for I acknowledge my manifolde iniquities and I am hartely sorie for my sinnes I am woe that euer I went awrie thou seest Lord the contrition of my hart and my sighing is not hid from thée take no reguarde to my crimes that are past but harken how I purpose to amende only guide mée with thy grace shunne not the sute of a sinner but heare the prayer of him that putteth his trust in thee as thou most louingly hast promised Thou art almightie O Lorde my God and canst graunt whatsoeuer is asked giue vnto my soule an hartie féelyng of true deuotion fulfill mée with the Charitie and louynge kindenesse of thy deere sunne which hee expressed when moste humbly hée offred himselfe vpon the Crosse died the bitter death and shedde his precious bloud for the sinnes of mee and many Lorde if my teares were in quantitie match to the déepe sea and my sighes were as the smoke of a Fornace and my sobbes coulde breake the harde Diamonde and my waylynges were equall vnto the noyse of thundre and my sorow were sutch as no tongue can expresse yet could I not sufficiently lameÌ„t for the guilt of my gréeuous offences Thou hast giuen mee an harte to vnderstande thee and eies to béehold thee in thy woorthie woorkes giue mée also I pray thee a desier to walke in thy will and then I am certayne I shall want nothynge that is needefull for the good estate of my bodie or soule aboue all giue mée the quietnesse of a calme conscience and seperate mée not from the hope of thy health I haue prayed vnto thee my swéet God for perfection of minde so I béeséeche thée also sende mée the strength and firmitude of bodie with al the powers therof to thy pleasure preserue the corporal life of my soueraigne thy faithfull seruant our gracious gouerner likewise of my parentes friendes and kinsefolke vouchesaulfe to bée fauourable vnto my feere whom thou hast sent mée in thy feare and stande good father vnto my poore remainder the béeloued moitie of my life If thou graunt not my petitions thou art true notwithstandyng for God heareth not sinners and if thou giue eare vnto my prayers thou art merciful for thou commaundest mée to aske and I shall receaue and if I obtayne it is only thy méere liberalitie no desert of mine shew mée thy mercie that I may bee hearde and make mee worthy O Lorde to receaue Thou hast taught mée to pray O deliuer mée from the greate éeuill saue mée from the mouth of the monstrous Dragon whiche continually prosecuteth mée and with the sheild of thy might deliuer mée from his perilous hornes for his most gréedy desier is to entrappe my life and to deuoure my soule whiche thou haste created Wherefore O Lorde incessantly I crie vnto thee acquite mee from my daylie aduersarie whiche whether I sleepe or wake whether I eate or drinke or whatsoeuer I doo by all meanes bothe day and night lieth in waite priuely or openly to shoote his venemous shaftes against mee and to sley my soule but bee thou my gracious protectour If thou Lorde bée on my side I estéeme not the force of any foe there is nothynge to hurt where thou arte to helpe there can no fende of darcknesse impugne where the Lorde of light doth defende let mée not perish Lorde through lacke of thy succour for in my hart I haue made thee the full refuge of my hope and the rampier of my health Confesse I must néedes that the deuises of my hart haue driuen mee from my duetie and the imaginations of my minde haue augmented my mischeif but I trust Lorde that in the ritchnesse of thy mercies thou wilt thinke on my pouertie and in the plentie of thy goodnesse thou wilt remembre my scarcitie of perfectioÌ„s and take fauourable compassion vppon mee O eternall Lorde I powre not foorthe my prayers béefore thy presence trustynge in the strength of mine owne righteousnesse but in thy greate and manifolde mercies saue mée Lorde for thy déere sonnes sake preserue mée from slaundrous tungues and hatefull hartes defende mée from mishappe pestilence famine murther and sudden death I béeséeche thee I will singe with my mouth and giue thankes with my harte and set foorth thy glorie most glorious God and I will conforme all the members of my body that they shall doo thy will I wil bee wholy the Lords and the Lorde shal bee the porcion of my patrimonie refuse mée not for my will shall alwayes bée with thée Amen E. ¶ Euery mans woorke shalbeo made manifest the day shall declare it bicause it shal bee