didst bring to the world the most happy newes that euer was or shall be by the loue of him who sent thee to the honour of him who was by thee Named and Announced and for the regard to her to whome thou broughtest the'mbassage obtaine for me the grace that I may be obedient to the Father pleasing to the Sonne and singularly deuoted to the Mother 2. O if I so willingly conceiued and so readily consented to the voyce of my God as did the blessed Virgin to thine I should march apace to perfection I beseech thee by the ioy that the spirit felt when the Diuine word effected thy word putting on the ragges of our mortalitie that thou wilt be pleased to obtaine for mee this fauour of God that I neuer resist his inspirations that I be attentiue to his voyce that for lacke of execution I make not sad the holy Ghost Obtaine I say for me this grace thou speciall embassador of the Diuinitie 3. Embassadour of God Legate of Paradice Nuncies of the coelestiall Empire if any thing bee cause of our ruines for repayring of which the Son of God espoused himselfe to a nature inferiour to thine it was frailtie and ignorance This appertaineth to the soule that to the body From both th' one and th' other thou art free being a spirit and full of knowledge I dare then adiure thee by that which thou art to remedy that which I am and to obtaine of him who did according to thy word more for me then thou shalt euer be able to doe that I may know from henceforth his holy will in all thinges and that in the execution I may be strong and puissant Thy most holy Name signifieth diuine force and valour obtaine for me this force against our common aduersaties and against the most daungerous enemie that I knowe which is the loue of my selfe 4. I salute thee and thanke thee with all my hart messenger of happy newes and I beâ—eech thee to encrease my obligacion by encreasing the seruice which by me thou maist render then when thou shalt obtaine for me the grace not to be as thou art but together with thee a fit Instrument and Organe to set forth the glory of God Title 9. To the Angell Guerdian 1. GOuernour of my life guide of my pilgrimage Torchbearer of my vnderstanding maister of my soule what thankesgiuing shall I render vnto thee for the infinite obliâ—ations â—a poore sinner haue vnto thee whome thou hast serued and assisted though vnworthy and vngratefull from the instant of my birth preseruing mee from so many euils of sinne as I might haue incurred from so many dangers as my body hath passed and had fallen into haddest thou not fauoured mee If I should thanke thee as often as I breath I could not satisfie my obligation neither will I nor can I doe it but in him by whom and for whose loue thou hast beene so faithfull to mee Aske then thy recompence of him for so many benefits and permit not that I dye vngratefull towards thee least I dye miserable in the fight of God 2. Vnfatigable friend the infamous odour of my sinnes might haue caused thee to haue withdrawne thy selfe from me as stinke chaseth away Doues and smoke Bees And yet notwithstanding thou hast had patience to stay neere to this dunghill with charitie greater then tongue can vtter and with longanimitie altogether Angelicall Thankes be giuen vnto thee by all the courts of Heauen and by all those creatures which haue interest in my saluation all whom thou hast together with mee obliged vnto thee If euer I come as by thy mediation I hope I shall to the hauen of beatitude I will render vnto thee O my louing and beloued Patroâ— the principall and arrerages of so many so speciall and so particular obligations in the presence of him whom thou incessantly lookest in the face How often had I fallen into riuers into flames into dungeons into the hands of my visible and inuisible enemies How often had Sathan styfled mee whilest I was drinking eating sleeping walking especially at those times when he perceiued mee to be out of the grace of God if thou O my guide and singuler benefactor hadst not broken his strength and dissipated his designes 3. So many times thou hast saued my life as thou hast preserued me from deadly sinne so many times thou hast rendered vnto me my life as thou hast raysed me out of deadly sinne A life a thousand times more precious then that of the body and consequently a benefit as much greater as aeternitie exceedeth time grace nature the glorious state of the Saintes the miserable condition of the damned Thankes therefore be vnto thee as many times as there are moments in time oâ— imaginable minutes in aeternitie 4. What shall I say of thy going from God to vs and returning from vs to God exciting the one appeasing the other carrying vp our prayers and bringing downe his presents what of so many inspirations secret motions benigne influences so many interiour and exteriour endes so many Angelicall inuentions deuises stratagems of Charitie as thou hast vsed to retire mee from vice and the inclinations of a corrupt nature to draw me to the loue of him whom loue made to dye for me There is no meanes how in this vally of teares and in the midst of this Aegyptian darknesse I may know the thousand part of these oblgations and how shall I then bee able to acknowledge them Finish then O sage Pilot this my perilous Nauigation end this chiefe work which hitherto hath put thee to so great paine For if thou shalt haue fully accomplished this I shall haue meanes to recompence that which is past to repaire that which is