to make me partaker of thy selfe and of the inestimable treasures and merites of thy passion O my God O my Sauiour vvherevvith shall I repaie this thy nevv mercie vvhoe vvas thou o Lord vvhoe vvere vve that thou being the king of maiestie vvouldest com doune to these our houses of claie Heauen is thy seate and the earth thy footestoole and the glorie of thy maiestie doth fill all this Hovv then vvilt thou repose thy self in so vile cotages maie a man think saith Salomon that God vvil dvvell in earth vvith men If the heauen 3. Regu 8. and heauens of heauens be not sufficient to giue the place hovv much les shall this so straite roome suffice for thee O hovv maruailous a thing is it that he vvhich sitteth aboue the Cherubines and from thence beholdeth the depths doth novv com doune to these depths and place in them the seate of his maiestie Seemed it little to thy infinite goodnes to haue appointed vnto vs the Angels for ovvre safegard if thou thy self being the lord of Angels hadst not com vnto vs and entred into our sovvles and handled there vvith thine ovvne hands the affairs of our saluation There thou doest visit the sicke thou doest raise vp those that ar fallen thou doest instruct the ignorant thou doest teach those that haue erred the right vvaie and finallie thou thy self art he that dost heale vs of all our diseases and this vvith no other hands then vvith thine ovvne nor vvith anie other medicine then vvith thine ovvne most pretious bodie and bloud O good pastour hovv faithfullie hast thou fulfilled thy vvord vvhich thou diddest speake vnto vs by thy Prophet saying Ezech. 34 I vvill feede my sheepe and giue them a svveete repose I vvill seeke that vvich vvas lost and vvill bring back againe that vvhich vvas cast out But vvhoe maie be vvorthie of such revvards VVhoe maie be vvorthie to receaue so greate benifits Thie onlie mercie o Lord maketh vs vvorthie of so greate goodnes And forasmuch as vvithout it no man can be vvorthie let thie mercie o mie good God be fauorable to me and let the same make me partaker of this misterie and thankful for this so greate a benifit Let thie grace likevvise supplie mie defects let thie mercie pardon mie sinnes let thy holie spirite prepare mie soule let thie merites enriche mie pouerties and let thie most pretious bloud vvash al the spots of mie life that so I maie vvorthilie receaue this venerable Sacrament I doe exceedinglie reioice o mie God vvhen I remember that miracle vvhich Heliseus did after his death 4. Reg. 1â— 21. vvhen he raised one that vvas dead by touching him For if the bodie of the dead Prophet vvas of such force of hovv much more force is the liue bodie of the lord of Prophets Thou o lord vndoubtedlie art not of lesse povver then vvas thy Prophet neither is my sovvle lesse dead then vvas that bodie neither is this touching of thine of les vertue then vvas that of his vvherfore then should I not hope herehence an other like benifit vvherfore should a bodie conceaued in sinne vvoork greater vvonders then that bodie vvhich vvas conceaued by the holie Ghost vvherfore should the bodie of the seruant be more honoured then the bodie of the lord vvherfore should not thie most sacred bodie raise againe the soules that approche vnto thee seeing that the bodie of thie seruant raised the bodies that approached vnto it And for somuch as that dead bodie vvithout seeking for life did receaue that vvhich it sought not for through the vertue of that holie bodie let it please thie infinite mercie o mie lord that sith I seeke the same by meanes of this most blessed Sacrament through it I be so raised vp and quickned that hereafter I liue no more vnto mie self but vvholie vnto thee O good IESVS by that inestimable charitie vvhich made thee to take our flesh vppon thee and to suffer death for me I most humblie beseeche thee that thou vvilt vouchsafe to make me cleane from al mie sinnes and to adorne and decke me vvith thie vertues and merites and to giue me grace that I maie receaue this most venerable Sacrament vvith that humilitie and Reuerence vvith that feare and trembling vvith that sorovv and repentance for mie sinnes and vvith that purpose and resolution to leaue them and vvith that loue and charitie vvhich is requisite for so highe a misterie Giue me also o lord that puritie of intention vvith vvhich I maie receaue this misterie to the glorie of thie holy name to the remedie of al mie vveakenes and necessities to defend me from the enimie vvith this armour to susteine mie self in spiritual life vvith this foode and to make mie self one thing vvith thee by the meanes of this Sacrament of loue and to offer vp to thee this sacrifice for the saluation of all faithfull Christians as vvel liuing as dead that all maie find help through the inestimable vertue of this Sacrament vvhich vvas instituted and ordeined for the saluation of all Thou vvhoe liuest and raignest vvorld vvithout end Amen AN OTHER PRAIER OF S. BONAuenture after Communion O LORD God almightie mie Creator and mie Sauiour hovv haue I ben so bould as to approche vnto thee being so vile so filthie and so miserable a creature as I am Thou o Lord art the God of Gods the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords Thou art the hight of al goodnes of al vertue beutie and pleasure Thou art the fountaine of light the spring of loue and the embracing of most hartie Charitie And being as thou art thou dost praie me and I doe flie from thee thou hast care of me and I haue no care of thee thou dost alvvaies regard me and I doe alvvaies forget thee thou dost bestovv manie fauours vppon me and I doe not esteeme them and finallie thou dost loue me that am vanitie and nothing and I doe make no account of thee vvhich art an infinite and vnchangeable good I preferre the basenes of this vvorld before thee most gentel spovvse and the creatures moue me more then doth the Creator more detestable miserie then the highest felicitie and more boundage then libertie And albeit it be true Prouerb 27. that the vvoundes of a frind ar to be more esteemed then the deceitful kisses of an enimie yet I am of such a condition that I rather desire the deceitfull vvounds of him vvhich abhorreth me then the svveete embracings of him vvhich loueth me But remember not o lord mie sinnes nether those of mie forefathers but be mindful of thie merciful entrailes and of the griefe of thie pretious vvounds Consider not that vvhich I haue donne against thee but that vvhich thou hast donne for me for if I haue donne manie things for vvhich thou maist condemne me thou hast donne manie moe for vvhich thou maist faue me Seeing then o lord that thou dost so loue me as thou
