that I maie no more offend thee in them nor in anie other and cheefelie I demaund of thee strength and vertue to chasten mie flesh to refraine my toung to mortifie the appetites of my hart to recollect the thoughts of my imagination that I being altogether so renued and reformed may deserue to be a liuing temple and thy abode Giue me likevvise o lord al those vertues by vvhich this thy dvvelling place mare be not onlie pâ—rified and cleansed but also adorned and decked such as be the feare of thy holie name a most stedfast hope a most profound humilitie most perfect patience a cleare discretion pouretie of spirite perfect Obedience continual strength diligence in al trauails apperteining to thy holie seruice and aboue al a most inflamed charitie tovvards my neighbours and tovvards thee And for asmuch as I deserue none of al these things be mindful o lord of thy mercie vvhich presupposeth our miserie to be put in execution Be mindful Ezech. 33.11 that thou desiâ—est not the death of a sinner as thy self hast said but that he be conuerted and liue Be mindful that thy onlie begoten sonne came not into this vvoorld as he him self said to seeke those that be iust but sinners Math. 9.13 Be mindful that vvhatsoeuer he did and suffred in this vvoorld from the daie that he vvas borne vntill he gaue vp the ghost vppon the Crosse he suffred it not for him self but for me vvhich all I offer vp to thee in sacrifice for my necessities and offenses and for his sake and not for myne ovvne doe I beseeche thee of mercie And for asmuch as of thee it is said that thou vvilt honour the father in his sonnes honour him by dooing good to me Be mindfull that I haue recourse to thee that I enter through thy gates and that to thee as to a true physition and lord I present my necessities and vvounds and so vvith this spirite vvill I cal vppon thee vvith that pâ—aie vvhich the Prophet Dauid made saying Incline Psal 85. o lord thyne eare and heare me because I am needie and poore Keepe my sovvle because I am holy saue o my God thy seruant that hopeth in thee Haue mercie vppon me o lord because to thee haue I cried al the day make glad the sovvle of thy seruant because to thee o lord haue I lifted vp my sovvle Because thou o lord art svveete and milde and of much mercy to all those that cal vppon thee Vnderstand o lord vvith thy eares my praier and listen to the voice of my request In the day of my tribulation haue I cried vnto thee because thou hast heard me There is none like to thee amongst the Gods o Lord and there is none according to thy vvoorkes All the nations that thou hast made shal com and adore before thee o lord and shall glorifie thy name Because thou art great and dooing vvoonders thou onlie art God Guide me o lord in thy vvay I vvill vvalke in thy veritie let my hart reioice that it may feare thy name I vvil confesse to thee o lord my God in al my hart and I vvil glorifie thy name for euer Because thy mercie is great vppon me and thou hast deliuered my sovvle out of the deepest hell Glorie be to the father and to the sonne c. A PRAIER TO THE HOLY GHOST CHAP. X. O HOLY Ghost the comforter that in the holy daie of Pentecost diddest com doune vppon the Apostles and fill theire holy brests vvith charitie grace and vvisdom I beseeche thee o lord for this vnspeakeable liberalitie and mercie that thou vvilt fil my soule vvith thy grace and all mie entrails vvith the vnspeakeable svveetenes of thy loue Com o most holy Spirite and send vs from heauen som one beame of thy light Com o father of the poore o giuer of gifts o light of harts Com o best comforter svveete ghest of sovvles and theire svveete refreshing Com to me o cleanser of sinnes phisition of diseases Com o strength of vveakelings remedie of those that ar fallen Com o maister of the humble and destroier of the proude Com o singular glory of those that liue and only saluation of those that die Com o my God and prepare me for thee vvith the riches of thy giftes and mercies Make me drunk vvith the gift of vvisdom inlighten me vvith the gift of vnderstanding gouerne me vvith the gift of counsel encourage me vvith the gift of strength teach me vvith the gift of science vvound me vvith the gift of pietie and pearse my hart vvith the gift of feare O most svveete louer of those that be cleane of hart kendle burne al my bovvels vvith that most svveete fiar of thy loue that they al being so burned maie be rauished dravven to thee vvhich art my last end and the depth of all goodnes O most svveete louer of cleane soules for so much as thou knovvest that I of my self am able to doe nothing extend thy pitiful hand vppon me and make me leaue my self that so I may be able to passe vnto thee And to this end o lord beate doune mortifie annihil and vndoe in me vvhatsoeuer it shal please thee that thou make me vvholy according to thy vvil that so al my life be a perfect sacrifice to be altogether consumed in the fiar of thy loue O that som one could aford me this that thou vvouldest admit me to so great good