Selected quad for the lemma: heaven_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
heaven_n	earth_n	lord_n	prayer_n	8,302	5	6.0570	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A13694	The follovving of Christ Diuided into foure bookes. Written in Latin by the learned and deuout man, Thomas a Kempis, canon-regular of the order of S. Augustine. Whereunto also is added the golden Epistle of S. Bernard. And also certaine rules of a Christian life, made by Iohn Picus the elder, Earle of Mirandula. Translated into English by B.F.; Imitatio Christi. English.	Hoskins, Anthony, 1568-1615.; Elyot, Thomas, Sir, 1490?-1546.; Bernard, of Clairvaux, Saint, 1090 or 91-1153. Epistola de perfectione vitae. English.; Pico della Mirandola, Giovanni, 1463-1494, Regulae duodecim portim excitantes portim dirigentes hominem in pugna spirituali. English. aut; Thomas, à Kempis, 1380-1471, attributed name.; Whitford, Richard, fl. 1495-1555?	1615 (1615)	STC 23988; ESTC S111535	135,170	483

I stand before thee poore and naked calling for grace and crauing mercy Refresh this thy hungry and needy creature giue heat vnto my coldnes with the fire of thy loue giue light vnto my blindnesse with the brightnes of thy presence Turne al earthly things vnto me into bitternes all things grieuous and contrarie into patience all base and created things into contempt and obliuion Lift vp my heart to thee in heauen and suffer me not to wander vpon earth be thou only sweete and delightsome vnto mee from hence-forth for euermore for thou only art my meat and my drinke my loue and my joy my delight and all my good 3 O that with thy presence thou wouldest wholy inflame burne and change me into thee that I might be made one spirit with thee by the grace of inward vnion and melting of burning loue Suffer me not to go from thee hungry and drie but deale mercifully with me as thou hast oftentimes dealt wonderfully with thy Saints What meruaile if I should be wholy inflamed by thee and die in my selfe sith thou art fire euer burning and neuer decaying loue purifying the heart and enlightning the vnderstanding CHAP. XVII Of burning loue and vehement desire to receiue Christ The voice of the Disciple WIth great deuotion and burning loue with most hearty affection and feruour I desire to receiue thee O Lord as many Saints and deuout persons haue desired thee when they receiued thy Sacrament who were most pleasing vnto thee in holines of life and most feruent in deuotion O my God the euerlasting loue my whole good my happinesse without end I would gladly receiue thee with the most vehement desire and worthy reuerence that any of the Saints euer had or could feele 2 And although I be vnworthy to haue all those feelings of deuotion yet I offer vnto thee the whole affection of my hart as if I alone had those most sweet inflamed desires yea whatsoeuer also a deuout minde can conceiue and desire all that with greatest reuerence and most inward affection I offer present vnto thee I wish to reserue nothing to my self but freely and most willingly to sacrifice my selfe all mine vnto thee my Lord God my Creator and my Redeemer I desire to receiue thee this day with such affection reuerence praise honor with such gratitude worthines and loue with such faith hope and purity as thy most blessed Mother the glorious Virgin Mary receiued and desired thee when she humbly and deuoutly answered the Angel who declared vnto her the mystery of the Incarnation and said Behold the Handmaid of our Lord let it be done vnto mee according to thy word Luk. 1. 3 And as thy blessed Forerunner the most excellent amongst the Saints Iohn Baptist cheerefully leaped with joy of the holy Ghost whilest he was yet shut vp in his mothers wombe and afterwards seeing Iesus walking amongst men humbling himselfe very much said with deuout affection The friend of the Bridegrome that standeth and heareth him reioyceth with joy for the voice of the Bridegrome Ioh. 3. so I also wish to be inflamed with great and holy desires and to offer my self vp vnto thee with my whole heart Wherefore I offer also and present vnto thee the joyes feruent desires excesses of minde spirituall illuminations and heauenly visions of all deuout hearts with all the vertues and praises exercised and to be exercised by all creatures in heauen and earth for my selfe and all such as are commended to me in prayer that by all thou mayest be worthily praised and glorified for euer 4 Receiue my Lord God the affections of my heart and desires which I haue to giue thee infinite praise and thankes which according to the measure of thy vnspeakable greatnesse are due vnto thee These I yeeld thee and desire to yeeld thee euery day and moment and I doe intreate and inuite all the heauenly Spirits and all thy deuout seruants to giue thanks and praises together with me 5 Let all People Tribes and Tongues