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
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
purifie my soule from all reliques of sin at length bring me to eternall life I offer vp vnto thee that thy inestimable humilitie obedience patience which thou shewedst when they whipt thee being bound to a hard pillar after crowned thee with thorns thy meeknes when as those assistaÌ„ts of satan perpetual tormeÌ„tors of hel in way of disgrace aâ—…tired thee in a purple raiment wheÌ„ as mocking they saluted thee and spit in thy face with a reed which thou barest in thy hand in steed of a septer strook thy wounded and brused head I offer vnto thee wearines of thy afflicted body thy bloudy steps the grieuous burden of thy crosse which thou barest on thy delicate shoulders miserably martyred with whipping I offer vnto thee that thirst wherewith in thy passion thou wert afflicted and al those other tormeÌ„ts which thou sustainedst for vs with a meek hart All these with thanksgiuing do I offer vnto thee beseeching thy immeasurable mercy that for the merits herof thou wilt wipe away my sins thou wilt remit the penalty and crime purifie my soule from the reliques of sinne and bring the same at length to eternall life Sweet Iesus in satisfactioÌ„ for my sins I offer vp vnto thee thy most cruel dolors which thou sufferedst when as the soldiers cruelly haled from thy body thy garment sticking with clotted blood vnto thy flesh and bones and renued againe al those wounds which thou hadst receiued in thy scourging when as cast vpon the crosse thou sufferedst thy hands and feete to be fastened with sharpe nailes to yâ— holy crosse with so much violence that al the articles and members of thy ioints were remoued from their naturall places when as thy precious blood flowed from all thy members in no other sort than the springs from the ouerflowing fountaines I offer vp vnto thee all and euery drop of thy precious bloud and beseech thy mercy that for the merits therof thou wilt blot out my sinnes remit both the penalty and yâ— crime purifie my soule from the relikes of sin and bring the same at length to euerlasting life Most merciful Iesus I offer vp vnto thee thy bounty meeknes wherewith thou sustainedst the reproches and slanders of the reprobate who wagging their heads scorned mocked thee whilst thou praiedst for theÌ„ to thy Father I offer vp vnto thee those horrible torments which thou sufferedst when as thou wert altogether giueÌ„ ouer as a prey to al afflictions tormeÌ„ts and dolors destitute of al internall or external consolation and forsaken of God and man and miserably affixed to a crosse betwixt heauen earth didst hang in yâ— midst of two most notorious theeues I offer vp vnto thee thy intollerable thirst wherewith thou wert afflicted on the crosse and that humility and reuerence of thine wherewith in hanging downe thy head thou commendedst thy spirit to thy Father I offer vnto thee that most holesome bloud flowing from thy side inforced by the soldiers lance Al these things do I offer vp vnto thee and for them giue thee most hearty thanks humbly beseeching thee to forgiue me my sins to purifie my soule from al reliks of vnrighteousnes bring the same at length to eternall rest where thou liuest reignest with the Father the holy ghost world without end Another praier for remission of sins O Omnipotent and eternal Father God almighty all mercifull behold I the most wretched amongst sinners lying lowly prostrate on yâ— ground before thy feete confesse my most grieuous many sins wherin al my lifetime I haue hitherto offended thee most mercifull Father I acknowledge my great ingratitude in that 〈◊〉 haue so lightly set by thy infinite inestimable benefits hitherto bestowed vpon mee as that amongst the rest thou hast shewed me so much loue bounty as to expect mee so long time that conuerting vnto thee I might repent and escape my damnation and punishment in the bottomlesse pit of hell as heretofore my sinnes haue often times deserued nay rather for that thou hast inuited mee so many waies to follow iustice and that to the end I might follow thee thou hast offered me thy grace and assistance How often my most sweet lord hast thou stood before the doore of my heart and knocked thereat by manifold inspirations desiring that I would open the same vnto thee How often hast thou prouoked mee by thy benefits How often allured mee by thy bounties How often enforced mee by calamities tribulations Notwithstanding I haue alwaies repulsed thee from me I haue resisted thee I haue turned my backe against thee yet thou of thy infinite goodnesse and patience hast sustained mee I confesse O Lord that iustly deseruedly thou mightest haue cast me into the depth of hell but for thy mercy sake thou restrainest the force of thine ire which after so many waies 〈◊〉 had increased against my selfe Truly it is to be adâ—…red O father yea it is very admirable that my heart is not broken with griefe as often as I weigh these things with my selfe I am vnworthy to bee called thy creature vnworthy that the earth should any longer sustaine me vnworthy that the earth should afford me either succour or sustenance It is infinitely to be admired at that the elements all creatures doe not at once rise vp against me and reuenge the iniurie I haue offered to the vniuersall Lord of all things Yet vouchsafe O thou most mercifull Father to be fauourable vnto me and open the bowels of thine infinite pittie and pardon me in that I haue so long time deferred my conuersion vnto thee Open vnto mee thy most benigne Fatherly bosome and giue mee that nutriment which thou wert woont to giue vnto thy Children Humbly I beseech thee O Lord now at length effect that in mee for which thou hast hitherto so long tune expected me I confesse vnto thee O Lord with my whole heart and soule that of all the sinners that are in the world at this present I am the most grieuous yet distrust I not thy goodnesse for although my sins be many yet thy mercies may not be numbred O most louing Father if thou wilt thou canst make me cleane heale me O Lord and I shal be healed because I confesse my sins vnto thee Remember thee of thy promises which are sweeter then the hony and the hony combe than which nothing can be more comfortable vnto a sinner For thou saiest by the mouth of thy Prophet thou hast committed fornication with many louers yet returne thou vnto me and I will receiue thee Wherefore O most mercifull Father cleauing and depending on this thy promise I returne vnto thee with my whole heart in such sort as by thy word thou hadst only called mee and inuited mee alone vnto thy mercy I know O Lord and I confesse my selfe to bee the wretchedest creature of thy creatures for I am that prodigall son that departed froÌ„ thee