Behold that this thy poore and miserable creature daie and night suspireth to thee My sovvle hath thirsted after the liuing God vvhen shal I com and appeare before the face of al graces vvhen shal I enter into the place of that vvonderful tabernacle euen to the face of my God vvhen vvilt thou fill my sovvle vvith the ioye of thy diuine countenance vvhen shal shee be satiated vvith thy diuine presence O fountaine of eternal brightnes turne to enclose me in that depth vvhence I proceeded vvhere I may knovv thee as thou didst knovv me and loue thee as thou didst loue me and see thee for euer in the companie of al Saincts Amen A PRAIER VVHILES VVEE HEARE masse or at anie other time taken out of diuers places of S. Austen CHAP. XI O MOST merciful supreame creator of heauen and earth I the most vile of al sinners together vvith thy holy Church offer vp to thee this most pretious sacrifice of thy onlie begoten sonne for al the sinnes of the vvoorld Behold o most merciful king him that suffereth and gentellie remember for vvhome he suffere h. Is not this peraduenture o lord thy sonne vvhome thou diddest deliuer to death for the remedie of an vngrateful seruant Is not this peraduenture the author of life vvhich being lead as a sheepe to the slaughter disdeigned not to suffer such a cruel kind of death Turne o lord my God the eys of thy maiestie vppon this vvoork of vnspeakeable pietie Consider thy svveete sonne stredched
also committed by thoughts VVhere I shall haue as manie for my iudges as haue gone before me by example of good vvoorkes and so manie shall be vvitnesses against me as haue giueÌ„ me presidents of vertues And yet expecting this iudgment I cease not to giue bridell to my vices but rather more more I lie rotting and corrupting in the dregges of my sinnes stil glutonie maketh me vile pride maketh me vaine couetousnes maketh me niggesh enuie consumeth me murmuration teareth me in peeces ambition puffeth me vp anger trovvbleth me lightnes of maÌ„ners dravveth me out of my self sluggishnes benuÌ„meth me heauines casteth me dovvne and fauour lifteth me vp Thou seest heere the companions vvith vvhich I haue liued froÌ„ the daie of mie childhood vntil this present time these be the frinds vvith vvhome I haue coÌ„uersed these the maisters that I haue obeied these the lords vvhich I haue serued Enter not therfore o lord Psal 142.2 into iudgment with thy seruant because no man liuing shall be iustified before thee for vvhoe is he that shal be found iust yf thou vvouldest iudge him vvithout pitie for this then o lord prostrating my self at thy feete vvith an humble and contrite spirite I vvil vveepe vvith the Prophet and saie Psalm 6. Lord rebuke me not in thy furie nor chasten me in thy vvrath Haue merâ—e vppon me lord because I am vveake heale me lord because mie bones ar trovvbled And mie sovvle is verie much trovvblâ—d but thou lord hovv long Be thou conuerted lord and deliuer my sovvle saue me for thy mercie Because there is none in death that is mindful of thee and in hel vvhoe vvill confesse vnto thee I haue laboured in my sigh I shall euerie night vvash mie bed vvith my teares shall I vveat mie couche Mine eye is troubled vvith furie I am vvaxen old among al mine enimies Glorie be to the father and to the sonne and to the holie ghost As it vvas in the beginning and novv and euer and vvoorld vvithout end Amen THE SECOND PRAIER FOR THE second daie of the praises of God CHAP. IIII. IN this exercise of feare and penance it behoued me o lord to spend all mie life seeing I haue so iust cause vvherefore to feare and vvherfore to lament Yet notvvithstanding al this as the greatnes of thie glorie obligeth vs to vvoorship reuerence thee so likevvise doth it binde vs to praise and glorifie thee because to thee onlie is due a hymne and praise in Sion thou being in deede as thou art a passing great deepenes of al perfections and a maine sea of vvisdom of omnipotencie of bevvtie of riches of greatnes of svveetenes of maiestie in vvhome be all the perfections and bevvties of all creatures in heauen and in earth and those also all in the highest degree of perfection In comparison of vvhich al bevvtie is foulnes all riches at pouretie al povver is vveakenes al vvisdom is ignorance all svveetenes is bitternes and finallie all vvhatsoeuer vve see in heauen and in earth is much les before thee then is a little candel in comparison of the sunne Thou art vvithout deformitie perfect vvithout quantitie great vvithout qualitie good vvithout vveaknes strong vvithout place al vvheresoeuer thou vvilt in vertue omnipotent in goodnes highest in vvisdom inestimable in thy counsels terrible in thy iudgments iust in thy thoughts most secreat in thy vvoords true in thy vvoorks holy in thy mercies abundant vvith sinners most patient and vvith those that be penitent most pitiful Therfore o lord for such a one I dooe confesse and acknovvledge thee for such a one I dooe praise thee glorifie thy holy name Giue thou me light in my hart and vvoords in my mouth that my