praise thee and magnifie thy holy and sweet name with great joy and feruent deuotion and let all that reuerently and deuoutly celebrate thy most high Sacrament and receiue it with full faith deserue to finde grace and mercy at thy hands and pray humbly for mee sinfull creature And when they shall haue obtained their desired deuotion and joyfull vnion and depart from thy sacred heauenly Table well comforted and meruailously refreshed let them vouchsafe to remember my poore and needy soule CHAP. XVIII That a man be not a curious searcher of this Sacrament but an humble follower of Christ submitting his sense vnto faith The voice of the Beloued THou oughtest to beware of curious and vnprofitable searching into this most profound Sacrament if thou wilt not sinke into the depth of doubt He that is a searcher of Maiestie shall be oppressed by Glorie Prou. 25. God is able to worke more then man can vnderstand A pious and humble inquirie of truth is tolerable so he be alwaies ready to bee taught and doe endeauour to walke in the sound pathes of the ancient Fathers doctrine 2 Blessed is that simplicity that forsaketh the difficult waies of questions and goeth on in the plaine and assured path of Gods Commandements Many haue lost deuotion whilest they would search after high things Faith and sincere life are exacted at thy hands not height of vnderstanding nor the depth of the mysteries of God If thou doest not vnderstand nor conceiue those things that are vnder thee how shalt thou bee able to comprehend those that are aboue thee Submit thy selfe to God and let thy sense be subiect to faith and the light of knowledge shall bee giuen thee in that degree as shall bee profitable and necessary for thee 3 Some are grieuously tempted about Faith and the Sacrament but this is not to bee imputed to them but rather to the enemie Do not regard nor dispute with thy thoughts neither doe thou giue answere to the doubts mooued by the enemie but beleeue the words of God beleeue his Saints and Prophets and the wicked Serpent will flie from thee It is oftentimes very profitable to the seruant of God to suffer such things for he tempteth not Infidels and sinners whom he alreadie securely possesseth but hee sundrie waies tempteth and vexeth the faithfull and deuout 4 Goe forward therefore with a sincere and vndoubted faith and come to the Sacrament with vnfained reuerence And whatsoeuer thou art not able to vnderstand commit securely to Almightie God God deceiueth thee not hee is deceiued that trusteth too much to himselfe Psalm 18. and 118. God walketh with the simple reuealeth himselfe to the humble giueth vnderstanding to little ones openeth the senses of pure minds and hideth grace from the curious and proud Mat. 11. Humane reason is weake and may be deceiued but true faith cannot be deceiued 5 All reason and naturall search ought to follow faith not to go before it

experience they haue of themselues in their earthly affections so they frame an imagination of heauēly things But there is an incōparable distance betweene the things which the imperfect frame in their conceits and those which illuminated persons do see by reuelation from aboue 7 Beware therefore my Sonne that thou treat not curiously of these things which exceed thy knowledg but rather so apply thy endeauours that thou maist at least haue the meanest place in the Kingdom of heauē Eccles 3. And if any one did know which of the Saints exceeded others in sanctity or is esteemed greater in the kingdom of heauen what would this knowledge auaile him vnlesse he should thereby humble himselfe the more in my sight and stirre vp his minde to praise my name with greater feruour His labour is much more acceptable vnto God that thinketh of the greatnes of his sins and his want of vertues and how far off he is from the perfection of the Saints then he that disputeth of their greatnes It is better to pray to the Saints with deuotion and teares and to craue their glorious suffrages with an humble mind then to search their secrets with a vaine curiositie 8 They are well and right well contented if men could content thēselues and refraine from these vaine discourses They glory not of their own merits for they ascribe no good vnto themselues but attribute all to me who of my infinite charity haue bestowed my blessings vpon them They are replenished with so great loue of my Godhead and so superabundant joy that there is no glory nor happines that is or can be wanting vnto them All the Saints how much the higher they be in glory so much the more humble they are in themselues and neerer and dearer vnto me And therefore thou hast it written That they did cast their crownes before God and fel downe vpon their faces before the Lambe and adored him that liueth for euer Apocal. 4. 