mee onlie but also of al mankind whome I acknowledge to be begotten of the Father before al worlds God of God light of light verie God of verie God begotten not made being of one substance and coeternal with the Father and the holie Ghost by whom al things at the beginning were made Stedfastlie beleeuing trulie confessing that thou Iesus Christ the onlie begottē Sonne of God for our saluation by the consent of the whole Trinitie tookest flesh and wert conceiued by the holy Ghost of the virgin Marie and wert made verie man of a reasonable soule and humane flesh subsisting Thou forsomuch as in respect of thy Godhead being the onelie begotten Sonne of God thou couldest neither suffer nor die through thine exceeding loue wherewith thou hast loued vs thou the verie same Sonne of GOD for al that becamest subiect to sufferings mortalitie in respect of thy manhood ô onlie Sonne of God for the saluation of mankinde diddest suffer death vpon the wood of the crosse to saue vs from euerlasting death Thou the autor of light descendedst into hel and like a glorious conquerour rosest againe the third daie taking to thee againe thy sacred bodie which for our sinnes had lien in the sepulchre and quickening it according to the Scripture the third daie that thou mightest place the same at the right hand of the Father For thou the verie Sonne of God taking againe vnto thy selfe the substance of our flesh that is to saie the soule and humane bodie which thou tookest of the glorious virgin art ascended vp aboue al the heauens and mounted aboue the orders of Angels where thou sittest at the right hand of God the Father and whereas the fountaine of life is the light which none can attaine vnto the peace of God which passeth al vnderstanding There we doe worship thee there we do beleeue thee to be verie God and verie man confessing God to be thy Father and from thence we looke that thou wilt come a iudge in the end of the world to iudge both the quick and the dead and to render to al men good and bad according to their deedes which they haue don in this life either reward or punishment according as euery one is worthie rest or torment For al men euen as manie as haue receaued soules in their humane flesh which they had in this world shal rise at that daie through the sound of thy power that whole man may receaue either the glorie of heauen or the paine of hel according to their deserts Thou art our resurrection and the life it selfe whom we looke for euē y e Lord Iesus Christ our Sauior who shal change our vile bodie y t it may be facioned like vnto his glorious bodie I knowe thee the holie Spirit both of the Father and of the Sonne to be one God and a verie God proceeding alike from them both of one substance and coeternal with the Father and the Sonne our comforter and aduocate Which camest downe in the likenes of a doue vpon y e same God our Lord Iesus Christ and showedst thy selfe vpon thine Apostles in firie tongs Which also euen from the beginning hast instructed with the gift of thy grace al the saints and chosen of God and opened the mouthes of the Prophets that they might declare abrode the woonderful mysteries of the kingdome of God who also together with the Father the Sonne of al the Saints of God art worshipped and glorified Among whome I the sonne of thine handmaid do glorifie thy name because thou hast inlightened me For thou art the verie light the true light the fire of God the master of the spirits which by thine ointment teachest vs al truth the spirit of truth without which it is impossible to please God For thou thy selfe art God of God and light of light vnspeakablie proceeding from the Father of lights and from his Sonne our Lord Iesu Christ with whom thou raignest and art glorified most singularlie being of one substance coequal and coeternal with them in the essence of one and the same Trinitie I knowe thee Father Son and holie Ghost to be one a liuing and a verie God three I confesse in persons yet but one in essence whome I acknowledge worship and glorifie with mine whole hart being the true God the onelie God holie immortal inuisible vnchangeable whom no man can either attaine vnto or find out This God I acknowledge to be one light one sonne one bread one life one happines one beginning one end one creator both of heauen earth by whom al things do liue by whom al things subsist by whom al things are gouerned ruled and quickened both the things in heauen and the things in earth and things vnder the earth beside whom there is no God neither in heauen nor in earth Thus knowe I thee ô Lord God who knowest me thus knowe I thee Through thy faith which thou hast inspired to me I knowe thee ô my light the sight of mine eies ô Lord my God the hope of al the ends of the earth the ioie reioicing mine youth and the good susteining mine age For in thee ô Lord al my bones reioice saieng O Lord who is like to thee Among the gods who is like to thee Not that whome the hands of men haue made but thou who hast made the hands of men The idols of the nations are siluer gold euen the workes of mens handes so is not hee which made man Al the gods of the people are idols but the Lord made the heauens Let those gods which made not y e heauens the earth perish frō the earth from vnder these heauēs but let both heauen earth praise him which created both earth heauen Amen Chap. 33. A confession of mans wretchednes WHo is like vnto thee ô Lord among the gods who is like vnto thee so glorious in holines fearful in praises doing wonders Long was it ere I knew thee ô true light long was it ere I knew thee There was a great and darke cloude before my vane eies so that I coulde not beholde the sunne of righteousnes nor the light of the truth I a childe of darkenes was wrapped in darkenes I loued darknes because I knew not the light Blind I was and I loued blindnes after darknes I folowed through darknes Who brought mee thence where I a blinde wretch sate in darknes and in the shadowe of death Who tooke me by the hand to leade me out What was he which inlightened me I sought
