assaults of the deuill from thy wrath from euerlastyng damnation Good Lorde deliuer vs. From all blindnes of hart from pride vaine glory and hipocrisy from enuy hatred and malice all vncharitablenes Good Lorde deliuer vs. From fornication and all deadly sinne from all the deceits of the world y e fleshe the Deuill Good Lorde deliuer vs. From lightenīges and tempests from plague pestilence famine from batell and murder and frō sodain death Good Lorde delyuer vs. From all sedition and priui conspiracie from all false doctrine heresy from all hardnes of hart and contempt of thy wurde and Commaundemente Good Lorde deliuer vs. By the mistery of thy holy incarnation by thy holy natiuitie and and circumcisiō by thy baptisme fasting and temptation Good Lorde deliuer vs. By thine agony bloudy sweat by thy cros and passion by thy precious deathe buriall by thy glorious Resurrection and ascēcion and by the comming of the holy Ghost Good Lorde deliuer vs. In all time of our tribulation in al time of our welth in the hour of death in the day of iudgmēt Good Lorde deliuer vs. We sinners doo beseeche thee to hear vs O Lorde God and that it may please thee to rule and go uern thy holy Churche vniuersally in the right way We beseeche thee to hear vs good lorde That it may please thee to keep and strengthen in the true wurshipping of thee in righteousenes and holines of life thy seruaunt Elizabeth oure moste gratious Queen gouernoure We beseeche thee to hear vs good lorde That it mai please the to rule her hart in thy faith feare and loue and that she may euermore haue affiaunce in thee and euer seek thy honour and glory We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please the to be her defender and keper geuing her the victori ouer all her enemies We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to illuminate all Bishops Pastoures and Ministers of the Churche with true knowledg and vnderstanding of thy wurde and that bothe by their preaching and living they may set it furthe and shew it accordingly We beeseche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to endu the Lordes of the counsell all the Nobilitie with grace wisdom and vnderstanding We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to bles and keep the magistrats geuing them grace to execute iustice and to maintain truthe We beseeche thee to hear vs c. That it may please thee to blesse and keep all thy people We beseeche thee to hear vs. c. That it may please thee to geue to all nations vnitie peace and concorde We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue vs an hart to loue and dread the and diligently to liue after thy Commaundements We beseeche thee to hear vs. That it may please thee to geue all thy people increace of grace to hear meekly thy wurd and to receiue it with pure affecciō to bring foorth the fruits of y e spirit We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to bring into the way of truthe all suche as haue erred and are deceyued We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to strēgthen suche as doo stand and confort and help the weak herted to raise vp them that fall and finally to beat down Sathan vnder our feet We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to succour help and confort all that be in daunger necessitie and tribulation We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to preserue all that trauell by land or by water all women labouring of childe all sick persons yung children and to shew thy pitie vp on all prisoners and captiues We beseeche thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to defēd and prouide for the fatherles children and widowes and all that be desolat and oppressed We beseeche thee to heare vs c. That it may please thee to haue mercy vpon all men We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to forgeue our enemies persecuters slaūderers to turn their harts We beseeche thee to heare vs. c That it may please thee to geue and preserue to our vse the kind ly fruits of y e earth so as in due time we may enioy them We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. That it may please thee to geue vs true repētance to forgeue vs all our sinnes negligences and ignoraunces and to endue vs with the grace of thy holi spirit to amende oure liues according to thy holy wurde We beseeche thee to heare vs. c. ¶ Sōne of God we beseech thee to heare vs. Sōne of God we beseeche thee to c. O Lambe of God that takest a way the sinnes of the worlde Graunt vs thy peace O Lambe of God that takest a way the sinnes of the world Haue mercy vpon vs. O Christe heare vs. O Christe heare vs. Lorde haue mercy vpon vs. Lord haue mercy vpon vs. Christe haue mercy vpon vs. Christe haue mercy vpon vs. Lorde haue mercy vpon vs. Lorde haue mercy vpon vs. ¶ Oure father whiche art in heauen c. And lead vs not into temptaciō But deliuer vs from euill Amen ¶ The versicle O Lorde deal not with vs after our sinnes ¶ Answere Neither rewarde vs after oure iniquities O God merciful father that dispisest not the sighing of a contrite hart nor the desire of suche as be sorowfull mercifully assist our prayers that we make before thee in al oure troubles and aduersities whensoeuer they op pres vs. And gratiously hear vs that those euils whiche the craft and sutteltie of the deuill or man wurketh against vs be brought to nought and by the prouidence of thy goodnes they may be dispersed that we thy seruaūts being hurt by no persecutions may euermore geue thanks vnto thee in thy holy Churche through Ie sus Christ our Lorde ¶ O Lorde arise help and deliuer vs for thy names sake O God we haue heard with our eares and our fathers haue declared vnto vs y e noble wurcks that thou diddest in their daies and in the olde time before them ¶ O Lorde arise help vs and deliuer vs for thy honour Glory to the father the sonne to the holi ghost Asit was in the beginning is now c. Amen From oure enemies defēd vs O Christe Graciously looke vpō oure afflictiōs Pitifully behold the sorowes of oure hart Mercifully forgeue the sinnes of thy people Fauourably with mercy heare oure prayers O sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpō vs. Bothe now and euer vouchsafe to heare vs O Christe Graciously heare vs O Christe graciously heare vs O Lorde Christe O Lorde let thy merci be shewed vpon vs. As we doo put
