as to be accepted into thine holie warfare Thou canst ô almightie and all mercifull God who hast of nothing created mee and foreseest the fall and infirmitie of man thou art able I saie and that thou wilt I beseech thee forgiue the sins which I haue committed supplie what I haue omitted restore what I haue lost heale what is sick cleanse what is vncleane lighten what is darke assuage that which swelleth inflame what is quenched repaire that is broken recouer that is neglected amende what is awrie make plaine what is rouged restraine what is curious call home that which wandereth place what is out of order yea and alter the whole state of my minde that nothing be wanting to my former purpose and let all occasion of euill worke for the best vnto mee I moste humblie desire thee This change is made by the right hand of God this is God his visitation this is the manifolde conference of the diuine goodnes In steede of all thankes accept the deuoute seruice of thine holie Church where-so-euer with the sweete praises of the whole courte of heauen And let all the sanctes from the beginning of the world which thorough thy grace haue bin enlightened and called yea and all the faithfull and Christian people which either be in the world or haue bin afore vs or shall liue hereafter let them I saie together celebrate and praise thy all sweete and glorious name which is aboue all names to be blessed Let them repeate againe and againe with greate ioie repeate all praises dulie and deseruedlie to be saide of thy name and that so manie times as there be either in the heauen stars or in the sea fishes or in the earth cornes or in the Bible letters And all this being doon yet must I saie theie haue not praised thy name sufficientlie the which I desire to commende euen to the vttermost of my strength and by all meanes to extoll vntill I attaine vnto those praises which now cannot be expressed by the voice of mortall men So that thou seest now my Soule the greatenes and the excellencie of God thy creator and redeemer his benefits the which no creature nor all creatures may recompense whome hee hath made vnto the praise and glorie of his eternall and blessed name who needeth no glorie but is alone all sufficient for himselfe hee that is what he is is his owne glorie The number of his benefits was so greate that I could not place them all before thine eies and therefore of a greate manie I choase three pretious giftes euen as the Wisemen did which were about to offer to the Lord wherein I thought good to comprehend the rest For euerie benefit of God if you marke well is either of nature or of grace or of superexcellencie and whatsoeuer else is maie fullie bee referred vnto one of these three kindes In the Creation you haue the benefit of nature in the Redemption the benefit of superexcellencie in our Iustification note the benefit of grace For all which and for euerie of them glorie be to thee ô sacred Trinitie one equall deitie both before all worldes nowe and for euermore Amen The ende of the fourth Booke A Table of the contents of euery Chapter conteined in this Booke ALonging of the Soule after God The incomprehensible maiestie of the Lord. An exhortation to the loue of God Chapter 1. Page 1 Of God his distinct iudgement at the ende of this world The cursed state of the vngodlie Chapter 2. Page 14 An humble confession of sinns with a Praier for grace to repent Chap. 3. Pag. 19 A lamentation of the Soule for her weakenesse and vnstaiednes in the race of virtue Chap. 4. Pag. 25 Of the shortnes and miserie of this present life A praier for grace to renounce the world and the vanities of the same Chap. 5. Pag. 30 An ardent desire of the Soule to be loosed from 〈◊〉 and from the trouâ—â—◠〈…〉 this world Chapter 6. 〈◊〉 37 A godlie desire for a good death Chap. 7. Pag. 44 A meditation of one dead vnto the world yet aliue in Christ. Chapter 8. Pag. 51 A desire of the Soule that no earthlie creature may carrie her awaie vnto vanitie Chap 9. Pag. 59. A comparison betweene earthlie and heauenlie ioies with a praier for grace to contemne this transitorie world Chap. 10. Pag 63 That all comfort and pleasures are in God A praier that all people maie glorifie the Lord. The blessed state of good men That we are to be readie against the comming of our Sauiour Christ. Chap. 11. Pag. 71 The desire of the Soule after God The properties of God by the sundrie titles ascribed vnto him None commeth vnto God vnlesse God draweth him Chap. 12. Pag 80 How and when the Soule and God are vnited together The miserie where God is not present Chap. 13. Page 92 A lamentation of the Soule for the want of