body also O most sweete Iesus contaminate with many crimeâ—… this night and al other times sucâ—… rest that I may neuer depart from thee who art eternal tranquillitie neither at any time forsake theâ—… or through the dulnesse and sluggishnesse of my slothfull flesh beâ—… forgetfull of thee and thereby beâ—… thrust into the perpetuall agitatâ—… on and damnation of incessaâ—… trouble For which cause O eternal an most mercifull Lord I comment my spirit into thy hands for thoâ—… our most mercifull Sauiour haâ—… redeemed vs on the wood of thâ—… crosse suffer not my spirit O Lord to sleepe in sinne and saint therein lest I bee buried in eternall death â—…ut watch ouer mee and intend â—…y safety O most faithfull shepheard suffer mee not being destiâ—…ute of thy helpe to be swallowed 〈◊〉 the gulfe of my sinnes Protect me vnder the shadow of â—…hy wings and suffer me not to be â—…ntangled with extraordinary and â—…nnecessary sleepe but raise mee â—…n due time that wakened in that sort I may cheerefully endeuour my selfe to sing thy praises and intend thy seruice that I may thinke of thee and being raised by â—…hy power I may performe the â—…orks of iustice and seeke thy heaâ—…enly kingdome with my whole â—…eart that at length by thee with â—…hee in thee I may obtaine eterâ—…all light and celestial rest Amen Another praier before sleepe GRant vnto mee O my God the watching I may vigilantlie â—…and in thy presence as often as 〈◊〉 shall fortune me to sleepe let my sleepe bee without sinne and if in my waking I should commit any misdeed grant me O Lord pardoÌ„ for thy mercy sake and if sinne in my sleepe let thy clemency pardon mee and by the memory of thy martyrdome giue mee a quiet time of sleepe and deliuer mee from euill dreames and filthy imaginations and for the whole night bouchsafe me a sleepe full of tranquillitie lest wickednesse haue the power ouer mee and euill cogitations ful of peruersnesse seduce mee Giue me thine Angel of light that may keepe all the members of my body and deliuer mee from cursed concupiscence by that liuing body that was cruâ—…ified for mee Let me lay me downe to rest and sleepe in peace and let thy blood bee the keeper of mee and my soule which is thine image Giue libertie to thy handiworke and let thy right hand defend the bodie which thou hast fashioned with thine owne hands and enuiron mee with the wall of thy mercies as it were an acceptable fortresse and bulwarke that when the body shall rest and sleepe it may bee defended by thy vertue and let my sleepe bee as a sweete sinelling incense before thy maiesty neither let the enemy approch my bed for thy mercie sake I will heare and execute thy will O my God who lodest the night with the tranquillitie of the iustice of our redeemer Iesus Christ. For thou art the true light and thy glorie dwelleth in the light and the children of light adore thee dwelling in the light Iesus the Word of the Father vnto life haue mertie on mee for thy mercie sake to whom with the Father that sent thee and the holy Ghost bee all praise for euer Amen Iaculatorie prayers to bee had alwaies in memorie When any sudden feare assaileth thee BE vnto mee O Lord a tower of strength against the face of mine enemy If the corrupt flesh prouoke thee PIerce my flesh with thy feare for I haue trembled at thy iudgments If an ill suspicion ouertake thee CReate in mee O Lord a new heart and giue me a new spirit If vndecent sadnesse ouer-hale thee GIue me the ioy of thy saluation and confirme mee with a principall spirit If vaine glory seduce thee NOt vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but to thy â—…ame giue the glorie If desperation molest thee GOd is my hope froÌ„ my youth from the wombe of my mother thou art my protector If thou be afflicted in minde HElpe me and I shall be safe I will meditate alwaies vpon thy iustifications If sloth assaile thee EXcite thy power O Lord and come conuÌ„rme mee in thy words lest I faile in the way If labour tire thee BEhold my humility and my labour forgiue mee all my sins If wrath disturbe thee GIue mee patience O Lord peace to thy seruant lest I lose the crowne of my soule in heauen For thou hast said In your patience you shall possesse your soules If desire of honour and promotion tempt thee INcline my hart O Lord to thy testimonies and not vnto couetousnesse turne away mine eies lest I see vanitie and quicken mee in thy way If gluttony sollicite thee THe kingdome of heauen is not meate drinke but peace and ioy in the holy Ghost It is the Spirit that quickneth the fiesh profiteth nothing Is euill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee VVHose tinage and superscription is this And hearing that it is Ceâ—…ars that is the diuel of this world say let thy money bee with thee to thy perdition now the doore is shutte and our Lord careth his passe-ouer here I haue no leasure to open vnto thee If any blessing of God happen to thee VVHat shal I yeeld vnto our Lord for all the benefits he hath bestowed vpon mee How much â—…west thou mâ—… soule And turâ—…g to the angels lay Come and heare and I wil show you all yâ—…e that â—…are God what hee hath 〈◊〉 to my soule And turning thine eies vnto God himselfe it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shalt thou say O Lord thy mercy is great toward me Iâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persecution IUdge them O Lord that hurt mee ouerthrow them that fight against mee Take the sword and shield and arise to do me helpe When thou seest thou art 〈◊〉 by God VVHerefore O Lord art 〈◊〉 departed farre from mee Doest thou turne thine eies aside in opportunities in tribulation Stay with vs O Lord for it waxeth night Against detractors SAue mee O God for the righteous faile and truth faileth amongst the children of men Let the Lord confound all deceitfuil lips and the tongue that speaketh great things For our enemies O Lord lay not this sin to their charge because they know not what thy do When we addressâ—… our selues to studie BLessed art thou O Lord teach me to doe thy will open mine eies that I may consider the wonderfull works of thy Law A man may sometimes lift vp his heart by affection of repentance in these words TUrne thy face from my sinnes O Lord and blot out all my offences Create in mee O Lord a new heart Sometimes with an affection of gratitude BLesse the Lord O my soule and forget not his benefits Sometime with an affection of loue I Will loue thee O Lord my strength God is my foundation my refuge and my deliuerer God is my helper and I will hope in him Euen as the Hart desireth the
and the directions of my superiors onely follow those things which are of the Spirit O most bountiful Iesu giue me perfect renouncement and hatred of my sinne and perfect conuerston of my heart vnto thee that all my thoughts and all my desires may bee fixed on thee and in thee onely O life without which I am dead O truth without which I am deceiued O way without which I go astry O saluation without which I perish O light without which I walk in darknes Suffer me not O Lord suffer mee not to be at any times drawne from thee for I liue cnely in thee without thee 〈◊〉 die in thee I am saued and without thee I am lost in thee I am somewhat without thee I am nothing because I had not bene at all except thou hadst bene in mee and except I were in thee thou shouldest not bee in mee Bee thou therefore O good Iesu in my memorie in the morning by the same may I know thee in the same â—…et me finde thee when I remember thee delight in thee and deriue my pleasures from thee from whoÌ„ all things by whom all things in whom all things are Amen The third prayer for the loue of God IF yâ— duty whereby we are bound to our benefactors for the benefits we haue receiued be so great if euerie of the bounties wee receiue bee as it were brands and motiues of loue if the sire waxe in greatnes according to the multitude of the fuell O Lord how great a fire of loue ought there iustly burne in my heart if the matter of thy bounty be so infinite which kindleth nourisheth the same If the whole world as well visible inuisible with all that which is found therein bee but meere benefits of thine towards vs how huge ought that flame of my loue bee which ought to glow in me And that so much the more because I ought not to loue thee for these benefits onely but also for that in thee all the causes and reasons of loue are to bee found and they euery one of them in the highest degree of perfection For if we consider thy goodnes who is found better than thou art if wee respect thy beauty thou art the fairest one whose face the angels desire to contemplate if wee seeke for bounty sweetnesse who is toâ—…ee found more sweete and benigne than thou art if we desire riches and wisdome who richer or wiser than thou art 〈◊〉 friendship who will soue any thing more thaÌ„ he that pawned his life for vs Now if we returne vnto benefits O Lord from whom proceedeth all that which wee haue but from thee what shall wee say of hope when as from thee alone and from thy mercie wee hope and crpect whatsoeuer we want if by the only right of nature wee owe much dutie to our carnall parents who is more father than he of whom it isâ—… Call not your selues a father on the earth for you haue one Father who is in heaueÌ„ If the husband be so tenderly beloued of his wife what other spouse hath our soule than thy selfe O Lord who shall replenish the bosome of my heart and my desires but thou If the Philosophers say that the finall end is beloued with infinite loue who is my beginning who my latter end but thou O Lord for froÌ„ whence tooke I my originall and whither shall I go to be perfected but from thee and in thee From whom is all that which I haue from whom hope I to receiue the same which I want but from thee Finally if sâ—…tude bee the cause of loue to whose similitude and likenesse is my soule created if not to thine So then if this speciall title and euery one of the rest bee motiues of loue what ought that to be that is deriued from all these vnited together verity as the Sea is more spacious than all other flouds that enter into the same and by how much it ouercommeth the rest in greatnesse by so much also is thy loue more abundant greater and more excellent than all other eternall loues Since therefore I haue so iust causes O Lord and so pregnant occasions to loue thee why should I not loue thee with all my heart with all my soule with all my strength and inward thoughts O my hope my glorie my ioy O my amiable beginning O my sacietie and sufficiencieâ—… when shall that day bee when I shall truely loue thee and embrace thee with my whole heart WheÌ„ shal I shew my selfe gratefull vnto thee in all things and for all things When shall I feele all that mortified m ine which is opposed against thee WheÌ„ shal I be wholy thme WheÌ„ shal I ceasie to be mine own WheÌ„ shall that houre come when nothing shall liue in me but thy selfe When shall I feele my selfe wholy inflamed with thy loue WheÌ„ wilt yâ— rauish mee perforce When wilt thou make me drunke with that milke of thy teares When wilt thou transferre mee wholy into thee When shall I see that happy day when all impediments and perturbations of the minde taken away thou wilt make mee one spirit with thee so that hereafter I shal not be drawn from thee Ah Lord how much cost it thee to redeeme me but being once redeemed how easily canst thou do good For when yâ— doest good vnto man what is takeÌ„ out of thy house what is lost of thy riches what is taken out of thine infinite treasures Why O Lord doth thy wrath fight with thy mercy against mee whereas thou art thâ—…ea of infinite liberalitie and 〈◊〉 Remember therefore O Lord that I am thine thou art mine Fly me not therfore O Lord but suffer mee to finde thee out I make a long iourney 〈◊〉 stand ofeÌ„ I often returne let it not grieue thee O Lord to expect mee who cannot keepe company with thee O my God and my saluation why am I so idle why runne I not which speedie alacritie vnto thee the chiefest good in whom at once are all goodnesses found I will loue thee O Lord with an ardent and strong loue I will stretch the armes of my affections and desires that I may embrace thee the sweet spouse of my soule from whom I promise vnto my selfe all goodnesse The Iuâ—…e so strongly embraceth her neighbouring tree that euery twist thereof seemeth to bee a seuerall arme for sustained by this helpe it groweth high and attaineth to full perfection but O Lord to what tree shall I cleaue but vnto that which planted-on the mountaine of Caluarie is become a sure supporter vnto me The Iuy increaseth not so largely neither extendeth the beauty of her branches so far being sustained by the tree as my soule increaseth in vertues and graces beeing vnderpropped by this tree Why therfore are not all the members of my body turned into armes that on euery side I may embrace thee why shall I not loue thee why shall I not put all my trust 〈◊〉 confidence