hart may think of thy â—â—rie and my mouth be ful of thy praises But for somuch as praise is not beautiful in the mouth of a sinner Eccl. 15.9 I request all the Angels of heauen and al the creatures of the vvoorld that they together vvith me praise thee and supplie in this behalfe my faults inuiting them to this vvith that glorious canticle vvhich those holy children did sing vnto thee amiddest the flames of fiar in the fornace of Babilon saying Blessed art thou Daniel 7. ô lord god of our fathers and praised and superexalted for euer And blessed is the holie name of thie glorie and praised and superexalted for euer Blessed art thou in the holie temple of thie glorie and superpraised and superglorious for euer Blessed art thou in the throne of thie kingdom and superpraised and superexalted for euer Blessed art thou that beholdest the deapths and sittest vppon the Cherubines and praised and superexalted for euer Blessed art thou in the firmament of he auen raised and glorious for euer All the vvoorks of our lord blesse our lord praise and exalt him for euer Angels of our lord blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Heauens blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer All vvaters that be aboue the heauens blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer All vertues of our lord blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Sunne and moone blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Stars of heauen blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer All raine and devve blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Al spirits of God blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Fiar and heate blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer VVinter and sommer blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Moistiâ—res and hore frost blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Frost and cold blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Yse and snovve blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Nights daies blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Light and darknes blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Lightnings and clovvdes blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Let the earth blesse our lord let it praise and superexalt him for euer Mountaines and hillocks blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer All things that spring vppon the earth blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer VVelles blesse our lord praise superexalt him for euer Seas riuers blesse our lord praise superexalt him for euer VVhales all things that be moued in the vvaters blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer All byrds of the atre blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Children of men blesse our lord praise superexalt him for euer Let I srael blesse our lord let him praise superexalt him for euer Priests of our lord blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Seruants of our lord blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Spirites and sovvles of iust men blesse our lord praise and superexalt him for euer Holie and humble of hart blesse our lord
shal be so great that ech one of the Saincts bodies shal shine like the sunne in the kingdom of their father Novv if the sunne vvhich standeth in the middest of the heauens being but one be yet sufficient to giue light and comfort to al this vvorld vvhat a light shal so many sunnes and lamps make as shal shine togetherin that place But vvhat shal I say novv of al the other goods vvhich are there There shal be Health vvithout infirmitie Libertie vvithout bondage Bevvtie vvithout deformitie Immortalitie vvithout corruption Abundance vvithout necessitie Quietnes vvithout vexatiō Securitie vvithout feare Knouledge vvithout error Fulnes vvithout lothsomnes Ioy vvithout heauines and Honour vvithout contradiction August There as S. Augustine saith shal be true glorie for none shal be praised by error or flatterie There shal be true honor for it shal nether be denied o such as deserue it nor giuen to such as merite it not There shal be true peace for no man shal be molested either by him self or by others The revvard of true vertue shal be euen he that gaue the vertue hath promised himself for a revvard of the same vvhom vve shal see vvithout ceasing loue vvithout lothsomnes and praise vvithout vvearines There the place is large beutiful bright and secure the companie verie good and pleasant the time alvvaies after one manner not diuided into euening and morning but continued vvith one simple eternitie There shal be a pepetual spring-time vvhich shal florish foreue more vvith the freshnes and svveete breathing of the holie Ghost There al shal reioice al sing and giue continuall praise to that high giuer of al things through vvhose bountiful goodnes they liue and raigne for euer O heauenlie cittie secure dvvelling place countrie vvhere al pleasant things at to be found people