although a bad one vnworthy and a sinner But whatsoeuer I am either good or bad I am alwaies thine to whom should I flie but to thee If thou cast me off who shall receiue mee If thou dispise me who shal regarde mee O God I do acknowledge my selfe vnworthy flying againe to thee Lord thy mercy is greater then my iniquitie thy compassion is more then my vngraciousnesse towardes thée Thou canst forgiue more theÌ„ I can commit and canst pardon more then I can offend Despise mee not O Lord neither note the multitude of my sinnes but acording to the multitude of thy mercies pitty me and bee fauourable vnto me a haynous sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy sauiour which saydest I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue Conuert mee O Lord to thee and be not wrathfull against mee I beséech thee most gentle father for thy mercies sake that I may end my life well and with true and harty repentance of all my sinnes Amen Short Meditations THy hands O Lord haue made me and fashioned me I may say those hands which were nayled with nayles for mee Lord despise not the worke of thy hands Beholde in thy handes O Lord my God thou hast writen mee reade that writing and saue mee Beholde I thy creature sigh to thee thou art my creator renew me make me againe beholde thy workemanshippe I cry vnto thee thou art life quicken mee beholde I thy clay looke backe to thee thou art the Potter fashion me againe Lord haue mercy on mee for my daies are nothing c· Another THou full of pittie say vnto mee thy wretched seruant say vnto mee through thy compassions what thou art to me Say vnto my soule I am thy health doe not hide thy face from mee least I die Another SAue mee O Lord which art the true safety and that willest not the death of a sinner Lord haue mercy on my sinfull Soule loose the bonds thereof Sweete Iesu regarde my humility and blot out all my transgressions bee my ayde leaue me not neither despise mee O God mine onely comfort but tèach me to doe thy will O bountifull Iesu although though I haue offended whereupon thou maiest iustly damne mee yet thou hast not lost that whereby thou art accustomed to saue Good lord my Iesu why camest thou down from heauen to what ende yéeldest thou thy selfe to death but that thou wouldest saue sinners of which sort I am exceeding O vile sinner that I am take breath againe be of good cheare thou maist not despaire hope in him whom thou fearest flâ—e to him from whom thou hast fled call vpon him importunately whome proudly thou hast prouoked Say vnto him Iesu for thy sweete names sake do by me according to thy name Iesus is a name of fauour a name most delightfull a name comforting a sinner and a name of happy hope for what is Iesus but a Sauiour Therefore for thine owne sake O Iesu be Iesus to me be to me a mercifull Sauiour which art magnified and blessed world without ende Amen Godly Meditations of our Lord his sufferings O God who for the worldes Redemption wouldest bee reproued of the Iewes deliuered by the traitor Iudas and bee bound with bonds like an innocent Lambe led to the sacrifice Also vnseemely to bee brought before the beholding of Annas Caiaphas Pilate and Herod to bee accâ—used by false witnesses to bee tormented with whippes and reproches to be defiled with spittle crowned with thornes beaten with buffets stroken with a Reede blindfolded thy garmeÌ„ts put off wouldest be nayled on the crosse lifted vp thereon reputed among theeues drinke vinegar and gal and be wounded with a Speare O most mighty Lord how wonderful is thy kindnes and pitie that wouldest indure all these extreeme torments shames and cruell death and all for to appease the almighty father and be an attonement betweene him and sinfull mankinde I beséech thée most mercifull Iesu sithence all this was of excéeding loue that through those thy sharpe and bitter paines which I vnworthie wretch now meditate of and call to minde thou wilt defende and deliuer mee from the paines of hell and vouchsafe to bring mee whether thou broughtest the thiefe crucified with thee O meek and vnspotted lambe my onely righteousnesse and iustification haue mercie on me who with the father and the holy ghost liuest and raignest world without end Another HOrde Iesu Christ Son of the liuing God which hanging on the Crosse saying father forgiue theÌ„ for they know not what they do grant that I for the loue of thée may pardon euery one that doth euill vnto me And which saidest vnto the theefe this day thou shalt bee with me in paradise grant me so wel to liue that in the houre of my death thou say to me this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice And which saydst to thy mother Woman behold thy sonne Moreouer to thy Disciple behold thy mother graunt that thy loue and perfite charitie may accompanie me vnto thy mother And which saiedst My God my God why hast thou forsaken me grant me to say in all my afflictions griefes of mind mâ— Father my Lorde haue mercie on me a sinner and helpe mee my king and my God which with thy precious bloud hast redeemed mee And which saydest I thirst graunt that I may euer thirst after thee the fountaine of liuing water And which saidest Father into thy handes I commend my spirit Receiue me yeelding my self vp vnto thee And which saydest It is finished graunt that I may bee worthie to heare that sweete voyce of thine saying Come my Loue my dearly beloued spouse come that thou mayest go vp with me with my Angels and Saints to banquet reioyce and remaine together in my kingdome through infinite worlds of worldes Amen Another O Lorde Iesu Christ for the bitternesse which thou sustainedst for me wretch on the Crosse chiefly about that houre when thy