for this my poore nedy lyfe yet for as much as y u hast bothe commaunded and taught me by thy deere Sonne to praye vnto thee for thinges necessary for thys my lyfe I am bolde at this present to come vnto thi diuine maiesty moste humbly beseching thee that as thou hast geuen me lyfe so thou wylte giue me meat and drincke to sustayn the same Again as thou hast geueÌ„ me a body so thou wilt gyue me clothes to couer it that I hauing sufficyent for my liuing may the more fre ly with the quieter minde apply my selfe vnto thy seruice and honour Amen ¶ For a pacient and thankfull hart in sicknes WHoÌ„ thou louest O lorde him doost thou chasten yea euery soÌ„ne that thou receiuest thou scourgest in so dooing thou offerest thy self vnto him as a father vn to his SoÌ„ne For what soÌ„ne is he whom the father chast neth not Graunt therfore I moste hartely pray thee that wheÌ„soeuer thou layest thy cros on me and visitest me with thy louing scourge of sicknes I may by no meanes striue against thy fatherly pleasure but paciently thankfully abide thy chastisemeÌ„t euer being perswaded that it is for y e helth bothe of my body and soule that by this meanes thou wurkest my saluacion subduest the fleshe vnto the spirit makest me a new crea ture that I may hereafter serue thee the more freely coÌ„tinue in thy fear vnto my lyfes ende Amen ¶ For strength against the deuell the world and the flesh O Lorde God the Diuell goeth about like a roring LioÌ„ seeking whom he may deuour The Flesh lusteth against the Spirite The world perswadeth vn to vanities y t we may forget thee our Lorde God so for euer be daÌ„ned Thus are we miserably on euery side beseeged of cruell vnrestful enemies like at eue ri moment to perish if webe not defended with thy godly power against their tiraÌ„ny I therfore poore wretched siner dispairiÌ„g of mine owne strengthes whiche in deed are none moste hartely pray thee to endue me w t streÌ„gth from aboue that I may bee able through thy help with strong faith to resist SataÌ„ with serueÌ„t prayer to mortify y e raging lusts of the Fleshe with continuall meditation of thy holy law to auoyde the foolish vanities transitory pleasures of this wicked world that I through thy grace be ing set at libertie from the power of mine enemies may liue and serue thee in holines rightuousnes all the days of my life Amen ¶ For the helpe of Gods holy Aungels AN infinit nuÌ„ber of wicked Aungels are there O Lorde Christe whiche without ceasing seek my de struccioÌ„ Against this exceding great multitude of euill spirits seÌ„d thou me thy blessed and heauenly angels which may pitche their teÌ„ts round about me so delyuer me from their tirany Thou o lorde hast deuoured hel ouercom y e Prince of darknes with all his ministers yea and that not for thy self but for them that be leue in thee Suffer men of therfore to bee ouercome of Satan of his seruaunts but rather let me triuÌ„phe ouer them y t I through stroÌ„g faith the help of the blessed angel hauing the victory of the hellish armi mai with a ioisul hart sai Death where is thy stiÌ„g hel where is thy victory so for euer euer magnifi thy holy name AmÌ„ ¶ A prayer to our Lorde Iesus Christe called Conditor celi et terrae OH maker of heauen and earth king of kinges Lorde of Lordes whiche of nothing didst maâ—e me to thy image and likenes didst redeem me with thine owne precious bloud whoÌ„ I a siner am not wurthy to name neither to call vpon neither w t my hart to think vpon humbli I desire thee and meekly pray thee that gentli thou doo beholde me thy wicked seruauÌ„t haue merci on me whiche hadest merry on the womaÌ„ of CaÌ„nane and of Mari Magda leÌ„ whiche didst forgeue the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the theef hanging on y e cros Unto the I confes O most holy father my siÌ„nes which if I would I cannot hide from thee Haue mercy on me Christe for I a wretche haue sore of fended thee in pride in couetousnes in glotony in lechery in vainglory in hatred in enuy inadultry in theft in lying in backbitiÌ„g in sporting in dissolute and wanton laughing in idle wurds in hearing in tasting in touching in thinking in sleping in wurking in all wayes in whiche I a fraill man moste wretched sinner might sinne Mi default my moste greuous default Therfore I moste huÌ„bly pray beseech thy geÌ„tlenes which for my helth descended froÌ„ heueÌ„ whiche didst holde vp king Dauid that he should not fall into sin Haue mercy on me oh Lorde haue merci on me O Christe the which didst for geue Peter that did forsake thee Thou art my creatour and my helper my maker my redeemer mi gouernor my father my lord my god and my king Thou art my hope my trust my gouerner my help my coÌ„fort my strength my defence my redemption my life my helth and my resurrection Thou art my stedfastnes my refuge or succour my light my help I moste humbly hartely desire and pray thee help me defeÌ„d me make me strong and coÌ„fort me make me stedfast make me mery geue me light and visit me reuiue me again which am dead For I am thy makiÌ„g thy wurk oh Lorde despise me not I am thy seruant thy bondmaÌ„ although euill although vnwurthy a sinner But whatsoeuer I am whether I bee either good or bad I am euer thine Therfore to whom shall I flee except I flee vnto the if thou cast me of who shal or will receiue me If thou despise me turn thy face from me who shal look vppon me Recognise knowledg me although vnwurthy comming to thee allthough I be vile vnclene for if I be vile and vnclene thon canst make me clene If I be sick thou canst heal me If I be dead buried thou canst reuiue me For thy merci is much more theÌ„ mine iniquitie thou caÌ„st forgeue me more theÌ„ I can offend Therfore Oh lorde doo not coÌ„sider nor haue respect to the number of my sinnes but according to the greatnes of thy merci forgeue me and haue mercy on me most wretched sinner Say vnto my soule I am thy helth which saidst I will not the death of a sinner but rather that he liue and be conuerted turn to thee Oh lorde bee not angry with me I pray thee moste meek father for thy great mercy I most humbely secheech thee that thou bring me to the blis that neuer shall ceas AmeÌ„ ¶ For the glory of heauen THe ioyes o lorde which thou hast prepared for them y t loue thee no eye hath seen no eare hath heard nether is any hart able to thiÌ„k But as the ioyes ar great vnspeakeable so ar there
