I will not wrong him with so vniust a suspition sith his appearing improueth it his words ouerthrow it his countenance doth disswade it why then should I sucke so much sorrow out of so vaine a surmise Thus Maries trauelling fansies making long voyages in this short iourney and wauering betweene the ioy of her vision and the griefe of her deniall entertained her in the way and held her parley with such discourses as are incident vnto minds in which neither hope is full maister of the field nor feare hath receiued an vtter ouerthrow But as she was in this perplexed manner now falling now rising in her owne vncertainties she findeth on the way the other holy woman that first came with her to the graue whom the Angels had now assured of Christs resurection And as they passed all forwards towards the Disciples Behold Iesus met them saying All haile But they came neere and tooke hold of his feete and worshipped him Then Iesus said vnto them Feare not Go â—â—l my brethren that they go into Gallilee there they shall see me O Lord how profound are thy iudgements and vnsearchable thy counsels Doth her sorrow sit so neare thy heart or thy repulse rebound with such regret by seeing her wounded loue bleede so fast at her eyes that thy late refusall must so soone be requited with so free a graunt Is it thy pitty or her change which cannot allow that she should any longer fast from her earnest longing But ô most milde Phisition well knowest thou that thy sharp corrosiue with bitter smart angred her tender wound which being rather caused by vnwitting ignorance than wilfull errour was as soone cured as knowne And therefore thou quickely applyest a sweete lenitiue to asswage her paine that she might acknowledge her forbidding rather a fatherly checke to her vnsetled faith than an austere reiecting her for her fault and therefore thou admittest her to kisse thy feete the two conduits of grace and seales of our redemption renewing her a Charter of thy vnchanged loue and accepting of her the vowed sacrifice of her sanctified soule And thus gracious Lord hast thou finished her seares assured her hopes fulfilled her desires satisfied her loues stinted her teares perfected her ioyes and made the period of her expiring griefes the preamble to her now entring and neuer ending pleasures O how mercifull a Father thou art to left Orphanes how easie a Iudge to repentant sinners and how faithfull a friend to sincere louers It is vndoubtedly true that thou neuer leauest those that loue thee and thou louest such as rest their affiance in thee They shall finde thee liberall aboue desert and bountifull beyond hope a measure of thy gifts not by their merits but thine owne mercie O Christian soule take Mary for thy mirrour follow her affection that like effects may follow thine Learne ô sinfull man of this once a sinfull woman that sinners may finde Christ if their sinnes be amended Learne that whom sinne loseth loue recouereth whom faintnesse of faith chaseth away firmnesse of hope recalleth and that which no other mortall force fauour or pollicie can compasse the continued teares of a constant loue are able to attaine Learne of Mary for Christ to feare no encounters out of Christ to desire no comforts and with the loue of Christ to ouer-rule the loue of all things Râ—se early in the morning of thy good motions and let them not sleepe in sloth when diligence may performe them Runne with repentance to thy sinfull heart which should haue bene the Temple but through thy fault was no better than a Tombe for Christ sith hauing in thee no life to feele him he seemed vnto thee as if he had bene dead Role away the stone of thy former hardnesse remoue all thy heauy loads that oppresse thee in sinne and looke into thy soule whether thou canst there find the Lord. If he be not within thee stand weeping without and seeke him in other creatures sith being present in all he may be found in any Let faith be thine eye hope thy guide and loue thy light Seeke him and not his for himselfe and not for his gifts If thy faith haue found him in a cloud let thy hope seeke to him If hope haue led thee to see him let loue seek further into him To moue in thee a desire to finde his goods are precious and when he is found to keepe thee in a desire to seeke his treasures are infinit Absent he must be sought to be had being had he must be sought to be more enioyed Seeke him truly and no other for him Seeke him purely and no other thing with him Seeke him onely and nothing besides him And if at the first search he appeare not thinke it not much to perseuer in teares and to continue thy seeking Stand vpon the earth trending vnder thee all earthly vanities and touching them with no more than the soles of thy feete that is with the lowest and least part of thy affection To looke the better in the Tombe bow downe thy neeke to the yoke of humilitie