vvithout grudging and murmuring quiet neighbours and men vvithout anie vvant or necessitie O that the strife and contention of this present state vvere ended O that the daies of my banishment vvere once finisshed vvhen shal this daie com vvhen shal I com and appeare before the face of my svveete lord and Sauiour Sundaie night of the benifits of almightie God THIS daie thou shalt meditate vppon the benifits of God therebie to giue him thanks for them and to enkendle in thy self a more feruent loue of him vvho hath ben so bountiful tovvards thee And although these benifits be innumerable yet maist thou at the least consider these fiue most principal to vvit the benifits of Creatiō Conseruation Redemption Vocation and other particular and Secrete benifits And first of al touching the benifit of Creation consider vvith great attention vvhat thou vvast before thou vvere created and vvhat God did for thee and bestovved vppon thee before thou diddest merite or deserue anie thing to vvit he gaue thee thy bodie vvith al thy membres and senses and thy sovvle of so great excellencie endued vvith those three noble povvers vvhich be Vnderstanding Memorie and VVill. And consider vvel that to giue thee this sovvle vvas to giue thee al things for so much as there is no perfection in anie creature vvhich a man hath not in him in his manner VVhereby it appeareth that to giue vs this thing alone vvas to giue vs at once al things together As concerning the benifit of Conseruation consider hovv al thy vvhole being dependeth of Gods prouidence hovv thou couldest not liue one momēt nor make so much as one steppe vvere it not by means of him hovv he hath created al things in this vvorld for thy vse and seruice the sea the earth the birds the fishes the liuing beasts the plants and finallie the Angels of heauen Consider moreouer the health vvhich he giueth thee the strength life sustenance vvith al other temporal helps and succours And aboue al this vvaigh vvel the miseries and calamities into vvhich thou seeest other men fall euerie daie and thou thy self mightest also haue fallen into the same yf God of his great mercie had not preserued thee Touching the benifit of Redemption thou maist cōsider therein tvvo things First hovv manie great the benifits haue ben vvhich ovvr Sauiour hath giuen vs by means of the benifit of Redemption and secondlie hovv manie and hovv great the miseries vvere vvhith he suffred in his most holie body and sovvle to purchase vs these benifits But to the end thou vnderstand better and feele in thy self hovv much thou ovvest vnto this thy lord for that vvhich he hath endured for thy sake thou maist consider these fovver principall circumstances in the misterie of his sacred Passion to vvit vvhoe is he that suffreth vvhat he suffreth of vvhome and to vvhat end he suffreth VVhoe is he then that suffreth God VVhat suffreth he The greatest torments and dishonour that euer vvere suffred Of vvhome doth he suffer Of hellish and abominable creatures vvho in theire vvoorks ar like euen to the divels them selues To vvhat end doth he suffer not for anie cōmoditie of him self or anie merite of our part but onlie for the bovvels of his infinite charitie and mercie As concerning the benifit of Vocation consider first of al vvhat a great mercie it vvas of God to make thee a Christian and to call thee to the Catholique faith by the means of holie Baptisme and to make thee also partaker of the other Sacraments And yf after this calling vvhen thou hast by deadlie sinne lost thine innocencie our lord hath raised thee vp from sinne and receaued thee againe into his grace and set thee in the state of saluation hovv canst thou be able topraise him for this so singular a benifit vvhat a great mercie vvas it to expect thee so long time to suffer thee to commit so manie sinnes and to send thee so manie godlie inspirations and not to shorten the daies of thy life as he hath donne to diuers others that vvere in the same state and last of al to call thee vvith so mightie a vocatiō that thou mightest rise vp againe from death to life and open thine eys to the eternal light vvhat mercie vvas it also after thou vvast conuerted to giue the grace not to returne vnto deadlie sinne againe but to vanquish thine enimie and to perseuer in good life These ar the publique and knovven benifits but there be other secrete benifits vvhich no man knovveth but he onlie that hath receaued them and againe there be som so secrete that euen he him self vvho hath receaued them knovveth them not but he onlie that gaue them Hovv manie times hast thou deserued in this vvorld either through thy pride negligence or vnthankfulnes that God should vtterlie forsake thee as he hath donne to manie others for som one of these causes and yet hath not he dealt thus vvith thee Hovv manie euills occasions of euills hath our lord preuented vvith his prouidence ouerthrovving the snares of thine enimie and stopping his passage and not permitting him to execute his vvilie practyses and designements
