reioice at his abundant loue wherewith he hath loued vs g Eph. 2 4. 5 c. Thou didst send thy Sonne in the similitude of sinful flesh h Rom. 8 3. 4. that of sin he might condemne sinne and that we might be thy righteousnes in him For he is the lambe vndefiled i 1. Pet. 1 19 which hath taken awaie the sins of the world k Ioh. 1 29. abolished death by his death l 2. Tim. 1 10 and brought life againe by his resurrection But what may we render vnto thee our God for these so great benefits m Ps 116 12 of thy mercie What praises what thanks may wee ascribe Surelie had we the knowledge and power of the blessed Angels yet could our amends be nothing correspondent to thy mercie and goodnes And were al our members conuerted into tongues yet should we neuer extol thee sufficientlie enough For thy great loue extended gratiouslie of thy meere goodnes to vs ward reacheth beyond al knowledge For thy Sonne ô our God n Iohn 17 3 tooke in no sort the Angels o Heb. 2 16. but he tooke the seede of Abraham and was like to vs in al things yet without sinne p Heb. 4 15. So that taking mans nature not Angels vpon him and glorifieng it with the robe of holie resurrection and immortalitie q Acts. 1 9. he hath carried the same ouer al heauens ouer al the quires of Angels ouer al Cherubs and Seraphims and placed the same at thy right hand The which both Angels doe praise and dominions worship and al the powers of heauen do bow r Phi. 2 9. 10. 11. at man God ouer them This verelie is al mine hope and mine whole confidence For euerie of vs hath a portion of blood and flesh in the bodie of Iesus Christ our Lord. Therefore where a piece of my selfe is there I trust I do raigne where my flesh is glorified there I knowe I am glorious where my flesh doth rule there I perceaue I haue dominion And although I am yet a sinner yet I doubt not of this participation of grace although my sinnes doe hinder me yet my substance doth require it and although mine offences exclude me yet the communion of nature doth not repel me For God is not so hard harted that he can forget flesh blood which he beareth which for my sake he hath taken which on my behalfe he requireth But the Lord our God is mild and verie gentle ſ Ioēl 2 23. he loueth his owne flesh his members and his bowels In verie God and our sweete gratious and most gentle Lord euen Iesus Christ in whom we haue risen ascended now into heauen and now sit together in the heauenlie places t Eph. 2 5. 6. our flesh doth loue vs. In him we haue the prerogatiue of our blood we are his members and his flesh finalie he is our head u Eph. 4 15. 16. Eph. 5 23. of which the whole bodie dependeth As it is written This now is bone of my bones x Gen. 2 23. 24. and flesh of my flesh and they shal be one flesh And no man euer yet hated his owne flesh y Eph. 5 29. but nourisheth and cherisheth it This is a great secret z Eph. 5 32. but I speake concerning Christ and concerning the Church saith the Apostle Chap. 16. A thankesgiuing vnto God for his mercie extended toward man in the incarnation of his Sonne Iesus Christ I Therefore ô Lord our God a Psal 90 1. 2. with my lips and with mine hart and with al my power do thanke thy mercie for al mercies whereby thou hast miraculouslie redeemed vs thy wretched seruants b Eph. 2 4. 5. and that through the same thy Sonne our Sauior c 1 Pet. 2 24 and redeemer d Gal. 3 13. which was deliuered to death for our sinnes e Rom. 4 25 and is risen againe for our iustification and sitteth liuing without end at thy right hand f Rom. 8 34 making request for vs and showing mercie with thee vpon vs. Because of thee the Father g Ioh. 8 42. Iohn 13 3. he is an eternal God of one substance with thee in al respects Whereby he can saue vs at al times But in that he is a man whereby he is inferior to thee Al power is giuen him in heauen and in earth h Matth. 28 verse 18. that at the Name of Iesus euerie knee should bow i Phil. 2 10. both of things in heauen and things in earth and things vnder the earth and that euerie tongue should confes that Iesus Christ is the Lord vnto thy glorie ô God the Father Him thou hast ordeined a iudge of quicke and dead k Act. 10 42. For thou iudgest no man l Iohn 5 22 but hast committed al iudgement to thy Sonne in whose breast are hid m Col. 2 3. al the treasures of wisedome and knowledge And he is the witnes and the iudge n Act. 10 42 I saie the iudge and the witnes whose presence no guiltie conscience shal escape o 1. Cor. 4 5. For al things are naked and open to his sight p Heb. 4 13. And he which vniustlie was condemned q Matt. 27 verse 24. 25 c. he euen he wil iudge the world with righteousnes r Psa 96 13 and the people in truth Wherefore I blesse thine holie Name for euermore and with mine whole hart ô almightie gratious Lord I glorifie thee for that vnspeakeable and wonderful vniting together of thy Godhead and manhood in one person so that one was not God and another man but one and the same person was both God and man or man and God But although of thy great goodnes the Word was made flesh ſ Iohn 1 14. yet neither of those two natures was conuerted into another substance To the mysterie of the Trinitie there is not a fourth person added For the substance both of the Word of God and of man is vnited but not confounded that vnto the Godhed that thing which was taken of vs might approch and that thing which neuer had bin might remaine the same which alwaie it was O woonderful mysterie t 1. Tim. 3 16 ô vnspeakable felowship ô strange goodnes of Gods mercie euer to be marueled at euer to be loued We were not woorthie to be seruants and lo we are made the sonnes of GOD euen the heires of God u Rom. 8 17 and heires annexed with Christ How came this to passe who hath brought vs here vnto But ô God merciful Father by this thine inestimable goodnes mercie and good wil I beseech thee make vs woorthie so great and so manifold promises of the same thy Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ x 1. Cor. 1 3. 7. 8 c. Appoint thy strength stablish ô God that which thou hast wrought in vs y Psa 68 28 finish
