me of nought not a stone but like vnto thy most blessed and godly ymage and lykenes and hayst created all the worlde to do me seruice Thou hast preseruid me in the womb of my mother where I myght haue peryshed as many doth that neuer commyth to byrth From my byrth thou hast perseruyd my lyfe both in bodye and soule and broughtest me to holy baptyme where I myght haue dyed wythout it as many do and do therby loose the blysse of heuen for oryginal sinne And from that tyme hether to thou hast prouyded for my necessaryes Fyrst by my parentes and frendes and afterwardes by other meanes So that I haue had alwaye succoure at thy mercyful hand whyche contynually hast and dost prouide for me wyth muche more louely care then euer dyd my natural mother and hast cheryshed me both in body and soule And like a most carefull and louynge parente father thou hast dost deliuer me daily from innumerable perels and daungers both of body and soule whiche innumerable tymes syth I was borne I might and should haue fal in if thou haddest not most mercyfully delyuered and defendyd me How long hast thou lyke a mercyful pityful parent borne wyth my great enormytes and innumerable deadly sinnes mortal wher thou myghtest Iustly haue dampned me both body soule yet of thy infinite mercyful goodnes thou hast taryed and abydē my conuersion because thou woldest not dampne me though I dyd deserue a thousand thousād tymes And whyle thou haist so paciently suffered me so detestable and contumelius towardes the my lorde god sclanderous vnto the world ther hath many that were ferre better then I for lesse syn then myne bene vtterly dampned for mysse lyfe Moreouer though I were am neuer so destable and greuous a synner in thy syght yet thou of thy infynite mercy hast neuer lefte me vtterly but hast by dyuers meanes and many holy mocions and inspiracyons called and prouokyd me to repentaunce And though I gaue no eare to the but in maner contempnyd and set the at nought yet thou ceased not vntyl at the length wyth thy myghtyful power grace thou broughtest me agayne to grace and repentaunce and of thy ineffable goodnes hayst brought me to this most blessed state of relygion and yet doyst not mysse but fatherly dost prouid daily for my necessaries though I be neuer so vnkind and vnthākeful to the. And by cause no synne be it neuer so greate and enormious should dameme yf I wyl repent thou hast geuē to most cruell death and passion thine owne sonne and by his merites and for hys sake thou arte redy to in due me wyth al kynd of vertue and grace And specyally blessyd be thy in effable goodnes and mercy For thou hayst indued me wyth N.N.N. ¶ In this place remember thy speciall benefittes that thou thynkest thy selfe specially bounde to thanke almyghty God for Turne thy thought and meditaciō here vn thy sauyour Iesu deuoutly saying O Most louing Lord and deare sauyour Iesu now I turne my harte vnto the. O most swet Iesu most faythful frind and true louer of my pore soule for whose sake and saluacion thou wast incarnatyd and came in to this wretchid mysery and suffered innumerable labors fatigacyons sorows and incōmodyties much wronge and heuines great pouertye paines thou sufferedst for me many a teare thou shedest wyth many a sore syghe many afore rebuke reuyle blasphemie great shame and much worldly confucyon thou sufferedest Many a sore stroke and sharpe strype thou haddest for my sin And of most tender true loue and most burnyng charytie that thou barist to me thou sufferedest most paineful passion and creuel death ¶ Thou swetest and shedest al thy precyus blod not leuyng one drop within thi blessid bodye And after moste deadly and mooste mortal panges and pynchynges of deathe iii. longe howres hangyng moost paineful vppon the crosse at the lengthe with the moste cruel bitter and paynefull stynge of dredful death thou yeldest vp thy blessid soule for to saue and redeme my synful soule ¶ What poynte of loue coldeste thou haue shewed more Yet besyde al thes thou hayst most louyngly left to my weake and wretchyd soule for my gostly comforte and strengthe the very same bodie and bloode wherwith thou boughtest me and al the world in the most blessid sacrament of the aulter that I might often se the often receaue the remember that great loue thou beredyst towardes vs and so to lerne as to loue the agayne and of very loue to delyght in the medytacion of thy moste bitter and blessyd passyon with harty desyre to folowe the in it And specyally to lerne and affectuusly to consider that great loue and charytie thou shewdest to me here in that mi hart might be inflamed and set on fyer with the loue of the. Wherefore most mercyful sauyor and most louynge and louesome lord Iesu of that great charytie and burnyng loue which causyd and mouyd the to suffer al thy bytter paynes and passyon and in the merytes of thy most precyous blood and blessyd death kyndel now in my cold harte the blessid fyer of thy moost deare loue and make me to loue and to delyght in the to set al my ioy felycitie plesure in the loue and desyre of the my lord that by perfecte loue and blessyd charytie my soule may be knyt and made one with the. The whiche vnyon wyth the in loue is the beginnyge the perfeccion and end of al cōtemplacion here in earth and of the blessyd fruycion of thy godhead in heauen Where thou art all in al thynges to thy glory and honour sempyternal without end Amen ¶ This foresaid praier vse daily by inward desire and harty deuocyon that by costome thou maiste when thou wylt set thy harte on fyer with the loue of thy Lord with a litle laboure and thoughte of his passion other benefytes Yf thou canst come to thys redines of loue then haist thou the very instrument and redy way to contemplacyon for yt is the rote beginnynge of lyfe contēplatiue Thou shalt also that daye that thou haiste this exercise in custome vse and accostome thy selfe euery where where euer thou be what euer thou doo to haue in thy mynde and wyth hartye and burninge desyre to say not in voyce but in hart and mind one of thes louely swete sentences which may be callid dartes of gostly loue And lyke as the worldly or fleshely louer hath styl his burnyng desyre to his paramour and is redy in euery place corner wher he metith with his loue to expres by louely and swete wordes his feruent and hote desyre that he beryth vnto her loue with depe sighes and most harty lamentable cōplaynt with such meane to set his loue on fyre and to wound as it wer her hart with loue towards him agayne euer so with thes or such lyke louely and swete sentences we do open vnto our louer Iesu
knowlege of thy blessyd godhed of thy infinite charite towarwe me And that I maye contynaally remember thy blessed presens in euery place Lyghten myne inward and goostly eyes to se consyder effectuously the wonderfull tokens of thy infinyte loue kindnes to me and the innumerable benefites geuen vnto me and all mankynd specially by thy most holy Incarnaciō thy life deth and passion and that I maye the better perceyue what thou hast done for me graunt me most mercyful good lord grace to com to the perfecte and exacte knowlege of my selfe Fyrste to consider and acknowlege howe noble thou haste creatyd my soule vnto thyne owne similitude and ymage of nought And howe myserable how foule fylthy and abhomynable it was made by oryginall sinne as sone as euer it entred the synfull bodye and fleshe And how thorow thy infinite mercy and tender charytye it was redemed by thy precious deathe purged by vertewe of thy bloud and passion in baptysme and so restoryd vnto grace and mercy agayne Yet afterward syth that tyme I haue innumerable tymes most fylthyly defyled my selfe wyth many a deadly synne forsakyng thee my lorde god turnynge awaye my loue frome the and from thy holy commaundementes folowynge myne owne corrupte wyl and beastly lust and desyre and haue made my soule more filthy feble and more vyle in thy syght thē any vnresonable beast And thus in the foule puddell and durtie dongiō of sinne I must nedes haue sunke in vnto the bottome of dānacion yf thy mercy had not or wolde not yet helpe me vp agayne by thy Infynite mercy and blessed grace For of my selfe of myne owne power I am not able to arise by trewe and perfecte repentaunce with out thy mercyfull grace do helpe me And yet thou arte so good and gracious that I may yf I wyll euery daye houre and mynet recouer thy gracius fauer for thou art euer redie knockīg at my harte cōtinually ¶ Oh merciful Iesu how moch nede haue I of thy mercy and grace ¶ Graunt me good Lorde grace earnestly to consyder oft tyme from whens I came what I am wher I am and whether I go Fyrst frō whens I came playnely I came frome vyle and synfull fleshe begotten in fylthy concupysence and beastly lust in the stinkyng vylenes of oryginal sinne fed in my mothers womb with foule menstruus vilitie And where thou moost mercifull lorde god creatyd the planettes the starres of the fyer the fyshes and foules of the water thou haste created me and all other beastes of the foule and vyle earth so that as touchyng my bodye I am no better thē a beaste created of the earth vnto the earth I shall agayne What I am I maye sone perceaue I am nought els but drosse and durte rotten earth wormes meate much lesse perceuing how I shal depart subiecte vnto many necessities ful of misery borne in sinne liuing in wretchidnes and labour and must dye in payne and agonye And yf I shuld earnestly depely consyder I may perceiue and se that the trees herbes bring for the leaues swete flouers frutes my bodye bryngeth nothing els the foule wormes stynking sweat and corrupcion Yf I wolde wel consider and marke what commeth out of the nose the eares of other yssues of the bodye I shall perceaue that ther can be no fowler and more horible or more stynking dunge hyll in the worlde Nowe wher I am plainly ī this wretched worlde the vale of mysery as an out lawe stranger and in a foren contrey beset wyth many galthroppes and grinnes on euery side in the myddes of innumerable dangers perels among my most mortal ennymies against whome I must fyght bothe nyght and daye for they lye in wayte for my dysstruction contynually whose mortall malyce I can not escape wythout thy moost mercyfull helpe And whither I go lorde whyther els but from whens I toke myne orygynal that is vnto earth dunge claie Of earth asshes my wretched fleshe was created and to the earth it must go fyrst or last But when and howe sone thou only knowest most myghtyfull lord but sure I am that thyther I go contynually where euer I be what euer I do wherfore moost mercyfull lorde graunt me grace that the perfect knowlege and consideracion of my wretched estate neuer go from my memorye Wherby wyth the helpe of thy grace I may seke earnestly and contynually the amendemente of my selfe wyth thy mercyfull help and fauour ¶ Oh merciful lord were not thy exceding greate mercy my soule throwe the innumerable and most greuous sinnes where nought els but a brand of hel fyre a foule stynking vessell full of abhomynaciō of sin apte to be caste into hell and euerlastynge damnacion Moreouer yf thy grace were not I colde do nothing els but synne and increase my damnacion yea ther were no kynde of synne so abominable the which I should not commyt yf thy grace dyd not preserue me yea my soule shoulde returne to ryght nought yf thy myght and godlye power dyd not vpholde it conserue it ¶ Oh mercyful Lord howe many euyl affectyons croked inclynacions synfull passions noughty dysposicions and redynes to all kynde of synne and myschefe are in the senses wit and power of my soule both inwardly and outwardly Whome I can neuer wythout thy specyall grace helpe know nor perceaue and much lesse amend reforme mortyfie wherfore myghtyfull gracious and moost pytyfull sauiour In the blessed merytes of thy most bytter paynfull passion whiche thou sufferest in euery member parte power and myght of thy blessed bodye and soule lyghten my sinfull blyndnes that I maye come to the perfect knowlege of my selfe and therby to come vnto that most acceptable the grounde of all vertue and grace blessed mekenes and contempte of my selfe and to the very and most perfecte loue of the my lorde God vnto whome only belongeth and euer myght be all glory honour of al creatures nowe and for euer Amen ¶ The seconde exercyse to optaine remyssion of sinnes THou must haue a generall cōtricyon and hate of all thy sinnes yf thou haste not made a general confessyon all redy then I wolde coūsel the to make one intendynge wyth most ful and constante mynde to forsake detest al kynde of synne and for the verye pure loue of God and deape hate of thy self and of al sinne to bewayle them as hartely as god shal gyue the grace And that thou mayst come to the perfect hate of thy selfe thou must beleue that ther is no creature ī the worlde that hath done so greate iniury and shewed so great contempte to God as thou And therfore thou shalte Iudge thy selfe worthy of al the payne of hel and al the shame of the worlde for thy manyfold and great synnes for thy great neglygence thy wonderfull vnkyndnes shewed vnto God for the whiche cause thou shall haue moost fyrme and perfecte wyl in
