A PARADISE of prayers CONTAINING the purity of deuotion and meditation Gathered out of all the spirituall exercises of LEVVES of Granado AND Englished for the benefit of the Christian Reader Ascendat oratio descendat gratia LONDON Printed by R. Field for Mathew Law and are to be sold at his shop in Paules Church-yard neere vnto S. Austines gate 1614. At our vprising GOd the Father that saidst in the beginning Let light be made it was made lighten my eies that I sleepe not in death lest at any time mine enemie say vnto me I haue preuailed against him God the sonne light of light the great truest light from whence this light both of sunne and day ariseth thou light shining in darkenesse and illuminating euery one that commeth into this worlde driue from me all darknes of ignorance and giue me vnderstanding that in thee and by thee I may know the Father to know whom is to liue and to serue whom is to reigne God the holy Ghost thou fire both illuminating and warming kindle in me thy light that I may know the deceitful delights of this world and the true ioyes of heauen Enlighten my minde that I may see how great a good our enemy soliciteth vs to change for a light shadow Grant that I may onely see those things that are thine and be blinde to the rest infuse also into my minde the gift of thy charity that forsaking those transitorie things I may with a feruent zeale and continuel desire endeuour to attaine those things which are eternall Holy Trinity one God defend me this day from all the assaults of the diuell keepe me this day from all sin and defend me this day from sudden and vnexpected death Be thou vnto me solace in tribulatiō assistance in temptation and in death a pleasant refuge Thou hest raised my body O Lord which was drowned in sleep I beseech thee that thou wilt deliuer my soule likewise from the sleep of sins the darknes of this world and that which thou hast recalled from sleepe vnto waking may it please thee after death to restore to the same life for sleepe is to thee as death to vs. To thee be praise cleernes wildome thanksgiuing honor vertue fortitude for euer and-euer Amen When we rise RIse O my soule that sleepest arise from death Christ shal shine vnto thee Arise O thou daughter of Sion O my soule redeemed by Christs blood shake off the dust of sinnes set in thee the peace of Christ purchased for thee by his merits Christ thou mercifull aduocate of mankind as thou releeuest this greeuous burthen of my body by thy benefit so lift vp our minds to the knowledge loue of thy Maiesty and grant that the body may be a companion Minister of pietie to the soule in this life to the end that in the life to come it may be partaker of that eternal blessednes where thou liuest reignest with God the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A thankesgiuing for our preseruation the night past together with a prayer wherin we beseech almighty God to take the like care of vs this day OMnipotent eternall Lord the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ I praise thee I blesse thee and with my whole heart giue thee thanks that according to thy vnmeasurable goodnes thou hast by thy fatherly prouidence preserued me this night that it hath pleased thee to be present with me so that the diuell durst not drawe neere to assaile me that thou hast protected me from all euill both of soule and body that thou hast defended me being drowned in profound sleepe by the assistance of thy holy Angels as it were with an impregnable wall against the deceits and snares of the old aduersary who neuer letteth slip any opportunity to hurt vs Finally for that thou hast sweetly raised me from sleepe the true image of death lest I should bee choaked in the darknesse of my sins to the end I might haue space and time yet at the length to recollect and earnestly repent my selfe Now likewise O father of mercy and God of all consolation I beseech thee and from the bottome of my heart intreat thee that this day thou wilt take me also into thy fatherly protection and behold me with thy mercifull eies direct me in the way of thy commaundments and giue me those gifts of thy holy spirit by whose means I may begin continue and end this day likewise to the praise and glory of thy holy name to the profit of my neighbors and the saluation of my soule endeuouring my selfe euery where and in all things without neglect of my duty to discharge euery way that vocation to which I am called Keep me O Lord from all sin restraine my flesh and blood prone to all iniquitie and friend and minister to that old Adam coole by the dewe of thy spirit the heate of concupiscence that reigneth in my members lest this day at any time I fall into any sinne and prouoke thy wrath and indignation against me Grant O mercifull father and vouch safe O deere Lord that I may lead the remnant of my life in thy feare and loue Direct this day my heart and my body my senses speeches and my actions in thy law in the workes of thy commaundements Turne my hart from all transitory things and conuert it to eternal that forsaking the riches and delights of this world I may alwaies thirst after thy kingdome Curb and restraine the power of