lost and to make euen my debts Looke well then into it as is thy custome O my guide it concernes thee exceeding much seeing thereupon depends the glory of God and the saluation of a soule coÌ„mitted to thy charge 5. And if it be possible that thou shouldst not be interessed in my saluation I am content that thou neglect both th' one and th' other Hee which was made man for mee that liued heere for me that dyed for me that hath giuen me his body for meat and his bloud for drinke hee that hath honoured mee with the title of sonne and brother hee that calleth and nameth himselfe my spouse hee who bowing downe the Heauens of his greatnesse vouchsafed to serue mee hee that would dye againe if it were needfull and for me endure againe all that hee hath suffered hee I say perswades yea nothing else Do then that which thou shalt iudge to be according to his will Sweet friend and charitable tutor I will put no other rule no no other then thou thy selfe dost put which is the very great glory of him to whom wee all appertaine by condition obligation and election to whome be all praise honour and glory world without end Title 10. To the Angels 1.
But seeing O soueraigne truth thou canst not iudge of thinges or take them otherwise then they are and that if I doe seeke my selfe thou canst not but know that I doe so I am content if it be so But with this condition O my God and not otherwise that thou looke vpon me from henceforth as a thing yâ— is thine and that thou impute the loue of my sâ—lfâ— as an affection bestowed vpon a thing that is wholly thine As the sonne whatsoeuer he gets hee gets to the bâ—nefit of his father so long as hee is vnder the power of his father and as a bond slaue whatsoeuer he gets is to his maisters profit 12. From henceforth all the solicitude I shall haue either for apparell or meate or drinke or any such like thinges all my affections reflections goings forth returnings backe that I shall haue either in my selfe of my selfe or about my selfe all my ioy all my feare all my sorrowes all my pleasures all whatsoeuer appertaining to my vanitie past and the inordinate care yâ— I haue had of my selfe all this my God shall from henceforth be wholly addicted to thy seruice vnto the preseruation of a thing which is thine neither more nor lesse then if all this were done by me to any poore creature in an Hospitall or any other towards whome all this exercise of diligence and charity should be pleasing to thee Allow this O my God receiue this O my Father accept of this O my gracious Lord by the merits of him whose workes wordes and thoughts neuer strayed from thy will He hath liued for me he dyed for me euen so I will dye to my selfe and liue to him and so my life shall be hidden in his and shall appeare before thee as if it were his and all the care I shall haue shall not bee of a thing that is mine but it shal be O the onely beloued of my soule as of a thing that is thine And what other meanes O God of my soule can be found tâ— cut off the heade and kill this most horrible Hydra of selfe-loue considering the great malice thereof Title 5. To the soule of our Sauiour Iesus Christ 1. MOst holy and most happy soule Empresse of Heauen and earth I beseech thee by thy incomparable grace which thou receiuedst wheÌ„ at the instant of thy creation thou wa 〈…〉 â—ited to thy diuinitie and supported by the person of the word that thou wilt be pleased to obtaine for mee those vertues of which thou hast left vs both a Commandement and an example aboue all others Chartitie humilitie and puritie 2. By the blessednesse thou didst enioy euen then beholding the Essence of the Sonne of God to whome thou are personally vnited deliuer mee from the loue of my selfe and the great miserie of my imperfections 3. Thy holy Mother was impeccable by grace thou wast so by nature as well for that thy diuine Will did gouerne thy humane as also because by thy vnderstanding thou didst possesse and by thy will created thou hadst fruition of the Diuine essence I dare not aske impeccabilitie but onely the grace neuer to sinne and if the power to sinne be left me yet that the effect of that power be taken from me 4. Soule seate of wisdome which containest in thee the treasures of thy Fathers science thou hast been indued with knowledge diuine blessed and insused ouer and aboue the knowledge experimentall and acquisite which was euery day encreased in thee Obtaine for me by these so rare priuiledges and prerogatiues that I may haue knowledge both of diuine and humaine thinges so as I may neuer stray from the right path of faith and charitie 5. Soule the splendor of the glory of the Father and the Image of his goodnesse be my guide and conductor in the midst of the perils and temptations of the dangerous life of this world Dissipate the cloudes of my passions driue away the night of my ignorance making me euer and in all things to acknowledge his will to whoÌ„ thou art personally vnited 6. Ouer and aboue the grace of vnion hipostaticall and blessed thou baâ—st also the grace of Capitall vnion as being the head of men and Angels Make me then to draw aboundantly out of this plentifull well and to pertake to the greater glory of thy Father of those influences which flow vpon thy misticall body the Church militant and Triumphant 7. Who is able to expresse the thanksgiuing when of nothing and out of that bottomlesse depth of not being any thing common to all creatures thou perceiuedst