faithfull followers Which God graunt Father Sonne and holye Ghost Amen This Exercise to S. Bennet was the Deuotion of the Venerâ—ble Father â—akeâ— before mâ—ntioned â—o giâ—e God thâ—nâ—kes for the happinesse of his Religious vâ—câ—tion which I haue â—eere insâ—râ—ed as beinge gratefull to those of the same profession and not vngratefull to any deuout soule HAYLE IESVS Or Acts vppon the life and Passioâ— of our Sauâ—iour Iâ—sus-Christ Which are indeed instar Omnium doe contayne in them Acts of all kindâ— of Prayer as Contrition Resignation loue or what else-soeuer As a deuout soule in her Mentall Exercisesâ—therevpon may eaâ—ilye experience THE FIRST EXERCISE 1. HAYLE sweetâ— Iesus Prayse honour and glorie be to thee ô Christ who for â—y sâ—â—e haâ—t vouchsafed to come downe from the Royal seates and from the mellisluous Boosome of thy Deuine Father into this valley of miserie And to be conceiued and incarnated and made Man by the Holy Ghost in the most chast wombe of the most sacred Virgin Mary 2. Choose I beseech thee my Hart for thy dwellinge place Adorne itt replenish it with Spirituall guifts and wholye possesse itt 3. O that I were able by profound humilitie to inuite thee to itt and with an ardent Affection to receiue thee and after hauinge receiued thee to retayne thee with mee 4. O that I were soe fastned vnto thee that I might neuer depart or turne away my mind from thee 5. Hayle sâ—eete Iesus Prayse Honour and Glory be to thee â— Christ Who wouldst that the Virgin Marie hauinge conceiued thee should make hast to visiâ—t her Cosin Elizabeth didst inspire her that shee should salute and assist Her 6. And thou hast vouchsafed ô Christ to lye hidd for nine months together in the most chast wombe of the sacred Virgin Mary 7. Powre into my soule ô Iesus the Grace of perfect humilitie and imprint it most deepelye in my Hartâ— that I may be found readye alwayes to serue and obey thee 8. Grant that my Hart maye loath all transitorie things and may incessantly perceiue that thou dost posâ—esse and duell in itt 9. Hayle sweet Iesus Prayse Honour and Glory be to thee ô Christ who hast vouchsafed to be borne of thy Virgin Mother poore and passible without any payne or detriment to her Virginitie in a poore stable 10. Whom beinge borne shee humbly adored 11. O that it were thy will to be continually borne in mee by a new feruour of Spirit 12. And that I may be wholy burnt with the fire of thy loue 13. O that thou wert the only comfort desire and sollace of my Hart 14. O that I did seeke after thee Alone tâ—inke on thee Alone and loue thee Alone THE II. EXERCISE 1. HAYLE sweete Iesus prayse honoâ—r and glorie be to thee ô Christ. Who beinge borne iâ— the depth of winter didst not refuse to be suaddled in poore cloaths and weepinge to be laid in the manger and as a little infant to sucke milke from thy Mothers breasts 2. I adore thee most deare Redeemer Kinge of Angells 3. Hayle Prince of Peace light of the Gentils and most desired Sauâ—iour 4. Graunt◠ô Lord that I may alwayes stand in thy sight truely humble and truely poore in Spirit 5. Graunt that for thy Holy names-sake I may willingly endure all kind of Mortifications and may loue nothinge in this world besides thee nor wish to possesse any thinge but thee 6. Hayle sweete Iesus whom the celestiall legions of Angells did honour newly borne with ioyfull prayses And the sheepheards deuoutly seekinge and findinge adored with admiration 7. Graunt that I may ioyfully without tediousnesse perseuer in thy prayses and seruice 8. Hayle sweete Iesus who wouldst vppon the eight day like other childeren be circumcised and beinge yet an infant shedd thy pretious Blood 9. And for our singular Comfort wouldst be â—aled Iesus which signifieth a Sauuiour 10. O that itt would please thee to admitt mee beinge circumcised from all bad thoughts words and workes into the number of thy childeren 11. Thou ô Lord art called Iesus that is to say a Sauuiour be thou therefore my Sauuiour and saue mee 12. Hayle sâ—eete Iesus whom the sages with a deuout seekinge found by the direction of a starre and haninge found most humblye adored 13. Offeringe vnto thee guifts of