the diuell our old and sworne enemie that although hee rangeth about like a roaring Lion seeking whom he may deuoure he may not yet hurt or any wayes hinder mee But because my merits are none at al for which I deserue to be heard behold I bring with me thy onely begotten Son who is the propitiation for my sins behold him O mercifull father and for the iustice sake of thy Son forgiue the sins of thy seruant grant mee that by thy mercy which is not my due in iustice who liuest reignest God for euer and euer Amen Morning exercises 1. The commemoration of benefits receiued O God my God early doe I wake vnto thee ◅aith y◠thy holie Prophet And a little after he addeth so I was mindfull of thee on my bed early in the morning will I think on thee because thou wert mine helper And I my Lord God with that holy king desire to watch Let this be the beginning of my occupations let the day beginne with this thought of mine For heereunto the duties driue me whereby I am bound vnto thee this is the end of my creation for I was therefore made to the end I should praise thee glorifie magnifie and sanctifie thy name For thou art the beginning and the end of all things I say the beginning without beginning and the end without end For euen as no man might euer create any thing without
daigned to take on thee all my euils I will therefore say with the Prophet I will trust in thee O Lord I will reioyce and be glad in thy mercie But because hope is not secure without obedience as one of thy friends saith Offer the sacrifice of iustice and trust in our Lord I beseech thee O most deere God grant me that the hope of thy mercies may strengthen mee in the obedience of thy commandements for no lesse is this obedience due vnto thee than hope than loue and the other rest Thou art my Emperor my King and my God to whom Heauen and earth the Sea and all that is therein do obseruance which haue neuer broken thy lawes but alwayes obserued thy commandements Grant mee O Lord that with no lesse dutie than all other creatures I may bee obedient to thy holy will by reason I am bound vnto thee in more offices of dutie than they are vouchsafe O King of Kings that I may obey thee and may neuer decline from the prescript of thy law Reigne in me O Lord and suffer not the world neither the Prince thereof to gouerne in mee any longer let not the flesh hold mee captiue neither mine owne will but thine Let all these tyrants intruders vpon thy possession theeues of thy glorie wretâ—…hed subuerters of thy iustice flie and forsake me Gouerne thou onely in mee O Lord that I also may reigne with thee whose Kingdome shall haue no end Come O thou mercifull Father take away the scandalles of thy Kingdome driue away sinne from my soule that thou maist reigne therein who oughtest to gouerne the same For auarice commeth and challengeth to himselfe an inheritanâ—…e therein boast desireth to rule therin pride will be my King lechâ—… saith 〈◊〉 will reigne ambition detraction enuie wrath striue in mee for mee which of them seemeth to haue the chiefest title prerogatiue ouer me But I as much as in mee lieth resist them I impugne as much as I am helpt I surrender to thee my God I defend my selfe for thee because I acknowledge my selfe to bee thine owne I esteeme thee for my God and my Lord saying I haue no other King but my God Come therfore O Lord destroy them in thy strength thou shalt rule in me for yâ— art my very King and my God who sendest saluation to Iacob No other lawes no other prescripts shall haue place in me but thine no other name no other Scepter except thine shall be adored in me that thy will may be done in earth as it is in heauen O Lord when shall that day be when I shall bee freed deliuered from these tyrants what no other voice but thine shall be heard in mee When shall my heart bee cleansed When shall the forces of mine enemies be so defeated that no contradiction may hinder mee in the obseruation of thy commandements When shall the force of mine enemies be so broken that no force may be found in me contrary to thy law when shall this sea bee calme when shall this heauen wax cleere when shall my affections bee so bridled and my passions so subdued so that no flouds no clouds no troubles may bee found in mee that may disturbe thy kingdome in me but that I may euery way enioy happy peace secure tranquillitie and obseruance of thy lawes Giue mee O Lord this obedienâ—…e or to speak more aptly giue mee that authority and emperie ouer my heart that vpon my becke it may neuer rebell against thee but in all things bee subiect vnto thee But euen as I am alwaies bouÌ„d to obserue obey thee so also both profit doth perswade equâ—…ty require that I offer my self wholy vnto thee sacrifice my self vnto thee for whatsoeuer I am I am all thine Thine I say am I vpon most iust titles thine becaue thou didst create me gauest mee that being which I enioy thine because in this being thou hast conserued mee and plentifully furnished mee with the benefits and offices of thy prouidence thine because from thraldome thou hast set mee at libertie not with gold or siluer but redeeming mee with the ransome of thy most precious blood Finally I am thine