obtaine pardon I haue directed thy Worde with my wordes whom I haue affirmed to haue beene sent for my misdeedes and haue recounted vnto thee the passion of thy most sacred sonne which I doe beleeue to haue beene suffred for my redemption I doe beleeue that his deitie sent by thee hath vouchsafed to be cloathed with my humanitie in which he thought it not strange to endure buffets bondes spittinges derision and mockinge yea to take patiently the crosse the nayles and the lances percinge This humanitie whilome subiect to the cryinge of infancy wrapped in the swadlinge cloathes of childhoode troubled with the trauailles of youthe made leane with tastinge wearied with watchinge tired with trauailinge after that cruelly treated with whipps torne with tormeÌ„ts reputed as dead endowed with the glory of his resurrection he hath caried with him vnto the heauenly felicitie and placed the same at the râ—ght hande of thy Maiestie This is that which doth implore thy mercy to pardon mine iniquitie Heere behâ—ulde o holy Faâ—her the sonne whom thou hast begotten and the seruant whom thou hast redeemed See heere the Creator and despise not his creature Gâ—atiously embrace the shepheard mercifully looke vpon the sheepe which vppon his owne shoulders he hath brought backe vnto the folde This is that most faithfull shepheard who heresofore with much and manie laboures sought the sheepe that was loste wanderinge ouer the craggie hilles and dangerous dales Who liauing at length found this one sheepe that had beene lost beinge now almost dead and fainting for want of foode with iov he laied it on his owne shouâ—ders and bindinge it fast vnto him with cordiall cordes of affection he drewe it out of the pitt of perdition and lastly holding it fast with the embracements of his mercy that it might not againe get away he brought it backe to the ninety nine that had neuer gone astray Beholde o Lord thou who aâ—t my king and God of all power beholde the good sheepheard doth yeeld thee an accompt of that which thou hast committed to his charge he hath by thy ordinance vndertaken to saue man whom he hath repaired and rendred vnto thee free from all spott of sinne Beholde thy most deerely beloued sonne hath reconciled vnto thee the creature which thou didst create of clay which had departed farr from thee Beholde the milde sheapphearde doth bringe againe to thy flocke the sheepe which the violent theife had driuen a way He representeth the seruant before thy face that did runne away through the guilt of his owne conscience to the end that he who by his owne merits deserued punishment may by the satisfaction of this soe good a Lord obtaine pardon and that he to whom hell was due for his sinnes and iniquitie may hope in shorte time by meanes of soe good a guide to be recalled to the countrie of hauenly felicitie I haue beene able of my selfe to offende thee but of my selfe I caÌ„not appease thee My God is become mine ayde to witt thy beloued sonne makinge himselfe partaker of my humanitie that he might cure mine infirmitie to the end that by the same thinge from whence arose the cause of offence he might offer vnto thee a sacrifice of praise and by this might make me acceptable to thy mercie that sittinge at thy right hande he might alwaies shewe himselfe to be of the same nature and substance with me Beholde this is my hope this is my confidence If thou doest as worthily thou maiest contemne me in respect of my sinne at least looke mercifully vpon me for the loue of thy beloued sonne For thy sonnes sake pardon me his seruant Looke vpon the Sacrament of his fleshe and remit my fleshes guiltines Lett my sinnes I beseeche thee be blotted out of thy sight be they neuer soe vilde as often as thou doest see those wide open woundes of thy blessed childe Washe a way I beseeche thee the spotts of pollution and filthines where with I am defiled as often as thou doost behold the pretious bloud flowing from his sacred side And for that flesh hath caused thee to be angry leâ—t flesh 〈◊〉 wise I most humbl requâ—st thee moue thee vnto mercy that as flesh hath seâ—uced me to sin soe flesh may reduce me to pâ—rdon True it is that much is due to my impietie but much more to his pitty Great certainly is my wickednes but farr greater is his worthines For by how much higher God is then man in greatnes and exceliencie by soe much lower is mans malice to his goodnes in quality and quatitie For what hath man done and committed which the sonne of God being made man hath not redeemed What