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
into my heart the vertue of charitie by the mediation of the holy Ghost I may neuer loue thee with a gratuitall and supernaturall loue in such manner as thou art worthy wilt be beloued Giue mee the grace to loue thee if not with such a loue as thou art worthy of yet at leastwise with such a loue as my nature may partake that is with all my heart all my soule all my strength all my forces so that all my bowels inwardly burne melt in thy loue Grant that I may loue thee with a simple willing and free loue without any respect of profit Grāt that with pure loue no peruerse intentiō I may desire nothing but thy selfe for thy selfe Grant me O Lord a strong and inuincible loue that may refuse or abhorre no perils no labours no damages no iniuries or torments for thy sake Giue mee a ready and diligent loue that may alwaies be occupied in matters pertaining to thy seruice Giue me an inestimable loue O Lord that may contemne all things for thy sake giue me a discreete loue which with immoderate zeale and feruour shall not exceed thy law Finally giue me o my God that grace to loue thee with an ordinate loue which loueth al things according to that dignity of their proportion but thee aboue all things with a sweete and amiable loue which shall taste no sweetnes or pleasure in any thing but in thee with a loue burning in zeale that destreth nothing more than thy glory hateth nothing more than ignominie imputed to thy holy Name Finally with a loue so violent that it may pul my hart from all things that are transitorie and alwaies draw the same vpwards vnto thee vntill I may passe ouer all this place of exile into that celestiall countrey where beholding the greatnes of thy beauty face to face I may perpetually loue thee with those perfect louers that neuer ceasse to loue and praise thee the King of Kings Lord of Lords and God of Gods in Sion Amen The seuenth prayer for the obtaining of Gods loue O Most high mightie omnipotent mercifull iust strong incomprehensible God and my Lord. Thou that art sweeter than any hony whiter than milke clearer than all light and more precious than al pearle there are infinit causes which rauish my heart with thy loue For thou art higher then heauen deeper than hell thy measure is longer then the earth and broader then y◠sea as thy prophet saith Who is perfecter than thou art who better who fairer who bountifuller who nobler who stronger who wiser who richer than thou art A◅ these things are in thee O Lord and for euery one of them art thou to be loued since thou art the chiefest good But since euery good thing is truely amiable by it selfe yet euery man affecteth more his proper good I will therefore loue thee o Lord my God not onely because thou art the chiefest good but also because thou art my good for when I consider and weigh with my selfe by how many titles and meanes thou art made mine my inward parts melt and I cry with the spouse My spouse is beloued of me and I of him For thou o Lord art my creator thou art my sanctifier and glorifier thou gauest mee my being in nature thou gauest mee that of grace and wilt giue mee the being of glory Thou art my helper my gouernour defender tutor and keeper finally thou art my God my Lord thou art my saluation thou art my hope thou art my glory thou art all my good Uerily thou art all those vnto mee in as much as thou art my God in so much as thou art my creator and the conseruer of all things But in as much as thou art man there are many other titles other offices and other bonds wherwith I am bound vnto thee and thou vnto me For which I also if it were possible ought to loue thee and that by reason with an in◅nite and diligent loue for thou art my restorer for thou hast restored mee to entire humane nature which by sin was weakned in me Thou art my deliuerer for by thy captiuity thou hast deliuered me from the tyranny of sin death hell and the diuell my most capital enemies Thou art my Redeemer for thou hast ransomed mee from seruitude into which through sinne I was fallen by the shedding of the incomparable treasure of thy precious blood Thou art my King for thou gouernest me by thy Spirit thou foughtest for mee and deliueredst me from the hands of my enemies thou art my priest for thou praiedst incessantly praiest like an euerlasting priest for me in y◠sight of thy celestiall Father Thou art my sacrifice for thou offeredst vp thy selfe on the altar of the Crosse that by thy clemency thou mightest expiate my crimes Thou art my aduocate for when the Diuell accuseth me and offereth the libel wherein my sins are written to thy father thou dost protect my cause thou makest paiment with thine owne dost supply all that which my iustice defaulteth in Thou art my Mediator for thou art God and man and a mighty friend of God and that true Son of God so puttest thou thy selfe as a mediator betweene me and God Thou art my shepheard for y◠feedest gouernest my soule like a sheepe of thy flocke thou art my meate for thou art hee by whom I am nourished in the diuine Sacrament of the Altar thou art my father and the father of the world to come for thou hast regenerated me with grieuous dolours on the tree of the Crosse and giuen me a new essēce by y◠holy Spirit Thou art my head the vniuersall head of the Church for from thee as from the true head floweth into the same and euery member thereof vertue life and spirituall sense Thou art my true Physition for by thy blood thou hast healed the wounds and strips of my soule Thou art my master for by the light of thy doctrine thou hast shewed mee the way to the celestiall country Thou art my example for not onely in words but that which is farre more in deedes and most holy examples of thy life thou hast led me in this way Thou art my strength and mercy for there is no tribulation or griefe so great which the memorie of thy passions that thou sufferedst for me doth not make sweete tollerable Thou art my honour and glory for thou becamest man for mee thou madest mee thy brother and a consort of thy nature To conclude thou art my Sauiour yea such a sauiour that euery where alwaies in all things art sufficient for me for thou hast most perfectly wrought all that on the earth which was requistte for my saluatiō Thou hast illuminated my ignorance by thy doctrine thou hast strengthned my weaknes by thy examples Thou hast inflamed my warmth by thy benefits thou hast instructed my soule in thy mysteries thou hast enriched my pouerty by thy merits Thou hast