because thou hast so often bought me as thou hast deliuered me from any sinne If therfore vpon so many grouÌ„ds I am thine thou likewise art my King my Redeemer and deliuerer Behold I turne vnto thee that I may yeeld thee that which is thine owne that is I yeeld my selfe vp vnto thee as a perpetuall bondmaÌ„ and slaue Behold I giue thee the keyes of my liberty the dominion ouer my will that hereafter I neither bee mine owne neither any other mans but altogether thine that I may not liue to my selfe but to thee not serue my selfe but thee so that whether I eat or drinke or whatsoeuer I do I may referre al things to the glory of thy name I stay my selfe for thee I deliuer my selfe vnto thee that thou maist dispose of mee as of thine owne and that according to thy good liking and pleasure whether it please thee that I liue or yâ— I die whether I bee whole or sicke whether rich or poore whether praised or reprooued in all things I offer and deuote my selfe vnto thee I resigne my selfe into thy hands I renouÌ„e the right possession of my selfe that hereafter I be not mine owne but thine vntil that which is thine by right may be made thine by my will that not once nor one day but alwaies euery where Amen The second prayer of the penitent O Lord thou that createdst me my only God my onely Lord thou art my creator and my redeemer in whom I hope from whom I expect al those things which are requisit for my soule Thou forsakest not those that trust in thee thou art my sweetest my bountifullest my liberalest God thou art the father of light from whom all good things proceede and euery perfect gift desceÌ„deth froÌ„ aboue vnto mee Thou createdst me wheÌ„ I was no thing thou redeemedst me when I was created lost thou restoredst vnto me the Seale of innocencie which I lost in my first baptisine Thou sauedst mee after I had receiued the knowledge of the truth voluntarily sinning againe almost shipwrackt in the seas of this world by the sacred anchor of true repentance and all this of thine owne will and meere grace for if by my good deedes I had preuented thee where is that which thy Prophet saith his iustice preuented mee If I had done any good worke whereby I might deserue thy mercie where is that of thine Apostle Through grace you are saued by faith and not of your selues for it is the gift of GOD If my loue preuented thee how is that true Not because wee loued him but for that he first loued vs If without thy helpe and by our owne vertue we follow thee where is it that thine onely begotten Sonne saith Without me can you doe nothing
onely recreateth and delighteth the iust but healeth also and purifieth sinners Let euery one come hither and take part of that which he thinketh most holsome for himselfe let the iust come and eate and reioyce in this table and let the voice of their confesson and praise sound in this holsome challice I can no waies be without this mystery I can no waies liue without the same and whatsoeuer I am I cānot be excused if I receiue it not for in euery place and in euery thing it is necessary for me If I be sicke here shall I be healed if aliue here shall I be comforted if dead here raised againe if I burne with diuine loue heere shall I bee more inflamed if I bee but luke warme here shall I be set on fire I will not feare although my LORD shall finde mee blinde because he giueth sight vnto mee I will not feare although I see that I am fallen for hee lifteth them vp that are fallen low I will not flie from his presence as once Adam did although I be naked for he can couer my wickednesse I wil not hide me although I seeme vncleane and full of sinne for hee is the fountaine of mercie I will not be ashamed although I am poore for hee is the Lord of all liuing things I am not much mooued if hee shall interpret my boldnesse to bee his iniurie but I thinke I shall giue him occasion of greater glory that beeing more wretched than al other liuing creatures y◠greatnes of the diuine mercy may more cleerly appeare in mee in that that he will helpe me His darkenesse that was blinde from his birth attēded on the glory of God for he was borne blind to the end that the works of God might bee manifested so also the misery of my condition shall serue him because in the same the greatnesse of his bounty shall bee beheld namely if hee who is so mighty vouchsafe to succour so miserable and poore a creature that especially whereas heerein there is no regard had of mee but onely for the merits of our Lord Iesus Christ for which cause y◠eternall Father giueth vs good things adopteth vs for his children taketh it in good part that th◅y are wont so to be esteemed I pray thee therefore most humbly beseech thee at this present my God y◠Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that as that most holie King Dauid admitted Mep◅boseth weake and lame to sit at his table because he was the son of his great deerly esteemed friend Ionathan intending hereby to honor his son not for y◠son himselfe sake but for the merits of the father so let it be pleasing likewise to thee O Father to admit me a poore and vncleane sinner to thy most royall banquet not for my sake but for y◠merits and honour of