few that doo enioy them For straight is the gate and narow is the way whiche leadeth vnto life and few there be that find it Notwithstanding O heauenly father thou hast a litle flocke to whom it is thy pleasure to geue y e glorious kingdom of heauē Ther is a certaine number of sheep that heare thy voice whom no man is able to pluck out of thy hand whiche shal neuer perish to whō also thou shalt geue eternall life Make me therfore O lorde of that number whom thou frō euerlasting hast predestinate to bee saued whose names also are written in the book of life Pluck me out of the cōpany of y e stinkking gotes whiche shal stād on thy left hand be damned place me among those thy sheep whiche shal stand on thy right hand and be saued Graunt me this o mer cifull Father for thy deere sonnes sake Iesu Christ our Lorde So shal I enioying this singular benefite at thy hand being placed in thy glorious kingdom sing per petuall praises to thy godly maiestie whiche liuest and reignest with thy deerely beloued sonne and the holy ghost one true and euerlasting God c. ¶ A thanks geuing vnto God for all his benefites THy benefites toward me O moste louing Father are so great infinite whether I haue respect vntomy body or vnto my soule that I finde not in my self how to recompence any part of thine vnspeakable goodnes toward me But y u whiche needest none of my goods knowing our beggery yea ournothing requirest of vs for a recompēce of thy kindnes only y e sacrifice of praise and thanks geuing o lorde and mercifull father what wurthi thanks am I pore wretched sīner able to geue the Notw tstāding trusting on thy merci fauorable kīd nes I offer vnto thee in the name of Christe the sacrifice of praise euer thanking the moste hartely for all thy benefites whiche thou hast be stowed vpon me thine vnprofitable seruaūt from the beginning of my life vnto this presēt houre moste hūbly beseeching the to continew thy louing kindnes to ward me and to geue me grace to walke wurthy of this thy fatherly goodnes that whē thou shalt call me out of this carefull life I may enioy y t thy moste singulare last benefite whiche is euerlasting glori through Iesus Christe our Lord to whom with thee and the ho li ghost be al honour praise for euer and euer Amen ¶ A praier to be said at the houre of death O Lorde Iesu whiche art the only helth of all mē liuing the euerlasting life of thē which die in thy faith I wretched sinner geue and submit my self wholy vnto thy most blessed wil. And I being sure that the thing cā not perish whiche is cōmitted vnto thy merci O lord geue me grace that willingly I may leaue this fraill wicked fleshe in hope of the resurrection whiche in better wise shal restore it to me agaī I beseeche thee moste merciful lorde Iesus christ that thou wilt by thy grace make strōg my soule agaīst all temptacions And that thou wilt couer and defend me with the buckler of thy mercy against all y e assaults of the deuill I see knowledge y e there is in my self no help of saluation But al my confidence hope trust is in thy moste mercifull goodnes I haue no merits nor good wurks whiche I may alledge before thee Of my sinns euill wurks alas I see a great hepe but thorow thy mercy I trust to be in the number of them to whom thou wilt not impute their sinnes but take accept me for rightuos and iust to be y e enheritour of euerlasting life Thou mercifull Lorde wast borne for my sake y u didst suffer bothe hunger thirst for my sake thou didst preache teache thou didst pray and fast for my sake thou didst al good wurks deeds for my sake Thou sufferedst moost greuous paines and torments for my sake And finally thou gauest thy moste precious body to die thy bloud to be shed on the cros for my sake Now moste mercifull sauiour let all these things profit me whiche thou freely hast geuen me that hast geuē thy self for me Let thy bloud clense and washe away the spots and foulnes of my sinnes Let thy righte ousnes hide couer my vnrighteousnes Let the merites of thy passion bloud be satisfaction for my sinnes Geue me Lorde thy grace that my faith and saluation in thy bloud wauer not in me but euer be firm constant that the hope of thy mercy and life euerlasting neuer decay in me that charitie wax not colde in me finally that the weaknes of my fleshe bee not ouercome with fear of death Graunt me mercifull sauiour that whē death hath shut vp the eies of my body yet that the eyes of my soule may stil beholde and look vpon thee that when death hath takē away the vse of my tung spech yet that my hart may cry say vnto thee In manus tuas domine commendo spiritum meū that is to say O Lorde into thy hāds I geue and commit my soule Domine Iesu accipe spiritum meum Lorde Iesu receiue my soule vnto thee Amen ¶ Certain Godly Meditations made in the forme of prayers by S. Augustine whiche if thou wilt rede them quietly with a feruent spirit they will stir thee muche to deuocion ¶ A prayer wherin through cōmemoration of Christes passion we desire pardon of oure sinnes and continuaunce in vertue and godlines BEholde O pitiful father thy most pitifull sōne which suffred for me being so wicked Be hold o most merciful king who suffreth and remember as thou art louing and kinde for whom he suffred Is not this O my Lorde that innocent whom allthough he were thy sonne thou didst deliuer to redeme raunsō a seruant Is not this the author and beginner of life whiche being led as a sheep to bee killed beeing made obediēt to thee euen vnto death was not afraid to take vpō him the moste cruell and sharp kinde of death Cal to remembraunce O thou distributor of all helth that this is he whom althoughe thou diddest beget him by thy power yet not withstanding thou wouldest haue to bee made partaker of mine infirmitie and weaknes Truly this same is thy Godhed whiche did take vpō him my nature whiche was hanged vppō the gibbet of tourment or cros whiche in the fleshe whiche he had taken vpon him did suffer sorowful punishment Turn the eyes of thy maiestie O Lord my God toward the wurk of thine vnspekeable pitie Look vpō thy deere sonne whose whole body is stretched forth Mark y e harmles and pure hands whiche doo drop and distill down innocent bloud And I beseeche thee bee pacified and pardon the wicked dedes whiche my hands haue cōmitted Consider his bare naked side being thrust thorow cruelly with a spear and renue and wash me with