9 Many enquire who is greatest in the Kingdome of God that know not whether they shall euer be numbred there amongst the least It is no small matter to bee euen the least in heauen where all are great for that all there shall be called and shall be indeed the Sonnes of God The least there shall bee great among thousands and the sinner of an hundred yeares shall die For when the Disciples asked who was the greater in the Kingdome of heauen they receiued this answere Matth. 18. Vnlesse you be conuerted and become as little children you shall not enter into the Kingdome of heauen Whosoeuer therefore shall humble himselfe as this little childe he is the greater in the Kingdome of heauen 10 Woe be vnto them that disdaine to humble themselues willingly with little children Mat. 6. For the low gate of the Kingdom of heauen wil not giue them entrance And wo be to the rich that haue their comforts heere for whilst the poore enter into the Kingdom of God they shall be waiting without Reioyce you that be humble and you that bee poore be you glad for yours is the Kingdome of God if you walke according vnto truth Mat. 5. CHAP. LIX That all our hope and trust is to be fixed in God alone THE SERVANT LOrd what trust haue I in this world Or what is the greatest comfort that all things vnder heauen doe yeeld mee Is it not thou my Lord God whose mercies are without number Where hath it beene well with mee without thee Or when could it bee ill with mee when thou wert present I had rather bee poore for thee then rich without thee I rather choose to be a Pilgrime in earth with thee then to possesse heauen without thee Where thou art there is heauen and there is death and hell where thou art not Thou art my desire and therefore it behoueth mee to send forth deep sighes from my heart and crie and pray vnto thee For I haue none to trust vnto none that can help mee in time of necessitie but thee alone my God Thou art my hope and my trust thou art my comforter and most faithfull vnto mee in all my distresses 2 All men seeke their owne gaine thou only seekest my saluation and my profit and turnest all things to my good Phil. 2. Although thou permittest many temptations to assault me and many aduersities to befall me yet thou ordainest all this to my good and profit who art wont to proue thy beloued seruants a thousand wayes In which proofe thou oughtest no lesse to bee loued and praised then if thou diddest replenish me with heauenly comforts 3 In thee therfore my Lord God I put my whole hope and refuge in thee I place my tribulation and anguish for I finde all to be weake and vnconstant whatsoeuer I behold out of thee For neither can many friends auaile nor forcible helpers aide nor wise counsellers giue profitable answere nor the bookes of the learned comfort nor any wealth deliuer nor any secret or pleasant place defend if thou thy selfe dost not assist helpe comfort instruct and keepe vs. 4 For all things that seeme to be ordained for the rest and solace of man when thou art absent are nothing and doe bring indeed no joy nor comfort at all Thou therefore art the end of all that is good the light of life the depth of wisdome and the most forcible comfort of thy seruants is to trust in thee aboue all things To thee therefore do I lift vp mine eyes In thee my God the Father of mercies I put my whole trust Blesse and sanctifie my soule with thy heauenly blessings that it may be made thy holy habitation and the seat of thy eternall glory and that nothing may be found in the Temple of thy greatnes that may offend the eyes of thy Maiestie According to the greatnes of thy goodnes and multitude of thy mercies take pitie vpon mee and heare the prayer of thy poore seruant who is farre exiled from thee in the land of the shadow of death Protect and keepe the soule of thy seruant amidst so many dangers of this corruptible life and by the assistance of thy grace direct it in the way of peace to the Countrey of euerlasting light AMEN The end of the third Booke OF THE FOLLOWING OF CHRIST THE FOVRTH BOOKE A deuout Exhortation vnto the blessed Sacrament The voice of Christ COme vnto mee all yee that labour and are burdened and I will refresh you saith our Lord. Matth. 11. The bread which I will giue is my flesh for the life of the world Ioh. 6. Take yee and eate this is my body that shall be deliuered for you Matth. 26. Doe this for the commemoration of me He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud remaineth in me and I in him 1. Cor. 11. The words which I haue spoken vnto you are Spirit and life Ioh. 6. CHAP. I. With how great reuerence Christ ought to be receiued THese are thy words O Christ euerlasting Truth