most excellent soule departed out of thy blessed bodie Grant I most humblie beseech thee mercie to my soule in the departure thereof and bring it into life euerlasting Amen Another I Beséech thée Lorde Iesu Christ throgh those thy woundes suffered on the Crosse and bringing Saluation vnto vs wounde this my sinfull soule for which also thou hast vouchsafed to die wound it with thy burning and most mightie dart of thy exceeding loue Thrust my heart through with the arrow of thy loue that my soule may say vnto thee I am wounded with thy loue so that out of that wounde teares may bountifully flowe day and night O Lord strike I beseech thee strike my most hard heart with the godly strong point of thy loue yea deepely to the bottome pierce it with thy mighty power who liuest and raignest worlde without ende Amen Another of the same KIng of the elect I beséech thee throgh him holie of all the holie ones through him my redeemer make mee to runne the way
faire and honourable before all the sonnes of men graunt mee that I maye desire thee that I maye loue thee so much as I will and as much as I ought Thou art exceeding great and exceedingly thou oughtest to bee beloued chiefly of vs whome thou hast so loued so saued for whome thou hast done so many things O loue which euer burnest and art neuer quenched Sweete Christ méeke loue Iesu my God inflame mee wholy with thy loue with thy light with thy delight with thy desire with thy gladnesse and reioycing with thy affection and swéete kindenesse with thy pleasure and desire which is holy and excellent which is chaste and cleare that being altogether full with the swéetnesse of thy loue altogether pleasured with the feruencie of thy loue I may loue thée my Lord most sweete and beautifull with all my heart with all my soule with all my power and all my diligence with great contrition of hart and a fountaine of tears with great reuerence and feare and hauing thee in heart in mouth and before mine eyes alwaies and euery where so that no place in mee appeare open to false and counterfeite loues Amen Prayers of the Soule thirsting to see Iesus MY soule thirsteth for thée my L. God my flesh also longeth alter thee My soule thirsteth for God the liuing fountaine when shal I come and appeare before the face of the Lord When wilt thou come my comforter whoÌ„ I waite for O when shal I see my ioy I looke for O then I shall bee satisfied when my glory will appeare whom I hunger for O then shalâ— I bee drunken of the aboundance of his house which I sigh for O that thou will soake me with the flowing streame of the pleasures In the meane time O Lord let my teares be to me bread day and night vntil it be saide to mee beholde thy God vntill my soule may there looke vpon the Bridegroome Féede mée in the meane time with my sobbes refresh me with my sorrowes it may bee that my redéemer will come because he is louing and will not tarry because he is merfull To him be all honor for euer and euer Amen Another of the same STrike Lord strike I beséech thée this my most hard heart with the godly and strong point of thy deare loue and pierce déeper to the very bottome with thy mighty power And so bring forth passing much water from my head and a true fountaine of teares from my eyes aboundantly flowing through the excéeding affection and desire of the sight of thy beautie that I may mourne day and nighte receiuing no comfort in this present life vntill I may bee worthie to see thee my beloued Lorde and God in the celestiall bride chamber that there beholding thy glorious admirable most beautifull face full with all pleasure and sweetnesse I may humblie adore and worshipp thy maiestie with those whome thou hast chosen and there at the last replenished with the vnspeakeable ioy of eternal reioysing I may cry out with them that loue thée saying Beholde now I sée that I haue desired now I hold that I haue hoped for now I haue that I haue longed for I am ioyned to him in heauen whom seÌ„t vpon the earth I haue with al my power loued with all loue imbraced to whom with all loue I haue cleaued him I extoll praise and honour who liueth and raigneth God without end Amen A Prayer for the feare of the great Iudge LLord God of gods forceable and mighty vpon all wickednes I know certainely that thou wilt come I know thou wilt not euer be siâ—ent when in thy sight the lightening waxeth violent and in thy course the great tempest shall suddenly come wheÌ„ thou shalt call heauen from aboue and the earth to iudge thy people Then loe before so many thousands of people all mine iniquities shall be reuealed before so many armies of Angels all my abhominations shall he open not of my déedes onely but of my thoughts and words Thou righteous Iudge marking sinnes hast kept all my wayes as in a Sachell and hast numbred my steppes togither thou hast held thy peace thou hast béene silent thou hast béen long suffering But wo is me at last thou speakest as though sore trauailing with child c. A Prayer where the Father is called vpon through the Sonne O Father I beseech thee for the loue of thy almighty Son bring my soule out of prison to praise thy holy name I instantly desire thee through thine onely son coeternall with thee deliuer me froÌ„ the bonds of sinne and thou most highest beeing appeased through the intercession of thy Sonne sitting at thy right hand restore me to life whose owne merits threaten to mée deadly and eternall doome For what other intercessor I should bring to thee I know not but the same which is the onely sacrifice for our sinnes which sitteth at thy right hande intreating for vs. Behold my aduocate with thee God the Father beholde the chiefe Bishop who néedeth not to make an