most profitable before the Communion whereby the soule is excited to the feare and loue of God VVHo art thou my Lord and who am I that I dare ap proch thee What is man that hee can receiue God vnto him his maker Redeemer What is man in his nature but the vessell of corruption and rottennes the sonne of the diuell the heire of hell the worker of iniquitie the contemner of God and a Creature vnfit for all goodnesse and apt and prompt to all wickednesse What is man but a creature miserable in all things in his counsel blinde in his actions incoÌ„stant in his appetites vncleane in his desires vnconstant in euery worke of his litle in his owne eies great see Lord see what I am But thou my God who what a one art thou Thou art great with out quantitie good without quality wise without measure and eternall without time Thou art omnipotent in vertue infinite in wisedome admirable in counsels terrible in iudgements perfect and absolute in all vertue How therefore dare so vile and vncleane a creature as I am approach and touch a GOD of so great maiestie Behold the moone also shineth not and the stars are vncleane in thy sight The pillars of heauen tremble and quake at thy becke Those celestial Seraphins cloâ—…ke their wings and in thy presence confesse themselues to bee butterflies most abiect wormes What boldnesse therefore what rashnesse is it for a most vile man the abiectest creature vpon earth to dare so much as but to looke vpon such a Lord Holy Saint Iohn Baptist sanctified in his mothers womb durst not when he baptized our Lord touch the crowne of his head yea he profest himselfe to be vnworthy to vnloose the latchet of his shooe The Prince of the Apostles exclaimed saying Depart from me O Lord for I am a sinfull man shall I that am the notorious sinner of all men not feare to approach thee If it were vnlawfull for any man to eat the Bread of proposition which were onely but a shaddow of this profouÌ„d mystery except him that was clean and sanctified how can I bee secure who eate the bread of Angels where notwithstanding I am so farre off from all sanctite That pascall Lamb which was a type figure of this sacrament according to the commandement of God was to bee eaten with vnleauened bread and wild Lettuice and they that did eate the same ought to haue their loines girt their shooes vpon their feete Ah how shall I dare to come to this true Pascal Lambe who haue none of these preparations For what thing else is the vnleauened bread than Purity without the leuen of malice And what the bitter Lettuice but vehement contrition Where is the puritie of my reynes where of my feete that is the cleannesse of my holy desires I feare O Lord and vehemeÌ„tly suspect lest I should bee excluded from this table if any of those preparations should bee wanting in me From this table was he reiected or rather repulsed who came without his wedding garment that is without charity and being bound hand foote hee was cast into exterior darknesse what other thing expect I now if I shall intrude my selfe to this banquet without this vesture O diuine eies to whom all the cranies corners of my soule are open and manifest what shall become of mee if I present my selfe naked boide before thy presence To touch the Arke which was only but a figure of this sacrameÌ„t it was so great an offence that Oza the priest stretching out his hand to vphold the same being ready to fall supporting it was strooken with suddain death how can I theÌ„ choose but feare and suspect the like penalty if vnworthily I shall receiue that of which the Arke was onely but a figure The Bethsamâ—…tes offended in no other thing than for that they had too curiously beheld the Arke of the couenaÌ„t when as it was caried through the confines of the countrey yet God was so displeased that for that only cause of the people he slue seuenty men and of the common sort fiftie thousand But O most merciful Lord how much more worthy is this sacrament thaÌ„ the Arke of the Couenant and how much more dangerous is it to receiue thee than to see thee Not without reason therefore ought I to bee afraid and tremble as often as I come to receiue a Lord of so great maiesty iustice And if there be so many causes why I ought to feare thy greatnes how many reasons should there bee of feare if I weigh the muâ—…itude of my sinnes For I call to remembrance O Lord many grieuous sins of mine whereby I haue in this world offended thy diuine maiesty The time was somtime ther was a time thankes bee giuen to God that the time is not now wheÌ„ I loued not that thine infinite beuty but buried it in deepest obliuion when the dust of thy creatures was