thy selfe to bee transported to a personall vnion with God who is able to recount that holocaust and sacrifice that thou madest of thy selfe for the accomplishing of that excellent worke of our redemption with what excesse of Charitie diddest thou consecrate thy selfe to God the Father with what an eye of compassion didst thou behold humaine Nature of which thou wast a noble sprig and branch In remembrance of all those thy internall eminent actions for the loue of thy Hypostasie by the merites of thy abode in this world and by all whatsoeuer appertaineth to thy incarnation I beseech thee to thanke him for me to whome thou art vnited to giue and sacrifice me to his glory to present vnto him my actions vowes intentions and thoughts to make my miserable abode in this world pleasing vnto him to make vnto him an holocaust of my life and a sacrifice of my death 8. Thou wast no sooner vnited to that body framed in the womb of the Virgin drawne and taken out of the most pure substance of thy virgin Moâ—â—er but that thou wast receiued and supported by the word O so 〈…〉 Queene of men Princesse of Angels obtaine for me by this grace the grace that I may be deliuered from the cogitation of the body and infection of the flesh from which thou wast preserued being by an extraordinary manner without Adam ioyned to the flesh which descended from Adam 9. Ignorance frailtie and malice are the furniture of this corrupt Masse from which wee are drown'd and of that first fault from which thou wast the deliuerer and the deliuered I beseech thee to guard me from the falls to which I am subiect by my naturall corruption and that by the merits of thy incomparable integritie puritie and holinesse 10. Thy heart was alwayes attentiue to God of whome thou neuer didst loose the sight obtain that I may liue in his presence in him euer and euer before him 11. In vertue of the deiformitie of thy soule my sweete Iesus I begg of thee the guift of conformitie and vniformitie with thee 12. By reason of thy Hypostaticall vnion thy actions were of infinite merit and the onely act of thy incarnation sufficient to redeeme a thousand worlds What shall I not then obtaine of God thy Father if thou shalt please once to present vnto him that which thou hast offered and shed for mee which is thy precious bloud and thy
and seeing that thou hast bestowed such vertue vpon the plants the stones the hearbes seeing the Sunne by the aspect and influence of the Beames doth worke such wonders in nature euen to the making and forming of mettalls in the very bowels of the earth seeing also the Adamant draweth vnto it the yron Amber the straw the Starre the steele by reason of a kinde of simpathie and naturall impression which thou the author of nature hast giuen vnto them Is it conuenient that thy most holy body and incomparable treasure honour my body with his presence that thy most precious bloud be in me and that thy diuine humanitie should really touch mine and not lift vp my soule to thy diuinitie Permit not this monster in Grace and this prodigious wonder in nature 13. Bestow vpon me the charitie which thou didst so straitly recommend vnto thy Apostles and graunt vnto me the guift of prayer and teares as well to accompany thee in thy prayers as that I may be able to resist my temptations according to thy instruction 14. By the feare which ceazed upon the inferiour part of thy soule and by the streames of bloud which did wonderfully run downe caused by thy sorrowe and vehement apprehension I beseech thee my benigne Redeemer to assist me at the houre of my death and to doe me the fauour that albeit my life hath beene so vnprofitable vnto thee yet at last I may honour and serue thee by my death which I desire may bee no other then that which thou shalt Iudge to be for thy greater glory 15. Grant that by the stroke of thy worde I may lay a long thy enemies and mine That I may be tyed and manacled in ropes and chaynes of thy loue That with thee and no otherwise I may appeare before the Tribunall of God thy Father That the Spirit of sweetnesse and meeknesse which thou didst holde towards that accursed fellow which did blindfold thee may accompany me in all occasions That I may be clothed with a white robe of Innocencie and with the purple garment of charitie that by the merrit of thy whipping my body may be a sanctified vessell instrument of thy glory That in vertue of the Crowne of Thornes which pierced thine head I neuer consent to any euil thoughts but especially to such as tend to any pride 16. When will the houre be when one seeing me may say not in derision as it was said of thee but in sinceritie and truth Beholde the man of God bring this to passe my sweet Iesus by the merrits of thy most profound humilitie 17. Then I shall be content with quietnes of minde hear the sentence and iudgement which the wicked shall giue of me and little regard what the world esteemeth of me at this time which passeth though it should be a definitiue sentence of death as vniust and detestable as was that which was pronounced against thee 18. I shall carrie the Crosse with thee such a Crosse I say as it shall please thy diuine prouidence to lay vpon my shoulder I shall edifie by my example the predestinate soules the true daughters of the heauenly Sion 19. But when shall I haue spoiled my selfe of selfe loue whē shall I be as it were naked in respect of thinges of this world to be nayled with thee to the Crosse It shall