exceedingly please me and all thy life would passe away in joy and peace Thou hast yet many things to forsake which vnlesse thou wholy resigne ouer vnto mee thou shalt not attaine to that which thou desirest I counsell thee to buy of me purified gold that thou mayest become rich that is heauenly wisdom which treadeth vnder foote all base and earthly things Apoc. 3. Set little by the wisdome of this world and esteeme not of the contentment of men nor thine owne fancies 3 I said that thou shouldest buy the meane and base things with the precious and those that were with men of great esteeme For true heauenly wisedome seemeth very base and of small account and is scarce thought of by men for that esteemeth not highly of it selfe nor seeketh to bee magnified vpon earth which many praise from the teeth outward but in their life they are farre from it yet is it the precious pearle which is hidden from many Mat. 13. CHAP. XXXIII Of inconstancy of heart and of directing our small intentions vnto God OVR LORD SOn trust not to thy affection that which now is will quickly change into another As long as thou liuest thou art subiect to mutability euen against thy will so that now thou art mery now sad now quiet now troubled now deuout now distracted now diligent now idle now heauie now light But he that is wise wel instructed in spirit remaines alwaies one in the middest of these changes not heeding what he seeketh in himselfe or which way the winde of mutability bloweth but that the whole intention of his mind may tend as it ought to the most perfect and best end For so he may continue one and the selfe-same without any change in the midst of so many sundry chances directing alwaies the sincere eye of his intention vnto me 2 And how much purer the eye of the intention is so much the more constantly doth hee passe through the varietie of many contrary waues Matth. 6. But in many things the eye of a sincere intention waxeth blinde for it quickely looketh vpon some delight some obiect that occurreth And it is rare to finde one that is wholy free from all blemish of seeking himselfe So the Iewes in times past came into Bethania to Martha and Mary not for Iesus alone but to see Lazarus also Ioh. 11. The eye of our intention therefore is to bee purged that it may be sincere and pure and to be directed vnto mee neglecting the multitude and variety of earthly obiects Mat. 6. CHAP. XXXIV That God is sweete aboue all things and in all things to him that loueth THE SERVANT BEhold my God and all things What would I haue more and what can I desire more happy O sweete and comfortable word but to him that loueth the word not the world nor those things that are in the world My God and all things Inough is said to him that vnderstandeth and it is pleasant to him that loueth to repeate it often For when thou art present all things do yeeld delight but when thou art absent all becomes irkesome Thou giuest quiet of heart and much peace and pleasant joy Thou makest men think well of all and praise thee in all things neither can anything please vs long without thee but if it bee pleasant and delightsome thy grace must be present it must be seasoned with the sweetnes of thy wisdome 2 What can bee distastefull vnto him to whom thou art pleasing And whom thou delightest not what can be pleasant But the wise of the world and that haue their contentment in sensuall things cannot attaine to thy wisdom for in the world is much vanity in the flesh is death 1. Cor. 1. Rom. 8. 1. Io. 2. But they that follow thee by the contempt of worldly things and mortification of the flesh are proued to be truly wise for they are changed from vanity to truth from flesh to spirit To these God is sweet and what good soeuer is found in creatures they wholy referre vnto the praise of their Maker Notwithstanding great yea very great is the difference betweene the sweetnes of the Creator and of the creature of eternity and of time of vncreated and created light 3 O euerlasting light surpassing al created lights cast forth the beams of thy brightnes frō aboue pierce the most inward corners of my hart purifie reioyce clarifie and quicken my spirit with all the powers thereof that I may cleaue vnto thee with excesse of vnspeakable joy O when will that blessed and desired houre come that I may be filled with thy presence and thou mayest be vnto me all in all things as long as this is not granted me I shal not haue ful nor perfect joy Alas my old man yet liueth in me he is not wholy crucified he is not perfectly dead Rom. 7. He doth yet couet strongly against the spirit and moueth ciuill warres and suffereth not the kingdome of my soule to be in peace 4 But thou that rulest the powers of the sea and asswagest the motion of the waues rise help me Psa 88. dissipate the people that desire war and destroy them in thy might and let thy hand be glorified Psal 72. for there is no hope nor refuge for me but in thee my Lord God Psal 30. CHAP. XXXV That there is no securitie from temptation in this life OVR LORD SOnne there is no security in this life as long as thou liuest thou shalt alwayes haue neede of spirituall armour Thou liuest among enemies and art assaulted on all sides Iob 7. if therefore thou defendest not thy selfe on euery side with the shield of patience thou canst not be long vnwounded 2. Cor. 6. Moreouer if thou fix not thy hart on me with a sincere will to suffer all things for me thou canst not sustain the heat of this battaile nor get that victorious crowne which they haue that are in glory Thou oughtest therefore manfully to go through all and to vse a strong hand against whatsoeuer withstandeth thee For to him that ouercommeth is giuen Manna and to the negligent is left much woe Apoc. 2. 