certaine sent surpassing al sent which the nose cannot discerne a certaine sweetenes excelling al sweetenes which no taste can judge of and a certaine embracement aboue al embracement which no feeling can reach vnto For this light shineth where no place is to containe it This voice soundeth where no aër is to carie it this sent giues a sent where no wind is to waste it this sauor sauoreth where no taste is to eate it and this embracing is felt where it is not sundered This is my God and there shal none other be compared vnto him This doe I seeke when I seeke my God This do I loue when I loue my God Too late haue I loued thee ô beutie so old and yet so fresh too late haue I loued thee Thou wert within and I was without where I sought thee and I deformed as I am rushed vpon these goodlie things which thou hast made Thou wert with me but I was from thee Those things kept me aloofe frō thee which could not be but in thee I went al about seeking thee and forsaking my selfe for al things I asked the earth if it were my God and it answered No and al things in the earth confessed the same I asked the sea the deepes and al things creeping in them but they answered We are not thy God seeke him aboue vs. I asked the puffing aër and the whole aër with al the dwellers in the same made me this answere Anaximenes is deceaued for I am not thy God I asked the heauen the sunne the moone and the stars and they said Neither be wee thy God Then said I vnto al those which stand about the doores of my flesh Tel me I praie you what thinke yee of my God tel me somewhat of him and they al answered with a loude voice He hath made vs Then said I to the masse of the whole world Tel me art thou my God or no And it answerd with a mightie voice I am not but through him I am whome thou seekest in me Hee hath made mee seeke him aboue me by whom I am now ruled and was once created The asking of the creatures is the deepe consideratiō of them their answere is the testimonic which they yeeld of God For al things crie God hath made vs For as the Apostle saith the inuisible things of God are sene by the creation of the worlde being considered in his works Then I returned vnto my selfe and went into my selfe and said thus to my selfe what art thou I answered my selfe and said A man reasonable and mortal Then began I to discusse what that should be said Whence is this kind of creature ô Lord my God whence but of thee Thou hast made me and not I my selfe What art thou Thou I meane by whom I liue naie thou by whom al things do liue what art thou Verilie thou Lord my God art the true and onlie God almightie euerlasting incomprehensible and infinite liuing alwaies and dieng in no part of thee thou inhabitest the eternitie and art wonderful in the sight of Angels thou canst not be vttered nor found out nor named thou art a liuing God a true God a terrible strong God knowing neither beginning nor end the beginning and the end of al things who art before the world and from euerlasting to euerlasting Thou art my God and the Lord of al which thou hast created with thee are the causes of al stable things with thee do the originals of al changeable things abide vnchangeable and with thee doe the groundes of reasonable vnreasonable and temporal thinges continue for euer O my God tel me thine humble seruant ô merciful God tel thy seruant euen by thy great mercies I beseech thee tel me whence is this kind of creature if not of thee Shal anie man be his owne maker Haue anie either being or life but from thee Art not thou the principal being from whom al being doth proceede For whatsoeuer is it is of thee because without thee there is nothing Art not thou the welspring of life from which floweth al life For whatsoeuer liueth doth liue through thee because without thee nothing doth liue Therefore ô Lord thou hast made al things What shal I aske who hath made mee Thou Lord hast made me without whom nothing was made Thou art my maker I thy workmanship Thankes be to thee ô Lord my God through whom I liue and through whom al things do liue because thou hast made al. Thankes be to thee ô my maker for thine hands haue made me and facioned me Thanks be to thee ô my light because thou hast inlightned me wherby I haue found both thee and my selfe Where I founde my selfe there I knewe my selfe where I founde thee there I knew thee and where I knewe thee there thou didst inlighten me Thankes be to thee ô my light for inlightening me But what is it that I saide I knewe thee Art not thou a God incomprehensible vnmeasurable the King of kings and Lord of lordes who alone hast immortalitie and dwellest in the light that none can attaine vnto whom neuer man saw neither can see Art not thou an hidden God whose glorie is past finding out art not thou best knowne and a wonderful beholder of thy selfe Who then knowes that which he neuer sawe For thou hast said in thy truth No man shal see mee and liue Thy Prophet hath said through thy truth No man hath sene God at anie time Who then knowes that which hee neuer sawe And thy truth it selfe hath said No man knoweth the Sonne but the Father neither knoweth anie man the Father but the Sonne Thy Trinitie alone which is aboue al knowledge is perfectlie knowne onelie to it selfe Then what is it that I a man like to vanitie haue said I know thee For who knowes thee but thy selfe alone For thou God alone in thy most holie and heauenlie word art said to be almightie passing praise worthie passing glorious passing honourable passing hie beyond al being For thou art found superessentialie and beyond al knowledge to be aboue the nature of anie thing which maie be imagined be it intellectual or sensible and aboue euerie name that is named not in this world onelie but also in that which is to come Inasmuch as through the superessential and secret power of thy Godhead howe no reason vnderstanding nor being can conceiue thou dwellest so as no man can either search thee out or haue accesse vnto thee and that in thy selfe where as light is that none can attaine vnto and brightnes which no creature can either find out comprehend or vtter wherevnto no light can attaine Because it is no light