reuealed by the fier and the fier shall trie euerie mans woorke what it is ¶ The .xij. Flower EVerlastyng God and most mercifull Father thou haste stirred mée vp with the liuely feelyng of an vnfayned faith this day to call vpon thy most holly name increase I béeséethe thee continually that godly desier within my breast for I know thou hast guiftes enow in store for vs all and thou wilt heare the humilitie of an hartie praier Heare mée now therefore O my Lorde for I stande a far of criynge with the Publican Lorde haue mercie vpon mée which am a sinner and with the Leaper Lorde if it bée thy will thou canst clense mée and with the faithfull Centurian Lorde my seruant is very sicke and like to die but say thou the woorde and hée shall bée made whole What doo théese woordes signifie other O Lorde but that I am in miserie and fayne woulde bée reléeued I am in sorow and fayne would bée comforted I am in distresse and fayne woulde bee succoured I am in sinne and fayne woulde bée pardoned and I come vnto thee for thou art the only woorker of wealth and Lorde of mercie and I hope thou wilt helpe mée Haue mercie vpon mée O Lorde haue mercie vpon mée for I had neuer so mutche néede my offences are increased and my force is diminished aâ—d if I would take in hand to write the millians of my misdeedes that dayly doo burden my bodie and sinke my soule it were néedeful that thou shouldest create in mee a thousande new toongues I can hide nothyng from thée that whiche I haue committed in secrete lieth manifest béefore thy celestiall eyes for at the dooynge of all thynges thou art present and thou art the perpetuall bee holder of my harte and all my delightes déedes and deuises of minde are as cleare in thy sight as is the light of the nooneday and more clearer But harken now awhile O my soule forsake thy worldly businesse and carefull cogitations for a season bée at leasure vnto God and take thy rest in him entre into the secret closet of thy harte and shut foorth all other occupations and when thou art there alone then séeke for the lorde and hée will séeke for thée and if thou list thou shalt surely finde him And when thou hast founde him say then vnto him O lorde my harte hath sought thy face
wherof may bee the one of you by our most prudent Prince doubtlesse at the secret motion of GOD raysed vnto sutch highnesse in Honour as match with the best inferiour to none I neede seeke for no farther occasions of commendation or auntient titles of worship or honour the siluered heares giuing euident token of the golden wit and the honourable age â–ª of the verteous forepassed life and the many yeres of the blessing of the most highest god On th' other side bewtified with a louing Lady the ofspringe of an excellent race Nice to rightwoorship full Grandsiers daughter to a woorthy Knight Schollar to a learned scholemaister Sister to a right honourable Lady Moother of mutch hoped impes Aunt to a peerelesse couÌ„tesse Wife to a noble Counseller Ladie of a Godly Famely Subiect to a louinge Prince a trewe woorshipper of Almightie god Vnto whose good pleasure for the prolonging and continuance of both your liues in increse of godlie Honour and all other delightes apperteininge whereby the race of this transitorie life may bee made lesse irksome to the bodie or preiudiciall to the soule I am bownden dayly to pray the effect whereof hee graunte who tendreth our iust requestes and is the only giuer of all goodnesse At London this first day of Ianuarie 1574. Your honours euer at commaundment T. Twine FATIS VOLENTIBVS VIRTVTE DVCE No worldly pelfe see thee from God do call Incline thine hart to doo the thyng is iust Confirme thy Faith that thou doo neuer fall Holde fast on GOD in him repose thy trust Obserue thy wayes amende what is a misse Lay vp thy wealth where rust may do no harme Amende thy crimes while vacant time there is Submit thy cause vnto Gods mightie arme Auenge thee not when thou canst well repay Neuer let vices harbour in thine hart Needes vrgent law consider thou alway Eke to the poore doo of thy goodes impart Beware of Pride by Glorie set no price Avvay from giltlesse blood turne backe thy face Consider sutes weigh causes once or twice Open thy mouth on wydowes wofull case Nothing from Praier let thee once disseuer Ensue this lore and thou shalt liue for euer there consisteth life and welfare vnto my sowle and by breatch and