gold Frankincense and Myrrhe 14. Graunt ô Lord that with these blissed men I may alwayes seeke and adore thee in Spirit and Truth 15. Graunt that I may offer dayly vnto thee the gold of bright shininge Charitie the Frankincense of sweete smellinge Deuotion and the Myrrhe of perfect Mortification 16. Hayle sweete Iesus who for our sakes wouldst be subiect to the Law and to giue vs an example of Humilitie wouldst be carried to the Temple by thy Mother and be redeemed with an offeringe ordayned for such as were poore 17. Where iust Simeon and Anne the Prophetesse reioycinge greately at thy presence gaue very glorious Testimony of thy Dignitye 18. O that all Pride were vtterlye throwne downe in mee 19. O that all desire of humaine Fauour and itch of selfeloue were cooled and cured in mee THE III. EXERCISE 1. HAYLE sweete Iesus prayse honour and glory be to thee ô Christ Who stayinge in the Temple wert for the space of three dayes with greate greife sought by thy deuout Mother and at lentgh with greate ioy found by Her sittinge in the midst of the Doctors hearinge them and proposinge questions to them 2. Would to God thou wouldst giue and Communicate thy selfe in such sort vnto mee that I might neuer be seâ—arated from thee not euer be depâ—â—ued of thy comfort â— Hayle sweete Iesus who for the space of thirtie yeares remayninge vnknowne hast vouchsafed to be reputed by the Iewes the sonne of Ioseph the Carpenter and of his wife the blissed Virgin Marye 4. Let thy Grace I beseech thee plucke vp and vtterlye roote out of the fund of my soule all pride and Ambition 5. O that I maye delight to be vnknowne and to be esteemed vile and Base 6. Hayle sweete Iesus who hast not disdained to come to the riuer of Iordan and entringe into iâ—t there to be baptized by thy seruant Iohn the Baptist. 7. I would through thy meritts I might become most cleane and pure euen in this life 8. Hayle sweete Iesus who for ouâ— sakes abidinge amongst wild beasts in the desert fastinge forty dayes and forty nights and perseueringe in prayer hast permitted thy â—elfe to be tempted by Satan 9. And ouercominge Him hast beene honored with the ministerre and seruice of Angells 10. Giue mee Grace that I maye chastise and subdue my flesh with all the vicious affections thereof 11. Giue mee Grace that I may constantlye perseuer in Prayer and other spirituall exercises 12. Lett noe temptation I beseech thee defile mee but rather let temptations purge mee and ioyne and vnite mee vnto thee 13. Hayle sweete Iesus who to the end thou mightst gather together the dispersed children
disdayne to be comforted by an Angell 3. Grant in all aduersitie desolation in all tribulation and Affliction that I may seeke comfort from thee onlye 4. And that I maye find helpe and assistance at thy hands 5. O that I could in all Euents wholie relie on thee 6. And leaue my selfe wholye to thy fatherlie care 7. Hayle sweete Iesus who by reason of thy greatnesse and vehemencie of greife hadst thy Body moistned all ouer with a bloodye sweate 8. O that all the parts of my interior Man would sweate out holy teares of Contrition 9. Hayle sweete Iesus who of thy owne accord offredst thy selfe to be taken by Iudas the Traitor other thyne enimies thirstinge after thy Blood and desiringe thy death 10. Graunt that for the honour of of thy name I maye not flye aduersities 11. But maye cheerefullye goe to meete them 1â— And ioyfullie receiue them as pretious tokens sent from thee 13. And humblie and constantlie endure them as longâ— as it shall please thee 14. Hayle sweete Iesus who didst louingliâ— kisse the traitor Iudas cominge deceitefullye to thee 15. Shewinge by the calmenesse of thy countenance and sweetenesse of thy words that thou didst loue him 16. Grant I may shew my selfe loâ—inge and mild to All myne enimies 17. That I maye pardon them from my hart howsoeuer they shall offend mee 18. And tollerate and loue them as the Ministers of thy will and promoters of my Saluation 19. Hayle sweete Iesus who didst permitt thyne enimies most furiously to lay thâ—ir Sacrilegous hands vppon thee 20. And beinge cruellye bound by them didst not reuenge but mildly endure the