forme and thou hast giuen me corage to contemne him The tempter came as an armed souldier with greate puissance and power and thou hast fortified me and enfeebled him to the end he might not vanquishe me The tempter came being transformed into an Angell of light and to the end he might not deceiue me thou hast rebuked him and giuen me light that I might knowe him This is that feirce and fiery Dragon the old serpent which is commonly called the Diuell and Satan hauing seuen heades and ten hornes whom thou hast created to be deluded in the wide and spatious sea of this tempestuous worlde in which there are infinite multitudes of creatures that creepe and of beastes both small and greate that is diuerse sortes of diuells who day and night doe nothing els but range about seeking whom they many deuoure if thou deliuer vs not from theire power This is that old Dragon who in Paradise had his beginning who with his taile casteth downe to the grounde the thirde parte of the starrs of heauen who poisonneth the waters of the world with his venime that men may die by drinking of them who trampleth vpon golde as if it were durte or mire hauing a confidence that the riuer Iordan that is righteous and religious men will flowe likewise into his mouthe being of that wonderfull strength and power as that he feareth noe man whatsoeuer And who then shall defende vs from his biting and stinging Who but thee o Lord can kepe vs from being deuoured by him who hast broken the heades of the greate Dragon Stretche forthe o Lord we beseeche thee the winges of thy mercy ouer vs that we may flie vnder them from the face of this Dragon that doth persecute vs and saue vs from his hornes with the shielde of thy defence Because the onely thing that he doth and hath alwaies desired is to deuoure the soules which thou hast created Wherfore o Lord our God we cry to thee beseeching thee to deliuer vs from our dayly aduersarie who whether we sleepe or wake eate or drinke or whatsoeuer we doe els ceaseth not by all meanes day and night by his deceiptes and cunning deuises sometimes openly somtimes secretlye to shoote his poisoned arrowes at vs that he may kill and murther our soules And yet o Lord behold our madnes for that albeit we see this Dragon comminge against vs with open mouthe readie to deuoure vs yett we sleepe and play the wantons lasciuiouslie in our lasines as if we were secure in his presence that desireth nothing els but to destroy vs. Our ennimie alwaies watcheth without sleepe that he may slay our soules and we will not awake from sleepe that we may saue our selues Beholde he hath laied infinite snares before our feete and hath filled all our waies with many pitfalls and ginnes therby to entrapppe our soules and who shal be able to escape them He hath laied snares in riches he hath laied snares in pouertie he hath laied snares in meate in drinke in recreation in sleepe and in watching he hath laied snares in our wordes and in our workes in all our waies Wherfore we beseeche thee o Lord to deliuer vs froÌ„ the snares of these Huntsmen and from sharpe and bitter wordes that we may confesse vnto thee saying Blessed be our Lord who hath not giuen vs as a prey vnto theire teethe Our soule â—â—scaped euen as a sparrowe out of the snare of the fouler The snare is broken and we are deliuered That God is the light of the iust CHAPT XVII ENlighten mine eies o my Lord and my light that I may see light and walke in thy light and escape from falling into his snares For who is able to escape those his manifolde snares vnlesse he see them And who is able to see them if thou with thy light doe not enlighten him Because he being the father of darkenes doth hide his snares in darknes that all those may be taken in them that are in darknes to witt the children of darknes who are depriued of thy light in which whosoeuer walketh shall not feare Because whosoeuer walketh in the day time stumbleth not but he that walketh in the night season falleth and hurteth himselfe because the light is not in him Thou o Lord art the light thou art the light of the children of light thou art the day that knoweth noe sunn-setting in which thy children doe walke without stâ—â—bling and without which all they that walke are in darknes for that they want thee the light of the worlde to direct them Beholde we dayly see that the farther of any one is from thee the true light the more he is ouerwhelmed with the darknes of sinne the more he is in darknes the lesse he seeth the snares that are sett in his way and consequentlie knoweth them the lesse by which meanes he is drawen and falleth more frequentlie into them and yet knoweth not that he is fallen which is a thing that aboue others shoulde cause vs to detest sinne For he that knoweth not that he is fallen is by soe much the lesse carefull to arise by how much the more he thinketh himselfe to stande Now therfore o Lord my God who art the light of my minde enlighten mine eies that I may see and knowe to the end I may not fall in the sight of mine aduersaries For our aduersarie the Diuell laboureth vtterly to destroy vs whom we desire thou wilt cause to be consumed before our face euer as waxe is consumed before the face of the fire Because he o Lord is the first and last robber who conspired to bereaue thee of thy glory who being swollen and puffed vp with pride burst and fell on his face whom thou hast throwne downe headlong from thy holy hill and from amidst those fiery stones amongst which he walked And now o Lord my God and my life since the time he hath fallen he ceaseth not to persecute thy childreÌ„ And through the hatred he hath against thee o king of infinite puissance he desireth to destroy this creature of thine whom thy omnipotent goodnes hath created according to thine owne image to possesse that glory which he hath lost by his pride and insolencie But thou o Lord that art our force and fortresse bruise crushe him in peeces that he may not deuoure vs thy lambes and enlighten vs with thy grace that we may see the snares which he hath laied to entrappe vs and may escape to thee o joi of israel All these thinges thou knowest o Lord better then we who knowest his enmitie and despite against vs and his obdurate obstinacie Neither doe I say this as one that woulde informe thee for that thou seest all thinges soe that our least thoughtes are not hidden from thee but before the feete of thy maiestie o eternall Iudge I complaine against mine aduersarie to the end thou maiest damne him and saue vs thy children whose force doth depeÌ„de of thee Verily this
vpon him the nature and essence of man not of Angells and glorifying the same with the stole of his sacred resuriection and immortalitie he hath caried it aboue all the heauens aboue all the quiers of Angells aboue the Cherubins and Seraphins placing the same at the right hand of thy maiestie the Angels praise it the Dominations adore it and all the Vertues of heauen stand trembling in beholdinge him that is placed aboue theÌ„ God and man This verily is my whole hope and confidence Because in him to witt in our Lord Iesus Christ each one of vs hath a part each one of vs hath flesh and bloud Where therfore a part of me doth raigne there I trust to raigne my selfe where my flesh is glorified there I assure my selfe to be likewise in glory where my flesh hath rule and dominion there I suppose to rule my self Although I am a sinner yet I do not despaire to be partaker of this grace and fauour And albert my sinnes doe hinder me yet my substance doth require the same although my faultes doe exclude me yet the participation of the same nature doth not repell me For God is not soe cruell as that he can forgett man and not remember him whom he carieth about him and whom for my sake he seeketh to bring to saluation Verily our Lord God is very milde and mercifull and loueth his flesh members and bowells That flesh of ours loueth vs which is in Iesus Christ our most sweet gratious and louing Lord God in whom we haue already risen and ascended into heauen and doe already sitt in glorie with the celestiall spirits In him we haue the prerogatiue of our bloud for that we are his members and flesh and he likewise is our head by whom our whole bodie is composed according as it is written Bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh two shal be in one flesh And noe man at any time hateth his owne flesh but cherisheth and loueth it This is a great mysterie but I saieth the Apostle speake it of Christ and of his Church Of the two folde nature of Christ who pittieth vs and prayeth for vs. CHAPT XVI I Rendre thankes therefore to thine infinite mercy o my Lord God with my mouth haâ—â—e al the force I haue for all thy benefits by which thou hast vouchsafed soe wonderfullie to releiue vs wheÌ„ we were vndone and this by meanes of thy sonne our Sauious and Redeemer who hath died for our sinnes and hath risen againe for our iustification and liuing now for euer sitteth at thy right hand and maketh intercession for vs and together with thee taketh pitty of vs for that he is God of thee God the Father being coeternall and consubstantiall to thee in all thinges whence it proceedeth that he is able to saue vs for euermore Howe be it as he is a man in which respect he is inferior to thee all power is giuen him in heauen and in earth that at the name of Iesus euery knee should bow of thinges in heauen on earth and vnder the earth and that euery tongue should acknowledge and confesse o God and Father almightie that our Lord Iesus Christ is sittinge with thee in thy glorie It is he indeed whom thou hast appointed to be the iudge of the quick and dead for thou thy selfe iudgest noe man but hast left all iudgement vnto thy sonne in whose bosome are enclosed all the treasures of wisedome and learning He himselfe is witnes and iudge iudge and witnes from whom noe sinnful conscience shal be able to escape because all thinges are open and euident to his eies He truly that was iudged vniustly wil iudge the world with equitie and the people with indifferencie I therfore euerlastinglie blesse thy holie name o almightie and mercifull Lord and with my whole hart glorifie the same in respect of that vnspeakeable and wounderfull coniunction of the diuine and humaine nature in one person to the end that God should not be one and man an other but one and the same God and man man and God And albeit the diuine Worde by reason of the wonderfull loue he had to man hath vouchsafed to become flesh yet neither of the two natures haue beene transformed into an other substance neither hath a fourth person beene added to the mysterie of the Trinitie Because the substance of the Word of God and of man hath beene vnited but not mingled together to the end that that which had beene taken from vs might attaine vnto God and that which had neuer beene before might remaine the same with that which had beene for euer O mysterie worthy of admiration o exchange past explication o maruailous benignity of the diuine bountie for euer to be admired and for euer to be beloued We were altogether vnworthy to be termed seruants and behold we are made the sonnes of God the heires truly of God and coheires of Christ From whom happeneth this unto vs and who hath raised vs to soe great a dignity Now therfore I beseeche thee o God most mercifull Father by this thine inestimable pitty bounty and charitie that thou wilt make vs worthy of the great and ample promises of thy same sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Make knowen vnto vs thy sonne and confirme this which thou hast wrought in vs AccoÌ„plish that which thou hast begun to the end we may be founde worthy to attiue to the full and perfect grace of thy endlesse mercy Make vs by vertue of the holy Ghost to understand and discerne and with due honoure alwaies to reuerence this great mysterie of thy mercy which hath beene made manifest in flesh hath beene iustified in spiritt hath appeared to the Angells hath beene preached to the Gentiles hath bene beleiued in the world and lastly hath bene assumpted in glory Of the great thanks giuing which man ought to render to God for the benefitt of his Redemption CHAPT XVI O How much are we bounde vnto thee o Lord our God being redeemed with soe great a guift being succoured by soe glorious a benefitt O how much oughtest thou of vs wretches to be feared loued blessed praysed honoured and glorified who hast in this manner loued saued sanctified and exalted vs Verily we owe unto thee all our ability all our life all our learning But who hath any thing that is not thine Thou therfor o Lord our God from whom all good thinges doe proceede for thine owne and for thy holy names sake bestowe vpon vs thy graces and benefitts that by them we may worthily serue thee and in veritie please thee and may daily render due prayses vnto thee for soe many and soe great graces and fauoures proceeding froÌ„ thy mercie We truly haue noe other meane wherby to serue and please thee but onely the guifts which we receiue from thy libâ—ralitiâ—â— for euery good and perfect guift is from aboue descending downe from the Father of lights with whom there is noe variation or shadow of change