to be looked vpon or seene but is thought to bee a light exceeding both the reach of reason of vnderstanding and is more than can be attained vnto more than vnchangeable more than maie becommunicated with anie Such a light it is as neuer Angel nor man sawe neither can see This is thy heauen Lord thine hiding heauen thy passing secret heauen I meane thy light beyond al vnderstanding beyond al reason beyond being of which it is said The heauen of heauen is the Lordes The heauen of heauen in comparison whereof al other heauen is but earth forsomuch as it is passing maruel ouslie heaued vp aboue al heauen Yea such an heauen as that firie heauen compared therevnto is but as earth For this is the Lords heauen of heauen because none knowes it but the Lord alone Vnto this heauen no man ascendeth but he which hath descended from heauen For no man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and the Spirit of them both neither knoweth anie man the Sonne but the Father and the Spirit of them both O sacred Trinitie ô Trinitie eternal passing glorious passing vtterance passing finding out which no man can attaine vnto no man comprehend no man conceiue as being beyond al being and superessentialie passing al sense al reason al vnderstanding al knowledge al essence of supercelestial spirits the which nothing no not the verie Angels can either vtter or conceaue or venderstand or know thou perfectlie art knowne to thy selfe ô Trinitie How then do I knowe thee ô Lord God most hie aboue al earth and aboue al heauen whom neither Cherubins nor Seraphins perfectlie do know but with the wings of their contemplations they couer his face which sitteth vpon the hie and statelie throne saieng Holie holie holie Lord God of hosts the whole world is ful of thy glorie The Prophet was astonished and said Wo is me I know not what to saie because I am a man of polluted lips And my hart was astonished and said likewise Wo is me for speaking because I am a man of polluted lips Yet I said I knew thee Notwithstanding wo to them Lord who are tong-tied when they shoulde speake of thee For they which babble much are made mute without thee And I ô Lord my God will not be stil because thou hast made me and lightened me and found me So that I know thee because thou hast inlightened me But how do I knowe thee Doubtlesse I knowe thee in thy selfe I knowe thee not as thou art to thy selfe but as thou art to mee yet not without thee but in thy selfe For thou art the light which hast inlightened me For as y u art to thy selfe thou art knowne to thy selfe alone but as thou art to me according to thy grace thou art knowne to me But what art thou to me ô merciful God tel me thy miserable seruant for thy mercies sake tel me what thou art to me ward Saie vnto my soule I am thy saluation hide not thy face away fro me ô Lord least I die Suffer me to speake with thy mercie me I saie earth and ashes suffer me to speake with thy mercie For great is thy mercie toward me I wil speake vnto my God albeit I am but dust and ashes Tel me thy humble seruant ô merciful God tel me thy miserable seruant for thy mercies sake tel me what art thou to me ward Thou also didst thunder from heauen with a mightie voice into the inner eare of mine hart thou brakedst my deafenes so that I heard thy voice thou didest inlighten my blindnes and I saw thy light and knew how y ◠thou art my God Therfore did I saie I knewe thee because I knewe that thou art my God I knewe thee to be the onelie verie God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ The time was when I knew thee not But wo worth that time when I did not knowe thee wo worth that blindnes when I did not see thee wo worth that deafenes when I did not heare thee Then blind deafe ouglie as I was I rusht vpon those faire things which thou hast made Yet euen then thou wert with me but I was not with thee and those kept me far off from thee which shuld not haue ben without thee Thou hast inlightened me ô light of the world so that I haue seene thee and loued thee For no man doth loue thee but he sees thee And no man doth see thee but hee which loues thee It was late before I loued thee ô beautie so ancient and yet so fresh late was it before I loued thee But wo woorth that time when I loued thee not Chap. 32. The faith or beliefe of a true Christian most notablie described O My light I praise thee for inlightening me whereby I knowe thee But how do I knowe thee I knowe thee to be God alone a liuing God a true God my Creator I knowe thee to be the maker both of heauen and earth of al things visible and inuisible a verie God almightie immortal inuisible incompassable vnlimitable euerlasting to whome none can approch vnto nor comprehend nor find out who art vnchangable vnmeasurable infinite the beginning of al creatures be they visible or inuisible by whom al things were created through whom al the elements doe consist Whose maiestie as it neuer had beginning so it shal neuer haue end I knowe thee to be one God alone the true God namelie the eternal Father Sonne holie Ghost three persons indeede but one simple substance and vnparted nature The Father made of none the Sonne of the Father alone the holie Ghost of the Father and of the Sonne alwaies without either beginning or end A Trinitie yet but one onlie and verie God omnipotent the onlie beginning of al things maker of al creatures both visible and inuisible spiritual and temporal Which by thine almightie power at the beginning didest of nothing make together both creatures spiritual and corporal that is to saie angelical and worldlie and afterward the humane as a middle nature consisting of bodie and spirit I knowe and confesse thee God the Father to be vnbegotten thee God the Sonne to be begotten of the Father thee God the holie Ghost the comforter to be neither made nor begotten With my hart I beleeue vnto righteousnes and with my mouth I confesse vnto saluation this holie and single Trinitie in three coequal consubstantial and coeternal persons to be a Trinitie in Vnitie and an Vnitie in Trinitie I knowe thee Iesus Christ our Lord to be a true God the onelie begotten Sonne of God and the Creator Sauior and redeemer not of
