The holy court in five tomes, the first treating of motives which should excite men of qualitie to Christian perfection, the second of the prelate, souldier, states-man, and ladie, the third of maxims of Christianitie against prophanesse ..., the fourth containing the command of reason over the passions, the fifth now first published in English and much augemented according to the last edition of the authour containing the lives of the most famous and illustrious courtiers taken out of the Old and New Testament and other modern authours / written in French by Nicholas Caussin ; translated into English by Sr. T.H. and others.

The eighteenth SECTION.

Devotion for the hours of the day.

THe Church likewise assigneth us a practice of Devotion for every hour of the day, if we will apply it right. For as if she meant of a Chri∣stian champion, to make a true Bird of the Sun, which saluteth that bright Star almost every hour, seeming to applaud by its songs, and the clapping of its wings; so she requireth, that in imitation thereof, we loose not God out of sight all the day long, but keep perpe∣tual centinel, to worship and pray to him.

At the break of day.

(Not to say any thing of our nightly exercise) The Church inviteth us, in the Hymn of S. Ambrose, to ask five things: the protection of God for all that day, peace, government of the sense, guard of the heart, and Mortification of the flesh.

At the third

Hour, from the rising of the Sun; the hour where∣in the Holy Ghost descended in the likeness of fiery tongues upon the Apostles; we pray to the Holy Ghost so to replenish our understandings, our wills, our senses, our hearts, our tongues, our mouthes, with vigour and flame, that we may by our good ex∣ample enkindle our neighbours.

At the sixth,

Which is noon; we look up to our Son of Justice, to intreat of him four things; that is alienation from the heat of concupiscence, mortification of anger, health of body, and peace of mind.

At the ninth,

Which is about three a clock; when the Sun is now declining towards the west, we cast our eye upon our great Star, and desire him, (as he is the immoveable Centre, about which the whole world is turned; and holdeth the beginning and continuance of light, in his hand:) first, to grant us a happy evening: secondly, a constancy in virtue: thirdly, a good end.

At evening.

When darkness draweth near, we beseech the Di∣vine Majesty to gather unto him our hearts, oppres∣sed with sin, and distracted by so great diversity of actions; to cleanse them, and to direct them in the way of Eternity; that when we shall be deprived of this temporal light, we may make a sweet retreat

into the bosom of God, who is the fountain of In∣tellectual light; and that having finished our life, as we have ended this present day, we may receive the prize of Beatitude.

At going to bed.

Now that darkness covereth the face of the earth, we will shelter our selves (like little birds) under Gods wing beseeching him to keep us (according to his accustomed goodness) in his protection; to drive away evil dreams, and the illusions of night from our sleep; hindering the crafty surprizals of our adver∣sary, who goeth up and down like a roaring Lion, besetting the sheep-fold.

These devotions are grave, authentick, and sufficient, throughly to instruct a soul that will practise them.