be wanting if the wife be conioyned to her husband with that feruoure of minde as that through the greatnes of her loue shee can take noe repose being not able without greate greife to sustaine the absence of her beloued husbande with what affection desire and feruoure of minde ought that soule whoÌ„ thou hast espoused and linked vnto thee by faith and thy manifold mercies to loue thee the true God the most beautifull spouse who hast after that wonderfull manner loued and saued vs who hast donne soe many soe greate and such vnspeakeable thinges for vs. But althoughe the transitorie thinges of this worldâ— haue theire particular loues and delightes yet is the delight and content which they yeilde farre inferiour to that which proceedeth from thee o Lord our God In thee the iust man is dâ—lighted because thy loue is sweete and peaceable thou being accustomed to replenishe those hartes which thou dost possesse with vnspeakeable delight sweetnesse and quietnes Contrariwise the loue of the worlde and of the fleshe causeth a thousande woes not permittinge the soules into which it entreth to be at any repose but continually vexeth them with suspitions with diuers doubtes and perturbations Thou therfore o Lord art the delight of good and iust men and truly not without reason for that in thee is true repose and a life free from molestation He that entreth into thee o good God entreth into the ioy of his Lord and shall not be any more afraied but shall finde himselfe happily placed in a most happie habitation saying This is my rest for euermore heere I will dwell because I haue chosen the same And Againe Our Lord guideth me and I shall want nothinge he hath placed me in a place of pasture O sweete Christ o good lesu fill my harte perpetually with thy vnquenchable charitie with the continuall remembrance of thee soe that beinge become as a fierie flame I may wholy burne through the sweetnes of thy loue which loue in me let be soe greate as that whole fountaines flouddes of water may neuer be able to quenche it Make me most sweete Lord to loue thee and for thy loue to lay a side the heauie and vnsuportable burden of all earthly and carnall conscupiscences which doe molest and presse downe my wretched soule to the end that being freed from them and runninge after thee in the sweete smell of thy odoriferous ointments I may at length hauinge thee for my guide be able to attaine to the vision and fruition of thy beauâ—ie and by the same to remaine truly satisfied eternally For two seuerall loues the one good the other â—uill the one sweete the other bitter cannot in one harte possibly dwell together And therefore if any one doth loue any thinge besides thee thy charitie in him o God is not the loue of sweetnes and the sweetnes of loue for thou art that loue that afflicteth not but delighteth that loue that for euer remaineth chast and sincere that loue alwaies burneth and neuer consumeth O sweete Christ o good Iesu my loue my loue and my God inflme me wholy with thy fire with the loue of thee with thy sweetnes and delectaâ—ion with thy mirth and exultation with thy pleasure and desire which is holy and good chast cleane quiet and secure to the end that being wholy replenished with the sweetnes of thy loue being wholy inflamed with the fire of thy charity I may loue thee my God with all my harte force and strength hauinge thee at all times and in al places in my harte in my mouth and before mine cees soe that noe receptacle may be founde in me to receiue the counterfayted loue of thinges transitorie Heare o my God heare o light of mine eies heare and graunt what I demaunde of thee to the end thou maiest heare me O most meeke and mercifull Lord refuse not to heare me by reason of my sinnes but for thy goodnes sake receiue the prayers of me thy vnworthy seruant and graunt me the effect of my peticion and desire by the intercession prayer and request of the glorious virgin Marie thy mother and my Ladie and of all the Saintes of thy heauenly Cittie Amen A most deuoute Prayer demaunding Grace of God to praise him as wee ought CHAPT XXXVI O Christ our Lord the diuine worde of the Father whose comming into the worlde was to saue sinners I beseech thee by the bowels of thine infinite mercie amende my life make better mine actions compose my manners take from me whatsoeuer is hurtfull to me displeasinge to thee and giue me that which thou knowest is pleasinge to thee and profitable for me Who is there that can cleanse man from sinne conceiued in the same sauinge thou alone Thou arâ— God almighty of infinite mercy who iustifiest the wicked and raysest to life those that through sinne were deade who changest sinners from that which they were before vpholdinge them that they fall not any more Remoue from me therfore I beseeche thee whatsoeuer in me is displeasinge vnto thee Thy eies I knowe doe plainely see mine imperfections to be very manie Wherefore may it please thee to stretche forth towards me the hande of thy mercie and with the same remoue from me whatsoeuer is offensiue in me to the eies of thy diuine Maiestie My health o Lord and my sicknesse doe depende of thy power preserue I beseech thee the one and cure the other Cure me o Lord and I shal be cured saue me and I shal be saued thou art he that dost cure those thinges that are diseased keepinge them in health after they are healed thou art he that with the very becke and nod of thy heade dost repaire those thinges that are ruined and decayed For if it be thy pleasure to sowe in my hart the good seedâ— of vertues it is necessarie that first with the hande of thy pittie thou pluck vp the thornes of mine iniquities Most sweete benigne louinge deare desired beloued and most beautifull Lord powre into my harte I most hartlie beseeche thee the aboundance of thy sweetnes and charitie that I may neither desire nor as much as thinke vppon any worldly or carnall delectation but may loue thee alone hauinge thee onely in my mouthe and in my affection Write in my breaste with thy finger the sweete remeÌ„brance of thy hony sweete name by noe forgetfulnes euer to be blotted out of the same Write in the tables of my harte thy most holy will and thy iustifications that alwaies and in all places I may haue thee and thy preceptes before mine eieâ— who art a Lord of infinite sweetnes Inflame my minde with that sacred fire of thine which thou haâ—t sent into the world and dost greatlye desire that it should be kindled to the end that with teares I may daylie offer vnto thee the sacrifice of a humble and contrite harte O sweete Christ and louinge Iesu giue me as I desire as I desire with my whole hart giue
free from all affliction When shall I be admitted into that admirable beautifull house of thine where the voice of ioy and exultation doth refounde in the tabernacles of iust men They o Lord that dwell in thy house are happie because they shall praise thee euerlastingly They are happie and trulie happie indeede whoÌ„ thou hast chosen and taken vp to be heires of that celestiall beatitude Behold o Lord thy Saints doe flourishe in thy sight as a lâ—llie for that they are filled with the plentie of thy house thou giuinge them to drinke of the riuer of thy dilightful sweetnesse because thou art the fountaine of life and in thy light they doe see light soe that they the illuminated light by meanes of thee the illuminating light doe shine like vnto the sunne in thy sight O Lord of all vertues how wonderfull how beautifull how gratefull are the lodgings of thy heauenly mansion my sinfull soule doth exceedingly couet to enter into them O Lord I haue loued the beauty of thy house and the place of the habitation of thy glorie I haue desired of our Lord one thinge and I will aske it of him againe and againe to witâ— that I may dwell in the house of our Lord all my life longe Like as the harte longeth for the fountaines of waters when he iâ— pursued soe doth my soule longe after thee my God When shall I come and appeare before thee When shall I see my God whom my soule doth soe much thirst to behold When shall I see him in the lande of the liuinge for in this lande of the dyinge it is impossible with mortal eies to beholde him What shall I therfore doe poore wretche that I am being subiect to death and corruption What course shall I take As longe as we are in this corruptible bodie we are in respect of thee as strangers and pilgrims in a forraine countrie not hauinge heere any citty or certaine dwellinge but doe seeke for one in time to come because ouâ— habitation is in heauen Alas I esteeme my selfe wretched by reason of my ouer longe slay in this worlde I haue dwelt with the inhabitants of Cedar too longe hath my soule remained heere Who will giue me winges like vnto a doue that I may flie and be at rest Nothing can be to me soe pleasant and good as to be with my Lord. It is good for me to adhere to my God Giue me grace therfore I beseech thee that as loÌ„ge as I liue I may adhere to thee as it is written He that adhereth to our Lord becommeth one spiritt with him Giue me I beseech thee the winges of contemplation by which I may be able to flie vp vnto thee into heauen And for that euery thinge that is euiâ—l doth drawe vs downewarde to sinne vp holde my mynde that it fall not downe to the bottome of the obscure valley of perdition vpholde my minde least by the interposition of the shadowe of earthly thinges it be separated from thee the sonne of iustice and by the darke cloude of secular conuersation it be hindered from looking and lifting vp it selfe to celestiall contemplation For this cause I doe endeuoure to ascende vp to those ioyes of peace and to the deligthfull and quiet state of true light Vpholde my harte with thy holy hande for that without thy help it cannot ascende I doe hasten thither where surpassing greate peace raigneth and where continuall quietnes shineth Guide and conduct my soule and according to thy holy will drawe it vnto thee to the end that vnder thy conducte it may ascende vnto that region of plentie where thou dost feede Israel euerlastingly with the foode of thy veritie that there be it but in thought onely and for neuer soe shorte a time it may touche thee the supreame wisedome remaininge aboue all thinges ouer-going all thinges and gouerninge all thinges But many thinges there be which trouble my soule and hinder it that it cannot soare vp vnto thee Cause them all o Lord by thy commaundement to cease and be silent Let my soule it selfe be silente let it passe beyonde all thinges all thinges I meane created let it mounte aboue it selfe and come to thee Let it fixe the eies of its saith on thee alone the creator of all thinges lett it aspire to thee lett it attende to thee lett it meditate on thee lâ—tt it contemplate on thee lett it sett thee before its eies and thinke vpon thee in its harte who art the true and soueraigne good thinge and that ioy which shall neuer haue end For albeit the contemplations are many wherwith a deuoute soule is by thee wonderfully fedd and refreshed yet is my soule in none of them all soe much delighted and conforted as in thee and as when it doth meditate and contemplate on thee onely O how greate o Lord is the aboundaÌ„ce of thy sweetned how marueilouslie dost thou inspire and visit the hartes of such as loue thee how wonderfull is the delight of thy loue which they feele and enioy who affect and seeke nothinge but thee who desire not soe much as to thinke of any other thing sauing onely thee Happie are they whose hope iâ— in thee alone who wholy addict themselues to prayer and contemplation Happie is he that passeth his life in solitarinesse and silence taking continuall heede night and day to the custodie of his senses that euen in this life during the time of his abode in this fraile fleshe he may be able in some sorte to taste of thy vnspeakeable sweetnes I beseech thee o Lord by those most pretious woundes of thine which on the crosse thou hast suffered for the redemption of mankinde froÌ„ which hath gushed forth that most pretious blood by which we are redeemed wounde my sinfull soule for whom likewise thou hast vouchsafed to dye wounde it with the fierie and forcible darte of thy surpassing greate charitie Because the worde of God is powerful and effectual and more peircing then a two edged sworde Thou therfore o Lord who as a chosen arrowe and most sharpe sworde art able to peirce and passe thoughe the harde target of mans harte pierce my harte with the darte of thy loue that my soule may say I am wounded with thy charitie soe that from the wounde of this thy charitie teares may trickle downe day and night in greate quantitie Strike o Lord strike I most humblie beseeche thee my hard hatred soule with the pious and powerfull speare of thy loue yea peirce it to the very bottome with thy omnâ—poteÌ„t vertue Cause likewise a floude of water to flowe from my heade and a fountainâ— of teares continually to trickle downe from mine eies throughe the exceeding greate affection and desire of beholdinge thy fairnesse in such sorte as that I may weepe continuallie receyuing noe comforte duringe this present life vntill I shall be thought worthie to beholde thee in thy heauâ—nlie house my beloued and most beautifull spouse my God and my Lord