iustice amongst theeues vppon a crosse But novv seeing thou hast resolued to surpasse and ouercom al motherlie affection and that thou vvilt honour this misterie of the crosse vvherefore doest thou approche so neere vnto the same that thou must carie avvay in thie mantle a perpetual memorie and remembrance of this thy sorovv Thou canst not aford thy sonne anie comfort or remedie but vvel thou maist vvith thy presence increase and augment his torment In deede this onlie vvanted to the increase of his sorovvs that in the time of his agonie in the last instant and conflict of his death euen vvhen the last sighs raised vp his tormented brest he should then cast dovvne his eys altogeather dazeled and dimmed should behold thee standing at the foote of the crosse And because he being neere to the end of his life had his senses so vveakened and feebled and his eyes so obscured vvith the shadovv of death that he could not see a far of thou madest thy self so neere to th' end he might knovv thee and see those armes in vvhich he had ben receaued and caried into Egipt so faint and broken and those virginal brests vvith vvhose milk he had ben nourisshed become euen a sea of sorrovv Behold o ye Angels these tvvo figures yf peraduenture you maie knovv them Behold o ye heauens this crueltie and couer your self vvith mourning for the death of your Lord let the cleere ayre become obscure and dark that the vvoorld see not the naked bodie of your Creator Cast vvith your darknes a mantel vppon his bodie that profane eys behold not the ark of the testament vncouered O ye heauens vvhich vvere created so bright and faire o thou earth clothed vvith such varietie and beavvtie yf you did hide your glorie in this so greate paine yf you that be insensible did after your manner feele the same vvhat then did the bovvels and virginal brest of the blessed mother O al you saith shee that passe by the vvaie consider and behold yf there be anie sorovv like vnto mie sorovv Trulie there is no sorovv like vnto thie sorovv because in al the creature of the vvoorld there is no loue like vnto thy loue After this thou maist consider those seuen vvoords vvhich our lord spoke vppon the Crosse Mar. 23.34 Mar. 23.43 Ioan. 19.27 Ioan. 19.28 Matt. 27.46 Ioan. 19.30 Mar. 23.46 of vvhich the first vvas Father pardon them for they knovv not vvhat they dooe The second vvas to the good theefe This daie shalt thou be vvith me in paradise The third vvas to his most blessed mother VVoman behold thy sonne The fourth vvas I am a thirst The fift vvas My God my God vvhy hast thou forsaken me The sixt vvas It is finished The seuenth vvas Father into thy hands I commit my spirite Consider novv o my sovvle vvith hovv great charitie he coÌ„mended in these vvoords his enimies vnto his father vvith hovv greate mercie he receaued the thife vvhich confessed him vvith vvhat bovvels he commended his pitiful mother to the beloued disciple vvith hovv greate thirst and drith he shevved hovv much he desired the saluation of men vvith hovv lamentable a voice he povvred out his praier and vttered his tribulatioÌ„ before the face of almightie God hovv he performed so perfectlie euen to the verie end the obedience of his father and hovv finallie he commended vnto him his spirite and resigned him self vvholie into his most blessed hands Heere hence it appeareth hou in eche one of these vvoords remaineth inclosed som singular document and instruction of vertue In the first is coÌ„mended vnto vs Charitie tovvards our enimies In the second pitie and mercie tovvards sinners In the third dutie and reuerence tovvards our parents In the fouerth zeale and desire of our neighbours saluation In the fift praier in time of tribulations and vvhen vve seeme to be forsaken of God In the sixt the vertue of Obedience and Perseuerance And in the seuenth a perfect resignation into the hands of God vvhich is the summe and principal of al our perfection Satturdaie morning Of the pearcing our Sauiours side of his taking dovvne from the crosse of the pitiful bevvailing of our ladie and of Christes burial THIS daie thou hast to meditate vppon the pearcing of our Sauiours side vvith a speaâ—e of his taking doune from the crosse together vvith the lamentation of our lady and the office of the burial Consider then hovv after that our Sauiour had giuen vp the ghost vppon the crosse and those cruel ministers had accomplisshed their desire vvhich longed so much to see him dead yet vvith al this the flame of theire furie vvas not quenched because that notvvithstanding such things as had past they resolued to reuenge and flesh them selues more vppon those holie reliques vvhich remained parting and casting lottes vppon his garments and pearcing his sacred brest vvith a cruel speare O ye cruel ministres O ye harts of iron Seemed that so litel to you vvhich his bodie suffred being aliue that ye vvould not pardon it euen after it vvas dead vvhat rage of enmitie is there so great but that it is appeased vvhen it seeth his enimie dead before him Lift vp a litle those cruel eys of yours behold that deadlie face those dimme eys that falling countenance that palenes and shadovv of death for although you be more hard then either iron or adamant stone yea though ye be more hard then your ovvne selues yet in beholding him you vvil be pacified After this commeth the minister vvith a speare in his hand and vvith great force thrusteth the same through the verie naked brest of our Sauiour The crosse shooke in the aire vvith the force of the stroke and from thence issued vvater and bloud vvherevvith ar healed the sinnes of the vvorld O riuer that runnest out of paradise and vvaterest vvith thy streames all the vvhole face of the earth O vvound of this pretious side made rather vvith feruent loue tovvards mankind then vvith the sharp iron of the cruel speare O gate of heauen vvindovve of paradise place of refuge tovver of strength sanctuarie of iust persons sepulchre of pilgrims nest of cleane doues florishing bed of the spovvse of Salomon Al haile o vvound of this pretious syde that vvoundest al deuout harts stroke that strikest the sovvles of the iust rose of vnspeakable bevvtie rubie of inestimable price entrance into the hart of Christ testimonie of his loue and pledge of euerlasting life Next to this consider hovv the very same daie in the euening there came those tvvo holie men Ioseph and Nicodemus vvhoe reared vp their ladders vnto the crosse and tooke dovvne the blessed bodie of our Sauiour into their armes The holie virgin then perceauing that the torment of the crosse vvas novv ended and that the holie bodie of our Sauiour vvas comming tovvards the earth she prepareth her self to giue him a secure hauen in her brest and to receaue him from the armes of
being and this o lord is so betvvixt thee and man for no other thing is that vvhich the Philosophers saie that art doth imitate nature and nature art but to saie that man doth vvoork as God and God as man VVhere then there is so great likelihood in vvoorking there is also in being If therfore this title and eche one of the rest by it self be so sufficient a motiue of loue vvhat a motiue behoueth that to be that procedeth of all these titles together Trulie that vantage vvhich the vvhole maine sea hath in respect of eche one of those riuers that enter into it the same it behoued also that this loue should haue in respect of al other loues Yf then o mie lord and mie God I haue so manie causes to loue thee vvherfore shal I not loue thee vvith all my hart vvith all my bovvels O all my hope o the most beloued of all beloueds O florishing spovvse svveete spovvse honie-svveete spovvse O my louing beginning my highest sufficiencie vvhen shal I loue thee vvith al my forces vvith all my soule vvhen shal I be agreeable to thee in al things vvhen shall all that die vvhich in me is contrarie to thee vvhen shal I be vvholie thine vvhen shal I leaue to be mine ovvne vvheÌ„ shal nothing beside thee liue in me vvhen shall all the flame of thy loue burne me vvhen vvilt thou rauish drovvne and transport me into thee vvhen vvilt thou take avvaie all impediments disturbance make me