sekyng purely thy only glory and honoure here in nowe and euer Amen AFter thou haiste made this deuoute petycion in thi harte then must thou fully hope and trust that thy louynge Lord Iesu hathe in the vnmesurable sea of his infynitie merites consumed al thes thy fawtes and vtterly forgeuen them the. Then al thy sinnes are lefte as it were beneth thou must ascende vp vnto his blessed handes whiche are alway stretchyd out vnto his deare fryndes in token of singulare frindship thou shalt then in this place approche in thy hart and desyre vnto god askyng of hym and desyryng that thou maiste be knyt vnto hym and made one with him in true loue and charytie And firste thou mast put out of thy hart al carefulnes al thy dystraccyon casting and committing them in to the handes and pleasure of almyghty god by whom there can nothing be lost nor peryshe Then thou must set thy ful mind and behold thy Lord god that is veryly present with the ther which louith the most hartely which also tarith for the yea he knockyth and callyth the louingly And so muste thou knyt thi mind so earnestly vpon god that thou maist be as it were inclosed within thy lord god thy selfe with in him gatheryng and recolectinge al the powers of thy soule and bodyly sensies in the blessed woūdes of his most holy handes And whyle thou art thus recollectyd thou shalt make these thre prayers in thy hart mynd vnto god the thre persons in trinite And first to the father say this prayer O Most omipotent god father celestial in the mooste blessyde merytes of my sauyor Iesu take away and put out of my memorye phansie by thy infinite power and myght al the imagynacyons and outward affeccyons and fulfyl my memorie wyth thyne owne selfe and with al godly imagynacyons and desyres ¶ Secondly vnto the Some O Moost al myghty sonne sempyternall of god I humbly beseke the of thy infynitie mercy by thy eternal and euer lastynge wysedome mooste gracyously vochsafe to lyghten my wyt and vnderstandyng with the most blessed knowledge of thy goodnes increate and īfinitie which thou art and to know thy blessed benefites and mooste holy wyl and pleasure and myne owne noughtynes ¶ Thurdly thou must make petycyon vnto the holy goost after this maner O Gloryous Lord god holy gost moste humbly I beseke the of thy infinitie mercy and charytie whiche thou arte thy selfe vochesafe with thy in comprehēsyble goodnes to raiushe and swalowe me vp all together in to the with my will and al myne affeccyons and set them on fyere with most ardent loue and charytie ¶ The fourth is vnto Christ Crucified O Moost louing sauior and most derest loue of my soul my swete Lord Iesu I humbly beseke the for thi crosse and passyon and for thy most payneful deathe that thou of most perfect loue towardes me dydest suffer vpon the crosse vochsafe by thi most holy powers of thi blessid soul and the senses of thy moost holye bodye to make bare and nakyd all my wytes and powers of my boodie and soule frome al phansyes vyces imperfeccions and inordynacyons and restore them to their fyrst perfeccyon and order vochsafe to knyte and to inclose them within thy selfe and thy selfe al together within them Amen MORE ouer as often as thou wilt knyt thy wil and vnderstandynge vnto thy Lord god thou must stirere vp and not without some labor these two that is to say thy vnderstandyng and wyl towardes thy Lord. First thou must force thy vnderstandyng earnestly to consyder and faithfuly to behold the highe goodnes of god and his infinyte hys moost super-excellent and incomprehensible nobylytie and holines and therwtal consider and fele also the innumerable tormentes paynes sorowes and passyons that he so hyghe so noble so excellente and so infinite maiestie suffered of most ineffable loue and charitie for vs most vile wreched and most vnkind synners And with greate wonder thou muste meruayl at the moste wonderful loue that god almyghtye hath shewyd towardes the by his owne moost deare sone whome for thy loue only saluacion he gaue to suffer al kynd of myserye saue syn of trauel labour fatigaciō care honger thirst watch trouble sorow shame reuyle rebuke cōfusyon sclander blasphemye persecucyon false trateri heuines dread feare and deadly agony vntyl blody swete wrongful cōprehencyon and captyuitie lyke a thief in bondes most cruelty most vyle entreatyd halyd pullyd and led from poste to pillar moost worngeful accusacion and mooste vniuste condempnacyon spyttynge and conspurcacion yllusions mockes and skornes forsworne forsaken of his owne apostles mooste cruell flagellacyon and beatynges fore strypes and buffets most payneful coronacyons with thornes hys tender limmes body and fleshe rent torne moost cruelly And in al these plages and woful aray made a gasyng stocke to al hys most cruel enemies At the length cōptyd moost abhomynable more vyle and more worthy of deathe then a stronge thiefe and cruell murderer he was condemnyd the other delyuered and so ladē wyth his most cruel and heuy crosse vpon his torne shoulders and weake body vnto his paine and al wordly wonder confusion and shame he was lad vnto the most fylthy and horyble place of his moost cruell shameful death moost bytter drynke offered hym and violently spoyled naked of al his garmentes rackid to the lengh and bredth of his crosse most paynefully nayled with sturdy blunte nayles eleuated on hygh vpon the crosse hys mēbers most cruelly torne rent his vaynes and synowes violently broken his precyous bloude moost paynefully shed trayled downe vpon the earth in greate aboundaunce in suche paynfull plyghte he honge thre long houres vpon the crosse in moost wooful panges and paynes of death sustayning moost deadly burnyng thurst blasphemye reproche and reprofe mooste payneful derelection wythout al comforte or consolacion And thus he most wofully yeldyd vp his blessid soule by moost bytter cruel paineful and shameful death And al only for the mere and most burnynge loue and charitie that he bare vnto the hys enymye that thou myght be delyuered from the wrath of God and sentence of damnacion that thou haddest deseruyd by the sinne oryginal and innumerable other in normytes deadly and dayly offēces which thou hayst done myghtest haue done and mayste do yf he reserued thee not by hys grace And yet requyreth he nothynge in this worlde of the for al these that he hathe sufferid and done for the but only thy trew harte and loue And for this cause he suffered his moost dyuine and louely hart to be opened wyth a speare that thou myghtest yf thou woldest in maner crepe into hys most blessid syde and swete harte the treasure house of al grace and mercy of al vertrue and perfection where thou mayst optayne what thou wylt aske And all for the moost tender loue that the swete louynge hart of thy deare lorde Iesu berith to the. Thou hayst
together in all the whoole world can thinke or speake it is lesse in comparison of hys hyghe worthines and perfeccion then one lytle droppe of water in comparyson of the whoole mayne sea And yet marke well he so myghty so great so hyghe and so wonderfull a lorde god hath creatyd thy soule moost nobly vnto hys owne lykenes and made it able and mete to be pertaker and to receaue his hygh maiestie and goodnes by loue of hym For he hathe knytte vnto thy soule three excellent myghtes or powers that not only in the lyfe to come in heauen but also in this present life and world thou myghtest know hym by thy vnderstanding in fayth and goostly contemplacyon And by thy wyll thou myghteste choose and loue hym And by thy memorie thou mightest reste in him and be knyt vnto him thou myghtest remayne and dwell euer in hym And playnely yf thou weere not blyndyd by the deuell the world and the fleshe and the loue of thes thou woldest be so rauished in the pleasure and loue of hym that for Ioye and wonder thou shuldest not be able to stand but faynt and synke The Ioyes and sorows of this world thou shludest not marke nor take any heede to them nor passe for them any thyng at all For thou woldest not suffer thy selfe in any wyse to be seperatyd not one momente from the consyderacyon and loue of that hyghe and infinite goodnes ¶ Secondlye consyder and beholde with greate Ioye gladnesse and thankefulnesse how so hyghe excellent wonderfull a lord of his euerlastynge loue and charytie offreth hym self euery where in euery place specyally in thy soule very presently vnto the. Yea more nearer the then thou arte to thyne owne self to vpholde thy lyfe and being to conserue to gouerne the and to saue the and to bring the to eternal blisse Wherfore thou haste more neade to be ware and charie of thy honestie of verteous couersacyon yf thou wylt not dissemble for as muche as thou dost all thynges yea al that thou thynkest and spekest is openly done spoken and thought in his very presence whiche seeth all thynges Take heede therfore and consyder thy moste deare louyng lord god thy creator thy very hartes loue alway before the present and walke in thy conuersacion lyke a chaiste spouse with reuerent feare louely shamefastnes mekenes obedyence and pacyence before the eies of so highe a maiestie of god preparing thy selfe alway without ceassyng to please him syghyng and desyryng in the botome of thy hart to haue hys loue in thy hart and moost louyngly to enbrase hym ¶ Oh what abūdance of grace wold grow in thee yf thou coldest thus do At the leaste do as thou maist vntyll more grace come ¶ Thyrdely consyder that the same so myghty and omnipotent lord of his vnmesurable charytie and of moost constant and free loue turneth hym selfe and hath speciall regarde to the so specyally and syngularly that it passeth the vnderstanding desire of the aungels So great is his dignacion and goodnes toward the an vncleane and vyle worme that he intendyth and taketh soo great hede and care for the as though ther were no mo creatures left hym neyther in heauen nor in earth but thou alone He also hath deliuered the and defendid the from many periles and dangers both of body and of soule and dothe styll euery moment kepe the. He also vnaskyd doth geue thee allure the and intyse the wyth so many benyfytes gyftes and graces thoughe thou be very vnkynd and most vnworthy vnto hym agayne that thou canst not number the least part of them And of the same hys charitie he geuyth the most free lybertie to come to hym euery momente so that with onely a good thoughte and a louely desire thou maist obtaine and possesse infinite and euerlastynge goodnes whiche he his hym selfe In so muche that thou mayst safely surely and most profitably open vnto hym as vnto thy moost faithful louing and trustye frynde all thy necessyties Wherefore for a special laude and praise vnto so louing and so good a lord god among the infynite number of these thinges that myght be spoken or written to hys honor it shal help the greatly to come to hys loue contynually to remember and to haue meditacyon of his infynite and perpetuall goodnes wysedome mercy swetnes lowelynes and charitie That by this as by smal coles of fyre thy hart may be kindled to rēder some loue for loue agayne And that thou mayest be transformed and made lyke hym in lyke vertues and graces Oh wolde God thou couldest and woldest exercise thy selfe contynually in these thre how wold it delyght the to aryse earely and to watche wyth thy lorde god How sone sholdest thou be delyuered from thy vices and passions from al betternes and from all temptacions beynge in maner dronken in the loue of thy sauyour Yea thou shuldest be turned into a newe man and be transformed in maner into almyghty god For there is no exercise