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
thee so could not any thing be created by any other but by thee to the end that all things might serue thee praise thee and publish thy glory Thou art the vniuersall dispenser of good things so that there is no benefit to be found either of nature or grace body or soule which taketh not his originall from thee who art the fountaine of all goodnes Thou art the maine of all perfection the Abysse of all greatnesse the Dâ—…ean of infinite mercy and goodnes the image of incomparable beauty Thou art the God of Gods the holy of holiest the King of Kinges the Lord of Lords the cause of causes the being of beings the life of the liuing the order of the Uniuers the beauty of the world the glory of the heauens Thou art my Creator that madest me of nothing to thine owne Image and similitude Thou art my conseruer who by thy prouideÌ„ce maintainest me lest I should become nothing Thou art my sanctifier who by thy grace extollest me vnto things which are diuine Thou art my glorifier who hast made me to enioy the glorie euerlasting Thou art my defender helper pastor benefactor Thou art my King my Lord my father my spouse Thou art the center of my soule my last end in whom alone consisteth all my felicity happinesse and the last perfection of my life what neede many words Thou art to me all in all in as much as thou art God But in as much as thou art man thou art my redeemer my sauiour and deliuerer Thou art as the Apostle testifieth my wisedome my iustice my sanctification my redemption my sacrifice my Lambe my priest my aduocate my intercessor my doctor my example my fortitude my consolation Thou art the generall phisition of all my wounds infirmities Thou hast healed my pride by thy humility my auarice by thy pouerty my pleasures by thy dolors my wrath by thy meeknes my enuy by thy charity my excesse by the gall and vinegar which thou tastedst for my sake my sloath by thy diligence and vnmeasurable labors vndertaken for my sake For my sake thou didst fast wander hither and thither sweate watch pray weepe for mee thou wert banished persecuted deâ—…ded mockt spit vpon whipt crowned with thornes crucified and more afflicted than all other men of this world and at length put to death 2. A thanksgiuing ALL these are thy benefits O Lord for which I ought to yeeld thee thanks nay rather they are most iust causes for which I am indebted vnto thee bonds by which thou holdest me captiue bound vnto thee What shall I giue vnto our Lord for all the benefits hee hath bestowed on mee by what duty or what humble seruice shall I recompence so manie graces bestowed vpon me Uerily I beleeue that although I onely had all mens hearts and with all them did only loue thee yet might I not in the least sort yeeld thee that which belongeth vnto thee How then for many so great benefits shall I yeeld thee satisfaction How can I deny thee that one heart which I haue for all wheÌ„ I owe thee so much for all thy benefits towards me What shal I say my God what shall I doe for I alone am not sufficieÌ„t to yeeld thee condigne thanks for such a multitude of blessings But I know what I shall doe I will call vpon all creatures that are in heauen on earth and I will desire them to assist me and vouch safe with me to sing thy praises and glorifie with mee the Lord of all glorie Let vs therefore sing the song which the three children sang in the burning Furnace in Babilon saying O blesse ye all the workes of the Lord God praise ye and magnifie him for euer O yee angels of the Lord blesse yee the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O yee heauens blesse the Lord praise yee and magnifie him for euer O yee waters that are aboue the firmament blesse yee our Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer c. 3. The oblation of a mans selfe ALL these praises and blessings doe I owe thee O father yea and far more greater belong vnto thee For if I shal more neerely examine the matter I not only owe thee mine but my selfe also For if in India a man buy another man for a red cap and hee that is bought at so slight a rate is in such sort wholly obliged subiect to the buier as that he is neither master of a moment of time or of a farthing but is very often cast into fetters by his Lord beaten with clubs and handled according to the humour of him that bought him what shall become of me O Lord I am thine yea truly wholy thine not tied vnto thee vnder one name and title but by infinite respects Thou hast created me thou hast bought me not with a red cap but with thy precious blood thou hast conserued me in all and euery momeÌ„t of my life For without thee I can nether stir haÌ„d or foot without thy prouidence I can neither breath nor respire or act any thing with what colour theÌ„ can I cast off thy dominion ouer me How an I deny thee that which is thine By what right can I challenge liberty to my selfe Or with what impudence shaking off the yoake of my Lord can I wish to liue according to my wicked desires when by so many reasons I am thine ought so wholy to be dedicated vnto thee Most humbly therfore acknowledging thy dominion ouer me behold I dedicate my self wholy vnto thee and intirely submit my selfe to thy perpetuall seruice subiection Neither doe I onely offer my selfe vnto thee but also all that which is mine what soeuer this day or in the rest of my life I shall thinke speake or do with all those things which at any time for thy sake shal be offered me to admit or further 〈◊〉 so that henceforward I wil neither eat nor drink nor sleep nor do any such like thing whose end shall not bee the honour glory of thy most holy name Once more I say O Lord I sacrifice my selfe vnto thee lest hereafter I be mine owne not thine I will liue no more according to mine owne will I will not labour for my selfe I wil not seek my selfe but in all things euery way will I seeke thee obey thy will and be diligent in thy seruice and if at any time I shall doe the contrary I will call my selfe a theefe and rauisher of an other mans right for that dutie and obedience which vnder so many titles and by so much right appertaineth vnto thee deniing and stealing the same from thee I shall vsurpe vnto my selfe 4. A petition for new benefits BUt because without thy grace I cannot yeeld thee that duty I pray thee O Lord that thou wilt assist me herein and create in me a new heart that shal not iudge himselfe to be his own no not for 〈◊〉
