alone. Hear is no trusting on man's merits, either our own or others: Here is no mention of Agnus this, or Wooden Crucifixes, He is not bid to trust in the prayers, suffrages, requiems, dirges, Masses, Trentals, or other obsequies that shall be said for him after his departure. He is sent to no Angel, no nor to the Virgin Mary, for matter of Salvation: Nay all are excluded, & Christ's death alone, even it alone, is made the means of his Salvation, And the makers hereof were so resolute, and zealous in this point, that they use such variety of words, as though they could not sufficiently express the excellency and the nececessity of cleaving to Christ alone in the matter of salvation. And if any man suspect that this is but devised by us, and falsely fathered upon Antiquity, let him know that not only we have the ancient Copies, whose age will speak for themselves, but even the better sort of Papists, that be learned, do know this well enough. A learned Papist of this age Gasper ulenbergius. in lib. de Causis. Causa 14. pag. 462. editionis Colon. 1589. writeth, that in a Church in Colaine this very book is extant (Manuscript) and that he hath seen it, and that this manner of comforting the sick was used in former ages, and confesseth that it contains the very treasure & kernel of Christian Religion, and saith further that this manner was used not in Germany only, but over all the Christian world: Indeed to the jesuits I confess, this is held a ridiculous manner of comforting the sick, (such a spirit possesseth them:) Thus doth Gretzer their Champion, flout us Lutherans (as he calls us) for thus doing. The Lutherans (saith he) do jae. Gretzerus in refutat Leyseri de histor. Ord. jesuit. thus comfort their sick. Relics, Crucifixes, Agnus this, and such matters are but dead things, and nothing worth, the Scripture hath not a word of them: it is therefore very ungodly to trust in them; but God is our hope, and God is our strength trust in him, etc. On this wise fashion do these godly comforters comfort their sick persons. Thus in the jesuits judgement it is but a silly course to trust in God's mercy, and Christ's merits, in points of salvation: Hereby it may be discerned of what spirit they are. But let them mock us, as long as with us they mock the Scriptures, Antiquity, and the better sort of their own side, for we appeal to this that hath been said, whether this manner of comforting the sick were not in use long before Luther was borne: Now if any object that in the same books there is mention of the Crucifix, and that it is appointed to be in the presence of the sick person: I answer it is true, but not that he should worship it, (as now the jesuits teach, and all the approved Gregori. de valent. Gretzerus, Vasquez. Romish writers) but that it may put him in mind of Christ, which though it be a needless superstition, yet is it not that impiety and idolatry, which now at this day is practised & maintained in the Romish Church, and my purpose is not to discharge those times, nor our forefathers in those times of errors, and superstitions, but of the idolatry, impiety, and blasphemy of the present Church of Rome. And the same answer is also to be given to another objection. That in the same book there are prayers to the Saints and Angels: It is so, and from that error those ages cannot be cleared: but with all let us still observe that those prayers are not to help them in matters of salvation, (as are many blasphemous prayers now usual in Popery:) and that sin in those misty times (being a sin of ignorance) no doubt was pardoned unto them in the mercy of God, seeing that for their reconciliation with God, and eternal salvation, they believed to attain it only by the merits and passion of jesus Christ. But let not us feed on their infirmities, but lovingly pass by them, and let this content and comfort us, that their means of salvation which they used and trusted unto, is the same with ours at this day: for better testimony whereof, let us set down some of their prayers, being such as the best Christian may use at this day with much comfort. Certain Prayers used by our Forefathers in the darkest times of Popery, in the time of a man's sickness: some to be made for the sick, and some by the sick person: gathered out of the same ancient books. When the sick person feels his strength to fail, then let him commend his soul to God in this prayer. O summa Deitas, immensa, clementissima, atque gloriosissima Trinitas, summa dilectio, amor & charitas, miserere mei miserrimi peccatoris: tibi enim commendo spiritum meum. Deus meus pijssimus, pater miserecordiarum, miserecordiam fac huic pauperculae Creaturae, & in ultima necessitate mea succurreiam Domine indigenti animae, & desolatae, ut non a canibus infernalibus devoretur. O dulcissime, & amantissime Domine jesu Christi, fili Dei vivi, ob honorem, & virtutem beatissimae passionis, iube me recepi inter numerum electorum tuorum: salvator & Redemptor meus, reddo me totum tibi: ut me non renuas â venia, nec repellas à gloria tua. At ô Domine jesu Christ, paradisum tuum postulo, non ob valorem meritorum meorum, cum sum pulvis & cinis, & peccator miserrimus sed in virtute & efficacia, tuae sanctissimae passionis, per quam me miserimum redimere voluisti, & mihi