healed my wounds by thy Sacraments thou hast satisfied by thy dolors for my defaults now in Heauen thou sittest on the right hand of thy Father as mine aduocate what neede many wordes Thou art made vnto me wisdome and iustice sanctification and redemption and therefore all goodnesse What impudence were it therefore in me not to loue my Lord who did all this for my sake to whom I am bound vnder so many titles benefits If men with the same loue where-with they affect them selues do also loue al those things which are their owne why should I not also loue thee O Lord if I would haue thee to bee mine and that by so many offices and benefits in things so pregnant And if for euery one of these benefits I owe thee my whole heart and not this one onely but more if I had them what shall I owe thee or what am I not indebted vnto thee if we ioyne all these benefits together What iniquitie therefore should it be not to giue one heart wh◅h I haue vnto him to whom I owe so many and other diuerse things And if euery one of these benefits be a goade or prouocation to loue yea and arrowes to pierce the hearts of men how shall I choose blit burne amids so many flames of loue How comes it to passe that I am altogether cold amidst so many weapōs how escape I from wounds How comes it to passe that I perseuer in the hardnesse of my heart as it were without sense O Lord I lament in thy presence the dulnesse insensibility of my heart I confesse the infidelity thereof for thou raining into it innumerable causes of loue yet receiuest nothing from y◠came that deserueth so many fauours O heart more felon than furious beastes more insensible than stones more hard than Adamant that is not mollified by so many strokes I pray thee therefore O thou fairest amongst the children of men grant that I may desire thee loue thee as much as I list as much as I ought Thou art immeasurable and oughtest to be loued beyond measure especially of vs whom thou hast so loued so saued and for whom thou hast done so great and so many things O loue that alwaies burnest art neuer extinct sweet Christ good Iesu charity my God inflame me wholy with thy fire with thy loue with thy sweetnes with thy affection with thy desire with thy charitie with thy pleasure ioy which is holy and good which is chast and cleane that wholy filled with the sweetnes of thy loue wholy kindled with the flame of thy charity I may loue thee my most sweet Lord with my whole heart with all my soule with all my strength with al my intention and let nothing bee in me that doth not loue thee And for that to loue is to wish well to him wee loue and thou O Lord aboundest with so much goodnesse that I cannot wish thee more than thou hast that onely thing I wish that thou be possessed of my heart also and that all that is mine may be thine and for thine infinite glory I giue thee heartie thāks This likewise do I desire that al creatures should serue thee honor thee praise glorifie thee and that the whole earth should be filled with thy praises Let this be alwaies my desire this my meat this my dainties to praise thee alwaies let thy laudes be alwaies in my lips But because praise is not seemely in the mouth of a sinner let the Saints and all the spirits of the celestiall throne praise thee continually for to them praise belongeth O all ye works of that Lord therefore blesse yee the Lord praise yet and magnifie him for euer O yee Angels and Archangls blesse yee the Lord praise yee and magnifie him for euer O yee vertues dominations blesse ye that Lord praise him and magnifie hime for euer O ye prince-domes powers blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer c. Yee blessed thrones in which God sitteth an iudgeth blesse ye the Lord praise him c. O ye Cherubins Seraphins that burne altogether inflamed with the loue of your creator blesse ye the Lord praise him c. O yee Apostles and Euangelists founders of the Christiā Church blesse yee the Lord praise him c. O yee glorious hosts of Martyrs blesse yee the Lord praise him c. O all ye renownced and chaste virgins blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer Blessed is the God of our Fathers blessed bee the name of thy glorie holy and laudable and magnified for euer and euer Amen The first prayer vnto the holy Trinitie expressing the Maiestie thereof LOrd God without beginning immortall incomprehensible incircumscribed incorporall indefinite vnsearchable inuisible immutable euery where present but hidden euery where al but immeasurable who by thy neuer too much praised wisdome hast created this huge world and placed man in the same holy Trinity one God haue mercie vpon me If that Publican in the Gospel durst not lift vp his eies to heauē but standing afar off strooke his breast saying God be merciful vnto me a sinner if that holy penitent was affraid to appeare before the presence of our Lord but standing behinde neare his feete obtained remission of her sins by him teares flowing from her eies if that holy Patriarch Abraham willing to talk with thee o God said shal I speak vnto my Lord whereas I am but dust and ashes If all these were so humble and so reuerent in respect of thee comming before the sight of thy diuine maiestie thy most holy what shall a poore miserable sinner doe such as I am what shall dust and ashes doe what shal the Abysse of all miserie sins do But because o Lord I cannot obtaine that feare reuerence which is due to so great a maiesty except I fixe mine eies immediatly on the same giue mee leaue to dare to lift vp mine eies vnto thee neither let the brightnes of thy glorie bee an impediment to the frailty of my sight Truely I see that thou art that great God that transcendest al the reach of our vnderstanding I know that no vnderstanding created can comprehend thee and although this be thus yet can I not do any thing more profitable than to fire mine eies on thee Therefore O most high omnipotent merciful iust faire strong stable simple perfect incomprehensible secret and yet present withall inuisible and yet seeing all things immutable changing and renewing al things whom altitudes dilate not neither limits restraine nor variety changeth nor corruption wasteth nor affliction fasteneth on nor ioyes moue in his essence from whom neither obliuion detra◅h nor to whom memory addeth any thing to whom neither things that are past are past nor things to come shall succeed to whom nothing gaue beginning nor time augment neither any thing shall giue end for thou
in thee Helpe mee O Lord my Sauiour draw me on high after thee for the weight of mortalitie doth alwaies depresse me Thou o Lord that ascendedst the tree of the Crosse that thou mightst draw all things vnto thee thou that through so unmeasurable charity didst couple two-natures so different together and madest one person of them that we might be made one with thee Grant mee this one thing o Lord and it suff◅eth mee For the riches of this world satiate me not I onely will thee I seeke thee I desire to see thy face I will aspire alwaies to thy loue and with the Prophet I will sing I will loue thee o Lord my strength God is my foundatiō my refuge God is my helper and I will hope in him my protector and the horne of my saluation and my defender Praising will I call vpon our Lord and I shall be safe from mine enemies The fourth prayer for obtaining of the loue of God ON the bended knees of my heart deuoured in the depth of mine own abiectnes with a◅ are and reuerence I come before thy sight o my God as one the most vnhappie poore and vilest creature of the world I set my selfe neere the flouds of thy mercy by the riuer of thy graces before the brightnes of the true Sunne of iustice whose beames are spread ouer the whole earth and communicate themselues freely to all those that shut not the window against them Behold a masse of chalke a rude and impolisht trunck cut from the tree is presented to the hands of the most wise workmaster make of it O most merciful Father that which thou hast decreed to doe Great is my boldnesse in that a creature so vile dare demand a loue so precious excellent as thine is Truly I would considering my great indignity require some lesser thing at thy hāds but what shal I doe wretch that I am whereas thou cōmandest me that I should loue thee Thou hast created me to the ende I should loue thee and threatnest mee except I loue thee Tho◅dst die that I might loue thee and commandest mee that I should aske nothing more feruently at thy hands than thy loue yea so much destrest thou to bee beloued by mee that seeing mee without thy loue thou didst institute thy Sacramēt of admirable value whereby my heart might be enflamed with thy loue O my Sauiour whom am I that thou shouldest require my loue to this end thou shouldest seeke so many and so admirable meanes What am I to thee but a torment a crosse and a vaily tribulation And what art thou to me but saluation rest and all goodnesse If therfore thou louest me why am I euerie waies trouble some vnto thee why shall I not loue thee again who art euery way so profitable and beneficiall to me Possessed therefore O Lord of these pledges of thy loue and confirmed by that thy mercifull commandement whereby euen vnto my liues ende it pleased thee so bountifully to muite me and command mee to loue thee by this thy singular grace I require another like fauour namely that thou wilt first giue me that which y◠wouldest haue me giue thee for I cannot giue thee this except thon first giue it me for I am not worthy to loue thee but thou art worthy to beloued by mee I therefore dare not request thee to loue thee but that it might please thee to giue me leaue to loue thee Fly not O Lord flie me not despise not to bee beloued by thy creatures with the vtmost of their loue O God who art essentially loue increated loue infinite loue loue without measure not onely a louer but all loue from whence the loue of all Seraphins euery creature proceedeth in like manner as the light of all the starres from the brightnes of the sun why shall I not loue thee how can I chuse but be burnt with this fire of loue which inflameth the whole world and each thing contained in the same yea welnigh burneth them O God who art essentialy goodnesse it selfe from whom all that is good whatsoeuer is called good from whom the goodnesse of all liuing creatures no otherwise than al riuers from the sea is deriued in comparison of whose more than excellent goodnes there is not any thing either in heauen or in earth that may be called good why therfore shall I not loue thee whereas goodnes is the obiect of loue If I cannot loue thee o my Lord for thine excellency how can I chuse but loue thee for mine owne profite sake The son loueth the father who hath receiued his being from him the members loue the head and offer themselues to death for it because by the same they are continued in their essence All effects loue their causes for from them they haue receiued whatsoeuer they are from them they expect that which yet they haue not but thou o Lord art my father my head and my cause that therefore which the sonne oweth the father the mother the head that which the effects owe to their causes all that and far more do I owe thee Thou gauest mee that beeing which I haue more perfect than my parents did thou keepest mee in this beeing which thou gauest mee more carefully than the head doth the members thou finishest in mee that which is wanting till thou hast brought mee to the last point of perfection Thou art my father which made me thou art my head which gouernest me thou art my spouse who gauest to my soule perfect felicity thou art the Architect of this building thou art the painter of this figure made according to thy image and similitude which thou wilt also make perfect Whatsoeuer it hath it hath it frō thee whatsoeuer it wanteth it hopeth to receiue it from thee For euen as no one could giue him that which he is but thou O Lord so also no man can perfect that which as yet is imperfect but thou whatsoeuer therefore it hath whatsoeuer it is whatsoeuer it hopeth all that is thine Whom therefore shal it behold but thee To whom shall it bee accountable but to thee In whose eies shall it walke but in thine Whither shall hee direct all his loue but to thee who art his whole good If therefore O Lord thou bee the beautie and ornament of my soule how cā I forget thee What haue I in heauen and what will I of thee on earth My flesh and my heart faileth God of my heart my heritage for euer O increate loue which alwaies burnest neuer art extinguished o loue which alwaies liuest and burnest in the bosome of God O eternall dart of the fathers heart that alwaies woundeth the face of the Son with the wound of infinite loue O let this dart wound me this fire inflame me let me follow thee my beloued let me sing a new song with a loud voice let my soule melt in thy praises with the vnspeakable applause and Iubile