more estimate with mee than the treasures of thy graces and yâ— hope of thy eternall glorie The Lawes and rules of my life were my desires inordinate appetites I had no care of thee I shewed thee no reuerence because I knew thee not I am that foole that said in my heart there is no God for so dissolutely for a time did I liue that in my matters I did professe that I beleeued thee either to be nothing or to be of power to do nothing I did not labor to insinuate my selfe into thy-loue I feared not thy iustice I set light by the breach of thy lawes I yeelded not that thankes which I ought although I knew thou wert present in all places yet was I not ashamed securely in thy sight to commit sin yea and that very grieuously Whatsoeuer mine eies desired that made I lawful vnto them neither did I restraine my heart 〈◊〉 crossing the incontinent delights thereof and what kinde of wickednesse is there wherewith my soule is not distained what else was my whole life but a continuall war against thee what else but a receiuing of torments and passions of my whole life How often haue I for a momeÌ„tany pleasure or a trifling gain like a second Iudaâ—… soâ—… thee And now comming to receiue thee what els doe I but prepare thee a kisse with Iudas by which I may betray thee whom I haue already sold What else haue I done when other waies I comâ—…icated but that with the souldiers I haue mocked thee insulted ouer thee here bowing my knee and adoring thee there beating thy blessed head with a reede How shall I therefore dare to receiue thee O my Lord in an estate so vncleane and wicked How can I be so rash to inclose thy most sacred body in the den of dragons the nest of vipers What other thing else is the soule of a sinner than a dwelling place of diuels a â—…est of beasts a hog-stie and a
king didst descend to thy seruant to redeeme thy slaue thou didst betray thy selfe So much didst thou loue mee that thou gauest thy blood for a ransome for mee thou didst loue me O Lord more than thy selfe because thou wouldst seÌ„d for mee For this cause thou didst ransome mee from exile with so deere a price thou didst redeeme me from thraldome thou withheldedst mee from punishment thou calledst mee by thy name thou â—…ignedst me with thy blood that thy remembrance might bee alwaies with mee and neuer depart from my heart which for my sake departed not from the Crosse. Let mee know thee therefore O Lord my acknowledger let mee know thee thou vertue of my soule let me walke alwaies in thy light O thou Sun of iustice for it is good for me to cleaue O Lord to put my trust in our lord God for as soone as I shall bee turned from thee I am presently conuerted to transitory delights and distracted with vaine cogitations O therefore wretched vnfortunate that I am when shall I so inseparably cleaue vnto thee as I may neuer bee withdrawne from thee When shall my thoughts words and works differ no more from the rule of thy equitie iustice Thou o Lord louest solitude and I company thou silence and I fables thou verity and I vanity thou cleannesse and I follow vncleannesse I beseech thee therefore O Lord for thine own sake illuminat mine eies with thy light wouÌ„d my heart with thy loue direct my steppes in the way of thy commandements that I may neuer swerue from the same deliuer me o Lord that am captiue reduce the stray into thy wounds raise him that is fallen and releeue him that is euery way weakned Giue me a heart that may alwaies thinke on thee a minde that may alwaies loue thee an vnderstanding that may conceiue thee a reason that may alwaies strongly cleaue vnto thee the most chiefe delight Fly not from my heart depart neither froÌ„ my words nor works but alwaies assist me because thou art my helper in all my tribulations Without thee I die thinking on thee I am reuiued thine adour doth recreate mee thy memory doth heale mee thy light doth illuminate me I am raised againe by thy voice and shall bee satisfied when thy glory shall appeare The sixth prayer for the loue of God IF amoÌ„gst all those things which prouoke vs vnto loue there bee nothing more effectuall than form beauty why should I not worthily loue thee o my God who art the Fountaine of all beautie and seemelines Thou art the Ornament of the whole Masse of this world for whatsoeuer is beautiful in it by thee and from thee hath his beauty because thou createdst it the Sunne and Moone admire thy maiestie the Angels desire to behold thy face for in the sight thereof consisteth perfect felicitie and the glorie of all supernall spirits Birds flowers fouÌ„taines fields floods seas woods forrests trees earth mountaines valleies and whatsoeuer