namely that as thou hast raised vp my body from fast and sound sléepe so also thou wilt deliuer my mind from the sléepe of sinne and from the darknes of this world and after death restore the same body to life as well as thou hast called it again from sléepe For that which is death to vs is but sléepe vnto thée I pray and beséech thée that through thy goodnesse this body of mine may bee fellow and furtherer of all godlinesse to my soule in this life so as it may also be partner with it of the endlesse felicity in the life to come through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord. For whose sake and by whom thou giuest vs all good and wholesome thinges to our welfare Amen Euening Prayer LOrd Iesus Christ to whose vnconsumeable goodnesse we bee beholden for all things which hast graunted the chearefull light of the day vnto all men both good and bad to doe their businesse in and mercifully giuen them the swéet stilnesse of the night to refresh the powers of their silly bodies and to put away the cares of their mindes to aswage their sorrowes For so much as thou thy selfe performest all these things much more beneficially to them that loue thée to whom thou giuest a farre greater light by the grace of faith to doe all déedes of godlinesse by then doth the shining of the Sunne vnto the world Insomuch as thy promises neuer suffer them to faint but the comfort of thy spirit putteth away all cumberances of minde farre more effectually then any sleepe of the body And the whole man resteth not more sweetly or safely in any thing then in thy mercy O deare Redéemer I â—eseech thee that if I haue done any thing this day through humaine frailty negligence which hath offended thine eies pardon it for thine wonted goodnesse sake and grant therwithall that this night may be happy to mee by thy prospering thereof pure by thy preseruing of me safe from the nightly illusions of wicked féends through thy protection so as this sléepe may make both my body and mind more chearefull and lusty to serue thee to morrow Moreouer because this life hath not one houre certaine whensoeuer the euentide therof commeth and the long sleepe of the body groweth vpon mee from which we shall not wake till the dead rise againe at the sound of thine Angelles Trumpet I beseech thee lighten thou then the eyes of my mind so as I may not sleepe in euerlasting death by the quenching of my faith but rest in thee to whom euen the dead are aliue Which liuest and raignest with the Father and the holy Ghost one God world without ende Amen Augustine his Ladder to Paradice BEing busied on a certaine day with the bodily labour of hands when I had begunne to consider of a spirituall mans exercise Foure degrees or steppes suddenly offered themselues vnto my consideration which were Reading Meditation Prayer and Contemplation This is the Ladder of secluded men of solitary men wherewith they are lifted vp into heauen it is a Ladder distinguished and noted but with a few degrees or stepps and yet of an vnmeasurable and incredible greatnesse The first part of the which is stayed vpon the earth but the vppermost part pierceth the clouds and searcheth the secrets of the Heauens These degrees or steps as in names and number they are diuers so in order and number they are distinguished· Whose properties and benefites surely euery of them what they may bring to passe in vs How betweene themselues they differ and excell if any one would throughly consider whatsoeuer labour or study he shal bestow in them be shall briefely and easily thinke and thinke againe vpon them in regard of the greatnesse of their profite sweetnesse and delight For Reading is a diligent and earnest looking on the scriptures with a bending and strayning of the mind Meditation is a studious action of the minde searching out the knowledge of the secret truth by the leading of ones owne and speciall reason Prayer is a deuout intention of the minde to God for the putting away of euill things and the obtaining of things that are good Contemplation is a certaine lifting vp of a stayed minde to God tasting the ioyes of eternall sweetnesse A discription of the parts and duties of those foure degrees THerefore the discriptions of the foure degrees assigned it remaineth that wee should sée their parts and duties Reading searcheth Meditation findeth Prayer sueth or maketh intercession Contemplation féeleth or tasteth Wherevpon the Lord himselfe saith Seeke and ye shall find knocke and it shall bee opened vnto you Seeke by reading and yee shall finde in meditating Knocke ye by Prayer and it shall bee opened to you in contemplation Reading setteth the mouth as it were to sound meate Meditation cheweth and breaketh Prayer obtayneth tast Contemplation is the same sweetnesse which gladdeth and comforteth Reading is in the barke or shell Meditation in the fat Prayer in the supplication of desire Contemplation in the delectation of gotten sweetnesse which that it may appeare more plaine I will apply one example out of many I heare in reading Blessed are the cleane ' n hart for they shall see God Beholde a short sentence but swéet and manifolde in knowledge I come ouer and beside to the feede of the soule as it were of a Grape the which thing after the soule hath diligently séene into it sayth within it selfe may there be any good I will come to my heart and will try if happely I may vnderstand and finde this cleannesse for this thing is precious and worthy to bee 1 wished for the possessors of which are called Gods to whom is promised the sight of God which is eternall use which is commended with so many testimonies of holy scriptures Therefore destring this thing more plainely to be expounded to it selfe it beginneth to chew and breake this grape and putts it into the presse vntill it mooueth reason to search out whether this cleannesse so precious and worthy to be wished for can be and how it may be bad The office of Meditation THEN commeth Diligent and earnest Meditation it farieth not behinde it hath not any thing in the superficie or outside of another it pitcheth foote it pierceth the inward parts it seeketh euery corner it considereth beedely that he hath not sayde Blessed be the cleane in body but in minde because it sufficeth not to haue harmeles hands from euill worke but that also we should bée â—lensed in mind from wicked thoughts Which is confirmed by the authority of the Prophet saying Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord or who shall rise vp in his holy place euen he that hath cleane hands and a pure heart Also this Meditation it considereth this cleannesse of heart which the same Prophet would Thinke also how carefull blessed Iob was in keeping this who said I haue made a couenant with mine eyes that I would â—ot thinke
according to the Image likenes of God that it may know the creator by his Image loue him because of his likenes for according to the image of God it hath reason and according to his likenes it hath loue or charity for as the creator which created mā according to his own Image is charity good and iust pacient méek pure and pitiful with other notable and holy vertues read of him So a man is created that hée should haue charity that hée should bee good and iust patient and méeke pure and pitifull Which vertues any man by how much the more hee hath them in himselfe by so much the nearer he is to God and beareth the greater likenes of him his Creator But if any man by the wrong wayes of vices and the crooked turnings of euils doth out of kinde wander from this most noble likenes of his creator then it shall become of him as it is written A man when hee was in honor did not vnderstand c. for what greater honour may there bee to a man then to bee made according to the likenesse of his creator and to bee adorned with the same robes of vertues that he is of whom it is reade The Lord is King and hath put on glerious apparell c. Which is that he is glorified with al the shining of vertues and garnished with the honour of all goodnesse What greater disgrace may there be to man or vnhappier misery that this glory of his Creator being lost hee should slide and fall into the deformity and vnreasonable similitude of a bruite Beast Wherefore let euery man more diligently haue his minde fixed into the excellencie of his first state and condition and acknowledge in himselfe the most worshippfull Image of the holy Trinity and striue with himselfe to obtaine the true honour of the diuine likenesse by the noblenesse of good conditions and maners and the exercise of vertues that when hee shall appeare what he is then hee may shew himselfe like vnto him that maruailously made him to his likenesse in the first man and more marueilously renued him in the second CHAP. IIII. That the soule is no part of God THe soule is no part of God the mutability into which it runneth proueth that for God is immutable or vnchangeable The soule is often changed by reason of sinne and sometime changed by reason of paine and being damned becomes most miserable Yet nothing may hurt it but when it departeth from God It departeth when it sinneth wherupon the miserable runnagate frō God is tormented Seuered from one it is scattered into many things and by reason of the intemperance of it is made as it were sicke and corrupt and is become discomfited and grieued Therefore the bodily senses the memory béeing distempered or disturbed are disquiet and heauy they are made féeble and dismaide Then the