Trinitie Now then how hast thou loued vs h Iohn 3 16 ô heauenlie and louing Father i Ioh. 20 17. how hast thou loued vs ô gratious maker k Ps 100 3. which hast not spared thine owne Sonne l Rom. 8 32 but giuen him to the death for vs vngodlie wretches He was obedient to thee euen vnto the death yea the death of the crosse m Phil. 2 8. taking out of the waie the handwriting of our sinnes and fastening it vpon the crosse n Col. 2 14. he hath crucified sinne and killed death He onlie is free among the dead o Psal 88 5. hauing power to laie downe his life p Ioh. 10 18. and power to take it againe for our sakes And therefore he was both a conqueror and an oblation q Heb. 9 26. and because an oblation therefore a conqueror For our behoofe hee was to thee both a priest a sacrifice and because a sacrifice therefore a priest r Heb. 5 5. 6 c. Heb. 7 25. 26. Heb. 9 11. 12 c. Wel may I then repose a strong hope in him ſ Col. 1 27. 1. Tim. 1 1. because through him that sitteth at thy right hand t Rom. 8 34 Heb. 7 25. Heb. 8 6. making intercession for vs thou wilt heale al mine infirmities u Esai 53 5. For Lord great be my diseases and manifold yea manifold and verie great be they For the prince of this world I knowe and I confesse hath much to laie against me but for his sake that sitteth at thy right hand x Mar. 16 19 Actes 1 9. 10. 11. euen for my redemers sake y Rom. 3 24 Eph. 1 7. 14. in whom he could find none euil z Ioh. 14 30 deliuer me For his sake who did no sin a 1. Pet. 2 22 and in whose mouth there was found no guile iustifie me For his sake who is our head b Eph. 4 15. Ephes 5 23. wherin there is no blemish saue a member of his though poore and weake Pardon I praie thee al my sins vices faults and offences Indue mee with thine holie virtues make me to liue godlie and to continue euen to the end in good workes according to thy wil euen for thine holie Name sake Amen Chap. 14. A thankesgiuing of a faithful mind vnto God for sending his deere and onlie Sonne to saue mankind I Might vtterlie despaire in consideration of my manifold sinnes and infinite offences had not thy word ô God bin made flesh a Iohn 1 14. dwelled among vs. But now I dare not despaire For if when we were enimies b Rom. 5 10 we were reconciled vnto thee by the death of thy Sonne how much more being reconciled are we saued by his life For al mine hope c 1. Tim. 1 1. and al my confidence is reposed in that pretious blood which was shed for vs and for our saluation d 1. Pet. 1 18. 19. In it I take hart againe and resting therevpon I couet to come vnto thee not hauing mine owne righteousnes e Phil. 3 9. but that which is through the faith of my Lord Iesus Christ Wherefore ô most gratious merciful God louer of mankind f Wisd 11 21 23. Iohn 3 16. which through Iesus Christ thy Sonne our Lord g Rom. 1 4. 7. 1. Cor. 1 3. 7. c. euen when we were in the state of damnation by reason of sin h Rom. 5 7. 8 c. hast deliuered and saued vs I thanke thy goodnes yea from the verie bottom of mine hart I doe highlie thanke thee for sending of thy great loue i Ephes 2. 4. 5. wherewith thou hast loued vs miserable wretches vnwoorthie al fauor the same thy onlie begotten Sonne k Iohn 3 16 1. Iohn 4 9. from thine owne bosome into the world to saue vs great sinners l 1. Tim. 1 15 the children of wrath m Eph. 2 3. I thanke thee for his holie incarnation and birth of his glorious mother of whom he vouchsafed to take flesh for vs men and for our saluation that as he was verie God of God n Matt. 1 23 Matt. 16 16. so he might be verie man of man o Iohn 1 14. I thanke thee for his passion p Luke 23 verse 26. 33 c. crosse and death for his resurrection and ascention into heauen sitting at thy right hand For the fortie daie after his resurrection q Acts. 1 3. 9. in the sight of his disciples he ascended vp aboue al the heauens where hee sitting on thy right hand powred downe the holie Spirit r Acts. 2 1. 2 c. according to his promise ſ Ioh. 15 26. Luk. 24 49. vpon the children of adoption I thanke thee both for that shedding of his pretious blood wherewithal we be redeemed t 1. Pet. 1 18. 19. and also for his instituting the holie and liuelie sacrament of his bodie blood u Matt. 26 verse 26. 27. 28. Luke 22 19. 1. Cor. 11 23. 