is in them haue their ornaments from thee thou didst decke the heauens with starres the aire with birds the water with fishes the fields with flowers and the earth with infinite plants and variety of liuing creatures In each place of the world thou art feared because tokens of thy beauty are seene in euery place in the heauens thou art the beautie of glorie in hell of iustice in good men of grace in the wicked of patience I will therefore loue thee my God who are the perfection of all things thou art the praise of the Angels the reward of Saints yâ— hope of Patriarches the Crowne of Martyrs the glory of Confessors that puritie of Uirgins and the saluation of all the elect All blessed spirits praise thee yâ— Pillars of heauen trâ—…ble at thy presence and all the creatures of the world reuerence thee Thou fulfillest all things yet art thou not diâ—…ated thou art in all things yet art contained in none thou didst create all things without necessitie thou gouernest all things without labour thou changest all things thy selfe art not changed thou only iudgest without any erroâ—… thou onely chastifest without any pâ—…turbation thou onely distributest gifts and thy treasure is not impaired thou only art sufficient for thy selfe and all things who therefore hath thee he hath all things and who hath thee not although hee haue all the treasures of this world he is poore hee is naked he is wretched and miserable One thing verie often draweth vs to such insensate a loue of some creature that wee feare not in the behalfe of the same to aduenture a thousand deaths but in thee O Lord whereas so many things so great concurre together why should I not loue thee why should I not willingly suffer whatsoeuer miserie for the glory of thy name why should I not freely spend my blood for thee who so liberally diddest powre out thine for me If I consider thy benefits I owe no man more than thy self if thy loue no man wisheth mee better than thy selfe if consangumitie my soule hath not any one more neerely allied vnto her than thy selfe Truly similitude is a great cause of loue what greater similitude is there than is betweene thee O Lord my soule which is created after thy similitude and likenesse Thou art a spirit my soule is a spirit thou art inuisible my soule is also inuisible thou immortall my soule is immortall thou hast vnderstanding memory and will and the like powers hath my soule Thou being most simple and inuisible art all in the whole world and all in euery part thereof and my soule being of the same condition is all in the whole body and all in euery member of the same Since therfore there is so much similitude betweene thee mee O my loue why should I not loue thee Is it because thou art high I humble or for that thou art the Creator and I thy creature or because thou art the perfectest being and I altogether imperfect This ought not to hinder but to increase our loue For the similitude is far more amâ—…able which is proportioned with inequalitie than that which is euery way equall The fathers loue is greater towards yâ— son the wiues towards the husband than of brothers amongst themselues who are equal Uoices that art â—…rent among themselues 〈◊〉 more sweetly if they be reduced vnto proportion than those that are consonant and vniforme Let then this inequalitie which is betweene thee my soule o Lord be a cause of greater loue In thee therefore O most sweet spouse of my soule in thee are all the causes of loue which may bee imagined and thou art most worthy to bee beloued with infinite loue but I finde in my selfe my wil in such manner depraued that it cannot performe it would God it were not so that she loued her selfe more than thee Wherfore O Lord except thou heale my infirme nature by thy grace and except thou powre
in coÌ„tempt or disgrace of thy holy Name Yet O Lord there are many things which yet I want for nothing is presently reduced from his not being to his perfect being but all things tend to their perfection by certaine degrees And that perfection from whom is it to bee required but from him who is the beginner of this worke Hence it is that all effects are conuerted to their causes that they may receiue their finall perfection from thence whence they had their beginning So see I O Lord the plants labour wrest themselues on euery side that they may behold the Sun fasten their roots in the earth Fishes forsake not the water and the Chicken scarce hatched from the egge hides himselfe vnder the wings of the Hen and followeth her whither soeuer shee go Since all creatures do this in whom there is no vnderstanding I alone doe it not whom yet thou hast