and vngratefull of all others and I doe bewayle my selfe as such an One. 2. O my God I loue and desire to loue thee with a loue pure and free from all respect of proper commoditie and selfe interest 3. I loue thee my Lord with a perseuerant loue purposinge by the helpe of thy holye Grace and assistance neuer to be separated from thee by sinne 4. And if I were to liue for millions of yeares yet would I euer remayne thy faithfull seruant and louer 5. I wish all Creatures would Adore and serue thee and that infidels may be conuerted to thy faith and all sinners to good life and All this onlye for thy supreame Honor and Glorie 6. I wish that neither my selfe nor any other had euer offended thee my God and that in particular I my selfe had euer serued thee faithfullye from the instant of my Natiuitie 7. I wish and desire that both I my selfe and all others maye hereafter serue and loue thee most faithfully and this for the loue and good will I beare thee 8. I reioyce and congratulate that thou my Lord God art soe rich and happie that all creatùres can add noe more to thy happinesse then alreadie thou hast 9. Neuerthelesse because thou maist haue external honour and worshipp from thy creatures I doe wish I doe wish that All of them may accordinglye performe their seruice and the worshipp dew vnto thee the best they can 10. I am sorrie for all the sinns and indignities that are haue or shall be done vnto thee by my selfe or by All or any others 11. And this principally and only I am sorrie for because these sinns are iniuries donne to thy deuine Maiestie who onlye is worthye to be honored and serued by all thy creatures 12. I doe ioyfullye accept and am glad of all that is pleasinge to God be it Prosperitie or Aduersitie sweete or bitter and this meerelye for the loue I beare him 13. I am sorrie for all that doth displease God or is contrarie to his deuine will or Commandements and all this onlye for the loue of him and his Glorie THE III. EXERCISE 1. I Congratule thee ô my God and am glad that thou art God and for the Blissednesse and all the Perfections that are in thee and which for all Eternitie thou hast euer had as thy omnipotencie wisedome goodnesses and the like 2. I congratulate thee alsoe and am glad that thou hast need of noe extrinsecall thinge but art in thy selfe most rich and fullye sufficient both for thy selfe and all Other Creatures 3. I likewise with thee ô my Lord reioyce in the sweete ordinance and disposition of heauen and earth for all the things which are in the maruaylous Creation of this world and for all the workes which thou hast made or shalt yet make vnto the end of the world 4. I congratulate approue and reioyce in all the iudgements of my Lord God aswell manifest as secret concerninge the Diuells the soules of the damned the vnbaptised children in Lymbo the soules that be in Purgatorie and the wicked men that liue in this world 5. I congratulate end reioyce with thee ô my God in all the Laude and prayses which the Angells Saints in heauen and thy seruants of the earth doe giue thee and for all the worshipp they yeild vnto thee 6. Because I find my selfe altogether insufficient to prayse my God I doe for my helpe and assistance therin inuite and call vppon the holye Angells and all creatures 7. And withall my owne soule with all the powres of it that all of them together may glorifye my God for his infinitt excellencie 8. I am sorrie I am not perfect and wish that soe farre as it maye please my God to grant itt I maye be perfect the more worthylie to prayse thee 9. And not out of any commoditie by it to my selfe but purelye for the Loue I beare thy Deuine Maiestie who is infinitly worthy of more loue and honour then all Creatures that are or can be are able to performe towards thee 10. Exult and reioyce and be thou delighted ô my soule for all the excellencies and good things that are in thy God 11. If it laye in my powre and were lawfull for mee to choose what God I would haue I would not choose any other God but thee Alone sayinge with Dauid Dixi Domino Deus meus es Tu. I said vnto my Lord thou art my God 12. I reioyce in the Dignitie that our Sauuiour Christ now hath in Heauen and congratulate him in it It is continued THE IV. EXERCISE 1. BLISSED be thy eternall Father who soe aboundantly bestowed these felicities on thee Doe thou blissedly and gloriouslye enioye them for all Eternitie 2. I