and stoupe from loftie and proude conceits that with humbled and lowly lookes thou mayest finde whom swelling and haughtie thoughts haue driuen away A submitted soule soonest winneth his returne and the deeper it sinketh in a selfe contempt the higher it climeth in his highest fauours And if thou perceiuest in the Tombe of thy heart the presence of his two first Messengers that is at the feete sorrow for the bad that is past and at the head desire to a better that is to come entertaine them with sighes and welcome them with penitent teares yet reckoning them but as herbingers of thy Lord ceasse not thy seeking till thou findest himselfe And if he vouchsafe thee his glorious sight offering himselfe to thy inward eyes presume not of thy selfe to be able to know him but as his vnworthy suppliant prostrate thy petitions vnto him that thou maist truely discerne him and faithfully serue him Thus preparing thee with diligence comming with speed standing with high lifted hopes and stooping with inclined heart if with Mary thou crauest no other solace of Iesus but Iesus himselfe he will answere thy teares with his presence and assure thee of his presence with his owne words that hauing seene him thy selfe thou maiest make him knowne to others saying with Mary I haue seene our Lord and these things he said vnto me LAVS DEO FINIS THE TRIVMPHS OVER DEATH OR A Consolatorie Epistle for afflicted minds in the effects of dying friends First written for the consolation of one but now published for the generall good of all by R. S. AN CHO RA. SPEI LONDON Printed for W. Barret To the Worshipfull M. Richard Sackuile Edward Sackuile Cicilie Sackuile and Anne Sackuile the hopefull issues of the honorable Gentleman maister Robert Sackuile Esquire MOst lines do not the best conceit containe Few words well coucht may comprehend much matter Then as to vse
whose liuely image I do acknowledge in my selfe for I am he that hath most vniustly forsaken thee my louing father and haue riotously consumed my substance and by obeying the appetites of my flesh haue disobeyed thy commandements and by breaking of them haue fallen into the most filthie prison of sinne being brought to extreame miserie out of which I know none other that can helpe me but onely thou my Almighty God whom I haue forsaken Receiue therefore O Lord mercifully the humble that desireth pardon of thee whom thou hast so patiently looked for euen vntill this present houre Alas I am not worthy to lift vp mine eyes vnto thee nor once to call thee father but for so much as thou art a true father in deed may it please thee to view me with thy fatherly compassionate eyes for thy onely sight is powerfull to raise the dead and it is that which causeth all those that wander out of the way to returne againe to themselues For this repentance and sorrow for my sinnes I had not had if thou hadst not beheld me with thy mercies eye When I went wandring afarre off from thee thou didst looke downe euen from heauen vpon me and didst open mine eyes that I might see my selfe and take a view how full fraught I was with infinite sinnes and euen at this instant thou commest to receiue me againe giuing me knowledge and mindfulnesse of mine innocencie which I haue lost I do not request thy most sweete embracings and kisses nor the rich garment that was wont to cloth me neither yet the ring of mine ancient dignitie I sue not to be receiued againe into the state and dignitie of thy sonnes but thou shalt do very much for me in case it may please thee to number me amongest thy bondslaues and so to marke me with thy signe and to fetter me with thy chaines that I may neuer after runne away from thee Againe it shall neuer grieue me to be in this life one of the most abiect slaues in thy house so that I may neuer be separated from thee Suffer me not gracious Lord to runne the erring steps that I haue formerly done for thou didst consecrate me for thy temple and I made my selfe an habitation for the Diuell Thou gauest me armour and didst bind me to be thy true knight and I haue gone traiterously to thy enemies side vsing thine owne weapons against thee thou didst espouse my soule vnto thee in perpetuall charitie and I haue proued disloyall following the loue of vanities more then thy truth and esteemed a creature more then the Creator But now Lord incline thee vnto me I beseech thee O father of mercy graunting me the fauour of thine onely begotten Sonne and the remedie of his most grieuous passion and death graunt me also thy holy spirit that it may cleanse my heart and confirme it in thy grace any fauour that through mine ignorance I do neuer runne againe into my late banishment from whence thy louing kindnesse hath called me backe but that I may continue in thy obedience euen from this present houre of my repentance vnto the last houre of my transitorie life To thee O my