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.

Ghostlie Meditations, with the which it is meete for vs Christians to occupie our selues once in the daie, or at the least (for those, whose leasure will not serue) once in the weeke, and that euerie Sundaie and holie daie: which the Author found in an old and ancient written copie: & for the excellent matter therin conteind, hath thought it good now to publish it, to the glorie of God, and profit of his Church.

FIrst, let vs call to our memorie the bountifull goodnesse of almigh∣tie GOD, extended towards vs in the creation of the firmament, the earth, the sea, and all that therein is conteined; which he hath made for our onelie comfort, and the ser∣uice of vs. And let vs here with also consider the greatnesse and omnipotencie of his pow∣er, which was able with his word onlie of nothing to make althings, & those so wonderfull works, that they are not able to be comprehended within the compasse of mans reason. Call we also to mind the vnsearcha∣blenesse of his diuine wisedome, through which in so goodlie order continuallie he both can, & doth conserue all those things: and lastlie, let vs not forget his in∣comparable loue towards vs, who of his onlie meere goodnesse, without anie part of ablenesse of our de∣serts, hath prouided all these things for our vse: and not onlie that; but hath moreouer made vs of capaci∣tie and vnderstanding to discusse, and knowe how to vse the same, for the seruing of our necessities, as the diuersitie of times and occasion requireth. Let vs not

therefore shew our selues vnto him vnthankfull.

Nextlie, let vs call to mind from how sundrie perils, as well ghostle as bodilie, he hath and dooth from time to time preserue vs: namelie, from perils on the land, perils by water, perils of fire, perils through sicknes, from imprisonment, from open shame, from slanders, from extreme beggerie, from famine, from pestilence, and other horrible diseases; from sudden and shame∣full death, and sundrie other mischiefes, which we may vnderstand to haue happened, and dailie doo perceiue to happen vnto others; which should in like sort haue happened vnto vs, if through his mercifull goodnesse we had not beene therefrom preserued: and herewith let vs also call vnto mind, our health, our wealth, and all other Gods good gifts, which he hath lent vnto vs, and render vnto him most humble thanks therefore.

Also, let vs thinke how he hath made vs of no vile sort nor condition; but euen vnto his owne likenesse, indued with the most pretious gifts of reason, vnder∣standing, memorie and will; which noble gifts he hath giuen vs, to the intent we should with these honour him accordinglie: which if we doo not; but doo abuse the same, to worldlie, vaine, and fantasticall delights; we may then assure our selues, not onelie to make a straight account thereof; but also to be most greeuou∣slie punished therefore.

Moreouer, let vs call to mind how mercifull, and like a most louing Maister and Sauior, Christ the Sonne of God, and second person in Trinitie, Lord and king ouer all rule and power, descended downe from the bo∣some of his Father, and from his heauenlie throne in∣to this miserable world, and here tooke vpon him our fraile flesh; suffering in the same by the space of three and thirtie yeeres, hunger, thirst, cold, watch, pouertie, euil report, hatred, disdaine, slanders, rebukes, checks, taunts, scornes, buffets, binding, beating, whipping,

wrongfull accusation, false condemnation; yea, and at the last, most vile, spitefull, cruell, and shamefull death; and that innocentlie and giltlesse, thereby to deliuer vs from our gilt, and the eternall death, which all we, by the transgression of our first parent Adam, had most iustlie deserued. And herewith let vs also thinke what reproch & shame it is to vs, to repine or grudge to suffer the like for his sake: sith he being both our Lord and Maister, of the singular loue he did beare vnto vs, hath suffered all those for our sakes: should not we then, being but seruants (or rather vile slaues in respect of him) disdaine or repine at that, which he, not onelie our Maister; but King ouer all kings hath not disdained to suffer?