congratulate the most Blissed Virgin Marie and all the Angells and Saints in Heauen for the glory and happinesse which they now enioye 3. And I prayse and exalt my God for his greate goodnesse and liberalitie therin shewed towards those thy most faithfull and elect friends 4. I doe exceedinglye reioyce that since all Creatures together are in noe sort able to prayse thee my God accordinge to the very least worth that is in thee yet thou thy selfe and thou onlye art able sufficientlye and perfectlye to prayse and glorifye thy selfe 5. I doe reioyce indeed at this and doe hartilye desire thee to doe it euer more 6. Yea I doe hartyly craue of thee that thou may incessantlye and most intensiuely prayse thy selfe since thou onlye art Able to doe itt and deserueth to haue it done 7. I doe congratulate and reioyce with thee ô my Lord God in all the workes which thou hast done and this only because they are thy workes 8. As for the Creation of the world thy Prouidence about itt thy Redemption of it Wonderfully esteeminge all these workes because they are thyne 9. An I reioyce aswell in that thou hast made a hell for the punishment of the wicked as a heauen for the Reward of the good 10. I wish and desire out of my loue to God that hee may be praysed and knowne of all Men and I doe inuite all Creatures to doe the same with my selfe 11. I offer my selfe for the loue of my God to beare and suffer all things which may be to his honour and Glorie though noe manner of commoditie accurre to mee thereby but purely to doe it out of the free loue I beare and desire to beare towards my God 12. Lastlye I professe that if I could deuise any thinge wherin I might shew or Exercise my loue towards my God I hope with the helpe of his Grace I should and would doe it most cheerefullye and readily out of the pure and sinceare loue that I beare and wish to beare toward my God without respect of any commoditie by it to my selfe which God graunt mee to doe for his Glorie and my happynesâ—e Amen FINIS CERTAINE AMOROVS Aspirations to be vsed accordinge to the Direstions and the Disposition of
hast forsaken thy God 20. Alas poore wretch and what wilt thou doe to whom wilt thou flye from whom wilt thou expect helpe 21. From whom but from Him whom thou hast offended Hee is most pittifull most courteous and most mercifull It is continued THE IV. EXERCISE 1. HVMBLE thy selfe prostrate thy selfe powre out thy selfe like water in his sight and Hee will take pittie on thee 2. O my soule if it were necessarie dayly to suffer torments yea to endure hell itselfe for a longe tyme together that wee might see Christ in his glorie and be ioyned in fellowship with the saintes in His Heauenlye Citie were it not meete thinkest thou to sustayne all manner of miserie that wee might be made pertaker of soe greate a good and soe greate a felicitie 3. O my soule who art most famous by beinge framed accordinge to the likenesse of God beinge bought with the price of Christs owne blood espoused vnto Him by Faith endowed with the holye Ghost adorned with vertues esteemed equall with the Angells 4. Loue Him then Loue Him of whom thou art beloued 5. Attend to Him that attendeth to thee and seeke Him that seeketh thee 6. Loue this Louer of whom thou art beloued with whose loue thou art preuented and who is the fountaine from whence thy loue floweth 7. Be carefull to please Him who is carefull to please thee thinke on Him who thinketh on thee be pure with Him who is Puritie itselfe be holye with Him who is Holinesse itselfe 8. Accoordinge to thy carriage towards God in thy conuersation will hee carrie himselfe towards thee againe 9. God is courteous mild full of mercie and compassion and doth require therefore of thee that thou likwise be courteous mild sweete humble and mercifull towards All. 10. Loue Him ô my soule who hath deliuered thee from the lake of miserie and from the Mire of sinne and iniquitie 11. Choose Him for thy special Friend who alone will Faithfullye adhere and sticke vnto thee when all other things and Friends will faile and shrinke from thee 12. One the day of thy burial when thou shalt be Abandoned and forsaken by all thy Friends Hee will not leaue thee but will defend thee from those roaringe infernall Fiends readie to deuoure thee will conduct thee vnto the Land of the liuinge 13. O my soule sigh vehementlye and aspire feruentlye to that glorious Citie soe highlye