one spirite vvith thee in such sort that I may neuer more depart from thee Ah good Lord vvhat doth it cost thee to doe me so great good vvhat doest thou quite of thy house vvhat dost thou lose of thy substaÌ„ce vvherfore then o lord thou being a sea of infinite liberalitie clemencie doest thou reteine in thine anger thy mercies tovvardes me vvherfore shal my vvickednes ouercom thy goodnes vvherfore shal my faults be a grea ter occasion to coÌ„demne me then thy goodnes to saue me if in steede of sorovv penance it please thee to accept of it I am so much discontented to haâ—e offended thee that I vvould rather haue endured a thovvsand deaths then haue committed anie one offence against thee If in steede of satisfaction thou please to take it behold here this my miserable bodie execute o lord vppon it al the furie of thy vvrath vvith this condition that thou doe not depriue me of thie loue I request not at thie hands gold nor siluer I demaund not of thee heauen nor earth nor anie other thing created because all this can not satiate me vvithout thee and all to me is but pouertie vvithout thie loue Loue I desire loue I request at thie hands loue I demand thee for thie loue dooe I suspire graunt me thie loue and it suffiseth me VVherfore o lord doest thou so much differre me this fauour vvherfore doest thou see me languish daie and night and doest not succor me Hovv long o lord vvilt thou forget me hovv long vvilt thou turne thie face avvaie from me hovv long shall mie sovvle goe vvauering vvith so great anxietie and desire Behold me o mie lord and haue mercie vppon me I demaund not of thee that copious portion vvhich is giuen to children I vvil content mie self vvith one onlie little crumbe of those that come from thie table Heere then I present mie self as a poore and hungrie little vvhelp before thy riche table heere I stand beholding thee in the face and considering hovv thou doest eate and doest giue to eate to thy children vvith the repast of thy glorie Heere I stand changing a thovvsand formes and figures in my hart and this to bend dovvne thy hart that thou take compassion of me The things of this vvoorld o lord doe not fil me thee onlie I long for thee I seeke thy face o lord I desire thy loue vvil I alvvaies demand and sing vvith thy Prophet Psalm 17. I vvil loue thee o lord my fortitude our lord is mie staie and my refuge and he that deliuereth me My God my helper I vvil hope in him my protector and the horne of my saluation and my receauer Praising I vvil cal vppon our lord and from my enemies I shal be safe Glorie be to the father and to the sonne c. THE FIFT PRAIER FOR THE fift daie of hope in God CHAP. VII NETHER doth all this onlie bind me to loue thee but also to put all my hope in thee alone for in vvhome ought I to haue hope if not in one that so much loueth me and in one that hath donne me so much good and in one that hath suffred so much for me and in one that hath so oftentimes called me expected me tolerated me forgeauen me and deliuered me from so manie euils In vvhome ought I to hope but in him that is infinitelie merciful pitiful louing gentle suffering and pardoning In vvhome ought I to hope but in him that is my father and my father almightie father to loue me and almightie to remedie me father to vvish me vvel and almightie to doe me good vvhoe hath more care and prouidence of his spiritual children then anie carnal father of his natural children Finallie in vvhome ought I to hope but in him that almost in al his holie scriptures repeateth nothing more then commaunding me that I approche to him and hope in him and promiseth me a thovvsand fauours and revvards yf I doe so geauing me for paune of al this his veritie and his vvord his benifits bestovved vpdon me his torments endured for me and his bloud vvhich he hath shed in confirmation of this truth vvhat is there then that I maie not hope of so good a God and so true of a God that hath so much loued me that he vouchsafed to be clod vvith fleash for me and suffered scourging pinching and buffeting for me finallie of a God that did let him self die vppon a Crosse for me and enclosed him self in a sacred host for me Hovv can he flie from me vvhen I seeke him vvhoe hath so sought me vvhen I fled from him Hovv can he denie me pardon vvhen I seeke it at his hands vvhoe hath commaunded me that I request it of him Hovv can he denie me remedie vvhich novv costeth him nothing vvhoe procured me the same vvhen it did cost him so deerelie for althese reasons then I vvil confidentlie hope in him and vvith the holy Prophet in al my tribulations and necessities I vvil hartilie sing Our lord is mie light Psal 26. and mie saluation vvhome shal I feare Our lord is the protector of mie life at vvhome shal I tremble yf armies shal stand against me my hart shal not feare Yf vvar shal rise against me in him vvill hope Glorie be to the father and to the sonne c. THE SIXT PRAIER FOR THE SIXT daie of Obedience CHAP. VIII BVT for asmuch as hope is not
holie Euangelist saith that thy did vnto him vvhatsoeuer they vvould And as his garment stucke fast to the vvoundes of his scourges and the bloud vvas novv congealed and fastned vnto his garment at vvhat time thy stripped him they haled it of vvith such furious hast and force as those caitisses vvere far from al pitie and mercie that they renevved al the vvoundes of his vvhippings in such rueful vvise that that great vvound of his shoulders distilled bloud on al partes Consider novv heere o my sovvle the excellencie of the goodnes and mercie of God vvhich shevveth it self so euidentlie in this misterie Behold hovv he that clotheth the heauens vvith clovvdes and the fields vvith flovvers bevvtie is heere spoiled of al his garments Consider the cold vvhich that holie bodie suffred standing as it stoode spoiled naked not onlie of his garments but also of his verie skinne and flesh vvith so manie gapes and vvide holes of open vvoundes throughout the same And yf S. Peter being clothed and shodde felt cold the night before hovv far greater cold suffred that most delicate and tender bodie being so naked and vvounded as it vvas Consider after this hovv our Sauiour vvas nayld vppon the Crosse the paine vvhich he suffred at that time vvhen those great and square nailes pearced through the most sensible and tender parts of his bodie vvhich vvas of al bodies most delicate And consider also vvhat extreme griefe it vvas to the blessed virgin vvhen she savv vvith her eys and heard vvith her eares the mightie and cruel hard strokes vvhich vvere laid on so thick iterated one after an other vppon his diuine members For certainelie those hammers nailes passed through the hands of the sonne but they vvounded and pearced the verie hart of the mother Consider hovv forthvvith they hoysed vp the Crosse on high vvent about to rāme it in the hole vvhich they had made for that purpose hovv such vvere those cruel ministers at the verie time of rearing it vp placing it they let it fal vvith a iump into the hole vvith al the vveight thereof and so that blessed bodie vvas sore shaken and iogged in the ayre and thereby his vvounds of the nailes vvere enlarged vvhich vvas a most intollerable paine Novv then o my svveete Sauiour and Redeemer vvhat hart maie be so stonie hard that vvil not riue a sunder for griefe sith this daie the verie stones them selues vvere ryuen cōsidering that vvhich thou suffredst