in thee Helpe mee O Lord my Sauiour draw me on high after thee for the weight of mortalitie doth alwaies depresse me Thou o Lord that ascendedst the tree of the Crosse that thou mightst draw all things vnto thee thou that through so unmeasurable charity didst couple two-natures so different together and madest one person of them that we might be made one with thee Grant mee this one thing o Lord and it suff◅eth mee For the riches of this world satiate me not I onely will thee I seeke thee I desire to see thy face I will aspire alwaies to thy loue and with the Prophet I will sing I will loue thee o Lord my strength God is my foundatiō my refuge God is my helper and I will hope in him my protector and the horne of my saluation and my defender Praising will I call vpon our Lord and I shall be safe from mine enemies The fourth prayer for obtaining of the loue of God ON the bended knees of my heart deuoured in the depth of mine own abiectnes with a◅ are and reuerence I come before thy sight o my God as one the most vnhappie poore and vilest creature of the world I set my selfe neere the flouds of thy mercy by the riuer of thy graces before the brightnes of the true Sunne of iustice whose beames are spread ouer the whole earth and communicate themselues freely to all those that shut not the window against them Behold a masse of chalke a rude and impolisht trunck cut from the tree is presented to the hands of the most wise workmaster make of it O most merciful Father that which thou hast decreed to doe Great is my boldnesse in that a creature so vile dare demand a loue so precious excellent as thine is Truly I would considering my great indignity require some lesser thing at thy hāds but what shal I doe wretch that I am whereas thou cōmandest me that I should loue thee Thou hast created me to the ende I should loue thee and threatnest mee except I loue thee Tho◅dst die that I might loue thee and commandest mee that I should aske nothing more feruently at thy hands than thy loue yea so much destrest thou to bee beloued by mee that seeing mee without thy loue thou didst institute thy Sacramēt of admirable value whereby my heart might be enflamed with thy loue O my Sauiour whom am I that thou shouldest require my loue to this end thou shouldest seeke so many and so admirable meanes What am I to thee but a torment a crosse and a vaily tribulation And what art thou to me but saluation rest and all goodnesse If therfore thou louest me why am I euerie waies trouble some vnto thee why shall I not loue thee again who art euery way so profitable and beneficiall to me Possessed therefore O Lord of these pledges of thy loue and confirmed by that thy mercifull commandement whereby euen vnto my liues ende it pleased thee so bountifully to muite me and command mee to loue thee by this thy singular grace I require another like fauour namely that thou wilt first giue me that which y◠wouldest haue me giue thee for I cannot giue thee this except thon first giue it me for I am not worthy to loue thee but thou art worthy to beloued by mee I therefore dare not request thee to loue thee but that it might please thee to giue me leaue to loue thee Fly not O Lord flie me not despise not to bee beloued by thy creatures with the vtmost of their loue O God who art essentially loue increated loue infinite loue loue without measure not onely a louer but all loue from whence the loue of all Seraphins euery creature proceedeth in like manner as the light of all the starres from the brightnes of the sun why shall I not loue thee how can I chuse but be burnt with this fire of loue which inflameth the whole world and each thing contained in the same yea welnigh burneth them O God who art essentialy goodnesse it selfe from whom all that is good whatsoeuer is called good from whom the goodnesse of all liuing creatures no otherwise than al riuers from the sea is deriued in comparison of whose more than excellent goodnes there is not any thing either in heauen or in earth that may be called good why therfore shall I not loue thee whereas goodnes is the obiect of loue If I cannot loue thee o my Lord for thine excellency how can I chuse but loue thee for mine owne profite sake The son loueth the father who hath receiued his being from him the members loue the head and offer themselues to death for it because by the same they are continued in their essence All effects loue their causes for from them they haue receiued whatsoeuer they are from them they expect that which yet they haue not but thou o Lord art my father my head and my cause that therefore which the sonne oweth the father the mother the head that which the effects owe to their causes all that and far more do I owe thee Thou gauest mee that beeing which I haue more perfect than my parents did thou keepest mee in this beeing which thou gauest mee more carefully than the head doth the members thou finishest in mee that which is wanting till thou hast brought mee to the last point of perfection Thou art my father which made me thou art my head which gouernest me thou art my spouse who gauest to my soule perfect felicity thou art the Architect of this building thou art the painter of this figure made according to thy image and similitude which thou wilt also make perfect Whatsoeuer it hath it hath it frō thee whatsoeuer it wanteth it hopeth to receiue it from thee For euen as no one could giue him that which he is but thou O Lord so also no man can perfect that which as yet is imperfect but thou whatsoeuer therefore it hath whatsoeuer it is whatsoeuer it hopeth all that is thine Whom therefore shal it behold but thee To whom shall it bee accountable but to thee In whose eies shall it walke but in thine Whither shall hee direct all his loue but to thee who art his whole good If therefore O Lord thou bee the beautie and ornament of my soule how cā I forget thee What haue I in heauen and what will I of thee on earth My flesh and my heart faileth God of my heart my heritage for euer O increate loue which alwaies burnest neuer art extinguished o loue which alwaies liuest and burnest in the bosome of God O eternall dart of the fathers heart that alwaies woundeth the face of the Son with the wound of infinite loue O let this dart wound me this fire inflame me let me follow thee my beloued let me sing a new song with a loud voice let my soule melt in thy praises with the vnspeakable applause and Iubile
reducing to my memory the perill of my death and the rigor of thy diuine iustice How many orders of Preachers Confessors hast thou appointed that by their words and counsels might incite me helpe me O Lord walking in thy way How often hast thou folowed me by thy words inuiting me by thy benefits and chastising me with thy scourges stopping vp all the waies after the manner of a hunter that I might no way fly or escape from thee What shal I theÌ„ at this time render vnto thee O Lord for all those things which thou hast bestowed vpon me Because thou hast created mee I owe â—…hee all that which I am for thou â—…dest all things Because thou â—…st conserued me I ow vnto thee â—…ll that I am liue for thou conâ—…uest all things because thou â—…auest thy self as a reward vnto me what shal I restore thee If I had all the liues of Angels men and should offer them for a sacrifice vnto thee what were this oblation if it should be compared onely to the bloud which so aboundantly thou sheddest for my sake Who therfore shal giue me tears for mine eies that I may bewailâ—… my ingratitude and my negligent retribution for so many benefits Giue mee therefore thy helpe O Lord giue mee thy grace that in due maner I may confesse my sins vnto thee I vnhappy that I 〈◊〉 I although I haue demeaned 〈◊〉 selfe farre otherwise am thy creature made according to thy Image and likenesse acknowledgâ—… this similitude for it is thine Take from me that which I haue made and thou shalt finde thâ—… which thou by thy holy hand hast made I haue imploied all my forces and powers to iniurie thee and haue offended thee in yâ— very workâ—… of my hands My feete were swifâ—… to doe euill my hands ready tâ—… act any wickednesse mine eieâ—… dissolute to all vanitie and miâ—… eares open to all follies and falsehoods I haue diuerted the most noble part of my soule which had eies to behold thee from thy beauty and conuerted them to the flourishes of this miserable life the soule that day and night should haue meditated on thy commandements now night and day studieth in what maner it may offend thee The vnderstanding so depraued what should the will doe Thou my God hadst inuited it to celestiall delights but she preferred earth before heauen stretching her armes to thee O Lord consecrated to the filthie affection of Creatures This is yâ— recompence O God this the fruit which my senses which thou createdst brought foorth Ah wretch that I am what can I answer if thou enterest into iudgement with me and saist vnto mee I haue planted thee an elected 〈◊〉 all true seed And if I cannot giue answer to this first question how shall I answer thee in the second for my benefite of conseruation Thou my Lord thy prouidence hath conserued him that meditated on nothing else but how he might transgresse thy commandements how persecute thy seruants how offend thy Church and how to strengtheÌ„ the kingdome of sin against thee Thou moouedst the tongue that biasphemed thee thou ruledst the members which offended thee and gauest them sustenance who lay in wait for thy seruants so that I haue not onely bene vngrateful for thy benefits but also haue conuerted the benefits themselues into armes with which I impugned thee Thou hadst made all Creatures for my vse that I allured by that benefite should loue thee and I haue adulterated them in that I haue so often time offended thee by them I rather made choise of the gift than the giuer and from whom the occasion of knowing thy bounty was to bee taken from them I was blinded neither lifted I vp mine eies that I might see how farre more faire the Creator was thaÌ„ the creature Thou gauest me all things that I might giue my selfe vnto thee all things might serue me but I neuer either gaue thee glory or the tribute which is due vnto thee Thy creatures were alwaies ready at my command for so thou ordainedst them but I haue alwaies studied to offend thee and to this end haue vsed and abused all things Thou gauest me health and the diuell hath gathered the fruite thereof thou gauest me strength and I haue imploied the same in the seruice of thine enemie What shall I say why were not so many kinds of calamities and miseries which euery where I beheld in other men sufficient that but in them I might vnderstand but that all other mens euils were my benefits for from all them hast thou deliuered mee Shall it therefore bee lawfull for any man to shew himselfe vngratefull for a benefite receiued and who is hee that oweth not thanks for a benefite receiued If the rage of Lyons and Serpents bee lenified by gifts why O Lord shall not thine bee sufficient to mortifie and mollifie mee that yet at the least sometime I may say Let vs care our Lord God that giueth vs tunely and euening rame in due time pientie of annual increase to those that loue him It was enough for me O Lord to know that it was thou that â—…o long time sustainedst me although I had not any other demonstratioÌ„ or testimony of thy bounty and if that account shall be so strict for these things which cost thee little what shall that be which thou shalt exact for those which thou hast purchased with thy precious blood How I haue peruerted thy commandements how I haue violated the mystery of thy incarnation Thou becamest man that thou mightest make me God I besotted with mine owne abiectnesse made my selfe a beast and the sonne of the diuell Thou descendedst on the earth that thou mightest bring me to heauen and I vnworthy suâ—…h a vocation as one that deserued it not knew not the same and perseuered in the dirt of my abiectnesse Thou didst deliuer mee and I cast my selfe head long againe into my former captiuitie â—…hou raisedst me vp and I re-embraced death thou hadst incorporated me in thy selfe I again tooke party with the diuell So many so great blessings had not that power ouer mee to make mee acknowledge thee neither so many arguments of loue to make me loue thee againe neither so many merits to make mee hope in thee neither such a iustice which shined in thy passion to make mee feare thee thou hast humbled mee euen vnto the dust of the earth I swel with pride thou hangedst naked on the Crosse the whole world satisfieth not my Auarice They buffeted thee vpon the face who art God if any man touch my garment I am angry notwithstanding am but a base and vile worme What shall I say my Sauior Behold how great thy mercy and charitie is towards me Thou wouldst die to kil my sin I confident in the same mercy bounty loue am not afraid to sin against thee Alas what greater blasphemy may there be I of thy bounty tooke
daigned to take on thee all my euils I will therefore say with the Prophet I will trust in thee O Lord I will reioyce and be glad in thy mercie But because hope is not secure without obedience as one of thy friends saith Offer the sacrifice of iustice and trust in our Lord I beseech thee O most deere God grant me that the hope of thy mercies may strengthen mee in the obedience of thy commandements for no lesse is this obedience due vnto thee than hope than loue and the other rest Thou art my Emperor my King and my God to whom Heauen and earth the Sea and all that is therein do obseruance which haue neuer broken thy lawes but alwayes obserued thy commandements Grant mee O Lord that with no lesse dutie than all other creatures I may bee obedient to thy holy will by reason I am bound vnto thee in more offices of dutie than they are vouchsafe O King of Kings that I may obey thee and may neuer decline from the prescript of thy law Reigne in me O Lord and suffer not the world neither the Prince thereof to gouerne in mee any longer let not the flesh hold mee captiue neither mine owne will but thine Let all these tyrants intruders vpon thy possession theeues of thy glorie wretâ—…hed subuerters of thy iustice flie and forsake me Gouerne thou onely in mee O Lord that I also may reigne with thee whose Kingdome shall haue no end Come O thou mercifull Father take away the scandalles of thy Kingdome driue away sinne from my soule that thou maist reigne therein who oughtest to gouerne the same For auarice commeth and challengeth to himselfe an inheritanâ—…e therein boast desireth to rule therin pride will be my King lechâ—… saith 〈◊〉 will reigne ambition detraction enuie wrath striue in mee for mee which of them seemeth to haue the chiefest title prerogatiue ouer me But I as much as in mee lieth resist them I impugne as much as I am helpt I surrender to thee my God I defend my selfe for thee because I acknowledge my selfe to bee thine owne I esteeme thee for my God and my Lord saying I haue no other King but my God Come therfore O Lord destroy them in thy strength thou shalt rule in me for yâ— art my very King and my God who sendest saluation to Iacob No other lawes no other prescripts shall haue place in me but thine no other name no other Scepter except thine shall be adored in me that thy will may be done in earth as it is in heauen O Lord when shall that day be when I shall bee freed deliuered from these tyrants what no other voice but thine shall be heard in mee When shall my heart bee cleansed When shall the forces of mine enemies be so defeated that no contradiction may hinder mee in the obseruation of thy commandements When shall the force of mine enemies be so broken that no force may be found in me contrary to thy law when shall this sea bee calme when shall this heauen wax cleere when shall my affections bee so bridled and my passions so subdued so that no flouds no clouds no troubles may bee found in mee that may disturbe thy kingdome in me but that I may euery way enioy happy peace secure tranquillitie and obseruance of thy lawes Giue mee O Lord this obedienâ—…e or to speak more aptly giue mee that authority and emperie ouer my heart that vpon my becke it may neuer rebell against thee but in all things bee subiect vnto thee But euen as I am alwaies bouÌ„d to obserue obey thee so also both profit doth perswade equâ—…ty require that I offer my self wholy vnto thee sacrifice my self vnto thee for whatsoeuer I am I am all thine Thine I say am I vpon most iust titles thine becaue thou didst create me gauest mee that being which I enioy thine because in this being thou hast conserued mee and plentifully furnished mee with the benefits and offices of thy prouidence thine because from thraldome thou hast set mee at libertie not with gold or siluer but redeeming mee with the ransome of thy most precious blood Finally I am thine because thou hast so often bought me as thou hast deliuered me from any sinne If therfore vpon so many grouÌ„ds I am thine thou likewise art my King my Redeemer and deliuerer Behold I turne vnto thee that I may yeeld thee that which is thine owne that is I yeeld my selfe vp vnto thee as a perpetuall bondmaÌ„ and slaue Behold I giue thee the keyes of my liberty the dominion ouer my will that hereafter I neither bee mine owne neither any other mans but altogether thine that I may not liue to my selfe but to thee not serue my selfe but thee so that whether I eat or drinke or whatsoeuer I do I may referre al things to the glory of thy name I stay my selfe for thee I deliuer my selfe vnto thee that thou maist dispose of mee as of thine owne and that according to thy good liking and pleasure whether it please thee that I liue or yâ— I die whether I bee whole or sicke whether rich or poore whether praised or reprooued in all things I offer and deuote my selfe vnto thee I resigne my selfe into thy hands I renouÌ„e the right possession of my selfe that hereafter I be not mine owne but thine vntil that which is thine by right may be made thine by my will that not once nor one day but alwaies euery where Amen The second prayer of the penitent O Lord thou that createdst me my only God my onely Lord thou art my creator and my redeemer in whom I hope from whom I expect al those things which are requisit for my soule Thou forsakest not those that trust in thee thou art my sweetest my bountifullest my liberalest God thou art the father of light from whom all good things proceede and euery perfect gift desceÌ„deth froÌ„ aboue vnto mee Thou createdst me wheÌ„ I was no thing thou redeemedst me when I was created lost thou restoredst vnto me the Seale of innocencie which I lost in my first baptisine Thou sauedst mee after I had receiued the knowledge of the truth voluntarily sinning againe almost shipwrackt in the seas of this world by the sacred anchor of true repentance and all this of thine owne will and meere grace for if by my good deedes I had preuented thee where is that which thy Prophet saith his iustice preuented mee If I had done any good worke whereby I might deserue thy mercie where is that of thine Apostle Through grace you are saued by faith and not of your selues for it is the gift of GOD If my loue preuented thee how is that true Not because wee loued him but for that he first loued vs If without thy helpe and by our owne vertue we follow thee where is it that thine onely begotten Sonne saith Without me can you doe nothing