violation nothing else but seuere sentence of finall dampnation Therfore I cannot tell most miserable wretch as I am how I shuld presume to approche thée for mercie I dare not shew my selfe beefore thée but if it were possible I would gladly hide my self from thy sight where thou mighst not finde mée out that by sutch meanes I might escape thy dreadfull iudgement Howbeit O Lorde thou art the mightie God to whom all things in heauen and earth are knowne whose eies béeholde what is done in the top of the highest and in the bottome of the deapest places in the world In thy sight Lord the most secret thoughtes of the harte are open and from thée there are no cogitations pretences practises deuises nor the smallest motions of the mind hidden Vnto thée therefore with tremblinge and teares I returne appealing from thy high dread and terryble throne of iust iudgement remoouing my cause to thy most swéete amiable pleasaunt and comfortable court of thy manifold mercies Euen there Lord thou hast layde vp sutch store and abundance of graces pardons forgiuenes of sinnes that they do surmounte the numbre and ouersâ—read the greatnes of al thy wonderfull woorkes Héere then it is O my God that I dare to appeare béefore thy diuine Maiestie a fylthye sinner béefore a mercifull God a very lumpe of wickednes beefore the eternall creator of all thinges of inestimable wisdome that takest mercie vppon our weakenes and infirmitie béecause thou wotest well the stuffe and substaunce wherof thou hast made vs. Béeholde Lord I call vnto mée thy dearelybéeloued sonne my most louing redéemer and sauiour Ihesus Christe to bée myne aduocate according vnto his own fréewil and voluntarie offering in whom and through whom by his most precious blouddeshed vnto thée vpon the acceptable altare of the Crosse in liew of the double death that wée should al haue died for our-most horrible offences Pardon I béeséech thée O god my gréeuous iniquities forgyue mée all my wickednes release my necligences remit mine ignorances abandon the lothsomenes of my sinnes which from my mothers wombe vnto this present day I haue coÌ„mitted or shall do hereafter vnto my liues ende That béeing so clensed and purified from all contagion of sinfull impuritie let mée obtayn a liuely and feruent fayth at thy handes stedfastly to call vpon thée in most hartie prayer Lord in all my necessities aduersities troubles and afflictions confirme my harte that I may put my whole trust and affiance in thy maiestie and séeke none other meanes nor take none other comfort but in reading thy worthy woorde or in recourse to thée in most faithful and effectuall supplications If at any tyme Lorde as is the frailtie of our corruptible nature and the incessant suggestions of Sathan our auncient enemie I féele in my selfe any faintnes or fayling of feruencie in calling continually vppon thée kindle thou then my hart with the heauenly heate of thy holy spirit Graunt mée grace to crie with thy hollie Apostle for encrease of faithe that béeing awaked and stirred vppe through thée I may enioy the effect of my godly desiers which thou hast promised to yelde vnto mée through thy sonne Iesus Christ my sauiour Performe my God that whiche thou hast indented with thy selly seruant who with anguishe of minde séeketh after the comfort of thy face continue in mée the custome to call vpon thée in praier and all the powers of my body shal not cease to sing thy sacred praise Amen J. ¶ If yee beeing euil know to giue your children good giftes how mutch more will your Father which is in heauen giue good thinges to them that aske them ¶ The second Flower IN most hartie hope of thy manyfold mercies and with lowly reuerence O euerlasting God loe thus I draw nighe vnto thée béeing sore laden with th'infinite number of my sinnes trusting in thy fatherly goodnes and entier loue which thou bearest vnto mankinde thou wilte discharge mée of mine vnrighteousnes and wash away al mine infirmities Thy louing kindenes hath ben inestimable which thou hast borne vnto mée since my simple conception in the tender intrailes of my mother within whose body thou didest laye forth the platforme of my body and gauest vnto mée the representatioÌ„ of a man thy bestbéeloued and cumliest creature After this in due maturitie of time according to the established and ordinarie season assigned by thy heauenly wisedome thou broughtest mée foorth into this worlde my first tune giuyng proofe of the vnhappie condicion that I should enioy therin Lorde thou knowest how that so soone as I was deliuered froÌ„ my mothers wombe euen then I béegan my life in féeblenes and sorow and the my thoughte kéepe myne eies from seing it myne eares
