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
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
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
now as a shadow in the way I purpose to receiue at last his face reuealed to beholde him for euer who liueth and raigneth with thee and the holy Ghost worlde without end Amen Another O Lorde my soule my coÌ„panion and friend wearie and comming out of the way fainteth lyeth broken torne of those vanities which it had passed through it is hungry and greatly thirsteth and I haue not wherwithall to set before it because I am poore and a begger Thou my Lord God art rich of al good things most rich and a liberall giuer of dainties satisfying from aboue giue meate to the weary bind vp the scattered refresh the broken and torne Sée it standeth at thy doore and knocketh I beséech thée through the vowels of thy mercy with which thou hast visited vs rising out of the déepe open to the wretched knocking the hand of thy deuotion and bid with thy mercifull fauour that it may enter into thee it may liue with thée and bee refreshed of thee with heauenly Bread and Wine whereby béeing satisfied and strength taken againe it may ascend to higher places being taken vp with the wings of holy desire from this vaile of teares it may fly to the celestiall kingdomes Lord I beseech thee that my spirit might receiue wings like an Eagle and might flie and not faint that it might flie euen to the beauty of thy house and to the place of the habitation of thy glorie that there vpon the table of the refection of heauenly Citizens it may bee fedde of thy secrets in the place of thy Pasture next toe most flowing waters c. Prayers after the Communion MOst sweet lord Iesus strike through the inward part of my heart and bowels of my Soule with the most sweete and Healing wound of thy loue with the true cleare and most holy Apostolicall loue that my soule may languish and melt with the onely and continuall loue and desire of thee that it may couet thée and faint in thy porch that it may desire to be dissolued and be with thée Grant that my soule may hunger after thée the bread of Angels the refreshing of holy souls our dayly bread hauing all pleasantnesse of tast and all delectation of swéetnesse yea for euer that my heart hunger and be fed on thee on whom the Angels delight to looke and that the inwards of my soule may bée filled with the plesantnesse of the tast of thée that it may euer thirst after thée the well of life the fountaine of wisedome and knowledge the spring of eternall light the riuer of pleasure the bounty of the house of God that it may euer desire thée séeke thée finde thée come to thee Meditate on thée speake to thée and may worke all thinges to the prayse and glory thy holy name with all humility and discretion with delight and delectation with obedience and affection with perseuerance to the ende And be thou alwaies my onely hope my trust my riches my delight my reioicing my ioy my rest my peace my sweetnesse my wisedome my portion my possession my treasure In whom bee my mind and heart fastned sure and immoueable rooted for euer Amen Another I Giue thee thankes O Lord holy Father almighty and eternal God which vouchsafest to satisfie me sinner thy vnworthy seruant with the precious body and blood of thy son our Lord Iesus Christ not by any of my merits but with the only fauour of thy mercy I beseech thee that this holy Communion be not my guiltinesse to punishment but a healthfull intercession to pardon Be it vnto me an armour of faith and a target of good will be it an auoiding of my faults an increasing of Charity patience humility obedience a sure defence against the wiles and deceits of all mine enemies as well visible as inuisible a perfect appeasing of my motions as well carnall as spirituall a sure fastning in the true and one God and a happy consummation of my ending And I pray thée that thou wilt vouchsafe to bring me sinner to that vnspeakeable feast where thou with thy Son and the holy Ghost with thy elect art the true light the ful satiety the ioy euerlasting the confirmed reioysing and pâ—rfite felicity through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen A warning to the soule O Sinnes what easie entries you haue whilest you are in counsel but how hard and difficult goings out haue you Whilest you perswade and obtaine you doe delight but after you sting and vexe euen to the death of the soule My soule before all things I warne thee as the Mother of vertues least in the thoughts of thy euils thou shouldest runne into the snares of some Diuill into the which many vnheedily run and through the remembrances of the sinfull delights foolishly fall againe into the same their sinnes and euils The Concupiscence of the flesh the concupiscence of the eye and the pride of life BEhold Lord my God all the world is full of snares and concupiscences which they haue prepared for my feet And who may flie these snares Truely hee from whom thou takest away the euill lifting vp of his eies that the concupiscence of his eyes take him not and from whome thou takest a way the concupiscence of the flesh least the concupiscence of the flesh take him And from whom thou takest away an vnreuerent and a vaine glorious mind least the pride of life subtillie deceiue him O how happy is hee for whome thou doest these things surely he shall passe through free and blameles Now my redéemer I beséech thee for thine owne sake helpe me that I fall not grieuously in the beholding of mine aduersaries takeÌ„ with their snares which they haue made ready for my féet that they bow not downe my soule Thou Lord God father of the fatherles heare the pitiful cries of the children and spred out thy wings that wee may flie vnder them from the face of the enemie Thou tower of the strength of Israel which slumbrest neither sléepest kéeping Israel because the enemy neither slumbreth nor sléepeth that fighteth against Israel Of the misery of man without God LOrd forsake me not least the shadowes of mine ignorance increase and mine offences multiply for without thee all thinges are darknesse vnto mee all things are euill because nothing is good without thée the true onely and chiefest good This I confesse this I know my Lord my God for whersoeuer I am without thée it is euill with mee not onely of matters external concerning my selfe but in my selfe for all plenty and aboundance without my God is to mee want and misery Then shall I be rich and satisfied when thy glory shall appeare And thou lord my happie life graunt that I may euer confesse my misery to thee With how much bitternes this life is sprinckled I Am greatly weary Lord of this life of tedious pilgrimage This life is a frail life an vncertaine life a painefull life a defiled life a life Ladie
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.