grace it was of thy meere goodnes that I shoulde be partaker of that sweetnes Wherfore through that grace which mooued thee to create me of nothing ô Lord giue mee this grace I beseech thee that I may thanke thee for this thy goodnes Chap. 9. Of Gods Omnipotencie THine Almightie hande ô GOD which is one and the same alwaies hath created both the Angels in heauen and the litle wormes in earth no whit more glorious in them nor inferior in these For as none other hand could create an Angel so none other could make the vilest worme as none other could lay abrode the heauens so none other facion the smalest leafe of a tree as none other coulde make a bodie so none other make one heare white or black But onlie thine almightie hande to which al things are alike possible For it is no more possible for thee to create a worme than an Angel nor more impossible to spreade out the Heauen than a leafe It is no easier for thee to facion a smal heare than a bigge bodie nor harder to build the earth vpon the water than to lay the waters vppon the earth For thou God didest what thou wouldest in Heauen and in earth in the sea and in al the depthes and me among other things thou didst make euen as thou wouldest couldest and knewest best Thine hand ô Lorde coulde haue made mee a stone or a bird or a Serpent or some brute beast it knew as much but it would not for thy mercie sake Wherefore then am I not a stone or a tree or a beast Because thy goodnes hath so ordained Yet did not anie merites of mine preuent thee that thou shouldest appoint it so Chap. 10. The incomprehensible praise of God WHere shal I get ô my Lord where shal I get sufficient praises to extol thee For as thou madest me as it pleased thee without mine help so canst thou magnifie thy self as it pleaseth thee without me Before thee ô Lord thy praise is thy selfe Let al thy workes prayse thee according to thine excellent greatnes Thy praise ô LORD is incomprehensible It is neither in heart conceiued nor vttered by mouth nor perceiued by care For these things doe passe away but thy praise ô Lord endureth for euer The thought hath a beginning it hath an end the voice hath a sounde and the voice doth vanish the eare doth heare and hearing cesseth but thy praise ô Lord endureth for euer Who then can praise thee what man can shew forth thy praise Thy praise is not transitorie it endureth for euer He doth praise thee who beleceueth thee to be thine owne praise He doth praise thee who knoweth himselfe vnable to attaine vnto thy praise O perpetual praise neuer vanishing in thee is our praise in thee shal my soule reioice We praise thee not but thou praisest thy selfe by thy selfe and in thy selfe and our praise also is in thee Then haue wee true praise when we haue praise of thee when the light doth allow the light For thou the true praise giuest due commendation And as often as wee seeke praise of anie other besides thee so oftē do we leefe thy praise Because that is transitorie but thine is eternal If we go after transitorie wee forgo eternal and if we loue eternal we must loath y ◠praise that is transitorie O Lord my God praise eternal of whome al praise without whome there is no praise without thee I am vnable to praise thee let me haue thee and I wil praise thee For what am I Lord of my selfe that I should praise thee dust and ashes am I a dead and stincking dog am I a worme and verie rottennes am I. What am I to praise thee ô Lord God most mightie in whose hand is the breath of al mankind which inhabitest the eternitie Shal darkenes praise the light or death life Thou art light I am darkenes thou life and I am death Shal vanitie commend the truth Thou art the truth but I a man become like to vanitie Why then Lord shal I praise thee Shal my miserie praise thee shal stincke commende sweetenesse shal mans mortalitie who is heere to daie and gone to morrow praise thee Shal man who is verie rottennes or the sonne of man a verie worme praise thee O Lord shal he that is conceiued borne and brought vp in wickednes praise thee no my God Praise is not semelie in the mouth of a sinner O Lord my God let thine owne incomprehensible power thine owne vnlimitable wisedome thine owne vnspeakeable goodnes commēd thee Let thy more than excellent clemencie thy more than abundant mercie thine euerlasting virtue also and diuinitie praise thee Let thine almightie power with thy souereigne gentlenes and loue whereby thou hast created vs ô Lord God the verie life of my soule praise thee Chap. II. The hope of a Christian must be cast vpon God ANd I thy creature wil trust in the shadow of thy wings euen in thy mercie whereby thou didst create me Helpe thy creature whome of thy mercy thou hast created