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
of me a poore distressed orphant I am as a poore fatherlesse childe and my soule is as a woman bereaued of her husbande Vouchsafe gratiouslie to behold the teares of my distressed orphancie and widowhoode which I offer vnto thee vntill thou returne o my God May it please thee therfore may it please thee o Lord to manifest thy selfe to me and I shall be comforted Graunt that I may see thee and I shall obtaine what I desire Make manifest thy glorie and my ioy wil be accomplished My soule hath thirsted after thee soe hath likewise my fleshe exceedingly My soule hath thirsted after God the liuinge fountaine when shall I come and be presented before the face of my Lord When wilt thou come o my comforter for whome I will wishe and earnestly waite for O that I might once behold my delight which I doe soe muche desire O howe truly shall I be satisfied when thy glorie shall appeare which I doe greatlie hunger to beholde When shall I become drunke through the plentie of thy heauenlie habitation for which I sighe soe often When wilt thou make me to drinke of the riuer of thy pleasure which I soe greâ—tely thirst and desire In the interim o Lord let my teares be my continual foode vntill it be saied vnto me Beholde thy God vntill it be saied vnto my soule Beholde thy bridegroome In the interim feede me with my sobbs and weepinges nourishe me with my sorrowes and lamentations Peraduenture my redeemer will come and visit me because he is full of mercie yea he will not be long in comminge because he is full of pittie To him be glorie during all eternitie Amen The end of the Meditations of S. Augustin A TABLE OF THE Meditations of S. Augustin Bishop of Hyppon A Prayer vnto almighty God for the amendment of our life and manners Chapt. I. Mans acknowledging his miserie his commendation likewise of Gods mercie Chapt. II. Mans complainte who for his disobedience is not hearde of God Chapt. III. The dreade of the iudge comming to iudgment Chapt. IV. The healpe of God the Father is desired by the mentts of God the soÌ„ne Chapt. V. Hâ—ere man doth represent to God the Father the passion of his sonne Chapt. VI. Heere man doth acknowledge himselfe to haue beene the cause of Christs passion Chapt. VII Heere man for his reconciliation doth propose to God the Father the passion of his sonne Chapt. VIII A Prayer to desire the assistance of the holie Ghost Chapt. IX A Prayer for one seruing God and thinking humblie of himselfe Chapt X. A Prayer to the holie Trinitie Chapt. XI The acknowledging of God almighty and of his Maiestie Chapt. XII After what manner it pleased God the Father to succoure mankinde of the incarnation of the diuine Worde and thanks for the same Chapt. XIII Of the confidence which a Christian soule ought to haue in lesus Christ and in his Passion Chapt. XIV Of the surpassing greate charitie of the eternall Father towardes mankinde Chapt. XV. Of the two-folde nature of Christ who pittieth vs and prayeth for vs Chapt. XVI Of the greate thanks giuing which maÌ„ ought to render to God for the benefit of his redemption Chapt. XVII A deuoute Prayer to our Sauiour Iesus Christ Chapt. XVIII The distinction and difference betwene that wisedome which is Gods house and that which is diuine Chapt. XIX Heere man desireth that this house of God will likewise prâ—y for him Chap. XX. Of the manifolde miseries with which mans life is replenished Chapt. XXI Of the happines of that life which God hath prepared for those that loue him Chapt. XXII Of the happines of a holie soule departing out of this worlde Chapt. XXIII A Prayer to the Saincts to succoure vs in our necessities Chapt. XXIV The soules desire to attaine to the heauenlie Cittie Hierusalem Chapt. XXV A hymne of the glorie of Paradice composed by the blessed S. Peter Damian Cardinall of Ostia monke of the holy order of S. Benneâ— taken out of the sayings of S. Augustine Chapt XXVI The continuall prayse of the soule through the contemplation of God Chapt XXVII What it is after a certaine manner to see and comprehend God and what opinion we ought to haue of him Chapt. XXVIII A Prayer shewing the manifold properties and attributes of God Chapt. XXIX Of the vnitie and pluralitie of personnes in God Chapt XXX A Prayer to the sacred Trinitie Chapt. XXXI That God is the true and soueraigne life Chapt. XXXII The prayses of Angells and men Chapt. XXXIII Heere man doth lament for that when he thinketh of God he is not moued to compunction seing the verie Angells tremble and quake when they beholde him Chapt. XXXIV A Prayer greately mouing the harte to deuotion and to the loue of God Chapt. XXXV A most deuoute prayer demaunding grace of