reproaches Blasphemies and iniuries wherewith they did most wickedly affront thee 21. O that beinge freed from the bonds of vices I may be fast tied to thee with she sweete chaines of Loue 22. O that thou wouldst beâ—tow vppon mee the grace of true patience Amen THE VIII EXERCISE 1. HAyle sweete Iesus Prayse Honour and Glorie be to thee ô Christ. Who did restore and heale the eare of Malchas one of thy furious Persecutors cutt of by Peeter thy cheife Disciple 2. That rendringe good for euilâ— the riches of thy mercie and mildnesse might shine forth to vs. 3. Grant I beseech thee that the desire of Reuenge maye neuer hau place in my hart 4. Grant that I maye beare intimate compassion and Affection towards all such as offend mee 5. Hayle sweete Iesus who like a Lambe amongst rauenous Wolues didst remayne in the hand of reprobates 6. Thy Disciples all friends runninge awaye and forsakeinge thee 7. Strenthen my too too greate weakenesse and make sted-fast my too too greate Inconstancie with the most stronge support of thy Grace 8. Hayle sweete Iesus who sufferedst thy selfe to be led bound as a Malefactor and theife by a troope of soldiers vnto Annas and to be presented before him 9. O vnspeakeable mildnesse of my Redeemer 10. Behold whilst thou art taken whilst thou art drawne whilst thou art haled Thou dost not complaine Thou dost not murmure thou makest noe resistance 11. Grant ô Lord that these examples of thy virtues maye shine in mee to my Good and thy euerlastinge Glorie 1â— Haeyle sweete Iesus Kinge of heauen and earth who standinge humbly like a base and abiect person before the prowd Bishop didst with great modeâ—tie receiue a cruell blow giuen thee vppon the face by one of his seruants 13. Suppresse I beseech thee in mee all Motions of Anger and wrath dull all the stings of Indignation and extinguish all desire of reuenge 14. That euen prouoked with iniuries I may not be troubled 15. I maye not striue or make any Tumult 16. But sufferinge all things with a meeke and patient mind I maye render good for euill and euer be readie to Fauour those who most Crosse and molest mee Amen THE IX EXERCISE 1. HAyle sweete Iesus Prayse Honour and Glory be to thee â— Christ. Who didst suffer thy selfe to be shamefullie ledd bound to Caïphas that thou mighst restore vs to true Libertie freeinge vs from the bonds of euerlastinge Death 2. Graunt that in the very midst of Derisions and contumelies I may giue thee thankes with all my hart 3. And that by them I may be aduanced and encreased in thy loue 4. Hayle sweete Iesus whom Peeter the cheife of thy Apostles thrice denied and yet thou most mercifullie lookedst vppon him and prouokedst Him to repentance and holye teares for his offence 5. O that it might please thee in like manner to looke vppon mee with that louely eye of thy Mercie 6. That with due teares of Repentance I may bewayle my sinns past 7. And hauinge bewayled them may not heereafter any more returne to them agayne 8. Hayle sweete Iefus who with a pleasinge countenance and modest looke standinge before the Bishops and the elders of the people of the Iewes didst not disdaine to be falselie accused and suffer many iniuries 9. Grant that I maye neuer vtter any falsitie or calumniate any Man 10. But maye suffer such calumnies as are laid against mee with greate tranquilitie of hart 11. And referringe all difficulties to thee with silence I maye expect thy Grace and comfort 12. Hayle sweete Iesus who whilst thou madst profession of the Truth affirminge thy selfe to be sonne of God adiured by Caïphas in the name of God yet didst thou not disdayne to be esteemed a blasphemer by the said Caïphas and his assistants 13. Grant in all places and before all men I may stand to the Truth and in awe of the presence of thy Diuinity and Maiestie not to feare the censures and Iudgements of Men. 14. Hayle sweete Iesus who by the wicked Iewes wast proclaymed guiltie of Death and without cause condemned 15. That by thy vniust condemnation thou mighst deliuer vs form the guilt of our sinns wherewith wee were iustly attainted 16. Graunt that I maye reiect all sinister and rash suspicions 17. That I may suffer without