pride could swell to be soe great which so great humiâ—iâ—y did not abate and defeaâ—e What power of death coulde grow to haue soe supereminent power and dominion as that Christ had not power to destroy and pâ—ll it downe by the paine of his passion Verily o my God if the demerits of man sinning and the meritts of his crâ—ator redeeming him were weighed togeather in a ballance that is iust and euen farr greater distance and difference would be founde betweene them then is betweene the East and West or betweene the lowest hell and the highest hâ—auen Now therfore o most excellent creator of light now mercifully pardo me my sinnes for the vnspeakable labours of thy beloued sonne Lett my wickednes I beseeche thee be now forgiuen by meanes of his pitty my peruersnes through his modesty my fiercenes through his meekenes and mercie Lett his humilitie now winne my hautines his sufferance mine impatieÌ„ce his benignity mine vncourteousnes his obedience my disobedience his tranquillitie mine vnquietne his sweetnes my bitternes his mildnes my hastines his charitie mine vngentlenes A prayer to desire the assistance of the Holy-Ghost CHAPT IX VOuchsafe now o true loue of the diuinity o sacred communication of the almighty Father and his most blessed sonne O Holy Ghost the almighti aduocate the most meeke and mercifull comforter of those that mourne and are in misery vouchsafe now to flow and descende into the secret roomes of my harte by the powerfull vertue and dwellinge and abidinge in me make ioyfull by the shininge of thy bright illumination all the darksome dennes of my neglected mansion fruitfull likewise I beseeche thee by visitting me with the aboundance of the heauenly dewe of thy grace infused whatsoeuer thou shalt finde in me through longe neglect to be growne corrupt or withered Wounde with the darte of thy loue the secret places of mine inwarde man and entringe in set on fire with thy wholsome flames the internall partes of my dull affection consume likewise whatsoeuer is amisse in all the partes and powers of my body and soule within by enlightninge me with the fire of sacred deuotion Giue me to drinke of the fountaine of thy pleasure that I may not desire to taste of the poysoned sweetnes of any worldly creature Iudge me o Lord and discerne
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
faith not by seeing thee face to face Because that hope which is seene is not hope Those immortall troupes of holie Angells o Lord doe incessantlie praise thee and the celestiall vertues doe glorifie thy name who haue noe neede to reade this which I haue written of thee thereby to knowe thee the sacred and vndeuided Trinitie Because they alwaies do behold thy face in which without the sillables of times they doe reade what thy eternall will woulde haue to be doÌ„ne they doe reade choose and loue thee yea they doe reade euerlastingly and that which they reade neuâ—r passeth away By choosinge and louinge thee they doe reade the immutabilitie of thy counsell neither shall theire booke at any time be shutt or folded together for that thou thy selfe art this booke of theirs and shalt be for euer O how â—urpassinge happie are those heauenlieve â—tues who are able to praise thee soe holilie and purelie with such excessiue sweetnes and vnspeakeable ioy from thence they take occasion of praise from whence they reioyce that is by beholdinge thee euerlastinglie by which they are made able to reioyce and to praise thee But we that are ouercharged with the burden of our fraile fleshe who are likewise placed a farr of in the pilgrimage of this life from the light of thy countenance and lastly are distracted and disquieted through diuersitie of worldly businesses cannot praise thee worthily as we ought how be it we praise thee by faith not by seeing thee face to face contrariwise those Angelical spirits by seeing thee face to face not by faith Our fleshe is the cause of this by meanes whereof we praise thee in a farr meaner degree then they But albeit we praise thee after a diuers manner yet thou art one and the same God creator of all thinges to whom sacrifice of praise is offered in heauen and on earth and by helpe of thy mercy we hope heereafter to be made pertaker of theire companie Graunt o Lord in the interim during the time of my abode in this fraile flesh that my hart and tongue may praise thee and lett all my bones say O Lord who is like vnto the Thou art God almightie whom we worship and adore three in personnes and one in substance of deitie