healed my wounds by thy Sacraments thou hast satisfied by thy dolors for my defaults now in Heauen thou sittest on the right hand of thy Father as mine aduocate what neede many wordes Thou art made vnto me wisdome and iustice sanctification and redemption and therefore all goodnesse What impudence were it therefore in me not to loue my Lord who did all this for my sake to whom I am bound vnder so many titles benefits If men with the same loue where-with they affect them selues do also loue al those things which are their owne why should I not also loue thee O Lord if I would haue thee to bee mine and that by so many offices and benefits in things so pregnant And if for euery one of these benefits I owe thee my whole heart and not this one onely but more if I had them what shall I owe thee or what am I not indebted vnto thee if we ioyne all these benefits together What iniquitie therefore should it be not to giue one heart wh◅h I haue vnto him to whom I owe so many and other diuerse things And if euery one of these benefits be a goade or prouocation to loue yea and arrowes to pierce the hearts of men how shall I choose blit burne amids so many flames of loue How comes it to passe that I am altogether cold amidst so many weapōs how escape I from wounds How comes it to passe that I perseuer in the hardnesse of my heart as it were without sense O Lord I lament in thy presence the dulnesse insensibility of my heart I confesse the infidelity thereof for thou raining into it innumerable causes of loue yet receiuest nothing from y◠came that deserueth so many fauours O heart more felon than furious beastes more insensible than stones more hard than Adamant that is not mollified by so many strokes I pray thee therefore O thou fairest amongst the children of men grant that I may desire thee loue thee as much as I list as much as I ought Thou art immeasurable and oughtest to be loued beyond measure especially of vs whom thou hast so loued so saued and for whom thou hast done so great and so many things O loue that alwaies burnest art neuer extinct sweet Christ good Iesu charity my God inflame me wholy with thy fire with thy loue with thy sweetnes with thy affection with thy desire with thy charitie with thy pleasure ioy which is holy and good which is chast and cleane that wholy filled with the sweetnes of thy loue wholy kindled with the flame of thy charity I may loue thee my most sweet Lord with my whole heart with all my soule with all my strength with al my intention and let nothing bee in me that doth not loue thee And for that to loue is to wish well to him wee loue and thou O Lord aboundest with so much goodnesse that I cannot wish thee more than thou hast that onely thing I wish that thou be possessed of my heart also and that all that is mine may be thine and for thine infinite glory I giue thee heartie thāks This likewise do I desire that al creatures should serue thee honor thee praise glorifie thee and that the whole earth should be filled with thy praises Let this be alwaies my desire this my meat this my dainties to praise thee alwaies let thy laudes be alwaies in my lips But because praise is not seemely in the mouth of a sinner let the Saints and all the spirits of the celestiall throne praise thee continually for to them praise belongeth O all ye works of that Lord therefore blesse yee the Lord praise yet and magnifie him for euer O yee Angels and Archangls blesse yee the Lord praise yee and magnifie him for euer O yee vertues dominations blesse ye that Lord praise him and magnifie hime for euer O ye prince-domes powers blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer c. Yee blessed thrones in which God sitteth an iudgeth blesse ye the Lord praise him c. O ye Cherubins Seraphins that burne altogether inflamed with the loue of your creator blesse ye the Lord praise him c. O yee Apostles and Euangelists founders of the Christiā Church blesse yee the Lord praise him c. O yee glorious hosts of Martyrs blesse yee the Lord praise him c. O all ye renownced and chaste virgins blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer Blessed is the God of our Fathers blessed bee the name of thy glorie holy and laudable and magnified for euer and euer Amen The first prayer vnto the holy Trinitie expressing the Maiestie thereof LOrd God without beginning immortall incomprehensible incircumscribed incorporall indefinite vnsearchable inuisible immutable euery where present but hidden euery where al but immeasurable who by thy neuer too much praised wisdome hast created this huge world and placed man in the same holy Trinity one God haue mercie vpon me If that Publican in the Gospel durst not lift vp his eies to heauē but standing afar off strooke his breast saying God be merciful vnto me a sinner if that holy penitent was affraid to appeare before the presence of our Lord but standing behinde neare his feete obtained remission of her sins by him teares flowing from her eies if that holy Patriarch Abraham willing to talk with thee o God said shal I speak vnto my Lord whereas I am but dust and ashes If all these were so humble and so reuerent in respect of thee comming before the sight of thy diuine maiestie thy most holy what shall a poore miserable sinner doe such as I am what shall dust and ashes doe what shal the Abysse of all miserie sins do But because o Lord I cannot obtaine that feare reuerence which is due to so great a maiesty except I fixe mine eies immediatly on the same giue mee leaue to dare to lift vp mine eies vnto thee neither let the brightnes of thy glorie bee an impediment to the frailty of my sight Truely I see that thou art that great God that transcendest al the reach of our vnderstanding I know that no vnderstanding created can comprehend thee and although this be thus yet can I not do any thing more profitable than to fire mine eies on thee Therefore O most high omnipotent merciful iust faire strong stable simple perfect incomprehensible secret and yet present withall inuisible and yet seeing all things immutable changing and renewing al things whom altitudes dilate not neither limits restraine nor variety changeth nor corruption wasteth nor affliction fasteneth on nor ioyes moue in his essence from whom neither obliuion detra◅h nor to whom memory addeth any thing to whom neither things that are past are past nor things to come shall succeed to whom nothing gaue beginning nor time augment neither any thing shall giue end for thou
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 〈◊〉
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
sink of all iniquitie How canst thou rest heere O Lord who art purity of the purest and thou that art the fountaine of all beauty how canst thou dwell in a place so abhominable What participatioÌ„ is there betweene iustice and iniquitie or what societie betweene light and darknesse or what conuention betweene Christ Beliall O flower of the field O Lillie of the vallâ—…s O bread of Angels how art thou now become the fodder of beasts Why giuest yâ— this diuine meate vnto dogs and castest these precious pearles before swine O louer of pure and cleane soules who feedest among the lillies till the day spring the shadowes depart what foode may I giue thee in this my heart where nothing groweth but thornes and briers Thy bed is of the wood of Libâ—… the pillers thereof are guilded thâ—… pillow is of gold and thy footâ—…pace of purple in the bed of my heart there are none of these to bee found what seate therefore shall I prepare for thee there when thâ—… enterest what bed shall I maâ—… Thy most holy body taken frâ—… the crosse was wrapped in a cleane and faire sheete put into a new Sepulchre in which no man had bene before times buried but what part of my soule is cleane what noâ—…e is there that is new wheâ—… I may bury thee what is my mouth others than an open Sepulchre from whence there â—…ueth nothing but the stinkes and impurities of my sinnes What is my hart but 〈◊〉 fountaine of most euill appetites and desires What is my will but a house and resting place of the Diuell How therfore shal I dare to approch thee receiue thee or kisse thee with my impure lips There is not one corner in my soule which is cleane and pure