created and endued with reason I see that I want many things 〈◊〉 that daily I am diuersly hindered the inordinate insatiable hunger of mine appetites teacheth me no lesse but I like a Doue wanting a heart haue not recourse to my Creator but to creatures I seeke not water out of the Fouâ—…taine but digge new Cesterns for my selfe I hunt after the earth contemne him that made the earth I seeke life in the land of death I will rest my selfe in things that are restles I will begge from creatures that which I ought to aske from the Creator I therefore pray thy goodnes O my mercifull Father Creator to take away this ignorance from 〈◊〉 and conuert me vnto thee and then shall I be conuerted thine eies see that which is imperfect in me thou madest mee thou finishedst mee thou beganst this worke doe thou finish it Thy hands haue fashioned mee giue mee vnderstanding that I may learne thy Testimonies Thou gauest mee eares but such as are more attentiue to heere fables thaÌ„ thy word thou gauest me eies but such as are more prone to behold curiosity than to consider the wondrous works of thy law thou gauest me hands but weak to performe good workes thou gauest me feet but swift vnto euill slow vnto goodnes What neede more There is no health in my flesh perâ—… O Lord that which thou hast begun 〈◊〉 me of thy hands Giue me that I want because thou art my Creator my God thou art my life thou art my saluation thou art my liuing thou art my aboundance thou art my glory thou art my honour thou art my peace thou art all my good without thee all my plenty is pouerty who liuest reignest God world without end Amen The second thanksgiuing for the benefite of our corporall conseruation I Giue thee thanks O most omnipotent high iust and mercifull Lord God not onely for that thou hast created me and broughtest me from not being to a being but also for that thou hast preserued and daily doest preserue meâ—… being made of nothing from falling into nothing for I both beleeue and confesse that both is thy worke but if thy hand should be shut and but for the twinckling of an eie should â—…iue ouer â—…is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ng of which thou createdst me As many moments therefore and points of time as this my life hath had now hath or may haue hereafter so many parts are there of this benefite I giue thee thanks O merciâ—… Father that by an vnsearchablâ—… kinde of meanes from my conception vntill my natiuitie thou hasâ—… kept mee close shut vp in the narrow bed of my mothers wombe least choaked in my mothers bowels I had come foorth into this world either borne an abortiue or strangled in my natiuitie without the benefite of Baptisme I giue thee thanks that I am borne not amongst Barbarians idolators who honor wood and adore stone not amongst Heretickes that blaspheme thy name and most sacred Sacraments but amongst Catholiques who honour and reuerence thee with a true sincere and pure â—…uth I giue thee thanks for that thou hast preserued me from all misforâ—…ne sodaine death being borne 〈◊〉 bred vp in this world so full of snares and of perils For whereas â—…uers men in my life time drowned in the Sea slaine in the war â—…urthered by theeues torne by the â—…skes of beasts swallowed vp by â—…rthquakes killed by hunger exâ—…ct by thirst burnt with heate â—…illed with colde poysoned with venome straÌ„gled with the haltar slaine by the sword or other sodaine and violent death are taken hence when in the meane while there are so many blinde lame mad troubled with the Iandâ—…es sâ—…ke of the â—…ir trauelled with the spleen bedâ—…em furious lunatâ—…ke and subâ—…ct to the falling sickenesse whose â—…ife is more miserable than death Thy fatherly prouidence O Lord hath defended me from all these eâ—…ils wheras notwithstanding noâ—…hing hapned vnto theÌ„ that might not haue fallen on me the sonne of â—…dam created out of the same masse of perdition conceiued anâ—… begotten in the same originall sin except thou hadst preserued me I owe all this to thy mercy these benefits I receiue from thee If my earthly King Lord had of tenne captiues condemned for one and the same crime sent nine to the gallowes and of his meere grace fauour had set me free what condigne thankes could I offer him But thou O Lord hast done this for mee not once but daily yea and euery moment What shall I therefore pay thee O Lord for al these benefits what praises shall I sing what thanksgiuing shall I offer I will say with the Prophet It is the mercy of God that we are not consumed for that his mercies haue not failed Thou hast giueÌ„ vs a body though vnworthy of many things which except they