him not yet sought he me out I called him not but he called me What was he Euen thou it was ô Lord my God pitiful and merciful euen thou Father of mercies and God of al comfort Euen thou it was my Lord GOD most holie whom I confesse with al mine hart praising thy Name I sought not thee yet thou soughtest me I called not vpon thee but thou calledst mee For thou hast called mee by thine owne Name With a mightie voice thou hast thundred from aboue into the inward eare of mine hart saieng Let there be light and light was made insomuch as y e great cloude vanished awaie and the darke mist which had couered mine eies melted whereby I sawe thy light and knewe thy voice and said Of a truth Lord thou art my God which brought me out of darknes and from the shadow of death and hast called me into thy woonderful light so that now I see thanks to thee mine inlightener therefore And I looked backe and saw the darknes wherein I had ben and the darke dungeon wherein I had lien wherat I trembled was afraide and vttered these words Wo wo worth the darkenes wherein I laie wo wo to that blindnes in which I could not see the light of heauen wo I saie wo to mine old ignorance when I knew not thee ô Lord. I thanke thee ô mine inlightener ô my Sauior I thanke thee for inlightening me wherby I knowe thee Late it was ere I knew thee ô ancient truth late it was ere I knewe thee ô eternal truth Thou wert in the light and I was in darknes I knewe thee not because I could not be inlightened but by thee and without thee there is no light Chap. 34. A consideration of Gods Maiestie O God most holie of inestimable maiestie God of gods Lord of lords who art most wonderful and canst neither bee conceaued in thought nor expressed by word of whome al the Angels in heauen do stand in feare whom al the dominations and thrones do adore at whose presence al powers doe shake whose might and wisdome is infinite which vpon nothing hast laid the foundation of the earth gathered the waters of the sea together in the aër as in a botle O Lord most mightie most holy most puissant God of al flesh at whose presence heauen and earth do flie and at whose becke al the elements do obeie let al thy creatures worship and praise thee And I the son of thine handmaid through thy faith doe bow the neck of mine hart vnder the feete of thy maiestie yeelding thee most humble thankes for vouchsafing of thy mercie to inlighten me ô true light ô holie light ô wonderful light which inlightenest not onelie euerie man that cometh into this world but also the eies of the Angels in heauen Lo I see now thanks to thee Lo I see the light of heauen the lightsome beames of thy countenance do now shine vpon the eies of my mind and comfort al my bones Oh that it were fullie made perfect within me O Father of light increase it increase I praie thee that light which shineth vpon me inlarge it yea do thou inlarge the same I beseech thee What is this I feele what fire is this which warmeth mine hart what light is it which spreadeth out such glorious beames vpon my mind O fire which alwaie burnest and art neuer quenched set me on fire O light which alwaie shinest and art neuer dimmed inlighten me Would to God I were inflamed by thee O sacred fire how sweetelie dost thou burne how secretlie dost thou shine how desirous be they stil to burne whom thou inflamest Wo to them whom thou dost not inflame And wo to them whom thou dost not inlighten ô true light lightening the whole world with thy light Wo to the blind eies that behold not thee the Sunne which giuest light both to heauen and earth wo to the dazeling eies which cannot see thee wo to the eies which turne aside and will not see the veritie and wo to those eies which wil not turne aside from regarding vanitie For the eies that are vsed to the darknes cannot looke directlie vpon the beames of the most glorious truth neither can they iudge of the light whose dwelling is in darknes For they see nothing but darknes they loue and allow of darkenes and going from darkenes to darkenes they know not where they fal Miserable are they which forgo they wot not what but more miserable are they which know what they loose which fal with open eies go downe quick into the pit of hel O most happie light whome none see but they which haue pure eies blessed are the pure of hart for they shal see God O purging vertue purge me heale the sight of mine eies that with a sounde sight I may behold thee whom none but such as haue pure eies can behold I beseech thee ô light vnapprochable take awaie by thy glorious beames y e scales which a long time haue dimmed the sight of mine eies that stedfastly I may behold thee and see light in thy light Thanks to thee ô my light lo I see now O Lord I beseech thee enlarge thou my sight open mine eies that I may see the woonders of thy lawe who art terrible out of thy holie places Lo thankes to thee my light I see now yet through a glasse darkelie But when shal I see thee face to face When comes that daie of gladnes and ioie wherein I shall enter into the place of thy woonderful tabernacle euen to the glorie of God that I may see thee face to face and be satisfied in desire Chap. 35. The