that my soule may onely thirst and growe drie through the loue of thee forgetting all worldlie vanitie and miserie Heare o my God heare o light of mine eies heare and graunt what I demaunde of thee O most meeke and mercifull Lord refuse not to heare me by reason of my sinnes but for thy goodnes sake receiue the prayers of me thy vnworthy seruant and graunt me the effect of my peticion and desire by the prayers and intercession of our blessed Lady the glorious Virgin Marie and of all the Saints of thy heauenlie Cittie Amen A Prayer greately stirring vp the minds to compunction if it be saied in silence with attention CHAPT XXXVII O Lord Iesu o mercifull Iesu o good Iesu who hast vouchsafed to die for our sinnes and hast risen againe for our iustification I beseech thee by thy glorious resurrâ—ction raise me vp from the sepulcher of sinne and graunt me daylie a parte in this first resurrection that in the last likewise I may be thought worthie to receiue a portion O most sweete most benigne most louing most deare most inestimable most desired most amiable and most beautifull Lord who hast ascended into heauen in glorious and triumphant manner and as a puissant Prince sittest at the right hande of God the Father drawe me vp vnto thee that I may runne after thee being allured by the sent of thy ointments soe sweetelie smelling that I may runne without ceasing thou drawing and conducting me running drawe the mouth of my thirstie soule I beseech thee to those riuers aboue of euerlasting satietie nay rather leade me to the fountaine of life my God and my life that there I may drinke according to my capacitie in suche sorte as that I may be able to liue eternallie For thou with thy sacred and blessed mouth hast affirmed If any one thirst lett him come to me and he shall drinke and be satisfied O fountaine of life graunt that my thirstie soule may alwaies drinke of thee that according to thy holie and true promisâ— waters of life may flowe from my bellie O fountaine of life fill my minde with the streame of thy delight make my hart drunke with the sober drunkennes of thy loue that I may forget all thinges that are vaine and worldly and may continuallie haue thee in my memorie euen as it is written I haue been mindfull of God and haue been delighted Giue me thy holie spiritt whom those waters did signifie which thou didst promise to bestowe vpoz those that doâ— thirst after thee Graunt I beseeche thee that I may tende and aspire thither with my whole desire and affection whither we beleiue thou didst ascende the foâ—â—th day after thy Resurrection that I may be detained iâ— this vale of miserie in body onely being in thought and desire continually with thee to the end my harte may remaine there where thou art my desired incomparable and most beloued treasure For in the greate deluge of this life where we are â—ossed to and from with continuall tempests finding â—oe firme standing or assured place where the doue may fixe her foote for neuer soe small a space heere I say in this wretched worlde noe certaine peace or assured rest is to be expected for that where soeuer we are warres and dissensioÌ„s doe molest vs our enimies on all sides doe assaulte vs out wardly are fightes inwardlye teares And for that we consist of a two-folde substance partly of earth partly of heauen our body which is subiect to corruption is a clogg to the soule not suffering it to soare vp to celestiall contemplation Wherefore my minde being my compagnion freinde cominge as one wearied on the way lieth sicke and diseased being rent maÌ„gled by those vanities throughe which it hath passed it is exceeding hungrie and thirsty and I haue nothing to sett before it because I am poore and needy Thou therefore o Lord my God who art riche in goodnes and giuest in aboundance the dainties and delicacies of celestiall fulnes giue meate to my minde being wearied recollect it beinge distracted restore it to healthe being rent and mangled Beholde o Lord how it standâ—th at thy dore knocking I beseech thee by the bowells of thy coÌ„passion in which thou hast vouchsafed to visit vs coming downe vnto vs from heauen open the hande of thy pitty to my afflicted minde knockinge and calling vnto thee commaunde likewise by thy accustomed courtesie that it may enter and be brought in vnto thee that it may rest and repose in thee and lastly by thee may be refreshed fedd who art the liuing and heauenly bread with which being filled and strength being recouered let it ascende to the thinges aboue it and being lifted vp with the winge of holy desire from this vale of teares and lamentation let it soare vp to the heauenly kingdome Let my soule I beseech thee o Lord take the winges of an Eagle and fly without failing let it fly without ceasing vntill it come to the beautie of thy house and vnto the place of thy glorious habitation that there in the place of thy pasture which is enuiroÌ„ned with pleasant riuers it may be fedd with the foode of thy internall consolation sitting at