which hath not too often times bene prophaned by diuers kinds of sinnes I haue not a cleane and new Sepulcher in which I may hide thee O thou my redeemer and Sauiour I am ashamed as often as I see my selfe in this estate I blush wheÌ„ I consider in what sort I come to this thy worthy and royall banquet in what maner I intrude my selfe to embrace my celestial spouse who againe standeth ready to receiue me fauourably Another part of this Meditation I Acknowledge O Lord I acknowledge my great vnworthinesse and yet thy most great mercie is not hidden from me this it is that maketh me bold and confident to come vnto thee howsoeuer I am For the more vnworthy I come vnto thee by so much the more art thou glorified if thou repulse mee or persecute a creature so vncleane with thy displeasure O Lord thou art not wont to shake off sinners but to call them and conuert them vnto thee Thou art he that saiest Come vnto me all ye that labour are laden and I wil refresh you And in another place The whole haue no need of a Physition but such as are sick Of thee is it publikly said that thou entertainedst Publicans and sinners didst eate with them O my God thou hast not changed thy nature which then thou hadst for which cause I firmely beleeue that thou as yet dost call them from heauen whom then thou didst call vpon the earth For which cause I likewise allured by that thy fatherly summons come vnto thee groaning vnder the burden of my sinnes and thou shalt vnloade me I come laboring and ouer-charged and thou shalt refresh me I come like a patient to my Physition and thou shalt heale mee like a sinner to the fountaine of iustice and thou shalt iustifie mee Thou receiuedst sinners and eatest with them and thy meate is to conuerse with them and thy delight is to be with men If thou take so much delight O Lord in such banquets behold thou hast heere a grieuous sinner with whom thou maiest eate thy bread I verily beleeue O my Redeemer that thou tookest more delight in the teares of that publike penitent thaÌ„ in the sumptuous feast of that proud Pharisee for which cause thou neither despisedst her neither reiectedst her from thee as an adultresse but rather most bountifully receiuedst her forgauest her sinnes defendedst her against the reproches of her calumners for a few drops of teares pardonedst her many sinnes Behold O Lord here is a new matter of greater glory offred vnto thee a new occasion behold heere lieth a sinner who hath far more sinnes and yet fewer teares shee neither was the first nor the last whom thy mercie suffered many such like things hast thou done O Lord and many the like as yet remaine for thee to do Enter now O Lord the number of them that beginne thy worke receiue him into fauor who hath more grieuously offended thee and that lamenteth his offences This peniteÌ„t hath not so many teares as may wash thy feet but thou hast shed so much blood as sufficeth not onely to cleanse mine but also the sins of the whole world Bee not displeased O my God that being such a one as thou seest I am I dare preasâ—…e into thy presence Remember that thou wert not displeased with yâ— poore womaÌ„ which trauelled with a flux of blood and secretly came vnto thee seeking remedie of her infirmitie and taking thee by the hemme of thy Uesture but rather didst praise her and comfort her saying Daughter bee comforted thy faith hath made thee whole Behold I yâ— haue a greater more perilous flux of blood and am lesse curable what shall I doe whither shall I turne me to whom shall I goe but vnto thee O LORD that I may obtaine the benefite of health My Lord thou hast neither changed thine office neither that custome and nature which thou wert wont to haue when thou werst coÌ„uersant with vs vpon the earth although now thou art ascended into heauen and seemest to bee farre distant from vs. For if thou hadst bene changed wee had neede of another Scripture and Gospell that might teach vs now what wee should beleeue of thee and what to hope from thee being now resâ—…ant in heauen I reade in the holy Gospels that such as were sick flocked vnto thee that the whole multitude sought to touch thee because a vertue came froÌ„ thee that healed all men Leapers came vnto thee and thou stretchedst thy blessed hands and clensedst them The blinde came vnto thee the deafe the sicke of the palsey they that were possessed by diuels Finally all the monsters of this world ranne vnto thee and to none of these didst thou denie thy helpe In thee onelie is saluation in thee is the medicine and remedy of all euils Thou art more readie to giue saluation than they to aske it Whither therefore shall we goe O Lord in our necessities but vnto thee for I know my God that this Sacrament is not onely their food that are whole but their medicine also that are sicke weake not only the strength of the liuing but the resurrection of the dead it not
onely recreateth and delighteth the iust but healeth also and purifieth sinners Let euery one come hither and take part of that which he thinketh most holsome for himselfe let the iust come and eate and reioyce in this table and let the voice of their confesson and praise sound in this holsome challice I can no waies be without this mystery I can no waies liue without the same and whatsoeuer I am I cānot be excused if I receiue it not for in euery place and in euery thing it is necessary for me If I be sicke here shall I be healed if aliue here shall I be comforted if dead here raised againe if I burne with diuine loue heere shall I bee more inflamed if I bee but luke warme here shall I be set on fire I will not feare although my LORD shall finde mee blinde because he giueth sight vnto mee I will not feare although I see that I am fallen for hee lifteth them vp that are fallen low I will not flie from his presence as once Adam did although I be naked for he can couer my wickednesse I wil not hide me although I seeme vncleane and full of sinne for hee is the fountaine of mercie I will not be ashamed although I am poore for hee is the Lord of all liuing things I am not much mooued if hee shall interpret my boldnesse to bee his iniurie but I thinke I shall giue him occasion of greater glory that beeing more wretched than al other liuing creatures y◠greatnes of the diuine mercy may more cleerly appeare in mee in that that he will helpe me His darkenesse that was blinde from his birth attēded on the glory of God for he was borne blind to the end that the works of God might bee manifested so also the misery of my condition shall serue him because in the same the greatnesse of his bounty shall bee beheld namely if hee who is so mighty vouchsafe to succour so miserable and poore a creature that especially whereas heerein there is no regard had of mee but onely for the merits of our Lord Iesus Christ for which cause y◠eternall Father giueth vs good things adopteth vs for his children taketh it in good part that th◅y are wont so to be esteemed I pray thee therefore most humbly beseech thee at this present my God y◠Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that as that most holie King Dauid admitted Mep◅boseth weake and lame to sit at his table because he was the son of his great deerly esteemed friend Ionathan intending hereby to honor his son not for y◠son himselfe sake but for the merits of the father so let it be pleasing likewise to thee O Father to