the Father vnbegotten the Sonne the onely begotteÌ„ of the Father the holy Ghost proeedinge from them both remaining in them both the â—acred and vndeuided Trinitie one onely God almightie Who when we were not hast powerfully made by our offences hast lost and vndonne vs and when we were wonderfullie recouered vs by thy pittie and goodnes Suffer vâ— not I beseech thee to be vngreatefull for soe greate benenefitts and vnworthy of soe maniâ—olde mercies I humbly craue pray and beseeche thee increase our faith inlarge our hope augment our charitie Make vs by this thy grace to be alwaie firme in faith and fruitfull in good workes that by an vpright and perfect faith and workes worthy of the same we may by thy mercie attaine to life euerlastinge that there contemplating thy glorie as it is we may adore thy maiestie and may all of vs say together whom thou hast made worthy to beholde this thy blisse Glorie be to the Father who hath created vs glorie be to the Sonne who hath redeemed vs glorie be to the holie Ghost who hath sanctified vs glorie to the most highe vndeuided Trinitie whose workes are inseperable whose Empire is euerlastinge and perpetual All glory and songes of praise are befittinge thee all worshipp benediction loue and thankes giuing is due to thee To thee our God be ascribed all honour strenght and fortitude for euer and euer Amen Heere man doth lament for that when he thinketh of God he is not moued to compunction seeinge the verye Angells tremble and quake when they beholde him CHAPT XXXIV FOrgiue me o Lord forgiue me o good God forgiue me and be mercifull vnto me pardon mine ignorance and my manifolde imperfections Reiect me not for my ouermuche boldenes in that I beinge but a seruant and woulde to God a good one and not all together bad and vnprofitable as I am yea in this respect very badd for that I presume to praise blesse and adore thee our God almightie terrible and exceedinglie to be feared without contrition of hart a fountaine of teares without that reuerence and feare which is fittinge For if the Angells praising and adoring thee albeit replenished with vnspeakable ioy doe tremble and quake how much more ought I soe to doe when I stande before thee singing praises or offering sacrifice vnto thee whence is it that my hart doth not pante and my contenance growe pale and why doe I not tremble in my whole bodie that by that meanes I might weepe and waile in thy presence incessantlie I would doe soe if it laie in my power but I cannot doe as I desire And for this cause I cannot but haue thee in highe regarde as often as I beholde thee with the eies of my faith soe terrible and woÌ„derfullie to be feared But who can doe this or any good thinge els without the assistance of thy grace because our whole succoure and safetie doth wholy proceede from thy greate mercle Miserable wretche that I am how is it that my soule is become soe sottishe and voide of sense that it is not exceedinglie affraide when it standeth before God and singeth praises in his presence Miserable wretche that I am how is my harte soe hardned that my eyes do not without ceasinge flowe forth floudes of teares whiles the seruant talketh with his Lord man with God a creature with his creator one that is made of stime with him that hath made all thinges of nothinge Beholde o Lord I doe make manifest vnto thee what I am and what I thinke of my selfe in the secrett of my harte I doe openly make knowen in the eares of my brethren Thou art riche in mercie and libâ—rall in bestowinge rewardes giue me of thy goodes that by them I may be able to serue thee because we can neither serue nor please thee except it be by helpe of those guifts which we receiue from thee Pierce I beseeche thee my fleshe with thy feare lett my harte reioyce that it may feare thy name O woulde to God my sinfull soule did feare thee in that manner as that holy man did who saied I haue allwaies feared God as it were floudes of water flowing ouer my heade O God thou giuer of all good thinges giue me I beseech thee a fountaine of teares duringe the time of my prayers and prayses which I singe to thee accompanied with puritie of harte and mirthe of minde that louing thee perfectlie and praysing thee worthily I may with the palate of my harte pereciue taste feele how pleasant and sweete thou our Lord art as it is written Taste and see because our Lord is sweete Blessed is that man that trusteth in him blessed is that people that knoweth
