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.

10. On Ascension daie. Of Christ his glorious ascending into the heauens, in the sight of his Apostles.

The Preface.

GOD is gone vp with a merrie noise, and the Lord with the sound of the trumpet, Glorie to God on high. Halleluiah.

He humbled himselfe vnto the death, wherefore God also hath highlie exalted him, and set him on his right hand in heauenlie places, far aboue all powers and dominion. Halleluiah.

God is gone vp on high, and hathled captiuitie cap∣tiue, and receiued gifts for men. Halleluiah.

He that descended first into the lowe parts of the earth, is euen the same also that ascended vp, far a∣boue all heauens, to fulfill all things. Halleluiah.

God is gone vp with a merrie noise; the Lord is as∣cended in great triumph. Halleluiah.

Lift vp your head O ye gates, and be ye lift vp ye e∣uerlasting dores, that the King of glorie may enter in. Halleluiah.

Yea, be thou exalted Lord in thine owne strength, so

will we praise thy power perpetuallie, and euermore sing, Glorie to God on high, Halleluiah.

The praier.

THou, O Christ sonne of God, fortie daies after thy resurrection, conti∣nuedst in the world to the vnspeak∣able comfort of thy Church, which being expired, thou ascendedst glo∣riouslie in the sight of thy Saints into the heauens. We yeeld thee most hartie thanks for this thy be∣nefit, beseeching thee most humblie to number vs a∣mong the saints and souldiers which wait vpon thee triumphieng. The hand-writing dependeth on the te∣stimonie of our giltie conscience, to our condemnati∣on; but by thy death, the sentence of condemnation is abolished, and thy bloud washeth vs from all our sins. The enimies of thine elect, euen the diuell and death, are lead bound, and the whole companie of the saints both in heauen and earth, is filled with ioie, & speake of thy victorie and benefits. Thy Saints in heauen visiblie doo behold thy glorious victorie. Thy Saints in earth are saued by faith, for the ornament and glo∣rie of the kings daughter is glorious within.

In the sight of manie godlie auditors of thine, and of thy holie mother the blessed virgin Marie, thou wast carried visiblie from the earth in the clouds into heauen. Thou gauest a taste of eternall life to thine A∣postles wondering at thy departure, and preachedst to them of thy returne into iudgement. Thou hast glori∣fied thine humane nature with vnspeakable glorie, and placed the same on the right hand of thy Father, vpon the throne of triumph and victorie, as hauing for our sakes, vanquished all our enimies. But thine humane nature is not onelie aboue, as be thy

Saints, but is exalted also to such a light, as cannot be attained to by anie creature. Thou reignest visible with the Father, replenishing the whole celestiall con∣gregation with righteousnes and diuine glorie. Go∣uerne thou also in this mortall life, outwardlie in thy ministerie, and inwardlie in our minds. Thou hast as∣cended on high, and lead captiuitie captiue, to bestowe thy benefits vpon man.

Before thy departure thou renewedst the instituti∣on of thy ministerie, thou gauest thy disciples a com∣mandement to preach to all nations; for which thy goodnesse, we giue thee most hartie thanks: for therby thou hast called vs to the societie of thy Saints. As∣sist vs with thy spirit, that we may beleeue the Gos∣pell, and keepe for euermore the couenant which in our baptisme we haue made with thee. Thou adornedst thine Apostles which were to carrie a new doctrine o∣uer the face of the whole earth, with singular testimo∣nies of miracles, that the Church might assuredlie knowe they erred not. Continue among vs in like sort thy ministerie, togither with the puritie of thy word. Send among vs Euangelists, pastors and teachers, which may ioine themselues to the doctrine of the A∣postles, and diligentlie spread the same abroad, and speake thou which art the head of the ministerie with∣in to our harts, and raise vp godlie motions through thy spirit.