let me not perish through my sinne whome of thy goodnes thou hast facioned neither be confounded in my miserie whome of thy clemencie thou hast made For what profit is in creating mee if I go downe into mine owne corruption what hast thou ô God created the sonnes of men in vaine Thou hast created mee ô Lord gouerne that which thou hast created Despise not ô God y e workes of thine hands Of nothing thou didst create me and doubtles do not thou Lorde direct mee I shal come againe to nothing For as I was not sometime and thou didest make me of nothing so Lord if thou do not gouerne me I shal returne to nothing in my selfe Help me ô Lord my life lest I perish in my wickednes O Lord hadst not thou created me I had not bin at al but because thou hast created me I am And yet am I nothing if thou guide mee not For no grace neither goodnes of mine compelled thee to create me but euen thine owne most fauorable goodnes and mercie O Lord my God let that loue which compelled thee to make me compel thee also to gouerne me For to what end did thy loue compel thee to make me if I perish in my wickednes and am not guided by thy right hand Let that mercie of thine ô Lord my God compel thee to saue that which is created that compelled thee to create that which was not Let that loue winne thee to saue which wanne thee to create For it is no lesse now than it was for so much as thou art loue who art alwaies the same For thine hand is not
houres and places succurring and prouiding for our necessities yea ful carefulie doe they runne betweene vs and thee ô Lord. For they walke with vs in al our waies they go in and out with vs diligentlie considering how godlie and how honestlie we do walke in the middes of a naughtie and crooked generation how ernestlie we seeke the kingdom of God and the righteousnes thereof with what feare and trembling we do serue thee and how our harts reioice in thee ô Lord Those which labor they strēgthen those which rest they protect such as fight they encourage they crowne such as ouercome they reioice with such as reioice such I meane as reioice in thee and they suffer with such as suffer I saie with such as suffer for thy name sake Great is the care which they haue of vs Great is the affection of their loue toward vs And al this for y e honor of thine inestimable goodwil wherwith thou hast loued vs. For they loue those whome thou doest loue they keepe those whome thou dost keepe they forsake those whom thou doest forsake neither can they abide such as work iniquitie because thou also hatest al them that worke iniquitie and wilt destroie them that speake lies When we do wel the Angels reioice but the diuels are sad when wee doe il the diuels reioice but the Angels are sad For there is ioie among the Angels for a sinner y ◠conuerteth and ioie to the diuel for a iust man that forsaketh repentance Grant therefore ô father that they may alwaies reioice ouer vs that both thou alwaies maist be glorified in vs and we may be brought with them into thy folde that together wee may praise thy Name ô Creator both of men and Angels These things I confesse before thy Maiestie praising thee for them For great are these thy benefits which thou hast honored vs withal in giuing vs thy spirits to be messengers for our seruice For thou hadst giuen whatsoeuer is contained vnder y e coape of heauen yet thoughtest thou al that too little vnles withal thou addest those things which are aboue heauen For this benefit praise y e Lord al ye his Angels praise him al ye his workes yea let al thy Saints blesse thee O our glorie thou hast exceedinglie honored enriched and glorified vs with manifold benefites O Lord how excellent is thy Name in al the world For what is man y ◠thou art mindful of him and the sonne of man that thou visitest him For thou the ancient truth hast said My delite is with y e children of men Is not man rottennes and the sonne of man a worme Is not euerie man liuing meere vanitie yet thou thinkest it good to open thine eies vpon such and causest him to enter into iudgment with thee Chap. 28. Of Gods bottomles predestination and foreknowledge TEach me ô bottomles deepe ô wisedome which hast made al things weighed the mountaines in a weight and hanged the masse of the earth by three fingers in a balance Lift vp the masse of this bodie which I carrie about by thy three inuisible fingers vnto thy selfe that I may see and knowe how excellent thou art in al the world O most ancient light which didest shine before al light in the holie mountaines of thine old eternitie to which al things before they were made were naked open O light which canst abide no spots inasmuch as thou art without spot and most pure what delight canst thou take with man what cōmunion hath light with darkenes where is thy delight in man In what part of me hast thou prepared a meete sanctuarie for thy sacred Maiestie wherinto when thou goest thou maist delight thee to thy contentment For meete is it that thou shouldest haue a pure parlor who art the purifieng virtue who canst not be seene much lesse possessed but of the pure in hart But where is there so pure a temple in man that it may receaue thee which rulest the world who can bring a cleane thing out of filthines But thou alone who onlie art pure For who can be clensed by the vncleane For according to the law which thou gauest to our fathers in the mount out of the