The monument of matrones conteining seuen seuerall lamps of virginitie, or distinct treatises; whereof the first fiue concerne praier and meditation: the other two last, precepts and examples, as the woorthie works partlie of men, partlie of women; compiled for the necessarie vse of both sexes out of the sacred Scriptures, and other approoued authors, by Thomas Bentley of Graies Inne student.

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Title
The monument of matrones conteining seuen seuerall lamps of virginitie, or distinct treatises; whereof the first fiue concerne praier and meditation: the other two last, precepts and examples, as the woorthie works partlie of men, partlie of women; compiled for the necessarie vse of both sexes out of the sacred Scriptures, and other approoued authors, by Thomas Bentley of Graies Inne student.
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[London] :: Printed by H. Denham,
[1582]
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Subject terms
Prayers.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A08610.0001.001
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"The monument of matrones conteining seuen seuerall lamps of virginitie, or distinct treatises; whereof the first fiue concerne praier and meditation: the other two last, precepts and examples, as the woorthie works partlie of men, partlie of women; compiled for the necessarie vse of both sexes out of the sacred Scriptures, and other approoued authors, by Thomas Bentley of Graies Inne student." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A08610.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 23, 2025.

Pages

The praier and thankesgiuing of Sarra Tobits wife, which in hir vir∣ginitie, with fasting and weeping for the space of three daies and three nights, she made to be deliuered from the shame and re∣proch, wherewith hir fathers maids vpbraided hir.

Tobit. 3, 11.

BLessed art thou, O Lord my God: and thine holie and glorious name is blessed and ho∣nourable for euer. Let all thy works praise thee for euer, O God of our fathers, which when thou art wroth shewest mercie: and in the time of trouble thou forgiuest the sinnes of them that call vpon thee. Unto thee, O Lord, turne I now my face: vnto thee lift I vp mine eies, and [saie,] I beseech thee,

Page 40

O Lord, loose me out of the bonds of this rebuke, or else take me vtterlie awaie from out of the earth, that I may heare no more anie reproch. Thou knowest, O Lord [minc innocencie,] that I neuer had desire vnto man, and that I haue kept my soule cleane from all vncleanlie lusts. Thou knowest, O Lord, [I say,] that I am pure from all sinne with man, and that I haue ne∣uer polluted my name, nor the name of my father in the land of my captiuitie. I haue not kept companie with those that passe their time in sport: neither haue I made my selfe partaker with them that walke in light behauiour. I am the onelie daughter of my fa∣ther, neither hath he anie man child to be his heire, neither anie neere kinsman or child borne of him, to whom I may keepe my selfe for a wife. An husband haue I consented to take, not for my pleasure, but in thy feare: and my seuen husbands are now dead, [one after another,] and why should I liue [to endure so great re∣proch, as to be counted a murtherer of my husbands? Now] per∣aduenture, either I haue beene vnwoorthie of them, or else were they vnmeete for me. But if it please not thee that I should die, [as I desire:] for thou happilie hast kept me to another husband, command [then] to looke on me, & to pitie me, that I doo no more heare reproch. For why, thy counsell is not in the power of man: but euerie one that serueth thee, is sure of this, that if his life be in trieng, he shall be crowned: and if he be in trouble, that God no doubt shall deliuer him: & if his life be in chastening, that he shall haue leaue to come vnto thy mercie. For thou hast no pleasure in our dam∣nation. And why? After a storme thou makest the weather faire and still: after weeping and heauinesse thou giuest great ioie. Thy name, O God of Israel, be praised for euer, Amen.

And at the same time were hir praiers heard before the maiestie of the great God.

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