wee are freed from earthly cares and desires wee esteeme thee for our chiefest good with thee wee dwell with thee we liue All these benefits die vnto vs if thou O eternall light bee hidden from vs. Abide therefore with vs O Lord and remoue from vs the weight of our sinnes to the end that perpetuall day may shine in our hearts stay with vs O Lord. Amen An Euening confession I Confesse my sinnes vnto thee eternall Bishop minister of the Saints and the Priest of the true tabernaâ—…le who ence in the yeare of this world hast entred into the sacred Secret and giuen the holy and immaculate Lambe of thy body for a sacrifice for our sinnes To thee I confesse that I am inindebted not onely in ten thousand talents of my sins but that I am bound to yeeld thee account of my whole life Because I know that there is not one Commandement of thine in my whole life that I haue perfectly obserued wherein either in word sight hearing taste worke thought perswasion or consent I haue not offended But now O Lord I come before thy face in confession and in the presence of all thine Angels and holy Saints I 〈◊〉 vnto thee all my sins wherwith this day I haue offended thee Here if there bee any more grieuous sins let them be repeated Neither these alone do I confesse but also all other my misdeeds whatsoeuer I haue coÌ„mitted from my infancy hitherto euen vnto this present houre either wittingly or ignorantly in deeds in words in thoughts and in omissions discouering also in particular the euilltree of my heart with all his roots twigs leaues fruits with al his deformities swellings rottennes all which are very well knowne vnto thee for thou beholdest not onely the interior desires doubts denials of thy prouidence but also these grosse externall offences which we wretchedly commit in our words and deeds Wherefore O most mercifull Father according to the measure of my weakenesse I beseech thee although I am altogether vnapt to pray forgiue my offences pardon my sinnes and forget all the multitude of my misdeeds as well those that I haue committed this day as also those which thou knowest me guilty of from my infancie hitherto Circumcise likewise for thy goodnesse sake my very stony heart for this old one create in mee a new and endue it with a new spirit water it with the iuice of celestiall grace and the spirituall fountaine of waters whereby the internal venome and corrupt iuice of the flesh may bee dried vp the custome of the old man may bee changed and my heart may not heereafter bring foorth brambles and thornes as fewell to the fire but spirituall fruits in iustice and holinesse Amen A thanksgiuing in the euening BEhold O Lord so many and so mighty are my sins whereby I haue this day offended thy diuine Maiesty and that time thou gauest me to shew the fruits of repentance in I haue consumed so vnprofitably forgetting that this day might haue bene the very last day of my life heaping new sinnes vpon old and walking in thy sight who continually seest all things without any feare no otherwise than if it were in the presence of some idoll for which cause I deserued that the earth should gape and hell should swallow me vp but for that this most fatal punishment doth not affect me both with lips and heart all the members about me and the power that is in me I giue thanks to thine infinit mercy For thou O Lord hast kept me this day by thy ciemency from all misfortune of body and soule for there is no euill in the world either corporall or spirituall that this day might not haue happened vnto mee For that which might befall another man why might it not light vpon mee For if hee bee the sonne of Adam why so am I If hee bee subiect to actuall sinne so am I If his body bee formed of humours and contrarie elements so is mine If therefore hee bee this day made blinde why might not I also haue bene blinded If another man this day become lame bee consumed fall sicke of the pâ—…sicke bee distraught get the â—…ixe labour of the spleene tremble with the palsâ—…e why am not I partner of the same miserie If this man hath perished by water that by fire hee bee extinguished by suddaine and vnexpected death why am not I also who am in the same state of damnation with him Why O Lord why I say but for that thy grace O most pitiful Lord hath conserued me and thy mercy protected me that therefore I am in safetie that I am whole and strong in body I onely ascribe it to thee to thee giue I most intire thaÌ„ks The like or rather more greater thanks offer I vp vnto thee O Father the thou hast no lesse protected my soule from sins then my body from sicknesses and misfortunes of this day that being blinde thou hast lightened her guided her in this way of thy commandements that falling thou hast raised her that standing thou hast sustained her from falling For that thy mercie hath preue nied me deliuering mee from all euils sauing me froÌ„ those that are past raising me from the present and defending me from the future taking away also the nets of my sinnes from before mee and cutting off their occasions and causes For except thou hadst done this and that for me I had done al the sinnes of the world because I know O Lord that there is no sin that euer man did that another man might not haue done if the Creator be wanting by whom man is made But that I did not offeÌ„d 〈◊〉 was thy fauour that I abstained it was thy command and that I beleeued thee it was thy grace inspired into me For thou O Lord didst rule me to thy selfe kepst me for thee and my selfe and that I should not commit adulterie or any other sinne thou gauest mee that grace light through Iesus Christ thy son To thee bee praise to thee grace to thee glorie for euer and euer Amen A praier wherin thou commendest thy selfe to God vpon the entrance of thy bed O Lord Iesus Christ my God Redeemer in asmuch as thou hast made ordained the pleasing time of night for the rest and refection of the weake bodies of miserable mortall men I beseech thee that this night thou wilt keepe my soule ouer-burdened with sinne defensed with true peace in thee O God who art the true and eternall rest preserue it from all the assaults of the diuel from all his dangerous incursions defend my senses and cogitations and ordaine and direct all that which I doe and wherein I end according to thy will lest ingaged in the depraued darkenesse of this world being ouercome by the Prince of the same the diuell I bee brought into temptation and pernicious snares but perfect in mee true tranquillitie and constant puritie in my conscience Giue vnto my
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
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
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