grace Chapter 14. Page 101 Touching the fruite of freendship The benefits of Christ vpon man The true felicitie and ioie of the Soule The affinitie betweene Christ and the Soule of man Chapter 15. Page 107 The more wee loue Christ the more we maie Tentation and when Happines of the life to come How to beare affliction Chapter 16. Page 118 The maiestie and omnipotencie of God How and whie the Lord afflicteth his children Chapter 17. Page 133 The confidence of a true Christian. God iustifieth the vngodlie Giueth whatsoeuer good is to man Will haue no man to despeire but that all sinners should flie vnto his mercie Chap. 18. Pag. 147 The desire of a Christian Soule is neuer satisfied till God bee enioied No comfort anie whit comparable to the spirituall ioie Chapter 19. Page 156 A complaint of the Soule for the want of her blessed state What weeping pleaseth God Who trulie blessed A description of God Chap. 20. Page 162 The delaieng of the happie is patientlie to be borne The felicitie of the life to come with a praier for the same Chap. 21. Pag. 171 A godlie meditation concerning the accesse vnto the holie of holies euen Iesus Christ the king of angels godlie petitions for the forgiuenes of sins Chap. 22. Pag. 180 A godlie praier and commendation of our Sauior Christ. Chapter 23. Page 187 A Praier for comfort vnto Iesus Christ. Chap. 24. Pag. 194 That for God his benefits we are to thanke him Chap. 25. Pag. 202 FINIS ⧠AT LONDON Printed by Richarde Yardley and Peter Short dwelling at the nether ende of Bredstreete at the Signe of the Star 1592 a Psal 73 verse 28. b Psal. 73 28 c Luk. 18 19 d Math. 6 21 Coloss. 3 1. 2 e Phil. 4 7 f 1. Iohn 2 16 g Rom 8 35 36 c. 1. Cor 13 4 5 c. h Psa. 73 25 MAN SOVLE MAN i Psal. 26 8. SOVLE k Psal. 94 8 9 10 Psal 119 12 l Psal. 94 12 m Iam. 4 6 n Mat. 11. 25 o 1. Cor.
and comfort is and resteth in the price of thy pretious blood wherein I doo wholie repose my selfe and deeme it requisite that I should doo so together with all which I haue doon offended deserued and omitted And therefore behold most gratious Iesu my basenes and humilitie consider the affection of mine hart which I beare toward thee not for my merits but for thy mercie sake which vouchsafest to be loued euen of the vnworthie In respect of mine vnworthines I am greatlie ashamed to come in thy presence but I am drawen-on and emboldened through your wonderfull goodnes and humilitie which hast in perfect good wil yeelded not onlie to become man but also to suffer die and to be buried for my sake and therefore vnto thee doo I make recourse for I finde no goodnes in my selfe Supplie that for my sake which of my selfe I cannot performe Thou hast giuen mee a desire to praie vnto thee to praise to blesse thee because thou art mine hope and my portiō in the land of the liuing Al my desire is to be with thee in the kingdom of heauen but inasmuch as my time is not yet come I will waite vntill the night approch In the meane while this maie bee my comfort in the place of my pilgrimage that I am mindfull of thy name and of thine exceeding great loue and that I behold thee in this life by the eies of my faith To liue in this world and yet to repose no trust in thee ô Lord were a thing intollerable to my soule I doo not consent to reioice with the world and that I maie not abide without ioie and comfort I haue determined to place my ioie in thee Much and often should I goe astraie greatlie should I be tossed in cogitations did I not reteine thee fast in my minde and thoughts And for somuch as I am vnable to sound the depth of thy diuinitie I thinke it best for mee to turne vnto the deedes and saiengs of thine humanitie because being in these cogitations I swarue not altogether from thy diuinitie Thankes bee to thee good Iesu sweete and louelie Iesu for vouchsafing to become my brother to take my flesh and bones vpon thee Thankes I saie to thee for entering into the wombe of good Marie thy Mother of whose maidenlie flesh thou tookest the holie members of thy bodie which thou didest vnite to thy diuine nature CHAP. 23. A godlie Praier and commendation of our Sauior Christ. NOtwithstanding I am wicked and guiltie of manifold sins yet haue I great hope of saluation because of thy suffering and merits whereof as I haue a good minde to consider so graunt ô my Lord Christ that I maie with good leaue so doo For who am I to approch nigh vnto thee vnlesse I haue licence I knowe mine vnwoorthines to appeare in his presence whome the verie angels doo worship with great reuerence saieng Who is this that commeth out of the wildernes of this world so abunding in pleasure Therefore ô moste