teaching but from thee I expect that thou shouldest open vnto mee the treasures of thy wisedome Be assistant bee assistant therefore O thou brightnesse of diuine Maiestie O beauty of thy Fathers glory O giuer of rewards be assistant I beseech thee vnto me and from the height of thy throne powre the sparkling light of thy grace into the heart of thy seruant that being solely taught inwardly by thee I may vnderstand not that which the prudence of the flesh perswadeth but that which thy celestiall wisedome doth allow that I may vnderstand also with sobrietie and not whilst I perswade others to goodnesse make my selfe arrogant and euill but that I may first of all conuert to mine owne profit whatsoeuer is giuen mee by thee then from mee let it redound to my neighbour that by the benefite of this imperfect science I may at last come to the contemplation of the most perfect wisedome which thou thy selfe art Who liuest and reignest GOD world without end Amen When the clocke striketh BLessed bee the houre in which my Lord Iesus Christ was borne died for vs O Lord haue me in remembrance at the houre of my death A praier before repast IT is y◠admirable mystery of thy work O thou Maker and ruler of the world that thou sustainest by these meates the liues of men and of beasts Truly that power is neither in the bread nor meate but it is in thy will and word by which all things liue and haue their beeing And how great is that likewise that euery yeare thou so prouidest whereby so many sorts of liuing creatures are sufficiently satisfied Which thy holy Prophet testified in the publishing of thy praises That all things looke vp vnto thee that thou mightest giue thē meat in due season Thou openest thy hand fillest with thy blessing euery liuing creature These are the wonderfull workes of thy omnipotencie wee beseech thee thou Prince magnificent father that as thou ministrest life vnto our bodies by meates and by thy word so also it might please thee to quicken our soules with grace by the same word Grant that thy helpe may be present with vs lest wee wickedly abuse those things which thou hast created for our good vses let vs not loue thee because thou giuest those things but let vs loue those things because they come from thee for a time are necessary vnto vs returning vnto thee Let vs conuerse soberly purely moderately holily amongst thy gifts which thou giuest vs lest wre conuert those things which thou giuest vs as a medicine of our life to the venome and death of our soules But rather duely and thankefully receiuing them they may become holsome both to our soules and bodies that we may be worthy that thou like a good Father shouldest deseruedly nourish vs like thy deare children with holsome nourishment till we obtaine to that perfection of thy Son Iesus Christ in which this mortall shall out on immortality neither any more want nouriture beeing made one with thy selfe who art blessed for euer and euer Amen A praier after meate VVE feele a double eating O boūtiful liberal Father in our members by this the naturall heate daily consumeth somewhat of the substāce of our bodies by that not the natural but the noxious concupiscence consumeth somewhat of that iustice which by thy larges is infused into our soules If thou repairest not and daily strengthenest not our body with corporall meats it dieth and that naturall life which is in it is extinguished except thou daily nourish our soule by thy grace it is first weakned and at length dieth not a temporall but an eternall death For as we consist of two-fold substance so haue wee neede of a double aliment We pray thee therfore O Lord God to giue our bodies our daily bread wee beseech thee also impart to our soules thy continuall grace by the one the bodie is strengthened by the other the soule is inriched by this wee liue by that we liue happily Now hast thou nourished O most gracious father the corporall life of thy children with corporall meates we pray thee that with the same beneficence thou wilt now also nourish in vs the spirituall life with the crummes of thy mercy falling from thy table that by thy grace thou maiest driue away the death of our soules Truly we are much indebted vnto thee for this present life and because thou prolongest the same by thy bounty wee giue yeeld thee most humble thankes but this now is the way to that eternall life which wee beseech thee by the death of thine only begotten Sonne to bestow vpon vs by thy bounty and immortall blessednesse Here but for a temporall life wee giue thee thanks but temporarie such as we may there for eternall graces shall we giue thee eternall thanksgiuing For there shall we truly be satisfied when thy glory shall appeare which thou shalt giue vs through Iesus Christ thy Sonne who with thee and the holy Ghost liueth and reigneth world without end Amen A praier to almightie God about Sunne setting O Lord the way of the iust shineth like a cleere light and increaseth euen vnto the perfect day of eternity but the wicked knewe not neither vnderstood they walk in darknes they shall descend from the interior darknes of the mind to the exterior darkenesse of hell O therefore most miserable are they foure-times more miserable are they to whom that thy sunne doth set that sun I say that to thy saints neuer setteth but is alwaies meridian cleere shining A grieuous night also in the noonestead attendeth their minds who depart from thee They expect the light and beholde darkenesse the light and they walke in darknes they feele like the blinde for the wall grope as it were without eies they stumble at noone day as it were in the darke and in obscuritie like the dead but they that are conuersant with thee the day is neuer darkenesse vnto them but shineth clearely Heere the etheriall Sun keepeth his course ariseth setteth draweth neare vs and departeth from vs But thou O Lord if we truely loue thee hast no changes thou risest alwaies and settest neuer thou commest to vs and remainest with vs to the worlds end O thou that risest from the highest lighten mee that fit in darkenesse and in the shadow of death O light of the Father O eternall Sonne illumine my inward darknesse lest after this life I be drawne to the exteriour O mercifull and sweete Iesu remaine with mee because it wareth darke and the day is already at an end for as long as wee enioy thy presence wee abide in light and clearenes but if thou shalt depart from vs what thing can bee pleasant nay what not heauy and dolesome vnto vs When wee haue thee present wee are fedde by thy sweetnesse we enioy thy familiaritie we rest in thine armes wee are delighted by thy inward conference
