most profitable before the Communion whereby the soule is excited to the feare and loue of God VVHo art thou my Lord and who am I that I dare ap proch thee What is man that hee can receiue God vnto him his maker Redeemer What is man in his nature but the vessell of corruption and rottennes the sonne of the diuell the heire of hell the worker of iniquitie the contemner of God and a Creature vnfit for all goodnesse and apt and prompt to all wickednesse What is man but a creature miserable in all things in his counsel blinde in his actions incoÌ„stant in his appetites vncleane in his desires vnconstant in euery worke of his litle in his owne eies great see Lord see what I am But thou my God who what a one art thou Thou art great with out quantitie good without quality wise without measure and eternall without time Thou art omnipotent in vertue infinite in wisedome admirable in counsels terrible in iudgements perfect and absolute in all vertue How therefore dare so vile and vncleane a creature as I am approach and touch a GOD of so great maiestie Behold the moone also shineth not and the stars are vncleane in thy sight The pillars of heauen tremble and quake at thy becke Those celestial Seraphins cloâ—…ke their wings and in thy presence confesse themselues to bee butterflies most abiect wormes What boldnesse therefore what rashnesse is it for a most vile man the abiectest creature vpon earth to dare so much as but to looke vpon such a Lord Holy Saint Iohn Baptist sanctified in his mothers womb durst not when he baptized our Lord touch the crowne of his head yea he profest himselfe to be vnworthy to vnloose the latchet of his shooe The Prince of the Apostles exclaimed saying Depart from me O Lord for I am a sinfull man shall I that am the notorious sinner of all men not feare to approach thee If it were vnlawfull for any man to eat the Bread of proposition which were onely but a shaddow of this profouÌ„d mystery except him that was clean and sanctified how can I bee secure who eate the bread of Angels where notwithstanding I am so farre off from all sanctite That pascall Lamb which was a type figure of this sacrament according to the commandement of God was to bee eaten with vnleauened bread and wild Lettuice and they that did eate the same ought to haue their loines girt their shooes vpon their feete Ah how shall I dare to come to this true Pascal Lambe who haue none of these preparations For what thing else is the vnleauened bread than Purity without the leuen of malice And what the bitter Lettuice but vehement contrition Where is the puritie of my reynes where of my feete that is the cleannesse of my holy desires I feare O Lord and vehemeÌ„tly suspect lest I should bee excluded from this table if any of those preparations should bee wanting in me From this table was he reiected or rather repulsed who came without his wedding garment that is without charity and being bound hand foote hee was cast into exterior darknesse what other thing expect I now if I shall intrude my selfe to this banquet without this vesture O diuine eies to whom all the cranies corners of my soule are open and manifest what shall become of mee if I present my selfe naked boide before thy presence To touch the Arke which was only but a figure of this sacrameÌ„t it was so great an offence that Oza the priest stretching out his hand to vphold the same being ready to fall supporting it was strooken with suddain death how can I theÌ„ choose but feare and suspect the like penalty if vnworthily I shall receiue that of which the Arke was onely but a figure The Bethsamâ—…tes offended in no other thing than for that they had too curiously beheld the Arke of the couenaÌ„t when as it was caried through the confines of the countrey yet God was so displeased that for that only cause of the people he slue seuenty men and of the common sort fiftie thousand But O most merciful Lord how much more worthy is this sacrament thaÌ„ the Arke of the Couenant and how much more dangerous is it to receiue thee than to see thee Not without reason therefore ought I to bee afraid and tremble as often as I come to receiue a Lord of so great maiesty iustice And if there be so many causes why I ought to feare thy greatnes how many reasons should there bee of feare if I weigh the muâ—…itude of my sinnes For I call to remembrance O Lord many grieuous sins of mine whereby I haue in this world offended thy diuine maiesty The time was somtime ther was a time thankes bee giuen to God that the time is not now wheÌ„ I loued not that thine infinite beuty but buried it in deepest obliuion when the dust of thy creatures was more estimate with mee than the treasures of thy graces and yâ— hope of thy eternall glorie The Lawes and rules of my life were my desires inordinate appetites I had no care of thee I shewed thee no reuerence because I knew thee not I am that foole that said in my heart there is no God for so dissolutely for a time did I liue that in my matters I did professe that I beleeued thee either to be nothing or to be of power to do nothing I did not labor to insinuate my selfe into thy-loue I feared not thy iustice I set light by the breach of thy lawes I yeelded not that thankes which I ought although I knew thou wert present in all places yet was I not ashamed securely in thy sight to commit sin yea and that very grieuously Whatsoeuer mine eies desired that made I lawful vnto them neither did I restraine my heart 〈◊〉 crossing the incontinent delights thereof and what kinde of wickednesse is there wherewith my soule is not distained what else was my whole life but a continuall war against thee what else but a receiuing of torments and passions of my whole life How often haue I for a momeÌ„tany pleasure or a trifling gain like a second Iudaâ—… soâ—… thee And now comming to receiue thee what els doe I but prepare thee a kisse with Iudas by which I may betray thee whom I haue already sold What else haue I done when other waies I comâ—…icated but that with the souldiers I haue mocked thee insulted ouer thee here bowing my knee and adoring thee there beating thy blessed head with a reede How shall I therefore dare to receiue thee O my Lord in an estate so vncleane and wicked How can I be so rash to inclose thy most sacred body in the den of dragons the nest of vipers What other thing else is the soule of a sinner than a dwelling place of diuels a â—…est of beasts a hog-stie and a
thee so could not any thing be created by any other but by thee to the end that all things might serue thee praise thee and publish thy glory Thou art the vniuersall dispenser of good things so that there is no benefit to be found either of nature or grace body or soule which taketh not his originall from thee who art the fountaine of all goodnes Thou art the maine of all perfection the Abysse of all greatnesse the Dâ—…ean of infinite mercy and goodnes the image of incomparable beauty Thou art the God of Gods the holy of holiest the King of Kinges the Lord of Lords the cause of causes the being of beings the life of the liuing the order of the Uniuers the beauty of the world the glory of the heauens Thou art my Creator that madest me of nothing to thine owne Image and similitude Thou art my conseruer who by thy prouideÌ„ce maintainest me lest I should become nothing Thou art my sanctifier who by thy grace extollest me vnto things which are diuine Thou art my glorifier who hast made me to enioy the glorie euerlasting Thou art my defender helper pastor benefactor Thou art my King my Lord my father my spouse Thou art the center of my soule my last end in whom alone consisteth all my felicity happinesse and the last perfection of my life what neede many words Thou art to me all in all in as much as thou art God But in as much as thou art man thou art my redeemer my sauiour and deliuerer Thou art as the Apostle testifieth my wisedome my iustice my sanctification my redemption my sacrifice my Lambe my priest my aduocate my intercessor my doctor my example my fortitude my consolation Thou art the generall phisition of all my wounds infirmities Thou hast healed my pride by thy humility my auarice by thy pouerty my pleasures by thy dolors my wrath by thy meeknes my enuy by thy charity my excesse by the gall and vinegar which thou tastedst for my sake my sloath by thy diligence and vnmeasurable labors vndertaken for my sake For my sake thou didst fast wander hither and thither sweate watch pray weepe for mee thou wert banished persecuted deâ—…ded mockt spit vpon whipt crowned with thornes crucified and more afflicted than all other men of this world and at length put to death 2. A thanksgiuing ALL these are thy benefits O Lord for which I ought to yeeld thee thanks nay rather they are most iust causes for which I am indebted vnto thee bonds by which thou holdest me captiue bound vnto thee What shall I giue vnto our Lord for all the benefits hee hath bestowed on mee by what duty or what humble seruice shall I recompence so manie graces bestowed vpon me Uerily I beleeue that although I onely had all mens hearts and with all them did only loue thee yet might I not in the least sort yeeld thee that which belongeth vnto thee How then for many so great benefits shall I yeeld thee satisfaction How can I deny thee that one heart which I haue for all wheÌ„ I owe thee so much for all thy benefits towards me What shal I say my God what shall I doe for I alone am not sufficieÌ„t to yeeld thee condigne thanks for such a multitude of blessings But I know what I shall doe I will call vpon all creatures that are in heauen on earth and I will desire them to assist me and vouch safe with me to sing thy praises and glorifie with mee the Lord of all glorie Let vs therefore sing the song which the three children sang in the burning Furnace in Babilon saying O blesse ye all the workes of the Lord God praise ye and magnifie him for euer O yee angels of the Lord blesse yee the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer O yee heauens blesse the Lord praise yee and magnifie him for euer O yee waters that are aboue the firmament blesse yee our Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer c. 3. The oblation of a mans selfe ALL these praises and blessings doe I owe thee O father yea and far more greater belong vnto thee For if I shal more neerely examine the matter I not only owe thee mine but my selfe also For if in India a man buy another man for a red cap and hee that is bought at so slight a rate is in such sort wholly obliged subiect to the buier as that he is neither master of a moment of time or of a farthing but is very often cast into fetters by his Lord beaten with clubs and handled according to the humour of him that bought him what shall become of me O Lord I am thine yea truly wholy thine not tied vnto thee vnder one name and title but by infinite respects Thou hast created me thou hast bought me not with a red cap but with thy precious blood thou hast conserued me in all and euery momeÌ„t of my life For without thee I can nether stir haÌ„d or foot without thy prouidence I can neither breath nor respire or act any thing with what colour theÌ„ can I cast off thy dominion ouer me How an I deny thee that which is thine By what right can I challenge liberty to my selfe Or with what impudence shaking off the yoake of my Lord can I wish to liue according to my wicked desires when by so many reasons I am thine ought so wholy to be dedicated vnto thee Most humbly therfore acknowledging thy dominion ouer me behold I dedicate my self wholy vnto thee and intirely submit my selfe to thy perpetuall seruice subiection Neither doe I onely offer my selfe vnto thee but also all that which is mine what soeuer this day or in the rest of my life I shall thinke speake or do with all those things which at any time for thy sake shal be offered me to admit or further 〈◊〉 so that henceforward I wil neither eat nor drink nor sleep nor do any such like thing whose end shall not bee the honour glory of thy most holy name Once more I say O Lord I sacrifice my selfe vnto thee lest hereafter I be mine owne not thine I will liue no more according to mine owne will I will not labour for my selfe I wil not seek my selfe but in all things euery way will I seeke thee obey thy will and be diligent in thy seruice and if at any time I shall doe the contrary I will call my selfe a theefe and rauisher of an other mans right for that dutie and obedience which vnder so many titles and by so much right appertaineth vnto thee deniing and stealing the same from thee I shall vsurpe vnto my selfe 4. A petition for new benefits BUt because without thy grace I cannot yeeld thee that duty I pray thee O Lord that thou wilt assist me herein and create in me a new heart that shal not iudge himselfe to be his own no not for 〈◊〉
moment of time but shall thinke 〈◊〉 lost whatsoeuer is not imployed in thy honour and seruice giue me a will that may desire nothing more than to keepe thy commandements and obey thy wil giue me an vnderstanding that may meditate on thy law day and night and such a memory as may neuer be forgetfull of thee Furthermore O Lord giue a bridle to my tongue set a watch before mine eyes Grant me the puritie of heart the austerity of the fâ—…esh the mortification of all appeâ—…es and perturbations of the minde Finally giue me a grounded humility of heart and with it patience obedience meeknesse chastity true discretion with these pouerty of spirit feruent zeal of thine honor the loue of my neighbour and sincere compassion of an other mans tribulations Who liuest reignest world without end Amen A CoÌ„mendatory morning praier wherin together with our selues we commend all faithfull Christians vnto God I Adore blesse and glorifie thee 〈◊〉 holy Trinity omnipotent God Father Son and holy Ghost Behold I offer vp my selfe to thy diuine maiesty and yeeld me tributary to thy most holy and irreuocable will I pray thee O Lord take from me from all faithfull christians whatsoeuer is displeasant vnto thee and giue whatsoeuer is gratefull in thine eies and cause vs become such as thou commandest vs to be I commend vnto thee my father my mother brothers sisters sons cousins benefactors friends familiars neighbors and all those that haue recoÌ„mended themselues to our praiers or for whoÌ„ I ought to pray I coÌ„mend vnto thee thy holy catholike Church bring to passe O Lord that all and euery one may know thee all may honour thee all may loue thee and may likewise be beloued by thee Reduce the ignorant into the right way destroy heresies let all those bee conuerted to the true and sincere faith who haue no knowledge of thy most holy name Giue vs peace and conserue vs in the same yet in all things let thy will not our will bee fulfilled Comfort and helpe all those that are in tribulation and such as leade their liues in miseries temptations perturbations and afflictions as well of the body as the soule Finally I commend all creatures to thy protection that to the liuing thou mâ—…est giue grace and to the dead etâ—…nall rest Amen A praier before we goe out of doores OMnipotent eternall God who art the way the life and the truth behold I am to walke amidst the snares of the diuell the world his minister laid in waite for me I beare likewise about mee the temptations of my fraile flesh so that it cannot be that I shall walke without harme tither of body or soule amongst so many gulfs dangerous heaps of teÌ„ptations which that cursed enemy hath beset vs with being swallowed in sin except thou stretch thy right hand to assist vs. Leade mee therfore thou most assured faithfull guide open mine eies conduct me in the high way that I may neither turne on the right nor on the left hand Shewe mee thy pathes teach me thy waies make my path straight direct my iournies in peace O Lord in thy righteousnesse leade me because of mine enemies direct thou my waies in thy sight Thou that to holy men sendedst thine Angels for guardians by whom as the weaker sons they should be directed as by their elder and more stronger brothers Thou that to Toâ—…y the modest son of an honest father sendedst Raphael thy minister to accompany him on the way in his intended iourney send me being sarre inferiour to Tobias in vertue but confident in thy goodnesse thy holy Angel who may now leade mee in these paths that are most pleasant in thy sight and at length bring mee to the hauen of eternall life In the Name of the Father and of the Sonne and the holy Ghost Amen When you enter any iourney O God that broughtest Abraham thy seruant from Vr of the Chaldees and keptst him in safety in the whole course of his pilgrimage we beseech thee vouchsafe to keepe vs thy seruants Be vnto vs O Lord in our setting out our succour in our way our solace in heate a shelter in raine and cold a garment in wearines a wagon in aduersity a helper in the slippery way a staffe in shipwrack a hauen that by thy conduct wee may attaine thither with happines whither we trauell and at last returne in safety to our owne households through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen A praier before the Sermon O Lord Iesu Christ that dâ—…scendedst from the bosome of thy father into this world 〈◊〉 our teacher yâ— thou mightest shew the will of thy Father to wretched mortall men and teach them in the way of â—…aluation Behold I come to heare thy word and haue many yeares since repaired to the same but alas with small fruit of my soule I came vnto the light and I am not illuminated to the bread of life behold I die for hunger to the fire and I starue for cold to the medicine 〈◊〉 am oppressed with diuerse infirmities of sinne The dew of diuine doctrine falleth without intermissioÌ„ vpoÌ„ my earth and yet hitherto hath it brought forth nothing but thorns and thistles what need more daies moÌ„ths and yeeres are past and I remain in the same state of sinne It is a great benefit O Lord that thou hast left vs the seed of thy diuine word otherwise we had bene like Sodome and Gomorra It is likewise a great benefite that thou sendest laborers into thy vineyard that thou leauest vs Doctors and Catholicke preachers but in vaine teach they outwardly except thou mooue inwardly I beseech thee therefore O good Iesus open the eares of my heart that that which is instilled by the eare of my flesh may penetrate euen vnto the marrow of my spirit and there worke such holesome effects that thy word returne not againe in vaine Uouchsafe I say O Lord yâ— this seed which at this time falleth on me be not choked with the thornie cares of this world neither wither through drought and defect of the deaw of the holy Ghost in the time of tribulation neither be deuoured by the birds of the aire but warmed by the heate and operation of the holy Spirit may flourish in a fruitful mould and bring forth the fruits of eternall life that I may know thee loue thee and laud thee with perpetual praise who art laudable and glorious for euer Amen A prayer after the Sermon LOrd Iesus Christ eternall Sauiour I giue thee thanks for that thou hast fed me wiâ—…h the food of thy word 〈◊〉 abundantly nourished me I beseech thee that the vnderstanding of thy word be effectuall and healthfull to mee that the same celestiall seede do not perish in me without fruit Keepe my heart and enclose it with the sence of thy grace and prohibite that the infernall foule do not plucke it out of my heart but prepare it
vnto thee that it may keepe thy word and as a new thing be infixed in my memorie Thou art he that saidst by thy Prophet The word that shall issue from my mouth shall not returne to me in vaine but shall prosper in that for which I send it Goe to Lord and let thy word heard by me from the mouth of thy minister prosper in me giue me strength y◠my life may bee answerable to the doctrine I haue receiued Giue increase to thy word O thou celestial husbandman that it may augment and increase in me that by thy holy word it may not onely bring me to the knowledge of thy will but also that I may fulfill and execute that which thou biddest and wilt and so I may perseuer vnto the end vntil I may attaine to thy celestiall and euerlasting kingdome Amen When we goe about any worke VVE that are thrust into the most obscurest darkenesse through the fal of our first parents O thou fountaine of eternall wisedome know not what is pleasing or displeasant to thee and what is expedient or hurtfull for vs notwithstanding O bountifull mercifull Lord I notwithstanding y◠labour bee great if I respect my strength light easie if I regard thy assistance doe now vndertake the same not knowing whether thou wilt that the same should bee done by me or likewise whether it shall be profitable or hurtfull vnto me O thou light of diuine maiesty O beauty of the glory of the Father O giuer of gifts I beseech thee let the drops of thy grace fall vpon me that herein I may know thy will To thee therefore O thou that dwellest in the highest God and Father omnipotent with humble heart godly affection and deuout praier doe I fly crauing thy helpe and assistance in beginning this worke For thou vnderstandest the depth of my ignorance my pouerty in vertues my sluggishnesse in weldoing and the great deformity of my maners all which make me vnworthy to finish such a wor◅e giue me therefore wisedome that assisteth thy seat send her from thy holy heauens that shee may bee with mee and labour with mee Strengthen me O Lord God of Israel and at this houre behold y◠workes of my hands Giue mee strength assist and helpe mee that the euill spirit do not hinder me in atchieuing this worke or the detractious of wicked men reuoke me from the same let mee faile other waies or let me fall before the end of the worke but vnder such a moderator and rector let me institute and end all things orderly namely Iesus Christ the mediator who is God to bee praised for euer Amen A thanksgiuing when the worke is finished O Most sweete Lord Iesus Christ thou redeemer of mankinde who art Alpha and Omega the beginning and end by whom al things are made without whom nothing is done who weighest vowes crownest merits and giuest rewards I giue thee thanks that I haue ended the work begun by thy prouidence and ended by thy assistance Thine it is O good Iesus at this present to weigh the value therof If I haue any waies defaulted therein all that is mine and if any thing hath beene gracious in the eies of thy Maiesty all that do I ascribe vnto thee For being conceiued in sin borne in sin bred vp in sin what other thing can wee doe but sinne And how can we performe any good thing except thou giue it O Lord It remaineth now O God that by the same mercy wherewith thou wroughtest this worke with me by the same now thou wilt direct it to a wished scope and end lest the fruits thereof doe perish either to my selfe or to my neighbour And if for al those benefits which thou hast bestowed on vs wee should giue thee thankes most bountiful Iesus all our whole life should bee spent in that one thing so that it behooued vs to think on no other thing but the same But now our duety calleth vs hencefoorth to another thing our vocation exacteth another thing at our hands yet are thy new benefits alwaies to bee receiued with a new giuing of thanks For which cause I also for that it hath pleased thee so faithfully to finish this worke in me and by me although thy vile vnworthy instrument I blesse thee and praise thee and glorifie thee But grant me also O Lord not onely to giue thee thankes but also to haue them that is to remember continually thy bounties imploied on mee that when as thou findest mee not ingratefull thou maiest continue the increase of thy gifts in me vntil by these of thine I may attaine the perpetual fountaine of all goodnesse and blessednesse Amen When we prepare ourselues to studie VVE whatsoeuer we be by a hidden instinct of nature desire knowledge but in so palpable darkenesse are wee conuersant that not onely wee are ignorant of those things which wee ought to know but also how wee ought to know For it is the punishment of the first sinne that this naturall light wherewith in the state of innocency our vnderstanding was illuminate is now extinct and we as it were blinde grope for the wall and as it were without eies handle it To thee therefore O Wisdome dwelling in the highest heauens residēt in the fathers bosome make I recourse enlighten I beseech thee my nunde giue mee an vnderstanding heart y◠I may know the truth which thou thy selfe art follow and take hold of it Uerily I desire to know because I haue read that thou repulsest those that repine at Sciences I haue read that they that are learned shal shine like the brightnes of the firmament and they that instruct many in the waies of iustice shall bee as a star in the perpetuities of eternities But because I know not how I ought to know I beseech thee shew me the meanes order grant that I may first learne y◠which is most conuenient to saluation and that most ardently that vrgeth most vehemently to loue Grant that I may not desire to know for vaine glory sake not for curiositie nor in respect of profite but onely for the edification both of my selfe and of my neighbour O thou Creator of all things thou meridian light O the reward of the elect thou knowest the depth of mine ignorance my vnpolisht speech my defect of vertues and my fluggishnesse in apprehending good and ghostly things is not hidden from thee Notwithstanding O vncreated Wisdome which at thine owne pleasure of the wicked makest iust and of the ignorant suddainly and without delay learned send from the seate of thy Maiestie thy light and thy truth that may illuminate my darknesse and giue mee the vnworthy the vnderstanding of thy chaste and holy word Make me wiser better that I may impart to others likewise part of that light which thou impartest vnto mee I atribute nothing to mine industry cūning or wit for I know that all those who are rightly wise are wise by thy