be then when the nayles of thy feet shal nayle my affections the nayles of thy hands my actions the Speare that pierced thy side shall pierce all my intentions 20 Wash me ô my God God liuing and dying for my loue wash me in the bloud which flowed from thy sacred person so as from hence-foorth I may appeare before thee as a newe washed sheep comne out of the pond as a Lamb without spot readie to be sacrificed 21. Pardon and forgiue all those which wish or doe me euill help all those which are in deadly sinne and neere to their end that they dye not in that pittifull estate as thou didst help the good Theefe in his extreamitie Commend me with the beloued disciple to the protection of thy vnspotted Mother acomplish in me the thirst of thy desires Consume whatsoeuer is displeasing vnto thee consummate all thy mercies towards me Abandō me not leaue me neuer alone Receaue my soule into thy hands as God thy father receaued thine at thy giuing vp thy Ghost Deliuer from Purgatorie the soules which are in paine as thou deliueredst the holy Fathers out of Lymbus where they were detayned Giue vs such a resurrection to life by grace as that we neuer more die by sinn And seeing that our hart ought to be where our treasure is seeing that thou the Lord of the world art placed at the right hand of thy Father lift vs vp to thee and transport our affections aboue the heauens Finally impart vnto vs some part of those graces bestowed vpon thy Apostles Disciples vpon the day of Penthecost that from hence foorth we may become the Temple of thy glorye thy heretage the chosen people with which thou takest pleasure to make thy abode Prayers and considerations as it were in passing according to the occurrences that fall out euery day Title 28. When a man is tempted 1. I Protest my GOD that I giue no consent in any sort to this temptation and that my will desireth the cōtrary of that which is proposed with as great affection proceeding from reason as I feele inclinations arising from sensualitie 2 I thanke thee O my gracious Creator that sence or feeling and consent or yeelding are two different thinges For if euery feeling were a yeilding ioyned with offence of thy diuine Maiestie I were vtterly vndone Temptation hath the one in his holde but none shall haue possession of the other but thy diuine Maiesty The world the flesh and the Deuill haue a power to make me feele but my consent or yeelding shall be euer in thy power 3. My God leaue me not alone deliuer me frō my selfe 4. I cannot liue without thee make mee then I pray thee liue to thee Title 29. When any thing falleth out that pleaseth vs. 1. IT is thou my sweet Iesu who art the author of all reasonable contentment from thee proceedeth all pure consolation I desire it not then but from thee in thee by thee and for thee Dispose thou otherwaies when thou shalt be pleased to depriue mee of it and I shall accommodate mee thereunto with all resignation and indifferencie Title 30. When any thing displeaseth vs. 1. I Accept of this displeasure as a present sent vnto me from my beloued Iesus Christ accoūting my selfe too happy y◠I may be worthy to participate to carry and to kisse his Crosse 2. The beloued of my soule shall be placed in my bosome as a bundle of Mirrhe 3. Looke with how great affection I desire to be deliuered of this affliction with no lesse I aske and aske againe the continuance thereof if O my God it
treated at the hower of death Giue me grace to doe it O my God 3. My apparell is the ornament of my body O that my body might serue for an ornament to my soule conuersing holily during the time of my abode in this world vntill thou O monarch of our liues commaund me to put off this mortall skin Title 41. In putting on Iewels and other ornaments 1. HOw much more precious are thy ornaments O blessed holy Ghost O my heauenly spouse the only beloued of my soule giue me the abillament of good example the Diamond of pacience the Rubie of charitie the Emrauld of hope the Topaze of humilitie the Sardonix of puritie 2. As our serges and clothes are the fleece of Sheepe our shooes the Skins of Beasts our Silkes and Veluetts the excrements of Wormes our Amber and perfumes the Mushrums of the Ocean and sweat of beasts our Feathers and Fannes the spoyle of the Birds our golde siluer white yellow earth euen so our precious stone are as it were the warts of the Orient mountains our Pearles the excrements of the Sea Such then is O God of truth the Attire of our vanitie Open then my eyes the eyes of all Christians that acknowledging our selues to be aparelled from the Brokers shop as kings vpoÌ„ the Stage as such miserable beggers as liue vpon the rich mens almes begged from the beasts We must seeke and take from thy liberal hand the ornaments of the soule which need cost vs nothing but the asking and the will to serue our selues of them Title 42. Washing our hands our face 1. MY hands my face were neuer soule by either speaking or looking but the face of my soule hath beene often defiled both by the one and the other 2. Wash me then and cleanse me O my God by all the teares of Iesus Christ thy Son by the bloudy sweat which issued out of his diuine person in the Garden of Gethsemanie by the miraculous water which together with blud issued out of his side It is the imperiall and heauenly water distilled by the fier of his charitie which alone can take away the spots of my soule and make the same pleasing vnto thy eyes powre it