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 Thanks-giuing vnto God for our regeneration and sanctification, not vnproper to be vsed also at publike Baptisme.

O God the holie Ghost, which procee∣dest from the Father & the Sonne, and with them art woorshipped and glorified in the vnitie of the true and eternall Deitie, and art also the substantiall amitie betweene the Father and the Sonne, we worship thee, we praise and glorifie thee, and with our whole hart we thanke thee for all thy bene∣fits, especiallie for calling vs by the voice of thy Gos∣pell, vnto the Christian congregation, for illuminating vs with thy gifts; for sanctifieng vs with a stedfast faith; and for keeping vs hitherto in the same. For by

the fount of the wholesome lauour, that is, by the wa∣ter of holie Baptisme, being powred into vs, thou dooest continuallie worke in vs regeneration and re∣newing of the inward man. Harken, we beseech thee, vnto our supplication, and teach vs miserable women, which by the proper strength of our onlie reason, can by no meanes trust in, or approch to Christ our Lord and Sauiour: teach vs, O our God, what thy plea∣sure is, and leade vs into all truth. For without thine assistance, none can saie that Iesus is the Lord.

O blessed Lampe of light, fill the inward parts of the faithfull with the holie oile of thy manifold hea∣uenlie gifts and graces, without the which nothing is light and pleasant in man, but euerie thing darke, obscure, and hurtfull. Wash thou that is filthie; wa∣ter that is drie; heale that is wounded; bow the ob∣stinate; cherish the frosen; and reclaime them which wander. Giue to the faithfull trusting in thee, the re∣ward of wel-doing, the entrance into happines and e∣uerlasting comfort. Thou in thy gifts seauen-fold, which art the spirit of the Lord, the spirit of wisedome and vnderstanding, the spirit of counsell and strength, the spirit of knowledge, and of the feare of the Lord; inspire into vs through the preaching of the Gospell, thine heauenlie wisedome about thine essence and di∣nine pleasure, which is hid from the world. Grant that we may knowe the Father and the Sonne by thee, and may alwaies beleeue that thou art the spirit of them both, & so worship one God in Trinitie, and the Trinitie in vnitie, whose will is, that not one should perish, but be conuerted & liue; and that as manie as beleeue in the Sonne, should haue euerlasting life. For the Father sent the Sonne, not to condemne the world, but that the world through him might be saued.

O lightener of the mind, powre vpon vs thy new light, and purge the horrible darkenes of our minds,

so that we may see & knowe our chiefe Father, whome pure eies onlie doo behold. O thou heauenlie comfor∣ter, giue vnto vs a testimonie, and grant vnto our minds a token of the certaintie of our beleefe, so that we doubt not, neither wauer about thy diuine goodnes towards vs. Make our harts quiet and secure, that with a full trust and confidence we may approch to the throne of thy heauenlie grace, receiuing by adoption the right of children; and inflamed with spirituall ioie in all boldnesse and libertie, may crie Abba, Father.

Thou most faithfull aduocate, strengthen vs against all the assaults and temptations of sathan, so that we may neuer doubt of thy diuine prouidence and prede∣stination, whereby we are chosen and called in Christ vnto euerlasting life; and neuer being stroken with a seruile feare, and oppressed with dreadfull doubtings, may in a rage flee and forsake our God. O surpassing comforter, leaue vs not destitute of thine aid and pa∣tronage; but vouchsafe euermore to be present with vs in our crosses & troubles, least otherwise we faint: but rather make vs to reioice in tribulations, kno∣wing that a crowne of life is laid vp for such as loue him. O thou teacher of men, instruct vs how, and what we ought to praie for, according to thy will, that we may be heard; and make thou intercession for vs with sighes that can not be expressed.

O thou cleanser of the heart, giue vs the simplicitie of mind without gall and bitternes, which descendedst in Iordan vpon our Lord and Sauiour Christ in the likenes of a dooue, that we may be void of bitter enuie and contention in our harts, and haue no roote among vs, that bringeth foorth gall and woormewood. O thou substantiall flame, proceeding from the breast of the Father, and his eternall Sonne, lighten our harts with the fire of chaste and burning loue. Thou which appearedst as vpon this daie at the feast of Pentecost

vnto the Apostles in clouen tongs like fire, see our cold∣nesse, and comfort vs with thy quickening heate and breathings, that we may receiue thy chrisme and an∣nointment. O thou ghest of the soule, make thee a man∣sion place within the secret parts of our hearts, that we may be an house for thy diuinitie, which may dwell perpetuallie in our members, and neuer depart from vs, through our Lord & Sauiour Iesus Christ,

Amen.