wee are freed from earthly cares and desires wee esteeme thee for our chiefest good with thee wee dwell with thee we liue All these benefits die vnto vs if thou O eternall light bee hidden from vs. Abide therefore with vs O Lord and remoue from vs the weight of our sinnes to the end that perpetuall day may shine in our hearts stay with vs O Lord. Amen An Euening confession I Confesse my sinnes vnto thee eternall Bishop minister of the Saints and the Priest of the true tabernaâ—…le who ence in the yeare of this world hast entred into the sacred Secret and giuen the holy and immaculate Lambe of thy body for a sacrifice for our sinnes To thee I confesse that I am inindebted not onely in ten thousand talents of my sins but that I am bound to yeeld thee account of my whole life Because I know that there is not one Commandement of thine in my whole life that I haue perfectly obserued wherein either in word sight hearing taste worke thought perswasion or consent I haue not offended But now O Lord I come before thy face in confession and in the presence of all thine Angels and holy Saints I 〈◊〉 vnto thee all my sins wherwith this day I haue offended thee Here if there bee any more grieuous sins let them be repeated Neither these alone do I confesse but also all other my misdeeds whatsoeuer I haue coÌ„mitted from my infancy hitherto euen vnto this present houre either wittingly or ignorantly in deeds in words in thoughts and in omissions discouering also in particular the euilltree of my heart with all his roots twigs leaues fruits with al his deformities swellings rottennes all which are very well knowne vnto thee for thou beholdest not onely the interior desires doubts denials of thy prouidence but also these grosse externall offences which we wretchedly commit in our words and deeds Wherefore O most mercifull Father according to the measure of my weakenesse I beseech thee although I am altogether vnapt to pray forgiue my offences pardon my sinnes and forget all the multitude of my misdeeds as well those that I haue committed this day as also those which thou knowest me guilty of from my infancie hitherto Circumcise likewise for thy goodnesse sake my very stony heart for this old one create in mee a new and endue it with a new spirit water it with the iuice of celestiall grace and the spirituall fountaine of waters whereby the internal venome and corrupt iuice of the flesh may bee dried vp the custome of the old man may bee changed and my heart may not heereafter bring foorth brambles and thornes as fewell to the fire but spirituall fruits in iustice and holinesse Amen A thanksgiuing in the euening BEhold O Lord so many and so mighty are my sins whereby I haue this day offended thy diuine Maiesty and that time thou gauest me to shew the fruits of repentance in I haue consumed so vnprofitably forgetting that this day might haue bene the very last day of my life heaping new sinnes vpon old and walking in thy sight who continually seest all things without any feare no otherwise than if it were in the presence of some idoll for which cause I deserued that the earth should gape and hell should swallow me vp but for that this most fatal punishment doth not affect me both with lips and heart all the members about me and the power that is in me I giue thanks to thine infinit mercy For thou O Lord hast kept me this day by thy ciemency from all misfortune of body and soule for there is no euill in the world either corporall or spirituall that this day might not haue happened vnto mee For that which might befall another man why might it not light vpon mee For if hee bee the sonne of Adam why so am I If hee bee subiect to actuall sinne so am I If his body bee formed of humours and contrarie elements so is mine If therefore hee bee this day made blinde why might not I also haue bene blinded If another man this day become lame bee consumed fall sicke of the pâ—…sicke bee distraught get the â—…ixe labour of the spleene tremble with the palsâ—…e why am not I partner of the same miserie If this man hath perished by water that by fire hee bee extinguished by suddaine and vnexpected death why am not I also who am in the same state of damnation with him Why O Lord why I say but for that thy grace O most pitiful Lord hath conserued me and thy mercy protected me that therefore I am in safetie that I am whole and strong in body I onely ascribe it to thee to thee giue I most intire thaÌ„ks The like or rather more greater thanks offer I vp vnto thee O Father the thou hast no lesse protected my soule from sins then my body from sicknesses and misfortunes of this day that being blinde thou hast lightened her guided her in this way of thy commandements that falling thou hast raised her that standing thou hast sustained her from falling For that thy mercie hath preue nied me deliuering mee from all euils sauing me froÌ„ those that are past raising me from the present and defending me from the future taking away also the nets of my sinnes from before mee and cutting off their occasions and causes For except thou hadst done this and that for me I had done al the sinnes of the world because I know O Lord that there is no sin that euer man did that another man might not haue done if the Creator be wanting by whom man is made But that I did not offeÌ„d 〈◊〉 was thy fauour that I abstained it was thy command and that I beleeued thee it was thy grace inspired into me For thou O Lord didst rule me to thy selfe kepst me for thee and my selfe and that I should not commit adulterie or any other sinne thou gauest mee that grace light through Iesus Christ thy son To thee bee praise to thee grace to thee glorie for euer and euer Amen A praier wherin thou commendest thy selfe to God vpon the entrance of thy bed O Lord Iesus Christ my God Redeemer in asmuch as thou hast made ordained the pleasing time of night for the rest and refection of the weake bodies of miserable mortall men I beseech thee that this night thou wilt keepe my soule ouer-burdened with sinne defensed with true peace in thee O God who art the true and eternall rest preserue it from all the assaults of the diuel from all his dangerous incursions defend my senses and cogitations and ordaine and direct all that which I doe and wherein I end according to thy will lest ingaged in the depraued darkenesse of this world being ouercome by the Prince of the same the diuell I bee brought into temptation and pernicious snares but perfect in mee true tranquillitie and constant puritie in my conscience Giue vnto my
body also O most sweete Iesus contaminate with many crimeâ—… this night and al other times sucâ—… rest that I may neuer depart from thee who art eternal tranquillitie neither at any time forsake theâ—… or through the dulnesse and sluggishnesse of my slothfull flesh beâ—… forgetfull of thee and thereby beâ—… thrust into the perpetuall agitatâ—… on and damnation of incessaâ—… trouble For which cause O eternal an most mercifull Lord I comment my spirit into thy hands for thoâ—… our most mercifull Sauiour haâ—… redeemed vs on the wood of thâ—… crosse suffer not my spirit O Lord to sleepe in sinne and saint therein lest I bee buried in eternall death â—…ut watch ouer mee and intend â—…y safety O most faithfull shepheard suffer mee not being destiâ—…ute of thy helpe to be swallowed 〈◊〉 the gulfe of my sinnes Protect me vnder the shadow of â—…hy wings and suffer me not to be â—…ntangled with extraordinary and â—…nnecessary sleepe but raise mee â—…n due time that wakened in that sort I may cheerefully endeuour my selfe to sing thy praises and intend thy seruice that I may thinke of thee and being raised by â—…hy power I may performe the â—…orks of iustice and seeke thy heaâ—…enly kingdome with my whole â—…eart that at length by thee with â—…hee in thee I may obtaine eterâ—…all light and celestial rest Amen Another praier before sleepe GRant vnto mee O my God the watching I may vigilantlie â—…and in thy presence as often as 〈◊〉 shall fortune me to sleepe let my sleepe bee without sinne and if in my waking I should commit any misdeed grant me O Lord pardoÌ„ for thy mercy sake and if sinne in my sleepe let thy clemency pardon mee and by the memory of thy martyrdome giue mee a quiet time of sleepe and deliuer mee from euill dreames and filthy imaginations and for the whole night bouchsafe me a sleepe full of tranquillitie lest wickednesse haue the power ouer mee and euill cogitations ful of peruersnesse seduce mee Giue me thine Angel of light that may keepe all the members of my body and deliuer mee from cursed concupiscence by that liuing body that was cruâ—…ified for mee Let me lay me downe to rest and sleepe in peace and let thy blood bee the keeper of mee and my soule which is thine image Giue libertie to thy handiworke and let thy right hand defend the bodie which thou hast fashioned with thine owne hands and enuiron mee with the wall of thy mercies as it were an acceptable fortresse and bulwarke that when the body shall rest and sleepe it may bee defended by thy vertue and let my sleepe bee as a sweete sinelling incense before thy maiesty neither let the enemy approch my bed for thy mercie sake I will heare and execute thy will O my God who lodest the night with the tranquillitie of the iustice of our redeemer Iesus Christ. For thou art the true light and thy glorie dwelleth in the light and the children of light adore thee dwelling in the light Iesus the Word of the Father vnto life haue mertie on mee for thy mercie sake to whom with the Father that sent thee and the holy Ghost bee all praise for euer Amen Iaculatorie prayers to bee had alwaies in memorie When any sudden feare assaileth thee BE vnto mee O Lord a tower of strength against the face of mine enemy If the corrupt flesh prouoke thee PIerce my flesh with thy feare for I haue trembled at thy iudgments If an ill suspicion ouertake thee CReate in mee O Lord a new heart and giue me a new spirit If vndecent sadnesse ouer-hale thee GIue me the ioy of thy saluation and confirme mee with a principall spirit If vaine glory seduce thee NOt vnto vs O Lord not vnto vs but to thy â—…ame giue the glorie If desperation molest thee GOd is my hope froÌ„ my youth from the wombe of my mother thou art my protector If thou be afflicted in minde HElpe me and I shall be safe I will meditate alwaies vpon thy iustifications If sloth assaile thee EXcite thy power O Lord and come conuÌ„rme mee in thy words lest I faile in the way If labour tire thee BEhold my humility and my labour forgiue mee all my sins If wrath disturbe thee GIue mee patience O Lord peace to thy seruant lest I lose the crowne of my soule in heauen For thou hast said In your patience you shall possesse your soules If desire of honour and promotion tempt thee INcline my hart O Lord to thy testimonies and not vnto couetousnesse turne away mine eies lest I see vanitie and quicken mee in thy way If gluttony sollicite thee THe kingdome of heauen is not meate drinke but peace and ioy in the holy Ghost It is the Spirit that quickneth the fiesh profiteth nothing Is euill 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thee VVHose tinage and superscription is this And hearing that it is Ceâ—…ars that is the diuel of this world say let thy money bee with thee to thy perdition now the doore is shutte and our Lord careth his passe-ouer here I haue no leasure to open vnto thee If any blessing of God happen to thee VVHat shal I yeeld vnto our Lord for all the benefits he hath bestowed vpon mee How much â—…west thou mâ—… soule And turâ—…g to the angels lay Come and heare and I wil show you all yâ—…e that â—…are God what hee hath 〈◊〉 to my soule And turning thine eies vnto God himselfe it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shalt thou say O Lord thy mercy is great toward me Iâ—… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 persecution IUdge them O Lord that hurt mee ouerthrow them that fight against mee Take the sword and shield and arise to do me helpe When thou seest thou art 〈◊〉 by God VVHerefore O Lord art 〈◊〉 departed farre from mee Doest thou turne thine eies aside in opportunities in tribulation Stay with vs O Lord for it waxeth night Against detractors SAue mee O God for the righteous faile and truth faileth amongst the children of men Let the Lord confound all deceitfuil lips and the tongue that speaketh great things For our enemies O Lord lay not this sin to their charge because they know not what thy do When we addressâ—… our selues to studie BLessed art thou O Lord teach me to doe thy will open mine eies that I may consider the wonderfull works of thy Law A man may sometimes lift vp his heart by affection of repentance in these words TUrne thy face from my sinnes O Lord and blot out all my offences Create in mee O Lord a new heart Sometimes with an affection of gratitude BLesse the Lord O my soule and forget not his benefits Sometime with an affection of loue I Will loue thee O Lord my strength God is my foundation my refuge and my deliuerer God is my helper and I will hope in him Euen as the Hart desireth the
fountaines so longeth my soule after thee O God My soule hath thirsted after the liuing fountaine God When shall I come and appeare before the face of my God My teares were bread vnto mee day and night whilest they dayly said vnto me Where is thy God Then inflamed with the loue of eternall beatitude let him say OHow amiable are thy dwelling places thou Lord of hosts my soule thirsteth and longeth after the dwelling place of my God This that felloweth was familiar to the Fathers in Aegypt VVHo shall giue me wings like a Doue and I will fly and take rest Three most deuout praiers to excite the soule to contrition and griefe sor sinne The first Praier OOnly begotten Son of God great and vnspeakable are y◠benefits O Lord which I haue receiued at thy hands thou framedst mee of the dust and dirt of the earth and createdst my soule of nothing to thy image similitude and madest it capable of thy glory thou gauest mee vnderstanding memo will election with all my members and senses and with them the knowledge and loue of thee Thou keptst mee in the secret celles of my mothers womb lest in them I should bee choaked without baptisme Thou sustainedst mee patiently after so many sins euen vnto this present day where in the meane space there are many others who haue lesse offended than 〈◊〉 yet because thou wouldst not hitherto expect them they are now perhaps tormented in hell But besides all this it was thy pleasure to take flesh vpon thee to conuerse amongst men for my sake to bee afflicted troubled for me to be bedewed with bloudy sweate to bee taken bound buffeted spit vpon mockt blasphemed to be clothed in a white and purple garmēt like a foole to be strooken with a reede to be blinded condemned to death led to the place of executiō hauing on thy shoulders the croūe to which thou wert affixed with nailes and hanged betwixt two theeues and adiudged for a malefactor thou didst drinke gall and vineger finally thou wert slaine with most cruel death By so many labours and dolors O my God thou didst redeeme mee and yet I most vile and peruerse sinner ingrateful for so many benefits haue so oftentimes newly strooken thee againe nailed thee to the crosse by my sins for which cause I am worthy that all creatures should rise vp against me take reuenge of this my so great iniurie What should I say of y◠abuse of thy sacraments medicines which by thy precious bloud thou institutedst obtainedst for me Thou tookest mee for thine in the sacrament of baptisme there thou adoptedst me for thy sonne and consecratedst mee as it were thy temple there didst thou annoint me for thy Priest King and Champion who was to wage combat with the enemy there diddest thou espouse my soule and gauest me al the honors which were answerable to this dig nity But how haue I vsed al these benefits and ornaments which I haue receiued from thee what cogitatiōs had I of keeping these riches Thou tookest me for thy son and I may become the seruant of sinne Thou sanctifiedst me for thy temple and I made my selfe the habitation of diuels Thou armedst me like a generous souldier and I reuolted and fled vnto thine enemies Thou madest me a king and I waxed proud in the kingdome which thou gauest me Thou espousedst my soule to thee in perpetuall charitie and I more loued vanity than verity more the creatures than my Creator Truly it were rightfull yea most iust O Lord that yet now at length I should begin to weepe complaine and lament when I haue committed so many and so enormous sinnes This is it that so long time thou expectedst from mee as thou hast giuen me life For so oftentimes hast thou called mee and so long hast thou sustained mee strooke mee and againe flattered mee and hast sought all waies and meanes that thou mightest reclaime mee vnto thee thou hast expected mee and I haue abused thy patience thou hast called mee and I haue stopt mine eares against thy counsels Thou gauest mee time for repentance and I consumed y◠same in my pride thou strookest me and I felt it not thou afflictedst mee I would not take thy correction thou sweatedst that thou mightest clense mee and I am not washed thou prouedst mee by fire and the rust of my sins is not clensed away I am hardned as well by thy scourges as thy allurements ingratful to these rebellious against those Notwithstanding O Lord God though thou hast suffered so many and so great things for mee thou hast commanded me that I should not despaire nor distrust in thy mercie I conuert my selfe therefore wholy vnto thy mercy and beseech thee to giue mee grace that I may amend my selfe whereby I may so heereafter please thee and serue thee that I neuer hereafter reuolt from thee but cleaue alwaies to thee for euer and euer Amen For contrition The second praier O Supreme Maker of al liuing creatures when I bethink my selfe how greatly I haue offended thy diuine maiesty by my sinnes I quake for feare and detest my vndecent madnes considering how bountifull and reuerend a Father I haue forsooke I curse my ingratitude when I consider from how noble a liberty I am fallen into most miserable seruitude I accuse my inconstancy know not what to set before mine eies but iudgement and hell for thy iustice from which I cannot flie terrifieth my conscience On y◠other side when I behold thy vnmeasurable mercy which according to the testimonie of thy Prophet surpasseth al thy works presently a pleasing breath of hope doth refresh mee and strengthneth my too feeble mind For as before I despaired so here do I finde remission of my sinnes in him who by the writing of his Prophets so oftentimes inuiteth sinners to repentance saying I wil not y◠death of a sinner but rather that he conuert and liue Thy onely begotten Son likewise declareth by many similitudes how ready thou art to pardon those that are penitent That expressed he by the lost penny by the lost sheep brought home on the shoulders of his pastor but especially by the prodigall sonne whose image I acknowledg in my selfe For I am he that haue indeed forsaken my most louing Father I haue spent all my substance and obeying the appetites of my flesh haue fled the obedience of thy commandements and haue fallen into the most filthy captiuity of sin now am I trauelled with extreme necessity from which who shall deliuer me I truly know not except it be he whom I haue forsaken Receiue me therefore O Lord thy most hūble seruant submissiuely seeking pardō at thy hands into thy fauor But wheras though in vaine thou hast euen vnto this houre so bountifully expected mee I confesse that I am not worthy to lift vp mine eies to heauen or to call thee Father yet because thou art my true