middes of fire and in the cloude couering the darksome water Whatsoeuer toucheth an vncleane thing shal be vncleane But al of vs are as the cloth of a menstruous woman we proceede out of a corrupt and filthie masse and beare in our foreheds the spot of our vncleanes the which we cannot hide especialie from thine eies who seest al things So then we cannot be cleane vnles thou make vs cleane who onlie art cleane And of vs the sonnes of men those onlie thou makest cleane in whome it hath pleased thee to make thine abode whome by the bottomles and secrete depth of the incomprehensible iudgements of thy wisedome which are alwaies iust though they be secret thou hast without anie merits of theirs predestinated before al world called out of the world iustified in the world and after the world thou wilt glorifie them Yet dost y ◠not this to al men which makes the wise of this world euen to wonder and to be astonished And I also Lord when I thinke hereof am vtterlie agast and amazed at the deepenes of the riches both of thy wisedome and knowledge How vnsearchable are y e iudgements of thy righteonsnes thy knowledge is aboue my reach For of the same claie thou hast made som vessels vnto honor some to euerlasting infamie Therefore whom out of manie thou hast taken into an holie temple for thy selfe those thou dost clense pouring vpon them cleane water whose names and number is knowen to thee which alone countest the number of the stars and callest them al by their names who also be written in the book of life who cannot perish to whom al things worke together for the best yea verie wickednes it selfe For when they fal they be not brused into peeces for thou puttest vnder thine hand thou wilt keepe al their bones so that not one of them shal be broken But a most vile death haue the wicked they I saie whome in the great deepe of thy secret iudgements which are alwaies righteous thou diddest foreknowe euen before thou didst make either the heauen or the earth should euerlastinglie be damned the number of whose names naughtie merits thou knowest who hast counted the number of the sand of the sea and sounded the verie bottome of the deepe whome thou hast giuen vp to their vncleannes to whom al things worke together for y e worst yea euen their praier is abomination so that albe they should ascend vp to
of mine hart and of my soule let me loue thee with al mine hart with al my soule with al my strength and with al my bowels Because thou didst loue me first And whence is it ô Creator of heauen and of earth and of the sea which needest no good thing of mine whence is it that thou hast loued me O wisedome which openest the mouth of the dumme ô worde by whome al thinges were made open my lips giue me a voice of thankesgiuing that I may vtter out al the benefits which thou Lord hast bestowed vpon mee euen from the beginning For lo I am because thou hast created mee And the cause whie thou didst create number me among thy creatures was thy predestination from euerlasting before thou madest anie thing frō the beginning before thou didst spread abrod the heauens when there were no depthes neither hadst thou made the earth nor setled the mountaines before the fountaines abounded with water Before al these things which by thy worde thou didst create thou in thy most certaine prouidence of truth didst foresee that I should be yea thy minde was to make me thy creature And whence then is it ô my Lord ô gratious and most hie God whence is it ô most merciful Father most mightie Creator alwaies louing What deserued I at thy hands what goodnes sawest thou in me that mooued thy most glorious maiestie to create me When I was not thou didest create me I was nothing and of nothing thou didst make me somewhat And what kind of somwhat Not a drop of water not fire not a birde nor a fishe nor a serpent nor a brutish beast nor a stone nor a stock nor of that kinde of thinges which haue onelie but beeing nor of that whose nature is onlie to be and to growe nor of that which haue onelie being growing and sense But aboue al these things it is thy wil that I should consist both of those thinges which haue but onelie being for I am and of those thinges which aswel growe as be for I am and growe and of those things also which haue being growing and sense for I am growe and perceiue And yet more than this thou hast made me a litle inferior to the Angels For I haue receaued reason at thine handes to knowe thee aswel as they A litle inferior I confesse For they haue an happie knowledge of thee euen as thou art but I knowe through hope they face to face but I dark-lie through a glasse they fullie but I in part Chap. 8. The happie state of man in the life to come BVt when y ◠which is perfect is come that in part shal be abolished when with open face wee shal see thy face Then what shal let vs to be as good euen as Angels seeing thou Lorde hast bedecked vs with y e crowne of hope which is adorned with glorie and honor and seeing thou hast exceedinglie aduanced vs as thy verie friendes Yea euerie waie as good then and equal to Angels For so saith thy truth They are equal vnto the Angels and are the sonnes of God What are they else but the sonnes of God if they be equal vnto Angels Indeed they shal be the sonnes of God because the sonne of man is made the sonne of God So that considering this thing I dare boldlie saie Man is not a litle