iustice amongst theeues vppon a crosse But novv seeing thou hast resolued to surpasse and ouercom al motherlie affection and that thou vvilt honour this misterie of the crosse vvherefore doest thou approche so neere vnto the same that thou must carie avvay in thie mantle a perpetual memorie and remembrance of this thy sorovv Thou canst not aford thy sonne anie comfort or remedie but vvel thou maist vvith thy presence increase and augment his torment In deede this onlie vvanted to the increase of his sorovvs that in the time of his agonie in the last instant and conflict of his death euen vvhen the last sighs raised vp his tormented brest he should then cast dovvne his eys altogeather dazeled and dimmed should behold thee standing at the foote of the crosse And because he being neere to the end of his life had his senses so vveakened and feebled and his eyes so obscured vvith the shadovv of death that he could not see a far of thou madest thy self so neere to th' end he might knovv thee and see those armes in vvhich he had ben receaued and caried into Egipt so faint and broken and those virginal brests vvith vvhose milk he had ben nourisshed become euen a sea of sorrovv Behold o ye Angels these tvvo figures yf peraduenture you maie knovv them Behold o ye heauens this crueltie and couer your self vvith mourning for the death of your Lord let the cleere ayre become obscure and dark that the vvoorld see not the naked bodie of your Creator Cast vvith your darknes a mantel vppon his bodie that profane eys behold not the ark of the testament vncouered O ye heauens vvhich vvere created so bright and faire o thou earth clothed vvith such varietie and beavvtie yf you did hide your glorie in this so greate paine yf you that be insensible did after your manner feele the same vvhat then did the bovvels and virginal brest of the blessed mother O al you saith shee that passe by the vvaie consider and behold yf there be anie sorovv like vnto mie sorovv Trulie there is no sorovv like vnto thie sorovv because in al the creature of the vvoorld there is no loue like vnto thy loue After this thou maist consider those seuen vvoords vvhich our lord spoke vppon the Crosse Mar. 23.34 Mar. 23.43 Ioan. 19.27 Ioan. 19.28 Matt. 27.46 Ioan. 19.30 Mar. 23.46 of vvhich the first vvas Father pardon them for they knovv not vvhat they dooe The second vvas to the good theefe This daie shalt thou be vvith me in paradise The third vvas to his most blessed mother VVoman behold thy sonne The fourth vvas I am a thirst The fift vvas My God my God vvhy hast thou forsaken me The sixt vvas It is finished The seuenth vvas Father into thy hands I commit my spirite Consider novv o my sovvle vvith hovv great charitie he coÌ„mended in these vvoords his enimies vnto his father vvith hovv greate mercie he receaued the thife vvhich confessed him vvith vvhat bovvels he commended his pitiful mother to the beloued disciple vvith hovv greate thirst and drith he shevved hovv much he desired the saluation of men vvith hovv lamentable a voice he povvred out his praier and vttered his tribulatioÌ„ before the face of almightie God hovv he performed so perfectlie euen to the verie end the obedience of his father and hovv finallie he commended vnto him his spirite and resigned him self vvholie into his most blessed hands Heere hence it appeareth hou in eche one of these vvoords remaineth inclosed som singular document and instruction of vertue In the first is coÌ„mended vnto vs Charitie tovvards our enimies In the second pitie and mercie tovvards sinners In the third dutie and reuerence tovvards our parents In the fouerth zeale and desire of our neighbours saluation In the fift praier in time of tribulations and vvhen vve seeme to be forsaken of God In the sixt the vertue of Obedience and Perseuerance And in the seuenth a perfect resignation into the hands of God vvhich is the summe and principal of al our perfection Satturdaie morning Of the pearcing our Sauiours side of his taking dovvne from the crosse of the pitiful bevvailing of our ladie and of Christes burial THIS daie thou hast to meditate vppon the pearcing of our Sauiours side vvith a speaâ—e of his taking doune from the crosse together vvith the lamentation of our lady and the office of the burial Consider then hovv after that our Sauiour had giuen vp the ghost vppon the crosse and those cruel ministers had accomplisshed their desire vvhich longed so much to see him dead yet vvith al this the flame of theire furie vvas not quenched because that notvvithstanding such things as had past they resolued to reuenge and flesh them selues more vppon those holie reliques vvhich remained parting and casting lottes vppon his garments and pearcing his sacred brest vvith a cruel speare O ye cruel ministres O ye harts of iron Seemed that so litel to you vvhich his bodie suffred being aliue that ye vvould not pardon it euen after it vvas dead vvhat rage of enmitie is there so great but that it is appeased vvhen it seeth his enimie dead before