that seeing there thy glorious admirable and most fâ—ire face replenished with all sweetnes I may together with that elected companie fall prostrate and adore thy Maiestie and being at length filled with the celestiall and vnspeakeable ioy of that eternall delectation I may with those that loue thee cry out saying Beholde I nowe see what I coueted I nowe enioy that for which I hoped I nowe haue that which I desired because I am nowe ioyned to him in heauen whom whilst I liued on earth with my whole strength I loued with my whole loue I affected and to whom with my whole affection I was vnited him doe I praise blesse and adore who liueth and raigneth God both nowe and euer more Amen A Prayer to be saied in time of tribulation CHAPT XXXVIII TAke pittieâ—o Lord take pittie o mercifull Sauiour of me a most miserable sinner doing thinges worthie of blame and worthilie suffering for the same being by thee dailie afflicted for that continuallie I am founde to haue offended If I ponder the euill which I daylie commit that which I endure is nothing in comparison of it that which I haue donne being much more greiuous then mine affliction Thou art iust o Lord and right is thy iudgmentâ— all thy iudgementâ— are iuste and true Thou o Lord our God arâ— iust and full of goodnes neither is there in thee anie wickednesâ— because when we offende thou dost not vniustlie and cruellie afflict vs who when we were not hast powerfullie made vs and when for our sinne we were guiltie of damnation thou hast by thy wonderfull mercie and goodnesse set vs in state of saluation I knowe o Lord God and am assured that our life is not gouerned by the vnaduised influence and concurrence of secondarie causes but is wholie disposed and ordered by thy almightie prouidence Thou therfore takest care of all thinges but especiallie of such as serue thee who putt theire whole confidence in thy onelie mercie Wherefore I humblie pray and beseeche thee that thou wilt not deale with me according to mine iniquities by which I haue deserued thine anger but according to thy manifold mercies which surmounte the sinnes of the whole world together Thou o Lord who dost punishe me outwardlie giue me alwaies an inuincible patience inwardlie to the end I may neuer cease to praise thee Take pittie of me o Lord take pittie of me and helpe me like as thou knowest to be expedient for me both in soulâ— and bodie thou I say who knowest all thinges and art able to doe all thinges whatsoeuer who liueth and raigneth for euer and euer Amen A verie deuoute Prayer to God the Sonne CHAPT XXXIX O Lord Iesu Christ the sonne of the living God who with thy handes stretched forth on the Crosse hast drunke the cupp of thy passion for the redemption of all mankinde succouâ—e me this day I beseeche thee Beholde o Lord I that am needie doe come to thee that art wealthie I that am full of miserie doe approache to thee replenished with mercie suffer mâ— not therfore to departe voide or as one worthie to be despised I beginne hungrie let me not end emptie I approache as one hunger-starued let me not departe vnfed And if I sighe before I eate graunt that I may eate at least after I haue sighed First therforâ— most sweete Iesu before the magnificence of thy sweetnes I confesse against me myne iniustice Beholde o Lord for that I was conceiued and borne in sinne and thou hast washed and sanctified me from the same and 〈◊〉 this haue defiled my selfe with greater offences because those sinnes wherin I was borne were of necessitie but those in which I afterwardes lay wallowing were voluntarie This notwithstanding thou being not vnmindfull of thy mercie and goodnes hast drawne me from my fathers house and from the tabernacles of sinner inspiring me with thy grace to followe thee in the companie of those that seeke thy face who walk the direct way that leadeth to felicâ—tie liuinge amiddst the 〈◊〉 of chaâ—itie and sitting at table with thee in the parloure of most profounde pouertie But I ingratefull and forgetfull of soe many benefits receiued haue after my entrance into Religion committed many sinnes and abominations and where I ought to haue corrected my faultes by doing satisfaction there haue I added sinne vpon sinne These therfore o Lord are the faultes by which I haue dishonoured thee and defiled my selfe who thou hast created according to thine owne image similitude to wit pride vaine glorie and many other sinnes almost infinite by which my vnhappy soule is troubled and afflicted rent and destroyed Beholde o Lord mine iniquities haue ouerwhelmed mine heade being vnto me as a greiuous burden vnsupportable to be endured in soe much that if thou whose propertie is to pardonne and to shewe mercie doe not lift me vp with the right hande of thy maiestie I shall woefullie sinke downe into the gulfe of eternall miserie Beholde o Lord God see because thou art holy beholde I say how my ghostlie ennimie doth insulte ouer me saying God hath forsaken him I will pursue and take him because there is none that can deliuer him Howe longe o Lord wilt thou thus leaue me Tuâ—ne backe and deliuer my soule o sauâ— me for thy mercies sake Take pittie of me thy sonne whom thou hast begotten in the greate greife of thy passion and doe not soe attende to my wickednes that thou forgett thy goodnes What Father is there who seeing his sonne in danger doth not endeuoure to sett him free or what sonne is there whom his Father doth refuse to correct with the staffe of his pittie Wherefore o Lord and Father albeit I am a sinner yet I doe not cease to be thy sonne because thou hast made me and newe made me againe like as I haue sinned soe correct and amend me and being by the staffe of thy fatherlie pittie corrected and amended commit me to the care and custodie of thy onely begotten sonne Iesus Christ our Lord. Is it possible for a woman to forget the childe of her owne wombe And albeit shee shoulde forget it yet thou o most louinge Father hast promised not to forget the same Beholde I cry and thou dost not heare me I am afflicted with greife and thou dost not comfort me What shall I say or doe being in this extreame miserie Alas I am altogether comfortles and which is worse am chased forth of thy presence Wretche that I am from howe greate good into howe greate euill am I fallen Whither did I attempt to goe and whither am I come Where am I and where am I not howe is it that I that did sighe after heauen doe nowe sighe through soe great tribulation I haue sought comforte and haue founde affliction And truly it is better for me not to be then to be without thee o sweete Iesu It is better not to liue then to liue without thee the onely true life Where are
nowe o Lord Iesu thine accustomed mercies Wilt thou be displeased with me alwaies Be appeased I beseeche thee and take pittie of me and turne not away thy louinge face from me who to redeeme me hast not turned away thy face from those that did â—â—ocke and spit vpon thee I confesse that I haue sinned and my conscience doth adiudge me worthy of damnation neither is my pennance sufficient to make satisfaction neuerthelesse it is a thinge infallible that thy mercie doth surmount all offence whatsoeuer be it neuer soe abominable Wherefore o most mercifull Lord I beseeche thee doe not write any malitious bitternes against me neither enter into iudgment with thy seruant but according to the multitude of thy mercies blot out mine iniquities Woe be to me at the day of iudgment when the bookes of our consciences shal be opened wherein our actions are registred when of me it shall openly be proclaimed See heere the man and his deedes committed What shall I doe o Lord my God at that dreadfull day when the heauens shall reueale mine iniquitie and the earthe shall beare witnes against me Verilie I shall be mute and able to say nothinge but holding downe mine head through shame and confusion I shall stande before thee shaking and blushing Alas what shall I say I will call and crie vnto thee o Lord my God Why am I consumed being silent Neuerthelesse if I speake my greife will not cease and if I holde my peace I shall inwardlie be tormented with vnspeakeable bitternes Weepe o my soule and make lamentation as a younge married woman for the deathe of her newe married husbande weepe and bewaile thy miserie for that thy bridegroome which is Christ hath forsaken thee O anger of the almightie rushe not vpon me because thou canst not be contained in me verily there is nothing in me that is able to sustaine thee Take pittie of me loast I despaire of thy mercie that by despairing of my selfe I may finde comforte in thee And albeit I haue donne that for which thou maiest iustly condemne me yet thou hast not lost thy accustomed propertie of shewing mercie and pittie Thou o Lord dost not desire the death of sinners neither dost thou take pleasure in the perdition of those that die nay rather that those that were deade might 〈◊〉 thou thy selfe hast died and thy death hath beene the death of that death that was due to sinners And if thou dying they haue â—iued graâ—nt o Lord I beseeche thee that thou living I may not die Let thy heauenly hande help me and deliuer me from the handes of those that hate me lâ—ast they insult reioyce ouer me saying we haue deuouted him Howe is it possible o good Iesu that euer any one can despaiâ—e of thy mercie who when we were thine enimies hast redeemed vs with thy pretious blood and hast reconciled vs to God Beholde o Lord protected with the shadowe of thy mercie I runne crauing pardon to the throne of thy glorie calling and knocking vntill thou take pittie of me For if thou hast called vs to pardon euen when we did not seeke it by how much more shall we obtaine pardon if we aske it Remember not thy iustice o most sweete Iesu towardes me a sinner but be mindeful of thy meeknes towards me thy creature Remember not thine anger towardes me guilty but be mindefull of thy mercie towardes me in miserie Forgett my pride prouoking thee to displeasure and weigh my wretchednes imploring thy fauoure For what doth thy sacred name Iesu signifie sauing onely a Sauiour Wherfore o Sauioure Iesu be thou my succoure and protection say vnto my soule I am thy saluation I doe presume very muche of thy diuine bountie because thou thy selfe dost teache vs to aske seeke and knocke at the dore of thy mercie Wherfore I doe aske seeke and knocke at thy dore as by thy wordes thou hast admonished me to doe Thou therfore o Lord that willest me to aske graunt that I may receiue Thou that dost couÌ„sell me to seeke graunt me likewise to finde Thou that dost teach me to knock open vnto me knockinge at the dore of thy mercie Recouer me being diseased repaire me being crased raise me being deade Vouchsafe likewise soe to direct and gouerne all my senses thoughtes and actions in that which is pleasing vnto thee that from hence forth I may faithfullie serue thee I may liue and giue my selfe wholy vnto thee I knowe o Lord that by reason thou hast made me I doe owe my selfe vnto thee and by reason thou hast redeemed me and hast been made man for me I doe owe if I had it to giue thee much more then my self vnto thee by how much greater then me thou art who hast giuen thy selfe for me Beholde I hau nothing els to giue thee neither can I giue thee this without thee take me therefore and drawe me vnto thee that I may be thine by imitation and affection like as I am by condition and creation Who liuest and raignest world without end Amen A profitable Prayer CHAPT XL. O Lord God almightie who art Trinitie in vnitie who art alwaies in al thinges and wert before all thinges and wilt be in all thinges euerlastingly one blessed God during all eternitie To thee this day and all the dayes of my life I coÌ„mende my soule my bodie my seeing hearing taste smelling and touchinge all my cogitations affections wordes and actions all thinges that I haue without within me my sense and vnderstanding my memorie faith and beleife and my constancie in well doinge all these I commende into the handes of thy powerfull protection to the end that all the nightes and daies howers and moments of my life thou wilt vouchsafe to preserue them Heare me o sacred Trinitie and preserue me from all euill from all scandall from all offence mortall from all the deceiptes and vexations of the diuell and of mine ennimies visible and inuisible by the prayers of the Patriarchs by the meritts of the Prophets by the suffrages of the Apostles by the constancie of Martyrs by the faith of CoÌ„fessors by the chastity of Virgins and by the intercession of al those Saints and holy men that haue pleased and faithfullie serued thee since the worlde began roote out of my hart all vaine glorious ostentation and increase in me the spiritt of compunction appease my pride and make perfect my humilitie Stirre me vp to teares and contrition and mollifie my hart being as harde as a stone Deliuer me o Lord and my soule from all the snares of my ghostlie enimie and preserue me in the performance of that which is most pleasing vnto thee Teache me to doe thy will o Lord because thou art my God Giue me o Lord a perfect sense and intelligence wherâ—by I may be able to knowe and acknowledge thy maruailous greate kindenesse Graunt that my petitions may be such as that they may be pleasing to thee and profitable to my selfe â—raunt
me teares proceeding from my whole affection which may be able to dissolue the bandes of my sinnes Heare me o my Lord and my God Heare me o light of mine eies Heare what I demaunde and graunt that thou mayest heare what I demaunde If thou despise me I shall perishe and be consumed if thou respect me I shal be receiued If thou examine my righteousnes I shal be founde to be as a deade man stinking throughe rottennes but if thou beholde me with the eie of thy mercie thou wilt therby raise me being through sinne like a corrupt carkase from the sepulcher of mine iniquitie Whatsoeuer o Lord thou hatest in me expell and â—oote out of me and plante in me the spirit of chastitie and continencie to the end that whatsoeuer I shall demaunde of thee in my demaunde I may not offende thee Take from me that which is hurtfull and giue me that which is profitable Giue me a medicine o Lord by which the soares of my soule may be healed Bellowe vppon me o Lord thy feare compunction of hart humilitie of minde and a conscience free from all sinne Graunt me grace o Lord that I may alwares be able to liue in charitie with my brethren not forgetting mine owne sinnes not prying into those of other men Pardon my soule Pardon my sinnes Pardon mine offences Pardon mine abominations Visit me being weakened cure me being diseased refresh me being weaâ—ied raise me being deade Giue me o Lord a harte that may feare thee a minde that may loue thee a sense that may conceiue thee eares that may heare thee eies that may see thee Take pittie o God take pittie of me and beholde me from the sacred seatâ— of thy sacred maiestie and illuminate the darkenes of my harre with the bright beames of thy light Giue me o Lord discretion to be able to discerne betweene good and cuill and endue me with an vnderstanding that is alwaies watchfull I humbly craue pardon of all my sinnes I humbly craue it o Lord of thee from whom and by whom I hope to findefauoure in time of necessitie O Marie mother of God mother of Iesus Christ our Lord thou sacred and vnspotted virgin vouchsafe to make intercession for me vnto him who made thee a worthy temple for himselfe to dwell in O S. Michael S. Gabriel S. Raphael o holy quires of Angells and Archangells of Patriarches and prophetes of Apostles and Euangelists of Martyrs and Confessors of Priests and Leuites of Monkes and Virgins and of all such as haue liued righteously I presume to beleeche you euen for his sake by whome you haue been elected and by whose contemplation you are she much