inferior vnto Angels Man is not onelie equal vnto Angels but man is aboue Angels Beeause a man is God and God is a man but not an Angel And because the word which was in y e beginning God with God the word whereby God saide Let there be light and light was made the worde by which al things in the beginning were made became flesh and dwelt among vs and wee haue seene the glorie thereof I saie man is the most excellent creature of al other Behold my glorie in which I glorie at what time soeuer I doe glorie Lo my ioie wherein I reioice when I doe reioice ô Lord my God my life and the whole glorie of my soule Therefore ô Lord my God I confesse that creating mee a reasonable creature thou didst create me after a sort as good as Angels For by thy word I may be made perfect so that I may attaine vnto the verie state of Angels and haue the adoption of sonnes by thine onelie begotten sonne ô Lord thy wel-beloued sonne in whom thou art wel pleased by thine onelie and right heire of one substance with thee and coeternal euen Iesus Christ our onelie Lord our redeemer our inlightener our comforter our Aduocate with thee and the light of our eies who is our life and our Sauior and our onelie hope who hath loued vs more than himselfe by whome wee haue an assured trust laid vp in store with thee and free accesse vnto thee Because he gaue them power to be the sonnes of God to them I saie that beleeue in his Name I wil praise thy name ô Lord who by creating me after thine owne image and similitude hast made mee capable of so great glorie as in time to become the sonne of God This condition neither trees nor stones nor generalie those things which either mooue or encrease in the aire or in the sea or in the earth attaine vnto because he gaue them no power by thy word to become the sonnes of God for they haue no reason For in reason consisteth the power whereby wee knowe God And this power he hath giuen to men whome he hath made reasonable after his owne image and likenes I also ô Lord am a man thorough thy grace and by thy grace may be thy sonne which they cannot be Whence haue I it ô Lord the souereigne truth and true souereigntie euen the first borne of euerie creature whence haue I it that I may be y e sonne of God which they cannot be Thou art the same God for euer thou madest al things thou didst create both man and beasts and stones and al greene things vpon the face of the earth For no merits went before nor desertes Because onlie of thy goodnes thou createdst al thinges Al creatures were like in merits For none at al deserued ought How is it then that thy mercie doth more appeere in this thy reasonable creature than in al the rest which haue no reason Why am not I as al they be or else al they as I or I alone as they What merites had I what had I deserued that thou shouldest create me of power to become the sonne of God and denie the same to al thy other creatures Be it fro me ô Lorde that I shoulde thinke I had anie merits It was onlie thy
mercie that we doe loue thee This Lord is thy gift whose euerie good gift is Thou commandest that wee shoulde loue thee grant which thou commandest and command what thou wilt Chap. 19. Of the feruencie of loue or charitie O Lord my God I doe loue thee and alwaies more and more I desire too loue thee For thou art in deede sweeter than anie honie more nutritiue than anie milke and brighter than y e cleerest light And therefore thou art deerer to mee than either gold or siluer or pretious stone For I despise whatsoeuer I did in the world in respect of thy sweetenes and the glorie of thine house which I haue loued O fire which alwaies burnest and neuer goest out ô loue which alwaies art inflamed and neuer coolest set me on fire Let me wholie be inflamed of thee that I may loue thee wholie For he loueth thee too little who loues anie thing beside thee except he loue it for thy sake O Lord let me loue thee because thou first didest loue me Where shal I get wordes to expresse the signes of thy singular great loue toward mee through thine infinite benefites wherewith from the beginning thou hast nourished me Namelie besides the benefite of creation when at the beginning thou madest me of nothing after thine own image in magnifieng and exalting me aboue al those creatures which thou hadest made and making me glorious with the light of thy countenance wherwithal thou hast sealed the vppermost seate of mine hart thereby disseuering mee both from insensible thinges and also from brute beastes which haue sense and abasing mee but little beneath Angels Yet was al this too little before the sight of thy Godhead For without cessing thou hast fed me with dailie and singular and most ample benefites yea as if I were thy deere and weake and tender child thou hast nourished refreshed me with the teates of thy comfort And that I might wholie serue thee thou hast put al things which thou hast made vnder my subiection Chap. 20. That God hath made al things to serue for mans vse THou hast made al things to serue man that man alone might serue thee altogither And that man might be wholie thine thou hast giuen him dominion ouer al thy workes For al outward things thou hast created for the bodie and the bodie for the soule and the soule for thy selfe that man might onelie serue thee and loue thee onlie enioieng both thee to his solace and inferior things for his seruice For nothing