him Lift vp a litle those cruel eys of yours behold that deadlie face those dimme eys that falling countenance that palenes and shadovv of death for although you be more hard then either iron or adamant stone yea though ye be more hard then your ovvne selues yet in beholding him you vvil be pacified After this commeth the minister vvith a speare in his hand and vvith great force thrusteth the same through the verie naked brest of our Sauiour The crosse shooke in the aire vvith the force of the stroke and from thence issued vvater and bloud vvherevvith ar healed the sinnes of the vvorld O riuer that runnest out of paradise and vvaterest vvith thy streames all the vvhole face of the earth O vvound of this pretious side made rather vvith feruent loue tovvards mankind then vvith the sharp iron of the cruel speare O gate of heauen vvindovve of paradise place of refuge tovver of strength sanctuarie of iust persons sepulchre of pilgrims nest of cleane doues florishing bed of the spovvse of Salomon Al haile o vvound of this pretious syde that vvoundest al deuout harts stroke that strikest the sovvles of the iust rose of vnspeakable bevvtie rubie of inestimable price entrance into the hart of Christ testimonie of his loue and pledge of euerlasting life Next to this consider hovv the very same daie in the euening there came those tvvo holie men Ioseph and Nicodemus vvhoe reared vp their ladders vnto the crosse and tooke dovvne the blessed bodie of our Sauiour into their armes The holie virgin then perceauing that the torment of the crosse vvas novv ended and that the holie bodie of our Sauiour vvas comming tovvards the earth she prepareth her self to giue him a secure hauen in her brest and to receaue him from the armes of
Barabbas vniustlie condemned he caried his ovvne crosse vppon his shoulders he vvas crucified betvvene tvvoe theeues he did drink easell gall and finallie he died a most opprobrious reprocheful death vppon the mount Caluarie in time of greatest solemnitie The third point to be considered is for vvhome he suffered euident it is that he suffred for mankind disobedient vngrateful created of nothing vvho of him self can dooe nothing knovveth nothing nor is ame thing vvorth for a creature of vvhome he ne uer had nor neuer vvas to haue anie neede For a creature vvhich had offended vvas to offend and disobey him so manietimes The fourth point to be considered is in vvhat manner he suffered vvhere vve shall see that he suffred vvith such great patience and meekenes that he vvas neuer offended nor angrie vvith anie bodie vvith so great humilitie that he made choice of the most contemptible death that vvas vsed in those daies vvith so great readines and alacritâ—e that he vvent foorth to meete his enimies vvith so great charitie that he called his frind him that betraied and sould him healed his eare that tooke him regarded vvith eyes of mercie him that had denied him and praied for those that crucified him The fift point to be considered is vvherefore and to vvhat end he suffereth vvhere it is manifest that he suffered to satisfie the iustice of almightie God and to appease the vvrath of his father to accomplish the predictions and propheties of the Patriarches and Prophetes to deliuer vs from the thraldom of hell and to make vs capable of heauen to shevv vs the vvaie to heauen vvith his perfect Obedience and to confound the diules vvhoe by reason of theire pride haue lost that vvhich men dooe gaine through theire humilitie OF THANK ESGIVING CHAP. VIII AFTER meditation folovveth thankesgeuing of vvhich a man must take occasion of the meditation past and giue thankes vnto our lord for the benifit he hath donne vnto him in the same as for example yf the meditation vvas of the passion he must thanke our lord that he hath redeemed vs vvith so great paines And if it vvere of our sinnes for that he hath expected vs so long time to dooe penance yf it vvere of the miseries of this life for that he hath deliuered vs from so manie of them yf of the departing out of this vvoorld and of the hovver of our death for that he hath deliuered vs from the daungers of it and expected vs and giuen vs life to dooe penance and yf it vvere of the glorie of paradise for that he hath created vs to be partakers of so great a felicitie and so like vvise vve maie dooe in the rest And vvith these benifits thou mustioine all the other beneifits of vvhich vve have spoken before vvhich be the bâ—niâ—it of Creation Conseruation Redemption Vocation and Glorification and so tho 〈◊〉 giue thankes to our loâ—d for that he â—ach made thee to his I kenes and image and hath giuen the memorie to remember him vnderstanding to knovvâ—him and evil to loue him and for that he hath given hee an angel to keepe thee from so 〈◊〉 angers and perilâ— and from so manie mortal sinnes and also from deâ—th thou being in sinne vvhich vvas no lesse benefit then to deliuer thee frome erlast ngâ—deaâ—h and forthat he made thee to be borne of Christian parents and gaue thee holie baptisme