God to prayse him as we ought Chapt XXXVI A Prayer greately stirring vp the minde to compunction if it be saied in silence with attention Chapt. XXXVII A Prayer to be saied in time of tribulation Chapt. XXXVIII A verie deuoute prayer to God the sonne Chapt XXXIX A profitable Prayer Chapt. XL. A deuoute Prayer in memorie of Christs passion Chapt. XLI FINIS THE BOOKE OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOPP OF HYPPON Commonlye called his Soliloquies that is the secret discourses and conferences of his soule with God AT S. OMERS For IOHN HEIGHAM Anno 1624. THE BOOKE OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOPP OF HYPPON Commonlye called his Soliloquies that is the secret discourses and conferences of his soule with God Of the vnspeakeable sweetnes of God CHAPT I. O Lord the strength of my soule graunt me grace I beseech thee that like as thou knowest me I may knowe thee O my comforter manifest thy selfe vnto me O light of mine eies graunt that I may see thee Come o ioy of my spirit Let me see thee o delight of my harte O life of my soule giue me grace to loue thee O Lord my God my cheife delight and sweetest solace vouchsafe to appeare vnto me for thou art my life and all the glorie of my soule O desire of my harte lett me finde thee O loue of my soule let me touche thee O heauenly bridegroome my cheife delight both without and within me let me embrace thee Let me possesse thee o euerlasting blisse lett me possesse thee in the middst of my hatte blessed life and soueraigne sweetnes of my soule Let me loue thee o Lord my fortitude my force my refuge and my deliuerer Let me loue thee o my God my helper my stronge fortresse and my swâ—ete hope in all time of distresse Let me embrace thee the onely true good let me â—nioy thee the onely best thinge Open mine eares by vertue of thy worde more peircing theÌ„ a two edged sworde to the end I may heare thy voyce Let the greatnes of thy voyce be hearde as a thunder from aboue Let the sea roare and the fulnes thereof let the earth be moued and all thinges
in them contained Enlighten mine eies o incomprehensible light sende forth thy lightning and dazell theÌ„ that they may not beholde vanitie Encreâ—se thy lightning and dazell and trouble them in that manner as that fountaines of water may appeare and the foundations of the whole worlde may be discouered O light inuisible giue me that sight that may see thee O sauoure of life create in me a newe smell which may make me runne after thee in the odoure of thy oyntments Cure my taste that it may taste knowe and discerne how greaâ—e the multitude of thy sweetnes is o Lord which thou hast kept in store for theÌ„ that are replenished with thy loue Giue me a harte o Lord that may thinke on thee a minde that may loue thee a memorie that may muse on thee an vnderstanding that may knowe thee a will that may alwaies be strongly vnited to thee the cheifest and most delightfull good Graunt that I may alwaies wisely and discreetely loue thee O life to whom all thinges liue that life which giueth me life that life which is my life that life by which I liue without which I die that life by which I am raysed and reuiued without which I perishe and am consumed that life by which I am coÌ„forted without which I am afflicted O liuing life sweete and worthy to be beloued alwaies to be remembred tell me I pray thee where art thou Where may I finde thee to the end I may leaue my selfe and liue in thee Be neere vnto me in my minde neere in my harte neere iâ— my mouthe neere in my hearing neere to succoure me in time of affliction because I languishe through thy loue because I die whensoeuer I am without thee and am raysed againe to life by thinking on thee Thy smell recreateth me thy remembrance healeth me Then shall I be satisfied and neuer before when thy glorie o life of my soule shall appeare My soule greatelie desireth and almost fainteth throughe the remembrance of thee when shall I come o my delight and be presented before thee Why dost thou hide away thy face o my ioy by which I reioyce Where art thou hidden o beautifull Lord Whom I soe much desire I smell the sweete sauoure of thee I liue and am delighted in thee and yet I doe not see thee I heare thy voyce and am reuiued But why dost thou hide thy face from me Peraduenture thou wilt say Man cannot see me and liue Let me therefore die o Lord that I may see thee let me see thee that I may die to the worlde I doe not desire to liue but to die for that my desire is to be dissolued and to be with Christ I desire to die that I may see Christ I refuse to liuâ— to the end I may liue with Christ O Lord Iesu receiue my spirit o my life receiue my soule O my delight drawe