with bit and bridlâ—… 〈◊〉 fall vpon thee 11 Great plagues 〈◊〉 foâ—… the vngodly but who so putâ—…h his trust in the Lord mercy embraceth him on euery side 12 Be glad O yee righteous reioyce in the Lord and be ioyfull all ye that are true of heart PSALME XXXVIII PUt me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure 2 For thine arrowes stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore 3 There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne 4 For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head are like a sore burthen too heauie for me to beare 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt through my foolishnesse 6 I am brought into so great trouble and miserie that I goe mourning all the day long 7 For my loines are filled with a 〈◊〉 disease and there is no whole â—…rt of my body 8 I am feeble and sore smitten 〈◊〉 haue roared for the very disquiâ—…esse of my heart 9 Lord thou knowest all my â—…sire and my groaning is not hid â—…om thee 10 My heart panteth my strength â—…th failed mee and the sight of â—…e eies is gone from me 11 My louers and my neighbours â—…id stand looking vpoÌ„ my trouble â—…nd my kinsmen stood afarre off 12 They also that sought after â—…y life laid snares for me and they â—…hat went about to doe mee euill â—…alked of wickednesse and imagiâ—…ed deceit all the day long 13 As for me I was like a deafe man and heard not and as one yâ— is dumbe which doth not open his mouth 14 I became euen as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofes 15 For in thee O Lord haue I put my trust thou shalt answer for me O Lord my God 16 I haue required that they â—…uen mine enemies should not â—…umph ouer mee for when my fâ—… slipt they reioyced greatly agaâ—… mee 17 And I truly am set in 〈◊〉 plague and my heauinesse is eâ—… in my sight 18 For I will confesse my wiâ—… ednesse and be sorie for my sinnâ—… 19 But mine enemies liue aâ—… are mighty and they that hate mâ—… wrongfully are many in number 20 They also that reward euill for good are against mee because I follow the thing that good is 21 Forsake me not O Lord my God be not thou farre from me 22 Hast thee to helpe mee O Lord God of my saluation PSALME LI. HAue mercie vpon me O God after thy great goodnesse according vnto the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences 2 Wash me throughly from my wickednesse and clense mee from my sinne 3 For I acknowledge my faults 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sinne is euer before me 4 â—…gainst thee onely haue I sinneâ—… done this euill in thy sight thâ—… thou mightst bee iustified in thâ—… saying and cleere when thou aâ—… iudged 〈◊〉 Behold I was shapen in wicâ—…nesse and in sinne hath my mothâ—… conceiued me 〈◊〉 But loe thou requirest truth in 〈◊〉 inward parts shalt make me 〈◊〉 vnderstand wisedome secretly 〈◊〉 Thou shalt purge me with Iâ—…e and I shall bee cleane thou â—…lt wash me and I shall be whiâ—… than snow 8 Thou shalt make me heare of â—…y gladnes that yâ— bones which thou hast broken may reioyce 9 Turne thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeedes 10 Make me a cleane heart o God and renew a right spirit within me 11 Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me 12 O giue mee the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish mee with thy free Spirit 13 Then shall I teach thy wayeâ—… vnto the wicked and sinners shâ—… be conuerted vnto thee 14 Deliuer mee from bloodgâ—… tinesse O GOD thou that aâ—… God of my health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse 15 Thou shalt open my lips O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise 16 For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thâ—… delightest not in burnt offerings 17 The sacrifice of GOD is a troubled spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God shalt thou not despise 18 O bee fauourable and gracious vnto Sion build thou the wals of Ierusalem 19 Then shalt thou bee pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnes with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer young bullocks vpon thine Altar PSALME CII HEare my prayer O Lord and let my crying come vnto thee 2 Hide not thy face from mee in 〈◊〉 â—…e of my trouble incline 〈◊〉 eares vnto mee when I call O heare me and that right soone 3 For my daies are consumed away like smoke and my bones 〈◊〉 burnt vp as it were a firebraÌ„d 4 My heart is smitten downe withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread 5 For the voice of my groaning my bones will scarce cleaue to my flesh 6 I am become like a Pellican in the Wildernes like an Owle that is in the desart 6 I haue watched and am euen as it were a Sparrow that sitteth alone vpon the house top 8 Mine enemies reuile mee all the day long and they that are mad vpon mee are sworne together against me 9 For I haue eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drink with weeping 