occasion of my malice from the very same meanes which thou vsedst to kill sinne I tooke occasioÌ„ to quicken sinne in my selfe So so O Lord I haue peruerted thy counsels from thy mercy pickt out the method and meanes of my malignity Because yâ— wert so good I thought it was lawfull for me to be euill and because thou hadst bestowed so many benefits on mee I supposed it lawfull for mee to doe thee so many offences iniuries so that I conuerted the very medicines themselues which thou institutedst against sin to occasions of sinne and the sword which thou gauest me to defend my selfe with fight against mine enemies the same haue I whet against my selfe to endanger my own life Finally thou to the end that thou mightst rule the liuing the dead wouldst die as the Apostle witnesseth to the end that they which now liue shold not liue to themselues but to thee who daiâ—…edst to die for them and I like some Iesabel tooke the same death as a means wherby I might bereaue my selfe of thy benefits flying from thy seruice making my selfe the bondslaue of thine enemies O what deserued he that did those things If the dogs eate the flesh of that Iesabel for her sin how may mine remain vntouched that haue altogether done the like And if the Apostle so much exaggerateth the malice of mans heart because that from the law he tooke occasion to breake the law how much more greater shall the malice be of grace if any man take occasion thereby to offend grace it selfe O most patient Lord that sufferedst strokes for sinners but more patieÌ„t that sufferedst sinners theÌ„selues but shall that thy patience continue for euer I remember what thou saidst by thy Prophet I held my peace I was alwaies sileÌ„t I was patient I will speake like a womaÌ„ wtâ—…hild I see yâ— earth that yeeldeth no fruit after it hath bin moistned with the raine to bee reprooued and accursed the vine that after it had bene well trim'd and yeelded no grapes but briers by thy commandement cut downe and laid waste Therefore O vnprofitable and vnfruitfull branch why fearest thou not the voice of that husbandman or Uine-heard that taketh away yâ— branches that beare no fruite and casteth them into the fire Euery tree that beareth not fruit saith he my Father will cut downe and cast it in the fire Will he euer feare that feareth not such a iudgement How deafe is he that heareth not such a voice How profoundly sleepeth he that is not wakened with such a thâ—…der This earthly habitation delighted me I tooke pleasure to walke among these thornes The fire of my passions bâ—…ned mee the thornes of my concupiscence pricked mee the distractions of my thoughts â—…d mee the worâ—…e of my conscience bit mee and al these thought I to be liberty and solaâ—…e so many and so great eâ—…is did I caâ—… peaâ—…e O how ignorant rude was I in the knowledge of my selfe and how hard vnâ—…actable to obey serue thee What shal I do my God what shall I do 〈◊〉 coÌ„sesse I am vnworthy to appeare before thy presenâ—… vnworthy to lift vp mine eies to behold thee whither shall I goe whither shall I flye from thy presence Art thou not my Father yea the Father of mercies which neither haue end or measure for although I haue already desisted to be thy sonne yet thou hitherto ceasest not to be my Father and though I haue done many things for which thou mightest worthily condemne mee yet hast thou not lost the meanes wherby thou maist saue me What therefore shal I do but cast my selfe prostrate before thy feet and aske mercy Whom shal I cal vpon who shal helpe me but thou Art not thou my Creator my maker my gouernour my redeemer my king my shepheard my Priest and my sacriâ—… Whither therfore shall I go to whom shall I flie but vnto thee if thou repulse mee who shall releeue me if thou reiect mee who shall rescue mee Acknowledge O Lord this lost sheep behold I come vnto thee altogether wounded thou canst heale me altogether blinde thou canst giue mee sight altogether dead and thou canst reuiue me altogether leprous and thou canst clense me Sprinkle me O Lord with hysope and I shall be cleane wash me I shall be whiter than snow Greater is thy mercie than my iniquitie greater thy clemency than my malice and thou canst remit more than I can sin Repulse me not therefore O Lord repulse me not looke not vpon the multitude of my sins but on thine infinite mercy who liuest reignest world without end Amen An oblation of all the labours and passions of Christ for our sins WHat shal I render vnto thee O Lord for all the benefits thou hast bestowed vpon me with what signification of gratuity shall I recompence so many benefits what shal I giue thee for that thy so great mercy alasse how slenderly doe I requite the merits of so liberall and fauourable a benefactor I was alwaies vngrateful for thy benefits alwaies rebellious against thy commandements I alwaies shut vp my soule against thy inspirations heaping offence vpon offence and adding sinne to sinne I confesse O Lord that I am not worthy to bee called thy sonne although I acknowledge thee to be my Father For thou art truly my Father thou art my hope thou art the fountaine of mercy that repulsest not sinners that flie vnto thee but receiuest them washest them and feedest them Behold therefore my helper see how I the poorest of al thy creatures come vnto thee bringing no other thing with mee but the grieuous burthen of my sinnes I prostrate my selfe before the feete of thy mercy humbly asking pardon Forgiue me I beseech thee O my firme hope saue mee for thy infinite mercy sake O sweete Iesus in remission of my sinnes I offer vnto thee thy immeasurable charitie wherewith thou being God of infinite maiesty wert moued not to refuse for my sake to be incarnate to be made man and to be conuersant in this world thirty three yeares in many tribulations persecutions paines vexations labours 〈◊〉 offer vnto thee that thy deadly affliction yâ— bloody sweate and that agony which afflicted and pierced thy hearâ—… when praying in the garden prâ—…ating thy selfe on the ground thou besoughtest the Father I offer vp vnto thee that aâ—â—â—nt charitie whereby thou desiredst to suffer for vs when as of thine owne accord thou offeredst thy selfe into the hands of thine 〈◊〉 as a wel pleasing sacrifice to thy Father for our sins 〈◊〉 offer vp vnto thee al 〈◊〉 iniuries blasphemies buffetings beatings spittâ—…s al other thoâ—…e tormeÌ„ts which in that miserable night thou sustainedst in the houâ—…e of Annâ—…s 〈◊〉 offer vnto thee O good 〈◊〉 al these things beseeching thine 〈◊〉 goodnes that by the merits therof thoâ—… wâ—…t pardon me all my sins thou wilt as wel remit the penalty as the crime and
and no man can come vnto mee except my Father draw him All that therefore which I haue all that which I am it is of thy grace thy gift thy liberalitie and mercie so that but in thinking I could not preuent the gifts of thy good works by my vertue For we are not sufficient to thinke any thing of our selues as of our selues but all our sufficiencie is from thee What therfore shall I do wretched naked and poore that I am I am weake and lame but by thy gifts and benefits rich and wealthy I sailed by the sea but a tempest arising my ship was drowned mâ—… riches perished my wares at one misfortune lâ—…st By thy bounty although I suffered ship wrack I my selfe escaped my soule being saued by the helpe of one planke swam to land But what now shall I do I haue not whereon to liue and through infirmity I can get nothing The onely remedy that is lest me is to beg but who is so liberall that hee will or so rich that hee can helpe a caitife so miserably poore but thou onely O God â—…enigne and mercifull rich and omnipotent To thee therefore do I cry to thee do I cal at thy gate without â—…rmission will I beg But heere once againe my conscience terrifieth mee shame and modestie reclaimeth for what soeuer I possessed before and now haue lost all that was thine that thou hast trusted mee with for all that as yet I stand indebted vnto thee moreouer I offended thee I did thee wrong 〈◊〉 abused thy blessings to thy dishonor What impudency shall it therefore be in me to aske new fauours at thy hands shall I therefore despaire shall I therefore say with Cam my iniquitie is more than may be remitted shall I therefore bee a vagabond an outcast from the land of the liuing nothing lesse for I know that my God and my Lord is mercifull and compassionate long suffering and of great mercy I know that my Lord is bountifull and of much mercie fauourable to such as offeÌ„d I knâ—…w that after he had seene his seruant that ought him ten thousand talents humbling himselfe he forgaue him the whole debt I will therfore say in like sort with that seruant Lord haue patience with me I will pay thee all But how shall I restore vnto thee O Lord except thou first giue mee and to whom shalt thou giue but to him that beggeth at thy hands and who dare not aske when as thou so liberally inuitest all men saying Come vnto mee all you that labour and are burthened and I will refresh you come all ye that thirst vnto the waters and those that want mony hasten buy and eate Come buy without money and without any exchange Wine and milke Incited by this so bountifull prouocation of thine behold I come vnto thee and beseech thee that thou wilt giue mee the meanes to satisfie all that which I ow thee and namely giue mee thy grace duely to adore thee serue thee praise thee and yeeld thee that due reuerence and honour that belongeth vnto thee that I may giue thee thankes for thy benefites loue thee with all my heart put all my trust in thee obey thy commaundements offer my selfe wholie vnto thee commend my selfe into thy hands and that I may learne to aske these or such like graces from thee that outwardly before mine eies and inwardly within my heart the glorie of thy Name and the saluation of my soule like a white or marke may continually bee prefixt before me I beseech thee also O Lord to graunt mee the remission of my sinnes true contrition and pennance giue mee grace that I neuer hereafter offend thee either in those sinnes which were hitherto familiar vnto mee or any other whatsoeuer But especially O LORD I require the grace and strength at thy hands that I may chastice my flesh refraine my tongue mortifie the inordinate appetites of my heart and recollect the dispersed and wandering thoughts of my imagination that so reformed both inwardly and outwardly and made a new Creature I may deserue to bee a liuing and gratefull Temple in the which thou maist rest and make thy biding place Giue mee those vertues also wherewith that thy habitatioÌ„ may not onely bee purged but also beautified such as are the holie feare of thy name firme hope perfect humility entire patience prudent discretion pouertie of spirit exact obedience continuall fortitude and diligent alacritie in all those things which appertaine to thy seruice and honour and aboue all ardent charitie as wel towards thee as towards my neighbour But because I know my self vnworthy of all these and vndeseruing any of them remember I pray thee O Lord thy old mercies remember that thou desirest not the death of a sinner as thou thy selfe testifiest but that hee bee conuerted and liue remember that thine onely begotten Sonne came not into this world to cal the iust but sinners remember what hee did and how much hee suffred from the day of his Natiuitie till the time hee died vpon the Crosse. Al which I offer vnto thee O most mercifull Father that they may be a sweete smelling sacrifice for my sinnes and not for my sinnes onely but for all other my necessities also For whatsoeuer I pray and whatsoeur I pleade for that do I aske in his not in mine owne name for it is said of thee that thou honourest the fathers in their children and sparest one for another euen as Dauid in times past honoured Mephiboseth for his Father Ionathans sake Honour thou thy onely begotten Sonne in like manner in me doing good vnto me for his sake because hee is my Father and my second Adam and I his sonne although disobedient ill-nurtured Looke vpon mee O Lord because I flie vnto thee come to the gate of thy mercie to thee doe I lay open my pouerty to thee shew I my wounds because thou art my true Physition I powre out my soule before thee and inflamed with the spirit of Dauid I crie vnto thee saying Incline thine eares O Lord vnto me and heare me because I am poore and in necessitie Keepe my soule because I am holy saue thy seruant O my God that putteth his trust in thee haue mercie vpon mee O Lord because all the day long I cry vnto thee glad yâ— soule of thy seruant because vnto thee O Lord lift I vp my soule for yâ— O Lord art sweete and mercifull and many are thy mercies to those that call vpon thee Open thine eares O Lord vnto my praier heare the voice of my cry In the day of tribulation I cried vnto thee and thou didst heare me leade me O Lord in the way and direct mee in thy truth let my heart reioyce that I may feare thy name I will confesse vnto thee O Lord my God with my whole heart and I will praise thy name for euer and euer Amen A most deuout meditation
sink of all iniquitie How canst thou rest heere O Lord who art purity of the purest and thou that art the fountaine of all beauty how canst thou dwell in a place so abhominable What participatioÌ„ is there betweene iustice and iniquitie or what societie betweene light and darknesse or what conuention betweene Christ Beliall O flower of the field O Lillie of the vallâ—…s O bread of Angels how art thou now become the fodder of beasts Why giuest yâ— this diuine meate vnto dogs and castest these precious pearles before swine O louer of pure and cleane soules who feedest among the lillies till the day spring the shadowes depart what foode may I giue thee in this my heart where nothing groweth but thornes and briers Thy bed is of the wood of Libâ—… the pillers thereof are guilded thâ—… pillow is of gold and thy footâ—…pace of purple in the bed of my heart there are none of these to bee found what seate therefore shall I prepare for thee there when thâ—… enterest what bed shall I maâ—… Thy most holy body taken frâ—… the crosse was wrapped in a cleane and faire sheete put into a new Sepulchre in which no man had bene before times buried but what part of my soule is cleane what noâ—…e is there that is new wheâ—… I may bury thee what is my mouth others than an open Sepulchre from whence there â—…ueth nothing but the stinkes and impurities of my sinnes What is my hart but 〈◊〉 fountaine of most euill appetites and desires What is my will but a house and resting place of the Diuell How therfore shal I dare to approch thee receiue thee or kisse thee with my impure lips There is not one corner in my soule which is cleane and pure which hath not too often times bene prophaned by diuers kinds of sinnes I haue not a cleane and new Sepulcher in which I may hide thee O thou my redeemer and Sauiour I am ashamed as often as I see my selfe in this estate I blush wheÌ„ I consider in what sort I come to this thy worthy and royall banquet in what maner I intrude my selfe to embrace my celestial spouse who againe standeth ready to receiue me fauourably Another part of this Meditation I Acknowledge O Lord I acknowledge my great vnworthinesse and yet thy most great mercie is not hidden from me this it is that maketh me bold and confident to come vnto thee howsoeuer I am For the more vnworthy I come vnto thee by so much the more art thou glorified if thou repulse mee or persecute a creature so vncleane with thy displeasure O Lord thou art not wont to shake off sinners but to call them and conuert them vnto thee Thou art he that saiest Come vnto me all ye that labour are laden and I wil refresh you And in another place The whole haue no need of a Physition but such as are sick Of thee is it publikly said that thou entertainedst Publicans and sinners didst eate with them O my God thou hast not changed thy nature which then thou hadst for which cause I firmely beleeue that thou as yet dost call them from heauen whom then thou didst call vpon the earth For which cause I likewise allured by that thy fatherly summons come vnto thee groaning vnder the burden of my sinnes and thou shalt vnloade me I come laboring and ouer-charged and thou shalt refresh me I come like a patient to my Physition and thou shalt heale mee like a sinner to the fountaine of iustice and thou shalt iustifie mee Thou receiuedst sinners and eatest with them and thy meate is to conuerse with them and thy delight is to be with men If thou take so much delight O Lord in such banquets behold thou hast heere a grieuous sinner with whom thou maiest eate thy bread I verily beleeue O my Redeemer that thou tookest more delight in the teares of that publike penitent thaÌ„ in the sumptuous feast of that proud Pharisee for which cause thou neither despisedst her neither reiectedst her from thee as an adultresse but rather most bountifully receiuedst her forgauest her sinnes defendedst her against the reproches of her calumners for a few drops of teares pardonedst her many sinnes Behold O Lord here is a new matter of greater glory offred vnto thee a new occasion behold heere lieth a sinner who hath far more sinnes and yet fewer teares shee neither was the first nor the last whom thy mercie suffered many such like things hast thou done O Lord and many the like as yet remaine for thee to do Enter now O Lord the number of them that beginne thy worke receiue him into fauor who hath more grieuously offended thee and that lamenteth his offences This peniteÌ„t hath not so many teares as may wash thy feet but thou hast shed so much blood as sufficeth not onely to cleanse mine but also the sins of the whole world Bee not displeased O my God that being such a one as thou seest I am I dare preasâ—…e into thy presence Remember that thou wert not displeased with yâ— poore womaÌ„ which trauelled with a flux of blood and secretly came vnto thee seeking remedie of her infirmitie and taking thee by the hemme of thy Uesture but rather didst praise her and comfort her saying Daughter bee comforted thy faith hath made thee whole Behold I yâ— haue a greater more perilous flux of blood and am lesse curable what shall I doe whither shall I turne me to whom shall I goe but vnto thee O LORD that I may obtaine the benefite of health My Lord thou hast neither changed thine office neither that custome and nature which thou wert wont to haue when thou werst coÌ„uersant with vs vpon the earth although now thou art ascended into heauen and seemest to bee farre distant from vs. For if thou hadst bene changed wee had neede of another Scripture and Gospell that might teach vs now what wee should beleeue of thee and what to hope from thee being now resâ—…ant in heauen I reade in the holy Gospels that such as were sick flocked vnto thee that the whole multitude sought to touch thee because a vertue came froÌ„ thee that healed all men Leapers came vnto thee and thou stretchedst thy blessed hands and clensedst them The blinde came vnto thee the deafe the sicke of the palsey they that were possessed by diuels Finally all the monsters of this world ranne vnto thee and to none of these didst thou denie thy helpe In thee onelie is saluation in thee is the medicine and remedy of all euils Thou art more readie to giue saluation than they to aske it Whither therefore shall we goe O Lord in our necessities but vnto thee for I know my God that this Sacrament is not onely their food that are whole but their medicine also that are sicke weake not only the strength of the liuing but the resurrection of the dead it not
onely recreateth and delighteth the iust but healeth also and purifieth sinners Let euery one come hither and take part of that which he thinketh most holsome for himselfe let the iust come and eate and reioyce in this table and let the voice of their confesson and praise sound in this holsome challice I can no waies be without this mystery I can no waies liue without the same and whatsoeuer I am I cānot be excused if I receiue it not for in euery place and in euery thing it is necessary for me If I be sicke here shall I be healed if aliue here shall I be comforted if dead here raised againe if I burne with diuine loue heere shall I bee more inflamed if I bee but luke warme here shall I be set on fire I will not feare although my LORD shall finde mee blinde because he giueth sight vnto mee I will not feare although I see that I am fallen for hee lifteth them vp that are fallen low I will not flie from his presence as once Adam did although I be naked for he can couer my wickednesse I wil not hide me although I seeme vncleane and full of sinne for hee is the fountaine of mercie I will not be ashamed although I am poore for hee is the Lord of all liuing things I am not much mooued if hee shall interpret my boldnesse to bee his iniurie but I thinke I shall giue him occasion of greater glory that beeing more wretched than al other liuing creatures y◠greatnes of the diuine mercy may more cleerly appeare in mee in that that he will helpe me His darkenesse that was blinde from his birth attēded on the glory of God for he was borne blind to the end that the works of God might bee manifested so also the misery of my condition shall serue him because in the same the greatnesse of his bounty shall bee beheld namely if hee who is so mighty vouchsafe to succour so miserable and poore a creature that especially whereas heerein there is no regard had of mee but onely for the merits of our Lord Iesus Christ for which cause y◠eternall Father giueth vs good things adopteth vs for his children taketh it in good part that th◅y are wont so to be esteemed I pray thee therefore most humbly beseech thee at this present my God y◠Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that as that most holie King Dauid admitted Mep◅boseth weake and lame to sit at his table because he was the son of his great deerly esteemed friend Ionathan intending hereby to honor his son not for y◠son himselfe sake but for the merits of the father so let it be pleasing likewise to thee O Father to admit me a poore and vncleane sinner to thy most royall banquet not for my sake but for y◠merits and honour of thy singular friend ◅esus Christ our Lord and Sauior who hath regenerated vs on y◠tree of the crosse which so many labours and dolors to thy glory and honour who liueth and reigneth with thee world without end Another prayer before the Communion I Praise thee thanke thee most sweet Lord Iesus my Sauior redeemer for thy so many benefits which thou hast vouchsafed to bestow on mee most vile and wretched sinner I yeeld thee thankes O Lord for all the mercies which thou vsedst towards man-kinde especially in the mystery of thy incarnation namely in thy natiuitie circumcisiō presentation in y◠temple flight into Egypt in thy fasting and temptation in thy labors and many iournies in thy preachings persecutions in this world in the torments and dolors of thy bitter passion and for al that which thou sufferedst in the flesh for me But in especial I giue thee heartie thankes for thy vnspeakeable charitie which mooued thee to suffer for my sake which verilie amongst all thy works is the greatest without any comparison Moreouer I yeeld thee all thanks that is possible for that thou daignest to admit mee to thy most holy Table make mee partaker of thy selfe and all thy merits and the inestimable treasure of the passion O my GOD and Sauior with what offices of dutie shall I recompence this new and vnheard-of kinde of mercie Who art thou and who am I that thou the Lord of most high maiestie daignest to enter into dirt and this earthly tabernacle O Lord holinesse becommeth thy house for euer and euer why therefore commest thou into my house which is abundantly stored with iniquitie Heauen is thy house and thy seate and the earth the footstoole of thy feet because the glorie of thy maiestie filleth both heauen and earth how comes it therfore to passe that thou doest not abhorre to lodge in so vile an hospitall Is it therefore to bee thought saith Salomon that truly God dwelleth on earth For if the heauens and the heauen of heauens bee not able to containe thee how much lesse this house which I haue built O admirable thing hee that sitteth vpon the Cherubins and beholdeth the depths now humbleth himselfe euen vnto the lowest and maketh his seate in the lowest places It seemed little to thy goodnesse that thou didst appoint y◠Angels to our ministerie but thy selfe wouldest come vnto vs enter into our soules that there with thine owne hands thou mightst worke the act of our saluation There dost thou visit the sick raise such as are fallen teach the ignorant reduce such as are straied out of the way What need many words Thou art he that curest our wounds and healest our infirmities not by an other mans hands but thine own not by medicines fet from afarre but with thine owne flesh and blessed blood dost thou medicine vs. O true Pastor how abundantly hast thou discharged thy promises which in times past thou madest by thy Prophet saying I wil feed my sheepe and I will make them rest But who shall bee worthy of this grace who can merit this benefite only thy mercy O Lord can make vs worthy of so infinite benefits And because without the same no man can bee worthy O Lord let the same bee fauourable vnto mee let it make me partaker of so many mysteries let it make mee thankefull for so inestimable a benefit O Lord with thy grace supply all my defects forgiue me all my sins thorow thy mercie Let thy spirit prepare my minde thy merits enrich my pouerty thy precious blood clense all the blemishes of my soule and wash out all the staines of my life that I may worthily receiue this most reuerend sacramēt My soule reioyceth is glad o my God as often as I remember that notorious miracle wherin in time past a dead man raised a dead body by the only means of touching For if the body of a dead Prophet could do so much what cannot the liuing bodie of the Lord of Prophets doe I am assured O Lord that thy power is not of lesse value than that of thy