my harte vnto thee O my delightfull foode let me feede on thee O my heade vouchsafe to direct me o light of mine eies enlighten me O my melodious musique tune and order me O my sweete smell reuiue me O diuine Worde recreate me O my praise make gladde the soule of thy seruant Enter into it o my ioy that it may reioyce in thee Enter into it o soueraigne sweetnes that it may taste and sauoure those thinges that are sweete O eternall light shine vppon it that it may vnderstande knowe and loue thee For this iâ— the cause why it doth not loue thee if it doth not loue thee because it doth not knowe thee and the cause why it doth not knowe thee is for that it doth not vnderstande thee And the cause why it doth not vnderstande thee is for that it doth not comprehende thy light and the light shineth in darknes and the darknâ—s comprehendeth it not O light of my mâ—nde o bright truthe o true charitie who enlightnest euery man comminge into this worâ—dâ—e comminge I say into the wor'd but not louinge the worlde because he that loueth the worlde becommeth the ennimy of God Expell the darkenes which couereth the face of the depth of my minde that by vnderstanding it may see thee that by seinge it may knowe thee and by knowing may loue thee For whosoeuer knoweth thee loueth thee and forgetteth himselfe he loueth thee more then himselfe he leaueth himselfe and commeth to thee that he may be delighted in thee Hence it proceedeth o Lord that I doe not loue thee soe much as I ought because I doe not perfectlie knowe thee but because I knowe thee but a little I loue thee but a little and because I loue thee but a little I am but a little delighted in thee Leauing thee therfore the true internall ioy by louing thinges externall aslong as I wante thee onely I seeke after false freindshipps in those thinges that are without me And by this meanes I haue applied my harte to thinges that are vaine which with all affection and loue I ought to haue bestowed on thee alone And soe by louing vanitie I my selfe am become vaine Hence it proceedeth likewise o Lord that I doe not reioyce in thee neither doe I adhere to thee Because I delight in thinges temporall thou in thinges spirituall my whole minde thoughtes and wordes are entangled in thinges transitorie but thou o Lord dwellest in thinges that endure for all eternitie thou thy selfe being eternitie Thy habitation is in heauen mine on the earthe Thou louest those thinges that are aboue I those that are heere beneathe Thou those that are heauenly I those that are earthly And when will these thinges agree together that are soe opposite one to an other Of the miserie and frailtie of man CHAPT II. WRetche that I am when will my crowkednes be made correspondent to thy righteousnes Thou o Lord louest solitarines I to be in the companie of others Thou louest silence and I talkinge and discourse Thou louest veritie and I vanitie Thou louest cleanlines and I followe mine owne filthines What neede I say more o Lord Thou art truly good I wicked Thou art righteous I vnrighteous thou art holy I wretched thou arti ust I vniust thou art light and I am blinde thou art life and I am deade Thou art phisique and I am sicke Thou art mirthe and I am melancholy Thou art the supreame veritie and I am altogether vanitie like as euerie man liuing What shall I then say o my Creator Heare me o Creator I am thy creature I haue beene forelorne and gone astray I am thy creature and am like to die I am of thy making and am come to nothinge I am a peece of earthe framed by thee Thy handes o Lord haue made me and fashioned me those handes I say which with nayles were fastned to the crosse for me Looke I beseeche thee o Lord vpon the woundes of thy handes and contemne not me the worke of thy handes Beholde o Lord my God thou hast writteÌ„ me in thy handes reade that
I haue receiued from thee common with them the guift of reason wherby to knowe thee Neuerthelesse I haue saied almost equall for that they alreadie haue the happie knowledge of thee by seeing thee as thou art but I by hope onely They by beholding thee apparantlie face to face I obâ—curelie as it were in a looking glasse They plainelie and perfectlie but I partlie onely Of the future dignitie of man CHAPT VIII WHen that therfore which is perfect is arriued that which is partly onely shal be disanulled which will be when we shall be admitted to beholde thy face apparentlie What will then hinder vs to be almost equall to the Angells whom thou o Lord at that time wilt crowne with a crowne of hope which is adorned with glorie and renowne whom thou with vnspeakeable fauoures wilt grace as thy friends yea we shal be in all thinges like and equall to the Angells Thy truth