flesh doth suffer then faintings begin and violent death houereth about Surely a man turned from God by sinning is froward and vnfortunate because he disagréeing with God is also at discord and discontent with himselfe and bringeth paine of himselfe into himselfe CHAP. V. That the soule is immortall A Man consisteth of body and soule and whatsoeuer is séene with these bodily eyes is made for the body the body for the soule but the soule for God that when the body returneth to the earth out of which it is taken the spirit may returne to God who gaue it The soule giueth life to the flesh when it commeth no other wayes then the Sunne giueth light to the day and it causeth death when it departeth yet death dooth not consume the body and soule once ioyned togither but parteth them vntill both of them come againe to their first originall or beginning And least any man should thinke the soule to be consumed by the death of the body let him heare what the Lord saith in the Gospell Feare ye not them sayth he which kill the body but the soule they cannot kill CHAP. VI. Of the loue and friendship betweene the body and the soule WOnderfull is the fellowship of the flesh and the soule the breath of life and the clay of the earth for thus it is written God made man of the clay of the earth and breathed into his nostrels the breath of life giuing to him sense and vnderstanding that by sense hée should quicken the clay assotiated to him and by vnderstanding he should rule and gouerne it and by that vnderstanding hée should enter inwardly into himselfe and behold the wisdome of God and that by sense hée should goe forth and behold the workes of his wisedome By vnderstanding hée hath enlightened man inwardly and to sense he hath abroad beautified and made things so faire that man might find delight and recreation in both of them felicity inwardly and outwardly and abroad pleasure and gladnesse But because the outward good things canot indure long man is commanded to returne from them to things inward and from those inward things to ascend to higher matters For of so great a dignity is the state and condition of man that no good thing besides the chiefe good may suffice him It is very miraculous that such diuerse contrary things one frō the other might conioine together in one Neyther lesse maruaylous is it that the euerlasting and liuing God hath ioyned himselfe to our molde and clay that God and clay should bee vnited together so great a highnesse and so much basenesse for nothing is higher then God and nothing more base then slime and clay Maruaylous was the first coniunction and maruailous the second nor lesse maruailous shall the third bée when men Angells and God shall bee one spirit For with the same goodnesse is man good with the which the Angels are good and with that selfe goodnesse both and either of them are blessed If so it bee that both doe desire the same thing with the same will and the same spirite For if God could ioyne such a differing and vnlike in nature as is of the flesh and soule to bée of one league confederacy and friendshippe no doubt it is as possible for him to exalt and extoll a reasonable spirite to the partaking of his glory which is brought lowe euen to the company of an earthly body that the same body being gloryfied it may bee to it a glory which was a burthen yea euen to the fellowship of those blessed spirits which haue continued still in their brightnesse and purity Very certainely the most highest hath created man to that purpose of his onely and méere loue without any necessity that hee might become partner of his happinesse If therfore so much ioy and so great gladnesse is in this temporall life which consisteth by the presence and company of the spirit in a corruptible body then how much more gladnesse and ioy shall there be in the eternall and euerlasting life which consisteth by the presence of the Godhead in a reasonable spirite
Therefore let the body bee subiect to the soule and the soule to GOD and it shall be one spirite with him so that it remaine in humility and acknowledge the grace and fauour of him the Creator of it by whom it is to be exalted and glorified CHAP. VII For what cause the soule is vnited to God IT is his commaundement that wee should abide in his loue Abide you saith hee in my loue For my loue he hath coupled man vnto him that hee should haue him alwaies and should euer remaine in him delighting reioicing and magnifying of him and in him Man is coupled by loue vnto his Creator for it is the onely bond of loue that bindeth them together By the loue of God all of vs cleaue vnto him by the loue of our neighbor we are all one together that the goodes of all should become the goodes of euery one and whatsoeuer any one hath not of himselfe hee should possesse it by another Charity and loue is the way of God to men and the way of men to God for through loue God came to men hée came into men and hee was made man By charity and loue men loue God they chuse him aboue all thinges they flie vnto him and liue to him So familiar is charity with God that hée will haue no abiding place where Charity is not Then if thou hast loue and Charity then hast God because God is charity CHAP. VIII A perswasion to loue God WRetch that I am how much ought I to loue my Lord my God who made mée when I was not redéemed me when else I had béene lost and perished I was not yet hee made me of nothing neither stone nor trée nor birde nor any of the brute creatures But his pleasure was to make me a man he gaue mee life senses and discretion I had perished hee descended to mortality he tooke vpon him mortality hée suffered his passion hee ouercame death and so restored mee I had perished and had béen cast away because I was solde in my sinnes Hée came after mée to redéeme mée hée weighed the price of his precious blood for mee and by that meane brought mee backe from exile and redéemed mée from bondage Also hee called mée by his name that the memoriall of him should alwaies bée with mée He annoynted me with the oyle of gladnesse with the which hée was annointed and that of Christ I should bée called a Christian So his grace and mercy hath alwaies preuented me Hée my God hath often deliuered mée from many perils and dangers When I erred hée led me forth of it When I was ignorant hee taught me When I sinned bee corrected mée When I was sadde hée comforted me When I dispaired be strengthned me againe When I fell he reared me When I stood hée helde mée When I went hée ledde mee When I came hée receiued mee This and many other things my Lord my God did for mée of which his goodnesse swéete it is to mée euer to speak of alwayes to thinke of and alwaies to giue him thanks for And I desire him that for all his benefites I may for euer prayss him and loue him for as he is an aider to euery one filling and satisfying euery one hauing care ouer all and aswell prouident to euery one as to all so I sée him wholy busied for my safety So that if I will regard mine owne safety hée is as though forgetfull of all men and would attende onely on me He sheweth himselfe euer present offereth him selfe euer ready if hée might finde mée ready Whither soeuer I turne my selfe he forsaketh mée not except I first forsake him Whersoeuer I will be hée departeth not because he is euery where So that wheresoeuer I goe I may find him with whom I may be Likewise whatsoeuer I shall doe hee standeth by as if he were a cōtinuall ouerséer of all my thoughts purposes and déedes When I doe diligently consider these thinges I am confounded both with fear great shame because I beholde him euery where present with me séeing into all my secrets for there bee many things in mee before his eyes of which I am ashamed and for which I greatly feare to displease him Neither haue I for al these things anything to render him but onely I will loue him for there is nothing better or more becomming then to render that by loue which was giuen for loue CHAP. IX Of the inward sense and the outward THere are two senses in man one inward and an other outward and eyther of them hath his good in which it is recreated and comforted The inward sense is refreshed comforted in the contemplation of diuinitie the outward sense in beholding of matters belonging to men Wherefore God was made man that hée might make blessed the whole man in himselfe and that the whole conuersion of man might be to him and that all the loue of man should bée in him But this is al the good of man that whether hee should goe in or goe out hee should finde comfort in his maker comfort abroad in the flesh of his Sauiour comfort inwardly in the Godhead and diuinity of his creator But there is an euill following this great good because the good lost that was within the soule is gone forth to straying goodes that are abroade and made a couenant with the delights of the world reposing vpon them not regarding the absence of his inward good in that that hee possesseth his consolations in strang goodes For whilest the outward carnall sense vseth his good the inward sense of the minde lyeth as it were asléepe for he doth not know the goodes of the inward sense which is taken and insnared with the iolity of outward things For he that delighteth in the flesh liueth and abideth therin fléeing the griefes and sorrowes thereof by all possible meanes but of the woundes of the soule hée is vtterly ignorant neyther séeketh hee any remedy for them But here in this world if he be not clensed of that fleshly sense the same flesh being put off the soule shal féele the paines of those wounds it hath receiued by the pleasures of the outward sense in what worldly thinges soeuer CHAP. X. That a man may know how hee is disposed to good or euill THere be two things necessary to vs by which wee should know our selues that is to say how wee are disposed to euill and how to good Prone wee are to euill and if the mercy of God kéepe vs not likely we are of our selues to fall into euery vice nor to rise from them except the mercy of God follow vs at hand to holde vs vp The Prophet well knew this when he said Thy mercy O Lord is before mine eyes which kéepeth mée and let thy mercy follow me that it may sustaine me Weak and vnable wee are to goodnesse neither without the grace of God to doe any good or able to perseuere in any good thing This also the