Thou art ascended on high to bee the head of thy Church, filling all things; finish thy worke in vs; in∣graffe vs to thy glorified bodie, and powre vpon vs from thy diuine nature a like spirit, which may inter∣mingle it selfe with our soule, and begin while we here liue, in vs an eternall life, which may create in vs a new man, fashioned accordinglie to thy similitude and likenesse. And inspire in vs such a perfection and righteousnesse, as thou shalt thinke meete and con∣uenient

for our weake and fraile nature; and let holie motions agreeing to thine heauenlie will be planted in vs. Driue awaie the darkenesse of our minds, extinguish the wicked affections of our hart, and let the new man dailie prosper and increase in perfection. Defend thy Church by thy mightie right hand, against all the power both of man and diuels. Fill our flitting soules with a tast of a new life, receiue them into thine hands, and grant that at the resur∣rection and glorification of thy Church, we maie ioi∣fullie behold thee, returning and triumphing glori∣ouslie, and so be placed in that kingdome, which thou wilt deliuer to thy Father, for their euerlasting happi∣nesse,

Amen.

Halleluiah. Glorie be to God on high.

Anotherverie deuout meditation and praier, wherein the mind is verie much mooued, and plentiouslie stirred to contemplation of heauenlie things, if it be said in quietnesse.

MOst mightie King, my verie good, gentle, & louing Lord Iesu Christ, which of thine inestimable charitie and vnspeakable pitie, taking vpon thee to be the seed of Abraham, not of Angels, didst vouchsafe not onlie willinglie to suffer for our sinnes both bonds, crosse, wounds, yea death and sepulchre, and after three daies (death being ouercome) didst rise againe for our iustification, wast seene of thy disciples, reforming their harts, and esta∣blishing them that were almost declining from thee: but also after thou hadst glorified our mortall nature with the stole of holie resurrection and immortalitie, the fortith daie after thou in the sight of thy disciples, didst with the triumph of thy glorie, gloriouslie ascend

into heauen, and cariedst it aboue the heauens, and a∣boue all the melodious companie of Angels, aboue Cherubin and Seraphin, placing it vpon the right hand of God thy Father, where the Angels doo praise that same humane nature of ours, and all the powers of heauen doo euen tremble to see a man to be God o∣uer them, and where thou O Lord sittest and liuest e∣uerlastinglie now, and reignest throughout all worlds.

Behold, I thy seelie creature, which with the weight of my frailenes am drawne euer downeward, and so not able to liue holilie, vertuouslie, and as I ought to liue, without thy continuall helpe, whervnto I thinke it necessarie for me to sticke and cleaue, most humblie beseech thee to drawe me vpward toward thee, that I may runne after thee in the sweet sauour of thine ointments. Let me runne, and not faint, when thou drawest me and leadest me running. Drawe the mouth of the soule that thirsteth after thee, vnto the high flouds and streames of thine eternall aboundance and satietie: yea drawe me wholie vnto thy selfe, which art the liuing well, to the intent I may, according to my capacitie, drinke of that whervpon I doo liue.

O my God, my life, thou didst saie with thy holie and blessed mouth; If anie man thirst, let him come vnto me, and drinke. O well of life, grant vnto my thirstie soule, alwaie to drinke of thee, that according to thy holie and true promise, waters of life may flowe out of my bellie. O well of life, replenish and fill my mind full of the riuer of thy pleasure. Make my hart to be droonken as it were in thy loue, that after the manner of them that be droonken with wine, which forget all things saue the cup, so I may forget all vaine & earth∣lie things, and continuallie haue nothing else in my remembrance, but thee onelie, according as it is writ∣ten; I remembred God and was delighted. Giue me the holie Ghost, whom those waters did signifie, which

thou didst promise to giue to them that thirsted after thee.

Grant I beseech thee, that I may assaie to go with my whole desire and all my studie toward that place, vnto the which I beleeue thou didst ascend the fortith daie after thy resurrection, that in this present miserie I may be onlie in bodie, but in thought and desire al∣waies with thee, that my hart may be there whereas thou art which art my treasure, worthie to be coueted, and much to be loued, wherewith no treasure is woor∣thie to be compared.

