Christes sake graunt mée that I may couet with a prudent minde those thinges that be pleasant and acceptable vnto thée that I may finde them easely searche them wisely know them truely and exercise them effectually to the worthy praise of thy glorious name Dispose the whole course of my life in sutche order that it may accomplish that whiche thy godly pleasure requireth at my handes that I may perfectly know it haue a willyng minde to do it and power from thée to fulfill it whereby I may obtayne those thinges that bée moste conuenient for my necessities and appertaynyng to my saluation Chéere vp my hart O my moste déere God with the hope of thy plenteous promises and make mée alwayes as merie as it béecommeth a Christian and one that feareth God giue mée grace euer to reioyce in thée and thy godly will and that I may bée sorie for nothynge but onely in dooyng those thinges that draw mee away from thee to éeuell O Lorde God of infinite wisdom inspire my hart and direct my voyce that I may not thinke nor vtter any thinge béefore thée then that whiche thou knowest to bée expedient for mée to aske and glorious for thée to giue turne not my prayer into perdition nor my sute into sinne for thou art my God on whom I wholy depende saue mée for thy mercies sake O saue mée accordynge as I haue alwayes repoased my confidence in thée Amen A. ¶ A mans almes is as a purse with him and shall keepe a mans fauour as the apple of an eye and afterwarde shall it arise and pay euery man his rewarde vpon his head ¶ The seuenth Flower ACcordyng vnto the incomprehēsible numbre of thy manifolde mercies O Lorde take pitie and compassion vpon mée discharge mee of the importable fraught of mine in firmities for thou art hee that losest and none can binde and that bindest and none can lose lose mée therefore I béeséeche thee from the lothesome burden of my sinne and binde mee that I may not depart from thy statutes O thou God of my power make my hart to resemble the driest towe and let the most feruent loue of thy lawes kindle as it were a flaminge fier within my breast that I may so bée consumed with a greedie zeale in fulfillyng thy heastes let no coale of conscience in aniwise extinguish this burnyng nor yet likewarmenesse aswage this heate Let others sée this in mée that they may take example thereat and bee confirmed in Godlinesse for I am priuily greeued that I haue bin vnacquayne deth in dread of thy driry iudgement lookyng for deliuerance and running for refuge to the redoubted rampier of thy milde mercies Pardon mée Lorde if at any time I haue sought the ayde of any creature neclecting thée that art the creator of all thynges without whom there is no health nor saluation if I haue drunken of the lothsome lakes and refused thee that art the Fountayne of Life if I haue fully fead on wicked weedes and passed by the holsome herbes of diuine doctrine I haue erred Lorde and gone astray like a wilfull shéepe and harkned vnto the voyce of fayned sheapheards that had no part with thée I haue bin loste in the wildernesse of wicked superstition and Idolatrie and torne in the briars of sutche as sought my fleece and cared not for my soule but to destroy it I haue tasted of the deadly dewe and the rotte is entred into my veynes I am extreame sicke that I cannot stand vpon my legges I am not able to lift vp my voyce for my lungues are infected my threat is horce with criyng I am vexed with a cough and the terrible stitche assaulteth me so sore within my ribbes that I am nothynge but a carcas fraught with care and a wretche wrapped in sinfull sickenesses O come thou God of my saluation come visite thy poore seruant bring mée home whiche am lost and direct mee that haue gone astray teache mée to know the liuely sounde of thy moste holly woord that I may wholy harken therto and to the voyce of none other that shall happen to call vnto mee saying lo héere is Christ or there is Christe Saue mée Lorde from the vnsauerie smell of pharasaicall superstition that my hart neuer bee defiled therewith and for thy mercie sake asist mée moste graciously that I fall not into any dotage of deuilish Idolatrie for thou art a ielous God and wilt not suffer thine honour to bee giuen to other and béesides thee ther is none that can helpe I haue fead O Lorde to mutche at full vpon the sugred delightes of this wicked worlde whiche indeede are sauced with most bitter woormewood the taste of them is pleasant but the tayle is abhominable