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.

Another praier verie effectuall to be vsed vpon the Lords Sundaie, or other holie or festiuall daies.

SEing that the verie solemne times & festiuall holidaies doo vndoubted∣lie greatlie renew the reioicing of the godlie: yea, & that more is, with a certaine heape, as a man would saie, doo maruelouslie augment and increase their spirituall ioie in thee O most holie Lord God of Saboth, and make it greater than it was. For they are kept to continue, and stir vs vp vnto the remembrance and re∣counting of thy woonderfull acts, things, and mira∣cles wrought and done by thine almightie Maiestie, for the conseruation, and saluation of mankind: and by

that occasion, doo exceedinglie cheere vp and fill the harts of the godlie with spirituall ioies in thee.

Moreouer, bicause good exercises are to be renewed often; but especiallie vpon the Sundaie and holie daies, as though at that time we were departing out of this life, and going to the euerlasting holie daies of spirituall rest, and continuall ioie; and therefore ought we at that time especiallie to prepare our selues with carefulnes; & to shew our selues more godlie, and to doo thy cōmandements more straightlie, as they y^t shall re∣ceiue reward of our trauels at thy hand ere it be long.

Behold, I thy sillie creature, desirous to keepe the godlie rest of the new Saboth, better than hitherto I haue done, (for which, as for all other my defaults I crie thee hartilie mercie) doo now therefore most hum∣blie beseech thee, O holie Father, to powre plentiouslie vpon me thy blessed spirit; through whose diuine pow∣er, vertue and grace, I may this daie be throughlie sanctified, clensed, dedicated, and prepared both bodilie and ghostlie, perfectlie to serue and worship thee, accor∣ding to thy will.

O holie God, which hast commanded vs to sanctifie our selues, and to be holie, as thou art; grant me grace with S. Iohn to be in the spirit on the Sundaie: and this daie to be holie with them that be holie, and alto∣gither giuen to serue & please thee in spirit and truth, as becommeth the true worshippers of thee.

Make thou me this daie to refraine my selfe from dooing anie bodilie labour, or seruile worke; and vtter∣lie to forbeare all maner of vngodlinesse displeasant vnto thee: as namelie, not to abuse or mispend this holie daie in pranking, packing, priinting, pointing, frisling, or vaine attiring of my selfe to be gorgious and gaie, and to prance in pride: neither yet in vnlaw∣full plaies, idle sports, games, Ethnicall pastimes, fea∣sting, banketting, bellie-cheere, gluttonie, riot, excesse,

chambering, wantonnes, nicenesse, contention, pride, couetousnesse, or in anie other fleshlie filthinesse, and vaine pleasures of this transitorie world; but contra∣riwise, to occupie and giue my selfe obedientlie vnto the vertuous works, and holie exercises of thy diuine precepts; namelie, vnto the expending of the spiritu∣all rest, and euerlasting repose of all Christian soules in heauen, vnto the meditation of thy woonderfull works, and vnspeakable benefits, which thou, O God, continuallie bestowest vpon thy Church, and to bee thankefull for the same: to studie the Scriptures, to heare and reade thy sacred word, and followe the same: to call vpon thee by ardent praier, with hartie thankesgiuing, for all thy mercies: to exercise thy holie Sacraments, and to comfort and giue almes gladlie according to mine abilitie, to the releefe of the poore, and comfort of the needie.

Make me (I saie) O Lord, with holie Dauid, both most willing and glad this daie to go foorth with my whole familie, and the multitude, into thy house and temple, in the voice of praise and thankes-giuing, a∣mong such as keepe it holiedaie vnto thee, and at all seasons by common order appointed, diligentlie to fre∣quent the populous resort and Christian assemblie of the congregation in the Church, and to be present with other thy people often in that most sacred place on earth; at the most holie, and alwaies to thee, O God, most acceptable sacrifice of praise, inuocation, di∣uine worship, giuing of thanks, singing of hymnes, hearing of thy word, vsing of thy holie Sacraments, praiers, intercessions, and supplications; which at the comming together of the whole congregation, is vsed ordinarilie to be made vnto thee in the Church, with verie great ceremonie and reuerence: that thus being free from the trauels and drudgerie of this world, and by thy grace cleansed from all mine owne carnall

affections, and wholie giuen ouer to serue and sancti∣fie thee in true rest and spirituall ease, as also to be∣stowe, consecrate, and hallowe this thy sacred Sab∣both or Sundaie, with all other festiuall holie daies, most glorious vnto thee, in all holie and spirituall exer∣cises of a faithfull and obedient Christian, according to thy will, I may euen heere in this vale of teares, a∣midst all my miseries, be thereby occasioned with cheerefull hart, both outwardlie and inwardlie, excee∣dinglie to reioice and trust in thee my most mercifull God and louing sauiour, and after this transitorie life ended, be worthie, happilie to enter into thy holie Mountaine, the Tabernacle of thine elect, and king∣dome of euerlasting blessednesse; where the soules of all holie folke doo rest, and there with them to be par∣taker of perfect holinesse, and of the vnspeakable bene∣fit of the wished wealefull rest, and eternall endlesse ioie of ioies, in the Paradise of God; to see, loue, and praise thee most ioifullie in happie mirth for euer and euer, through Iesus Christ our Lord: to whome with thee O Father, and the holie Ghost, be immortall glo∣rie, infinite power, euerlasting kingdome, perpetuall praise, and continual thanks-giuing, by all creatures, through all ages & worlds, world without end,

Amen.

See more for Sundaie afterward.