24 c. where withal in thy Church we be dailie nourished refreshed washed sanctified and made partakers of one heauenlie and diuine nature Finalie once againe I thanke thee for thy great loue x Eph. 2 4. wherewith thou hast so loued vs wretches through thine onlie y 1. Ioh. 4 9. and welbeloued sonne z Matt. 3 17 For so thou didst loue the world a Iohn 3 16 that thou gauest thine onelie begotten Sonne that whosoeuer beleeueth on him should not perish but haue euerlasting life And this is eternal life b Ioh. 17 3. that wee knowe thee to be the true God and whom thou hast sent Iesus Christ through a right faith and works agreeable to our faith Chap. 15. Of the incomprehensible good wil of God the Father toward mankind OPitie vnmeasurable ô wonderful loue To saue a seruant thou hast giuen thy Sonne a Iohn 3 16 God was made man b Iohn 1 14. that wretched man might bee plucked out of the power of diuels How deerlie hath thy Sonne ô God loued man which thought he did not humble himselfe enough if he were onelie borne of the virgin Marie vnles for vs and for our saluation c 1. Pet. 1 18 1. Pet. 2 24. he shed his blood also vpon the crosse He came a merciful God he came of meere compassion and goodnes yea to seeke and to saue that which was lost d Luk. 19 10 Matth. 18 11 he did come He sought the lost sheepe e Luk. 15 4. 5. 6. he sought and found it and like a gratious Lord and right good shepheard f Ioh. 10 11 14. on his shoulders he carried it vnto his flocke O rare loue ô tender kindnes who at anie time hath heard the like who but wil be amazed at such bowels of mercie who but wil wonder who but must needes
worship thee our almightie a Gen. 17 1. Gen. 35 11. Reue. 11 17. God terrible and much to bee feared b Reu. 15 1. 2. 3. For if the Angels in honoring and praising thee do tremble filled with a maruelous reioicing why do not I when I come into thy presence to praise thee and to offer sacrifice why do not I euen quake at the verie hart why blush I not in countenance why do not I stammer in my speach and why shed I not plentiful teares fro mine eies Alacke I would but I am vnable because I cannot do as I would Hence it is that I maruel much with my selfe while with the eies of my faith I behold thee who art verie terrible But who can do this without the helpe of thy grace for it is thy mercie which doth saue vs al c Rom. 9 verse 23. 24. Rom. 11 31. O wretch that I am how senseles is my soule become that it is not much dismaied while it standeth before God and soundeth out his praises O wretch that I am how is mine hart hardened that mine eies do not powre out euen flouds of teares while I felowe-seruant reason before my Lord d Mal. 1 6. a man with God e Exo. 20 1. 2. 3 c. a creature with the Creator f Psa 100 3. I who am made of the slime of the earth g Gen. 1 26. 27. with him who hath created al things of nothing h Hebr. 1 1. 2. Iohn 1 1. 3. Behold ô my Lord I place my selfe before thine eies and what I thinke secretlie of my selfe in mine hart I make others to knowe But ô God who art rich in mercie i Ephe. 2 4. and liberal in thy rewards giue me of thy riches that through them I may serue thee For none otherwise can we either serue or please thee but of thy gift k Iam. 1 17. pierce I beseech thee my flesh with thy feare let mine hart reioice that I may feare thy Name Oh that my sinful soule did so feare thee as did that holie man who said Gods punishment was feareful vnto me l Iob. 31 23. Wherefore ô God who art the giuer of al good things m Iam. 1 17. giue me among thy praises a wel of teares together with a pure hart and ioiful mind that louing thee perfectlie and lauding thee worthilie in the verie palat of mine hart I may perceaue taste and sauour how sweete thou art and pleasant ô Lord as it is written Taste yee and see how gratious the Lord is n Psa 34 8. blessed is the man that trusteth in him Blessed is the people that can reioice in thee o Psa 89 15. blessed is the man whose strength is in thee p Psal 84 5. and in whose hart are thy waies in the vale of teares in the place which he hath appointed Blessed are the pure in heart q Matt. 5 8. for they shal see God Blessed are they which dwel in thine house ô Lord for euer and euer they wil praise thee r Psal 84 4. Chap. 34. A praier verie forceable to moue the mind vnto Religion and the loue of God O Iesus who art our redemption a Gala. 4 1. 2. Colos 1 14. 1. Tim. 2 6. our loue desire God of God b Ioh. 8 42. Ioh. 16 27. 30. helpe me thy seruant Vpon thee do I cal vnto thee do I crie from the verie bottom of mine hart For thee do I cal into my soule ô enter thereinto and ioine it to thee that thou maist possesse the same without spot or wrinkle c Eph. 5 27. For a most cleane Lord must haue a cleane habitation O then sanctifie me thy vessel which thou hast made d Iob. 10 8. purge me from al wickednes fil me with thy grace and being replenished keepe me so that I may be a meete temple e 1. Cor. 3 verse 16. 17. for thy dwelling both here for euer O most good most gratious louing deere mightie desired pretious amiable and glorious God thou art to me than honie sweeter than milke or snowe fairer than nectar pleasant than gold and iewels more pretious and deerer than al the wealth and promotions of the world What do I saie ô my GOD mine onlie hope and so infinite mercie what do I saie ô happie and quiet sweetenes what do I saie when I saie these things I saie what I am able but I saie not al that I should would to God I could saie as the melodious quires of Angels do saie Oh how willinglie would I powre out my selfe wholie in thy praises how deuoutelie without ceassing would I sing foorth those Psalmes of heauenlie musicke vnto the laude and praise of thy Name in the mids of thy congregation Notwithstanding because I cannot