Bring to passe, O Lord Christ, that through thy gift I may be stirred and carried vpward: for I feruentlie desire to ascend, yea I make certaine ascensions in my hart, lifting it vpward, and sing the song of starres. With the lampe of thy loue, I saie, am I kindled and moued to go with thee thither, whereas thou my por∣tion reignest, and I beleeue to reigne; thither, where∣as thou my flesh art glorified, and I beleeue to be glo∣rified; thither, where thou my bloud rulest, and I per∣ceiue me to beare rule, that is, euen vnto the peace of Ierusalem, to Ierusalem I saie which is my countrie; to Ierusalem which is my mother, would I now go vpward. For when I remember Ierusalem, I extend and stretch foorth towards it the senses of my hart, and towards thee, O Christ, which art a King ouer hir; hir light, hir father, hir defender, hir patrone, hir gouernour, hir keeper, hir chast and strong delight, hir onlie and whole pleasure, and of whome all hir good∣nes and felicitie commeth, because thou art the cheefe good, and the true good: and I will neuer turne backe, vntill thou bring me home from this pilgrimage, in which I am deformedlie scattered abroad, vnto the place of my deerelie beloued mother, whereas be the first fruits of my spirit; and vntill thou, O God, which art my mercie, fashion me, and confirme me for euer.

Whither go we now vpward? to the peace of Ieru∣salem? Bicause I was glad & reioiced in those things which were spoken vnto me, therfore wil I go into the house of the Lord, there hath he placed vs, there wil he giue vs all good things, therfore will I will & desire no∣thing else, but to tarie & remaine there before the Lord for euer. But, oh Lord, forasmuch as whilest we be clad in this bodie, we doo as it were go astraie, & are stran∣gers vnto thee; we haue not here an abiding place for euer; but we seeke for one that is to come: our abiding place is in heauen, whither thou art ascended. There∣fore thy fauour and grace my guide, I enter into the chamber of my hart, and sing vnto thee songs of loue, my King and my GOD, mourning with maruellous sighings in this place of my peregrination, whereas thy iustices are my songs, and whereas I am tossed with stormes on euerie side. For in this great floud of this life, there is no stedfast standing, or place high inough aboue the waters; no not for the foot of a doue to rest vpon. In this life, I saie, there is no safe or qui∣et peace; no where anie sure rest; euerie-where bat∣tell and strife; euerie-where enimies and fightings without doores, and frights and feares within doores.

And for asmuch as the one part of vs is heauenlie, and the other earthlie; our bodie which is corrupt, doth loden, and is burdenous vnto the soule: therefore my mind, which is my felowe and freend, being wearie with wandering foorth of the waie, is sicke, and lieth all to torne and rent of those things, which it hath passed by. It hungreth and thirsteth greatlie after va∣nities, and I haue nothing to set afore it, bicause I am poore and a begger. Thou, O Lord my God art rich in all good things, and the most plentious giuer of the deinties of heauenlie satietie. Giue meate vnto the wearie; not such as it thirsteth after, but such as is conuenient for it. Gather togither the dispersed; re∣new

and refresh the torne. Lo, he standeth at the doore and knocketh. I beseech thee, by the bowels of thy mer∣cie, wherwith thou being the daie-spring from an high hast visited vs; open the hand of thy pitie to a wretch that knocketh, and vouchsafe mercifullie to enter into thee; and that I may rest with thee, and be refreshed of thee, which art the liuing & heauenlie bread, where∣with when I am once fed, and that my strength is come to mee againe: I may ascend vnto more high things, and be lifted vp out of this vale of miserie and teares, and with the wings of my godlie desires I may flie vp vnto thee, and the heauenlie kingdome.