and the directions of my superiors onely follow those things which are of the Spirit O most bountiful Iesu giue me perfect renouncement and hatred of my sinne and perfect conuerston of my heart vnto thee that all my thoughts and all my desires may bee fixed on thee and in thee onely O life without which I am dead O truth without which I am deceiued O way without which I go astry O saluation without which I perish O light without which I walk in darknes Suffer me not O Lord suffer mee not to be at any times drawne from thee for I liue cnely in thee without thee 〈◊〉 die in thee I am saued and without thee I am lost in thee I am somewhat without thee I am nothing because I had not bene at all except thou hadst bene in mee and except I were in thee thou shouldest not bee in mee Bee thou therefore O good Iesu in my memorie in the morning by the same may I know thee in the same â—…et me finde thee when I remember thee delight in thee and deriue my pleasures from thee from whoÌ„ all things by whom all things in whom all things are Amen The third prayer for the loue of God IF yâ— duty whereby we are bound to our benefactors for the benefits we haue receiued be so great if euerie of the bounties wee receiue bee as it were brands and motiues of loue if the sire waxe in greatnes according to the multitude of the fuell O Lord how great a fire of loue ought there iustly burne in my heart if the matter of thy bounty be so infinite which kindleth nourisheth the same If the whole world as well visible inuisible with all that which is found therein bee but meere benefits of thine towards vs how huge ought that flame of my loue bee which ought to glow in me And that so much the more because I ought not to loue thee for these benefits onely but also for that in thee all the causes and reasons of loue are to bee found and they euery one of them in the highest degree of perfection For if we consider thy goodnes who is found better than thou art if wee respect thy beauty thou art the fairest one whose face the angels desire to contemplate if wee seeke for bounty sweetnesse who is toâ—…ee found more sweete and benigne than thou art if we desire riches and wisdome who richer or wiser than thou art 〈◊〉 friendship who will soue any thing more thaÌ„ he that pawned his life for vs Now if we returne vnto benefits O Lord from whom proceedeth all that which wee haue but from thee what shall wee say of hope when as from thee alone and from thy mercie wee hope and crpect whatsoeuer we want if by the only right of nature wee owe much dutie to our carnall parents who is more father than he of whom it isâ—… Call not your selues a father on the earth for you haue one Father who is in heaueÌ„ If the husband be so tenderly beloued of his wife what other spouse hath our soule than thy selfe O Lord who shall replenish the bosome of my heart and my desires but thou If the Philosophers say that the finall end is beloued with infinite loue who is my beginning who my latter end but thou O Lord for froÌ„ whence tooke I my originall and whither shall I go to be perfected but from thee and in thee From whom is all that which I haue from whom hope I to receiue the same which I want but from thee Finally if sâ—…tude bee the cause of loue to whose similitude and likenesse is my soule created if not to thine So then if this speciall title and euery one of the rest bee motiues of loue what ought that to be that is deriued from all these vnited together verity as the Sea is more spacious than all other flouds that enter into the same and by how much it ouercommeth the rest in greatnesse by so much also is thy loue more abundant greater and more excellent than all other eternall loues Since therefore I haue so iust causes O Lord and so pregnant occasions to loue thee why should I not loue thee with all my heart with all my soule with all my strength and inward thoughts O my hope my glorie my ioy O my amiable beginning O my sacietie and sufficiencieâ—… when shall that day bee when I shall truely loue thee and embrace thee with my whole heart WheÌ„ shal I shew my selfe gratefull vnto thee in all things and for all things When shall I feele all that mortified m ine which is opposed against thee WheÌ„ shal I be wholy thme WheÌ„ shal I ceasie to be mine own WheÌ„ shall that houre come when nothing shall liue in me but thy selfe When shall I feele my selfe wholy inflamed with thy loue WheÌ„ wilt yâ— rauish mee perforce When wilt thou make me drunke with that milke of thy teares When wilt thou transferre mee wholy into thee When shall I see that happy day when all impediments and perturbations of the minde taken away thou wilt make mee one spirit with thee so that hereafter I shal not be drawn from thee Ah Lord how much cost it thee to redeeme me but being once redeemed how easily canst thou do good For when yâ— doest good vnto man what is takeÌ„ out of thy house what is lost of thy riches what is taken out of thine infinite treasures Why O Lord doth thy wrath fight with thy mercy against mee whereas thou art thâ—…ea of infinite liberalitie and 〈◊〉 Remember therefore O Lord that I am thine thou art mine Fly me not therfore O Lord but suffer mee to finde thee out I make a long iourney 〈◊〉 stand ofeÌ„ I often returne let it not grieue thee O Lord to expect mee who cannot keepe company with thee O my God and my saluation why am I so idle why runne I not which speedie alacritie vnto thee the chiefest good in whom at once are all goodnesses found I will loue thee O Lord with an ardent and strong loue I will stretch the armes of my affections and desires that I may embrace thee the sweet spouse of my soule from whom I promise vnto my selfe all goodnesse The Iuâ—…e so strongly embraceth her neighbouring tree that euery twist thereof seemeth to bee a seuerall arme for sustained by this helpe it groweth high and attaineth to full perfection but O Lord to what tree shall I cleaue but vnto that which planted-on the mountaine of Caluarie is become a sure supporter vnto me The Iuy increaseth not so largely neither extendeth the beauty of her branches so far being sustained by the tree as my soule increaseth in vertues and graces beeing vnderpropped by this tree Why therfore are not all the members of my body turned into armes that on euery side I may embrace thee why shall I not loue thee why shall I not put all my trust 〈◊〉 confidence
liuest and reignest for euer Thou art he who possesseth all things in all places and that disposest them sweetly Thou art he that createdst all things without any necessitie and conseruest them without labour and gouernest all things without molestation and mouest al things thy selfe being immoueable Thou art all eie all foote all hand for thou seest sustainest and worâ—… all things Thou art in al things yet art not concluded thou art without all things and yet art not disioyned Thou art vnder all things yet art not subiect thou art aboue al things yet art not lifted vp Thou art the soueraigne and true God the soueraigne and true life from whom and by whom all things haue birth and being Thou O Lord art very goodnes and beauty it selfe by which and from which all that is good faire is good and faire Thou art he who willest vs to leeke thee and giuest vs leaue to finde thee thou bidst vs knocke and thou openest when wee call vpon thee thou art hee whom to forsake is to fall and whom to weare is to rise and in whom to stand is to endure for euer Thou art hee whom no man forsaketh but the foolish no man seeketh except hee bee called no man findeth except he be purged thou art hee whose knowledge is life whose seruice is a Kingdome whose praise is saluation and thou art the very ioy of those that reioâ—…e in thee What therefore shall I O my king Sauior what shal I say vnto thee I say a wretched worme what shal I say of the greatnes of so many praises I wil say that which the Prophets inspired with thy truth said who hath measured the waters with a hand weighed the heauens with a palme who hanged the weight of the earth on three fingers poised the mountaines in ballances and the hils 〈◊〉 scales Who assisted the spirit of our Lord or who is his counseller and instructour Of whom tooke hee counsell and instructed him and taught him the way of his â—…stice and brought him vp in science and shewed him the way 〈◊〉 prudence Behold the Gentiles are but as a drop of a bucket and are reputed as a graine in the ballance Loe the Ilands are but as a little dust the Woods of Lybanus shal not be sufficient to burne and the beasts shal not suffice for a sacrifice All nations as if they were not so are they before him in his sight are reputed as nothing a vain thing For if at the presenâ—…e of the Sunne al the stars in the heauens shine not nay rather are as if they were not whereas notwithstanding both the one and the other are creatures what shall all created things bee in his sight who is the Creatour of the whole world I adore thee therefore especially O Lord with profound humility and due reuerence with that adoration and worship which is only due vnto thee and to no other creature with such duty as all the dominations of heauen and all the creatures of the world adore thee of whom though many know thee not yet can they not choose but euery one in their kinde adore thee end in their manner offer homage to the Scepter of thy diuinity and acknowledge thy greatnesse For thou onely art the God of Gods thou only the King of Kings thou onely the Lord of Lords and the cause of causes thou art Alâ—…ha and Omega the beginning and ending of all things Thou art the beginning without beginning and the end without end Thou onely art he that thou art for all other things how excellent soeuer they bee haue their beeing borrowed from another but thy beeing is high perfect vniuersall and that dependeth on none other And therefore deseruedly art thou said to bee that which thou art because whatsoeuer is created hath no beeing if it be compared with thine For which cause O Lord acknowledging all these great and wanderfull things prostrate before the foote of thy Diuine presence with all that humility which I am able to expresse I adore thee in such maner as those blessed spirits adore thee who falling downe before thee seated in thy Throâ—… of Maiesty and laying down their crownes before thy feete adore thee confesse that all that which they haue proceedeth from thee So I also o Lord who am the vilest of all creatures adore thee and a thousand times remember thee confessing vnto thee that thou art my true Lord and God and that all that which I am or whatsoeuer I finde in my selfe as my being liuing breathing is all thine and therfore I call vpon all creatures that they together with mee may praise thee adore thee glorifie thee in that diuine song of the Prophet saying Come let vs sing vnto the Lord let vs praise the God of our saluation let vs come before his presence with thanksgiuing and reioyce to him with Psalmes because our God is a great God a great King aboue all Gods in his hands are all the corners of the earth the height of the hilles is his also The sea is his and he made it and his hands fashioned the drie land Come therefore let vs adore and fall downe before him and weepe before our Lord God that made vs for hee is our Lord God and wee are his people and the sheepe of his pasture Wherefore O my God since thou art so worthy to bee adored and honored giue me grace that without intermission I may magnifie thee not onely in words and with my tongue but also in my heart my actions and my whole life Thou which liuest and reignest world without end Amen The second praier to the holy Trinitie of the greatnesse of the diuine Maiestie OMnipotent eternall God three in persons one in substance iust and meet it is agreeable with reason that I should imploy all my whole life in the exercise of repentance feare when as I haue so iust causes of lament feare Tuen as therfore the greatnesse of thy glory impelleth mee to honour and praise thee so also commandeth it mee to praise and glorifie thee For a Hymne becommeth thee in â—…ion and a vow shall be made to thee in Ierusalem because thou art the Ocean of all perfections the Sea of wisedome the Abysse of power beauty greatnesse riches sweetnesse and maiestie in which are all perfections and beauties of creatures which are in heauen or on earth and all these perfections are found in thee in the highest perfection degree All beauty compared to thee is deformitie all riches pouerty all strength weakenesse all wisedome ignorance all sweetenesse bitternesse and to conclude many things in a few all things that are in heauen and on earth make lesse appearance in thy sight than a little candle before the sun-shine Thou art perfect in all things without any deformity great wtout quantity good without quality strong without infirmitie true without falsitie alwaies present without
place in all places without diuision In magnitude thou art infinite in vertue omnipotent in goodnesse chiefe in wisedome inestimable in counsels terrible in iudgements iust in thoughts secret in words true in works holy in mercy copious towards sinners patient toward penitents compassionate But what in especiall should I speake of thy wisedome but that which earst the Prophet aid O Lord thou knowest my thoughts afar off thou hast searcht my commings in and goings out and all my waies hast thou foreknowne because there is no speech in my tongue which thou knowest not Behold O Lord thou knowest al things both the first and the last Thou hast made mee and laid the hand vpon me Such knowledge is too wonderfull excellent for me I cānot attaine vnto it Whither shall I goe from thy spirit or whither shal I fly frō thy presence if I climbe vp to heauen thou a◅ there if I goe downe to hell thou art there also if I take the wings of the morning and remaine in the vtmost parts of the sea euen there also shall thy hand leade mee and thy right hand shall hold me If I say the darkenes shall couer me then shall thy right hand bee turned to day yea the darkenes is no darknesse with thee but the night is as cleare as day the darkenesse and light to thee are both alike For his eies saith another are vpon the waies of men hee considereth all their steps there is no darknes nor shadow of death to hide them that work iniquity But what shal I say of the greatnes of thy power I wil say that in times past which the Prophet said saying For God is my king of old the helpe that is done vpon earth hee doth it himselfe Thou diddest deuide the sea through thy power thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters Thou smotest the heads of the dragons and gauest them for meate to thy people in the wildernesse thou broughtest out fountaines and waters out of the hard rockes thou driedst vp many waters The day is thine the night is thine thou hast prepared the light and the sun thou hast set all the borders of the earth thou hast made sommer and winter And in another place the same Prophet saith O Lord God of hoasts who is like vnto thee thy truth most mighty Lord is on euery side Thou rulest the raging of the sea thou stillest the waues therof when they arise thou hast subdued Egypt destroied it thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arme The heauens are thine and the earth is thine thou hast laid the foundation of the round world and all that therein is Thou hast made the North the South ◅abor and Herm◅ shall reioyce in thy name Thou hast a mighty arme strong is thy hand high is thy right hand Blessed Iob knew this thy power when he said With him is counsel strength wisedome vnderstanding Behold if he breake downe a thing who can set it vp again If he shut a thing who will open it Behold if he withhold the waters they ◅ry vp if he let them goe they destroy the earth with him is strength wisedome both the deceiuer and ◅ee that is deceiued are his hee carrieth away the wise men as it were a spoile and maketh that Iudges fooles hee looseth the rule of Kings guirdeth their loines with a band he leadeth away the great men into captiuity and turneth the mightie vpside downe he stoppeth the mouth of them that speake truth and disappointeth the aged of their vnderstanding hec poureth contempt vpon Princes and maketh the strength of the mightie weake Looke what lieth hid in darkenesse hee declareth it openly and the verie shadow of death bringeth he to light he increaseth the people and destroieth them he maketh them to multiply and diminisheth them These o Lord are testimonies of thy mightines but what shal I say of the riches of thy glory and the veine of thy felicitie If thou hast sinned saith the scripture what hast thou done against him if thy offences be many what hast thou done vnto him if thou bee righteous what giuest thou him or what wil he receiue at thy hands Thy wickednesse may hurt a man as thou art and thy righteousnes may profit the sonne of man But thou O Lord art such and so blessed as thou needest not another mans goods I confesse thee to be such a one for such a one I praise thee and glorifie thy most holy name Infuse thy light into my heart giue me words in my mouth that my heart may alwaies think of thy mightines and let thy praise be in my mouth for euer But for that thy laud is not seemely in y◠mouth of a sinner I therefore require all the Angels of heauen and all the creatures of the world that they together with me may praise thee and may supply my defect inuiting them thereunto with that glorious song which the three children sung in the midst of the fierie furnace in Babylon saying Blessed bee the Lord God of our fathers bee hee praised magnified for euer And blessed be the name of his glorie holy and laudable and magnified for euer and euer Blessed art thou in the throne of thy maiestie to bee praised and magnified for euer Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths and sittest vpon the Cherubins to be praised and magnified for euer Blessed art thou in the firmament of heauen and praised and glorified world without end Amen The third prayer to the holy Trinitie GOD holy of holiest God omnipotent God eternall God that art strong God of spirits and all flesh at whose presence heauen and earth trembleth at whose beck the heauens and elements obey trinitie in vnitie and vnitie in trinitie Father Son holy Ghost thou being of my being life that quickenest me light that illuminatest me science that instructeth me yet aboue all essence light life and science all creatures adore and celebrate thee and I incited by the dutie I owe thee this day do bow the knees of my heart before the footstoole of thy Maiestie I giue thee thanks that thou not onely didst frame me when I was nothing but also didst fashion mee according to thine owne forme that is gauest mee a perfect shape that where I deserued no fauour thou hadst compassion on mee for that thou hast sanctified mee with the sacraments of y◠Church that from my child-hood hitherto thou hast brought me vp in al goodnes But O thou maker of heauen of earth whereas I am not able to serue thee to any vse for whose cause didst thou so much bountie vpon me how commeth it to passe that thou louest mee so much for what haue I giuen thee to induce thee to recompence me yea where was I before I was made that I might shew thee a former curtesie Truly by thy benefit in times past I was made dignified with