do so shal I be stil wo to them which talke not of thee who openest the mouth of the dumbe f Wis 10 21. and makest the tongs of babes eloquent Wo to them which talke not of thee for they which babble much are dumbe when they sing not thy praises Who can praise thee worthilie enough ô vnutterable power wisedome of the Father And albeit I can not finde words where withal I may sufficientlie expresse the almightie and al-skilful word yet vntil thou cal me vnto thee where I may praise thee as I should and ought I wil saie what I am able Wherefore mine humble request is that thou wouldest respect not that which I now do saie but that which I desire to saie For in deede I do mightilie desire to speake of thee as I ought and as becommeth me because to thee praise to thee Psalmes to thee al honor and glorie is due g 1. Tim. 1 verse 17. Reuel 4 9. Then knowest thou ô God who knowest the secret cogitations of the hart h Psal 7 9. Acts. 15 8. Rom. 2 16. 1. Cor. 14 25 thou knowest how to me thou art more acceptable and deere than either heauen or earth or anie thing contained in heauen or earth For I doe loue thee aboue heauen and aboue earth and more than anie things which are in heauen or earth yea for the loue of thy Name no transitorie things i 1. Cor. 7 31 1. Ioh. 2 15. 16. 17. doubtles are to be loued O my God exceedinglie doe I loue thee and more and more I desire to loue thee Grant I beseech thee that I may loue thee euermore not onelie as I would but also as I should that thou onlie maist be in my thought and meditation Of thee let me meditate in the daie time and cease not of thee let me thinke in the night when I am asleepe with thee let my spirit reason and my soule let it talke with thee With the light of thine holie contemplation let mine hart be inlightened that through thy directiō I may go from strength vnto strength k Psal 84 7. and so
at length behold thee the God of gods in Zion whom now I see indeede through a glasse darklie l 1. Cor. 13 verse 12. but then face to face where I shal know thee euen as I am known Blessed are the pure in hart m Matt. 5 8. for they shal see God Blessed are they which dwel in thine House n Psal 84 4. ô Lord for euer and euer they wil praise thee Wherfore by al thy mercies wherewithal we bee deliuered from euerlasting damnation o Rom. 9 23 24. I beseech thee ô Lord mollifie mine hard and stonie and flintie and iron hart with thine holie and mightie ointment and through y e fire of compunction make me at al houres to seeme a liuing sacrifice in thy sight p Rom. 12 1. Cause me to haue alwaies a contrite and an humbled hart with a flud of teares in mine eies Cause me from the bottome of mine hart vtterlie to die to this world through the greatnes of thy feare and loue so to forget transitorie things that I may neither weepe nor reioice at neither feare nor loue anie worldlie thing neither be corrupted with prosperitie nor be ouerthrowne by aduersitie And forsomuch as thy loue is strong as death q Sal. songs 8 verse 6. let the firie and pleasant force of thy loue swalowe vp mine hart I beseech thee from al things that are vnder heauen that I may cleaue vnto thee alone and be fed with the onelie remembrance of thy sweetenes Let thy sweete sauor ô Lord let the sweete sauor of thee I praie thee descend yea let it descend into mine hart and let the comfortable loue of thine holie Name enter euen into my soule O let the maruelous and vnspeakeable sweetenes of thy sauour come vnto me which may both raise vp in my brest a continual desire after thee and fro mine hart bring the veines of water springing-vp into euerlasting life r Iohn 4 14. Thou art vnmeasurable ô Lord therefore without measure thou shouldest bee loued and praised of them whom thou hast redeemed with thy pretious blood Å¿ 1. Pet. 1 18. 19. O most gratious louer of mankind t 1. Ioh. 3 16 most merciful Lord and righteous iudge to whome 〈◊〉 iudgement is committed by the Father u Ioh. 5 22. by the most wise iudgment of thine equitie thou haâ—â— giuen-out how the children of this world x Luk. 16 8. of night of darknes with a more earnest desire endeuor and studie do loue and seeke after transitorie riches and fleeting promotion than wee thy seruants can loue our God by whom we are both made y Gen. 1 26. 27. Iob. 10 8. Psal 119 73. and redeemed z Gal. 3 13. 1. Tim. 2 8. For if one man do so entirelie loue another that he can hardlie beare the absence of his friend if the wife with so great a fire of goodwil be ioined to her husband that in respect thereof she can at no time be at rest til she haue his companie with what a goodwil with what a care with what a zeale ought the soule which through faith of her part through mercie on your part betrothed to thee to loue thee the true a Matt. 1 23 Matt. 16 16. GOD the fairest spouse b 2. Cor. 11 2 Eph. 5 22. 