the holy fountain or well which I beleeue did flow from thens Mark the vnspotted feet which haue not stand in the way of sinners but alway haue walked in thy law how thei are perced thorow w t sharp nailes make perfect my steps in thy paths and make me of thy louing kindnes to hate all wayes of iniquitie Remoue from me the way of iniquitie and make me of thy mercy to chuse y e way of truth I beseeche thee o king of holy men by this holy one of all holy ones by this my redemer to make me run the way of thy commaundements that I may be vnited knit vnto him in spirit whiche did not disdain to be clad in my flesh Dost thou not look vpon and mark o pitifull father the head of thy moste deerly beloued sōne a yungmā how it leaned vpō his shoulder whē he was past the moste precious death Beholde o my most gentle creator the humanitie gentlenes of thy beloued sonne and haue compassiō vpon the feblenes of me thy weak feeble handy wurk Behold O moste glorious parent the torne rent membres of thy most kinde louing child remember gently what substance I am of Behold the paines of God and man and release and louse man which is thy creature out of miserye and bondage of sin Behold the punishmēt of him that did redeem and pardon the offence of them that be redemed This is he O Lorde whome thou didst strike for the sinnes of thy people although he be thy welbeloued in whom was found no gile yet neuertheles was he rekened amongest them that were full of iniquitie ¶ A prayer wherin man confesseth him self to be the cause of Christs passion WHat hast thou committed O Lorde that thou shouldest be so iudged What hast thou offeded that thou shouldest be so cru elli handled and ordered What was thy fault what was thine offence what was the cause of thy death what was thoccasion of thy condemnation I Lorde I am the cause of thy sorow the fault is in me that thou wast kil led for I haue deserued thy death I committed the offences that were auenged vppon thee Oh meruelous kinde of iudgment and vnspekeable disposition or ordering of misteries The vn iust man offēdeth and the rightwise is punished The gilti doth euill and the innocent is beaten The euill dooth trespas and the good is condemned That which the euil man deserueth the same doth the iust suffre That which the seruāt doth amis the master maketh amends That which mā trespasseth God suffereth it O thou whiche art y e sone of god how low did thine humilitie des cend How greatly did thy charitie euen as it wer wax hote burn towarde vs. How farr did thy pitie procede Whither did thy beningnitie and gentelnes grow extend How far did thy loue stretche How far came thy cōpassion for I did wrongfully and thou wast punished I cōmit ted the mischeuous dedes and they were auenged vpon thee I did the faut and thou submitted thy self to the torments I was proud and thou wast humble meeke I was swelled and pufte vp thou wast extenuated and ap paired I was disobediēt neuertheles thou being obedient bare the paines and punishments of disobediēce I obeyed and was as it were a seruaunt to al exces and glotony and thou wast punished with scarsitie and lack of food The tree did draw me violentli vnto vnlawfull concupiscence desires but perfit charitie led thee vnto punishment I presumed being forbidden but thou didst smart therfore I toke my pleasure with delicatenes thou wast vexed with the cros I abound and haue plenty of al pleasures thou art all to torne with naites I doo fast the plesaunt sweetnes of the apple thou the bitternes of gall Beholde O king of glory mine iniquitie and vngodlines and thy pitie goodnes is manifest Beholde mine vnrightwisnes and thy iustice is plainly declared What thing O my king my God shall I rēdre vnto thee for all those things which thou hast bestowed vpon me for nothing can be found in the hart of man that may wurthely recompence suche rewardes Can māns wit excogitate or imagin any thing that is wurthy to bee compared vnto thy deuine mercie ▪ Nether is it the office of a creature to go about to recompence fully and iustly the aid and help of a creator There is truly O sonne of God in this thy merueilous dispensation and appointments somewhat in whiche my frailnes may help a litle if so be that my minde once pricked and stirred by thy visitacion doo punish the flesh with the vices also and euill concupiscences therof and this thing if thou wilt graunt geue me grace to doo then shall it begin as it were to suffre and sustein sorowes and greefs because y tthou also diddest vouchsafe to die for my sin And so by the victori of the inward man it shalbe armed thou beeing a captain for thexternall outward victory forasmuche as the spiritual persecucion once ouercom it shal not be afraid for thy sake to be obedient vnto the material sword and cros of this world And so the slēdernes of my state condition if it please thy good nes shalbe able according to the little power therof to answer vnto the greatnes excellencie of my creator And this is the heauenly medicine O good Iesu this is as it were a preseruatiue of thy loue This I beseeche thee by thine accustomed ancient mercies to poure into my wounds the foul filthy matter of the venemous contagion infectiō once cast away which may refresh restore me to my former puritie and clennes that when I haue fasted of the plesāt sweetnes whiche is to abide in thee it may make me to despise vtterly set nought by the enticements of this world and to fear for thy sake none aduersities therof and that I remembring thine euerlasting nobilitie and excellencie may alwayes abhor and disdain the troubles of this transitory world Let no thing I beseeche thee be delectable vnto me nor plese me w tout thee Let no precious nor beutiful thing be acceptable vnto me but thee Let all thīgs I beseche thee be counted as vile of no estimatiō vnto me without the. That whiche is against thy nature let it be irksō and greuous also vnto me and that whiche pleaseth thee let it be continually desired of me Let it irk me to reioice without thee and let it delite me to be sad for thy sake Let thy name bee an hartning vnto me and the remembrance of thee a consolacion and confort Let my teares be made vnto me as bread both day night serching thy iustificacions Let the law of thy mouth bee better vnto me thē thousands of gold and siluer Geue me an ardent desire and loue to obey thee an extreme hatred to resist thee I require thee O my hope for all thy