vppon the Crosse The sorous of death o Lord haue enuironed thee the vvaues of the sea haue ouervvhelmed thee Thou art mired in the depth of the bottomles goulfes and findest nothing vvhere vppon to staie thy self Thy father hath forsaken thee vvhat hope maist thou haue of men Thy enimies crie out against thee thy frinds breake thy hart thy sovvle is afflicted and for the loue thou bearest to me thou admittest no comfort Mie sinnes o Lord vvere vndoubtedlie verie greate and thy penance vvel declareth it I see thee o my king fastened to a tree there is nothing to susteine thy bodie but three yron nailes of those thy sacred bodie hangeth vvithout anie other stay or comfort VVhen the vveight of thy bodie staieth vppon thy feete then ar the vvounds of thy feete more vvydened and torne vvith the nayls vvherevvith they ar pearced And vvhen the svvaie of thy bodie staieth vppon thy hands then ar the vvounds of thy hands more rent vvith the poise of thy bodie Novv thy holie head tormented and vveakened vvith the crovvne of thornes vvhat pillovv hath it to rest vppon O hovv vvel might thy armes most blessed and excellent virgin be heere emploied to supplie this office But alas thy armes maie not serue for this present but the armes of the Crosse Vppon them must that sacred head recline it self vvhen it vvil repose and yet the ease he shal receaue thereby shal be but onlie to driue stick those thornes more fast into his braine The sorovvs of the sonne vvere much increased by the presence of his mother vvith vvhich his hart vvas no les crucified vvithin then his holie bodie vvithout Tvvo crosses be heere prepared for thee o good IESVS this daie the one for thy bodie and the other for thy sovvle The one is of passion the other of compassion The one pearceth thy bodie vvith nailes of iron the other pearceth thy most holie sovvle vvith nailes of sorovve vvhoe is able to declare o◠good IESVS vvhat griefe it vvas to thee vvhen thou diddest consider the great anguishes of the most holie sovvle of thy mother vvhich thou knevvest so certainlie vvas there crucified vvith thee vvhen thou savvest that pitiful hart of her pearced and thrust through vvith the svvoord of sorovv vvhen thou diddest open thy blovvdie eys and beheldest her diuine face vvhollie ouer cast vvith palenes and vvannes of death and those angvvishes of her sovvle vvhich caused not her death and yet vvere greater to her then death it self and those riuers of teares vvhich gusshed out from her most cleare eys and heardest those deepe sighs and sobbes vvhich burst out of her sacred brest being enforced vvith the vehemencie of griefe and sorovv Novv vvhat brest saith S. Bernard maie be so of iron vvhat bovvels so hard that they be not moued to compassion o most svveete mother considering the teares and paines vvhich thou diddest endure at the foote of the Crosse vvhen thou savvest thy most deere sonne suffer so grieuous so long and so opprobrious and shameful torments vvhat hart can think vvhat toung can expresse thy sorrovv thy teares thy sighes and the cleauing a sunder of thy hart vvhen standing in this place thou savvest thy beloued sonne vsed in such cruel sort and yet couldest not help him vvhen thou beheldest him naked and couldest not clothe him parched vp vvith thirst couldest not giue him to drink iniuried and couldest not defend him diffamed as a malefactour and couldest not ansvvere for him his face so defiled vvith spittel and couldest not make it cleane finallie his eyes gushing out teares and couldest not drye them nor receaue that last gaspe vvhich came out from his sacred brest nor ioyne thy face vvith his so knovven and so beloued and in such manner dye imbraced vvith him In this time thou diddest vvel proue in thy self that the prophetie vvas fulfilled vvhich that holie old Simeon had foretold thee before he died saying that a svvord of sorovv should pearce thy hart But o◠most pitiful virgen vvherefore vvouldest thou o blessed ladie increase thy sorovv vvith the sight of thyne ovvne eys vvherefore vvouldest thou find thy self present this daie in this place It is not a thing decent for one so retyred as thou art vvoont to be to appeare in common places It becommeth not a motherlie hart to see her children dye although it stoode vvith their honour and reputation and they dyed in their bead and comest thou then to see thy sonne die by
of the same such as be the Pope Cardinals Bisshops and other inferior ministres and Prelates that our lord vvil gouerne them and giue them light in such sort that they maie bring all men to the knovvledge and obedience of theâ—â—e Creator VVe must likevvise prâ—â—e as S. Paul counseleth vs for kings 1 Timoth. 2.2 and for al those that be in dignitie that thorough theire prouidence vve maie liue 〈◊〉 quiet and peaceable liâ—e in al pâ—ritie and chastitie because 〈◊〉 is acceptable before God our Sauiour 〈◊〉 desireth that all men be saued and com to the knowledge of the truth Let vs also praie our lord foral the members of his mistical bodie for the iust that he vvil conserue them in theire goodnes for sinâ—ers that it maie please him to conâ—ert them for the dead that he vvil mercifellie deliuer them out of the great paines of purgatorie and bring them to the rest of euerlasting life Let vs praie also for al such as bee poore sicke in prison in captiuitie c. that God through the merites of his sonne vvil help and â—eliuer them After that vvee haue thus demaunded for our neighbours let vs forth vvith aske for oure selues Novv vvhat vve ought to desire for our selues the particular neede of eche one vvil teach him if yet he knovv him self Let vs also vvith this demaund pardon and amendment of our sinnes by the merites and paines of our Sauiour and especiallie let vs request his ayde and assistance against al those passions and vices to vvhich vve feele our selues most inclined and of vvhich vve be most tempted and let vs discouer al these our vvounds to this heauenlie phisition that by this meanes he vvil vouchsase to heale and cure them vvith the ointment of his grace After this make an end vvith demaunding the loue of God and in this demaund staie and occupie thy self for the most part of the time desiring ourlord vvith most hartie affection and desire to graunt thee this vertue for so much as in it consisteth al our good and so thou maist saie as folovveth AN ESPECIAL PETITION OF THE loue of God AECVE all this giue me O lord thy grace that I may loue thee vvith all my hart vvith all my sovvle vvith all my forces and vvith all my entrailes euen in such sort as thou desirest O all mie hope all mie glorie al mie refuge and al mie ioie O the most beloued of beloueâ—s O florishing spovvse O svveeâ—e spovvse O honisvveere spovvse O comfort of my hart O life of my sovvle and the pleasant repose of my spirite Prepare o my God prepare o mie lord in me an acceptable dvvelling place for thie self that according to the promise of thie holie vvoord thou com â—o me and repose in me mortifie in me vvhat soeuer displeaseth thy sight and make me a man according to thie hart vvound o lord the most invvard part of my sovvle vvith the dartes of thie loue and make me drunke vvith the vvine of thy perfect charitie O vvhen shall this be vvhen shall I please thee in al things vvhen shall al that die in me vvhich is contrarie to thee vvhen shall I be altogeather thine vvhen shall I leaue to be mine ovvne