Let my spirit, O Lord, I beseech thee, take wings as an Egle, and flie without fainting: let it flie vp, and come to the beautifulnesse of thine holie house, and to the place of heauen, where thy glorie dwelleth; where∣as vpon the meate-tables of thy supernall citizens, it may be fed full of thy secrets in the place of thy pasture by the most plentifull riuers sides. Let mine hart rest in thee, my God; my hart, I saie, which is as though it were a great sea swelling with waters. Thou diddest rebuke the winds and the sea, and there was made streightwaies a great calme: O come and wake vpon the fluds of mine hart, that all things which belong vnto me, may be made calme and cleere: that I may imbrace thee, which art mine onelie God, and that I may behold thee, which art the sweet light nf mine eies without anie blind darknesse of troublesome cogitati∣ons and thought. Let my mind flie, O Lord, vnder the shadowe of thy wings for meate, that it being couered with the temperatenesse of thy pleasant coolnesse, may sing ioifullie, and saie; I will laie me downe, and rest in peace. Finallie, let my memorie sleepe, O my God, I beseech thee, from all euils; make it to hate iniquitie, and to loue righteousnesse. For what can be better, or more delectable, than in the middes of the darknesse of

this life, and among the manifold and bitter miseries of the same, to desire feruentlie heauenlie sweetnesse? To couet euerlasting blessednesse? Or our mind to be held euer there, whereas we may be most sure to haue infallible and true ioies?

Oh Lord, which for thy louing kindnesse art most woorthie to be desired, and coueted of all things: when shall I see thee? When shall I appeere before thy face? When shall I be satisfied of thy glorie? When wilt thou bring me foorth of this darke prison, that I may confesse thy name, so that afterward I bee no more pricked? When shall I passe, and go to that maruel∣lous and beautifull house of thine, whereas the voice of gladnesse and reioicing doth sound in the taberna∣cles of iust men? Blessed are they that dwell in thine house, O Lord; they shall praise thee euer world with∣out end. Blessed are they, yea blessed indeed, whom thou hast chosen, and taken into that heauenlie inheritance. Behold, O Lord, thy Saints flourish before thee, like vnto lillies. For they are replenished with the plenti∣ousnesse of thine house, and thou dooest giue them to drinke of the flowing riuer of thy pleasure, bicause thou art the well of life, and in thy light and brightnes they doo see light; and that so greatlie, that they them∣selues, which are a light, and are made bright by thee, O Lord, which doost giue them light, doo shine like vn∣to the sunne in thy sight.

O how maruellous, how faire and beautifull, how acceptable are the mansions and dwelling places of thine house! O Lord of powers, my sinfull soule dooth couet to enter into them. O Lord, I haue loued the comlinesse of thine house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. I asked one petition of the Lord, and the same will I require; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the daies of my life. Like as the Hart coueteth to go vnto the water brookes; euen so

dooth my soule desire to come vnto thee, O Lord. When shall I come and appeare before the face of my Lord? When shall I see God, after whom my soule longeth verie sore? When shall I see him in the land of the li∣uing? For in this land of the dead he cannot be seene with mortall eies.

What shall I doo wretch that I am, which am fet∣tered with the heauie gieues of mortalitie? What shall I doo? Whiles we continue in this bodie wee go astraie from the Lord: we haue here no abiding place for euer; but we labour for one that is to come. Our free citie is in heauen. Wo is me; me thinke I dwell among the barbarous nations and infidels, and not amongst the faithfull Israelites. I lead my life in the tents of Cedar. My soule hath dwelt too long with them that hate peace and quietnesse. Who will giue me wings as a dooue, that I may flie awaie, and rest me? There is nothing that I desire, or delight so much in, as to be in my Lords companie. It is good for me to cleaue vnto God. Oh grant me, O Lord, whilest I am in these fraile members, to sticke vnto thee, as it is written; He that cleaueth vnto the Lord, is all one spi∣rit with him. Giue me therefore, I beseech thee, the wings of contemplation, wherewith when I am ap∣parelled, I may flie vpward. And for asmuch as eue∣rie vnluckie and infortunate thing lieth beneath: doo thou, O Lord, hold vp my mind, least it fall headlong into the lowest bottoms of the darke vallie, and least the shadowe of the earth should come betweene and se∣parate it from thee, that art the bright sunne of righ∣teousnes; and least it once hid with the clouds of dark∣nesse, should not haue libertie; but be letted to looke for heauenlie things which be aboue.