the same table on which those heauenly citizens are wonte to take theire refection Graunt that my hart may rest in thee o my God my hart I say which is as aspatious sea tossed too and froo with continuall floudes Thou therfore o Lord who hast commaunded the windes and sea after which a greate calme did ensue come and walke vpon the waues of my harte to the end that all thinges within me may be stil and quiet that soe I may embrace thee the onely good thinge which I desire to possesse and may contemplate thee the gratfull light of mine eies being freede from the darke mist of troublesome thoughtes Let my minde o Lord flie and retire it selfe vnder the shadowe of thy winges from the inordinate heate of worldly cogitations that sittinge there in the temperate ayre of thy refreshing it may ioyfullie sing saying I will sleepe and repose in the peace of this one thinge that is of God alone O Lord my God let my soule sleepe I beseech thee by abandonning whatsoeuer is amisse lett it sleepe by hating wickednes and by louinge iustice For what thinge is there that can or ought to be more pleasing and delightfull vnto vs then amidst the darknes and manifold bitternes of this present life to desire diuine sweetnes and to sighe after eternall happines there to fixe the minde where it is most certaine true ioyes are to be founde O most sweete most louinge most benigne most charitable most inestimable most desired most beloued and most beautifull Lord when shall I see thee WheÌ„ shall I be presented before thee When shall I be satisfied by beholding thy beautie When wilt thou deliueâ— me out of this obscure prison that I may freely confesse thy holy name that from hence forth I may be
vnder wheeling globes The Sunne the Moone and all the heaueÌ„s In starre bespangled robes O Christ the Palme of Warriers Vouchsafe me of thy pitty To make me when I end my warre A free man of this citty Graunt me among these cittizens Thy bounties to partake Meane while assist me with thy ayde A happy fight to make That warring ouâ— my time the rest In quiett I may spend And for my guerdon thee enioy For euer without end Amen The continuall praise of the soule through the contemplation of God CHAPT XXVII MY soule blesse thou our Lord and all thinges that are within me his holie name My soule blesse thou our Lord and forgett not all his benefittâ— Blesse yee our Lord all his workes in euerie place of his dominion my soule blesse thou our Lord Lett vs praise God whom the Angells extoll the Dominations adore in whosâ— presence the powers doe tremble to whom the Cherubins and Seraphins with a loude voice doe incessantlie sing Holy holy holy Let vs ioyne our voyces to the voyces of the holie Angells and with them to the vttermost of our poore powâ—r praise this our common Lord and maker It is they indeede that praiâ—e ouâ— Lord purely and incessantlye who are wholy giuen to the contemplation of his Diuinitie not beholding him as it were in a mirrour or in obscuritie but face to face and apparently But who is able to imagin or expresse in what manner that innumerable multitude of blessed Angells and Saints doe carrie themselues in almightie Gods presence What euerlasting content they receiue by seeinge God what ioy without defect What delightful heate of burning affection without anie affliction What a desire they haue of the sight of God ioyned with fulnes and a fulnes ioyned with desire in whom neither desire causeth paine not fulnes loathinge How by adheringe to the cheife beatitude they are become blessed How by being vnited to the true â—ight they are become light How by continuall contemplation of the immutable Trinitie they are now noe more subiect to muâ—abilitie But when shall we be able to comprehend the greatnes of the dignitie of Angells sitâ—ence we cannot finde out the nature euen of ouâ— owne soule What kind of creature iâ— this who hauing power to giue life to the body cannot as it woulde containe it selte in thinking of such things onely as are holy What kind of creature is this that iâ— soe strong soe weake of soe little soe great that searcheth into the secretts of God that are hidden and soareth vp to the comtemplation of those things that are in heauen and by subtilitie of vnderstanding is kdowen to haue founde out the knowledge of soe many artes and sâ—â—ences for the commoditie of man What kind of creature is this that knoweth soe much of all other thinges and yett is altogether ignorant of the manner of its owne beginning For albeit certaine doubtfull thinges haue been written by some coÌ„cerning the originall thereof yetâ— we finde that it is a certane intellectuall spirit made by the power of God the creator liuing euerlastinglie if it be considered in its owne manner giuing life to the mortall bodie which it doth sustaine subiect to mutation subiect to obliuion somtimes fearefull at other times ioyfull Loe here a thing most worthy of admiratioÌ„ O God the creator of al thinges who is incomprehensible and vnspeakable we reade