vvhen shall nothing els liue in me but thou vvhen shall I loue thee most feruentlie vvhen shal the flame of thie loue vvholie burne me vvhen shall I be altogeather melted and pearced through vvith the vvoonderful efficacie of thy svveetenes vvhen vvilt thou take me hence by force and drovvne me transport me and hide me in thy self vvhere I maie neuer more be seene vvhen vvilt thou free me from all these impediments and distractions and make me one spirite vvith thee that I maie not anie more depart from thee O deerebeloued deerâ—beloued deerebeloued of my sovvle o svveetenes of my harte heare me o lord not for my merites and deserts but for thy infinite goodnes and mercie Teache me lighten me direct me and assist me in al things that I maie dooe nothing nor saie nothing but that vvhich is agreeable to thie sight O mie God mie vvelbeloued mie deerest hart and the verie good of mie sovvle O mie svveere loue o my great delite o mie strength help me o mie light and guide 〈…〉 thee O God of mie bovvels vvherefore giâ—est not thâ—u thâ—e self to thie poore creature 〈…〉 the heauens and the earth and leauest thou mie haâ—t emptie and void Seeing thou cloâ—hest the lilies of the field 〈…〉 to the little birds and seedest the 〈◊〉 of the earth vvherefore doest thou forger me vvhoe haue forgoten all others for thie sake To late haue I knovven thee o infinite goodnes To late haâ—e I loued thee o bevvtie so auncient and so nevv VVooe to the time that I loued thee not vvooe to mee since I knevv thee not Blinde vvas I that I savve hee not Thou vvast vvithin me and I vvent seeking thee abrode But novv although I haue found thee late suffer not olord for thie diuine mercie that I euer leaue hee And beea sâ— one of the things vvhich most pleaseth thee and most vvoun deth thy hart is that a man haue eys vvhere vvith to behold thee giue me o lord those eys vvith vvhich I maie see thee to vvit eyes simple of a doue eyes chast and shamefast eyes humble and louing eyes deuout and geuen to teares eyes attentiue discreete to knovv thy vvill and fulfil the same that vvhen I looke vppon thee vvith these eyes I may be seene of thee vvith those eyes vvith vvhich thou diddest vievv S. Peeter vvhen thou madest him to bevvaile his sinne vvith vvhich thou didest behold that prodigal child vvhen thou receauedst him gauest him a kisse of peace vvith vvhich thou didest behould the publicone vvhen he durst not lift vp his eyes to heauen vvith vvhich thou diddest behold Marie Magdalen vvhen she vvashed thy feete vvith the teares of her eyes finallie vvith those eyes vvith vvhich thou didest behold the spouse in the Canticles vvhen thou saidest vnto her Hovv bevvtiful art thou o mie dearling Cantic 4.1 hovv bevvtâ—ful art thou Thie eyes ar as the eyes of doues that pleasing thee vvith the eyes and beutie of mie sovvle thou giue them those pledges of vertues and graces vvith vvhich they maie appeare alvvaies faire and bevvtiful in thie presence O most high most merciful most gracious Trinitie the father the sonne and the holy Ghost one onlie true God teach me direct me and help me O lord in al things O almightie father for the greatnes of thy infinite povver fasten establish my memorie vppon thee and fill the same vvith holie and deuout desires O most holie Sonne for thy euerlasting vvisdom clarifie and illuminate my vnderstanding and bevvtifie the same vvith knovvledge of the highest veritie and of mine ovvne extreme basenes O holie Ghost the loue of the father and the sonne for thy incoÌ„prehensible goodnes ground in me thy vvill and kiudle the
sovvle a holie feare of God by considering those things that induce vs thereunto CHAP. III. YF that publican of the ghosple Luc. 18.13 vvas not so bold as to lift vp his eys to heauen but standing a far of did strike his brest and said God be merciful to me a sinner and yf that holy vvoman a sinner Luc. 7.37 vvas not so hardy as to present her self before the face of our lord but going behind him did cast her self dovvne at his feete and vvith the teares of her eys obteined pardon of her sinnes and yf the holie Patriarch Abraham Genes 18.27 desyring to speake vnto thee said I vvil speake vnto my lord albeit I be dust and ashes yf these I saie vvere so lovvlie humble vvhen they presented them selues before thy maiestie being yet such persons as they vvere vvhat shall one so poore miserable a sinner as I am doe vvhat shall durt and as hes dooe vvhat shall the bottomles deepnes of all sinnes and miseries dooe But because I am not able o lord to obteine that feare and reuerence vvhich is due vnto thy maiestie vvithout casting mine eyes vppon the same giue me leaue that I may be so bould as to lift vp mie bleare eyes in such sort that the brightnesse of thy glorie doe not dasel the vveakenes of my sight And for so much as the beginning of true vvisdome is the feare of thy holy name vvith this o lord haue I a desire to beginne novv Giue me then grace o my lord my God and vouchsafe to povvre into my soule the gift of feare by the meanes of thy holy spirite for vvithout it al the considerations that I am able to alleage heere vvil little auaile me because to this feare thou didst exhort vs Luc. 12.4 vvhen thou didst saie Be not afraid of them that kill the body and after this haue no more to doe But I vvil shevv you vvhome ye shall feare feare him vvhoe after he hath killed hath povver to cast into hel yea I say to you feare him This self same the holie Church teacheth vs In festo S. Michaelis vvhen she saith Be not asraid in the presence of nations But adore and feare ye God in your harts because his Angel is vvith you to deliuer you Let my sovvle then o lord and my hart feare thee seeing in thee vvhoe art al things there is no les reason vvherefore to feare thee then to loue thee For as thou art in deede infinitelie merciful so art thou infinite lie iust as the vvoorks of thy mercie be innumerable so be also the vvoorks of thy iustice and that vvhich is much more to be feared the vessels of vvrath be vvithout comparison moe then the vessels of mercie for somuch as those that be damned ar so manie those that be saued so fevve Let me then o lord feare thee for the greatnes of thy iustice for the deepenes of thy iudgments and for the highnes of thy maiestie for the immensitie of thy greatnes for the number of my sinnes and offences and aboue al for the continual resistance against thy holy inspirations Let me feare thee and tremble before thee before vvhose face the povvers doe tremble the pillers of heauen yea and al the vvhole compasse of the earth dooe quake VVhoe then O king of nations vvil not feare thee vvhoe vvil not tremble at those vvoords vvhich thou thy self hast spoken by thy Prophet VVil you not then seare me Ierem. 