longing and thirst of the soule after God AS the Hart braieth for the riuers of water so panteth my soule after thee ô God My soule thirsteth after thee God the wel of life when shal I come and appeere before thy presence O fountaine of life ô veine of liuing waters when shal I come vnto that water of thy sweetenes out of a desert wild and watrie land that I may see thy power and thy glorie and quench my thirst through the waters of thy mercie I thirst Lord thou art the wel of life ô fil me I thirst Lord I thirst euen for thee the liuing God Oh when shal I come appeere before thy presence Thinkest thou that I shal see that day I say that day of gladnes and ioie that day which the Lord hath made for vs to reioice and be glad therein O that is a glorious and goodlie day lasting euer neuer at an end wherein I shal heare the voice of ioie and thankesgiuing when I shal heare it said Enter into thy maisters ioie Enter into that
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
grace it was of thy meere goodnes that I shoulde be partaker of that sweetnes Wherfore through that grace which mooued thee to create me of nothing ô Lord giue mee this grace I beseech thee that I may thanke thee for this thy goodnes Chap. 9. Of Gods Omnipotencie THine Almightie hande ô GOD which is one and the same alwaies hath created both the Angels in heauen and the litle wormes in earth no whit more glorious in them nor inferior in these For as none other hand could create an Angel so none other could make the vilest worme as none other could lay abrode the heauens so none other facion the smalest leafe of a tree as none other coulde make a bodie so none other make one heare white or black But onlie thine almightie hande to which al things are alike possible For it is no more possible for thee to create a worme than an Angel nor more impossible to spreade out the Heauen than a leafe It is no easier for thee to facion a smal heare than a bigge bodie nor harder to build the earth vpon the water than to lay the waters vppon the earth For thou God didest what thou wouldest in Heauen and in earth in the sea and in al the depthes and me among other things thou didst make euen as thou wouldest couldest and knewest best Thine hand ô Lorde coulde haue made mee a stone or a bird or a Serpent or some brute beast it knew as much but it would not for thy mercie sake Wherefore then am I not a stone or a tree or a beast Because thy goodnes hath so ordained Yet did not anie merites of mine preuent thee that thou shouldest appoint it so Chap. 10. The incomprehensible praise of God WHere shal I get ô my Lord where shal I get sufficient praises to extol thee For as thou madest me as it pleased thee without mine help so canst thou magnifie thy self as it pleaseth thee without me Before thee ô Lord thy praise is thy selfe Let al thy workes prayse thee according to thine excellent greatnes Thy praise ô LORD is incomprehensible It is neither in heart conceiued nor vttered by mouth nor perceiued by care For these things doe passe away but thy praise ô Lord endureth for euer The thought hath a beginning it hath an end the voice hath a sounde and the voice doth vanish the eare doth heare and hearing cesseth but thy praise ô Lord endureth for euer Who then can praise thee what man can shew forth thy praise Thy praise is not transitorie it endureth for euer He doth praise thee who beleceueth thee to be thine owne praise He doth praise thee who knoweth himselfe vnable to attaine vnto thy praise O perpetual praise neuer vanishing in thee is our praise in thee shal my soule reioice We praise thee not but thou praisest thy selfe by thy selfe and in thy selfe and our praise also is in thee Then haue wee true praise when we haue praise of thee when the light doth allow the light For thou the true praise giuest due commendation And as often as wee seeke praise of anie other besides thee so oftē do we leefe thy praise Because that is transitorie but thine is eternal If we go after transitorie wee forgo eternal and if we loue eternal we must loath y ◠praise that is transitorie O Lord my God praise eternal of whome al praise without whome there is no praise without thee I am vnable to praise thee let me haue thee and I wil praise thee For what am I Lord of my selfe that I should praise thee dust and ashes am I a dead and stincking dog am I a worme and verie rottennes am I. What am I to praise thee ô Lord God most mightie in whose hand is the breath of al mankind which inhabitest the eternitie Shal darkenes praise the light or death life Thou art light I am darkenes thou life and I am death Shal vanitie commend the truth Thou art the truth but I a man become like to vanitie Why then Lord shal I praise thee Shal my miserie praise thee shal stincke commende sweetenesse shal mans mortalitie who is heere to daie and gone to morrow praise thee Shal man who is verie rottennes or the sonne of man a verie worme praise thee O Lord shal he that is conceiued borne and brought vp in wickednes praise thee no my God Praise is not semelie in the mouth of a sinner O Lord my God let thine owne incomprehensible power thine owne vnlimitable wisedome