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.

A praier for patience in trouble, and meekelie to suffer aduersitie.

GRatious Lord, and omnipotent God, whose mercie is euerlasting and infinite, bowe downe thine eare, and harken vnto this my praier, which I make before thy diuine Ma∣iestie,

most humblie beseeching thee, of thine accusto∣med goodnesse, to indue me with the works of mercie, and deedes of charitie; and aboue all things to giue me patience in aduersitie, meekelie to suffer, and pati∣entlie to take, whatsoeuer it shall please thee to laie vpon me, and neuer to murmur or to grudge thereat, but alwaies to thinke thy louing and gentle correction to be much lesse, than the deserts of my great and ma∣nifold offences.

Againe, if I be not vnder correction, then am I not thy child. For what father is he, who correcteth not his children, whome he most intirelie loueth? This then is an euident token that thou louest vs, when as thou correctest vs. For as the scripture saith, Whome God loueth, him he chasteneth. Thou seest all things, thou vnderstandest and knowest all things; so that not so much as one little sparowe lighteth vpon the ground, without thy knowledge: yea our verie thoughts are foreknowne vnto thee. Thou disposest and orderest all things, as seemeth best to thy holie will and pleasure. By thy helpe I may doo all things; without thee I can doo nothing. When thou powrest vpon vs thy crea∣tures, thy good gifts and benefits: when thou besto∣west vpon vs prosperitie, health, wealth, and such like, thou dooest it to this intent, that we acknowledging the same, should thereby be incouraged to serue, ho∣nour, and humblie obeie thee, and alwaies praise and magnifie thy glorious name. Contrariwise, when thou strikest vs with thy rod of correction, as plaging vs with great mortalitie; suffering our enimies to in∣uade vs; robbers for to spoile vs; pouertie to oppresse vs; or fire to consume those things which thou hast lent vs, for the maintenance of our bodies in this mor∣tall life: thou doest it to put vs in mind, that we haue transgressed thy commandements, that we haue not harkned vnto thee, neither done that which is accep∣table

in thy sight, but willinglie falling into the puddle of sin, and following our owne appetites, haue prouo∣ked thy iust wrath and indignation against vs.

Thus thou dealest with vs, O Lord, to the intent that we suffering bodilie punishment, and feeling the smart of the same, may thereby be admonished of our dutie, and with true compunction of hart, desire to be released from thy scourges, which we haue deserued, and worthilie receiue: and then acknowledge our selues to be lost children, and straieng sheepe, may both see and be ashamed of our vnbrideled affections and wilfulnesse, which haue brought vs to calamitie and miserie, and with the true penitent to saie:

We are not worthie (most mercifull Father) to lift vp our eies or voice vnto thee, for our manifold sins and wickednesse. Neuerthelesse, presuming vpon thine aboundant mercie (who refusest none that doo call vp∣pon thee) most lamentablie we doo crie, Haue mercie vpon vs O Lord, haue mercie vpon vs miserable sin∣ners, being now greeuouslie afflicted with the burden of punishment and affliction, which thou hast laid vp∣on vs. Put thou therefore awaie displeasure concei∣ued against vs thy poore creatures, and grant vs, that beeing warned by this, we may euer heereafter serue thee in newnesse of life, and neuer commit anie thing which shall displease or offend thee.

This O heauenlie father, I acknowledge to be our dutie. But though I, for my part, haue not performed the same, as I ought to doo; yet I beseech thine inesti∣mable goodnesse, not to execute the rigour of thy iu∣stice vpon me: but to state thine hand, and before thou giue me anie greater wound, to behold my humilitie and repentance, which being not able to recompense and satisfie the trespasses, which I against thee haue committed; doo offer vnto thee (according as the poore widowe did) all that which I am able to giue, that

is, a sorowfull contrition of hart for my former offen∣ces done and passed.

Thy iustice, as it is right; so is it rigorous to sin∣ners. Thou art so gealous, and so much doest detest sin, that thou sparest not to punish thy verie elect and cho∣sen seruants, when as they fall into it. Who was more acceptable in thy sight, than that holie Prophet King Dauid, of whome thou thy selfe didst saie, I haue found a man according to mine owne hart, euen Da∣uid my seruant: yet neuerthelesse, diuers and sundrie waies didst thou punish him, when that he had swar∣ued from thy testimonies. Thou sufferedst him to be molested with the insurrection of his owne sonne; thou didst send the prophet vnto him, to offer him the choice of plagues which thou wouldest send vpon him, for his wicked liuing: but when he with sorowfull sighes, and trickling teares turned vnto thee, confessing his fault, crauing pardon, and promising amendment of life, thou forgatest thine anger, and forgauest his offence.

Other of thy chosen vessels thou hast permitted to be greeuouslie tormented, & vexed by sundrie troubles and aduersities, onlie to trie their faith and stedfast∣nesse towards thee. As thou didst suffer that patient man Iob, to be most cruellie intreated by that enimie of all mankind, to haue his houses burned and spoi∣led, his cattell taken awaie, his seruants driuen into bondage, his children to be slaine, his owne bodie to be afflicted with most loathsome diseases, plagues and sores. And all this thou didst not for anie euill deede of his, but to shewe thine omnipotencie and po∣wer. For when thou hadst tried him to the vtmost, and found that his enimie the diuell could not pre∣uaile against him, or by anie paine and greefe cause him to blaspheame and speake euill of thee, thou diddest reduce him to health, thou diddest enrich him againe, thou diddest restore vnto him againe his

children, friends, familie, and all his goods, with much more than euer he before possessed: shewing most ma∣nifestlie, that thou wilt reward them most plenti∣ouslie, which do loue thee, folowe and obserue thy com∣mandements.

Wherefore I beseech thee to giue me grace, that whatsoeuer waie it shall please thee to visit me with thy punishment, I may take it patientlie, and saie with patient Iob; Naked came I into this world, and naked shall I returne to the earth againe: the Lord giueth, the Lord taketh awaie, euen as it plea∣seth the Lord, so be it. Suffer me not to despaire, or to thinke that thou dealest vniustlie with me, but to saie; Shall I receiue prosperitie at the Lords hand, and not to be content with aduersitie? And alwaie to thinke vpon this, Happie are they whome thou doest punish. For though thou make a wound, thou also gi∣uest a plaister: though thou smitest, thy hand maketh whole againe. Mine iniquitie is great, but be thou merciful vnto my wickednes. O deliuer me from thine anger, and presse me not further than I shall be able to beare. But now that I acknowledge that whatsoe∣uer trouble thou hast sent me, or wilt laie vpon me, is either for the punishment of mine iniquitie, or for the triall of my constancie, I may with repentant Dauid find remission of my sins, and with patient Iob, re∣lease of mine aduersitie, and obtaine such fauour in thy sight, that thou neuer againe so greeuouslie punish me; but that I may so passe this life, that I may af∣terward liue with thee, to whome be honour and glo∣rie for euer and euer,

Amen.