more holyer and more fruteful thē this whiche perced the harte of holye saint Augustine and other fryndes of god with the darte of loue when they wyth their inner eyes lyghtened of god did depely consyder the wonderfull tokens of the loue of God towardes them specially in this incarnacion lyfe and passion wyth other innumerable benefites of so greate and myghtye a lorde god geuen vnto them specyally whē they consydered earnestly the wonderfull charyte of god wherby he hath geuen him selfe vnto vs by his birth as a felow in our nature in the sacrament as our foode In hys death as the pryce of our redempcion and reigninge in heauē as our euerlasting rewarde whiche he graunt vs of hys mercy and charitie Amen ¶ Of the consyderacyon of thy selfe AFter this done then turne thy thought vnto the profunde and depe consideracion of thy selfe earnestly behold how noblye thy soule was created of God and made by his power of nought to his ymage and likenes Then consyder also how miserable fylthy and abhomynable it was made by orygynall syne in Adam and howe mercyfully thou arte redemed throwe the vnspekable loue and moost harde and paynefull satysfaction of thy lord Iesu Yet after thy baptisme thou hast innumerable tyme defyled thy selfe agayne by thy actual synnes turnynge thy loue and obedience from the sēpiternall goodnes which is god hym selfe by thy frowarde cursed and noughty wyl and arte become now more filthye more vyle than is the vnresonable beast Consyder well and marke into how manye euyls thou arte fallen by thy owne sinnes from the whiche euylles thou arte neuer able to aryse by thy selfe but only by the helpe of almyghte god by whom thou arte able to do all thynge that thou can do For by the true turninge or conuersion of thy loue to god and to all vertue thou mayst come agayne vnto the vnion wyth god Attende consyder earnestly that thou arte created therfore of god bycause that thou
the length thou most paynefully most miserably yet most louynglye and willinglye sufferest moost crewel moost bytter and moost shamefull deathe for me specially and for all mākynd and so well thou yet louyst me that if nede were thou art redy to suffer the lyke yea more paynfull passion more cruel death rather then I should perysh if I wold faithfully loue and serue the. ¶ O Most louing and mercyfull sauyoure Iesu I moost vnkind sinner haue neglected and set at nought the that haue done so muche for me and I haue offended as vnkyndly and as greuously as though thou haddest done nothing at all for me For I haue contynually offendyd and synned all my life but specially ī these N. Thou most here remember thy special dedly sinnes one after another and be speciallye sorye yf tyme wyll serue And generally I confesse my innumerable enormytes wherin I haue contēpned and offendyd the. Fyrst in breking of thy holy .x. commaundementes In the .xii. Artycles of the catholyque fayth The statutes and commaundementes of holy churche In the .xii. coūsels of the gospell In breking such priuate vowes as I haue promised In the .vii. mortal sinnes ¶ Omytting the .vii. workes of meryc gostly and in not doing the .vii. gyftes of the holy inspiracions I haue misused the gyftes of grace lent vnto me I haue mysused my v. vyttes or senses outwarde and my senses inward I haue misspent al the powers members and myghtes of my body and of my soule I haue mysspent the gyftes of nature the gyftes of fortune the giftes of the holy goost I haue not desposyd me to haue constante fayth perfect hope and burning charitie which are the thre theological vertewes I haue not had in me the foure cardinall vertues Prudence Iustice Fortytude and Temperaunce I haue not labored to haue in me the .xii. frutes of the holy gost I haue not labored so ernestly to com to perfection of lyfe and to the perfect loue of the as I wolde haue done to come vnto hyghe dignitie and honour of the worlde I haue sinned and lyued sinfully in euerye place in euery state in euery office that I haue lyued in by word by dede thought in omission in losse of my tyme and in vnkyndnes and vnthankfulnes towardes the my Lorde God towardes thy blessed mother and all thy blessed angels and saintes And agaynst all myne neighbors against the good folkes the blessed frindes of god agaynst the weake and sinners agaynste my benefactours and frendes agaynste my superiors my egalles my inferiours agaynste the quicke and the deade against the sowles in purgatory againste all creatures against my owne selfe agaynste both my body and my soule for I haue misvsed these creatures to the great dyshonor of the my lord god to the iniurye of myne neghbours and to the condemnacion of myne owne soule So that ther is no gyfte nor benefyt that thou haste geuen me nor no good thing in the whiche I haue sought the sincerely and purelye For I haue lesse or more sought myne owne commodytie myne owne wyll or pleasure Thus in all my hole lyfe I haue ether done commytted sinne eyther omyttyd and not done my dewty or els doing my dewty or any good woorke I haue not done it so syncerelye purely as I ought to haue done Wherfor I forsake here al kynde of sinne and al my dedes good and bad and I runne only vnto thy greate mercy and infinyte merytes ¶ O most mercyfull petyfull and most louyng lorde Iesu I moost humbly lowly beseke thy mercyful goodnes for thy most holy concepcion and natiuitye For thy blessed conuersacion and moost holy lyfe For thy moost harde and sore laboure and trauel for the great sorow and heuynes of thy blessed harte for thy most payneful agonye and bloudy sweat for al thy bytter and most paynfull passion for al the cruell effucion of thy moost precious bloud for thy most painful most cruel moost bytter and shamefull death graunt me mercy and forgeuenes of all my vnkindnes and sinne mortyfye in me al that offendeth the worke in me suche vertues as moost maye please thy blessed wyll in me to thy honour my saluacion Amen O Moste gloryus mother of mercy and ladye of grace my syngular help and comfort in heauen and in earth nexte vnto my lord god and sauyor Iesu I humbly beseke the for that holy passyon death and al the paines that thy deare sonne Iesu sufferyd in thy sorowfull syght For al the sorow heuines and most bytter compassion that thou sufferedst for him and me optain for me cleane remyssyon of al my synnes and all the paines that I haue deserued for them and increase of al vertue perfeccion Here praye to thy specyall aduowryes O Mooste blessyd and holy N N. N. N. and al ye moost holy and blessed company of heauen for al the paynes and labours that ye suffered here by the grace of the holy goost and for the very loue and honoure of god I humbly beseche your blessyd charyte pray for me vnto my lord and swet sauyour Iesu that he vochesaf to remyt my wickednes and synnes and so to confyrme me in his grace and loue that I neuer returne to syn agayne Here turne thy heart agayne vnto thy Lorde Iesu saynge ¶ And were I dayly fall and am redy to syn vochesafe to graūt me oh Lorde grace euer moore as ofte as I fal to arise againe with perfect sorow hate of syn and with most lowely cōfidēce trust of his blessed swet mercy That the multytude of my syn and mi great frailtie driue me not to disperate sorowe and inordynatte heuynes Nether let me mistrust the great and most gracius redynes of thy moost louyng mercy that is euer redye to forgyue as ofte as we do repent be yt neuer so ofte Draw me not to presūpcyon but that I how so euer whan so euer and how often soeuer I offend the I may moost lowly and mekely acknowelege my wretchydnes and frayltie and repente myne offences and synnes wyth a fyrme purpose to amend and with an vnfayned trust of remyssyon and forgeuenes in the infynyte merytes of thy most blessed blood payneful passyon and most precyus death to the glory honoure of thy mercy ful charytie most myghty maiestie Amē ¶ The Thyrd exercyse of reformacyon of the soul in the fyue wyttes sences COnsider how thy fyue wittes are wonderful wekened and dysorderid by the fall of our forefather and parent Adam But a greate deale more infected and disorderyd by thy owne actual synnes the great abuse of thē Wherefore that they may be redyer brought againe vnto ther former and original purenes wherin they were before the fall of adam thou must nedes shut vppe and refrayne from all misuse of all thy senses as thy syghte hearing taisting with thy tong smellyng and fealyng in the crucyfied humanitie of Chryst accordyng to hys exāple wyth so
greatte vyolence and laboure thou shalt haue somewhat to do ther in as thoughe thou were playnly dead and all mortyfyed vnto the world Thou muste lerne to haue a contynualle eye inwardely vnto thy soule spiritual lyfe as thou hast vsed here tofore to haue all thy mynd and regard to owtward pleasure and worldly thynges Thou must submyt and giue thy self vnto the disciplyne of swete Iesu and become hys scoler choisinge hym vnto thy Lorde and maister resynyng compelling thy self al together to obey hym in all thynges so that thy wyllynge and nyllyng thou vtterly and parfectely do caste away frō the indeuoringe thy selfe most straightly to please to obey thy most deare god most louing master in all thynges Wherfore here after thou must do nothyng be it neuer so lytle without his lycens For at euery word that thou wilt speake at euery morsel that thou wilte eate at euery styrīg or mouyng of euery artycle or member of of thy body thou must aske leaue of him in thy harte that is to saye thou muste examyne in thy conscience euery word dede that thou shalt speake or doo whether it be to the honour of god or no to what ende thou wylt speake or do it yf thy consience sincerely not sekinge it selfe do answere that it is to the glorye of god then hast thou lycence to speke or to do or els not The necessarye thynges that must needes be done or spoken thoughe it be certayne that they please god yet shalt thou do euery one of them and offer them vp wyth a newe intencion vnto god in the vnion of the most holy workes and blessed merites of chryst for the soule helthe of al men And as thou arte doing or sayeng any thing outwardely haue alway one eye inwardly towarde thy selfe and thy conscience And take hede and remember well when it is tyme for that to cease and leue of and then inmediatlye leaue of thy talke or doing And to optaine this grace thou must accostome thy selfe from thy very harte feruently to pray and to intreate thy lorde god euerye howre in maner what euer thou doist with this maner of aspiracion or lyke ¶ Oh Most swete sauiour Christ for thyne owne selfe sake by al thy blessyd perfections and mercyes by thy holye and moost blessyd manhed and thy holye fiue senses whiche so perfectly obeyed reasō that they semed swalowed vp of thy soule which also were so sore pained and afflicted with most sorowful paynes in thy blessed passion for my saluacion as though thou hadest had no senses or fealyng at al I moost humbly besech the that thou vochesafe to swalowe vp in the merytes of thy blessed senses al the fealyng and sensacion that I euer had haue nowe or euer may haue and so knyt and sanctyfie in thy moost blessed and holy soule al my wittes and senses that I neuer vse them here after to any sensualytie Yf thou can not bere this prayer in thy mynd take the affecte and make desyre or peticiō in thy harte as wel as thou canste Thou must labour to come vnto this vnyon and knitting vp of thy senses in god thy lorde Iesu and ther into remayne so fast vnto the crosse that thou neuer starte from it walkyng reuerently wyth moost honest mature or comely maners behauoure of thy bodye and all thy senses and euery where in the presence of thy lorde god And thou must so obserue and kepe thy lord god that he parte not from the and thy fyue wyttes and senses wyth thy whole soule so vse thy selfe that thou mayst thynke that thou seist nothing thou hearest fealest smellest tastest touchest thou eatest nor drynkeste nothing but in all thinges thou seakest purely not thy selfe but only thy Lord God and dost vse the creatures in god and for god wyth feare and reuerence to thy bare nede Thou must also in al thy necessites perels commyte the care of thy selfe and of al thyne yea of al thinges with moost ful cōfidence and trust into the most trustie prouidence of thy louing lord whych wyl order al thinges swetely and delectably and wyl defēd