thine owne vnspeakeable goodnes commēd thee Let thy more than excellent clemencie thy more than abundant mercie thine euerlasting virtue also and diuinitie praise thee Let thine almightie power with thy souereigne gentlenes and loue whereby thou hast created vs ô Lord God the verie life of my soule praise thee Chap. II. The hope of a Christian must be cast vpon God ANd I thy creature wil trust in the shadow of thy wings euen in thy mercie whereby thou didst create me Helpe thy creature whome of thy mercy thou hast created let me not perish through my sinne whome of thy goodnes thou hast facioned neither be confounded in my miserie whome of thy clemencie thou hast made For what profit is in creating mee if I go downe into mine owne corruption what hast thou ô God created the sonnes of men in vaine Thou hast created mee ô Lord gouerne that which thou hast created Despise not ô God y e workes of thine hands Of nothing thou didst create me and doubtles do not thou Lorde direct mee I shal come againe to nothing For as I was not sometime and thou didest make me of nothing so Lord if thou do not gouerne me I shal returne to nothing in my selfe Help me ô Lord my life lest I perish in my wickednes O Lord hadst not thou created me I had not bin at al but because thou hast created me I am And yet am I nothing if thou guide mee not For no grace neither goodnes of mine compelled thee to create me but euen thine owne most fauorable goodnes and mercie O Lord my God let that loue which compelled thee to make me compel thee also to gouerne me For to what end did thy loue compel thee to make me if I perish in my wickednes and am not guided by thy right hand Let that mercie of thine ô Lord my God compel thee to saue that which is created that compelled thee to create that which was not Let that loue winne thee to saue which wanne thee to create For it is no lesse now than it was for so much as thou art loue who art alwaies the same For thine hand is not
not thou didest redeeme me when I was forlorne I had bin destroied I had died but thou camest downe vnto the dead thou tookedst mortalitie vpon thee Thou a King camest downe vnto thy seruant and to redeeme thy seruant thou didest giue thy selfe and that I might liue thou didest die and ouercome death When thou didest humble thy selfe thou didest exalt me I was lost I folowed after wickednes I was a bondslaue to Sathan but thou wart sold for me to redeeme mee and so thou louedst me that thou gauest thy bloud a raunsome for me O Lord thou hast loued me more than thy selfe because for my sake thou wouldest needes die On such wise and with so deere a price thou hast brought me home from banishment redeemed me from bondage withdrawne me from punishmēt caled me by thy name and sealed me with thy bloud that I should euermore haue thee in remembrance and neuer forget him who for my sake shunned not the crosse Thou hast annointed mee with that oile wherewith thou wast ointed that of thee Christ I might be called a Christian Lo thou hast written mee vpon thine hands so to haue me in remembrance if so be cōtinualie I haue thee in mind And thus alwaie thy fauor and thy mercie haue preuēted me For out of much and great perils thou hast deliuered me oftentimes ô my sauiour When I haue wandred thou hast reclamed me when I haue bin ignorant thou hast instructed me thou hast corrected me when I haue sinned when I despaired thou hast comforted me when I fel thou hast raised me thou hast vphelde me when I haue stood when I haue traueled thou hast guided me when I haue come home thou hast receiued mee thou hast watched mee when I haue slept and when I haue cried thou hast heard me Chap. 14. That the eies of the Lord are continualie vpon the doings and cogitations of men FOr these and manie mo good turnes hast thou done me ô Lord my God the verie life of my soule And doubtles it should be a pleasure to mee not onlie to talke think alwaies of them but also euermore to thanke thee to praise thee to loue thee for al thy good things and that with al mine heart and with al my soule and with al my mind with al my strēgth yea from the verie pith and intrals of mine hart and of al my iointes ô Lord my God the blessed sweetenes of al which delight in thee But thine eies haue seene mine imperfection thine eies I saie are much brighter than y e Sunne beholding al y e waies of men and the ground of the deepe and in euerie place at al times looke both vpon the euil and the good For sithence thou rulest al things fillest al things art alwaies wholie euerie where yea sithence thou hast a care of al things that thou hast created for thou hatest nothing which thou hast made thou dost so behold my waies my steps and so watch and ward night and daie for my safetie looking so narowly vnto al my paths like a continual watchman as though thou hadest forgot thine other creatures of heauen and earth and hadest cast al thy care vpon me alone hauing no care at al of the rest For the light of thine vnchangeable sight neither encreaseth doe thou see but one nor diminisheth if thou behold infinite diuers things For euen as at one time thou considerest the whole perfectlie togither so