any bitternesse of hart all such wrongfull detractions and wicked iudgements as others shall deuise against mee 18. And that on all occasions I maye retayne by the helpe of thy Grace a quiet and vntroubled mind THE X. EXERCISE 1. HAyle sweete Iesus Prayse Honour and Glorie be to thee o Christ Who for my sake wast made the disgrace and scorne of men and the out cast of the people 2. And didst not turne away thy sacred face which the Angells desire to behold from the filthy spittle of thy Aduersaries 3. Grant that I may imitate thy meeknesse and patience 4. Hayle sweete Iesus who didst vouchsafe to be most cruellye beateÌ„ and buffeted and most vnworthilie reproached and reuiled for my sake 5. Grant I beseech thee that I maye neuer refuse to be disâ—ised and to be reputed base and vile 6. And accordinge to thy permission be contented to be exercised with all kind of iniuries 7. That I maye receiue them not as from men but from the hand of thy fatherlye mercie 8.
looke to find any Booke for thy turne in this way written by any of the Societie of Iesus whose genius is the actiue way and in that they are excellent and very commendable but in this contemplatiue way few or none hath appeared euer since their first institute aboue these hundred yeares Vanitie of Vanitie and all is Vanitie Eccles. 1. But only to loue to loue and serue God Though thou a faire howse hast and splendid fare What then A spowse or concubine without compare What then And Blist with numerous issue large extents What then Yea faire stronge rich in all accomplishment What then If Prior Abbot Prince or Pope thou be What then Courted by the world and all prosperitie What then Let fortunes wheele aduance thee aboue the skies What then Liue heere ten thowsand yeares in Paradise What then Then virtue only doth remayne by which true Glorie thou shalt gayne The world passes away and the concupiscence thereof 1. Io. 2.17 IESVS sonne of dauid haue mercie on mee GOD be mercieful to mee a sinner Lucâ— 1â— â—â— 1â— HOLY EXERCISES OR SAINCTLY IDEOTS DEVOTIONS THE POENITENT THE FIRST EXERCISE 1. WHO shall giue to my head water and to mine eyes a fountaine of Teares that I maye bewayle both day and night my sinns and ingratitude towards God my Creator 2. Consider ô my soule the multitude of the Benefits of God bestowed vppon thee and be thou confoun 16. Amongst soe many infidels as are in the world thou hast brought mee to thy Faith and Baptisme 17. There that couenant was made that thou shouldst be mine and I thine thou my Lord and I thy seruant thou my Father and I thy child That thou shouldst behaue thy selfe as a Father towards mee and I as a child towards thee 18. What shall I say of the other Sacraments which thou hast instituted for remedies of my euills makinge a plaister for my sinns of thy owne most pretious Blood 19. Haueinge these helpes yet haue I not remayned in goodnesse but my wickednesse hath beene soe greate that I haue lost my first Innocencie 20. And thy Mercie on the other side soe greate that thou hast patientlie hitherto expected mee 21. O my Hope and Sauuiour how can I without teares call to my remembrance how oftentymes thou mightst iustlye haue bereaued mee of my life 22. How many thowsand soules now peraduenture burne in hell who haue lesse sinned then I and yet I burne not there 23. What had become of mee if thou hadst taken mee away when thou tookst them This is continued in the ensuinge Exercise THE II. EXERCISE WHO then ô Lord bound the hands of thy Iustice 2. Who held the rod of thy iudgements when as I by sinninge prouoked thee 3. What pleased thee in mee that thou didst deale more dearelie with mee then with others 4. My sinns cryed vnto thee and thou stoppedst thyne eares 5. My malice euerie day increased against thee and thy merite euerie day encreased towards mee 6. I sinned and thou expectedst 7. I Fled away and thou Followedst mee 8. I was wearied in sinninge and thou wert not wearied in expectinge 9. In the midst of my sinns I receiued from thee diuers good inspirations 10. What shall I now render ô Lord vnto thee for all these benefitts which I haue receiued of thee 11. Because thou hast created mee