spoken of 14. Heauen and Earth and all therin contayned doe continuallye exhort thee to loue thy Lord God 15. My soule blisse thou our Lord my soule praise thou our Lord 16. Why art thou ô my soule sad and why art thou troubled Hope in our Lord for hee will be thy comfort and sollace 17. Sweete and amiable Iesus is present with thee thou must with Reuerence and loue attend vnto Him 18. O would to God hee would wash mee with his most pretious blood perfectlye cleanse and heale mee and lighten mee with the brightenesse of his Grace 19. O that hee would wound my hart interiorlye and mollifye itt perfectlye and make it as it were drunke with his mellifluous Charitie 20. O would to God I might wholye burne and be consumed and melted with the fire of his Loue 21. I aske I wish I desire that the heauenlye Kinge who vouchsafeth to be my soules Bridegroome would vouchsafe alsoe to make mee pleasinge to him Amen FINIS An example of Acts which a Soule maye Exercisee towards God as absent from Her 1. I will blesse our Lord at all tymes his prayses shal euer be in my Mouth 2. Our Lord haue Mercie on vs◠enlighten his countenance vppon vs and take pittie on vs. 3. It is good for mee to seeke after our Lord and gett neere vnto him for hee is our Hope and our All. The Pfalmes of Dauid are full of these Acts. FINIS An example of speakinges supposed to be made by God to the soule 1. SONNE it behoueth thee to giue all for all and reserue nothinge to thy selfe 2. Sonne where is true peace to be found is it not in Mee 3. Sonne thou canst not attayne to perfect libertie if thou dost not wholye forsake thy selfe 4. Sonne abide constant and hope in mee This is All in All. FINIS ACTS OF LOVE AND vvellvvishinge tovvards God THE FIRST EXERCISE 1. I Doe reioyce in all the Perfections that are in thee ô my God as in thy wisedome Goodnesse Powre and all other thy deuine prerogatiues and perfections 2. Lett it please and suffice mee that thou art infinitlye happie and Rich my most benigne and louinge Father 3. I doe reioyce at the presence of thee my God in heauen where thou reignest as in thy Kingdome and that thou art there worshipped adored and loued by all thy Angells and Saincts 4. Soe that if it were in my Powre I would Loue and honour thee with all that loue and worshipp wherewith all the Angells and Saints doe there Loue thee 5. I doe ioye in all the Loues and seruices that the iust Men in the Church especiallye the Perfect in all former ages in the present Age or in the future Ages haue borne performed doe beare and performe or shall beare and performe towards thee 6. And I desire to loue thee with the Loue of them All and would for thy Loue doe and performe if it lay in my powre all their workes aswell internall as externall and would vndergoe all their labours and endure all their Afflictions 7. I doe hartilye reioyce in all the good things that are in the elect seruants of God but especiallye for the wonderfull guifts of the perfect and that they are by thee ô my God illuminated inflamed and sanctified 8. My Loue and desire towards thee ô my God is such and soe greate that if it were possible to mee and acceptable to thee I would of each soule especiallye of myne owne make a Kingdome of Heauen that thou mightst be beloued and praysed in foe many Heauens by the dwellers in them 9. Which if it lay in my powre should be more in number then the Grasse piles on the Earth the sands in the sea or dropps of water therin 10. I doe heere in thy presence ô my God hold and repute my selfe as nothinge and whatsoeuer I haue aboue nothinge naturall or supernaturall I acknowledge it to be thyne and none of myne 11. And because of my selfe I am nothinge and that my God is all Good and that all good things come onlye from him I doe greatly reioyce and with all my hart confesse that I am nothinge can doe nothinge and haue nothinge for both my beinge and abilitie to doe and all I haue is thyne and from thee THE II. EXERCISE 1. I Doe heere in the presence of God repute and iudge my selfe the most vile of all creatures and because I cannot feele or perceiue this in my selfe but rather the contrarie hauinge a good and greate opinion of my selfe I doe acknowledge therefore that I am most prowd