bee present it easily corrupteth perisheth but that they might be present it is thy singular prouidence that hath so disposed For as thou createdst vs for thy selfe so hast thou made all things for vs for whatsoeuer is created in the earth in the waters the ayre the fire or in the celestiall spheres yea in the imperiall heauen al that hast thou created to obey vs for thou hast placed man aboue all the workes of thy hands Thou hast subiected all things vnder his feet c. For me trees bring forth their boughes and fruite vines flourish for me oyles fatteÌ„ and grow fruitful for me the garden flowreth for me all the plowland of the fields is mine For mee doth the earth yeeld gold siluer and diuers minâ—…rals profitable for the vse of man For me doth the Sea ebbe flowfor mee it bringeth foorth diuers sorts of fishes for mee it beareth ships and sailes for mee doe the fountaines spring for mee doe the flouds flow sheepe oxen and the beasts of the field are fed bring forth skins wooll milke and butter for mee for mee hath the hound nailes and teeth for mee doth the Monocerote bring foorth a horne
and the directions of my superiors onely follow those things which are of the Spirit O most bountiful Iesu giue me perfect renouncement and hatred of my sinne and perfect conuerston of my heart vnto thee that all my thoughts and all my desires may bee fixed on thee and in thee onely O life without which I am dead O truth without which I am deceiued O way without which I go astry O saluation without which I perish O light without which I walk in darknes Suffer me not O Lord suffer mee not to be at any times drawne from thee for I liue cnely in thee without thee 〈◊〉 die in thee I am saued and without thee I am lost in thee I am somewhat without thee I am nothing because I had not bene at all except thou hadst bene in mee and except I were in thee thou shouldest not bee in mee Bee thou therefore O good Iesu in my memorie in the morning by the same may I know thee in the same â—…et me finde thee when I remember thee delight in thee and deriue my pleasures from thee from whoÌ„ all things by whom all things in whom all things are Amen The third prayer for the loue of God IF yâ— duty whereby we are bound to our benefactors for the benefits we haue receiued be so great if euerie of the bounties wee receiue bee as it were brands and motiues of loue if the sire waxe in greatnes according to the multitude of the fuell O Lord how great a fire of loue ought there iustly burne in my heart if the matter of thy bounty be so infinite which kindleth nourisheth the same If the whole world as well visible inuisible with all that which is found therein bee but meere benefits of thine towards vs how huge ought that flame of my loue bee which ought to glow in me And that so much the more because I ought not to loue thee for these benefits onely but also for that in thee all the causes and reasons of loue are to bee found and they euery one of them in the highest degree of perfection For if we consider thy goodnes who is found better than thou art if wee respect thy beauty thou art the fairest one whose face the angels desire to contemplate if wee seeke for bounty sweetnesse who is toâ—…ee found more sweete and benigne than thou art if we desire riches and wisdome who richer or wiser than thou art 〈◊〉 friendship who will soue any thing more thaÌ„ he that pawned his life for vs Now if we returne vnto benefits O Lord from whom proceedeth all that which wee haue but from thee what shall wee say of hope when as from thee alone and from thy mercie wee hope and crpect whatsoeuer we want if by the only right of nature wee owe much dutie to our carnall parents who is more father than he of whom it isâ—… Call not your selues a father on the earth for you haue one Father who is in heaueÌ„ If the husband be so tenderly beloued of his wife what other spouse hath our soule than thy selfe O Lord who shall replenish the bosome of my heart and my desires but thou If the Philosophers say that the finall end is beloued with infinite loue who is my beginning who my latter end but thou O Lord for froÌ„ whence tooke I my originall and whither shall I go to be perfected but from thee and in thee From whom is all that which I haue from whom hope I to receiue the same which I want but from thee Finally if sâ—…tude bee the cause of loue to whose similitude and likenesse is my soule created if not to thine So then if this speciall title and euery one of the rest bee motiues of loue what ought that to be that is deriued from all these vnited together verity as the Sea is more spacious than all other flouds that enter