blessed Sauiour I am far vnmeete to thinke of thy glorie and honor of thy bewtie and magnificence because I am earth and ashes yea more base am I then earth and ashes because I am sinfull and proane vnto all wickednes But thou beeing made hier than heauen hast the whole world vnder thy feete and art worthie to be praised and honored for euermore Howbeit of thine vnspeakeable goodnes which passeth all vnderstanding I am drawen in affection vnto thee because thou art the comfort of the comfortlesse and vsest most willinglie to helpe most miserable sinners I acknowledge how I am not onlie destitute of all comforrt especiallie of thy fauor but also verie vnable to doo good vnto my selfe But mercifull Iesus wouldest thou vouchsafe to consider my basenes then should I both be aided and comforted most plentifullie in this my trooble Therefore I see well whensoeuer I am compassed about with affliction and tentation I am straight-waie and without feare to flie vnto thee for where mercie is moste readie there grace is in greatest plentie And when I haue a good minde to consider of thy most glorious estate and to commend thee in moste honorable manner I must come foorth with a much purer affection and maie not goe forwarde with-out the conduction of Gods heauenlie light Assuredlie he shall haue no glorie but shame that presumeth without all reuerence to approch vnto thy gate And he which commeth thereinto must proceede with all reuerence and humilitie ioined with good hope that hee maie finde grace to be admitted Wherefore both humblie and reuerendlie and deuoutlie and boldlie I goe to thee-ward Let the godlie louer of thy name listen then what I saie The heauen reioiceth the earth woondereth when by faith mine hart saith Christ is my Sauior Satan flieth hell trembleth when my conscience crieth Christ is my Sauior The world waxeth vile and the flesh humble when as a Christian dooth saie Christ is my Sauior Sorowe departeth newe comfort approacheth when my minde pronounceth Christ is my Sauior Slothfulnes vanisheth mine hart through loue fainteth when zelouslie I can saie Christ is my Sauior Zeale encreaseth compunction ariseth hope groweth comforte waxeth strong when my soule soundeth Christ is my Sauior Mine harte is iocund mine affection becommeth sounde when in truth I do saie Christ is my Sauior For such is the force of these words vttered of a faithfull soule that no man is able to expresse the same in wordes but still it resteth more hie and excellent than maie be reached vnto by the wit of man Which maketh mee once againe most humblie to bowe my knees vnto thee ô blessed Sauior and still I saie ô Christ my Sauior O most gratious Iesu receaue my praier and mee with it that I maie finde some-what that maie like thee well and embolden mee and kindle my zeale and keepe mee euermore in continuall praising of thine holie Name Oah that for the satisfieng my desire to praise and to praie vnto thee from the verie bottome of mine hart both all my members were forthwith conuerted into tongues and those tongues into firie voices that I might finde a waie to glorifie thee my Sauiour world without ende Oah that for all my sins wherewith I haue deserued thine indignacion offended greeuouslie thy Father and dishonored thee with all the hoste of heauen I might once so thoroughlie bewaile and repent that I might heereafter take a newe trade of life to thy glorie and the comforte of my soule Oah that thou woldest assist mee in well doing seeing my life fraile and I all subiect to offending Oah pardon and forgiue all my sins either wilfullie or negligentlie committed all my vaine thoughtes my vngodlie speech my abhominable deedes O most gratious Iesu I saie doo thou both defend mee from doing anie wickednes hereafter and forgiue I praie thee all my sins forepast so shall I be both the more deuout the more
mercie and in louing O Sauior to whome none is to be compared thou art aboue all to be loued and to be worshipped O Sonne of God by whome wee are also the sonnes of God and of whome we are called Christians thou art of all good men to be serued most religiouslie and aboue all O freend of all freends King of heauen and earth Lord of angels conqueror of diuels drawe mee after thee least I fall and so rest vnder the heauie burden of sin Poure out thy grace send mee thy comfortable dewe from aboue that trulie I maie perceaue how thou art the procurer and the open fountance of all mercie L. I am in deede the spring of holie loue and of chaste and religious feare of godlie conference and of sweete consolation Therefore when you doo heare my name reioice with your whole hart and