5.22 and before mie face vvil you not be sorovvsul vvhoe haue set the sands a bound to the sea and an eternal commaundement vvhich he shal not passe and they shal be moued and shal not be able and his vvaues shall svvelle and shall not passe ouer it Yf then al the creatures of heauen earth doe in this manner obey and feare thee for the greatnes of thie maiestie vvhat shall I doe most vile sinner dust and ashes yf the Angels tremble vvhen they adore thee and sing thie praises vvherefore doe not mie lippes and mie hart tremble vvhen I am so bold as to doe this office O miserable vvretch that I am hovv is mie sovvle becom so hard hovv ar the fountaines of mine eys dried vp that they povvre not out abūdance of teares vvhen the seruant speaketh vvith his lord the creature vvith his Creator man vvith God he that vvas made of slime and cley vvith him that made al of nothing more I vvould saie but I am not able because I can not doe al that I desire Thou Psal 118.120 o lord fasten vvith thie feare mie flesh let mie hart reioice that it may feare thy holy name Let me also feare thee o lord for the greatnes of thie iudgments vvhich thou hast shevved from the beginning of the vvoorld vntil this daie A greate iudgment vvas the fall of that Angel Isai 14.2 Petr. 2. Gen. 3. so principall and so beautifull A greate iudgment vvas the fall of all mankind for the fault committed by one Gen. 7. A greate iudgment vvas the punishment of the vvhole vvoorld by the vvaters of the diluge A greate iudgment vvas the election of Iacob the reprobation of Esau the forsaking of Iudas and the vocation of S. Paul the reprobation of the Ievves and the election of the Gentiles vvith other such like vvounders vvhich dailie passe ouer mens heads and yet ar vnknovven to vs. And aboue al this a most dreadfull iudgement it is to see so manie nations vppon the face of the earth to be in the countrey shadovv of death and in the darknes of infidelitie going from one darknes to an other and from temporal paines to eternal torments Let me then feare thee o lord for the greatnes of these iudgments seeing I knovv not as yet vvhither I shal be one of these forsaken 1 Petr. 4.18 or noe For yf the iust shall scarse be saued the sinner and vvicked vvhere shall he appeare yf that innocent man Iob trembled at the furie of thie vvrath as at the violence of the sourging vvaues hovv shal not he be afraid tremble that seeth him self so far of from this innocencie yf the Prophet Ieremie trembled being sanctified in the vvombe and found no corner vvere to hide him self because he vvas full of the feare of thie anger vvhat shall he dooe that came from his mothers vvombe vvith sinne and hath since that time committed so manie and so gteat sinnes Let me feare thee also o lord for the innumerable multitude of mie sinnes vvith vvhich I must appeare before thy iudgment vvhen before thie face there shall com that burning fiar and round about thee a boisterous tempest vvhen thou shalt assemble heauen and earth together to iudge thy people There then before so manie thovvsands of nations shal be discouered my vvickednes before so manie quiars of Angels shal be diuulged my sinnes not onlie those committed by vvoords and vvoorks but those
praise and superexalt him for euer Glorie be to the father and to the sonne and to the holie ghost as it vvas in the beginning and novv and euer and vvoorld vvithout end Amen THE THIRD PRAIER FOR THE third daie to giue thanks to God for his benifits CHAP. V. I LIKE-vvise giue thee thanks o lord for all the benifits fauours vvhich I haue receaued of thee since the time that I vvas cōceiued vntil this present daie for the loue vvhich from al eternitie thou hast borne me vvhen euen from the same thou didst determine to create me to redeeme me to make me thine to giue me al that vvhich hitherto thou hast geauen me for somuch as al that I haue or may hope to haue is thine Thine is my bodie vvith al the parts and senses of the same thine is my sovvle vvith al her habilities and povvers thine be al the hovvers and minutes that hitherto I haue liued thine is the streangth and health vvhich thou hast geauen me thine is heauen and the earth vvhich susteineth me thine is the sunne and the moone the stars and the feelds the fovvles and the fishes the beasts and al other creatures vvhich at thy commaundement serue me Al this o my lord is thine and for the same I geaue thee as manie thanks as I am able to giue thee Neuertheles much greater thanks I yeeld thee that thou thie self hast vouchsafed to becom mine seeing that for my remedie thou hast offred and geauen all thie self in so much that for me thou vvast clothed vvith fleash for me thou vvast borne in a stall for me thou vvast reclined in a manger for me thou vvast svvadled in poore cloutes for me thou vvast circumcised the eight daie for me thou didst flie into Egypt for me thou vvast in so diuers sorts tempted persecuted yl vsed scourged crovvned vvith thornes dishonoured iudged to death and nailed vppon a crosse for me thou didest fast praie vvatch vveepe and suffer the greatest torments and outrages that euer vvere suffred For me thou didst ordeine and dresse the medicines of thy sacraments vvith the liquor of thie pretious blovvd and principallie the cheefest of all the Sacraments vvhich is that of thie most sacred bodie vvherein thou o mie God art conteined for mie reparation for mie maintenance for mie strength for mie delices for a pledge of mie hope and for a testimonie of thie loue For al this I yeeld thee as great and as manie thanks as I can giue thee saying from the bottom of mie hart vvith the Prophet Dauid Psal 102. Blesse o mie sovvle our lord and al those things that ar vvithin me his holie name Blesse o mie sovvle our lord and forget not all his fauours VVhoe hath pitie of all thy iniquities and healeth all thy diseases VVhoe deliuereth from death thy life vvhoe crovvneth the in mercie and compasstons VVhoe filleth thy desire in goods thy youth shal be renued as that of an eagle Our lord is dooing mercie and iudgment to all that suffer iniurie He made his vvaies knovven to Moises to the children of Israel his vvils Our lord is merciful and pitiful long-suffering and verie merciful He vvil not be angrie for euer neither for euer vvil hee threaten He hath not dealt vvith vs according to our sinnes neither according to our iniquities hath he revvarded vs. Because according to the height of heauen from earth hath he confirmed his mercie vppon those that feare him As far as the east is distant from the vveast hath he made far from vs our iniquities Euen as a father hath compassion of his sonnes our lord hath had compassion of such as seare him because he knovveth our vvoorkmanshippe He remembred that vve ar dust a man as the grasse so ar his daies as the flouer of the filde so shall he fade Because his spirite shall passe avvaie in him and shall not remaine and shall not knovve anie more his place But the mercie of our lord from euer and euen for euer vppon those that feare him And his iustice vppon the sonnes of sonnes to those that keepe his testament And ar mindfull of his comandements to fulfil them Our lord hath prepared his seate in heauen and his kingdom shall ouerrule all All Angels blesse our lord that be mightie of povver and dooe his vvoord to obey the voice o◠his speeches Blesse ye our lord al his vertues you his ministres that dooe his vvill Blesse our lord all his vvoorks and in euerie place of his soueraigntie blesse thou o mie sovvle our lord Glorie be to the father and to the sonne c. THE FOVVERTH PRAIER FOR the fouerth daie of the loue of God CHAP. VI. AND yf vve be so greatlie bound to our benefactours by reason of theire benifits yf euerie benefit be as it vvere a fiarbrand and a prouokement to loue and yf according to the great quantitie of vvoode the fiar is also great that is kindled in it hovv great then should the fiar of loue be that ought to burne in my hart seeing the vvoode of thy benifits is so greate and so manie the prouokements that I haue of loue yf al this