attonement with others bloud because he appeareth glorious imbrued with the blood of his own woundes Beholde the holy sacrifice well pleasing and perfect offered vp and accepted into the sauour of swéetnesse Behold the lambe without spot who before the shéerers of him became as dumbe who beaten with buffetes beraied with spittle and rayled vpon opened not his mouth Beholde him that hath done no sins hath borne our sinnes land healed our infirmities with his owne bloud Amen A prayer of the penitent CReator of heauen and earth king of kings and Lord of al that rule which hast made me of nothing to thy Image and likenes and hast redeemed mee with thy precious blood whome I wretched sinner am not worthy to name neither to call vpon or meditate of in heart I beseâ—ch thee kneeling on my knees and humbly intreating thee that thou wilt pitifully regarde mee thy euill seruant and to haue mercy on me who hadst compassion on the woman of Canaan and of Marie Magdelen who forgauest the Publicane and théefe hanging on the Crosse In thee most mercifull Father I confesse my sinnes which to conceale from thée O Lord I cannot if I would Pardon mee O Christ whome I haue greatly offended both in thought word and deed and by all the meanes in which I wicked fraile man might offend Therfore O Lord I beseech thy clemency who descendedst from heauen for my safety who rearedst Dauid from the fall of sinne pardon mee O Lord pardon mee O Christ who forgauest Peter denying thee Thou art my Creator and redeemer my Lord and my sauiour my king and my God thou art my hope and my trust I beseech and intreate thee helpe me and I shal be safe gouerne and defend mee strengthen me and comfort me confirm me and make mee glad ' inlighten and visite mee ' reare me that am dead because I am of thy making and thy worke Lord dispise mee not because I am thy seruant
of thy commandements that I may bee able to come to him in spirit which hath not feared to bee couered with my flesh Merciful father dost thou not beholde the head bowing downe of toy most beloued Sonne resolued to most pretious death Regarde O most fauourable Creator the humanity of thy dearely beloued sonne and haue mercie on the weakenesse of brittle clay Look on O glorious Father the torn lims of thy most acceptable sonne and graciously remember of what I am made See the paines of God and man and release the miserie of mortall man Beholde the punishment of the Redeemer and forgiue the offence of the redeemed My Lord it is hee whome for the sinnes of thy people thou hast stroken although he bee the dearely beloued in whome thou art well pleased the same is hee the innocent in whome no guile is found and yet â—s reputed amongst the wicked Another WHAT hast thou committed most swéet Sonne of God that thou shouldest so be adiudged what hast thou offended most louing Lord that in such sort thou shouldest bee handled What is thy wickednesse what is thy fault what is the cause of thy death what is the occasion of thy coÌ„demnation Doubtlesse I am the wounde of thy griefe the blame of the slaughter done on thee I am the deseruing of thy death the heynous offence of thy punishmeÌ„t I am the print and signe of thy passion the worker of thy torment O marueylous manner of iudgement and vnspeakeable miserie The wicked sinneth and the iust is punished the guiâ—tie offendeth and the innocent is beaten the vngodly doth amisse and the godly is condemned What the euil deserueth the good suffereth what the seruant trespasseth the master dischargeth what man committeth God beareth c. Behold my vnrighteousnes and thy righteousnes is manifest My King and my God what shall I render againe to thee for all that thou hast done for me That the remembrance of the woundes of Christ is a Preuayling remedie against all aduersities I haue committed a grieuous sinne and am guilty of maay offences neither therfore doe I despaire because where sinne hath abounded also grace hath much more abounded He that despaireth of pardon of his sinnes denyeth God to be mercifull Hee doth great wrong to God that is mistrustfull of his mercy for so much as in him is he denieth God to haue loue truth and power in which thinges all my hope consisteth which is in the loue of his adoption in the truth of his promise and in the power of his redemption Now let my foolish imagination murmure how much it will saying What art thou and how great is that glory or with what merâ—is hopest thou to obtaine the same I aswell wil faithfully answere I knowe whome I hâ—ue trusted because in excéeding loue he hath adopted me for a sonne because he is true in his promise able in the performance thereof and hath power to doe what hee will I cannot bee terrified with the great multitude of sins if the death of the Lorde come into my minde because my sinnes cannot ouercome him The nayles and Speare call vnto me that I am truly reconciled vnto Christ if I will loue him Longius opened to mee the side of Christ with his Speare and I haue entred and there safely doe I rest Hee stretcheth out his armes on the crosse and spreadeth out his hands ready for the imbracement of sinners Betweene the armes of my Sauiour both will I liue and desire to die There safe and sure will I sing vnto him high praises I will praise thee O Lord because thou hast receyued mee neyther wouldest thou suffer mine enemies to triumph ouer me Our sauiour in his death bowed downe his head that he might kisse his dearely beloued So often doe we kisse God as often as wee are pricked in heart with the loue of him Prayers before the receyuing the Communion MErciful lord Iesu Christ I sinful soul nothing presuming of mine own merits but only trusting in thy mercy and goodnes