magnifie the goodnes of your God In honoring mee you honor the Father which is God as I am For I am Iesus the Sonne of God and this name shal I haue while the world endureth But what is Iesus euen the Sonne of the liuing God the Sauior of the world the King of heauen and earth the Lord of Angels the redeemer of the faithfull and the iudge of quick and dead And what is Iesus the hope of the godlie the comfort of the desolaâ—e the peace of the meeke the riches of the poore the glorie of the humble the strength of the weake the waie of such as wander the light of such as see not the staff of such as walke not the oile of such as feele not the staie of the oppressed the helpe of the troobled and the singular refuge of all good men Blesse the Sonne with the Father and so God will blesse you Giue honor also and glorie to the Father whensoeuer you praise mee His glorie is my ioie and my praise is his worship Place mee and the Father as a seale vpon thine hart and as a token vpon thine arme Therefore sit you or stand you or praie or reade or wright or worke you let my name Iesus and God be often reuerendlie in your mouth but continuallie in your harte S. O grante it maie be so good Iesus and let all people tribes and tonges serue thee and let all creatures bowe at thy presence Let heauen saie Raigne thou Iesus let the earth make answere yea for euer and euer let him raigne Yea let all Sanctes confesse thy glorious Name and all good people reioice before the Father and thee his lambe and our Lord Iesus Christ Amen CHAP. 25. That for God his benefits we are to thanke him BLessed be the glorious Name of the Lord for euermore O Lord my God let all my dooings all my reading all my wrighting my thoughtes words and vnderstanding tend vnto the aduancement of thine honor Yea let mee both begin my busines in thy Name and goe forward in thy feare and finish it with thy blessing That which thou hast giuen that receaue againe and from whence the streames doo flowe thether let them returne It neuer goeth better with mee neither dooth it realish better to my soule than when vnfeinedlie I doo ascribe all to thee whatsoeuer I haue either doon or thought as I should My desire is to render thankes which I then doo as I ought when for that I haue receaued and thou hast giuen I ascribe all praise to thee and nothing to my selfe For what can I a wicked and vnprofitable seruant render vnto thee my God Alas all that I can doo yea if I should doo all which thou commandest to be doon it is to none effect So that I am brought vnto nothing and rightlie humbled And in deede it is verie well that I am so brought downe that thou alone maist bee iustified and haue the praise of all and that vile dust maie at no time glorie in it selfe Howbeit I minde not to surcesse but will extoll thee both with hart and mouth For albe I discharge not my dutie therein as I ought yet ought I to speake of thy goodnes and not be silent O my God thou art my glorie my praise shall alwaies be of thee He that would but a little consider of thy glorie and knowe what it is to glorie in the Lord how would he despise all outward glorie He that would euen but a little taste of thy sweetnes how quicklie would he loath as most bitter the pleasure of this world He which would receaue euen but a small sparcle of loue into his breaste howe would hee burne in affection For full gladlie would hee contemne all thinges to haue thy freendship and would count it all sweete and easie to be borne whatsoeuer he should doo or suffer for thy loue sake Hee that would consider in his minde thy goodnes to man-ward how would he reioice and run after thee Hee would seeke nothing so charelie he would keepe nothing so warelie he would pursue nothing so egerlie as to serue thee For in louing he would feele no burden because loue would beare all burdens So then theie which complaine of the burden doo plainlie declare how theie haue litle true loue in them To serue of loue is of all others the greatest pleasure and comfort in labor True loue dooth neither respect commoditie nor feare damage but in all things seeketh that which may please thee Oah Christ how sweete is thy loue how well dooth it sound how sweetlie dooth it enter how stronglie dooth it binde Oah that it would fast binde mee to thy continuall seruice oah that it would wholie take me and wholie subdue me and wholie and altogether make me to be thine For then and not before am I free when I am taken of thy loue and vtterlie depriued from all that mine is O my Lord I am thy seruant yea thy seruant am I because thou hast redeemed mee I am thy seruant with a verie good will and am