destres and that for this cause thy creatures are obedient vnto thee Bee than mindfull in this thy wrath of thy great mercy and fauourably take away this contagious sickenesse which by thy wrath is powred vpon vs. For the pestilent aire shall enforce no euill if we oppose our selues against all kinds of iniquity yet all things proceede from thee O most mercifull Father both for that in body wee are secured from this plague and for that in soule wee are protected from the venome of sinne and reward thereof For although other men detained with the loue of this lifâ—… runne here and there seeking helâ—… in these perils yet from no mâ—… either more rightly or more secuâ—…ly is their helpe to bee intreatâ—… than from thee onely whose poâ—…â—…t no man may fly who receiuest vs into thy fauour for that thou despisest no man that hopeth in thy goodnesse To thee therefore doe we cry O Lord heare our prayers and supplications that thou maist deliuer vs from this pestilent and deadly plague Command thine Angell that striketh vs to shut his sword in his sheath lest he pursue vs till we be vtterly extinguished extend not thine ire against vs spare our soules preserue vs from the plague Râ—…rne returne O Lord and haue mercy on thy seruants take from vs this indisposition of the aire and vnholsomnes of the place lest the infected aire powre that poyson wherewith it is infected vpon vs to our confusioÌ„ O Lord let thy hand I pray thee be turned that all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our GOD and that thy Name is called vpon amongst vs. Amen In the time of famine and scarsity of victuals MOst iust Lord God that according to the merits of thy people both bestowest and withdrawest thy blessings looke vpon our pouerty who acknowledge this present scarsitie of victuals famine as a rod in thy hand wherby thou chastisest and punishest yâ— manifold abuses of thy blessings misimployed by vs in riot and often drunkennes and other destres of the flesh and dissipations of thy gifts which thou hast giuen vs not to that intent that being faâ—…ed filled we should kicke against thee but rather wee might serue thee thankfully in way of acknowledgment Why complaine wee not of the prophanation of thy name by oathes and horrible imprecations and of the violating of thy holy daies and seruice But what other thing shall wee most wretched sinners iustly puni shed by thee for our iniquities do but falling downe prostrate in the presence of thy Maiestie accuse our selues and deplore our offenses and implore thy grace and mercy that thou wilt vouchasafe to looke downe from Heauen to the end that by thy blessing our land may yeeld vs increase and by that meanes releeued and satisfied with necessary food we may praise thee for the blessings wee haue receiued professe our selues more and more bound to do thee seruice Amen Against the tempests and thunder of the aire KIng of eternal glory omnipotent God that giuest food vnto all creatures and couerest the heauen with clouds and preparest raine for the earth that transferrest the Southerne winde from yâ— heauen and bringest in the Affricke by thy vertue that waterest the mountaines from the higher places thereof who satiatest the earth with the fruite of thy works that hast commanded thine Angel that he should not hurt neither the land nor the Sea nor trees spare those that feare thee and bee mercifull to their prayers For wee most humbly beseech thee O Lord that yâ— incursion of stormes may depart far from vs and the calamity of tempests the tempest of haile the blasting of lightning and that all the assaults of the enemie may bee tempered Let the harmefull thunders the noisome raines the raging wmdes be calmed grant also that the right hand of thy vertue may ouer-way the spirits of storme and airie tempests O Lord thou that thunderest from heauen and giuest thy voice that sendest forth thine arrowes multipliest thy lightnings turne away we pray thee this cruel tempest from vs let it not bring vs to confusion Restraine the thunder and thine arrowes lest they hurt vs. keepe vs and our houses lest we perish through that fury of storme and the force of lightning Protect our habitations lest by fire sent downe from heauen they burne 〈◊〉 consumed Most mercifull Lord raine not I beseech thee thy haile vpon the 〈◊〉 of the earth neither strike the â—…ell or fruite of our pastors â—…rch not vp the herbs trees of 〈◊〉 Countrey kill not our corne â—…ther expose our cattell to the â—…le whereby they may bee destroied but in thy mercy conteine thy wrath that we that are iuftly punished for our offences by the â—…ntion of thy mercy may finde grace and indulgence of our sins Amen A prayer for the Master of a Houshold VVHereas O Father thou commandest euery one of vs to haue care of our neighbors to further their affaires and fortunes to withstand all their incommodities I very well vnderstand what â—…u meanest namely that it beâ—…th a Master in his houshold â—…e no lesse care towards his seruants than himselfe and than teachest the seruants likewise to obey their masters I acknowledge my duty but in ruling those whom thou hast committed to my charge my wife children seruants handmaids and other domesticall seruants I neither finde facultâ—… nor iudgement in my selfe I flie therefore vnto thee tâ—… chiefest Father of the familie 〈◊〉 thee I say who art the ruler both 〈◊〉 heauen and earth I most huâ—… submit my selfe beseeching thy 〈◊〉 uor Grant O Father gouerâ—… that I may keepe continue thâ—… my seruants which thou hast committed to my charge in thy feaâ—… discipline and that I may deâ—… and further both those things that belong to the profit of their bodies soules and such as concerne their honour and profite And grant that they likewise on the other side 〈◊〉 performe their duties with fâ—… and obedience not seruing according to the outward eie but deâ—…ning them louingly and freely discharging their duties in â—…tie of heart as if before GOD and not men whereby at lenght we may al finde the reward in heaâ—… Amen The prayer of a Sonne OMnipotent and eternal God to whom euery obedience of the child towards his parents is â—…ll pleasing and all rebellion is loathsome who in thy law comâ—…dest vs to honor our parents â—…ding this thy commandemeÌ„t 〈◊〉 a double wal namely with reâ—…d and punishment whilst thou promisest to the humble and obedient child eternall life and to the vntoward and rebellious thou denouncest death and malediction Neither is this thy precept vpon me neither farre estranged from me that I might say who in effect may fulfill the same but it is neere me or rather in me whereas the very law of nature ingrauen in my foule inciteth and inuiteth me vnto the same I beseech thee therfore O most bountifull Father
with bit and bridlâ—… 〈◊〉 fall vpon thee 11 Great plagues 〈◊〉 foâ—… the vngodly but who so putâ—…h his trust in the Lord mercy embraceth him on euery side 12 Be glad O yee righteous reioyce in the Lord and be ioyfull all ye that are true of heart PSALME XXXVIII PUt me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure 2 For thine arrowes stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore 3 There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne 4 For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head are like a sore burthen too heauie for me to beare 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt through my foolishnesse 6 I am brought into so great trouble and miserie that I goe mourning all the day long 7 For my loines are filled with a 〈◊〉 disease and there is no whole â—…rt of my body 8 I am feeble and sore smitten 〈◊〉 haue roared for the very disquiâ—…esse of my heart 9 Lord thou knowest all my â—…sire and my groaning is not hid â—…om thee 10 My heart panteth my strength â—…th failed mee and the sight of â—…e eies is gone from me 11 My louers and my neighbours â—…id stand looking vpoÌ„ my trouble â—…nd my kinsmen stood afarre off 12 They also that sought after â—…y life laid snares for me and they â—…hat went about to doe mee euill â—…alked of wickednesse and imagiâ—…ed deceit all the day long 13 As for me I was like a deafe man and heard not and as one yâ— is dumbe which doth not open his mouth 14 I became euen as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofes 15 For in thee O Lord haue I put my trust thou shalt answer for me O Lord my God 16 I haue required that they â—…uen mine enemies should not â—…umph ouer mee for when my fâ—… slipt they reioyced greatly agaâ—… mee 17 And I truly am set in 〈◊〉 plague and my heauinesse is eâ—… in my sight 18 For I will confesse my wiâ—… ednesse and be sorie for my sinnâ—… 19 But mine enemies liue aâ—… are mighty and they that hate mâ—… wrongfully are many in number 20 They also that reward euill for good are against mee because I follow the thing that good is 21 Forsake me not O Lord my God be not thou farre from me 22 Hast thee to helpe mee O Lord God of my saluation PSALME LI. HAue mercie vpon me O God after thy great goodnesse according vnto the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences 2 Wash me throughly from my wickednesse and clense mee from my sinne 3 For I acknowledge my faults 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sinne is euer before me 4 â—…gainst thee onely haue I sinneâ—… done this euill in thy sight thâ—… thou mightst bee iustified in thâ—… saying and cleere when thou aâ—… iudged 〈◊〉 Behold I was shapen in wicâ—…nesse and in sinne hath my mothâ—… conceiued me 〈◊〉 But loe thou requirest truth in 〈◊〉 inward parts shalt make me 〈◊〉 vnderstand wisedome secretly 〈◊〉 Thou shalt purge me with Iâ—…e and I shall bee cleane thou â—…lt wash me and I shall be whiâ—… than snow 8 Thou shalt make me heare of â—…y gladnes that yâ— bones which thou hast broken may reioyce 9 Turne thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeedes 10 Make me a cleane heart o God and renew a right spirit within me 11 Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me 12 O giue mee the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish mee with thy free Spirit 13 Then shall I teach thy wayeâ—… vnto the wicked and sinners shâ—… be conuerted vnto thee 14 Deliuer mee from bloodgâ—… tinesse O GOD thou that aâ—… God of my health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse 15 Thou shalt open my lips O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise 16 For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thâ—… delightest not in burnt offerings 17 The sacrifice of GOD is a troubled spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God shalt thou not despise 18 O bee fauourable and gracious vnto Sion build thou the wals of Ierusalem 19 Then shalt thou bee pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnes with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer young bullocks vpon thine Altar PSALME CII HEare my prayer O Lord and let my crying come vnto thee 2 Hide not thy face from mee in 〈◊〉 â—…e of my trouble incline 〈◊〉 eares vnto mee when I call O heare me and that right soone 3 For my daies are consumed away like smoke and my bones 〈◊〉 burnt vp as it were a firebraÌ„d 4 My heart is smitten downe withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread 5 For the voice of my groaning my bones will scarce cleaue to my flesh 6 I am become like a Pellican in the Wildernes like an Owle that is in the desart 6 I haue watched and am euen as it were a Sparrow that sitteth alone vpon the house top 8 Mine enemies reuile mee all the day long and they that are mad vpon mee are sworne together against me 9 For I haue eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drink with weeping 10 And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me vp and cast mee downe 11 My daies are gone like a shadowe and I am withered 〈◊〉 grasse 12 But thou O Lord shalt â—…dure for euer and thy remeâ—…brance throughout all generâ—…ons 13 Thou shalt arise and hauâ—… mercy vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercy on her yeâ—… the time is come 14 And why thy seruants thinke vpon her stones it pittieth theâ—… to see her in the dust 15 The Heathen shall feare thy Name O Lord and al the Kings of the earth thy Maiestie 16 When the Lord shall build vp Sion and when his glory shal appeare 17 When hee turneth him vnto the prayer of the poore destitute and despiseth not their desire 18 This shal be written for those that come after and the people that shall be borne shall praise the Lord. 19 For hee hath looked downe from his sanctuarie out of the heauen did the Lord behold the earth 20 That hee might heare the mourâ—…g of such as be in captiuiâ—… 〈◊〉 deliuer the children apâ—…ed vnto death 21 That they may declare the 〈◊〉 of the Lord in Sion his â—…rship at Ierusalem 22 When the people are gatheâ—…ed together and the kingdomes 〈◊〉 to serue the Lord. 23 Hâ—…e brought downe my strength in my iourney and shortened my daies 24 But I said O my God take me not away in the midst of mine age 〈◊〉 for thy yeares they endure thoroughout all generations 25 Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the Heauens are the worke of thy hands 26 They shall perish but thou
thee so could not any thing be created by any other but by thee to the end that all things might serue thee praise thee and publish thy glory Thou art the vniuersall dispenser of good things so that there is no benefit to be found either of nature or grace body or soule which taketh not his originall from thee who art the fountaine of all goodnes Thou art the maine of all perfection the Abysse of all greatnesse the Dâ—…ean of infinite mercy and goodnes the image of incomparable beauty Thou art the God of Gods the holy of holiest the King of Kinges the Lord of Lords the cause of causes the being of beings the life of the liuing the order of the Uniuers the beauty of the world the glory of the heauens Thou art my Creator that madest me of nothing to thine owne Image and similitude Thou art my conseruer who by thy prouideÌ„ce maintainest me lest I should become nothing Thou art my sanctifier who by thy grace extollest me vnto things which are diuine Thou art my glorifier who hast made me to enioy the glorie euerlasting Thou art my defender helper pastor benefactor Thou art my King my Lord my father my spouse Thou art the center of my soule my last end in whom alone consisteth all my felicity happinesse and the last perfection of my life what neede many words Thou art to me all in all in as much as thou art God But in as much as thou art man thou art my redeemer my sauiour and deliuerer Thou art as the Apostle testifieth my wisedome my iustice my sanctification my redemption my sacrifice my Lambe my priest my aduocate my intercessor my doctor my example my fortitude my consolation Thou art the generall phisition of all my wounds infirmities Thou hast healed my pride by thy humility my auarice by thy pouerty my pleasures by thy dolors my wrath by thy meeknes my enuy by thy charity my excesse by the gall and vinegar which thou tastedst for my sake my sloath by thy diligence and vnmeasurable labors vndertaken for my sake For my sake thou didst fast wander hither and thither sweate watch pray weepe for mee thou wert banished persecuted deâ—…ded mockt spit vpon whipt crowned with thornes crucified and more afflicted than all other men of this world and at length put to death 2. A thanksgiuing ALL these are thy benefits O Lord for which I ought to yeeld thee thanks nay rather they are most iust causes for which I am indebted vnto thee bonds by which thou holdest me captiue bound vnto thee What shall I giue vnto our Lord for all the benefits hee hath bestowed on mee by what duty or what humble seruice shall I recompence so manie graces bestowed vpon me Uerily I beleeue that although I onely had all mens hearts and with all them did only loue thee yet might I not in the least sort yeeld thee that which belongeth vnto thee How then for many so great benefits shall I yeeld thee satisfaction How can I deny thee that one heart which I haue for all wheÌ„ I owe thee so much for all thy benefits towards me What shal I say my God what shall I doe for I alone am not sufficieÌ„t to yeeld thee condigne thanks for such a multitude of blessings But I know what I shall doe I will call vpon all creatures that are in heauen on earth and I will desire them to assist me and vouch safe with me to sing thy praises and glorifie with mee the Lord of all glorie Let vs therefore sing the song which the three children sang in the burning Furnace in Babilon saying O blesse ye all the workes of the Lord God praise ye and magnifie him for euer O yee angels of the Lord blesse yee the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O yee heauens blesse the Lord praise yee and magnifie him for euer O yee waters that are aboue the firmament blesse yee our Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer c. 3. The oblation of a mans selfe ALL these praises and blessings doe I owe thee O father yea and far more greater belong vnto thee For if I shal more neerely examine the matter I not only owe thee mine but my selfe also For if in India a man buy another man for a red cap and hee that is bought at so slight a rate is in such sort wholly obliged subiect to the buier as that he is neither master of a moment of time or of a farthing but is very often cast into fetters by his Lord beaten with clubs and handled according to the humour of him that bought him what shall become of me O Lord I am thine yea truly wholy thine not tied vnto thee vnder one name and title but by infinite respects Thou hast created me thou hast bought me not with a red cap but with thy precious blood thou hast conserued me in all and euery momeÌ„t of my life For without thee I can nether stir haÌ„d or foot without thy prouidence I can neither breath nor respire or act any thing with what colour theÌ„ can I cast off thy dominion ouer me How an I deny thee that which is thine By what right can I challenge liberty to my selfe Or with what impudence shaking off the yoake of my Lord can I wish to liue according to my wicked desires when by so many reasons I am thine ought so wholy to be dedicated vnto thee Most humbly therfore acknowledging thy dominion ouer me behold I dedicate my self wholy vnto thee and intirely submit my selfe to thy perpetuall seruice subiection Neither doe I onely offer my selfe vnto thee but also all that which is mine what soeuer this day or in the rest of my life I shall thinke speake or do with all those things which at any time for thy sake shal be offered me to admit or further 〈◊〉 so that henceforward I wil neither eat nor drink nor sleep nor do any such like thing whose end shall not bee the honour glory of thy most holy name Once more I say O Lord I sacrifice my selfe vnto thee lest hereafter I be mine owne not thine I will liue no more according to mine owne will I will not labour for my selfe I wil not seek my selfe but in all things euery way will I seeke thee obey thy will and be diligent in thy seruice and if at any time I shall doe the contrary I will call my selfe a theefe and rauisher of an other mans right for that dutie and obedience which vnder so many titles and by so much right appertaineth vnto thee deniing and stealing the same from thee I shall vsurpe vnto my selfe 4. A petition for new benefits BUt because without thy grace I cannot yeeld thee that duty I pray thee O Lord that thou wilt assist me herein and create in me a new heart that shal not iudge himselfe to be his own no not for 〈◊〉