Apostle did know when he saide By the grace of God I am that I am and because his grace in me is not in vame his grace remaineth in mee This double knowledge had Abraham of himselfe when he saide Beholde I haue taken vpon me to speake vnto the Lord which am but dust and ashes In truth man is but dust for as dust is forced about with euery winde and is cast downe and there remaineth So man may fall into euery vice neither can moue to rise except the mercy of God ayde him Also man is ashes because as ashes bringeth forth neyther budde nor sproute of it selfe neither the receiued séede springeth out of it So a man neither can doe good nor remaine in any good thing without the grace of God Therefore wée ought to render great thankes vnto God because hee hath granted many good things vnto vs and many euils that wee haue done hee hath pardoned vs and hath preserued vs from many euils which wee might haue done as likely as many others which wee haue committed done for what euill soeuer wée haue not done it is through his mercy that we haue not done it for if he had suffered it surely we had done it aswell in déed as will And in sooth I do not know whether wee ought to loue him more for those thinges which hee hath forgiuen vs or for those sins which hée hath kept vs frée from For although wée haue not done them wée ought to thinke as if wée had done them and as though hee had forgiuen them for somuch as we had at the least done theÌ„ willingly if he had suffered it In very truth whosoeuer in such maner doth acknowledge himselfe he is both humble before God and men He loueth God and all men for God his sake And if hée haue perfect charity hée iudgeth no man he accuseth no man he condemneth no man he beareth no malice hée mooueth no brawles â—ée soweth no discorde hée doth not persecute innocents he hâ—reâ—â— not those which reproue him hée committeth no theft no false witnesse no periury he slandereth no man be hurteth no man hée hateth none but loueth all men It is written yée shall loue one another for so familiar is charity with God that hee will not dwell in him in whoÌ„ charity is not Who so euer therefore hath charity hath God because God is charity And who so hateth one man looseth God and the good that he doth Wherefore let euery one be carefuâ—l least for the hating of one man he looseth God and euery good thing CHAP. XI That euery man should know himselfe KNow thy self know from whence thou commest and whither thou shalt how thou liuest how much good thou dost or failest therein how farre thou art from God or how neare not as in space betwéene places but in the likenes and vnlikenes of good life and behauior Know how thou art a man whose conception was in sinne to bée borne in misery to liue in griefe and paine and that to die there is no remedie Certaine is it that thou shalt die but vncertaine how or when or where because death expecteth thée euery where And thou if thou be wise expect it euer Therefore carefully take héed what thou doest or what thou oughtst to do if thou hast anything to doe do it If it be to doe good mixe it not with any euill if it be good that thou shouldest doe accomplish it with much vprightnesse as thou oughtest If it be for another doe it as if thou shouldest doe it for thy selfe If thou thy selfe doest good doe it so well that it be a good example to others And thus as the Prophet Dauid sayeth and willeth Thou shalt decline from euill and doe good CHAP. XII What Meditation is BY Meditation wée may the better know God our selues Meditation bringeth knowledge knowledge bringeth compunction compunction causeth deuotion deuotion causeth prayer Meditation is an often moouing of the minde very diligent and foreséeing to search or finde out the meaning of thinges which are hard to bee vnderstood and to bring secrete thinges to knowledge Knowledge or learning is when a man is inlightned by often Meditation to the knowledge of himselfe Compunction is when through the consideration of his owne euills the heart is touched with an inward griefe Deuotion is a godly and an buÌ„ble affection towardes God Hamble by the knowledge of his owne infirmities godly by the consideration of the diuine mercy Prayer is a deuotion of the minde conuerting to God thorough holy and humble affection Affection is a certaine selfe will and swéete inclination of the mind wholy towardes God for there is nothing mouing God so much to loue and mercy as the pure affection of the minde Mens natures is to loue and prayse the knowledge of heauenly and earthly thinges But they are much better that preferre before this knowledge the knowledge whereby to know themselues For truely more prayse worthy is the soule that knoweth his owne infirmity and misery then it which searcheth the course of the starres and natures of things For the soule which waiteth vpon the Lord moued by the feruency of the holy Ghost and imbaseth it selfe before him in his loue and though not able yet willing to enter into him and hee shining oâ— that soule it wayteth on him and findeth him and acknowledging the grief of minde not to bée compared to his mercy hath good cause méekely to wéepe and to beséech him that hee will haue mercy and compassion on it and to put from it all misery This poore soule néedy and sorrowfull knowledge puffeth not vp because loue and charity edifieth and establisheth it For man setteth before him knowledge that is to know himselfe and his owne infirmities rather then to know the force and vertue of hearbes and the nature of all liuing creatures and setting before him this knowledge hée setteth before him griefe and sorrow that is in what hee hath rebelled and lailed in in this his life and pilgrimage in the earth considering of his owne country which hee is to go to and to sée his liuing and eternal God He sorroweth that he is kept in banishment and exile because hee is delayed and put off from his kingdome Hee sorroweth whilest hee calleth to minde what and how great euils he hath done and what intollerable paines for them hee is like to suffer CHAP. XIII That the soule cannot containe it selfe in good thoughts WHen I doe consider what the nature of the Soule is which can giue life to the flesh but cannot as it desireth containe it selfe in good thoughts I doe finde a certaine spirit belonging to vnderstanding liuing by the power of the Creator and quickening the body which it nourisheth and maintaineth But notwithstanding subiect to vanity and changeablenesse which often times myrth and gladnesse lifteth vp feare troubleth iniquity mortifieth righteousnesse reuiueth for in trueth the life of the Soule is God the death of the Soule is
sinne for it is saide by the holy Spirite that the soule which sinneth shall die but that Soule which hath done Iudgement and righteousnesse shall liue and not die In such sort is the soule immortall that it cannot die and in such sort mortall that steaÌ„not but die By mortality it is mortall by immortality it is immortall Wherefore to the wretched and accursed death is without death end without ende wearines without wearinesse because death euer liueth and the ende shall euer beginne and wearines shal not know to be weary death shall kill and yet not end life paine shall torment and shall not put away feare and horror the flame shall burne but not driue away darkenes for there shall bee in fire darkenesse in darkenesse horrible feare and in burning vnspeakeable torment Thus the reprobate cast into hell fire shall féele in their punishment sorrow paine and in the extremity of sorrow shall be strooken with feare and shal euer suffer and euer be afraid because euer tormented without ende they shall euer liue without hope of pardon and mercy which is a misery aboue all miseries for after so many thousand of yéeres in number as they haue had haires on their head how many soeuer they were if they should hope to end their paines then yet they should much the better endure them But because they haue no hope nor shall haue they shall faint in dispaire and shall not suffice their torments Of them it is written by Esay the Prophet Their worme shall not die and their fire shall neuer bee put out because neither they shall euer bee consumed The worme shall gnaw their conscience the fire shall burne their flesh and because they haue forsaken their Creator in heart and body they shall be punished both in heart and body when the soule shall be seperated from the blessed life euerlasting the body shall be subiect to euerlasting punishment There shall be feare and heauinesse of heart mourning and sorrow There shall bée the tormentors sitting the worme gnawing