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 to be vsed at your first comming into the Church, for a pure and cleane soule.

SEeing that by the good motion and happie conduction of thy holy spirit, O gratious God, I am now entred into this thy holy house the Church, and most sacred place on earth, to worship thee; and forasmuch as ho∣lines apperteineth to thee, O Lord; for thou art holie, and nothing vn∣holie may appeare before thee: graunt that both now at this present, and so oft heereafter as I shall enter into this holie place and Tabernacle of the congre∣gation, and appeare before thee; I may be throughlie sanctified, both bodilie and ghostlie, by the diuine gra∣ces of thy spirit, the better therein to serue and wor∣ship thee. The which thing that I may euen now this daie, the better accomplish and doo, according to thy will (as I hartilie desire) and to the glorie of thy name, and the full discharge of my christian dutie: I most entirelie beseech thy Maiestie, first to sanctifie, purifie, cleanse, make happie, and keepe holie my wret∣ched soule and sinfull bodie; the posts whereof, deere father, are sprinkled with the pretious bloud of thy deere Sonne, who most deerelie bought them. O com∣fortable ghest of the soule, leaue not our houses deso∣late; cease not to fill vs by thy continuall presence, with thy life and righteousnesse. Dresse, cleanse, and sweepe the foreletten cottage once againe I saie, good Lord, with the beesome of thy celestiall grace, and hea∣uenlie felicitie, from all the pollution and filth of sinne and wickednesse. Once againe, O Christ, vouchsafe to cast out of the house of my soule, that vncleane spirit, and foule feend Sathan, mine old ghest and enimie, with the finger of God; and when he is cast out of me,

giue me grace to watch still continuallie, by hartie and earnest praier, that he enter not againe into me. For being once mine old ghest, he knoweth euerie hole and corner of my house. Therefore grant me grace to watch continuallie, I saie, O Lord, by feruent praier, and vertuous works proceeding from a firme faith; least he returne into the house, from whence hee was cast out, and finding it emptie, swept, and garnished, he go and take vnto himselfe seuen other foule spirits, worsse than himselfe, and they enter in also, and dwell there with him, and so mine end be woorsse than my beginning; which God forbid. Oh suffer not the holie house, Lord, of thy Diuinitie, and Temple of the holie Ghost, my bodie and soule I meane, cleansed with thy bloud, and decked with thy righteousnesse, to bee by my mortall enimies defiled, spoiled, or made a cage of vncleane birds, a dungeon of diuels, a den of theeues, a hell of wicked spirits, and a sinke of sinne, through de∣lectation in sinne, and infidelitie. Withdrawe not thy hand from me: let me not returne vnto my vomit like the dog: let not mine end be worse than my beginning, as hapned to Caine, Saule, Iudas, Arius, and manie mo. But as by thy great mercie, my body and soule are made the temple & tabernacle of y^e holie spirit: so by the same thy rich mercie, & infinite goodnes, grant that the same may now become thy holie habitation, & sacred seate of euerlasting glorie; and so be purified, cleansed, throughlie sanctified, and made cleane by thy diuine in∣spiration, and gratious presence: that no heapes of soile, dregs of dust, or remnants of filth be to be found in any priuie or secret corner of this thy spiritual temple, to offend y^e celestiall eies of thy diuine maiestie, so shall thy holie Hall, which is my clensed soule, in all reue∣rence, deuotion, & godlie worship, this daie and euer re∣sound in the Church, & all places of thy dominion, with thy perpetuall praises, to thine eternall glorie,

Amen.