am afraid tremble to draw neare to the table of thy most sweete and comfortable feast for I haue a heart and bodie polluted with many grieuous crimes and a minde and a tongue very euilly gouerned Therefore O gracious Deitie O dreadfull Maiesty I miserable wretch apprehended and taken betweene the troubles and griefes of mind and spirit returne to thee the fountaine of mercie I make haste to thee to be healed I flie vnder thy protection And thee whoÌ„ I cannot endure to bee my Iudge I hope to haue my sauiour to thee Lord I shew my wouÌ„ds to thee I vncouer my shame I know my sins to bee many and great for the which I am afrayed yet I trust in thy mercies of which there is no number Lord Iesu Christ eternall King God and man crucified for man look on me with the eyes of thy mercie heare mee putting my trust in thee haue mercy on mee full of miseries and sins thou which euer makest the fountaine of thy compassions to spring Remember Lord thy creature whoÌ„ with thy pretious blood thou hast redeemed I am sorie that I haue sinned I desire amendment of thy gracious fauour help me take froÌ„ me most mercifull Father al my sinnes and iniquities that being cleansed in mind and bodie I may through thee deserue worthily to taste the holy thing of all holiest and graunt that the holy and spirituall receiuing of thy body bloud which I vnworthie intende bee a ful remission of all my sinnes and a perfect purging of all my transgressions a banishing of all euill thoughts and a getting againe of good senses also a most strong defence against all the deceits of the worlde the flesh and the diuell Amen Another ALmighty euerlasting god behold I come to the Sacrament of thine onely Sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ I come as one sicke to the Phisition of life foule to the fountain of mercie blinde to the light of eternall brightnesse poore and needy to the Lord of heauen and earth Therefore I beg of the aboundance of thy exceeding bounty to that end thou wouldst vouchsafe to heale my infirmitie to wash away mine vncleannesse to lighten my blindnesse to enrich my pouertie to cloath my nakednes that I may receiue the bread of Angels the King of Kings the Lord of Lords with so much reuerence and meekenes with so much contrition and deuotion with so much purity and faith with such purpose and intention as is expedient to the health of my soule Graunt mee O Lord I beseech thee not only to take the Sacrament of the body and bloud of the Lord but also the effect and vertue of the Sacrament O most fauourable God grant mee so spiritually to receiue the bodie of thy onelie Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ that I may be worthy to be incorporated in his mysticall bodie and to bee numbred amongest the members of him O louing father grant to me thy dearly beloued Son whom
Our Father giue vs this day our dayly bread that with the strength thereof wee may walk day and night vntill wee come vnto thy holy mount Horeb And I a little one among the little ones of thy household O God the father and my strength when shall I come appear before thy face that who now acknowledgeth thee for a time I may heere after acknowledge thee for euer Blessed shal I bee if I be admitted to see thy brightnes Who may grant me this that thou licence mee to come to this I know O lord I know and confesse my selfe vnworthy to enter vnder the roofe of thy house but graunt it for thine honour and confound not thy seruant putting his trust in thee The vision of God is lost by reason of sin and miserie found O Lorde thou art my God my Lord and I haue neuer seene thee thou hast made mee and made mee new againe and hast bestowed all thy good things on mee and yet I haue not seene thee neither know thee Finally I am made to see thee and yet I haue not done that for which I am made O miserable condition of man when hee lost that for which he was made O that cursed and hard fall Alas what lost he what hath he foūd what departed and what remained He lost felicitie to which hee was made and found miserie to which he was not made That departed without which nothing is happy that remained which of it selfe is not but miserable Man did then eate the bread of Angels which now he hungreth for and now hee eateth the breade of sorrowe which then hee knew not O thou lord how long wilt thou forget for euer how long turnest thou thy face from vs when wilt thou looke backe and heare vs. When wilt thou lighten our eies and shew thy face vnto vs When wilt thou restore thyselfe vnto vs Regarde O lord heare and enlighten vs and shew thy selfe vnto vs that it may bee well with vs without whom it is so euill with vs. Recreate vs help vs I beseech thee O Lord My hart is become bitter in his desolation make it sweete with thy consolation Being hungrie I haue begun to seeke thee let me not liue vnfed of thee I come poore to the rich a wretch to the pitifull let me not go away emptie and despised O Lord I am bowed downe and crooked that I cannot see but downward reare me that I may look and indeuour my selfe vpward Mine iniquities are gone ouer my heade they haue couered mee and wrapped mee round about and lode mee like an heauy burden Vnwrap me and vnburden me least the pit shut her mouth vpon me Teach me to seeke thee and shew thy selfe to me séeking thee because I can not seeke thee except thou teach mee neither finde thee except thou shew thy selfe to me I may seeke thee in desiring after thee I may desire thee in seeking thée I may find thee in louing thee and I may loue thee in finding thee A reason intreating God to helpe HElpe mee O Lord my life least I should perish in my wickednesse If thou hadst not created mee O Lord. I had not