10 And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me vp and cast mee downe 11 My daies are gone like a shadowe and I am withered 〈◊〉 grasse 12 But thou O Lord shalt â—…dure for euer and thy remeâ—…brance throughout all generâ—…ons 13 Thou shalt arise and hauâ—… mercy vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercy on her yeâ—… the time is come 14 And why thy seruants thinke vpon her stones it pittieth theâ—… to see her in the dust 15 The Heathen shall feare thy Name O Lord and al the Kings of the earth thy Maiestie 16 When the Lord shall build vp Sion and when his glory shal appeare 17 When hee turneth him vnto the prayer of the poore destitute and despiseth not their desire 18 This shal be written for those that come after and the people that shall be borne shall praise the Lord. 19 For hee hath looked downe from his sanctuarie out of the heauen did the Lord behold the earth 20 That hee might heare the mourâ—…g of such as be in captiuiâ—… 〈◊〉 deliuer the children apâ—…ed vnto death 21 That they may declare the 〈◊〉 of the Lord in Sion his â—…rship at Ierusalem 22 When the people are gatheâ—…ed together and the kingdomes 〈◊〉 to serue the Lord. 23 Hâ—…e brought downe my strength in my iourney and shortened my daies 24 But I said O my God take me not away in the midst of mine age 〈◊〉 for thy yeares they endure thoroughout all generations 25 Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the Heauens are the worke of thy hands 26 They shall perish but thou
wee are freed from earthly cares and desires wee esteeme thee for our chiefest good with thee wee dwell with thee we liue All these benefits die vnto vs if thou O eternall light bee hidden from vs. Abide therefore with vs O Lord and remoue from vs the weight of our sinnes to the end that perpetuall day may shine in our hearts stay with vs O Lord. Amen An Euening confession I Confesse my sinnes vnto thee eternall Bishop minister of the Saints and the Priest of the true tabernaâ—…le who ence in the yeare of this world hast entred into the sacred Secret and giuen the holy and immaculate Lambe of thy body for a sacrifice for our sinnes To thee I confesse that I am inindebted not onely in ten thousand talents of my sins but that I am bound to yeeld thee account of my whole life Because I know that there is not one Commandement of thine in my whole life that I haue perfectly obserued wherein either in word sight hearing taste worke thought perswasion or consent I haue not offended But now O Lord I come before thy face in confession and in the presence of all thine Angels and holy Saints I 〈◊〉 vnto thee all my sins wherwith this day I haue offended thee Here if there bee any more grieuous sins let them be repeated Neither these alone do I confesse but also all other my misdeeds whatsoeuer I haue coÌ„mitted from my infancy hitherto euen vnto this present houre either wittingly or ignorantly in deeds in words in thoughts and in omissions discouering also in particular the euilltree of my heart with all his roots twigs leaues fruits with al his deformities swellings rottennes all which are very well knowne vnto thee for thou beholdest not onely the interior desires doubts denials of thy prouidence but also these grosse externall offences which we wretchedly commit in our words and deeds Wherefore O most mercifull Father according to the measure of my weakenesse I beseech thee although I am altogether vnapt to pray forgiue my offences pardon my sinnes and forget all the multitude of my misdeeds as well those that I haue committed this day as also those which thou knowest me guilty of from my infancie hitherto Circumcise likewise for thy goodnesse sake my very stony heart for this old one create in mee a new and endue it with a new spirit water it with the iuice of celestiall grace and the spirituall fountaine of waters whereby the internal venome and corrupt iuice of the flesh may bee dried vp the custome of the old man may bee changed and my heart may not heereafter bring foorth brambles and thornes as fewell to the fire but spirituall fruits in iustice and holinesse Amen A thanksgiuing in the euening BEhold O Lord so many and so mighty are my sins whereby I haue this day offended thy diuine Maiesty and that time thou gauest me to shew the fruits of repentance in I haue consumed so vnprofitably forgetting that this day might haue bene the very last day of my life heaping new sinnes vpon old and walking in thy sight who continually seest all things without any feare no otherwise than if it were in the presence of some idoll for which cause I deserued that the earth should gape and hell should swallow me vp but for that this most fatal punishment doth not affect me both with lips and heart all the members about me and the power that is in me I giue thanks to thine infinit mercy For thou O Lord hast kept me this day by thy ciemency from all misfortune of body