Lord be perpetuall glorie honour power and dominion world without end OF THE THREE SORTS OF MEN ALL DIVERSLY affected in things concerning God Men are either OPEN WICKED Licentious and prophane liuers professed enemies of the Law of the Lord Iob 21.14.15 These are borne but after the flesh therefore sauour they onely the things of the flesh and remaine as they are by nature childreÌ„ of wrath Ioh. 3.6 1. Cor. 2.16 Ephe. 2.3 These are neither chosen of God nor called being neither of the Church nor in the same Psal 11.5 Reu. 22.14 1. Cor. 5.12 In these sinne daily increaseth inwardly and outwardly till righteousnesse in theÌ„ be vtterly extinct Psal 36.1.2.3.4 To these the law if it be sent cometh in tables of stone for such is the nature of hearts but they receiue it not the tables are broken before they come at them for these dance as it were about the golden calfe of their owne impietie know not what is become of Moses they breake and violate all Exod. 32. Yet vnto such the Law is giuen and lieth vpon them as a curse and condemnation 1. Tim. 1.9 Deut. 27.15 26. These keepe not the Law neither are they kept by the Law but breake forth into all sinne and wickednesse Iob 24.13 c. Psal 73.8 9. These hate the Law and professe their hatred Psal 2.3 Iob 22.17 These are naked yet without shame though all men see their filthinesse they hide it not Ier. 6.15 and 8.12 These call not vpon God Psal 14.4 These accustomed to do euill neither change â—hemselues nor â—heir actions Ier. 13.23 These are strangers not children â—or yet seruants â—n the houshold â—f faith Ephes 2.12 Psal 58 3. These go not out â—o meete the â—ridegroome â—either come to â—â—e wedding â—â—ough they be â—uited Mat. 22. â—5 These are â—â—rknesse both before God and the world Pro 4.19 These though sicke vnto death yet like the mad man possessed of diuels Mar. 5 2 3 c. which raued and felt not nor diâ—cerned his owne miserie they seeke no remedie for their disease Prouerb 14.16 23.34 35. These do the euill which they loue and would do Iob 20 12.13 Prou 2.14 These expect no saluation either by themselues or by any other Isa 22.13 These die by Moses sword as the Idolaters Exod 32. the Madianites Numb 31. the Amorites Sihon Ogh and the like These both shall perish and be punished with euerlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord their portion shall be with the diuels in the lake of fire and brimstone which is the second death Mat. 25.30.41 24.51 Iob 13.16 2. Thes 1.8.9 Reue. 20.10.13.15 The wicked shall turne into hell Psal 9.17 The reioycing of the wicked is short the ioy of Hypocrites is but a moment Iob 20.5 HYPOCRITES Outwardly relâ—gious but inwardly wicked hating Gods Law and the true righteousnesse Isay 29.13 Mic. 3.11 These seeme to be renewed and born againe of the Spirit they are inlightned boast of heauenly grace yet continue they stil in their old naturall corruption vnwashed from their filthinesse Heb. 6 4. Isa 65.5 Ioh. 8 41.22 Pro. 30.12 These are called but not chosen are in the Church for a while but not of it Mat. 22.14 1. Ioh. 2.19 In these righteousnesse increaseth outwardly but sin liueth inwardly and aboundeth Isa 1.11 c. Ier. 3.4.5 To these God giueth the stonie tables and they receiue them but Moses face so shineth that they cannot looke vpon him vnlesse he veile his countenance They outwardly keepe the law rest therein they also teach others to keepe it yet are themselues transgressors of it the inward power and end thereof they cannot see Exod. 34.29 30 c. 2. Cor. 3.13 14. Rom. 2.17 22 23 c. These though they keepe not the Law yet
me and redeemed me in whom all things are possible vnto me and without whom I am able to do nothing thou seest who I am that here prostrate my prayers and poure out my heart vnto thee What I would haue and what is fit for me thou knowest My soule is buried in flesh and bloud and would faine be dissolued and come vnto thee I am vrged against my will and violently drawne to thinke that which from my heart I detest and to haue in mind the poyson and bane of my soule O Lord thou knowest my mould and making for thy hands haue framed me and with flesh and skin thou hast cloathed me And lo this flesh which thou hast giuen me draweth me to my ruine and fighteth against the spirit If thou helpe not ô gracious aide I am ouercome and vanquished If thou forsakest me I must needs faint with all discouragement Why doest thou set me contrary vnto thee and makest me grieuous and a burthen to my selfe Didst thou create me to cast me away Didst thou redeeme me to damne me for euer It had bene good for me neuer to haue bene borne if I were borne to perish Oh most mercifull father where are thy old and wonted mercies where is thy gracious sweetnesse and loue How long shall mine enemies reioyce ouer me and humble my life vpon earth and place me in darknesse like the dead