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
Cite this Item
"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 21, 2025.

Pages

How the soule should rightlie worship and praise the Lord in all places.

O GOD, the true and the souereigne life; of whom, & in whom all things doo liue, whatsoeuer things doo liue trulie, and in happie state. O God, euen goodnesse and goodlinesse, from whom, through whom, & in whom are all good & goodlie things, which art good and goodlie. God, whose faith quickeneth, hope erecteth, and loue linketh vs. God, who hast commanded vs to praie vnto thee, and makest thy selfe to be found, and openest to him which knocketh. God, whom none seeketh, but the admoni∣shed;

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and no man findeth, but the purged. God, whom to knowe is life; whom to serue, is to reigne; & whom to loue, is the saluation and ioie of the soule. Thee, both with my lips, and with mine hart, and with all my strength I doo praise, blesse and worship. To thy clemencie and goodnesse I doo yeeld humble thanks, for all thy benefits; and to thy Maiestie doo I sing, holie, holie, holie.

O blessed Trinitie, I beseech thee, vouchsafe to come vnto me, and to make me a meet temple for thine holi∣nesse. I doo praie the Father, through the Sonne; I praie the Sonne, through the Father; I praie the ho∣lie Spirit, by the Father and the Sonne; that all wic∣kednesse may be set far awaie from me, and that all the holie vertues may be implanted within me.

O infinite God, of whom, through whom, and in whom are all things made, both visible, and inuisible; which inclosest thine outward works, and fillest thine inward; gouernest them aboue, and bearest them be∣lowe; keepe me the worke of thine hands, which trust in thee, and hope onlie in thy mercie. Keepe me, I be∣seech thee, both here and euerie-where; now and al∣waie; within and without; before and behind; aboue and beneath; round about: so that there be no place for the snares of the enimie against me.

Thou art God almightie, keeper and protector of all that trust in thee; without whom none is in safetie, no man is free from danger. Thou art God, and beside thee there is none other, either in heauen aboue, or in earth belowe; which doost great things, and vnsearch∣able, and maruellous things without number. Meete it is therefore that thou be praised, that thou be hono∣red, that thou be magnified with commendations.

To thee, the whole troupe of Angels; to thee the heauens and the powers doo sing, and continuallie yeeld praises, as creatures to their Creator; seruants

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to their Lord, souldiers to their King. Euerie creature doth extoll, and euerie soule doth glorifie thee the holie and vndefiled Trinitie. To thee the holie and humble men of hart, to thee the spirits and soules of the righ∣teous, to thee doo all the supernall citizens, together with all the orders of blessed spirits yeeld humble praise and glorie, and exalt thee aboue all things for euer. O Lord, gloriouslie and honourablie doo those heauenlie citizens adorne thee with praises. Man al∣so, the most excellent among thy creatures, doth mag∣nifie thee: yea, and I too, a miserable sinner, doo excee∣dinglie desire to praise thee; and greatlie doo I loue to loue thee aboue all things.

O my God, my life, my strength, and my praise; giue me grace to praise thee. Put thy light in my hart, and thy word into my mouth; that both my hart may thinke vpon thy glorie, and my tongue sing and speake out thy praises euerie daie. But for as much as praise is not seemelie in the mouth of a sinner, and I am a woman of polluted lips; purge mine hart, I beseech thee, from all iniquitie; sanctifie me both within and without, O almightie sanctifier, and make me worthie to sound foorth thy praise. Receiue in good part, from the hand of the hart, and from the loue of the mind; re∣ceiue, I praie thee, the sacrifice of my lips; and let it be acceptable in thy sight, and ascend vp vnto thee, like a sweete smelling sauour,

Amen.
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