the fire consuming sinnes discouered the guilty punished and all this euerlastingly Who soeuer shall come to these torments shall neuer go out againe where they shall sée detestable monsters of diuels and the vgly shapes of them And they shall also sée in the torments of fire their mates and followers which against the commaundements of God they haue loued in vnlawful loue and lust and beholding their distruction it shall afflict them in the increasing of their damnation Such shall not sée God which is the most misery of all miseries for who can expresse what a paine it is not to sée the Creator and framer of al things the redéemer and sauiour of the faithfull the King of heauen and earth the Lord of all by whom we are wée liue and haue knowledge Therefore it behoueth vs on euery side that we circumspectly looke about vs euery where watch that wée commit no euill or doe not those things rightly that wee are commaunded to doe And in those things rightly done that we bee not proud in our thoughts therefore for many through their vertues that way haue fallen headlong into hell CHAP. XIIII Of the euill Angell IT is saide that Satan doth fill the minde of some not entring into them and their senses but intycing and inducing them by guile and iniquity doth by euery malicious meane bring lewde motions and alluring vices into their thoughts But the diuell doth not fill the soule by participation of nature or substance as some thinke as an inhabiter therein but by fraudulent deceite and malice filleth them whome it is saide he dwelleth in for it onely belongeth to the Trinitie to fill the nature and substance which it hath created CHAP. XV. That wee desire and seeke after good things WHosoeuer truely and vnfaynedly be waileth his sins and will feare to commit sinne and will rebuke himselfe in his smallest faults remembring how much hee hath offended in the greatest And although with how great vertue soeuer his minde may bee mighty and with how great constancie it may be in force yet childishly notwithstanding some fleshly toyes will outwardly bewray themselues And except with a certaine manly vehemency they be restrayned they draw the weake minde to all frailties and lightnesse wherin if by long custom it bee inured when it would rise it cannot being pressed downe by the weight of euill vse and custome Therefore as the Apostle sayth who soeuer standeth let him take héed he fall not and if he fall let him with an humble contrite heart very quickly rise againe let there be no deferring Let him bee the â—umâ—ler in his owne conscience the earnester and readier to repentance and the waryer not to offend againe for whosoeuer through the onely desire of heauenly blessednesse hateth these temporall things and loueth nothing of this world and séeketh onely his after euerlasting Country shall bee comforted and sustained with great peace and tranquility of minde How much the clearer doth man sée God when hee findeth himselfe with hâ—m alone For nothing is more present then God and nothing more secret Wée ought to desire therefore a seperation of the minde from the swarme of earthly delights and desires and then driuing out from the inward of the heart the commotions of vnlawfull imaginations thoughts wée should labour with diligence to our heauenly Country for the loue of eternall rest Let vs déepely consider what those companions of Angelles bée what that fellowshipp is of blessed soules What is the Maiestie of the vision of God and how God doth comfort his Saints with the sweete euerlastingnesse thereof For no man in this life can worthyly weygh in his mind how great that felicity is to see God face to face how much sweetnesse to heare that Angelicall melody how much gladnesse to enioy the company of al saints For euery one shall reioyce so much at the blessednesse of the other as at his own vnspeakeable ioy In that glory I bebeholde nothing more willingly I find nothing more delectable to contemplate then the affection of the inward loue wherewith euery one shall loue the other so much as himselfe God more then himselfe and God shall loue theÌ„ more then they shal loue them selues and that in perpetuall ioy There we shall see nothing strange wee shall loue nothing out of order wee shall heare nothing to offende out eares for all things there are agreeing al thinges delightfull all thinges quiet There is all felicity all pleasantnesse all gladnes al things goodly to beholde all beauty all swéetnesse Whatsoeuer is néedfull and whatsoeuer to delight is there as all riches and al daâ—nties all rest and all solace There is continuall tranquility pleasant sayrenesse eternall ioyfulnesse ioyfull and honourable praise and the full knowledge of al good things For what may be wanting there where God is which wanteth nothing How many so euer bee there are as Gods neither it néedeth
that the one say to the other know God for all knoweth him and beholdeth him all praise hâ—m and loue him They know him without errour they sée him without ende they prayse him and loue him without wearinesse They euer see him and desire to sée him so much worthy hee is to be séene They euer loue him and euer desire to loue him so sweete is hée to be loued And by how much they loue him by so much the more they will loue him hee is so delightfull to bee enioyed In this delight they repose themselues being full of God full of all blessing and sanctification and cleauing euer to blessednesse they are blessed and happie beholding euer eternity they are eternall And ioyned to the light are made light beholding euer vnchangeablenesse are chaunged into vnchaungeablenesse So much the more willinglier they beholde him in how much hee is the sweeter which countenance is holy and mercifull his face honorable his speeche pleasant O blessed sight to see the King of Angels in his honour to see the holy of all holy by whom all are holy To see him is the chiefest felicity the chiefest ioy a blessed life and life euerlasting Godly Prayers A Prayer to God the Father to vouchsafe to helpe mankinde ALmighty God the ouerséer and searcher of my heart I doe most humbly confesse the omnipotency of thy Maiestie and the maiestie of thy omnipotency But how thou hast vouchsafed to helpe mankinde to the ende of all ages as I beléeue in my heart to righteousnesse and iustification so with my mouth before thée I confesse to my comfort and saluation Thou onely indéede God the father art neuer read as sent but the Apostle writeth so of thy Sonne which is when the fulnesse of time came God sent his sonne When hée saith hee sent hee apparantly sheweth that hee came sent into this world as borne of the blessed virgin he appeared in the flesh very true and perfect man But what is it that the chéefest of the Euangelistes saith of him hee was in the world and the world is made by him In truth thither hée is sent in humanity where hee was euer and is touching his Gothead Which sending I assuredly beleeue with all my heart and confesse with my mouth to be the worke of all the holy Trinity But how hast thou loued vs holy and good Father how much hast thou loued vs mercifull maker which also hast not spared thine onely Sonne but hast deliuered him for vs wretched sinners Hee was subiect and obedient to thee euen vnto the death yea to the death of the crosse taking vp the haâ—â— writing against vs of our sinnes and nailing it to the Crosse crucified sinne and slew death hee onely free amongst the dead hauing power to lay downe his life for vs and to take it againe for vs. Therefore is he a conquerer and a sacrifice for conquest and therefore a conquerour because a sacrifice to thee for vs a Priest and an oblation therefore a Priest because an oblation or offering Worthily haue I a strong hope in him because thou shalt heale through him all my griefes and weakenesse who sitteth at the right hand and maketh intercession for vs. For Lord my languors and griefes are great and many many they be and great for the Prince of this world hath many things in me I know and confesse it But I beséech thee deliuer mée through our redéemer sitting at thy right hand in whom no euill may be found Thorough him iustifie mee which hath done no offence neither was there found any guile in his mouth through him our head in whom is no spot deliuer me a member of him although very slerder and weake I beséech thée deliuer mée from all my sinnes imperfections faults and negligences Replenish mee with thy holy vertues and make mée to preuaile in good vsage and behauiour make me for thy holy names sake to perseuers in goodnesse euen to the end according to thy will Amen A Prayer to God the Sonne Obountiful Iesu O sweete Iesu O Iesu the Sonne of the blessed virgin Mary full of mercie truth O sweet Iesu haue mercie on mee according to thy great mercy O gracious Iesu I beseech thée by that precious bloud which thou hast vouchsafed to shed for vs wretched sinners vpon the aultar of the Crosse that thou wilt cast away all mine iniquities and that thou wilt not despise me humbly praying thee and calling vpon this thy most holy name Iesus this name Iesus is a coÌ„fortable name for what is Iesus but a sauiour O bountifull Iesu which hast â—reated mee and redéemed me with thy precious blood suffer me not to bee damned whome thou hast made of nothing O good Iesu Christ let not mine iniquitie destroy whom thy omnipotent goodnesse hath made and created O swéete Iesu reknowledge that which is thine in me wipe away that which is