of the world What am I ô Lord that thou settest me to fight alone against so mightie subtill and cruell enemies that neuer ceasse to bid me a perpetuall battaile O Lord why doest thou shew thy might against a leafe that is tossed with euery winde and persecutest a drie stubble Wilt thou therefore damne the work of thy hands Wilt thou throw me from thy face and take thy holy spirit from me Alas ô Lord whither shall I go from thy face or whither shall I fly from thy spirit whither shall I flie from thee incensed but to thee appeased whither from thee as iust but vnto thee as mercifull Do with me Lord that which is good in thine eyes for thou wilt do all things in righteous iudgement onely remember that I am flesh and bloud fraile of my selfe and impotent to resist Shew thy selfe a Sauiour vnto me and either take away mine enemies or graunt me such a supplie of thy grace to enable my defects that without wound or fault by thee and with thee I may ouercome them sweet Iesus Amen A godly deuout prayer O Gracious Lord and sweete Sauiour giue me a pure intention a cleane heart and a regard to thy glory in all my actions Possesse my mind with thy presence and rauish it with thy loue that my delight may be to be imbraced in the armes of thy protection Be thou light vnto mine eyes musicke to mine ears sweetnesse to my tast and contentment to my heart O Iesu I giue thee my body my soule my substance my fame my friends my libertie and life dispose of me and all that is mine as shall be most to thy glory I am not mine but thine therefore claime me as thy right keepe me as thy charge loue me as thy child fight for me when I am assaulted heale me when I am wounded reuiue me when I am spiritually killed receiue me when I flie and let me neuer be quite confounded giue me patience in trouble humility in comfort constancie in temptations and victorie against my ghostly enemies graunt me good Father modestie in countenance grauitie in my behauiour deliberation in my speeches puritie in my thoughts and righteousnesse in mine actions Be my sunshine in the day my foode at the table my repose in the night my clothing in nakednesse and my succour in all needes Let thy bloud runne in my minde as a water of life to cleanse the filth of my sinnes and to bring forth the fruite of life euerlasting Stay mine inclinations from beating downe my soule bridle mine appetites with thy grace and quench in me the fire of all vnlawfull desires Make my will pliable to thy pleasure and resigned wholly to thy prouidence and graunt me perfect contentment in that which thou allottest Strengthen me against occasions of sinne and make me stedfast in not yeelding to euill yea rather to die then to offend thee Lord make me ready to pleasure all loth to offend any louing to my friends and charitable to mine enemies Forsake me not lest I perish leaue me not to mine owne weakenesse lest I fall without recouerie Graunt me an earnest desire to amend my faults to renew my good purposes and to performe my good intentions Make me humble to my superiours friendly to my equals charitable to my inferiors and carefull to yeeld due respect to all sortes Lastly graunt me sorrow for my sinnes thankfulnesse for thy benefits feare of thy iudgements loue of thy mercies and mindfulnesse of thy presence Amen Considerations to settle the mind in the course of Vertue THe first consideration How waightie a thing the businesse of mans soule is Whosoeuer being desirous to take due care of his soule commencing a spirituall course must consider that he hath taken such a businesse in hand that for importance necessity and profit summoneth all other traffickes and affaires of the world yea and to which onely all other businesse ought to be addressed for herein our menage is about the saluation of our soule our chiefe iewell and treasure of which if in the short passage of our brittle and vncertaine life we take not the due care that we ought for a whole eternity after we shall euermore repent and be sorrie for it and yet neuer haue the like oportunitie againe to helpe it Secondly the better to conceiue the moment and waight of this businesse let vs consider what men vse to do for their bodily health for we see they make so principall a reckoning of it they spare no cost nor toyle nor leaue any thing vnattempted that may auaile them to attaine it They suffer themselues to be launced wounded pined burnt with red hot irons besides diuerse other extreame torments onely for this end How much greater miseries ought we to endure how much greater paines and diligence ought we to employ for this health of our soule which is to suruiue when the body is dead rotten and deuoured with wormes And to suruiue in such sort that it must be perpetually tormented in hell with intollerable torments or enioy endlesse felicitie in heauen And therefore of how much greater worth and waight we thinke the soule and the eternall saluation or damnation thereof then the momentarie health or sicknesse of our bodies so much greater account and esteeme ought we to make of the businesse of our soule then of any other worldly or bodily affaire whatsoeuer For what auaileth it a man saith Christ to gaine the whole world and make wracke of his soule If therefore we keepe diuers men for diuers offices about our bodie and many thousands do liue