doth likewise testifie the same saying They are equall to the Angells and are the sonnes of God What are they but the sonnes of God if they are equall to the Angells They shall without doubt be the sonnes of God because the sonne of man is become the sonne of God Through this consideration I durst boldlye affirme that man is not onely almost equall to the Angells noe not equall onely but higher in dignitie and surpassing the Angells because man is God and God is man not an Angell Wherfore I durst auouche that man is the most excellent of all creatures because the Worde which in the beginning was God with God the Worde by which God sayed let light be made and light was made to witt the Angelicall nature the Worde by which God in the beginning created all thinges the same Worde hath become fleshe and dwelt in vs and we haue seene the glory of it Loe this is the glorie by which I glorie whensoeuer I glorie as I ought Loe this is the ioy by which I reioyce whensoeuer I reioyce as I shoulde euen thou o Lord my God the life and onely glorie of my soule I confesse therfore vnto thee o Lord my God that thou hast created me in a manner equal to the Angells in that thou hast created me capable of reason for that by meanes of thy diuine Worde I am in possibilitie to become equall to the Angells that by meanes of thy onely begotten Worde I may be adopted to be thy sonne o Lord to be thy sonne I say by the meanes and merits of thy beloued sonne lesus Christ in whom thou hast beene well pleased being thy onely soÌ„ne and heare and our onely Lord and redeemer enligthner and comforter being our aduocate with thee and the light of our eies who is our life our Sauiour and our onely hope who hath loued vs more then himselfe by whom we haue an assured trust and confidence and accesse to come to thee because he hath giueÌ„ them power to be the sonnes of God that beleiue in his name I will for euer o Lord praise thy holy name who by creating me according to thine owne image and likenes hast made me capable of soe greate glorie as to be the sonne of God The trees stones and all thinges els whatsoeuer that are mouâ—d or growe in the ayre or in the sea or on the earthe haue not this priuâ—ledge and prerogatiue because thou hast not giuen them power by meanes of thy Worde to be the sonnes of God for that they are depâ—iued of reason because this power doth depende of the reason by which we knowe God But he hath giuen this power to men whom he hath created reasonable according to his owne image and likenes And I o Lord like as by thy grace I am a man soe likewise by thy grace I am in possibilitie to be thy sonne which is a prerogatiue which they cannot attaine vnto Whence proceedeth this soe greate a good vnto me o Lord the most soueraigne truth and true soueraigntie the originaâ—l and beginning of all creatures What is the cause heereof o Lord that I shoulde be able to become thy sonne and they cannot Thou art the cause o Lord who remainest for euer who hast created aswell the one as the other Thou hast created both men and beastes the stones and the greene grasse growing on the grouÌ„de There were not any precedent meritts or precedent grace because thou hast created all thinges being moued there vnto by thy onely goodnes All creatures before theire creation were equall in meritts for that they were all voide of merits What then hath caused thy goodnes to be more liberall towardes me thy creature whom thou hast endewed with reason then towardes all others that are voide of the same Why am not I like vnto all them or all they like vnto me or I alone like vnto them What merits of mine what grace or goodnes was there in me to deserue the same to witt that thou shouldest make me capable to be the sonne of God which prerogatiue thou hast graunted to none of them Be it farr o Lord from mine imagination that I shoulde thinke this to proceede from any merits of mine Thy onely grace and goodnes hath been the cause of this to the end I might be pertaker of the sweetnes thereof I beseeche thee therefore by that grace by the which thou hast created me that thou wilt giue me grace to the end I may be gratefull for this grace receiued from thee Of Gods omnipotent power CHAPT IX THy omnipotent hande o God being still one and the same hath created Angells in heauen and wormes on the earth not being more excellent in the creation of the first then of the later For as noe other hande coulde create an Angell soe noe other coulde create a worme As noe other coulde create heauen soe noe other coulde create the least leafe of a tree As noe other coulde create the body soe noe other coulde cause soe much as one haire of the heade to be either white or blacke