admit me a poore and vncleane sinner to thy most royall banquet not for my sake but for y◠merits and honour of thy singular friend ◅esus Christ our Lord and Sauior who hath regenerated vs on y◠tree of the crosse which so many labours and dolors to thy glory and honour who liueth and reigneth with thee world without end Another prayer before the Communion I Praise thee thanke thee most sweet Lord Iesus my Sauior redeemer for thy so many benefits which thou hast vouchsafed to bestow on mee most vile and wretched sinner I yeeld thee thankes O Lord for all the mercies which thou vsedst towards man-kinde especially in the mystery of thy incarnation namely in thy natiuitie circumcisiō presentation in y◠temple flight into Egypt in thy fasting and temptation in thy labors and many iournies in thy preachings persecutions in this world in the torments and dolors of thy bitter passion and for al that which thou sufferedst in the flesh for me But in especial I giue thee heartie thankes for thy vnspeakeable charitie which mooued thee to suffer for my sake which verilie amongst all thy works is the greatest without any comparison Moreouer I yeeld thee all thanks that is possible for that thou daignest to admit mee to thy most holy Table make mee partaker of thy selfe and all thy merits and the inestimable treasure of the passion O my GOD and Sauior with what offices of dutie shall I recompence this new and vnheard-of kinde of mercie Who art thou and who am I that thou the Lord of most high maiestie daignest to enter into dirt and this earthly tabernacle O Lord holinesse becommeth thy house for euer and euer why therefore commest thou into my house which is abundantly stored with iniquitie Heauen is thy house and thy seate and the earth the footstoole of thy feet because the glorie of thy maiestie filleth both heauen and earth how comes it therfore to passe that thou doest not abhorre to lodge in so vile an hospitall Is it therefore to bee thought saith Salomon that truly God dwelleth on earth For if the heauens and the heauen of heauens bee not able to containe thee how much lesse this house which I haue built O admirable thing hee that sitteth vpon the Cherubins and beholdeth the depths now humbleth himselfe euen vnto the lowest and maketh his seate in the lowest places It seemed little to thy goodnesse that thou didst appoint y◠Angels to our ministerie but thy selfe wouldest come vnto vs enter into our soules that there with thine owne hands thou mightst worke the act of our saluation There dost thou visit the sick raise such as are fallen teach the ignorant reduce such as are straied out of the way What need many words Thou art he that curest our wounds and healest our infirmities not by an other mans hands but thine own not by medicines fet from afarre but with thine owne flesh and blessed blood dost thou medicine vs. O true Pastor how abundantly hast thou discharged thy promises which in times past thou madest by thy Prophet saying I wil feed my sheepe and I will make them rest But who shall bee worthy of this grace who can merit this benefite only thy mercy O Lord can make vs worthy of so infinite benefits And because without the same no man can bee worthy O Lord let the same bee fauourable vnto mee let it make me partaker of so many mysteries let it make mee thankefull for so inestimable a benefit O Lord with thy grace supply all my defects forgiue me all my sins thorow thy mercie Let thy spirit prepare my minde thy merits enrich my pouerty thy precious blood clense all the blemishes of my soule and wash out all the staines of my life that I may worthily receiue this most reuerend sacramēt My soule reioyceth is glad o my God as often as I remember that notorious miracle wherin in time past a dead man raised a dead body by the only means of touching For if the body of a dead Prophet could do so much what cannot the liuing bodie of the Lord of Prophets doe I am assured O Lord that thy power is not of lesse value than that of thy
in thee Helpe mee O Lord my Sauiour draw me on high after thee for the weight of mortalitie doth alwaies depresse me Thou o Lord that ascendedst the tree of the Crosse that thou mightst draw all things vnto thee thou that through so unmeasurable charity didst couple two-natures so different together and madest one person of them that we might be made one with thee Grant mee this one thing o Lord and it suff◅eth mee For the riches of this world satiate me not I onely will thee I seeke thee I desire to see thy face I will aspire alwaies to thy loue and with the Prophet I will sing I will loue thee o Lord my strength God is my foundatiō my refuge God is my helper and I will hope in him my protector and the horne of my saluation and my defender Praising will I call vpon our Lord and I shall be safe from mine enemies The fourth prayer for obtaining of the loue of God ON the bended knees of my heart deuoured in the depth of mine own abiectnes with a◅ are and reuerence I come before thy sight o my God as one the most vnhappie poore and vilest creature of the world I set my selfe neere the flouds of thy mercy by the riuer of thy graces before the brightnes of the true Sunne of iustice whose beames are spread ouer the whole earth and communicate themselues freely to all those that shut not the window against them Behold a masse of chalke a rude and impolisht trunck cut from the tree is presented to the hands of the most wise workmaster make of it O most merciful Father that which thou hast decreed to doe Great is my boldnesse in that a creature so vile dare demand a loue so precious excellent as thine is Truly I would considering my great indignity require some lesser thing at thy hāds but what shal I doe wretch that I am whereas thou cōmandest me that I should loue thee Thou hast created me to the ende I should loue thee and threatnest mee except I loue thee Tho◅dst die that I might loue thee and commandest mee that I should aske nothing more feruently at thy hands than thy loue yea so much destrest thou to bee beloued by mee that seeing mee without thy loue thou didst institute thy Sacramēt of admirable value whereby my heart might be enflamed with thy loue O my Sauiour whom am I that thou shouldest require my loue to this end thou shouldest seeke so many and so admirable meanes What am I to thee but a torment a crosse and a vaily tribulation And what art thou to me but saluation rest and all goodnesse If therfore thou louest me why am I euerie waies trouble some vnto thee why shall I not loue thee again who art euery way so profitable and beneficiall to me Possessed therefore O Lord of these pledges of thy loue and confirmed by that thy mercifull commandement whereby euen vnto my liues ende it pleased thee so bountifully to muite me and command mee to loue thee by this thy singular grace I require another like fauour namely that thou wilt first giue me that which y◠wouldest haue me giue thee for I cannot giue thee this except thon first giue it me for I am not worthy to loue thee but thou art worthy to beloued by mee I therefore dare not request thee to loue thee but that it might please thee to giue me leaue to loue thee Fly not O Lord flie me not despise not to bee beloued by thy creatures with the vtmost of their loue O God who art essentially loue increated loue infinite loue loue without measure not onely a louer but