delighted that you will be pleased to pray for me a poore sinner vnto him our God that I may be deliuered from the furious â—awes of the infernall feinde and from that death which shall neuer haue end Vouchsafe o Lord according to thy meekenes and vnspeakeable mercie to make me partaker of eternall felicitie Graunt o Lord Iesu that Priestes may liue in concorde and amitie and that Kinges and Princes ruling as they ought to doe may be vnited in peace and tranquillitie I humbly craue grace o Lord for the whole Catholique Church for men women for Religious persons and for secular people for all Christian magistrates and for all that beleiue in thee and laboure for thy holy loue that they may perseuer in doing well all the dayes of their liues Graunt o Lord and king eternall to Virgins chastitie to Religious persons that haue dedicated themselues vnto thee the guift of continencie to maried folkes holinesse to suche as are truly sorrowfull for theire sinnes forgiuenesse to widowes and orphans succour protection to those that are poore to pilgrims a safe returne comforte to such as mourne to the faithfull departed the repose of heauen to marriners and such as sayle on the sea theire desired porte or hauen to those that haue attained to perfection grace to perseuere to beginners and proficients in vertue grace to doe better to sinners and to suche as offende as to me poore wretche that they may speedily amende O most milde and mercifull Lord and Sauiour the sonne of the liuinge God the worldes redeemer amongst all men and in all thinges I confesse my selfe to be a miserable sinner neuerthelesse I beseeche thee most sweete and soueraigne father that thou wilt not cast me as an abiect out of thy fauour Yea rather o Lord thou King of Kinges who hast determined and decreede the length of each mans life graunt me a deuoute desire to amend mine Stirre vp my sluggishe soule to the end that att all times and in all thinges it may seeke desire loue and feare thee who in al places art three and one and putt in practice that which is pleasing vnto thee Especiallie I beseech thee o holy father who art blessed and glorious â—or euer that thou wilt mercifullie preserue all those that in theire prayers are mindfull of me haue commended themselues to mine albeit little worthe and of noe valewe those likewise that haue shewed towards me any deede of charitie or pittie or are ioyned to me in blood and affinitie aswell those that are deade as those that yet liue in this mortall bodie to the end that thou guiding and assisting them they may not perishe euerlastingly In generall I beseeche thee o Lord to aide and succoure all Christians that are yet liuinge and on those that are deade to bestowe absolution and life euerlasting Finallie o Lord I most humbly and hartely beseeche thee who art 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the beginning and the ending that when the time is come that I must die thou wilt be a milde and mercifull iudge and a perpetuall protector to me against the accusations and snares of the diuell my ancient aduersary admitting me for euer into the societâ—e of the holy Angells and of all thy Saints in thy heauenly cittie where thou art blessed and praysed during all eternitie Amen A deuoute Prayer in memorie of Christs passion CHAPT XLI O Lord Iesu Christ my redemption mercie and saluation I praise thee and giue thee thankes albeit farre inferiour to thy benefits albeit wholy voide of deuotion and feruour albeit leane and without the desired fatnes of that most sweete affection which thou dost require neuerthelesse my soule doth render thee thankes such as they are which althoughe they are not suche as I knowe I am bouÌ„de to offer yet they are according to my best endeuour O hope of my harte o strength of my soule may it please thy omnipotent worthines to accomplishe what my woÌ„derfull greate weakenes doth attempt to performe because thou art my life and the scope of mine intention And albeit I haue not hitherto deserued to loue thee soe muche as I knowe is due yet at least I desire to loue thee soe muche as I ought to doe Thou seest my conscience o my light for that my
whole desire o Lord is in thy sight and whatsoeuer my conscience doth attempt to doe that is praise worthy I acknowledge that it proceedeth wholy from thee If that o Lord be good which thou dost inspire yea it is good indeede because it is to loue thee graunt that I may doe that which thou dost cause me to desire Graunt that I may loue thee asmuche as thou dost require Beholde I offer thee praises and thankes-giuing lett not this guift of thine be vnprofitable vnto me o Lord which thou hast begunne and graunt me that which thou hast caused me to desire by preuenting me with thy gratious inspiration Transforme most sweete Sauiour my repiditie into a most feruent loue of thee For the onely thingâ— that I desire to attaine vnto most louing Lord by this my prayer and memorie of thy passion is that I may be able to loue thee with a most ardent affection Thy goodnes o Lord hath created me thy mercy after my creation hath cleansed me from originall sinne thy patience after baptisme hath hitherto sustained nourished and expected me being defiled with many other sinnes Thou o good Lord dost expect when I will growe better and my soule that it may be able to doe pennance and to iiue well doth expect the inspiration of thy gratious fauoure O my God who hast created me who dost patientlie sustaine and louingly maintaine me I hunger and thirst after thee I desire sighe and couet to come to thee And as a poore distressed childe depriued of the presence of his tender harted father doth with sighes sobbes incessantlye embrace in his harte the image and semblance of his fauoure soe fareth it with me as often as I call to minde thy bitter Passion which albeit it be not as much as I ought yet it is as muche as I am able when I call to minde likewise the buffetts and whipps by thee sustained the greiuous woundes by thee endured wheÌ„ I remember in what cruell manner thou hast been crucified and killed in what manner thou hast by thy deare freindes beene embaulmed and buried as often likewise as thy glorious Resurrection and and admirable Ascension doe occure to mine imagination All these thinges I beleiue most firmely lamenting with teares the calamities of my exile in this vale of miserie my onely hope is the comforte of thy comminge my cheife desire is to beholde thee face to face in thy heauenly habitation I cannot but greiue for that I haue not scene the Lord of Angells debasing himselfe to conuerse and liue amongst men that by that meanes he might exalt men to Angelicall conuersation when God did die who was offended that man might liue who had offended I cannot but greiue for that I haue not deserued to be present and to be astonished through admiration of a worke of soe wonderfull and vnspeakeable compassion Howe is it o my soule that the sworde of most sharpe sorrowe doth not peirce thee to the harte seing thou could'st not be present to see the side of thy Sauiour wounded with a speare seing thou couldst not be present to see the feete and handes of thy maker to be fastned with nayles nor the blood of thy redeemer to be spilt on the grounde in that dreadefull manner Why art thou not drunke with the bitternes of teares seeing he was made to drinke of the bitternes of gall Why dost thou not take compassion of the most chaste Virgin Marie his most worthy mother and thy most worthy Ladie O my most merciful Lady what fountaines of teares may I affirme to haue flowed from thy most chast eies when thou beheldst thy onely sonne albeit free from all offence to be bounde whipt and slaine in thy presence In what mournefull manner may I imagin thy dolefull countenance at that time to be blubbered all ouer with weeping when thou beheldst this thy innocent sonne thy God and thy Lord to be stretched out vppon the crosse and that sacred fleshe framed of thy fleshe to be by those bloodie boucheâ—s soe cruellie rent in peices With what vnspeakeable greife may I well thinke thy poore harte at that time to be tormented when thou didst heare those wordes pronounced Woman behold thy sonne And the disciple Beholde thy mother When thou didst accept the disciple insteed of his maister and the seruant in lieue of his Lord O that I had beene worthy with S. Ioseph to haue taken my Lord downe from the Crosse to haue embaulmed and buried him to haue followed or accompanied him to his sepulcher that I might haue doÌ„ne some little seruice at soe greate a funeral O that I had with the three blessed Maries been striken into amazednes through the bright vision of the Angells and had heard newes of our Lords Resurrection newes of my consolation newes soe muche expected and desired O that I had hearde I say from the mouthe of the Angell doe you not feare you seeke Iesus that was crucified he is not heere O most courteous most sweete and most gratious Iesu when wilt thou cure me of my sorrowe and pensiuenes for that I haue not seene the incorruption of of thy blessed fleshe For that I haue not kissed the places where thou wert wounded the places which the naâ—les had peiâ—ced For that I haue not bedewed with teares of ioy the scarrs of thy true bodie O admirable inestimable and incomparable Lord and Sauiour when wilt thou comforte and cure me of the greife which I endure Because my sorrowe will neuer cease to afflict me as loÌ„g as I liuet o Lord seperated from thee Take pittie of me o Lord take pittie of my soule Thou hast departed o Lord without bidding me farewell Beginninge to mounte vp into heauen thou hast blessed thy freindes there assembled and I was not present to see it Lifting vp thy handes thou hast beene receiued by a cloude into heauen and I was not present to beholde it The Angells haue promised that thou wouldest returne and I did not heare it What shall I say What shall I doe Whither shall I goe Where shall I seeke him and when shall I finde him Of whom shall I aske for him Who will tell my beloued how muche I loue him The delight of my harte is changed into desolation my laughter in lameÌ„tation My fleshe and my harte haue failed me o God of my harte and mine inheritance euerlastinglie My soule hath refused all other comforte and consolation o God my sweete delight sauing that which proceedeth from thee alone For what haue I in heauen or what doe I desire vpon earth sauing thee alone I couet after thee my trust is in thee I seeke after thee My hart hath saied to thee I haue sought thy face thy face o Lord will I seeke turne not a way thy face from me O most gratious louer of men thou art the protector of the poore thou art a friende to suche as are depriued of father and mother O most assured Aduocate take pittie
I haue receiued from thee common with them the guift of reason wherby to knowe thee Neuerthelesse I haue saied almost equall for that they alreadie haue the happie knowledge of thee by seeing thee as thou art but I by hope onely They by beholding thee apparantlie face to face I obâ—curelie as it were in a looking glasse They plainelie and perfectlie but I partlie onely Of the future dignitie of man CHAPT VIII WHen that therfore which is perfect is arriued that which is partly onely shal be disanulled which will be when we shall be admitted to beholde thy face apparentlie What will then hinder vs to be almost equall to the Angells whom thou o Lord at that time wilt crowne with a crowne of hope which is adorned with glorie and renowne whom thou with vnspeakeable fauoures wilt grace as thy friends yea we shal be in all thinges like and equall to the Angells Thy truth doth likewise testifie the same saying They are equall to the Angells and are the sonnes of God What are they but the sonnes of God if they are equall to the Angells They shall without doubt be the sonnes of God because the sonne of man is become the sonne of God Through this consideration I durst boldlye affirme that man is not onely almost equall to the Angells noe not equall onely but higher in dignitie and surpassing the Angells because man is God and God is man not an Angell Wherfore I durst auouche that man is the most excellent of all creatures because the Worde which in the beginning was God with God the Worde by which God sayed let light be made and light was made to witt the Angelicall nature the Worde by which God in the beginning created all thinges the same Worde hath become fleshe and dwelt in vs and we haue seene the glory of it Loe this is the glorie by which I glorie whensoeuer I glorie as I ought Loe this is the ioy by which I reioyce whensoeuer I reioyce as I shoulde euen thou o Lord my God the life and onely glorie of my soule I confesse therfore vnto thee o Lord my God that thou hast created me in a manner equal to the Angells in that thou hast created me capable of reason for that by meanes of thy diuine Worde I am in possibilitie to become equall to the Angells that by meanes of thy onely begotten Worde I may be adopted to be thy sonne o Lord to be thy sonne I say by the meanes and merits of thy beloued sonne lesus Christ in whom thou hast beene well pleased being thy onely soÌ„ne and heare and our onely Lord and redeemer enligthner and comforter being our aduocate with thee and the light of our eies who is our life our Sauiour and our onely hope who hath loued vs more then himselfe by whom we haue an assured trust and confidence and accesse to come to thee because he hath giueÌ„ them power to be the sonnes of God that beleiue in his name I will for euer o Lord praise thy holy name who by creating me according to thine owne image and likenes hast made me capable of soe greate glorie as to be the sonne of God The trees stones and all thinges els whatsoeuer that are mouâ—d or growe in the ayre or in the sea or on the earthe haue not this priuâ—ledge and prerogatiue because thou hast not giuen them power by meanes of thy Worde to be the sonnes of God for that they are depâ—iued of reason because this power doth depende of the reason by which we knowe God But he hath giuen this power to