of loue O most holy father o most mercifull sonne O most louing holy ghost when wilt thou most beloued father dwell in my soule and abide in the secrets of my heart possesse me wholy When shal I be wholy thine and thou wholy mine When shall it come to passe o my King when will that day come o when O were it here Shall I neuer see it o how vngrateful delay how odious procrastinatiō Haste thee O Iesus haste thee and delay not returne returne and runne like a Goate and the yong hinds vpon the mountaines of Bether O my God the repose of my life the light of mine eies my consolation in tribulations the end of my desires the paradise of my heart the center of my soule the pledge of glory the companion of my pilgrimage my ioy in exile the medicine of my wounds mercifull iusticer of my sins master of the ignorant guide of life nest in which my soule resteth hauen wherein she is saued glasse wherein she beholdeth her selfe staffe on which she leaneth stone on which she is builded precious treasure in which shee glorieth If thou therefore o Lord be all these vnto me how can I forget yea but for a moment of time If I forget thee o my God let mee forget my right hand let my tongue cleane to the roofe of my mouth if I remember thee not I will giue no sleepe vnto mine eies o blessed Trinitie nor rest to mine eie-lids nor quiet to my temples vntill I finde this loue vntill I finde a place for my Lord in my heart and a tabernacle for the God of Iacob in my soule who liueth for euer world without end Amen The first prayer for the loue of God I Will loue thee O Lord my strength I wil loue thee my vnspeakable ioy and let my whole life liue not to my selfe but to thee which was condemned to miserie raised againe by thy mercy Too late did I feare thy Maiestie too late did I loue thee thou beautie both old and new too late did I loue thee I sought thee my refreshment and I found thee not because I vndirectly sought thee I sought thee without my selfe thou didst dwel in me I trauelled the streets and waies of the Citty of this world seeking thee and I found thee not because inconsiderately I sought thee abroad wheras thou wert at home with mee I asked y◠earth whether it were my God and it answered mee no and all things which are in the same confessed the very same I asked the Sea the depths and y◠inhabitants therof and they answered we are not God seeke him aboue vs. I asked the fleeting aire with all the dwellers therein and he answered mee no. I asked heauen the Sunne the Moone and the Starres neither are wee thy Gods said they Finally I asked all creatures and they cried vnto mee with a loud voice hee that made vs is thy true God Lord. And I sayd where therfore is my God where shall I seek him shew him me And I heard a voice saying vnto me God is in euery place seeke him in thy self he filleth Heauen filleth the earth and filleth thy heart And I came to my selfe I entred into my selfe and I said vnto my selfe how entrest thou hither O my God at what doore wert thou admitted I began to enquire examine euery one of my senses if by any of them thou didst enter but they likewise knew not how or which waies thou camest in For the eies say if he be not coloured he cannot enter by vs. The cares say if he make no sound hee cānot passe by vs The nose saith if hee smell not hee could not come by me Taste saith if he sauored not he entred not by me Touch likewise addeth if he is not corpulent aske me nothing of this matter How therefore o my loue didst thou enter my soule and didst not enter by any doore Truly thou art light shining in darkenes yet such as the eie is not capable of Thou art a voice sweet aboue all voices yet such a one as the eare conceiueth not Thou art a sweete more fragrant than any odor which neuerthelesse my taste comprehendeth not Thou art an embracement to bee esteemed aboue all embraces which notwithstanding the touch attaineth not Where wert thoutherefore my God where wert thou my light where wert thou my hope I asked it was answered me Ascend into the superior parts of thy heart there shalt thou find God Truly thou art great O God and hast ouercome our wisdome Thou art the king of kings and the Lord of Lords Thou art immortall and dwellest in vnaccessible light whom no mortall man euer saw or shall euer see and liue Many and great are the wonders that are reported of thee o Lord yet more lesse and fewer than may be said of thee words are defectiue where thou are neuer deficient For thou exceedest all that which may bee spoken or thought O onely loue my Lord God thou didst loue me before I loued thee and createdst mee according to thine owne image and madest mee Lord ouer all thy creatures Moreouer thou makest thine Angels spirits for me whō thou hast ordained to defend mee in all my waies lest I should hurt my foote against the stone Thou wouldest not permit me to be borne in a pagan but a Christian land in which by the water and the holy Ghost I am regenerate sanctified Thou neither gauest me too much riches nor too abiect pouerty lest I shold either waxe proud or grow more contemptible but thou gauest me vnderstanding and wil whereby I should know and loue thee Thou didst cal me when I was lost knockedst at my doore but I did not answer thee I liued according to mine own lust and attributed too much to mine owne strength whereas neuerthelesse it was not strength but weaknesse I would runne and grow presently weary and where I thought I should bee secure there was I in greatest danger I went away frō thee like y◠prodigall son and trauelled into a strange countrey and dwelt therein whereas louing vanitie I became vain I was blind I desired blindnes I was a seruant I loued seruitude I was bound tooke pleasure in thraldome I thought bitter was sweet and sweete was bitternes I was wretched and I knew it not Whilst I liued in this most desperate estate thou didst cast thine eies of compassion vpon mee and although without intermission I did offend thee yet didst not thou giue ouer to reclaime me from my sins when I wandered thou broughtest me into the way when I was ignorant thou taughtest me when I did sinne thou didst correct me when I was sad thou didst comfort mee When I did despaire thou didst encourage me when I fell thou didst raise me vp when I stood thou sustainedst me I was vndone and dead thou descendedst vnto the dead tookest on thee mortality thou a
By thee haue we learned the true and ready way to eternall saluation lest wee should wander any longer in the Labyrinthes of this life Thou didst teach vs exactly how to beleeue what to doe what to hope and in whom we ought to rest by thee we haue learnt how vn happy we were borne through our first father Adam by thee wee haue learnt that there is no hope of saluation except by faith in thee Thou hast taught vs that thou art the onely light that shinest to all men in the desart of this world cōducting them through the night of their mindes from the Egyptian darkenesse to that blessed Land which thou promisest vnto the meeke and such as follow thy humility For in vs was nothing but vtter darknesse who neither could see our calamity neither know frō whence to secke the remedy of our misery thou daignedst to enter into the world vouchsafedst to take vpon thee our nature that thy doctrine might disperse the cloud of our ignorāce that by thy precepts thou mightst direct our feete in the way of peace by the examples of thy life thou didst limit out a path for vs to immortality beating it with thy steps thou madest it of a tedious rough an easie beaten way So becamest thou vnto vs a way that knoweth no errour in which lest wee should bee wearied thy bounty with great and assured promises vouchsafed to assure vs for who could bee wearied that thinketh how in following thy footsteps there is an heritage of eternal life prepared for him Therfore whilst we are in this iourney thou wouldest in stead of a staffe be an assured hope vnto vs whereby wee might be sustained Neither was thy goodnes contented herewith but acknowledging the frailty of our natures in the meane space with the comfort of the holy Spirit y◠repairest our courages to the end that wee may more willingly run vnto thee And as thou being made a way vnto vs driuest away all errour so becomming our truth thou takest away all distrust Finally being made life vnto vs thou giuest heate vnto those that are dead in sinne a life through thy holy spirit which quickneth all things vntill all mortality laid aside in the resurrection we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee by reason that thou art vnto vs al in all things For it is eternall life to know the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost to be one true God Wherfore I beseech thee O most mercifull Father to increase faith in me who am thy vnworthie seruāt lest at any time I wauer in thy celestiall doctrine increase obedience in me lest I swerue from thy precepts increase constancy that walking in thy waies I neither bee allured by the inticements of sathan nor deiected by his terrors but that I may perseuere in thee who art the true way to my liues end Increase my faith that possessed of thy promises I may neuer waxe slow in the study of godlinesse but forgetting those things I haue left behinde mee I may alwaies striue and endeuour for more perfection Increase thy grace in me that daily more and more being mortified my selfe I may liue and be incouraged by thy holy Spirit fearing nothing but thee than whom there is nothing more amiable glo rying in none but in thee who art the true glorie of all the Saints wishing nothing but thee th◅ whom there is nothing better desiring nothing but thee who art full and perfect felicitie with the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A prayer to the holy Ghost HOly Spirit our aduocate who on Whitsunday didst descend vpō thy Apostles filling their bosomes with charity grace and wisdome I pray thee by that thy vnspeakeable mercie and liberality that thou wilt vouchsafe to fill the secrets of my soule with thy grace and water my inward heart with the vnspeakable sweetnesse of thy loue Come holy Ghost and from heauen send a beame of thy light Come thou Father of the poore come thou giuer of gifts come thou light of hearts come thou gracious comforter thou sweete guest of my soule my pleasant refresher Come thou Physition of those that faint come thou purger of eies come thou strength o◅ the fraile come thou remedy of sins come thou doctor of the humble come thou destroier of the prond come thou excellent ornament of all vertues come thou onely saluation of the dying Come my God and adorne a bed for thee in which I may worthily entertaine thee with all thy riches and mercies make me drunke with the gifts of thy wisedome illuminate me with the benefite of vnderstanding gouerne me with the gift of counsell confirme me with the gift of fortitude instruct mee with the gift of science wound me with the gift of pietie and pierce my heart with the gift of thy holy feare O sweet louer of cleane hearts burne and inflame all my bowels with the sweet fire of thy loue that being inflamed they may bee carried and rauished into thee who art the center finall end of all my good o sweet louer of holy soules since thou art not ignorant that I can doe nothing of my selfe nor by my selfe stretch out thy fauourable hand ouer me grant that I may forsake my selfe fly vnto thee mortifie extinguish and dissolue in me whatsoeuer is displeasant vnto thee that in all things thou maiest conforme mee vnto thy will that my life hereafter may be a perfect sacrifice in thy sight or rather an offering which may wholy bee consumed in the fire of thy loue O who shall giue me the grace the I may at least attaine this chiefe good Looke vpon mee O Lord looke vpon mee and see here this thy poore creature my soule sighing after thee day and night how she thirsteth after God when shall I come appeare before the presence of thy grace When shall I enter into that admirable place of thy Tabernacle that I may attain the house of my God When wilt thou fill mee with the light of thy countenance When shall I be satiate with the presence of thy glory When shal I by thy meanes be deliuered from all temptations and when shall I ouercome this frailty of my mortality O eternall fountaine of light bring mee backe againe to the Abysse of eternall goodnes by whom I am created that there I may know thee euen as I am known of thee may so loue thee as I am loued by thee that I may see and enioy thee in the societie of all the elect euen as thou also hast seene me from euerlasting Amen The first prayer of the life of Iesus I Yeeld thee immortall thanks O most sweete Iesu that from thy roial pallace and the secret bosome of thy father thou hast vouchsafed for my sake to descend into this vale of miserie and in the sanctified womb of that chaste Uirgin thy mother thou didst take vpon thee a humane body I pray thee O Lord
euen at that time when thou wert afflicted on the crosse with so many vnspeakeable dolours and anguishes Grant mee grace O Lord I beseech thee that remembring me of that humilitie and patience wherewith thou enduredst so many griefes and disgraces I also with the like sufferance may endure all whatsoeuer aduersities perseuering with thee on the crosse of patience till death Let no force of temptation no tempest of tribulation no stormes of iniuries leade mee from my intended good purpose let neither death nor life nor things present nor to come nor any other creature separate mee from thee I giue thee thanks honored Iesus who sparedst that theefe who blasphemed and mocked thee and to the other that confessed his sins and with a firme faith preached thine innocency promisedst the glorie of Paradise O blessed were I if euer I might be so happy as to deserue to be beheld by thine eies of mercie wherewith thou didst looke vpon that fortunate theefe and by the helpe of thy grace I might so innocently liue that in the end of my life I were worthy to here that most sweet word To day shalt thou be with me in Paradise Our Father c. The sixt prayer of the life of Iesus I Giue thee as great thanks as is possible for me O Lord Iesus for that looking from the tree of the Crosse seeing thy mother full of griefes afflictions and drowned in her teares thou tookest cōpassion other estate and commendedst her to thy beloued Apostle Iohn and afterwards commended him to thy mother and vs all in his person Grant me Lord that I may suffer with her in griefe and trauell in teares til I behold thee I giue thee thanks sweetest Iesus for that with open wounds thy head crowned with thornes thy hands feete nailed to the Crosse thou saidst O God my God ◅hy hast thou forsaken me Effect O Lord in mee that in all my aduersities and temptations I may flie vnto thee my most mercifull Father and distrusting in my self trust only in thee resigne my selfe wholy into thy hāds I require thee O Lord to wound the entrals of my soule with the memorie of thy wounds cause them to bee imprinted in my secret thoughts and make mee so drunke with thy blood that I may thinke on nought else nor seeke any other but thee that seeking thee I may finde thee and possesse thee for euer I giue thee thanks o Lord Iesus Christ who hauing thy bodie weakned and dried through too grieuous torments and too much effusion of blood wert vehemently drie and burning with excessiue desire of our saluation saidst I thirst Grant me o Lord that I may ardently thirst after thine honor the saluation of al soules herein let me wholly conforme my selfe to thy holy will doing as much as lieth in mee in respect of my profession I pray thee that no loue of transitory things may intangle me that no creature may draw me into perilous snares but that I may loue all things for thy sake which ought to bee loued and thy selfe more than all