But the omnipotent hande of thy maiestie createth all thinges with a like facilitie Neither is it more possible vnto it to create a worme then an Angell nor more inpossible to inlarge the heaueÌ„s then a leafe it is not more easie vnto it to make a haire then a body nor more harde to lay the foundation of the earthe vpon the waters then the foundation of the waters vpon the earthe But all thinges whatsoeuer it woulde it hath made as it woulde in heauen and in earthe in the sea and in the bottomeles depthes making me likewise amongst all other thinges euen as it would could and knewe how Veriely thy hande o Lord coulde haue made me a stone or a birde or a serpent or some brute beaste knowing full well how to doe it yet woulde not by reason of thy great goodnes The cause therefore why I am not a stone or a tree or some brute beaste is for that thy goodnes hath otherwise ordained neither were there
which made me with feare and trembling to crie out saying Woe is me woe is me in respect of the darknes in which I haue remained woe is me in respect of my former blindnes in which I could not see the light of heauen Woe is me woe is me in respect of my former ignorance when I did not knowe thee o Lord. Thanks therfore be to thee o my enlightner and deliuerer for that thou hast enlightned me and I haue knowen thee Too too late haue I knowen thee o ancient veritie too too late haue I knowen thee o eternall truth Thou remainedâ—s t in light and I in darknes and I knewe thee not because I coulde not be enlightned without thee for that there is noe light besides thee A consideration of Gods diuine Maiestie CHAPT XXXIV O God the holy of holies the God of Gods and Lord of Lords of inestimable Maiestie whose wonderfull greatnes cannot be vttered or imagined before whom the Angelicall Powers doe shake for feate whom all the Dominations and Thrones doe adore in whose presence all the Vertues doe tremble whose power and wisedome is infinite who hast layed the foundation of the worlde vpon nothing and gathered together the sea in the aire as it were in a bottle O most mighty most holy and most powerfull God the God of the Spirits of soules of all mortal creatures from whose sight heauen and earthe doe flie away for feare to whom all the elements doe obey at a becke lett all thy creatures adore and glorifie thee Amongst whom I vnworthy wretch the sonne of thy hand maide doe bowe downe the necke of my harte vnder the feete of thy supreame Maiestie being taught soe to doe by the faithe which thou hast giueÌ„ me rendring thanks vnto thee for that thou hast vouchsafed by thy mercy to enlighten me O light most true sacred and delightfull most worthy of praise and most admirable which enlightneth euery man comming into this worlde yet the eies of the Angells themselues Beholde now I see for which I thanke thee Beholde now I see thee light of heauen a heauenly bright beame proceeding from the face of thy brightnes doth shine vpoÌ„ the eies of my minde which maketh all my bones to reioyce O that this light were perfect in me encrease it in me o author of light I beseech thee Encrease I say I beseech thee that light that shineth in me Let it be augmented I beseeche thee let it be augmented by thee What is this that I feele What fire is this that maketh hoâ—te my harte What light is this that enlightneth my harte O fire which dost alwaies burne and arâ— neuer extinguished enflamme me O light which dost alwaiâ—s shine and art neuer darkned enlighten me O that I were made hoâ—te by thee O sacred fire how sweetlie dost thou heate how secretlie dost thou shine how desiredlie dost thou burne Woe be to those that are not made hoate by thee woe be to those that are not enlightned by thee O true light enlightning al the world whose brightnes doth replenishe all the worlde Woe be to those blind eies which doe not see thee who art the sunne that giuest light both to heauen and earth Woe be to those dimme eies which cannot see thee Woe be to those eies that are turned away from seeing veritie Woe be to those eies that are not turned away from seeing vanitie Verily those eies that are accustomed to darknes cannot beholde the bright beames of thy supreame righteousnes neither doe they knowe what to thinke of the light whose dwelling is in darknes They see loue and approoue the darknes soe that walking from one darknes into an other they stumble and tumble they knowe not whither Doubtles they are wretched that knowe not what they loose but they are more wretched that knowe what they loose who fall with theire eies open and descend aliue into perdition O light most blessed who canst not be sene of those eies that are neuer soe little defiled Blessed are