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.

ALmightie God mercifull Father, who in thy holie word hast promised to heare the praiers of thy people, which they shall make in this place of thy holie temple: behold now that thou hast shut vp heauen, and there is no raine giuen vnto the earth, but a drought doth vtterlie destroie the fruites of the earth, for our sinnes and iniquities; we come vnto thee, and confesse our sinnes, where∣with we haue prouoked thee thus to anger against vs, and thy creatures, for our sakes. We, I saie, whome thou dooest iustlie thus afflict with drought and bar∣rennesse

of the earth, returne vnto thee with all our harts, in fasting, weeping, and mourning, beseeching thee, by hartie and earnest praier, to haue mercie vpon vs, and deale not with vs as we haue righteouslie de∣serued. Heare thou now in heauen, and pardon the sinnes of thy seruants, and giue raine vnto the land, that thou hast giuen the people to inhabit. Heare, O Lord, I saie, the crie of man and beast, and open the treasures of the heauens, and giue vnto vs moderate showres to water the earth, that our cattell may bee satisfied, and our drought ceasse. Oh Lord hast thou vt∣terlie reiected vs, or doth thy soule abhorre thy people for euer, that thou hast so long plagued vs with drought and want of water? Our iniquities in deede testifie against vs, and our rebellions are more than can be numbred. For we haue sinned against heauen, and against thee, and haue beene verie noisome to the earth, and all thy creatures therin. But, O Lord, thou hope of Israel, thou comfort, helpe and sauiour of all that are in trouble; haue mercie vpon vs, haue mer∣cie vpon vs; and doo not abhorre vs, nor cast vs off for euer. O Lord, are there anie among the gods of the Gentiles, that can send raine? Or can the heauens of themselues giue showres to the earth? Is it not onlie thou, O Lord our God, which hast made heauen and earth, and dooest all things by thy mightie power that must doo it? O saue the people therefore that call vpon thee. O let the daie come, wherein thou wilt vouchsafe to heare vs, O Lord; when I saie thou wilt heare the heauens, and the heauens may heare the earth, & the earth heare the corne, and the wine, and the oile, and they all heare one another, and thou heare Israel, that thou maist haue mercie vpon vs, and cause to come downe for vs the raine, euen the first raine, and the latter raine, in the first and second moneths, in due sea∣sons vpon the earth, that our barns may be full of

wheate, and our presses abound with wine and oile, & our cattell serue to labour by thy blessing, & that both man & beast may cease their mourning, and haue cause to reioice in thy mercie. Graunt vs this, O father, for Iesus Christs sake, our onlie mediator and aduocate, to whome with thee, and the holie Ghost, be all honor and glorie, now and for euer,

Amen.