I owe thee all that I am 12. Because thou hast preserued mee I owe thee all that I am and my life 13. Because thou hast giuen mee thy selfe what shall I render to thee 14. If all the Liues of Angells and men were mine and that I should offer them all vnto thee as a Sacrifice what were this Oblation if it were compared with one droppe of thy Blood which thou hast shed for mee soe aboundantlie 16. Who therefore will giue Teares to mine eyes that I may bewayle my ingratitude and wicked retribution or requitall of these thy soe many benefits 16. Helpe mee ô Lord and giue mee Grace that I may worthylye bewayle myne iniquities 17. For I am that vnhappie wretch who hath sinned against heauen and before thee 18. I am thy Creature made accordiâ—ge to thy Image take awaye from mee that which I haue made and know that which thou hast made 19. I haue bent all my forces to doe thee iniurie and haue offended thee by the workes of my hands 20. The things which thou hast giuen and created for mee to be imployed and vsed for thy seruice and Honour I haue wrougfullie and most vnthankfullie conuerted and imployed the same to thy offence and dishonour This is continued in the ensuinge Exercise THE III. EXERCISE 1. MY feete haue bene swift to euil and mine eyes haue beene dissolute to Vanitie myne eares haue beene alwayes open to trifles and toyes 2. My vnderstandinge which should haue contemplated thy Beautie and haue meditated both day and night on thy Commandements hath considered transitorie toyes and meditated day and night how to transgresse thy said Commandements 3. My will was by thee inuited to the Loue of coelestiall delights and delicacies but I preferred the earth before heauen 4. I haue spread my Armes which thou hast consecrated to thy loue to embrace and hugge the filthie Loue of Creatures 5. This is ô Lord the reward this is the Fruite which I thy Creature haue yeilded 6. Alas What can I a wretch answere if thou entrest with mee into Iudgement and wilt say I haue planted thee a chosen vineiard all true seed how then ô strange vineiard art thou turned in my sight into that which is depraued 7. And if I cannot answere to this first question concerninge my Creation how shall I answere the second concerninge my conuersation 8. Thou ô mercifull God hast preserued him by thy prouidence who hath thought of noe other thinge but how to violate thy Commandements and to set vp the Kingdome of sinne against thee 9. Thou hast moued that tongue which dishonored thee thou hast gouerned those members which offended thee 10. In soe much as I haue not onlie beene vngratefull for thy benefits but vsed thy benefits alsoe themselues as weapons against thee 11. Thou hast made all creatures for my vse to allure mee to loue thee I haue abused them and of them haue diuers tymes taken occasion of sinne 12. I haue made choise rather of the guift then the giuer 13. I haue beene blinded by them and haue not lifted vp myne eyâ—s at the sight of them 14. I haue not considered how much more beautifull the Creator is then the creature 15. Thou hast giuen mee all things that I should giue thee my selfe and all things haue serued mee but I neuer haue giuen thee Glorie or paid thy tributedue 16. Thou hast giuen mee health and the diuell hath gathered the fruits thereof 17. Thou hast giuen mee strenth and I haue spent it in the seruice of Thinâ— enemye 18. What shall I say wherefore haue not all the calamities and miseries which
mee I beseech thee O Lord that thou liuinge I may not die since that thy death hath giuen life much more let thy life giue life 23. Lett thy heauenlye â—â—â—d helpe mee and deliuer mee from the hands of those that hate mee least they insult and reioyce ouer mee sayinge wee haue deuoured Him THE IX EXERCISE 1. HOW is it possible ô good Iesus that euer any one can dispaire of thy mercie who when wee were thyne enemyes thou hast redeemed vs with thy pretious Blood hast reconciled vs to God 2. Behold ô Lord protected by thy mercie I runne crauinge pardon to the Throne of thy Glorie callinge and knockinge vntil thou take pittie on mee 3. For if thou hast called vs to pardon euen when wee did not seeke it how