Therefore I doo assaie to go vpward vnto the ioies of quietnesse and peace, and vnto the delectable and pleasant state of light. O hold mine hart with thine

hand, bicause it cannot be drawne vnto high things without thee. Thither doo I make haste, whereas most chiefe and principall peace reigneth, and continuall quietnesse shineth foorth. Hold and gouerne my spirit, and take it according to thy will, that thou being a guide vnto it, it may ascend into the region and coun∣trie of plentifulnesse, wheras thou feedest Israel euer∣lastinglie with the food of truth, to the intent, that there at the leastwise with my swift cogitation and thought, I may come nigh thy wisedome, which re∣maineth aboue all things, ouerpasseth all things, and gouerneth all things.

But alas, there be manie things, which when my soule would flie vnto thee, doo crie out vpon it. Com∣mand them all, O Lord, to hold their peace, and speake not vnto me. As for my soule it selfe, let it giue neuer a word to answer. Let it passe by all things. Let it clime aboue althings that be created, & come vnto thee. And that it may fasten the eies of faith vpon thee, which art the onlie Creator of all things. Let it couet vnto thee, and be bent towards thee. Let it thinke vpon thee by meditation and contemplation; let it laie thee be∣fore hir eies for it selfe. Let it roll and tosse thee in hir hart; thee, I saie, which art the true and chiefe good∣nesse, and the ioie that will remaine without ending.

There are surelie manie contemplations, in the which mans soule is maruellouslie fed of thee; but in none of them is my soule so much delighted, or yet hath so good rest in, as in thee, and when as it thinketh vpon thee, and hath thee onelie in contemplation. Oh how much is thy sweetnesse, O Lord! How maruellouslie dooest thou inspire the harts of them that loue thee? How delectable is thy loue, the fruition whereof they haue that loue nothing but thee; they seeke nothing else; they couet nothing else: happie are they, whose onelie hope thou art; which haue no trust, but in thee

onlie, and all their whole worke is praier. Blessed is he that sitteth solitarie alone, and holdeth his peace, and standeth vpon his ward, that he is set to keepe continuallie daie and night, that yet whilest he is in this fraile bodie, he may be able to taste somewhat thy pleasures.

I require thee by those thy wounds, which bring health vnto vs, which wounds thou sufferedst vpon the crosse for our health; out of the which thy pretious bloud (wherewith thou redeemedst vs, did distill and drop downe,) wound this my sinful soule, for the which also thou didst vouchsafe to die: wound it, I saie, with the fire and mightie dart of thy great charitie. For the word of God is liuelie and effectuous, and more pear∣cing and sharpe than anie two edged sword. Thou, O chosen dart, and most sharpe sword, which art able by thy power to pearce through the hard shield, or buck∣ler of mans hart, fasten and strike the shaft of thy loue in mine hart, that my soule may saie vnto thee; I am wounded with thy charitie, so that foorth of that same wound of thy loue, teares may flowe most plentiouslie both daie and night.

Strike, O Lord, strike I beseech thee this most in∣durated and hardened hart and mind of mine, with the sharpe dart of thy loue, and pearce it deeper & dee∣per into the innermost parts thereof, by thy mightie power, and so bring out of my head aboundance of wa∣ter, and out of mine eies a verie well of teares, conti∣nuallie running, through the great affect, and mar∣uellous desire to see thy glorie, that I may moorne daie and night, without taking anie comfort in this life, vntill in thy heauenlie wedding chamber I may see thee my welbeloued and beautifull spouse, my God and my Lord, and that there when I see thy glorious, mar∣uellous, and beautifull face full of all sweetnes, togi∣ther with them which thou hast chosen, then I saie, I

may worship humblie thy Maiestie, and there at the last being replenished with heauenlie and vnspeakable reioicing of euerlasting gladnesse, I may euer crie out with them that loue thee, saieng: Behold, that which I haue long desired, now I haue obteined, for I am ioined in heauen vnto him, whome when I was in earth, I loued with all my strength, with all my chari∣tie. I embraced him, vnto whome with all my loue I did sticke and cleaue. Him doo I praise, blesse, and woor∣ship, that liueth and reigneth God world without end,

Amen.