tarte I haue chawed them with pleasure but they haue choked mee with cares they seemed vnto mee as toothesome Triacles but I haue founde them pestilent poysons Deliuer mee gratious GOD through thy great goodnesse say vnto mee I wilbée thy comfort and vnto my soule I will bée thy phisition then shall there no daunger daunt my hart nor ghostly greife procure myne anoy but that I may alwaies cheerefully singe foorthe thy noble prayse for euer Amen S. ¶ Say not vnto thy neighbour goe thy way and come agayne tomorow I will giue thee wheras thou hast now to giue him ¶ The eight Flower SAluation immortalitie and vnspeakeable pleasures O God are prepared bountifully to embrace those that put their trust in thee and without all doublenesse of harte or contagion of sinne leade foorthe the lingrynge steppes of their lothsome life in the wayes of trueth and obedience towardes thy commaundementes Thy wayes most swéete Lorde are the wayes of wealthe and thy commaundementes conducte vnto heauenly honour thou haste layde foorth a streigth pathe vnto those that haue grace to walke therin and thou hast promised most singular rewardes vnto sutche as obey thy moste woorthy will. As for thy wil it is the welspring of welfare the pathe of peace the sea of securitie the porte of perfection and the fountayne of all felicitie Wherefore I would fayne bée clensed that I might tread foorthe the time of this daungerous pilgrimage in accomplishing thy heauenly heastes and fulfilling thy statutes full of consolation O thou that art the God of al trueth whiche in puritie doest passe the Angels and exceedest the saincts in perfection in respect of whose hollinesse all thinges are vile and sinfull my poore pantyng ghost sore longeth after thée for that thou art the consummation of all goodnesse in the sight of thy glorie I am ashamed of mine owne vnrighteousnesse Lorde faine would I intreate thy maiestie and I doo moste hartely request the same that thou wouldest béeholde the wofull afflictions greifs miseries stripes sores and wounds which my soule sustayneth through the continuall surprise of my cancred sinnes and in the large abundance of thy milde mercies heale them with thy holly hande Woe am I my God that I appeere béefore thée thus
to goe a whoorynge with straunge thinges whilst wee seeke after thee as for thee thou art within vs if wée wilbée within thee wee neede not to searche thée far of for thou art with vs in our fayth vntill sutche time as wée deserue that thou maist bee with vs in personall apparance which graunt that I may beeholde For wée know as sayeth the holly Apostle that Christe through faythe dothe dwell within our hartes For why Christe is within our Faith the faith within our minde the minde within our hart the hart within our breast but clense thou them all most gratious God that my bodie may bée made a méete temple for thee to dwell in Thou hast fasshioned mee after thyne owne image conforme mee therefore my God most likely vnto thy similitude in all vertue and hollinesse in desier of peace in contemplation of veritie in loue of charitie let mée euermore retayne thee in memorie carie thée in my conscience holde thee in my harte and honour thee as present Heare mee O God in thy goodnesse turne not thy mercifull eare from my sorowfull crie O let the vncleanesse of my soule bee purified the darckenesse of my minde lightned the warmenesse of my harte heatened the coldenesse of my conscience warmed and the sleepinesse of my bodie wakened and I my self by all meanes prepared that I may bée thy seruant to doo thy heauenly pleasure as I am alreadie the woorke of thy cunninge fingers Amen A ¶ A man that beareth hatred against another how dare hee desier forgiuenesse of God forgiue then thy neighbour the hurt that hee hath doone thee and so shall thy sinnes bee forgiuen thee also when thou praiest ¶ The .xiiij. Flower ADuaunce thyself O Lorde in thine eternall power and draw thée néere to deliuer mee from the snares of the Deuill that haue intrapped mée and throwne mée almost vnto the grownd I haue bin plunged a longe time in the sea of sensualitie and I perceaue my deliuerāce cometh only from thée wherfore deliuer mée O Lorde of my saluation Thy power is aboue all powers thou hast made althynges subiect vnto thée for through thée Death hath no stinge nor Hell hath victorie eternall thankes bée vnto God who in our good Lorde and sauiour Iesus Christe hath giuen vnto vs a noble cōquest euer our