vpon me O God of puritie Title 43. When you vse your Fanne 1. DIuine winde which proceedest from the mouth of the Father the Son as froÌ„ one Origen coole and refresh the heat of my passions the distemper of my affections 2. Amiable Spirit desired winde dissipate the noughtie Ayre of our temptations the fierie exhalations raised by the irassible part of my soule the misty vapours exhaled from my concupiscence Title 44. When the Clocke striketh 1. SO much the lesse of my life is to runne 2. The Yard yâ— measureth our mortall Life is the houre out of which it followeth that neither mid-night nor mid-day euer strike but death hath taken away twelue yardes of my peece of cloath that is so much time of life or rather so many houres of my life 3. Soueraigne steward of our liues and disposer of our daies make me so passe this hower to come as I would haue wished to haue imployed all the houres of my life 4. I make an offer vnto thee O my God of all that euer I shall say doe or thinke vntill the next hower vniting them to the deedes wordes thoughts of Iesus Christ thy Sonne 5. The Periods of all time are comprised in the moment of thy aeternitie nothing is past nothing is to come before thee and all is there present And yet neuerthelesse we are free to doe or not to doe that which thou desirest And consequently it is in our power to giue thee either contentment or discontentment aeternall Permit not O my God that I euer charge thee with any such discontentment but make mee such an one temporally as thou desirest to see mee aeternally That so I may rather giue thee eternall contentment then one minute of discontentment 6. I make an offer vnto thee of all the time that I haue lost and euill imployed and in supply thereof I make a present of that time which hath measured the life and actions of my Lord thy Sonne beeing sorrie from my heart that I cannot recall those yeares that I haue so ill imployed I make then O my God an offer and sacrifice no lesse of that which I caÌ„not then of that which I can 7. O how late haue I known thee thou infinite goodnesse how late haue I loued thee ancient beautie that neuer fadest but alwaies coÌ„tinuest the same 8. Looke how many minutes there are in the houres or how many houres according in time eternall which are without number So often doe I blesse thee O thou ancient of dayes and I giue thee thankes more for that which thou art then for that which I am Title 45. Touching the care wee are to haue of our Children 1. THese are the beames of thy grace O Father of light these are thy gifts the workmanship of thy hands I offer them vnto thee as thine and I besâ—ech thee to take care of them as of thinges without comparison more oppertaining to thee then to me 2. Accept of all that I haue done doe or shal doe for them as being aliue wholy for thee for I haue no interest in them but from thee from whome they haue and of whome they holde body soule life 3. Abraham made but once only a sacrifice of his only son I make it not onely of mine but of my selfe and of all that I haue that so often as I breath foorth or take in my breath 4. When I feele in my selfe certaine effectes of tender loue towards them I begin to conceaue a new confidence and a wonderfull hope O my God knowing how much more tenderly thou affectest them then I doe or can Being assured that thy loue far surmounteth mine and that without all comparison O thrice happy condition of soules which call themselues are called by thee thy daughters 5. Haue I any right to these Children or any intrest comparable to that which thou hast I am ashamed to recommend them vnto thee For it were as much as to pray thee to haue care of that which is thine 6. No man buildeth a house to plucke it downe no man planteth a vinyard to root it vp nor soweth a field to burne the haruest How then canst thou neglect these yong plants planted by thy grace in the Orchard of thy Church watered with thy bloud designed by thee to be transported one day into the Garden of thy aeternitie 7. I sinne blinde buzzard that I am as too couetous louing to much that which they haue take away this ouerplus O Father of mercie Or if the force of nature must so farre preuaile that it must needs remaine impure the same to the excesse of that affectioÌ„ which I owe to all that with appertayneth to thee 8. I fall somtimes into certain
the adorned streets through which thou diddest passe with triumph as much vpon the mount Caluarie as vpoÌ„ the mount Thabor as much dying as liuing as much buried as risen again as much in Lymbus as in Heauen Onely grant that I may be thine and that I neuer depart froÌ„ thee whether I be in consolation or desolation poore or rich in plentie or in want all shall be one to me so I may be wholly and only thine Title 54. When we feele our selues drie at Prayer I wil continue with perseuerance before thee not giue ouer O my God I will honour thee with my body seeing I cannot doe it with my soule It is good foe me that thou hast humbled me Now I begin to knowe and feele what I I am Now I touch with my hands my owne misery well perceiue that I am able to do nothing with out thee This is as it were a returning to the nothing from which I took my origen out of which I was drawn by thy omnipotency Blessing praise thankes be to thee my God for euer I merrit not so much as once to enter into thy thought or that thou shoudst once think of me And should be to happy it that I might serue thee but in