mee onlie but also of al mankind whome I acknowledge to be begotten of the Father before al worlds God of God light of light verie God of verie God begotten not made being of one substance and coeternal with the Father and the holie Ghost by whom al things at the beginning were made Stedfastlie beleeuing trulie confessing that thou Iesus Christ the onlie begottē Sonne of God for our saluation by the consent of the whole Trinitie tookest flesh and wert conceiued by the holy Ghost of the virgin Marie and wert made verie man of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting Thou forsomuch as in respect of thy Godhead being the onelie begotten Sonne of God thou couldest neither suffer nor die through thine exceeding loue wherewith thou hast loued vs thou the verie same Sonne of GOD for al that becamest subiect to sufferings mortalitie in respect of thy manhood ô onlie Sonne of God for the saluation of mankinde diddest suffer death vpon the wood of the crosse to saue vs from euerlasting death Thou the autor of light descendedst into hel and like a glorious conquerour rosest againe the third daie taking to thee againe thy sacred bodie which for our sinnes had lien in the sepulchre and quickening it according to the Scripture the third daie that thou mightest place the same at the right hand of the Father For thou the verie Sonne of God taking againe vnto thy selfe the substance of our flesh that is to saie the soule and humane bodie which thou tookest of the glorious virgin art ascended vp aboue al the heauens and mounted aboue the orders of Angels where thou sittest at the right hand of God the Father and whereas the fountaine of life is the light which none can attaine vnto the peace of God which passeth al vnderstanding There we doe worship thee there we do beleeue thee to be verie God and verie man confessing God to be thy Father and from thence we looke that thou wilt come a iudge in the end of the world to iudge both the quick and the dead and to render to al men good and bad according to their deedes which they haue don in this life either reward or punishment according as euery one is worthie rest or torment For al men euen as manie as haue receaued soules in their humane flesh which they had in this world shal rise at that daie through the sound of thy power that whole man may receaue either the glorie of heauen or the paine of hel according to their deserts Thou art our resurrection and the life it selfe whom we looke for euē y e Lord Iesus Christ our Sauior who shal change our vile bodie y t it may be facioned like vnto his glorious bodie I knowe thee the holie Spirit both of the Father and of the Sonne to be one God and a verie God proceeding alike from them both of one substance and coeternal with the Father and the Sonne our comforter and aduocate Which camest downe in the likenes of a doue vpon y e same God our Lord Iesus Christ and showedst thy selfe vpon thine Apostles in firie tongs Which also euen from the beginning hast instructed with the gift of thy grace al the saints and chosen of God and opened the mouthes of the Prophets that they might declare abrode the woonderful mysteries of the kingdome of God who also together with the Father the Sonne of al the Saints of God art worshipped and glorified Among whome I the sonne of thine handmaid do glorifie thy name because thou hast inlightened me For thou art the verie light the true light the fire of God the master of the spirits which by thine ointment teachest vs al truth the spirit of truth without which it is impossible to please God For thou thy selfe art God of God and light of light vnspeakablie proceeding from the Father of lights and from his Sonne our Lord Iesu Christ with whom thou raignest and art glorified most singularlie being of one substance coequal and coeternal with them in the essence of one and the same Trinitie I knowe thee Father Son and holie Ghost to be one a liuing and a verie God three I confesse in persons yet but one in essence whome I acknowledge worship and glorifie with mine whole hart being the true God the onelie God holie immortal inuisible vnchangeable whom no man can either attaine vnto or find out This God I acknowledge to be one light one sonne one bread one life one happines one beginning one end one creator both of heauen earth by whom al things do liue by whom al things subsist by whom al things are gouerned ruled and quickened both the things in heauen and the things in earth and things vnder the earth beside whom there is no God neither in heauen nor in earth Thus knowe I thee ô Lord God who knowest me thus knowe I thee Through thy faith which thou hast inspired to me I knowe thee ô my light the sight of mine eies ô Lord my God the hope of al the ends of the earth the ioie reioicing mine youth and the good susteining mine age For in thee ô Lord al my bones reioice saieng O Lord who is like to thee Among the gods who is like to thee Not that whome the hands of men haue made but thou who hast made the hands of men The idols of the nations are siluer gold euen the workes of mens handes so is not hee which made man Al the gods of the people are idols but the Lord made the heauens Let those gods which made not y e heauens the earth perish frō the earth from vnder these heauēs but let both heauen earth praise him which created both earth heauen Amen Chap. 33. A confession of mans wretchednes WHo is like vnto thee ô Lord among the gods who is like vnto thee so glorious in holines fearful in praises doing wonders Long was it ere I knew thee ô true light long was it ere I knew thee There was a great and darke cloude before my vane eies so that I coulde not beholde the sunne of righteousnes nor the light of the truth I a childe of darkenes was wrapped in darkenes I loued darknes because I knew not the light Blind I was and I loued blindnes after darknes I folowed through darknes Who brought mee thence where I a blinde wretch sate in darknes and in the shadowe of death Who tooke me by the hand to leade me out What was he which inlightened me I sought