enemies for which while I liue I wil giue most woorthy prayse as it best béeseemeth Henceforward looke thou carefully vnto the course of my life and holde fast my harte alwayes in thy feare that I bée not founde vnwoorthy of thy moste bountifull benefittes encrease in mée a care to continue in thy commaundements erecte a feruent faith and assured hope of thy promises and mercie within the tendre intrayles of my breast Sprinckle my hart with a dreadge of thy compassion and precepts mingled togither that I may not wander aside nor fall into the gulf of thy wrath but thy fauour may sustayne mee and thy loue may lift mee vp bryngyng my féete into thy roomthe of rest where I may not choose but fulfill thy godly heastes O how happie were I if I might neuer héereafter in thought woorde nor déede commit the thynge that should displease thy maiestie that life is the longyng of my soule and th' effect of my desier my hart mutch wisheth to sée that blessed time and my ioyes then should bée sutch as no toongue can tell Truely to know thée with the Sunne and the holly ghost is the true perfection of eternall life th' end of blissefulnesse the summe of all delightes no eye hath séene no eare hath heard nor hath it pearced into the deapth of any mans vnderstandyng to valew the inestéemable charitie delectation and pleasures of the same felicitie when wée shall béehold the maiestie of God face to face Verely moste glorious kinge I haue reposed this hope in my bosom and my harte daunceth within my breast for ioy therof and I doo assure my selfe through faith in thée that these eyes wherewith I reade these lines shall sée that glorie and this fleash wherwith I am cloked in corruption and meashed in mortalitie shal bee a membre of that immortall kyngdome This worlde is farst with wickednesse and there are manie staies that stoppe a man from righteousnesses blindyng him that hée may not see and hampryng him that hée may not stirre to doo the thyng that is acceptable vnto God sequestring his minde from all thoughtes studies and labours that may incite him vnto thée But my trust is in thée O God that thou wilt not suffer mée to fall into any outragious offēce that may demerite thy hot indignation O turne away mine eyes least I beeholde vanitie and guide my handes that I tutche no vniust thyng lift vp my mynde vnto contemplation of heauenly sightes and pull mée from terrestriall cogitations that are but transitorie I haue prayed for one thynge and I request the same moste hartely that thou wouldest preserue my youthe from flatterers and mine olde age from slaunderers for the one sorte of them would deuoure mée béefore I am ripe and the other would burie mée béefore I am dead and I haue alwayes hated them bothe vtterly Powre downe vpon mée O my louyng God the blessed dew of thy diuine and incomparable wisdome whiche is alwayes resident aboute thy heauenly seat that I may know my selfe throughly and honour thée woorthely consideryng the frame of mine owne infirmitie and that there is no goodnesse but it descendeth from thee that arte aboue When through the peruerse and froward inclination of my nature I fall into any wicked and vngodly imaginations leaue mée not good Lorde vnto them acquite mée from the disordinate lustes of the body let no desier of vncleanesse take holde vpon mee and giue mée not ouer vnto an vnshamefast impious and obstinate minde Set a sure bridle vpon my mouth that I speake no proude thynges agaynst thée suffer not my toongue to bée acquaincted with swearyng and let not the namyng of God bée continually in my lippes for in it are manie falles but mercifully giue thou mée aduisement what I shal speake ere euer I open my mouth Call not the woordes that I haue vaynely spoken vnto accoumpt impute them not vnto mée for sinne giue mée vnderstandynge to keepe prudent silence and when I speake let it either bée for temporall necessitie either to edefie others or els to beare righteous testimonie of the trueth let the veritie of my assertion consist in yea yea or nay nay Lorde héere stande I vile wretch béefore the throne of thy drad presence hopyng that I shalbée heard not in the fayntnesse of my faith but in the power of thy promises O weigh my weakenesse and graunt my desier as thou knowest moste méete for mée then can I want no wealth and my conscience shalbée replenished with all spirituall consolation Amen C ¶ Cast not thine eyes aside from the poore that thou giue him no occasion to speake euill of thee For if hee complayne in