and soule for there is no euill in the world either corporall or spirituall that this day might not haue happened vnto mee For that which might befall another man why might it not light vpon mee For if hee bee the sonne of Adam why so am I If hee bee subiect to actuall sinne so am I If his body bee formed of humours and contrarie elements so is mine If therefore hee bee this day made blinde why might not I also haue bene blinded If another man this day become lame bee consumed fall sicke of the pâ—…sicke bee distraught get the â—…ixe labour of the spleene tremble with the palsâ—…e why am not I partner of the same miserie If this man hath perished by water that by fire hee bee extinguished by suddaine and vnexpected death why am not I also who am in the same state of damnation with him Why O Lord why I say but for that thy grace O most pitiful Lord hath conserued me and thy mercy protected me that therefore I am in safetie that I am whole and strong in body I onely ascribe it to thee to thee giue I most intire thaÌ„ks The like or rather more greater thanks offer I vp vnto thee O Father the thou hast no lesse protected my soule from sins then my body from sicknesses and misfortunes of this day that being blinde thou hast lightened her guided her in this way of thy commandements that falling thou hast raised her that standing thou hast sustained her from falling For that thy mercie hath preue nied me deliuering mee from all euils sauing me froÌ„ those that are past raising me from the present and defending me from the future taking away also the nets of my sinnes from before mee and cutting off their occasions and causes For except thou hadst done this and that for me I had done al the sinnes of the world because I know O Lord that there is no sin that euer man did that another man might not haue done if the Creator be wanting by whom man is made But that I did not offeÌ„d 〈◊〉 was thy fauour that I abstained it was thy command and that I beleeued thee it was thy grace inspired into me For thou O Lord didst rule me to thy selfe kepst me for thee and my selfe and that I should not commit adulterie or any other sinne thou gauest mee that grace light through Iesus Christ thy son To thee bee praise to thee grace to thee glorie for euer and euer Amen A praier wherin thou commendest thy selfe to God vpon the entrance of thy bed O Lord Iesus Christ my God Redeemer in asmuch as thou hast made ordained the pleasing time of night for the rest and refection of the weake bodies of miserable mortall men I beseech thee that this night thou wilt keepe my soule ouer-burdened with sinne defensed with true peace in thee O God who art the true and eternall rest preserue it from all the assaults of the diuel from all his dangerous incursions defend my senses and cogitations and ordaine and direct all that which I doe and wherein I end according to thy will lest ingaged in the depraued darkenesse of this world being ouercome by the Prince of the same the diuell I bee brought into temptation and pernicious snares but perfect in mee true tranquillitie and constant puritie in my conscience Giue vnto my
reducing to my memory the perill of my death and the rigor of thy diuine iustice How many orders of Preachers Confessors hast thou appointed that by their words and counsels might incite me helpe me O Lord walking in thy way How often hast thou folowed me by thy words inuiting me by thy benefits and chastising me with thy scourges stopping vp all the waies after the manner of a hunter that I might no way fly or escape from thee What shal I theÌ„ at this time render vnto thee O Lord for all those things which thou hast bestowed vpon me Because thou hast created mee I owe â—…hee all that which I am for thou â—…dest all things Because thou â—…st conserued me I ow vnto thee â—…ll that I am liue for thou conâ—…uest all things because thou â—…auest thy self as a reward vnto me what shal I restore thee If I had all the liues of Angels men and should offer them for a sacrifice vnto thee what were this oblation if it should be compared onely to the bloud which so aboundantly thou sheddest for my sake Who therfore shal giue me tears for mine eies that I may bewailâ—… my ingratitude and my negligent retribution for so many benefits Giue mee therefore thy helpe O Lord giue mee thy grace that in due maner I may confesse my sins vnto thee I vnhappy that I 〈◊〉 I although I haue demeaned 〈◊〉 selfe farre otherwise am thy creature made according to thy Image and likenesse acknowledgâ—… this similitude for it is thine Take from me that which I haue made and thou shalt finde thâ—… which thou by thy holy hand hast made I haue imploied all my forces and powers to iniurie thee and haue offended thee in yâ— very workâ—… of my hands My feete were swifâ—… to doe euill my hands ready tâ—… act any wickednesse mine eieâ—… dissolute to all vanitie and miâ—… eares open to all