vvorld visible inuisible be for me ought not by al reason the flame of loue that should rise thereof to be as greate as it And speciallie I ought to loue thee because in thee onlie ar to be found al the reasons and causes of loue that be in al creatures and those also in the highest degree of perfection For yf vve speake of goodnes vvhoe is more good then thou yf of beautie vvhoe is more beautiful then thou yf of svveetnes and benignitie vvhoe is more svveete and bening then thou yf of riches and vvisdome vvhoe is more riche and more vvise then thou yf of loue vvhoe hath euer loued more then he that so much suffered for our sakes yf of benifits vvhose is al that vve haue but thine yf of hope of vvhome dooe vve hope to haue vvhatsoeuer vve neede yf not of thie mercie yf to our parents vve naturallie ought to beare great loue Math. 23.9 vvhoe is more our father then he that saith Cal none father to your self vppon earth for one is your father he that is in heauen Yf the bridegromes ar beloued vvith soe great loue vvhoe is the bridegrome of my sovvle but thou and vvhoe filleth the bosome of my hart and of my desires but thou yf the last end as the Philosophers say is beloued vvith infinite loue vvhoe is my beginning my last end but thou vvhēce came I and vvhither goe I to repose but to thee vvhose is that vvhich I haue and of vvhome must I receaue that vvhich I neede but of thee finallie yf likenesse be cause of loue to vvhose image and resemblance vvas mie sovvle created but to thine This is euidentlie knovven by her manner of operation for vvhere there is like manner of operation there is also like manner of
that I maie no more offend thee in them nor in anie other and cheefelie I demaund of thee strength and vertue to chasten mie flesh to refraine my toung to mortifie the appetites of my hart to recollect the thoughts of my imagination that I being altogether so renued and reformed may deserue to be a liuing temple and thy abode Giue me likevvise o lord al those vertues by vvhich this thy dvvelling place mare be not onlie pâ—rified and cleansed but also adorned and decked such as be the feare of thy holie name a most stedfast hope a most profound humilitie most perfect patience a cleare discretion pouretie of spirite perfect Obedience continual strength diligence in al trauails apperteining to thy holie seruice and aboue al a most inflamed charitie tovvards my neighbours and tovvards thee And for asmuch as I deserue none of al these things be mindful o lord of thy mercie vvhich presupposeth our miserie to be put in execution Be mindful Ezech. 33.11 that thou desiâ—est not the death of a sinner as thy self hast said but that he be conuerted and liue Be mindful that thy onlie begoten sonne came not into this vvoorld as he him self said to seeke those that be iust but sinners Math. 9.13 Be mindful that vvhatsoeuer he did and suffred in this vvoorld from the daie that he vvas borne vntill he gaue vp the ghost vppon the Crosse he suffred it not for him self but for me vvhich all I offer vp to thee in sacrifice for my necessities and offenses and for his sake and not for myne ovvne doe I beseeche thee of mercie And for asmuch as of thee it is said that thou vvilt honour the father in his sonnes honour him by dooing good to me Be mindfull that I haue recourse to thee that I enter through thy gates and that to thee as to a true physition and lord I present my necessities and vvounds and so vvith this spirite vvill I cal vppon thee vvith that pâ—aie vvhich the Prophet Dauid made saying Incline Psal 85. o lord thyne eare and heare me because I am needie and poore Keepe my sovvle because I am holy saue o my God thy seruant that hopeth in thee Haue mercie vppon me o lord because to thee haue I cried al the day make glad the sovvle of thy seruant because to thee o lord haue I lifted vp my sovvle Because thou o lord art svveete and milde and of much mercy to all those that cal vppon thee Vnderstand o lord vvith thy eares my praier and listen to the voice of my request In the day of my tribulation haue I cried vnto thee because thou hast heard me There is none like to thee amongst the Gods o Lord and there is none according to thy vvoorkes All the nations that thou hast made shal com and adore before thee o lord and shall glorifie thy name Because thou art great and dooing vvoonders thou onlie art God Guide me o lord in thy vvay I vvill vvalke in thy veritie let my hart reioice that it may feare thy name I vvil confesse to thee o lord my God in al my hart and I vvil glorifie thy name for euer Because thy mercie is great vppon me and thou hast deliuered my sovvle out of the deepest hell Glorie be to the father and to the sonne c. A PRAIER TO THE HOLY GHOST CHAP. X. O HOLY Ghost the comforter that in the holy daie of Pentecost diddest com doune vppon the Apostles and fill theire holy brests vvith charitie grace and vvisdom I beseeche thee o lord for this vnspeakeable liberalitie and mercie that thou vvilt fil my soule vvith thy grace and all mie entrails vvith the vnspeakeable svveetenes of thy loue Com o most holy Spirite and send vs from heauen som one beame of thy light Com o father of the poore o giuer of gifts o light of harts Com o best comforter svveete ghest of sovvles and theire svveete refreshing Com to me o cleanser of sinnes phisition of diseases Com o strength of vveakelings remedie of those that ar fallen Com o maister of the humble and destroier of the proude Com o singular glory of those that liue and only saluation of those that die Com o my God and prepare me for thee vvith the riches of thy giftes and mercies Make me drunk vvith the gift of vvisdom inlighten me vvith the gift of vnderstanding gouerne me vvith the gift of counsel encourage me vvith the gift of strength teach me vvith the gift of science vvound me vvith the gift of pietie and pearse my hart vvith the gift of feare O most svveete louer of those that be cleane of hart kendle burne al my bovvels vvith that most svveete fiar of thy loue that they al being so burned maie be rauished dravven to thee vvhich art my last end and the depth of all goodnes O most svveete louer of cleane soules for so much as thou knovvest that I of my self am able to doe nothing extend thy pitiful hand vppon me and make me leaue my self that so I may be able to passe vnto thee And to this end o lord beate doune mortifie annihil and vndoe in me vvhatsoeuer it shal please thee that thou make me vvholy according to thy vvil that so al my life be a perfect sacrifice to be altogether consumed in the fiar of thy loue O that som one could aford me this that thou vvouldest admit me to so great good Behold that this thy poore and miserable creature daie and night suspireth to thee My sovvle hath thirsted after the liuing God vvhen shal I com and appeare before the face of al graces vvhen shal I enter into the place of that vvonderful tabernacle euen to the face of my God vvhen vvilt thou fill my sovvle vvith the ioye of thy diuine countenance vvhen shal shee be satiated vvith thy diuine presence O fountaine of eternal brightnes turne to enclose me in that depth vvhence I proceeded vvhere I may knovv thee as thou didst knovv me and loue thee as thou didst loue me and see thee for euer in the companie of al Saincts Amen A PRAIER VVHILES VVEE HEARE masse or at anie other time taken out of diuers places of S. Austen CHAP. XI O MOST merciful supreame creator of heauen and earth I the most vile of al sinners together vvith thy holy Church offer vp to thee this most pretious sacrifice of thy onlie begoten sonne for al the sinnes of the vvoorld Behold o most merciful king him that suffereth and gentellie remember for vvhome he suffere h. Is not this peraduenture o lord thy sonne vvhome thou diddest deliuer to death for the remedie of an vngrateful seruant Is not this peraduenture the author of life vvhich being lead as a sheepe to the slaughter disdeigned not to suffer such a cruel kind of death Turne o lord my God the eys of thy maiestie vppon this vvoork of vnspeakeable pietie Consider thy svveete sonne stredched