the condition of a stone or thing without sense and life Receiue the homage don by my miserabie condition to thy blessed selfe who art independant of any hast all contentment in thy self Title 55. When one is despised O My God I haue lost nothing so long as I loose not thee haue I any thing that appertaineth vnto me whether it be goods honours bodie or soule Can any thing fall out in the worlde without thy prouidence Is any thing done sinne only excepted which is not done by thy will If then thou be pleased that I be dispised why should any opposition be made who is he so insolent so bolde a Theife that dare entermeddle with things appertaining to thee contrary to thy will maist not thou doe with that which is thine according to thy pleasure when I am honoured should I reioyce there at for my selfe Is it a thing appertayning to me or to thee It is inough for me O great God that I be thine whether I be an Ant or an Elephant an Egle or a Gnat dirt or golde Title 56. Eleuations of spirit which may be done vpon euery occasion 1. MY God my all IESVS the delight of Heauen earth when shall I be all thine as thou art wholy mine 2. Father of mercy make me such an one as thy Sonne hath deserued and thy holy spirit desireth I should be 3. God of my life when shall I die to my selfe that I may liue to thee 4. Take me my God whether I wil or no seeing I am not so wise as to giue my selfe vnto thee as to haue the will to giue my selfe vnto thee 5. If it should fall out my beloued that I should desire any thing but thee which I desired not for thee I renounce it euen froÌ„ now as if it were then and protest that I haue nothing to loose or gaine besides thee 6. O God God of my soule permit me not to bee at all or procure by thy grace that I may be to serue thee as I am and haue my being from thee 7. I will haue â—o eye but to look vpon thee no eare but to heare thee no tongue but to speake of thee no heart but to think vpon thee no hands but to worke for thee no feet but to walke seek after thee no body but for to offer vp vnto thee no life but to make a sacrifice therof to thy honour and glory 8. God which art Loue giue me Charitie 9. God which wert made Man graunt me Humilitie 10. God which art a pure Spirit bestow vpon me Puritie 11. Omnipotent power strenghthen my weaknesse 12. Eternall wisdome illuminate my darknesse 13. Incomparable mercy pardon my haughtinesse 14 Incomparable beautie to late I haue loued thee 15. Infinite goodnes too late haue I knowne thee 16. Hee that loueth not thee what doth he loue 17 He that admireth not thee what doth he admire I will loue my self not because I am mine but because I am thine I will haue care of my selfe not for any oâ—her reason but because thou so willest and commaundest I esteeme my selfe more happy in thy happines thâ—n I count my selfe wretched for my owne miserie And the contentment I take that thou art that which thou art farre exceedeth the discontentment I feele by being that which I am Be thou then my God for euer that which thou art make me other then I am That is wheras I am my selfe miserable I shall be in thee blessed and happy To thee in thee by thee for thee O my God be all things Amen
immaculate and vnspotted life the spring of all merit 13. Because thou appertainest to God obtaine pardon for me of whatsoeuer I haue voluntarily done said or thought contrary to God How often didst thou reioyce in the greatnesse and glory of God our common creator and Father and that much more for it then for that thou thy selfe wert by his grace Bring to passe that all my ioy may be in him my onely desire to please him my only feare to offend him 14. All thy actions were of infinite merit I beg O sanctuarie of the Diuinitie the participation of onely one by speciall application to me 15. Thou the onely storehouse of Loue and fornace of perfect Charitie dost more loue humaine nature and much more desire our soules perfections then all Angels and men together We cannot also nay we ought not to haue after God any better Lord and friend then thou I leaue then to thee the care of my saluation and of that perfection which thy Father requires in mee I leaue to thee the profit of thine owne merites to thee that which thou thy selfe desirest to thee that for which thou hast done saide and endured so much to thee that which cannot subsist but by thee to conclude to thee that which is as oftentimes thine as it hath pleased thee to be ours Title 6. To the blessed Virgin Mary 1. BLessed of God amongst Women and the happiest of all pure creatures Mary the Mother of God I prostrate my selfe in the profoundnesse of my thoughts before thee honouring with all my affection the eminent graces which it hath pleased the most high and puissant to place in thee as in the principall and chiefe workmanship of his handes after the humanitie of Iesus Christ thy Sonne whose desires concerning me I present vnto thee that by his merites and thy prayers they may bee as the abiect of his mercyes fully and perfectly accomplished in me 2. Pray then for mee mercifull Mother and in so dooing thou shalt pray also for thine owne Sonne seeâ—ng that hee desires in mee that which I aske of thee a thousand times more then I my selfe 3. I am also neuer resolued to aske any thing of thee for my selfe but for him I will speake vnto thee in his name I will presse theâ— by his merâ—tâ—s I will adiure thee by the languisâ—â—â—g desires of his soule and as it were