23 c. who hast so loued and saued vs who hast done so manie such and so great things for our sakes And although these weake things haue their comforts and their loues yet doe they not so delight as thou our God doest For in thee do the righteous reioice because thy loue is sweet and quiet For thou doest replenish the harts which thou possessest both with sweetnes with ioie and with tranquillitie Contrariwise the loue of this world and of the flesh is troblesome and vnquiet neither suffereth it the minds whom it entereth into at anie time to be at rest For continualie it moueth them with suspicions and with perturbations and with manifold feares So that thou art the ioie of the righteous and good cause why For with thee is an assured quietnes with thee is the life void of al trobles O gratious God who so entereth into thee entereth into his masters ioie c Mat. 25 2â— and shal feare no more but shal fare wel in the place of happines saieng This is my rest for euer d Ps 132 14. here wil I dwel for I haue a delite therein and againe The Lord is my shepheard e Psal 23 1. 2. I shal not want he maketh me to rest in greene pastures O deere Christ ô sweete Iesu replenish mine hart I beseech thee with the vnquenchable fire of thy loue with a continual remembrance of thee so that as a burning flame I may so burne with the loue of thee that no water be it neuer so much may quench the same O most gratious Lord make thou mee vnfainedlie to loue thee and through desire of thee to laie-downe the burden of al fleshlie desires and the importable waight of earthlie affections which beateth and peiseth downe my soule that by the sauor of thine ointments running amaine after thee I may the more speedilie discerne by the conduction of thee my Capitaine to come vnto the contemplation of thy fairenes there to be throughlie satisfied For two sorts of loue whereof the one is good and the other naught the one sweete and the other vncomfortable can not abide at one time together in one bodie And therefore who so besides thee loueth anie thing f Mat. 10 37 thy loue ô God is not in him g 1. Ioh. 2 15 thy loue I saie euen the loue of sweetenes and the sweetenes of loue the loue which trobleth not but delighteth the syncere chaste loue abiding euerlastinglie the loue which alwaies burnest and neuer goest out O deere Christ ô sweete Iesu who art the verie loue h 1. Ioh. 4 8. and my God i Matt. 4 10. inflame me wholie with thy fire with thy loue with thy sweetnes and delectation with thy ioie and mirth with the delight and desire of thee the which is both holie good chaste and pure quiet and secure that filled euen topful with the sweetenes of thy loue and wholie set on fire by the flames of thy friendship I may loue thee my God with al mine hart k Deut. 6. 5. Luke 10 27. and with al my strength hauing thee alwaies and in al places both in mine hart and in my mouth and before mine eies so that strange loues may find no place at al in me Heare me ô my God heare me ô light of mine eies heare my petition and grant my petition that thou maiest heare me Gratious and most merciful God stop not thine eares against me because of my sinnes but of thy woonted goodnes receaue the praiers of thy seruant and grant me the effect of my petition and request Amen
departed t Iohn 11 verse 33. 34 c. and weepe ouer Ierusalem readie to come vnto desolation u Luk. 19 41 42. O good Iesu by those most pretious teares of thine and by al thy manifold mercies wherewithal thou hast vouchsafed wonderfullie to helpe vs miserable sinners giue me grace to bewaile my transgressions the which my soule doth much long for and desire because without thou giue it I cannot get the same x Iam. 1 17. but euen through the holie Ghost which mollifieth the harts of sinners and prouoketh them vnto the teares of repentance Giue me grace to mourne for my sinnes as our forefathers did whose footesteps I am bound to imitate that I may bewaile mine offences al my life long as they haue mourned daie and night Euen for thine intercession sake and for al thy merits sake haue mercie vpon me thy miserable and vnworthie seruant and giue me grace to bewaile my sinnes Water thou my plants both from aboue and from beneath that my teares may be my meate daie and night y Psal 42 3. and I through the fire of compunction may be made a fat burning sacrifice in thy sight and be killed altogether vpon the altar of mine hart and be taken as a fat burnt sacrifice for a sweete smelling sauor in thy nostrels O sweete Lord giue me a watering fountaine and a cleere fountaine wherin dailie this defiled sacrifice may be clensed For although through the assistance of thy grace I haue offered my selfe wholie to thee yet in manie things for al that I do sinne z Iam. 3 2. by reason of my too too great weakenes Wherefore ô blessed and louing God giue me grace especiallie of the great sweetnes of thy loue and remembrance of thy mercies make readie this table for thy seruant in thy presence and giue me power that when I wil I may be satisfied of it Of thy mercie and goodnes grant that this inebriating and goodlie cup may quench my thirst that my spirit may couet after thee and my mind burne with thy loue forgetting al vanitie and miserie Heare ô my God heare ô light of mine eies heare my petition and grant that I may beg that thing which thou maist grant Gratious and merciful God stop not thine eares against me because of my sinnes but of thy woonted goodnes grant me the effect of my petition and desire Amen Chap. 36. A verie effectual praier to the stirring vp of the mind vnto godlines being zelouslie vttered O Lord Iesus ô pitiful Iesus ô good Iesus who both hast voutsafed to suffer death for our sinnes and art risen againe for our iustification a Rom. 4 25 I humblie beseech thee by thy glorious resurrection raise me out of y e sepulchre of my sinnes and of al my vices and giue me dailie a part in the first resurrection b Reu. 20 6. that trulie I may receaue a portion in the resurrection at the last daie O sweete and most blessed Iesus thou hast ascended into heauen with a glorious triumph and sittest at the right hand of the Father c Rom. 8 verse 34. ô almightie Prince drawe me vpward vnto thee that I may runne after thee d Sal. songs 1 verse 2. 