o Father of mercies Thou knowest my desire and my groaning is not hidden from thee Hide not then thy face from me any longer neither doe thou forsake me in thine anger O Father of mercies heare the lamentable complainte of me thy poore orphāt and stretche forth thy helping hande that it may drawe me out of the deepe waters out of the lake of misery and out of the duste and dreggs of iniquitie that I perish not before the eies of thy mercy and in presence of thy infinite patience but let me escape vnto thee o Lord my God that I may beholde the riches of thy kingedome and alwaies see thy face and singe praises vnto thy holy name Thou o Lord who dost thinges worthy of admiration who through the remembrance of thee makest my harte merry who hast enlightned my youthe despise not nowe my old age I beseech thee but cause my bones and gray haires to become ioyfull and youthfull like vnto the bones and hoary feathers of an Eagle The end of S. Augustins Soliloquies that is of the secret discourses and conferences of his soule with God OF THE SOLILOQVIES OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOP OF HIPPON OF the vnspeakeable sweetnes of God Chapt. I. Of the misery frailtie of man Chapt. II. Of the admirable light of God Chapt. III. Of the mortalitie of mans nature Chapt. IV. What it is to become nothing Chapt. V. Of the miserable estate of the soule being in sinne Chapt. VI. Of the manifolde benefits of almightie God Chapt. VII Of the future dignity of man Chapt. VIII Of Gods omnipotent power Chapt. IX Of the incomprehensible prayse of God Chapt. X. Of the hope which we ought to haue in God Chapt. XI Of the snares of concupiscences Chapt. XII Of the miseries of man and the manifolde benefits of almightie God Chapt. XIII How God doth continuallie looke into the actions and intentions of men Chapt. XIV That man without the assistance of Gods grace is able to doe nothing of himselfe Chapt. XV. Of the diuell and his manifolde temptatations Chapt XVI That God is the light of the iust Chapt. XVII A further acknowledging of the benefits of God Chapt. XVIII Of the vehemencie of loue or charity Chapt. XIX How God hath made all thinges subiect to the seruice of man Chapt. XX. How by the consideration of benefits temporall we may gather the greatnes of those that are celestiall Chapt. XXI That the sweetnes of God doth take away the present bitternes of the world Chapt. XXII That our whole hope and the desire of our harte ought to be in God Chapt. XXIII That our saluation is from God Chapt. XXIV How without the assistance of Gods grace mans will is vnable to doe well Chapt. XXV Of the ancient benefits of almighty God Chapt. XXVI Of the Angells appointed to be the guardians of men Chapt. XXVII Of the profounde predestination and foreknowledg of almighty God Chapt. XXVIII Of those that at first are good and afterwardes become bad and contrariwise of those that at first are bad and afterwardes become good Chapt. XXIX That a faithfull soule is the sanctuarie of God Chapt. XXX That God cannot be founde either by the exteriour or interiour senses Chapt. XXXI A profession of the true faithe Chapt. XXXII The acknowledging of our owne basenes Chapt. XXXIII A consideration of Gods diuine Maiestie Chapt XXXIV Of the desire and thirst of the soule after God Chap. XXXV A further discouse of the country kingdome of heauen Chapt. XXXVI A Prayer to the holy Trinitie Chapt. XXXVII THE MANVEL OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOPP OF HYPPON OTHERWISE TEARMED A litle booke treating of the comtemplation of Christ or the worde of God Stirring vpp our weake and drousi◠memorie to the desire of heauenlie felicitie AT S. OMERS For IOHN HEIGHAM Anno 1624. THE MANVEL OF S. AVGVSTIN BISHOPP OF HYPPON OTHERWISE TEARMED A litle booke treating of the contemplation of Christ or the worde of God Stirring vpp our weake and drousie memorie to the desire of heauenlie felicitie THE PREFACE SEing we liue amidst a multitude of snares and ginnes we easily growe colde in the loue of heauenly thinges Wherfore we stande in neede of continuall succoure and ayde that as often as we fall and faile in our dutie towardes God we may as men awakened haue recourse to him the soueraigne and supreame good For this cause I haue compiled and composed this little worke not throughe any presumptious opinion I haue of my selfe but through the great loue of my God and the desire I haue to aduance his praise to the end I might alwaies haue about me some small Manuel of shorte sentences concerning my God drawen out of the worthiest wordes