men whom he hath created reasonable according to his owne image and likenes And I o Lord like as by thy grace I am a man soe likewise by thy grace I am in possibilitie to be thy sonne which is a prerogatiue which they cannot attaine vnto Whence proceedeth this soe greate a good vnto me o Lord the most soueraigne truth and true soueraigntie the originaâ—l and beginning of all creatures What is the cause heereof o Lord that I shoulde be able to become thy sonne and they cannot Thou art the cause o Lord who remainest for euer who hast created aswell the one as the other Thou hast created both men and beastes the stones and the greene grasse growing on the grouÌ„de There were not any precedent meritts or precedent grace because thou hast created all thinges being moued there vnto by thy onely goodnes All creatures before theire creation were equall in meritts for that they were all voide of merits What then hath caused thy goodnes to be more liberall towardes me thy creature whom thou hast endewed with reason then towardes all others that are voide of the same Why am not I like vnto all them or all they like vnto me or I alone like vnto them What merits of mine what grace or goodnes was there in me to deserue the same to witt that thou shouldest make me capable to be the sonne of God which prerogatiue thou hast graunted to none of them Be it farr o Lord from mine imagination that I shoulde thinke this to proceede from any merits of mine Thy onely grace and goodnes hath been the cause of this to the end I might be pertaker of the sweetnes thereof I beseeche thee therefore by that grace by the which thou hast created me that thou wilt giue me grace to the end I may be gratefull for this grace receiued from thee Of Gods omnipotent power CHAPT IX THy omnipotent hande o God being still one and the same hath created Angells in heauen and wormes on the earth not being more excellent in the creation of the first then of the later For as noe other hande coulde create an Angell soe noe other coulde create a worme As noe other coulde create heauen soe noe other coulde create the least leafe of a tree As noe other coulde create the body soe noe other coulde cause soe much as one haire of the heade to be either white or blacke But the omnipotent hande of thy maiestie createth all thinges with a like facilitie Neither is it more possible vnto it to create a worme then an Angell nor more inpossible to inlarge the heaueÌ„s then a leafe it is not more easie vnto it to make a haire then a body nor more harde to lay the foundation of the earthe vpon the waters then the foundation of the waters vpon the earthe But all thinges whatsoeuer it woulde it hath made as it woulde in heauen and in earthe in the sea and in the bottomeles depthes making me likewise amongst all other thinges euen as it would could and knewe how Veriely thy hande o Lord coulde haue made me a stone or a birde or a serpent or some brute beaste knowing full well how to doe it yet woulde not by reason of thy great goodnes The cause therefore why I am not a stone or a tree or some brute beaste is for that thy goodnes hath otherwise ordained neither were there
any precedent merits of mine that might claime the same Of the incomprehensible prayse of God CHAPT X. WHat hath caused thee o Lord to be soe good and gratious vnto me and how shall I be able worthily to prayse thee For as thou hast made me without me according as it hath pleased thee soe likewise thou art praysed without me euen as it pleaseth thee Thou o Lord art thine owne prayse Let thy workes prayse thee o Lord according to the multitude of thy greatenes albeit thy prayse be incomprehensible It cannot be conceiued in thought nor expressed with wordes nor perceiued by the hearing because these are transitorie and fleeting but thy praise is eternall and euerlasting The thought hath his beginning and likewise his ending the voyce yeild â—th forth a sounde and the sounde sodainelie passeth away the eare heareth and the hearing quickly ceaseth without making any long stay but thy praise endureth perpetually Who then can worthily praise thee or what man is able to exprâ—sse thy praise seeing thy praise is not transitorie but durable for all eternitie That man praiseth thee that beleiueth thee to be thine owne praise That man praiseth thee that acknowledgeth that he is vnable to expresse thy praise In thee o Lord is our praise who art that praise that endureth alwaies in thee shall my soule be praised We o Lord doe not praise thee but thou thy selfe praysest thy selfe both by thy self in thy selfe we likewise haue praise in thee Then haue we true praise when we receiue praise froÌ„ thee wheÌ„ the light aproueth the light because thou that art the true light giuest true praise As often therfore as we seeke praise and commendation from any other sauing from thee soe often we loose thy praise becaÌ„use that praise passeth away but thine endureth for all eternitie If we seeke transitorie praise we loose that which endureth alwaies If therfore we desire to obtaine that praise which is euerlasting let vs not loue that which is transitorie fleeting O Lord my God the eternall praise from whom proceedeth all praise and without whom there is noe praise I am not able to prayse thee without thee let me possesse thee and I will prayse thee For what am I o Lord of my selfe that I shoulde praise thee Verily I am nothing else but dust and ashes a deade dogge turned into carion a worme and meere corruption What am I o Lord God most powerfull the breathe and life of euery liuing creature that I shoulde prayse thee whose dwelling is eternitie Shall darknes praise the light or death life Thou art the light I am darknes thou art life I am deathe Shall vanitie prayse veritie Thou art veritie and I am a man wholy addicted to vanitie How then shall I be able o Lord to prayse thee Shall my miserie prayse thee Shall that which stinketh prayse that which is sweete Shall mans mortalitie which is to day and is gone to morrowe prayse thee Shall man presume to prayse thee being but rottennes and corruption and the sonne of man being but a worme Shall he presume to prayse thee that is begotten borne and brought vp in sinne and iniquitie Verily thy prayse doth not seeme faire and commendable in the mouthe of him whose life is abominable Let thy incomprehensible power therfore o Lord my God prayse thee let thy boundlesse wisedome and vnspeakeable goodnes prayse thee Let thy supereminent clemencie and superabundant mercie prayse thee Let thy ouerlasting vertue diuinitie prayse thee Let thy most omnipotent power and thy surpassing greate liberalitie and loue by which thou hast created vs prayse thee o Lord God the verie life of my soule Of the hope which we ought to haue in God CHAPT XI BVt I o Lord that am thy creature being placed vnder the shadowe of thy winges will put my trust in thy goodnes by which thou hast created me Permit not that to perish through my malice which it hath pleased thee to make through thy greate goodnes Permit not that to perish through my miserie which that hast vouchsafed to create through thy surpassing greate mercy For what profit is there in my creation if I shall descende into corruption Hast thou o God in vaine created all the children of men Thou o Lord hast created me gouerne that which thou hast created Despise not I beseeche thee the workes of thy handes Thou hast made me of nothinge if thou o Lord doe not gouerne me I shall againe returne to nothing For like as when I was nothing of my selfe thou hast made me of nothing soe it thou doe not gouerne me I shall againe of my selfe returne to nothing Helpe me o Lord and my life that I may not perishe through my wickednes If thou o Lord hadst not created me I were nothing now for that thou hast created me I am something If thou doe not gouerne me I shall cease to be something and returne to nothing For neither my merits nor any speciall grace in me haue compelled thee to create me but thy gratious goodnes and mercie Let the same loue of thine o Lord my God which hath heeretofore enforced thee to create me enforce thee now likewise to gouerne me For what doth it profit me that thy charitie hath constrained thee to create me if I perishe in my misery and thy right hande doe not rule me Let this thy clemencie o Lord my God enforce thee to saue that which is created which hath enforced thee to create that which was vncreated Let that charitie cause thee to saue me which hath caused thee to create me being it is no lesse now then it was then thou thy selfe being that charitie who art still the same Thy hande o Lord is not growne short that it canot helpe me neither thy eare become short that it cannot heare me but my sinnes haue made a diuision betweene me and thee betweene darknes and light betweene the image of death and life betweene vanitie and veritie betweene this life of mine which changeth as the moone and that of thine which is still the fame Of the snares of concupiscence CHAPT XII THese are the shadowes of darknes with which I am ouerwhelmed in the bottomeles dongeon of this obscure prison in which I lie prostrate groueling on the grounde vntill the day appeare and the shadowes be departed and light be made in the firmament of thy vertue Let the voyce of our Lord with power and magnificence pronounce saying Let light be made and let the darknes be dispersed let the drie lande likewise appeare and let the earthe bring forth greene hearbes producing the seede and good fruite of the iustice of thy kingdome O Lord my father and God the life by which all thinges liue and without which all thinges are to be accompted as deade permit me not to linger in lewde thoughtes and deliuer me from proude and loftie lookes Take from me all carnall coÌ„cupiscence and suffer me not to be of a bold
mine aduersarie o Lord is wily turning and winding diuers waies soe that the wilines of his waies and the forme of his countenance is very hardly knowne vnles thou illuminate our vnderstanding For sometimes he is heere sometimes there sometimes he transformeth himselfe into a wolfe sometimes into darknes sometimes into light vsing diuersitie of temptations according to qualities places and times and according to the variation of thinges For to deceiue those that are sad he seemeth to be sad to mocke those that are merrie to delude spirituall men he changeth himselfe into an Angell of light to subdue those that be feirce he becommeth milde like a lambe and to deuoure those that are milde he becommeth feirce like a wolfe All these temptations he putteth in practice according to the like-lihoode he hath that they will take effect to the end he may terrifie some with feare by night others with the arrowe that flyeth by day others with ghosts and gastly vsions walking in darknes others through feare of inuasions others with diabolicall temptations that happen at noone day Who then is able to knowe these thinges and to finde out his fallacies Who is able to describe the forme of his attire the hideous order of his teethe Beholde he hadeth his arrowes in the quiuer and couereth his snares vnder the forme of light in soe much that it is a thing almost impossible to perceiue them vnlesse we receiue light from thee o Lord who art our hope by which we may see all thinges Neither doth he hide his subtile snares in the workes of the fleshe onely which are easiely perceiued nor in vices onely but alsoe in Religious actes themselues making vices to seeme vertues and changing himselfe into an Angell of light These and many other abhominable enterprises doth this sonne of Belial SataÌ„ the diuell endeuoure to practice against vs lying in waite sometimes like a Lion sometimes like a Dragon openly and secretely within and without by day and by night to bereaue vs of our soules But thou o Lord who sauest those that truste in thee deliuer vs from him we beseeche thee that he may greiue to see vs deliuered and thou for the same maiest by vs be praysed o Lord our God A further acknowledging of the benefits of God CHAPT XVIII I Therfore the son of thy handemaide hauing alreaddy committed and commended my selfe into the hands of thy mercie will now with my whole harte confesse vnto thee o Lord my deliuerer and call to minde all the benefits which thou hast bestowed vpon me during my whole life euen from mine infancie Because I knowe that ingratitude doth very much displease thee being the roote of all spirituall euill and a winde that doth blaste and burne vp whatsoeuer is good hindering the fountaine of thy diuine goodnes from flowing into vs by meanes whereof our euill actions that were forgiuen and forgotten are againe remembred and our good workes become deade and are noe more obtained Wherefore o Lord my deliuerer I will giue thee thankes least I be founde to be vngratefull vnto thee for that thou hast deliuered me As often as that infernall Dragon hath swallowed me downe thou o Lord hast drawen me violently out of his mouth As often as I haue sinned and he was ready to deuoure me thou o Lord my God hast preserued me When I offended thee by breaking thy commaundements he stoode readie to hale me away to hell if thou hadst not hindered him I did offend thee and thou didst defende me I did not respect thee yet thou didst protect me I departed from thee seeking to ioyne my selfe to mine aduersarie and thou didst affright him to the end he shoulde not entertaine me These benefits o Lord my God thou didst bestowe vpon me and I knew it not Truly thou hast diuers times dealt in this mercifull manner with me deliueringe me out of the iawes of the Diuell snatching me out of the mouthe of the Lion yea thou hast often times saued me from fallinge into the pitt of eternall damnation I little thinking whither I was going Verily I haue descended to the very gates and thou hast kept me from entring in I drewe nigh to the dores of death and by meanes of thee they haue not beene shutt vpon me Thou hast deliuered me many times o my Sauiour from corporall deathe after the like manner When greuious sicknesses did afflict me when diuers dangers