inward man in all godlinesse and vertue Iesus shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead I Giue thee thankes O bountifull IESVS that when thou shalt come at that last day to iudge the world thou wilt render to euery one according to his workes eyther the ioy of eternal life or euerlasting punishment Grant ô my louing Father that I may haue grace to spend the course of my life in innocencie according to thy holy will that at length my Soule leauing the imprisonment of the body may be presented blamelesse before thee and being garnished with many vertues may through thy mercy be receiued into thy Tabernacle of glory and that it may glorifie and praise thee in the fellowship and company of Saints world without end Amen A PRAYER or Meditation on the Name of IESVS O Good IESV ô sweet Iesu the Sonne of the Virgin Mary full of pittie and mercy ô sweet Iesu after thine infinite goodnesse haue mercy vpon mee ô bountifull Iesu through that thy precious bloud which thou didst plentifully shed vpon the Altar of the Crosse for wicked Sinners that thou wash mee from all my sinnes and iniquities and that thou despise not thy Seruant which humbly praieth and calleth vpon thee by this holy Name Iesus This Name Iesus is a sweet Name yea it is sweeter then any Nectar Ambrosia This Name of Iesus bringeth life and saluation for what is Iesus but a Sauiour Therfore ô good Iesus which of thy goodnesse hast created me and by thy precious bloud hast redeemed mee suffer not my Soule to be ouercome with the multitude of sinnes and offences O good IESVS let not mine iniquities condemne my Soule which thou hast made of thine infinite goodnesse acknowledge in me ô good Iesu that which is thine and take from me all my sinfull and filthy enormities O good Iesu haue mercy vpon mee so long as I am in this world least at that terrible day of Iudgement I be damned with the wicked and reprobate O good Iesus if according to thy Iustice I being a peruerse sinner deserue to be condemned by reason of my grieuous sinnes and offences I humbly appeale from thy seuere Iustice to thy mercy and compassion trusting altogether ô my Lord Iesus that thou wilt be gracious vnto mee and wilt haue mercy on my soule as a louing and pittifull Father What profit will be to thee O good IESVS in my flesh if my Soule descend into hell for it is certaine that in hell none shall confesse the holy Name of Iesus O most merciful Iesus haue mercy on vs ô most sweet Iesus deliuer vs from all our tribulations and aduersities ô excellent Iesus be good vnto vs miserable sinners ô most holy IESVS grant that our soules may enioy the fellowship of the Elect in thy heauenly habitation Strengthen mee ô most louing Iesus with the sauing health of all that trust in thee O Iesu the Son of the most holy Virgin Mary giue vnto vs thy Mercy Grace Wisedome Charitie Chastitie Humilitie and Patience in all our aduersities that wee may alwayes praise and glorifie thee our Lord IESVS which liuest and raignest God world without end Amen A short Prayer for Morning I Thanke thee most mercifull Father my maker and preseruer that thou hast so louingly vouchsafed to tender my safetie this night past giuing me sweet sleepe to the refreshment of my soule and weake body So of thy goodnesse vouchsafe to extend thy louing fauour towards me this day that thereby I may be both safely preserued from all kinde of euill and imploy my selfe diligently vnto the execution of my vocation to thy glory and to the reliefe of me mine through Iesus Christ Amen A short Prayer for Euening O Almightie Lord God I thanke thee that this day past thou hast of thy mercy vouchsafed vnto me thy poore creature not onely protection against all dangers and euils but also all things necessarie I humbly beseech thee of that same thy mercy and for thy Son Iesus Christ his sake to extend the like protection and fauor toward me this night that I may enioy at thine hands safe and quiet rest to the comfort and refreshment both of my body and soule for Iesus Christs sake Amen FINIS
in thy sight as may please thee and stand for thy glory Iesus flyeth into Egipt I Giue thee thankes O sweet Iesus for that euen in thy minoritie thou diddest beginne to suffer persecution and disdainedst not to flie into Egypt to auoide the bloudy hands of Herod Mat. 2.13 thogh thou mightst haue crusht him with thy Rod of Iron and dasht him in pieces like a Potters vessell Grant mee grace that in all my persecutions tribulations and temptations I may wholy flye vnto thee as my onely refuge onely seeke thee as my chiefe treasure and call vpon thee as the onely hope of my saluation And how often soeuer thou imposest any of those crosses vpon mee grant that I may endure them with all patience abide them with all