Also, let vs consider how that by the merits of his most bitter passion, and his grace giuen vnto vs in the Sacrament of baptisme, he hath forgiuen vs, cleerelie clensed vs, and vtterlie discharged vs of all our former sinnes. Herevpon, let vs call to mind, how oft since that time we haue offended him, by falling againe into deadlie sinne; & therewith let vs call to remembrance the particularitie of our offences, the greeuousnesse of the same, how long we haue continued in them with∣out repentance taken for them: and then let vs weigh the abundance of his great mercie; first, how gratiou∣slie he hath abidden the time of our repentance; how readie he hath beene to forgiue vs vpon due repen∣tance taken, and perfect confession without dissimula∣tion made thereof vnto him.

Remember we also, how lewdlie, how wickedlie, and how sinfullie we haue bestowed the short time, which God hath here in this world lent vnto vs, to fight and warre continuallie against our most mortall aduersa∣ries, the world, the flesh, and the diuell, which trauell without ceassing to worke our euerlasting destru∣ction, and to bring vs to euerlasting death; and to bee∣reue

vs from the life eternall, & ioies endlesse. Thinke we also, if God of his great mercie had not gratiouslie spared vs life, vntill we had repented that wickednes; in what wretched condition, and most extreme tor∣ments of hell paines, had we beene in now; and so should haue continued for euer world without end? But how deere then should those short pleasures and vaine delights of the flesh haue beene vnto vs?

Let vs also call to mind the houre of death, the vn∣certeintie of the time thereof, and that we knowe not when where, or in what maner it shall be: but like as we are most certeine we can not escape it; so are wee as sure, if we happen then to depart this life in dead∣lie sinne, that we shall then not onelie die the bodilie death; but also the spirituall death, which is eternall death both of bodie and soule. Let vs therefore ende∣uour our selues, so to liue, as though euerie houre should be vnto vs the last houre; and by that meanes we shall not be vnreadie, how suddenlie soeuer death shall steale vpon vs, nor yet shall we feare his cōming.

Furthermore, let vs thinke what shall become of our wretched bodies, and vile carcases, which we haue sought by all meanes to pamper; whose ease wee haue so much procured; which we haue so delicatelie nouri∣shed; which we haue so finelie araied; whose vaine pleasures we haue so much followed: doubtlesse, it shall then become an abhominable stinking carion; from which, those which be now our most deerest friends shall be forced to turne awaie their heads, stopping of their noses, for the verie noisomnesse of the corrupt sauour and euill stinch thereof.

Let vs also consider, what shall then auaile vs for our possessions and riches, which we haue sought for so busilie, and so greedilie to heape togither. We must then leaue behind vs, and of them shall carie awaie no∣thing with vs, sauing a heauie burden of conscience of

such part of them, which we doo vnlawfullie possesse, wrongfullie withhold, or else haue euill gotten.

Let vs then weigh, what shall become of our soule, when it shall leaue the bodie to rot in the earth, and it selfe shall be called into iudgement before the high Iudge, where it shall be forced to make a streight ac∣count of all works, words, and thoughts. Where it shall be able to conceale nothing; but the verie secrets of all our dooings shall then be made open: and that which here we be ashamed to confesse; shall then be manifest; and the booke shall be opened, in which all our deeds and thoughts shall be rehearsed, before the whole companie of heauen, and then shall be said to euerie one of vs: Behold this man and his works: then shall our conscience accuse vs, all our euill deeds as witnesses shall come in against vs. The diuell shall be there readie to drawe vs with him into eternall perdition, and with the terriblenesse of his counte∣nance shall put vs in horrible feare. Then shall we tremble and quake, and desire to haue respite for the amendement of our former wicked life, and to repent vs of our sinfull liuing: but then in no wise it may bee granted vs, for asmuch as then mercie must giue place to iustice. Let vs now therefore, while God doth lend vs time, repent in time; which if we doo vnfeinedlie, then may we assure our selues to receiue mercie and forgiuenesse of God: for asmuch as he willeth not the death of a sinner, but rather that he should conuert and liue.