that in thee alone I may onely finde rest I giue thee thanks O mercifull Iesu for that in the houre of thy death that thou mightest quench thy thirst thou wouldest apply to thy mouth a sponge full of Uinegar that tasting that bitter draught in that thy most afflicted state thou mightst satisfie thy eternal Father for all our intemperance and ryots mightst leaue vs a wonderfull example of pouertie Grant me grace that for the loue of thee I may contemne all delicious sauours and exquisit banquets and that I may bee content to eate and drinke that onely with temperance and moderation which sufficeth to sustaine this bodie yeelding thee infinite thanks for the same Puri◅e and heale the palate of my soule that that may be sweete vnto mee whatsoeuer is gratefull vnto thee and whatsouer displeaseth thee the same may not bee sauorie vnto me but rather loathsome I giue thee thanks O Iesus the feruent louer of mankinde for that so absolutely and with so excellent an order thou broughtst the worke of our redemption to end offering thy selfe a liuing sacrifice on the altar of the Crosse for the sinnes of the world I pray thee O my Redeemer that thou wilt only vouchsafe to be the seale of my heart and the scope of my thoughts words and works that in all things with a pure and chaste intention I may onely respect and doe that which thine honour requireth or that nothing without thee may please me or that I may desire any thing but thee Grant mee O Lord that hereafter I neuer wax sluggish or wearie in thy seruice but that the feruour of the Spirit renewed in mee daily my diligence may more and more increase in praising and seruing thee I giue thee thanks sweet Iesu who when it was thy pleasure calledst for death and bowing thy reuerēd head thou commandedst thy spirit commended to the hands of thy Father to forsake thy bodie wherein thou declaredst that thou wert the true Shepheard who lost his life for his sheepe Grant mee O Lord that being dead to all my sinnes and iniquities I may liue onely to thee that the course of this my life being finished in charitie I may presentlie enter into thee who art the true Paradise of our soules I giue thee thanks most meeke Iesus that thou wouldest haue thy diuine bodie opened with a launce of a certaine Souldier out of which blood and water issued to wash quicken our soules May it please thee O LORD so to strike my heart with the launce of thy holy loue that I may will nothing except that which thou willest O Lord let my soule enter the wound of thy breast and attaine euen vnto the seate of thy charitie and treasure of thy diuinitie that there I may adore thee my GOD crucified and dead for mee and casting from my memory all the figures of things visible I may onely respect thee and haue thee solely present in all things I giue thee thanks beloued Iesu who with the great lament of thy friends wert taken from the Crosse and embalmed with precious oyntments wrapped in a faire winding sheete and carried into a strāge Sepulcher O Lord burie with mee all my senses that beeing ioyned vnto thee by a strong bond of loue I may bee as it were dead in those things which displease thee and as it were rauished out of my selfe in all things contrary vnto thee And contrariwise in these things that please me let mee bee altogether liuelie prompt and swift and delight in thee alon◅ my onely Redeemer and treasure of my soule Our Father c. The seuenth praier of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks sweete Iesu who of thy mighty power descendedst into hell and there subduedst sathans power conqueredst obscurity and death I pray thee O Lord that the reason of thy
fountaines so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule hath thirsted after the liuing fountaine God When shall I come and appeare before the face of my God My teares were bread vnto mee day and night whilest they dayly said vnto me Where is thy God Then inflamed with the loue of eternall beatitude let him say OHow amiable are thy dwelling places thou Lord of hosts my soule thirsteth and longeth after the dwelling place of my God This that felloweth was familiar to the Fathers in Aegypt VVHo shall giue me wings like a Doue and I will fly and take rest Three most deuout praiers to excite the soule to contrition and griefe sor sinne The first Praier OOnly begotten Son of God great and vnspeakable are y◠benefits O Lord which I haue receiued at thy hands thou framedst mee of the dust and dirt of the earth and createdst my soule of nothing to thy image similitude and madest it capable of thy glory thou gauest mee vnderstanding memo will election with all my members and senses and with them the knowledge and loue of thee Thou keptst mee in the secret celles of my mothers womb lest in them I should bee choaked without baptisme Thou sustainedst mee patiently after so many sins euen vnto this present day where in the meane space there are many others who haue lesse offended than 〈◊〉 yet because thou wouldst not hitherto expect them they are now perhaps tormented in hell But besides all this it was thy pleasure to take flesh vpon thee to conuerse amongst men for my sake to bee afflicted troubled for me to be bedewed with bloudy sweate to bee taken bound buffeted spit vpon mockt blasphemed to be clothed in a white and purple garmēt like a foole to be strooken with a reede to be blinded condemned to death led to the place of executiō hauing on thy shoulders the croūe to which thou wert affixed with nailes and hanged betwixt two theeues and adiudged for a malefactor thou didst drinke gall and vineger finally thou wert slaine with most cruel death By so many labours and dolors O my God thou didst redeeme mee and yet I most vile and peruerse sinner ingrateful for so many benefits haue so oftentimes newly strooken thee againe nailed thee to the crosse by my sins for which cause I am worthy that all creatures should rise vp against me take reuenge of this my so great iniurie What should I say of y◠abuse of thy sacraments medicines which by thy precious bloud thou institutedst obtainedst for me Thou tookest mee for thine in the sacrament of baptisme there thou adoptedst me for thy sonne and consecratedst mee as it were thy temple there didst thou annoint me for thy Priest King and Champion who was to wage combat with the enemy there diddest thou espouse my soule and gauest me al the honors which were answerable to this dig nity But how haue I vsed al these benefits and ornaments which I haue receiued from thee what cogitatiōs had I of keeping these riches Thou tookest me for thy son and I may become the seruant of sinne Thou sanctifiedst me for thy temple and I made my selfe the habitation of diuels Thou armedst me like a generous souldier and I reuolted and fled vnto thine enemies Thou madest me a king and I waxed proud in the kingdome which thou gauest me Thou espousedst my soule to thee in perpetuall charitie and I more loued vanity than verity more the creatures than my Creator Truly it were rightfull yea most iust O Lord that yet now at length I should begin to weepe complaine and lament when I haue committed so many and so enormous sinnes This is it that so long time thou expectedst from mee as thou hast giuen me life For so oftentimes hast thou called mee and so long hast thou sustained mee strooke mee and againe flattered mee and hast sought all waies and meanes that thou mightest reclaime mee vnto thee thou hast expected mee and I haue abused thy patience thou hast called mee and I haue stopt mine eares against thy counsels Thou gauest mee time for repentance and I consumed y◠same in my pride thou strookest me and I felt it not thou afflictedst mee I would not take thy correction thou sweatedst that thou mightest clense mee and I am not washed thou prouedst mee by fire and the rust of my sins is not clensed away I am hardned as well by thy scourges as thy allurements ingratful to these rebellious against those Notwithstanding O Lord God though thou hast suffered so many and so great things for mee thou hast commanded me that I should not despaire nor distrust in thy mercie I conuert my selfe therefore wholy vnto thy mercy and beseech thee to giue mee grace that I may amend my selfe whereby I may so heereafter please thee and serue thee that I neuer hereafter reuolt from thee but cleaue alwaies to thee for euer and euer Amen For contrition The second praier O Supreme Maker of al liuing creatures when I bethink my selfe how greatly I haue offended thy diuine maiesty by my sinnes I quake for feare and detest my vndecent madnes considering how bountifull and reuerend a Father I haue forsooke I curse my ingratitude when I consider from how noble a liberty I am fallen into most miserable seruitude I accuse my inconstancy know not what to set before mine eies but iudgement and hell for thy iustice from which I cannot flie terrifieth my conscience On y◠other side when I behold thy vnmeasurable mercy which according to the testimonie of thy Prophet surpasseth al thy works presently a pleasing breath of hope doth refresh mee and strengthneth my too feeble mind For as before I despaired so here do I finde remission of my sinnes in him who by the writing of his Prophets so oftentimes inuiteth sinners to repentance saying I wil not y◠death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue Thy onely begotten Son likewise declareth by many similitudes how ready thou art to pardon those that are penitent That expressed he by the lost penny by the lost sheep brought home on the shoulders of his pastor but especially by the prodigall sonne whose image I acknowledg in my selfe For I am he that haue indeed forsaken my most louing Father I haue spent all my substance and obeying the appetites of my flesh haue fled the obedience of thy commandements and haue fallen into the most filthy captiuity of sin now am I trauelled with extreme necessity from which who shall deliuer me I truly know not except it be he whom I haue forsaken Receiue me therefore O Lord thy most hūble seruant submissiuely seeking pardō at thy hands into thy fauor But wheras though in vaine thou hast euen vnto this houre so bountifully expected mee I confesse that I am not worthy to lift vp mine eies to heauen or to call thee Father yet because thou art my true
the Father of light from whom all goodnesse proceeded I like the lost sheepe wandered far astray from the fold who lewdly consumed that grace which thou so liberally hadst imparted to me I left thee the FouÌ„taine of liuing water and digged me Cesteâ—…ns and drunke of troubled water full of bitter consolations such as in short time are dried vp For all consolations and al the pleasures of this world vanish away like smoke I left the tree of life and fed on mast cods which were spurned and trodden downe by the hogs following the passions and inordinate affections of my minde my beastly appetites I departed from thee the chiefest good and followed those earthly and transitorie pleasures which ouerthrew mee But now O father I beseech thee forget thou these iniuries which I haue committed against thy maiestie which I craue not for in respect of the multitude of my merits but by beholding the labours and dolours of thy onely begotten Son which he suffred for my sake And thou the onely begotten Sâ—…nne of the eternall Father my Lord God and Sauior haue mercy vpon me I cast all mine iniquities all my iniurie ignomâ—…e ire pride auarice disobedience impudencie presumption with all my other sins wherby I haue prouoked thy wrath into thy lenitie clemency sacred wounds wide open to yeeld mee refuge I giue my selfe wholy vnto thee and commend my selfe wholy to thy grace for thou art my hope my helpe and my strength As much as my sins trouble and confound me so much doth thy goodnesse and the infinite merits of thy passion reiâ—…yce and comfort me My sins although in themselues they be grieuous in weight and infinite in number yet in comparison of thy mercies they are light and few Under this confideÌ„ce I come vnto thee and confesse my sinnes vnto thee hoping that thou wilt not destroy him whom thou hast created according to thine owne image similitude and for whose loue thou madest thy selfe partaker of our nature bloud and flesh I trust I shall not bee condemned by thee whom thou hast redeemed as it were with so incomparable a price with so many labours and dolors To thee be all honour and dominion for euer euer Amen Another most deuout praier for remission of sinnes O My best beloued Iesus I aâ—… that wretched vnhappy sin ner that hath inflicted thee so many wounâ—…s and crucified thee aâ—…ew by my sinnes ahlas too many and too mighty Behold yet how I pre sent my selfe before thee my father and iudge being guilty of so mâ—… crimes accountable for so maâ—… sinnes beseeching thee through the bowels of thy mercy that all thy wounds may once more bee opened in the sight of the Father may flow into my miserable vncleane soule soiled and infected with so many sinnes not suffering them to be closed before they haue throughly washed and perfectly cleansed me O sweet Iesus turne not thy face from me but ouerflow me with thine infinite mercy and behold me with the eies of thy pitie wherewith thou beheldst Mary Magdalen at the feast time Peter in the Bishops palace the theefe on the Crosse. Giue mee the true knowledge of my sinnes giue me the iust griefe receiue me into the paradise of thy grace wash mee in thy reaking blood and quicken me by thy precious death pardon me and take from me whatsoeuer my heart wrongfully possesseth beecause thou thy selfe hast said if I bee exalted from the earth I will draw all things to me For which cause I pray thee O thou redeemer of my soule draw mee vnto thee and cleanse me from my hidden sins O true light illumine the darknes of my minde O consuming fire burne in me all my sinnes and iniquities Come and viâ—…t my sick soule