speake and write without any ambiguity thinges surpassing high and woÌ„derfull but those thinges which we say of the Anglls and souleâ— of men we cannot soe manistly proue and confirme But lett my minde omitt to think on these thinges and passe beyonde what soeuer is created lett it runne and ascende and flâ—e and soare aboue them all lookinge stedfastlie with the eies of faith as much as is possible on him that hath created all thinges For this cause I will make as it were steppes or stayres in my hart and by them I will ascende vnto my soule and from my soule vnto my vnderstanding and from thence vnto God who remaineth aboue ouer my head What soeuer likewise is seene visiblie whatsoeuer likewise is imagined spiritually lett be remoued fare off with a strong hand from the sight of my hart and minde that my sole vnderstanding walking in all puritie and simplicitie may speedily come to the Creator himselfe of Angells soules all other thinges Happie is that soule that leaueth these thinges that are heere beneath loueth those aboue who placing the seate of her habitation in thinges hard and difficile doth from the high rockes contemplate the sunne of iustice with the eies of an Eagle Because there is nothing soe faire and pleasing as with the view of the vnderstanding and harts affection to looke vppon Iesus alone and after a manner vnspeakable inuisible to see him that is muisible and by this meanes to taste a more sweete delight then that of this life to behold a brightnes more cleare then that which we see heere for that the light of this present life which is enclosed in a ceâ—taine place and by the intâ—rruption of the night is changed ended after a certaine space being common to vs with wormes and beastes in comparison of that high and heauenly light is rather to be teaâ—med night then light What it is after a certaine manner to see and comprehend God and what opinion we ought to haue of him CHAPT XXVIII ALthough God the most supreame vnchangeable essence the true and neuer failinge light the light of Angells cannot be scene by any mortall man during the time of this life this beinge the onely rewarde and guâ—rdon reserued by God for the Saints in heaven yett neuerthelesse to beleiue and vndeâ—stand to feele and feruently to affect the same is after a câ—râ—aine manner to see and comprehend him Lett our voice therefore be heard aboue the Angâ—lls and let man contemplate God with all attention and with the best wordes he can singe praises vnto him Because it is a thing very meete which iustice it selfe doth seeme to require that the creature doo praise his creator yea the motiue that moued him to create vs was noe other but that we should praise him albeit he needeth not our praise or commendation And â—nd ede God is a vertue that cannot be comprehended needing nothing of himselfe sufficient Our Lord God is great and grâ—at is his power and of his wisedomehere iâ— noe nâ—mber Our Lord God is great and exceeding worthy to be praised Let our soule therfore loue him our tongue talke of him our hand write of him in these sacred exercises let the minde of euerie faithfull Christian wholy employ it selfe That man certainely that is full of good desires whose delight is in heauenly meditation may daily be refreshed with the most sweete daintie dishes of this â—elestiall contemplation to the end that being filled with this supernal foode he may crie with a loude voice and with the whole force and affection
essence one vertuâ— one goodnes one onely happines From whom by whom and in whom all thinges are happie what thinges soâ—uer are happie That God is the true and soueraigne life CHAPT XXXII O God the true and soueraigne lâ—fe from whome by whome and in whome all thinges doe liue what thinges soeuer doe truly and happilie liue O God the true and soueraigne bountiâ— and beautie from whom by whom and in whome all thinges are good and beautifull what thinges soeuer are good and beautifull O God whose faiâ—he dâ—th raise vsâ— whose hope doth releiue vs whose charitie doth vnite vs. O God who commaundest that we shoulde aske thee and openest to him that doth knock and call vnto thee O God from whome to be auerted is to fall to whome to be conuâ—â—ed is to rise in whome to remaine is to be immoueable O God whom noe man looseth vnlesse he be deceaued whioÌ„ noe man seeketh vnlesse he bâ— admonished whom noe man findeth vnlesse he be vndefiled O God to knowe whom is to liue to serue whom is to raigne to praife whom is the â—oules ioy and saluation I praise blâ—sse and adore thee with my lippes and harte and with all the force I haue rendring thankes to thy mercie and bountie for all the benefitts which I haue receiuâ—d from thee and singing vnto thee the hymne of thy glorie holy holy holy To thee I cry o blessed Trinity beseeching thee that thou wilt vouchsafe to come into me and make men temple fitt to receaue thy maiestie I beseech the Father by the Sonne I beseech the Sonne by the Father I beseech the holy Ghost by the Father