all loue from whence the loue of all Seraphins euery creature proceedeth in like manner as the light of all the starres from the brightnes of the sun why shall I not loue thee how can I chuse but be burnt with this fire of loue which inflameth the whole world and each thing contained in the same yea welnigh burneth them O God who art essentialy goodnesse it selfe from whom all that is good whatsoeuer is called good from whom the goodnesse of all liuing creatures no otherwise than al riuers from the sea is deriued in comparison of whose more than excellent goodnes there is not any thing either in heauen or in earth that may be called good why therfore shall I not loue thee whereas goodnes is the obiect of loue If I cannot loue thee o my Lord for thine excellency how can I chuse but loue thee for mine owne profite sake The son loueth the father who hath receiued his being from him the members loue the head and offer themselues to death for it because by the same they are continued in their essence All effects loue their causes for from them they haue receiued whatsoeuer they are from them they expect that which yet they haue not but thou o Lord art my father my head and my cause that therefore which the sonne oweth the father the mother the head that which the effects owe to their causes all that and far more do I owe thee Thou gauest mee that beeing which I haue more perfect than my parents did thou keepest mee in this beeing which thou gauest mee more carefully than the head doth the members thou finishest in mee that which is wanting till thou hast brought mee to the last point of perfection Thou art my father which made me thou art my head which gouernest me thou art my spouse who gauest to my soule perfect felicity thou art the Architect of this building thou art the painter of this figure made according to thy image and similitude which thou wilt also make perfect Whatsoeuer it hath it hath it frō thee whatsoeuer it wanteth it hopeth to receiue it from thee For euen as no one could giue him that which he is but thou O Lord so also no man can perfect that which as yet is imperfect but thou whatsoeuer therefore it hath whatsoeuer it is whatsoeuer it hopeth all that is thine Whom therefore shal it behold but thee To whom shall it bee accountable but to thee In whose eies shall it walke but in thine Whither shall hee direct all his loue but to thee who art his whole good If therefore O Lord thou bee the beautie and ornament of my soule how cā I forget thee What haue I in heauen and what will I of thee on earth My flesh and my heart faileth God of my heart my heritage for euer O increate loue which alwaies burnest neuer art extinguished o loue which alwaies liuest and burnest in the bosome of God O eternall dart of the fathers heart that alwaies woundeth the face of the Son with the wound of infinite loue O let this dart wound me this fire inflame me let me follow thee my beloued let me sing a new song with a loud voice let my soule melt in thy praises with the vnspeakable applause and Iubile
liuest and reignest for euer Thou art he who possesseth all things in all places and that disposest them sweetly Thou art he that createdst all things without any necessitie and conseruest them without labour and gouernest all things without molestation and mouest al things thy selfe being immoueable Thou art all eie all foote all hand for thou seest sustainest and worâ—… all things Thou art in al things yet art not concluded thou art without all things and yet art not disioyned Thou art vnder all things yet art not subiect thou art aboue al things yet art not lifted vp Thou art the soueraigne and true God the soueraigne and true life from whom and by whom all things haue birth and being Thou O Lord art very goodnes and beauty it selfe by which and from which all that is good faire is good and faire Thou art he who willest vs to leeke thee and giuest vs leaue to finde thee thou bidst vs knocke and thou openest when wee call vpon thee thou art hee whom to forsake is to fall and whom to weare is to rise and in whom to stand is to endure for euer Thou art hee whom no man forsaketh but the foolish no man seeketh except hee bee called no man findeth except he be purged thou art hee whose knowledge is life whose seruice is a Kingdome whose praise is saluation and thou art the very ioy of those that reioâ—…e in thee What therefore shall I O my king Sauior what shal I say vnto thee I say a wretched worme what shal I say of the greatnes of so many praises I wil say that which the Prophets inspired with thy truth said who hath measured the waters with a hand weighed the heauens with a palme who hanged the weight of the earth on three fingers poised the mountaines in ballances and the hils 〈◊〉 scales Who assisted the spirit of our Lord or who is his counseller and instructour Of whom tooke hee counsell and instructed him and taught him the way of his â—…stice and brought him vp in science and shewed him the way 〈◊〉 prudence Behold the Gentiles are but as a drop of a bucket and are reputed as a graine in the ballance Loe the Ilands are but as a little dust the Woods of Lybanus shal not be sufficient to burne and the beasts shal not suffice for a sacrifice All nations as if they were not so are they before him in his sight are reputed as nothing a vain thing For if at the presenâ—…e of the Sunne al the stars in the heauens shine not nay rather are as if they were not whereas notwithstanding both the one and the other are creatures what shall all created things bee in his sight who is the Creatour of the whole world I adore thee therefore especially O Lord with profound humility and due reuerence with that adoration and worship which is only due vnto thee and to no other creature with such duty as all the dominations of heauen and all the creatures of the world adore thee of whom though many know thee not yet can they not choose but euery one in their kinde adore thee end in their manner offer homage to the Scepter of thy diuinity and acknowledge thy greatnesse For thou onely art the God of Gods thou only the King of Kings thou onely the Lord of Lords and the cause of causes thou art Alâ—…ha and Omega the beginning and ending of all things Thou art the beginning without beginning and the end without end Thou onely art he that thou art for all other things how excellent soeuer they bee haue their beeing borrowed from another but thy beeing is high perfect vniuersall and that dependeth on none other And therefore deseruedly art thou said to bee that which thou art because whatsoeuer is created hath no beeing if it be compared with thine For which cause O Lord acknowledging all these great and wanderfull things prostrate before the foote of thy Diuine presence with all that humility which I am able to expresse I adore thee in such maner as those blessed spirits adore thee who falling downe before thee seated in thy Throâ—… of Maiesty and laying down their crownes before thy feete adore thee confesse that all that which they haue proceedeth from thee So I also o Lord who am the vilest of all creatures adore thee and a thousand times remember thee confessing vnto thee that thou art my true Lord and God and that all that which I am or whatsoeuer I finde in my selfe as my being liuing breathing is all thine and therfore I call vpon all creatures that they together