the and fyght for the. Reken also al thynges besyde hym for righte nought and thus mayst thou come vnto wonderfull illuminacions and gostly influēce frō thy lorde god yf thou for hys loue canste crucyfie renounce and forsake perfectlye thy selfe and al thinge This exercyse is the grounde of al gostly life and therfore thou must vse it and practyse it very long vntyl thou canst lerne and acostome to master to forsake thy selfe in al thynges waite and kepe wel thy selfe and thy lorde god this blessed loue for as moch as ther is no greater labour then to obserue kepe wel contynually thy lorde god and hys acceptable wyl and pleasure Thou shalt alway labour to come to the depe and exact circūsicion formacyon and mortifycation of the inner powers of thy soule as thy vnderstāding wyl and memorie The which as thy sensies wer so are these greatly corrupted and infected by the fal of our fyrst parent But a great deale worse we haue corrupted them and alienatyd them from god by oure owne sinnes That these also maye be brought restored vnto their former state and perfeccion vnto the whiche our Lord Iesus by his death restored them and to the end and purpose that they were creatyd geuen vnto thy soule thou must nedes continually desyre and intreate thy lorde god and neuer cease knockyng and callyng with most firme trust confidence that he can wyl helpe the. And that he vochsafe for the moost blessed merytes of the moost holye myghtes and powers of his most gloryus crucified humanyty to purifie reforme to gouerne and to light the powers of thy soule with stable knowlege loue and continual mynde and memorye that thou maist flow and tende toward and into almyghty god in hym to know and to vse al other thynges That thou maist come to that gyfte thou must exercyse and quyken wyth diligente labour thy vnderstandinge to knowe and vnderstand hyghly and deapely what god almyghty is and what he hath And when thou after this maner doist once knowe that he is the most best most noblest and most holyest of al then shall thy wyl perseauing that indeuer and desire to loue him whom he perceauyth to be so excellent and moost best But thou must circumcise pul away and crucifye thy wil frō al thynges that thou maist loue and desire god alonly wyth thy bare and whole harte and loue all other thinges for hym and in hym Then must thou also confirme thy wyll in most stedefast stronge knotte and vnyon vnto the wyll of god That if he wolde create hel in the and put the therin thou must offer thy selfe to be redy for his eternall glorie and honor and for thy sinnes to suffer it by his grace Thou shalt also ryd and make redy apte
thy memorye to haue the fruiciō of thi lord god for euer without any impedyment or meane These meanes or impedimētes ar the fancies and the imagynacions of other thinges besyde god or for god Thou must kepe thy memorye cleane and pure as it wer an wedloke chamber from al strange thoughtes phantasies ymaginacions And it must be trymmed and adorned with holy meditacions and vertues of chrystes holy crucified lyfe and passion that god may continually and for euer rest there in how often whē and how long it shal please him Wherfore thou must vse it with often louely and continuall desyres and holy afeccions to god warde thy louyng and moste kynde lorde and sauiour that he only may cōtinually be shutt vp in the that is to saye Thou must haue continuallye God in thy mynde and memorye and that thy mynde and memorye may runne only vpon hym what euer thou dost or wher euer thou be Thou must vse this exercise sōwhat lōg as I sayde before and thou must crye praye moost hartely and continually for the specyall helpe of god and that by hsi mightes powers by the praiers blessyd merytes of the gloryus virgyn Mary his mother the blyssed saintes in heuen thou shalt aske it The wiche thing yf thou do not optaine at the fyrst but abydest longe for some are of a clammye nature and muche geuen to phantasies they be therfore the lōger in labour be not discoraged nor ouerthrowē with tediousnes Cease not only perseuer haue a stronge and a firme confidence and trust in our lorde whiche neuer leaueth those that putteth ther trust in him and he wyl geue it the. For he is infinitly good and gracyous whiche in the simplenes of harte is sone founde for he is wonne by loue and with louely and holy desires and affeccions he wyl be optayned and sone gotten For god is infinite loue it selfe vse therefore often these aspiracions al the time that thou laborest in this exercyse or such as these be that foloweth ¶ Oh swet sauyour lyghten the blyndnes of my soule that I may know the and thy most blessed wyl ¶ Oh mightiful lord Iesu take fro me my vnkind hart geue me for it ether thi swet harte or an hart lyke vnto thy louyng hart that euer may loue laude and prayse the. ¶ Mortify ī me good lord my wycked wil graūt me to haue no other wil thē thine ¶ Oh most louing lorde fyxe my mynde so stedfastly vpon the that I may mynd nothing but the or nothing so ofte as the. ¶ My deare and swet sauiour graunte me grace to come to the perfecte knowledge of the thoughe I be ingnoraunte in all other knowelege ¶ The practyse of the Exercyse for reformaciō of the soule in the wyt senses MOst merciful sauyor Iesu which art that petiful samarytan which by thy holy incarnacion descendidst in to thys world wher thou foundest al the nature of man being in the state of dampnacion robbid in Adā by the serpent that gostly thief which spoilid our nature of the blessed gyfte and garment of innocencye and oryginall iustice and wounded our naturales that is to say all the sensies and powers of oure soule and maymed our frewyl blyndyd and darkned our vnderstanding crasyd our memorye and set out of order and made rebel al our fyue wyttes and sensualytie And thou moost pityful Lord taking compassyon vpon thys miserable and mortal plyght of our sore woūded and maimed nature thou with the bond of thy moost louely passyon and charytable death dydst bynd vpp our woūdes powryng in to them the wyne of thy precyus blood and the oyle of thy most heauenlye grace mooste myghtyful and blessyd physicyon and heauenly surgyon of my pore and sycke soul take compassion on my sore and deepe and innumerable woūdes For mercyful sauyor al the sensies wyttes and powers of my soule and bodie be very sore and deadly woūdyd not only by the first fal of Adam in to oryginal syn but I also my self haue more greuusly woūdyd them by innumerable actual synnes by the longe and contynual mysuse of them dayly Wherefore I moost humbly beseche the moost merciful Iesu graūt me the syngular helpe of thy grace that I may bryng them to that purenes and blessyd order that they hadde before the fal of adam by dew and dayly refraynyg and brideling them from al misuse and vse them only for bare necessitie accordyng to thy most holy example and so soberly to lyue as though I were dead vtterly and had no senses That I may lerne now to turne inwardly al my thought and pleasure as I haue hetherto set my pleasure and delyght in owtwarde and sensuall vanytie ¶ Graūt me grace most blessyd master to geue my self whooly to lerne at the and to take the for my example and to my mooste gracyus Lord and master resynyng and yeldyng my self fully and whooly to obey the so that I may caste vtterly awaye my owne wyl and in my self al together most streyghtly to obey and please the only that here after I may do no thing be it neuer so lytle without as it were thy loue ¶ Graūt me grace most gracius Iesu that at euery word that I intende to speke at euery loke of myne eye at euery morsell that I shall eate at the mouyng of euery ioynt or member of my bodie that I shall styre I may inwardly in my hart aske leue of the the whych leue yf good conscience do wytnes that I haue optayned than I may do it or els not ¶ Graunt me swete Iesu that I may do and offer al and euery one of my necessarie workes and deedes all and euery one of my good workes and dedes with an actual and a new intent to the laude and praise of the my lorde god in the vnion of thy moste holy workes blessid merites to the soule helth of al men And whyle I am seking or doyng any thinge outwardly graunte me grace to remember my selfe inwardly whē I ought to leaue of suche talking or doing and so to cease ¶ Moost deare sauiour and moost gracius good lorde I most hartely and humbly beseeke the for thy mercy and merytes sake and by al thy holy perfeccyons and myseracions whych are in the yea whiche thou arte thy selfe and by thy moost blessid and holy humanitie and by thy most holy fiue sensies whiche so myghtely obeyed reason and were swalowed vp of thy sowle the whiche also were most paynefully and so cruelly afflicted for my saluaciō as though thou hadist had no sensies at al. Good lord vochsafe in the merites of thy most blessid sensies soo to swalowe vp to knyte and to sanctify all my sensies in thy moost holye soule as thoughe I hade no sensies at all whiche myght at any tyme geue place to sensualytie Merciful Iesu for thy payneful wondes of thy blessed handes kepe my feelyng from al vncleane and vnnecessary feelyng and touching
for wyttyngely if wyl not admyt nor suffer anye ercesse or superfluitie It bryngyth forth also pouertie for it possesseth nothyng in this world nor of thys world verely pouertie volūtarie is a meruelus yea an excellent mean to possesse god Thes foresayd vertues of our Lorde Iesu Christ thou muste aske of him and labor to prynt them in to thy body and soule as muche as in the lyeth all thy lyfe tyme conformynge thy selfe in thes holy vertues to thy lord Iesu as muche as is possible for the alway eueriwher beholding by deuoute contemplacyon the image and memory of his crucyfied lyfe and death and folowynge the same in thes vertues that we haue spoken of or at the least in the fyue pryncypal stretchynge and naylynge thy self in thes vertues vnto hys cros so that what so euer thou turnest thy selfe ether on the ryght hande ether on the lefte hande thou mayst beholde on the parte of thy body and on that syde one of these vertues of Iesu set before thyne eyes to be holde and to folowe For oure Lorde Iesu wyl make none partakers of his death the refuseth to crucifye for his sake his owne fleshe with vyces and lustes and to mortyfye the same More ouer al be it that the mortification and crucyfieng of our most vyle fleshe be nothing in comparisō of the crosse and death of oure lorde god Yet that most myldest and mercyfull lorde of his endles pitie and goodnes dothe vochesafe to take thankefully the small crosses and paynes that we for hys loue do wyllingly bere and suffer whether by his permission and sufferaunce they be inwarde derelictyon and gostly tentaciō ether outward iniures oppressions and sorowes layde vpon vs. For how euer suche crosses come vpon vs he taketh them thankefully so that we bere them for hys sake and dye to our owne wil and desyre ¶ This exercise after thou haste well sucked and dygested it into thy hart thou shalt not forsake all dayes of thy lyfe ¶ Aspiracions for this exercyse ¶ Oh my deare redemer Iesu in the merytes of thy most bitter death mortifie in me all sinne and vyciosnes and plante in me all verteus ¶ Oh moost meke sauioure Iesu for thy meke death sake make me perfectly meke and sley in me all pryde ¶ Moost blessed and sempiternall wysedō of the father for thy cruel coronacion with thornes lyghten my wyts wyth thy holye wysedome and take from me all sinful ignoraunce ¶ My most dere and louynge Lorde Iesu for the precious woūde of thy swete harte woūde and perse my hart with thy perfect loue and burning charytie ¶ Moost ryghtfull Iuge of quicke deade my lorde Iesu graunte me perfecte ryghtwysenes that I maye geue vnto the vnto all creatures that I owe them ¶ Moste myghti lorde god my sauiour Iesu for all thy blessed payne passion grant me gostly fortytude and strēgth against al the assaltes and temtacions of the deuyll the worlde and my fleshe ¶ The practyse of this exercise to the feate of Iesu I Laude and prayse and geue most humble thankes vnto the meke and most mercyfull sauyour Iesu for the example of thy greate meekenes and for thy vnmeasurable loue and payne of the mooste blessyd woūdes that thou sufferydest in thy swete feate and in to this thy blessed woundes the merytes of thē I comyte my selfe wholy and all my wyckednes and sinnes of all my former lyfe