doth thy whole countenance behold at one time al particulars although diuers and that perfectlie togither wholie Yet seest thou al things as one thing one thing as al things for thy selfe art whole canst neither be diuided changed nor diminished And therefore thou being whole in al time and without time dost behold me wholie togither and alwaies euen as though thou haddest naught else to consider of Yea so thou standest vpon my garde as though thou wouldest forget al other things and bend wholie to me alone For alwaies thou shewest thy selfe present and offerest thy selfe readie at al times vnto me if thou find me readie to receiue thee O my Lord go I where I wil thou wilt neuer forsake me vnles I forsake thee first Wheresoeuer I become thou leauest me not For thou art euerie where So that to what place soeuer I go I may find thee by whom I may be that I perish not without thee because without thee I cānot be And therefore I confesse indeede that whatsoeuer I do wheresoeuer I doe it I do it in thy presence and that whatsoeuer it be which I doe thou seest it better than I which do it For when I do aught at anie time thou art present at al times as a continual beholder of al my thoughts intentions delectations and doings O Lord my sighing is not hid from thee and my verie thought is open to thy sight Thou knowest Lord whence the spirit commeth where it is and whether it goeth For thou art the trier of al spirits Also thou best knowest inwardlie whether the roote of that tree which hath faire leaues be sweete or sower yea thou narowly dost search the verie pith of the rootes and by the moste euident truth of thy light thou gatherest numbrest considerest and sealest not the intent onlie but the verie pith also of the roote thereof that so thou may estrender vnto euerie man not onlie according to his woorkes but also according to the inner and secret pith of the roote from which proceedeth the intent of the worker What I purpose when I worke what I thinke and wherein I delight thou beholdest thine eares do heare it thine eies see it and consider it thou sealest markest notest and wrightest the same into thy booke be it good or euil that afterward when the bookes shalbe opened and the dead iudged according to the things written in those bookes thou maist render for wel doing rewards and punishment for wickednes Happilie this is it which thou didest saie by these words I will see what their end shal be and which is spoken of thee on this wise He trieth the perfection of al things For thou doubtles in al that we doe regardest the end of the intent more than that which is done And when I diligentlie consider these things ô Lord my God terrible and mightie I am vtterly agast both through feare and shame forsomuch as wee haue great neede to liue wel and vprightlie because we do al things in the presence of that Iudge who seeth al things Chap. 15. That man of himselfe can do nothing without the assistance of God O Lord most mightie and puissant God of the spirits of al flesh whose eies are vpon y
resist wilt thou shew thy strength against a leafe which is caried away with the winde and wilt thou folow after drie stuble wilt thou ô eternal king of Israël wilt thou condemne a dead dog wilt thou condemne a poore flea Lord we haue heard of thy mercy how thou hast not made death nor hast pleasure in the destruction of the liuing For which cause we beseech thee ô Lord suffer not that which thou hast not made to haue dominion ouer that creature which thou hast made For if thou art sorie for our damnation what doth let thee ô Lord which canst do al things that thou maist not alwaies reioice for our saluation If thou wilt thou canst saue me but I though I would cannot Great is the multitude of the miseries which I am in For to wil is present with mee but I find no meanes to performe that which is good Wil that good is I cannot vnles thou wilt neither can I do that I would except thine arme do strengthen me Againe sometime I would that I can should not thy wil be done in earth as it is in heauen Yet know I not either what I can or would vnles thy wisedome lighten mee And though I should haue wil somtime power with my knowledge yet were my wisedome vaine and vnperfect vnles I were assisted by thy true wisedome But al things are at thy pleasure neither can anie resist thy wil ô Lord God of al flesh which dost whatsoeuer thou wilt both in Heauen and in Earth in the Sea in al deepe places Wherefore let thy wil bee done of vs who cal vpon thy name least this noble workemanship of thine doe perish which thou hast created for thine owne glorie And what man liueth and shal not see death shal he deliuer his soule from the hand of the graue without thou deliuer him which art the liuelie waie of al life by whome al things doe liue Chap. 25. That mans wil is vnapt vnto al good workes without the grace of God FOr I confessed euen now how thou art the staie of my life ô Lord my God the strength of my saluation The time was when I trusted in mine owne strength which notwithstanding was no strength And so when I would haue runne where I thought I stood most sure there I tooke the greatest fal and came backward