coniure thee by the great and inestimable obligation that thou hast to him to deale so effectually with God the Father that all his desires may be accomplished in all creatures and especially in this poore soule of mine to which he hath giuen thee grace to desire that which he desireth If thou put not to thy hand O puissant Princesse all will passe into vapour and smoake of onely desires and I shall remaine a fable of the world and a scorne of hell 4. By these titles of incomparable honor with which thy head is crowned O Mother of thy Sonne O Daughter of the Father O Spouse of the holy Ghost bring to passe that I may one day with thee be heyre to the Father coheyre with the Sonne and partake of the inheritance reserued to the holy Ghost 5. Tower of Dauid Citty of refuge wilt thou refuse thy prayers to them to whome the fruite of the Virgins wombe hath not refused his bloud 6. Thou hast too great interest in thy Sonnes inheritance to neglect or disdaine to succour with the assistance of thy tongue those soules which thy Redeemer and ours did recouer with the losse of his life 7. He would that thou shouldst be his Mother but it was to the end that wee might also become his brethren What hindereth vs then from hauing the spirit of adoption towards his Father and our Father thy Sonne and our brother wee shall haue it when it shall please thee to bee our Mother by grace as thou art his by nature 8. Thou wast established Queen of Angels and of men euen from then when thou hadst a Sonne common to thee with God the Father and that thou couldst say vnto God thou art my Sonne O incomparable Mother ô maruaile of the world O the honour of humaine lineage wilt thou not in acknowledgment of these benefites and honours intended towards thee before thou couldst merit them wilt thou not procure in regard of the Almightie which hath done so great thinges for thee this little thing which I aske of thee which is nothing else but that I neuer offend him especially by deadly sinne and that in the whole course of my miserable life I may know and put in execution his diuine will 9. I am not worâ—hy of his loue but hee is worthy to be loued of me I deserue not to serue him but he well deserueth to be serued of me It is not due to me to liue in him alone and to dye for him but I owe it him and so dost thou thy selfe Pay then O most rich Empresse my debts and thy debts Acquite them both for mee and thy selfe and in doing that which is but duty and iustice towards him thou shalt doe a worke of compassion and mercy towards a creature of his and thy poore seruant 10. As amongst all pure creatures none euer approached to equall thee in regard of the incomparable excellencie of him that was borne of thee So no creature whatsoeuer shall be euer able to equall thee in mercy Shall it not be then to imitate thy Sonne and satisfie thy selfe if thou affoord thy ayde to the miserable thy succour to such poore sinners as I am For whome thy Sonne hath spent all hee had euen to the effusion of his most precious bloud If it be true that the sinne of Adam was the occasion that the Diuine word tooke flesh and was borne of thee it must needs also bee that my misery hath serued for a cause or an occasion of thy greatnesse my disgrace of thy grace my malediction of thy benediction and that which I am of that which thou art why then by exchange shall not thy mercy if I may so say serue to my misery thy felicitie to my infelicitie thy greatnesse to my basenesse that which thou art to that which I am Bee not thou that thou art or procure that I may be other then I am I should here beg of thee to haue in recommendation the Church her necessities if iâ— were possible that a Mother had not care of her Sonnes spouse Title 7. To Saint Michaell 1. PRince of the heauenly camp and inflamed Seraphin by thy most happy victorie which thou obtaynedst against those Apostata Angels of which now the infernall legions are composed assist vs in our combats so much the more dangerous in that we haue not onely to fight against flesh and bloud but against the spirits of darknesse which come marching against vs like Gyants with all the aduantage that the nature of Angels hath aboue Title 8. To Saint Gabriell 1. PAranymph of Heauen that
MOst happy Spirits which incessantly stand before the Throne of God and who as the elder brethren of his house haue care of his inheritance looke downe vpon vs with a mercifull eye vpon vs I say who are your younger brethren out of the respect and regard you bâ—â—re to him who is the head both of th' one and th' other nature that is both of Angels and men And whom you serue in helping vs and please in assisting vs. 2. You purchased your blessednesse good cheape with one onely act of your will and consent you were confirmed in grace and receiued that glory which you shall for euer enioy without all feare to loose it But we contrariwise after many good deedes and many torments suffered and endured are alwayes exposed to danger of shipwracke which many like to vs haue made neare to the hauen After many battailes wee are still in danger to bee ouercome but you after one victorie tryumph assuredly Many dayes passe before wee can ariue there whether you are come in an instant Haue then compassion vpon the imperfection of our beeing yee whose beeing is so perfect pitty our feeblenesse and weaknesse yee that are strong our ignorance yee that are so wise our malice yee to whome goodnesse and