and the Sonne that all my sinnes and imperfections may be remoued farr from me and all holy vertues may be planted in me O God of infinite power and might of whom by whom and in whom all thinges visible and inuisible were created who dost enuiron thy workes without and replenishe them within who dost couer them aboue and sustaine them beneath protect me the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and hauing my whole coÌ„fidence in thy onely mercy Preserue me I beseeche thee heere and euery where now and euer within and without before and behinde aboue and beneathe and on euery side that noe place in me may be founde open to the assaultes and snares of mine enimies Thou art God almightie the keeper and defender of all those that trust in thee without whom no man is secure no man is free from danger Thou art God and there is noe other God but thee either in heauen aboue or on the earthe beneathe who dost great and maruailous thinges vnknowen and inscrutable in nomber infinite and innumerable To thee therefore doth truly belong all glory power and praise To thee all the holy Angells the heauens and vniuâ—rsall powers doe singe songes of thanksgiuing sounding forth thy prayses without ceasinge as creatures to theire creator as seruants to theire maister as souldiers to theme Prince and gouuernoure Finallie euery creature and eueric spiritt doth magnifie and extoll thee o sacred and inseparable Trinitie The praises of Angells and men CHAPT XXXIII TO thee all holy and humblâ— men of hartie to thee the spiritts and soules of the iust to thee all the celestiall citâ—izeÌ„s and euerie order of the heauenlie hierarchie doe singe and sounde forth praise and honoure euâ—rlastinglie in most humble manner fallinge downe adoring thee Those celestiall cittizens o Lord doe praise thee with much honoure and magnificencie Man likewise doth extâ—ll thy power containinge in himselfe a greate parte of ech other creature I my selfe alsoe albeit a poore and miserable sinner doe desire to praise thee with greate deuotion and doe withe thaâ— I coulde loue thee with most ardent affection O my God my life my strength and my praise giue me graâ—e to praise thee Giue light vnto my harte and worde vnto my mouth that my harte may thinke of thy glorie and my tongue may all the day longe singe and sounde forth thy praises But because thy praise is not seemely in my mouthe that am a sinner and a man of vncleane lipps cleanse my harte I beseâ— che thee from all vncleanlineffe of iniqnitie sanctifie me within and without o sanctifier omnipotent and make me worthy to praise thee Receiue gratiouslie and take in good parte this sacrifice of my lipps which I offer thee with my whole harte and affection and graunt that it may be acceptable in thy sight and ascende vnto thee as an odore of sweetnes Lett thy holie remembrance and thy most blessed sweetnes possesse my whole soule drawinge it vp to the loue of thinges inuisible Lett my soule passe from thinges visible to inuisible from earthly to celestiall from thinges temporall to eternall lett it mount vp by contemplation and beholde thee whose sight is soe full of admiration O eternal truthe true charitie and charitable eternitie thou art my God to thee I sigh day and night thou art my whole studie my desire is how I may come to thee because he that knoweth the truth knoweth eternity Thou o truth art ruler ouer al thinges whom we shal apparantly see after that this blinde and mortal life is ended in which we are demauÌ„ded Wher is thy God yea I my selfe doe demaunde My God where art thou Me thinke I finde my selfe somewhat comforted in thee when with wordes of exultation and confession I doe power forthe my soule vppon thee as one reioyceth at some banquet or vppon a holie day Neuerthelesse my soule is yet pensiue for that it falleth downe and becommeth as an infinite deepe pitt or rather perceiueth it selfe to be such a one as yett To whome my faith which in the night season thou hast kindled before my feete making answere saieth Why art thou sadd o my soule and why doost thou trouble me Put thy trust in God whose worde is a light vnto my feete hope and perseuere in him vntill the night be past the mother of such as sinne vntill Gods anger be past whose children in times past we haue been because we were heeretofore darknes vntill this violent inundation of waters be past vntill the day appeare and the shadowes are departed till then the residue of sinne remaineth in our bodie growen deade through iniquitie Wherefore o my soule put thy trust in our Lord in the morninge I will preisent my selfe before him and meditate vppon him and for euermore will confesse vnto him In the morninge I will present my selfe before him and by contemplation will beholde him who is the health of my countenance and my God who will reuiue our deade bodies by meanes of the holie Ghost dwellinge in vs to the end that from hence forth we may become light and the children of the light and of the day not of the night neither of darknes being as yett saued by hope True it is that heeretofore we were darknesse but now we are become light in thee our God neuertheles as yet by