thorow thy sōne to deserue and with due honor allway to wurship this great mistery of thy pitie whiche is manifest in our fleshe Iustified in the spirit did appeere vnto Angels was preched vnto nations was bele ued to be in the world was takē vp into heauen Amen ¶ Of the thankes whiche man ought to geue vnto God for the benefite of his redemption LOok how muche O Lorde our God we are in det vnto thee euē for so great a price wer we redeemed with suche a great gift were we saued and with so great abenefit helped How muche ought we wretches to loue dread bles praise honoure and glorify thee whiche hast so loued vs after suche facion saued vs after suche a sorte sanctified vs so set vs on high To the truly doo we owe are bound in as muche as we are able euē our life and all our study or endeuour But who hath ani thing that is not thine But doo thou O Lorde our God from whom all goodnes procedeth euen for thy holy names sake geue vs of thy goodnes that we may serue thee of thine owne goods and gifts that we may please thee in truthe repay vnto the daily due praises for so great benefites of thy mercy For by none other meanes can we serue or please thee but by thine owne gifts y tthou hast lent vs while we be in this world For euery good gift and euery perfect gift is from aboue commeth down from the father of light with whō there is none alteration or variablenes neither yet is he changed vn to darknes O Lorde our God a pitifull God a good God and almighty God an vnspekeable God and incomprehensible of suche a nature that can not be cō teined as in a place o god which art the beginner of all things the father of our Lorde Iesus Christe whiche diddest send the same thy beloued sōne our lorde foorth of thy bosome to oure cōmon profite to take vpon him our life to thintent he might geue vs his life that he might be perfect and very God of thee his father and very and perfect man of his mother a whole and a perfect God and a whole and perfect man and yet but one on ly Christe bothe euerlasting enduring but for a space bothe immortall and mortall bothe a creator and a creature strong weke an ouercommer and one ouercomed a nurs and one that was nurced him self a shepherd and a sheep dead for a time and liuing with the euerlasting pro mising to them that loued him the fredom of life Who said to his disciples what thing so euer ye ask the father in my name he will geue it vnto you For that hie Priestes sake whiche was al so a bishop in deed a god shepherd that offred him self in a sacrifice to thee putting his life in ieoperdi for his flock for his sake I say I beseche thee whiche sitteth on thy right hand maketh intercession for vs being our redemer our aduocate that thou woldest graunt vnto me that to gether with thy sonne the holy ghost I may in al things bles and glorify thee with muche cōtriciō of hart and a fountain of teares with muche reuerence fear For the gift of them that be all of one substaunce is all one But because abody that is corrupted doth aggrauate burden the soule stir vp and awake I be seche thee my sluggishnes with thy pricks and prouokings and make me boldly to perseuer and continue in thy commaundements and lawes day and night Graunt me that my hart may waxe warme within me and that in my meditation and praier I may be feruent And for as muche as thy only sonne said No man can come to me except my Father that sent me shall draw him again no man cometh to the father but by me I re quire and humbly beseche thee draw me alwaies vnto him that he at the lēgth may bring me to thee thether I mean wheras he is sitting on thyrighthand wher as is euerlastīg life and continu al blessednes whereas is perfect loue without all kinde of fear where as is one day euerlasting and one spirit of all men where as is moste sure securitie safty secure quietnes and quiet plesantnes pleasaunt felicitie and happines happy eternitie continuall and eternall seeing and praising of thee without ende where as thou with him and he with thee in the communiō and vnitie of the holy ghost euerlastingly and continually liuest reignest thorow out all worldes of worldes Amen ¶ A deuout prayer vnto Christe O Christe and God whiche art my hope and the true gentle louer of mankinde the light the way the life the health the honor and wurship of them that be thine I beseche thee call to thy remembraunce all things that thou willingly didst suffre for thē bothe bōds cros woūds death and sepulchre whiche after thre dayes death being ouer comed didst rise wast seen of thi Disciples reforming their harts and establishing them that were almoste enclining from thee the forty day after didst ascend vp to heauen which liuest euerlasting ly now and raignest thorow out worldes thou art my God bothe liuing and true my father my God bothe holy and pitifull my mighty king my good shepherd mine only Master my best helper one whō I am moste bound to loue my liuing bread mine euerlasting preest my guide vnto my conntrey my true light my holy sweetnes my right streight way Mine excellent wisdō my pure and vnfained simplicitie my peasible cōcorde my safe garrison my good portiō mine euerlasting helth my great mercy my strōgest patiēce mine vnspotted sacrifice my holy redēption my sure stedfast hope my perfit charitie my very and true resurrection mine euerlasting life my ioy and moste blessed vision continuall without ende I humbly beseche thee I desire and pray thee that I may walk by thee that I may come to the that I may rest in thee whiche art the way the truthe the life without the whiche no man can come vnto the father Thee doo I desire couet O good Lorde whiche art the brightnes of thy fathers glori which sittest aboue the Angell called Cherubin and doost beholde the lowe and deep places whiche art the true light the light y e lightneth all things the light that neuer faileth nor goeth out whiche the Angels haue desire to beholde Loe my hart is before thee in thy sight put away the darknes from it that it may fully be replenished with the clearnes of thy loue Geue vnto me Lorde thy self beholde I doo loue thee if that be but a thing of small valure make me to loue the more strōgly and earnestly I can not mesure to know how muche I lack of thy loue nether cā I tell how muche shoulde be sufficient for me that my life may fulfill his course in thy loue and not turn back vntil