tranquilitie and suffer them with all gladnes of hart giuing thee continuall thankes for all things that may please thee to appoint to happen vnto mee and in euery estate to learn me to be content Lastly guide mee with thy free Spirit that at the summons of thy Angels or at the voyce of thy word in the mouth of thy Ministers I may be ready and willing to rise from the bloody pursuit of Sinne and Sathan that seeke to destroy my soule Iesus sitteth among the Doctors I Likewise giue thankes to thee o Lord Iesus for that thy Mother sought thee with great sorrow when thou remainedst in the Temple and after three dayes found thee with great ioy sitting in the middest of the Doctors Luk. 2.46 whom thou diddest heare and disputedst with them astonishing their harts with thy great Wisedome which they could not in any wise resist O Lord for thy goodnesse grant mee that I be neuer seperated from thee nor thou from me Put from mee all sloathfulnesse and feare expell the coldnesse of affection from my heart which is so much displeasing vnto thee and giue me a perfect deuotion and an ardent thirst after thy righteousnesse which may so possesse my Soule that I neuer grow faint or wearie in seruing thee And if at any time I finde not the comfort of thy presence so touch my heart ô Lord with an ardent desire of thee that I neuer cease till I haue found the comfort of thy presence againe and may ioyfully say with thy Spouse Cant. 3.4 I haue found him whom my Soule loued Amen MEDITAT 2. Iesus is Baptized I Giue THEE thanks ô most sweet IESVS for that thou wouldest be baptized entring into the Riuer Iordaine by the hands of S. Iohn Baptist Mat. 3.15 thy Seruant and fore-runner to fulfill all righteousnesse Vouchsafe ô Lord to purge mee in this life and to make me cleane from all my sinnes Confirme in me this thy Couenant of grace and seale vnto me the assurance of righteousnes and washing away of my sins by thy bloud Let mee surfet with the loue of thee and with the vehement desire of thy heauenly kingdome Fashion me ô Lord to thine owne will and pleasure before my Soule depart from the imprisonment of my body that I presume not to dispute with thee but willingly to submit my selfe to thy holy ordinance That leauing this pilgrimage I may forth-with be with thee that I may alwayes see thee and alwayes enioy the happy eternity which hath no end Iesus is tempted of Sathan in the Desart I Giue thee thankes O bountifull Iesu that being in the Desart diddest fast fortie dayes and fortie nights and afterwards sufferedst thy selfe to be tempted of Sathan Mat. 4.2.3 and when he was ouer-come the Angels came and ministred vnto thee Grant O Lord that by thy grace I may punish and chastise the wickednesse of my flesh and all vicious affects therof and that with the gift of perseuerance I may exercise my selfe in continuall fasting watching praying and other godly and spirituall Exercises But chiefely grant O Lord that by the help of thy grace I may be free from the sinne of Gluttonie and from all other deceits and suggestions of the Diuell Let no temptation preuaile against mee nor be able to separate me from thee But rather grant that all these things may giue greater occasion that I may be the more firmely and strongly vnited and ioyned vnto thee and that I may with more heedfulnes watch against all the subtile sleights of the Tempter to follow thy example in resisting and to returne with thee in triumph Iesus suffereth diuers labours and necessities I Giue thee thankes O sweet lesu that for the loue of mee hast beene afflicted in this world with infinite sorrowes and sundry necessities as heate colde hunger thirst labour and wearinesse with diuers watchings trauels persecutions and all kinde of tribulations Grant ô Lord that for thy sake I may sustaine all aduersities with gladnesse as imposed vpon mee by the worke of thy hands for the iust merit of my sinnes And that I may abide them with great patience Grant that in all estates as well in aduersitie as prosperitie in griefe as ioy in troubles as tranquilities I may still perseuer in thee and neuer start or swerue from thee but that in all things thy will may be my will when thou strikest let mee not murmure against thee when thou dost afflict me with pouertie and losse of worldly comforts then lift vp my heart that I may repose my wealth and my comfort in thee ô blessed Sauiour Iesus prayeth and preacheth I Giue thee thankes O most sweet IESVS for that thou didst performe many things for my sake whilest thou didst seeke the conuersion and safeguard of my Soule and in no wise didst omit the office and dutie of a good Pastor but euen as a true Shepheard and Sauiour of the World didst watch in praying and weary thy selfe in trauelling from Prouince to