cleanse my conscience and make me thy gratefull Tabernacle O deerest beeloued Lord spred for my sake on the tree of the Crosse draw mee out of the suds of my sinnes embrace mee kisse mee being clensed from all sâ—…aine of my wickednesse O noble cluster of grapes pressed in the wine-presse of the Crosse hug my soule with thy naked but faire armes distained with bloud Grant also that thou maist bee embracâ—… in like sort by the same and 〈◊〉 a handfull of Mirrhe thou maâ—… rest betweene her teates O thâ—… nailed and pierced souldier hoâ—… cruelly wert thou wounded in tâ—… warre vndertaken in my behalfe How strongly didst thou fight fo me thou triumpher ouer the worâ—… and the diuell who by thy death diddest conquer death and by tâ—… precious blood didst expiate fâ—… all the sinnes of mankinde Oâ—… what shall I giue thee for all thâ—… which thou hast bestowed vpâ—… mee All that little that I haue I offer it wholly vnto thee nameâ—… my spirit that thou maist rest 〈◊〉 the same my soule that it mâ—…â—…oue thee my body that it mâ—… serue thee O noble Pellican that nouâ—… shest thy yong ones with thy heaâ—… blood so feed my soule faintâ—… for hunger and spirituall thirst nothing else may be sauourie vnâ—… the same neither that she may dâ—… sire to take any thing but to eaâ—… thy flesh and drinke thy blood O mellifluous riuer of celesâ—… delights ouerflow all my inward parts make me drinke and grant that I may bee dead to all other creatures and aliue to thee onely O glorious myrrour of the incomprehensible Trinitie on which all the Angels and Saints desire to contemplate alas how cruelly wert thou intreated for my sake There is neither forme nor beauty in thee thou becamest a by-word of men and the scorne of the multitude O make mee partaker of that incomparable treasure of thy precious ransome wherewith thou redeemedst mee open the treasurie of thy merits and pay all my debt make mee such a one in this world as thou woulddest haue me in the world to come where thou reignest with the Father and the holy Spirit God world without end Amen A most godly praier and oblation wherein man offereth himselfe vp vnto God requiring that the tyranny of his vices expelled God hereafter may reigne in his soule and dwell therein and so worke in it those fruits which pertaine to newnesse of life O My God O my loue O my hope O all my refuge and all my desire O Father of mercy and God of al consolation as oft as I coÌ„sider with my selfe in what state I was somtime in how many dangers of perdition I haue escaped from how many euils thou hast deliuered me wheÌ„ I was dead in my sinnes and lay buried and couered with the stone of my inueterate custome of offending such a hope is quickened in me that I cannot choose but aske at thine hands O Lord all such things as are necessary for my saluation For I am thy workmanship thy hands haue fashioned me O Lord despise not therefore the worke of thy haÌ„ds For why should I doubt that thou wilt giue mee all thy goods that hast
most profitable before the Communion whereby the soule is excited to the feare and loue of God VVHo art thou my Lord and who am I that I dare ap proch thee What is man that hee can receiue God vnto him his maker Redeemer What is man in his nature but the vessell of corruption and rottennes the sonne of the diuell the heire of hell the worker of iniquitie the contemner of God and a Creature vnfit for all goodnesse and apt and prompt to all wickednesse What is man but a creature miserable in all things in his counsel blinde in his actions incoÌ„stant in his appetites vncleane in his desires vnconstant in euery worke of his litle in his owne eies great see Lord see what I am But thou my God who what a one art thou Thou art great with out quantitie good without quality wise without measure and eternall without time Thou art omnipotent in vertue infinite in wisedome admirable in counsels terrible in iudgements perfect and absolute in all vertue How therefore dare so vile and vncleane a creature as I am approach and touch a GOD of so great maiestie Behold the moone also shineth not and the stars are vncleane in thy sight The pillars of heauen tremble and quake at thy becke Those celestial Seraphins cloâ—…ke their wings and in thy presence confesse themselues to bee butterflies most abiect wormes What boldnesse therefore what rashnesse is it for a most vile man the abiectest creature vpon earth to dare so much as but to looke vpon such a Lord Holy Saint Iohn Baptist sanctified in his mothers womb durst not when he baptized our Lord touch the crowne of his head yea he profest himselfe to be vnworthy to vnloose the latchet of his shooe The Prince of the Apostles exclaimed saying Depart from me O Lord for I am a sinfull man shall I that am the notorious sinner of all men not feare to approach thee If it were vnlawfull for any man to eat the Bread of proposition which were onely but a shaddow of this profouÌ„d mystery except him that was clean and sanctified how can I bee secure who eate the bread of Angels where notwithstanding I am so farre off from all sanctite That pascall Lamb which was a type figure of this sacrament according to the commandement of God was to bee eaten with vnleauened bread and wild Lettuice and they that did eate the same ought to haue their loines girt their shooes vpon their feete Ah how shall I dare to come to this true Pascal Lambe who haue none of these preparations For what thing else is the vnleauened bread than Purity without the leuen of malice And what the bitter Lettuice but vehement contrition Where is the puritie of my reynes where of my feete that is the cleannesse of my holy desires I feare O Lord and vehemeÌ„tly suspect lest I should bee excluded from this table if any of those preparations should bee wanting in me From this table was he reiected or rather repulsed who came without his wedding garment that is without charity and being bound hand foote hee was cast into exterior darknesse what other thing expect I now if I shall intrude my selfe to this banquet without this vesture O diuine eies to whom all the cranies corners of my soule are open and manifest what shall become of mee if I present my selfe naked boide before thy presence To touch the Arke which was only but a figure of this sacrameÌ„t it was so great an offence that Oza the priest stretching out his hand to vphold the same being ready to fall supporting it was strooken with suddain death how can I theÌ„ choose but feare and suspect the like penalty if vnworthily I shall receiue that of which the Arke was onely but a figure The Bethsamâ—…tes offended in no other thing than for that they had too curiously beheld the Arke of the couenaÌ„t when as it was caried through the confines of the countrey yet God was so displeased that for that only cause of the people he slue seuenty men and of the common sort fiftie thousand But O most merciful Lord how much more worthy is this sacrament thaÌ„ the Arke of the Couenant and how much more dangerous is it to receiue thee than to see thee Not without reason therefore ought I to bee afraid and tremble as often as I come to receiue a Lord of so great maiesty iustice And if there be so many causes why I ought to feare thy greatnes how many reasons should there bee of feare if I weigh the muâ—…itude of my sinnes For I call to remembrance O Lord many grieuous sins of mine whereby I haue in this world offended thy diuine maiesty The time was somtime ther was a time thankes bee giuen to God that the time is not now wheÌ„ I loued not that thine infinite beuty but buried it in deepest obliuion when the dust of thy creatures was more estimate with mee than the treasures of thy graces and yâ— hope of thy eternall glorie The Lawes and rules of my life were my desires inordinate appetites I had no care of thee I shewed thee no reuerence because I knew thee not I am that foole that said in my heart there is no God for so dissolutely for a time did I liue that in my matters I did professe that I beleeued thee either to be nothing or to be of power to do nothing I did not labor to insinuate my selfe into thy-loue I feared not thy iustice I set light by the breach of thy lawes I yeelded not that thankes which I ought although I knew thou wert present in all places yet was I not ashamed securely in thy sight to commit sin yea and that very grieuously Whatsoeuer mine eies desired that made I lawful vnto them neither did I restraine my heart 〈◊〉 crossing the incontinent delights thereof and what kinde of wickednesse is there wherewith my soule is not distained what else was my whole life but a continuall war against thee what else but a receiuing of torments and passions of my whole life How often haue I for a momeÌ„tany pleasure or a trifling gain like a second Iudaâ—… soâ—… thee And now comming to receiue thee what els doe I but prepare thee a kisse with Iudas by which I may betray thee whom I haue already sold What else haue I done when other waies I comâ—…icated but that with the souldiers I haue mocked thee insulted ouer thee here bowing my knee and adoring thee there beating thy blessed head with a reede How shall I therefore dare to receiue thee O my Lord in an estate so vncleane and wicked How can I be so rash to inclose thy most sacred body in the den of dragons the nest of vipers What other thing else is the soule of a sinner than a dwelling place of diuels a â—…est of beasts a hog-stie and a
as betweene the one benefit and the other and that for that cause there ought to bee the same difference betweene the one gratuitie the other that meate was earthly this heauenlie that was of the bodie this of the Soule that gaue not true life to those that eat the same this giueth eternall life to those that worthily receiue it But why make I cōparisō betweene the one the other For whatsoeuer difference is betweene the creature the Creator the same is betweene this and that meate If therefore thou O Lord require such remembrance and gratuity for that thou didst nourish thy people with corporall and corruptible meate what wilt thou require of vs whom thou nourishest with so farre better foode as the Creator exceedeth the creature there is not any praise nor thanksgiuing which is worthy this benefite When as therefore I neglect mine owne forces faculties neither can I finde way or meanes to pay thee that which I owe thee there is no other remedy left for me than with the Prophet to take that cup of saluation and call vpon the name of our Lord that is not to remunerate that benefits that are past but to aske new to require grace vpon grace I beseech thee therefore O Lord vouchsafe that I may receiue this Sacrament in satisfaction of all my sinnes and amendment of my former life that being repaired in me by the benefite thereof whatsoeuer is fallen whatsoeuer I wāt let it be supplied and grant that my pouerty may bee enriched by the benefits of thy graces By that vertue of this sacrament mortific in me whatsoeuer is displeasant to thy diuine eies and make me conformable to thy will Uouch safe mee O Lord that by this mystery I may alwaies perseuere in thee may continually and perfectly loue thee that I may be alwaies continually vnited coupled vnto thee to the honour of thy holy name Be fauourable O Lord vnto all my offences and not mine onely but all others Grant the Heretikes Schismatikes may returne to the vnitie of thy Church illuminate the Infidels that they may know thee help all those for whom I am bound to pray Comfort my father mother brothers and sisters friends and enemies with all those that haue euer done me good Bee mercifull vnto all those for whom thou sh◅dest thy most precious blood To thee be all praise honour vertue and glory who liuest and reignest world without end Amen Prayers and thanksgiuings after the Communion The first Praier I Giue thee thanks O Lord holy Father omnipotent and eternall God that thou hast vouchsafed to sat◅ate mee a wretched sinner and thy vnworthy seruant not for my merits but onely for thy mercie sake with the precious body and blood of thy Son our Lord Iesus Christ. And I beseech thee that this holy Communion may be vnto me not guiltines to procure punishment but a fruitfull intercession of pardon may be my armour of faith and shield of good will may bee the euacuation of my vices extermination of my concupiscence and lust the augmentation of my charitie and patience humility and obedience against the deceits of both my visible and inuisible enemies a firme defence a perfect pacification of my motions both carnall and spirituall assured cleaning to thee the onely and true God a happy consummation of my life And I beseech thee that thou wilt conduct mee most wretched sinner to that inestimable banquet where thou with thy Sonne and the holy Ghost to thy Saints art a true light compleat satietie eternall ioy consummate pleasure and perfect felicitie through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen The second Prayer after the Communion I Giue thee thāks O Lord Iesus Christ King of Kings Lord of Lords reuerend immesurable in maiestie for that thou hast vouchsafed to feede and sweetly to refresh my ouer-dried soule with thy sacred body precious bloo◅ I beseech thee that whatsoeuer is found vitious in mee and contrary to thy most holie will by the Communion of this Sacrament may bee vtterly extinct in mee so that my heart may bee prepar◅ for a worthy habitation for the holy Ghost And grant O most sweet Iesus that this Sacrament of thy body and blood may be vnto me an attonement for my sinnes a medicine for my life an establishment of grace a memorie of thy most holy passion reliefe in my pilgrimage the sweet and pleasure of my soule my health sanctitie in temptations my light vertue in tribulations my light vertue in all my words and deeds my finall comfort de◅ence in death Grant that it may so change the affections of my heart that it may