Charitie is continuall in the highest degree 3. You take and borrow nothing from naturall abiects as helpes to comprehend created verities For from the first instant of your creation you haue euer had imprinted in your vnderstanding the expresse image of euery naturall thing and beholding your selues you come to know all thinges that are without you And that by an action of simple intelligence running as it were without the helpe of any discourse from the principles to the conclusions and from the Antecedents to the consequents 4. Wee contrariwise can conceiue nothing with our vnderstandings which hath not first passed through the siffe of our sences And our sences depend of the obiects which oft deceiue them and make our iudgements erronious if they be not corrected in their deceitfull operations by reason and grace 5. Moreouer our discourses depend of our propositions and they of the termes of simple apprehension And the apprehension is made out of the imagination and sensitiue faculties And in all this Flux and reflux of thoughtes and Ideas O yee thrice and foure times happy intelligences who is able to expresse how many times we perticipate our selues into errour Taking then notice of the great aduantage you haue ouer vs and not only you but the wicked Deuils who haue lost nothing else but their grace and glory retaining still their nature in which they are equall to you fortifie and strengthen vs against the gyants of which the Scripture maketh mention Leuiathan Belzebub Baalmorith Asmode Astaroth and other princes of that armie of darknesse 6. We craue but the crums that fall from your table and the poore scrappes and remainders of your banquet Our petition to you is very reasonable which is no more then that yee the good Angels bee pleased to doe so much for our saluation as the wicked Deuils doe for our ruine and destruction That yee be as ready to succour vs as they are to annoy vs to heale and preserue vs as they are to hurt vs as diligent in conducting vs to God as they are in withdrawing vs from him and to doe vs all the mischiefe to which their knowledge and power can extend Title 11. To the holy Patriarckes 1. HOly soules who during your abode heere in this vale of teares were the salt of the earth light of the world how great haue your vertues beene how great your perfection had you liued vnder the Gospell as you liued vnder the Law of nature and Moses we are in the fulnesse of time to which you so much aspired and for which you so often suspired obtaine for vs the grace to acknowledge correspond to so great a benefit and that wee may liue as holily after the incarnation of the Son of God as you did before his comming and that wee may now doe as much for his glory as you would haue done if yee had liued in this happy time 2. By that ioy not to be vttered by any tongue wherewith you were then replenished when the most holy soule of our and your Redeemer descended to those places vnder earth in which you were detained expecting the Ladder of Iacob and the Key of Dauid to come forth I beseech you to obtaine of your deliuerer for all poore sinners such as I am that wee may get out of the darke dungeon of ignorance and the filthie quagmire of our bad and lewd customes And that as the gates of Hell could not preuaile against the King of glory so sinne may froÌ„ henceforth no more preuaile against such as beleeue in him in whome you placed your hope and with whom vpon the day of his tryumphant Ascention you ascended to glory crowned with immortall Lawrels carrying in your handes and sweetly tasting the fruites of your liuely Faith longanimity hope and inflamed Charitie 3. Yee hold the ranke of Patriarckes amongst those which beleeue in the name of the Son of God bee yee then vnto vs good Fathers for the loue of him vpon whom dependeth all Father-hood both in Heauen and Earth and obtaine for vs the spirit of the children of God a contrary spirit to that of mercinarie feare to the end that wee may one day come to be partakers of that inheritance of which ye now are peaceable possessors Title 12. To the holy Prophets 1. PRotonotaries of Heauen Registers of truth and mirrours of the Diuinitie your holy soules haue bene the organs and your mouthes the harmonious instruments of him who is the fountaine of wisdome oracle of all truth Obtaine for vs that we may see by Faith what you did fore-see by the spirit of Prophecie and possesse that by charitie which you hoped for 2. The light of Prophesie is a personall and free guift bestowed vpon you for the instruction of Israell and consolation of Christians Herein we content our selues onely to admire you but in another thing we desire to imitate you And that is in that interiour Attention you had to the presence of God the better to vnderstand his voyce and hauing vnderstood it to follow and put in execution his inspirations O when shall I see that desired houre in which I may say with one of you I will heare what our Lord saith in mee 3. His wordes are words of peace his voyce a voyce of benediction Why then O you holy censurers of our manners doe I so often lend him a deafe eare Awake by your prayers my spirit pacifie my affections illuminate my darknesse addresse mine intentions to the center of euery iust desire which is the accomplishment of his diuine Will onely to bee loued and desired Title 13. To Saint Iohn Baptist 1. PRaecursor of the Sonne of God voyce of the word and paranymph of the heauenly