it be hid in the secrets of thy coūtenance Neuertheles this I knowe that it were euell with me if it were not for thee O Lorde and that not only w e thoutward things that belong vnto me but also with the inward things For all my riches God except is but meere pouer tie but thou only art a tresure a parcell of riches that canst nether be chaūged into better nor wurs Thou art he to whom it is not one thing to liue and an other thing to liue happely because thou art thy blessednes thi happines and thou art all one But I whiche am thy creature to whom it is not one thing to liue and an other to liue blessedly and happily all bothe in that I liue and in that I liue happely I ought not to at tribute nor refer it to be receiued of any body but of thy fauour And therfore haue we need of thee but not y u of vs because if we were not at al yet shouldest thou lack nothing of thy goodnes Therfore O lorde it is necessary for vs to stick and cleaue vnto thee that by thy continuall help we may be able to liue holily vertuously and as we ought to liue For with y e waight of our frailnes we are drawn euer downward but by thy gift we are stir red caried vpward we feruent ly desire to ascend we make certain ascensions in our harts lifting thē vpward sing y e sōgs of stars w e y e fire of thy loue I say are we kindled moued to go w e thee Whether go we now vpward vnto y e peace of Ierusalē because I was glad did reioice in those things whice were spoken vnto me we wil go into the hous of our Lorde there hath he placed vs we will haue good things y twe may wil or dsire no thing els but to tari and remain ther for euer But for as much as whiles we be clad with this bo dy we do as it were go a stray are straungers vnto thee we haue not heer an abiding place for euer but we seek for one y t is to come Our abiding place is in heauen Therfore thy fauor and grace being my guide I enter in to the chamber of my hart and sing vnto thee songs of loue my king my God mourning with merueilous sighīgs in this place of my peregrinatiō wheras thy iustices are made my songs And when I remember Ierusalem I extend and stretch forth toward it the sences of my hart Ierusalem I say whiche is my coūtrey Ierusalem which is my mother and toward thee whiche art a king ouer her her light her father her defender her patrone her gouernour her keeper her chaste and strong delite her only and whole pleasure all her goodnes comes of thee because thou art y e cheef good the true good I will neuer turn back vntil thou bring me home from this Pilgrimage in whiche I am deformedlt scattered abrode vnto the peace of my deerely beloued mother wheras be y e first frutes of my spirite and vntill thou O God which art my mer cy fashiō me and confirm me for euer ¶ A prayer declaring with how great miseries this life is replenished I Am wunderfull wery O lord of this life and of this careful painfull pilgrimage This life is a wretched life a life that will soon fade awai an vncertain life a painfull life an vnclean life a life that wurthely may be called the maistres of all euils y e queen of pride full of miseries and errours whiche is not wurthy to be called a life but rather a death in the whiche euerihoure we die by diuers defects failings of nature by mutabilities alteratiōs diuers kindes of deaths How can we therfore call this that we liue in this world a life whiche is puffed vp and swollen often with humours made lene and feble with sorowes dried with angres and hot hasty furies of the minde the air filleth it full of diseases metes doo infect it fasting doo extenuat and make it lean pastimes maketh it to dissolute and rechles pensiuenes doth consume and waste it trouble and vexation dooth shorten and lessen it securitie and to much ease maketh it dul and nothing lusty riches setteth it a flote and puffeth it vp into pride pouertie dismayeth and discourageth it youth dooth extoll it age lameth it Infirmitie breaketh it sorow oppresseth it And immediatly after these euils as though it were by succession commeth death and maketh an end of all y e ioyes of this miserable life after suche a sorte that a man wold not think whē he leaueth this life to haue liued at all This liuing death dying life although it be sprinkled and mixt with these and other so rows miseries yet Oh good Lorde how many men dooth it catche and entangle with her en tising snares how many dothe she deceiue with her deceitfull fals promises And for all that she of her self is so fals bitter that her blinde louers can not be kept long secret nor close vnknown yet doth she daily cause an infinite numbre of fooles to drink of the golden cup whiche she beareth in her hand yea and maketh them vtterly drunken with the loue of her Happy are they but very few of them is there that refuse her acquaintance and familiaritie or that dispise to vse her ioyes or that neglect her frendship and felowship least when theyr deceiuer perisheth that they should perish also ¶ Of the blessednes of that life whiche God hath prepared for them that loue him BUt thou heauenly life thou art she whom God hath ordeined prepared for them that loue him thou art the heauenly life the blessed life the sure life the quyet life the fair life the clean life the chastelife the holy life the life that knowest no death knowest no sadnes or pen siuens a life without spot with out dolor without vexatiō with out corruption without trouble without varietie or mutabilitie a life moste full of plesure dignitie wher as is none aduersary to striue against a man no intice ments of sinnes where as is per fect loue without all maner of feare wher as is day continually an done spirit of all men Wheras God is seen face to face and the minde is fed with this meat of life without end I haue a very good minde and desire to mark and geue heed to thy clear nes with thy goods the desire and appetite of my hart is delited Look how muche I am able to considre with my self in musing and thinking of thy com modities euen somuche am I rauished and rapt with thy loue with the ardaunt desire of thee and with the sweet and comfortable remēbrace of thee am I wunderfully delited I haue a plesure therfore surely to lift vp the eyes of my hart vnto thee to erect the state of my minde and conform or fashion the affects of my