and the ein his grace and promised thee his glorie and receaued thee foâ— his child Also vvith these benifitâ— thou mustioine other general and particular benifits vvhich thou knovvest to haue receaued of our lord and for these and al others as vvel publique as priuate thou must yeeld him as hartie thankes as possiblie thou maist and inuite al creatures as vvel in heauen as in earth that they assist and help thee to dooe thy dutie in this and vvith this spirite and desire thou maist saie somtimes that Canticle Benedicite omnia opera Doâ—â—ti Domino or els the psalme Benedic anima mea Domiâ—o omnia quae intra me sunt nomini sancto eius Benedic anima mea Domino noli ohliuisci onmes retributiones eius Qui propitiatur omnibus iniquitaâ—â—bus tuis qui sanat omnes infirmitates tuas Qui redimit de interitu vitam tuam qui coronat te in misâ—ricordia miserationibus OF OFFERING CHAP. IX THIS being donne that is vvhen a man hath geuen thankes to our lord vvith al his hart for al these benisits then foorthvvith the hart naturallie breaketh out into that affect of the Prophet Dauid saying Psal 515.12 VVhat shall I yeeld vnto our Lord for all those things vvhich he hath bestovved vppon me And this desire a man in som sort satisfieth vvhen he geueth and offereth vp to almightie God that vvhich of his part he hath and is able to giue him And for this end he ought first to offer vp him self to God for his perpetual sklaue resigning and laying him self vvholie in his hands that his diuine maiestie dooe vvith him as it shal best please him and iointlie he must offer vp to him all his vvoords his vvoorks his thoughts and his paines that is vvhatsoeuer he doeth and suffereth that so al maie be to the glorie and honour of his holie name Secondlie he must offer vp to God the father the merites vvoorkes of his sonne and all the paines vvhich in this vvoorld he suffered for obedience of him euen from the manger vntil the crosse for so much as they al be our substance heritage vvhich he left vs in the nevv testament by vvhich he made vs his heires of al these so greate treasures And in like manner as that vvhich is giuen me is no lesse mine then that vvhich I haue goten by mine ovvne paines and labour so the merites of Christ the right vvhich he hath geuen me ar no lesse mine then yf I had svveate and laboured for them my self And therefore a man maie vvith as much right offer this second present as the first laying dovvne by order al our Sauiours vvoorks and paines and al the vertues of his most holie life his Obedience his Patience his Humilitie his Charitie vvith al the rest because this is the most riche and most pretious offer that maie be offered OF PETITION CHAP. X. IMmediatlie after that vve haue offered vp vnto almightie God this so riche a present vve maie then vvith great securitie in vertue of the same de 〈…〉 vvhat soeuer fauours grace And first â—er vs demaunde vvith great affection of Charitie and vvith desire of the glorie of God that al nations and people of the vvorld maie knovv pâ—aise and adore him as â—heire onlie true God and lord saying euen from the bottom of our hart these vvords of the Prophet Psal 66.4 Let all people confesse thee o God let all people confesse thee Let vs praie also for the Catholike Church and for al the Prelates
shevvest vvherfore dost thou vvithdravve thy self from me O most louing lord hold me vvith thy feare constraine me vvith thy loue and quiet me vvith thy svveetenes I confesse o Lord that I am that prodigall sonne Luc. 15. vvhoe liuing ouer rankly and louing mie self and thy creatures disorderedlie haue vvasted all the substance vvhich thou diddest giue me But novv that I doe knovv mie miserie and pouertie and doe returne pined vvith hunger to the fatherlie bovvels of thy mercie and doe approche to this celestial table of thy most pretious body vouchsafe to looke vppon one vvith eyes of pittie and to com forth to receaue me vvith the secrete beames of thy grace and to make me partaker of the maruailous fruites and effects of this most vvorthie Sacrament for somuch as by it is giuen the grace of the holie Ghost by it ar forgiuen sinnes by it ar pardoned the debts devv vnto sinnes by it deuotion is increased by it is tasted spiritual svveetenes euen in the verie spring of the same by it arrenued all good purposes and desires and by it finallie the sovvle is ioined vvith her heauenlie spouse and receaueth him into her self that by him she maie be ruled defended and guided in the vvaie of this life vntil he bring her to the desired harbour of his glorie Receaue then o pitiful father this thy prodigal sonne vvhoe trusting in thy mercie returneth to thy house I acknovvledge o my father that I haue sinned against thee that I am not vvorthie to be called thy sonne no nether a hired seruant yet for al this haue mercie vppon me and forgiue me my sinnes I beseeche thee o Lord commaund that the garment of Charitie the ring of liuelie faith and the shooes of ioiful Hope be giuen me vvith vvhich I maie goe securelie