A PARADISE of prayers CONTAINING the purity of deuotion and meditation Gathered out of all the spirituall exercises of LEVVES of Granado AND Englished for the benefit of the Christian Reader Ascendat oratio descendat gratia LONDON Printed by R. Field for Mathew Law and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard neere vnto S. Austines gate 1614. At our vprising GOd the Father that saidst in the beginning Let light be made it was made lighten my eies that I sleepe not in death lest at any time mine enemie say vnto me I haue preuailed against him God the sonne light of light the great truest light from whence this light both of sunne and day ariseth thou light shining in darkenesse and illuminating euery one that commeth into this worlde driue from me all darknes of ignorance and giue me vnderstanding that in thee and by thee I may know the Father to know whom is to liue and to serue whom is to reigne God the holy Ghost thou fire both illuminating and warming kindle in me thy light that I may know the deceitful delights of this world and the true ioyes of heauen Enlighten my minde that I may see how great a good our enemy soliciteth vs to change for a light shadow Grant that I may onely see those things that are thine and be blinde to the rest infuse also into my minde the gift of thy charity that forsaking those transitorie things I may with a feruent zeale and continuel desire endeuour to attaine those things which are eternall Holy Trinity one God defend me this day from all the assaults of the diuell keepe me this day from all sin and defend me this day from sudden and vnexpected death Be thou vnto me solace in tribulatiō assistance in temptation and in death a pleasant refuge Thou hest raised my body O Lord which was drowned in sleep I beseech thee that thou wilt deliuer my soule likewise from the sleep of sins the darknes of this world and that which thou hast recalled from sleepe vnto waking may it please thee after death to restore to the same life for sleepe is to thee as death to vs. To thee be praise cleernes wildome thanksgiuing honor vertue fortitude for euer and-euer Amen When we rise RIse O my soule that sleepest arise from death Christ shal shine vnto thee Arise O thou daughter of Sion O my soule redeemed by Christs blood shake off the dust of sinnes set in thee the peace of Christ purchased for thee by his merits Christ thou mercifull aduocate of mankind as thou releeuest this greeuous burthen of my body by thy benefit so lift vp our minds to the knowledge loue of thy Maiesty and grant that the body may be a companion Minister of pietie to the soule in this life to the end that in the life to come it may be partaker of that eternal blessednes where thou liuest reignest with God the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A thankesgiuing for our preseruation the night past together with a prayer wherin we beseech almighty God to take the like care of vs this day OMnipotent eternall Lord the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ I praise thee I blesse thee and with my whole heart giue thee thanks that according to thy vnmeasurable goodnes thou hast by thy fatherly prouidence preserued me this night that it hath pleased thee to be present with me so that the diuell durst not drawe neere to assaile me that thou hast protected me from all euill both of soule and body that thou hast defended me being drowned in profound sleepe by the assistance of thy holy Angels as it were with an impregnable wall against the deceits and snares of the old aduersary who neuer letteth slip any opportunity to hurt vs Finally for that thou hast sweetly raised me from sleepe the true image of death lest I should bee choaked in the darknesse of my sins to the end I might haue space and time yet at the length to recollect and earnestly repent my selfe Now likewise O father of mercy and God of all consolation I beseech thee and from the bottome of my heart intreat thee that this day thou wilt take me also into thy fatherly protection and behold me with thy mercifull eies direct me in the way of thy commaundments and giue me those gifts of thy holy spirit by whose means I may begin continue and end this day likewise to the praise and glory of thy holy name to the profit of my neighbors and the saluation of my soule endeuouring my selfe euery where and in all things without neglect of my duty to discharge euery way that vocation to which I am called Keep me O Lord from all sin restraine my flesh and blood prone to all iniquitie and friend and minister to that old Adam coole by the dewe of thy spirit the heate of concupiscence that reigneth in my members lest this day at any time I fall into any sinne and prouoke thy wrath and indignation against me Grant O mercifull father and vouch safe O deere Lord that I may lead the remnant of my life in thy feare and loue Direct this day my heart and my body my senses speeches and my actions in thy law in the workes of thy commaundements Turne my hart from all transitory things and conuert it to eternal that forsaking the riches and delights of this world I may alwaies thirst after thy kingdome Curb and restraine the power of the diuell our old and sworne enemie that although hee rangeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure he may not yet hurt or any wayes hinder mee But because my merits are none at al for which I deserue to be heard behold I bring with me thy onely begotten Son who is the propitiation for my sins behold him O mercifull father and for the iustice sake of thy Son forgiue the sins of thy seruant grant mee that by thy mercy which is not my due in iustice who liuest reignest God for euer and euer Amen Morning exercises 1. The commemoration of benefits receiued O God my God early doe I wake vnto thee ◅aith y◠thy holie Prophet And a little after he addeth so I was mindfull of thee on my bed early in the morning will I think on thee because thou wert mine helper And I my Lord God with that holy king desire to watch Let this be the beginning of my occupations let the day beginne with this thought of mine For heereunto the duties driue me whereby I am bound vnto thee this is the end of my creation for I was therefore made to the end I should praise thee glorifie magnifie and sanctifie thy name For thou art the beginning and the end of all things I say the beginning without beginning and the end without end For euen as no man might euer create any thing without