from hearing it and my sense of féeling from conceauing delight in it But cause mée to take a singular delectation in all thinges that maye please thée put away from mée al erring from thy waies all wéerines of thy will all lothsomnes of thy loue Take from mée all pride and self liking that I may conceaue no good opinion of my selfe for that which is none of myne own let mée not think I am ritch in thée when I am poore that I sée when I am blinde that I am hid when I am naked that I am iust when I am vnrighteous that I am somthing when I am nothing As for the infinitie of my offences which in numbre surpas the sandes of the sea giue vnto mee a cléere sparcle of thy heauenlie light O my god that I may béehold them a penitent hart that I may confesse them plentifull teares that I may bée waile thē a wonderfull mislikinge that I may abhorre them O Lorde is there any thing that flesh an Bloud may glorie of in thy sight no truely for thou hast asked vs what wée haue which wée haue not receaued from the fountaine of thy fulnes wée haue drawne all that wée haue enioyed and of our selues there is not one that doth good no Lord not one Create in mée therefore O gracious Lorde a new hart and a new soule confirme mée in thy faith that I may not fall erect mee in all good woorkes that bée acceptable in thy sight then cannot my mouthe cease but alwayes bée shewyng thy péerelesse praises and milde mercies Amen C. ¶ Come not in the path of the vngodly and walke not in the way of the wicked Cast all your care vpon God for hee careth for you ¶ The thirde Flower COme vnto mée all yée that trauell and bée heauie laden criest thou O my most swéet sauiour and I will refresh you Here now I come vnto thée offryng my selfe béefore thy heauenly maiestie lowly fallyng downe vpon the knees of my hart holdynge vp the handes of my Faith wherby I may take most assured hope of thee and come vnto thée Draw mée vnto thee for els I am not able to come I can doo nothynge therto of my selfe not so mutche as thinke one good thought mutchlesse merite or deserue to presume vnto thee vpon respect of any mine owne woorthinesse As for my woorthinesse it is vnwoorthinesse béefore thée my thoughtes bee sinfull my deedes bee damnable and if thou haue reguard vnto my merites then am I sure to haue damnation for my desert and Hell for mine hier O thou almightie béefore whom the Angels tremble at their impuritie the Sonne is fowle the Moone is filthy the Starres vncleane and the heauens are corrupt what can I haue to boast of but of mine owne natural vnclenlinesse and that I am the childe of perdition Supplie thou my defects O God and what is wantyng in mee make it perfect through thee which art the summe of all goodnes and perfection vnto the righteous let mee not depart destitute from thee for in thee is the fulnesse of felicitie Heere where I am Lorde I am laden sore and greeuously ouerpressed with the burden of my sinnes they weigh mee greeuously downe to the grounde I cannot looke vp and my crusshed bones doo ake with extreeme wéerinesse Come O Lorde O come speedely and set to thy helpyng hande take from mée this wright of wickednes cleere mée from this clogge of corruption and seuere mee from this sinke of sinne Humble my Harte that I may haue no vayne likyng of my self and that my freindes neighbours and acquaintnance finally the world fall into no displeasure against mée therfore but especially thy maiestie for it is a greeuous offence Fortifie my minde with the strongest armour of pacience that I may take in good part all mockes scoffes reproches and persecutions for thy truethes sake and when I am prooued let mee bee founde faithfull Confirme mee fully O my creator in thy Trueth and al godlinesse let no shininge of promotions nor thundre of threatninges nor windie puffes of wordlie vanitie pluck mee from that whiche is right but let thy will bee my way and thy law my delight Driue away all dimnesse from mine eyes and sluggishnesse from my feete that I may speedely beeholde and diligently fulfill to my abilitie the least poynt and iote of thy preceptes wherto