whatsoeuer displeaseth thy sight and make mee a Man accordinge to thy hart 150. Wound mee ô Lord wound the most inward part of my soule with the darts of thy Loue 151. And make mee drunke with the wine of thy perfect Charitie 152. O when shall this be 153. When shal I please thee in all things 154. When shall all dye in mee which is contrarie to thee 155. When shall I be altogether thine 156. When shall I liue to be noe more myne owne 157. When shall nothinge else liue in mee but thou ô Iesus 158. When shall I loue thee most feruentlie 159. When shall the flames of thy loue wholie consume mee 160. When shall I be altogether melted pearsed through with the woÌ„derfull efficacie of thy sweetenesse 161. When wilt thou take mee hence by force drowne mee transport mee and hide mee in thy selfe where I maye neuer more be seene 162. When wilt thou free mee from all these impediments and distractions and make mee one Spirit with thee that I maye not any more depart from thee 163. O Dearely Beloued O Dearelie Beloued of my soule 164. O sweetenesse of my Hart 165. Heare mee ô Lord not for my merits but for thy infinitt Goodnesse and Mercie 166. Teach mee enlighten mee direct mee and assist mee in all things that I may doe or say nothinge but what is agreable to thy blissed will and pleasure 167. O my God my well beloued my dearest Hart and the very God of my soule 168. O my sweete loue 169. O my greate Delight 170. O my strenth Helpe mee 171. O my light guid mee towards thee 172. O God of my soule why giuest not thou thy selfe to thy poore Creature 17â— Thou fillest Heauen and earth and wilt thou leaue my hart emptie 17â— Thou bathest the Lillies of the field giuest meate to the little birds and feedest the wormes of the earth why then dost thou forgett mee who endeauours to forgett all others for thy sake 175. Too late haue I haue I knownâ— thee ô infinitt Goodnesse 176. Too late haue I loued thee ô Beautie soe ancient and soe new 177. Wooe to the tyme I loued thee not 178. Blind I was that I saw thee not 179. Thou wert within mee and I went seekinge thee abroad 180. But now that I haue found thee though late suffer not Good Lord that I euer leaue thee Amen Amen Amen FINIS ACTS OF RESIGNATION To be vsed accordinge TO THE DIRECTIONS ACTS OF RESIGNATION in things concerninge the Body THE FIRST EXERCISE 1. I Resigne my selfe for the Loue of my God my deare Lord to vndergoe these ensuinge Paines or Difficulties in my Bodie soe farre as God hath alreadie laid them or any of them vppon mee or shal be pleased heereafter to laye or permitt them or any of them to fall vppon mee To witt Agues Feauers falling-sicknesse crampe collicke Consumption or other bodilie sicknesse whatsoeuer Especiallie such sicknesse or infirmitie as troubles mee at this present or to which through my nature or Bodilie complexion and constitution I am most disposed and inclined 2. As weaknesse feeblenesse lamenesse Toothache or any other ache or paine in my head or any other part of my Bodie 3. Deformitie or vglinesse in the sight of others as it was in the case of holy Iob Lazarus and others that were full of Biles botches and other more odious externall defects in Bodie 4. Extremitie of Heate such as wee feele or maye feele in some time of the summer extremitie of cold such as wee feele or maye feele in some tyme of the winter And in tyme of summer to be driuen to weare and beare perhaps out of Obedience or other necessitie more cloaths then our nature needeth or is willinge to beare And in the cold of winter to be contented to want cloaths which wee conceiue our nature needes when that obedience or necessitie denies them vs. 5. Want of sleepe as when beinge in bed one cannot â—leepe through â—ome bodilie indisposition or other or when obedience will not permitt mee to haue soe much tyme for sleepe as my nature would desire to haue or maye seeme needfull to haue 6. Hunger thirst the difficulties of fastinge and Abstinence scarcitie in meate or drinke as not hauinge soe much in Quantitie as my nature would haue or perchance requireth or lesse then I see some others haue Or when the qualitie of the meate or drinke doth not please my nature and yet obedience will yeild mee noe better or when my meate is not soe well dressed as I could wish it were or when I haue it not in such a season as in my nature I could wish but is delayed mee for some tyme. 7. I am resigned and contented to see others better serued or prouided for in meate drinke cloath lodginge and beddinge then I am though I conceiue and imagine that I deserue and need as