vnto thee that it may keepe thy word and as a new thing be infixed in my memorie Thou art he that saidst by thy Prophet The word that shall issue from my mouth shall not returne to me in vaine but shall prosper in that for which I send it Goe to Lord and let thy word heard by me from the mouth of thy minister prosper in me giue me strength y◠my life may bee answerable to the doctrine I haue receiued Giue increase to thy word O thou celestial husbandman that it may augment and increase in me that by thy holy word it may not onely bring me to the knowledge of thy will but also that I may fulfill and execute that which thou biddest and wilt and so I may perseuer vnto the end vntil I may attaine to thy celestiall and euerlasting kingdome Amen When we goe about any worke VVE that are thrust into the most obscurest darkenesse through the fal of our first parents O thou fountaine of eternall wisedome know not what is pleasing or displeasant to thee and what is expedient or hurtfull for vs notwithstanding O bountifull mercifull Lord I notwithstanding y◠labour bee great if I respect my strength light easie if I regard thy assistance doe now vndertake the same not knowing whether thou wilt that the same should bee done by me or likewise whether it shall be profitable or hurtfull vnto me O thou light of diuine maiesty O beauty of the glory of the Father O giuer of gifts I beseech thee let the drops of thy grace fall vpon me that herein I may know thy will To thee therefore O thou that dwellest in the highest God and Father omnipotent with humble heart godly affection and deuout praier doe I fly crauing thy helpe and assistance in beginning this worke For thou vnderstandest the depth of my ignorance my pouerty in vertues my sluggishnesse in weldoing and the great deformity of my maners all which make me vnworthy to finish such a wor◅e giue me therefore wisedome that assisteth thy seat send her from thy holy heauens that shee may bee with mee and labour with mee Strengthen me O Lord God of Israel and at this houre behold y◠workes of my hands Giue mee strength assist and helpe mee that the euill spirit do not hinder me in atchieuing this worke or the detractious of wicked men reuoke me from the same let mee faile other waies or let me fall before the end of the worke but vnder such a moderator and rector let me institute and end all things orderly namely Iesus Christ the mediator who is God to bee praised for euer Amen A thanksgiuing when the worke is finished O Most sweete Lord Iesus Christ thou redeemer of mankinde who art Alpha and Omega the beginning and end by whom al things are made without whom nothing is done who weighest vowes crownest merits and giuest rewards I giue thee thanks that I haue ended the work begun by thy prouidence and ended by thy assistance Thine it is O good Iesus at this present to weigh the value therof If I haue any waies defaulted therein all that is mine and if any thing hath beene gracious in the eies of thy Maiesty all that do I ascribe vnto thee For being conceiued in sin borne in sin bred vp in sin what other thing can wee doe but sinne And how can we performe any good thing except thou giue it O Lord It remaineth now O God that by the same mercy wherewith thou wroughtest this worke with me by the same now thou wilt direct it to a wished scope and end lest the fruits thereof doe perish either to my selfe or to my neighbour And if for al those benefits which thou hast bestowed on vs wee should giue thee thankes most bountiful Iesus all our whole life should bee spent in that one thing so that it behooued vs to think on no other thing but the same But now our duety calleth vs hencefoorth to another thing our vocation exacteth another thing at our hands yet are thy new benefits alwaies to bee receiued with a new giuing of thanks For which cause I also for that it hath pleased thee so faithfully to finish this worke in me and by me although thy vile vnworthy instrument I blesse thee and praise thee and glorifie thee But grant me also O Lord not onely to giue thee thankes but also to haue them that is to remember continually thy bounties imploied on mee that when as thou findest mee not ingratefull thou maiest continue the increase of thy gifts in me vntil by these of thine I may attaine the perpetual fountaine of all goodnesse and blessednesse Amen When we prepare ourselues to studie VVE whatsoeuer we be by a hidden instinct of nature desire knowledge but in so palpable darkenesse are wee conuersant that not onely wee are ignorant of those things which wee ought to know but also how wee ought to know For it is the punishment of the first sinne that this naturall light wherewith in the state of innocency our vnderstanding was illuminate is now extinct and we as it were blinde grope for the wall and as it were without eies handle it To thee therefore O Wisdome dwelling in the highest heauens residēt in the fathers bosome make I recourse enlighten I beseech thee my nunde giue mee an vnderstanding heart y◠I may know the truth which thou thy selfe art follow and take hold of it Uerily I desire to know because I haue read that thou repulsest those that repine at Sciences I haue read that they that are learned shal shine like the brightnes of the firmament and they that instruct many in the waies of iustice shall bee as a star in the perpetuities of eternities But because I know not how I ought to know I beseech thee shew me the meanes order grant that I may first learne y◠which is most conuenient to saluation and that most ardently that vrgeth most vehemently to loue Grant that I may not desire to know for vaine glory sake not for curiositie nor in respect of profite but onely for the edification both of my selfe and of my neighbour O thou Creator of all things thou meridian light O the reward of the elect thou knowest the depth of mine ignorance my vnpolisht speech my defect of vertues and my fluggishnesse in apprehending good and ghostly things is not hidden from thee Notwithstanding O vncreated Wisdome which at thine owne pleasure of the wicked makest iust and of the ignorant suddainly and without delay learned send from the seate of thy Maiestie thy light and thy truth that may illuminate my darknesse and giue mee the vnworthy the vnderstanding of thy chaste and holy word Make me wiser better that I may impart to others likewise part of that light which thou impartest vnto mee I atribute nothing to mine industry cūning or wit for I know that all those who are rightly wise are wise by thy
body also O most sweete Iesus contaminate with many crimeâ—… this night and al other times sucâ—… rest that I may neuer depart from thee who art eternal tranquillitie neither at any time forsake theâ—… or through the dulnesse and sluggishnesse of my slothfull flesh beâ—… forgetfull of thee and thereby beâ—… thrust into the perpetuall agitatâ—… on and damnation of incessaâ—… trouble For which cause O eternal an most mercifull Lord I comment my spirit into thy hands for thoâ—… our most mercifull Sauiour haâ—… redeemed vs on the wood of thâ—… crosse suffer not my spirit O Lord to sleepe in sinne and saint therein lest I bee buried in eternall death â—…ut watch ouer mee and intend â—…y safety O most faithfull shepheard suffer mee not being destiâ—…ute of thy helpe to be swallowed 〈◊〉 the gulfe of my sinnes Protect me vnder the shadow of â—…hy wings and suffer me not to be â—…ntangled with extraordinary and â—…nnecessary sleepe but raise mee â—…n due time that wakened in that sort I may cheerefully endeuour my selfe to sing thy praises and intend thy seruice that I may thinke of thee and being raised by â—…hy power I may performe the â—…orks of iustice and seeke thy heaâ—…enly kingdome with my whole â—…eart that at length by thee with â—…hee in thee I may obtaine eterâ—…all light and celestial rest Amen Another praier before sleepe GRant vnto mee O my God the watching I may vigilantlie â—…and in thy presence as often as 〈◊〉 shall fortune me to sleepe let my sleepe bee without sinne and if in my waking I should commit any misdeed grant me O Lord pardoÌ„ for thy mercy sake and if sinne in my sleepe let thy clemency pardon mee and by the memory of thy martyrdome giue mee a quiet time of sleepe and deliuer mee from euill dreames and filthy imaginations and for the whole night bouchsafe me a sleepe full of tranquillitie lest wickednesse haue the power ouer mee and euill cogitations ful of peruersnesse seduce mee Giue me thine Angel of light that may keepe all the members of my body and deliuer mee from cursed concupiscence by that liuing body that was cruâ—…ified for mee Let me lay me downe to rest and sleepe in peace and let thy blood bee the keeper of mee and my soule which is thine image Giue libertie to thy handiworke and let thy right hand defend the bodie which thou hast fashioned with thine owne hands and enuiron mee with the wall of thy mercies as it were an acceptable fortresse and bulwarke that when the body shall rest and sleepe it may bee defended by thy vertue and let my sleepe bee as a sweete sinelling incense before thy maiesty neither let the enemy approch my bed for thy mercie sake I will heare and execute thy will O my God who lodest the night with the tranquillitie of the iustice of our redeemer Iesus Christ. For thou art the true light and thy glorie dwelleth in the light and the children of light adore thee dwelling in the light Iesus the Word of the Father vnto life haue mertie on mee for thy mercie sake to whom with the Father that sent thee and the holy Ghost bee all praise for euer Amen Iaculatorie prayers to bee had alwaies in memorie When any sudden feare assaileth thee BE vnto mee O Lord a tower of strength against the face of mine enemy If the corrupt flesh prouoke thee PIerce my flesh with thy feare for I haue trembled at thy iudgments If an ill suspicion ouertake thee CReate in mee O Lord a new heart and giue me a new spirit If vndecent sadnesse ouer-hale thee GIue me the ioy of thy saluation and confirme mee with a principall spirit If vaine glory seduce thee NOt vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but to thy â—…ame giue the glorie If desperation molest thee GOd is my hope froÌ„ my youth from the wombe of my mother thou art my protector If thou be afflicted in minde HElpe me and I shall be safe I will meditate alwaies vpon thy iustifications If sloth assaile thee EXcite thy power O Lord and come conuÌ„rme mee in thy words lest I faile in the way If labour tire thee BEhold my humility and my labour forgiue mee all my sins If wrath disturbe thee GIue mee patience O Lord peace to thy seruant lest I lose the crowne of my soule in heauen For thou hast said In your patience you shall possesse your soules If desire of honour and promotion tempt thee INcline my hart O Lord to thy testimonies and not vnto couetousnesse turne away mine eies lest I see vanitie and quicken mee in thy way If gluttony sollicite thee THe kingdome of heauen is not meate drinke but peace and ioy in the holy Ghost It is the Spirit that quickneth the fiesh profiteth nothing Is euill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee VVHose tinage and superscription is this And hearing that it is Ceâ—…ars that is the diuel of this world say let thy money bee with thee to thy perdition now the doore is shutte and our Lord careth his passe-ouer here I haue no leasure to open vnto thee If any blessing of God happen to thee VVHat shal I yeeld vnto our Lord for all the benefits he hath bestowed vpon mee How much â—…west thou mâ—… soule And turâ—…g to the angels lay Come and heare and I wil show you all yâ—…e that â—…are God what hee hath 〈◊〉 to my soule And turning thine eies vnto God himselfe it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shalt thou say O Lord thy mercy is great toward me Iâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persecution IUdge them O Lord that hurt mee ouerthrow them that fight against mee Take the sword and shield and arise to do me helpe When thou seest thou art 〈◊〉 by God VVHerefore O Lord art 〈◊〉 departed farre from mee Doest thou turne thine eies aside in opportunities in tribulation Stay with vs O Lord for it waxeth night Against detractors SAue mee O God for the righteous faile and truth faileth amongst the children of men Let the Lord confound all deceitfuil lips and the tongue that speaketh great things For our enemies O Lord lay not this sin to their charge because they know not what thy do When we addressâ—… our selues to studie BLessed art thou O Lord teach me to doe thy will open mine eies that I may consider the wonderfull works of thy Law A man may sometimes lift vp his heart by affection of repentance in these words TUrne thy face from my sinnes O Lord and blot out all my offences Create in mee O Lord a new heart Sometimes with an affection of gratitude BLesse the Lord O my soule and forget not his benefits Sometime with an affection of loue I Will loue thee O Lord my strength God is my foundation my refuge and my deliuerer God is my helper and I will hope in him Euen as the Hart desireth the
Father vouchsaf with thy fatherly eies to behold me for thy aspect alone quickeneth the dead and draweth all such as run astray vnto thee For this whatsoeuer repeÌ„tance which I now haue I could not haue had except thou hadst beheld me When as wandring I forsooke thee thou lookedst vpon mee from the highest heauens where I was furthest from thee and didst open mine eies that I might behold thee and search my conscience and behold my selfe ouerwhelmed with so much wickednesse Come therefore O Lord to receiue me giue mee the knowledge and memory of my lost innocencie I require not thy imbracings nor thy kisses I pray thee not to giue mee that goodly garment yâ— I was wont to weare nor the ring of my ancient dignity I require not that thou shouldest receiue me into the state and dignity of thy children but it shall suffice mee if I may bee numbred amongst the mercenary seruants of thy house sealed with thy mark and tied with thy bonds lest euer heereafter I run away from thee It shal not grieue me although in this life I bee one of the most contemptible slaues of thy house so that thou separate me not for euer from thee Heare me therefore most mercifull Father and giue me the grace of thy onely begotten Sonne and communicate with mee the merits of his passion Giue me thy Spirit that it may purifie my heart and strengthen it in thy grace lest hereafter I returne again through ignorance into that exile from whence thy grace hath recalled me who liuest reignest world without end Amen For contrition The third most zealous praier VVHo shall giue water to my head and a fountaine of teares to my eies that night and day I may bewaile my sinnes and lament my ingratitude against God my Creator There are many things O omnipotent Lord that incite the hearts of men and draw them to the knowledge of then sinnes but there is none so effectuall as the consideration of the greatnesse of thy bounty and the multitude of thy benefits yea eueÌ„ to those sinners which are most reprobate wretched That therefore my most miserable soule may by that meanes be confounded and ashamed I wil begin O Lord to reckon vp some of thy mercies anâ—… my mischiefes that but in this I may manifestly vnderstand whâ—… thou art who I am what thoâ—… wert towards me and what I aâ—… towards thee The time was once my God when I was not thou gauest 〈◊〉 being and tookest mee out of 〈◊〉 dust of the earth creating mee aâ—… cording to thine owne image aâ—… similitude then from my motherwombe thou becamest my God fâ—… froÌ„ the first moment wherin I began to bee euen vnto this present houre thou art my Father my redeemer my defender and all my good Thou createdst my body with all my members and senses thou createdst my soule with all her powers and hitherto hast thou preserued my life by the benefite of thy prouidence All these although in themselues they be great yea weiny al yet are they little in respect of thy greatnes But because thou hadst these things gratis and bought by no great price thou wouldest giue mee another thing which cost thee more decre that I might thereby bee the more indebted vnto thee Thou descendedst froÌ„ heauen vpon the earth that thou mightest find me seeking me in al my waies in which I had lost my self Thou didst ennoble my humanity by thy nature by thy thrâ—…dome thou deliueredst mee from captiuitie thou freedst mee from the power of the diuell deliuering thy selfe into sinners hands destroying my sin by assuming the shape of a sinner thou wouldest bind mee vnto thee by so much grace thou wouldest aâ—â—ure me by this benefite strengthen my hope by so many merits and beget in me the detestation of sinne shewing vnto mee how many things thou hast both done and suffered to ouerthrow the kingdome of sinne Thou kindlest liuing fire vpon the dead coales of my heart that being ouerwhelmed with such a multitude of benefitâ—… which in this one are contained I might loue him that did so great things for mee and bestowed so much loue on me Behold O Lord thou redeemedst me but what had that profited me except I had beene baptized Amongst such a multitude of infidels scattered vpon the face of the whole earth it pleased thee to reckon mee among the number of thy faithful and of those to whoÌ„ so happie a lot befell as to bee thy children regenerated by the water of holy baptisme there was I takeÌ„ for thine there was that famous admirable contract or couenant concluded namely that I should be thine thou shouldest bee mine thou my Lord and I thy seruant thou my Father I thy son where we meete together thou to performe towards me the office of a Father I to serue thee with the duty of a son What shall I say of the other SacrameÌ„t which thou institutedst as a remedy for my sinnes making thy precious bloud a medicine for my wounds Hauing all these helps and furtherances as yet I continued not in goodnes but such was my malice that notwithstanding these I lost once more my first innocencie and so great again was thy mercy yâ— hast hitherto patiently suffred mee in my sins O my hope and my redeemer how caÌ„ I without tears remember how often thou mightst haue slaine me and no euill happened vnto me how many thousand of soules haply doe now burne in hell which haue sinned lesse then I haue sind yet burn not what had become of mee if at that time thou tookest them away thou hadst likewise taken me how strict a iudgement had bene prepared for mee if iustice had apprehended me beeing guilty of so many grieuous sins Who then O Lord bound the hands of thy iustice Who praied for me when I slept who staied yâ— scourge of thy wrath when I prouoked the same by my sins What was there pleasing in me why thou shouldest deale more fauourably with mee than with them who in yâ— midst of their perils yea in the very heate of their youth were taken hence My sinnes cried vnto thee and thou stoppedst thine eares lest thou shouldst heare them my malice against thee increased daily and thy mercie likewise towards me increased daily I sinned and thou didst expect mee I fled thee thou followedst me I was wearied in offending thee thou wert not weary in expecting mee in no other sort than if my sinnes had beene fauours and no offences In the midst of my sinnes I receiued many good inspirations many holy reprehensions froÌ„ thee which did cenuict and condemne the dissolutenesse of my life How often didst thou cal me and inwardly inuite me saying Thou hast coÌ„mitted fornication with many louers yet returne vnto me and I wil receiue thee How often hast thou called me in these or such like louing words How often hast thou terrified me with feare and threatnings
sink of all iniquitie How canst thou rest heere O Lord who art purity of the purest and thou that art the fountaine of all beauty how canst thou dwell in a place so abhominable What participatioÌ„ is there betweene iustice and iniquitie or what societie betweene light and darknesse or what conuention betweene Christ Beliall O flower of the field O Lillie of the vallâ—…s O bread of Angels how art thou now become the fodder of beasts Why giuest yâ— this diuine meate vnto dogs and castest these precious pearles before swine O louer of pure and cleane soules who feedest among the lillies till the day spring the shadowes depart what foode may I giue thee in this my heart where nothing groweth but thornes and briers Thy bed is of the wood of Libâ—… the pillers thereof are guilded thâ—… pillow is of gold and thy footâ—…pace of purple in the bed of my heart there are none of these to bee found what seate therefore shall I prepare for thee there when thâ—… enterest what bed shall I maâ—… Thy most holy body taken frâ—… the crosse was wrapped in a cleane and faire sheete put into a new Sepulchre in which no man had bene before times buried but what part of my soule is cleane what noâ—…e is there that is new wheâ—… I may bury thee what is my mouth others than an open Sepulchre from whence there â—…ueth nothing but the stinkes and impurities of my sinnes What is my hart but 〈◊〉 fountaine of most euill appetites and desires What is my will but a house and resting place of the Diuell How therfore shal I dare to approch thee receiue thee or kisse thee with my impure lips There is not one corner in my soule which is cleane and pure which hath not too often times bene prophaned by diuers kinds of sinnes I haue not a cleane and new Sepulcher in which I may hide thee O thou my redeemer and Sauiour I am ashamed as often as I see my selfe in this estate I blush wheÌ„ I consider in what sort I come to this thy worthy and royall banquet in what maner I intrude my selfe to embrace my celestial spouse who againe standeth ready to receiue me fauourably Another part of this Meditation I Acknowledge O Lord I acknowledge my great vnworthinesse and yet thy most great mercie is not hidden from me this it is that maketh me bold and confident to come vnto thee howsoeuer I am For the more vnworthy I come vnto thee by so much the more art thou glorified if thou repulse mee or persecute a creature so vncleane with thy displeasure O Lord thou art not wont to shake off sinners but to call them and conuert them vnto thee Thou art he that saiest Come vnto me all ye that labour are laden and I wil refresh you And in another place The whole haue no need of a Physition but such as are sick Of thee is it publikly said that thou entertainedst Publicans and sinners didst eate with them O my God thou hast not changed thy nature which then thou hadst for which cause I firmely beleeue that thou as yet dost call them from heauen whom then thou didst call vpon the earth For which cause I likewise allured by that thy fatherly summons come vnto thee groaning vnder the burden of my sinnes and thou shalt vnloade me I come laboring and ouer-charged and thou shalt refresh me I come like a patient to my Physition and thou shalt heale mee like a sinner to the fountaine of iustice and thou shalt iustifie mee Thou receiuedst sinners and eatest with them and thy meate is to conuerse with them and thy delight is to be with men If thou take so much delight O Lord in such banquets behold thou hast heere a grieuous sinner with whom thou maiest eate thy bread I verily beleeue O my Redeemer that thou tookest more delight in the teares of that publike penitent thaÌ„ in the sumptuous feast of that proud Pharisee for which cause thou neither despisedst her neither reiectedst her from thee as an adultresse but rather most bountifully receiuedst her forgauest her sinnes defendedst her against the reproches of her calumners for a few drops of teares pardonedst her many sinnes Behold O Lord here is a new matter of greater glory offred vnto thee a new occasion behold heere lieth a sinner who hath far more sinnes and yet fewer teares shee neither was the first nor the last whom thy mercie suffered many such like things hast thou done O Lord and many the like as yet remaine for thee to do Enter now O Lord the number of them that beginne thy worke receiue him into fauor who hath more grieuously offended thee and that lamenteth his offences This peniteÌ„t hath not so many teares as may wash thy feet but thou hast shed so much blood as sufficeth not onely to cleanse mine but also the sins of the whole world Bee not displeased O my God that being such a one as thou seest I am I dare preasâ—…e into thy presence Remember that thou wert not displeased with yâ— poore womaÌ„ which trauelled with a flux of blood and secretly came vnto thee seeking remedie of her infirmitie and taking thee by the hemme of thy Uesture but rather didst praise her and comfort her saying Daughter bee comforted thy faith hath made thee whole Behold I yâ— haue a greater more perilous flux of blood and am lesse curable what shall I doe whither shall I turne me to whom shall I goe but vnto thee O LORD that I may obtaine the benefite of health My Lord thou hast neither changed thine office neither that custome and nature which thou wert wont to haue when thou werst coÌ„uersant with vs vpon the earth although now thou art ascended into heauen and seemest to bee farre distant from vs. For if thou hadst bene changed wee had neede of another Scripture and Gospell that might teach vs now what wee should beleeue of thee and what to hope from thee being now resâ—…ant in heauen I reade in the holy Gospels that such as were sick flocked vnto thee that the whole multitude sought to touch thee because a vertue came froÌ„ thee that healed all men Leapers came vnto thee and thou stretchedst thy blessed hands and clensedst them The blinde came vnto thee the deafe the sicke of the palsey they that were possessed by diuels Finally all the monsters of this world ranne vnto thee and to none of these didst thou denie thy helpe In thee onelie is saluation in thee is the medicine and remedy of all euils Thou art more readie to giue saluation than they to aske it Whither therefore shall we goe O Lord in our necessities but vnto thee for I know my God that this Sacrament is not onely their food that are whole but their medicine also that are sicke weake not only the strength of the liuing but the resurrection of the dead it not