2 If thou seekest rest in this world how wilt thou then attain to euerlasting rest Giue not thy selfe to much ease but to much patience Seek true peace not in earth but in heauen not in men nor in any creature but in God alone Thou oughtest for the loue of God willingly to vndergoe whatsoeuer labours to endure whatsoeuer griefes temptations vexations anxieties necessities infirmities iniuries detractions reprehensions humiliations confusions corrections and contempts these help to the attaining of vertue these try a Nouice of Christ these make a heauenly Crowne I will giue an euerlasting reward for a short labour and infinit glory for transitory confusion 3 Thinkest thou that thou shalt alwayes haue spirituall consolations at will My Saints had not so but many afflictions and sundrie temptations and many discomforts all which they endured patiently

state Apoc. 21. O that that day would once appeare all these temporall things were at an end To the Saints it shineth glistering with euerlasting brightnes but to those that are Pilgrimes vpon earth it appeareth only a far off and as it were through a glasse 2 The inhabitants of heauen doe know how joyfull that day is but the banished children of Eue bewaile the bitternesse and tediousnes of this The daies of this life are short and euill full of sorrow and anguish where man is defiled with many sins incumbred with many passions disquieted with many feares filled with many cares distracted with many curiosities intangled with many vanities compassed about with many errors worne away with many labours vexed with temptations weakened with delights tormented with want Iob 7. 3 O when shall these euils be at an end Rom. 7. When shall I be deliuered from the miserable bondage of sin Psal 70. When shall I thinke O Lord of thee alone When shall I perfectly reioyce in thee When shal I bee free from all impediments in true liberty without al grief of mind and body When shall I haue firme peace peace secure without trouble peace without and within peace euery way assured O good Iesu whē shall I stand to behold thee When shall I contemplate the glory of thy Kingdom When wilt thou be vnto me all in all things O when shall I be with thee in thy Kingdom which thou hast prepared for thy beloued from before all worlds I am left a poore and banished man in the Land of mine enemies where there are daily warres and great misfortunes 4 Comfort my banishment asswage my sorrow for my whole desire sendeth vp sighes vnto thee For all is burdensome to me whatsoeuer this world offereth for my comfort I desire familiarly to enioy thee but I cannot attaine vnto it I would gladly fixe my heart to the things of heauen but temporall cares and vnmortified passions weigh me downe In mind I would be aboue al things but to my flesh I am inforced to be subiect against my will Ro. 7. 8. Thus vnhappy mā that I am I fight against my selfe and am become grieuous to my selfe whilest my spirit seeketh after the things that are aboue and my flesh that which is below 5 O what doe I inwardly suffer when in minde I consider heauenly things and presently in my prayers a multitude of fleshly fantasies present themselues before me My God be not farre from me depart not in thy wrath from thy seruant Psa 70. Cast forth thy lightning disperse them send out thy darts and breake all the fantasies of my enemy Gather my senses together vnto thee make mee forget the things of this world grant me grace to cast away speedily the fantasies of vices Succour me O euerlasting truth that no vanity may moue me Come heauenly sweetnes and let al impurity fly from thy face Pardon me also and mercifully forgiue me as often as I think vpon any thing else besides thee in prayer I truly confesse that I am wont to be subiect to many distractions for oftentimes I am not there where I do corporally stand or sit but rather there whither my thoughts do carry me Where my thought is there am I there is oftentimes my thought where my affection is That quickly occurreth vnto me which is naturally delightsome by custome pleasing 6 And for this cause thou that art truth it self hast plainly said Where thy treasure is there is also thy heart Mat. 6. If I loue heauen I willingly thinke of heauenly things If I loue the world