béen but because thou hast created me now I am If thou gouernest mée not yet I am not for my merits my grace compelled thee not that thou shouldest create mee but thy most fauourable goodnesse and thy mercy That loue of thine O lord my loue of thine O Lord my God which compelled thee to creation I beseech thee now that the same may compell thee to gouerne it For what profiteth that thy loue hath compelled thée to create me if I should perish in my miserie and thy right hand should not gouerne me Let the same mercie O Lorde my God compell thee to saue that that is created which compelled thee to create what was not created Let the loue winne thee to saue which wonne thee to create because that loue is not lesse now then it was for thou thy selfe art the same loue who euer art all one Prayers and Meditations much mouing the hart to deuotion diuine loue BLessed bee the pure in heart for they shal see GOD. Blessed bee they which dwell in thy house O Lord they shal praise thee world without end I beseech thee therefore O Lord through all thy mercies by which wee are deliuered from euerlasting death make soft my hard and stonie heart my rockie and yron hart with thy pretious and rich annointing and make mee through the inward touch and griefe of heart for my sinnes to become a liuely Sacrifice before thee at all times Grant mee in thy sighte euer to haue a contrite and an humble heart with aboundance of Teares graunt mee for the loue of thée vtterly to bee dead to this world and through the greatnesse of thy feare and loue quite forgetfull of transitory things so farre forth that concerning worldly things I neither mourne nor reioyce for them neither that I may feare any thing temporall nor loue it neither that I bee corrupted with allurements nor broken with aduersities And because thy loue is as forceable as death I beseech thee that the very whote and sweet force of thy loue may draw vp my minde from all things which are vnder heauen that I may abide fast to the onely memorie of thy sweetnesse Lorde let thy most sweete sauour descend I beseech thee let it descende into my Heart that thy loue most sweete may enter in let the wonderfull and vnspeakeable fragrant sweetinesse of thy sauour come to mee which may reare vp euerlasting desires in me and may bring the veines of the springing water of my heart into eternall life and that at length I may see thee the God of Gods in Sion and that I may dwell in thy house O Lord world without end Amen Another SWeete Christ bountifull Iesu I beseech thée replenish alwaies my heart with thy vnquenchable loue with thy continuall remembrance insomuch that as a burning flame I may wholie burne in the sweetnesse of thy loue the loue the which many waters may neuer quench in me Make mee sweete Lorde to loue thee and for the desire of thée to put off the heauy burden of earthlie concupiscence which fighteth against and grieueth my miserable soule that running without let after thee in the sauour of thy sweete perfumes I may effectually bee satisfied and thou beeing my guide I may deserue to come to the sight of thy beauty Another SWeete Christ bountifull Iesu as I desire and as I humblie pray with all my mind and heart graunt me thy loue holy and chaste which may fill mee may dwell in me and altogither possesse mee And graunt to me an euident signe of thy loue a watering fountaine of teares continually flowing that also those my teares may witnes thy loue in mee that they may bewray and declare how much my soule loueth thee Whilest for the exceeding sweetenesse of thy loue it cannot reframe from teares
Therefore let the body bee subiect to the soule and the soule to GOD and it shall be one spirite with him so that it remaine in humility and acknowledge the grace and fauour of him the Creator of it by whom it is to be exalted and glorified CHAP. VII For what cause the soule is vnited to God IT is his commaundement that wee should abide in his loue Abide you saith hee in my loue For my loue he hath coupled man vnto him that hee should haue him alwaies and should euer remaine in him delighting reioicing and magnifying of him and in him Man is coupled by loue vnto his Creator for it is the onely bond of loue that bindeth them together By the loue of God all of vs cleaue vnto him by the loue of our neighbor we are all one together that the goodes of all should become the goodes of euery one and whatsoeuer any one hath not of himselfe hee should possesse it by another Charity and loue is the way of God to men and the way of men to God for through loue God came to men hée came into men and hee was made man By charity and loue men loue God they chuse him aboue all thinges they flie vnto him and liue to him So familiar is charity with God that hée will haue no abiding place where Charity is not Then if thou hast loue and Charity then hast God because God is charity CHAP. VIII A perswasion to loue God WRetch that I am how much ought I to loue my Lord my God who made mée when I was not redéemed me when else I had béene lost and perished I was not yet hee made me of nothing neither stone nor trée nor birde nor any of the brute creatures But his pleasure was to make me a man he gaue mee life senses and discretion I had perished hee descended to mortality he tooke vpon him mortality hée suffered his passion hee ouercame death and so restored mee I had perished and had béen cast away because I was solde in my sinnes Hée came after mée to redéeme mée hée weighed the price of his precious blood for mee and by that meane brought mee backe from exile and redéemed mée from bondage Also hee called mée by his name that the memoriall of him should alwaies bée with mée He annoynted