follies and falsehoods I haue diuerted the most noble part of my soule which had eies to behold thee from thy beauty and conuerted them to the flourishes of this miserable life the soule that day and night should haue meditated on thy commandements now night and day studieth in what maner it may offend thee The vnderstanding so depraued what should the will doe Thou my God hadst inuited it to celestiall delights but she preferred earth before heauen stretching her armes to thee O Lord consecrated to the filthie affection of Creatures This is yâ— recompence O God this the fruit which my senses which thou createdst brought foorth Ah wretch that I am what can I answer if thou enterest into iudgement with me and saist vnto mee I haue planted thee an elected 〈◊〉 all true seed And if I cannot giue answer to this first question how shall I answer thee in the second for my benefite of conseruation Thou my Lord thy prouidence hath conserued him that meditated on nothing else but how he might transgresse thy commandements how persecute thy seruants how offend thy Church and how to strengtheÌ„ the kingdome of sin against thee Thou moouedst the tongue that biasphemed thee thou ruledst the members which offended thee and gauest them sustenance who lay in wait for thy seruants so that I haue not onely bene vngrateful for thy benefits but also haue conuerted the benefits themselues into armes with which I impugned thee Thou hadst made all Creatures for my vse that I allured by that benefite should loue thee and I haue adulterated them in that I haue so often time offended thee by them I rather made choise of the gift than the giuer and from whom the occasion of knowing thy bounty was to bee taken from them I was blinded neither lifted I vp mine eies that I might see how farre more faire the Creator was thaÌ„ the creature Thou gauest me all things that I might giue my selfe vnto thee all things might serue me but I neuer either gaue thee glory or the tribute which is due vnto thee Thy creatures were alwaies ready at my command for so thou ordainedst them but I haue alwaies studied to offend thee and to this end haue vsed and abused all things Thou gauest me health and the diuell hath gathered the fruite thereof thou gauest me strength and I haue imploied the same in the seruice of thine enemie What shall I say why were not so many kinds of calamities and miseries which euery where I beheld in other men sufficient that but in them I might vnderstand but that all other mens euils were my benefits for from all them hast thou deliuered mee Shall it therefore bee lawfull for any man to shew himselfe vngratefull for a benefite receiued and who is hee that oweth not thanks for a benefite receiued If the rage of Lyons and Serpents bee lenified by gifts why O Lord shall not thine bee sufficient to mortifie and mollifie mee that yet at the least sometime I may say Let vs care our Lord God that giueth vs tunely and euening rame in due time pientie of annual increase to those that loue him It was enough for me O Lord to know that it was thou that â—…o long time sustainedst me although I had not any other demonstratioÌ„ or testimony of thy bounty and if that account shall be so strict for these things which cost thee little what shall that be which thou shalt exact for those which thou hast purchased with thy precious blood How I haue peruerted thy commandements how I haue violated the mystery of thy incarnation Thou becamest man that thou mightest make me God I besotted with mine owne abiectnesse made my selfe a beast and the sonne of the diuell Thou descendedst on the earth that thou mightest bring me to heauen and I vnworthy suâ—…h a vocation as one that deserued it not knew not the same and perseuered in the dirt of my abiectnesse Thou didst deliuer mee and I cast my selfe head long againe into my former captiuitie â—…hou raisedst me vp and I re-embraced death thou hadst incorporated me in thy selfe I again tooke party with the diuell So many so great blessings had not that power ouer mee to make mee acknowledge thee neither so many arguments of loue to make me loue thee againe neither so many merits to make mee hope in thee neither such a iustice which shined in thy passion to make mee feare thee thou hast humbled mee euen vnto the dust of the earth I swel with pride thou hangedst naked on the Crosse the whole world satisfieth not my Auarice They buffeted thee vpon the face who art God if any man touch my garment I am angry notwithstanding am but a base and vile worme What shall I say my Sauior Behold how great thy mercy and charitie is towards me Thou wouldst die to kil my sin I confident in the same mercy bounty loue am not afraid to sin against thee Alas what greater blasphemy may there be I of thy bounty tooke
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