3. through the sauor of thine ointments that I may runne and tire not thou drawing and conducting mee in my race drawe the mouth of my soule thirsting after thee vnto the supernal riuers of eternal satietie yea drawe me vnto thee the wel of life e Psal 36 9. that according to my power I may from thence take my drinke whence I may liue for euermore ô my God my life f Ioh. 14 6. Ioh. 11 25. For thine holie and blessed mouth hath said If anie man thirst g Ioh. 7 37. let him come vnto me and drinke Now grant ô fountaine of life that the thirstie soule may drinke of thee continualie that according to thine holie and true promise out of my belie may flowe euen riuers of water of life h Ioh. 7 38. O fountaine of life replenish my soule with the riuer of thy pleasure make mine hart throughlie drunke with the sober drunkennes of thy loue so that I may vtterlie forget whatsoeuer is vaine and earthlie and euermore haue thee alone in my remembrance as it is written I remembred God mine hart was glad Giue me thine holie spirit signified by those waters which thou promisest to giue to such as thirst O I beseech thee giue me grace with al my desire with al my care to go on toward that place whither we beleeue thou ascendedst the fortie daie after thy resurrection i Acts. 1 3. 4. 9 c. that onlie in the flesh I may be held in this wretched world but in thought and desire may be with thee that there mine hart may be k Matth. 6 verse 21. where thou my desired and incomparable and much louelie treasure art For in the great deluge of this life where we are tossed with raging stormes on al sides and no good footing and hie place can be found where the doue may somewhat rest her selfe l Gen. 8 9. there is no where either sure peace or secure quietnes but wars in al places contention and enimies abrode fightings within feares And forsomuch as one part of vs is heauenlie and the other earthlie the corruptible bodie is heauie vnto the soule m Wi. 9 15. Therefore my mind my friend and companion being wearied comming out of the waie is sicke and lieth al too rent and torne of those vanities which it hath passed-by it is verie hungrie and faine would drinke but I haue nothing to set before it because I am in pouertie and in beggerie But ô Lord my God who aboundest in al good thing n Iam. 1 17. and art a liberal bestower of the dainties of heauenlie satietie giue thou meate to the wearied gather together the dispersed amend that which is torne Lo he standeth at the doore knocketh through the bowels of thy mercie whereby thou the daie spring from on high hath visited vs o Luk. 1 78. I beseech thee open the hand of thy pittie to the distressed which knocketh and gratiouslie command that hee come-in vnto thee rest in thee be refreshed of thy liuelie and heauenlie bread wherewithal being satisfied strengthened he may from this vale of teares mount aloft vnto celestial things and carried on high by the wing of holie desire may flie vnto the kingdome of heauen O Lord let my spirit take let it take I beseech thee wings to it selfe as an Egle that it may flie amaine and faint not that it may ascend euen vnto the glorie of thine house and to the where thine honor dwelleth p Psa 26 8. there at the table where thine heauenlie citizens doe repast themselues to bee refreshed of thy secrets in the places of thy greene pasture nigh the stil waters O my God
thy sonne whome thou broughtest foorth into this world and respect not so mine euil which I haue done that thou forget the good which thou hast made What father is there but would saue his sonne or what sonne whome the father with the rod of mercie wil not correct Wherefore ô Father and Lord although I be a sinner yet I cannot but be thy sonne because thou hast both made me l Iob. 10 8. Psal 119 75. and renued me m Col. 3 9. 10. As I haue sinned amend me but first deliuer me to thy sonne being reformed with y e scourge Can a woman forget hir child n Esa 49 15 notwithstanding though she should yet thou father hast promised neuer to forget Behold I crie and thou hearest me not I am vexed with sorow and yet find no comfort What shal I saie or what shal I do wretch that I am I destitute of such consolation am cast from the sight of thine eies Wo is me from what felicitie into what miserie am I fallen whether did I bend my selfe and to what passe am I come where am I wretch and where am I not vnto whome did I aspire and wherin do I now sigh I sought after good things but behold vexation Lo I now labor and Iesus is not with me Doubtles better were it for me not to be at al than to be without Iesus Better is it not to liue than to liue without life And now ô Lord Iesus where be thy former mercies o Ps 89 49. wilt thou be angrie with mee for euer p Psa 85 5. Be pacified at the length I beseech thee and haue mercie vppon me neither hide awaie thy face fro me q Psa 27 9. who for my redemption didest not turne thy face from such as reprooued and spat vpon thee r Matt. 27 vers 27 c. 30. I confesse in deede I haue sinned and that my conscience deserueth damnation I acknowledge also that no penance can satisfie for my sinnes but certaine it is that thy mercie is more than al my sinnes O most gratious Lord write not thou bitter things against me ſ Iob. 13 26. neither enter thou into iudgement with thy seruant t Psa 143 2. but according to the multitude of thy compassions put awaie mine iniquities u Psal 51 1. Wo to me wretch when the daie of iudgement shal come and the bookes of each mans conscience be opened x Reu. 20 verse 12. 