me with the oyle of gladnesse with the which hée was annointed and that of Christ I should bée called a Christian So his grace and mercy hath alwaies preuented me Hée my God hath often deliuered mée from many perils and dangers When I erred hée led me forth of it When I was ignorant hee taught me When I sinned bee corrected mée When I was sadde hée comforted me When I dispaired be strengthned me againe When I fell he reared me When I stood hée helde mée When I went hée ledde mee When I came hée receiued mee This and many other things my Lord my God did for mée of which his goodnesse swéete it is to mée euer to speak of alwayes to thinke of and alwaies to giue him thanks for And I desire him that for all his benefites I may for euer prayss him and loue him for as he is an aider to euery one filling and satisfying euery one hauing care ouer all and aswell prouident to euery one as to all so I sée him wholy busied for my safety So that if I will regard mine owne safety hée is as though forgetfull of all men and would attende onely on me He sheweth himselfe euer present offereth him selfe euer ready if hée might finde mée ready Whither soeuer I turne my selfe he forsaketh mée not except I first forsake him Whersoeuer I will be hée departeth not because he is euery where So that wheresoeuer I goe I may find him with whom I may be Likewise whatsoeuer I shall doe hee standeth by as if he were a cōtinuall ouerséer of all my thoughts purposes and déedes When I doe diligently consider these thinges I am confounded both with fear great shame because I beholde him euery where present with me séeing into all my secrets for there bee many things in mee before his eyes of which I am ashamed and for which I greatly feare to displease him Neither haue I for al these things anything to render him but onely I will loue him for there is nothing better or more becomming then to render that by loue which was giuen for loue CHAP. IX Of the inward sense and the outward THere are two senses in man one inward and an other outward and eyther of them hath his good in which it is recreated and comforted The inward sense is refreshed comforted in the contemplation of diuinitie the outward sense in beholding of matters belonging to men Wherefore God was made man that hée might make blessed the whole man in himselfe and that the whole conuersion of man might be to him and that all the loue of man should bée in him But this is al the good of man that whether hee should goe in or goe out hee should finde comfort in his maker comfort abroad in the flesh of his Sauiour comfort inwardly in the Godhead and diuinity of his creator But there is an euill following this great good because the good lost that was within the soule is gone forth to straying goodes that are abroade and made a couenant with the delights of the world reposing vpon them not regarding the absence of his inward good in that that hee possesseth his consolations in strang goodes For whilest the outward carnall sense vseth his good the inward sense of the minde lyeth as it were asléepe for he doth not know the goodes of the inward sense which is taken and insnared with the iolity of outward things For he that delighteth in the flesh liueth and abideth therin fléeing the griefes and sorrowes thereof by all possible meanes but of the woundes of the soule hée is vtterly ignorant neyther séeketh hee any remedy for them But here in this world if he be not clensed of that fleshly sense the same flesh being put off the soule shal féele the paines of those wounds it hath receiued by the pleasures of the outward sense in what worldly thinges soeuer CHAP. X. That a man may know how hee is disposed to good or euill THere be two things necessary to vs by which wee should know our selues that is to say how wee are disposed to euill and how to good Prone wee are to euill and if the mercy of God kéepe vs not likely we are of our selues to fall into euery vice nor to rise from them except the mercy of God follow vs at hand to holde vs vp The Prophet well knew this when he said Thy mercy O Lord is before mine eyes which kéepeth mée and let thy mercy follow me that it may sustaine me Weak and vnable wee are to goodnesse neither without the grace of God to doe any good or able to perseuere in any good thing This also the
Come the excellent glorie of all the liuing the onely health of the dying Come most holy spirite come and haue mercy on mée prepare mée for thée and discend louingly to me that my vnability and weakenesse may please thy greatnesse and strength according to the multitude of thy compassions through Iesus Christ my sauiour who with the father in vnitie of thée liueth and raigneth world without end Amen A Prayer to the holy Trinity O Thrée coequal and coeternall persons one god and true the Father the Sonne and the holy ghost who onely possesseth eternity and light that no man can come to who hast made the whole worlde with thy power and rulest the round compasse of the earth with thy wisdome Holy-holy holy Lorde God of Sabaoth terrible and strong iust and mercifull to be wondred at to bee praised and to be beloued one god three persons one power wisdome and goodnesse one and vnseparable Trinitie Open to mee calling on thee the gates of righteousnesse and then entring into them I wil confesse to thee O Lord. Beholde the earnest desire of the inward affections of my heart crying out and the complaint of the teares of mine eyes at thy gate O most gracious father before thee is all my desire and my mourning is not hidde from thee and thou O Lord turne not thy face any more from me neyther passe by in thy wrath from thy seruant Father of mercie heare the wailing of