and the directions of my superiors onely follow those things which are of the Spirit O most bountiful Iesu giue me perfect renouncement and hatred of my sinne and perfect conuerston of my heart vnto thee that all my thoughts and all my desires may bee fixed on thee and in thee onely O life without which I am dead O truth without which I am deceiued O way without which I go astry O saluation without which I perish O light without which I walk in darknes Suffer me not O Lord suffer mee not to be at any times drawne from thee for I liue cnely in thee without thee 〈◊〉 die in thee I am saued and without thee I am lost in thee I am somewhat without thee I am nothing because I had not bene at all except thou hadst bene in mee and except I were in thee thou shouldest not bee in mee Bee thou therefore O good Iesu in my memorie in the morning by the same may I know thee in the same â—…et me finde thee when I remember thee delight in thee and deriue my pleasures from thee from whoÌ„ all things by whom all things in whom all things are Amen The third prayer for the loue of God IF yâ— duty whereby we are bound to our benefactors for the benefits we haue receiued be so great if euerie of the bounties wee receiue bee as it were brands and motiues of loue if the sire waxe in greatnes according to the multitude of the fuell O Lord how great a fire of loue ought there iustly burne in my heart if the matter of thy bounty be so infinite which kindleth nourisheth the same If the whole world as well visible inuisible with all that which is found therein bee but meere benefits of thine towards vs how huge ought that flame of my loue bee which ought to glow in me And that so much the more because I ought not to loue thee for these benefits onely but also for that in thee all the causes and reasons of loue are to bee found and they euery one of them in the highest degree of perfection For if we consider thy goodnes who is found better than thou art if wee respect thy beauty thou art the fairest one whose face the angels desire to contemplate if wee seeke for bounty sweetnesse who is toâ—…ee found more sweete and benigne than thou art if we desire riches and wisdome who richer or wiser than thou art 〈◊〉 friendship who will soue any thing more thaÌ„ he that pawned his life for vs Now if we returne vnto benefits O Lord from whom proceedeth all that which wee haue but from thee what shall wee say of hope when as from thee alone and from thy mercie wee hope and crpect whatsoeuer we want if by the only right of nature wee owe much dutie to our carnall parents who is more father than he of whom it isâ—… Call not your selues a father on the earth for you haue one Father who is in heaueÌ„ If the husband be so tenderly beloued of his wife what other spouse hath our soule than thy selfe O Lord who shall replenish the bosome of my heart and my desires but thou If the Philosophers say that the finall end is beloued with infinite loue who is my beginning who my latter end but thou O Lord for froÌ„ whence tooke I my originall and whither shall I go to be perfected but from thee and in thee From whom is all that which I haue from whom hope I to receiue the same which I want but from thee Finally if sâ—…tude bee the cause of loue to whose similitude and likenesse is my soule created if not to thine So then if this speciall title and euery one of the rest bee motiues of loue what ought that to be that is deriued from all these vnited together verity as the Sea is more spacious than all other flouds that enter into the same and by how much it ouercommeth the rest in greatnesse by so much also is thy loue more abundant greater and more excellent than all other eternall loues Since therefore I haue so iust causes O Lord and so pregnant occasions to loue thee why should I not loue thee with all my heart with all my soule with all my strength and inward thoughts O my hope my glorie my ioy O my amiable beginning O my sacietie and sufficiencieâ—… when shall that day bee when I shall truely loue thee and embrace thee with my whole heart WheÌ„ shal I shew my selfe gratefull vnto thee in all things and for all things When shall I feele all that mortified m ine which is opposed against thee WheÌ„ shal I be wholy thme WheÌ„ shal I ceasie to be mine own WheÌ„ shall that houre come when nothing shall liue in me but thy selfe When shall I feele my selfe wholy inflamed with thy loue WheÌ„ wilt yâ— rauish mee perforce When wilt thou make me drunke with that milke of thy teares When wilt thou transferre mee wholy into thee When shall I see that happy day when all impediments and perturbations of the minde taken away thou wilt make mee one spirit with thee so that hereafter I shal not be drawn from thee Ah Lord how much cost it thee to redeeme me but being once redeemed how easily canst thou do good For when yâ— doest good vnto man what is takeÌ„ out of thy house what is lost of thy riches what is taken out of thine infinite treasures Why O Lord doth thy wrath fight with thy mercy against mee whereas thou art thâ—…ea of infinite liberalitie and 〈◊〉 Remember therefore O Lord that I am thine thou art mine Fly me not therfore O Lord but suffer mee to finde thee out I make a long iourney 〈◊〉 stand ofeÌ„ I often returne let it not grieue thee O Lord to expect mee who cannot keepe company with thee O my God and my saluation why am I so idle why runne I not which speedie alacritie vnto thee the chiefest good in whom at once are all goodnesses found I will loue thee O Lord with an ardent and strong loue I will stretch the armes of my affections and desires that I may embrace thee the sweet spouse of my soule from whom I promise vnto my selfe all goodnesse The Iuâ—…e so strongly embraceth her neighbouring tree that euery twist thereof seemeth to bee a seuerall arme for sustained by this helpe it groweth high and attaineth to full perfection but O Lord to what tree shall I cleaue but vnto that which planted-on the mountaine of Caluarie is become a sure supporter vnto me The Iuy increaseth not so largely neither extendeth the beauty of her branches so far being sustained by the tree as my soule increaseth in vertues and graces beeing vnderpropped by this tree Why therfore are not all the members of my body turned into armes that on euery side I may embrace thee why shall I not loue thee why shall I not put all my trust 〈◊〉 confidence
of loue O most holy father o most mercifull sonne O most louing holy ghost when wilt thou most beloued father dwell in my soule and abide in the secrets of my heart possesse me wholy When shal I be wholy thine and thou wholy mine When shall it come to passe o my King when will that day come o when O were it here Shall I neuer see it o how vngrateful delay how odious procrastinatiō Haste thee O Iesus haste thee and delay not returne returne and runne like a Goate and the yong hinds vpon the mountaines of Bether O my God the repose of my life the light of mine eies my consolation in tribulations the end of my desires the paradise of my heart the center of my soule the pledge of glory the companion of my pilgrimage my ioy in exile the medicine of my wounds mercifull iusticer of my sins master of the ignorant guide of life nest in which my soule resteth hauen wherein she is saued glasse wherein she beholdeth her selfe staffe on which she leaneth stone on which she is builded precious treasure in which shee glorieth If thou therefore o Lord be all these vnto me how can I forget yea but for a moment of time If I forget thee o my God let mee forget my right hand let my tongue cleane to the roofe of my mouth if I remember thee not I will giue no sleepe vnto mine eies o blessed Trinitie nor rest to mine eie-lids nor quiet to my temples vntill I finde this loue vntill I finde a place for my Lord in my heart and a tabernacle for the God of Iacob in my soule who liueth for euer world without end Amen The first prayer for the loue of God I Will loue thee O Lord my strength I wil loue thee my vnspeakable ioy and let my whole life liue not to my selfe but to thee which was condemned to miserie raised againe by thy mercy Too late did I feare thy Maiestie too late did I loue thee thou beautie both old and new too late did I loue thee I sought thee my refreshment and I found thee not because I vndirectly sought thee I sought thee without my selfe thou didst dwel in me I trauelled the streets and waies of the Citty of this world seeking thee and I found thee not because inconsiderately I sought thee abroad wheras thou wert at home with mee I asked y◠earth whether it were my God and it answered mee no and all things which are in the same confessed the very same I asked the Sea the depths and y◠inhabitants therof and they answered we are not God seeke him aboue vs. I asked the fleeting aire with all the dwellers therein and he answered mee no. I asked heauen the Sunne the Moone and the Starres neither are wee thy Gods said they Finally I asked all creatures and they cried vnto mee with a loud voice hee that made vs is thy true God Lord. And I sayd where therfore is my God where shall I seek him shew him me And I heard a voice saying vnto me God is in euery place seeke him in thy self he filleth Heauen filleth the earth and filleth thy heart And I came to my selfe I entred into my selfe and I said vnto my selfe how entrest thou hither O my God at what doore wert thou admitted I began to enquire examine euery one of my senses if by any of them thou didst enter but they likewise knew not how or which waies thou camest in For the eies say if he be not coloured he cannot enter by vs. The cares say if he make no sound hee cānot passe by vs The nose saith if hee smell not hee could not come by me Taste saith if he sauored not he entred not by me Touch likewise addeth if he is not corpulent aske me nothing of this matter How therefore o my loue didst thou enter my soule and didst not enter by any doore Truly thou art light shining in darkenes yet such as the eie is not capable of Thou art a voice sweet aboue all voices yet such a one as the eare conceiueth not Thou art a sweete more fragrant than any odor which neuerthelesse my taste comprehendeth not Thou art an embracement to bee esteemed aboue all embraces which notwithstanding the touch attaineth not Where wert thoutherefore my God where wert thou my light where wert thou my hope I asked it was answered me Ascend into the superior parts of thy heart there shalt thou find God Truly thou art great O God and hast ouercome our wisdome Thou art the king of kings and the Lord of Lords Thou art immortall and dwellest in vnaccessible light whom no mortall man euer saw or shall euer see and liue Many and great are the wonders that are reported of thee o Lord yet more lesse and fewer than may be said of thee words are defectiue where thou are neuer deficient For thou exceedest all that which may bee spoken or thought O onely loue my Lord God thou didst loue me before I loued thee and createdst mee according to thine owne image and madest mee Lord ouer all thy creatures Moreouer thou makest thine Angels spirits for me whō thou hast ordained to defend mee in all my waies lest I should hurt my foote against the stone Thou wouldest not permit me to be borne in a pagan but a Christian land in which by the water and the holy Ghost I am regenerate sanctified Thou neither gauest me too much riches nor too abiect pouerty lest I shold either waxe proud or grow more contemptible but thou gauest me vnderstanding and wil whereby I should know and loue thee Thou didst cal me when I was lost knockedst at my doore but I did not answer thee I liued according to mine own lust and attributed too much to mine owne strength whereas neuerthelesse it was not strength but weaknesse I would runne and grow presently weary and where I thought I should bee secure there was I in greatest danger I went away frō thee like y◠prodigall son and trauelled into a strange countrey and dwelt therein whereas louing vanitie I became vain I was blind I desired blindnes I was a seruant I loued seruitude I was bound tooke pleasure in thraldome I thought bitter was sweet and sweete was bitternes I was wretched and I knew it not Whilst I liued in this most desperate estate thou didst cast thine eies of compassion vpon mee and although without intermission I did offend thee yet didst not thou giue ouer to reclaime me from my sins when I wandered thou broughtest me into the way when I was ignorant thou taughtest me when I did sinne thou didst correct me when I was sad thou didst comfort mee When I did despaire thou didst encourage me when I fell thou didst raise me vp when I stood thou sustainedst me I was vndone and dead thou descendedst vnto the dead tookest on thee mortality thou a
king didst descend to thy seruant to redeeme thy slaue thou didst betray thy selfe So much didst thou loue mee that thou gauest thy blood for a ransome for mee thou didst loue me O Lord more than thy selfe because thou wouldst seÌ„d for mee For this cause thou didst ransome mee from exile with so deere a price thou didst redeeme me from thraldome thou withheldedst mee from punishment thou calledst mee by thy name thou â—…ignedst me with thy blood that thy remembrance might bee alwaies with mee and neuer depart from my heart which for my sake departed not from the Crosse. Let mee know thee therefore O Lord my acknowledger let mee know thee thou vertue of my soule let me walke alwaies in thy light O thou Sun of iustice for it is good for me to cleaue O Lord to put my trust in our lord God for as soone as I shall bee turned from thee I am presently conuerted to transitory delights and distracted with vaine cogitations O therefore wretched vnfortunate that I am when shall I so inseparably cleaue vnto thee as I may neuer bee withdrawne from thee When shall my thoughts words and works differ no more from the rule of thy equitie iustice Thou o Lord louest solitude and I company thou silence and I fables thou verity and I vanity thou cleannesse and I follow vncleannesse I beseech thee therefore O Lord for thine own sake illuminat mine eies with thy light wouÌ„d my heart with thy loue direct my steppes in the way of thy commandements that I may neuer swerue from the same deliuer me o Lord that am captiue reduce the stray into thy wounds raise him that is fallen and releeue him that is euery way weakned Giue me a heart that may alwaies thinke on thee a minde that may alwaies loue thee an vnderstanding that may conceiue thee a reason that may alwaies strongly cleaue vnto thee the most chiefe delight Fly not from my heart depart neither froÌ„ my words nor works but alwaies assist me because thou art my helper in all my tribulations Without thee I die thinking on thee I am reuiued thine adour doth recreate mee thy memory doth heale mee thy light doth illuminate me I am raised againe by thy voice and shall bee satisfied when thy glory shall appeare The sixth prayer for the loue of God IF amoÌ„gst all those things which prouoke vs vnto loue there bee nothing more effectuall than form beauty why should I not worthily loue thee o my God who art the Fountaine of all beautie and seemelines Thou art the Ornament of the whole Masse of this world for whatsoeuer is beautiful in it by thee and from thee hath his beauty because thou createdst it the Sunne and Moone admire thy maiestie the Angels desire to behold thy face for in the sight thereof consisteth perfect felicitie and the glorie of all supernall spirits Birds flowers fouÌ„taines fields floods seas woods forrests trees earth mountaines valleies and whatsoeuer is in them haue their ornaments from thee thou didst decke the heauens with starres the aire with birds the water with fishes the fields with flowers and the earth with infinite plants and variety of liuing creatures In each place of the world thou art feared because tokens of thy beauty are seene in euery place in the heauens thou art the beautie of glorie in hell of iustice in good men of grace in the wicked of patience I will therefore loue thee my God who are the perfection of all things thou art the praise of the Angels the reward of Saints yâ— hope of Patriarches the Crowne of Martyrs the glory of Confessors that puritie of Uirgins and the saluation of all the elect All blessed spirits praise thee yâ— Pillars of heauen trâ—…ble at thy presence and all the creatures of the world reuerence thee Thou fulfillest all things yet art thou not diâ—…ated thou art in all things yet art contained in none thou didst create all things without necessitie thou gouernest all things without labour thou changest all things thy selfe art not changed thou only iudgest without any erroâ—… thou onely chastifest without any pâ—…turbation thou onely distributest gifts and thy treasure is not impaired thou only art sufficient for thy selfe and all things who therefore hath thee he hath all things and who hath thee not although hee haue all the treasures of this world he is poore hee is naked he is wretched and miserable One thing verie often draweth vs to such insensate a loue of some creature that wee feare not in the behalfe of the same to aduenture a thousand deaths but in thee O Lord whereas so many things so great concurre together why should I not loue thee why should I not willingly suffer whatsoeuer miserie for the glory of thy name why should I not freely spend my blood for thee who so liberally diddest powre out thine for me If I consider thy benefits I owe no man more than thy self if thy loue no man wisheth mee better than thy selfe if consangumitie my soule hath not any one more neerely allied vnto her than thy selfe Truly similitude is a great cause of loue what greater similitude is there than is betweene thee O Lord my soule which is created after thy similitude and likenesse Thou art a spirit my soule is a spirit thou art inuisible my soule is also inuisible thou immortall my soule is immortall thou hast vnderstanding memory and will and the like powers hath my soule Thou being most simple and inuisible art all in the whole world and all in euery part thereof and my soule being of the same condition is all in the whole body and all in euery member of the same Since therfore there is so much similitude betweene thee mee O my loue why should I not loue thee Is it because thou art high I humble or for that thou art the Creator and I thy creature or because thou art the perfectest being and I altogether imperfect This ought not to hinder but to increase our loue For the similitude is far more amâ—…able which is proportioned with inequalitie than that which is euery way equall The fathers loue is greater towards yâ— son the wiues towards the husband than of brothers amongst themselues who are equal Uoices that art â—…rent among themselues 〈◊〉 more sweetly if they be reduced vnto proportion than those that are consonant and vniforme Let then this inequalitie which is betweene thee my soule o Lord be a cause of greater loue In thee therefore O most sweet spouse of my soule in thee are all the causes of loue which may bee imagined and thou art most worthy to bee beloued with infinite loue but I finde in my selfe my wil in such manner depraued that it cannot performe it would God it were not so that she loued her selfe more than thee Wherfore O Lord except thou heale my infirme nature by thy grace and except thou powre