I reioyce at the felicity of the world grieue for the aduersity thereof If I loue the flesh I imagine oftētimes those things that are pleasing to the flesh If I loue the spirit I delight to thinke of spirituall things For whatsoeuer I loue thereof doe I willingly speake and heare and cary home with me the formes and representations thereof O blessed is that man that for thee O Lord forsaketh all creatures that violently resisteth nature out of the feruour of spirit crucifieth the concupiscence of the flesh that with a cleare conscience he may offer sincere prayers vnto thee and be worthy of the company of the Angelicall quiers all earthly things outwardly and inwardly being excluded CHAP. XLIX Of the desire of euerlasting life how great rewards are promised to those that fight valiantly OVR LORD SOn whē thou perceiuest the desire of euerlasting blisse to be giuē thee from aboue desirest to depart out of the Tabernacle of this body that thou maist without shaddow of any enterchange behold my light open thy heart and receiue this holy inspiration with thy whole desire Giue great thankes to the heauenly goodnes that dealeth with thee so fauourably visiteth thee mercifully stirreth thee vp feruently holdeth thee vp powerfully lest through thine owne waight thou fall downe to the vanities of the earth Neither doest thou obtaine this by thine owne thought or endeauour but by the only fauour of heauenly grace diuine bounty that thou maist profit in vertue obtaine greater humility and prepare thy selfe to future battailes and endeauour to cleaue vnto mee with the whole affection of thy hart and serue me with a feruent desire 2 Sonne fire often burneth but the flame ascendeth not vp without smoke so likewise the desires of some men are earnestly carried to heauenly things and yet they are not free from temptation of carnall affection and therefore it is not altogether purely for the honour of God that which they so earnestly request of him Such is also oftentimes thy desire which with such importunity thou presentest vnto me For that is not pure perfect which is infected and defiled with the loue of thine owne proper commodity interest 3 Ask not that which is delightsome and profitable to thee but that which is gratefull to me and appertaineth to my honor for if thou judgest aright thou oughtest to preferre and follow my appointment rather then thine own desire or any desired thing I know thy desire and haue heard thy often grones Now thou wouldest bee in the freedome of the glory of the sons of God now doth the euerlasting habitation and the heauenly Country full of joy delight thee but this houre is not yet come it is yet another time to wit of war time of labour triall Thou desirest to bee filled with the chiefest good but thou canst not attaine it for the present I am he saith our Lord expect vntill the Kingdome of God doth come Iob 7. 4 Thou art yet to be tried vpon earth and to bee exercised in many things Comfort shall be sometimes giuen thee but abundant fulnes therof shal not be granted Take courage therfore be constant as wel in doing as in suffring things contrary to nature Iosue 1. Thou oughtest to put on a new man and to be changed into another Eph. 4. Thou must oftentimes doe

same strength and knowledge and that hauing vnto God a reuerend dread you neuer offend in thought word or deed but that you may euer loue him for himselfe and all his creatures in due order for him and in him The second is the genitiue case Then must you pray for your genitours your progenitours and parents that is to say your fathers and mothers spirituall and carnall as your ghostly fathers or spirituall soueraignes your godfathers your godmothers your natural father and mother your grandfathers and grandmothers your brothers and sisters and all your kindred In the third place is the datiue case There must you pray for benefactors good doers of whom you haue receiued any manner of gifts spirituall or temporall vnto the wealth of your soule or body In the fourth place is the accusatiue case where you should pray for your enemies such persons as by any meanes haue annoyed hurt or grieued you either ghostly or bodily that is to say in your soule or manners by any suggestion intising euill counsell or euill example In your fame or good name by detraction back-biting or slandering or yet by familier company For a person commonly is reputed supposed to be of such condition as they bee with whom hee hath conuersation company And for them that hurt your body either by strokes or by any other occasion haue hindered the state and health thereof And likewise of your worldly goods or possessions For all these manner of enemies must you pray that our Lord God would forgiue them as you doe and as you would be forgiuen and that they may come to right charity and peace The fifth case is called vocatiue that is