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
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
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
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
so possesse my heart y◠I may neuer be weary nor satisfied with seruing thee Our Father c The second praier of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks most sweet Ie su for that entring y◠flood Iordan thou wouldst bee baptised by the hands of thy precurser S. Iohn Baptist vouchsafe O Lord to purifie mee in this life by thy merits and to cleanse me from all my sins and to make mee drunke with thy loue and desire of my celestiall countrey Make me such a one before my soule shall depart out of y◠prison of this flesh as thou wilt haue me to bee that at the end of this pilgrimage I may presently bee with thee that I may alwaies see thee and alwaies enioy thee in that blessed eternity that hath no end I giue thee continuall thanks most bountifull Iesu for that liuing in the desart before thou beganst to preach the Gospell thou didst liue amongst wilde beasts perseuering in fasting fortie daies fortie nights and watching in continuall praiers sighs thou wouldest afterwards be tempted by the diuell and after thou hadst obtained the victory the Angels came and ministred vnto thee Uouchsafe O Lord that by thy grace I may chastise my flesh and make thrall all my sinfull affections of y◠flesh and that by the gift of perseuerance I may exercise my selfe in fastings watchings prayers and other spiritual exercises But especially O Lord grant mee that by the helpe of thy grace I may bee free from the sinne of gluttome and from all other snares temptations of the diuell let no temptation preuaile against mee let no allurement separate me from thee rather bring to passe O Lord that all these may giue mee greater occasion more neerely to vnite and tie my selfe vnto thee I giue thee thanks sweete Iesu for that for my loue thou wert afflicted in this world with many dolors diuers necessities as heate colde thirst hunger wearinesse and swellings with diuers iourneis watchings persecutions and tribulations of al sorts Grant me O Lord that for thy loue sake I may suffer all aduersitie with a glad heart as if coming frō thy hands and that I may beare them with great patience Grant that in whatsoeuer fortune either prosperous or aduerse troublesome or peaceable I may alwaies perseuere in thee and faithfully cleaue vnto thee that in all things thy will bee done and not mine I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu for that thou sufferedst many things whilst like a true shepheard and Sauiour of the world thou soughtest the conuersion and health of my soule in watching and prayer in wearying thy selfe in trauels in preaching the Gospell trauelling from Prouince to Prouince and Castle to Castle and omitting in no sort the office of a good Pastor I beseech thee O Lord giue mee this grace that I may neuer be found hereafter slow and negligent in doing thee seruice but that I may be alwaies ready and prompt to all goodnesse Grant that I may most ardently thirst after all mens saluation and may alwaies haue zeale of thine honour and occupy my selfe in the same I giue thee thanks most bountifull Iesu that in thy mercifull conuersation with men thou wouldest comfort them and of thy great mercie cure their infirmities Giue mee O Lord a heart replenished with a certaine zealous affection towards al mē that I may be partaker with all those whom I shall see in afflictiō Grāt also O Lord that I may esteeme other mens miseries as mine owne and that with a sincere heart and without any passion I may beare with other mens imperfections and succour them according to my most power in all their necessities O Lord purge my heart perfectly from all vicious passions and all euill desires which tyrannize in the same that being healed of all these euils and freed from all these impediments shee may freely flie to Heauen and neuer ceasse till of most pure loue it may deserue to partake thy diuine embracings I giue thee thanks good Iesu for that for my sake thou sufferedst so innumerable iniuries blasphemies slaunders reproches and persecutions especially at their hands whom thou hadst graced with infinite benefits I beseech thee O Lord giue me a heart truly simple innocent that I may loue mine enemies and that their misfortunes may greeue me to the heart that I may excuse them alwaies if many thing they shall offend yeelding good for euill that I may be a perfect follower of thy perfect charity and patience I giue thee thanks most louing Iesu for that thou camest in humble sort into Hierusalem lowly sitting vpon an Asse and whilst they that came out to meete thee recorded thy glorious praises in pleasant Hymnes thou sheddest teares full of bitternesse with the griefe thou hadst conceiued for the destruction of such a Cittie and the losse of so many soules extorted from thee Giue mee O Lord a certaine inward knowledge of my selfe that I may manifestly know my vilenes hartily humble my selfe that I may so contemne my selfe that hereafter no flatterie or commendations of men may please me but that I may continually bewaile not onely mine owne but my neighbours sinnes reputing all his euils to bee mine Our Father c. The third prayer of the life of Iesu. I Giue thee thanks O Lord Iesu Christ for that to bring the old law to an end thou didst eate the paschall Lamb with thy Disciples in Hierusalem and giuing them an example of great humility and vnspeakeable loue kneeling on thy knees thou didst wash their feete wiping them with the towell wherewith thou wert girt I pray thee O Lord let this example of thine pierce my heart and cast out of the same whatsoeuer presumption or pride may bee found in it Giue me I beseech thee O Lord profound humility by meanes wherof I may reioyce to be subiect vnto them without alteration Adde to me also perfect obedience whereby I may entirely satisfie thy commandements together be obseruant to their instructions who in thy name haue the authority ouer me Kindle in mee a feruent charitie wherewith I may purely loue thee and through thy loue loue all men I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu that of thy most excellent charitie thou didst institute the most excellent Sacrament of thy bodie and blood and for that of a certaine admirable liberality of thine thou gauest thy self for meat vnto vs and repinedst not to remain with vs in this world till the end thereof Ah Lord excite in me I pray thee a louing desire and an ardēt thirst of this venerable Sacrament Grant mee the grace that I may come to this Table of life to receiue thee with a chaste loue profound humility purity of heart and sincerity of mind Grant also that my soule may so thirst after thee and bee so wounded by thy loue that at length I may deserue to enioy thy diuine pleasures