through the rough and cragged vvaie of this life Let the multitude of vaine thoughts and desires depart out of me for one is mie beloued one mie desired one mie God and Lord. Let nothing heereafter be svveete to me nor delite me but onlie he Let him be al mine and I alhis in such sort that mie hart doe becom one thing vvith him Let me not knovv anie other thing nor loue anie other thing nor desire anie other thing but onlie mie svveete Sauiour IESVS Christ and him crucified VVhoe vvith the father and the holie Ghost liueth and raigneth vvorld vvithout end Amen HEERE FOLOVVETH A PROFESSION OF THE CATHOLIQVE FAITH SET out according to the decree of the holie Councell of Trent I N doe vvith a stedfast faith beleeue and professe al and euerie point conteined in the Simbole of the Faith that the holie Romane Church doth vse to vvit I beleeue in God the Father almightie maker of heauen and earth of al things visible and inuisible and in one Lord IESVS Christ the Onlie begotten Sonne of God and borne of the father before al vvorlds God of God light of light true God of true God begoten not made of the same substance vvith the father by vvhome al things vvere made vvhoe for vs men and for oure saluation came dovvne from heauen and vvas incarnate by the holie Ghost of the Virgin Marie and vvas made man vvas crucified also for vs vnder Pontius Pilate suffered and vvas buried and rose againe the third daie according to the Scriptures ascended vp into heauen sitteth at the right hand of the father and he shal come againe vvith glorie to iudge the liue and the dead of vvhose kingdom there shal be no end and in the holie Ghost our lord and giuer of life vvhoe proceedeth from the father and the sonne vvhoe vvith the father and the sonne is together adored and conglorified vvhoe spake by the Prophets and one holie Catholique and Apostolique Church I confesse one Baptisme for the remission of sinnes and I expect the Resurrection of the dead and the life of the vvorld to come Amen I doe most stedfastlie admit and embrace the Traditions of the Apostles and of the Church and all other obseruances and Constitutions of the same Church I doe likevvise admit the holie Scripture according to that sense vvhich our holie mother the Catholique Church hath holden and doth holde vnto vvhome it doth appetteine to iudge of the true sense and interpretation of the holie Scriptures nether vvil I euer vnderstand nor interprete the same othervvise then according to the vniforme consent of the fathers I doe also professe that there be trulie and properlie Seuen Sacraments of the nevv lavve instituted by IESVS Christ our Lord and necessarie for the saluation of mankind although they be not all necessarie for all men to vvit Baptisme Confirmation Eucharist Penance Extreme Vnction Order and Matrimonie and that these Sacraments doe giue grace and that of them Baptisme Confirmation and Order can not be reiterated vvithout sacrilege I doe also receaue and admit all the receaued and approued Cermeonies of the Catholique Church in the solemne administration of al the a foresaid Sacraments I doe embrace and receaue al and euerie of those things vvhich in the holie Councel of Trent haue ben defined and declared touching Original Sinne and Iustification I doe professe also that in the Masse is offered vp vnto God a true proper and propitiatorie sacrifice for the liâ—e and the dead and that in the most holie Sacrament of the Altare there is trulie reallie and substantiallie the bodie and bloud together vvith the sovvle and diuinitie of our lord IESVS Christ and that there is made a Conuersion of the vvhole substance of bread into the bodie and of the vvhole substance of vvine into the bloud vvhich Conuersion the Catholique Church doth cal Transubstantiation I doe also confesse that vnder ether kind onlie is receaued Christ vvhole and intire and the true Sacrament I doe constantlie hold that there is Purgatorie and that the sovvles vvhich be there deteined ar holpen by the praiers of the faithful Also that the Saincts vvhoe reigne together vvith Christ ar to be vvorshipped and called vppon and that they offer vp praiers to God for vs and that theire Reliques ar to be vvorshipped I doe most stedfastlie affirme that the Images of Christ of the mother of God alvvaies Virgin and of other Saincts ar to be had and reteined and that due honour and reuerence is to be giuen to them I doe affirme that the authoritie of Indulgences vvas left by Christ in the Church and that the vse of them is verie behofeful for Christian people I doe acknovvledge the holie Catholique and Apostolique Romane Church to be the mother and mistresse of al Churches and doe promise and svveare true Obedience to the Bisshop of Rome vvhoe is the Succesfor of S. Peter Prince of the Apostles and the Vicar of IESVS Christ All other things also defined and declared by the holie Canons Oecumenical Councels and chiefelie by the holie Councel of Trent I doe vndoubtedlie receaue and professe and also al contrarie things and