minde vnto thee It pleaseth me to talke of thee to hear of thee to write of thee to confer meditate of thee to rede euery day of thy blessednes and glory and to muse often times in my minde of the things I haue red concerning thee that at the least by suche meanes I being vnder the sweet refreshing and comfor ting of thy liuely air may pas from the vexations ieoperdies labours traueils of this mortall life that will soon perish y tin passing I may lay my weary head in thy bosom to slepe or to rest a little for this cause doo I enter into the plesaūt medow of the holy scriptures in plow ing I pluck the goodliest green herbes of sentences and in reading I doo eat them and in frequenting I doo meditate and as it were cud them and in gathering them together at the last I lay them vp in my memory that by suche meanes when I haue tasted of thy sweetnes I may sumwhat les feel the bitternes of this moste wretched life O thou moste happy life oh kingdom whiche art blessed in deed whiche lackest death whiche art without ende no time doth successifly pas at any time to thee Wheras continual day without night knoweth no time wheras that capitain and conquerour is accōpanied with those queres of angels singing of himnes songs they sing vnto God with out ceassing the balet of Balets of Sion Oh moste noble head which art compassed about with a perpetuall crown oh that par dō and forgeuenes of my sinnes were graunted vnto me and thē immediatly this burden of my flesh laid awai that I might enter into thy ioyes to haue true rest and that I might get within the goodly beutifull walles of thy citie to receiue a crown of life at the hand of our Lord that I might be amongst those moste holy queres that I might stand with the moste blessed Spirites of the creator of glory that I might see presently the countenaunce of Christe that I might behold alwaies y e moste his vnspekeable light incōprehensible which cā not be cōteined as in a place And so I should not onli be out of al feare of death but also I might reioyse alwayes at the gifte of euerlastyng incorruption Amen ¶ Heare doo wee complain that we be not moued nor pricked in our contem plation and prayer like as the angels be which tremble at the sight of God PArdon me O Lorde pardon me mercifully forgeue me haue mercyvpō me spare mine ignoraunce and my great vnper fectnes doo not reproue me as a rash felow because I dare be so bolde which am but thy seruaūt but would to God I were ether a good seruaunt or none vnprofitable nor euill seruaunte And therfore am I an euill man because I prayse blesse wurship thee which art our God almighty terrible and very much to be feared I wurship thee I saye without contricion of hart and without a well of teares For if so be that the angels when they wurship and praise thee doo trē ble being fulfilled with marueilous gladnes I whiche am a sin ner whiles I stande before thee saying praises and offeringe sacrifice why am I not afraid in my harte why am I not pale in my countenaunce why doo not my lippes quake and tremble why is not all my body afraide and why doo I not mourne and bewaile before thee after suche ▪ a sorte that teares might springe out of mine eyes I wolde fayne but I am not able because I can not doo that whiche I desire to doo This maketh me truly wōderfully to maruell that I am no more moued when I see with the eyes of my faith thee which art so fearfull But who can doo any thing without the helpe of thy Grace Except thou make our stony hartes to relent we of oure selfs ar not able to mollifie them but all our healthe dependeth vpon thy great mercye O wretche that I am how is my soule made without any feeling or perseueraunce that it is not afrayde with ouer muche feare whiles it standeth before God sīgeth to him his owne praises Alas how is my hart so hardned that myn eyes doo not gush out great fluddes of teares without ceassing when I whiche am but a seruaunte or bondman doo cō mon and talke in my Lorde and masters presēce Yea a mā with God a creature with a creatour I that am made of the slime of the earthe doo speake with him that made al things of nothing Put me before thee ▪ O Lorde and what so euer I perceyue of my self in the secrets of my hart I doo not keep it close from thy brotherly eares Thou art riche in mercy liberall in rewards geue mè of thy goods that with them I may serue the. For with nothīg els cā we serue or please thee but with thin owne giftes whiche thou hast vouchsaued to bestow vpon vs. Fasten I beseche thee thy feare in myfleshe Let my hart reioice and be glad to feare thy name Would God my sinfull soule feared thee so muche as that holy man the whiche saide I alwayes feared God as though it were greate swellīg fluddes should come and tumble vpon me O God the geuer of all good thinges geue me emongst thy praises a well of teares with the purenes of hart and reioising of mind that I loving thee perfetly and wurthily praising thee may feel taste and sauour in the palace of myhart how swet and pleasaūt thou art O Lorde as it is written Doo ye tast and see how sweet delectable the Lorde is Blessed is the man that putteth his trustin him Blessed is y t people whiche knoweth glad and ioifull praising Blessed is the man whose stregth is in thee in whose hart ar thy wayes which going thorow the vale of misery vse it for a well Blessed ar the cleane in hart because they shall see God Blessed are thay that dwell in the house of the Lorde they shal praise thee worlde without end ¶ A veri deuoute prayer for the geuing of thankes O Lorde Christe which art the wurd of the father whiche came into this world to saue sin ners I beseche thee by the most louing bowels of thy mercy to amend repaire my lyfe make better my dedes take thou thorderyng of my maners take from me that whiche noyeth and hurteth me and displeaseth the and geue me that which thou knowest will please thee proffit me Who can make clean y t which is cōceiued of an vncleane sead but thou alone Thou art the god almighty of infinite pietie which dost iustifie and make righteous euen those that were wicked mē and raisest again to life thē that were dead in sin thou chaungest sinners and they are no sinners Take away therfore from me what so euer is in me that pleaseth not thee for thine eyes doo see muche vnperfectnes in me Lay thy hand I besech the of thy pitie on me