vnder the coape of heauen is for worthines comparable to the soule of man which was created for the chiefest good on high by enioieng whereof it might become blessed to which if it cleaue ouerpassing al earthlie things which are transitorie it cleerelie shal behold the face of that eternal immortalitie and the glorious maiestie of him whose image it doth represent Then shal it in the house of the Lord enioie those excellent good things in comparison whereof al outwarde thinges which we now see are as nothing For they are those things which eie hath not seene eare hath not heard neither came into mans har◠which God hath prepared for such as loue him O Lord such things wilt thou giue vnto y e soule of man And heereby Lord which louest the soules thou daie by daie doest reioice the soules of thy seruants But why maruel I at these things ô Lord my God For thou bringest vnto honor thine owne image and similitude according to which they were created For to our bodie though corruptible vile that it might see thou hast giuen the cleerenes of the skie by the hands of thine vntired seruants y e Sunne and Moone which continualie daie and night by thine apointment doe seruice to thy children that it might breath thou hast giuen the pure aër varietie of soundes that it might heare sweete odors that it might smel qualities of sauors that is might taste grosenes of al bodilie things that it might feele to serue his vse thou hast giuen him the beastes of the field and soules of the aër and fishes of the sea and fruite of the earth to refresh him Thou hast created medicines of the earth for al diseases and hast prepared for euerie seueral euil a seueral comfort For thou Lord art a pitiful God and a merciful thou our maker knowest whereof we are made and how we are but as claie in thine hand Chap. 21. That by the consideration of Gods temporal benefites wee may gather the greatnes of his heauenlie blessings O Lord reueale thy great mercie towarde mee shine vpon me yet more and more with thy light I beseech thee that more and more I may perceiue the same For thy great things by these smalest things and thine inuisible things by these visible creatures are seene ô God holie and good our Lord and maker For if thou prouidest both from heauen from the aër from the earth from the sea from light from darkenes from heate from shade from deaw from raine windes showres birdes fiishes beasts trees and from the diuersitie of herbes and fruite of the earth and from the seruice of al thy creatures which serue for mans vse in their due season to comfort him withal If I saie thou prouidest so ample and so infinite benefites for this vile and corruptible bodie ô Lord I beseech thee how excellent how innumerable shal those good things be which thou hast prepared for those which loue thee in that heauenlie countrie where wee shal see thee face to face If thou dost so for vs in prison what wilt thou doe in thy palace Great and without number doubtles be thy workes ô Lord King of Heauen For sith al these things are exceedinglie good delightful which thou impartest as wel on the euil as vpon the good what shal those hereafter bee which are laid vp onelie for the good If thy giftes are so infinite and diuers which in this world thou giuest to thine enimies as wel as to thy friends how great and how infinite how sweete and howe comfortable shal those blessings be which thou wilt impart onelie vpon thy friends If we haue so much delectation in this time of teares what ioie wilt thou bring vs on the daie of our mariage If our prison haue such pleasure how vnspeakeable shal the happines of our countrie be O God none eie without thee hath seene the things which thou hast prepared for them that loue thee for according to the great number of thy mightie workes thy goodnes is great which thou hast laid vp for them which feare thee For great art thou ô Lord my God and incomprehensible neither is there ende of thy
him not yet sought he me out I called him not but he called me What was he Euen thou it was ô Lord my God pitiful and merciful euen thou Father of mercies and God of al comfort Euen thou it was my Lord GOD most holie whom I confesse with al mine hart praising thy Name I sought not thee yet thou soughtest me I called not vpon thee but thou calledst mee For thou hast called mee by thine owne Name With a mightie voice thou hast thundred from aboue into the inward eare of mine hart saieng Let there be light and light was made insomuch as y e great cloude vanished awaie and the darke mist which had couered mine eies melted whereby I sawe thy light and knewe thy voice and said Of a truth Lord thou art my God which brought me out of darknes and from the shadow of death and hast called me into thy woonderful light so that now I see thanks to thee mine inlightener therefore And I looked backe and saw the darknes wherein I had ben and the darke dungeon wherein I had lien wherat I trembled was afraide and vttered these words Wo wo worth the darkenes wherein I laie wo wo to that blindnes in which I could not see the light of heauen wo I saie wo to mine old ignorance when I knew not thee ô Lord. I thanke thee ô mine inlightener ô my Sauior I thanke thee for inlightening me wherby I knowe thee Late it was ere I knew thee ô ancient truth late it was ere I knewe thee ô eternal truth Thou wert in the light and I was in darknes I knewe