that beareth me such a cankred malice that he careth not to increase his owne paine so that he may worke me any spirituall yea or corporall harme Fourthly I must print that saying of Christ in my minde He that perseuereth vnto the end shall be saued for not he that beginneth nor he that continueth for a moneth or a yeare or a short time but onely he that perseuereth vnto the end of his life shall be saued Wherfore the same cause that moued me to beginne ought also to moue me to continue that the reward and crowne of my good resolution be not cut off by any want of perseuerance Let not the cries of mine enemies moue me let me with Saint Paul say The world is crucified to me and I to the world And with Dauid It is good for me to cleane vnto God Finally let me imitate the ensample of Christ that perseuered on the crosse vnto death for my sake though often called vpon to come downe Fiftly I must consider that in what state so euer of grace or merit of damnation I beginne the next life I must and shall vndoubtedly perseuer in it according to the words of Salomon Wheresoeuer the tree falleth there shall it be whether it be towards South or North that is towards heauen or hell for both the paine of this continueth for euer and the ioy of the other is also euerlasting If therefore I will perseuer in heauen let me perseuer in the way that leadeth vnto it and neuer forsake the painefulnesse of it vnto the iourneyes end The passions of this life are not condigne and comparable to the future glorie and it is extreame follie for auoiding a short and transitorie paine to hazard the losse of euerlasting ioy and put my selfe in perill of perpetuall bondage in sarre more extreame and endlesse torments The sinners perseuer still in wickednesse and seruice of the Diuell The worldlings perseuer in pursuing vanities and following the world yea and that with most seruile toile and base drudgerie and not without many bodily and ghostly harmes how much more ought a true seruant of God perseuer in Gods seruice and not seeme by forsaking him in the way to condemne him for a worse maister then the world or the Diuell whom many thousands serue to the end to their owne damnation Let me remember that the first Angell for want of perseuerance became a diuell Adam for want of the same was thrust out of Paradise and Iudas of an Apostle became a prey of hell Finally there be many thousands in hell fire burning that beganne very good courses and for a time went forward in the same and yet in the end for want of perseuerance were damned for euer What good a soule loseth by mortall sinne THe grace of the holy Ghost The friendship and familiaritie with God All morall vertues infused and gifts of Gods Spirit The inheritance of the kingdome of heauen The portion of Gods children and patronage of his fatherly prouidence which he hath ouer the iust The peace and quietnesse of a good and quiet conscience Many comforts and visitations of the holy Ghost The fruite and merits of Christs death and passion What misery the soule gaineth by mortall sinne COndemnation to eternall paine To be quite cancelled out of the booke of life To become of the child of God the thrall of the diuell To be changed from the temple of the holy Ghost into a denne of theeues a nest of vipers and a sinke of all corruption How a Soule is prepared to iustification by degrees Faith setteth before one eyes God as a iust Iudge Angrie with the bad Mercifull to the repentant Of this faith by the gift of Gods Spirit ariseth a feare by consideration of Gods iustice and Our ownâ— sinnes This feare is comforted by hope grounded in Gods mercie and the Merits of Christ Of this hope ariseth loue and charity to Christ for Louing vs without desert Redeeming vs with so many torments Of this loue followeth sorrow for offending Christ of whom we haue bene so mercifully Created Redeemed Sanctified Called to by Faith Of this sorrow ariseth a full purpose to auoid all sinne which God aboue all things detesteth The diuell aboue all things desireth Aboue all things hurteth the soule A short Meditation of mans miseries VVHat was I O Lord what am I what shall I be I was nothing I am now nothing worth and am in hazard to be worse then nothing I was conceiued in originall sinne I am now full of actuall sinne I may hereafter feele the eternall smart of sinne I was in my mother a lothsome substance I am in the world a