onely recreateth and delighteth the iust but healeth also and purifieth sinners Let euery one come hither and take part of that which he thinketh most holsome for himselfe let the iust come and eate and reioyce in this table and let the voice of their confesson and praise sound in this holsome challice I can no waies be without this mystery I can no waies liue without the same and whatsoeuer I am I cānot be excused if I receiue it not for in euery place and in euery thing it is necessary for me If I be sicke here shall I be healed if aliue here shall I be comforted if dead here raised againe if I burne with diuine loue heere shall I bee more inflamed if I bee but luke warme here shall I be set on fire I will not feare although my LORD shall finde mee blinde because he giueth sight vnto mee I will not feare although I see that I am fallen for hee lifteth them vp that are fallen low I will not flie from his presence as once Adam did although I be naked for he can couer my wickednesse I wil not hide me although I seeme vncleane and full of sinne for hee is the fountaine of mercie I will not be ashamed although I am poore for hee is the Lord of all liuing things I am not much mooued if hee shall interpret my boldnesse to bee his iniurie but I thinke I shall giue him occasion of greater glory that beeing more wretched than al other liuing creatures y◠greatnes of the diuine mercy may more cleerly appeare in mee in that that he will helpe me His darkenesse that was blinde from his birth attēded on the glory of God for he was borne blind to the end that the works of God might bee manifested so also the misery of my condition shall serue him because in the same the greatnesse of his bounty shall bee beheld namely if hee who is so mighty vouchsafe to succour so miserable and poore a creature that especially whereas heerein there is no regard had of mee but onely for the merits of our Lord Iesus Christ for which cause y◠eternall Father giueth vs good things adopteth vs for his children taketh it in good part that th◅y are wont so to be esteemed I pray thee therefore most humbly beseech thee at this present my God y◠Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that as that most holie King Dauid admitted Mep◅boseth weake and lame to sit at his table because he was the son of his great deerly esteemed friend Ionathan intending hereby to honor his son not for y◠son himselfe sake but for the merits of the father so let it be pleasing likewise to thee O Father to admit me a poore and vncleane sinner to thy most royall banquet not for my sake but for y◠merits and honour of thy singular friend ◅esus Christ our Lord and Sauior who hath regenerated vs on y◠tree of the crosse which so many labours and dolors to thy glory and honour who liueth and reigneth with thee world without end Another prayer before the Communion I Praise thee thanke thee most sweet Lord Iesus my Sauior redeemer for thy so many benefits which thou hast vouchsafed to bestow on mee most vile and wretched sinner I yeeld thee thankes O Lord for all the mercies which thou vsedst towards man-kinde especially in the mystery of thy incarnation namely in thy natiuitie circumcisiō presentation in y◠temple flight into Egypt in thy fasting and temptation in thy labors and many iournies in thy preachings persecutions in this world in the torments and dolors of thy bitter passion and for al that which thou sufferedst in the flesh for me But in especial I giue thee heartie thankes for thy vnspeakeable charitie which mooued thee to suffer for my sake which verilie amongst all thy works is the greatest without any comparison Moreouer I yeeld thee all thanks that is possible for that thou daignest to admit mee to thy most holy Table make mee partaker of thy selfe and all thy merits and the inestimable treasure of the passion O my GOD and Sauior with what offices of dutie shall I recompence this new and vnheard-of kinde of mercie Who art thou and who am I that thou the Lord of most high maiestie daignest to enter into dirt and this earthly tabernacle O Lord holinesse becommeth thy house for euer and euer why therefore commest thou into my house which is abundantly stored with iniquitie Heauen is thy house and thy seate and the earth the footstoole of thy feet because the glorie of thy maiestie filleth both heauen and earth how comes it therfore to passe that thou doest not abhorre to lodge in so vile an hospitall Is it therefore to bee thought saith Salomon that truly God dwelleth on earth For if the heauens and the heauen of heauens bee not able to containe thee how much lesse this house which I haue built O admirable thing hee that sitteth vpon the Cherubins and beholdeth the depths now humbleth himselfe euen vnto the lowest and maketh his seate in the lowest places It seemed little to thy goodnesse that thou didst appoint y◠Angels to our ministerie but thy selfe wouldest come vnto vs enter into our soules that there with thine owne hands thou mightst worke the act of our saluation There dost thou visit the sick raise such as are fallen teach the ignorant reduce such as are straied out of the way What need many words Thou art he that curest our wounds and healest our infirmities not by an other mans hands but thine own not by medicines fet from afarre but with thine owne flesh and blessed blood dost thou medicine vs. O true Pastor how abundantly hast thou discharged thy promises which in times past thou madest by thy Prophet saying I wil feed my sheepe and I will make them rest But who shall bee worthy of this grace who can merit this benefite only thy mercy O Lord can make vs worthy of so infinite benefits And because without the same no man can bee worthy O Lord let the same bee fauourable vnto mee let it make me partaker of so many mysteries let it make mee thankefull for so inestimable a benefit O Lord with thy grace supply all my defects forgiue me all my sins thorow thy mercie Let thy spirit prepare my minde thy merits enrich my pouerty thy precious blood clense all the blemishes of my soule and wash out all the staines of my life that I may worthily receiue this most reuerend sacramēt My soule reioyceth is glad o my God as often as I remember that notorious miracle wherin in time past a dead man raised a dead body by the only means of touching For if the body of a dead Prophet could do so much what cannot the liuing bodie of the Lord of Prophets doe I am assured O Lord that thy power is not of lesse value than that of thy
of loue O most holy father o most mercifull sonne O most louing holy ghost when wilt thou most beloued father dwell in my soule and abide in the secrets of my heart possesse me wholy When shal I be wholy thine and thou wholy mine When shall it come to passe o my King when will that day come o when O were it here Shall I neuer see it o how vngrateful delay how odious procrastinatiō Haste thee O Iesus haste thee and delay not returne returne and runne like a Goate and the yong hinds vpon the mountaines of Bether O my God the repose of my life the light of mine eies my consolation in tribulations the end of my desires the paradise of my heart the center of my soule the pledge of glory the companion of my pilgrimage my ioy in exile the medicine of my wounds mercifull iusticer of my sins master of the ignorant guide of life nest in which my soule resteth hauen wherein she is saued glasse wherein she beholdeth her selfe staffe on which she leaneth stone on which she is builded precious treasure in which shee glorieth If thou therefore o Lord be all these vnto me how can I forget yea but for a moment of time If I forget thee o my God let mee forget my right hand let my tongue cleane to the roofe of my mouth if I remember thee not I will giue no sleepe vnto mine eies o blessed Trinitie nor rest to mine eie-lids nor quiet to my temples vntill I finde this loue vntill I finde a place for my Lord in my heart and a tabernacle for the God of Iacob in my soule who liueth for euer world without end Amen The first prayer for the loue of God I Will loue thee O Lord my strength I wil loue thee my vnspeakable ioy and let my whole life liue not to my selfe but to thee which was condemned to miserie raised againe by thy mercy Too late did I feare thy Maiestie too late did I loue thee thou beautie both old and new too late did I loue thee I sought thee my refreshment and I found thee not because I vndirectly sought thee I sought thee without my selfe thou didst dwel in me I trauelled the streets and waies of the Citty of this world seeking thee and I found thee not because inconsiderately I sought thee abroad wheras thou wert at home with mee I asked y◠earth whether it were my God and it answered mee no and all things which are in the same confessed the very same I asked the Sea the depths and y◠inhabitants therof and they answered we are not God seeke him aboue vs. I asked the fleeting aire with all the dwellers therein and he answered mee no. I asked heauen the Sunne the Moone and the Starres neither are wee thy Gods said they Finally I asked all creatures and they cried vnto mee with a loud voice hee that made vs is thy true God Lord. And I sayd where therfore is my God where shall I seek him shew him me And I heard a voice saying vnto me God is in euery place seeke him in thy self he filleth Heauen filleth the earth and filleth thy heart And I came to my selfe I entred into my selfe and I said vnto my selfe how entrest thou hither O my God at what doore wert thou admitted I began to enquire examine euery one of my senses if by any of them thou didst enter but they likewise knew not how or which waies thou camest in For the eies say if he be not coloured he cannot enter by vs. The cares say if he make no sound hee cānot passe by vs The nose saith if hee smell not hee could not come by me Taste saith if he sauored not he entred not by me Touch likewise addeth if he is not corpulent aske me nothing of this matter How therefore o my loue didst thou enter my soule and didst not enter by any doore Truly thou art light shining in darkenes yet such as the eie is not capable of Thou art a voice sweet aboue all voices yet such a one as the eare conceiueth not Thou art a sweete more fragrant than any odor which neuerthelesse my taste comprehendeth not Thou art an embracement to bee esteemed aboue all embraces which notwithstanding the touch attaineth not Where wert thoutherefore my God where wert thou my light where wert thou my hope I asked it was answered me Ascend into the superior parts of thy heart there shalt thou find God Truly thou art great O God and hast ouercome our wisdome Thou art the king of kings and the Lord of Lords Thou art immortall and dwellest in vnaccessible light whom no mortall man euer saw or shall euer see and liue Many and great are the wonders that are reported of thee o Lord yet more lesse and fewer than may be said of thee words are defectiue where thou are neuer deficient For thou exceedest all that which may bee spoken or thought O onely loue my Lord God thou didst loue me before I loued thee and createdst mee according to thine owne image and madest mee Lord ouer all thy creatures Moreouer thou makest thine Angels spirits for me whō thou hast ordained to defend mee in all my waies lest I should hurt my foote against the stone Thou wouldest not permit me to be borne in a pagan but a Christian land in which by the water and the holy Ghost I am regenerate sanctified Thou neither gauest me too much riches nor too abiect pouerty lest I shold either waxe proud or grow more contemptible but thou gauest me vnderstanding and wil whereby I should know and loue thee Thou didst cal me when I was lost knockedst at my doore but I did not answer thee I liued according to mine own lust and attributed too much to mine owne strength whereas neuerthelesse it was not strength but weaknesse I would runne and grow presently weary and where I thought I should bee secure there was I in greatest danger I went away frō thee like y◠prodigall son and trauelled into a strange countrey and dwelt therein whereas louing vanitie I became vain I was blind I desired blindnes I was a seruant I loued seruitude I was bound tooke pleasure in thraldome I thought bitter was sweet and sweete was bitternes I was wretched and I knew it not Whilst I liued in this most desperate estate thou didst cast thine eies of compassion vpon mee and although without intermission I did offend thee yet didst not thou giue ouer to reclaime me from my sins when I wandered thou broughtest me into the way when I was ignorant thou taughtest me when I did sinne thou didst correct me when I was sad thou didst comfort mee When I did despaire thou didst encourage me when I fell thou didst raise me vp when I stood thou sustainedst me I was vndone and dead thou descendedst vnto the dead tookest on thee mortality thou a
king didst descend to thy seruant to redeeme thy slaue thou didst betray thy selfe So much didst thou loue mee that thou gauest thy blood for a ransome for mee thou didst loue me O Lord more than thy selfe because thou wouldst seÌ„d for mee For this cause thou didst ransome mee from exile with so deere a price thou didst redeeme me from thraldome thou withheldedst mee from punishment thou calledst mee by thy name thou â—…ignedst me with thy blood that thy remembrance might bee alwaies with mee and neuer depart from my heart which for my sake departed not from the Crosse. Let mee know thee therefore O Lord my acknowledger let mee know thee thou vertue of my soule let me walke alwaies in thy light O thou Sun of iustice for it is good for me to cleaue O Lord to put my trust in our lord God for as soone as I shall bee turned from thee I am presently conuerted to transitory delights and distracted with vaine cogitations O therefore wretched vnfortunate that I am when shall I so inseparably cleaue vnto thee as I may neuer bee withdrawne from thee When shall my thoughts words and works differ no more from the rule of thy equitie iustice Thou o Lord louest solitude and I company thou silence and I fables thou verity and I vanity thou cleannesse and I follow vncleannesse I beseech thee therefore O Lord for thine own sake illuminat mine eies with thy light wouÌ„d my heart with thy loue direct my steppes in the way of thy commandements that I may neuer swerue from the same deliuer me o Lord that am captiue reduce the stray into thy wounds raise him that is fallen and releeue him that is euery way weakned Giue me a heart that may alwaies thinke on thee a minde that may alwaies loue thee an vnderstanding that may conceiue thee a reason that may alwaies strongly cleaue vnto thee the most chiefe delight Fly not from my heart depart neither froÌ„ my words nor works but alwaies assist me because thou art my helper in all my tribulations Without thee I die thinking on thee I am reuiued thine adour doth recreate mee thy memory doth heale mee thy light doth illuminate me I am raised againe by thy voice and shall bee satisfied when thy glory shall appeare The sixth prayer for the loue of God IF amoÌ„gst all those things which prouoke vs vnto loue there bee nothing more effectuall than form beauty why should I not worthily loue thee o my God who art the Fountaine of all beautie and seemelines Thou art the Ornament of the whole Masse of this world for whatsoeuer is beautiful in it by thee and from thee hath his beauty because thou createdst it the Sunne and Moone admire thy maiestie the Angels desire to behold thy face for in the sight thereof consisteth perfect felicitie and the glorie of all supernall spirits Birds flowers fouÌ„taines fields floods seas woods forrests trees earth mountaines valleies and whatsoeuer is in them haue their ornaments from thee thou didst decke the heauens with starres the aire with birds the water with fishes the fields with flowers and the earth with infinite plants and variety of liuing creatures In each place of the world thou art feared because tokens of thy beauty are seene in euery place in the heauens thou art the beautie of glorie in hell of iustice in good men of grace in the wicked of patience I will therefore loue thee my God who are the perfection of all things thou art the praise of the Angels the reward of Saints yâ— hope of Patriarches the Crowne of Martyrs the glory of Confessors that puritie of Uirgins and the saluation of all the elect All blessed spirits praise thee yâ— Pillars of heauen trâ—…ble at thy presence and all the creatures of the world reuerence thee Thou fulfillest all things yet art thou not diâ—…ated thou art in all things yet art contained in none thou didst create all things without necessitie thou gouernest all things without labour thou changest all things thy selfe art not changed thou only iudgest without any erroâ—… thou onely chastifest without any pâ—…turbation thou onely distributest gifts and thy treasure is not impaired thou only art sufficient for thy selfe and all things who therefore hath thee he hath all things and who hath thee not although hee haue all the treasures of this world he is poore hee is naked he is wretched and miserable One thing verie often draweth vs to such insensate a loue of some creature that wee feare not in the behalfe of the same to aduenture a thousand deaths but in thee O Lord whereas so many things so great concurre together why should I not loue thee why should I not willingly suffer whatsoeuer miserie for the glory of thy name why should I not freely spend my blood for thee who so liberally diddest powre out thine for me If I consider thy benefits I owe no man more than thy self if thy loue no man wisheth mee better than thy selfe if consangumitie my soule hath not any one more neerely allied vnto her than thy selfe Truly similitude is a great cause of loue what greater similitude is there than is betweene thee O Lord my soule which is created after thy similitude and likenesse Thou art a spirit my soule is a spirit thou art inuisible my soule is also inuisible thou immortall my soule is immortall thou hast vnderstanding memory and will and the like powers hath my soule Thou being most simple and inuisible art all in the whole world and all in euery part thereof and my soule being of the same condition is all in the whole body and all in euery member of the same Since therfore there is so much similitude betweene thee mee O my loue why should I not loue thee Is it because thou art high I humble or for that thou art the Creator and I thy creature or because thou art the perfectest being and I altogether imperfect This ought not to hinder but to increase our loue For the similitude is far more amâ—…able which is proportioned with inequalitie than that which is euery way equall The fathers loue is greater towards yâ— son the wiues towards the husband than of brothers amongst themselues who are equal Uoices that art â—…rent among themselues 〈◊〉 more sweetly if they be reduced vnto proportion than those that are consonant and vniforme Let then this inequalitie which is betweene thee my soule o Lord be a cause of greater loue In thee therefore O most sweet spouse of my soule in thee are all the causes of loue which may bee imagined and thou art most worthy to bee beloued with infinite loue but I finde in my selfe my wil in such manner depraued that it cannot performe it would God it were not so that she loued her selfe more than thee Wherfore O Lord except thou heale my infirme nature by thy grace and except thou powre