healed my wounds by thy Sacraments thou hast satisfied by thy dolors for my defaults now in Heauen thou sittest on the right hand of thy Father as mine aduocate what neede many wordes Thou art made vnto me wisdome and iustice sanctification and redemption and therefore all goodnesse What impudence were it therefore in me not to loue my Lord who did all this for my sake to whom I am bound vnder so many titles benefits If men with the same loue where-with they affect them selues do also loue al those things which are their owne why should I not also loue thee O Lord if I would haue thee to bee mine and that by so many offices and benefits in things so pregnant And if for euery one of these benefits I owe thee my whole heart and not this one onely but more if I had them what shall I owe thee or what am I not indebted vnto thee if we ioyne all these benefits together What iniquitie therefore should it be not to giue one heart wh◅h I haue vnto him to whom I owe so many and other diuerse things And if euery one of these benefits be a goade or prouocation to loue yea and arrowes to pierce the hearts of men how shall I choose blit burne amids so many flames of loue How comes it to passe that I am altogether cold amidst so many weapōs how escape I from wounds How comes it to passe that I perseuer in the hardnesse of my heart as it were without sense O Lord I lament in thy presence the dulnesse insensibility of my heart I confesse the infidelity thereof for thou raining into it innumerable causes of loue yet receiuest nothing from y◠came that deserueth so many fauours O heart more felon than furious beastes more insensible than stones more hard than Adamant that is not mollified by so many strokes I pray thee therefore O thou fairest amongst the children of men grant that I may desire thee loue thee as much as I list as much as I ought Thou art immeasurable and oughtest to be loued beyond measure especially of vs whom thou hast so loued so saued and for whom thou hast done so great and so many things O loue that alwaies burnest art neuer extinct sweet Christ good Iesu charity my God inflame me wholy with thy fire with thy loue with thy sweetnes with thy affection with thy desire with thy charitie with thy pleasure ioy which is holy and good which is chast and cleane that wholy filled with the sweetnes of thy loue wholy kindled with the flame of thy charity I may loue thee my most sweet Lord with my whole heart with all my soule with all my strength with al my intention and let nothing bee in me that doth not loue thee And for that to loue is to wish well to him wee loue and thou O Lord aboundest with so much goodnesse that I cannot wish thee more than thou hast that onely thing I wish that thou be possessed of my heart also and that all that is mine may be thine and for thine infinite glory I giue thee heartie thāks This likewise do I desire that al creatures should serue thee honor thee praise glorifie thee and that the whole earth should be filled with thy praises Let this be alwaies my desire this my meat this my dainties to praise thee alwaies let thy laudes be alwaies in my lips But because praise is not seemely in the mouth of a sinner let the Saints and all the spirits of the celestiall throne praise thee continually for to them praise belongeth O all ye works of that Lord therefore blesse yee the Lord praise yet and magnifie him for euer O yee Angels and Archangls blesse yee the Lord praise yee and magnifie him for euer O yee vertues dominations blesse ye that Lord praise him and magnifie hime for euer O ye prince-domes powers blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer c. Yee blessed thrones in which God sitteth an iudgeth blesse ye the Lord praise him c. O ye Cherubins Seraphins that burne altogether inflamed with the loue of your creator blesse ye the Lord praise him c. O yee Apostles and Euangelists founders of the Christiā Church blesse yee the Lord praise him c. O yee glorious hosts of Martyrs blesse yee the Lord praise him c. O all ye renownced and chaste virgins blesse ye the Lord praise him and magnifie him for euer Blessed is the God of our Fathers blessed bee the name of thy glorie holy and laudable and magnified for euer and euer Amen The first prayer vnto the holy Trinitie expressing the Maiestie thereof LOrd God without beginning immortall incomprehensible incircumscribed incorporall indefinite vnsearchable inuisible immutable euery where present but hidden euery where al but immeasurable who by thy neuer too much praised wisdome hast created this huge world and placed man in the same holy Trinity one God haue mercie vpon me If that Publican in the Gospel durst not lift vp his eies to heauē but standing afar off strooke his breast saying God be merciful vnto me a sinner if that holy penitent was affraid to appeare before the presence of our Lord but standing behinde neare his feete obtained remission of her sins by him teares flowing from her eies if that holy Patriarch Abraham willing to talk with thee o God said shal I speak vnto my Lord whereas I am but dust and ashes If all these were so humble and so reuerent in respect of thee comming before the sight of thy diuine maiestie thy most holy what shall a poore miserable sinner doe such as I am what shall dust and ashes doe what shal the Abysse of all miserie sins do But because o Lord I cannot obtaine that feare reuerence which is due to so great a maiesty except I fixe mine eies immediatly on the same giue mee leaue to dare to lift vp mine eies vnto thee neither let the brightnes of thy glorie bee an impediment to the frailty of my sight Truely I see that thou art that great God that transcendest al the reach of our vnderstanding I know that no vnderstanding created can comprehend thee and although this be thus yet can I not do any thing more profitable than to fire mine eies on thee Therefore O most high omnipotent merciful iust faire strong stable simple perfect incomprehensible secret and yet present withall inuisible and yet seeing all things immutable changing and renewing al things whom altitudes dilate not neither limits restraine nor variety changeth nor corruption wasteth nor affliction fasteneth on nor ioyes moue in his essence from whom neither obliuion detra◅h nor to whom memory addeth any thing to whom neither things that are past are past nor things to come shall succeed to whom nothing gaue beginning nor time augment neither any thing shall giue end for thou
liuest and reignest for euer Thou art he who possesseth all things in all places and that disposest them sweetly Thou art he that createdst all things without any necessitie and conseruest them without labour and gouernest all things without molestation and mouest al things thy selfe being immoueable Thou art all eie all foote all hand for thou seest sustainest and worâ—… all things Thou art in al things yet art not concluded thou art without all things and yet art not disioyned Thou art vnder all things yet art not subiect thou art aboue al things yet art not lifted vp Thou art the soueraigne and true God the soueraigne and true life from whom and by whom all things haue birth and being Thou O Lord art very goodnes and beauty it selfe by which and from which all that is good faire is good and faire Thou art he who willest vs to leeke thee and giuest vs leaue to finde thee thou bidst vs knocke and thou openest when wee call vpon thee thou art hee whom to forsake is to fall and whom to weare is to rise and in whom to stand is to endure for euer Thou art hee whom no man forsaketh but the foolish no man seeketh except hee bee called no man findeth except he be purged thou art hee whose knowledge is life whose seruice is a Kingdome whose praise is saluation and thou art the very ioy of those that reioâ—…e in thee What therefore shall I O my king Sauior what shal I say vnto thee I say a wretched worme what shal I say of the greatnes of so many praises I wil say that which the Prophets inspired with thy truth said who hath measured the waters with a hand weighed the heauens with a palme who hanged the weight of the earth on three fingers poised the mountaines in ballances and the hils 〈◊〉 scales Who assisted the spirit of our Lord or who is his counseller and instructour Of whom tooke hee counsell and instructed him and taught him the way of his â—…stice and brought him vp in science and shewed him the way 〈◊〉 prudence Behold the Gentiles are but as a drop of a bucket and are reputed as a graine in the ballance Loe the Ilands are but as a little dust the Woods of Lybanus shal not be sufficient to burne and the beasts shal not suffice for a sacrifice All nations as if they were not so are they before him in his sight are reputed as nothing a vain thing For if at the presenâ—…e of the Sunne al the stars in the heauens shine not nay rather are as if they were not whereas notwithstanding both the one and the other are creatures what shall all created things bee in his sight who is the Creatour of the whole world I adore thee therefore especially O Lord with profound humility and due reuerence with that adoration and worship which is only due vnto thee and to no other creature with such duty as all the dominations of heauen and all the creatures of the world adore thee of whom though many know thee not yet can they not choose but euery one in their kinde adore thee end in their manner offer homage to the Scepter of thy diuinity and acknowledge thy greatnesse For thou onely art the God of Gods thou only the King of Kings thou onely the Lord of Lords and the cause of causes thou art Alâ—…ha and Omega the beginning and ending of all things Thou art the beginning without beginning and the end without end Thou onely art he that thou art for all other things how excellent soeuer they bee haue their beeing borrowed from another but thy beeing is high perfect vniuersall and that dependeth on none other And therefore deseruedly art thou said to bee that which thou art because whatsoeuer is created hath no beeing if it be compared with thine For which cause O Lord acknowledging all these great and wanderfull things prostrate before the foote of thy Diuine presence with all that humility which I am able to expresse I adore thee in such maner as those blessed spirits adore thee who falling downe before thee seated in thy Throâ—… of Maiesty and laying down their crownes before thy feete adore thee confesse that all that which they haue proceedeth from thee So I also o Lord who am the vilest of all creatures adore thee and a thousand times remember thee confessing vnto thee that thou art my true Lord and God and that all that which I am or whatsoeuer I finde in my selfe as my being liuing breathing is all thine and therfore I call vpon all creatures that they together with mee may praise thee adore thee glorifie thee in that diuine song of the Prophet saying Come let vs sing vnto the Lord let vs praise the God of our saluation let vs come before his presence with thanksgiuing and reioyce to him with Psalmes because our God is a great God a great King aboue all Gods in his hands are all the corners of the earth the height of the hilles is his also The sea is his and he made it and his hands fashioned the drie land Come therefore let vs adore and fall downe before him and weepe before our Lord God that made vs for hee is our Lord God and wee are his people and the sheepe of his pasture Wherefore O my God since thou art so worthy to bee adored and honored giue me grace that without intermission I may magnifie thee not onely in words and with my tongue but also in my heart my actions and my whole life Thou which liuest and reignest world without end Amen The second praier to the holy Trinitie of the greatnesse of the diuine Maiestie OMnipotent eternall God three in persons one in substance iust and meet it is agreeable with reason that I should imploy all my whole life in the exercise of repentance feare when as I haue so iust causes of lament feare Tuen as therfore the greatnesse of thy glory impelleth mee to honour and praise thee so also commandeth it mee to praise and glorifie thee For a Hymne becommeth thee in â—…ion and a vow shall be made to thee in Ierusalem because thou art the Ocean of all perfections the Sea of wisedome the Abysse of power beauty greatnesse riches sweetnesse and maiestie in which are all perfections and beauties of creatures which are in heauen or on earth and all these perfections are found in thee in the highest perfection degree All beauty compared to thee is deformitie all riches pouerty all strength weakenesse all wisedome ignorance all sweetenesse bitternesse and to conclude many things in a few all things that are in heauen and on earth make lesse appearance in thy sight than a little candle before the sun-shine Thou art perfect in all things without any deformity great wtout quantity good without quality strong without infirmitie true without falsitie alwaies present without
that thou wilt prepare thy selfe a dwelling place in my heart to that end that thou adorne the same with all kinds of vertues to the end that thou perpetually maiest dwell in the same Would to God O Lord it might please thy bounty that my heart should bee such that I might not feare to inuite thee but that thou mightest come dwel with me and I might deserue to entertaine thee kindly thou in the same heart mightst rest contentedly for all eternities O that I might embrace thee with so powerfull armes of loue that neither in thought or affection I might euer bee drawne from thee I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu for that after thou wert conceiued in the glorious wombe of the Uirgine Marie thou wouldst haue her passe the mountaines visite her Cousen Elizabeth to the end shee might salute her minister in her childbirth vnto her Thou didst not disdain to be inclo sed for nine moneths space in the glorious womb of thy mother And therefore I pray thee giue me the grace of true humility and vouchsafe that I may imprint the same in the bowels of my heart that by the benefit thereof thou maiest alwaies finde mee ready in matters which appertaine to thy seruice Grant O Lord that my heart may alwaies loath transitory things and alwaies desire to haue thee O Lord inhabitant therein I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu that thou wert borne of the pure Uirgine thy mother without staine of her virginity who laid thee presently in a manger as a poore mortall creature and humbly adored thee as God and the creator of al things I beseech thy diuine mercy to vouchsafe to bee continually borne in mee by new heate of charity that thou maist be my onely destre my sole sacietie the firme hope of my heart That it may please thy bounty that I may onely and alwaies seeke thee alwaies think of thee alwaies loue thee with an ardent affection I giue thee alwaies thanks O sweet Iesu that being borne in the extremest horrour of winter thou diddest not refuse to be wrapped in most vile swathing bands and to suck milke from y◠Uirginal breast of thy blessed mother as it were a simple innocent babe to draw the Uirgins teates where indeede thou wert God omnipotent Grāt me o Lord the in thy sight I may be alwaies a very infāt in humility truly poore in spirit Uouchsafe that for thy loue sake I may refuse to endure no tedious or laborous troubles whatsoeuer Grāt that I may loue nothing in this world but thee neither desire to possesse any thing in the same but thee I giue thee thanks most bountifull Iesu for that as soone as thou wert borne it pleased thee to bee praised by the Hymnes of Angels and to be adored by the shepheards with great ioy admiration Giue me the grace O Lord that I may perseuere likewise in thy praise with gladnes and that I may seeke thee in the societie of shepheards and seeking thee finde thee and finding thee possesse thee eternally Bee thou praised and glorified alwaies O good Iesu for that y◠eight day according to the custome of other infants thou wouldest be circumcised for that in thy tender age thou beganst to shed thy blood for my loue and to the end thou mightst blesse mee with vnspeakeable consolation thou wert pleased to be called Iesus I beseech thee O Lord vouchsafe to reckō mee amongst the number of thy elect and to register my name in the booke of life that thou wilt circumcise my heart from al superfluitie that is idle and vndecent speeches and wicked works and roote out in me all impure and vaine cogitations My redeemer thou art called Iesus which is a Sauiour for to thee alone it appertaineth to giue saluation I therefore request thee O Lord that the sweet remembrance of this name may expell from mee all inordinate pustilanimity and sluggishnesse and may giue me the firme hope of thy mercie and defend me from all the persecutions of mine enemies I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu who wert found by the wisemen who of entire deuotion and with sincere faith sought thee out and that by the meanes of a starre which conducted them who humbling them on their knees before thee offered thee gold frankencence and myrrhe Grant mee O Lord that in the company of these holy kings I may seeke thee not in Brthleem but in the hiue of my heart and that there finding thee I may adore thee in spirit truth Let me offer thee the gold of shining charitie the incense of deuotion and the perfect myrrh of mortification Finally giue me grace that I may imploy with a willing minde and alacrity all my forces and all the strength of my minde in imitating thy fortitude I giue thee thanks O Lord Iesu Christ who that thou mightst giue vs an example of obedience and humility wouldest be subiect to the law of our Lord and bee brought into the temple in the armes of thy holy mother haue an oblation not of a rich but of a poore man offered for thee for which cause iust and old Simeon with Anna the Prophetesse reioycing at thy presence gaue a famous testimonie of thy glory Let it bee pleasing to thy good will O Lord that neuer hereafter the least thought of vanity enter into my hart Ah how blessed shold I be if each kinde of presumption were banished from mee and each desire of worldly fauour together with all my inordinate loue were wholy extinct in me Uouchsafe to impart that grace vnto me that I may flie al worldly praise and subiect my selfe to all men and obey them willingly I giue thee thanks sweet Iesu for that being as yet yong thou beganst to suffer persecution in the company of thy deere mother neither didst disdaine to fly into Egypt Giue me the grace that in all y◠tempests of my persecutions in all my tribulations and temptations I may flie vnto thee seeke thee only call vpon thee and as oft soeuer as any of y◠aforesaid troubles shall bee inflicted on mee by thy hand grant O Lord that I may sustaine them with ioy and suffer them with a quiet heart yeelding thee continuall thankes for all things which it shall please thee to impose vpon me I giue thee also infinit thanks O Lord Iesu for that thy most deere mother sought thee with great griefe when thou remainedst in the Temple and after three daies with great ioy found thee sitting in the midst of the doctors whom thou heardest questionedst with wonderfull wisedome O Lord for thy meere mercie sake grant that I may neuer bee separated from thee nor thou from mee Expell from mee all idlenes and sluggishnesse banish the coldnesse of my minde which displeaseth thee so much giue mee perfect deuotion and ardent thirst of thy iustice which may
so possesse my heart y◠I may neuer be weary nor satisfied with seruing thee Our Father c The second praier of the life of Iesus I Giue thee thanks most sweet Ie su for that entring y◠flood Iordan thou wouldst bee baptised by the hands of thy precurser S. Iohn Baptist vouchsafe O Lord to purifie mee in this life by thy merits and to cleanse me from all my sins and to make mee drunke with thy loue and desire of my celestiall countrey Make me such a one before my soule shall depart out of y◠prison of this flesh as thou wilt haue me to bee that at the end of this pilgrimage I may presently bee with thee that I may alwaies see thee and alwaies enioy thee in that blessed eternity that hath no end I giue thee continuall thanks most bountifull Iesu for that liuing in the desart before thou beganst to preach the Gospell thou didst liue amongst wilde beasts perseuering in fasting fortie daies fortie nights and watching in continuall praiers sighs thou wouldest afterwards be tempted by the diuell and after thou hadst obtained the victory the Angels came and ministred vnto thee Uouchsafe O Lord that by thy grace I may chastise my flesh and make thrall all my sinfull affections of y◠flesh and that by the gift of perseuerance I may exercise my selfe in fastings watchings prayers and other spiritual exercises But especially O Lord grant mee that by the helpe of thy grace I may bee free from the sinne of gluttome and from all other snares temptations of the diuell let no temptation preuaile against mee let no allurement separate me from thee rather bring to passe O Lord that all these may giue mee greater occasion more neerely to vnite and tie my selfe vnto thee I giue thee thanks sweete Iesu for that for my loue thou wert afflicted in this world with many dolors diuers necessities as heate colde thirst hunger wearinesse and swellings with diuers iourneis watchings persecutions and tribulations of al sorts Grant me O Lord that for thy loue sake I may suffer all aduersitie with a glad heart as if coming frō thy hands and that I may beare them with great patience Grant that in whatsoeuer fortune either prosperous or aduerse troublesome or peaceable I may alwaies perseuere in thee and faithfully cleaue vnto thee that in all things thy will bee done and not mine I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu for that thou sufferedst many things whilst like a true shepheard and Sauiour of the world thou soughtest the conuersion and health of my soule in watching and prayer in wearying thy selfe in trauels in preaching the Gospell trauelling from Prouince to Prouince and Castle to Castle and omitting in no sort the office of a good Pastor I beseech thee O Lord giue mee this grace that I may neuer be found hereafter slow and negligent in doing thee seruice but that I may be alwaies ready and prompt to all goodnesse Grant that I may most ardently thirst after all mens saluation and may alwaies haue zeale of thine honour and occupy my selfe in the same I giue thee thanks most bountifull Iesu that in thy mercifull conuersation with men thou wouldest comfort them and of thy great mercie cure their infirmities Giue mee O Lord a heart replenished with a certaine zealous affection towards al mē that I may be partaker with all those whom I shall see in afflictiō Grāt also O Lord that I may esteeme other mens miseries as mine owne and that with a sincere heart and without any passion I may beare with other mens imperfections and succour them according to my most power in all their necessities O Lord purge my heart perfectly from all vicious passions and all euill desires which tyrannize in the same that being healed of all these euils and freed from all these impediments shee may freely flie to Heauen and neuer ceasse till of most pure loue it may deserue to partake thy diuine embracings I giue thee thanks good Iesu for that for my sake thou sufferedst so innumerable iniuries blasphemies slaunders reproches and persecutions especially at their hands whom thou hadst graced with infinite benefits I beseech thee O Lord giue me a heart truly simple innocent that I may loue mine enemies and that their misfortunes may greeue me to the heart that I may excuse them alwaies if many thing they shall offend yeelding good for euill that I may be a perfect follower of thy perfect charity and patience I giue thee thanks most louing Iesu for that thou camest in humble sort into Hierusalem lowly sitting vpon an Asse and whilst they that came out to meete thee recorded thy glorious praises in pleasant Hymnes thou sheddest teares full of bitternesse with the griefe thou hadst conceiued for the destruction of such a Cittie and the losse of so many soules extorted from thee Giue mee O Lord a certaine inward knowledge of my selfe that I may manifestly know my vilenes hartily humble my selfe that I may so contemne my selfe that hereafter no flatterie or commendations of men may please me but that I may continually bewaile not onely mine owne but my neighbours sinnes reputing all his euils to bee mine Our Father c. The third prayer of the life of Iesu. I Giue thee thanks O Lord Iesu Christ for that to bring the old law to an end thou didst eate the paschall Lamb with thy Disciples in Hierusalem and giuing them an example of great humility and vnspeakeable loue kneeling on thy knees thou didst wash their feete wiping them with the towell wherewith thou wert girt I pray thee O Lord let this example of thine pierce my heart and cast out of the same whatsoeuer presumption or pride may bee found in it Giue me I beseech thee O Lord profound humility by meanes wherof I may reioyce to be subiect vnto them without alteration Adde to me also perfect obedience whereby I may entirely satisfie thy commandements together be obseruant to their instructions who in thy name haue the authority ouer me Kindle in mee a feruent charitie wherewith I may purely loue thee and through thy loue loue all men I giue thee thanks most sweete Iesu that of thy most excellent charitie thou didst institute the most excellent Sacrament of thy bodie and blood and for that of a certaine admirable liberality of thine thou gauest thy self for meat vnto vs and repinedst not to remain with vs in this world till the end thereof Ah Lord excite in me I pray thee a louing desire and an ardēt thirst of this venerable Sacrament Grant mee the grace that I may come to this Table of life to receiue thee with a chaste loue profound humility purity of heart and sincerity of mind Grant also that my soule may so thirst after thee and bee so wounded by thy loue that at length I may deserue to enioy thy diuine pleasures