out vppon the vvoode of the Crosse and his most innocent handes gushing out bloud and be thou content to pardon those euils vvhich my hands haue committed Consider his naked brest pearced vvith that cruel iron of the speare and renue mee vvith that sacred fountaine vvhich I beleeue to haue runne from thence Behold those most holy feete vvhich neuer past through the vvay of sinnes novv pearced vvith those hard nails and let it please thee to direct my feete in the vvay of thy holie commaundements Doest not thou perchaunce o most pitiful father consider the head of thy most louing sonne fallen doune his vvhite neck bovved dovvne vvith the presence of death Consider o most merciful Creator in vvhat plight the bodie of thy beloue I sonne emaineth and haue mercie vppon the seruant vvhich he hath redeemed Behold hovv his naked brest remaineth all vvhite hovv his bloudie side remaineth all redde hovv his bovvels extended remaine drie hovv his bevvtiful eys remaine dimme hovv his kinglie presence and figure remaineth pall and vvanne hovv his armes stretched out remaine stiffe hovv his knees like alabastre remaine hanging hovv the streames of that diuine bloud vvash his pearced feete Behold o glorious father the mangled membres of thy most louing sonne and remember the miseries of thy poore seruant Behold the torments and paines of our Redeemer and forgiue the offenses of the redeemed This is our faithful Aduocate before thee o father almightie This is that high priest vvhich hath no neede to be sanctified vvith other bloud seeing he shineth embrâ—ed vvith his ovvne This is the holy sacrifice agreable and present offred and receaâ—ed in the sauour of svveetenes This is the lamb vvithout spotte vvhich heald his peace before those that did sheare him vvhich being charged vvith stripes defiled vvith spittle and iniuried vvith reproches did not open his mouth This is he vvhich hauing committed no sinne suffered for our sinnes and cured our vvounds vvith his vvounds Novv vvhat hast thou donne o most svveete Lord that thou vvast so iudged vvhat hast thou coÌ„mitted o most innocent lamb that thou vvast so dealed vvithail vvhat vvere thy faults vvhat the cause of thy coÌ„demnation Trulie o lord I am the vvound of thy paine I am the occasion of thy death and the cause of thy condemnation O meruailous dispensation of God! He sinneth that is euil and he is punished that is good he offendeth that is gâ—iltie and he is vvounded that is innocent the seruaunt committeth the fault and the lord paieth for it Hovv far o sonne of God hovv far hath thy humilitie abased it self hovv far hath thy charitie extended it self hovv far hath thy loue proceeded Hovv far hath thy compassion arriued I haue committed the offense and thou endurest the punishment I haue donne the sinnes and thou suffrest the torments I am he that vvaxed provvd thou art humbled I am the disobedient and thou art becom obedient euen to death and so paiest the fault of my disobedience Behould heere o king of glorie behould heere thy pietie and my impietie thy iustice and my vvickednes Consider the fore novv o ete nall father hovv thou oughtest to haue mercie vppon me seeing that I haue offered thee so deuoutlie the most pretious offer that could be offred thee I haue presented to thee thy most louing sonne set betvvixt thee me this faithful aduocate Receiue vvith a cheerefull couÌ„tenance the good pastor consider the straied sheepe vvhich he beareth vppon his shoulders I beseeche thee o king of kings by this holie of holies that I may be vnited to him in spirite seeing he disdained not to bevnited to me in flesh and I humblie request thee that by the means of this praier I may deserue to haue him for my helper for so much as of thy meere grace vvithout that I deserued it at thy hands thou hast giuen me him for my Redeemer A DEVOVT PRAIER TO OVR blessed Ladie CHAP. XII O GLORIOVS and happie virgin more pure then the Angels more bright then the startes hovv shall my praier appeare before thee seeing the grace that I merited through the passion of him vvhich redeemed me I haue lost it thorough the vvickednes of mine ovvne fault But yet although I be so great a sinner knovving my request to be iust I vvil make bold to beseeche thee that thou vvilt heare me O my Queene and Ladie I humblie request thee to praie thy sacred sonne that for his infinite goodnes and mercie he pardon me vvhatsoeuer I haue donne against his vvill and commaundement And yf this may not be graunted me in respect of my vnvvorthines yet let me obtaine it to the end that that perish not vvhich he hath created to his Image likenes Thou art the light of darknes Thou art the mirrour of Saincts Thou art the hope of sinners All generations praise thee all those that be afflicted call vppon thee all those that be good behold thee all creatures reioice in thee the Angels in heauen vvith thy presence the sovvles in purgatorie vvith thy comfort the men vppon earth vvith thy hope All call vppon thee and thou doest avvnsvvere to all and praie for all Novv vvhat shal I doe vnvvorthie sinner that I am to obtaine thy fauour for so much as my sinne troubleth me my demerite afflicteth me and my malice maketh me speachles I beseeche thee o most pretious virgin for that thy so greeuous and mortall sorovv vvhich thou diddest feele seeing thy beloued sonne going vvith the Crosse vpon his shoulders to the place of his death that thou vvilt mortiâ—ie all my passions and tentations that I lose not thorough mie vvickednes that vvhich he redeemed vvith his bloud Put alvvaies in my thought those pitiful teares vvhich thou did â—est shedde vvhen thou diddest see the vvounds and the bloud of thy blessed sonne that thorough the contemplation of them there runne such quantitie of teares out of myne eyes that they may be sufficient to vvash avvay all the spottes of my sinnes For vvhat sinner vvill be so bold as to appeare vvithout thee before that eternal Iudge vvhoe although though he be mild in his suffering yet is he iust in his punishment for so much as neither revvard is denied for doing good nor paine eschevved for doing euil VVhoe then shal be so iust that in this iudgment he shal not haue neede of thy helpe vvhat shal becom of me o blessed virgen yf I vvin not by thy intercession that vvhich I haue lost thorough myne ovvne sinne I demaund a great thing of thee according to my faults but in deede verie little according to thy povver All that I can request thee is nothing in respect of that vvhich thou art able to giue me O Queene of the Angels amend my life and dispose all my vvoorkes in such manner that albeit I be but euill yet I may deserue to be heard of thee vvith pitie Shevv o Lady thy mercie in afording me remedie