with mee may praise thee adore thee glorifie thee in that diuine song of the Prophet saying Come let vs sing vnto the Lord let vs praise the God of our saluation let vs come before his presence with thanksgiuing and reioyce to him with Psalmes because our God is a great God a great King aboue all Gods in his hands are all the corners of the earth the height of the hilles is his also The sea is his and he made it and his hands fashioned the drie land Come therefore let vs adore and fall downe before him and weepe before our Lord God that made vs for hee is our Lord God and wee are his people and the sheepe of his pasture Wherefore O my God since thou art so worthy to bee adored and honored giue me grace that without intermission I may magnifie thee not onely in words and with my tongue but also in my heart my actions and my whole life Thou which liuest and reignest world without end Amen The second praier to the holy Trinitie of the greatnesse of the diuine Maiestie OMnipotent eternall God three in persons one in substance iust and meet it is agreeable with reason that I should imploy all my whole life in the exercise of repentance feare when as I haue so iust causes of lament feare Tuen as therfore the greatnesse of thy glory impelleth mee to honour and praise thee so also commandeth it mee to praise and glorifie thee For a Hymne becommeth thee in â—…ion and a vow shall be made to thee in Ierusalem because thou art the Ocean of all perfections the Sea of wisedome the Abysse of power beauty greatnesse riches sweetnesse and maiestie in which are all perfections and beauties of creatures which are in heauen or on earth and all these perfections are found in thee in the highest perfection degree All beauty compared to thee is deformitie all riches pouerty all strength weakenesse all wisedome ignorance all sweetenesse bitternesse and to conclude many things in a few all things that are in heauen and on earth make lesse appearance in thy sight than a little candle before the sun-shine Thou art perfect in all things without any deformity great wtout quantity good without quality strong without infirmitie true without falsitie alwaies present without
place in all places without diuision In magnitude thou art infinite in vertue omnipotent in goodnesse chiefe in wisedome inestimable in counsels terrible in iudgements iust in thoughts secret in words true in works holy in mercy copious towards sinners patient toward penitents compassionate But what in especiall should I speake of thy wisedome but that which earst the Prophet aid O Lord thou knowest my thoughts afar off thou hast searcht my commings in and goings out and all my waies hast thou foreknowne because there is no speech in my tongue which thou knowest not Behold O Lord thou knowest al things both the first and the last Thou hast made mee and laid the hand vpon me Such knowledge is too wonderfull excellent for me I cānot attaine vnto it Whither shall I goe from thy spirit or whither shal I fly frō thy presence if I climbe vp to heauen thou a◅ there if I goe downe to hell thou art there also if I take the wings of the morning and remaine in the vtmost parts of the sea euen there also shall thy hand leade mee and thy right hand shall hold me If I say the darkenes shall couer me then shall thy right hand bee turned to day yea the darkenes is no darknesse with thee but the night is as cleare as day the darkenesse and light to thee are both alike For his eies saith another are vpon the waies of men hee considereth all their steps there is no darknes nor shadow of death to hide them that work iniquity But what shal I say of the greatnes of thy power I wil say that in times past which the Prophet said saying For God is my king of old the helpe that is done vpon earth hee doth it himselfe Thou diddest deuide the sea through thy power thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters Thou smotest the heads of the dragons and gauest them for meate to thy people in the wildernesse thou broughtest out fountaines and waters out of the hard rockes thou driedst vp many waters The day is thine the night is thine thou hast prepared the light and the sun thou hast set all the borders of the earth thou hast made sommer and winter And in another place the same Prophet saith O Lord God of hoasts who is like vnto thee thy truth most mighty Lord is on euery side Thou rulest the raging of the sea thou stillest the waues therof when they arise thou hast subdued Egypt destroied it thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arme The heauens are thine and the earth is thine thou hast laid the foundation of the round world and all that therein is Thou hast made the North the South ◅abor and Herm◅ shall reioyce in thy name Thou hast a mighty arme strong is thy hand high is thy right hand Blessed Iob knew this thy power when he said With him is counsel strength wisedome vnderstanding Behold if he breake downe a thing who can set it vp again If he shut a thing who will open it Behold if he withhold the waters they ◅ry vp if he let them goe they destroy the earth with him is strength wisedome both the deceiuer and ◅ee that is deceiued are his hee carrieth away the wise men as it were a spoile and maketh that Iudges fooles hee looseth the rule of Kings guirdeth their loines with a band he leadeth away the great men into captiuity and turneth the mightie vpside downe he stoppeth the mouth of them that speake truth and disappointeth the aged of their vnderstanding hec poureth contempt vpon Princes and maketh the strength of the mightie weake Looke what lieth hid in darkenesse hee declareth it openly and the verie shadow of death bringeth he to light he increaseth the people and destroieth them he maketh them to multiply and diminisheth them These o Lord are testimonies of thy mightines but what shal I say of the riches of thy glory and the veine of thy felicitie If thou hast sinned saith the scripture what hast thou done against him if thy offences be many what hast thou done vnto him if thou bee righteous what giuest thou him or what wil he receiue at thy hands Thy wickednesse may hurt a man as thou art and thy righteousnes may profit the sonne of man But thou O Lord art such and so blessed as thou needest not another mans goods I confesse thee to be such a one for such a one I praise thee and glorifie thy most holy name Infuse thy light into my heart giue me words in my mouth that my heart may alwaies think of thy mightines and let thy praise be in my mouth for euer But for that thy laud is not seemely in y◠mouth of a sinner I therefore require all the Angels of heauen and all the creatures of the world that they together with me may praise thee and may supply my defect inuiting them thereunto with that glorious song which the three children sung in the midst of the fierie furnace in Babylon saying Blessed bee the Lord God of our fathers bee hee praised magnified for euer And blessed be the name of his glorie holy and laudable and magnified for euer and euer Blessed art thou in the throne of thy maiestie to bee praised and magnified for euer Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths and sittest vpon the Cherubins to be praised and magnified for euer Blessed art thou in the firmament of heauen and praised and glorified world without end Amen The third prayer to the holy Trinitie GOD