the bitternesse of his soule his praier shal bee heard euen hee that made him shal heare him ¶ The .xv. Flower CHasten mée O God howbéeit not in the consumyng rage of thy ielous wrath for then shall I vtterly perish but temper I béeséeche thee thy fury with compassion to the redresse of my life not confusion of my soule for if thou shouldest deale so seuerely with sinners alas what should béecome of them for there is no fleash righteous in thy sight O thinke mercifully vppon the auncient sore of our sinnes how that vnwittyngly wée are coneaued and borne in iniquitie and bée thou readie to apply the salue of thy mercie the onely remedie of Adams infected frute wherby our wekned bones are made stronge and wée are eftsoones erected into thy fauour Thou hast layde thine heauie displeasure vpon mée whiche I know well my wickednesse hath deserued namely a carelesse conscience and necligent callyng vpon thée for grace and thou hast opened mine eyes that I might béeholde my miserie and how far I am caried from thee that art the port of my saluation Notwithstandyng thy roddes and thy staues O Lorde wherwith thou hast beaten mée haue brought mee comfort thy correction is full of compassion and in the midst of the miseries whiche deseruedly thou heapest vpon our heads thou gronest at our plagues what due damnation deserueth sutche demeanure Agayne O moste vnspeakeable mercie of thy diuine goodnesse that béeholdest vs dayly turnynge away our vnhappie eares shuttynge our foolish eyes hardning our stubburne hartes and yet notwithstandynge criest vnto vs O yée sinners incline vnto wisdome and béeholde for I am the Lorde your God. Mercifull God if at any time I haue bin sutche one I hartely beeséeche thée not to impute it vnto mée forgiue mée all my fonde negligences and grosse ignorancies whiche I haue left vndoone let them come no more into thy sight to bée obiected agaynst mée O how well were I if it might please thée to draw mée a direct line in thy lawes that I might goe right and leade mée in the light of thy trueth that I might not trippe and hold mée by the hande that I might not fall but especially if thou wouldest take mée vnto thée that wheras thou art I might bée euer there also I haue meruelously offended thée and there are manie occasions of offence whiche if thou wouldest take from mée then should not my sinnes bée so burdenous vnto my soule nor so gréeuous vnto thy sight whiche I confesse are manifold but Lorde I know thy mercie and sauyng health are infinite and thou art prone vnto forgiuenesse The ripenesse of my perfection shalbée the gréenesse of thy glorie the Summer of my sutes shalbée the spryng of thy prayse the haruest of my righteousnesse shal bee the séede of thy commendation the winter of my wickednesse shalbée the earyng of thy honour the frutes of my faith shalbée the flower of thy worthinesse the toppe of my tranquillitie shalbée the roote of thy renowme I will walke in thy wayes O Lorde and obey thy will I will kéep thy commaundementes and take care of thy couenantes I will holde thy heastes as my life and reguarde thy preceptes as mine owne soule there shall nothyng thrust mée from thy trueth nor fray mée from thy feare nor allure mee from thy loue and then am I as certayn that I shal liue as I am sure thy prayses shall not die Amen O ¶ O giue eare vnto good counsell and bee content to bee reformed that thou maist bee wise hereafter for there are manie deuises in a mans hart neuerthelesse the counsell of the Lorde shall stande for euer ¶ The .xvj. Flower O Lorde thou Father and GOD of my life I béeseeche thée for thy sunne Christes sake bend down thine eyes of compassion vpon mée that am thine humble seruant but at this presente wofully oppressed with careful incumbrances of sinne so that I want power to lift vp my handes and with my tongue I am not able to expresse the sorowes that I sustayne I am déepely wounded that my life languisheth away I am broken that I cannot recouer I am sore that I cannot bée cured I am sicke that I cannot bée saued I am so nighe death that I cannot liue I am so pined that I am past al helpe vnlesse that thou O Lorde come with spéedie reléeife the worker of my wealth and curer of all infirmities For if thou put foorthe thy hollie hande I shalbée holpen if thou doo tutche mée I shalbée saued if thou doo but say the woorde my lothsomnesse shalbée releeued O Lorde I pray thee hartely come ease