specially all my detestable pryde vaine glorye and arrogancy Al my selfe wyl my desobediens my irreuerency and dyshonoure that I haue done to the thy mynisters and seruauntes All my impacyency my angrynes my rancore and malyce my vnprofitable ydell euyl talke detraccion and all kynde of sinne that appertayne vnto any of these besekynge the that they may be forgeuen and purged in thy precyous bloude and by the payne and sorowe of the same I most humble beseke moost mercyful Iesu for thy greate mercy In the merites of thys thy blessed woūdes of thy most holy feate by the payne and sorowe of the same by thy ineffable most profunde mekenes that thou shewed in taking on the our nature and for the loue and charytie that compelled that to suffer this payne and passion ¶ Graunte me most inwarde perfecte and deape mekenes of harte before thy deuine presence by the whiche I maye perfytely and clearely se the dignitie of thy infynite maiestye and the greate mekenes of the same And one the other syde I maye perfectly and clearely se and perceaue the bottomeles pyt of my vyces and naughtines I maye also at al tyme submite my selfe most lowly in harte and mynde and as oft as it shall be expediente in dede also vnto vnder al creatures I may wholy hate esteme my selfe as a thīg of nought I may desire and wyshe my selfe to be cōtempned dyspised and ouer trodden as the most vylest durte of the streetes of all men that I maye also be sory and refuse to haue anye benefyte or honoure of any creature That I maye also speake alway most mekely most gladly euer more acknowlege wyth out all excuse my greate faut and offence And vtterly dispeiring of my owne power and myght I may thynke retaine euermore frome the bottome of my harte these wordes vnfanyedly I am nought I haue nought I am able to do nought I desyre nought but one I maye also in mine own Iugemente for my greate wrechydnes vylenes place my selfe moost iustlye and worthelye in the loweste and depest place in hell ¶ Graunte me also gracious sauioure in the merytes of thy obediente death and passyon grace to folowe thy moost pure perfecte obedyence by most flexible and redye submission of most prompte wyl so that I may neuer be wery in forsakinge and denyeng myne owne proper wyl and fansyin al thynge subduinge my fleshe vnto the spirite both in kepinge and fulfylling most mekely thy will and pleasure inwardlye also outwardly in obeying not only my superiors but also al creatures as far as it maye be lauful Graunte good lord grace that I neuer do any thinge with proprietie or affection singular being to ernest or to moche geuen vnto it but with a continual mekenes of my harte and mynde vnto thy wyl I may as it were lye at thy foote I maye desyre nothinge neyther in my selfe netyher in any creature while the worlde standith saue only to knowe execute thy blessed wyll saynge alwaye in my harte with the desyre of my mynd Lord what wilt thou that I shall do And so euermore I maye transforme and conforme my wyll into thyne or vtterly forsake my wyll and turne it to nothinge ¶ Graunt me also most gracious lorde to folowe thy most wonderfull pacience and myldnes where in I may with most quiet and thankefull harte receaue at the hande of thy hyghe prouydence all pouertye all rebuke and shame al payne grefe and sorowe acknowleginge my selfe moost
and passion of Chryst prynting deapely in to thy soule fleshe his passion deathe that they shyne out of the like a lanterne so that thou alwaye thinke and talke of them For Chryste oure sauyor by the same redemed vs when the deuyl possessed vs as his slaues and bond men that now we are the fathers of heuē which by his only begottē sonne hath bought vs paying by hym our dettes wherein we were bound vnto him And for thys greate benefit we remayne detters vnto him for euer Wherefore yf we wil repaye this det vnto him godly and thankefuly we must prynt hys lyfe passyō and death ī to the powers of our soule and in to the sensies of our bodie and in to al our fleshe we must beare this his crosse vppon vs and folowe effecteously as thoughe we were become one with him in his lyfe and passion And thus the dette that he paied for vs we do some what recompence That thou mayst perfectly fulfyl the same thou must neades conforme or make lyke all thy thoughtes thy wordes dedes thy maners so lyke vnto the thoughtes the wordes the dedes and maners of thy lorde Iesu chryst that wheresoeuer thou be seene harde or touched there be nothinge found in the but that which was in Iesu chryst then shal be sene in that that thou art a very christiā a seruante louer of Chryste And bycause that we are lyke hym in the nature of hys manhed we must according to this example crucify oure nature in vs bycause our nature dyd wyllynglye synne as he exhorteth vs in the holye gospell sayenge deny and forsake thy selfe and take vp thy crosse vpon thy backe folowe me In this he commaundeth that we shoulde crucifye oure bodely nature and sensualytie wyth very true vertues Our soule also we must confirme and make lyke vnto the most heuye and sorowfull soule of our lorde Iesu so shall we do yf we sorow and lamente al waye the greate dishonour of god the losse of soules and our owne sinnes and the sinnes of all men And loke howe muche we wante in this conformytie and folowing of christes passion in oure bodye and soule so moche more we remayne in debte vnto oure lorde god Certaynely a faythfull louer of Iesu ought to drowne in maner so prynte hym selfe into the lyfe and passyon of hym that he shoulde feale that passion lyfe more presente and more fastened into hym selfe then hys owne payne or crosse that he suferith yea yf he had any specyal paine or gryef in any member of his body were sore vexed therewyth yet shoulde he feele more the payne and passion of hys Lorde Iesu then the sorowe that payneth hym in the member of hys owne bodie Wherfore thou oughtes wyth greate desyre and deuoute harte contynually to pray intrete thy most gracious lorde Iesu that he vochsafe to confyrme the most perfectly vnto hys mortifyed holy and crucyfyed humanytye by an ardent an eleuate and a ful resygned spirite and by a mortifyed an heuy and a compassionate soule and also by an aflyctyd a laborsome a tormented and a pained bodye or at the least thou shalte praye hym to sende the some bodely and contynuall payne or grefe to put the in mynde alwaye of hys bytter passion that thou forgette it not also that he vochesafe to rest in the and to take pleasure to worke in the wythout any inpedimente We ought therfore to exercyse our selfes in the most blessid passion of oure lorde .vi. maners of wayes Fyrste thou shalte exercise thy selfe in the passion of Iesu by imitacion or to folowe it Secōdly by cōpassion or to haue cōpassiō therin Thirdly by admyracion to haue wonder Fourthly by ioy or to reioyse therin Fiftly by resoluciō or to be resoluid therī Syxtly by deuocion to rest therin Fyrste thou oughtest to haue meditacion in this blessid passion that thou mightest folowe the same for it is the hyghe most perfectest imytacion that a man can haue this is the hygh and most holyest relygion and most relygius perfecciō To folow Christ in his death and passion is the rule and the example of oure sauiour the rule of our lyfe in whō we may haue so moche the more confort consolaciō as we herein be the more conformable and lyke oure lorde Iesu And let vs thinke oure selfes so moche the more desolate as we fynd oure selfes farre from this example rule Let vs therfore wyshe and desire as moch as lieth in vs to be cast downe to be set at nought to be scornyd afflycted scorged of all persons and in the seruice that we do to God to be rebuked of all men Let vs be poore and barewyth poore and bare Iesu let vs desyre to haue nothing Yea let it be most payneful payne and vnmesurable sorow to haue any thīg and to haue nothinge let it be perfecte Ioy gladnes let vs abhorre al to tast swete delectable thinges let vs rather desire to be refreshed with vyle homely bytter thynges and let vs desyre that al fode or mete may tast to vs rather galle then hony bicause that Iesus dranke vineger gal And as I may saie breuely let vs cōsider how he vsed him selfe in his passiō and let vs conforme our selfe for our litle power vnto him as much as we can keping and obseruyng alway the meane and moderacion that we excede not the measure of oure infyrmytie Secondly thou must exercise thy selfe in the blessyd passion of thy Lord Iesu that thou mayste take compassyon on hym moost innocent cōsideryng his cruel scorging his scornes his reuyles and rebukes reuoluyng in thy hart howe greatly our Lord Iesu was dyiectid cōtempnyd in his most bitter passion how great afflicciō paine he suffered ī his hart body both by reason of his owne payne and passyon also by reason of hys compassyon towarde vs for our synnes Let vs consider with howe muche bytter sorow the very swet angells where repleanisshed with al how moch greuyd our Lorde Iesu not only the payne layd vppon hym and our vnthankefullnes but also the sore afflyccyon of hys deare mother that stode by whome he louyd moost dearely and fre he rredy to swone for sorow Certaynly by reason of the excedyng grate and moost ardent burning loue that the one bare to the other they suffered most payneful compassion and the affliction of bothe partes was exceding greate For the one sufferyd for the other sake For the mother knew wel that her dere sonne suffered for her specyally as wel as for to redeme other The sonne also knewe full well that the swerde of sorowe of hys passion perced the soule and harte of his his mother And therfore was the passion of the sonne the passion also of the mother Goo to thē good doughter the seruāt of god and the spowse of chryst to se and turne these in thy harte wyth the rebukes and paynes of thy lorde
to be an outcaste to be scornyd to be afflictid beaten to be rebukyd of al parsones when I do the most seruyce for so were thou handlyd when thou dydest most good and greateste myracles ¶ Graunt me grace moost gracius sauior that I may be so bare pore in spryte that I may wyshe or desire nothing but rather I may thynke it a greuus paine and vnmesurable sorow to haue any thyng and that it may be my singular pleasur ioy to haue nothinge and to want my necessaryes for thy sake ¶ Graunt me grace good Lord to abhore al delyght and pleasure and swettnes in al thing saue in the only that I may desyre in al thyng rudenes homlines and bitternes in meat and drinke I may desyre that thing should rather be bitter then swete remembring thou my deare redemer drankyst for my sake sowre vyneger gall And generally in al laboure trauel sorow shame paine and greafe graunte me grace to conforme my selfe in al thing to thy blessyd example with discreacyon as my wretchid nature is able to suffer to thy honor and glorie ¶ Gracyus good Lord Iesu graunt me thi special grace that I mai oft time haue swet meditacion of thy bitter passion with most true and earnest compassion and sorow for the pure loue of the when I consider what greate payne sorowe and afflyccyon thou didst suffer for my sinnes what deadly and payneful agony sorowful heuynes thou sufferedst in thy moost louynge swete and tender hart when thou swettist both water and blood thou weptest vppon the crosse for our sin and vnkindnes And that I may sorowe the greate dyshonour of thy blessyd celestyal father and namely for the intollerable payne and turmentes that thou were in but in speciall that thou tokest for thy sorowful and mooste lamentable mother whom thou louydst most tenderly when thou dydyst behold her redie to die for very sorow and heuynes For thy passyon was a passyon mooste paynful vnto thy mooste blessid and tender mother more greuus more bitter then euer was turmēt or martyrdom to any saint that euer sufferid for the. ¶ Graunt me moost swet Iesu oft tyme to reuolue in my hart thes two sorowful and painefull passions of the and of thy mother and to lament morne sorow in my harte wyth the my most louyng Lorde Iesu and wyth that blessed mayd thy swete mother Make me one good Lord with that by moste intyre loue that I may sorow and lament as much yea and more thy paynes then yf I sufferyd them my self ¶ Good lord neuer let thi rebuke shame reuilinges depart out of my mind nor out of the very bottom of my harte nor thy bitter scorgyngs thy thornes thy woūdes