into my heart the vertue of charitie by the mediation of the holy Ghost I may neuer loue thee with a gratuitall and supernaturall loue in such manner as thou art worthy wilt be beloued Giue mee the grace to loue thee if not with such a loue as thou art worthy of yet at leastwise with such a loue as my nature may partake that is with all my heart all my soule all my strength all my forces so that all my bowels inwardly burne melt in thy loue Grant that I may loue thee with a simple willing and free loue without any respect of profit Grāt that with pure loue no peruerse intentiō I may desire nothing but thy selfe for thy selfe Grant me O Lord a strong and inuincible loue that may refuse or abhorre no perils no labours no damages no iniuries or torments for thy sake Giue mee a ready and diligent loue that may alwaies be occupied in matters pertaining to thy seruice Giue me an inestimable loue O Lord that may contemne all things for thy sake giue me a discreete loue which with immoderate zeale and feruour shall not exceed thy law Finally giue me o my God that grace to loue thee with an ordinate loue which loueth al things according to that dignity of their proportion but thee aboue all things with a sweete and amiable loue which shall taste no sweetnes or pleasure in any thing but in thee with a loue burning in zeale that destreth nothing more than thy glory hateth nothing more than ignominie imputed to thy holy Name Finally with a loue so violent that it may pul my hart from all things that are transitorie and alwaies draw the same vpwards vnto thee vntill I may passe ouer all this place of exile into that celestiall countrey where beholding the greatnes of thy beauty face to face I may perpetually loue thee with those perfect louers that neuer ceasse to loue and praise thee the King of Kings Lord of Lords and God of Gods in Sion Amen The seuenth prayer for the obtaining of Gods loue O Most high mightie omnipotent mercifull iust strong incomprehensible God and my Lord. Thou that art sweeter than any hony whiter than milke clearer than all light and more precious than al pearle there are infinit causes which rauish my heart with thy loue For thou art higher then heauen deeper than hell thy measure is longer then the earth and broader then y◠sea as thy prophet saith Who is perfecter than thou art who better who fairer who bountifuller who nobler who stronger who wiser who richer than thou art A◅ these things are in thee O Lord and for euery one of them art thou to be loued since thou art the chiefest good But since euery good thing is truely amiable by it selfe yet euery man affecteth more his proper good I will therefore loue thee o Lord my God not onely because thou art the chiefest good but also because thou art my good for when I consider and weigh with my selfe by how many titles and meanes thou art made mine my inward parts melt and I cry with the spouse My spouse is beloued of me and I of him For thou o Lord art my creator thou art my sanctifier and glorifier thou gauest mee my being in nature thou gauest mee that of grace and wilt giue mee the being of glory Thou art my helper my gouernour defender tutor and keeper finally thou art my God my Lord thou art my saluation thou art my hope thou art my glory thou art all my good Uerily thou art all those vnto mee in as much as thou art my God in so much as thou art my creator and the conseruer of all things But in as much as thou art man there are many other titles other offices and other bonds wherwith I am bound vnto thee and thou vnto me For which I also if it were possible ought to loue thee and that by reason with an in◅nite and diligent loue for thou art my restorer for thou hast restored mee to entire humane nature which by sin was weakned in me Thou art my deliuerer for by thy captiuity thou hast deliuered me from the tyranny of sin death hell and the diuell my most capital enemies Thou art my Redeemer for thou hast ransomed mee from seruitude into which through sinne I was fallen by the shedding of the incomparable treasure of thy precious blood Thou art my King for thou gouernest me by thy Spirit thou foughtest for mee and deliueredst me from the hands of my enemies thou art my priest for thou praiedst incessantly praiest like an euerlasting priest for me in y◠sight of thy celestiall Father Thou art my sacrifice for thou offeredst vp thy selfe on the altar of the Crosse that by thy clemency thou mightest expiate my crimes Thou art my aduocate for when the Diuell accuseth me and offereth the libel wherein my sins are written to thy father thou dost protect my cause thou makest paiment with thine owne dost supply all that which my iustice defaulteth in Thou art my Mediator for thou art God and man and a mighty friend of God and that true Son of God so puttest thou thy selfe as a mediator betweene me and God Thou art my shepheard for y◠feedest gouernest my soule like a sheepe of thy flocke thou art my meate for thou art hee by whom I am nourished in the diuine Sacrament of the Altar thou art my father and the father of the world to come for thou hast regenerated me with grieuous dolours on the tree of the Crosse and giuen me a new essēce by y◠holy Spirit Thou art my head the vniuersall head of the Church for from thee as from the true head floweth into the same and euery member thereof vertue life and spirituall sense Thou art my true Physition for by thy blood thou hast healed the wounds and strips of my soule Thou art my master for by the light of thy doctrine thou hast shewed mee the way to the celestiall country Thou art my example for not onely in words but that which is farre more in deedes and most holy examples of thy life thou hast led me in this way Thou art my strength and mercy for there is no tribulation or griefe so great which the memorie of thy passions that thou sufferedst for me doth not make sweete tollerable Thou art my honour and glory for thou becamest man for mee thou madest mee thy brother and a consort of thy nature To conclude thou art my Sauiour yea such a sauiour that euery where alwaies in all things art sufficient for me for thou hast most perfectly wrought all that on the earth which was requistte for my saluatiō Thou hast illuminated my ignorance by thy doctrine thou hast strengthned my weaknes by thy examples Thou hast inflamed my warmth by thy benefits thou hast instructed my soule in thy mysteries thou hast enriched my pouerty by thy merits Thou hast
healed my wounds by thy Sacraments thou hast satisfied by thy dolors for my defaults now in Heauen thou sittest on the right hand of thy Father as mine aduocate what neede many wordes Thou art made vnto me wisdome and iustice sanctification and redemption and therefore all goodnesse What impudence were it therefore in me not to loue my Lord who did all this for my sake to whom I am bound vnder so many titles benefits If men with the same loue where-with they affect them selues do also loue al those things which are their owne why should I not also loue thee O Lord if I would haue thee to bee mine and that by so many offices and benefits in things so pregnant And if for euery one of these benefits I owe thee my whole heart and not this one onely but more if I had them what shall I owe thee or what am I not indebted vnto thee if we ioyne all these benefits together What iniquitie therefore should it be not to giue one heart wh◅h I haue vnto him to whom I owe so many and other diuerse things And if euery one of these benefits be a goade or prouocation to loue yea and arrowes to pierce the hearts of men how shall I choose blit burne amids so many flames of loue How comes it to passe that I am altogether cold amidst so many weapōs how escape I from wounds How comes it to passe that I perseuer in the hardnesse of my heart as it were without sense O Lord I lament in thy presence the dulnesse insensibility of my heart I confesse the infidelity thereof for thou raining into it innumerable causes of loue yet receiuest nothing from y◠came that deserueth so many fauours O heart more felon than furious beastes more insensible than stones more hard than Adamant that is not mollified by so many strokes I pray thee therefore O thou fairest amongst the children of men grant that I may desire thee loue thee as much as I list as much as I ought Thou art immeasurable and oughtest to be loued beyond measure especially of vs whom thou hast so loued so saued and for whom thou hast done so great and so many things O loue that alwaies burnest art neuer extinct sweet Christ good Iesu charity my God inflame me wholy with thy fire with thy loue with thy sweetnes with thy affection with thy desire with thy charitie with thy pleasure ioy which is holy and good which is chast and cleane that wholy filled with the sweetnes of thy loue wholy kindled with the flame of thy charity I may loue thee my most sweet Lord with my whole heart with all my soule with all my strength with al my intention and let nothing bee in me that doth not loue thee And for that to loue is to wish well to him wee loue and thou O Lord aboundest with so much goodnesse that I cannot wish thee more than thou hast that onely thing I wish that thou be possessed of my heart also and that all that is mine may be thine and for thine infinite glory I giue thee heartie thāks This likewise do I desire that al creatures should serue thee honor thee praise glorifie thee and that the whole earth should be filled with thy praises Let this be alwaies my desire this my meat this my dainties to praise thee alwaies let thy laudes be alwaies in my lips But because praise is not seemely in the mouth of a sinner let the Saints and all the spirits of the celestiall throne praise thee continually for to them praise belongeth O all ye works of that Lord therefore blesse yee the Lord praise yet and magnifie him for euer O yee Angels and Archangls blesse yee the Lord praise yee and magnifie him for euer O yee vertues dominations blesse ye that Lord praise him and magnifie hime for euer O ye prince-domes powers blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer c. Yee blessed thrones in which God sitteth an iudgeth blesse ye the Lord praise him c. O ye Cherubins Seraphins that burne altogether inflamed with the loue of your creator blesse ye the Lord praise him c. O yee Apostles and Euangelists founders of the Christiā Church blesse yee the Lord praise him c. O yee glorious hosts of Martyrs blesse yee the Lord praise him c. O all ye renownced and chaste virgins blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer Blessed is the God of our Fathers blessed bee the name of thy glorie holy and laudable and magnified for euer and euer Amen The first prayer vnto the holy Trinitie expressing the Maiestie thereof LOrd God without beginning immortall incomprehensible incircumscribed incorporall indefinite vnsearchable inuisible immutable euery where present but hidden euery where al but immeasurable who by thy neuer too much praised wisdome hast created this huge world and placed man in the same holy Trinity one God haue mercie vpon me If that Publican in the Gospel durst not lift vp his eies to heauē but standing afar off strooke his breast saying God be merciful vnto me a sinner if that holy penitent was affraid to appeare before the presence of our Lord but standing behinde neare his feete obtained remission of her sins by him teares flowing from her eies if that holy Patriarch Abraham willing to talk with thee o God said shal I speak vnto my Lord whereas I am but dust and ashes If all these were so humble and so reuerent in respect of thee comming before the sight of thy diuine maiestie thy most holy what shall a poore miserable sinner doe such as I am what shall dust and ashes doe what shal the Abysse of all miserie sins do But because o Lord I cannot obtaine that feare reuerence which is due to so great a maiesty except I fixe mine eies immediatly on the same giue mee leaue to dare to lift vp mine eies vnto thee neither let the brightnes of thy glorie bee an impediment to the frailty of my sight Truely I see that thou art that great God that transcendest al the reach of our vnderstanding I know that no vnderstanding created can comprehend thee and although this be thus yet can I not do any thing more profitable than to fire mine eies on thee Therefore O most high omnipotent merciful iust faire strong stable simple perfect incomprehensible secret and yet present withall inuisible and yet seeing all things immutable changing and renewing al things whom altitudes dilate not neither limits restraine nor variety changeth nor corruption wasteth nor affliction fasteneth on nor ioyes moue in his essence from whom neither obliuion detra◅h nor to whom memory addeth any thing to whom neither things that are past are past nor things to come shall succeed to whom nothing gaue beginning nor time augment neither any thing shall giue end for thou
many blessings thy bounty and benignity hath done all this and I being insufficient to yeeld thanks for only one of them how can I requit so many thousands And how may darkenesse praise light how may vanity commend verity how 〈◊〉 a mortal man by nature fraile conceiue thine immortalitie how may a grosse substance comprehend him who is free from all weight of matter how may vncleannes praise puritie who then shal applaud thy works who shall resound thy praises but thou like a most mercifull Father receiuest our vowes and takest in good part thy childrens thaÌ„sgiuing whosoeuer Make me therfore worthy O good God to giue thee thanks to cleaue perpetually to thy charitie that I may praise thee for the many and mighty benefits wherewith thou hast honoured mee That I may pay thee thanksgiuing for the perils from whence thou hast deliuered me Finally that I may doe thee dutie for protecting mee both in prosperity aduersitie because thou hast done all things with discretion and for that thou art the Lord of our bodies and soules of life death of health and sicknes of felicity infelicity To bee short the moment of all things dependeth on thy hand Thou dost reioyce in vs by thy benefits thou dost amate vs by thy menaces thou differedst in chastising comfortest vs reclaming our frailty vnto thy self Glory be to thy wondrous power praise to thy vnsatiable loue to mankinde gouerne the rest of our life most mercifull guide and vigilant gouernour deliuer mee O Lord from all mine enemies visible and inuisible stretch out thy bounteous hand that may drawe vs out of the deepe waters of the roaring flouds of this world and that may relieue and lighten the dangers of our nauigation Gouerne yâ— the magistracy O King which thou hast committed to our charge for thou art the steersman we the rudder let thy hand therefore inuisibly rule this Rudder whither it please the and whither thou hast decreed it for neither wil I trust in my bow neither shal my sword saue me but thy right hand and thine arme and the cleare light of thy countenance Thy wil be done o King in vs as it is in heauen and earth if at any time wee shall run astray from the lawes of thy commandements conceiue not suddaine wrath O most mercifull God since thou art not ignorant how fraile and weak we are from our beginning if thou list thou canst saue mee vouch safe it may be accordant to thy wil. For vnlesse thy power strengthen mee I cannot do that which I would Consider my heart therefore with the vnspeakable sweetenes of thy bounty to the end that a little sense and taste of the future and eternall blessednesse which we shall enioy in thee may refresh our minds Lastly make nice worthie that after this present life I may hasten vnto thee my Lord God that I may behold the riches of thy kingdome and contemplate the beautie of thy looke which grant o most holy King my true God and maker for thy Sonnes sake our Lord Iesus Christ AmeÌ„ A prayer vnto the Father wherein we demand sanctification THou that rulest in the highest reignest for euer onely canst doe all things God the gouernor of heauen and earth at whose becke all creatures tremble the pillars of heauen shake O heauenly God perfect workman and Potter I wretch made out of clay or rather of filthy mudde with feare and trembling come before the throne of thy maiestie I acknowledge confesse my wickednesse I know that I am nothing yea that I am meere abomination and horror in thy sight if thy grace and mercie do faile me without thee I thinke no goodnes without thee I do no good thing without thee I am a contemptible creeping worme I cannot be saued without thine assistance my saluation dependeth on thy hands I giue thee thanks O God in especiall for this for that thou hast giuen me that know ledge that I may see and know that I am nothing and vnable to do aniething without thee Thou art the Potter I the clay such as thou wilt haue mee bee such canst thou forme and fashion me if thou makest mee blessed thou shewest thy mercy grace if thou castest mee into perdition thou shewest thy iustice and executest thy iudgement neither is it my duety to contradict thee why or vnder what reason thou doest it For thou hast mercy vpon him whom thou louest these things I meditate with my selfe o Lord I feare thy iudgements Since therefore all my safety saluation dependeth on thee and consisteth in thy hand and power and sith thou hast shewed thy selfe a mercifull long-suffering God to the whole world and hast testified the same indeed in that thou woldest thy only son Iesus Christ the innocent should die for our offences and expiate our sinnes with his blood on the Crosse. Finally since thou hast taught vs in all our perturbations to cal vpon thee and aske thy grace and mercy for that thou wilt giue vs all things which wee shall aske in the Name of thy Sonne I come vnto thee being drosse and a lumpe of clay O mercifull and celestiall Potter beseeching thee most humbly that thou wilt vse thy mercie and make of this vnworthy matter a Uessell of eternall Glorie Uouchsafe also of thy meere grace to fixe my minde on perfect faith assured hope and chaste and holie loue that being iustified by these thy gifts I may become vpright perfect good and holy according to thy good will both in the midst and end of my life as also at the latter day of iudgement O mercifull Father grant mee pardon of all my sinnes through yâ— death of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ make me to please thee alone grant me to be thy gratefull sonne and heire increase in me that iustice whatsoeuer which is giuen me and granted from heauen that I may continue and end my life 〈◊〉 the same increase in me that faith which thou hast giuen mee kindle my loue of thee and make it more apparant that by thy helpe and the presence of thy grace and the accomplishment of thy holy will I may obtaine euerlasting life which thou hast promised vs to the end I may praise thee and giue thee thanks in thy kingdome for eâ—… and euer Amen A prayer to God the Sonne OThou maker and redeemer of makinde Iesus Christ who saiedst I am the way the truth and the life the way in doctrine precept and examples the truth in promises the life in reward I pray thee by thy vnspeakeable charitie wherwith thou daignest to imploy thy selfe wholly for our saluation suffer mee neuer to wander from thee who art the way neither euer to distrust in thy promises who art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou doest promise neither to repose or relie on any other thing because thou art eternall life than which there is nothing more to bee desired neither in heauen nor in earth