A light vnmeasureable a light without bodie incorruptible incomprehensible a light which faileth not a light vnquenchable vnapprochable vncreate a true light an heauenlie light which lighteneth the eies of Angels which cōforteth y e strength of the righteous which is the light of lights and the fountaine of life which is none other things but euen thou ô Lord my God For thou art the light in which light we shal see light that is thy selfe in thy selfe in y e brightnes of thy countenance when we shal see thee face to face What is it to see thee face to face but euen as the Apostle saith To knowe euen as I am knowen to knowe thy truth and thy glorie To know thy face is to know the power of the Father y e wisedome of the Sonne the mercie of the holie Ghost and the single and simple essence of the glorious Trinitie For to see the face of the liuing God is the cheefest happines the ioie of Angels and of al Saints the reward of eternal life the glorie of the spirits euerlasting ioie y e crowne of glorie the garland of felicitie rich tranquilitie the goodlie peace inward outward delectation the paradise of God celestial Ierusalem the blessed life perfect happines the ioie of perpetuitie y e peace of God which passeth al vnderstanding This is ful happines indeede and al the glorie of man euen to see the face of his God to see him that made heauen and earth to see him that hath made man that hath saued man that hath glorified man Man shal see God in knowing him like him in louing him and praise him in possessing him For he shal be y e heritage of his people of his holie people of the people whom he hath redeemed He shal be the possession of their felicitie he shal be the reward and recompence of their hope I wil be saith he thine exceeding great reward For great things beseeme a great person In good sooth ô Lorde my God thou art much greater than al Gods and thy reward is exceeding great Neither art thou great and thy reward little but as thou art great so is thy reward great For thou art not one thing and thy reward another But thou thy selfe art exceeding great thou thy selfe art an exceeding greatreward Thou thy selfe art both the crowne and the crowner the promise and the promiser the gift and the giuer the rewarder and the reward of euerlasting blisse Thou art then the crowner the crowne ô my God and the diademe of mine honor adorned with glorie the brightnes comforting the light renuing the glorie adorning my great hope the desire and thing desired from the hart of al Saints Thy sight therefore is al the recompence al the reward al the ioie which we looke for For this is eternal life this I saie is thy wisedome This is eternal life that we knowe thee to be the onlie true God and whome thou haste sent Iesus Christ So that whē we shal see thee the onelie true God liuing almightie simple inuisible who can neither be conteined nor comprehended and thine onlie begotten Sonne of one substance with thee and coeternal euen Iesus Christ our Lord whom thou didest send into the world for our saluation in the power of the holie spirit three in persons and but one in substance an holie and God alone beside whome there is no God then we shal haue what now we seke namelie eternal life euerlasting glorie which thou hast prepared for them which loue thee and laid vp for them that feare thee and wilt giue to them which seeke thee Isaie which continualie do seeke thy face And thou ô Lord my God which didest take me out of my mothers bowels which recōmended me into thine hand suffer me not anie more I beseech thee to bee distracted so on euerie side but bring mee from outward things vnto my selfe and fro my selfe vnto thee that mine hart maie alwaie saie vnto thee My face hath sought thee out Lord I wil seeke thy face the face of the Lord of hosts wherein al the euerlasting glorie of the saints consisteth The sight whereof is eternal life and the euerlasting glorie of the saints Wherefore let mine hart reioice that it maie feare thy Name Let the hart of such as seeke the Lord reioice but much more the hart of such as find him For if there be ioie in seeking how great shal bee the ioie in finding Wherefore I wil alwaie earnestlie seeke thy face yea vncessantlie wil I seeke the same if happilie the gate and doore of righteousnes maie bee opened vnto me that I maie enter into my maisters ioie This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shal enter through the same Chap. 37. A praier vnto the holie Trinitie O BLESSED Trinitie three coëqual and coëternal persons one verrie God Father Sonne and the holie Ghost which alone inhabitest the eternitie and the light that no man can attaine vnto who hast made the earth by thy power and rulest the world by thy wisedome Holie holie holie Lord God of hostes dreadful and mightie and righteous and merciful and wonderful who art to be praised and to beloued One God three persons one essence power wisedome goodnes and one vndiuided Trinitie Open to me which cal vnto thee the gate of righteousnes and when I am come in I wil praise the Lord. Lo most honorable housholder I a poore begger knocke at thy doore cōmand the doore to be opened to me which knocke who hast said Knock it shal be opened For doubtles y e grones of my paned bowels the crie of the teares of mine eies knock at thy gate ô most merciful Father O Lord my whole desire is before thee and my sighing is not hid from thee O Lord hide thy face no longer fro me neither cast thy seruant away in displeasure Most merciful Father heare the complaint of thy sonne and reach him thine helping hande that it may bring me out of the horrible pit out of the lake of miserie and from the miry clay that I perish not in the sight of thy pitiful eies and in the presence of thy bowels of mercie but may escape vnto thee my Lord God that I may see the riches of thy kingdome and euermore behold thy face and sing praises to thine holy name O Lord which dost woonderous thinges comfortest mine hart through the remembrance of thee and inlightenest mine youth cast mee not off in the time of mine age but reioice al my bones and renue my strength like the