the cleane in harte for they shall see God Cleanse me o cleansing vertue cure mine eies to the end that with sounde and cleare eies I may be able to beholde thee whom sore and sickly eies cannot possibly see Remoue from mine eies I beseech thee o inaccessible beauty the scales of my former blindnes by the beames of thy brightnes that I may be able stedfastly to beholde thee and in thy light may see light Beholde o my light now I see for which I thanke thee Let this my light o Lord I beseech thee be encreased by thee Open mine eies that I may see the wonderfull thinges of thy lawe who art wonderfull in thy Saints I giue thee thanks o my light for that I now see albeit obscurely as it were in a mirrour or looking glasse but when shall I see thee apparantlie face to face O when will that day of ioy and mirthe arriue in which I shall enter into the place of thy tabernacle soe much to be admired euen into the house of God to the end I may see him face to face that seethe me that soe my desire may be accomplished Of the desire and thirst of the soule after God CHAPT XXXV LIke as the harte or stagge desireth the fountaines of water when he is poursued euen soe my soule longeth after thee o God My soule hath thirsted after thee my God the liuing fountaine when shall I come and appeare before thy face O fountaine of life o veine of liuing waters when shall I come to the waters of thy sweetnes from this deserte craggie and dry countrie that I may see thy vertue and glory quenche my thirst with the waters of thy mercy I thirst o Lord thou that art the fountaine of life giue me to drinke I thirst o Lord I thirst after thee the liuing God O when shall I come good Lord and appeare before thy face And shall I then at length indeed see that day that day I say of ioy and gladnes that day which our Lord himselfe hath made that we might reioyce and be glad in it O famous and faire day hauing neither euening nor Sunsetting in which I shall heare the voyce of praise mirthe and thanks-giuinge in which I shall heare saied Enter into the ioy of thy Lord. Enter into the euerlasting ioy into the house of thy Lord God where there are greate and vnsearchable and wonderfull thinges which cannot be numbred Enter into that ioy which is free from heauines which containeth euerlasting gladâ—â—â— where all goodnes doth abounde and no â—euill can be found Where ther shal be whatsoeuer thou louest and nothing that thou loathest There is that vitall life which is sweete and louely which likewise shall endure euerlastingly Where there shal be noe foe to impugne vs not allurement to entice vs but soueraigne and certaine assurednes assured quietnes and quiet ioyfullnes ioyfull happines happie euerlastingnes euerlasting blessendes where there is the blessed
shine o loue which dost alwaies burne o sweete Christ o good Iesu the eternall and neuer failing light the breade of life who dost feede vs with thy selfe without hurte to thy selfe who art daylie eaten and yet art alwaies whole without being broken I beseeche thee o Lord to shine vppon me and to enflame me Enlighten and sanctifie me thy vessell cleanse me from malice fill me and preserue me full of thy grace that to the good of my soule I may eate the foode of thy fleshe to the end that by eating thee I may liue of thee I may liue by thee I may come to thee and repose in thee Of the ioy which the soule receiuâ—th by receiuing Christ CHAPT XII O Lord the sweetnes of loue and the loue of sweetnes Be thou my foode and let all my bowelles be filled with the delitious drinke of thy loue to the end that all my wordes and cogitations may be good and tending to edification Make me o Lord and my loue to encrease in thee that thou mayest be eaten by me worthily who art more sweete then honie more white then snowe the foode of suche as growe greate in vertue Thou art my life by which I liue my hope to which I adhere my glory which I desire to obtaine Possesse thou my hart gouerne mine intention direct mine vnderstanding lift vp my loue eleuate my minde and draw the mouthe of my soule thirsting after thee to the waters of life euerlasting Let all tumultuous thoughtes and carnall cogitations I beseeche thee holde theire peace Let all phantasies of the earth and waters of the ayre and heauens keepe silence Let all dreames and imaginarie reuelations all tongues and tokens keepe silence briefly let all thinges holde theire peace that are donne in this vale of miserie being all of them short and soone passing away Let my soule in like sorte be silent and not speake a worde let it leaue it selfe by not thinking of it selfe but of thee o my God for that thou art my true and onely hope and my whole confidence Because a