when I haue applied my selfe yet am I to to mutch an vnprofitable seruaunt notwithstandynge let thy tendre mercie alwayes preuent mee O my moste sweetest God. Thou hast lified mee vp alost in the sight of thy people and haste indued mee with greate honour aboue my peeres and equalles graunt vnto mee likewise so mutche to excell them in vertue and godlinesse make mée a worthy minister and steward of thy giftes consideryng that all power and aucthoritie commeth from thee and that thou raisest the vngodly on high to cast him downe low and the loftier his seat is the more great and gréeuous is his fall Engendre in mée good Lorde a greedie desier to do Iustice that hauing thée alwaies béefore mine eies and printyng thy iudgements within my hart I may bee free from all affection and pure from all partialitie hauyng no respect to the persons but vprightly weighyng the causes that thereby the trueth may bee aduaunced and vniustice condempned Remooue from mee all corruption in iudgement and vnrighteousnes in dealyng kéepe my mouth from lesinges and my handes from bloud remembryng that thou art the searcher of the hart and raines that shalt come to iudge the quicke and the dead repaying vnto euery man accordyng vnto the woorks of his owne hands Forgiue mée O my Lorde and my God the wickednesse of my fore passed life remembre not mine offences neither the offences of my predicessours to lay them vnto my charge lay foorth the direct line of thy law béefore my féete that I may walke therein with out erryng regenerate a new will within mée to perseuere in thy way holde mee vp therin that I doo not fall pricke mee foorth that I doo not fainte and my toongue shal talke continually of thy moste glorious goodnes Amen H. ¶ Happie are those seruants whom the Lorde when hee commeth shal finde wakyng Verely I say vnto you that hee shall girde himself and make them to sit downe to meate and will come foorth and ministre vnto them ¶ The fourth Flower HArken vnto the voice of the Lord thy God O my feely soule and heare what cheerefull promises hée hath reposed in store for thée namely that when soeuer thou repentest thée of thy sinnes from the bottome of thy hart hée will blotte out the remembrance of them for euermore so that they shall neuer bée imputed vnto thée O come then with spéede and with all submission cast foorth the intollerable burden of thy moste lothsome lustes béefore the Lorde call vnto him that hée woulde set open the gates of his manifolde mercies vnto thée giue thée a perfect penitent hart
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
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
recorded in our hartes and heare with our eares whiche wée haue read with our eies and feele with our sence that whiche wée haue manifoldly conceaued in our mindes but all as it were in a cloude or veyle but then to enioye them in expresse and perfect kinde Mortefie the man of sinne I pray thée good Lorde which reigneth with in my mortall body that alwayes rebelleth agaynst my spirite depressinge mee downe euer in ignorance and enuiyng mée the fruition of thy noble bewtie let no feare of any corporall death deterre mée from the moste heauenly féelynge of sutche a ghostly contemplation If once the fulnesse of this effect were brought vnto wisshed ende wée should not néede with sutche desier to make sute for our sinnes for in thy kyngdome O most pure god there diuelleth no wickednesse nor infirmitie but eche toongue is busie in singyng thy prayse all laude and honour bée vnto thée O most mightie God for euer and euer worlde without ende Amen ¶ A COMPLAINT TO ALMIGHTIE GOD in bitternesse of soule of one wrapped in aduerfitie TOu art my creator for thou haste made mee thou arte my god for I doo honour thee O Lorde God of Hostes shew vnto mée thy sauynge health in the midst of the aduersities that haue ouerta ken mée for whilst I am oppresied with woes and erie vnto thee from the deapth of my harte and woulde fayne aspire with my voyce vnto the toppe of thy mercie I am waxed faynt with féeblenesse my throate is become sore and I am nothyng the néere of helpe Hast thou forgotten mée my lorde am not I thy wretched seruant and sunne of thy handmaiden Sumtime waies in the tendrenesse of thy most milde mercies withdraw thy scourges for I am alreadie feebled layde wast and vtterly forlorne Shew mée Lorde are my sinnes more haynous