A PRETIOVS BOOKE OF HEAVENLIE MEDITATIONS called A priuate talke of the soule with GOD Which who so zealouslie wil vse and pervse shal feele in his mind an vnspeakable sweetenes of the euerlasting happines Written as some thinke by that reuerend and religious Father S. AVGVSTINE and not translated onlie but purified also and with most ample and necessarie sentences of holie Scripture adorned by THOMAS ROGERS Psal 119 verse 113. I hate vaine inuentions but thy Lawe do I loue Printed at London by H. Denham dwelling in Pater noster Row at the signe of the Starre 1581. Cum priuilegio Regiae Maiestatis To the honorable Master THOMAS WILSON Doctor of the Ciuil lawes one of hir Maiesties principal Secretaries and of the most honorable priuie Counsel Grace and peace in our Sauior Christ. AMong Christians it is hath bin for longe continuance an ancient custome Honorable at this time and at this daie commonlie of the yeere either to purchase fauor if they haue none or to confirme friendship which they haue with giftes and presents Hence both hie estates to them of lowe calling and meane persons to their betters and euerie friend to his wel-willer lightlie wil sende some token if his habilitie doe serue of a friendlie hart and affection In the daie two special things are to be obserued One is that our Sauior Christ was circumcised herevpon another that the newe yeere beginneth now If we showe arguments of loue one toward another for that we haue perceaued the loue of our Sauior to vs ward by his natiuitie circumcision and suffering in y e flesh for our sakes doubtles our custome is a Christian custome if otherwise because the new yeere beginneth we seeke new loue or a renuing of old good wil it is a Ciuil custome commendable in either respect yet vsed in both it better pleaseth God I therefore hearing of the good opinion which it hath pleased your Honor to conceaue of mee haue thought no time coulde be better than now by some present both to thanke your Honor for the same and to craue the continuance thereof til by euil demeanor I shal deserue the contrarie My gift which I doe offer is for price of no great value such as a poore Student may present For as the Persians from the richest to the poorest woulde gratifie their Kings with giftes and rewardes some with golde as Noble men some with silke and spices as Marchant men and some too with simple apples and plums and such like frute as Husbandmen who had no better to giue So though persons of Honor may giue you gold and iewels marchants veluet silk and spices rich men costâ—ie rewardes yet can a poore laâ—orer in the garden of Christian knowledge giue no better than such as he hath apples and plums euen the frute of his studie and trauel Notwithstanding smal for price though it be I haue good hope your Honor wil accept it wel in woorth both for the matter it containeth which is so holie and for the maner of handling the same by the auctor which is so heauenlie that in my iudgement neither Historia Animalium which Aristotle gaue vnto Alexander the Great nor that of Cicero De Republica which Cardinal Poole sought after with the expence of 2000. crownes Nor finalie those sibyllian works that Tarquin Priscus bought ful deerelie of Amalthea are so profounde for knowledge nor manie big volumes of Philosophie for methode so exquisite nor al y e bookes of humanitie so necessarie for vse as it is Which I doe write neither to dissuade anie from the reading of those nor to persuade your Honor to conceiue wel of this booke For I verilie do thinke that both they are commendable yea and necessarie too applied to their due endes and that your Honor conceaueth better of this than I by writing can expresse being as you are for your wisedome an honorable Counseler for your learning a reuerend Doctor by your sundrie good necessarie bookes a famous Writer and for your zeale a valiant oppugner of sin and wickednes But as I thinke therof my selfe so doe I write In which respect I haue not shunned paines to adorne the same with places of holie Scripture For seeing the booke by perusing it to mine vnspeakable both profite and pleasure to sauor most fragrantlie of the flowers and sentences not of humane that is vane wisedome but of Gods holie word and to be as holie for phrase as for matter holie being wholie taken out of the holie Scripture me thought were the places of Scripture annexed in the margine it would be â— quick spur not onlie vnto the true Christians zealouslie to read this ancient and godlie Father when they should see al his sentences in a maner to be nothing but verie Scripture but also vnto Papists who neglecting Scripture cleaue ouermuch vnto this and other Fathers of the Church to reade the Scriptures when they should perceaue al his delight to be in vsing the verie words of the holie Ghost Wherefore both for the bringing the Scripture into more credit with al Papistes and this holie Father with some Protestantes and his methode and maner of handling the Scriptures to be a perpetual monument of imitation vnto both I haue added the places the more willinglie through the earnest instigation of some godlie persons especialie of the Printer heereof whose good nature and zeale as it is not vnknowne to your Honor so is it wel knowne to the Church of Christ by his careful and orderlie imprinting good bookes and now haue published my dooings vnder the protection of your Honor. Which my paines if I shal perceaue to be wel taken of the godlie chiefelie of your wisedome I purpose God assisting me to proceede in setting forth after this same order not onlie the auctors Manuel and Meditations but also diuers and sundrie of S. Augustine his workes beside that the verie Papistes may see though they know it wel ynough alreadie that Augustino plurimùm tribuamus as it is wel giuen out of vs But me thinkes I heare some aduersaries among themselues on this wise speaking His quoting we condemne not and his translating we allow but by his presumptuous parting of Sentences and correcting such a Doctor he plainelie sheweth that he is by the one ouer-curious and by the other a ranke Heretike May it therefore please your Honor to heare my reasons of doing what I haue done the which if your wisedome do like I shal not weigh what anie either Zoilus of enuie or aduersarie of malice will thinke Touching my parting of the sentences I did it vpon these occasions First to imitate those good Bookes out of which they were borowed that is the sacred Scripture For surelie in mine opinion â—t were not wel the Booke beeing most notablie deriued out of the pure fountaines of Gods holie word if it were set forth in anie other forme than is the spring from which it flowed Secondlie that the