not ashamed to be properlie thine I wish not to be mine owne man againe and therefore Lord helpe mee that I maie be freed from that which naturallie is mine Oah blowe and kindle and inflame the fire of my zeale so shall mine hart boile and become pure cleare and pleasant for thy loue expelleth vice and consumeth sin Laie thou fast hold vpon the band of loue and I shall stand and continue in thy seruice Full well I wot no good can my seruice doo you Lord but all the benefit redoundeth to my selfe if I doo that which I knowe is acceptable in thy sight Would I did and hid not that I reuealed and concealed not thy workes Lord When shall I be able worthelie to consider the manifold benefits conferred vpon mee of God! Mercifullie hast thou delt with thy seruant ô Lord but alack I neuer thanked thee for the same as thou deseruedst And therefore am
what in the ende will become of mee seeing dailie I doo offend When shall I amend my life as I ought to doo When will it be better with mee When shall I waxe strong And when shall I ouercome I am cast head-long into the deep pit of filthines Who can thinke there is yet hope left to arise againe to amend to goe forward and to come vnto the ende Surelie touching my selfe I am out of all hope ah that mine hope were stronger in thee I greatlie dâ—o despeire because my weakenes encreaseth through long troubles and I see no ende of my sorow and sinne And though I saie lo nowe I will begin to amend lo it is nowe time I will doo my best to reforme my selfe straight-waie alas sinne standeth before mee the enimie lifteth vp himselfe against mee and wicked custome keepeth mee back with might and maine contrarie to my minde O Lord behold howe I am cast downe and troden vnder foote behold the troubles which I doo endure Lift vp thy right hand and deliuer mee fro my persecutors for they are too strong for mee My wisedome is perished and my strength hath failed mee Mine arme is broken neither can my swoord saue mee I see not vnto whome I may flie and that will receaue and heale me I knowe none Thou alone continuest my refuge but I dare not approch for shame because I haue offended thee I haue sinned ô God forgiue mee I am sorie yea hartelie sorie that euer I did transgresse thy lawes Giue mee that which seemeth right in thine eies and bee mercifull Thou didest iustlie in forsaking mee and iustlie thou didest commit mee into the hands of mine aduersarie But Lord remember that which thou hast made amende that which is decaied for of it selfe it can neuer stande Marke my groaning and my troubles let the paine and griefe of mine heart at no time be out of thy remembrance O mercifull Father cast an eie vpon my thraldome and imprisonment vpon the miserie and crueltie which I doo endure and bring mee out that am bound from the prison-house and wretched bondage Though a man should liue manie yeares what will hee bee the better thereby And who knoweth whether hee shall amend his wicked life or be worse and worse Man woteth not howe hee shall proceede and ende and his continuance is verie doubtfull because of the manifold chances of euils and dangerous tentations Manie at their first conuersion from sinne are good and humble which afterward become froward and rebellious At the first they were modest and deuoute zelous and silent and in the ende prooued carelesse and dissolute bablers and barbarous And they which at the beginning did bridle their wicked affections at the length had scarse anie care at all either what they said or did And so by little and little wickednesse taketh roote and encreaseth while it is not preuented at the beginning Who therefore but should feare and be circumspect seeing such vnluckie chances doo come vnto the good and modest Againe who thoroughlie doth knowe whether hee bee elected or hath strength to beare all things Wee are all to be tried and who is sure that hee shall not be burned seeing tentation is a fire So that all must feare and hope alike of the better but none is rashlie to presume nor yet prowdlie to bee secure In deed the gold which is tried shall be preserued but I aduise thee ô man to consider well of what metall thou art The celestiall purger will purge hee will fine the sonnes of Leui euen all that are his seruants It is not alwaies gold which hath the color of gold neither is it alwaie stuble or naughtie siluer which endureth beating and beareth the flaile For God beholdeth the verie cogitations and the hearts by them most commonlie working woonders which in the opinion of manie are but castawaies O Lord God what ioie can I haue in this world when I thinke vpon the vncertaintie and frailtie of all things vnder heauen Notwithstanding this am I sure of that thou art good and that thy mercie is from generation to generation on them that feare thee For thine infinite goodnes and mercie is greater than all my sins And this shall be my comfort while thou giuest me space to amend my life CHAP. 5. 