parte of each one of vs as the blood and flesh is founde in thee o Lord our God in thee I say o most sweete most gratious and most milde Iesu Where therfore parte of me doth raigne there I belieue likewise to haue dominion and where my blood doth dominere there I trust to haue principalitie and power Where my fleshe is glorified there I knowe my selfe to be renowned Although I am a sinner yet I doe not despaire to be pertaker of this grace and fauoure although my sinnes doe hinder it yet my substance doth require it Although my faultes and defectes doe exclude me yet my humaine nature which is common to me with Christ doth not repell me That the Worde incarnate is the cause of our hope CHAPT XIII DOubtles God is not soe cruell as not to loue his owne fleshe members and bowells I should certainely despaire by reason of the manifolde sinnes and vices faultes and negligences which I haue committed and doe dailie and continuallie commit in thought worde and deede and by all manner of meanes by which humaine frailtie is able to offend were it not that thy diuine Worde o my God had beene made fleshe and dwelt in vs. But now I dare not despaire because he being obedient vnto thee vntil deathe euen the deathe of the Crosse hath taken our handewrittinge or obligation wherein we stoode bounde as slaues to the Diuell by sinne and fastning it to the Crosse hath crucified both sin and deathe In him I securely breathe who sitteth at thy right hande and maketh intercession for vs. Trusting therefore in his bountie I desire to come to thee in whom we are already risen againe from the deade and are reuiued with whom we haue alreadie ascended into heauen and sit with him in glorie in that happie region To thee therfore o heauenly Father be all praise glory honor and thanks-giuinge HOw the more we are addicted to diuine contemplation the greater delight we take therein CHAT XIV How sweete is the remembrance of thee vnto vs o most louing Lord who hast soe dearelie loued and saued vs who hast soe wonderfullie reuiued and exalted vs. The more I meditare of thee o most mercifull Lord the more sweete and amiable thou art vnto me And for that thy goodnes doth exceedinglie delight me I purpose as long as I liue in the place of this pilgrimage to desire and contemplate without ceasing thy wonderfull loue vnspeakeable beautie with apure intention and with a most sweete and louinge affection Because I am wounded with the darte of thy charitie I am wonderfullie enflamed with the desire of thee coueâ—ing to come to thee to see thee Wherfore I will stande vppon my guarde and will singe in spirit with watchfull eies yea I wil singe with my minde and with all my forces I will praise thee my creator and redeemer I will peâ—rce the heauens by deuotion and feruoure and will remaine with thee by a feruent desire that being detained in this present miserie with my bodie only I may in thought and affection be continuallie with thee to the end my hart may be there where thou art my desired incomparable and most beloued treasure But alas o Lord my hart is not sufficient to conteÌ„plate the glorie of thy great goodnes and pittie for that thou art a God of infinite meekenes and mercie verily thy praise thy beautie thy vertue thy glorie thy magnificence thy maiestie and thy charitie doth farre surpasse the capacitie of any mortall memorie For euen as the brightnes of thy glorie is inestimable soe likewise the largenes of thy charitie is vnspeakeable whereby thou dost adopt those to be thy children and vnite them vnto thee by loue and affection whom thou hast created of nothinge How for Christs sake we ought to wishe for tribulations in this life CHAT XV. O My soule if it were necessary daylie to suffer torments yea to endure hell it selfe for a longe time together that we might see Christ in 〈◊〉 glorie and be ioyned in felowship with the Saintes in his heauenly cittie were it not meete thinkest thou to sustaine all manner of miserie that we might be made pertakes of soe greate a good and of soe greate felicitie Let the diuells therfore endeuoure as much as they will to entrap me and by tentatious to deceiue me let longe fastinge weaken my bodie and course cloathing subdue my fleshe let trauaile trouble me and watching drie me vp to nothinge let others exclaime against me let this or that man disquiet and molest me let colde make me crooked let my conscience murmure against me let heate scorche me let my bodie be grieued my breast enflamed my stomacke puffed vp with winde my countenance wanne and withered let me be wholie afflicted with sicknes let my life consume away in sadnes and my yeares in sighes and sorrowfullnes let rottennes enter into my bones and