except thou hadst raised me In the multitude of my sorrowes therefore which I had in my heart thy comforts haue refreshed my soule and raised it How often O Lord haue my sins deserued thy wrath How often mightst thou haue taken thy hand away and that iustly from mee as thou hast withdrawne it from others lesse vngratefull yet wert y◠mercifull vnto mee and didst not punish me according to my iniquities I was proud swolne with vaine glory I attributed that glorie which was due vnto thee to my selfe and therefore I am worthy to bee an outcast from thy mercie I was ingrateful I did not acknow ledge thy benefits I attributed that to nature which was due to the author of nature neither did I yeeld the thanks which belonged vnto thee I was negligent slothfull in those things which appertaine to my saluation and therefore I deserued that my talēt should long since haue bene taken from me I was rash in louing perils and therefore worthy to fall into them I am worthy I say O Lord y◠for these and many such like I should alreadie bee forsaken and ◅ast off by thee that the crime of the last sinne might be the punishment of the first But thy patience was so great that thou wink◅dst at the wickednesse of my dissolute life shuttedst thine eies against my infirmities Hitherto hast thou forborne mee with so much mercie neither wouldest thou suffer that thy succour should at any time leaue me I pray thee O Lord perfect that which thou hast begun vouchs◅ not onely to keepe in mee but also to in◅ease thy benefits which thou thy selfe hast daigned to impart to mee Continue O Lord to keepe me innocent in this spirituall life and forsake me not as hitherto thou hast not forsaken mee I conuert the dolors of my conscience O Lord wherewith I should be vexed if thou hadst forsaken mee into ioy and now with glad minde and reioycing spirit in way of thanksgiuing and praise I sing saying with thy friend Returne my soule into thy rest for our Lord hath done good vnto thee For he hath deliuered my soule frō death mine eies from teares and my feet from falling For all these thy benefits we yeeld thee thanks Lord God omnipotent who art and hast bene and who shalt be for thy works are great and wonderfull and thy waies are iust and true Lord and King for euer Amen To how many temptations our life is exposed and how much neede wee haue of Gods helpe LOrd let mee know mine end and the number of my daies that I may bee certified how long I haue to liue Are not my daies few it irketh my soule of my life For what is this life where continuall tribulations are conuersant where all things are full of snares and enemies Scarcely doth one temptation passe away but another succeedeth and the first conflict as yet vndetermined others more greeuous and vnexpected doe follow Helpe mee therefore O Lord my God for mine enemies haue inuironed my soule on this ◅e my body on that side the diuell heere the world vrgeth and all of these enforce and search after my soule I cannot flie from the body nor driue it from mee I must needes beare it about with me for that it is tied vnto me I must not kil it I am compeld to sustaine it when I ◅atten the same I nourish mine owne enemy against my selfe The world begirteth and bes◅egeth mee euery way by the fiue windows or senses of my body my sight my hearing my taste my smelling and my touching woundeth mee with his arrowes and death entreth by my windows into my soule I cannot see the diuell and therefore haue lesse meanes to beware of him Hee hath bent his bow and hath to that end prepared his shafts that he may wound mee sodainely he hath said he would hide his snares saying Who shall see them which way soeuer I see thē there is no security the flesh suggesteth me with delight the world presenteth sweete the diuell gall the flesh talketh vnto me of sleepe of drinke of meat and such like appurtenances of the same the world bewitcheth mee with ambitious pleasing of time with boasting with arrogancy and pride but to wrath malice bitternes of minde the diuell prouoketh me Behold Infidels Atheists are with me O Lo◅ I dwell with Scorpions woe is me because my life is prolonged I haue dwelt with the inhabitants of ◅edar my soule hath too long remained on the earth in this so dangerous assault I finde nothing in me wherunto I may haue recourse for my heart is vaine fugitiue and vnstable more moueable than motiō it is distracted diuers waies and trauerseth innumerable things with incertaintie and whilst it wandreth through diuers things it findeth no rest For euen as a Mil turneth swiftly and refuseth nothing but grindeth whatsoeuer is put vpon it and if nothing be put thereon it consumeth it selfe so is my heart alwaies in motion and neuer resteth Bitter thoughts trouble vncleane defile vaine disquiet trouble the same whilst my heart crieth not for future ioy nor seeketh thy helpe it is estranged from the loue of God and drowned in ◅rthly affections And when it falleth from those and is insnared in these vanity seduceth it curios◅tie confoundeth it des◅re allureth it pleasure intangleth it lust de◅leth it enuie tortureth it ire disturbeth it sadnesse tormenteth it So by miserable chances it is drowned in all vices sometimes an abiect matter falleth out to be the cause of a greeuous temptation Wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death In all these am I ouerthrowne O Lord vnlesse thou helpe me Haue mercy therefore haue mercy vpon me O Lord and deliuer me from the dirt that I sticke not therein lest euery way I remaine discomfortlesse Deliuer me from ◅ine enemies O God and from them that hate mee defend mee against all those that rise vp against me But thou O Lord deliuer me from the snare of the Hunter and from the bitter tongue that wee may confesse vnto thee saying Blessed be God who gaue vs not in prey to their teeth My soule is escaped like a Sparrow from the ◅et of the fowler the net is broken and we are escaped Against whatsoeuer temptation THou seest O bountifull Father the great danger wherwith I am entangled thou seest the snares which mine enemies haue laid for me and the violence that they v◅ against mee that they may raui◅ me o Father from the number of thy children and deliuer mee thy poore sheepe as a prey to the fierce teeth of Wolues I therfore humbly beseech thee for thy fatherlie goodnesse sake to helpe mee and strengthen me and that they may haue no other vse of these their subtilties but to strengthen my loue towards thee and make their subtilties cursed counsels more manifest Truely my infirmities might