contrary from me O good Iesu haue mercy on me whilest time is of taking mercy least thou shouldest destroy mée in time of thy terrible iudgement O good Iesu if I wretched sinner from thy true iustice haue deserued euerlasting punishment for my most grieuous sins yet hauing a sure confidence I appeale from thy true iustice vnto thine vnspeakeable mercy vntill thou hast compassion on mee like a louing Father and a mercifull God O mercifull Iesu what profite is there in my bloud if I descend into euerlasting corruption For O Lord the dead shall not praise thée neither such as goe downe into hell O most mercifull Iesu haue mercy on mee O most swéete Iesu bee vnto me wretched sinner a fauorable Iudge O Iesu the health of those that put their trust in thée O Iesu the health of al that beléeee in thée haue mercy on me O swéet Iesu the remission of all my sinnes O Iesu sonne of the virgin Mary poure into me grace wisdome charitie chastitie and also a holy patience in all mine aduersities that I may perfectly loue thee for euer worlde without end Amen A Prayer to God the holy Ghost GIue sentence with mee O GOD and discerne my cause against the vngodly people Teach me to do thy will because thou art my god I beleeue in whome soeuer thou dwellest thou buildest there the long abyding place of the Father and the sonne togither Blessed is hee that shall deserue to receiue and lodge thee because by thee the Father the son make their mansion with him Come nowe come most blessed comforter of the sorrowfull soule descending in due time In tribulation an helper Come the clenser of euills the curer of wouÌ„ds· Come the strength of the weake the releeuer of those ready to fall Come the teacher of the humble the destroyer of the proude Come the gentle Father of the fatherlesse and motherlesse the fauourable Iudge of the widowes Come the hope of the poore the refresher of the faint Come thou starre of the Mariner thou hauen of them that escape shipwracke
Come the excellent glorie of all the liuing the onely health of the dying Come most holy spirite come and haue mercy on mée prepare mée for thée and discend louingly to me that my vnability and weakenesse may please thy greatnesse and strength according to the multitude of thy compassions through Iesus Christ my sauiour who with the father in vnitie of thée liueth and raigneth world without end Amen A Prayer to the holy Trinity O Thrée coequal and coeternall persons one god and true the Father the Sonne and the holy ghost who onely possesseth eternity and light that no man can come to who hast made the whole worlde with thy power and rulest the round compasse of the earth with thy wisdome Holy-holy holy Lorde God of Sabaoth terrible and strong iust and mercifull to be wondred at to bee praised and to be beloued one god three persons one power wisdome and goodnesse one and vnseparable Trinitie Open to mee calling on thee the gates of righteousnesse and then entring into them I wil confesse to thee O Lord. Beholde the earnest desire of the inward affections of my heart crying out and the complaint of the teares of mine eyes at thy gate O most gracious father before thee is all my desire and my mourning is not hidde from thee and thou O Lord turne not thy face any more from me neyther passe by in thy wrath from thy seruant Father of mercie heare the wailing of thine Orphan and reach out thy right hande an helper that it draw mee backe from the depth of waters and lake of miseries and the puddle of dregs least I should perish the mercy of thine eyes looking on the clemency of thy heart beholding but that I may passe without danger to thée my Lord God that I may sée the riches of thy Kingdome and beholde thy face for euer and sing prayses to thy holy name O Lord which doest maruailous thinges which makest my heart glad with the remembrance of thee which lightenest my youth Despise not mine olde age but make my bones to reioyâ—e and my gray haires to renue as an Eagle Amen Another of the same O God the true and very excellent life from whome by whome and in whome all things whatsoeuer doe liue are good and glorious to see to God whose faith doth erect vs whose hope doth comforte vs whose loue doth linke vs together God which commandest thy selfe to bee sought and makest thy selfe to bee found and openest to him that knocketh God from whome to bee turned it is to fall to whome to bee turned it is to rise in whome to remaine it is most auaileable God whome no man loseth but is deceyued whome no man seeketh but is warned whome no man findeth but is clensed and healed God whom to knowe it is to liue whome to serue it is to raigne whome to praise â—t is health and ioy to the soule Thee I praise blesse and honour with my lippes and heart and with all the strength and power I am able and I thanke thy mercy and goodnesse for all thy benefites and I sing an Hymne to thy glorie Holy holie holy I call on thee O blessed Trinity that thou wouldest come into mee and make mee a worthie temple of thy glorie I beseech the Father by the Sonne I beséech the sonne by the Father I beseech the holy Ghost by the Father and the sonne that all my sines and weckednesse bee remooued farre from mee Most mightie God from whome all things by whom all things and in whome all thinges are made visible and inuisible which compassest thy workes round aboute which replenishest them within couerest them aboue and sustainest them vnderneath keepe mee the worke of thy handes hoping in thee and trusting in thine onely mercy keep mee I beseech thee heere and euery where now and euer within and without before and behind aboue beneath and round about so that no place lie open in me to the deceits of mine enemies Thou art God omnipotent the keeper and protector of all them that put their trust in thee without whome no man is safe no man is deliuered from daungers thou art God and there is no other God besides thee neither in heauen aboue nor in earth below which doest great things to be wondred at of which there is no number Praise honour and songs to thy laud belongeth To thee al the Angels to thee the heuens and all the powers make Hymnes and sing prayses incessantly as it behooueth the creatures to their Creator the seruants to their Maister the Souldiours to their King Euery creature magnifyeth thee euery soule prayseth thee most holie and vnseperable Trinity through Isus Christ our Lord Amen A Prayer how the word becomming flesh is cause of our hope GOD is not so much an enemy that hee may not loue his owne flesh his owne members ' and bowels verily I might despaire by reason of my too many sins and vices faults and infinite negligences which I haue committed and dayly and continually do in Hearte and Worde and deede and by all the meanes by which humaine frailety may sinne but that thy worde my GOD was become flesh and dwelled in vs. But now I dare not despaire because hee beeing obedient to thee euen to the Death yea the death of the Crosse tooke vp the hand writing of our sinnes and nailed it to the Crosse Crucified sinne and Death Therefore in him safely I rest which sitteth at thy righte hand and maketh intercession for vs. Hauing a sure confidence in him I look for to come to thee in whom we are risen againe now we are ascended into heauen and set together in the celestiall places to thee be praise to thee hee glorie to thee be honour to thee be praise and thansgiuing Amen A Praier that the kingdome of Heauen may be obtained O Happie reioysing and reioysing happinesse to see the holie ones to bee with them and to bee to see the holy God to possesse God for euer and infinitly these things wee should consider of with an earnest minde these thinges wee shoulde desire with all longing that wee might bee able quickly to come to them If thou wouldest consider and inquire how this may bee brought to passe either by what meanes heare mee this matter is put in the power of him that can doe it because the kingdome of Heauen suffereth violence the Kingdome of Heauen O man seeseeketh no other price then thy selfe it is worth so much as thou art giue thy selfe and thou shalt possesse it Why art thou troubled touching the price Christ hath yeelded and deliuered vp himselfe to God his father that thou shouldest purchase thee a Kingdom thou so giue thy selfe that thou be his Kingdom and that sinne may not raigne in thy mortall bodie but the spirit in obtaining of eternall life A Praier for the sweetnes of heauenly loue I Loue thee my God I loue thée and more and more will loue thee O my Lorde my God