in coÌ„tempt or disgrace of thy holy Name Yet O Lord there are many things which yet I want for nothing is presently reduced from his not being to his perfect being but all things tend to their perfection by certaine degrees And that perfection from whom is it to bee required but from him who is the beginner of this worke Hence it is that all effects are conuerted to their causes that they may receiue their finall perfection from thence whence they had their beginning So see I O Lord the plants labour wrest themselues on euery side that they may behold the Sun fasten their roots in the earth Fishes forsake not the water and the Chicken scarce hatched from the egge hides himselfe vnder the wings of the Hen and followeth her whither soeuer shee go Since all creatures do this in whom there is no vnderstanding I alone doe it not whom yet thou hast created and endued with reason I see that I want many things 〈◊〉 that daily I am diuersly hindered the inordinate insatiable hunger of mine appetites teacheth me no lesse but I like a Doue wanting a heart haue not recourse to my Creator but to creatures I seeke not water out of the Fouâ—…taine but digge new Cesterns for my selfe I hunt after the earth contemne him that made the earth I seeke life in the land of death I will rest my selfe in things that are restles I will begge from creatures that which I ought to aske from the Creator I therefore pray thy goodnes O my mercifull Father Creator to take away this ignorance from 〈◊〉 and conuert me vnto thee and then shall I be conuerted thine eies see that which is imperfect in me thou madest mee thou finishedst mee thou beganst this worke doe thou finish it Thy hands haue fashioned mee giue mee vnderstanding that I may learne thy Testimonies Thou gauest mee eares but such as are more attentiue to heere fables thaÌ„ thy word thou gauest me eies but such as are more prone to behold curiosity than to consider the wondrous works of thy law thou gauest me hands but weak to performe good workes thou gauest me feet but swift vnto euill slow vnto goodnes What neede more There is no health in my flesh perâ—… O Lord that which thou hast begun 〈◊〉 me of thy hands Giue me that I want because thou art my Creator my God thou art my life thou art my saluation thou art my liuing thou art my aboundance thou art my glory thou art my honour thou art my peace thou art all my good without thee all my plenty is pouerty who liuest reignest God world without end Amen The second thanksgiuing for the benefite of our corporall conseruation I Giue thee thanks O most omnipotent high iust and mercifull Lord God not onely for that thou hast created me and broughtest me from not being to a being but also for that thou hast preserued and daily doest preserue meâ—… being made of nothing from falling into nothing for I both beleeue and confesse that both is thy worke but if thy hand should be shut and but for the twinckling of an eie should â—…iue ouer â—…is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—…ng of which thou createdst me As many moments therefore and points of time as this my life hath had now hath or may haue hereafter so many parts are there of this benefite I giue thee thanks O merciâ—… Father that by an vnsearchablâ—… kinde of meanes from my conception vntill my natiuitie thou hasâ—… kept mee close shut vp in the narrow bed of my mothers wombe least choaked in my mothers bowels I had come foorth into this world either borne an abortiue or strangled in my natiuitie without the benefite of Baptisme I giue thee thanks that I am borne not amongst Barbarians idolators who honor wood and adore stone not amongst Heretickes that blaspheme thy name and most sacred Sacraments but amongst Catholiques who honour and reuerence thee with a true sincere and pure â—…uth I giue thee thanks for that thou hast preserued me from all misforâ—…ne sodaine death being borne 〈◊〉 bred vp in this world so full of snares and of perils For whereas â—…uers men in my life time drowned in the Sea slaine in the war â—…urthered by theeues torne by the â—…skes of beasts swallowed vp by â—…rthquakes killed by hunger exâ—…ct by thirst burnt with heate â—…illed with colde poysoned with venome straÌ„gled with the haltar slaine by the sword or other sodaine and violent death are taken hence when in the meane while there are so many blinde lame mad troubled with the Iandâ—…es sâ—…ke of the â—…ir trauelled with the spleen bedâ—…em furious lunatâ—…ke and subâ—…ct to the falling sickenesse whose â—…ife is more miserable than death Thy fatherly prouidence O Lord hath defended me from all these eâ—…ils wheras notwithstanding noâ—…hing hapned vnto theÌ„ that might not haue fallen on me the sonne of â—…dam created out of the same masse of perdition conceiued anâ—… begotten in the same originall sin except thou hadst preserued me I owe all this to thy mercy these benefits I receiue from thee If my earthly King Lord had of tenne captiues condemned for one and the same crime