not forward And what I thought to atteine went the farther fro me Thus triest thou my strength by manie such things Now I know thou hast inlightned me for what I thought I could best doe I found I was least able for to do it of my self For I said this I wil do and that I wil bring to passe but in the end I could neither do the one nor the other Either I had wil and lacked power or had power lacked wil for I trusted to mine owne strength But now I confesse to thee ô Lord my God father of heauen and of earth that in his owne strength no man shal be strong because the vaine presumption of no flesh shal glorie in thy sight For it is not in man either to wil that he can do or to do that he would or to know what he would or can do But thou Lord it is which directest the steps of man of that man I say which confesseth that he is directed of thee not of himselfe Wherefore by the bowels of thy mercie we beseech thee saue Lord what thou hast created for if thou wilt thou canst saue vs and in thy wil resteth the strength of our saluation Chap. 26. The benefits which God hath done for vs of old O Lord remember thy mercie of old wherewithal thou hast preuented vs from the beginning by thy comfortable blessings For before I the sonne of thine handmaid was borne ô Lord mine hope euen fro my mothers breasts thou didest preuent mee preparing a way wherein I should walke and come vnto y e glory of thy house Thou knewest mee before thou didest shape me in the belie and before I came out of the wombe thou didest preordeine of me whatsoeuer pleased thee What and how much is written concerning mee in thy booke lieng in the secret place of thy consistorie I am vtterlie ignorant and therefore stand mightilie in feare but thou knowest For whatsoeuer I doe looke for by succession of daies times a thousand yeres hence in this transitorie world is alreadie accomplished in the sight of thine eternitie and that which shal be is alreadie done Now then forsomuch as I stand in this darke night ignorant of these thinges feare and trembling are come vpon me while I see manie dangers hang ouer mine head from al sides manie enimies to hunt after my soule an innumerable multitude of miseries to beset mee round about in this mortal life So that wert not thou present to assist me in these euils I shuld vtterlie despaire But I haue a great confidence in thee ô most gratious Prince my God and the consideration of the multitude of thy compassions doth comfort mine hart And the former signes of thy goodnes which before I was borne preuented me and at this time cheeflie doe shine vpon me doe assure mine hart of better and more perfect blessings to come which thou reseruest for such as loue thee so that I may reioice in thee ô Lord my GOD mine holie liuelie ioie wherby my youth is comforted Chap. 27. Of Angels appointed for the custodie of men FOr thou didest loue me entirelie ô my loue before I loued thee thou diddest create mee after thine owne image and aduance me aboue al thy creatures Which dignitie I shal then keepe when I knowe thee for whome thou hast made me Besides thou makest thy spirits messengers for my sake to whome thou hast giuen charge ouer me to keepe me in al my waies that I hurt not my foote against a stone For these are the watchmen ouer the wals of the citie new Ierusalem of the mountaines about the same which tend and keepe watch ouer thy flocke least he as a Lion make a praie of our soules while there is none to deliuer he I meane that old serpent our aduersarie the diuel who as a roaring Lion walketh about seeking whome he may deuour They are the citizens of the blessed citic Ierusalem on high aboue which is the mother of vs al sent foorth to minister for their sakes who shal be heires of saluation that they may deliuer such from their enimies and keepe them in al their waies For they loue their fellowe citizens by whome they looke to haue the breach of their destruction repared And therefore with great care and watchfulnes they doe stand about vs at al
the verie heauens lift their head aboue the cloudes and make their nest among the stars yet shal they be cast awaie in the ende like doong Chap. 29. Of such as once were godlie and afterward proued wicked and contrariwise GReat are these thy iudgments ô Lord God ô iudge righteous and strong which iudgest right and dost things that are vnsearchable and deepe the which when I consider al my bones do shake For there is not a man vpon earth sure that wee can serue thee godlie purelie in feare and reioice before thee in trembling al the daies of our life that there shoulde be neither seruice without feare nor ioie without trembling and that he which hath girded his harnesse may not boast himselfe as he that hath laid it off neither in deede that anie flesh should reioice in thy presence but shake and tremble before thee inasmuch as no man knoweth whether he be worthie loue or hatred al things being kept vncertaine til the time to come For Lord we haue not onlie heard our fathers tell but haue seene also with our eies which thing I cannot vtter without trembling nor confesse without feare how manie hertofore haue climed in manner vp vnto