how to praise him blessed is that man whose helpe is from God who hath soe disposed the ascents of his harte in this dolefull vale of miserie that by them he may ascende vp to the place of eternall felicitie Happie are the cleane in harte for they shall see God happie are they o Lord that dwell in thy house they shall praise thee for euer and euer A Prayer greatly mouinge the harte to deuotion and to the loue of God CHAPT XXXV O Iesu our redemption loue and desire God of God giue â—are to me thy poore vnworthy seruant To thee I câ—ll crie with a loude voyce with my whole harte To thee I call calling thee into my soule enter into the same and make it fitting for thee that thou mayest possesse it without wrinkle or blemishe of iniquitie because reason requireth that a cleane dwellinge shoulde be prepared for soe cleane a Lord to dwell in Sanctifie me therefor I beseech thee thy vessell which thou hast made cleanse me from malice fill me and preserue me full of thy grace that heere and for all eternity I may be made a fitt habitation for thy diuine maiestie O most sweete most powerfull most louing most deare most powerfull most desired most inestimable most amiable most beautifull Lord thou art more sweet then honie more white then either milke or snowe more pleasant to the tast then nectar or delitious wine more pretious then golde or pretious stones and more deare to me then all the riches and honoures of this worlde What doe I say o my God my onely hope and my surpassing great mercie What doe I say my happie and secure sweetnes What doe I say in saying these thinges Verilie I say what I am able not what I ought Woulde to God I were able to singe such hymnes of prayses as doe the quires of blessed Angells O how willinglie woulde I bestowe my selfe wholy in singing and setting forthe thy praises O how deuoutelie in the middest of thy Church would I pronounce those Canticles of celestiall melodie to the praise and glorie of thy holy name But because I cannot doe this shall I therefore holde my peace Woe be to those that haue not thee in theire mouth because thou art he that openest the mouthes of such as are mute and makest the tongues of infants to be eloqueÌ„t Woe be to those whose talke is not of thee because those that are talkatiue and full of wordes are to be esteemed as men speecheles if theire talke doth not tende to the extollinge of thy praises But who is able to praise thee worthily o vnspeakable vertue and wisedome of the Father Seeing therefore I want wordes by which I might be able sufficientlie to expresse thee o diuine worde of all power and knowledge I will in the interim say what I can vntill thou vouchsafe to call me vnto thee where I shal be able to speake what appertaineth both to thee and me Wherfore I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt not soe much consider what I say as what I desire to say Verily I greatlie desire to speake that of thee which is fittinge meete in respect that all praise thankesgiuinge and glorie is due vnto thee Thou knowest therefore o God from whom the very secrets of our hartes cannot be concealed that thou art more deare and acceptable to me then heauen and earthe and all thinges elsâ— that are therein for I loue thee aboue heauen and earthe and all other thinges contained in them yea soe greate loue is due to thy holy name as that in comparison thereof noe transitorie thinge doth deserue the fame I doe loue thee o my God very muche and doe desire to loue thee still more and more Giue me grace that I may alwaies loue thee accordinge to the greatnes of my affection and according to the greatnes of my obligation that thou onely maiest be my whole intention and my whole meditation Lett me thinke of thee in the day time without ceasinge Lett me dreame of thee in the night season Lett my soule talke to thee lett my minde discourse with thee Lett my harte be beautified by the light of thy holy sight that hauinge thee for my conductor and capitaine I may marche forewarde from vertue to venue and at length may beholde thee the God of Gods in Sion During the time of this life I doe see thee obscurelie as it were through a mrtroure or looking glasse but then I shall beholde thee apparentlie face to face where I shall knowe thee like as I am knowen of thee Blessed are the cleane in harte for they shall see God Blessed are they o Lord that dwell in thy house they shall praiâ—e thee worlde without end I beseeche thee therfore o Lord by thy manifolde mercies by which we are deliuered from eternall death mollifie my stonie harde harte harder then either stone or iron with thy most sacred and powerfull vnction and make me at all times to become a liuinge sacrifice in thy sight by the fire of compunctioÌ„ Make me to haue alwaies in thy sight a humble and contrite harte ioyned with aboundance of teares Make me in