the Vniuersities for learning and London for resort which ought to be the Lanternes of godlines vnto al the land beside Preachers euen the grauest for wisedome and yeeres and the greatest for zeale and knowledge not the smallest for auctoritie euerie-where crie out vpon them so zealouslie with such griefe of hart that they are euen tyred againe with crieng Doctors condemne them By shops write against them yea the best auctors in these daies of those wanton yea wicked toies are quite out of loue with them ashamed of their doings Oh that the Magistrate our soueraigne Magistrate I meane would vtterlie forbid them publikelie to be vsed that the common people might not haunt them and al should be wel But to returne to my purpose from which I haue digressed these errors I feare mee haue caused manie to doubt whether S. Augustine were y e auctor of this booke but being left out as nowe they are I cannot see why S. Augustine might not make the same the matter is so heauenlie praiers the words so holie Scripture euerie thing so wiselie orderlie excellentlie done by the auctor that he must needes be a most excellent man whosoeuer made the same and a more excellent than S. Augustine among the Doctors I thinke was neuer none Which being so I trust I shal â—â—t neede to request your Honor 〈◊〉 accept this booke in good part 〈◊〉 to request your Honor to parâ—â—n my boldnes in dedicating my â—â—ple doings obscure as I am 〈◊〉 person vnknowne to your Hoâ—â—r and to beare with my rude â—diousnes and tedious rudenes â—aue great neede and so I humâ—â—ie doe The Lord almightie and King 〈◊〉 glorie who hath cast the eies 〈◊〉 his gratious countenance vpon â—â—u abide with you for euermore and with this new yeere powre vpon your Honor a newe increase of his heauenlie blessings Amen The first of Ianuarie An. 1581. At your Honors commandement Tho. Rogers A pretious Booke of holie Meditations written by that reuerend Father S. Augustine which he calleth his priuate talke with GOD. Chap. 1. Of the vnspeakable sweetenes of God O Lorde which knowest mee giue me grace to knowe thee to know thee euen â—he strength of my soule O my comforter showe me â—hy selfe let mee see thee ô â—â—ght of mine eies Come ô thou mirth of my â—pirit let me see thee the ioie â—f mine hart loue thee the â—erie life of my soule Come in my presence ô my souereigne delight my sweeâ— solace ô my Lord God my life and the whole glorie oâ— my soule Let me finde thee ô minâ— harts desire let me hold thee whome my soule doth loue 〈◊〉 O celestial bride-groome leâ— me embrace thee ô my souâ—â— reigne comfort both inward and outwarde let me possessâ— thee ô euerlasting blisse yeâ— in the middes of mine hart 〈◊〉 me possesse thee ô blessed liâ—◠ô surpassing sweetenes 〈◊〉 my soule Let me loue thee ô Lord 〈◊〉 strength my fortresse my refuge and my Sauior Let me loue thee ô my GOD 〈◊〉 helper mine hie tower aâ—â— mine hope in al my troble Let me embrace thee euâ—â— goodnes it self without whom nothing is good let me enioie thee the verie best without whome nothing is best O word more sharper than â—nie two edged sword open â—hou the secreat partes of mine eares that I may heare thy voice Thunder ô Lord from heaâ—en with a loude and mightie voice Let the sea roare and al â—hat therein is let the earth be mooued and al that is in it Lighten mine eies ô inâ—omprehensible light cast â—orth thy lightning and scatter â—hem that they regard no vaâ—itie Encrease thy lightning and â—â—atter them that the fountains â—f water may appeere and the â—â—undations of the worlde be â—â—scouered O light inuisible giue mee sight to see thee Create a new smelling ô fauor of life that I may runne after thee through the sauor of thy ointments Heale my tasting that I may taste know and discerne how great thy goodnes is ô Lord which thou hast laide vp for them who are filled with thy looue Giue mee an hart that may thinke on thee a minde that may loue thee a soule that may remember thee an vnderstanding to knowe thee and reason alwaies to sticke fast vnto thee the most souereigne delight Let wise loue fauor thee wiselie O life for whome al things liue ô life which giuest me life ô life which art my life by which I liue without which I die O life which raisest me to life without which I perish ô life whereby I reioice without which I am pensiue ô liuelie sweet and louelie life alwayes to be thought vpon where art thou I beseech thee where may I finde thee that I may faint in my selfe and depend on thee O my loue be thou nigh in my minde nigh in mine hart nigh in my mouth nigh in mine eares nigh to aide me For I languish through looue for without thee alas I die but when I thinke on thee I reuiue againe Thy sauor refresheth mee thy remembrance healeth me yet shal I not be satisfied til thy glorie appeereth ô thou life of my soule My soule longeth yea and fainteth through the remembrance of thee when shal I come and appeere before thy presence ô my ioie Wherefore hydest thou thy face ô my delight by whome I reioice O thou faire on whome I so desire where hast thou hid thy selfe Thy sent I feele therefore doe I liue and am somwhat comforted but thee I see not I heare thy voice and I take hart againe But wherfore hidest thou thy face Happilie thou wilt saie No man shal see me and liue Oh then Lord ô that I were dead so I might see thee ô let me see thee that I may die euen here I wil not liue die I would yea I desire to be loased to be with Christ I desire to die that I may see Christ I refuse to liue that I may liue with Christ O Lord Iesu receiue my spirite ô my life take my soule my ioie drawe my hart vnto thee my sweete foode let me eate thee mine head direct me light of mine eies inlighten me ô my comfort reioice me my sauior quicken me ô Word of God refresh me my praise comfort the soule of thy seruant Enter therinto ô my ioie that it also may ioie in thee Enter therinto ô souereigne sweetenes that it may sauor those thinges which are sweet ô light eternal shine thou ouer it that it may vnderstande thee knowe thee and loue thee For the cause ô Lord why it loueth thee