euen at that time when thou wert afflicted on the crosse with so many vnspeakeable dolours and anguishes Grant mee grace O Lord I beseech thee that remembring me of that humilitie and patience wherewith thou enduredst so many griefes and disgraces I also with the like sufferance may endure all whatsoeuer aduersities perseuering with thee on the crosse of patience till death Let no force of temptation no tempest of tribulation no stormes of iniuries leade mee from my intended good purpose let neither death nor life nor things present nor to come nor any other creature separate mee from thee I giue thee thanks honored Iesus who sparedst that theefe who blasphemed and mocked thee and to the other that confessed his sins and with a firme faith preached thine innocency promisedst the glorie of Paradise O blessed were I if euer I might be so happy as to deserue to be beheld by thine eies of mercie wherewith thou didst looke vpon that fortunate theefe and by the helpe of thy grace I might so innocently liue that in the end of my life I were worthy to here that most sweet word To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Our Father c. The sixt prayer of the life of Iesus I Giue thee as great thanks as is possible for me O Lord Iesus for that looking from the tree of the Crosse seeing thy mother full of griefes afflictions and drowned in her teares thou tookest cōpassion other estate and commendedst her to thy beloued Apostle Iohn and afterwards commended him to thy mother and vs all in his person Grant me Lord that I may suffer with her in griefe and trauell in teares til I behold thee I giue thee thanks sweetest Iesus for that with open wounds thy head crowned with thornes thy hands feete nailed to the Crosse thou saidst O God my God ◅hy hast thou forsaken me Effect O Lord in mee that in all my aduersities and temptations I may flie vnto thee my most mercifull Father and distrusting in my self trust only in thee resigne my selfe wholy into thy hāds I require thee O Lord to wound the entrals of my soule with the memorie of thy wounds cause them to bee imprinted in my secret thoughts and make mee so drunke with thy blood that I may thinke on nought else nor seeke any other but thee that seeking thee I may finde thee and possesse thee for euer I giue thee thanks o Lord Iesus Christ who hauing thy bodie weakned and dried through too grieuous torments and too much effusion of blood wert vehemently drie and burning with excessiue desire of our saluation saidst I thirst Grant me o Lord that I may ardently thirst after thine honor the saluation of al soules herein let me wholly conforme my selfe to thy holy will doing as much as lieth in mee in respect of my profession I pray thee that no loue of transitory things may intangle me that no creature may draw me into perilous snares but that I may loue all things for thy sake which ought to bee loued and thy selfe more than all that in thee alone I may onely finde rest I giue thee thanks O mercifull Iesu for that in the houre of thy death that thou mightest quench thy thirst thou wouldest apply to thy mouth a sponge full of Uinegar that tasting that bitter draught in that thy most afflicted state thou mightst satisfie thy eternal Father for all our intemperance and ryots mightst leaue vs a wonderfull example of pouertie Grant me grace that for the loue of thee I may contemne all delicious sauours and exquisit banquets and that I may bee content to eate and drinke that onely with temperance and moderation which sufficeth to sustaine this bodie yeelding thee infinite thanks for the same Puri◅e and heale the palate of my soule that that may be sweete vnto mee whatsoeuer is gratefull vnto thee and whatsouer displeaseth thee the same may not bee sauorie vnto me but rather loathsome I giue thee thanks O Iesus the feruent louer of mankinde for that so absolutely and with so excellent an order thou broughtst the worke of our redemption to end offering thy selfe a liuing sacrifice on the altar of the Crosse for the sinnes of the world I pray thee O my Redeemer that thou wilt only vouchsafe to be the seale of my heart and the scope of my thoughts words and works that in all things with a pure and chaste intention I may onely respect and doe that which thine honour requireth or that nothing without thee may please me or that I may desire any thing but thee Grant mee O Lord that hereafter I neuer wax sluggish or wearie in thy seruice but that the feruour of the Spirit renewed in mee daily my diligence may more and more increase in praising and seruing thee I giue thee thanks sweet Iesu who when it was thy pleasure calledst for death and bowing thy reuerēd head thou commandedst thy spirit commended to the hands of thy Father to forsake thy bodie wherein thou declaredst that thou wert the true Shepheard who lost his life for his sheepe Grant mee O Lord that being dead to all my sinnes and iniquities I may liue onely to thee that the course of this my life being finished in charitie I may presentlie enter into thee who art the true Paradise of our soules I giue thee thanks most meeke Iesus that thou wouldest haue thy diuine bodie opened with a launce of a certaine Souldier out of which blood and water issued to wash quicken our soules May it please thee O LORD so to strike my heart with the launce of thy holy loue that I may will nothing except that which thou willest O Lord let my soule enter the wound of thy breast and attaine euen vnto the seate of thy charitie and treasure of thy diuinitie that there I may adore thee my GOD crucified and dead for mee and casting from my memory all the figures of things visible I may onely respect thee and haue thee solely present in all things I giue thee thanks beloued Iesu who with the great lament of thy friends wert taken from the Crosse and embalmed with precious oyntments wrapped in a faire winding sheete and carried into a strāge Sepulcher O Lord burie with mee all my senses that beeing ioyned vnto thee by a strong bond of loue I may bee as it were dead in those things which displease thee and as it were rauished out of my selfe in all things contrary vnto thee And contrariwise in these things that please me let mee bee altogether liuelie prompt and swift and delight in thee alon◅ my onely Redeemer and treasure of my soule Our Father c. The seuenth praier of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks sweete Iesu who of thy mighty power descendedst into hell and there subduedst sathans power conqueredst obscurity and death I pray thee O Lord that the reason of thy