much as they doe and yet obedience will not allow it mee Likwise when it seemeth to mee that others are more spared from corporal labours then I am yet it seemeth to mee that they need or deserue noe more indulgence or sparinge then I doe 8. Indisgestion vomitinge or other payne or defect in the stomacke not to be able to gett downe some meate that is vngratefull to the stomacke or palate And yet obedience or pouertie will perhaps afford mee noe better 9. Paynes or Defects about the 5. externall senses As bitter or vnsauorie Tasts vngratefull smells hideous and horrible sights or representations to the eyes as the sight of Deuills or damned soules Hideous and fearefull noises as thunder c. and noises displeasinge to the eare and soe of the Rest. It is continued THE II. EXERCISE 1. AS to the fift sense of feelinge I Resigne my selfe to suffer and endure scorgings buffetings beatings as our Sauuiour endured or stoneings as S. Stephen or incisions and launcings or câ—ttinge of the flesh or any other corporall paynes or torments be they external or internal To the losse of eyes or pains in them to deafenesse or dumbenesse to vndergoe alsoe some externall worke or labour from which I am naturally auerted when that obedience appoints itt albeit I should conceiue it preiudiciall to my health 3. To attend and watch with the sicke when that obedience appoints it 4. I am resigned to loose any member of my Bodye when God shall permitt or will haue mee to loose itt be it feete leggs hands c. 5. To vndergoe all sort of corporall labours and that with feeblenesse and indisposition of Body soe farre as the will of God shall require 6. I am resigned to loose all pleasure delight and Gust in the sense of Tast soe that I may find noe more tast in the pleasantest meate then I should doe in eatinge a chipp or a stone or in drinkinge of a thinge that hath noe tast or is of a very vngratefull Tast. 7. I am resigned to any disfiguringe in the face or other part of the Bodie
4. Obtayne for mee I beseech thee perfect pardon of my sinns and the perfect Grace of the Holy Ghost 5. That I maye diligentlye worship chastlye and feruentlye loue thy Sonne my Sauuiour and thee the Mother of Mercie 6. Hayle sweete Marie whom forshewed in sundrie figuratiue speeches and promised in diuers Oracles of the Prophets the Ancient Fathers did coueâ— most earneâ—tly 7. O my Lady receiue mee for thy poore seruant Adopt mee O Mother for thy Sonne 8. Graunt that I may be numbred amonge them whom thou dost loue whose names are written in thy Virginall breast and whom thou dost teach direct helpe cherishâ— and protect 9. Hayle sweete Marie whom God by a most Honorable Priuiledge did preserue from sinne 10. And adorned with most singular Grace and most excellent guifts 11. O Glorious Virgin ô Gratious Virgin ô moâ—t pure Virgin chosen amongst thowsands 12. Doâ— not repell mee wicked sinner doe not dispise and reiect mee defiled with the filth of sinne 13. But heare mee miserable wretch â—ryinge vnto thee comfort mee desiringe thee and helpe mee trustinge in thee Amen An Exercâ—se to the Holy Angells and especiallye the Angell Guardian 1. I Salute you ô Holy Spirittâ— and with all myne Hart Congratulate your Happinesse who continuallye contemplate and behold the Deuine Face and Allsatiatinge goodnesse 2. You ô Seraphin Cherubim and Thrones who are of the higher Ierarchie you ô dominations virtues and powers of the middle you ô Princes Archangells and Angâ—lls of the lowest who continuallye singe Holy Holye Holye Lord God of Sabaoth 3. Thou ô my Lord hast made these holy Spirits Angells for my Benefitt and hast commanded them to keepe mee in all my wayes 4. They doe therefore assist vs with greate care and with watchfull endeauour at all tymes and in all plaâ—es succouringe vs. 5. They present our sighs and sobbs to thee ô Lord they inflame our will illuminate our vnderstandinge and replenish our mind with holy thoughts 6. They walke with vs in all our wayes reioycinge at our virtues and contristated at our vices 7. Their loue is greate and excessiue towards vs. 8. They helpe such as are takinge pains they protect such as are at rest they encourage such as fight they crowne the conquerors they reioyce with such as ioye I meane such as ioye in thee and they suffer with such as suffer I meane such as are in sufferance for thee 9. Greate and very greate is the Honour done to