thee not because I could not be inlightened but by thee and without thee there is no light Chap. 34. A consideration of Gods Maiestie O God most holie of inestimable maiestie God of gods Lord of lords who art most wonderful and canst neither bee conceaued in thought nor expressed by word of whome al the Angels in heauen do stand in feare whom al the dominations and thrones do adore at whose presence al powers doe shake whose might and wisdome is infinite which vpon nothing hast laid the foundation of the earth gathered the waters of the sea together in the aër as in a botle O Lord most mightie most holy most puissant God of al flesh at whose presence heauen and earth do flie and at whose becke al the elements do obeie let al thy creatures worship and praise thee And I the son of thine handmaid through thy faith doe bow the neck of mine hart vnder the feete of thy maiestie yeelding thee most humble thankes for vouchsafing of thy mercie to inlighten me ô true light ô holie light ô wonderful light which inlightenest not onelie euerie man that cometh into this world but also the eies of the Angels in heauen Lo I see now thanks to thee Lo I see the light of heauen the lightsome beames of thy countenance do now shine vpon the eies of my mind and comfort al my bones Oh that it were fullie made perfect within me O Father of light increase it increase I praie thee that light which shineth vpon me inlarge it yea do thou inlarge the same I beseech thee What is this I feele what fire is this which warmeth mine hart what light is it which spreadeth out such glorious beames vpon my mind O fire which alwaie burnest and art neuer quenched set me on fire O light which alwaie shinest and art neuer dimmed inlighten me Would to God I were inflamed by thee O sacred fire how sweetelie dost thou burne how secretlie dost thou shine how desirous be they stil to burne whom thou inflamest Wo to them whom thou dost not inflame And wo to them whom thou dost not inlighten ô true light lightening the whole world with thy light Wo to the blind eies that behold not thee the Sunne which giuest light both to heauen and earth wo to the dazeling eies which cannot see thee wo to the eies which turne aside and will not see the veritie and wo to those eies which wil not turne aside from regarding vanitie For the eies that are vsed to the darknes cannot looke directlie vpon the beames of the most glorious truth neither can they iudge of the light whose dwelling is in darknes For they see nothing but darknes they loue and allow of darkenes and going from darkenes to darkenes they know not where they fal Miserable are they which forgo they wot not what but more miserable are they which know what they loose which fal with open eies go downe quick into the pit of hel O most happie light whome none see but they which haue pure eies blessed are the pure of hart for they shal see God O purging vertue purge me heale the sight of mine eies that with a sounde sight I may behold thee whom none but such as haue pure eies can behold I beseech thee ô light vnapprochable take awaie by thy glorious beames y e scales which a long time haue dimmed the sight of mine eies that stedfastly I may behold thee and see light in thy light Thanks to thee ô my light lo I see now O Lord I beseech thee enlarge thou my sight open mine eies that I may see the woonders of thy lawe who art terrible out of thy holie places Lo thankes to thee my light I see now yet through a glasse darkelie But when shal I see thee face to face When comes that daie of gladnes and ioie wherein I shall enter into the place of thy woonderful tabernacle euen to the glorie of God that I may see thee face to face and be satisfied in desire Chap. 35. The longing and thirst of the soule after God AS the Hart braieth for the riuers of water so panteth my soule after thee ô God My soule thirsteth after thee God the wel of life when shal I come and appeere before thy presence O fountaine of life ô veine of liuing waters when shal I come vnto that water of thy sweetenes out of a desert wild and watrie land that I may see thy power and thy glorie and quench my thirst through the waters of thy mercie I thirst Lord thou art the wel of life ô fil me I thirst Lord I thirst euen for thee the liuing God Oh when shal I come appeere before thy presence Thinkest thou that I shal see that day I say that day of gladnes and ioie that day which the Lord hath made for vs to reioice and be glad therein O that is a glorious and goodlie day lasting euer neuer at an end wherein I shal heare the voice of ioie and thankesgiuing when I shal heare it said Enter into thy maisters ioie Enter into that