into the same and by how much it ouercommeth the rest in greatnesse by so much also is thy loue more abundant greater and more excellent than all other eternall loues Since therefore I haue so iust causes O Lord and so pregnant occasions to loue thee why should I not loue thee with all my heart with all my soule with all my strength and inward thoughts O my hope my glorie my ioy O my amiable beginning O my sacietie and sufficiencieâ—… when shall that day bee when I shall truely loue thee and embrace thee with my whole heart WheÌ„ shal I shew my selfe gratefull vnto thee in all things and for all things When shall I feele all that mortified m ine which is opposed against thee WheÌ„ shal I be wholy thme WheÌ„ shal I ceasie to be mine own WheÌ„ shall that houre come when nothing shall liue in me but thy selfe When shall I feele my selfe wholy inflamed with thy loue WheÌ„ wilt yâ— rauish mee perforce When wilt thou make me drunke with that milke of thy teares When wilt thou transferre mee wholy into thee When shall I see that happy day when all impediments and perturbations of the minde taken away thou wilt make mee one spirit with thee so that hereafter I shal not be drawn from thee Ah Lord how much cost it thee to redeeme me but being once redeemed how easily canst thou do good For when yâ— doest good vnto man what is takeÌ„ out of thy house what is lost of thy riches what is taken out of thine infinite treasures Why O Lord doth thy wrath fight with thy mercy against mee whereas thou art thâ—…ea of infinite liberalitie and 〈◊〉 Remember therefore O Lord that I am thine thou art mine Fly me not therfore O Lord but suffer mee to finde thee out I make a long iourney 〈◊〉 stand ofeÌ„ I often returne let it not grieue thee O Lord to expect mee who cannot keepe company with thee O my God and my saluation why am I so idle why runne I not which speedie alacritie vnto thee the chiefest good in whom at once are all goodnesses found I will loue thee O Lord with an ardent and strong loue I will stretch the armes of my affections and desires that I may embrace thee the sweet spouse of my soule from whom I promise vnto my selfe all goodnesse The Iuâ—…e so strongly embraceth her neighbouring tree that euery twist thereof seemeth to bee a seuerall arme for sustained by this helpe it groweth high and attaineth to full perfection but O Lord to what tree shall I cleaue but vnto that which planted-on the mountaine of Caluarie is become a sure supporter vnto me The Iuy increaseth not so largely neither extendeth the beauty of her branches so far being sustained by the tree as my soule increaseth in vertues and graces beeing vnderpropped by this tree Why therfore are not all the members of my body turned into armes that on euery side I may embrace thee why shall I not loue thee why shall I not put all my trust 〈◊〉 confidence
the rest do not onely not profite but giue vs matter of greater damnation But O Lord what did I vnto thee that thou shouldst giue mee those things what obedience shewd I to thee that thou shouldst giue me this blessing what foundest thou in me worthy of so great honour reward nothing in mee was free frō sin I knew thee not I loued thee not I serued thee not neither had thee in remembrance I became the bottomlesse pit of darknes and iniquity I cannot choose O Lord but tremble with horror as oftē as I think hereon neither finde I any other cause of this benefite but thy bounty How many were my companions of the same age nature and impietie of whom I was the most reprobate yet tookest thou me vnto thee and forsookest them we were detained in the same Egyptian captiuitie thou admittedst mee to thy royall Table but condemnedst them cast out their flesh to bee deuoured by the creatures of hell Whilst I remember these things O Lord my spirit is no more in me and I know not how to praise thee or what thanksgiuing to offer vnto thee for so incomparable a benefite All the time of my life I will say O Lord what sawest thou in me O Lord what sawest thou in mee Lord what sawest thou in mee more than in the rest whom thou hast forsaken Why didst thou so call mee so deliuer mee so looke vpon me so succour me if so bee thou hast succoured me leauing the rest in sinne who were lesse euil than I I know not what to say I know not what to do I know not what to yeeld vnto thee O Lord for all the benefits thou hast bestowed on mee I will with the Prophet praise my Lord at all times his praise shall be alway in my mouth I will say with the same Prophet Thou hast brokē my bonds O Lord I wil sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise cal vpon the name of the Lord. To