Prouince and from place to place to preach and teach and publish thy heauenly doctrine I beseech thee O LORD to impart this grace vnto mee that at any time hereafter I be neuer found slacke or sloathfull in thy seruice but that I may be euer ready and forward to doe al good duties respecting thy glory and the good of my brethren Grant that I may feruently thirst after the sauing health of all people and that I may alwayes haue a desire zeale of thy name and then shall I stand for the defence of Religion and refuse no labour or studie to promote thy glory Iesus is conuersant amongst men I Giue thee thankes O benigne Iesu for that by conuersing amongest men thou wouldest cheerfully comfort them and cure their infirmities of thy great mercy Grant mee O Lord that I may haue a heart full of louing affections towards all men that I may haue compassion on all that I perceiue to be in affliction And grant me thy grace O LORD that I may esteeme other mens miseries as mine owne that I may beare with other mens imperfections with a sincere heart and without any passion of anger hatred or contempt and that I may help and
her barren wombe to beare Thou didst not disdaine to be shut nine Moneths in the glorious bowels of thy Mother Therefore I beseech thee to giue me the grace of true Humilitie and so to imprint the same in my heart that thou maist alwayes finde me ready in those things that appertaine vnto the godly worship and seruice of thee Grant O Lord that my heart may still disdaine all worldly things and that I may continually desire to rest and dwell in thee and that my heart may be humbled to endure any low estate for thee that willingly enduredst the lowest degree of humilitie for my sake Phil. 2.7.8 Christ is borne I Giue thee thanks O my sweet Iesus which art borne of the most holy Virgine without damage of Virgines puritie and who laid thee straightway being borne in a Manger or Cribbe as poore and mortall and humbly worshipped thee as immortall God Luke 1.46 and Creator of all things I pray thy diuine mercy that thou wouldest vouchsafe to be continually borne in mee by a new desire of Charitie and that thou alone maist be my whole desire my onely fulnes and firme hope of my heart Let it be pleasing vnto thee that I alwayes seeke thee alwayes thinke on thee and alwayes feruently loue thee Christ is wrapped in base clothing I Giue vnto thee infinite thankes O sweet Iesu that being borne wast subiect to the bitternesse of the ayre and cold seasons and yet createdst the ayre and orderest the seasons thou didst not disdaine to be wrapped in base clothing and to partake of my weakenesse and miserie to sucke virgines Milke from the brest of thy glorious Mother as the innocent Lambe of God in the forme of a poore and simple Babe when thou wast indeed the true omnipotent God Thou becamest poore for our sakes that art indeed the King of heauen and earth that we through thy pouertie 2 Cor. 8.9 might be made rich Grant then O Lord that in thy sight I may alwayes be a true Infant in Humilitie thy Childe in Innocencie and that I may be alwayes truely poore in spirit but rich in grace and plentifull in goodnesse Grant that for the loue of thee I refuse nothing in this World that is eyther bitter or laborious that I loue nothing in this world but thee desire to possesse nothing aboue thee nor esteem any worldly thing in comparison of thee Christ is worshipped of the Shepheards I Giue thee thankes O bountifull Iesu that as soone as thou wast borne was celebrated with the sweet Hymnes of holy Angels Luke 2.14 and worshipped of the Shepheards Luke 2.20 with great ioy and admiration whom thou diddest choose to publish thy praise non sapientes Beda sed simplices qui fucare audita nescirent not the wisemen of the world but plaine and simple men that knew to publish no more then they heard Giue mee grace O Lord to perseuere alwayes in thy praise with gladnes that I may seeke therein the societie of the godly and in seeking may finde thee and found may ioy in thee and ioying may enioy thee eternally Finally that my ioy may burst forth with them to publish abroad these glad tidings to the comfort of others as they haue comforted me Christ is Circumcised and called Iesus BE euer praised and glorified O sweet Iesu for that the eight day according to the custome of other Infants thou wouldest be circumcised Luke 2.21 and diddest begin to shed thy bloud for the loue of mee in thy most tender age and that thou wouldst comsort me with ineffable cōsolation wert called Iesus a Sauiour Mat. 1.21 to saue mee that otherwise had vtterly perished I beseech thee O Lord to account mee in the number of thy elect and to write my name in the booke of the blessed And that thou wouldest circumcise my hart from all