to say the calling case where you conueniently may call cry and pray vnto our Lord for all manner of persons that be out of the state of grace either by infidelity as Turkes Sarazens and such other or else by errour as all manner of Heretikes or else by any deadly sinne or offence to God Pray for all these manner of persons that they may come vnto the right way of their saluation In the sixt and last place is the ablatiue case where thou must pray for all those that be taken out of this life that died or passed the same life in charitie now haue need of prayer In the which you may keep a forme of the same order that is before that is to say In stead of the nominatiue where you prayed for your selfe you may now pray for all those that doe abide in paine for any default or offence done by your example or occasion and for the genitiue in the second place for your parents and all your kindred departed this life and in the third place for the datiue pray for your benefactors passed and for the accusatiue in the fourth place you may pray for them that liue in paine for any occosion or example that they gaue vnto you and in the fift place for the vocatiue pray for al them that haue greatest pains in Purgatory least help heere by the suffrage of prayers and for the ablatiue in the sixt and last place pray for all soules in generall And that you may be the more apt to pray call three things oft times to remembrance that is to say what you haue beene what you be and what you shall be First by reason of your body you were conceiued of the most filthy abominable matter of man shamefull to be spoken far more vile then the slime of the earth and after borne in a sinfull soule and purged only by grace And now as vnto the body you bee a muckheape or dunghill of filth more vile then any vpon earth if you remember what doth issue daily and come forth out of the meates of your body And your soule is daily in some sin or at the least full like to be What you shall bee as vnto your body you may see by experience wormes meat earth againe And what shal become of your soul no man in this world can assure you To remember then the joyes of heauen and paines of hell and that both be infinit endlesse and without rebate but both euer encreasing and neuer ceasing neuer haue ease nor rest but euer continue euerlasting To remember then I say these things may greatly mooue you to behaue your selfe in a good sort to studie how you may auoid the one and obtaine the other Remember specially how great a losse it is to lose heauen and how vncomfortable gaines to winne hell and how soone and how lightly either of them may be gotten or lost When any thing then of aduersity hurt or displeasure happen vnto you thinke then or imagine that if you were in hell you should haue the same displeasure and many worse And so to auoid those you shall heere the better suffer and for our Lord the more patiently beare al these that now bee present or any that may come hereafter And in like manner if any good prosperity or pleasure happen vnto you think then that if you were in heauē you should haue that pleasure and many mo excellent joyes And so for the feruent desire of those joyes you shall set little by any worldly comfort or pleasure A good contemplation therefore may it bee vnto you in feasts of holy Saints to thinke record how great paines they suffred here for the loue of our Lord how short these were how soone passed and then againe how marueilous reward they had therefore in blisse and joy euerlasting So the troubles and torments of good persons be soone shortly gone and ended and the joyes and pleasures of sinfull persons do soone fade and fly for euer The good persons for their troubles suffered heere vpon earth doe get and win eternall and euerlasting glory which the euil persons do lose And contrary these euill and sinfull persons for their joy and pleasure heere do receiue by exchange eternall euerlasting shame and rebuke with paine and woe vnspeakable Whensoeuer then you be disposed to sluggishnesse or to bee drowsie remisse in prayers or dull in deuotion then take this little worke or els some other good Treatise and reade therein and euer note well the contents thereof and what is meant thereby And if you be not thereby deliuered or eased thereof then shift vnto some other work or occupatiō so that euer you auoid idlenes and al vaine pastimes which indeed is losse of time And then remember that those that now abide in paine either in hell or yet in Purgatory for such times so passed or lost had rather then all the world haue such time to redeeme their paines by as you may haue if you will Time then vnto all persons well occupied is very precious and deare Take good heede therefore how you spend it or passe it for you can neuer reuoke it or call it backe If the time passe you by trouble and vexation thinke they be