A PARADISE of prayers CONTAINING the purity of deuotion and meditation Gathered out of all the spirituall exercises of LEVVES of Granado AND Englished for the benefit of the Christian Reader Ascendat oratio descendat gratia LONDON Printed by R. Field for Mathew Law and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard neere vnto S. Austines gate 1614. At our vprising GOd the Father that saidst in the beginning Let light be made it was made lighten my eies that I sleepe not in death lest at any time mine enemie say vnto me I haue preuailed against him God the sonne light of light the great truest light from whence this light both of sunne and day ariseth thou light shining in darkenesse and illuminating euery one that commeth into this worlde driue from me all darknes of ignorance and giue me vnderstanding that in thee and by thee I may know the Father to know whom is to liue and to serue whom is to reigne God the holy Ghost thou fire both illuminating and warming kindle in me thy light that I may know the deceitful delights of this world and the true ioyes of heauen Enlighten my minde that I may see how great a good our enemy soliciteth vs to change for a light shadow Grant that I may onely see those things that are thine and be blinde to the rest infuse also into my minde the gift of thy charity that forsaking those transitorie things I may with a feruent zeale and continuel desire endeuour to attaine those things which are eternall Holy Trinity one God defend me this day from all the assaults of the diuell keepe me this day from all sin and defend me this day from sudden and vnexpected death Be thou vnto me solace in tribulatiō assistance in temptation and in death a pleasant refuge Thou hest raised my body O Lord which was drowned in sleep I beseech thee that thou wilt deliuer my soule likewise from the sleep of sins the darknes of this world and that which thou hast recalled from sleepe vnto waking may it please thee after death to restore to the same life for sleepe is to thee as death to vs. To thee be praise cleernes wildome thanksgiuing honor vertue fortitude for euer and-euer Amen When we rise RIse O my soule that sleepest arise from death Christ shal shine vnto thee Arise O thou daughter of Sion O my soule redeemed by Christs blood shake off the dust of sinnes set in thee the peace of Christ purchased for thee by his merits Christ thou mercifull aduocate of mankind as thou releeuest this greeuous burthen of my body by thy benefit so lift vp our minds to the knowledge loue of thy Maiesty and grant that the body may be a companion Minister of pietie to the soule in this life to the end that in the life to come it may be partaker of that eternal blessednes where thou liuest reignest with God the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A thankesgiuing for our preseruation the night past together with a prayer wherin we beseech almighty God to take the like care of vs this day OMnipotent eternall Lord the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ I praise thee I blesse thee and with my whole heart giue thee thanks that according to thy vnmeasurable goodnes thou hast by thy fatherly prouidence preserued me this night that it hath pleased thee to be present with me so that the diuell durst not drawe neere to assaile me that thou hast protected me from all euill both of soule and body that thou hast defended me being drowned in profound sleepe by the assistance of thy holy Angels as it were with an impregnable wall against the deceits and snares of the old aduersary who neuer letteth slip any opportunity to hurt vs Finally for that thou hast sweetly raised me from sleepe the true image of death lest I should bee choaked in the darknesse of my sins to the end I might haue space and time yet at the length to recollect and earnestly repent my selfe Now likewise O father of mercy and God of all consolation I beseech thee and from the bottome of my heart intreat thee that this day thou wilt take me also into thy fatherly protection and behold me with thy mercifull eies direct me in the way of thy commaundments and giue me those gifts of thy holy spirit by whose means I may begin continue and end this day likewise to the praise and glory of thy holy name to the profit of my neighbors and the saluation of my soule endeuouring my selfe euery where and in all things without neglect of my duty to discharge euery way that vocation to which I am called Keep me O Lord from all sin restraine my flesh and blood prone to all iniquitie and friend and minister to that old Adam coole by the dewe of thy spirit the heate of concupiscence that reigneth in my members lest this day at any time I fall into any sinne and prouoke thy wrath and indignation against me Grant O mercifull father and vouch safe O deere Lord that I may lead the remnant of my life in thy feare and loue Direct this day my heart and my body my senses speeches and my actions in thy law in the workes of thy commaundements Turne my hart from all transitory things and conuert it to eternal that forsaking the riches and delights of this world I may alwaies thirst after thy kingdome Curb and restraine the power of the diuell our old and sworne enemie that although hee rangeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure he may not yet hurt or any wayes hinder mee But because my merits are none at al for which I deserue to be heard behold I bring with me thy onely begotten Son who is the propitiation for my sins behold him O mercifull father and for the iustice sake of thy Son forgiue the sins of thy seruant grant mee that by thy mercy which is not my due in iustice who liuest reignest God for euer and euer Amen Morning exercises 1. The commemoration of benefits receiued O God my God early doe I wake vnto thee ◅aith y◠thy holie Prophet And a little after he addeth so I was mindfull of thee on my bed early in the morning will I think on thee because thou wert mine helper And I my Lord God with that holy king desire to watch Let this be the beginning of my occupations let the day beginne with this thought of mine For heereunto the duties driue me whereby I am bound vnto thee this is the end of my creation for I was therefore made to the end I should praise thee glorifie magnifie and sanctifie thy name For thou art the beginning and the end of all things I say the beginning without beginning and the end without end For euen as no man might euer create any thing without