mée of my gréeifes come cure mée of my care come saue mée from my sickenesse come assure me from my sores restore mee to my health and prolonge the dayes of my life to thy pleasure In weakenesse of bodie and infirmitie of minde in feeblenesse of flesh and crasinesse of conscience in aduersitie of the worlde and all miseries of mankinde I haue made mine ernest complaynt vnto thee O Lorde and thou hast graciously heard mee thou diddest neuer turne from mee in prosperitie nor disdayne mée in trouble and I trust thou wilt neuer forsake mée Lorde this worlde is subiect vnto meruelous mutabilitie the state of men is variable for thou enritchest the poore empouerishest the ritch thou pullest downe the loftie and raysest vp the base yet graunt vnto mée that I may with all meekenes of minde bée well contented with the callyng wherunto thou hast alotted mée and yéelde vnto thée moste duetifull thankes therefore Giue not vnto mée O God the great heapes of worldly wealth nor cast not vpon mée the gnawyng paines of pininge pouertie for ritches make a man not know himselfe mutchelesse God and pouertie manie times is an enemie vnto verteous maners and godlinesse but mercifully graunt vnto mée a resonable competent liuing There are many that haue fallen by abundance and diuerse by lacke but O thou heauenly Father that art only the ritche God vouchsaulf I beeseeche thee to giue mée alwaies a sufficient relieuynge bothe for my body and soule and for the charge of householde whiche thou hast giuen vnto mee and in althynges to auoid most vayne superfluitie Sweete Lorde fixe my minde firmely vpon thee and nothyng els as for worldly things let them séeme vile vnto mee in respect of thee let mee take comfort in thee and not in them suffer no mirth to remayne in my minde nor ioy to harbour in my harte nor pleasure to rest in my thought nor desier to abide in my breast that is not in thee and for thee only If it bee thy will O eternal kyng that I shall liue in thy loue and continue in thy fauour take away from mee the meanes of ordinarie offending thee make mee angrie without sinning humble without faynynge merie without lightnesse sad without out mistrust sobre without dulnesse and trustie without doublenesse Strike into my harte a true feare of thee yet that I doo
not dispayer and a feruent loue vnto thee but yet that I may not presume giue mee vnderstandynge to amende myne owne vnrighteousnesse with discretion and admonish my neighbours of their faultes without dissimulation and that by my woordes and example they may take a paterne of doctrine and liuinge Establish mée in a right trade of wel pleasing thee that my life may bée conformable vnto thy woorthie will reueale vnto th' eies of my soule by inspiration of the holly spirite some sight or taste of thy heauenly ioyes that I may bée caried with delight to accomplish that whiche is pleasant vnto thée and profitable for myne owne selfe A droppe of thy grace shalbée the sea of my saluation a sparcle of thy loue shalbée the flame of my fayth a mote of thy mercie shalbée the heape of my health a sande of thy sight shalbée the banke of my bewtie a grayne of thy goodnesse shalbée the weight of my woorthinesse one fauour of thy celestiall face shalbée the fulnesse of mine eternall felicitie O Lorde God and holly Father cast downe thine eyes from thy sacred sainctuarie and from thy heauenly habitation and béeholde the most acceptable sacrafice whiche our high bishop Iesus Christe thy déere sunne our Lorde offreth vp vnto thy maiestie for our manifolde sinnes and bée mercifull vnto the multitude of our misdéedes Béeholde the precious blood of our most swéete Sauiour crieth yet vnto thée from the altar of the Crosse hee hangeth yet there and still is hée dying vnto thée who séest althynge in present that bée past béefore whose eyes the effectes of all times doone do euer abide as now in dooing consider him O mercifull God and for his sake take pitie vpon vs. I must néedes loue thée O my most déere redéemer Iesus Christe with all my hart with all my soule and with all my power that diddest vouchsaulf to die for my sinnes my soule cleaueth fast vnto thee for thou art hir strength and fortitude graunt vnto mee that I may ensue thy worthy steppes and bée partaker of thy heauenly kingdome accordyng as I haue shewen my sighinges vnto thée and put my whole trust in thée that art the porcion of mine inheritance Amen N ¶ Naked as wee came foorth of our moothers wombe