superfluitie that is from idle and hurtfull speeches from vniust workes and from impure and vaine thoughts and cogitations Set a watch before mine eyes keepe the dore of my lips and so search my heart that I may confine my selfe within the bounds of thy will Oh my Redeemer thou art called Iesus that is a Sauiour for to thee onely it belongeth to giue saluation Therfore I pray thee O Lord that the remembrance of this sweet Name of Sauiour may expell from mee all despaire al inordinate faintnesse of heart and sloathfulnesse that it may endue mee with a stedfast hope of thy mercy and may saue mee from all the power of sin the rage of Sathan and the deceitfull delights of this present world Christ is worshipped of the Wise men I Giue thee thankes O sweet Iesu that wert found of the Magi or wisemen seeking thee with sincere faith and inward deuotion by the appearing of a Starre who falling downe vpon their knees before thee offered Gold Frankencense and Mirrhe Grant O Lord that I may seeke thee in the companie and societie of those Wise-men not in Bethlehem but euen in the center of my heart and being found in the same I may worship thee in spirit and in truth that I may offer vnto thee the Gold of pure Charitie Gregor in Homil. the Incense of true Deuotion and the Mirrhe of perfect Mortification finally grant me grace that with readinesse of heart and willingnesse of minde I may bestow all my strength and power in the imitation and following of thy most holy life And if at any time I erre from thy truth make O Lord thy Word to be the starre of my guide to leade mee till I finde thee Iesus is presented in the Temple I Giue thee thankes O Lord Iesus Christ for that thou to leaue vs the example of Obedience and Humilitie wouldest be subiect to the Law for the loue of vs Luke 2.22 for that thou wouldest be presented in the Temple in the Armes of thy blessed Mother and wouldest the Oblation of two Turtle Doues not of him that was rich Leu. 12.6 but of a poore man to be offered for thee Luke 2.25.38 When Simeon with Anna the Prophetesse reioycing at thy presence did giue a worthy testimonie of thy glory Grant that it may please thee O Lord not to suffer the least thought or imagination of vanitie at any time hereafter to enter into my heart and more especially that I be not lifted vp with pride nor carryed with presumption O how happy were I if all manner of presumption were banisht from mee and all desire of worldly fauours together with the inordinate conceit of Selfe-affection were extinguished in mee Grant to me thy grace O Lord that I may be carelesse of vaine oftentations that I submit my selfe to all men and willingly obey them for thy ordinance sake And as thou O Lord camest not to destroy but to fulfill the Law so direct and sanctifie my heart and helpe me with thy righteousnesse that I may be obedient to thy Law and performe those duties
poure forth their plaints ouer thee but ouer themselues and their children Grant ô Lord that I may shed the teares of loue and compassion so abundantly that the hardnesse of my heart may be mollified and made acceptable in the sight of thy Maiestie Grant ô Lord that being wholy inflamed with the loue of thee I may little or nothing esteeme of worldly causes but that I may imbrace thee onely loue thee and rest in thee world without end Amen MEDITAT V. Iesus drinketh the Vineger mixt with gall I Giue THEE thankes O bountifull Iesu that thy bones being wearied Mat. 27.34 thy body being weakened and thy selfe ouer-much pressed with the weight of thy tortures sorrowes at length thou camest vnto the place of sacrifice where thou wert found wholy afflicted almost killed with thirst at which time those barbarous and wicked Souldiers offered thee Vineger mixt with gall to drinke Let it please thee ô Lord that the remembrance of this Cup may extinguish in mee the inordinate concupiscence of gluttonie and delights of the flesh and grant that at any time I giue not consent to filthy and vnlawfull pleasures but giue mee the necessarie vertue of Temperance that all other appetites and delights being suppressed I may onely hunger and thirst after thee and place my whole pleasures in thee Christ is crucified I Giue thee thankes O sweet IESVS that wert cruelly distract and handled when they came to crucifie thee Mat. 27.35 did dest also suffer that thy holy hands and feete should be nayled and fastened to the Crosse Graunt me ô Lord that with a faithfull and acceptable heart I may alwayes be mindfull of that thy most ardent charitie by which thou wert moued so louingly to stretch forth thy armes and open thy hands to be nailed and to endure such horrible torments Arise O Lord and wound my hart with perfect charitie and fill all my senses with thy loue and