shortned that it cannot saue neither is thine eare heauie that it cannot heare But my sinnes haue separated betweene mee and thee betweene darkenes and light betweene the image of death and life betweene falsehood and truth betwene this vanishing state of mine and thine eternitie Chap. 12. Of the manifold snares of concupiscence THese be the shadowes of darknes wherwith I am couered in the dungeon of this darke prison wherein I lie groueling vntil the daie dawne shadowes doe depart and light be made in the firmament of thy strength The voice of y e Lord is mightie the voice of the Lord is glorious let it speake that light may be made darkenes may depart the drie land appeare and earth maye bud foorth the hud of the herbe that feedeth seede bringeth out the fruite of righteousnes of the kingdome of God O Lord father and God of my life by whom al things do liue without whome al things are as dead leaue mee not in a wicked imagination neither giue mee a proude looke Take fro mee vaine concupiscence and giue not me thy seruant ouer into an impudent mind but possesse thou mine heart that alwaies it may think on thee Inlighten mine eies that they may behold thee and neuer be lifted vp before thee ô eternal glorie but think humblie not of thy woonders aboue their reach that they may see those things which are at thy right hand not the things at thy left And alwaies let thine eie lids direct my steps For thine eie-lids do trie the sonnes of men Asswage the heate of my cōcupiscence with thy goodnes which thou hast laide vp for those that feare thee that with euerlasting desire I may couet after thee that mine inner taste may not be enticed deceiued with vaine things and so put sowre for sweete and sweete for sowre darknes for light and light for darkenes that I may be deliuered in the middes of so many snares as are laid by the enimie to take the soules of sinners wherewith the whole world is replenished Which thing S. Iohn did see and passed not ouer the same in silence when he said For al that is in the world is either the lust of the flesh the lust of the cies or the pride of life Behold ô Lord my God the whole worlde is ful of the snares of concupiscence which they haue prepared for my feete who cā escape them Euen hee doubtles from whome thou takest the loftie lookes that he be not taken by y e lust of the cies frō whome thou takest carnal cōcupiscēce that he be not taken by the lust of the flesh and from whome thou takest a bold impudent mind that the pride of life doe not slilie deceaue him O most happie man for whome thou dost these things for doubtles he shal go vnpunished Now then ô my redeemer by thy selfe I beseech thee assist me that I fal not in the sight of mine aduersaries being takē by y e traps which they haue set for my feete to bring downe my soule But deliuer mee ô strength of my saluation least thine enimies which hate thee haue me in derision Arise ô Lord my God my mightie one and let thine enimies be scattered they also that hate thee let them flie from thy face As waxe melteth before the fire so let the wicked perish at thy presence But let me be hid priuilie in thy presence and reioice with thy children abounding with al good things And thou ô Lord God father of Orphanes and thou mother of thy poore children listen vnto y e crie of thy sonnes spreade out thy wings that we may flie therevnder from the face of the enimie For thou art the tower of Israëls strength who wilt neither slumber nor sleepe keeping Israël because he that fighteth against Israël doth neither sleepe nor slumber Chap. 13. Of mans miserie and of Gods benefites O Light ô cleerenes whome none other light or clerenes doth beholde ô light which darckeneth al light ô cleerenes which dimmeth al strange light ô light from which al light ô cleerenes from which al cleerenes doth proceede ô cleerenes in respect wherof al other brightnes is but darkenes and al other light but dimnes Where thou shinest the verie darkenes is bright as daie and dimnes is light O moste souereigne light whom no blindnes can darken nor mistines dimme nor darknes obscure nor anie let close vp nor shadow keepe away O light which inlightenest al things at one time togither and alwaies swalow me vp into the depth of thy brightnes that I may on al sides beholde thee both in thy selfe and me in thee al things vnder thee Forsake mee not ô Lord least the shadowes of mine ignorance do encrease and mine offences multiplie For without thee euerie thing is darkenes to me and al things are euil because nothing is good without thee the true onlie and souereigne good This I acknowledge and this I know ô Lord my God For be I in anie place without thee euil is it with mee hauing not thee not onlie outwardlie to my bodie but also inwardlie to my soule because al abundance being not with thee my God is but beggerie but whē thy glorie apeareth I shal be satisfied And ô Lord my blessed life grant that I maie confesse my wretchednes vnto thee for from thee the souereigne and verie good it selfe and from the vnitie of thy goodnes hath the diuers kinds of temporal things separated me being fallen into sinne through carnal senses and from one it hath parted me into many things so that abundance to mee was combersome and pouertie was plentie while I haunted after this and that and yet could neuer be satisfied for in my selfe I found not thee th' vnchangable singular vnseparable and onlie good which had I once atteined I should want no more which had I once found out I should weepe no more which did I once enioie mine heart would be at rest Oh miserie vpon miserie sith my miserable soule doth flie from thee with whom she hath abundance and ioie and foloweth the world with whome she hath pouertie and sorow The world crieth I vanish ô Lord thou criest I refresh yet doth my wicked wretchednes more folowe that which vanisheth than him who refresheth This verilie is my weakenes O Physicion of the soule cure it that I may praise thee euen the saluation of my soule and that with mine whole hart for al thy benefites where with thou hast refreshed me euen fro my youth Cast me not off in the time of my age forsake me not whē my strength faileth ô Lord for thine owne sake I beseech thee Thou didest make me when I was