in thy sight then any mans else that thou hast singularly plagued mée aboue the rest And haue I not bought déere enough my secret offences Are they all pure that flowe in golde that walke in silkes that féede on deinties that sléepe on downe that abounde in possessions that kéepe companie with princes that liue in all worldly wealth and am I made poore abiect contēptible forsaken and castaway bicause I am only sinfull Turne thee O Lorde into my comfort and remembre that I am but fleash and blood set not thy might agaynst the infirmitie of my mould for I acknowledge that I haue aggrauated the frutes of thy wrath and the dayly déedes of my neclected duetie ly foorth béefore my face I cannot excuse my selfe of the greatest sinne there is no punishment that may bée made matche vnto my maliciousnesse it is to light whiche thou hast layde vpon mée for mine offences Weigh my sorowes O God I call vnto thée from the botome of a broken harte and a sighynge soule and a tormented minde cease of the sowernesse of thy pretence and mollifie thy moode into mercie conuerte my pouertie into sufficiencie my contempt into some reguarde take from mée thy descrued plague that I cannot prosper whiche some terme éeuell fortune and erect mée into a place where the good giftes may bee seene whiche thou hast béestowed vppon mée It is Lorde a gréeuous wounde to my hart when I béehold the good happe that some men haue and how euery thyng goeth awrie with mee that I take in hande not that I am sorie at their good successe but it irketh mee that I finde not the like Thei liue in good case in whom there is not that which resteth in mée they square in abundance and I lurke in want they take their ease and gayne I labour and liue by the losse they sléepe and waxe ritche I toyle and euer am poore they stande still and it commeth vnto them I runne after it and still it flieth from mée I haue bin fayerly promised but I sée no perfourmance at al that ensueth and they that should doo mee good either they cannot or they will not either I come to rathe or to late vnto them or els they feede mée with shales and another enioyeth the frute either they put mee of with delayes and O Lorde I perish in the meane season Note my sweete God how vncourteously I haue bin dealt withal for my friendship I haue found hatred sutch as I haue bin principall to procure them releife haue bin the chief causers to cast mee out of my liuinge I haue bin accused without cause for that I neuer ment I am supposed to bee other then I am I am hit in the teeth with other mens faultes and hard borne for things I can not mend I am heauelie friended of sutch as shoulde fauour mee they are readie to take from mee that which I haue which of duetie should giue mee that which I lacke and O God thou knowest mine innocency and how vndeseruedly they doo it I haue bin obedient to my power but my portion is alotted as I had bin otherwise I was borne as of thy seruant Sara but I am reputed as one of the sunnes of Agar it were almost infinite to shew how I haue bin afflicted and I am now oppressed with a burden that I cannot sustaine stayne vnlesse thou bée my singular good God and I hope herein thou wilt haue a speciall reguarde vnto mée Euer hetherto thou hast stirred vp woorthy vessels to relieue the woes and cure the cares of sutche as were wrapped in aduersitie hast thou raysed none to helpe mée O Lorde Surely I do constantly béeléeue that thou wilt not leaue mée vnlooked to although at this present I see almoste no signe of succour and the welspringes of my blood bée waxed drie towardes mée and thou hast multiplied the numbre of my kinnesfolkes aboue my fréeinds and slender bée the twyne whereon the stay of my simple liuyng dependeth Suffre then not to want I béeséeche thée that haue fréeindly looked vpon my penurie stande thou good Father vnto them that haue dealt with mée as their naturall childe let not their barnes bée the emptier nor their bagges the lighter nor their houses the desolater nor theyr hartes the heauier nor their heyres the poorer and when it shall please thée then haue mée also in remembrance as I stande not in doubt of thy gracious goodnesse Lorde let my hope take effect as the lookyng for that day hetherto hath bin cheif cause of the lengthnynge of this my lingrynge lothed life FJNIS ¶ Imprinted at London in Fléet-streete by William How dwellynge at Temple Barre