much more shall wee obtayne pardon if wee aske it 4. Remember not thy iustice ô most sweete Iesus towards mee a sinner 5. But be mindfull of thy mercie towards mee thy creature 6. Remembeh not thy Anger towards mee guiltie but be mindfull of thy Mercie towards mee in miserie 7. Forgett my pride prouokinge thee to displeasure and weigh my wretcheuÌ„nesseâ— imploringe thy Fauour 8. For what dost thy sacred name Iesus signifie but onlye a Sauiour 9. Wherefore ô Sauuiour Iesus be thou my succour and protection and say vnto my soule I am thy Saluation 10. I doe presume verie much on thy deuine Bountie because thou thy selfe dost teach vs to aske seeke and knocke at the doore of thy mercie 11. Wherefore I doe aske seeke and knocke at thy doore as thou hast admonished mee to doe 12. Thou therefore ô Lord who willest mee to aske graunt that I may receiue 13. Thou dost counsell mee to seeke graunt mee likwise to find 14. Thou dost teach mee to knocke open vnto mee knockinge at the doore of thy Mercie 15. Recouer mee beinge diseased repaire mee beinge craised raise meâ— beinge dead 16. Vouchsafe likewise soe to direct and gouerne all my senses thoughts and Actions in that which is pleasinge vnto thee 17. That from henceforth I may faithfullye serue thee liue to thee and giue my selfe wholye vnto thee 18. I know my Lord that by reason thou hast made mee I owe my selfe vnto thee 19. And by reason thou hast redeemed mee and hast beene made Man for mee I doe owe if I had it to giue thee much more then my selfe vnto thee by how much thou art greater then I who hast giuen thy selfe for mee 20. Behold I haue nothinge else to giue thee neither can I giue thee this without thee 21. Take mee therefore and draw mee vnto thee that soe I may be thyne by imitation and affection like as I am by Condition and Creation who liuest and reignest world without end Amen THE X. EXERCISE 1. O Lord God Almightie who art Trinitie in Vnitieâ— who art alwayes in all things and wert before all things and wilt be in all things euerlastinglie one blissed God for all Eternitie 2. To thee this and all the dayes of my life I commend my soule my bodie my seeinge my hearinge tast smell and touchinge 3. All my cogitations Affections Words and Actions 4. All things that I haue without and within mee my sense and vnderstandinge my Memorie Faith and Beleife and my constancie in well doinge All these I commend into the hands of thy powerfull protection 5. To the end that all the nights and dayes howers and moments of my life thou preserue and direct mee 6. Heare mee ô sacred Trinitie and preserue mee from all euill from all Mortall sinne 7. And from all the deceites and Vexations of the Deuill and of all myne enemyes visible and inuisible 8. By the Prayers of the Patriarchs by the suffrages of the Apostles by the Constancie of the Martirs 9. By the Faith of the Confessors by the Chastitie of the Virgins and by the intercession of all the Saints who haue pleased and Faithfullye serued thee since the world begunne 10. Roote out of my hart all vaine-glorious ostentation and increase in mee the Spirit of compunction 11. Abate my Pride and increase my Humilitie 12. Stirre mee vp to teares and contrition and mollifie my Hart beinge hard as a stone 13. Deliuer mee and my soule ô Lord from all the snaâ—es of my Ghostlye enemyes and preserue mee in the performance of that which is most pleasinge vnto thee 14. Teach mee to doe thy will ô Lord because thou art my God 15. Graunt mee ô Lord perfect sense and intelligence whereby I may be able to know and acknowledge thy meruaylous greate kindnesse 16. Graunt that my petitions may be such as that they may be pleasinge to thee and profitable to my selfe 17. Graunt mee teares flowinge from my whole Affection which may be able to dissolue the bands of my sinns 18. Heare mee ô My Lord and My God Heare mee ô light of myne eyes 19. Heare what I demand and graunt that thou maist heare what I demand 20. If thou dispise mee I shall perish and be consumed if thou respect mee I shall liue This is continued in the ensuinge exercise THE XI EXERCISE 1. IF thou ô Lord examine my righteousnesse I shall be found as a dead