precious death neuer be out of my mind that what so euer is in me may be ful of thy paines passion that I may cōtinually sorow therfore to thy honor my soule helth ¶ Gracius good lord and deare sauior Iesu graūt me grace to mind oft time thy bitter paine and passion with most reuerent and louely admiracion depely and amyably to consider Fyrst what thou art that suffredst so louingly kyndly for me that I may reuerently see and parceaue that it was no smalle personage that was so crewelly put to death for my sake but it was the very sonne of al myghty god the second parsone in trinitie very god and man moost myghtest moost excellent infinitely good most noblest in comparyson of whom al the goodnes all excellency al wysedome al nobilitie that is in al creatures or can be thought of al vnderstandynge or wyt is nothing For this mightye maiestie and mooste vnmesurable excellencie incomparably transendyth surmoūteth al things in heauen or earth ¶ Graunt me grace also good Lord to consider how greuous and cruel paines so noble and excellent maiestie sufferid for me howe greate trauel and labor how greate hunger thurst cold heate watche temptacions feare parsecucyon agony bloody swete mooste crewel comprehēsion spyttinges reuiles sore bondes scorginges mockes scornes sorow shame cōfusyons beatynges greuous strokes innumerable plages and woundes and most crewel and payneful death For in thy passion very honour and glorie it selfe was dispisid and dishonored rightousnes was condempned the iuge of al the world was iuged the harmeles was rebuked and accusyd and the innocent was defamyd god hym self was blasphemyd god man ouer trodden life it selfe was slaine the sun was eclipsid the moone was darkenid the starres were sparkelyd Yet al those paines and passion didest thou moost innocente lambe suffre and bare most paciently for mi sake which were able and couldest yf it had pleasid the haue drownyd in the botomeles pyt of hell al those vnkynde and cruel creaturs and wyckyd people ¶ Graunt me grace to consider of whome my gracyus good Lord Iesu thou sufferedist so cruelly For if thou haddest sufferyd of them whome thou haddest harmyd or hatyd it had not byn so wonderfull But thou sufferedest of thē whom thou didist specially chose and syngularly louyd vnto whome thou shewedst specyall goodnesse and all kynd of benignitie And for thy great goodnes and benyfittes for thy great vertues and myracles for thy most holy conuersacyon and doctrine thou were cruelly tormented and put to death of most vylaines beyng moost excellent and valyant prynce The moost wisest ye the eternall wisedom of the father of most ignorant Most holiest of moost sinful Most godlyest of moost vngodlyest Moost righteus of most wickyd The euerlasting and eternall brightnes of god of the most and foule and filthy drosse and durte of the worlde The Lorde of hys owne seruauntes The kyng of hys owne subiectes The sauioure and benefactoure of them that he hath saued done most for ¶ God almyghty of hys vnkind and wretched creature It may make me most gracious lorde Iesu more to wōder and meruell when I consider and waye deapelye wyth my selfe for whom thou sufferedst For most louyng lorde and mercyfull sauiour thou suffredst for most vile slaues most sinful enymies most wretchyd caytifes ye very deuelles and dyabolycall persons and the very chyldren of the deuyll by imytacion for the contemners and dyspycers of the maiestie of god and most vnkinde and vnthankeful to the infinite goodnes of their lorde and maker of the which nomber oh mercyfull sauioure Iesu I am one I haue greate cause therfore wyth louely admyracion to laude and prayse thy mercyfull goodnes towarde me and al mankind and wyth moost lowly thankes to ioye in thy moost blessed mercy ¶ Graunt me therfore most gracious Iesu to haue ofte in the meditaciō of thy passion gostly ioye and gladnes with thankes geuyng vnto the for the redempcion of mā kynd for the restoryng of the quieres of angels and for thy dyuine clemencye and godly mercy ¶ Graunt me grace moost mercyfull Iesu wyth gostly gladnes to remēber how mercyfull how louyngly thou hast redemed al mankynd
specially me by thy moost blessyd passion and death remembryng howe willingly how gladly how deuoutly thou offredst thy selfe to most cruel death for my sake There is no creature that euer louyd hym selfe so well as thou dydest and dost loue me ¶ Great cause haue I to reioyse in the swete Iesu For by thy death and passion thou haste restored agayne the blessed gloryus quieers of angelles not creatyng new angels but mercyfully placing penytent soules in the hygh orders of the blessed angelles and so hayst made by thy most precyous death one hygh heuenly colege and one blessed flocke of angelles and men Whereof thou arte the very trew shepeherd Thou arte the glorius and most royal kyng vpon whō al we that be of that blessed heuenly courte shall perpetually wayte and serue in ioye euerlastyng thorough the merites of thy precious death and most blessed passion ¶ Graunt me grace moost gracious sauioure Iesu not only faythfully to folow thy passion to haue compassion thereof reuerētly to maruel and to reioyce goostly therein but also that I al together maye be resolued into the that I maye alway whereuer I be so earnestly mynde thy passion that I may departe from the memorye of myne owne selfe and of all thynges yea abstracted from al the world I may be wholy turned into the my lorde Iesu crucyfied And that of very mindful loue of thy blessed passion I may feale nothing wythin my selfe nor se nothing outwardly but the my lorde in payne and passion for me ¶ Graunt me grace most gracious lorde Iesu wyth moost vehemente desyre of my harte to enter into the ineffable treasure of thy blessed passion And therin moost mekely moost deuoutly wyth moost feruente and burnyng loue forgettynge vtterly my selfe to rest by inward swetnes That the more I loue that tender death and payne the more perfectly I may rest therin and the more that I rest therin the more I may loue the whyche suffered so great payne for me to the be therfore al glory and honour now and euer Amen ¶ The seuenth exercise to come to the pure pouertie and loue of thyne euen chrysten THou must circumcyse and purge thy soule very ernestly from all knowlege loue and remembraūce of all creatures excepte them only whome thou must neades haue vse in god and for god and kepe thy sensies wyttes at all tymes streghtly from all superfluitie vanytie and ydelnes And kepe also thy bodye alwaye in symple homlynes in sobryetie and pouertye And cast frome the ac on s all thinges that myght let the or be any impedyment at any tyme betwene thy soule and god yea if it were but a momente of time And that thou myghtest fulfyl this the better thou shalt marke well and dylygently all the meanes and lettes vysyble and inuisyble al creatures sensible and insensyble that euer dyd let the or were any impedymente or meanes betwene the god or yet may be hereafter And turne thi whole harte verely and perfectly from thē so cut them of from thy soule and turne thy whole harte to god Thou shalt also cōsyder wether thou be in suche place state wherein thou maiste come to perfeccyon yf thou be not thou must then seke suche a place and state Al exteryal and outwarde thinges must be cut of and resigned which thou vsest aboue more then very and iust necessitie with the which bare necessitye only for the loue of the pouertie of chryst thou must be contented That is to saye wyth two cotes or habytes to change and in like sorte of other necessarye apparell wyth a fewe bokes wyth one or two sober meales in the daie according to the time chosinge alwaye in all thynges the vyler or more homlier that meke symplycitie may euery where shine apere in the in thy desires For outward pouertie wyshed for and desyred in harte doth helpe wonderly moch to come to the verye profite and peace of the harte And specially when thou arte very wel cōtent to lacke thy necessaries or whē necessite compellyth thou dost vse necessaries in symplycite wyth tedyousnes yerkesōnes Moreouer a great forderaunce to perfection are these thynges To forsake vtterly al exquisite delectacion wilful fansy to any thinge to loue pouertie Yf it seme expedient for the person it is good also to make a vow to flye the vnnecessarye company of all creatures A stronge and stedfast cleauyng vnto god Symple and pure obedyence a worde both to god and to thy superiours A dylygent keping of thy hart mouth and of al thy dedes and such other These thou must exercise folowe and take as the very oportune and conuenyent meanes to perfectiō Thou must also exchew and a voyde all impedymentes as thy conscience or thy coūseller shal teache ye. Thou must therfore make a diligent serch of thy cōscience least any vice or faute be it neuer so lytle do sticke or cleaue inwardly or outwardly fast vnto the. Loke ther do remayne not wyth the curious superflus or any vnnecessarye thyng For so longe as it is so wyth the the holy gooste can neuer worke perfectly in thee For the greate synnes in to the which we fal vnwares or of frayltie bewayle them god forgeuyth them sooner then the leaste faut that dothe cleane and remayne in vs specially when we wil not acknowlege or wyl not or care not to amende it ¶ Thou shalt after thes exercyse thy selfe in very true loue of al men accordynge to the example and the charytie of thy sauyor Iesu Chryst whiche with moost burninge loue and desyre spent or bestowid him selfe al together for al men he also taught and shewid the way of saluacion and of perfeccyon with moost holy godly doctryne he gaue hym selfe also mooste wyllyngly and louinglye vnto al payne contumely and confusyon that myght chance vnto hym for their saluacion Wherfore yf thou wilt take vpon the his lyfe vnfaynedly thou must folow him in this point of loue Thou must also leade alway an holy a godlyke lyfe before al men that by thi lyfe they may be drawne and prouokyd to folow the lyfe of Iesu Chryst thi Lord. Thou shalt teache wyth some good exhortacyon thyne euen chrysten yf it may stand with thy state and vocayon at tyme conuenyent the way to euerlastyng lyfe Wherefore when thou cōmest to thy euen christen thou shalte leaue vaine talke except thou haue any necessite or necessary matter and shalte talke with hym of vertue and of grace such things wherby he may be the better exhortyng him to the loue of god to folow the holy lyfe loue of Iesu chryst and that he wyl consyder the nobilitie worthynes of hys soule howe in his soule god prynted his owne ymage lykenes hathe redemed the same his owne selfe and howe the loue of god is the very lyfe of the soule euen as the soule is the lyfe of the bodye as