paradisum tuo pretioso sanguine emere dignatus es. Igitur per illam amaritudinem quam pro me sustinere voluisti in Cruce, maxime in illa hora quando sanctissima anima tua egressa est de corpore tuo, miserere animae meae in egressu suo. Deinde dicat pluries diripuisti Domine vincula mea, tibi sacrificabo hostiam laudis. Deinde cum ipse visum loquelae amiserit, orationes sequentes dicantur super infirmum laborantem ab aliquo presentium, si adhuc superuivit. QVaesumus, miserecors pater, secundum multitudinem miserationum tuarum, respice propitius super hunc famulum tuum, fratrem nostrum, remissionem omnium peccatorum suorum tota cordis confessione poscentem: Exaudi deprecantes, & renova in eo, pijssime pater, quicquid in eo terrena fragilitate corruptum est, vel quicquid Diabolica fraud violatum est, & unitati corporis Ecclesiae membrum redemptionis congrega. Miserere Domine gemituum suorum, miserere lachrimarum eius, & in habentem fiduciam nisi in miserecordia tua ad tuae reconciliationis sacrameutum admit. In manus igitur in extinguibilis miserecordiae tuae, pater sanctissime, commendemus spiritum famuli tui fratris nostri, secundum magnitudinem amoris quo se anima filii tui sanctissima in cruce tibi commendabit supplicater deprecantes quatenus per illam inestimabilem divinitatem quam tua divina bonitas in se totam traxit illam sanctissiman animam, ut in hora ultima famuli tui, fratris nostri, suscipias in eodem amore spiritum eius. Et tu dulcissime redemptor, pijssime jesu, per illam lacrimabilem vocem quam moriturus emisisti, cum pro nobis doloribus & laboribus passionis adeo consumptus es, ut te derelictum à patre clamabas. Ne long facias à famule tuo, fratre nostro, auxilium tuae miserationis in hora & in momento afflictionis animae suae prae defectione & consumptione spirit us te invocare in extrema hora mortis scire non valente: sed per triumphum sanctae crucis & per salutem salutiferae passionis & amorosae mortis tuae, cogitade eo cogitationes pacis, & non afflictonis sed miserecordissimae miserationis & consolationis: & libera eam de omnibus angustijs, erue eam a a tormentis sibi deputatis & perduc eam in requiem aeternum: O Domine jesu Christ, qui redemisti nos precioso sanguine tuo, scribe in anima huius famuli tui vulnera tua pretioso sanguine tuo, ut discat in eis legere tuum dolorem & tuum amorem: dolorem contra omnes dolores & paenas quas pro peccatis suis se timet meruisse: Amorem ut uniatur tibi amore invisibili, quo a te & omnibus electis tuis, nunquam possit in aeternum seperari: Et fac cum Domine jesus Christs participem sacratissimae incarnationis passionis, resurrectionis & ascentionis tuae: fac eum participem sacratissimorum mysteriorum & sacramentorum tuorum: Fac eam participem omnium orationum ac benefactorum quae fuerunt in Ecclesia sancta tua. Fac eam participem omnium benedictionum, gratiarum, & gaudiorum ominum electorum tuorum, ab initio mundi, & concede ut cum his omnibus in tuo conspectu gaudeat in aeternum: Domine qui orasti pro nobis in monte Oliveti, obsecramus te ut multitudinem sanguinis et sudoris quem prae angustia tua copiosissime pro nobis effudisti, ostendere digneris & offerre deo patri omnipotenti contra multitudinem omnium peccatorum huius famuli tui fratris nostri, & libera cum in hac hora mortis suae ab omnibus paenis & angustijs quas pro peccatis fuis timet se meruisse; salva animam eius in hac hora exitus sui, et aperi ei januam vitae, & fact eam gaudere cum sanctis in gloria aeterna, per tua merita Domine jesu Christ, qui cum Deo patre, & spiritu Sancto vivis & reg-Deus in secula. Cum autem eius vires deficient & animam emissurum videatur, commendetur anima per aliquem astantium, hoc modo. Commendatio animae morientis. COmmendo te omnipotenti Deo (charissime frater) et ei, cuius es creatura committo: proficiscere anima Christiana de hoc misero mundo. In nomine Patris omnipotentis qui te creavit. In nomine jesu Christi filii eius qui pro te passus est. In nomine Spiritus Sancti, qul in te fusus est. Egrediente aute animatua de corpore, splendidus Angelorum caetus tibi occurrat, & omnium sanctorum caetus te accipiat: appareat tibi mitis, & clemens, jesus Christus, qui inter assistentes sibi te iugiter interesse decernat, ut locus tuus in pace sit, & habitatio tua in Jerusalem coelesti: Ignores omnino quid horret in tenebris, quid stridet in flammis, quid cruciat in tormentis. Cedat tibi nequissimus Sathan cum satellitibus suis: nec in adventu suo te vincat, sedcoram angelis dei contremiscat as in aterna noctis chaos immane diffugiat: at exurget Deus & dissipentur omnes inimici eius, sicut deficit fumus ita deficiant. justi autem exultentur, & exultent in conspectu Dei: Confundantur igitur & erubescant ante te tar tareae legiones & ministri satanae iter tuum impedire non audeant: Liberet te à cruciatu Christus qui pro te mori dignatus est, & constituet te Christus filius Dei inter paradisi sui amena & semper virentia, & i am inter oves suos verus te ille pastor agnoscat. Ille ab omnibus peccatis tuis absoluat, atque ad dextram in electorum suorum sort te constituat, ut redemptorem tuum facie ad faciam videas & constitutum agmina beatorum contemplationis divinae gaudio potiaris in secula saeculonum. Amen. Certain Prayers used by our Forefathers in