fountaines so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule hath thirsted after the liuing fountaine God When shall I come and appeare before the face of my God My teares were bread vnto mee day and night whilest they dayly said vnto me Where is thy God Then inflamed with the loue of eternall beatitude let him say OHow amiable are thy dwelling places thou Lord of hosts my soule thirsteth and longeth after the dwelling place of my God This that felloweth was familiar to the Fathers in Aegypt VVHo shall giue me wings like a Doue and I will fly and take rest Three most deuout praiers to excite the soule to contrition and griefe sor sinne The first Praier OOnly begotten Son of God great and vnspeakable are y◠benefits O Lord which I haue receiued at thy hands thou framedst mee of the dust and dirt of the earth and createdst my soule of nothing to thy image similitude and madest it capable of thy glory thou gauest mee vnderstanding memo will election with all my members and senses and with them the knowledge and loue of thee Thou keptst mee in the secret celles of my mothers womb lest in them I should bee choaked without baptisme Thou sustainedst mee patiently after so many sins euen vnto this present day where in the meane space there are many others who haue lesse offended than 〈◊〉 yet because thou wouldst not hitherto expect them they are now perhaps tormented in hell But besides all this it was thy pleasure to take flesh vpon thee to conuerse amongst men for my sake to bee afflicted troubled for me to be bedewed with bloudy sweate to bee taken bound buffeted spit vpon mockt blasphemed to be clothed in a white and purple garmēt like a foole to be strooken with a reede to be blinded condemned to death led to the place of executiō hauing on thy shoulders the croūe to which thou wert affixed with nailes and hanged betwixt two theeues and adiudged for a malefactor thou didst drinke gall and vineger finally thou wert slaine with most cruel death By so many labours and dolors O my God thou didst redeeme mee and yet I most vile and peruerse sinner ingrateful for so many benefits haue so oftentimes newly strooken thee againe nailed thee to the crosse by my sins for which cause I am worthy that all creatures should rise vp against me take reuenge of this my so great iniurie What should I say of y◠abuse of thy sacraments medicines which by thy precious bloud thou institutedst obtainedst for me Thou tookest mee for thine in the sacrament of baptisme there thou adoptedst me for thy sonne and consecratedst mee as it were thy temple there didst thou annoint me for thy Priest King and Champion who was to wage combat with the enemy there diddest thou espouse my soule and gauest me al the honors which were answerable to this dig nity But how haue I vsed al these benefits and ornaments which I haue receiued from thee what cogitatiōs had I of keeping these riches Thou tookest me for thy son and I may become the seruant of sinne Thou sanctifiedst me for thy temple and I made my selfe the habitation of diuels Thou armedst me like a generous souldier and I reuolted and fled vnto thine enemies Thou madest me a king and I waxed proud in the kingdome which thou gauest me Thou espousedst my soule to thee in perpetuall charitie and I more loued vanity than verity more the creatures than my Creator Truly it were rightfull yea most iust O Lord that yet now at length I should begin to weepe complaine and lament when I haue committed so many and so enormous sinnes This is it that so long time thou expectedst from mee as thou hast giuen me life For so oftentimes hast thou called mee and so long hast thou sustained mee strooke mee and againe flattered mee and hast sought all waies and meanes that thou mightest reclaime mee vnto thee thou hast expected mee and I haue abused thy patience thou hast called mee and I haue stopt mine eares against thy counsels Thou gauest mee time for repentance and I consumed y◠same in my pride thou strookest me and I felt it not thou afflictedst mee I would not take thy correction thou sweatedst that thou mightest clense mee and I am not washed thou prouedst mee by fire and the rust of my sins is not clensed away I am hardned as well by thy scourges as thy allurements ingratful to these rebellious against those Notwithstanding O Lord God though thou hast suffered so many and so great things for mee thou hast commanded me that I should not despaire nor distrust in thy mercie I conuert my selfe therefore wholy vnto thy mercy and beseech thee to giue mee grace that I may amend my selfe whereby I may so heereafter please thee and serue thee that I neuer hereafter reuolt from thee but cleaue alwaies to thee for euer and euer Amen For contrition The second praier O Supreme Maker of al liuing creatures when I bethink my selfe how greatly I haue offended thy diuine maiesty by my sinnes I quake for feare and detest my vndecent madnes considering how bountifull and reuerend a Father I haue forsooke I curse my ingratitude when I consider from how noble a liberty I am fallen into most miserable seruitude I accuse my inconstancy know not what to set before mine eies but iudgement and hell for thy iustice from which I cannot flie terrifieth my conscience On y◠other side when I behold thy vnmeasurable mercy which according to the testimonie of thy Prophet surpasseth al thy works presently a pleasing breath of hope doth refresh mee and strengthneth my too feeble mind For as before I despaired so here do I finde remission of my sinnes in him who by the writing of his Prophets so oftentimes inuiteth sinners to repentance saying I wil not y◠death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue Thy onely begotten Son likewise declareth by many similitudes how ready thou art to pardon those that are penitent That expressed he by the lost penny by the lost sheep brought home on the shoulders of his pastor but especially by the prodigall sonne whose image I acknowledg in my selfe For I am he that haue indeed forsaken my most louing Father I haue spent all my substance and obeying the appetites of my flesh haue fled the obedience of thy commandements and haue fallen into the most filthy captiuity of sin now am I trauelled with extreme necessity from which who shall deliuer me I truly know not except it be he whom I haue forsaken Receiue me therefore O Lord thy most hūble seruant submissiuely seeking pardō at thy hands into thy fauor But wheras though in vaine thou hast euen vnto this houre so bountifully expected mee I confesse that I am not worthy to lift vp mine eies to heauen or to call thee Father yet because thou art my true