feels conceiue no sweetnesse but that which is in thee loue no bea◅ seeke no loue desire no consolatiō admit no pleasure care for no honours feare no cruelty Amen The third Prayer after the Communion PIerce O most sweet Lord Iesu that marrow and inwards of my soule with the sweet and holsome wound of thy loue with true perfect pure Apostolike and sacred charitie that my soule may onely languish melt away in the loue desire of thee let it not long after and grow weary in thy wayes let it desire to be dissolued and to be with thee Grant that my soule may hunger after thee the bread of Angels y◠resurrection of al holy soules our supercelestiall and daily bread hauing in it all sweetnesse and sauour and all delectation of suauitie Grant that my heart may alwaies hunger thirst after thee on whom the Angels desire to looke and with the sweetnes of thy fauor let the inward secrets of my soule be filled let it alwaies thirst after thee the fountaine of life the fountaine of wisdome and science the fountaine of eternall light the riuer of pleasures the plenty of Gods house Let her alwaies seek thee compas◅e thee finde thee trauell to thee and attaine vnto thee let her meditate on thee speake of thee worke all things to the honour and praise of thy name with humility and discrenon with loue and delectation with facility and affection with perseuerance vnto the end and be thou alwaies my onely hope my whole trust my riches my delight my pleasure my Sauiour my sweetnesse my meate my refection my refuge my hope my wisedome my portion and possessiō my treasure in which my heart and minde may be alwaies fixed and firmely rooted Amen The first prayer for the loue of God O Sweet benigne louing bounteous deere mighty o admirable ineffable inestimable incomparable o powerfull magnificent liberall incomprehensible infinite most mighty God Thou art onely good all pitifull all amiable thou art sweeter than hony whiter than snow delightfuller than all pleasure sweeter than all delight more precious than gold of precious stones Thou art my God my life and my onely hope Grant me o Lord that I may loue thee if not as much as thou deseruest yet at leastwise as
much as thou maiest be beloued in this life by any man subiect to sinne and thrall to many necessities With that Leaper in the gospel O Lord I come before thy presence crying o Lord if thou wilt thou canst make mee cleane thou canst I say clense my soule from al her sinnes canst purge the same as it were gold in the fire of thy loue if thou wilt thou canst presently enrich this poore one if thou wilt thou canst make mee glad of all those that are in this world most blessed What will it hinder thee O Lord if thou yeeld me such a blessing what disprofite will it breede what losse will it bring thee So then O Lord since thou art the Ocean of infinite goodnesse liberality and riches why through thy wrath hidest thou thy mercies from mee Why are my sins more mightie than thy goodnesse Why shall my sins rather condemne me than thy mercies saue me If thou requirest contrition griefe for my offences behold I conâ—…eiue so much sorrow for my sinnes that I had rather haue endured a thousand sorts of death then once to haue offended thee If thou requirest satisfactioÌ„ loe I offer my bodie vnto thee powre thy wrath vpon it exercise what torments of thy displeasure thou 〈◊〉 vpon it so thou denie mee not thy mercie Grant therfore that I may loue thee my God my strength my refresher my redeemer my helper and my hope I onely seeke thee I onely desire thee I onely crie vnto thee my Lord God thou art â—…y first beginning my last end The things of this life satisfie mee not haue no sweetnesse in them no stability or streÌ„gth whatsoeuer I see besides thee is but pouerty whatsoeuer is in any place without thee is but troubled and salt water vnto mee it cooleth not my thirst but kindleth it I onely seeke thee I onely will thee I onely desire to behold thy face I pray vnto thee beseeching thee not to separate thy mercy and loue from me I will possesse thee and will not let thee goe before thou hast blessed me I will cleane vnto thee and will not depart from thee before thou hast brought mee into thy Winecellar and ordered me in thy charity I will cry after thee neither will I hold my peace I will say with the Prophet I will loue thee O Lord my strength I will meditate vpon thee without ceassing I will thinke on thee in my sleepe in the night time for I am in health when I am with thee and sicke if I be from thee for thou onely canst blesse my soule thou art my God and my Lord for euer and euer Amen A second prayer for the loue of God O Good Jesu O the sweetnes of my hart O yâ— life and saluation of my soule when in all and through all things shall I please thee When shall I perfectly die vnto my selfe When shall I prefer thee before all other creatures when shall nothing liue in mee but thy selfe Haue mercy vpon me O Lord and helpe mee I salute thy wounds O Lord like vernall roses hide me O Lord in them and wash mee in yâ— same yâ— euery way I may bee cleane and inflamed with thy loue O Lord my God O admirable beginning O piety of amiable charity O clearest light of my vnderstanding O repose of my will when shall I ardently loue thee vouchsaf o Lord to pierce my soule with yâ— dart of thy loue vouchsafe to associate me with thy selfe that I may bee made one with thee O my desire O my hope O my reliefe Oh if my soule were woorthie of thy imbracings that all slownesse and lukewarmnesse were consumed in mee by the fire of thy loue O the soule of my soule O the life of my life I wholy desire thee wholie offer my selfe vnto thee one to one onely to thee onely O if that had place in mee which thou saidst to thy Father Blessed Father let theÌ„ be one as we are one I in them they in mee that they may bee consummate in one I wil no other thing I desire no other thing I expostulate no other thing at thy hands for thou onely suffisest me Thou art my Father thou art my mother thou art my defender thou art my guider thou art al my good thou art altogether amiable wholy delectable onelie faithful Who was euer so liberal as to forsake himselfe who euer so tenderly loued as to yeeld himselfe into yâ— hands of so bitter death for so vile a creature Who so humble that so much diminished and humbled his maiesty o Lord thou despisest no man thou disdainest no man thou repulsest no maÌ„ that seeketh thee nay rather thou callest excitest all men to come vnto thee for thou takest thy pleasure to bee conuersant among the children of men To thee O lord angels sing praises and what other thing hast thou fouÌ„d in vs but yâ— filth of our sins why wouldest thou be with vs till the end of the world was it not enough for thee that thou sufferedst death for vs and gauest vs also yâ— Sacraments for our medicine left vs the angels for our fellowes and tutors Truly although wee are vngratefull for these benefits yet wouldst thou dwell amongst vs for thou art so good that thou couldst not deny thine owne selfe Let vs therfore make a couenant if it so please thee O Lord take thou care of me I will haue care of thee loue thou me I will loue thee protect and preserue my bodie and soule and by thy assistance I will keepe thy law doe that with me O Lord which best pleaseth thee for thou knowest what I waÌ„t and what is expedient for me I will be thine and no other mans Giue me the grace O Lord that I may not seek or desire any thing but thy selfe that I may whollie offer my selfe vnto thee O fire that kindlest me1 O charity that inflamest me o light that illuminatest me o my rest o my life O my loue that alwaies burnest and art neuer quenched when shall I perfectly loue thee againe when shall I embrace thee with yâ— naked armes of my soule when shall I despise my selfe and the whole world for thy sake wheÌ„ shal my soule with all the powers and strength thereof bee vnited with thee wheÌ„ shall it be swallowed vp in the bottomlesse pit of thy loue Most sweet louing â—…aire wise rich noble precious and worthy both to bee beloued and adored when shall I so loue thee that I may wholie be deuoured by thy loue O life of my soule that sufferedst death to giue mee life and dying sluest death kill mee also that is all my peruerse inclinations to euill my selfe-will whatsoeuer it bee that hindereth me from beeing liuing with thee And when in this sort thou hast slaine me make mee liue with thee through loue and charitable actions that I may faithfully obserue all thy coÌ„mandements
king didst descend to thy seruant to redeeme thy slaue thou didst betray thy selfe So much didst thou loue mee that thou gauest thy blood for a ransome for mee thou didst loue me O Lord more than thy selfe because thou wouldst seÌ„d for mee For this cause thou didst ransome mee from exile with so deere a price thou didst redeeme me from thraldome thou withheldedst mee from punishment thou calledst mee by thy name thou â—…ignedst me with thy blood that thy remembrance might bee alwaies with mee and neuer depart from my heart which for my sake departed not from the Crosse. Let mee know thee therefore O Lord my acknowledger let mee know thee thou vertue of my soule let me walke alwaies in thy light O thou Sun of iustice for it is good for me to cleaue O Lord to put my trust in our lord God for as soone as I shall bee turned from thee I am presently conuerted to transitory delights and distracted with vaine cogitations O therefore wretched vnfortunate that I am when shall I so inseparably cleaue vnto thee as I may neuer bee withdrawne from thee When shall my thoughts words and works differ no more from the rule of thy equitie iustice Thou o Lord louest solitude and I company thou silence and I fables thou verity and I vanity thou cleannesse and I follow vncleannesse I beseech thee therefore O Lord for thine own sake illuminat mine eies with thy light wouÌ„d my heart with thy loue direct my steppes in the way of thy commandements that I may neuer swerue from the same deliuer me o Lord that am captiue reduce the stray into thy wounds raise him that is fallen and releeue him that is euery way weakned Giue me a heart that may alwaies thinke on thee a minde that may alwaies loue thee an vnderstanding that may conceiue thee a reason that may alwaies strongly cleaue vnto thee the most chiefe delight Fly not from my heart depart neither froÌ„ my words nor works but alwaies assist me because thou art my helper in all my tribulations Without thee I die thinking on thee I am reuiued thine adour doth recreate mee thy memory doth heale mee thy light doth illuminate me I am raised againe by thy voice and shall bee satisfied when thy glory shall appeare The sixth prayer for the loue of God IF amoÌ„gst all those things which prouoke vs vnto loue there bee nothing more effectuall than form beauty why should I not worthily loue thee o my God who art the Fountaine of all beautie and seemelines Thou art the Ornament of the whole Masse of this world for whatsoeuer is beautiful in it by thee and from thee hath his beauty because thou createdst it the Sunne and Moone admire thy maiestie the Angels desire to behold thy face for in the sight thereof consisteth perfect felicitie and the glorie of all supernall spirits Birds flowers fouÌ„taines fields floods seas woods forrests trees earth mountaines valleies and whatsoeuer is in them haue their ornaments from thee thou didst decke the heauens with starres the aire with birds the water with fishes the fields with flowers and the earth with infinite plants and variety of liuing creatures In each place of the world thou art feared because tokens of thy beauty are seene in euery place in the heauens thou art the beautie of glorie in hell of iustice in good men of grace in the wicked of patience I will therefore loue thee my God who are the perfection of all things thou art the praise of the Angels the reward of Saints yâ— hope of Patriarches the Crowne of Martyrs the glory of Confessors that puritie of Uirgins and the saluation of all the elect All blessed spirits praise thee yâ— Pillars of heauen trâ—…ble at thy presence and all the creatures of the world reuerence thee Thou fulfillest all things yet art thou not diâ—…ated thou art in all things yet art contained in none thou didst create all things without necessitie thou gouernest all things without labour thou changest all things thy selfe art not changed thou only iudgest without any erroâ—… thou onely chastifest without any pâ—…turbation thou onely distributest gifts and thy treasure is not impaired thou only art sufficient for thy selfe and all things who therefore hath thee he hath all things and who hath thee not although hee haue all the treasures of this world he is poore hee is naked he is wretched and miserable One thing verie often draweth vs to such insensate a loue of some creature that wee feare not in the behalfe of the same to aduenture a thousand deaths but in thee O Lord whereas so many things so great concurre together why should I not loue thee why should I not willingly suffer whatsoeuer miserie for the glory of thy name why should I not freely spend my blood for thee who so liberally diddest powre out thine for me If I consider thy benefits I owe no man more than thy self if thy loue no man wisheth mee better than thy selfe if consangumitie my soule hath not any one more neerely allied vnto her than thy selfe Truly similitude is a great cause of loue what greater similitude is there than is betweene thee O Lord my soule which is created after thy similitude and likenesse Thou art a spirit my soule is a spirit thou art inuisible my soule is also inuisible thou immortall my soule is immortall thou hast vnderstanding memory and will and the like powers hath my soule Thou being most simple and inuisible art all in the whole world and all in euery part thereof and my soule being of the same condition is all in the whole body and all in euery member of the same Since therfore there is so much similitude betweene thee mee O my loue why should I not loue thee Is it because thou art high I humble or for that thou art the Creator and I thy creature or because thou art the perfectest being and I altogether imperfect This ought not to hinder but to increase our loue For the similitude is far more amâ—…able which is proportioned with inequalitie than that which is euery way equall The fathers loue is greater towards yâ— son the wiues towards the husband than of brothers amongst themselues who are equal Uoices that art â—…rent among themselues 〈◊〉 more sweetly if they be reduced vnto proportion than those that are consonant and vniforme Let then this inequalitie which is betweene thee my soule o Lord be a cause of greater loue In thee therefore O most sweet spouse of my soule in thee are all the causes of loue which may bee imagined and thou art most worthy to bee beloued with infinite loue but I finde in my selfe my wil in such manner depraued that it cannot performe it would God it were not so that she loued her selfe more than thee Wherfore O Lord except thou heale my infirme nature by thy grace and except thou powre