for mee doth the Thrush sing for mee doth the Peacoke spread her party-coloured plumes what need more There is nothing that liueth or mooueth in water earth oâ—… ayre which either feedeth me noâ—… or recreateth mee not or medicineth me not so that all this inferiour world is no other thing thaâ—… my store-house my walke and 〈◊〉 Poticaries shop If I shall ascend aboue the elementall world how many how great wonders hast yâ— made there for me The moone the sunne the stars to whom shine they but to me to whose vse doe they impart their influences to those inferiour bodies but to mine To whom do the times of yeares moneths and daies varie and admit measure but for me I wil ascend higher it was thy will that those noble and pure Angelicall spirits who minister vnto thee assist thee should bee my ministers also that they might defend me from the assaults of al mine enemies visible and inuisible induce mee to goodnesse by their suggestion helpe me in my tribulations offer my prayers vnto thee and bring my soule departing out of this life to thy presence Arise now my soule arise number if thou canst all these benefits wherwith God ceasseth not to follow thee though a sinner euerie day All and euery one of these are certaine voyces inuiting thee to prayse this thy bountifull benefactor Doest thou not heare nor know who he is who insinuateth himselfe vnto thee by so many arguments makes himselfe known by so many testimonies draweth thee vnto him by so many rewards esteemed thee so much that hee made all things for thy vse who is made the shepheard of thy flocke the steward of thy houshold the Physition of thy bodie soule wilt thou not loue him wilt thou not serue him wilt thou not giue him thanks wilt thou not prayse him I desire to prayse thee O Lord giue thee thanks with my whole heart but in my selfe I finde no means how I may do it for praise is not seeming in the mouth of a sinner But for that thou hast created all things to my vse seruice I will cal vpon all creatures that they with me may praise the Lord of al things saying O alye works of the Lord blesse yee with mee the Lord praise him and magnifie his name for euer The third thanksgiuing for the benefite of our redemption I Giue thanks with my lips my heart and all the vertue that is in mee to thine infinite mercie O Lord my God for that being created according to thy similitude and likenesse and fallen and lost in my first parents thou wouldst not banish me for euer like the proud angell from thy presence but of thy vnspeakeable goodnesse thou hast redeemed me Because thou madst mee O Lord I owe my selfe vnto thee but for that thou redeemedst mee I should owe thee farre more than my self if I had it But wher as thou couldst not helpe vs by thy life yet was it thy pleasure to effect the same in thy death to the end thou mightest expresse vnto vs the force of thy loue for lesse hadst thou loued except for a time thou hadst sustained to the end thou mightest disburden vs. And so much more worthily art thou to bee honoured by vs by how much more greater things thou hast sustained for our sakes For who art thou that sufferest what of what kinde are the things thou sufferest for whom sufferest thou and why sufferest thou Tell me O Lord that I may counterpoise equallie this wonderfull worke incomparable benefite What therefore O my God shall I say that thou art I will say that which thou thy selfe saidst to Moses in times past Thou art that thou art Thou art an infinite being that proceedest from no man but thy selfe and without thee there is no being that hath being of himselfe but from thee onely who art that beginning and fountaine of al being Thou of thy omnipotent power madst al things of nothing thou of thy goodnesse conseruest all things without any forraine helpe thou by thy will if it so pleased thee maiest reduce al things to nothing thou onely art that art and all that seemeth to be is nothing in comparison of thee The moone shineth not and the starres are not cleane in thy sight All beautie compared to thee is deformitie all power infirmity all wisdome ignorance and all goodnesse is malice Thou art good without defect wise without error liberall without acception of persons iust without wrath cleane without detriment thou workest all things and art not distracted thou labourest and art not wearie thou art euerie where and nothing is wanting in thee What therfore shal I speake of the greatnes of thy maiesty Thou beholdest the earth and makest it tremble thou touchest the mountaines and they smokke thou hast shut the sea within bounds when it brake out as a child from his mothers wombe thou numbrest yâ— multitude of starres and callest them all by their names whom the dominations and Angelical powers adore before whom the highest Seraphins clock their wings hide themselues with their fethers All thy works praise thee and thy Saints blesse thee the morning starres praise thee and all the children of God reioyce in thee the heauens declare thy glory and the firmament sheweth thy brightnesse the flowers of the field testifie thy beauty the earth thy prouidence the Sea and the flouds thereof doe preach thy Maiestie Such and so great art thou O Lord oh now let it be lawfull for mee to speake or rather to feele what and how vnworthy wrongs thou the God of so great maiesty hast suffered for mee and whilst I reckon vp these things let all â—…he Quires of Angels fall downe before thee and giue thee thanks for that which thou hast sustained for our redemption Thou being so sublime and admirable didst descend from the height of thy glory into this vale of miserie inuested with our carnall body and in habite like a man subiect to sinne Thou in this world sustainedst for my sake hunger and thirst yâ— heate of the Sunne and the cold of the Winter persecutions and dolors thou sufferedst for me so much pouertie that where the Foxes haue dennes and the birds of the aire their nests thou the Lord of heauen hadst not a place to rest thy head on borne in a Stable among beasts thou didst beg the heate of their breath from them and wert wrapped in ragged clouts On the eight day thou tookest on thee the marke of a sinner Presently after this the world persecuted thee thou fledst to forraine Lands and to a Nation honouring idols and to that purpose soughtst the silence of the night the innocency of thy â—…s excused thee not neither was there rest giuen to thy tender bodie neither was thy delicate childhood idle as thy body increased thy griefes and labours grew For who can expresse O Lord thy praiers watchings fastings wearines hunger thirst persecutions and
iniuries done thee by thine enemies They spake against thee who sate in the gate and the drunkards made Ballads of thee In a word thy life was tormented in so vnworthy sort as that thou maiest iustly say with the Prophet I am poore in labours from my youth and infancie These were the things thou sustainedst in thy life time but greater are they which thou sufferedst in thy death and on the Crosse There was liberty takē prisoner innocency strooken beauty spit vpon iustice condemned glorie deluded and life slaine and crucified Good Lord what more admirable what more horrible what more strange Life dieth God is whipt the power of God tied with cords the image of the Father spit vpon finally naked God is nailed to a Crosse and hanged betweene two theeues in the sight of the whole world Further may not my soule wade my strēgth is weak ned my heart faileth within mee O height of charity O depth of immasurable humilitie O greatnesse of mercie O incomprehensible bottomlesse pit of bounty If I owe thee so much O Lord for that thou hast redeemed me what shall I owe thee for that after so admirable a manner and so hard and difficult vnto me thou hast redeemed me O most mercifull Pastor O most faithfull shepheard who gauest thy life for thy sheepe whom thou tookest vpon thee to defend and keepe with what duty may I remunerate so great a benefite with what teares may I prosecute my plaints with what life shal I imitate thy pure and immaculate life Truly I owe thee farre more O Lord for thy sufferance wherby I was redeemed than for thy worke by which I was created And if O Lord thou hadst sustained these things for Angels or archangels for cherubins or seraphins it were lesse to be wondred at but now hast thou not suffred for these but for man what is man that thou art mindfull of him or the sonne of man that after this sort thou visitest him If thou consider his bodie man is the most wretched of al liuing creatures if his manners more miserable and worser Dost thou therefore O God die for the sonnes of Satan for y◠corrupters of all honesty iustice for parricides and breakers of thy diuine Lawes for contemners of thy Maiesty and blasphemers of thy glory Dost thou then die O God for thy infernall tormentor whose heart is not allured by benefits nor terrified by threatnings nor mollified by promises nor moued by punishments For a man who is not content with his own power and domesticall malice compasseth the earth also sorteth out all the worse sensualities putteth on the nature of beasts becoming woorse than they crueller than a Tyger fiercer than a Liō greedier thā a Wolfe venomouser than a Toad craftier than a Serpent Which not sufficing him hee descendeth into hell and borroweth whatsoeuer detestable things in the diuels themselues as blasphemy pride enuie and perpetuall hardnesse of heart And when hee findeth no more ◅ee inuenteth of his owne braine ◅ost prodigious monsters of sin ◅ertaine new kindes of ryot lechey and other sorts of vncleannesse ◅hich are neuer heard of a◅ongst very Beasts or the diuels themselues Dost thou thinke O Lord this monster to bee worthy that thou shouldst open thine eies on him Doest thou die for this sinke and caue of Serpents replenished with Uipers and Scorpions to the end to sanctifie y◠same My heart faileth mee in considering thy mercies O God there is no more spirit left in me Because I haue once begunne I will speake vnto thee my King my God though I am dust and ashes What mooued thy mercifull heart What ouercame and conquered the same that thou sufferedst so much for so abhominable a creature didst thou hunt after profite didst thou expect greater glory and blessednesse than thou hadst O meere grace O loue wtout respect O pure and sincere goodnesse What profite hast thou by the seruice of one poore Ant What fruit was there expected to thee by the saluation of man Thou hast no neede of riches Who gaue thee that thou mightst restore againe vnto him all things vnder the heauens are thine What hadst thou therefore to do with our dolours and miseries Through the bowels of the mercy of our God thou didst visit vs rising from on high O pittifull bowels O sweet bowels O bowels vnto vs the Sea of loue and mercy In these bowels and not mooued either with profite or necessity thou tookest compassion on our griefes and hadst mercie vpon vs Thou sawest the affliction of thy people and appearedst in the bush amongst thornes and bryers discending from Heauen and taking on thee our nature Be not angry o Lord if I speak If the force of thy loue were so great thou fountaine of charitie that it compelled thee to a marriage so vnworthy thy maiestie that thou wouldst espouse thy selfe to thy creature was there not a more noble spouse for thee on the earth and more allied to thee by grace and nature Why didst thou not rather entertaine the Angelicall nature why didst thou loue a wife of an vncircumcised nation which shall afterward betray thee to thine enemies and kill thee what doest thou answer mee my God what doest thou answer but I would haue this this was pleasing in my fight as ◅ampson who erst prefigured thee once said What thanks shall I therefore giue thee O Lord for this incomparable benefit with what loue shal I loue thee that hast giuen so manifest and incomprehensible testimony of thy goodnes towards mee How can it bee that there should bee any one in this world that should not loue thee how can hee bee vnmindfull of such a benefit First O Lord let mee forget my selfe than the memorie of so great a mercy bee extinct in mee Those nailes which pierced thy most innocent hands shall also pierce my heart and that admirable change wherein thou tookest vpon thee my infirmities powredst thy goodnes liberally vpon mee shall neuer depart out of my minde And whereas thou all thy life time diddest desire the Crosse with great affection whereon thou wert to die for my sake Grant that I also as long as I liue may not abhorre the Crosse but beare the same patiently vntill thou transferre me to that place where nei◅ death nor mourning nor cry nor dolour shall be heard of where thou reignest world without end Amen The fourth thanksgiuing for the benefit of our vocation and iustification I Giue thee thanks O Lord God my helper Redeemer for that from darkenesse thou hast called me into so admirable a light as that being without hope of mercy I haue now obtained mercie For during the time that I liued in the land of Obliuion and in the shaddow of death when my waies were most wicked and contrary vnto thee then did thy mercie call mee not onely flying but also repugning then gauest thou me thy holy Spirit
adoptedst mee for thy sonne The grace which in baptisme I receiued of thee I cursedly neglected I rent my first robe and like the prodigall sonne spent all my substance Thy holy temple which thou sanctifiedst in me for thy le◅e I haue prophaned raising in the same an idoll of my disordinate pleasures defiling it with diuers sinnes The tune was once o Lord my Sauiour wherein I was so blinde and liued so loosely as if I had no law or as though I beleeued there were no God I was vnmindfull of death neither remembred I y◠latter iudgment or the life to come The Lawes according to whose prescript I did liue were mine appetites I followed mine owne inuentions and walked according to mine owne waies So diuers yeares of my life were ouerpast wherin I liued in so palpable darkenes tha◅ in like sort as that of Egypt I might haue felt it with my handes O eternall light how ouerlate did I know thee how slackely did I open mine eies to behold thine ancient beauty All this time thou obseruedst me sustainedst me expectedst mee not permittting timelesse death to apprehend mee O altitude of thy iudgements O greatnesse of thy ◅ercies How many men in the ◅eane space in the midde race of their sinnes are there swallowed by sodaine death who now are miserably tormented in hel I who was one of them protected by thy mercy am reserued euen vntill this houre Ah what had become of me if at that time thou hadst summoned me likewise before thy iudgement seat What account could I haue made in so miserable an estate O my mercy my redemption I giue thee no lesse thanks for this bounty than if thou hadst acquited me being condemned amongst those damned and deliuered mee from perpetuall torments Blessed bee thy patience by the benefite whereof I liue and blessed be thy mercy which so long time defended and kept me Neither didst thou onely keepe me whē I sinne◅ against thee but very often times thou didst also visite me as my friend calledst me vnto thee by thy sweete and secret inspirations obiecting to mee the greatnes of my sins the shortnes of this life the eternity of y◠other the seuerity of thy iustice and ◅he bounty of thy mercy In the midst of mine iniquitie afterwards thy presence appeared vnto mee so effectually that perseuering in my delights seeking after y◠Leeks ◅urneps and Garlike of Egypt thou extortedst plentifull teares from mee I did sinne and thou didst recall me from finne I did flie from thee as though it had bene a slight matter to lose thee and thou didst seeke me as though it were much for thy profit to finde me out So many yeares did wee liue wrastling resisting thou in doing good I in doing euill and contemning thy goodnesse With these voices didst thou call mee with these cords didst thou drawe mee At length when it pleased thee to single me out and to call me by thy grace thou sentest a great cry into the eares of my soule wherwith as it were the roaring of a Lion thou didst awake mee from sleepe and thou calledst me from death vnto life This is the voice which Dauid thy friend so highly commendeth in vertue and power breaking the Cedars cutting the flames of fire and shaking moouing the desart of Cades For no lesse is thy power than thy mercie which thou art wont to vse in this worke for it is great mercie to remit sins mighty power to make finners iust O how many and how great are the benefits which together with this one are powred into vs here is giuen pardon of sinnes grace is giuen charity is giuen with those other vertues which attend her finally the gifts graces of the holy Spirit are giuen Heereby the sinner is reconciled vnto thee of an enemy made a friend and of the slaue of the diuell thy Sonne and the heire of thy kingdome Heere the Prodigall Sonne is entertained into his Fathers house the first Robe Ring and Shooes ornaments of a Sonne are restored vnto him And although I cannot be assured O Lord whether I be worthy of hate or loue yet hope I y◠same and confidently euery way trust in thy bounty my conscience likewise beareth mee witnesse that I am partaker of the grace of iustification for which I acknowledge my selfe deepely indebted Blessed bee thou therefore O bountifull Lord the giuer of all goodnes yea of thy selfe for that I liuing most lasciuiously thou gauest mee thy holy Spirit for my nurse tutor master gouernour comforter and all my good hee is to mee the pattent of adoption the pledge of matrimonie the assurance of euerlasting life Blessed bee the day in which such a guest entered my soule and blessed bee the houre in which the gates of my wal were opened to receiue him That day was holy vnto mee in that day I came out of Egypt that day was my birth day in which I was regenerated into the Son of God This my Easter day in which I rose againe from death to life in which I receiued the holy Ghost Let Iob curse the day of his natiuitie I will blesse this this is the day in which the Angels reioyced at the conuersion of a sinner in which the woman reioyced that found her groat in which the shepheard assembled his neighbours with ioy for the lost sheepe which he found in which the diuels doe houle for their lost prey This is that day in which thou my Father doest acknowledge mee thy sonne and thy Sonne termeth mee his brother and thy holy Spirit hath consecrated mee for his Temple and the Quire of Angels haue saluted me for their companion and fellow Citizen If on this day the Angels reioyced and sung vnto thee O Lord how can my lips bee shut how may my tongue be silent how can my mouth choose but bee ◅lled with thy praises whatsoeuer the Psalmi◅ or Prophets sung of the comming of my Redeemer all y◠will I sing vnto thee O Lord. It was a great benefite of thine O Lord that thou diddest create me for thereby thou didst produce me from not being to a being but much more is it that thou iustifiedst me for in this thou tookst frō me the being of sinne and bringest me to the being of grace in that am I made the son of man in this am I adopted the son of God It is a great benefite which I expect of glory but no lesse in this kinde is that of iustificatiō For it is no lesse to make a iust man of a sinner than of a iust man a blessed man since there is a greater distance betwixt sin grace than betweene grace and glory Great also yea very great is the benefite of redemption but what had redemption profited if vocation and iustification had not followed I acknowledge therefore O Lord that the benefite of iustification is the keie and ground of all the other without which