all my desires as one wholy deade to this wretched world and through the greatnes of the feare and loue of thee to forgett all thinges transitorie in so much as that I may neither greiue nor growe gladd at any temporall thinge being free from the feare loue of whatsoever passeth away with time beinge neither depraued through flattery nor dismaied through aduersitie And for that the loue of thee is forcible like vnto death graunt I beseeche thee that the fierie and sweete force of thy loue may wholy withdrawe my minde from all thinges vnder heauen that I may adhere to thee alone being fedd with the only memorie af thy sweetnes Lett the most odoâ—iferous smell of thee o Lord descende lett it descende I beseech thee lett it descende and with it lett the mellifluous loue of thee enter into my harte Let the admirable and vnspeakable fragrant sauoure of thee come vnto me causinge in me an eternall desire and affection and producinge in my harte fountaines of water flowinge into life euerlastinge Thou o Lord art infinitely good and therefore infinitelie to be loued and praysed of those whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious bloud O most liberall louer of men most louinge Lord and most iust iudge to whom the Father hath committed all iudgment thou perceiuest in the most wise iudgement of thy righteousnesse whether this be iust and reasonable or noe that the children of this worlde of the night and darkenesse doe loue and seeke after riches and honoures that are transitorie and cannot long continue with a farr greater desire earnestnes and studie then we thy seruants doe loue and seeke after thee our God by whom we haue been made and redeemed For if one man loueth an other with soe greate affection as that the one can scarcely endure the other to
free from all affliction When shall I be admitted into that admirable beautifull house of thine where the voice of ioy and exultation doth refounde in the tabernacles of iust men They o Lord that dwell in thy house are happie because they shall praise thee euerlastingly They are happie and trulie happie indeede whoÌ„ thou hast chosen and taken vp to be heires of that celestiall beatitude Behold o Lord thy Saints doe flourishe in thy sight as a lâ—llie for that they are filled with the plentie of thy house thou giuinge them to drinke of the riuer of thy dilightful sweetnesse because thou art the fountaine of life and in thy light they doe see light soe that they the illuminated light by meanes of thee the illuminating light doe shine like vnto the sunne in thy sight O Lord of all vertues how wonderfull how beautifull how gratefull are the lodgings of thy heauenly mansion my sinfull soule doth exceedingly couet to enter into them O Lord I haue loued the beauty of thy house and the place of the habitation of thy glorie I haue desired of our Lord one thinge and I will aske it of him againe and againe to witâ— that I may dwell in the house of our Lord all my life longe Like as the harte longeth for the fountaines of waters when he iâ— pursued soe doth my soule longe after thee my God When shall I come and appeare before thee When shall I see my God whom my soule doth soe much thirst to behold When shall I see him in the lande of the liuinge for in this lande of the dyinge it is impossible with mortal eies to beholde him What shall I therfore doe poore wretche that I am being subiect to death and corruption What course shall I take As longe as we are in this corruptible bodie we are in respect of thee as strangers and pilgrims in a forraine countrie not hauinge heere any citty or certaine dwellinge but doe seeke for one in time to come because ouâ— habitation is in heauen Alas I esteeme my selfe wretched by reason of my ouer longe slay in this worlde I haue dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar too longe hath my soule remained heere Who will giue me winges like vnto a doue that I may flie and be at rest Nothing can be to me soe pleasant and good as to be with my Lord. It is good for me to adhere to my God Giue me grace therfore I beseech thee that as loÌ„ge as I liue I may adhere to thee as it is written He that adhereth to our Lord becommeth one spiritt with him Giue me I beseech thee the winges of contemplation by which I may be able to flie vp vnto thee into heauen And for that euery thinge that is euiâ—l doth drawe vs downewarde to sinne vp holde my mynde that it fall not downe to the bottome of the obscure valley of perdition vpholde my minde least by the interposition of the shadowe of earthly thinges it be separated from thee the sonne of iustice and by the darke cloude of secular conuersation it be hindered from looking and lifting vp it selfe to celestiall contemplation For this cause I doe endeuoure to ascende vp to those ioyes of peace and to the deligthfull and quiet state of true light Vpholde my harte with thy holy hande for that without thy help it cannot ascende I doe hasten thither where surpassing greate peace raigneth and