Man stinkinge through rottennesse 2. But if thou behold mee with the eye of thy mercie thou wilt thereby raise mee beinge through sinne but a carcasse from the sepulchre of myne iniquitie 3. Whatsoeuer thou hatest ô Lord â—n mee expell and roote out of mee 4. And plant in mee the Spirit of Chastitie and continencie to the end â—hat whatsoeuer I shall demand of â—hee in my demand I may not offend â—hee â— Take from mee that which is hurtâ—ull and giue mee that is profitable 6. Giue mee a medicine ô Lord by which the soares of my soule may be healed 7. Bestow vppon mee ô Lord thy Feare compunction of Hart Humilitie and a conscience Free from all sinne 8. Graunt mee Grace ô Lord that I may be alwayes able to liue in charitie with my Bretheren not forgettinge my owne sinns or pryinge into the sinnes or doings of other men 9. Pardon my soule Pardon my sinns Pardon myne offences Pardon myne abominations 10. Visit mee Weakened Cure mee diseased Refresh mee wearied Rayse mee dead 11. Take pittie ô God take pittie of mee and behold mee from the sacred seate of thy sacred Maiestie 12. Grant mee ô Lord a hart thaâ— may feare thee a mind that may louâ— thee a sense that may conceiue thee eyes that may see thee 13. And illuminate the darkenesse of my hart with the bright beames of thy light 14. Giue mee ô Lord discretion to be able to discerne betwixt good and euill and enduemee with an vnderstandinge that is alwayes watchfull 15. I humblye craue pardon of all my sinns I humblie craue it ô Lord of thee from whom and by whom I hope to find Fauour in the tyme of necessitie 16. O Marie Mother of God Mother of Iesus-Christ our Lord thou sacred and vnspotted Virgin vouchsafe
to make intercession for mee vnto him who made thee a worthy temple for himselfe to dwell in 17. O S. Michaël O S. Gabriel O S. Raphaël 18. O holie Quires of Angells and Archangells of Patriarchs and Prophets of Apostles and Euangelists O S. Peter and S. Iohn of Martyrs ô blissed S. Thomas of Canterburie of Doctors ô Blissed S. Gregorie our Apostle of Priests and Leuites ô Venerable Bede of Monks Ermites ô Holye Father S. Bennet of Virgins ô Blissed S. Scholastica of all such as haue liued holylye and Religiouslye 19. I presume to beseech you euen for his sake by whom you haue beene elected and by whose contemplation you are extreamelye delighted and fullye satiated 20. That you will be pleased to pray for mee a poore sinner vnto him our God that I maye be deliuered from the furious lawes of the infernall fiend and from that death which neuer shall haue end This is continued in the followinge Exercise THE XII EXERCISE 1. VOuchsafe ô Lord accordinge to thy meeknesse and vnspeakable Mercie to make mee pertaker of eternall felicitie 2. Graunt ô Lord that Priests maye liue in concord that Kings and Princes rulinge as they ought to doe maye be vnited in peace and tranquillitie 3. I humbly craue Grace ô Lord for the whole Catholicke Church for Men and woemen for Religious Persons and for secular people for all Christian Magistrates and for all that beleiue in thee and labour for thy holye Loue that they maye perseuer in doing well all the dayes of their life 4. Graunt ô Lord and kinge eternallâ— to Virgins Puritie to Religious Persons who haue dedicated themselues vnto thee the guift of Chastitie to married folkes Holinesse of life 5. To such as are trulye sorrowfull for their sinns forgiuenesse to Widowes and Orphans succour 6. Protection to those that are poore to Trauellers a safe returne to their Home comfort to such as mourne 7. To the faithfull departed the present repose of Heauen to mariners and such as saile on the sea their desired Port or Hauen 8. To those who haue attayned to Perfection Grace increase and perseuerance to beginners and proficients in vertue Grace to doe better and better 9. To sinners and to such as offend as to mee poore wretch that they may speedilye Amend 10. O most mild and mercifull Lord and Sauiour sonne of the liuinge God the worlds Redeemer amongst all men and in all things I confesse my selfe to be a miserable sinner 11. Neuerthelesse I beseech thee most sweete and souueraigne father that as an Abiect I may not be cast out of thy Fauour 12. Yea rather ô Lord thou who art Kinge of Kings and hast determined and decreed the lenth of each Mans life graunt mee a deuout desire to amend myne 13. Stire vp my sluggish soule to the end that at all tymes and in all things it may seeke desire loue and feare thee who in all places art three and one and maye put in practice that which is pleasinge to thee 14. Especially I beseech thee ô Holy Father who art blissed and glorious for euer that thou wilt mercifullie preserue all those who in their Prayers are mindfull of mee or haue commended themselues to myne 15. Those likewise who haue shewed towards mee any deed of Charitie or pittie 16. And those alsoe that are ioyned to mee in Blood and affinitie aswell those who are dead as those who yet liue in this mortall Bodie to the end that thou guidinge and assistinge them they may not perish euerlastinglye 17. In generall I beseech thee ô Lord to aid and succour all Christians that are yet liuinge and on those that are dead to bestow pardon and life euerlastinge 18. Finallye ô Lord I most humblye and hartylie beseech thee who art the Alpha Omega the beginninge and endinge that when the tyme is come I must dye thou wilt be a mild and mercifull Iudge and a perpetuall Protector to mee against the Accusations and snares of the Diuel myne old aduersarie 19. Admitt mee for euer into the societie of the Holye Angells 20. And of all thy Saintes in thy Heauenlye cittye where thou art blissed and praysed for all Eternitie Amen THE XIII EXERCISE 1. O Lord Iesus Christ My Redemption My Mercie and my Saluation 2. I prayse thee and giue thee thankes albeit farre short of thy benefits wholy void of Deuotion and Feruour leane and without the desired fattnesse of that most sueete Affection which thou dost require deserue 3. Neuerthelesse my soule doth render thee thankes such as they are not such as I know to be owinge due vnto thee 4. But such as I am able to endeauour such doth my Soule render vnto thee 5. O Hope of my hart ô strenth of my soule maye it please thy omnipotent Worthynesse to accomplish what my wonderfull greate weaknesse doth attempt to performe beinge thou art my life and the scope of my intention sire sigh and couet to come to thee 17. And as a poore distressed child depriued of the presence of his tender harted Father doth with sighs and robbs incessantlye embrace in his hart the Image and semblance of his father Soe fareth it with mee as often as I call to mind thy bitter Passion when I call to mind alsoe the buffetts and whipps by thee susteyned the greiuous wounds by thee endured When I remember in what cruell manner thou hast beene crucifyed and murthered in what manner thou hast by thy deare friends beene enbalmed and buried aâ— often likewise as thy Glorious Resurrection and admirable Ascension doe occurre to my Memorie All these things I beleiue most firmelye lamentinge with Teares the Calamities of my exile in this vayle of miserie My onlye hope is the comfort of thy comeinge my cheife desire is to behold thee face to face in thy heauenlye habitation 18. I cannot but greiue for that I haue not seene thee ô Lord of Angells debasinge thy selfe to conuerse and liue amongst men that by that meanes thou mightst exalt men to Angelicall conuersation when God did dye who was offended that man might liue who had offended 19. I cannot but greiue that I haue not deserued to be present and to be astonished through admiâ—ation of a worke soe wonderfull and vnspeakable compassion 20. How is it ô my soule that the sword of most sharpe sorrow doth not peirce thee to the hart seeinge thou couldst not be present to behold the side of thy Sauuiour wounded with a speare 21. Seeinge thou couldst not be present to behold the feete and hands of thy Maker to be fastned with nailes nor the blood of thy Redeemer to be spilt on the ground in that dreadfull manner This is continued in the followinge Exercise THE XIV EXERCISE 1. WHY art thou not drunke with the Bitternesse of teares seeinge hee was made to drinke of the bitternesse of Gall 2. Why dost thou not take compassion of the most chast Virgin Marie his most worthy Mother and