the Father of light from whom all goodnesse proceeded I like the lost sheepe wandered far astray from the fold who lewdly consumed that grace which thou so liberally hadst imparted to me I left thee the FouÌ„taine of liuing water and digged me Cesteâ—…ns and drunke of troubled water full of bitter consolations such as in short time are dried vp For all consolations and al the pleasures of this world vanish away like smoke I left the tree of life and fed on mast cods which were spurned and trodden downe by the hogs following the passions and inordinate affections of my minde my beastly appetites I departed from thee the chiefest good and followed those earthly and transitorie pleasures which ouerthrew mee But now O father I beseech thee forget thou these iniuries which I haue committed against thy maiestie which I craue not for in respect of the multitude of my merits but by beholding the labours and dolours of thy onely begotten Son which he suffred for my sake And thou the onely begotten Sâ—…nne of the eternall Father my Lord God and Sauior haue mercy vpon me I cast all mine iniquities all my iniurie ignomâ—…e ire pride auarice disobedience impudencie presumption with all my other sins wherby I haue prouoked thy wrath into thy lenitie clemency sacred wounds wide open to yeeld mee refuge I giue my selfe wholy vnto thee and commend my selfe wholy to thy grace for thou art my hope my helpe and my strength As much as my sins trouble and confound me so much doth thy goodnesse and the infinite merits of thy passion reiâ—…yce and comfort me My sins although in themselues they be grieuous in weight and infinite in number yet in comparison of thy mercies they are light and few Under this confideÌ„ce I come vnto thee and confesse my sinnes vnto thee hoping that thou wilt not destroy him whom thou hast created according to thine owne image similitude and for whose loue thou madest thy selfe partaker of our nature bloud and flesh I trust I shall not bee condemned by thee whom thou hast redeemed as it were with so incomparable a price with so many labours and dolors To thee be all honour and dominion for euer euer Amen Another most deuout praier for remission of sinnes O My best beloued Iesus I aâ—… that wretched vnhappy sin ner that hath inflicted thee so many wounâ—…s and crucified thee aâ—…ew by my sinnes ahlas too many and too mighty Behold yet how I pre sent my selfe before thee my father and iudge being guilty of so mâ—… crimes accountable for so maâ—… sinnes beseeching thee through the bowels of thy mercy that all thy wounds may once more bee opened in the sight of the Father may flow into my miserable vncleane soule soiled and infected with so many sinnes not suffering them to be closed before they haue throughly washed and perfectly cleansed me O sweet Iesus turne not thy face from me but ouerflow me with thine infinite mercy and behold me with the eies of thy pitie wherewith thou beheldst Mary Magdalen at the feast time Peter in the Bishops palace the theefe on the Crosse. Giue mee the true knowledge of my sinnes giue me the iust griefe receiue me into the paradise of thy grace wash mee in thy reaking blood and quicken me by thy precious death pardon me and take from me whatsoeuer my heart wrongfully possesseth beecause thou thy selfe hast said if I bee exalted from the earth I will draw all things to me For which cause I pray thee O thou redeemer of my soule draw mee vnto thee and cleanse me from my hidden sins O true light illumine the darknes of my minde O consuming fire burne in me all my sinnes and iniquities Come and viâ—…t my sick soule cleanse my conscience and make me thy gratefull Tabernacle O deerest beeloued Lord spred for my sake on the tree of the Crosse draw mee out of the suds of my sinnes embrace mee kisse mee being clensed from all sâ—…aine of my wickednesse O noble cluster of grapes pressed in the wine-presse of the Crosse hug my soule with thy naked but faire armes distained with bloud Grant also that thou maist bee embracâ—… in like sort by the same and 〈◊〉 a handfull of Mirrhe thou maâ—… rest betweene her teates O thâ—… nailed and pierced souldier hoâ—… cruelly wert thou wounded in tâ—… warre vndertaken in my behalfe How strongly didst thou fight fo me thou triumpher ouer the worâ—… and the diuell who by thy death diddest conquer death and by tâ—… precious blood didst expiate fâ—… all the sinnes of mankinde Oâ—… what shall I giue thee for all thâ—… which thou hast bestowed vpâ—… mee All that little that I haue I offer it wholly vnto thee nameâ—… my spirit that thou maist rest 〈◊〉 the same my soule that it mâ—…â—…oue thee my body that it mâ—… serue thee O noble Pellican that nouâ—… shest thy yong ones with thy heaâ—… blood so feed my soule faintâ—… for hunger and spirituall thirst nothing else may be sauourie vnâ—… the same neither that she may dâ—… sire to take any thing but to eaâ—… thy flesh and drinke thy blood O mellifluous riuer of celesâ—… delights ouerflow all my inward parts make me drinke and grant that I may bee dead to all other creatures and aliue to thee onely O glorious myrrour of the incomprehensible Trinitie on which all the Angels and Saints desire to contemplate alas how cruelly wert thou intreated for my sake There is neither forme nor beauty in thee thou becamest a by-word of men and the scorne of the multitude O make mee partaker of that incomparable treasure of thy precious ransome wherewith thou redeemedst mee open the treasurie of thy merits and pay all my debt make mee such a one in this world as thou woulddest haue me in the world to come where thou reignest with the Father and the holy Spirit God world without end Amen A most godly praier and oblation wherein man offereth himselfe vp vnto God requiring that the tyranny of his vices expelled God hereafter may reigne in his soule and dwell therein and so worke in it those fruits which pertaine to newnesse of life O My God O my loue O my hope O all my refuge and all my desire O Father of mercy and God of al consolation as oft as I coÌ„sider with my selfe in what state I was somtime in how many dangers of perdition I haue escaped from how many euils thou hast deliuered me wheÌ„ I was dead in my sinnes and lay buried and couered with the stone of my inueterate custome of offending such a hope is quickened in me that I cannot choose but aske at thine hands O Lord all such things as are necessary for my saluation For I am thy workmanship thy hands haue fashioned me O Lord despise not therefore the worke of thy haÌ„ds For why should I doubt that thou wilt giue mee all thy goods that hast