the rest do not onely not profite but giue vs matter of greater damnation But O Lord what did I vnto thee that thou shouldst giue mee those things what obedience shewd I to thee that thou shouldst giue me this blessing what foundest thou in me worthy of so great honour reward nothing in mee was free frō sin I knew thee not I loued thee not I serued thee not neither had thee in remembrance I became the bottomlesse pit of darknes and iniquity I cannot choose O Lord but tremble with horror as oftē as I think hereon neither finde I any other cause of this benefite but thy bounty How many were my companions of the same age nature and impietie of whom I was the most reprobate yet tookest thou me vnto thee and forsookest them we were detained in the same Egyptian captiuitie thou admittedst mee to thy royall Table but condemnedst them cast out their flesh to bee deuoured by the creatures of hell Whilst I remember these things O Lord my spirit is no more in me and I know not how to praise thee or what thanksgiuing to offer vnto thee for so incomparable a benefite All the time of my life I will say O Lord what sawest thou in me O Lord what sawest thou in mee Lord what sawest thou in mee more than in the rest whom thou hast forsaken Why didst thou so call mee so deliuer mee so looke vpon me so succour me if so bee thou hast succoured me leauing the rest in sinne who were lesse euil than I I know not what to say I know not what to do I know not what to yeeld vnto thee O Lord for all the benefits thou hast bestowed on mee I will with the Prophet praise my Lord at all times his praise shall be alway in my mouth I will say with the same Prophet Thou hast brokē my bonds O Lord I wil sacrifice to thee the sacrifice of praise cal vpon the name of the Lord. To the Lambe that sitteth on the throne be blessing and honor and glory and power for euer euer Amen A thanksgiuing for the benefite of our spirituall conuersation in the life of grace I Adore thee I praise thee I glorifie thee I giue thee thanks most mercifull Father and eternal God with my whole heart for all thy benefits but in especiall for that thou hast called mee whom being beforetimes wounded thou hast ◅thout any my precedent merits ◅ured and being an enemie vnto thee reconciled redeemed from captiuity and called from death to life and of thy fatherly goodnesse hast hitherto conserued me in this state and as yet doest conserue me by thy grace Thou art he onely O Lord that created me made mee of nought and thou onely art he that conseruest that which thou hast created thou bountifully dost protect that essence of nature which thou gauest me lest it should perish Thou onely hast regenerated mee by thy Spirit in the life of grace By thee are we priuiledged from our sins by thee are wee conserued lest wee should fall againe into sinne If at any time I haue risen thou gauest me thy hand if I now stand thou sustainest me lest I fall As many good purposes as I haue conceiued as many godly inspiratiōs as I haue felt all are by thy benefite As oftē as I haue ouercome mine enemy as oftē as I haue refrained my euill inclinations and peruerse appetites it was thy benefite For if no man can say Lord Iesu but in the holy Spirit nor doe any good deede without thee euen as the branch can yeeld no fruite being deuided from the vine sure it is that if any fruite grow from this cluster it is by the benefite of that vine to which it cleaueth If at any time I haue fasted it came from thee if I haue endured aduersity patiently thou didst assist me if at any time I haue denied mine owne will it was thy working If euer hitherto I haue shed the teares of contrition if my prayers haue preuailed with thee I confesse O Lord that I did it by thy helpe I confesse that thou hast wrought all good workes in me for all theese doe I giue thee thanks I referre al these benefits with thanksgiuing to him from whom they proceeded that hereafter they may flow more plentifullie I acknowledge my selfe to bee indebted for so many benefits as I haue done duties to thee O Lord in this life if I haue done any at all What shall I say of the occasions and opportunities offered by thee vnto me of good life How many preachers hast thou sent to teach me how many counsellers to instruct me how many good friends how many godly companions how many good examples how many deuout bookes hast thou lent mee by whose helps I am incited to goodnesse and pricked forward to vprightnes of life Great are these thy benefits but greater doth he owe thee who hath profited without these blessed is hee whom thou hast taught O Lord and instructed in thy law for so much more hath hee profited by how much thou art a better Doctor and wiser Master then others But who can recount the perils and dangers from whence thou hast deliuered mee O bountifull shepheard of mens soules or the sinnes whereinto I had fallen wtout thine assistance There is no sin so great that was euer attempted by man which another man cannot fall into if the Creator bee wanting by whom he is made For whi◅h cause vpon good occasion I will call all mens sinnes my benefits for into al them might I haue beene plunged except thine infinite mercie had preserued mee Is many occasions of sinne therefore as might haue inforced mee to fall for they could inforce Dauid so many had I fallē into except thou O Lord hadst taken them away because thou knewest my infirmities All men acknowledge not these thy benefits but I through the grace doe both acknowledge embrace them How often O louing Father hast thou vsed this mercy towards mee How often hast thou bound the enemies hands lest he should tempt me or if he should haue tempted me that yet hee might not ouercome mee how often hast thou inchanted that old Serpent that although I walked amongst Uipers Bas◅lisques yet could they not hurt me How often hast thou trauelled with mee through water fire lest I should bee burned in the flame or drowned in the water How often in the midst of the seruants of this world hast thou tempered the flame of this Babylonicall furnace with the dew of the holy Spirit and so cooled it that it might not consume me How often might I iustly say with the Prophet I was thrust fore at y◠I might fal But y◠Lord was my helpe If at any time I haue stood I stood by thee if I haue fallen I haue fallen by my selfe thy hand hath staied me vp lest I shold be bruised Yea I had alwaies lien in y◠dirt
except thou hadst raised me In the multitude of my sorrowes therefore which I had in my heart thy comforts haue refreshed my soule and raised it How often O Lord haue my sins deserued thy wrath How often mightst thou haue taken thy hand away and that iustly from mee as thou hast withdrawne it from others lesse vngratefull yet wert y◠mercifull vnto mee and didst not punish me according to my iniquities I was proud swolne with vaine glory I attributed that glorie which was due vnto thee to my selfe and therefore I am worthy to bee an outcast from thy mercie I was ingrateful I did not acknow ledge thy benefits I attributed that to nature which was due to the author of nature neither did I yeeld the thanks which belonged vnto thee I was negligent slothfull in those things which appertaine to my saluation and therefore I deserued that my talēt should long since haue bene taken from me I was rash in louing perils and therefore worthy to fall into them I am worthy I say O Lord y◠for these and many such like I should alreadie bee forsaken and ◅ast off by thee that the crime of the last sinne might be the punishment of the first But thy patience was so great that thou wink◅dst at the wickednesse of my dissolute life shuttedst thine eies against my infirmities Hitherto hast thou forborne mee with so much mercie neither wouldest thou suffer that thy succour should at any time leaue me I pray thee O Lord perfect that which thou hast begun vouchs◅ not onely to keepe in mee but also to in◅ease thy benefits which thou thy selfe hast daigned to impart to mee Continue O Lord to keepe me innocent in this spirituall life and forsake me not as hitherto thou hast not forsaken mee I conuert the dolors of my conscience O Lord wherewith I should be vexed if thou hadst forsaken mee into ioy and now with glad minde and reioycing spirit in way of thanksgiuing and praise I sing saying with thy friend Returne my soule into thy rest for our Lord hath done good vnto thee For he hath deliuered my soule frō death mine eies from teares and my feet from falling For all these thy benefits we yeeld thee thanks Lord God omnipotent who art and hast bene and who shalt be for thy works are great and wonderfull and thy waies are iust and true Lord and King for euer Amen To how many temptations our life is exposed and how much neede wee haue of Gods helpe LOrd let mee know mine end and the number of my daies that I may bee certified how long I haue to liue Are not my daies few it irketh my soule of my life For what is this life where continuall tribulations are conuersant where all things are full of snares and enemies Scarcely doth one temptation passe away but another succeedeth and the first conflict as yet vndetermined others more greeuous and vnexpected doe follow Helpe mee therefore O Lord my God for mine enemies haue inuironed my soule on this ◅e my body on that side the diuell heere the world vrgeth and all of these enforce and search after my soule I cannot flie from the body nor driue it from mee I must needes beare it about with me for that it is tied vnto me I must not kil it I am compeld to sustaine it when I ◅atten the same I nourish mine owne enemy against my selfe The world begirteth and bes◅egeth mee euery way by the fiue windows or senses of my body my sight my hearing my taste my smelling and my touching woundeth mee with his arrowes and death entreth by my windows into my soule I cannot see the diuell and therefore haue lesse meanes to beware of him Hee hath bent his bow and hath to that end prepared his shafts that he may wound mee sodainely he hath said he would hide his snares saying Who shall see them which way soeuer I see thē there is no security the flesh suggesteth me with delight the world presenteth sweete the diuell gall the flesh talketh vnto me of sleepe of drinke of meat and such like appurtenances of the same the world bewitcheth mee with ambitious pleasing of time with boasting with arrogancy and pride but to wrath malice bitternes of minde the diuell prouoketh me Behold Infidels Atheists are with me O Lo◅ I dwell with Scorpions woe is me because my life is prolonged I haue dwelt with the inhabitants of ◅edar my soule hath too long remained on the earth in this so dangerous assault I finde nothing in me wherunto I may haue recourse for my heart is vaine fugitiue and vnstable more moueable than motiō it is distracted diuers waies and trauerseth innumerable things with incertaintie and whilst it wandreth through diuers things it findeth no rest For euen as a Mil turneth swiftly and refuseth nothing but grindeth whatsoeuer is put vpon it and if nothing be put thereon it consumeth it selfe so is my heart alwaies in motion and neuer resteth Bitter thoughts trouble vncleane defile vaine disquiet trouble the same whilst my heart crieth not for future ioy nor seeketh thy helpe it is estranged from the loue of God and drowned in ◅rthly affections And when it falleth from those and is insnared in these vanity seduceth it curios◅tie confoundeth it des◅re allureth it pleasure intangleth it lust de◅leth it enuie tortureth it ire disturbeth it sadnesse tormenteth it So by miserable chances it is drowned in all vices sometimes an abiect matter falleth out to be the cause of a greeuous temptation Wretched man that I am who shall deliuer me from the body of this death In all these am I ouerthrowne O Lord vnlesse thou helpe me Haue mercy therefore haue mercy vpon me O Lord and deliuer me from the dirt that I sticke not therein lest euery way I remaine discomfortlesse Deliuer me from ◅ine enemies O God and from them that hate mee defend mee against all those that rise vp against me But thou O Lord deliuer me from the snare of the Hunter and from the bitter tongue that wee may confesse vnto thee saying Blessed be God who gaue vs not in prey to their teeth My soule is escaped like a Sparrow from the ◅et of the fowler the net is broken and we are escaped Against whatsoeuer temptation THou seest O bountifull Father the great danger wherwith I am entangled thou seest the snares which mine enemies haue laid for me and the violence that they v◅ against mee that they may raui◅ me o Father from the number of thy children and deliuer mee thy poore sheepe as a prey to the fierce teeth of Wolues I therfore humbly beseech thee for thy fatherlie goodnesse sake to helpe mee and strengthen me and that they may haue no other vse of these their subtilties but to strengthen my loue towards thee and make their subtilties cursed counsels more manifest Truely my infirmities might
craue peace and tranquillity for how can I choose being a weake fraile man but feare so mightie enemies as the world the diuell and the greatest enemy of all my flesh yet since I am not ignorant O Father that temptations are so profitable healthfull for vs yâ— we ought to reioyce therein I require no other thing at thy hands but that thou wilt take from before me the multitude of all my sinnes which with their immmeasurable weight not only depresse my poore backe but turne away thy helpe and assistance euery way from me Let mee heare in my temptations that which once Saint Paul heard when hee was tempted My grace â—…s sufficient for thee O Lord if â—…hou deny me not this I will say with the Prophet God is my light and my saluation whom then shall I fear God is the protector of my life of whom shall I be afraid If 〈◊〉 host of men were encamped against mee my heart should not â—…are If an army were imbattelled against mee hereat I would not be afraid Behold O Father how thy coÌ„â—…ence maketh vs fearelesse how â—…int hearted our sins finde vs for â—…is written whither flieth the wicked when no man followeth him â—…nd seeing the morning Star he supposeth it to bee the shadow of death Take my sinnes therefore from me which make me fearefull and faint-hearted and giue me thy grace that if it bee not expedient for mee to haue a life which is free from all temptations yet that I may constantly resist some assaults and with greater desire thirst after that my celestiall countrey wheâ—… neither temptation doth sollicite nor griefe cruciate nor tribulation afflict where thou the celestiall Father with the Sonne and the holy Ghost liuest and reignest God world without end Amen Against the temptation of the diuell LOrd God Creator and maiâ—…tainer of mankinde behold yâ— feareful Dragon tempteth me thâ—… old serpent which first began in the paradise of pleasure who with his tayle draweth the third part of the stars of heauen and casteth them on the earth who with his venome corrupteth the waters of the earth that men that drinke thereof die and who shall defend me from his iawes Who shall deliuer mee from his mouth but thou o Lord who hast broken the head of the great Dragon Helpe me spread thy wings O Lord ouer mee that mee may flie vnder them from the face of this Dragon who persecuteth mee and with thy shield deliuer me from his hornes for this is his continuall studie this his only desire to deuoure those soules â—…hom thou hast created therefore my God I cry vnto thee deliuer me from my daily aduersary who whether I sleep or wake whe ther I eate or drinke or whatsoeuer I do doth euery way day and night with his frauds and artes endeuour now openly to wound and now secretlie to hurt mee directing his inuenomed shafts against mee to the end hee may slay my soule But thou O inuisible Lyon of the tribe of Iuda giue strength to thy seruant against this roaring Lyon who alwaies seeketh about watching whom hee may deuoure most healthfull Serpent fixed on a high Crosse giue power vnto the weake one against the deceits of this subtill Serpent Thou snow-white Lambe conquerour of sathans tyranny giue thy tender sheepe the strength of thy Spirit that being fraile in himselfe and strong in thee hee may ouercome all the assaults of the diuell lest mine enemie triumph ouer me but being conquered by thy might I may giue thee thanks for thy mercy which neuer faileth those that put their trust in thee Amen Against the temptations of the world I Am assaulted O Lord Iesu I am assaulted come and reuenge me of mine aduersary and deliuer me Hast thou not said Be not dismaied I haue ouercome the world Whence therefore had the world those forces that it so triumpheth ouer thine elect and persecuteth all with fire and sword who cleauing vnto thee doe not adore and reuerence him why do they so largely rule ouer those whom thou hast chosen in the world to bee thine especially in this doting age of his continuance in which it behooued his power should decrease and his might diminish The contempt of Gods word reigueth euery where and with it ingratitude lust ryot vnlawfull pleasures and an extreame abuse of all things and he that wil not follow these is scorned and esteemed a foole his life is accounted madnesse and his end is without honour Hee is odious in the worlds eie for that his life is different from other â—…us These things do often times asâ—…ult our soules o Lord almost mooue our feete that leauing the hard wayes we may enter into the â—…igh way of the world which proâ—…seth vs all things happy pleasant sweete delightfull smiling â—…pon vs with a pleasant counteâ—…ance and offering vs with a full â—…and the riches honours pleaâ—…res of the same But thou O Lord withdraw mee from the darknesse deceites and allurements of this world Lighten mine eies that I may see and vnderstand how short and vncertaine how deceitfull how blinde and pernicious yâ— felicity of this world is Maintaine mee in the knowledge of thy truth lest in this couetous and drunken age of this world I bee intangled with secular cares which leade our minds from the exercises of piety and choake those motions which the holy Spirit stirreth vp in vs. Grant o Lord that this world may d ee crucified vnto mee and I vnto the world let mee no wayes study to please him lest whilst I become a friend of this world I make my selfe thine enemie let me contemne his hatred and slanders knowing that wee oughtto glory in nothing but in thy Crosse O Lord. Who liuest and reâ—…nest with the Father and the hâ—… Ghost world without end Amen Against the temptations of the flesh VVHere art thou O good Iesus where art thou Yet once againe Iesabell tyr annizeth once againe the flesh rageth a domesticke but yet a mortall enemie Be at hand O Iesus bee at hand assist mee in my necessity because the waters haue ouer-flowed my soule and the desires of the flesh ouerprest me My flesh made of dirt bringeth foorth nought but dirtie and filthy cogitations In respect of the world vaine and curious from the diuell iâ—… receiueth vaine and bitter whereby it sinneth against the Spirit borne of sinne nourished in sinne corrupted from the beginning with vices but much more depraued by euill customes Who shall stand against so strong an enemie O Lord. Who shall sustaine his assaults He stirreth vp vnlawful motions venemous cogitatious It inflameth moueth war nourisheth hatred inciteth gourmandise quickeneth lust prepareth occasions of sinne and ceasseth not with a thousand subtilties of circumuention to driue away the spirit It is a grieuous conflict a dangerous war to fight against a home-bred enemie especially where we are strangers and hee a Citizen he dwelleth in his owne countrey wee are
pilgrimes and strangers Thou art not ignorant of mine infirmity O sweet Iesus thou knowest how weake fraile a fortresse this is thou knowest it must needs fall beeing shaken with so many volleyes except thou O Christ rampaire it by thy might To thee therefore do I cry from the depth of my heart giue me grace that I follow not the concupiscence of my flesh that I prouoke not my vnbridled senses with liberty but that I may strongly resist them Helpe me that I may tame my body and bring it in subiection lest my flesh growing too proud make me offend and breake my appointed limits lest my heart and body bee stained with carnall concupiscence lust riot and vnlawfull pleasures Sanctifie mee and gouerne mee that mine eies may bee gouerned mine eares shut that I may touch no vnlawfull thing but â—…e from that which is hurtfull though I feele a sting yet let mee not giue coÌ„sent so let me nourish my flesh that it rebell not and so bridle it that it allure not Grant that in all and through all I may so subiect my flesh to my spirit that at the last it may willingly obey her tyrannize ouer her no more is a mistresse but serue as a handmaid that betweene both there may bee an harmonious concent wished peace and perpetuall concord Amen When temptations are ouercome Giue thee thanks O Lord God â—…y whose bounty I am enabled 〈◊〉 such sort that this teÌ„pest being â—…ed I enioy a destred calme To thee be the honor of the triumph by thee and not by mee this proue Goliah is ouercome to thee I attribute whatsoeuer good effect hath succeeded For in respect of mine owne forces I must needs be subdued but now am I conquerour because I grounded my assured hope of victorie on thee my stroÌ„g assister hauing this alwaies hanging before mine eies If God be with vs who can be against vs and I can doe all things in hâ—… that comforteth me And though I sing praises to thee O Lord for this victory yet for that we are taught that when wee haue done all those things which belong to or become a stroÌ„g Champion we should not returne to lusts and pleasures but by the assistance of thy holy Spirit stand strong in the battell against the continuall assaults of the dwell Therfore I flie vnto thee the helper of all those that hope in thee increase my trust in thee that dailâ—… more and more increasing in faitâ—… the power of our enemies may faâ—… vntil thou hast setled vs in that security whereas there is no feare of battell perill or anguish but eternall security purchased by thee when thou shalt surrender thy kingdome to thy Farher with whom thou liuest and reignest God for â—…uer Amen Against the conflict of vices MOst mercifull Lord Iesus Christ behold me miserable wretched and vile sinner prostrate before the feet of thy mercy behold the wounds botches infirmities and vices of my soule which I my selfe ah lasse by my sinne haue inforced against my selfe and now present them to bee healed by the eies of thy mercy Most mercifull Iesus take pitty of my infirmity captiuity and infelicitie wherewith my wretched soule is drowned in transitorie things and distracted by diuers desires Most louing Iesus by that charity which deliuered thee bound into the hands of sinners and haled thee to the Crosse and there afflicted thee more than those nailes that pierced thy hands feet I beseech thee loose the yoake of my captiuitie and deliuer me from all vices concupiscences and euill inclinations and from all the assaults of mine enemies and euery tribulation defend me Extinguish and kill in me vtterly all prâ—…ate loue all inordinate motions passions and affections each occasion all promptnes and inclination to pride wrath enuie vaine-glorie c. for from these thou onely canst deliuer me Sweet Iesus fill me with graces and most perfect charity keepe me in all goodnesse that I may 〈◊〉 all occasions of sinne ouercome all temptations constantly subiect my flesh to my spirit persecute and banish sin auoide the assaults and subtilties of the diuell neuer consent to any sinne neuer nourish that which displeaseth thee but that I may ardently thirst after thy glory faithfully further the same and addict my selfe wholly 〈◊〉 thy good liking Amen Against euill thoughts O Lord my God bee not farre from me O my God haste thee to helpe me because diuers cogitations are risen vp against mee and great feares afflicting my soule How shall I escape vnhurt how may I ouercome them I saiest thou will go before thee and will humble the mighty on earth Doe O Lord as thou speakest and let all euill cogitations flie from thy presence This is my hope and onely consolation to flie vnto thee in all tribulation to trust in thee to call vpon thee with my whole heart and patiently to expect thy consolation Amen Against diuerse sorts of sinnes GOD Father of our Lord God Sauior Iesus Christ lord of great might blessed nature effused goodnesse God and Lord of all things who art blessed for euer who art glorified by the Seraphins to whom thousands of Angels assist and whom infinite hoasts of Angels and Archangels attend for thy Christs sake and the coming of thy holy Spirit sanctifie we pray thee our soules our bodies and our spirits touch thou likewise our minds search our coÌ„sciences and take from vs all euill cogitations all immodest talke al filthy destres al vndeceÌ„t thoughts all enuy pride and hypocrisie all lying all deceit all distraction of this life all auarice all vaine glorie all sloth all vice all wrath all ire all remembrance of iniurie all blasphemy all commotion of the flesh or spirit contrary to thy holy will Amen Against euill thoughts O Lord my God bee not thou estranged from me o God take me into thy protection for diuers cogitations are risen vp against me and great feares that afflict my soule How shall I escape vnhurt how shall I ouercome them I sayest thou will goe before thee and I will humble the mighty vpon earth Doe O Lord as thou speakest let all wicked thoughts fly from thy presence This is my hope and onely comfort to fly vnto thee in all tribulations to trust in thee to call vpon thee with my whole heart and patiently to expect thy consolation Amen A prayer against couetousnesse THe daily necessities of the body draweth and tieth the minde thereunto send vs O Lord who as wee know hast care ouer vs that daily Bread which thine onely Son Iesus Christ coÌ„manded vs to aske and hope for at thy hands Grant vs to liue coÌ„tent with those things that are needfull to despise such things as are superfluous that neither vnauoidable necessitie ouercome vs neither affluence ouerwhelme vs so send vs those things that are necessarie for vs that we obtaine not the same to offend thy Maiestie So deliuered and discharged of all
