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 in time of anie plague or sicknesse, warre, penurie, orscarsenesse, &c.

O Eternall and euerliuing God, most mercifull father, which of thy great long suffering and patience, hast hi∣therto suffered and borne with vs, most miserable offenders, who haue so long straied out of thy waie, and broken all thy lawes and comman∣dements; and haue neither by thy manifold benefits bestowed vpon vs vnworthie and vnthankefull sinners; nor by the voice of thy seruants and preachers by continuall threatnings out of thy holie word hitherto bin moued, as the children of loue, to returne vnto thee our most gratious father; either for feare of thy iudgements, as humble and lowlie ser∣uants, to turne from our wickednesse. And therefore, most righteous iudge, thy patience being as it were ouercome at the last, with our obstinate repentance, thou hast most iustlie executed those thy terrible threats, now partlie vpon vs, by plaguing vs so with

most dreadfull and deadlie sicknesse, with troubles of warres, with penurie and scarsenesse of foode and victuall, whereby great multitudes of vs are dailie af∣flicted, and consumed.

We beseech thee, O most mercifull father, that in thy wrath thou wilt remember thine old great mer∣cies, & to correct vs in thy iudgements, and not in thy iust anger, least we be all consumed, and brought to naught. Looke not so much vpon our deseruings, O most righteous Iudge, to take iust vengeance on our sinnes; but rather remember thine infinit mercies, O most mercifull father, promised to vs by thy deerelie beloued sonne our Sauiour Iesus Christ; for whose sake, and in whose name, we doo earnestlie and humblie craue mercie, and forgiuenesse of our sinnes, and deli∣uerance from this horrible sicknesse, wars, dearth, &c. being thy iust punishment, and plague for the same. And as thy holie word doth testifie, that thy people of all ages, being iustlie plagued for their sinnes, and yet in their distresse, vnfeinedlie turning vnto thee, and su∣ing for thy mercie, obteined the same: so likewise we, most worthilie now afflicted with greeuous and dread∣full plagues for our iniquities, praie thee, O most mer∣cifull father, to grant vs thy heauenlie grace, that we may likewise both trulie and vnfeinedlie repent, and obtaine thy mercie and deliuerance, from the same; which we beseech thee, O father of all mercies, & God of all consolation, grant vs for the same Iesus Christs sake, our onlie sauiour, mediator, and aduocate,

Amen.