for the honour and glorie of thy holy Name I giue thee thanks O sweetest Iesu that vpon thy departure out of this world thou didst admonish comfort thy Disciples commending them in the words full of loue praiers fraught with charity to thy Father shewing with how much loue thou didst embrace them all those that through their doctrine should beleeue in thee I beseech thee O Lord that my heart may taste some sweetnes in thy words and that they may be sweeter vnto mee than the honey and the honey combe Let thy spirit full of exhortation wound my breast and alter my affections that I may wholly transforme my selfe into thy loue Order all mine actions that thy will may bee alwaies fulfilled in me and of me I giue thee thanks most beloued Iesus that falling vpon the earth with outstretched armes thou didst pray vnto thy Father resigning thy selfe wholy into his hands requiring that in all things not thy will but thy Fathers should bee fulfilled I beseech thee O Lord giue me grace that in all my troubles and necessities I may haue recourse vnto thee in praier and that I may trust my selfe wholy to thy prouidence without the election of my will or expectation of any priuate profite Let mee neuer flie aduersities nor faile in any good intent through them but that whatsoeuer befortune mee I may receiue it with a quiet minde as that which is giuen mee by thy mercifull hands suffering all things with an humble quiet heart I giue thee thanks o bounteous Iesu for that thou vouchsafedst to bee taken by armed souldiers and to be bound with cords like a wicked man and offender and thence bee led to Annas and for that before him thou fearedst not to stand in iudgement o admirable meekenes of my Redemer whilst then art apprehended whilest thou art bound whilst thou art moâ—…kt whilst thou art abused thou lamentest not thou murmurest not thou striuest not but silently followest their steps who led thee or rather draw thee weary thee Thou obeiest such as command thee and with infinite patience bearest the torments wherewith thou art crucified O my Lord eâ—…uy mee not that such and so excellent an example of so much vertue may shine in me for the glory and honour of thy most holy Name I giue thee thanks O most amiable â—…su king of heauen earth who standing before the proud inflamed Bishop in no other sort than as if thou hadst bene a vile abiect man wert stroken and didst patiently suffer the cruell stroake which one of his wicked ministers inforced against thy face I pray thee o Lord mortifie in me all vnbridled heate of wrath restraine al indiguation take away all hate extinguish in mee euery sparke and desire of reuenge that when as any man shall do me iniurie I may not bee moued or thought full of reuenge but suffering all things patiently for thy loues sake I may doe good to all those that doe mee euill Our Father c. The fourth prayer of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks sweet Iesus who in the night of thy passion wert mocked deluded stroken by thine enemies hands and kickt with their heeles and vexed with diuerse sorts of iniuries Thou knowest o my Lord how grieuous and troublesome it is vnto mee to suffer the least iniury Thou know est I haue no vertue that my will is slow and my good desires are cold in mee O Lord for thy mercie sake helpe my inâ—…nitie Giue me grace that my minde may be deiected by no storme of aduersity but humbled by afflictioÌ„ Help me lest I saint vnder the burden of my tribulations which shall come vpon me neither let iniuries offered mee by other men â—…re vp my impatiencie but giuing thee thankes in all things I may refer all things to the honour and glory of thy Name I giue thee thanks o Lord Iesu for that standing before the President Pontius Piâ—…ate thou didst not answer to the false accusations slanders of thy accusers but like an innocent Lambe that openeth not his mouth and is silent before his sheerers so with a reuerent â—…lence diddest thou ouerpasse all things Grant O Lord that reproofes murmurings detractions may not moue mee to choâ—… but that instructed by thy example I may ouercome all those that inâ—…ure and defame mee with silence Giue me the grace of perfect humility that I may neither desire to bee praised by men nor feare to bee dispraised by thee I giue thee thanks most mercifull Iesus for that amidst the great tumult and furie of the people by the commandement of Pilate thou wert led to King Herode Giue me strength that persecutions confound me not neither the iniuries of mine enemies prouoke me to wrath nor their impudence make me ashamed but that I may endure all things with meekenes and ouercome them with silence and possesse my soule in my patience according to the prescript of thy holy commaundements I giue thee thanks merciful Iesus that standing before Herod and accused of many crimes and offences by the Bishops and Priests thou wouldest answere to none of them but didst iustifie thy cause with silence Giue me O Lord the deâ—…ritie to refraine my tongue that I may neuer take pleasure to speake idle vaine or fillthy words or consume my time vnprofitably 〈◊〉 telling fruitles and vaine stoâ—…s but grant that my tong may â—…und with nothing but that which is iust honest and profitable and consonant likewise to thy heauenly will make mee detest the vice of backbiting and grant that I may take pleasure to heare and speake that which is honest I giue thee thanks sweete Iesus that being compared with that infamous and seditious Theefe Barrabas thou wert iudged worse than he and vnworthier life in so much as the homicide was set at liberty and thou the author of life condemned to death King of eternall glory with what more great ignominy I pray thee might thy maiesty be affected Heere Lord hence it appeareth that thou art that liuing stone refused by men which God chose vnto himselfe made the corner stone May it please thee o Lord that I preferre nothing before thee nor change any thing for thee but let al thingâ—… seeme as dirt vnto mee in comparison of thee Grant that the venome of enuy may neuer infect my soule but that I may alwaies rest in thee and build my whole salâ—…tion vpon thee I giue thee thanks most louing Iesu that being dispoiled of thy garmeÌ„ts thou sufferedst that maiden skin of thine to be laid naked and then tied with hard cords vnto a pillar thou wouldst suffer the same flesh to be torne with horrible scourges to the end thou mightest heale our wounds by thy wounds O Lord spoile my heart of all vncleane cogitations put off mine old man with all the concupiscence thereof and put mee on a man which is created
passion and blood may redeeme mee from hel and damnation and reserue me to the life euerlasting I giue thee thanks o good Iesu who victoriously issuing from the Sepulcher 〈◊〉 noble triumph after thou hadst ouercome and slaine death didst rise againe the third day reassuming thy glorious body and clothed with immeasurable brightnesse visiting thy friends didst affect them with vnspeakeable ioy Grant me also O Lord that rising againe from the death of my sinnes and olde conuersâ—…tion I may walk in newnes of life and seeke those things onely which are high and excellent and not base and transitorie that when as thou the true life shalt make thy second apparition heere on earth I may appeare with thee also in thy glory I giue thee thanks O merciful Iesu who forty daies after thy resurrection in the sight of thine Apostles didst ascend into Heauen glorious and triumphant where sitting on the right hand of the Father thou liuest reignest world without end May it please thy diuine bounty o God that my soule may languish in thy loue and disdaine all things that are in this world that she may alwaies aspire vnto thee desiring celestial things and that with a continual and feruent will let nothing reioyce her nothing affect her but thou onely my Lord and God I giue thee thanks most louing Iesu for that thou sentest downe thy holy Spirit vpon yâ— elect who perseuered in prayer didst send them to preach and teach all nations throughout the world I beseech thee O Lord purifie the secrets of my heart and giue me the true purity and cleannesse of conscience that the same Comforter finding a general habitation in the same may adorne it and make it faire and beautifull with the plentifull gifts of his graces let him alone comfort me let him confirme and rule mee and bee possessed of mee I giâ—…e thee thanks most bountifull Iesu who when thou shalt come in the latter day to iudge the world to reward euery one according to his works and deserts either with rewardes or punishments My mercifull Lord giue me grace that my soule innocently â—…nishing the race of this miserable life according to thy holy will may at last depart out of this prison of the body adorned with many merits and vertues that for thy mercie-sake shee may bee receiued into the house of thy glorie that without end shee may praise thee and in the companie of all the Saints blesse thee world without end Amen Our Father c. The first thankesgiuing for the benefite of our Creation I Giue thee thanks omnipotent and eternall God most wise and munificent Creator of all things that when I was nothing hast created me to be somethat not a stone not a Serpent not a boord not a fourefooted beast but a man made according to thy image and similitude or rather the very image and similitude of thy selfe namelie a substance endued with vnderstanding and will that hauing a similitude of being liuing working with thee I might bee the image and type of thy infinite beautie But â—…est a creature so noble should presently fall againe to nothing and should presently and instantly perish thou createdst mee immortall that whereas other liuing creatures appeare but a little while and straight come to nothing I should neuer returne to not being but perpetually liue Yet seemed that little vnto thee O Lord except also thou hadst infused into me a soule so precious noble as that it scarsely giueth place to the Angels in dignity Orâ—…n and Sheepe are satisfied with hearbs and grasse Hogs feede on Aâ—…orns and Beane-cods neither are the meanes of more moment wherewith all other creatures are nourished which if they enioy they rest contented But my meate is celestiall and my appetite cannot be satisfied but by thy immeasurable Maiestie for thou hâ—…st created my soule of that nature and capacity as neither the heauens nor the earth can fill it O vnhappy man that I am why doe I loue thee world why seeke I honours why gape I after riches why am I drowned in pleasures why seâ—…ke I those things that are to day are not found to morrow These Acornes suffice not These Huskes are not sauoury and these Beanes do not nourish Know O my soule what thou art to what vse thou wert created what thou oughtest to seeke and with what dainties thou shouldest be satified Only God can satiate thee all the rest may possesse thee but they cannot satisfie thee Seeke him hâ—…e is thy Spouse he is the Hauen of thy desires hee is thy last end Acknowledge thy dignity O my soule acknowledge what and how thou art created The king whose beauty the Sun and moone admire whose maiesty the Heauens reuerence and the earth adoreth with whose wisedome yâ— quires of Angels are illuminate with whose bounty the society of supernall Citizens is sed he created thee that thou mightest be his habitation his seate and holie temple hee would infuse himselfe into thy bosome he can fill all the corners of thy immeasurable capacities Rise arise o my soule go meete with such a guest introduce him with gladnesse into thy house and say He that created mee hath his rest in my tabernacle Which dignitie of my Soule O Lord when I considerately looke into I wonder not that thy onely begotten Son make drunke with the loue thereof forsaking thy bosome disâ—…ained not the Uirgins wombe sought her thirty three yeares with diuers labors and dolours gaue his life for her and by the pledge of his precious blood redeemed her being captiue But I rather woÌ„der at my ingratitud carelesnesse and dulnes who had rather prostitute the same soule so redeemed for a finall reward once againe to the cursed diuels and commit fornication with so vncleane beasts than rest in the armes of my Redeemer who is fairest amongst the children of men whose â—…aps are better than wine and whose name is powred out oyle When I behold the fashion which yâ— gauest to this my body I findâ—… so many of thy benefits as theâ—… are members senses veins nerues or small strings to bee found in thâ—… same all which doe publish thy â—…comparable wisedome and bounty In the only harmony of which bâ—…dy if I shold alwaies philosophy I should neuer want matter to praise thee I should neuer yeeld thee condigne thanks I should neuer pay my duties for so many 〈◊〉 great benefits which how great they are they best know who want the vse of some members or are trauelled with some other vicious affection of the body I yeeld therefore O thou maker of man infinite thanks vnto thy goodnesse for that thou hast not made mee blinde lame mute monstrous mad or disguised with any other vice either of minde or of body but for that thou hast bestowed on me a sound mind in a sound body Grant also that I may neuer abuse any of my members senses or powers of my soule
in coÌ„tempt or disgrace of thy holy Name Yet O Lord there are many things which yet I want for nothing is presently reduced from his not being to his perfect being but all things tend to their perfection by certaine degrees And that perfection from whom is it to bee required but from him who is the beginner of this worke Hence it is that all effects are conuerted to their causes that they may receiue their finall perfection from thence whence they had their beginning So see I O Lord the plants labour wrest themselues on euery side that they may behold the Sun fasten their roots in the earth Fishes forsake not the water and the Chicken scarce hatched from the egge hides himselfe vnder the wings of the Hen and followeth her whither soeuer shee go Since all creatures do this in whom there is no vnderstanding I alone doe it not whom yet thou hast created and endued with reason I see that I want many things 〈◊〉 that daily I am diuersly hindered the inordinate insatiable hunger of mine appetites teacheth me no lesse but I like a Doue wanting a heart haue not recourse to my Creator but to creatures I seeke not water out of the Fouâ—…taine but digge new Cesterns for my selfe I hunt after the earth contemne him that made the earth I seeke life in the land of death I will rest my selfe in things that are restles I will begge from creatures that which I ought to aske from the Creator I therefore pray thy goodnes O my mercifull Father Creator to take away this ignorance from 〈◊〉 and conuert me vnto thee and then shall I be conuerted thine eies see that which is imperfect in me thou madest mee thou finishedst mee thou beganst this worke doe thou finish it Thy hands haue fashioned mee giue mee vnderstanding that I may learne thy Testimonies Thou gauest mee eares but such as are more attentiue to heere fables thaÌ„ thy word thou gauest me eies but such as are more prone to behold curiosity than to consider the wondrous works of thy law thou gauest me hands but weak to performe good workes thou gauest me feet but swift vnto euill slow vnto goodnes What neede more There is no health in my flesh perâ—… O Lord that which thou hast begun 〈◊〉 me of thy hands Giue me that I want because thou art my Creator my God thou art my life thou art my saluation thou art my liuing thou art my aboundance thou art my glory thou art my honour thou art my peace thou art all my good without thee all my plenty is pouerty who liuest reignest God world without end Amen The second thanksgiuing for the benefite of our corporall conseruation I Giue thee thanks O most omnipotent high iust and mercifull Lord God not onely for that thou hast created me and broughtest me from not being to a being but also for that thou hast preserued and daily doest preserue meâ—… being made of nothing from falling into nothing for I both beleeue and confesse that both is thy worke but if thy hand should be shut and but for the twinckling of an eie should â—…iue ouer â—…is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ng of which thou createdst me As many moments therefore and points of time as this my life hath had now hath or may haue hereafter so many parts are there of this benefite I giue thee thanks O merciâ—… Father that by an vnsearchablâ—… kinde of meanes from my conception vntill my natiuitie thou hasâ—… kept mee close shut vp in the narrow bed of my mothers wombe least choaked in my mothers bowels I had come foorth into this world either borne an abortiue or strangled in my natiuitie without the benefite of Baptisme I giue thee thanks that I am borne not amongst Barbarians idolators who honor wood and adore stone not amongst Heretickes that blaspheme thy name and most sacred Sacraments but amongst Catholiques who honour and reuerence thee with a true sincere and pure â—…uth I giue thee thanks for that thou hast preserued me from all misforâ—…ne sodaine death being borne 〈◊〉 bred vp in this world so full of snares and of perils For whereas â—…uers men in my life time drowned in the Sea slaine in the war â—…urthered by theeues torne by the â—…skes of beasts swallowed vp by â—…rthquakes killed by hunger exâ—…ct by thirst burnt with heate â—…illed with colde poysoned with venome straÌ„gled with the haltar slaine by the sword or other sodaine and violent death are taken hence when in the meane while there are so many blinde lame mad troubled with the Iandâ—…es sâ—…ke of the â—…ir trauelled with the spleen bedâ—…em furious lunatâ—…ke and subâ—…ct to the falling sickenesse whose â—…ife is more miserable than death Thy fatherly prouidence O Lord hath defended me from all these eâ—…ils wheras notwithstanding noâ—…hing hapned vnto theÌ„ that might not haue fallen on me the sonne of â—…dam created out of the same masse of perdition conceiued anâ—… begotten in the same originall sin except thou hadst preserued me I owe all this to thy mercy these benefits I receiue from thee If my earthly King Lord had of tenne captiues condemned for one and the same crime sent nine to the gallowes and of his meere grace fauour had set me free what condigne thankes could I offer him But thou O Lord hast done this for mee not once but daily yea and euery moment What shall I therefore pay thee O Lord for al these benefits what praises shall I sing what thanksgiuing shall I offer I will say with the Prophet It is the mercy of God that we are not consumed for that his mercies haue not failed Thou hast giueÌ„ vs a body though vnworthy of many things which except they bee present it easily corrupteth perisheth but that they might be present it is thy singular prouidence that hath so disposed For as thou createdst vs for thy selfe so hast thou made all things for vs for whatsoeuer is created in the earth in the waters the ayre the fire or in the celestiall spheres yea in the imperiall heauen al that hast thou created to obey vs for thou hast placed man aboue all the workes of thy hands Thou hast subiected all things vnder his feet c. For me trees bring forth their boughes and fruite vines flourish for me oyles fatteÌ„ and grow fruitful for me the garden flowreth for me all the plowland of the fields is mine For mee doth the earth yeeld gold siluer and diuers minâ—…rals profitable for the vse of man For me doth the Sea ebbe flowfor mee it bringeth foorth diuers sorts of fishes for mee it beareth ships and sailes for mee doe the fountaines spring for mee doe the flouds flow sheepe oxen and the beasts of the field are fed bring forth skins wooll milke and butter for mee for mee hath the hound nailes and teeth for mee doth the Monocerote bring foorth a horne