although a bad one vnworthy and a sinner But whatsoeuer I am either good or bad I am alwaies thine to whom should I flie but to thee If thou cast me off who shall receiue mee If thou dispise me who shal regarde mee O God I do acknowledge my selfe vnworthy flying againe to thee Lord thy mercy is greater then my iniquitie thy compassion is more then my vngraciousnesse towardes thée Thou canst forgiue more theÌ„ I can commit and canst pardon more then I can offend Despise mee not O Lord neither note the multitude of my sinnes but acording to the multitude of thy mercies pitty me and bee fauourable vnto me a haynous sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy sauiour which saydest I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue Conuert mee O Lord to thee and be not wrathfull against mee I beséech thee most gentle father for thy mercies sake that I may end my life well and with true and harty repentance of all my sinnes Amen Short Meditations THy hands O Lord haue made me and fashioned me I may say those hands which were nayled with nayles for mee Lord despise not the worke of thy hands Beholde in thy handes O Lord my God thou hast writen mee reade that writing and saue mee Beholde I thy creature sigh to thee thou art my creator renew me make me againe beholde thy workemanshippe I cry vnto thee thou art life quicken mee beholde I thy clay looke backe to thee thou art the Potter fashion me againe Lord haue mercy on mee for my daies are nothing c· Another THou full of pittie say vnto mee thy wretched seruant say vnto mee through thy compassions what thou art to me Say vnto my soule I am thy health doe not hide thy face from mee least I die Another SAue mee O Lord which art the true safety and that willest not the death of a sinner Lord haue mercy on my sinfull Soule loose the bonds thereof Sweete Iesu regarde my humility and blot out all my transgressions bee my ayde leaue me not neither despise mee O God mine onely comfort but tèach me to doe thy will O bountifull Iesu although though I haue offended whereupon thou maiest iustly damne mee yet thou hast not lost that whereby thou art accustomed to saue Good lord my Iesu why camest thou down from heauen to what ende yéeldest thou thy selfe to death but that thou wouldest saue sinners of which sort I am exceeding O vile sinner that I am take breath againe be of good cheare thou maist not despaire hope in him whom thou fearest flâ—e to him from whom thou hast fled call vpon him importunately whome proudly thou hast prouoked Say vnto him Iesu for thy sweete names sake do by me according to thy name Iesus is a name of fauour a name most delightfull a name comforting a sinner and a name of happy hope for what is Iesus but a Sauiour Therefore for thine owne sake O Iesu be Iesus to me be to me a mercifull Sauiour which art magnified and blessed world without ende Amen Godly Meditations of our Lord his sufferings O God who for the worldes Redemption wouldest bee reproued of the Iewes deliuered by the traitor Iudas and bee bound with bonds like an innocent Lambe led to the sacrifice Also vnseemely to bee brought before the beholding of Annas Caiaphas Pilate and Herod to bee accâ—used by false witnesses to bee tormented with whippes and reproches to be defiled with spittle crowned with thornes beaten with buffets stroken with a Reede blindfolded thy garmeÌ„ts put off wouldest be nayled on the crosse lifted vp thereon reputed among theeues drinke vinegar and gal and be wounded with a Speare O most mighty Lord how wonderful is thy kindnes and pitie that wouldest indure all these extreeme torments shames and cruell death and all for to appease the almighty father and be an attonement betweene him and sinfull mankinde I beséech thée most mercifull Iesu sithence all this was of excéeding loue that through those thy sharpe and bitter paines which I vnworthie wretch now meditate of and call to minde thou wilt defende and deliuer mee from the paines of hell and vouchsafe to bring mee whether thou broughtest the thiefe crucified with thee O meek and vnspotted lambe my onely righteousnesse and iustification haue mercie on me who with the father and the holy ghost liuest and raignest world without end Another HOrde Iesu Christ Son of the liuing God which hanging on the Crosse saying father forgiue theÌ„ for they know not what they do grant that I for the loue of thée may pardon euery one that doth euill vnto me And which saidest vnto the theefe this day thou shalt bee with me in paradise grant me so wel to liue that in the houre of my death thou say to me this day thou shalt be with me in Paradice And which saydst to thy mother Woman behold thy sonne Moreouer to thy Disciple behold thy mother graunt that thy loue and perfite charitie may accompanie me vnto thy mother And which saiedst My God my God why hast thou forsaken me grant me to say in all my afflictions griefes of mind mâ— Father my Lorde haue mercie on me a sinner and helpe mee my king and my God which with thy precious bloud hast redeemed mee And which saydest I thirst graunt that I may euer thirst after thee the fountaine of liuing water And which saidest Father into thy handes I commend my spirit Receiue me yeelding my self vp vnto thee And which saydest It is finished graunt that I may bee worthie to heare that sweete voyce of thine saying Come my Loue my dearly beloued spouse come that thou mayest go vp with me with my Angels and Saints to banquet reioyce and remaine together in my kingdome through infinite worlds of worldes Amen Another O Lorde Iesu Christ for the bitternesse which thou sustainedst for me wretch on the Crosse chiefly about that houre when thy most excellent soule departed out of thy blessed bodie Grant I most humblie beseech thee mercie to my soule in the departure thereof and bring it into life euerlasting Amen Another I Beséech thée Lorde Iesu Christ throgh those thy woundes suffered on the Crosse and bringing Saluation vnto vs wounde this my sinfull soule for which also thou hast vouchsafed to die wound it with thy burning and most mightie dart of thy exceeding loue Thrust my heart through with the arrow of thy loue that my soule may say vnto thee I am wounded with thy loue so that out of that wounde teares may bountifully flowe day and night O Lord strike I beseech thee strike my most hard heart with the godly strong point of thy loue yea deepely to the bottome pierce it with thy mighty power who liuest and raignest worlde without ende Amen Another of the same KIng of the elect I beséech thee throgh him holie of all the holie ones through him my redeemer make mee to runne the way
of thy commandements that I may bee able to come to him in spirit which hath not feared to bee couered with my flesh Merciful father dost thou not beholde the head bowing downe of toy most beloued Sonne resolued to most pretious death Regarde O most fauourable Creator the humanity of thy dearely beloued sonne and haue mercie on the weakenesse of brittle clay Look on O glorious Father the torn lims of thy most acceptable sonne and graciously remember of what I am made See the paines of God and man and release the miserie of mortall man Beholde the punishment of the Redeemer and forgiue the offence of the redeemed My Lord it is hee whome for the sinnes of thy people thou hast stroken although he bee the dearely beloued in whome thou art well pleased the same is hee the innocent in whome no guile is found and yet â—s reputed amongst the wicked Another WHAT hast thou committed most swéet Sonne of God that thou shouldest so be adiudged what hast thou offended most louing Lord that in such sort thou shouldest bee handled What is thy wickednesse what is thy fault what is the cause of thy death what is the occasion of thy coÌ„demnation Doubtlesse I am the wounde of thy griefe the blame of the slaughter done on thee I am the deseruing of thy death the heynous offence of thy punishmeÌ„t I am the print and signe of thy passion the worker of thy torment O marueylous manner of iudgement and vnspeakeable miserie The wicked sinneth and the iust is punished the guiâ—tie offendeth and the innocent is beaten the vngodly doth amisse and the godly is condemned What the euil deserueth the good suffereth what the seruant trespasseth the master dischargeth what man committeth God beareth c. Behold my vnrighteousnes and thy righteousnes is manifest My King and my God what shall I render againe to thee for all that thou hast done for me That the remembrance of the woundes of Christ is a Preuayling remedie against all aduersities I haue committed a grieuous sinne and am guilty of maay offences neither therfore doe I despaire because where sinne hath abounded also grace hath much more abounded He that despaireth of pardon of his sinnes denyeth God to be mercifull Hee doth great wrong to God that is mistrustfull of his mercy for so much as in him is he denieth God to haue loue truth and power in which thinges all my hope consisteth which is in the loue of his adoption in the truth of his promise and in the power of his redemption Now let my foolish imagination murmure how much it will saying What art thou and how great is that glory or with what merâ—is hopest thou to obtaine the same I aswell wil faithfully answere I knowe whome I hâ—ue trusted because in excéeding loue he hath adopted me for a sonne because he is true in his promise able in the performance thereof and hath power to doe what hee will I cannot bee terrified with the great multitude of sins if the death of the Lorde come into my minde because my sinnes cannot ouercome him The nayles and Speare call vnto me that I am truly reconciled vnto Christ if I will loue him Longius opened to mee the side of Christ with his Speare and I haue entred and there safely doe I rest Hee stretcheth out his armes on the crosse and spreadeth out his hands ready for the imbracement of sinners Betweene the armes of my Sauiour both will I liue and desire to die There safe and sure will I sing vnto him high praises I will praise thee O Lord because thou hast receyued mee neyther wouldest thou suffer mine enemies to triumph ouer me Our sauiour in his death bowed downe his head that he might kisse his dearely beloued So often doe we kisse God as often as wee are pricked in heart with the loue of him Prayers before the receyuing the Communion MErciful lord Iesu Christ I sinful soul nothing presuming of mine own merits