Prophet and my soule is no lesse dead than the body of that mā neither is this touch of lesse efficacie than that why therefore should I not expect the like benefit in my selfe why should a body begotten in sinne doe more mirecles than a body conceiued by the holy ghost Why shall the body of the seruant haue a greater prerogatiue than the body of the maister Why shall not thy body raise my soule sanctified in thy blood which cleaueth and is ioyned vnto thee by faith when that raiseth those bodies which it toucheth And because this body was raised not requesting life but by the onelie vertue of the bones of thy blessed Prophet let it bee pleasing to thine infinite mercie O my God since I request and beseech thee to giue me life by the meanes of this Sacrament that I may not now line but thou in mee O good Iesu by that thine inestimable charitie which betraied thee for my sake made thee suffer an ignominious death I humbly beseech thee that thou wilt cleanse me from all sin adorne me with all kindes of vertues and thy merits and grant me grace that I may receiue this holy Sacrament with so much humilitie and reuerence so much feare and trembling with so much griefe and repentance for my sins finally with so much loue and charitie as this most heauenly mystery doth require Grant mee most mercifull Lord that puritie of intent whereby I may worthily ha◅e accesse to thy mysticke table to the glory of thy holy name and the remedy of my infirmities necessities that strengthned by the vertue of this Sacrament I may be able strongly to withstand mine enemies to ouercome them and to sustaine my selfe by that liuing meate in the spirituall life Grant also by y◠benefit of this Sacramēt that I may be made one with thee and incorporated in thee may inseparably cleaue vnto thee being made one spirit with thee Let this sacrifice bee my safetie and this inestimable benefit of this Sacrament assist all men as it is instituted for the health of them left vnto thy Church who liuest reignest world without end Amen A most worthy meditation after the Communion O My God and my Sauiour how shal I yeeld thee cōdigne thankes for that thou beeing the King of Kings Lord of Lords hast not disdained to visit my soule and to enter the poore roose of my miserable cottage and so to worke that both thou and I are one and that by the means of the inestimable vertue of y◠Sacrament With what reward shal I requite such a benefit With what offices shal I remunerate thy so great goodnes with thanks may a miserable wretched and poore creature giue for a gift so rich and precious For it suffised thee not in this mystery to make vs partakers of thy supreme deity but thou wouldest also communicate vnto vs thy humanitie together with all thy merits which in the same and with the same thou didst purchase for vs for giuing vs thy body and blood thou makest vs also partakers of thy holy treasure and of all thy merits which being on earth thou obtainedst for vs. O admirable Communion O treasure to be equalled by no price and as yet vnknowne vnto men O mercifull Redeemer of our soules with what more richer iewels or greater riches couldest thou store vs thā with this most blessed Sacrament Deseruedly O Lord didst thou say in the praier which thou saidest about the houre of thy passion I sanctifie my selfe for thē that they also may bee sanctified in truth namely after a new maner of sanctification difficile to the sanctifier and easie to the sanctified For thine is the sanctity O Lord mine the fruit of sanctitie thou didst labour I receiued the reward thou wert at the charge I reapt the profite thou art chastised I am pardoned for my sins thou drunkest the bitter potion I with my selfe recouer my lost health thy dolours thy nayles thy strokes thy thornes and thy precious blood not shed by drops but by flouds satisfied for me thy teares wash mee thy wounds heale me thy scourgings haue satisfied for me O rich Communion O fraternity of infinit merits O traffique of inestimable treasure what stocke or summe haue we imploied in this partnershippe what haue we aduentured that the increase is so profitable vnto vs Why doth the sun illuminate the world why warmeth the fire the body which is the obiect against it why doth the water coole that same The reasō is manifest for these are their naturall properties for such creatures produce such effect And it is thy property O lord to pardon thy custom to shew mercie and that rather to others than to thy selfe Thy goodnesse is ours that not ordinary but infinit for as the property of good is to be cōmon communicatiue so truly the chiefest good should also be chiefly diffusiue this hast thou done vnto vs because thou hast wholy giuen thy selfe vnto vs. In thy birth thou becamest our brother in our nourishing our food in thy death our redemption in our ruling our reward finally O my soule if in one word thou wilt comprehend all these benefits which this so admirable Sacramēt bringeth with it consider that which this Lord brought into this world when as becoming man he came into thy world For when he entred into the world he gaue the world the life of grace with al those things which attend on the same so also when he comes by y◠Sacrament into our soule hee giueth the same life of y◠soule O diuine food by which the sons of men are trāsformed into the sons of God and by which the flesh is mortified in vs that the deity may liue in vs O sweetest bread worthy to bee adored nourishing the soule not the belly strengthning the heart and not ouercharging the body reioycing the spirit not troubling the vnderstanding whose vertue doth moderate our appetites killeth our selfe will that the will of God may be more effectuall in vs. What thanksgiuing therefore shal I yeeld vnto thee what praises shal I sing vnto thee O Lord for this thy benefite If the gratuitie ought to be answerable to the gift what kinde of recompence I pray you will equall such a gift Thou saidst in times past to thy seruant Moses Take the golden vessel and hide it in the Arke of the couenant and it shall be kept there for future generatiōs that they may see that meate which for forty yeares long I made you feede on in the desart If y◠so much esteemedst O Lord that corruptible meate which thou gauest thy people in the desart that thou wouldest it should be kept with reuerence in perpetuall remembrance of the same in what account should that incorruptible meate be with vs which giueth life eternall to those that eat the same I manifestly see that there is the same difference which is betweene the one meate and the other