deliuer me to thy sonne Can a mother forget the child she bare of her wōb and sureli although she sōtimes be forgetful yet thou O father hast promised not to forget vs. Behold I cry and thou dost not heare me ▪ I am vexed with sorow and thou confortest me not What shall I say or what shall I doo most wretched caitife that I am I beīg desolate of so great comforte am cast out from the sight of thine eyes Wo be vnto me from how great goodnes into how great a mischefe am I fallen whether purposed I to go and whether am I comen Where am I and where am I not whom did I study to attein ▪ vnto and what euils haue I obteyned I sought for good thīgs and beholde I haue found trouble care Behold now I am in the state of deathe and Iesus is not with me And surely it were better for me to haue nothing at all yea no beyng at all thē to be without Iesu. It is better not to liue then to liue without life And thou O Lorde Iesu where be thine olde mercies wilt thou be angry towardes me for euer Be pacified I beseche thee and haue mercy vpon me and turne not thy face away frō me which to thintēt thou mightest redeme me didst not turne a way thy face from thē that rebuked thee and spitted vpon thee I confes and acknowledge that I haue sinned and my conscience deserueth damnacion and the penaunce that I am able to doo is not sufficient to make amēds for mine iniquities But sure certain I am that thy mercy exceadeth all offences that a man can doo Oh doo not I beseche thee most pitifull Lorde write my heynous sinnes against me y t thou shuldest entre into iudgement with thy seruaunt But ac cording to the multitude of thy mercies cros blot out mine in iquities Wo be vnto me wretch that I am when the day of iudg ment commeth and the bookes of consciences shalbe layd wide open when it shalbe said of me Lo looke vpon this felow his wurkes What shall I doo then O Lorde my God when the hea uens shall reuele and shew forth mine iniquitie the earth shall arise vp and testifie mine iniquitie against me Beholde I shalbe able to geue neuer one wurd to answer but to stande in thy presence trimbling quaking vtterly confounded and holding downe my head for shame Alas wretch that I am what shall I say I will cry vnto thee o lorde my God Why am I consumed fretted with holdīg my peace But if I should speak my greef would not cease And if I hold my peace I shalbe most bitterly vexed within me Mourne o my soule lament as a widow for her first husbande that she had in her yong age Houle wretche cry out with weping because thy spouse Christ hathe forsaken thee O God almightie let not thine angre fall vpō me because that if thou lay somuche to my charge as is dew for my sinnes it is so muche that I can not receiue it Sureli my power is not able for to suffre or beare it Haue merci vpon me least I dispeire But in despeiring I will take hart to me and be sōwhat cōforted For all though I haue committed so muche that thou mayst condemne me wurthely yet thou hast not lost that wherwith thou wast wont to saue sin ners nether dost thou reioise at the destructiō los of them that dye yea to thintente that dead men might liue thou thy felf didst die and thy deathe did kill the deathe of sinnes And if they were reuiued again and did liue by thy deathe I besech thee let not me die now y tthou liuest Send downe thy hand power from hie and deliuer me out of the hands of mine enemies that they reioyse not ouer me and say let vs deuoure him Who euer O good Ie su needed to mistrust of thimerci which whē we were thine enemies didstredeme vs with thy blud and reconciled vs vnto God Beholde I being hid vnder the shadow of thy mer cy doo come vnto the throne of thy glory requiring I doo rū crying and knocking vntil thou take pitie vppon me For if thou didst call vs to pardon forgeuenes before we laboured for pardon how soone shall we obtein forgeuenes when we aske it Doo not remembre omost boūtefull Iesu thy iustice toward a sinner but think vpon thy liberalitie gentlenes towarde thy creature Doo not remēbre thine angre toward the giltie but remembre thy pity and mercy toward a wretche Forget me in y t I proudly did prouoke moue thee to wrath and look vppon a wretche that calleth vpon thee For what is Iesus but a sauior Therfore good Iesu for thine owne sake arise and helpe me and say vnto my soule I am thy health and thy safegarde I presume muche and am very bolde of thy goodnes O Lord because thou doost teache vs to aske to seek and to knocke wherfore I being admonished by thy wurd doo aske seek and knock And thou O Lorde that commaundest vs to aske make me able to receiue Thou that geuest councell to seeke graunte that I may finde Thou that teachest vs to knock opē to me when I knock and confirme me whiche am vnstable and wauering restore me that am lost raise me y t am dead and vouchsafe to direct gouern in thy fauoure all my sences my thoughts and dooings that frō hensfoorth I may serue thee I may liue toward thee and that I may commit my self vnto thee I knowe O my Lord that thorow this that thou hast made me I owe and am in det vnto thee euen mine owne selfe because thou hast redemed me and wast made man for my sake for this I say I owe vnto thee more thē my selfe Lo I haue no more nether can I geue that whiche I haue vnto thee without thee But doo thou take me and draw me vnto thee y t I may be thine in folowing louing thee like as I am thine in condicion creation whiche liuest and reignest world without ende Amen FINIS O God the Father of heauen haue mercy vpon vs miserable sinners O God the father of heauen c O God the sonne redemer of the world haue mercy vpon vs myserable sinners O God the sonne redemer of c. O God y e holy Ghost proceding frō the Father the sōne haue mercy vpō vs miserable sinners O God the holi Ghost proceding c O holy blessed glorious Trinitie thre persōs one god haue merci vpō vs miserable sinners O holy blessed and glorious c. Remember not Lorde our offēces nor the offēces of oure forefathers nether take thou vengeaunce of oure sinnes Spare vs good lord spare thy people whō thou hast redemed with thy most precious bloud and be not angry with vs for euer Spare vs good Lorde From all euill mischief from sinne from the crafts