but only trusting in thy mercy and goodnes am afraid tremble to draw neare to the table of thy most sweete and comfortable feast for I haue a heart and bodie polluted with many grieuous crimes and a minde and a tongue very euilly gouerned Therefore O gracious Deitie O dreadfull Maiesty I miserable wretch apprehended and taken betweene the troubles and griefes of mind and spirit returne to thee the fountaine of mercie I make haste to thee to be healed I flie vnder thy protection And thee whoÌ„ I cannot endure to bee my Iudge I hope to haue my sauiour to thee Lord I shew my wouÌ„ds to thee I vncouer my shame I know my sins to bee many and great for the which I am afrayed yet I trust in thy mercies of which there is no number Lord Iesu Christ eternall King God and man crucified for man look on me with the eyes of thy mercie heare mee putting my trust in thee haue mercy on mee full of miseries and sins thou which euer makest the fountaine of thy compassions to spring Remember Lord thy creature whoÌ„ with thy pretious blood thou hast redeemed I am sorie that I haue sinned I desire amendment of thy gracious fauour help me take froÌ„ me most mercifull Father al my sinnes and iniquities that being cleansed in mind and bodie I may through thee deserue worthily to taste the holy thing of all holiest and graunt that the holy and spirituall receiuing of thy body bloud which I vnworthie intende bee a ful remission of all my sinnes and a perfect purging of all my transgressions a banishing of all euill thoughts and a getting againe of good senses also a most strong defence against all the deceits of the worlde the flesh and the diuell Amen Another ALmighty euerlasting god behold I come to the Sacrament of thine onely Sonne our Lorde Iesus Christ I come as one sicke to the Phisition of life foule to the fountain of mercie blinde to the light of eternall brightnesse poore and needy to the Lord of heauen and earth Therefore I beg of the aboundance of thy exceeding bounty to that end thou wouldst vouchsafe to heale my infirmitie to wash away mine vncleannesse to lighten my blindnesse to enrich my pouertie to cloath my nakednes that I may receiue the bread of Angels the King of Kings the Lord of Lords with so much reuerence and meekenes with so much contrition and deuotion with so much purity and faith with such purpose and intention as is expedient to the health of my soule Graunt mee O Lord I beseech thee not only to take the Sacrament of the body and bloud of the Lord but also the effect and vertue of the Sacrament O most fauourable God grant mee so spiritually to receiue the bodie of thy onelie Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ that I may be worthy to be incorporated in his mysticall bodie and to bee numbred amongest the members of him O louing father grant to me thy dearly beloued Son whom
of euils a Quéene of pride full of miseries and errours which is not to bee tearmed a life but death in wich wee die euery moment with diuerse kinde of deathes through sundry the defects of mutability Whether therefore we which liue in this world may call it a life which humors puffe vp sorrowes abate ayres infect meates breed diseases hunger makes leane disports makes dissolute sadnes cōsumes thought shortneth riches maketh proude pouerty debaseth youth aduanceth olde age maketh crooked and sicknesse ouer commeth And after all these euils furious death followeth and moreouer appointeth such an end to all the ioyes of this miserable life that when it ceaseth to be it may be suposed neuer to haue béene This death vitall and life mortal although it bee sprinkled with these and other bitternesses yet alas how many doth it deceiue with false promises And so this life as of it selfe it is false and bitter so also it cannot be hidden and vnknowne to the blinde louers of it yet notwithstanding it soketh and vtterly drunkeneth an infinite number of fooles with the golden cup it hath in hande Happie they are and they be but few that forsake the familiarity of it that despise the flitting ioyes of it and reiect the fellowship therof least that also they be compelled to perish with that perishing deceiuer Prayers in aduersity and trouble HAue mercy Lord haue mercy on me miserable sinner doing wickednes worthily suffering therefore continually sinning and dayly earning thy scourges If I weigh the euill dayly that I haue done it is not much that I suffer grieuous it is that I haue committed easie it is that I endure Thou art iust O Lord and thy iudgements are right all thy iudgements are iust and true Iust and vpright art thou our Lord and God and there is no iniquity in thee for not vniustly neither cruelly doest thou aflict vs sinners almighty and most mercifull Lord who when wee were not mightily madest vs and when wee had béene lost through our owne offence in thy mercy and goodnesse marueyloussy thou restoredst vs. I know and am sure that our life is not guided with rash motions but is ordered and gouerned by thee our Lord God whereby thou hast care of all chiefly of thy seruants who haue put their whole hope in thy onely mercy Therefore I beseech and humbly pray that thou doest not to mee according to my sinnes in which I haue deserued thy wrath but according to thy great mercy which passeth the sinnes of the whole world Thou O Lord which outwardly imposest plagues and scourges graunt alwaies an vnfainting patience so that thy prayse neuer depart out of my mouth haue mercy on me Lord haue mercy and helpe me as thou knowest how because I haue néed therof both in soule and bodie thou knowest all things thou canst doe all things which liuest and raignest world with out end Amen Of the felicity of the life which God hath prepared for them that loue him O Thou life which God hath prepared for them that loue him a life long hoped for a blessed life a peaceable life a glorious life a vndefiled life a chast life a holy life a life without knowledge of death ignorant of sadnesse a life without spot without paine without griefe without corruptiō without vexation without variety and change a life of all beauty and most full of honor where there is no aduersarie resisting where bee no allurements of sin where there is perfect loue and no feare where day is euerlasting and of all one spirit where God is seene face to face and the mind satisfied with this nourishment without want O thou life most happie where that souldiour the conquerer accompanied with all the companies of Angelles singing praises singeth to God without ceasing the pleasant song of the songs of Sion the perpetuall crowne compassing his honorable head I would to God the pardon of my sins granted me and this vnprofitable burden of the flesh put off I might enter to possesse the true rest to thy ioy And that I might go into the bright and beautifull walles of thy City to receiue a crown of life of the hand of the Lord that I might be in presence with those most holy companies that I might stand before the glory of the Creator with the most blessed spirits that I might see the present countenance of Christ that alwaies I might beholde that high and vnspeakeable and vnmeasurable light and so to bée moued with no feare of death but that I might reioyce of the reward of euerlasting incorruption without ende A Meditation of the celestiall Soule O My soul sigh feruently desire earnestly that thou mayest come into the Citie aboue of which so glorious things are spoken in which there is a dwelling of all reioysinges Thou mayest ascende through loue nothing is difficult to him that loueth nothing vnpossible The Soule that loueth ascendeth often and passeth familiarly through familiarly through the stréets of heauenly Ierusalem in visiting the Patriarks and Prophets in saluting the Apostles in marueling at the armies of Martyrs and Confessors and in beholding the companies of Virgins Let not heauen and earth cease to call on mee that I loue the Lord my God That all our hope and desire ought to bee to God ONe thing I haue asked of the Lord and this I request that I might dwel in the house of God all the dayes of my life For as the Hart desireth the water springs so my soule longeth after thee my liuing God O when may I come and appeare before thy face when shal I see my God whome my soule thirsteth for when shall I see him in the land of the liuing For in earth of dying men hee cannot bee seene with mortall eies What shall I doe wretch that I am bound with the setters of my mortality what shall I do Whilest wee are in this bodie wee goe on pilgrimage to God wee haue not heere any Citie to inhabit but wee seeke an other that is to come for our incorporation is in heauen Ah wo is me that I am constrained to dwel with Mesech and to haue my habitation amongest the Tentes of Cedar My soule hath long dwelt amongst them that haue beene enemies to peace Who shall giue mee wings like a doue and I wil flie and take m◠rest Nothing is so sweete to mee as to bee with my Lord for it is my good to cleaue vnto the Lorde Graunt mee O Lord whilest I am present in these frail lims to cleaue vnto thee according as it is written Hee that cleaueth to the Lord is one spirit with him Another THou O lord the hope of Israell the desire after which our hearts sigheth dayly make hast tarrie not Arise make speede and come that thou maist deliuer vs out of this prison to praise thy holy name that I may glory in thy light Open thine eares to the cries and teares of thine Orphanes which crie out vnto the.