13. when it shal be said of me Behold the man and his workes What shal I then do ô Lord my God when the verie heauens shal reueale mine iniquitie and the earth rise vp against me Surelie I shal be able to saie nothing but hang-downe mine head for verie griefe of hart and stand trembling and confounded before thy presence Alacke wretch what may I saie shal I crie vnto thee my Lord God wherefore am I consumed saieng naught but though I do speake yet wil not my griefe haue end and if I be stil silent I shal be vexed inwardlie with most bitter sorow O my soule mourne thou like a virgin for the husband of hir youth y Ioël 1 8. howle thou miserable wretch and weepe because thine husband euen Christ z Eph. 5 25. hath forsaken thee O wrath of the almightie fal not thou vpon me for I cannot beare thee because there is not that strength in me that I can endure thee But haue mercie on me ô God that I despaire not but in despaire let me hope againe And although I haue done that which deserueth damnation yet hast not thou forgone that whereby thou art wont to salue O Lord thou wilt not the death of sinners neither doest thou reioice in the destruction a Eze. 18 23. of the dieng but that the dead might liue thou diedst b Rom. 4 25 and thy death hath killed the death of sinners and if they through thy death were againe brought vnto life ô Lord grant I beseech thee that I may not die now thou art aliue Send downe from heauen c Psa 57 3. and saue me from the power of mine enimies least they triumph ouer me and saie We haue deuoured him O good Iesu who at anie time can doubt of thy mercie who euen when we were thine enimies d Rom. 5 10 didst redeeme vs with thy pretious blood and reconcile vs to God! Lo thus protected vnder the shadowe of thy mercie I doe run vnto the throne of grace e Heb. 4 16. requiring mercie crieng and knocking vntil thou take compassion vpon me For if thou calledst vs vnto mercie when we asked none how can we misse of mercie crauing the same O sweete Iesu thinke not vpon thy iustice against a sinner but remember thy goodnes toward thy creature Thinke not vpon thy displeasure against a transgressor but remember thy mercie toward the miserable Forget me when I was proud prouoking thee vnto wrath and regard me now in distresse crieng vnto thee for mercie For what is Iesus but a Sauior f Matt. 1 21. Therefore ô Iesus by thy selfe arise to helpe me and saie vnto my soule g Psa 35 3. I am thy saluation Much doe I presume of thy goodnes ô Lord the rather because thy selfe thou teachest vs to aske to seeke and to knock h Matt. 7 7. And therefore admonished thereby I doe aske seeke and knocke But thou Lord who commandest to aske grant I may receiue who counselest to aske giue grace to find who teachest to knocke open to the knocker and strengthen me a sinner saue me a wretch raise me that am dead and vouchsafe to direct and gouerne al my senses cogitations works after thy good pleasure that hencefoorth I may serue thee liue to thee and be wholie thine I knowe Lord I doe owe my selfe to thee euen because thou hast made me and for that thou hast redeemed me i 1. Pet. 1 18. 19. and taken humane flesh vpon thee for my sake k Matt. 1 21 Luke 1 31. 69. I doe owe so much more beside my selfe as thou art greater than he for whom thou hast giuen thy selfe Lo I haue no more neither can I giue that which I haue too without thee but accept thou me and drawe me vnto thee l Iohn 6 44 that I may be thine by imitation and loue as I am thine by condition and creation who liuest m 1. Tim. 1 17 and rulest n Psal 45 6. now and euermore Amen Chap. 39. A godlie praier vnto the blessed Trinitie meete oftentimes to be repeated O Lord God almightie a Exo. 6 3. Reuel 4 8. three in persons b Math. 3 16 17. Luke 3 21. 22. yet but one God c Deut. 6 4. Mal. 2 10. who both art in al and wart before al d Ecc. 42 21 and wilt be in al things a blessed God for euermore e Reu. 4 11. Now and alwaies
into thine hand I doc commend both my soule my bodie my sight hearing tasting smelling and feeling with al my cogitations affections actions outward and inward things my sense and vnderstanding my memorie my faith and beleefe and perseuerance that thou maiest keepe them daie and night euerie houre and moment O sacred Trinitie heare my petition and saue me from al euil f Matt. 6 13 from offending and from sinning anie maner of waie from al snares and pursutes of Satan and of enimies visible and inuisible Expel far fro me the hautinesse of mind and increase within me the sorowe of hart diminish my pride and establish true humilitie within my breast fetch teares from mine eies mollifie mine hard and stonie hart and saue Lord both me my soule from al traps of the enimie and continue me in thy pleasure Teach me to doe thy wil g Ps 143 10. for thou art my God Giue me perfect sense vnderstanding ô Lord that I may be able to conceaue the deepenes of thy mercie Grant me grace to beg that at thine hands which may both be ioiful for thee to grant and behooueful for me to receaue Make me vnfainedlie to bewaile my sinnes and manifold offences Heare ô my Lord and my God h Psal 7 1. 