for mee doth the Thrush sing for mee doth the Peacoke spread her party-coloured plumes what need more There is nothing that liueth or mooueth in water earth oâ—… ayre which either feedeth me noâ—… or recreateth mee not or medicineth me not so that all this inferiour world is no other thing thaâ—… my store-house my walke and 〈◊〉 Poticaries shop If I shall ascend aboue the elementall world how many how great wonders hast yâ— made there for me The moone the sunne the stars to whom shine they but to me to whose vse doe they impart their influences to those inferiour bodies but to mine To whom do the times of yeares moneths and daies varie and admit measure but for me I wil ascend higher it was thy will that those noble and pure Angelicall spirits who minister vnto thee assist thee should bee my ministers also that they might defend me from the assaults of al mine enemies visible and inuisible induce mee to goodnesse by their suggestion helpe me in my tribulations offer my prayers vnto thee and bring my soule departing out of this life to thy presence Arise now my soule arise number if thou canst all these benefits wherwith God ceasseth not to follow thee though a sinner euerie day All and euery one of these are certaine voyces inuiting thee to prayse this thy bountifull benefactor Doest thou not heare nor know who he is who insinuateth himselfe vnto thee by so many arguments makes himselfe known by so many testimonies draweth thee vnto him by so many rewards esteemed thee so much that hee made all things for thy vse who is made the shepheard of thy flocke the steward of thy houshold the Physition of thy bodie soule wilt thou not loue him wilt thou not serue him wilt thou not giue him thanks wilt thou not prayse him I desire to prayse thee O Lord giue thee thanks with my whole heart but in my selfe I finde no means how I may do it for praise is not seeming in the mouth of a sinner But for that thou hast created all things to my vse seruice I will cal vpon all creatures that they with me may praise the Lord of al things saying O alye works of the Lord blesse yee with mee the Lord praise him and magnifie his name for euer The third thanksgiuing for the benefite of our redemption I Giue thanks with my lips my heart and all the vertue that is in mee to thine infinite mercie O Lord my God for that being created according to thy similitude and likenesse and fallen and lost in my first parents thou wouldst not banish me for euer like the proud angell from thy presence but of thy vnspeakeable goodnesse thou hast redeemed me Because thou madst mee O Lord I owe my selfe vnto thee but for that thou redeemedst mee I should owe thee farre more than my self if I had it But wher as thou couldst not helpe vs by thy life yet was it thy pleasure to effect the same in thy death to the end thou mightest expresse vnto vs the force of thy loue for lesse hadst thou loued except for a time thou hadst sustained to the end thou mightest disburden vs. And so much more worthily art thou to bee honoured by vs by how much more greater things thou hast sustained for our sakes For who art thou that sufferest what of what kinde are the things thou sufferest for whom sufferest thou and why sufferest thou Tell me O Lord that I may counterpoise equallie this wonderfull worke incomparable benefite What therefore O my God shall I say that thou art I will say that which thou thy selfe saidst to Moses in times past Thou art that thou art Thou art an infinite being that proceedest from no man but thy selfe and without thee there is no being that hath being of himselfe but from thee onely who art that beginning and fountaine of al being Thou of thy omnipotent power madst al things of nothing thou of thy goodnesse conseruest all things without any forraine helpe thou by thy will if it so pleased thee maiest reduce al things to nothing thou onely art that art and all that seemeth to be is nothing in comparison of thee The moone shineth not and the starres are not cleane in thy sight All beautie compared to thee is deformitie all power infirmity all wisdome ignorance and all goodnesse is malice Thou art good without defect wise without error liberall without acception of persons iust without wrath cleane without detriment thou workest all things and art not distracted thou labourest and art not wearie thou art euerie where and nothing is wanting in thee What therfore shal I speake of the greatnes of thy maiesty Thou beholdest the earth and makest it tremble thou touchest the mountaines and they smokke thou hast shut the sea within bounds when it brake out as a child from his mothers wombe thou numbrest yâ— multitude of starres and callest them all by their names whom the dominations and Angelical powers adore before whom the highest Seraphins clock their wings hide themselues with their fethers All thy works praise thee and thy Saints blesse thee the morning starres praise thee and all the children of God reioyce in thee the heauens declare thy glory and the firmament sheweth thy brightnesse the flowers of the field testifie thy beauty the earth thy prouidence the Sea and the flouds thereof doe preach thy Maiestie Such and so great art thou O Lord oh now let it be lawfull for mee to speake or rather to feele what and how vnworthy wrongs thou the God of so great maiesty hast suffered for mee and whilst I reckon vp these things let all â—…he Quires of Angels fall downe before thee and giue thee thanks for that which thou hast sustained for our redemption Thou being so sublime and admirable didst descend from the height of thy glory into this vale of miserie inuested with our carnall body and in habite like a man subiect to sinne Thou in this world sustainedst for my sake hunger and thirst yâ— heate of the Sunne and the cold of the Winter persecutions and dolors thou sufferedst for me so much pouertie that where the Foxes haue dennes and the birds of the aire their nests thou the Lord of heauen hadst not a place to rest thy head on borne in a Stable among beasts thou didst beg the heate of their breath from them and wert wrapped in ragged clouts On the eight day thou tookest on thee the marke of a sinner Presently after this the world persecuted thee thou fledst to forraine Lands and to a Nation honouring idols and to that purpose soughtst the silence of the night the innocency of thy â—…s excused thee not neither was there rest giuen to thy tender bodie neither was thy delicate childhood idle as thy body increased thy griefes and labours grew For who can expresse O Lord thy praiers watchings fastings wearines hunger thirst persecutions and
iniuries done thee by thine enemies They spake against thee who sate in the gate and the drunkards made Ballads of thee In a word thy life was tormented in so vnworthy sort as that thou maiest iustly say with the Prophet I am poore in labours from my youth and infancie These were the things thou sustainedst in thy life time but greater are they which thou sufferedst in thy death and on the Crosse There was liberty takē prisoner innocency strooken beauty spit vpon iustice condemned glorie deluded and life slaine and crucified Good Lord what more admirable what more horrible what more strange Life dieth God is whipt the power of God tied with cords the image of the Father spit vpon finally naked God is nailed to a Crosse and hanged betweene two theeues in the sight of the whole world Further may not my soule wade my strēgth is weak ned my heart faileth within mee O height of charity O depth of immasurable humilitie O greatnesse of mercie O incomprehensible bottomlesse pit of bounty If I owe thee so much O Lord for that thou hast redeemed me what shall I owe thee for that after so admirable a manner and so hard and difficult vnto me thou hast redeemed me O most mercifull Pastor O most faithfull shepheard who gauest thy life for thy sheepe whom thou tookest vpon thee to defend and keepe with what duty may I remunerate so great a benefite with what teares may I prosecute my plaints with what life shal I imitate thy pure and immaculate life Truly I owe thee farre more O Lord for thy sufferance wherby I was redeemed than for thy worke by which I was created And if O Lord thou hadst sustained these things for Angels or archangels for cherubins or seraphins it were lesse to be wondred at but now hast thou not suffred for these but for man what is man that thou art mindfull of him or the sonne of man that after this sort thou visitest him If thou consider his bodie man is the most wretched of al liuing creatures if his manners more miserable and worser Dost thou therefore O God die for the sonnes of Satan for y◠corrupters of all honesty iustice for parricides and breakers of thy diuine Lawes for contemners of thy Maiesty and blasphemers of thy glory Dost thou then die O God for thy infernall tormentor whose heart is not allured by benefits nor terrified by threatnings nor mollified by promises nor moued by punishments For a man who is not content with his own power and domesticall malice compasseth the earth also sorteth out all the worse sensualities putteth on the nature of beasts becoming woorse than they crueller than a Tyger fiercer than a Liō greedier thā a Wolfe venomouser than a Toad craftier than a Serpent Which not sufficing him hee descendeth into hell and borroweth whatsoeuer detestable things in the diuels themselues as blasphemy pride enuie and perpetuall hardnesse of heart And when hee findeth no more ◅ee inuenteth of his owne braine ◅ost prodigious monsters of sin ◅ertaine new kindes of ryot lechey and other sorts of vncleannesse ◅hich are neuer heard of a◅ongst very Beasts or the diuels themselues Dost thou thinke O Lord this monster to bee worthy that thou shouldst open thine eies on him Doest thou die for this sinke and caue of Serpents replenished with Uipers and Scorpions to the end to sanctifie y◠same My heart faileth mee in considering thy mercies O God there is no more spirit left in me Because I haue once begunne I will speake vnto thee my King my God though I am dust and ashes What mooued thy mercifull heart What ouercame and conquered the same that thou sufferedst so much for so abhominable a creature didst thou hunt after profite didst thou expect greater glory and blessednesse than thou hadst O meere grace O loue wtout respect O pure and sincere goodnesse What profite hast thou by the seruice of one poore Ant What fruit was there expected to thee by the saluation of man Thou hast no neede of riches Who gaue thee that thou mightst restore againe vnto him all things vnder the heauens are thine What hadst thou therefore to do with our dolours and miseries Through the bowels of the mercy of our God thou didst visit vs rising from on high O pittifull bowels O sweet bowels O bowels vnto vs the Sea of loue and mercy In these bowels and not mooued either with profite or necessity thou tookest compassion on our griefes and hadst mercie vpon vs Thou sawest the affliction of thy people and appearedst in the bush amongst thornes and bryers discending from Heauen and taking on thee our nature Be not angry o Lord if I speak If the force of thy loue were so great thou fountaine of charitie that it compelled thee to a marriage so vnworthy thy maiestie that thou wouldst espouse thy selfe to thy creature was there not a more noble spouse for thee on the earth and more allied to thee by grace and nature Why didst thou not rather entertaine the Angelicall nature why didst thou loue a wife of an vncircumcised nation which shall afterward betray thee to thine enemies and kill thee what doest thou answer mee my God what doest thou answer but I would haue this this was pleasing in my fight as ◅ampson who erst prefigured thee once said What thanks shall I therefore giue thee O Lord for this incomparable benefit with what loue shal I loue thee that hast giuen so manifest and incomprehensible testimony of thy goodnes towards mee How can it bee that there should bee any one in this world that should not loue thee how can hee bee vnmindfull of such a benefit First O Lord let mee forget my selfe than the memorie of so great a mercy bee extinct in mee Those nailes which pierced thy most innocent hands shall also pierce my heart and that admirable change wherein thou tookest vpon thee my infirmities powredst thy goodnes liberally vpon mee shall neuer depart out of my minde And whereas thou all thy life time diddest desire the Crosse with great affection whereon thou wert to die for my sake Grant that I also as long as I liue may not abhorre the Crosse but beare the same patiently vntill thou transferre me to that place where nei◅ death nor mourning nor cry nor dolour shall be heard of where thou reignest world without end Amen The fourth thanksgiuing for the benefit of our vocation and iustification I Giue thee thanks O Lord God my helper Redeemer for that from darkenesse thou hast called me into so admirable a light as that being without hope of mercy I haue now obtained mercie For during the time that I liued in the land of Obliuion and in the shaddow of death when my waies were most wicked and contrary vnto thee then did thy mercie call mee not onely flying but also repugning then gauest thou me thy holy Spirit
craue peace and tranquillity for how can I choose being a weake fraile man but feare so mightie enemies as the world the diuell and the greatest enemy of all my flesh yet since I am not ignorant O Father that temptations are so profitable healthfull for vs yâ— we ought to reioyce therein I require no other thing at thy hands but that thou wilt take from before me the multitude of all my sinnes which with their immmeasurable weight not only depresse my poore backe but turne away thy helpe and assistance euery way from me Let mee heare in my temptations that which once Saint Paul heard when hee was tempted My grace â—…s sufficient for thee O Lord if â—…hou deny me not this I will say with the Prophet God is my light and my saluation whom then shall I fear God is the protector of my life of whom shall I be afraid If 〈◊〉 host of men were encamped against mee my heart should not â—…are If an army were imbattelled against mee hereat I would not be afraid Behold O Father how thy coÌ„â—…ence maketh vs fearelesse how â—…int hearted our sins finde vs for â—…is written whither flieth the wicked when no man followeth him â—…nd seeing the morning Star he supposeth it to bee the shadow of death Take my sinnes therefore from me which make me fearefull and faint-hearted and giue me thy grace that if it bee not expedient for mee to haue a life which is free from all temptations yet that I may constantly resist some assaults and with greater desire thirst after that my celestiall countrey wheâ—… neither temptation doth sollicite nor griefe cruciate nor tribulation afflict where thou the celestiall Father with the Sonne and the holy Ghost liuest and reignest God world without end Amen Against the temptation of the diuell LOrd God Creator and maiâ—…tainer of mankinde behold yâ— feareful Dragon tempteth me thâ—… old serpent which first began in the paradise of pleasure who with his tayle draweth the third part of the stars of heauen and casteth them on the earth who with his venome corrupteth the waters of the earth that men that drinke thereof die and who shall defend me from his iawes Who shall deliuer mee from his mouth but thou o Lord who hast broken the head of the great Dragon Helpe me spread thy wings O Lord ouer mee that mee may flie vnder them from the face of this Dragon who persecuteth mee and with thy shield deliuer me from his hornes for this is his continuall studie this his only desire to deuoure those soules â—…hom thou hast created therefore my God I cry vnto thee deliuer me from my daily aduersary who whether I sleep or wake whe ther I eate or drinke or whatsoeuer I do doth euery way day and night with his frauds and artes endeuour now openly to wound and now secretlie to hurt mee directing his inuenomed shafts against mee to the end hee may slay my soule But thou O inuisible Lyon of the tribe of Iuda giue strength to thy seruant against this roaring Lyon who alwaies seeketh about watching whom hee may deuoure most healthfull Serpent fixed on a high Crosse giue power vnto the weake one against the deceits of this subtill Serpent Thou snow-white Lambe conquerour of sathans tyranny giue thy tender sheepe the strength of thy Spirit that being fraile in himselfe and strong in thee hee may ouercome all the assaults of the diuell lest mine enemie triumph ouer me but being conquered by thy might I may giue thee thanks for thy mercy which neuer faileth those that put their trust in thee Amen Against the temptations of the world I Am assaulted O Lord Iesu I am assaulted come and reuenge me of mine aduersary and deliuer me Hast thou not said Be not dismaied I haue ouercome the world Whence therefore had the world those forces that it so triumpheth ouer thine elect and persecuteth all with fire and sword who cleauing vnto thee doe not adore and reuerence him why do they so largely rule ouer those whom thou hast chosen in the world to bee thine especially in this doting age of his continuance in which it behooued his power should decrease and his might diminish The contempt of Gods word reigueth euery where and with it ingratitude lust ryot vnlawfull pleasures and an extreame abuse of all things and he that wil not follow these is scorned and esteemed a foole his life is accounted madnesse and his end is without honour Hee is odious in the worlds eie for that his life is different from other â—…us These things do often times asâ—…ult our soules o Lord almost mooue our feete that leauing the hard wayes we may enter into the â—…igh way of the world which proâ—…seth vs all things happy pleasant sweete delightfull smiling â—…pon vs with a pleasant counteâ—…ance and offering vs with a full â—…and the riches honours pleaâ—…res of the same But thou O Lord withdraw mee from the darknesse deceites and allurements of this world Lighten mine eies that I may see and vnderstand how short and vncertaine how deceitfull how blinde and pernicious yâ— felicity of this world is Maintaine mee in the knowledge of thy truth lest in this couetous and drunken age of this world I bee intangled with secular cares which leade our minds from the exercises of piety and choake those motions which the holy Spirit stirreth vp in vs. Grant o Lord that this world may d ee crucified vnto mee and I vnto the world let mee no wayes study to please him lest whilst I become a friend of this world I make my selfe thine enemie let me contemne his hatred and slanders knowing that wee oughtto glory in nothing but in thy Crosse O Lord. Who liuest and reâ—…nest with the Father and the hâ—… Ghost world without end Amen Against the temptations of the flesh VVHere art thou O good Iesus where art thou Yet once againe Iesabell tyr annizeth once againe the flesh rageth a domesticke but yet a mortall enemie Be at hand O Iesus bee at hand assist mee in my necessity because the waters haue ouer-flowed my soule and the desires of the flesh ouerprest me My flesh made of dirt bringeth foorth nought but dirtie and filthy cogitations In respect of the world vaine and curious from the diuell iâ—… receiueth vaine and bitter whereby it sinneth against the Spirit borne of sinne nourished in sinne corrupted from the beginning with vices but much more depraued by euill customes Who shall stand against so strong an enemie O Lord. Who shall sustaine his assaults He stirreth vp vnlawful motions venemous cogitatious It inflameth moueth war nourisheth hatred inciteth gourmandise quickeneth lust prepareth occasions of sinne and ceasseth not with a thousand subtilties of circumuention to driue away the spirit It is a grieuous conflict a dangerous war to fight against a home-bred enemie especially where we are strangers and hee a Citizen he dwelleth in his owne countrey wee are