did affright me thou o Lord didst still assist and mercifullie saue me deliuering me both by sea and lande from fire and sworde and from all aduersitie Thou â—ruly o Lord didst knowe full well that if then I had chanced to dye my soule had gone to hell and I shoulde haue beene damned euerlastinglie But thy mercy and grace o Lord my God hath preuented me sauing me from the death both of soule and body These and many other benefits thou hast bestowed vpon me and I was blinde did not perceiue it vntill thou didst enlighten me Now therefore o Lord my God the light of my soule my life by which I liue the light of mine eies by which I see beholde thou hast enlightned me and I doe knowe thee because I doe liue by thee for which I doe hartely thanke thee offering thee prayses according to my poore abilitie although they are small of little value and nothing answerable to the manifold benefitts which I haue receiued froÌ„ thee Because thou art my onely God my kinde creator who louest our soules and hatest nothing that thou hast made Beholde I o Lord the cheife of al those sinners that thou hast saued will confesse and acknowledge the manifolde benefits which I haue receiued from thee to the eÌ„d I may stirre vp others to doe the like and be a witnes of thy wonderfull mercy because thou hast deliuered me from the lowest hell not once or twice or thrice onely but an huÌ„dred yea a thousande times I alwaies went on towardes hell and thou didst bring me back againe continuallie soe that if thou wouldest thou mightest a thousand times haue iustly damned me Yet thou wouldest not because thou dost loue our soules and in hope that we will amend and doe pennance thou dost as it were winke at our wickednes o Lord our God of much mercy in all thy wayes Now therfore o Lord my God I doe see and perceiue these thinges by meanes of the light which thou hast giuen me and my soule doth as it were faint by thinking of thy maruailous greate mercy towardes me for that thou hast deliuered my soule from the deepest hell and hast restored me to life I was wholie deade thou hast wholie raysed me Wherfore sithence that my whole life doth depende wholy of thee I doe wholy offer my whole selfe vnto thee Let my whole spirit my whole harte my whole body yea my whole life liue to thee my sweete life because thou hast wholy deliuered me that thou mightst wholy possesse me thou hast
of this prison to confesse vnto thy name that we may glory and be delighted in thy light Open thine eares to the dolefull clamours of thy dristressed children who cry to thee saying O our Father giue vs this day our daily breade in the strength of which we may walke day and night vntill we attaine vnto thy holy mountaine Oreb O God my Father and force when shall I that am the least of all thy family come and appeare before thy face to the end that as I doe now praise thee during the time of this mortalitie I may from thence for the praise thee euerlastinglie O how greate shall I esteeme my happines if I shall at length be admitted to beholde thy brightnes Who will obtaine this fauoure for me that I may be admitted to beholde thee I knowe o Lord I knowe and confesse that I am vnworthy to enter into thy house neuerthelesse I beseech thee afforde me this fauour for thy glorie and confounde not thy seruant that trusteth in thee But who is able to enter into thy sanctuarie to consider thy power if thou o Lord doe not open vnto him the dore Or who can opeÌ„ it if thou shutt it Verily noe man is able to erect that which thou dost throwe downe neither is any one able to free him whom thou dost putt in prison If thou withholde the waters all thinges become dry and withered againe if thou lett them loose they will ouerwhelme the worlde If thou shouldest cause all thinges which thou hast created to returne to nothing who durst condradict thee Finallie there is noe end of the goodnes of thy mercy by which thou hast created all thinges that it hath pleased thee Thou o maker of the worlde hast made vs vouchsafe likewise to gouerne vs. Thou hast created vs despise vs not because we are thy workmanship Certainely o Lord our God we that are little wormes composed of durte and clay cannot enter into thy eternitie vnlesse thou leade vs in who hast created all thinges of nothing That our Saluation is from God CHAPT XXIV I therfore that am the worke of thy handes will confesse vnto thee in thy feare for that I will not put my confidence in my bowe neither is my sworde the thing that shall saue me but thy right hande and thy arme and the light of thy countenance Certainely I shoulde despaire were it not that thou art my hope that hast created me whose propertie is neuer to forsake those that hope in thee Because thou art our Lord God full of sweetnes and patience mercifullie disposing all thinges For whether we sinne or sinne not we are still thy creatures and thou dost still esteemeâ— and make accounte of vs Verily al of vs are as the leafe of a tree and euery man liuing is meerely vanitie soe that our life whilst we liue in this worlde is as a puffe of winde If we therefore thy poðre pupills chaÌ„ce to fall be not offened because thou o Lord our God knowest the brickle substance wherof we were made Wilt thou therfore o God of inestimable fortitude shewe thy power against a lease that with euerie pusse of winde is caried hither and thither or wilt thou persecute a little stuble or strawe Wilt thou o eternall king of Israel damne a dogge Wilt thou damne a flea Wee hauâ— heard o Lord of thy mercie that thou art neither the author of deathe neither dost thou reioyce at the damnation of those that die Wherfore I beseeâ—n thee o Lord that thou wilt not permit that which thou hast not made to haue the vpper hande of me thy creature whom thou hast made For if thou dost grieue at our damnation what doth hinder thee o Lord that canst doe any thinge from reioycing alwaies at our saluation Thou o Lord canst saue me if thou wilt but I of my self although I desire it cannot doe it The multitude of my miseries is â—oe greate that albeit I haue a will to doe well yet I want power to performe I cannot desire what is good vâ—lesse it be thy will likewise neither haue I power to performe what I doe desire vnlesse thy power strengthen me sometimes I am vnwilling to doe that good which I haue power to performe were it not that thy will must be donne in earthe as it is in heauen Moreouer I knowe not what I am willing or able to performe vnlesse thou illuminate me with thy wisedome Yea although I knowe what to doe and am willing and able to doe the same yet my wisedome for that it is imperfect and vaine doth leaue it vndonne if I be not ayded by thy true wisedome All thinges therfore doe depende of thy will neither is any man able to withstande the same who art Lord of all thinges and hast power ouer euery particular creature effecting both in heauen and earthe in the sea and in bottomelesse depthes whatsoeuer seemeth good to thy diuine pleasure Let thy sacred will therfore be fulfilled in vs who doe call vppon thy holy name to the end that this noble worke of thine which thou hast created for thy glorie doe not perishe euerlastinglie For what man is there borne of a woman that is able to liue and escape deathe and damnation if thou alone who art the liuing way of all life by whom all thinges liue and haue their being doe not deliuer him How without the assistance of Gods grace mans will is vnable to doe well CHAPT XXV I haue alreadie acknowledged vnto thee o Lord my God who art the prayse of my life and the force of my saluation that I did heeretofore trust in my owne vertue and strength which indeede was not strength but rather presumption For as long as I did runne on after that fashioÌ„ I alwaies founde my selfe there most fraile and subiect to fall where I thought my selfe most firme soe that by running thus I founde my selfe rather behinde then before for that the thinge was still further from me which I thought to ouertake by mine owne endeuoure And in this manner thou hast in diuers thinges made triall of my force Now I know o Lord because thou hast enlightned mine vnderstanding that whatsoeuer I thought my selfe best able to doe I haue alwaies been least able to performe I oftentimes saied I will doe this or that and yet in fine I did neither of them When I was willing to doe any thing I founde my selfe vnable and when I was able I founde my selfe vnwilling because I did presume of mine owne forces But nowe o Lord my God father of heauen and earthe I confesse vnto thee that noe man ought to vaunt in thy presence as if he weare strong through his owne puissance because the presumption of all fleshe is vaine and foolishe Verilie it lieth not in mans power to desire what he is able to doe or to be able to doe what he doth desire or to knowe what he ought to desire or is able to doe but rather the
footestepps of men are guided by thy diuine prouidence the footesteps I say of those who acknowledge that they are guided by thee and not of themselues Wherefore we humbly beseeche thee by the bowels of thy mercy o Lord that thou wilt saue what thou hast created because thou art able to saue vs if thou art willing on whose onely will doth depeÌ„de the merit of our saluation Of the ancient benefits of almighty God CHAPT XXVI REmember â— Lord I beseeche thee thy mercie shewed towardes vs of old time through which thou hast preuented vs with the blessings of thy sweetnes euen from the beginninge For thou o Lord and my hope from the verie time that I was a suckling yea before I was borne hast prouided and prepared the waies that I should walke in and by them attaine to the glorie of thy heauenly habitation Thou hast knowen me before thou didst forme me in my mothers bâ—llie and before I issued forthe of the wombe of my mother thou hast preordained of me whatsoeuer seemed good to thy diuine pleasure I knowe not o Lord what thinges are written of me in thy booke in the secret of thy consistorie which makeâ—h me to feare exceedingly but thou knowest them all particularlie because that which I expect by succession of daies and times a thousand yeares hence to be fulfilled in the sight of thy eternitie is already accomplished and that which is to come is alreadie donne But I for that I knowe not these thinges liuing heere as it were in a darke and obscure night cannot but feare and tremble whilst I see sondrie dangers on euerie side assaulting me troupes of ennimies poursuing me and the infinite miseries of this life enuironning me And were it not that the ayde of thy grace doth succoure me in these my manifolde tribulations I should soone fall into desperation But I haue a great hope and confidence o my God in thee who art a Prince of vnspeakeable pittie and the consideration of thy infinite mercies are noe small comforte vnto me in my miseries The former tokens likewise of thy loue and mercie shewed towardes me before my natiuitie but appearing now especiallie doe put me in hope for the time to come to receiue more ample and greater fauoures from the handes of thy bountifull libeâ—alitie which thou dost reserue for thy friendes and those that loue thee to the end that my hope may reioyce in thee o Lord my God with a sacred and liuelie cherefulnes with which thou dost continuallie comforte my younge and tender yeares Of the Angells appointed to be the guardians of man CHAPT XXVII Thou hast loued me o my onely loue before I loued thee and hast created me according to thine owne likenes making me Lord and ruler ouer all thy other creatures Which dignitie I then possesse when I know thee for whom thou hast made me Moreouer thou causest those heauenlie spirits for my sake to become messengers to whom thou hast giuen commaundement to protect and guarde me in all my actions that I hurte not my foote against a stone These are the watchmen that keepâ— continuall sentinell vpon the walls of thy cittie new Hierusalem guarding the mouÌ„taines likewise that are rounde about it keeping watch by night ouer thy flocke least that old serpent our aduersarie the diuell as a Lion shoulde kill and destroy our soules if there were none to desende them who as a roaring Lion continuallie rangeth about seeking whom he may deuoure These are the cittizens of our mother aboue the blessed and celestiall cittie Hierusalem who art sent to serue and attende on those that are preordained by God to inherite the kingdome of heauen that they may deliuer them from theire ennimies and guarde them in all theire waies that they may comforte and admonishe them and in the presence of thy glorious Maiestie may offer vp the prayers of thy children Vndoubtedlie they doe loue their fellowe cittizens expecting by them the reparation of theire ruines Wherefore at all times and in all places with great caâ—e and diligence they are present and ready to assist vs succouâ—ing and supplying our necessities passing incessantly to and fro betwixt thee o Lord and vs relatinge our groanes and sighes vnto thee to the end they may obtaine for vs fauoure and courtesie and may bring to vs the desired blessing of thy grace and mercie In all our wayes they walke with vs entring in and going for the with vs considering with great attention how religiously and laudably we behaue our selues in the midst of a peruerse nation with what care and diligence wee seeke thy kingdome the iustice thereof with how greate feare and trembling we serue thee and with how greate ioy and mirthe of â—harte we sing vnto thee When we laboure they ayde vs when we rest they protect vs when we fight they encourage vs when we conquerre they crowne vs when we reioyce if our ioy be of thee they reioyce with vs when we suffer if our sufferings be for thee they suffer together with vs. Greate is the care which they haue of vs and greate is the effect of theire loue towardes vs All which respect and louâ— they shew vs in respect of the vnspeakable loue with which thou hast loued vs. Verilie they loue those that thou louest they preserue those that thou preseruest and forsake those that thou forsakest neither can they endure those that committ sinne because thou they self dost hate those that commit sinne and wilt destroy all those that delight in lying As often as we doe well the Angells are glad and the diuells are sad But when we doe ill we make the diuel merrie and depriue the holy Angells of theirâ— ioy Because they reioyce to see a sinner doe pennaÌ„ce when he hath sinned wheras contrarie wise the diuell reioyceth to see a iust man irrepentant when he hath offended Wherefore o father I beseeche thee affordâ— them this fauoure that they may alwaies reioyce in respect of vs to the end that both thou by them maiest perpetuallie be praysed in vs and we with them may be made one folde in the kingdome of heauen that soe we may together prayse thy holie name o creator of men and Angells When I call these thinges to memorie I confesse o Lord that I haue great cause to prayse and magnifie thee for that these thy benefits are verie greate with which thou hast honoured vs by causing thy Angells who are spirits to serue and attende vs. Verily thou hadst bestowed vpon vs before whatsoeuer is contained within the compasse of heauen and yet thou didst imagin all thinges that are vnder heauen to be a guift of small estimation if thou shouldest not likewise add those that are aboue the heauens Let all thy Angells o Lord for this thy goodnes prayse thee let al thy workes acknowledge and confesse the same vnto thee and let all thy Saints extoll thee euerlastinglie Thou hast honoured vs exceedingly o Lord God our honoure