holy of holiest God omnipotent God eternall God that art strong God of spirits and all flesh at whose presence heauen and earth trembleth at whose beck the heauens and elements obey trinitie in vnitie and vnitie in trinitie Father Son holy Ghost thou being of my being life that quickenest me light that illuminatest me science that instructeth me yet aboue all essence light life and science all creatures adore and celebrate thee and I incited by the dutie I owe thee this day do bow the knees of my heart before the footstoole of thy Maiestie I giue thee thanks that thou not onely didst frame me when I was nothing but also didst fashion mee according to thine owne forme that is gauest mee a perfect shape that where I deserued no fauour thou hadst compassion on mee for that thou hast sanctified mee with the sacraments of y◠Church that from my child-hood hitherto thou hast brought me vp in al goodnes But O thou maker of heauen of earth whereas I am not able to serue thee to any vse for whose cause didst thou so much bountie vpon me how commeth it to passe that thou louest mee so much for what haue I giuen thee to induce thee to recompence me yea where was I before I was made that I might shew thee a former curtesie Truly by thy benefit in times past I was made dignified with
that thou wilt prepare thy selfe a dwelling place in my heart to that end that thou adorne the same with all kinds of vertues to the end that thou perpetually maiest dwell in the same Would to God O Lord it might please thy bounty that my heart should bee such that I might not feare to inuite thee but that thou mightest come dwel with me and I might deserue to entertaine thee kindly thou in the same heart mightst rest contentedly for all eternities O that I might embrace thee with so powerfull armes of loue that neither in thought or affection I might euer bee drawne from thee I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu for that after thou wert conceiued in the glorious wombe of the Uirgine Marie thou wouldst haue her passe the mountaines visite her Cousen Elizabeth to the end shee might salute her minister in her childbirth vnto her Thou didst not disdain to be inclo sed for nine moneths space in the glorious womb of thy mother And therefore I pray thee giue me the grace of true humility and vouchsafe that I may imprint the same in the bowels of my heart that by the benefit thereof thou maiest alwaies finde mee ready in matters which appertaine to thy seruice Grant O Lord that my heart may alwaies loath transitory things and alwaies desire to haue thee O Lord inhabitant therein I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu that thou wert borne of the pure Uirgine thy mother without staine of her virginity who laid thee presently in a manger as a poore mortall creature and humbly adored thee as God and the creator of al things I beseech thy diuine mercy to vouchsafe to bee continually borne in mee by new heate of charity that thou maist be my onely destre my sole sacietie the firme hope of my heart That it may please thy bounty that I may onely and alwaies seeke thee alwaies think of thee alwaies loue thee with an ardent affection I giue thee alwaies thanks O sweet Iesu that being borne in the extremest horrour of winter thou diddest not refuse to be wrapped in most vile swathing bands and to suck milke from y◠Uirginal breast of thy blessed mother as it were a simple innocent babe to draw the Uirgins teates where indeede thou wert God omnipotent Grāt me o Lord the in thy sight I may be alwaies a very infāt in humility truly poore in spirit Uouchsafe that for thy loue sake I may refuse to endure no tedious or laborous troubles whatsoeuer Grāt that I may loue nothing in this world but thee neither desire to possesse any thing in the same but thee I giue thee thanks most bountifull Iesu for that as soone as thou wert borne it pleased thee to bee praised by the Hymnes of Angels and to be adored by the shepheards with great ioy admiration Giue me the grace O Lord that I may perseuere likewise in thy praise with gladnes and that I may seeke thee in the societie of shepheards and seeking thee finde thee and finding thee possesse thee eternally Bee thou praised and glorified alwaies O good Iesu for that y◠eight day according to the custome of other infants thou wouldest be circumcised for that in thy tender age thou beganst to shed thy blood for my loue and to the end thou mightst blesse mee with vnspeakeable consolation thou wert pleased to be called Iesus I beseech thee O Lord vouchsafe to reckō mee amongst the number of thy elect and to register my name in the booke of life that thou wilt circumcise my heart from al superfluitie that is idle and vndecent speeches and wicked works and roote out in me all impure and vaine cogitations My redeemer thou art called Iesus which is a Sauiour for to thee alone it appertaineth to giue saluation I therefore request thee O Lord that the sweet remembrance of this name may expell from mee all inordinate pustilanimity and sluggishnesse and may giue me the firme hope of thy mercie and defend me from all the persecutions of mine enemies I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu who wert found by the wisemen who of entire deuotion and with sincere faith sought thee out and that by the meanes of a starre which conducted them who humbling them on their knees before thee offered thee gold frankencence and myrrhe Grant mee O Lord that in the company of these holy kings I may seeke thee not in Brthleem but in the hiue of my heart and that there finding thee I may adore thee in spirit truth Let me offer thee the gold of shining charitie the incense of deuotion and the perfect myrrh of mortification Finally giue me grace that I may imploy with a willing minde and alacrity all my forces and all the strength of my minde in imitating thy fortitude I giue thee thanks O Lord Iesu Christ who that thou mightst giue vs an example of obedience and humility wouldest be subiect to the law of our Lord and bee brought into the temple in the armes of thy holy mother haue an oblation not of a rich but of a poore man offered for thee for which cause iust and old Simeon with Anna the Prophetesse reioycing at thy presence gaue a famous testimonie of thy glory Let it bee pleasing to thy good will O Lord that neuer hereafter the least thought of vanity enter into my hart Ah how blessed shold I be if each kinde of presumption were banished from mee and each desire of worldly fauour together with all my inordinate loue were wholy extinct in me Uouchsafe to impart that grace vnto me that I may flie al worldly praise and subiect my selfe to all men and obey them willingly I giue thee thanks sweet Iesu for that being as yet yong thou beganst to suffer persecution in the company of thy deere mother neither didst disdaine to fly into Egypt Giue me the grace that in all y◠tempests of my persecutions in all my tribulations and temptations I may flie vnto thee seeke thee only call vpon thee and as oft soeuer as any of y◠aforesaid troubles shall bee inflicted on mee by thy hand grant O Lord that I may sustaine them with ioy and suffer them with a quiet heart yeelding thee continuall thankes for all things which it shall please thee to impose vpon me I giue thee also infinit thanks O Lord Iesu for that thy most deere mother sought thee with great griefe when thou remainedst in the Temple and after three daies with great ioy found thee sitting in the midst of the doctors whom thou heardest questionedst with wonderfull wisedome O Lord for thy meere mercie sake grant that I may neuer bee separated from thee nor thou from mee Expell from mee all idlenes and sluggishnesse banish the coldnesse of my minde which displeaseth thee so much giue mee perfect deuotion and ardent thirst of thy iustice which may