care we shall onely endeuour our selues to keepe vs as farre as in vs lieth in thy fauour which care thou wilt further who if thou beest wanting nothing can prosper with vs. Translate my heart from the seruice of Idols to thy seruice toward whom whosoeuer is deuout he obtaineth dignitie Grant mee in stead of this desire of riches which are exposed to time the iniuries of men and mischances to grow in loue with thine which being once receiued are eternall and inuiolable Amen Against pride O Most wise beloued Father who alwayes studiest how thou maiest further vs whereas wee alwayes endeuour how to offend thee thou gauest to mankinde the proudest vntamed and rebellious creature the heauenly example of moderation and obedience in thy Sonne Conuert our minds vnto thee and that thine example that wee may so humbly demeane our selues beeing wicked and weake as hee that was most worthy and most strong Amen Against drunkennesse ALmighty and most mercifull God vouchsafe so to looke vpon vs that wee may so detest that most shamefull sinne of drunkennesse that wee neuer permit the same to take place but let that which was to perish in drunkennesse bee imployed for the sustenance of the poore through Iesus Christ our Lord. Amen Against remembrance of iniuries O Lord of thy goodnesse fill our hearts with thy peace clense vs from all euill cogitations and vncleannesse and from all memorie of iniuries and from all enuy and mind of mischiefe which bringeth death O Lord make vs all worthy to salute one another with a holy and immaculate salutation and graunt that wee may receiue without iudgement and death thy heauenly gift that is thy grace with the holy Spirit Amen Against wrath HOw much error breedeth this blind indulgence of our selues in our minds that we esteeme that to be done vniustly which is done most vprightly that in those things wee denie pardon vnto others in which wee our selues euerie houre are faulty and want pardon that wee challenge to our selues a reuenge being children mad furious vniust and take it from him who is only wise and iust who in respect of his wisedome is deficient in nothing and in regard of his equitie seduceth no man from the truth O most mercifull Christ example of modesty fountain of meekenesse 〈◊〉 into vs some part of this thy lenitie whereby in imitation of thy humility being assailed with railings affected with iniuries oppressed and afflicted with slanders and reproofes yet that we may reward good for euill Against enuie THou O Lord art the founder and maker of all things thou art the dispenser of thy mercies which thou by thy immeasurable liberality bestowest on men yeelding euery one more than hee deserueth and defrauding no man of that which is sufficient for him What cause therefore haue we to enuy thee when as thou bestowest thy liberality vpon al men of thine owne and art bountifull to those that deserue it not and giuest to euery one that which sufficeth him for his beatitude O Father adde this also to the rest of thy benefits that we may submit to thy iudgement and satisfie our selues with thy â—…stributions that we may giue thee thanks for those things which wee haue receiued And for those things that thou hast bestowed on others grant that secretly we condemne not thy holy will and vnsearchable iudgement but rather that in other mens blessings wee may loue and laud thy munificence who art so bountifull vnto all men wanting of thy selfe nothing neither receiuing any thing from any man neither hoping any thing Amen In extreme troubles and persecutions O Lord God that deliueredst the honest matron Susanna from false iudgement at such time as she was reprochfully circumuented by slander that keptst Daniel thy prophet in the denne of Lyons and preseruedst the three children in the flaming furnace that deliueredst Peter ready to be deuoured by the sea swallowed in the waues thereof by the might of thy right hand I beseech thee O most mercifull God that thou wilt redeeme and deliuer both me thy vnworthy seruant all other christian people out of these miseries and calamities wherewith wee are circumuented Spare thy people I beseech thee whom thou hast redeemed by thy precious blood keepe this natioâ—… and people redeemed by so precious a ransome in peace mutuall concord and coniunction to the glory of thy holy name Amen In the time of warre amongst Christians O Lord Father of mercies God of peace and dilection how long I pray thee wilt thou be angry with thy christian people punishing them with erecrable wars and vtter ouerthrows Behold the affliction and extreme extinction of thy people nations Heare the groanes of the poore let the christian blood moue thee vnto mercy Ah las O Lord these are truly that iust punishments of our sins wee haue sinned wee haue done wickedly we haue left thee the fountaine of life our felicitie we haue contemned thee mocked thee and with an obstinate minde made war by our sins against thy commandements wee haue kept none of thy testimonies of which thou hast said If you shall keepe them they shal keepe you if you dispise them the sword shall consume you But thou O Lord notwithstanding thou art iustly displeased remember thee of thy mercies and to the end we may be made capable therof giue vnto thy people I beseech thee the knowledge and confession of their wicked liues powre vpon them the spirit of thy grace and of prayer that euery where with a contrite and humble heart which thou despisest not they may crie vnto thee saying O Lord haue mercie O Lord haue mercy vpon thy people whom thou hast redeemed with thy precious blood wee haue sinned we haue done vniustly Thy iudgements are iustly vrged against vs prostrating our selues we call vpon thy grace and mercie to the end that thy reuenging hand may be appeased Put o Lord thy cruell and deuouring sword into thy sheath command the euill beasts that is all those things which giue cause of warre to returne vnto their place leaue most holsome peace long desired amongst Christians safely to reigne amongst them to the praise glory of thy most holy name who strikest and healest â—…illest and quickenest Amen In the time of plague WE know O Lord God and most iust Father that the rebellion almost of all creatures against man onely is very great whom if all things were disposed according to the order of creatioÌ„ they ought to obey and acknowledge Now earthquakes now thunders now inundations now most fatal coniunctions of Stars now the infection of the aire and daily new and other kinde of euils are heard of But this punishment falleth vpon vs because wee abuse the giftes of thy munificence transgresse thy commaundemenis for that we are not terrified with threatrungs nor allured by promises We acknowledge that by these thy chastisements thou drawest vs from these earthly affaires and inuitest vs to heauenly
froÌ„ whom proceedeth all fatherhood boâ—… heauen and in earth take 〈◊〉 me all rebellion â—…d contenâ—… lest I attempt and dare to brâ—… and infringe all the bonds â—…ume and humane lawes 〈◊〉 vouchsafe that I may proâ—… my parents in all kinde of 〈◊〉 serue them with due honor reâ—…rence obey their commandeâ—… with humble readie obediâ—… and that I may helpe them 〈◊〉 kinds of succour obsequiosâ—… offices of kindnesse that I 〈◊〉 suffer their reproofes austeâ—… vnbridled mislikes or exclaiâ—… all their imperfections whatsâ—…uer with a willing minde not â—…greeuing or vexing them in the whole course of my life if at any time through age they shall dote default in reason yâ— I may not coÌ„â—…emne them but that I may suffer their age imbecillity with due modesty Finally if they want or bee sicke that I may nourish and sustaine them by my succour and sustenance lest through my default and auarice they should lose theiâ—… liues from whom and by whom I had the beginning of my life but that I may serue them that begot me in all things as my Lords O Lord forgiue me all those my sins wherein I haue euer offended my most deere parents Increase the â—…ltitude of their daies and keepe them in all health of minde and of body let them behold their sonnes like oliue plaÌ„ts round about their â—…ble let them bring them vp in all 〈◊〉 let them gouerne their family in holy counsels and conuerâ—…on that at the length they may â—…culate and faultlesse come â—…to thee where thou liuest with 〈◊〉 Sonne and the holy Ghost 〈◊〉 God world without end AmeÌ„ The prayer of the Schoolemaster OMnipotent and eternal God in whose power all things â—…re giue mee thy holy Spirit without whom I neither can learne or teach any thing that I may diligently instruct the youth committed to my charge and forme them not onely to follow pietie and good manners but 〈◊〉 diligently to apprehend learâ—… to the glory of thy holy namâ—… the end they may become 〈◊〉 citizens and profitable 〈◊〉 of thy Church Giue theÌ„ a 〈◊〉 and vnderstanding heart that 〈◊〉 may easily apprehend and 〈◊〉 that which I teach them and 〈◊〉 â—…ee in all things which coâ—… my function suffering themseâ—… to be directed and informed 〈◊〉 an humble and obedient will 〈◊〉 their age who haue spent 〈◊〉 youth in good arts in increaseâ—… bee increased in knowledge 〈◊〉 may reape and communicate 〈◊〉 others the most pleasant fruits 〈◊〉 his former studies Amen The prayer of a professor of any facultie O My Creator and incomprehensible Lord God who from the treasure of thy wisedome didst informe the nine orders of angels and placedst them in worthy order aboue the imperiall heauen aâ—… hast most wonderfully disposed yâ—â—…rts of the world Thou I say y◠〈◊〉 called the true Fountaine of life and wisedome and the supereâ—…t beginning vouchsafe to 〈◊〉 vpon the darknes of my vnâ—…tanding the double beame of the brightnes remouing from me â—…tion sinne and ignorance â—…erein I was borne Thou that â—…est the tongues of infants eloâ—…t order my discourse and 〈◊〉 on my lippes the grace of thy blessing Giue me the sharpnes of â—…erstanding the capacity of reâ—…ning the subtilty of interpreâ—…g the faculty of learning the â—…pious grace of speaking instruct mine entrance direct my proceedings and fulfill my issues Who with the Father and yâ— holy Spirit liuest and reignest God world without end Amen The prayer of a Student O Most wise Father and omnipotent God the fountaine and giuer of all wisedome and vnderstanding without whom aâ—… our studies want their successe whâ—…y thy holy Spirit madest of shâ—… heards of sheep yâ— Prophets of 〈◊〉 people and of fishermen the Apostels and doctors of the whâ—… world Infuse into me by yâ— meâ—… of Christ thy Son yâ— grace of thâ—… same holy Spirit whereby my vnderstanding may be the better â—…formed in the liberall Scienceâ—… which hereafter I way conuert 〈◊〉 thy diuine honour and the spirituall profite of thy Church Grant yâ— I may faithfully learâ—… good letters necessary tongues and retaine them with apprehending memory and conuert them to the vse of a better life that according to the example of thy holy youth I may dailie increase in yeares wisedome grace before GOD and men Grant mee vnderstanding and subtiltie of wit that I may the easier comprehend those things that are to be learnt and cull out the sublimest and deepest knowledge thereof Giue me also alacrity in study lest my minde wearied with continuall labour and surprised with a certaine loathsomnesse abhorre studies Suffer mee not to spend my time vnprofitably nor passe my young yeares that are most apt for studie in idlenesse lest my parents charge being euilly imployed on mee I increase their hate against me and I leaudly delude the hope and expectation of my friends Amen Seuen Psalmes of Dauids repentance commonly called Penitentiall Psalmes PSALME VI. O Lord rebuke mee not in thine indignation neither chasten mee in thy displeasure 2 Haue mercie vpon mee O Lord for I am weake O Lord heale me for my bones are vexed 3 My soule is also fore troâ—…bled but Lord how long wilt thou punish me 4 Turne thee O Lord and deliuer my soule Oh saue mee for 〈◊〉 mercies sake 5 For in death no man remembreth thee and who will giue thâ—… thanks in the pit 6 I am wearie of my groaning euery night wash I my bed and water my couch with my teares 7 My beauty is gone for verie trouble and worne away because of mine enemies 8 Away from mee all yee that worke vanity for the Lord hath heard the voice of my weeping 9 The Lord hath heard my petition the Lord will receiue my prayer 10 All mine enemies shall bee confounded and sore vexed they shall bee turned backe and put to shame suddenly PSALME XXXII BLessed is hee whose vnrighteousnesse is forgiuen and whose sinne is couered 2 Blessed is the man vnto whoÌ„ the Lord imputeth no sinne and â—…t whose spirit there is no guile 3 For while I held my tongue â—…y bones consumed away through â—…y daily complaining 4 For thy hand is heauy vpon me day and night and my moisture is like the drought in Summer 5 I will acknowledge my sinne vnto thee and mine vnrighteousnesse haue I not hid 6 I said I will confesse my sins vnto the Lord and so thou forgauest the wickednesse of my sinne 7 For this shall euery one that is godly make his praier vnto thee in a time when thou maist bee found but in great water-flouds they shall not come nigh him 8 Thou art a place to hide mee in thou shalt preserue mee from trouble thou shalt compasse mee about with songs of deliuerance 9 I will informe thee and teach thee in the way wherein thou shalt go I wil guide thee with mine eie 10 Bee yee not like vnto horse mule which hath no vnderstanding whose mouthes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 den
with bit and bridlâ—… 〈◊〉 fall vpon thee 11 Great plagues 〈◊〉 foâ—… the vngodly but who so putâ—…h his trust in the Lord mercy embraceth him on euery side 12 Be glad O yee righteous reioyce in the Lord and be ioyfull all ye that are true of heart PSALME XXXVIII PUt me not to rebuke O Lord in thine anger neither chasten me in thy heauie displeasure 2 For thine arrowes stick fast in me and thy hand presseth me sore 3 There is no health in my flesh because of thy displeasure neither is there any rest in my bones by reason of my sinne 4 For my wickednesses are gone ouer my head are like a sore burthen too heauie for me to beare 5 My wounds stink and are corrupt through my foolishnesse 6 I am brought into so great trouble and miserie that I goe mourning all the day long 7 For my loines are filled with a 〈◊〉 disease and there is no whole â—…rt of my body 8 I am feeble and sore smitten 〈◊〉 haue roared for the very disquiâ—…esse of my heart 9 Lord thou knowest all my â—…sire and my groaning is not hid â—…om thee 10 My heart panteth my strength â—…th failed mee and the sight of â—…e eies is gone from me 11 My louers and my neighbours â—…id stand looking vpoÌ„ my trouble â—…nd my kinsmen stood afarre off 12 They also that sought after â—…y life laid snares for me and they â—…hat went about to doe mee euill â—…alked of wickednesse and imagiâ—…ed deceit all the day long 13 As for me I was like a deafe man and heard not and as one yâ— is dumbe which doth not open his mouth 14 I became euen as a man that heareth not and in whose mouth are no reproofes 15 For in thee O Lord haue I put my trust thou shalt answer for me O Lord my God 16 I haue required that they â—…uen mine enemies should not â—…umph ouer mee for when my fâ—… slipt they reioyced greatly agaâ—… mee 17 And I truly am set in 〈◊〉 plague and my heauinesse is eâ—… in my sight 18 For I will confesse my wiâ—… ednesse and be sorie for my sinnâ—… 19 But mine enemies liue aâ—… are mighty and they that hate mâ—… wrongfully are many in number 20 They also that reward euill for good are against mee because I follow the thing that good is 21 Forsake me not O Lord my God be not thou farre from me 22 Hast thee to helpe mee O Lord God of my saluation PSALME LI. HAue mercie vpon me O God after thy great goodnesse according vnto the multitude of thy mercies do away mine offences 2 Wash me throughly from my wickednesse and clense mee from my sinne 3 For I acknowledge my faults 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sinne is euer before me 4 â—…gainst thee onely haue I sinneâ—… done this euill in thy sight thâ—… thou mightst bee iustified in thâ—… saying and cleere when thou aâ—… iudged 〈◊〉 Behold I was shapen in wicâ—…nesse and in sinne hath my mothâ—… conceiued me 〈◊〉 But loe thou requirest truth in 〈◊〉 inward parts shalt make me 〈◊〉 vnderstand wisedome secretly 〈◊〉 Thou shalt purge me with Iâ—…e and I shall bee cleane thou â—…lt wash me and I shall be whiâ—… than snow 8 Thou shalt make me heare of â—…y gladnes that yâ— bones which thou hast broken may reioyce 9 Turne thy face from my sins and put out all my misdeedes 10 Make me a cleane heart o God and renew a right spirit within me 11 Cast mee not away from thy presence and take not thy holy Spirit from me 12 O giue mee the comfort of thy helpe againe and stablish mee with thy free Spirit 13 Then shall I teach thy wayeâ—… vnto the wicked and sinners shâ—… be conuerted vnto thee 14 Deliuer mee from bloodgâ—… tinesse O GOD thou that aâ—… God of my health and my tongue shall sing of thy righteousnesse 15 Thou shalt open my lips O Lord and my mouth shall shew thy praise 16 For thou desirest no sacrifice else would I giue it thee but thâ—… delightest not in burnt offerings 17 The sacrifice of GOD is a troubled spirit a broken and a contrite heart O God shalt thou not despise 18 O bee fauourable and gracious vnto Sion build thou the wals of Ierusalem 19 Then shalt thou bee pleased with the sacrifice of righteousnes with the burnt offerings and oblations then shall they offer young bullocks vpon thine Altar PSALME CII HEare my prayer O Lord and let my crying come vnto thee 2 Hide not thy face from mee in 〈◊〉 â—…e of my trouble incline 〈◊〉 eares vnto mee when I call O heare me and that right soone 3 For my daies are consumed away like smoke and my bones 〈◊〉 burnt vp as it were a firebraÌ„d 4 My heart is smitten downe withered like grasse so that I forget to eate my bread 5 For the voice of my groaning my bones will scarce cleaue to my flesh 6 I am become like a Pellican in the Wildernes like an Owle that is in the desart 6 I haue watched and am euen as it were a Sparrow that sitteth alone vpon the house top 8 Mine enemies reuile mee all the day long and they that are mad vpon mee are sworne together against me 9 For I haue eaten ashes as it were bread and mingled my drink with weeping 10 And that because of thine indignation and wrath for thou hast taken me vp and cast mee downe 11 My daies are gone like a shadowe and I am withered 〈◊〉 grasse 12 But thou O Lord shalt â—…dure for euer and thy remeâ—…brance throughout all generâ—…ons 13 Thou shalt arise and hauâ—… mercy vpon Sion for it is time that thou haue mercy on her yeâ—… the time is come 14 And why thy seruants thinke vpon her stones it pittieth theâ—… to see her in the dust 15 The Heathen shall feare thy Name O Lord and al the Kings of the earth thy Maiestie 16 When the Lord shall build vp Sion and when his glory shal appeare 17 When hee turneth him vnto the prayer of the poore destitute and despiseth not their desire 18 This shal be written for those that come after and the people that shall be borne shall praise the Lord. 19 For hee hath looked downe from his sanctuarie out of the heauen did the Lord behold the earth 20 That hee might heare the mourâ—…g of such as be in captiuiâ—… 〈◊〉 deliuer the children apâ—…ed vnto death 21 That they may declare the 〈◊〉 of the Lord in Sion his â—…rship at Ierusalem 22 When the people are gatheâ—…ed together and the kingdomes 〈◊〉 to serue the Lord. 23 Hâ—…e brought downe my strength in my iourney and shortened my daies 24 But I said O my God take me not away in the midst of mine age 〈◊〉 for thy yeares they endure thoroughout all generations 25 Thou Lord in the beginning hast laid the foundations of the earth and the Heauens are the worke of thy hands 26 They shall perish but thou