Another praier to Christ, ascended and reigning in glorie.

OH good Christ, our first begotten bro∣ther, and tender-harted Ioseph! Oh naturall Sonne of that father, to whome we are made children of a∣doption through thee! Oh our head, reigning on high in glorie, forget not vs thy poore members heere on earth, where-into abasing thy selfe, thou cammest downe, and sufferedst for vs most cruell death! Out of this thy throne of maiestie and glorie thou puttest vs in assured hope and confidence, that we also shall atteine to this blessed place, whither thou art gone before to take possession for vs. Oh our strong tower of defence and succour, what can hurt vs now trusting in thee? Most vnhappie are they which are ignorant of thee, and most happie are they which al∣waies behold thee. Blessed are they which haue knowne thee heere in the daies of this mortalitie: but more blessed are they which see thee in the heauens, and shall see thee reigning with thy Father in ioies in∣comparable.

Oh Lord, the onelie ioie and comfort of our soules,

shew vs thy louing countenance, embrace vs with the armes of thy mercie. Receiue vs, O good Ioseph thy yonger brethren, with the kisse of comfort. Powre into our harts thy holie spirit. Plucke vs vp from the earth and earthlie things. Open our eies, and lift them vp vnto thee. Open thy mouth, and call vs vnto thee. O∣pen our eares, that we may heare thee, so that what∣soeuer wee doo speake or thinke, it may be directed vnto thee alone our redeemer, mediator and aduocate,

Amen.

Another.

THou Lord didst put awaie Marie Magdalen from thee kissing of thy feet, because thy flesh was not yet exalted, and she knewe not yet the dignitie of thy clarified bodie, and beautified with the glorie of im∣mortalitie, but was addicted onlie to thy bodilie presence. She yet sought thee liuing among the dead; neither was it knowne to hir that thou wast equall with thy Father: wherefore thou wouldest not suffer hir so much as to kisse thy feet, because it was a thing vnworthie for thy Maiestie.

O thou mightie Lion of the tribe of Iuda; thou conqueror of hell and death, euerliuing and immortall; thou art now risen from death for vs. Thou art now ascended to thy Father and our Father, and sittest at the right hand in glorie: grant that we also in hart and mind may thither ascend, and with thee continu∣allie dwell. Suffer vs to come neere vnto thee, that we may kisse thee. Yea Lord, thou louer of our soules, come thou rather vnto vs, and kisse vs with the kisse of thy mouth, that we may be glad & reioice in thee. Drawe vs, that we may runne after the sauour of thy sweet ointments, that we may behold thee in righteousnes,

and when thy glorie shall appeare, we may be satis∣fied. For in thy presence there is fulnes of ioie, and on thy right hand there are pleasures for euermore, So be it, Halleluiah.

A Thanks-giuing.

WE lift vp our harts vnto thee, O Lord God: for it is verie meete, right, and our bounden dutie, that we should at all times, and in all places, giue thanks vnto thee O Lord holie Father, almightie euer∣lasting God, through thy most deere beloued Sonne Iesus Christ our Lord, who after his glorious resurrection, manifestlie appeared to all his Apostles, and in their sight ascen∣ded vp into heauen, to prepare a place for vs, that where he is, thither we might also ascend to reigne with him in glorie. Therefore, with Angels, and Arch∣angels, and with all the companie of heauen, we laud and magnifie thy glorious name, euermore praising thee, and saieng, Holie holie holie, Lord God of hoasts, heauen and earth are full of thy glorie, Glorie be to thee O God most high, So be it.