A monomachie of motiues in the mind of man: or a battell betweene vertues and vices of contrarie qualitie Wherein the imperfections and weaknesses of nature appeare so naked, that anie reasonable soule may soone see by what spirit he is lead: herevnto also, besides sundrie deuout praiers necessarilie interlaced, diuers golden sentences of S. Barnard are annexed: and also a briefe conclusion of his vpon this theame, that victorie is obtained by resisting temptation. Newlie englished by Abraham Fleming.

3 A praier against the former vice.

O Eternall God, Father of our Lord Iesus Christ, which seest our secret & hidden thoughts, and the issue of euerie enterprise, before we our selues are certaine to what end the same will growe; remooue from vs, we praie thee, all waiward∣nes, & malapert controlling of our brethren for their offences. And whereas our nature is stout, rebelli∣ous, and vnpatient of reproofe; in so much that oftentimes we spurne at them that admonish vs for our a∣mendment, and reward them, not onelie with counterchecks, but also with open wrong, & manifest abuse: as Ahab did Micah; Manasses E∣saie; Pashur Ieremie; Herod Iohn Baptist; and the Iewes Iesus: roote out of our harts, good Lord, that

wicked custome, and let vs not by refusing correction, double our of∣fence, and so make it the more o∣dious.

Furthermore, most mercifull Fa∣ther, indue vs with wisedome and discretion, that we may be led with the eies of vnderstanding; to iudge betwixt the sinner and his sinne, to obserue due time & season of repre∣hending, to be mild & gentle in re∣proouing such as be tractable, but sharpe & rigorous to the obstinate & wilfull: otherwise we shall little preuaile, in labouring to supplant iniquitie, and to reforme the trans∣gressor.

Teach vs the true vse of that wholsome counsell, ministred vnto vs by thy sonne Christ; namelie, that if our brother trespasse against vs, we go and tell him his fault pri∣uatelie, betweene him & vs; if that will doo no good toward the win∣ning of him home, then to put o∣ther meanes in practise, before we procure his open shame. This lesson

o Lord, giue vs grace to learne; and not onelie to learne, but also to re∣member; and not onlie to remem∣ber, but also to exercise and folowe: that the end of our labour bestow∣ed according to thy will, may tend to the glorie of thy most holie name, the safetie of repentant sin∣ners, & the discharge of our owne conscience, through Iesu Christ our onlie mediator & aduocate, Amen.