Our Father giue vs this day our dayly bread that with the strength thereof wee may walk day and night vntill wee come vnto thy holy mount Horeb And I a little one among the little ones of thy household O God the father and my strength when shall I come appear before thy face that who now acknowledgeth thee for a time I may heere after acknowledge thee for euer Blessed shal I bee if I be admitted to see thy brightnes Who may grant me this that thou licence mee to come to this I know O lord I know and confesse my selfe vnworthy to enter vnder the roofe of thy house but graunt it for thine honour and confound not thy seruant putting his trust in thee The vision of God is lost by reason of sin and miserie found O Lorde thou art my God my Lord and I haue neuer seene thee thou hast made mee and made mee new againe and hast bestowed all thy good things on mee and yet I haue not seene thee neither know thee Finally I am made to see thee and yet I haue not done that for which I am made O miserable condition of man when hee lost that for which he was made O that cursed and hard fall Alas what lost he what hath he foūd what departed and what remained He lost felicitie to which hee was made and found miserie to which he was not made That departed without which nothing is happy that remained which of it selfe is not but miserable Man did then eate the bread of Angels which now he hungreth for and now hee eateth the breade of sorrowe which then hee knew not O thou lord how long wilt thou forget for euer how long turnest thou thy face from vs when wilt thou looke backe and heare vs. When wilt thou lighten our eies and shew thy face vnto vs When wilt thou restore thyselfe vnto vs Regarde O lord heare and enlighten vs and shew thy selfe vnto vs that it may bee well with vs without whom it is so euill with vs. Recreate vs help vs I beseech thee O Lord My hart is become bitter in his desolation make it sweete with thy consolation Being hungrie I haue begun to seeke thee let me not liue vnfed of thee I come poore to the rich a wretch to the pitifull let me not go away emptie and despised O Lord I am bowed downe and crooked that I cannot see but downward reare me that I may look and indeuour my selfe vpward Mine iniquities are gone ouer my heade they haue couered mee and wrapped mee round about and lode mee like an heauy burden Vnwrap me and vnburden me least the pit shut her mouth vpon me Teach me to seeke thee and shew thy selfe to me séeking thee because I can not seeke thee except thou teach mee neither finde thee except thou shew thy selfe to me I may seeke thee in desiring after thee I may desire thee in seeking thée I may find thee in louing thee and I may loue thee in finding thee A reason intreating God to helpe HElpe mee O Lord my life least I should perish in my wickednesse If thou hadst not created mee O Lord. I had not béen but because thou hast created me now I am If thou gouernest mée not yet I am not for my merits my grace compelled thee not that thou shouldest create mee but thy most fauourable goodnesse and thy mercy That loue of thine O lord my loue of thine O Lord my God which compelled thee to creation I beseech thee now that the same may compell thee to gouerne it For what profiteth that thy loue hath compelled thée to create me if I should perish in my miserie and thy right hand should not gouerne me Let the same mercie O Lorde my God compell thee to saue that that is created which compelled thee to create what was not created Let the loue winne thee to saue which wonne thee to create because that loue is not lesse now then it was for thou thy selfe art the same loue who euer art all one Prayers and Meditations much mouing the hart to deuotion diuine loue BLessed bee the pure in heart for they shal see GOD. Blessed bee they which dwell in thy house O Lord they shal praise thee world without end I beseech thee therefore O Lord through all thy mercies by which wee are deliuered from euerlasting death make soft my hard and stonie heart my rockie and yron hart with thy pretious and rich annointing and make mee through the inward touch and griefe of heart for my sinnes to become a liuely Sacrifice before thee at all times Grant mee in thy sighte euer to haue a contrite and an humble heart with aboundance of Teares graunt mee for the loue of thée vtterly to bee dead to this world and through the greatnesse of thy feare and loue quite forgetfull of transitory things so farre forth that concerning worldly things I neither mourne nor reioyce for them neither that I may feare any thing temporall nor loue it neither that I bee corrupted with allurements nor broken with aduersities And because thy loue is as forceable as death I beseech thee that the very whote and sweet force of thy loue may draw vp my minde from all things which are vnder heauen that I may abide fast to the onely memorie of thy sweetnesse Lorde let thy most sweete sauour descend I beseech thee let it descende into my Heart that thy loue most sweete may enter in let the wonderfull and vnspeakeable fragrant sweetinesse of thy sauour come to mee which may reare vp euerlasting desires in me and may bring the veines of the springing water of my heart into eternall life and that at length I may see thee the God of Gods in Sion and that I may dwell in thy house O Lord world without end Amen Another SWeete Christ bountifull Iesu I beseech thée replenish alwaies my heart with thy vnquenchable loue with thy continuall remembrance insomuch that as a burning flame I may wholie burne in the sweetnesse of thy loue the loue the which many waters may neuer quench in me Make mee sweete Lorde to loue thee and for the desire of thée to put off the heauy burden of earthlie concupiscence which fighteth against and grieueth my miserable soule that running without let after thee in the sauour of thy sweete perfumes I may effectually bee satisfied and thou beeing my guide I may deserue to come to the sight of thy beauty Another SWeete Christ bountifull Iesu as I desire and as I humblie pray with all my mind and heart graunt me thy loue holy and chaste which may fill mee may dwell in me and altogither possesse mee And graunt to me an euident signe of thy loue a watering fountaine of teares continually flowing that also those my teares may witnes thy loue in mee that they may bewray and declare how much my soule loueth thee Whilest for the exceeding sweetenesse of thy loue it cannot reframe from teares