affection that at any time my desires and cogitations be not separated from thee Iesus hangeth vpon the Crosse I Giue thee thankes O most holy Jesu that for three houres space thou diddest hang vpon the Crosse Ioh. 19.18 molested with many and intollerable infamies abundantly shedding thy bloud and in all thy members sustaining immeasurahle forrowes Fasten O Lord my wretched Soule which lyeth prostrate on the ground to the same Crosse purge the same from vncleannesse of Sin and filthy desires washing it with the flowing springs of thy precious bloud which yeeldeth life and saluation Refuse not ô Lord to cleanse me with the same bloud to sanctifie and make me pure with that most precious liquour of life Offer the same ô Lord vnto thy Father in remedie and full satisfaction of my sinnes and iniquities Grant O Lord I befeech thee that my heart may taste and my soule may drinke of the sweet drops of that thy precious bloud Iesus hangeth betweene two Theeues I Giue thee thankes O sweet Iesu that for the loue of me thou wouldest be hanged betweene two Theeues Mat. 27.38 and be also accounted like vnto them that by this thy merueilous humilitie and patience thou mightest heale and vtterly destroy our haughtie pride and presumption Grant ô Lord so to exalt my spirit that I may despise all the things of this world and that I may onely behold thee onely loue thee that I may neuer meditate of any thing but that thou ô LORD and thy sufferings may be fresh bleeding in my heart that I may onely thinke of thee onely talke of thee delight my selfe in thee and that all my actions be in thee and by thee and that nothing may satisfie my minde without thee Iesus prayeth for them that crucifie him I Giue thee thankes O beloued Iesus that wert so good to them that handled thee in such hard measure and didst also pray vnto thy Father for them that crucified thee Luk. 23.34 saying Forgiue them Father for they know not what they doe Giue mee grace O Lord that I may haue true patience and meekenesse by which being armed according to the example which thou hast giuen mee and the commandement which thou hast left mee I may loue my enemies doe good to them that hate mee and that I may pray vnto thee for them that thou forgiue all their iniuries Iesus is scoffed on the Crosse I Giue thee thankes O bountifull IESV that wert scorned despised of thine enemies Luk. 23.36 sufferedst so many iniuries and blasphemies euen at that time in which they inflicted such ineffable griefes sorrowes on the crosse vpon thy naked body Grant mee grace O Lord that being mindfull of the humilitie which thou didst suffer and patience with which thou didst abide so great dolours and infamies I may also with the like sufferance endure all aduerfities perseuering with thee euen vnto death in the crosse of patience Let no force of temptation no tempest of tribulation nor no affliction of iniuries with-draw mee from any good purpose begun Let neither life nor death things present nor things to come nor any creature separate mee from thee Iesus promiseth Paradise to one of the Theeues I Giue thee thankes O excellent IESV that didst also suffer the iniuries and blasphemies of one of the Theeues Mat. 27.38 and to the other that confessed his sinnes vnto thee and set forth thy innocencie with a pure Faith didst promise the glory of Paradise Oh happy mee if I might euer become so blessed as to be so respected with the eyes of thy mercie with which thou didst behold that happy Theefe and to liue so innocently by the help of thy grace that at the end of my life I may heare this thy most sweet saying This day thou shalt be with mee in Paradise Amen MEDITAT VI. Iesus complaineth that hee is forsaken of his Father I Giue THEE thanks ô most sweet Iesu that thy Wounds being opened thy head crowned with thornes thy hands and feete fixed to the Crosse Mat. 27.46 thou didst say Oh God my God why hast thou forsaken mee Worke in me ô Lord that in all aduersities and temptations I may flye vnto thee my louing Father and distrusting in my selfe may onely trust in thee and wholy resigne my selfe into thy hands Grant O Lord I beseech thee to wound the inward parts of my Soule with the remembrance of thy wounds Let them be imprinted in the closet of my heart and so let mee be satisfied with thee that I may thinke of none but thee nor seeke any other then thee that seeking I may finde thee and found I may possesse thee for euer Iesus thirsteth vpon the Crosse I Giue thee thankes O Lord Iesus Christ that hauing thy body weakened and drie by reason of thy most grieuous torments and great effusion of thy bloud diddest vehemently thirst Ioh. 19.28 and burning with desire of our saluation didst say I thirst Grant O Lord that I may ardently thirst after thy