sent nine to the gallowes and of his meere grace fauour had set me free what condigne thankes could I offer him But thou O Lord hast done this for mee not once but daily yea and euery moment What shall I therefore pay thee O Lord for al these benefits what praises shall I sing what thanksgiuing shall I offer I will say with the Prophet It is the mercy of God that we are not consumed for that his mercies haue not failed Thou hast giueÌ„ vs a body though vnworthy of many things which except they bee present it easily corrupteth perisheth but that they might be present it is thy singular prouidence that hath so disposed For as thou createdst vs for thy selfe so hast thou made all things for vs for whatsoeuer is created in the earth in the waters the ayre the fire or in the celestiall spheres yea in the imperiall heauen al that hast thou created to obey vs for thou hast placed man aboue all the workes of thy hands Thou hast subiected all things vnder his feet c. For me trees bring forth their boughes and fruite vines flourish for me oyles fatteÌ„ and grow fruitful for me the garden flowreth for me all the plowland of the fields is mine For mee doth the earth yeeld gold siluer and diuers minâ—…rals profitable for the vse of man For me doth the Sea ebbe flowfor mee it bringeth foorth diuers sorts of fishes for mee it beareth ships and sailes for mee doe the fountaines spring for mee doe the flouds flow sheepe oxen and the beasts of the field are fed bring forth skins wooll milke and butter for mee for mee hath the hound nailes and teeth for mee doth the Monocerote bring foorth a horne
many blessings thy bounty and benignity hath done all this and I being insufficient to yeeld thanks for only one of them how can I requit so many thousands And how may darkenesse praise light how may vanity commend verity how 〈◊〉 a mortal man by nature fraile conceiue thine immortalitie how may a grosse substance comprehend him who is free from all weight of matter how may vncleannes praise puritie who then shal applaud thy works who shall resound thy praises but thou like a most mercifull Father receiuest our vowes and takest in good part thy childrens thaÌ„sgiuing whosoeuer Make me therfore worthy O good God to giue thee thanks to cleaue perpetually to thy charitie that I may praise thee for the many and mighty benefits wherewith thou hast honoured mee That I may pay thee thanksgiuing for the perils from whence thou hast deliuered me Finally that I may doe thee dutie for protecting mee both in prosperity aduersitie because thou hast done all things with discretion and for that thou art the Lord of our bodies and soules of life death of health and sicknes of felicity infelicity To bee short the moment of all things dependeth on thy hand Thou dost reioyce in vs by thy benefits thou dost amate vs by thy menaces thou differedst in chastising comfortest vs reclaming our frailty vnto thy self Glory be to thy wondrous power praise to thy vnsatiable loue to mankinde gouerne the rest of our life most mercifull guide and vigilant gouernour deliuer mee O Lord from all mine enemies visible and inuisible stretch out thy bounteous hand that may drawe vs out of the deepe waters of the roaring flouds of this world and that may relieue and lighten the dangers of our nauigation Gouerne yâ— the magistracy O King which thou hast committed to our charge for thou art the steersman we the rudder let thy hand therefore inuisibly rule this Rudder whither it please the and whither thou hast decreed it for neither wil I trust in my bow neither shal my sword saue me but thy right hand and thine arme and the cleare light of thy countenance Thy wil be done o King in vs as it is in heauen and earth if at any time wee shall run astray from the lawes of thy commandements conceiue not suddaine wrath O most mercifull God since thou art not ignorant how fraile and weak we are from our beginning if thou list thou canst saue mee vouch safe it may be accordant to thy wil. For vnlesse thy power strengthen mee I cannot do that which I would Consider my heart therefore with the vnspeakable sweetenes of thy bounty to the end that a little sense and taste of the future and eternall blessednesse which we shall enioy in thee may refresh our minds Lastly make nice worthie that after this present life I may hasten vnto thee my Lord God that I may behold the riches of thy kingdome and contemplate the beautie of thy looke which grant o most holy King my true God and maker for thy Sonnes sake our Lord Iesus Christ AmeÌ„ A prayer vnto the Father wherein we demand sanctification THou that rulest in the highest reignest for euer onely canst doe all things God the gouernor of heauen and earth at whose becke all creatures tremble the pillars of heauen shake O heauenly God perfect workman and Potter I wretch made out of clay or rather of filthy mudde with feare and trembling come before the throne of