the darkest times of Popery, in the time of a man's sickness: some to be made for the sick, and some by the sick person: gathered out of the same ancient books. When the sick person feels his strength to fail, then let him commend his soul to God in this Prayer. O Most high and sovereign God whose goodness and mercy is infinite: o most glorious Trinity, which art love, and mercy, and goodness itself, have mercy on me most miserable sinner, for unto thee, and unto thy hands I commend my spirit: o Lord, my most loving God, & father of mercies, show thy mercy on me thy poor creature, and forsake me not in my last need, but stand with me Lord, and help my succourless soul, save my poor and desolate soul, that it be not devoured of the infernal dogs. O most loving Lord, & sweet Saviour jesus Christ, the son of the living God, I beseech thee for the honour, and by the virtue of thy most blessed passion command that I may be received into the number of thy Saints, and servants. O my Saviour & my Redeemer I here yield up myself wholly to thee, O grant me thy grace and thy glory, vouchsafe me pardon of my sin, and give me a portion of thy glory. But o my dear Lord, I challenge not a place in heaven for any worthiness of my own merits, for I am but dust & ashes, & a most wretched finner: but for the virtue of thy most blessed passion, by which thou didst vouchsafe to redeem me miserable man, and to purchase heaven for me, even with the price of thy precious blood. I beseech thee therefore by thy most blessed, & bitter passion, which thou sustainedst on the Cross for me, especially in that hour when thy blessed soul did leave the body, that thou wouldst have mercy on my poor soul at the time of my departure. Then let him lift up his heart with joy and thanksgiving, and say, Lord thou hast broken my bonds, therefore I will offer to thee the sacrifice of praise. After, if his weakness grow so that he lose the use of his speech, let some of the bystanders say these prayers following over him, or more if he live so long. Merciful God and Father we beseech thee for the multitudes of thy mercies, look favourably upon this thy servant (our dear brother) who with true and hearty confession seeks pardon of all his sins at the hand of thy mercies, O Lord hear us for him, and we beseech thee for him, most holy father, to renew in his heart what ever is corrupted by the frailty of his flesh, and restore that grace which the wily and malicious enemy the devil hath stolen out of his soul: O Lord recall him to the unity of thy Church; engrafted him into the body of thy soul. O Lord take pity of the sighs and sobs of his soul, and groans of his heart, o Lord look upon his tears, gather them in thy bottle, and be good to him, who hath no hope, comfort nor confidence, but in thy mercy, and seal up the assurance of his reconciliation with thee. O most holy Father we humbly commend the soul of this thy servant, and our brother into the hands of thy unmeasurable mercies, humbly beseeching thee, according to the greatness of that love in which the blessed soul of thy son did commend itself into thy holy hands, that for the worthiness of that infinite love of thine, in which thou didst receive that holy soul unto thyself, thou wouldst vouchsafe in this our brothers last hour, to receive his poor soul also and make it partaker of the same love. And thou most sweet Saviour and most merciful Lord jesus, thou that dying on the cross was so pressed with anguish and torments for us, as made thee sound out that pitiful voice unto thy Father: My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me, we beseech thee estrange not thyself, and turn not away thy face from thy servant our brother, now in the hour of his soul's affliction, when his strength faileth, and his spirits are so spent that he cannot call upon thee: hear us O Lord: hear us for him, and for that thy glorious victory in which thou didst triumph on the cross, & for thy precious passion and bitter death think of him the thoughts of mercy and not of justice: shed thy mercies in his soul & speak comfortably to his conscience, deliver his soul out of all spiritual distress, save him from the torments due unto his deservings, & bring him, for thy own merits sake, to eternal rest. O Lod jesus Christ which didst redeem us with thy precious blood, writ with thine own blood, in the soul, and engrave thy wounds in the heart of this thy servant, that in them he may see & read thy doleful sufferings & thy sweet love: thy sufferings that they may be effectual to rasome him from those sorrows & torments which he hath merited by his sins: thy love that it may unite his heart to thee, in invisible & inseparable bonds, so as he may never be separated from, thou nor thy Saints, for ever and ever. And Lord jesus Christ we beseech thee make his soul partaker of all the merits of thy most sacred incarnation, passion, resurrection, and ascension. Make him partaker of the virtue of thy most blessed sacraments, and all thy holy mysteries. Make him partaker of all the prayers & good deeds done in thy whole Church. Make him partaker of all the blessings, graces, and comforts of all thy elect, and grant that with them all he may live in thy presence for evermore. O Lord which powered out thy