as betweene the one benefit and the other and that for that cause there ought to bee the same difference betweene the one gratuitie the other that meate was earthly this heauenlie that was of the bodie this of the Soule that gaue not true life to those that eat the same this giueth eternall life to those that worthily receiue it But why make I cōparisō betweene the one the other For whatsoeuer difference is betweene the creature the Creator the same is betweene this and that meate If therefore thou O Lord require such remembrance and gratuity for that thou didst nourish thy people with corporall and corruptible meate what wilt thou require of vs whom thou nourishest with so farre better foode as the Creator exceedeth the creature there is not any praise nor thanksgiuing which is worthy this benefite When as therefore I neglect mine owne forces faculties neither can I finde way or meanes to pay thee that which I owe thee there is no other remedy left for me than with the Prophet to take that cup of saluation and call vpon the name of our Lord that is not to remunerate that benefits that are past but to aske new to require grace vpon grace I beseech thee therefore O Lord vouchsafe that I may receiue this Sacrament in satisfaction of all my sinnes and amendment of my former life that being repaired in me by the benefite thereof whatsoeuer is fallen whatsoeuer I wāt let it be supplied and grant that my pouerty may bee enriched by the benefits of thy graces By that vertue of this sacrament mortific in me whatsoeuer is displeasant to thy diuine eies and make me conformable to thy will Uouch safe mee O Lord that by this mystery I may alwaies perseuere in thee may continually and perfectly loue thee that I may be alwaies continually vnited coupled vnto thee to the honour of thy holy name Be fauourable O Lord vnto all my offences and not mine onely but all others Grant the Heretikes Schismatikes may returne to the vnitie of thy Church illuminate the Infidels that they may know thee help all those for whom I am bound to pray Comfort my father mother brothers and sisters friends and enemies with all those that haue euer done me good Bee mercifull vnto all those for whom thou sh◅dest thy most precious blood To thee be all praise honour vertue and glory who liuest and reignest world without end Amen Prayers and thanksgiuings after the Communion The first Praier I Giue thee thanks O Lord holy Father omnipotent and eternall God that thou hast vouchsafed to sat◅ate mee a wretched sinner and thy vnworthy seruant not for my merits but onely for thy mercie sake with the precious body and blood of thy Son our Lord Iesus Christ. And I beseech thee that this holy Communion may be vnto me not guiltines to procure punishment but a fruitfull intercession of pardon may be my armour of faith and shield of good will may bee the euacuation of my vices extermination of my concupiscence and lust the augmentation of my charitie and patience humility and obedience against the deceits of both my visible and inuisible enemies a firme defence a perfect pacification of my motions both carnall and spirituall assured cleaning to thee the onely and true God a happy consummation of my life And I beseech thee that thou wilt conduct mee most wretched sinner to that inestimable banquet where thou with thy Sonne and the holy Ghost to thy Saints art a true light compleat satietie eternall ioy consummate pleasure and perfect felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen The second Prayer after the Communion I Giue thee thāks O Lord Iesus Christ King of Kings Lord of Lords reuerend immesurable in maiestie for that thou hast vouchsafed to feede and sweetly to refresh my ouer-dried soule with thy sacred body precious bloo◅ I beseech thee that whatsoeuer is found vitious in mee and contrary to thy most holie will by the Communion of this Sacrament may bee vtterly extinct in mee so that my heart may bee prepar◅ for a worthy habitation for the holy Ghost And grant O most sweet Iesus that this Sacrament of thy body and blood may be vnto me an attonement for my sinnes a medicine for my life an establishment of grace a memorie of thy most holy passion reliefe in my pilgrimage the sweet and pleasure of my soule my health sanctitie in temptations my light vertue in tribulations my light vertue in all my words and deeds my finall comfort de◅ence in death Grant that it may so change the affections of my heart that it may feels conceiue no sweetnesse but that which is in thee loue no bea◅ seeke no loue desire no consolatiō admit no pleasure care for no honours feare no cruelty Amen The third Prayer after the Communion PIerce O most sweet Lord Iesu that marrow and inwards of my soule with the sweet and holsome wound of thy loue with true perfect pure Apostolike and sacred charitie that my soule may onely languish melt away in the loue desire of thee let it not long after and grow weary in thy wayes let it desire to be dissolued and to be with thee Grant that my soule may hunger after thee the bread of Angels y◠resurrection of al holy soules our supercelestiall and daily bread hauing in it all sweetnesse and sauour and all delectation of suauitie Grant that my heart may alwaies hunger thirst after thee on whom the Angels desire to looke and with the sweetnes of thy fauor let the inward secrets of my soule be filled let it alwaies thirst after thee the fountaine of life the fountaine of wisdome and science the fountaine of eternall light the riuer of pleasures the plenty of Gods house Let her alwaies seek thee compas◅e thee finde thee trauell to thee and attaine vnto thee let her meditate on thee speake of thee worke all things to the honour and praise of thy name with humility and discrenon with loue and delectation with facility and affection with perseuerance vnto the end and be thou alwaies my onely hope my whole trust my riches my delight my pleasure my Sauiour my sweetnesse my meate my refection my refuge my hope my wisedome my portion and possessiō my treasure in which my heart and minde may be alwaies fixed and firmely rooted Amen The first prayer for the loue of God O Sweet benigne louing bounteous deere mighty o admirable ineffable inestimable incomparable o powerfull magnificent liberall incomprehensible infinite most mighty God Thou art onely good all pitifull all amiable thou art sweeter than hony whiter than snow delightfuller than all pleasure sweeter than all delight more precious than gold of precious stones Thou art my God my life and my onely hope Grant me o Lord that I may loue thee if not as much as thou deseruest yet at leastwise as