which made me with feare and trembling to crie out saying Woe is me woe is me in respect of the darknes in which I haue remained woe is me in respect of my former blindnes in which I could not see the light of heauen Woe is me woe is me in respect of my former ignorance when I did not knowe thee o Lord. Thanks therfore be to thee o my enlightner and deliuerer for that thou hast enlightned me and I haue knowen thee Too too late haue I knowen thee o ancient veritie too too late haue I knowen thee o eternall truth Thou remainedâ—s t in light and I in darknes and I knewe thee not because I coulde not be enlightned without thee for that there is noe light besides thee A consideration of Gods diuine Maiestie CHAPT XXXIV O God the holy of holies the God of Gods and Lord of Lords of inestimable Maiestie whose wonderfull greatnes cannot be vttered or imagined before whom the Angelicall Powers doe shake for feate whom all the Dominations and Thrones doe adore in whose presence all the Vertues doe tremble whose power and wisedome is infinite who hast layed the foundation of the worlde vpon nothing and gathered together the sea in the aire as it were in a bottle O most mighty most holy and most powerfull God the God of the Spirits of soules of all mortal creatures from whose sight heauen and earthe doe flie away for feare to whom all the elements doe obey at a becke lett all thy creatures adore and glorifie thee Amongst whom I vnworthy wretch the sonne of thy hand maide doe bowe downe the necke of my harte vnder the feete of thy supreame Maiestie being taught soe to doe by the faithe which thou hast giueÌ„ me rendring thanks vnto thee for that thou hast vouchsafed by thy mercy to enlighten me O light most true sacred and delightfull most worthy of praise and most admirable which enlightneth euery man comming into this worlde yet the eies of the Angells themselues Beholde now I see for which I thanke thee Beholde now I see thee light of heauen a heauenly bright beame proceeding from the face of thy brightnes doth shine vpoÌ„ the eies of my minde which maketh all my bones to reioyce O that this light were perfect in me encrease it in me o author of light I beseech thee Encrease I say I beseech thee that light that shineth in me Let it be augmented I beseeche thee let it be augmented by thee What is this that I feele What fire is this that maketh hoâ—te my harte What light is this that enlightneth my harte O fire which dost alwaies burne and arâ— neuer extinguished enflamme me O light which dost alwaiâ—s shine and art neuer darkned enlighten me O that I were made hoâ—te by thee O sacred fire how sweetlie dost thou heate how secretlie dost thou shine how desiredlie dost thou burne Woe be to those that are not made hoate by thee woe be to those that are not enlightned by thee O true light enlightning al the world whose brightnes doth replenishe all the worlde Woe be to those blind eies which doe not see thee who art the sunne that giuest light both to heauen and earth Woe be to those dimme eies which cannot see thee Woe be to those eies that are turned away from seeing veritie Woe be to those eies that are not turned away from seeing vanitie Verily those eies that are accustomed to darknes cannot beholde the bright beames of thy supreame righteousnes neither doe they knowe what to thinke of the light whose dwelling is in darknes They see loue and approoue the darknes soe that walking from one darknes into an other they stumble and tumble they knowe not whither Doubtles they are wretched that knowe not what they loose but they are more wretched that knowe what they loose who fall with theire eies open and descend aliue into perdition O light most blessed who canst not be sene of those eies that are neuer soe little defiled Blessed are the cleane in harte for they shall see God Cleanse me o cleansing vertue cure mine eies to the end that with sounde and cleare eies I may be able to beholde thee whom sore and sickly eies cannot possibly see Remoue from mine eies I beseech thee o inaccessible beauty the scales of my former blindnes by the beames of thy brightnes that I may be able stedfastly to beholde thee and in thy light may see light Beholde o my light now I see for which I thanke thee Let this my light o Lord I beseech thee be encreased by thee Open mine eies that I may see the wonderfull thinges of thy lawe who art wonderfull in thy Saints I giue thee thanks o my light for that I now see albeit obscurely as it were in a mirrour or looking glasse but when shall I see thee apparantlie face to face O when will that day of ioy and mirthe arriue in which I shall enter into the place of thy tabernacle soe much to be admired euen into the house of God to the end I may see him face to face that seethe me that soe my desire may be accomplished Of the desire and thirst of the soule after God CHAPT XXXV LIke as the harte or stagge desireth the fountaines of water when he is poursued euen soe my soule longeth after thee o God My soule hath thirsted after thee my God the liuing fountaine when shall I come and appeare before thy face O fountaine of life o veine of liuing waters when shall I come to the waters of thy sweetnes from this deserte craggie and dry countrie that I may see thy vertue and glory quenche my thirst with the waters of thy mercy I thirst o Lord thou that art the fountaine of life giue me to drinke I thirst o Lord I thirst after thee the liuing God O when shall I come good Lord and appeare before thy face And shall I then at length indeed see that day that day I say of ioy and gladnes that day which our Lord himselfe hath made that we might reioyce and be glad in it O famous and faire day hauing neither euening nor Sunsetting in which I shall heare the voyce of praise mirthe and thanks-giuinge in which I shall heare saied Enter into the ioy of thy Lord. Enter into the euerlasting ioy into the house of thy Lord God where there are greate and vnsearchable and wonderfull thinges which cannot be numbred Enter into that ioy which is free from heauines which containeth euerlasting gladâ—â—â— where all goodnes doth abounde and no â—euill can be found Where ther shal be whatsoeuer thou louest and nothing that thou loathest There is that vitall life which is sweete and louely which likewise shall endure euerlastingly Where there shal be noe foe to impugne vs not allurement to entice vs but soueraigne and certaine assurednes assured quietnes and quiet ioyfullnes ioyfull happines happie euerlastingnes euerlasting blessendes where there is the blessed
comforte during the time of this my banishment Let my minde flie vnder the shadow of thy winges from the heate of worldly cogitations Let my harte pause and repose in thee my harte I say which is like vnto a spatious and tempestuous sea O God the most riche and bountifull giuer of the diuine daintie dishes of heauenlie plentie refreshe it being wearie recall it being gone astray deliuer it being in captiuitie and being by sinne as it were broken in peeces restore it to the estate of its former innocencie Beholde it standeth at thy dore knocking and calling vnto thee I beseech thee o Lord by the bowells of thy mercy in which thou hast visited vs comminge downe from heauen commaund thy gate to be opened vnto my poore wretched soule knocking at the same to the end it may freelie enter in and repose in thee and be fed by thee the breade of heauen for thou art the breade and fountaine of life thou art the light of euerlasting felicitie thou art all thinges by which the righteous doe liue that loue thee Of the desire of the soule CHAPT V. O God the light of those harts that see thee the life of those soules that loue thee the strength of those thoughtes that seeke thee graunt me grace that by loue I may alwaies adhere vnto thee Come I beseech thee into my harte and make it drunke with the plentie of thy pleasure to the end I may forget all temporall thinges whatsoeuer Verilie I am ashamed and grieued to endure such thinges as are donne in the worlde Whatsoeuer I see in this vale of miserie is displeasing vnto me whatsoeuer I heare of thinges transitorie is burdensome vnto me Helpe me o Lord my God and make my harte glad come vnto me that I may see thee But alas the house of my soule is ouer little to entertaine thee vntill thou enter into it and enlarge it It is ruinous and ready to fall wherfore I beseech thee to repaire it It hath many thinges I confesse and knowe contained in it which are displeasing in thy sight but who will cleanse it or to whom besides thee shall I crie to doe it Cleanse me o Lord from my secret sinnes and be mercifull vnto thy seruaunt in respect of other mens sinnes committed by my meanes Graunt me grace o sweete Christ o good Iesu graunt me grace I beseech thee to lay aside the burden of all carnall loue and worldly desires through the loue and desire of thee Let my soule haue dominion ouer my body reason ouer my soule thy grace ouer reason and make me in all thinges subiect to thy most holy will both without and within Afforde me this fauoure I beseech thee that my harte and tongue and all my bones may praise and magnifie thee Dilate my mind and lift vp the eies of my harte that albeit for neuer soe shorte a time my soule may attaine vnto thee the eternall wisedome abiding aboue all thinges Free me I beseech thee from the bandes with which I am bounde that forsaking all thinges transitorie I may adhere and attende vnto thee onely Of the soules felicitie being deliuered out of the prison of this earthly body CHAPT VI. HAppy is that soule which beinge freed from this earthlie prison doth freely mounte vp into heauen which beholdeth thee o sweete Lord apparantlie face to face being now noe more affraied of deathe or of any worldlie miserie but reioycinge throughe the immortalitie of euerlasting glory It liueth in repose and securitie fearing now neither deathe noâ— ennimie It enioyeth thee being a mercifull Lord whom it hath long sought and alwaies loued and being ioyned in felowship with the quires of Angells it singeth for euer mellifluous sonnets of perpetuall gladnes in praise and commendation of thy glory o Christ our King o good Iesu Verilie it becommeth as it were drunke throughe the aboundance of thy heauenlie habitation because thou dost cause it to drinke of the riuer of thy vnspeakeable delectation O howe happy is the heauenlie company of celestiall cittizens how glorious is the solemniâ—ie of all those that returne vnto thee o Lord from the toiles and trauailes of this our pilgrimage to the pleasantnes of all beauty to the beauty of all brightnes and to the dignitie of all excellencie where thy cittizens o Lord doe continuallie see thee Nothing at all is there hearde that may molest the minde What sacred Canticles what diuersitie of instruments what delightfull ditties what sweete sounds of heauenlie harmonie are there hearde incessantlie There the mellifluous organ there the most sweete melodie of Angels doe sounde forth Hymnes and admirable Canticles of Canticles euelastingly which are songe by the celestiall cittizens to thy praise and glory Noe spitefulnes or bitternes of affection is founde in that heauenly region for that neither malice nor malitious men haue there any abiding Noe aduersarie is there to impugne vs nor occasion of sinne to entice vs. There is noe want or pouertie in that place noe shame or disgrace noe brawling noe vp braiding noe blaming noe fearefullnes noe disquietnes noe paine noe doubtfullnes noe violence noe variance but contrariwise surpassing greate peace perfect charitie singing and praising of God euerlastinglie perpetuall repose ioined with securitie and ioy in the holy Ghost during all eternitie O how fortunate shall I be if after this life I shal be admitted to heare the most pleasant and sweete songes of those heauenlie cittizens if I shal be admitted I say to heare those mellifluous meeters of poetrie made to expresse the praises and honoure due to the most sacred Trinitie O how much more happy shall I be then I can imagine if I my selfe likewise shal be thought worthy to sing a songe to our Lord Iesus Christ euen one of the sweete songes of Syon Of the ioy of Paradise CHAPT VII O Liuing life o euerlasting life and euerlastinglie happie Where there is ioy without griefe rest without laboure dignitie without feare riches without sicknes plentie without want life without deathe eternitie without corruption felicitie without affliction where all good thinges are comprehended in perfect charitie where the Sainctes see God and one an other apparantlie where where there is perfect knowledge in all thinges and of all thinges where the supreame goodnes of God is behelde and the light that enlightneth all thinges is by the Saincts glorified where Gods maiestie is seene present and with this foode of life the minde of the beholders doth remaine satisfied and content They alwaies see God and by seeing long to see him they desire it without loathsomnes where the true sunne of iustice doth refreshe them all by the wonderfull light of his vnspeakeable beautie and doth in that manner enlighten all the câ—ttizens of that celestiall countrie as that they beinge but a light enlightned by God who is the light that enlightneth them doe shine more bright then the sunne and all the stars of heauen Who adhering vnto God who is