prayer for us on the mount Olivet, and sweat water and blood, we beseech thee, let that precious blood of thine, which thou didst so abundantly pour out for our salvation, let it be presented and offered to thy father to stand against the multitude of of the sins of this thy servant, our brother: Lord be with him at his last hour, and then deliver him from the anguish and torments which for his sins he may justly fear: Graciously receive his soul in the hour of his departure: open the gate of heaven unto him, and give him a portion with thy Saints in glory, for thy own most glorious merit, O Lord jesus Christ, who with God the Father, and the holy Ghost, livest and reignest one God for evermore, Amen. And when the sick man's strength begins to fail, and the soul is ready to departed: then let the soul be commended to God by one of the bystanders on this manner. The Commendation of the soul to be said at a man's death. I Hear commend thee to Almighty God most dear brother, and I commit thee to him whose creature thou art. Go forth therefore O Christian soul, get thee gone out of this filthy world, go forth in the name of the Almighty Father who created thee, in the name of jesus Christ, who died for thee, in the name of the holy Ghost who hath been poured out upon thee: And when thou (happy soul) art delivered out of the prison of the body, the glorious choir of heavenly Angels meet thee, and the company of all holy Saints entertain thee: the loving countenance and cheerful face of jesus Christ shine upon thee, a merciful judge be he unto thee, that thou mayst have sentence to sit for ever amongst his Saints, on his right hand: thy dwellings be in peace, and thy salvation in the heavenly jerusalem for evermore, far be it from thee ever to feel or know how horrible the darkness, how terrible the flames, and how intolerable the torments of hell are, Satan and all his hellish guard be they confounded at thy presence, and if he dare set upon thee, victory and triumph be on thy side, shame and trembling fall upon him from the presence of God's Angels, and be he banished into the black mists, and confused chaos of eternal darkness. But let the Lord arise and let his enemies be scattered, and as the smoke vanisheth, so let them fly away. But let the just be exalted and rejoice in the presence of the Lord: let the infernal legions not dare to touch thee, nor all Satan's hellhounds presume to hinder thee, and he who disdained not to die for thee, be he thy Saviour and deliverer from all spiritual vexation. Be the gates of paradise open unto thee, & thy Christ give thee thy place and mansion in the same. And he that is the true Pastor, and great Shepherd of the Sheep acknowledge thee for one of his true Sheep, and receive thee into his fold, jesus Christ absolve thee from all thy sins, and place thee on his right hand among his elect, that there thou mayst see thy Redeemer face to face, & in the society of blessed said souls mayst enjoy the comforts of heavenly contemplation, and the blessed vision of God, for ever and ever. Amen. To the Reader. SEe, Christian brother, how in the worst times they were prepared to die, and commended to God: if the ancient books did not proclaim this truth, some would not believe but that they had been made in this latter time. But seeing the truth cannot be denied, I desire thee with me to observe these few collections arising out of due consideration of the premises. 1. Hear is answer to that great question, how our forefathers were saved, even 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 prevail against the true faith, for so we see that in the vilest times this Faith hath been preserved. 3. Observe 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 down of sending for a Priest to bring his Host, and his Pix, and his holy water, and his Taper: These matters, it seems, are rather commanded & pressed upon the people by the Romish Clergy▪ then much regarded by the wiser, and godlier sort of our forefathers: neither are they commanded to stay till the Priest come, but (saith the book) let these prayers be said, and the Commendation of his soul, by one of the bystanders. Lastly, let it be observed, that in all these prayers and commendations, and questions (and these saith the book are all that be of necessity to be said) here is not one smack of Popish idolarry, or superstition. In these respects I have thought it no needless labour to communicate these to thee (dear brother,) I know there be store of godly prayers and meditations already extant. But these are of a special use more than others and are venerable for their antiquity. And are to be the more welcome, because God preserved than in the hands of our very enemies. And though they were mingled with other things not so good, yet Hieronym. ad Laetum. Grandis prudentiae est aurum in luto quaerere. let us know as S. Hierome tells us, that it is no small point of wisdom, to seek out gold out of mire and clay. Make use of these, and help me with thy prayers, and thou shalt shortly (if God permit) be partaker of more. FINIS. TAM ROBUR. TAM ROBOR. NI-COLIS ARBOR JOVIS. 1610. printer's device of Nicholas Okes LONDON, Printed for Leonard Becket, and are to be sold at his Shop in the Temple near the Church, 1611.