1. Of the shortnes and miserie of this present life 2. A praier for grace to renounce the world and the vanities of the same LEt mee vnderstand the shortnes of my daies So long as I am in this world I am wicked and while I continue vpon the earth I am poore a stranger and a pilgrime I brought nothing into the world and certaine it is I can carrie nothing thereout for naked came I out of my mothers wombe and naked shall I returne thether againe As a shadow which passeth awaie and as a fether which is tossed vp and downe with the winde and as a ghest of one night so suddenlie shall I passe awaie All the time wee haue heere to liue is but as the shortest night Fewe and euill are my daies and after a little while they shall ende and bee as though they had neuer been And when man is dead what is in man but filthines Who will haue anie care of a stinking carkas Or who will enquire of the absent being dead whereas beeing aliue hee was accounted of A small while is man remembred either of his freends or of strangers but vndoubtedlie the righteous shall be had in euerlasting remembrance because hee shall be euerlastinglie linked to God who is alwaies the same and shall neuer die Therefore happie is hee which putteth no trust in man nor yet reioiceth in anie worldlie thing but hath his hart fixed in heauen for what soeuer is in this world is transitorie and vane Call into thy minde those which haue liued since the world began vntill nowe and tell I praie thee where they bee And those whome you see and heare to liue now how long thinkest thou will they endure Saie therefore of all Euerie man that liueth is but vanitie O miserable and wretched life ô fraile and lamentable life which good men doo suffer rather than desire and wicked men albe they desire it yet can they not long enioie the same Oah vanitie of this world when wilt thou haue an ende when wilt thou cesse Yet the time will come when all the elect shall be set free from the bondage of corruption though now they doo lament because they are estranged from the kingdome of Christ Would to God the whole world would euen wither vp in mine hart and my Lord God euen mine immortall spouse seeme sweete vnto my soule Vndoubtedlie the fleeting ioie of this present life is but a false and a most bitter potion Let them drinke thereof that list for afterward they shall feele a most bitter flixe And the more one hath
I punished and pinched at the verie harte euen because I am vnable to answere thy benefits so great and so manifold Oah that I could euen but once worthelie and thoroughlie thanke thee for all these things But what maie proceede from him in whome nothing is An emptie vessell can minister no drinke What then shall I doo Something I must giue For it is not lawfull to come before God with an emptie hand Because the Lord abhorreth the vngratefull man Oah that I could finde something in this world to giue you that might be acceptable in your sight Oah my Lord whome in hart I loue what would you that I should giue you As for anie good thing of mine you neede it not And whie then exact you a gift at mine hands For riches none is comparable to you and yet require you some-what of mee L. That which I demaunde is euen your selfe wholie For so it is expedient if you would purchase my fauour I will giue grace to you and you shall showe grace to mee and so loue shall be continued betweene vs. Giue mee your selfe and you haue giuen euen all S. O good Iesus the fountane of all goodnes the fountane of life the fountane of grace the fountane of sweetenes the verie fountane of aie lasting wisdome powre vpon mee euen at this instant I beseech thee the gift of thy celestiall grace and teach mee to be gratefull and to giue my selfe before all thinges wholie vnto you for this is the deerest thing that I can render This I doo knowe and acknowledge Therefore receaue mee lo I am wholie thine and all that mine is is thine Onlie one thing there is which I cannot giue and that is my sin which is mine indeede properlie and therefore not to be imputed vnto thee Sinne mine is and all defaultes within me are to be ascribed to me onlie but glorie and for all thy benefits thankes be vnto thee But nowe in calling thy benefits into minde of manie I gather onlie a fewe and those which doo most of all moue mee and appeere in my mind For neither