A light vnmeasureable a light without bodie incorruptible incomprehensible a light which faileth not a light vnquenchable vnapprochable vncreate a true light an heauenlie light which lighteneth the eies of Angels which cōforteth y e strength of the righteous which is the light of lights and the fountaine of life which is none other things but euen thou ô Lord my God For thou art the light in which light we shal see light that is thy selfe in thy selfe in y e brightnes of thy countenance when we shal see thee face to face What is it to see thee face to face but euen as the Apostle saith To knowe euen as I am knowen to knowe thy truth and thy glorie To know thy face is to know the power of the Father y e wisedome of the Sonne the mercie of the holie Ghost and the single and simple essence of the glorious Trinitie For to see the face of the liuing God is the cheefest happines the ioie of Angels and of al Saints the reward of eternal life the glorie of the spirits euerlasting ioie y e crowne of glorie the garland of felicitie rich tranquilitie the goodlie peace inward outward delectation the paradise of God celestial Ierusalem the blessed life perfect happines the ioie of perpetuitie y e peace of God which passeth al vnderstanding This is ful happines indeede and al the glorie of man euen to see the face of his God to see him that made heauen and earth to see him that hath made man that hath saued man that hath glorified man Man shal see God in knowing him like him in louing him and praise him in possessing him For he shal be y e heritage of his people of his holie people of the people whom he hath redeemed He shal be the possession of their felicitie he shal be the reward and recompence of their hope I wil be saith he thine exceeding great reward For great things beseeme a great person In good sooth ô Lorde my God thou art much greater than al Gods and thy reward is exceeding great Neither art thou great and thy reward little but as thou art great so is thy reward great For thou art not one thing and thy reward another But thou thy selfe art exceeding great thou thy selfe art an exceeding greatreward Thou thy selfe art both the crowne and the crowner the promise and the promiser the gift and the giuer the rewarder and the reward of euerlasting blisse Thou art then the crowner the crowne ô my God and the diademe of mine honor adorned with glorie the brightnes comforting the light renuing the glorie adorning my great hope the desire and thing desired from the hart of al Saints Thy sight therefore is al the recompence al the reward al the ioie which we looke for For this is eternal life this I saie is thy wisedome This is eternal life that we knowe thee to be the onlie true God and whome thou haste sent Iesus Christ So that whē we shal see thee the onelie true God liuing almightie simple inuisible who can neither be conteined nor comprehended and thine onlie begotten Sonne of one substance with thee and coeternal euen Iesus Christ our Lord whom thou didest send into the world for our saluation in the power of the holie spirit three in persons and but one in substance an holie and God alone beside whome there is no God then we shal haue what now we seke namelie eternal life euerlasting glorie which thou hast prepared for them which loue thee and laid vp for them that feare thee and wilt giue to them which seeke thee Isaie which continualie do seeke thy face And thou ô Lord my God which didest take me out of my mothers bowels which recōmended me into thine hand suffer me not anie more I beseech thee to bee distracted so on euerie side but bring mee from outward things vnto my selfe and fro my selfe vnto thee that mine hart maie alwaie saie vnto thee My face hath sought thee out Lord I wil seeke thy face the face of the Lord of hosts wherein al the euerlasting glorie of the saints consisteth The sight whereof is eternal life and the euerlasting glorie of the saints Wherefore let mine hart reioice that it maie feare thy Name Let the hart of such as seeke the Lord reioice but much more the hart of such as find him For if there be ioie in seeking how great shal bee the ioie in finding Wherefore I wil alwaie earnestlie seeke thy face yea vncessantlie wil I seeke the same if happilie the gate and doore of righteousnes maie bee opened vnto me that I maie enter into my maisters ioie This is the gate of the Lord the righteous shal enter through the same Chap. 37. A praier vnto the holie Trinitie O BLESSED Trinitie three coëqual and coëternal persons one verrie God Father Sonne and the holie Ghost which alone inhabitest the eternitie and the light that no man can attaine vnto who hast made the earth by thy power and rulest the world by thy wisedome Holie holie holie Lord God of hostes dreadful and mightie and righteous and merciful and wonderful who art to be praised and to beloued One God three persons one essence power wisedome goodnes and one vndiuided Trinitie Open to me which cal vnto thee the gate of righteousnes and when I am come in I wil praise the Lord. Lo most honorable housholder I a poore begger knocke at thy doore cōmand the doore to be opened to me which knocke who hast said Knock it shal be opened For doubtles y e grones of my paned bowels the crie of the teares of mine eies knock at thy gate ô most merciful Father O Lord my whole desire is before thee and my sighing is not hid from thee O Lord hide thy face no longer fro me neither cast thy seruant away in displeasure Most merciful Father heare the complaint of thy sonne and reach him thine helping hande that it may bring me out of the horrible pit out of the lake of miserie and from the miry clay that I perish not in the sight of thy pitiful eies and in the presence of thy bowels of mercie but may escape vnto thee my Lord God that I may see the riches of thy kingdome and euermore behold thy face and sing praises to thine holy name O Lord which dost woonderous thinges comfortest mine hart through the remembrance of thee and inlightenest mine youth cast mee not off in the time of mine age but reioice al my bones and renue my strength like the