heauen and made their nest among the stars which afterward fel downe headlong euen to hel and were hardened in wickednes Wee haue seene the stars fal from heauen through the violent stroke of y e Dracons taile And we haue seene some lieng in the dust of the earth who sodenly by thine helping hand ô Lord haue woonderfulie ascended We haue seene the liuing dieng and the dead rising from death we also haue seene them which walked among the sons of God in the mids of stones of fire euen as claie to haue vanished to nothing We haue seene light become darknes and darknes come out of light because publicans and harlots doe go before the inhabiters into the kingdome of God and the children of the kingdome are cast into vtter darknes And how commeth al this to passe but euen because they moūted vp vnto that hil wherinto the first ascended an Angel and came downe a diuel But Lord whome thou hast predestinate them thou hast called and sanctified clensed that they may be a meete dwelling place for thy maiestie with whom and in whome thy holie and pure delight is in whom thou takest pleasure and reioicest their youth dwelling with them in their remēbrance that they may be thine holie temple which doubtles is no smal commendation of our humanitie Chap. 30. That the soule of a faithful man is the sanctuarie of God FOr the soule which thou hast created not of thy selfe but by thy word not of the matter of anie element but of nothing the which is reasonable of vnderstanding spiritual liuing alwaies and euer mouing which thou hast sealed with the light of thy countenance and halowed by the virtue of thy baptisme is made so capable of thy glorie that thou alone and nothing else can satisfie the same And when it hath thee it hath her harts desire neither is there anie outwarde thing beside which it would wish But while it desireth anie outward thing it is a manifest argument that thou art not within For if thou be had it can wish for no more For inasmuch as thou art the soueraigne yea al that good is it hath nothing which it may wish for more but enioieth thee who art al that good is Now if it couet not after al that good is it resteth that it must couet after some thing which is not al that good is and so consequentlie not the soueraigne good and so not God but rather a creature And as long as it desireth a creature it is alwaies hungrie For although it haue what it can desire of creatures yet remaineth it emptie For there is nothing which can fulfil it but thou alone after whose image it was created And those thou fillest which desire nothing beside thee and makest them meete for thee holie blessed vndefiled and the friends of God which do iudge al things but as doong that they may win thee alone For this is the blessing which thou hast bestowed vpon man this is the honor wherewith thou hast exalted him among al yea and aboue al creatures that thy name may be woonderful throughout al the world Behold ô Lord my God who art most hie most righteous almightie now haue I found the place where thou inhabitest it is euen the soule which thou hast created after thine owne image and similitude which doth seeke and long after thee alone not the soule which neither seeketh nor desireth thee Chap. 31. That God neither by the outward nor inward senses can be found out I Haue gone astraie like a lost sheepe seeking thee without who art within And much haue I labored to find thee without me and thou dwellest within mee at leastwise if I had a lust to thee I went about by the lanes and by the streets of the citie of this world seeking thee but I found thee not Because I sought thee not rightlie without who art within I sent abroad my messengers namelie al mine outward senses to seeke thee yet did I not finde thee because I sought amisse For now do I see ô my light ô God which hast inlightened me I see now that I did not wel in seeking thee by them For thou art within yet could they not tel me where thou camest in For mine eies do tel me If he had no color he entered not by vs Mine eares do tel me If he made no noise he passed not by vs My nose telleth me If he had no sent hee came not by me My tasting saith if he had no sauor he entered not by me likewise my feeling doth saie If he had no bodie aske not mee the question Therefore ô my God these things are not in thee For it is neither the fairenes of bodie nor the beutie of time nor the brightnes of light nor y e freshnes of color nor the melodie of musicke nor anie thing else which is pleasant to the eare it is neither y e fragancie of floures nor the smel of ointments or spices nor the sweetenes of honie or manna delightful to the taste neither is it those things which are louelic to be touched or embraced nor finalie anie thing subiect to these senses which I seeke when I seeke my God Be it far fro my thought that I should thinke these things to be my God which are comprehended of the senses euen of brutish creatures And yet when I seeke my God I seeke for al that a certaine light excelling al light which the eie cannot comprehend a certaine sound excelling al sound which the eare can not conceaue a
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