and writinges of holy Fathers by the fire of reading whereof I might as often as I growe cold be inflamed with affection towardes him Now therfore assist me o my God whom I seeke and loue whom likewise with my harte and mouthe and with all my force I prayse and adore My soule which is wholy deuoted to thee and inflamed with thy loue sighing and searching earnestly after thee desiring to see thee onely taketh delight in nothing els but to speake heare write and conferre of thee and frequentlye to meditate of thy glorie to the end that the sweete remembrance of thee may be some mitigation amidst soe many stormes of affliction To thee therfore I call o most desired Lord to thee I crie with a loude voyce euen with my whole harte And when I call vpon thee I call vpon thee remaining within me for that I were meere nothing if thou were not in me neither were thou in me vnlesse I were in thee Doubtles thou art in me because thou remainest in my memorie by which I haue knowen thee and in which I doe finde thee as often as I ame mindfull of thee and ame delighted in thee or frō thee from whom by whom and in whom all thinges haue their beginning conseruation and being Of the wonderfull essence of God CHAPT I THou O Lord dost fill heauen and earthe carying all thinges without burden filling all thinges without inclusion Alwayes doing alwaies resting Gathering thinges together and yet not needie Seeking albeit nothing is wanting vnto thee louing without being afflicted iealous yet resting assured It repenteth thee and yet thou art not grieued thou art angrie and yet art appeased Thou dost alter what thou hast donne without altering thy determination Thou takest what thou dost finde hauinge neuer lost any thinge Thou reioycest in gaine althoughe thou wert neuer needie and albeit thou wert neuer couetous yet thou exactest vsurie Thou giuest more then is demaunded to him that thou act not indebted and yet to make thee indebted more continuallie is giuen thee then by thee is required And yet who is there that hath any thinge not thine Thou payest debtes being indebted to noe man and forgiuest debtes thereby loosing nothing Who art euerie where and wholie euerie where Who maiest be felt
my cause from vniust people teache me to fulfill thy will for thou art my God Because I beleiue that in whom soeuer thou doost vouchsafe to make thine habitation in him thou doost builde a house for God the Father and the Sonne That man doubtles is blest who shal be thought worthy to haue thee for his guest for that by thee the Father and the sonne will with him make their mansion Come now come most kinde comforter of a sorrowefull soule come most ready helper in tribulation and time of trouble Come o cleanser of sinnes o healer of woundes Come o strength of such as are fraile o releife of suche as fall Come o instructer of the simple and lowly destroyer of the proude and hautie Come o pittifull Father of the fatherlesse milde iudge of widowes Come o hope of the needy refresher of the fainte and sickly Come o bright starre of those that saile o hauen of those that by shipwrack faile on the sea Come o singular commendation of all men liuing the onely saluation of the faithfull departing Come o most holie Spirit come and take pittie vpon me Vnite me vnto thee and gratiously graunt me that according to the multitude of thy mercies my smalnes may be pleasing to thy greatnes and my weakenes to thy force through our Sauiour Iesus Christ who together with the Father in thy vnity liueth and raigneth for euer and euer Amen A Prayer for one seruing God and thinkinge humbly of himselfe CHAPT X. I knowe o Lord I knowe and confesse that I am not worthy to be beloued of thee yet certainely thou art not vnworthy to be beloued of me I am vnworthy I coÌ„fesse to serue thee but thou art not vnworthy worthy of my seruice seinge thou hast created me Graunt me therefore o Lord to doe that whereof thou art worthy and I shal be worthy of that whereof I am now vnworthy Make me by what meanes thou wilt to cease from iniquitie that accordinge as I am bounde I may be able to serue thee Graunt me soe to keepe gouerne and end my life that I may sleepe in peace and rest in thee Giue me grace at my dyinge day to sleepe with repose to repose with securitie to be secure for all eternitie Amen A Prayer to the Holy Trinitie CHAPT XI WIth my whole harte and mouthe I confesse thee God the Father vnbegotten thee the Sonne onely begotten thee the Holy Ghost giuer of comforte and consolation the holy and