thine Orphan and reach out thy right hande an helper that it draw mee backe from the depth of waters and lake of miseries and the puddle of dregs least I should perish the mercy of thine eyes looking on the clemency of thy heart beholding but that I may passe without danger to thée my Lord God that I may sée the riches of thy Kingdome and beholde thy face for euer and sing prayses to thy holy name O Lord which doest maruailous thinges which makest my heart glad with the remembrance of thee which lightenest my youth Despise not mine olde age but make my bones to reioyâ—e and my gray haires to renue as an Eagle Amen Another of the same O God the true and very excellent life from whome by whome and in whome all things whatsoeuer doe liue are good and glorious to see to God whose faith doth erect vs whose hope doth comforte vs whose loue doth linke vs together God which commandest thy selfe to bee sought and makest thy selfe to bee found and openest to him that knocketh God from whome to bee turned it is to fall to whome to bee turned it is to rise in whome to remaine it is most auaileable God whome no man loseth but is deceyued whome no man seeketh but is warned whome no man findeth but is clensed and healed God whom to knowe it is to liue whome to serue it is to raigne whome to praise â—t is health and ioy to the soule Thee I praise blesse and honour with my lippes and heart and with all the strength and power I am able and I thanke thy mercy and goodnesse for all thy benefites and I sing an Hymne to thy glorie Holy holie holy I call on thee O blessed Trinity that thou wouldest come into mee and make mee a worthie temple of thy glorie I beseech the Father by the Sonne I beséech the sonne by the Father I beseech the holy Ghost by the Father and the sonne that all my sines and weckednesse bee remooued farre from mee Most mightie God from whome all things by whom all things and in whome all thinges are made visible and inuisible which compassest thy workes round aboute which replenishest them within couerest them aboue and sustainest them vnderneath keepe mee the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and trusting in thine onely mercy keep mee I beseech thee heere and euery where now and euer within and without before and behind aboue beneath and round about so that no place lie open in me to the deceits of mine enemies Thou art God omnipotent the keeper and protector of all them that put their trust in thee without whome no man is safe no man is deliuered from daungers thou art God and there is no other God besides thee neither in heauen aboue nor in earth below which doest great things to be wondred at of which there is no number Praise honour and songs to thy laud belongeth To thee al the Angels to thee the heuens and all the powers make Hymnes and sing prayses incessantly as it behooueth the creatures to their Creator the seruants to their Maister the Souldiours to their King Euery creature magnifyeth thee euery soule prayseth thee most holie and vnseperable Trinity through Isus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer how the word becomming flesh is cause of our hope GOD is not so much an enemy that hee may not loue his owne flesh his owne members ' and bowels verily I might despaire by reason of my too many sins and vices faults and infinite negligences which I haue committed and dayly and continually do in Hearte and Worde and deede and by all the meanes by which humaine frailety may sinne but that thy worde my GOD was become flesh and dwelled in vs. But now I dare not despaire because hee beeing obedient to thee euen to the Death yea the death of the Crosse tooke vp the hand writing of our sinnes and nailed it to the Crosse Crucified sinne and Death Therefore in him safely I rest which sitteth at thy righte hand and maketh intercession for vs. Hauing a sure confidence in him I look for to come to thee in whom we are risen againe now we are ascended into heauen and set together in the celestiall places to thee be praise to thee hee glorie to thee be honour to thee be praise and thansgiuing Amen A Praier that the kingdome of Heauen may be obtained O Happie reioysing and reioysing happinesse to see the holie ones to bee with them and to bee to see the holy God to possesse God for euer and infinitly these things wee should consider of with an earnest minde these thinges wee shoulde desire with all longing that wee might bee able quickly to come to them If thou wouldest consider and inquire how this may bee brought to passe either by what meanes heare mee this matter is put in the power of him that can doe it because the kingdome of Heauen suffereth violence the Kingdome of Heauen O man seeseeketh no other price then thy selfe it is worth so much as thou art giue thy selfe and thou shalt possesse it Why art thou troubled touching the price Christ hath yeelded and deliuered vp himselfe to God his father that thou shouldest purchase thee a Kingdom thou so giue thy selfe that thou be his Kingdom and that sinne may not raigne in thy mortall bodie but the spirit in obtaining of eternall life A Praier for the sweetnes of heauenly loue I Loue thee my God I loue thée and more and more will loue thee O my Lorde my God