3. heare ô light of mine eies i Iohn 1 9. heare my petition and grant that what I request I may obteine If thou despise I am vtterlie vndone if thou heare me I take hart againe If thou examinest my righteousnes lo I stinke like a dead carrion but if in mercie thou respect mee thou raisest him that stinketh out of the graue What thou hatest in me remooue far fro me and ingraffe the spirit of chastitie and of a cleane life in my mind that in asking anie thing at thine hands I may not offend thee in asking the same Take fro mee whatsoeuer is hurtful to my soule and giue what is behooueful O Lord giue me a salue to heale my greeuous woundes Indue me good Lord with thy feare k Psal 2 11. with sorowe of hart l Psa 51 17. with humilitie of minde m Ecc. 23 4. and with a pure conscience n Psal 24 4. Giue me grace Lord to keepe brotherlie concord euermore o Rom. 12 verse 10. 1. Pet. 2 17. to remember my transgressions not to meddle with the dealings of other men Pardon my soule pardon my sinnes my wickednes pardon ô pardon mine offences p Psal 51 2. 9. Visit me that am weake cure me that am sicke heale me that doth languish raise me which am dead O Lord giue me both an hart to dread thee a mind to loue thee sense to knowe thee eares to heare thee eies to see thee Haue mercie on me ô God haue mercie on me looke vpon me from the holie seate of thy Maiestie and illuminate the darknes of mine hart with the beame of thy brightnes Giue me wisedome ô Lord to discerne betweene good and euil and grant me a watchful vnderstanding Forgiue al my sinnes I beseech thee and in the time of necessitie troble q Ps 37 39. be thou good and gratious to me I onelie beseech thee After thy woonted mercie most louing kindnes ô Lord I beseech thee vouchsafe to giue me y e life which euer shal endure O Lord Iesus Christ giue both to thy ministers vnitie of mind and to magistrates iudging vprightlie peace and tranquillitie Furthermore ô Lord my request is for the whole catholike and holie Church for men and women for religious and for secular men for al Christian gouernors people beleeuing in thy Name which labor for thine holie loue that they may haue grace to continue in wel doing O Lord eternal King giue to virgins chastitie to the vnmaried continencie to the wedded puritie to repenters mercie to widowes and orphanes comfort to the poore protection to trauelers a safe returne to mourners consolation to seafaring men a ioiful hauen to the good zeale to persist to the wel inclined a mind to prooue better to the wicked and sinful as to me wretch grace with speede to repent O sweete Lord and most merciful Iesus Christ Sonne of the liuing God r Mat. 16 16 redeemer of the world ſ Tit. 2 14. Col. 1 14. 1. Pet. 2 22. 24. I acknowledge that among al and aboue al sinners I am wretched but thou most gratious and hie Father who takest mercie vpon al canst not suffer me to be vtterlie destitute of thy mercie O thou Lord King of kings t 1. Tim. 6 verse 15. Reu. 19 16. who grantest truce of life stir in me a mind alwaie and aboue al things to seeke to desire to loue to feare thee and to do thy wil who art euerie-where al whole u Iob. 23 8. 9 c. Eccl. 23 18. 19. a Trinitie and but one God x Mal. 2 10. Especialie ô Lord holie Father who art blessed and glorious for euermore I beseech thee in most humble sort vouchsafe to gouerne keepe them from destruction who either doe make mention of mee in their praiers or haue commended themselues to mine vnwoorthie supplication or haue done good whether it bee vnto my bodie with tēporal benefits or to my soule with profitable instructions or be linked vnto me either in kinred frendship or goodwil Furthermore both for al Christians which are aliue I praie thee stand thou at their elbowe to assist them and for such also as are dead and euerlastinglie doe rest from their labors y Reu. 14 13 I yeeld thee immortal praise Finalie this one thing more grant me ô Lord I do earnestlie beseech thee who art Alpha and Omega z Reuel 1 8. Reuel 21 6. that when the vttermost daie and end of my life shal come thou wilt be a merciful iudge to me against that malicious accuser a Reu. 12 10 the diuel and that thou wilt continualie protect me against the snares of the old serpent b Reu. 12 2. and finalie conduct me into the societie of Angels and of al Saints in thy holie paradise who art blessed now and euermore Amen Chap. 40. A deuout praier in memorie of the passion of Christ O Lord Iesu Christ my redemption a Col. 1 14. my mercie and my saluation b Matt. 1 21. I doe praise thee yeeld thee thanks although far vnanswereable I confes to thy benefits although not zealous enough although verie leane from the desired fatnes of thy sweete affection yet such as it hath not as I knowe it oweth and as it is able my soule paieth vnto thee O thou hope of mine hart and strength of my soule let thy diuine power fulfil what my luke warme weaknes endeuoreth to bring to passe ô my life and thou end of my thought And though I haue not hitherto deserued so greatlie to loue as I am bound yet my desire is to loue euen as I ought