any time my rebellious flesh doth chance to throwe me downe through the remembrance of the woundes of my Lord I arise againe When the diuell seeketh to entrap me I forthwith fly to the bowells of my Lords mercy and he presentlie departeth from me If the heate of vnlawfull luste doth at any time cause any inordinate motion in my flesh through the remembrance of the woundes of our Lord the sonne of God it is immediatlie mitigated In all aduersities I doe not finde a more soueraigne remedie then are the wounds which Christ suffered for me In them I sleepe securely and repose assuredly Christ hath died for vs and therfore in deathe nothing can be founde soe bitter and vnpleasing which is not sweetned and cured by Christs death and passion My whole hope is in the deathe of my Lord. His deathe is my merit succoure and saluation it is my life and resurrection our Lords mercy and compassion is the merit which I rely vpon I am not voide of merit aslonge as I haue the Lord of mercies on my parte and sit hence the mercies of our Lord are many I my selfe am likewise riche in merits By howe much the more powerfull he is to saue me by soe much the greater is my securitie Howe the remembrance of Christs woundes is an approued remedie against all afflictions CHAPT XXIII I Haue exceedingly sinned and I knowe mine offenses to be many which I haue committed and yet I doe not despaire because where sinnes haue abounded there grace hath superabounded He that despaireth of obtaining pardon for his sinnes denieth God to be mercifull He doth almightie God a greate iniurie that mistrusteth of his mercy As much as lieth in him he denieth God to haue charity truth and power in which three notwithstanding doth depend my whole confidence that is in the charitie of his adoption in the truth of his promise and in the power of his redemption Nowe therfore let my foolishe imagination murmure as much as it will saying Who art thou that speakest after this fashion how wonderfull greate I pray thee is the glory of heauen by what merits then doâ—t thou hope to obtaine the same To whom I will answere confidently saying I knowe to whom I haue committed my selfe for that throughe his surpassing great charitie he hath adopted me to be his sonne because he is true in his promise and able to performe the same and may doe whatsoeuer it pleaseth him I cannot be terrified with the multitude of my sinnes if the deathe of my Lord come into my minde because my sinnes cannot oâ—ercome him The nayles and lance doe tell me that I am truly reconciled to Christ if I loue him Longinus with his lance hath opened Christs side for me into which I haue entred and doe rest there securely He that feareth let him loue because loue chaseth forth feare Verilie the whole worlde doth not afforde such a powerfull and present medicine against the heate of dishonest pleasure as is the deathe of my redeemer He stretcheth for the his armes on the Crosse and spreadeth out his handes as one readie to embrace sinners I purpose to liue and desire to die betweene the armes of Christ that hath saued me There I will sing securely I will extoll thee o Lord for that thou hast receiued me and hast not permitted mine enimies to triumphe ouer me Our Sauiour at his death bowed downe his heade that he might giue the kisse of peace to his beloued So often doe we kisse God as we are egged forwards through his loue to doe good A deuoute Meditation of the soule stirring vs vp to the loue of Christ. CHAPT XXIV O My soule who art famous by being framed according to the likenes of God beinge bought with Christs owne blood espoused vnto him by faith endowed with the holy Ghost adorned with vertues esteemed equall with the Angells loue him of whom thou art soe much loued attende to him that attendeth to thee and seeke him that seeketh thee Loue this thy louer of whom thou art beloued with whose loue thou art preuented who is the fountaine froÌ„whence thy loue proceeded He is thy merit and rewarde he is the fruite the vse and end of thy loue Be carefull to please him that is carefull to please thee thinke on him that thinketh of thee be pure with him that surpasseth in puritie be holy with him that excelleth all others in sanctitie According as thou shalt carry thy selfe towardes God in thy conuersation in the same manner will he carrie himselfe towardes thee againe He therfore being courteous milde and full of mercy and compassion doth exact of thee that thou likewise be courteous milde sweete huÌ„ble and mercifull towardes all men Loue him o my soule who hath deliuered thee from the lake of misery and from the myre of sinne and iniquitie Choose him for thy friende especiallie who alone will faithfullie adhere vnto thee when all other thinges and friendes shal be taken from thee On the day of thy buriall when thou shalt be abandoned by all thy friendes he will not leaue thee but will defende thee from those roring and infernali fiendes ready to deuoure thee yea he will conduct thee throughe that vnknowne region and bring thee into the streetes of heauenly Syon and will place thee there with his Angells before the face of his Maiestie where thou shalt heare that Angelicall songe Holy holy holy c. The Canticle of ioy the voice of mirthe and 〈◊〉 thanks-giuing praise and perpetuall Alleluia is songe there euerlastingly There there is a heape of happines supereminent glory superaboundant gladnes and all manner of goodnes O my soule sighe vehementlie and desire earnestlie that thou maiest attaine to that celestiall citty of which soe glorious thinges are saied and in which is the dwelling place of all those that are truly glad By loue thou maiest mounte vp thither because nothing is harde nothing is impossible to an vnfained louer The soule that loueth ascendeth very often and runneth vp and downe familiarlie in the streetes of the heauenlie Hierusalem visiting the Patriarches and Prophets saluting the Apostles admiring the armies of Martyres and Confessores and considering the quires of Virgins Heauen and earthe and all thinges in them contained doe continuallie exhorte me to loue my Lord God How nothing can satisfie the soule besides God the supreame good CHAT XXV IT is impossible that the harte of man should remaine constant and stable if it be not setled in the desire of thinges eternall but being more mutable then mutabilitie it selfe it passeth from one thing to an other seeking repose where it is not for in these fraile and transitorie thinges in which the affections thereof are held captiue it cannot content it selfe and liue at quiet because it is of soe great dignitie as that nothinge but the chiefe good is able to suffice it it is likewise of that freedome as that it cannot be constrained to commit any sinne Wherfore
vniuerâ—allie knowen which he knoweth He oftentimes meditateth of God and by meditating of him is sweetely refrâ—shed gatheringe by soe much the more profit by it by how the more often he doth it For that which is alwaies sweete to be loued and praised is likewise sweete to be considered Of true quietnes of harte CHAPT XXIX THis without doubt is true quietnes of harte when by desire it is wholy fixt on the loue of God Neither doth it couet any thinge els but is delighted throughe a certaine sweetnes which it findeth in that which it doth possesse and by being delighted doth exceedingly reioyce But if it chaÌ„ce to be neuer soe little distracted from thence throughe some vaine cogitation or worldly occasion it forthwith hastneth with all the speede it can to returne thither againe esteeming the stay which it maketh els where to be worse then any banishment whatsoeuer For as there is noe moment in which man doth not enioy the benefit of Gods mercie soe there ought to be noe moment in which he hath not God present in his memorie And therfore he is guiltie of noe small sinne who talking with God in prayer is sodainely distracted from his sight as it were from the eies of one that doth neither see nor heare him Which hapneth when any one followeth his euill and importunate cogitations and preferreth some base and abâ—ect creature that occurreth to his imagination â— before him that created him that is to say by musinge and thinking more thereof then of God whom he ought coÌ„tinuallie to remember as his Creator to adore as his redeemer to expect as his Sauiour and to dreade as his iudge full of feare and terroure How euery thing that hindereth the soule from the sight of God ought to be auoided and detested CHAPT XXX O Thou that louest the worlde looke whâ—ther thou art going This way in which thou walkst is naught and leades to ruine Ely therfore o man fly a little from all earthly occupations and hide thy selfe a while from thy tumultuous cogitations Cast away now all care and solliâ—itude lay aside all dissension and discorde attende a while vnto God and repose in him at least for some short time Enter into the closet of thy soule exclude from thence all thinges besides God and such thinges as ayde thee to seeke him which donne shut the dore against them that thou maiest the better seeke him Then with thy whole harte say vnto God Thy face o Lord is that which I desire thy face is that which I seeke for Now therfore o Lord my God teach my harte where and how it may seeke thee where and how it may finde thee If thou o Lord art not heere present where shall I seeke thee absent But if thou be euery where why doe I not seeke thee heere Certainely this is the reason for that thou dwellest in that light vnto which noe man can attaine how then shall I attaine to that light vnto which noe man can attaine Or who shall conduct me and bring me into the same that I may see thee therin Moreouer by what signes or semblance shall I seeke thee I haue neuer seene thee o Lord my God I haue neuer knowen thy face What shall he doe o Lord most highe what shall he doe that liueth in exile soe farre distant from thee What shall thy seruaÌ„t doe that laÌ„guisheth throughe thy loue being cast a farre of as one foâ—lorne out of thy sight Beholde he exceedinglie desireth to see thee and thy face iâ— very farre distant from him He desireth to come vnto thee and the place of thy abode is of that surpassing heighâ— as that noe man is able to mounte vp vnto it He longeth to finde thee but knoweth not thy residence he coueteth to seeke thee but knoweth not thy countenance How the sight of God hath been lost by meanes of our sinne and misery hath succeeded in place of the same CHAPT XXXI THou o Lord art my God and my Lord and yeâ— I haue neuer beheld thee thou hast created and redeemed me and bestowed almost infinite benefits vpoÌ„ me and yeâ— I haue not hitherto either sene or knowen thee Finally I was made to beholde thee yet I haue not hitherto permed that for which I was created O how much is mans misfortune to be lameÌ„ted seing he hath lost that for which he was created O cruell and harde happe Alas what hath he lost and what hath he founde What hath departed and what hath remained He hath lost felicity vnto which he was created and founde misâ—ry vnto which he was not ordained That hath departed without which nothing is happy and that hath remained which of itselfe is nothing but meere misery Man heerefore did eare the breade of Angells which now he would gladly eate if he coulde get it but now he eateth the breade of anguishe being then ignorant of it How longe o Lord wilt thou forget vs how longe wilt thou turne away thy face from vs when wilt thou vouchsafe to looke vpon vs and heare vs When wilt thou illuminate our eies and shewe vs thy countenance When wilt thou shewe thy selfe fauourable vnto vs Looke vpon vs o Lord and heare vs enlighten vs and shewe thy selfe fauourable vnto vs. Returne vnto vs that it may goe well with vs because without thee it â—areth amisse with vs. Call vs vnto thee o Lord I beseech thee and helpe vs to come vnto thee My harte is growen bitter throughe oâ—ermuch desolation sweeten it therfore with thy consolation I haue bâ—gunne to seeke thee as one hungry permit me not to depart away empty I approache vnto thee as one huÌ„ger-starued let me not goe away vnfedd Being poore and needy I present my selfe before thee who art wealthie being in miserie I cast my selfe at the feete of thy mercy humbly crauing that I may not be sent away as an abiect without receiuing something I am become crooked o Lord soe that I am not able to see any other thinges but those that are heere beneathe in this vale of miserie raise me and holde me vpright that I may looke vpwarde and atteÌ„de vnto thinges that are heauenlie Mine iniquities haue gone ouer mine heade they haue ouer whelmed me and as a heauie burden doe oppresse me Deliuer me vnloade me least the infernal pit of hel shut his mouthe vpon me Teache me to seeke thee shewe thy selfe vnto me when I seeke thee for that I cannot seeke thee vnlesse thou teache me neither caÌ„ I finde thee vnlesse thou vouchsafe to shew thy selfe vnto me Graunt me grace therefore that I may seeke thee by desiring thee and desire thee by seeking thee GrauÌ„t that I may finde thee by louing thee and loue thee by finding thee Of the goodnes of God CHAPT XXXII I Confesse o Lord and giue thee hartie thanks for that it hath pleased thee to create me according to thine owne image to the end that being mindfull of thee I might coÌ„tinuallie