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
care we shall onely endeuour our selues to keepe vs as farre as in vs lieth in thy fauour which care thou wilt further who if thou beest wanting nothing can prosper with vs. Translate my heart from the seruice of Idols to thy seruice toward whom whosoeuer is deuout he obtaineth dignitie Grant mee in stead of this desire of riches which are exposed to time the iniuries of men and mischances to grow in loue with thine which being once receiued are eternall and inuiolable Amen Against pride O Most wise beloued Father who alwayes studiest how thou maiest further vs whereas wee alwayes endeuour how to offend thee thou gauest to mankinde the proudest vntamed and rebellious creature the heauenly example of moderation and obedience in thy Sonne Conuert our minds vnto thee and that thine example that wee may so humbly demeane our selues beeing wicked and weake as hee that was most worthy and most strong Amen Against drunkennesse ALmighty and most mercifull God vouchsafe so to looke vpon vs that wee may so detest that most shamefull sinne of drunkennesse that wee neuer permit the same to take place but let that which was to perish in drunkennesse bee imployed for the sustenance of the poore through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Against remembrance of iniuries O Lord of thy goodnesse fill our hearts with thy peace clense vs from all euill cogitations and vncleannesse and from all memorie of iniuries and from all enuy and mind of mischiefe which bringeth death O Lord make vs all worthy to salute one another with a holy and immaculate salutation and graunt that wee may receiue without iudgement and death thy heauenly gift that is thy grace with the holy Spirit Amen Against wrath HOw much error breedeth this blind indulgence of our selues in our minds that we esteeme that to be done vniustly which is done most vprightly that in those things wee denie pardon vnto others in which wee our selues euerie houre are faulty and want pardon that wee challenge to our selues a reuenge being children mad furious vniust and take it from him who is only wise and iust who in respect of his wisedome is deficient in nothing and in regard of his equitie seduceth no man from the truth O most mercifull Christ example of modesty fountain of meekenesse 〈◊〉 into vs some part of this thy lenitie whereby in imitation of thy humility being assailed with railings affected with iniuries oppressed and afflicted with slanders and reproofes yet that we may reward good for euill Against enuie THou O Lord art the founder and maker of all things thou art the dispenser of thy mercies which thou by thy immeasurable liberality bestowest on men yeelding euery one more than hee deserueth and defrauding no man of that which is sufficient for him What cause therefore haue we to enuy thee when as thou bestowest thy liberality vpon al men of thine owne and art bountifull to those that deserue it not and giuest to euery one that which sufficeth him for his beatitude O Father adde this also to the rest of thy benefits that we may submit to thy iudgement and satisfie our selues with thy â—…stributions that we may giue thee thanks for those things which wee haue receiued And for those things that thou hast bestowed on others grant that secretly we condemne not thy holy will and vnsearchable iudgement but rather that in other mens blessings wee may loue and laud thy munificence who art so bountifull vnto all men wanting of thy selfe nothing neither receiuing any thing from any man neither hoping any thing Amen In extreme troubles and persecutions O Lord God that deliueredst the honest matron Susanna from false iudgement at such time as she was reprochfully circumuented by slander that keptst Daniel thy prophet in the denne of Lyons and preseruedst the three children in the flaming furnace that deliueredst Peter ready to be deuoured by the sea swallowed in the waues thereof by the might of thy right hand I beseech thee O most mercifull God that thou wilt redeeme and deliuer both me thy vnworthy seruant all other christian people out of these miseries and calamities wherewith wee are circumuented Spare thy people I beseech thee whom thou hast redeemed by thy precious blood keepe this natioâ—… and people redeemed by so precious a ransome in peace mutuall concord and coniunction to the glory of thy holy name Amen In the time of warre amongst Christians O Lord Father of mercies God of peace and dilection how long I pray thee wilt thou be angry with thy christian people punishing them with erecrable wars and vtter ouerthrows Behold the affliction and extreme extinction of thy people nations Heare the groanes of the poore let the christian blood moue thee vnto mercy Ah las O Lord these are truly that iust punishments of our sins wee haue sinned wee haue done wickedly we haue left thee the fountaine of life our felicitie we haue contemned thee mocked thee and with an obstinate minde made war by our sins against thy commandements wee haue kept none of thy testimonies of which thou hast said If you shall keepe them they shal keepe you if you dispise them the sword shall consume you But thou O Lord notwithstanding thou art iustly displeased remember thee of thy mercies and to the end we may be made capable therof giue vnto thy people I beseech thee the knowledge and confession of their wicked liues powre vpon them the spirit of thy grace and of prayer that euery where with a contrite and humble heart which thou despisest not they may crie vnto thee saying O Lord haue mercie O Lord haue mercy vpon thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood wee haue sinned we haue done vniustly Thy iudgements are iustly vrged against vs prostrating our selues we call vpon thy grace and mercie to the end that thy reuenging hand may be appeased Put o Lord thy cruell and deuouring sword into thy sheath command the euill beasts that is all those things which giue cause of warre to returne vnto their place leaue most holsome peace long desired amongst Christians safely to reigne amongst them to the praise glory of thy most holy name who strikest and healest â—…illest and quickenest Amen In the time of plague WE know O Lord God and most iust Father that the rebellion almost of all creatures against man onely is very great whom if all things were disposed according to the order of creatioÌ„ they ought to obey and acknowledge Now earthquakes now thunders now inundations now most fatal coniunctions of Stars now the infection of the aire and daily new and other kinde of euils are heard of But this punishment falleth vpon vs because wee abuse the giftes of thy munificence transgresse thy commaundemenis for that we are not terrified with threatrungs nor allured by promises We acknowledge that by these thy chastisements thou drawest vs from these earthly affaires and inuitest vs to heauenly