thy maiestie I acknowledge confesse my wickednesse I know that I am nothing yea that I am meere abomination and horror in thy sight if thy grace and mercie do faile me without thee I thinke no goodnes without thee I do no good thing without thee I am a contemptible creeping worme I cannot be saued without thine assistance my saluation dependeth on thy hands I giue thee thanks O God in especiall for this for that thou hast giuen me that know ledge that I may see and know that I am nothing and vnable to do aniething without thee Thou art the Potter I the clay such as thou wilt haue mee bee such canst thou forme and fashion me if thou makest mee blessed thou shewest thy mercy grace if thou castest mee into perdition thou shewest thy iustice and executest thy iudgement neither is it my duety to contradict thee why or vnder what reason thou doest it For thou hast mercy vpon him whom thou louest these things I meditate with my selfe o Lord I feare thy iudgements Since therefore all my safety saluation dependeth on thee and consisteth in thy hand and power and sith thou hast shewed thy selfe a mercifull long-suffering God to the whole world and hast testified the same indeed in that thou woldest thy only son Iesus Christ the innocent should die for our offences and expiate our sinnes with his blood on the Crosse. Finally since thou hast taught vs in all our perturbations to cal vpon thee and aske thy grace and mercy for that thou wilt giue vs all things which wee shall aske in the Name of thy Sonne I come vnto thee being drosse and a lumpe of clay O mercifull and celestiall Potter beseeching thee most humbly that thou wilt vse thy mercie and make of this vnworthy matter a Uessell of eternall Glorie Uouchsafe also of thy meere grace to fixe my minde on perfect faith assured hope and chaste and holie loue that being iustified by these thy gifts I may become vpright perfect good and holy according to thy good will both in the midst and end of my life as also at the latter day of iudgement O mercifull Father grant mee pardon of all my sinnes through yâ— death of thy beloued Sonne Iesus Christ make me to please thee alone grant me to be thy gratefull sonne and heire increase in me that iustice whatsoeuer which is giuen me and granted from heauen that I may continue and end my life 〈◊〉 the same increase in me that faith which thou hast giuen mee kindle my loue of thee and make it more apparant that by thy helpe and the presence of thy grace and the accomplishment of thy holy will I may obtaine euerlasting life which thou hast promised vs to the end I may praise thee and giue thee thanks in thy kingdome for eâ—… and euer Amen A prayer to God the Sonne OThou maker and redeemer of makinde Iesus Christ who saiedst I am the way the truth and the life the way in doctrine precept and examples the truth in promises the life in reward I pray thee by thy vnspeakeable charitie wherwith thou daignest to imploy thy selfe wholly for our saluation suffer mee neuer to wander from thee who art the way neither euer to distrust in thy promises who art the truth and performest whatsoeuer thou doest promise neither to repose or relie on any other thing because thou art eternall life than which there is nothing more to bee desired neither in heauen nor in earth
By thee haue we learned the true and ready way to eternall saluation lest wee should wander any longer in the Labyrinthes of this life Thou didst teach vs exactly how to beleeue what to doe what to hope and in whom we ought to rest by thee we haue learnt how vn happy we were borne through our first father Adam by thee wee haue learnt that there is no hope of saluation except by faith in thee Thou hast taught vs that thou art the onely light that shinest to all men in the desart of this world cōducting them through the night of their mindes from the Egyptian darkenesse to that blessed Land which thou promisest vnto the meeke and such as follow thy humility For in vs was nothing but vtter darknesse who neither could see our calamity neither know frō whence to secke the remedy of our misery thou daignedst to enter into the world vouchsafedst to take vpon thee our nature that thy doctrine might disperse the cloud of our ignorāce that by thy precepts thou mightst direct our feete in the way of peace by the examples of thy life thou didst limit out a path for vs to immortality beating it with thy steps thou madest it of a tedious rough an easie beaten way So becamest thou vnto vs a way that knoweth no errour in which lest wee should bee wearied thy bounty with great and assured promises vouchsafed to assure vs for who could bee wearied that thinketh how in following thy footsteps there is an heritage of eternal life prepared for him Therfore whilst we are in this iourney thou wouldest in stead of a staffe be an assured hope vnto vs whereby wee might be sustained Neither was thy goodnes contented herewith