into my heart the vertue of charitie by the mediation of the holy Ghost I may neuer loue thee with a gratuitall and supernaturall loue in such manner as thou art worthy wilt be beloued Giue mee the grace to loue thee if not with such a loue as thou art worthy of yet at leastwise with such a loue as my nature may partake that is with all my heart all my soule all my strength all my forces so that all my bowels inwardly burne melt in thy loue Grant that I may loue thee with a simple willing and free loue without any respect of profit Grāt that with pure loue no peruerse intentiō I may desire nothing but thy selfe for thy selfe Grant me O Lord a strong and inuincible loue that may refuse or abhorre no perils no labours no damages no iniuries or torments for thy sake Giue mee a ready and diligent loue that may alwaies be occupied in matters pertaining to thy seruice Giue me an inestimable loue O Lord that may contemne all things for thy sake giue me a discreete loue which with immoderate zeale and feruour shall not exceed thy law Finally giue me o my God that grace to loue thee with an ordinate loue which loueth al things according to that dignity of their proportion but thee aboue all things with a sweete and amiable loue which shall taste no sweetnes or pleasure in any thing but in thee with a loue burning in zeale that destreth nothing more than thy glory hateth nothing more than ignominie imputed to thy holy Name Finally with a loue so violent that it may pul my hart from all things that are transitorie and alwaies draw the same vpwards vnto thee vntill I may passe ouer all this place of exile into that celestiall countrey where beholding the greatnes of thy beauty face to face I may perpetually loue thee with those perfect louers that neuer ceasse to loue and praise thee the King of Kings Lord of Lords and God of Gods in Sion Amen The seuenth prayer for the obtaining of Gods loue O Most high mightie omnipotent mercifull iust strong incomprehensible God and my Lord. Thou that art sweeter than any hony whiter than milke clearer than all light and more precious than al pearle there are infinit causes which rauish my heart with thy loue For thou art higher then heauen deeper than hell thy measure is longer then the earth and broader then y◠sea as thy prophet saith Who is perfecter than thou art who better who fairer who bountifuller who nobler who stronger who wiser who richer than thou art A◅ these things are in thee O Lord and for euery one of them art thou to be loued since thou art the chiefest good But since euery good thing is truely amiable by it selfe yet euery man affecteth more his proper good I will therefore loue thee o Lord my God not onely because thou art the chiefest good but also because thou art my good for when I consider and weigh with my selfe by how many titles and meanes thou art made mine my inward parts melt and I cry with the spouse My spouse is beloued of me and I of him For thou o Lord art my creator thou art my sanctifier and glorifier thou gauest mee my being in nature thou gauest mee that of grace and wilt giue mee the being of glory Thou art my helper my gouernour defender tutor and keeper finally thou art my God my Lord thou art my saluation thou art my hope thou art my glory thou art all my good Uerily thou art all those vnto mee in as much as thou art my God in so much as thou art my creator and the conseruer of all things But in as much as thou art man there are many other titles other offices and other bonds wherwith I am bound vnto thee and thou vnto me For which I also if it were possible ought to loue thee and that by reason with an in◅nite and diligent loue for thou art my restorer for thou hast restored mee to entire humane nature which by sin was weakned in me Thou art my deliuerer for by thy captiuity thou hast deliuered me from the tyranny of sin death hell and the diuell my most capital enemies Thou art my Redeemer for thou hast ransomed mee from seruitude into which through sinne I was fallen by the shedding of the incomparable treasure of thy precious blood Thou art my King for thou gouernest me by thy Spirit thou foughtest for mee and deliueredst me from the hands of my enemies thou art my priest for thou praiedst incessantly praiest like an euerlasting priest for me in y◠sight of thy celestiall Father Thou art my sacrifice for thou offeredst vp thy selfe on the altar of the Crosse that by thy clemency thou mightest expiate my crimes Thou art my aduocate for when the Diuell accuseth me and offereth the libel wherein my sins are written to thy father thou dost protect my cause thou makest paiment with thine owne dost supply all that which my iustice defaulteth in Thou art my Mediator for thou art God and man and a mighty friend of God and that true Son of God so puttest thou thy selfe as a mediator betweene me and God Thou art my shepheard for y◠feedest gouernest my soule like a sheepe of thy flocke thou art my meate for thou art hee by whom I am nourished in the diuine Sacrament of the Altar thou art my father and the father of the world to come for thou hast regenerated me with grieuous dolours on the tree of the Crosse and giuen me a new essēce by y◠holy Spirit Thou art my head the vniuersall head of the Church for from thee as from the true head floweth into the same and euery member thereof vertue life and spirituall sense Thou art my true Physition for by thy blood thou hast healed the wounds and strips of my soule Thou art my master for by the light of thy doctrine thou hast shewed mee the way to the celestiall country Thou art my example for not onely in words but that which is farre more in deedes and most holy examples of thy life thou hast led me in this way Thou art my strength and mercy for there is no tribulation or griefe so great which the memorie of thy passions that thou sufferedst for me doth not make sweete tollerable Thou art my honour and glory for thou becamest man for mee thou madest mee thy brother and a consort of thy nature To conclude thou art my Sauiour yea such a sauiour that euery where alwaies in all things art sufficient for me for thou hast most perfectly wrought all that on the earth which was requistte for my saluatiō Thou hast illuminated my ignorance by thy doctrine thou hast strengthned my weaknes by thy examples Thou hast inflamed my warmth by thy benefits thou hast instructed my soule in thy mysteries thou hast enriched my pouerty by thy merits Thou hast
so possesse my heart y◠I may neuer be weary nor satisfied with seruing thee Our Father c The second praier of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks most sweet Ie su for that entring y◠flood Iordan thou wouldst bee baptised by the hands of thy precurser S. Iohn Baptist vouchsafe O Lord to purifie mee in this life by thy merits and to cleanse me from all my sins and to make mee drunke with thy loue and desire of my celestiall countrey Make me such a one before my soule shall depart out of y◠prison of this flesh as thou wilt haue me to bee that at the end of this pilgrimage I may presently bee with thee that I may alwaies see thee and alwaies enioy thee in that blessed eternity that hath no end I giue thee continuall thanks most bountifull Iesu for that liuing in the desart before thou beganst to preach the Gospell thou didst liue amongst wilde beasts perseuering in fasting fortie daies fortie nights and watching in continuall praiers sighs thou wouldest afterwards be tempted by the diuell and after thou hadst obtained the victory the Angels came and ministred vnto thee Uouchsafe O Lord that by thy grace I may chastise my flesh and make thrall all my sinfull affections of y◠flesh and that by the gift of perseuerance I may exercise my selfe in fastings watchings prayers and other spiritual exercises But especially O Lord grant mee that by the helpe of thy grace I may bee free from the sinne of gluttome and from all other snares temptations of the diuell let no temptation preuaile against mee let no allurement separate me from thee rather bring to passe O Lord that all these may giue mee greater occasion more neerely to vnite and tie my selfe vnto thee I giue thee thanks sweete Iesu for that for my loue thou wert afflicted in this world with many dolors diuers necessities as heate colde thirst hunger wearinesse and swellings with diuers iourneis watchings persecutions and tribulations of al sorts Grant me O Lord that for thy loue sake I may suffer all aduersitie with a glad heart as if coming frō thy hands and that I may beare them with great patience Grant that in whatsoeuer fortune either prosperous or aduerse troublesome or peaceable I may alwaies perseuere in thee and faithfully cleaue vnto thee that in all things thy will bee done and not mine I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu for that thou sufferedst many things whilst like a true shepheard and Sauiour of the world thou soughtest the conuersion and health of my soule in watching and prayer in wearying thy selfe in trauels in preaching the Gospell trauelling from Prouince to Prouince and Castle to Castle and omitting in no sort the office of a good Pastor I beseech thee O Lord giue mee this grace that I may neuer be found hereafter slow and negligent in doing thee seruice but that I may be alwaies ready and prompt to all goodnesse Grant that I may most ardently thirst after all mens saluation and may alwaies haue zeale of thine honour and occupy my selfe in the same I giue thee thanks most bountifull Iesu that in thy mercifull conuersation with men thou wouldest comfort them and of thy great mercie cure their infirmities Giue mee O Lord a heart replenished with a certaine zealous affection towards al mē that I may be partaker with all those whom I shall see in afflictiō Grāt also O Lord that I may esteeme other mens miseries as mine owne and that with a sincere heart and without any passion I may beare with other mens imperfections and succour them according to my most power in all their necessities O Lord purge my heart perfectly from all vicious passions and all euill desires which tyrannize in the same that being healed of all these euils and freed from all these impediments shee may freely flie to Heauen and neuer ceasse till of most pure loue it may deserue to partake thy diuine embracings I giue thee thanks good Iesu for that for my sake thou sufferedst so innumerable iniuries blasphemies slaunders reproches and persecutions especially at their hands whom thou hadst graced with infinite benefits I beseech thee O Lord giue me a heart truly simple innocent that I may loue mine enemies and that their misfortunes may greeue me to the heart that I may excuse them alwaies if many thing they shall offend yeelding good for euill that I may be a perfect follower of thy perfect charity and patience I giue thee thanks most louing Iesu for that thou camest in humble sort into Hierusalem lowly sitting vpon an Asse and whilst they that came out to meete thee recorded thy glorious praises in pleasant Hymnes thou sheddest teares full of bitternesse with the griefe thou hadst conceiued for the destruction of such a Cittie and the losse of so many soules extorted from thee Giue mee O Lord a certaine inward knowledge of my selfe that I may manifestly know my vilenes hartily humble my selfe that I may so contemne my selfe that hereafter no flatterie or commendations of men may please me but that I may continually bewaile not onely mine owne but my neighbours sinnes reputing all his euils to bee mine Our Father c. The third prayer of the life of Iesu. I Giue thee thanks O Lord Iesu Christ for that to bring the old law to an end thou didst eate the paschall Lamb with thy Disciples in Hierusalem and giuing them an example of great humility and vnspeakeable loue kneeling on thy knees thou didst wash their feete wiping them with the towell wherewith thou wert girt I pray thee O Lord let this example of thine pierce my heart and cast out of the same whatsoeuer presumption or pride may bee found in it Giue me I beseech thee O Lord profound humility by meanes wherof I may reioyce to be subiect vnto them without alteration Adde to me also perfect obedience whereby I may entirely satisfie thy commandements together be obseruant to their instructions who in thy name haue the authority ouer me Kindle in mee a feruent charitie wherewith I may purely loue thee and through thy loue loue all men I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu that of thy most excellent charitie thou didst institute the most excellent Sacrament of thy bodie and blood and for that of a certaine admirable liberality of thine thou gauest thy self for meat vnto vs and repinedst not to remain with vs in this world till the end thereof Ah Lord excite in me I pray thee a louing desire and an ardēt thirst of this venerable Sacrament Grant mee the grace that I may come to this Table of life to receiue thee with a chaste loue profound humility purity of heart and sincerity of mind Grant also that my soule may so thirst after thee and bee so wounded by thy loue that at length I may deserue to enioy thy diuine pleasures