thy singular friend ◅esus Christ our Lord and Sauior who hath regenerated vs on y◠tree of the crosse which so many labours and dolors to thy glory and honour who liueth and reigneth with thee world without end Another prayer before the Communion I Praise thee thanke thee most sweet Lord Iesus my Sauior redeemer for thy so many benefits which thou hast vouchsafed to bestow on mee most vile and wretched sinner I yeeld thee thankes O Lord for all the mercies which thou vsedst towards man-kinde especially in the mystery of thy incarnation namely in thy natiuitie circumcisiō presentation in y◠temple flight into Egypt in thy fasting and temptation in thy labors and many iournies in thy preachings persecutions in this world in the torments and dolors of thy bitter passion and for al that which thou sufferedst in the flesh for me But in especial I giue thee heartie thankes for thy vnspeakeable charitie which mooued thee to suffer for my sake which verilie amongst all thy works is the greatest without any comparison Moreouer I yeeld thee all thanks that is possible for that thou daignest to admit mee to thy most holy Table make mee partaker of thy selfe and all thy merits and the inestimable treasure of the passion O my GOD and Sauior with what offices of dutie shall I recompence this new and vnheard-of kinde of mercie Who art thou and who am I that thou the Lord of most high maiestie daignest to enter into dirt and this earthly tabernacle O Lord holinesse becommeth thy house for euer and euer why therefore commest thou into my house which is abundantly stored with iniquitie Heauen is thy house and thy seate and the earth the footstoole of thy feet because the glorie of thy maiestie filleth both heauen and earth how comes it therfore to passe that thou doest not abhorre to lodge in so vile an hospitall Is it therefore to bee thought saith Salomon that truly God dwelleth on earth For if the heauens and the heauen of heauens bee not able to containe thee how much lesse this house which I haue built O admirable thing hee that sitteth vpon the Cherubins and beholdeth the depths now humbleth himselfe euen vnto the lowest and maketh his seate in the lowest places It seemed little to thy goodnesse that thou didst appoint y◠Angels to our ministerie but thy selfe wouldest come vnto vs enter into our soules that there with thine owne hands thou mightst worke the act of our saluation There dost thou visit the sick raise such as are fallen teach the ignorant reduce such as are straied out of the way What need many words Thou art he that curest our wounds and healest our infirmities not by an other mans hands but thine own not by medicines fet from afarre but with thine owne flesh and blessed blood dost thou medicine vs. O true Pastor how abundantly hast thou discharged thy promises which in times past thou madest by thy Prophet saying I wil feed my sheepe and I will make them rest But who shall bee worthy of this grace who can merit this benefite only thy mercy O Lord can make vs worthy of so infinite benefits And because without the same no man can bee worthy O Lord let the same bee fauourable vnto mee let it make me partaker of so many mysteries let it make mee thankefull for so inestimable a benefit O Lord with thy grace supply all my defects forgiue me all my sins thorow thy mercie Let thy spirit prepare my minde thy merits enrich my pouerty thy precious blood clense all the blemishes of my soule and wash out all the staines of my life that I may worthily receiue this most reuerend sacramēt My soule reioyceth is glad o my God as often as I remember that notorious miracle wherin in time past a dead man raised a dead body by the only means of touching For if the body of a dead Prophet could do so much what cannot the liuing bodie of the Lord of Prophets doe I am assured O Lord that thy power is not of lesse value than that of thy
place in all places without diuision In magnitude thou art infinite in vertue omnipotent in goodnesse chiefe in wisedome inestimable in counsels terrible in iudgements iust in thoughts secret in words true in works holy in mercy copious towards sinners patient toward penitents compassionate But what in especiall should I speake of thy wisedome but that which earst the Prophet aid O Lord thou knowest my thoughts afar off thou hast searcht my commings in and goings out and all my waies hast thou foreknowne because there is no speech in my tongue which thou knowest not Behold O Lord thou knowest al things both the first and the last Thou hast made mee and laid the hand vpon me Such knowledge is too wonderfull excellent for me I cānot attaine vnto it Whither shall I goe from thy spirit or whither shal I fly frō thy presence if I climbe vp to heauen thou a◅ there if I goe downe to hell thou art there also if I take the wings of the morning and remaine in the vtmost parts of the sea euen there also shall thy hand leade mee and thy right hand shall hold me If I say the darkenes shall couer me then shall thy right hand bee turned to day yea the darkenes is no darknesse with thee but the night is as cleare as day the darkenesse and light to thee are both alike For his eies saith