sacke of corruption I shall be in my graue a prey of vermine When I was nothing I was without hope to be saued or feare to be damned I am now in a doubtfull hope of the one and in a manifest danger of the other I shall be either happie by the successe of my hope or most miserable by the effect of my danger I was so that I could not then be damned I am so that I can scarce be saued what I haue bene I know to wit a wretched sinner what I am I cannot say being vncertaine of Gods grace what I shall be I am ignorant of being doubtfull of my perseuerance O Lord erect my former weaknesse correct my present sinfulnesse direct my future frailtie from passed euill to present good and from present good to future glorie sweete Iesus A deuout prayer to desire pardon and remission of our sinnes O Most mightie Lord and Creator of all things when I thinke with my selfe how grieuously I haue offended thine infinite Maiestie with my sinnes I wonder at mine owne follie when I consider what a louing and bountifull father I haue forsaken I accurse mine ingratitude when I behold how I am fallen from such a noble libertie into such a miserable bondage I condemne my selfe for an inconstant foole and know not what other thing I may set before mine eyes but onely hell and damnation for so much as thy iustice from which I cannot flie putteth a great tetror into my conscience but contrariwise when I consider thy great mercie which as the Prophet witnesseth exceedeth all thy workes then do I feele forthwith a fresh and pleasant aire of hope to refresh and strengthen againe my weake and sorrowfull soule Wherefore should I then dispaire to obtaine pardon of him who hath so often times in the holy Scriptures inuited sinners to repentance saying I desire not the death of a sinner but that he should liue and be conuerted Moreouer thine onely begotten Sonne our sweete Sauiour Iesus Christ hath reuealed vnto vs by many parables how ready and willing thou art to graunt pardon vnto all such as are penitent for their sinnes This he signifieth vnto vs by the Iewell lost and found againe By the strayed sheepe brought home againe vpon the shepheards shouldiers and much more by the comparison of the prodigall sonne
Father grant me pardon of all my sinnes through the death of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ make me to please thee alone grant me to be thy gratefull sonne heire increase in me that iustice whatsoeuer which is giuen me and granted from heauen that I may continue and end my life in the same increase in me that faith which thou hast giuen me kindle my loue of thee and make it more apparent that by thy helpe and the presence of thy grace and the accomplishment of thy holy wil I may obtaine euerlasting life which thou hast promised vs to the end I may praise thee and giue thee thankes in thy kingdome for euer and euer Amen A Prayer to God the Sonne O Thou maker and redeemer of mankind Iesus Christ who saidest I am the way the truth and the life the way in doctrine precept and examples the truth in promises the life in reward I pray thee by thy vnspeakable charitie wherewith thou daignest to imploy thy selfe wholly for our saluation suffer me neuer to wander from thee who art the way neither euer to distrust in thy promises who art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou doest promise neither to repose or relie on any other thing because thou art eternall life than which there is nothing more to be desired neither in heauen nor in earth By thee haue we learned the true and ready way to eternall saluation lest we should wander any longer in the Labyrinthes of this life Thou didst teach vs exactly how to beleeue what to do what to hope and in whom we ought to rest by thee we haue learned how vnhappie we were borne through our first father Adam by thee we haue learned that there is no hope of saluation except by faith in thee Thou hast taught vs that thou art the onely light that shinest to all men in the desart of this wolrd coÌ„ducting them through the night of their minds from the Egyptian darknesse to that blessed Land which thou promisest vnto the meeke and such as follow thy humility For in vs was nothing but vtter darknesse who neither could see our calamity neither know from whence to seeke the remedie of our misery thou daignedst to enter into the world vouchsafedst to take vpon thee our nature that thy doctrine might disperse the cloud of our ignorance that by thy precepts thou mightst direct our feete in the way of peace by the examples of thy life thou didst limit out a path for vs to immortality and beating it with thy steps thou madest it of a tedious and rough an easie and beaten way So becamest thou vnto vs a way that knoweth no errour in which lest we should be wearied thy bounty with great assured promises vouchsafed to assure vs for who could be wearied that