passion and blood may redeeme mee from hel and damnation and reserue me to the life euerlasting I giue thee thanks o good Iesu who victoriously issuing from the Sepulcher 〈◊〉 noble triumph after thou hadst ouercome and slaine death didst rise againe the third day reassuming thy glorious body and clothed with immeasurable brightnesse visiting thy friends didst affect them with vnspeakeable ioy Grant me also O Lord that rising againe from the death of my sinnes and olde conuersâ—…tion I may walk in newnes of life and seeke those things onely which are high and excellent and not base and transitorie that when as thou the true life shalt make thy second apparition heere on earth I may appeare with thee also in thy glory I giue thee thanks O merciful Iesu who forty daies after thy resurrection in the sight of thine Apostles didst ascend into Heauen glorious and triumphant where sitting on the right hand of the Father thou liuest reignest world without end May it please thy diuine bounty o God that my soule may languish in thy loue and disdaine all things that are in this world that she may alwaies aspire vnto thee desiring celestial things and that with a continual and feruent will let nothing reioyce her nothing affect her but thou onely my Lord and God I giue thee thanks most louing Iesu for that thou sentest downe thy holy Spirit vpon yâ— elect who perseuered in prayer didst send them to preach and teach all nations throughout the world I beseech thee O Lord purifie the secrets of my heart and giue me the true purity and cleannesse of conscience that the same Comforter finding a general habitation in the same may adorne it and make it faire and beautifull with the plentifull gifts of his graces let him alone comfort me let him confirme and rule mee and bee possessed of mee I giâ—…e thee thanks most bountifull Iesu who when thou shalt come in the latter day to iudge the world to reward euery one according to his works and deserts either with rewardes or punishments My mercifull Lord giue me grace that my soule innocently â—…nishing the race of this miserable life according to thy holy will may at last depart out of this prison of the body adorned with many merits and vertues that for thy mercie-sake shee may bee receiued into the house of thy glorie that without end shee may praise thee and in the companie of all the Saints blesse thee world without end Amen Our Father c. The first thankesgiuing for the benefite of our Creation I Giue thee thanks omnipotent and eternall God most wise and munificent Creator of all things that when I was nothing hast created me to be somethat not a stone not a Serpent not a boord not a fourefooted beast but a man made according to thy image and similitude or rather the very image and similitude of thy selfe namelie a substance endued with vnderstanding and will that hauing a similitude of being liuing working with thee I might bee the image and type of thy infinite beautie But â—…est a creature so noble should presently fall againe to nothing and should presently and instantly perish thou createdst mee immortall that whereas other liuing creatures appeare but a little while and straight come to nothing I should neuer returne to not being but perpetually liue Yet seemed that little vnto thee O Lord except also thou hadst infused into me a soule so precious noble as that it scarsely giueth place to the Angels in dignity Orâ—…n and Sheepe are satisfied with hearbs and grasse Hogs feede on Aâ—…orns and Beane-cods neither are the meanes of more moment wherewith all other creatures are nourished which if they enioy they rest contented But my meate is celestiall and my appetite cannot be satisfied but by thy immeasurable Maiestie for thou hâ—…st created my soule of that nature and capacity as neither the heauens nor the earth can fill it O vnhappy man that I am why doe I loue thee world why seeke I honours why gape I after riches why am I drowned in pleasures why seâ—…ke I those things that are to day are not found to morrow These Acornes suffice not These Huskes are not sauoury and these Beanes do not nourish Know O my soule what thou art to what vse thou wert created what thou oughtest to seeke and with what dainties thou shouldest be satified Only God can satiate thee all the rest may possesse thee but they cannot satisfie thee Seeke him hâ—…e is thy Spouse he is the Hauen of thy desires hee is thy last end Acknowledge thy dignity O my soule acknowledge what and how thou art created The king whose beauty the Sun and moone admire whose maiesty the Heauens reuerence and the earth adoreth with whose wisedome yâ— quires of Angels are illuminate with whose bounty the society of supernall Citizens is sed he created thee that thou mightest be his habitation his seate and holie temple hee would infuse himselfe into thy bosome he can fill all the corners of thy immeasurable capacities Rise arise o my soule go meete with such a guest introduce him with gladnesse into thy house and say He that created mee hath his rest in my tabernacle Which dignitie of my Soule O Lord when I considerately looke into I wonder not that thy onely begotten Son make drunke with the loue thereof forsaking thy bosome disâ—…ained not the Uirgins wombe sought her thirty three yeares with diuers labors and dolours gaue his life for her and by the pledge of his precious blood redeemed her being captiue But I rather woÌ„der at my ingratitud carelesnesse and dulnes who had rather prostitute the same soule so redeemed for a finall reward once againe to the cursed diuels and commit fornication with so vncleane beasts than rest in the armes of my Redeemer who is fairest amongst the children of men whose â—…aps are better than wine and whose name is powred out oyle When I behold the fashion which yâ— gauest to this my body I findâ—… so many of thy benefits as theâ—… are members senses veins nerues or small strings to bee found in thâ—… same all which doe publish thy â—…comparable wisedome and bounty In the only harmony of which bâ—…dy if I shold alwaies philosophy I should neuer want matter to praise thee I should neuer yeeld thee condigne thanks I should neuer pay my duties for so many 〈◊〉 great benefits which how great they are they best know who want the vse of some members or are trauelled with some other vicious affection of the body I yeeld therefore O thou maker of man infinite thanks vnto thy goodnesse for that thou hast not made mee blinde lame mute monstrous mad or disguised with any other vice either of minde or of body but for that thou hast bestowed on me a sound mind in a sound body Grant also that I may neuer abuse any of my members senses or powers of my soule
destres and that for this cause thy creatures are obedient vnto thee Bee than mindfull in this thy wrath of thy great mercy and fauourably take away this contagious sickenesse which by thy wrath is powred vpon vs. For the pestilent aire shall enforce no euill if we oppose our selues against all kinds of iniquity yet all things proceede from thee O most mercifull Father both for that in body wee are secured from this plague and for that in soule wee are protected from the venome of sinne and reward thereof For although other men detained with the loue of this lifâ—… runne here and there seeking helâ—… in these perils yet from no mâ—… either more rightly or more secuâ—…ly is their helpe to bee intreatâ—… than from thee onely whose poâ—…â—…t no man may fly who receiuest vs into thy fauour for that thou despisest no man that hopeth in thy goodnesse To thee therefore doe we cry O Lord heare our prayers and supplications that thou maist deliuer vs from this pestilent and deadly plague Command thine Angell that striketh vs to shut his sword in his sheath lest he pursue vs till we be vtterly extinguished extend not thine ire against vs spare our soules preserue vs from the plague Râ—…rne returne O Lord and haue mercy on thy seruants take from vs this indisposition of the aire and vnholsomnes of the place lest the infected aire powre that poyson wherewith it is infected vpon vs to our confusioÌ„ O Lord let thy hand I pray thee be turned that all the earth may know that thou art the Lord our GOD and that thy Name is called vpon amongst vs. Amen In the time of famine and scarsity of victuals MOst iust Lord God that according to the merits of thy people both bestowest and withdrawest thy blessings looke vpon our pouerty who acknowledge this present scarsitie of victuals famine as a rod in thy hand wherby thou chastisest and punishest yâ— manifold abuses of thy blessings misimployed by vs in riot and often drunkennes and other destres of the flesh and dissipations of thy gifts which thou hast giuen vs not to that intent that being faâ—…ed filled we should kicke against thee but rather wee might serue thee thankfully in way of acknowledgment Why complaine wee not of the prophanation of thy name by oathes and horrible imprecations and of the violating of thy holy daies and seruice But what other thing shall wee most wretched sinners iustly puni shed by thee for our iniquities do but falling downe prostrate in the presence of thy Maiestie accuse our selues and deplore our offenses and implore thy grace and mercy that thou wilt vouchasafe to looke downe from Heauen to the end that by thy blessing our land may yeeld vs increase and by that meanes releeued and satisfied with necessary food we may praise thee for the blessings wee haue receiued professe our selues more and more bound to do thee seruice Amen Against the tempests and thunder of the aire KIng of eternal glory omnipotent God that giuest food vnto all creatures and couerest the heauen with clouds and preparest raine for the earth that transferrest the Southerne winde from yâ— heauen and bringest in the Affricke by thy vertue that waterest the mountaines from the higher places thereof who satiatest the earth with the fruite of thy works that hast commanded thine Angel that he should not hurt neither the land nor the Sea nor trees spare those that feare thee and bee mercifull to their prayers For wee most humbly beseech thee O Lord that yâ— incursion of stormes may depart far from vs and the calamity of tempests the tempest of haile the blasting of lightning and that all the assaults of the enemie may bee tempered Let the harmefull thunders the noisome raines the raging wmdes be calmed grant also that the right hand of thy vertue may ouer-way the spirits of storme and airie tempests O Lord thou that thunderest from heauen and giuest thy voice that sendest forth thine arrowes multipliest thy lightnings turne away we pray thee this cruel tempest from vs let it not bring vs to confusion Restraine the thunder and thine arrowes lest they hurt vs. keepe vs and our houses lest we perish through that fury of storme and the force of lightning Protect our habitations lest by fire sent downe from heauen they burne 〈◊〉 consumed Most mercifull Lord raine not I beseech thee thy haile vpon the 〈◊〉 of the earth neither strike the â—…ell or fruite of our pastors â—…rch not vp the herbs trees of 〈◊〉 Countrey kill not our corne â—…ther expose our cattell to the â—…le whereby they may bee destroied but in thy mercy conteine thy wrath that we that are iuftly punished for our offences by the â—…ntion of thy mercy may finde grace and indulgence of our sins Amen A prayer for the Master of a Houshold VVHereas O Father thou commandest euery one of vs to haue care of our neighbors to further their affaires and fortunes to withstand all their incommodities I very well vnderstand what â—…u meanest namely that it beâ—…th a Master in his houshold â—…e no lesse care towards his seruants than himselfe and than teachest the seruants likewise to obey their masters I acknowledge my duty but in ruling those whom thou hast committed to my charge my wife children seruants handmaids and other domesticall seruants I neither finde facultâ—… nor iudgement in my selfe I flie therefore vnto thee tâ—… chiefest Father of the familie 〈◊〉 thee I say who art the ruler both 〈◊〉 heauen and earth I most huâ—… submit my selfe beseeching thy 〈◊〉 uor Grant O Father gouerâ—… that I may keepe continue thâ—… my seruants which thou hast committed to my charge in thy feaâ—… discipline and that I may deâ—… and further both those things that belong to the profit of their bodies soules and such as concerne their honour and profite And grant that they likewise on the other side 〈◊〉 performe their duties with fâ—… and obedience not seruing according to the outward eie but deâ—…ning them louingly and freely discharging their duties in â—…tie of heart as if before GOD and not men whereby at lenght we may al finde the reward in heaâ—… Amen The prayer of a Sonne OMnipotent and eternal God to whom euery obedience of the child towards his parents is â—…ll pleasing and all rebellion is loathsome who in thy law comâ—…dest vs to honor our parents â—…ding this thy commandemeÌ„t 〈◊〉 a double wal namely with reâ—…d and punishment whilst thou promisest to the humble and obedient child eternall life and to the vntoward and rebellious thou denouncest death and malediction Neither is this thy precept vpon me neither farre estranged from me that I might say who in effect may fulfill the same but it is neere me or rather in me whereas the very law of nature ingrauen in my foule inciteth and inuiteth me vnto the same I beseech thee therfore O most bountifull Father