man to haue Angells to wayte on and assist him 10. O my Deare Angell Guardian gouerne protect and defend mee illuminate comfort and direct mee now and euer more 11. O Blissed Angells be you euer blissed and praysed for all and euerie Fauour and benefitt you haue most louingely and powrefullye bestowed on mee and vouchsafed mee and one on my owne experience a most singular one 12. Graunt ô Father of Heauen and Earth that they may euer reioyce concerninge vs that is by our practise of vertue and that thou maist euer be praysed by them and vs and that both they and wee maye be brought into one sheepefould that together wee maye confesse to thy holy name O Thou Crâ—atsr of men and Angells Amen AN EXERCISE OF Deuotion Towards our Holy Father and Religious founder S. Bennet 1. HAYLE most blissed â—and glorius Father I congratulate with all my hart thy glorie and grace with God 2. I prayse likewise and thanke the deuine goodnesse that made thee worthyâ— and brought thee to the same 3. Bestowingâ— on thee in this life very greate naturall and supernaturall guifts and graces by meanes whereof thou hast obtayned thy present most glorious and happie condition 4. In particular I prayse and magnifie the same deuine goodnesse for that it gaue thee the grace in the very flowre or prime of thy youth with a thristye mind to seeke after the sole felicitie of the future life 5. And for that end to forsake all the vayne pleasures of this life the solaces of thy Parents kinred and Countrey the desire of humane sciences and learninge and generallye all things that might not be needfull for thee towards attayninge the foresaid felicitie 6. And I prayse and magnifie the same deuine goodnesse for that by such callinge and takinge of thee soe tymelye out of the world and the snares of it hee freed and secuâ—ed thee from worser habits and multitudes of sinns which the world if thoâ— hadst remayned longer in it had beeâ—e apt to breed and cause in thee 7. I prayse and magnifie the same deuine goodnesse for leadinge thee to a place of solitude and there prouidinge for thee all corporall necesâ—aries towards his holy seruice and thyne owne soules good 8. And especiallye for that the same deuine goodnesse itselfe vouchsafed to become thy immediate Maister and Director inspiringe thee and teachinge thee what to doe continuallye 9. And gaue thee Grace and strenth to performe and accomplish the things necessarie and expedient to the end Hee called thee to 10. And namelye to liue in mortification of body and will And as it were in continuall prayer and high Contemplation 11. I prayse and glorifie the same deuine Goodnesse for bestowinge on thee the most necessarie guift of perseuerance by which thou didst remayne constant in such perfect deuine seruice from thy first call to the verie period of thy life 11. That comeinge to dye euen ripe for a most holye death thou didst as it were passe from life to life as one thaâ— feeles not what corporall death meanes 13. Soe that thy expiration was Aspiration accordinge to what S. Gregorie the great saith of thee Vltimum Spiritum inter verba Orationis efflauit To witt His last breath was Prayer Passinge forth of the faithfull Contemplation of this life to the reall and beatificke contemplation of the other 1â— I now cordiallye congratulate the perfect felicitie thou enioyest 15. And since I am called by the deuine Grace as I truly hope to liue accordinge to thy holye Rule for my Saluation and Perfection vouchsafe thy Holy intercession for that end that I maye through Gods Grace liue accordinglye and dye consummated and perfect therin and thereby for without his Grace I can doe nothinge 16. And as the said S. Gregorie saith thou framedst thy Rule accordinge to thy holye life sweete Iesus giue mee grace interiorlye and exteriorlye to be a faithfull Imitator thereof 17. That I may be led by the same Guide the Holy Ghost 18. And Exercise true Spirituall Prayer the only meanes to all vertues 19. That I may in all things abandon my selfe with all puâ—itie of Intention 20. And doe all good and abstayne from all euill which interiorlye and exteriorly may concerne mee 21. Especially in all things occurringe patientlye to suffer all iniuries â—â—d Crosses 22. And that all maye be accomplished God grant mee as hee did to thee the guift of perseuerance 23. That I expiringe maye be admitted into the happy societie of thee and thy