many blessings thy bounty and benignity hath done all this and I being insufficient to yeeld thanks for only one of them how can I requit so many thousands And how may darkenesse praise light how may vanity commend verity how 〈◊〉 a mortal man by nature fraile conceiue thine immortalitie how may a grosse substance comprehend him who is free from all weight of matter how may vncleannes praise puritie who then shal applaud thy works who shall resound thy praises but thou like a most mercifull Father receiuest our vowes and takest in good part thy childrens thaÌ„sgiuing whosoeuer Make me therfore worthy O good God to giue thee thanks to cleaue perpetually to thy charitie that I may praise thee for the many and mighty benefits wherewith thou hast honoured mee That I may pay thee thanksgiuing for the perils from whence thou hast deliuered me Finally that I may doe thee dutie for protecting mee both in prosperity aduersitie because thou hast done all things with discretion and for that thou art the Lord of our bodies and soules of life death of health and sicknes of felicity infelicity To bee short the moment of all things dependeth on thy hand Thou dost reioyce in vs by thy benefits thou dost amate vs by thy menaces thou differedst in chastising comfortest vs reclaming our frailty vnto thy self Glory be to thy wondrous power praise to thy vnsatiable loue to mankinde gouerne the rest of our life most mercifull guide and vigilant gouernour deliuer mee O Lord from all mine enemies visible and inuisible stretch out thy bounteous hand that may drawe vs out of the deepe waters of the roaring flouds of this world and that may relieue and lighten the dangers of our nauigation Gouerne yâ— the magistracy O King which thou hast committed to our charge for thou art the steersman we the rudder let thy hand therefore inuisibly rule this Rudder whither it please the and whither thou hast decreed it for neither wil I trust in my bow neither shal my sword saue me but thy right hand and thine arme and the cleare light of thy countenance Thy wil be done o King in vs as it is in heauen and earth if at any time wee shall run astray from the lawes of thy commandements conceiue not suddaine wrath O most mercifull God since thou art not ignorant how fraile and weak we are from our beginning if thou list thou canst saue mee vouch safe it may be accordant to thy wil. For vnlesse thy power strengthen mee I cannot do that which I would Consider my heart therefore with the vnspeakable sweetenes of thy bounty to the end that a little sense and taste of the future and eternall blessednesse which we shall enioy in thee may refresh our minds Lastly make nice worthie that after this present life I may hasten vnto thee my Lord God that I may behold the riches of thy kingdome and contemplate the beautie of thy looke which grant o most holy King my true God and maker for thy Sonnes sake our Lord Iesus Christ AmeÌ„ A prayer vnto the Father wherein we demand sanctification THou that rulest in the highest reignest for euer onely canst doe all things God the gouernor of heauen and earth at whose becke all creatures tremble the pillars of heauen shake O heauenly God perfect workman and Potter I wretch made out of clay or rather of filthy mudde with feare and trembling come before the throne of thy maiestie I acknowledge confesse my wickednesse I know that I am nothing yea that I am meere abomination and horror in thy sight if thy grace and mercie do faile me without thee I thinke no goodnes without thee I do no good thing without thee I am a contemptible creeping worme I cannot be saued without thine assistance my saluation dependeth on thy hands I giue thee thanks O God in especiall for this for that thou hast giuen me that know ledge that I may see and know that I am nothing and vnable to do aniething without thee Thou art the Potter I the clay such as thou wilt haue mee bee such canst thou forme and fashion me if thou makest mee blessed thou shewest thy mercy grace if thou castest mee into perdition thou shewest thy iustice and executest thy iudgement neither is it my duety to contradict thee why or vnder what reason thou doest it For thou hast mercy vpon him whom thou louest these things I meditate with my selfe o Lord I feare thy iudgements Since therefore all my safety saluation dependeth on thee and consisteth in thy hand and power and sith thou hast shewed thy selfe a mercifull long-suffering God to the whole world and hast testified the same indeed in that thou woldest thy only son Iesus Christ the innocent should die for our offences and expiate our sinnes with his blood on the Crosse. Finally since thou hast taught vs in all our perturbations to cal vpon thee and aske thy grace and mercy for that thou wilt giue vs all things which wee shall aske in the Name of thy Sonne I come vnto thee being drosse and a lumpe of clay O mercifull and celestiall Potter beseeching thee most humbly that thou wilt vse thy mercie and make of this vnworthy matter a Uessell of eternall Glorie Uouchsafe also of thy meere grace to fixe my minde on perfect faith assured hope and chaste and holie loue that being iustified by these thy gifts I may become vpright perfect good and holy according to thy good will both in the midst and end of my life as also at the latter day of iudgement O mercifull Father grant mee pardon of all my sinnes through yâ— death of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ make me to please thee alone grant me to be thy gratefull sonne and heire increase in me that iustice whatsoeuer which is giuen me and granted from heauen that I may continue and end my life 〈◊〉 the same increase in me that faith which thou hast giuen mee kindle my loue of thee and make it more apparant that by thy helpe and the presence of thy grace and the accomplishment of thy holy will I may obtaine euerlasting life which thou hast promised vs to the end I may praise thee and giue thee thanks in thy kingdome for eâ—… and euer Amen A prayer to God the Sonne OThou maker and redeemer of makinde Iesus Christ who saiedst I am the way the truth and the life the way in doctrine precept and examples the truth in promises the life in reward I pray thee by thy vnspeakeable charitie wherwith thou daignest to imploy thy selfe wholly for our saluation suffer mee neuer to wander from thee who art the way neither euer to distrust in thy promises who art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou doest promise neither to repose or relie on any other thing because thou art eternall life than which there is nothing more to bee desired neither in heauen nor in earth