another are vpon the waies of men hee considereth all their steps there is no darknes nor shadow of death to hide them that work iniquity But what shal I say of the greatnes of thy power I wil say that in times past which the Prophet said saying For God is my king of old the helpe that is done vpon earth hee doth it himselfe Thou diddest deuide the sea through thy power thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters Thou smotest the heads of the dragons and gauest them for meate to thy people in the wildernesse thou broughtest out fountaines and waters out of the hard rockes thou driedst vp many waters The day is thine the night is thine thou hast prepared the light and the sun thou hast set all the borders of the earth thou hast made sommer and winter And in another place the same Prophet saith O Lord God of hoasts who is like vnto thee thy truth most mighty Lord is on euery side Thou rulest the raging of the sea thou stillest the waues therof when they arise thou hast subdued Egypt destroied it thou hast scattered thine enemies abroad with thy mighty arme The heauens are thine and the earth is thine thou hast laid the foundation of the round world and all that therein is Thou hast made the North the South ◅abor and Herm◅ shall reioyce in thy name Thou hast a mighty arme strong is thy hand high is thy right hand Blessed Iob knew this thy power when he said With him is counsel strength wisedome vnderstanding Behold if he breake downe a thing who can set it vp again If he shut a thing who will open it Behold if he withhold the waters they ◅ry vp if he let them goe they destroy the earth with him is strength wisedome both the deceiuer and ◅ee that is deceiued are his hee carrieth away the wise men as it were a spoile and maketh that Iudges fooles hee looseth the rule of Kings guirdeth their loines with a band he leadeth away the great men into captiuity and turneth the mightie vpside downe he stoppeth the mouth of them that speake truth and disappointeth the aged of their vnderstanding hec poureth contempt vpon Princes and maketh the strength of the mightie weake Looke what lieth hid in darkenesse hee declareth it openly and the verie shadow of death bringeth he to light he increaseth the people and destroieth them he maketh them to multiply and diminisheth them These o Lord are testimonies of thy mightines but what shal I say of the riches of thy glory and the veine of thy felicitie If thou hast sinned saith the scripture what hast thou done against him if thy offences be many what hast thou done vnto him if thou bee righteous what giuest thou him or what wil he receiue at thy hands Thy wickednesse may hurt a man as thou art and thy righteousnes may profit the sonne of man But thou O Lord art such and so blessed as thou needest not another mans goods I confesse thee to be such a one for such a one I praise thee and glorifie thy most holy name Infuse thy light into my heart giue me words in my mouth that my heart may alwaies think of thy mightines and let thy praise be in my mouth for euer But for that thy laud is not seemely in y◠mouth of a sinner I therefore require all the Angels of heauen and all the creatures of the world that they together with me may praise thee and may supply my defect inuiting them thereunto with that glorious song which the three children sung in the midst of the fierie furnace in Babylon saying Blessed bee the Lord God of our fathers bee hee praised magnified for euer And blessed be the name of his glorie holy and laudable and magnified for euer and euer Blessed art thou in the throne of thy maiestie to bee praised and magnified for euer Blessed art thou that beholdest the depths and sittest vpon the Cherubins to be praised and magnified for euer Blessed art thou in the firmament of heauen and praised and glorified world without end Amen The third prayer to the holy Trinitie GOD holy of holiest God omnipotent God eternall God that art strong God of spirits and all flesh at whose presence heauen and earth trembleth at whose beck the heauens and elements obey trinitie in vnitie and vnitie in trinitie Father Son holy Ghost thou being of my being life that quickenest me light that illuminatest me science that instructeth me yet aboue all essence light life and science all creatures adore and celebrate thee and I incited by the dutie I owe thee this day do bow the knees of my heart before the footstoole of thy Maiestie I giue thee thanks that thou not onely didst frame me when I was nothing but also didst fashion mee according to thine owne forme that is gauest mee a perfect shape that where I deserued no fauour thou hadst compassion on mee for that thou hast sanctified mee with the sacraments of y◠Church that from my child-hood hitherto thou hast brought me vp in al goodnes But O thou maker of heauen of earth whereas I am not able to serue thee to any vse for whose cause didst thou so much bountie vpon me how commeth it to passe that thou louest mee so much for what haue I giuen thee to induce thee to recompence me yea where was I before I was made that I might shew thee a former curtesie Truly by thy benefit in times past I was made dignified with