greatnes nor number of thy wisedome nor measure of thy benignitie neither is there end nor number nor measure of thy blessings For as thou art great thy selfe so is thy liberalitie great because thou art the reward and the blessing which they shal haue that fight as they ought to doe Chap. 22. That godlie ioy taketh awaie al present bitternes of the world O Lord God sanctifier of al thy Saints these ar thy great benefits wherwithal thou hast supplied the want of thine hungrie children For thou art the hope of the hopeles the ioie of the comfortles the glorious crowne of hope prepared for such as ouercome Thou art the euerlasting fulnes which shal be giuen to the hungrie Thou art the endlesse comfort which rewardest them that contemne the comfort of this world for thy perpetual comfort For they who in this world receiue comfort find no comfort in the world to come But such as are tormented here be there comforted And suth as suffer with thee doe raigne with thee For no man can haue pleasure in both worlds neither can a man reioice heere and heereafter too but of necessitie he must forgo the one which would haue the other When I consider these things ô Lord my comforter my soule refuseth comfort in this life that it may be meete for thine endles comfort For reason it is that hee should forgo thee whosoeuer chooseth the comfort of anie before thee Wherefore ô soueraigne truth I beseech thee suffer me not to delight in anie vaine pleasure But my request is that al other things may waxe bitter to mee and thou alone seeme sweete to my soule because thou art the vnspeabable sweetnes by whom al sowre things are made sweete For thy sweetenes made the verie stones of the riuer sweete to Stephen Thy sweetenes made the burning greediron sweete vnto Laurence Through thy sweetenes the Apostles departed from the Counsel reioicing that they were counted worthie to suffer rebuke for thy Name Andrew went quietlie and ioifulie to the crosse because he hastened vnto thy sweetnes The princes of thine Apostles were so filled with this sweetenes that for desire thereof one choase the galowes for his death and the other cheerfulie offered his head to bee strooke off with a sword For to buie the same Bartholomow gaue his own skin And to taste this in like sort Iohn without shrinking backe souped off a cup of poison As soone as Peter had tasted heereof by and by forgetting al earthlie things he brake out as if hee had bin dronke into these words Maister it is good for vs to be heere if thou wilt let vs make heere three tabernacles heere let vs abide stil and enioie thy contemplation for wee lacke nothing now It sufficeth vs Lord that we see thee It sufficeth vs to be satisfied with so vnspeakeable sweetnes He had tasted but one drop of sweetenes and lothed forthwith al other sweetenes What thinke yee he would haue said had he tasted that great sweetnes of thy Godhead which thou hast laid vp for such as feare thee That virgin also whome we reade went as ioiefulie vnto prison as to a banquet had tasted this thine vnspeakeable sweetnes This also as I iudge he had tasted who said How great is thy goodnes which thou hast laid vp for them that feare thee and who admonished saieng Taste yee and see how gratious the Lord is For this is the happines ô Lord our God which wee trust thou wilt giue vs for which cōtinualie we fight vnder thy baner for which we are killed al the daie long that to thee we may liue in thy life Chap. 23. That al our trust and al the desire of our carke should be cast vpon God O Thou Lord y e hope of Israël the verie thing in hart I dailie do desire make haste and tarie not Arise hasten and come awaie that thou maiest bring vs out of this prison to praise thy name to reioice in thy light Listen ô Lord to the crie of the teares of thy poore orphanes that crie vnto theee ô our father giue vs this daie our dailie bread in the strength whereof wee may walke night and daie and minister the same vntil wee shal approch vnto thine holie mountaine And I the smalest among y e little ones of thy familie whē shal I come and appere before thy presence ô God my father and my strength that I who praise thee now for a time may heereafter praise thee eternalie O blessed should I be were I once admitted to behold thy brightnes who can shew me such fauor that thou maist permit me to come therevnto I know Lord I know and acknowledge that I am vnworthie to enter vnder thy roofe yet for the honor of thy name destroie not thy seruant which putteth his trust in thee And who shal enter into thy sanctuarie to consider thy power vnles thou open vnto him And who can open if thou shut against him for if thou destroy no man can build againe And if thou shut man vp none can loase him out If thou with-hold y e waters al things wil drie vp and if thou send them foorth they wil destroie the earth If thou bring to nothing al which thou hast made who dare control thee for the same Moreouer the goodnes of thy mercie whereby thou didest al whatsoeuer thou wouldest is euerlasting O maker of the world thou hast made vs therefore gouerne vs we beseech thee Thou hast created vs then despise vs not because we are the worke of thine hands For doubtles ô Lord our God we silie wormes clay are vnable to enter into the house of thine eternitie vnles thou who of nothing hast created al things do guide vs in Chap. 24. That our saluation commeth from God ANd I the worke of thine hands protest vnto thee in thy feare that I wil not trust in my bowe and that not my sword but thy right hand and thine arme and the light of thy countenance shal saue mee Without which I should despaire But thou who hast made me art mine hope for thou forsakest not them which trust in thee For thou our Lord God art gratious long suffering and gouernest al things by mercie For although we sinne yet are we thine if we sinne not we are thine for we are in thy compt For wee al the sort of vs are but a leafe and al men liuing are but vanitie And our life vpon earth is but a blast Be not angrie with vs thine Orphanes though wee fal for thou knowest whereof wee be made ô Lord our God O God whose power none can