vndeuided Trinitie to thee be glorie for all eternitie The acknowledginge of God almightie and of his maiestie CHAPT XII O Holy Trinitie one virtue and vnseparable maiestie one God and God almighty I confesse vnto thee I that am the last and least of thy seruants and a poore member of thy church I confesse vnto thee and honour thee with a sacrifice of praise as is my duty according to the small knowledge and abilitie which thou hast giuen me And for that I haue noe exteriour guifts to offer vnto thee I therfore from an vnfained faith and vndefiled conscience doe willingâ—ly and ioyfully offer vnto thee those vowes of praise which by the guift of thy grace are fouÌ„de within me I therefore with my whole harte beleiue and call vpon thee I confesse the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost three in persons and one in substance to be the true God omnipotent of one nature or essence simple spirituall inuisible incompreâ—ensible hauing nothing higher or lower or greater then thy selfe but beinge perfect without deformity great without quantity good without quality eternall without time life without death strong without infirmity true without falshood euery where present without situation wholy euery where without location filling all thinges without extension occurring euery where without contradiction going beyond all thinges without motion stayinge in all thinges without station creatinge all thinges hauing want of nothing gouerning all thinges without trauaile or perturbation giuing beginning to all thinges thy selfe being without beginning making all thinges mutable thy selfe being without mutation In greatnes infinite in vertue omnipotent in goodnes superexcellent in wisedome inestimable in thy counsells terrible iust in thy iudgements most secrett in thy cogitations true in thy wordes holy in thy workes aboundant in mercies Most patient towardes offenders most pittifull towardes penitent sinners beinge still the same eternall and euerlastinge immortall immutable whom the largenes of places doth not enlarge nor the litlenes make lesse nor any places of receipt whatsoeuer doe any way straighten and presse together Neither doth thy will alter thee nor freindshipp corrupt thee or dolefull thinges trouble thee or ioyfull thinges moue thee Whom neither forgettfullnes doth make to forgett nor remembrance to remember any thinge To whom thinges past and thinges to come are alwaies present To whom beginning neuer gaue beginning nor time augmentation neither shall any hap or chaunce euer giue ending but thou art he who liuest for euer and euer before all ages and in all ages and through out all ages To thee therefore is due perpetuall prayse and eternall glorie most soueraigne power and singular dignitie and euerlastinge kingdome and dominion worlde without end duringe all eternitie Amen After what manner it pleased God the Father to succoure mankinde Of the incarnation of the diuine Worde and thankes for the same CHAPT XIII HItherto o God almighty the beholder and searcher of my hart I haue confessed the omnipotency of thy maiestie the maiesty of thy omnipotency but now after what manner thou hast vouchsafed to helpe mankind towardes the end of the world as I beleiue with the hart for my iustification soe I confesse with my mouth before thee therby to attaine saluation Certaine it is we cannot any where finde it written of thee that thou o God the Father hast at any time beene sent alone but of thy sonne thus writteth thy Apostle But when the fulnes of time was come God sent his soâ—re When he saieth he sent he sufficiently declareth that he came at that time sent into this worlde when being borne of blessed Marie euer a Virgin he appeared in our flesh true and perfect man But what is that which the cheife euaÌ„gelist affirmeth of him He was in the world and the world was made by him Doutlesse he was sent thither by taking vpoÌ„ him our humanitie where he alwaies hath beene and is remaining by his diuinity Which Mission I verily beleiue with my whole hart and confesse with my mouth to haue bene the work of the whole holy Trinity Now how greately hast thou loued vs o holy and louing Father how greately hast thou loued vs o pitâ—ifull Creator who hast not spared euen thine onely son but hast giuen him for vs sinners He hath beene obedient vnto thee vnto death euen the death of the crosse and takinge our hand writing or obligation wherin we stoode bounde aâ— slaues to the diuell by sinne and fastninge the same to the crosse he