kind of vertues And make me to abhorre al sinne aboue al hateful thynges in this worlde specyally pryde and vainglory arrogācy mine owne wyl in obedience irreuerencie towarde the and thy substitutes al impacience wrath rancor muche talke detraction and al vices that commeth of them And graunte me grace to drawe and sucke frome the precious woundes of thy most blessid fete mooste profunde and lowe humylytie perfecte pacience obedience and perfecte sylence wyth all the kyndes that procedyth of these And from thy blessyd head crouned with thornes graunt me grace to detest and forsake al pertynacie stubburnes in my owne opinion and wysedome al abuse of my sences and disolucion all the neglectyng of the holy feare of the al flattery and feare of man al indiscrection and my greate intēperaunce my impure intencion and sekyng of my selfe and al other vyces belongyng here vnto ¶ Most mercyful sauiour Iesu I humbly beseke the for the most bitter payne that thou sufferest in thy heade crowned wyth thornes prynte into my head and adorne it with thy godly wysedome so much as maye be moost to thy honour and my saluacyon That I may vnderstand thy infinite goodnes my vnmesurable vyle wretchednes ¶ Graunte me also thy holye and filyall feare and hate of sin be it neuer so small ¶ Graunte me cleare and perfect discrecion that I may se al the grinnes of sathan and seking of my self my errors excesses ¶ Graunte me the holy simplicitie of thy lytle ones that I may purely take al thynges to the best and obey the and all men in the and for the and wyth al symplycytie do what euer be commaundyd me except sin wythout gruging resysting or seking why or wherfore And for thy most louing and swete harte launced with a knyghtes speare for my loue and saluacion graunte me grace to deteste and abhor al the pryuate and inordynate loue of my selfe and of any creature the abuse the yrreuerence and neglygence of thy blessid sacramentes and gyftes all mystruste infydelytie and errors al feare inordynate wekenes of spyryte and disperacion my greate negligēce and vnstedfastnes in those thinges that belongeth to my estate and callyng and all other vyces that belongyth to any of these and al kyndes and cyrcumstances that cōmyth of any of these Besekyng the moost louynge lorde Iesu of thy moost ardente burninge charytie and loue of thy deuyne harte and for that precyous wound and al the heuynes whiche thou sufferest therein for my sake and loue and saluacion graue and prynte into my hart thy woūdid hart and fulfyl my harte with the most perfecte loue of the and charytie whiche may sleye and mortifie in me al pryuate and inordynate loue vnto my self and to al creatures and make me to loue the only wyth al my harte al my soule with al my mynde and al my strenght and to loue al men in the for the as my selfe ¶ Grant me perfecte cōstance catholyque fayth to auoyde al errors ¶ Graunt me perfect hope and trust in the that I may in al trouble gostly and bodely auoyde al desparacion and euermore mekely trust in thy mercyful helpe protectiō and comforte ¶ Graunte me stabylitie perseueraunce that I may procede and encrease dayly frō vertue to vertue and grow in al perfectiō ¶ Moost mercyful sauyour Iesu for the incōprehencible loue and sorow of thy woūded and blessid right hand graunt me grace to detest abhorre al vnryghteousenes wronge al bytter melacolynes of hart al displeasure and enuy al falsed vntruthe and ypocrisie al vnkyndnes and vnthankfulnes towardes the and thyne besekynge the moost mercyful lord Iesu for the most bytter payne and grefe of thy wounde in thy ryght hande to graunt me perfecte iustice and ryghtwysenes that I may geue vnto the my lorde al honor and glory thākes prayse and obedyence in al my cogitacyons wordes and dedes And to gyue to my superiors my eguals and inferyors vnto my bodye and soul al thynge that belong vnto them doing and performyng al thynges truly that is my duety vnto them accordyng vnto my state and callyng ¶ Graunte me grace also to folow thy blessyd example in al mercy pytie compassiō and boūtyfulnes both to my frendes and foes Graunt me to folowe thy holy truth and godly zeale agaynst al vyce and sinne both of myne owne and of other men for thy honoures sake and theire soules helth ¶ Graunte me also the grace of thankefulnes that I may be thankeful and kynd alwaye vnto the my louyng lorde Iesu for thy innumerable benefites and vnto euery man for there kyndnes and benefytes shewed vnto me ¶ Moost myghtyful maker and swete sauioure Iesu for the incomprehensyble loue and payne of the blessid wound in thy lefte hande I humbly beseke the graunt me vtterly to deteste and abhor cowardnes sluggysnes and slouth al ydelnes and losse of tyme al vnclēnes of bodye and soule al intemperaunce and excesse in meate drynke and al other necessaryes al gredynes couetise and al vyces and sinnes that commyth of any of these humbly beseking the my lorde Iesu for the intollerable payne sorow that thou sufferedst in the wound of thy lefte hande powre into my sinful soule so muche fortytude as is necessarie for me to thy honoure and my souls helth Wherby I may rule and gouerne my wyl the powers and sences of my bodye and soule so that nether fearyng the deuyl the world nor men nether yet mine owne wil or flesh life nor death I may māfully passe thorow and contemne al thinges for thy loue ¶ Graunt me grace to folow thy amyable chastytie of bodye and purytie of harte that I may vehemently detest al vnclēnes and that I may contynually kepe al my cogytacions and my senses from all sinne and occacyons thereof and from al inpuritie cleuynge vnto any creature ¶ Graunt me the grace to folowe also thy moost holy sobryetie whereby I maye refrayne and mortyfie al my sensies and powers of my body from al inordinate delectacion pleasure and superfluitie and that I maye vse bare necessaries wyth the grace of the wythout any lust or pleasure inordynate in them ¶ Graunte me grace also to folowe thy moost blessed voluntarye pouertye which ledyth a man maruelous spedely vnto god whereby I maye by thy grace be made remayne so bare so poore in spirite so lose from al loue and delyght in any creature frō cleuyng to thy gostly giftes inwardly and from al affection of temporal thinges outwardly that I may vse and take my very necessaries wyth lothesomenes paine that I may neuer desire to possesse any thing but that I bare and nakyd from al creatures may fyxe my delyght ioye and ful rest betwene thy blessyd bare armes being crucyfied thus wyth the and so to render and make amendes wyth my verteus lyfe in some parte that whyche wyth my former synful lyfe I toke from the
be created moost frely and franckely for this tyme for euermore to abyde at thy pleasure all aduersytie goostly and bodely al payne grefe of harte and of bodye and vnto all thynges whatsoeuer thou wylle sende or suffer to come vnto me Yea moost mercyful lorde Iesu for thy loue I offer my selfe redie to suffer yf it be thy blessyd wyl the bitter paines of hel And I desire that thou might so haue me at thy pleasure as thou hadste me before thou creatydst me to thy honour and glory SEcondly thou shalt aske of thy lord Iesu not only all the graces and gyftes that he hath which thou nedest but also al that god him selfe is that thou myghtest haue the fruycyon of hym reste in hym and in his only and infynyte loue Thou shalte aske also a bare and a perfecte spirit the open and cleare knowlege of his dyuine goodnes and wyl and of thine own vnworthynes the knowlege and perfectiō of al vertues and most strong perseuerāce in godlynes and vertue Thou shalte aske al necessaries for thy soule helth and for al thy special frendes and for the whole world and the holy churche of chryst and for the soules in purgatorye in this maner or other lyke MOst blessyd and glorious lord and swete sauyoure Iesu for the tender loue of thy moost swete harte graunte me in al those gyftes and graces that thou hayste and be necessarye for me to my soule healthe and saluacion but specially graunte me aboue and afore all thynges thyne owne selfe thy incomprehēsyble and moost blessyd godhede that my soule maye haue the fruicion hereof and that I maye rest only in it and in the sinceare and infynite loue of it ¶ Graunte me swete sauioure also a bare senceare and a perfecte spirite wyth moost perfect and clear knowledge of thy dyuine goodnes the knowlege of thy wyl and plesurs and perfecte syght and knowlege of my noughtines and greate vnworthynes the knowlege and perfection of al vertew and perfecte and stronge perseueraunce in the same ¶ Graunt me al thinges necessary for my soules helth and for the comforte soules helth of al my specyal frendes and louers And graunte peace and thy protection to al holy churches and mercy to the soules in purgatory to thy honor glory Amen ANd for as much as god hath louyd that from the begynnyng with an infinite charytie and for that charitie thy lord and sauiour Iesu suffered his cruel deathe and passion thou shalt confyrme thy selfe vnto his charitie desyryng moost hartely yf it shoulde please hym that thou myghtest lyue in this worlde in as greate derelyction and desolacion in as greate sorowe and shame in as greate pouertie and myserye as thy sauioure Iesu dyd And that thy bare soule myghte be adornyd and indued wyth the same vertewes wherwyth hys blessid soule was indued And bycause that he ys the very euerlastyng charitie it selfe and thou canst not come into hym but if thou be trāsformed and turned al together into loue Therfore thou shalte aske wyth moost feruente desyre to be indued wyth the charytie and loue that thy sauyoure Iesu was indued That thus thou mayste become formyd and made lyke vnto hym both in hys manhed and hys godhed makyng this peticion wyth harty desyre GRaunte me also moost merciful and moost myghtyful sauioure Iesu as shal please the that I maye for thy honoure and loue lyue in this worlde in as greate desolacion and as comfortles in as great sorow shame in as great labor and trouble in as greate myserye and pouertie as thou dydest for me And most gracyous lord adorne indue my soul wyth al those blessid and holy vertues that thy blessyd soule and humanitie was indued wtal And specyally I most hartely and with most ardent desyre beseke the my most gracius lord god transforme me altogether in to the perfecte loue of the. And specially my soule into that charitie whych thy moost blessyd soule had and hath euermore to thy moost honoure and glory Amen FOurthlye thou shalte vehementlye and hartely desyre that thou maist be knyte and made one wyth hym moost blessedly and happely wythout any meane immediatly Thē if thou feale thine harte and mynd knit in most feruente and burning desyre and loue of hym thou shalt approche vnto the blessyd dyuinitie eleuatynge and lyftynge vp thy whole thoughte vnto the blessyd godhed of chryst forgetting cleane and leauing out of thy mind and for gettyng al thyng creatyd Yea not fealyng nor thynking vpon thy selfe Thus shalte thou depely drowne hide transforme or turne thy selfe wholy into the moost delectable moost swetest and most blessyd loue of thy lorde god yea thy very euerlastynge loue ful of moost ardent charytie So that thou myghtest neuer here after be found or knowen of any creature Here also thou shalte moost hartely desyre to be swalowed vp to be cleane consumed of that infynit goodnes and also to swalow vp and consume in to thy selfe that blessyd goodnes saynge in thy harte OH moost blessid goodnes and most holy and gloryous godhed of my sauior Iesu I humbly beseke the rauyshe me and hyde me wythin thy blessid goodnes infynite charytie that I neuer be founde lyke other frayle creatures that I may forget al thinges and also forget and lose my selfe that I may both be consumyd swalowid of the and into the and thou into me for ther only is the true loue rest and felicyte of my soule there is my begynning my most blessyd rest and ending in that infynyte goodnes whiche is none other then an vnmesurable bottomeles depth of eternal infinite loue ¶ Thus in suche contēplacion in the harte of Iesu thou mayst be al moolten in the admyrable loue and superadmyrable goodnes of thy lorde god the spouse the most swetest loue of thy soule Moost humbly then thou shalte desyre him to open vnto the that moost fayrest most lyghtsome and pleasante kyngdome of his holy dyuinitie and that he vochesafe to trāslate and vtterly drowne the whooly in it sayenge in this maner wyth harty deuocion or lyke O Superadmyrable power vnmesurable wysedome and infinitie goodnes of my lorde God O superadmyrable wonder and ouer wonderful goodnes whē wylte thou transforme and hyde me al to gether in thyne owne selfe and thy selfe in me O myghtyful lord it is as lytle leasse for the thus to swalow vp and deuour me in the as it is to the vnmesurable mayne sea to deuoure one lytle drop of water O my lorde god creatoure and confirmer of al thyng wold to god I could make of euery creature in the world a resonable soule and of euery soule specially of myne owne soule the kyngdome of heauē wher thou myghtest haue al peace and al ioye swete Iesu for al the sorowe and heuynes thou sufferedst for me I wold most hartely and gladly geue al these vnto the. Most louyng lorde yf it may please the let me suffer