thinketh how in following thy footsteps there is an heritage of eternall life prepared for him Therefore whilst we are in this iourney thou wouldest in stead of a staffe be an assured hope vnto vs whereby we might be sustained Neither was thy goodnesse coÌ„tented herewith but acknowledging the frailty of our natures in the meane space with the comfort of the holy Spirit thou repairest our courages to the end that we may more willingly run vnto thee And as thou being made a way vnto vs driuest away all errour so becoming our truth thou takest away al distrust Finally being made life vnto vs thou giuest heate vnto those that are dead in sinne a life through thy holy Spirit which quickeneth all things vntill all mortality laid aside in the resurrection we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee by reason that thou art vnto vs all in all things For it is eternall life to know the Father and the Sonne and the holy Ghost to be one true God Wherefore I beseech thee O most mercifull Father to increase faith in me who am thy vnworthie seruant lest at any time I wauer in thy celestiall doctrine increase obedience in me lest I swerue from thy precepts increase constancy that walking in thy waies I neither be allured by the inticements of Satan nor deiected by his terrors but that I may perseuere in thee who art rhe true way to my liues end Increase my faith that possessed of thy promises I may neuer waxe slow in the study of godlinesse but forgetting those things I haue left behind me I may alwaies striue and endeuour for more perfection Increase thy grace in me that daily more and more being mortified my selfe I may liue and be incouraged by thy holy Spirit fearing nothing but thee than whom there is nothing more amiable glorying in none but in thee who art the true glorie of all the Saints wishing nothing but thee than whom there is nothing better desiring nothing but thee who art full and perfect felicitie with the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A prayer to God the holy Ghost HOly Spirit our Aduocate who on Whitsunday didst descend vpon thy Apostles filling their bosomes with charitie grace and wisedome I pray thee by that thy vnspeakable mercie and liberalitie that thou wilt vouchsafe to fill the secrets of my soule with thy grace and water my inward heart with the vnspeakable sweetnesse of thy loue Come holy Ghost from heauen send a beame of thy light Come thou Father of the poore come thou giuer of gifts come thou light of hearts come thou gracious comforter thou sweete guest of my soule my pleasant refresher Come thou Physition of those that faint come thou purger of eies come thou streÌ„gth of the fraile come thou remedie of sinnes come thou doctor of the humble come thou destroyer of the proud come thou excellent ornament of all vertues come thou onely saluation of the dying Come my God adorne a bed for thee in which I may worthily entertaine thee with all thy riches and mercies fill me with the gifts of thy wisdome illuminate me with the benefit of vnderstanding gouerne me with the gift of counsell confirme me with the gift of fortitude instruct me with the gift of science wound me with the gift of pietie and pierce my heart with the gift of thy holy feare O sweet louer of cleane hearts burne inflame all my bowels with the sweete fire of thy loue that being inflamed they may be carried rauished into thee who art the center and finall end of all my good ô sweete louer of â—oly soules since thou art not ignorant that I can do nothing of my selfe nor by my selfe stretch out thy fauorable hand ouer me grant that I may forsake my selfe flie vnto thee mortifie extinguish and dissolue in me whatsoeuer is displeasant vnto thee that in all things thou mayest conforme me vnto thy will that my life hereafter may be a perfect sacrifice in thy sight or rather an offering which may wholly be consumed in the fire of thy loue O who shall giue me the grace that I may at least attaine this chiefe good Looke vpon me ô Lord looke vpon me and see here this thy poore creature my soule sighing after thee day and night how she thirsteth after God when shall I come and appeare before the presence of thy grace When shall I enter into that admirable place of thy Tabernacle that I may attaine thâ— house of my God When wiâ—â— thou fill me with the light of thâ— countenance When shall I bâ— satiate with the presence of thy glory When shall I by thâ—â— meanes be deliuered from aâ—â— temptations and when shall ouercome this frailty of my moâ—talitie O eternall fountaine oâ— light bring me backe againe 〈◊〉 the Abysse of eternall goodnesse by whom I am created that â—ere I may know thee euen as I am knowne of thee and may so loue thee as I am loued by thee that I may see and enioy thee in the societie of all the elect euen as thou also hast seene me from euerlasting Amen FINIS