Then, let vs also weigh with our selues, what a noble thing our soule is, & how greeuous hir wounds were: for the curing of the which, our Sauiour Christ was of necessitie wounded. Yea, if those had not beene vnto death, and that death eternall, the sonne of God should neuer haue suffered. Shall we then lightlie esteeme of the losse of the soule, vnto whom we may perceiue so

much compassion to be shewed of so great a Maiestie? Then sith he hath shed his teares for vs, let vs like∣wise nightlie wash our beds with cōpunction of hart, and continuall teares, for verie heauinesse that wee haue so greeuouslie offended so louing a Maister. And sith he hath shed his pretious bloud for vs, shed we ours also in a sort: that is to saie, with dailie affliction, and mortifieng of our bodies. And let vs not haue re∣gard what the flesh desireth, but what is most conue∣nient for our soules health. For then shall our soules be glorious, when they shall returne to our Lord God by true repentance and penitence.

Let vs then call to remembrance the louers of this world, that were here among vs not long agone, what is now become of them: and that nothing remaineth of them but dust and woormes. They haue beene men as we are: they solicited and vsed all kind of mirth; they banketed; they were gorgiouslie apparelled, they were verie pleasant, and led their daies in all worldlie delights: but suddenlie, and as it were in the midst of their iolitie, death arested them, & caried them downe into hell. Here the flesh of them is appointed to feede the woormes; and there their soules be euermore tor∣mented in the vnquenchable flame of hell fire, where now they find no profit of all those fleshlie pleasures, worldlie reioicings, and euill concupiscence. And for so short and vaine pleasures, what continuall torment and miserie doo they now endure: where they neuer see light; neuer receiue ease of their paine, nor comfort of their heauinesse: where the fire continuallie burneth them, and yet neuer consumeth them; nor by his long burning leeseth anie part of his heate? Where the woorms doo gnawe their conscience; where the diuels, which are their tormentors, waxe neuer wearie in tormenting of them, or take anie pitie on them, nor will be intreated to mitigate anie part of their tor∣ment.

Where nothing shall be heard; but weeping, la∣mentation, groning, and wofull criengs. Where they shall sauour and smell nothing; but horrible stinch and corrupt aire. Where they shall see nothing; but the monstrous shape of the horible tormentors the diuels. Wherefore, let vs now aduise our selues, whether in folowing of the vaine worldlie pleasures, we will giue our soules in like sort to be eternallie tormented; or else in refusing them, for the little times of paines we shall here suffer, to reioice with Christ, and to be blessed Saints in heauen for euer. For whilest we are here in this world, God dooth set before vs both fire and wa∣ter; that is to saie, saluation and damnation; that vn∣to which we will we may stretch our hands.

Let vs lastlie consider what comfort it is, and shall be to all saued soules to see God, and the brightnesse of his face; to liue with God, to possesse God, which is high and perfect goodnesse; and where the perfect good∣nesse is, there is the highest, and most perfect felicitie; there is the chiefe and perfect charitie; eternall sure∣tie, and sure eternitie; true gladnesse; full knowledge; all beautie; all blisse. In this sort shall the man be blessed with God, in whose conscience shall be found no sinne; he shall see God after his owne desire; he shall possesse to pleasure, and enioie to gladnesse; he shall flourish in eternitie; he shall shine in veritie; he shall ioie in righteousnesse; and as he shall haue eternitie of continuance, so he shall haue facilitie of knowledge, and felicitie of rest. He shall be delighted in God; whose countenance is amiable; whose face is beautifull; whose speech is pleasant. He is delectable to behold; sweet to possesse; pleasant to enioie. In him vnder∣standing is made cleere; affection is purified, that we may loue and knowe him as he is: so that then wee shall not need to seeke anie thing besides him. For the whole is found in him, so much as is to be desired, or

may possiblie reioice or delight vs.

Let vs to conclude, finallie thinke, what madnesse doth then possesse vs, so much to thirst after the bitter potion of sinne, to followe after vanities of this world, to suffer the incommodities of this slipperie life, and the dominion of Sathans tyrannie; and not rather to flee vp to the felicitie of Saincts, to the fellowship of Angels, and to the solemnitie of the heauenlie ioies, where we shall see, behold, and enioie the plentifull a∣boundant riches of the inestimable treasures of Gods goodnesse, for euer and euer world without end,

Amen.