shoulde do bycause I se not my great enormytes and detestable wyckednes of my former lyfe I beseke thy moste blessed mercy in the mercyes of thy moost obedyente death helpe my imperfection that I may make ful resignaciō vnto thy only wil in al thinges to thy honour glory Amen THough thou can not at the fyrst fully make vnfained oblaciō to al these so faythfully that thou wolde not feare by by to abide and suffer any or al of these for gods sake for perhappes thou shalt fele in thy selfe feare or gruge yf thou shuldest be put to any of these yet be of good cōfort and haue trust that god wyl worke it in the in tyme at his blessed wyl and pleasure so thou do acknowlege thy infyrmytes and cry mercy and continew thy good purpose that thou hast begone and this offerynge shal be very acceptable vnto god vntil thou canst do better And when thou fealest thy selfe somewhat resygned vnto the wyll of god in all these thynges then maist thou with ful confydence and trust enter to the other membre of this exercyse whiche is peticiō or postulacion and knocke wyth the second hammer notwithstāding wether thou fele thy selfe fully resigned or not yf thou haue a desyre to be resygned perfectly to god in al these forsaid thinges feare not nor faile not but in the name of god wyth a humble hope and a meke confidence in the greate mercies of god make this peticion knock thus wyth thys hāmer as deuoutly as thou can in thy mynde vnto almyghty God as our sauiour chryst teacheth vs saing Seke ye shal haue or it shal be geuen vnto you MOOST gloryous god almyghty and moost lyberal lorde god which for thy infinitie goodnes art redye to geue vnto all that faythfully mekely do aske of the that which maye bee to thy glory and honour and theire soules helth And specyally the blessed fruycion of thy selfe in perfecte loue I moost mekely most lowly and deuoutly beseke thy vnmesurable goodnes and most lyberal mercy in the blessed and infynitie merites of my sauiour Iesu for thy mercyful charytie that thou bearest towardes my poore soule for his sake graunt me good lorde the moost blessed fruicion of thy only godhede That my whole affection loue and desire may be satisfyed fully fixed and altogether restyd in the only by the bare pure sincere loue of the and in no other vertue giftes or graces be it neuer so excellent but in the only my most blessed lorde god and moost deare loue of my soule ¶ Graunte me not withstādyng god lord al such special graces and thy gyftes whiche may helpe and bring me vnto the more perfection of lyfe in the trewe loue of the not to rest in them but by them to come to the least restynge in them I myght highly offend the and wexe colde in the desyre of spirituall profyte And in special graunte me gracious good lord most pure perfect clere lyghtenyng of my vnderstandynge that I maye moost fully and perfectly knowe vnderstand in al thynges thy most blessyd wyl and godly pleasure and to folowe fulfyl and execute the same as promptely spedely and perfectly without any retracciō or gruge of harte as the shadowe mouyth at the mocion of the body according to the moost blessid example of my sauyour Iesu And thus for to doo I here offer my selfe most redy with al the mightes and powers of my bodye and soule ¶ Graunt also good lorde the lyght of thy grace to knowe fully my selfe my incomprehensyble vylenes my vnthanfulnes towards the my vnworthines and wretchidnes my mysery and sinfulnes wherby I may come to most perfect contēpt gostly hate of my self perfect profund mekenes ¶ Graunte me perfecte knowlege of all very true vertues and to obtayne so many of them as most shal plese thy blessed goodnes in me to my saluacion But syngulerly and aboue al other things in this world graunte nowe and euermore the contynuall increase of the moost pure true and sincere loue of the. That al my delyght ful fruycion the rest of my soule maye be in the. And that my hart may by so incensed in flamid so whote and set on fyre with the loue of the that the memory of the may be so frequente and ofte in my harte and mynd as is my breath that I contynually do take to lyue wyth all For lyke as yf I lacke thys bodely breath then departith lyfe from my body euen so the very lyfe of my pore soule is the very loue of the is contynued by often continual turning with burning desyre to the which art the orygynal of my soule vnto whom my soule shuld cleaue vnto as the sonne beames do byde wyth the sonne As for other thy graces and gyftes moost gracious lord that ar not necessary for my soule helth as to be delyuered from temtacion perels and pressures the gyftes of reuelacion of secreates deuocion and sensyble grace I aske not most mercyfull lorde god But as it may moost please thy infynite goodnes to thy glorye and my saluacion Wherfore I most humbly beseke thy greate goodnes and mercy graunt me this my meke postulacion peticion and grace that I may wyth al my myght and power laboure and trauel dayly and hourly to optayne it and neuer to cease from most feruente prayer and knockyng vntyl thou most petyful lorde dost open vnto me thy moost lyberal goodnes vnto thy great glory and honoure and my saluacyon ANother parte of thys exercyse after that thou hast vsyd this one day the next day vse this folowyng one day one an other dai an other After this maner first thou must styre thy harte to the loue of god with the same prayer callid an oblaicō gostly which is in the exercise next a fore apointed of the benefites of god yf thou fele thy selfe disposed in harte to the earneste desyre of the loue of god and thy harte be inkyndelyd with the swet memorie of his kindnes towardes the Then shalt thou as it wer burne al vnlikenes toward god in thy selfe that is to say al thy synnes and vycyousenes al thy fautes and imperfeccyons al thy passions and immortificacion thy vnruled sences and theire in ordinate inclynacyō al thi vicius affeccion and thy impaciences but thou shalt not reken and remember them one by one but generally gether them together in thy hart and mynd and caste them as it were in to the infynite fyer of godes loue there to be consumyd and burnyd vp by his mercye with most ardent desyre and deuout mynd saing in thy hart and desyre thus MOst myghtyful god and mercyful Lord whiche dydyst create make me to thy blessyd lykenes and thy owne ymage after that it was disfigured and blemyshyd by the syn of adam thou moost mercyfully hayst reformed it in thy deathe and blod of my lord Iesu by baptisme And now I wretchyd caytyfe synful wretche haue
dysfygured and fully defaced it in me wyth innumerable synnes dailye fautes vyces and imperfeccyoÌ„s and haue brought and made my soule farre vnlyke that my lord god Wherefore now I moost humbly beseke the in that the moost blessed and burning loue which mouid thi mercy to make me lyke the to redeeme me with so cruel payneful and shameful death and passyon of my lord and sauyor Iesu thi only most dear sonne consume burne vp vtterly destroy in me al my vnlykenes toward the in me al mi sinfulnes mi vices al mi fauts and my imperfeccyons al my inordynate passyons and redynes to syn al the mysorder and abuse of my sences inward and outward al noughty and inordynate affeccyons to any creature al my impacyens and scrupulusenes And grauÌ„te me most deare Lord and most mercyful father with most burnyng desyre at this tyme and euermore to aske and most vehemently to craue of the my most gracyoê° lord the perfect lykenes in me of thy most gloryus and blessid soÌ„ne my Lorde Iesu ¶ Oh mercyful Lorde and most gracyous god wochsafe to adorne and decke my bare soule withal those moste holy vertues and graces that he was adorned bothe in his blessyd dyuynitie and his holye humanitie most specyally with those vertues whyche apeared in hym in the tyme of hys mooste shameful death and payneful passion ¶ Graunt me the perfect affeccioÌ„ and most harty desire of most lowe mekenes by most perfect abyection and contempt of my selfe desyryng from the botome of mi harte now and euer to be abiect and vyle ¶ Graunt me most perfect desyre and affeccyon of most perfect pouertie pacyencie and charytie and in thes vertues mooste busely dyligently and affectuuslie to trauel and exercise my selfe in them Specyally by moost ardente and burnyng desyres and most deuout and coÌ„tinual prayers vnto the vntyl that I may feale in on selfe in al dammage wrongs rebukes sclanders pains yea in the time when grace is subtracted taken away from me then to haue a most harti desyre to suffer most hartly al greues for the loue of the and so perseuer vnto the end that I myght herein be conformable and lyke vnto my Lorde Iesu that suffered of pure charitie so moch so many greuus paynes to thy honoure and glory and for my saluacyon Amen THat day that thou doyst vse this exercise thou shalt haue oft in thy mynd such desyres shorte prayers euery where where euer thou be and lerne to force thy hart with most harty affeccion and earnest desyre to remember them and wishe for the in thy mind and to desyre the crying most hartely earnestly and deuoutly in this maner or lyke ¶ Aspyracyon for thys exercyse ¶ Oh mooste blessyd sauyor Iesu howe vnlyke am I vnto the which art so gracyous so good so ful of grace and vertue And I wretchyd synner am ful of al vyces wyckednes dystroy good Lord al my sinneful deformyties and restore in me thy blessyd image to thy honor and glorye ¶ Oh merciful Iesu that died for my loue make me to dye to al the world for the true loue of the. Mortifie in me al impacyence al inordynate passyons and affeccyons to any creature that thou myghtest haue al my loue and whoole hart ¶ My most gracyous Lorde and sauyoure Iesu put in my soule and hart most perfect pacyence obedience most perfect charytie with all other of thy blessyd vertues that it may be lyke thy blessed humanytie ¶ Oh blessyd loue of my soule set me so on fyre in thy loue that I may thinke that all payne shame confusion and turment that is possible to be suffered is to lytle to be sufferyd for the that al my delyght and desyre may be in the myddes of al my prayer to suffer for thy loue al thing swete Iesu ¶ Swete sauyour Iesu whiche dyddest suffer moost payneful death for my sin mortyfie in me by thy specyall grace the great redines vnto sin in me al my viciousnes fautes al my negligences and imperfections that I may come to the goostly vnion in the by moost burnyng loue and ardente charytie THou must moost feruently desyre aske in thy harte and deuoute mynd contynually of god that thou maist be made lyke conformable vnto his blessyd crucified humanitie specially in this point that thou in al thynges neuer seke nor desyre any thyng that partayninge to thyne owne selfe or thy owne commodytie but only that whiche belongyth to thy lord Iesu how thou mayst moost feruently perfectly honour serue and please and be lyke hym euermore And how thou mayst most exactly forsake thyne owne wyll and contempne thy selfe and loue hym forgettyng in maner thy selfe and al thynges And for the vehemente burnynge loue of hym thy mynde may runne so muche vpon hym that thou dost take no hede nor consyderest not what is bytter what is swete nether hour time nor space nor place nor markest not one persoÌ„ from another but in al thynges thou must seke consider and remember thi lorde god and hys blessid wil pleasure and honour seing verely thy sauioure christ in his members And thus doyng thou doyst lyue a contemplatiue lyfe in an actiue life For in thy outwarde doynges thou hayst contemplacion goostly of god and fyndest hym euery where and in euery thynge specially thou do recollect thy selfe wholy and dost enter into thy hart and serchynge the bottome therof resoluyng and resigninge thy selfe dost put thy selfe wholy in the handes of god For then thou arte in maner transformed into god or deifyed And vnto what thynge soeuer thou turne thy selfe to and what good worke soeuer thou doyst thou shalte thinke that god doth it and not thou And to forder the in this goostly exercyse thou must indeuer thy self as nere as thou canst in al thinges euer more choose that whiche is most to goddes honour or most lyke vnto chryst and his example or most profytable to thyne euen chrysten or most against thine proper wyl or most grefe and payneful to thy body wyth dyscrecion or moost rebukeful worldy whereof thou arte wordly ashamed so it be not sinful Euer thou must crye out vnto thy lord god in thy hart vnfainedly I am nought I haue nought I can do nought but sin only I seke nought I desyre nought but Iesu a lonly Yf thou do this truly contynewe faithfully in thys spyritual worke and trauel god at length wyl without dout here thy dyligent knockyng and delyuer the from al the trouble goostly from al the tumulte noyse and coÌ„beraunce of cogitacions and fansies and from al earthly affeccyons which thou canste by no better meane put away then by the contynual and feruent desire of the loue of Iesu the whiche desyre he muste nedes in spyre in the and geue it and worke it in the whiche he wil very wyllyngly and redily do so thou in the meane time do feruently aske by mooste deuout prayer yf thou wylt