but acknowledging the frailty of our natures in the meane space with the comfort of the holy Spirit y◠repairest our courages to the end that wee may more willingly run vnto thee And as thou being made a way vnto vs driuest away all errour so becomming our truth thou takest away all distrust Finally being made life vnto vs thou giuest heate vnto those that are dead in sinne a life through thy holy spirit which quickneth all things vntill all mortality laid aside in the resurrection we may alwaies liue with thee and in thee by reason that thou art vnto vs al in all things For it is eternall life to know the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost to be one true God Wherfore I beseech thee O most mercifull Father to increase faith in me who am thy vnworthie seruāt lest at any time I wauer in thy celestiall doctrine increase obedience in me lest I swerue from thy precepts increase constancy that walking in thy waies I neither bee allured by the inticements of sathan nor deiected by his terrors but that I may perseuere in thee who art the true way to my liues end Increase my faith that possessed of thy promises I may neuer waxe slow in the study of godlinesse but forgetting those things I haue left behinde mee I may alwaies striue and endeuour for more perfection Increase thy grace in me that daily more and more being mortified my selfe I may liue and be incouraged by thy holy Spirit fearing nothing but thee than whom there is nothing more amiable glo rying in none but in thee who art the true glorie of all the Saints wishing nothing but thee th◅ whom there is nothing better desiring nothing but thee who art full and perfect felicitie with the Father and the holy Ghost world without end Amen A prayer to the holy Ghost HOly Spirit our aduocate who on Whitsunday didst descend vpō thy Apostles filling their bosomes with charity grace and wisdome I pray thee by that thy vnspeakeable mercie and liberality that thou wilt vouchsafe to fill the secrets of my soule with thy grace and water my inward heart with the vnspeakable sweetnesse of thy loue Come holy Ghost and from heauen send a beame of thy light Come thou Father of the poore come thou giuer of gifts come thou light of hearts come thou gracious comforter thou sweete guest of my soule my pleasant refresher Come thou Physition of those that faint come thou purger of eies come thou strength o◅ the fraile come thou remedy of sins come thou doctor of the humble come thou destroier of the prond come thou excellent ornament of all vertues come thou onely saluation of the dying Come my God and adorne a bed for thee in which I may worthily entertaine thee with all thy riches and mercies make me drunke with the gifts of thy wisedome illuminate me with the benefite of vnderstanding gouerne me with the gift of counsell confirme me with the gift of fortitude instruct mee with the gift of science wound me with the gift of pietie and pierce my heart with the gift of thy holy feare O sweet louer of cleane hearts burne and inflame all my bowels with the sweet fire of thy loue that being inflamed they may bee carried and rauished into thee who art the center finall end of all my good o sweet louer of holy soules since thou art not ignorant that I can doe nothing of my selfe nor by my selfe stretch out thy fauourable hand ouer me grant that I may forsake my selfe fly vnto thee mortifie extinguish and dissolue in me whatsoeuer is displeasant vnto thee that in all things thou maiest conforme mee vnto thy will that my life hereafter may be a perfect sacrifice in thy sight or rather an offering which may wholy bee consumed in the fire of thy loue O who shall giue me the grace the I may at least attaine this chiefe good Looke vpon mee O Lord looke vpon mee and see here this thy poore creature my soule sighing after thee day and night how she thirsteth after God when shall I come appeare before the presence of thy grace When shall I enter into that admirable place of thy Tabernacle that I may attain the house of my God When wilt thou fill mee with the light of thy countenance When shall I be satiate with the presence of thy glory When shal I by thy meanes be deliuered from all temptations and when shall I ouercome this frailty of my mortality O eternall fountaine of light bring mee backe againe to the Abysse of eternall goodnes by whom I am created that there I may know thee euen as I am known of thee may so loue thee as I am loued by thee that I may see and enioy thee in the societie of all the elect euen as thou also hast seene me from euerlasting Amen The first prayer of the life of Iesus I Yeeld thee immortall thanks O most sweete Iesu that from thy roial pallace and the secret bosome of thy father thou hast vouchsafed for my sake to descend into this vale of miserie and in the sanctified womb of that chaste Uirgin thy mother thou didst take vpon thee a humane body I pray thee O Lord