euen so goe wee hence agayne and carie nothyng away with vs of all our labour Consider this woonderfull woorke of God and how that no man can make the thynge streight which hee maketh crooked ¶ The .xvij. Flower NO creature vnder heauen may bryng mée comfort but thou O Lorde of eternall glorie that art the healpe of mans health and surgeon of his soule thou strikest and healest thou bringest a man nigh vnto death and anon restoreth him to life again to th' intent hée may know his owne weakenesse and imbecillitie cleaue the more firmely vnto thy strength and vertue As for man hée is nothynge els but a shew of simple séede and a slip of slender strength and a bubble of boylyng brothe and a branche of fadynge flowers and an handfull of goodly grasse that to day flourisheth in the fielde and to morow is flunge into the fier a frame of moste frayle fleash in whom is no perpetuitie nor endurance Lorde let mée euermore beare this portrature in my minde of mine owne infirmitie considerynge still what I am remembryng alwayes what I would bée then shall I léese likyng of my selfe and longe after the loue of thee for I am the image of thy substance although the looking backe from thy lawes hath soyled mée sore with sinne As I am ful of imperfection of my selfe so supply thou my wantes in thee for when I haue indeuoured al I may my righteousnesse is thine and thou crownest mée with endlesse honour for that which procéedeth only from thee and is so litle agreeable vnto my corrupt nature that it is rather quight alas repugnant My sinnes O Lorde lie foorth in plentie béefore my face I can turne no way but they ouertake mée I woulde faine intreate thee to pardon them and I dare not draw néere thee for dread of them consider my necessitie most mightie God and deliuer mée and graunt most graciously vnto thy sinfull seruant the participation of thy most glorious maiestie What though my sinnes bée as the sandes of the sea and my wickednesse surmount the leaues of the woodde and my transgressions striue in numbre with the flowers of the sprynge yet take thou no reguarde O Lorde vnto the frowardnesse of my hart but like as thou hast many times shewed mercie so now bee pitifull and forgiue mée I haue hungred my souereigne Lorde and God to feede vpon thee that art the breade of life not with the iawes of my fleash but with the mouth of my faith vntil it mai please thée to féede mée at full with the entire contemplation of thy substance whiche I shall sée face to face and also bée séene in thy celestiall glorie when I am discharged of this farthel of frailtie this hope is the harbour of my delight and the assured lookynge for it is the cheifest flower of my Garlande Most gracious gouerner giue mée to drinke of that water wherof who so drinketh shall thirst the more as after the swéetenesse of heauenly thynges whose taste is vnspeakable pleasant and giue mée also to drinke of that water the drinkers whereof shall thirst nomore for euer for it floweth foorth from thée the fountain of immortalitie Truely Lorde there is no cause why I should longe to abide in this life if I were of sutch perfection as was thy Apostle Paule I should perceaue the wickednesse of this worlde and the glorie of thy kyngedome and wishe ernestly as hée did to bée dissolued from this body and to bée with Christe where as hée reigneth in eternitie O Lorde thou knowest my hartie desier is alwaies to serue thee graūt vnto mée of thy gracious goodnesse that I may liue in thy law and run in thy rule and walke in thy way and die in thy faith and that I may bée cléerely deliuered of the bondage of sinne and bee wholy out of dreade of death and dampnation Execute these thinges vpon mee O my moste louynge God and as it shall seeme best vnto thy pleasure most sittyng for my soule abridge the dayes of this Pilgrimage and commence the terme of my true life call mée from this Clay and clothe mée in the wéede of euerlastynge wealth where thou art resident with thy saynctes in eternall glorie Lorde if it so bée that the destruction day of all fleash bée at hande as it is hartely hoped then haue wee great cause to yéelde thée most humble thankes for shortning the time of our trouble and takyng away the occasions of offendyng that thine elect may possesse the longer frute of their ioyes and yéelde vp the summes of a shorter accoumpt O God what a ioyfull day shall that same bée when wée shall béeholde with our eyes those thynges whiche wée haue often