where continuall quietnes shineth Guide and conduct my soule and according to thy holy will drawe it vnto thee to the end that vnder thy conducte it may ascende vnto that region of plentie where thou dost feede Israel euerlastingly with the foode of thy veritie that there be it but in thought onely and for neuer soe shorte a time it may touche thee the supreame wisedome remaininge aboue all thinges ouer-going all thinges and gouerninge all thinges But many thinges there be which trouble my soule and hinder it that it cannot soare vp vnto thee Cause them all o Lord by thy commaundement to cease and be silent Let my soule it selfe be silente let it passe beyonde all thinges all thinges I meane created let it mounte aboue it selfe and come to thee Let it fixe the eies of its saith on thee alone the creator of all thinges lett it aspire to thee lett it attende to thee lett it meditate on thee lâ—tt it contemplate on thee lett it sett thee before its eies and thinke vpon thee in its harte who art the true and soueraigne good thinge and that ioy which shall neuer haue end For albeit the contemplations are many wherwith a deuoute soule is by thee wonderfully fedd and refreshed yet is my soule in none of them all soe much delighted and conforted as in thee and as when it doth meditate and contemplate on thee onely O how greate o Lord is the aboundaÌ„ce of thy sweetned how marueilouslie dost thou inspire and visit the hartes of such as loue thee how wonderfull is the delight of thy loue which they feele and enioy who affect and seeke nothinge but thee who desire not soe much as to thinke of any other thing sauing onely thee Happie are they whose hope iâ— in thee alone who wholy addict themselues to prayer and contemplation Happie is he that passeth his life in solitarinesse and silence taking continuall heede night and day to the custodie of his senses that euen in this life during the time of his abode in this fraile fleshe he may be able in some sorte to taste of thy vnspeakeable sweetnes I beseech thee o Lord by those most pretious woundes of thine which on the crosse thou hast suffered for the redemption of mankinde froÌ„ which hath gushed forth that most pretious blood by which we are redeemed wounde my sinfull soule for whom likewise thou hast vouchsafed to dye wounde it with the fierie and forcible darte of thy surpassing greate charitie Because the worde of God is powerful and effectual and more peircing then a two edged sworde Thou therfore o Lord who as a chosen arrowe and most sharpe sworde art able to peirce and passe thoughe the harde target of mans harte pierce my harte with the darte of thy loue that my soule may say I am wounded with thy charitie soe that from the wounde of this thy charitie teares may trickle downe day and night in greate quantitie Strike o Lord strike I most humblie beseeche thee my hard hatred soule with the pious and powerfull speare of thy loue yea peirce it to the very bottome with thy omnâ—poteÌ„t vertue Cause likewise a floude of water to flowe from my heade and a fountainâ— of teares continually to trickle downe from mine eies throughe the exceeding greate affection and desire of beholdinge thy fairnesse in such sorte as that I may weepe continuallie receyuing noe comforte duringe this present life vntill I shall be thought worthie to beholde thee in thy heauâ—nlie house my beloued and most beautifull spouse my God and my Lord
where our forefathers did sit in darknes and hast returned from thence on the third day as a glorious conquerour resuming againe thy sacred bodie which for our sinnes had remained deade in the sepulcher and reuiuing it the third day accordinge to the scripture that thou mightest place it in glorie at the right hande of God the father For hauinge deliuered those from captiuitie whom the ancient foe and ennimie of mankind hath detained as prisoners in â—imbo Patrum thou the true sonne of God hast ascended aboue all the heauens with the substance of our flesh that is with a soule and humaine flesh taken of the glorious Virgin mounting aboue all the orders of Angells where thou sittest at the right hande of God the Father where there is the fountaine of life and that light vnto which noe creature can attaine where there is the peace of God which passeth all vnderstanding We adore thee Iesus Christ belieuing thee to be there confessinge God to be thy Father from whence we expect thee to come at the end of the worlde to iudge both the quicke and the deade and to render to all men whether good or euill a rewarde or punishment accordinge to theire actions donne in this life like as euery one shal be deemed worthy either of perpetuall peace or paine For all men that haue receiued a humaine soule shall arise at that day in the same fleshe which they had heere being by the voice of thy diuine power summoned to appeare to the end that euerie man his soule and body being reunited in one may according to his meritts receiue ether glorie or damnation Thou o Lord Iesus Christ art our life and our resurrection whom we expect as our Sauiour to come and saue vs who wilt reforme the bodie of our basenes making it conformable to the bodie of thy brightnes I haue knowen thee true God and one holy Spirit of the Father and the Sonne proceeding equallie from both of them consubstantiall and coeternall to the Father and the Sonne being our comforter and aduocate who in likenes of a doue hast descended vppon the same God our Lord Iesus Christ appearing likewise in tongues of fire vppon the Apostles Who alsoe by the guift of thy grace hast taught all the Saints and elect of God from the beginning openning in like manner the mouthes of the Prophetes to the end they might declare the wonderfull thinges of thy heauenly kingdome who together with the Father and the Sonne art adored and glorified of all the Saints of God Amongst whome I likewise the sonne of thy hande-maide doe with my whole hart glorify thy name because thou hast enlightned me For thou art the true light the light that telleth the truth the truth the fire of God and the maister and directour of our soules who by thy sacred vnction dost teache vs all truth Thou art the Spirit of truth without whose ayde it is impossible to please God because thou thy selfe art God of God light of light proceeding after an vnspeakable manner from the Father of lightes and from his sonne Iesus Christ our Lord with whom thou art glorified and dost raigne together with them superessentiallie being consubstantiall coequall and coeternal with them in the essence of one Trinitie I haue knowen thee one liuing and true God the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost three indeede in personnes but one in essence whom I confesse adore and glorifie with my whole harte as the tâ—ue and onely God holy immortall inuisible immutable inaccessible vnsearcheable one light one sunne one breade one life one good one beginning and one end one creator of heauen and earthe by whom all thinges doe liue are preserued guided gouerned and reuiued in heauen in earthe and vnder the earth besides whom there is noe God either is heauen or earthe Thus o Lord God I haue knowen thee who knowest me thus I haue knowen thee I haue knowen thee o my light by thy faithe which thou hast inspired into me o Lord my God the light of â—â—ineeies the hope of the vniuersall worlde the ioy that maketh glad my young and tender yeares and the good that sustaineth my old age All my bones reioyce in thee o Lord saying O Lord who is like vnto thee Who is like vnto thee o Lord amongst the Gods For that the handes of men haue not made thee but contrariwise it is thou that hast made the handes of men The idolls of the Gentills are siluer and golde the workemanship of the handes of men but the maker of men is not such an one All the Gods of the Gentiles are diuells but our Lord hath made the heauens he therefore is the true God Let those Gods which haue not made heauen and earthe perishe and be cast forth of heauen and earthe and let heauen and earthe prayse that God which hath created heauen and earthe The acknowledging of our owne basenes CHAPT XXXIII WHo is like vnto thee o Lord euen amonge the Gods Who I say is like vnto thee Thou art greate in sanctiâ—ie terrible and worthy to be praised doing things that deserue to be admired Too too late haue I knowen thee o true light too too late haue I knowen thee And the cause was for that there was a great and darke cloude before mine eies that delighted in vanitie which hindred me from beholding the sunne of iustice and the light of all veritie I was wrapt in darknes being the child of darknes because I knewe not the light I was blindâ— and loued blindnes and walked through one darknes into an other Who hath deliuered me from thence where I remained as a blinde man sitting in darknes and in the shadowe of death Who hath taken me by the hande and lead me forthe of the same Who is he that hath thus enlightned me I sought him not and he sought me I called him not and he called me But who is he Thou art he o Lord my God being most mercifull and pittifull yea the Father of mercies and God of all comforte Thou o Lord my God most holy art he that hast donne the same whom I confesse with my whole harte rendring thanks to thy holy name I did not seeke thee thou hast sought me I did not call vpon thee thou hast called me yea thou hast called me by thine owne name Thou hast thundered from heauen with a greate voice into the internall eare of my harte saying Let light be made and light was made whereupon that greate and darke cloude which had couered mine eies departed and was dissolued whereby I haue seene thy light and knowen thy voice And I saied Trulieo Lord thou art my God who hast deliuered me out of darknes and from the shadowe of deathe calling me into thy admirable light soe that now I see Thanks be to thee o Lord who hast enlightned me And I looked backe and beheld the darknes wherein I had liued and the deepe darke dongeon wherein I had remained