much as thou maiest be beloued in this life by any man subiect to sinne and thrall to many necessities With that Leaper in the gospel O Lord I come before thy presence crying o Lord if thou wilt thou canst make mee cleane thou canst I say clense my soule from al her sinnes canst purge the same as it were gold in the fire of thy loue if thou wilt thou canst presently enrich this poore one if thou wilt thou canst make mee glad of all those that are in this world most blessed What will it hinder thee O Lord if thou yeeld me such a blessing what disprofite will it breede what losse will it bring thee So then O Lord since thou art the Ocean of infinite goodnesse liberality and riches why through thy wrath hidest thou thy mercies from mee Why are my sins more mightie than thy goodnesse Why shall my sins rather condemne me than thy mercies saue me If thou requirest contrition griefe for my offences behold I conâ—…eiue so much sorrow for my sinnes that I had rather haue endured a thousand sorts of death then once to haue offended thee If thou requirest satisfactioÌ„ loe I offer my bodie vnto thee powre thy wrath vpon it exercise what torments of thy displeasure thou 〈◊〉 vpon it so thou denie mee not thy mercie Grant therfore that I may loue thee my God my strength my refresher my redeemer my helper and my hope I onely seeke thee I onely desire thee I onely crie vnto thee my Lord God thou art â—…y first beginning my last end The things of this life satisfie mee not haue no sweetnesse in them no stability or streÌ„gth whatsoeuer I see besides thee is but pouerty whatsoeuer is in any place without thee is but troubled and salt water vnto mee it cooleth not my thirst but kindleth it I onely seeke thee I onely will thee I onely desire to behold thy face I pray vnto thee beseeching thee not to separate thy mercy and loue from me I will possesse thee and will not let thee goe before thou hast blessed me I will cleane vnto thee and will not depart from thee before thou hast brought mee into thy Winecellar and ordered me in thy charity I will cry after thee neither will I hold my peace I will say with the Prophet I will loue thee O Lord my strength I will meditate vpon thee without ceassing I will thinke on thee in my sleepe in the night time for I am in health when I am with thee and sicke if I be from thee for thou onely canst blesse my soule thou art my God and my Lord for euer and euer Amen A second prayer for the loue of God O Good Jesu O the sweetnes of my hart O yâ— life and saluation of my soule when in all and through all things shall I please thee When shall I perfectly die vnto my selfe When shall I prefer thee before all other creatures when shall nothing liue in mee but thy selfe Haue mercy vpon me O Lord and helpe mee I salute thy wounds O Lord like vernall roses hide me O Lord in them and wash mee in yâ— same yâ— euery way I may bee cleane and inflamed with thy loue O Lord my God O admirable beginning O piety of amiable charity O clearest light of my vnderstanding O repose of my will when shall I ardently loue thee vouchsaf o Lord to pierce my soule with yâ— dart of thy loue vouchsafe to associate me with thy selfe that I may bee made one with thee O my desire O my hope O my reliefe Oh if my soule were woorthie of thy imbracings that all slownesse and lukewarmnesse were consumed in mee by the fire of thy loue O the soule of my soule O the life of my life I wholy desire thee wholie offer my selfe vnto thee one to one onely to thee onely O if that had place in mee which thou saidst to thy Father Blessed Father let theÌ„ be one as we are one I in them they in mee that they may bee consummate in one I wil no other thing I desire no other thing I expostulate no other thing at thy hands for thou onely suffisest me Thou art my Father thou art my mother thou art my defender thou art my guider thou art al my good thou art altogether amiable wholy delectable onelie faithful Who was euer so liberal as to forsake himselfe who euer so tenderly loued as to yeeld himselfe into yâ— hands of so bitter death for so vile a creature Who so humble that so much diminished and humbled his maiesty o Lord thou despisest no man thou disdainest no man thou repulsest no maÌ„ that seeketh thee nay rather thou callest excitest all men to come vnto thee for thou takest thy pleasure to bee conuersant among the children of men To thee O lord angels sing praises and what other thing hast thou fouÌ„d in vs but yâ— filth of our sins why wouldest thou be with vs till the end of the world was it not enough for thee that thou sufferedst death for vs and gauest vs also yâ— Sacraments for our medicine left vs the angels for our fellowes and tutors Truly although wee are vngratefull for these benefits yet wouldst thou dwell amongst vs for thou art so good that thou couldst not deny thine owne selfe Let vs therfore make a couenant if it so please thee O Lord take thou care of me I will haue care of thee loue thou me I will loue thee protect and preserue my bodie and soule and by thy assistance I will keepe thy law doe that with me O Lord which best pleaseth thee for thou knowest what I waÌ„t and what is expedient for me I will be thine and no other mans Giue me the grace O Lord that I may not seek or desire any thing but thy selfe that I may whollie offer my selfe vnto thee O fire that kindlest me1 O charity that inflamest me o light that illuminatest me o my rest o my life O my loue that alwaies burnest and art neuer quenched when shall I perfectly loue thee againe when shall I embrace thee with yâ— naked armes of my soule when shall I despise my selfe and the whole world for thy sake wheÌ„ shal my soule with all the powers and strength thereof bee vnited with thee wheÌ„ shall it be swallowed vp in the bottomlesse pit of thy loue Most sweet louing â—…aire wise rich noble precious and worthy both to bee beloued and adored when shall I so loue thee that I may wholie be deuoured by thy loue O life of my soule that sufferedst death to giue mee life and dying sluest death kill mee also that is all my peruerse inclinations to euill my selfe-will whatsoeuer it bee that hindereth me from beeing liuing with thee And when in this sort thou hast slaine me make mee liue with thee through loue and charitable actions that I may faithfully obserue all thy coÌ„mandements
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