according to thine owne similitude and likenesse in iustice and sanctitie and grant mee that with all patience humility I may sustaine the whip of thy fatherly visitation I giue thee thanks benigne Iesu that after so many wounds so many stripes receiued in that scourging for my sake after so copious bloodshedding from all thy body that thou wert diuers wayes mocked and scorned at and to thy greater disgrace they put thee on a Purple garment platting a Crowne of thorns they put it on thy head they gaue thee a reed in thy hand in stead of a Scepter and bowing their knees saluted thee or rather mocked thee by the name of King saying All haile king of the Iewes Grant O Lord that the memory of this miserable tragedy may be imprinted in my heart and neuer bee blotted out of the same pierce the same with the ardent arrowes of thy charity that I may onely loue thee only thinke of thee onely rest in thee and that neither tribulation anguishes or any persecutions may separate mee from thee neither let mee take it grieuously if at any time men contemne and set me at nought for thy sake I giue thee thanks sweet Iesu that after so many labours anguishes tribulations scornes and wounds suffered for my sake thou wouldst also beare thy Crosse on thy broken and bruised shoulders vnto the Mountaine of Caluarie thy place of execution and that with great labour and wearinesse through yâ— grieuous weight thereof and the extreme weakenesse of thy bodie Uouchsafe me O Lord that with a willing deuout heart I may embrace thy Crosse denying my selfe and imitating the example of thy vertues with feruent charity that I may humbly follow thee euen vnto the death I giue thee thanks O good Iesu who in this laborious iourney when thou wert led foorth to bee crucified didst bountifully comfort the women that lamented exhorting them not to weepe for thee but for themselues and their children Grant O Lord that I also may powre out deuout teares of compassion and loue so aboundantly that the hardnesse of my heart may be mollified and made acceptable in the sight of thy Maiestie Grant me O Lord that set on fire by the flames of thy most holy loue I may little or nothing esteeme these worldly delights but onely loue thee and eternally rest in the. Our Father c. The first prayer of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks most bountifull Iesu that being wearied spent with labour and oppressed with the grieuous weight of thy Crosse thou camest at length to the place of sacrifice where thou wert found altogether afflicted almost kild with thirst at which time those wicked and barbarous souldiers offered thee vinegar mixed with gall May it please thee O Lord that yâ— memory of this cup may extinguish in mee all inordinate desire of belly cheere and delight of the flesh and bring to passe that I may neuer giue consent to any filthy and vnlawfull delectations but giue mee the most honest and the most necessarie vertue of temperance as well in eating and in drinking as in other things that refraining all gluttonous appetites I may onely hunger and thirst after thee and fixe my whole pleasure on thee I giue thee thanks blessed Iesu who once more dispoyled of thy garments stoodest naked before all the people where thy raiments pulled off which with clotted blood were fast sticking to thy shoulders all thy wounds grew fresh were renewed from whence once more blood did plentifully flow not without renewing of thy dolours Grant mee O Lord the true loue of pouerty that I may neuer bee distracted through the want of worldly wealth but that I may beare my Crosse and the necessities of this life with all patience Spoile my heart O Lord of all carthly imaginations and affections and renew in me daily liuing desires of thy holy loue I giue thee thanks good Iesu who wert cruelly puld torne diuers wayes when they would crucifie thee so as all the ioynts of thy most sacred bodie were puld out of their natural places Thou like wise didst suffer thy holy hands and sacred feete to be pierced with hard and thicke nayles affixed to the Crosse. Grant me O Lord that with a gratefull and thankful heart I may alwaies haue in mind thy most ardent charity by meanes whereof thou so bountifully extendedst thine armes openedst thy hands that they might be pierced and setledst thy feete that they might be boared with hard nailes Goe to O LORD arise and wound my heart with perfect charitie pierce all my senses with the same nailes of thy loue that my thoughts and desires may be neuer separated from thee I giue thee thanks O holy Iesu that for three houres space thou hangedst on yâ— wood of the Crosse afflicted with many and intollerable reproofes shedding blood abundantly and sustaining immeasurable dolors in all thy members Naile O Lord my miserable soule to that Crosse that lyeth on the ground and purge the same from the vncleannesse of all my sinnes and appetites washing it in the flowing riuers of thy blood O blood that gauest mee life saluation disdaine not o Lord to wash mee in that blood to sanctifie me and purifie me in that precious liquor Offer the same O Lord to thy dread Father in full satisfaction and remedy of all my euils I pray thee grant mee that with my heart I may deserue to drinke and with the tongue of my soule to licke yâ— precious drops of thy Diuine blood that I may taste there how sweete thy Spirit is and how sweete that thy most precious liquor is I giue thee thanks sweet Iesus who for my sake wouldest hang in the midst of two theeues and bee esteemed for such as they were that by this thy incredible humilitie and patience thou mightst heale and vitterly ouerthrow my pride and impatience I pray thee O Lord exalt my spirit that I may despise all the visible things of this world and onely looke vpon thee loue thee think on nought but thee sigh after thee speake of thee delight in thee and that all mine actions may bee alwaies in thee and by thee and nothing without thee which may saciate my minde I giue thee thanks beloued Iesu who wert so kinde to them that were cruell towards thee who also prayedst to thy Father for them who crucified thee saying Father forgiue them they know not what they doe Giue mee grace Lord that I may haue true patience and meekenes by which being armed according to thy example which thou gauest mee and commandement which thou leftest me I may loue mine enemies and doe good vnto them that doe mee euill and pray vnto thee for them that thou wouldst pardon them all iniuries from my heart I giue thee thanks benigne Iesu who wert mocked and despised by thine enemies and outraged with so many blasphemies and inâ—…ties