I doe remember holy lorde that good woman Hanna which came to the tabernacle to pray and intreted thee to haue a sonn of whome the Scripture mentioneth that her countenance after teares and prayers was no more diuersly chaunged But I mindfull of so much vertue and so greate constancie am tormented with sorrow and confounded with shame because I beholde my selfe wretch so much abased For if a woman wept so and perseuered in weeping which desired to haue a sonne how much ought my soule to lament and continue in lamentation which seeketh and loueth GOD and loueth to come to him Howe ought such a soul to mourn and lament which seeketh God day and night which besides Christ will loue nothing Surely maruell it is if then the teares of that soule be not made bread for it day and night Looke backe therfore and haue mercy on me because the sorrowes of my heart bee multiplyed Graunt mee thy heauenly comfort and despise not my sinfull soule for which thou dyedst Grant me I beseech thée inwarde teares with al effect which may breake the bonds of my sins and for euer store my soule with heauenly reioysing Another SWeete Christ bountifull Iesu the maruellous deuotion of an other woman also commeth into my minde the which with holy loue sought the liuing in the Sepulcher the which the Disciples going away from the Sepulcher departed not the which sate downe there sad and sorrowfull and wept both long and much and rising with many teares againe and againe shee diligently searched the hollow places of the forsaken sepulchre if happily she might sée thee in any place whom with a feruent desire she looked for Then surely going into the Sepulchre shée had séene it once and againe but too much was not sufficient to her that loued For the vertue of a good worke is perseuerance or constant abyding therein And because before others she loued and in louing wept and in wéeping sought and in seeking perseuered therefore the rather shee first of all others deserued to finde thee to see thee and to speak to thée And not onely for these things but shee was the first tydings bearer to the Disciples of thy glorious resurrection thou instructing and meekely aduertising her saydest Go tel my brethren that they goe into Galilee there they shall see mee If therefore a woman so wept and perseuered in wéeping which sought the liuing amongst the dead which touched thée with the hands of faith how ought the soule to lament and abide in lamentation whâ—ch beleeueth in heart confesseth with mouth thee hiâ— redeemer now ruling in heauen and raigning euery where How therefore ought such a soule to mourne weepe which loueth thee with al heartinesse and coueteth to see thee with all desire Thou alone succour and onely hope of al that are in miserie who neuer is humblie intreated without hope of mercie Giue me this grace for thine owne sake and for thine holy name that how often I thinke of thee I speake of thee I write of thee I reade of thee I conferre of thee how often I remember thee I stand before thee I offer thanks prayers and sacrifice to thee that so often with rising teares in thy sight I may aboundantly méekely wéepe so that my teares bee instead of bread to me day night Verily thou king of glory and master of all vertues hast taught in thy word and example to mourne and wéepe saying Blessed bee they that mourne for they shall be comforted Another AH alas my Lord woe is my soule thou comforter of my soule thou departedst and saidest not so much as farewell Going thy wayes thou blessedst thine neither was I present Thy handes lifted vp thou waft receyued into heauen with a cloud neither did I see it The Angels promised thou wouldest come againe neither did I heare it What shall I say what shall I doe whether shall I goe where shall I séek him or when shal I find him Whom shal I aske who shall tell my deerly beloued that I languish in loue the delight of my heart ceaseth my laughing is turned into heauinesse my flesh and my heart fainteth O God of my heart and my portion thou God for euer My soule refuseth to bee comforted but of thée my delight for what haue I in heauen besides thée what would I vpon the earth I wish for thée I hope for thée I seeke thee my heart hath saide to thée I haue sought thy face I will seeke after thy face O lord turn not thy face away from me O most gracious louer of men the poore is left alone to thee thou art an ayder to the Orphan My onely defending aduocate haue mercie on mee desolate Orphan I am become fatherlesse my Soule is as it were a widow Regarde the teares of my lacke and widowhoode which I offer vnto thée vntill thou coÌ„mest again Ah now my Lord alas Appeare vnto me and I shall be comforted Let me beholde thy presence and I shall inioy my desire reueale thy glory and my ioy shall be full Remember this note SO often as wee doe well the Angells reioyce and the Diuells are sad So often as wee go out of the way from that which is good wee make the diuels glad and defraude the Angels of theâ—r ioy For there is ioy with them ouer one sinner which hartely repenteth Grace before Dinner ALmighty GOD whose prouidence reacheth to the vttermost ends of the world and to the depth of the Sea which nourishest all creatures with sustenance agreeable to their natures the fish the foule the foure-footed beast and the creeping worme we beseech thee that the meate drinke which is set before vs on this table at this present may be so moderately receiued that our bodies therby may be refreshed our senfes comforted through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen Grace after dinner BLessed God eternal thankes and praise bee ascribed vnto thee which hast opened thine hand at this time and made vs partakers of thy benefites and hast supplyed the necessity of our nature with these nourishing elements without the which our life caÌ„not be maintained We beseech thée to kindle in vs a continuall remembrance of thy bountifull goodnes towards vs that as thou neuer withdrawest thy fatherly care from vs so wee may neuer cease to offer vnto thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiuing through Iesus Christ our Lord and Sauiour Amen FINIS