By thee haue we learned the true and ready way to eternall saluation lest wee should wander any longer in the Labyrinthes of this life Thou didst teach vs exactly how to beleeue what to doe what to hope and in whom we ought to rest by thee we haue learnt how vn happy we were borne through our first father Adam by thee wee haue learnt that there is no hope of saluation except by faith in thee Thou hast taught vs that thou art the onely light that shinest to all men in the desart of this world cōducting them through the night of their mindes from the Egyptian darkenesse to that blessed Land which thou promisest vnto the meeke and such as follow thy humility For in vs was nothing but vtter darknesse who neither could see our calamity neither know frō whence to secke the remedy of our misery thou daignedst to enter into the world vouchsafedst to take vpon thee our nature that thy doctrine might disperse the cloud of our ignorāce that by thy precepts thou mightst direct our feete in the way of peace by the examples of thy life thou didst limit out a path for vs to immortality beating it with thy steps thou madest it of a tedious rough an easie beaten way So becamest thou vnto vs a way that knoweth no errour in which lest wee should bee wearied thy bounty with great and assured promises vouchsafed to assure vs for who could bee wearied that thinketh how in following thy footsteps there is an heritage of eternal life prepared for him Therfore whilst we are in this iourney thou wouldest in stead of a staffe be an assured hope vnto vs whereby wee might be sustained Neither was thy goodnes contented herewith but acknowledging the frailty of our natures in the meane space with the comfort of the holy Spirit y◠repairest our courages to the end that wee may more willingly run vnto thee And as thou being made a way vnto vs driuest away all errour so becomming our truth thou takest away all distrust Finally being made life vnto vs thou giuest heate vnto those that are dead in sinne a life through thy holy spirit which quickneth all things vntill all mortality laid aside in the resurrection we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee by reason that thou art vnto vs al in all things For it is eternall life to know the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost to be one true God Wherfore I beseech thee O most mercifull Father to increase faith in me who am thy vnworthie seruāt lest at any time I wauer in thy celestiall doctrine increase obedience in me lest I swerue from thy precepts increase constancy that walking in thy waies I neither bee allured by the inticements of sathan nor deiected by his terrors but that I may perseuere in thee who art the true way to my liues end Increase my faith that possessed of thy promises I may neuer waxe slow in the study of godlinesse but forgetting those things I haue left behinde mee I may alwaies striue and endeuour for more perfection Increase thy grace in me that daily more and more being mortified my selfe I may liue and be incouraged by thy holy Spirit fearing nothing but thee than whom there is nothing more amiable glo rying in none but in thee who art the true glorie of all the Saints wishing nothing but thee th◅ whom there is nothing better desiring nothing but thee who art full and perfect felicitie with the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A prayer to the holy Ghost HOly Spirit our aduocate who on Whitsunday didst descend vpō thy Apostles filling their bosomes with charity grace and wisdome I pray thee by that thy vnspeakeable mercie and liberality that thou wilt vouchsafe to fill the secrets of my soule with thy grace and water my inward heart with the vnspeakable sweetnesse of thy loue Come holy Ghost and from heauen send a beame of thy light Come thou Father of the poore come thou giuer of gifts come thou light of hearts come thou gracious comforter thou sweete guest of my soule my pleasant refresher Come thou Physition of those that faint come thou purger of eies come thou strength o◅ the fraile come thou remedy of sins come thou doctor of the humble come thou destroier of the prond come thou excellent ornament of all vertues come thou onely saluation of the dying Come my God and adorne a bed for thee in which I may worthily entertaine thee with all thy riches and mercies make me drunke with the gifts of thy wisedome illuminate me with the benefite of vnderstanding gouerne me with the gift of counsell confirme me with the gift of fortitude instruct mee with the gift of science wound me with the gift of pietie and pierce my heart with the gift of thy holy feare O sweet louer of cleane hearts burne and inflame all my bowels with the sweet fire of thy loue that being inflamed they may bee carried and rauished into thee who art the center finall end of all my good o sweet louer of holy soules since thou art not ignorant that I can doe nothing of my selfe nor by my selfe stretch out thy fauourable hand ouer me grant that I may forsake my selfe fly vnto thee mortifie extinguish and dissolue in me whatsoeuer is displeasant vnto thee that in all things thou maiest conforme mee vnto thy will that my life hereafter may be a perfect sacrifice in thy sight or rather an offering which may wholy bee consumed in the fire of thy loue O who shall giue me the grace the I may at least attaine this chiefe good Looke vpon mee O Lord looke vpon mee and see here this thy poore creature my soule sighing after thee day and night how she thirsteth after God when shall I come appeare before the presence of thy grace When shall I enter into that admirable place of thy Tabernacle that I may attain the house of my God When wilt thou fill mee with the light of thy countenance When shall I be satiate with the presence of thy glory When shal I by thy meanes be deliuered from all temptations and when shall I ouercome this frailty of my mortality O eternall fountaine of light bring mee backe againe to the Abysse of eternall goodnes by whom I am created that there I may know thee euen as I am known of thee may so loue thee as I am loued by thee that I may see and enioy thee in the societie of all the elect euen as thou also hast seene me from euerlasting Amen The first prayer of the life of Iesus I Yeeld thee immortall thanks O most sweete Iesu that from thy roial pallace and the secret bosome of thy father thou hast vouchsafed for my sake to descend into this vale of miserie and in the sanctified womb of that chaste Uirgin thy mother thou didst take vpon thee a humane body I pray thee O Lord
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
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