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 time of extreame troubles, by reason of the tyrannie of strange and forraigne gouernours.

ETternall and euerlasting God, fa∣ther of our Lord Iesus Christ, thou that shewest mercie, and keepest co∣uenant with them that loue thee, and in reuerence keepe thy com∣mandments, euen when thou pow∣rest foorth thy hot displeasure, and iust iudgements vpon the obstinate and inobedient: we heere prostrate our selues before the throne of thy Maiestie, from our harts confessing, that iustlie thou dooest punish vs, by the tyrannie of strangers; and that more iustlie thou maist bring vp∣on vs againe, the bondage and the yoke, which of thy mercie, for a season, thou hast remoued. Our kings, princes and people, in blindnesse haue refused the word of thine eternall veritie; and in so dooing we haue re∣fused the league of thy mercie offered vnto vs againe, in such aboundance, that none can be excused by rea∣son of ignorance. Yet neuerthelesse, to the iudgement of men, impietie ouerfloweth the whole face of this Realme. For the great multitude delight themselues in ignorance and idolatrie. And such (alas) as appeere to reuerence and embrace thy word, doo not expresse the fruits of repentance, as it becommeth the people, to whome thou hast shewed thy selfe so mercifull and fauourable.

These are thy iust iudgements, O Lord, whereby thou punishest sinne by sinne, and man by his owne in∣iquitie; so that there can be no end of sinne, except thou preuent vs with thy vndeserued grace. Conuert vs therefore, O Lord, and we shall be conuerted. Suf∣fer not our vnthankefulnesse to procure, of thy most iust iudgments, that strangers againe haue empire a∣boue

vs; neither yet that the light of thy Gospell bee taken from vs: but howsoeuer it be, that the great multitude be altogether rebellious, and also that in vs there remaine perpetuall imperfections; yet for the glorie of thine owne name, and for the glorie of thine onlie begotten sonne Iesus Christ (whose truth and Gospell, thou of thy meere mercie hast manifested a∣mong vs) it will please thee, to take vs into thy pro∣tection and defence; that all the world may know, that as of thy mercie thou hast begun this worke of our sal∣uation, by the publishing and preaching of thy Gospell among vs; so of this same mercie, thou wilt continue it, maugre the heads of all our malicious enimies. Grant vs this, mercifull father, for Christ Iesus thy sonnes sake: So be it.