wil the time suffer to recite neither can my thoughtes comprehend them all Because for number theie are infinite for greatnes incomprehensible and inestimable for goodnes For bought theie cannot bee because theie are freelie giuen And therefore onlie thankes be required for them otherwise all shall be taken awaie as from that vngratefull one First therefore and afore all things I thanke thee ô Lord my God creator of all things for making mee a man after thine image and similitude and for placing mee ouer the workes of thine hands This is the great and first benefit bestowed vpon mee and that of thy meere goodnes For I made not my selfe but thine handes did fashion mee theie brought me into this world through my parents whome thy will was should serue thee herein And lo I am better than other creatures exalted aboue the beastes of the fielde and birdes of the aër in that I am facioned after thine image endued with eternall wisedome and naturallie participate of the light vncreate and of the vnchangeable truth Wherefore for my beeing liuing and vnderstanding I giue thee euerlasting praise wishing and desiring herewithall that all creatures both in heauen and earth maie euerlastinglie commend thy glorious and most excellent name I blesse thee ô Father Lord of heauen and earth who of nothing through thy onlie begotten Sonne Iesus Christ in the holie Ghost hast created all things Yea al things thou hast made not of necessirie compelled but of pure and special loue moued therunto therby to showe thy power vnto the sons of men and by thine inuisible and coëternall wisedome with thee thou hast most perfectlie disposed this visible world Let all thy creatures subiect in all things to thee and ordeined for the vse of man blesse thee For at thy commandement both raine falleth from heauen and fructe springeth from the earth The sunne shineth brightlie in the daie time the starres giue light by course in the night The fountanes spring the riuers flowe and fishes of diuers kindes doo swim The birdes not onlie flie but sing also and the goates the coltes and hartes doo spring vpon the mountaines The sheep and other cattell dop ioie in good pasture and diuers other liuing creatures doo run about the groaues The ground waxeth greene the fieldes prosper and trees of the wood doo yeeld both bowes and fructe O Lord which onlie doost woonderous things euen all these are thy woorkes Another benefit which thou hast bestowed vpon mee is the mysterie of incarnation the worke of my redemption the price of our saluation euen the fructe of thy passion and death O greate worke of mercie Oah worke of moste excellent loue moste abiect humilitie of moste rare patience No man could merit nor Angel procure this thing The Prophets haue wondered at it the Apostles haue seene taught it the faithfull haue embraced it and the elect especiallie doo loue and call it into minde The due consideration of this benefit stirreth vp good desires inflameth the harte nurisheth deuotion inlighteneth the minde purgeth the affection draweth on to heauen-ward with-draweth from the world driueth vnto God and vniteth the soule with Christ. This benefit far excelleth the aboue mentioned yet there is one which gaue each and hath bestowed both of them vpon vs euen our Lord Iesus Christ. For what the better had I bin for my life if I had not bin redeemed with the pretious blood of my Sauior Christ Therefore the grace and mercie of God grewe vpon me and plenteous redemption was made for the corrupted nature of man without the aide of God his maker could neuer haue bin repared O Father of mercies and God of all comfort thou to redeeme thy damned seruant hast giuen thine onlie Sonne to the death O wonderfull I kindnes of thine to vs ward vnto which neither the wit of man nor the vnderstanding of Angels can attaine But alone sweete Christe who art the beginning and the ende of our saluation and alone couldst helpe the miserable and damned thou alone art priuie to the same For thou didest vouchsafe to appeere vnto the world in the likenes of a most vile seruant and for mortall wormes euen of meere pittie receauedst with a willing minde the iudgement of a cruell death O good Iesus thou which art the fountaine of mercie the light of aie lasting glorie the pure glasse without spot of God his maiestie kindle mine harte with the meditation of this vnspeakeable benefit bestowed vpon mee and vpon all mankinde But this as was the former is generall sufficient to saue all but not effectual in all by reason of the incredulitie and malice of manie howbeit it saueth and is profitable to all the elect for whose sake all things