the Lambe that sitteth on the throne be blessing and honor and glory and power for euer euer Amen A thanksgiuing for the benefite of our spirituall conuersation in the life of grace I Adore thee I praise thee I glorifie thee I giue thee thanks most mercifull Father and eternal God with my whole heart for all thy benefits but in especiall for that thou hast called mee whom being beforetimes wounded thou hast ◅thout any my precedent merits ◅ured and being an enemie vnto thee reconciled redeemed from captiuity and called from death to life and of thy fatherly goodnesse hast hitherto conserued me in this state and as yet doest conserue me by thy grace Thou art he onely O Lord that created me made mee of nought and thou onely art he that conseruest that which thou hast created thou bountifully dost protect that essence of nature which thou gauest me lest it should perish Thou onely hast regenerated mee by thy Spirit in the life of grace By thee are we priuiledged from our sins by thee are wee conserued lest wee should fall againe into sinne If at any time I haue risen thou gauest me thy hand if I now stand thou sustainest me lest I fall As many good purposes as I haue conceiued as many godly inspiratiōs as I haue felt all are by thy benefite As oftē as I haue ouercome mine enemy as oftē as I haue refrained my euill inclinations and peruerse appetites it was thy benefite For if no man can say Lord Iesu but in the holy Spirit nor doe any good deede without thee euen as the branch can yeeld no fruite being deuided from the vine sure it is that if any fruite grow from this cluster it is by the benefite of that vine to which it cleaueth If at any time I haue fasted it came from thee if I haue endured aduersity patiently thou didst assist me if at any time I haue denied mine owne will it was thy working If euer hitherto I haue shed the teares of contrition if my prayers haue preuailed with thee I confesse O Lord that I did it by thy helpe I confesse that thou hast wrought all good workes in me for all theese doe I giue thee thanks I referre al these benefits with thanksgiuing to him from whom they proceeded that hereafter they may flow more plentifullie I acknowledge my selfe to bee indebted for so many benefits as I haue done duties to thee O Lord in this life if I haue done any at all What shall I say of the occasions and opportunities offered by thee vnto me of good life How many preachers hast thou sent to teach me how many counsellers to instruct me how many good friends how many godly companions how many good examples how many deuout bookes hast thou lent mee by whose helps I am incited to goodnesse and pricked forward to vprightnes of life Great are these thy benefits but greater doth he owe thee who hath profited without these blessed is hee whom thou hast taught O Lord and instructed in thy law for so much more hath hee profited by how much thou art a better Doctor and wiser Master then others But who can recount the perils and dangers from whence thou hast deliuered mee O bountifull shepheard of mens soules or the sinnes whereinto I had fallen wtout thine assistance There is no sin so great that was euer attempted by man which another man cannot fall into if the Creator bee wanting by whom he is made For whi◅h cause vpon good occasion I will call all mens sinnes my benefits for into al them might I haue beene plunged except thine infinite mercie had preserued mee Is many occasions of sinne therefore as might haue inforced mee to fall for they could inforce Dauid so many had I fallē into except thou O Lord hadst taken them away because thou knewest my infirmities All men acknowledge not these thy benefits but I through the grace doe both acknowledge embrace them How often O louing Father hast thou vsed this mercy towards mee How often hast thou bound the enemies hands lest he should tempt me or if he should haue tempted me that yet hee might not ouercome mee how often hast thou inchanted that old Serpent that although I walked amongst Uipers Bas◅lisques yet could they not hurt me How often hast thou trauelled with mee through water fire lest I should bee burned in the flame or drowned in the water How often in the midst of the seruants of this world hast thou tempered the flame of this Babylonicall furnace with the dew of the holy Spirit and so cooled it that it might not consume me How often might I iustly say with the Prophet I was thrust fore at y◠I might fal But y◠Lord was my helpe If at any time I haue stood I stood by thee if I haue fallen I haue fallen by my selfe thy hand hath staied me vp lest I shold be bruised Yea I had alwaies lien in y◠dirt