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 meditation of the trust which a Christian soule ought to haue in the passion of our Lord Iesu, with a thanks-giuing vnto God for the manifold benefits thereof.

I Might despaire verelie, because of my manifold sinnes and negligen∣ces without number; if it were not that thy word, O God, was made flesh, and dwelt amongst vs. But I can not, neither dare I now de∣spaire; because that seeing when we were enimies, we were reconciled by the death of thy Sonne, who being obedient vnto thee to the death, yea euen to the shamefull death of the Crosse, hath taken awaie the hand-writing of our

sinnes, and nailing the same to his crosse, hath cruci∣fied both sinne and death. How much more are we now reconciled, and saued by him? For all the hope, certitude, and surenesse of all my trust is in his preti∣ous bloud, which was shead for vs, and for our salua∣tion. In him doo I take hartening, and by meanes of him, who sitteth at the right hand of God, and sueth for vs, I looke backe with a carelesse eie; and now tru∣sting in him (in whome I am alreadie risen againe and receiued, alreadie mounted vp into heauen, and there doo sit among the Angels) I haue a desire to come vnto thee, not hauing mine owne righteousnesse, but that which I haue through the same thy Sonne our Lord Iesu Christ.

For the which, O most mercifull God, and most gentle louer of mankind, we giue thee thanks; who through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord, when we were not, didst mightilie make vs, and when we were lost through our sinnes, most maruellouslie didst deli∣uer and recouer vs againe. To thy goodnesse, I saie, doo I giue thanks, and manifold praises doo I shew foorth to thee with all my hart & mind, which through the vnspeakable loue (wherewith thou hast vouchsa∣fed of thy maruellous goodnesse to loue vs wretches, and vnworthie to be beloued) didst send the same thine onelie begotten Sonne from thy bosome, vnto our Common-weale, to saue vs sinners, which were at that time the children of perdition and damnation. I render vnto thee all possible thanks for his holie incar∣nation, and natiuitie, and for the blessed virgin Marie his mother, vpon whom he did vouchsafe to take flesh for vs, and for our saluation, to the intent that like as he is verie God of God, so he might be verie man of man. I giue thee condigne thanks for his passion and crosse; for his death and resurrection; for his ascen∣sion into heauen, and his seate of his Maiestie on thy

right hand. I giue thee thanks, I saie, for that most sa∣cred shedding foorth of his pretious bloud, wherewith we are redeemed; and also for the most holie and quic∣kening sacrifice of his blessed bodie & bloud, which this daie, and dailie in thy Church we feed of, and drinke of, wherewith also we are washed, cleansed, and sancti∣fied, & are made partakers of the onelie high diuinitie. Finallie, I giue thee thanks for the maruellous and vnspeakable charitie and loue, wherewith thou didst loue vs vnwoorthie persons, and didst saue vs by thine onelie and beloued sonne. For so thou didst loue the world, that thou gauest thine onlie begotten sonne, to the intent that none, which trulie beleeue in him shuld perish, but haue euerlasting life. And this thing verilie is euerlasting life, to knowe thee, and also Iesus Christ whom thou hast sent, to be verie God, by an vpright faith, and works woorthie for such a faith. Wherefore with all my hart and mouth I doo confesse, praise, and blesse thee, O God the father vnbegotten, and thee O God the sonne onlie begotten; also thee O holie Ghost and comforter. To thee O blessed trinitie be all glorie, and praise, & thanks, togither with all power, domini∣on, and might, in the world of worlds for euer,

Amen.