passion and blood may redeeme mee from hel and damnation and reserue me to the life euerlasting I giue thee thanks o good Iesu who victoriously issuing from the Sepulcher 〈◊〉 noble triumph after thou hadst ouercome and slaine death didst rise againe the third day reassuming thy glorious body and clothed with immeasurable brightnesse visiting thy friends didst affect them with vnspeakeable ioy Grant me also O Lord that rising againe from the death of my sinnes and olde conuersâ—…tion I may walk in newnes of life and seeke those things onely which are high and excellent and not base and transitorie that when as thou the true life shalt make thy second apparition heere on earth I may appeare with thee also in thy glory I giue thee thanks O merciful Iesu who forty daies after thy resurrection in the sight of thine Apostles didst ascend into Heauen glorious and triumphant where sitting on the right hand of the Father thou liuest reignest world without end May it please thy diuine bounty o God that my soule may languish in thy loue and disdaine all things that are in this world that she may alwaies aspire vnto thee desiring celestial things and that with a continual and feruent will let nothing reioyce her nothing affect her but thou onely my Lord and God I giue thee thanks most louing Iesu for that thou sentest downe thy holy Spirit vpon yâ— elect who perseuered in prayer didst send them to preach and teach all nations throughout the world I beseech thee O Lord purifie the secrets of my heart and giue me the true purity and cleannesse of conscience that the same Comforter finding a general habitation in the same may adorne it and make it faire and beautifull with the plentifull gifts of his graces let him alone comfort me let him confirme and rule mee and bee possessed of mee I giâ—…e thee thanks most bountifull Iesu who when thou shalt come in the latter day to iudge the world to reward euery one according to his works and deserts either with rewardes or punishments My mercifull Lord giue me grace that my soule innocently â—…nishing the race of this miserable life according to thy holy will may at last depart out of this prison of the body adorned with many merits and vertues that for thy mercie-sake shee may bee receiued into the house of thy glorie that without end shee may praise thee and in the companie of all the Saints blesse thee world without end Amen Our Father c. The first thankesgiuing for the benefite of our Creation I Giue thee thanks omnipotent and eternall God most wise and munificent Creator of all things that when I was nothing hast created me to be somethat not a stone not a Serpent not a boord not a fourefooted beast but a man made according to thy image and similitude or rather the very image and similitude of thy selfe namelie a substance endued with vnderstanding and will that hauing a similitude of being liuing working with thee I might bee the image and type of thy infinite beautie But â—…est a creature so noble should presently fall againe to nothing and should presently and instantly perish thou createdst mee immortall that whereas other liuing creatures appeare but a little while and straight come to nothing I should neuer returne to not being but perpetually liue Yet seemed that little vnto thee O Lord except also thou hadst infused into me a soule so precious noble as that it scarsely giueth place to the Angels in dignity Orâ—…n and Sheepe are satisfied with hearbs and grasse Hogs feede on Aâ—…orns and Beane-cods neither are the meanes of more moment wherewith all other creatures are nourished which if they enioy they rest contented But my meate is celestiall and my appetite cannot be satisfied but by thy immeasurable Maiestie for thou hâ—…st created my soule of that nature and capacity as neither the heauens nor the earth can fill it O vnhappy man that I am why doe I loue thee world why seeke I honours why gape I after riches why am I drowned in pleasures why seâ—…ke I those things that are to day are not found to morrow These Acornes suffice not These Huskes are not sauoury and these Beanes do not nourish Know O my soule what thou art to what vse thou wert created what thou oughtest to seeke and with what dainties thou shouldest be satified Only God can satiate thee all the rest may possesse thee but they cannot satisfie thee Seeke him hâ—…e is thy Spouse he is the Hauen of thy desires hee is thy last end Acknowledge thy dignity O my soule acknowledge what and how thou art created The king whose beauty the Sun and moone admire whose maiesty the Heauens reuerence and the earth adoreth with whose wisedome yâ— quires of Angels are illuminate with whose bounty the society of supernall Citizens is sed he created thee that thou mightest be his habitation his seate and holie temple hee would infuse himselfe into thy bosome he can fill all the corners of thy immeasurable capacities Rise arise o my soule go meete with such a guest introduce him with gladnesse into thy house and say He that created mee hath his rest in my tabernacle Which dignitie of my Soule O Lord when I considerately looke into I wonder not that thy onely begotten Son make drunke with the loue thereof forsaking thy bosome disâ—…ained not the Uirgins wombe sought her thirty three yeares with diuers labors and dolours gaue his life for her and by the pledge of his precious blood redeemed her being captiue But I rather woÌ„der at my ingratitud carelesnesse and dulnes who had rather prostitute the same soule so redeemed for a finall reward once againe to the cursed diuels and commit fornication with so vncleane beasts than rest in the armes of my Redeemer who is fairest amongst the children of men whose â—…aps are better than wine and whose name is powred out oyle When I behold the fashion which yâ— gauest to this my body I findâ—… so many of thy benefits as theâ—… are members senses veins nerues or small strings to bee found in thâ—… same all which doe publish thy â—…comparable wisedome and bounty In the only harmony of which bâ—…dy if I shold alwaies philosophy I should neuer want matter to praise thee I should neuer yeeld thee condigne thanks I should neuer pay my duties for so many 〈◊〉 great benefits which how great they are they best know who want the vse of some members or are trauelled with some other vicious affection of the body I yeeld therefore O thou maker of man infinite thanks vnto thy goodnesse for that thou hast not made mee blinde lame mute monstrous mad or disguised with any other vice either of minde or of body but for that thou hast bestowed on me a sound mind in a sound body Grant also that I may neuer abuse any of my members senses or powers of my soule